(The Potters and the Prisoner of Azkaban, act three, chapter eleven)

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The girl ended up not returning to her dorm at all. She had a feeling she wouldn't get any sleep, so she just spent the night outside, playing with the black dog. Somehow, his company made everything feel just a little less heavy. She didn't speak much after a while, just sat with him, her hand idly running through his fur as the stars began to fade into the light of dawn.

As the sun rose, painting the castle grounds in soft hues of orange and gold, Nora sighed. She glanced at the dog, who was now curled up next to her, looking more relaxed than she'd ever seen him. "I've gotta go." She murmured. "Can't have anyone noticing l've been gone all night."

The dog lifted his head slightly, huffing as if to protest, but Nora smiled faintly. "I'll come back soon." She promised, giving him one last pat before getting to her feet.

Instead of heading back to the Gryffindor Tower, her feet carried her somewhere else. She wasn't ready to face anyone just yet-not Ron, not Hermione, and definitely not Harry. She needed to talk to someone, even if she couldn't explain the whole truth.

She found herself standing in front of a familiar door, hesitating for a moment before knocking. She didn't even know why out of all places, out of all people, she chose to come here.

Nora stood in front of Remus Lupin's office door for what felt like forever before she finally knocked. It wasn't like her to seek anyone out when she was feeling this way, but she couldn't go back to the common room yet. Everyone would know something was wrong, and she didn't have it in her right now to fake being okay.

The door creaked open, and Remus appeared, looking surprised to see her. His robe was slightly askew, and he had dark circles under his eyes, but his expression softened when he saw her.

"Nora? It's a bit early, isn't it?" He said, stepping aside to let her in.

"I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't sleep." She said, stepping inside.

Remus closed the door behind her, giving her a curious look, but he knew that she wasn't feeling okay. "Well, you're in luck. I was just about to make some hot chocolate. Care to join me?"

Nora hesitated but then nodded. "Sure. That'd be nice."

He smiled and gestured for her to sit down as he moved to a small table where a kettle was already steaming. "Have a seat. It'll just take a moment."

She sank into one of the chairs by the fire, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She was still wearing Fred's jacket. She should probably give that back to him when she saw him.

The warmth of the room was comforting, and the familiar smell of parchment and ink mixed with the sweet aroma of cocoa as Remus stirred the drinks.

He handed her a mug and took a seat across from her, leaning back slightly. "So, what's on your mind?" he asked gently, blowing on his own mug.

Nora stared at her drink, the steam curling up into the air. "I don't know. Everything, I guess."

"That's a lot for one person to carry." Remus said softly.

She gave a small shrug, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal. "It's just... I feel like there's too much going on. Like everyone expects me to just handle it, and I don't even know where to start."

Remus nodded, his gaze understanding. "It's not easy, being part of something bigger than yourself. And it's even harder when you feel like you can't talk about it."

Nora looked up at him sharply, but his expression was calm, almost as if he wasn't expecting her to elaborate.

"I guess," she said finally, her voice quiet. "It's just... a lot."

Remus took a sip of his drink before setting it down. "You know, when I was younger, I used to feel the same way. Like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and no one could possibly understand. But sometimes, sharing even a little bit of that weight can make it feel more manageable."

Nora frowned into her mug, swirling the hot chocolate with her spoon. "What if you can't share it? What if talking about it just makes you feel even worse?"

Remus studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes catching the way her shoulders slumped and how she avoided looking at him. "Sometimes, we tell ourselves that keeping things in protects us—or others—but bottling it up never really makes it go away."

"I'm not bottling it up." Nora said defensively, though her tone lacked conviction.

"Aren't you?" Remus asked gently, tilting his head. "You're here, in my office, before the sun's up, looking like you haven't slept in days. That tells me whatever's on your mind is important enough to wake you in the middle of the night. If it's keeping you awake, it's keeping you trapped, too."

He was good. Too good. Nora opened her mouth to argue but then closed it again, her gaze dropping to her lap. "It's not that simple." She murmured.

"Most things aren't." he agreed, leaning forward slightly. "But that doesn't mean they can't be figured out, bit by bit. And you don't have to do it alone, Nora."

She glanced at him, her lips pressing into a thin line. "What if it's something you wouldn't understand?"

Remus smiled faintly, his expression warm. "You'd be surprised at what I can understand. But I'm not here to pry. You can tell me as much or as little as you want. Or nothing at all. I just want you to know you're not alone in whatever this is."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, the crackling fire filling the room with a soft glow. Nora sipped her hot chocolate, letting the sweetness ground her.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you ever feel like the people you trust the most are the ones you don't know how to face?"

Remus didn't respond immediately, letting her words settle in the air. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm and measured. "Yes, I've felt that way before. Sometimes the people closest to us are the hardest to face because their opinions mean the most. Or because we're afraid of what we might find if we really look at them—or if they really look at us."

Nora's grip on the mug tightened, and she nodded, staring down at the swirling chocolate. "It's like... I don't even know what to say to them. Or if I even can. It's just this... mess in my head, and I feel like they wouldn't get it. Or worse, they would, and it'd change everything."

Remus studied her, his expression thoughtful. "It sounds like there's a lot at stake for you. But remember, not everything has to be solved all at once. Sometimes just taking a small step—finding even a tiny bit of clarity—can help."

"What if I can't fix it?" she asked softly, her voice almost breaking.

"You might not be able to fix everything," Remus admitted, leaning forward. "But you can try to understand it, and that's the first step toward figuring out what to do next. And if it's too big to face alone, these are the people who care about you, people who'll stand by you no matter what."

Nora's chest ached at his words, and for a moment, she thought about telling him everything—about what she'd learned, about how it felt like her whole world had been flipped upside down. But the thought of saying it out loud was too overwhelming, so she stayed quiet.

Remus must have sensed her hesitation because he leaned back, giving her space. "You don't have to rush." He said gently. "Whatever it is, you'll figure it out in your own time. And if you need someone to listen—or just drink hot chocolate with—I'm here."

Nora managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks, Professor."

"You're welcome." He smiled warmly, picking up his mug again. "And remember, Nora, it's okay to not have all the answers. You're allowed to take things one step at a time."

They sat in companionable silence after that, the fire crackling softly in the background. Even if she couldn't face the truth yet, at least she wasn't completely alone.

Nora's hands tightened around her mug as she stared into the warm, swirling liquid. The steam rose lazily, but it didn't do much to calm her racing thoughts. One question kept popping up in her head: if Remus was so close to her mum and uncle, how much did he know about Sirius? Did he know everything? She bit her lip, hesitant to ask. What if it gave too much away? What if he started connecting the dots?

"Professor," she started carefully, her voice soft. "when you were friends with my mum and Uncle James and aunt Lily, did you- did you have other friends, too?"

Remus looked up from his mug, his expression thoughtful. "We did. Jasmine and James both had big hearts. They had this way of making everyone feel like they belonged." His voice softened as he added, "Your mum, in particular, was one of the kindest people l've ever known."

Nora's heart clenched. That sounded like everyone describing her mum. Her mum-always kind, always willing to help. But it also sounded like the kind of person who might let someone in who didn't deserve it.

"Did they ever trust the wrong people?" she asked, keeping her tone casual even though her chest felt tight.

Remus's brows knit slightly, but he answered after a moment. "Sometimes, yes. It happens to all of us, Nora. They weren't perfect. But they trusted because they believed in people. And that's not a bad thing."

She nodded, though her thoughts were far from settled. "It just seems... risky, you know? Trusting people like that."

"Trust is always a risk." Remus agreed, his tone steady. "But it's a necessary one. Even when it didn't go the way they hoped, they never let it stop them from being who they were."

Nora bit her lip, glancing away. She wanted to ask more—about Sirius, about what he knew, about whether James, Jasmine and Lily had trusted him. But she couldn't. Not without giving herself away.

Instead, she forced herself to say, "That makes sense. I guess I've just been thinking about... how you know who to trust."

Remus studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes seeming to see more than she wanted him to. "Is there something on your mind, Nora?"

Her grip on the mug tightened. "No, not really," she lied.

Remus didn't press, but his voice was warm as he said, "You don't have to face everything on your own, you know. Your mum would want you to lean on the people who care about you."

Her throat tightened. She managed a nod, but her chest felt heavy with everything she wasn't saying. As she stood to leave, Remus offered her a small, understanding smile. "My door's always open, Nora. Anytime you want to talk—or even just share another mug of hot chocolate."

"Thanks, Professor." She said quietly. But as she stepped out into the corridor, the weight of her secrets felt heavier than ever.

Elijah sat with his arms crossed, his face a perfect mask of composure that only slightly cracked with a quiet sigh. "Poor Nora." He murmured, his voice low and filled with regret. "She carries far more than any child should."

"She shouldn't have to carry it alone." Jasmine said sharply, her arms wrapped around herself as though shielding her heart from breaking. "I wish I could tell her—tell her everything." Her eyes were damp, and she turned to Elijah.

Elijah's gaze softened as he turned to Jasmine. "We all wish that." He replied, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of guilt. 

"But even if we could what difference would it make? The truth is a burden in itself." Finn spoke.

Jasmine shook her head fiercely, her dark hair brushing against her shoulders. "No, Finn. The truth is freedom. She has the right to know who she really is—what she's up against." Her voice wavered.

Klaus let out a chuckle. "And you think that's the answer, do you?" he drawled, his accent sharper than usual. "Dumping the truth on her shoulders as soon as you can and expecting her to carry it with grace?" He raised a brow, his expression equal parts amused and bitter.

"Shut up, Niklaus," Jasmine snapped, her voice cracking. "You don't know her like I do."

"Don't I?" Klaus countered, his tone dangerously quiet now. "She reminds me of someone. Someone who thought they could take on the world, only to crumble under the pressure." He glanced side ways at Elijah.

"Enough." Elijah's voice cut through the tension like a blade. He glanced between his brother and Jasmine, his tone calm but commanding. "This isn't the time for infighting. Nora doesn't need our arguments. She needs our support."

Rebekah let out a soft scoff. "Support?" she echoed, her voice laced with bitterness. "How exactly do we support her, Elijah? We can't speak to her, can't touch her... We're nothing but ghosts watching her life fall apart." Her lips trembled, but she quickly masked it with a defiant glare. "She doesn't even know we exist."

Finn stood silent, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy. "She's strong," he said simply. "Stronger than we give her credit for. But even the strongest fall at the end."

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As she finally made her way back into the common room the next morning, she was caught off guard by the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sitting on the couch, waiting for her. They looked up when she entered, and she could immediately tell they'd been waiting for her to return and they also looked like they hadn't slept very much.

"Where were you last night?" Hermione asked in a demanding voice but the worry was set in her eyes as she looked at Nora's small and tired eyes.

"I- Uhm- I needed some time to think." Nora muttered out, not really knowing what else to say.

"Nora, can I talk to you?" Harry asked, giving her a small but knowing look.

"Yeah, sure." Nora nodded, her feet already walking her away from her other friends.

Harry led Nora out of the common room and down a quiet corridor. He didn't say anything until they reached a secluded corner near one of the castle's large windows, where the early morning sun streamed through, casting warm light over them. He turned to face her, his expression serious but gentle.

"Nory-" Harry's words caught in his throat as Nora interrupted him, her voice trembling. She gripped her arms tightly, as if trying to hold herself together.

"I'm so sorry, Harry." she repeated, her hazel eyes shimmering with tears she refused to let fall. "I didn't mean to make you or anyone worry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't mean to have this happen. I don't wanna be his daughter- I-"

"It's okay." Harry softly spoke but Nora shook her head. "No, I don't want to be his daughter, Harry." she choked out, her voice trembling. "I don't want to be connected to everything he's done... to who he is. I'm not like him—I'll never be like him."

"I hate it, Harry." she said, her voice breaking. "I hate that I'm tied to him. I hate what he's done, what he's responsible for. I don't want people to look at me and think of him."

Harry stayed silent, his green eyes flickering with emotion. "You're not him, Nora." He said finally, though his tone was distant.

"I know." She whispered, her hands trembling as she wiped her cheeks. "But every time I hear his name, every time someone mentions him, I just get reminded that he wants to kill us. And if anyone finds out the truth, they will probably except that I'm just like him. Or worse, they'll think I helped him escape or something."

Harry's jaw clenched at her words, and for a moment, he looked away, his fists tightening at his sides. "No one with half a brain would think that." He said firmly, though his tone carried a sharp edge. "You've never done anything to make people think you'd side with him. You're nothing like Sirius."

Nora shook her head, her hazel eyes glistening with tears. "But they don't know that, Harry," she said, her voice rising slightly. "All they'll see is his name tied to mine. And if they think I'm anything like him—if they believe even for a second that I could be capable of the things he's done—"

"They won't." Harry interrupted, stepping closer to her. His green eyes burned with conviction. "I won't let them."

"But you don't know that," she shot back, her voice trembling. "You don't know how people will react. And it's not just that, Harry. It's him. Every day he's out there, it feels like... like a time bomb, waiting to explode. Like he'll show up and—" She swallowed hard. "And what if he does? What if he comes after you? Or Hermione, or Ron? What if we can't stop him?"

Harry's expression darkened, and he let out a steadying breath. "Then we'll fight him. If Sirius Black comes after any of us, he won't win. We'll be ready."

Nora shook her head, her hands trembling at her sides. "You say that like it's so easy." She whispered. "But he's dangerous, Harry. He got past the Dementors. He escaped Azkaban. If he's capable of that, what chance do we even have?"

"We have faced worse things." Harry spoke.

Sirius' gray eyes, always sharp with mischief or rebellion, were now clouded with pain as he watched Nora's trembling form, her voice breaking as she poured out her fears to Harry.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain stoic, but inside, his heart felt like it was shattering into a thousand pieces. She didn't know he was watching. She couldn't, but her words hit him like a physical blow. He never knew how much it had really hurt her/

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Words: 3065

Posted: December 18, 2024

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