CHAPTER THREE
❛Pardon?❜
The four teenagers stood crowded around a newspaper that Ron held, the Weasley family were on the front cover in front of pyramids. Scabbers rested peacefully on Ron's shoulder.
"Egypt! What's it like?" exclaimed Harry, a wide smile on his face.
"Lots of sand, probably." Hope spoke softly. "With a side of dead Pharaohs."
"It's brilliant, really. Tons of cool stuff like Mummies, Death Masks, Tombs--"
Ron was cut off by Hermione's snarky voice. "You know, the ancient Egyptians worshiped the cat goddess, Bast."
"Yet they didn't worship a rat." added Hope.
The Weasley boy rolled his eyes and pulled out a wand. "I also got a new wand."
The door of the Leaky Cauldron opened to reveal Molly, Percy, Fred, George, and Ginny. They walked in carrying bags from shops, but George dropped both of his bags when he saw Hope.
"George!" she exclaimed, running to his open arms and being embraced in a hug.
"I've missed seeing your face, love." he replied.
Fred just crossed his arms. "You know, I'm here too."
"How could I ever forget you, Freddie?" she gave him a small hug. "I've missed seeing you guys this summer."
Harry frowned and turned to Ron. "George and Hope?"
Hermione smiled. "I think they're cute."
"Jealous, Harry?"
"No, she's like my sister." said Harry. "That's what makes it weird."
Ron shrugged. "Trust me, I had no idea."
Arthur Weasley walked into the Leaky Cauldron next. A newspaper with Sirius Black's face on the cover. Hope immediately looked down and pushed away her muffin.
Molly smiled and put another muffin in front of Hope. "Hope, dear, how has your summer been?"
"Boring, there wasn't much to do. Well, other than annoying my brother."
Mister Weasley made a disgusted face at his newspaper. "There won't be much to do with this enraged murderer on the loose."
"Enraged is a bit much--"
"Have they not found him yet?" interrupted Harry.
Ron smirked and leaned in towards Harry. "The prize must be huge for the person who finds him."
Percy laughed. "He won't be found by a thirteen-year-old boy, it'll be the guards who find him."
"And kill him, hopefully."
Tears clouded Hope's vision as she spoke up. "Kill him?"
"Why yes, that seems the suitable punishment for a murderer." commented Arthur. "Especially one who escapes Azkaban."
"Death shouldn't go to anyone." mumbled Hope, earning the attention of everyone at the table. "You can always reach a form of peace."
George just leaned into her. "You're getting angry again."
She just took a breath and put back on a wide fake smile, then turned towards Percy. "Percy, how has your summer been?"
"It's been fine. I'm Head Boy." he grinned.
"Congratulations, that must be amazing."
Percy only nodded. "I read this book called Law and Literature as well, it's quite brilliant. Have you read anything great?"
"A few books on Dragons. I've looked more into specific species, like Hungarian Horntail, Chinese Fireball, Common Welsh--"
"Might as well call her Charlie." laughed Fred.
Hope narrowed her grey eyes. "They're beautiful creatures, they're magnificent gorgeous things."
"Love, don't you think Dragons are dangerous?" George questioned, looking over her shoulder.
"Misunderstood, George, misunderstood."
Arthur looked to Hope and glanced over at the picture of Sirius Black on the wall. Unless you were looking at the girl, you wouldn't notice the resemblance. But Hope Lupin was almost a twin to the man on the wall, except for the hair color and facial hair.
"Hope, a word, please?"
Arthur and Hope took a walk down the now empty streets of Diagon Alley. Hope felt a feeling of uncertainty as she walked next to her friends' father.
"You know, you look just like him." said Arthur, eyeing another poster. "The Ministry is worried about your family along with Harry."
"Pardon?"
Mister Weasley looked down. "You're the daughter of Sirius Black. They believe that he's after Harry--"
"Dad would never hurt Harry, not while I'm around."
"Hope, he killed thirteen people. Why would he stop there?" he asked.
Her grey eyes met his green. "He's my dad, don't you think I want to believe the best? I haven't seen or heard him in 12 ½ years, all I know is pictures. All I know is stories. And believe it or not, the stories are good."
"Do you have loyalty to him?"
"Of course not." she snapped back. "I have loyalty for my friends and family. The loyalty in which he lacked. But it just taught me that you can't trust no one."
Arthur sighed and looked to his children's' friend. "You can trust us, Hope."
"My papa always told me that you can't trust anyone." Hope sighed. "No matter what."
"Why would he say that?"
She blinked away her tears and just shook her head. "His own love betrayed their friends and the family they shared. It made him lose hope."
Hope Lupin sat on a swing at an empty park, somewhere outside Diagon Alley. A lit cigarette was in her hand as she just inhaled more smoke and blew it out into the air. It gave her the feeling of stress being gone.
"I shouldn't even be here." she muttered to herself.
The black dog from days before showed back up in front of her. It's grey eyes pitiful and face angry as it stared at her hand.
"Hey, you're that dog from the other night." Hope said aloud. "Are you following me? That's kind of weird. Don't you have an owner?"
It's eyes darted from the teenage girl to the cigarette in her hand. She just let out a laugh as she realized what it was trying to say.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm allowed to be here." the dog only gave her a look and she laughed. "I lied, I'm not allowed. Papa would flip, he's too protective since Dad left us. So is Alfie, but he pretends like he doesn't even exist. But, I can't do that, I can't."
The black dog nuzzled it's face into her side and she gave it a wide smile.
"This is going to sound crazy, but as much as I know he did bad. I want to believe he did some good. That he is good." a tear rolled down her pale cheek. "But, he's still bad."
A voice from across the playground spoke up in shock. "Hope?"
"Neville?" she asked back. "What are you doing out here?"
Neville shrugged. "I'm visiting my Uncle Algie."
"I've missed seeing him around, how is he doing?" Hope questioned.
"He's fine." he replied, then his eyes darted to the lit cigarette in her hand. "What's in your hand?"
Hope quickly dropped the cigarette and stepped on it to put it out. "Nothing, nothing. That right there was nothing."
"Don't tell me you've picked up smoking. Please."
Her grey eyes met his hazel. "It gives me a good feeling, Nev."
"It makes you smell awful." he commented, sitting down on the swing next to her. "Does Remus even know you're out here? It's like midnight."
"No, he thinks I'm at Ron's."
Neville sighed and looked over to her once again. "So, where do you plan on going? You can't sleep in a park."
"I don't know, Nev." she laughed. "That slide looks pretty comfy."
"Hope."
The Lupin girl sighed. "I'll walk somewhere."
Neville just stood up and pointed to the house across the street. "How about you come stay with me?"
"Oh, I couldn't intrude--"
The girl was cut off by Neville's frustrated voice. "I'm not taking no for an answer, Hope. You need to shower and throw those things away."
"Shower, yes. Throw away, no."
"It's a filthy habit." he said. "You worry me, you know. First, you go after You-Know-Who. Second, you push yourself too hard. Third, you got close to Slytherins. Which, I won't judge, but what if you get hurt?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I won't."
"You're smoking!" Neville exclaimed. "You're killing your lungs, Hope! And you don't even care. Where do you even get Muggle money?"
"That, my friend, is my own secret." she stood up next to him and grabbed his hand. "Come on, Uncle Algie would love to play a round of Monopoly."