Darker Than Gray Ch. 29

“Daphne’s father is Sirius Black.”

Harry’s brows furrowed at the name, his emerald eyes faraway as he gazed intently at the intricate carvings woven into the carpet beneath his feet. He searched through his memories, trying to recall if he’d ever heard the name. Unfortunately, he did not, and he turned to Marlene, shaking his head slightly.

“I don’t recognize the name…” Harry remarked.

Marlene’s face softened with understanding and she offered him a gentle, almost maternal smile. She nodded slowly, her eyes filled with compassion.

“You don’t know anything about him or your parents’ past, do you?” She said sadly as Harry averted his eyes. She added warmly, “It’s okay. I’ll tell you everything, Harry.”

Harry turned back to Marlene who gave him a decisive nod.

“This is as much your past as it is ours, and you deserve to know everything. Sirius and your father – James – they weren’t just friends. They were brothers in all but blood. But the connection between your two families goes back further than their friendships. James’ aunt Dorea was the sister of Sirius’ grandfather Arcturus, but,” she paused with a slight grimace. “But the Blacks held the Potters in bad faith for their tolerant views toward those the purebloods consider lesser than them. Not that their prejudice meant anything to James and Sirius though.”

She smiled fondly, as if reminiscing an old memory, and continued, “As such, James and Sirius met for the first time on the Hogwarts Express, and in Sirius’ own words ─ which he never tired of repeating ─ they ‘hit it up straight away’. During those first weeks in our first year, they became close friends with two more boys – Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.”

Harry did not miss the disgusted tone Marlene’s voice took on when she mentioned Peter Pettigrew. Her face darkened momentarily, and her hands clenched imperceptibly in her lap. Harry’s brows furrowed as well. He was sure he had heard the name before… But where? He tried to strain his memories but for the life of him, he could not remember. He filed it away for later, although he could not help but wonder what provoked such an emotion within the woman.

“They became known as the Marauders,” Marlene continued, smiling slightly when she saw Harry’s eyes widen in recognition. “I see you know about them?”

“I have a map called The Marauders’ Map,” Harry admitted, and his eyes widened as a sudden bolt of memory struck him with the force of lightning.

‘Right,’ he recalled. ‘That Gryffindor ghost that I haven’t seen since the first year. So that means this Pettigrew guy is dead as well.’

Marlene’s expression softened into a warm, knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with something that looked suspiciously like mischief. "So it's found its way back to you. Fitting," she whispered, her voice thick with nostalgia. "It was lost during our time back in the castle. That map is more than just a piece of parchment, Harry, as you well know. Use it wisely – it would help you out a lot." Her expression turned slightly stern, though amusement still danced in her eyes. "And for the love of Merlin, don't use it like those idiots did."

“I don’t think he will, Mum,” Daphne smiled.

At his confused look, Marlene explained, “The Marauders were notorious pranksters, Harry. They didn't just cause mischief – they elevated it to an art form. Wherever they went, chaos seemed to follow like an eager puppy. By our later years at Hogwarts, almost the entire castle had gotten sick of their increasingly elaborate shenanigans." She chuckled softly, shaking her head at the memories. "Though I have to admit, there was never any shortage of people who cheered them on. Lily – your mother – she had this theory that Dumbledore was secretly among their silent supporters. She always said there was no other explanation for why they got away with half the things they did. The twinkle in his eyes whenever they pulled off something particularly spectacular rather gave him away."

Harry nodded, eager to learn more.

“Years passed, and by the time we left Hogwarts, the war was already at its pinnacle,” Marlene continued, much more somberly than before. “We all immediately joined the Order of the Phoenix. It was a resistance group led by Dumbledore to counter the Death Eaters. We all fought… and we all were good at it… especially your parents. They were a force to be reckoned with when they fought together. Lily with her Charms and James with his Transfiguration. Both were prodigies at their subjects, and they showed it to all who were with them on the field of battle. They even succeeded in defying their dear dark lord on more than one occasion, and believe me, that was not a small feat. But in the end…” Her voice faltered. “Things did not go exactly as planned.”

Harry’s throat constricted painfully as he listened, his lips pressing into a thin line. He steeled himself for what he instinctively knew would be a tragic end to the efforts his parents and their allies had put forward in the war. His grip unconsciously tightened on the arms of the couch as he gazed at Marlene who took a deep breath to prepare herself.

“We, as in the Order, did manage to repel the Death Eaters multiple times, but we were losing the war. Everyone knew it, even though no one dared speak it out loud. We all kept pushing forward – we had no other choice,” Marlene said softly and her eyes grew distant. “The incident with my family had happened a while ago, and I had been forcibly taken out from the war, even though I still wanted to join the fighting. However, Sirius…” Her voice caught at the name. “Sirius kept fighting alongside everyone else. Months passed like this, and I do not know the exact timeline but it was only days before that Halloween night when I somehow managed to meet Sirius for the last time, and he finally told me everything.”

“What did he tell you?” Harry asked hoarsely. Something in his core told him this was crucial information – a missing piece of the puzzle that had shaped the past and would play a role in the future.

“Sirius had been named your godfather and your parents chose me as your godmother. Even though I had been forced to marry Greengrass, they chose me,” she whispered. “He told me that Dumbledore had met James and Lily, and he had told them to go into hiding because Voldemort was now actively targeting them. Dumbledore said he had a spy among the Death Eaters who gave him this secret information, and that’s how he came to know about it. Your parents agreed, both because the constant fighting and close encounters with death had started to take a mental toll on them, and also because they had to take care of you – their infant son – as well.” Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, “You have no idea how much I wanted to tell Sirius about Daphne back then, or how desperately I wanted him to take her with him so that she didn’t have to remain under the danger of Greengrass snapping anytime,” Marlene trailed off.

Harry’s eyes widened in shock. “You mean…?”

“I never told Sirius about Daphne,” Marlene whispered, taking comfort in the vice grip her daughter had on her hands. “He still doesn’t know he has a daughter. Greengrass made me take an oath that I would not tell a single soul about her true origins. He could not have the proof of my ‘infidelity’ known. It would have made him a laughing stock amongst his pureblood peers. I was tempted to break the oath, even if it cost me my life, but I could not. I couldn’t leave my daughter alone.”

“And the oath ended with his death,” Harry whispered in understanding, and he did understand her. His gaze shifted to Daphne who offered him a tight smile that reached nowhere near her eyes and he clenched his jaw. He could feel how much these two women were hurting.

Marlene gave him a thin smile as she continued, “As I said, Sirius told me how Lily and James had gone under the Fidelius with you, and how Frank and Alice had also been told to be under the wards of Longbottom Manor for a while. They had also become a big thorn in the Death Eaters’ side. It was meant to be temporary – a strategic withdrawal to conserve energy so that they fall could return to the field of fire fully refreshed.”

“Makes sense,” Harry muttered.

“The Fidelius charm,” Marlene explained, her voice grave. “It requires a secret keeper. Someone who is entrusted with the secret of what is being hidden. Only this person can divulge this secret, and it must be given willingly. No amount of torture or manipulation can force the secret out of the keeper.”

The moment Marlene finished explaining, she saw the realization dawn on Harry’s face.

Both she and Daphne could only watch, transfixed and their eyes wide, as pure, unbridled rage swept across Harry’s face like a violent tempest. His emerald eyes blazed with ethereal power, his grip on the arm of the couch hard enough to make the wooden joints creak ominously, and his breaths coming out in short, ragged gasps.

“They were betrayed…” he growled, and it was perhaps the most dangerous sound Marlene had ever heard, and that was saying something when one considered her past. “They were betrayed by someone they trusted over everyone else.”

Marlene felt her blood run cold as those murderous eyes fixed upon her with an intensity that seemed to pierce straight through to her soul. Harry's voice came out as a venomous hiss, each word dripping with hatred, "Who was this secret keeper?"

"P-Peter," Marlene stammered, all thoughts of delivering a carefully structured explanation vanishing in the face of Harry's raw fury. "Peter Pettigrew."

The name hit Harry like a physical blow as if someone had suddenly doused him with ice-cold water. His rigid posture slackened, fingers loosening their death grip on the couch as his eyes widened in stunned recognition. He stared at Marlene, utterly shell-shocked.

"The Ghost of Gryffindor? That asshole!?"

Marlene's brow furrowed in confusion, her earlier trepidation momentarily forgotten. "The Ghost of Gryffindor? What's Sir Nicholas got to do with anything?"

"Not Nicholas. Pettigrew," Harry clarified, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. "I saw his name on the Marauder's Map, and I assumed he must be some ghost haunting the tower."

Marlene's eyes flew wide with alarm, color draining from her face.

"What!?"

"He kept appearing around the first-year boys' dormitory, mostly near Ronald Weasley," Harry continued, his tone bitter. "Though I haven't seen him for over a year now. Good riddance, I'd say. That bastard's lucky he's dead."

Marlene began trembling visibly, her face a mask of horrified disbelief. "No... that's not possible... you must be mistaken somehow... You must've misread the name..."

"No, I didn't," Harry insisted firmly, his jaw set. "I dismissed it at the time because it seemed unimportant, but when I mentioned the map earlier, the memory came back crystal clear. I've definitely seen that name in Gryffindor Tower, mostly around the first-year dorms."

“But how can he be a ghost!? Pettigrew did not die!” Marlene exclaimed, her voice rising with barely contained panic. “He faked his death!”

“He could’ve died afterwards though, Mum,” Daphne interjected, trying to reason. “It’s been years since then.”

“But…” Marlene’s voice trailed off, her expression lost and haunted. Harry watched her carefully with a frown, his earlier anger giving way to attention when he saw her looking utterly at loss.

“What am I missing here?” He asked patiently, and it took quite a bit for him to keep a calm outlook.

Marlene met his gaze, drawing a steady breath as she started explaining, “James wanted Sirius to be the secret keeper, but Sirius convinced him that he would be too obvious a choice. Everyone knew how inseparable they were, and it made perfect sense. They did not fully trust Remus back then because… reasons. Which left Pettigrew as the only choice.”

“And Pettigrew ratted them out to Voldemort,” Harry finished, his voice back to that dangerous snarl.

“They made sure word was spread around, albeit not explicitly, that Sirius was the secret keeper,” Marlene continued gravely. “When it happened, people naturally believed Sirius had voluntarily betrayed James and Lily. Sirius’ actions after that night didn’t help either – he ran off to exact revenge on Pettigrew when he realized what that treacherous rat had done. The last news I heard… Sirius had allegedly killed him and thirteen muggles had also died as collateral. That was the reason why he was thrown into Azkaban, and that too without a trial…” Marlene whispered. “At least that’s what I too believed in the beginning…”

Harry gazed at the woman questioningly, prompting Marlene to release a small, weary sigh.

“Greengrass loved to brag about anything that he knew would hurt me. He told me how he knew Sirius was never a Death Eater, and that it was Pettigrew who had betrayed your parents. But he did not need to tell me that. I already knew it. However, it was Andromeda who told me about what really happened with Sirius and Pettigrew,” Marlene explained. “Andromeda Tonks. She is Sirius’ cousin, and the only sane one in that wretched family. She ran away from her family to marry the man she loved, and she was disowned for it. Good for her, I say.”

“You’re getting sidetracked, Mum,” Daphne reminded gently.

“Sorry,” Marlene said softly. “Before Sirius was chucked off in Azkaban, Andromeda managed to see him. She is a healer, and she was granted permission. Sirius admitted to her that he had indeed intended to kill Pettigrew for what he’d done, but he never got the chance. He told her how Pettigrew orchestrated the entire scene - shouting accusations about how Sirius had betrayed James and Lily, before casting a Blasting curse at a gas pipeline, blowing it up and killing the muggles whose deaths Sirius was later blamed for. In the chaos, Pettigrew also cut off one of his fingers and transformed into his animagus form. He escaped the scene, and all Sirius could do was laugh in disbelief at the sheer absurdity of it all, cursing himself for ever suggesting Pettigrew as the secret keeper. Sirius told Andromeda how he lost himself in the moment and kept blaming himself for the deaths of his friends. That’s how the aurors found him – laughing like a madman, destroyed by guilt and grief.”

Harry could only sit there in sheer disbelief as he came to terms with what had just been revealed to him. A part of him wanted to say how Sirius Black was a fucking idiot for falling into a trap like that, but when he factored in the emotional trauma the man must be under – discovering his friends’ deaths and such a massive betrayal in one horrific moment – he could not bring himself to blame him too much. After all, he had seen the most intelligent of folks fall victim to much simpler scams in the muggle world, and he knew how one’s mind stopped functioning at its optimum when the situations were so adverse. This was infinitely more complicated in comparison, filled with betrayal, grief, and overwhelming self-loathing.

Shaking his head, Harry forced himself to refocus on the crux of the matter at hand.

“So Pettigrew was an animagus…” he mused out loud. “He must be something small if he managed to escape so easily, even if the situation was chaotic.”

“James and Sirius were animagi as well,” Marlene revealed with a soft, reminiscent smile. “They all became one during their Hogwarts days for… well, reasons. It’s not my place to tell, so please don’t ask me about them.”

Harry nodded, indicating that he understood.

“James was a stag,” Marlene continued. “Sirius was a grim – you know, those big black dogs which many consider to be the bearer of ill omen. I always thought it rather fitting, though not for the reasons others might think. Her expression darkened considerably as she spat out venomously, “And Pettigrew… well… his form matched his true personality perfectly, that rat.”

Harry nodded absently, his fingers drumming thoughtfully on the arm of the couch when suddenly, they froze mid-motion. His brows drew together in intense concentration as if he was struck with a sudden memory like before, and his head snapped toward Marlene with such speed it was almost violent.

“What did you say? What’s his animagus form?” He asked firmly.

“Pettigrew? A rat. Why?” Marlene asked, confusion evident in the tone of her voice.

Harry’s eyes widened and he whirled sharply toward Daphne, who met his gaze with a puzzled frown of her own.

“What is it, Harry?”

“It was Pettigrew!” Harry exclaimed in realization. “Oh Merlin, it makes so much sense now!”

“What makes sense?” Daphne asked as she leaned forward, gazing at him in concern. “You’re not making any sense, Harry.”

Harry shook his head, gathering his thoughts before he launched into an explanation about the last time he had spotted Pettigrew’s name on the Marauders’ Map. Both women’s eyes grew progressively wider as he informed them about the Cerberus he had encountered – the same three-headed dog Weasley and Finnegan had been talking about.

Marlene’s face drained of color when Harry described Weasley’s complaints of losing his pet rat to that beast, and the graphic description of watching those massive teeth chomp down on the creature. A foreboding feeling washed over her as she realized where Harry was going with this explanation.

“That was the last time I saw Pettigrew’s name on the map,” Harry revealed, his voice tight. “I’d just assumed he was some ghost that haunted the Gryffindor tower, but no… Pettigrew had been living as a pet rat with the Weasleys. He belonged to Weasley’s older brother who passed it down to him.”

A heavy silence descended upon the room as they all processed this information. Marlene finally broke it, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Merlin…” she breathed, her hands trembling slightly. “So he’s really dead now…”

“He has to be,” Harry grunted hatefully. “I saw his name with Weasley and Finnegan on the map, and when they were running away from that room on the third floor, he was not with them. If Weasley is telling the truth… that the Cerberus bit down on the rat and he saw him die, then it makes absolute sense. Everything fits perfectly.”

Marlene nodded absently, her entire body shaking where she sat. For years, she had carried this bitter belief that Pettigrew was somewhere out there, living freely and enjoying his life while her beloved Sirius was doomed to the horrors of Azkaban. Now, learning that Pettigrew had spent those years as the Weasleys’ pet rat – it painted a different picture. He must have been living in constant terror, and it must be because he was too terrified to go out and live on his own.

Her mind drifted to their school days. She remembered what kind of person Pettigrew had been. He had always been a follower, always dependent on James, Sirius, and Remus, and never had much of a backbone or character that made him stand out in any form. That was partly why it had struck her so hard to discover that the coward had betrayed her friends. It was not the act itself, but the fact that the spineless boy they’d known had found the courage, twisted as it was, to commit such a betrayal.

“Sirius told no one else about the secret keeper switch?” Harry asked quietly.

“No,” Marlene sighed. “You must understand, Harry. In times of war, the fewer people who know a secret, the safer everyone is. Circumstances forced everyone to maintain absolute secrecy about the most crucial matters. This particular decision was kept as private as it could be, with only Sirius knowing the truth, for obvious reasons.”

Harry nodded, understanding it with perfect clarity. He remained silent for a while, and so did the two women as they watched him ponder. Finally, he nodded to himself and glanced up, fixing Marlene with a firm stare.

“It’s known that not a lot of people know about Sirius’ innocence, or even think that he could be innocent, for that matter. So before we try to approach anyone, we need to understand the broader implications. This wouldn’t just be about proving Sirius’ innocence, but challenging the entire post-war narrative the Ministry has constructed,” Harry said carefully.

Daphne nodded in agreement. “The Ministry imprisoned a pureblood heir without trial. If this comes to light, it won't just embarrass them – it will shake the foundations of their authority. They'll fight twice as hard to keep this buried."

“Exactly, so the timing of this would be crucial,” Harry continued, his fingers drumming thoughtfully on the armrest. “The current political climate… it’s relatively quiet. And from everything I’ve heard and seen of Fudge, he seems to be the type to preserve the peace for as long as possible. If this is presented wrongly, he would lash out without the intervention of those who have a vested interest in keeping Sirius imprisoned.”

“From his point of view, it would be the correct course of action as well,” Daphne added. “A scandal of this magnitude could very well be the end of his career. He loves his seat too much to let anything threaten it.”

“And Lucius Malfoy knows this,” Marlene interjected for the first time, making both Harry and Daphne turn toward her. She kept her face devoid of all emotions as she continued, “He’ll do everything to ensure Fudge is in power and has all the influence he wants because protecting Fudge means protecting his own influence over the Ministry. Those millions of galleons have to bear fruit somewhere, and he is not an idiot to put his stock in a sinking ship.”

Harry and Daphne nodded as one in understanding, and Marlene smiled proudly at them. At such a young age, they both seemed so well-versed in political matters and showed maturity beyond what could be expected of them. She could not help but think more about what Daphne had confessed to her before Harry’s arrival, and the thought of them together made her feel elated. They could accomplish a lot if they put all their intellect and abilities together.

Shaking her head, she refocused on the discussion at hand and leaned forward.

“You both understand more than I expected. Yes, this goes beyond just Sirius. The pure-blood families who supported Voldemort but claimed Imperius – the Malfoys, the Notts, the Parkinsons – they built their post-war power on being 'victims' while actual innocents like Sirius were condemned. Exposing one wrongful imprisonment raises questions about every other case from that period. Lucius Malfoy has Fudge's ear, and several other former Death Eaters hold significant positions in the Wizengamot."

“What about Dumbledore? He is the Chief Warlock and the Supreme Mugwump of the ICW. Surely his word would hold weight, and he doesn’t seem like a person who would knowingly let an innocent person suffer in Azkaban,” Harry asked with more hope than he truly felt.

"The problem isn't that Dumbledore wouldn't want justice, Harry. It's that his perception, like many others', is clouded by the Black family's history. The wounds from the war run deep. Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband killed and tortured so many of our friends and allies..."

"And that prejudice extends to my father," Daphne finished quietly. "Despite everything he did to oppose his family's beliefs."

"After what happened in the last war," Marlene continued, her voice heavy with memory, "I learned that even good people can make mistakes when their judgment is clouded by grief and fear. Mary MacDonald, Dorcas Meadowes, the Prewett brothers – we lost so many friends. Sometimes it's easier to accept what you're told than to question painful truths."

Harry straightened in his chair. "Then we need to focus on the evidence. On facts that can't be disputed by prejudice or political influence."

"Speaking of influence," Daphne interjected thoughtfully, "what about Madam Bones? She has a reputation for being scrupulously fair, and she holds real power in the Ministry."

"We're close with Susan," Harry added, gazing at Marlene. "And Madam Bones has always struck me as someone who cares more about justice than politics."

Marlene ran a hand through her hair, considering. "Amelia... yes, she might be our best option. But we need to understand the risks. The same people who want to keep Sirius in Azkaban wouldn't hesitate to target her if she supports us."

"Madam Bones, more than anyone, would understand the importance of not condemning someone without proper evidence. She's lost a lot, and has seen firsthand the consequences of both justice and injustice," Harry remarked.

"We'll need to be careful about how we present this," Daphne said, her voice thoughtful. "It can't just be an emotional plea for justice. We need hard evidence—something Madam Bones can act on officially."

Marlene nodded slowly, her gaze distant as she pondered on what her daughter had just said. "There are records we could search, memories and testimonies we can gather. The lack of trial documents, for one. Andromeda believes in Sirius' innocence, and while she may not have much political clout, her testimony could be critical."

"Exactly," Harry agreed, leaning forward. "This isn't about reopening old wounds from the war or picking sides. It’s about rectifying a specific injustice, plain and simple. We focus on the facts and proper procedure."

"And we have to be ready for opposition," Daphne added, her expression hardening. "The moment word gets out, Malfoy and his lot will move to discredit anything we present. They'll use their connections at the Prophet, pressure potential witnesses..."

"That’s why we need to be airtight," Harry cut in. "Every shred of evidence, every testimony—we need to anticipate their counterarguments and have responses ready. If we leave any gaps, they'll exploit them."

"The timing will be crucial," Daphne continued, her tone pragmatic. "We need to approach Madam Bones when she has enough space to act without facing immediate backlash. If we pick the wrong moment, it might not matter how strong our case is."

Harry pursed his lips as he considered what Daphne had just said and he nodded slowly. "Agreed. But we should also think about allies. People who knew Sirius, those who can offer more than just testimonies—memories, personal accounts that paint a fuller picture. Even if they don't have political pull, they might add weight to the evidence."

Marlene’s expression softened as she listened, her earlier skepticism fading. She was feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sudden planning that was taking place but the development was not at all unwelcome. She had waited more than a decade for this. It was about time.

"You're both right. We have to be methodical, but we can’t lose sight of why we're doing this. It’s not just about politics—it’s about family."

Daphne reached for her mother’s hand, her voice gentle. "A family that’s been torn apart for too long."

Harry’s expression softened as he gazed at them before he forced it to sharpen with determination. "So we start with Madam Bones. We gather every piece of evidence we can, craft our arguments carefully, and bring her a case so strong that she has the best odds to take it forward. One that doesn’t expose her to unnecessary risk."

Marlene’s lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes remained serious. "And we have to hope that Amelia does turn out to be of good faith. That justice still holds some meaning in the Ministry."

"It will, Mum. It will matter to Madam Bones," Daphne said with quiet confidence. "We just have to give her the tools to make it happen."

She and Harry exchanged a meaningful look, both having a firm belief in the woman’s integrity. The path ahead was bound to be fraught with challenges they had never faced, but they had to go for it all the same. Nothing could be accomplished if they didn’t even try.

TBC.