"Harry…" Hermione said in a low, tearful voice.
"I'm sorry, mate," Ron said, clasping his friend's shoulder.
Blake just watched Harry's face. The Boy-Who-Lived's face was contorted in an unusual expression - a mixture of rage, disbelief and sorrow.
Then again, I would be too. I knew Black somehow betrayed the Potters and led to their deaths, but this… James Potter trusted Sirius Black so much that he used the Fidelius Charm, and to think Black betrayed them a week later…
No wonder Malfoy was talking about getting revenge. If I was Harry, I'd be thinking of how to draw out Black right now!
"I'm gonna…" Harry growled finally. "I'm gonna-"
"Do what, Harry?" Blake said quietly.
"I'm gonna kill him!"
"Harry-" Hermione began in protest, before Blake cut her off.
"How?"
"Huh?" Harry spat again, turning to face Blake challengingly. "I don't give two sh*ts about planning, Blake. He betrayed them in the worst way possible. I'm-"
"I think you should get revenge, Harry. Sirius Black is a high ranking Death Eater, formerly a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and he's the only known wizard to ever escape Azkaban. So, if you're going to risk our lives to catch him, you need to have a plan."
"What? Who said I'm risking your lives?" Harry snapped again, almost shouting now. Good thing we left the Three Broomsticks, Blake thought. Otherwise half the school would've noticed he's here.
"Come off it, mate," Ron said. "If you want to get Sirius Black, we're coming too, just like all the times before. But Harry, I swear to Merlin, if you get me killed, I'm gonna kill you!"
"I agree with Ron," Hermione said, slightly shocking Blake. "I- I still think you should leave it to the teachers, Harry," seeing the incredulous looks on the rest of their faces, "but if you're going to go for revenge either way, you need to make sure you win."
Harry looked at them all for a few moments, before bowing his head. When he looked up again, Blake thought he could see gratitude hidden behind the cold determination in his eyes.
"Ok. So what's the plan?"
/
No plan was made. That's one hundred percent for the best though, Blake thought, sighing. None of them had been able to come up with a feasible plan, especially considering Blake was doing his best to shut down and poke holes in every single one that they came up with. I'm sorry, Harry, but it's for your own good. Besides, I've got it covered. Once I find out where Black's hiding and I get what I need out of him, I'll give him to you. It's your revenge, not mine.
Luckily, Blake had managed to soothe Harry's rising anger once again by assuring him a plan would be made in due course, and the Golden Trio made their way back to their dorms.
/
The Christmas holidays started that week, and as always, Hogwarts emptied out. This time, however, the place was particularly empty. The only students that were left were Harry, Ron, Hermione and 3 other students Blake had never seen before.
"Hurry up!" Connor yelled at him.
"Wait!" Blake yelled back, before turning back to the Golden Trio with a bashful smile. "Sorry about that, he's an impatient little git. Anyway, remember - stay out of trouble, guys. If anything happens, Owl me. I'll be waiting. Merry Christmas, guys!"
"Merry Christmas!" the trio responded, and Blake was soon on his way back home for another enjoyable Christmas.
/
On Christmas Day, the three Renshaws gathered around their small, round table, food piled onto their plates. For the first time since Blake's father passed away, the house was looking good. Blake had convinced his mother to invest the majority of the funds he'd brought home into some stocks he'd been researching, and doing so had given Carol some much needed breathing room for finances. The walls had been repainted while they were gone, the kitchen remodelled and the old, worn couches replaced.
As they dug in and Connor, in true Christmas tradition, immediately choked on his turkey, Blake couldn't help but burst out laughing while his mum attempted to dislodge the food from his throat, furiously thumping Connor's back (even after he stopped choking).
I missed this.
But something else was on Blake's mind, as the three of them watched a relatively new Christmas movie together on the new TV.
"I don't know why we're watching Home Alone 2 when we haven't watched Home Alone 1," Connor complained.
"Shut up, Connor."
"Shut up, Blakey."
"Shut up, both of you!"
Back then, with the Dementors… why wasn't I able to conjure a Patronus. And why is my memory around Connor's birthday so hazy? It's like - it's like I know it's definitely my happiest memory, but I can't remember what exactly it was?
Later that day, after Connor had already gone to bed, Blake crept downstairs to talk to his mother.
"Blake? What's wrong?" she said, her eyes showing concern. She's always known when something was up with me.
"Nothing," Blake assured her. "There's just something I wanted to ask you."
"Okay…"
"Basically, there's this spell I'm trying to learn - for it to work, you need to remember your happiest memory. I know the spell incantation, and the wand movement, but for some reason, i] can't do the spell, even though I know what my happiest memory is."
"And I suppose you want me to help with something related to this memory?"
"Yep," Blake confirmed. "It was Connor's 7th birthday, I think - the one with the cake that exploded, remember?"
Carol nodded an odd look in her eyes, and he continued.
"Was Dad there?"
"Yes, of course he was," she said, looking at him weirdly.
"But I don't remember him being there!" Blake said frustratedly.
"Hmm…" Carol looked at him worriedly. "What else do you remember about that day?"
"What d'you mean?"
"Like the small details - where it is, what time, what we were wearing…"
"Well, I don't remember all that, but it was here in the living room right? In the evening…" he trailed off, looking at Carol's confused expression.
"Blake," she began uncertainly. "Connor's 7th birthday happened while Dad was sick, at the hospital…"
Blake's head began to pound heavily.
"But then why… why can't I remember that?"
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