"Later, I'll ask the Greengrass family. They must be well connected in the wizarding world," said Wanda casually, ready to help.
"Greengrass? You know them? Who's the head of the house now?" asked Fleamont with curiosity, raising an eyebrow.
"Edward Greengrass. Harry is friends with his daughters, Daphne and Astoria, and I often chat with his wife," Wanda explained calmly.
"Ah, so that's the boy… I knew his father, Octavius. An unbearable Slytherin, arrogant to the core," said Fleamont with a mocking smile. "But his wife was the complete opposite: kind, intelligent, grounded. It was interesting seeing them together right after they finished Hogwarts."
"You went to Hogwarts, Grandpa?" asked Harry, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Of course I did! And I was a fabulous Gryffindorhonorable, brave, and loyal," Fleamont replied proudly, puffing out his chest.
"Hufflepuffs are the loyal ones, dear. Gryffindors are more vain, proud… and quite mischievous," Euphemia teased with a fond smile as she looked at him.
"Hey! Don't insult my House," said Fleamont, prompting laughter from Euphemia, Harry, and Hermione all at once.
"Harry, I think you'd do well in Ravenclaw. It's a good place for those who value learning… and think before acting like lunatics," Euphemia added with a playful glance at her husband.
"If I had thought before acting, I wouldn't have won you over," said Fleamont with a nostalgic smile. "Do you still remember our first date? You said something like, 'I have five ideas for the perfect date, based on the psychology of romance.' It was the weirdest date of my life!"
Euphemia laughed warmly. "I admit, after analyzing it, your method had its charm." She paused before adding with a teasing tone, "Though at the time, I thought you were more of a social experiment than a potential partner."
That day passed peacefully, filled with laughter and calm conversations, as Harry listened, fascinated, to his grandparents' stories. For the first time, he didn't just have a mother. He had grandparents. He had friends. He was no longer alone.
At last, he was truly a happy child.
…
Back home, Wanda sent a letter to the Greengrass family to inquire about this Sirius Black, though deep down, she didn't give it much importance. If that man hadn't been there when Harry needed him, she didn't feel any urgency to go looking for him.
Meanwhile, Harry had brought some alchemy tools to continue working on his project: building a small fighting robot. He could use the workshop in the Potter mansion, but it made him uncomfortable, surrounded by things he didn't understand.
Besides, he preferred his homethe house he shared with Wanda. He had no intention of moving into the Potter mansion.
That said, Liz and Gris would take turns visiting Wanda's house to help take care of Harry and make sure he lacked nothing. Of course, all within the limits Wanda set. After hearing how James Potter had been as a child, she didn't want Harry to become a copy of himand she was doing an excellent job on her own.
"Look, Mom! We did it!" exclaimed Harry, showing her the little wooden robot whose fists moved like it was ready to fight. His was blue, and Hermione's was pink.
"So cute! They actually work?" asked Wanda, leaning in with interest.
"Let's try them now!" said Hermione, setting up the stand where the tiny fighters would face off.
The robots' fists moved forward, aiming at their opponent's head, while a small bar allowed them to move closer or farther. It was a simple but exciting game.
The trick was in timing the punch just right and pulling back before the opponent could strike.
Hermione tried to attack first, but Harry swiftly pulled his robot back, dodging the hit. Then he moved forward again and, with a precise blow, knocked off the pink head of Hermione's robot.
"I won!" said Harry with a huge smile of satisfaction.
"Again!" said Hermione at once, her competitive nature flaring.
"Haha! I'll beat you as many times as it takes!" replied Harry, with the confidence of a true champion.
Wanda watched them play, smiling, when the flames in the fireplace began to stir with a peculiar noise. Since they didn't use it for heating, it was obvious someone was trying to contact her through the Floo Network.
She stood and walked over. Harry and Hermione remained engrossed in their robot duel.
In the fireplace, Selene's head appeared, floating amid the green flames.
"Hi, Wanda. I just got your letter. It sounded important, so I used the Floo to respond quickly," said Selene, her expression serious.
"It's fine. Do you know someone named Sirius?" Wanda asked directly.
"Well… it'd be weird for someone in the magical world not to know himespecially from an old family. The one you mentioned is Sirius Black. A member of the noble and ancient House of Black. Their motto was 'Always Pure'... A bunch of idiots, if you ask me."
Wanda raised an eyebrow as Selene continued.
"The only one who seemed to have some common senseand was disowned for itwas Sirius Black himself. Many wizarding families know part of his story. He was rejected by his parents, and the Potters took him in as one of their own. He grew up with James Potter. Both were Gryffindors… and a pair of pretentious idiots. I met them in person. Just arrogant boys, the worst kind of Gryffindor. Of course, there are good people in that House… but they weren't shining examples."
She paused before finishing, a bit more quietly:
"I still don't understand how Lily Evans, such a brilliant, hardworking, and serious young woman, ended up falling for James."
"Just tell me what happened to him. Harry's grandparents want to knowapparently he was his godfather," Wanda said, frowning.
"Mr. Fleamont and Mrs. Euphemia Potter left a portrait? Wow… Most people thought they left nothing behind after they died. That's strange, considering how old families like the Blacks or the Greengrasses usually are," Selene reflected before returning to the main point.
"Well… I don't know how to say this, or if it's all true, but according to newspapers from about five years ago… Sirius Black was accused of betraying James and Lily Potter, handing them over to 'He Who Must Not Be Named.' After that, he attacked a street full of Muggles, causing an explosion. He was arrested and sent to Azkaban."
Wanda's face hardened.
"And not only that… One of his companions from the group of four they had was killed by him in that same attack. The only thing left was a finger, according to reports."
Wanda frowned upon hearing the news. She stayed silent, slowly processing Selene's words.
"You said a group of four? And the last one?" she asked cautiously.
"You mean Remus Lupin? Yes, he was the fourth. I always thought he was a weird guy. Honestly, it was strange that he was in that group. He was pretty quiet, very studious… Always competing with Lily Evans for first in the class," Selene replied, remembering her school years. "The four called themselves 'the Marauders.' After finishing Hogwarts, they joined Dumbledore's side during the war against… well, you know who."
She paused, then added with a hint of mockery:
"That reminds me, Lily Evans had a best friend. That oddball Severus Snape. He was the arch-enemy of the Marauders. Everyone knew he was in love with her, but he was also obsessed with Dark Magic and ended up on the opposite side. Poor fool."
"I see… So James Potter had a group of friends: one died, another is in prison, and the last just disappeared," Wanda said quietly.
"I suppose so," Selene replied indifferently. "Anyway, it's better not to pay much attention. It would be worse if Harry got close to people like that. Let everyone know: the only one who improved by being near Lily Evans was James Potter… though to me, he remained an idiot until the day he died."
Then she sighed and said goodbye:
"Well, I have to go. I hope the information was useful."
"Thank you. I'll tell Fleamont and Euphemia," Wanda answered with a slight smile, just before Selene's head vanished amid the green flames of the Floo Network.
Turning around, Wanda saw Harry smiling happily as he played with Hermione, who frowned in annoyance at losing again. She preferred not to tell him anything. She didn't want to disturb the peace she had worked so hard to build.
"Harry, I'm going to talk with your grandparents for a moment. Make sure Red doesn't break anything, okay?"
"Okay," the boy replied without taking his eyes off his robot.
…
Wanda appeared at the Potter mansion and, without beating around the bush, explained everything Selene had told her.
"Sirius betray James? That's a monumental stupidity," said Fleamont, his expression somber and voice filled with disbelief. "That kid would have killed himself before putting his friends in danger. He once jumped off a cliff to save James! He came back with so many broken bones we spent hours healing him."
Wanda remained silent. She didn't know Sirius, so she had no judgment about him, but she noticed Fleamont spoke with absolute conviction.
"Gris, please gather all the information possible. And if necessary… go to Azkaban and get the truth straight from him," Fleamont ordered gravely.
"Wait, Fleamont! Don't be hasty," Euphemia interrupted, frowning. "Even though Gris is a house-elf with his own magic, Dementors won't let him in that easily."
"Tsk. Then have him pull Sirius out and bring him here. If he's guilty, we'll send him back," Fleamont growled, without hesitation.
"I told you it's not possible! That prison is infested with Dementors," Euphemia insisted, clearly irritated by his impulsive attitude.
"And what's your plan then? If that kid is innocent and locked in the worst magical prison in the world… are we just going to leave him there like nothing happened?" Fleamont asked, crossing his arms, frustrated but still loyal to Sirius.
"We'll have to proceed legally. It's slower, but safer," Euphemia explained firmly.
Fleamont said nothing more, but it was clear he wasn't satisfied. His eyes burned with contained fury, though he accepted his wife was right.
"I'm sorry, Wanda. Could you do us a favor?" Euphemia asked, turning her gaze to the witch.
"Of course," Wanda answered calmly.
"There's a woman named Andromeda. She's Sirius's cousin. Like him, she refused to be part of the Black family. She could help us. She's the only reliable ally we have left within that cursed lineage," Euphemia explained seriously.