•This story takes scenes from the Harry Potter series. I want to make it clear that I don't own those scenes. That's owned by
J.K. Rowling. Thank you•

~Scarlett~

I twiddled my thumbs as I sat on the other side of my mum's desk. It felt like I was in trouble, like I had just done a prank with Fred and George that went terribly wrong and I was about to be expelled. But what was worse, was that I was being reprimanded by my mum. The one person I've ever feared.

In front of us, the Marauder's Map lay open. Names moved across the parchment, footsteps littering the ground. Mum's eyes followed the names around the school, only stopping every once in awhile. I was waiting for her to speak, but at this rate, I'd be dead by the time she even looked up at me. I cleared my throat nervously.

"Um, you called me here?"

Mum looked up at me as if she were only just realizing I was there. But that was impossible as I had brought her the map, as she had asked. Though she immediately looked back down at the map after meeting my eyes.

I opened my mouth to say something else, but she finally spoke, "I want to talk to you about your father."

The word 'father' was still so foreign to me. As if it came from another language. I had never found myself needing to say the word until just recently. But what had really shocked me was that she wanted to talk about him.

"The map clearly sees me as Mrs. Padfoot," Mum started, "meaning I'm still married to your father."

My eyes widened as her words processed in my head. It was so obvious, yet I hadn't even thought about it. I didn't even give it a second thought.

"But, if you're still married...where is he?" I asked.
"I don't know where your father is, Scarlett. I know he's alive, and I know he misses you dearly. But we can't see him," Mum sighed.
"And why not?" I scoffed.
"We just can't Scarlett," Mum stated.

She was pulling at her already greying hair. She had bags under her eyes. Her beautiful smile was something I almost never saw.

All because we moved? Or was it the Ministry of Magic? The dementors? Maybe it was me?

"No. Not 'We just can't.' I want an answer, Mum," I growled.

Mum glared at me, but I knew she didn't mean any of the threatening looks she sent me.

"Dumbledore. He gave me specific instructions. I'm not supposed to tell you who your father is, where your father is, why your father's not here. You weren't even supposed to know I'm still married to him! He doesn't know I'm still married to him!" Mum responded, her deep frown deepening even more.
"How does he not know?" I questioned.
"He was told I divorced him." Mum muttered.
"But why?" I pushed.
"Dumbledore," Mum shrugged.
"Dumbledore? Why the bloody hell are we listening to Dumbledore?" I spat.

She glared at me again.

"Because Dumbledore knows what's best for us."
She struggled to say the words. As if it physically hurt her. She knew it was a lie, but she also knew she had to say it.

"Right. Now all of a sudden you listen to Dumbledore. Do you think I'm mental? You bloody hate Dumbledore!" I exclaimed.

Mum scowled.

"Of course I hate him! He's the reason we can't see your father! He's the reason I can't see Harry! He's the reason you don't bloody know how wonderful your father was-is!"

If I was shocked earlier by the news that my mother is still married to my father, then I don't know what's happening right now. This was beyond shock.

Dumbledore's the reason I don't know my father?

How is Harry involved in this?

"What are you talking about?" I inquired.

Mum seemed to realize what she had said, as her eyes widened and she paled.

"I-I, Scarlett, I can't," Mum whimpered.

I frowned at her obvious pain, but I couldn't help the anger I felt.

How many secrets was she keeping from me? I knew she had a lot about my father, but now Dumbledore and Harry?

"Mum," I spoke.

She bit her lip, refusing to meet my eyes.

"Mum," I repeated.

She looked like she was having an argument with herself. Only meeting my eyes after heaving a great sigh.
"I can't tell you everything, Scar. But I can tell you some."

"That's fine," I nodded.

She bit her lip again before nodding.

"Your father and I are Harry's godparents. Yes, I know. You're wondering how we knew Harry's parents."
I nodded.
"Well – and don't you dare tell anyone this! Not Harry, not Fred, not George. No one."
I nodded again.
"Harry's dad is Prongs."
I gasped.
"Yes, Scarlett, I know. I need you to listen though. Harry's mum was one of my best friends. The other being who Remus was going to marry. But Harry's not allowed to know that."
"And Dumbledore?" I questioned.
"Albus, he wanted to ensure your's and Harry's safety. And whilst I respect that, he didn't approach it very maturely. He made his own decisions. He didn't think to talk to the people who rightfully got to make the decisions."
"What kind of decisions?" I pushed.

Mum sighed. She tapped her wand impatiently on her knee, not wanting to continue our conversation.

"He made it to where your father and I couldn't go out at the same time. He made the decision that one of us could go out and do whatever, and the other would take care of you," Mum explained.

I pursed my lips at this. I wanted to know more about why my mother held such a big grudge against Dumbledore. But this was also the perfect opportunity to get information about my father out of her.

And while I respected Dumbledore, I've been waiting for forever to know just a little about my father. This year was doing me well. I'd already gotten a lot of information about my father. But more would never hurt.

"Was that hard? Was my father like any other guy? Did he leave you to take care of me while he went out?" I knew deep down that there wasn't a chance that my father was like that. But the thought still existed.

Mum's head snapped up at me, her eyes piercing me.

"Merlin no! Scarlett, I don't want you to ever think that your father was like that!" Mum exclaimed.

I had expected a scolding, but she only showed concern for me.

"Then what was he like in that situation?" I asked.
"Your father and I both worked, but he was called in more than me. So there was no denying that he got out more than I did. But he made sure that I got out of the house whenever possible. He didn't want me to feel left out," Mum smiled softly.
"But he didn't get angry that he'd have to take care of me?" It was a stupid question. Mum had told me countless of times that my father loved me dearly. But the thought that he may have hated me never left me.

Why else would he have left Mum and I?

"Please. Your father was more than happy to watch you. You were his little princess. He wanted to give you the world, because in his eyes, you were his world," Mum was smiling so brightly, but tears still rolled down her cheeks.

I couldn't deny the tears that filled my own eyes.

"Mum, why would he leave us if he loved us so dearly? You say he loved me, but it sounded like he just wanted to escape me," I whispered.
"Scarlett Carina Bennet, if your father heard you say that, he'd cry. And when I say cry, I mean like boohoo. He loved-loves you so much! I know it's hard baby, but he loves you so much," Mum cried.

Tears rolled down both of our cheeks. Sobs occasionally escaped her mouth. I had never seen her like this. I knew she cried over my father, I heard her occasionally at night. But seeing her cry right in front of me, that was new.

"How much did my father love you, Mum?" I choked out.

Mum laughed slightly, but it was very much forced and I didn't believe a second of it.

"I-I don't know. He told me all the time that he loved me. He treated me so kindly, and he'd never go a day without telling me how much he loved me. But sometimes I feel like I'm the reason he's gone," Mum sniffled.

I wanted to comfort her. Wrap my short arms around her. Tell her it wasn't her fault.

But for all I know, it could be her fault.

Though I didn't even get the chance to respond as she sat up straight, her eyes narrowed at me. As if something clicked inside of her.

"I shouldn't be telling you this. I'm your mother, you shouldn't have to see me like this," she said, quickly wiping her tears away.
"Mum you don't have to be like that. I'm fifteen. I can handle taking care of you if you ever need it," I stated.

Mum shook it off, her eyes landing on the map that still laid open in front of us.

"The map. What do you plan on doing with it?" Mum questioned.
"George has been wanting to give it to Harry, and I may agree with him now that I know he's my godbrother," I replied.

Mum nodded.

"Well, I'll change it to where it doesn't give away Remus and I's identities. But please, Scar, don't repeat anything I've told you today," Mum frowned.
"Of course not Mum," I smiled lightly.

Mum flicked her wand, and the red name changed black, before the letters combined. They formed a perfect circle before breaking out again to form the words, Clairesse Bennet.

"Take good care of it," Mum said seriously.
"Always have," I said with a wink. Mum laughed at me.
"Your father would be so proud of how mischievous you are," Mum smiled. I smirked at her.
"Prongs always teased him saying that Harry would be a prankster, and you would be a girly girl. Not wanting to get your hands dirty," Mum explained.
"How'd he take that?" I laughed.
"Your father stuck his tongue out at him and said, 'I don't care if my daughter loves pranks, or sticks her nose up at pranks, she's still going to be cuter than whatever children you have!'," Mum giggled.

I laughed with her, holding my stomach as it twisted through my laughter.

"See, Prongs thought that having a daughter would be the worst thing a guy could have. So when we found out you were a girl, he teased your father so much. But your father couldn't care less that you were a girl and not a boy. He would love you either way," Mum smiled.
"He sounds amazing," I breathed out.
"He is amazing," she grinned.

I wiped the tears on my cheeks away, grinning at how happy she seemed.

"I know you've told me we can't see dad, but why can't we? What did he do that made him want to leave? Or did we do something?" I questioned.

Mum stared at me confusedly.

"Mum?" I asked, waving my hands in front of her face.
"You called him 'dad'," Mum mumbled.
"Oh. I suppose I did," I shrugged.

Mum watched me with admiration, lost in her own thoughts until finally I waved again and she snapped back into reality.

"Um, right. Your dad never wanted to leave. He was taken away from us," Mum spoke sadly.

My wide grin turned into a deep frown at the sudden change of emotion. The way she said it made it seem horrible. It was as if someone dragged him away, myself and Mum watching. The thought brought tears to my eyes, which I suppose made Mum realize what she had said.

"Scar I didn't mean it in that way," Mum sighed, putting her hand on top of mine. But I immediately pulled it away.
"You did though. Didn't you? Dad was taken from us. Why though, Mum? Why can't you just tell me?!" I cried.
"Scarlett you know exactly why I can't tell you!" Mum snapped.
"Yeah! Because bloody Dumbledore decided that he can control us and our actions! Okay Mum, I get it, he's a powerful wizard! It doesn't mean he can bloody control you! I am your daughter! Your fifteen year old daughter that deserves the right to know her father!" I screeched.

Her eyes narrowed into a glare.

"Scarlett Car-"
"Using my full name isn't going to do anything! Just tell me! Who is my father?!" I exclaimed, pulling at my hair in frustration.
"I can't tell you!" Mum yelled.

Glaring at her, I snatched up the map and walked out of her office. I stomped all the way to the Black Lake before collapsing next to a tree. Glancing down at the map, I saw that I was the only one outside.

Which wasn't that odd considering it's bloody freezing.

I sighed as I breathed in the cold air. Closing my eyes, I leaned against the trunk of the tree.

But then I heard a small bark.

My eyes snapped open.

A black dog the size of a bear was sitting right across from me. It's front paw was on top of my right hand, where the silver heart bracelet was.

Another bark.

Glancing back up at the dog, I was met by a lick to the face. Multiple actually.

"Well hello there?" I mumbled confusedly.

Another lick.
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CLIFFHANGER!

Don't you all just love me?

I just wanted to clarify for anyone that caught it, but Scarlett did not see Sirius's name on the map. That's because Claire took his name off for anyone who didn't know his true identity as Padfoot.

Meaning that only Claire and Remus would be able to see his name.

Another thing, I'm not going to be making a chapter for the answers to the QnA. Instead I will be answering one question in an Author's Note every chapter. So if you want me to answer one of your questions, then you can comment on any chapter as long as you clarify that your question is for an Author's Note.

The first one is going to be from GydiSyphen
Okay...One question...WHEN WILL SCARLETT FALL IN LOVE AND WHO WILL SHE FALL IN LOVE WITH

My answer,
Scarlett and Fred will eventually get together, as I'm sure you guessed. I do want to include the Angelina and Fred scenes, so Scarlett and Fred will probably get together either at the end of Goblet of Fire or during Order of the Phoenix.

I hope you are all having a fantastic day! I love you all!
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