The Heretic (II)

October 2nd.

“I can’t believe you tried to convince me to fly in that muggle contraption, Moony. I thought we were best friends.”

Sirius threw a dirty look at an amused Moony as they walked through the portkey terminal in the American Ministry of Magic.

“Come now Sirius, I remember when we were younger and you wanted to fly in one of them. What changed your mind, might I ask?”

“Oh gee, I don’t know. Is it the rumor that every time one of them is in the air, it ends up either vanishing or crashing.”

Remus snorted.

“That’s a lie!”

“No it’s not. The Quibbler put real proof in it’s papers 3 years ago.”

Remus rolled his eyes.

“You know who controls the Quibbler, Sirius. Yes, sometimes their planes do… crash…”

“Aha!”

“But it’s not as common as you may think. Besides… we wizards fly on brooms. That’ll be weird to them. Not to forget we do occasionally crash on our broomsticks too.”

Sirius huffed, brushing his hand through his long locks, a woman nearby watching him pass by with wide eyes.

“They’re the weird ones.. with their flying men and superheroes.”

Remus shook his head.

“Anyway, we should probably find the exchange counter and change some galleons to dragots. Also get a room at a pub somewhere while we’re at it.”

“Can’t we just stay in Gotham instead?”

Remus shook his head.

“We’ll probably end up getting robbed or killed. From what I’ve read about that city… it’s so steeped in crime it’s only the help of that Batman fellow that it hasn’t turned into a criminal’s city.”

Sirius huffed as they walked through the ministry.

“Also… I heard Gotham City doesn’t really have a magical population. Only those too poor they can’t move to another city.”

“Well that’s depressing. Seriously Moony, you’re getting me all worried about this city… is it really that bad?”

A grim look appeared on the werewolf’s face.

“From what I’ve heard… it’s probably worse.”

The duo soon enough got some galleons changed into dragots and got interviewed by some Aurors interested in what they were doing in the country—of course they had to lie—they apparated to one of the magical inns in the city of New York.

Sirius wasted no time preparing for bed. On a normal day, he’d go out into town to have some fun, but even his conscience abhorred such a thought. He was here for his goddaughter, and he was going to find her… no matter the cost.

October 3rd.

“Thank you.”

Remus collected the old style compass and walked over to Sirius who perked up slightly.

“Did you get it?”

“Of course. It will activate in 5 minutes and then reactivate after 5 hours. We should leave now.”

Sirius nodded, walking out of the building with his friend and finding an empty corner, and just like that, were off to their next destination.

Gotham City.

Sirius looked around the dark alleyway. It was empty, with two large dumpsters that stank and almost clouded his senses.

A black skinny cat hissed as they passed too close and Sirius exchanged a look with Remus.

“Well if this isn’t ominous.”

They stopped as they walked out of the alley and looked around the street.

The skies were grey, apartment buildings literally everywhere, cars drifted by and people practically rushed towards their destinations, grim faces on and looking very unfriendly.

Remus turned to Sirius.

“Well, we’re here now. Where do we start?”

Sirius raised an eyebrow and Remus shrugged.

“You’re the Auror.”

With a sigh, the gray eyes marauder looked around, slightly overwhelmed by the large number of people passing by. He stared as two men practically walked into each other on accident and began fighting while people walked around them without so much as a care.

“Should we…?”

Remus shook his head.

“No, Sirius. Like I said, I’ve heard a lot about Gotham. This is not the place to act the hero. Good people end up getting killed everyday. And besides…”

Remus patted Sirius on the back.

“We have Leilani to find.”

With a deep breath, Sirius turned away from the commotion.

“Well, I’d have preferred we go to the local station, but we don’t really have any information on Leilani. They might suspect us of foul play. Perhaps there’s a place with information around here? Somewhere we can trace what happened all those years back. Give us a good starting point, if you will.”

Remus nodded in thought.

“Not a bad idea. I suggest we hit up the library then. The archives should help us out.”

Sirius stifled a groan.

“God, I hate Libraries!”

Remus snorted as they walked into the crowd.

“I remember you hosting snogging sessions in there every night back in 7th year though.”

“That was different, Moony.”

“Of course.”

“These are all the information we have on any accidents that occurred back in April 2007.”

The older librarian directed them to a bunch of cabinets in the library as she unlocked a rather large one.

“There’s no other way to access the information?”

Remus asked politely, looking at the bunch of papers and the woman turned to him rather blank faced, chewing on a gun rather loudly much to the werewolf’s annoyance.

“No. We haven’t upgraded as much as we can. Deal with it.”

With one last look, she sauntered off and Sirius snorted amused.

“I think she likes you.”

Remus gave his friend a look as they opened the cabinet and stared at a number of papers.

“Well… here goes nothing.”

The duo spent their early afternoon perusing through newspapers, and Sirius was quite shocked at the number of deaths and crimes in general that filled the local paper.

“God… this town…”

He whispered as he looked down at another and Remus shook his head.

“I did feel you… Gotham is… it’s their local hero, Batman who helps around. I heard he has some little helpers too.”

Sirius snorted, shaking his head before he paused at a page in the papers.

‘Gunmen kill 12 during showdown with the Gotham Police.’

“Remus… I think I’ve gotten something.”

Remus looked away from the paper he had focused on, leaning next to his friend as they read through it.

Another day of mourning for the people of Gotham city as robbers engaged the Gotham Police after robbing a bank.

As expected, they weren’t afraid to shoot out, disregarding the safety of the citizens. And unfortunately, this Les to the deaths of 12 individuals, including 3 tourists from the United Kingdom. A Dursley family—

“This is it.”

Sirius breathed out as he tapped the name on the paper, his eyes gleaming as he turned to look at the date again.

“The 29th. 2007. We have something, Moony.”

Remus nodded as he jotted down the important information.

“Glad we did. Any other thing you think we need?”

Sirius frowned in thought.

“Not at the moment. I believe we know more about the Dursley family than these Gotham people would. I’m all for searching Leilani out but… with the little I’ve seen… I don’t want to waste any time around here.”

He wrinkled his nose in distaste as they quickly began rearranging and Remus snorted.

“The City’s even better thanks to the Batman.”

Sirius scoffed.

“Well the batmate isn’t doing much.”

“He is only one man, Padfoot, and from what I’ve heard, crime rate isn’t as bad as before.”

Sirius wanted to ask if it was worse instead.

As they walked out of the library, the skies began to darken to an even darker grey much to Sirius’ annoyance, even as a drop of rain fell on his forehead.

He definitely was not enjoying this ‘trip’. He’d choose anything over this. But it was his goddaughter, so he didn’t have to enjoy the trip, he only needed to bring her back home. If he could… perhaps she has been adopted by a family then?

Maybe she was happy?

Thunder boomed in the background and he huffed, looking around.

Only the rich and middle incomes would not mind Gotham much. The streets they passed occasionally had dilapidated buildings, closed shops, some that had been looted. In another alleyway he saw some guys ready to face off each other.

This Batman… Sirius doubted he was doing much… but then again, this was only one man, as Remus had put it. He had a lot of work to do.

They looked up at the ‘Gotham City Police HQ' and Remus gestured towards the building.

“You’re the one with the badge. You go in first.”

With a small sigh, Sirius walked through the double and Remus right behind him.

They walked into an open area with a lady behind the counter, walking over to her.

“Afternoon Miss.”

Sirius put on his best smile and it definitely seemed to walk on the slightly older woman.

“Hello there, how can I help you?”

“Ah yes, is there anyone high up we can meet with?”

He brought out his special services badge and the woman’s eyes glazed for a second before smiled once more.

“Ah yes. The Commisioner is out at the moment, but detective Hopper can assist you with what you want.”

She walked around the counter and gestured to a pair of iron double doors.

“This way please.”

“Perfect.”

Sirius exchanged a grin with Remus as the woman walked through, directing them through an open office where a bunch of Officers sat behind desks, either bush, chatting or in the case of a pot bellied man, smoking a cigarette.

The atmosphere was so light and… different from what he was used to that Sirius wondered what Mad eye would think about the place. Probably even whip them all into shape.

Some of these people looked like they wouldn’t even be able to catch up to an old granny!

“Detective Hopper!”

The secretary walked up to a desk closer to what looked to be the Chief’s office and a man around their age looked up from a document he was perusing through.

He had dark brown hair and blue eyes with a day old or two beard growth.

He looked up as the three walked over to him and he greeted the lady first, his eyes going over Sirius and Remus as if wondering if they were friend or foe.

“Hey Gina.”

“Hopper, these men are here to see the chief. He ain’t here so I brought them to you instead.”

Hooper stood up, slightly taller than Remus who was a respectable 6’2 and nodded at Gina.

“Of course. Thanks Gina. I’ll take it from here.”

The woman walked off, but not before giving Sirius another look.

“Gentlemen.”

“Hey there mate, I’m Black and this is Lupin. We work with the British government on special cases.”

Sirius shined his badge once more and the man’s eye glazed as well.

“I see… is there a way I could help out then?”

Sirius shrugged.

“We’re looking at a case from 2007. There was a shooting and a family visiting from Britain got caught in a shootout and died. They left behind a young girl. Should have been about 6 then?”

Hopper frowned, thinking for a moment.

“That’s a long time ago gentlemen. I don’t think I can remember much about that time.”

Remus finally spoke up.

“Here’s a copy of the story. And that’s the family name.”

The cop took the paper, looking through it with a frown and sighed, handing the paper back.

“Still can’t help you. It’s been years.”

Sirius breathed out, frustrated, even as he brushed his hand through his hair.

“Can’t you check with that thing then?”

He pointed at the computer on the desk and Hopper raised an eyebrow.

“If she’s not a criminal, I can’t help you with it. Perhaps Child Protective Services could help you with that. If the girl wasn’t returned back to her country, then they would have dealt with it and then maybe place her at an orphanage or something.”

Remus nodded.

“That’s a start at least.”

“Is something wrong with the child?”

Sirius spoke up once more.

“No. We recently found some family that had relations to her and they wanted to know if they could get in touch.”

“And a secret service is involved?”

The man looked skeptical and Sirius was prepared.

“She’s related to someone high up apparently.”

He shrugged and Hopper nodded.

“Ah… well… I wish I could have helped out more but… I’ve said all I can.”

“It’s okay. We have a start at least. Thanks for meeting with us.”

Remus shook the man and Sirius did the same, and a couple of minutes after, they found themselves outside the building, with Sirius frowning.

“Well that was a mistake.”

Remus rolled his eyes.

“Not really.”

Sirius gave him a look.

“Not really? What do you mean not really. Those men and women in there are a bunch of lazy good for nothings!”

He waved at the building and Remus rolled his eyes.

“I mean, what do you mean you can’t remember. Aren’t there records you keep?”

“l’m sure they do. But at least we have another lead. This one could actually help us out.”

Sirius rolled his eyes a bit as the weather finally won and rain began to drizzle.

“Well… we can’t exactly do more today. The portkey should be activating in less than 30 minutes.”

“Then we’ll start our journey tomorrow again, Sirius. We’re here for a week. We’ve got 6 more days to find her. I believe we will.”

Sirius would hold onto that belief, because he had nothing else to hope for.

October 4th.

The duo wasted no time portkeying back to Gotham and after getting a map, Remus who had a better knowledge of the muggle world took control of their bus ride to the next destination.

Child’s Protective Services.

The building wasn’t much in the first place. Built in one of the better parts of Gotham, it hadn’t taken much time to be let up to the floor it was situated at and clearly it was poorly staffed too.

It was not surprising, seeing how bad things naturally were in this place.

The two were soon directed to an office where a woman in her late 40s occupied and she stood up when they walked in.

“Mr. Black, Me. Lupin, I was told you would like to see me?”

“Yes.”

Sirius shined his badge again.

“We’re here concerning a missing person’s case back in 2007.”

“Of course. Please, sit.”

As the three settled down, Remus spoke up, handing the woman the paper.

“A relative of the Dursley family who died during their visit here back in 2007? Her name is Leilani Potter. Recently, some found out about her relation to them and would like to know about her.”

The woman nodded as she looked through the paper before handing it back.

“I’ll be frank with you, a lot of children have come through this office over the past 30 years of my career and so a name is not enough for me. But…”

She added, seeing the slight droop of both men’s shoulders.

“But, there’s a way to find out. We keep records of children brought into our protection all the time. Most of these children either end up going to relatives, no matter how distant, or become wards and end up in foster homes or orphanages.”

She pressed down on her intercom.

“Lydia, please get me the documents on a Miss Leilani Potter. 2007.”

“29th of April.”

Sirius added and the woman nodded.

“29th of April. And get it quickly.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

Perhaps it was good luck, or the fact that they had quite specific ideas of her timelines, some documents were brought into the office in less than five minutes and Sirius slowly began to perk up. Hope building in his heart at the thought that perhaps, this wouldn’t be a disappointment after all.

“Okay, let’s see then…”

The woman brushed through the pages and nodded in satisfaction.

“Miss Leilani Potter. Aged 7 years old. Black of hair and green of eyes. Nationality: British.”

Sirius and Remus smile and nod.

“That’s exactly how she is described.”

“I see. Well, it says here that after getting in touch with some relative of the Dursley family, one Marjorie Dursley who wanted nothing to do with the young girl…”

Sirius’ eyed darkened at that. Oh what he’d do to whoever that was when he got hold of them… the possibilities were endless.

“She was then taken to Gotham Orphanage on the 2nd of May 2007.”

Sirius perked up.

“Was she hurt by any chance? Involved in the shooting at all?”

He asked and the woman shook her head as she continued to read the file.

“Not that I know of. She fortunately was not at the scene when it happened. Any other thing I can help you with?”

“Not at the moment, except perhaps for where this orphanage is?”

The woman tore a piece of paper and wrote down the address, and as Sirius and Remus walked out of yet another building, the godfather thought of the last thing the woman said to them.

‘While I don’t want to leave you worried, I have to admit Gotham hasn’t done well with majority of their orphanages. This particular one being one of the worst cared for. Hopefully she has been adopted… you fine men may not like what you see.’

And perhaps it was a silly wish, but Sirius hoped dearly that the woman was wrong.

How bad could a building be?

Then again, he was raised by his parents, and his childhood home was one of the worst places ever.

Gotham Orphanage.

Well now… he stood corrected.

This was… almost as dreary as a graveyard could be.

Almost too dilapidated, it was an old style mansion in a way, standing behind a pair of iron writ gates with the name of the Orphanage above it.

The gates were already opened when the two men walked through and Sirius turned to Remus.

“I don’t like this place, Moony. Almost reminds me of home. Even the Black house looked better than this.”

Remus shook his head slightly as he looked around, straining slightly to hear the laughter of children and hearing none.

How very strange. Instead, he could hear the sound of footsteps, quiet chatter and even what sounded like a child being punished by one of the adults.

Times like these, he wasn’t a fan of super hearing.

“Let’s just get things over with.”

Was all he said as the got to the door and Remus knocked thrice and waited.

He didn’t wait too long as the door opened and they looked down to see a child of about 7 or 8 staring up at them.

“Uhhhh…”

The boy drawled, mouth open and Sirius blinked.

“Um, hello.”

“Uhhh…”

Sirius turned to Remus who looked at the boy.

“Ah, is there an adult we can talk to”

“Uhhhh…”

“Is he… okay?”

Sirius whispered and Remus shrugged.

In that moment, hurried footsteps could be heard and an older teen girl rushed to the front door, holding onto the boy protectively.

“Max! I told you not to open the door!”

The boy gave the girl a sheepish grin.

“Sorry…”

Sirius snorted drily.

“Oh, so he talks.”

The girl turned to them with a smile though there was wariness in her eyes.

“Sorry about him, he’s shy. Um, can I help you?”

“We’re officers.”

Sirius showed his badge and her eyes widened, taking a step back but he quickly raised his other hand.

“Don’t worry, no one’s in trouble. We’re only here to ask questions. Who heads this place?”

She moved back slightly, looking inside and turning back.

“Um… Mrs. Cornwallis.”

“Great, is she in?”

Remus smiled softly at the girl but she seemed even more unnerved. Not that either men could blame her. They were rather intimidating, especially with their accents.

Sirius was also dresses in all black while Remus had opted more for browns.

“Y-yeah. She’s in. I’ll um… I’ll go get her.”

She excused herself and closed the door on the two of them and Sirius sighed, turning to Remus.

“Are you sure Batman is even doing anything here? Why are these kids afraid of officers?”

He threw his hands up and Remus sighed.

“Kids don’t usually like officers.”

“Kids like me!”

“That’s because I’m the wizarding world you turn to Padfoot and let them ride him.”

Sirius huffed.

“That’s just the principle of things.”

The door opened and this time a rather plump and short woman opened the door with a friendly enough smile.

She reminded Sirius of Pomona Sprout. That is… until she started asking the right questions.

“Hello, I was told you’re cops?”

Remus smiled.

“Yes ma’am, we’re—”

“No questions!!”

She snarled, moving to slam the door but Sirius held onto it.

“Bloody hell, calm down!”

The woman widened the door, glaring at them.

“Well what do you fuckers want?! Tell me how to watch the kids again? None of them have stolen anything in days!”

Sirius exchanged a look with Remus before answering the woman.

“We’re not here for any of that. We’re here on a case. A girl who came to this orphanage back in 2007—”

“We have no one like that.”

She moved to lock the door but Sirius held firm, his face grim and harsh now.

“I don’t think so. You will answer our questions or you’ll end up having issues with the government.”

“Well maybe the government will listen to our pleas then!”

Remus decided to cut in.

“Look… apologies ma’am, we just want to know about this case and we’ll be gone after. We’re not here to arrest any kids whatsoever, so please, just answer our questions.”

She glared, looking from one man to the other and huffed, turning and walking off and Remus walked in after her with a grunting Sirius behind him.

The inside of the Orphanage was even more dark and dreary and Sirius was suddenly having throwbacks to his childhood at the black home.

Two kids ran right past him and into another hallway while some watched the strange men, idly wondering if they were there to adopt or not.

The look of hope on their faces made both uncomfortable, knowing they weren’t there for any of them.

It was a very jarring feeling for them… seeing such a thing in modern day. People who had no one to take them in and having to live in such a place… Sirius knew he’d had a harsh childhood… Remus knew he also had too, what with his curse… but seeing this children… some slightly underweight and looking very pale…

It was rather chilling.

The woman soon led them up the stairs, past the creaking staircases after she chased off the kids with her harsh shouts, and into a small and slightly cramped office where she sat behind a desk and the two sat in front of her as she clasped her hands with a frown.

“Well… talk.”

She said and Sirius had to fight down the urge to turn her into a wiggly worm.

Remus was the one who answered her though as he brought out documents.

“Well, according to Child Protective Services, a little girl was brought here on the 2nd of May, 2007 after her relatives were killed. But she was British, with black hair and green eyes.”

The woman sighed, stopping Remus from continuing.

“Look, let me stop you right there. 2007? I wasn’t around here then. I got this fucking job in 2009 after that whole child trafficking madness. I have no idea what happened before that time.”

Sirius really wanted to ask about the child trafficking she’d just said but it wasn’t his priority at the moment.

“Okay… then perhaps she hadn’t been adopted? Her name’s Leilani Potter and—”

The woman choked on the sweet she had been licking and she beat at her chest slightly, Remus watching with concern.

“Are you alright ma’am?”

She raised a hand to silence him, shaking her head slightly and heaving before looking up at the both of them.

“Leilani Potter?? That’s who you’re both here for?? That girl?!”

Sirius and Remus nodded slowly and she huffed out a disbelieving laugh.

“Leilani Potter… ha! I haven’t heard that name in a VERY long time. Ha!”

“So you know her?”

Remus asked and Sirius perked up, hope building in his heart until she shook head.

“Know her? No.”

He slumped slightly, until she smirked viciously and he felt his insides turn slightly.

“Know of her though?... Yes. Yes I do.”

He sat up quickly.

“Know of her? She isn’t here anymore?”

He didn’t know if he was happy to hear that or not.

“Oh she hasn’t been here in years. Not even when I took over. But her name… oh I know her name. Little devil they called her. Carnage queen your fellow blue boys called her.”

Sirius frowned, his confusion building as he looked at Remus who looked just as confused as he did.

“Carnage queen? Why? Is there something we’re missing?”

The wolf asked and the woman chuckled drily, her eyes brightening as if remembering something.

“You probably have no idea, seeing as this was all hushed up years back. But I was one of the lucky few who got to know the name and what she did.”

She laughed coldly and Sirius gritted his teeth, frustration building slightly.

“Will you at least tell us what we want to know?”

She looked at him carefully before huffing.

“Oh whatever. You’re no fucking fun anyway. She was indeed a child here. Beautiful too, I was told… one of those rare beauties that usually grew up into models you see on the TV and magazines today. She never got lucky though… the former lady of the Orphanage? Now that one… twisted and sick. Looked all nice to everyone, but she had a secret she was keeping… and they never did find out until she’d ruined lives.”

Sirius leaned closer as he listened.

“I talked about child trafficking earlier, didn’t I?”

The two men nodded, and an unknown feeling began building at that.

“Well… that girl you were asking of? She got sold to one by the former lady.”

Sirius suddenly felt like he couldn’t breath. The air felt cold and choking. His heartbeat could be heard in his ears as he thought about what this woman had just said.

Next to him, Remus let out a startled gasp.

“Child trafficking??”

The woman nodded, uncaring of their reaction and she continued.

“Oh yeah. She got money for the more beautiful kids and then kids vanished after a while with none the wiser.”

“And no one reported anything?!”

Sirius exploded out, anger in his eyes and mouth frothing slightly, the urge to bring out his wand and curse the uncaring woman in front of him as she snorted.

“Report? To who?”

“The police! If a child goes missing without any explanation! Isn’t it the adults decision to report such a thing?!”

The woman cackled in amusement and Sirius gritted his teeth in anger and irritation. Remus held his shoulder but that did nothing.

“Oh? The cops? What can they do? This is Gotham City, you fucking Brit. This city is steeped in the criminal world. People go missing EVERYDAY! Numerous missing person cases turn up almost everyday. And that time? Children were no different. The Batman has definitely put down the numbers and criminals are very wary of him, but it doesn’t change the fact that people will still do what they want to. And besides… girl knew how to protect herself anyways… however would she have been able to kill all those people and escape.”

She waved his concerns off but Sirius heard nothing except the words… 'however would she have been able to kill all those people and escape’

“Escape?”

Remus spoke up and she nodded.

“Yeah. It was quite the thing, when a number of socialites and politicians ended up dead in a dodgy part of Gotham. No answers were given but what with my closeness to the case and being assigned care for the orphans, I found out she took matters into her hands and delivered punishment on those bastards. Served them right too.”

Sirius needed to breathe.

Everything seemed too bright. Too loud.

“Sirius.”

He stumbled slightly, falling to his knees as he struggled to breath in and out.

“Sirius!”

He closed his eyes, straining slightly as he tried to focus.

“Sirius!”

And when he did, he looked up and into the eyes of his best friend, pain in his eyes and Sirius struggled not to sob.

“Child trafficking… Remus…”

He forced out and the other man’s shoulders drooped.

They were outside the Orphanage… both not able to stay for long especially after the woman sent them off.

“H-how did this happen… why… oh Merlin…”

He stuttered slightly as he shut his eyes to stop the tears from spilling out.

He remembered when James and Lily informed him of Leilani's squib status. He remembered when they had to send her to Lily’s sister. He remembered how quiet the baby had been after the attack during Halloween. He remembered… he remembered shedding tears when he hugged her for the last time. Her confused face. Even as she waved slightly as Lily and James left with her for the very last time.

He remembered asking if he could keep her, but he knew he wouldn’t have been able to. His childhood alone let him know he was incapable of raising a child as well as could be. He couldn’t take care of himself, how was he to take care of a child? And a squib at that. One who would come to despise the wizarding world for how they would treat someone like her.

After all, wasn’t that how the other squibs felt too?

He’d hoped she was living happily… and then he found out she was in an orphanage… and then, she’s a prisoner!

“How could this happen, Remus?? How!!!”

He screamed out in anger as he forced himself to his feet, cleaning his eyes and Remus swallowed painfully.

“I uh… I don’t even know… I just…”

He struggled to think of something… anything! But nothing came to mind.

How was he to explain all this?

She should be 15 right now! Being a teenager! Doing crazy things!

And now they were being told she was in… prison?

What were they to do now?

Go back to their friends and tell them their daughter was a prisoner??

He couldn’t call her a criminal… he just couldn’t… not when all he saw was that little 15 month old girl who always smiled at him whenever she saw him… who always shared her biscuits with him, who always struggled with the ‘n’ in Moony and always ended up mooing like a cow when she said his name, much to everyone else’s amusement.

How was he to tell his friends that their daughter was…

He shuddered.

Not right now…not when a war was coming to the wizarding world.

“W-we have to go back to the station.”

Sirius quietly said as he stared up into the grey sky, his face blank as he felt a decade older suddenly.

Remus looked at him sadly.

“…Why?”

“If this is… true…”

And oh how he hoped it wasn’t.

“If it’s true… then they have more information on her. I have to know more. I can’t go back to James and Lily like this. And what about Chase? We’re just going to inform him that his sister is in jail? No… we NEED more information.”

Remus nodded in acceptance.

Sirius wasn’t going to give up, and Remus sure wasn’t either.

Walking back into the station, the secretary, Gina, directed them to the Police Commissioner who was at the office this time around.

In his late 40s thereabout, he was talking to a teen who was frowning, arms folded, with red hair and green eyes.

“Commissioner Gordon, you have visitors.”

Gina spoke up and the man turned to Sirius and Remus. In that moment, the teen used the opportunity to walk off.

“We’re not done with this conversation, Barbara!”

“Whatever dad.”

Commissioner Gordon sighed, before turning to the two gentlemen he’d never seen before.

The dark haired one spoke up first.

“Afternoon sir, my name is Sirius Black, and I work with special services in the UK.”

He showed his badge and Gordon’s face slackened for a second before straightening.

“Hello gentlemen.”

He shook their hands as Gina walked off.

“We were here yesterday but you weren’t in, and so we talked with one of your detectives… Hopper, I think his name was?”

Gordon nodded.

“Of course. Is there something I can help you both with?”

“We’re here on a case from 2007? A girl by the name Leilani Potter whose family died in Gotham. She ended up in an orphanage and somehow… she got put in jail?”

He swallowed slightly and Gordon blinked slightly for a second, before an old memory began to filter into his mind.

It had been his first year as the Police Commissioner, and one of his boys had gone to stake an underground network on his approval, along with some FBI agents… and what they’d found… still hunted him till this day.

He looked up at the English man and gestured towards his office.

“This way, gentlemen.”

As they settled down, he went to a cabinet and opened it, perusing through it.

“May I know why you’re inquiring about Leilani Potter? The whole thing was hushed up by the government. Even her name has been distanced from the case. No criminal record linked to the name and even people like me have no idea why.”

Sirius frowned slightly as he looked at the man.

“We recently got to know of her when some distant family found out about her by accident. They want to know if they can take her in.”

Gordon snorted slightly as he grabbed a folder and went to sit down, slowly opening it.

“I don’t think she wants to be found. She went to prison at the age of 8, gentlemen. Killed 78 men and women in the span of a night not even just a night… by less that an hour if I heard correctly!”

Sirius and Remus inhaled harshly and it must have shown as the Commissioner nodded understandingly.

“I was like that too. After all, how would a little girl… just 8 years of age, have the strength to take out people bigger than her… not just one… not two… not even ten! But 78 of them!!”

Meanwhile…

Somewhere in Washington.

Amanda Waller sits at her desk as she monitors a new variation of the Suicide Squad, a look of frustration on her face as she clicked the button detonating the bomb located in one of the members’ head and she sighed in dissatisfaction.

Just then, her phone rings and she picks it.

“Waller.”

“Ma’am, we have a situation. Someone has been asking of Leilani Potter back in Gotham for days now.”

Amanda frowned, sitting up.

“Who is this person?”

“Two men to be precise. British accents, officers but we have no idea who they walk with, so probably—”

“One of their numerous secret services.”

She cursed silently.

The suicide squad was a group only those high up in the American Government know about. They’ve maintained it like this for a while now and they couldn’t let other agencies or other government factions know about it. Who knew what they were going to do?

Create their own version of the squad??

“Why are they asking of her?”

And would it jeopardize things? After all, Heretic was a British citizen who was put in prison and things hadn’t been done the right way either. If this case gets out into the open… America would very well suffer for it.

“Something about some distant family finding out about her?”

Ah… so she was right then. The girl had family she didn’t know about.

If Amanda were a nicer person she’d pity the girl. But at the moment the girl caused some discomfort.

“Throw them some bone then. We can’t have them gaining anymore attention. Lead them back to their country.”

“At once ma’am.”

She cut the call, a look of distaste on her face.

“Did you ever find out how she did it?”

Remus finally spoke up and Gordon sighed.

“How else would she have?? She’s one of them. One of those enhanced running around everyday.”

“Wait… enhanced?”

Sirius looked at the man confused.

“Yes. Enhanced. She can create… things, with her mind. Make it do what she wants them to do. Unreal! That was my first time dealing with metahumans. It was almost like… magic!”

Sirius froze at that, his eyes ticking slightly.

Magic…

Almost like magic…

Wait…

No.

No way.

No!!

Remus stifled a gasp.

“She had powers??”

“Indeed. She used it to slaughter men, women, socialites… politicians… guards… the whole lot. I couldn’t stand to be in that place for long.”

He swallowed tightly, but Sirius’ mind stayed on what the man had said… she had powers?!

He shook his head slightly before leaning towards the Commissioner. He had to know… needed to know.

“This… power… how did it look? What did she do?”

“Well… it was green… she could create things with them… like knives and stuff. One of those agents talked about how she blocked numerous shots on her person by creating some sort of shield. I don’t know these things much gentlemen, and that night… I try to put it at the back of my mind… children sold… sold for the madness of those in power… it was one of the darkest times in Gotham in my opinion.”

Sirius shivered slightly as he imagined a little 8 year old girl slaughtering a large number of people.

It was self defense!!

It was… what else could it have been?!?

“Is she still in prison now?”

“I don’t k—"

Just then, a knock sounded on the door and another officer walked in, looking at the two visitors curiously before turning to Commissioner Gordon.

“I need to update a folder, boss.”

Gordon frowned as he took the paper and looked through it.

“Why is it just being updated? It’s been years.”

The man shrugged unconcerned.

“It just came in last week from Belle Reve. We don’t question, we just do.”

He walked off and Gordon grumbled for a second before turning to Sirius and Remus.

“Well, you’re both in luck. Apparently she got paroled about two years back.”

Hope immediately built in his heart.

“2 whole years?!”

Gordon nodded.

“Indeed. And apparently she’s back in her home country.”

“Any other information?”

He asked, relief in his heart though slightly clouded with worry and pain.

“No. Those information are not revealed. But that is all we have on her.”

Remus spoke up again.

“Do you mind if we have copies of that document?”

Sirius breathed in and out as soon as the walked out of the station.

He felt numb.

His search for his goddaughter had led to a number of realizations. Many he didn’t like… many he didn’t know what to think of.

His goddaughter not only had to live in an orphanage, she got sold to child traffickers and then killed people to escape and then had to go to jail… for 5 years!!

What else had she been put through?!

What else did they not know??

What else was kept a secret?!

Who was she now?

What was she capable of? If she had this… power… that seemingly helped her kill. Was it magic?

Did he want it to be magic??

The apprehensiveness he felt was too strong.

After all, if it was indeed magic… then James and Lily had been lied to by St. Mungo’s.

Then their daughter was no squib… and they’d lost the opportunity to raise her as theirs… and more importantly… Leilani had lost her childhood… all for nothing.