Chapter 311: Sirius's Story
Lupin responded to Phineas's letter very quickly—just two hours after it was sent. This alone showed how much Lupin valued his young friend's concerns.
After reading Lupin's reply, Phineas finally understood why Sirius had been so evasive that day.
His suspicions were correct: Sirius had indeed dated someone during his years at Hogwarts. In fact, they had spent even more time together than James and Lily did.
Back then, the tight-knit Marauders—James, Sirius, Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew—were notorious troublemakers at Hogwarts, giving professors countless headaches.
At thirteen or fourteen, boys express affection in awkward ways. Often, they act out or push boundaries just to get noticed by the girls they like.
That was exactly how Sirius behaved. In an effort to draw attention, he constantly teased the girl.
Of course, what Sirius saw as harmless jokes may have felt like bullying to her.
She was a Muggle-born witch from a non-magical family. Sorted into Gryffindor, she avoided the rejection often faced by Muggle-borns in Slytherin. However, compared to Lily Evans—who shared her Muggle background—this girl had far less talent in magic and potions. She tended to blend into the background, unnoticed.
Yet Sirius, a privileged pure-blood raised in a strict household, fell for her almost instantly. Her quiet courage and vulnerability stirred something in him.
Initially, Sirius's relentless teasing nearly drove her to drop out of Hogwarts and abandon the wizarding world altogether.
According to Lupin, it had been a serious matter at the time. Professor McGonagall gave Sirius two months of detention, during which he learned a great deal of Transfiguration. This period laid the groundwork for the Animagus transformation he would later master.
Of course, James Potter also played a vital role. He had inherited Animagus techniques passed down through the Potter family, which helped their group shorten the learning process and gain greater control.
But returning to Sirius and the girl…
Lupin admitted he didn't know what happened after Sirius's detention, but not long into the second term, Sirius and the girl officially began dating. At the time, they were just fourth-years—and Sirius became the first of the Marauders to enter a relationship.
From then on, the couple were nearly inseparable—until sixth year, when they succeeded in becoming Animagi and used Lupin's werewolf form to prank Severus Snape, nearly causing his death.
Though James saved Snape, the event was widely known, even if few understood its true nature. Most believed it had simply been one of Sirius's dangerous "pranks."
And it was also around then that the girl broke up with Sirius.
That night, neither of them returned to the Gryffindor common room. No one knew where they went.
A few days later, the girl officially withdrew from Hogwarts and vanished from the wizarding world.
After graduation, the Marauders joined the Order of the Phoenix. Amid their war efforts, they also tried to find her—especially considering the hostile climate Muggle-born witches faced at the time.
But they found nothing.
Then came the betrayals—Peter's treachery, James and Lily's deaths, Sirius's wrongful imprisonment, and Lupin's struggle to survive as a marginalized werewolf—until Phineas gave him a steady job and a new lease on life.
That was the gist of Lupin's letter. It answered many questions… but raised just as many new ones.
Who was the girl? Where had she gone that night with Sirius? Why did she leave school? Had she returned to the Muggle world and cut ties with magic? Or had something terrible happened?
In those dark times, the disappearance of a Muggle-born witch was rarely "just" a coincidence.
Phineas thought it over and penned a reply:
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Lupin, thank you for telling me all this. But now I have more questions. What was the girl's name? How old is she now? Since you all spent time together back then, do you know where she lived in the Muggle world? I'd really appreciate any information. I can tell Sirius still thinks about her. I look forward to your reply.
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He sent the letter via Popsicle once more. But this time, Lupin's reply took three full days.
When Popsicle finally returned, Phineas gave him some treats, then opened the envelope.
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Phineas, I only know part of the answer. The girl's name was Hayley Jones. She was one year younger than Sirius—so she should be thirty-three now. That's all I can say for sure. After getting your letter, I reached out to a few old classmates. Hayley used to live in London, but no one knows where she moved after leaving school. Some Muggle-borns I contacted had looked for her too, but no one found her. She completely cut ties with the magical world. I hope this helps, even a little. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to write.
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Phineas snapped his left fingers, summoning a small blue flame—Fiendfyre. He had been studying it lately. Although he couldn't control it fully, he could at least conjure and extinguish it.
The flickering firelight cast a blue glow on his face as he burned the letter.
He didn't want Sirius knowing he was digging into his past—not yet. Sirius was stubborn, and Phineas couldn't predict how he'd react.
It was clear that Hayley had never used magic again after leaving Hogwarts. If she had, the Ministry of magic would have detected it and confiscated her wand.
There were no magical records for her—no job, no Gringotts account, no wand use. For more than a decade, she had stayed completely hidden.
Phineas respected that level of determination.
Still, living as a Muggle meant she was part of their world—and therefore, part of their records. The UK may lack an official registry, but it does conduct regular censuses. That might be enough to track her down.
His eyes lit up with an idea, and he grabbed another parchment.
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Damon, we've always had contacts within the Muggle government, right? I need your help locating someone. Her name is Hayley Jones. Born in 1960. She entered Hogwarts at eleven and dropped out around 1976. She used to live in London. Please find her current address and any significant records. I'm counting on you.
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As Phineas tied the message to Popsicle's leg, the owl pecked him irritably—as if saying, "I just got back, and now you're sending me out again?"
Phineas chuckled and stroked his feathers.
"This is the last one. I promise you a proper rest when you return."
With a reluctant turn, Popsicle flapped away.
Phineas watched him disappear, then exhaled deeply. If Damon's network came through, he might finally locate Sirius's old flame.
And if Sirius still had feelings for Hayley and she wasn't married. Phineas would consider reuniting them. He might even be able to persuade the elders to plan the match quietly.
Damon's reply took even longer—nearly a full month. This time, the letter was delivered not by owl, but by Damon's house-elf.
Phineas found this odd… until he read the contents.
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Master, upon receiving your letter, I immediately contacted our allies in the Muggle government. After careful research, we identified twelve women named Hayley Jones who lived in London prior to 1976 and moved afterward. We narrowed them down based on schooling history and eventually found the one you seek. This Hayley married a man named Klaus Mikaelson in 1978. Before that, she had a daughter named Hope. Hayley died five years ago. Klaus passed in a car accident a year later. Their daughter, Hope, is now a sixth-year student at Beauxbatons Academy in France.
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Phineas frowned. Hayley had married… and died. Her daughter had been born before the wedding. Since Hayley left Hogwarts in 1976 and married in 1978, and accounting for pregnancy, Hope must have been conceived before Hayley dropped out.
If so, that could explain the sudden departure.
And if that timeline was correct—Hope's biological father might well be Sirius Black.
He didn't know why Sirius and Hayley had broken up. But if Hope was indeed Sirius's daughter, it changed everything.
After all, Hope was a witch, and Klaus—judging by the name—was likely a Muggle.
Phineas checked the address. Hope lived in a French village not far from Nicolas's estate.
A visit was convenient—and justifiable. He could take Leah there for a vacation before term started.
With that plan in mind, Phineas Apparated from 12 Grimmauld Place to the Greengrass family manor.
After a short talk with Phoebus, he brought Leah to France and back to Nicolas's estate.
Because of the estate's protective magic, Leah could now access the manor while Phineas was present, though she couldn't reveal its location or bring anyone else in without his permission.
It was one of the safest places Phineas had.
"What? You think Sirius has a daughter?" Leah asked in shock after hearing the story.
Phineas nodded with a sigh.
"I'm not sure. I can't ask Sirius what really happened. And Hope… she's alone now. If she is a Black, Sirius deserves to know. But if she isn't, it'd be cruel to give him false hope."
Leah thought for a moment and nodded solemnly.
It's easy to give hope to someone in despair… and just as easy to crush it. But for someone already lost, such a mistake could be devastating.
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Author's Note: I had some writer's block today, so the update is a little late. Also, regarding Hayley, Klaus, and Hope, I just took their names, and their characters have nothing to do with American TV series such as The Originals and Descendants.