Prologue

It was getting dark and she needed to get back to the palace. Olympe would not be happy if she was late for her rounds once again. She had tallied in the greenhouses and now she was going to pay for it. A twig snapped behind her and she jumped. She looked and saw a pair of eyes reflecting the light coming from the tip of her wand. She screamed and ran to the palace verandah. As she came into the light coming from her room she saw what was following her, a large, shaggy black dog. She quickly opened her patio door and closed it. Through the window she saw the dog sit in front of her door. She hurried into the hall and headed to her rounds before she could get in trouble again.

Hours later she went back to her rooms. The rounds that night had been long and tedious the children were quiet and all she had to do was remind a young couple that snogging in the hallways after dark was strictly forbidden. She lit a few candles and looked out the patio door to see if the dog was still there. It was, still sitting in the very same spot it had settled in.

" Come on! You are not a coward!" She told herself. "Elf!"

" Yes Mistress!"

"Get me a bowl of hot milk and some bones for this dog outside."

" Yes ma'am!"

The elf vanished and the girl opened the door.

" Are you going to bite me?" She asked the dog in a sing song voice. The dog moved closer to her and began to lick her hand. "Aww what a good puppy! Come here! Follow me. I have some good bones for you." With that she led it inside where the elf had left a platter of bones and a large bowl of warm milk. She turned her back to the dog and picked up the bowl and platter. When she turned back a gasp escaped her lips.

In front of her was not a dog but a man. He had long, lustrous black hair, and striking grey eyes that met her green ones. She dropped the platter and raised her wand in protection.

"What are you doing here? Why are you not in Azkaban?"

"Before you do anything you have to listen to me. I've escaped. Please put your wand down so I can explain everything!"

She lowered her wand and gestured for him to sit.

"Please tell me but I am not promising you anything. I can have you sent back to jail with one wave of my wand!"

"I know." The man began his story. He explained everything. Their deaths, the betrayal, his capture, his escape and most importantly why he was there now. When he was done a bright light appeared above the table and when it faded a wooden box sat in the middle of the table. She held out her hand and, as her fingers caressed the box, her name appeared on it. The cover lifted to reveal multiple small scrolls. One began to glow with her name. She picked it up and unrolled it.

"Dearest sister,

If you are reading this, then we have been betrayed and Sirius has been able to get to you in time. James and I have been hiding out because You-Know-Who has targeted us and our son.

Yes, you have read correctly, we have a son, you have a nephew. His name is Harry and he looks so much like his father. I can't wait for the war to be over so you can meet him. We made Sirius his godfather but because everyone thinks you are dead, we have not named a godmother. I hope you will forgive me. I wish I could have shared this with you. I wish we could have done otherwise and kept you near us but after defying him the first time and seeing what he did to so many. We thought it would be better to keep you safe. I only wish we could have kept Mama and Papa safe as well.

You may have noticed that in the box there are many scrolls. Each is to be delivered to a specific person in a specific order. You are the only one I can trust with this, Rose. You have to come out of hiding and let the world know that we faked your death to protect you. It means you will have to disappoint Petunia and tell her you are alive. I wish I was there to see her face. I need you not only to hand the scrolls to their rightful owners but I need you to take care of Harry, if You-Know-WHo has not gotten to him. He needs someone to care for him and you are the only one I can trust.

Sirius will be there to help you. He has been told that he is to be your right hand man in this venture. Just tell him what to do and he will do it. I know he is not your favourite person in the world but please, trust him for me. You are the only person who can do this for us.

I love you,

Lily Potter"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she rolled the scroll back up.

"Sirius. Where do I go from here?"

"Hogwarts is the only way you will get to see Harry. Dumbledore will help you. The only problem is that I only have a Hippogriff and am still a wanted man."

"The Tri-Wizard Tournament. We're leaving in a week's time for Hogwarts. I guess I'll tell Olympe that I want to go afterall. Sirius, you can stay here. I'll make it look like I have adopted the stray dog that followed me tonight. If you wish, that is."

The older man nodded and no sooner had she conjured up a cot, the man lay down and promptly fell asleep. She rushed out of her rooms to confirm with the headmistress that she would be joining the delegation leaving for Hogwarts at the end of the week.