Harry, Xena, and an Innocent Ex-Con

A/N: I HATE ALL OF YOU BUT I HAVE FUN WRITING SO I AM TRYING TO UPDATE. WHY CAN'T YOU JUST REVIEW? IT TAKES AL OF, WHAT, THIRTY SECONDS? EXCEPT ALI (GUEST), AMMYCHEN3X AND KATT1222, I LOVE YOU GUYS cx. Also, thanks to everyone who followed. I am listening to Pandora while writing this. Just so you know ;) I will try to update faster this time XD Anyways, here you go AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HUGGABLE REVIEW. PLEASE. PLEASE. I'M DYING. I don't own the few lyrics in this chapter, they are from Who Are You Now by Sleeping With Sirens.


Chapter 3: A Home-Bound Train

Xena hummed as she opened up the small mini fridge in Sirius' equally proportioned kitchenette. She found eggs, chocolate, butter, firewhiskey, and cheese. Xena shrugged. She had enough in her backpack to combine with Sirius' fridge to make a decent breakfast for them.

Singing softly under her breath, Xena stuck a small pan with some butter to melt on the stove to begin heating up. She cracked four eggs into a bowl and began beating them. Five minutes later, Xena had the eggs cooking in the pan. With a quick idea, she grabbed some cheese and added it into the eggs. Everything was better with cheese. She wanted to have breakfast ready for Sirius when he woke up because he had been so generous, letting her sleep there last night when she had nowhere else to go.

A scuffle from the living room signaled Sirius' awakening, just as Xena split the eggs into two plates. Sirius poked his head in, wondering what smelled so good. He was awful at cooking, so nothing decent smelling ever came from the kitchen.

"What 'cha doing?" Sirius asked in a sing-song voice. All he could see was Xena busying herself at the table' her body blocked his view of what she was actually doing.

"Tah-dah! I made breakfast as a thank you!" Xena grinned, presenting his plate to him on bended knee. "All hail Sirius Black for taking in a poor, ickle werewolf!"

Sirius guffawed, taking the plate from her. "No problem, I was getting a bit lonely anyhow. Mm, this smells simply divine! Much better than that blasted Kreacher could ever do…"

"Kreacher. Old house elf. Insufferable little git, he was. Always grumbling something or other about pureblood supremacy."

"Oh. Well I made eggs and I'm not some crazy house elf so eat up!" Xena said, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly.

Sirius did exactly as she said, wolfing down the best food he'd had in twelve years. "So you got anyfink for school shoo need?" He asked through a full mouth.

"Yeah, I got the list 'bout a week before I left," Xena said, nodding. "I'm looking forward to exploring this place; I've heard so much about it!"

"It's quite a spectacular place. Mind taking an old dog out with you?" Sirius asked, finishing his eggs in record time.

"But you'll be seen! You're innocent, you can't be sent back to Azkaban!" Xena exclaimed, hastily swallowing a large bite of food and choking.

"Easy, Wolf Girl," Sirius teased, grinning devilishly at Xena's glare. "Check it out. By dog, I really meant dog." And with a grand flourish, he shifted into a great black dog with shaggy fur. Xena spit out a mouthful of egg this time.

"You're an animagus?" she shrieked. Last night, when he had told her that he and his mates had helped their other werewolf friend with his full moons, he hadn't mentioned how.

Sirius nodded proudly, still in canine form. Morphing back, he explained how it helped him escape from Azkaban.

"Well, then I guess you can come with me," Xena said. "Maybe we'll even see Harry or the Weasleys or Hermione while we're out!"

"Harry, Potter, as in my godson?" Sirius demanded.

"Godson?" Xena deadpanned. "You left a hell of a lot out last night."

"I know, sorry. Well, I guess in order to keep you from having another heart attack; I should tell you that I also have a son. He doesn't know me though." He added on the last bit as if it made everything better. "I'd expect he's about your age now."

Xena was very confused. "But I've never met anyone with the last name Black, much less a teenage boy with that name."

Sirius looked a bit perturbed and worried. "I hope he's okay. Maybe one day I'll finally get to meet him."

"Well, I'm going to clean up a bit. Then we can head out," Xena said, getting up from the table.

"Wait, you have money right?" Sirius asked. Xena nodded as she walked to the living room to get her backpack.

"You ready?" Xena questioned ten minutes later, now clad in a pair of black skinny jeans and a purple tank top and an oversized gray jacket.

Sirius, already in dog from, barked an affirmative reply. Xena grinned as she walked to open the door, hearing the jangling of money in her pocket. She'd never had money to hear it do that before.

"Let's go!" Xena exclaimed, running down the alley straight though the magical barrier with Sirius hot on her heels barking happily. When they were out in the open, Xena took out her list. Besides what was on the list, she needed some quills, new robes, ink, parchment, and potion ingredients. She decided to go find the book shop, 'Flourish and Blotts' Sirius had called it, first and then go wherever else she needed afterwards.

Xena's eyes scanned the crowded plaza, searching for Flourish and Blotts, spotting it five shops down. "C'mon Snuffles!" Xena said, using the name Sirius had told her to as she skipped down towards the store.

"No wonder Hermione loves that store so much," Xena said as she walked out Flourish and Blotts with her required texts and a couple books about pranks. She knew of the Weasley's financial situation and that Fred and George had been eyeing the books she bought. She was planning to give them to the twins as a Christmas present and then they could use them afterwards. Sirius had given several approving barks at the purchase of the prank books and had received a disapproving look from the owner of the shop in return.

"Alright, next we need to find a place to get me some new robes," Xena said to herself aloud. She was still short by anyone's standard (except, perhaps, Professor Flitwick's) but she had still grown a couple inches since she last gotten robes and needed new ones. Sirius nudged her leg with his snout and pointed out a shop with the words 'Madame Malkin's Robe Shop' emblazoned on a sign above it.

"Thanks," she said, scratching Sirius behind the ears. He closed his eyes and let his doggy tongue loll out as he furiously wagged his tail. Xena laughed as he whined when she stopped and began going towards the robe shop.

A bell sounded as she walked in and a plump woman in maroon robes approached her. "Hello Dearie, I'm Madame Malkin. Need new robes for the school year? Hogwarts I'm presuming?"

"Yes please," Xena replied, stepping onto a stool as Madame Malkin instructed. The woman whipped out a measuring tape and began taking her measurements. Xena glared at Sirius when he began barking in what sounded suspiciously like laughter at her discomfort when the shop's proprietor began measuring around her bust.

"Shut up, you stupid mutt," she hissed, heat rising to her face.

"You know he can't understand you, right?" Madame Malkin said casually as measured Xena's waist.

"Believe me, he can."

"Alright then, if you say so."

Xena sighed in relief as Madame Malkin finally handed her the robes. She quickly paid and thanked the woman, leaving rather quickly.

"That's it, no more ear-scratching for today," Xena said. Sirius whined and nuzzled her calf. On reflex, she reached down and scratched his ear. Realizing what she was doing, she stood up swiftly and grumbled. Sirius grinned as much as he could while he was Snuffles. "You suck."

"Talking to a dog, now are we?" said a familiar voice behind Xena.

"She's finally gone mad, eh?" another voice Xena recognized drawled teasingly

"Gred and Feorge!" Xena cried, hugging the unfairly tall ginger pair.

"Shorty!" They chorused hugging her back. Sirius didn't know who the two boys were but felt left out anyway. He jumped up on the three of them, knocking them down like bowling pins. He wagged his tail as the twins laughed and pet him.

"Attention whore," Xena laughed.

"Tsk, Tsk Shorty, name calling now, are we?" Fred asked. "To a dog?"

"Hey, you know who's been looking a lot like a lost puppy without you?"
George asked, suddenly looking very mischievous.

"Oh… yeah…." Fred said, catching on. An identical expression crossed his face. Xena's face went blank and wondered if she dared to ask who. But they quickly answered the question for her without her asking.

"Harry!" the cried in unison. Xena blushed madly and hid her face behind her bangs. They were getting a bit long; she realized she should probably cut them. But they certainly came in handy at time- like now, they were doing an excellent job of hiding her face. Sirius fell over comically with a disbelieving bark. It was odd how well he could express emotions in barks…

"It's cute really. It seems as though he's sweet on you!" George teased, whispering into her ear. Xena's face was as red as possible.

"Xena and Harry-" Fred began to sing into her other ear.

"Did someone say my name?"

They all turned around to see exactly who they were talking about.

"Harry! Speak of the devil…" Fred laughed.

"Xena!" Harry exclaimed, rushing forward and hugging her. "I thought I wouldn't see you until at least the first!" He quickly noticed the red tint to her tanned skin and eyed the twins suspiciously. "What did they do to you?"

"They teased me a bit, that's all," Xena replied quickly, deflecting the question.

"Must've been some teasing to get THE Xena Sharma this red." Harry didn't have much longer to ponder; Sirius had tackled his long lost godson to the ground.

"Whoa!" yelled Ron as Hermione shrieked coming up behind the group. The giant dog seemed to have startled Harry as well the newcomers. Everyone could tell because he gave a rather girly scream before collecting himself.

"What's his name?" he asked, ignoring Xena's snickering.

"Snuffles. He's really nice," Xena said, patting his fur. Sirius was overjoyed to see Harry and made it known by licking the boys face into oblivion.

"He's… very friendly," Harry chuckled.

"Yes. Yes he is…" Xena trailed off. Something in the window of a store had caught her attention. "Be right back!" she said quickly before slipping away. It simply had to be hers. It was the most beautiful guitar she had ever seen. It was acoustic, black with white pinstripes and a glossy looking finish. She wanted a guitar for herself, one her uncle hadn't made out of magic, something completely hers.

A small bell chimed when she opened the door. She kept in her trance making her way to the instrument. She softly brushed her fingertips across it in admiration. A small part of her realized she should really save her money but she needed the guitar.

"Interested in that, are you?" came an accented voice from behind her. She started a bit and turned around to see a boy about a year or two older standing behind her, smiling gently. A very handsome boy. Oh dear.

She cleared her throat and answered "yes. It's magnificent…"

"Isn't it?" he agreed. "Do you play?"

"No, I like wasting my money on things I can't even use," she said sarcastically, smiling at the boy. He was making her nervous with her cuteness… almost like Harry sometimes did. The boy laughed.

"A sarcastic guitar playing girl and a cute one at that, don't meet those every day," he replied with a wink. The Weasley twin induced blush she had lost only a while ago returned in full force. "My name is Jason. What's yours?"

"Xena," she replied. "How much is the guitar?" She was not about to be distracted by some cute guy when there was an amazing guitar only a foot away from her.

"Thirty galleons."

Xena was over the moon. She had enough for the guitar with five galleons left over. "Yes! I have the money!"

"Okay, then just come over here and I'll ring you up."

"Alright, so that sounded really wrong, but all I meant was come over here and you can pay," Jason said, a slight pink tint dusted over his cheeks.

Xena stifled a laugh and walked over to where he indicated. She gave him the galleons and he handed her the guitar in a hard black case, along with some care supplies and a cool looking pick, which she hadn't expected.

"Whoa, thanks! All I wanted was the guitar but this is awesome!" Xena gushed. She couldn't wait to play it.

"For a pretty girl like you, anything," Jason said, causing heat to rush back up to her cheeks.

"Heh, thanks…. I should get back to my friends but thanks a lot! If you don't mind can I ask you a question?" Xena asked.

"Sure," replied Jason easily.

"Do you go to Hogwarts? You don't seem old enough to have graduated and Hogwarts is the nearest school…"

"Yes, actually, I do. What about you?" he asked.

"Yeah, I go there too. But that's weird, I've never seen you there," Xena said, looking a bit confused. She was sure that she would've at least glimpsed him once or twice if they had lived in the same castle for the past three years.

"Hmm, I've never seen you either. That is odd… Well, I guess I'll see you around then," he responded, also seeming befuddled.

"Huh. Well see you later then, Jason."

"Bye, Xena."

The young werewolf walked out of the shop. To be totally honest, she was surprised they even had a music shop like that in Diagon Alley.

She made her quickly back to her friends, who all stared at her.

"What's in the box?" Fred and George asked together.

"A guitar…" she said, not liking the look on Hermione's face.

"You play? Oh Xena, play something!" the bookworm exclaimed.

"No!" Xena gasped. "Not here at least!"

"Alright then, come back to the Leaky Cauldron with us and you can play there."

She wasn't sure if she was really ok with doing it, but she didn't want to seem like a jerk. "Can we get quills, parchment, and ink before we go though?"

Everyone agreed and made their way to the store.


They were all upstairs in Harry's room and everyone was looking at Xena expectantly. She cleared her throat and took out her guitar.

"Do you mind if I turn around while I play… because I sing too, playing without singing feels weird. The only person who has heard me sing is my uncle and I was only okay with that because I never really cared what he thought..." Xena asked. She was really nervous. She was at her most vulnerable when singing so it was hard to do amongst others.

"Sure," Harry said. He felt a bit mean for roping her into something she seemed so nervous about.

"Thanks," the dark haired girl whispered. She turned around and took a deep breath. She first tuned the guitar a bit and took a few experimental strums.

Here goes nothing, she thought.

"Yeah, yeah

Don't wake me up if I'm sleeping this life away
Tell me that I'll never be good enough
Sometimes it hurts to think it could really be that way
It won't be that way

I'm tired and I'm lost
I don't wanna be fou-"

Xena's voice suddenly broke. Before this, everyone had looked rather impressed but now they looked worried.

"I… I can't guys, I'm sorry. It's just a little too personal. I'm really sorry. It doesn't mean I don't trust you… but, well, it's a bit like a diary…" Xena stammered. She felt like crying. Music was her private thing and it was difficult to let anyone into it. The last thing she wanted was for her friends to think she didn't trust them.

Hermione moved over to her friend and hugged her. "It's okay. I'm sorry I pushed you so hard to do this."

Xena smiled. They understood, thank Merlin. "It's okay 'Mione."

Everyone came and sat around her; Ron even patted her shoulder awkwardly. Xena felt she would cherish the moment forever. The closeness and affection they all held for each other was amazing.


"Hello dear! You must be the famous Xena! I've heard so much about!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, hugging the life out of an unsuspecting girl who hugged back in surprise. She only let go after she heard Xena gasp a bit.

"Arthur, come here and meet the kid' friend!" Mrs. Weasley screamed.

"Coming, dear!"

Xena decided she liked Molly and Arthur Weasley.


It was finally September first. Xena had spent the last week hanging out with friends, yet still sleeping at Sirius' place. She passed it off by saying she was staying at a very antisocial family friends place. Xena was surprised no one saw through her lie.

Looking at the red steam engine after getting out of a ministry car, Xena grew excited thinking forward to getting back to Hogwarts for another year.

A/N: I updated rather quickly this time, no? Well happy New Years everyone! 2013! Oh yeah, and the whole breaking down while singing was just there to reinforce her non-mary sue-ness and that she has her weaknesses. Um… yeah… I know I'm not too good of a writer but please bear with me! D: REVIEW PLEASE!