A/N:Hey guys! Here's chapter 7! Thanks so much to everyone that followed, favorited and I especially enjoyed reading the reviews. I really appreciate them. Enjoy and keep reviewing! :D

"Rachel! Rachel! Wake up!"

Rachel felt herself being shaken awake and gladly accepted the escape from her dreamland. She shot up in her bed, a sheet of sweat covering her skin, panting slightly. Her heart was pounding in her ears and it took her a moment to register that she wasn't in immediate danger.

Rachel thought she would never feel so relieved to be back in the dark, gloomy room she shared with Ginny in Grimmauld Place. She had just had a particular nasty nightmare in which she was forced to relive that horrible war. They didn't happen very often, but when they did, they were vivid.

"Rachel?"

The sound of her relatives concerned voice seemed to snap Rachel out of her thoughts, reminding her of the fact that she wasn't alone.

"Oh, Ginny, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

Rachel almost didn't see the red tint on Ginny's cheeks in the dim light, accompanied by the sheepish grin that made its way onto her face.

She chuckled embarrassedly, "No, it's fine... I was already awake."

Rachel eyed her roommate with a look of empathy. Ginny still hadn't confided in her what was disturbing her mind, but she woke Rachel in the night so frequently, that the latter assumed Ginny could only be experiencing something as bad, if not worse than herself.

"Are you alright," Rachel asked.

"Am I alright, "Ginny replied incredulously, "Rach, you were practically shouting in your sleep"

It was Rachel turn to turn red this time.

"You don't think anyone else heard, do you?"

"I reckon if they had, they'd be here by now," Ginny replied.

They sat in silence for a few moments and Rachel could tell that Ginny was itching to ask her something. She opened her mouth a few times, then reconsidered what she would say, and closed it again. Finally, Ginny interrupted the long held silence and said,

"Was it... was it another vision? Should I get mum and dad?"

Rachel sighed, "No, it wasn't a vision. I was just... remembering something."

Ginny looked a bit distressed at this, "Well, do you want to talk about it?"

Rachel hesitated. She did. She wanted to tell her everything since they had gotten to Grimmauld Place and although she knew that the longer she took to tell the Weasley's, the worst the aftermath would be. They had spilled their secret, why couldn't she do the same.

She gave an internal sigh of defeat and looked back at Ginny, "No, thanks though. I think I'll just go down to the kitchen and get some water," she stood up from the bed, "you should probably try and get some sleep."

Ginny nodded and rose from Rachel's bed, returning to her own, muttering along the way, "Just don't forget to be quiet around that bloody portrait. I don't think I can take that screeching anymore."

Rachel chuckled as she exited the room, closing the door as softly as she could behind her. She tiptoed down the creepy, seemingly haunted hallways, wary of each step she took, wincing at every creak and groan.

She huffed in relief as she finally reached her destination and made her way to the old sink, grabbing a glass and filled it with the oddly colored water. Rachel's face twisted in disgust and she was about to empty it when she heard,

"I wouldn't drink that if I were you. Wouldn't trust anything that came out of this house. Hasn't been lived in for years."

Rachel tensed and slowly turned to see that man, Sirius Black, sitting at the far end of the dining table. He looked tired, exhausted even. He had sunken eyes that seemed haunted in some way, making Rachel feel extremely uneasy. She had only been in this house, which Ginny informed her Sirius owned, two days and had yet to say anything to him. She knew she shouldn't be afraid of him, considering Ginny had told her he was innocent of what everyone was under the impression he did, however, she couldn't help but feel unsettled around him.

"Unless of course you want me to clean it for you," he said holding up his wand.

That seemed to wake Rachel from her trance, "Oh, no, it's fine. I don't want to intrude-"

"Nonsense. Come, take a seat," Sirius cut the red head off, motioning to the seat across from him.

Rachel emptied the glass and made her way towards him, regretting that she even went down there. She sat down stiffly and tried to recall another moment in her life that she had felt this uncomfortable.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced," he said extending his hand toward her, "Sirius Black."

She took his calloused hand and shook quickly, "Rachel Elizabeth Dare."

He considered her for a moment before speaking again.

"I get the sense that you don't like me very much."

Rachel's eyes widened impossibly and she didn't respond right away, caught off guard by his abruptness.

"I-I..." she stuttered.

"What have you heard about me?"

She said nothing.

"Oh, never mind. I know exactly what you've heard." He seemed to be having the conversation with himself now and Rachel couldn't help but notice that he seemed a bit put down. Not spiteful, bitter, or angry. Just sad.

Rachel sighed softly and closed her eyes. She was wrong about assuming what the Weasley's would be like, perhaps she was wrong about Sirius as well.

"I've been told that you're innocent."

His head snapped up and he looked her straight in the eyes.

"Do you believe it?"

"Well... I don't exactly know the whole story, but I suppose if everyone else does, then I should too."

The ghost of a grin came upon his face and he replied," You'll have to forgive me, but I am rather curious as to why you are here."

Rachel felt her face heat up and she seemed to be unable to form words, "I- well... I'm here to...-"

"Don't misunderstand, it's an honor to have you here, really," Rachel smiled softly, "but it is to my knowledge that you are a muggle, and it's not often that a muggle gets involved in these types of things."

"Yes, well it's a rather long story," she replied.

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Rachel genuinely smiled at that and found that yet again, it was likely that she had been quick to judge.

"Alright. Deal."

So she told him everything that had happened since the Weasley's came to her house at the beginning of that fateful summer. It felt oddly alleviating finally being able to discuss everything that had happened, and it helped that Sirius was a good listener. He listened intently and asked a few questions here and there, apparently quite interested in Rachel's abilities. She noticed when she described her vision with Harry and Cedric, he seemed a bit off. Rachel vaguely wondered if he knew them too.

"It was quite brave of you to come here to help your family, knowing the consequences," he complimented at the end of her tale.

Rachel smiled, flattered.

"Now, before I begin my unbelievable story, I'd like to ask if they are why you are down here," he said.

"Your visions," he clarified, "did you have another one of them tonight?"

She shook her head, "No. Just... bad dream," she looked down to her lap in embarrassment.

"I've had my fair share of those," he muttered.

Before she could even think of what she was saying, she looked back up to him,

"Is that why your down here too?"

He considered her for a moment with a look on his face that Rachel couldn't decipher. When he didn't respond, Rachel spoke quickly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's fine... yes it is. Twelve years in Azkaban will do that to you."

"Azkaban?"

Sirius' entire mood changed, "Wizarding prison. Terrible place to be. The guards there are creatures called Dementors. Nasty things, they are. They feed off of your happy memories and bring back the worst. The one's you had thought you'd forgotten."

Rachel was slightly horrified. Twelve years of reliving your worst memories and having the best one's sucked right out of your mind.

"That's..."

"Yeah," he said understandingly, "most people go mad in that place."

"And you didn't?"

He shook his head, "I think the only reason I never lost my mind is that I knew I was innocent. That wasn't a happy thought, so the Dementors couldn't take it from me... but it kept me sane and knowing who I was... and I should mention now that I'm an Animagus."

"Animagus," Rachel repeated slowly.

She was confused as Sirius stood from his chair, but it soon turned to shock as the man standing before her transformed into a dog. A big, black, shaggy dog stood right where Sirius had been a second before. She watched, amazed, as he turned back and sat down once again.

"Amazing," she said, "and that helped you with the Dementors?"

He nodded, "When it all became too much... I could transform in my cell. Dementors can't see, you know..." He swallowed. "They feel their way toward people by feeding off their emotions... They could tell that my feelings were less - less human, less complex when I was a dog... but they thought, of course, that I was losing my mind like everyone else in there, so it didn't trouble them."

It seemed to be getting more and more difficult for him to continue.

"And you escaped?"

He smirked slightly, "First one to do so."

"Why after twelve years though?" she asked curiously.

"I realized my godson was in danger."

"Godson?"

He nodded, "Harry."

Rachel froze, "Wait. Harry? As in the Harry..."

"From your vision?" he finished for her, "Yes, I believe so."

"You see, that's where my story comes in."

He then went on to tell Rachel the most complex story full of insane plot twists and extremely terrible misunderstandings. She couldn't miss the burning hatred in Sirius' intense grey eyes when he spoke of Peter Pettigrew. He couldn't be blamed of course, Rachel felt it too, considering he was the reason Sirius had suffered for twelve years and that he wasn't proven innocent the summer he escaped.

Rachel also had new feelings towards Harry, who she hadn't even met yet. Sirius had explained briefly his relationship with Harry's deceased parents, but Rachel could tell just from that, how important they were to him. She could see that the fact that he had convinced them to switch Secret-Keepers ate at him. He seemed to think it was his own fault that Peter had betrayed them.

The unexpected and extremely personal conversation Rachel had with Sirius that night had been quite enjoyable for both parties. A newfound relationship had formed where Rachel had thought it impossible to be.

As they were both headed to the exit, Rachel turned to Sirius one last time.

"I believe it," she said.

"What, " he asked.

"That you're innocent."

A rare smile formed on his face and she saw that his eyes were filled with amusement, the first time she had seen absolutely no trace of the haunted look he so frequently had.

"Good night," he said.

"Night," Rachel replied, leaving the kitchen and beginning her cautious walk back to her and Ginny's room.

It was the next morning, when Rachel was getting dressed that she had received the IM from Percy. Thankfully, Ginny had already headed down to the kitchen for breakfast and she had the door locked.

She had just pulled her shirt over her head when she heard someone clear their throat.

Rachel froze and turned slowly towards the source of the disturbance. She nearly jumped a foot in the air when she was met with the face of her best friend, who was red in the face, giving the girl a nervous smile. In the background, it was clear to Rachel that he was in the Poseidon cabin.

"Percy, how long have you been there?"

"Well, I... I didn't know you were... I didn't see any-"

Rachel could barely contain her laughter as she watched Percy stumble over his words.

"Percy, it's fine. What's up?"

The raven haired boy recovered quickly and his mood changed immediately from embarrassed to angered.

"What's up?!" Rachel winced at his hostile tone. She had completely overlooked that there might be people that would look for her if she suddenly left, "Rachel, I've been worried sick about you!"

His volume was slowly rising and Rachel knew that if she didn't want anyone in the house to hear that she was talking to someone else, she'd have to shut him up soon.

"Percy, it's fine. I'm fine," she reasoned with the demigod.

"It's not fine-!"

"Shhh!" she hushed him incredulously, "I don't need anyone else to hear us.

"Rachel, where are you, " Percy asked, fortunately, quieter than before.

"I'm with my family," she replied.

"Yeah, I know."

Her brows furrowed, "How do you-"

"I went to your house again yesterday, to see if everything was okay with your relatives. Imagine my surprise when your parents answered the door, completely okay with the fact that their daughter, who he barely lets out of the house, had gone to London with her relatives."

"Yeah, I know, it's sudden-"

"Of course it's sudden. What about camp? You said you would come back if they left. We need you here," he said loudly again.

"Percy, I will break the connection if you do not lower your voice," she threatened, "I know that camp needs me... but... I think that they need me more right now."

Percy gave her an astonished look," The last time we talked, you said you were suspicious of them, that there was definitely something up."

"Yeah, well, I was wrong," she lied.

They were silent for a few moments.

"So...you're staying there?" Percy asked slowly.

"For now... yeah..." she responded unsurely.

He sighed, "You're sure you're okay?"

She smiled and nodded, "Positive."

"Okay... just keep in touch. You still have those drachmas I gave you, right?"

"Yes."

"And you'll contact me if you need anything?"

"Absolutely."

"Alright, I'll talk to you later," he said, though she could tell that he didn't want to, in farewell.

"Bye," Rachel responded.

She broke the connection and heaved a sigh. She also wished she could tell Percy about magic and where she was and what she was helping her family with, but she was sure the Weasley's wouldn't appreciate that.

She strode across the room to the door, determined to go down to breakfast before anyone noticed her long absence.

She swung open the door and her eyes widened impossibly at what she was met with. Two red headed twins and their sister had their ears hanging in the air where the door had been.

They straightened up and look at her with suspicion,

Ginny looked her in the eye and said seriously, "Who were you just talking to?"