Weeks of failed attempts at getting their hands on Pettigrew had failed. Nikki was getting very angry. How could a rat outsmart them, and two half-kneazle cats? Crookshank was just as smart as her Rainbow, and both cats were on the job of catching the rat with Nikki and Fred. They were all getting desperate.

"I'm just gonna tell Ron what his damned rat is!" declared Fred angrily. They stood at the top of the astronomy tower, like they did at least once a week nowadays.

"You can't do that, Fred," sighed Nikki, "He won't believe you. Harry believes that my dad is the reason his parents are dead, and Ron is his best mate. He'll think you've gone mad, suggesting his rat was the real reason." Fred sighed too, in defeat.

"What're gonna do? The damned rat is smart."

"I know, its fucking irritating!" she grumbled. "I hate rats more than I hate dogs!" Fred laughed. "What's so funny?"

"You're such a daddy's girl, but you hate dogs?" he laughed, "Don't you think that's ironic? I mean, your dad's animagus form is a dog, after all!" She laughed a little to herself. It was pretty ironic.

"Wonder why I hate dogs?" she mused, shivering a little. She pulled her robes a little tighter around her. Winter was there, and it was so cold. She should have worn her thicker robes.

"What's your favorite animal?" asked Fred, slipping an arm around her and pulling her close. She blushed, and stiffened for a few moments, before giving into instincts, and snuggling into his warmth.

"Weasels, ferrets. Animals like that," she mumbled. "They're so cool. I had a friend once who had a pet ferret, and it could bend into a circle backwards. And don't go assuming it has anything to do with you."

"Wasn't planning on it," he chuckled.

"What's yours?" she asked.

"Foxes," he answered with a shrug.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" She smirked, looking up at him. "Cunning and Mischievous, you must feel a personal connection."

"Hey, don't go describing me as 'cunning'! That's a Slytherin trait!" laughed Fred.

"The difference between a Slytherin and a Gryffindor is that Gryffindors are stupidly reckless," She declared, slipping out from under his arm and walked towards the entrance to the building.

"Or maybe its that Slytherins are self-preserving to a fault?" suggested Fred, walking after her.

"I'd gladly give my life to save those I love," she said, looking back at him.

"Then maybe you're a Lion among Snakes?"


A Loin among Snakes. It sounded like some weird muggle saying, but Nikki knew Fred had made it up, though maybe not on the spot. She didn't know, but it bothered her a little that the phrase actually did describe her. Maybe the Sorting Hat had made a mistake? Maybe she shouldn't be in Slytherin? Maybe the hat had heard her name and automatically put her in Slytherin. Blacks were always traditionally in Slytherin. Her father was the only one who hadn't been, and maybe the hat had thought it was a mistake over the years since false conviction, and had just shoved her into Slytherin so he wouldn't have to deal with having put a possible "dark wizard" into a different house. Or maybe she was just over thinking things.

"I hear you've been spending time with Weasley," Nikki looked over at Adrian, shaken out of her thoughts.

"What I have been?" she asked nonchalantly, getting up from the table. "You're my ex, why should you care?"

"Because I want you back, Nikki," he said bluntly. "And I wanna know if I should worry about competition."

"Well, you don't have to," He visibly brightened. "Because you aren't in the contest, nor is anybody. I've got too much going on in my life at the moment to worry about relationships."

"They'll catch him any day now, Nikki, and all the pointing and staring will end." Nikki shook her head.

"Do you think I want my dad in that blasted prison?" She asked him, glaring at him, before walking off. She saw Fred get up from the Gryffindor table out of the corner of her eye as she left the Great Hall. "George is gonna get suspicious of you, y'know?"

"Oh, he already is. He doesn't believe the rumors that we've been spending time together wholly, but he thinks I'm sneaking around with some kind go secret girlfriend." he smiled at her. "So, having issues with Pucey?"

"Oh he's just trying to get me back apparently," she shrugged, walking absentmindedly wherever her feet took her.

"You thinking of going back to him?"

"Hell no." Fred smiled and patted her back.

"Good girl. Maybe you could try a real man instead of some snake next time?" he suggested in his joking way.

"Got any suggestions."

"Don't I ever," he said. She knew there was more to his words, but didn't press. They fell silent, wandering absently around the castle. They eventually found themselves on a staircase.

"Oi, Fred, why's there so much of a crowd over there?" she asked, pointing over to one of the staircases, where there was a crowd of Gryffindors in front of the portrait of the singing fat lady. She knew that was the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"I dunno. Neville probably forgot the password," he said, walking over to the crowd. He tapped Angelina Johnson on the shoulder. Nikki followed behind him, feeling a little out of her element, but deathly curious about what was happening. "Hey, Angie, what's up?" he asked.

"Sirius Black was in the castle!"


Nikki spend a long night on the Great Hall floor, fuming about her father. She was going to kill him! Why would he be so stupid! She sighed, and ran a hand threw her hair. She was currently waiting desperately for potions to end. She was only half paying attention to her potion as it simmered.

"Black!" She snapped back to reality, looking up at Snape.

"Yes, Professor?" she asked.

"Start paying attention, or you'll end up being just like your mother," he ordered in that condescending tone he used so well. "Or, more fittingly, your father." She felt her heart stop. No one had said anything aloud to her about her father…and she hadn't expect a teacher to. Though, it seemed oddly fitting that it was Snape.

"Professor, I don't think that's something appropriate to say!" exclaimed Fred, shooting up in his seat. Half the class gasped, while the other half started murmuring amongst themselves. "So what if she's Sirius Black's daughter? That doesn't mean anything!"

"10 points from Gryffindor, Weasley," sneered Snape as class ends. Nikki stood up and glared at the teacher.

"I have a great dad, Professor Snape! Of all the people here you would know that!" she declared. "You saw him with me as a baby while he was at Hogwarts. Mind you, he may not be the best person, but he is the best damn father." The class gasped at her defending her father - or maybe it was the fact that she had reveal that she was a Hogwarts baby? - and Snape turned around to sneer at her.

"20 points from Slytherin, Black."