Hi guys! Sorry it's been a while since I updated!

...

ChocolateIsKryptonite- Aw thanks! I really like your fan fiction so far too! :)

Squeaky-Monkey- Thanks so much for the review and all the praise! :):):)

Musia888- Yup, I thought it would be cool to include some parents of later characters in there. See if you notice another familiar name in this chapter. :D

BeardyBob- Yeah, Sirius isn't normally the hug-gy type but there's a first time for everything! Thanks for the review!

RosesInJamJars- I'm assuming you're happy Sirius and Aubrey made up, and if so, I completely agree! :)

...

Read and try to enjoy!

...

Aubrey's heels clicked loudly on the white tile floor as she wobbled precariously down one of the many corridors inside Saint Mungos Wizarding Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. The walls were made of the same hard, white tile that the floor was made of. The air smelled strongly of sterilizers and mixed dreadfully with the overall odor of sickness. Aubrey was very much unimpressed by the place.

The wing she was in was specifically for Muggles suffering from magical injuries or maladies. The majority of the patients Aubrey had already strode by had looked rather dazed, their eyes unfocused. These were the sure signs of memory charms cast upon the unfortunate Muggles to wipe their memories clean of whatever traumatizing magical event that had resulted in their stay at Saint Mungos. Ultimately, this act helped the continuation of keeping the Magical World a secret.

Aubrey, however, had been informed that there was a small ward at the end of the Muggle hospital for Muggles who were aware of the Magical World. Now, stumbling like a drunk in tall, black, stiletto heels, Aubrey made her way toward her father who was currently recovering in room one-hundred and thirty-nine. She was defiantly ignoring the looks she was receiving from the handful of people milling about the hospital, and focusing instead on keeping her perfectly pressed curls in their position about her head, as well as staying on her feet.

A kind looking blonde haired lady hurried over to her, smiling an impossibly large smile, dressed in the lime green scrubs of the Healers at Saint Mungos. Aubrey stared at her suspiciously, struggling to remain upright in the ridiculous outfit the magical closet in her hotel room had picked out for her. The little black dress clung like a second layer of skin around her, ending at mid thigh. It had a tiny halter top that didn't seem to be in anyways helping the dress stay up, so Aubrey frequently had to hike the torso of the dress up. Fortunately the closet had suggested a cherry red coat, which Aubrey had been keeping tightly wrapped around herself.

"Have you lost your way?" the Healer asked, laughing a little, "Our hospital can be very confusing." The Healer's kind words ripped down Aubrey's guard in one go, and the sixteen year old slouched dramatically, abandoning any pretense that suggested that she knew what she was doing.

"Oh yes!" Aubrey replied vehemently, relief clearing her face, "I have absolutely no idea what I'm looking for!" The older girl nodded understandingly and gave Aubrey a smile that she might of considered patronizing if she were not so desperately lost.

"Yes, the halls of Saint Mungos can be very confusing unless you know how to get around them," the Healer agreed, nodding vigorously, "But luckily, you've found me. I have certain knack for finding my way around." Aubrey stared at the girl for a moment, eyes falling on the little name tag pinned to the green shirt. Payton Parkinson.

"Uh well thanks, um Payton," Aubrey said quickly, offering the pleased looking Healer a half smile. Payton Parkinson could only be about twenty, which was merely four years older then Aubrey. Twenty was a young age to already be a full-fledged Healer, so Aubrey supposed the girl was relatively new despite her attitude.

"Well, who are you looking for?" Payton asked, straightening the ugly lime pants she was wearing. Aubrey thought the girl was pretty in general, with typical long, straightened blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and she wondered momentarily whether being a Healer was interesting. She quickly pushed the thought away. Aubrey was way to squeamish to consider a job in the Medical field. Besides, she would have had to start studying for that kind of job ages ago. Being a Healer wasn't the kind of job you could just decided to do on a whim. I wonder what I'll do once a graduate? Aubrey wondered, thinking it odd that after five years of dedicated studying she had never thought about what she might be interested in.

Suddenly Aubrey felt Payton's curious eyes on her and she blushed, "I, ah, I'm looking for my father. His name is David Crawly..." she trailed off, looking hopefully at Payton. The Healer looked pleased and seemed to recognize the name, which Aubrey was eternally gratefully for. The day so far had seemed unpleasantly too long for Aubrey's liking and she was eager for it to be over with.

"Oh of course! David!" the Healer gasped, a smile playing across her lips that Aubrey was immediately suspicious of, "You must be his daughter, Aubrey. We were informed that you were to arrive an hour ago!" Aubrey sighed, reaching a hand up to massage her temples. She was very aware of her lateness, finding the hospital and navigating around it had proved to be more difficult then it sounded, and now all she wished was to find her father.

"I got lost," Aubrey said shortly. Payton's eyes danced with superior amusement and she began to stride down the corridor in the opposite direction than Aubrey had been walking in. Aubrey hurried to catch up, wishing for about the tenth time that day she had worn flats. Payton seemed to be walking quickly on purpose, just for the amusement of watching Aubrey struggle, although she couldn't be sure. Still, she made sure to eye Payton nastily as the prim little blonde trekked along in her efficient white trainers.

"Well, your father will be very glad to see you. Did you know that I'm the head of the Muggle wing? I'm personally in charge of the ward your father is in, and David is very sweet, always talking about his family," Payton smiled as they walked along, and Aubrey snorted derisively.

"Then I'm sure he's told you all about my wonderful mother who works very hard to support us all," Aubrey remarked, smirking. Payton's form stiffened slightly, but the Healer just flashed Aubrey a wide smile.

"Of course," Payton replied sweetly, coming to stop in front of a large pair of double doors that Aubrey's gaze had seemingly skipped over before. Aubrey frowned, wondering how she could of stumbled by these doors so obviously marked as Squibs and Muggle family of magical people. Peeved, Aubrey brushed by Payton and stalked decidedly down the new corridor. At the end of the hallway she could see a large tank full of brightly colored fish that drifted lazily around their confinement.

"Room one-hundred and thirty-nine is back here!" called Payton's voice from behind her. The Healer was smirking in what Aubrey supposed was meant to be a kind way, and standing beside a light blue door with the gold number 139 written plainly across it. Scowling Aubrey searched for an excuse.

"I know," she said coldly, "I was just going to admire the fish." Aubrey supposed there was something in the Healer's job description about not rolling eyes at guests, because Payton was doing a poor job at hiding the smug look that threatened to creep onto her face.

"I'm sure you were," Payton replied, disappearing into the room. Aubrey had no choice but to clack down the corridor to the fish tank, earning angry looks from the patients who were relaxing comfortably in plush armchairs arranged in front of the tank. Aubrey gave the tank a quick glance, eyes sweeping over a bright purple fish with a strange sweeping tail and two frog like heads. Before she could notice the other oddities inside the tank, a low voice spoke behind her.

"Strange, aren't they?" Aubrey spun around, finding herself face to face with her father, who was leaning heavily on a lavender crutch, looking tired and drained. Something seemed to pierce Aubrey's heart, and she remembered her her jumbled emotions when Dumbledore had told her of her parents safety. If you count being stunned safe, anyways, Aubrey thought wryly. Suddenly the strangest impulse to cry rushed through her and she collapsed forward into David Crawly's arms, blinking back tears.

"I thought one of you might be dead," Aubrey choked out as his fingers ran swiftly through her hair, his other hand soothing on her back.

"I tried to send an owl to you right away, but for a few weeks the doctors- erm Healers- wouldn't let me doing anything except lie in bed. Your mother must of forgotten, but she was busy working 24/7 to pay the bills for this place and to help cover up that whole event," her father explained, as she leaned back on her heels, guilty for throwing her weight upon her already exhausted father. Sarah Crawley worked for a big corporation newspaper company in London, and naturally the truth of the Kings Cross event couldn't become public to the Muggle world. Sarah and the other magic aware people working for the newspaper had probably been making sure the matter hadn't been delved into.

"Sarah had been being really good to me though, don't get me wrong. She's just really busy," her father added, "She managed to escape from work today, though, she's back in the room." Aubrey nodded.

"It's fine Dad, I totally understand," Aubrey offered him a weak smile. The two of them strolled slowly back toward his room in silence.

"I am sorry, you know. Your um, people, have been really good to me, even if they are a bit strange," her father said hesitantly, looking pointedly at a Healer who was summoning a pile of bandages over to himself. Aubrey laughed slightly, despite herself, and leaned over to give her father a quick squeeze.

"You don't have to be sorry. I've always understood why you weren't so pleased about the whole Wizard thing," Aubrey smiled, "But it would be nice to be able to hang out with my Wizard friends once in a while when schools out. They're not that bad, you know."

"I know, Aubs, I know. I was just worried for you. This whole magic thing, it's kind scary," her father said hesitantly, reaching out and pulling open the door to his room. Aubrey stepped in and glanced around. Sunlight illuminated the space, streaming through a large window that was partially hidden by a thick white curtain that blocked the rest of the room from view. Aubrey leaned back and gave her father a small smile.

"I know," she whispered, before pushing through the curtain. Payton, the Healer, was humming about the room, arranging the curtains, shifting a flowerpot, and probably, Aubrey suspected, trying to break the awkward silence with Aubrey's mother, who was sitting stiffly on a chair beside the white hospital bed. Seeing her mother was a sight so familiar and comforting that Aubrey felt her throat tighten.

"Mom," she mumbled, stumbling forward. Sarah Crawly rose, opening her arms to her daughter. Aubrey hugged her mother fiercely, ignoring Peyton's irritating tsk tsk sounds as she plumped a few flattened pillows.

"I've missed you, sweetie," her mother whispered into her hair. Aubrey pulled back, surveyed her mother. Sarah Crawly's face was drawn and tight, but she still managed to look beautiful with her tight blonde bun and sparkling blue eyes. Her mother was sporting a knee length, tight, black skirt, and a tucked in white blouse, finishing her work uniform with a black cardigan. Aubrey had always admired her mother's simple yet elegant style, which had clearly not disappeared in the trying times.

"What are your plans for this week?" her mother asked her curiously.

"Well, Professor Dumbledore provided me with a week off, so I'm staying in a little hotel a few blocks from here. I figured I'd visit everyday and then sightsee with my free time," Aubrey explained, articulating her well thought out plan. As soon as she had been informed of her father's ill health, Dumbledore had arranged for her stay at a Wizarding hotel relatively near Saint Mungos. The next day she departed, using the floo-network to end up in the fireplace of her hotel. Aubrey had been keeping her mind off her worry by planning her stay in London carefully.

"That sounds good, honey. I was hoping you'd be able to visit everyday; I'm too busy for that," her mother shot an anxious look at her father, as if he would combust at any second. Aubrey gave her mother a reassuring smile.

"I'll be here whenever he needs me," Aubrey smiled. Her mother let out a tiny sigh, then seemed to notice Payton for the first time.

"You must be David's -er- Healer," her mother said formally, looking the young Healer up an down. Payton seemed to inflate, puffing out her chest proudly.

"That's right, Mrs. Crawly. I'm the youngest head of a ward in a hundred years. That's a long time, mind you! I-" Aubrey's mother cut Payton off sharply with a cool smile.

"That's wonderful dear. Now, is there by any chance a coffee shop nearby?" Aubrey's mother asked quickly. The way Payton seemed to curl up made the girl seem like a popped balloon. Aubrey could barely suppress a snort.

"Uh, of course Mrs. Crawly. Right down the corridor on your left," Payton said miserably, watching the family file hurriedly out the tiny room. Aubrey turned to pull the door shut behind her, giving the Healer a smirk. Payton threw Aubrey a cold glance before she could shut the door, and Aubrey satisfied herself by slamming the door forcefully.

She hurried to catch up with her parents, which was easy considering her father's excruciatingly slow pace. They were deep in conversation and Aubrey supposed they had a lot to talk about. The two hadn't seen each other in several weeks, which seemed nearly impossibly when they were at such close quarters.

Ahead of them Aubrey could see a crooked sign over a glass door. Through the glass appeared to be a tiny room crammed to the brim with people, and tables. The room was dark and as Aubrey stepped into it, seemed to have an almost musty feeling. However, the powerful smell of coffee lured Aubrey quickly over to a tiny checkout table in the corner of the room. A teenage boy lounged against the counter with an almost bored look on his face, calloused fingers drumming against a wooden wand laying casually next to his hand.

When he spotted Aubrey making her way over, he visibly brightened, running a hand swiftly through his messy blonde hair. Aubrey swept her gaze up and down him, judging his age to be about twenty. His blue eyes were wide and laughing, and she frowned slightly, wondering what was funny. Self consciously Aubrey glanced down at her own attire, blushing profusely upon realizing that the red jacket had slid down her shoulders, revealing the tiny dress. She shot the boy a glare, pulling the the jacket around her tightly.

"Hey! You wanna a coffee?" the boy asked, standing up. She found that he was taller then she she expected, and so she had to tilt her head up slightly to make eye connect with him.

"Actually no, do you have water?" Aubrey said coldly. She did very much want a coffee. The boy sniggered, and Aubrey narrowed her eyes.

"Didn't you read the sign? Only coffee here," he smirked, and she glared, at loss for a better thing to do.

"Only coffee?" Aubrey replied incredulously, eyebrows raising. He tilted his head, amusement playing across his features.

"Hence the the name, coffee shop," he replied smartly, earning another cold stare.

"Well I'm fine then," Aubrey persisted, ruining her lie by eyeing a steaming cup of the black stuff being rushed by on a tray held by a harried looking waiter. Suddenly her hands burned, and she started, turning around. The boy had shoved a mug into her hands, the steaming metal searing her her.

"Just take it, you'll enjoy it," he informed her with a wink.

...

"I'll be fine Mom! I have my credit card, my phone, and my Muggle ID, as well as my wand," Aubrey told her mother for the tenth time as she attempted to floo out of Saint Mungos. Her mother grabbed her arm, her grip vise-like.

"Promise me you'll call me when you get back to your hotel?" Sarah Crawly said nervously and Aubrey sighed. Her mother had apparently become very paranoid ever since her husband's injury.

"Yes Mom, I already said I would," Aubrey said tiredly, wanting nothing more then to bury into the hotel bed. Her mother's face pinched with concern and Aubrey groaned inwardly. What is it this time?

"And be careful, look before you cross-"

"Mom, that's what you told me in fifth grade! Besides I'm taking a taxi-"

"And if you see any trouble just keep walking, don't intervene just because you're a wizard-"

"I know Mom-"

"You're still underage in the Muggle world, so I expect you to behave like that-"

"I KNOW Mom!" Aubrey managed to rip away, and after shooting her mother a fleeting smile, she crashed into the fireplace, dropping the handful of floo powder about her. "OUTSIDE!" Flames erupted around her, blocking out her mother's worried face. Aubrey coughed, feeling the unpleasant jolt under her feet as she was whisked upwards, shooting perilously fast through chimneys.

Aubrey's stomach rolled unpleasantly, she had never much liked the floo network. Suddenly her feet slammed roughly into hard ground and she stumbled out of a dirty fireplace into a loud pub. She suspected that this was one of Saint Mungos less used exits. Payton had informed her that the fireplace she had used would transport her right to where her taxi was suppose to pick her up, so Aubrey guessed that the pub was Wizard owned.

No one gave her a second glance as she stood up, dusting the soot off her red jacket and staring irritatedly at her dress, which was ripped and frayed from her journey through the chimneys. Aubrey suspected Payton had purposely directed her toward the dirtiest, most un-used exit to Saint Mungos. Scowling, she stood up, pushing her way through the crowd.

When she reached the front of the room her hand clasped eagerly on the door knob, ready to escape the pungent smell of alcohol. Suddenly a hot hand closed on her wrist. Aubrey stifled a shriek, whipping around. A red faced man spilling out of his too-small clothes smirked deliriously at her, his grip on her arm tightening.

"Let me buy you a drink, pretty girl," he leered, pulling her roughly toward him. Aubrey wrinkled her nose, fear pumping through her as his whiskey infected breath poured down onto her face.

"I don't think so," she replied sharply, glad to hear her voice sounding steady. Her other hand crept steadily toward her pocket, if only she could reach her wand... The man laughed again, his jeering face nearing her's.

"Oh come on, darling. It's only one-" the man flew backward as a jet of red light streamed out the end of Aubrey's wand. A loud crash echoed through the Pub as he fall against the bar, dishes of all kinds crashing over him. A few people near them laughed loudly, but the others seemed oblivious to the the ruckus. Aubrey sucked in a breath and stalked out, not realizing how hard her heart was pounding until the cool air brushed her face.

She glanced up, dread wiping away her thoughts about the recent events as she spotted a taxi pulling away from the curb. Aubrey glanced desperately at her watch, her stomach dropping. She was thirty minutes late to meet her taxi. Aubrey snapped to her senses, clattering after the car as it pulled away, the ridiculous heels deterring her.

With a loud snap one of the thin heels broke, making Aubrey tumbled right into a muddy puddle on the side of the curb. The taxi rounded a corner, disappearing down a different street. Hopelessness clamped down hard on Aubrey, and she fought back rising tears.

Just great, Aubrey thought to herself angrily, I've been late two times today, antagonized by a Healer, assaulted by a drunk man, ruined my outfit and shoes, and then I fell in a puddle of all things! Slowly she stood up, ripping her shoes off her feet. Aubrey earned a few curious looks from Muggle pedestrians as she made her way out of the street to a small bench.

Aubrey collapsed, wondering what she was going to do. An irritatingly loud noise ripped through the air which Aubrey immediately recognized as the thrum of a motorcycle. She scowled, glancing up just in time to see a young man park the loud vehicle right in front of her. He was dressed in a black leather jacket and jeans, and as he pulled off his helmet shaking his dark hair loose, something about him seemed vaguely familiar to Aubrey.

She looked at her bare feet again, pushing away the thought. He was probably just some crazy teenager headed to the pub behind her. Suddenly she felt warmth against her side as some sat down next to her.

"Need some help?" Aubrey looked up into the laughing eyes of Sirius Black.

You like? This has been the longest chapter yet, but I think slightly sucky. Oh well, I hope you guys liked it!

~Sophia~