Chapter 8

If it wasn't for the fact that 8 other people witnessed Sirius, as Padfoot, running down the street, she wouldn't have believed it. The anger she had towards Sirius earlier dissolved and gave way to fear. If he got caught, by anyone, it was the end of Sirius. If the Ministry got him, they'd send him to Azkaban to be kissed and he'd loose his soul. If he got caught by the death eaters, he'd be tortured for any information and then killed, so either way both situations were bad.

"We've got to go after him" Riley said turning to face the others.

"You can't go anywhere" Molly told her, the others had already started getting their jackets or robes.

"I can't just sit here and wait, I need to help" Riley said as she went to grab her own jacket.

"You will stay here and wait, he might come back" Remus told her sternly "I said stay here" he added, his voice having that hard edge to it, a mixture between fear and anger. He was afraid for Sirius, he knew what could happen if he's not found by them but he was angry at him for leaving. Riley decided it wasn't best to argue, so she let her jacket fall to the ground and she sat down on the bottom step that Dumbledore had repaired that morning for them. Mad Eye, Remus, Tonks, Arthur, Molly, Kingsley, Dumbledore and Bill all left the house, each at different intervals, till it was just Riley left alone on the bottom step, with nothing but her fears and thoughts.

"Oh god Sirius, I'm sorry" she whispered.

Riley had been watching the clock, it had been almost 6 hours since everyone left in search to find Sirius and no had come back, not even a message sent to tell her anything. Just then, the door burst open and Molly and Arthur walked through it.

"I'm sorry sweet heart, we didn't find him" Molly said as she saw the question was about form on her lips.

"Well there's still 6 other people out there searching for him" Riley replied, sitting back down on the step, trying to assure herself that they'll find him.

"Well Kingsley and Tonks had to get back to the Ministry and Dumbledore back to the school, but Remus, Bill and Mad Eye are still out" Arthur told her "Well make that Remus" he added, when Mad Eye and Bill came back together.

"Dumbledore has informed Harry of what's happened and he's sending Harry tomorrow via port key" Mad Eye told them. The night gave way to the morning and Riley hadn't left her spot on the bottom step, her head was resting on the wall but her eyes were wide open, watching the front door. Remus hadn't returned and the others began to worry.

"Come to bed, it won't do any good to stay there" Molly said quietly as she came down the stairs.

"What if he doesn't come back?" Riley asked, finally putting a voice to her fears. "What if someone else gets him?" she asked, not taking her eyes off the front door.

"No one else will find him, we will find him first" Molly said trying to assure her.

"We found Sirius, Riley but I'm so sorry" Remus was saying to her.

"Don't be sorry, if you found him that's excellent" Riley said, smiling.

"The ministry got to him first, they kissed him on the spot" Remus told her, his voice breaking. Riley didn't want to believe what he was saying, there was no way he could be gone. Just then, Dumbledore walked in to the house and showed her, the face of Sirius Black, looking up at her with a blank expression on his face, the headlines reading SIRIUS BLACK, FINALLY CAPTURED!.

She woke up screaming, knocking Remus over as he walked over to her.

"Riley, its alright calm down" Remus said, holding onto her arms.

"Huh, what?" She said dazed and confused.

"You were having a dream" Remus told her as she looked around. She was still perched on the bottom step but she had done what she didn't want to do and that was drift off to sleep.

"Did you find him?" She asked, becoming more awake. "Oh" she said as she saw him shake his head.

"Doesn't mean we wont" He assured her, but she didn't believe him. "What happened between you two?" he asked sitting down next to her.

"He was upset about you being able to touch me and to add to that he was drunk and I told him we'd discuss it when he wasn't so drunk and then I came downstairs" Riley told him as fresh tears ran down her face.

"We'll find him don't worry, might take a few days but we will" Remus told her. "Now, you should probably go have a shower, Harry will be here soon" he added. She nodded slowly, she didn't know what she was suppose to say to Harry when arrived but she was still excited to meet him, after all they were alike in a few ways.

Shortly after Riley got out of the shower, Dumbledore and Harry arrived at Grimmuald Place. He looked exactly like James, except for his eyes, they were Lily's eyes. She was told that many times but it was amazing just how right they were.

"Harry, this is Riley Maddox" Remus said, indicating Riley sitting on the bottom step again.

"Hey, heard a lot about you from Sirius' letters" Harry said smiling at her.

"I've heard a lot about you as well, it's nice to finally meet you" Riley replied, trying to sound cheerful. "I'm sorry about Sirius" she added, not even thinking.

"It's ok it isn't your fault" Harry told her, "We'll find him" he finished. He sounded a lot more confident then Riley felt, maybe he was right. But her heart told her other wise, she could feel something else was going to happen but she didn't know what.

"Oh Harry you're here" Molly said as she came down the stairs, pulling Harry into a warm hug.

"Hey Mrs. Weasley" Harry said, smiling at Riley.

"Have you met my niece Riley yet?" She asked as she tried to fatten his hair.

"Yeah I've met Riley, didn't know she was your nice though" Harry replied.

"Now you three, no one will be here to disturb you over Christmas…" Molly began to say but was cut off by a pained expression on Riley's face.

"No way, you guys are still coming here for Christmas, I couldn't handle it on my own, and I'm sure Harry would love to have you guys here as well" Riley told her, looking to Harry for support.

"Definitely and besides, when Sirius comes soon, we'll want you all here anyway" Harry replied, still sounding confident that Sirius had just taken a short walk and would be back soon, unharmed. Riley sighed, wishing she had that much confidence in the whole situation.

"Alright dears, we'll come here when the holidays actually start and I can't wait for you Riley, to meet the rest of the Weasley children" Molly went on, ignoring the face Riley was pulling. "Dumbledore, will you be joining us for Lunch?" Molly asked, turning around to face Dumbledore in the hallway.

"Not today Molly, I have some people to meet who are assisting in the search for Sirius so I must be on my way" Dumbledore replied. He bid farewell to everyone while Molly ushered everyone else into the kitchen, to have some lunch.

"Cant I please help in the next search?" Riley was asking Remus.

"No Riley, the last thing we need is for you to found by a death eater" Remus replied,

""It's not fair" She said as she waved her hand blowing up a chair next to Harry and then storming out.

"Whoa" Harry said looking at the broken pieces of the chair.

"15 years of having magic like Riley's bound, tends to make her unstable at the best of times" Remus told him.

"She didn't even need a wand though" Harry said.

"Yeah that's why Voldemort is after her, she could be so useful to him" Remus replied.

"But she wouldn't help him would she?" Harry asked, regretting the question when he saw the look on Remus' face.

"Definitely not, but under the imperious curse, you don't have control" Remus told him, keeping his voice calm.

"She better not blow up the roses again" Molly said in a matter of fact tone, Harry picked up that this wasn't the first time Riley had lost her temper.

The months had passed and there was still no luck in finding Sirius. They had finally given in and let Riley help, only if she promised to stay with an Auror while she was out. They all figured if she was with one of the Aurors, no one would try to attack her and get away with it. They came home, after another unsuccessful day of searching, to a letter sitting at the front step, addressed to the Order of the Phoenix.

Dear Order,

We have something you want and you have something I want, so let's trade.

You all know what the cruciatus curse can do to someone, used over a long period of time and it's already been a few months so I wouldn't take long to reply. All we want is the girl and you can have your precious Sirius Black back and we'll even through in the no good rat to seal the deal.

We await your reply,

The Dark Lord.