The journey back to platform 9 ¾ seemed to pass a lot faster than the journey out to Hogwarts, the conversations Severus held with both Lily and Sirius taking up most of the time and the books that the school librarian had let him borrow over the holidays occupied him for the rest of the time. Even though the journey took well over five hours, it felt like only one had passed.

When the train pulled up to the station, everyone poured out onto the platform. Severus had to catch himself when he began to look around for his mother, his heart sinking as he remembered she wouldn't be waiting for him; not now, and not ever again. Before he even had time to feel sorry for himself, Lily grabbed his jumper and dragged him through the crowds towards her parents.

"Mum! Dad!"

Two of the many parents turned to face them, smiles growing on their faces. "Lily!" The woman held out her arms as her daughter ran towards them, releasing him from her grasp. "We missed you so much!"

"I missed you too." She replied, burying her face in her hair. "Where's Tuney?"

"She didn't want to come." Her father explained. "Something about rapping some presents." He then turned to face Sev, smiling down at him. "Hello Severus. I've been told you'll be staying with us over Christmas."

"Yes, sir."

The man laughed. "Sir? I've told you not to call me that! It's Keith." He patted him on the back. It was a friendly feeling, something he wasn't used to receiving from an older man and he couldn't help but flinch at his touch. Noticing his reaction, the man stopped. "So, where's this luggage of yours then?"

After they'd found some trolleys, the four of them loaded all of the student's belongings on and began to head off towards the exit.

"Oh! We've got to say goodbye to everyone!" Lily exclaimed suddenly, delving once again into the crowds. Looking up briefly at her parents, Sev followed, finding her with Remus, Peter and James. "I'm going to miss you!"

"We'll miss you too, but we'll see you again in January." Lupin replied, squeezing her shoulder lightly. When he turned to his black haired friend, his eyes sparkled. "And you've got to start giving us those lessons you promised us!"

The half-blood smiled. "I haven't forgotten. Oh!" he began shuffling through his bag, pulling out a book. "You asked for this a while ago, and I forgot to give it to you."

Remus looked at the cover of the spells book, Peter looking curiously over his shoulder. "Thanks!" he put it away into his own bag and turned away to who were presumably his own parents. "See you next year! See you guys!"

And with that, they went their separate ways, and the search for Sirius began.

It took them almost five minutes to find him, and by then it was too late. His father was dragging him rather roughly behind him towards the enchanted entrance. He turned back once though, just before he went through and waved at them, a huge grin on his face, but they could tell he was scared stiff.

With their farewells over, the two Gryffindors headed out into the muggle world, loading their belongings into the car waiting for them outside and off to Cokeworth.

When they arrived outside of one of the many identical houses, they had to park almost the other end of the street as there were several cars parked outside their house.

"I'm afraid we have some family over for Christmas this year, so the spare room's taken." Martha Evans explained, pulling one of the cases out of the boot and passing it to her husband. "You'll have to share with Lily. Is that okay?"

"Um… sure." Severus replied, taking the biggest box. It wasn't like he hadn't done it before. Sure, they had been nine years old, but there probably wasn't much difference.

When they reached the door, it took a moment to unlock it, everyone bearing several items so as to make the trip once, but when the door did open, they piled in, dumping everything in the empty living room.

"We're home!" Keith shouted as he began to sort the items into respectable piles.

"Is she here? Is my granddaughter home from her boarding school?" came an old voice from the hallway, along with some scuffing that could only be footsteps. Moments later, an elderly woman entered the room, leaning heavily on her walking stick. "There she is! Won't you give your grandmother a hug?"

"Grandma!" the young girl exclaimed, running over to her delicate frame and wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

"Come now, let me look at you." The woman replied, letting her draw back, her eyes looking her up and down. "I think you've grown an inch! And your hair! Look how long it is!"

"Grandma…" Even though he couldn't see her face, Severus knew she was blushing.

"And who's this then?"

He jumped slightly as he found himself looking into a pair of pale blue eyes. They seemed weak, but full of wisdom and knowledge only gained through years of experience.

"Grandma, this is my friend, Severus." Lily said, leading her towards him. "You remember I told you about him?"

She stared off into space for a moment, deep in thought. "Oh yes! The boy you met in the field next to the tree!"

Lily smiled. "YYes,that's the one."

"Well, come here boy!" she waved her hand, "Come closer so I can see you!"

Reluctantly, he stepped forwards until she stopped motioning to him, refusing to look directly at her face, feeling her knowing eyes examining him. I was as though she was looking into his soul.

"You're a handsome young man aren't you!" she looked at his face then turned to look at her youngest grandchild. "You've gone and caught yourself a good looking lad there my girl."

"It's not like that grandma!" she explained, her face turning a deeper shade of red as he felt the blood rush into his face, making the old woman chuckle.

"Well, if you say so my dear, if you say so."

"Mum? Dad? Is that you?" came another voice from the door. There was only one other Evans who Severus knew of that would call Martha and Keith that, and that was…

"Petunia? We're in the living room!" Mrs Evans exclaimed.

Soon, Lily's obnoxious older sister was in the room, her smile quickly disappearing when she saw them. "Oh… It's you."

"Nice to see you too Tuney." He said, knowing how much she hated him calling her that. He grinned as he saw her flinch in anger, but she didn't say anything.

"What's he doing here?"

Martha looked at her husband for a moment who shrugged. "Severus is going through a little… domestic problem, so he'll be staying with us over Christmas."

As much as he hated someone talking about his home life, her reaction was worth it.

"But…! But…!" He could tell that she wanted to call him a freak, but she didn't dare in front of her parents, and especially not with her grandmother around, so she stormed out of the room with a grunt of frustration.

"I wonder what's wrong with her." Keith said wistfully before turning back to them, rubbing his hands together. "Well, I suppose we'd better get your stuff upstairs then, hadn't we."

AN - GOD! This one took ages to figure out how to start it off! I think it went a little wrong, but at least you can follow the general story line...

Thanks to everyone who's suggested what animal Sev should be as an animagus. I should have said before that the form has to reflect who the person is, not who you think they will be or what suits their 'alter-ego'. Please remember that I'm basing this entirely on who he is in this story, not J K Rowling's or the film adaption!

If you want to keep your suggestions coming, these are the results so far (in no particular order);

Wolf - 4

Fox - 8

Snake - 2

Lion - 2

Raven- 1

Owl - 1

Hawk - 1

Cat - 2