Addison stopped in the Entrance Hall, puffing and wheezing as Max looked at her curiously in her arms.

"Good evening, Addison." Professor McGonagall greeted, from her spot by the door way.

"Good evening, Professor." Addison replied, regaining her composure.

"Please, call me Minerva." The older woman smiled, before quickly adding, "But not in class."

"Of course." Addison giggled, but stopped as realisation hit her. "Wait, Minerva?"

"Correct." She nodded, opening the door once Addison had clipped the leash onto Max's collar.

"You don't happen to be the person I'm named after, do you?" Addison asked, walking onto the chilly grounds with her. "Addison Minerva Potter."

"I believe I am." She smiled, preparing for the onslaught of incoming questions.

"So, you must have known my parents?" Addison asked, although she knew the answer.

"Yes, I taught them both."

"What were they like, my parents?" She asked, peering up at Minerva.

"Wonderful." She smiled softy, down at the girl. "You most certainly are your mother and father's child."

"What makes you say that?" She asked, intrigued.

"You resemble your mother in many ways, facially and in kindness. She was a delight to teach, witty and academic." She almost grinned. "You have some of your father's features, but it's your mischievousness that mirrors his. He got up to a lot of mischief in his school days with those friends of his."

"I am not mischievous!" She protested, watching Max test the grounds in excitement.

"Give it time, especially around the Weasley twins' influence." She said, with a light chuckle.

"They'll no longer be trouble makers once I'm through with them." Addison said, confidently.

"We'll see." Was all she replied.

Max jumped through the fallen crunchy leaves on the ground, sometimes running through piles of them.

"Minerva?" Addison said, after processing the information Minerva had given her. She was determined to get to know her parents and the wizarding world as much as she possibly could.

"Yes dear?" She turned her head to look at her.

"What were their friends like?" She asked, her eyes trained on a giddy Max.

"They had good friends. Both of your parents had a great sense of loyalty and were never scared to stand up for their friends." She admitted. "Your mother had a close friend once, but due to certain circumstances, they grew apart and their friendship was destroyed." Before she could ask questions, the older woman quickly added, "Your father on the other hand was in a group of four, self named The Marauders. I hate to admit it, but they were truly a great mix of mischief, on bad days, they could even bring a smile to my face."

Addison smiled, before asking her next question. "What happened to them?"

"They-" She stopped, considering her answer. She couldn't reveal too much, it would risk her finding out things that no child should have to bear. Although, Minerva was positive that Addison was smart enough to work out who her mother's old friend was eventually. She sighed. "I don't know."

"Do you- do you think they were upset? Even my mum's friend?" She frowned.

"I'm positive, dear." She assure her.

"Did they meet us? Did they meet me?" Addison asked, hurt that they would just leave, especially after what had left Harry and herself orphans.

"They did indeed." Minerva said, before stopping and kneeling a little, with a hand on Addison's shoulder. "And I can assure you, leaving you was the hardest decision each one of them ever had to make and if things could have been any different, I - they wouldn't have dared think of leaving. You would have grown up with all of the love in the world, you are loved. I promise you that."

Addison's eyes teared up, getting the feeling that they were no longer just talking about her parents friends. She was vaguely aware of Max pulling at her jeans leg and that they were back at the Entrance Hall, but in that moment, all she could focus on was holding back the tears and pent up emotions. Without thinking, she threw her arms around Minerva, sniffling as a few tears cascaded down her face.

"Thank you," She hiccupped. "So much."

"You're welcome, dear." She smiled, returning the hug. "I'll walk you back."

Addison smiled, both happy and sad, Minerva on one side and Maximus on the other. She couldn't help but smile happily, as Max kept turning around to look up at her in concern.

"C'mere Max." She said, the wet and slightly dirty puppy jumping into her arms.

"You have made a great choice in companionship." Minerva commented, watching the two with a warm smile.

"He's my best friend." She agreed, as Max licked the remaining traces of tears from her cheeks.

"Goodnight, Addison." Minerva said, stopping outside the Slytherin entrance. "If you have any more questions, I'm more than happy to answer them tomorrow night."

"Goodnight, Minerva." She smiled, stepping through. "Until then."

Addison tiptoed up to her dorm room and walked into it to find Paige wide awake, sprawled across her bed, bored.

"Took you long enough!" She said, springing up with a smile.

"Sorry, sorry." Addison giggled, drying Max off with her top and setting him down, after taking his collar off.

"Did you enjoy your walk, Maxy?" Paige cooed, as Addison changed into her pyjamas.

"He did indeed, I've never seen him so excited and energetic." Addison commented.

"That's great." She replied, playing with him. "You'll need to take me sometime, it's pretty boring here without you."

"I'll bear that in mind." Addison smirked, hopping into her bed, as did Paige, after putting the small puppy down.

"You better!" Paige replied, watching as Max stared up at Addison from the side of her bed.

"Up you come." Addison said, scooping him up and setting him on the bed, where he then curled into the curve of her arm.

"So, how did it go?" Paige asked.

"It actually went really well." Addison answered.

"I'm glad to hear it." Addison smiled. "Did you find out anything about your mum and dad?"

"Yeah, she told me a lot." Addison grinned, as she went on to tell Paige the stories Minerva had told her.

Addison was truly glad to have Paige and Max with her in Slytherin House.