I Own Nothing But My OC'S!

Chapter twenty eight- Welcome Back.

Two full moons. Two full moons passed without Zee. And the third would be tomorrow. Even though we aren't on the best of terms I knew she would still come if it wasn't for the fact that she can't transform anymore. Apparently James said she tried just before the first one she missed and it was so painful she passed out only half transformed. To be honest she couldn't really do much anymore. She didn't laugh, or smile. She only talked if someone asked her something or addressed her first. She didn't even fight back when the Slytherins picked on her. She instead remained indifferent. She doesn't hang around with anyone either, she's spent some of her time in the library in the restricted section, and some in the hospital wing. But the place she spends her time in the most is in the room of requirement, and I'm sure it's the room her and Regulus used to use. The slytherins beat her up on a daily basis and it wasn't just the girls. Sometimes she would get beat up by three boys at once. I knew she could take them, but she didn't. She never raised her wand at them.

So in other words she was a walking talking robot. I'm long past believing it was her fault for the death of my little brother. I came to realize it wasn't her fault as my anger wore away the only thing left from us being friends was my damn pride. I know it's wrong and I know I should just apologize but I can't. Not after everything that happened. I know that doesn't make much sense but it does to me. I'm on better terms with all my friends now though they are a bit angry at the fact that I just won't step up and apologize.

Everyone is worried about Zee. She looks a mess. And I don't mean that in a mean way. She comes to class with her hair in the same sloppy bun, dark circles under her eyes, her blue eyes that usually shine are dull and looking more grey than blue, her shirt with buttons undone and her crooked tie loose around her thin neck. Even her clothes are starting to look big on her. I miss her smile, her laugh, her voice, the way her eyes turn electric blue when she's angry, the smirk she gets on her face after she plays a prank, her charm, her wit, her intelligence and the jingle of her charm bracelet when she walks. I just miss her. Everyone does, the girl that usually brightens up our group, taking care of us isn't here. James looks like he's in pain every time someone mentions her names, Remus looks sad and tired, Peter gets quiet, and Lily's eyes fill up with tears. They've all tried getting through to her, but nothing is working. Remus follows her to Library every chance he gets, James follows her up to her place in the astronomy tower, Lily to the lake, and Peter trails behind her when walking to class, but she just brushes them away or finds an excuse to leave. We are losing our friend and I'm scared that if she doesn't get help we'll lose her all together.

I look over to Remus and see him looking pale and tired. I sigh thinking of the full moon tomorrow and I look unconsciously over at Zee. She's staring down at her plate moving it around with her fork not once taking a bite. I frown harder. Does she even eat? But then I shake my head, there is no way someone could go almost three months without food. Could they? I study her, trying to decide if she looks thinner or not but I'm interrupted as the mail swoops down. I look at James quickly and see he has the same look in his eye every time the mail comes knowing he won't get any letters from his parents again. I pat his shoulder.

"S' alright Prongs." I tell him, he manages a weak smile. Lily squeezes his hand. I hear an audible gasp come from Zee. Which surprises me because she hasn't shown any emotion in, well three months. I look at her sharply and she two owls sitting in front of her. One I recognize as her family owl and the other is- No. It can't be. My own family owl is sitting right in front of her. Both owls holding howlers. My eyes widened.

"Shit." James says. I turn to see that he is staring her in the eyes and that she is staring back and I can tell they are silently communicating. The owls fly away leaving the howlers in the air. The hall gets quiet as the two letters burst open together. Her mother's voice and mine ring out through the great hall. I can only pick out certain things.

"Blood traitor"……"Killed my nephew"………"Dishonoring the family name"……."Murderer"……… "L'excuse pathétique pour une sorcière."………."You're lucky your father and I"……"Stupid Little girl"…………."I'll kill you!"……….."Next time we see you"

I couldn't take hearing it anymore, with the reflexes of a seeker I reach out and grab both howlers in my hand crumpling them. The great hall is still quiet until the sound of someone yelling "Meurtrier." Breaks the silence. Soon most of the Ravenclaws and all of slytherins are chanting that from their seats. Zee stands up quickly. To anyone else she looks calm and collected as she stares around blankly, but I know better because her right hand is shaking slightly. Something that always happens when she nervous, or upset. She pushed out her seat and walked with her head held high through the isle towards the door. The sounds of "Meurtrier. Meurtrier." (Murderer, Murderer) Still ringing out in the hall. I closed my eyes for a second and when I opened them she was gone.

"SILENCE!" I turn towards the staff table, Dumbledore, his blue eyes piercing angrily. "That is enough, continue eating your breakfast then off to class." I turn and look towards my friends.

"What did they say?" Lily asked me quietly.

"They called her a murderer." I all but snarled. James swore loudly and this time Lily didn't yell at him because she swore loudly too, Peter gasped, and Remus stood.

"I'm going after her."

"No." They all looked at me.

"What?" Remus asked looking shocked.

"I'm going."

I all but ran out of the hall in search of her but I didn't have to look very far because standing with her back leaning against the wall near the door breathing heavily was Zee. Her eyes closed tightly, her hands still shaking at her sides.

"Zee?" She jumped and her eyes shot to mine. Her used to be blue eyes were staring at me in complete shock. She just stared at me not blinking for a few minutes then closed her eyes, almost convincing herself she imagined it, which she didn't.

"Zee?" I repeat again. This time she looks at me and recognition crosses her face.

"Sirius?" she croaks out. I smile softly and nod.

"Hey there." I watch as she swallows thickly.

"Hi." I sigh, wanting to get passed the greetings. I'm at her side in three strides and I take her shaking hand in mine. Her eyes flare blue for a second but revert back to grey.

"I'm sorry." She takes a shaky breath and closes her eyes. "I was wrong, so wrong. Words can't even explain how sorry I am. I was stupid, I was a prat. I look at this guilt you have and its all wrong. You should feel guilty because if anything you helped Regulus do something he wanted to do. You risked your life for my brother. So thank you." She opened her eyes and stared at my face.

"You're welcome." She whispers. "If only I had gotten there in time I could have-"

"Done what? What could you have done? It was Voldemort. You couldn't have done it alone." I traced the burn scar on in inside of her palm. "You were very brave. Sorry I blamed you. Will you ever forgive me?"

"Yes." She said without answering. I grin wider, she opened her mouth to say something when I heard a very sarcastic voice ring out.

"Oh Cissy, look how sweet! The blood traitor and the murderer holding hands. Isn't it sweet?" We both look to the voice of my cousin Bella.

Narcissa just sneers. "I actually think it's disgusting. But if you like that sort of thing Bella."

"Shut your mouth Bella. Narcissa." I voice out. I reach for my own wand but Zee puts a hand on my arm.

"Leave it Sirius. Let's go." She tugs on my arm. When I don't move she just sighs and starts walking away. I was so busy glaring at Narcissa that I missed Bella taking out her wand and sending a hex towards Zee. With surprising quickness Zee spins around deflecting the spell, the only sound is her charm bracelet jingling, her eyes now an electric blue and flashing dangerously.

"I'm not in the least surprised that you hexed me behind my back Bella. Only a cowardly slytherin like yourself would. You have no chance of beating me, you've known this and yet you still try. Don't be so foolish Bella." She says the young girl with the wild dark hair and heavy lidded eyes who was now on the floor her face contorted in pain from where she collided with the wall.

"Cowardly Slytherin? Don't make me laugh. You've been running from arguments since you killed my poor little cousin. How is this bravery?" Narcissa said with her signature smirk. I watched as Zee blues eyes flashed dangerously again before she performed magic I've never seen. She swished her wand in an angry motion, purple light shot from her wand, but before it reached my cousin it expanded into a shield and made my cousin fly back and join her younger sister on the wall.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Zee screamed. "I'm so tired of listening to all of you! I didn't kill your cousin! Didn't Voldemort tell you what happened? Your perfect little death eater cousin was trying to kill him! How do you feel now that you found that out? So I suggest you shut your mouth before you speak about things which you have no idea about." Her eyes were still blue and were now glaring daggers at the tall fair haired and fair skinned girl. "Oh and by the way, I saw your master after it happened. He wasn't too happy. Morbid? Isn't he? But if you like that sort of thing." She said mocking Narcissa's earlier words. "Don't hex me behind my back again, or you'll get much worse." With that she turned her heel, taking her hair out of its usual bun, her long curls, longer than usual now landing at the bottom of her lower back.

Without a word towards my cousin I followed Xeomara down the corridor.

"Hey Zee, Wait up!" I yelled. She whipped her head around and I was glad to see her eyes went back to her normal ocean blue. She stopped and waited for me to catch up. "Where did you learn that spell?" I asked when I reached her and fell into step next to her.

"I've read quite a few books on defensive spells." She replied quietly. The rest of the way to the empty common room was spent in silence. When we walked into she walked slowly and all but fell onto the couch. She sighed and placed her head into her shaking hands. I sat down next to her, and placed my hand on her back.

This time she looked up, tear falling freely from her eyes. "I'm the one that should be apologizing Sirius. Not you. I just wanted to help you. I wanted you to be able to know and understand your little brother. But all I did is make things worse. I-" She broke off, sobs taking over her small body. I pulled her into a hug but after I felt the pile of bones she was I retreated back quickly. Angrily. She hasn't been eating, that much was obvious.

"What?" She asked confused at my expression.

"Get up stairs now."

"Huh?"

"Go." I repeated. She got up and I put my hand on her back pushing her up the stairs. Once we got in there, she put her hair into its sloppy bun getting it away from her face. "Take off your clothes." This time she looked extremely confused. She raised her eyebrows.

"Sirius?" She questioned.

"Just do it." From my expression, I think she understood what I was hinting at because her hands shook again, making me realize she was nervous. She stood with her back to me and slowly took of her shirt. I stared at her back, her bones visible on her pale skin. Her shoulder blades stuck out drastically. I walked up behind her and traced my fingers along the long scar made by Remus' claws. I then grabbed her thin shoulders in my hand and turned her around to face me. I sucked in a breath when I saw it. Her ribs were visible. All of them. Her collar bone stuck out as did her breast bone. She looked even thinner than she did back in the beginning of sixth year. I walked back to my bed where I and covered my face in my hands. Looking at her caused me pain. The pain I knew she was feeling. My lower lip trembled and before I knew it I was crying. I felt her thin arms wrap around me as she kneeled on my bed next to me. Her head resting on top of mine. I shifted in her arms, so I could wrap mine around her. My arms encircled her thin body and I cried slightly harder. I can't believe she would do this to herself. I can't believe I helped her to think it was my fault. I was so disgusted with myself.

"Why?" I asked her when I calmed down. I moved back from her embrace.

"I can't Sirius."

"You can't what?"

"I can't eat." She told me. How could you not eat? I wondered.

"No I mean it. I've tried. At first it made me sick looking at it. But I realized I haven't ate in awhile and by then it was too late. I get sick every time I eat. You know how much I hate throw up. So I stopped trying."

"There is no way." I said.

"I'll prove it." She went into my trunk and pulled out a bag of candy. She ate it, swallowing thickly every time. We sat quietly and no later than fifteen minutes she was running for the bathroom, her mouth over top of her hands. I ran in after her and placed my hands on her back as she got sick one, two times. Once she was done I sat back leaning against the wall as she placed her head on the cold toilet seat. Her body shaking.

"T-told you." She said weakly. I grabbed her and pulled her to me, laying her head in my lap. I took her hair out of her bun and ran my fingers through it as her eyes fluttered shut. I sat there for who knows how long just running my fingers through it as she slept curled in a ball, her head still in my lap. Not wanting to wake her, I gently pick her up in my arms and placed her down on my bed covering her body before I layed down next to her on top of the covers. She unconsciously snuggled up next to me. I took a deep breath in and sighed. The next thing I knew, I to was sleeping my troubles away.

-Xeomara's POV-

I snuggled closer into the blankets, wondering why I felt so weak but yet more awake then I've been in along time. Then everything came back to me, the howlers, screaming mothers(Sirius' and mine) the screaming of murderer, Sirius apologizing, narcissa and bella, Sirius find out about me not eating, the throw up. Damn, I thought. A lot of things sure happened to today. I took in Sirius' familiar scent telling me I was laying in his bed. Without opening my eyes I put my hand out feeling for him. When I found nothing I heard a light chuckle.

"Looking for me?" He said, I could tell his grey eyes would be twinkling, and I could already see the smirk on his face. I open my eyes and found him sitting on Remus' bed staring out the window, he turned and face me and I pouted slightly.

"No." I mumble. He barks out a laugh.

"Sure you weren't." Then he adds "Come here." And opens his arms. I get up from the bed, my top still off and go over and snuggle into his side looking out on the grounds. The sun was setting. Wait, the sun was setting?

"Sirius? How long was I asleep?"

"Since after you got sick." He replies.

"Wait what?! Why didn't you wake me? I miss all of my classes."

"You really did change." He mumbles.

"What?" I asked not sure what he meant by that.

"You never cared about missing classes before, but ever since Reggie-" He left the word hanging there and I was grateful he didn't come out and say it.

"I don't really care about classes. It was just something to do."

"But now you can come back." He tells me.

"And now I can." I agree.

We're silent for a moment and then he says, "We have to tell James about this."

Sighing I say "I know, I don't know how I hid it from him in the first place." He raised an eye brow at me but I ignored it. "Your brother wrote me a letter you know."

"Yeah before he left, he dropped it off with the stuff in his will. I don't know if he told you but he left you all his money." His eyes widened.

"He what?!"

"Oh he didn't mention in the letter if he told you or not, but your parents don't either. But you'll inherit all of their money and Regulus'."

"Damn." He said blinking hard.

"Well,"

"Well what?" He asks me.

"Do you want to read the letter?" He looks at me his eyes wide.

"You'd let me?" I give him a smile, the first smile I gave in a long time and nod. I pull the letter out of my pocket where I always keep in and unfold it.

"You carry it with you?" He asks staring at the letter.

"Every day." He takes the letter from me and reads it not once but at least three times. He closes his eyes as he finishes and I place my hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you. Thank you for being there when I wasn't. He really loved you then. You were a good sister to him. You were good for him."

"I loved him too, he was the perfect little brother." I said smiling through my tears. He gave a watery chuckle.

"You can watch the memories if you want." He looks up at me, his expression guilty.

"I already did." He admitted. I narrow my eyes.

"How?"

"Well you know the day you saw me in the common room like really early in the morning." I nod. "Well I followed you out because I was curious, and well I followed you in that room and watched them with you."

"oh." He looked at me nervously. "I'm not mad Sirius. I was gonna show you eventually anyway." His nervous expression gone. I lean into his embrace and we both look back out the window to watch night fall.

-Sirius' POV-

I roll over and when I open my eyes I'm surprised to see I'm looking at the window. This isn't my bed is the first thing I think. I roll over the other way, and see Zee next to me sleeping. It's then I realize we must have fallen asleep in Moony's bed last night.

"Finally awake Sirius?" A grinning James says walking out of the washroom buttoning his uniform shirt.

"Yeah…" I trail off.

"We found you sleeping when we came back from dinner so we left you there." Remus answers my suspicion.

"Oh."

"So does that mean…?" Peter asked.

"No. We're friends." I tell them. James frowns.

"You don't love her anymore?" What a stupid question. Of course I love her. I always will love her but I just feel like we need to take it slow. Get back in order.

"I want to take it slow, so that's what I'm going to do. I want us to be friends again first." Remus nods.

"I think that's reasonable. But now I think you should wake her up so she can get ready for school." I poke her side.

"Zee?"

"Zee?"

"ZEE!" I yell louder. She jumps so high she falls right on the floor with a thump.

"oof." I hear. I roll over and look down at the floor grinning. "Sirius Black! I'm going to murder you!" She yells when she sees me.

"Well good morning to you to my darling Stripes." She just scowls.

"I'm guessing we fell asleep then?" I nod.

"Hey Maurie!" James yells. She hops up quickly not even caring at the fact she's in her bra and runs at James.

"Jimmy!" She says jumping into his arms. He picks her up and spins her around planting a kiss on her scared cheek. He leaned down to her ear, I strained to her what he was saying though it sounded like, "I'm glad your back, I missed you." She let go of James and ran over to Remus.

"Moony! I'm so sorry I've missed the full moons!" She said hugging him, he also liked James kissed her cheek.

"I should be apologizing." He said pulling back. "You're missing all the fun!" Her laughter rang out like a wind chime, a sound I thought I wouldn't hear again. She turned to Peter who was standing next to Remus and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Hey there Wormy!" He kissed her cheek smiling brightly.

"Missed you." He told her. "All the boys are so mean when I ask for help in charms, and Lily isn't very good at explaining. She gets to impatient with me."

"Well that's because you aren't very bright wormtail." I tell him. Zee turns around and scowls at me again but still comes to me and greets me with a tight hug as well. I just like my other Marauders kiss her cheek.

"Good morning."

"yeah, yeah. Well I'm off to get ready. I'll see you all in the great hall!" She said skipping out of the dorm."

"She's back." We all mumble shaking our heads.

Everyone noticed the change in Zee. During breakfast she was laughing, talking and smiling. No one understood the transformation in her because just yesterday she was embarrassed in front of the whole school, but none the less everyone was happy she was joking again. Especially Dumbledore. I watched him watch her at the table talking with her hands, he had a huge smile on his face his blue eyes twinkling.

We walked into Transfiguration the first class of the day. She sat down sharing a desk with me. James and Lily were in front of us and Peter and Remus next to them. McGonagall was walking around collecting our essays that were due. When she walked to our table she said,

"Welcome back Xeomara." I watched as Zee smiled charmingly at her.

"I wasn't aware I went anywhere Professor." She said but her eyes were twinkling. McGonagall smiled and moved on. She began discussing the importance of human transfiguration and saying how we were going to transfigure our partners.

"GO!" She commands.

On an unspoken agreement after we both spare glances at Lily and James. I began transfiguring her into Lily while I knew she transfigured me in James. When I was done I looked over her grinning madly. She looked exactly like the red head in front of me.

"You look just like her." I said at the same time she says, "You look just like him."

"Ohhh James." She coos.

"Oh Lily. I could gaze into your eyes forever my beautiful flower."

"James you really are such the sweet talker. But I could gaze into yours too, they are so warm and comforting, they remind me of the morning sun."

"No my flower, our love is like the sun. it never changes. I shall love you for the rest of my days."

"I love you more." Says Zee, who looks like Lily.

"No, I love you." And then we argue on. Aware of every one staring at us. Then I lean in my hand covering my mouth as she does the same and we pretend to snog passionately.

"Sirius! Zee! Stop!" Says the real Lily glaring at us.

"Well that's how you act." The two Lily's glare at each other. While the two James laugh loudly. Then James turns his glare on me.

"We do not act like that." He says confidently. Then says "Do we?" Zee laughs.

"Sorry Jamie, but you do." His eyes widen in shock.

"Well this is how you act!" Lily says. I watch as they transfigure their selves into us and I crack up. They immediately clasp hands.

"I don't like public display of affection Sirius, but you do now I love you right?"

"Of course love. I love you too."

"Let's go play a prank."

"Okay. Hmm who should we prank?"

"I know how about Severus." And to everyone shock in the room Lily and James both turn to Snivellous sitting in the room and Lily yells "Tarantallegra!" Snape stand up and starts dancing madly.

"That was wonderful love!

"Thank you My dear padfoot!" Everyone in the room bursts with laughter.

"Finite! All right you four, that enough now! Though excellent transfiguration." McGonagall says. The adds on, "Mr. Potter must have been helping you because you've been doing excellent in this class Miss Evans."

"Thanks Professor." James and Lily change back into their selves as we stay the same.

When class ends instead of changing back we walk out of the classroom hand in hand still pretending to be James and Lily.

"Dammit Change back!" Lily yells, as her and James start chasing us.

"Never!" Zee says back gripping my hand tighter as she starts running down the corridor dropping all her books in the process, I do the same as we sprint away from a very angry Lily and James.

"Sirius!" Lily screams.

"Maurie!" James yells at the same time.

We turn around to face them still walking away quickly.

"I believe you mean Lily" I said pointing to Zee. "And James." I say pointing to me. As we duck two red jets of light.