A/N: I listened to 'Here With Me,' by Susie Suh, and 'Fear of the Water' by SYML, while writing this.

A special thanks to all the darlings who've reviewed so far and to anyone who's followed/favorited! You guys are amazing!

Hope you enjoy this chapter.


February 19th (Saturday), 1994

Great Hall

11:30 am

As January passed and February came, the seemingly ever present coldness in the air began to lessen and everyone's spirit brightened. The Quidditch game between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had gone in the their favor, hence why Roxana and the twins went all out with the expected party in the common room.

Valentine's day had thankfully passed without any presents or poisoned roses for Roxana. Well, except for the single red rose Sirius had managed to conjure for her using wandless magic. They'd been practicing the difficult skill together for weeks, but Roxana hadn't gotten very far. She was only able to shatter glass on command, the reason being that she was too busy studying for her O.W.L.S instead. While she had her head in a book, Sirius gave her wonderful tips, kept her coffee cup full to the brim and distracted her when she needed a break. He was a very good studying partner and not once did Roxana feel the need to run to the library in desperation.

Today, the wind blew harshly and filled the castle with a low whistle, while the rain pounded on the heavy glass windows and created small lakes the size of baby dragons on the castle grounds. It wasn't a pretty day. Nearly no one dared to go outside in the horrid weather and Hogsmeade was out of the question completely as thunder sounded and lightning struck down to the Earth.

Not even the owls had appeared in the Hall, eagerly swooping down to deliver letters or packages, as they normally did in the morning hours.

Roxana drank her coffee as she formulated a plan to get to Sirius without getting too soaked.

"We're still on for the Slytherin prank on Monday, right?" Fred leaned to ask her.

"Yeah. Hopefully the rain stops so you guys can go to Zonko's for the itching powder."

"We can always sneak over there." George smirked and bit into an apple.

"Not in this weather." Roxana sighed gazing out the window. She bit her lip as she saw a thread of lightning in the grey sky.

Like a catalyst, five birds flew into the Great Hall. There were four similar looking black ravens in line formation and one white owl below them. Different types of birds were used as messengers for each country, it just so happened that Romania used ravens.

Roxana took in a shaky breath, knowing and dreading the information the birds would soon deliver. The four black ravens landed in front of her, while Demetri's owl stayed back near Ginny.

Roxana detached the letter from the raven that stepped forward first. After all, they were extraordinarily trained. It was addressed from her father.

My dear,

Grandfather has died. Your mother and I are in Romania preparing for the funeral. Grandmother is mourning, but she has taken control over everything like she usually does. The funeral is scheduled for three days from now.

I'm sorry,

Cristian Constantin

Roxana bit her lip painfully as tears pooled in her eyes and a set of sobs overtook her. When her memories of her grandpa flashed, she wished there were more.

Not minding the tears falling down her cheeks, she accepted the next letter. Given the seal, the letter was from the Wizarding Government of Romania. Roxana's lip trembled as she read the terms and conditions that came with receiving part of a will. A signature was required at the bottom for the twenty thousand galleon inheritance to be placed in her name. She took out a quill and hastily signed.

The third raven gave her a letter from the Aurors of Romania, that served as a remembrance for her grandfather's years of service.

The last raven held a dark glass cylinder. Roxana took the lid off and a newspaper fell out. The Romanian Wizarding newspaper. Her heart stopped when she read the title. The funeral had been held today. She'd missed it. No, her parents had purposefully made her miss it. Her throat burned and she gasped, reaching blindly for a glass of water. Hermione poured one for her, spilling about half as she handed it across the table.

Demerits owl hopped carefully to her and hooted softly. The box he delivered was full to the brim with Lilies of the Valley. The flowers fell from their confinement and onto the table in a heap of green and white; a note apologizing for her loss lay among them.

Roxana cried covering her mouth and swatted the birds away. She wanted them gone, she wanted the flowers burnt, she wanted the letters shredded, but what she wanted most couldn't be obtained. She wanted to be at the funeral. To be there for her grandmother and her father. To be there to help run things smoothly, perfectly. To be there to show that she was still a part of the Constantin family... that she cared.

Roxana stood, "Don't come looking for me."

Forbidden Forest

12:13 pm

Sirius' pov

Sirius wasn't expecting, more like hoped, Roxana wouldn't come today due to the weather. He was proven wrong and he let out a growl when he heard her voice. One day she would catch pneumonia, he didn't even know what the damn thing was, but she was always hinting at her demise due to it.

She shouldn't be wandering in this cold rain. He was going to set her straight. The tent door opened and he barely took a large enough breath to calm the anger that had built.

Roxana stepped inside and his demeanor cracked. Her hair was completely wet, sticking to her forehead, and her clothes were soaked through.

"You shouldn't have come." When his eyes met hers, he regretted the harshly said words instantly. She's in pain. Roxana fell to the ground, a hoarse sob leaving her throat.

Sirius rushed to her side, just in time to hear her cry, "No one wants me!"

Fuck you, Sirius. What the hell's wrong with you?

He knelt in front of her and pulled her up to look at him. Her eyes were red with tears and he realized she must have been crying even earlier than she'd arrived. She came to me and I made her feel worse.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He whispered repeatedly in her hair as he swept her up in his arms and walked to the sofa. He sat on the edge as she leaned back, her eyes closed, tears falling down her cheeks, her lower lip quivering.

"I want you, love. What happened?" Sirius tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes fluttered open, tear drops hung onto her lashes like rain on a spider's web.

"Legilimency. I can't…" Roxana pulled her wand from her pocket and handed it to him using both of her hands.

Sirius frowned deeply as he came out of her memory, he nonverbally placed a drying charm on her as his brain processed the experience.

Her eyes closed again and she shot up, a sob overtaking her and causing her to shake gently. He dropped the wand unceremoniously on the table behind him and hurriedly wrapped his arms around her fragile figure. Her arms came to rest around his neck and he took the moment to adjust the uncomfortable potion they were in, to one where he sat on the sofa and she straddled him.

"Is this okay?" He whispered, trailing her spine lightly with the tips of his fingers.

"Hmh." He could feel her nod and her exhale of warm breath sent shivers at the base of his neck. "Do you want to talk about it?" Sirius asked her.

She sat up, without untangling her arms, "Later, please. I… I just…"

Sirius tilted his head, his brows furrowed in patience as she tried to find the right words and overcome her grief enough to speak.

"You understand. I just needed you." A whimper came from her as she slowly rested her head on his shoulder.

Sirius sat without moving. How could he not? After what she'd said? She just needed… me. Me. Someone needed me.

Sirius gently sat her up; he had to see her. "One day someone will love you so much you'll forget all the darkness and the people who've wronged you." He raised his right hand and wiped her tears away.

A rosy blush came to her face and her eyes darkened. Roxana placed a quick peck to his cheek before resting against once more. She'd stopped crying. "I hope that someone will be you." She barely whispered.

He tried not to smile. He tried so hard. In the end he grinned from ear to ear and kissed her hair twice.

She hiccuped and he chuckled, "You're adorable."

Sighing, "And… you've ruined the moment."

Sirius smirked, "We were having a moment?"

"Yes, you dog." She patted his shoulder.

"Is this where I go 'woof,' and you go 'meow,' and we're back in the moment?"

She threw her head back and laughed before beaming and embracing him tightly.

"You have the most beautiful laugh." Sirius ran his left hand up and down her back.

She shivered, "Perfect answer."

"I thought before I opened my…"

"Shhh. Just hold me." Roxana whispered as he grinned.

After a few minutes her breathing slowed and her arms loosened. She's fallen asleep, my darling kitten.

Sirius yawned himself and carefully turned to lie down on the sofa. Roxana hummed as she settled further into his arms and Sirius placed his lips on her hair for a long moment before he too closed his eyes.

8:12 pm

The echo of thunder in the silent tent woke the two occupants with a start.

"It's only thunder." Sirius murmured sleepily. His right hand had drifted to her lower back, while his left laid tangled in her hair.

"It's dark outside." Roxana nuzzled her nose in the crook of his neck.

"Still raining." He was falling back into heavenly sleep.

Roxana yawned, "I might catch pneumonia if I leave."

"Don't leave."

"Hmm?"

"Sleep… love."

February 20th (Sunday), 1994

Forbidden Forest

Roxana's pov

10:24 am

The annoying chirp of a bird awoke Roxana. She inhaled…leather, smoke, Firewhiskey... Sirius. I slept here. With him. Because… oh my god.

She shot up, making him groan.

"Cold." He pulled her back down, his hand tangling itself back into her hair.

Smiling slightly, "Wake up, Sirius."

"No."

"It's morning."

"I rather not." He pouted.

She giggled, "You're a baby."

He opened an eye, "Excuse me, I am a grown man."

Roxana grinned, "Uhuh, sure."

Sirius closed his eyes and slowly, very slowly a smirk appeared on his lips. Roxana was about to comment when he flipped her over, a gasp leaving her throat as it happened. A second later she was confusedly sitting on her bum and he was yawing for dear life next to her.

"How you feeling?" He asked her frowning.

She sighed shrugging, "...Okay, given the circumstances. I just wish I could've been there, you know?"

"Yeah, I wasn't… allowed to my uncle Alphard's funeral." He cast her a sideways glance before getting up. "I'll get the coffee going."

"Has the betrayal gotten easier to handle?" She stood and stretched.

Sirius regarded her with a far off look in his eyes, "It has, but I haven't forgiven any of them."

"I'm sorry." She grabbed a blanket from the sofa and wrapped it around herself. It was chillier in the tent than in the warm dormitory she usually woke up in, though her current companion was much more favored.

"Eh, it's old news. So, how are you planning to get back to the castle?" He raised his brow before his eyes widened, "Not that I want you to go, but people are going to think you've been kidnapped by me again. I mean, we can only lie to them so many times." He chuckled.

She giggled softly and waved her wand to start up the stove. "They're going to start getting suspicious."

Sirius leaned on the counter behind her, "I'm surprised they haven't already. Especially Moony."

"I place a scent blocking charm on myself everytime I get back to the castle." She explained with a grin.

"Is that why you also wear so much perfume?"

Roxana feigned shock before she frowned, "Yes, but it's not too much… is it?"

Sirius smirked, "No, but then again, I like vanilla."

"I think it gives Snape headaches." She poured the coffee into two cups, then Sirius placed two sugars in each .

"That's brilliant. When everything gets sorted out, I'm gonna buy you enough vanilla perfume to bathe in." He tapped her nose with a giddy smirk.

Roxana grinned whilst shaking her head, "You're crazy."

"You'll get used to it." Sirius shrugged and brought the cup to his lips, gazing at her smugly over the edge.

She tilted her head and spoke quietly, "Half the teachers can't stand to even look at me anymore. Flitwick stutters every time he says my name. While Snape has been completely ignoring me."

Sirius frowned lowering the cup, "Does it bother you?"

"No," She shook her head honestly, "But it's just a constant reminder of how wrong they are about… everything."

"I'm sorry, kitten." Sirius gave her a guilty look.

Roxana waved his apology away, "It's not your fault. Besides it gives me some advantages. The other day Filch passed me in the corridor, way after the Prefects curfew and his eyes just widened, but he didn't say a word. The twins think I've committed some horrendous prank and they still don't know how to punish me yet."

Sirius chuckled, "They're not that off."

She shrugged with a smile on her face, and downed the rest of the coffee.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sirius... thanks." Roxana gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out.

5:39 pm

Staying with Sirius had been the best decision Roxana had made all day. When she'd returned in the morning no one questioned her about the disappearance; instead asking if she was okay and if she needed anything at all.

Later that evening, when the sun shone brightly and the ground had completely dried from the previous rain storm, Roxana decided to take some much needed alone time outside.

A blanket, spread haphazardly on the grass in front of the oak tree, was littered with books, quills and various candy wrappers. Roxana laid on her stomach, biting her lip whilst studying for transfiguration. The sun was starting to set, but she was going to use every last possible second she had. Cheering could be heard all the way from the Quidditch pitch, Fang's whining all the way from Hagrid's cottage, and the subtle splash of water, due to the Great Squid, from Black lake.

Roxana however, was so focused that every sound was drowned out by her thoughts. That was her first mistake. The second was that her wand was two feet away from her and the third that she hadn't noticed the shadows getting closer until it was too late. Whatever was the muggle saying? Three strikes and you're out?

Five, seventh year Slytherin boys had successfully snuck up on her and only when the leader of the group spoke, did she realize.

"Well, who do we have here?" Andrey Colen, the guy who asked Roxana to Hogsmeade every single Saturday morning… not once had she agreed.

Roxana frowned as she looked up, squinting slightly due to the sun. "What do you want, Colen?" She sat up wearily and reached for her wand, but one of the boys got to it first. She narrowed her eyes at him. Who in the hell steals a witches wand?

"I wanted you. I've asked nicely, but now that stops." He gave her a terrifying smile.

She stood up, "I told you, I don't…"

"Shut up, you fucking bitch." Colen sneered as his friends reached for her and dragged her into the forest so that no one could see them any longer. Roxana tried struggling against there grasp to no use, she was outnumbered and they were all bigger than her.

The shortest boy shoved a handful of dirt in her mouth as she was about to scream. The consistency was grimy and dry, causing her to gag instinctively. A kid, built as though a bolder, punched her in the sternum when she spit the filth out and she heard a couple of sickening cracks.

Picking up a sharp rock, tossing it into the air with a maniac glint in his eyes, Colen started cutting deep scratches on her skin. Seconds later blood was already trickling down her arms and legs, and her vision got patchy. That wasn't as painful or humiliating as the moment another snake began tearing the clothes on her body to shreds.

"Everyone says you're stunning, and I fucking fell for it. But you're just a damn slut? I'm sick and tired of you, Constantin." Colen pushed her down to her knees and she threw up when her hands touched the ground.

"Once we're done here, no one will ever want you again." He pointed his wand and that's when she got the chance to scream for her life.

"Make her shut up, Colen! Make the bitch shut up!" The most frightened looking member of the group shouted.

He raised his hand and with a gaze full of vengeful fury, he forcefully slapped her.

A gasp left Roxana's throat as she lost balance, fell backwards and everything blurred. She turned to the side, throwing up blood as Colen kicked her in the stomach. The next time his foot came in contact, she cried out desperately and a deep growl echoed back from deep in the forest. Sirius.

"What was that?" The sound came again, this time louder. The snakes made a run for it, just as everything faded into nothing for Roxana, but it wasn't Sirius who got to her first.

"Roxana? Some help!" Angelina Johnson had been practicing a little beyond the Quidditch pitch when she'd heard a scream and flew over. She raised her wand, her voice breaking as Roxana levitated in the air, then Angelina began walking hurriedly to the castle, only reaching to grab Roxana's fallen wand from the blanket. The girl was in such a state of shock that when a large black dog hurriedly grabbed the Marauders map from Roxana's purse, she didn't take notice.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Remus' pov

"Professor!" Angelina screamed as she stepped through the main entrance. The blood that dripped heavily from Roxana's wounds left a trail, and a puddle began to form immediately when Angelina stopped.
Remus stumbled down the stairs and ran to Roxana's side. She was unconscious, but still breathing. "What happened?" He snapped as he took the injured girl in his arms and began striding to the infirmary without waiting for an answer.

"Five Slytherins ganged up against her in the forest. All seventh years. I heard her scream from the Quidditch pitch and I saw them running away after she screamed the second time." Angelina could hardly formulate words as she looked at her classmate's bruised body.

"Go get Dumbledore. Now!" Angelina nodded and left running.

Remus breathed heavily, but his stomach flipped when the thick scent of metal filled his nose. He doubted there was a single inch of his hands not covered in blood. Why would anyone do this to Roxana? He growled in anger. How dare they? Then a dangerous thought came into his head. If I'm this angry, Black must be seething.

Dumbledore appeared next to him with a resigned, doleful expression on his face, "The castle will be temporarily locked. We can not risk having Black come again."

Remus nodded and looked ahead, "What will the students be told?"

"That Black is close by. It's for the best, of course." Dumbledore waved his hand and the doors of the infirmary opened at once.

"What… what?" Pomfrey's eyes widened when she spotted Roxana. She motioned for Remus to place her on a bed. "Black?" She whispered in a meek tone.

"Snakes." Remus snarled, but regained control and sighed as he placed the girl's wand on the stand closest to her. The full moon was only in five days; it was starting to get to him.

"Albus, what is going on? The castle is beginning to…" Minerva gasped at the sight of her student.

Remus sank into the next bed over as he repeated his previous statement and allowed Dumbledore to explain further.

As Snape sauntered in looking bored, Minerva narrowed her eyes at him. "Did you plan this?! Five, from your house did this! Seventh years the lot of them, might I add!"

Snape raised his brow and glanced at the girl, "This was not my doing. I'm offended, Minerva."

"You, you…!" Dumbledore placed a hand of the elderly witch's shoulder to keep her from continuing.

"We can not begin to fight among ourselves. We must be prepared if Black has the intention of coming into the castle."


A/N: What'd you think? I'm sorry if there were any mistakes, I wanted to get this up before my power goes out due to the blasted hurricane coming my way.

Thanks for reading! Please review!