Chapter 1
Walking into #4 Private Drive was something Brooke Potter would never look forward too. I mean how could you. The house symbolized the ending of another school year with her friends, it held a taunting coldness that yet again she was alone with people who hated her people who didn't care if she came back the following year.
Ducking her head though the door and slowly making her way up the stairs, she ignored the rude comments and unnecessary taunts about herself, and her family and entered her room, wiping a tear that threatened to slide down her cheek. Closing the door quietly, she took in her small room before walking to her cot in the far corner of the room, and took a seat. Her trunk lay at the foot of her bed, and yet she couldn't find the strength to open it, for when she did the faces of her friends would smile up at her, the laughter that had been the school year would come out and taunt her mockingly reminding her she would be here for 2 long months before even returning to her real home.
Hermione would be writing her soon, always the smartest witch, she knew what returning to this hell hole was to her. Or at least she thought she did, she knew it upset her and she couldn't wait for the new school year to begin. She was also smart enough to know she didn't want the school year to begin just because she enjoyed school, but she never commented about it. She was the most clever girl Brooke had ever met, the best fiend she ever had, and the one she could cry on and not have explain why. She was an observant girl, Brooke didn't doubt she had suspicions on why she hated returning, but she never questioned it because she knew what Brooke would say back.
Then there was Ron, sweet, clueless, funny Ron who would write soon, maybe sneaking food through the post, and counting down the days when she would be going to the Burrow. Ron knew her reluctantness in returning, and probably questioned why she would be so small when she returned to his house for the remainder of summer.
Wiping another tear that slid down her cheek, she sighed, and rolled onto her bed trying to let the exhaustion from the last week sink her into a sleep filled night.
Images of Cedric met her once her eyes closed, before her green eyes flew open wildly shooting around her now dark room looking for any sign of trouble. This had been happening the last month she had been home from school. Glancing at the clock, she noted in disdain that it was 2:30 in the morning. Obviously her short nap turned into a 12 hour sleep fest.
Slipping out her door quietly, she tiptoed down the stairs, jumping over the last two creaky steps and entered the kitchen. Grabbing a glass of water she slid on top of the bar stool, letting her head fall into her hands, her black hair cascading over her small form.
The last week of school the Triwizard tournament had taken place. She and Cedric had been the two to grab the cup, and ever the gentlemen had insisted they both grab the cup. Now Cedric was dead, Voldemort was back, and half of the Wizarding Community thought Brooke was lying about his return.
Sirius Black her godfather had been there since the moment she entered Dumbledore's office, dirt, blood, and all, he held her closely whispering comforting words in her ear, while threatning Dumbledore to explain what the bloody hell happened before he killed him. She got to spend 1 night in his company before being sent away for an Order mission.
Bitterly she thought he had yet to write her, even if it were just to say 'Im still alive.' The last month had gone by slowly and painfully, with a shortage of letters from her friends, and the awful usualness of the Dursley's hatred towards her. Uncle Vernon had been worse than usual, leaving a litter of bruises over her arm from dragging her up the stairs too hard, and some nasty bruises on her back from one of his backhands that sent her into the staircase or wall. Mostly it was his strength that hurt her more, Aunt Petunia had stepped in a few times, causing the worst to not come. It allowed Brooke enough to flee up stairs.
Sighing she wandered back upstairs, sitting on the edge of her window sill, staring out into the darkness, wondering where Voldemort was, and why he was lying so low now, she wondered what book Hermione was still reading at this hour of the night, she wondered when Ron would write her and tell her she would be coming to the Burrow soon.
The flicker of 3 street lights brought Brooke's attention into full focus. She could see 4 figures walking the street, watching as the lights disappeared as they passed.
"What the-" she muttered, pressing her face closer into the window the watch. "Fuck." she cursed as all the lights in the street turned off as the 4 figures walked up the steps to her house.
Jumping up she gripped her wand, and crept out her door and hid in the shadows of the stairs as she strained her ears for the sound of the front door unlocking.
Taking a deep breath she held it at the sound of footsteps coming into the house, their whispered floating up the stairs to her hiding spot.
"Can't we-"
"Shouldn't we"
"Shut up!"
Brooke stood silently, her wand pointed at the 4 intruders at the foot of the stairwell. As one made to take up the stairs, she decided to make her appearance known.
"Freeze or I will blast every damn one of you to pieces!" she hissed, her voice sounding much more threatening then she felt.
"There is my little Prongslet!" an amused voice said.
"Surly Brooke would not speak that way." another voice sounded.
"She is a feisty one isn't she." A female voice said.
"Bloody hell shut up you lot,we don't even know if that is Potter!"
"Sirius, Remus, Moody?" she asked, taking a step down the stairs.
"Hi Prongslet." Sirius said, a grin breaking across his handsome face.
"Sirius!" she squealed, a smile erupting as she found herself in the safety of her Godfathers arms.
"I missed you too kid."
"What about me?" Remus whined, laughing as she hugged him tightly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as she pulled away.
"Enough of this chat, Tonks and I will occupy your relatives, while Lupin and Black help you pack, now move!" Moody growled, his Mad Eye whipping around the room wildly. "you never know who could be watching us!"
Sirius slid an arm around Brooke's shoulder, before leading her up the stairs."What is going on my little Prongslet, I have missed you!" he said as they entered the small room.
Brooke smiled as she threw her clothes into her trunk, too busy explaining her boring summer to notice the odd looks that were passed between Sirius and Remus at her small room.
"It is sooooooooo boring here!" she complained, throwing her hair over her shoulder before throwing the two a smile, "Why haven't you written to me?" she asked as she knelt down to open the floor board under the bed.
Sirius, who still looked around speechless, was having a hard time even making words, "What are you doing?" he finally yelled.
Standing up with her wand case, map, and invisibility cloak she looked at him in confusion, "What?"
Throwing his arm out and waving it around wildly, he indicated to the small room around them.
"Oh, it's my room," she said, throwing her possessions into her trunk and closing it, "I'm only here for two months, I don't need much room." was all she said, throwing a fake smile onto her face.
"Brooke..."
"Sirius, it is the only other room, I am only here for 2 months so I don't decorate."
Still looking unsure, Sirius just shrugged, "Well let's go Prongslet, we have the rest of summer to catch up!"
"What do you mean?" she asked as she was ushered down the stairs.
"You're going to live with Remus and I at Headquarters the rest of summer." Sirius said, jumping up and down slightly.
"REALLY?"
"Will you three shut up!" Moody growled, throwing a glare at the three, who had the decency to blush. "we will be-"
Brooke smiled at the 2 wildly, ignoring Moody's instructions on how they would arrive, "Well the ending of summer is starting to sound much better than the beginning."
Remus beamed while Sirius winked at her.
And as Sirius wrapped a strong arm around her shoulder, and the familiar smell of Sirius surrounded her, she knew that everything else in life might be going all to hell, Sirius was here now, and everything was going to be okay.