CHAPTER SEVEN

Sirius, who, indeed, the black dog was, did a double take when he saw the entwined teenagers. George's red hair was plastered in mud, turning it black in the darkness, and Sirius was instantly taken back to his Hogwarts days, spying on James Potter and Lily Evans, with his fellow Marauders, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

Literally shaking himself out of it, Sirius returned to the present. This couldn't be Lily and James. They were both dead, killed by Voldemort, and betrayed by Peter. Sirius' blood boiled at the very thought of the traitorous rat, and he growled.

Lily and George heard it, and jumped up, startled. Lily whipped her wand out of her robes, shouting, "Lumos" before it was even straight.

Seeing the shaggy canine, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Hello Sirius," she called across the now lit clearing.

Realising that this girl know his real identity, surprised him out of his animagus state, and a second later, a tall man in ragged clothes stood in place of the dog.

"What the…" Recognition sparked over George's face before he grabbed Lily's hand and started running out of the clearing, shooting curses backwards.

Lily was too shocked to do anything for a moment, but when she recovered, she dug her heals in and made George stop.

"What on earth are you doing?" she asked him.

"That was Sirius Black!"

"Duh,"

"The Mur-der-er. We have to get out of here, tell someone."

"Stop, stop, stop," Lily said, holding up a hand to punctuate her sentence, "Sirius is innocent," She started walking back towards the clearing.

"No, he's not." George jogged after her, "And wait a tick, how did you know it was him?"

By then, they'd reached the clearing, where Sirius Black was still standing.

"I'd like to know that myself actually,"

"Honestly. Men." Lily said, mostly to herself. "I bloody well should know what Sirius looks like as an Animagus. I *am* friends with Cat, Queen of the BCOK. Who, by the way," she added, turning to Sirius, "I would be wary of, unless you wish to be violently molested,"

Both guys stood and stared at her, George looking confused, Sirius looking thoughtful. 

George took Lily's arm, "But, Lils, he's still a murderer. And he's after Harry,"

"Don't be ridiculous. He's Harry's godfather. And besides, do you really think I would let Cat…I mean…"

Sirius smiled to himself. It was about time someone believed his innocence. The he frowned. "How do you know all of this anyway?"

"Ah." Lily tapped the side of her nose with a forefinger, "A girl never reveals her sources,"

"Indeed,"

They stood in the clearing quietly, the two men taking in the situation, while Lily waited patiently for them to catch up.

After several minutes, Lily looked at her watch. "DAMMIT!" she exclaimed, breaking the silence.

"What? What's wrong?" George asked.

"It's 11:30 and we haven't got all of this stuff,"

"So?" George asked, not in the least worried.

Lily just scowled in return.

Sirius sniggered, "Well, you *were* otherwise occupied," making them both blush.

"Ahem," Lily cleared her throat. "Anyway, we need to get this stuff." Turning to Sirius, she added, "If you help us, we'll make sure you get to Dumbledore, without getting caught." Just then his stomach audibly rumbled, Lily went on with, "And we'll make a pit stop at the kitchen too. Deal?" Lily held out a hand.

"Lily!" George exclaimed.

"How many times do I have to tell you?! He is *not* a murderer! Don't you think he would've done something by now?"

Ignoring the teenagers spat, Sirius shook Lily's outstretched hand, "Deal,"

"Ok then, there's only two things each," Lily tore the list into three, and gave the two guys their thirds.

"Manglebush berries, and Flame Fern," George read aloud.

"Wolfsbane and Hemlock Root." Said Sirius. He smiled. Collecting Wolfsbane could only mean one thing. Remus was coming back to Hogwarts.

"And I have to get Royal Nightshade Leaves, and Marsh Toadspittle. Ugh, trust me to have to get the Creature from the Black Lagoon."

The two wizards looked at her questioningly. Lily just shook her head. "Remind me to introduce you to a TV," And with that, she turned and walked off to get the plants.

Sirius and George exchanged a look of confusion, before George gave his gloves and sack to Sirius and jogged after Lily.