Light poured onto Ailia's bed, waking her from a pleasant dream, groaning she pulled the covers over her head. The darkness was welcomed, but she knew there was no point, she might as well get up now. Looking at the time, she saw that it was five, with two hours to go before Lily would wake, she decided to explore the castle. Having a quick shower, she silently made her way out of the building and into the grounds. The summer heat was still in the air, the only thing hinting that autumn was on its way were the leaves turning red along the edges. The grass was dewy and fresh, the smell filled Ailia with a great energy. Spinning round she delighted in the way the grass squelched beneath her now bare feet. She suddenly stopped when she realised that someone was watching her.

"Severus?"
"So it is you, I wasn't sure"

Before he could speak anymore, she had launched herself at him, hugging him. He stiffened, not hugging her back.

"What's wrong?" she asked backing away from him
"It's...nothing; well...no-one has hugged me like that for a while"
"I...I heard about your mother, I am sorry"
"It's nothing"

Ailia hugged him again, this time feeling him respond, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Gods I have missed you Ailia, I was so upset when you weren't allowed
to come here"
"Well I am here now, and I will be, to the end of the school year"
"I didn't think I'd see you again, after I came here and my parents
moved away"
"Me too, it was really hard, mother was upset most of the time, but
when I hit 12 she went into training mode"
"So you were the chosen one then, my mother wasn't sure"
"Yeah it was me, I still don't know if am pleased about it." She said
smiling.

They walked to the lake and sat down on a fallen tree trunk. The sun had slowly started to rise, and they talked for ages, when Severus glanced back at the castle he realised that people had already started to get up and make their way down to breakfast.

"We had better get to the castle your new friends will be wondering
where you are, and they see you with me, they won't be too happy"
"I don't care, it's my choice who my friends are, and I have known you
longer than them, plus there is the fact that we are related"
"So...so you don't mind walking in with a Slytherin?"
"Why should I mind little brother?"

A few weeks had past, Ailia finally felt settled in her new school with her new friends. It soon came to the middle of October and Ailia was sat with Lily eating breakfast. As James and Peter sat down the owl post arrived, a Hogwarts owl landed in front of her. As she opened the letter she recognised the loopy hand writing, the same handwriting that had appeared on the letter inviting her to Hogwarts. This one asked her to meet with Dumbledore tonight after classes. She glanced up to the staff table, and he nodded in recognition. She smiled.

By the time that dinner came, Ailia was exhausted. Classes were wonderful, although early on she found that she was well ahead of everyone in her classes. Back at home, her grandmother and other members of the village had taught her. Swallowing the last of her mashed potato, she looked at the four boys before her; they were all looking sad having been given two weeks worth of detention in their last class. She stood,

"Okay I'll see you guys in a bit, I have to go and see Dumbledore"
"What did you do?"
"Nothing, I think he wants to chat about classes or something" she
said awkwardly
"Oh well have fun!"
"Will you be in the common room later?" she asked Remus
"Uh...no...I have to visit my mother she...is sick" he said almost as
uncomfortably as she had been.
"Yeah we have detention with Filch, so we won't be back till late"
Interrupted Sirius. Ailia shrugged.
"Oh well, see you guys tomorrow, I hope your mother feels better soon"

And with that she left, making her way up to the headmaster's office. Standing face to face with the gargoyle,

"Are you going to let me in?"

Nothing

"Please let me in"

Nothing. Just as she was about kick the darn thing, it moved. Happy that it was letting her in, she passed through. Standing in front of the door, she gave a gentle knock.

"Enter"

She passed through the door, smiling at Dumbledore; she took the seat offered to her.

"So how was your day Miss Fletcher?" he asked
"Good"
"It has been brought to my attention that you are ahead of most the
classes. "
"Yes my Grandmother made sure that I didn't lose out on any of my
education. She got most of the other members of our village to help
me"
"Oh I understand. How is your Grandmother by the way I haven't seen
her in a while"
"She is fine although she did tell me that you have to go and see her,
she wants to cook you dinner, and that if you turn her down she will
turn you into a warthog again!"
Dumbledore laughed "I will owl her tomorrow accepting I do not want to
get on her wrong side again!"
"Was that why you wanted me her, to talk about my schooling?"
"That was one of the things we need to discuss. About your mission
here, a majority of the ghosts know why you are here, and are doing
their best to search out any hidden rooms. I know it sounds
impossible but I think it would be a good idea to search the library,
although I doubt the manuscripts will be there, I want to check
everywhere and be thorough."
"I understand, I will start looking in there this weekend"
"About your schooling, what I suggest is that, because you are so
ahead we will exempt you from homework, all you will have to do, is
the main coursework and your exams at the end of the year."
"That sounds fine"
"I understand you have met up with Severus, he knows why you are
here?"
"He will"
"What of your other friends, have you told them?"
"No, not yet, I don't want to risk their security, but maybe when I do
tell them, they can help me look." Dumbledore smiled
"That's if they aren't in detention!" Ailia grinned at him
"That's true! Umm...Professor?"
"Yes Ailia"
"Why doesn't anyone remember any of the ritual?"
"Well, it is very strange; I personally wouldn't remember the ritual
as I had to be separated from the event. But to perform the ceremony,
the participants have to draw upon a great power, as it finishes there
is a magical surge, this knocks the participants out, who wake fours
hours later with no knowledge of the ritual. All that they know is if
the spell worked or not."
"I see, do you think that it was Voldemort who stole the manuscripts?"
he sighed.
"Although we have no solid proof, I can see no-one else needing them
like he does. But if they are indeed in his hands, it could mean
terrible things. But the fact that you are here, is in our favour.
He cannot touch you here, this I promise you."
"Thank you for keeping me here, I know it means a lot to my family"
"In these dark times, we all have to stick together."
"Professor Dumbledore, I have just one more question"
"Ask away dear, I shall do my best to answer it"
"Why did my grandmother turn you into a warthog before?"

Half an hour later she walked out of the Headmaster's office, still giggling at the stories of her family. Looking out of one of the windows she saw a clear night sky, the moon, round and bright stood out in a cloudless sky, the stars shining around it. Deciding that she was not tired she slipped out of the front doors. As she hit the cool air, she transformed into her animagus. Padding down the stairs she smelt the fresh scent of the Hogwarts grounds. She started at a run, moving fast through the longer grass, she enjoyed the sensation of the wind rushing through her fur. Picking up speed she ran into the forest, dodging trees and bushes, she occasionally chased after a small creature, letting her animal instincts take over. Moving deeper and deeper into the dark forest she sensed many of the animals moving, registering in her mind which was the safest routes to go. Slowing down, she found herself at a small pond. The trees had cleared leaving a small pool and clearing, the moonlight reflecting off the still water. She leant her neck down and drank some of the cool water. Suddenly there was a noise in the distance, then a deep and guttural howl. Her furry ears pricked at the sound. She stood still waiting for another noise, but nothing came. Deciding that it was just one of the dark creatures living in the forest, she lay down to relax. She loved her animagus form, and she loved being able to sprint, but it really took it out of her sometimes, and usually she would have to rest after a quick run. She stretched her legs out in front of her, enjoying the feeling but she immediately stopped when she heard a noise from over the pool. She heard a deep throaty growl coming from across the pond; staying low she gazed across the water, her soft hazel eyes met black ones, she let out a growl of her own, testing to see if it was a friend or foe. The creature came forward, if she was in her human form, she was sure she would have gasped, in front of her stood a werewolf. Before now she had only ever seen them in books or films. She stood, never taking her eyes away from his, knowing this was a battle of power. He moved slowly toward her and she did the same taking one step at a time. Together they stopped, sniffing the air, before carrying on the primal dance that they were each performing. After a few moments they reached each other, standing nose to nose, sniffing each others scents, their eyes still locked. Then as if coming up with the same idea, they lowered their eyes, deciding to become equals, they nodded to each other and the wolf took a drink from the lake. For the next hour they played in the wood, chasing each other, playing hide and seek. Ailia was having so much fun, whenever she had transformed in the past she had been alone, it was great having someone to play with. As they fooled around nearer the edge of the forest the wolf lifted its head gazing back to the school, for the second time that evening Ailia had a shock, she followed his gaze and saw something she never would have expected to see. Running towards them were three animals, a large black dog and a stag, sat on the dogs back was a rat, clearly enjoying the ride. She glanced at the Werewolf expecting him to be ready for attack; instead she saw that he was waiting for them. Realising that they must be animagi, friends of the werewolf when he human, she saw them slowly approach, nervous seeing this unfamiliar creature. By now she had been running around for the last hour and had become very tired. With the boys in detention and Remus with his mother she wondered what Lily must be doing, instead of greeting them, she bid a silent goodnight and a nod to the werewolf and sprinted off towards the castle. The four animals watched her leave, before running off to the back of the castle to explore.

Sunlight filtered through a crack in the old wall of the shrieking shack. The light shone over the pale features of Remus Lupin, surrounding him were the sleeping bodies of his three best friends. He groaned as he stretched, his bones cracking, opening his eyes he glanced down at James and Sirius, during their sleep James had somehow wrapped his arms around Sirius, chuckling he kicked them

"Come on lover birds its time to get back to the castle."

Peter looked at the two of them and started to laugh, James opened his eyes

"Oh my god!"

Sirius opened his eyes

"Ugh, remember James, I am NOT Lily!"
"Well that's bloody obvious!"

They made their way back to the castle, talking about the night before.

"Can you believe that passage way, if I had known it ended up there I
would have taken Marie on our date the other night!"
"Which one was Marie again?" asked Peter
"You know the blonde from Hufflepuff!"
"Is it wrong that I don't remember her?"
"Don't worry Peter I lost track ages ago" said Remus laying a
reassuring hand on Peter's shoulder "just think one day our dear
Sirius is going to find that one woman and settle down"
"Not likely" Sirius snorted "but what about your woman?"
"What woman?"
"Or should I say pussycat? Who was she? As soon as we turned up she
legged it"
"I don't know who she was but wow, how often do we get to see an
animagus like that, she was beautiful"
"For a mangy cat" said Sirius growling
"That was no regular cat that was a cheetah" remarked James
informatively "Lily and I visited London Zoo this summer, they had
them there"
"Well what ever she was she was beautiful, and I have to find who she
was"

Yes, he thought to himself, I'm definitely going to find out who she was.

Okay, so that was my second chapter, I hope you liked it; it is a little slow off the ground, anyway please read and review.