DISCLAIMER: This story is based on materials owned by the great J.K. Rowling. I do not make any money with it or anything...Only the Sylvia Shaw character is mine.

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Stormcloud empath: Thanks, I rather liked the part with the Womping Willow stuff myself. Glad you agree with me!

Sirius the homicidal maniac: I wasn't too sure about writing a bit of funny scenes, comedy is sooo much more difficult to pull off. I'm really, really glad it made you laugh. I'm experimenting a little here to see what I can write and what stomps me, so you can expect a little bit of everything ahead in the story. I don't know yet when the end is gonna happen, but I can tell you I'm not close. Thank you for all your support, it means the world.

Nitequeen: Phew! You don't know how glad I was to read your review. I tried to keep the pranks as much in the marauders tone as I could, but only another avid HP fans could confirm that it was in character. I really couldn't keep Remus away, his friendship with Sirius is such a wonderful thing. I just can't imagine one without the other.

angel-wings76: Unfortunately, Remus is not going to see Harry with Sylvia and Sirius. Things happens there that are important for Sylvia, having Remus there would have only confuse the matter. Err…Sylvia and Remus like each other and will become great friends, but not more than that…sorry. It is wonderful to know my story and my name are in your fav. Authors and stories list!!! Thanks!

A/N: I have conveyed your appreciation to Aurias, my beta-reader, he is trilled and flattered to know all his hard work is noticed. He thanks you all for your good words. Chapter one and two have also been edited and are now error free!

I can't believe I'm already writing the tenth chapter. Here it goes…

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10- Coming and going

"Right, ready to go?" asked Sirius, looking back at her. They had just witnessed Remus jump into the fire in The Leaky Cauldron, heading back home. Naturally, Sylvia assumed they were going to do the same, but a slight suspicion in the back of her head made her ask carefully.

"Go where exactly?" You could never be too careful when dealing with Sirius Black she had discovered. He had a knack for doing the wrong things for the right reasons and to make people do exactly what he wanted, even if they'd rather not do it at first. She was getting weary of his easy charm and rather circumvoluted logic. There was just so much more to him than met the eye. Complex, irrational, very stubborn and mischievous were just a few weak words for trying to decipher his personality. Not to mention devastatingly handsome. This was one man you could never put under a straight label. Anyone who did so was in for a big surprise at one time or another.

He was eyeing her with what looked suspiciously like amusement and determination. "To see Harry, of course." He sat back, ready for the deluge of protestation that he visibly thought to be inevitable. He blinked with surprise when nothing came.

"Good, if I can't keep up with him, at least I can tip him off balance once in a while." Sylvia thought with some pleasure. "Explain to me like I'm a three years old, how we are suppose to do that without ending up captured or dead."

"By doing the unexpected, of course." He raised his eyebrows to her, relishing the little squabble.

"You mean, get out of here through the door, get a cab and get out on Harry's front yard like any normal person? You think that's unexpected?"

"No, I mean, get outside, find a cab then use a portkey to Harry's street."

"I'm almost afraid to ask this but…what's a portkey? And what about those wards Dumbledore mentioned?"

He grinned and got a tissue from one of his pockets, opening it to expose a small ten pence inside it. "A portkey is an unremarkable object that muggles are used to see and would never give a second thought to. They are keyed to a specific place, hence the name. This one will transport us instantly to Privet Drive even through some of the protections. We can't get directly into the house, those barriers are too strong, but we can get close enough. Dumbledore has a number of these portkeys ready for emergency. He takes Harry's protection very seriously. He gave me one when I went to Hogwarts this morning, he knew that I would want to visit my Godson. We have to both touch it at the same time in order for it to work for the two of us."

"Neat. Then why not use it here and now? Why go outside at all?" She could already experience the uncomfortable feeling of being out in the open, vulnerable to a chance look that could blow up her cover.

"Because I can't risk the chance of anyone knowing about the portkeys. If they ever hear of it, Death Eaters would do anything to get one. Dumbledore took an awful chance letting this one out, I don't intend to take his trust in me lightly."

"I can understand that. What about the return trip? Is there a portkey for my cabin? I definitely don't think I would like that."

"Don't worry. There is a witch who's been living in Harry's neighborhood since he was a baby. To protect him in case the wards were not enough. We will go to her place and get back to your cabin by way of floo powder. See, no problem. It is pretty close to nightfall right now, and by the time we get to Privet Drive, it'll be dark. You're already in disguise and I have changed quite a lot since my picture of a running escapee was out in the muggle world. Nobody is going to look twice at a couple going to visit relatives. Death Eaters can't penetrate even the outer wards so they won't be there. I thought of everything. Come on! There's no risk! And even if there was some, isn't meeting Harry worth a little bit of a cold sweat? A little bit of excitement in your routine?" He was making puppy eyes at her and that really nearly worked too. But she had not survived until now by making hasty decision based on emotions.

She retorted with high eyebrows of her own. "I wouldn't know. I never met him. And frankly, I would not take such risk even if he was Sean Connery in disguise." The disappointment in his face was so acute that instant guilt shot through her.

"Damn the man, was anyone ever able to say no to him!" She raised her hands towards heaven in disgust and surrendered. "Oooh! All right! Whatever." She put her index under his nose, "If anything, anything at all happens, I will hold you directly responsible and will ask for retribution. And safe heaven in the wizarding world until I can disappear again under another disguise. Do you hear me?"

He held up his hand in a gesture of peace, "Yea, I hear you loud and clear. Of course I will take care of you, I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me. You have a deal."

She grumbled, "You better believe it." But it was mostly for show, she knew. Mollified by his promise, she got up to her feet and sighed. "What are you waiting around for then?"

Grinning, he took her hand and proceeded to the door, stopping just long enough at the counter to thank Tom and throw him a few coins. Then they were out in the twilight under the hard neon lights of the muggle world, Sirius calling a cab to a stop as if he had always done such things.

"I'm daft. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. Well, I suppose I'm not the first nor the last girl to do real stupid things for a man's sake." Despite everything, a shiver of excitement went through her at the idea of daring to do this right under Tim's nose. "As long as the excitement doesn't turn to horror, this might just be fun after all." Not that she would ever tell Sirius that of course.

***

It worked amazingly well. She had given the cab driver the name of a restaurant she knew downtown. A few streets after their departure, while the cab was stopped at a red light, the driver's attention diverted by a hooker on a street corner, they had touch the coin at the same time and disappeared. Leaving behind money on the seat that covered the whole cab run.

They reappeared near a wall on the corner of Privet Drive. Sylvia now knew that she disliked traveling by portkey just as much as doing so by floo powder. "Have wizards ever invented a pleasant mean of travel?" she asked, feeling out of sort, her stomach trying to protest vigorously to such an unfair treatment.

"If it wasn't such a long way, I would borrow Harry's broom and get back north flying on his firebolt. That's the best way to travel. I had a flying motorcycle back in my youth, but that was before a law was passed against meddling with muggles' stuff." Sylvia could easily hear the longing in Black's voice. It sounded like he rather missed his favorite mean of transportation.

"Brooms?! Flying?! Right. I'll stick to floo powder, thank you very much."

Black laughed and took her hand again. "Come on. It's not far, this way." Together, they went down the street, keeping to the shadows. After a couple of blocks, Sirius stopped dead in his track and pushed the two of them flat on the wall behind them. Sylvia looked around his massive shoulders to see what was the matter. She saw it instantly and started swearing inventively under her breath. There was a police car parked just on the other side of the street on the next corner.

"Now what, genius?" she asked Black, both scared and angry with herself for taking such foolish risks in the first place.

"They might have seen us already, it would look too suspicious to turn around or try to sneak up past them. Better to take the bold solution."

"What?!" Her exclamation was muffled by Sirius' arm getting around her shoulders, taking her into the open with him sticking to her side. He was going to make them walk straight past the police car and up number four's front door like they were just making a casual stroll in the dark!

Sylvia kept just enough of her wits not to struggle against Sirius' hard grip and released the long wig hair from the ponytail. He had put himself between her and the cops so that his bulk would protect her from their gazes. She kept her face averted, facing the buildings as if looking for a house number. With the darkness help and her long hair hiding part of her features, even if they took pictures of her, they might have difficulties relating her to Sylvia Shaw. She was praying they would anyway. Nevertheless, she was having a hard time keeping her panic under control. She felt exposed as if every eye on the street were pointed in her direction, seeing right through her disguise. She hated the feeling, and right now she also hated Sirius Black for putting her in this position. She knew they could not rush either, casual strollers would never do that. But the agonizing slow pace was making her crazy. She was already drenched in a cold sweat and had started to tremble. Her jaw and fist were so tightly clenched they hurt. She was trying very hard to keep herself from doing something rash, like bolting and running to find a place to hide. Her whole body was shrieking at her to do exactly that and she had to talk to herself pretty fast, keeping a firm control on her instincts to prevent it.

Finally, the door to number four came to focus in front of her and Sirius left her side just long enough in order to hit the doorbell. The door took an incredible long time to open but eventually a large beefy-faced man came into view, opening the door just enough to see who was there.

"Open it up Dursley, I'm Harry's Godfather and I'm here to see him. Whether you like it or not." Sirius put a foot in the crack of the door, pushing it slowly open with his muscular leg to get the point across. Sylvia was a little bit shocked by such a rude behavior but she was too preoccupied trying to keep herself calm to wonder about it much.

Reluctantly…and terrified it seemed, the man let them in and closed the door behind them. Panting heavily with her back to the door, Sylvia felt the full force of a panic attack slam suddenly into her as she had no more reasons to keep herself in check. She didn't had an attack in weeks, but it felt like the stress of the last few days was getting the better of her with a vengeance. She hardly heard Sirius ask for alcohol but the answer was drowning in the rushing in her head. "This one's going to be hell." was all she had time to think before she was lost to the terror, a red veil of fire engulfing her mind. She tried to scream from the pain and the fear, but had not enough air to do so. She felt herself go down, pain exploding in her chest as she struggled for breath. She was saved only by her laboring breathing as the lack of oxygen finally caused her to faint.

She woke up with a start in the dark of an unknown bedroom. Before she had time to panic again, Sirius voice cut through the semi darkness, soothingly. "Don't worry, you're in Harry's bedroom. You're safe." He put a glass in her hand. Habit made her raise the glass to her lips, taking a sip…and almost gagged in the process. "It's a restorative potion, drink it. I know it's horrible but you need it." Feeling too beat up to argue, she pinched her nose against the foul smell and gulped the awful stuff in one swallow. Fighting the heaving of her stomach, she leaned down again.

"How…" She licked her dry lips and tried again, "How long was I out?"

"About fifteen minutes." She tried to guess what he was thinking, but his voice was devoid of any traces of emotion and she could not see his face. She felt herself go red with embarrassment. "God! I fainted in front of his godson and his family. He must be disgusted with me."

"Hum, I'm sorry about that. I…I'm all right now, you can go see Harry. After all that's why you're here. I'll just rest here for a while." She felt horrible and upset to have let total strangers, not to mention Sirius and his godson, see her in such a vulnerable state. "What a great partner I am! Freaking out at the first sight of the slightest danger. I disgust even myself!"

"Has that ever happened while you were alone?"

"Huh? What? You mean passing out?" she was startled by the change of topic.

"Yea. I mean exactly that."

She shrugged, feeling her strength coming back and her tortured muscle relaxing, thanks, she was sure to the restorative potion. "Of course, but it doesn't always happens, it depends on the force of the attack. I usually have more sense than to do it in front of people though." She hated this talk about her weakness, trying to make light of it as if it was nothing.

"How could you be so irresponsible as to live alone! You could hurt yourself pretty badly!" Sylvia looked at him bewildered, he actually sounded angry.

She tried to answer slowly, feeling her temper rise up to match his. "I'm usually already down on the floor for a good while before I pass out. I was lucky tonight, it happened so fast. Look, you have every right to be angry with me. I freaked out, I failed you but still that's not a reason…"

He cut through her anger, "That has absolutely nothing to do with it!!" he switched on the bed table lamp to have a good look at her. "You have no idea, do you?"

She swallowed at the seriousness in his gaze. "What are you talking about?"

He looked at her for a while before getting up to pace. "I'm not the right one to tell you this, but since there is no one else…" He faced her, "You went into seizures after you passed out, bad ones too. I thought you knew."

A lump of cold dropped to her stomach and all colors deserted her face. Oh! No! The doctor at the clinic had hinted it might happen if the attack kept coming strong. Her nerves, already coiled pretty tight, were just not up to such regular shocks. The doc had told her to go somewhere calm and relaxing to unwind her nerves and get some psychological help. She had access to none of the two. She could not get off country, the airports just have too much security and a fake passport would cost her more than she had at her disposal. That was one reason she was so glad for Dumbledore's offer of a job. As for psychological help…there was just too much risk involved, she could not trust a stranger. Unfortunately, the seizures were dangerous. She had to find a doctor who would be able to give her a drug to forestall the problem until she could discover a more permanent solution.

"What are you going to do?" he asked, sitting on the bed and taking her hand in his.

"Find a doctor. It's risky but I don't have a choice."

"Yes you do. Aurors sometimes develop the same condition. Madam. Pomfrey could probably give you a potion for the seizures, if not for the panic attacks. It would taste worst than what you just took, but it would give you some time."

"But…I'm a muggle. I mean, is it legal for her to treat me? And it's not because it works on wizards that it means it'll work on me."

"The biological difference between us exist only in some very stupid wizards mind. There was never any evidence to corroborate such a belief. There is nothing in the blood or the mind of wizards that make them different from muggles. Madam. Pomfrey might need to adjust the dosage, but it would work. She is also not partial to those who think muggles are failed attempt of nature. She will treat anyone who needs help. That is why she works at Hogwarts and not at St.Mungos. Some mediwizards there would never think of treating you."

"Oh. Well, I guess there's nothing wrong in asking her anyway. That would make things way easier. Thanks Sirius." That's when she remembered she had never called him that before. She had thought of him as Sirius all day long and had talked about him with Remus and used his first name, but saying it in front of him was not the same and made her blush furiously.

She was saved from Black's intense gaze by an adolescent coming in the room. "Sirius? Is she okay?" The boy was lean and small with a very serious face, a mop of black hair and the most intense pair of green eyes she had ever seen, half hidden behind glasses.

"She's all right for now, Harry. Come in, I want you to meet her."

Sylvia got herself to her feet and extended her hand to the young man who was carefully studying her, "Hi Harry. Your Godfather told me a little about you. He is very proud of you." He took her hand and shook it with a strong grip and a direct gaze, "You have an advantage over me then, I have no idea who you are. Sirius never mentioned you prior to his last couple of owls, and he didn't even write down your name. It seems I have to thank you though, for saving his life and making it possible for him to clear his name."

Sylvia looked at the boy more closely. There was something amiss here. The kid was too quiet, too mature and too restrained. It was as if there was a wall between him and the world, only his eyes seemed to give away part of his interior world. What she saw in that gaze reminded her of Sirius, there were shadows in there and lines of pain etched around his eyes with dark circle underneath. On his forehead, a red raw scar cut like a lightning bolt which looked as if it was a day old at the very least, not years old. "Ouch! Another one who is much more than meet the eyes. God! He is too young for that much pain." The contrast between his lean frame, which make you think him younger than his years, and the much older look in his eyes was startling. It was like having in front of you two different persons in one body. "How do you talk to a boy like that. Do you address the shy teenager or the tired and scared young adult?" She settled on the latest for the moment.

"It's all right. I'm glad I did it, even though there are moments when I wished otherwise." She gave him a down-side grin, "Like when I make a spectacular entrance by fainting in front of complete strangers!! I hope I didn't spook your err…family too much down there."

He and Sirius exchanged an amused glance and the boy chuckled, "Oh yes you did! They were hysteric, Sirius had to stun them to prevent them from running to the police car outside. He revived them once you settled down enough to sleep though. He put a silence spell on the house, magically locked all the doors and windows and transfigured all the phones in the house into flowerpots. It was great!" His face grew serious again, "Sirius also told me that it was the police presence that gave you the panic attack in the first place. Can I ask you why?"

"Can I sit down first?" Sylvia asked, trying to keep the pleading out of her voice. Her legs were starting to feel the strain already, a muscle in her left thigh was uncontrollably having fits of painful spasm.

A slight blush faintly colored the boy features a moment before he gestured her to sit on the bed. "Of course. I'm sorry, I should've thought about it sooner. Sit on the bed, please. Sirius can take the chair and I'll sit on my trunk."

After everyone was settled, Sylvia shot a glance at Sirius. "Is it safe to talk here?"

He nodded, "I have put another silencing spell around the three of us, they can't hear us."

"All right then." She took a deep breath and started her tale for the third time in the last couple of days. "My real name is Sylvia Shaw, but for the benefit of your relatives downstairs you better call me Caitlin." She stopped to see Harry's reaction to that, the teenager looked stunned for a second then exclaimed, "So, you are the one they're looking for!"

That was not what she expected! "What? What do you mean?"

Harry got up from the trunk and walked to his desk to take something, then handed it to her. "The police have been giving this picture to everyone and have questioned Mrs. Figs, the old woman down the street, about you twice that I know of. I suppose that girl in the photo is you?"

It was a picture taken at the time of her honeymoon in Hawaii. "Yes."

Sirius interjected, "They asked Arabella Figs about her? Why would they…" He suddenly turned pale, "Damn! I can't believe I was that stupid!!"

Sirius' and Sylvia's gaze locked together with the same thought, which Sylvia uttered aloud slowly, aghast at the implication. "She was mentioned in one of the Death Eaters message. They are trailing everyone referred in those just in case I try to contact them to investigate. After all, it is one of the few ways I could try to prove my innocence. They're laying a trap."

"Yes. Arabella was part of the group, loyal to Dumbledore, that fought Voldemort fourteen years ago. It's only logical the Death Eaters want to know where she is and what she is up to now." He turned to Harry, "Has the police seemed interested by you in any way?"

Harry shook his head emphatically. "No, they barely look at me at all. And never asked me anything."

Sirius sighed with obvious relief. "Good, the wards are still working then. Still, The Death Eaters must find it curious that a witch has chosen to live in a very straight muggle neighborhood. It's very possible they will guess she is here to protect something. Or someone." He took a small object wrapped in a length of fabric from one of his pocket and gave it to his Godson. "It's a portkey to Dumbledore's office, keep it with you at all times and use it as soon as you have the feeling things are turning dangerous. Promise?"

"Of course. But I really would like to know what's going on here. What are those Death Eaters messages and what does Mrs. Shaw has to do with anything at all?"

Sylvia shook herself from the stupor she had fell in at the news of the trap lay for her. "To make a long story short, my husband is a high ranking Interpol officer and has framed me for a crime he himself have committed. He has been selling information to the Death Eaters for a couple of years now. One of the things they wanted to know was your location in the muggle world Harry, and possibly your capture. When I discovered the messages, I contacted the police but Tim, my husband, turned the facts against me instead. So I ran. That is why I'm in hiding and why both Sirius and Dumbledore have asked you to stay low. I have thought many times to investigate the people mentioned in the messages, but I never got around to it. I had not enough money and no real experience or skill in the work of an investigator. Beside, my first priority was simply to survive. I'm glad now I never did it."

Harry thought about it for a while. "So, that means you're not really Sirius' fiancée, then?"

Sylvia opened big round eyes at Sirius who suddenly turned crimson red. "Fiancée!!?… Did I miss the proposal?!"

Sirius' growl came to her through Harry's laughter, "Well, I had to say something to the Dursleys. That's the first thing that popped into my mind. Will you stop that?!" he asked Harry, though Sylvia could see he was happy to see his Godson laugh, even if it was at his expense.

"Actually," Sylvia told Harry once he had calmed down, "Sirius was my dog for a few weeks. When he transformed into a man because of that Death Eaters' attack, I was introduced to Dumbledore who eventually offered me a job. That's about all there is."

"Yea. Sure." Harry's eyes were dancing with mirth and disbelief.

To change the subject, which was starting to make her uncomfortable, Sylvia asked the obvious question. "So, how am I suppose to get back home now?"

Sirius shrugged and took the opportunity for the change of topic just as readily, "I guess we don't have a choice but to get back outside so that the police could see us go. I'm sorry Sylvia, but they'll come to look if we just never visibly get out of here." She blanched a little but nodded. "Then I think we could use that cloak and broom of yours Harry. I rather doubt the police is closely examining Arabella's roof, so it should be safe to fly on the Firebolt, hidden by the cloak, to one of her second floor window at the back of the house. Once there, Sylvia can use the Floo network and I can Apparate back here to give you your stuff back and get out in the same way. What do you think?"

"Of course! You can Apparate now that you're free! It's perfect." Harry stood up again, opened his trunk and start rummaging in it. "My broom is locked in the cupboard under the stairs, though."

"I'll get it. I think I'll also steal some tea from the Dursleys, we can all use a cup." Sirius said, standing up.

"Hum. Should I go with you to present myself to the Dursleys? You know, thank them for their hospitality and all…"

"Don't bother. They don't want to have anything to do with wizards or people befriending wizards. Keep your energy for worthy things." And he walked purposely out of the room while Harry kept searching the trunk for the mysterious cloak.

When Sirius came back with a broom in one hand and a tray with hot tea and three cups floating behind him, Harry had found his cloak and had demonstrated to Sylvia its awesome property. Then, he started to entertain her with stories of all the fun he and his two best friends had at school with the invisibility cloak. Sirius listened with one ear, making a comment once or twice, while he was writing a note for Arabella Figs to explain to her their problem and tell her to wait for them in an hour's time. He sent the note with Hedwig, Harry's owl, then joined them to sip tea and tell stories of his own time at Hogwarts. Sylvia was fascinated by this glimpse into another world, but what really touched her was all the small ways Sirius and Harry used to show their affection to each other. Both were visibly not used to express their emotions and had found their own ways to do so without feeling awkward. Sirius tried to make Harry smile or laugh as much as possible by telling the more outrageous stories and Harry knowing that, made sure to exclaim and scuff at all the appropriate places and times. No mention was made of the war, the deaths, the crazy politics of the ministry or the future. Hedwig came back with Mrs. Figs' answer giving her agreement on the plan and urging them to be careful. The hour passed rapidly in a relaxed atmosphere and soon it was time to say goodbye.

With the broom invisible under the cloak, Sirius led them down the stairs and towards the entrance. Sylvia looked around her, curious. She heard the sound of running as a door at the other end of the house slam shut. The beefy man, Sylvia had seen previously was standing in the living room archway, glaring at them as if they were something horrible, fouling his house.

Tentatively, Sylvia smiled at him, "Hi. I'm Caitlin. Sorry for the raucous I caused earlier. I feel much better now. Thank you for your hospitality."

"Just stay away from this house." The man barked by way of answer.

"Told you it was a waste of time and saliva." Sirius said to her with a wink. He turned to the man, who Silvia surmised was Harry's uncle.

"As promised, I will return this place back to 'normal'. But you better keep your word Dursley, or I'll be back with a few friends to throw a party here that will advertise to the whole city that you entertain real strange people. With a few flicks of my wand, I can ruin your reputation as a conservative, 'normal', respectable muggle family. If I hear one word of complaint from Harry, I will come and do just that. Do we understand each other?"

Red with anger and humiliation, the man nodded. Sirius raised his wand and muttered a few words. The plant near the man suddenly changed into a telephone and Harry's uncle grabbed it to check the tone, grunt and said, "You have five minutes." then disappeared from view to another part of the house.

Harry made a face at his godfather, "I will pray that you and Dumbledore can soon find a safe place for me that is as far away from here as possible. Now that your name has been cleared, it is more difficult than ever for me to bear living here. Especially now that I can't really go out. And Sirius…" The young man hesitated, "Yes?" Sirius prompted his godson, "the nightmares…I have a new one almost every two nights now. Here is what I recall of the last one. For Dumbledore. I didn't send it this morning because there's not much and it happened only between the Death Eaters."

Sirius took the paper and smiled with sadness at the teenager. "I'm so sorry Harry. As soon as it's safe to do so, I'll come and get you, fast as lightning. For now, the important thing is to keep you out of harm's way and to try and do something to end those nightmares of yours at the source."

Harry sighed and passed a hand through his hair, "I know Sirius, I know. I just wish…" the hundreds things Harry wished for went unsaid, but Sylvia, trying to stay invisible in a corner during this very private moment, heard them all in the long silence that followed, tears of sympathy standing in her eyes.

"Yea," Sirius finally murmured, "me too."

***

The return trip was uneventful. Sylvia was too tired and too full of the events of the day to care much about the two policemen snoring in the car. They stuck to the plan anyway, just to be sure. After a brief introduction to Mrs. Figs, Sylvia took a handful of Floo powder with relief. She was at the end of her energy and wanted nothing more than to see her cabin and her bed.

The trip by Floo powder was just as unpleasant as the first time was, but brought her back home just fine. Wanting to wait for Sirius, she positioned herself on the sofa but was unable to stay awake for more than a couple of minutes.

She woke in her bed, late the next day, naked. A note on the bedside table said only:

Gone on a job for D. Don't forget to contact Madam P. There is an owl stationed at the cabin for your need. Just call out its name ' Ziggy' out loud outside and it'll come to you.

I know we had a deal, I'll make it up to you for yesterday's disaster. I promise.

I'll contact you if I can and should be back in a few weeks.

Good luck with your work. Take care.

S.

TBC