Alright all…I am so so so so sorry. It has been way to long. And if I were to tell you just exactly what has kept me from writing these past months, the list would be about as long as this chapter. So I beg you to forgive me and please enjoy this chapter. And I am quite happy to say that there is no more procrastinating about revealing some of the secrets I have been keeping. So if there is anyone out there still interested in my useless story, then here you go, please review, and expect a new chapter as soon as I can get it up. I love you all.

Chapter 10: The truth unveiled

The next morning they woke with sheets of music still scattered about them. They lay peacefully still on the couch beside the fireplace. The clear morning light crept in to wake them gently from their sleep. Yet the bright sun upon their shut lids was not what woke them. It was James, thundering down the steps on his way to breakfast, which pulled them violently from slumber.

"You two still sleeping?" he questioned as Sirius pulled a blanket up over his head. "It's nearly noon."

"It's also a Saturday," Sirius muttered drowsily. "Go away."

"Can't," James replied.

"If you don't I'll hex you," Riley threatened groggily.

"Sorry but if I leave, you two will go back to sleep, and miss my quidditch practice," he answered.

"So?" Sirius questioned.

"So I'm here to get you up and off to breakfast," James replied merrily.

"Oh goody," Riley didn't bother to hide her sarcasm.

"I thought you might see it that way," James said over looking it. "Come on, up." He took their blanket away first and then their pillow. After a few minutes he was threatening to take away Sirius' pants.

"Alright, we're up!" roared Sirius eventually. "Get off! We'll be down in a few minutes."

"Good," replied James looking quite satisfied. "I'll be waiting." And he walked cheerfully from the room, humming a tuneless melody.

"Idiot," muttered Sirius as he sat up rubbing his eyes. "Getting us up, at this hour…"

"H-h-how, can he be so cheery this early in the morning?" Riley questioned stifling a yawn.

"No idea," Sirius replied, "but he did it all last summer. I swear the only time I got a decent lie in was when his mother threatened to take away his broomstick if he didn't let me sleep. Wonderful woman, really don't know what I would have done without her. And the way he snores, well that is another story."

Riley smiled. "You two really are best friends, aren't you?"

"The very best," he replied knowing the truth in those words. "I don't know where I would be without James."

She gave him an understanding look. "I know," she whispered and leaned in for a kiss.

He placed a finger across her lips. "Not now," he smiled rather reluctantly.

"Why?" she retorted.

"Because you know once we get started there's no telling when we will stop," he replied truthfully, "and unless you want dear old James walking in on us…"

"Good point," she nodded. "Well should we go down to breakfast then?"

"I suppose we have to," he answered smiling.

"But we can be a few minutes late, can't we," she pressed with a smile.

He grinned back, his resolve softening. "I guess it is decent to be a bit fashionably late," he pretended to contemplate.

"I thought you might see it my way," Riley replied before she found his lips.

Nearly and hour later they ambled, clothed and ready for quidditch practice, into the great hall.

"'Bout time," greeted Remus looking down at his watch. "James nearly had a fit."

"Good morning to you too," Sirius replied. "I thought that lock up charm might come in handy one day. Kept him out of our business it did."

"Well now thanks to you, we will be practicing quidditch until one o'clock in the morning," Remus retorted.

"So it will be like ever other day," Riley smiled.

"Yeah," Remus agreed, "pretty much."

"So where has Prongs gotten off to anyway?" Sirius asked spreading jam on his toast.

"Gone down to the pitch," Lily explained. "Said he ought to go prepare as two of his players were still tucked away in bed."

"I suppose he is drawing up more plays and strategies then?" Riley put out, though not happily.

"I sure hope not," Sirius commented. "That last ones nearly put me to sleep. I'm beginning to think that boy has developed an unhealthy obsession."

"With quidditch," Lily questioned. "He's always been like that."

"No," Sirius answered, "with winning. I think he might just kill himself if we lose this match."

"Very possible," agreed Riley. "I guess it's lucky then that we're going to win."

"I hope so," agreed Remus, "at least for Lily's sake."

"Yes please win, because I might just end up killing myself if I have to live with his sulking. Oh, and Riley, you missed the post. You've had a letter."

"From who?" Riley replied taking the envelope from her cousin and scanning it mildly in her hands.

"I don't know," Lily replied. "There's no name and I didn't recognize the owl."

"Weird," Riley muttered as she torn at the parchment and Lily nodded. She unfolded the note carefully and read what was written.

"What's up?" Sirius asked as he watched Riley's eyes travel the length of the page.

She didn't answer right away but stared at the parchment as if trying to discern exactly what it was that she was reading.

"Riley?" Sirius prodded again.

"Huh?" she mumbled distractedly.

"The letter," Sirius repeated, "what does it say?"

"Wha-oh," she let out finally tearing her eyes away from the words of it. "Nothing really. Just a note from your mom, Lily. I've left my toothbrush at home. She's going to send a new one."

Three sets of questioning eyes stared back at her.

"That's all," Remus said unsurely. He too had seen the sudden look that had taken over her face as she has read that note.

"Yup, that's all," she answered shortly.

The intensity of curiosity became stronger among them.

"Anyway guys," she said after a moment of smiling awkwardly up at them, "I've got to go for a minute. I…um…forgot my, er, potions essay upstairs. Be back in a few minutes."

With a curt wave and fleeting smile she jumped to her feet and began to walk from the hall.

"Riley?" Lily called after her.

She didn't turn back.

"What?" questioned Sirius as he too watched her receding back.

"Well," Lily replied, "it's just that…she was brushing her teeth this morning."

Meanwhile just a few floors above Riley was entering a rather familiar office at the top of a spiraling staircase hidden behind a stone gargoyle. She knocked twice before entering the brightly lit chamber.

"Professor?" she said seeing the loving face that she had known and trusted for years.

"Riley," Albus Dumbledore said in greeting as if to an old friend. "I trust that everything is okay."

She nodded slightly. "Yes…well actually…"

"Yes?" he questioned serenely yet with an air of fervent concern, that none could comprehend.

She looked at him meeting his eyes, the eyes she knew so well. "It's happened Albus." And she held out the letter she had just received.

"Hey," Sirius said as he saw Riley sitting on her bed.

"Hi," she smiled looking up at him as she slipped a piece of parchment discreetly into her pocket.

"What's that?" he questioned just as subtly.

"Nothing," she lied as she kissed him gently.

"Are you sure?" he got out as he enjoyed the work of her warm lips.

"Pretty sure, yeah," she replied breaking off and gazing charmingly at him.

He returned the suite seeing he would get no where and knowing she would confide in him, if he need be worried.

"You missed practice," he put in instead.

Her mouth formed into a slight o of remembrance. "Oh shit," she said realizing her mistake. "I totally forgot. James was angry then?"

Sirius grinned. "No."

She gave him a wry look.

"Well maybe a bit," he corrected himself.

"That sounds more like James," Riley sighed. "I suppose I ought to go apologize."

"Yeah, I guess," Sirius said with a note that said quite audibly that he didn't want her to leave just yet.

She made to get up from the bed. He reached for her hand and tugged her back down. "Riley?"

She looked mildly at him. "Yeah?"

He hesitated for just a moment. "This morning, that letter…" She raised an eyebrow. "What was that all about?"

Her quizzical look lifted a fraction. "I told you," she smiled warmly. "It was just from Lily's mom. Stupid really. I was so distracted I didn't even realize I had left it there."

Sirius continued to look uncertain.

"Sirius," Riley proclaimed, "why are you looking at me like that? I promise it's nothing."

She kissed him sweetly on the cheek and jumped to her feet. "Sorry, but I really have to go talk to James. I'll talk to you later. I promise."

And with a final smile she walked from the room.

A few days later Sirius found himself seated at Gryffindor table again. The morning light gaily illuminated the breakfast laid out before him. He smiled widely as Riley passed him the orange juice. He had all but forgotten about a certain letter that had caught him off guard.

"Morning all," James greeted with his usual morning merriness. "Lovely day for Quidditch this is. What's for breakfast?"

"It's Monday," Remus remarked quite a bit less cheerily than his fellow Marauder.

"So it is," James replied as he piled his plate with a massive stack of pancakes.

"So we have classes," continued Remus.

"So we do," James agreed.

"So no Quidditch this morning," Remus made his point as if talking to a five year old who didn't quite understand.

"Oh." James looked crestfallen.

"It's alright love," Lily smiled. "I think a break might do you some good."

"Good! How could no Quidditch be good?" he exclaimed.

"Oh no," Riley smirked, "you got him started again Lils. He'll be going on like that all day now."

"Too bad he doesn't have an off switch," Sirius muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" James retorted as the loud rustle of hundreds of owls filled the hall.

"Mail's here!" Sirius announced loudly to cut off any further reprisals from James.

"I can see that," James muttered and turned to his breakfast.

Sirius chuckled and returned to his own breakfast piled high before him. He felt the soft wind of the many fluttering wings rustle his hair slightly. He enjoyed it, but did not look up. He had lost interest in the morning post long ago. Now it was nothing more than daily boring routine, a sure sing that the even worse boredom of class would soon follow.

"Hey, that owl is coming this way," Lily pointed.

Sirius found his monotony being tested for once. His eyes found their way to the bird Lily was motioning to. The large owl did indeed seem to be working its was through the commotion toward them. As it came closer Sirius saw that it was completely black, a rare characteristic among the owls in Britain. It flew with a haughty grace that stirred a dislike in him, before he realized it was stupid to be cynical of a bird.

It landed with pompous poise in front of a large jug of pumpkin juice, stuck out its leg, with a self-important hoot, and stared unpleasantly at the faces surrounding it. But nobody reached for the letter it bore, they all, like Sirius, were consumed by the pure oddity of it.

After a moment, Remus, regaining a sense of common sense, said, "Who's it for?"

James grabbed the bird, rather roughly, as its impression on Sirius had fallen over him as well, and untied the small smooth envelope. As soon as he was relieved of his duty, the puffed-up owl took flight again, making no bother to be neat. It knocked a plate of scrambled eggs to the floor as it heaved itself into flight once more. And as it wound its way from the hall, it left them all with a last reproachful stare, as its eyes glinted violet in the morning light.

"Weird," Sirius muttered.

"That's not a school owl is it?" questioned Remus, eyebrows raised, openly proclaiming his perplexity.

"I don't think so," James replied.

"I hope not," Lily added. "It looks like it's not against biting off an unsuspecting finger."

"I wonder who sent it?" Remus questioned aloud reminding all of why the owl had even bothered them.

"Right," said James and he turned his attention the parchment clutched in his hand. "Riley's," he proclaimed holding it up to show them all. He held it out to her.

She looked up weakly from her breakfast. She alone has resisted the spectacle that the owl had delivered. She didn't so much as peep up to see what had caused the fuss. It wasn't a big deal to her. Or she pretended that it wasn't.

Slowly, it seemed, she took the letter which had claimed her. A sudden twitch in her fingers was the only sign of uneasiness she gave. She turned it over in her hands carefully examining it.

"Hey," Lily suddenly let out a look of comprehension on her face. "I've seen that bird before."

Everyone's focus then found its way to her.

"Yeah," she continued. "That was the same owl that delivered your letter the other day, Riley."

"Huh?" her cousin looked up.

"That owl, Riley. It brought you the letter from mum," Lily repeated.

"Oh…must be a school owl then," was all Riley said in explanation. "Listen guys I've got to go."

"What?" Summer probed staring concernedly at her. "You've hardly touched your breakfast."

"Not hungry," she muttered standing as she spoke. "I'll see you guys in class."

Sirius grabbed her hand as she turned to leave. "But what about the letter?"

She gazed at him. Her eyes held a somewhat empty and glazed look.

"I'm sure it's nothing," she claimed calmly. And she pulled her wrist free and left them in sudden confusion once again.

It was a long moment before anyone spoke again.

"What was that about," James put out, a look of utter perplexity on his face.

"I don't know," Lily said quietly, not meeting anyone's eye.

"I think someone should go after her," Remus said sensibly yet with audible unease.

He himself made to get up but Sirius stopped him. "I'll go."

And as his words cut through the quiet it seemed for a moment that the air around them shook with indignation. Their faces were bent close to one another and it looked as though each in turn was debating fiercely whether to savagely tear the other limb from limb. The tension stretched becoming vicious as each of their hearts pulsed intensely in their chests.

And then, Remus nodded, signaling that Sirius had indeed spoken true. And it was over, all in less than a second; their furious battle had been fought and ended. None had noticed.

"Yes, you'd better go." Remus sat, his head hung low, not meeting any eyes.

Sirius said nothing. He turned and left just as silently as Riley had.

"Riley!" he called catching up to her halfway down a second floor corridor. "Riley!"

She turned. "Sirius?"

"Riley," he said taking hold of her hand. She made to pull away but in the process changed her mind.

"What?" she questioned, her plight to hide her irritation failing.

Sirius stared at her somewhat bewildered.

"What do you want, Sirius?" she prodded further, sounding as though she had little time to spare.

"You," he answered with an eyebrow raised. "What's up? Why did you rush out like that?"

Her face seemed to lighten for a second. "Sirius," she sighed. "I'm fine. I'm a big girl I can take care of my problems."

"What problems?" he interrogated confusion and frustration growing in him. "Why don't you ever want my help?"

Her lightness vanished in an instant. "I don't need your help," she scowled.

"Why not?" Sirius demanded feeling anger pulse at his veins. "You're obviously in way over your head; whatever it is you in to!"

In a second he saw her hand move, and in the next second she had struck him as hard as she could.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she snarled in a low rage-filled note. "You have no idea what's going on. So do us both a favor, and leave me the hell alone."

And she stormed off leaving him alone and regretful, his face stinging from her touch.

Sirius was miserable. Riley wouldn't speak to him. She simply walked past, not even acknowledging his existence. He didn't try to talk to her either. He knew he would end up with nothing but another hand print on his left cheek to match the one on his right. He would wait until that night, when he knew she would be calm. Then he would apologize.

He waited for her on her bed. Her absence in the common room told him that she had stayed late in the library finishing one piece of homework or another. He did not want to go to her there. He needed to ask her some important questions, with answers, he assumed, that would require more privacy than the library could offer.

As the hands on her beside clock indicated 9:17, Sirius began to wonder when she would return. Curfew for all students was 9:30 and if she has indeed been in the library then she would need to dispose of her books before seeking leisure time in the common room.

It was then that he noticed that the drawer in her beside table was not shut properly. A thick piece of parchment blocked its way. He could not say that curiosity had not gripped him since the day's earlier events, but he knew to invade Riley's privacy would hold far worse consequences. Yet as the time worked its way to 9:18 and then to 9:19 he found his hand lurking ever nearer to that small crack that may hold so many answers.

As 9:20 flashed he was pulling open the drawer and peering cautiously inside. Atop a pile of both new and used parchment sat something that made his heart skip a beat. It was a deep brown journal that had clearly written across the front, in a familiar neat hand, 'Riley Evans'."

He picked it up and felt his way over the cover and spine of the thick book and with a final breath and twinge of guilt he flipped open the book to a page near the front.

It was dated some years before.

Today Dad gave me my first wand. He said it was his when he was younger. It was amazing. As soon as I touched it I felt a wonderful warm feeling spread through me. I loved it. I told him I'd use it to become an Auror just like him. He told me it was made by the finest wand maker in the world, Olivander, or something like that. He said that it was made back home…in Britain, and it was made of beech wood and phoenix feather. I miss home. Dad always tells me of Hogwarts. It sounds wonderful; though I'm sure I will never be able to go there. Mom says as long as the Ministry of Magic says we have to stay here in Canada….

Sirius smiled gently. He too remembered his first wand. It was a defining moment.

He flipped ahead to a new page.

Dad is gone again. He leaves so often now. I miss him so much. It's the Ministry…they are on his back all the time. He never gets a minute's peace anymore. Mom says it's all of this Vol…oops…you-know-who business. But if he's really so bad then why don't I know who he is. They say he's a terrible power hungry wizard, who kills for fun. I suppose he sounds pretty bad but then there should be more people out fighting him, not just my dad….

Sirius skimmed ahead farther.

Things are getting even worse. Mom is gone for days at a time too now. I don't know where she goes. I guess to help the Ministry against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. I'm not afraid to call him Voldemort. I haven't seen dad in weeks. Mackenzie and I are left home alone. Everywhere I look there are more muggle killings. Apparently it is worse in Britain. I hope Lily and Uncle Henry and Aunt Emily are alright. I haven't heard from them in ages. The only people back home we are in contact with are Albus and the Ministry…

Sirius paused at the last sentence. Albus? Did she mean Dumbledore? Bur before he could think much more on it, his curiosity got the better of him once again. He turned almost to the back of the book to a page that was wrinkled slightly and smudged revealing tears. The words were spidery and jarring. He guessed they were written with a shaking hand. Here he hoped to find some answers. Any answers.

He's dead. He's dead. I can't stop thinking it. It's driving me crazy. But I will never forget. I can't forget. I loved him so much. They took him away from me this morning. Those horrible filthy bastards took him away. They want to put him in the ground. It's cold in the ground. He doesn't deserve to be there. He should be with me! Why can't he be with me!

And her…I hate her! I HATE her! I hope they kill her. She will deserve it for what she did. I can't believe I didn't see it. How could I not know? How could I be so stupid?

The entry stopped there.

Sirius sighed. He couldn't have kept reading anyway. It hurt too much. He closed the book and set it on the bed beside him. He glanced once more into the depths of the drawer. It took him a second to realize what he was looking at. There tucked neatly in a corner, half hidden beneath a roll of parchment and a quill, sat the letter that had arrived that morning via the eerie black owl.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he had plunged his hand into the drawer and grabbed the crisp envelope. He carefully pulled out the note held within, neatly unfolded it, and read its secret.

We know what you did. Revenge is sweet, as you well know. Don't worry, we too will have ours soon. You didn't expect to get away with what you did, now did you? Dumbledore's little trick didn't hide you for long. Don't make the mistake of thinking he can protect you. He can protect you no more than he can protect any of you little friends. Remember your father is already dead. Dumbledore couldn't save him from us. I have a feeling we'll be in touch soon. Until then…keep a close eye out for those around you.

"What are you doing?"

Sirius froze. His heart was pumping furiously in his chest.

"I said, what are you doing?" Riley demanded from the doorway.

Sirius looked up at her. Anger was flowing from her like the ripples in a pond after a rock has been thrown in. Her every feature spelt out rage at him and of the deeds he had just done. She was pale, her eyes flashing brightly, radiating fury, yet deep set in them was fear.

She took a step closer to him. "Why are you here?" He caught her words and they burnt him.

His voice seemed lost in his stomach but he forced it out. "Riley-I…"

"What?" she demanded. "What did you do?"

"I didn't mean…" he said silently, not meeting her eyes lest they would scald him as well.

"You didn't mean me to walk in and find you pouring through my privacy!" she yelled. "Well how inconsiderate of me. Continue with your snooping. Found anything interesting yet?"

"Riley that's not it," he managed, feeling the guilt in his words.

"Then what is it?" she challenged. "You don't trust me so you had to come up here and read my personally things, my journal and my mail."

"No, I-I don't know why I did it," he said to the floor. Slowly he looked up at her. "I came to apologize."

"Oho…you came to apologize, and meanwhile to read the one book that I have never even let anyone else see before," she shot.

Sirius suddenly felt his compassion waning and in its place anger forming. "Well maybe if you trusted me enough to tell me when you need help I wouldn't have been so willing to read it," he proclaimed.

"It isn't a matter of trust and you know that. I told you that. Your oversized arrogant brain just can't comprehend that!" she shouted.

"I'm the arrogant one," he yelled. "The one who is in so much trouble that I don't eat or sleep properly, that I am a nervous wreck who keeps my friends in the dark when I know I am in more trouble than I even understand! Who refuses help when I need it more than I even know!"

"What did you read?" she snarled. "What did you see?"

Sirius couldn't bring himself to answer. All he could mutter was, "Fuck."

"What did you read!" she commanded of him. "Tell me!"

"Nothing," he answered. "That's what you want me to say, isn't it. So you can go back to solving your own problems your own way."

"Shut up."

"No I won't because you need to hear," Sirius continued. "You are hurting yourself and your friends. Do you think we like seeing you this way?"

"Shut up!"

He moved closer to her and brought his face in front of her own. "We want to help. Just let us."

She looked at him for a moment, her eyes boring into his own. It seemed then that he had gotten through, that he had made her understand that she was not alone. It seemed for a moment that he had managed to provide peace to her weary heart.

"Well you can't help," she said quietly. "I already told you…no one can."

"Stop saying that," he ordered gently as he took her in his arms. "You know it's not true. I promise Riley…I'll do anything."

He felt her hot tears on his shoulder. She shuddered slightly in his grasp like she was shivering. He held her tighter as if by holding her closer he was saying again and again 'it will be alright'. And he hoped with all his heart that it would be.

"No," she moaned. "No!" And with a force she pushed him off of her. "It's not alright. Everything won't be okay…it can't be."

"Riley please…"

"No!" she cried wiping her tears.

Her feet led her to her bedside where she stooped and picked up a piece of fallen parchment, the same parchment that had fallen from Sirius' hand mere minutes before.

"You read it," she said. "You know what they said, what they threatened to do. They will do it. They're after me and they're willing to kill anyone who gets in the way. They killed him…they killed my father….they killed Mackenzie….just to get to me."

She didn't look at him as she spoke. Instead she gazed determinedly out the window. But she at last she faced him, looking him tenderly in the eye. Her eyes were dry and her resolve was strong.

"They'll do it Sirius….they'll kill you, and think nothing of it," her voice showed no sign of breaking. "So you have to go. Just leave me alone. Pretend you don't know me… Please…I love you too much…I can't go to another funeral…I'm not strong enough….now if you love me too…just go…."

He opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off with a whisper. "Please Sirius? I can't fight you anymore. Just leave."

He didn't know what else to do. He turned his back on her and left the room.

AN: Please review!