Chapter 20: Meetings

I kept the note hidden in Rain's cage so it was guarded and I didn't say anything to anyone about it. I continued with my holiday break, although I constantly found myself being pestered by students wanting extra lessons or more assistance. I always found a reason or excuse for them as I kept my eyes and ears open for even a glimpse of Black. If he was so bold as to send me a note telling me to stay out of his way and away from Harry, it didn't spell anything good that he was doing.

I was finishing my breakfast in the grand hall when the owl's with the mail entered and began to deliver to the students, along with the teachers. Christmas gifts were being ripped opened, the food forgotten. I noticed an owl flying directly toward me with a small parcel in its feet. It dropped it and I caught it with ease, rolling it between my hands. There was a note with it, but it was written in invisible ink. I slipped it into my pocket and unwrapped the package.

Inside was a little black box and when I opened it, magic burst from inside and made a beautiful little firework show with all my favorite colors, ending with an amazing blast of magic in the shape of my eyes and the exact color of them. I was in awe of it and I didn't realize that it had drawn the attention of all the staff and even about half of the students. I smiled and closed the box, sitting it to the side. I tried to keep from smiling so much but it was such a beautiful gift that I couldn't help it.

I pushed my plate away and gathered my stuff up before walking quickly toward the doors. I let my feet guide me along the path and soon I was standing in the middle of a courtyard. I pulled out the note and my wand, waving it and casting the spell to reveal the writing. My eyes took in each word as they appeared, recognizing the handwriting.

*Note*

Phoebe, it's been years and yet these eyes have been my light in the darkness. Merry Christmas and I'll see you soon. -Padfoot

I inhaled and held it for a minute before releasing it, unsure of what to make of it. "See me soon?" I re-read the words and wondered what he could've meant by that. I was still wondering when Remus appeared from the side and waved me over. I crumpled the note up and slipped it into my pocket as I went to him. "Merry Christmas Phoebe." he greeted and I replied, "Merry Christmas to you as well." he leaned against a wall and I joined him asking what he was up to. "Harry has asked me to teach him to defend against the Dementors. They have taking a liking to the boy, I don't want him to go unprotected."

I agreed, he asked me to help but I declined, I was going to be working on finding Sirius and keeping him away from Harry. "As soon as the holidays are over…James and Lily's son will be in danger once more. His life has been nothing but despair since their death's." Remus said and I sighed, touching his shoulder. "He's a brilliant kid and he is just like them. He will be fine, he is strong-willed and protective of the people he cares about. And he has people like us to make sure to help him grow and help protect him when he needs us."

He patted my hand and gave me a sad smile, "I miss them both dearly." I nodded and looked away. "It seems like we just here, running around together, getting into all kinds of trouble." he chuckled and replied, "I do believe it was only a few of us…ahem…getting into trouble. Some of us actually obeyed rules and studied." I smiled and we spoke about happier days when we were all still a group of kids running around this school. When he sighed deeply, I could see his face begin to stress as the full moon grew closer.

"Hey, go get some rest Remus, and if you need me just let me know. I'll be there to help if you would like me to." we began to walk toward his room and he shook his head, saying that it wasn't safe for me to be near him while changed. "Professor Snape makes a potion that allows me to remain myself, I still change, but I don't lose myself in it and can remain in my office or room. It isn't like the old days…beside you can't turn like the others could." I laughed and turned to him. "Says you. Remus, I have become so much more than when I was a student here. I can do plenty of things that you wouldn't believe."

I told him we would speak another time and that I needed to go and waved as I walked away. I wanted to get away for a short while, just to be myself for a minute or two. I stood in front of the whopping willow and decided I needed a minute, just a minute alone. To be myself fully, free of prying eyes and judgments. I pointed my wand at the willow after making sure wasn't being watched and froze the willow for a minute as I slipped under the branches and into the pocket hole at the base.

Once I was inside, I let my breath out that I had apparently been holding. I felt my body lift up some, as if a weigh was being taken off my shoulders. I smiled to myself and felt the cool stones under my fingers, it was nice and it brought back better memories. I continued along the pathway, remembering it with ease as I traveled toward the shack. I lifted the box out of the way and climbed inside, but froze in place as I saw footsteps…fresh ones.

I gripped my wand tight in my hand as I moved forward, following along the tracks to the top room. The door was ajar and when I touched it, it creaked loudly and I winced, trying to stop it. I thought I heard something moving around, but I leaned back into a shadow, trying to remain hidden from whoever was there. I waited and waited until finally I decided that it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. I went back to the door and peeked through a hole in the frame, only to be met with a bright gray eye staring back.

Before I could even blink, I was jerked into the room and turned facing away from the person, my arms in a tight lock behind my back as I was just completely shocked… I knew those eyes, I had stared into them many a times when I was in school. I let out a shaky breath, "Sirius…" his cheek was pressed against my head, his lips right beside my ear. "It has been so long since I heard my name on your lips…Phoebe." I suppressed a shiver as I shut my eyes, unable to keep my heart a steady beat. "Let me go." I demanded and he chuckled, pressing his body even closer to mine.

I could smell the dirt and sweat on him and his chest was rumbling with each breath he took, as if he wasn't fully himself, perhaps he was hurt and I could take advantaged of it. I was still pressed against him when he spoke again, his voice shivering. "Why did you come here?" I tried to turn to look at him, but he moved out of my view again, making sure I wasn't able to see him. "I'm going to tell everyone where you're hiding. I'm going to turn you in for what you did to our friends!" I felt tears coming to my eyes as hard as I tried to fight them.

I felt as if I was seeing their dead bodies again, the sadness and rage inside of me fighting for the moment to be unleashed. The moment Remus told me about Peter and Sirius's fight and how he destroyed him. I couldn't take it anymore as I felt the tears spilling over, I slammed my high-heel into his shoe and he yelped, letting his grip slip and I got free. When I turned to hit him with a spell, I found my wand missing, no longer in my fingers. Sirius was bent over, still rubbing his foot, but one of his hands was gripping my wand tight.

I cursed myself silently, how could I be so stupid as to let him get my wand away from me?! I sighed and watched as he stood up, shaking his hair out of his face. I had imagined this moment many times over the years. How would I react when I saw him? How much he would have changed? how would I feel seeing him again? But as I met his eyes with my own, I found my mind blank. No one made a move as we stared at each other, eyes boring into each other until I couldn't take it anymore.

I looked away from his piercing eyes and took a step back. He reacted by raising my wand toward me while clicking his tongue. "Listen, no hard feelings…I can't let you go just yet. I wasn't ready to be found out just yet. You always seem to throw a wrench into my plans, don't you." he gave my wand a twirl between his fingers as he circled around me, blocking me from leaving. I turned with him, keeping my eyes on his movements for an opening. He began to come close to me, his grin like he was a young boy again getting into trouble.

"Sirius, don't make this hard. Just move out of the way. You know I've taken you down without magic when we were kids." I warned as I began to line myself up for an attack, he just grinned and twirled my wand again. "I remember a lot of things that happened when we were kids." I felt my cheeks warm as I had a few flashes of memories myself. I shook my head and sighed, holding up my hands. "Look, things are a lot different now. You're a murderer! You betrayed James and Lily! Not to mention Remus and even me!" I felt my voice getting louder as my emotions began to rage inside of me.