Disclaimer: All Buffy stuff is Joss Whedon's. All Harry stuff is JK Rowling's. The song 'Forsaken' is from the Queen of the Damned. Not mine.

A/N: There are three scenes which needed to be cut from the end of this chapter because it was just getting too long, so due to requests for more one-shots, I have posted them as one-shots. Check them out (please), they are (in chronological order)-

Interlude: A Prongs/Tigerlily Encounter: He loves her. She hates him. But if there's one thing they're both good at, it's taking care of their friends. A James/Lily moment. Nice and fluffy.

Of Towels and Wet Rats: Just a little conversation about dealing. Sirius comforts Dawn after her ordeal. Also of the fluffy variety.

Hands: A hands-on, shirts-off experience in which Dawn begins to learn about the power of the right person's touch. Dawn/Sirius of the not so much fluffy as smutty persuasion.

Review Responses:

Sonofgloin: Thanks for understanding, like, everything about me. Review my one-shots coz you love me? All my love XX

Kat: Your reviews meant the world to me. Hope you got the email. Thanks again.

Eleclya111: This chapter's even longer!! I don't mind about the quick review... so long as I get a nice big one this time (puppy eyes)

Lunawolf: I updated soon! Yeah, I felt mean for making Sirius a 15 year old boy, but 5 years ago I was putting up with them... call that chapter my revenge for adolescent romance I guess.

clcountry: Lily may or may not be thawing towards James... we'll see. As we will with Isabel's reaction to her sweetheart's hairier alter-ego. Sorry you didn't like the fakeout- I just wanted some Voldie action and I wanted to make it hit home with James how dangerous his father's position is without pushing it too far and making it clichéd†I tried.

Beachgurl2005: Ok you're review rules, you're my new best friend LOL. Consider your wish for one-shots happily granted. Am thinking I'll do a Remus/Isabel, but I'm waiting for my muse to take me down that road. The Isabel/werewolf issue will be taken care of all in due time, I'm happy to say nobody has yet guessed the curve-ball I'm gonna throw with her, but that's a long way down the track.

This story will take us through to the end of fifth year for the gang, I don't know how many chapters that will be though. Hopefully lots, I broke the 100 000 word barrier for the first time ever in this story and it's inspiring me! I can tell you that the primary sequel will be set about 20 years later, in the time frame of Order of the Phoenix (so we get to meet Harry at the same age as we met his parents in this story) email me if you like spoilers. I honestly don't know for sure if Voldemort will find out Dawn's the Key (you'd think with the fascination Lucius has with Dawn he'd figure out she's the only new thing at Hogwarts, but there you go) and what the evil Malfoy is planning for Dawn is about to transpire right here...

Input means anything & everything that pops into your head about this story or any of the one-shots surrounding it- suggestions, comments, criticisms, wild ideas and flights of fancy... I love hearing it all. And thank you so much for saying I shouldn't change a thing no matter what, it was really heartening to read that, gave me the inspiration I needed to get this out so fast. Also very glad you enjoyed the first 2 parts of the Ilfirin Meleth trilogy. Part 3- IMIII: A New Dawn is on a long vacation while I'm in the mood for some Sirius fic, but it will return one day. One day. Have 2 chapters written already, if you'd like a quick read, again just email and I'll send. Cheers.

Marz1: Thanks for your honesty. I agree with your view on categories, so I changed it over to Romance. As far as the other stuff goes, however misguided they might be, I have my reasons for making certain decisions-

With the extremely passive characterisation of Dawn, I said that from the start she was going to be weaker than what we are sued to, and although she will evolve it is going to take her some time. It's a whole new world, and I wanted to show how scary that could be for a girl who was seen as the useless one in Season 5 of Buffy. She does have a temper, but she's still a little gun-shy for letting it fly, and in the end of season 5 and through season 6, in my view, Dawn became a klepto as a means of seeking attention. She has no need to steel at Hogwarts- she has people paying more attention to her than ever before and she is given everything she could possibly need or want, if not by Dumbledore then by her friends. The graphic make-out sessions are part of a new style of writing I am playing with (and the reason I rated this story R). I knew when I started that some (maybe many) people wouldn't like it, so I'll put you down as a negative vote for the hot and heavy scenes. Yay for the villain, I've been meaning to work him into the foreground since, like, chapter 4... and they might not have any choices but to fight evil ;-) Although Dawn will probably not be becoming an Animagus (I don't really like the idea, I've read fics where Lily is an Animagus just like James and it kind of annoys me, so I doubt I'll be treading that path myself.) thanks for your time.

Darkest Melody: Love the name! Updated as soon as I could! And yes there are many cold showers in the offing for Sirius...

phoenix83ad: Thanks for another lovely big review! Poor dolt-ish Sirius, I'm sure he'll get there one day. And it's a good thing you're finding my Wormtail tolerable, I hate him with a vengeance but I am trying to be fair to his younger character... he wasn't always evil... he might not remain so innocent here either... Glad I managed to work the Joss Whedon style fake-out on you, and as far as Malfoy goes... read on, read on. Summers women are very protective of family, even their adopted ones, and you've hit the nail right on the head when you presume that if Sirius is Harry's Godfather, then Dawn will have a complementary title of the sort... the sequel goes into this in greater detail.

SiriusEarendil: Hope you enjoyed the teasers for the sequel... updated as soon as I possibly could, I wrote and typed like a machine these past 3 days!

Mademoiselle Morte: Glad to hear you're getting along with your very own Dawn/Marauder creation, and I'd definitely love to hear from you when you've got something ready to go. Please do email me, I'm interested in what new perspectives you might bring to the D/M mix. Good luck and happy writing!


CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Forsaken

Three boys awoke to the sound of running water, though by now they were more than used to the sound. James tossed a quick smirk at Remus and Peter as they all tumbled out of their beds.

"I think Padfoot's trying to see if he can drain the lake dry," he commented.

"I'm sure Hogwarts will eventually run out of cold water," Remus replied drolly. "Shall I do the honours?"

"Go right ahead, Moony," James said graciously, taking out a long scroll of parchment and tossing it to the werewolf. Remus unfurled it and scribbled out the date and the time at the end of a long list of recorded dates and times, and added a mark to the tally in the bottom corner.

"I don't understand," Peter admitted reluctantly as he rummaged in the jumble of clothes in his drawers for a set of robes that would pass the sniff test. "Why is Sirius taking so many cold showers?"

"Because all he can think about is getting laid, and the fact that the poor bloke isn't getting any is driving him crazy," James explained bluntly. Remus shot him a 'how tactful of you' look.

"Oh, ok then," Peter said happily, now stuffing a few books and a quill into his bag.

Remus frowned at the other Marauder's apparently pleased reaction to the confirmation that Sirius and Dawn's relationship remained for the most part innocent, but said nothing. The bathroom door slammed open and Sirius stomped out, his lips tinged blue and his teeth chattering slightly.

James' smirk was so deep it was almost a strain on his facial muscles to hold it. But he managed. ""Something wrong with the hot water again, Padfoot?" he enquired innocently, hoisting his bag over his shoulder.

James turned to the door, but something large and heavy collided with him. He tumbled painfully to the floor under a mass of thick, black fur and with two large paws hitting him squarely in the chest. James' head whipped up, his gaze zeroing in on the growling dog his best friend had morphed into.

"Right then, let's go."

Padfoot charged again, but instead of bearing down on James, he was met with the hazel-eyed stag. Peter and Remus scrambled back out of the war zone as Padfoot and Prongs began to wrestle around the dorm, knocking the furniture and messing up the beds as they played. It was only when Remus noticed the time for their first class of the day drawing near that the animal skirmish ended. James and Sirius reappeared as themselves, panting and laughing a little even as they shouldered their bags and followed Remus and Peter down in search of breakfast.

They found the girls in their year at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, all already almost finished with their own breakfast. "Alarm clocks," Dawn hinted significantly at James with a knowing grin.

"Don't make me practice my Silencing Charms on you," he warned good-naturedly.

Dawn giggled. "I thought you didn't need the practice. Besides, Sirius will protect me," she told him in all confidence while Sirius grinned his confirmation.

"Please don't ruin my appetite. It's not often we get a chance for an actual sit-down breakfast," James returned blandly as he heaped the bacon onto his plate.

Dawn was laughing, though when she looked up, her laugh died and her smile disfigured itself into a grimace of discomfort. Lucius Malfoy was leering at her. She watched with a disturbed sort of compulsion as Malfoy arched a suggestive eyebrow and sliced his knife violently through his egg. She shuddered and tore her gaze away.

Remus' eyes hardened as he picked up on Dawn's discomfort. He knew exactly where to look for the source of Dawn's trouble, his gaze locked onto the cold silver-grey glare of Malfoy. Isabel squeezed his arm when she noticed her boyfriend's quiet anger. His little threat hadn't warned Malfoy off at all: Dawn would need to be watched like a hawk now for her own safety.

The Hall slowly emptied as students began to move off to their classes. The Gryffindors took to the halls, unfortunately finding themselves walking behind a group of Slytherins led by none other than Bellatrix Black. The dark-featured girl glanced over her shoulder and, spotting the groups stuck walking behind hers broke into a malicious smile.

"Have you heard?" Bellatrix said loudly to her followers. "That attack on the muggle family was a mere appetiser for what the Dark Lord's got planned for the filth of the world."

"Here we go," James muttered under his breath. Dawn had already grabbed Sirius' wrist to restrain him... not that she actually had the strength to hold him back if he really decided to throw his weight around.

"Apparently having his min put two of those pathetic Aurors in St Mungo's really motivated the Dark Lord, now he's intent on ridding the face of the earth of all the Mudblood whores who refuse to accept their place. You know, like Summers," Bellatrix concluded snidely, tossing a contemptuous sneer back at Dawn for effect.

"Hang out with Voldemort a lot, Bella?" Dawn scowled, though she hadn't quite spoken loud enough for the Slytherin's to hear. A couple had heard her voice murmur something and turned around to glare, but an angry glare from James and Sirius had them turning away again.

"Probably," Sirius muttered in reply to Dawn's question, his harshest death glare aimed at his cousin. Dawn tugged at his sleeve to regain his attention.

"Forget it. They're not even creative enough to come up with anything new to insult me with. Just forget it," she urged as they turned to take a different path.

"Right," Sirius agreed reluctantly. He didn't want to forget it, he wanted to hex his cousin's fat, dirty mouth shut. Permanently. But at Dawn's request he made himself let it go for now and changed the subject. "Wear something warm tonight," he said abruptly.

Dawn started at the sudden snap between moods. "Huh?"

He grinned. "I want to show you something after dinner. But we can't go too early, and it'll be cold later tonight."

"Why?" Dawn frowned. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"Tell me."

"Kiss me."

Dawn perked up. "If I do, will you tell?"

Sirius smirked enigmatically. Dawn pouted in defeat and stomped on ahead with Lily. Every class of the day, as well as every meal was frequently disturbed by a whiny voice and a pleading "Tell me," immediately followed by the reply challenge of "Kiss me." Every other Gryffindor in the tower breathed a sigh of relief and basked in the peace when at last Dawn and Sirius, he in his winter cloak and she in the jacket they'd picked out in muggle London, slipped out of the tower and into the hallway.

"Ok, where-?"

"Shh," Sirius covered her mouth with his hand, eyes alight with mirth. "Let's just go before Filch spots us."

Big blue eyes glared over the hand that swallowed most of her face until it was taken away to clasp at her own. Without so much as a word of warning Sirius took off through the castle, forcing Dawn to trail after him. She was thankful for her long legs, the only reason she had a hope in hell of keeping up. Through the darkened corridors and stairways Sirius led the chase, the patter of their feet echoing softly around them. Both were panting slightly as Sirius finally allowed them to slow to a walk for the last sets of stairs leading up to the roof of the castle.

For a moment Dawn thought Sirius was taking her up to the Astronomy tower where they'd shared their first kiss, but at the last moment he turned aside and up a small off-shooting set of stairs in a stone tunnel. At the top was a thick wooden door, which Sirius shoved open after tossing a quick wink over his shoulder at Dawn. He stepped back, on his most gentlemanly behaviour as he ushered Dawn into what was evidently one of the castle's turrets. He pulled the door closed behind them.

"Oh my God!"

"I know. My favourite place in the whole castle," Sirius grinned, wrapping an arm about his girlfriend's waist.

Dawn could easily see why Sirius loved the Observatory so much, at first sigh she'd just fallen in love with it too. Much like the Great Hall, the ceiling was as the sky. But unlike the Great Hall, the roof of the Observatory was not merely charmed to reflect what was going on in the sky, it was completely transparent and magnified the stars until Dawn felt she could reach up and touch them. A blanket had been spread over the floor, a picnic basket settled on one corner, a ways beyond it was another wooden door.

"Telescopes storage," Sirius explained before Dawn had to ask. "Here, sit down."

There was a warming spell over the Observatory, and out of the chill of the draughty castle halls Dawn slid out of her jacket and Sirius shed his cloak before they settled on the blanket. Sirius reached into the picnic basket and extracted two goblets and a bottle of pumpkin juice, expertly pouring the liquid and handing one goblet to Dawn.

"Cheers."

"Cheers."

Sirius grinned and hooked an arm about Dawn's neck, drawing her closer to him. In a companionable silence they slowly drained their drinks and set them aside. They settled back against the blankets, looking up at the stars so bright the room needed no other illumination. Sirius pointed at a cluster of stars.

"Delphinus, the dolphin," his other hand stroked her hair.

Dawn shifted her head against his chest so she could get a clearer view. "I don't know the real names, Tara only taught me her way of doing it. Show me more?" her arm twisted up so she could lazily scratch his chin.

"That's the plan, Kitten. There's the constellation Andi was named after- the Princess Andromeda."

"Story?"

Sirius moved his finger from the one star cluster to another, and then a third. "Her parents, Ethiopian royalty. Queen Cassiopeia was really vain, she angered the Sea-God Poseidon by saying that she was even more beautiful than the sea nymphs."

"Uh-oh."

"Uh-huh. To save the rest of his Kingdom from being devoured, King Cepheus was forced to sacrifice his only daughter Andromeda to the sea monster Poseidon had sent after them, Cetus," Sirius' finger shifted again.

"That's bad."

"That's where Perseus comes in," Sirius grinned. He pointed at yet a new constellation. "The hero returning from a quest to slay Medusa, spots the Princess and falls in love, as most blokes would do when faced with a half-naked beauty chained to a rock."

Dawn snorted. "Men are so easy."

Sirius pretended not to hear. "He saves the day, slays the monster, rescues the damsel in distress," he concluded. "Happy ending... those are nice."

"Yeah," Dawn twisted to give him her most trusting look. "Baby would you come rescue me if I was chained to a rock as monster bait? 'Cause with my track record, it's not impossible."

"Half-naked?"

She sighed. "Do I have to be?"

He pointed at another star system. "Hey, there's Orion. He's the hunter, you know, and see that really, really bright star at his heel?"

"Hmm? What about it?" Dawn blinked, almost blinded by the dazzle of what was easily the brightest star in the sky.

"Canis Major, a.k.a. the Dog star. That's me up there."

"Yeah, yeah, you're a star. Rub it in then." Something occurred to Dawn. "Do I have a star?"

"You can have the sun," Sirius kissed the top of her head. "Teach me your way of looking at them?"

There was much giggling and shifting as the pair switched positions, Dawn stretching out so that Sirius could rest his back against her, his head tucked under her chin. She began pointing out clusters as he had done for her.

"The Big Pineapple."

"It's big."

"That's the first thing everybody notices. Um... Short Man Looking Uncomfortable."

A snort escaped Sirius. "Maybe it's Flitwick on the day you set his head on fire."

He was kicked surprisingly hard in the back of his leg for the commentary. "I thought we agreed never to bring that up again."

"Sorry, baby."

She huffed, but nevertheless continued the Astronomy lesson, Sunnydale style. "Moose Getting A Sponge Bath."

"Absolutely. Now that you mention it, I'll never understand how people can keep mistaking Moose Getting A Sponge Bath for Pegasus," Sirius agreed.

"You have a turn,' Dawn encouraged sweetly. "What can you see?"

His hair tickled her chin as Sirius tilted his head to try and gain perspective. "Cassiopeia is a bit far-fetched for a Queen on her throne, I've always thought. I'd say it's one of those wind-up boots that kick people up the bum in the muggle cartoons."

"Butt-Kicking Wind-Up Boot. I can see it in all the Astronomy books now," Dawn wrapped her arms around Sirius as best she could, given their current configuration.

"Did I tell you Andi's coming to next Hogsmeade weekend?"

"Only about a dozen times since you got her owl," Dawn shifted nervously. She really wanted to make a good impression on Sirius' favourite cousin. Sirius moved around until he could see her face, conveniently situating himself above her as she lay on the blanket.

"Sorry. I just want you to know there's at least one member of my whole damn family who isn't an evil, prejudiced git. And her boyfriend Ted's alright, too. Andi's just gonna love you," Sirius predicted with a grin.

"I hope so," Dawn replied, twisting the material of his shirt nervously around her fingers.

"Hey," he tangled a hand in her hair. "Of course she will." He leaned down to kiss her, and the stars, Hogsmeade, and the world at large were soon forgotten.


Dawn frowned at the package left on the end of her bed, the one she'd almost kicked to the floor when she awoke on the morning of the last Hogsmeade visit before Christmas. She looked around, hoping to ask one of the other girls if they'd seen how it arrived, but the curtains were still drawn around the four other beds in the room.

Crawling out from under the covers and sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed, Dawn reached for the package and tore off the note attached.

'You might need this. Personally, I'd like some new Quidditch gloves (medium size), Moony likes books, Wormtail likes food and Padfoot probably just wants to see you in your knickers (or less)'

The note was signed with nothing but a little drawing of some antlers, Dawn giggled and lifted the lid of the box. A velvet pouch was settled there, loaded with more galleons than Dawn could count at a glance, with a handful of sickles and knuts for good measure. Dawn gasped, her hand leaping to her throat in alarm. There was far too much money here, it had to be a mistake. She pulled the pouch from the box, intending to send a good portion of the gold right back to where it had come from, when the scrap of parchment in the base of the box caught her eye.

'Don't even think about it, Kitten.'

When James stepped into the Common Room with the other Marauders, he was tackled and soundly kissed on the cheek by a mass of squealing energy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Oi," Sirius snapped, waiting for his own tackles and kisses.

James started to laugh. "It was nothing Kitten, really. And Padfoot's getting antsy."

"I am n-"

Dawn kissed him into silence. "Morning," she sang brightly.

"That's better."

"Where are we meeting Ted and Andi?" Peter broke in.

Sirius was forced to turn away from Dawn in order to answer. "In the Three Broomsticks, for drinks. I guess we should get a move on, if we want to get all our shopping done before then."

They headed down for a quick breakfast before making their way into Hogsmeade with the crowd of students. Dawn bristled uncomfortably, feeling the eyes on her back. She whipped around suddenly, but nobody was there.

"Kitten?" Sirius frowned, seeing the bewildered worry on her face.

She shrugged. "It's nothing. I just thought I felt- heard someone behind us. Guess I was just being paranoid..." she trailed into silence.

Remus' eyes narrowed like amber slits sharpened into copper. He waited a few moments, then glanced discreetly over his shoulder. Sure enough, he caught the flash of white-blond hair and a black-clad figure dogging their footsteps through the snow-salted village.

Every shop they went into throughout the morning, Malfoy was never far behind. Dawn found it surprisingly easy to find ways to keep the boys distracted while she purchased James, Remus and Peter's Christmas presents, but Malfoy on the other hand, was relentless. She could feel him every step of the way, though he was smart enough not to reveal himself while Dawn's four bodyguards were present.

It was when she was alone that he would appear, brushing by, hissing threats and insults in her ear, shoving her roughly aside. At one point, Dawn even found her back slammed painfully into the furthest back wall of Honeydukes before she'd even seen him coming. She opened her mouth to yell, but Malfoy only smirked, pinched her thigh painfully, and melted into the crowd.

When she finally rejoined her friends she swore she was only upset because the store was out of those blood lollipops she'd really wanted to have a look at, but Remus wasn't fooled in the least. He opened his mouth to say something as he knew he should've done when he first discovered Dawn's problem, but the pleading stare on Dawn's face fooled him into keeping his mouth closed one more time. Remus sighed and looked away, not at all liking the way one of his dearest friends was so determined to suffer in silence.

"Moony!" Sirius called, exasperated with his werewolf friend who seemed to prefer staring off into space to actually answering someone who'd called his name five times already.

"Sorry, Padfoot?" Remus blinked.

"Could you and Wormtail take the Kitten on to the Three Broomsticks while Prongs and I take care of a few things?" he asked, his gaze shifting pointedly to Dawn and back to Remus again.

"Sure. Dawn, Peter, you two done in here?"

Dawn lifted up her bag of carefully gift-wrapped Honeydukes packages. Peter lifted up his empty chocolate wrapper. Sirius kissed Dawn's forehead and promised they wouldn't be long as Dawn headed off with Remus and Peter, and Sirius and James strode purposefully off down the main street of the village.

The trio pushed into the pub, Remus had a quick look around but couldn't spot Andromeda so they settled into their usual booth to wait. Peter quickly excused himself to go to the bathroom, and the moment they were alone Remus turned on Dawn.

"Why are you still keeping this Malfoy nonsense a secret?" he stared dead into her eyes.

Dawn studied the wood grain of the table as if she'd suddenly developed a fascination with woodwork. "Who do you want me to tell?"

"Sirius. James. Or Lily. Professor McGonagall. Professor Dumbledore," Remus ticked them off on his fingers. "Bloody hell Dawn, you could tell Filch if you wanted! Just tell someone who could help you please, because nobody else knows the danger you're in and I can't always be there to look out for you," he implored.

"What's the point?" Dawn sighed glumly. "I can't tell James and Sirius for the same reason that you won't- if they find out they'll just do something that will get them into a world of trouble. And as if any of the Professors would believe me, especially since I haven't said anything before now. I can't win," she traced the wood dejectedly with a finger.

Remus slapped his hand over hers to stop the movement, Dawn was startled into meeting his gaze. "They'd believe you, Kitten. I'd make sure of it, and then Malfoy would-"

"Actually have a reason to be pissed off with me?" Dawn supplied. "God, he's already bad enough without being provoked. And say they could stop him, what are they gonna do about every other Slytherin in the school gunning for me because of it? I'm apocalyptically screwed, Remus. And I'm not just talking about the little apocalypses, either."

He sat back, scratching his chin. "We'll just have to make damned sure we take good care of you then," he sighed in defeat. "I wouldn't mind teaching you a few good defensive hexes, though."

"I'd like that," Dawn smiled her thanks.

"You'll need it," Remus replied, though he ended the discussion with a small, comforting smile as Peter slid back into the booth next to Dawn.

"What are we talking about?" he squeaked with a grin at the girl beside him.

She shrugged. "I have no idea what to get Sirius for Christmas," she admitted, resting her elbow on the table and her chin on her hand. "And I think we've been through nearly every shop here... I'm about ready to seriously consider making him one of those cards with glitter glue and dried macaroni."

Remus and Peter both laughed. "I'm sure he'd love that. Don't worry Kitten, we've still got the afternoon and I know there's a few good stores you haven't tried yet," Remus patted her hand consolingly.

"As long as one's not a lingerie store," Dawn joked, She noticed the door swing open and sat up straighter when James, Sirius, and a slightly older couple stepped into the pub. "They're here†do I look ok? Do I look like good girlfriend material?" she hastily patter her hair down.

"You look great," Peter told her enthusiastically, blushing at the grateful smile he'd just earned.

They stood to greet the newcomers, Dawn biting her lip and standing shyly behind Remus in her best attempt at inconspicuousness. She hung back as Remus and Peter took turns hugging the pretty black-haired woman who looked remarkably like a female Sirius. Andromeda Black. When she released Peter, she turned to Dawn with a warm smile.

"You'd have to be Dawn."

Dawn blushed and smiled shyly. "Hello, Andromeda."

She snorted and wrapped Dawn up in a swift hug of her own. "Call me Andi, all my friends do. I've been dying to meet you Dawn, you're practically famous," she gushed.

Dawn stiffened as Andromeda pulled away. "Famous? Me?" Her eyebrows were officially lost in her hairline.

"Well yeah," Andromeda winked. "You're the girl whose kept my dear cousin, Sirius I've-Got-The-Attention-Span-Of-A-Goldfish-I-Change-Girls-Like-I-Change-My-Underwear Black, interested for over a month. I do believe that's a record."

"Andi," Sirius growled, his face slowly turning red. "We discussed his outside"

She just grinned, and Dawn started to laugh. It was kind of amusing to see Sirius getting a taste of his own medicine, considering all the times he'd embarrassed her since they'd met. Dawn was formally introduced to the young man with Andromeda, Ted Tonks, and the crammed back into the Marauders' booth. Dawn found herself sandwiched between the comfortably chatty Andromeda and Peter while James waved Rosmerta over.

"Sirius made me promise to be on my best behaviour before he's let me through the door," Andromeda whispered in Dawn's ear, her voice just loud enough to carry across the table to Sirius' ears. "I've never met one of his girlfriends before, he's never been so serious about a girl before you, and he's worried I'll embarrass him, aren't you, little cousin?" she raised her voice to address Sirius directly, eyes dancing with mirth.

"And-rom-e-da," Sirius' palms were braced flat against the table, his entire body tensed, poised to attack the woman so determined to have his girlfriend laughing at him. Sure enough, Dawn was giggling madly already, clutching at Peter's porky shoulder for support.

Rosmerta sashayed over then, sporting her usual saucy grin. The second she and Dawn spotted each other, the grin vanished and the giggled abruptly froze. Andromeda watched with a raised eyebrow as the girl and the waitress regarded each other warily while the boys barely noticed the shift in the atmosphere.

"First rounds' on me," she chirped brightly when she felt the staring contest had gone one long enough. "Seven butterbeers, please. And don't worry Ted, this isn't like the stuff I gave you that makes you get all giddy and float," she promised as Rosmerta wordlessly left their booth.

"Don't know how you stand her, Ted," Sirius smirked. "She's bloody evil!"

"Actually," Dawn smiled innocently. "I was just thinking how similar you guys are."

Sirius' growl was drowned out by Ted slightly clearing his throat. "Well, about being able to stand her, now that you've brought it up... Andi and I have kind of an announcement to make," he admitted, his gaze straying lovingly to the woman a few seats along.

"No way!" Sirius blurted, shooting an expectant grin at his cousin, who obliged by nodding happily and holding out a diamond-clad hand. "Bloody hell, that's fantastic! Congratulations!" Sirius hurled himself across the table to hug and kiss Andromeda before shaking Ted's hand warmly.

Andromeda shrugged, a fleeting shadow passing over her face as she was showing her ring more closely to Dawn. "Well, the rest of the family weren't so pleased, my parents disowned me and yours blasted me off the family tapestry."

"Worthless gits," Sirius muttered. "You're better off without them, Andi. So have you made any plans yet?" he asked, just to move the conversation to a happier field as Rosmerta reappeared and plopped a try of butterbeers on the table.

Rosmerta opened her mouth to name her price for the drinks, but Andromeda was ready, passing over a galleon and a handful of sickles with a sweet smile. "Keep the change."

She leaned in close to Dawn, so the boys wouldn't overhear her. "I don't much like Rosmerta either, she's a shocking flirt."

"She just doesn't like me because she was flirting with Sirius last Hogsmeade weekend and I, uh... got really jealous and acted like a total cow," Dawn breathed, barely game to speak out loud in case Sirius overheard the confession.

"Good," Andromeda snorted.

The boys had drawn Ted into a conversation about the deeper workings of a Quidditch match, which Andromeda had failed to explain to her muggle boyfriend in detail due to a severe lack of interest in the sport. Sirius glanced over the table to see how his cousin and girlfriend were warming to each other and winced. There was only one thing he'd feared more than an uncomfortable silence between Dawn and Andromeda, and that was the whirlwind of whispering and giggling that was currently going on between the pair.

"I begged her not to talk," he muttered, and Ted clapped him consolingly on the back.

"So you got all your Christmas shopping done?" Andromeda took a sip of butterbeer and indicated the sea of shopping bags they were drowning in.

"All except for the most important one. What do you think I should get for Sirius?" Dawn clutched at the young woman's arm like a lifeline.

"I'm sure we could find something, once we get rid of this lot," she jerked her head at their male companions.

As if on cue, James stood up, closely followed by the other boys. "If you ladies will excuse us, there are important Quidditch stores to be visited."

Sirius shot Dawn a questioning look, but Andromeda shooed him off before he could as if she'd be alright. "Cousin, just bugger off already," she commanded. When Sirius departed with an amused glare, Andromeda arched an eyebrow at Dawn. "Well that was easy. Come on, we've got at least two hours of good shopping time before they get bored of that place."

It was getting late in the afternoon by the time the girls met up with the boys again, Dawn grinning in relief at having finally managed to pick out the perfect Christmas present for Sirius. Andromeda had just smiled and told Dawn Sirius was lucky to have someone like her. She and Ted walked the students back to the gates of Hogwarts, chattering easily the whole way about where they'd all be spending Christmas.

"Maybe next Christmas when we're all settled, you can come and stay at our flat Sirius," she smiled weakly at her cousin. "I don't like the idea of you being stuck at your house for the holidays."

"Pfft, I'm not going there if you paid me a thousand galleons," he declared. "I'm signing up to stay at school the second McGonagall sends her list around."

Andromeda just nodded. Sirius staying at Hogwarts for Christmas was far better than seeing him sent back to his parents with Regulus. "How about you Dawn? Are you seeing any family?"

She closed her eyes a moment, contemplating her first Mom-less, Buffy-less Christmas. "I'm staying at school with Sirius. I don't have any other family."

James shot her a look, but said nothing. His mother had written and casually suggested he invite both Dawn and Sirius home with him for Christmas a little while ago. But James had sent a reply telling his mother that perhaps making too big a deal about Christmas for Dawn's first without her family would upset her, and that Sirius would no doubt be remaining at Hogwarts to take care of her. Andromeda began the round of hugs, holding Dawn a moment longer than she had James, Remus or Peter in order to have a word in her ear.

"It was nice to meet you at last," she whispered. "It's good to know my cousin's got a good girl like you looking after him."

Dawn smiled at the apparent blessing. "Thankyou Andi."

She said goodbye to Ted while Andromeda moved over to wrap Sirius up in a bear hug. Sirius buried his face in her neck, for a moment enjoying the comfort of family who loved him.

"It's good to see you again Andi. Congratulations," he muttered.

She brought her hand up, brushing it through his longish hair in a maternal gesture. "Take care, sweetie. And by the way, you hang onto that girl of yours, you hear me?" she whispered before they separated.

"Count on it," Sirius smirked, looping an arm about Dawn's waist and resting his hand on her hip.

Andromeda and Ted turned and wandered back towards Hogsmeade, the Marauders watched them until they were out of sight before turning and heading up the drive to Hogwarts. The late afternoon was peaceful, and the sunset that framed the castle in a rosy glow was brilliant, but Dawn could not feel quite at ease. She couldn't see him, but behind her she could feel the steps of Lucius Malfoy marking every one of her own.


"I'm just going to the Library to return a book," Dawn called, waving a book at James and Sirius. "I won't be long."

"You want us to come with?" Sirius asked.

She shook her head. "Nah. Remus'll be back from his Prefects' Meeting soon, you guys wait here for him. Besides, didn't Peter say he'd bring you back some food from the Kitchens?"

They let her go, and it wasn't until Dawn was half way to the Library and feeling the familiar crawling in her skin that she realised she'd made a fatal mistake. She should've taken Remus' concerns more seriously, and she definitely shouldn't have strayed so close to the Slytherin-infested dungeons alone.

"Well look at this- a lonely little Mudblood," the voice Dawn had come to fear and loathe more than anything washed over her like a bucket of ice water.

Dawn turned slowly to face her tormentor, slipping her wand out of her skirt's waistband as she did so. Malfoy had materialised out of nowhere behind her, as he always seemed to when she was at her weakest and was stalking slowly towards her.

"Where are your bodyguards, Summers?"

He prowled forwards. Dawn swished her wand, ready to perform one of the few defensive spells Remus had managed to show her, but the words never made it past her lips. Malfoy pounced, seizing Dawn's wrist and twisting until the stick of wood in her hand clattered uselessly to the ground. Malfoy leaned in very close to her face.

"Did they go and leave you all alone, little Mudblood? All defenceless, and all your warnings spent..."

Dawn made a noise of revulsion as Malfoy ran his tongue slowly along her cheek. She tried to pull away, but he had far too tight a hold on her.

"Let me go!" she burst out, suddenly outraged by the violation.

Malfoy only laughed. He shoved Dawn as hard as he could, and while she was stumbling down the hallway deeper into the net of the dungeons he kicked her wand and book to the side. By the time Dawn had steadied herself, Malfoy was on her again, dragging her forcefully away despite her struggles and little shrieks of terrified protest.


Peter turned down the hallway, but stopped in his tracks when he realised he'd turned down the wrong one yet again. He paused to mentally retrace his steps and turned to go back the way he came to find the path to Gryffindor tower.

"Stop... no... !"

The voice was fading fast, but it was familiar. Peter peeked down a side corridor, almost afraid of what he would see. His eyes flew wide open in alarm, he let out a little squeak of horror that went unnoticed as he watched Lucius Malfoy forcibly hauling Dawn into one of the little dungeons well out of the way. the slamming of the heavy door that abruptly cut off Dawn's seemingly vain cries for help and mercy jolted Peter into action.

He dropped the bag of food he'd been clutching and ran. He tore through the halls, which everyone else had deserted in favour of dorms and cosy Common Rooms it seemed, puffing like a steam engine but valiantly ignoring the burning tightness in his chest. If he stopped, if he didn't get help now, Malfoy would hurt Dawn†Peter couldn't let that happen.

"Lion's Den," he coughed, stumbling past the Fat Lady and across the Common Room. he practically scrambled up the stairs on all fours and fell through the door to his dorm.

"What do you mean, you let Dawn go to the Library alone!?" Remus was bellowing. "Are you mad!?"

"Moony, what are you so uptight about?" James was asking, then he, like his friends, noticed the way their fourth tumbled into the room.

"Dawn... Malfoy... dungeons," he gasped.

In a microsecond, the other three boys were on him, hustling him out of Gryffindor tower and back the way he'd just come.

"Which way?" Sirius asked, his eyes wide and urgent with fear and anger.

Peter, too out of breath to speak anymore, just pointed and plodded on as quickly as he could. James, Sirius and Remus sped down the corridor he'd indicated ahead, spotted the bag of abandoned food and pelted into the smaller hallway. While Peter lumbered up, they began throwing open doors in the desperate search for their girl.


She'd screamed, she'd yelled and she'd fought. And then she'd fought some more, but Dawn was bundled into the little dungeon as easily as a rag doll and chained to the wall with the painfully tight manacles slapped on her wrists. She pulled at them, but instead of freedom all she gained was bruised and torn skin on her wrists. Malfoy sent her an oily smile and slid out of his robes. Understanding all too late what was at stake, what exactly Malfoy was about to do to her, Dawn shuddered. A faraway thought floated through her mind- at least vampires just kill you...

"Back off," she snapped, trying not to shake as he closed the distance between them.

"I do hope you realise," Malfoy sneered, ignoring the sound of Dawn's voice completely. "That I'll have to bathe for hours after this... but it will be worth it."

"No... don't... please, no..." Dawn had long ago made herself the promise never to let her enemies see her cry, but her resolve crumbled and her word broke as Malfoy reached out and coldly tore her shirt open. She let out a strangled sob of mortification.

The salty tears streaked down her cheeks relentlessly as Dawn jerked and thrashed desperately, trying to get away from the cold, hurtful hands Malfoy had laid on her body. A wave of longing crashed over Dawn, she was all of a sudden wishing with all her heart that Sirius was with her. Everything about Malfoy was so wrong, the hateful sneer, the intrusive, groping hand. Where was Sirius with his gentle, worshipping touches, the cheekily adventurous hands that let her know every little bit of her he was allowed to touch was a privilege, not a possession?

"Stop," she choked, trying again to free herself but managing only to tear the red-raw skin of hr wrists further.

"Make me stop, Mudblood," a hand snaked up her skirt.

Dawn began screaming as loud as she possibly could, so loud that if dungeons had windows, it'd be raining shattered glass. Fully fledged panic set in as her underpants were yanked roughly down her legs. Malfoy studied the pink, lacy material for a moment.

"I think I'll hang onto these," he stuffed them half into his pocket.

Dawn tried frantically to twist away as Malfoy tugged her skirt up, her screams now a constant wail. A fresh storm of tears flooded down her face as she was pinned to the stone wall, violated by brutal, probing fingers.

"Do shut up, Mudblood. You deserve this," Malfoy told her almost conversationally, his fingers flexing violently. "You thought you could have your little blood-traitors to whore yourself out to and nobody would mind, didn't you? Well you were wrong, and now I punish you for daring to step away from the filth you were born into. I'm going to show you what happens to little whores..."

"Let me go! Please!" Dawn shrieked.

"I do believe I told you to SHUT UP!" Malfoy thundered, abandoning the nipple he'd been twisting in order to deliver a forceful backhand to Dawn's face. He started working his belt loose. "The sooner I teach you this lesson, the better I think."

Dawn started begging shamelessly as Malfoy loosened his pants, but it only earned her another slap to her already stinging cheek. He stepped up close, using a knee to crudely force her legs apart as he prepared to complete his task and inflict the ultimate pain on Dawn Summers and those who had come to care for her.

"You fucking bastard!"

The first arm caught Malfoy around the neck, the second hooked him about the waist and he was tackled off Dawn and to the floor. Both Sirius and James came up swinging, the loud thuds of their fists pounding into flesh echoing throughout the dungeon. Remus burst into the room a moment later, Peter puffing behind him, and hastily took in the scene. James and Sirius had Malfoy on the ground and were well on the way to beating the Slytherin unconscious. Dawn was chained to the wall a few paces from them, half-exposed, her shirt torn, an ugly red welt raising up over her cheek already. She was shaking and crying, Remus' heart went out to her.

He hurried over. The last thing he wanted was to lay his hands all over her, the last thing she needed was to be touched right now, but Dawn's hands were still shackled behind her and she really couldn't be comfortable with her current state of nakedness. Quickly, impersonally, like a doctor with a patient, Remus slid Dawn's skirt back down into place. He stared at a stone in the wall just beyond her head the entire time and drew her shirt over her again. Dawn sobbed.

"Sorry, Kitten," he muttered. A few buttons had been ripped from her shirt and there was a large tear in the material, but Remus fastened it as best he could before joining Peter, who was trying to free Dawn from her chains.

Peter tried an unlocking spell, but nothing happened. Remus tried an unlocking spell, the shackles seemed to loosen just a bit but still held firm.

"Together," Remus suggested. "One... two... three- Alohomora!"

The shackles gave out under the power of two simultaneous unlocking charms and sprang open. With nothing left to hold her up, Dawn's knees buckled and she crumpled to the cold floor. Remus and Peter shared a concerned look, the crouched next to her and tried to get her to respond to them, but Dawn had shut down.

She was staring blankly at her attacker, now bloodied and barely conscious on the floor. Sirius and James were punching relentlessly, oblivious to all around them, detached even from the bruising and tearing across their own knuckles as their fists continued to collide with whatever part of Malfoy came within their reach. Remus shook her slightly, but Dawn's only response was to shiver more violently.

Remus' frown deepened. They really needed to get Dawn into the warmth of Gryffindor tower, and quickly. He looked around, but there was only one option.

"Padfoot!"

Sirius, growling incessantly, landed another vicious blow to Malfoy's nose. There was no satisfying crack of a broken bone, but Sirius didn't seem to mind. They'd been rewarded by that sound several times already.

"Padfoot, we need you!... Sirius!"

The sound of his own name finally filtered through to Sirius, his head snapped around to focus on the direction the call had come from. Remus and Peter had freed Dawn and covered her up, but she had been reduced to a sobbing, shivering puddle on the floor. He looked back at the badly beaten Malfoy, running a glare over him one last time. He caught the strip of pink lace hanging out of Malfoy's pocket and snatched Dawn's underwear back.

"I believe these belong to my girlfriend," he snarled and pocketed them.

He turned, ignoring the worn-out groan of his biceps, and scooped Dawn up in his arms. Without a backward glance, he carried her out of the dungeon and back towards Gryffindor tower. His arms were screaming with pain, but Sirius didn't care if they fell off, as long as they fell off after he'd got Dawn back to safety.

"Grab Dawn's wand and her book, and the food you dropped," Remus muttered to Peter, waiting in the doorway for James while Peter scurried off to collect their belongings.

James slowly gained his feet, hazel eyes smouldering with fury as he glared down at Malfoy. "If you ever... ever touch my sister again... if you so much as look at her... they'll be finding bits of your body for weeks, Malfoy. You're damned lucky I'm not cutting your balls off right now, you disgusting bastard."

"Come on, James. Just leave him," Remus called, edging out the door. He'd never heard James' voice so low and menacing before, and the waspish tones were deeply unsettling.

James nodded finally. He followed Remus out of the dungeon without the slightest hint of guilt for leaving Malfoy lying in a puddle of his own blood.


Lily was curled up on the couch with a book, enjoying the peace of the miraculously deserted Common Room after another long and (she had to admit) fairly boring Prefects' Meeting. She was just beginning to get really drawn into the story when the portrait swung open, shattering the stillness around her.

Gaping and dumbfounded, Lily could only stare as a murderous-looking Sirius Black stormed through the Common Room, a quivering and sobbing Dawn Summers held securely in his arms. He was closely followed up the boys' staircase by the grim faces of Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, with an incensed James Potter bringing up the rear.

Sirius deposited Dawn on his bed as gently as he could. He tried to look her over for injuries, but she clung to him for dear life and refused to let go so Sirius could do little more than hold her and babble soothing nonsense in her ear. James tried to close the door behind him, but it was shoved open by a familiar fiery redhead.

"What's going on?" Lily asked urgently, looking at Dawn's marked and tearstained face in alarm.

Dawn made a choking noise, but could not form an intelligible answer as Sirius slipped around behind her to support her against his chest while he leaned against the headboard.

"Malfoy tried... Malfoy almost raped her," James confided in a low voice.

"Oh Dawn..." Lily rushed over to sit on the side of the bed, holding a hand out to her friend. Dawn hesitated a moment, then leaned eagerly into the threatless comfort of Lily's feminine hug.

Sirius bit his lip and reached out for Dawn in a futile gesture, wanting so badly to hold her and make all her pain evaporate. Lily caught his eye over Dawn's shoulder and saw the storm of helplessness brewing in Sirius' look, she reached out and squeezed his arm supportively. After a minute, Lily pulled back and restored Dawn to the comfort of Sirius' arms. When she noticed the red-raw and broken skin of Dawn's wrists, she hissed slightly.

"I've got some essence of Murtlap in my Potions supplies, it should help with your wrists," she said softly. "I'll go and get it."

"Um, Lily?" Dawn spoke for the first time as the other girl got to her feet. The stain of mortification was all over her face. "Do you think you could, um, bring me some underpants? He... he took mine," her voice was choked with shame.

Sirius was trying not to growl too loudly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of pink material. "And I took them back."

Dawn eyed them with great distaste. "I don't want those ones."

Sirius immediately tossed them out of sight. If Dawn wanted to be rid of the reminder so badly, he'd burn them later. As long as they weren't in Malfoy's hands. Lily simply nodded and left. She returned a few minutes later with a bowl, a jar, and something in her pocket which she slipped discreetly to Dawn. Dawn disappeared into the bathroom and emerged a moment later looking slightly more at ease. Lily had set up the bowl on Sirius' beside table, having shoved most of his mess unceremoniously aside, and had poured the essence of Murtlap in.

"Here, sit down," Lily patted the mattress.

Dawn obeyed and Lily began to clean her wrists before bathing them in the soothing liquid. Sirius stroked her hair the entire time, while the other three boys stood around them like awkward sentinels. Eventually the burning sensation in Dawn's wrists began to subside. Lily turned her attention to the ugly red welt on Dawn's cheek, dabbing a bit of the Murtlap essence over it with the damp cloth Remus offered.

"Ok, you're all done. Black, show me your hands now," Lily ordered.

Sirius frowned, wondering what she was on about until he spared a glance at his hands. Funny, he didn't remember making such a mess of his knuckles. He certainly hadn't felt that pain, he'd been far more aware of his screaming arm muscles. He held out his hands to Lily, who coated the knuckles in Murtlap essence. They all of a sudden felt much cooler.

"Thanks, Tigerlily."

"How many times do I have to ask you not to call me that?" Lily sighed, rolling her eyes and resubmerging the cloth in the bowl's liquid.

"Always one more time, Tigerlily," Sirius quipped, wrapping Dawn securely in his arms.

"Potter, hands," Lily said curtly.

James grinned and sauntered over to sit next to her. "Why, Evans, I never knew you cared."

"I don't. But I might as well use this before I waste it, now sit still," she snapped.

She kept her eyes lowered to her work as she bathed James' knuckles just as she had done for Sirius. It was disconcerting, trying to concentrate with his hazel stare locked so intently on her face, and Lily finished up as quickly as she could.

"Thanks, Evans," he grinned.

She ignored him. "I'm going to clear this mess up, and then I'll bring Professor McGonagall up to talk to you, Dawn."

"Dawn's eyes snapped up to Lily's face, wide and fearful. "No!"

Every other occupant of the room looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. Lily took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Dawn, you've got to report this, it's far too important to just keep to yourself. Malfoy will be expelled. Don't worry, given the circumstances I'm sure McGonagall won't be angry with you for being in the boys' dorms."

"It's not that," Dawn shook her head. "If I tell, then they'll find out about what Sirius and James did to Malfoy, and then they'll get expelled too."

"That's what you're worried about?" Sirius blurted, at the same moment as James made a derisive noise.

"Bloody hell, Kitten! Let them just try to get rid of us!" James burst out. "Even if they did, I don't care. It doesn't matter as long as that bloody animal gets what he deserves."

Lily blinked. Was that James Potter saying something... unselfish?

"No!" Dawn repeated with redoubled vehemence. She'd resumed her death grip on Sirius and was staring pleadingly at James, as if Dumbledore would come along and haul them off at any given moment. "There's so few of us, and a whole House full of Slytherins who'd be out for my blood... You can't leave me, please," she begged.

Lily relented. "I won't come looking for you this weekend," she offered. "If you feel better up here, I won't draw attention to your absence."

"Thanks, Lily," Dawn sniffled.

Lily cleared up her supplies and left, and James chased her out the door. When he returned a few minutes later, the others were explaining to Dawn how they'd managed to find her. She was smiling at Peter in gratitude, and he had gone brick red.

"Come here," she ordered, pulling the chubby Marauder into a tight hug. She felt him squeezing her back just as tight, she heard him take a deep breath against his shoulder before he let her go.

The afternoon wore on, and as evening hit, Remus and Peter offered to go to the Kitchens to pick up dinner so that Dawn wouldn't have to face the entire school in the Great Hall if she didn't feel like it. Dawn was left settled between her two primary defenders, Sirius and James, each sparing a glance in her direction every other minute, as if needing to be reassured that she really was safe.

"Is there anything you need, baby? Anything I can do?" Sirius asked, his fingers laced tightly through hers.

Dawn looked up hopefully. "I could use a shower. I feel so dirty," she mumbled. James took her free hand.

Sirius got up and rummaged through his drawers. He pulled out a long-sleeved, button-down shirt and a pair of track pants, taking them into the boys' bathroom. A few minutes later, he emerged and beckoned Dawn over. She went over and stepped into the bathroom.

"I left you a clean towel," Sirius pointed. It had taken him three minutes just to find one that wasn't damp and crumpled and a little smelly from a life on the floor. Dawn looked up at him but couldn't quite bring herself to smile. He cupped her chin. "It's ok baby, we'll be right outside."

Dawn nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. A few minutes later, Sirius and James, still both sprawled on Sirius' bed, heard the water begin to run.

"I told Evans to tell McGonagall," James admitted suddenly.

"Good," Sirius replied, his eyes never leaving the outside of the bathroom door.

James breathed a sigh of relief, glad his best friend shared his point of view. Better the two of them in more trouble than they'd even been in before than Malfoy actually getting away with what he'd done. And if they had to sneak back onto the grounds every month for Remus' transformation, then so be it. "She's gonna go to her in the morning and bring her up to talk to the lot of us after breakfast," he relayed.

Sirius nodded, his gaze falling to the floor. "Yeah... I guess it wouldn't do any good to be at her tonight."

The two friends lapsed into silence, listening to the rhythmic drum from the shower in the next room. Finally, the flow of water ceased, but after several minutes Dawn still hadn't emerged. James and Sirius exchanged frowns. Both understood about the unnatural fixation all women seemed to have with bathrooms, but the minutes were ticking by a little too far and fast for their liking.

Sirius began to pace up and down before the bathroom door. "How long has she been in there since she shut the water off? What's she doing, air-drying?" he asked, more to himself than James.

"Fifteen minutes," James supplied anyway.

Sirius whirled one final time, stalking right up to the door. He hesitated, then knocked a couple of times. "Kitten?"

No response.

"Dawn?"

If he pressed his ear right up to the door, he could just make out a faint sniffling sound.

"Are you alright in there?"

Sirius heard a snorting sound, like Dawn had a runny nose but couldn't find a tissue. Girls never seemed to accept the fact that tissues and toilet paper were made out of exactly the same stuff. He knocked again.

"I'm coming in," he warned, unable to bear the wait any longer.

This time, he received an actual response in the form of a small, watery voice. "Ok."

Sirius slowly pushed the door open to go to his girlfriend's side.


Dawn sighed, snuggling into Sirius' chest. The boys' dorm was deserted apart from the two of them; the others had gone to return their dinner things to the Kitchens and, Dawn suspected, plant dungbombs in the dungeons surrounding the Slytherin quarters. Sirius pressed his lips briefly to her soft hair.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked.

"Yeah," Dawn twisted up to look into his handsome face. "I guess."

A flash of anger, like a bolt of lightning stormed through Sirius' eyes. It made his stomach turn, the things Lucius Malfoy had tried to do to his girlfriend... his filthy snake hands all over her pure, beautiful skin. Trying to take what Dawn was neither ready nor willing to give. "You must've been so scared," he whispered his realisation

"In more ways than one," Dawn responded. Immediately, she clamped her mouth shut and coloured as if she'd said too much. She tried to turn her face away, but Sirius cupped her chin in his hand and forced her to look up at him, try as she might to avoid his gaze.

"What does that mean, Dawn?"

Dawn bit her lip, apparently working up the courage to speak. When she finally did, it was with much stammering and blushing that Sirius always found curiously endearing.

"Well it was just, uh, I was all alone, and scared... powerless, there was nothing I could do, but... um, then somewhere in the back of my mind, I... I couldn't help but realise..." Dawn met Sirius' curious gaze, a calm evenness forced into her voice as she finished. "That I wouldn't have had such a problem with it if those were your hands."

There was a moment of stunned silence during which Sirius processed the implications of Dawn's words. Then, his face breaking into a huge grin, he leaned down to give her a swift kiss.

"Well then I guess we'll have to test that theory," he breathed in her ear.


end chapter