She chewed on her thumbnail as she paced the corridor and checked the time once again.

They were late. They were never late.

Huffing she leant against the wall outside the door guarding the Slytherin common room. An expectant smile tugged at her lips as someone slowly began to emerge out into the corridor but, before she could exclaim her welcome and scold them for their lateness, Bellatrix and Narcissa Black were revealed. Their jaws dropped as they caught sight of the girl hanging around outside their common room.

"Dax-er-you!" Narcissa exclaimed pretending she didn't know the disowned Lestrange girl's name as her sister glared down to her. Pushing her hair from her face, with an awkward cough, she straightened up coldly, her face falsely arrogant as she looked the other girl up and down "W-what are you doing here?"

Daxia arched her eyebrows as she pushed away from the wall. There had always been something weird about Sirius's cousins but there was something off about Narcissa in particular; she lurked. Ever since her first September First when Daxia (who had been a trembling, terrified mess laughed at and teased by the Marauders a moment later) stood up to her mother she'd always been there in the background, seeming as though she wanted to join in.

But of course wanting to join in with a disowned member of her own family and a disowned member of the Lestrange family was frowned upon. Especially when she continually had Bellatrix breathing down her neck. So she just stood there.

"Meeting Rabastan and Rodolphus," Daxia replied with a frown, surely it was obvious what she was doing outside the Slytherin common room when she was in Gryffindor. Surely her cousins had spoken of her to their class and housemates, told them how they regularly met up when they had free time.

"You're what?" Bellatrix's shock told her otherwise. There was jealousy hidden deep within her tone; Rodolphus was hers to meet up with, to get to know. No matter what her younger sister assumed Bella remained nervous about her union with Daxia's cousin. He was intelligent, good looking and well informed on the wizarding war happening on the outside of their sheltered lives in the castle and she admired him for his bravery and for his plans yet couldn't help but remain unsure whether or not he was as into their arranged marriage as she was.

Stubbornness tensing her jaw Daxia took a step towards the two girls with her arms tightly crossed "Could you just go and get them please."

With slight hesitation Bellatrix turned to head back into the common room, leaving an awkward looking Narcissa pretending to be interested in her nails, appearing once again a few moments later "They're coming and they're not happy," she informed Daxia, a slight smile of victory on her face before she grasped hold of her sister's arm and headed in the direction of the library.

Daxia was rolling her eyes as her two cousins, possibly the only ones left in her family still speaking to her, appeared beside her with typical Lestrange scowls on their faces "Aw you look just like your dad!" she teased reaching up to pinch Rodolphus's cheek.

He pulled away from her "Telling Bella we meet up with you all the time," he grumbled as he batted her hand away.

"Embarrassed of me?" she asked with a laugh in her tone. Of course they were embarrassed of her. She was a Gryffindor who was best mates with a muggleborn, Sirius Black and James Potter. Their entire family were embarrassed of her (letting her know each and every summer while she attempted to hide away in her room or did something in the hope she'd be sent to Mary's between her secret visits to the Potters').

Luckily, though the older of the two was still in a grumpy mood, Rabastan smiled as he poked her in the shoulder "Don't be ridiculous. Just the family…y'know."

She nodded sadly. When they were back at home during the summer holidays (with Daxia refusing to leave the castle during Easter, Christmas and whatever other holiday they gave them time off for unless it was to head home with James) the two boys would sneak away from watchful, adult eyes. They'd bring her chocolate, sweets and butterbeer. They'd entertain her with family gossip (over exaggerated and acted out); they treated her like a normal human being instead of an unwanted house-elf.

And, as much as her friends (mainly Sirius) wanted her to leave them behind and forget about her family, she knew, because of those reasons, she'd never be able to miss out on meeting up with them.

"So, what have you both been up too?" she asked brightly. Whenever she spent time with her cousins she always found herself reverting back that spoiled little Lestrange brat she'd always been years before joining Hogwarts. Reaching across she went to loop her arm through Rodolphus' left though found herself jumping in shock as he winched violently when she leant close to his side "Are you okay?" she asked in concern, her cousin scowling as his right hand gripped tightly onto his left forearm.

"I think you should get back to your own common room Dax," Rabastan spoke up almost nervously as Rodolphus turned his back on them for a few seconds. He exchanged a dark, almost warning, look with his elder brother.

"What's going on?" she questioned in confusion, gaze flickering between the two boys seeming to be having an argument just by looking at one another "Stan? Rod?"

Rodolphus spun around, hand still gripped onto his forearm "Just go away Daxia!" he snapped harshly "You don't and will never understand 'what's going on', go back to your blood traitor and mudblood friends and keep out of our lives!"

Tears sprung into her eyes as her eyebrows arched in shock, neither of her cousins had ever spoken to her in this manner. Their mood swings shocked her while their words cut deep "I…wha…I don't understand…"

But Rodolphus had already disappeared; Rabastan cast a glance over his shoulder along with a disappointed sigh of "Exactly." Before bowing his head and also turning to head into the Slytherin common room.

And she was alone. For real this time.

She turned on her heel slowly. Her chest felt heavy as her eyes clouded over with emotion. Her stomach knotted while her fingers gripped onto the sleeves of her hoodie in an attempt to calm their trembling.

The cousins she held onto like a security blanket seemed to be casting her aside like the rest of her family and for what? Because she was friends with Lily? Sirius? She shook her head as she pinched her nose, breathing heavily to calm the sick feeling churning around her stomach. They weren't like that; they couldn't be like that!

She had arrived back at the Gryffindor common room before she had even realised it, staring up to The Fat Lady with wide, sad eyes.

"Miss Lestrange!" the portrait was calling her, snapping her from her jumbled up thoughts "Is this one of your pranks? Because it is neither a very funny nor interesting one!"

"Gillyweed," she mumbled the password, The Fat Lady looking as though she wanted to ask what was wrong (for gossiping purposes of course; it must be an awfully boring life being a painting) before she swung open to give the young girl entrance to the common room.

The first noticeable thing in the vast, empty room (with most students enjoying a lie in on a Saturday morning) was the boy curled up along the chair (Daxia's chair) closest to this fire. His hair was ruffled, muscular arms folded over a slender chest as he snored softly, eyes shut tightly. He was buried deep in the cushions, so comfortable, so peaceful…

She had to wake him up.

Bad mood and cousin drama pushed to one side as soon as she had laid eyes on him she found herself practically skipping across the floor, launching onto the chair as though Sirius weren't even there.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed as a shocked gasp passed through his lips, scrambling around beneath her as though he were under attack "Da…x? Wh…time?"

She chuckled at his sleepiness "Nine."

"AM?!" he questioned, eyes not even fully open as his eyebrows arched disapprovingly "It's Saturday Daxia," he moaned attempting to shove her off him so he could get back to sleep.

"And you're in the common room; fair game," she informed him repeating a phrase spoken to her many a time by the marauders when she had fallen asleep in front of the fire. He shrugged so she continued "What are you doing sleeping in the common room?"

Stretching he let out a yawn, ruffling his hair before attempting to find a comfortable position while Daxia squashed him "Bad night," was all he said but it was enough. Uttering the words 'bad night' when you were an animagus running around with a werewolf on the full moon was able to explain any state you were in the next morning.

"He…didn't…"

"Oh! No!" Sirius calmed her fears of Remus hurting anyone "He just didn't settle as well with us this month, was tricky keeping him under control."

As he yawned once more a smug grin came to her face "Exactly why you need me out there! Another set of paws could have really helped out!"

But Sirius was sitting up, pushing her to the side of him "It's exactly why I'm glad you stayed in the castle!" he corrected her with a stern look on his face "You don't get it Dax; it's not all fun and games! I would have never been able to concentrate on what Moony was doing if I thought you were somehow in danger!"

She pouted folding her arms over her chest "James'll let me come."

"He will not."

"I can handle myself!"

"You cannot."

"Urgh!" she was sick of him treating her like a child needing to be looked after. Just behind Lily and James she was one of the best students in the year along with Sirius himself; she'd done the studying and wanted to put all of her hard work to good use! "I'm not a third year Sirius! I'm not some little girl you have to protect! And I'm not your little cousin you can just pick up and drop whenever you feel like it!"

He frowned "Cousin?" she chewed on her lip as she sat back down properly, her mood subdued and attempted-innocent "Have you seen…them again?!"

"They're family!"

"They're Death Eaters!"

"They are not!"

"Erm Dax, you coming?"

She had never been so happy to see Lily Evans, Adiya Bell and Mary MacDonald all staring over to her and Sirius with unsure looks on their faces "Yeah," she replied, she had been supposed to be spending her Saturday with the Marauders, pulling pranks and showing off her skills, but with Sirius acting the way he was a day with her girls meeting up with Ravenclaw pals Marlene and Hestia sounded a shit ton better.

"But I thought…"

"Goodbye Black."

"So you really turn into a-"

"Yes."

"Like an actual-"

"YES Lily!" Daxia exclaimed "Now can we please keep quiet about this?" she asked with a sigh, ever since she had clued her friends into their secret they hadn't shut up about it. They asked her questions about the theory behind becoming an animagus, her form when she changed, what she did once she transformed, what the boys transformed into (each time laughing as they linked their forms to their Marauders' nicknames while wondering how they hadn't found out sooner) and what they did while out with Remus on a full moon. It was possibly one of Daxia's favourite things within her friendship with the Marauders but constantly talking about it was starting to ruin the fun.

"Fine," Lily agreed as they spotted their two friends already by the lake "I'm just impressed."

Daxia smiled to herself as they reached Marlene and Hestia, Lily had never openly stated she was impressed with a bit of magic she'd carried out that wasn't on the school's syllabus (the odd knowing smile and secretive approving nod in her best friends direction when she was impressed with how a prank had been pulled off normally) "Hey girls!"

The blonde, Marlene, was the first to notice them. A smile broke out across her pretty features as she waved towards them with one arm and nudged the dark haired girl beside her with another "Didn't think you were joining us today Dax," she observed as the four Gryffindors sat down beside them "No Marauders with you?"

The hope in her tone made Daxia scowl "Me and Black had a fight."

"Ooo use of last name and everything!" Hestia chuckled "Must have been a big one!"

Daxia only scowled deeper, moving the conversation on swiftly as she moaned about the toughness of their N.E.W.T year.

The two Ravenclaws were practically in their element. Both aspiring aurors they discussed their classes and their reading (putting Daxia and her procrastination to shame). They laughed about their professors (imagining Binns and Dumbledore at their age mainly) and discussed all of the gossip already floating around the castle (Daxia shuddering as they gave their opinion on her cousin's pureblood arranged marriage, Lily moving the conversation on quickly).

It didn't take long before they reached the topic of boys. Hestia spoke of a boy named Dirk Cresswell and his ability to make her blush with a single glance, Adiya indulged them with information about an American she met on her visit to California, they forced information about the muggle Daxia had spent time with over summer and they questioned a reluctant Lily about her night time duties with James Potter.

"What about you Mar?" Lily asked trying to stop the questions about her and James, worried they may bring up the summer (while her cheeks had a slight blush to them; Daxia made a note to tease her about when they made their way back to the common room later) "You normally have some guy to tell us about!"

"Oh she's back onto an old target!" Hestia teased poking her best friend in the shoulder.

Marlene pursed her lips, sending a glare towards Hestia "It doesn't matter," she brushed off, Daxia frowning in confusion (she didn't understand all of this boy-chat like Lily, Mary and Adiya did, it all seemed a waste of time to her) while Lily and Adiya spoke their protests.

"Okay! Okay!" the blonde laughed holding her hands up in surrender as a spark of mischief lit up her eyes "It's Sirius."

As Daxia's jaw dropped her three friends stared on in shock and amazement "As in…Black?" Lily asked slowly. Marlene and Sirius had dated on and off during their fourth and fifth years, both childish and even more over dramatic than they were now it had never worked.

"Know any other Sirius' do ya Lil?" Marlene asked with a grin and a roll of her eyes "You think he'd be interested again?"

Daxia jumped to attention when she noticed the question had been directed her way, Lily, Mary and Adiya turned their expressions over to her. It was almost as though they were scared of her answer "You're a gorgeous girl Mar," she shrugged forcing her face to look neutral, to not fall into the disgusted and irritated look she knew was threatening to emerge "Sirius would be lucky to have another chance with you."

"Aww thanks Dax!" the other girl grinned, clearly not able to look through the mask her friend was putting on "I was thinking of asking him to the first Hogsmeade visit on Halloween? What do you think?"

Lily, Adiya and Mary looked almost terrified as Dax answered "I'm sure he's free yes."

"Aw thanks honey!" Marlene reached over to squeeze Daxia's hand (Lily was shocked her best friend didn't pull away as she normally would) before launching into a long planning session with the other girls. How would she ask Sirius? How would she get him away from the other Marauders? What would they do on their date? Should she ask Daxia to hint to him that she wanted him to ask her? (On the last one she'd thrown a glance over to Daxia, the brunette picked at the grass beneath her pretending she hadn't heard).

It seemed like forever before they all decided it was time to head back up to their common rooms, the chill in the air too much for their muggle attire. They wandered up to the castle in a group, Daxia trailing behind as Marlene ensured Lily approved of her plan for her date-with-Sirius-outfit. She knew that whatever Marlene wore Sirius would be happy; not only was she one of the most beautiful girls in their year but she was also one of the nicest and most interesting.

They said goodbye to their friends, promising to sit with them at their next potions lesson, before they turned off to head towards the Ravenclaw common room. The four Gryffindors debated heading down to the kitchens before heading back to their own common room, deciding to just go to the great hall at the allocated time.

"So," Lily began awkwardly "Mar and Sirius again eh?"

Daxia scowled "Yep. I'm sure Black will be thrilled."

"How about you?" Adiya was the only one brave enough to ask.

Shrugging Daxia spoke the password to The Fat Lady "Whatever makes him happy," she mumbled as they climbed in through the portrait hole adding "Just as long as they aren't snogging at the breakfast table." before any of her friends could drag her into a conversation about her real feelings.

"Dax!"

She rolled her eyes as the first person to notice her re-entrance was Sirius Black himself "Marlene Branson wants me to hint to you that she wants you again and is going to ask you to the Halloween Hogsmeade trip," she grumbled determined to ignore him after their disagreement that morning.

He paused, looking slightly confused for a second before he waved her statement off "Me and James, well it was his idea-"

"Hey!" James shouted up as he jogged down the stairs leading to the boys' dorms.

"-okay we both thought of it," Sirius continued a wide grin on his face as Daxia glared up to him "I wanna apologise for arguing with you this morning and we wanted to take you down to the Forbidden Forest!"

Daxia arched an eyebrow while her friends exchanged glances; surely nothing good could come from the marauders heading down to the Forbidden Forest "Wow just what every girl wants to hear," she replied sarcastically.

Sirius rolled his eyes "So you can show us your…abilities."

"Getting more disgusting by the second Black."

"Dax for god sake!" he exclaimed as James placed his hand over his mouth to hide his amusement "Do you want to come on the next full moon or not?"

She narrowed her eyes, still angry with him "If this is a joke it isn't funny."

Across the room James was shaking his head with a grin; Peter smiled back at her as he held the Marauders' Map and Remus looked unsure about the whole situation.

"Not a joke," Sirius confirmed for her, her mood lightening with each and every word he spoke "Vix, show us what you can do."

"Well I can't say I'm not impressed," Sirius was smiling as he watched the small red fox run through the forest. She dodged and dived, raced and climbed; it was almost as though she was born to live in between the trees "But…I dunno."

Daxia was narrowing her eyes as she transformed back into her normal self, folding her arms over her chest "Are you serious?" she whined "I'm fast, I'm strong, what else can I do?"

James laughed easily from where he was sat slumped in the long grass beside Remus (looking worried about the entire thing) and Peter (munching on whatever food they'd grabbed from the kitchen on their way down) "You could stop being someone Padfoot actually cares about?"

As Sirius sent his friend a glare Remus sighed loudly "I really don't want to bring someone else into all of this Dax, have you thought about what could happen?"

She sighed loudly and irritably "No Remus, I've done all of this research and work and I haven't even thought of the consequences!" she exclaimed sarcastically "Of course I've thought it through! I've done nothing but think about it especially on the full moon and I want to help you guys!"

"Ooh she's such a little sweetheart isn't she!" James teased as he stood, throwing an arm over the pouting Daxia's shoulders "There's an entire month ahead of us now though," he continued as he began to walk, pulling her along with him. She glared up to him, knowing he was putting her off "And I need to get back for my duties with Evans."

"Hey did Marlene really want me to ask her to Hogsmeade?" Sirius asked with a grin as he rushed to catch up with his two best friends.

Before Daxia could reply the five friends noticed a figure pacing around the corridor before them. With mischief in his eyes and a grin on his lips James threw the invisibility cloak over to his friends before exclaiming "Hey Snivellus!"

The greasy haired, hook nosed figure turned to face the only visible Marauder "What Potter?" he snarled wand already in his hand.

James shoved his hands into his pockets as he strolled closer to the Slytherin boy, remembering how the boy had treated Lily the last time he had seen him, remembering how Lily had told him all about their friendship over the summer "What are you doing out in the corridors? It's after curfew," he pointed out, his tone full of suspicion as he wished he could catch Snape doing something he could land him in deep trouble for. He knew Lily would never forgive him if he reversed back to duelling without thinking "What are you up to?"

Snape looked as though he had been caught out, recovering quickly "None of your business Potter," he snapped, not sounding convincing as he turned, heading towards the staircase.

Before James could start after him, tugging his own wand from his pocket Daxia dove out from under the cloak, grasping onto his arm "Oh leave him James," she sighed "Unfortunately it doesn't look good if the head boy goes around hexing or letting his friends hex the Slytherin prefect."

Beside her Sirius was shrugging "It was you who insisted we'd have to start being," he winced "Nice to people now you're head boy."

James sighed loudly, cursing Dumbledore and his ideas beneath his breath. He would love nothing more than to find Severus Snape up to something worthy of expulsion "We could follow-"

"OR," Daxia interrupted, "You lot could tell me how I can convince you to let me come on the next full moon while we get some more baked goods from the kitchens?"

Rodolphus Lestrange glanced around the corner of the corridor before stepping out away from the Slytherin common room. Positive they were alone, he turned to his brother awaiting a signal "It's free," he whispered waving Rabastan to join him.

"Why are we even doing this," the younger of the two complained, he had been winning an extremely intense game of wizarding chess against Amycus Carrow when his brother made the announcement. Severus Snape wanted them to meet him in the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor; the Lestrange brothers first followed by their fellow sixth and seventh years soon after.

"You know why," Rodolphus snapped looking backwards towards his scowling brother and bumping into something storming his way "I-Daxia?" Their cousin smiled sheepishly between the two of them yet his anger took over, wondering where she had appeared from in the previously empty corridor "Are you spying on us?!"

"No!" she exclaimed, almost offended, noticing him rubbing at the forearm of his left arm again "What is wrong with you?"

He rolled his eyes "I thought I told you to leave us alone, we're no longer related Dax, you have no business knowing what we're up to." He pushed past her after he finished speaking, glancing back to ensure Rabastan did the same and leaving her to storm on to wherever she'd been heading.

It took a while, getting all the way up to the Room of Requirement without being spotted by the Ravenclaw prefects on rounds that night, so when they finally arrived Severus Snape was looking rather irritated. Especially when the rest of the invitees to the meeting were also late.

They set up slowly, allowing their housemates to settle into the normally unknown room. Rabastan left his brother and friend at the front, sitting down between his classmates with a slightly nervous sigh. He knew what this meeting was all about no matter how hard Snape and Rodolphus tried to hide their planning. They were going to be forced to choose sides, the right side for their bloodlines. They were going to be drawn into the lure of the power crazy dark lord to help him have a link to the Hogwarts student body. Severus had been drawn in by Mulciber and Avery, a year older than himself, and now it seemed it was his turn to do their job now they were gone.

Snape began as Rodolphus looked on menacingly. Rabastan knew while Severus was the mind behind the means his elder brother was clearly the muscle. Speaking of the attacks outside in the wizarding world he told them of the ways and means behind each one. Lord Voldemort wanted press and attention, wanted the ministry of magic to listen to his demands and take them seriously; for the wizarding world to be pure. He wanted to begin with muggleborns, to eradicate them from their world and to find out how they were stealing magic from fully fledged wizards and witches.

The Slytherins listened intently when he told them of the ministry and how both they and the Daily Prophet were trying their best to keep the dark lord brushed under the carpet. How they thought he would just go away if they paid him no attention…and how wrong they were. He informed them that Lucius Malfoy, a well-known Slytherin student who'd graduated two years previous and was now arranged to marry Narcissa Black, was their link to the dark lord passing messages onto Snape from Voldemort himself.

"He wants us to gain him publicity," Snape said with a small smile.

When he didn't continue Rabastan straightened up in his chair with a frown of confusion, beside him Bellatrix Black was looking on with an excited look on her face (possibly at being included in something Rodolphus was doing) as she shuffled to the edge of her seat. He knew none of his housemates would speak up, they'd just accept whatever task Snape gave them after a lengthy over dramatic pause so he took it on himself to ask the question "And how are we supposed to do that?"

"We choose our targets," Rodolphus finally spoke "And we attack."

A murmur rang around the vast room as the Slytherins exchanged shocked words and expressions; they were going to attack fellow students in the hallways right under Dumbledore's nose?

"They should be muggleborns and blood traitors," Snape explained with an expression of importance "Any hex or curse, unforgivable or not. The ministry and Prophet won't be able to ignore such attacks happening within the Hogwarts walls where the, seemingly, best wizard of our time is in charge."

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

"James Potter, Sirius Black and…" Snape sent a look to Rodolphus "Daxia Lestrange."

"As well as muggleborns," Rodolphus spoke up quickly, attempting to hide the slight regret on his face at the sound of his cousin's name "Like Lily Evans."

So it has been a while and I'm not even sure if people still read Marauders fics but tiktok has got me back into it and seeing as we're taking canon of She Who Must Not Be Named I thought why not give Dax some more attention?

Anyway, thanks for reading! I'll try not to leave it so long again!