Author: Hi everyone! New Chapter for His Shining Light! Thank you all for your reviews and favs, you guys are amazing! Have an amazing rest of your weekend!

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" Winters."

Elaine looked up from her book to see Lucius Malfoy smiling down at her.

" Y-Yes?" Elaine said cautiously.

Lucius Malfoy had always made it apparent that he hated her.

She had no idea why he was addressing her now. Especially when Narcissa could come around the corner at any moment.

" How are you?"

Elaine raised an eyebrow at his question.

" Fine." She said cautiously as he took the seat beside her. She shifted a bit away from him.

" Mind if I sit here?" He said grinning at her obvious discomfort.

Elaine looked around at the multiple other open seats around them. " What do you want, Malfoy?"

" What makes you think I want something?" Malfoy asked, acting offended by her question.

" Because the only time you've ever even looked in my direction was to torment me." Elaine said before looking around for any sign of Malfoy's normal flunkies, Crabbe and Goyle. Wherever Lucius Malfoy was, they were normally not far behind.

" Crabbe has detention and Goyle's at a mandatory Potions study session." Malfoy said as if reading her mind. " And Cissy is getting ready for this weekend's Hogsmeade trip."

Elaine tried to focus on the book she had been reading. Something about caring for Grindylows, she couldn't really tell. She had read the same sentence about six times and hadn't processed any of it.

" Your hair's pretty long now." Malfoy stated examining the length of her red locks, which stretched down to her waist.

" I guess." Elaine said pulling her hair over her shoulder so that Malfoy wouldn't be able to touch it.

" It's good that you moved it, now everyone can see that shiny Prefect badge." Malfoy smirked, his eyes fixing on the yellow badge on her chest.

Elaine was trying to ignore him, becoming even more uncomfortable with his grey eyes lingering on her.

" You know, you're a pretty decent Quidditch player."

" Th-Thank you." Elaine said as she began tapping her fingers against her leg.

" Have you played long?" Malfoy said dipping his head down so that she had to look at him. She hadn't answered him.

" You know Winters, it's rude to ignore people."

" What do you want, Malfoy!" She snapped finally. " You only talk to me to make fun of me! To torment me!"

Malfoy gave her a long drawn out sigh. He gave her a saddened looked, pain evident in his grey eyes. " I'm very sorry about what an ass I've been to you, Winters."

Elaine narrowed her eyes at him.

" My parents think that one's importance is based on their bloodline." He said softly, leaning in towards her. " Well, you're a Pure Blood as well and everyone treats you like dragon dung. I've been thinking that they may be wrong."

Elaine flinched when Malfoy reached upwards to trace her cheek with his cold finger. " Corrections, I think they are wrong. To be honest, you don't seem bad."

" Because I'm n-"

" WINTERS!"

Elaine jumped at the angry sound of Sirius Black.

She looked up to see the Gryffindor hurrying towards them, his long black curls billowing out behind him.

" Sirius?"

" He doesn't call you by your given name?" Malfoy asked, tracing his finger lightly up and down her arm. " I thought the two of you were…you know."

" We're friends!"

" Are you sure?" Malfoy asked leaning in closer to whisper in her ear.

Sirius reached Elaine just as Lucius leaned in to whisper some to her.

" Winters!" He said quickly, grabbing her small wrist and swiftly pulling her away from Malfoy. " Lily's been looking everywhere for you!"

" He even calls your friend by her given name."

" I-I don't mind it…really." Elaine said quickly, ignoring the slight tug at her heart that Malfoy's words caused.

" If it's alright with you, Winters. I could call you by your given name."

" It doesn't bother me what he calls me by!" Elaine lied quickly as Sirius positioned himself between her and the Slytherin.

" We'll talk later, Winters." Malfoy said, a mocking smirk plastered across his pale face. He stood and straightened his robes before striding off.

" What did he want?" Sirius asked, rounding quickly on her.

" I don't know." Elaine said awkwardly taking a step away from him only to have him grab her by the elbow. " He just started talking about how he thinks his parents are wrong for they treat Non Pure Bloods."

" If I were you Winters, I'd stay far away from the likes of Lucius Malfoy." Sirius said firmly. " When I was on summer break, I heard Regulus talking about Lucius. How he wants nothing more than to join up with that Voldemort bloke once he's out of Hogwarts."

" Sirius!" Elaine said worriedly, grabbing his arm tightly. " You shouldn't say his name!"

" Whatever!" Sirius smirked cheekily at her. " I'm not afraid of him, Winters! You shouldn't be either! We're better than some racist psychopath and you're definitely better than Lucius Malfoy!"

She didn't look convinced.

" Did Lily really need me for something?" Elaine asked.

" Nah, I just didn't like him being that close to you." Sirius said as his long black hair fell in-front of his face.

He gave her a grin that made her heart skip a beat. She quickly looked away, silently wishing her face didn't look as red as it felt.

" Lucius Malfoy's no good, Winters. If I were you, I'd stay as far away from him as-"

" Sirius, how can you even manage to see with your hair hanging in-front of your face like that?" Elaine said attempting to change the subject.

" What?" He said suddenly taken aback.

" Your hair! It's covering most of your face!" Elaine said brushing his bangs away from his eyes, oblivious to how pink his cheeks were. " I can't even see your eyes because of how long it is!"

" Well, I'm not cutting it!" Sirius said pulling away slightly. " I like it this way!"

He really did like it long.

His parents hating it was just an added bonus.

" You don't have to cut it, silly!" She said as her hand darted into her back.

Sirius watched as she rummaged around in her bag for something, her own hair forming a wall of red curls. It was all he could do to not reach out and run his hand through it.

" Ah ha!" She grinned eagerly causing him to jump. " Here we go! Sit!"

" Why?" He asked cautiously.

" I'm not going to hurt your precious hair, you big baby! Just sit!" She said pulling him to the courtyard's fountain and making him sit.

" Winters, what are you-" Sirius broke off as Elaine leaned over and began to run a comb through his hair. He felt his face redden instantly as her chest was suddenly at his eye level.

" I'm jealous, to hair nice hair without even trying!" Elaine said running her fingers through his curls, oblivious to him leaning closer to her. " You're hair is so nice and the color is a pretty shade! Mine is just a boring color and I can't ever get it to behave."

" You hair isn't boring." Sirius countered. He was close enough to her to catch the scent of lavender coming from her robes.

" You're just being nice. It really is boring."

" I'm never just nice." He said calmly, fighting the urge to pull her onto his lap and bury his face into her soft hair.

His vision suddenly cleared as she gently lifted his hair away from his eyes.

Elaine smiled as she managed to secure Sirius silken black locks back into a thin hair tie. " There!" She said happily leaning back and examining her work. " Better!"

" Did you just girlify me?"

" That sounds like a spell to transform a boy into a girl!"

" This is weird." Sirius said reach his hand back.

" No don't touch it!" Elaine said quickly. " You'll undo the tie! You're hair isn't quite long enough to have it secure-secure."

" It's still weird!"

" Well at least you can see!" Elaine huffed, crossing her arms and cocking her hips to the side.

" True…" He said awkwardly. " Do you just carry random hair ties and a comb in your bag?"

" Well I'm a girl after all!" She smirked before reaching down to lift her bag. " Sirius…why don't you call me by my first name?" She found herself asking before she could stop herself.

" I'm sorry?" He said in confusion. He gripped the inside of his robes tightly, quickly becoming uncomfortable by her question.

" I-It's just…we've known each other for five years now…and I don't recall you ever using my first name." Elaine said timidly.

" Why are you bringing this up now?" Sirius asked his face reddening as realization hit him.

" I-I-no reason…just a random thought."

" From Malfoy!" Sirius said firmly noticing Elaine take a step away from him. " Listen, don't let him get to you, Winters. He's just trying to get in your head."

" It wasn't just Malfoy!" Elaine said firmly. " I-I've just…I've noticed that you call everyone else by their first names."

Sirius locked his grey eyes onto her, watching as she began fiddling with her fingers.

Did it really bother her?

He hadn't really bothered to notice if it had or not. He didn't realize that he was treating her differently from the rest of his friends.

" Listen Winters, I-"

" Sirius, if you don't want to call me by my first name then you don't have to." Elaine said hurriedly.

" It's not that I don't want to, Winters." Sirius said stiffly.

" I'm sorry Sirius, really!" Elaine said quickly, her bag slipping from her from her shoulder onto the ground. " Just forget I even brought it up!"

Sirius reached over to help her only to bump his head directly into hers. " S-Sorry Winters!"

" I-It's fine!" She said quickly, rubbing her forehead before excusing herself.

" Well that was smooth."

Sirius jumped as the unexpected sound of his cousin Andromeda. He looked over to see her giving him the trademark Black smirk at him.

" What?"

" Just admit it." Andromeda said grinning mischievously at him.

" What?"

" Admit you like her."

" What makes you think that!" Sirius said taken aback.

" It's obvious." Andromeda said nudging him. " You could do a lot worse than Lainey. I know Dolores Umbridge has been eyeing you lately."

Sirius gagged at the thought of the Seventh Year Slytherin. She was as unpleasant as an Erumpent in heat.

" I don't think you ever let anyone touch your hair." Andromeda grinned, reaching up to brush a stray strand away only to have him pull away. " See!"

" Why is Lucius Malfoy sniffing around Winters?"

" What are you talking about?" Andromeda said in confusion. " He despises her."

" Well I just caught him abnormally close to her. His face was practically buried in her hair!" Sirius growled, his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

" I don't know, really. He's always talking about how he hopes she and all the other Blood Traitors will get chucked out and get what they deserve."

" Get what they deserve?" Sirius said quirking an eyebrow at her. " What do you mean?"

" I don't know what he means by it but keep an eye on Lainey. Rabastan can't stand that she and her brothers are here."

" Rabastan LeStrange? Rodolphus' little brother?"

" Yeah, he's in the same year as Lainey's brothers and Regulus. He and Regulus are wanting to start some stuff with the Winters Boys."

" Start some stuff?" Sirius said in concern. " Regulus best back off and keep his mind on his damn studies!"

" Says the idiot who starts drama with Snape."

" Snape starts drama with James and I all the time! If Regulus is the one egging the crap on, then he needs settle his ass down."

" I'll keep an eye on Reg, you keep an eye on Lainey and keep her far away from Lucius." Andromeda said, her blonde eyebrows furrowed in concern. " I don't trust him and his sudden interest in being nice."

" Right." Sirius said rubbing the back of his head, accidentally dislodging Elaine's hair tie. " Bullocks!"

His cousin laughed before making him sit. " You really do have it bad for her."

" I don't know what you're going on about!" Sirius scoffed, fidgeting as she secured his hair.

" Of course you don't, you're a stubborn idiot."

" Has anyone ever told you how charming you can be?" Sirius said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

" Mother does all the time." She said, her voice losing all joy.

Sirius knew exactly what his cousin was going through at home without her even having to tell him. Her mother, like his, was obsessed with Blood Purity and the status that a good marriage would bring their family.

He had heard rumors that his aunt had been looking for a proper wizarding family to tie Andromeda to but none had a son around her age that wanted her.

Sirius had a sneaking suspicion that even if his aunt Druella managed to make an arrangement, his cousin would never honor it.

Recently he had noticed a Hufflepuff Seventh year named Edward Tonks hanging around his cousin more in their study sessions.

Often times, Sirius would come across his cousin with her light brown hair slightly disheveled and out of breath.

" You know, you might get a little bit further with Lainey if you call her by her first name."

" What makes you think I want to get anywhere with her?" He asked causing her to quirk an eyebrow at him.

" A hint would be you didn't get all squirmy when she touched your hair."

" Again with that?"

" You act like a Kneazle getting a bath whenever someone touches it but when Lainey did-"

" How long were you watching us?"

" Long enough!"

" Don't you need to be studying for your N.E. ?"

" Mhm," Andromeda said waving her hand dismissively. " Deny it all you want but you have it bad for Little Miss Winters…or should I say: The Future Misses Sirius-"

" Shut it, Misses Tonks!"

Andromeda's face reddened instantly. " You hush your mouth, Sirius Black!" She said quickly, her eyes wide in fear. " If Cissy or anyone hear-"

" Don't like being teased do you? You two aren't as secretive as you think."

" Shush!" She said firmly as a group of Slytherin fifth years walked into the courtyard.

" Mhm." He nudged her lightly before shouldering his bag. " I'll keep an eye on Winters. You keep an eye on Malfoy."

" Are you excited for the upcoming match, Lainey?" Lily asked her as they made their way to the Great Hall.

" Yeah and a little nervous. Ravenclaw's got a good team this year."

" Well, their no match for the best Beater that Hufflepuff's ever had!"

" I don't think anyone in Hufflepuff is a bigger fan of Lainey then you are, Lily." Remus said from the Gryffindor table.

" Well she's amazing!" Lily said hugging her friend proudly. " I have to say, I was unsure about you joining the team as a Beater. Yet, you're definitely better coordinated on a broom then you are on the ground."

" She's not wrong, Winters." James said sitting down on the other side of Lily, who rolled her eyes. " How you haven't broken your neck on the grand staircase is beyond me."

" Well no one asked for your opinion, Potter." Lily said ignoring him as he scooted closer to her.

" How did you guys do on your Potions exam?" Peter said hurrying over to them, practically in tears.

" Flunk another test, Peter?" James laughed.

" You're normally decent in Potions, Peter. Are you stressed about anything?" Elaine asked causing the fair-haired Gryffindor to become uncomfortable.

" A little…but it's just that the courses this year are a lot tougher than last years."

" Do you guys smell mandrake leaves?" Lily asked curiously.

Elaine saw James scoot away from her at the question. " Maybe someone was in the greenhouses earlier and forgot to wash up."

" That's gross!" Lily scoffed. " We touch dragon dung in there!"

" Among other things." Sirius said appearing suddenly and reaching over Elaine's shoulder to snatch a chicken leg. " Winters, you ready for the match next weekend?"

" Y-Yeah." Elaine said as he slumped lazily beside her.

" She's more then ready! We've barely had time to hang out together with all the practice sessions she's been going to!"

" Make sure you're eating enough." Remus said in concern. " You also look exhausted."

" It's been kind of hard trying to keep up with practice and studying." Elaine said rubbing the back of the head.

" You've been getting enough sleep, right?" Lily asked her voice filled with concern. " You have Prefect duties as well, you're not overworking yourself are you?"

" I'm fine Lily, really." Elaine said shyly as her friends started fussing over her. " Oh dear! I've got to head to Hagrid's!"

" Why?" Sirius asked curiously.

" I told him I would help him with taking care of the Thestrals!"

" Wait, on top of everything else you're doing, you're helping Hagrid!" Sirius said gaping at her.

" Y-Yes." She said shyly.

" How do you have time to even breathe?"

" I don't mind helping Hagrid." She said smiling. " It's like being back at my parents. There's so many creatures there and it even smells like home."

" You're going to work yourself into the Hospital Wing!" Lily said quickly.

" I'm fine, really!" Elaine said quickly. " But I should really be going!"

" I'll come with you." Sirius said to everyone's surprise.

" Why?" Elaine asked not meaning to sound as rude as she had.

" I haven't seen Hagrid much this year and if I help you both then you'll get done faster." Sirius said calmly. " Then you can relax!"

" Well you seem awfully concerned all of a sudden." Lily said grinning evilly at Sirius.

" Let's go." Sirius said shoving one hand into his pocket, offering her the other.

Elaine smiled before taking it.

" Elaine! I was startin tah think ye'd forgotten me!" A stocky man standing roughly twelve foot tall. He had a large bushy brown beard and long curly hair. His face was mainly covered in hair with the exception of his smiling face and happy beetle black eyes.

" Hi Hagrid! I'm sorry I'm so late!" Elaine said quickly taking off her black robe and folding it neatly in her arms. " Sirius came with me. He said he'd help if it's alright with you."

Hagrid eyed the teen curiously. " Didn't know you liked creatures, Sirius."

" They're alright, I guess. I never really had any growing up." Sirius said nonchalantly. " We've got a grimy old house elf called Kreacher but he really doesn't come around me much. He likes my little brother, though."

" I've never spoken to your brother, what's he like?" Elaine asked still holding her bag. " Hagrid, do you mind if I set my things somewhere?"

" 'Course not, Elaine! Set it anywhere you like!" Hagrid chuckled at her politeness. " Just mind ya don' leave it on that table. Cover'd in feathers and chicken guts and it be a shame if ya got yer robes dirty!"

" My brother's someone you and your brothers should steer clear of." Sirius said to Elaine's surprise.

" My brothers?"

" That one brother of yer's is a handful!" Hagrid chuckled. " I'm always hav'n tah chase him away from the forest!"

" Rey's a good boy, but he gets his orneriness from Papa."

" How'd you know which brother he meant?" Sirius asked taking his own robe off and setting them beside hers.

" Because Zeek is the complete opposite of Rey. He's the more calmer one and really just wants to study and keep to himself. Rey's normally the one getting into trouble. He's got Papa's temper, where Zeek is more like Mama."

Sirius would never admit it, but he thought it was cute how Elaine referred to her parents the way she did. It was much warmer then how he referred to his own.

" How's your uncle Alphard?" Hagrid asked to Sirius' surprise. " He's a good man, that'ne. He always treats me well whenev'r I see 'im."

" He been kind of sick lately, but mother said he'll be fine if he listens to the Healers." Sirius said awkwardly.

" I hope he feels better." Elaine said handing him a pair of dragonhide gloves.

" He's to stubborn to die." Sirius said rather bluntly.

" Now you two, we bes' be gettin started! The Thestrals'll be gett'n hungry." Hagrid laughed, handing Sirius a heavy bucket of entrails and chopped up meat. " Now Sirius, 'as Prafesser Kettleburn taught ya' much about Thestrals?"

" Uuuh…"

" We haven't got to them in class yet, Hagrid."

" Why'd you ask me the question but not Winters?"

" 'Cause Elaine's been handl'n creatures since before she could walk."

" Really?" Sirius said looking at Elaine curiously who shrugged lightly.

" Papa's a magizoologist but he also studies nonmagical creatures." She said as they left the cabin and made their way towards the forest.

" I thought we weren't allowed in here?" Sirius stated as they entered.

" For one, I can take people in since I'm a Prefect and second, Hagrid's with us!"

" Huh, perks of being a good student." Sirius said making Elaine blush.

" You two should know that recently, I've been finding animal corpses with strange bite marks in them." Hagrid said as they made their way to the Thestral's Meadow.

" What kind of bite marks?" Elaine asked curiously.

" Small and thin. The wound was rather deep and it didna leave much blood at the sight. Tah be honest, I've never seen anythin' like it." Hagrid said as they entered the meadow where several winged skeletal horses were. " Ye best keep a close watch on that brother of yer's, Elaine. Yer mum and dad' be rather upset is anythin' happened to 'em."

" What was the corpse like?" Elaine asked as Sirius shifted slightly, his face losing some color.

" Untouched other than the bite." Hagrid said. " Most predators in the forest wouldna left the meat behind."

" Aren't werewolves in the forest?" Elaine asked, oblivious to the simple question had made Sirius uncomfortable.

" A werewolf wouldna left the meat either." Hagrid said not noticing Sirius relax. " Nah, I don't know what woulda done it but ye best be careful when ya come visit the Thestrals, Elaine."

" Do you come here often?" Sirius asked in surprise.

" Sometimes, just to relax mainly, you know. When I'm here I don't need to think." Elaine said shrugging. " It just makes me feel at home. Thestrals are some of Papa's favorite creatures and he has a breeding stud there that has sired a few foals in the herd here."

" Hades' sired more than a few foals in just this herd. He's a stud for a couple herd in France and Ireland." Hagrid laughed before starting to toss a few meat scraps to the herd.

" Oh Sirius, look!" Elaine said pointing to a small Thestral foal that scampered around its mother's leg. " That little one is my favorite! His name's Tenebrus and he's so sweet."

" I don't really know what you're pointing at." Sirius admitted awkwardly.

" OH! I'm so sorry!" Elaine said in shock. " I never thought to ask if you could see them or not!"

" It's alright." Sirius said setting the feed bucket down. " Just show me where to throw the meat."

" Oh, alright…there are a few there." Elaine said pointing in the direction of Tenebrus and his mother. " Is it odd that I wish you could see him? He's fun to watch."

" No." Sirius said, his grey eyes locked on her. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed just watching her watch the creatures.

" I mean, I understand why some people would think it's weird. The whole death thing, but Thestrals are such smart and loving creatures."

" Who did you see die?" Sirius asked without thinking.

" My grandfather, Papa's father." Elaine said sadly. " He died when I was about six."

" I'm sorry." He said quickly.

" Don't…it's apart of life. Pop-Pop lived a long and happy life. He was an amazing Wizard who loved his family very much. He met my Gran-Gran who loved him for over fifty years and " Elaine smiled. " Papa makes me think of him, really. His laugh, smile and hugs are just like Pop-Pop's. I'm lucky, I got enough time with him to be able to remember a lot about him. My brothers were to young to really remember him. So, I told them that the best way to remember Pop-Pop is to spend as much time with Papa as possible."

" I'm kind of envious of you Ellie," Sirius admitted. " You have good family memories and your mum and dad actually care what happens to you."

" I'm sure your parents love you, Sirius."

" They only care if I uphold the family image." Sirius said awkwardly. " They want me to uphold their family image and make a good Pure Blood Marriage."

Elaine remained silent for several long moments, unsure of how to respond to his news.

" I mean, I'm not letting them control ME and decide MY LIFE for me." Sirius said angrily tossing meat in the direction Elaine indicated. " It's my damn life and I don't want to live with their stupid Blood Purity propaganda!"

He tossed another piece towards a different group, silently grinding his teeth. " I can't be like them."
" You're not, Sirius." Elaine said quietly. He looked at her in surprise. " You wouldn't be friends with us if you were."

Sirius fidgeted at her compliment.

" You wouldn't be friends with Remus if you were like them."

" What do you mean?" Sirius asked, his eyes wide, his posture tensing.

" I'm not going to tell anyone." Elaine said in a hushed voice. " I'd never do that to him. I didn't want you all to know that I knew…I think he'd be upset that I know."

" How-"

" I'm the daughter of a magizoologist. It was kind of obvious once I got to know him better." Elaine shrugged. " I consider him my friend and I love him, so I won't ever betray his secret."

" You love him?" Sirius said nervously.

" I love all of you. You lot are my family." Elaine said kneeling before a Tenebrus, who had decided to be brave and approach her. She took a small piece of meat and offered it to him.

He cocked his head at it before he took a hesitant step forward. " It's okay, little guy." She said, oblivious to Sirius' gaze on her.

Sirius' heart skipped a beat when she smiled at to him, was thin air. " Do you wanna try?" She asked smiling up at him.

" I-uh-sure." He said kneeling beside her. " What do I do?"

" Extend your hand like this and just wait." She said taking his and placing it before the foal. She placed a small piece of meat in his palm and leaned closer to him, her hand steadying his.

The scent of lavender was back, stronger in the fresh air of the forest. Sirius was silently praying that his face wasn't as red as it felt.

Sirius' grey eyes widened as the piece of meat disappeared into small bites and then nothing.

" I think he likes you." Elaine chuckled.

" Why?"

" You can't see but he's almost in your lap!" She said resting her forehead against his shoulder, shaking with silent laughter. " I've never seen him this close to someone, not even Hagrid! Maybe he thinks you're hiding more food in your pockets!"

At the moment, all Sirius could focus on was how close she was to him. " Can I put my hand down?"

" Yeah, just do it slowly. His mama Hecate is watching us to make sure he's ok."

" Would she attack us?"

" Like any mama, she would if she thought we were being mean to her baby."

" Not all mothers are like that." Sirius said and then quickly regretted it.

" I'm sorry, Sirius. You deserve a mama who loves you more then her ideals." Elaine said still resting her head on his shoulder. " I hope you find someone who loves you for you."