Author: Hi everyone! New Chapter for His Shining Light! Sorry for the long delay in updating. This Corona Virus thing is ridiculous! Hope all of you are safe and healthy! Everyone have a wonderful weekend! Thank you all for the favs/reviews/follows!

" Miss Evans, you'll escort Misters Black, Lupin and Potter to my office!" Professor McGonagall snapped, her eyes narrowing on the three Gryffindor boys.

" Y-Yes Professor…" Lily said before escorting three of the four Marauders from the Hall. She and Sirius cast concerned looks before turning the corner.

" Mister Winters! My office, now!" Piped Professor Flitwick before he escorted and Rey.

" Are you alright, Elaine?" Alice asked, noticing her friend who was currently taking several deep breaths.

" Miss Winters, I do believe that you and I shall take a walk." Professor Sprout said calmly as Ceridwen began to rub herself against Elaine's leg.

" I'm sorry?" Elaine said, not fully hearing what the Herbology Teacher had said.

" You and I are going to take a stroll around the grounds." Professor Sprout said placing a reassuring hand on Elaine's shoulder.

A strong mulchy scent flooded her senses as she let herself be led from the hall.

The two of them were completely oblivious to the eyes of Lucius Malfoy and his friends locked on her.

Elaine and Professor Sprout walked in complete silence for a long time.

Elaine was trying hard to keep the fury inside her from boiling over. She couldn't remember ever being this angry before.

" It's fascinating, really." Professor Sprout said finally as they continued past Greenhouse Four.

" I'm sorry?"

" I always fascinated at how members of the same bloodline can be so different from each other."

Elaine remained silent not wanting to look at her Head of House.

" I attended Hogwarts with your uncle, your mother following a few years later." Professor Sprout said calmly. " They couldn't have been more different. Your uncle was a cruel and manipulative boy. Your mother was kind and gentle person who simply wanted to please her family…however, it all fell apart when she met a certain stubborn Gryffindor who treated her like a queen."

Elaine found herself smiling at how Professor Sprout had described her parents perfectly.

" You and your siblings are completely different from Rodolphus and Rabastan." Professor Sprout continued. " Andromeda Black is the complete opposite of her sister Bellatrix…and Sirius Black is of his brother."

Elaine bit her lip at the thought of Sirius getting in trouble because of her.

" Even your brothers are opposites." Professor Sprout laughed at the thought of the twins. " One is loud and rambunctious and the other is silent and calculative."

" They're going to be in trouble because of me." Elaine said looking out towards the school, twisting her hands nervously.

" You don't know that for certain." Professor Sprout said smiling.

" Professors McGonagall and Flitwick seemed extremely angry." Elaine said nervously. " Well…it was mainly Professor McGonagall but Professor Flitwick seemed irritated!"

Professor Sprout laughed at the truth in her statement. " Well Minerva is rather upset that members of her House were brawling in the Great Hall…however, I'm sure she'll see reason once they explain they were defending not only yours but Miss Evans' honor."

Elaine didn't feel convinced.

" This is why I prefer plants." Professor Sprout chuckled. " They're much less hassle."

" I can see how you could come to that conclusion." Elaine laughed.

" I cannot BEGIN to express how utterly ashamed I am of how you three have acted this morning!"

" Professor McGonagall, it's-"

" Be silent, Miss Evans!" Professor McGonagall said slamming her hands onto her desks. " I cannot believe the sight I saw when entering the Great Hall this morning! Brawling in the Great Hall! What the blazes were you lot thinking?"

" That if Rabastan and Regulus called Winters a Mudwaller one more time I was going to pound them into the ground!" James said his fists clenched so tightly his hands bled.

" Excuse me?" Professor McGonagall said, her eyebrow raised.

" It's true, Professor." Remus said cautiously. " Sirius and Elaine were having a conversation when Regulus and Rabastan came and started insulting her!"

" That does not excuse the fact that you lot-"

" Professor! They called Winters a trollop and called her mother a Dunglicker!" James said quickly.

" How can we call ourselves Gryffindors if we let someone insult a lady's honor?" Remus asked nonchalantly.

" Technically Remus didn't even throw a punch, Professor. He pulled the Winters kid off of Rabastan!" James said quickly.

" Mister Black, you have been surprisingly quiet throughout this entire discussion." Professor McGonagall said crossing her arms. " Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"

" I shoulda hit that little sack of shit harder." Sirius said bluntly. " I can't believe we're related."

" Now would not be the time, mate!" James muttered to Sirius.

" Anything else, Mister Black?" Professor McGonagall asked, her already thin mouth going even thinner.

" Just to expect Regulus and Rabastan to retaliate for today." Sirius said calmly. " I may not like them, but I understand their line of thinking. They're not going to let this go with just a simple talking to or detention. Both have said they approve of Voldemort's ideology and you can expect them to do something cruel."

His words caused Professor McGonagall to raise a well manicured eyebrow.

" I'm not saying that I'm going to start anything with my brother or his friends! I'm just saying to expect something from them and for the teachers to keep an eye on them."

Professor McGonagall was silent for a long time, carefully contemplating his warning.

" Very well Mister Black, I will take your words into consideration. Now," She took a deep breath before continuing. " For your punishment-"
" We're still being punished!" James gaped is utter disbelief. " Even after-"

" Yes Potter, you are being punished. As noble as your actions were, you were brawling in the Great Hall! You need to be reprimanded for it!"

Lily was staring at the Transfiguration teacher in disbelief.

" You three will not be attending the Hogsmeade trip today and Potter, if you interrupt me one more time, you will receive detention!"

" Professor, will Regulus and Rabastan be allowed t-"

" That will be for Professor Slughorn to decide, Mister Lupin." Professor McGonagall said firmly. " Don't bother Miss Evans, my decision is final!"

Sirius saw Lily tense at Professor McGonagall's statement, her hand partially raised. He saw her bite her lip before looking down sadly.

" I will take you words into consideration, Mister Black. Now…you four are dismissed."

Sirius followed his friends out of the office and along the Transfiguration Hallway.

He wasn't allowed into Hogsmeade today…which meant he wouldn't be able to keep an eye on Elaine.

" Hey Evans," Sirius said making the red head glance over her shoulder. " Can I ask you something?"

" About?"

" Winters."

" Oh drop the act Sirius and just call her Ellie." Lily said waving her hand. " We all know you've been calling her that for the past couple of days. And while we're at it, just admit to yourself that you like her."

" This isn't what I wanted to talk about." Sirius said, his face reddening.

" Well, your life would be a lot less complicated if you'd just admit it." Lily shrugged. " But whatever, what is it you wanted to talk about?"

" You're still going to Hogsmeade, right?"

" Yeah?" Lily said cautiously. " I don't plan on going to Zonkos, if that's what-"

" Can you keep an eye on Winters for me?"

Lily was taken aback by Sirius' sudden request.

" I was planning on spending time with her anyway, but why?"

" Just make sure she doesn't go anywhere alone with Malfoy." Sirius said, his voice becoming eerily deadly.

" Why would Malfoy come anywhere near Els?" Lily asked curiously. " He hates Muggleborns and their sympathizers."

" I know, but the day I saw him trying to talk to her and she looked extremely uncomfortable. I thought she was going to Apparate on the spot." Sirius said causing Lily's green eyes to narrow.

" I was already planning to spending time with Els but now I'm definitely not planning to leave her side." The Gryffindor Prefect said firmly. " Els is my best mates and she's never done any harm to anyone. I don't understand why those twats want to torment her is beyond me!"

" I don't know." Sirius lied.

He had started to believe that Elaine had become the subject of Bellatrix's torment because of her parents.

He believed Regulus was plotting something against Elaine because of he suspected that Sirius had feelings for her.

If Sirius were to pursue those feelings then his family would see it as an act of dishonor and something terrible could happen to her.

The thought of never seeing Elaine smile again made his chest tighten.

His heart almost stopped at the thought off any harm coming to her.

" Thanks Evans…" Sirius said running his hand through his hair, causing the band in his hair to dislodge. " BULLOCKS!"

" Really Sirius!" Lily laughed as the Fifth Year's face reddened.

" What?"

" You've got it bad!"

" What?"

" For Els!" Lily said grinning evilly at him and enjoying how uncomfortable he became. " Just admit it Sirius, you like Els-"

" Well yeah, we're friends!"

" Mhm, you two are more then friends, Sirius!"

" Like you and James?" Sirius asked causing Lily's face redden.

" I don't know what you're talking about, Sirius! James and I are just friends!"

" Uh-huh, does he know that?" Sirius asked. " Weren't the two of you supposed to share a butterbeer today?"

" We were EACH going to have one!" Lily said avoiding eye contact with the Fifth Year.

" Does James know that?" Sirius smirked as his dark locks hung in-front of his eyes.

" Well Els was looking forward to spending some time with you this trip!" Lily said trying to change the subject back to him. " But yes…I will definitely keep an eye on her while we're at Hogsmeade…"

" Thanks Evans…" Sirius sighed in relief, a small smile appearing on his face.

" Now, let's not keep Elaine waiting." Lily laughed. " She's probably ready to implode with worry."

" Hey Winters!" James said as they saw the Hufflepuff Prefect waiting anxiously outside the Great Hall.

" James! Remus!" Elaine said looking slightly relieved at the sight of them.

" Please tell me you haven't been waiting here this entire time." Remus said worriedly.

" No…Professor Sprout and I went for a stroll." Elaine said rubbing her arm awkwardly. " I only just got back."

" You're not in trouble are you?" James asked. " Sprout has to know that you weren't involved in the actual altercation!"

" Of course I do, Mister Potter."

James' face went as red as Elaine's hair at the sound of the Herbology teacher's firm voice.

He looked over to see Professor Sprout standing there, her eyebrow raised in a very Professor McGonagall like way.

" Of course I know that Miss Winters wasn't actually involved in that incident, Mister Potter. She has never once done something like that since she first set foot in this castle." Professor Sprout said calmly. " I take great pride in knowing the characteristics of every single member in my House."

" James didn't mean any disrespect, Professor!" Remus said quickly. " He was just concerned that Lainey might be in trouble for slapping Rabastan earlier…"

" Well Mister Lupin, as a professor I would never, ever condone physical violence between students." Professor Sprout said firmly. " However, from one person to another…Mister LeStrange deserved it for saying something as inappropriate as that."

Elaine's cheeks were pink at her Head of Houses words.

" I still shouldn't h-"

" If you hadn't Lainey, I would have." Remus said to everyone's amazement. " He shouldn't be allowed to say whatever he wants, especially about his own relatives."
" You're too nice, Winters. You shouldn't put up with the likes of Rabastan LeStrange!" James said, adjusting his glasses slightly. " The only way to deal with a b-"

" You do realize that I am still here, Mister Potter." Professor Sprout said cutting the teen off before he could finish his sentence.

" Els!"

Elaine looked over to see Lily approaching with Sirius following close behind her.

" Lils?" Elaine said curiously as her fellow red head linked her arm with Elaine's.
" We're going shopping in Hogsmeade!" Lily said

grinning mischieviously.

" We are?"

" Oh yes! You need something to wear other than that ratty old sweater!" Lily said, her grin growing wider. " Something a little more-"
Elaine let out a high pitched squeak, her face turning blood red as Lily whispered something in her ear. " LILY!"

" What are you up to, Evans?" Sirius asked cautiously.

" Nothing!" Lily said in an innocent tone. " Come on, Els! Let's head out!"

" A-Alright…" Elaine said before noticing the three Gryffindor males hadn't moved an inch. " Aren't you lot coming?"

" Nope!" James said casually. " Hogsmeade's getting kinda boring. I think I'll head to the Pitch and get in a few hours of practice."

" I have to finish my paper for Professor Bins." Remus said calmly.

Elaine blinked in disbelief at their words.

Were they serious?

The boys had been so excited about the upcoming trip, it had been all they talked about for the past two weeks.

Now they didn't want to go?

" You lot got in trouble, didn't you…" Elaine found herself saying suddenly.

" W-"

" Only a little." Sirius said, cutting Remus off before he could give some kind of half assed excuse.

" Professor McGonagall said you couldn't go…" Elaine said as she began to fiddle with her fingers.

" Yeah…but we didn't get detention so that's a plus." Sirius said in an attempt to make her laugh.

She did not.

" We're not in trouble because of you, Lainey." Remus said quickly. " So please don't blame yourself!"

" I'm sorry…" Elaine said quickly.

" Don't be, I've been wanting to knock that condescending smirk off of Rabastan LeStrange's face for three years now."

" Mister Potter!"

" Well Professor, if you weren't standing there you wouldn't hear these things!" James said nonchalantly.

" And you've earned yourself an afternoon of cleaning the green houses!"

" Bullocks!"

" Would you prefer a week?"

" No Professor…"

" Good, I'll expect you at Green House One within the hour." Professor Sprout said before leaving the hallway.

" Bullocks!"

" Just couldn't keep your mouth shut could you?" Lily sighed, rubbing her temples calmly.

" You know you like it, Evans. Just admit it!"

" You're an idiot." Lily said calmly.

" I am sorry, Sirius." Elaine said quietly, ignoring the now bickering between James and Lily.

" Don't be. Like James, I've been wanting to slug that smug face of Rabastan's for years." Sirius said calmly.

" I know you were wanting to go to Hogsmeade and now because of m-"

" Don't worry about it, Winters. I can go next time." Sirius said calmly. " So can James and Remus, so d-"

He broke off when he saw her begin to fiddle with her fingers.

When she avoided eye contact with him.

" Well, we can hang out then too." He said to her surprise.

" W-What?" She said, her face reddening.

" You know, we could go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer or to Zonkos…or something." Sirius said rubbing the back of his head, thankful that his hair was hiding most of his face.

" Maybe I should stay behind."

" Don't. If you do, Lily will drag you, kicking and flailing to Hogsmeade." Sirius smirked, enjoying the image that appeared in his head.

One of Elaine half dressed and Lily somehow barging into her dorm room and pulling her from the room.

Not even allowing her to put on a shirt or skirt.

He tried to hide the smirk as he imagined the sight of Elaine wearing only a bra and panties.

" Sirius?" Elaine's voice brought him out of his impure thoughts.

" Yeah…" Sirius said calmly focusing on the real Elaine before him and not the one he had been imagining. " You should go with Evans." He said calmly before reaching out and ruffling her soft hair.

It was so soft…

HOW was it so soft?

When he pulled his hand back, a blast of lavender blasted him square in the face.

Inwardly he cringed at his new Animagus senses.

Everything was so intense now.

Scent and touch especially.

It made him want to press himself against Elaine and bury his face against her neck.

" Are you sure?" Elaine asked cocking her head to the side.

" Positive." Sirius said calmly. " I need to work on my History of Magic essay anyway."

" You finished that essay three days ago." Remus mused as he and Sirius made their way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

" Yeah, but she doesn't know that." Sirius said calmly. " And she won't feel so bad if she thinks I have homework to complete."

" It's sweet that you care about if she's having a good time or not."

" I am not sweet, Remus."

" Like a mug of butterbeer!" Remus laughed as Sirius shoved him lightly causing his friend to stumble into a lanky, greasy haired teen causing him to drop his books.
" Watch it, Lupin!" The boy snarled low in his throat as he bent down to pick up his books.

" Watch your tone, Snivilus!" Sirius growled whirling on the boy.

" Both of you calm down." Remus said quickly, attempting to help the boy with his books. " Sorry for that, Snape."

" Mind where you're going, Lupin!" Snape growled, snatching his books from the Gryffindor.

" You should thank him for helping, Snivilus!"

" Why? It was his fault I dropped them!" Snape sneered, wrinkling his nose as though he was smelling something fowl.

" Calm down Sirius, he's right, I did bump into him." Remus said stopping his friend from stepping closer to the Slytherin.

" He doesn't need to be a prick about it!"

" Well technically, you caused me to bump into him." Remus said pointedly. " I'd be annoyed too."

" SNAPE!"

Sirius jumped at the sound of Lucius Malfoy's firm voice.

They turned to see the older Slytherin making his way towards them, his flunkies Crabbe and Goyle following close behind him.

" What's taking you so long?" Malfoy asked as they came to stand beside the Fifth Year.

" Are these Dunglickers bothering you?" Crabbe asked, rubbing his knuckles threateningly.

" Step off, Crabbe. No one's afraid of you're veiled threats." Sirius snapped as Remus continued trying to pull him towards the stairwell.

" Hope you'll have fun staying behind, Black. Don't worry about Winters, we'll take good care of her!" Malfoy said as he slung his arm around a confused Severus Snape.

Sirius lunged for Malfoy only to have Remus pull him back.

A deadly, animalistic like snarl emerged from him.

" Why would we spend any time with Elaine Winters?" Snape asked in honest confusion. " She's nothing but a Dunglicker."

" Severus-"

" You piece of shi-"

" Sirius!"

" If you even look at her wrong, I'll end you Malfoy!" Sirius snarled threateningly.

" What do you plan on doing, Black? You're banned from Hogsmeade this trip." Malfoy laughed menacingly.

" Don't worry, Sirius! Lily won't let Elaine out of her sight!" Remus said quickly.

" Ah, so the Mudblood will be there as well! Wonderful!" Malfoy smirked at he pulled a very confused looking Snape away. Flanking behind the two, like two ugly bulldogs, were Crabbe and Goyle.

" Sirius-"

" Let go, Remus! I have to kill some Slytherin scum!"

" You getting in even more trouble isn't going to help Elaine or Lily!" Remus said quickly.

" I said let go!" Sirius snarled, his grey eyes locked on Malfoy's retreating frame.

" Sirius, listen to me! Elaine and Lily are amazing at dueling! It'll be hard for those bastards to get the drop on either of them!" Remus said hurriedly, nervously eyeing Sirius' clenched fists. " And they'll be in the middle of Hogsmeade! It'll be hard for them to do anything to the girls in a crowd."

Sirius felt rage surging through him as he tried to control his shift.

If he were to turn into his Animagus form now then someone would definitely find out what he and his had done.

" Andromeda is going to be there, as well. She's not going to let Malfoy and his cronies anywhere near the girls!"

" Yeah…Andy's going to be there." Sirius said, breathing through his anger.

" And besides, we need to research Gavin Griffith!" Remus said causing Sirius to snarl angrily.

" I don't know which one to kill first." Sirius snarled angrily. " Malfoy or that Leach!"

" Sirius, be quiet!" Remus said quickly. " You can't say things like that to loud! What if someone where to hear you? Filch! One of the teachers! A prefect! The Head Boy or Girl even! Or worse Peeves!"

" Peeves wouldn't betray us, we've helped him cause to much chaos these years." Sirius smirked mischievously.

" Peeves would betray anyone just BECAUSE it causes chaos!" Remus snapped as his friend's sudden careless tone.

" This is true…but Remus-"

" You won't do the girls any help by getting in trouble, Sirius. Elaine would be horrified if you were in trouble for protecting her."

He knew Remus was right.

But he would hate himself if Elaine or Lily were hurt and he could have stopped it.

" Mrrow?"

Remus looked down to see Ceridwen sitting at his feet.

A loud purr wringing from her small frame.

" Did Elaine send you to keep watch on us?" Remus asked the Kneazel curiously.

" Mrrow!" Was all the response he received before the calico brushed herself against his ankle.

" We should head to the Library. Madam Pince'll have plenty of books on Vampires…maybe one of them'll have information about Gavin." Remus ushering Sirius along to the dark corridor towards the Library.

Ceridwen followed behind them silently.