CHAPTER 3

It was a beautiful sunny weekend, so Riley grabbed her books and headed down to the lake. Hermione and Ron were arguing because Ron thought Hermione's cat ate his rat and Riley wasn't in the mood for their bickering. She was resting her head against the tree when someone came over to her.

"Mind if I join you?" the voice asked.

"Sure Draco, have a seat" Riley replied.

"I haven't really had a chance to see if you were ok after the class" Draco said as he sat down next to her.

"Yeah I'm alright, I just didn't want the whole class seeing it that's all" Riley told him.

"Well slytherins won't bother you about it. Trust me on that one" Draco said.

"Thanks" Riley replied. "Dad knows it was you who I was owling" she added.

"What did he say?" he asked.

"He doesn't mind actually, thinks it's a good idea".

"He won't tell anyone will he?"

"Nah he won't, I trust him".

"Ok cool, well I should probably go. They'll start to wonder where I've gone" he said and then got up to leave.
"Why don't we just hang out? Who do we have to be afraid of?" Riley asked.

"My father that's who" Draco said and knelt down next to her. "I like you a lot and I'm not going to risk you getting hurt by my father" he said.

"Your father wouldn't hurt me" Riley said as she looked up at him.

"Maybe not physically, but he would make certain you wouldn't be able to live with Remus anymore" Draco said "And if anything happened to you, I wouldn't forgive myself" he added and then he moved in close to her and kissed her. "See you later" he added and then he left, leaving Riley to her confused thoughts.

It was Halloween and the Weasley twins were planning a Gryffindor Halloween party, for after the feast when they all returned from Hogsmead. There had been a few sightings of Sirius Black and they seemed to be getting closer and closer to the vicinity of the castle.

"Do you think he'd come here?" Ron asked over breakfast that morning.

"Hope so." Riley and Harry both said.

"What?" Hermione said.

"Well we have every right to be able to talk to him and give what for and we cant do that if he doesn't come here" Harry told her.

"You have got to be kidding, Sirius Black is a mass murderer, and he wouldn't hesitate in killing the both of you" Hermione yelled, loud enough for the whole great hall to hear. "I'll tell your father if you're not careful" she added, looking at Riley. Riley didn't bother replying, she just continued to eat her food and look at the screaming face of Sirius Black.

"Oh look morning owl post" Ginny said as she watched all the owls fly in through the window. Riley looked up and saw her owl, Isis, fly towards her.

"Hide your breakfast guys, for some reason she doesn't land very well" Riley said laughing as Isis, landed in Harry's bowl. She undid the tie on the letter and then let Isis have the rest of her bacon, to which Isis was very grateful for.

Hey Riley,
Want to meet me at three broomsticks around 2?

Just nod your head if you want to.

D.M

Riley had to read the letter a few times, to make sure she read it properly, and then she lifted her head up and saw Draco looking over at her. Of course she wanted to, so she nodded her head and smiled at the same time.

"Who wrote to you?" Ron asked.

"Big Bird" Riley replied, stuffing the letter into her robes and went back to her breakfast.

"Do we need to go past the Dementors?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah I fink fo, but fit's mok just fwalk fast" Riley replied, a mouth full of toast.

"I am not sure what's the scarier part, the Dementors or the fact I understood what you just said" Harry replied, laughing at the disgusted look Hermione was giving her.

"Sorry." Riley said, laughing along with Harry.

"Everyone for Hogsmead, please line up out front of the doors thank you" Professor McGonagall called. All the third year students and above, filed out the doors of the great hall and stood, waiting for further instructions. Just then, Riley saw Remus talking with McGonagall and she started to worry.

"Riley Lupin and Harry Potter, please wait for a moment" McGonagall called "The rest of you, on you go" she said to the other students. Riley looked at Remus and rolled her eyes, if he was going to make her miss out on seeing Draco, he was going to be in trouble.

"Now I don't have any authority over Harry, but I'd prefer if both you didn't go to Hogsmead" Remus said.

"Why not?" Riley yelled.

"With Sirius Black being spotted so close, I don't think it's safe" Remus replied.

"Dad we'll be fine, you can't do this" Riley said, stamping her feet, which caused Remus to raise his eye brows at her and smile in a knowing kind of way.

"It's not like you haven't been before" Remus said but he knew that wasn't the reason.

"Daaadddd!" Riley whined, sounding like a little kid.

"Alright go on then, but don't come crawling to me if Sirius gets you" Remus replied, laughing at them both. "Harry you go on ahead, but Riley I want a quick word" he added.

"Yes?" Riley said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Drop the attitude act please, you aren't 10 anymore" Remus said "What's so important in Hogsmead?" he asked.

"I'm meeting someone later today" Riley replied, quietly.

"Ah ok, well go along then" Remus said, she didn't need telling twice. The day by so quickly she didn't even realise that it was 15 minutes before she was meeting Draco.

"Want to go to the shrieking shack? We didn't go last time" Ron asked them.

"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up" Riley said "ive seen it before" she added, seeing their looks.

"Alright, you ok?" Harry asked.

"Yeah I just feel like wandering around on my own for a bit. Go on, we'll meet at Honeydukes in an hour. Ron said he needed to stock up and so do I" Riley replied and then took off, before any of them could object. She saw Draco standing out the front, his eyes darting to the right, then to the left.

"Hey" he said when he saw Riley come towards him "Lets go" he added and grabbed her hand and lead her away from the three broomsticks.

"Where are we going?" Riley asked.

"Somewhere, where no one can find us." Draco replied and the stopped, just outside of a small little café. "After you" he said as he held the door open for her.

"So why the sudden interest in seeing me?" Riley asked, with a smile on her face.

"Well after the other day, I couldn't stop thinking about you and I wanted to see you." Draco replied. "What did you say to the others?" he asked.

"Told them I wanted to wander on my own for a bit, I've got an hour before they come looking for me." Riley told him.

"Wish we didn't have to sneak around but an hour is better than nothing." Draco replied, reaching his hand across the table and placing it on Riley's.

"He's still doing it?" Riley asked, as she saw the fresh bruises on his arm. "You've been at school, how does he do it?" she asked, not letting go of his hand.

"It doesn't matter." Draco said, not looking at her.

"It matters to me Draco, now how is he doing it?" Riley asked.

"It hasn't happened since I arrived at school, but he came for a visit few days ago." Draco said.

"Let me tell my dad or Dumbledore, we can get you out of there Draco, please." Riley replied as she used her other hand to move the sleeve back down, she could see how uncomfortable he looked.

"And then you'd be hiding for the rest of your life" Draco replied.

"Hasn't anyone noticed it?" Riley asked "Not even Pansy?" She asked, seeing Draco shake his head.

"Nah, she doesn't get that close to me." Draco replied laughing. Riley got up out of her seat and walked over to Draco and sat down on his lap.

"Good." was all Riley said before snaking her arms around his neck and kissing him. They didn't do much for the rest of the hour, Riley stayed sitting on Draco's lap, they talked about different things from their childhoods, Sirius Black, school and they kept on kissing.

"Crap!" Riley said as she looked at her watch.

"The hour can't be up already?" Draco asked.

"Yeah it is, unless you want Harry and Ron to come looking for me, you'll have to remove your hands from my waist." Riley said laughing. He reluctantly moved his hands from her waist and let her stand up.

"See you later then." Draco said, sighing.

"Definitely." Riley replied and she kissed him again before the café, making sure no one saw her leave. She walked back down the street and turned the corner, running into Harry. "Sorry Harry." Riley said.

"That's ok, what are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Oh nothing was just looking down here, nothing major down there. Where are Ron and Hermione?" Riley asked.

"Meeting us at Honeydukes." Harry replied.

"Well let's not keep them waiting." Riley replied and linked her arm through Harry's, stopping him from going up the street.

After the Halloween Feast was over, they headed towards Gryffindor Dorm and saw a line of people, whispering to themselves, on the stairs.

"What's going on?" Riley asked as Percy came barging through them.

"No one will be entering this dorm until it has been searched. All Gryffindors are to head to the Great Hall." Percy told them. When the crowd had moved, Riley, Harry, Ron and Hermione saw the portrait. The fat lady was missing and her canvas was torn to shreds.

"What happened Percy?" Riley asked.

"Dumbledore will fill everyone in soon Riley, just go on down." Percy replied. They followed the rest of the Gryffindors to the great hall and they were followed by the other three houses.

"For the remainder of the night, all students will be sleeping in the Great Hall. The head boy and girl will be watching over you and if you need anything, please report to them." Dumbledore informed them. Riley looked around for Remus but then remembered it was the full moon and he wouldn't be around.

"What happened Sir?" Riley asked.

"We aren't too sure Riley, we will inform you all what happened, when we know more." Dumbledore replied and then he left. Riley rolled her eyes then grabbed one of the sleeping bags Dumbledore laid out for them. She looked around the room for Draco and found him sitting with Crabbe and Goyle with Pansy at his side.

"You don't think it was Remus do you?" Harry whispered in her ear.

"What? No of course not, he doesn't stay in the castle." Riley told him.

"Alright everyone lights off in 20minutres." Percy called, so they all settled down in their sleeping bags. Later that night, Dumbledore came back to check up on the students and Riley could over hear him talking with Percy.

"We found the fat lady." Dumbledore told him quietly "She says it was Sirius Black." he added and Riley's heart jumped into her throat.

"Did anyone find him?" Percy asked.

"I didn't expect him to stay, he isn't as dumb as people think he is." Dumbledore replied "I am sure everyone is safe here, but I wont hesitate to send them all home" he went on. "For tonight, they can stay here no use disturbing them now and tomorrow I shall have a meeting with the staff and decide what will happen." Dumbledore said. "If you need anything, send one of the ghosts" he added, then left the great hall. Riley looked over and saw Harry was awake.

"Are you alright?" he mouthed to her.

"Yeah I'm fine." She mouthed back to him, then pretended to go to sleep, all the while holding onto her locket.