Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blowtorch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning

So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
I promised myself I wouldn't weep
One more promise I couldn't keep

It seems no one can help me now,
I'm in too deep; there's no way out
This time I have really led myself astray

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

Can you help me remember how to smile?
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile
How on earth did I get so jaded?
Life's mystery seems so faded

I can go where no one else can go
I know what no one else knows
Here I am just a-drownin in the rain
With a ticket for a runaway train

And everything seems cut and dried,
Day and night, earth and sky,
Somehow I just don't believe it

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
A little out of touch, a little insane
Its just easier than dealing with the pain

Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I'm neither here nor there

Runaway train, never coming back
Runaway train, tearing up the track
Runaway train, burning in my veins
I run away but it always seems the same – "Runaway Train"- Soul Asylum

"Black! Shacklebolt! Dawlish!" The rough voice of Rufus Scrimgeour called and Talitha nearly fell out of her chair. He sounded disturbed. She hastily put away the reports she had been working on and followed Dawlish to where their boss was bellowing.

"Listen, there's a problem," Scrimgeour said bitterly as they approached.

"What kind of problem, sir?" Dawlish asked in a timid sort of voice. Talitha was uneasy as well. She had never seen Scrimgeour in such a state.

"There has been an escape from Azkaban," he said somewhat solemnly given the way he was talking to them a few moments ago. Talitha gasped; Shacklebolt raved.

"WHAT? How? WHO? It's impossible!" his booming voice was causing a stir in the Auror office. Now every eye was on the four standing secluded from the cubicles.

"Yes, I know, but somehow, some way a prisoner has managed to do the impossible. Fudge is in a right state and he's pulling everyone off their regular jobs to look for this prisoner. Shacklebolt," Scrimgeour turned to the tall man beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "You are in charge of the manhunt- Dawlish, Black you are his seconds," he said to them and then turned to the room at large, "Everyone else will report straight to Shacklebolt-now get going," Scrimgeour turned to leave, but Talitha stopped him.

"Sir, you haven't told us who we're looking for," she said quite earnestly.

"Oh-yes, um, right. Everyone-the escaped prisoner is the mass murderer Sirius Black," he paused, Talitha gasped.

"He's considered armed and highly dangerous. We must execute caution," he continued then turned to Shacklebolt, Dawlish and Talitha, "You three, listen, we have reason to suspect that Black has escaped Azkaban to murder Harry Potter," Talitha was caught by Dawlish as she fell slightly.

"Black, if you wish to not be so involved with this case I think we would all understand, but you are one of the best we have and it's imperative that we stop Sirius Black, " he looked at her with a very curious look in his eyes.

She took a very deep breath and then steeled herself against Dawlish, "Sir, I want to be the one who hands my brother back to the dementors."

She had no time to think about how her brother has escaped from Azkaban- it was really quite impossible. She imagined Dumbledore would even have some difficulty, though he probably would be able to. Her brother was very clever, but Dumbledore he was not. How could it have happened? And now Harry was in grave danger. Talitha tried very hard not to think of the days before Sirius had betrayed them all. But it was hard not to envision her brother looking so lovingly at Harry- promising to protect him. And now her meant to kill him. It was a very cruel twist of fate. Would he come after her, too? She could only hope he would. That would make her job much easier.

"Talitha!" Kingsley Shacklebolt called to her, disturbing her musings.

"What's up?" she said as she moved to where Shacklebolt was now hanging pictures of her brother up. What she saw almost broke her heart, if it wasn't already broken. There she was sitting on his shoulders, laughing while he sang to her, very off-key as she recalled.

Shacklebolt registered the look of horror on her face, "Listen, I'm sorry about all this, but we have to have the entire story-his whole life, you know," Shacklebolt told her gently. He gave her a very pained looked and she tried to smile.

"It's ok. What can I do? Where do you want me to go?" she asked, a bit too eager.

"Well, first, Dumbledore had sent a message. He would like to meet with you in Hogsmeade- The Three Broomsticks. From there I wish for you to stay in Hogsmeade, take a room there and be on guard, especially at night. We are preparing for every possible time that Black could be near Potter. When the Hogwarts Express arrives you need to keep a very close watch and I expect Dumbledore may ask you to patrol the grounds of the school from time to time. From what I hear, Harry tends to end up a lot of places he shouldn't be," Kingsley chortled and she managed a small laugh. She had heard that Harry was a lot like James, she only wished she could know for herself.

"But remember," Kingsley's voice was much more serious, "You are not to be seen by those who don't know you exist."

"I understand, Kingsley," she knew very well what he meant by "those who don't know you exist." He meant Harry. Harry could never know she was watching him.

"All right then, Kingsley, keep me informed. I want to know of any sightings, ok?" she gave him a very stern look.

"Of course," he gave her a nod and with that she Disapparated.

She found Dumbledore immediately in the crowd at The Three Broomsticks. He smiled warmly at her and she gave him a feeble return.

"Hello, Talitha. It has been far too long," he gave her a very fatherly look as she sat down to join him.

"I feel about ten years older than I did yesterday," she blurted, not giving him time to make small talk.

"Yes, I think I understand that, but what you must understand is that everything happens for a reason," he said with an understanding in his eyes that Talitha had never had. His eyes were positively twinkling and Talitha had the distinct impression he was hiding something from her.

"I want him caught. He needs to be in Azkaban where he belongs, where he cannot hurt Harry," she said rather like a child having a tantrum, and then continued unusually coolly, "I assume you have set up security for him."

"Naturally. And part of that security is why I asked to meet you here tonight. I want you to meet our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who I daresay can understand the inner workings of Sirius Black much like you," he gestured warmly behind her and as she turned to see who it was she wondered who could possibly know her brother like she did. But when she saw the shabby robes and prematurely lined, young face that Dumbledore was gesturing to, she smiles a very genuine smile.

"Remus!" she leapt from her chair to embrace Remus Lupin, whom she had not seen in quite a while.

He grinned and hugged her tightly, "It's good to see you, Talitha."

Dumbledore looked downright pleased with himself.

"I should think that you two need a catch up- I shall she you both again very soon," and Dumbledore was gone faster than they could say their goodbyes.

As he left them there they both sighed and sat across a table from each other. Talitha spoke first, echoing was she knew was in Remus heart as well, " Oh, Remus. How did it ever come to this?"

There was a soft knock on her door, but Talitha didn't want to answer it. Whoever it was probably had bad news and she would rather sit there, lost in her memories than hear it. The knock came again and a voice called to her, " Talitha, it's me, can I come in?"

She smiled faintly at Harry's voice and moved to let him in. When she saw him standing there she was overcome with all the emotion she had felt since the man had told her Charlie was missing. She threw her arms fiercely around Harry and pulled him to her, determined not to let him leave her, too. He looked quite shocked at her sudden outpouring of emotion.

"I've just come to check on you. To see if you wanted to talk," he told her as he patted her awkwardly on the back.

"Oh, Harry! You are a miracle you know that?" she cried and hugged him even tighter causing him to cough.

Harry looked bewildered as she finally released him and she smiled at him.

"I've just been remembering the men in my life, Dumbledore, Remus, Sirius, Charlie, you…" and he gave her a look of understanding.

"Charlie's tough. And he loves you very much. He's going to be fine," and Talitha sobbed even harder. She let Harry comfort her and clung to him. So far, he was the only man in her life who hadn't abandoned her either by his own accord or by dying.

"Harry, he has to come back to me, he has to…" she sobbed and gave a great gasp for air.

"So, um-what were you remembering?" Harry was clearly trying to get her to take her mind off of her missing husband, if that was even possible.

"I was just remembering when Sirius escaped from Azkaban. But maybe we should tell the little one here how we came to find out Uncle Sirius was a good guy after all," and she smiled weakly at Harry.

He looked at her stomach and nodded in understanding, "Yeah, tell us the story of how you went to find him after we set him free," Harry encouraged her and Talitha once again found herself drowning in her memories.