Adrienne woke only a few hours later, 6:30 by her watch. She knew it would be impossible to fall back asleep, but she couldn't sit there any longer. The comfort of being safely inside the castle walls was nothing compared to being somewhere so strongly reminiscent of Lily and James. She walked out of the castle into the dawn light and kept walking til she had reached the edge of the grounds. Quickly she Apparated to an ally she knew in Little Whinging.

Walking into the nearest shop, she bought a map of the area. The shopkeeper gave her an odd look, and suddenly she realized she was still wearing her robes. She hoped the Ministry wouldn't look into something this small and searched the map for Privet Drive. It was within walking distance, so she headed back to her alley. Before she had a chance to even put the map away, an owl she recognized as the Potters' descended upon her. Her hands shaking, she removed the scrap of parchment tied to its leg. Unrolling it she saw Sirius' hurried writing:

They're dead. He's gone. Harry's fine.

Think I know who it was.

Don't trust our house to be safe.

Meet me tomorrow.

I love you. --Padfoot

Adrienne tore off a corner of the parchment, scribbled "Got it. Love, A." Tying it to Uba's leg, she glanced around to make sure no Muggles were watching and muttered in his ear, "Take this back to him for me," giving him a kiss on top of his head for good measure. Uba hooted his assent and flew off. Stuffing the cryptic message in her pocket, Adrienne finally transformed. A cat wandering the streets would attract far less attention than a grown woman dressed in witch's robes.

Heading off in the proper direction, Adrienne wondered why 4 Privet Drive sounded so familiar. Did she know the people who lived there? Or someone who used to live there? It continued to nag at her until she reached the street. This couldn't possibly be right. This was where the Dursleys lived! Why would Dumbledore come here?

She checked her map just to make sure she had gone the right way. And sure enough, as she was doing so, a car pulled out of Number 4 and there was Dursley himself, probably driving to work. Adrienne double-checked the street sign. Yes, this was the place. Noticing Dursley staring at her, she stared back. She probably enjoyed the confused look on his face just a little too much. But then he drove away and she was left alone on the street.

Not for too long though. Another cat was coming her way. Not just a stray either. Adrienne saw immediately that it was Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts since before Adrienne's time. McGonagall must have recognized her as well, because she made a bee-line for her. "Waiting for Dumbledore?" It was always strange to hear meows yet somehow known what they meant.

"Yes," Adrienne responded, and to cut off any unwanted conversation she added, "Professor, I don't want to talk about what's going on. I don't know what you've heard, and I don't want to know. I just want to wait until I can find out some facts, piece together what actually happened. That's why I'm here; Dumbledore probably knows more than anyone else about what went on. He is Dumbledore after all."

"I only have one problem with what you just said," replied McGonagall gently. "You've been out of school for a while now, you don't have to call me 'professor' anymore." Adrienne forced a smile that almost became genuine when McGonagall headed for the Dursleys' garden wall, obviously intending to avoid the awkward silence necessitated by Adrienne's desire to leave the most obvious topic unspoken.

Adrienne took out Sirius's note and tried to decipher his clipped phrases. They're dead. That one was easy enough, and she quickly moved on before she could really think about it. Harry's fine. Another easy one. She couldn't even begin to guess how a baby could have survived when Voldemort was after him. Maybe the message had gotten confused by the leak; maybe he wasn't after the boy after all but really just Lily and James...This was one of the things she would have to ask Dumbledore. He's gone. What in the would could that mean? Not Harry she didn't think. It didn't make sense that way. Maybe just referring to James? Still, reiterating the fact when his writing was so hurried didn't add up. Think I know who it was. Adrienne hungered for that knowledge herself. Whoever it was, they must have been the traitor. She would get revenge on them. To betray one's friends...it was the worst of all crimes in her mind. Through the fury and pain she was feeling towards she didn't know who, Adrienne wondered if she would be able to do it. She liked to think big, but if it was really Remus...the pain overwhelmed the fury. She realized if it was someone that close the best she would probably manage would be to give them to the Ministry. Whatever, it didn't matter for the moment. She'd find out soon enough, and then she'd take care of it. Meet me tomorrow. Tomorrow? That seemed like forever. She felt so lost and alone, she needed him with her. Don't trust our house to be safe. Why not? Sirius's uncle had put enough enchantments on the place; Adrienne still hadn't quite gotten the hang of getting through all of them when they set them all. No one else knew about all of them, either; ------- had set some specifically to protect Sirius from his family's interference when he decided to leave him the house. If Sirius said it wasn't safe though, she wouldn't go there. After all, if she didn't trust him, who could she trust?

Her musings were suddenly interrupted when the front door of Number 4 banged open and Petunia came out, holding her son by the hand. Adrienne felt something catch in her throat. She felt an urge to go to her, to let her know she was now an only child. She couldn't though. She hadn't talked to Petunia since Mrs. Evans' funeral, over 2 years ago. And she didn't even know the details herself, let alone how to explain it to a Muggle, even one with a witch sister. Adrienne noted with sorrow how old the woman who was once her next-door neighbor Tuni looked for only being---. She also cringed at the shrieks for sweets now coming out of Petunia's very round little boy.

Unwilling to witness this spectacle, Adrienne tried to look the other way and think about something else. Bringing her thoughts back to Sirius's note, she felt a warmth at him taking the time to write I love you in the hurried note. She was a bit confused though as to why he signed it Padfoot instead of just Sirius. (My god, that child can wail.) He normally only did that when it would be dangerous if the note were to be intercepted. That thing had been so cryptic that she doubted any unintended recipient could glean anything that useful from it. (Just give him the sweets already!) She had barely figured it out, and not all of it at that. Suddenly she recalled the bit about the house not being safe. It would be a good idea to find somewhere to sleep tonight. She could of course sleep somewhere on the streets as a cat, but too many people she didn't wholly trust right now knew her markings quite well, a few known to be Deatheaters even. (Would the boy never stop?) She didn't want to spend another night in the castle. She wished someone else lived in the area. (At least take him inside!) Adrienne remembered seemingly out of nowhere that Arabella Figg lived nearby. Turning her back on her childhood playmate and her out of control son. Adrienne trotted down the street in the direction of Mrs. Figg's house.

Luckily, the bell was right above a wooden crate sitting upturned on the front porch. Jumping from the added height of the crate, Adrienne just managed to push it in with her front paw. Mrs. Figg opened the door, and, seeing no one at eye level, began to close the door until she heard Adrienne's meow of protest. Looking down, she said in surprise, "Adrienne, is that you?" Adrienne followed her inside, and, after quickly glancing around to make sure Mrs. Figg wasn't entertaining any Muggle visitors, transformed back to her regular state. Mrs. Figg, with a motherly smile, embraced Adrienne, who quickly realized just how much one needs a hug sometimes. "Let me set a pot of tea," she offered before Adrienne had said a word. As the younger woman's stomach rumbled audibly she added, "And perhaps something more substantial?" She thought about refusing, but, realizing she had several more hours of waiting before it could be hoped Dumbledore would arrive, graciously accepted.

While Mrs. Figg bustled to the kitchen to prepare refreshments, Adrienne took a seat on the very old and musty-smelling couch. She never understood why her house seemed so grandmotherly; Mrs. Figg was around how old her mother would have been. And it had always been that way, too, ever since Mrs. Figg had first explained the wizarding world to Adrienne and her parents after receiving her Hogwarts letter. As a Squib, it was a perfect job for her, explaining magic to Muggle-borns. She was the opposite of Adrienne, yet they both existed in the blurry world between Muggles and wizards.

Coming back in the living room with tea and sandwiches, Mrs. Figg must have caught sight of Adrienne's face. She had fallen back into trying not to think about anything, but it wasn't really working. "My dear, why do you look so somber? Today is such a happy day!"

Adrienne just stared at her for a few moments. She could not possibly imagine what could make this day so joyous. Interested though, hoping at least for a distraction, she asked "Why?"

"Haven't you heard the news?" When Adrienne continued to stare at her blankly, she went on, "Where have you been all day? It's all anyone can talk about! He's gone, Adrienne, he's finally gone!"

"Who?" Adrienne demanded, completely confused at this point.

"You know who!"

"No I—you mean Voldemort?!" Adrienne nearly yelled the word, causing Mrs. Figg to spill tea all over the table. Adrienne fixed it for her with a wave of her wand and muttered a quick "Sorry" before demanding an explanation. "What do you mean he's gone? How? What happened?"

"I don't really know," Mrs. Figg replied, who had obviously expected a more positive reaction. "Sometime last night something happened to make him disappear. I can't believe you hadn't heard though, it's all anyone can talk about, and no wonder why! I haven't really tried to track all the rumors, though, I figure I'll wait for the truth to come out, if it ever will."

Adrienne wondered if Voldemort had died. She didn't think he even could die anymore...Suddenly, she realized that must have been what Sirius was talking about in his note by "He's gone." She reached for the teapot to refill Mrs. Figg's cup, but the elder woman saw a sparkle of light and took her hand, exclaiming, "Is that what I think it is?"

Trying to bring a smile to her face, Adrienne stared at her engagement ring. "Yes. Sirius asked me to marry him last night, and of course I said yes."

"Last night?" Mrs. Figg looked at her face, astonished. "Adrienne, dearie, what's wrong? You've seemed upset since you walked in the door. Now you tell me you got engaged last night, but you don't look happy about it at all. Are you sure you want to get married? Do you really love him?"

"More than anything else in this world," she responded without hesitation. "But losing my Maid of Honor and Best Man a few hours afterwards put a damper on my mood," she added bitterly, feeling her eyes burning.

"What? Do you mean Lily and James? Did you guys get in a fight or something?"

"No," she said very quietly, fighting to hold back her tears. "They're dead. Probably some of the last people killed by Voldemort."

Mrs. Figg gasped audibly. "Oh my dear, I'm so, so sorry. I—I don't know what else to say. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Adrienne took a deep breath and gathered herself back together. She had managed somehow not to shed a tear just now. "Well, the whole reason I'm in this neighborhood is that tonight Dumbledore's going to be here. I don't know why really, Hagrid told me he'd be at Number 4 though. I need answers, and I'm hoping he'll give me some. Sirius is trying to figure things out, too, and I don't expect him to be home tonight. I have trouble sleeping in an empty house these days, and I was wondering if I could crash on your couch."

"Of course. You're always welcome here, you know that."

"Thank you so much," Adrienne said, rising. "You needn't wait up for me if I'm not back for a while, I'll just come in through the cat-door. Thanks for the refreshments. I should probably go wait for Dumbledore since I don't know what time he will arrive."

"Ok, I'll see you in a little while then." Adrienne actually managed to return Mrs. Figg's smile this time before transforming into her feline form once again. As she reached the Dursleys' once again, she discovered that McGonagall had left. Desperately hoping Dumbledore had not come and gone in her absence, she took her former professor's spot on the wall; the added height would give her a better chance of seeing either professor heading that way, as well as anyone else who might happen by.

The first person who she saw was none other than Dursley coming home from work. Not in the mood for him, Adrienne decided to just ignore him. He made that a little more difficult by trying to shoo her away, but the consternation written all over his face in response to her "you've got to be kidding me look" did boost her spirits slightly.

A few minutes after he went inside, Adrienne saw Professor McGonagall coming back towards her. As the older woman approached the wall, she leapt up to join her former student, barely making it up. "Are you okay?" Adrienne asked hurriedly.

"Yes, I'm fine," replied the professor, despite her obvious lack of breath. "I'm just getting a little old for these hijinks, that's all."

"You're not that old," replied Adrienne.

McGonagall smiled at her. "But I am my dear. I've been thinking about it quite often of late, in fact."

Realizing that "it" didn't just refer to the professor's increasing age, Adrienne prompted, "Thinking about what?"

"Retiring."

"What, leaving Hogwarts!?!"

"Yes, I think it may be time." Adrienne was at a loss for words. Trying to imagine a Hogwarts without McGonagall was almost as hard as imagining the castle without Dumbledore. "I am, however, concerned about finding a suitable replacement. I'll finish out this year no doubt; times are changing enough, I want the children to have some stability. But I will also try to find someone skilled in Transfiguration and with a knack for teaching to take my place."

"How would you know who would make a good teacher?" Adrienne had never really thought about it before.

McGonagall looked at her thoughtfully. "Someone who enjoys the subject matter of course. Someone patient. And, perhaps most of all, someone who cares about others more than themselves."

"But how do you know if someone fits that description?"

"You just kind of know." By this time, night had begun to come down upon them and the darkness obscured the professor's face just enough that her feline expression was unreadable as she continued, "Have you ever thought of teaching yourself?"

Adrienne was stunned. She had never really given a thought to what profession she would like to take up. She had always known that she wanted to do something—she just could not picture herself as a stay-at-home mom. Well not forever at least, she had always planned on taking some time off when her children were small. But she never thought about what exactly she would be taking time off from. The entire time she had been old enough to think about her future, there had always been more pressing matters to worry about, not to mention how uncertain the next day had always seemed. That was why she had ended up taking so many NEWTs, hoping that would at least narrow it down for her. The sheet full of O's with a few E's sprinkled here and there hadn't helped at all with that.

She supposed teaching could be fun, especially Transfiguration, her favorite subject. She had tutored younger students in the subject from time to time. Although she had usually tutored as a way to get out of detention, there was a very good feeling that came from the smile on a student's face when they were finally able to perform some spell, and the knowledge that she had helped make that happen.

"I'm not sure Dumbledore would hire me given my behavior record," she finally chose as a response.

"You've matured quite a bit since you've graduated, dear. And you wouldn't believe the stories I've heard about Dumbledore's own schooldays," she added with a chuckle. "Besides," she continued, "we all know that you were more often pulled into those things rather than the organizer yourself."

That last statement inadvertently cut her to the core. Adrienne almost gave into the grief which she had been suppressing all day. She desperately tried to bring her thoughts back to her future, but scenes from her past kept intruding. It was all she could do to maintain a thoughtful expression on her face while her mind cruelly played back some of those transgressions for her. Bitterly she realized that the happiest memories were those that hurt the most. The only thing stopping her from completely succumbing was that while these memories were some of the best of her life, most only featured the boys and not Lily. If even one memory of all of them had crossed her mind, she probably would have lost all her careful self-control.

That torture was mercifully ended after only a few minutes when Dumbledore Apparated at the end of the street. Adrienne straightened eagerly, hungry for the answers as the old man darkened the street lamps with some device she had never seen before. Her tail twitched involuntarily as he approached and sat down between the two cats. Adrienne watched as Professor McGonagall transformed into a woman and quickly followed suit.

(A/N: A lot of the following conversation is lifted straight from Ch. 1 of SS, but a lot also had to be changed for the obvious reason that there was an additional character. This is going to happen a lot probably as the story progresses more into time that is encompassed in the 7 books, so get used to it.)

"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore said by way of greeting.

"How did you know it was me?" McGonagall replied. Dumbledore hadn't looked at the professor until after he had spoken.

"My dear Professor, I've never seen a cat sit so stiffly."

"You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day." As impatient as Adrienne was to get answers, years of seeing these two as her superiors made her keep quiet.

"All day? When you could have been celebrating? I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here."

Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily.

"Oh yes, everyone's celebrating all right…" Adrienne lost the thread of the conversation. She wanted to say something, but didn't want to interrupt. The fact that Dumbledore hadn't looked directly at her since his arrival was starting to worry her though. She desperately needed some sort of reassurance at the moment—and, of course, answers. She started noticing what was going on again just as McGonagall was saying, "I suppose he really has gone, Dumbledore?"

"It certainly seems so," said Dumbledore. "We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop?" Adrienne continued to silently listen to their conversation, waiting for the old man to get to the point.

The conversation finally seemed to be getting somewhere when McGonagall said, "The owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around. You know what everyone's been saying? About why he's disappeared? About what finally stopped him?" As Adrienne had yet to hear any of these rumors she waited with bated breath for what would come next. "What they're saying," she pressed on, "is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow." Adrienne knew what was coming and choked back a sob. "He went to find the Potters." Adrienne's eyes welled up. "The rumor is that Lily and James Potter are—are—that they're—dead."

Adrienne of course did not need Dumbledore to confirm this matter, and could not have seen his head bow anyway. Her eyes blinded with the tears that had begun with the words "Lily and James," she buried her face in her hands while McGonagall went on to stammer, "Lily and James…I can't believe it…I didn't want to believe it…Oh, Albus…"

"I know…I know…" she heard him respond. She felt his arm around her, but it brought her no comfort. It had been his first acknowledgement of her existence and she still didn't have any answers.

McGonagall wasn't done though, and what she said next Adrienne had not heard. "That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the Potters' son, Harry. But—he couldn't." Adrienne's tears stopped in shock as she raised her face to stare at the other woman. "He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke—and that's why he's gone."

As Dumbledore nodded and McGonagall began spluttering her disbelief, Adrienne continued to sit silently in shock. Harry, her little godson, was the reason Voldemort was gone? She had known Harry quite literally his entire life: she had been at Lily's side while she gave birth. How had little tiny Harry survived an attack by Voldemort?

"Hagrid's late." Dumbledore observed after looking at his watch. "I suppose it was he who told you I'd be here, by the way?"

"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all places?"

"I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family he has left now."

"What?!?" Adrienne burst out, finally breaking her long silence. McGonagall tried to hush her so the Muggles wouldn't hear, and Adrienne automatically obliged her by continuing in an outraged whisper, "You are not seriously going to leave him with Vernon and Tuni! They'll never accept him! Tuni hates everything to do with magic, and Dursley's even worse. You can't leave him here."

"It's the best place for him," began Dumbledore, but Adrienne cut him off.

"No, it's not, and it's not what Lily and James wanted, as you well know, Dumbledore!" She couldn't hold back the tears as she spoke their names, but was not ready to back down.

Dumbledore looked up at her with a knowing look, and though his tone was mild, his words were harsh. "Regardless of their stated wishes, I believe I am acting in Harry's best interests. And given the present circumstances," he continued on relentlessly, "I am confident his parents would agree." As Adrienne sat down in defeat, eyes still brimming, Dumbledore continued more amicably, "His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them a letter."

"A letter?" repeated Professor McGonagall faintly. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous—a legend—I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future—there will be books written about Harry—every child in our world will know his name!"

"Exactly," said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. "It would be enough to turn any boy's head. Famous before he can walk and talk!" Adrienne suppressed the urge to point out that the child could already do the rudiments of each. "Famous for something he won't even remember! Can't you see how much better off he'll be, growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it?"

As her two elders discussed Harry's imminent arrival via Hagrid, Adrienne tried to think of a decent line of argument for taking Harry under her own care. She supposed that her current mental state wasn't ideal for raising a baby, and Sirius would probably be pretty unstable as well for a little while. Plus, she had the business of revenge to attend to. Once that was settled, though, perhaps they would be able to get him back.

Quite suddenly she heard the sound of a motorcycle. As the noise grew louder but no headlight appeared on the street, a sudden hope rose within Adrienne that it would be her Sirius, but although it was his motorcycle that fell out of the sky, Hagrid of all people sat astride it.

"Hagrid," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?"

"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir," said the giant, throwing a look at Adrienne and climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I've got him, sir."

Adrienne held out her arms mechanically and Hagrid automatically handed the baby to her. She cradled him close to her, looking down at the little boy who was all that remained of her two best friends. She wished she could hold him forever and protect him. Maybe even, with Sirius, give him the love his mother and father would have given him.

"Is that where—?" she heard Professor McGonagall whisper. Adrienne then noticed the lightning bolt shaped scar, half-hidden by the hair so like his father's.

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "He'll have that scar forever."

"Couldn't you do something about it, Dumbledore?"

"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well—give him here, Adrienne—we'd better get this over with."

But Adrienne pulled the baby even closer to her. "Are you sure—"

"No, Adrienne," said Dumbledore firmly. Adrienne kissed her godson gently on his lightning bolt scar before handing him over to Dumbledore.

"Could I—could I say good-bye to him, sir?" asked Hagrid. He bent his great, shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog.

"Shhh!" hissed Professor McGonagall, "you'll wake the Muggles!"

"S-s-sorry," sobbed Hagrid. "But I c-c-can't stand it—Lily an' James dead—an' poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles—"

"Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found," Professor McGonagall whispered.

Dumbledore laid the child on the Dursleys' doorstep, and for a full minute the four of them stood staring at him. "Well," said Dumbledore finally, "that's that. We've no business staying here. We may as well go and join the celebrations."

"Yeah," said Hagrid in a muffled voice, "I'll be taking Sirius his bike back. Well, Adrienne, do you just want to take it?"

Adrienne dashed away the single tear that had fallen while saying her silent goodbye to Harry. "No," she answered, "I had asked Arabella Figg if I could crash at her place tonight, and she might get concerned if I never turn up."

"Alrigh'," said Hagrid, climbing on to the motorcycle. "I'll let him know I saw yeh though."

"Thanks, Hagrid. How—er—how was he?"

"Pretty shook up. It was at Godric's Hollow where I saw him. I've never seen 'im like that."

Adrienne sighed, once again longing to be with him. "Thanks, I'll see you later I guess."

Hagrid nodded. "G'night, Professor McGonagall—Professor Dumbledore, sir."

As he rose into the air, Dumbledore said, "I shall see you soon, I expect, Professor McGonagall." Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply.

Adrienne, who had been sunk in worrying about Sirius, suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. "Think about what I said," she heard Professor McGonagall's voice say. Adrienne just nodded, noticing that Dumbledore was in the process of walking away. McGonagall transformed and Adrienne stepped quickly to catch up with the headmaster.

"Professor," she began.

He turned on his boot heel so quickly that it seemed as though he was expecting her to stop him. That sensation was heightened when he said, "Just say what you have to say, Adrienne."

"Who did it?" It came out all in a rush, and she held her breath waiting for the answer.

Apparently that wasn't what Dumbledore had been expecting. His eyes widened, his eyebrows shot up, and for a full minute he remained silent. "Betrayed them, I mean," she prompted, and finally, when he still didn't answer, she added with some heat, "Who was the Potters' Secret-Keeper?"

The old man considered her for a moment before carefully saying, "I don't know."

She stared at him disbelievingly. "You're lying," she said blankly. He had been her best chance. "You have to know!"

"I'm not lying," he replied calmly. "I have a theory, but I don't know anything."

"Then tell me!" she demanded hysterically." I have to know, I—"

"Stop that," he snapped. She stopped talking but continued to glare furiously at him through the tears welling up in her eyes. He took a deep breath and said more calmly, "Think for a moment, Adrienne. What do you plan on doing once you figure out who did this?" She declined to answer, but her expression obviously spoke for her because he continued, "Precisely. Now, obviously whoever was chosen to be Secret-Keeper was close to both Lily and James. That means there's a pretty good chance that you also care deeply about them."

"Believe me, I know that and I've got a mental list of who it could be and I'm prepared for any of those possibilities."

An unreadable look passed over Dumbledore's face before he went on. "Be that as it may, I'm not telling you my theory. As I said, I only think I may know who it was. Imagine I told you, and you did something about it. Now suppose that I'm wrong."

Adrienne suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Sinking to her knees, she didn't notice the headmaster leave as she sobbed uncontrollably, not knowing what to do or who to turn to, just wishing she had her best friends back.