Walking down the hall towards the library I frown at what Sirius and I had just discussed. I hadn't known, hadn't even thought that his family would do that to him. Granted they hate him and all that, but I still thought that they believed blood deserved better than that.

I shake my head and count the aisles until I hit the thirty fifth one and walk down that aisle to the back wall, taking a left and counting five more rows. The books back here are dusty and practically unused for the last hundred years, possibly longer. Frowning as my eyes search the spines for Arts Most Practical: A Beginner's Guide to Offensive Magics of the Light. To be honest I was totally surprised when I heard that the Blacks had this book in their library, but I was not surprised one bit when I had heard that Sirius knew precisely where it was.

Pulling the book from the shelf, I smile, knowing that I will, finally, be able to use some high level offensive magic that, should be, a surprise to my family. I also grab Merlinian Spells, Wards of Olde, and Ruinic Warding. I am so glad that I decided to take Ancient Ruins instead of Divination. From what James, Sirius and Peter complain about the teacher is a babbling idiot who needs a good whack to the head. Though they say that the worst is Trelawney, the crazy seventh year who hangs onto Professor Meddlestone's every word. Apparently Trelawney thinks that Divination is one of the best things in the world.

Remus agrees with me, and dropped Divination before entering his fourth year. He was taking Ancient Ruins as well, but where I was taking Arithmancy, he was studying Care of Magical creatures with Kettleburn. Sirius was taking Muggle Studies as well as divination, James had Care of Magical creatures with Remus and Peter. It had surprised everyone to find out that James and Sirius were not attached at the hip, but also slightly refreshing.

I mentally shake myself from my thoughts and pay attention to where I'm going. It would be bad to run into a wall, statue, or random spear that jumps out at me. As it is, Bella and Tessa are still pissed off at Sirius for what he did. I found, and still find, it hilarious what he had done to them, but they apparently do not share this same humor. Chuckling, I climb the stairs to my bedroom and tap my wand onto the doorknob.

"Tessa is awesome," I say. Granted, it might not be the best password, or the most truthful, but it is the one that people would doubt that I would ever use. The click alerts me to the opening of the door and I walk in quickly, shutting the heavy wood behind me. Glancing around my current room I smile. The library of the Blacks has been most useful to me. Unlike my own family library, which I have read from top to bottom and have become quite frustrated with, the Blacks actually have quite a few books about ruinic magic and warding, two areas of magic where I find myself to be extremely fascinated with.

Just as I settle down to read one of the books I'd borrowed there's a knock at the painting on the wall that divides my room from Sirius's.

"Open," I call out, summoning a drink and some snacks for while I'm reading.

Sirius comes running in, "Ann, you have to help me! I don't know how to get rid of it!"

Looking up in curiosity I frown, "Get rid of what?"

"This!" Sirius turns and I see this big black fuzzy tail whipping back and forth. Biting my lip hard to stop from laughing, I can't stop the smile from appearing on my face, causing Sirius to scowl, "I mean it! I've tried everything and I can't get rid of it!"

"Did you try-"

"Yes."

"What about-"

"Yes!"

"And-"

"Ann! I have tried everything! Just help me get rid of this bloody thing before it becomes permanently attached!"

I chuckle again and shake my head, "That's not possible. I'll try one more thing and if that doesn't work then you'll just have to make the rest of the transformation."

"What?"

"That's the only thing that I can think of that this would mean," I offer with a shrug, "So hold on a moment."

I try the charm that had pulled back animagi transformation mishaps so many times for me, and it doesn't work. That fluffy, wagging, black furry tail is still where it was when he first entered my room. I shake my head and frown a little. If his tail was refusing to leave then that means he had to make the rest of the transformation. Why, I'm not sure, but that's the only way to get rid of the tail.

"Ok, try to transform." I place my book to the side and watch him.

"Just like that? Just like that? I have a bloody tail sticking out of my arse and you want me to transform just like that?" Sirius asks, voice raising a little with each question.

"Yes."

Sirius sighs and grumbles, "What did I do in a past life to end up with a friend like you?"

"Probably something amazingly stupid, now get on with it!"

"Alright! Give a bloke a moment will you?"

I huff and settle down amongst the two or three pillows that I have. Watching Sirius with slight impatience, I see him close his eyes and mutter under his breath before fur seems to creep up his entire frame, changing his human limbs into those of a dog. When it stops he still has a few human characteristics. For the majority his skull is still that of a human's and he still doesn't have as much fur on his face as he should.

"Hmm…" I stand and walk toward him, thinking, "What is your eyesight like?"

Sirius opens his mouth and a bark comes out.

I laugh openly, "Well that's a definite improvement!"

Sirius growls at me.

"Alright, don't lose your shirt!" I laugh, "So nod if you see in black and white."

Sirius nods and sits down.

"So then just keep working at it until you're able to transform, nothing else can be done for you," I say, picking up my book. I hear a few light growls before he shifts again and throws a quill at me.

"You're helpful."

"Uh-huh. Work on your transformation dear."

He scoffs, "Sure thing honey."

I grin and focus on my work again, jotting down notes and different facts that I find interesting. The grumbling kicks up again and is occasionally broken by growling, but none of it is threatening to me. Right as I get ready to mark down a really important point, a whoop sounds next to me.

"Dear Merlin! Damn it Sirius!" I turn to him and see this huge black dog come running toward me and jump on me. When he starts licking me I laugh, "Come on you fuzzy mutt! That's no fair!"

Sirius doesn't give up his attack until I'm helpless laughing, at which point he turns back into himself grinning like a fool. I finally manage to stop laughing enough to give him a playful smack.

"Prat," I laugh.

Sirius shrugs, "You know you don't mind."

"Don't use that to your advantage," I smirk.

"Always," Sirius gets off of me and examines the books that I'm reading, "You're working already?"

I shake my head, "Nope, this is recreational."

"I forgot that your fun tends to be a bit dull."

I raise an eyebrow before grabbing his wrist and taking off at a run out of the room.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Sirius asks, "Ann?"

I smile at him and keep running through the halls, listening to the sound echoing along the marble floor and wood paneled walls. As we run I start laughing at his confusion and he soon joins me. When we hit the stairs I release his hand and slide down the rail, jumping off at the end and turning around to watch Sirius follow me. He slides down on his feet, a grin on his face. When he's jumped off I grab his hand and take off running again. We eventually end up outside with brooms and we're facing one of the cliffs that's on the property.

"Ann?" Sirius asks, nerves reflecting in his voice, "what are you planning?"

"You want to know what I do for fun? Other than prank people, read, and whatever else you've seen me do, I like an adrenaline rush," I say. Keeping a firm grip on my broom I smile at him before jumping out into thin air.

"ANN!" Sirius shouts, his eyes widening and his hand reaching out to grab me. I'm too far away and he watches in horror as I fall.

~+~ Sirius's POV ~+~

I watch Ann's fall, my mouth dry and heart in my throat. Why, how, and a thousand other questions run through my mind, all before bringing me back to one thing that I had so conveniently forgotten. Both of us had brooms. Shaking my head I jump off the cliff, following her decent. As I near the jagged rocks below, I swing my leg over the broom and take off, flying up and away from the danger and into the air. She was right, the adrenaline rush was wonderful.

Giving a loud 'Whoop' I soon am flying parallel with Ann, and I laugh as she does some loop-de-loops around me. I smirk and give a boost of speed, flying past her reach before doubling back and flying right at her. She dodges around me laughing all the while. I chase after her for a while before touching her foot.

"Tag!" I shout, remembering one of the muggle games that we had been taught in Muggle Studies a couple of years ago. It was a game similar to snidgit that most magical children played. I'd told the Marauders and Ann all about it after learning about it in class. Remus, James, and Peter had laughed and shaken their heads, realizing exactly what game it sounded like, but Ann seemed to be amazed by the concept. When asked if she had even played snidgit as a kid, she hadn't known what we were talking about.

"What? Aw, come on, not fair!" Ann shouts before taking off after me. I chuckle and turn a one eighty, heading off in the opposite direction of what I had been going. She tries to tag me, but I use the sloth grip roll and avoid it.

"You're going to have to do better than that to get me!" I shout, laughing.

She growls, a smile growing on her face, "I'll get you yet Black."

"Then come on," I shout, "Give me a challenge!"

"Just cause you play on the Quidditch team."

"Yeah, as a beater, not a seeker."

She narrows her eyes and flies toward the sky. I try to follow her, but the sun gets in my eyes. I mock myself for my own stupidity. Of course she was going to fly into the sun! On instinct I fly off toward the water, diving down a little so that I could reach down and touch it, using the reflection to watch my friend tail me. Weaving along the rocks I race toward the lagoon that Reg and I used to swim at with our Uncle Alphard. Once in the area where I know I'll be able to swim without worrying about the currents too much I use another sloth grip roll to look up at Ann. Giving a smile and mock salute, my hands release the broom handle and I fall down into the water.

When I resurface, I notice Ann drifting above me on her broom, one foot dangling to my left by about six inches.

"Feeling better?" She asks, eyebrows raised and a smile on her face.

"Not yet."

Moving quickly I grab her foot and pull her into the water next to me. When Ann breaks the water, sputtering and trying to wipe the water from her eyes while maintaining a glare at me, I grin.

"Now," I say, "I feel better."

AN/ I think this is one of my fastest updates. Tell me what you think about the story, because I'm trying to figure out how long to make the summer chapters, and I'm thinking only 2 more in the summer at most.

Thank you to xoxo fanfics for your review, it got my muses chattering which helped get this chapter out.