A/N : Sorry about the delay guys, I have JUST started Uni and my timetables clashing with my work shifts so things have been a little bit hectic. I'm hopefully gonna be better at updating this than anything else, because I reeeaallly wanna make this one a success. If you read it, please leave a review to let me know what you think. It'll start a little slow, but I promise after a couple more chapters it'll pick up a little bit. Thanks!

August 1993

Wake me up, before you go go, don't leave me, hanging on, like a yo yo....

"Oh sweet Merlin Dora turn that shite off!"

Wake me up, before you go go, cause I'm not planning on, going solo..

"Up you get Rachel!" Came the cheery reply. "Your letter just got here, which means it's time for some shopping! It's a cause for celebration and cheesy tunes!"

Rachel Black groaned and turned over, wishing she could silence her sister's alarm clock with a mere flick of the wrist. Due to the fact she wasn't of-age for another eight weeks, she had to make do with reaching over and slapping it to the ground instead. Nymphadora Tonks wasn't usually this cheery so early in the morning, but considering it was only five days until Rachel went back to school, and Dora had her flat all to herself again, Rachel could see why her sister would be slightly more cheery.

"Breakfast's ready!" Dora called as Rachel finally managed to haul herself out of bed. She glanced at the clock and swore, it was only 8am. There was clearly no need for Dora to get her out of bed this early to go to Diagon Alley. What on earth was she thinking?

"Dora, why the hell did you get me up so early?" Rachel whined, tottering into the kitchen whilst trying to stifle a yawn. She plopped down at the table in the kitchen and grabbed the toast Dora had left out for her. "We have plenty of time to go shopping."

"Oh quit whining," Dora replied playfully, swatting Rachel over the back of her head with the newspaper that had just been delivered. "If I'm up, so are you." She grabbed a glass of orange juice from the counter and made her way around the table, unfolding the newest edition of the Daily Prophet as she did so. "Maybe now you'll be able to-"

Rachel didn't hear what she might now be able to do, for at that moment Dora had let out a gasp and dropped her glass of juice, causing both shards of glass and orange liquid to go shooting in all directions across the already extremely messy kitchen. Rachel frowned and watched her sister through narrowed eyes, wondering whether or not she should laugh or be concerned. "What is it?"

Dora was still staring in shock at the front page. Rachel grabbed her Hogwarts letter and began to tear it open. "Dora! What is it?!"

"Um," Rachel realised her big sister's face had grown rather ashen. She muttered a vanishing spell on the juice and smashed glass subconciously as she ran a hand through her hair. "Oh God."

"Give me the paper." Rachel demanded, hating the fact she was being ignored. "Give it to me Dora!"

"Rachel shut up." Dora snapped, then winced. "I'm sorry. It's just... oh buggering hell, here." She flung the paper across to her little sister and Rachel caught it, straightening it out and dropping it quickly as her mouth dropped open in shock.

"Bloody hell." She whispered, her eyes roving over the headline that screamed out at her from the paper, a picture of a maniacally laughing man underneath it.

SIRIUS BLACK ESCAPED

"How the hell is that possible?" Rachel asked, trying desperately to hide the panic she suddenly felt. Dora was watching her closely and she didn't want her to start getting ideas. "No-one's escaped before."

"Yeah... well...." Dora trailed off slightly and bit her lip. "He's not just anyone, is he?"

The two step-siblings were silent for a few moments as they gazed at each other worriedly.

"Are you okay?" The elder of the two asked eventually.

Rachel glanced down at the newspaper again, before eventually shrugging. "I'll need to be, won't I? It's not like he's out to get me-" She broke off and winced. "Oh man, mum's going to think he's after me, isn't she?"

Dora sighed and nodded, throwing herself heavily into the chair opposite her. "Pretty much. In fact, I'm surprised she's not flooing over right now."

Rachel glanced down once more at the newspaper, before leaping to her feet and grabbing the newspaper in such a sudden movement, Dora yelped and knocked the teapot over, almost scalding herself in the process. She watched as Rachel tore the front page into tiny pieces and then threw them up in the air, muttering all the while.

"I, will, not, let, you, ruin, my, life, all, over, again." She threw the pieces up into the air and sighed, glancing to her sister with a self-satisfied smirk. "There, I feel better now. I'm not gonna let myself get worried about this."

Dora frowned but didn't say anything as Rachel sat back down and picked up her letter again. She knew well enough after twelve years with Rachel that she was far from alright - in fact, she was anything but. Rachel was worried and upset by this news, but Dora knew there was nothing she could do for her right now. She'd have to wait till Rachel came to her, which usually took a while. She got to her feet with a sigh, flicking the television on as she passed. They lived in a magical world, but due to their father being Muggle born, they had aquired certain Muggle tastes since Dora had moved into her flat three years ago. Rachel had only been staying since the summer, but Dora couldn't imagine not having her little sister around. "We should probably go shopping early, I hate spending my day off surrounded by busy shoppers. It does my bloody head in so it does..."

Rachel pulled out the normal two pieces of parchment, informing her of the date and time of the Hogwarts arrival and the one listing all her new books. She pulled out a smaller scrap of paper and with it, something small and shiny fell out onto her hand. She felt her mouth drop open in shock for the second time in a short period and gaped at the badge, which glinted in the early morning sun.

"I mean why must people always act so flustered when they're shopping? Can't they just act calm every once in a while - are you even listening to me?" Dora snapped in annoyance, turning back to Rachel who was gazing something small that sat in her palm. Something small and.... shiny. Something small and shiny that looked horribly like...

"Head girl." Rachel said weakly. "They've made me head girl."

"No way." Dora breathed, grabbing the badge to see for herself. Sure enough the letters HG glinted back mockingly at her. "Oooo, you're definitely the favourite now."

Rachel flushed and sat up straighter, grabbing the badge back and closing her fist around it. She had never been able to handle her sisters gentle mocking ever since recieving her Prefects badge two years ago. She knew now the ridicule could only get worse. "Stuff it, you. Just because you're too much of a daft bugger to have ever got given one of these."

Dora smirked. "Oh yeah, because I want to be as big a prat as all the other Head Girl's that came before me. Sod that, I was happy with what I was thank you very much."

"Yeah well I'm happy with what I am too." Rachel replied snootily. "And you're right," She turned to her with a grin as her skin tone started to calm down. "I'm clearly the more admirable daughter now."

Dora rolled her eyes playfully. "Wait till Andromeda hears about this." She walked through to the living room, picking up some power and throwing it haphazardly into the firegrate. "Mother dearest? Can you come over here please, there's something you should probably see."

There was a moment of silence before Andromeda Tonks's head appeared in the grate. "Whatever could be so urgent that I need to come see you two at eight o'clock in the morning? I assume you've seen the news-"

"We've heard." Dora replied curtly, hoping that the topic wouldn't stray too far in that direction so soon after such a shock. "Rachel has something you need to see mum, and I'm sure you'll like it."

Andromeda sniffed disapprovingly. "Very well. Your father and I shall be along momentarily." And true to her word, within five minutes, both Ted and Andromeda stood in Dora's front room, dusting their robes off as they straightened up.

"Now, Nymphadora," Dora scowled at her given name but was promptly ignored. "What did Rachel want to show us?"

Rachel appeared in the doorframe, looking rather bashful. Thrusting out her left hand, she spoke. "This."

Andromeda glanced at the badge in her surrogate daughters hand, and let out a shriek. "Head Girl! Oh Rachel that's wonderful news, well done!"

"Congratulations kiddo." Ted said with a smile as Andromeda grabbed Rachel up in a hug.
"Yes, absolutely spiffing young lady." Dora taunted, but fell silent after a well-remembered death look from her mother.

"Yes well it's surprising to see she didn't stray by following your example." Andromeda said with an unladylike roll of her eyes. "At least we had one head girl in the family. That's fantastic, Rachel I'm so proud of you."

"We all are." Ted corrected gently, pulling Rachel into his embrace. "Right Dora?"

Dora made a face and Rachel was unsuccessful in hiding her grin. "Of course I am sprout. What more would I want than another reason as to why you're a more perfect daughter than I am?"

"Oh Nymphadora don't be so ridiculous." Andromeda scoffed, making her way into the kitchen. "Just because you have a dangerous job, wear vagrant clothes and choose hairstyles that are more suitable for a boy does not mean we love you any less than we love Rachel."

"Yeah, Tonks," Rachel said with a grin. "There's nothing better than having a sister who's a tomboy vagrant training to be a Death Eater killer."

"That's enough of that." Andromeda snapped instantly. "You know I hate hearing you talk about things like that."

"Lighten up, ma." Dora said brightly.

"Yeah," Rachel's demeanour had suddenly changed. "There's a Death Eater on the loose now, isn't there? No point staying in denial about it."

The air in the room suddenly grew tense. Ted frowned as he turned to his youngest charge. "Are you okay Rach?"

Rachel sighed and braced herself for the barrage of mothering she knew she was about to endure. "Really, I'm fine. It hasn't really sunk in, yet."

"Oh darling," Andromeda walked forward and pulled her into another crushing embrace. "You should come home with us until you go to school, it'll be better for you mentally."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dora asked indignantly as she poured herself yet another cup of coffee. "Are you saying living with me would drive her mental, mum? Because I think we've got our wires crossed there-"

"Dora," Ted said warningly. "That's not what she meant and you know it."

"And I don't need to come back home," Rachel said firmly, pulling away from Andromeda's arms and returning to her unfinished breakfast. "Honestly mum I'll be fine. Living with Dora keeps my mind of things like this anyway."

"Perhaps we better change the subject," Ted said loudly as Andromeda opened her mouth to argue. "We've all had a bit of a shock this morning, I doubt dwelling on it will do us much good."

"Who's dwelling?" Rachel asked with a snort. She cleared her plate and handed it to Dora, who sent it whizzing into the basin, where it promptly broke into pieces. "I told Dora already, I'm not letting myself get bothered by it."

Andromeda and Ted shared a worried look and turned to Dora, who shrugged. "Don't look at me, she's been like that since the paper arrived."

Ted frowned and glanced at the badge that was placed neatly next to Rachel's opened Hogwarts letter. "Rachel, why don't you write to Remus and tell him your news?"

"Where's Remus been anyway?" Dora asked as Rachel's face lit up and she jumped to her feet. "You haven't been to see him in weeks."

"He was in Spain." Rachel answered, grabbing her badge and her letter and her cup of coffee and trying to juggle all three at the same time. "He was doing some sort of translating work in Madrid."

Dora looked impressed. "That sounds fun. Is he back home now?"

"He should have been back this morning." Rachel paused for a moment with a frown. "Yeah, I'm sure he said this morning."

"Was he away all summer? Is that why he didn't stop by the flat?" Andromeda raised her eyebrows curiously as Rachel slowly made her way out of the kitchen.

"He's been away for a month!" Rachel yelled as she made her way into her own bedroom. Seeing her snowy owl sitting patiently on the window sill, her face broke into a grin. "Morning Moony, I have a job for you."

Fifteen minutes later, Rachel read over the letter a few times to make sure it didn't sound too pathetically excited.

Dear Remus,

How was Madrid? I know you've probably heard and seen the news... it's pretty batty, isn't it? No-one's managed to escape before... I can't imagine anyone managing it with the Dementors around! Andromeda's being extra smothering right now, but I don't really blame her. It's weird though, I hardly knew him, I don't remember him. They shouldn't be worried about me. I hope you're doing okay. He was your best friend for years, it's you everyone should be worried about. I hope we get to see each other at some point during the holidays if you aren't busy.... which brings me to my next point...

I'm Head Girl!! I know, can you believe it? I was pretty shocked myself. I thought for sure Penny Clearwater would get it - she's much more clever than I am and seemed to be much better at the whole authority thing when we were Prefects. Plus Percy Weasley's Head Boy, is it normal for the Head Boy and Girl to both be in the same house?

Anyway I need to go shopping for my books in Diagon Alley, and then Dora and I have a Weird Sisters concert. I hope to see you soon, it seems like it's been too long, don't you think? Hope you're well, give Gabby, John and Julia my love for me.

Love,

Rachel.

Satisfied, Rachel sealed the scroll and attached it to Moony's leg.

"Cheers Moony." Rachel watched as the bird flew off with her note, and turned back to her bedroom, picking her outfit for the day. Once she was showered and dressed, she made her way back down the stairs, where Dora was now sitting at the breakfast table alone, engrossed in the Daily Prophet.

"Did they leave without saying goodbye?" Rachel asked indignantly.

Dora graced her with a small glance before she went back to her reading. "They're meeting us for lunch-"

"Aw Dora!"

"Well they wanted to celebrate the first Head Girl since -" Tonks's expression darkened. "Well, you're the first Head Girl in the Black family who isn't a Death Eater Slytherin. It's a cause for celebration."

Rachel scowled and let out a huff of frustration. "But Dora we have that gig tonight."

"Yeah, and we'll be back in plenty of time for it." Dora replied, getting to her feet and gazing at her sister with a matching pout. "Don't be like that Rachel, you know they love you."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "I know that! But there's a reason I asked to move in with you this summer! I just fancied a little bit of a break from them, y'know? It's different for you, you're so much older."

Dora made a face. "Oh thank you very much." Glancing at the clock, she let out a muffled groan. "Christ, I have to go get ready. Did you owl Remus?"

"Yeah I did," Rachel couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face. "Why are you asking so many questions about Remus, Dora? Fancy him do you?"

Dora scowled at her. "Yeah, like that would be appropriate."

Rachel's mouth fell open in shock. "What's that supposed to mean! Remus is a great guy!"

"A great guy who is my sister's Godfather and went to school with my mother." It was Dora's turn to roll her eyes. "As if. Get your mind out of the clouds, Black."

"Well then get your mind off my Godfather, Nymphadora." Rachel shot back.

There was a few moments peace before Rachel suddenly started coughing and spluttering as soap bubbles formed in her mouth.

"That'll teach you not to use such foul language." And with a triumphant smirk, Dora headed for the showers.