CHAPTER 2

Elizabeth stared at Harry Potter, awaiting a response. A sentence. A word. Anything.

"W-what?"

"I'm Sirius Black's only daughter. He doesn't know about me, and I'd appreciate you keeping my secret. As I said earlier, I am still undecided on my decision of telling him."

Harry looked Elizabeth in the eye and spoke calmly, "But why? Why not tell him?" He had lost precious years with his parents after their tragic death, and he failed to understand why she was so reluctant to reveal her true identity. He would give anything to see his parents again, it tore him up thinking about them.

"Potter, I have many secrets, my life isn't a fairytale. I don't know if I want to go back to that. It may be selfish but I don't want to bring up the past." It was true. The last thing Elizabeth Black wanted was to look back and remember. Memories that have scarred her.

Harry began to understand more of the girl before him. He sympathised, he knew not of her situation but she was obviously in need of a friend.

"So how is he? My father?" It felt weird hearing this girl relate to Sirius as a father. He never even thought to ask Sirius of his past. "I know bits that I have read in muggle and wizard newspapers, and heard from what I have heard from other witches and wizards. However I don't really know what's true, but I know The Daily Prophet only fragments of truth in them." Intelligence had grew on Elizabeth with age, Harry noticed.

"He's well, still currently recovering in St. Mungos from his near-death experience at the Ministry." The witch nodded. This she had came across in the newspapers.

"If you don't mind me asking how old are you, Elizabeth?"

"16, 17 in October."

"You're very mature for your age." She smiled at this, "Thanks." They sat for a minute or so in uneasy silence, unsure of what to say.

"I should leave. I've probably outstayed my welcome." Elizabeth stood, and quietly said to him, "Thank you Harry Potter." As she reached the door, Harry expressed a slight concern, "Where are you staying, Elizabeth?"

She hesitated in her answer, "I'll find somewhere. Don't worry about me." Again she gave a reassuring smile, which didn't quite meet her eyes.

"Stay. If Sirius knew, he would appreciate it." Elizabeth bit her lip, this was a card she expecting Harry would play, though she didn't count on the effects.

"Harry, I can't. You can't even trust me. If Sirius knew a stranger was staying at your house he wouldn't appreciate it." She said it coolly, though her worried expression spoke otherwise.

"Well you aren't a stranger."

"I could be lying you know. Millions of people want you dead, who's to say I'm not one of them?" Harry laughed light-heartedly at this, "Okay, only one person really wants me dead. The others are just followers. Anyway I'd know if you were against me." He said, as he tapped a peculiar device on his bedside table. Confused, she looked strangely at it, expecting anything to happen. Though she chose not to question further. He was obviously unaware of Elizabeth's knowledge on the wizarding world, which was surprisingly limited.

She wasn't winning this. "Tell me. Honestly. Where would you have stayed?" Elizabeth shrugged, "Around."

"On the streets?" Again, she shrugged. Harry knew by know, in fact he knew from the beginning that she would wander around streets, alone and scared. 'Actually' he thought, 'Not scared.' He had guessed she was used to a lifestyle on the streets. She was like him in ways, when he first arrived at Hogwarts. From a dreary depressing life to a fantastic one, at times. She deserved this. He could sense there was something she wasn't telling him. In fact he knew there was a lot she was missing out.

"Fine," Elizabeth cried out defeated, "Only one night. What will your Aunt and Uncle say?"

"They don't have to know," And he smiled cheekily, "Where's your stuff?" He asked, slightly more seriously.

"This is it." She said, waving a hand across her body.

"And your wand? You have it with you?"

"Wand?" She said. To be without a wand, she guessed, was a big mistake as Harry stared open-mouthed, "Y-you haven't got a wand?" She shook her head. She had started to feel more relaxed around Harry, though this was concerning her slightly.

"Err, well I guess we will have to make a trip to Ollivanders." He said uncertainly. Inside his head was spinning. He found it incredibly difficult that a girl her age had managed so long without a wand, but was still managing without one. Her magic must be quite literally bursting out of her. He wondered how she was holding it all in.