Hello everyone, just so you know my updates are going to get a little slower because I've started another story (feel free to check that out too) so I'll be doing alternate updates from now on.

"Stupid thing" Lizzy muttered as she tugged at the stiff door up to the attic.

It finally opened, sending her crashing back into the wall.

She swore under her breath, praying that she hadn't woke anyone else up.

She silently slipped up the stairs into the dark dingy attic fumbling around to find the window.

She tugged the curtains open and pink dawn light flooded into the room.

Lizzy breathed a little easier "That's a bit better so where's Mums old stuff?"

She rummaged around in a dusty corner and found a whole box of James's old toys and an old sleeping portrait of her great Aunt Gwendolyn.

"Oh come on" Lizzy said desperately; she hadn't got very much sleep overnight and felt grumpy.

"And who on earth might you be?!" a snotty voice said from underneath a pile of old dressing up costumes.

Lizzy brushed them aside to find a portrait of a beautiful young woman with straight black hair and black eyes.

Lizzy tried to work out were she'd seen this woman before "Elizabeth Molly Potter, who are you?"

The woman snorted "Potter?! And are you a muggle loving fool like the prat who is attempting to win my little sisters heart?"

Lizzy's eyes widened "Cassiopeia Black?!"

The portrait of Lizzy's Aunt Cassiopeia sniffed "And how do you know me girl?"

Lizzy ignored her question "Do you have any siblings?"

She examined her claw like nails "An older brother and my afore mentioned younger sister, what business is it of yours?"

Lizzy bit her lip "Not two brothers? Do you know a Marius Black?!"

The woman's face twisted out of shape with rage "How do you know... how dare you call him a Black!?"

Lizzy's stomach tightened "Who was he? What happened?!"

The painting crossed her arms "I will not discuss it with you ignorant child"

Lizzy scowled at the portrait "Tell me now!"

She laughed coldly "You do seem a little familiar..."

Lizzy resisted the urge to throw the smug face across the room "Tell me what happened!"

The portrait ignored her "Where am I? This is not Grimauld Place"

Lizzy grinded her teeth "You are in the Cornish village of Tlidon, in your younger sister's attic..."

"She shoved me in her attic!" the portrait scowled before looking at Lizzy curiously "Of course...you have Dorea's eyes."

"Now will you tell me?" Lizzy asked desperately "I want to know..."

The portrait raised her eyebrows "She never told you? Well I suppose she wouldn't have done, very sensitive my younger sister..."

"Yes" Lizzy pressed; aware of someone moving downstairs in slippers.

The portrait stiffened "He was my younger brother, a whiney childish thing. And well he never showed any signs of magic..."

Lizzys eyes widened "So what happened to him?!"

Her eyes dropped "An unfortunate accident, a misfired spell hit him..."

Lizzys stomach plummeted "You mean...you murdered him!"

"Well not personally" she said in an unbelievably cold voice "But the situation taken into consideration..."

Lizzy felt sick, this had happened in her own family "But it's not something that you can control!"

The portrait smirked "Yes you really do remind me of your mother girl"

Lizzy pulled an old cloak over the sneer as quickly as she could, ignoring the squeals of protest.

"Lizzy?" a voice asked quietly from inside the doorframe.

Lizzy finally moved to brush her hair out of her eyes "Yes?"

Marlene stepped outside in her pink slippers, wrapping her dressing down tighter around her "What were you doing in the attic?"

Lizzy wiped the tears out of her eyes quickly "What make you think...Oh alright I wanted to know what happened"

"I take it that it wasn't very pleasant?" Marlene asked sadly.

Lizzy stretched out her legs against the dewy grass and shook her head "I found an old portrait of my Aunt"

Marlene's face went blank "I'm assuming that this is your mothers sister?"

Lizzy smiled slightly then grimaced "He was seven years old and...he hadn't showed any signs of magic so..."

Marlene looked confused "But he was a pure blood wasn't he?"

Lizzy shrugged "It happens, they are called squibs. Though apparently the Blacks found this unacceptable..."

Marlene's hand sprung up to her mouth "That's horrible!"

Lizzy looked away "And that's my family!"

"No its not!" Marlene snapped uncharacteristically "Your mum was very young and couldn't do anything!"

Lizzy crossed her arms "Yes well how can you not do anything!"

Marlene crossed her arms "Lizzy you have told me yourself that's just how some families work, it doesn't mean every member of that family is evil"

Lizzy pouted "Yes but not my family..."

Marlene raised her eyebrows and sighed but didn't say anything.

Lizzys eyes narrowed "What?"

Marlene shook her head quickly "Nothing, you should come inside otherwise you'll freeze"

Lizzy shrugged "I can think of worse ways to die"

Marlene smirked "What, death by Millie?"

Lizzy winced "I'd forgotten about that..."

"Would you like anything else Andromeda? Some more food or maybe some more pumpkin juice?" Mrs Potter asked quickly, seeming almost creepy in her attentiveness.

Andromeda Black looked a good deal better for a good night's sleep "Oh yes please, could I have a little more toast please?"

Marlene passed it quickly over, her face blank and watching.

Lizzy kept her eyes on her breakfast plate, worried that she'd say the wrong thing.

Mr Potter watched Andromeda carefully "So Miss Black..."

"Andromeda please" she said sharply, and then blushed "I don't want to be..."

Mrs Potter glared at her husband "Of course you don't"

Mr Potter blushed and tried again "Andromeda, can you tell me what happened to you last night?"

Mrs Potter held up the frying pan fiercely "Charlus cant that wait?!"

Andromeda blinked at the table "It's alright Mrs Potter; I can't really tell you...they made me...the..."

Marlene's eyes narrowed and Lizzys widened "The Unbreakable Vow!"

She turned scarlet as everyone else turned to look at her "Sorry"

Andromeda smirked at her "It's alright. Well do you know why Sir?"

Mr Potter clenched his fist "We have a theory..."

Andromeda smiled at Marlene "I thought we swore you to secrecy?"

Marlene blushed "He is head of the Auror office at the ministry..."

Andromeda laughed "It's alright Marlene. I assume you know about Ted then?"

Mr Potter smiled "Yes, I've contacted him and he should be here very soon. Now about your...situation...."

Andromeda bit her lip "I don't really know...I need to talk to Ted"

Mr Potter nodded "In case you are worried I have someone keeping an eye on the Tonks residence, just in case"

Lizzy rolled her eyes and muttered "Well if she wasn't worried then she will be now"

Her parents both threw her a dirty look and Marlene shook her head; Lizzy stared at the table "What? I'm just trying to lighten the mood"

"Well don't" Mrs Potter said sharply.

"In fact I think it may be better if you two went upstairs from a bit" Mr Potter said with an apologetic glance at Marlene.

Lizzy and Marlene left without protest and when they were upstairs Lizzy turned to Marlene "So what do you want to do today?"

Marlene went pink "Lizzy I sort of promised to meet Millie..."

Lizzy's stomach plummeted "Oh...I see. See you later I guess"

Lizzy went into her room quickly; ignoring Marlene when she followed and closing the door.

"Stupid hair" Lizzy muttered as she tried desperately to stop her hair going into a triangle shape.

Giving up she threw her hairbrush at her bed and glared at her cluttered desk.

An indignant meow sounded from a disturbed Vixen who stood up, her tail waving ominously.

Lizzy laughed "Sorry Vix, come here"

She picked up her cat like a baby "Who's my gorgeous cat, who is?"

Vixen sort of rolled her eyes at this but soon started purring happily as Lizzy rubbed her chin.

A knock at the window made her put Vixen down; a brown speckled owl was hooting outside the window.

"Why is James writing to me?" Lizzy asked herself as she let the owl in cautiously.

It flew around her room three times before landing clumsily next to a disgruntled Vixen.

"Alright Yoda" Lizzy said, laughing at her brothers choice of name like she always did.

The owl hooted loudly and held out its leg importantly for Lizzy.

LIZZY

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE HELLS GOING ON? SIRIUS'S PARENTS CAME AND DRAGGED HIM HOME FOR CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE SLYTHERIN'S ARE MUTTERING ABOUT SOMETHING HAPPENING. WHATS GOING ON?

CHEERS, JAMES XOXOXO

P.S NO MOCKING THE HUGS AND KISSES!

Lizzy rolled her eyes at the bluntness of her brothers note "Merry Christmas to you too James"

She rummaged in her desk for some parchment and began to write;

James

And a Merry Christmas to you too!

Last night Dad brought home a beaten up Andromeda Black. Her family attacked her because she's been dating Ted Tonks. I don't know what's going on with Sirius but that's what the Slytherin's are muttering about. James did you know about Mums brother Marius? Apparently they killed him for being a squib, our own uncle...

Anyway I sort of have another problem; I accidently told Gideon that Millie likes him and now all my friends aren't talking to me. What should I do James?

Mum and Dad send their love

Lizzy XXX

P.S: O's are hugs?

Lizzy clicked her fingers at Yoda who flew over enthusiastically; she attached the note to his leg and he zoomed of immediately.

There was a knock at the door "Elizabeth?" a voice sounded.

Lizzy started "Yes..."

Andromeda hovered in the doorway "Can I talk to you?"

Lizzy had absolutely no idea what she'd done "Free country"

Andromeda frowned at the unfamiliar answer but shook it off and sat down on Lizzys bed "I know you don't really like me much..."

Lizzy's eyes widened "I...like you, why wouldn't I?"

Andromeda raised her eyebrows "Because I've never given you a reason too." She cut Lizzy of as she tried to interrupt "It's alright I don't mind. Actually I wanted to talk to you about Regulus"

Lizzy blushed "What about him?"

Andromeda smirked "I wanted to thank you. Regulus has always been the baby of the family and without Sirius to hold his hand I was sort of worried about him. But then he got that massive crush on you...and that worried me too. Not that I don't like you, I just thought he'd end up getting hurt."

Lizzy crossed her arms "What would make you think I'd hurt him?!"

Andromeda held up her hands "This was in your first year and the first time I met you, you were on the verge of hexing Barty Crouch."

Lizzy blushed "Alright but Crouch is a moron!"

Andromeda laughed "And you can honestly say you never felt the same way about my cousin?"

Lizzy couldn't think of anything to say to that so she started to stroke Vixen.

Andromeda took a deep breath "I know this may seem strange to you but promise me that you will look after him. I do love Sirius but he is stupidly stubborn about Regulus. Please promise me you'll keep Regulus out of trouble, try and get him out of that stupid family, if you can. He'll listen to you..."

Lizzy's eyes were wide "Wow...I'll try but I think you've over..."

"Dromeda!" a voice shouted from downstairs.

Andromeda's face lit up "Err excuse me Elizabeth...Ted, Teddy up here!"

Lizzy went pink as the older couple passionately embraced in her bedroom.

"Hello, anybody there?!" a voice shouted from the fire as Lizzy walked into the kitchen.

Sirius's head grinned at her from the fire "Hey Lizzy, you heard what's going on?"

Lizzy smiled "Yeah, I've heard. Where are you?"

Sirius scowled "My stupid parents have locked me in my bedroom for calling Bellatrix an evil bitch"

Lizzy bit her lip "How are things down there?"

Sirius shrugged "Andromeda's been burnt of the family tree, lucky bitch"

Lizzy pulled a face "Sirius!"

Sirius rolled his eyes "You don't know them like I do Lizzy, this is what there like!"

Lizzy scowled at him "Regulus isn't like that!"

Sirius smirked "You know what your precious Regulus is doing right now?! Playing chess with Narcissa like nothing has happened!"

Lizzy could have hit him "Well he isn't locked in his room is he?!"

Sirius laughed "So being a butt kissing coward is attractive?"

Lizzy was almost shouting "More than an arrogant pig-headed idiot!"

Sirius's eyes blazed "An idiot for having my own opinions, for being able to think for my bloody self?!"

Lizzy's hands were balled up into fists "An idiot for doing everything in your power to piss your parents off! If they are as bad as you always say they are then why don't you just stay out of their way?!"

Sirius glared at her "By the way, our parents have banned us from having anything to do with your family. As I have a brain of my own I don't care, but my good little brother wont question them will he?"

Lizzy stared at him blankly "Get out of the fire, now"

Sirius saw he'd crossed a line "Lizzy..."

Lizzy turned away "I am pouring a glass of water over the fire in precisely thirty seconds. Unless you wish to be decapitated I suggest you leave"

"Lizzy are you in there?" Marlene's voice called from outside through the window to a motionless Lizzy.

Lizzy lifted her head from her wet pillow "Yes I am, why?"

"Come down" Fabien's voice called "We need to talk to you"

Lizzy clutched at her old stuffed rabbit "Then talk, I'm staying here forever"

"Oh get down here you lazy sod!" Millie's voice burst out "I've called of the hit man"

Lizzy sat bolt upright and scrambled onto her balcony "Millie?!"

Millie smirked "The one and only"

Lizzy glanced at her friends; Gideon had his arms around Millie's waist!

"You guys are going out!" Lizzy yelled happily "That's awesome!"

Gideon grinned "Well it's like in a horse and his boy, at the end, we can go out and still argue"

Millie laughed "And I wouldn't want it any other way"

Lizzy's stomach squirmed; would Regulus dump her to keep his parents happy?

Edgar watched her carefully "Lizzy what's wrong?"

Lizzy shook her head "Nothing, how long are you two here today?"

Millie smirked "Until seven, anyone up for Quidditch?"

Marlene spoke quickly "I'll referee!"

Edgar grinned "No you won't, Charlotte is not here remember?"

Lizzy laughed "Aww you can be on my team Marley"

Millie poked Gideon friendlily "Boys versus girls?"

Gideon poked her back "If you're so eager to lose..."

Lizzy laughed "Bring it on Giddy!"

Gideon crossed his arms "Whatever Bethy..."

Marlene rolled her eyes "Face it you two, you have the worst nicknames"

Ed grinned "Giddy and Fab, did you scream a lot as babies or something?"

Fabien punched him on the arm "Shut up Eddy"

Millie grinned "You see you can't do that to me!"

Lizzy stepped backwards "Want to bet Amelia?"