Chapter 14: Reunion

A.N.: I'm sorry! I'm still alive, but please, don't kill me! I am back with a new chapter, my dears. And, I'm really sure that I could update and finish this story before the end of the year. So please, give this story one last chance. :D

Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

Pyxis

As soon as the two got back, we made a plan on how to get to Hagrid's without anyone seeing us. I know exactly what to do, but I can't tell them that, so I just watched as the trio brainstormed. When they've decided on what to do, we went to dinner, but didn't return to the tower afterwards. Instead, we hid in an empty chamber off the entrance hall until we heard the last pair of people go out.

"Okay," Hermione peeked out. "No one there. Cloak on."

"No. You three put the cloak on, the four of us can't fit in there." I told them.

"But, Isis, what if someone saw you?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, and who would guide us if we ever do something wrong?" Harry added.

"I could make up an excuse. And you three don't need me, you'll do fine yourselves." I smiled reassuringly.

"But-"

"No buts. Whatever happens, promise me, that you three will go on. If I got held back, or if I fail to follow you, you'll just carry on. Okay? You don't blow your cover."

The three were reluctant, but they promised, nonetheless. I'm trekking on a very dangerous path right now, I can't afford to make mistakes.

We were just crossing the grounds when we encountered the first problem.

"Well, look who we have here, girls." I clenched my teeth at the voice of the infuriating girl behind me. I turned and saw Pansy with two other girls.

"I'm busy, Parkinson." Calm down, I told myself. I turned around to continue on my way but she yanked my right arm forcefully, making me stumble.

Before I can answer, a voice I haven't heard in a while did for me.

"Leave her alone, Pansy." All of us turned at the direction of the voice; there is Draco Malfoy, leaning on a tree nearby, smirking.

"But, Draco," Pansy tightened her grip on my arm and pulled me next to her. "She started it! This girl tried to hex me!"

"Hey! I did not! I don't even have my wand out." Draco was suddenly beside me. Hr pried Pansy's grip on my arm and dropped Pansy's hand as if it burned him. He lifted the sleeve of my robe and examined the forming bruise. Without letting go of me, he approached Pansy.

"Listen to me, Parkinson. You leave her alone, or my mother will know that you're the one who broke her favourite vase last year." I almost scoffed at the funny threat, but Pansy actually looked frightened. Maybe she's afraid to lose her good reputation on the Malfoys or the vase is very expensive. With a 'hmph' and an exaggerated hair flip, she went back to the castle, the two girls following her.

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Draco

As soon as Pansy was out of sight, I was dragged behind the tree I was leaning on earlier by Raine. Before I could ask what's going on, I was met with a slap on my right cheek. I didn't get the chance to recover from the first slap when another one hit my left. I didn't even make an effort to deflect the last slap. I know I deserved all of it.

"Three times is a bit repetitive, don't you think?" I attempted to lighten the mood, but a look at her enraged face told me it didn't work.

"Repetition serves the point, Malfoy." She growled, making me flinch.

"Raine, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry." She huffed and crossed her arms.

"For what?" My forehead creased in confusion. Is that a trick question?

"For letting Pansy bully you in the Great Hall." I answered, not letting my uncertainty be heard.

"And?" She pressed on. I sighed inwardly when I realised what she's doing.

"For ignoring you and not telling you why I did." Her lips curl to a smile.

"Good. But I have three conditions before I forgive you."

"Name it."

"After all of this, you are going to tell me what the bloody hell made you ignore me." I nodded. "Then, you promise not to do it again."

"I promise-"

"Wait, there's still a third one. You promise, too, that you'll give me that Christmas gift. I've counted at least 5 convenient times you could've given it. I've been curious since that day." I laughed at her last condition.

"I promise to do all that, Raine. I'm sorry again, for being a git these past months." I was surprised when she pulled me to a tight hug. It took me a while, but eventually, I snapped out of my trance and hugged her back.

"I missed you, Draco."

I let go of her but kept her at arm's length.

"I missed you too, Raine." She smiled that beautiful smile and I can't help but smile back.

There was a rustle of leaves making both of us jump away from each other.

"Oh, damn!" Raine whispered harshly. I raised an eyebrow at her. "I'll be late. I won't get to talk to him." She ran, leaving me standing there.

"Raine! What are you on about?" I asked, running after her. She stopped suddenly I almost collided with her.

"Sirius Black, Draco, this is the perfect timing."

"Are you mad?" I sputtered.

"No. Yes. Maybe. Oh, now's not the time to question my sanity. You better go back to the castle; I need to do this alone." She continued walking. I didn't even think about following her instructions and went after her. She stopped when we reached the Whomping Willow.

"Well, since you're so stubborn, make yourself useful. Find a stick or a branch, at least 2-3 feet long." I searched the ground for what she needs and found the thing that matches her description. I handed it to her and she used it to poke something at the trunk of the tree.

"Perfect! Come on, Draco." She glanced at her wristwatch. "I think they're almost done there." I pulled her back before she could walk any closer to the tree that could lash out anytime.

"That tree is going to kill you, Raine." She rolled her eyes.

"I disabled it. If you don't want to come, fine. I'll see you and Blaise tomorrow, okay?" She ran to the tree and I stood there, frozen, waiting for the branches to start attacking her. But it never came, so I followed her as she slipped in the gap in the roots of the tree.

"Lumos" I shone the light around me.

We're inside a tunnel. There's a tunnel under the Whomping Willow.

Pyxis walked ahead, the light at the tip of her wand illuminating the way for her.

"Where's this headed to?"

"Shrieking Shack."

We moved carefully through the tunnel. The small passage began expanding until its large enough for a person to walk through. The tunnel began to rise, then twisted; then we saw a light seeping from a small opening.

Peeking through the opening, we saw a messy and dusty old room. Paper was peeling from the walls; the floor is stained; and all the furniture is broken. I looked at Raine and saw her attempting, and failing, to climb up the hole.

"Raine?"

"What?" She asked, clearly irritated.

"I'll go first, so I can pull you up." She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again and nodded.

I pulled myself up effortlessly and pulled Raine up.

"Thanks." She dusted herself off and I did the same.

At that moment, a voice echoed from upstairs.

"THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED! DIED RATHER THAN BETRAYED YOUR FRIENDS, AS WE WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!"

"Sirius." She whispered. I looked at Raine. The fast changing emotions can be seen flashing on her eyes. Excitement, fear, anger, and determination. This girl changed a lot since I first met her. The confused, afraid, and shy girl became confident, determined, and wiser person. She grabbed my arm.

"Ready?"

I peeled away her hand and instead held it on my own, lacing our fingers.

"Come on."

We continued to follow the voices.

"No." A voice that sounds like Potter said.

Quickly and quietly, we climbed the crumbling stairs. We reached the dark landing and saw only one door open.

"Nox" The lights at the tip of our wands died, leaving only the moonlight coming from the broken roof to guide us.

"But if you transform, Peter, we will kill you. You agree, Harry?" We are now standing right outside the door.

"I can't do this." I saw Raine sit on the floor and hug her knees to her chest.

"Yes, you can. You will get the answers you want. He's standing right there, Raine." I crouched down, meeting her eyes.

"I've been waiting for this. Now I'm afraid." She buried her face on her arms.

"Hey, hey look at me, Raine." I glanced at the door to see if someone heard. They're still busy. I turned back to Raine, who's now looking at me.

"You're the girl who entered a Quidditch team and won. You also learned a very advanced charm at a very young age. And most of all, you befriended me, and I was known as an insufferable git since first year. You can do this." She exhaled then nodded.

I held both my hands, which she gladly accepted, and I pulled her up with me.

"You can do this." She smiled.

"You're not an insufferable git, Draco." She fixed her glasses.

'Well, not anymore.' I thought, smiling.

With both our wands raised, she opened the door.

"What about Professor Sna- Isis! And Malfoy?" I felt all eyes on us. The Golden Trio and Lupin all opened their mouths to say something, but Sirius Black beat them to it.

"Pyxis."

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Pyxis

"How?" I lowered my wand

The hard look on the man's face melted completely. He walked to me very slowly, as if afraid that I'd bolt out of the room anytime.

"I-" He laughed softly, the unshed tears shining on his grey eyes. "I don't know where to begin."

"Wait, what is happening here? Sirius, you know Isis?" Harry's confusion and curiosity is very obvious.

"Moony, will you please go ahead with Pettigrew?"

"Sure thing, Padfoot. And two of us should be chained to this, just to make sure. I'll be the first."

"I'll do it too." Ron limped forward.

Sirius conjured two heavy manacles. Soon enough Pettigrew's upright again, left arm chained to Lupin's right, right arm chained to Ron's left.

"Hermione, can you please cast the Mobilicorpus spell to lift Professor Snape back to the castle?" Lupin asked.

"Yes, sir."

Once the four are out, I turned to Sirius.

"I know you're dying to ask questions, Pyxis. So, fire away." He smiled. I looked at Draco, who nodded encouragingly.

"I'll go straight to the point. You obviously know me. You said I look like my mum, but I'm adopted. My foster mum is blonde, so you know my real mum. You also know my birth name, which was with me when my foster parents found me. So, who are you in my life?"

He kneeled down to my height and looked me in the eye.

"Pyxis Raine, you're my daughter."

A.N.: And the cat is out of the bag! Tell me what you think about it, or if you've known before. I really love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for reading! :D