Chapter Fourteen

I believe in you,

I can show you that I can see right through,

All your empty lies,

I won't stay long,

In this world so wrong.

'Morning gorgeous,' Jacob said as he kissed Evangeline on the cheek and sat down beside her at the Gryffindor table, which had been gaining an extra pupil sitting amongst it's regulars for over two weeks.

'Morning,' Evangeline smiled as she looked up to him from her breakfast.

She caught eye contact with Sirius who was sitting opposite her, she smiled apologetically as she knew that it would be awkward for him because of Jacob, who he had cursed and jinxed repeatedly over the past two weeks. Sirius shrugged as if to say it wasn't her fault, after he confessed to Remus that he truly was in love with the raven haired girl sitting opposite him, he agreed to let her be until he found the time and place to tell her how he felt. Both he and Remus knew this would be hard, as he would have to try and control his jealousy around them, for the sake of his friendship with Evangeline.

As soon as Jacob sat down, all conversations stopped. Evangeline felt incredibly awkward sitting right in the middle of everyone, but she kept quiet, eating her cereal and didn't look up.

'It's a big game for Gryffindor next week isn't it?' Jacob said as he reached across Evangeline to grab the marmalade, 'Should be a great game to watch, especially when it's against Slytherin.'

'Games versus Slytherin are always good games, we get to beat the shit out of them,' Sirius said through clenched teeth, Evangeline smiled appreciatively at him for actually speaking to her boyfriend, even if it was in a slightly rude way.

'Yes, we do get to beat the shit out of them Padfoot, but we have to stick to our game plans,' James said ruffling his already untidy hair as he realised Lily had sat down on the other side of Evangeline, then he began again, 'But if they fail, then I allow you to beat them all into pulps.'

'Great, that arsehole who blasted you into the wall the other day Angel, is getting it the worst,' Sirius snarled, glaring over at the Slytherin table where, Amycus Carrow was laughing with his death eater friends at a small first year Hufflepuff who they had jinxed.

Evangeline looked over her shoulder and growled, 'That's disgusting and cruel. Why isn't no one stopping this?' she said slamming her spoon down on the table, whipped her wand out, stood up and spun round to face the Slytherin table.

'I think it would be best if you didn't go over there Angel,' Jacob said gently pulling Evangeline's wand from her grip and setting it on the table. Sirius glared at him, only he called her Angel. 'Just sit down babe, forget about it,' Jacob continued.

'I guess you're right, I'll just get myself into trouble,' Evangeline said as she sat down, annoyed that she hadn't hexed a Slytherin in a while. But now when they deserved it, she had to be stopped by her boyfriend. Evangeline knew that he was only looking out for her, but he didn't understand that hexing Slytherins was like second nature to her. As she thought about it, she remembered that she had promised Izzy and Lily that she was giving up on Marauding for a while. That meant no pranks, no hexing, cursing or jinxing unsuspecting Slytherins, no leaving school grounds after curfew, no using the Maurauders Map and no usage of James' invisibility cloak.

Jacob put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, resting his chin on her head. Evangeline was listening in to James' and Remus' conversation.

'I know you want to help me, and I really appreciate that James, but you're not going with me after what happened last time!' Remus whispered angrily.

'You can't hurt us, when we're in …' James lowered his voice and covered his mouth so that no one could lip read what he was for saying, 'Animagus form, Moony. Even if you did, it wouldn't effect us.'

'I don't care! What would Evie say if she heard what was going on?' Remus snapped at him quietly before glancing over at Evangeline to see her staring right at them, she smiled.

'I bet you she would want to become one too, she'd be miffed if she found out what we were and that we didn't tell her,' James whispered.

'Exactly! She'd murder you for that and then bring you back to life just to brutally kill you again for going out on the full moon with me!' Remus whispered, Evangeline's eyes widened and she shot up, glaring across the table at James.

He saw her glaring at him, 'What?' he snapped.

'I need to talk you,' Evangeline growled, 'Later on tonight.'

Remus rolled his eyes and muttered, 'Great, she knows!'

'No Remy, I don't know everything, but I will,' Evangeline said, 'Especially since I know what night it is,' she said, leaning into Jacob's chest, who was listening attentively.

'What's going on Evangeline?' he asked, but James answered for her.

'Nothing that concerns you Cairnryan,' he spat, before glaring at him with malice, 'Just keep your nose out of it.' Evangeline glared at her brother, she knew that Jacob was toeing the line with all the questions, but he had no need to be downright horrid to him.

'There's no need to be horrible about it James,' Evangeline snapped at him, before turning to face Jacob, 'It's nothing really, just some Maurauder business,' she reassured him with a smile.

Lily eyes snapped over to where Evangeline was sitting in Jacob's arms, 'I thought you said you were giving Maurauding up for a while?' she asked with her eyebrows arched.

Sirius coughed on the pumpkin juice he was drinking, 'What?!' he spluttered, 'Did I just hear something about Angel giving up Maurauding?' he said in a confused voice, before turning to look at Evangeline, 'You can't give it up! You think up all the best pranks and you're the only girl Maurauder.'

'Of course I'm not giving it up!' Evangeline exclaimed towards Sirius, 'It's my life,' she said before turning to Lily, 'I haven't pranked or hexed anyone in over two weeks Lils, that was my break. And I'm fine now anyway,' she reasoned with her best friend.

'I guess you are right though,' Lily agreed, 'But just don't get yourself into trouble or get hurt again.'

'What's life without a little trouble? You should come with us sometime Lils, help you let out a little steam,' Evangeline said watching for Lily's reaction, she was staring at Evangeline sternly, 'And no I won't get hurt again.'

'Fine, I suppose you can go out … Maurauding – or whatever it is you call it – again,' Lily said before she bit into a slice of toast.

'Jeez, you're worse than my mother!' Evangeline said, before changing her mind, 'Actually, no one could be worse than my mother – except maybe Sirius' –' she said nodding towards the black haired boy.

'Pfft, your mum's tame compared to mine,' Sirius snorted, 'My mother is a freakishly mad woman who curses her own children,' he said, a disgusted look appearing on his face.

Sirius was right, his mother was insane. All she cared about was her perfect blood status and she would only be happy when the world was rid of 'mudbloods' and blood traitors. In her eyes being pure blood was the only way to live, when Sirius got placed in Gryffindor his life was made hell. She had screamed and yelled for Sirius to be sorted again, causing Dumbledore to have her thrown out of the castle for disrupting the classes. Once she found out that Sirius was enjoying being in Gryffindor and making friends with what she called the scum of the earth, blood traitors and half breeds, she went ballistic and made sure that he knew she was furious with him. She ignored him most of the time, which Sirius himself wasn't particularly bothered about, but when Sirius fought against her for what he believed in, she used the crutiatus curse on him, making him feel helpless because of the pain. One night things just got unbearable for Sirius, his younger brother Regulas was being corrupted into the evil ways of the dark lord in which his mother and father believed in. Sirius had had enough and stormed out, but not before his mother got hold of him.

Flashback to July 1975

I stormed up to my room, I had had enough and nothing could stop me from leaving this time, not even that bitch of a mother I have. I searched around my room for my trunk and quickly found it under my bed, I grabbed the essentials, clothes, school robes, random books, yes books, who would have thought that the Sirius Black, sex god of Hogwarts read? Well I do. How else would I pass the time in this grotty, stinking place. I zipped up the trunk easily enough, grabbed my wand and trailed it into the corridor.

'Sirius? Where are you going?' It was Reg, my younger brother. He followed me as I dragged my trunk towards the stairs, 'You can't leave me Sirius!'

'I'm sorry Reg, but I can't stand it any longer. I'm going to James' and Angel's you can find me there if you need anything,' I said, not daring to look back at him.

The trunk made an clunking sound as I dragged it down the stairs, I was hoping to get away quietly, but not with that bloody awful noise, it could wake the dead. Reg ran ahead of me, attempting to stop me from going any further, 'You can't leave, she'll kill you!'

'Get out of my way Reg, if you don't it'll be your fault that she kills me,' I growled, shoving him out of the way.

'You don't honestly think that I want to become a death eater do you? Is that what it's all about?' he asked, his blue eyes piercing through my dense grey ones.

'Of course I don't think that! What sorry minded bastard would want to become a death eater?' I said, 'They'll keep pushing you towards being one though, I can see them doing it. Just don't fall for it Reg.'

'I'm not weak Sirius,' he retorted, folding his arms, 'Do you really have to go?'

'Yes,' I said, opening the front door, forgetting that it made and almighty screech as it scraped along the stone floor, 'Shit,' I said to myself.

'WHO'S AT THE DOOR?!' screamed a voice from down the corridor, I grabbed my trunk and was about to walk out the door.

'SIRIUS! GET BACK HERE! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?!' my dear beloved mother shrieked as she raged down the hallway.

'I'm leaving,' I snarled grabbing my wand from my pocket and holding it up in front of me, 'And you can't stop me.'

Her screeching laughter echoed up the stairwell, her own wand grasped in her hands, 'You think you can leave, well I think differently,' she snarled, 'CRUCIO!'

The unsuspected spell hit me square in the chest, I had had not time to divert it, so I had to suffer. The pain was unbearable, it raged through my body like electricity through cables, burning every major organ and muscle that it touched. As much as it hurt, I still stood. She had used it so many times on me that I had gotten used to it and had taught myself how to fight it. I watched her, not daring to close my eyes as she watched in fascination at me resisting the pain.

I could see the determination on her face, she brought her wand away. I breathed heavily, clutching my chest where the spell had hit me. Her face was like stone, until she shrieked again, 'CRUCIO!'

The pain was much more intense, she obviously put more effort into it, I collapsed as my knees gave way under the pressure of my body. I was getting weaker, all my strength and energy disappearing. I writhed in discomfort, it was like I was on fire, but this fire would not go out. I closed my eyes, wishing for the pain to go away, wishing that I had a family that cared about me, wishing that I wasn't who I was. I slowly managed to open my eyes, the chandelier over head blinded me. I could see Reg standing there watching on, his eyes wide and mouth open in shock as his older brother resembled nothing but a helpless child writhing on the floor.

I had barely any energy left, my eyelids began to droop as I still squirmed against the pain that was being inflicted on me. 'Stop it,' a panicked voice said, 'Stop it,' the voice repeated. 'I SAID STOP, CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING?!' the once quiet and anxious voice bellowed. But it was ignored. 'STUPIFY!' and then there was a flash of red light and a thud that sent vibrations running through the floor.

'Sirius? It's me, it's Reg. I'm getting you out of here,' said the voice who identified itself as my very own brother, who had rescued me.

'Reg?' I managed to mumble, groping around for him and opening my eyes slightly so I could see his face, 'Thanks, the pain was worse than what I thought it would be,' I said, rubbing my arms.

'No problem, can you get up? I can help you get to the Potter's but I have to get back,' Reg said as he hoisted me up leaning me against his own body.

'Hmm,' I mumbled.

'Obviously you aren't going to be much help,' Reg said as he pulled me out the front door. 'Locomotor trunk,' he said, pointing his wand at my fairly large suitcase, causing it to float in the air and follow him. 'Right,' he said as he walked over to where I was slumped on the front steps, 'Put you arm around me, I guess I'll just have to drag you,' he said pulling me up and slinging my arm around his neck. I felt like I was a dummy and he was my ventriloquist, he answered the questions that were meant for me and moved my body for me.

'Sirius,' Reg began, I listened but kept my eyes closed, 'After what I did to mother, they'll force me to become a death eater and I'll already be in their debt if they spare me because of what I did. It'll be the only way – don't say anything, just listen - ' and I did, because I couldn't bring myself to utter a word, 'I'm sorry, for everything. I don't expect you to ever want to speak to me when I – I … you know and I don't expect you to forgive me either. But just remember that I saved you. That's all I ask.'

I felt disenchanted by what Reg said, but he was right. It would be my fault that he would have to become a death eater. I promised myself that I would do everything within my power to help him and get him out of that trouble, after all I was in his debt.

We walked for what felt like ages, well he walked and pulled me along – I just moved my legs. Suddenly he stopped, 'Is that the Potter's house?' he asked me.

I gradually opened my eyes, I barely had the energy to do so. There in front of us, was a winding lane and on the end of it was a magnificent house, it was surrounded by trees and bushes. It looked exactly how Angel had drawn it. When James, Angel and I first met on the train to Hogwarts, we talked about our homes and lives outside of school, Angel told me that it was easier for her to draw things rather than describe them. After about ten minutes she handed me a piece of parchment with a perfectly drawn miniature house with a garden on it. I smiled at the memory that I had treasured so greatly and said, 'Yes, this is it.'

We slowly stumbled up the lane, my trunk still floating behind us, once we reached the house I could hear Angel's and James' laughter and Angel saying, 'Gosh James, you looked so funny, not that you've changed.' I smiled at this comment. Once we made it up the front steps, Reg outstretched his arm and reached for the brass door knocker, rapping it twice, 'Oh dad, sit there, I'll get it,' came a voice from inside the house.

The door opened, spilling out beams of bright light and standing in that bright light was Angel, 'Hi can I – OH MY GOD!' she screamed, clasping her face, 'Sirius, what happened?! MUM, DAD, COME HERE, QUICKLY! Reg, what in hell's name happened?'

'Please, let's just get him inside. I'll explain later, but I'm sorry I have to go,' Reg said hurriedly and he pulled me up into the house.

End of Flashback

'You coming to Hogsmeade with me then Angel?' Jacob asked her, yet again Sirius glared in his direction.

Evangeline smiled apologetically at him before saying, 'Sorry Jacob, I have so much work to do and I have some Maurauding to catch up on,' Jacob frowned, but Evangeline continued, 'We can spend tomorrow together though,' she smiled before kissing him softly on the lips.

Jacob smiled, 'I guess that'll do okay then,' he said and planted a kiss on her forehead, 'The guys are over there, I'll go with them,' he said moving Evangeline's body that was resting against his, 'See you later babe,' he said kissing her on the cheek and walking over to the Ravenclaw table.

Evangeline turned her attention to the four boys that were sitting opposite her, searching each and every one of their faces, 'So James, this is later,' she said sternly, staring him out.

'Fine, we'll tell you,' James gave in, his sister could be very persuasive especially when she used her tell-me-or-I-will-make-you-tell-me glare.

'Tell her what?' Peter asked, glancing between Evangeline and her brother.

James rolled his eyes, 'About you-know-what Wormtail,' he snapped, 'Do you always have to be so clueless?'

'What's with these random nicknames? I mean Moony is pretty self-explanatory, but Wormtail?' Evangeline said, 'Who would want to be called Wormtail?' she said grimacing.

'But Wormtail is my nickname, I like it!' Peter complained, frowning at Evangeline.

'Okay, okay Peter! Jesus … All I want to know is why you have them, ' Evangeline said, before lowering her voice, 'And why exactly you three- 'she said pointing at James, Sirius and Peter, 'Are going out on a full moon.'

'Swear to us you won't tell anyone, especially that boyfriend of yours,' James warned her.

'What makes you think I would tell anyone, I know more people's secret than what you might think,' Evangeline said, 'And I wouldn't tell Jacob, it has nothing to do with him.'

'Okay,' James whispered, 'We're Animagus',' he grinned.

Evangeline's eyes widened, she gasped and glanced round at the other Maurauders, they were all grinning from ear to ear, suddenly she felt extremely jealous, 'AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!' she yelled and stood up, causing several people to turn their heads and stare at her, 'Sorry, 'she said, smiling feebly and she sat back down.

'You didn't tell me!' she whispered angrily.

'I told you she would react like this,' Remus said directing it towards James.

'We did this for your benefit Moony, the least you can do is thank us!' James exclaimed in a quiet voice.

'I'm not going to thank you for risking your lives!' Remus said throwing his hands in the air.

Evangeline interrupted their conversation, 'How long have you been Animagus' for exactly?' she said whilst trying to figure out what they all transformed into.

'Two days,' Sirius replied grinning.

Evangeline scowled, 'Only two days, and what do you transform into then?' she asked him.

'How about I show you instead?' Sirius suggested.

Remus laughed, 'That's what you say to all your girlfriends Padfoot!' James chuckled at this statement.

'Shut up Moony!' Sirius snapped.

'Padfoot?' Evangeline said, thinking of what exactly that might mean, she thought for a while before blurting out, 'Are you a dog?'

'Yep,' Sirius smiled, pleased with himself that he had achieved to become an Animagus before the smartest girl in their year.

'It suits him down to the ground too!' Remus added, laughing at his own joke, 'Gosh, I'm on a roll today.'

'It's not 'let's all take the piss outta Sirius day' Remus!' Sirius snapped, annoyed from Remus continuous jokes about him.

'Okay, I'll stop, I promise,' Remus said smiling, a mischievous glint in his eye portrayed otherwise.

'Well, Peter … Wormtail … Eww you aren't a rat are you?' Evangeline said, disgusted with the thought of the scurrying rodents with no fur on their tails.

'Yes, I am,' Peter said, concerned with Evangeline's reaction he continued, 'But what's wrong with rats?'

'They're just … all scurrying and squeaky and .. I just don't like them,' Evangeline said honestly, 'No offence Peter.'

'None taken,' the short, plump boy said depressingly.

'What's your nickname then James?' Evangeline asked her older brother, who was skidding goblets down the table with his wand towards Sirius who was sliding them back up to him.

'Prongs,' he said proudly, 'I'm a stag.'

'Oh very majestic, they're quite beautiful creatures. How exactly does a stag portray your personality?' Evangeline questioned, 'I mean you're a cocky, unintelligent git,' she teased him.

'Very funny Sis,' James said, glaring at her, 'I'm strong, good-looking … the list goes on,' he said ruffling his hair.

'Pfft, yeah, I'm sure it does along with stupid, clumsy and no good with girls,' Evangeline ridiculed him, 'But isn't it dangerous though, going out with Remus on a full moon?' Evangeline said, glancing at Remus, who was smiling at her.

'At least you understand, even if they can't get hurt in their animal forms, it's still dangerous,' Remus said, agreeing with Evangeline, 'I appreciate them wanting to be with me during my transformation, but I honestly don't want them to see it.'

'How long does it take to become an Animagus?' Evangeline asked inquisitively.

'Around three to four months, but if we have known how to do it before it would have taken considerably less,' James said, 'We had to do all the research, learn the spells and potions perfectly before we could actually transform,' he explained.

Evangeline breathed heavily and smiled at her brother, 'Help me to become an Animagus,' she said, 'You know I've always wanted to be one, ever since I found out about McGonagall and then her explaining it in class.'

James glanced at Sirius and then to Remus, 'I suppose we could help you, but on one condition. You have to prank the entire school … including the teachers,' he said, smirking.

Evangeline laughed, 'You picked the wrong person to blackmail Potter,' she said grinning.

'So that's a deal then?' Sirius asked.

'Of course it is!' Evangeline exclaimed.

'Fine, we'll start helping you with becoming an Animagus after you manage to prank everyone,' James said, 'But be warned, it'll be harder than you think.'

'Pfft,' Evangeline snorted, 'It'll be a piece of cake.'

'Cake?' Peter asked, 'Where's the cake?' he said standing up and looking around the room.

Remus, Sirius and James all laughed at their friend's stupidity, Evangeline however rolled her eyes, she always wondered why her brother had chosen to hang around with the short, fat obviously unintelligent boy, who had no other friends when they first met him. He seemed as though he could be swayed into doing anything by being offered power and authority...

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!! After reading the sixth Harry Potter book, I decided that Regulas was genuinely a good person who got involved with the wrong people, that is my reason for making him help Sirius when he needed it most. I hope you understand where I'm coming from. REVIEWS!!! Thank you, to all of my reviewers, I appreciate it very much! Tori xox