A/N: I've decided to go with a long version of this story. Oh my goodness...I hope I don't bite of more than I can chew.

Reviews would be lovely~ and thanks for reviewing!

Chapter Four

In Which She's Overwhelmed

Sirius glanced at Mad-Eye. Could he see Arabella from where he sat? Sirius knew that his eye could see past invisibility cloaks, but could it see through solid walls and ceilings? Sirius groaned silently to himself. He wouldn't be surprised if it could and that fact alone just made him all the more anxious. A shiver went down his spine. How long has it been since he had felt this feeling of anxiety? Was what he feeling even anxiety? Maybe he was just excited. Yes, that was it. It was the thrill of breaking the rules, a feeling he knew all too well.

He thought of the girl hidden upstairs. She was very nice and very sweet, maybe too nice and maybe even too sweet. Her demeanor reminded him that of an angel, except in human form. The girl just screamed innocence to him…then again, she did sneak into a stranger's house. So perhaps there was a side of her he had yet to discover. Then again…that seemed impossible. There was no possible way he could spend more time with her. She didn't belong in his world; she belonged to the muggle one. Now he wished he had returned to the room as soon as he was done cleaning, to spend time with her, but then everyone else would be suspicious on what he was doing up there. But he's a grown man after all, he didn't have to announce to everyone what he was doing at every second of every day. Except Molly, she would probably bug him about it until he gave her a "sufficient" answer…he could have just said that Buckbeak was sick! They would have believed that! Sirius silently beat himself up for not realizing an excuse earlier in the day…

"Sirius? Sirius?" Remus's voice brought Sirius out of his daze.

"Huh? Oh, uh…I think Remus is definitely right on the matter."

"Sirius, the meeting's over," Remus chuckled.

"I knew that." Sirius stood up.

"Oh, Sirius will you help set the table for dinner?" Molly asked as she scurried around the kitchen.

"Actually I need to go check on Buckbeak, he was acting funny earlier today. Don't know if he's sick or not…" With that he escaped the kitchen and Molly, but Remus followed in suit.

"Is there something on your mind Sirius?" His old friend asked him.

"No, why does it seem that?"

"Um, yes. You were quite dazed out during the meeting, although I do admit the meetings do get rather tiresome at times."

"Yeah, I guess that's it."

"Guess what's it?"

"I don't know. Whatever it was you said…"

Remus peered at him curiously. "You haven't been thinking about that girl again have you?"

"What? Me? No."

Remus sighed. "You're much too old for her." Sirius coughed a name that strangely sounded like "Tonks". Remus shot him a glare, before letting it subside. "I'll go up with you and take a look at Buckbeak for you if you want."

"No, it's fine. Just help Molly in the kitchen," Sirius smoothly declined Remus' offer and hurried upstairs.

As soon as Sirius entered the room, he heard a sigh of relief. "What? Thought I was someone else?" Sirius asked Arabella as he sat beside her.

"Yes and…I was almost worried you wouldn't come back in time. I...have to go home soon or I'll get in huge trouble with my father."

"Hmph, sounds like a strict guy, but I don't think a few more minutes would hurt…" He leaned in a little closer to her and Arabella blushed.

"I'm sorry. I really need to go home," She said, looking down at her hands.

Sirius sighed. "Alright, let's go." He gave her a hand up and led her to the door, without letting it go.

"Ummm, I'd like to see you again."

"You would?" Sirius asked, his voice sounding noticeably brighter.

"Yes. Maybe we could meet at the old park, since I don't think I'd be able to come here again with the other wizards around…"

"Oh…" Sirius' momentary joy was shot down. "I can't leave the house."

"Why not?"

"I can't tell you."

Arabella nodded. "Alright…" She felt heart broken and nearly beat herself up for it. She only just met the man, but it felt like her heart just went out to him.

The rest of the wizards were in the kitchen. Arabella could hear their voices down below. Biting on her lower lip, she held Sirius' hand a little tighter. Sirius squeezed back in reassurance and they descended down the stairs silently together. When they arrived at the door, Arabella looked up at Sirius. It was over. It was all over before it could even begin. "Will…will I ever see you again?"

"Maybe, sometime farther in the future hopefully, when I'm allowed to leave this house."

"I haven't known you for very long, but I wish…I wish I could have gotten to know you better."

"Me too." He whispered, his hand brushing away some hair from her face. Arabella noticed her heart rate increase considerably.

"Sirius!" A voice harshly whispered. Arabella and Sirius jumped and broke away from one another. To Arabella great surprise and Sirius' bad luck, it was Remus. "What is she doing here!" He pointed at Arabella. "How did she even get in here?"

"I'll explain later, please Remus don't give me that look. Just let her go and everything will be fine."

"Everything will not be fine. She's not supposed to know about our world Sirius."

"She already knows about it; she's seen the leaky cauldron, bowtruckles… I think knowing about wizards isn't really going to do her any harm," Sirius argued.

"That's not the point Sirius, the point is…"

"Sirius! Remus! Back away from the girl!" A voice ordered and both Sirius' and Remus' stomachs dropped. It was Mad-Eye and he was pointing his wand straight at the terrified Arabella. "Who are you!" The old man barked.

"I-I…" Arabella could feel herself shaking.

Sirius stepped in front of her. "She isn't doing any harm Mad-Eye."

"Then how did she get into the house? Nobody should be able to find this place without being told by the secret-keeper. She must be using some sort of dark magic."

"She isn't a dark witch! Does she look like one to you?"

"Stop being foolish Sirius. Just because she has a cute little face doesn't mean she can't be one. Answer me girl, who are you?"

"A-Arabella Roland."

The old man grumbled. "We're going to need Snape."

"Absolutely not!" Sirius protested.

Arabella gripped the back of Sirius' shirt. "Uh…who's…who's Snape?" She didn't like Sirius reaction to the name and it made her worry.

"That would be me…" A dreary voice announced. Arabella peered around Sirius to see a sickly pale looking man with black hair and clothing. Her eyes grew wide with fear. "Unfortunately Mad-Eye, I don't have any veritaserum with me. So I'd have to return home and retrieve it if you wish to question the girl."

"Wouldn't it be better to just erase her memory and to let her go?" Remus finally spoke up. "This way, whether she is a muggle or a dark witch, she won't have any memories of this place?"

"And let a possible death eater go free?" Mad-Eye grumbled. "You know I don't like the idea of that Remus."

"Then perhaps we should keep her until Dumbledore can give us his opinion on the matter." Snape suggested, his eyes had been on the girl the entire time and was starting to make Arabella feel very uncomfortable.

"I agree with Remus. It'd be better to just erase her memories…" Sirius frowned; he didn't want her to lose her memories, but he didn't want Dumbledore to find out about her either.

Snape now had a terrible smirk on his face. "And why would that be? Afraid he'll take away the only bit of excitement you've seen since you've been here?"

"You bastard I…" Sirius growled, drawing back an arm.

Remus held Sirius' arm back. "Actually, I think it might be best for Dumbledore to see her first and Snape should probably get veritaserum so we can question her to find the truth."

"Remus…" Sirius started.

Remus shook his head. "I think this is the best option. We'll have to keep her in a room with one of us guarding her until Dumbledore shows up. I'm not sure how busy he'll be…but by keeping her in a room we'll be able to keep her away from…"

"Blimey I'm starvin'!" Someone announced on their way down the stairs.

"Don't be pushin' Ron."

"Yeah, we know you can eat like a cow, but really?"

"I'm not pushing anyone!"

All at once four red headed teenagers came down the stairs and stopped to see the group of adults and the young woman they didn't know.

The tallest of the bunch spoke first. "Who's that? Is she a member of the Order too?"

"Shut your mouth boy!" Mad-Eye exclaimed.

"What did I say? I'm just asking a simple question."

Sirius sighed. "Ron, Ginny, Fred and George, it's not really any of your business who this is. Just please, please don't tell your mother…"

It was too late. Molly Weasley had entered the hallway. "What on Earth is taking you lot so long? Dinner's going to get cold if you don't hurry up…who's this?" Molly pushed past her children and Snape and Mad-Eye to get to Arabella. Arabella quickly looked down so she wouldn't have to look the woman in the eye.

"We don't really know. Apparently Sirius had kept her in his room until now…" Remus informed her.

"Woot! Way to go Sirius." Fred cheered.

George added. "Yeah mate, didn't know you still had it in ya."

"Children, into the kitchen." Molly ordered.

"But mom…" Ginny started.

"Now! And not another word!"

"When did you find her Sirius?" Mad-Eye demanded.

"This afternoon…Molly and the children just came back shortly after I found her."

"And you kept her locked up in the room the entire time?" Molly asked with disbelief.

Sirius then said defensively. "What else was I supposed to do?"

"You should have reported her! You know better Sirius." Mad-Eye scolded him.

"Can you blame him Mad-Eye? Sirius rarely gets to see any action…" Snape mentioned smoothly.

"Really Severus? Now is not the time for that." Remus interrupted before Snape could say anything more. "I've just contacted Dumbledore. We'll receive his reply any moment now. For now, let's just keep her in one of the rooms under guard."

"Fine." Sirius muttered. "I'll watch over her then. Everyone else can go eat dinner."

Snape cut in. "I don't think so. You're the one who kept her secret in the first place. I think it'd be best if someone else stood watch over her."

"If you think I'm going to let you stand guard over her…"

Snape sneered. "I have other things I'd rather do than watch over her."

"Alright, alright…" Remus stepped in again. "I'll watch over her, until Dumbledore…"

"You won't have to wait any longer…"

Arabella looked to see an old man, older than Mad-Eye, standing in the hall. He had a long white beard and wore long purple robes. Everyone seemed to move out of the way for Dumbledore to walk up to her. Sirius, however, didn't move an inch. "Sirius…" The man named Dumbledore said calmly. Sirius bit his lip and moved out of the way. Arabella had never felt so small before. "You are Arabella Roland?" Dumbledore asked.

She swallowed before answering. "Yes, yes sir."

"Tell me, how did you find this place?"

"I…uh…you…you won't believe me if I told you sir." She mumbled, staring down at her feet.

"I've heard a lot of strange things and have seen many strange things during my lifetime Miss Roland. I'm sure what you have to say isn't as strange as you may think…"

"But…but Sirius can't even see them. They've been with me all this time and nobody else seems to have noticed them…"

"And what is it he and everyone else can't see Miss Roland?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"The….fairies…I've had two fairies with me this whole time…"

"Fairies rarely show themselves to other magical folk, let alone muggles," Snape stated in a flat-toned voice.

Dumbledore held up a hand to keep Snape from speaking any further. "Thank you Severus. I don't think Miss Roland is dangerous; she simply has great curiosity…however, we can't be too sure of course. Snape, if you could be so kind to bring veritaserum tomorrow morning. Mad-Eye can question her then."

"B-but…my father…" Arabella spoke up. "If I don't go back home…"

"I will take care of your father Miss Roland. For now you will spend the night here." Dumbledore made his way to the door. "Mad-Eye, I'd like you to report to me the results of her questioning tomorrow."

"Yes sir."

"Good, I hope you all have a pleasant evening." And with that Dumbledore left the scene.

Silence rang throughout the air and Arabella began to feel even more uncomfortable than she was before. What on Earth should she do now? All the…wizards were staring at her now…if only she could melt away into a puddle.

"Well, if nobody objects…I think it's about time we should all have dinner now. Come now Arabella dear…" Mrs. Weasley motioned Arabella to follow her.

"Molly…" Mad-Eye started. "This girl could be a…"

"If she was do you think Dumbledore would have let her stay the night her without further questioning? Dumbledore seems to trust her enough and just look at the poor thing. She looks frightened to death. She seems more like a confused muggle than anything else!" Mrs. Weasley marched forward and took Arabella by the arm. All the men decided to let Mrs. Weasley have it her way. They learned from experience that once Mrs. Weasley set her mind to something, she was very unlikely to change it. "Will you be staying for dinner tonight Severus?" Mrs. Weasley asked politely.

"No, I'd like to prepare the veritaserum for tomorrow." With that the dreary man too left the house.

"I don't know why you bothered asking Molly. He always says no…" Sirius mumbled.

"Sirius…" She said with a warning tone. "Now Arabella you must be hungry. Let's go have dinner shall we?"