Author's Note

Okay, I know, it's been forever. Don't hate me! I'm so sorry! Crazy stuff has happened in my personal life, not to mention the fact that my parents have decided to move our family to Europe next year. I also have been really busy with my music, and I broke up with my boyfriend, and then my laptop broke! And I could go on and on but I have a feeling no one really cares, haha :)

The point is, things have been hectic lately, and really aren't getting much calmer, but I'm determined to keep writing, because honestly it's the only thing keeping me sane these days! And, this isn't exactly the longest chapter ever, but I'm easing back into things after such a long (sorry again!) break. Originally I was planning on having Adeline's home-coming in this chapter and all the madness that goes with it, but somehow this scene morphed itself into a chapter itself. So yeah, it's shorter than the others, but hey, it's something! Also, check my profile for a pic of Adeline's gift!

Read, enjoy, and review! :) Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own HP!

8. Amazing

"Something feels off." Sirius muttered, not for the first time, as our little group stood in front of the Hogwarts Express after its long journey, saying our last goodbyes.

I ignored his worry, which was only making me feel more on edge, as I hugged Remus, James, Peter, and Lily goodbye for the holidays.

"Be safe." Lily said as she pulled away, looking at me sternly, like she was my mother. "Don't do anything rash. Get out of there at the first sign of trouble. I mean it, Addy."

"I know." I said, smiling reassuringly and trying to hide my nerves. "I'll be fine."

She nodded once more, then walked over to where Remus was waiting for her. With a last wave goodbye from my red-headed friend, I turned to find myself alone with the tall, handsome, and brooding Sirius Black. He was looking at me with the most solemn expression I had ever seen him wear. It unnerved me.

He sighed, his eyes studying my face, before he suddenly stepped forward and hugged me tightly.

I was caught by surprise. Since that day a few weeks ago, when I had found out the truth about my family in probably the worst way possible and he had held me in his arms while I cried, we had barely touched.

I made to return the hug, but by that point he was already pulling away, and I could have sworn I saw a faint blush on his cheeks. I looked around embarrassingly and couldn't help but notice the faces of a few muggle girls contort in jealousy.

I barely registered that fact before my eyes were drawn back to Sirius's big blue ones.

"I don't feel right about this." he said, his spontaneous display of affection forgotten as once again he stared at me with that brooding expression. "Adeline, I'm telling you, something's going to go wrong." he ran a hand absent mindedly through his hair, brows furrowed. "How do you know that your father has forgiven you for being put in Gryffindor? How do you know they aren't going to force you to join their ranks and—"

I cut Sirius off before he could bring all my own fears back to the surface. I couldn't afford to think about the what-if's, even if they were rational and maybe even probable. I had to be strong, and brave, if I wanted to help win this war. "Sirius." I said, holding up a hand to stop him. "I know my family, okay? And I know what I'm doing. You have to stop worrying."

For a moment he looked like he was going to object, but then he heaved a heavy sigh and nodded slightly. "Alright, Addy. It's your call." His eyes changed then, going from troubled to almost playful, and maybe even a bit nervous. "One last thing then, before you go?"

I looked up at him warily, crossing my arms. "What?" I asked, staring at the boy who looked like he had some kind of trick up his sleeve.

"Your Christmas present of course, silly." he told me with a cocky grin, pulling something out of his pocket that looked suspiciously like a jewelry box.

"Oh." I said, dumbfounded. "You don't need to give me any kind of—"

"Oh, but I did." he told me, grinning wickedly and more or less forcing the box into my hands. "Open it."

I sighed, knowing Sirius probably had some kind of practical joke awaited me—possibly mini-fireworks exploding in my face or a jet of water squirting up my nose.

What I was not expecting was a gorgeous necklace with a big green emerald set in the center, framed by silver, a delicate chain threaded through it.

I glanced at Sirius in shock. He seemed to be watching me, gauging my reaction carefully.

I felt unable to speak. Of course, my parents, my father especially, often give me—or used to, anyway—expensive gifts. But there was something so special about this one. Or was it that the person who gave it to me was special?

"Do you like it?" he asked nonchalantly, but I could just detect that note of concern in his voice, that gave away the fact that he was waiting with baited breath for my opinion.

"Oh, Sirius." I said, quietly. "It's gorgeous. Thank you." I gave him a hug, quick enough that he could hardly react before I was pulling away.

I quickly clasped the necklace around my neck, then smiled shyly up at him, before remembering myself.

"What the heck are you doing, getting me something so expensive?" I admonished him, the embarrassment that I had forgotten in the beauty of my gift now surfacing, pushing away the worrying voice in my head saying: What is he doing, buying something like this for ME? I'm just his friend, nothing more…

I tried to tell myself that all I was concerned about was the price. After all, the only thing I had gotten him was a broom-cleaning kit that he and James had been drooling over for weeks. It hadn't costed me more than twenty pounds, where as this necklace had to be hundreds.

"Relax, Addy! Merlin, can't a guy give his friend a pretty necklace without getting chewed out for it? I swear, I'll never understand women." he feigned annoyance, but at the same time he was grinning at me cockily.

I smirked at him despite myself. "No, you probably won't." I told him, absent-mindedly touching my necklace. It had a strange aura about it. It was almost like I could feel Sirius's happy, laughing spirit emanating out of the green pendant. "But really, it's beautiful. Thank you so much."

"No problem. I just saw it in the store, and the color reminded me of your eyes." he stared at me seriously, his probing gaze taking away from what was supposed to be a flippant statement, and making it seem like so much more. "They're so green…" he whispered now, half to himself, subconsciously stepping closer to me so that we were only inches apart. I could feel his warmth all around me, and in the blink of an eye, I was suddenly unaware of everything except the tall, black-haired, blue-eyed boy in front of me.

We held each other's gaze for a moment, both of us caught up in this weird, strange bond that had suddenly formed between us. I felt so safe, so surrounded, and so needed. It was like nothing I had ever felt before, and I wanted this moment to last forever, just staring at Sirius, and him returning my gaze.

"Padfoot! Oi! Come on now! We don't have all day!" James' voice rang through the crowd from where he was waiting for Sirius across the station, cutting through our private little world, shattering it and catching us both unawares.

We blinked rapidly, me laughing nervously and looking away while Sirius let out an almost wolf-like growl of frustration and ran a hand through his hair.

Sirius waved at James, telling him wordlessly to hold on for a moment, and faced me, a little breathlessly. "Um…" he said, in a very non-Sirius like, nervous manner, before he seemed to collect himself and stare at me with renewed feeling, maybe even desperation. "Be safe. Please, Adeline." his voice was begging. "And, well… if you find yourself in trouble… just hold on tight to that necklace, and think of me." He finished with a grin that wasn't exactly cocky, but held some humor."And yes," he finished, as we both laughed a little bit, our intense connection from moments earlier forgotten momentarily. "I know that is incredibly cheesy. But I mean it."

I nodded, gave him a last, quick hug, and thanked him once more for the necklace. "You know I have to do this." I said, as he picked up my hand bag that was sitting next to us on the ground of the train station and handed it to me.

He sighed, and finally nodded. "I know. I hate the idea, but it's your choice." He smiled at me, I smiled back, and we parted ways after a last goodbye, my thoughts on the beautiful necklace around my neck, and the amazing boy who had given it to me.