She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE

A Secret Revealed

Death sometimes happens so suddenly…it had taken just three days for Walburga to fall ill and die. It was like swamp fever in horses – swift and deadly. And, even though I hadn't liked her much, I was still feeling sad.

For Regulus.

Although it was hard to say who was handling the death worse – him or Kreacher, who had taken to saying 'my poor mistress' at least a million times since we'd told him.

"My poor mistress…" He said mournfully that evening, before Regulus, Bellatrix and I were due to go back to Hogwarts – but we would be returning soon for the funeral. "Now poor master Regulus is all alone in the world…"

"No, he's not," I said rather irritably from across the kitchen, where I was teaching myself how to enchant a pair of knitting needles and wool. "Regulus is not alone, cause' he's got me…" I trailed off after that, because I wasn't quite sure what to make of what I'd just said. I concentrated on my magic.

Kreacher was peering at me with his weird, house elf eyes. He seemed to be sizing me up. "You…would stay with master Regulus?" He asked finally, taking a few tentative steps toward him and then stopping when the sewing needles clicked furiously at him (I swear I didn't make them do that).

"Yes, well," I said, trying to word how it was. "He and I are friends, aren't we? No, hang on, that's not it…" I frowned at my knitting attempt. "Reg to me is…more than just my best friend…I honestly have to say I don't know what I'd do without him. And I have to be here for him now because, um…Sirius won't be…"

"Quite right," Kreacher said slowly. "Master Regulus enjoys your company, Emma Pax…very much, he does…"

I closed my eyes briefly. If Kreacher was saying what I thought he was saying – that Regulus Black was in love with me – then what the hell was I supposed to do about it! I couldn't be in love with three wizards at the same time…just being in love with two was bad enough! "Yeah," I said, after the longest while, as I finally managed to knit a row. "I…enjoy his company too…very much…"

Kreacher actually smiled (I think).

Regulus came into the kitchen then, quite suddenly as he usually did.

"How much of that did you just hear?" I asked him, somewhat suspiciously as I knitted another row.

Regulus smiled slightly. "Enough." He replied, going over to the fireplace and checking the flower pot that held the emerald green Floo Powder in it.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to eavesdrop on people, Reg?" I asked, glaring at his back.

He turned around. He was still smiling. "Actually, no, she encouraged it. Said it was a good way to pick up information that I might need."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'll bet…oh, are we leaving now?" I asked, as Regulus put the flower pot on the kitchen table.

He nodded. "Just as soon as we find Bella…I think she's gone for a walk, actually…" He glanced toward the door. "I'll go and…"

"No, I'll go," I said, leaving my wand and my knitting on the chair behind me. I got up, and left the kitchen, heading toward the front door and out into the cold chill. "Me and my big mouth…" I muttered, as my breath came out in cold clouds. "Now, where is she?" I wondered, walking halfway up the street, wishing that the streetlights would come on because it was dark. "Where is…?" I suddenly stopped, staring about fifteen feet in front of me, where Bellatrix Lestrange was standing, with her right hand to her left forearm.

In half a second, five black clouds appeared around her, and the black-robed Death Eaters stood there.

My heart just about stopped beating, as I realised how much danger I was suddenly in.

I didn't have my wand – I couldn't Disapparate.

In another second, the street lamps would come on, revealing my presence to the Death Eaters.

There was only one thing for it.

I turned on my heel and sprinted back down the street, my feet crunching in the snow. Soon, my steps became a four beat gait, as I transformed into the huge white wolf, heading toward a park down the other end of the street.

***###

No One's P.O.V:

Regulus stood at the front door of Number 12 Grimmwauld Place, staring at the white wolf disappearing into the night – the white wolf that had once been Emma Pax. Regulus' mark burned – and he knew at once why Emma had been running.

But more importantly…

Emma Pax was an Animagus – and now Regulus Black knew it.