Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the stuff J.K. Rowling created.

Chapter Fifteen

The Fork in the Road

Many things went through my mind at that moment. The thought that kept repeating itself over and over again was You're free. This is your chance. Run. Now.

"You mean we're…out…of Hogwarts?"

Sirius nodded. "Yep. I know what you're thinking, and that's why I brought you here. Whether you choose to believe it or not, I know how you feel. But can you stay around a little bit longer? At least until I have to go back."

It took a moment for his words to process. "You mean this was your plan all along?"

"Uh-huh."

Surprising us both, I hugged him. "Thanks Sirius! You have no idea how much this means to me."

"It's no problem. Come on, we don't have much time, and I want to show you something, that way if you ever want to stop in, you'll have a good place to travel by." He led us down some aisles that had some pretty weird named and looking sweets. I didn't even want to try some, but Sirius kept commenting on which ones were okay, really good, revolting, and tasteless.

"What is this place?"

"Honeydukes," he replied. His face broke out in a grin when he saw something. He picked it up and read the package out loud.

"'Wolfsbane. Not intended for non-lycanthropes. Warnings: side effects if swallowed by a non-lycanthrope includes howling at the first full moon of the month taken, growing taller, teeth and nails getting sharper, skin getting unhealthily pale, and not getting along with other lycanthropes.' I've got to get this for Remus."

"He'll appreciate that," I agreed.

Sirius picked up three packages, then glanced at me. "You want one? James and I'd have fun with this, although I don't think Remus will care for the joke."

I read the warnings again. "Ah…thanks, but no thanks."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"Berty Botts Every Flavor Beans?" I asked. "What's so…um, well, magical about beans?"

Sirius got a mischievous glint in his eye. "They're really jelly beans, a type of candy. Except, unlike the muggles' version, we actually have every flavor." He picked the box up. "You will try these."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

We walked over to a counter that an older lady, about fifty or so, sat behind.

We're going to get caught, I thought. But Sirius seemed so relaxed and confident, I said nothing.

"Good morning Sirius dear," the lady said. "Out of Hogwarts a bit early aren't ya?"

"Hello Maggie. Just the normal trip," Sirius replied, flashing the woman a coy smile.

"Where's James, Remus, and Peter?" Maggie asked.

"Oh, um…busy."

"I should really turn you troublemakers in. You're just lucky I'm fond of you kids." Maggie noticed me, and she frowned a little bit. "Who have we here? You've never brought a girl here before." She squinted, like she was trying to guess on something. "She's a bit old for you ain't she? How old are ya?"

I glanced at Sirius, who was trying not to smile. "Eighteen. I'm a teaching assistant to Professor Mark Weasley with Defense Against the Dark Arts," I lied.

"Are you going to become an Auror? Mark is one of the best. He hasn't mentored anyone in ages." Now that shocked me. I'd been sure Weasley hadn't been one of them. And if he was, then what was he doing at Hogwarts?

But I nodded and continued to play along. "It surprised me too." Which was technically true.

"Whatcha doin with my boy then?" Maggie asked.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't realized he's taken," I replied curtly.

The woman's eyes narrowed and I thought I had gotten myself into an argument we could do without. But thank the gods Sirius cut in.

"She's my cousin."

Maggie withdrew. "Alright then." Sirius gave her some weird looking coins and we walked out of Honeydukes.

I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off.

"Yes Professor Weasley is an Auror. That was the one of conditions for you being at the school. And he figured since he'd be there as long as you would, he might as well fill an empty post."

"But he didn't seem like one! And I didn't recognize…"

"He's an ÆnIml-shifter. He probably worked undercover."

All of a sudden my memories came rushing back. No. It couldn't be…

I stumbled but Sirius caught me. "You okay?" he asked. He looked concerned. I imagine the look on my face was not one he'd expect to see on me.

"No. Not really." Why did I feel betrayed? What did it matter anymore?

"I'm sorry. I thought you knew that. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. He's just one of the best; usually everyone knows who he is." I nodded, pulling it back together. Now was the time for a subject change.

"What was that back there?"

"What was what back where?" I glared and he laughed. "Ooohhh. You mean Maggie? Absolutely nothing."

"Huh. She was telling you that I'm too old for you? She was flirting with you and she's like fifty-somethin! I think she's got me beat in the age limit."

"She's forty-nine and a-half. Why?"

"That's wrong."

"Do I detect a bit of jealousy?"

"Yeah, right. Of what exactly?"

"Denial." He offered me a jelly bean, which I took hesitantly.

"If you say so."

"I do." He was watching me. "Go on, it's not poison. Or dangerous."

"What do I care if something's dangerous? I live for danger."

"Well then what's stopping you from eating a piece of candy?" he shot back. I put it in my mouth, took a bite, and gagged. I spit it out at him, hating that the taste lingered in my mouth.

"That bad?" he asked, smirking, skirting out of the way of the flying object.

"Nice trick. Although for just this time, I don't see what I did to deserve it," I replied.

"What's the flavor?" he asked, looking through the box. I took the box from him, found one that resembled the one I had ate, and shoved it in his mouth. His reaction was the same as mine, except it just nearly missed hitting me. I shoved him over playfully.

"Tastes like puke. Nasty!" He grabbed two pale green ones, swallowed one, and handed the other to me. He sighed. "That's better." He looked over at me and rolled his eyes. "It's a much calmer taste, so lose the look. It's just mint."

I chewed it up and was relieved to find he was right. My mouth was filled with minty freshness.

"See if I ever trust you again," I said.

"Hey! That was completely unintentional! The thing with those, when they say 'every flavor', they really mean it."

"Chill out. I'm only kidding. But seriously, you people have weird tastes."

"Don't leave yourself out. You're one of us."

I looked away from him. "Not exactly." Something up ahead caught my eye. "What's that?"

Up ahead of us was an abandoned old shack that rose probably ten feet into the air and was tilted at a precautious angle. It gave off this haunted feel.

"That, my friend, is none other than the Shrieking Shack. It's the road you'll take to visit us, and the most haunted place in all of London."

"Really?"

"That's what everyone thinks. But the shrieks and howls they hear coming from there are heard only on full moons, coming from someone we well know and love dearly."

"Remus? Then that means…."

"Right. The Whomping Willow is another passageway here. One we use quite often too."

"But then—"

"We think there might've been another werewolf here at some time in the past. Just makes things easier for us." We stood there in silence for awhile, gazing at the place.

"I better get back before they notice we've left. Given your reputation, they won't be surprised."

"Thanks Sirius, again," I said.

He looked sad, but nonetheless, he had his usual cocky smile on. "No problem. It's probably for the best. Besides, I'm sure we'll see you again." He started walking down the hill to the Shrieking Shack, and disappeared.

For the first time in about a month, I was truly alone.

I made my way through Hogsmeade and eventually came to a fork in the road. The sign said that if I went right, I'd be heading to Hogwarts. Left would be where I just came from. Straight and I'd begin my travel home.

But then…where was home?

"Where is she?"

"Lily, let's not jump to conclusions—"

"Keep quiet Potter!" Lily snapped. "The conclusion is easy to figure out. It wasn't you and it wasn't Remus, so that leaves him."

"What if she's just—"

"She's not here," Tonks cut in. "Remus and I checked."

James shot Remus a glare. "Oh. Well maybe she found a secret passageway and is looking around. There's quite a bit of them around here."

"But you know where they're at. So which one did she take?"

"I know where one is, and it leads to Hogsmeade," Tonks said.

Remus looked down at her, surprised. "Really? Which one?"

"On the fourth floor behind a mirror," she replied.

"We haven't used that one in forever," James said. "Next time you sneak out let us know and we'll—"

"That's enough! Nike's missing and it's all his fault! You were wrong James. He's just like the others in his family!" Lily yelled, getting in Sirius' face.

"Evans! Knock it off!" James snapped, stepping between them. "You've gone too far. Why don't you see that you don't know everything?"

Lily stepped back, a look of hurt crossing her face. "Is that what you think?"

"He's my brother and I won't have you insulting him like that."

"James just quit. You're ruining your chances," Sirius muttered. "She's right. I let her go."

Remus laughed. "That's not very Sirius-like. Where?"

"Why?" Tonks asked. "You've always been so arrogant and selfish. What's she done to you?"

"Hey guys," I said. "Now what are you arguing about now?"

Five shocked faces turned to see me sitting on the ground behind them. Funny how unobservant they are when they're arguing. I mean, we were in a corridor. How could you miss someone just sitting there, even if they were obscured by the shadows?

"What are you doing here?" Sirius demanded, a pissed look replacing his shocked one. Wow. Tough love, huh?

"I thought things through and…this is my home now. You guys are my family, not the animals." I thought about it. "Although some of you are a bunch of animals yourselves, so I'm not missing out on that."

"Whoa, wait. Some of us are confused here," Tonks said.

"Don't worry about it," I said. "The important thing is I've just stopped those two from ripping each other's heads off over nothing."

Tonks grinned. "Aren't you a lifesaver."

I smiled back. "Don't we all know it."

"Were you seriously thinking about leaving us?" Remus asked.

I paused, thinking. "Kinda. My mind is messed up—shut-up Sirius—so it takes me awhile to figure things out—Sirius!—or to open my eyes and see what I have in front of me." I glared at Sirius, who seemed to be enjoying me insulting myself. Switching to the language the werewolves spoke, I said,

"Worry not my friend. It was not your sharp teeth that almost made me run away." Weirdly enough, everyone ignored the fact I had spoke in a different language. They were use to this by now.

He snorted at me and said, "Oh thanks. I was so very worried about that."

Tonks looked at Remus with an amazed look.

"You do have a sense of humor!" Everyone except Lily and James laughed. They were just staring at each other, each of them clearly upset.

I stood up slowly. "It's pretty sad that I'm being the peacekeeper here, but I guess you have to do what you have to."

James cracked a smile, but that was it.

"Alrighty then. Now that the family's back together and showing lots of love, don't you boys have some stuff to do?" I asked, referring to their pranks.

"And it's nothing you can help with," Sirius added. Oh, nice touch, I thought. Are you trying to start a fight?

"We could always continue this discussion later if it's that important," Remus said. "Because obviously Nike's jokes aren't lightening the mood."

"Do they ever?" Sirius asked him.

"I think not," James said, smiling. Lily uncrossed her arms and shook her head, the showdown between her and James forgotten. Just leave it to the jokesters to make things better.

"It's nice to know that the one thing that we all love to do is make fun of me," I said. "It makes me feel special."

"Oh, you're special alright," Sirius said.

"Is that why we get along so well? We're a pair of 'special' people?" I fired back.

"She's got you there, Black," Tonks said.

"Thank you. See? I have somebody on my side."

"Since when are we taking sides?" Remus asked.

"I want to know that too," James agreed. "'Cause now I don't know who to choose: you or Sirius?"

"Me," Sirius and I said at the same time.

"That right there proves my point exactly!"

"Come on James," Sirius pleaded. "I'm your best friend!" He turned his puppy-dog eyes on Remus. "Yours too!"

"Ah, but see, you're my brother, not my best friend," James replied. "She's taken that post."

"Ditto," Remus said, grinning.

"So I'm not your sister now?" I pouted.

"You are, but don't tell him that," Remus whispered.

"I, for one, think Nike's better," Lily said, speaking at last.

"Me two," Tonks said, elbowing Remus in the ribs.

Remus grunted and said, "Same, dear." Tonks smiled and rolled her eyes at him. Hmm…I don't think Tonks hated Remus anymore.

Sirius glared at him, seeing this also, and then glanced at James, who was smiling playfully.

"I'll follow along with the rest of the pack," he said. "After all, Nike always claims victory, that's why she was named after the goddess of victory, right?"

"I wouldn't go that far," Tonks said.

"It's nice to know that I'm loved," Sirius muttered.

I put a comforting hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look. "Aw, it's nothing like that, sweetie. You are loved. I'm just loved more."

"I feel so much better," he said sarcastically.

"That was my goal."

A/N: Okay, I said Nike was outta here, and she isn't, but it wasn't an entire lie! She did leave Hogwarts when she wasn't supposed to! Umm…again, I don't have much to say for this chapter. I have absolutely NO idea why I am so short on my wonderful talking ability for the past two chapters… (No comment or else Nike'll be after you!) Oh, yeah, Weasley. That's all I have to say. Refresh your memory some about him before you read the next chapter, okay? And chapter 12, if you will…

Expect a mental breakdown from Nike next chapter! Who will she run to? (Of course, that's not all that the next chapter's about…but I can't tell you everything and spoil it, now could I?)

What did you think? How 'bout letting me know through a review? Hmm? Wonderful concept, isn't it? Quite easy to do, if I may so say myself.

Also, my readers, either PM me or let me know in a review…what do you think Nike's wand should look like? I, of course, have an idea, but I'd like to have you guys interact with this story a lil bit, so you'll have to expect more questions later on that I'll absolutely NEED you to answer! Like, for example, this one here. So, with that, I'm done talking.

Nike