The letter came calling Loralei to Hogwarts on boxing day. She knew it would come. It did not surprise her. She sent a message to Katie that she got hers. She would have to leave after New Year's but she would stay even after the students were let out. The letter at least implied that.

The letter arrived in the middle of the night, and because of it she could not sleep. She stared either at the letter or the moon outside. She didn't want to go back, but she had no choice. She would do as she was told, but she knew Hogwarts was the safest place for her to be. Why were they keeping her safe? Why were they not using her?

She wrapped her arms around herself trying to keep warm while freezing air seeped through the window. She just got her family. She had a family, and the moment they were all together, they were ripped apart again. How many more times would this happen to her? Would her whole life consist of hellos and goodbyes? Is that all life was? Dangling what she wanted just out of reach and keep pulling it away from her as she reaches for it? She didn't want to live like that.

"What are you doing up, Lore?" Sirius asked, sitting up in bed.

"Did I wake you up?" She asked quietly, ignoring his question. "I didn't mean to."

"You didn't. It's just cold without you here." He reached for her.

Loralei slowly walked towards him. "I have to leave for Hogwarts soon."

"When?" He asked, suddenly serious. "When do you have to leave?" He sat up.

"The second. A whole week and a half until students return." Loralei told him. "I'm sure Katie got her orders as well. We're leaving." She sat beside him, and let him wrap his arms around her.

"We'll be a family one day, Lore. You can't be taken away forever. We're meant to end up together." He told her. "We're going to be okay. I'll wait forever for you."

She hid her face in his chest. "I don't want to go."

"But you must. I know, Loralei. I know you, and you're a Gryffindor through and through. No one can ever change you." He told her, kissing the top of her head. "It'll be okay though. We'll still do the weekend thing It's going to be okay." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself as well as her.

Loralei sighed. "We'll be okay." She said with all the confidence she had. "I just hate being away from everyone. I hate being isolated."

And isolated she was.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Loralei began packing her trunk the day before she left. Lily and Remus were working at St. Mungo's, so James was the only one who could come over and say goodbye the night before she left. Katie was coming over the next morning so they could catch the Knight Bus together.

James was downstairs, Loralei could hear him and Sirius from her bedroom. She was guessing that they were making drinks. Sirius already warned her that they would be getting drunk tonight.

Loralei folded everything slowly as she packed her robes, her books, little trinkets that meant something to her. She was no longer packing to just stay for a little while, now she was packing to live there. Loralei and Katie would be given their own rooms, like roommates. Their own apartment hidden in Hogwarts. It would be better than having to go to the great hall at mealtimes or having to sneak to the kitchens. They could have the resemblance of a home.

Loralei heard yelling up the stairs for her, and she sighed. She shouldn't be moping around on her last night at home. She should be having fun with what little bit of her family could come sat an official goodbye. It was New Year's Eve. She would not start off the new year with being sad. It was a bright new year with a nephew on the way, and a new life as an auror. She would thrive in her new life.

Loralei placed down the shirt she was folding and put it in her half full trunk. She would return later to finish, but for now she had family to spend time with.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"LORALEI!" Katie yelled as she marched up the stairs loudly.

Loralei groaned, rolling away from Sirius to look at the clock on her nightstand. She and Katie were supposed to leave for Hogwarts in half an hour.

"Shit!" Loralei cursed, sitting up and pulling on her robe to keep the cold air off her skin. She ran to the bathroom to brush her teeth and hair. They needed to leave soon. Dumbledore was expecting them before ten in the morning. They would not be late.

Katie opened the bedroom door. "Loralei Potter, I have never seen you be late in your life." She saw Sirius in the bed, the sheets only covering one leg, and leaving him otherwise completely bare of clothing. Katie turned around, towards the bathroom door. "Loralei. I have seen more of your boyfriend than I ever wanted to."

Loralei laughed. "Sirius!" She yelled.

Sirius sat up abruptly. "I'm up."

"Katie has just seen you naked. How about you put on some clothes, my love?" Loralei said, putting lotion on her face, not looking away from her reflection in the mirror.

Sirius looked to the side, where he could see Katie's back. He was still half asleep, so he moved slowly. "You know, Katie, back in Hogwarts many people would have loved to see me naked." He yawned, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and pulling on pajama pants.

"I was never one of them." Katie played along. "I only had eyes for one man. Sadly for you, you were never him." She turned to look him over. "Have a fun night, Black?"

Sirius grinned. "About as good as yours, I suspect, Green."

Katie winked at him. "Oh, I'm sure mine was better. Lore told me you guys had James over last night, you couldn't have that much fun with him over."

Sirius shrugged. "He left early. He got a bit upset with me undressing his sister with my eyes. He didn't want to be there to witness it."

"Yeah, we had all day and all night." Katie threw back her head and moaned softly.

"You two stop it." Loralei said as she walked out of the bathroom to her chest of drawers to pull on tight cotton pants.

"Lore, you have twenty-five minutes until we have to go. Stop talking and keep getting ready." Katie told her. "I will go make some coffee downstairs if you don't want me talking to your boyfriend."

"Fiancé, actually." Sirius corrected.

Katie rolled her eyes. "Fine, fiancé." Katie walked out of the room.

"You two must have fun together." Sirius told Loralei. "You are very similar."

"Please tell me that you prefer me. I know she prefers her boy." Loralei stated, buttoning her robes. She stood in front of Sirius. "How do I look? Do I look like an adult?"

Sirius looked her over. She wore black tight pants, through her robes covered the back of her legs. She had small black buttons start at her hips to her chest. It had long sleeves that came to a point on the top of her hand. Her blonde hair was pulled away from her face, in a clip on the back of her neck, though some of it went over her shoulders, and fell to her elbows in front of her. She looked dangerous. She looked beautiful.

"You look perfect." He told her.

Loralei's face softened. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"I will see you when you tell me I can." Sirius told her, smiling sadly. "You won't have time to miss me."

Loralei walked towards him and kissed him lightly. She kissed him goodbye.

A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short! I haven't had much time to write these last few weeks. Hope you all had a good Christmas (or whatever you celebrate)!

Her-My-O-Knee: Sorry I didn't reply in the last chapter! I didn't see your review when I was uploading! Thanks for your review!

Gryfinclaw: Harry will be born in July of the year in the story. So it'll happen soon! Thank you so much!

bookreader1617: Thank you!

C.B. Weasley: I'm so sorry! It must happen! Loralei needs to go off and get stuff done! I think I'm going to make this slightly AU, but you'll see how it happens ;) spoilers, sweetie!

Blue Luver5000: Thank youuuu!