Cynthia's head spun. The same energy that had been spinning around her moments ago was now rushing past her. The force of it felt like the wind from a train, only much much worse. The wind grew heavy and began constricting around her. She saw the passing different energies darting past her like millions of shooting stars. The girl had to close her eyes because the forces working around her were just too much. Cynthia felt sick, she might even throw up. She needed out, now!

As if hearing her internal plea, everything around her stopped. Cynthia's feet hit soft ground as her stomach lurched. Instinctually she held a hand to her mouth, willing her body to be strong. She focused on breathing, noting that the air tasted different now. Everything around her felt different.

The air was crisp and alive. The ground beneath her was moist and spongy. The unmistakable scent of wet wood and trees filled her nose with each breath. A gust of wind brushed past, wicking away at the warmth she had, causing her to shiver slightly.

"Sorry." The single rushed word came from Sirius, prompting Cynthia to tentatively open her eyes. "Didn't have time to warn you."

The tall man didn't look like he was struggling with whatever had just happened. He quickly let Cynthia go, slinging his leather jacket over her shoulders. She soaked up the heat it held greedily.

Sirius took a few steps back from her. Cynthia felt wobbly without the man's support, but she didn't stop him. She held the jacket closer as she shivered, noting that they were indeed somehow in a forest. The girl ignored that fact, for now, only watching Sirius' emotions churning like a storm around him.

"I need to go back." Sirius wiped a hand down his face as the quick words hung in the air.

"What?" Cynthia was rooted to the spot, more confusion filling her with every moment.

"Just stay here." Sirius continued. "You'll be safe."

He was moving that odd stick of his around, sending off small waves of energy as he muttered to himself. One of them washed over Cynthia, draping over her like a cheap ghost costume, save it was transparent.

"There, that will have to do." He muttered, looking back towards Cynthia he spoke to her again. "I'll be back."

"You… You can't be serious." Cynthia spoke bewilderedly.

The man, hearing her words, one corner of his mouth tuned up.

"But I am love."

Without another word, familiar energies started quickly gathering around him in a whirlwind.

"Wait!" Cynthia yelled, taking a wobbly step forward.

Cynthia watched as his figure distorted and shifted with the whirlwind and was suddenly gone.

*Pop*

"No..." The quiet words fell out of her mouth, confusion quickly growing "It can't be…"

Cynthia's legs gave out, bringing her knees down to the wet ground. She simply sat there in silence, staring at the place where Sirius had been. She looked around herself madly, half expecting a crew of people to jump out and yell 'Surprise'. She wished that was the case.

The girl found no one, not a single soul. Around her there was nothing but towering trees that had yet to awaken from their winter slumber. The deep forest went on beyond the horizon, fading into a gray mist in the distance. The leaf covered ground at her feet was hardly thawed save where she now stood. Small patches of snow darted the forest floor, little bundles of wild vegetation springing up around them. The most unnerving thing was the silence. The trees around her swayed, their wood creaking eerily as the biting wind pushed past her again.

The young woman felt the hairs on her arms and legs prickle, anxiety mounting inside her. She could hear the blood pumping in her ears, her heartbeat sounding like a war drum. Cynthia tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat, but her mouth felt dry and chalky.

She was alone.

Cynthia closed her eyes, a few tears streaking down her cheeks. All her worries and concerns swelled to the forefront of her mind. What was she going to do? She had no way home, heavens knew how Sirius had managed such a feat in the first place. She might be able to see these new energies, but he could use them. What of James? And those strange men? They could manipulate these energies too. What of that energy that attacked her back in her flat? Did this mean that even if she got out of these woods, all it would take was one ill intending person to control her again? If that was the case, did she even want to leave this place?

A flash of her aunt and uncle came to the forefront of her mind. Cynthia felt guilt clench her heart. She couldn't abandon them. They only had each other now. She needed to be strong. She needed to get out of here. She needed to be brave!

Ignoring everything around her she tried to ground herself with this mantra. Continuing with slow intentional breaths the girl dismissed the endless worries filling her mind, she could think about that stuff later. For now she needed to get her bearings.

The forest was a dangerous place, regardless of what Sirius had said or done with that strange energy. The girl wiped her tear stained cheeks, opened her eyes, and forced herself to stand. Her legs wobbled under her weight, numb from sitting on them for so long.

Cynthia dusted the wet dirt off her jeans leaving large dark spots from the moisture that had soaked into them. She silently hoped they would try, and quickly. The last thing she needed was to be colder than she already was. Stepping forward the girl noticed the house slippers she was wearing were practically ruined. Though they were now filthy and wet, it was better than nothing in the girl's opinion. Walking on the forest floor barefoot would be asking for more trouble, and that was the last thing she needed.

Making her way forward, Cynthia took note that she was actually in a small clearing. A few stumps and fallen logs were darted around her, almost as if this area had been used before. Still, Sirius could have chosen a warmer, more populated place to drop her off.

Another gust of wind rushed past the girl, wicking more heat away from her wet extremities. Cynthia needed to do something, and fast. She didn't need to get hypothermia.

Looking round Cynthia made a plan. Walking over to a newly fallen evergreen she began pulling off small branches. It was hard to do with her numb fingers, she often had to take breaks, pulling them into the warm leather jacket Sirius had given her. She worked as quickly as she could, coating her fingers in sticky sap and no doubt getting more slivers than she could count. After amassing a small pile, she began carting them over to the largest tree in the clearing. The tall thing had no leaves, but the trunk was too large for her to even consider wrapping her arms around.

Forcing herself forward, the girl began layering the small pine branches onto the ground. The larger ones she had actually managed to break free were leant against the tree to give more cover from the wind. Cynthia worked with practiced hands, remembering the small huts she had made in her youth with her friends.

The girl let out a satisfied sigh as she finished the makeshift shelter. She couldn't wait to duck inside and escape the elements. As long as it didn't rain, she should be warm enough for the time being. Ignoring the idea that she'd be forgotten, the girl dusted her hands on her clothes only to notice she was still wearing her apron.

Oh how she could have cried! Donning a large grin, the girl opened the jacket intending to put her apron to better use. The girl would have continued, if she hadn't seen yet another energy churning on the inside of the leather jacket.

Her eyes grew wide as she watched a thicker swirling energy ebbing away inside the Jacket. It reminded Cynthia of a candle in the way it moved, but there was no color or light coming from it.

Another chilling breeze blew past the girl, causing her to shiver again. Her legs and face were freezing, both her hands and feet were numb. But this leather jacket had been keeping the rest of her perfectly warm and now she knew why, sort of.

Prompted by the cold air, Cynthia ignored the inner works of the leather item. She untied her apron, draping it on the bed of pine. The girl pulled off her wet slippers, stepping onto the fabric. She didn't hesitate to sit down on it, leaning her back against the large tree. Pulling her legs inside she zipped the Jacket closed. It was large enough to drape over her feet thankfully. Cynthia pulled her arms inside the main body of the jacket, wrapping them around herself. She buried her face into the zipped collar as far down as she could. Cynthia felt the warmth spread through her body, chasing the biting cold away. It was the perfect temperature, just warm enough to make you feel at home.

The young woman felt extremely grateful for the item, knowing she would be in a much worse predicament if it hadn't been left with her. Looking down at the jacket, she hoped it meant Sirius really would be back soon, if only for his jacket. Not that she'd give it back without getting a few answers.

Was this energy everywhere, had she simply not seen it before? How did it even work? Sirius hadn't done anything to the jacket, at least not that she had seen. How did it know what temperature was perfect? Surely no two people liked the exact same temperature. Was this new energy alive, was that how it knew?

*snap*

The sound of a twig snapping halted her inquisitive thoughts. Cynthia froze, turning towards the sound. Cynthia held her breath.

To her surprise, a large wild rabbit came hopping into the clearing. The girl felt the breath she had been holding slowly leave her. The creature didn't seem to care one bit about her presence. Quickly making its way closer and closer it occasionally stopped to nibble on some freshly sprouting vegetation.

Cynthia still didn't move, only watching the animal as it continued to get closer and closer to her shelter. As it did, the sheet of energy around her began to move. Looking down at her arm, she watched as the thin energy shifted like fabric in the wind. The rabbit suddenly stopped, turning away from her and it began hopping off in another direction. Once out of sight, the energy stilled once more, simply hanging off her frame.

Had… Had this thing deterred the rabbit?

Cynthia couldn't help the small relieved laugh that came from her. Sirius had sent this energy to her, hadn't he? It had protected her from a rabbit, and they were practically harmless, right? The young woman wiped away the water that had gathered in her eyes with the back of her dirty hand, feeling a bit better about being stranded in the middle of nowhere for some reason.

Sirius would be back, and she would not let him get away without giving her some answers.

The girl looked down at the unmoving film covering her body, reaching out she tentatively tried to touch it. The energy slipped out from her grasp like a fish swimming just out of reach. She tried and tried but this energy refused to be held, unlike the one she had grabbed before.

The girl paused, remembering how that particular energy had vanished when she grabbed it. Maybe she didn't want this one to disappear…

Shaking her head, the girl filed this knowledge away with the many other questions she had to ask the boys later…

the boys…

The girl stared off into nothing, her thoughts drifting. She didn't know how long she'd been here. Was James still at her flat? Sirius just left her here to go back. Was he there too? What about those men who got into her flat?

A mental image of running with James and Sirius from the park flashed through her mind.

They were probably the same men from that night. It was the only thing that made sense, not that many things made sense at the moment. Cynthia couldn't help but wonder just how many people she'd met who could use these powers, or how many of them had evil intentions.

The young woman's thoughts continued round and round for a good while, still nothing disturbed her little hut. Lulled into a sense of security by the warmth of the Jacket, she rested herself. Not quite asleep, but barely awake might be the right way to describe it.

*Pop* *Pop*

The familiar sound registered in her mind, sending lightning through her. How long had she been waiting? Had they taken care of those intruders? She quickly stood up, slipping on her wet slippers and stumbling out of the branches.

The girl grinned seeing the two figures standing in the center of the clearing, funny cloaks draped over their figures. She felt relief that the wait was finally over.

"James! Sirius!" She called out excitedly, waving the two down.

The two people turned suddenly to face her, ticks drawn towards her. The girl's heart stopped.

It wasn't James or Sirius.

Tada! Chapter 14 Done and Dusted!

Sorry for the wait, I've been sick.

Even after I got better, I had to catch up on work before I could return to writing.

Hopefully we'll be back to a regular weekly chapter.

I hope you enjoyed this small update, please stay in good health my friends.

Till next time!

((All rights to Harry Potter Belong to J. K. Rowling))