How I Met The Marauders

Padfoot Returns

Ari found her house same as ever after she had spent a whole day cleaning it.

She got her job back as an Auror. The surviving members of the department who had been there during the first war welcomed her with open arms. But it wasn't quite the same working there without Alice, Frank and James.

She spent a year working like before. She was occasionally visited by her old friends. She went to Remus 2 days after every full moon and nursed him back to health.

"How does it feel to be out of St.Mungos?" He asked her.

"It's not really different. It wasn't as busy in St.Mungos. I was content with what I had. I got so long to think and I got over it. One thing is good, I didn't age for 10 years. I'm still 23 years old." Was her reply.

All was well till one eventful evening. Ari returned home, tired from a day of lots of paperwork. She placed her wand at the fireplace and hung her coat. That's when she heard a shuffling sound. She turned abruptly. Her wand was gone.

"It's been a while." He stated.

She looked at Sirius and all she think was the terrible time in St.Mungos. The tears, the pain, the flashbacks, the hurt and the nightmares. She wasn't scared of him and she wasn't angry either. All she could feel was a sadness in her heart.

"It wasn't me. I didn't do it." Was all he had to say and she ran over to him and wrapped her arms around him.

He was shocked but he hugged her back. They just stood there, tightly holding onto each other and letting everything go. Ari melted into the hug and the pain and disappointment was gone. All she felt was hope, love and happiness. He was back.

"Peter is... still alive?"
"Yes."

"And you've escaped from Azkaban to kill him?"
"Yes."

"You don't have your wand and you know it's in the Auror Office and you want me to get it for you?"
"Yes."

She laughed for the first time in years. "That's insane." She placed her bottle of Butterbeer on the table.

"You mean you can't help me?"

She rolled her eyes. "No! I'm going to help you if it's the last thing I do. I'll get your wand tomorrow and I'll help you get to Hogwarts where you'll kill Peter. It's all just insane..."

"You haven't changed one bit."

"You have no idea how much I've changed."

He frowned. "How much?"

"The Ariana you knew is dead."

"Why?" He asked. "Because James and Lily died?"

"Because you left me when I needed you. You didn't even tell me where you were going. You left without a proper conversation. And you didn't come back. James and Lily were dead. Apparently, Peter was too and you were traitor."

"But everything has just changed, hasn't it? I just told you the whole story! I'm back."

She sighed. "I guess so. Some things won't just ever be the same again."

There was a moments silence. Then, Sirius said, "So... How are we getting my wand?"

"Er... the what? ...the wand, yeah. It's in the Auror Office under special protection. I'll steal it easily because ... I'm on your case with Kingsley."

"Oh... yeah, okay."

The conversation was awkward and none of them tried to make it better. Sirius realised what had changed. 'They' had changed. He realised how far they had drifted apart. And this distance broke his heart. And he knew that Ari was breaking or already broken too.

Ari brought dinner and they ate together, sitting in her dim lit kitchen.

"Did you cook this?" He asked.

"Yeah... just made it." She smiled. "Is it good?"

"It's great." He smiled back.

"Thank you." She said, politely.

"Do you like cooking?"

"Oh, yes. But I don't have enough time. I don't really eat at home. I go to a Muggle cafe down the road. But generally, I don't eat much."

"You should eat." Said Sirius. "Or you'll get weak."

"I'm frail." She admitted. "So are you." She laughed lightly.

"I look like a ghost." He sighed.

Her smile disappeared. "Maybe." She said, softly. "Maybe you are a ghost. A figment of my imagination. Maybe you haven't returned. Maybe this is all a dream, a good one for once."

"I'm real, Ari!" He exclaimed.

She smiled. "Yes, you are."

She stood up and gathered the dishes and deposited them in the sink.

"Let's sit in front of the fire."

And that night, they fell asleep in front of the fireplace.

The next morning, Ari went to the Auror Office. She caused a distraction and soon, she had successfully stolen the wand.

"Kingsley..." She said, clutching her forehead.

"Are you okay, Ari?" She asked.

"Headache." She mumbled.

"Go home." He advised and so, she came home to Sirius.

"I leave now." He said. "Don't tell anyone about this, Ari. Not even Remus. I'll start going northwards as Padfoot."

"Good luck." She smiled at him.

And with that, he left and she hoped to God that things would turn out better this time.

A/N. Vote and comment please! Follow me if you haven't already.
The soundtrack for this story till now is:
Bad Blood by Taylor Swift (initial version. Without rap)
Fight Song by Rachel Platten Titanium by Madilyn Bailey Stand by You by Rachel Platten.
The Lonely by Christina Perri.
Team by Lorde.
These match the storyline in one way or another. I'll be adding more here.
Lots of love
~ Crystal xxx