Francesca Potter

10

- Lily's POV -

I wake at 4:47 and decide to get up. I put my uniform on and go over to my desk. I open up the Marauders Map.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." I whisper so I don't wake Dray. The ink spreads across the page like blood. It's quite cool actually. I scan the map and see that nobody is moving apart from Sev who is patrolling the entrance hall. I look to see if Harry is awake but that isn't what I notice. Peter Pettigrew? I jump up, grab my wand and the map before running out of the common room. I run past Sev who just looks confused. "Don't follow me." I say to him as I pass. I reach the fat lady. "Fairy Lights" I tell her the password Harry told me the other day and run up to their dorm. I slowly open the door and see all their beds have the curtains drawn. I look back at the map. He's in Ron's bed? I peek in the curtains. Just Ron and Scabbers... wait what?

I walk to Uncle Moony's office, knowing he will be awake, and just walk in.

"You could at least knock." He says as I sit across from him.

"Knock knock." I joke. "What animal is Peter Pettigrew's animagus form?"

"A rat why?" He looks at me. I point to his name on the map.

"I went to investigate and there was only Ron and Scabbers.. his rat." I look at him. "Do you think?"

"I think Peter has been in the Weasley family for a while. He disappeared about 12 years ago." He frowns. I grip my wand tighter.

"Can I kill him?" I growl.

"No, Padfoot wouldn't want to miss it. And we need to prove it to the Ministry." He sighs. I flop into the chair. I've spent a lot of time with that rat. My family are good friends with the Weasley's. He's been to my house. In my room. Git. Uncle Moony gets some muggle playing cards out of his desk drawer. I smile at him and we play for ages.

The clock in his office strikes 7 and I grab the map and my wand and run to the Great Hall, not saying bye. Oh well. I flop in my seat at the Slytherin table and have a bowl of porridge. I'm eating a lot better thanks to Dray. I grab a green apple and take a bite when Dray bursts into the Hall and runs over to Blaise.

"I've lost Lily. I can't find her anywhere! She's always there when I wake up! What if she's dead? I'm worried mate! Help me look for her." Dray shouts. The whole Hall is looking at me. I smile at him. Blaise turns to look at me and Dray follows his gaze. His eyes widen. "Where did you go?! I've been worried sick!! You didn't even leave me a note or anything!" He shouts at me. I feel a tear roll down both my cheeks. He never shouts at me.

"I went to see my Uncle Moony." I reply. He comes over and engulfs me in a tight hug. "Sorry." I murmur into his chest.

"It's okay love. Just please let me know where you've gone next time. Sorry for shouting." He whispers in my ear. I nod and wipe my tears on his shirt. "Oh erm I may have told Snape that you're lost." At that moment Sev runs into the room. His eyes land on Dray and I. He strides over and drags us from the Hall and to his office. Once in there he hugs me tight.

"Oh lord. Where were you?" He sighs in relief.

"To see Uncle Moony." I laugh into his chest. He pulls away and turns to Dray.

"You mean to tell me that you didn't check there first. You idiot." He shakes his head at Dray's stupidity.

"Sorry. She's just always next to me when I wake up and she wasn't today." He laughs. I slap his chest. Sev doesn't know that we share a bed.

"You sleep in the same bed?" He questions looking at us suspiciously.

"Yep. Only sleep though. And fully clothed." I reassure him.

"Well, not really. She sleeps in my t-shirts and I sleep in boxers." Dray explains. Idiot. Sev grabs his shoulder.

"You hurt her in any way you're dead. I don't care if you're my Nephew. I can still kill you, your mother permitted me." He says to him with a warning look on his face. Dray nods in fear. I laugh.

"It's like you're my dad." I grab Dray's hand and we leave. We go back to the Great Hall and sit down. "I've eaten a whole bowl of porridge and a bite of an apple before you interrupted me." I say while grabbing another because mine disappeared. He smiles and hugs me from the side.

"I'm glad. I told you I'd win eventually." He says while eating some toast. The post arrives and an owl lands in front of me. I untie the letter, feed it a piece of Dray's toast and it flies away. I unroll it and recognise Uncle Padfoot's writing immediately.

Lily,

I'm fine. Stop worrying. I'm hiding very successfully. And I'm eating too. Not much I'll admit but enough.

Draco's mother is my cousin. I hope he's treating you right. Also, when I see him I will be having words. I hope you enjoyed your date with him though.

As for flipping Dumbledore the finger... well done. I've taught you well. Although, don't get into trouble for it. If Moony catches you you're in trouble. Ignore what he's saying if you don't like it.

Now, I need you to listen very carefully to me. Near the Whomping Willow there is a long stick. Use it to poke the biggest knot on the tree, it will freeze the branches. There is a hole that you can enter in the roots. Go through the passage and up the stairs of the building... you'll see. Go there tonight. Bring Draco if you want. You'll love it, I promise.

Stop worrying about me, I'm fine.

Love,
Uncle Padfoot.
X

I look at Dray who read it over my shoulder.

"We're going on and adventure tonight." He says. I nod at him.

*8pm That Night*

"Let's go." I whisper to Dray. We sneak out of the common room, my map in my hands, and slip out into the grounds. We run to the Willow and I find the stick. Dray uses it to poke the knot of the tree and the branches freeze! It worked! I run forward to look for the hole and signal for Dray to start moving. He manages to get close to the hole.

"I'm going to drop the stick and run." He explains. I nod and move back so he can easily slide in. He nods at me before dropping the stick and sliding down the hole. I grab his hand and run through the tunnel. We emerge in a house.

"We're in the shrieking shack." I whisper. He nods. We walk up the stairs and into the only room, wands held in front of us. On the bed is a big, shaggy black dog. Padfoot. I run and hug it.

"What are you doing?" Dray whisper-shouts. Uncle Padfoot changes to be human and Dray gasps.

- Draco's POV -

There, in front of me, is Sirius Black. I know he is innocent but it's weird as he is on wanted posters everywhere. I notice that Lils is crying by the way she is breathing. She pulls away from him.

"I've missed you so much." She whispers.

"I've missed you too Prongslet." He smiles fondly at her. He turns to me. "You must be Draco. I'm Sirius, your second cousin. You can call me Padfoot."

"Nice to meet you." I hold out my hand but instead he hugs me. It's like a fatherly hug. It's weird, I've never been hugged like this before. I hug him back.

"I want to thank you for making her happy and helping her cope through it all. Moony told me how you've gotten her to start eating properly again, thank you." He whispers.

"It's okay, I love her." I whisper back. He pulls away.

"About that." He says, giving me a rather frightening warning look. "If you hurt her, I will be put back in Azkaban for a murder I actually committed. Got it?" He growls. I nod. "Good."

"Stop scaring him Uncle Padfoot." Lily chuckles. I mentally thank her. We all get into a conversation about what we've been up to lately and stay there like that until dawn. We make the trek back up to the castle and once in bed we fall asleep instantly, Lily's head resting on my bare chest.

A/N

Padfoooooooot!! Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed!

- P 🖤