3Finding Dumbledore's Princess
Sirius smiled and raced through the corridor, searching for his compartment on the train. He reached for the door handle with anticipation; he hadn't seen his friends all summer. He flung open the door expecting the familiar form of Naul to be reclining against the window, holding half a pumpkin pastry saved for him but instead of Naul, Lily Evans stood looking around the compartment as if in a daze.
"Evans," Sirius said jolting the girl out of her thoughts, "Where's Naul?"
"I was hoping you'd know that," Lily said, she turned to face him and Sirius saw the concern in her eyes, "I've searched the whole train, there's not a trace of her,"
"Hey!" James said appearing at Sirius's side, "Why's Evans here?" he asked when he caught sight of Lily.
Lily flipped her hair back over her shoulder and scowled at him, "I can't find Naul,"
"Maybe she stayed at Hogwarts, her dad is the headmaster," Sirius said shrugging and laying his trunk on the seat of the compartment.
"Well I'm going to check for her on the train again, you never know with that girl." Lily said pushing past James and nearly running into Remus and Peter.
"Lily, what are you doing here?" Remus asked stepping back for her to pass.
"Looking for Naul, it seems she's not on the train," Lily replied as she dashed off down the corridor.
"Hey Remy," Peter said, "Did anything happen to Naul over the summer, you two were closest?"
"Not that I know of," Remus said thinking. His cheeks flushed and he added, "Not that close, in fact, I don't know much about Naul at all."
"Well as Evans has gone off looking for Naul, and she's not here why don't you tell us what you know," James said sitting down, "I mean, come on, guys, we can all admit we've wondered about Naul once or twice,"
"I don't know, she might not be Dumbledore's blood daughter but she has a funny way of knowing things, just like him," Sirius said sitting beside James, however a smirk quickly crossed his face and he chuckled.
The other boys sat too, though none of them could wholly conceal their concern for their missing member, and none sat in her place.
"Well," Remus said, "I first met Naul when I was seven years old, I'd just received my werewolf bite and my immediate impression was that Dumbledore's daughter was a total and complete wild child,"
"Go on," they said looking eagerly at him.
"I was waiting outside Dumbledore's office," Remus said, "while he and my parents and some Ministry of Magic official jabbered on inside when suddenly I heard someone snickering above me. I jumped up thinking it was one of the ghosts rumored to haunt Hogwarts's halls but instead I saw none other than Naul standing on the ceiling. At first I thought she'd come crashing down and I dashed out from underneath her, but Naul walked calmly to the wall and sideways down it finally onto the floor and I saw she had a long rosewood wand pointed at her feet. 'I've charmed my feet, you see,' she said, 'so I can defy gravity,' I'd never seen such a happy smile as the one on her face, that despite my depression, and healing werewolf bite, I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. 'Who are you?' she asked, sweeping around me in that-" Remus paused.
"Snacks!" shouted the old witch pushing open the compartment door and wheeling in her food cart. She paused when she saw who the compartment's occupants were, "Oh… oh dears…" she sobbed, "Lady Dumbledore's…." she mumbled, "here, have a pumpkin pastry," she sobbed handing one to Sirius, "Lady Dumbledore, always bought one for you,"
The old witch hobbled out of the compartment, pushing her cart and still profusely sobbing, leaving the boys in shocked silence.
"Why do I have this awful feeling," Sirius asked clutching his chest, "that something terrible has happened to Naul?"
None of the boys found themselves able to speak, and in thirty minutes Lily returned to their compartment with tear tracks running down her face, all of them wondering the same thing: where had Naul gone?
By the time they arrived at Hogwarts Castle they saw even the giant Hagrid had tears in his eyes as he led the first years across in boats, and his voice cracked as he shouted to the students. He caught sight of Sirius and the boys and the tears spilled from his eyes. Despite the rowdy first years needing tending Hagrid wound his way through the crowd and wrapped all four confused boys in a giant bear hug at once.
Sirius began to worry they would never see their fiery Naul ever again.
At the welcome feast Sirius looked around in the naïve hope that Naul had just chosen not to ride the train and would be waiting in their usual spot scooping a spoonful of potatoes onto her plate. As he expected she was not there. Then he looked at the head table for comfort from the tall slim Professor Dumbledore, but he too was missing and no one sat in his place. Professor McGonagall sat in her chair beside his, dabbing at her eyes with a kerchief.
He looked to see that in her place, the Hogwarts ghosts led the terrified first years in with the sorting hat. Nearly Headless Nick led the procession, very solemnly carrying the Sorting Hat, and the Grey Lady following behind him with her head bowed and the stool clasped in her translucent hands. The Fat Friar spoke to the first years, trying to calm them unsuccessfully, most likely due to his own worried look. The Bloody Baron floated along in the back of the procession attempting to keep everyone together and snapping at stragglers as he rattled his chains.
The entire Great Hall was silent, but not with the usual anticipation and excitement that came with Sorting. Sirius fidgeted in his seat as Professor McGonagall rose from her chair and looked out at the Hogwarts students.
"Many of you know me as Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher, and Deputy Headmistress. For the first years who don't know, please understand things are not usually done in this manner, but due to family emergencies, Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, could not attend tonight's feast." Professor McGonagall's usually crisp and cold voice was broken and sorrowful as she spoke, "Many of you will note the absence of Lady Dumbledore, a fellow student of Gryffindor, for the time being she will not be returning," McGonagall finished with a dismissive wave of the hand and the ghosts began Sorting.
Sirius however was not satisfied with McGonagall's explanation, he and many other Gryffindors, and even a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs remained in the Great Hall after the feast ended, demanding to know more of Naul. Protests went up that McGonagall was Naul's adoptive aunt, and they her friends but McGonagall slammed her fist into the High Table.
"Listen, and listen well, I am a professor and will not tolerate this, all of you to your dormitories!" she shouted and Sirius reluctantly returned to leave, but she continued, "Except for Masters, Potter, Lupin, Black, Pettigrew, and Miss Evans. I want you five to remain here."
The boys turned to look each other and saw Lily picking her way through the crowds until only the five students and irate professor remained.
"Now then," McGonagall sighed and stepped down from the High Table, "You five are Lady Dumbledore's closest friends, whether I like it or not," she added, her eyes resting on the boys, "and I had the awful premonition that you will be the nosiest of the students who attempt to discover Lady Dumbledore's whereabouts. Now I can assure you I will have none of it. No complaints, but something very serious has happened and it is time you acted a bit more maturely. I know you're all very worried, but please, try not to let this disrupt normal life at Hogwarts."
"Professor," Lily said, McGonagall tried to cut her off but James stopped her.
"We all have something to say, that's not a complaint." He said.
"Life would never be normal at Hogwarts…" said Remus.
"…without our Naul," Sirius said with a finality that made even McGonagall choke up. She laid a hand on his shoulder and for a moment teacher and rowdy student stared into each other's eyes, each sending a silent plea to the other, both of them family in all but blood to the missing Lady Dumbledore.
McGonagall dismissed them and the five shuffled back towards the Gryffindor common room.
"I can't believe McGonagall got so worked up over Naul," Peter said.
"She was like a mother to Naul," said Lily, "Naul often referred to Professor McGonagall as Aunt Minnie, and she even confessed at my sleepover that she wished Professor McGonagall was her mother. What I'm surprised is that she told us so much,"
"Naul went to a sleepover?" James asked.
"She is a girl," Lily said elbowing him.
"Right, sometimes I forget you two are females," Peter said without thinking and Lily went as far as to box his head, unusual for her.
"Naul could be dead for all we know and you're insulting her behind her back," Lily said as furious blush colored her face, matching her dark red hair.
"She's not dead," said Sirius, "She can't be."
"He's right," Remus said, "Naul's made of stronger stuff than that."
"I wonder what happened to her," James said.
"Dark Wizards probably," a voice whispered behind them. The five jumped and caught sight of a sallow skinned boy standing beside a statue waiting for them.
"Sev," Lily said smiling affectionately.
"Snivellus," Sirius and James intoned together.
Snape scoffed at the boys and strode forward, a mysterious glint in his eyes.
"What do you care?" Remus asked scowling.
"I'm sure he cares, don't you, Sev?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I do care," Snape said approaching James and looking up at him, mutual hatred flowing between them, "And I think the Dark Lord may-"
"Stop it, Sev!" Lily said, "Joking about dark wizards is not funny!"
"I'm serious, Lil, as I was trying to say, dark wizards may be very interested in Lady Dumbledore, for the fact that she is Dumbledore's daughter, and her strange abilities. I mean, I often wonder if she's human with some of her strange –shall we say– habits?" said Snape.
"Of course Naul is-"
"Oughtn't you to be in your dormitories?"
The third years jumped at the voice and spun around to see the Fat Friar floating towards them.
"I know, none of you are in my House, and from the snatches of your conversation I caught, you're all very worried about Lady Dumbledore, but please got to your beds. I can't promise things will get better over night, but you need sleep anyways." He said.
"Yes, sir." Lily said and she and the others turned and headed to their dormitories.
"We can't just give up on Naul." Sirius said clenching his fists.
"And we won't, Naul is one of us, whether she's Lady Dumbledore or just another girl." Remus said.
"What do you mean by just another girl?" Lily asked as they opened the portrait to Gryffindor common room. She waved goodbye to Snape and he slinked off to the dungeons.
"She's got a point," James said surprising them, he grinned and added, "Naul can't really be classified as any old girl,"
"I can't believe what Snivellus said about her though," Peter said speaking up; they'd forgotten he was there for a moment.
"Of course Naul's human, I don't know what he was thinking," Sirius said turning up to his dormitory he and the other boys shared, "It's been a long day, and it's just not the same without m-our Naul,"
The others nodded in agreement and the boys followed him up while Lily turned towards the girls' staircase.
A few weeks later the boys were seated in the library finishing a potions essay when Remus leapt up and ran to the shelves.
"Overachiever," James muttered dryly flipping through his text book.
"I miss Naul," Sirius said pointing his wand at a table across the room. He muttered a spell and the boy's ink well rose up and dumped itself on his head, "Pranks just aren't any fun without her."
Peter tugged at his sleeve and Sirius turned to see Remus returning carrying a large stack of books from the magical creatures section.
"I've just thought of something," Remus said scratching his chin and placing a heavy volume on the boys table, "Remember how Snape was wondering if Naul was human?"
"You can't really be taking Snivellus seriously can you?" James asked.
Remus continued, "If Naul was Dumbledore's adopted daughter, never knew or met her parents, and she can change into anyone or anything, and she always moves so graceful… like a faerie…"
"Where are you going with this, Remy?" Sirius asked.
"What if Naul was a changeling child?" Remus said.
James and Peter burst out laughing and Remus threw one of the books at them, "I'm serious guys."
"Naul, a faerie? You've got to be kidding me!" Peter said laughing.
"He's got a point," Sirius said silencing them, "Naul's always had such strong magic, and she's so… so surreal…"
"Well I remember reading something here about changeling children," Remus said flipping through one of the dusty books, "Here!" he said pointing.
"Go on, read it then, let's give this crazy theory a shot," said James.
Remus took a deep breath, "The Fey folk are a dying race and so to preserve themselves and their kind, often they would exchange a healthy human child, for one of their own. Muggles believed their sickly children were changelings but in truth most changelings were ill humans. Very few real changelings actually existed and more often than not, they blended perfectly with Muggle society. However there were a few very rare cases where a changeling child half remembered some of their faerie powers and were taken in to be wizards as they possessed many of the magical abilities of wizards, however, a changeling child taught wizarding skills was in greater danger of being Returned."
"Returned?" Peter gulped.
"Taken back, by the Fey Folk," Remus said.
The boys were silent for a few moments before Sirius spoke up, "Remy, if Naul is a changeling child, do you think she could have been… returned?"
"I don't know, Sirius."
"What happens to Returned changelings?" James asked.
"They rot in Faerie World." A voice said behind them.
They jumped and turned to see Snape approaching them.
"Really, Snivellus," Sirius said, "You've got to stop appearing out of nowhere, so twisted and snake-like, the way you 'Slyther-in'."
"Very funny, Black,"
"Besides," said Remus, "This doesn't concern you."
"Yes it does." He said.
"You just want Evans to notice you," James said sourly glaring at Snape.
"Watch it Potter," Lily said coming up from behind Snape. She turned to Remus, "Sev and I have been searching for days and we've found nothing, have you had any luck?"
"Possibly," Remus said turning the page of the book.
"Evans, what do you think the chances Snivellus was onto something when he suggested Naul might not be human?" Sirius asked.
Lily's jaw dropped and Snape smiled.
"What exactly did you mean by implying that, 'Sev'?" James asked standing up.
"What did you mean, Sev?" Lily turned to him. Under her bright green stare Snape melted like jelly and sighed.
"I overheard some Seventh Years talking," Snape started.
"You mean that secret club that calls themselves 'Death Eaters' after the real ones?" Sirius asked, "What were you doing, hanging around them?"
"Reading in Slytherin common room," Snape said quickly, "They were saying something about the Dark Lord searching for a new kind of magic, a kind Dumbledore had been harnessing and raising right under his nose."
"And you let them continue like this?" Remus asked.
"No, I turned around and they lowered their voices, but thanks to magic, I heard them anyway. They think the Dark Lord, kidnapped Dumbledore's Princess." Snape said.
"Did you tell anyone else about this?" Lily asked.
"More importantly how do we know we can believe it?" Sirius interrupted.
"Believe it or don't, it's up to you. It's the only lead you've got on Dumbledore's Princess." Snape said.
"Don't call her that, Snivellus." Sirius said standing up. Sirius proudly towered over Snape and beside him, shoulder to shoulder, stood James, each glaring with all of their fury at Snape.
Snape opened his mouth to say something more, but Lily stepped between them.
"Knock it off, let's go Sev," Lily said.
"Evans," James said.
"Potter," Lily replied.
"Black," Snape said.
"Pettigrew!" Said Peter standing up stupidly and grinning to break the tension.
Lily and Snape shuffled out and the boys turned to look at each other in dismay.
"What are we going to do?" asked James.
"I don't know," Sirius said, "How about we visit Hagrid, he might tell us something."
"Sounds like a plan," James added, "I'll go grab my cloak."
"I don't know, guys," Remus said, "I've got to get packing, you know what's coming up next week,"
"Oh," James said, "Peter can help you pack, Sirius and I'll find out about Naul from Hagrid. That'll throw McGonagall and Filch off. If you guys stuff pillows in our beds, they'll think we're asleep."
"All right."
"Hagrid," James said tapping on his door.
Sirius edged closer under the cloak as the door was pulled open to reveal a massive man towering over the boys and gruffly looking around.
Sirius and James threw the cloak off and smiled.
"Oy," Hagrid said frowning, "It's ya two trouble makers,"
There was no agitation in his voice, simply sadness.
"Yes, we're missing a member," Sirius said as Hagrid held the door open for them.
Hagrid made a choking noise and closed the door behind them.
"Hagrid," James asked folding the invisibility cloak up, "We were wondering if you could tell us anything about Naul."
Another choking noise came from him and the boys notice the large empty tankard on his table, most likely alcohol.
"Aye, Lil' Nully, she was a good 'un, that she was," Hagrid said, "Apple a Dumbledore's and every'n's eye. Such a shame,"
"Hagrid," Sirius asked impatiently, "What happened to Naul?"
"You-Know-Who's real angry with Dumbledore," Hagrid swayed on his feet and the boys took a step back from the giant, "He's stolen her, *sob, Dumbledore, *sob, is goin' ter' trade himself fer her, but the Ministry won't let him."
"What?" James gasped.
"Hagrid, when is Dumbledore doing this?" Sirius asked stepping hesitantly towards the now bawling Hagrid.
"He's," Hagrid made a noise somewhere between a sob and a hiccup and continued, "Going to meet a Death Eater at the edge of the Forbidden Forest on Halloween." Hagrid sobbed-hiccupped once more and fell sideways onto his floor, shaking his whole cabin.
For a moment the boys stood in shocked silence and then breathing raggedly turned to look at each other. Both nodded.
However before they could recover, Hagrid's door was thrown open and the very angry form of Professor Dumbledore stood in the doorway, behind him Filch and McGonagall ushering Peter and Remus along.
Cold fury flashed in Dumbledore's eyes and the boys felt a mixture of fear and elation at his return, and sadness when they thought of what this man was going to do for a child who did not even share a drop of his blood.
"Well," he said stepping past the boys to Hagrid. The boys looked at their feet and McGonagall rose up before them, before she could yell Dumbledore raised his hand without looking up from Hagrid, "Take them back to their dormitories, Minerva, I will deal with them later." McGonagall nodded slowly and led them back.
Once they were alone in their dormitory, Sirius slammed his fist against his bedpost, "We have to do something!"
"But what?" Remus asked, "This is You-Know-Who, we're talking about! No other dark wizard has risen to power so quickly.
"Well someone has got to stop him, if we don't try, who will?" Sirius asked.
"Professor Dumbledore," Peter said sheepishly, "He'll try to stop him."
"He's going to give himself up for Naul," James said, "Who will we have then?"
"Maybe he won't have to give himself up for Naul," Sirius said grinning.
"What are you thinking?" Peter asked.
Sirius grinned even broader and turned to Remus.
"Are you all right, Sirius? I think he's finally cracked," Remus said waving a hand in front of his face.
"No, I'm all right, I'm just thinking of how much a Death Eater would love to meet a certain someone on Halloween." Sirius said chuckling.
Remus paled, "Are you suggesting…"
"… that Remy goes all werewolf and gives this Death Eater the scare of his life?" James asked.
"Absolutely not!" Remus said stamping his foot, "You know I go berserk when that happens, what if I bite one of you, or Naul?"
"Well Naul was going to teach us how to become Animagi so we could be with you on the full moon," James said.
"But… but… We haven't started though, an naul warned us it would be extremely dangerous," Peter mumbled.
"Oh shut up…" Sirius said tiredly.
"He's right though, it could go horribly wrong…"
"I wasn't suggesting we turn into Animagi over night, I was thinking that Naul would see you loping towards her and transform." James said.
"But…"
"No buts, Remy," Sirius said, "It's the best plan we've got and I say we go with it! James and Peter will back me up, won't you?" they nodded and Sirius smiled turning back to Remus.
"Oh what the Hell," Remus said, "We've only got one shot to save Naul, and I suppose this is it."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Shut up!" Sirius snapped at Peter through the invisibility cloak as they approached the Whomping Willow.
James threw a pebble to the knot at the base of the tree like Remus had told him and the wild tree grew still.
"Now we have to time it perfectly," he said, "we followed Dumbledore out, so he should be headed to the Forbidden Forest right now, we release Remy and keep him on course with hexes. Now remember nothing stronger than Stupendo and nothing weaker than Flipendo. Got it?"
Sirius nodded and Peter rambled under his breath. The boys silenced him with a look and the opened the passage to the Shrieking Shack. Jumping back, the boys were nearly scalped as a giant loping creature came barreling out of the passage. The boys had told Remus that if he still had some consciousness left he should wait for them there and focus on them, trying to remember they were allies.
This creature was not Remus though, leaping on all fours and howling at the harvest moon they saw just how terrifying a werewolf was. His razor sharp teeth glinted in the moonlight and the hair on the backs of the boys' necks stood up. Then Remus crouched before them and growled, something flickered behind his eyes and he turned and loped off towards the Forbidden Forest.
James was the first to recover, he sent a bolt of red light flashing after Remus and turning him in the direction they wanted. Sprinting all out the boys separated and sent spells flying after their friend as they drew nearer to the Forbidden Forest.
Emerging from the shadows a hooded Death Eater released his grip on the girl he was dragging. She fell into a crumpled heap, whimpering softly as tears streaked down her face. Her hair limp and dirty, dirt smudged on her face and her Hogwarts robes torn and tattered, she struggled to lever herself into a sitting position. The Death Eater sighed and looked up at Hogwarts castle; this girl had caused him so much trouble. Not visible at first glance were the numerous bruises and cuts covering the child's skin.
Suddenly a force struck the Death Eater in the back of the shins and he rounded on the girl as she thrust herself forward using her shoulders until she was out of his immediate reach still, struggling against the rope binding her hands. He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her in the air, wand raised ready to strike. He didn't care how valuable she was, he would have his revenge. She struggled and managed to twist her head so that she sank her teeth into his thumb.
It was a very good thing she did, for at the moment the Death Eater dropped her, howling in pain, a large loping werewolf rounded a tree and charged towards the Death Eater. Scream caught in his throat, the Death Eater tried to Disapparate, but a stunning spell struck him in the side just as the werewolf leapt on top of him.
Naul screamed and backed against a tree only to knock into Sirius who'd run to her side. Luckily for the Death Eater, before the werewolf could close its massive jaws on his throat, Albus Dumbledore appeared and struck the werewolf with a curse, sending him running into the trees. A moment later he hexed the Death Eater and held him at wand point while the boys converged on Naul.
Sirius breathed a ragged sigh of relief and cut Naul's bonds, not caring that the headmaster had just discovered them. He levered Naul into a sitting position and removed the cords binding her wrists. Once he released her she fell forward sobbing into his chest. So weak and tired. Sirius saw her numerous injuries and anger boiled inside him as he cradled her.
"I've missed you," Sirius whispered. Naul nodded softly and continued sobbing. James knelt beside them and rubbed Naul's back. She turned in Sirius's arms and grasped his hand.
"I've missed you too," she croaked, "All of you." She added reaching for Peter's hand. He jumped at the contact but relaxed. The first smile in a long time touched Naul's face and she leaned against Sirius, drifting into restful slumber.
"Well," Dumbledore said behind them making the boys jump. They began to protest but Dumbledore held a finger to his lips. He approached them slowly and stroked his daughter's hair.
"It's probably the first time in awhile that she's gotten true rest," he said looking straight at Sirius, "Without waking her could you carry her back to the infirmary? I could enchant her if you needed me to."
"I think so, sir," Sirius said, "She's so light, like skin and bones now."
Sirius cradled the sleeping Naul against him and slowly rose to his feet. She had lost so much weight her tattered wizard robes hung loose over her small form. She shuddered in her sleep and nodded her head closer to Sirius in his arms.
"You'll be all right," James said trying to comfort her. Peter nodded and they moved towards the castle.
They were nearing the steps of Hogwarts castle when Professor McGonagall came flying out to greet them. It seemed as if she would explode, her face a mask of fury and concern, instantly melting into joy and worry. Together the odd procession moved to the infirmary where Sirius lay the fragile Naul on a bed.
Before he could move another step, Naul's hand snapped onto his own, her once vice-like grip now weak. Sirius found himself unable to release her hand even though he was several times stronger than her at the moment.
The boys turned to Dumbledore and McGonagall realizing their punishment would most likely be delivered instantly.
Sirius squeezed Naul's hand, whatever happens, at least you're back, he thought.
James squared his shoulders, I was saving a friend. Dad won't blame me for that.
Peter trembled and muttered to himself under Dumbledore's expressionless blue gaze.
"What you did was exceedingly foolish," Dunmbledore said.
"And dangerous, and idiotic, and could have cost all five of you your lives," Professor McGonagall added absentmindedly stroking Naul's hair as the pot bellied nurse of the infirmary tended to her.
The boys hung their heads and Sirius squeezed Naul's hand once more.
"However, it was also very noble. Risking yourselves for your friend," Dumbledore said, "However you have broken hundreds of our rules, but in light of this," he paused and grasped Naul's other hand, "I shall reconsider your punishment. Normally I would take fifty points from Gryffindor, but I think instead Gryffindor shall earn them, for your marvelous service to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
The boys nearly jumped for joy but remembered their sleeping friend. Sirius turned and smiled at Naul, "Here that? We've served Hogwarts, how's that for a change?"
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Dumbledore asked him.
"What, sir?" Sirius turned to him.
"It feels good, being a hero." Dumbledore smiled and all the boys nodded.
Sirius sighed and marched down the palace steps, pulling his jacket tighter as he made a b-line for the path to Hogsmeade. James and Remus talked animatedly beside him and Peter shuffled along trying to keep up with the group. Sirius's eyes drifted upwards to the fluffy white clouds, he sighed again and James elbowed him in the side.
"Ow!" Sirius said rounding on his friend, "What was that for?"
"Like you don't know," James said grinning, he and Remus had stopped walking and Peter managed to catch up.
"You miss her," Remus said.
"We all do," Sirius said attempting to stop his face from flushing.
"H-E-Y!" a lofty voice floated to them from the top of the castle steps.
The boys turned and there stood Naul, once more clad in her Hogwarts robes, her hair long sleek and shiny, she leaned against Lily for support and waved to them.
"Hey!" she called again, letting go of Lily and stumbling towards them.
"Naul!" Sirius called running towards her.
Naul grinned and sprinted towards him in turn, they reached each other at the base of the steps and Naul fell into his arms knocking them both into a pile of leaves. They rolled apart from each other laughing their heads off and James, Remus, Peter, and Lily helped them up.
"It's good to be back," Naul said giving them all fleeting hugs, though Sirius felt his lasted just a few moments longer than the others, and the six turned to Hogsmeade talking and laughing.
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