Summer 1990,
I Always Need You.

Phoebe spent the first two weeks of summer in her room, despite her mother and father trying to talk her into coming downstairs even if was just to watch a movie with them. No talking involved. She declined every time.

She hadn't spoken to anyone since she had been home, only exchanging letter after letter with Cedric. He hoped that she would come to the Quidditch world cup with him, he had even sent her a ticket if she chose to go, as she began to write her reply a faint knock on her door pulled her mind away.

"Come in," Sirius smiled at his daughter, she let himself into her room.

"How you doing, Sweetheart?" he asked, knowing full well she wasn't fine.

"I'm fine, I got invited to the world cup,"

"Really? Do they know you don't like Quidditch?" she smiled at him

"Yeah, he just thought it would be fun to hang out anyway,"

"That's three of not going camping then,"

"Why? Who else isn't going?" she asked expecting Rhea and Laura to go on the family camping trip.

"Well, Ethan is stopping at Oliver's he's also going to the World cup, as is Rhea, she's made arrangements to stay at her friends,"

"I thought everyone was going?" he shook his head.

"You're all growing up, having your own lives that don't involve family just as much, you don't need me and your mother as much-

"I always need you, dad," she said with tears clouding her eyes, "Hogwarts has been harder than what I thought it would be, I don't want to shy away from it though,"

"I wouldn't expect you to," he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her temple, "if you want to go, you're more than welcome to stay here Reg, or go to Grammy's,"

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course, you can, it would mean the world to your mum if you came down and ate dinner with us, but if you'd rather stay up here, I'll your dinner,"

Sirius left returning downstairs where the rest of his family were enjoying their roast dinner. Aimee had prepared, she glanced to the hallway expecting Phoebe to walk behind, when she didn't she turned her attention to Max, smiling as she listen to her nephew's story.

Phoebe took a deep breath, she knew she couldn't remain in her room forever. She lightly tiptoed across the hall slowly creeping down the stairs, smiling as she heard her brothers arguing, with Ethan who sounded annoyed by their answers.

As she glanced around the corner she saw that Laura and Rhea had made up as the two were happily chatting. The youngest girls, Larissa and Hope sat on either side of their uncle Regulus, she could see that they were getting on his last nerves.

She spotted an empty seat next to her brother Carden, she moved slowly, sitting down to eat her food, her brothers, sisters and cousins look at her then went back to their conversations. She smiled at her mum and dad, as she ate her dinner with the family.

***

Before she decided if she wanted to go to the Quidditch World Cup, she wanted to talk to her grandmother hoping that she could show her ways to help ease her mind. If there was someone who understood exactly what she was going through it was Amelia Burke.

Phoebe used a portkey, to take her to an old wizarding village, the furthest house was the one she walked to. Passing the paddocks where horse and their young foals, that had been born that spring, played in the summer sun, she knocked on the door of an old cottage door, creeking open.

"Grammy?"

"Is that my little Phoebe, I hear," appearing from the kitchen she happily embraced her great-granddaughter.

"You should keep your doors locked Grammy, there could be trouble out there,"

"Trouble? My dear child, I know what's to come, have you ever considered the trouble an intruder could be in, I am a witch you know," Phoebe chuckled at her "come sit down, I want to hear all about your friends and Hogwarts,"

She waved her hand at her door, causing it to close on its own, she guided Phoebe through the house, she smiled at all the photographs that covered her walls. All of the family, her sons with their children. Then her grandchildren with their children.

"Well, it's been harder than I thought," she admitted, Grammy nodded as though she understood completely.

"I can imagine, so tell me about your friend, is he a nice boy?" she asked sipping her cup of tea.

"Yes, he is nice, too nice-

"There's nothing wrong with too nice,"

"I think he knows I'm hiding something,"

"What makes think that?" she asked

"He asks how I am, tells me that I can talk to him,"

"That's a good thing, sweetie, he knows there's something bothering you, he could just ignore it, but he doesn't that's a good friend, he sees you struggling and wants to help, if it was me, I'd tell him, I can't see his opinion of you changing,"

"Really?" she nodded, holding her hand assuring her that she'll be fine.

"As for comfort, try asking your parents for a pet, they have a marvellous way of soothing anxieties, I always wanted a dog, but I never had the time for one, find one that will keep you busy, it'll take your mind off everything,"

"I don't want to upset people-

"Sometimes we have to in order to help those that need it most,"