* * *

As the house prepared for Hattie's homecoming it became chaotic as everyone wanted everything to be perfect for the girl. Sirius made sure her bedroom was tidy and that her bedsheets were fresh, Remus made sure that her favourite books were set out on the coffee table ready for her to delve into when she snuggled up in the corner armchair. Lyall made sure that there were plenty of blankets that his late wife, Hope, knitted for Remus years ago were clean and ready for her to cuddle up in. Molly and Lily were particular when it came to stocking the fridge with foods that Hattie loved when she used to eat all of the time. Peter made banners and decorations with help from Ginny and Dean whilst everyone's else helped in other places.

The morning that she was set to come home, everyone was up early and finalising everything ready for Hattie when the muggle postman delivered the mail- most of which was for Lily who had muggle newspapers sent to her so that she was aware of the current affairs in the other world.

Harry stood up from breakfast to collect the mail and returned with a look of confusion tarnishing his face. "There's a letter for uncle Padfoot from the muggle court," he said, holding the envelope stamped 'HM Court service'.

"Have you two been rampaging through town on that damned motorbike?!" Lily exclaimed raising her eyebrows at Sirius and James.

"Hey! You can leave me out of that, I have been working!" James replied as his son handed Sirius the letter.

Sirius, who was as puzzled as the rest of the population in the room, opened the letter and skimmed over the typed words. His face contorted from confusion to sadness and stopped on anger.

"That bitch!" He roared, his hands shaking and his jaw clenching.

"Language around Hat-" Exclaimed Peter but cut himself off when he realised she wasn't there but continued out of habit.

Remus stood up, placing his arms around Sirius and rubbing his shoulders, "What's wrong?" He asked, softly trying to calm him down.

Sirius shook with anger, "shes only gone and reported me!"

"Who? Who has reported you and why?" James asked his brother.

"Caroline! She's reported me for neglect and now I'm losing my baby again!" Sirius cried, his lips quivering as Remus held onto him tighter. "She can't do that! She doesn't care about Hattie, not like I do!"

"Padfoot we won't let her take her." Peters said seriously, "there is like twenty of us and then there is her and Toad-whatever his name is- she won't win."

Lily shook her head, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this is muggle authorities. If you think the wizarding authorities are corrupt you clearly have never heard of the muggle ones. If Hattie's being taken away, it will happen, we just need to fight to get her back-"

"Lils-" James tried to stop his wife until Hermione cut him off.

"Lily is right. They'll take her. We just need to give them all of the reasons to get her back. As long as we stand together and give them what they want, comply, etcetera we cannot argue with them in an aggressive way. That just feeds them reasons not to. So we have to be calm about this." The girl explained, "we can do this!"

"I'm going to the hospital." Sirius shook his head, grasping his jacket and apparating away.

"I have a feeling he's going to go against everything you just said," sighed Harry following his father, Peter and Remus who left after Sirius did.

Soon enough everyone was crowding at St. Mungo's hospital with aurors who were with Hattie getting her set to go with the muggle police. Hattie wore a face of happiness, no one had told her that she wasn't going home. Everyone had played it off as if she was retiring to her home and that everything was going to be alright. Little did she know what was about to be done with her.

Hattie's face brightened as she caught sight of her father approaching her room. "Daddy!" She exclaimed, holding up one of her bags, "I'm coming home! I'm really coming home!"

Sirius' heart sunk, he wanted to smile and jump for joy that his baby was returning to where they live, where she would be cosied up in front of the fire or out in the garden. But no. She wasn't.

This could push her over the edge. She could relapse yet again. Did no one care that this could wreck Hattie once again?! Sirius was furious. But as he saw his daughter running's fatigue towards him, a grin as wide as both Crabbe and Goyle stood beside each other, he could help but tear up and outstretch his arms for her.

Hattie jumped into her father's arms, wrapping both her legs and arms around him, snuggling her face into the crook of his neck. "Why are you crying, daddy?" She asked him, wiping the tears that rolled down his cheeks.

"Hattie I-"

"I'm going to have to ask you to step away from the girl," a rough voice said authoritatively. Sirius looked up to see a gruff man with a buff body and a stern glare in his eyes.

Sirius wanted to shout, he wanted to scream, he wanted to run away with Hattie there and then but he remembered what Hermione had said along with Lily. He gently placed his daughter on the ground, letting go of her and stepping away with deep sadness and regret in his eyes.

"What's going on?" Hattie questioned, her eyebrows knitting together and her eyes flickering between the two men. "Who are you?"

"Never your mind, girl," he snapped, "you have your letter, now leave, you have no reason to be here." He turned to Sirius and placed a hand on Hattie's shoulder.

Hattie's eyes welled with tears as the rest of her family rounded the corner standing behind Sirius, the other marauders holding onto the man who stared apologetically at his daughter.

"Daddy...?" She asked, her voice quiet, "What's going on? Is this a prank? It's funny Freddie, Georgie, now am I going home?"

"No, darling, this isn't a prank." Remus told her solemnly, "just know that we are sorry, we love you massively and you will be home soon."

Hattie cried as she tried to resist the gruff man who was pulling her away from her family. "Daddy! Remmy! Harry!" She screamed, "Auntie Lily! No! Please! I just want to go home! Daddy!"

It was too late. A door shut in her face and her view of her family disappeared as she was met by the cold air on London's busy street. Muggle police stood by a car with a social worker by their side.

The social worker stepped forward, dressed in a pin-skirt, a dark red blouse and three-inch heels, makeup covering her face. "Harriet, my name is Helen Barton, I'm a your social worker and I'm here to take you to home..."