Nova strolled into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, trailing behind Mad-Eye. She wore, you guessed it, one of Harry's hoodies. However, over the dark red hoodie, she wore the leather jacket her Da got her for Christmas. Her black ripped jeans and combat boots completed the look. 

While Nova's walk was more of a swagger of sorts, Moody's steps were uneven. Every step he took with his artificial leg was heard with a loud clunk. His thinking grey hair flew behind him slightly as he walked. The scars on his face were ever so grotesque, and his artificial eye swirled madly. 

Nova's luxurious hair, something she prided herself greatly upon, bounced with each step she took. As per usual, her caramel fell into messily perfect waves. A smirk-like grin, that many associated with Sirius, decorated her face. 

The two joined the small group that has gathered for the Order Metting that has not started yet. Minnie discussed something with Remus. Snape and Sirius glared at each other. Molly greeted Nova with a smile as she sat next to Oliver after performing their unnecessarily long and complicated handshake. Tonks, who had been talking with Remus and Minnie, greeted Nova with a smile. 

"Dads," Nova began turning to her fathers. "I need a new bed."

This drew everyone's attention. Of course there weren't many people in the room, but Nova always seemed to unintentionally draw the eyes of the crowds. 

"Why is that?" Remus asked hesitantly. 

"Harry and I broke the bed," Nova stated rather bluntly. 

Sirius spat his pumpkin juice out, hitting Snape in his large nose. 

"What?" Remus exclaimed. 

"Harry and I broke the bed," Nova repeated, confused why it was such a big deal. 

Both fathers looked ready to murder their godson. 

"Did you at least use protection?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow as he pulled Sirius back to his seat. "Sit down," he hissed to his husband. 

"There were pillows on the floor . . ." Nova trailed off immensely confused. 

Oliver was finding the whole situation rather hilarious. Snape looked as though he wished to be anywhere else. Minnie was laughing at the fathers for having to deal with hormonal teenagers. Tonks was near tears from laughter.

"What goods a pillow gonna do?" Sirius yelled. 

"To cushion our fall . . ." Nova said. She wondered why her dads were making such a big deal about it. 

Remus's left eye began to twitch. 

In heaven, everyone (including Alex) were laughing their arses off. 

"They are totally taking this the wrong way!" James said through his laughter. 

"They were doing it by their age! What did you expect?" Marlene snorted. 

Tonks, clutching her small baby bump, was historical. Molly was completely flabbergasted. Fifteen-year-olds shouldn't be having sex!

"Nova," Minerva began calmly. "What exactly were you and Mister Potter doing?"

"Well, ya see," Nova began to tell her tale. "Harry challenged me-"

"Oh, so it's Harry's fault?" Sirius exclaimed, ready to murder his godson. 

"Yes, although he won't admit it." Nova began. "Anyways, as I was saying . . .We Blacks never back down from a challenge. It's like in the code of conduct or something."

"She isn't wrong!" Reg grinned. 

"Yeah. You're all stubborn as mules," James laughed. 

"You don't have any room to talk, Potter," Marlene snorted. 

"You once spent nearly an hour trying to push a door that said pull," Lily laughed. "We told you it's a pull door. But no! James Potter cannot be fooled by something as simple as a door!" 

"What was the challenge?" Oliver asked. 

"Who can jump the highest on the bed of course!" Nova exclaimed as if it were obvious. "The cushions were there for when one of us fell off. Have you never heard the story of the five little monkeys jumping on the bed?"

"The what?" Sirius asked. 

"You must be joking!" Nova exclaimed. "We used to sing it at the Orphanage to annoy the shit out of everyone!"

Remus frowned. 

"It goes, 'Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell off and bumped his head, Mumma called the doctor and the doctor said "no more monkeys jumping on the bed"," Nova sang in a beautiful voice. "Then the number keeps dropping until you hit zero."

Nova looked around the room. She noticed the sad looks on her fathers' faces and wished she hadn't even brought up the bloody orphanage. 

"If you didn't think we were seeing who could jump the highest, what did you think we were doing?" Nova asked. "I mean, I obviously won."

"We thought you were participating in adult activities," Remus said in an awkward voice. 

"Ew." Nova scrunched her face up in disgust. 

Little did she know, she wouldn't find it so disgusting in a few months. 

"Well, since you two are dating-"

"Hell yeah!" Minnie yelled. "Albus owes me fifty galleons!"

"Minnie?" Sirius exclaimed. 

"Oh don't look at me like that!" Minnie said in a playful tone. "I had bets on everyone. I will gladly admit that when it comes to my children, I have never lost. Albus lost against our bet about you, Sirius, Remus, and our bet about Lily and James, Alice and Frank, and Marlene and Dorcus."

"So the two brats are dating," Snape sneered, speaking for the first time since Nova arrived. 

Everyone turned to him. Sirius with a rather harsh glare on his face as he did so. 

"Just because the green-eyed bae I'm in love with actually loves me back," Nova in a sassy tone. "Doesn't mean you can be a sour jelly bean." 

"Roasted!" James yelled, flipping Snape off. 

Lily was blushing a dark red as the others laughed. 

Remus held in his laughter. Sirius's glare slowly morphed into a proud grin. 

"It's kinda sad you are picking a fight with a fifteen-year-old girl, Professor," Nova said sincerely. 

"Well, I think I'll stay after the meeting to threaten Potter," Oliver shrugged. 

Nova rolled her eyes at his protectiveness. 

Suddenly, Oliver's eyes widened in a comical way. He had a fire in his eye when he talked about Quidditch. 

"Merlin! Nox, you and Harry are having seven children!" He exclaimed. 

Nova began to choke on her water. 

"They'll be quidditch prodigies! You can create a quidditch team and it'll be unstoppable!" Oliver said enthusiastically. 

Nova was coughing, trying to regain her breath. Remus patted her back harshly, hoping to help her breathe. Sirius looked upset at the thought of having seven grandchildren. Minnie was smiling. Snape seemed to be in 'Lily Land'. Moody seemed indifferent. Tonks was trying not to laugh again. Molly busied herself in the kitchen. 

"That's nice," Nova said, regaining her composure."But Harry and I have a life ban from Quidditch."

"What the fuck did you do?" Oliver asked. 

"Now, now, Oli," Nova teased. "Watch your fucking mouth in front of the fetus."

"Nova Lily," Remus warned. 

"Oh come on!" Nova exclaimed. 

"What did you do?" Oliver repeated. His short brown hair was splayed across his forehead. 

"Nothing that wasn't completely justified." Nova huffed. 

Oliver raised an eyebrow. 

"You nearly killed a student!" Snape snarled. 

"I was completely justified." Nova shrugged. 

"It took Fred Weasley, Angelina Johnson, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and several jinxes to get you off of your cousin!" Snape hissed. 

"And with his rich bitch arse attitude, I'll do it again," Nova shrugged. "Besides, he was out of line."

From that moment one, Nova was lost in thought. 

She wondered if it were possible to save Dray from the fate his father laid out for him. She wondered if he even wanted to be saved. She wondered if she should just leave it alone. She wondered if he was worth saving. 

But to Nova, everyone was worth saving. 

She knew, deep down, she wouldn't stop until she saves five people from a hideous fate:

Blaise Zabini.

Theodore Nott.

Draco Malfoy.

Timothy Fawley (AKA Timmy). 

Harry Potter. 

Even though Harry had complete faith in Dumbledore and his ability to keep HArry safe, Nova didn't trust him with her boyfriend's life. Hell, she didn't trust him with her cat's life. 

It was like Dumbledore was planning something for Harry. It was like he needed something from Harry. Like he had something planned for Harry. 

Nova didn't know what it was, but she was determined to find out. 

"Pa," Nova said suddenly, interrupting Dumbledore's speech to the Order. She was too lost in thought she hadn't noticed the meeting started. "When can I see my dragon again?"

***

Nova sat in the kitchen next to her father, Sirius. The father and daughter duo, freakishly similar in looks, both glared at the Potions Master. 

While Nova's eyes were an amber color with flecks of silver, Sirius's were pure silver. Both, however, glowed with immense hatred. Despite having different hair and eyes, the facial structure was similar between the two. Nova's facial features were softer and more feminine, but just as deadly as her father's. 

Harry entered and instantly picked up on the intense atmosphere. 

It would be a lie if Harry said his gaze didn't linger on Nova longer than the two men. She, however, took no notice as she was too busy glaring at Snape. 

Harry did, however, notice a letter sitting in front of Sirius. 

"Er," said Harry to announce his presence. 

Nova's gaze drifted to her boyfriend and her face instantly brightened as she grinned at him. 

Snape looked around at him, his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair. 

"Sit down, Potter." 

And . . .Nova's smile faded. 

"You know," said Sirius loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling, "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see." 

An ugly flush suffused Snape's pale face. Harry sat down in a chair beside Sirius, facing Snape across the table. 

"I was supposed to see you alone, Potter," said Snape, the familiar sneer curling his mouth, "but Black —" 

"I'm his godfather," said Sirius, louder than ever. 

"And your demon spawn?" Snape sneered. 

"Oh, Snivels, I'm the entertainment," Nova smirked as she leaned forward. "Besides, I'd like to see you try and move me."

Snape sent her another glare before turning to Sirius. 

"I am here on Dumbledore's orders," said Snape, whose voice, by contrast, was becoming more and more quietly waspish, "but by all means stay, Black, I know you like to feel . . . involved."

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Sirius, letting his chair fall back onto all four legs with a loud bang. 

"Merely that I am sure you must feel — ah — frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful," Snape laid delicate stress on the word, "for the Order." 

It was Sirius's turn to flush. Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to Harry. 

"The headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term."

"Study what?" said Harry blankly. Snape's sneer became more pronounced. 

"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one. Harry's heart began to pump very fast indeed. Defense against external penetration? But he was not being possessed, they had all agreed on that. . . ." 

"Why do I have to study Occlu — thing?" he blurted out. 

"Because the headmaster thinks it a good idea," said Snape smoothly. "You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?" 

"Yes," said Harry. 

"No!" Nova began sarcastically. "He is just going to babble everything to the pink toad that likes to use bloody quills to cut our fucking hands open."

Harry instantly clenched his left hand. He felt anger crash down on him like a wave as he took notice of Nova's scar, which she proudly displayed. Sirius seemed to be in a similar state. 

"Who's going to be teaching me?" Harry asked, turning back to the man. 

Snape raised an eyebrow. 

"I am," he said. 

Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting. Extra lessons with Snape — what on earth had he done to deserve this? He looked quickly around at Sirius for support. 

"Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry?" asked Sirius aggressively."Why you?" 

"Why can't I teach Harry?" Nova asked, once again, drawing the attention to her. "I'm skilled in Occulmency."

"You need to know legilimency," Sirius interjected. "And you might be a distraction."

A smirk grew on her face. She sent a wink at Harry as she caught his eye, successfully causing him to flush. 

"This is exactly why . . . " Sirius groaned. 

"I suppose because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks," said Snape silkily. "I assure you I did not beg for the job." He got to his feet. "I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening, Potter. My office. If anybody asks, you are taking RemedialPotions. Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them." 

He turned to leave, his black traveling cloak billowing behind him.

"Wait a moment," said Sirius, sitting up straighter in his chair. Snape turned back to face them, sneering."I am in rather a hurry, Black . . . unlike you, I do not have unlimited leisure time. . . ." 

Nova wanted to throw another popcorn bowl at him. 

"I'll get to the point, then," said Sirius, standing up. He was rather taller than Snape who, Harry noticed, had balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry was sure was the handle of his wand. "I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time, you'll have me to answer to." 

"How touching," Snape sneered. "But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?"

 "Yes, I have," said Sirius proudly. 

"Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him," Snape said sleekly. 

Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table toward Snape, pulling out his wand as he went; Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating, his eyes darting from Sirius's wand tip to his face. 

"Sirius!" said Harry loudly, but Sirius appeared not to hear him. 

"I've warned you, Snivellus," said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better —" 

"Da!" Nova shouted as she jumped to her feet. 

"Oh, but why don't you tell him so?" whispered Snape. "Or are you afraid he might not take the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months very seriously?" 

"Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?" 

"Speaking of dogs," said Snape softly, "did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognized you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform . . .gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?"

 Sirius raised his wand. 

"NO!" Harry yelled, vaulting over the table and trying to get in between them, "Sirius, don't —" 

"Harry!" Nova yelled as he jumped in the middle of Sirius and Snape.

"Fuck this shit," Nova hissed as she snapped her fingers summoning her father's and Snape's wands to her hand. 

This didn't seem to affect either man. 

"Are you calling me a coward?" roared Sirius, trying to push Harry out of the way, but Harry would not budge. 

"Why, yes, I suppose I am," said Snape.

"Harry — get — out — of — it!" snarled Sirius, pushing him out of the way.

"Both of you," Nova snarled, grabbing their attention. "Grow the fuck up. I understand having a rivalry, believe me. You two are grown are arse adults. Snape, bring up Uncle Prongs was a low blow, on several different levels. Da, you need to control your temper." Nova paused, realizing she too had a temper but continued. "Believe me, Snape, I don't exactly see us having tea every Sunday. But for the sake of the future and outcome of the war, I will work with you. We need to work together or we are all fucked, and not the way every hormonal teen wants to be."

Harry, as usual, was looking at the girl in complete awe. 

"Fucking simp," Regulu coughed from in heaven.

The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley family, plus Hermione, came inside, all looking very happy, with Mr. Weasleywalking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pajamas covered by a mackintosh. 

"Cured!" he announced brightly to the kitchen at large. "Completely cured!" 

He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold, gazing at the scene in front of them, which was also suspended in mid-action, both Sirius and Snape looking toward the door with their arms held out as though they held wands and Harry immobile between them, a hand stretched out to each of them, trying to force them apart. Nova defiantly stood off to the side with their wands in her hand. 

"Merlin's beard," said Mr. Weasley, the smile sliding off his face,"what's going on here?" 

Both Sirius and Snape lowered their arms, and Nova returned their wands. Harry looked from one to the other. Each wore an expression of utmost contempt, yet the unexpected entrance of so many witnesses seemed to have brought them to their senses. Snape pocketed his wand and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasleys without comment. At the door, he looked back.

 "Six o'clock Monday evening, Potter."He was gone. 

Sirius glared after him, his wand at his side. 

"But what's been going on?" asked Mr. Weasley again. 

"Nothing, Arthur," said Sirius, who was breathing heavily as though he had just run a long distance. "Just a friendly little chat between two old school friends. . . ." With what looked like an enormous effort, he smiled. "So . . . you're cured? That's great news, really great. . . ."

***

Ron, Hermione, Nova, and Harry were all in Nova's room watching a movie. Fred and George decided not to join seeing as they wanted to perfect their joke products. Ginny claimed she had homework, but Nova knew she was owling Luna. 

Ron and Hermione sat on the floor at the foot of Nova's bed. Each time the monster of the horror movie would jump out, their hands would slowly inch closer to each other. 

Nova was wrapped in Harry's arms as her head rested peacefully on his chest as they laid on her bed (which got replaced). Their breaths were in perfect sync as Nova idly played with Harry's fingers. 

The two were barely watching the movie. Instead, they engaged in small conversation. 

For the first time in months, Harry wasn't angry. He didn't have the voice nagging in the back of his brain. All he could think about is the girl that was wrapped in his arms. 

Suddenly, Nova's bedroom door flew open. 

Snuffles pranced in his a troublemaker grin on his face. 

Without warning, he nestled himself in between Harry and Nova. With a final warning glare sent towards Harry, Snuffles rested his head on Nova's stomach as she ran a hand through his fur. 

Shadow, who had been waiting for Harry to move, was sad. 

This dog stole her cuddles. 

Shadow didn't like being sad. 

She got up from her spot (the foot of Nova's bed) and marched over to Nova, curling into the side Snuffles wasn't on. Shadow, after getting comfortable, practically demanded Nova's attention. The caramel-haired girl instantly began to stroke Shadow. 

Shadow, the all-black cat, sent Harry a teasing look. It was almost as if to say, "Who's the jealous one now, Potter?"