Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
I sigh in relief as I finish my last exam. My O.W.L.s were finally done! I think I did pretty well in all of them except maybe Divination. I sit down next to Remus and tuck myself against him. 
                          
"Tired?" Remus teases. 
                          
"Exhausted." I groan. I hear James stifling a laugh so I glare at him. "Oh sod off."
                          
My American accent and slang has lessened over the year. Now I had a weird mix of the two which Remus once told me was very melodious. I had turned bright red at the compliment. 
                          
"We should be celebrating. We just did our O.W.L.s for Merlin's sake!" Sirius exclaims from where he's draped across an armchair. 
                          
"I, for one, agree with Pads." James says. 
                          
The boys had quickly completed the animagus process with the help of the sticking charm. James' animagus was a stag, Sirius' was a black, shaggy dog and Peter's was a rat. They had joined Remus, Lunar and I on the last full moon and it had gone pretty well considering they weren't attacked. 
                          
James had then come up with the idea of giving us nicknames and a group name. He wanted us to be known as the Maraurders. He had chosen the names Padfoot for Sirius, Wormtail for Peter, Moony for Remus, Prongs for himself and Lupa for me. I actually liked my nickname as it reminded me of my mother. 
                          
We eventually decide to celebrate with one last trip to Hogsmeade before summer. Remus and I walked hand in hand as James and Sirius bounced around us. Peter was laughing at their behaviour as Remus tries to get them under control. 
                          
"I still can't believe you're leaving me for the summer Ally." James says pouting as we sit at a free table in the Three Broomsticks. 
                          
"It's only for a month." I say rolling my eyes. "You spent nearly nine full months without me last year." 
                          
"Yeah but that's different! I had school. This is the summer holidays." James says stressing the words 'summer holidays'. 
                          
"Where are you going?" Sirius asks as he comes back with our butterbeers. 
                          
"America. I'm going to visit my dad and his family." I say taking a sip. 
                          
"I thought you lost you're family?" Peter asks sympathetically. 
                          
"I lost my mom's side. Haven't seen my dad in a while but I want to get to know him better." I say with a shrug. I take a sip of my butterbeer. "After what happened with my mom I feel like I should at least try as I don't know how long I'll have him." I shrug sadly. Remus wraps an arm around me. I shake my head out of its sadness. "This is a time for celebration not misery. We made it through the exams!"
                          
"We did, didn't we?" Sirius says smugly. We spend time chatting before the boys decide to visit Zonko's one last time. 
                          
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After the train ride back I was sitting on my bed as I packed for my trip. 
                          
"Need any help?" James asks as he knocks on the doorframe. 
                          
"I'm almost finished but I could use the company." I say as I pat the bed beside me. James comes over and sits next to me. 
                          
"Promise me you'll try and be careful ok?" James says seriously. "You're family now, and I don't know what would happen if I lost you."
                          
"I'll try Jay." I say ask I wrap him in a small hug. 
                          
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The next day was full of tearful goodbyes as the Potter's hand me a portkey. 
                          
"Just make sure to remember the date you're coming back." Mum says giving me one final hug. 
                          
"I will. Don't worry so much. I'll see you all in a month." I say as I pull back. I grab my suitcase and wave one last time before grabbing hold of the portkey. I land in an isolated garden. I head to the closest street and try and find a sign. To my delight, I find a small convenience store right around the corner from where I was. I head in and pluck a map out of the stands. 
                          
"Excuse me? Could you please point out where we are on this map please?" I ask the cashier after I pay for the map. 
                          
"Sure thing dear." The woman replies. I unfold the map and she points to a small town just outside of New Orleans. "Here we are. Half an hour away from New Orleans."
                          
"Is there any transport from here to there?" I ask looking at the distance I'd have to walk if not. 
                          
"A bus comes everyday, twice a day. Something there for you?" The woman asks. 
                          
"Hopefully someone is." I say with a smile. "Where does the bus stop?" 
                          
"Just at the end of the street, that way. Hope you find who you're looking for." She says kindly pointing to my right. 
                          
"Thank you." I say and head out. I quickly catch the bus a couple minutes before it leaves and find a seat. I bite my lip nervously. 
                          
My dad didn't know about me. The only way I could prove that it was me would be the things he'd left me before I was born. I hoped he would want to get to know me like I wanted to get to know him. 
                          
I'm brought out of my thoughts when the bus driver calls that we've stopped in New Orleans. I make my way off the bus, thanking the driver as I do. I nervously look around but steel myself with a deep breath. I pull out the address I had been given by my mother. She had said it was the latest address of my fathers but she couldn't be sure that he'd still be there. 
                          
I walk down the unfamiliar streets. I take a few turns but end up giving up. I head into a bar to my left and walk up to a bartender. She was a pretty woman with blonde hair. 
                          
"How can I help you?" She asks with a kind smile. 
                          
"Uh could you give me directions to Dumains street please?" I ask her after double checking the address. 
                          
"Sure you take a left as you leave the building, walk two blocks then take a right, take the next left and you should be there." She says cheerily. 
                          
"Thanks...Camille." I say after reading her name tag. 
                          
"No problem. And it's Cami." She says with a grin. I wave goodbye and follow the directions she'd given me. I come to a stop in front of a massive house. 
                          
"Now or never." I mutter as I knock loudly on the door. 
                          
"Who are you?" A blonde girl asks as she opens the door. She gives me a once over before stopping on my face. 
                          
"My names Allison Marshall-Potter." I introduce myself. "I was hoping to find someone called Niklaus Mikaelson?"