All of the students returned to Hogwarts the day before the winter term commenced. The snow had all melted by the end of the first week back. Many complaints could be heard from students who had been looking forward to snowball fights at the weekend. 

The lessons that the first years attended became slightly more advanced, as they began to apply more and more of the magic that they learned, and McGonagall began to allow them to practice Transfiguring beetles into buttons. Sirius Black won his first-ever house points when he accomplished this in late February. 

Anika struck up a correspondence with Perenelle Flamel, who seemed beyond ecstatic to hear from her. She remained in regular contact with Caractacus Burke, who grew curter and curter with her in letters, although she couldn't figure out why.

It wasn't until she felt the eyes of the school on her once again and that evening read the Daily Prophet Headline that sparked these stares that she understood why Mr Burke's attitude had changed.

CUSTODY BATTLE TO COMMENCE: Caractacus Burke and Alaric Borgin (of Borgin and Burke's) to launch custody battle against Nicolas and Perenelle Flammel 

Anika swallowed, glancing up at Mary (who had given her a copy of the Daily Prophet to read). Mary's eyebrows raised. Anika looked back down at the paper, where a picture of her own face was staring up at her. 

The wizarding world is about to face it's first every custody battle after Caractacus Burke and Alaric Borgin launch their case to maintain guardianship of Anika Smith. The 12-year-old girl, who began her education at Hogwarts in September of this year is alleged to be Amelie Flamel, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Flamel, who was stolen from them mere weeks after her birth. 

In an interview, Mr Burke stated, 'we have done everything within our power to raise the girl for the last twelve years of her life. We have invested much time and money in her and we intend to have the law involved to prevent the Flamels from taking her away from us.'

Nicolas Flamel, the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone and good friend of Albus Dumbledore, was unavailable for comment, however, Mr Burke went on to explain that 'we have been in correspondence with the Flamels and it appears that reclaiming Anika is indeed their intent. Therefore, I will be appealing to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to aid me in this matter.'

"Why didn't you tell me?" Mary asked.

"I didn't know about this!" Anika replied, skimming through the remained of the article with wide eyes. "I can't believe they're going to take this to court!"

"No, I meant about you finding your real parents!" Mary said, "when did this happen?"

"I met Nicolas in November after the accident in Flying Class," said Anika, still looking down at the paper in shock, "but I've hardly spoken to him since, I didn't think it was that big of a deal."

"Clearly you were wrong!" Mary sighed. "This is mad Anika, you're on the front of the paper! they could have chosen a better picture though."

"What's wrong with the picture?" Anika demanded.

"You look grumpy."

"She's always grumpy." Marlene flopped down on the sofa beside Anika, peering over her shoulder at the paper, "but Mary's right, you look especially grumpy in that picture."

Anika let out a sigh and threw the paper down on the ground in front of her. It fell with the headline and picture facing up, so that the black and white image of Anika's face blinked unseeingly up at the ceiling. 

"I have to write a letter to Mr Burke," Anika sighed again, pushing herself up off of the sofa. "I need to find out what's going on."

"Well, who do you want to live with?" Mary asked.

"What?" Anika turned to look at the girl who had immediately taken Anika's vacated seat on the sofa. 

"Do you want to live with the Flamels?" Mary repeated, "if you were given the option, would you live with Mr Burke, or the Flamels."

Anika's mouth fell open, "I haven't even thought about it."

"Well I think you should start thinking about it," Mary suggested, "then you can just tell everyone what you want to happen rather than letting them make you decisions for you."

Anika's mouth remained open as she stared at Mary, thinking through what the girl had said.

"Careful, you'll catch the snitch in that mouth," said Marlene, reaching up to push Anika's mouth closed.

"What?" Mary frowned at Marlene.

"It's something my mum always says." Marlene shrugged, "I don't-"

"I'll see you guys later," Anika cut Marlene off. She hurried towards the portrait hole and out of the common room.

She didn't have a clear plan as to where she was aiming to go, but she could feel her throat constricting as it became somewhat difficult to breathe and she knew that she needed to get out of the common room. She hurried down several corridors, before finding herself sinking to the floor on the middle step of a hidden staircase disguised by a tapestry. 

She screwed her eyes shut and attempted to slow her breathing, which seemed impossible. Her breathing quickened and she soon found herself gasping for breath as hot tears rolled down her cheeks. 

It was all too much for her to take. She was only twelve years old, she should not have to deal with the idea of her not being a real person coupled with a tug of war over who's house she would live at. It was all made worse by the fact that she didn't want to disappoint Mr Borgin and Mr Burke or Nicolas and Perenelle. She couldn't face the idea that she could cause any of them pain. 

"Hello?" The tapestry which disguised the staircase was pulled aside and Anika saw potentially the last person she would have wanted to find her in this situation- the annoying and ever entitled Sirius Black. "Anika is that you?" Sirius asked.

"Go away!" Anika managed to choke out. 

Of course, the boy ignored her and made his way down to her, sitting on the step above Anika and resting his back on the opposite wall to the one she was leaning against. He reached into his robes and pulled out a tissue, offering it to Anika.

She took it and blew her nose. Her breathing was beginning to slow, but she found that she felt completely exhausted by the whole experience. 

Sirius said nothing but patted the girl's leg awkwardly. 

Anika blew her nose again, feeling the sobs begin to fade.

"Thank you for the tissue," she said eventually when she regained the ability to speak.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sirius asked. 

"No, I think everyone already knows."

Sirius offered her a small smile, "you know, not everyone has the perfect family." His face darkened somewhat when he mentioned family, but Anika did not notice.

"Don't you?" Anika asked.

"Not even close," Sirius replied.

Anika bit her lip, still struggling to put her thoughts in order. 

"Do you want me to go?" Sirius asked.

"No," said Anika. She didn't trust that she wouldn't break into sobs again the moment that he left. 

Neither of them spoke after that, but Anika was thankful for his presence, which had a strangely calming effect that she never would have expected possible from Sirius Black.

He allowed her to sit and mull through her thoughts, knowing full well from his own experiences with his family that it was better not to be alone in times such as these.