Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I wouldn't be writing on fanfiction, would I?

Author's Note: This is a sequel to And Death Was Framed, however I will try to make it stand alone. Obviously, the more I write they better I become, so this story will be better than my earlier work (I hope) and less painful to read. If you read this and things don't make sense because you haven't read And Death Was Framed, please let me know and I will fix the story. Enjoy!

Aubrieanna crept down the over-sterilized hallway, trying to be invisible. There were always people drifting down the hallways at Saint Mungo's, but most of them were too preoccupied to notice a sickly-looking teenage girl. Aubrieanna's skin had grown even paler since her confinement in Azkaban had resulted in an extended stay in the wizarding world's hospital, and her inability to sleep had returned, allowing dark circles to form under her eyes. She might have looked weak on most days, but today determination had taken over her face. She had a mission.

The voices of two healers carried around the corner. Aubrieanna dove behind a potions cart and waited for them to pass.

"So the Ministry finally found foster parents for Miss De'Muertas?" One asked.

"They're downstairs in Healer Hardgen's office signing the papers as we speak." The other replied. "I hate to say it, but I'll be glad to see her go. The thought of having a Fayne here of all places… It just doesn't sit right with me."

By the time the two healers had come to the end of the hallway, Aubrieanna was already down the stairs that lead to the Healers' offices. She silently moved towards the only occupied office and tried to listen in on the conversation. Healer Hardgen's voice carried easily through the door, but the other voices weren't easily identifiable. Aubrieanna scowled. This was her only chance to discover who she would live with for the next six weeks. The Ministry was picking these people, and that made her nervous.

Aubrieanna didn't have the best relationship with the Ministry. It may have had to do with the fact that her mother had been viewed as a terrorist, or that her half-brother had framed her for a series of gruesome murders. The underlining cause was definitely the fact that she was a Fayne, a member of a powerful magical group that had left "civilized" wizarding society centuries earlier. The Faynes had used their powerful blood-magic to create their own world, Ovalon, and developed a new form of magic.

It wasn't until a civil war ravaged Ovalon that Aubrieanna's mother had attempted to contact the wizarding world for support against the Standard. The modern wizarding world was as repulsed by Fayne magics their ancestors had been centuries ago. Small skirmishes had broken out, but they were nothing compared to the horror occurring in Ovalon. Families were ripped to shreds, and Aubrieanna's had been no exception. Her older sister had joined forces with the Standard and killed their mother, leaving fifteen-year-old Aubrieanna to lead both the House of Death and the fight against the Standard.

Unfortunately, Aubrieanna did not gain her full powers until she became sixteen, and she had been sent to England to live with her father and learn "wizard magic" for her own safety.

And look how well that worked.Aubrieanna thought. I was place in jail and spent weeks recovering in a damn hospital. Now I get to live with a family who probably despises my kind because my father abandoned me. She glared at the door that prevent her from hearing the conversation within. If I only knew what family I'm to be inflicted on…

"You know they're looking all over for you upstairs, don't you?" Said a voice behind her.

Aubrieanna instantly jumped up and turned to face… "James Potter?" She hissed as she raised her eyebrows. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I'm here with my parents." He said, smiling. "And why are you sneaking around the basement when the Healers are trying to discharge you? I would think you'd be glad to leave after so many weeks trapped in here."

"I would be glad to get out of here if I knew where I was going." Aubrieanna said. "Now shut up. I need to hear this." She turned back to the door just James reached around her and knocked on it, loudly. She stepped back and looked for a place to hide, but before she could dive behind a cart carrying bandages, James grabbed her shoulder and held her there.

Healer Hardgen's stout figure emerged from his office followed by an older but well-dressed witch and a tall older wizard. Aubrieanna recognized the man as Mr. Potter, but before she could express her surprise, James spoke up.

"I found her, Dad." He said. "Are we ready to go yet?"

Hardgen shook his head. "There are still a few papers for Aubrieanna to sign. If you'll enter the office, we can discharge you immediately."

Aubrieanna enter the small room and looked a the stack of papers sitting on the desk. Mr. Potter followed her in.

"If you just read here and here and sign at the bottom," he said, pointing at various paragraphs, "we can leave."

Slightly bewildered, Aubrieanna skimmed through the papers. The foster child shall remain in custody of the foster parent until the foster child becomes of age… The foster child's wand shall be confiscated between school sessions until he or she becomes of age… The foster parent shall be required to provide two meals a day… Finally, she made it to the last section. I, Aubrieana De'Muertas, agree to abide by this legally binding contract and recognize John Potter and Vera Potter as my legal guardians.

"You'regoing to be my guardian?" Aubrieanna exclaimed, clearly surprised. She could see James laughing at her from behind his father. Clearly he was enjoying this. She fixed him with a infuriated glare before she remembered that she should probably attempt to not anger her new foster family.

"Yes," Mr. Potter replied, frowning. "Is there a problem with that."

"No." Aubrieanna replied quickly. James as a housemate would be extremely trying, but as far as foster parents go, the Potters were be the best she could have hoped for, but she was surprised that they would be willing to take her in. Mr. Potter had never seemed to actually like her, but as the rest of the wizarding world most certainly hated her, she couldn't complain. Shaking off any doubts she had, Aubrieanna placed her signature on the line, trying to remember that saying about thanking God for small favors. Before she had set down her quill, she was embraced by the witch she assumed was Mrs. Potter.

"I just want you to know how happy we are to finally meet you." She said. "Whatever you need to make yourself comfortable, just let us know and…"

"Mum, I think she'd be a lot more comfortable will a little bit of space." James interrupted, still smirking at her.

"Oh, of course." She said, letting go quickly, but proceeding to smooth out the old t-shirt Aubrieanna was wearing.

"If everything is in order, Mr. Hardgen, I think we would like to go home now." Mr. Potter said.

--

"Here we are, dear. Home, sweet home." Mrs. Potter said as the entered the house. Even Aubrieanna, who had grown up in a house that was, at one time, the headquarters of one of the most powerful groups in Ovalon, had to admire the beautiful, red-brick building. It was clearly old, but it was extremely well-cared for and surrounded by gardens that looked like the setting for a storybook. Inside it was no less charming, covered in what Aubrieanna suspected was original antique wall paper and furnished with wooden antiques.

Aubrieanna was still admiring her surroundings when Mr. Potter entered, levitating her trunk. A sudden crack caught Aubrieanna's attention as an aged house elf appeared.

"May I help you, sir?" She asked, her wrinkled ears almost completely obscuring her face.

"A cup of ice tea might be nice, Thea." Mrs. Potter said kindly.

"Are you sure young Johnny doesn't need help with the trunk, Marm?" The elf warbled.

"I think he can manage." Mrs. Potter said kindly. Thea gave Mr. Potter a concerned look, but she obediently went to fetch the beverages.

"That's our house elf." James whispered. "She's really too old to do any heavy work, but she's like an aunt to Dad."

"James, if you've stopped whispering, I think that Thea may be right." Mr. Potter said. "I would like some help with this trunk."

"By help, do you mean carry it up myself?" James asked, smirking.

"It's character building, James." Mr. Potter said before handing him the trunk handle. James started dragging the trunk towards a large staircase with a beautifully carved railing.

"Do you need help?" Aubrieanna offered awkwardly. "I can carry the trunk myself."

"I'm sure you could, but then Mum would find out, and I would be scrubbing the kitchen with a toothbrush. You see, I have to at least pretend to be nice to you for at least a few weeks."

"You sound like you've done this before." Aubrieanna said, following him up the stairs.

"Mum loves to have a full house. I think it's because then there's more people to eat, so she can cook more. Anyway, she's always hosting foreign exchange students, or inviting friends of the family to come visit the country for a while, or just putting up with my friends."

"Is this the first time she's hosted an ex-criminal?" Aubrieanna asked sarcastically.

"Yes, that is, if you don't count Uncle Ernie. Anyway, you have the blue bedroom. There's a bathroom next door on the right, but I would advise you don't go in the room on you left because…" Suddenly, James yelped and staggered backwards.

"You're back!" Shouted a disturbingly familiar voice just before James, the trunk, and the owner of the voice toppled down the stairs, falling right on Aubrieanna.

"Potter," Aubrieanna gasped as she tried to escape the dog pile, "why is Sirius Black sitting on top of me?"

"Well, he's staying in the room on the left, you see." James said slowly. "And he is going to get off us directly."

"I missed you, Yearling." Sirius said, laughing so hard that Aubrieanna could feel him shaking through James and the trunk.

"Sirius, if you don't pick a better name, I'm going to stick you with Snuffles." James grunted. "Now get off!"

Finally, Sirius and James got up and proceeded to hit each other repeatedly, allowing Aubrieanna to stand back up. "I can't believe I left Saint Mungo's for this." She said darkly, shaking her head as she dragged her trunk into her room.

--

By the time Aubrieanna had unpacked her trunk, she was beginning to feel tired. She had been too nervous to sleep at all the night before. She laid down on the bed and tried to close her eyes, but she couldn't get comfortable in her new surroundings. Besides, Aubrieanna never had been one for napping. Instead, she stretched her arms as legs as far as they would go and counted flowers.

The blue room, as James had called it, was covered in flowers. The wall paper had large, blue flowers printed on it. The bedspread had blue flowers quilted on to it, and the dresser and bed, which was a very sunny yellow that matched the stripes in the blue drapes, were carved with flowers. It was all very tastefully done, but Aubrieanna found it slightly unsettling. The only thing not covered in flowers was the wooden floor, but it had two area rugs that were adorned with twisting vines.

The window was open and a slight breeze was coming through it. Summer hadn't hit it's hottest yet, and fresh air and natural light was such a treat after having been trapped at Saint Mungo's. What day is it? Aubrieanna tried to remember. My birthday will be in a few weeks. A feeling of excitement and fear, no, not fear, anxiety, filled Aubrieanna. She was turning sixteen. That didn't mean anything in the wizarding world, but at home it was the most important birthday. At age sixteen, Faynes received their full power, but sometimes the power would drive a Fayne mad.

But once I turn sixteen, I can go home.Aubrieanna told herself, rolling over on her side. A flutter of movement drew her eye to the open window, where she saw two owls. One carried a thin scrap of parchment, the other had a thick envelope with stamps of approval from the Ministry plastered all over it. Aubrieanna quickly scanned the first letter from Lily Evens.

Glad to hear you're well again. Let me know where they've shipped you off to.

Quickly wrote down who she was staying with, laughing at the shock it would give to Lily. Before Lily's owl had left the window, Aubrieanna reached out for the thick envelope. Finally, she thought a letter from home.

A complex plethora of spells separated Ovalon from the rest of the world. It was difficult to break through the spells, and Ministry customs didn't speed up the process, so letters from home were few and far between. Additionally, time in Ovalon ran differently from the rest of the world, not at a different speed, necessarily, more like in a different shape. The end result was that Aubrieanna was forever getting letters from either three months ago or two weeks in the future.

This particular letter was from next Thursday. Morgana talked about a new Sonatina she was composing, and Gregory lectured Aubrieanna on diligence to her cause. Bartimaeus complained for two pages about how awful spring cleaning had been, with a whole paragraph dedicated to Aubrieanna's room.

I honestly don't know how many explosions it must have taken to create that mess. He wrote. I measured a total of thirteen square inches of wall that wasn't covered in sheet music, writing, battle plans, maps, or pictures. I couldn't even see the floor, and if I have to tell you one more time to secure the battle-ax on your wall, I'll lose my head. Literally. You're damn lucky you're coming home so quickly, or I would have thrown the whole thing out…

The best part, however, was the last page. Over one hundred signatures, almost everyone Aubrieanna knew from back home, covered the page that said:

Counting down to

August Twenty-Seventh,

The Biggest Birthday of the Century!