Hello all! Ambrose here dropping my own spin on the Sirius went to prison left behind a kid and a lover who is suddenly reunited and falls in love again and everyone has drama and people get upset and people cry and the world almost ends only it doesn't because someone saves the day fic! Hehe sorry its just so cliché. However, hopefully my characters aren't cause I've spent some time trying to spin them correctly, hopefully doing a good job. My one thing to mention is when you read the character Ashley think like one of the girls on Sex and the City if you've seen that show, also sort of imagine that for Skylar and Zoë…only a lot more toned down.
Anyways I hope you enjoy it because I had a lot of fun writing it and in truth I think it's got a totally different spin to it than most. Of all the stories I've read I haven't found someone so independent. Yes my characters appear like Mary Sues…but I had to open it well. If you stay with it I think I'll be able to disprove you. So read it, review it and yeah…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own, nor have I ever, nor will I ever own Harry Potter, its situations, characters or settings. I also do not own any of the clothing brands you read here (wish I did trust me) however in my possession I do hold Skylar, Zoë, Ashley, Andy, and anything else that you don't know that I've put on here. On with it!
**NOTE: I have not finished the fifth book, althougth I know a bit of what happens. So bear with me here because yes I know who dies and I know part of it, so I'm trying work with it here and trying to stay in cannon. Also for purposes of the story we're going to go with the fact that this is not actually taking place in 1995 but actually in 2002. I had to do it for all intensive purposes of the story. I know that Harry was born in 80 and I know that his fifth year is 95 but just...bear with me....**
Chapter One: The Tragically Fashionable Kelleys
Sunlight filtered through the skylights of a large penthouse apartment, small particles of dust filtered through the air catching sight in the bright sunshine. The occupant of the living room turned over on the couch groaning and kicking at the blanket placed over her, feet still in stiletto heels from the previous night. Her long straight raven hair spilled over the couch, almost brushing the floor, her eyes closed, messy eyeliner ringing them. Suddenly a loud crash woke her up. Screaming she sat upright and looked to where a short woman banged two stainless steel cooking pots together.
"Mom! Hangover, hangover!" She cried and buried her head from the noise. Laughing the older woman tugged at the girl's tight jeans. "No, ten more minutes and three Advil." The girl cried as her mother drug her off the couch. Landing on the wood floor with a thud she glared at her.
"Zoë get up, its almost noon. I think you've had enough time to sleep off the worst of that hangover and it's certainly not my fault you went out on a party binge last night." The woman stated firmly brushing her caramel hair from her face. The pairs of seemingly identical piercing blue eyes locked in a war of wits.
Shaking her head clear, Zoë sighed, this morning certainly was not going her way. Getting to her feet, she came at a few inches over her mother due to the tall heels she wore. Over her jeans she wore a long pink spaghetti strapped top that had lace and beaded design on it. Zoë Kelley had certainly learned from the keen fashion sense of her mother who at the moment was still in her pajamas. Going to her real room, she proceeded to undress and then stepped into the shower. Instantly the warm water made her massive hangover go away as she cleaned her hair and got all the makeup off her face.
Stepping out, Zoë brushed her teeth and then brushed her hair out, grabbing a spray bottle from her cabinet. It was an instant magic drying material that left her hair hydrated and perfectly straight. Of all things about being a witch that Zoë liked, the hair care and easy method of getting ready was certainly on top of the list. On bottom however were the clothes they wore which is why she opted to dress as any normal sixteen year old would. She slithered into a fresh pair of jeans from Express and a black shirt that had a wide neckline falling off her shoulders. Pulling on a pair of pointed, stiletto black boots that went up to her knees, Zoë turned her attention to her makeup.
"What color to wear today?" She muttered to herself. While she thought the girl put on a black beaded choker, and three silver bangles that she always wore on her wrist. Her watch went on the other and then her several silver rings. In her ears went her normal set, silver hoops then a smaller pair followed by silver studs and at the top of her ears went her smaller hoops where the cartilage was pierced. Finally she decided on heavy liner and a glossy type touch with black and glossy pink lips to bring out her eyes. Stepping back she looked in the mirror. It was a great look for a Saturday.
"Zoë! Are you trying to drown yourself? You've been in there for hours." Her mother called out. Laughing the girl rolled her eyes before grabbing her black purse and coming out. Her mother stood there, in all of her glory, tall brown boots much like Zoë's, Express jeans and a brown three quarter sleeve shirt that hugged her body. "What are you going for Zoë? The runway?"
Shrugging she rocked back on her heels. "You said we were going shopping, which means I have to look good."
"I never said you didn't dear." Was the reply. Something fell out of her brown Louis Vuitton purse. Bending down, Zoë picked up an old picture. It was a wizard picture she could tell, of her mother when she was younger and several other people. Zoë was familiar to it, she'd seen it many times before. However her mother was quick to snatch it back. "Come on Zoë, we'll get some breakfast before we hit the streets."
Both women left the apartment, heels making a lovely sound on the floor as they walked. Zoë smiled and looped her arm through her mothers and shook her raven hair from her eyes. Skylar looked up at her only child and tried her best to not look like she was about to cry. It was so easy to see who had fathered the lovely Zoë Kelley. Not long ago Skylar had revealed the truth to Zoë which had caused much anger and many tears but finally acceptance for the fourteen year old girl who found out the week her father, Sirius Black, had escaped prison.
"Mom what's wrong?" She asked curiously catching her mother looking strangely at her.
"Its nothing Zoë, you just look so much like your father." Was the wistful reply. Skylar shook her head and laughed at her foolishness. If he hadn't come back by now he wasn't coming back at all. He'd forgotten about the woman he left behind and the two year old baby he left behind as well. But Zoë wasn't two anymore, she was sixteen and would be seventeen in about six months. It was mind blowing, Skylar Kelley had single handedly raised her daughter for fourteen of her sixteen years.
Shoving her mother gently Zoë smiled brightly and the two got in the elevator. "You know mom I will never understand why you decided to live as a muggle and a witch at the same time." She murmured as they waited for the lift to go down. Shrugging Skylar smiled.
"I make better money being a muggle, besides the clothes were too cute to pass up." Both women dissolved into giggles knowing full well the cushy lifestyle they lived could not have been achieved if Skylar had decided to live as a witch. Through Skylar's extremely well paying job as a writer and editor for one of the top women's magazines in the country her columns on current events, plus the advice column kept the two girls well fed, with a nice apartment and extremely well dressed. Besides the fact that Zoë also helped out by doing modeling for local branches of some of their favorite stores and playing guitar with her friends in local pubs and coffee houses.
"Yeah, its definitely the clothes. I don't understand why you love designer labels so much." Zoë added to her mother, expecting the lash out.
Looking open mouthed at her daughter, Skylar rolled her eyes and laughed. "You love these clothes as much as I do Zoë Kelley, don't give me your bullshit."
Running her hands over the Armani Exchange shirt she wore Zoë grinned. "Yea, your right." She said and then suddenly looked crestfallen. "Andy broke up with me last night."
"What?!? Why?" Skylar exclaimed. Andy was always such a nice boy, he and Zoë had been dating for a few months. He seemed to be a good influence and had broken a bad habit of smoking that Zoë had picked up when she had just turned fifteen. Plus he was a real catch, cute and funny.
"Well you know, college is such a big step in a man's life and all." Zoë said impersonating a macho male voice before slumping her shoulders over. "Besides he was a muggle and since I couldn't tell him the truth, he didn't understand the boarding school thing and he knew there was this, thing going on that I couldn't reveal." She let out a sigh, half wishing she had a cigarette to soothe her frazzled nerves. "So he dumped me." Was the simple mutter. Skylar hugged her daughter tightly and smoothed out her raven locks.
She stepped back and then smiled brightly. "Well that's alright because it is the first Saturday of your summer break back and I fully intend to make it a shopping trip worth remembering."
****
From the shadows of the apartment hall, four people stood watching as they left. As soon as the girls were gone they all pushed back their hoods and stepped into the streaming sunlight. They all stood in complete and utter shock, for the first time in fourteen years they had seen Skylar and Zoë Kelley.
"Well, Skylar certainly hasn't changed." Remus Lupin muttered still stuck on seeing Zoë, who, the last time he saw her was a two year old still learning to walk. Now she was, well, pretty much grown up.
A woman with tart blonde sheets of straight hair laughed and shook her head. "Well I'm jealous of the two of them. One thirty four and still a thin as a rail, the other sixteen and has that waist, those legs and those breasts." She said and sighed, brushing off her sweater.
Automatically the two men looked at her shocked. "Ashley!" They yelled. Holding her hands up in defense the woman let out a laugh.
"What? Come on if you were a woman you'd want that figure. Admit it." Ashley said as the woman next to her, Tonks muttered an unlocking charm on the apartment and they all stepped inside.
"Oh they want that figure, but for a totally different reason." Tonks said and slapped five with Ashley who laughed and collapsed on one of the leather sofas. It was certainly comfortable and cushy as she laughed when Remus leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"I like your legs, waist and breasts the way they are." He muttered and laughed as she looped an arm around his neck pulling him down and kissing him firmly. The other man in the room whacked his long time best friend upside the head and looked around the connecting kitchen. Well lit with a large bowl of fruit.
He grabbed an apple and took a bite of it, leaning against the counter next to Tonks. "Well I can tell that neither of them cook, or if they do they clean up well." All of them surveyed the apartment and let out a sigh, the three older people merely laughed out loud.
"Oh it's definitely Skylar that's for sure." Remus murmured and picked up a picture frame that held a well known picture. He had taken it just a few weeks before Lily and James had been killed. It was the day that Sirius, two year old child aside had proposed to Skylar. Amusingly enough both of them were euphoric because even with a baby neither of them really wanted to get married, the idea of forever scared the hell out of them. But there they were holding Zoë, whose bright blue eyes looked at the camera, her fine raven colored hair brushed away from her face. Leaning against her father whom was looking at Skylar, their eyes locked.
Sirius Black stood next to them and sighed a hand on Remus' shoulder. "Well Zoë knows then. That could be a positive thing, I mean at least she's had some preparation time." Both of them nodded and sighed looking around the apartment, there was another picture of all of them, and then one of Zoë and Skylar both wearing black chiffon arms around each other, black line eyes bright as they smiled for the camera. Tonks however was examining another. It was of Zoë and her friends Adrian and Allista, all of them playing the guitar.
"Cute boy." Ashley marked and then sighed, picking her wand up off the counter. "Well if we're going to go through with this kidnapping operation we'd best pack everything, Tonks and I will most definitely take Zoë's room, a sixteen year old girl's life is way too personal for a man to go through."
Sirius and Remus nodded and went into Skylar's room. It was clean, although the bed was unmade and her pajama pants and tank were thrown across her bed. "I guess we'll only take the clothes and stuff I mean they don't need anything else do they?"
The men shared a look before shaking their heads. "It's Skylar, everything but the furniture." They joked, remembering what it was like when Sirius and Sky moved in together.
~*~
Skylar Kelley collapsed against the counter, hands on her hips watching as a Remus levitated a box into the apartment. Her long hair was tied from her face and she tapped the high heeled boots her aunt had sent her on the floor. It was a pretty flat with wood floors, big windows and plenty of living space.
"Just put that box over there. We'll deal with it later." She said and laughed as a blonde woman came up next to her.
Setting her purse and wand down on the counter Ashley watched her boyfriend set the box down and sigh, sharing a look with James as he came up with another box. "They're so well trained." Ashley said earning a glare from the dark haired man who pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and set the box down in the kitchen.
"Ingenious to label your boxes before moving them. James forgot to do that when he moved into my flat." Lily said shooting a friendly glare at her boyfriend who mere gave her a cheeky grin, kissing her cheek before heading back down. Skylar laughed but suddenly let out a muffled scream as someone picked her up.
"I'll just take this box to the bedroom." Sirius said with a laugh, kissing the eighteen year old on the neck. Laughing Skylar demanded to be put down before she pulled him to her laughing as he tickled her waist.
She smiled at him and then slithered out of his grasp going back over to her friends, accepting the martini Ashley made her. Sirius took the glass and had a drink, kissing her temple before heading back out. "Men." The women all said at the same time.
~*~
Sirius smiled at the thought as he continued to fold Skylar's things and packed them away as neatly as possible. He felt ironically guilty. Why he ran out on his fiancé and daughter that day to go do the stupidest thing he'd ever done, he'll never be sure. It was sure that either way he would have been convicted after all the only people who knew of the secret keeper switch then had been himself, James, Lily and Peter. As he folded an impossibly good looking pair of jeans he sighed.
"You can't change the past Padfoot, don't even wonder about it." Remus muttered with a poignant grin. Sirius smiled, thankful for the ever clear headed Remus who seemed to make sense of anything. It was what kept all of them from getting expelled in school and always kept Sirius' temper in check. At least he still had Remus and Ashley, and hopefully now he would have Skylar.
"Yeah I know, but just keep wondering day in and day out if Skylar would have been thrown in prison and the baby given away if I'd stayed." He murmured. It wasn't a pleasant thought but it was one that somehow seemed to help justify what he'd done that day.
Remus shut one of the full suitcases and shrunk it down before putting a weightless charm on it. He carried the handbag sized suitcase into the living room, where two more lay apparently from Zoë's room. Coming back in he sat on the bed and shrugged. "I don't know, if you had the charges still would have remained since most thought you were their secret keeper. However Skylar thrown in Azkaban? It's highly doubtful, sharp tongued and sarcastic she might be, but she's good a heart and even the ministry had to know that." Sirius smiled at the thought, if only that were the case.
Instead of dwelling on it he finished what he was doing and then moved on. Suddenly Ashley came in. "Whatever you do don't touch that underwear drawer Sirius Black."
Arching an eyebrow he laughed out loud. The thought of him getting embarrassed by Skylar's personal items was certainly amusing. "Why not? I used to wash it in the laundry." He muttered but her manicured nails smacked his hands away from the drawer.
"Yea, when you were still together. Fourteen years is a pretty damn big gap, especially from separation. It's not exactly like she's going to jump you when she sees you Black, knowing you've been through her underwear is only going to piss her off more." Ashley threatened and he stepped back. His face however was still amused clearly stating 'she'll never know.' "She's a woman, she'll ask, she's Skylar you honestly think she wouldn't?"
Remus was merely rolling his eyes before shoving Sirius out of the room and into the living room. "Padfoot don't bother. Tonks are you almost done in there?"
In reply the purple haired woman came out holding a large cosmetics case. "That girl has more makeup and hair care products than any other human being, aside from Ashley." Tonks muttered hauling the bag to the other things in the living room.
"I don't know Sky might have her beat!" Ashley yelled from the bathroom in Skylar's room. "She's got a damn fine collection. God I wish I was as loaded as these two girls are. What does Skylar do for a living?" She asked loudly.
"When I checked she was working as a writer and an editor for this really high dollar magazine for women." Remus yelled back leaning against the counter. "It's alright I put a notice in from her saying the was moving over seas. They wrote back transferring her immediately to their England branch." Ashley came out with the last suitcase and also carrying a cosmetics bag. Tonks was taking the other things from the living room and putting them in a box, shrinking them all down as she went. Finally everything was done. Ashley took out an old tarp from the bag she had set on the counter. Carefully they laid it out and placed all of the belongings on it. Looking at the clock she smiled.
"Right on time." She muttered and stepped on it with Tonks. "We'll see you with the girls later on tonight."
Remus nodded and then in a flash all of the material and the girls were gone, taking the rather large portkey back to 12 Grimmauld place. Sirius and Remus sighed, crashing on the couches turning on the muggle TV, in an attempt to find something to watch.
****
"My Lord." A tiny voice squeaked sliding across the floor. Removing his head from his hands, Voldemort looked up quite angry indeed. "They've gone for the Kelley woman and her daughter first. The Order is on their way, a step ahead." He said. Suddenly he flew across the room as if backhanded and hit one of the smooth obsidian walls rather hard.
Snarling Voldemort stood and moved swiftly across the room like a vampire. "That will not do!" He shouted. "Incompetent fool, you should be hung for this! I told you I wanted the Kelley women here, you let some damned order before me!" Those eyes bore into the hooded man who merely cried out a little.
Voldemort allowed the man to get up and watched in mild amusement as he groveled. "I'm sorry my lord, I'm sorry."
"I need those two women, one of them wears that necklace with the Malachi Gem. I will have blood, particularly from you if you do not rid me of the men in the way and bring them to me, alive and unspoiled." He shouted and then sat down at a large ebony table. There he poured a glass of blood red wine. Raising the rim to his lips he smiled in satisfaction. His minion stood and bowed low before skittering out of the room.
Looking up at the ceiling he smiled and laughed high pitched. It wouldn't be long now. The Kelley women would soon meet their end quick as he had that power in his veins. All he needed was to get to the mind of the young one. Consulting the crystal ball on the table he saw the pretty Zoë Kelley come into focus. She was a perfect target, young, wild, and still unknowing about her father's whereabouts. Absolutely perfect, that lovely raven head of hers would soon belong in his control.
"Things appear to be shaping up quite well." He murmured to himself as the candles blew out around leaving him in total darkness save his red eyes, glowing eerily in the black.
Just before he was about to drain his glass the doors burst open. "My Lord." A man said dropping to one knee, his hood remained up but Voldemort knew who it was through the condescending tone. "I have done what you asked, death eaters have just entered Chicago."
Curling his lips back in a teeth bared smile he nodded and dismissed the man. Things were definitely going his way. Skylar Kelley had spent too long out of practice she wouldn't remember all the dueling techniques she learned for the short time she was in the order. This would be an easy procedure.
****
Skylar and Zoë walked out of Banana Republic each carrying a small bag, chatting merrily about her year at school. The sixteen year old attended Kittyhall Preparatory School of the Magic Arts. It was a seven year program just as all wizarding schools, and she had just finished her fifth year. While Skylar would admit she wasn't exactly thrilled with Zoë's owl scores, she had hoped that the young woman would have really studied hard but instead she merely did what was expected of her and passed them all, but not with high standards she should have.
"I told you that Jupiter won the cup this year," Zoë explained a bitter tone in her voice. There were nine houses at Kittyhall, one for each planet. Zoë belonged to Venus, whom had narrowly lost to Jupiter in the quidditch cup finals.
Skylar remembered her own days at Hogwarts, watching Sirius and James during the quidditch games. It was one of her more fond memories, especially the parties after Gryffindor had won. Turning her attention back to Zoë she laughed. "What about that batty History of Magic teacher did you finally get that figured out?"
Zoë burst into laugher and rolled her eyes. "Well we're all still convinced she doesn't swing the right way if you catch my drift, but I don't know, she stopped giving me detention like every week so maybe we're making progress."
Rolling her eyes Skylar steered her into Dolce and Gabanna, to look at a lovely pair of shoes. They were black, with a spike heel and a wide ankle strap. Zoë stood next to her with wide eyes. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Skylar reached out and picked up the shoes. "Impressive."
"And on sale." Zoë remarked pointing to the sign. Both women shared a look before smiling.
"You choose a pair and I choose a pair, that way we benefit both ways." Skylar said happily as the sales clerk approached them to take shoe sizes. "I love sharing a shoe size."
Zoë agreed and suddenly let out a scream as the glass in the front of the store shattered. All around her there was chaos as suddenly Skylar grabbed her arm and dropped to the floor. "Zoë? Are you alright?" She whispered. The girl looked up and nodded. Carefully Skylar pulled her wand from her purse. Zoë already had hers. "Don't use it unless you have to, anything but self defense will get you kicked out of school."
Nodding, the young girl stood with her mother to watch the scene before them. Hooded figures all over the place were chasing people down the street. "Zoë grab my hand." They picked up their bags and Zoë took her mothers hand. With a pop they were gone and were a few blocks away.
"Mom what's going on!" She cried. "Thos were death eaters weren't they!" She accused quickly. Skylar nodded and they ambled into the Dolce she just apparated them to.
"They didn't see us or they would have come for us first. Zoë we're going to buy those shoes because I can't think of anything that will make me feel more normal and then we're going home. I've got a lot to tell you that I just couldn't until now." Eyeing her mother oddly Zoë nodded knowing that this was a diversion in case the death eaters went to their apartment.
So instead of panicking they went in, bought a pair of shoes each and then left, taking the muggle way back to the apartment. Both women walked with shopping in one hand and their wands in the other. The apartment building was quiet as the sun was sinking. Skylar also had a bag of takeout Chinese with her that the girls fully intended to eat while Zoë's mother explained everything to her for the first time.
"Looks like nobody's been here." Zoë remarked. They came to the apartment door and found it locked. Skylar unlocked it and carefully opened the door.
"But someone has been here." She remarked the curtains were shut and there was no light. Both women got in before hands were clamped over their mouths.
Zoë let out a muffled scream but to no avail. Her wand was snatched from her hand and she fought for air. Finally the hand was removed. "Promise not to scream." the voice murmured in her ear. She merely nodded and the hand was removed.
"Mom." She said in a careful voice.
"Zoë, thank God are you alright?" Zoë nodded and then remembered that Skylar couldn't see here.
"I'm alright, you?" Skylar said yes and stood still under the hold of the person behind her.
"Alright you two, no noise no nothing, you've got to be extra quiet. We're taking a portkey out of here." Skylar perked up. She knew that voice, she had heard it for so many years but at this moment she totally forgot who it was. It was drawing a blank as she was lifted up.
"Zoë, you've got your shopping?" She joked trying to keep the mood light.
Zoë giggled. "Yea, you?"
"Like I'd forget it." They were carried a few steps before suddenly set back down. Both of them closed their eyes and took a deep breath as suddenly they felt a hook behind their stomachs.
Zoë lost her balance as she came back to focus and everything around her cleared. She was standing on an old tarp with her shopping still in her hands. Looking over she saw her mom with hers and the Chinese food still intact. However her mother was not looking at her, rather at the two men who stood before them.
Looking up Zoë automatically knew why. So many times she'd seen their picture, so many times she'd seen their faces in her mother's yearbooks, in the apartment. But one of them she looked at closer. Suddenly her blue eyes got wide. Looking at him she didn't just see one of her mother's school friends, she saw herself.
Taking a step back she stumbled on her heels. Automatically he reached out and grabbed her arms to save her from falling. Bringing her upright he looked into her eyes. It was uncanny and nobody had to tell Zoë who this man was to identify him. Stepping away she surveyed him and then finally shook her hair from her face.
"Zoë," he muttered. His voice, she'd heard it in her dreams, low, smoky and pleasant to hear. She could almost see the visions in her dreams clearly, a man who looked identical to this only a shade younger cradling a baby in his arms, speaking to it softly. Even now she saw the same soft look in his eyes, that same knowledge of who he stood before.
Stepping closer she placed a hand on his warm cheek and suddenly smiled as he wiped a few tears from her eyes. "Hi dad." She finally said.
~Well it's not quite the best opener to a chapter I will admit. And yes, I know the idea has been done sooooo many times before. However I started this story quite a while ago and I just felt like putting real body to it. I promise more will be revealed and also there will be more interaction between Skylar and Sirius. Yay for more Remus too! Harry and the rest will come in this chapter along with some history to explain everything and lots of drama, drama, drama! Now that you've read it please leave a comment or two! I'd love you if you did. Brose~
Anyways I hope you enjoy it because I had a lot of fun writing it and in truth I think it's got a totally different spin to it than most. Of all the stories I've read I haven't found someone so independent. Yes my characters appear like Mary Sues…but I had to open it well. If you stay with it I think I'll be able to disprove you. So read it, review it and yeah…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own, nor have I ever, nor will I ever own Harry Potter, its situations, characters or settings. I also do not own any of the clothing brands you read here (wish I did trust me) however in my possession I do hold Skylar, Zoë, Ashley, Andy, and anything else that you don't know that I've put on here. On with it!
**NOTE: I have not finished the fifth book, althougth I know a bit of what happens. So bear with me here because yes I know who dies and I know part of it, so I'm trying work with it here and trying to stay in cannon. Also for purposes of the story we're going to go with the fact that this is not actually taking place in 1995 but actually in 2002. I had to do it for all intensive purposes of the story. I know that Harry was born in 80 and I know that his fifth year is 95 but just...bear with me....**
Chapter One: The Tragically Fashionable Kelleys
Sunlight filtered through the skylights of a large penthouse apartment, small particles of dust filtered through the air catching sight in the bright sunshine. The occupant of the living room turned over on the couch groaning and kicking at the blanket placed over her, feet still in stiletto heels from the previous night. Her long straight raven hair spilled over the couch, almost brushing the floor, her eyes closed, messy eyeliner ringing them. Suddenly a loud crash woke her up. Screaming she sat upright and looked to where a short woman banged two stainless steel cooking pots together.
"Mom! Hangover, hangover!" She cried and buried her head from the noise. Laughing the older woman tugged at the girl's tight jeans. "No, ten more minutes and three Advil." The girl cried as her mother drug her off the couch. Landing on the wood floor with a thud she glared at her.
"Zoë get up, its almost noon. I think you've had enough time to sleep off the worst of that hangover and it's certainly not my fault you went out on a party binge last night." The woman stated firmly brushing her caramel hair from her face. The pairs of seemingly identical piercing blue eyes locked in a war of wits.
Shaking her head clear, Zoë sighed, this morning certainly was not going her way. Getting to her feet, she came at a few inches over her mother due to the tall heels she wore. Over her jeans she wore a long pink spaghetti strapped top that had lace and beaded design on it. Zoë Kelley had certainly learned from the keen fashion sense of her mother who at the moment was still in her pajamas. Going to her real room, she proceeded to undress and then stepped into the shower. Instantly the warm water made her massive hangover go away as she cleaned her hair and got all the makeup off her face.
Stepping out, Zoë brushed her teeth and then brushed her hair out, grabbing a spray bottle from her cabinet. It was an instant magic drying material that left her hair hydrated and perfectly straight. Of all things about being a witch that Zoë liked, the hair care and easy method of getting ready was certainly on top of the list. On bottom however were the clothes they wore which is why she opted to dress as any normal sixteen year old would. She slithered into a fresh pair of jeans from Express and a black shirt that had a wide neckline falling off her shoulders. Pulling on a pair of pointed, stiletto black boots that went up to her knees, Zoë turned her attention to her makeup.
"What color to wear today?" She muttered to herself. While she thought the girl put on a black beaded choker, and three silver bangles that she always wore on her wrist. Her watch went on the other and then her several silver rings. In her ears went her normal set, silver hoops then a smaller pair followed by silver studs and at the top of her ears went her smaller hoops where the cartilage was pierced. Finally she decided on heavy liner and a glossy type touch with black and glossy pink lips to bring out her eyes. Stepping back she looked in the mirror. It was a great look for a Saturday.
"Zoë! Are you trying to drown yourself? You've been in there for hours." Her mother called out. Laughing the girl rolled her eyes before grabbing her black purse and coming out. Her mother stood there, in all of her glory, tall brown boots much like Zoë's, Express jeans and a brown three quarter sleeve shirt that hugged her body. "What are you going for Zoë? The runway?"
Shrugging she rocked back on her heels. "You said we were going shopping, which means I have to look good."
"I never said you didn't dear." Was the reply. Something fell out of her brown Louis Vuitton purse. Bending down, Zoë picked up an old picture. It was a wizard picture she could tell, of her mother when she was younger and several other people. Zoë was familiar to it, she'd seen it many times before. However her mother was quick to snatch it back. "Come on Zoë, we'll get some breakfast before we hit the streets."
Both women left the apartment, heels making a lovely sound on the floor as they walked. Zoë smiled and looped her arm through her mothers and shook her raven hair from her eyes. Skylar looked up at her only child and tried her best to not look like she was about to cry. It was so easy to see who had fathered the lovely Zoë Kelley. Not long ago Skylar had revealed the truth to Zoë which had caused much anger and many tears but finally acceptance for the fourteen year old girl who found out the week her father, Sirius Black, had escaped prison.
"Mom what's wrong?" She asked curiously catching her mother looking strangely at her.
"Its nothing Zoë, you just look so much like your father." Was the wistful reply. Skylar shook her head and laughed at her foolishness. If he hadn't come back by now he wasn't coming back at all. He'd forgotten about the woman he left behind and the two year old baby he left behind as well. But Zoë wasn't two anymore, she was sixteen and would be seventeen in about six months. It was mind blowing, Skylar Kelley had single handedly raised her daughter for fourteen of her sixteen years.
Shoving her mother gently Zoë smiled brightly and the two got in the elevator. "You know mom I will never understand why you decided to live as a muggle and a witch at the same time." She murmured as they waited for the lift to go down. Shrugging Skylar smiled.
"I make better money being a muggle, besides the clothes were too cute to pass up." Both women dissolved into giggles knowing full well the cushy lifestyle they lived could not have been achieved if Skylar had decided to live as a witch. Through Skylar's extremely well paying job as a writer and editor for one of the top women's magazines in the country her columns on current events, plus the advice column kept the two girls well fed, with a nice apartment and extremely well dressed. Besides the fact that Zoë also helped out by doing modeling for local branches of some of their favorite stores and playing guitar with her friends in local pubs and coffee houses.
"Yeah, its definitely the clothes. I don't understand why you love designer labels so much." Zoë added to her mother, expecting the lash out.
Looking open mouthed at her daughter, Skylar rolled her eyes and laughed. "You love these clothes as much as I do Zoë Kelley, don't give me your bullshit."
Running her hands over the Armani Exchange shirt she wore Zoë grinned. "Yea, your right." She said and then suddenly looked crestfallen. "Andy broke up with me last night."
"What?!? Why?" Skylar exclaimed. Andy was always such a nice boy, he and Zoë had been dating for a few months. He seemed to be a good influence and had broken a bad habit of smoking that Zoë had picked up when she had just turned fifteen. Plus he was a real catch, cute and funny.
"Well you know, college is such a big step in a man's life and all." Zoë said impersonating a macho male voice before slumping her shoulders over. "Besides he was a muggle and since I couldn't tell him the truth, he didn't understand the boarding school thing and he knew there was this, thing going on that I couldn't reveal." She let out a sigh, half wishing she had a cigarette to soothe her frazzled nerves. "So he dumped me." Was the simple mutter. Skylar hugged her daughter tightly and smoothed out her raven locks.
She stepped back and then smiled brightly. "Well that's alright because it is the first Saturday of your summer break back and I fully intend to make it a shopping trip worth remembering."
****
From the shadows of the apartment hall, four people stood watching as they left. As soon as the girls were gone they all pushed back their hoods and stepped into the streaming sunlight. They all stood in complete and utter shock, for the first time in fourteen years they had seen Skylar and Zoë Kelley.
"Well, Skylar certainly hasn't changed." Remus Lupin muttered still stuck on seeing Zoë, who, the last time he saw her was a two year old still learning to walk. Now she was, well, pretty much grown up.
A woman with tart blonde sheets of straight hair laughed and shook her head. "Well I'm jealous of the two of them. One thirty four and still a thin as a rail, the other sixteen and has that waist, those legs and those breasts." She said and sighed, brushing off her sweater.
Automatically the two men looked at her shocked. "Ashley!" They yelled. Holding her hands up in defense the woman let out a laugh.
"What? Come on if you were a woman you'd want that figure. Admit it." Ashley said as the woman next to her, Tonks muttered an unlocking charm on the apartment and they all stepped inside.
"Oh they want that figure, but for a totally different reason." Tonks said and slapped five with Ashley who laughed and collapsed on one of the leather sofas. It was certainly comfortable and cushy as she laughed when Remus leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"I like your legs, waist and breasts the way they are." He muttered and laughed as she looped an arm around his neck pulling him down and kissing him firmly. The other man in the room whacked his long time best friend upside the head and looked around the connecting kitchen. Well lit with a large bowl of fruit.
He grabbed an apple and took a bite of it, leaning against the counter next to Tonks. "Well I can tell that neither of them cook, or if they do they clean up well." All of them surveyed the apartment and let out a sigh, the three older people merely laughed out loud.
"Oh it's definitely Skylar that's for sure." Remus murmured and picked up a picture frame that held a well known picture. He had taken it just a few weeks before Lily and James had been killed. It was the day that Sirius, two year old child aside had proposed to Skylar. Amusingly enough both of them were euphoric because even with a baby neither of them really wanted to get married, the idea of forever scared the hell out of them. But there they were holding Zoë, whose bright blue eyes looked at the camera, her fine raven colored hair brushed away from her face. Leaning against her father whom was looking at Skylar, their eyes locked.
Sirius Black stood next to them and sighed a hand on Remus' shoulder. "Well Zoë knows then. That could be a positive thing, I mean at least she's had some preparation time." Both of them nodded and sighed looking around the apartment, there was another picture of all of them, and then one of Zoë and Skylar both wearing black chiffon arms around each other, black line eyes bright as they smiled for the camera. Tonks however was examining another. It was of Zoë and her friends Adrian and Allista, all of them playing the guitar.
"Cute boy." Ashley marked and then sighed, picking her wand up off the counter. "Well if we're going to go through with this kidnapping operation we'd best pack everything, Tonks and I will most definitely take Zoë's room, a sixteen year old girl's life is way too personal for a man to go through."
Sirius and Remus nodded and went into Skylar's room. It was clean, although the bed was unmade and her pajama pants and tank were thrown across her bed. "I guess we'll only take the clothes and stuff I mean they don't need anything else do they?"
The men shared a look before shaking their heads. "It's Skylar, everything but the furniture." They joked, remembering what it was like when Sirius and Sky moved in together.
~*~
Skylar Kelley collapsed against the counter, hands on her hips watching as a Remus levitated a box into the apartment. Her long hair was tied from her face and she tapped the high heeled boots her aunt had sent her on the floor. It was a pretty flat with wood floors, big windows and plenty of living space.
"Just put that box over there. We'll deal with it later." She said and laughed as a blonde woman came up next to her.
Setting her purse and wand down on the counter Ashley watched her boyfriend set the box down and sigh, sharing a look with James as he came up with another box. "They're so well trained." Ashley said earning a glare from the dark haired man who pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and set the box down in the kitchen.
"Ingenious to label your boxes before moving them. James forgot to do that when he moved into my flat." Lily said shooting a friendly glare at her boyfriend who mere gave her a cheeky grin, kissing her cheek before heading back down. Skylar laughed but suddenly let out a muffled scream as someone picked her up.
"I'll just take this box to the bedroom." Sirius said with a laugh, kissing the eighteen year old on the neck. Laughing Skylar demanded to be put down before she pulled him to her laughing as he tickled her waist.
She smiled at him and then slithered out of his grasp going back over to her friends, accepting the martini Ashley made her. Sirius took the glass and had a drink, kissing her temple before heading back out. "Men." The women all said at the same time.
~*~
Sirius smiled at the thought as he continued to fold Skylar's things and packed them away as neatly as possible. He felt ironically guilty. Why he ran out on his fiancé and daughter that day to go do the stupidest thing he'd ever done, he'll never be sure. It was sure that either way he would have been convicted after all the only people who knew of the secret keeper switch then had been himself, James, Lily and Peter. As he folded an impossibly good looking pair of jeans he sighed.
"You can't change the past Padfoot, don't even wonder about it." Remus muttered with a poignant grin. Sirius smiled, thankful for the ever clear headed Remus who seemed to make sense of anything. It was what kept all of them from getting expelled in school and always kept Sirius' temper in check. At least he still had Remus and Ashley, and hopefully now he would have Skylar.
"Yeah I know, but just keep wondering day in and day out if Skylar would have been thrown in prison and the baby given away if I'd stayed." He murmured. It wasn't a pleasant thought but it was one that somehow seemed to help justify what he'd done that day.
Remus shut one of the full suitcases and shrunk it down before putting a weightless charm on it. He carried the handbag sized suitcase into the living room, where two more lay apparently from Zoë's room. Coming back in he sat on the bed and shrugged. "I don't know, if you had the charges still would have remained since most thought you were their secret keeper. However Skylar thrown in Azkaban? It's highly doubtful, sharp tongued and sarcastic she might be, but she's good a heart and even the ministry had to know that." Sirius smiled at the thought, if only that were the case.
Instead of dwelling on it he finished what he was doing and then moved on. Suddenly Ashley came in. "Whatever you do don't touch that underwear drawer Sirius Black."
Arching an eyebrow he laughed out loud. The thought of him getting embarrassed by Skylar's personal items was certainly amusing. "Why not? I used to wash it in the laundry." He muttered but her manicured nails smacked his hands away from the drawer.
"Yea, when you were still together. Fourteen years is a pretty damn big gap, especially from separation. It's not exactly like she's going to jump you when she sees you Black, knowing you've been through her underwear is only going to piss her off more." Ashley threatened and he stepped back. His face however was still amused clearly stating 'she'll never know.' "She's a woman, she'll ask, she's Skylar you honestly think she wouldn't?"
Remus was merely rolling his eyes before shoving Sirius out of the room and into the living room. "Padfoot don't bother. Tonks are you almost done in there?"
In reply the purple haired woman came out holding a large cosmetics case. "That girl has more makeup and hair care products than any other human being, aside from Ashley." Tonks muttered hauling the bag to the other things in the living room.
"I don't know Sky might have her beat!" Ashley yelled from the bathroom in Skylar's room. "She's got a damn fine collection. God I wish I was as loaded as these two girls are. What does Skylar do for a living?" She asked loudly.
"When I checked she was working as a writer and an editor for this really high dollar magazine for women." Remus yelled back leaning against the counter. "It's alright I put a notice in from her saying the was moving over seas. They wrote back transferring her immediately to their England branch." Ashley came out with the last suitcase and also carrying a cosmetics bag. Tonks was taking the other things from the living room and putting them in a box, shrinking them all down as she went. Finally everything was done. Ashley took out an old tarp from the bag she had set on the counter. Carefully they laid it out and placed all of the belongings on it. Looking at the clock she smiled.
"Right on time." She muttered and stepped on it with Tonks. "We'll see you with the girls later on tonight."
Remus nodded and then in a flash all of the material and the girls were gone, taking the rather large portkey back to 12 Grimmauld place. Sirius and Remus sighed, crashing on the couches turning on the muggle TV, in an attempt to find something to watch.
****
"My Lord." A tiny voice squeaked sliding across the floor. Removing his head from his hands, Voldemort looked up quite angry indeed. "They've gone for the Kelley woman and her daughter first. The Order is on their way, a step ahead." He said. Suddenly he flew across the room as if backhanded and hit one of the smooth obsidian walls rather hard.
Snarling Voldemort stood and moved swiftly across the room like a vampire. "That will not do!" He shouted. "Incompetent fool, you should be hung for this! I told you I wanted the Kelley women here, you let some damned order before me!" Those eyes bore into the hooded man who merely cried out a little.
Voldemort allowed the man to get up and watched in mild amusement as he groveled. "I'm sorry my lord, I'm sorry."
"I need those two women, one of them wears that necklace with the Malachi Gem. I will have blood, particularly from you if you do not rid me of the men in the way and bring them to me, alive and unspoiled." He shouted and then sat down at a large ebony table. There he poured a glass of blood red wine. Raising the rim to his lips he smiled in satisfaction. His minion stood and bowed low before skittering out of the room.
Looking up at the ceiling he smiled and laughed high pitched. It wouldn't be long now. The Kelley women would soon meet their end quick as he had that power in his veins. All he needed was to get to the mind of the young one. Consulting the crystal ball on the table he saw the pretty Zoë Kelley come into focus. She was a perfect target, young, wild, and still unknowing about her father's whereabouts. Absolutely perfect, that lovely raven head of hers would soon belong in his control.
"Things appear to be shaping up quite well." He murmured to himself as the candles blew out around leaving him in total darkness save his red eyes, glowing eerily in the black.
Just before he was about to drain his glass the doors burst open. "My Lord." A man said dropping to one knee, his hood remained up but Voldemort knew who it was through the condescending tone. "I have done what you asked, death eaters have just entered Chicago."
Curling his lips back in a teeth bared smile he nodded and dismissed the man. Things were definitely going his way. Skylar Kelley had spent too long out of practice she wouldn't remember all the dueling techniques she learned for the short time she was in the order. This would be an easy procedure.
****
Skylar and Zoë walked out of Banana Republic each carrying a small bag, chatting merrily about her year at school. The sixteen year old attended Kittyhall Preparatory School of the Magic Arts. It was a seven year program just as all wizarding schools, and she had just finished her fifth year. While Skylar would admit she wasn't exactly thrilled with Zoë's owl scores, she had hoped that the young woman would have really studied hard but instead she merely did what was expected of her and passed them all, but not with high standards she should have.
"I told you that Jupiter won the cup this year," Zoë explained a bitter tone in her voice. There were nine houses at Kittyhall, one for each planet. Zoë belonged to Venus, whom had narrowly lost to Jupiter in the quidditch cup finals.
Skylar remembered her own days at Hogwarts, watching Sirius and James during the quidditch games. It was one of her more fond memories, especially the parties after Gryffindor had won. Turning her attention back to Zoë she laughed. "What about that batty History of Magic teacher did you finally get that figured out?"
Zoë burst into laugher and rolled her eyes. "Well we're all still convinced she doesn't swing the right way if you catch my drift, but I don't know, she stopped giving me detention like every week so maybe we're making progress."
Rolling her eyes Skylar steered her into Dolce and Gabanna, to look at a lovely pair of shoes. They were black, with a spike heel and a wide ankle strap. Zoë stood next to her with wide eyes. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Skylar reached out and picked up the shoes. "Impressive."
"And on sale." Zoë remarked pointing to the sign. Both women shared a look before smiling.
"You choose a pair and I choose a pair, that way we benefit both ways." Skylar said happily as the sales clerk approached them to take shoe sizes. "I love sharing a shoe size."
Zoë agreed and suddenly let out a scream as the glass in the front of the store shattered. All around her there was chaos as suddenly Skylar grabbed her arm and dropped to the floor. "Zoë? Are you alright?" She whispered. The girl looked up and nodded. Carefully Skylar pulled her wand from her purse. Zoë already had hers. "Don't use it unless you have to, anything but self defense will get you kicked out of school."
Nodding, the young girl stood with her mother to watch the scene before them. Hooded figures all over the place were chasing people down the street. "Zoë grab my hand." They picked up their bags and Zoë took her mothers hand. With a pop they were gone and were a few blocks away.
"Mom what's going on!" She cried. "Thos were death eaters weren't they!" She accused quickly. Skylar nodded and they ambled into the Dolce she just apparated them to.
"They didn't see us or they would have come for us first. Zoë we're going to buy those shoes because I can't think of anything that will make me feel more normal and then we're going home. I've got a lot to tell you that I just couldn't until now." Eyeing her mother oddly Zoë nodded knowing that this was a diversion in case the death eaters went to their apartment.
So instead of panicking they went in, bought a pair of shoes each and then left, taking the muggle way back to the apartment. Both women walked with shopping in one hand and their wands in the other. The apartment building was quiet as the sun was sinking. Skylar also had a bag of takeout Chinese with her that the girls fully intended to eat while Zoë's mother explained everything to her for the first time.
"Looks like nobody's been here." Zoë remarked. They came to the apartment door and found it locked. Skylar unlocked it and carefully opened the door.
"But someone has been here." She remarked the curtains were shut and there was no light. Both women got in before hands were clamped over their mouths.
Zoë let out a muffled scream but to no avail. Her wand was snatched from her hand and she fought for air. Finally the hand was removed. "Promise not to scream." the voice murmured in her ear. She merely nodded and the hand was removed.
"Mom." She said in a careful voice.
"Zoë, thank God are you alright?" Zoë nodded and then remembered that Skylar couldn't see here.
"I'm alright, you?" Skylar said yes and stood still under the hold of the person behind her.
"Alright you two, no noise no nothing, you've got to be extra quiet. We're taking a portkey out of here." Skylar perked up. She knew that voice, she had heard it for so many years but at this moment she totally forgot who it was. It was drawing a blank as she was lifted up.
"Zoë, you've got your shopping?" She joked trying to keep the mood light.
Zoë giggled. "Yea, you?"
"Like I'd forget it." They were carried a few steps before suddenly set back down. Both of them closed their eyes and took a deep breath as suddenly they felt a hook behind their stomachs.
Zoë lost her balance as she came back to focus and everything around her cleared. She was standing on an old tarp with her shopping still in her hands. Looking over she saw her mom with hers and the Chinese food still intact. However her mother was not looking at her, rather at the two men who stood before them.
Looking up Zoë automatically knew why. So many times she'd seen their picture, so many times she'd seen their faces in her mother's yearbooks, in the apartment. But one of them she looked at closer. Suddenly her blue eyes got wide. Looking at him she didn't just see one of her mother's school friends, she saw herself.
Taking a step back she stumbled on her heels. Automatically he reached out and grabbed her arms to save her from falling. Bringing her upright he looked into her eyes. It was uncanny and nobody had to tell Zoë who this man was to identify him. Stepping away she surveyed him and then finally shook her hair from her face.
"Zoë," he muttered. His voice, she'd heard it in her dreams, low, smoky and pleasant to hear. She could almost see the visions in her dreams clearly, a man who looked identical to this only a shade younger cradling a baby in his arms, speaking to it softly. Even now she saw the same soft look in his eyes, that same knowledge of who he stood before.
Stepping closer she placed a hand on his warm cheek and suddenly smiled as he wiped a few tears from her eyes. "Hi dad." She finally said.
~Well it's not quite the best opener to a chapter I will admit. And yes, I know the idea has been done sooooo many times before. However I started this story quite a while ago and I just felt like putting real body to it. I promise more will be revealed and also there will be more interaction between Skylar and Sirius. Yay for more Remus too! Harry and the rest will come in this chapter along with some history to explain everything and lots of drama, drama, drama! Now that you've read it please leave a comment or two! I'd love you if you did. Brose~