Prologue
"Mom. What's going on?" I ask when I hear the garden gate crash open. Violet, my mother, slams the shutters shut and turns to me.
"Jillian, get upstairs now," my mother whispers as she locks the backdoor. She knows it won't do any good against the wizards outside.
"Mommy," I cry.
"Upstairs now," she yells and ushers me up stairs pushing me into her room. "I love you darling. I want you to remember that always. I'm sorry I couldn't do more to protect you. I'll buy you sometime."
"Mom. What is happening?" I ask as I feels tears falling down my face.
"You'll understand one day," she says hugging me. "In my closet there is a black bag. Grab it and when you land ask for Albus."
"No come with me," I cling to her.
"No, there isn't time darling," she says as we hear footsteps making their way to the staircase. She ushers me towards the closet and with one last hug she shoves me into the closet and closes it behind her leaving me there alone. I see the bag and grab on.
"Where is the girl?" a menacing voice asks.
"Not here" my mother defends. I feel a pull at my navel and the last thing I see before I land is a flash of green light. I can vaguely feel the tears staining my cheeks as I land on the floor clutching the bag.
"Albus. I need to speak to Albus," I say to the shocked group of people. I can't count or clearly see how many people begin to crowd around me.
"We'll get Albus. What is your name," A girl's voice rings out of a mass of chocolate brown curls hovering above me.
"J...Ji...Jillian Brewster." I say with the last bit of energy I have.
A man with sandy brown hair sprinkled with gray sits in his favorite chair at number 12 Grimmauld Place reading as per usual. All of a sudden a loud bang erupts from the entryway. A girl with long black hair appears in a pile on the floor. Every wand in the house is on her in a second; but she doesn't seem to notice.
"Albus," she whispers and Hermione is by her side in a moment. That is when we all see the red phoenix embroidered on the bag she is clutching. Only those in the Order know she is one of the many magical and muggle folk living in hiding with the protection of the Order to keep them safe.
"What is your name?" Hermione asks.
"Jillian Brewster." He knew that name. Remus Lupin turns around just in time to see a girl from his past pass out on the floor. Only she looks younger than when he knew her. Her hair is shorter and she doesn't look quite as tall as when he knew her all those years ago. Rushing to his side he gently lifts her up. He tells Molly to contact Albus. Remus makes eye contact with Snape, who has gone even paler, before carrying her up stairs and gently laying her down on his bed. Making sure she is comfortable and warm he places Bill outside with strict instructions to let only Albus and himself in. Remus then makes his way to the attic to deliver some news that will certainly make his best friend crazy.
I knew I wasn't in my own bed; there was no smell of my mother making chocolate chip pancakes down stairs like she did every Sunday. My room didn't smell like old books and coffee. I refuse to open my eyes knowing that when I do I'll have to deal with a world without my mother, the implications of her death. She was all I had left. My father had died in the first war with Voldermort. I really did love her pancakes. A clearing of the throat from my right alerts me to another person in the room. Forcing myself to open my eyes I sit up and look into the eyes of a white haired man. Wiping away my tears he comes in to focus.
"Good morning Miss Brewster," he speaks in a sad voice. "I am Albus Dumbledore." I let out a sigh of relief and he flashes me a warm smile. "You are at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. You are safe."
"And my mother," I hear myself ask knowing fully the answer.
"I am sorry to say we got there too late."
"It's okay. It's not your fault," I say tears threatening to fall, again. The phrase 'your fault all your fault,' rummages inside my head as I try to push it out. Albus gives me a sad smile as if knowing what I meant by the statement. "Sir, what am I going to now?" I say trying to grasp onto something real.
"That is up to you Miss Brewster. Yet you are more than welcome to stay here for the remainder of the summer then attend Hogwarts." he answers. I have heard of Hogwarts ever since I can remember and I'd always wanted to go there. My mother and father had met there; both Gryffindors. My mother had never let me go there but I could tell she wished she could. When she spoke of her days there her eyes would gain a sparkle that could rival the sparkle of the man sitting in front of me.
"Really?" I asked hopefully in spite of everything knowing that my mother would have wanted me to.
"Yes, dear," Dumbledore smiles. "Molly has set up a bed for you in the girls room. I have a meeting with the Order now or I would show you the way."
"I understand, Sir."
"One of the girls should me in momentarily to show you. As soon as they give up eavesdropping on the meeting that is," he says. He chuckles and I feel its only appropriate to fake one to; but we both know I did. The door shuts behind him followed by a sigh.
"Mom," I whisper before dragging myself out of the comfortable bed. The floor is cold on my feet as I cross the room to one of the large bookshelves. Running my fingers along the spine of the books I smile to myself wishing I could lose myself in them for a year or two. A knock at the door brought me back to reality. The same mass of brown curls poked though the door only this time I saw the face of a girl my age.
"Oh good you're awake," she said and came fully in to the room. "We haven't properly met I'm Hermione Granger," she said offering her had to shake, which I did.
"Jillian Brewster," I reply.
"Well, I'll show you our room," Hermione says and escorts me down the hall and into another room. As we walk I take in the house-elf heads that line the hall and glance warily around me. "Sorry about the morbid decorations. The previous owners were purebloods who believed all that blood purity stuff. There is some freaky stuff but we are cleaning most of it out. But hey who would look for us here," Hermione says as she notices the direction of my eyes glued to the staring faces.
Once we reached the room it turned out to be a rather big room with three beds. "The house is big enough for each of us to have our own rooms but we have only cleaned and de-cursed a small portion," Hermione apologizes.
"That's okay I really don't think I want to be alone anyway," I say while looking at the floor. Hermione places an arm around me in a half hug. Shockingly I didn't pull away.
"There is an hour before breakfast so you can take a shower if you'd like," Hermione said pointing to the bathroom. "If you need anything I'll be in here reading."
"Thank you."
After a refreshing shower I picked myself off the shower's floor to get dressed. Rummaging though the bag I had brought with me I pulled out a pair of tight muggle cargo pants and my mom's old shirt from her school days. The shirt had The Moonstones on it, my mom's favorite wizarding band from the old days.
"Hey Jillian," Hermione said closing her book.
"What are you reading?" I ask looking at the old book sitting in her lap.
"Hogwarts, A History," Hermione says. "It's really an amazing book."
"Do you think I could maybe borrow it when you're done with it? Just so I'm not completely out of the loop when I get to Hogwarts," I ask looking at the floor.
"Yeah of course," she says with a gigantic smile. "You can actually borrow it now. I've read it at least 15 times and I'd hate to hear what Harry and Ron would say to see me reading it again."
"Really? Thank you."
"Not a problem. So you are going to Hogwarts then. We really don't get told anything around here," she smiles. "Oh you'll just love it."
"Who are Harry and Ron?" I ask curiously.
"They are my best friends," she explains and as if on cue there is a knock at the door.
"Come in," Hermione says and two boys enter. I know one from the papers the owls sometimes deliver and the other from the pictures on my refrigerator. "Jillian this is Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Guys this is Jillian Brewster," Hermione says introducing us. Ron is looking down at his (I would assume) very interesting shoes as he holds his hand out.
"Hi," is all he says as we shake hands. On the other hand Harry envelops me in to a hug.
"Sorry," he whispers in my ear.
"Thank you," is all I can say when he lets go. I can tell this isn't usual behavior by the shocked expressions of his friends. I give him a small smile and he hits Ron upside the head.
"Ignore him Jillian he isn't exactly competent," Hermione jokes and Ron's ears turn pink.
"Breakfast time," I red headed girl says from the door way.
"And this would be Ginny, Jillian." Hermione says.
"Hi Jillian," Ginny says from the doorway. Ron is already out the door due to the mention of food and we decide to follow him in a more civilized manor. Hermione and Ginny lead the way followed by Harry and I'm sure Ron was running. I was taking my time examining the house as we walked. I vaguely heard the group saying hi to someone but I was currently looking at the ugly men's pictures on the wall. Looking back at the hallway with it's high black ceiling I made my way down the stairs. I turned my attention back to the stairs I was currently walking down too late and missed a step. I came crashing in to a warm body. Meeting eyes with the person who saved me from falling down the stairs I felt the man's body stiffen. Currently distracted by his swirling gray eyes I didn't notice that it had become awkwardly silent.
"Hi," my savior said in a deep soothing voice.
"Hi," I respond.
"Sorry," he says realizing he is still holding me around the waist. We take a step back from each other when Harry comes running up the stairs.
"Don't freak out. I forgot to tell you Sirius Black is innocent," he announces.
"Who?" I ask confused.
"That would be me," the man says pointing to himself.
"Innocent of what?" I ask.
"Not of very much," a voice says from the top of the stairs but then stops short when he sees me. The Sirius man is glaring at the other man. "Hi Jillian. I'm Remus Lupin," he smiles.
"Nice to meet you. Both of you," I say turning to the man standing next to me. He is taller than me my head barley reaching his shoulders where his long black hair lays.
"Come on some of us are hungry," Ron yells from the bottom of the stairs. I smile at Sirius before tearing my eyes away from him and following Harry down the stairs.
"Careful," I hear Sirius say as I walk down the stairs and I can't help but smile.
"There you are Jillian dear. Time to eat. Sit Sit," a lady says when I get to the kitchen. I sit down next to Ginny and Hermione as the lady puts a plate stacked with food in front of me.
"This is my Mom, Jillian," Ginny says as she bites in to a piece of toast.
"Oh yes how rude not to introduce myself I just feel like I know you already. You can call me Mrs. Weasley. Your mom and I were best friends at Hogwarts," she says but pauses for a millisecond at the mention of my mother while she glances at me. I keep my head down. "My husband should be down in a little while, he had a bit of a long night for the Order," she continues.
"Doing what?" Ron asks hopefully but he gets no answer.
"Remus. Sirius, come and eat you both are too skinny." Remus blushed but Sirius just plops down next to Harry stealing a piece of Harry's toast.
"I guess you should explain Harry," Sirius says nodding to me. I pretend not to notice and pick at my eggs. They look really good but I can't bring myself to eat them. They're not pancakes.
"Explain what?" Hermione asks.
"She doesn't know who Sirius is," Harry says and the whole kitchen turns to look at me. I feel myself getting red with all the attention.
"What?" Ginny asks shocked. I decide I can't avoid the situation forever.
"Should I?" I ask looking at Sirius whom raises an eyebrow at me.
"I bloody well think so," Sirius said with something I can't define in his voice. He winces and I can tell Remus just kicked him under the table. Now its my turn to raise an eyebrow at him.
"And why would that be," I ask nothing expecting to get the answer I did.
"The world thinks I killed 13 people," he says. I am told the story in full later when Sirius is there.
Two Years and Four Months Later
I am currently fighting with Ginny using Muggle hand to hand combat. So much has changed. Remus Lupin in teaching DADA again. Sirius and Dumbledore are dead. Number 12 Grimmauld place feels empty and cold, more than it used to. Ginny and Harry are dating. We are preparing for battle over Christmas vacation and hunting for Horcruxes. Just thinking about what has been taken away makes me put a little more force behind my hits. 'Sirius, Sirius," I think as I lose myself in the fight. The only good thing is that I have made four of the best friends I couldn't even have dreamed for in Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
"Constant Vigilance!" Moony yells catching Ginny off guard and I feel bad for using the opportunity to hit and win. Ginny sighs as I help her up. "Poor. Very poor girls. Ginny do the words CONSTANT VIGILANCE mean nothing. And you," Moody says rounding on me. "I am more disappointed in you," he says and I am toughly confused. "You shouldn't feel sorry for taking the opportunity. Its life and death out there! Ten minutes then Hermione and you fight." Moody leaves the room to do something or another. Ginny goes to sit next to Harry who puts an arm around her. I plop down next to Professor Lupin who is reading.
"Can't we practice spells, Professor," I ask nicely hoping I can stop beating up my friends.
"Oh we will after Moody gets done with you," Lupin says looking up from his book.
"You know we leave tonight, right?" I ask and I can he feel him watching me.
"Where to this time," he asks.
"You know I can't tell you that."
"Can you at least tell me which one?" he asks and I can't look at him.
"Hufflepuff's. Can you take care of Ginny? Make sure she doesn't worry too much or try and follow us again," I ask him just like I have every time we leave on these missions to destroy Horcuxes.
"I will. Be careful?" he asks.
"We will," I say. "I miss everyone, I miss him," I say unable to stop myself and I don't need to tell him its Sirius I miss.
"Me too. But you know you can't change things," he says. Moody comes back in before I have a change to ask him what he meant.
"Granger. Brewster. On your feet," Moody says and takes his seat. I give Lupin a weird look before I stand. Hermione is good at fighting. Its three minutes in to it before I get a good punch in. My ring gets caught on the necklace she is always wearing. I hear it snap but Hermione doesn't as she punches back at me. I fall back on my hands crushing something under me. Hermione grabs at where her necklace usually is.
"My time turner," she cries and we all know what has happened. My eyes widen as gold dust swirls around me. Blurs rush by me and I close my eyes tight wishing this wasn't happening. I land at a weird angle and find myself falling down a flight of stairs and I can't help but scream.
