AN: I AM ALIVE!!! Yes, I have returned to my baby after months of separation. I have my own, nice, BRAND SPANKING NEW computer AND I found my little plot-bunny that had hopped away. cuddles bunny So, I shall continue Never Truly Gone, and it will be like I never left!
Heaven was under mass chaos. With Zarokniel leaving, no one knew what to do. But the young diety, and Sirius, only watched in amusement. Finally, the two let loose their little secret.
"Don't worry, guys. I'm leaving some very capable people in charge. Lily? James? You up for it?" Zarokniel asked. The duo could only stare in shock. Lily was the first to regain herself.
"You really want to leave us in charge? I mean, were're just dead mortals."
"Yeah!" her husband chimed in.
"I have the utmost confidence in you two. Now, I'm leaving. Sirius?"
The dark haired male came up beside the brunette in his animagus form. The great dog pounced on James and licked his face before nuzzling Lily's hand in farewell. He trotted back to the goddess with a mischevious twinkle in his eyes.
"Let's get outta here!" with a snap of her fingers, the forest wavered and slowly melted away. A searing pain gripped Sirius as 12 Grimwald Place began to take shap before him. Finally, his padded feet hit solid ground and he sawyed a moment before looking up at Zarokniel.
Her appearance had totally changed. She looked like a gothic punk with short, black-blue hair and emo clothes. She smiled down at him, her facial pircings evident. "Shall we, Orion?" she said with a wink.
Remus Lupin gazed out the kitchen window, thinking. 'God, Sirius. If you could only see what has happened.' the former teacher sighed. He closed his eyes and sighed again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. 'I wish you were here. I wish I had told you when we were kids, I-'
His thought were cut off as the doorbell rang and Mrs. Black began her screeching. Lupin jumped up and ran to the front door. 'This isn't right! The order know not to ring the bell. And know one else should know where this is!' he thought, running faster. He reached the knob and turned it, flinging the door open, when he was mauled by a great, black dog.
The mutt began to lick his face as Lupin tried desperately to throw the thing off. There came a yell from the doorway. "ORION! OFF!" a female voice shouted. Immediately, the dog backed away, retreating to its mistress. A hand shot out to help the werewolf up.
Lupin found himself looking inot the face of a teenage girl, about Harry's age. He let her help him stand as he wiped the drool off his face. She smiled and patted her dog on the head.
"Sorry about that! He's a little excited to be here."
"A little? Who are you? How did you know this house was here?"
"I got a letter telling me to come. From Albus Dumbledore. I was told I could help." she said.
"From the Headmaster? What did the letter say?"
"Just to come and how to find the house. Then it burst into flames. I still have the burns." she showed him her injured fingers.
"Well, then I guess you can come in, Miss...? I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name."
"I didn't give it. I'm Eva Raiden."
Leading the girl into the Black manor, Lupin stole a look at her canine companion. His heart wrenched. It was an exact copy of Padfoot, down to the little cowlick behind his left ear. Tears threatened to fall, but the elder wouldn't let them.
The two entered the kitchen, Eva sitting at the table and Lupin making tea. Orion lay by his mistress, his eyes following the other males every movement.
"What do you take with your tea?" he asked.
"Milk, I guess."
Lupin added the milk and, secretly, a few drops of Veritaserum to check the girls story. He hated this part of his job, but he knew it was better than having the chance of letting Death Eaters in the house. He sat beside her, taking a sip from his own cup.
"So, where are you from, Miss Raiden?"
"America, and it's Eva. Miss Raiden makes me sound...old."
"Alright, Eva. How do you know Dumbledore?"
"I don't. Thats what freaks me out. This pheonix just flew into my house and dropped this letter off. I got here as soon as possible."
"Do you know about Lord Voldemort?"
"A little. Just what I read. Big baddie that wants to kill Muggles, Muggles borns, and Mudbloods. Pardon my Scandinavian, I hate that term. I also heard he's back. Is that why I'm here?"
"Maybe." Lupin mumbled, lost in thought. The girl was obviously important, but why? It had been over a year since Dumbledore had died. Why was she coming now? A last resort?
"I don't know what's going on, but we'll take care of you. You can stay here if you like. I'd prefer that you do."
"Thanks. Orion, too?"
Lupin looked at the dog. "Orion too."
Sirius changed into his normal, spirit form as soon as Lupin had left the room he gave them. The man stretched, as if being a dog left his human body cramped. Zarokniel lay on the bed, flipping through a book that happened to be there.
"He looks so much older than when I last saw him, Eva. He's still gorgeous, of course, but geez."
"Sirius, its been two years."
"Two years? Since what?"
"You died."
He looked uttery bewildered. "Two YEARS? How?"
"The time flow in Paradise is different than on earth. Remus looks older because he is. Harry's now 17. A lot of things have changed."
The spirit sighed. "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"Eh, I don't usually have to explain myself. I'm God! I don't usually get questioned."
"That's not an excuse." Sirius glared with his hands on his hips, looking very much like an angry teenage girl. Eva laughed.
"Sorry, sweet pea! Next time, I'll warn you!"
Sirius looked pleased for the moment, but resumed sulking almost immediately. Eventually, he shifted back into his animagus form and began to pace.
"Oh Sirius, why don't you go harrass Remus or something. You're becoming annoying."
The dog growled but heeded her wishes and left.
"Finally, some freaking peace!"
Once outside the door, Sirius slipped out of his canine body and back into a spirit. 'This way, he won't know I'm there.' he thought, creeping down to the library. He looked around the walls as he walked, noticing new things here and there. Picutres of his school days were framed and now replacing his hated family. There was even a large portrait of Lily and James fomr their wedding. The man smiled as the pictures seemed to wave at him with vitality, as if they could see who he was.
Sirius floated through the door, 'Creepy!', and into the book filled room. It wasn't long before he found his Moony, curled up in an armchair with a picutre of the Mauraders clutched in his hands. His hazel eyes were closed in slumber, but it was apparent that the man had been crying before drifting off.
"Remus." the spirit wispered, reaching out for his companion. Sirius felt tears sting his eyes.
His hand went right through the others shoulder.
End of chappie numero 2! YAY! Sorry about the sad ending, but I think it was better this way. Any ideas, corrections, or whatever are always welcome!
Ciao Jaklyn Toki