Author's Note: My deepest and most sincere apology. Believe it or not, I have been writing continuously for two months, but about halfway through chapter 24, I hit a roadblock. So, I went back and reread the entire story, and when I came upon chapter 20, I noticed a very noticeable split from what I had wanted with the story. Therefore, I had to go back and rewrite chapters 20, 21, 22, and 23. I am in extreme edit mode right now, so I do not know when chapter 21 will be put up. Know that the reason for my long absence was this error in my judgment of where I wanted the story to go. I do hope that I will not be gone for so long in the future. Enjoy the chapter. See you next year.

Frozen

Chapter 20 – Warm Welcome

Julia drummed her fingers on the desk and she gazed moodily out of the window. She could not understand how three days could feel longer than the past seventeen years. She pushed herself away from the desk and started pacing around the room. She had been stuck inside this wretched room for three days with no company besides her own mind, which at this time was not comforting. She had little do think on except for the conversation with Dumbledore upon her return.

Albus had been waiting for her at the gates of Hogwarts. She had been dropped off in Hogsmeade by the Knight Bus. The smile on his face was as warm a welcome as the sight of the great castle behind him. Her heart had swelled in her chest at the sight of the beautiful castle.

"Welcome back," Albus had said, opening the gate to her.

Julia paused at the entrance. "Is he here?" she had asked softly.

Albus chuckled softly. "No, he is staying at Spinner's End."

Julia had followed in silence after that. They had not spoken until they were in his office.

"Well, Julia, I must say I am overjoyed to have you back," Dumbledore said after taking a seat behind his desk.

Julia smiled. She looked around the office fondly. "It's good to be back."

"I am sure the reason for your return is Voldemort's rise to power."

She nodded. "Of course. I figured the Order could use another member."

Dumbledore frowned. "I had another possible position for you."

Julia's quirked her eyebrows. "What do you mean, Albus?"

"When you informed me of your return, I assumed that you would want to be part of the resistance against Voldemort. With your frozen state, the perfect place for you would be to return to Hogwarts as a fifth year to be a close source to the happenings within the school."

"Aren't there professors in the Order, sir? Couldn't they keep an eye on "the happenings within the school"?" Julia wasn't sure what Dumbledore was getting at, but she didn't like it. Why on earth was he so insistent that she return to Hogwarts?

"Yes," Dumbledore responded. "There are professors in the Order, but none of them could become close enough with the students to determine their feelings toward the war, and possibly persuade them to our cause."

Julia lifted an eyebrow. "In other words, you want a spy within Hogwarts." Her tone was not accusing; it was amused. Of all the schemes! The position appealed to Julia. Not only would she be back at Hogwarts, where she had longed to be, but she would also be around Severus and possibly Harry and his gang. It was Severus that she longed to see, even if she had already decided on her way back not to tell Severus that she was back…yet.

Dumbledore smiled. "You have always had remarkable abilities of perception. Are you interested in returning to your old school, then?"

Julia's electric blue eyes stared at Dumbledore pensively. "Of course," she said slowly, thoughtfully. "But there are a few conditions. One: I want to be in Hufflepuff. Two: I wish to be called Jane Rochester. Three: I cannot in anyway associate with Harry. And four: No one can know I have returned."

Dumbledore remained calm through her demands, but he frowned when she had finished. "But, my dear, I thought with your return, your old friends could know that you are alive and safe."

Julia sighed. "Alright. Let me amend that: only he cannot know I am back."

"Why?" was the simple and direct response.

"I can't face him yet," she said, her head hanging low in shame of her cowardice. With a surge of conviction, she looked up at him, her eyes crackling with energy. "It's the only way I will return, sir."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair to look at her with a similar pensive gaze that she had looked at him with only moments before. "You will tell him eventually, correct?"

Julia nodded. "Eventually, but I wish to be the one to choose when and where."

Dumbledore sighed. "Very well, my dear, but I must tell you that I think this is a bad idea."

A rush of annoyance shot through her. "Do not think I am taking what I am choosing to do lightly, sir." Her voice was steely and her eyes sparkled with irritation.

Dumbledore acted as if he hadn't noticed her cold tone. "There are a couple other things that need to be sorted out. I will, of course, inform Professor Sprout that a fifth year will be joining her house at the start of term. Will you be altering your appearance as you have done in the past?"

Julia nodded, still tense from her upset moments before. "Yes, I will make myself unrecognizable," was her stiff reply.

Dumbledore nodded. "Now, all that needs sorting is your accommodations. You are, of course, welcome to stay in the castle, but there is a slight risk that you would be recognized unless you were willing to remain in the same room for the duration of your stay." Julia shook her head. Dumbledore smiled. "I thought not. I will arrange for you to take up lodging at the Three Broomsticks until the start of term, if that is good with you?"

"That's fine, sir." She readied herself to leave but was stopped by Dumbledore's next question.

"What of your other friends?"

"I…I…" Julia's stuttering was cut short by the Headmaster.

"You said only Severus" – Julia winced – "could not know of your return. I am certain Sirius and Remus would be overjoyed to know you are back."

Julia hesitated. Dumbledore had trapped her in her own terms. Damn him, the old meddling fool! With a heavy, resigned sigh, Julia said, "Fine. I will tell them."

"Wonderful," he said, clapping his hands together jovially. "I will send a note along whenever a meeting can be arranged."

Julia nodded stonily. "Thank you, sir."

"It will be some time before you will be able to move into the Three Broomsticks. You are welcome to wait here, if you would like."

"Would it be okay if I go to Diagon Alley? I need to exchange my money and pick up a few things."

"Of course. You may use my fireplace to Floo there. Would you like a Portkey to return by?"

"That won't be necessary. I can take the Knight Bus back to Hogsmeade." She picked up her bag and stood up. "Thank you, sir."

"Welcome back, Julia."

Julia smiled faintly and took a pinch of Floo Powder. She said loudly and clearly "Diagon Alley!" and then she was spinning like she was on a carnival ride. She had never fared well on such rides, and she wasn't faring well now. Then, she was standing, albeit unsteadily but standing nonetheless, on solid ground. People were bustling around her and the sweet and familiar smell of books assailed her nose.

Regretfully, she had to leave Flourish and Blotts since she only had Muggle money. She pushed her way through the crowds in the alley toward the monstrous white building that was Gringotts. Once inside, Julia went to a free goblin behind the long counter. He looked up at her expectantly.

"Can you exchange Muggle American money?" Julia asked kindly.

The goblin nodded and Julia handed over half of her savings, which was a respectable amount. She had been saving for seventeen years, having few expenses besides her living expenses, food, etc. the money added up so she could live comfortably now.

Once she had her money, Julia went to Flourish and Blotts where she searched through the stacks and shelves of books for anything interesting. There wasn't much that caught her attention. There were a few volumes that she paused at and flipped through, but nothing worth buying, until she came upon Advanced Potion-Making.

As she held the book in her hands, she had a vivid flashback of lying in her bedroom in America in 2005 reading the Half-Blood Prince. Julia was surprised by the clarity of the vision; the memories of her old life had been progressively growing dimmer with time.

She gathered the textbook close to her and proceeded through the store, looking for anything else of interest. By the end of her time in the bookshop she bought, along with Defensive Magical Theory, The Standard Book of Spells, Year 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5, Magical Theory, Magical Drafts and Potions, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, A History of Magic, Intermediate Transfiguration, Advanced Transfiguration, Ancient Runes Made Easy, and Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Basically, she bought every book needed to be a Hogwarts fifth year, a detail that did not go unnoticed by the manager of Flourish and Blotts.

He had paused on Advanced Potion-Making. "This is a sixth year book, you know?"

Julia nodded. "I know," she responded. "I have an interest in potion-making and would like to get a head start."

The manager did not question her after that, perhaps thinking she was a little mad for wanting to do schoolwork during the summer. She ignored him, paid for the books, and left the shop, making her way toward the Magical Menagerie, passing Madam Malkin's as she went. She had a deep desire to buy new robes, but the ones she had from seventeen years before still fit her fine and looked new. She hadn't changed much, or at all, in the last seventeen years.

She would rather have a new pet, a companion that had to listen to her insane ranting. She doubted a cat or owl would pay much attention to her constant fuming, but she would feel better if she think she was talking to herself. When she stepped into the animal shop, Julia instinctively wrinkled her nose against the smell, but as she walked along the shelves, peering into cages, she became less preoccupied with the smell and more fixated upon the creatures that stared back at her.

Julia was brought to an abrupt halt when she caught sight of a pair of sparkling blue eyes almost identical to her own. As she gazed in the pools of electric energy, she could sense intelligence and regal bearing within their depths. Her eyes momentarily strayed from the hypnotizing stare to look at the tag on the cage. Unnamed male lilac-point Balinese kitten of 9 months. 5 Galleons and 10 sickles.

Without a second thought, Julia grabbed the cage and made her way toward the front desk, no longer regretting passing up Madam Malkin's. She was so joyous as she exited the shop that she had to restrain herself from skipping down the alley. She felt like a little kid again and had to forcibly calm herself as she took her seat on the Knight Bus. She turned the front of the cage towards her so she stared into the bright blue eyes. The elegant face cocked to the side as if he was examining her just like she was examining him.

"I suppose you need a name, huh?" she asked the kitten. He only blinked, but she could sense his agreement. "Okay, then. How about…Eldred?" A rumble in his throat told Julia no. "Xavier?" The same growl. "Libatius?" The growl again. "Roland?" The kitten blink and Julia heard a resounding purr reverberate through the cage. Julia smiled. "I guess it's Roland, huh?" The purring grew louder. "It's quite a regal name." There was an indignant meow was thrown at her as if he was saying "Of course! I am a regal cat!"

Madam Rosmerta showed her to a small, plain room on the second floor of the Three Broomsticks. Julia set the cage and bags of books on the bed. Before dealing with Roland, Julia took out all of her shrunken belongings from her book bag and returned them to their normal size. Julia was about to unpack when an indignant cry came from the cage on her bed. Julia laughed and opened the cage door. The kitten crawled out without any hesitation, jumped from the bed, and immediately started to examine the room.

Allowing Roland to explore, Julia went back to unpacking her sparse belongings. She dumped all of her clothing onto the bed and started folding them into neat piles. She picked up the piled and set them into the drawers in the dresser. When she turned back, she had to laugh aloud. The bag on her bed that had held her clothes was no longer empty. A pair of striking eyes stared at her from within the bag.

Julia rubbed Roland's head gently and pulled the bag to the end of the bed. She sat down at the head of the bed and pulled her new books towards her. She rooted through her book bag for a pen and highlighter and set to work marking and highlighting the spells she already knew and the ones she needed to know before term started.

She was half-way through year 3, sitting cross-legged and leaning over the book on the bed, a pen in her hand, when a soft, warm body crawled into her lap and a pair of paws started kneading her leg. "Watch the claws," she muttered to Roland who squeaked resentfully and lay his head down. She absently scratched his head once in a while. When her back became tired, she lay back on the bed with the book leaning on her chest. Roland moved to her stomach where he promptly fell asleep and Julia not long after him.

Julia had spent the past three days on the bed or at the desk looking through spell books. Roland rarely ever left her side except to go off by himself to hunt; even though she offered him cat food, he seemed to prefer to hunt. He was sitting on the bed, cleaning himself when she started pacing around the room. He paused in his bathing and watched her intently; he appeared to be fascinated by her constant pacing when she became impatient.

"Don't look at me like that," she snapped at Roland when he cried in annoyance. "If you don't like my pacing, turn around and don't watch me." Roland uttered an indignant cry and lay his head back down, but Julia had the distinct impression that he was pouting.

Julia sighed and continued her pacing, now filled with guilt as well as impatience. She finally slumped onto the bed, disrupting Roland's nap and having another angry meow thrown at her. She ignored him and continued her moody staring at the ceiling. Roland uttered another cry and pawed at her arm.

"What!" Julia snapped her head to look at the kitten. Roland was looking towards the window where an owl was hovering. Julia sprung off the bed and opened the window, allowing the owl to flutter in and land on top of the desk. Roland instantly went into attack mode. "Don't even think about it," Julia said sternly. The cat growled and sat on the bed, watching the owl with intense eyes. Julia ignored him and took the note from the owl.

Julia,

I have arranged for you to meet with Sirius and Remus this evening at six at Grimmauld Place. If you would please come to the castle at a quarter to, you may use my office fireplace to Floo to Grimmauld Place.

Sincerely,

Albus

P.S. – Do not forget the Sweedish Fish.

The shifting of her heart from hammering wildly to becoming eerily still continued until she stood in front of the gargoyle entrance to the Headmaster's office at a quarter to six. "Sweedish Fish," she said and the gargoyle sprung to life.

Dumbledore looked up from his writing when Julia entered the office. "I have already informed Sirius and Remus that they would have a visitor at six. They do not know that it is you who is coming." The mischievous twinkle in his eyes was unmistakable. "The kitchen should be empty when you arrive."

Julia tried to smile but the bubbling in her stomach prevented it. She walked to the fireplace, took a handful of Floo Powder, and said "Number 12, Grimmauld Place." She spun and clamped her eyes shut, concentrating on calming her stomach.

When she came to rest in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, she doubled over breathing deeply. Her nerves had already upset her stomach and the trip through the Floo Network had done nothing to help. A cold sweat coated her face, and her stomach heaved. She took a deep breath through her mouth, settling her stomach a bit. Then, something made her stomach resume its upset.

"Julia." The voice was stunned and soft but remarkably familiar. Julia snapped upwards, sending her stomach into a frenzy yet again. Her eyes widened when they fell upon Sirius sitting at the kitchen table with a mug in front of him. He stood up, knocking over the chair behind him almost in slow motion. Remus was in a chair across from Sirius, but he did not stand. He only stared, shock covering his prematurely lined face.

Before Sirius could move towards her, Julia blurted out, "I'm sorry."

Sirius, who had been on the verge of stepping forward, halted. "What?"

"I'm sorry." She had been going over it and over it in her head, what she would like to say to Sirius first. Considering how they last parted, Julia felt an apology was most appropriate.

"What on earth are you apologizing for?" There was laughter in his voice.

Julia frowned. "The last time we spoke, I almost attacked you."

This time, Sirius did laugh, and he hurried forward, pulling Julia into a hug, stunning her so she could not immediately respond. "You always were silly. Do you think after all this time I care about a ridiculous outburst?"

When he had released her, Julia looked up into his dark eyes. Even after all those years in Azkaban, he still was one of the most handsome boys – men – she had ever seen. "Well," she started matter-of-factly. "It was the right thing to do." She smiled.

Sirius squeezed her arms affectionately. "Merlin's beard! It's nice to see you again, even with your dry humor."

"What's happened to you Julia?" said a voice from behind them. Sirius turned about to frown at Remus. "What are you talking about, Remus?"

Remus stood and walked over to them. "I can understand how you could have overlooked the glaringly obvious fact that Julia has not aged, but I have not." It was impossible to miss the slightly steely tone of his voice.

Sirius looked back at Julia, who saw the realization of the truth of Remus' words. She knew by the look in his eyes that he was thinking the same thing as Remus.

"Oh, for God's sake!" she snapped. "I am not a vampire! You've seen me in sunlight before. I'm frozen."

"Frozen?"

"Yes, frozen." Her voice was bitter. "I was born in 1990 in America. In 2007, my final year, I was taking college courses at the university in my town. It was winter, and when I left for my class, I slipped on some ice. I slid onto the road where I was hit by a car. I can only assume that it killed me, but instead of dying, I regained consciousness here in Hogwarts. Remember the first day I met you? It was that same day that I discovered that I would appear seventeen until the day I was "killed."" She rolled up the hem of her shirt to reveal part of the black and blue bruise that had been there for almost two decades. "I have another bruise on my leg that came from the accident that will not heal until I begin to age again. Satisfied that I'm not a vampire?"

Remus nodded, his face pale. "I'm sorry, Julia, for jumping to a conclusion."

Julia shook her head. "It's okay. I can imagine how it looked when I walked in here, looking exactly the same as I did seventeen years ago."

Sirius laughed shakily. "Good lord! Has is really been seventeen years? I feel so old."

Julia laughed. "You look it too."

Sirius glared. "Annoying girl."

Julia mock glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "If I'm so annoying, then I'll just leave." She made her way towards the fire, but was stopped by a hand grabbing her arm.

"Don't even think about it. I have loads of questions and you owe me answers for the way we parted last."

Julia glared and punched his arm lightly. "Fine, but I cannot promise answers to all of them."

"Why did you leave?" Of course, Sirius would ask the one question she dreaded answering first.

Julia shook her head. "That's personal, Sirius."

Sirius face contorted with fury. "What did Snape do?"

Julia's winced visibly at the name. "N…nothing. He didn't do anything. He had nothing to do with why I left." The lie was a small one, but she knew that they would grow with every question Sirius asked. Guilt welled up inside her.

"Bull. He was no good, and he's still no good. Just stay away from him, okay? I don't want you to get hurt again."

Julia's throat clenched and she shut her eyes to push away the tears. "He doesn't know I am back," she said through barely moving lips. "He can't know I am back, okay?" She opened her eyes, pleading with Sirius and Remus.

Sirius was all too happy to oblige by her wishes, and Remus followed suit but with a little less enthusiasm. After that, it wasn't difficult for her to guide them towards more enjoyable topics – where she had traveled, for instance. Both of her friends seemed fascinated by where she had gone, and they spent the rest of her visit discussing Egypt and America.

It was nearing midnight when Julia insisted on leaving. She declined Sirius' offer to stay at Grimmauld Place. "There's too much of a risk of seeing him."

When she said she'd take the Knight Bus back, explaining that she didn't wish to disturb Dumbledore this late, Remus offered to apparate her back to Hogsmeade. Julia agreed, though she wondered why he had offered. She and Remus had been friendly whilst at Hogwarts, but they had not been extremely close. He had been busy with his studies and Julia with Severus.

"Thanks, Remus," Julia said when they had landed in front of the Three Broomsticks. Remus stopped her when she started to enter the pub.

"Julia, can I talk to you?"

Julia looked at him. "I don't know. I have a feeling that you want to talk about Severus, and in that case, I'm not sure I want to talk to you."

Remus smiled. "You are too smart for your own good sometimes, and yes, I want to talk to you about Severus."

Julia sighed, rubbing her face with her fingertips. "Okay. Talk."

"I don't know why you don't wish him to know of your return, but I am sure that it is not because he did something. I do not agree with Sirius that Severus is bad. I returned to teach at Hogwarts about two years ago, and Severus was good enough to help me with some…health issues I have." Julia nodded. "I remembered your closeness with him and asked him if he knew of your whereabouts." Julia's breath hitched in her throat. "Never have I seen such defeat and pain in Severus' eyes. I can only assume that you are, perhaps, a little afraid to face him after all this time, but I am almost certain that your return would take away that pain and defeat he is so cautious to show."

"Remus," Julia said, cutting him off. "I know all of this about Severus. Trust me, I do, and I do plan to tell him of my return, eventually. I am just not sure when that time will be. Thank you for your concern."

Remus put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Know that, even though we were never the closest friends, that I am a friend to you. I'm here to talk to if you cannot find someone who understands your understanding of Severus." Julia caught the meaning of his words and smiled.

"Thanks, Remus. I'm sure I will see you soon."

Julia slumped onto her bed a few minutes later, exhausted. It was nearly one in the morning. Roland settled on her stomach, his usual spot, and Julia, not having the heart to move him to change out of her day clothes, nodded off to sleep.