10 January 2006.
Potions Classroom, Second Floor, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts Castle, Highlands, Scotland, Great Britain.
Professor Snape was, fortunately enough, in the middle of explaining the steps to make the Anti-paralysis potion in his fifth year Gryffindor/Slytherin class when there was 'pop' sound and a that seemed to be his daughter's age appeared in the middle of the room. He could recognise the girl immediately even though he hadn't seen her since she was a baby. "Lucy?" he said in confusion and slight shock at the person in front of him.
At the sound of the nickname, the brunette turned to look at the familiar face and a bright smile appeared on her face before she ran and hugged the man, shouting to the whole classroom "UNCLE SEV!"
That shocked all that were in the room as they knew that Severus Snape was an only child and thus did not have any nieces or nephews. But one Gryffindor recognised the girl from a photo he was shown during the holidays, and he immediately had tears in his eyes.
"Lucille?" He asked quietly, but was heard by everyone in the room and everyone except two other students were confused as to how he knew the weird girl.
"Harry!" The girl, Lucille, said before running over to the boy and hugging him tightly. Harry returned the hug just as tightly with a stunned look on his face.
The reunion was short-lived however, as they were in the middle of a classroom after all. So, with a cough from Draco, they separated but still held onto each others' hands to keep contact as much as they could. Harry then turned to his friends and introduced the young woman with him. "Guys, this is my sister, Lucille." He said, with Lucille waving shyly to the people around her.
"Well, its nice to finally meet you, Lucille. I'm Hermione." Hermione said, sticking her hand out to shake her hand, but the girl instead pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear "It's nice to meet you Mione, thank you for taking care of him for so long."
"You don't have to thank me. It's the least I could do for my best friend." Hermione replied, smiling at the girl as they pulled away.
"Now, Lucy." Severus said, catching the attention of the students and the girl in question. "How did you manage to find yourself here, no one can get through Hogwarts' wards, especially not a fourteen-year-old who has never learned magic in their life."
"I don't know uncle Sev, but I do know one thing. Everything is changing, and I don't know if the wizarding world is ready for what's to come."
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England.
At first glance, nothing seemed different about the Dark Lord, but if you looked close enough, you would be able to see the complete change the man went through in one night. There was determination and a large amount of intelligence glinting in his eyes that hadn't been seen in a very long time. The real Thomas Marvolo Riddle was back, and ready to take back all he lost. He first, however, needed to regain his followers' trust and find his right-hand, wherever she is.
He entered the lounge and found his closest friends and greatest supporters sitting together in mid discussion when the noticed his presence and stood to bow.
"Don't. Rise, my friends, for I do not deserve your loyalty after everything I have put you through during my time of insanity. And yet you are still here, and for that I am eternally grateful." He said, bowing his head in apology.
The others in the room were shocked and relieved by his words. The Tom they know and believed in was back.
"Welcome back to the land of the sane, Tom. You've missed an impressive number of changes." Lucius said, smiling at his friend.
"And I'd like to be updated about all these changes. But first, I need to know one thing." At their nods, he continued. "Where the hell is Carina?"
Account Manager Silverblade's office, Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, Charing Cross Road, London.
Carina Black was in the middle of sorting out her finances when there was a knock on the door and a goblin came in followed by a very familiar face.
She stood up as quick as she could. "Tom?"
"Hello Darling." He said, smiling softly at the woman that had stayed with him through everything. (*Note: I've decided, as the author, to make Tom five years older than Sirius Black. Why, you may ask? Welp cause I want him to be for 'research purposes'. Also, I know there are a few timing issues but I honestly don't really mind them and don't really know what they are to correct them, so just role with it please. And thank you for the people that have been loving this story and commenting positive stuff, you guys give me the motivation to continue this thing. Back to the story.)
She ran to him and hugged him tightly. "Your back." She whispered in relief and happiness. "I'm back." He whispered with a smile on his face as well.
"Now," they both said at the same time as they released each other, laughing quietly at their unintentional unison, "Where were we?" Carina asked her account manager, as she pulled Tom to sit next to her.
"You don't mind if I sit in on your meeting?" Tom asked her in curiosity.
"I don't." She said, smiling at him and continuing her conversation with the goblin, with occasional input from the Dark Lord.
And so, with the Dark Lord back in action, they started progressing with their plans in a faster speed than they had previously. And the day finally came, the day where The Article would come out. You see, after they got out of St. Mungo's, Frank and Carina contacted two journalists, Rita Skeeter, the girl they dreaded talking to when they were in Hogwarts due to her nosy personality, and Xenophilius Lovegood, their dear friend and the father of Carrie's student, Luna.
They asked the both, through coercion by ways of a large compensation for Miss Skeeter, to write an article to announce their return to sanity and their desire to get back to their positions in the Wizengamot. In the article, they also included a written statement by Madam Amelia Bones as evidence to the fact that they were completely healed and could do anything normal wizards could.
14 January 2006.
Level 9, Ministry of Magic, Whitewall, London, England, Great Britain.
A day before the article was planned to be released, Frank and Carina were making their way through the Ministry of Magic in their most expensive robes, to have a little 'chat' with the minister.
As they were walking, they came across a certain someone that Carina had been meaning to talk to.
"Croaker! I've been meaning to speak with you. What a coincidence it is to see you here." Carina said, smiling brightly at the head of the Department of Mysteries.
"Well, I'll be. Carina Black. You aren't as dead as they say you are, then?" Saul Croaker said, smiling brightly at his favourite Black, after Arcturus of course.
"Didn't know you thought so lowly of me, to believe that I was dead. I still have some fight to give you know." Carina replied, smiling at her grandfather's closest friend.
"Knew you did. Didn't believe the old coot for a second when he said you were dead, and by the dark lord's hand no less. He was as delusional as ever." Croaker said in annoyance.
"Good. Now, I need your help with something." She said and leaned closer to whisper in the man's ear.
After she was done, she bid him goodbye and joined Frank, who was talking to Lucius quietly, and all three of them made their way to Amelia's office to pick her up before going to Fudge's office.
They entered the DMLE and were greeted by the sight of a shocked Scrimgeour and Shacklebolt. Both stood straight at the sight of their previous training officers, who the had never thought they'd get to see again.
"At ease Rufus." "At ease Shacks." Carina and Frank said in unison respectively, not forgetting their auror training one bit.
"Well, I'll be. Black and Longbottom. Never thought I'd see you two back here." A voice that neither of them could ever forget said, just as the owner of the voice appeared in front of them.
"Moody." They said at the same time, straightening up their posture in front of their old mentor and teacher.
"Did I hear the word-" there was a gasp and a scream before a pink haired female ran through the men and jumped into Carina's arms and hugged her tightly. Nymphadora Tonks tried her best to hold her tears in front of her bosses as she held tightly to her cousin, who everyone had thought died.
"Missed you too, Dora." Carrie said as she held onto her cousin just as tightly.
"How are you…?" Dora started before Carina shushed her and whispered "I'll tell you later, just visit your mother in three days at three o'clock. I'll be there to explain everything, but in a more private setting."
At Dora's nod, she pulled away and turned to her mentor and student. "It was to see all of you again, but I'm afraid we have an important meeting to get to. If someone could get Amelia, we'll be off."
"I'll go get her." Shacklebolt said after breaking his hug with one of his mentors.
"Thanks Shacks." Frank said in gratitude, as Carina pulled her own Auror student in for a hug and told him something in his ear.
She pulled away when he nodded and said "It was good to see you Scrimge."
"You too Boss." He said, smiling in acknowledgement for her whispered words.
"Are we ready to go?" Amelia said as she came out of her office, smiling at the people in the middle of the department before raising her voice and saying "Alright people, show's over. Get back to work."
"Yes Ma'am." All the aurors said before getting back to their tasks.
"Shall we then?" She said as she hooked her arm through Carina's and nodded at the two remaining men standing.
"You seem to not be surprised at all by their appearance Amelia. Anything you want to share with the class?" Moody asked sceptically, staring at the four that were about to leave with unhidden curiosity.
"Not at the moment, no. But if you pass by my office in three hours, I might just tell you something." She said, smiling at her mentor in secrecy.
"Fine, I'll let you go. But you will tell me soon Madam Bones." Alastor Moody said, with the same voice of authority he used to use on them when he was head Auror.
"We'll see sir. Now if you'll excuse us. We need to go. Rufus, you're in charge." At his nod of understanding and with a lingering look from Moody, they turned and left the department, chatting quietly between each other. This meeting was not going to be very pleasant.