September 10th, 1976
"I have a favor to ask."
Charlus's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You do?"
"Yes. There's a girl from the future that needs to go back to Hogwarts. She'll need a family to take her in. Your Vows are still active, as well as Dorea's extension Vows, and I believe it would be best if you took her in."
"Merlin, Bertie."
Bertie just looked at him expectantly. "She'll be in the same year as your kids."
"You're sure she's who she says she is?" Charlus wondered.
"She told us everything under Veritaserum. We checked the potion beforehand. She's telling the truth. I sent her here, Charlus," Bertie promised. "She'll intern in the DOM as well."
"Oh, that'll give James a complex," Charlus laughed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Even if I wanted to say no, Dorea would never have it. We'll take her. What's her name?"
"She's to be called Anabella Cait Carter," Bertie said. "I'll bring her over soon. You may want to bring your boys home to meet her first."
"Good idea," Charlus sighed. "But the first step is telling Dorea."
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"I used to work with him. I trust him completely."
"Well I don't," she shot back. "I can't believe you really told him the truth. This should be need to know!"
"He needs to know," Bertie shrugged.
"You haven't even told me who they are."
Bertie offered his arm. "Come meet them and you'll find out."
Scowling, Anabella grabbed it and let him Apparate them away. They landed on a porch, and she looked around as he rang the doorbell. The house was huge - a manor, she assumed. It was nothing like Malfoy Manor, however. It was much more of a home, even just looking at the outside of it.
The door opened, and she saw an older man, maybe a muggle fifty, smiling at them kindly. Before anyone could say anything, a familiar looking woman came to his side. She was older as well, about the same age, and Anabella knew why she looked familiar - she was a Black. She looked like a good mix between Bellatrix and Narcissa, but had a great deal of kindness in her eyes that calmed Anabella's nerves.
"Oh, dear, there you are," the woman smiled, looking her over closely. "You look a bit rough, are you okay? Not hurt, are you?"
She couldn't stop the bitter laugh that came out. "They've done all they can."
"She was looked over by a mediwitch," Bertie explained. "She has Longis Crutiau. They gave her the potions for it."
The woman's eyes narrowed furiously, and Anabella's nerves picked up. The man touched the woman's arm, and she could see her fury subside enough for her to change the subject. "Well, I'm Dorea and this is my husband, Charlus."
Dorea and Charlus, Anabella knew those names. She couldn't quite place it, and she frowned, trying to remember. If Dorea was a member of the Black family, which part? She racked her brain until finally, she understood who stood before her. "Oh my god," she breathed, her eyes wide.
"Considering you're from the future, I take it you know of us," Charlus laughed a little, waving them inside. They followed the couple to a living room where they sat together to talk.
"Your… grandson is my best friend," she said finally. She watched Dorea smile brightly.
"Oh, that's lovely! I suppose that would account for the unfinished familial bond I can feel, then."
"But that means… you're James' parents," Anabella understood. She still hadn't processed where she was, much less that she would meet Harry's parents and their friends.
"Yes, we are, as well as Sirius'."
Her frown fell to the pain she felt in her chest. Sirius. She was going to see Sirius. How could she do it? He'd been so kind to her, protected her from the things she was running from, only to watch him die right in front of her. "Right. Sirius."
"Is everything alright?" Charlus frowned. "You know him, I take it."
"I did," she answered softly. "For a few years, yes."
"Anabella, what happened with him?" Dorea wondered, looking very much like a concerned mother.
Anabella shifted uncomfortably. "He took care of me, and then I watched him die."
"Oh, Circe," Dorea whispered. "I'm very sorry."
"You're not… upset?"
"Of course, we're upset to hear he'll be gone," Charlus disagreed. "But that's in the future, something we cannot change. It's best to hope that he lived a happy and fulfilled life before he died."
"Now, we do have the boys here to meet you," Dorea changed the subject. "They're in James' room. We've told them you're going to be staying with us, but we thought we'd leave your story up to you."
"It may do well to let them meet without us first," Charlus said thoughtfully. "They're upstairs on the second floor, the first room on the left."
Hesitantly, Anabella got up and made her way out of the room. Just as she reached the staircase, she heard a whispered "what the hell happened to that poor girl?" and then quickly after, the door shut.
Taking in a deep breath, she made her way up the stairs until she reached the second floor. Looking around, she walked down the hall toward the first door on the left. She gave a hesitant knock before looking in - the door was partially open already, but when she looked, there was no one in there.
"What are you doing?"
The words made her jump, and she fumbled for her wand. She quickly put up a shield before taking a look to see who'd spoken. When she turned, she saw James Potter frowning at her. Staring at him, all she could think was how much Harry really did look like his father. "They said I should come find… you."
"You can lower your wand," he told her, still frowning. "I don't even have mine on me."
"Right," she shook herself and put her wand back in its holster. "I'm sorry. Um, I'm Anabella Carter."
"I heard. Dad wouldn't tell me why you're here," he told her. "He wouldn't really say who you are, even."
Anabella let out a slow breath. She knew what she had to tell him - a partial truth, really. "You know Voldemort, I assume."
"Not personally," Sirius said, stepping out of a room down the hall. She thought maybe he'd been listening, but she wasn't sure. He made his way over and stood next to James, eyeing her. "We know of him."
"He wanted me. I wasn't safe- my parents weren't safe. When I lost my parents… I went to Bertie and he got in touch with your dad."
"I'm sorry," Sirius told her so genuinely that it hurt. He hadn't been alive when she'd sent her parents to Australia, and she'd wished she could've talked to him about it.
"Yeah but why did he want you?" James questioned her. "I mean, you just look like a girl to me."
Sirius elbowed him. "You can't just ask her that. Jesus."
"It's okay," she said quietly. She knew what she had to do. Stepping closer, she lifted her sleeve and held her arm out to them. She watched them as they stared at it. James froze, but Sirius cursed loudly and spun in a circle, his hands in his hair. "I know some… some sensitive information about him, who he is, that nearly got me killed."
"I'm sorry," James said finally, looking apologetic. "It's so hard to trust anyone right now."
"A random girl coming into your home might be a little suspicious," she said, nodding. "I wouldn't be here if I had another option."
"Mum and Dad take in anyone that needs help," Sirius told her. "We'll do the same. Are you coming to Hogwarts?"
She nodded again. "I was at Beauxbatons, but he'll look for me there. Right under his nose, under a different name… he'll never know."
"Different name?" Sirius grinned. "What was it before?"
"Kinda defeats the purpose of changing it if she tells us, Pads," James nudged him.
"Just have to call you kitten, then, kitten," Sirius smirked at her. She breathed out softly at the nickname and remembered all the times he'd called her that in the future. It was a painful reminder, but still nice to hear. "So you'll be coming back to school with us?"
"Tonight, yes," Dorea said, startling all three of them. She smiled at the sight. "You may stay with her while she's being Sorted, if you'd like."
"Sure," James shrugged.
"I want you boys to look out for her," she told them. Before Anabella could argue, she looked at her. "I know you're perfectly capable, dear, but the idea is to keep you safe before you need to defend yourself. Got it?"
"Don't worry, we'll keep her safe," Sirius promised.
"In that case, it's time for you to head back. Write us sometime this week, okay, boys? And Anabella, I'd appreciate if you'd write us in the morning to tell us what House you're in."
Anabella nodded as she followed them to the floo room. "Of course. I… really appreciate everything you're doing for me, Lady Potter."
"None of that," Dorea waved her off. "You can call us Mum and Dad. You're part of the family now, understand?"
She felt her chest tighten. She hadn't called anyone mum and dad since she'd seen her parents. She thought it might be nice to have parents again. "I understand."
"And don't let that nasty man in your mind," she instructed. "You never know what tricks he'll try to pull."
"Nasty man?" she frowned.
"Albus Dumbledore," Dorea explained.
"Mum and Dad hate him," James rolled his eyes. "They think he's manipulative."
"Don't get her going," Charlus chuckled. "Go on, kids."
With a few hugs, they stepped into the floo and came out the other side. They were in Dumbledore's office, that much was clear. It looked quite like she remembered and she was shocked that it seemed to have barely changed in twenty years. Her eyes settled on the man in question and it took a bit of effort to keep from scowling as he began speaking.
"Ah, Miss Carter!" he bowed his head. "Welcome."
"Thank you. Not to be rude, but I'm exhausted. Can we just Sort me quickly?"
Dumbledore looked somewhat surprised, but she didn't apologize. The man was horrible, would be horrible, and she wasn't sorry for being a little rude. He recovered quickly and nodded, walking over to pull out the Hat. "The Hat will not enter your mind, but it will see the surface."
She nodded and bowed her head, allowing him to set the Hat on it. She jumped a little when she heard its voice.
"Ah, Miss Granger. Welcome home."
She tensed. She was careful to respond in her mind rather than out loud. "That's not who I am anymore. Please just Sort me."
"Well, you were in Gryffindor, and your friends here are as well, of course. Despite that, you are quite the… Slytherin!"
"Damn it," she cursed loudly, her eyes opening to see the shocked faces of James and Sirius. "Oh, you two are going to hate me now, aren't you?"
Sirius was the first to shake his head. "Nah, we've got a friend, Marlene McKinnon, she's in Slytherin too, but she's not evil. She spends a lot of time with us and Lily and them."
"Mum was a Slytherin," was James's simple reply.
"Since it is so late, you may stay in Gryffindor if you'd like," Dumbledore told her. "Tomorrow, you will get a tour of your common room and dorm after classes."
"We'll take her back," Sirius grinned.
"Yeah, thank you, Professor," James nodded.
"Have a good night," Dumbledore winked at them. Turning away and following James and Sirius, Anabella made a face.
The castle was the same as ever. Cold, stone walls and dark hallways. She looked around as they made their way to the stairs - they were on the seventh floor while Gryffindor was on the fifth.
"You'll have to meet our friends," Sirius told her, falling behind while James spoke to another prefect to excuse their being out past curfew. "Peter and Remus."
"Love to," she answered distractedly, her mind drifting back to the last night she'd spent in the castle. The fight, Dumbledore's death, Bill being scratched, and her almost dying. It was overwhelming and completely unexpected- she hadn't considered how it would feel to return, but she quickly understood that things were worse than expected.
"You okay?" Sirius asked, stopping when she did. He saw her shake herself and blink at him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go."
"No, don't blow me off," he argued her, grabbing her arm gently to keep her from running off. "Look, we're practically strangers to you, sure, but you need someone here that you trust."
"And you want that to be you?" she raised an eyebrow at him. He shrugged.
"Look, I get it. Before I met the Potters, I was closed off. I didn't trust anyone, I had no reason to. But they taught me that everyone deserves to feel safe, and clearly you don't."
"I have no reason to feel safe."
He sighed. "Mum told me that I needed to spread the kindness they showed to me. I want to do that. Let me help you."
Anabella frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Help me how?"
"Sharing is caring, kitten. Tell me what's going on in there."
Scowling down at her arms, she tilted her head and began. "I was in a fight. I was attacked, and it was only a few months ago, really. Not even a year. I nearly died. My friends nearly died, and we lost… a lot that night. It was the beginning of the end. Being here kind of… reminds me of that night."
Sirius frowned. "Your friends, are they okay?"
"Mm," she thought to Harry and Ron, as well as the twins, Ginny, Neville, and everyone else she'd left behind. "It's hard. Most of them… they're better off than I was. I just have to hope it stays that way, I guess. It's not like I can contact them or anything."
"Oh, you probably couldn't, huh?" she watched him as he seemed to really consider the possibility of being cut off from the people closest to him. "Shit, I couldn't do that. No fucking wonder you're not doing well."
"You guys good?" James wondered as he reached them again. He looked between them and sighed heavily at Sirius. "You have a bleeding heart, Black. We're adopting another one?"
"Prongs, she can't talk to her friends again. Like ever," Sirius argued. James rolled his eyes.
"I'm not arguing, Pads," he promised. "Let's get back before Evans notices we're not there. She'll give us detention if we're not in her line of sight past 10pm."
"What does she do when you go to bed?" Anabella wondered, following them to Gryffindor.
"Oh, we announce our departure to the entire common room to make sure she doesn't do that again," Sirius grinned at her. "She hates it."
"There's a betting board up," James laughed, throwing his head back. "But they got in trouble for betting with money, so instead they bet with candy now. Honeydukes is the only winner in the game seeing as we have absolutely zero sleep schedule."
She laughed as they reached the common room. All she could think of was how James was exactly the person she'd been told about from Sirius' stories.
Stepping inside was overwhelming. The common room was exactly the same as well, only with different students. She watched them look around and saw a grin break out on James' face. She followed his gaze and saw a redhead with slightly curly hair and green eyes narrowing her eyes at them as she made her way over.
"Where have you two been?"
"C'mon, Evans, you really don't trust us?" Sirius smirked. Lily rolled her eyes at him.
"Sorry to break your heart, Black, but no, I don't. Did you bring your date back and think I wouldn't catch you?"
"Date?" Anabella shook her head quickly. "No, I'm not- I'm not his date. Anabella Carter, I'm a transfer student."
"Oh," Lily blinked and shook herself. "Oh! I'm sorry. You seem to have stumbled onto some troublesome company is all. I'm Lily Evans, sixth-year prefect along with James. How did you find yourself with them, anyway?"
James made a face at her. "She's my parents' ward as of today. Mum and Dad brought us home to meet her."
"Yeah, don't make so many assumptions, Evans," Sirius laughed. Lily rolled her eyes at him.
"You're just so predictable. Anyway, you'll have to get Sorted in the morning, Anabella."
"Oh, I was," she shook her head quickly. "I'm in Slytherin, but Dumbledore said I could sleep here tonight and get the tour tomorrow."
"Oh, then you've got to meet Marlene," Lily decided. "She's upstairs. You'll sleep with us, then. We've got an extra bed. We could go up now if you're ready?"
James laughed. "Trying to steal my new sister?"
"She's not your sister, she's your family's ward, isn't she?"
"Not really how it goes in the Potter family," Sirius shrugged. "Mum and Dad see someone in need and they're a part of the family now. So, yes, she's our sister now."
Anabella raised an eyebrow. "Do I get a say in this?"
"No," the boys said together.
"Okay," she laughed a little. "I'll see you both tomorrow. I'm exhausted, and I'd like to meet everyone before I go to sleep."
"Great!" Lily smiled brightly. She grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs, both of them waving at the boys as they left. When they reached the dorm, Anabella looked around at the other girls scattered around.
"Who's this?" a girl with long, wavy blonde hair and light brown eyes wondered.
"This is Anabella," Lily told them. "Anabella, that's Marlene over there."
"I'm Mary," someone else said. She had short and curly mousy brown hair paired with nearly purple eyes. Anabella thought she must have some Veela in her somewhere.
"Alice," another girl waved. When she looked at Alice, she immediately knew the girl was Neville's mother. Her hair was also brown, and her eyes were a green so pale that they almost looked grey. Her nose curved the same as Neville's, and her smile looked exactly the same, if a bit more mischievous.
"I'm Dorcas," another girl said. Her eyes were dark brown and her hair was done in loose twists - or at least, mostly done in loose twists. She seemed to still be working on them with the help of the last girl in the room. "And that is Emmeline, but she gets really focused when she does my hair, so she's not paying attention."
"Yes, I am," Emmeline said quietly as she began the next one. "Hello, new girl. I didn't know we did transfers."
"Neither did I," Lily tilted her head curiously.
"Dumbledore allowed it because it was… ah, it was an emergency," Anabella told them with a grimace. "I'd really rather not talk about it."
"We won't pry," Mary said, shooting the others a look. "What subjects are you taking?"
And the night continued, almost as if she'd always been there. As she settled in with the girls, talking comfortably, her mind drifted to the conversation she'd had with Bill shortly before leaving. He'd told her that she was a Light Lady. She'd asked for more details over breakfast, and she recalled him saying that a Light Lady brings people together, toward her. Looking around at the girls that acted as if they'd always been friends, she was left to wonder if they were just that kind or if it was something else. Something more magical.
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