Back From the Dead
Chapter Thirteen: Back From the Dead
"Returning from the dead wasn't all that I expected... but that's life."
--Rafe McCawley, Pearl Harbor
Saturday came. At 11:30, Emily met her Professor in the Great Hall and the two made their way out of the castle and towards Hogsmeade. They would be meeting Sirius in the Shrieking Shack. Silently they made their way up the hill and into the abandoned building. Once there, they sat for awhile, waiting for Sirius to arrive.

They didn't have to wait long. About ten minutes after they arrived, the door squeaked open and a large black dog entered. After making sure they were alone, he transformed into a human once again and closed the door behind him. Emily got up to give her a father a hug. He held her a moment before turning to the woman he thought to be his sister.

She had light hair and deep blue eyes, ones that he recognized. Blue eyes did run in his family, he himself had blue eyes, but not these eyes. These were his daughter's eyes. And the knowledge of this shocked him. This woman was not Bella. This was not his sister.

Liz saw the realization on his face. The look in his eyes made her realize that this whole thing would not be as simple as she had thought. But when had anything ever been simple? When had life been simple?

Emily was confused. Her father was just standing there, a shocked look on his face. Her aunt was looking a little sad, but also a little embarrassed at the same time. Emily wasn't stupid. She could tell when things were going on that she wasn't aware of. There was something they weren't telling her. It was obviously something that shocked her father and saddened this… this woman. 'It must be something important' she concluded to herself. This fact made her even more determined to figure out what it was.

"I was told you were dead." It had been almost a full five minutes before anyone had spoken and it was finally Sirius voice that ended the silence.

"I know. I am sorry about that, but I really had no control over what you were told."

"What happened?"

"After I heard about everything, I, well I lost it. I was diagnosed as mentally incompetent to have custody of the kids so they took them and put them in foster homes. When I finally came around a few months later, I found out Fudge had told everybody the same thing he had told you. They told me they had lost track of the children and that they were probably dead. I didn't have anything left. So I went along with it. I moved to Ireland and lived as a Muggle. When I heard you had escaped, I hoped, well… then I remembered you had been told I was dead. Then, last May, I approached Dumbledore about a teaching position. He was surprised to see that I was alive but he quickly got over it. He hired me. The first day I saw Emily in the Great Hall, I was shocked. I had thought she was dead. You'd think I'd know by now that no one in this family seems to ever die."

"Why did you wait until now to resurface?"

"I didn't plan on doing it at all. I was going to stay dead. Returning from the dead wasn't all that I expected… but then again, that's life. When I saw her, I knew things weren't as they seemed. I went to Sev, hoping he would be able to answer my questions. He was. I approached Emily in arranging a meeting with you. I knew I had to see you soon. It's been fourteen years. Oh Sirius, I have missed you."

"I've missed you too."

The two approached each other, meeting in an embrace. They grasped at each other, as if they never wanted to let go. And they didn't want to. But reality returned. Emily watched this whole exchange without comment. But by now she couldn't remain silent any longer.

"Dad, Professor, would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Emily watch your mouth. If you haven't figured it out by now, this isn't your aunt Bella."

"No, really?" she was being sarcastic. "Who is it?"

"Emily," Liz started, but stopped, looking to Sirius for direction.

"Emily, this is your mother."

To Be Continued

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. Please read Ch 14 for new on the next installment Please, please, please review!!