Title: Saving Grace
Author: shattered
Rating: PG to PG13, it's not really there yet but it will be, if for nothing else than the fact that real people cuss and not everyone's a prude.
Summery: What if James had had a sister, a twin? What if there was more to the Marauders than four boys and a map? What if the Malfoys weren't Voldemort followers by choice, if they were forced? What if that force's name was Starling?
Disclaimer: Do I look like a rich, British, ex-school teacher? I am Not JKR thus I don't own any of these characters except those that are the product of my own mind.
AN: I don't know why but I've got this strange idea that reviews are a good thing, perhaps I'm just crazy. I don't mean to be a review nazi but I'd like to get more than three. Do you all think it's possible, maybe at all?
Saving Grace"Hey."
It was only one word but it caused such a reaction you'd have though that it was an hour long speech on some deep moral issue. Sirius had his face buried in Elle's neck; he was obviously shaking, wracked with sobs, free from some of the cold that had settled over his soul. Remus was clutching her hand, the other was holding the back of Sirius' head, tears streaming down his face, but at least he was smiling, even if it was a sad smile. Harry had a small happy, mysterious smile on his face and he was watching his aunt try to comfort both his godfather and his old teacher, and he had to admit she was doing a fine job of it.
"Hey, Remus, Moony, sugar, do you think that you could find out when I can leave?" Remus' tears had stopped and his grip loosened so she assumed that he would be okay finding out for her.
"Sure, Raven." And with that he was on his way.
"Hey, Siri, love, I need to sit up. Padfoot, precious, up," and the seemingly delicate woman managed to lever her considerably larger fiancé off of her long enough to reposition herself against the headboard. "Harry, honey, it's good to finally see you again, in person."
"Yes, Aunt Elle, it is." And Harry threw back the smile that she bestowed upon him. "But shouldn't Snuffles change back, he risks getting caught the longer he stays as he is." The worried look Harry shot his recovering godfather was unmistakable. Sirius raised his head to look at Harry and appeared to be deciding the validity of what he said, he obliviously found the statement logically sound because in an instant Snuffles sat on Raven lap in Sirius' place. "You like calling people by cute pet-names don't you?"
"I guess I do, it started with James, I always called him 'brother dear' and it bugged the heck out of him, then I started being friendly with all of the Marauders, Tiger, and Paws. Sirius brought it up in our third year said that it wasn't fair that just because James was my brother he got a cute nickname." She smiled down at the dog that seemed to be trying to burrow into her lap. "So I started using cute often trite pet-names for all of my friends."
"Even Peter?"
"No one starts evil, Harry, he broke somewhere along the way and we missed it. Never ignore your friends, sweetie, not even for an instant, cause that's when the enemy moves in on them, makes them willing to hurt you first." She looked almost guilty, no scratch that, she definitely looked guilty.
"I won't, hell, even if I tried I doubt they'd let me." And he shook his head. "My friends are very in your face people."
"That's good to hear."
"Amazing." The doctor and Remus had come back. "Miss Potter, we need to run tests, and while I'd like to keep you here for another day I doubt that I'd be able to, after all you've been here for fourteen years." And with that he started casting spells that swept over Raven and then landed on some sheets of parchment that had been on the desk in the room. When the glowing balls of the spells hit the parchment words sprouted and flowed across the pages. (Unlike the reviews for this fic.) The medi-wizard picked up the parchment and studied the sheets often shifting for one to another and back as if confirming all the odd results. "Well, Miss Potter, it seems that you have suffered no complications from your fourteen year sleep. Somehow you managed to not suffer from atrophy, and that is very, very unusual." And he looked confused too.
"I think it had to do with the curse that was cast on me." Raven's confident grin told him that that was all the explanation he was going to get for now. "Can I leave now?"
"I suppose, but I want you back in for a follow up tomorrow, okay?"
"Fine. Do you have any of my clothes?" And she looked desperately around the room.
"Ah, not quite, what is your size?" The wizard asked as he moved to stand in front of the wardrobe.
"Medium, muggle clothes, please."
"Sure. Medium," the last was aimed at the piece of furniture. "All kinds of clothes in there, Miss Potter, I'm sure that you'll be able to find something." And he left.
"Go wait in the waiting room, I'll be out in a second."
"Sure, Elle." "Okay, Aunt Raven." With those answers Remus and Harry left the room with Padfoot hesitantly following behind them.
"Why dose Aunt Raven want muggle clothes?" Harry asked Remus when they were in the waiting room.
"She's probably going to try to get custody and to get the papers she needs she's going to have to deal with muggle law enforcement and they won't think well of robes."
"Oh. Wait, why's getting custody papers? For who?" It took a little while for the sentence to dawn on him. "Wait, me, she's trying to get custody of me? Why?"
"Well… there are three really important reasons and a whole bunch of less important ones that I won't tell you. First off, you're my nephew, my brother's son. Secondly, you're my godson, my best friend's only child. Third and most importantly, I love you, what more reason do I need?" Raven had come up behind them in jeans, black and white Adidas, and a red shirt. Her long, jet black hair was kept off her face by a pair of gold Oakley's. A brilliant gold ring sparkled on her finger, rubies and diamonds winking in the light.
"They kept the stuff I came in with so I have my engagement ring again, thank God."
"Yes, it was rather an expensive ring, wasn't it?" Remus then thought about it, "or is it that we all, except Peter, helped Padfoot pick it out?"
"Both. Hey, Remmie, you have your Spitfire here don't you?"
"Well, yes, why?" Remus looked honestly surprised at the statement.
"Get all of the stuff out of it, well go on." With that she walked over to the car and started to pull Harry's things out of the back. When Lupin was sure that there was nothing in the car she waved her wand whispered a spell. A flash of light prevented Harry and Moony from seeing hat had happened but when it cleared they saw that there was no car there only --a toy?! Raven went to pick it up and handed it to Remus. "We'll take my car!"
"You and Lily always had the weirdest ways of storing things." And a shake of his head was all he could return. Raven pulled out her key chain and plucked off what appeared to be a model of some sort of silver sedan. She set the model on the ground waved her wand and whispered another spell. There was another flash of light and suddenly a brand new sedan stood in front of them.
"Currency charm keeps the car up to date with the times."
"Oh."
AN: Yes I know that this is short and late and a half dozen negative things but you know three reviews just isn't enough to make writing this worth it.