Chapter 3

Anya stopped pacing the room and sank to the floor once more. She looked at her watch and realized, that although it had seemed longer, only thirty minutes had passed since she had stepped through the portal. She closed her eyes and decided to summon her father first. She knew he had felt her entrance back into this world. She also knew he would not come to her until she called. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Albus Dumbledor" there was a small popping sound and her father appeared before her.

Dumbledor looked into his daughters eyes, and his heart nearly broke with the anguish he saw clearly written there. He gave a purely mental sigh and thought, She knows. She knows everything, but how?

He didn't give a voice to those thoughts, but instead opened his arms and invited her into an embrace.

She rushed into her father's arms and clung to him with more desperation than anything. She held onto him for a few minutes then slowly disentangled herself from his arms.

He then asked, "Daughter, how did you get here when I haven't opened the gate to summon you back?" Briefly wondering if Sirius' death had, in fact, been what had called her back.

He didn't have to wonder long, because she replied, "Vodemort used Sirius' and my stones to open the gate, Father."

He could her pain in her voice, and replied, "So you know."

At this her face clouded with pain and rage and utter desperation, "Yes, I know........Father, what am I going to do? He's dead"

Dumbledor, knowing she was going to hate him for his answer, replied, "You will do as we all must do, accept it, then put your grief aside until this war is won. Then, and only then, will we have time to grieve for those who have fallen."

Anya's face contorted with rage as she lashed out, " ACCEPT It?!? ACCEPT IT.............Father, you above all people should know I can not do that. He is my mate father. And in case you have forgotten, he and I were, are , bound by more than just the bond of soul-mates, but also by the bonds placed on us by our ancestors. I do not just love him or want him father, I need him."

Dumbledor sighed, "I know that daughter, but he is gone. No spell can raise the dead. I am sorry, but you still have a destiny to fulfill. Remember, more that just the fate of our world depends on it."

Anya looked at her father and said, "I know, and I plan on fulfilling it, just not the way you think."

Dumbledor gave her a startled look, but knew not to push her any farther right then.

After a moment of silence, Anya asked her father, " Have you told the children who and what they are?"

Dumbledor's guiltily look told her the answer before he even spoke, "They have not reached the age where their power's will become apparent, so I saw no need to burden them with the knowledge yet."

Anya ground her teeth in frustration, and silently counted to ten, desperately trying not to lose her temper. "Father, in a little over a month, Harry will turn sixteen and will receive his powers. When he receives his powers, so will the others. You know this, yet you have told them nothing. How could you let them face this without first preparing them.?

"I thought I was protecting them."

Anya sighed and said, "I need to call the others. Remus already knows I'm here."

At her father's confused look, she replied, "He can feel me through the bond we share."

"I will call him first, I need to see him before I can face the others."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Remus paced back and forth in his small bedroom. Anya was back. How? He knew Dumbledor had not summoned her. What was more, she knew about Sirius. He could feel her grief resonating through the bond they shared and almost wept from her pain. The Phoenix was back, why hadn't she called them? Should he go to her? He knew where she was -- even if he hadn't shared the bond with her, he would know where to find her, there was only one place she would go. Should he go to her? No, when she was ready, she would call. He resumed his pacing and waited for her call.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Anya closed her eyes and said, "Remus Lupin." Just as when she had summoned her father, there was a slight popping sound, and the Remus was there.

Their eyes met and held, and all the tears Anya had been holding in broke free.

Remus moved forward and put his arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace, as he guided her to the couch and sat them both down.

Remus adjusted his arms around her, so he could hold her in a more comfortable position and murmured soothing words to her, while silent sobs shook her small body.

When her tears subsided, he continued to hold her, and reached for her along the mental path they shared.

Anya, I know how you feel, I understand. Before you protest, remember I can feel your emotions through the bond.

Oh God, Remy, I'm so sorry. I tried to block the link so you wouldn't know. But I don't have the strength to block both the bond to you and the one to Harry. I had to block the one to him, he wouldn't have understood where the feelings where coming from. I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to feel my pain and your own, I know you loved him too.

It's okay Anya, in a way it helps. It helps to know I'm not alone in my pain. Somehow it makes it easier to bare

He felt the resolve in her, and knew what she was planning to do.

Anya, you can't do what you are planning, we need you.

I'm not as important as you think, and when you hear my plan, you will agree.

Remus, desperately wanting to change the course of the conversation asked "Anya, how did you come back? I know your father didn't summon you."

Voldemort.

?????????????

After Sirius died, either Voldemort or one his death eaters took Sirius and my stones. He used the stones to open the gate. Since he had my stone, the portal brought him to me.

Remus' face lost what little color it had as he sent, " Voldemort has two of the stones?"

No, I took them from him, then sent him back to this world.

Remus visibly relaxed some of the tension draining from his body.

I need to send for the others now.

I know, but are you ready?

Yes, and thank you Remy.

For?

Everything.

With that Anya broke the mental contact, disentangled herself from Remus' arm, closed her eyes and whispered, "Serevus Snape" "Harry Potter" "Hermonie Granger" "Ronald Weasley". There was a series of popping noises and those she summoned appeared in the room.