Sorry about the delays recently! Life is hectic sometimes!

But anyways, thanks for the reviews! They are so appreciated:)

Chapter 20

Ariana walked quickly and silently along the edge of the forest, lost in thought. I haven't been here in so long. Am I sure I want to do this, she asked herself.

I have to. It's the only way to get closure and move on with my life.

Do I really love Remus enough to move past all this, she wondered. Yes. I do. With all my heart. And if I want to make a new life with him then I have to do this.

You can't choose who you fall in love with and dad would only want me to be happy, she thought. But it feels like I'm betraying him, she argued.

She slowed her pace as the cemetery came into view and stopped entirely when she got to the front gates. She took a deep breath and tossed her shoulders back resolutely as she began walking toward her fathers grave.

Ariana felt the tears well up as she found his headstone and bit her lip to keep from crying. She sunk to the ground and leaned her head against the stone and allowed a single tear to trickle down her cheek.

Her bag thunked heavily on her leg and she realized that Dumbledore's book was in there. She had been too anxious to get off Hogwarts grounds to look at it when he gave it to her and briefly hoped she had not been rude to Albus.

She pulled the book from the bag and saw a note attached to the cover. She carefully removed the parchment and smoothed it out to read:

Ariana,

I've contacted several people to help assist in getting this book together for you. I hope it helps you find what answers you are looking for. It is just a spell and the results of it will unfortunately be temporary. You will have one hour from the time you open the book. Use it wisely.

Respectfully,

Albus Dumbledore

Ariana curiously opened the book and her eyes rested on a photograph of her father. But not just an ordinary photograph, this one was moving.

"Dad?" She whispered, shaking with excitement.

There was her father standing next to her mother, grinning happily and swinging her around. This must be their wedding day, she thought as she noticed their clothes.

She flipped through the book taking in each snapshot like it was air. There were pictures of her dad and her mum. Pictures of all three of them together. Pictures of just her mom. And pictures of just her dad.

In fact the one she was looking at now was different than any of the snapshots that she'd looked at before. This was actually a portrait. She stared at it happily a moment before she was interrupted.

"Ariana?" said the portrait.

She started and dropped the book quickly as she felt her heartbeat quicken. Shit! The photo is talking. My dad is talking to me from a photo, she thought nervously until she remembered the note. It's a spell and it will wear off. I'm wasting time.

She snatched the book up and peered into her fathers smiling face.

"Daddy?" She asked timidly.

"Sweetheart. What a lovely woman you've grown up to be. You look just like your mother." Broderick Grant said in his familiar voice.

"Oh Merlin." She said. "I've missed you so much. I never told you how much I love you. You were the best parents anyone could have ever had." She sobbed.

"I have so much to tell you." She continued as she tried to get a hold of herself.

"Ariana, stop." He interrupted, silencing her with a raised hand.

"Albus has kindly filled me in so we could have more time to talk. I just want you to know, you have my blessing in whatever you choose to do."

"He's the reason you're not here, dad." She started.

" It was my own fault for cutting through the woods. I knew better but I risked it anyway. I do not blame that young man for what happened. It was own stupidity that caused this." He continued.

"But..." She began.

"Ariana, listen to me. You do not choose who you fall in love with. Love chooses you. And it won't be ignored. If you two are in love, don't let the past effect your future. You have to grab it and hold on to it. Promise me that." He insisted.

"I promise." She answered tearfully.

"Good girl." He replied. "Now tell me everything that I've missed." Broderick said and listened with indignance as Ariana relived her awful childhood.

Remus ran out the front gates of Hogwarts but stopped once outside and gazed around frantically wondering which way to go.

Now what, he wondered. How in the hell am I supposed to know where she is?

The book under his arm reverberated and he pulled it out to get a better look.

What good does Dumbledore think this old book is going to do me, he thought as he dusted off the cover so he could read the title. The Book of the Missing by Beau and Leroy Cragg.

Remus cracked open the first page and read the instructions on the yellowed page of the aged book.

Have you misplaced a loved one or simply don' t remember where you've left them? Don't fret. Let the Clagg brothers help you locate them!

Turn to page 394 and simply say "Show me (insert lost parties name here)." Watch with amazement as we show you where your missing person is!

Remus briefly marveled at Dumbledore's cleverness as he turned to the required page and said firmly "Show me Ariana Grant."

A kind of muggle elevator music began to play as the page flashed quickly. It seemed to scan several locations a second. It was starting to make him dizzy as images blurred past his gaze. This is worse than floo powder, he thought as he closed his eyes.

Finally he heard the music stop and figured the book must have completed its search so he popped his eyes open eagerly.

He focused on the scene expectantly and was puzzled at what he saw. He was staring at a hairy black gorilla swinging from vine to vine in a rain forest. The gorilla had a thought bubble over her head labeled Ariana Grant. What the hell, he wondered.

Ha ha ha! Just kidding! You should have seen the look on your face! Classic. Remus read as new words flashed over the page. Turn to page 395 to find your missing person. And thanks for choosing the Clagg brothers for your location needs!

Remus rolled his eyes, amused in spite of himself, and turned the page to see Ariana sitting on the ground next to a headstone clutching something to her chest. His heart leapt at her tear streaked face. He knew instantly where she was and slammed the book shut before he Apparated with a loud crack.

Next update won't be that long. I promise. Don't throw things at me...please.