When Lily and James ran through the doors Mr. and Mrs. Potter and Sirius were chatting about what happened while the girl, who was apparently named Grace, slept the couch. Sirius was telling going over the exact details for Mr. Potter while Mrs. Potter fussed over Grace, checking her pulse, opening her eyes a few times, and finally she waved a wand over her and stood to watch.

With a small humph she turned to her husband and Sirius. "Well, she's okay, but she has a powerful binding spell on her. She still thinks like herself, and I see she can move a little, slowly all her movement will come back, speech being the last to return. She will need medicine however. The effects won't come off without it."

Now it was Mr. Potter's turn to talk "Its okay Sirius, I just came home, and Dumbledore was at the Ministry, I'll go back and see if he's still there. He will know what to do about the house. We will probably want some Aurtors on it as well." Then addressing his wife "And honey, calm down, I'll bring back the medicine on the way. We don't have to send her in to the hospital right away. The ministry will want this under wraps until they can take a look." Mrs. Potter looked a little grumpy but nodded, and Sirius looked relived. She was going to be okay.

Mr. Potter apperated back to the office and Mrs. Potter shuffled out of the room to get a start on dinner. When the children were alone James made his way to the chair Sirius was sitting in and clapped him on the back.

"Well this sure has been an interesting day."

Everyone smiled weakly then went back to gazing at Grace. Lily slowly moved a little closer to get a better look at her. "I hope her parents were all right, it was her house right?" She said after James quietly explained everything to her. No one answered Lily.

The smells from Mrs. Potter's cooking were wafting from the kitchen reminding everyone how hungry they really were. Just then Mr. Potter arrived with Dumbledore. Headmaster was a very wise man, and often was asked for help with these sort of things. The old man pulled off his gloves and headed towards the living room where he instinctively knew Grace was.

"You all sit down to dinner, I want to take a look at her" Mrs. Potter looked like she wanted to protest, but Mr. Potter caught her arm and steered her into the Dining Room leavening Dumbledore to his work. Sirius was even more reluctant to leave, finally Lily grabbed his hand and smiled, and started to pull him after her and James but Dumbledore lifted his hand, stopping Lily

"Sirius can stay Miss Evans. Please enjoy your dinner." Lily smiled and nodded at Dumbledore the looked up at her boyfriends best friend, a comforting smile on her face. Sirius felt her gaze and turned, winking, as to say she could go.

Sirius stood, waiting patiently for why he had been asked to stay. Dumbledore took a small vile out of his pocket and waved Sirius over. "Prop her up, she needs to swallow this. Sirius moved across the room, and sat behind Grace, slowly pushing her limp body up into a sitting position, supporting her weight. Dumbledore pored the liquid threw her parted lips and pinched her nose, forcing her to swallow.

Grace coughed weakly, fighting for breath. It was that feeling again, like waking up from a dreamless sleep, only to find that your muscles aren't your own, they don't listen. Grace tried to flex her fingers, or turn her head. Very little movement was achieved. All she was capable of doing was shaking her head a little. When her vision cleared she saw an old man smiling at her, a twinkle in his eyes. He lifted a wand and she tensed a little, confused at what he would do. He just flicked his wand at her and mumbled some sort of counter curse. For a moment her body ached, as if all the blood was flooding back to quickly. When the pain stopped she had movement. For the first time excitement was visible or her face and her muscles listened on command.

"Aw, there we are miss, you must be feeling better now" that was the old man. He extended a wrinkled hand to her "I am Albus Dumbledore, you can call me Professor Dumbledore, and the young man behind you is Sirius Black."

For the first time Grace noticed that she wasn't supporting herself. Stiffly she turned her neck to face the boy. She winced as she bumped heads with him, then smiled as he apologized and rubbed her head where they hit, seeing as her own arms were sore.

"Nice to meet you Grace"

That voice was familiar, he must have been the one who brought me here, she thought. Her attention was brought back to Dumbledore when she heard his voice. He quickly reviewed everything that Sirius had told him, about the crash, the house, appearing out of no where, the binding cure. He also explained that she wouldn't be able to talk for a while Speech was the last thing to return, the reason she could talk before, was it was also the last thing to be effected by the curse.

Dumbledore took great care in the next part, "Now Grace, since you can't tell us what happened, I have pieced together what I think happened. Shake your head if I get a part completely wrong."

Grace nodded, and shifted her shoulder into a more comfortable position on the boy called Sirius' shoulder.

"My guess was, you were in your home, then some people appeared, they caught you off guard, put you under a binding spell." Grace nodded, so far everything was correct.

Dumbledore continued "The people left your blinded, and then from a distance shot a spell at the house, blowing it up. It was an attempt at your life and to destroy everything in the house, but some how you got transported out."

Grace nodded atheistically. Then she put on a confused expression, trying to ask about how she got out.

Dumbledore smiled at her miming skills. "I have a theory on how you got out. Sometimes people's magic will come to their aid and take them somewhere else if they are under powerful binding spells and the person is endangered. It recognizes that the person can do nothing to free themselves and takes over. You are very lucky you got out alive. I also think you were fortunate to land in front of Sirius and James' horses. That will have to be explained by time."

Dumbledore looked at Grace kindly, giving her a moment to process everything, then he continued "Lets just say I'm very good about putting two and two together, but I need to ask you some questions, just about yourself, family, you know?"

Unlike most questions adults make, this one didn't seem like a request, like she actually had a choice. Grace nodded, saying she was ready

"Ill ask yes and no questions. Just nod your answer, are you older then 15?"

Sirius found him self hoping she was. To his relief she nodded.

Sirius though he say Dumbledore smile too. "Are you 16?" Grace shook her head. "17?" she nodded atheistically

Sirius visibly smiled. She was the same age as him.

Dumbledore indicated to Sirius with his head "You're the same age as Mr. Black" Grace twisted her body to smile at him

"This might be hard, but please think, do you have any idea why they attacked your house?" Grace slowly shook her head

Dumbledore nodded "Now again this could be hard, were any of your family hurt, taken, or do we need to send someone to explain to them? To Dumbledore's surprise Grace shook her head. "Interesting, Grace, do you mind If I get this directly from your thoughts? Read your mind I guess?" Grace shook her head, she had nothing to hide. "Just think the answer very clearly and relax" She did so and Dumbledore reached a hand forward, gently touching her forehead.

After a few moments they broke apart. "That's interesting Grace, I think you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but under the circumstances, I would like to invite you to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It would be for one year, and that way you could get a diploma and then if you chose, you could get a job, like the rest of our students. The job is of course your choice, one that needn't be made now, but I would still like you to attend."

Grace nodded agreeing with the man. At this point she was game for anything new. All the new information was cramming into her head.

Dumbledore saw Sirius's questioning eyes and smiled "Grace would you mind if I explained to Mr. Black. I think it could be wise, since I was hoping he could help you get use to Hogwarts if you do indeed go"

Grace just nodded, she didn't care much. Dumbledore turned to Sirius "Grace told me that she had been living with her Grandmother who was one of the few remaining brush withes. They live off the land and use there magic mainly for natural potions. Grace informed me that her Grandmother passed on last year, and she had been living by herself."

Sirius was shocked "By yourself, completely?" Both nodded. "And she going to Hogwarts" Sirius said this way more atheistically.

Addressing both of them Dumbledore said "Yes, she will be going into the 7th year. It's unusual that we take students that late, but Grace explained that her Grandmother had been home schooling her. She has a good foundation. She will of course need tutoring, Sirius I was hoping that Lily, James, and you could tutor her in your strong areas. Between the three of you she will be more then covered. I'm also appointing you to show her around, and get her caught up on the modern world. I think Lily could also help. I'm hoping that she can try and undo and the bad ideas you put into her head."

Dumbledore smiled at the last comment, showing he wasn't upset. He stood up to leave "Decisions are being made very fast here, so one more shall be made. Since you three will be helping her, she will be in Gryffindor with you. From what I saw in her mind and spirit, she will fit in there quite well."

Dumbledore was at the door, his back facing the two children when he turned around one more time. He looked tired now, as if he couldn't stand all the explaining that was going to in one day.

"Mr. Black, I want a quick word, help me get my coat" Sirius nodded then removed Grace from his shoulders and let her lean against the couch, and briskly walked over to show Dumbledore out. Sirius didn't expect him to need help with his coat much less leave right away.

"Mr. Black, there is something you must understand tonight. Those attacks on Grace's house were not random. Someone wanted her gone, and most likely you and James were nice targets too. You all got luckily, the death eaters were sloppy, let's not give them a chance to get it right. I have a strong suspicion that Grace wasn't suppose to meet you, you were both suppose to die according to them. Obviously someone had another plan for you. I just want you to understand that your time with her is not over. She will play an important role in your life, don't forget that or throw it away for some petty cause."

The old mans eyes were intense and serious. Sirius was a little shocked that he would be so insistent on this. It wasn't over however "I just know that you all should stick together, you, James, Lily, and Grace especially, but Reams as well. Some bad people didn't want you and James to meet Grace, and I wouldn't be going too far to say that they also had different plans for Lily as well. Just watch out for each other. Is that okay with you?"

Sirius looked a little bit like a large puppy with his ears pulled back in shock. His face grew dark and thoughtful, finally he managed to answer. "No professor, James and I are just like brothers, we are both, especially James, are very committed to Lily's well being. As for Grace, I can't explain it, but I agree with you. I felt like I had to meet her, everything grew so still, it was almost like time was setting itself up for us to collide."

Sirius couldn't believe that he just said that. He was normally always joking and reckless, everyone knew of his as the most eligible bachelor at Hogwarts. He cracked a smile. What would his teachers say about HIM and JAMES being anyone's mentor? They both were very bright, but there wasn't one rule the pair hadn't found a way to break. In fact the probably knew more about what was allowed and what wasn't then anyone in the school, and that included Lily, for the soul purpose of knowing the most efficient way to break them.