Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series they belong to JK Rowling. I don't own Lord of the Rings they belong to JRR Tolkein, and I don't own X-Men it belongs to Marvel. I don't own Eve or Sarah Winters or Josh Summers they belong to a dear friend.

Harry Potter &
the Forgotten Winters

Responses

uncutetomboy: Hey hang in there our dearest Remus has a love intrest. Unfortunantly not Sarah. I'm really glad you like it. I've been typing this up for ages and I lost several important chapters when my floppy disk died so hang in there I'll have three or four chapters to put up before I slow down to a snails pace. Thanks again Sarah3922

Sarah sighed she had been getting short messages from Harry nothing like what she thought he would be like. She slid the mirror back into its place on the bedside table. It was nearly two and the 20th of July. Dumbledore had promised her she could go with the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry to get school supplies. Everyone had put it off to the last minute much to Hermione's displeasure. Molly had received an owl nearly every morning for the past two weeks. Harry hadn't sent any owls. Of course that was for the best Moody would have a hippogriff if he had. She heard someone coming up the stairs. She had decided it wouldn't matter who it was they all told her the same thing. "Your getting thin" or "Look how pale you are why don't you outside for a while" None of them understood anything. There was a knock on the door and she went and opened it.
"Sarah, I was told that you have the servants." It was Severus Snape. She smiled at the now welcome face. His greasy black hair hanging down in his face he'd obviously come here in a hurry.
"Come in here. Severus you know we can't just talk about stuff like that. Anyone could be listing." she said pulling him in her room. He laughed, she was one of the few people he would laugh in front of.
"You're starting to sound like Moody."
"Yeah, well I'd rather sound like him than you."
"So you do have them?"
"Oh I've got them. Been feeding them right too."
"Your feeding Rat? Do you know how much damage that thing did to your sister?"
"That thing was my friend along time ago. No matter what he does or doesn't do I'll always remember that." she said excavating the two cages from her closet.
"You got them both? What did you do to Lucius to get both of them?" he asked a little shocked. When she showed the rat to him his lips curled up into a snarl.
"I made a deal with him. Don't make that face either. Severus, have you heard from Eve in a while?" she asked worry in her voice.
"No, Sarah. Eve isn't allowed to contact us you know that. What kind of deal did you make?"
"It don't matter. I've got you what you want." she said gently petting the rat who was hiding in her hands.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why, do you do this stuff? There were hundreds of things you could have done. But you volunteered to play cat and mouse."
"Because though I'd like nothing more than to see all of their souls sucked out. I also don't want theses little creatures to get caught in the wrong hands. You know there are several people who can talk to snakes, and this rat isn't an ordinary rat." She said easing the rat back and pulling out the snake.
"That's not what I mean. We all would like to see them in some serious pain. What I meant is why do you make deals, you knew as well as I did that if Potter went to the ministry that night that Sirius would and he would end up dead." a single tear slid down her cheek but she gave him a small smile.
"I do this because other wise I wouldn't be able to get the servants, or the inside information, or what ever it is that you or the rest the order decide we need to put our next plan in swing."
"You're a lot like your sister you know that?"
"Yes, I know that. I'm a thorned rose just like Eve."
"Why do you think Dumbledore wants these?"
"Well, the snake is Voldy's eyes and ears, same with the rat. But the rat also has the steal hand and...he knows us."
Severus shook his head still not understanding her reasons. He sat and watched the snake curl itself around Sarah's arm as she fed it a few live rabbits she made out of old shoes, or clothes. She had always been able to do anything charm, hex, or curse she read about. He flicked the rat on the nose when it tried to climb into his lap.
"You're awful gullible."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Oh Merlin."
"What?" he asked shocked. Secretly praying nothing was wrong with the sister of his long time love.
"Severus Snape was just childishly arguing." she exclaimed.
"Shut up. It's a deadly thing Sarah. I don't want to see you hurt."
"I'm sure. Who was it that hexed me into a sleep for nearly a week?"
"We were 14 and you tried to remove my head with your text book."
"You were trying to kiss my sister, knowing full well she was with Remus at the time."
"Don't you dare make me sound as if I ever competed with that werewolf." he said threateningly.
"Or what? Severus, we long ago set aside our differences and joined wands against the same power that once rotted at your very soul. I forgave you for ruining my sister."
"I didn't ruin Eve. She was a thorned rose before I laid eyes on her."
"She's not only in hiding for...for her abilities, but because she left the inner circle of Voldomort's most powerful witches and wizards. You took her to that grave yard. Severus...?" Sarah looked up at her greatest childhood enemy. He had his face in his hands. He hated to be undermined but when you spoke to him in the tone she was using it angered him more than anything. Eve had put a spell on him protecting her sister from harm. Severus and Sarah had always fought, both ending up in their beds for weeks on end.
"I'm fine. The scar has been calling me all week, your sister's spell. It's just a lot right now." he admitted.
"I'm sorry. Has Albus warned you against going in again? Once that made all the difference."
Another knock at the door sent both of the rooms occupants into panic. Sarah quickly put both of the animals in their cages, in her closet and Severus appearated.
"Yes?" she called easily. Though her heart was beating hard in her chest.
"Sarah dear, they just got here with..."
"HARRY!" Sarah cut Molly off jumping up and ripping open the door, wincing from the burn on her hand. "He's here?" she asked. A look on her face of a kid in a candy store.
"Yes, he's down with Remus."
"May I go see him?"
"In a few moments. Sarah, I'd like to talk with you."
"What is it Molly?"
"Harry's lost a lot in his life. He's still very young. I don't want you to get his hopes up on some muggle fairy tale ending for this. You know better than to think that this will have a happy ever after. It didn't begin with a once upon a time."
"Molly, I'm not getting anyone's hopes up. Please understand, Albus has kept me from him for the past nearly 15 years. I've not got to get to know him. James and Lilly believed if something were to happen to them Sirius and I would take on raising their son. I'm sorry but I want to be there for Harry the way Lil never could be." Sarah explained. Molly shook her head taking Sarah's face in her hands.
"Sarah, he's been hurt. I don't want to see you do anything to make it worse."
"Molly, I swear on my own mother's grave that I'll keep nothing from Harry. But neither will I just give this information out. If he asks I'll tell."
"Please, save him some of the great details till he's older."
"He's not a child. He might only be 16 years old but he has been through just as much as the majority of the order members have been. Even you, Molly, know he's seen more, experienced more, and knows more than most children. He never got to be like Fred and George just mixing things up until something interesting happens. He's had nothing but life and death situations from before he was even a year old." Sarah argued her point. Molly sighed and released Sarah.
"Go ahead and see him. OH and the girl is Hermione. I know we've all talked about her but you've only seen Ron's pictures." Sarah nodded taking off down three flights of stairs before reaching the meeting/dinning room. She pushed open the door and stepped in.
"Well look what we have here. Is that what we have to do to get you out of that room?" Bill teased. Sarah stuck her tongue out at him. "Rather childish thing aren't you?"
"Amen." Remus grinned. Sarah winked at him before "How are you dear?"
"I thought you said you weren't going to be motherly at all to me." Harry teased as Sarah gave him a bear hug.
"I know but once I saw you and got back here I realized I couldn't just not play the role I was assigned." she grinned releasing him.
"Glad to see you came out of your dark little room Ms. Black." Ron said with an odd sympathetic smile.
"Ms. Black? For that wouldn't you have to of married one of the Black brothers?" Hermione asked ever curious.
"Yes. She would have." Charlie answered for her.
"She never made it official. But she was as good as. Plus the last name gave her some credibility with the Death Eaters." Remus added.
"I'm Sarah Winters-Black. Sirius and I were never able to get things on official documents. I'm also Harry's god mother." Sarah said giving the previous comments some support.
"Sirius never mentioned you." Hermione said seemingly not sure.
"I would hope not. Doing so could of killed me. I spent several years in hiding. I played the role of a muggle nanny."
"You lived in a muggle house hold?" Hermione asked shocked.
"Yes, my dear girl. But if you wouldn't mind we can sit down and I'll give you the answers to all your questions about me and the maunders later."
"No you won't. Sarah Elizabeth Winters if you so much as give that girl one bit of information that could put any of us in danger I'll personally see to it that you meet the others in death." Remus threatened.
"But Daddy I was only going to tell her a little bit. I would never dare tell her about the time you and Peter got into it and you ended up with your knees glued together and your head bald." Everyone in the room broke out laughing picturing Remus as a child bald with his knees glued together.
"You promised." Sarah put her hand over her wand, over her heart.
"Swear over my heart and wand that: If a rule can be broken I'll break it. If a promise can be forgotten I'll forget it. If a person can be saved I'll save them. If a friend can be embarrassed in front of all of Hogwarts I shall embarrass them. I am Longears the maunder." she said with great pride.
"Yeah, well this isn't Hogwarts and you and Sirius made that up when you were 12. On one of your many nights you camped in the boys dorm." Remus shot back still blood red.
"Sarah, we should get these kids to Diagon and back. They've got a lot of packing and such to do tonight." Arthur said stepping forward.
"Yes, I know. Has anyone seen Kreacher first though?"
"No, why?" Bill asked. Sarah rolled her eyes.
"I've got to find him before I leave."
"You should give him what he wants and put his head on that wall." Harry spat.
"He's done very little to help the order's cause but to my family he has always served us well. I must make him swear to me before I leave that he won't go and take the servants back to Malfoy." she then stormed out of the room. Not at all quiet making Mrs. Black begin to scream.
"OH SHUT UP YOU OLD HAG. I'VE LOST YOUR ELF AND NEED TO FIND HIM." Sarah yelled at the old portrait, which strangely shut up.
"I don't think anyone has ever talked to her like that." Molly said entering the room holding her purse.
"Yes, but the daughter in-law and mother in-law never get along. Sarah just takes things to another level." Remus said recomposing himself.
"Has she always been that way?" Ron asked.
"No, when I first met her she was very quiet and drawn back. That changed oh about 24 hours later."
"How so?" Harry asked eager to find out about his god mother.
"She ki...she was just a little more talkative."
"He means there were suddenly things she was better at than him and Potter at so she flaunted them as best she could." an all to familiar voice said. Harry turned around to see Snape standing in front of Dumbledore.
"Hello Harry. Ron. Hermione." Dumbledore said with a nod to each of them. "We have some err business with Sarah do know when she'll be done?"
"No sir. However if you would mind telling her we'll be in the Leaky Cauldron when your through." Remus said as he and the other adults going began gathering the teens around the fire. Dumbledore agreed and followed Snape out of the room.

Harry crawled out from under Ron in the fire place of the Leaky Cauldron. Standing up and looking around the tavern he couldn't stop the small smile that spread across his lips.
"What's that look for?" Ron asked helping Hermione to her feet.
"What look?" he asked trying to sound innocent.
"Oh leave him alone. It's nice to be back here isn't it?" Hermione asked hesitantly removing her hand from Ron's. Harry noted the looks the two had exchanged. He silenced the little voice itching to ask what was going on and stepped out of the way waiting on the rest of the group.
"You know I bet the queen has less body guards than this." Ron joked.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, that's all of them here let us hurry up with this." Tonks remarked taking head count.
"Don't sound happy to be here, Tonks." Remus said nudging her. "Molly you have their list?"
"Yes Remus, I've got the bloody list. I'll go get their money you start with the books. Here's the precious lists." Molly said thrusting the supply list at Remus.
"Calm down Molly. It's to crowded today for anyone to attack." Arthur reassured her.
"Uh didn't you tell Sarah to meet us here?" Hermione asked.
"Don't you get it? They have her now. She is beyond help." Bill said with a smirk.
"Sarah, won't be joining us until nearly lunch time. Severus and Albus will keep her rather busy." Charlie corrected his brother. Bill shrugged playing with his earring.
"It's all the same. But you have to admit that woman is mental. Did you hear her last night she's talking to that thing like it has some really human in it?" Bill his brother.
"What thing?" Ginny asked.
"Don't worry about it. Remus, you and the others take the children to the book shop I'll go get the money and meet you there." Molly said dusting the ash off Ginny's skirt.
"Mum, I can do it on my own."
"Don't you mouth me or I'll send the whole lot of you home." Molly said agitated.
"Mum, ever things okay. If you would rather them be at home I'm sure Severus, Albus, and Sarah can take care of them." Bill said steering his mother away.
"Do you think we shouldn't of come?" Ginny asked.
"I think Mum's going to have a break down."
"Come on children, lets get moving before Molly..." Tonks shook her head and led the teens out of the tavern into the street.
Molly retrieved the needed money and met them in the long line at the book shop. From there they got the needed new robes, potion ingredients, and new quills. By lunch they had everything. Harry was amazed that with more people things could go so much faster. Of course with out Fred and George there were fewer "accidents". The group made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron where Sarah had just come through the fire place.
"Sorry, I took so long. Severus made me explain ever little detail." Sarah said waving the bartender over.
"Winters." Tonks said warningly. Sarah rolled her eyes.
"You know its not like I just stood up here on the table a declared I was a death eater and was going to kill everyone." Sarah shot back. The bartender then came over with several butter beers, and a strange looking smoking concoction that he sat in front of Sarah.
"You are seriously still drinking that are you?" Bill asked watching her blow the smoke down the table. The smoke took on the shape of a horse, rabbit, dog, stag, rat, and something else that was hard to tell what was.
"Of course she is. She's never let a bad habit die." Remus answered for her.
"What's with the animals?" Harry asked eager to know more.
"The smoke from this drink when blown upon changes into the one thing that you want the most. Not like the mirror of erriset this doesn't care what the heart wants."
"So what is it you want?" Hermione asked as the smoke faded into nothing.
"My childhood. At least that's what the drink says. But who doesn't want to be 12 years old with nothing to worry about but the kid behind you about to grab you and make you do their school work?" she questioned.

Sarah laid on her bed staring at the ceiling. She could hear Molly ranting down stairs. She'd done it again. Sarah knew she was in trouble it was like a puppy who peed on the carpet. She knew she was going to get hit on the nose with a new paper the problem was she didn't know when. There was Remus' voice ringing out over Molly's. Once again he was defending her. Finally, she couldn't take it any longer. Sarah stood up and went down stairs once she reached the room the yelling was coming from she pushed to door open slightly and silenced both Molly and Remus. Before they realized what happened she took off to the kids rooms. They were defiantly more interesting than all of the adults here put together. First knocking on the girls door finding the room empty; she went to Ron and Harry's room. She stayed outside the door for a few minutes listening to them.
"Are you sure Dad said a worm was coming?" came Ron's voice. He sounded in a mixture of agitated and disbelief.
"No, Nightcrawler. Not a worm Ronald. He said there were others too, but I didn't catch all of the names. He was talking to someone in the fire last night."
"Nightcrawler? I wonder if that's like a nick name. You know like Moony, or Dung, or Padfoot." this time it was Hermione ever the sensible one.
"We could ask some one. Someone here has got to know who's coming." Sarah knocked on the door now having confirmed all four teens were inside.
"Who's there?" Ron called.
"The grim reaper. I'm supposed to collect all four of you." Sarah said. There were whispers inside then someone stood up and pulled back the door.
"Morning Sarah."
"Morning guys." she stood in the door way awkwardly for a few moments while everyone was silent.
"Do you know why Remus and Mum have got quiet all of a sudden?" Ginny asked.
"Oh...I couldn't take it any more I put a silencing charm on them." Sarah said offhandedly.
"Uh do you know anyone who calls them self Nightcrawler?" Harry asked carefully.
"Yes, a very good friend of mine. Why do you ask?"
"Ginny was eaves dropping on Dad last night and heard him talking to someone who said they and some other people and someone named Nightcrawler were coming." Sarah smiled.
"Wonderful. I hope you guys get to meet them. They were some of my friends growing up."
"So they went to Hogwarts too?" Ginny asked. The two girls sitting indian style on one bed. Ron and Harry didn't look as sure of who these others were.

"Uh...A few of them did. The others went to a completely different school. It still helped them with their abilities but not the same kind of abilities as you would think."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Hermione...what do you know about the mutants?"
"That's easy. They are a race of human like creatures, some look like normal people others are a strange color or have something that sets them apart. Both muggles and witches and wizards have raged war on this species. There is said to be a group of witches and wizards who have joined up with the mutants and there's even a few muggles in this group."
"For the biggest part yes. You know that group? Do you remember anything about the leader of this group or how it got started?"
"Uh there was a witch who befriended a circus side show, then she found out she too had powers. After that her friends stuck with her and as she developed her new abilities she started to befriend some mutants. I think."
"That girl was Eve Winters, my twin sister. The Circus side show was Kurt Wagner or as you've heard Nightcrawler." Sarah said leaning up against the dresser. The teens watched her carefully for a moment not sure of what she had just said.
"Sooo they are coming here?" Ron asked sounding just as thick as Crabbe and Goyle.
"Sounds that way. But they don't know about Sirius? No ones been allowed to communicate with them in several months."
"Allowed? Who's stopping you?" Harry asked.
"Oh Dumbledore and Xavier...They are both headmasters at the two schools."
"So they do exist? I mean the group?" Ginny asked. "I always thought Fred and George were joking."
"No we're real. Not many of us are still alive. But Voldy isn't the only killer in that one. They have their own enemies."
"SARAH!" Sarah pushed the door shut and locked it as best she could.
"Who is that?" Hermione asked.
"You never heard Re yell? Oh he knows who silenced them. That and he's going to tell me he has a huge surprise that they'll be here this afternoon."
They sat very quiet listening to Remus check every room. Theirs was the last one on this hall. Sure enough when Remus found it locked he barged his way in the room.
"Sarah, I'll let what you did this time slid. You'll never guess who's coming."
"The gang." she said coolly. The excited look on Remus' face melted away.
"No fair. Who told you?" he pouted. Sarah suppressed a laugh taking his face in her hands.
"I have told you a hundred times love. I know your thoughts before you think them."
"If so what am I thinking right now?" he challenged.
"If she were Eve I'd kiss her right now." She teased.
"Fine be that way. Has she told you about these people? Stuff like don't stare. Mind your manners. Most importantly don't get them mad. You're just second generation they'll not think twice."
"Yeah and while you're at it check under your bed every night for monsters." she laughed letting go of Remus' face and taking off at a run down the stairs as the door bell rang. The haunting tune rang out. No matter how Molly dressed it up that would always sound like a funeral song. She looked out the window before opening the door to let the visitors in.
"Dolly!" a large man said hugging her and lifting her off the ground he kissed her full on the lips before sitting her down. After him walked in several other people. She hugged them all exchanging strange pleasantries with them. The first one however stayed right by her side asking questions just to keep her at a blush. Once everyone was in and she shut the door she turned to take a head count. "You know your beautiful when you blush?" the man asked.
"Thank you Logan. Come on guys I want to hear everything. Hey Scott where is Josh?"
"Josh got held up he'll be in tomorrow."
"M.O.M. or something else?" she questioned squeezing to the front of the group.
"Knowing him? It could be anything. I mean you knew him growing up he just goes looking for trouble." Scott answered.
"I think we should tie him up and make him pray for our forgiveness." came a woman's voice.
"Praying isn't something you make someone do they must chose to do so." this time it came from a blue devil looking man.
"Kurt your a sweet heart but you got to understand that boy needs someone to beat the crap out of him. He about got me killed last time I saw him." yet another woman.
"I say we forget the whole idea of saving the world from destruction and spread out in out own little worlds." Logan said from beside Sarah. Sarah led them to the dinning room.
"Kitchen is that way help yourselves but remember how many mouths we have to feed. I'm going to get Re and someone else."