Author's note: Please be aware that I own ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, everything, except my character ocs' I place here, belongs to the wonderful Lady J.K. Rowling. This is a Sirius Black/OC Fan-fiction.

Welcome back readers! I hope you enjoy this one as much as you have the first Story that began this journey! :)

9/30/2019

ENJOY Chapter 4!

Chapter 4

July 25, 1991

"What do you mean Hagrid is having difficulty getting the letters to him?" Emma was confused, how difficult could it be to get a letter to a kid. That was until a thought hit her, 'Vernon. You repulsive git. Probably burned the damned things.' Emma took a calming breath, knowing she needed to remain as calm as possible while currently sitting in the living area of the Snape family home. She was glad they lived far in the countryside. It was a nice home, two stories at the edge line of the woods for Mellena to go for her runs if she wished it. Emma had been spending time with her dear friends' twins, Horus and Athella, and their parents. She knew it would do no good to explode here, let alone over something like this, but the years of being refused her nephew was really pulling its' toll on her. Emma still couldn't help but smile at Mellena's and Severus's son's name.

Severus had told Mellena she could name the children since he had no idea what to offer as a suggestion, he had no outstanding role models, until he'd remembered Horus Slughorn, his potions master before he took over the position.

Mellena had gladly given their son that honor, she had even written her previous Potions master and asked him for his permission, one he gladly gave and was most honored to have been thought of, wishing the family his best.

They'd been born July 28th, 1984, the irony of the month they'd been born, Neville being born July 30th, 1980 and Harry being born July 31, 1980. Just four years younger than the boys.

"He isn't quite sure yet, but he is working on it. I've given him permission to use some minimal magic to make sure he got the letter, well, letters to be exact, to Harry." Dumbledore said lightly, Emma could have sworn he'd blushed under that white beard of his and nearly giggled.

"Grandpa, mummy asked me to bring you your tea." Athella smiled up to him as she set the tea and saucer on the small table next to the armchair.

Emma watched the interaction between the seven-year-old little girl and her grandfather. Even though he was technically the 'great-grandfather', they hadn't cared and left it as it was.

Albus didn't seem to mind, he and Aberforth got to spoil the kids twice as more either way, "Thank you, my dear," Dumbledore smiled to the little girl.

Athella had been born with her father's dark hair color, long and soft, it was like a feather when you ran your fingers through her hair. But there was a uniqueness about it, at the very front right of her temple, Athella had a single sliver of blonde from her mother. Her eyes were bright blue and popped just like Mellena's. Whereas her brother, Horus, had dirty blond hair in waves from their mother and dark eyes just like Severus. They were an interesting set of twins.

Gabby had kept the name 'Mellena' and returned to her original features. She'd missed her dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. In truth, she loved it all the more when she'd gotten the chance to see her real face for the first time just a few years after the Potter's Massacre.

Athella smiled, happy she had made her grandfather smile then turned to her dearest Aunt, "Aunnie Rose," The sweet little girl hadn't been able to pronounce, 'aunt or auntie' once she started speaking and as she grew Athella had simply stuck with 'aunnie' no matter how many times they had all tried correcting her, it never worked, "Would you like some tea?" She asked, her blue eyes sparkling.

Emma kissed the top of her head, "Yes sweet girl, tea would be lovely, thank your mother when you get in there for me and thank you dear Ella, you're an amazing little helper." They watched the little girl giggle and bounce off back into the kitchen to her smiling mother.

Emma grinned back to Dumbledore, who was, understandably, lightly laughing at his grandchild as she tried helping Mellena in the kitchen, though she wasn't doing half bad, anyone would find the little one adorable. But Emma's curiosity had grown after being in a coma for three years, so she had to ask, "Letters? What letters?" Emma had a bit of an idea that she was probably going to enjoy this one. And she was right, Emma was nearly dying of laughter in the chair as Albus explained to her what had happened just a few days ago. "He put them in the eggs?"

Dumbledore giggled a bit as he took a sip of his tea, he couldn't help the slight wince he gave when he found that it was quite literally more sugar than tea and coughed a bit, "Yes, then flooded the house with the letters through the chimney."

"Oh, I have to give that man a hug when he gets back." Emma laughed.

Mellena giggled taking the teacup from her 'father' gently and handed him a new one with a bit of her motherly raised brows, a silent apology to Dumbledore and handed Emma hers'. Mellena had told Athella she could add the sugar cubs, but hadn't realized the seven-year-old had put four too many, "Dinner's ready, Emma are you staying for dinner? There's plenty for everyone."

"Of course she's staying for dinner, Mellena. She has barely seen us all year. She's been so worked up about her memories. A break from that should be dinner with her family." Severus said as he walked in from his study, he was exhausted that week. He had in fact been the one helping her.

Emma had allowed him into her mind to find something she may have missed or overlooked herself. A pair of non-biased eyes, if you'd say. Though it had remained the same, the figure that was the non-Sirius Secret Keeper was nothing but a shadowed figure, their voice always distorted and barely audible, until it came to fighting Voldemort. The deep feeling of darkness that was around the body she fought against was enough for her to now it was, in fact, the Dark Lord, until she'd seen his face once the hood had fallen from his head.

"Are you sure you don't mind? I really do love you're cooking, Mel." Emma had eventually gotten over the fact Gabby may still be alive in body, but the old Gabrielle had, in fact, died the night she had tried to save her, this was the new Gabby, and her name was officially Mellena, and Emma had expected that. She was still her best friend and always would be.

Unfortunately, Emma had not gotten her lost memories back, granted a spell had been used on her to erase them, or manipulated them, but thankfully they had not fully seceded, the only thing that was missing was who the replacement Secret Keeper was, though everyone was still set that Sirius had betrayed her family. Remus was even set on it and Emma had done the same for Sirius as she had for Remus, "You're a fool Remus Lupin, he loves us, loved them. He'd have died before betraying any of us, just as you would have like I nearly did because it wasn't only the right thing to do. I was fighting for something, for someone. And I'll do it again, even if death takes me this time. I'll do it for you, Harry and Sirius. For all of them. If I have to die to keep them alive, I will… You're more than welcome to stay here, though I'll warn you, it does get quite lonely... But James would have wanted you to have a nice warm bed to sleep in, and as do I. The manor is yours to use if you chose to. It's in my name until Harry is of age to claim it, same to Grimmauld Place."

Remus sighed sadly, the same argument happened every time she tried convincing him of Sirius's innocents and he didn't understand why she was so determined to prove it. Sirius was the only one to know anything about the locations, not even he knew what was going on or where they were being moved or when. "Well, where are you going?"

"I'm spending a few days away, I have rounds with some families, you're more than welcome to come if you'd like. I'm sure they'd love to see you again after all the years you've been gone. Mell misses you, but there's only one place you can't follow me, and trust me, I'll know." She said tapping her nose a bit playfully with a grin.

Remus smiled with some laughter, a sad smile taking place as his eyes found a light scar over her collar bone, "I'll never forgive myself. The claw marks lightly scared, I can see them just a little, but that's because I know they are there. Anyone one else wouldn't be able to see them, for that I am grateful they healed so well. I just wish they would have healed without scarring." Remus sighed, moving from his spot in the kitchen archway to stand in front of her, mere inches away, his eyes trailing the claw marks over her collar bone and disappearing into the front of her royal blue dress, his fingers itched to trace the scars, but he knew if he would, he may just cause a bigger rift between them than there already was, a rift named Sirius Black.

He had continued to ask for years who had given her the dress, but she still hadn't fessed up as to who it came from. Worst of all, Remus knew she knew who it was, and it was killing him not knowing, she was all he had left. A bitter taste had come to his mouth at thinking of Gabrielle, or Mellena as she was called, "And her name is Gabrielle, she needs to realize she can't run from her past. None of us can." He'd said it like it was dirt in his mouth. Remus had regretted it the second he watched her eyes narrow, watched her turn from him and head for the door after picking up her small bag of belongings and broom as she opened the door to leave.

"Have a nice week Remus, as I said, the house is at your use as you need it. please help yourself. I'll be home in a few days."

Just like that, she was gone. That was a month ago, she had frequently gone back to check on him, and gone through his transformation with him, but he had acted a little weird. Emma simply thought it was because they had a fight like that for the first time in, well, ever.

"Are you and Remus still not on steady speaking grounds?" Mellena had asked in her usual concerned tone over the sink as they cleaned up the mess from dinner.

Severus had gone upstairs with the twins, putting the kids to bed and leaving the two ladies free to talk on more troubling matters without the children being in earshot.

"No, I don't know how to talk to him anymore Mel. I understand he's hurt, after losing James and Lily, and Peter, then having Sirius accused of it made it all the more painful. Then we lost Harry, I'm all he has now. You've got Severus and the kids, and he's too stubborn to go see anyone anymore. I'm lucky if he even comes to see me, or if I can find him. He barely lets me help him with his transformations, I was lucky to even be able to help him two months ago least of all last month. He's constantly refusing to let me help him now. It's like he wants to be alone." Emma sighed sadly at the sink. It hurt to think Remus wouldn't trust her, that he was set in believing Sirius, his dearest friend, had actually killed James and her sister, and believing Sirius would have ever had the nerve to hurt her even made Emma sick and it did worse to Remus as the years moved forward.

"Then let him be alone for a while longer, sooner or later he'll realize it was better to have others there than no one at all." Dumbledore spoke up with a sigh, "However, as much as I'd like to stay longer, I must be going. There is a school to get ready for new arriving students... Oh and Mellena, dear, I look forward to having you as the Transfiguration assistant with Minerva. Emma, I must say now as I'm thinking of this, that I find Hogwarts in need of a new teacher aid for the school for any other teacher that may find it hard to appear in class. Professor Mervilus is retiring, says he thought it was the right path for him, but however saddened that he found it was not."

Emma was speechless and excited, but she realized that she didn't have the credentials to be a teacher aid, "Albus, I'm deeply honored, but I don't-"

Raising a silencing hand to the stuttering and blushing young woman, Dumbledore grinned with light laughter, "I thought you'd say that. However, it happens that I have found your credentials in a stack of files I had misplaced on my desk just last week." He said as he began rummaging through a large pocket in his robes coat, "Ah, here you are." he said pulling a set of files from his pocket and handed them to the shocked red-haired witch.

"Albus, you can't keep falsifying records." Both Mellena and Emma stated, they were right, eventually, he'd be caught and in a lot of trouble. He was too kind and hardworking to be given such a horrible punishment if he was ever unveiled to be doing such things.

He knew what was coming and raised a hand to regain silence, the grin still plain on his happy face, "They are ligament, Emma Evans. You've been assisting us on the grounds and security around the castle with Mr. Filch and helping the students and teachers, even assisting the Professors in class and Madam Hooch on the Quidditch fields, all since 1984 when you woke up. During that time of me seeing your hard work and knowing it would only take longer for you to acquire these documents, I did the paperwork myself for you. You have been able to apply as a Hogwarts Professor for a while now. However, that is my fault, I did forget to inform you of this, my apologies. But they are now yours..." He said with a smile and headed for the door, "I shall see you ladies at the start of school in September, Goodnight, give my grandchildren a kiss for me in the morning, Mellie."

"Of course, goodnight Papa." They waited until the door clicked shut before they hugged one another jumping up and down like schoolgirls gushing over a boy that just looked at them.

"What on earth are you two women doing? it's 9 o'clock at night I just got the twins to-" however, the sounds they began hearing from upstairs left them all frozen where they stood. The floorboards on the top floor where slowly and lightly squeaking under heavy feet. Feet that shouldn't be there. Panic set in when the three of them heard a door open then close.

Severus, wanting his wife and Emma to stay put, moved his hand out for his wife to stop her, "Mel-" but the girls were already making a run for the stairs and past Severus.

Emma grabbed Mellena and held her back behind her, she didn't have her wand and Emma would die before she lost Mellena like she lost Lily, "If it's an enemy they'll kill the both of you if you're seen, Severus, you cannot be seen if it's a Death Eater."

"Those are my children, the longer we stand here talking the longer they have to kill them or take them both-"

"Daddy!"

"Mummy!"

"NO!" Mellena screamed with a fearful panic, pushing passed the two.

Emma had been lucky Severus had grabbed her around her waist as Mellena shoved past her, otherwise, she'd have been taking a lovely trip down the wooden stairs.

Severus reached out for his wife while trying to catch Emma from falling, and he'd missed her by an inch as he rushed up behind her, Emma hot on their heels.

Both parents found one door closed, leading to Horus's room, Athella's was empty of the child. What scared them more was Horus's bedroom door was locked, their children know to never lock the doors to their rooms. Severus had only one thought ringing in his mind, his kids. Grabbing Mellena from the door she tried putting her body through it grew rather annoying and moved her aside, "Sorry Mellena." Instantly the door blew open, sending the door and the rem into splinters.

Standing in the dark of the room they found a cloaked figure with both struggling kids in their arms trying to get out the window. Severus lifted his wand, moving it in an upward flick. The invader was lifted up by his ankles, dropping the kids who made a run for their mum and aunt just as a curse was sent towards their father. Severus deflected it easily.

With Severus's distraction, the intruder had released them-self from the bind and was slipping out the window, disappearing into the night, "I'm notifying the Order," Emma said spinning the Order's coin against the wooden floors.

Severus could only nod, he wanted to know who the bloody hell thought it was a bright idea to invade his home and try kidnapping his kids! He wanted their blood. "Mell, take the kids to your fathers or uncles. I want you all safe, the children will be coming to Hogwarts with us. There are housing units there we can use on the grounds, no one is getting near you three again." This was the night Severus Snape would change forever. He became cold towards his students, though he still showed his love towards his wife and children, even showed he's sisterly love towards Emma, but everyone else he was cold and distant, he began calculating his every move towards helping Dumbledore keeping Harry alive and protecting him of the remaining dangers and darkness.

September 1st, 1991

Emma was excited, she was bouncing around the Castle in her Animagus form. Dumbledore had verified that Harry was indeed attending Hogwarts this year, all thanks to Hagrid, but that wasn't the only reason she was excited, Hagrid had told her she was going with him that night to pick up the first years.

"Excited are ya, Foxy?" Hagrid couldn't help but laugh, "Come on then, le's get a move on, can't keep 'em waitin'."

The two of them sat at the station for an hour before the train arrived. Emma's heart was pounding, she'd sat next to Hagrid, constantly shifting in her seat.

Hagrid sighed, seeing her fidgeting little body and out of habit for Fang and Mal, he began petting the top of her head and scratching behind her ear. Even if she was a human being, she was also an Animagi, and her animal form loved her ears being petted. Emma wouldn't have been in her Animagi form if that hadn't been a part of the deal for this encounter. Dumbledore and Hagrid had both agreed, even Minerva, that Emma would likely freeze up and possibly panic then have an emotional breakdown when she first saw Harry in person after so many years. So, to get it out of the way, and in a better-controlled environment, Hagrid had suggested that she go with him to pick up all the first years as Fox. That way she could have her fun-loving fury moment and get it all out of her system before classes began the next morning.

Emma had been so happy he'd suggested that because in truth, they were right. She was already panicking as the days got closer. How would she react, how would he react? could she explain any of this to Harry? How could she explain why she had been refused his custody and why she didn't claim custody the moment his parents were killed? Okay, the last part she knew how he'd take that, he'd more likely see reason and understand she was in a coma for three years, but he'd take a hard blow to the explanation as to why the Ministry had refused her to gain his Guardianship when she woke up. Because she didn't truly have an answer. At least not a reasonable one to her.

They watched the kids collecting off the train. This was the first time Emma had ever seen the kids unloading from the train besides when she was a student herself. But as she watched, memories flooded her mind and began drowning her, her deep emerald eyes flooded with tears.

Her eleven-year-old self-rushed up to Severus, Lily trailing behind her as she waved the Hogwarts letter in the air, "Sev! I'm going to Hogwarts! I get to stay with you and Lily!"

"Lily, I'm scared,"

"Emma Rose Evans. You will be fine, you're a smart girl and quick on your feet. You're as clever as a fox and as tricky as one too,"

Then came the memory of the scar she still graced her lip, Bellatrix's voice was still smooth yet filled with annoyance as she remembered the wild-haired girl looking at her busted lip, "Prat that Avery is, he got you a nice one too little cub."

She remembered finding the Marauder's, Remus reading Peter Pan and the other boys laughing, even James until he'd seen her busted lip, "What happened to your lip?" Her thoughts turned to her deceased friend and sister, 'No one will ever hurt him, I promise you both that, on my life Harry James Potter will live to see the day he has a happy life.' She made a silent promise up to their family.

Emma couldn't help but giggle a little when her thoughts turned back to the boys, her first time meeting them, "Uh, sorry. Got lost."

"So, she does talk. Now, your lip. What happened?" James had asked about her lip yet again. He'd always been protective of her, even more so as she got older.

"You're the Marauders, aren't you?"

"What was your name again?" She remembered Remus smiling and asking her name. She remembered how happy she had been when she was finally able to see he's eye color, green, "Emma. Emma Rose Evans..." She remembered she had been goggling at not only him, but all of them.

She remembered how happy and scared Lily was when she walked up with James tiredly, "Emma!", remembered how Lily had begun fretting about the busted lip that Avery had so graciously given her. The scar was still there, very light but still very much there. She remembered being sorted into Gryffindor, "Evans, Emma!"

"Loyal, like a Hufflepuff, however, your heart cries different, a heart of a Lioness, quick on your feet and a joy for fun. A fighter and smarts I can see. Kindness is key, you are right. Great potential to I can see... GRYFFINDOR!"

She remembered running down the hall into her sister's open arms, "Lily!" And for a single moment, Emma swore she could still feel the tight grip Lily had around her. Her arms, the warmth, the smell of her perfume.

"Marry me, Lily Evans."

"I do, James Potter." That had been one of the happiest nights of James's life, Lily Evans had accepted his marriage proposal.

"He finally asked her, it's about time," Sirius had whispered into her hair that night while they watched the two. Emma had been overjoyed when Lily had said yes, her sister was finally happy.

Then the years molded together all the way up to that fateful night, "FOX!"

"LILY!"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" A green flash of light across her own green emerald eyes from the memory, the last moment she had seen her family, was the moment Emma had been staring at the face of the Wizard who'd taken everything from her.

Emma hadn't realized she had in fact begun crying. Her small whimpers from her fox self were staring at the swarm of children and hadn't seen the dark-haired boy with green eyes and round glasses smiling at them as Hagrid moved to meet up with him. All she saw was James in body and Lily all in his eyes. "Fox, meet Harry... Fox? Foxy?"

Harry had followed Hagrid to the bench he'd been sharing with Emma.

Hagrid had been right.

Emma was being haunted by her memories. Painful memories Hagrid wished he could take from her. She and many others had suffered because of Voldemort. She was frozen in her spot, ghosts filling her eyes as tears rolled down her furry face.

Hagrid was ever so glad he came up with this idea, otherwise Emma would have probably been removed from Hogwarts before she had the chance to do a single thing.

Curious as he watched the Fox before them, Harry wondered why this creature was crying. He'd never seen an animal cry before. "Hagrid, what's wrong? Wait, is… is she crying?"

Hagrid had no idea what kind of excuse to use, so he used the first things that came to his mind, the truth, "You remind her of someone, well, a few someone's dear to her. She lost her entire family, blood family of course. But even though she has very close friends that claim her as their family-"

"She was close to her family before she lost them and there's nothing that can replace that." Harry interrupted. He understood some part of that, only he wished he knew he'd had the chance to meet his parents.

Harry had hit the nail on the head clean and clear as the boy watched her, saw the deep emerald eyes, and for a moment he thought they looked human. He felt he'd seen those eyes before, the fox seemed to also look familiar. A toy he used to have maybe before being sent to his Aunt Petunia? No, this fox had moved and played with him, an old pet he and his parents may have had? He wasn't sure, but watching the tears rolling down her furry face and just staring blankly at him made his heart clench. Harry already hated that look on the fox. Not realizing he'd done it until he felt her soft fur against his palm, Harry held the small fox's face in one hand and wiped away a few of the currently fallen tears and smiled when he watched her blink back to reality, watched as he saw her body take in a deep breath, her long ears perked up and her long tail began wagging at him.

Yip!

He couldn't help the laugh that left him at her yip, "She's cute," Hagrid coughed, trying to hold back his laugh when he watched Emma's tail stop wagging as one of her eyebrows began to slightly twitch while she gave a bit of a look that practically screamed, "you're kidding me."

Harry, unsure of what had just happened, moved his hand from her and looked at Hagrid worried, "What did I do?" But Hagrid only helped him realize that he hadn't done anything wrong, just made a funny situation, because Hagrid had indeed failed at holding in his laughter when he began laughing, hard.