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! :)
UPDATED:9/30/2019
Chapter 38
The month leading up to Slughorn's Christmas Party for his Slug-Club, Ron had not only won two games but had ended up dating a strawberry blonde, sporting lovely brown eyes, a fifth year.
This happened after they'd won the first game. Everyone had gone to the after party, celebrating Ron's success, which had led to the girl gathering up her courage and kissed him in the middle of everyone's cheer. The display of affection had everyone screaming and whistling.
Lavender's mouth had dropped with shock, Hermione had confided in her just a few months ago that she had hidden feelings for her ginger-haired, male friend and in the middle of her shock Lavender had not seen Hermione sneak off, Draco following a bit behind her.
Draco and Hermione spent a few minutes together, Draco trying his best to comfort Hermione as she wept. Unfortunately, their comforting silence had not lasted very long, when the bubbly girl had skipped and giggled with excitement down the hall, arms latched onto a grinning and a rather happy Ron, obviously bit nervous and not a clue as to what he was going to do. Not that he couldn't improvise, however, his heart had sunk at seeing Hermione crying and Draco's arm draped around her, obviously comforting her from something that was bothering her deeply. This had Ron concerned because the last time he'd seen right after him and the fifth-year girl.
It had taken him two days after that to realize she was upset with him, and again it wasn't difficult to figure it out after Lavender Brown had grown red in the face, angry with him, then suddenly slapping him in the middle of supper after Ron had flat out said he had "No idea why she's so upset and I'm not interested in figuring out considering she chased me off." Though, a few understood why he didn't have a desire to ask why since Hermione had chased him off. However, they did think him a bit out of it to not find out because she had seen fit to do so in the first place. This was something both Harry and Draco agreed about not getting in the middle.
Christmas Party '96
Slughorn's party was interesting, Harry had taken Luna as a friend since Alicia had gone home. Harry had very much enjoyed the party. Draco and Ginny had attended together, as simply friends. Hermione, however, had gone with Cormac McLaggen to "Annoy Ron the most,". But Harry's interest came when Snape had informed him that Dumbledore was not going to be present for the Holiday's, "You see… He's traveling. And won't return until school resumes."
Snape had felt awkward being a verbal messenger. He'd become cold that year, colder than usual, he'd noticed his cold demeanor and harsh tactics, even regarding his own children in his classes and around the school, was causing concerns and emotional harm. Snape hated himself. His daughter was taking the sudden changed hard, worse than her brother, though Horus too was taking to the changes rather hard but he was hiding his discomfort in the private confines of the Slytherin Common room with Morgan, where his precious Ella was moping about, her bubbly nature and fun-loving tactics for mischief had long vanished, this worried everyone.
The night had just gotten more interesting as Filch roughly drug a rather pissed off Finn into the room.
"I'll escort him out, Mr. Filch, thank you." Snape coldly stated, then proceeded to walk the dark-haired Malfoy boy out with many onlookers that no one had noticed Harry and Draco slipping off to listen to Finn's and Snape's heated conversation.
"I don't need your help! I cursed the Bell girl, yes, I poisoned the wine, yes. Those were pathetic attempts. I'm apparently not doing my best work!" Finn snapped. As much as Finn wanted to prove himself to Voldemort and Bellatrix, the boy was scared.
"Finn, you are drawing attention. You'll be caught, expelled and sent to Azkaban in the next few months if you continue on this path. Let me assist you!" Snape was trying to get the boy to trust him, but he was finding the boy to be very difficult, stubborn and showing that he wasn't scared, which worried Snape the most. Finn was good at hiding his fear with anger and arrogance. "No! It's my time, my task. He asked me to do this himself. I was chosen, not you! I don't need, nor want, your help." The boy's voice was full of anger.
"I have to help you! I have to keep a close and safe eye on you boy! I made the unbreakable vow Finn Malfoy! If you die, I die. Bellatrix made certain of that!"
Feeling his fear and anger mixing and over boiling, Finn snapped. The words that escaped, Finn had wholeheartedly regretted as he watched the hurt and sadness spark in his Professor's dark eyes, "Then she did us a favor, just like that wife of yours you were hiding under our noses! What else are you hiding Severus Snape!" Finn retorted back, a sadistic grin wide on his face, a grin that was driving the poor Professor mad.
He was good, better than Snape thought. The question was Snape had to ask was, could Finn do the deed Voldemort had entrusted him with? Snape didn't like the quick answer that had come to him, because Severus had a feeling that if he didn't stop him, to do it himself, they were all in big trouble. Severus knew the boy was arrogant, but only because Bellatrix and Voldemort had been talking him up, encouraging him that he'd be safe from anything. Finn wouldn't find out their true nature until later, smooth manipulation was their skill.
Christmas was around the corner and many had noticed Athella had obviously been acting strange, she was always crying off somewhere on her own, Horus wasn't able to speak with the poor girl as to what was wrong, and Fred couldn't get through to her.
She'd wipe her tears free and silently go back to the day. However, Harry had an idea as to why and had even talked to the others about the possibilities, and it all came down to one subject. Gabrielle, or Mellena, whichever name other's preferred calling her. Of course, the twins would be upset, they had every right to be, but what was adding to the emotional turmoil? Something was eating away at her, and if was the fact that Harry had no idea Emma was still alive. She'd been taken aside by Hermione and a few others to be informed that Harry had her grandfather wipe his memory of Emma to keep her safe for the time being, something she didn't understand.
Flashback-
"Aunt Emmie allowed this?" Athella question, but the answer she got was something she definitely didn't like.
Hermione shook her head sadly, "Emma doesn't know he did this yet. But for the time, Ella, we can't say anything around him that would give off hints of her still being alive. It was Harry's choice, we can't do anything about it now. He signed some kind of form to Dumbledore stating permission was granted by himself. Everything is in his handwriting."
"Apparently he wrote himself a letter he handed over to Dumbledore to give to him when it was time to re-inform him our dear Aunt and mother figure is still walking around with the living." Draco grumbled. He hated watching his friend, practically his brother, having his memory scrubbed of Emma, and he had a feeling Emma was going to have someone's balls for this. He was just glad it wasn't going to be his.
End of flash
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only reason Athella had also been asking questions lately, questions no one wanted to tell her, but she deserved to know either way, and Harry had every intention of speaking to the young second year in private, sooner rather than later. Because later may be too late. Yet Harry's dilemma came at a shock, his uncle, the man who'd adopted him alongside his Aunt had brought a friend, or rather a 'date', to Christmas at the Weasley's that year.
Her dark brown hair and bright blue eyes stunned him, her smile even more so. But it was Sirius's hand resting at her lower back that angered him. He hadn't intended to voice his discomfort, yet the words left him faster than he could stop them, and once the words had slipped out, he couldn't take them back. "Who's she?" he was also uncomfortable with the fact they had walked in together, each one holding one of the twins, Lilian and Orion.
'If he needed help with getting the twins here why didn't he just ask one of us to help him! They just lost their mother! He just lost his wife! How can he be smiling like that with his arm around a different woman like that!' to Harry the woman was a stranger, a woman he felt his uncle and everyone was attempting to replace his deceased aunt and mother with.
Sadly, to everyone else, this woman was Emma Rose Black, Sirius Black's wife.
Everyone's smiles and laughter had gone silent at his sudden question, they had forgotten Emma was still dead in his mind, which was the hints to her disguise so to not spook the boy, a disguise she really hadn't wanted to use but her desire to spend her Christmas with her family was overwhelming and they hadn't thought of actually introducing her disguise to Harry. A mistake they quickly regretted.
No one liked lying to Harry, no one enjoyed keeping her existence from him at all, but with his mind still connected to the Dark Lord that they couldn't risk it, even Harry had agreed to have his memory of her living removed. So, for now, Emma had to be believed to be deceased.
Realizing Harry was upset, Sirius tried to think fast to explain his actions with the disguised Emma, the situation broke his heart and he couldn't possibly imagine how hurt Emma was with this now that the situation had risen, especially since she cleared the problem.
"I'm a close friend of your Aunts and Uncles. However, I think my sudden presence so close to your Aunt's unfortunate deaths was inappropriate. It was still nice to see you, Harry… I'll see you all at the next meeting." The disguised Emma announced to everyone's shock. Even Harry, who'd shrugged to Draco when the boy received a stern glare and was even most confused as she walked out.
"I didn't ask her to leave, I just asked who she-"
"We know Harry dear, it's alright- Tonks?" Molly started, her confusion set in as Tonks walked out after the retreating disguised Emma in worry and quickly informed Sirius, she would handle this one as she rushed out after the woman. "Did I say something wrong, Sirius?" Harry felt terrible his words or tone had sent her packing and had felt as if he'd been slammed in the gut by a cement block. Harry had absolutely no idea what just happened, no one really did.
Sirius had to take a breath to calm himself, he hated lying, but he knew he could if he had to, but he hated he was just too good as of late, especially when it was towards Harry.
"We're all sensitive Harry. Amara was close with your aunts." He lied, hoping his nephew would take it. Unfortunately, they all saw the skepticism in Harry's eyes, something that was definitely remembering his mother, Lily. She didn't much take to lies well either, the more likely she caught them before half of them left someone, something Harry hadn't fully developed into yet, but he seemed to be doing a good job at calling people on things lately.
"Why haven't Draco and I met her before then? We are, after all, not only both of your nephew's but also your sons." Harry stated curiously.
Sirius had seen his point, but had a simpler answer, "Amara doesn't do well with new people, she was Molly's friend before she met Emma and Gabby. She always was always a bit... Nervous, as to meeting everyone."
Huffing with disappointment in himself. Harry could just hear both his mother scolding him in the afterlife. "Well, then that makes me feel loads better about running her off," Harry remarked with deep seeded sarcasm, clearly not alright with being the reason the woman had left, let alone with how she'd left. He was filled with hope as Tonks walked with a small smile, and nodded at Molly, Sirius, and Remus.
"She's outside, just needs a few moments." Tonks said with a gentle smile to Harry and nodded, "She understands Harry, try not to worry about it." She said with a gentle squeeze to his arm, an attempt to calm the boy. She heard what had happened, knew what was going on, they all did, Harry was the only one in the dark about things, but that had been his choice. However, she kind of understood why they hadn't done some form of an introduction beforehand; the disguise had been done last minute. He knew the kind of pain he'd be in believing she was still dead, the shock of how Gabby had died in front of them all had been a sudden shock.
Harry had a deep feeling that he knew something was being kept from him, but he didn't ask. Harry had found a little note from himself under his pillow that he had no memory as to writing; "Don't question why, when or who, blank spots in our memory is a part of safety and security precautions that needed to be taken." He honestly didn't think he had written something like that, but it was his handwriting, he even had signatures from Draco, Hermione, and Ron as witnesses to him writing it. When he'd showed them and asked, they had told him they couldn't explain why but he'd written it to himself, an attempt to give his mind some kind of ease from the blank spots in his memory starting between the time of Gabby's and Emma's funerals to when he woke up in Dumbledore's office, confused as to why he was there and why everyone had such fallen faces filled with worry and concern.
They had given 'Amara' time outside to herself for a short time, Molly and Tonks smiling and tightly hugging the woman when she'd walked back inside. She hadn't realized this would have happened. Now she wished she could turn back time and decide it was better not to go. She had made this worse without realizing it could have turned out in such a way. Then again, it could have also been worse. Right?
Harry had tried to stay quiet, had gone as far as distracting himself with the twins that he hadn't realized he'd spent the last hour with Orion and Lilian until a shock had come from behind.
"Merry Christmas Harry Potter." The voice had stunned him, hear that made him smile with excitement and a site he enjoyed when he turned to find a smiling redhead and sapphire blue-eyed fifth year Ravenclaw standing behind him with a red ribbon choker necklace and dressed warmly and casual for their Christmas Dinner.
"I take it you're my Christmas present then?" Harry joked.
Harry's playfulness had sent Alicia blushing as she giggled along with his laughter, "I hope that line doesn't always work, and no, I'm afraid I'll have to ruin your fun. I'm the surprise, but I'm not your present." Alicia giggled out.
Draco had walked around the corner talking with Ginny as she spoke about Fleur and her brother Bill when they had walked in on Harry and Alicia. Draco grinned wide when they watched Harry pull the young redhead into his arms and slowly danced around with her before kissing her.
Ginny watched with a wide smile, wanting to whisper to Draco she had found a hand quickly silencing her and pulled her back out of the living room with him quietly shushing her, both trying not to laugh.
Emma and Sirius had been off talking when they had witnessed Draco and Ginny acting weird. Curious, the couple moved to find out, only to spook the poor teens, "What are you two doing?" Sirius questioned gently, though his eyes had caught sight off in the corner of his eyes and had looked closer with a double take and grinned at what, rather who, he found.
Not wanting to spook the kissing teens in the living room Sirius poked Emma in the arm and pointed towards Harry and Alicia. As memories flooded his mind of him and Emma catching Lily and James snogging in a corner of the three broomsticks one year, the very same day Sirius had kissed Emma himself. "Now they have a good idea." Sirius joked, his voice a soft whisper - not like it had ever really changed tones- he was always soft-spoken when he was in good company and nature.
The night had gone on with laughter and jokes, Harry had enjoyed his time, even speaking with 'Amara' for a little while and found he liked her company, many things she said or did was like he had Emma back in some small manner.
But their Christmas was not going to end with smiles and cheers.
Harry and Draco had sat down with the few active Order Members at the Burrows living room and discussed what they'd overheard between Severus Snape and Finn Malfoy.
"My cousin is crazy, yeah, but he's not psychotic like Bellatrix. The way Snape was talking it was like he was a part of this entire thing." Draco explained.
Remus sighed with annoyance and exhaustion, "Did it ever occur to you both that Snape is only trying to use this opportunity to get close to Finn and into the inner circle of Voldemort?" Remus huffed. He didn't want to believe this. Snape had been a part of the Order in secret for years. Even Narcissa was a secret member, but they hadn't heard a word from the Malfoy women in ages, and that had given Emma high fears that she was either dead or worse, locked in a home with Voldemort and the other Death Eaters, something that was a high possibility.
Lucius would have come up with something about his wife's disloyalties. The man may be a cruel person, but he loved his wife, Lucius Malfoy would do anything in his power to keep her life in safe security. He was terrified of Voldemort, he always found things out, and he'd likely heard the bad news of Emma's escape Harry' first year and the letters between the two women.
"It didn't sound like that," Harry said with a small, hidden huff. Draco spoke up and continued with logical reasons, something that could have very well been the case, "Don't you think it's possible Snape could be an inside traitor, like Pettigrew was to you all? He's the reason Harry's parents are dead, why Emma was nearly killed, don't you think it's possible Snape is also an inside spy for Vol-"
No," Draco was quickly silenced by both Remus and Sirius.
The older members knew Severus to well, Sirius wasn't even wanting to believe Snape a traitor, "No, Snape has been a part of this Order for years, he has his reasons to be involved with both sides," Sirius defended the man he'd once hated.
Tonks sighed, having enough of the two older men breaking down the two boy's information. She was thinking like an Auror, her training had taught her many things, why Sirius wasn't thinking as such himself since his Auror license had been reinstated and had gone on missions with her himself since his freedom, was astonishing to her. "Maybe they're right. Remus, Sirius, to make an unbreakable vow-"
"Is no one but us under the impression Snape simply told Finn about making the vow as a lie to get closer to him and gain trust with the boy!" Remus snapped, Remus was growing more irritated, the full moon was on the horizon and he was feeling terrible, he'd allowed his anger and frustration to get to him that night. It was like he was a broken record, something that stopped Tonks in her tracks, she was not wanting to believe it either, however, no one would lie about making a vow such as that, because they were bound to it, life and death. There was no escaping it.
Tonks had no idea why the two were so set in believing Snape was not betraying them, because of the history the three shared involving a friend or member possibly being a traitor had cost them so much more than they'd thought they'd lose. James, Lily, and two unborn children. The memory of the last knowledge made Tonks feel ill.
Emma, in her disguise of Amara, had stayed quiet for the entire conversation, she understood Sirius and Remus' reasons why they were defending Snape, she would too, but the news she was hearing now was shocking to even her, and she was honestly conflicted. Though, she was stunned, Sirius was even defending him, yet she had still stayed silent knowing she'd find out later from him once they were home.
"No, Finn admitted to cursing Katie, he admitted to poisoning the wine Slughorn was going to give Dumbledore as a gift, the very wine that nearly killed Ron! I don't believe it. In my mind, Severus Snape has betrayed the Order and Dumbledore." Harry said speaking up, he didn't trust Snape any longer.
Remus nearly came out of his chair, Severus had done so much for them, sacrificed more than anyone, for Harry's safety and survival. And the boy didn't even realize it. "It all comes down to this! Dumbledore trusts Snape, therefore I do, End of discussion." Remus said firmly, running his hands over his paling and tired face and through his hair.
Harry and Draco sighed silently, both boys sharing a concerned look with Tonks. However, her glance had turned to Sirius when he spoke up and continued where his friend had left off, "We can only place our trust in a hand full of others... If we start fighting amongst ourselves now like we did last time, we're doomed all over again and we may not have anyone to continue fighting against him."
Knowing the boys wanted to continue the conversation, yet wanting to simmer everyone's frustration down, Tonks waved her hand a little with a shake of her head to them, a silent recommendation to not continue for the moment. And they unwillingly left it at that.
Harry had walked off to speak with Arthur Weasley in private regarding his letter he owled him a while ago. Arthur had found out that the object that Finn had been looking at had been a Vanishing Cabinet, but what really stumped them, was the fact that the cabinet was still there.
Tonks was shocked when Remus stood and announced they were leaving.
"Won't you both stay?" Molly asked them with concern, she'd noticed they were all being followed. At least those they could find, Molly was barely leaving the house anymore, "It is rather late, and we have room for you both-"
"No thank you, Molly, I think we should be leaving, the first night of the cycle is always the worst. I don't believe Remus will want the children to see him like he gets. But thank you for Christmas Dinner Molly, it was wonderful." Tonks smiled thankfully and hugged the older woman, her worries spiked when Arthur and Sirius looked at Remus rather worried.
"Remus?" Arthur asked with worry. Remus seemed to have not been himself entirely, even for the moon cycle.
"Arthur, get everyone back inside," Sirius said, walking out next to Remus, he knew something had captured his Were-wolf friends' attention and that gave rise to worry for everyone currently in the surrounding area.
Tonks walked out next to her lover with worry and gently touched his arm, "Darling, what is it?" her words actually shocked Sirius for a moment, drawing his attention to his younger cousin and mouthed 'darling' questionably at her. The only response he was graced with was a smile and a silent giggle from Tonks.
He'd noticed her moods had shifted from her previous goofy outgoing nature and giggling young lady to a young woman who was still fun loving but stern to degrees with limitations. Her hair hadn't morphed colors since Mellena's death, in fact, her hair had shaded down to a sandy colored blonde she had styled in beach waves, something Sirius felt she was honoring Mellena for, to keep a part of the dear lost friend alive to her in some form. Sirius took his mind and eyes from her and redirected his attention back to the situation at hand, something wasn't right. With his Animagus nature being a dog, he could smell something different in the air but not as strongly as Remus could pick up. Again, that was called for concern, but he was always grateful for Remus's strong sense of smell.
None of them were prepared for what happened.
Two balls of flame flew through the air out of the darkness of the sky, landing in the field and circled around the house, leaving everyone in shock. They were stunned when a cloud of smoke landed at the opening of the flames revealing a grinning Bellatrix as she laughed. The small group standing at the doorway were confused by her laughter and grins, she wasn't looking at any of the adults, her eyes had landed on the small form between Molly and Arthur, Athella Snape.
No one expected Bellatrix to just suddenly take off, nor Ella to rush out after her.
"ELLA!" Molly screamed fearfully after the fleeing girl as the girl suddenly dashed out after the Witch.
Bellatrix laughed as she sang like a mad hatter through the fields, "I KILLED BLUE EYED FOXIE! I KILLED BLUE EYED FOXIE! Why don't you come out and catch me, little girl!" She sang, taunting the twelve-year-old out farther from the Burrow.
In a panic, Harry rushed out after her, he'd just happened to see her run out after the deranged Witch, his body had just reacted.
"Harry!" Remus shouted, trying to grab the boy, his attention being drawn back to the fire that was attacking him, Tonks and Sirius.
"NO!" The couple shouted out after the boy.
Sirius had nearly had a heart attack, he was forced to watch Harry jump through the small opening of the fire's ring, it had closed the second Harry had dashed out after the girl screaming out for her, hoping to find her. Instead, Harry ended up having to defend himself the second he rushed through into the fields, deflecting as many attacks as he could that flew after him. It was taken late when everything finally clicked, it had been a trap, get the kid out in the open someone was bound to follow. Harry just happened to be the one that jumped through.
Tonks and Remus had taken on the snake formed fire. They'd been nearly burnt to a crisp trying to rush after the two kids. Making an opening for Sirius and Arthur to go after them, Draco and Emma happened to slip out with the two, running out into the water-logged fields.
The Death Eaters had found the Weasley's burrow, a place that was hidden and meant to be a secret safe haven.
Draco had only one thought, and that was the two that had rushed off after his deranged Aunt, she'd kill Ella if she got the chance to. Draco had a feeling Voldemort had labeled Harry off limits and left to be dealt with by himself making anyone else free game, "Ella! Jamie!"
For possibly the third time in Sirius's life since being free from his imprisonment he was having a panic attack, Ella and Harry had rushed out in the middle of a war zone, his heart pounded in his chest. "James! Ella!" Were they after Harry? However, if they figured out, or knew, about Severus's kids Ella had just made herself an open target out there. They'd not only try to kill her, but they'd also grab her and use her against Severus. For that reason, and the fact that she was only twelve years old, Athella Snape became Sirius's first priority, Harry could hold his own well enough for some time, and there were others running out there looking for him and the girl, but he had to find the girl, Sirius had a feeling Harry may not have been the target that night, Ella and Horus may have been. The conclusion to that theory was simply based on the fact that Bellatrix had made direct eye contact with the girl then taunted her, leading her to rush out after her. Harry was likely just a bonus.
"ELLA!" Sirius relaxed for a moment when they found Harry, his heart suddenly sank when his eyes had taken notice that his son, was in an opening circling himself. Ella was nowhere in sight. "Harry, where is she?" But they had found one kid, now all they had to do was find the second one.
Sirius saw the panic and fear in Harry when he'd asked about Ella, "I don't know, I lost her. She isn't answering and Lestrange stopped her crazy signing so I couldn't-" they had ended up in a fight once more, from nearly every angle. Harry hadn't had the chance to finish his words. He'd lot Ella, a twelve-year-old girl. Gabrielle's, daughter, the Snape children were the last living relations they had left of Gabrielle.
Ella had been snatched up by a strong and sudden force, lifting her off her feet and into a hard body. She felt like the person was trying to suffocate her with the amount of presser he was using, even against her small body struggling he was much stronger than her and didn't need to use as much strength as he was. She'd realized once her body had made contact that it was a man holding her. Looking down at the arm and hands she found he was covered in hair. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her and with the chance, she had to get a look at the face from the moonlight she had regretted it. Ella's heart stopped, fear claimed her all around and sinking into her very core. Finally seeing the identity, her struggling grew. She was more determined, and even more terrified. She couldn't scream, the hand covering her mouth had muffled her attempts. No one could find her, even if they were shouting for her, they wouldn't be able to find her unless she gave a sign.
A thought struck her when she realized her wand had a bit of a point to it sharp enough to use us a weapon. Taking the chance, Ella used her wand as a form of a knife and stabbed him in his side. The sudden shout of pain had loosened his hold on her, giving her a chance to scream just one thing, "GREYBACK!"
Everyone's blood ran cold once Ella's scream rang through them, a scream full of fear and panic. Greyback was present, and that scared them all the more, Remus was the most fearful as thought's scattered through his mind. Had he bitten her? Was he going to kill her slowly? Was he trying to kill her now? Where was she? 'I'll kill him!'
Harry had known exactly where she was, just a few yards from them. His body reacted before he even realized what he was doing, "ELLA!" he shouted after them, taking off in their direction, yet hope was short-lived as multiple clouds of smoke lifted up into the air, fleeing the area, one was just a few feet in front of him, dark mist forming and hadn't yet taken off. His heart skipped a few beats as he saw the sliver of blonde hair, his green eyes connecting with her bright blue's, the fear he saw in her eyes had made him nearly choked on his breath.
"HARRY!" her scream had sent a jolt of fear through him, chilling his bones, but she'd woken him up from his frozen state and the slow motion his mind was moving at as he watched, his fear had flooded five times as much when a flashed memory of Gabrielle's death in the Ministry of Magic flooded his mind. Just like her mother, she'd be gone in seconds if they took off.
Harry watched her hand reaching out for him, he felt his own wrap around her smaller hand and gripped like a vise, pulled her towards him and stupefied the snarling face that came out of the mist that had nearly made Harry scream.
The curse had sent Greyback soaring back and the girl into Harry's arms. The sudden force of her slamming into him and the curse hitting Greyback with as much force it had hit him had sent the two back onto the muddy ground, both breathing with adrenaline rushing through them with Harry's arms tightly wrapped around Ella with a grip a snake may have been envious of.
Letting the moment sink in that she was safe for the time being, Athella's shaking form began crying into Harry's arms. She'd not only endangered everyone else, but she'd put into effects of being nearly grabbed and nearly kidnapped by none other, Fenrir Greyback and also out others in harm's way to run out after her.
Emma was in sheer panic. They couldn't find either kid. Harry had taken off and there were no more shouts, just silence with the night echoing of crickets "Rose!" her fear was causing her to have a panic attack and Sirius was having an issue keeping her calm, "Harry!" they'd waited only moments before Emma had finally had a breakdown, her tears flowed, fearful she'd lost not only Harry but her best friends' daughter. She wouldn't survive this one emotionally if both were lost.
Harry had wanted to answer them the first few times they'd called out around for them but he couldn't find his voice, he had to take his time to regain his voice and ground himself just enough for him to finally shout out with whatever voice he had left, "We're over here!" he called out shakenly. Forcing himself to stand he picked up a still crying Ella and walked to meet the others and was met with a tear-stained 'Amara' checking them both.
Crying scared and relieved tears at seeing they were both standing there and alive in one piece. Emma calmed herself as best she could.
They were shocked back to reality upon an explosion of flames being seen off in the distance stopping Harry and the others, fear sank farther in him as he watched with the others from the distance of the Burrow in flames. They all took off towards the house as it was crumbling. "Molly!"
Arthur had rushed back to his wife, fearful her and the others were still inside, He was relieved when he found everyone out and away from the flames that were devouring their home.
"Where is she? Where's Ella!" Fred shouted at them as the group came into the clearing.
Hearing Fred, Ella had jumped from Harry's arms and stumbled as she ran straight into his arms, "Don't you ever do that again." Fred sighed, holding her tight and trying to keep it in his mind that she was safe, alive and in arms reach.
"Rosie!" Horus shouted to her, his sudden presence was known to her when he'd pulled her from Fred and held her himself, tears running down his face, "If you ever do that again I'll stun you where you stand." He mumbled fearfully, crying into his sisters' hair. This had to of been the fourth time since they were six, she'd ever seen her brother cry, this had been the second time she'd ever seen him this upset that he was shaking in her arms. The first time had been when they were told about their mother. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." She cried, her tears running once more as the two siblings held and cried into one another's arms.
Sirius walked up to Harry and pulled the dazing looking boy into his arms, holding him tight, one that was returned. "You scared us," he breathed softly with fear and relief. He'd let him go when the others flooded into Harry's arms, hugging him. Everyone making some room for Alicia's crying self to latch onto him and he made no complaint, he wanted to cry himself, but he found he couldn't at the moment. So, he stuck with holding the redhead currently wrapped up in his arms.
Sirius moved back, watching the scene before him, they had gotten very lucky that night. They could have easily lost two kids, but his fears had become more when Remus and Tonks returned empty-handed, meaning Greyback had gotten away, the beast was gone, and their enemy was still as dangerous as it was before.
"Why did they attack here, of all times and places?" Tonks questioned with confusion, nearly out of breath. They had run off in search of the Were-Wolf man as quickly as they could. Seeing the house burning had them rushing back as fast as they possibly could have.
"Because we were unprepared, this was a safe house, a haven away from the war zone. They attacked here because it was a message…" Emma spoke up as she watched the beloved Burrow crumbling with teary eyes, 'I'm so sorry Molly,'
Tonks was still confused, but Molly had asked before she could, a sad cry in her voice as she watched her family's home fall, "What message? This is a message? To who?"
"To us, the Order and everyone fighting against Voldemort. "Nowhere and no one is safe." Attack a safe Haven after you've located it and it sends your enemy a message that you know who is with you, where they are, and they know you're watching." Sirius stated sadly with a heavy sigh. "Molly, Emma had a spell around your home. If anything happened, the spell would activate, and all the belongings inside would be moved to the Cabin. The moment the Burrow was destroyed, the spell activated. Hopefully, everything got away uncharred." He said softly, handing her the keys to the Cabin, a place he and Emma knew the Weasley's loved second to their wonderful home, "It's yours. We had the papers documented last year in case something like this happened."
To say the Weasley's were shocked was an understatement, they were beyond grateful and very much impressed that Emma had done all that right under their noses. However, she had asked, years ago, to add a few emergency enchantments to their Burrow just in case and to be on the safer side. She explained she didn't want another Godric's Hollow to happen a second time and with that explanation, the Weasley's had allowed her to tinker her enchantments into their own safety nets around their home and the land. For all those years she could have been adding protective enchantments and emergency transportation's inside their home in case something happened while she wasn't there just for them to be safe? Yes, they were stunned.
Molly had covered her mouth with thankful tears running down her face as Sirius gently placed the skeleton key in her shaking hands, she'd noticed that the design the rustic skeleton key had on the hilt had changed from a Rose to a swirling 'W' for Weasley. Not caring about secrets Molly walked up to the still-disguised Emma and hugged her.
Emma smiled and hugged the woman back with a wide smile, she was able to give back to them after all the years they'd been there for her and helped Harry, "You and your family have done so much for me and so many others over the years, Molly. It was time someone gave back to what you and your family has done for us."
Harry wouldn't have believed it had he not seen or heard it himself. Sirius had said Emma had done it for them, and he'd been confused as to why Mrs. Weasley would have hugged Amara. Until a thought hit him, everyone was still speaking of his aunt as if she were still alive, no one cried or teared up like they should have had she been dead, and Molly hugging Amara when she should have hugged Emma just made his suspicions more pronounced in his mind. Unless she was his mother in disguise. Something that angered him only for a moment. His note suddenly made sense, it wasn't exactly his safety and security, but his mum's, if he knew she was still alive after she was supposed to be dead, his mental connection with Voldemort would know and she'd be a target once again like he still was, and they'd have continued using him to get to her. But for now, they were just suspicions. Very strong suspicions. An Idea came to him suddenly, Emma was amazing, like Snape, with guarding her mind, if Amara was his Emma, she'd be able to teach him, since he'd ruined his chance with Snape when he'd Protagoed his Defense against the Dark Arts Professor just last week. He supposed he'd find out later.
Making their way to the Cabin, the Weasley's had discovered Sirius had been right, all of their belongings had been relocated, nothing was missing. And to their knowledge at the moment, "Aunt Emma had this place made, right?" Harry asked as he looked around.
Sirius smiled, "Yes, she picked this location because it was our place. Then had the Cabin built."
A thought suddenly occurred to Molly and Arthur, "Where is all of Emma's things? Everything here is ours." Arthur had asked concerned her things had vanished or been overtaken by their belongings. To that, Sirius smiled with some laughter, "Our things were moved to a different location, don't worry. Now, shall we settle back in for bed? Ella bath, Harry there is a second bathroom upstairs to the left end of the hall."
Now they were confused, the cabin had previously only had one bathroom and one floor, "We had it extended, a great deal actually. Figured the extra rooms and space may come in handy for you all." Sirius explained with an amusement.
"Oh, well. That is mighty kind." Arthur wasn't used to this, he and Molly were usually the ones helping, it wasn't every day you were gifted a home on the same night your previous and very loved home was destroyed and burned to the ground then walk away with everything from inside still intact.
" 'Amara' grinned, equally amused and pleased they approved, "Yes, well. Sirius is right, baths, everybody, and possibly have the need to find our rooms."
"This should be interesting." The Weasley twins mumbled to themselves and one another, both sharing a look, as glad as they were, they wouldn't have to continue asking Emma for the keys to spend the weekend at the cabin, they were going to be living in it. It was relearning the cabin as their own home and new rooms that were what they'd find to be a bit tiring.
Sirius silently laughed to the twins and patted them on their backs, but his fun laughter had been lost when Harry stated something he shouldn't know about, "You and my dad hexed Snape at the Lake's tree. Mum rushed you, Aunt Emma was on her way down the hillside with Aunt Mel..."
Sirius, Remus and 'Amara' shared a look of shock as they stared at Harry, "How-"
"… I Protagoed Professor Snape, he wouldn't let me have a break and I was tired of having my mind probed. So, I figured to give him a taste of his own medicine. But what I saw was not what I was expecting to see. You're both bullies? Both my fathers were bullies … Is that why Professor Snape was always on his own? Why he looked sad and lonely? Why he hates me?" Harry was calling them out, Emma wasn't there, to Harry's full knowledge to tell him, and he just hoped Sirius or Remus would tell him what happened. However, Emma had been standing just a few feet from them and it had taken almost everything in her power to not start laughing at the two Marauder's shocked expressions.
"Harry, you have to understand, we were kids. Stupid teenagers." Sirius said, trying to defend his and the rest of their past actions, that was a day he and Remus had tried to forget.
"I want to know what happened, all of it… I heard mum calling dad a… honestly, I don't think I heard her right, but I think she called him a 'toerag'." he said with confusion. He watched Sirius and 'Amara' share a look and his confusion and suspicions grew the second 'Amara' nodded her head to him and returned to her conversation with Molly and Arthur, explaining the Cabin's new layout for them. something she couldn't have possibly known, could she?
Knowing there was no going around it, Sirius sighed and held an arm out to him, telling him to follow him, "There's one thing, one room Emma didn't want to be touched or moved. And I'll show you why." He said to Harry, leading him down the halls of the Cabin and opened a door revealing a study room, a small room lined with books and against a wall was a silver Pensieve and a glass stand lined with vials that Harry could only assume were memories. Emma's memories.
With a sad sigh, Sirius closed the door behind them and walked to the glass stand and stared into them, "Her memories are here, and this is the memory you're asking about. Are you sure you want to see this?" he asked, knowing once Harry witness what happened, he'd probably not see any of the Marauder's in the same light, "…Yes… is… is Godric's Hollow in here?" Harry asked, fearful as he asked, fighting back the tears that were threatening to show themselves, but he was more fearful of the answer. And to his sinking heart, Harry watched his uncle nod his head yes, turned back to the stand and picked up a second vile and handed them over to Harry. Both parties' hands shook with anxiety, fear, wonder, and unknown curiosity. Harry was finally going to see what happened that night.
Taking a breath and silently gulped back his fear Harry looked back to his uncle, "Will you stay with me?" He asked softly, his fear was too overwhelming he wasn't sure he'd have the courage to look at Emma's memories of Godric's Hollow.
Sirius smiled softly to Harry and nodded, "For as long as you need me."
"Can more than one person go in?"
"This Pensieve can yes, why? You want someone to go in with you?" Truthfully, Sirius didn't want to witness either ordeal a second time, but if Harry asked, he knew he'd witness the memories with him.
"Please?" With his question obvious, Sirius nodded and held a handout for one of the vials, "Which one shall we see first?" he asked a bit nervously, and let a relieved sigh leave him when Harry handed him the Lake incident. Pouring in the vial, both took Harry's Journey down Emma's memories.
Clouds formed around them as the scene unfolded before them, a memory Sirius would never forget, nor the feelings, he felt when it had happened.
Memories- 1975
They watched Gabrielle rushing up to Emma shouting for her with fear and worry, half out of breath and Emma give her panting friend her undivided attention. Both watched his aunt's reaction to her, confusion clear on her face, "What is it?" she asked, though Gabby held up a hand for a few extra needed moments and Emma reluctantly waited, "Down by the lake, Severus... Marauders... Oh! Come on!" Gabby said, finally giving up with words that clearly did not want to leave her mouth properly and pulled her friend from her set at the fountain and rushed them both towards the lake where a scene unfolded before them.
The scene changed, Emma and Gabrielle were running down the side of the hill towards the scene. Harry watched with shock and some embarrassment as Severus was levitated mid-air by his father, James, Severus Snape was left hanging upside down struggling.
Sirius sighed and nudged Harry to continued watching as Emma, Lily, and Gabby stormed down the hill. They watched Emma's jaw drop when her eyes fell on all four of her boys and a few others surrounding the 'famous pranksters' all laughing at Severus.
Sirius now saw why Emma had been so angry and embarrassed. Truthfully, he was too, especially now that he got to witness this himself from her side.
They watched the furious young Evans rush to the group seething in anger only to stop as Lily rushed the boys herself and shouted at James, calling him a bully and a toe rag... "Okay yeah, I heard right… but a toe rag?" Sirius tried not to laugh at Harry, 'That's all he's got to say? Well, this should be interesting.'
But his fun had ended the second he heard James speak. Sirius shook his head with a sigh, "Go out with me and I'll leave him be, Evans." James grinned playfully.
Emma's jaw nearly hitting the ground in disbelief.
"Classic Prongs," Sirius said softly, mainly to himself, but he grinned a bit when Harry lightly snickered. Yet again, their laughter ended seconds later.
"I don't need any help from some filthy mud-blood!" The girls gasped with disbelief as the words left a humiliated and furies, Severus Snape.
Harry's jaw dropped, and Sirius took a heated huff, his fists balled tightly, fists itching to slug the now Potions Master.
They were both shocked and very angry Severus had even said such a thing as they watched the Marauder's move for their wands, an act of a challenge.
Fearful of what would happen, Lily screamed at them to leave him alone, freezing the boys in their movements. But the look on Lily's face was enough to send them all into attack mode once again,
Harry smiled softly at Gabrielle, she was beautiful, even as a growing girl. "Their beautiful, mum, Emma, especially Mellena, or Gabrielle." Harry watched Gabby huff and let loose, "Severus Snape! You take that back right this second!" Gabby had shouted in anger at Severus. Harry couldn't hold back his grin, and Sirius smiled, tears threatening his grey eyes. He had three friend's dead, and one who had betrayed them. All Sirius had left was Emma, Tonks, Remus, Harry, and Draco.
Even though Harry knew it was just a memory, he gripped his wand tightly when Snape had snapped at Gabrielle, "Oh shut it, you annoying twig!" and stammered off in a fury. They watched with shock when they watched Snape walk only a few steps before all his words truly registered in his mind of what he had shouted at the only real friend he had ever had but forced himself to continue walking, head bowed low in shame.
Harry's heart fell as he watched the tears rimming his mother's green eyes, she was trying not to cry as she muttered softly to Gabrielle, "Thanks, Gabby. For trying. I'm sorry about Sev, just ignore him, alright." And walked away. Harry took a few steps to follow after, yet he'd been stopped by a sad Sirius. "It's a memory, Harry. You can't do anything to change it…. Unfortunately."
Their eyes turned to his father. Watching as James moved and called after Lily, "Lily-" James had begun saddened by what had happened, yet he'd been instantly silenced by Emma and Harry was shocked to say her temper had not changed, she was still as fiery the last he saw her angry. The two looked at her heated glare, and Harry had watched everyone's flinch, even the older Sirius flinch, but he saw more in the older Sirius he was with. He saw sadness, regret and utter humiliation as he watched.
"Let it be, James Potter! You and your rotten crew have done enough damage today!" Emma shouted.
Harry flinched himself, but the reaction the older Sirius had given was more so. He'd closed his eyes tightly, forcing himself to open his eyes and watch. Her tone was enough to send a shiver through everyone watching, sending them all off wondering if the boys would actually make it out of this alive. Harry honestly wanted to look away, but the interaction was so interesting to him he couldn't look away. He was watching the great Marauder's, Kings of Mischief, being put in place by a kid, "How old was she?"
"Twelve," Sirius muttered, kicking a small stone with his booted foot.
Harry and the older Sirius watched James mentally slapping himself. "We only just met her the previous year, so we were still getting to know the little. But, those angry eyes of hers' had clouded over so full of danger, I was the only one fool enough to not see it. We had no clue how to handle this at all. Just wait, it gets worse."
And Harry watched on.
They were stunned, shocked really, at the little redhead for saying what she had to them, their mouths dropped. However, Sirius began digging himself a deeper hole, "We didn't do a thing to cause this, Evans!" the young Sirius shouted. Harry looked to his older uncle and saw he was forcing himself to watch. That gave him the clue that this day had hurt him and Emma very much. His attention had been drawn back to his Aunt's small and angry voice shouting at the young Sirius Black, "Had you mutts left him alone and never bullied the poor boy, he'd had never said what he had out of humiliation, Black!"
"Round 1 goes to mum. Round 2 nearly over." Harry stated, a sympathetic flinch was given to his uncle, "Sorry,"
"I deserve it," Sirius sighed out as he took in a deep breath to hold back his breaking heart.
"Padfoot-" James tried to stop him, but he continued. But Sirius instantly shot back to the young Evans, "Shove it, Evans! Snivillus just lost the only friend he ever had. He'd no right to say that to her! Why are you defending that git, Fox!"
They watched as the anger clouded his young grey eyes dangerously, trying to find a reason behind this, to defend his and his friends' actions. His mind was no longer clear and full of making mischief. Sirius Black was out for a verbal fight, and as he watched he no longer felt empresses or humiliated, his heart shattered. But he knew this was going to be nothing like Godric's Hollow memory.
James and Remus both knew they would all grow to regret this day till the day they died, and they had, at least James did. The three stood back, knowing they could do absolutely nothing to stop this, both of them were too stubborn, Sirius all the more.
They watched Gabby grab Emma's arm, she was trying to gently pull the girl back towards the school, away from the argument. They both needed space, but Gabby was lightly swatted away, "Emma-" But she too was batted off, and the argument continued. She was furious. They watched her take in a large angry breath that filled her lungs, her body trembled with anger, "Aunt Mell always said you could always calm her down, I never knew you two had had this kind of a fight." Harry stated he was shocked they were arguing this way.
"She was right, I have a talent for calming Emma, however, we had a few bumps… Big bumps, getting there." Sirius sighed out. He was going to watch this. He had to.
"Sirius Black, I am ashamed of all of you. Mostly you, for even claiming that you lot did nothing to cause this! You all know what happened was the cause, had it not been Lily, it would have been me he'd have said it too."
Sirius could still remember how angry he'd been when she'd said that, and he was honest when he'd answered, speaking each word as his younger self said them, but this time he finished it, "And I'd have hexed the prat for saying it Emma! My Fox is off limits to anyone- who'd say such a thing to my Fox."
Harry watched his Uncle, mesmerized by Sirius for the moment, Harry saw the love his adopted father held for his adopted mother, the love he had in his eyes, but he heard it in Sirius's voice, saw it in his eyes as he watched the twelve-year-old Emma, "Even at her young age, I was in love with her the second I laid eyes on her on that train."
"Don't you dare pretend you'd have been defending me, Black. This happened because you all are bullying the poor boy… What the bloody hell is wrong with you!"
"Nothing according to the ladies," he grinned childishly. He was brought back from his thoughts as Emma's wide strides brought her three feet from him, the closer she had gotten with her glare, the more he wanted to back away. He had only ever seen her happy and fun-loving side, never her anger, at least not directed at him.
Harry had stopped watching the scene and instead had watched his uncle, who was watching with intense grey eyes that brimmed with tears as Emma's next words had slammed even Harry's beating heart nearly stopped, "Don't you ever speak to me or my sister, again. Y-you're all foolish, humiliating, bullies. I can't believe how stupid I was. You're just as bad as them."
Harry watched Sirius flinch, Harry's heart skipped a beat or two. But Harry had returned to the scene, watching his uncle, and the others as they looked away, "Foxy, I'm sorry." Sirius had said, his playful laughter was obviously an act. He had been rewarded with silence, Harry had shared the sinking feeling of such a thing happening to him, and he felt for his uncle.
Sirius felt his heart flutter down to his stomach just like it had that same day. His breathing became slightly difficult as he watched his young self, shouting again, his tone sounded almost panicked after her retreating form. "Fox?"
Harry's heart dropped with Sirius and the others as they all watched as the young Sirius was once again ignored, as she and Gabby continued walking away.
They watched Sirius's younger self's breath as if he were in pain, "This, Harry, is the power of the Evans sisters." Sirius softly said to his nephew, saddened as he watched the young Emma leaving, "I was more a fool back then than I am now, though I'm still a fool. But I'll always love her. Forever and always, beyond eternity. That has been our vow for years. She never did answer me though, I guess that was what hurt the most. She didn't even look back."
The two listened with shattering hearts as the young memory of Sirius shouted after her again. Harry watched with a breaking heart as the younger 15-year-old Sirius took a few shaking steps after her, his legs nearly buckling under him. "Love!" He was once again ignored, and Sirius, memory and elder, nearly fell to his knees as the memory of himself screamed after her once again, "EMMA!" Her name came out of his mouth shaken, practically begging her to answer him. A gut wrench is what it was, and those who were in ear shock, mainly a few girls, had their hands over their mouths in shock trying not to cry as they watched, and a few male classmates felt for the fifth-year boy.
"You have no idea how much we all regretted this day, me more so. All because we found humor in humiliating a poor boy who had done nothing to us. Yes, Harry, we were bullies. But look where Snape is now, and where the four of us Marauders are now. One's dead, one barely has a home, and another betrayed us, and I was locked in a prison for something I never did. Snape is a Potions Professor, now a Defense against the Dark Arts Professor in the very school he was bullied in. He succeeded in life and never sent to prison for being involved with the death eaters, simply because he sold his soul to Dumbledore to save Gabrielle, your parents, you and Emma. He warned James and betrayed the very Dark Wizard that never got the chance to kill him for betraying him. Where I'm standing, Snape's had more success in his life than we ever did. Because this was our karma, fate found our terrible actions and wanted to pay us back in full for being such terrible people to him. And others ended up suffering because of it. However, I have to say you are a gift that never should have suffered at that monster's hands. A gift I'm glad is still here. A chance I was given to help you, keep you safe. Your father did a lot for me, and now I protect his very legacy. His greatest achievement in life."
Harry looked back to his uncle, the pain filled expression on his face, and a thought occurred to him, if this was painful for him, how bad was Godric's Hollow going to be?