Author's note: Please be aware that I own ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, everything, except my character(s) I place in here, belongs to the wonderful Lady J.K. Rowling. This is a Sirius Black/OC Fanfiction, or at least it will get to that point. I do have terrible spelling sometimes, but I do my best. However, if I misspell something that I have not caught I do appreciate having a correction mentioned. But I love reading Fanfiction's from here, and I hope I can bring others the same joys they have brought me, I figured it was time I give it a shot.

This WAS, my FIRST Fanfiction that I had the courage enough to put up for all to read. I started small and did my best to update as soon, and as much, as I could. I know tend to forget things so try to have some patience, even though I sometimes fail at having some myself. *cough, cough*Please Enjoy the story, for the pages have yet to turn for new, or returning, readers of journeys untold. Also, please be aware that this story is 100% mine. This is a work of mine that I did under a different account of fanfiction under the username Nattie8516 and now shares the same username under this Fanfiction site as well. So rest assured, I am the same person and same owner of this work and other's I shall be posting on this new site as well.

Chapter 18

Emma had been silent the first hour of the train ride to Hogwarts, Klay hadn't even bothered her, because he too was heartbroken at the loss. They had sat in the compartment together, just leaning against one another, taking and giving one another comfort.

"Have you spoken to Hagrid at all?" Klay finally spoke up.

"I've been writing to him, told him we'd come to see him as soon as we could, hopefully between class breaks when we're out with Professor Kettleburn. He had said in one of his letters that the Professor had heard about what had happened and knew he was close with many students at the school, Marlene and Gabs being two of them. He told Hagrid he was very much welcomed to helping him in his classes." Emma said softly, informing him.

Klay nodded with a sigh when something struck him, "That was nice of him, but Hagrid is the game keeper, he'll probably be busy the entire time to not have a chance to attend the classes,"

"You know Hagrid, Klay, he's a fast worker and does his job wonderfully... That and I already know you offered to help Hagrid this year when you have no classes for extra credit. You two are both strong and fast workers, you'll probably help him get two- or three-days' worth of work finished just in one day." She complimented him, a small smile on her face as she imagined the two working and laughing and having fun.

"How'd you know that?" He joked, nudging her a bit, thankful that it pulled a small laugh from the both of them, "You always boasted about excelling in Magical creature's care, Klay. How do you think Gabby and I passed it anyways last year?" Their attention was grabbed by the compartment door opening. A dark-haired brunette had walked in wearing Gryffindor robes. Her hair was wavy and pulled back into a high tie held by a ruby red scrunchie, her eyes were almost golden and lovely sun-kissed skin as she looked at them and smiled, a smile that made the two think of a dearly departed friend.

"Hi, uh, sorry. May I sit with you? Everyone else is full." The girl seemed nervous, worried they'd turn her away.

They stared rudely at her unintentionally, but Emma had shaken her mind clear and nodded, "Uh, ye-yeah. Definitely. Sorry, you just sort of surprised us. I know almost everyone in Gryffindor, and I've never seen you before. Are you a transfer?" Emma knew it was rude how she'd asked, but her curiosity was growing, and she was not going to risk anyone else that was important to her. She was glad when the girl smiled back, not offended in the least.

"Yes, I'm a home-school transfer. My cousin finally got my mum to realize that I should probably have some school interactions for a while if I'm to work with others in life. That, and I've been dreaming to come to Hogwarts since I was a child." The girl explained.

"Really, who's your cousin?" It was Klay's turn; his back straightened up, he was interested in knowing this girl now.

The two friends watched the girls' eyes darken with heartbreaking sadness as she pulled a photo out of her book and handed it to Klay. The people they saw in the photo made their hearts sink to their stomach, Mary Parker. Marlene, Lily and Alice's friend they'd found dead just a few years ago. "My mum had been sent a letter before they were killed, it took her awhile to mourn, then myself to beg her to allow me to come, but it was the letter she had read nearly every night that did her in. Had Mary not wrote the letter I'd never have been able to attend the next few years at Hogwarts." The girl sadly informed them. Little did they know that the lovely golden-eyed brunette in the picture was the deceased niece of the one helping Severus hide Gabrielle among the Wizarding World and under the Dark Lord's very nose.

The tearful friends didn't know that they were, in fact, speaking with someone that was supposed to be dead, someone that was able to pull off the sad and heart-breaking cousin still mourning a family members loss only because she was unable to scream with joy and hug the two best friends she'd ever been blessed to have had in her life, because she now had to lie straight to their faces.

'This is going to be an interesting two semesters,' Gabby thought sadly.

Clearing her throat Emma smiled warmly to her, "Emma Evans, this is Klay Malcolm." Emma introduced them both, handing the picture back to the girl who smiled, "Mellena McClain. So, uh, since I'm new to your house, would it be too much to ask if you showed me some ropes for the school? Give me some pointers? I'm a bit nervous." She wasn't lying about that, she was nervous, but she was nervous regarding being caught, nervous they'd see through her than hate her for not telling them. Even though she knew deep down that they'd never do that, Gabby was still scared. 'Why did I let Severus talk me into this again? Oh yeah, because we both know I want to finish school and since I'm supposed to be dead, I'm no longer supposed to go by my name... A dead girl can't finish her classes and graduate... Thank you, Margaret.'

Gabrielle hated pretending to not know anything about the school, hated having to lie about not knowing Hagrid and smiling when memories of them dancing and singing together on their days off from classes with the friendly Game Keeper. Dumbledore would ask her to join him in his office, a ruse to see how her 'first time at Hogwarts was going' and checking in on her welfare and the progress she may have been having with her distraught friends and adjusting to her new life, she'd have to continue for some time.

"I'm afraid you'll have to go until graduation, and maybe longer with this ruse Miss. McKinnon, Severus made it absolutely clear that you were now fully under my care and protection."

Gabby, or now known as Mellena, had nodded her head sadly, "Yes, I understand, Professor."

"And in doing so, I have gotten the permission of the Ministry of Magic and that of the Magical Affairs of Children Safety to provide these documents to you." In his hands were papers that shocked Gabrielle to the Heavens and back. Adoption forms. Already signed by himself and that of the other signatures needed to finalize an adoption.

Mellena McClain was just a name Severus had come up with and forged everything they'd needed. Unfortunately, Dumbledore had caught this soon and confronted them the moment the three had been alone.

"You're adopting me?" She questioned, she was filled with shock and doubt. Her smile broke in a calming ease of things that had happened thus far when Dumbledore simply smiled with a nod of his head to her, "If you'll allow me too, Gabrielle."

He'd said her name. Dumbledore had used her real name. Gabby felt her heart soar with joy as tears wheeled up in her eyes and leaped to hug him happily. She was no longer alone. She had Severus in this of course, but now she had Dumbledore, a powerful wizard that had no family besides his brother, Aberforth, the school staff and students.

Dumbledore laughed, hugging her back and let her cry happy, and sad tears. Both smiled wide with anticipation now as she signed the papers of her name change and adoption, "Mellena Rose Margaret McClain" was now under the last name "Dumbledore", instead of "McClain".

"Now, we wait for your final documents to come in. Real documents this time, Granddaughter." He liked the sound of that word, Grand-daughter, he now had a grand-daughter. No doubt his brother would love this news, he'd always wanted more family members and now they could both have another to love and care for rather than two old men, brothers no less, that rarely spoke to one another. Dumbledore was happy to say that Gabrielle may just be both his and Aberforth's saving grace in redeeming their family.

She was excited, Klay and Emma had taken her out onto the Quidditch fields several times as the term went on, showing her to play the game she had said she was never allowed to previously be involved in. A heartbreaking letter, forged, of course, saying her mother, the last remaining of her family had passed away via tuberculosis she'd been fighting the last few years, and told her 'mother' had given her care over to an old friend and previous teacher, Albus Dumbledore. Mellena was asked to join Quidditch as soon as Emma and Klay had thought she was ready, "You're a natural talent Mellena."

She'd joined soon after, and they had still gotten closer and closer to beating the teams at Quidditch, yet not winning as they had wanted, but they were getting better. Which was great for Emma because she still felt like a failure as a Seeker.

Hagrid had greatly enjoyed meeting Gabby as Mellena, treated her just like he had her when she was Gabrielle. They danced, sang and helped around when they could before dark came to the castle and curfew was pushed on harder now with the war brewing dangerously closer to the school, students and families, magical and muggle alike.

Third term was not all dandelions and powder puffs for anyone, stress was high, and the homework got harder. What was strange, however, was Regulus coming to Hagrid's in a dark shrouded cloak looking rather ill and fearful. Hagrid had aided him as much he could, asked to get Poppy for him, but that option had been declined by the panicking boy, "Must get... home... t-too dang-dangerous for 'ou." Regulus had called painfully for his loyal house Elf, who came, looking ill himself, and took the young Heir home where he later passed. His family was oblivious to the cause and blamed him for his silence involving the illness that had caused his unfortunate death.

Emma felt sympathy for the young man, he had been unable to separate himself from the Dark Lord and died in the process of doing something for him or against him. Sirius was still, understandably, upset. More so than he would have thought, "He was, in many ways, the better son. whereas I was just the failure and disappointment, but he was still my baby brother. I wasn't able to save him from the life I was able to escape… I never should have left him in that house alone."

Emma knew it bothered him. She knew he felt lower and worse than he already was for not being able to save his baby brother from his family's dark lives. "He loved you, Sirius, just remember that. Your brother loved you, no matter how he acted. And I know that you loved him."

Sirius looked at her, glad and full of relief that she was with him for the short break they had for only a few days, "But not as much as I love you, Emma."

September 1979 Sixth Year

Klay wasn't as excited as he would have been for his last year. Yes, he was passing his O.W.L's and was very much ready for his N.E.W.T's, but it was the fact he was going to be leaving Emma alone at Hogwarts. Yes, she had her new friend, Mellena, but she wasn't Gabrielle, and he couldn't trust anyone if they weren't Gabby. The two girls had known one another like their own rooms at home. They had found passageways with the Marauders Map, and memorized them together, because apparently Peter had left the Map lying about and someone had picked it up, probably Filch. But something bothered him about Mellena, he knew something was off about her and didn't know what it was. However, he knew there was no darkness inside her, she was also less likely to be a dark spy, but the thought still plagued him, he knew people could pretend very well if given the practice and that they had the ability to manipulate others.

Emma had taken to her bad habits once more in the form of nightly walks and runs near, and or around, Hagrid's home the next two months. She had unfortunately not thought of possible consequences, like she was currently regretting. Emma was hanging mid-air by her right hind leg in a rope trap of Hagrid's that must have gone wrong when she ran through the unseen trap considering she was dangling in the air screaming and trying to get herself free, which was unfortunately just making it worse.

"'Ang on there, li'tle fox. I 'ave yeh."

Emma froze when she heard the familiar voice of Hagrid, loud and booming as his voice was, Hagrid was the sweetest and most gentle being she knew in their magical world. She was happy to have been found by him.

Yipping with excitement with the moon light showing upon his face, it was indeed Hagrid, she knew was not hallucination. Her tail wagged with her as he got her out of the trouble she had put herself in and stayed seated in his large hand as he carried her back to his home and gladly sat on the table he placed her on and began looking her back leg over carefully.

"Yer alrigh' li'tle one, just a bit o' a rope burn...Now, tell me... Why're yeh out of bed at this late hour, Emma? Hm?" He asked, a grin grew across his bearded face as he watched her tiny jaw drop.

'That's impossible! How'd he know it was me!' she thought to herself, though she knew better than to play dumb. He already knew it was her. Emma jumped from the table and moved to a chair and easily transformed back. The ruby red Greek styled robe James had crafted for her was draped around her maturing frame like she was a goddess of fiery folk.

Hagrid had to shake his head to remember she was one of the students and not a Fairy Tale Fairy from a story his father used to tell him as a child. He felt like a proud big brother when he looked at her.

"It's been a habit for a while. How'd you know it was me?" she explained then asked curiously. Emma was lost to her shock. No one should have known it was her! And if they had, why hadn't he reported her to Albus or the Authorities?!

**Truthfully, I don't remember how Regulus died, I've read a few different things and I haven't read all the books. I know, bad me, but I'm getting there I'm reading the books, trust me. I would have looked through the books, but I don't want to spoil the books later on as I go. So, this is how he is going to pass away in this story, any more details may be put in the sequel :) Thank you all for reading! I hope you all enjoy it :) Anyways, thank you all again for reading and the wonderful reviews!

Chapter 19 shall be up as soon as I can get it there.

"It's almost coming to a close for this one story that started it all, but there's always more to one's life than an ending. It's the beginning of a new one starting for the finishing to come to a point." - quote by Nattie8516 :)