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 23

The three rushed Frank into the study and set up a makeshift bed on the floor, "Kreacher, I need boiled water to get the wounds cleaned. Clean cloth's and the Medical kit in the cupboard, please." Emma gave out the orders quickly as she began assessing Frank's injuries.

"Yes, Mistress Fox." Kreacher said as he dashed out of the study and back into the kitchen to set up the water, gathered the clean cloth's then moved to gather the rest of the needed equipment as she had requested.

Sirius was in a stupor, shocked as he pointed after Kreacher looking rather shocked, "How did you do that?" He asked, not realizing that in his shock at Kreacher's reaction to him then to Emma had been 100% the opposite.

"Sirius! Keep the pressure, his wounds!" James shouted, panic filling him as Frank's wounds reopened without Sirius's pressure to clot them, wounds that Sirius was previously attempting to apply pressure to otherwise Frank would continue to bleed out if the pressure wasn't continuously applied.

Bringing his attention back to the situation at hand, Sirius reapplied his pressure to the wound at Franks hip and leg, leaning into it causing the young Wizard to shout out in pain.

Sweat beaded along his brow and over his body trying to not only fight to stay awake but to keep his heart beating. Frank was lucky he'd come away from that fight alive, even when he'd taken the blow for James with a counter charm up shielding them both. Frank had acted on instinct when he saw Rodolphus Lestrange Apparate out of nowhere behind James and attacked.

Kreacher had reappeared in the study with the items Emma had asked for and she got to work, "Why didn't you go to the Estate? The girls are all there they'd have been able to handle this faster. Albus is there too, with Mel-" She was pulled from the conversation when Frank grunted and shifted uncomfortably under the pain, "It's okay Frank, but you need to focus on your breathing, try to relax... I know you're in pain, but I need you to try to relax otherwise you're going to hurt yourself more than you are. We'll get you fixed up and you'll be holding Neville in no time. Just breath... That's it, breath."

The two men watched her in awe, she was remarkable in calming Frank from the pain, with cleaning him up and patching the wounds together, unfortunately she had to sew the wounds via needle and thread, due to being long out of Essence of Dittany, so they had to suffer through Franks screams and grunts while he suffered the most.

James and Sirius couldn't handle much more of Frank's screams, so they decided to answer Emma's question, "We couldn't risk it, Harry is there, and Lily." James started leaning farther into Frank to now hold the Wizard down more for Emma to begin sewing the wound at his leg and hip after cutting his pants from him and covering him to keep some of himself still composed as she cleaned and stitched him up, "And now that we know everyone is there, it would have been even worse. We didn't know what to do really, if we had gone back to the Estate then the Death Eaters would have followed suit quickly and killed everyone. So, in the end it's a good thing we came here." Sirius finished for James, they watched Emma nod in complete understanding.

Emma turned to look over her shoulder seeing Kreacher still standing off in a corner, "Kreacher, I need you to go to the Potter Estate and bring Dumbledore and Mellena, please?" With her request Kreacher nodded, "Of course Mistress Fox, Kreacher does as commanded." He was gone seconds later.

"How do you do that? He was always such a cruel little thing to me." Sirius asked in astonishment, but the smile on his face was what allowed her to know he was far from offended, he was just extremely curious and shocked.

"He wasn't like that at first, he was very rude when I first arrived here to start looking in on the place. Your family has a portrait of Regulus up around here, every time Kreacher would go on his crazy train, Regulus's portrait would scold him and tell him I was a friend, your wife actually and to treat me with respect as he would Regulus or your mum, which in all honesty, I think he's grateful I don't act like your mother. Wonderful piece of work that woman's portrait is. Really, it's all because of your brother's painting he's this way towards me. That, and I believe it also helped by the fact I would offer to help him clean and cook and make sure he himself was taken care of. He was very malnourished and very nasty, smelly isn't even a good word to describe the poor elf's state when I got here." She explained.

"You've cared for him? Well, I'd say that has something to do with it, no one ever tried caring for the elf, he was never a kind soul, at least not to me, I never really did him wrong. Though, maybe it had something to do with my family's presence being around him all those years. A cruel life was all he knew really." Sirius spoke, his eyes never leaving her as she worked hard to stop the bleeding and patch Frank up. But as he watched her, he could see her fear. The panic and her shaking hands as she worked, doing her best to keep herself steady.

Their attention was redirected when a pop came from nowhere.

"What happened!?" Dumbledore's voice boomed as he stormed into the study with a woman Emma had never met before and a man that she could only assume was an Auror.

"We were attacked, it was a trap. Frank took a curse for me trying to deflect it, but part of the curse hit him. We brought him straight here, we didn't know if we could go to St. Mungo's or not. Thankfully Emma was here when we arrived. Otherwise, I fear he may not have lasted as long." James explained as the woman rushed to Frank's side and began helping Emma and teaching her a few things quickly as she went.

"Andromeda, what are you doing here?" Sirius asked looking at the women, Emma had to say he looked shocked, but something between the two told Emma they knew each other and that they had a history, a very close history. The fact that she had never heard of this woman before somewhat hurt her, what if she was a past lover? Or worse, did they still have that close connection? If so, was Sirius Black really hers' for eternity, in life and in death? Emma had to force back her panic. Frank needed her help right now, there was no use in freaking out if her boyfriend *cough, cough* Fiancé, possibly having had or still having a romantic relationship with this woman. Emma would admit, she was not only very beautiful; Light brown curling hair and her eyes shined with kindness and warmth, though Emma really couldn't help the thought that had occurred.

'Why does she resemble Bella so much, it's a little creepy.' but Emma knew this was not Bellatrix. Andromeda was smart, talented and had ignored Sirius, which made her happy for the moment. Andromeda, as she was called, had taken it upon herself to complement Emma's handy work with how fast she had assessed and worked on the wounds, explained what she could also do next time, but that she had still done outstanding with never having been put in this situation before, even saying she had great potential in the healing arts.

Emma had barely said anything as the two worked, only nodded and briefly said, "Yes,", "Of course," and "Thank you, you'd be an excellent teacher." With a smile and moved about to start cleaning up the mess in the study after getting Frank comfortably situated in front of the fireplace with pillows and blankets. Andromeda and Emma both agreed they didn't feel comfortable moving him yet since they had just finished patching him up and wanted the sutures to have the time to clot the wounds.

Everyone had cleaned up and Emma went about making dinner for everyone there and getting tea made, water or finding something stronger. Emma had to keep her mind busy so she didn't get so swallowed up with the thought of Andromeda with Sirius. It had never come to her mind that the two were in fact cousins and both curiously watching her work about the kitchen cleaning and cooking, even telling Kreacher he had done an amazing job and he deserved a rest, which Kreacher had gladly taken after smiling and thanking her before heading off.

Sirius had finally grown deeper into his worry for her, as had the rest. They had never seen Emma act this way. Corning her in the hall after she walked out of the study from checking in on Frank, "Emma, what's wrong." The poor girl had nearly jumped out of her skin when he popped out of nowhere to confront her.

"No-nothing, just trying to not let all this get to me." She was a terrible liar and he could see it, "You're bad at lying, Love. What's wrong?" He'd called her out on it.

"Nothing, I'm fine... Just tired is all, then this happened… I'm going to go upstairs to rest for a while. Dinner's finished in five minutes then I'll head up," Emma kissed his cheek and smiled weakly walking back into the kitchen and finished setting everything up, set the food out then headed up to a room for rest.

"He's family girl, you can breathe."

Emma, once again, had nearly jumped out of her skin before she'd opened a bedroom door to Sirius's old room she had cleaned up, like the rest of the rooms. "Pardon?" She was confused, why was Andromeda telling her this and who was she talking about? It still wasn't sinking in and she knew she must have been more tired than she had thought.

Andromeda raised a curious brow and grin. "I know the look of fear and heartache and I also know the look and the actions that scream 'oh my god that was once his lover,'. Emma, Sirius and I are cousins, my last name was Black before I married my husband Ted Tonks. It's alright to panic, it's alright that you reacted the way you did. Trust me, had I been in your shoes I would have too." Andromeda lightly laughed at the now blushing girl as it all sank in.

Emma covered her face in humiliation when she finally realized who she was. Emma had in fact heard of her before, but only briefly, "I am so sorry," and began rambling while the woman in front of her laughed, nearly uncontrollably.

"It's okay, Emma, breath sweet girl." Andromeda laughed, walking up to the fretting teenager and pulled Emma's hands from her face that was red from embarrassment, she didn't blame her. Andromeda would admit a thousand times over that had she been in Emma's position she would have thought and done the same thing, "Look at me Emma," she waited patiently for her to listen.

Emma was utterly embarrassed, so she was going to take some time t looking at Andromeda after what she had assumed. When Emma finally looked at her, Andromeda pulled the seventeen-year-old into a hug.

"Go take that nap, you look exhausted. I'll clean up, don't worry about it. In the morning, go home to your sister and nephew. James and Sirius are going back tomorrow also. I'm staying here with Frank to keep a close look on his wounds before we transfer him to a hospital."

Emma wouldn't lie, she felt like a child sent off to bed without dinner by Andromeda after that, but she was very thankful she had caught on and hoped she wouldn't say anything to Sirius. Unbeknownst to her, her hopes came true when Andromeda walked back into the kitchen smiling.

"Well, what was wrong?" Sirius had asked his cousin as she got to working on the dished Emma had used to cook.

"Don't worry dear cousin, she's fine now and will be right as rain in the morning. She was exhausted, I'm thinking she's been here the past few days cleaning and helping that poor abused elf of your family that she may not have slept."

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, she hadn't been back to the Potter Estate in some time. Mellena was beginning to get worried, but Emma would send out Owls to her and Lily saying she was fine."

Sirius sighed and rubbed the exhaustion from his own face, "Go to bed, all of you. I'll clean up and put away the leftovers for breakfast and make sure Kreacher eats also. I'll pop in for a few days for Emma so you two can catch up." Andromeda smiled. She didn't mind lending a hand here.

And she had stuck to that promise. Andromeda had promised to look after the home until Emma had finished with her school, so she didn't need to worry about it or Kreacher, something Emma had greatly appreciated, whereas Sirius wanted to liquidate the home and leave it to rot.

September 18th, 1980

"Have you decided on a date for the wedding? How about the gown?" Mellena was excited, her best friend was getting married, even with everything dark and dangerous going on some people still found the light and happiness to love others and start a life. She had slowly gotten used to being called, and responding to, Mellena instead of Gabby.

Though, Dumbledore was making it easier for her that once the war was over, she could officially change her name back to Gabrielle, sadly she knew that would probably not be the best idea at all, no matter what happened after the war was over, because she had grown on the name. So, she would keep it. Gabrielle's name was officially Mellena Dumbledore, the occasional 'Gabby' or 'Gabrielle' would slip up between him and Severus, she had even grown close to Aberfourth. Especially, after he had screamed at Albus for involving another young girl in their lives of despair, only to lose her later in life to one of Albus's plans of self-sacrifice to help fix something in the Wizarding world that was no business to him.

When Mellena had inquired about what Aberforth meant, Albus had sadly fest up to what had happened to their younger sister, Ariana, who had been killed in an incident between himself, his brother and someone who he'd once called friend.

"Her neglect was indeed my fault, I was supposed to look after her, as the only family her and Aberforth had left, the only one who had the means to care for them, and I didn't. I failed as an older brother, and I failed as a friend, because of my selfishness. None of us know whose spell killed her, and I hate to admit that I wish to never know. We didn't even see her until it was too late. The poor girl simply wanted the fighting to cease and because of us, because of me, she is dead. Now, all I have left is a memory of my sisters' dead body and Anya screaming, crying as she held our sister's body. She tried stopping her from rushing out to us, but she hadn't made it to Ariana in time."

After that, Aberforth had told them he wanted near to nothing to do with Albus still, that he'd still not forgiven him. Though with Mellena now being claimed as family, she was ever so welcomed to visit him if she ever wished to do so then he had left. Aberforth had surprised them both more when he'd returned to the home in Godric's Hollow Albus and Mellena were staying in, "I came for my niece, Albus, not you. However, I suppose she would begin to feel bitter against me if I continued ignoring you and only spending my time and attention on her. And I have lost to much as it is."

"After we graduate Hogwarts, sometime between Fall and Spring. October, maybe a Fall Wedding, the colors October produces are my favorite, I could live like that forever. Just in September and October. Let's go down to Hagrid's." Emma spoke up. Classes were finished for the day and they had two hours before curfew.

As they flew down the steps to Hagrid's, they found Klay and Mal out in the gardens, "Klay!"

At Mellena's shout, Mal began barking and made a dash for them, being almost six months old, Mal had gotten almost as big as a Siberian Husky. His large size had jumped up to the two giggling girls, he'd only met them a few times, but he'd remembered their scent and he was welcoming them back to his new home and family.

"Let me through to my girls Mal." Klay said laughing as he playfully shoved Mal a bit off the two girls to hug them both, "Welcome back Ladies. Hagrid is off checking the forest line. He'll be back in about thirty minutes. You're more than welcome to wait."

"Of course, we'll wait. We came to see you all."

Holloween had come around and Quidditch was about to start, Emma had given her place as Seeker to Mellena and Emma had taken Chaser. They had found that both girls could do a double back up for one another, they were ever so relieved when they found that Mellena was better at Seeker than Emma had been. For this, Emma was grateful she would no longer be failing at trying to win the games, because Mellena had won the first two games of that year, but sadly that had ended when she broke her left arm in three places, fractured her collar bone, broke two ribs and dislocated her right shoulder and finally received a moderate concussion upon snatching the snitch when she fell from her broom after being hit by a Bludger.

The Hufflepuff Chaser had been the only one trying to catch the falling girl before she hit the ground herself, she hadn't been fast enough to her horror and had sustained injuries herself when she threw herself off her own broom and both girls had softened the others landing just a few feet from the ground. Meaning, she was out for the rest of the season, even if Madame Pomfrey healed her injuries, Mellena and Holly had been told they would need time to heal the bones on their own.

"Magic can only go so far my dear." Poppy said with a sigh. This meant that Emma had to take the Seeker's statues once again and find a backup Chaser since Mellena was no longer able to play, which saddened her, but the Gryffindor's had celebrated the wins she had made for their House, something that made her smile with amazing amount of pride. She had thanked the Hufflepuff Chaser that had tried to catch her, telling her she was grateful Holly had tried instead of letting her flatten herself like a pancake. "Thanks, Holly."

The blonde smiled at her from the bed next to hers. Holly tried to shrug but grunted painfully, "Not a problem, I couldn't let anyone get flattened without at least trying to help them. Still wish I could have caught you though."

Winter Break

Emma had enjoyed being home for Christmas, Harry's first Christmas was special and very well celebrated. Lily, James and Harry were in the first photo, then Emma and the Potters with Sirius, his arms wrapped around her.

Mellena, Albus and Aberforth had even joined them for a while. Remus had gladly joined the family for the Celebration for a short while before joining his own family.

Peter had been invited, but no one could find the poor man, he'd gone missing. Dumbledore had told them that he hadn't given him any assignments in months.

Remus had spoken up telling them that Peter had worked a few jobs with him, but he hadn't seen their dear friend in weeks and tried looking for him, to no avail.

This began their worries.

February 9th, 1981

Peter had been missing weeks before Christmas and he still hadn't shown himself, everyone was now looking for a body or remains, thinking he'd been nabbed by Voldemort's Snatchers, creatures or his followers and tortured for any kind of information.

"You have been of great help Wormtail, thank you for your sources. You have an escape goat all set up, now all we must do is get rid of these Rebels that continue to cause us trouble. Especially, Potter and the defaulted Sirius Black. Those two are meddle-some! The Longbottom's are even more so, along with that Alastor Moody. I want them gone. All we have to do is find them," His attention turned to Wormtail, a devilish grin wide across his face, "Your close with two of these troublemakers… Where are they staying."

Peter began to panic, a petrified sweat beaded along his brow, "I-I-I don't know, my lord... They move all the time, I never know where they'll be, they're barely home anymore either and Sirius doesn't leave their side… H-he's good at shaking everyone off him. He knows, somehow, when I try following him..." He lied. Peter Pettigrew had just lied to the Dark Lord, and he shockingly succeeded in misleading him. For now. He was giving information to the Death Eaters, yes, but could he truly sell out his best friends and their families? Their infant children? At the moment, the answer was no, no he couldn't, he wouldn't. But his recently found bravery and courage wouldn't last long unfortunately.

*** Thank you for the Reviews! You are all so wonderful and unimaginably encouraging! I do plan on having more for you all to read! Thank you all for keeping me going, I know if I can finish this, then I can finish just about anything, on here and in life! THANK YOU! ***

"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 :)