Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight and Harry Potter. All characters of both stories, along with their storyline, belong to their respective owners, Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling. However, all unfamiliar characters and storylines do belong to me.
Unedited.
St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, London, England
Sirius Black's Room
He was dreaming again, Sirius thought. Except it did not feel like a dream.
He was standing like a spectator would and in front of him was himself when he was still in a coma, and the young man they call Harry was sitting down by him, speaking to him.
"'Morning, Siri," Harry greeted. "It's been a month since I've visited you. You were right all along about auror being a demanding occupation. I never have enough time to meet up with people, and the free time that I do get goes towards my dates with Ginny. War was over two years ago but we haven't really settled down as a community. There are still Death Eaters who have escaped the war, and we're trying to round up every one of them to make the wizarding world a better place, not only for us but especially for the next generation."
"I'm worried about Kaylee. Did you know she moved to a whole different continent? Did she tell you that? I tried to make her stay but it was as if something was pulling her to Alaska. She would not listen to what anyone or I have to say. It must be the Black bloodline. She is your daughter after all. But, really, I'm worried because I just received news that there were Death Eaters sighted in Oregon. It's two states away from where she's staying at but it's too close for comfort. I haven't told her yet. I don't even think I could, I just don't want her to worry. I mean, she moved so she could be away from all the magic. She wanted a fresh start"
"I think she just really misses you, Siri. You didn't see—and I hope you never do—the way she behaved after you fell. It was…it was really heartbreaking. You could hear the pain in her voice when she screamed. I—I," Harry paused, struggling to continue. "I actually don't want to talk about that moment. Sorry. But all you have to know is that she's okay now, and I'll make sure she stays that way. So, if you don't wake up now, next week, a month later, in a year's time or even in ten years', I promise that I will protect her in your place. I always will. She's my sister."
Sirius could not help but smile. That relationship reminded him of his with James and Remus. Although, they were not brothers by blood, their brotherly bond was forged quite the same as Harry's to Kaylee's. A bond that is genuine and true, and founded by the heart.
"It's a beautiful bond, isn't it?"
Sirius looked towards the speaker without really paying much attention, nodding. "Yes, it is, Lily."
He suddenly did a double take and his mouth opened in shock. Standing in front of him was the two best friends that he was recently informed had passed away. James and Lily. They both looked the same as the last time he saw them. James with the mischievous spark in his eyes behind his large round spectacles, and Lily with her ever-glinting bright emerald coloured eyes.
"James, Lily." Sirius gasped. The vision of Harry and of himself laying on the bed forgotten.
"Hello, Pads," James grinned.
Sirius had a lot he wanted to say but the most forefront in his mind was the assurance that he was not going crazy. "Is it true what they say? That you died in 1981, and that's why you haven't visited me? And Ariella," he paused, grimacing. "That she's gone too?"
Lily and James looking at him in sorrow was answer enough for him. It was true. And then all at once, Sirius was again hit with grief and a new bout of sobs. Lily rushed to his side and pulled him to her, patting him on the back as she comforted him, and James was there too hugging both.
"I didn't want to believe them," Sirius bit out. "I didn't fully believe Moony either, thinking you were just away and busy. And my beautiful Ari was at Hogwarts teaching charms under the tutelage of Professor Flitwick. That was her dream, to take over charms when he retired."
They listened to him as he ranted, letting him pour it all out. He needed this to help him move on.
"And now, you're all gone and I don't even remember how you died. That she's gone and I won't ever hear her singing in the mornings, waking me up, as she makes us breakfast. That you made me godfather to your son. Or how I don't even remember I had a daughter. And poor girl… I saw how devastated she was."
By now, Lily had tears in her eyes that was slowly dripping down. It was unfair how this happened to Sirius. She loved him like he was her brother. And having watched everything that was happening in the Wizarding World they left behind upon her death, it had been so hard to see him locked up for thirteen years without trial and the real culprit escape unscathed. It was hard to see how distraught he was when he realised that Ariella was dead, how seventeen years later he fell into a coma during the Battle of Hogwarts and when he did wake up, to learn he had not an ounce of memory of his daughter and of Harry.
All his life, pain and grief had been a constant to him. Pain from his family from all the mental and physical abuse he endured, grief over every single person he had lost. When will her brother live a life without any of them?
"Our daughter is strong," Sirius' head whipped around to the direction of the new voice and gaped, lips quivering. "Right now, she is hurting but that will not keep her away from you."
"Ariella," his voice was a whisper, and full of emotions. Of grief and longing. Love.
One moment, Sirius was tangled within the arms of his best friends and the next, he was engulfing his wife and sobbing anew. All he was thinking then was how everything had come to this. What happened to them that she slipped through his fingers? Where was he when she was murdered? And who murdered her?
"Heylo, my love." she greeted.
Sirius grinned, his guttural cries pausing, as a memory flashed in his mind.
He was in his fifth year and on the train to Hogwarts when he saw Ariella—who had been a close friend at the time—with Lily and Alice. He had started to greet her with a 'hey' until he really saw her, and how she had filled out over the holidays. From being thin and lanky to having curves, she became even more beautiful. And being him, who appreciated the fairer sex, and a guy on top of that, had checked her out. Distracted, he had ended his greeting with a 'lo'.
He could still hear the laughter of James behind him and the face palm that Remus struck on his face. Instead of being weirded out, Ariella had taken it in stride and greeted him back. And from that moment on, heylo had been their greeting. It was after that moment that he really noticed his close friend, and when his feelings for her started to change.
"Heylo," he murmured back. They stayed in each other's embrace for a while, Sirius cherishing every second of it knowing that when he woke up, she will not be there for him to hug whenever he wanted.
"You must have questions, love." she started.
"Is it true that Kaylee is our daughter?" he asked, pulling back a fraction to see her.
Ariella smiled widely, eyes lighting up at the mention of her daughter. "Yes. She was a healthy baby, weighting three kilograms, and had you wrapped around her little finger shortly after she was born." she chuckled. "You were there when I was giving birth, and though you looked like you were about to faint, you soldiered on and offered to cut the umbilical cord. And the moment we heard her cry for the first time, you said 'Well, Ari, she's got a good pair of lungs on her'."
Sirius smiled, imagining it. How precious the moment must have been to both of them as starting a family of their own was one of their dreams.
Suddenly, he took a deep breath, readying for the truth that was locked deep inside the recesses of his mind. "Who murdered you?"
His wife's previous happiness deflated, replaced by a faraway look to her eyes which held a deep regret. "It was Narcissa." she replied, forlornly. "I'm so sorry, Sirius. I should have listened to you about her, if I had then I would have been with you and Kaylee to this day."
"Don't apologise, love. Even though I tried very hard to steer you away from the Slytherins you befriended, the way you always give everyone a chance is one of the reasons I fell in love with you. And if it wasn't for your bleeding heart, I would have never reconnected with my little brother." he said. "What happened?"
She sighed. "You know that she and I had been friends since Hogwarts. We kept in contact regularly, bonding over babies and our love for our child. So, when she requested if she could come for a visit, I didn't think twice about it because I trusted her. Except when she came, I was not expecting Lucius to be with her. I knew my fate then that I would not live to see another day so as I lay dying, my only thoughts were of relief that you and Kaylee were away from home and could not be harmed."
"What did they do?"
She shook her head. "I'm not going to tell you, Sirius. I won't have you waking to hate the Malfoys more than you already do. I know you'll want revenge and I won't let be your ticket to Azkaban."
"Ari, please."
Ariella remained silent.
"They tortured her before they killed her in the most inhumane ways while using muggle means."
"James!" Lily snapped as Ariella looked at him with betrayal. "It was not yours to tell!"
"I'm sorry, Ells, but one way or another, he would know. Before his amnesia, he knew all the horrific details of your death."
They all knew it to be true but Ariella just shook her head in frustration. Though little was said of what really occurred, Sirius' wild imagination would think of the worst case scenarios with just the simplest revelation. And who knew what he would do.
"You said I wasn't there… where was I?" Sirius could only ask, jaws clenched in anger at himself. Why was he not with Ariella? What could be the most important thing besides his family?
Lily, James and Ariella exchange glances.
"You were checking in on James and Lily when they came," Ariella said softly.
Besides his wife and their child, Sirius thought, his best friends were the next important people in his life. Sirius' face crumpled and he yelled in grief. He could not even blame or hate himself for not being with the woman he loved as she spent her last breaths alone. James and Lily had been in hiding, they had all been worried when the prophecy came. Checking on them did not warrant
He felt his wife's familiar hold, her arms surrounding him tightly. Protectively, as if she could chase away all of his pain.
"We always thought that it was just Neville and my son that Voldemort sought, we never realised that they also wanted Kaylee." Lily said.
He may not remember all the times, all the special memories, he spent with his daughter, but now that he knows that Kaylee is his daughter, he would be damned if he let them take her away.
"Pads, we've gotta go. We weren't supposed to take this long to talk to you," James said suddenly. Sirius nodded, understanding whereas Ariella's hold on him tightened even further, unwilling to leave him. "Ells, as much as I want to also stay, we have to let him go."
"I know, just give me a moment." she said.
Sirius basked in her hold, his gaze returning to Harry who was joined by the young woman who had barged in his room earlier. His daughter.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"It's a new potion. 'Mione and I added phoenix blood and tears this time. We're really hoping this would work because we're running out of ideas."
When Sirius finally let his wife go, he found her staring longingly at their daughter. Her blue eyes flicked back to his when she felt his stare, and smiled. "Tell Kaylee that I love her and I am always watching over her. Tell her that I am so proud of her and everything she accomplished," she paused. "Kaylee blames herself for my death so I want you to tell her that, I never regretted having her and withholding information to her whereabouts on the night of my death. And I would do it over and over again because she's my baby girl and I love her so much I would do anything to protect her."
Sirius nodded. "I will, Ari." then he looked at all three of his family, knowing that this will be the last time he sees them. "I don't know if I'll ever accept the three of you being gone."
They smiled at him.
"We're not truly gone, Pads." James stated.
"You can see James and I in our boy," Lily added.
"And you can see me in our sweet little girl," Ariella finished.
James shook his head. "Well… Ells, technically… Kaylee looks more like him."
Lily smacked him and Ariella chuckled. "I believe it is the in the eyes of the beholder who gets to decide and that's what's so great about her. But while I believe you, James, that she looks like her father, Sirius has always seen me in our daughter." Ariella turned to Sirius. "You may not remember her now, my love, but you've always been a stubborn one. One way or another, you will break through this amnesia and remember her. I believe that with all my heart," she smiled at him.
"But, I swear to Merlin, Sirius, if you don't remember my son or my goddaughter, I will find a way back and resurrect myself to make sure you do!"
"James!" Lily hissed. "You're ruining the moment!"
James looked at him in confusion, mouthing, "What moment?"
Sirius laughed, eyes teary as he watched them. "I love you all."
"I love you, Pads."
"I love you, big brother."
Ariella kissed him. "I love you forever and always, my love."
Then she bounded towards James and Lily. They faced him, waved and smiled, and Sirius watched as they faded from sight. He felt suddenly at peace about their deaths, believing their appearance in his mindscape helped him to heal and find closure.
He refocused back on the scene that he was being shown and as he watched the teens, he was filled with the desire to relearn everything about them.
