Rewrite The Stars- R.A.B

58

Grace screamed and screamed until her throat became raw. Until she almost lost her voice. Slowly, silence filled the cave again as the inferi grabbed her as well. Hands started to grab her from every direction; but all of them pulled to the water.

Her body was weak and she was mentally and emotionally exhausted, unable to stop them from pulling her into the water as well.

The water grew colder against her slack body. Colder and colder as they sunk deeper into the lake, Inferi all around them.

Eventually, Grace lost consciousness. Her tears were mixed with the cold water as the Inferi pulled at her arms and legs.

But then, Grace's body started to glow blue and white. Almost like a Patronus. It was of an owl. It's wings expanded and wrapped around her and Regulus, burning the Inferi and forcing them deeper into the lake without their victims. The owl's wings pulled Grace and Regulus close to each other and started to slowly pull them up from the depths of the cold lake.

The couple's eyes shot open and they gasped the moment they were out the water and were placed at the entrance of the cave, safe and sound, save for the few cuts and bruises.

"Merlin." Regulus muttered and breathed shakily, his arms immediately wrapping around Grace as she shook and shivered. There eyes were fixed on the owl patronus, seeing no one else around. No one to cast the Patronus.

"Take care of her." The owl spoke to Regulus after casting a lingering look at Grace. It can speak. Grace's head spun, not knowing what in Merlin's name was going on. They were alive? They were okay? Regulus was okay? And how come the voice sounded familiar? Who was the owl?

Realisation dawned on her after a moment when her mind started to clear and the ear-splitting headache started to dull into an ache.

"Mom?" Her voice was barely audible and it was shaky as she looked at her mother's patronus. But it couldn't be. Her mother was dead.

So many questions, but not enough answers.

"Take care of yourselves and say hello to James." Her mother said before flying out of the cave, still in her owl form, disappearing into the night sky.

Regulus was shivering as well as he held Grace close in his arms. He didn't know how they managed to escape. It didn't make any sense. How could a patronus or maybe even an animagus of a dead person be able to appear and interfere with their deaths. But he was just relieved that Grace was safe and alive. As long as she didn't die in such a horrible way, he didn't mind.

With shaky hands, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand, which was surprisingly back in perfect condition. He looked towards the moon where the owl had flew away too. Sending a silent thanks to whoever that was - whether it was actually Euphemia Potter or not - he quietly murmered, "Exaresco."

The water from their clothes evaporated, drying them and Regulus held Grace close in his arms, rubbing her back and pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head, both of them still shaking after the traumatic experience.

"Do you think that was really my mom?" Grace asked in a whisper, silent tears falling down her cheeks as she looked up at Regulus. She needed some sort of confirmation; some sort of comfort. She didn't know what was going on and what to think of it. It was messing with her head.

The younger Black wanted to say yes, but if he was being honest, he truly didn't know. And he couldn't lie to her. So he shook his head, pulling her closer and rubbing her arm. "I don't know, mon âme. I don't know."

They'd need to disappear for a while. Go into hiding. Maybe even live like muggles for a few months - at most a year - to see how this affected the dark lord.

THE END

Author's note: And that's a wrap for this book! I definitely changed the ending and surprised even myself. I didn't original plan on this ending. But I hoped you liked this book and if you want an epilogue of maybe 6-8 years later, I can do that!