Losing Hope: Sirius Black's daughter Book 1

Afterlife

The light came from somewhere bright. It seemed to glow. I glided toward it and this time unlike when I had my vision, I didn't feel like an intruder. I felt like I was going home. I knew that if I crossed the river I would be dead. She was there again, the woman in a white dress but this time she stood on the other side of the river facing me. I instantly recognized her. Pretty, blonde hair, blue eyes and a wicked lovely smile.

Rhine.

"Come my beautiful daughter, come to mummy. Cross me."

I moved toward the river that flowed without boundaries, the river that flowed into death's dark vale. The river that separated the living from the dead. The river Rhine.

"Cammy, baby please don't go. Stay with me." his voice echoed in my head. I could go back to him or I could go ahead to her.

"Miley. Cross the river and come to me. It's okay." said Rhine

She was calling and he was crying, losing hope. I wanted to help him but I knew how much pain going back would mean. No, I had to go forward.

I moved toward the river and a bridge appeared, Rhine smiled.

"Don't be afraid, it is better this way," she told me.

I put my foot onto the br-

"Wait!" said a man's voice from Rhine's side.

"What are you doing here?" Rhine whispered. The man was slightly tall, with jet black untidy hair and a slightly familiar handsome face. Whereas Rhine was corporeal, he seemed slightly blurry, like he wasn't really there.

James Potter.

"I could ask you the same thing." said James Potter.

"I came to call my daughter to me."said Rhine.

"The choice should be hers. She's not dead yet." James countered.

 "I'm her mother!" Rhine shouted but James stood his ground.

 "I'm her godfather." he said

"You are dead." Rhine pointed out. This time James smirked,

"So are you."  he said and Rhine pouted.

 "So what's it gonna be my dear godchild? Will you let him save you or will you let her take you? Will you give up hope or strengthen it?" my godfather asked. When he put it like that I knew what I would choose. But the pain, oh the unbearable pain. "Be brave Miley, be a Gryffindor." James told me. Rhine's eyes were so sad that I almost changed my mind. So I turned back and she turned away, "Miley," said James, "tell my son...tell Harry, that I'm proud of him and...to be brave; dark times are coming."

The first thing I felt was pain. Then I heard his sobs, he thought I was dead. Whoever he was must have really cared about me. I tried to speak but even my mouth burned, all that came out was a gasp. It must have caught his attention because I heard shuffling and then,

"You are alive! Cammy you...I thought..." The next thing I felt was even more pain and I tried to open my eyes but couldn't . "The dabbing mixture stings I know, but it is the best." he said and I passed out.

I didn't know how long I stayed there slipping in and out of consciousness, my body on fire. It could have been hours, days but I was in pain unable to open my eyes. I started to get better though. Not much but certain areas where less stinging. 

"The swelling has improved and maybe we can move you to St Mungo's soon." he said. I wanted to open my eyes but he had me blindfolded.

"Who are you?" I asked but he did not answer. "I know you but..I don't know you. Please tell me who you are." I asked him but he did not answer. I knew that voice.

That night I had another one of the dreams. I knew it would happen tomorrow. All the Hogwarts students were gathered by the lake dressed in black. Aunt Andromeda, Dora and Ted were there too. My picture was everywhere, and to be honest, it was not my most flattering picture, I mean seriously, just because they thought I was dead did not mean I had to look horrible. Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George looked totally devastated hell, Draco and Zabini were also crying. My funeral. Well memorial, since there was no body. My uncle sat clutching my silver locket looking lost where he was. Dumbledore stood up to talk, I couldn't watch them crying for me.

I just couldn't.

"They are holding my funeral tomorrow." I said

"That is good, I'll leave you at the Entrance Hall when they are all outside so they can find you when they return from there. Take care of yourself Cam." he said.

True to his word, he carried me to the Entrance Hall a few minutes before everyone arrived. He removed my blindfold and ran off before I even opened my eyes.

Being moved had reignited the pain. My body ached but I was alive. And they would find me.

I passed out...... again.