Harry Potter and the House of Black

By Eamane-Shu

 

 

 

Fifteen years ago.

 

 

The child hid under the bed as she heard shouting coming from downstairs. She heard her mother’s voice, raised with a note of panic. The voices from downstairs were louder, people were shouting now, she could hear new voices now, not just those of her mother’s and her mother’s friends. She could hear bangs, as well as spells being shouted. After about ten minutes everything went quiet. Soon somebody would come and get her the child reasoned to herself. Her mother would want to make sure she was alright, especially after all the noise.

Sure enough, the child soon heard two pairs of footsteps coming closer and closer to where she lay hidden. It wasn’t her mother, her mothers steps were louder, and her heeled shoes clicked on the wooden floor in the corridor, these footsteps were softer, and more even than her mothers. With a click, her bedroom door was opened, she clasped her hands to her mouth to stifle a gasp, but it was too late.

 

“Did you hear that?” She heard a man’s voice whisper, but there was no answer from his companion.

 

“Evanesco” Then suddenly the bed was no longer there above her, she was lying in the middle of the room, facing two wizards that she had never seen before in her life.

 

“Frank wait!” The younger of the two shouted to the other, who had his wand raised, “It’s just a kid!”

 

The older auror lowered his wand in surprise, as the girl slowly stood up, he eyed her slowly and turned to his friend. “I’m going to fetch Moody, watch her carefully.”

 

The younger wizard smiled at her warmly, as she stared up at him through wide, dark eyes. “Do you live here?” He asked kindly. She nodded slowly, not trusting him enough to speak. “My name is Kingsley” he said offering her his hand, she shook it slowly and cautiously “What’s yours?” Unfortunately she didn’t have time to answer as the wizard known as Frank had reappeared with another wizard, who she didn’t recognise.

 

Kingsley turned to his superiors and spoke to them quietly, “The girl has confirmed that this is her house.”

 

Frank continued for him “Meaning that she must be Nott’s daughter.” At the word Nott, the girl’s ears pricked up, she recognised her mother’s last name.

 

“But Nott is” But what her mother was, the girl didn’t get to hear as Frank elbowed Kingsley quickly before nodding towards her.

 

“We should take her back to headquaters” the new wizard said gruffly, we cant leave her here. And Dumbledore will know what we should do with her. With that the two older wizards left her alone with Kingsley again.

“What’s your name sweetheart.” He asked her again.

 

“Meissa” the girl replied coolly, “Meissa Black.”

 

“Black?” he asked confused for a moment, the girl nodded, before he continued, “What’s your mother’s name?” He knew the Black family, he had been 3 years below Sirius Black at Hogwarts, he catagorized the women in the family, Andromeda, no, she was married to Ted Tonks, Narcissa, no, she was married to that Malfoy scumbag, Bellatrix, possibly, although she had never seen the maternal type.

 

“Echidna Nott”

 

“So Black?”

 

“Is my father’s name” she finished for him, with a bored expression on her face. But Kingsley hadn’t finished yet. Death eater orphans were unusual, but not unheard of, the more they knew about her family, the greater the chance that she wouldn’t have to go to a foster family.

 

“What is your father’s name.”

 

“Castor Black”

 

Kingsley immediately recognised the name, he had investigated the Blacks last year, as suspected death eaters, the two elder Black’s were definitely not death eaters. Although they definitely agreed with what you-know-who, was trying to achieve, they were not part of the death eaters, although the youngest son was still under suspicion, although no evidence has ever been found to prove Regalus guilty. 

 

“Come along then” and the small girl slipped her hand into his as they left the room. They walked down the corridor, and down the stairs, at which point the child caught sight of a woman being covered up with a sheet. The child stared as the auror’s took the body of her mother away. She tugged at Kingsley’s sleeve. He knelt down as to be on eye level with the child, he hadn’t meant for her to find out about her mother like this, he thought that the others would have removed the body by now, but they had obviously been delayed.

 

“What is going to happen to me now?.” Her dark brown eyes, framed by dark pretty eyelashes were as emotionless now as they had been in her bedroom; she seemed to be asking the question out of mild curiosity more than anything else.

 

“We’re going to find somebody to look after you.” Perhaps her father will take her the auror mused, he certainly could afford to support the child, after all money and the Black name had always gone hand in hand.

 

The child was now gazing at the body of her mother, with a detached look on her face. She was so small and lost.

 

Later that night she was sitting in the Auror Headquarters with Kingsley, he had obtained a colouring book and some crayons from an assistant that he had sent out to Diagon Alley, although she wasn’t using them .Instead she sat in silence staring at the pictures of known death eaters that the ministry was currently hunting with a look of a child who was merely looking at pictures from a family photo album.

 

This is how she was when Albus Dumbledore found her, still dressed in a pair of soft pink pajamas, wrapped up in Kingsley Shacklebolt’s cloak.

 

“Hello my dear.” He said as he inspected the child from behind his half moon glasses, and when his piercingly blue eyes met her brown ones he was completely unable to read the expression behind her face. “And what’s your name then?”

 

“Meissa Black.” She replied, with a hint of pride in her voice, Dumbledore noticed, proud to be a Black.

 

Dumbledore stared at the child for another moment, before motioning to Kingsley to join him in the booth next door. Meissa could only hear snatches of the conversation, and the two men kept looking at her as they spoke

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.

 

“I spoke to her father earlier, in quite some detail, and although he is sorry about the situation with her mother he can’t take in the child.”

 

“But it’s his daughter.”

 

“And on that grounds he is willing to pay for any expenses that the child may need, but he cannot take her home, it’s his wife you see, she has refused to acknowledge her existence, and she doesn’t want people to know about her husbands affair.”

 

“I take it the wife cannot be perswaded?”

 

“Alas no, but the situation is worse than we first imagined.

 

“How?”

 

“It’s the Malfoy’s.”

 

“What of them?” Kingsley looked worried.

 

“They’ve offered to take the girl in, on account that they knew her mother quite well.”

“But they’re death eaters, I mean it’s never been proven, but they obviously are. You cannot let this little girl go home with a pair of death eaters who will deliver her straight back to you-know-who, and you said yourself she’s been at meetings, your spy has seen her!”

 

Dumbledore nodded his agreement.

 

“Does she have any family that could take her in?”

 

“There was one person, and he is on his way now, but whether he will agree to take her in or not I have no idea.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Sirius Black.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Dumbledore sat down in the chair opposite the girl, and smiled at her warmly, but the girl did not smile back, she just appraised him coolly, until at last she spoke.

 

“What happened to my mother?”

 

“I am sorry to have to tell you this but she is dead.” Replied Dumbledore evenly.

 

“I know that she is dead.” Meissa continued, still emotionless, “I saw her at the house, I want to know what happened.”

 

“She was killed by an auror. Do you know what an auror is?”

 

Meissa nodded slowly. “They kill death eaters.”

 

“And do you know what death eaters are?”

 

Meissa shook her head slowly, looking at Dumbledore, hoping for an answer, to his question, but none came, and she could not bring herself to ask.

 

There was a soft knock on the door, and a young man with floppy black hair and Meissa looked up to meet a pair of eyes almost identical to her own.

 

“Hello Meissa” he said quietly “My name is Sirius, and I’m going to take you home.” He walked towards her, and she felt strong arms around her, scooping her up, carrying her out of the office, out through the main entrance to the ministry, and via floo powder to a small house.

 

By the time Sirius had carried the child home she had for the first time in her life fallen asleep in somebody’s arms.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

6 months later.

 

“Meissa can you come downstairs now please.” A young witch with soft wavy strawberry blonde hair called from the hallway, “Sirius is here to pick you up.”

 

A small girl with bright red hair in pigtails came bounding down the stairs and threw herself on a grinning Sirius, who was standing in the hall, giving him a huge bear hug until he reached down and picked her up, kissing her on the cheek.

 

“Miss me?” he asked smiling.

 

Meissa nodded enthusiastically, while Lily reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair from the young girl’s face. “Of course she did.”

 

“Tell James that I’ll call round and see him tomorrow.” Said Sirius putting Meissa down, and watching her put her coat and shoes on, with a little help from Lily, when it came to tying the laces.

 

“That will be nice” Lily smiled, “Remus is planning to come along too”

 

“Can I come?” Meissa suddenly burst out excitedly.

 

“We’ll see” Sirius mused, Lily caught herself from laughing, not like Sirius would have a choice in bringing her, as all three of his babysitters would be at their house. Mind you Lily was planning her revenge with babysitting duties, as soon as the little one was born, Sirius was going to be repaying all the favours he owed her.

 

“Bye Lily” Sirius smiled as he pecked her on the cheek, Sirius smiled, James may have his faults, but he did have an impeccable taste in women. Sirius smiled, thinking back to the wedding that had happened just over a year earlier. It had occurred on a beautiful summer day and it had been a lovely ceremony. And the evening reception was even better, especially when the champagne had started flowing. And now the pair had their first child on the way, Sirius still considered them all far too young and stupid to have children, well maybe not Lily so much. Lily Potter was a born mother if ever there was one. She had worked miracles with Meissa, since they had started spending so much time here she had become a happy normal little girl, who was blossoming through love and attention.

 

“Bye Lily” Meissa called cheerfully as Lily bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

 

“See you tomorrow pumpkin” she whispered in the girls ear and winked conspiratorially.

Meissa’s face beamed at that comment and she waved madly as Sirius took her hand and the pair walked into the fireplace. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

The next day the Potters were holding a barbeque for two of their best friends. Lily was tending the food, with James attempting to help her, but unfortunately cooking in any form had never been James Potter’s strong point, and he was probably hindering more than he was helping. Sirius watched the pair, as James bent down to kiss Lily tenderly on the lips, he had never seen a couple so in love before, and it made him feel, well frankly slightly nauseous.

 

“OY! Prongs, Evans! Get a room.”

 

James and Lily simultaneously turned and glared, before laughing. “I’ll have you know padfoot that her name isn’t Evans, actually it’s Potter. Because” he continued, now turning to Lily “this beautiful woman is my wife.”

 

Sirius rolled his eyes before turning to see what Meissa was doing, she was still happily playing exploding snap with Remus, who was letting her win, although she was oblivious to this fact.

 

Lilly wandered over and took a seat next to Sirius, “It’s nice to see her like this, isn’t it?”

 

Sirius nodded. “When she first arrived, I thought she was hollow or something. Nothing inside.”

 

“It’s amazing what a little TLC will do.”

 

“Especially from you Lily.”

 

“Sirius you give me far too much credit.”

 

“You are the closest thing that little girl over there has to a mother.”

 

“ I know” said Lily sadly. “And I worry about that fact so much, she’s so young and she’s been through so much, her mother bringing her into Voldemort’s inner circle, what kind of person does that to her own child.” She unconsciously started rubbing her belly.

 

“Don’t worry Lily.” Lily stared at him, his dark eyes meeting her green ones, “That baby of yours is going to grow up with more love around him than anyone of us could imagine.”

 

Lily hugged Sirius tightly, the beginning of tears in her eyes.

 

James started walking over to the pair, and Sirius jumped up like a shot.

 

“Don’t look at me! I did NOT just make the pregnant woman cry.”

 

James burst out laughing, he was getting quite used to Lily’s overemotional state.

 

“Oh tell me you did not just refer to me as the pregnant woman” Lily squealed.                

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

“Hello Albus” Lily said softly when Dumbledore apparated into their living room.

 

“Hello Lily, James.” Dumbledore replied gently.

 

“What’s the matter?” James questioned suddenly, “You said it was urgent.”

 

“There has been a prophecy made.” Dumbledore said solemnly. “Outlining the only individual that has the power to vanquish Voldemort.”

 

“That’s wonderful news” said Lily joyfully, “ we should celebrate, who is it?”

 

 Dumbledore remained quiet for a moment before continuing. “There are two possibilities, it could be your unborn child” Lily gasped, but he continued before either of the Potter’s could interrupt. “or it could be the unborn child of Frank and Alice Longbottom.

 

“What exactly did the prophecy say?” James asked firmly, holding Lily’s hand so tightly that his knuckles were white.

 

Dumbledore, using his wand, picked up a small silvery strand from a glass phial and placed it on the table, immediately a small woman with bat like spectacles started speaking in a harsh tone;

 

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...”

 

“There is worse news still.” Lily stared at him, her green eyes full of emotion, in an otherwise blank face. “Voldemort has heard the prophecy, in part, and it will only be a matter of time before he comes for your child.

 

Dumbledore watched as tears streamed down Lily’s face, and suddenly she was sobbing into James’ shoulder, who himself had tears in his eyes. Lily completely broke down, and her legs gave way beneath her.

 

“Lily.” Dumbledore said comfortingly “We wont let him hurt your child, we will do everything in our power to stop Voldemort from finding you.”

 

Lily for the first time in her life flinched at the use of the name, “I was never scared of him before.” she whispered.

 

“There is a spell, The fidelius charm. It is the magical concealment of a secret in a single living soul, the secret keeper. It makes you impossible to find unless the secret keeper chooses to divulge your secret.”

 

James nodded grimly, “We’ll do it, who should we choose as our secret keeper?”

 

“I would do the honours if you wish, it is your choice, naturally. But you need to choose somebody you can trust.”

 

“Sirius will do it.”

 

“Are you sure.”

 

“There is nobody on this earth that I trust more.”

 

 

 

James and Lily’s son was born just over three months later. They named him Harry James Potter. The day that Harry was born Dumbledore performed the fidelius charm enclosing the secret of where James, Lily and Harry within Sirius. However the plan however ingenious made Sirius even more of a death eater target than he had been previously, Sirius realised that it was only a matter of time before the death eaters caught up with him, he persuaded James to change their secret keeper to Peter Pettigrew, who immediately betrayed them to Voldemort.

 

 

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