Belladonna Rose Black
Chapter One
Nobody And Somebody
AN: Hello my dear reader. At the urging of my sister I rewrote parts of chapter one and did some editing. Sadly that means I have not finish chapter two yet but it it almost done and with any luck I should have it up for you soon. I hope you all enjoy slight changes to chapter one that I have made and thank you all for reading. Also if you see any mistakes please feel free to let me know.
Warnings: I would like to point out in to you all that this story's rating may change in the future. This story will have mention of child abuse and dark theme. So no bitching because you have been warned.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in anyway, shape or form
I still couldn't believe it was real. Even as I sat on the train hidden behind a magical barrier that would soon take me to a magical school. The idea of it was laughable, really it was. Who would have thought just a few months ago that I would be going to a school for magic. Me of all people.
I never thought anything like this would happen to me. My life up to this point had been a little like watching an old horror movie in black and white.
I'm sorry I'm getting ahead of myself. But you see nothing good has ever happen to me and now I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. My name is Belladonna Black. I grew up in West Falls Orphanage where you literally have to work for your meals. Nothing is free. That is the first lesson you learn at the age of three.
Anyways about three months ago I got a letter. Me!
But, there it was written in bright green ink plain as can be. Belladonna Rose Black. The letter showed that I was somebody and that I didn't just appear out of thin air. The letter join my only other keepsakes.
The Orphanage has a strict policy on things that are left with the kids who live there. So, when I was found wrapped in a dark purple blanket with a ragged stuff dog I got to keep them.
Sadly that was all they found with me. They only reason they knew my name was because it was stitched in the front bottom right corner of the blanket. And what a name it was. Back then I had no idea what kind of trouble the name would cause me.
After the letter a woman came to take me shopping and gave me a key to my vault, that's right mine. We got lots of NEW clothing and even more books most of which weren't on the list. Potion ingredients and many other things. Not to mention my very own 13 and 1/4 inch wand made of cherry wood and a Unicorn hair, delicate.
But, the best thing that I got that day was a small black puppy that looked just like my stuff dog. When the Professor said that dogs weren't normally allowed at Hogwarts, my sweet pup turned into a cat and then an owl . The Professor said that he wasn't a dog at all but, rather a shapeshifter. Which only appeared in front of their familiars. She went on to say that no one could take him away from me or make me give him up.
After that I was sent back to the Orphanage to wait for September first and finely that day has come. There I was sitting in an empty compartment with Paramore waiting to pull into the station. The trip to the school took over eight hours. Most of which was spent alone reading a book. The only times I saw anyone was when a brown haired girl came looking for a toad and a blonde boy looking for Harry Potter. Other than those two and a food service witch I was alone.
Paramore had turned into a hamster and was hiding in my robe pocket as I left the train and headed for the boats with the rest of the first years. The castle was daunting in the moonlight. Towering over the little boat I was in like a monster in the night. I almost wished I hadn't decided to come to this school. But as scared as I was I knew this place held the answers I hope to find.
That was how my first year at Hogwarts started and over the school year and then the next I was just another face in the halls that nobody noticed. It was almost like I was at the Orphanage and was just nobody again.
But, then the summer of third year came and I was taken out of the Orphanage early then sent to the Leaky Cauldron. To wait for the start of the year. No one told me why they only told me to stay there. I was use to following orders and I had no problems following these once. Then as I was boarding the train people started staring at me and whispers followed me in the halls. The schools potion master took a sudden dislike of me and the new D.A.D.A. professor only seem to notice me during role call. Anyone else might have demanded to know what was going on. But in all honesty I didn't care.
As the days to Christmas drew closer Harry Potter a Gryffindor of the same year someone who never once even looked at me a Ravenclaw. Cornered me with his two friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. While I was reading on the fifth floor by the window that had a small seat that Paramore loved.
"How are you related to Sirius Black" Harry said in a growl. My age old instinct that had been beaten into me screamed at me to run. But with no way out I stood and with a shaking voice I said " I don't know who that is and I have no family." I try to walk away but, the path was blocked as he said "then why is it that everyone thinks you are his daughter."
My fear was becoming overwhelming as Paramore started growling in my arms as I whispered " I don't have any family I grew up in West Falls Orphanage and I am a nobody. Nothing."
I never really had to deal with anyone at this school and being face with the wizarding worlds hero Harry Potter wasn't an easy start. I like the rest of the school had heard tales of his feats over the last two years. Killing a professor and saving the school from a giant snake that could kill you with a look. The headmaster seem to have a need for the whole school to know what Harry did. But never once had I seen the information outside the school. If the men had that much power and used it to protect Harry Potter. What would he do to me if I was seen as a threat to the boy.
I could feel the tears at the corner of my eyes. As my purple blanket that I had been covering up with started to heat up.
In a bright light the blanket burned my hands and Paramore howled in pain as it burned him to. Throwing the blanket off of me . It showed the undder side of it which had a mostly blank family tree that hadden been there before. I could make out a few places where it look like someone had pulled the stitching out. The only part that I could read was my name in green stitching at the bottom. Next to it connected in a dashed red line was Harry Potter. I look to the boy hero. As his green eyes met my blue eyes a familiar sharp pain rush through my body making me scream and fall flat on my face.
It was a week later that I woke up to find myself in the hospital wing covered in my blanket with Paramore at my side. Standing at the foot of my bed was Professor Lupin his golden eyes sent shivers through my body. For other reasons then the wolf I new him to carrie. He stared at me with eyes that were cold like ice. When he notice that I was awake he turn from me and called for Madam Pomfrey. I could feel the tears burning in my eyes at the cold shoulder I was given. Not that I wasn't use to it.
The days went by and I had taken to spending all my free time hiding outside curled up with Paramore under my blanket. It was during one of these times after I had fallen asleep while reading. That I half woke to a voice saying "I'm sorry my darling that all this is happening to you, I'm so sorry baby." The voice was thick as if filled with tears. I could feel a heavy hand on my head as the voice came again "Daddy loves you pup and he's going to make them see how wrong they were." I drifted back into slumber without fully registering what had transpired.
Later that night as I was making my way inside I over heard Dumbledore say that if they hurryed maybe two lives could be spared. Then just as I was about to turn the corner Hermione and Harry came running down the hall in the opposite direction knocking me off my feet. Neither stop to help me, not that I thought they would.
It was on the train ride home after school let out that I got a real shock. About an hour after we pulled out Harry came to my compartment alone.
"Belladonna" He said his voice dry as if he felt guilty about something but I didn't understand what it could be. I didn't expect him or anyone else to give me a second thought I was nobody after all. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier in the year and making you fall and what not. Um I just thought you would want to know that your dad is innocent of all crimes. It was really Peter Pettigrew who did it."
I just stare at him. The idea that he would apologize to me for anything was mind blowing. Then he had to go and say something about my supposed dad. I didn't have a dad I was nothing. Nobody. And a nobody couldn't have a dad. I was an orphan and that was all I would ever be. It was then I realized he was holding out a letter to me. I took it with shaking hands. On the front was my name in curly handwriting. I open the letter not caring that he was still there.
'Dear Pup,
There so many things I wish I could say to you. I hope you believed Harry when he says that I'm innocent. I use to spend my nights wondering where you where and what was happening to you my angel. You've had a harder life than I ever wanted for you. If there was anything I could do to make it better nothing would stop me. There is nothing I wouldn't give you or do for you. But as it is I can't even see you. I know you are beautiful just like your mother and so smart. My little girl you've grown so much and I've missed it all. I hope more then anything that you can forgive me for not being there for you the way I should've have been. This wasn't how your life was meant to be. You should have grown up loved and happy. I love you my deadly little rose and I hope I can see you soon.
All my love your Father.'
The letter made my heart stop and start all over again. I looked back to Harry but he left at some point while I was reading. For the rest of the train ride I was lost in thought.
The summer months sped by as the normal day to day life at the Orphanage set in. Paramore's base form of a dog was getting bigger and it was getting harder to earn enough food to feed him. Then close to the end of summer a white owl that I knew to belong to Harry Potter; showed up on my window sill, in it's talons was two letters. The first from Harry himself inviting me to the Quidditch world cup with him, the Weasleys, and Hermione.
The other letter was from Sirius. My hands trembled as I open the envelope.
'Dear Pup,
I haven't heard from you so I don't know if you even want to talk to me or just don't have an owl to get in touch with me. I hope you don't hate me. Just incase it was that you don't have an owl I sent this letter to Harry to send to you. I miss you very much my darling and hope to see you soon.
All my love your Father. '
I didn't know what to do. I didn't like Quidditch but the less time I spent at the Orphanage the better. Then again I didn't know the Weasleys, Hermione, or Harry at all. I looked at Paramore in his kitten form and he gave me a stare with his dark brown eyes. I found myself replying to both letters.
'Dear Harry Potter,
I do not like Quidditch but I thank you for inviting me all the same. Also there is no reason to say sorry I hold no hard feelings for you and yours. I'm more the use to being a nobody. And please do not feel the need to include me in your past times just because Mister Black may or may not be my father.
Belladonna Rose Black
PS, Don't give Paramore owl treats he will not take kindly to it if you do. Should you feel the need to feed him, a dog biscuits is more his sort or something else along those lines.'
My next letter took me longer to write. I started over a dozen time before finally finishing it.
'Dear Mister Black,
I am sorry I did not know you wanted a reply and wouldn't have known what to say. You say you are my father but other then the same last name I see no reason to think you have any part in my family tree. I do not understand what you want from me in truth. Did you want some long awaited daughter or some dutiful child waiting for their daddy to come save them. If so then dear sir I am sorry to say but you are looking at the wrong person. I have learned that the price for a family may just be too great for me to want to pay. Nothing in life is free. That is the one true rule I have known all my life, so answer me this. What is the price for you and why should I pay it?
Belladonna Rose Black
PS, Don't give Paramore owl treats he will not take kindly to it if you do. Should you feel the need to feed him, a dog biscuits is more his sort or something else along those lines.'
I sent Paramore and the white owl off with the letters. Before turning back to my work. It was three days later that a reply came from Sirius.
'My Dearest Belladonna,
I am sorry you feel that way, but I can honestly say that no price is to high to pay to have you in my life even if only for a moment. I've included with the letter your birth certificate and a picture of you, your mother, and me. Your mother's name is Isabella Dana Stonewall. I know I have a lot of making up to do with you and I will do everything in my power to make you see that sometimes it is more than worth it. I love you and I hope that some day you will believe that I am your father. If I could change it I would have never left you.
All my Love your father.'
As always his letter seem to have a deeper effect on me then I thought they should. I looked at the birth certificate and then the picture. Both items were then placed back in the envelope and later placed with the letter and other letters I had gotten. My small room was starting to become full. Every room in the Orphanage had three items that are the same. A bed, a dresser,and a small wooden chest that you get at the age of five. The quality of each item depended on how much you worked for them.
When your five, the summer before you start school you have to work at a wood carvers and while there you help make a wooden chest. To pay for the chest you have to clean the man's store and house each day. At the end of summer you're presented with the finish product and a brass lock and key. This is where you keep your keepsakes. Because at the age of five they become your responsibility and if there lost or stolen its no ones fault but your own. When you leave the Orphanage you get to take everything in your room with you. Some kids work for bigger rooms. But I decided to stay with my small size room working harder for the things in it and the lock on the door.
My room had two small windows under one sat my bed; so that I could see the sky at night. Under the other was my handmade desk that as with the chest had been made at the wood carvers store.
I was broken out of my musing by the woodsman yelling at me to get back to work.
During the ride to Hogwarts on September first Harry came to my compartment again this time with his friends following.
"Hi Belladonna. Did you have a good summer?" He asked taking a seat across from me. I stared at him for a minute then look to Ron and Hermione. "It was the same as always" I answered and looked away from the group.
"What happen to your hands" Ron blurted out after a moment of silents. I looked at my hands that were half covered in bandages. Under the bandages the skin was raw and red and some places were bleeding. The blood was starting to seep through the bandages, leaving slight red stains on the white cloth.
I pulled my hands under the cover of my blanket and said "Nothing." Harry reached for my hands but was stopped by Paramore. Who jump down from his place on the storage rack overhead and growled at Harry as he changed shapes from a cat to his base form of a dog. Harry pulled back away from Paramore as Hermione said "You have a shapeshifter those are really rare".
"Enough Paramore." I said which had an immediate effect on him as he once again changed form this time to a fox and jumped on my lap. I then turn to Harry and said "What do you want?"
Harry looked at me for a minute before saying "I just thought we could be friends. You know like we were meant to be. I mean your dad is my godfather that makes us god siblings doesn't it." I felt anger for the first time in a long time as I said "I don't have a father or any family I am nobody why won't you and Mister Black understand that. You both want me to be somebody but I am nobody. So why won't you leave me alone."
"You're not nobody Belladonna you are somebody. If you can't see that then I'll just have to show you. You are Belladonna Black daughter to Sirius Black sister to Harry Potter and that makes you somebody."
I looked at him, I couldn't understand. He thought I was somebody, but everyone at the Orphanage and primary school said I was nobody. Could they have been wrong was I really somebody after all? But still he hadn't wanted anything to do with me until last year. Was he only trying to get to know me because Sirius told him to?
Looking away from him I couldn't help but feel that if it wasn't for last year he probably would never have talk to me. I didn't want any kind of relationship that started with him thinking he had to. No, I would stay away from Harry Potter and his friends