Disclaimer: I own nothing in the Harry Potter world except my OC Isabella Marie Black.
Prologue
Rain poured down, hammering on the roof over their heads. The warmth that once shimmered around the house like a prima ballerina in her prime had disappeared. Mom of seven, Molly Weasley, was stood looking out of the window of her family home, The Burrow. Something was wrong and she knew it. She had heard of the mis-fortune of the two elder Potters, the survival of the baby, Harry, and the disappearance of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named a few days ago. She should be celebrating the end of the war. She should be celebrating that the deaths of her brothers were no longer in vein. But something is keeping her on edge, and it is not her eleven month old baby, or one year old son, no, they were both in bed along with the elder children. A chill was in her bones. Something was definitely wrong, something terribly wrong.
"Molly, we should be getting to bed. It's late" said her ever loving husband, Arthur Weasley. Arthur was worried about his wife. She had been stood by the window since she put down their daughter Ginny to bed. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Something is wrong Arthur. I have that chill in my bones again" Molly replied, remembering back to the last time she felt such a feeling. She had felt it only a few hours before they heard of the murder of Molly's older twin brothers Gideon and Fabien and then again hours before discovering the murder of Arthur's little sister Sarah Ginevra Black, formally Weasley. Molly had taken it as a warning for danger ever since.
Arthur didn't know what to say, just the mention of the feeling that Molly felt reopened the mental scar from his sisters murder. "Come, we shall go to bed and tomorrow everything will be as right as reign and this can all be forgotten."
Molly, still unsure, just nodded hesitantly taking a step away from the window. The pair of them hadn't even made it to the stairs when there was a knock on their door. Both of their breathes caught in their throat. History was repeating itself. Both can vividly remember that only a year ago the exact same thing happened to them, though on that occasion they weren't expecting to hear of a death of a family member, this time they were prepared for the worst. Who was the victim this time?
Arthur shared a glance with Molly before heading to the door. "Who is it?" he called though the door.
"Albus Dumbledore" He replied.
"What was the first thing Albus Dumbledore said to me when I started Hogwarts?" Arthur asked.
"A man of such charisma should never hold such a grudge" Albus replied.
Arthur nodded to himself and opened the door. Albus Dumbledore stood just outside the door, with a charmed umbrella floating above his head.
Arthur moved aside as Molly shuffled into the kitchen, preparing a drink for the elderly headmaster. Albus had already taken a seat in the Weasley lounge when Molly returned, tea ready. She placed the tray on a coffee table in the center.
"What do we owe the pleasure of this visit Dumbledore?" asked Arthur.
"Some bad and good news I'm afraid" Replied Dumbledore, pouring some tea into a cup.
"Bad and good news?" asked Molly.
"Bad news for some, good for others I guess." He replied, taking a small sip.
"Albus you're talking in riddles" exclaimed Arthur, who was never one for patience.
Albus placed down the tea cup and sighed, deciding to be blunt with the young couple. "Your brother-in-law, young Sirius Black, has been arrested and taken to Azkaban"
"Arrested? Whatever for?" exclaimed Arthur.
"He is being charged with accusations of being a death eater, as well as the charges of murdering young Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles on a muggle street. It has also come to attention that Sirius Black was the chosen secret keeper of The Potters, meaning he was the one to tip of Voldemort as to the location of the Potters. The Aurors who caught him said he was laughing like a crazy man. He was taken straight to Azkaban after arrest." Explained Albus.
Neither Molly or Arthur knew what to say. Neither had known Sirius Black very well considering he was married to Arthurs younger sister. Both simultaneously seemed to recognize a singular problem.
"With Sarah gone and Sirius in prison, who will be taking little Isabella?" asked Molly with a stain of worry in her voice.
"That is, in fact, the reason I am here at such a late time. Whether you were aware or not the Godmother of little Isabella is Alice Longbottom, who as you may of heard is in St Mungo's with her husband, while her Godfather was James Potter, and I'm sure you know of his fate. The ministry discussed admitting her to an orphanage, but I have managed to talk to them and request the option of you raising little Isabella." Explained Albus.
"Oh Albus we would love to have her here – but – how would we support her? We are stretch thin on money as it is" exclaimed Molly.
"Nonsense Molly, we have enough for little Bella. She'd be no trouble, and I will let no niece of mine go to an orphanage when there is a perfectly good family right here to take care of her. We will work something out" claimed Arthur. He knew he wouldn't let this chance slip. He owed his sister that much. He owed his niece that much.
"The ministry have agreed that should you take care of young Isabella, a monthly sum from the Black family vault will be transferred into yours to help care for the girl. The rest of the money in the vault shall be left to Isabella to have when she comes of age." Continued Albus, a smile gracing his features and a twinkle in his eyes.
"We'll take her Albus." Declared Arthur.
And so the deal was set. Isabella Marie Black would be cared by her aunt and uncle until a point where she comes of age.
