Authors Note.
I would like to say thank you to Canimal, Kittenshift17 and Freya Ishtar for inspiring me to write a Thorfinn Rowle story. It is their delicious adaptations of the death-eaters in JKRowlings world that inspired me to bring back and rewrite this story and share it with you all. I do not own the Harry Potter world but if I did, some that died would live, and some that lived would die, because for stories to have a deeper meaning there has to be a little heartbreak.
Friday 14th November 1981.
To my dearest daughter,
At the time of writing, I am sat in a cell of Azkaban Prison, having been sentenced without trial for murders which I did not commit. That, however, does not mean I am not guilty, my recklessness helped with the murder of your godparents James and Lily Potter. Your god-brother Harry has been taken care of by Albus Dumbledore and I wish I could have done something other than this for you. I had no one I could trust not to abuse you or turn you into something I would never wish for.
Your mother chose to leave when you were born, having realized that I had no intention of being the "Lord and Patriarch of the Most ancient and deluded house of Black". She got pregnant with you in the hopes of riches and an easy life and whilst I regret that you were not born in marriage, she gave me the greatest gift I have ever received, you. Do not think too harshly of her kitten, The Fawley family has had a rough century after their fall from grace, and Corrine just wanted something secure. She did find it, married into the Abbott family but no kids as far as I know. Ravenclaws always had a thing for your old man, Kitten, used to make James howl with laughter.
To keep you safe I wanted to hide you in the muggle world, but I will not submit you to a childhood of not knowing magic. Lily often complained that she felt like she had been born into the wrong world even though she loved her family. Instead, I chose to trust my Mother Walburga against my better judgment that she would hide you. I do not know where it is that she has sent you, and when the magic has been performed I and the world will forget that you existed. Trust that I do this for your own protection, as the enemies, I have made in my lifetime will be yours as well. She promised me you would be safe and my Mother might be many things, but she is maniacal when it comes to her family and you, Kitten, are her only grandchild.
This letter will be sent to you in the event of my death if I have not been cleared of all charges and released from this hell. I only hope it does not cause you as much pain to read it as it does for me to write it. You, my darling girl, have been the greatest gift that this old dog could ever receive, and I can only thank you for the all too brief moments that I had with you. I love you as much in death as I do in life, and I hope that you know more joy in your life than I did in mine. I might be named after the brightest star in the night's sky, but you… You are the sun, so bright you burned the darkness in me away.
The enclosed vial will reveal your true identity and release the spells that have kept your memories and true magical core hidden from the world. There are also enclosed memories of my own of you and from Moony, your werewolf surrogate mother. He will bring me back from the dead to kick my ass for that comment, but when you meet him, imagine him freaking out over a baby with hiccups and you will see what I mean. He and James were the best friends I could ever have hoped for and I only hope you have found similar friends. I leave everything I am entitled to, and everything I own to you, with the exception of Grimmauld Place, that I leave to Harry James Potter, my Godson in the hopes that he brings light into the place of darkness.
I wish that you never set a toe in that rotten house, so full of dark memories for me that I would not wish them to taint you. My time to write this is coming to a close, so please understand this, you were wanted, you were not given away out of spite. I wanted you safe and loved and chose the only place I could trust you would be cherished and with a grandmother who knew the truth. Do not be too hard on Diana, she did only as I asked and I placed a spell on her so that she could not reveal that she knew the truth until I die.
Know that I have always loved you, Lyra Black.
Your Father
Sirius Orion Black.
The goblin Razok, senior account broker for Gringotts bank waited whilst she finished reading before passing her a vial to drink. With one arched eyebrow, she eyed the contents and the letter once more. "Is this some kind of sick joke?" Her perfectly manicured fingers were rigid as though she ached to curl them into fists and lash out at the audacity of whomever's idea this was. "Did Malfoy put you up to this, because if so pretending that I am his cousin is beyond disgusting, I used to date him. "She could feel herself getting angrier the more she thought about it.
"There is no mistake, Miss Black, I checked your magical signature before even inviting you into this room. Your guardians, the Parkinson's are being informed as we speak and the magic that has hidden you safely all these years will remove the spells when you drink that vial." Razok seemed unruffled as he watched her from behind his stone desk, clearly used to seeing witches freak out in the bank.
"Guardians?! They are my parents! They have baby pictures of me, I have lived my entire life with them, some letter from a dead felon isn't going to change that, and I am not drinking what could be poison!" Pansy pushed herself to her feet and began pacing around the office, her magic crackling in the air with her temper in a way that hadn't happened since she was a small child learning control.
"They were paid to take care of you, and agreed to have their memories altered of parenting you in order to secure that money. Your father was bankrupt and your mother barren. The funds that your family has been living off, rather ostentatiously are from the Black family vaults. Placed there after the gave their blood to complete the magic that has kept you safe for the last fifteen years." He paused and reached for a file to the left side of his desk, opening and checking the contents before he continued. "Your headmaster is being informed as we speak and I suggest you drink before he arrives. Given his track record when it comes to your family he will likely contest the legitimacy of this document. He will also want you and the Parkinson's remanded in Azkaban for fraud."
Pansy's startled gaze met the goblins fully for the first time since she entered his office at Gringotts and she could not help the small shudder that rushed down her spine at the thought of stepping one toe inside Azkaban. She looked around helplessly trying to think of a way to escape the situation, not wanting to see her Mother in chains. Her eyes settled on the vial and its swirling contents and with a small sigh she reached for the bottle. "Will it hurt?" Her hands were now shaking as she opened the contents and her nostrils were filled with the pungent scent.
Razok shook his head and indicated at the wall to remind her that she did not have much time if this was her decision. Pansy wasn't sure that she really wanted to drink this, but she didn't want to not drink it and ruin her family's lives because she was too nervous to take the chance that the document was correct. She closed her eyes and took three steadying breaths before drinking all the contents of the vial.
The liquid felt like fire rushing down her throat and when the contents reached her stomach as she screamed as though her entire body was on fire. All she could feel was fire and pain, and she was blind to her surroundings. It felt like her body was being burned, broken and reformed and Pansy made a silent vow to never ever use blood magic herself if this was the consequence. It felt like every second would stretch on for eternity as memory after memory filled her mind. Memories of her grandmother Walburga handing her over to the Parkinson's, memories of her father and the rush of love that came with them almost threatened to break her.
She didn't know how long had passed when she finally opened her eyes and saw that she was no longer on the floor but instead seated on the leather armchair that she knew Razok had been seated in before hand. Her hands were shaking, as she stood and walked to the small mirror on the other side of the office. Her legs were shaking and unsteady on her heels as she looked at her reflection. In the mirror the girl looked familiar but different, her hair that had been jet black and pin straight was now loose chocolate curls that better framed her elf-like face.
Her green eyes were now an almost storm gray and her mouth now sported a fuller cupids bow. It was as though someone had ironed out her flaws into something far more graceful and Pansy was uncertain how to react. "Is this really me?" She leaned more forward, almost touching the glass until she found the tiny scars that she knew were hers. The one just under her left eye from where she stole her father's broom to go and play quidditch with Draco and fell from thirty feet into some brambles. She also found the scar on her right shoulder from getting between a fighting Gregory Goyle and Blaise Zambini and Theo Nott had to heal the open gash, although rather poorly leaving her with a scar.
"If you are done admiring yourself Lady Black there are some documents that you need to sign." Razok was clearly impatient as he indicated the paperwork before him and she reluctantly retook her seat. She signed where indicated for the papers concerning inheritance, family properties and duties as the head of house that she would be required to fill. It was only when she got to the last stipulation that she froze "I'm engaged?!" Her voice, she noted was no longer shrill but huskier as though it had dropped a couple of octaves.
"Yes, Lady Black, you are engaged to a Mister "he checked his notes as though matters that did not directly involve gold bored him "Mr. Thorfinn Rowle and sealed in blood from what records that Walburga your grandmother kept indicated. When the spells hiding you with blood magic were broken he would have been reminded of his commitments. As you can see on your own left hand it is rather permanent." Pansy raised her hand and gasped as wrapped around her finger was a ring of black and red knot-work with the initials TR forming the shape of a jewel in the middle.
Before Pansy could begin screaming once more at Razok the door was magically blown open and several wands were pointed in her direction.