~:Grimmauld Place:~
Grimmauld Place. It had certainly seen better years, even with Veleena's attempt to spruce it up a bit. But with boggarts and doxies lurking about, it had made the process slow and tiring. Not to mention her father's utter lack of enthusiasm in helping her. Sirius and Veleena had had quite a long discussion about her enrolling into Hogwarts for her seventh year. At first, his daughter had been against it. She hadn't wanted to leave him on his own with no one to look after him. But with the insistence that he was not an invalid and the reassurance that since the Weasleys were taking up temporary residence, Molly would make sure he was well fed she had very little argument in her corner. He'd even jokingly said that Kreacher would take care of him. "Yes if he doesn't die of fatigue and bitter old age in the process." It was eerie how much akin she was to him in face and nature. Even Dumbledore had remarked on such. Veleena had been forced to take prep courses over the summer to make sure she would be able to keep up with the work of a seventh year. Seemed she was on top of things, having inherited both her parents natural magical prowess. However, she'd still have to wait till her arrival at Hogwarts before she could be sorted. But even that hadn't stopped her father from digging out his old Gryfindor scarf and wrapping her up in it. Absolutely convinced she'd be just like her dear old dad, the second (and final) Black to be sorted outside of Slytherin. And sadly so, it was really quite likely.
But despite all his reassurances, the pit of her stomach was still twisted with faint unease. She had spent twelve years of her life with the Malfoys. Cissy had always been unfailingly loving toward the young Black, but her husband had not extended the same sentiment. And perhaps it was that, that despite how Lucius had treated her, she owed it to him that she'd fully turned out just like her father. It was hard to say really, that if having his love and approval as a surrogate father would have caused her to accept his values and principles. But it really didn't matter. He hadn't. And she hadn't. And the last year and a half with her father had been remarkably freeing. That was if you left out the part about him being a fugitive and the both of them spending a good six months slinking from town to town and being ever manner of not free. A bond between father and daughter that simply had an iron clad will of its own. And that was it, she was leaving him. All alone in a house he despised with every fiber of his being. Of course he looked a thousand times better now. Healthy, his hair managed, proper clothes. A far cry from the tattered clothed, skeletal, stark raving mad man she'd come across when he'd first escaped.
She rested the tea cup back atop its tray as she stood, smoothing out her dress before she followed her father out of the sitting room. "Oh! Good grief, the Order is bringing him over tonight, aren't they? Honestly, I feel like I've lost my head half the time these days." She hadn't seen Harry since last year, though HE hadn't actually seen her since he was just a baby. Her father wasn't the only one with a canine animagus form to slink around in. Had there always been this many stairs? It felt like ages just to get up to the fourth floor. "I'll have Kreacher be sure to have tea and hot cocoa ready for when everyone arrives. You know how Remus loves his chocolate." A warm smile graced her lips at the thought. It was practically his answer for everything, it was really rather adorable. "Speaking of Remus its…not close to…-that- time, right?" Poor Veleena, she was right scared to death of werewolves now because of her unfortunate run-in with Lupin during his cycle when she was thirteen. Loved -him- to death, but definitely not his condition. Though it wasn't as if it'd gotten so bad that she plotted out the phases of the moon as well just to be sure.
Sirius had a long look at the clock, before starting up the next flight of carpeted stairs with Veleena not far behind. "That's a good point, Veleena. But…I am certain that Remus knows how to manage his condition after decades of scheduling meetings around it." The stairwell was lined with several paintings, pictures and other images of the Black family. Each photo would turn watch Sirius pass and crane to see his daughter at tow. "…Who's there? Who's dirtying my house…!" Sirius' mother screeched from her portrait just at the top of the stairs. "It's the Blood Traitor's offspring…what vile pest!" "As pleasant as always. Good to see you too Grandmother!" 'You filthy child! You are no granddaughter of mine! I have no sons!' "Oh how I wish that were the case…" With a flick of her wand, the curtain drew back over her grandmother's bitterly withered old face. She was certain both her and her father wouldn't mind not being related to the wretch. Sirius had given the portrait a cold glare before setting upon the long corridor of the fourth floor. Her dead uncle's old bedroom had already been over-hauled to be her own. Kreacher had thrown quite a fit about it too, but Sirius had only kicked him down the stairs and told him to shut his irritating old mouth about it. Regulus was dead, he'd not be NEEDING his old bedroom anymore. "Do you need any help packing?" "No, I finished last night. Fred and George helped. Though I think they just made it more difficult. Their ideas of helping are…not terribly helpful. I think I've got everything…" "You look worried?" There was a hesitant pause as her worries rested on the tip of her tongue. "Well….what if he doesn't like me!" Sirius' bark-like laugh echoed down the hallway at his daughter's expense, which of course only made her pouted frown worsen.
"Veleen, you're being ridiculous. Why wouldn't Harry like you?" "Its just… I was raised with the Malfoys and I know how Draco treated him over the years and I-" "Veleena. None of that was your fault. If anything it was mi-" "Stop, please…Please don't." The last thing she wanted was to get into that again. It had been one of the first conversations they had had. And she never ever wanted to see her father asking for her forgiveness for abandoning her, ever again. The conversation looked as though it would take a turn for the worse, and they were both in need of a distraction. And Merlin's beard luck was on her side! Bless Tonks and Remus, they were saints! Of course it was Tonk's clumsiness that let her know others had arrived, the Order along with Harry following in toe. A clear sigh of relief flew past her lips as she smiled as Tonks called out her apology for knocking something over. "I know I'm being silly, you're right. I'm perfectly lovable! Lets get downstairs. I'm sure Harry has been dying to see you, you're the only family he's got left." "Not the -only- family." She knew a lot of his attachment to Harry was that the boy was a carbon copy of James and she didn't doubt for a second that he dearly missed his best friend every day. She smiled lightly as she took his arm after his hand had comfortingly brushed the crown of her head and led him down stairs only releasing him once the greetings commenced and the Order members filed into the dining room to begin business
Veleena's nose scrunched into an awkward smile as she tried to repress her laugh at Tonk's attempting to kiss her cheek with duck shaped lips. Her cousin would do anything for a laugh. Walburga's screams were muffled behind her thick curtain as Kreacher attempted to console his deceased mistress. Everyone simply ignored the sound as though it were no more than white noise of a television set. Alastor had placed a gruff pat on her shoulder as he hobbled past, Remus a chaste kiss on her temple and Shacklebolt no more than a polite nod. The Advanced Guard made themselves at home at the lengthy dining room table as Molly fussed over Harry. "Oh my dear boy. You look a bit peaky don't you? Well, that will have to wait a bit. Meeting is first and then we'll have supper." A few more gentle pats on his cheeks and he was released as she too turned to join the others.
Sirius gave his Godson a healthy squeezed hug before assessing the Order had gotten him there all in one piece. "It's good to see you, Harry. I know you must be anxious to be caught up on everything but I'm afraid you'll have to be patient a bit longer." Sirius was not in full agreement over Dumbledore's orders to keep Harry in the dark. And Veleena was in absolute agreement with her father. But they really had very little choice. The older wizard motioned toward the feminine form behind him "You were a bit too young to be able to remember her, but this is my daughter." Veleena smiled as Harry spoke her name hesitantly. It was a smile that nearly cloned Sirius', a mimicked spark in her twinned pools of striking blue. Sirius gave Harry another pat on the shoulder before heading Remus' call to join them. Veleena craned her head to watch him disappear before looking back toward Harry.
"Come on, I'll show you where you'll be sleeping. Ron and Hermione have been eager to see you as well." She urged him toward the stairs as she took the lead. They passed Kreacher as he mumbled his hushed insults "Ignore him. He's still a bit too loyal to my dead Grandmother. And I am sorry the house is in such disarray. No one has lived her for, oh… at least a decade. But its safe!" And that was really what mattered more than anything else. "I doubt they're as eager as you think they are… I've barely heard from them all summer." The older girl's head craned over her shoulder at Harry's bitterly mumbled words. Her lips were parted as if to come to his friends defense, but she stopped short, thinking it best to let the two explain themselves. Veleena came to stop in front of a bedroom door, her hand inclosing around a brass knob that lacked the luster and shine of its youth. The hinges groaned of years of neglect as she stepped aside, allowing him sight of his ginger haired best friend before Hermione rushed into his arms.
"I'll let you know when the meeting is over and dinner is ready. Try not to wander around too much, we haven't been able to clear out ALL of the nasty new tenants." Doxie stings were never fun. She left the trio to catch up in the privacy of one of the many bedrooms as she made a belated entrance to the Order meeting. There were quite a few heated discussions, the loudest of the lot being Mad Eye and her father of course. Though Molly was known to put in a good elevated pitch of her two knuts. Remus, as always, tried to be the voice of reason amongst the opinionated wizards. She understood Molly's protectiveness toward Harry. After all, the woman had nearly taken him on as yet another son. "If anyone's got a right to know it's Harry. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't even know Voldemort was back! He's not a child, Molly!" "He's not an adult either! He's not James, Sirius. "He's not your son." "He's as good as! Who else as he got?" "He's got me!" "Sirius, if you want to endanger the life of your only child, I've got no say in that, but I will not hear of you trying to put more on Harry's shoulders than he can handle. He's just a boy!" They both had valid points. Harry was still very young. But he had a right to know what was going on. Veleena excused herself after the half hour of listening to debates, taking a quick breather in the hallway when she noticed a fluff of pale orange. That was Hermione's pet…Crookshanks, wasn't it? Thinking the feline had managed to catch something it shouldn't have, she walked a bit closer to notice it batting at….an ear?
Her head lifted to the wide eyes of Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Harry perched on the stairs. The twins spread guilty grins across their faces as she sighed heavily. "The two of you are utterly shameless." She couldn't blame them though. The reason Fred and George weren't present in the dining room was because Molly was absolutely unrelentingly against it. Sirius on the other hand, had insisted his daughter be a part of the Order. And she was happy to do her part. Looking back over her shoulder, she mildly shook her head "Seems as though they've given up for now, dinner should be out soon then. Wash up, the lot of you." Though her tone had the slightest hint of chastisement, it was clear by her exasperated smile she had no intentions of ratting all of them out. She hoped the tempers would have settled by the time the food was laid out across the table.
Helping set out the final dishes, Veleena sat herself next to her father. Idle chatter filled the room, mingling with the sounds of forks and spoons. Things seemed to be falling back into light-hearted ease. Of course, Sirius had a way about him to put a quick end to that. He was unstoppably stubborn. And after bringing up Order business and Harry insisting he too wanted to join, Sirius had a triumphant exclaim and Molly looked more furious than ever. Once dinner was finished, Veleena, Hermione and Ginny all helped Molly clean up. Tonks had been forbidden to do so, Veleena reminding her clumsy cousin, they only had so many dishes to spare. Sirius and Harry left the room to have a private talk before Molly declared it was time for bed.
Veleena knocked gently on the room Ron and Harry were sharing before she heard the muffled invitation to come inside. Poking her head inside, she grinned lightly "Remus and I are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow so if you need anything for school…" She eyed Ron specifically as he gave her a 'What?' expression. "Just let me know before I leave." "Erm…Veleena?" "Hm?" "This portrait… Who's is it?" "Portrait? Oh…well…Honestly, Harry, I haven't the slightest. It could be any number of the Black family. Though it seems whoever it is isn't too keen on keeping you both company. I wouldn't pay it any mind." Though as soon as she closed the door, her high pitched squeal filled the hallway, followed quickly by the sound of her elevated voice "FRED! Stop DOING that! It wasn't bloody funny the first three times, it still isn't!" Her temperamental voice faded down the hallway along with her footsteps, all of which were over-lapped by Fred's laughter.
"We're back!" The front door opened in a flurry of movements as the young redheaded Black shifted awkwardly inside, her arms full of three large brown paper bags filled to the brim with supplies. The 'we' of course, included an equally burdened Remus Lupin, the must taller man towering over her as they scuffled inside as Remus awkwardly closed the door with his foot. Of course, leave it to Tonks to play favorites as her cousin wafted past her to help Remus with his bags, the older man smiling sheepishly before turning head to glance in her direction "Veleena do you need me to help you?" "No no, go flirt with your girlfriend!"
The blasé response was shortened by a sudden squeak as Fred and George appeared on either side of her with a resounding pop, grins widening as she nearly squeezed the contents out of the bags at the sudden fright. "Still. Not…funny…" With a growing glare, she shoved a bag into each of their arms forcefully before the chuckling duo followed her to the kitchen. The air about the house still had a sense of seriousness to it, and while the happenings seemed to hit harder for the younger generations of the house, Veleena was convinced it wouldn't do anyone any good to mope about. Which Molly seemed to share the sentiment, having put the lot of them to work on cleaning.
"Get everything I asked for, Vega?" "Yes. At least, I think I did. Do you realize how hard it is to read your handwriting, Moody? HONESTLY? Its…its… Well, putting ink on the feet of Cornish pixies and letting them run around a piece of parchment would be easier to bloody read! As I'm fairly certain ARSEPUDDLE doesn't EXIST." Both of the twins snorted a laugh, disappearing into the kitchen as she waved his 'grocery' list in the air in exasperation. He snatched it waspishly from her hand to look it over, grumbling to himself. "Asphodel, Black. Bloody clear as day." Alastor knew that it was the furthest thing from 'clear as day', which is why his voice never truly rose from its mumbled state.
Veleena helped Molly unpack all of the various things she and Remus had been sent off to get. Quite a few potions ingredients as well as food for dinner. "Oh, dear, you'll help Harry pick out something proper for his hearing tomorrow?" "Yes, of course." "So much fuss about. I do hope things calm down soon. Off you go then, fetch Harry and make sure his things are laid out. Dinner will be ready soon. And and dear would you mind seeing if Alastor and Severus will be staying for supper?" With a bit of a fatigued smile, Veleena nodded, disappearing back out of the kitchen to seek out Harry, drifting past one of the sitting rooms in the process.
"Moody are you staying for dinner!" "What's that?" "Dinner!" A vague grunted sound was the only response she was given as she called down the hallway to him. Good as a yes in her book. Wandering into one of the drawing rooms, she found the golden trio less than enthusiastic about cleaning. Harry perked up at the sudden sight of the redhead while Hermione was still chastising Ron about his utter laziness. "I'm here to relieve you of your community service for a moment. Come on, Molly asked me to help you make sure you've got everything set for your hearing tomorrow. It wont help your case to be late to something like this." She motioned for the younger boy to follow her as they ascended up the stair cases to the second floor and into the room given to him and Ron.
"But it wasn't my fault-" "Harry, I understand that. I'm not the one you've got to convince. Fudge is not about to hear of You-Know-Who coming back, he'll find anyway he possibly can to keep you quiet. So it's really best that you not make it any easier for him. Now, fetch out your nicest outfit." Though what Harry produced failed to meet Veleena's idea of 'nice'. And he could practically read her mind from the look on her face. "Well you don't expect me to wear dress robes do you? And it isn't like the Dursleys take me shopping every year for new clothes…..Or ever, for that matter." Harry spat the words bitterly as Veleena exhaled a soft sigh. None of her father's old clothes would fit the fifteen year old either, he was significantly shorter than he or even Regulus at that age. "No, I suppose this will have to do. I'll tailor them a bit and make sure they're pressed for morning." "What am I… I mean, what should I …you know…expect?" "I honestly don't know, Harry. I've never been to the Ministry before, I know very little about the Wizengamot and how they work. Arthur will be able to tell you more, I'm sure, he'll be taking you in the morning." "Could you….could you come with me?" There was a moment of silence as Harry stared at her with a vague sense of vulnerability and unease before she offered him a soft smile "Of course I will." She knew if he could truly have his way, it would be Sirius that would be accompanying him to the Ministry, but his daughter was the next best thing, right?
She had saved the least pleasant of her tasks for last as she shoo'd Harry back off to continue to help the slow going cleaning process as she took the flight of stairs up to the third floor. She hesitated at the well worn door shut tightly to the room that held Snape and Shacklebolt. They'd apparently had something of private matters to discuss. She could hear a few hushed voices from within and no part of her truly wanted to interrupt. After a few drawn out seconds, her petite hand lifted to knock softly on the rotting wood. At first she was offered no response before the door creaked open, her aqua blue eyes lifting to meet the steady glare of Severus Snape, his looming figure blocking any view she might have had into the old bedroom. "What is it?" Veleena had had very little interaction with the older man, a bit of a biasedness toward him she'd both inherited from her father and beginning to pick up from Harry. Though, she couldn't honestly say she hated this man, she didn't even know him. But she was wary. And naturally, almost always sided with her father. "…Molly wanted to know if you'd like to stay for dinner?" "Did she now." Veleena exhaled a puff of air as she forced a fake guilty half-smile. "No, Severus. I'm the one who wanted to know. It would just make me so happy if you'd stay!" He stared at her with a parted lip incredulous look before she finally dropped the sarcastic act long enough to flatly state, "Molly's making enough food to feed half of London, I really wouldn't advise declining her, are you staying or not." "…Fine."
"Oh wonderful!" Veleena clapped her hands together a single time in such a sarcastic manner that was far more befitting of her father than herself "And here I was worried we wouldn't have anyone to make the atmosphere at the dinner table cheerful again!" Her tiny hands balled into loose fists next to her shoulders as she mouthed the word 'yay' with an all too arrogant smile that only worsened the glare that was bearing down on her shoulders. She could practically see the insults resting on his sneering lips, "Now if you're quite finished being just as intolerable as your father-" "I find my father quite tolerable actually." "….Leave." Giving him another deceivingly light hearted smile, but he managed to do nothing more than slam the door in her face. She supposed she could be a bit too much like her father, she just couldn't help but taunt him at times. He was just so easy to ruffle.
"SIRIUS! YOU GET BACK HERE WITH THOSE THIS INSTANT!" Veleena stopped short at the bottom of the stairs as her father lightly trotted past in his animagus form with a basket of rolls in his mouth while Molly chased and hollered after him. "Veleena! I don't have time to fool with these childish games, get those from your father, would you!" Biting back a laugh with pursed lips, the young woman nodded, stepping off the stairs and following her father into one of the many sitting rooms. Taking the basket from his mouth he stared at her with inhumanly rounded eyes, his ears pressed back against his head "Oh, don't, just don't. The puppy face stopped working year- STOP IT!" With a frustrated groan, she took one of the rolls from the basket, practically shoving it into his mouth before she huffed, straightening up "You are just the worst kind of person." He didn't seem to care as he happily chewed on the warm buttery piece of bread. Dinner was finally ready half an hour later, bowls and plates of food set out along the length of the table as the scents of every delicious home cooked dish filled the large dining room. Idle chatter and laughter filled it as well as everyone prepared to sit down to eat. Veleena took her usual spot between Sirius and Remus, everyone else filing in suit as tonight's went far better than the previous, even with Snape's scowling face attempting to drown the jovial air.
Dinner was over and the large group of people became slightly smaller as all that remained were The Weasleys in their ancient family home. Harry was once again being entertained by her father, Hermione and Ginny discussing something in another part of the large room while Fred and George and wandered off in a deep discussion over their plans for their new shop. Thinking it best to get Harry's clothes fixed before morning, Veleena started up the stairs with Ron not too far behind before her shoulders were suddenly grabbed. Wide eyed, she found herself being used as a human shield against something unknown to her as the pair stumbled backward, losing balance as she fell on top of him. "Ron! What in Merlin's name is wrong with you!" "You didn't tell me there were spiders in this blasted house!" "…What?" A shaken hand pointed to the withered railing of the stairs as Veleena's eyes landed on a spider. "Oh you must be joking, Ronald." "Joking? Do I sound like I'm bloody joking? That thing is massive!" In reality, it was probably no bigger than a sickle. Climbing back to her feet, her perturbed stare found the wide-eyed face of the youngest Weasley brother. "We've got doxies and boggarts and you think we've not got spiders as well? Have you not noticed the webs everywhere?" She pointed a hand toward the ceiling as his head tipped back, a look of pale faced horror taking over.
"Oh God… they're everywhere. How am I supposed to sleep tonight. Especially when they're the size of that one! It'll probably wander into my bed tonight! No, I can't stay here." Her patience was clearly running thin as she leaned down, grasping his ankle as her hand yanked at his shoe "What're you doing!" Freeing his foot, she took the large shoe and smacked it over the spider resting on the dark cherry wood railing, successfully squashing it. "And now you're safe." She ignored just how put-out he looked despite the mild relief in his eyes as she handed him back his shoe, continuing up the stairs to tend to Harry's clothes before bed. Tomorrow was going to be a taxing day.