Prelude

Devon England 1980

Amos Diggory had never been an easy man to catch off guard. Working at the Department for The Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures, he was always prepared for anything. Any job could easily turn deadly; say a clue led to the illegal breeding of dangerous animals such as dragons for example. And with a three-year-old son and perfectly perfect wife waiting for him at home, he couldn't bear to leave them behind if something were to happen to him. So, he was always alert and ready for anything.

However, something he was not prepared for, was a house elf holding an infant and black cat standing at his doorstep on a cold November night only days after the Dark Lord was vanquished.

"Oh-" He looked down at the mismatched trio and was at a loss for words. The cat suddenly ran between his legs and into the house, but before he had a chance to stop the feline the house elf spoke up.

"Kreacher, sir." It introduced in a miserable tone "House elf to the Black family" The stout elf looked extremely irritable as he bounced the sleeping child in his arms.

"Black?!" Drawing his wand Amos took a step away from the house elf and looked out into the darkness of his yard. Sirius Black had been apprehended only this morning for the murder of Peter Pettigrew and a handful of muggles.

"Amos…"

Diggory spun around and his skin drained of all color. He felt physically sick and barley registered the sound of the door behind him closing. He couldn't focus on anything because standing before Amos was someone he had thought long dead. Someone who Amos spent the last year of his Hogwarts education begging not to follow his family ideals. Someone who broke Amos' heart when news spread of his succession to death eater. His childhood best friend.

Regulus Black.

"Imp- That's impossible" Amos could barely speak as his knees grew weak from the shock. Everyone in the wizarding community had heard of Regulus' death. He had tried abandoning his title as death eater and Voldemort had him sentenced to death. Many variations of the story had gone around this past year, each more gruesome than the last, but no one can say for sure what had happened.

"My friend-" Regulus had only taken a step forward when Amos regained his composure and threw his arm up, pointing his wand at his ex-best friend.

"Revelio" Amos roared, thrusting the charm forward only for there to be no change on the man in front of him. This was no disguise.

In a gesture of surrender Regulus lifted both arms in surrender and cease any more movements in Amos's direction. "It's me Diggs" his eyes were earnest in their pleading for his old friend to believe him "I swear it"

Amos didn't lower his wand and, if anything, a more aggressive look crossed his face. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? A dead man! In the middle of the night?" he hissed "An ex death eater? In the same home as my child! How dare you!"

Regulus looked down to the small bundle in Kreacher's arms at the mention of a child. He looked back to his old friend after a second and his shoulders dropped in defeat. "This was a mistake" he whispered "I should have never-"

A cry cut him off and Kreacher started fumbling with the infant who was now awake in his arms, crying her head off. Regulus made a move towards them, but Amos readjusted his arm threateningly, non-verbally demanding he stay where he was.

"Amos? Is that a-" Violet Diggory's gasp cut her off as she poked her head down the stairs to see her husband, wand raised at tall man she didn't recognize. The child's cry brought her attention to the grey blanket the house elf bobbed up and down erratically.

Motherly instincts kicking in, she rushed down the stairs, brushing her husband's hand off as he attempted to stop her. Stopping in front of the house elf she reached her arms out "May I please help?"

Kreacher was about to tell Violet (not too kindly) that he didn't need her assistance, but Regulus stopped him before he opened his mouth. "It alright Kreacher"

With a hard glare and a second's hesitation, he finally relented and handed the small child to the woman's awaiting arms.

Amos instantly felt uncomfortable with his wife in the same room as an ex death eater whose intentions were not made clear, but when he tried protesting her actions Violet shushed him. "She's just a child Amos" she pulled the small brunette to her shoulder and began rubbing a hand against her back. The baby's cries died down to little hiccups and Violet was smiling. "There, there, you pretty thing" she pulled the baby back and looked into her watery brown eyes. "And what could your name be, love?"

"Ria" Regulus spoke softly from his place still rooted in front of his old friend, but a loving smile pulled at his lips when he looked at the baby girl "Ariadna in full but Ria to me and Kreacher"

"Regulus" Amos' patience was running thin as his anxiety skyrocketed "What are you playing at? Showing up here after not speaking for years. And with your child?" He glanced back at his wife who was smiling at the baby blowing kisses into her round cheeks.

Regulus looked to the ground, his face falling with his emotions "I don't know what else to do Amos. I should have listened to you in our school days, I should have been more like Sirius and abandoned my family's ideals" he pulled the sleeve of his left arm up to show a patch of angry red skin where his dark mark had been. It looked to be burned. "I tried getting out when I saw what real evil was. What… he was."

He glanced at Kreacher who was present the day he renounced himself as a death eater. They both winced at the memory. "Ria… she isn't mine" he gave Amos a frown before looking away "She's Sirius's"

"Sirius? Sirius Black" Violet asked as she looked up from the giggling child.

Regulus gave a quick nod "He thinks her to be dead. Thinks Vane killed her not soon after her birth"

"Octavia Vane? The necromancer?" Amos finally lowered his wand now that the familiar name had been brought up. She was years ahead of them in school, but everyone knew of the last living necromancer. "What's Sirius doing with her?"

"From what she's said, he didn't know her identity" Regulus shook his head in shame "She killed a member of the order and infiltrated it in her place, seduced Sirius to conceive the child." He glanced at his now calm niece whose attention had been turned to the familiar voice of her uncle "When she was caught right after birth she took Ria and went back to her position with the death eaters. Spread a rumor that she killed the child to regain her necromancer abilities"

Violet gasped and pulled Ria close to her. As a mother herself, to even suggest she'd done anything to harm her own child was unthinkable. Regulus continued "It was true in a sense, Octavia lost her necromancer abilities after falling through on a deal with the dealer of her magic. She planned on waiting for Ria's powers to develop before taking them for her own. When I knew that I'd be leaving, there wasn't an option to leave Ria behind. Especially now that the dark lord has been vanquished. Everyone who follows him would do anything to use her powers to revive him"

Amos felt torn. One part of him, the rational side was telling him to send Regulus away. If what he said was true, not only was harboring a fugitive of the law but of the dark lords' followers as well. Adding his niece, daughter of Sirius Black and Octavia Vane, to the equation spelled out a danger he couldn't imagine.

Tiredly he walked to the armchair and collapsed quite dramatically. He ran a hand over his face and gave Regulus a sad look "What exactly are you asking of me Reg?"

Now that he was less on alert and more relaxed Amos could see the worry lines that seemed to have permanently etched themselves on his old friends' face. Regulus sounded so small as he answered, "I don't know mate" He grinned but there was no trace of humor in his face "Kreacher and I have raised her the past year while I tried tracking Sirius down to tell him the truth but he was in hiding until this morning. I can't very well tell him in Azkaban. Not only do I risk my exposure but that of Ariadna as well."

Violet felt the child grow more restless as she started reaching out for her uncle, and without hesitation, the woman walked over to the feared death eater and passed the child along, who immediately conceded to the familiar touch of her uncle.

Violet would never admit it out loud but seeing the way he handled the child so gently, and how the child responded with such adoration, convinced her that Regulus had no ill intention. He was just a man trying to save his niece whom he so clearly loved. She looked back towards him as he began speaking.

"Octavia is still searching for her. She has no idea that I'm alive or the one who took her." Ria reached up with her chubby little fingers and pulled at his beard "I fear what might happen to her if I'm to be caught. Octavia…" he finally looked up but not to Amos. His eyes set on the warm green eyes of Violet Diggory "Octavia has never once held her with the care you have, and you've only just met her. Vane has never once viewed this precious child as her own but as a mere tool"

"We'll take her-"

"Violet!"

"No Amos!" She gave her husband a firm look. The same one she gave him after three years of dating and demanded that they get married, or else she would leave him. The same look she gave him when she swore their first son would not be named after her father but his own father, Cedric Amos Diggory. It was the look that she wore the first day he set eyes on her as she fiercely defended the goals on the Yorkshire quidditch pitch. It was the look of her unbreakable determination and Amos had known that he wasn't going to win this one.

"She needs it. If this child has necromancer blood in her she'll need all the positive love and reinforcement a stable happy family can give her. She'll need to know what goodness is, before her own darkness tries to consume her" She grinned down at the small child who was too preoccupied with her uncles finger to understand the life decisions being made around her. "When I held her in my arms, it felt right Amos" she looked at her husband with tears pooling in her eyes "It felt like she belonged in my arms, always"

Amos was not happy. He didn't like the idea that if not now, one day, his family could be in danger. Taking this child in would make her family, she would one day be in danger and he wasn't sure he'd be able to protect her from it. How could he willingly take the role of a father to a child that he may not be able to protect? How would he live with himself knowing that before she was even his, he had failed her?

His eyes wandered from his wife to his old friend. He knew Regulus like the back of his hand before he joined the ranks of death eaters. He was a rubbish liar and the desperation he showed this evening couldn't be faked. He heaved a heavy sigh before standing from his chair and approaching the 'presumed dead' Black sibling.

Regulus knew what Amos was doing as he neared him, so he adjusted his hold on Ria and held her out to the only man he could call a friend. Amos took the almost one year old in his arms and tucked her into his chest before looking down at her deep dark brown eyes. She stared back up at him, molten chocolate eyes, filled with such innocence he felt his own fill with tears.

He understood what Violet meant when she said it felt right holding the child. The warmth from her small bundled form spread from his arms to the rest of his body, warming him from the inside out. It was the same feeling he experienced when he held Cedric for the first time. Her unwavering gaze is what sealed the deal in his heart. Here in his arms, was his daughter.

"And what of you?" He finally asked reluctantly pulling his gaze away from the child to Regulus.

The child's uncle smiled "I'll take on my Animagus form." He reached over and rubbed small Ariadna's dark hair "No one knows of my existence. With my family gone I'll go back to my old home and devise the best plan to keep Ria safe." His face grew grim when he met Amos' eyes "She'll only be safe once Vane is gone."

He stepped away from the newly grown family and gave them a small smile "I'll be in touch though, as long as it's safe" he lifted his hand to his mouth secretively "Kreacher would never admit it, but he's grown quite attached to my little niece. Won't be able to keep him away for too long"

Before Kreacher could protest and with a mischievous glint in his eye Amos hadn't seen since their school days, Regulus apparated out of the small home with the house elf in tow.

.:0:.

Eight years later

A distraught eight-year-old sat curled into herself against one of the giant pillars at Kings Cross, platform 9 ¾.

A black cat was tucked into her side, nudging her every few minutes but she ignored it. Instead, glaring at each person who glanced her way with a tearful glower that made her look about as dangerous as a pygmy puff. Her cheeks were red with a mix of embarrassment and unreleased anger and anyone with eyes could see she was upset.

A dramatic sigh came from the cat and she turned her glare down to it only to find it rolling its eyes back up at her. "I don't care if you think I'm being a spoiled brat Uncle. I'm not saying goodbye"

Finally having enough of her tantrum and knowing she won't stay by herself for too long the slender feline gave a nonchalant 'mew' and strode away from her. She saw it leave in the same direction as where she left her family and grumbled before dropping her head into her raised knees. "Stupid Ced. Stupid school. Stupid Scotland. Stupid Hogwarts. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Cedric"

"Careful there" a voice above her spoke "Any more 'Stupid somethings' and you might actually sound like you're talking to yourself"

Ariadna's head snapped up to see two boys with flaming red hair and wide grins staring down at her. Her speechlessness only seemed to amuse them more as their grins spread wider.

"What?" She managed before they simultaneously leaned down and grabbed each of her arms, pulling her up to her feet. She was too stunned by their forwardness to say much, so they proceeded to keep her arms wrapped up in each of their respective grips and started moving into the crowd.

"So, what's the story princess?" The one to her left asked

"Lost?" The other asked

"First year?"

"Nah Georgie, she looks too young"

"Right you are Freddie"

The one who spoke first and who the other had called 'Georgie' looked down at her "Lost she is then"

Fred grinned "A lost princess"

George nodded his head in thought "Lost princess seems likely" he looked down at Ria in all seriousness "Was it the trolls?"

Ria really tried speaking, but she couldn't keep up with their rapid-fire statements and questions. "T-trolls?" She managed.

"It's worse than we thought George! The trolls have turned her brain to pumpkin juice!" Fred stopped suddenly and pulled her to stand in front of them as he gazed at her in concern "Poor lost princess has a speech impediment!"

"I do not!" She finally managed pulling herself out of his grip and glared "I'm a runaway princess if anything!"

Ria felt her cheeks heat up after falling into their little game and the twins smirked with a wicked gleam in their eye. "Runaway you say?" Fred crossed his arms over his chest.

"Where are you planning to run off to?" George asked mimicking his brothers pose.

"Scotland?"

"Paris?"

"America?"

"I don't think you'll do too well in Russia" Fred poked her side and she jerked away from him "bit cold there and you don't have an ounce of fat on you to warm yourself"

"Fred!" George feigned shock "You can't just tell her she hasn't enough fat! Have some tact man!"

Ria's glare crumbled as a smile broke out on her face from their antics. She brought a hand up to cover her mouth, but it didn't go unnoticed by the two gingers in front of her. "That's better" George gave her head a little pat

Fred nodded "I thought were going to have to actually do something funny to make you smile"

Ria, finally relaxing, gave them both a small grin "Ria Diggory" she held both hands out crossed over the other to accommodate both boys dominate hand.

The twins smiled back and shook her and "Fred" "and George" "Weasley" they said their last name in unison.

"So, what's with the long face Diggory?" Fred started "I've seen you at the ministry 'bring your child to work' days with your dad"

"Never seen you look so glum before" George finished.

Ria nodded before glancing over at the Hogwarts Express "It's my older brothers first year" she looked down suddenly feeling extremely childish saying out loud what was bothering her "I'm…"

"Going to miss me?"

A new voice spoke up behind her and she looked up to see Fred and George staring at someone behind her. She looked back to see Cedric smiling his gentle smile he reserved special, just for his little sister. Her pet cat standing next to him, tail swinging back and forth.

Ria's eyes were suddenly overflowing, and she threw herself into her older brothers' arms. "I'm sorry I've been an absolute baby, Ced" she sobbed.

Fred and George grinned at the siblings and nudged each other playfully "Elder Diggory just came along and ruined all our hard work" George's sighed "Guess he'll be our first victim at school. What say you Forge?"

"Aye Gred, real tragedy it'll be" he looked over the siblings one last time and turned away, in the direction of his own family "Let's find mum before she has a conniption, rather not get a howler our first morning there"

George smiled and followed his twin into the crowded platform towards their family "Charlie was only there a week before he got his first one. Wouldn't mind beating him at it"

The Diggory siblings didn't pay attention as the Weasley twins left. Cedric was too busy trying to calm his sister down as she was now a blubbering mess. Inwardly he realized just how much he might have spoiled the girl with his affection if this was how she was taking the separation.

"Alright Ria that's enough" He smiled as he stepped back from her and began wiping her face. "The train will be leaving soon, and you've got to start training"

Ria gave a small hiccup as she tried pulling herself together "Training?" She asked softly as Cedric wiped away the rest of her tears "Training for what?"

"It's three months till Christmas break" he grinned and ruffled her hair "Let's see if you'll be able to beat me at exploding snap by then!"

With the siblings on much better terms as their parents joined them to bid Cedric a final farewell, Ria waved at him through the window as the train pulled away from the station. She caught a glimpse of red hair as other compartments passed her by and she remembered she never got a chance to thank the twins who she had met that day.

Violet placed a hand on her shoulder when the train was out of sight and Amos led them away from the platform. Ria scooped up Uncle as they made their way out to the streets of London and to The Leaky Cauldron for lunch. "I'm glad you're in a much better mood, love" Violet smiled down at her daughter.

Ariadna grinned back up at her mother before adjusting Uncle in her grip "I'm sorry for running off mum, I didn't mean to worry you and daddy"

Amos looked back at the mention of his name and gave his daughter the same gentle smile Cedric gives her "Forgave you the moment I saw you were safe with your brother, darling"

Ria smiled back at him as they continued out onto the street "It'll only be a short while before I get to join Ced at Hogwarts anyway" she chirped happily "I think I'll manage"

Both of her parents looked at each other at her statement with worry, even Uncle was looking up at her strangely. They slowed to a stop and Violet crouched down to her daughter's height, taking both her small hands in her own "Ariadna, love" she bit her lip at the possible tantrum that might follow her next statement, especially without Cedric around to calm her down. "Did you know mummy didn't go to Hogwarts? You see there are other magical institutions out there…"

Ria only gave her mother a questioning look but didn't interrupt her.

Violet continued "So we decided… That Cedric would go to Hogwarts like Daddy, and you, our brave, sweet girl, would go to my old school…"

And that was the day Ariadna Aurelia Diggory gained her first scar.

Four straight lines, across her forearm, after almost squeezing the life out of Uncle while screaming at the top of her lungs in the streets of London during a tantrum