A/N: I know I said that it could take a couple of weeks, but I decided that it would be too much to have 10 years in one chapter. Instead, Hogwarts has to wait until chapter 3.
Chapter 1 - The Boy-Who-Lived and family
The wards around the Longbottoms' residence were ridiculously easy to break through. Lord Voldemort made sure the sticking charm on his hood was still strong - efficiently hiding his face in shadows, as he walked up to the door. He glanced through the window, going unnoticed by the house's inhabitants. The family and Severus' godchild were gathered in the living room, the children being entertained by colourful bubbles. Soon only one of them would be left alive. Lord Voldemort came to a stop in front of the door. He regarded it for a moment before blasting it off its hinges. The explosion quickly got followed by screams. He heard the husband - Frank, was it? - telling his wife to protect the children.
With a greater calm than he actually felt, Lord Voldemort walked into the house. He was met with a wand aimed at his face. Before Frank Longbottom could fully form the words to curse him, he had fired off the killing curse. Green light filled the room for a moment before the auror fell down dead. He simply stepped over the body. Hopefully the girl - Alice, if he wasn't mistaken - would be cleverer than her husband. As yet another wand was aimed at him, he almost felt sad to be mistaken. Fools - all of them! They couldn't think that they could possibly win, could they? He could almost laugh at the thought.
"I've already called for help." Alice stated, glancing at the fireplace as if said help would floo through at any moment. "I will not let you harm the children, if it so takes my life."
"Foolish girl. Avada Kedavra." Lord Voldemort answered. After the body fell, he sent a bombarda at the fireplace for good measure. A child's wailing disturbed his moment of peace, directing his attention back to the two children. They were sitting on the floor, a protego surrounding them but quickly weakening as the caster's magic was gone. The Longbottom boy was the source of the wailing. Usually his victims screams would delight him, but the shrill sound of a child screaming were hard on his ears. Lord Voldemort silently cast a silencio on the boy as he turned towards the other child. The Potter girl looked right back at him, big emerald eyes reminding him greatly of the killing curse. He cursed Severus for making him agree to save the child, whose stare greatly unnerved him.
"Consider yourself lucky, brat." he hissed at the girl and turned back to the boy. The sooner he was done here, the sooner he could leave. Lord Voldemort aimed his wand at the silent but crying boy. He didn't notice how the air seemed to be buzzing, the mother's magic not as gone as he had thought. He did feel the Potter girl's eyes on him, but disregarded it and with that also the restless magic under her skin waiting for the emotions required to burst out 'accidentally'. The only important thing was to kill Neville Longbottom so that the prophecy could never be fulfilled.
"Avada Kedavra." Lord Voldemort almost spat the words out as he did the required wand movements. The air felt oppressive, buzzing with magic that mixed together to fuel the shield charm. The green light shot out of his wand and rebounded. Rebounded? He glanced to the side. The last thing he saw as his body vanquished was a pair of emerald eyes staring right back at him. Then all he knew was pain as his soul was forcefully ripped away, tearing into two pieces.
Two bodies, a scarred boy, an eerily quiet girl and a small piece of his soul was all that was left behind.
Sirius Black was the first to arrive, only five minutes after they had gotten the floo call from Alice. He hadn't been able to floo over, and the change to apparition had delayed him. As he walked into the house those five minutes felt far longer than they had been. It was with great sadness that he walked past his fellow Order-members' bodies. They were dead, there was nothing he could do for them. He could only hope that the children had survived.
As he walked into the living room, he let out a breath of relief that he hadn't been aware he was holding. On the floor, in front of Alice's body and a heap of black robes, were a crying Neville with blood running down from his forehead and an unharmed and quiet Harrietta. Sirius bent down to gather up the children, rising up with both of them in his arms.
"Paddy." Harrietta said, a smile breaking out on her lips as she recognized him. Sirius felt like breaking down crying. He glanced at the bodies on the floor. What would he have done if that had been James and Lily? What would he have done if Harrietta had also suffered that fate?
"Paddy." Harrietta said again, demanding his attention. Sirius met her eyes and smiled encouragingly.
"Come on, pup. Let get you back to your parents." he said and glanced at Neville. "- and let get you to your grandmother. I really don't wish to be the one to tell Augusta about this…" he muttered the last sentence to himself before apparating to the Order's headquarters.
The war ended shortly after that as the news that Voldemort had died spread. The newspapers were quick to give Neville a fancy title - the Boy-Who-Lived. The lightning shaped scar on his forehead was seen as a blessed sign. Augusta Longbottom had full up sorting through letters for the saviour and raising her grandson as a proper pureblood. It wouldn't do if he couldn't live up to his fame.
Life was calmer in the Potter's Cottage. With the war over, James had taken the chance to fulfill his life dream and play professional Quidditch as Chaser for Puddlemere United. Lily on the other hand was content to stay home, raising Harrietta, taking care of the cat, and doing research in both charms and potions. Sometimes Remus also stayed with them, and Sirius would visit whenever he got bored - which was often. Peter also visited but to a lesser degree, as did Severus.
Birthdays came and went, until it was time for Harrietta's fifth birthday.
"Harry!"
The girl looked up as her godfather came into the room and lifted her up.
"Bad Padfoot. Down." she demanded, not in the mood to leave the safety of the floor. She had quite a few memories of using the toy broom she had gotten for her first birthday - most of them involved crashing and almost killing their cat. As she rather liked the cat, she had decided that flying was dumb and refused to be in the air for long.
"Still as demanding as ever, pup." Sirius answered and put the girl down on the floor again.
"Well, it's good that someone around here can make you listen." Remus said from behind him. Sirius turned around and gave his friend a wide smile.
"Ah, but I can make a prankster of her yet, and then nothing will stop me." he insisted. Remus chuckled.
"I fear that would be the end of the world as we know it. How's Kreacher?" Remus asked. Sirius grimaced.
"As always. I would invite you over, but… the place have seen better days. He still doesn't agree to clean." Sirius answered with a helpless shrug. Remus shook his head in amusement.
"Why am I not surprised, Black. Not even able to control a house-elf." drawled Severus as he stepped into the room.
"Sevvie!" Harrietta walked towards her second godfather and stopped in front of him. "Hug." she demanded and held out her arms. Severus obediently bent down to hug her. She patted his cheek before letting go. Severus stood up again as Lily and James entered the room.
"Any reason everyone is hiding in here when the cake is in the kitchen?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"The pup demanded it." Sirius answered, already on his way to the kitchen to inspect the cake. Lily shook her head at him and went to pick up her daughter. Soon they had moved to the kitchen, were Augusta and Neville already were waiting.
"Perhaps we should introduce her to Draco, so she has more friends her own age." Severus suggested as Lily served out the cake.
"A Malfoy?" Sirius asked with disdain. Remus looked warningly at him.
"You would do good to remember that your cousin is a Malfoy, Sirius. Draco is your first cousin once removed, you know." Remus pointed out as he digged into his piece of cake. Sirius' face fell at the reminder.
"Speaking of, have you taken up the role as Lord Black yet?" Augusta asked. "It would be a shame for such an old family to die out simply because of your irresponsibility…" Sirius held back a grimace.
"I have not, nor have I planned to." he admitted.
"Then get a job." Severus suggested, less harshly than usual but still in his usual drawl.
"I would love to meet Draco, Severus." Lily interrupted. "I'm sure Harrietta would be happy to meet him as well."
"But.. a Malfoy!" James protested, fully sharing Sirius' feelings about the matter. Lily shot him a glare.
"It's a five year old boy, and Severus' godson at that. They can meet." she decided. Neither James or Sirius said anything about the matter.
The cake disappeared and the guests left, until Sirius was the only one lingering behind. He was standing, unsure if he should go or make his wish known.
"Sirius, what is making you look so gloom?" James finally asked.
"I was thinking… I may never settle down like you and Lily… and although I hate to admit it, Dowager Longbottom has a point. The Black family is both Noble and Most Ancient, it wouldn't do for the main family to die out with me." he answered, grimacing all the while.
"How do you plan to stop that if you're not going to settle down?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Sirius grimaced again.
"I want your permission to blood-adopt Harrietta and make her my heiress." Sirius admitted.
James and Lily shared a long look, communicating quietly with each other. They were in their mid-twenties and although it weren't too late for Sirius to find someone it was hard to imagine him as a family man.
"Okay." Lily finally answered.
"We agree to it." James added. Sirius beamed at them.
"On one condition." Lily added slyly. James looked at her in surprise.
"I'll do anything." Sirius hurried to say. He had given this a lot of thought afterall.
"Take up your rightful role as Lord Black." Lily said. Sirius looked crestfallen at the demand. "How do you expect Harrietta to be the heiress to the Black line if you don't teach her what it means?" Lily questioned.
"Oh." James whistled lowly, finally understanding what his wife was thinking.
"I'll do it." Sirius answered, not able to argue against the logic. Lily clapped her hands together.
"Then you can talk to Narcissa when Harrietta meets Draco." she decided. Both Sirius and James grimaced this time.
The ritual for the blood-adoption was done that same evening. Harrietta was quiet during the procedure, regarding them all curiously.
"Do I look like uncle Sirius now?" she asked when they were done. Lily smiled, proud that her daughter had understood when they explained blood-adoption to her. Sirius beamed at the question.
"You definitely got those Black cheekbones, pup. Your hair is much more like mine too, not that brown shade your dad is trying to pass off as black." he explained. James swat the back of his head. Harrietta nodded at the answer, happy with it.
"Does this mean I have cousins now?" Harrietta questioned.
"You already have a cousin." Lily reminded her, though not without a grimace as she thought of the pig-child that was her nephew.
"Doesn't count." Harrietta insisted, and looked at Sirius again. "Do I have any?" she demanded to know.
"Since I'm technically your father now… lets see… Andromeda Tonks, Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy are your first cousins, once removed. Draco Malfoy - Cissy's son - and Nymphadora Tonks - Andy's daughter - are your second cousins." Sirius explained slowly, as it took him some time to figure it out. "Your grandparents and uncle on my side are all dead." he added, a hint of sadness as he said 'uncle'. Lily swat at his head this time, for adding that sentence. Harrietta just nodded in understanding.
"How old are Draco and Nymphadora?" she inquired.
"Draco is a month older than you - more or less - and Dora is seven years older than you. That makes Draco five years old, and Dora twelve years old." Sirius answered.
"I want to meet them." Harrietta said, and then left the adults to go play with her birthday gifts. They looked after her, shaking their heads fondly.
"Mimsy has brought Lord Black and Lord Black's goddaughter for Mistress." the house elf said, keeping them waiting just outside the door to the drawing room.
"You may let them in and then leave, Mimsy." Narcissa Malfoy's voice answered from within the room. The house elf curtsied before disappearing.
Sirius entered the room, keeping one hand on Harry's shoulder the whole time. They were both dressed as proper purebloods - in wizarding clothing of fine material and in a popular cut. The clothes weren't anything special as Sirius had purchased them for the occasion. Harrietta's dress was sparkling magically per her demand but except for that it looked fairly ordinary. Sirius inclined his head towards his cousin in silent greeting.
"Lady Malfoy." he said, unsure if it would be fitting to call her by Cissy as he had done when they were children.
"Lord Black, I insist you call me Narcissa. We're still related by blood." she answered.
"Then I insist that you call me Sirius." he answered, with a relieved smile. Narcissa nodded once.
"You may sit down. I must confess that it was unexpected to get your owl."
"I thought it appropriate to contact you as I've taken up the role of Lord Black." he answered with a strained smile. It had been long time since he last had to think of proper manners. Sirius sat down on the sofa opposite Narcissa, with Harrietta next to him.
"Are you playing the role of nanny or did you have a purpose in mind when you decided to bring your goddaughter?" Narcissa inquired.
"I must confess to having a purpose in mind. Narcissa, this is Harrietta Potter, my goddaughter and blood-adopted daughter." Sirius answered, putting extra stress on 'blood' to make her understand the situation. Narcissa nodded.
"You may call me Harry if you like, Lady Malfoy." Harrietta said, speaking up for the first time.
"Then I will, Harry. You may call me Cousin Cissy when speaking in private." Narcissa answered with a small smile. Harrietta smiled back at her.
"Mimsy!" Narcissa called. The house elf appeared silently and curtsied.
"What can Mimsy do for Mistress?" the house elf asked.
"Tell Draco that I want to see him in the drawing room, and accompany him here." Narcissa ordered. Mimsy curtsied again before disappearing.
Sirius looked up from his cup of tea when the door opened. A small, blond boy glanced inside before entering. Sirius glanced down at Harrietta, who had turned her full attention to the door and the boy.
"You wanted to see me, mother?" the boy, who had to be Draco, questioned. Narcissa smiled gently at him.
"Yes, dear. I wanted to introduce you to some of your cousins - Sirius, Lord of the Black family, and Harrietta, heiress to the Black and Potter families." she answered, nodding towards them as she introduced them. Draco bowed towards them. Harrietta gave him a barely there smile in answer, while Sirius inclined his head in greeting.
"Would you be so kind to show Harrietta around while I talk with Sirius?" Narcissa asked, though it was clear that she wouldn't take a negative answer.
"Cousin Cissy, I insist that you call me Harry." Harrietta said as she got down from the sofa. Narcissa smiled at her, showing a sense of amusement.
"Of course, dear. Forgive me." Narcissa answered. "Draco, do try to play nice." she said, and dismissed the children. Sirius followed Harrietta with his eyes as she went up to Draco and they left the room. He turned back to Narcissa after the door closed.
"How is Bellatrix doing?" he asked, leading the conversation back to the Black family.
Harry looked up at the paintings adorning the walls with fascination. Her own home had a few paintings as well of course, but they didn't move. Most of their photographs did, except those taken with a muggle camera, but none of their paintings ever did. She would have to ask why when she got home. Both why they didn't have any moving paintings, and why the paintings moved. Perhaps she could make her drawings move…
"How are we related?" Draco asked, interrupting her musings. Harry glanced at him. What a rude boy…
"Sirius and your mother are first cousins, making us second cousins." she answered simply. Draco looked at her astounded.
"You call your father by name?" he asked. Harry had to hold back a giggle.
"Don't be silly. Sirius is my godfather first and foremost. He and my parents had me go through this ritual, making him my father through blood-adoption." Harry explained. "I'll continue to call him by name."
Draco still looked astounded.
"Blood-adoption is a Dark ritual - and illegal!" he burst out, before reining his emotions in again. Harry stopped walking to study her cousin for a moment.
"Then don't tell anyone." she simply said, leaving the implied threat hanging between them. Draco paled somewhat, even more astounded that this girl his age could act like this.
"Come on, I want to see more paintings." Harry said, and took Draco's hand. She dragged him with her through the corridor.
Narcissa opened the door to Draco's bedroom, and Sirius looked into the room from behind her. The sight that met them was quite amusing. Harrietta was more or less shoving a paper in Draco's face, while the boy tried to avoid it.
"Draco, look! I made it move!" Harrietta said, obviously excited, as she shoved the drawing towards Draco once again. Draco finally took the drawing from her to look at it. It was certainly moving…
"You used magic!" He looked up at her with wide eyes. In the background, Sirius had to stifle his laugh behind his hand.
"You can keep it." Harrietta decided. "It's my first, so you have to be careful with it!"
"You want to be an artist then?" Sirius asked, and entered the room. Harrietta looked up at him with an expression of fierce determination.
"Yes - and I'll only make moving art." she answered. Sirius nodded at her.
"Okay. Then I hope you'll give your second drawing to me." he answered.
"If you buy me new pencils." Harrietta decided.
"I will." Sirius promised. "For now, it's time for us to leave. Say goodbye to Draco, Harry."
Harrietta turned back to Draco, and gave him a hug. His eyes widened before he carefully hugged her back. Harrietta let him go and smiled brightly at him.
"You're my friend now." she decided. "I'll show you my room the next time we meet." she added, masterfully deciding both that they would meet again and that it would be at her home.
"Okay, Harry. It was nice to meet you." Draco answered. If Sirius didn't know better, he would say that the boy had stars in his eyes. Perhaps the Malfoy heir had gotten a crush?
"Goodbye Draco, goodbye Cousin Cissy." Harrietta said, and left the room. Sirius made his goodbyes as well, and followed after her. He heard how Draco showed Narcissa the drawing as they left.
A/N: Can anyone guess what happened with the part of Voldemort's soul that got left behind?
You may have guessed that there will be a bit of Draco/Harry in the early years. Nothing much, and mostly one-sided as I have it planned at the moment.
Important question! Should Harry get a sibling? A brother, a sister, twins? I have planned for Lily to become pregnant, but there's always miscarriage.
Please review, and don't be afraid to send me a PM if you have any questions or wish to discuss anything.