Chapter 1
The spot that Sirius choose was perfect for the three of them. It was a private island, so there wasn't anybody to harass 'the-girl-who-lived' or the infamous ex-Azkaban prisoner.
Aura's empathy wasn't a problem, because there wasn't anybody around to read. Remus' condition, which was dangerously contagious once a month, was also fairly easily handled, as there wasn't anybody around to catch, except Aura (Sirius was evidently immune) and Aura would stay locked in her room on the night Remus was dangerous- which was the full moon. Aura had her suspicions about what his condition was, but would wait for him to tell her. It hadn't taken her long to trust Remus (empathy was very handy for knowing when a person was trustworthy). And not much longer after that, that she was seeing him as an uncle (a true uncle, not like Uncle Vernon) though she would probably never actually call him uncle, because of her past.
Aura and Remus were in the kitchen, fixing dinner and chatting. Aura suspected Sirius was off somewhere preparing a prank (it was Sirius, after all)
"So, where did you learn to cook, Aura?"
'I've cooked for as long as I remember at the Dursley's. I didn't mind though, it was actually one of the chores I liked.'
If Aura had been looking at him, she would have seen his reaction to the thought of her, no order than a small 5 years, standing on a stool to reach the counter and cooking.
Remus told her several stories about her parents during there school days. She'd already known from Sirius' stories that Remus had been the more reasonable one of the Maruders, though he loved jokes just as much.
Remus called Sirius to dinner.
Aura watched as they joked back and forth. She didn't notice the two beam every time she laughed at them.
Sirius POV
'I don't think she even knows that tomorrow is her birthday. Stupid Dursleys,ignoring her birthday.'
It had shocked and saddened (and angered) him when he'd seen the look of shock on her face with just the simplest things, like her 11th birthday, and she'd actually had presents. (alright maybe he did go a bit overboard)
Sirius had been nearly delirious with happiness ever since school had let out for the summer, though. She'd laughed! Actually laughed, and not just the one time, either. True it was the only sound she'd made, but it was a beautiful sound. Like little bells on the wind.
He was in the living room, decorating it for Aura's birthday tomorrow. Most of the Weasleys and Grangers would be coming as well as several teachers and Morgan.
Sirius had finally gotten the adoption papers he'd been trying to get. He'd thought about asking her one her birthday, but decided that that might be putting pressure on her, and what if she didn't want to?
The custody had been granted easily, as the ministry had been trying to appease the man they'd wrongly imprisoned without a trial, but the adoption also required more legalities and arrangements from the bank, as he also wanted to make her his heir.
"Sirius, Dinner's ready!" Remus called from the kitchen.
Sirius walked calmly into the kitchen (because Blacks do not skip)
Ron, Ginny, the twins and Hermione would be staying the rest of the summer. Remus had promised Mrs. Weasley that he and Aura could handle the pranksters.
It was true, with Remus' heightened senses and Aura's empathy it was almost impossible to get a prank by the both of them.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Remus and the ones staying had already been informed of the plan to remove the second block on Aura's magic, which also required explaining why there were blocks on her magic in the first place.
Needless to say that had been a very unhappy group, and a group that was very angry at the Ministry. Not only had they thrown Aura's legal guardian in Azkaban without a trial, but they'd placed her with dangerous magic hating muggles.
During dinner he and Remus joked with each other and beamed every time Aura laughed or giggled.
After dinner they insisted they clean up. They could tell it made her uncomfortable, because even after two years, it was still ingrained that she do everything related to house work.
It had taken Sirius until half way thru last summer before she'd eat properly. There were several other things that it had taken her awhile to convince her of. He'd finally given up on her not cooking, when she explained that she like to cook.
Morgan had said they couldn't remove the blocks on Aura's magic all at once because her body was to fragile to handle that much pressure at once. They'd have to remove one block at a time and allow her body to grow accustomed to the magic.
Morgan also suggested that after they removed the next block, Sirius should arrange a teacher of occlumency for Aura, to help with her empathy.
They'd also gotten a special cover for her wand, it wouldn't interfere with any magic, but hid the unique look.