CHAPTER THREE

Sadie loathed herbology so this current double lesson was honestly the worst hour of the week. She had no interest and just didn't care about plants in any shape or form. Yet, Professor Sprout took it as a personal insult that one of her House didn't bother about the subject, so many detentions had been served in the Greenhouse for not making enough effort. In addition to the dirt and boredom, this year had been the worst as, on the first day Sadie had been late after forgetting her book, so by the time she'd arrived, her four best mates were a little group as was the rest of Hufflepuff leaving her to join a threesome of honestly the most boring group of Gryffindors. If she had to hear Simon Bennett exclaim over a plant one more time…

Sadie did get on with the Gryffindors most of the time, she'd actually struck up a friendship with Seamus Finnegan in the year above over their shared Irish accent. Sadie had actually tripped over Seamus after storming out of the Common Room in November of her first year, frustrated that the fascination with her accent hadn't calmed down after two months. He'd let her rant and emphasised with her and since then they'd met up every so often under the club name "ERC" ("English Rant Club"). It had expanded to include a few Scots, the Welsh sisters as well as a Ravenclaw called Anna who was technically English but had spent her entire life in Norway until coming to Hogwarts. Obviously, it was secret as it was assumed the vast majority of the Hogwarts population would not appreciate a club set up to laugh and make fun of them, though it wasn't malicious gossip just a place to rant about ignorance and stupid questions they had experienced as well as the English-centric position Hogwarts held.

Sadie started daydreaming remembering the last meeting and their annual rant about the demand they could only travel to Hogwarts from the London train. The Scots had asked over and over again if they could join the train at a later point or simply floo to Hogwarts but were denied on the grounds the train journey "was a vital part of the Hogwarts experience". Yet this decree meant many muggleborns had to get on long trains and pay a considerable amount to travel to London then go all the way up back north. Seamus could floo to London but Sadie had had to get a plane to London. It was only a 45-minute flight but meant she could never have a pet as they were banned on the airline.

"Miss Black!" With that screech from Sprout, Sadie jolted out of her reverie and realised she had spilt the bloody plant over the ground. Sprout looked furious as if she was about to descend into one of her rants about the sanctity of the greenhouse but she was interrupted from a knock on the door. Some fifth year walked in and announced,

"Excuse me Professor, I've been sent to collect Sadie Black. It's from Professor Dumbledore."

All eyes turned on Sadie and Sprout sighed, "Very well, go on Miss Black"

Sadie had no idea why she was being summoned but if it got her out of the worst class in the timetable it was worth it!

Up in Dumbledore's office Sirius had arrived. He'd quickly received a reply to his request for an urgent meeting and Dumbledore had obliged.

"Come in, come in my boy! Lemon Sherbet?" Sirius raised an eyebrow, he was a 33-year-old man not a child.

"Good morning, Professor. Thank you for the quick reply. It is urgent I speak to you about this sensitive matter."

"Of course, please feel free to speak and I will endeavour to help."

"Thank you. I've asked to meet with you surrounding Sadie Black"

"Sadie Black? The name sounds familiar. I will consult the class register" There were two registers of the pupils of Hogwarts. The magical register was a book of immense power but delicate so for everyday use the teachers consulted the class register which merely recorded name, House, year and parents.

"Yes Sadie Black. Third year Hufflepuff. Father is not recorded, has a muggle mother Caroline."

Despite the gravity of the occasion, Sirius couldn't stop a little chuckle at the thought of the last Black daughter being sorted into Hufflepuff. "First of all, she's not muggleborn. Her father was Regulus, my brother. She's my niece, did it not occur to anyone we have the same surname?"

"Good grief, I assume she is also the minor heir. Well Sadie is a muggleborn and Black is a surname often found in the muggle world. In addition, she's a Hufflepuff. They really don't care about blood purity or names so when she was sorted, any of those who cared would never have thought a Black would be a Hufflepuff. What do you intend to do with this information?"

"Obviously, I'd hope to meet with her. If she's been raised as a muggle, she probably has no information and doesn't know she will be Lady Black. I'd need to educate her on the issues surrounding that. I'll have to speak with her mother, do you have an address?"

"I believe her mother is sick and Sadie has acted as a carer but I'll just consult the magical register."

The magical register was a list of the information of every single magical child eligible to attend Hogwarts. It was intensively charmed and had the ability to send out the Hogwarts letters without any interference from staff. Dumbledore summoned the enormous ancient book and skimmed the index looking for Sadie Black. There was a huge page of information on her, detailing every vaccination, grade and second cousin but Sirius was drawn to two points. First Regulus Black was named as her father but his death date was two years after the official recorded date and Caroline Black was also reported as having died that October. Most worryingly of all was the phrase following address: "no stable address."

Sirius sat down heavily. His niece had lost her mother seven months ago and didn't appear to have informed Hogwarts. What on earth was she planning to do that summer? Thank the Lord, he'd been freed. Sirius couldn't bear to think of the possibility of a thirteen-year-old girl alone for two months.

"Well, Sirius it appears you've appeared at the right moment, should I send someone to fetch her?"

"Please"

Sadie had arrived at the great golden griffin marking Dumbledore's office. Of course she was still happy to be missing Herbology but the thought had occurred was that somehow Hogwarts had found out about her mother and were demanding she would be put into an orphanage or some similar fate.

"Umm excuse me, I'm Sadie Black and I've been asked to go to the office."

The great statue spun and a step of stairs appeared. Sadie ascended dreading the meeting. She knocked and hear a faint "Come in Miss Black". Entering Dumbledore's office for the first time Sadie was initially struck by all the strange magical instruments then she noticed him: Sirius Black. As Sadie opened her mouth to ask what was happening, Dumbledore came in from another room and saw her.

"Ahh, excellent Miss Black, thank you for leaving your class to join us." Sadie could only nod, confused why the newest wizarding celebrity, Sirius Black was attending this meeting. "Miss Black, I assume you have recognised Lord Black."

Sadie gave Sirius a quick glance and he smiled warmly back, "Yes Professor."

"Well, Miss Black, he has some things to discuss with you so I will leave you my office to have some privacy". With that Dumbledore left the room and Sadie was left in a room with one of the most infamous men in history. An awkward silence ensured while a very confused Sadie stared at her hands. She began to pick at a small cut when a large hand took hers from behind her.

"Well we'll have none of that" he spoke with a hint of mirth. His voice was posh, he sounded aristocratic like some of the Slytherins did.

"Umm… sir I'm really sorry but I have no idea what's going on." Sadie murmured.

Sirius chuckled and moved to sit beside her and turning his chair around so he could face her. His mind was filled of hope and anticipation. This was Sadie! Never mind he had never heard of her existence, this little girl was his niece! He'd been able to have a quick glimpse at her. She was small with long light brown hair, a bit too much make up for a third year and surprising a faint Irish lilt to her voice.

"Well love, you might have realised that my name is Sirius Black but I'm not sure you know that I'm also your paternal uncle."

What? How could she be related to this aristocratic Lord; her dad had been a civil servant and her mum a hairdresser. How was she related to him, the epitome of posh pureblood?

"But. How? My parents were both muggles, I'm the first to do magic in my family!"

Sirius internally sighed there was a lot of untangling to do. "First of all, Sadie tell me about your father."

"Umm… I don't really know that much. He died when I was a toddler and my mum doesn't really talk about it. His name was John Black and did something in the government, went to my mum's barber shop in Newcastle and she did his hair. He really liked her so kept turning up. Apparently, his hair grew really quickly like inches overnight! Eventually he went from being stiff and awkward, nearly cringing when my mum touched him to really funny and kind and he asked her on a date on his twelfth haircut in three months. They went out for a bit then like only five months in they had a quick wedding at a local church. Apparently, he started getting a bit paranoid and when she got pregnant said they should move back to my mum's old village in Ireland. When I was one, he didn't come home from work the car was just sitting in a field but he was nowhere. A few days later the police knocked on the door and said he was dead. Apparently, a burning body was found 100 miles away in an old shack and by his dental records they identified him as my dad."

Sirius was shocked to say the least. His brother had somehow evaded capture by the death eaters for two years. He loved the way Regulus seemed to have regrown his hair overnight just so he could see Caroline again to cut his hair. Though it sounded like the Deatheaters had finally caught up with him. Moving to Ireland was probably the reason for the inaccurate official death records. The body had been dumped at the Ministry, Sirius wouldn't put it past Regulus to transfigure a dead body to look like him and flee. Sirius guessed the Deatheaters had attacked him in the Car, they apparated and he'd died. Although the story of the deatheater leaving Voldemort and falling in love with a muggle was amazing.

Sirius sighed. "Sadie, I'm afraid that story is not exactly true. Your father was Regulus Black the minor heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black and my younger brother. Love, your father made a big mistake at sixteen and joined Voldemort. He later tried to leave and it sounds like he made a new identity and ended up falling in love with your mum. You are one of the heirs to the Black fortune as well as my niece."

Sadie couldn't breathe and nearly started hyperventilating. Her dad was a follower of Voldemort but married a muggle? She wasn't just an anonymous muggleborn third year but niece to one of the most powerful men in Britain and a lord!

Sirius moved away to give her some privacy and conjured up some tea and cake. Sadie glanced up when she heard him pouring tea in a china cup and gave it to her. "Here, Sadie drink up"

"Thanks" she sipped her tea in silence before turning to him again and questioning, "So, what do we do now?" She saw Sirius look nearly unsure of himself for a minute then seemed to brace himself and come over to kneel beside her and say gently, "Sadie, darling you need to tell me about your mum."

Sadie began to hyperventilate panicking; how could she tell him? How did he know about mum? What was going to happen? Then she became vaguely conscious of a gentle hand rubbing her back. "Shh, shh love Sadie darling calm down and look at me." Sadie raised her eyes to meet his and promptly burst into tears.

Sirius immediately scooped her up and held his niece as she told him all. What it was like to try and care for her mother over the past two years and be at school, worrying desperately if the neighbours were treating her well. Then coming home every holiday to watch her becoming gaunt and frail. What it felt like to try and negotiate hospital bureaucracy with no help then be denied visiting as it was only for over sixteens. Finally, what it felt like to be seeing her in a hospice and what it was like to be thirteen, losing your only family then not being able to tell anyone or confide in her grief for fear of social services. Her worries and fears of a long summer with no help.

As Sirius rocked and comforted Sadie, he became more incensed. How dare his little girl be left with no support. Why did they not keep tabs on the mother and why on earth with two weeks left of the year had no one noticed a thirteen-year-old girl had nowhere to go? Hogwarts had a lot to answer to especially Dumbledore and Sprout. Hufflepuff was supposed to be the house of caring and kindness but his girl had been left alone for seven months. Caroline had died in October and it was now June. Whilst Sadie had managed to keep a strong external, his heart wept for his girl and he offered up a little prayer for the little family, for Regulus, Caroline and their little girl currently on his lap. Her sobs had ceased and she was cuddled on his lap with her tear stained face pressed against his shirt. "I'll look after her Regulus. She'll be a credit to both you and Caroline. Harry, Sadie and I will be a little family."

Sadie started squirming and he released his arms. Gathering she'd be embarrassed over the breakdown, Sirius whispered, "I'll just call for more tea and cakes love." Sadie nodded and gently stood up already blushing. Sirius handed her a handkerchief and she sat down.

A few minutes later, Sirius brought over the cakes from them kitchen and poured her a fresh cup. "Sadie, love, I just want you to know how proud I am of you. You're are thirteen and you acted like an adult towards your mother. However, you're still a child and you're not alone anymore. I am your uncle and I'm going to look after you and Harry. I'll pick you up at the end of term from King's Cross and we'll be a family. I'll teach you the things you need to know to be a young lady of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. We'll have so much fun this summer, there'll be parties, balls, trips and fun with just us three."

Sadie was shocked. Her lonely summer she had been dreading wasn't going to happen. Although she was a little wary of the mention of Harry.

"Umm... sir?" Sirius smiled, "Sadie, love there's no need for sirs, I demand politeness but call me Uncle Sirius yes?"

"Yes, Uncle Sirius!" Sadie smiled back. The name felt odd but she'd never had an uncle or extended family so any addition was bound to be odd.

"Umm Uncle Sirius what about Harry?" Sirius smiled to hear her say it but realised the addition of an extra child might cause tension especially one he was biologically related to. However, if Sirius was honest James had been more of a brother especially after Sirius watched Regulus go over to Voldemort.

"Sadie, have you ever had any contact with him?"

"No apart from when I tripped over his bag a few months ago, apologised and went into Charms."

Sirius chuckled at that, "Well love, if that's the only contact you've had, we should probably get him up here! Professor!" Dumbledore emerged suddenly from a small room smiling, "Could we get Harry up here?" Dumbledore nodded and made a move with his wand. Sirius realised they'd been together for an hour. "Oh Sadie, I do apologise you seem to have missed all of Herbology!"

Sadie laughed and sat down. She began to explain why missing Herbology was not a disadvantage. Ten minutes later she had Sirius in hysterics at the monologue of plants she had destroyed and her impression of Sprout's reaction as Harry bounded in without knocking, beaming when seeing Sirius but very confused at the sight of the girl.

"Sirius! What are you doing…" he exclaimed before Sirius interrupted looking slightly stern. "Harry! I think we've already discussed on how to enter a room young man. Please leave and try again and don't roll your eyes young man!"

Thirty seconds later Harry entered the room in a more polite manner. "Thank you, Harry, now let me introduce you to Sadie. She's in third year and she's my niece."

"What, Sirius! You've never mentioned her before!" Harry trailed off seeing Sirius' raised eyebrow.

"Right first of all Harry, I only found out about her a few days ago, so that's why. Secondly please greet her properly."

"Sorry Sadie." Harry took her hand gave it a quick kiss murmuring "enchantedtomeetyou"

"Right Harry that's something else we'll need to practice. Thirdly you can't keep calling me Sirius. It sounds too familiar. I'm not Ron, I'm your godfather and legal guardian so deserve more respect. Uncle Sirius is more appropriate. I'm not technically your uncle but James was like a brother to me so we're close enough."

Harry was taken aback but still replied with "Yes, Uncle Sirius" He'd learnt early on that his godfather did not tolerate disrespect in any form. Even as a runaway Sirius had not been happy with Harry's constant "yeahs" and had threatened to wash out his mouth after Harry had let out a "crap!" after dropping his wand.

Sirius' smile resumed and he waved both of his charges over for tea and cake to have their first ever family meal together.

This is the longest chapter by far. I know it only shows one meeting but I wanted to establish Sirius and Sadie's relationship as well as maybe bring in a little bit of conflict between Sadie and Harry. Harry's had a really tough year, watched Voldemort's resurrection and really the only good thing has been Sirius being freed. Now he needs to share Sirius with a girl he's never really met and you can see how he would feel. In regards to Sirius, I'm not portraying him as a Marauder man-child as I've seen too many stories do this. He's stepping up to do his duty as Lord Black and Uncle Sirius so at times he will be stern but he'll still have a sense of humour and try to muddle through parenting two teenagers. I'm excited to explore how he'll cope parenting a teenage girl. I know Sadie may have come across a little childish but she's been under a lot of stress for the past few years and she's only a third year. Though I do feel there could be conflict between Sirius' view of her as a little girl and the fact she's a growing teenager.

In regards to Sadie being Irish, I've always wondered how Seamus coped as seemingly as one of the only non-English people in Hogwarts. It's not really going to be a major part of the story but as I'm Irish myself and studying in England where there are very few non-English people you do miss that accent. Myself and a fellow Irish girl do tend to rant to each other about some things in England so I just thought it would be fun to put the club in. Don't worry about Sadie being perfect, she's still going to be a stroppy teenager alongside Harry.