Chapter 7

As the weekend arrived Rowena, found herself getting ready for what would be a big moment in her life. Athena would be going through the ritual and she wanted to make sure that the girl wouldn't be alone in any way. Of course, that wasn't the only thing that was worrying her, the fact that she had yet to hear a word about the Sirius Black was getting her a bit anise.

"Hey Rowena, what are you thinking about?" Came a male voice that had her turning to see Blaise behind her.

"Oh nothing much." She answered causing him to smile.

"It's almost as though you're worried or something; well anyway mum sent me a letter." Blaise remarked causing her to smile. "She told me to give you this."

Taking the note from Blaise she opened it and started to read.

Dear Rowena,

I hope you are faring well this year, I understand that various things might be against you but I hope that you keep your head held high in those situations. Word had reached us about your choice in protecting young Athena Black and we are hoping that you are not putting your trust in the wrong places. In addition, we hope that the news of a Sirius Black trial will not worry you. I am sure nothing will change and that he will not harm you as he did your parents. We will stand to make sure that the truth if proven.

Be careful darling

Repressing a sigh of frustration Rowena gave Blaise a smile. Although she knew that the Zabini's were trying to protect her she just couldn't help but think that they were putting a little too much faith in the Ministry of Magic. She trusted the Queen to do what she could to get justice and knew that she would. Still the fact that they were not happy with her protecting Athena was not something she liked. She was her own person and Athena was part of her family. She would always protect her.

"So what do you think? Lunch?" She asked while pocketing the letter.

"Sure." He agreed deciding to ignore the letter that his friend had just pocketed.

Arriving in the Great Hall, Rowena couldn't help but smile as she saw Athena talking with her friends. Taking a seat with her own friends she was about to pile food on when suddenly Hedwig flew in with a letter in her beak. The moment she landed, Rowena noticed the seal and swiftly took it before anybody else could notice. Opening the letter, she hid the seal and started to read.

Miss Rowena,

It is with great satisfaction that I announce to you that Sirius Black arrived at the palace and with an initial questioning; we have indeed learned that he did not commit the crimes he was accused of. He has requested that he sees you before his trial and that you be there. I hope that you will agree to come this Sunday to meet with him and that you may attend his trial. I await your arrival in my office at 5 PM that evening.

Sincerely,

The Queen of England, Elizabeth II

"Who's the letter from Rowena?" Daphne asked.

"Just an acquaintance that's all." She answered while placing the letter in her pocket before getting some food and starting to eat. Things were changing. With Black captured, it was going to bring great changes to the world. She would have to go to his trial, but the question was, if Athena turned out to be his daughter, did she bring her with her this Sunday? She would have to ask the girl, get her opinion on the matter.

"So what did you think of yesterday's Transfiguration class?" Draco questioned causing Ron to groan and Hermione to laugh.

"Ron didn't really enjoy yesterday. Seems like McGonagall was not impressed with the Weasley Twins and moved that displeasure onto Ron here. She was rather hard on him yesterday if you remember." Hermione remarked while patting Ron's shoulder.

"I noticed, rather funny though. I wonder what they did to deserve her wrath." Blaise murmured causing Ron to groan and Rowena to laugh softly.

"Apparently the twins decided to deck her office in pink and kitty paraphernalia, it seems she despised it so much that she ordered the house elf to burn everything and replaced everything. I think I heard her muttering about pinkish cat loving toad of the Ministry. Have no clue what she was talking about." Rowena told them causing everybody to shudder at the thought of a pink and kitty filled office.

As the later hours arrived, Rowena found herself setting things up. Tonight they would be doing the ritual for Athena and she hoped things would go well. It would only be her and Athena but she could tell the girl was nervous. Just as she poured, the potion into the proper goblet the painting to the dorm opened and in entered Athena looking a bit paler than normal.

"Come in Athena, it's almost ready." She stated while corking the now empty bottle and placing it onto the counter. Grabbing the goblet, she took a rather thick looking book and walked over to Athena who looked at her with trepidation. "Come on I'll lead you to the room we'll be using for the ritual."

Walking towards the section that was only used by her, as she was the only one out of the three of them that was into rituals, she made sure that Athena was following. Arriving at the room, she lead her inside she motioned for her to sit down in the center of the room and then sat in front of her. Handing Athena the goblet she placed the book in front of her and started to filter through various pages until she arrived at the correct one.

"Okay Athena, you sure you want to go through with this?" She asked and although for a moment Athena looked as though she was about to back out she seemed to talk herself into doing it.

"I do."

"Then I need you to do what I tell you. You have to repeat after me okay, so that you don't screw up. While you speak you will cut the palm of your right hand with this and will let five drops of blood fall onto this book." She stated while placing another book in front of Athena and then handing the girl a dagger.

A little hesitant Athena took it and looked at it with a bit of worry.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

"Yes." Athena agreed.

"Then let's start." With a gently movement of her hands she lite multiple candles that were positioned in the correct places. Then she looked at Athena showing that they were starting. "On my magic I call, family by blood unknown."

As Athena repeated what she said, she gently cut into her palm.

"My blood to this book, I ask for my family tree." Athena continued before letting five drops of blood fall onto the black leather book cover. "Unknown name now revealed."

As the book glowed, Rowena took Athena's hand and healed the wonder leaving a small scar behind. With that done and the book not glowing Rowena watched as Athena looked down at the book worry filling her face.

"Do you want to look at it somewhere cosier?" She suggested and received a hurried nod. Taking the books and blowing the candles out, they left the room. Walking over to the seating area she got into her corner and smiled as Athena buried into her side. "Do you want me to open it?"

"Please?" Athena whispered a hopeful note in her voice.

Smiling down at her Rowena took a deep breath before opening the cover and the moment she saw it she knew that it was official. There in curled black letters was the one name that had been on the lips of people everywhere, Black, and curling out of the k was the black smoky form of a raven.

"So its official I'm from that family." Athena whispered but Rowena could only turn the pages until finally finding the page they needed.

Athena Dorea Black

Birthday: 29 of November 1982

Father: Sirius Orion Black

Mother: Amira Natelle Bones

And it was official. Athena was Sirius' daughter and it was going to be hard on the little girl especially once her father was cleared of all charges.

"He is my dad." Athena whispered.

"Don't worry Athena, everything will be okay, you know that right?" She asked the child in her arms.

"Yes, but I guess I'm just nervous."

"It's alright to be nervous, but… I have a suggestion. Tomorrow I am going to be meeting with the Queen of England, she had caught your father and he wishes to speak with me. He probably does not know about you because your mother was most probably pregnant with you when he was sent to Azkaban. Do you want to come with me tomorrow?" She asked the little girl who looked at her with wide eyes.

"You would bring me?" She whispered.

"I would, but only if you want to." Rowena stated causing the first year to look at her before looking back at the book.

"I… I want to come, I want to meet him." Athena stated.

"Then be here at four, I think I might have something for you to wear. I guess you don't have much." She remarked causing Athena to blush. "Don't worry about it kiddo."

When Athena left to go back to her dorm, Rowena was happy when Hermione and Ron joined her in the seating room. The moment they noticed the book open to the first page, they knew what had happened. It was official, Athena was a member of the Ancient and Noble House of Black.

"So is she his daughter?" Hermione asked.

"Yes." Rowena answered earning slow nods from the others. "The Queen has Sirius Black."

"What! When did this happen?" Ron exclaimed but all Rowena did was pull the letter from her pocket and hand it over. After the two read it, they couldn't believe it.

"So you're going tomorrow?" Hermione questioned while looking at her with a bit of hesitation.

"Athena's coming with me." She said causing Hermione to rise on eyebrow.

"Are you sure that is best?"

"He's her father; I can't deny her the chance to see him Hermione. She deserves to see her father no matter what and tomorrow will be the first time; she's never even met him, not even as a baby." Rowena sighed before taking the book. "Her mother is a Bones; I just don't know how close she would be to Amelia Bones and Susan Bones."

"Well Susan and Amelia are not mother/daughter but Aunt/niece; Susan's parents were killed during the war. I don't know much about the Bones Family but it's possible that her mother might be Amelia Bones' sister or something?" Ron said while thinking about the pureblood families he knew.

"I guess we'll just have to wait for our questions to be answered and that will be hopefully tomorrow. I just hope that things will go smoothly tomorrow." Rowena whispered.

"Well you'll be there to protect her that I know, especially with how protective you are of her." Ron said before chuckling causing Rowena to smile.

"I suppose I am a bit over protective of her but I am because I deep down I know that I have to be, at least for now. With the school as it is, people are hesitant to accept another member of the Black family. Its history is very well known as one of the families who were very for Voldemorts rule." Rowena sighed.

"That is true; well it won't be long until Black is cleared especially with the Queen handling things. I would think that he would be cleared before Halloween even." Ron remarked.

"I hope so, now I just need to learn what happened to her mother. My mom told me that the last girlfriend Sirius had been called Karin Stanly not Amira Bones." Rowena sighed.

"Well just another question you can ask Black tomorrow when you see him."

Author note:

I have been hard at work in writing this story, I have several chapters' completed and only in need of updating. Maybe you will all get a little Christmas Present under the Fanfiction Christmas Tree.