Sirius Blacks Daughter Part one:
In Which we Meet The Girl
As I write this looking back on my very weird child-hood so far. I think why did it happen to me? Why? I look back to when my parents first told me that I was adopted and that my parents probably weren't coming back, when I first hoped that maybe one day my real mom or dad would come back, or when I took that dog home. Then I think, why? Why did I even take that dog home? That's what started all this. Of course I am kind of glad I did take that do home. He showed me my life. Maybe I should explain now to you…
I was walking home from the summer program in my town when I saw a paper stand. I stopped to get one for an extra credit thing I was doing for science. When I stopped to get it I saw a black dog behind the stand. I bent down to pet it and the I was about to leave when I swore I heard a voice in my head that said 'take the dog.'
I looked back down at the dog who was sitting there looking quite pitiful. 'What the heck!' I said to my self.
I smiled down at the dog and said,
"Want some food? I've got food at my house. Come on."
The dog seemed to understand, and followed me down the street not jumping, running ahead but just following right behind me. It was then I knew that this was a pretty weird dog.
We got to the intersection by Wallgreens and the dog stayed perfectly still not trying to run into the street or anything. After the intersection we walked some more and then got to my house.
"All I can say," I said to the dog
"Is I hope you're house trained."
The dog seemed to nod. I blinked, shook my head and decided to book a trip to the eye doctor real soon.
I led the dog up the steps and into my house.
"I my mom will not want you in here." I muttered
"I'll have to sneak you in."
And I did. Right up the stairs and into my room.
"Stay here!" I said, "I have to go down stairs."
I deposited my backpack and walked down stairs.
"Hey mom. I'm home!" I called
"O.k.! Wait a second I have to do something." she yelled back up from the basement. I heard the business phone wring and I knew that it would be an hour before she got to me.
I sighed and went back up stairs to my room, and the dog.
He seemed to be just sitting on my bed sleeping not needing any thing, so I decided to go take a shower. I grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom. I spent about 15 minutes in it just letting hot water run over me. Then I got out and tied on my robe. I walked down the hall to my room to put my clothes on. I opened the door to my room and saw a man sitting on my bed.
I tried to scream but I found my throat was dry and I couldn't say a word.
"You look like your mother." He said finally, a smile forming on his face.
I finally regained control of my vocal cords.
"What the hell are doing in my room?" I yelled I also picked up a baseball bat for good measure.
"You bought me here." He said
"I did not, I bought a dog in here that is now missing. What'd you do kill him?"
"No." he said, and then he said, "You do look almost just like her."
"Just… what do you want?" I said eyeing him and setting up the bat so it would hit him square in the mouth if I had to hit him.
"If you're here to rob me, take and get out. I don't know who you are, or what you are. The only thing I know is that you need to get out or I'm calling the police. My phone is right over there."
"I'm not going to hurt you." He said calmly. He also started getting off the bed. I backed away and held the bat steady.
"Don't you remember me?"
"I have never seen you before in my entire life." I said
"Do you remember her?" he asked.
"Who is this her you keep referring to." I asked annoyed
"Your mother."
I dropped the bat out of my hand and onto the floor. My heart rate increased, and I almost fainted. In fact I was falling back wards when that man ran over and pulled me to my feet.
His touch felt very familiar, but I couldn't place it. He pulled me to my feet and we went back to staring at each other.
"Your mother." He said again breaking the silence
"How would you know?"
He paused
"Because I'm your father."
That time I didn't faint I just stood in shock.
"My god." I said putting my hand to my mouth "you can't be. They said that… that he probably wasn't coming back. They said he did something. They didn't say what. They just said he did something that wasn't right and he wasn't coming back. You can't be my father. I mean… no! Not after 15 years. This is not a soap opera."
"So Dumbledore done that well with our request." He murmured to himself.
"Excuse me?" I said
"You want the truth?" he said. He was smiling again and that made me kind of nervous.
"Yes I want the truth." I yelled "I want to know why you're here if not to rob or rape me, and I want to know why your telling me I look like my mother when you don't even know her."
"Laura!" I heard my mom call me. 'Who are you talking to?"
I poked my head out of my door. I pondered whether to tell her or not. About 90 percent of me really wanted to know what was happening. So I told my mom I was doing my theater homework.
I turned my head back into my room and looked at the man claiming to be my father.
"Talk." I said in my sternest voice "or 9-1-1 is getting a phone call."
"What would that do."? He asked again grinning.
"Just talk." I said because I really did not want to go into that.
"Well for starters I am your father. My name is Sirius Black, and your mothers name was Leslie Black. Your real name is Aphrodite Black. You're named after one of your aunts, my sister." He stopped there I guess waiting for a reaction. I gave him one.
"How do I know you're telling the truth." I asked. I also took a soft ball off of my bookshelf just incase.
He answered my question; "you have a scar above your right elbow; which is actualy a burn scar you got from playing with your mothers wand."
"Wand?"
"Yes wand." He said, "You're a witch you knew that right?"
Now I knew he was just loco.
"W-w-witch?"
"Yes," he said. He got up and paced my room. I gripped the ball in my hand. "Hasn't anything weird ever happened to you?"
"Weird? Nope." I said smiling for the first time. "I'm a pure-all-American-kid."
"He did a really good job." Sirius said, "You were supposed to see some signs of magic not none."
"Who did good job on what?" I asked
"Dumbledore did a good job on keeping you safe."
"Me? Being kept safe. I'm perfectly safe trust me. The only bad thing that has ever happened to me was I fell out of a tree and broke my leg. Other than that I'm fine." I paused and looked at him, and spoke gently "I'm sorry Mr. Black but I think you have the wrong girl. I'm not your daughter and I really don't thing I'm a witch."
"You are my daughter." He said, "look… I don't have it, but if you saw a picture of your mother you'd see you look just alike. Except for your smile, that's mine."
"You really do think that I'm your daughter." I said sighing, "I kind of do want to believe you but I'll need more proof than just a scar. You say I'm a witch. Then you must be a wizard. Show me some magic."
He smiled again and with a pop he was no longer there. I looked down to the floor and saw the black dog that I had bought home.
"He might be telling the truth." I said under my breath "my real family! My gosh."
But there was another voice in the back of my head that was saying
"soap operas do not exist." Over and over again.
I though quickly and made my decision.
Then I looked down at the dog and uttered the words that changed my life.
"I believe you."
The next few weeks went by in a blur. I was leaving home to go to a school called Hogwarts. It was all the way in England. I lived in New Jersey. My adoptive parents said I could go with out a fuss. They had been told this would happen when I was given to them.
My well I guess dad was staying with me until I got to got Hogwarts (my parents had taken him pretty well too.) He said after that he had a job to do. He told me some pretty cool things about the world I was entering; he also told me about his godson and my cousin Harry. Harry was going into his fifth year like I would be. Dad told me about his Hogwarts years and about why he was put into jail. Most importantly why I was placed under protection, and why my mom died.
Apparently she went with dad when he cornered Pettigrew in the street that day. Pettigrew killed her when he killed all the other people. Then when dad was taken to jail I was given to Albus Dumbledore, because of a prophecy.
The prophecy had said that four people with 15 years upon them were going to be the downfall of this really nasty wizard Voldemort. I was one of those four people, as well was Harry. The two other people's names were Ron, and Hermione. But Voldemort couldn't figure out those two so they weren't protected when they were born. Only Harry and I were. Harry went to the Dursley's and I came here. Now I was going to Hogwarts to make the Prophecy come true and to get my magical education.
So now here I am on the plane going to Hogwarts writing this all down to explain to you.
Part Two:
We Go To England
The plane landed in London, England at 12:00 in the afternoon. According to my dad some one was supposed to meet me at the airport. He'd have shoulder length red hair tied into a ponytail, and an earring with a fang in it. He'd take me to where I'd be staying.
When I stepped of the plane I spotted him immediately. I guess he saw me too, because he waved to me. I nervously walked over to him. He grinned when I came closer, and introduced himself.
"Bill Weasley. Pleased to meet you." He stuck out his hand. I noticed he was quite tanned, and he had and English accent.
I shook his hand and told him my name, "Laura…" I stopped "Aphrodite Black." I corrected my self, for that was my name now. "Pleased to meet you too." I grinned.
"Well then," he said, "shall we get your luggage."
"Oh!" I said. I realized we had to hurry because dad was sitting in a cage at the animal claim.
"Yes." I said, "We have to get my dog too."
"I know who your dog is." Said Bill "you don't have hide it. Though I thought Dumbledore said he was on a mission."
"I was his mission." I said "in-case you didn't know; I'm his daughter." I grinned at his surprise.
"Dumbledore didn't mention that that was who you are."
"I was being protected." I answered. I didn't go into detail because I didn't completely understand it my self.
We started walking towards the baggage claim.
"So," I said, "where'll I be staying?"
He flashed a grin at me again. "You'll be with my family. I kind of pity you."
I must have made an awful face because he took that statement back.
"No, no, just kidding. They're nice. Hope you don't mind there's only one other girl in the house. They're four boys, Ron, Percy, Fred, and George. They're twins. Ron's about your age; 15. Fred and George are 17, and Percy's 19. He's working for the Ministry of Magic, and he's moved out which is a good thing because he refuses to believe that Sirius is innocent. My sister's name is Ginny. She's 14. Later in the summer Harry and Hermione will probably be coming, so you won't be the only girl any more, and my brother Charlie just left." As he said this he pulled my suitcase off the ramp and we walked to animal claim.
"You mean my cousin Harry?"
"He's your cousin?"
"My mom was his Uncle Vernon's sister."
Bill nodded.
When we got to the Animal claim we saw dad immediately he was in a cage managing to look just as pitiful as the day I met him on the street.
"I'll get him." Said Bill "you stay here."
I did what he said and he walked up to get dad. It took him awhile because he got confused about some of the stuff that they were talking about.
When we finally got him I put him on a leash (which I could tell he didn't like) and Bill lead us to the out side of the airport.
I was glad to get out side and get some fresh air finally but it didn't last long because there was a taxi that Bill said was for us only. I could see that the driver looked very nervous like he expected something bad to happen. We climbed in and Bill winked at the driver, and the driver seemed to relax. He pulled of the brown coat he was wearing to reveal long black robes.
"Is she safe?" he asked; urgency in his voice.
"Safe as she can be." Replied Bill "we should go. I don't think any one was following but we can't take any chances."
Was I this important? I asked my self.
Dad leapt up into the front passengers seat, and transformed to human.
"Good job Moony." He said to the driver. They grinned at each other for a while, then the driver turned to me.
"I haven't seen you in 15 years, and you still look like Less."
"Dad keeps saying that." I said. I looked at the driver once more "Let me guess, you're my, hmm, long-lost brother."
They all laughed.
"No." he said "I'm Remus Lupin. You can call me Remus."
"Oh! I know who you are." I said glad to know something. "Dad told me."
He smiled and turned around to watch the road.
"We need to hurry." Said Bill looking at his watch "Mum will worry, you know how she frets. And I have to go back to Egypt later."
"Why are you going to Egypt."? I asked my curiosity getting the best of me.
"I work there at the bank."
That explained the tan.
"We're almost there." Said Remus.
He turned off the high way on to what looked like and old dirt road. We rode on this for about 15 minutes then he made a left and a house came into view. It wasn't huge but it wasn't tiny either. It did though look quite warm and lived in. Remus drove up to the house and stopped the car. Eager to get out and stretch my legs I jumped out of the car as soon as the car stopped. Bill, Remus, and dad got out too.
"They're back!" I heard someone yell.
A girl with flowing red hair in jeans and a shirt bolted out of the house and straight into Bill.
"Glad to see you too Ginny." He said as she hugged him
"Mum's awful worried. She thought you'd be caught or something. You'd better go in.," reported the girl
"It's ok. I deal with that later. I'd like you to meet someone." He gestured towards me "this is Aphrodite Black. She'll be staying here."
"Hello." Said the girl "I'm Ginny Weasley. Glad you're here. I won't be the only girl in the house anymore."
I was going to respond when three other people came out of the house."
"Sirius!" yelled one of them. He had really messy black hair and a lighting bolt scar on his forehead. I knew who he was.
"Harry." Dad and I both said at the same time.
"What are you doing here?" yelled Harry "you could get caught."
"I just finished my first mission from Dumbledore."
"Who are you?" asked the other one that had come out. I assumed he was a Weasley because from what I'd seen they all red hair. And this one definitely had red hair.
"I'm Aphrodite Black." I introduced myself again.
"Black?" he said "Your related to Sirius?"
"Yes. I'm his daughter, and Harry's cousin." I found it easier to say every time I said it.
"M-my cousin?" said Harry. "I don't have any relatives."
"Here I am in the flesh." I said smiling at him.
"This is weird." Said the other red haired boy. Then he looked back behind dad.
"Professor Lupin! What are you doing here?"
"I'm not your professor any more Ron. You can call me Remus, and I'm here because I picked up Aphrodite and Sirius from the airport."
"You rode a muggle air plane!" exclaimed Ginny "I heard those can be really dangerous."
"Dangerous?" I said, "you're safer in the air than on the ground, or at least that's what they say."
"Oh I…" started Ginny, but another voice chimed in.
"Why didn't you bring those four inside? They must be dead tired"
I looked over and saw a short plump woman with short red hair in the back door way of the house.
"Well bring them in.," she said walking over. "I have tea ready."
"That's mum." Said Ron
"I told you she was worried." Said Ginny
Ginny steered me towards the door.
Mrs. Weasley gasped when she saw me.
"You look just like Leslie. I remember we were in the same office in the ministry when I was younger. She was so happy when she was pregnant with you."
This I looked like my mother thing was getting annoying.
"I don't suppose you have a picture. Everyone says I look like her, and I have never seen her before in my life."
"Yes, yes I do. But tea first. You four must be famished."
She led us inside to a small kitchen. Every one found places to sit, and when we did I relaxed a lot. Mrs. Weasley was bustling around the kitchen waving her wand around fixing tea.
"So you're my cousin." Said Harry after a moment's silence.
"Well, yes." I said, "I suppose. That's what every one says. You didn't know. I thought maybe you did."
"No, I never knew." He said
"Did your Uncle Vernon ever mention a sister." I asked
"Yeah. His sister Marge, but she's definitely not a witch, may be that other word. But not a witch."
"Another sister." I persisted
"Nope."
The people at the table were quite interested now.
"He has another sister named Leslie. She was my mother. She married Sirius when they got out of Hogwarts. It was about a month after your parents got married. Your mom and my mom were apparently best friends."
Harry just nodded.
"What ever happened to Saraan, or Maxis." Dad asked Remus
"Well after you were sent to Azkaban Saraan stopped me from doing something fatal. We saw each other for a while, and then she went off to become a scientist. She helped invent the Wolfsbane Potion. We need her help now that Voldemort is back I'm supposed to talk to her."
I was quite confused here but Remus went on talking and I didn't interrupt.
"And Maxis." Prompted dad
"I lost contact with her a few years ago. Right about after I resigned from Hogwarts. Dumbledore knows where she is though I'm supposed to talk to her too. And what happened to your family Sirius?"
"Well, Callisto and I are in touch. She knows I'm innocent, and from what she said Castor's dead, Aphi is well being Aphi. If you remember she was kind of wild. She stopped playing quidditch a while ago. She's about 38 I think. Callisto isn't sure about the rest of them. And mum and dad are dead."
Remus sighed. "Have you seen Callisto?"
"No. She never has enough time. She runs part of Zonkos now."
"She needs to meet Fred and George." Muttered Ron
"Who're Saraan and Maxis?" I asked
"Some of our old school friends." Answered Remus "I should have tried to keep in touch. Might have helped."
We sat in silence for a minute until Mrs. Weasley came over with a black and white photo. She places it in front of me and it was like looking in a mirror. My mom had short brown hair just like me. She had the same dimples, eyes, and nose. But dad was right I did have his smile. She looked very pretty, and all of the sudden I wished she was here. Mrs. Weasley bought another picture over. This one had two women in it standing next to each other waving up at me. They both looked very pregnant. The picture was labeled 'Lily and Less' I looked at the picture again and gave it to Harry. He had a right to see it too.
"Do you have others?" he asked
"No. Those were the only ones. We weren't that close but we were good friends."
Harry passed the picture to dad who smiled.
Silence settled over the table once more.
"I'd best go." Said Bill after a minute "the banks expecting me."
"Before you leave," started his mother.
"No mum! You cannot touch my hair." He said "I like it the length it is."
"This is an ongoing argument." Muttered Ginny to me "come I'll show you where you'll be staying."
Ginny and I got up from the table and she led me out of the kitchen. We went up some stairs and turned a corner. Ginny opened a door.
"Here," she said "you'll be staying with me until mum and dad can get the guest room ready."
"Thanks." I said, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." She said still smiling
"Do you know anything about why I was bought here? I mean I know why. But do have any detail?"
"Nope." She said, "All mum and dad told us was that we were having a girl about Ron's age come stay. We didn't know you were Sirius's daughter."
"Oh," I kind of frowned. "So when's the other girl coming?"
"Her name's Hermione. She's really nice. She should be here in about two weeks. The only reason Harry's here now is because Sirius was coming so Dumbledore gave permission."
"And another question,"
She nodded
"Why did Ron call Remus professor?"
"He was teaching Defense Against The Dark Arts at Hogwarts. He was the best one we'd ever had, mind you. But Snape the potions professor told every one that he was a werewolf s…"
"What!" I cried in shock, "he's a what?"
"Didn't Sirius tell you?" asked Ginny
"He told me about Remus, but he left that out that little detail."
"Don't worry he's really quite nice. He's safe trust me."
I relaxed a bit, but not by much.
"Seriously he's real nice. He'd never hurt any one."
"You're sure?"
"Very." Said Ginny "now lets go back down stairs."
We smiled at each other and went back down stairs into the kitchen. Bill had left, and now two boys sat at the table, as well as the rest of the people that had been there before.
"So you're Aphrodite?" said one of them as soon as I got into the kitchen. I didn't know whether it was Fred or George.
"Pleased to meet you." Said the other "candy?"
He held out his hand. Ron snatched the candy out of his hand before he could give it to me.
"Don't take anything they give you." Harry warned
"I told you to get rid of those!" yelled Mrs. Weasley. I saw that she was getting quite angry. At this minute Ron and Harry each grabbed one of my arms and pulled me out side.
"You didn't want to hear that." Muttered Harry.
"What are we going to do?" I asked.
Harry and Ron grinned at each other.
"Do you like to fly?" asked Ron
"What!" I exclaimed
"You know fly, on a broomstick." Ron said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Broomstick?"
"Yeah, it's really fun." Said Harry.
"He has the best broom." Said Ron.
I didn't want to seem like a wimp, so I agreed. Harry ran and got a broom. The broom said Firebolt on the handle and was very shiny and sleek. Harry jumped on and took off into the air. He yelled down instructions to for when I went up. When he landed he handed the broom to me, and told me to get on.
When I fist got into the air I had my eyes closed tightly, then I heard Ron yell watch out. I opened my eyes and swerved a tree branch that I was about to hit. The broom took me higher and higher, and I realized I was going to have to get down.
"Dive!" yelled Harry.
I thought about it and dipped the broom handle down. I felt and saw the ground rushing at me. The wind was whistling through my hair. When I was about 5 inches away from the ground I pulled up, and let out a hoot. As I soared back up into the sky I heard Ron yell come down. I dipped the broom back down and made a smooth landing.
"Where'd you get this," I asked excitedly "I need one. That was so fun."
"Sirius gave it to me two years ago."
"Dad has to get me one."
For the rest of the afternoon we took turns on Harry's broom until Mrs. Weasley called us inside.
"You have to say good bye to Professor Lupin." She said.
We ran towards the house.
"You're leaving!" yelled Ron.
"I'm going to see someone. I'll be back hopefully before nine."
"Who're you going to see?" asked Dad
Remus hesitated, "Maxis."
"I'm going." Said Dad immediately.
"She doesn't know you're innocent."
"So?"
"So she'd probably call the ministry as soon as she saw you." Remus turned to look at me "although you could go. She'd want to see you."
I razed my eyebrows "why?"
"She skipped her N.E.W.T's to come to your arrival home from the hospital. She only got to see you three times before… well before all of that."
"If you go," said dad "I won't have to. You can give her my regards, and you to Harry."
"Why me?" said Harry
"Only saw you about the same amount of times as she saw Aphrodite. She'd want to see you too."
And this is how Harry and I ended up meeting Maxis Johnson.
Part Three:
Maxis, and Saraan Decide To Help
Maxis Johnson's living room was very interesting indeed. There were curious little instruments all over, many posters, and certificates. Remus seemed to know his way around the house, because after we aparrated there he led us into a small kitchen, where there was a black haired woman humming merrily at the sink. Dishes were flying around scrubbing themselves and putting themselves away. We stood in the door way and as the woman turned to reach for her wand on the counter she saw us. The dishes dropped suddenly.
"R-R-Remus?" she stuttered
She ran over to hug him.
"Oh, oh I thought maybe you had been hurt. You stopped writing two years ago, and my owls could never find you."
"I'm, sorry." He said embracing her. "I resigned from Hogwarts, and I needed sometime to think about things."
"You resigned?"
"Snape told every one." Said Remus simply
"That bastard, He's still trying to get us expelled!" she yelled "I…"
She looked over Remus's shoulder and noticed Harry and I who had shrunk back into the dinning room.
"Less? James?" she asked shocked. Her voice quieted.
"Aphrodite, Harry." Corrected Remus
Tears welled up in her eyes, and dripped down her face.
"I saw you two about four times before every thing went crazy. You look like your parents. Exactly like Less and James. You," she pointed at me "I skipped my N.E.W.T's to see you bought home from the hospital. Got into big trouble for that, but it was worth it. And Harry. James, Sirius," she scowled at my dads name "Less, and I snuck into the room when you were being born. Stole a couple of hospital robes. Got locked up in a muggle jail for a night for that one."
We didn't know what to say.
"Come into the parlor, and sit down." She continued
She grabbed Remus's hand and dragged him from the room. We followed.
When we were comfortable in the parlor Remus started to talk.
"So what're you doing now?"
"Well I do some things for the ministry occasionally, but mostly I work for my self. The ministry doesn't like all of my, shall we say 'strategies'."
Remus seemed to understand.
"What do you do?" asked Harry
Maxis grinned.
"I hunt werewolf killers and occasionally other poachers. The ministry doesn't like how I do it sometimes. If it's a full moon I'm supposed to let the poachers do their thing."
Remus shuddered involuntarily.
"I never do that though. It makes them mad, and half the people I catch they won't put into Azkaban, so I have to catch them all over again."
She grimaced "I put myself on the Sirius case for a while; nothing happened. I looked for that scoundrel everywhere. I suppose you know what happened." She addressed me.
"I-I well… He's innocent." What made me say that, I don't know?
"I know he's your father, but you know the story."
"He is." Harry and Remus said at the same time.
"That's what we came here to tell you." Said Remus "that and, Voldemort's back."
"Him!" Maxis jumped up suddenly "what?"
"In June." Said Remus "he came back at the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts; at the end. The D.A.D.A teacher was an imposter. He was a Voldemort supporter. He changed the winning cup into a port-key. It sucked Harry and Cedric Diggory into a graveyard. Voldemort killed Cedric and took blood from Harry to regain a body. Well actually Pettigrew did that."
Maxis was shocked,
"P-Peter, you mean Wormtail? That means that Sirius is,"
"Yes innocent." Interrupted Remus. "But the ministry won't believe either of the stories, and Dumbledore is starting the League Against Voldemort up again. Sirius is of course joining again."
"The League?" there was a glint of a smile on her face
"Yes he wants you in your old position."
"That would have been protecting you, Sirius, James, and Less; making sure you didn't do anything stupid." She grinned now.
"Your other role."
"Hunting poachers, because they might be working for Voldemort and giving him dragon, kelpie, and giant parts?"
"Yes, that one." Said Remus
"I wish I could have a challenge." She grumped.
"That's not challenging enough?"
"You guys had the exciting jobs. Chasing the death eaters across the country. It was because you were older; I know it. It's just I do this all the time. It's easy."
I had to interrupt. "That doesn't sound easy."
"Oh, but it is for Me." she sighed "I was the youngest member of the league when I joined, 16. I had to beg, and, beg considering I was still in school. They finally let me in, and I got the hunting job. I was very interested in it, because my parents were activists and I wanted to do what I could to stop prejudice. So Hagrid brushed up my hunting skills and I went off. I'm 32; I've been doing it for 16 years, gets boring after a while. I was hoping for something new. Maybe going with you Remus."
"Where?"
"I want to see Sirius." She said definably
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"We can manage that." Said Remus "now do you know if Saraan is still alive. I have to go to her next and don't want to waste time."
"She's alive and kicking." Said Maxis smiling again "saved her brother the other night from a poacher that's the only reason I know. She's still working as a scientist."
"Ok," Remus stood up and gestured for us to do the same "Maxis it was great seeing you. By the way, what town is this?"
"You're by Liverpool." She answered
"Ok, thank you. We'd better go."
"Promise you'll come by soon?"
"Promise."
"And you two come back too." She looked at us.
We nodded.
The two adults smiled at each other for a moment and the Remus whipped out his wand, said a spell and she was gone.
The next place we arrived in was a very neat tidy little house. We arrived in a room where a woman was sitting on the couch. She had brown skin, shoulder length hair, and she was reading a wizarding science book.
"Saraan?" Remus asked as we appeared.
The woman looked up and gasped as she realized we were in her house.
"James!" she practically screamed looking at Harry "oh, my god!
Now I noticed she had what the English would call and American accent.
"Calm down Saraan." Said Remus.
"Remus?" she asked, "where the heck have you been. I've tried owling you. None of them got to you."
"I know." he said
She looked at us "Aphi? Harry?"
"Aphi?" I asked confused.
"Less used to call you that, after," she paused "his sister."
"Remus I can't believe you bought these two to see me. Thank you."
"It's not just a social call." He said, "I have news."
She sat up bolt right.
"I know about Voldemort. Dumbledore owled me, but he said you needed to tell me something else."
"Yeah," he paused "he's innocent Saraan."
"Remus Lupin! This is not a laughing matter."
"Do you see me laughing?"
"You just expect to waltz in here and tell me that the notorious murder Sirius Black is innocent. I don't think so."
"He is!" said Harry and I.
She shook her head at us "he can't be. I mean he killed Less, his wife, your mother, your cousin."
"He didn't do that. Peter did." Explained Remus "Wormtail is still alive. He's part of the reason Voldemort is back."
"But all the evidence points to Sirius."
"Peter faked his own death. In reality he changed into a rat and ran down the sewer, leaving Sirius to be prosecuted. Here's another thing, he was the Potter's secret keeper. He killed them."
She sighed, "Theoretically it does make sense. I just can't believe little Peter would do something like that."
"He did. Sirius would not have killed Less. You know how much they loved each other."
She nodded, and then smiled, "well then come sit down, we should talk."
She stretched and got up from her couch and took us into another room. She drew up chairs with her wand and invited us to sit.
"I take it the league is starting up again."
"Yes in full force."
"I'll be breaking dark spells again?"
"Yes." Said Remus "how's Robert?"
"Fine. He's still living here of course; can't find work."
"Who's Robert?" asked Harry. "That lady Maxis said she saved him the other night from a poacher."
"Robert's my brother, he's a werewolf." She paused as if just realizing something "you saw Maxis? How is she?"
"Good. She's still working for herself."
"Tell her thanks for what ever she did the other night. I didn't know about it."
"I will." Said Remus "and what have you been doing?"
She sighed "lots. My job has me working on various projects, though they're not as important as my personal one."
"What's that?"
"An improvement for the wolfsbane potion. I realized there's no cure, but I'm trying to improve it. It's almost impossible though; I've nearly blown up my basement five times. The testosterone got too active. Other than that, well I really don't know what I've been doing."
"What time is it?" asked Remus.
"It's about 9:30."
"We'd better go. Mrs. Weasley will worry."
"Give Mrs. Weasley my regards."
"I will."
"Good bye, Aphi, and Harry. I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon."
We smiled and then we left.
Part Four:
Diagon Ally And Dads Wand
After a few weeks of staying with the Weasley's the girl named Hermione came to stay. We got along pretty well, and she let me use her wand to try out some simple spells. According to Ron and Harry she was the brain of Hogwarts.
In late August all of us kids got our Hogwarts letters. Mine had the basic information on it as well as an extra letter.
'Dear Aphrodite Black,
We are pleased that you are joining Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We have written to let you know that you will be taking some of your more challenging classes with the first years. These classes will include Transfiguration, and Potions. We would also like you to know that in Hogwarts students choose two other classes to take at the end of their second years. Considering you were not here at that point we have chosen those classes for you. They will be Care of Magical Creatures, and our new class Illusions.
- Professor Mcgonagall (Deputy headmistress)'
"Ooo!" squealed Hermione "you get to take illusions. That's supposed to be very interesting."
"Is it like muggle illusions?" I asked
"Yes. Except it's real magic, not mirrors or any thing." She answered.
"I wonder why they picked that for me?"
"Could be for various reasons?" she shrugged "we should be getting ready though. We're going to Diagon Ally soon."
I nodded and finished tying up my sneakers.
"How're we getting there?" I asked
"Floo powder." Answered Harry
"You mean the stuff you throw into the fire?"
"Yup."
I sighed and went downstairs into the kitchen. Harry and Hermione followed. Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, and Remus, dad, Fred, George, and Ginny were sitting at the kitchen table.
"Now remember," Mrs. Weasley was saying, "stay out of Knockturn Ally. And keep an eye on Aphi."
I'd asked them to call me that.
"What's in Knockturn Ally?" I asked
"Nothing you need see." She wagged her finger at me.
This of course made me want to see it more.
"Stay away from it Aphi." Said Dad "that's the same look I used to get on my face when I was about to break rules."
"Of course." I said sweetly.
"And here's the key to the family vault in Gringots." He handed me a little shiny golden key.
"Where'd you get that?" asked Mr. Weasley, "I'd have thought that the ministry would've confiscated it."
"Callisto had a spare. She sent it to me as soon as she'd heard I'd gotten Aphi." He grinned, "There's a lot that the ministry should've confiscated that Callisto has."
"Sirius, are you coming?" asked Ron "in dog form of course."
"No, it's to risky. He'll stay here." Answered Remus before dad could say anything.
"Time to go." Said Mrs. Weasley "I'll go first."
She went over to the kitchen fire and took a jar off of the mantle. She threw some powder from it into the fire and it turned green. She stepped in and Said 'Diagon Ally.' With a whoosh she was gone.
"You next." Said Mr. Weasley to me.
I nervously threw some of the powder into the fire and stepped in. the fire felt cool on my legs.
"Diagon Ally!" I said
All of the sudden I was zoomed up the fireplace. I could see different fireplaces, as I was moving. Then after a few seconds I stopped. I stepped out of the grate that I was in, and saw that I was inside what looked like a bar. I blinked my eyes to become accustomed to the lighting. Then I looked around some more for Mrs. Weasley. She spotted me first.
"Oh good you made it." She said when she saw me. "You'll want to move though the others shall be coming, and they might knock into you."
I stepped out of the way just as Ron stumbled out of the grate. He shook his head and stood up.
"Hard landing." He said, "There's no fire."
So that explained why it wasn't that comfortable.
"Are the rest hurrying along?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
Ron said yes.
Next George came down on to the grate.
"Ow!" he said
Then came Ginny, Fred, Hermione, Harry, and then Mr. Weasley.
"Good we can go." Said Mrs. Weasley.
She led us out the back door of the bar into a small back yard with a brick wall boarding it. She stepped over to a trashcan and started muttering numbers to herself. She finally took out her wand and tapped a brick. The wall swirled around and then stopped reveling an archway. Mrs. Weasley ushered us through it.
When I stepped through I was in a whole new world. I looked around and caught some of the names of the shops, Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions, Olivanders Wand Shop. There was something that looked like a drug store, and I could plainly see Gringots. It was shining white, with tall marble pillars. I could also plainly see the sign that pointed towards Knockturn Ally. I had plans to go down there. I knew I'd be able to convince Fred and George to take me if not the others.
Mrs. And Mr. Weasley were leading us towards Gringots. I fingered the small key tucked safely in my pocket. When we reached the building, and started to climb the white marble steps a sight at the top made me stop. There was a little man type thing at the top.
"What is that?" I asked.
"It's just a goblin." Said Ginny "it won't hurt you unless you plan to steal something."
I sighed and continued up the stairs.
Inside the building there were more goblins. They were standing behind counters weighing things and talking to people. We walked up to a counter and a goblin ran over to help us.
"We need to go down to three vaults." Said Mr. Weasley. "Give him your key Aphi."
I took the key out and handed it to the goblin. He inspected it very carefully.
"Were did you get this key?" he asked
"Her Aunt Callisto gave it to her." Mrs. Weasley answered for me.
"What's your name." He asked
"Aphrodite Black." I answered
He pursed his lips. "Come along."
We followed him to the other side of the bank, where there were things that looked like mine carts. The goblin directed half of us into one and the other half into the other into another.
When we started to move, the cart moved like a roller coaster. We twisted and turned going under ground. I saw stalactites and stalagmites. We finally stopped at a silver door.
"Mr. Potter." Said the goblin
Harry stepped forward, and the goblin opened the silver door. I don't know what I expected to see but it wasn't what I saw. There were massive piles of silver, gold, and bronze coins. Harry seemed to be trying to shield the contents of the vault from us. He scooped up many of the coins into a bag and then stepped out back into the cart. The goblin closed the door, and then started the cart again. We went further under ground and then stopped again.
"Mr. And Mrs. Weasley." Called the goblin.
When the goblin opened the door I saw that there were almost no gold coins but mostly silver and bronze. Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and scooped out most of the contents.
The goblin closed the vault and the cart zoomed off again.
This time we went much deeper into the earth. I could even feel it getting warmer, like we were getting close to the core.
Finally after ten minutes of riding we stopped.
"Miss. Black."
I stepped off the cart and waited for the goblin to open the vault. When he did the sight inside amazed me.
There were humongous piles of gold, silver, and bronze. I stepped inside and wondered what to take. Finally I decided to take most of the gold ones and some silver.
When we got back to the main floor of the bank Hermione exchanged her money at the counter, and then we went back out onto the street.
"We'll meet at Flourish and Blots in 2 hrs." said Mr. Weasley
"Stay away from Knockturn Ally." Warned Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes mum." answered Ron.
Mr. And Mrs. Weasley went down the street to the right leaving us kids to our own devices.
"Where should we go first?" asked Hermione.
"Aphi needs a wand." Said Harry "we should go to Olivanders first."
They all agreed and we walked down the street to a small shop. Inside there were lots of shelves with thin boxes on them. I looked around and the out of nowhere came a small man.
"Ah, Aphrodite Black. I wondered when you'd be coming."
He gave me the creeps.
"Lets see," he continued "I remember that your whole family has had good transfiguration wands, so I'll just take some of those down. Now if you will please just stick out your wand arm."
I stuck out my right hand.
"Good, good, now try this. Birch, 12 inches, springy, good for transfiguration. Just wave it around."
I waved it and nothing happened.
"Hmm, lets try this, yew, 11 inches, stiff, transfiguration."
Again nothing.
"Rosewood, 12 inches, bendy, transfiguration."
Nothing.
"Maybe not transfiguration then. Try this, maple, 13 inches, stiff, nice for illusions."
I waved it and spark shot out of the end.
"Different from the rest of your family, but it should do you well." said the man. "That will be 11 galleons."
Ron saw my confused look. "They're the gold coins." He said.
I counted out 11 gold coins, and handed them to the man. Then we walked out of the store.
"Robes next then?" asked Fred.
"Ok." Said we said.
Inside madam Malkins Robe shop. We all got new robes, and Ron and I got dress robes.
"Now lets go down Knockturn Ally." I said after we came out of the shop.
"Are you nuts?" asked Hermione "we can't go down there. It's all dark arts stuff. And Aphi you're being protected remember."
"So, it's not like any ones going to get me." I protested
"I think it's a great idea." Said George. "I've always wanted to go down there."
"Why do you want to go down there?" asked Ginny
"I just want to see it. Every one said not to, and of course that just made me want to do it more."
"What if something happens?" asked Ron
"Then we'll leave." I said "what do you think Harry?"
He bit his lower lip and then answered "it's not a very nice place you know, and Mrs. Weasley said we shouldn't."
"Come on!" I said, "I'm going even if you guys don't." and with that I started to walk towards the dark ally way.
"Wait!" I heard behind me.
I stopped and turned around. The rest of them were running to catch up with me.
"You're just like your father you know." huffed Hermione
"Hush! Come on." I said
We walked to the entranceway of Knockturn Ally.
"Who's going first?" asked Harry
"Aphi!" said Ginny and she pushed me through the archway.
I smiled and beckoned the rest through. We walked down the street looking around. It was very dark and there were a lot of wierd, creepy looking figures around.
"Look!" said Fred
We looked at what he was pointing at. The store was called Specialty Items: The Store For Every Thing Un-worthy.
"I want to take a look." Said George
"Me too." Said Harry.
We nervously walked over to the store and went inside. Inside the shop was dark and dusty. There were various items spread all over the place. I walked around looking. There were sections like special garlic for vampires, or clothes for house elves. When Hermione saw this section she made a little noise in the bottom of her throat.
Then I saw it. It was up on a very high shelf, as if it were even to un-worthy for this store. Dust had settled around the case it was in, and the glass around it was chipping. It didn't look like it had been touched in over 1000 years. What was this doing here I thought. He'd said the ministry had snapped it and probably thrown it into the English Channel to be carried away to sea.
It was labeled, Sirius Black's Wand.
I smiled to myself when I saw it. For once in my life my stubbornness had been a good thing. I ran over to the counter to talk to the owner of the store.
"How much is that wand?" I asked breathless pointing to the case.
The man at the counter raised his eyebrows at me.
"Who wants to know?" he had a slippery voice that sounded like he was ready to cheat me if the chance was offered.
"Me, please." I said
"Interested in the dark arts are you?" he asked
"No sir. I'd just like to know how much it costs, so maybe I could…"
"Buy it." He finished
I meekly nodded my head.
He came out from behind his counter and walked over to the shelf. He waved his wand and the case floated down. He looked at the tag hanging on the back.
"Fifty galleons." He said
"F-fifty?" I repeated
He nodded, smiled and took the wand over to his counter. I looked over at my friends who were standing in various parts of the store. I walked over to Harry.
"Harry!" I whispered.
"Yeah." He said
"Look!" I pointed to the counter where the wand was on display.
He gasped. "How'd he get that?"
"I didn't ask. I didn't want to seem too nosy."
"Did you ask how much it was?"
"Fifty galleons. I want to buy it."
"What're you talking about."? I turned around and saw Hermione and Ron.
"They have Sirius's wand." Said Harry "it's on the counter."
"It should have been snapped." Said Ron "he must have stolen it."
"How much is it?" asked Hermione
"Fifty galleons. I want to buy it, and I have enough it's just it seems like it would be against the law or something."
"Well make your decision quickly. We're sitting here in a store in Knockturn Ally. That's not a good thing." Said Ron
I looked over my shoulder at the wand. There was someone looking at it, so I realized I'd have to act fast.
"I'll do it." I told them.
I turned and walked back up to the counter.
"Well?" said the man.
"I'll take it."
He smiled "a Slytherin, eh?"
I narrowed my eyes "Gryffindor." Because that was the house I wanted to be in.
He just smiled and started to wrap the wand up. I paid, and then we got out of that store as quickly as possible.
"Under no circumstances tell mum that we were down there." Said George "she'll skin us alive, and she really will too."
"Lets just go to Flourish and Blots. We've basically wasted our 2 hrs already."
We walked down the street to Flourish and Blots. Inside Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were waiting. I quickly hid the package from Knockturn Ally.
"Good you're here." Said Mr. Weasley. "We can get our books and then go back home."
We bought our books from the store then went back to the bar to go home.
At the Weasley's Dad and Remus were sitting at the table talking and laughing. When dad heard us coming down the fireplace he quickly changed into a dog just incase it wasn't us. When he saw us he changed back.
"Did you have a good time?" he asked.
"Yeah. I got something for you." I told him. "And after you say thank you you're going to kill me."
"What is it?"
I pulled out the package and handed it to him. He unwrapped it and his eyes widened.
"Where did you get this?" he asked slowly.
Mrs. Weasley also was looking at me with her eyes narrowed, and her lips pursed.
"Where did you get Aphi?" she asked. "It was snapped."
"No it wasn't."
"Where?" asked dad.
I knew that I was about to get into big trouble, so I did what any normal kid would do. I lied.
"It was in our Gringots vault."
The rest of the kid Weasley's, Harry, and Hermione nodded vigorously. I could tell that dad didn't believe me, but he didn't say anything.
He smiled "well thanks. This will come in handy." He waved it fondly and sparks shot out. "Aphi, want to come out side for a second?" He asked.
I nodded and stepped out side to my doom.
"Take me for a walk, and I want you to tell me every thing." He said in the back yard.
I took a deep breath. "Fine."
He transformed and we walked down the drive way and on to the sidewalk. For a while I walked in silence. Then dad turned his head and looked at me and I started talking.
"We went down Knockturn Ally." I said, "That's where I got it."
He gave me a dog glare.
"Well you told me not to, and of course that just made me want to more, and we didn't talk to any one except for the store owner. I'm sorry."
He softened the glare.
"And we got you're wand right? It was a store for un-worthy things. It was on a high shelf, and I wanted to get it out of there. It was 50 galleons."
He growled this time.
"At least we got it. And we went out of the ally right after we got out of the store. It was kind of scary and I'll never go back in there again. I swear."
He nodded, and turned around to go back towards the Weasley's.
When we were back in the back yard he transformed back.
"You swear?"
"Yes."
"You have to much of me in you. Next time you want to do something like that think about it."
"Ok."
He rolled his eyes and went back inside.
(A-N this is the end of part one of my story. I really hoped you liked it. Bye. Oh yeag, please read and review)