Hey A/all. This is chapter forty-two of the new and improved The Black Heir: The Saga Begins. It was originally just a rewrite of my The Black Heir: First Year, but it has deviated so much from how that one used to be that it's now a new story all on its own, though the basic premise is the same. This story is once more complete! And is a whopping 48 chapters long, lots was added haha. Updates should be weekly unless something drastic happens.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Evelyn Celeste Black is my own original character, but all other recognisable characters belong to J K Rowling, I just like to use them to do my bidding.
Summary: What happens when the mistreated daughter of Sirius Black is eligible for her first year at Hogwarts at the same time as her father's escape from Azkaban and she is reunited with Harry Potter. The summer before Harry's third year might just turn out to be just as much of an adventure as his years at Hogwarts. (Eventual HarryXGinny, NevilleXOC, and RonXLuna)
Warning: This story does contain spanking, but it is not the focus, still if you don't like it don't read it.
A huge, huge thank you to my amazing Beta who has been an amazing support in writing this. Yes, I am trying my hardest to turn her into a Harry Potter Fan. Without her support and guidance, you probably wouldn't be getting this story for a good few years.
~o~
The next day a letter arrived carried by Pigwidgeon, the owl Sirius had bought Ron to replace the loss of his pet rat. Harry was surprised when the excitable little owl flew to his Dad and not to him. Sirius accepted the letter and opened it, relaxing when he saw that it was Arthur Weasley asking if they couldn't have that meeting to discuss how they were going to manage the terms of the Betrothal that day after lunch. Sirius replied in the affirmative, informing Arthur of when they would be having lunch and that he was very much invited to join them if he wished.
Arthur would have loved to have lunch with his daughter, but he couldn't get away with that long of a lunch break from work and didn't know how long it would take to cover all they needed to for the Betrothal. After giving them enough time to eat and hopefully finish lunch he Flooed in, looking worn and haggard.
Remus had already taken the kids into the living room to teach them about real magical history, and not the constant stream of Goblin Rebellions Binns liked to lecture about.
Sirius, knowing Arthur was coming, waited in the parlour to receive the wizard when he arrived, "Arthur, please come in and come with me into the study," he directed. This was official business and though Arthur might not practice much Pureblood etiquette, to treat this as anything other would be disrespectful to both Arthur and Ginny and Sirius had become fond of the spirited red head. He smiled in approval as a tea set and a good selection of biscuits appeared, Gizzy was learning to predict their needs. "Help yourself to tea and biscuits," he invited.
Arthur gratefully poured himself a spot of tea and took a couple biscuits, he had to forgo his lunch for this, so the biscuits were very welcome, "thank you Sirius."
Sirius made his own cup how he liked it and took a couple of his favourite chocolate biscuits, "I take it things are not going well at home?"
Arthur sighed, "is it that obvious?" He shook his head, "I've rather let Molly run the house how she sees fit, I was never supposed to be Lord Weasley, I wasn't the oldest of my brothers, just the one to survive. Molly was never even considered as an option for the Prewett Heir, so neither of us grew up knowing how to be Heirs far less Lords and Ladies. I tried to teach Bill what I could, he was my eldest, so it made sense, but the Prewett Heir has always been chosen by Magic and it's not something Molly places value in. Betrothals and Lords are things she'd come to look down upon because so many look down on us, she associated it with dark families or the very rich, which we obviously aren't."
Sirius listened sympathetically to his fellow wizard.
"We are Purebloods, but we have tried to teach the kids that blood purity doesn't matter, that just because we have magic, we aren't superior to muggles. I think our lack of financial standing has pushed Molly to the other extreme where she just rejects any of the Pureblood society rules as she knows we wouldn't be accepted there," Arthur continued.
"Arthur, you are a very well-respected man; yes, the darker faction of the Pureblood elite mocks you, but the light and even neutral factions respect you, even though you choose not to practice most forms of Pureblood etiquette. You're a proud man, you don't accept charity, you work hard, and you can't be bought. That goes a long way to earning respect with the right kinds of people. The only reason the dark faction is the biggest is because they, along with their leader Mouldy Shorts, tried their best to wipe out the light side. Causing well over half of the traditionally neutral families to go dark, a very small handful going light, and a much smaller number than usual staying neutral," Sirius pointed out.
Arthur dipped his head in acknowledgement, "thank you. Molly still wouldn't feel comfortable, our lack of wealth has always been a thorn in her side. Now, thanks to the Potters generosity we have enough galleons in our bank to be very comfortable, but Molly sees that as blood money from me signing the Betrothal. She still wasn't overly comfortable with the Betrothal but had reluctantly begun to accept it and then Ginny becomes the Prewett Heir." He shook his head and let his head fall into his hands, "she's extremely unhappy with me for sending Ginny to stay here. Terrified that Ginny will turn into everything she despises about the Pureblood society she was shut out of, but I truly didn't know what to do."
Sirius sighed and rested a hand on the struggling father's shoulder, "Arthur, from the brief glimpse I saw, you did the right thing. We both know your wife is a very loving woman and a very caring mother but losing her brothers has made her overprotective of those she loves. She wants to protect them from everything and struggles to deal with them growing up. I'll admit it used to be a source of amusement for James and me, when we were young idiots, but now with Evie and Harry, I can understand it. It is hard to admit your kids are growing up and there's nothing wrong with wanting to keep them safe and sheltered from the hardships and reality of the world, but that will leave them woefully unprepared when they finally do have to deal with it."
"You're right, I know you are, I just… I wonder if I did the right thing intervening when I did or if I should have just tried to let Molly and Ginny work it out," Arthur confessed.
Sirius shook his head, "Arthur no, you definitely did the right thing. Molly is a good woman, a good mother, but it's well known she has a rather infamous temper. Ginny is also a strong young witch, and neither were going to back down, by sending her here it allowed both to cool off and prevented things from being said that couldn't be unsaid. You didn't want either of them saying things they didn't mean and would have a hard time taking back."
Arthur let out a sigh of relief, "thank you, my friend, I hope you don't mind me considering you a friend?"
"Of course not, Arthur. I'm honoured to be considered your friend," Sirius insisted.
Arthur allowed himself a half smile, "thank you, I didn't realise how much that was worrying me before I said it," he admitted. He shook his head and straightened up, "now I didn't come here just to complain and fuss at you. I really would like to settle the terms of the Betrothal before the kids go to Hogwarts," he stated.
Sirius nodded, "well first off obviously financially Ginny's education had been paid for and you'll be receiving a refund from her first year. I fully intend for her to stay at Hogwarts until she has completed her NEWT's. I've confirmed that your request for her to repeat the year is what I want as well, I won't make any educational decisions without speaking to you though and will most likely back whatever decisions you feel are best. Legally speaking they'll now have to go through me due to the Betrothal, but unless what you want is completely against Ginny's wishes I'm happy to just be a mouthpiece."
The part of Arthur that hated to accept charity wanted to refuse this, his daughter's education should be his financial responsibility, but if he'd been signing the Betrothal a hundred years ago, he wouldn't likely even get to see his daughter. He took a deep calming breath and nodded, "all I ask is that Ginny is allowed to choose the path she wants and is supported down it."
Sirius nodded, "absolutely, that is certainly what I want for my two and will see to it that is what Ginny gets too," he agreed. "As for living arrangements, I don't want to remove Ginny from your care, as I've already said Molly is a good mother and you are an outstanding father. To take Ginny from two parents who clearly love her and want what's best for her would be unforgiveable, plus she's still at the age where she needs contact with her siblings. However, I would like to ask that she be allowed to visit frequently,"
Arthur nodded easily, "absolutely, I know Ginny will love that and is very close to your Evie and I absolutely fully support their friendship. In return, as I've said, Evie will always be welcome at The Burrow as will Harry and whilst under our roof, they will be treated like one of the family," he insisted. He would make sure Molly followed along with this; he would not have any child feeling unwelcome in his home… even if it was the Malfoy boy, he would make sure the young Heir was welcomed into his home, despite his rivalry with his father.
"Perhaps for now we can settle on weekly day trips with some weekend sleep overs here?" Sirius suggested. He wasn't sure he was ready for Evie to feel comfortable sleeping under someone else's roof. It would be hard enough having Evie at Hogwarts with Remus there, if Remus wasn't going to be teaching and he didn't have the ability to come and see his children as often as he wanted, he would be home-schooling them.
"I am happy with that," Arthur agreed.
Sirius sighed as now they came upon a more difficult area, "I have seen and heard absolutely nothing to suggest that how you discipline your children is in anyway abusive or anything I myself do not agree with. So far with Ginny's stay here I have found no cause to correct her behaviour in anyway, but I believe it would be in our best interests to come to an agreement upon things. I trust in the rules and such you have for Ginny and don't expect you to change how you treat her or to change any of those rules," he started.
Arthur couldn't help the relief that shot through him, the Betrothal gave Sirius full discipline rights over his daughter, and he was legally allowed to insist upon them holding her to any rules he wished. "Yes of course. Both Molly and I have been of the opinion of under my roof under my rules and when our children have had friends come to stay, we have treated them like family. Neither of us has had cause to discipline any of their friends, even when Harry came to stay with us for the whole of August last year. Though I was torn when he flew the car to school with Ronald, he was technically no longer under my roof or care at the time, and I partly blamed myself. I can agree that when Ginny is under your roof, she is under your rules and if she breaks your rules then I trust you to deal with it effectively," Arthur confirmed.
"I will extend the same with regards to Harry, he is well used to your family dynamic and knows how you handle misbehaviour. With Evie I ask that you please call myself or Remus, she is still extremely sensitive. It's not that I don't trust you or your wife, but she isn't used to being disciplined for misbehaviour and I want her to know without a doubt she'll never be abused again and to have a firm knowledge of the difference between the abuse she suffered and discipline," Sirius explained.
"I completely understand Sirius, both Molly and I care deeply for Harry and Evie, please don't take her words the other day to heart. Shortly after Molly first met Evie, she was rather eager to take her back home with us and feed her up," Arthur told Sirius.
Sirius smiled, "ahh the patented Molly Weasley cure-all, anything can be fixed with food," he grinned.
Arthur chuckled, "indeed."
"Harry has nothing but praise for your wife's cooking, he tells me nothing beats her homemade treacle tart," Sirius praised.
Arthur managed a full smile at that, "she'll be delighted to hear that. Once things have calmed down, I insist that you come over for a meal. It probably won't be until the Christmas Holiday's now, but don't expect to need to eat for at least a week afterwards."
Sirius laughed, "we'll very much look forward to that."
"We should probably get back onto the Betrothal," Arthur sighed.
Sirius nodded, "probably," he agreed. The two father's both agreed the kids were too young for dates and that any 'hanging out' would be innocent and as friends, likely with Evie involved which would almost definitely hamper any amorous happenings, but they could revisit the topic if necessary. Sirius made a mental note to talk to Harry about it though, as he was a year older and well a boy, he didn't think anyone would have had 'the talk' with Harry before so it would fall to him. Eventually both men agreed that they were happy with the arrangements for now and they would stand well for the duration of the upcoming school year at least, as the kids got older things might change, but they'd discuss that then.
Arthur was relieved Sirius was so willing to work with him despite the fact he had no legal obligation to.
After their talk Sirius took Arthur into the living room so he could see and talk to Ginny.
The last of Arthur's doubts about whether asking Sirius to take Ginny were swept away by the brief interaction he had with his daughter. She was clearly happy and thriving in Sirius and Remus' care and they were far better suited to teach her about the ins and outs of being an Heir of an important family. He didn't stay too long, but he promised Ginny her Mum was coming around before he had to head back to work.
~o~
There you go, there's chapter forty-two. Please drop me a review and tell me what you thought, cookies for those who do!