Hey A/all. This is Chapter one 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 complete and is 36 chapters long, updates should be weekly
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 some RonXLuna)
Warning: This story does contain spanking, but it is not the focus, still if you don't like it don't read it. Additional warning for this chapter: descriptions of physical child abuse.
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 quite a while yet.
~o~
The emaciated black dog dragged itself up onto the beach panting before collapsing onto the sand, whimpering, and keening. With a great effort, it pushed itself up to standing and looked in two distinct directions before throwing back its head and letting out a mournful howl. Legs trembling, it paced back and forth a few times, shaking its head almost as if torn. Finally, the dog's legs could take no more and they buckled underneath it. Seeming to realise it had little strength left, the dog crawled up the beach, seeking the shelter of the trees before curling up, whimpering, and occasionally letting out a howl that was clearly filled with pain. It took a long time for the dog to fall to sleep, but eventually the howls and whimpers stopped, left with the silence of an uneasy sleep.
When the sun rose, the light revealed just how emaciated the dog was, despite its dark shaggy fur the animal's ribs and spine jutted out sharply. The sun seems to rouse the dog from its uneasy sleep, and, on slightly steadier legs, it pushed itself up to standing. It sniffed the air before searching for a place to relieve itself, revealing that it was male. Again, the dog appeared torn, unable to decide where to go, if such thinking was possible for a dog. Finally, almost reluctantly it seemed, the dog headed off in one clear direction.
~o~
A rather unfortunate looking man sat at a table, that appeared to have seen better days, eating with rather appalling table manners. He was shovelling the food into his mouth and reading a newspaper at the same time.
A small, dirty, child stood, back pressed up against the wall, head dipped, and face hidden by long, equally dirty, hair. The dirt was so thick it was rather hard to tell what colour the hair was or much about the features of the child. The child was bare foot; a metal cuff leading to a chain attached to the wall was fitted snuggly around a chafed dirty ankle. The shirt she wore as a dress had certainly seen better days, a rope around her middle serving as a belt. Unlike the man, who looked rather over fed, this child appeared not to be fed regularly at all.
Finally, the man seemed to finish his food and pushed his plate aside. "Clean up," he ordered harshly.
The girl moved away from the wall almost silently, the only noise the movement of the chain as she approached the table warily. Though she kept her head down, her eyes, only just visible through her hair, tracked the man carefully. She kept as far out of reach as she could as she took the plate and carried it to the sink starting to wash up silently.
The scene was disturbed by the arrival of an owl carrying a letter. The man snatched the letter and growled seeing its address. "Cockroach, tell the bird to stay, I will reply to this," he demanded.
"Yes sir," the girl whispered. 'Please stay, Sir will reply to your letter,' she thought to the owl. The girl had been able to do this for a long time, she would reach out with her mind and find the presence of the animal mind. Then it seemed she could communicate. Animals were her only friends and she got on well with the family of rats that lived here as well as the animals she used to see outside – when she had been allowed outside.
The owl flapped its wings in distress. 'That letter is not for him young chick, it is for you,' the owl passed to the little mind speakers.
The girl shrugged slightly, not understanding who could be writing to her. 'No one writes to me, no one ever has. What is your name?' She asked the owl.
'My name is Aria young chick, what is yours?' Aria told the young child. She was getting an uneasy feeling being in this hovel and wanted to leave, but she also wanted to protect the child.
'Evie, or that is what my friend used to call me, my guardian calls me witch, rat, or cockroach,' Evie explained.
Aria clicked her beak unhappily, she may only be a post owl, but even she could sense this child's pain and misery.
The man then thrust a piece of parchment into the owl's face. "Here! Take this to whoever sent you and be quick about it. I want her gone by tomorrow night!" He growled.
Aria almost considered refusing to take the letter.
'Please, do what he said. He'll hurt you if you don't,' Evie begged.
Aria, knowing she couldn't help the child anyway, took the letter. 'I will get you help young chick,' she promised Evie. She took flight then, flying out the open window and returning to her home.
"Get here you little witch," her guardian barked.
Evie jumped and scurried forward. She supposed it was because her guardian was so old that he called her a witch. She was used to him calling her many things, so it didn't truly bother her.
"Listen rat, there's going to be someone coming for you soon, to speak to you. This is your only warning, go and never come back… if you come back, I'll kill you," he warned.
Evie tried very hard not to react to that, she'd been threatened with death many times but there was something different this time, his colours seemed much more serious. "I-I don't…" she started. She reeled back as the back of his hand connected with her cheek and his hand was suddenly around her throat.
"Listen well you little witch. I told your murdering father that he could leave you here, and I've never regretted anything more! He was only supposed to leave you here for a short time, but then he went and got caught after killing a load of filthy muggles. I did try and drown you, but that fucking elf your father left here attacked me! So, I kept you, figuring it would be good to have an elf around here. Bloody elf was too damn big for its boots though, more trouble that it was worth, so I killed it then killed you, you were, or should have been, dead, stubborn little witch that you are, wouldn't freaking stay dead. I had no choice then but to keep you. Still, I knew that one day another of your kind would come and take you and I'd be rid of you for good. Thought he'd be by to take you sooner really, he's out you know, and they go crazy in there, you better hope he doesn't find you or he'll probably kill you," he yelled in her face. He then tossed her away from him, spitting on her before getting up and walking away.
Evie's eyes bugged wide as she tried to breath around her guardian's constricting fingers. Her little hands scrabbled against his, trying to pull him off her without using her gift. When he threw her across the room she tensed waiting for the blows, surprised when he only spat at her and walked away. She took in deep gasping breaths and massaged her throat. She closed her eyes tight at the reminder of the elf, her only true friend in this place, the one who taught her to read and write, the one who protected her from her guardian's rage. She remembered her death at the hands of her guardian and him turning on her, now defenceless. She had no idea what her guardian was talking about with someone coming to take her away or who the 'he' from his rant was, but her guardian seemed crazier than usual, and his colours terrified her. She closed her eyes and placed her hands around her throat, willing the pain away so she could breathe without pain.
Evie knew there was something different about her, she knew it was likely the reason her guardian hated her. She could do things, things her guardian couldn't and whenever she did, and her guardian caught her, she'd be punished. So, she tried to keep her gifts secret. Though once when her guardian wanted to see how long 'her kind', whatever that meant, could survive without food she had been so hungry she wasn't as careful as normal and got caught stealing food. He had been enraged and in a desperate desire to protect herself Evie had used her gift to get him to stop. It had lasted about a week before it stopped affecting him and he'd nearly killed her. After that she'd focused entirely on building up her gift, getting stronger so that one day she could make him stop permanently. That was also when he'd bought the chain, and though she was pretty sure she could make the chain go, she never dared.
Evie knew the story of how she came to be with her guardian of course, one day her father had turned up on her guardian's doorstep and dumped her there before going off to kill a bunch of people. She wasn't sure where her mother was or what happened with her, and she learnt early on, asking questions would only lead to pain. He did like to insult her father though, not that Evie understood a lot of the old man's ramblings.
The floorboard in the other room creaked and pulled her from her thoughts; if he caught her slacking off, he would thrash her. Evie was constantly on alert, always listening to the movements of her guardian, always tracking him as best she could to protect herself.
Despite having not eaten the whole day she did not touch the leftover food, instead scraping the scraps into the bin and putting the leftover meat into the cupboard that was always cold. She only ate when her guardian gave her permission, and it was clear there was no permission coming. She saw the letter left on the side and frowned, she had long ago learnt not to act on any curiosity she might feel, but Aria had said the letter was for her. Chewing her lip unsure she picked it up and, taking care not to read it, carried it into the living room. Her chain was too short to allow her to reach the front or back door; she could only just about step into the living room; so, unlike the spotless kitchen, the living room was getting grimy. She knew her chain would be moved soon so she could tidy the living room, but it wasn't time yet. "S-Sir, your letter," she murmured. Speaking without being spoken to was always risky but not alerting her guardian to the letter would result in a punishment. She compromised by using as few words as possible to convey her message.
The man looked up and glared at Evie. "It's your letter witch. I know that damn elf taught you to read. Now get out of my sight or I'll change my mind about letting you go!"
Evie flinched and simply nodded before ducking back into the kitchen grateful to escape untouched. She sat down on the floor, the kitchen was spotless, and opened the letter to read it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Evelyn Celeste Black,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Evie froze in shock. Magic was real? Was she really a witch? No, it was impossible. Surely if she was a witch then her guardian would be too, and he certainly couldn't see colours or do what she could do. No this was-was… what was it? She didn't know anyone other than her guardian. Who would write to her? The letter was addressed to her, it even had the fact she slept on the kitchen floor on the envelope. So, what was it if it wasn't real? Shaking her head, she read the second page wondering if that would have an explanation.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
5. Full set of Hogwarts uniform (Trousers for wizards, skirts for witches)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry nametags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
By Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic
By Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory
By Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
By Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
By Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions
By Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
By Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
By Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad. Familiars are exempt from this rule as it is considered illegal to separate a witch or wizard from their familiar.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
This only caused Evie more confusion. Where, on earth, was she supposed to get these things? A cat wouldn't be too hard – she just had to go outside and speak to one of the local cats, see if there were any homeless cats that wouldn't mind staying with her, but she had no idea how to get any of the other things.
Evie tensed as the chair creaked and her guardian stood up. He walked into the room and sneered at her before plunging her world into darkness. Without another word he left, and she followed the sound of his footsteps up the stairs and to his bedroom. She had once had a bedroom up there as well, and her elf used to take care of the cleaning and cooking, now she wasn't permitted upstairs ever, not even to clean. Evie stayed silent, trembling in the dark until she heard the lack of footsteps and quickly produced balls of light in her hands, throwing the balls into the air where they hovered just above her head. She did this twice more before placing her hand on the hard wood floor willing it to become soft and warm; sighing in relief she set the letter down. It must be some kind of trick of her guardian's, another thing to make her life miserable. She supposed that meant she was going to die soon, something she felt oddly at peace with. After all, what exactly did she have to live for?
~o~
There you go, the new and improved Chapter one. I hope you think it was worth the rewrite and like this new take on Evie's backstory. Please drop and review and tell me what you think. I'll see you all next week with chapter 2.