Author's Note: Woohooo! I got reviews! So Happy! Motivation comes from reviews, so the more you review, the faster these chapters will come out. Unless I have writer's block... That might be a problem... Oh well! I'll worry about that when it happens. Okay! On with the story!

My Thanks To...

Sirius Horse Lover, Vanessa-Black and Zabini, and theQuibbleringQuibblerer

... For Reviewing

Disclaimer: I do Not own Harry Potter.

Child of the Stars

Chapter Four: Hooted Good Mornings

Sadira sighed as she flopped onto her bed. It was well past midnight, but she had sent letter to Severus telling him that they would have to meet another night.

A smile came to her lips as her midnight-black owl Judoc flew through her open window and landed by her head.

"Hey Boy, does Severus have a return letter for me?"

She twisted onto her stomach and stroked his silky feathers. He closed his eyes and rubbed his head against her hand, making a low hooting sound. Sadira giggled as she plucked a scroll from his leg.

"I don't think you'll have any more deliveries tonight Judoc," she said as she tossed him an owl treat. He hooted and flew to his cage next to her window.

She watched him for a few minutes before turning back to the scroll in her hand, unrolling it to see Severus' neat handwriting.

Sadira,

I am sorry that we could not meet tonight, but I know that you are tired. I only hope you read this before you to go sleep. Please meet me in the kitchen tomorrow morning. I want to talk to you about your arm, and I don't want any excuses about it being just a cut. I also wanted to talk to you about something Father said to me after the guests retired. We were talking about school, and he hinted that he might let you go. Don't get your hopes up though, this could be some kind of trick.
Goodnight my Young Star.

Sincerely, Severus

Sadira smiled to herself as she rolled the letter up again. Even though they were only a few months apart in age, Severus had always taken up the role of Big Brother with great pride. And stubbornness.

"And somehow he always knows when I'm lying." she said as she leaned back on her pillows, drifting into a peaceful night's sleep.

(...The Next Morning...)

A bird cried as the sun crept through Sadira's room, leaving behind long marks of red, purple, and orange, soon to be wiped clean with the bright yellow sunlight that would come later in the day.

Judoc hooted and flew over to his master, softly pecking her hand where it lay on the pillow next to her head.

"Mrffmbryshn," she grumbled as she slowly opened her eyes.

Judoc hooted again and flew back to his perch. This was how Sadira woke up on most mornings. Because she stayed up late, she would try to sleep in, but Judoc would always wake her up at exactly six o'clock.

She cast him an annoyed look as she started to get dressed, but he just gazed at her with a placid look.

"Oh, fine. Thank you for waking me up." He hooted. "Sorry, I'm not much of a morning person. But you probably already knew that."

She reached up and stroked his feathers before heading downstairs, and back to another day of work.

Severus was standing at the counter when she walked into the kitchen.

"Wow, you really wanted to see me, didn't you?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Yeah, I could tell. Are you alright?" she asked as she examined his face. He looked a little paler than usual and there were circles under his eyes.

"I thought I was supposed to be inspecting you," he said with a slight frown.

"Tough luck. You look worse than I do anyway. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Positive." She looked him in the eye. "I couldn't sleep, that's all. I promise." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Okay! I was worried about you."

"Why?"

"Because of something Father said."

"What did he say?"

"That he might let you go to Hogwarts."

"And you were worried about that because..."

"Because you know he won't just let you go. He'll want something in return."

"Ah, but once I have all of my powers, he might think that I will hurt him. I won't be under his command anymore, so I could leave. Maybe he is letting me go to please me."

"I'm not sure."

He looked nervous, so Sadira changed the subject.

"Hey, I thought you were going to ask me about my arm."

"Hmm? Oh, yes! What happened?"

"Well, I was cleaning the dishes, and this huge guy with a sword came in, yelling that he was going to kill me! I quickly picked up some dishes and started throwing them at him, trying to get one at his head. Turns out, the largest, heaviest pot I had thrown was the one that hit him. As he crashed to the floor in what seemed like slow-motion, the pot broke into hundreds of pieces. One of them was quite large and coming right at me. I held up my arm to defend myself and got a cut. End of story," she finished with an elaborate bow.

Severus smirked at her. "So basically, Father came in and scared you; you dropped a plate and a shard came up and cut your arm?"

"Yeah basically," she admitted as she sat down on the counter. She picked up a knife next to her and cut the bandage off, flexing her arm slightly to wake it up.

"It doesn't look too bad, thank goodness. You could have been hurt," he murmured as he held her arm up to the light.

"Well thank you for that assessment Healer Snape, but I think I already knew that."

He cast a glare at her but she ignored him. "Ah, well, you'll live. Though it's not like anyone would miss you if you died..."

"Oh you," she said as she playfully smacked his head. "I know for a fact that you would miss me terribly."

He laughed as he dodged her arm, which was still trying to smack him. "Alright, I admit it! I would miss you."

"Aw, now was that so hard?"

"Yes, I fear for my life if you make me do it again."

"A sharp tongue can be used wisely, or not at all."

"There's no third choice?"

"No."

He grumbled as he walked behind her and gave her a hug. He was at least four or five inches taller than her, so it was easy for him to look down and kiss the top of her head.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Sadira and Severus looked up to see Sirius walking into the kitchen pulling on a jacket.

Severus blushed and quickly looked away, but Sadira only laughed. "No. No you're not."

He didn't seem to believe her though. "Are you sure? Because I can leave..."

"Positive."

"Okay..."

Sadira laughed again. "Would you like something to eat?"

"Uh, no thanks. I'll wait for everybody else."

Sadira shrugged. "Okay. Severus, would you like anything?"

"No thank you, I'll wait too."

Sirius sat at the counter and Severus joined him, but not without a cold glare from both.

Sadira sighed as she started breakfast.

'Those two will never get along,' she thought. They sat their in silence as she cooked, sometimes helping her by getting something from a high shelf. When she was done, everybody else had woken up and it was time to serve the food.

"Out. You two need to be at the table before you're missed," Sadira said.

"Yeah, like my family would miss me," Sirius mumbled as he slid down off the counter and walked past her. She grabbed his arm.

"Hey, not just anybody could forget you. Your family must have really bad memories."

He stared at her for a few seconds before letting out a bark-like laugh and walking into the dining room. Sadira smiled after him. Severus however, was scowling.

"You shouldn't be so friendly with him."

"Why not? He'll never see me again."

"But if you go to Hogwarts–"

"If I go to Hogwarts, I will go as Sadira, not as Samantha. Now go."

He sighed and walked out of the room, once again leaving Sadira alone.

The Blacks left immediately after breakfast. Sadira did not get another chance to talk to Sirius, though she saw him a few times here and there as she got their coats and other things ready to go. She smiled to herself, wondering if he would recognize her when she went to Hogwarts.