November 5th, 1984
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Second in line to those who have thrice defied him… A child of Gray they will be, Dark yet Light…Marked by the Ancients, they will become his equal…Defeated by the power thought long lost, the power of the one who was betrayed..."
The voice repeated, over and over, reverberating through Tamya's head. The young girl groaned as she came to, a massive headache accompanying her awakening. Her eyes cracked open, only to snap shut again at the massive amounts of white.
"Tamya? Are you awake?" The voice sounded familiar… Oh yeah! \
"Padfoot?"
She asked, attempting to open up her eyes. The brightness was more bearable, now. She rolled over to her left, looking at her smiling godfather. "What the heck-" She cut herself off as her memories caught up with her, a horrified look on her tanned features. "Oh no. Dad."
Sirius had a grim expression on his face, shaking his head. Tamya let her head fall back down onto the pillow, blankly staring at a stretch of the wall. There was a long silence, until Tamya asked,"How long have I been out?"
"Five days, miraculously enough. You were suffering from a very bad case of magical exhaustion. The Healers didn't expect you to wake up for another week, at least."
"And did my mom bring herself to care enough about me to come visit?" Tamya asked bitterly.
"A few times, while Harry was still here."
"Of course, her precious little Harry," she said, shaking her head. She looked over on her bedside table, picking up the Daily Prophet to distract herself. As soon as she glanced at the headline, though, she wished she'd left it where it was.
You-Know-Who dead: Harry Potter declared Boy-Who-Lived!
"What's this rubbish?" Tamya asked angrily. "'Due to circumstantial evidence, the Ministry has declared that Harry Potter the vanquisher of the Dark Lord…' 'It seems that he somehow survived the Killing Curse: the onlyphysical mark left behind is a lightening bolt scar on his forehead,but who knows what mental scars shall be left bythe death of his father…' Harry didn't even do anything, except huddle in a corner behind mother, cry, and faint! Circumstantial evidence… what evidence, exactly?"
"Tamya?" Sirius interrupted her. "What are you talking about?"
"Harry didn't do anything. At all. It was me. At least, I think so…"
"You think?"
"It's a bit blurry. I remember getting pissed off, so much, I wanted to kill him. I guess I got my wish." She gave a harsh, cold laugh.
"You sound so… old," Sirius said sadly. "Much older than you should."
"Circumstances, Padfoot. And if I'm old, than what are you?" Tamya asked, her mouth curving into a tiny smile. "Anyway, how's the Hollow?"
"Voldemort did quite a number on it, but most of the damage was in the front hall and sitting room."
"And what's gonna happen now?"
"Well, Dumbledore said that in a few months, you guys should into hiding. You don't have to if you don't want to, though."
"Why not? I mean, if everybody thinks that Harry's the one who defeated Yo- Voldemort, sorry, then I'm going to be a target."
"He said that you're not that much at risk."
"Right. That really makes sense," The seven year-old said sarcastically. "Is there a mirror around here?"
"Why are you changing the subject?"
"Because I don't want to talk about Voldemort. And I'm sure I look a right mess."
"You always do."
"You know, that was so funny, I forgot to laugh." She snatched the pocket mirror out of her godfather's hand, holding it to her face. She sat up, leaning against the pillows. As much as she loathe to admit it, she did look a bit of a mess, though there seemed to be something a bit… off, about her. Her skin seemed to be tinged with gold, and her tan, from playing Quidditch, seemed more pronounced. She scrutinized her face intently, before giving a slight gasp. It was her eyes. That was what was off. The two colors were swirling together, resembling a very slow whirlpool. The hazel was slightly purple, now. "What the- How did that happen?"
"What's wrong?"
"My eyes, Sirius. Look at them! They're spinning! And purple! It's not natural!"
"Whoa. That is cool."
"Sirius. You're twenty-five. Why are you acting twenty years younger that that?"
"Because."
With an exasperated sigh, Tamya reached up and ran a hand through her hair, a habit she'd picked up from her dad. Letting it fall back down, something glittery caught her attention. She lifted it back up, noticing for the first time the gold mark on the back of her hand. It was the outline of an eye, one that looked distinctly Egyptian, with a sweeping upper line.
"Can't I get a break?" Tamya muttered darkly, turning her hand so that Sirius could see. Her dream immediately came to mind, and stowed the information inside her head for later.
June 19th, 1985
Tamya sighed, watching her mother and Remus Lupin dance together at their wedding reception. Remus had proposed two months ago, after three and a half months of dating. It was rather rushed, but they were going into hiding two days from now- without Tamya. She'd chosen to stay 'in the real world', as she'd put it. Sirius was, in fact, working on the adoption papers. It was her who'd suggested that her godfather take legal custody of her, so as to avoid any confrontations. Her mother had agreed- rather easily, honestly. Not that Tamya minded. Her mother had been going on about Harry and Remus non-stop, and didn't pay all that much attention to her. Even less than before, now that her dad was gone. She wondered if her mother had truly loved her dad- she'd gotten over his death pretty quick.
She shifted a bit in her seat, the punch in her glass sloshing around, almost falling on her pale pink bridesmaid dress. Tamya looked away from the color she had always hated, her eyes sweeping across the crowded room. Thankfully, no one had noticed them- yet. You had to look at them a good ten seconds to realize they were moving, and most people were too busy doting on Harry to notice.
Her gaze landed on her soon-to-be guardian, who was chatting up a pretty brunette. The Auror had risen very high and very quickly in the ranks, capturing or killing Death Eater after Death Eater. In fact, when Mad-Eye Moody retired as Head Auror, Sirius was one of the main candidates to replace him. Unfortunately, Pettigrew still hadn't been caught.
Tamya placed her glass on the table she was sitting at, carelessly readjusting her fingerless black dragon hide gloves. She'd starting wearing them or the sapphire blue ones everyday, so as to avoid questions on her marks. She wished that she'd brought a book, or her notebook. She'd taken to writing poetry or songs, with Sirius teaching her guitar. She didn't really sing, because her voice was still very young.
Sighing, Tamya tried to muss her hair, only stopping when she remembered it was in a French braid. Scowling, she pulled the elastic and pins holding her hair up, as it was layered. She put the accessories in a little pile on the table, shaking her head, her bangs falling in front of her eyes. Tamya yawned, wishing they weren't playing so many slow songs. They bored her to death.
She let her thoughts wander towards the dream she'd had in St Mungo's. She'd yet to figure out what it meant, no matter how many books she went through. The strangest thing was that it seemed so familiar, like she'd heard it somewhere before. She just couldn't figure out when.
Tamya closed her eyes, resting her head against the back of her chair. She was tired, since she continuously had nightmares about that night. After those, she couldn't go back to sleep, no matter how early it was. She felt herself drifting off, and she hoped that for once that there wouldn't be any nightmares.
September 23rd, 1985
Tamya bounded down the stairs happily, sitting down at her usual place at the table.
"Hey, birthday girl," Sirius said cheerfully.
"Are we doing it today?"
"Yes, Tamya. Don't know why you're so excited about it, though."
The 'it' they were talking about was blood-bonding ritual between the two. It would make Tamya Sirius's heir by blood, and in consequence, make her his daughter, and a Black.
"I told you Sirius, that stuff's interesting for me. And yes, I memorized the runes. And no, I don't read mind, you're just predictable. Do you think mother and Remus are gonna send me something for my birthday?"
"They should. It's a bit hard because of the Fidelius, but still…"
"We can always hope."
Twenty minutes later, they were in the backyard, a carefully drawn circle around them. There was a large onyx bowl in the middle, both of them on either side. Tamya's gloves blue gloves were carefully folded in her pockets, and she was wearing a silver tank top and baggy black capris.
Sirius carefully lifted a dagger, the silver hilt and onyx blade glinting in the sunlight. He took Tamya's forearm, and meticulously carved a rune on the inside of her wrist. It was the 'elhaz' rune, which meant protection. He lifted her left arm and did the same to it, using the 'tyr', or initiation, rune.
Sirius passed the knife into Tamya's hands, who only felt a strange feeling at the sight of blood. She took his right arm and pushed on it, watching the blood spill, a hungry glint in her eye. She traced the 'beorc', or new beginnings rune.
She placed the weapon down on the ground, watching the blood spill into the bowl. The crimson liquid seemed to glow slightly. Sirius opened his mouth, speaking in a steady voice.
"I, Sirius Orion Black, heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, hereby name Tamya Spica Potter, henceforth known as Tamya Spica Sekhmet Black-Potter, my heir. By blood, by magic, so it has been spoken, so mote it be. Doper cruokrev dovenificus permissibýt celnexisto uzavincum!"
The deep ruby liquid suddenly flashed, blinding them both with silver and black light. A sharp pain shot up Tamya's arms, making her scream slightly, until finally, it stopped. She felt dizzy. Strong arms caught her as she fainted, carrying her back up to her room.
September 23rd, 1985
Walburga Antarès Black looked up from her tea in the sitting room to see the bottom of the tapestry, where she'd blasted her first son off, was glowing. Worried, she stood and examined it. Sirius Orion Black was on his proud family's family tree, along with a second name. Underneath the golden name was a second one: Tamya Spica Sekhmet Black-Potter.
After a minute, it vanished, leaving the only old burn mark.
September 23rd, 1985
Tamya woke up, four hours later, in her room with an anxious Sirius watching her. He smiled when he saw her roll over.
"Well," she said sleepily. "This is familiar."
"And I really think that you should look in mirror," he said, amused, handing her the exact same one he'd given her over eight months ago. Curious, she lifted the reflective glass to her face. Her skin was noticeably paler, though it was still goldish, and the silver in her eyes was a darker stormy gray. Her features were more fine and aristocratic, and her hair had more black in it, making the blood red and raven locks evenly colored.
"I definitely look different, but in a good way. Hey Sirius?" Tamya asked, handing him back the mirror. "Why did you call me Sekhmet?"
"Sekhmet was the Egyptian goddess of fire, war, and destruction. Her name actually means 'Powerful female.' And since we both agreed those tattoos of yours are Egyptian, I thought an Egyptian name would suit you."
Tamya nodded as her godfather- now second father- stood up. Just as he was about to walk out, she said, "Sirius?" He stopped and turned around. "Thanks." He gave her a smile, understanding completely what she meant. She wasn't just thanking him for bringing her upstairs; she was thanking him for giving her a second family, in which someone, once again, cared for her.
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First of all, I would like to thank luna lovegood22 for being my first reviewer, and TeTe da Dragon for being my second one. Your faith in me was touching (I'm feeling dramatic at the moment, okay?)
Yes, Sirius' Mother's name is Walburga, as indicated in the Black Family Tree J.K. Rowling drew up. Also, the incantation for the ritual is loosely based on the one in chapter four of Black Ascension, by Omnis Potens. There will be another thing from another story, but I always give credit where credit is due. The dagger made of black stone comes from Aztec legend- though it was used for sacrifices, and made of obsidian, not onyx. The runes are also completely true, though their meanings are divinatory in the book.
On another note, I bumped everybody's birthday back a year- they're supposed to be born in 1960, but here they're born in 1959. And Walburga Black will be making oneother appearance, at least, even if she dies in 1985.
Finally, I would really appreciate it if you were to review. A simple word of encouragement, or constructive critism, would be appreciated.