"Came into this world
Daddy's little girl
And daddy made a soldier out of me
Oh, oh, oh
Daddy made me dance
And daddy held my hand
And daddy liked his whisky with his tea
And we rode motorcycles
Blackjack, classic vinyl
Tough girl is what I had to be
Daddy made me fight
It wasn't always right
But he said girl it's your second amendment, oh, oh, oh
He always played it cool
But daddy was no fool
And right before he died he said remember
He said take care of your mother
Watch out for your sister
And that's when daddy looked at me
With his gun, with his head held high
He told me not to cry
Oh, my daddy said shoot
(…)
He held in his arms
And he taught me to be strong
He told me when he's gone
Here's what you do
When trouble comes to town
And men like me come around
Oh, my daddy said shoot"
Beyonce- Daddy Lessons
As Mia found out on Monday, that her new office at the Ministry that Crouch found for her wasn't as spacious and bright as she wished it to be.
She was used to luxury and to people treating her with due respect and could tell that Barty Crouch liked her, but thought about her like a silly little girly not a worthy co-worker.
She expected that from him and she wasn't even mad.
She also received an owl invitation from Caleb Nott for a lunch sometime next week. She could tell that he also disregarded her as a skilful politician.
She expected that from him and she wasn't even mad.
All this and more consisted of exactly the image of the British magical community she remembered; a back-watered, misogynistic shit-hole.
She expected that from them and she wasn't even mad.
What she didn't expect and what made her mad was that Lord Black apparently thought that she could be another pawn on his side of the board. That she would obey any plan and order that he came up with.
That made her mad.
Another thing that made her mad was how good she felt when dancing and simply talking to him. When he smiled, she could finally see Sirius Black in that strange man. There still was something carefree and appealing in him, almost boyish when he grinned at her mischievously putting up "the show" for Rita Skeeter.
He felt confident, unhesitating but also tender and careful when he held her.
Like a real gentleman. She thought cynically.
And before they parted that night; when he spoke about his debt there was something vulnerable in his eyes like he didn't like the thought of even saying at loud something like this.
She started to suspect that Lord Black was almost as damaged as Sirius Black though for other reasons. That broke her heart a little.
But she still was mad. And executing the first step of her plan was so much sweeter like this.
She looked around her office and frowned; it was dusty and the furniture looked like it was scratched by a cat in few places. There was a single half-dead plant on the windowsill and few ministerial manuals on the bookshelf.
Of course, it could have been worse. But she was taught to think about what could have been better.
Mia smiled thinking about the next days' Wizengamot sitting.
It will be fun.
But until then she got a whole day to waste.
She was in the middle of thinking what kind of colour she wanted on the walls when she heard a silent knock on the door.
"Come in!"
When she saw Sirius Black last week for the first time in thirteen years, she was ready; she knew that she would meet him for sure; he was a big part of her masterplan. She could be surprised by his appearance and behaviour but all in all she was ready to see him.
She supposed that she could mentally prepare more for seeing the Weasley siblings because seeing Percy on the doorstep of her office was like a punch to the stomach.
She realised that she totally forgot how 17-year old, freshly graduated from Hogwarts Percy looked like. With his neatly combed red hair, long, freckled nose and long arms and legs he looked so much like...
No, no! Focus!
She threw away that thought and focused on the swotty and arrogant air that Percy give off. She smirked at suspecting that he was very mad to be degraded from assisting the head of the department to assisting a foreign delegate.
"How can I help you?" she asked without standing from her place behind the desk. Percy cleared his throat and adjusted his grip on the pile of documents he held in his arms.
"I'm Percy Weasley, ma'am. Mister Crouch assigned me as your assistant."
"I want another assistant." she said lightly and almost smiled seeing Percy's face turning suddenly red.
"B-but Mister Crouch..."
"I don't care what Mister Crouch said." she waved her hand. "I'm a guest here, I can make requests and Mister Crouch has to obey them. Besides I need someone who wants to work for me on this prestigious position. It's very demanding and difficult." she added looking at her nails and frowning when she saw that her nail polish chipped in one place.
"But I'm the best!" Percy almost shouted and deflated immediately when he saw her sharp gaze.
"That's very easy to check...Wesaly."
"Weasley, ma'am."
"You want to work for me?" she asked with a serious tone. Percy straighten his back and nodded with such solemnity that Mia almost bursted out laughter.
Always try to win over people with kindness and interest. Especially those ignored and underestimated. Her father, Charlus Potter used to say. The underdogs are always the most valuable allies and they will have your back when you will be in need.
"Okay, so tell me something about yourself."
"About myself?" he echoed blankly clearly crestfallen.
"Yes. What's your goal? What field you're interested in? Where you see yourself in five years?" she leaned her face against her joined hands and smiled. "I like to work with people who know what they want from their carrier."
Given the flash of worship she saw in Percy's eyes she suspected that no one ever asked him about this. And in that moment, she knew she won herself a valuable spy.
•••
The rest of the day passed on Percy giving her a tour around the Ministry.
He forced her to say that British Ministry had prettier building that MACUSA which wasn't true of course but she really didn't want to see again the "kicked puppy" eyes he gave her when she said that she doesn't like the fountain in the Atrium.
The only thing the tour give her were aching feet and a couple of horrible, gut-wrenching flashbacks from another life.
The fountain shattered.
Corpses laying around.
Departments of Mysteries execution room with The Veil bathed in a sickly pale light.
Dementors flying freely around.
Umbridge's damned screams.
Escaping from the courtroom with Death Eaters on their tail still with Mafalda Hopkirk's uncomfortable shoes and short legs.
Yaxley's iron grip on her arm.
She had to stick her nails into the palms of her hands to take her mind of the memories flooding her head while Percy happily blabbered telling some anecdotes.
Mia later saw Lord Black with the blond woman she met the first day back in UK, Marlene. They walked across the office space on the second floor talking in hushed tones. She could tell by their body language that they were close; he seemed to be more relaxed around her, and she didn't hesitate to touch him in that carefree way reserved for friends only.
At one moment he looked in her direction. Despite the smile and nod he gave her his eyes were guarded and cautious.
She couldn't recall much about the McKinnon family; she knew they were supposed to be dead for thirteen years now. But she managed to prevent that.
The bits and pieces of changed history she could observe now, after all these years were fascinating and quite dangerous for her cause. Of course, she knew that mending with history and fate was a risky thing; she suspected that nobody knew that as well as her. Finding out which events were independent and stayed uninfluenced by her doings was on her "To do" list.
And once again Sirius Black was on her short list of people who could help her with that.
And despite that cold restraint gave her, when she returned to her office to gather her coat and bag, she found a neat purple bundle of flowers in a small vase on her desk. There was no letter beside but the flowers themselves told her enough.
Purple hyacinths (I'm sorry.), and small purple, pink and white viscarias (Will you dance with me?).
She smiled touching the soft petals and wondered how he got into her office without triggering her alarm charm.
Mia knew she was being difficult. She could just go to him and admit that they needed each other's resources to beat Voldemort once and for all. But something in her gut told her that it was important for all of them for Sirius Black to trust her fully and respect her for real.
She knew she had to become almost a part of his little patched up family to gain that status and protection he spread over them. It was a strange thought for her...to be again a part of that family.
For twenty-seven years she subjected her whole life to save people who didn't even knew her anymore. She risked everything for people who were just a memory now.
Of course, she knew Ron was still Ron with his bratty attitude and awkward friendship. That Ginny was the feisty, confident girl that girls sleep-overs with were always so much fun. That Luna was that strange but sensitive and insightful girl she liked. And that Harry still was the gold-hearted, sweet boy he was.
He deserved better, and she gave him better already.
She gave him a father.
In last couple months she almost gave up the whole plan; with her father's funeral and Magnus begging her to stay, and even trying to convince her with an engagement ring, she was close to caving in. After all Harry had a guardian already; a ruthless and devoted parent.
But then the dream came and Mia promised herself that she would end it and then she will just work out her own life the way she wanted.
Because she still believed that this future was waiting for her. As soon as she will put down all the demons of Hermione Granger, Mia Potter will be able to follow her own path. And despite the fact that their paths converged in many places, there were still things that one did not even think of and which for the other was one of the goals.
But after a day full of memories that she would not even like to know, she came back to the hotel with nausea and head bursting with pain. After days like this one, she doubted whether any future was waiting for her. Is any future waiting for any of them.
Dorea found her hunched over the toilet vomiting violently. With a silent sigh she gathered the hair from her face and patiently waited until she finished. Then she held her in her arms waiting for her to stop sobbing.
"It's okay Mimi. It's going to be okay." she hummed.
"They will die mommy! They will be dead if I fail! We all will be dead if I fail!" Mia wept hysterically rocking slightly in her mother's arms.
"You won't fail, dear. You will do everything you can. And you will do great." Dorea said with force making her stop for a second. "You're our daughter, Mia. No one is a better person to do this. Thanks to you, they have a chance to win. We all have."
"What if I already made a mistake? What if I already ruined everything?" she asked looking at her mother with tear-streaked face and smudged make-up. Dorea smiled at her and wiped her face with the sleeve of her nightgown.
"Have a little faith in yourself, honey. You're the brightest witch of your age. No one achieved so much in so little time. I'm so proud of you." she wiped the fresh tears that ran down Mia's face with a tender smile. "Dad was always so proud of you. And he was sure that you would achieve everything you want."
Mia smiled weakly and nodded. They stood up and embraced again.
"Get yourself together, darling, and drop by before you go to sleep. The workers brought something that can brighten up your mood." She kissed her cheek and left, leaving her alone.
Mia took a deep breath and looked at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. Her hair was wilder than usually and her mascara left black streaks on her face making her look like a panda.
Resigned, she undressed and went into the shower, moaning when the warm water hit her skin.
She needed to check if there was a sauna or a thermal pool nearby. Heat for her was always the best way to relieve stress and get rid of all thoughts from her head. Not even a week has passed since her return and the English weather drove her crazy already.
Don't let your weakness be your downfall, Pumpkin. Her dad said one day when they trained duelling and she couldn't beat him even once. She remembered being so frustrated with that, that she started to cry. Weakness is something we can afford only in home, when we are with our loved ones. Same with tears. Unless the situation requires them.
Merlin knew how she needed a break...vacation...damn even a longer nap. She was riddled with nightmares for last months before her impending return to the Great Britain making almost every night a torment.
She left her room in a fluffy hotel dressing-gown, drying hair with a stream of warm air from the tip of the wand. She closed the door with an alarming spell that would let her know if anyone tried to enter her room in her absence.
The shining boards that covered the floor of the hotel corridor were pleasantly cool and smooth under her bare feet, when she padded down the corridor towards her mother's room.
Dorea was sitting on a brocade couch with the lion's feet set in front of the fireplace in her living room. Around her were disarray smaller and larger boxes, making her look like a librarian cataloguing looking through the index. She was holding at a piece of paper and inspecting it through her big reading glasses with a chain dangling from frames.
"What's in them?" Mia pointed on the boxes and Dorea smiled excitedly.
"Memories."
Mia curiously glanced at the piece of paper her mother held. It was a very old photography of four children, two boys and two girls, dressed like little Victorian dolls. She sat next to Dorea while her mother started to speak, pointing to the people in the picture with her finger.
"That's Pollux, my eldest brother." she pointed to the tallest boy with black hair. He could be fifteen. His cheekbones and the way he threw his bangs from his forehead worriedly reminded Mia of another, younger Black. "He was Sirius's grandfather and Walburga's father. Poor bastard died four years ago. And he was practically unconscious for ten. The healers said it was a curse that hit him. I loved him when we were children. After many years, I regretted that I did not strangle him in sleep when we were kids."
"He's so..." Mia broke off feeling that she did not know how to put in words that uncanny feeling that the resemblance between Sirius and his grandfather caused.
"I know, honey. Men in the Black family always looked like someone threw a multiplying spell on them at different stages of life." Dorea said with some distaste, then pointed to the girl with the tight, chestnut curls standing in front of Pollux. She had a shy expression and was visibly embarrassed by her appearance and the fact of being in front of the camera. "That's Cassiopeia. Poor thing, Pollux sent her to a closed house when she was twenty years old because he caught her writing letters with a witch from a Muggle family. She died two years ago. That's me." she chuckled pointing at a clearly annoyed little girl with hair done in a similar way as Cassiopeia's. Little Dorea tugged at the lace collar at her dress and pouted. "I remember that I was so angry with my mother that she told me to wear this scratchy dress. And at Marcus for making fun of us."
Mia looked at the other boy in the picture and had to admit that if she thought that Sirius was similar to Pollux, the similarity to Marcus was incredible.
Maybe it was because his longer chestnut hair fell on his forehead and arms, and maybe it was because of the cocky smile that played on his lips and how clearly, he snorted with laughter he glanced at his younger sisters.
"He was a squib, right?" Mia asked taking the picture from her mother's hand. She looked at the siblings closes.
"Yes. The picture was taken just before our parents sent him to a muggle school. For a few years he returned home for the summer holidays. But since I went to Hogwarts, I haven't actually seen him. I do not know what happened to him later." Dorea got up and opened another box. "Ah, these are recent." After a moment of leafing through, she started giggling. "Oh, that's rich. I forgot Sirius sent me that."
She gave Mia a single photo wrapped in a piece of preachment. She unwound the parchment which turned out to be written in rows of an even, beautiful writing.
January 12th, 1977
Dear auntie Dorea!
I'm so sorry that I did not reply to your letters for so long!
Maybe you already know, maybe not, but recently I had a small problem with accommodation. Me and my sweet mum had a slight discrepancy about my career after Hogwarts. She wanted me to take up the career of a cesspool diver and, as you probably know, I always dreamed of becoming a werewolf tamer.
So I had to evacuate myself to the British Potter homestead. You and Uncle Charlus have kisses and hugs from them.
Soon I will write more about my daring escape from the infamous career path my mother chose for me.
For now, I am sending a photo-update of myself and my friends.
Pay attention to Remus; the boy blushes beautifully, doesn't he? After two years of chase, I can proudly say that MY boy blushes beautifully. So thank you for good advice auntie!
I hope that this letter will find you and uncle in perfect health and well-being. Let me know how are you!
Love,
Sirius
P.S. James is still chasing around Lily, the poor fool!
"Sirius and Remus were a couple?" Mia asked, frowning. Dorea smiled a little wistfully.
"Oh yes. Sirius wrote about him for almost two years. It got him bad."
Mia looked at the first picture; all Marauders were on it. Sixteen-year-old, carefree, stood in the stands at the Quidditch pitch. James was laughing; his hand wandered every now and then to his hair and made an even bigger mess there. Peter smiled which caused dimples in his cheeks and glanced at the camera every few moments, as if the person taking the picture caught his attention more than his friends' antics. Sirius embraced Remus with one hand on his waist, while one Remus's arm rested on his shoulders. The werewolf looked strange to Mia with her tawny hair and a smooth, young face. Sirius has not changed that much over the years; his face only became more solemn and grown up. From time to time, young Black in the picture kissed Remus on the cheek, causing the blush he was writing about.
Mia smiled despite the fact that it was one of the many photos before the tragedy; none of them knew that in five years from then one of them will be dead and one will be in Azkaban while the other two would have to deal with the loss and trauma for the rest of their life. She wished she could help them stay just the way they were in this photograph. She even regretted this stinking traitor Pettigrew.
"I didn't know." she said quietly.
"It didn't happen the first time around?" Dorea asked curiously.
"I don't know. Their history went a completely different way. They never talked about it, that's for sure." she rolled up the preachment and looked again at the photography. "Can I take it?"
Dorea waved her hand.
"I've got plenty. The boy sent me these constantly then."
Later, when Mia went back to her rooms the thought about the upcoming day came back but without the previous glee. Instead dread curled itself up in her stomach and she felt the memories hurling down on her again.
Breathing deeply, she crawled on her bed and without bothering to cover herself and curled hugging her knees to her chest. After a moment she reached to her nightstand, took her wand and cast a silencing charm on her bedroom.
After that she drifted off into sleep filled with monsters with snake faces, crazed grey eyes and knives cutting words into her flesh.
•••
Mia woke up the next day groggy and in pain; her headache from the night before still persisted. She scrambled off her bed feeling her joints ache from the coolness lingering in the room. Her throat hurt.
Half-hour later she stood only in her underwear before a big mirror in the bedroom with her hair freshly washed and dried, and her make-up done. She made sure that on her face there was no sign of her last nights breakdown.
A few dresses hung motionless in the air around her like a swarm of colourful birds. She waved her hand lightly and one of them - in the colour of an emerald green - flew in front of her. Mia hugged the garment to her body and looked at herself on different angles turning slightly.
Like mother, like daughter. She thought thinking about how slitherinish she looked in that colour.
She discarded the dress and looked at the others.
She thought about her father and his advices.
The thought alone was still painful and she tilted her head blinking rapidly to prevent the tears gathering in her eyes from ruining her make-up.
You must learn how to be intimidating in a pretty dress, Pumpkin. Charlus said with a light smile one day when they were getting ready to go out. The girls have a little uphill. But you're also smarter than boys and you know how to use everything you've got from fate. So remember; when you go among the wolves, dress up so that you remember that you are a powerful and wise witch.
Mia looked thoughtfully at her reflection. What piece of clothing screamed power and was elegant enough to wear on such occasion? In that moment, it hit her; she waved her wand with a smile, calling from her trunks two pieces of clothing that had been created for days like that.
She put on her chosen dress and swirled around several times, looking as the fabric hugged her body. She smiled with a full smile to her reflection; that was it.
She was ready.
•••
When she entered the Ministry an hour later, the people in the Atrium almost froze in place at her sight. She caught a pair of scandalized and a few scared looks. But most people just looked away.
Each step along the corridors of the Ministry gave her extra confidence.
But the greatest satisfaction caused her the view of Sirius who looked at her just when he took a sip of his take-out coffee and almost chocked seeing her robes.
When she got to her office, she found Percy, who blushed furiously at her sight and stammered something about the fact that Professor Dumbledore was waiting for her in the office.
"Excellent!" she said briskly, and marched to office.
Albus Dumbledore looked just like Albus Dumbledore looked like always. Tall and thin he stood up from the guest chair before her desk and bowed his head in a gallant gesture. Light played in his half-moon spectacles and reflected in his silvery beard and hair. His piercingly blue eyes looked at her with calm curiosity and some kind of respect.
"Miss Potter, it's a pleasure to finally meet in person."
"Pleasure is mutual, Professor." she said sweetly. She wanted to pull out her wand and attack this man like an angry viper. Bite, bite and bite until he begs for forgiveness. But she merely smiled and pointed him to a chair and sat down behind her the desk.
"I did not realize that you were a member of Salem Witches' Institute." Dumbledore asked politely looking at her robes.
She laughed and waved her hand dismissively.
"There's so much that public eye doesn't know about me. But I guess that's what we have in common...right Albus?"
You will meet people who will be considered untouched pillars of the community and who in reality have dubious morality. Like me! Charlus used to laugh. Remember one thing, Pumpkin; crush them mercilessly. So that nothing is left of them. I would not have mercy on someone's daughter, why would anyone have mercy on You? If you need them, give them an offer that they cannot refuse.
"I have a proposition for you Albus." she began, and with each successive word, the merry twinkles in the eyes of the old wizard dimmed until they were replaced by a burning fury.
Ten minutes later, Dumbledore stepped quickly out of her office with the same fire in his eyes, followed by Percy's puzzled gaze.
A moment later, Mia left with an easy smile on her face and leaned against the door frame.
"Percy, how much time is there until the Wizengamot meeting?"
"Eeee..." he looked at his watch. "Twenty minutes. Why? Are you going there, ma'am?"
"Yes. And I also recommend you to go there, otherwise you will miss a nice show, my dear Percy." She said tapping her open palm with her wand from the end of which red sparks flew.
•••
Mia was grateful that Hermione had completely removed herself from the moment she entered the Ministry. Otherwise she knew that she would have a panic attack long time ago.
And she would certainly have had it after walking into the Wizengamot hall.
A circular room with a vaulting ceiling high in the dark was still lit by torches as in her memories. In the middle of the room was one solitary chair with loose chains hanging from the armrests.
Places for the Sacred Twenty-Eight were in the stands on one side of the room. Almost all were occupied. She saw familiar faces there. Sirius, Gideon Prewett, Eleonora Zabini, Caleb Nott, Barty Crouch...The rest of the Wizengamot members were placed on each sides of the Sacred Twenty-Eight's seats.
Dumbledore sat at the Chief Warlock chair appearing to be mired deep in thought. Percy entered with her and went to the almost completely deserted guest stands.
"Honey?" she felt a warm hand in hers and looked up to see her mother smiling at her mischievously. "Let's do this."
They sat next to Percy, still holding hands and watched as Cornelius Fudge began the meeting.
He was as small, plump and fidgety as she remembered. He had official robes thrown over his stripped suit and he changed his normal bowler hat for a bulbous hat.
"Honourable Higher Chamber of the Wizengamot. As you may all remember according to the regulation on the annual agenda for the Chamber, the second Tuesday of each month is dedicated for free applications. Does anyone want to start?"
Fudge glanced at Mia and Dorea as if he expected them to talk. Mia smiled sweetly at him; today it was not ladies who took precedence.
"It seems to me that I will start today, Cornelius." Dumbledore said in a cheerful tone. "I want to give up my position as the Chief Warlock"
There was silence in the room, and then there was the murmur of feverish conversations. Mia glanced at Sirius and met his intense eyes when he moved his gaze between her and Dumbledore. She smirked.
Clever boy.
Fudge started hitting the cathedral with a hammer, trying to silence the room. Dumbledore sat with a calm face and fingers intertwined and looked at Mia. When their eyes met, the professor almost imperceptibly nodded to her.
"Albus...b-but why?" Fudge looked shocked at the Hogwarts Headmaster.
"Oh, I'm getting old Cornelius. And I'm planning this extra time to devote to an additional project. I think about starting a knitting circle."
Fudge did not look convinced, but apparently decided not to raise the issue on the forum.
"Can we talk about it after the meeting?"
"Of course, Cornelius. But you must know my decision is final. A very large supply of merino wool goes to me through the owl post and I'm not going to give it up. And as you know I must choose my successor till the end of today's meeting, as the law says."
Fudge was clearly baffled and shook his head; maybe this was the moment when the Headmaster of Hogwarts became completely unstuck?
"Do you have a candidate?"
Albus hummed looking like he was in a very good mood.
"I'm still undecided."
"Are there any other applications?" Fudge asked in a weak tone.
At this point both Mrs. Potter stood up still holding hands and Dorea spoke in a strong voice drawing the attention of the room to them.
"We have an application Cornelius, dear." She turned to the members of the Chamber. "I, Dorea Potter née Black, rightful Lady Potter, wife of Charlus, want to renounce my title for my daughter, Mia Potter."
Another wave of murmurs passed through the stands. Finally, Darren's Abott voice pierced through the noise.
"You have that right, Dorea, of course. But I guess we would like to know the reasons why."
"It's not a common practice." Sirius added and an approving hum went through the stands. "I suspect that you do this to reach a specific goal." he spoke to Mia looking her straight in the eye.
Without breaking the eye contact she bared her teeth challengingly. For a bystander it looked like she just smiled to him with all her might but his eyes went wide and she saw his lip twitch slightly like he tried to hold back a growl.
Satisfied Mia stepped forward letting go of her mother's hand and spoke:
"Of course, Lord Black is right, my honourable friends." she looked around the stands. "I accept your tittle mother and hereby, as the new Lady Potter I reclaim the Potter's family seat in the Higher Chamber of the Wizengamot."
After these words, all hell broke loose in the court room.