Chapter 20: A Not So Happy New Year

No matter how much Lord Arcturus Black tried to resist, no one could cheat death forever (Voldemort's way wasn't worth it for obvious reasons) and it eventually came his time to face the next great adventure, as it's usually called by a certain Headmaster.

As Arcturus' grandson and the next Lord Black, it was up to Sirius to give the late one a public eulogy and, thanks to the years they spent repairing their relationship for Harry and Acquila's sake, and the fact that it was Arcturus who got Sirius out of Azkaban, Sirius felt genuinely sad over his death.

During that eulogy, Albus Dumbledore kept looking for signs that Sirius was approached by Voldemort in spite of Snape's statement that, until he's fully restored, the Dark Lord wouldn't have trusted someone so disloyal if he could help it. "I'm certain your grandfather would have loved it, Sirius." The Headmaster commented.

"I am 'Lord Black' now, Headmaster." Sirius replied. "You lost your right to address me by first name when you refused to consider the possibility of me really being innocent."

"Lord Black, I am very concerned about your daughter and your godson." Dumbledore vaguely said.

"Is Snivellus picking on them?" Sirius asked. Dumbledore couldn't tell if Sirius was joking or not.

"I have a bigger concern, Lord Black." Dumbledore replied. "Namely Voldemort."

"Yes, I recall the stories regarding him and Pettigrew." Sirius commented.

"Lord Black, you may be able to maintain your lies but, if you really regret what you did, please keep Acquila and Harry safe from Voldemort." Dumbledore pleaded.

"I won't dignify that comment with an answer, Headmaster." Sirius stated. "Now, if you excuse me, I have Lord issues to deal with."

After that funeral, Sirius met his brother at Grimmauld Place. "Regulus, I don't know if Grandfather ever told you, but he was analyzing a proposal between you and a daughter of the House of Selwyn." Sirius commented.

"It's not Dolores Umbridge. Is it, Lord Black?" Regulus asked in worry.

"Brother, you still may call me 'Sirius' and no, it's not Umbridge." Sirius reassured his brother. "Even our grandfathers knew better than that and I'm not even certain she's a real Selwyn."

"Not to mention the rumors that her mother is a muggle and she has a squib brother." Regulus commented.

"Save that leverage for when we need to demand something of her, Reggie." Sirius replied.

"What about Acquila?" Regulus asked. "Any proposals for her?"

End chapter.

Begin omake.

Author's Note: This new omake is based on the 'Black Bond' fic chapter where Professor McGonagall introduces Acquila to the Wizarding World.

Omake 2: Acquila Already Knows Some

Acquila was informed by the orphanage's head that a Professor McGonagall wanted to see her. "It's okay." Acquila said. "I already was expecting her."

Professor McGonagall was at the same time glad to have a chance to talk to Acquila and shocked that her presence wasn't a surprise. "Ms. Acquila, how could you have already known I would come?"

"Harry and his guardians had already figured out I'm a witch and told me about the Wizarding World, Professor McGonagall." Acquila explained.

"That's so… unusual." Professor McGonagall commented.

"Mrs. Dursley said it was the same with her sister." Acquila casually said, unaware that the Transfiguration Mistress didn't know that.

'Severus.' She angrily thought. 'We'll exchange words.' "Well, Miss Acquila, in that case you already know I'm supposed to guide you through Diagon Alley to buy everything you need for your Hogwarts first year."

"And that I have to go to Gringotts to exchange muggle money into the Galleons that the Wizarding World accepts as payment." Acquila added. "How much should I take?"

"Actually, that's something else I must tell you." Professor McGonagall admitted and then told Acquila that she's Acquila Black.

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Acquila angrily shouted. "Harry and the Dursleys told me about Sirius Black and I know I cannot be his daughter because she's dead and, unlike Peter Pettigrew, left enough of a body to confirm her death."

"We'll discuss the details later at Diagon Alley, Ms. Black." Professor McGonagall said started thinking of what Acquila said about Peter Pettigrew.

At Diagon Alley, Professor McGonagall explained how and why her death was faked. "Wow." Acquila commented. "I knew magical society was biased against the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black but I didn't know it was this much. Is Bagnold still the Minister?"

"No, Ms. Black." Professor McGonagall replied. "Cornelius Oswald Fudge became the new Minister upon winning the 1990 election."

"Good." Acquila commented. "I can ask him to undo that miscarriage of justice and allow my… father a chance to finally plead his case in a trial."

"Ms. Black, we're talking about your mother's murderer." Professor McGonagall said.

"No!" Acquila replied. "We're talking about someone who was accused of ordering her death based on nothing more than the word of someone who not only lied about me being killed with her and, thanks to the murder and the lie, took an inheritance that's legally mine."

"Alastor Moody was just protecting you and your inheritance from your father's relatives." Professor McGonagall pleaded.

"My father's only crime was not making the proper connections." Acquila replied. "Perhaps I should keep my survival a secret so Moody won't come after me."

"He always knew you're alive, Ms. Black." Professor McGonagall explained.

"Then it probably was Dumbledore who killed her." Acquila suggested.

Professor McGonagall was scandalized. "Why would Dumbledore do such a horrible thing?"

"For the same reason he condoned the decision to deny my father a trial." Acquila explained. "So no one would take Harry away from the Dursleys. I have nothing against them but that's no excuse to play along with Pettigrew's trickery."

Being tired of this, Professor McGonagall resumed her shopping after the goblins confirmed Acquila's identity. She then reported the unexpected development to Headmaster Dumbledore. "That's horrible, Minerva." Dumbledore commented. "I didn't expect them to know about Sirius Black or, even if they did, doubt his guilt."

"Most muggles refuse to be certain enough of anyone's guilt to the point of being okay with denying them a trial, Albus." Professor Flitwick commented. "And we must admit she presented good reason to doubt he's behind her mother's death."

"Filius!" Professor McGonagall was shocked.

"The Ministry practically begged the Blacks to use that conflict of interest as grounds to question Sirius Black's guilt regarding Athena's death, Minerva." Professor Flitwick argued. "That they didn't suggests they do think he's innocent."

"Or that they blame him for the Dark Lord's death." Professor Snape suggested. "I would have had I not learned about any of the other crimes. And when would I be trusted with the fact Black's brat is alive?"

"You didn't need to know, Severus." Dumbledore commented. "The important is how to make her accept her father's guilt."

"Have it confirmed with a trial." Snape suggested. "Now it cannot be said there's no time to waste with it for the obviously guilty. Unless Moody is afraid to admit whatever reason he claims to have to believe Black is behind his wife's death isn't that good after all. That's the one thing I ever doubted him to be guilty of."

"With Harry being raised to doubt Black's guilt, I'll probably have no choice anyway." Dumbledore sadly commented.

End omake.