Disclaimer: I don't own the HP universe or characters.
A/N: Thanks for the review, fav and follow. This fic is going to be HarryxTom all the way. Well, femHarryxTom or Nick, as I have said before - at the start. They will be together.
Adelaide Esmeralda Black
August 1989
Marauders' Home
Harry stepped back in the house and moved towards his room, Nick also has stepped behind him and watched him stumble towards his room. Harry hasn't realized Nick have followed him. Nick just shadowed him till he reached his room and watched him fall in a boneless heap on his bed and fall asleep immediately.
He entered the room and pulled the sheet up covering Harry, checking his temperature again. He frowned at the warm feeling and moved his hand through the black locks of the tired boy, comfortingly. Deciding to leave him sleeping peacefully he moved back out of the room and searched for Sirius.
He found him in the study pouring over some papers. So he knocked on the open door of the study getting a startled look from the man.
"Hey, where's Harry? I thought you were talking or something. I realized you both came back just now... What's wrong?" He asked, finally realizing Nick had a worried look on his face.
"Its Harry. He isn't feeling well. He actually fell asleep while talking to Anna and he is feeling quite warm, so he - if he isn't already, then he is definitely falling ill. The temperature isn't much but it may increase or decrease through the night." Nick said as they moved towards Harry's room.
Sirius has leapt up as soon as Nick started talking.
"Did he said how he was feeling? He was alright when he left here. I don't understand, what could have happened?" Sirius muttered.
"He didn't say much just that he may have been working too hard. He was agitated though and snapped at Anna. Also said he was feeling just fine then left to come here. I followed to make sure he arrived safely." Nick finished as they reached the room.
"He is definitely warm. I will make sure to check up on him through the night, don't worry." Sirius said as he touched Harry's forehead to check his temperature.
"Alright. Just call us if you need anything. Or just a short missive that he is feeling alright in the morning if he gets better. We will see if we could come tomorrow to visit." Nick said anxiously, watching Harry.
"I will, don't worry. Thanks for following him. You should get back or someone could find you are gone and you would get in trouble. I will keep you updated." Sirius said as he turned towards Nick with a small smile.
"Ah, we are staying in the Potter manor actually. Anna was injured in our training sessioparent's so I went to the orphanage to take care of the matron and the kids. We will go there tomorrow and then come here." Nick replied moving his hand through his hair.
"Well I hope she gets better soon. And Harry as well." Sirius said glancing at Harry.
"Yeah, so do I. Well I will see you tomorrow. Just call if you need anything or any help. Good Night." Nick said with a sigh.
"Good Night. Be careful." Sirius replied. While he was getting used to the kids apparating or stepping as they called it on their own he still was wary sometimes.
"I will. Bye." Nick waved as he backed towards the door.
-x-
The next day Anna and Nick, after going to the orphanage, visited Harry to see how he was feeling. Sirius had sent them a message in the morning telling them Harry was still feeling under the weather and was sleeping.
When they entered the house, Sirius greeted them and told them Harry was still sleeping so they let him be, after checking up on him and decided to spend some time training with Sirius instead. Anna was healed of all her injuries and was therefore perfectly fine to participate but Nick was concerned for her so she opted to stay out and watch them fight.
They were teaching some martial arts to Sirius, so he could add them to his usual fighting style which he had learned with the marauders and at the auror academy.
Anna watched as the fighters really got into it, counteracting the other's moves with their own, and the fight became fast paced. But then her viewing was interrupted as she felt the unmistakable surge of power coming from Harry's room. She leapt up at the same time as Nick stopped the fight. He had realized it as well and had turned to look at her bewildered. Sirius, who had stopped, confused at their behavior, also felt the surge and followed them as they ran towards Harry's room.
Reaching the room, Anna threw open the door with her magic, running towards the bed. Harry was enclosed in a cocoon of white blinding light, which seemed to be emanating from his core.
Anna saw him rise up from the bed still enclosed in the light. The others having followed her, were stumped to see the scene like her.
Both Anna and Nick had stopped short at the scene before them.
Sirius, though, was confused as to why they were just standing there and not trying to help Harry.
"Come on, you guys. What are you waiting for?" Just as he was about to reach towards Harry, Anna blocked his path.
"No, Sirius. Wait. Don't touch him. We can't interfere." She said as he tried to get past her.
"What are you talking about? What's happening with him?" He said worried, but he stopped moving towards Harry so Anna turned towards Nick.
"We need to ward the room so that the surge isn't felt outside. Quickly Nick." Anna said ignoring Sirius as she turned back towards Harry and started directing her magic in warding the room. Nick joined her efforts as Sirius too tried to help.
After they were done warding, Sirius turned towards Anna.
"Explain. What the hell is happening with my son?"
From Harry, Sirius knew Anna knew things through her visions and only her accurate past knowledge had stopped him from throwing her bodily aside and going to his son.
"I'm not sure but I think... I think its a Blessing." Anna replied quietly.
"Blessing? What are you talking about?" He asked back confused.
"You must have heard about the old tales. Hecate, the goddess of magic, chooses a champion when she believes the magic is in danger of getting destroyed. She blesses the champion with her gifts. To help them in their task." Anna informed him.
"You are kidding me. Lady magic granting powers. Its a children's tale." Sirius said back incredulous.
"Like witches and wizards are for the muggles." Anna retorted.
Nick just looked on frowning. He knew there was such an entity as Lady Magic or Hecate, just like Luck or Fate or Destiny and others. But they were all told not to interfere with them. So why is she blessing Harry, he wondered confused.
"Because Life had allowed me to." A melodic voice interrupted his thoughts.
Sirius was frozen in mid sentence and Anna turned from his statue like state towards the entity who had just appeared out of thin air in front of them.
"Lady Magic." Anna said with a bow.
"No need for formality Anna. Especially not from you." The form replied with smile.
The form was as blinding as the light surrounding Harry and hence they were unable to look at her directly.
"Lady Magic." Nick said astonished, bowing as well.
The formal way would be to get on their knees but they were allowed to stand due to their status as Death's Masters.
"You too, Nick. Though I liked Tom more, you know." She said with a mischievous smile in her voice.
"What's the reason for your visit then, Lady?" Anna asked casually.
"No need to get that informal, child." She chided then continued, "As you can see I'm here to bless Harry. And yes I have Life's consent to do so." She said turning towards Nick.
"I realized you all would have an unfair advantage over him, due to your knowledge. So as to equal the field I thought he deserved some help." She said as she turned to look at Harry.
"You are kidding, right? We don't have any advantage over him. And there isn't a competition where we are facing off." Anna protested.
"But you do have an advantage over him. He is after all the youngest master amongst you all. And I'm not talking about his physical age, which is youngest as well. And even if you aren't competing with each other, there is a threat on the horizon for which you are going to need all the help you can get. " The lady replied, her tone still melodious as she talked.
"Well when you put it that way. But you always bless girls so what's different this time?" Anna asked conceding to the point.
"I'm not partial to anybody like that 'Na. Even if it may seem like I favor girls, the souls aren't divided like that. You know that." The lady reminded her.
"But the myth in this world does goes like that. How are we going to explain to Sirius and others, well not others I guess since we won't tell anyone else, but Bumblebee might suspect-" Anna was going to continue but was stopped by an exasperated Nick.
"Let 'her' speak, Anna." He said shaking his head.
Anna just smiled back sheepishly and bowed her head towards the goddess.
"Like I was saying, I don't discriminate. But most of the time when I do give my blessing the child is a girl so I'm going to keep with the tradition." The lady said and now the mischievous note in her voice was unmistakably clear.
"What?" Anna exclaimed.
"You guessed right, child. When the blessing is done with, your brother is going to be your sister. I will instruct him in his dreams so he will know what to expect." The lady said melodically, moving towards the bed.
"Wait, what?" Nick, who seemed to be slow on the uptake, finally exclaimed.
"He is used to being a girl so that won't be a problem. And Life has told me all about- well I can see for myself as well, how well you can make new identities appear so I hope for your sakes you find one for her soon." She said informatively.
"How can you just turn him into a girl? Won't he be at a disadvantage because of that? No offense but girls are sometimes quite limited than boys." Nick said frowning as he tried to grasp the situation.
He had seen precious few blessings in his lifetimes but all of them were given to girls only. He had never seen a boy getting a blessing and being turned into a girl.
"Yes there may be some limitations but you have been a girl yourself, do you think they are really at a disadvantage? Life made both with equal faults and prizes. Its up to you all to make the most of it." She replied patiently.
"Now then, as I said Life has given me consent to impart some gifts to him with my blessing. He will know about them. This won't be considered an interference as I'm blessing my favorite champion amongst all." She said turning towards them to give them the final instructions.
"Don't sulk 'Na. Its unbecoming of you. And you are Life's favorite anyway. We all have a choice to choose our favorites." She added on seeing Anna's frown.
"You are going to need a new identity for her and a reason as to why Harry Potter won't ever be seen again by the world." The lady said as she turned towards Harry again.
"May be I will see you again, may be not. Just remember you have to keep the magic alive. Without it you can't fight the others." She warned one last time and then was gone.
As soon as she did Sirius continued his tirade. But Anna stopped him with a gesture and pointed towards Harry.
Usually a blessing requires days to complete but since Lady Magic herself was present there so Anna guessed it was going to be fast.
They had celebrated Harry's birthday just a few days ago but that day would need to be the birthdate of his new body.
The magical surge they had felt earlier was diminishing. And they could see Harry was floating back towards the bed.
Except they were realizing that Harry was not really Harry. As the goddess had said he was changed into a girl.
Sirius was flummoxed seeing the impossible scene in front of his eyes. He was going to argue with Anna that even if Lady Magic had wanted to bless Harry it would have been impossible as according to the tales she only blesses girls but he was now seeing his son turned into a girl.
The girl on the bed was still in Harry's clothes. But had almost no resemblance to Harry. Her hair, Harry's black hair, were now long reaching past her shoulder. Her face was delicate, featuring even more of the Black's features. High cheek bones, plump lips. She almost looked like a Black daughter. Only when she opened her eyes did they saw the ocean green of Harry's eyes. The only thing similar to her face before.
Harry was experiencing an out of body experience. He had watched as his body was changed to a girl's and listened as he was instructed by Lady Magic herself about the gifts he received.
To say he had been astonished would have been an understatement. While he was very, very grateful for the gifts Lady Magic bestowed on him and was somewhat alright with being changed into a girl, having experienced many lifetimes as a girl, he still felt weird as he looked over his body.
After Lady Magic had left he closed his eyes and opened them again to find himself looking at the frowning face of Sirius.
"Hey, Sirius." He sighed, turning to look towards the ceiling.
His-Her voice had also been changed to being soft and feminine. Well it was nice enough so he let it go.
This past few weeks had all been trying with one surprise after another, he-she thought, sighing again.
"Hey, Harry-k- Harry-Chan. No. We are going to have to find a new name for you." Anna said from his other side.
"How are you feeling Harry?" Sirius asked still frowning, taking in the features of his daughter now.
"I'm fine. Definitely feeling better than yesterday." He said with a small smile.
"Do you realize what has happened?" Sirius asked hesitating.
"Yes, Sirius. Lady Magic talked with me. I know what has happened." She said as she got up.
"She talked with you?" Sirius asked, his eyebrows raising in his hairline.
Harry just nodded back.
She moved towards the mirror in her room, observing her reflection in it.
"Weird." Harry repeated his-her earlier thoughts.
"Yes, It is. But you look alright." Nick said, talking for the first time.
"You are all taking this quite well. I feel like I'm the only one who is trying not to freak out." Sirius said frowning as he looked at them all.
"I guess we are used to weird things happening around us." Harry answered for them all.
"And you. You have just been changed into a girl. A fricking girl. Are you sure you are really alright?" Sirius said moving towards her.
"Yes, Sirius. I'm really alright. Lady Magic said I would be helped with getting myself acquainted with being a girl. So. I guess that's why I'm not freaking out." Harry said, half lying. The truth was he knew how it felt to be a girl, has experienced lifetimes in the form and hence wasn't really much concerned about it. And it was in a way like the lady is helping, as it all was possible only due to magic.
Sirius nodded, accepting the explanation. With all that he have seen until then, he was feeling that anything was possible now.
"You really don't resemble Harry in any way. Well except your eyes. All your features are different." Anna said conversationally.
"I'm still Harry, Anna." Harry said rolling his eyes.
"I know but... What are we going to do now?" Anna asked glancing at them all.
They all just shrugged.
"Why don't we all move to the kitchen, have some hot chocolate. And discuss all the ramifications of this change." Harry said moving towards the door.
The others just nodded back and moved to follow her.
"What are we going to do about all your inheritances? What are we going to tell the people? Harry Potter died due to dragon pox? That's a reasonable excuse. But what would happen to all your seats in the Wizengamot? We are going to need a new identity for you. How many more are we going to need?" Anna was muttering as they walked.
While Sirius missed most of it, he did catch the last part.
"How many more what are you going to need?" He asked frowning.
"Huh? Oh, I was talking about the um... Yes, I was talking about the surprises. I was saying how many more surprises are we going to get. Not need. We first learned about the no-majs threat, then the parasites and now Harry Potter has disappeared." Anna said lying through her teeth.
"Well technically you really disappeared." She added at Harry's look.
"Harry Potter was a boy and you my friend are a girl." Anna shrugged.
"I know that. You don't need to say it again and fricking again." He-She snarled.
"Sorry." Anna winced.
Harry took a deep breath and let it out.
"Its alright. Okay, now what are all the things we are gonna have to think about?" She said as they all sat around the kitchen table.
"You aren't going to tell anyone about this I guess?" Sirius asked.
"No. This will remain between us. And I think Bumblebee will realize that I'm Harry as well. So its no use hiding it from him. But no one else can know." Except the other masters, was left unsaid by her but the others two masters knew they would have tell them that. And Regulus as well. And the goblins and Cato.
"What are we going to tell everyone about Harry? It may dim their morals if they realize that their hero was dead." Sirius said seriously.
"I know but I don't think there's another way. If we didn't tell them something and they realized later he-I was missing they may start searching for truth and might even discover it. So we need to let them know Harry Potter is dead and he isn't ever coming back." Harry said sighing.
"Are you sure about this?" Sirius asked frowning.
"Yes. Lady Magic told me as well that it is better if people think I'm dead." Harry replied.
"So are we really going with the dragon pox?" Anna asked to confirm.
"Yes. That would be the most reasonable reason. We could admit a infected golem in St. Mungo's, so that they could confirm the story." Harry suggested.
"A golem? What are you talking about? How do you know of such a thing? And wouldn't they realize the body is a fake?" Sirius said confused.
"We learned about it from the goblins. They could help us make a clone. So that nobody would realize that it was fake." Anna replied.
Sirius nodded back, but his eyes were narrowed in thought.
"We need to ask them about getting me a new identity. And about the seats and inheritances, there was a stipulation in my parent's will that if something were to happen to me it will all go to Andromeda Tonks." Harry informed them.
"Tonks? They were close? I never knew that." Anna said frowning.
"Yes. They were. They were in line to take my custody if something had happened to Sirius." Harry replied.
"So they would get all the seats and the Potter manor and the house in France?" Anna asked thinking how it would affect their plans.
"May be we could tell them the truth, so that they could help us with our task." Nick suggested quietly.
They all turned to look at him with various expressions. While Anna and Harry looked thoughtful Sirius was frowning.
"I was going to ask Andromeda if she wanted to be included in the family again. So I guess maybe I could talk to her and feel out if she could be trusted. Though I know they all are good people and have been in the Order. That's when they had gotten close with James and Lily." Sirius suggested.
"You would need to check if they are corrupted as well." Anna reminded him.
He nodded back at that.
"Well we are going to have to space this all out. We can't let anyone know about this all now. First we are going to learn about what the Tonks decide, then a new identity is needed to be made and finally the news would be spread that Harry is dead." Anna said looking apologetically at Harry for the last part.
"I will meet with them today. Its better that we get this sorted out as soon as we can." Sirius said moving his hand over his face.
"Are you going to keep this from Remus as well?" He asked suddenly.
The others looked at each other. They were in two minds about him. They really didn't know if they should trust him or not.
"What do you want Sirius?" Harry asked him quietly.
"I talked with him about all you said to me. And believe me when I say he was devastated that we made you feel like we did. He had realized his mistake. If you would give him a chance. I know we were at fault before but please Harry you have to give him a chance." Sirius pleaded.
Harry looked at the other two and they all were feeling conflicted.
Finally Harry sighed and said, "I will tell you what I decide later. I need to think about it."
Sirius nodded his head, then Anna broached the topic of identity.
"You could be Sirius's unknown daughter. Who he would learn about after he loses Harry. Man, that would make it suspicious. But we really have no other choice." Anna said looking at them for more suggestions.
"May be she could surface when we go to Hogwarts. That is you learn that you have a daughter when she-I go to Hogwarts. I could pretend that I lived in an orphanage till then." Harry suggested.
"You are not living in an orphanage Harry. I'm not loosing you again." Sirius protested.
"Of course I wouldn't live in an orphanage. I could live with Anna and Nick. And you could come to meet me whenever you want. I just won't be able to live with you anymore." Harry replied.
"But they live in an orphanage. Even if they spend time in Potter manor." Sirius said frowning.
"Actually, we are going to get adopted soon. And you won't be able to live with us Harry. Anyone who sees you will realize you are a Black's daughter. And we are going to live with a Black. People will expect him to at least recognize that." Anna said frowning.
"A Black?" Sirius asked, now feeling the frown etched permanently on his face.
"Leo Black. He is going to adopt us soon." Anna said sheepishly.
"Well I could just live in Potter Manor. We are going to talk with the Tonks. If they agree with us then I would be able to use it. And I will, as I said, just pretend that I came from an orphanage when I start in Hogwarts. We could plant false memories of me living in one." Harry said, thinking out loud and cutting off Sirius's thoughts.
"But if someone suspects the story they may try to dig information through the orphanage." Anna said now frowning like Sirius.
"What I think is, we could say that Sirius realized he has a daughter by looking at the family tree in his ancestral home which he hadn't seen since his incarceration. And then he searches for her trying to make up for the loss of his son." Nick suggested out of the blue. He had remained silent until then listening to their suggestions and trying to think of the best plausible one.
They all again turned to look at him.
"You give the best suggestions." Anna said approving.
"I think it would be better if he found me in some other country. So that we could keep the curious people as far away from the truth as we can. It would be harder to obtain information from say France or Australia." Harry suggested.
"Okay. So who do you think should be the mother?" Anna asked looking at Sirius.
"First of all you are all going to tell me how and why is Leo Black adopting you." Sirius replied, his tone serious.
The other three looked at each other. Leo didn't want his brother to know. But it is going to hard to explain how they saved him anyway. So they were flummoxed if they should tell the truth or the story they were going to tell others.
"I want the truth guys." Sirius said guessing their thoughts.
"The truth isn't ours to tell Sirius." Anna answered.
Sirius sat back, moving his hand in his face again, feeling his unshaved face and rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"This secrets are going to be a problem. I know your hands are tied and you can't tell me all things but you all, and yes, you both as well Anna, Nick. You all are my responsibility. I care about you all. I know I didn't lived up to your expectations before but I want you all to know that I really care about you and I am here for you now. And I'm trying to understand this all. But it is difficult when you have to keep all this secrets from me." He said frustrated.
Harry was feeling guilty for keeping things from his godfather. And he could see that Anna and Nick were feeling sympathetic with Sirius.
Anna finally said, "We will tell you Sirius. But give us time. We will need to discuss this first. There really are some things we can't talk to you about." She said apologetic.
Sirius just nodded back.
"About the mother. There was a girl from Australia." Sirius said with a sigh.
"I had met her after I had completed the Auror program. She had come here to visit her parents. We had been together for few weeks but I had broken up with her when the threat of the war increased. Not wanting her to be dragged into it. But it was for naught. She was killed in a death eater raid in Diagon Alley. Her parents are dead as well. We could say she had my child and sent her to Australia to protect her." He continued remembering the old days.
"What was her name?" Anna asked quietly.
"Oh. Her name was April. April Skyler." Sirius replied.
"American?" Anna asked.
"Yes, I think so. Her parents moved here and she went to Australia after her school was complete. She was an adventurous girl you could say. Traveling around the world." He said with a smile.
"So I will find you in Australia and bring you back. And you will fill the hole in our hearts that was left by Harry's death." Sirius said dramatically, trying to lighten the mood.
They all chuckled at his poor attempt.
Nick just sighed inwardly. Hearing about the death eater raid had reminded him of his less than spectacular past. He wasn't sure if he would ever feel free from all the guilt that was on him from all his destruction.
Anna realized his mood and nudged him under the table shaking her head at him. He just smiled back.
"So what's going to be your name?" Anna asked Harry.
"Any suggestions?" She asked back looking around at them.
"Well Harry could be a girls name as well. But we are going to keep your real identity a secret so that would be a huge giveaway." Sirius said shaking his head.
"How about Adelaide?" Nick suggested.
Anna wondered if Nick had spent any lifetime thinking about just names he could use. He sure has unique suggestions.
"Adelaide? Its French right? And the name of a city in Australia. Why would she gave her that name? Traditionally Blacks are always named after a star or constellation." Sirius asked.
"Cause its the name of her favorite city in Australia." Nick answered the question shrugging.
"And not all Black daughters have the name of stars or constellation. Narcissa is from a flower." He added.
"And Adelaide means nobility in French. Suits the daughter of Black Family." Anna added.
"Um... So how about Adelaide Esmeralda Black?" Harry said thoughtfully.
"Esmeralda, huh?" Anna said tilting her head.
"For my emerald like eyes." Harry said quirking her brows.
"Won't it be Skyler though instead of Black?" Nick asked.
"No, because she knew Sirius. And knew he was the father so... Adelaide Esmeralda Black. That will be it." Harry said with finality.
"What do you think Sirius?" She said looking to Sirius for approval.
"I like it. We could call you Ada for short. Adelaide is a mouthful." He said smiling.
"Alright. We just need to inform the goblins about the request then." Anna said clapping her hands and getting up.
"Where are you going?" Nick asked watching her move towards the door.
"Not just me, we are going to Potter Manor so that we could get something to eat. And then Sirius can go talk to Andromeda so that we can get the show started." She replied gesturing them all to get up.
"Oh, you have never been to the Potter Manor since you got back." She added looking at Sirius.
"Would you be alright?" She asked worried.
"I will be fine. Let's go. Its been so many years since I last saw it." He replied getting up.
"I will just add you to wards. I forgot, sorry." Harry, no the newly named Ada, said as she got up as well.
She hurriedly went to the foyer so she could step to the Manor and add Sirius's name in the ward book. Also to ensure Leo wasn't home. They didn't need more complications that day.
-x-
Potter Manor
She was thankful that her body hasn't gone major changes. While of course all her features and parts had changed, her body mass had remained similar enough. So she could use her old clothes without any problems. She would have to get few dresses though, Ada thought as she added Sirius's name in the ward book.
"Harry, Sir?" Topsy asked confused as he saw her in the library.
He had been alerted to Harry entering the manor and had gone to check if he needed anything. But even if the magic he was feeling was Harry's the person he was seeing was a girl.
"Hey Topsy. Will you gather the other elves in the kitchen? As you can see there is something I need to tell you all." Ada said with a grimace.
She hoped she wouldn't have to let too many people in on the secret. While she knew she should trust more people, the times they were living in sure wasn't all safe. And most people won't believe them if they told them that she was blessed by Lady Magic, so it was better that they were just left in the dark.
She had reached the kitchen where all the elves along with the others were waiting for her.
As soon as she entered though, Folksy took one look at her and came running at her, throwing her arms around her.
"Master Harry be blessed by Lady Magic. Oh Folksy be so happy for Master Harry." She said weeping joyously.
The other elves recognized what had happened as they listened to Folksy and also excitedly congratulated Harry-Ada.
"Well I guess then you know what happened." Ada said confused but smiling at their enthusiasm.
"Oh Yes, Harry Sir. You be blessed by Lady Magic we can feel it." Folksy said happily.
"Alright. But we have decided that since I'm not a boy anymore we are going to change my name to Adelaide Esmeralda Black. And you are all forbidden to ever tell anyone that I'm Harry Potter. From now on you will only address me as Ada. Or Mistress Ada, if you feel like you should do it in front of outsiders. Alright?" She informed them sternly, imparting the seriousness of the situation.
They all promised that they wouldn't reveal the secret to anyone.
As they all finally sat at the table to eat, after she had reintroduced Sirius to them, she asked how they knew about the blessing and they were all informed about the lore surrounding magic amongst the elves.
"But Topsy didn't realize I was blessed?" Ada had asked.
"Topsy forgot the lores, Mistress. Folksy knowing more about them." Topsy said looking guilty.
"I was just asking, Topsy. No need to feel guilty." She said then added to others, "The magical beings sure know so many things which had been forgotten by the wizards and witches."
"Some wizards do know the old knowledge. But they are few and far between. Hogwarts doesn't really teach those things so one has to study about it themselves if they want to learn it. The magical beings, I guess, pass the knowledge like we do through the lores but they actually believe them while we just consider them bedtime stories." Sirius said informative.
Ada nodded at his explanation and concentrated back on her food.
After they were done Sirius left to visit with Andromeda just in time to Leo to come to the Manor.
He was passing through the kitchen to get something to snack on when he saw them.
"Hey guys." He greeted them smiling. He was still searching for a nice home for them to live in but had started living in a muggle apartment in London to give credence to his story. He visited the manor from time to time to spend time in the library.
As he was moving towards the door, to get to the library after greeting them, he did a double take seeing the new girl.
"And who are you?" He asked politely, looking confused at the others.
"Let's talk in the library." Anna suggested, beckoning him to follow them.
After they all were seated comfortably Ada told him all that happened. Her being blessed, changed and Sirius asking about him as well.
"We know you said you didn't want him to know but I think it would be better if he knew. Keeping secrets from each other, may lead to our loss sometime in the future. There are already things that we are forbidden to tell you but keeping secrets amongst ourselves isn't... I don't think its good." She said looking at them all beseechingly.
Leo had been silent while she talked and had been silent still after she was finished. Finally he sighed and said, "If you guys think that's what we should do. Then alright."
"Think this through, there's no hurry. If you don't want to we won't tell him about you. We would respect your wishes." Anna assured him.
"No. I don't need to think. While I still am feeling quite conflicted about Sirius, what Har- Ada is saying is true. We can't keep secrets amongst us. It could turn into our weakness. The way you have described those parasites I don't think we should keep any such weaknesses. We need to work together." He said looking at them determined.
"You have been thinking about this a lot I take?" Anna said sighing and slouching in her seat.
"Yes. At first I had been so confused by all that you had told me about it. First the muggles and then this parasites. I wasn't sure if I really should even believe you. At one point I had felt just to leaving all this behind and go far away from here. But then I realized if you all still being kids are trying to do something about the future, which you really don't need to think about. You could just leave all that troubles to the authorities and forget about it. But you are doing this and you helped me. So I do need to do this. And I want to help you. After I realized that, I couldn't stop thinking about all the information. And what I could do to help you more." He finished with a deep breath.
"Yeah, you've been thinking a lot." Anna said shaking her head.
Leo just smiled back.
"Okay then." Ada said nodding.
"We will talk to Sirius when he gets back. If the Tonks are agreeable we would need to include them in our plans as well." She said looking at them all for any protest.
When nobody said anything she got up and moved towards the bookshelves to find something interesting to read.
"It sure feels weird seeing her. She doesn't look like Harry but acts almost similar to him." Leo said watching her disappear behind a shelve.
"Its rude to talk behind people's back." He heard her say loudly from the aisle.
"Sorry." He said sheepishly, when she peeped through a gap.
"What did you talk the goddess about? What did she tell you?" He asked curiously.
"And it is rude to ask such questions. No one but me and her knows and need to know what we talked about." She said coming back towards the table carrying some books under her arm.
"Alright." He said raising his hands in defence.
He got up as she sat down to search for his own books to read.
"You are not going to tell us either I guess?" Nick whispered as he too stood stretching his back, turning to look at her inquisitive.
She shook her head and he nodded in understanding moving towards the shelves behind Leo.
Anna just stared at the ceiling lost in her thoughts, oblivious to world around her.
"Whatcha thinking Anna?" Ada asked her trying to catch her attention.
"Nothing." She replied with a smile, turning to look back at to ceiling.
"You sure? Seems like something to me." Ada prodded.
Anna sighed and said, "I am thinking who the last master could be." She kept her voice low so that Leo wouldn't hear them.
"Oh. Do you know or remember anyone from last time that could fit the bill?" Ada asked curiously.
Anna shrugged.
"Do you?" She asked back.
Ada frowned in thought at the question.
As she looked back towards the book in her lap still thinking about the people in her last life, Nick and Leo returned with their loot.
"You guys know magic, don't ya?" Anna asked confused as she summoned a book to herself.
"Yes. But it was you who told us we shouldn't use it for trivial things and also we need to browse the shelves to choose the books, don't we?" Leo replied sarcastically.
"I told you to not 'just' use it for trivial thing like other wizards do but also to use your magic to practice and I concede the point about needing to browse the shelves to choose your books." Anna replied in good humor.
And they all immersed themselves in the books only coming up out of their worlds when they heard Sirius entering the manor.
"Let's hope he brought us good news." Ada said anxiously as she looked towards the door.
Sirius entered the room and was perplexed to see the addition to the three kids he left behind.
He recognized the Black features on the stranger though and properly guessed him to be Leo Black. He was proven right when the stranger was introduced to him.
But they all were looking impatient to hear what he had to say so he kept his questions back for then and informed them of the days events.
He wasn't sure how he would be received by his estranged cousin. Last he had seen her she had left the Order after she had some argument with Dumbledore. Argument they said, but he was sure it had been a huge fight. He never learned what it was about but he was hoping he would get the answers to at least some of the questions running around his head from her.
The house they lived in was modest and looked quaint. The neighborhood, though muggle, was peaceful. As he walked up the gravel path, he was thinking how Harry had insisted they get him muggle clothes so they could wander around the muggle world freely. Not Harry, Ada. Well Harry-Ada whatever the name, she was his child, that fact was all he needed to know for the peace of his mind.
He reached the door and after taking a deep breath rang the doorbell. It was a Sunday so he hoped to catch all of the Tonks at home.
The door was opened by a jovial looking man who he recognized as Ted Tonks, Andromeda's husband.
"How are you doing Ted?" He asked offering his hand for shaking.
Ted had stood frozen on seeing Sirius, but just when he was about to retract his hand back awkwardly it was taken by Ted who shook it vigorously exclaiming,
"Its so good to see you Sirius. Of course we had learned from the paper about your unfair incarceration and then the trial. We always knew things weren't right in the Order. If that traitor just could have been exposed before, it would have saved so many lives." He said shaking his head.
"But come on inside. Sorry for my manners. Please make yourself at home. I will inform Andy you are here." He said smiling as he led the recently freed prisoner inside.
After waving at him to make himself comfortable on the couch he went in the kitchen to talk with Andromeda.
Sirius looked around the room seeing the various photos illustrating the happy family. His cousin's daughter, Dora was changing hair colors in her childhood pictures as her mood changed.
He turned to look at the doorway on hearing someone enter and was greeted to the sight of his cousin.
"Hey Andy." He said with a smile getting up from his seat.
"Oh Sirius." She said moving towards him to embrace him.
"How are you doing? I knew when we had heard about you that you were innocent. I had tried to reason with Dumbledore but he wouldn't listen to me. 'Not in my hands.' He had told me. It was always the same with him." Andromeda said shaking her head and wiping the tear that fell.
"What's happened with you? Where's the tough as nails lady who hadn't bowed before her family's wishes to marry some stranger, instead running off with her lover, you have turned soft, Andy." Sirius said jokingly as he hugged her to her side moving them towards the couch.
"Oh you. She hasn't gone anywhere. I missed you so much Siri. Have you seen Dora? You should see her. She's in her 6th year at Hogwarts. And has already decided to become an Auror." She said shaking her head.
Ted entered carrying a tray full of tea cups and cookies.
"Will you please call Dora, Ted? Thanks honey. Have some cookies Siri. I was just making some for Dora." She said rapidly as she tried to contain her excitement.
"Calm down, Andy. I'm not going anywhere. We have all day to talk about all things. And I know I have many questions for you." Sirius said patiently.
Andy nodded in understanding seeing his resolve and smiled at him as he asked about the pictures on the wall.
"She has such an excellent grasp on her ability. You won't believe it." She said proudly as they talked about her daughter.
"Hey mom. What's going on?" They heard a voice calling from the doorway as a young girl of about 16 entered the room.
"Come Dora. Meet Sirius. You remember him, don't you?" Andy said with a smile as she patted his arm.
"Of course. Padfoot." Dora said, her eyes lighting up in surprise and excitement.
Sirius chuckled at her but nodded and got up to give her a hug.
"Mom was so happy when they showed you getting out of that horrible place in the paper. We missed you." She said hugging him.
"I missed you all as well. And Harry. You should see him now. I would never have believed I would ever get out of that place, see him again." He said shaking his head.
Andy hugged him again and sat him down to regale him with the story of their lives.
They sat around exchanging their stories.
After they were all over the stories, Sirius talked to them about including them in the family again. Andromeda was in tears again when she heard his offer and had accepted happily.
While they were talking Sirius had discreetly, as shown to him by the kids, checked for any sign of parasites amongst them and had found none. Just to make sure he had checked the whole neighborhood to see if he could feel even a small presence anywhere. He was happy to find none whatsoever.
He had debated if he should talk about their plans right then but decided against it. They didn't need to be bombarded with everything together. He would invite them home and then maybe he could talk to them about Harry more.
He had been unable to voice any of his questions but he didn't want to ask them in front of Dora so he bade them farewell as it neared twilight and got a promise from them to come back to his home for dinner soon.
"So you think they can be trusted with the truth?" Anna asked him after he was done.
"Yes. Andy was being emotional seeing me after so much time but I know she can be tough when it is needed. The Black daughters have the back bones to stand up to any situation." He said with a smile.
Anna smiled back wistfully.
"No need to seem so wistful Anna. You would be a Black daughter soon as well." Ada said rolling her eyes.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Anna asked confused.
"Well you are going to be adopted by a Black so you are going to be a daughter of Black family as well." Ada said, explaining as if to a child.
"Well you are right about that. But I'm not gonna change my surname anyhow. So I won't be a Black, Black? You get what I'm saying?" Anna replied looking confused herself.
"Why wouldn't you change your name?" Sirius asked frowning.
"If we all changed our names then there would be too many Blacks running around." Anna said, she was going to continue but Sirius interrupted.
"I don't mind. The more the merrier. The Black family used to be huge but now it has almost reduced to nothing." He said reminiscing.
"That's true. But you could add more members yourself. You don't need us to crowd it." Anna was again interrupted.
"You are family not crowd Anna." Ada protested this time.
"Yes, yes. I get it. But I don't want to be under the scrutiny that comes with the Black name. I wouldn't take the name but I would still be under the protection of Black house along with Nick and that gives us the perks without being pressured about the duties." Anna said smiling mischievously at Ada.
"What duties?" Ada said frowning. Then her frown turned to a scowl as she looked up at her angrily.
"You are thinking about fu- fricking contracts!" Ada said outraged.
"I'm just saying. Its not just the contracts. Which I'm sure Sirius would never subject you to. But also all the formal gatherings and formalities and formal-" Anna was once again interrupted.
"Okay. We got it. Too much formality there." Nick said cringing.
"Ah, you don't like it?" Anna asked curious.
"Who likes that!" He said rolling his eyes.
"I don't know. Maybe Lockhart would. And Malfoy probably." She said grinning.
"You aren't ever getting a contract for me. Promise me." Ada said turning to Sirius.
"I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die." He said seriously.
Ada just rolls her eyes back.
Leo just chuckled watching them all banter.
"Now would you tell me what is he doing here? How did you meet?" Sirius asked, Leo's chuckle catching his attention.
That put a stop to all their talk and they all turned to look at Leo who sighed but started telling his brother the truth about himself.
They had decided they needed to be consistent with their story so they were going to tell Leo and Sirius all the things the other knew. That they were being instructed by someone, that Anna knew things not because of her visions but she just knew them. And Nick and Ada also knew about some things the others didn't. They told him about Nick having a half brother who was going to join them soon and the people they are going to need to help them fight.
"So you are working with the goblins to recruit people?" Sirius asked intrigued by the information.
He had been angry about the lies they told him, but understood their reasons that they had to give him something to make him believe in them. He had asked them that next time he would prefer they rather not tell him anything than lying to him.
When he had learned Leo was Regulus he had been in denial. He knew his brother was dead. Well he knew he was supposed to be dead. But he also knew that he had been feeling like he knew the stranger with the Black features as soon as he had entered the room. He had left the topic aside deciding to focus on other information, promising to talk to his brother later.
"Yes. We need all the help we can get. We are going to start teaching wandless magic to the muggle-borns soon." Anna answered.
"You need to start interacting with more wizards if you hope to find these spirit souls." Sirius said rubbing his stubble. He was going to need to freshen up before he went anywhere else. Cause if he looked how he felt then he knew he looked like hell.
They had told them about the spirit souls, deciding it doesn't connect with the masters business and this way they wouldn't need to hide the special training they would need to give the spirit souls. They had told them they were spirit souls as well and hence knew things. Which is true. The spirit souls they would meet also would instinctively knew some things and knowledge.
"Yeah. We are thinking after Nick's brother joins us we could maybe meet with some of the kids our age so we could start teaching them early. And search the spirit souls amongst them." Anna said.
"And find some friends as well." Ada added nudging Anna with her foot.
"Yes. That as well." Anna said trying to sound enthusiastic.
Ada just rolled her eyes at her lack of enthusiasm.
"But we are not spirit souls, so how could we help you?" Sirius asked frowning.
"You are not spirit souls. But that doesn't mean you are useless. You are still magical. And even muggles could be useful in our fights. I know I said to you all that they don't have any magical blood in them but that doesn't make the useless or inferior to us. Every living being is unique and important. They are as much threat to us as we are to them. I think I was little bit too enthusiastic in my persistence to warn you against no-majs. They are a threat but I think we are fighting against a common enemy now, so shouldn't our enemy's enemy be our friend?" Anna thought out loud, looking out the window.
"You are the one who had been warning us off against muggles and now you want us to get together with them?!" Ada said flummoxed.
"No. Not get together. I am just suggesting that if push comes to shove we may need to cooperate with them. They do have these weapons of mass destruction which they could use at us thinking that we are the enemies and not those parasites. I mean it would be easy for them to just start a war between the Majs and No-Majs just to see us destroying each other." Anna trailed off worriedly, her brain stumbling at the horrific realization.
She sat up straight in her seat thinking about the ramifications of her thought.
'I never frigging thought this. If the parasites were the one that had been inducing the fights between them... But no they weren't there the first time that the earth was destroyed were they? They just saw it from afar. But then they did realize that our wars were destroying the earth. And did used it against us. But... Oh god. Oh god. No. No. No. Was I going about it all wrong then?' Anna's mind was working furiously.
She had started pacing around the library as her brain ran wild with her thoughts while the others were watching her with varying degrees of confusion and worry.
Ada and Nick were realizing what Anna was thinking and were getting worried themselves while the two adults were getting concerned seeing the anxious faces of the kids.
"You need to stop thinking that Annabelle. I assure you that though the fights, before the earth was destroyed last time, did happen due to the influence of the parasites, the lives you have lived trying to save the earth weren't influenced by them. I was aware of their activities at the time and I can assure you it wasn't the work of the parasites." Death said as he appeared with the wind.
"You are sure? It definitely wasn't the parasites work?" Anna asked foregoing greetings.
"Yes. They didn't influenced the humans then. The humans are just like that. Its nobody's fault but theirs. I like your thought of trying to work with them but I don't think it would be much successful. Because, as you know, the parasites 'are' trying to corrupt them now. And even if they didn't- I may be breaking rules by telling you this but a little warning isn't going to hurt. They could turn on you as soon as the enemy is defeated, so you are better off fighting the battles with trusted allies." Death advised them ominously.
Anna nodded.
"I know." She sighed. She had learned that lesson in a lifetime before.
"Yes you know. You remember now. Don't forget." He said looking at them all. He knew they all had that experience.
The other two nodded as well. Feeling better now that Death had quelled their worries for then.
"Good to see you doing well young mistress. Make good use of your new gifts." Death said to Ada as he prepared to leave.
"Don't make me come back for such a trivial thing again." He warned Anna exasperated.
Then added to Nick, "Help her, would you? Until you meet with others."
Nick nodded back in acceptance.
And then he was gone with the wind, with a parting nod to them all.
The adults who had been frozen when Death had come unfroze and were still concerned about the kids but concern soon turned to confusion seeing them relaxed.
"What happened? One second you were looking worried and now your looking relaxed? What just happened?" Sirius asked frowning.
He was sure he had this feeling before but this time it was more pronounced. It was like he just missed something important.
"I just had the thought that I was worrying over nothing. I mean I was getting worked up thinking parasites are influencing us to fight but I realized it is true. I mean not true yet as we are trying try to prevent it. But... Just... Ah, I'm getting confused myself trying to explain." Anna said frustrated.
"You always over complicate things Anna." Nick said with a smile.
"What she's trying to say is that, the parasites aren't influencing anyone yet. There are some corrupted around and some remnants of last time. But if we didn't take the protective measures soon we are going to have to fight with the parasites as well as the influenced as well. So rather than getting worked up at something she already knows and making us panic as well, her time would be better used thinking out strategies to deal with them." He directed the last at Anna who poked her tongue at him.
"~Sometimes I wonder if your brain really was fried by Death. You were making us panic over nothing.~" Nick said in Japanese, sure that both the Black brothers won't understand a word of it.
"~Sorry. It just felt completely blank in my mind. I was thinking up scenarios of my past life, thinking how the parasites could have influenced them. I just wasn't thinking straight.~" She sighed back.
The adults watched them talk astonished.
"Hey, that's cheating. What are you guys talking about?" Sirius asked whining.
"Nothing. Just don't worry. I am okay now. Everything's okay. Come on we should eat and then sleep. I think I'm in need of some proper sleep." Anna said getting up and yawning.
They had spent most of the time discussing everything they need since Sirius came. It was getting late.
The others just sighed knowing the topic was closed and tired themselves they trudged to the kitchen to eat something.
Ada was silent all the time thinking they had been worried about her and didn't had sleep last night and so were tired. She was brought out of her thoughts by an arm around her shoulder.
"Keep that idiotic thought out of your mind. We aren't tired because of you. If one of us had been ill ya would have been-" Anna yawned mid sentence then continued, "Then ya would have been worried as well. So don't go blaming yourself. And don't think about a trivial thing like this. Come on eat your meal and then we are going to sleep peacefully. Cause we are going to be busy again the next few weeks." She finished, yawing again. She ruffled Ada's hair like she always does, though this time they remained mostly unaffected being so long, and then continued eating her food.
"You shouldn't yawn while eating." Ada chided her as she gained her mood back and they all chucked as Anna pouted.
"But, but... I feel so sleepy. Seriously your sleep is getting contagious." She teased her, as last night Ada was the one falling asleep on them.
"Wasn't my fault last night." Ada replied.
Their bantered continued as they finished their food and then finally ended when they parted ways to sleep. They all decided to stay in the manor that night rather than risking apparition while being so tired.
-x-
A/N: Thanks for reading. Would love to hear your thoughts. See ya, Novarkek.