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"Amelia she made a mess again!"
Groaning heavily Amelia Black wiped her hands on the white dish towel hanging from her jeans and turned to face the love of her life and father of her child Sirius Black. Sirius was holding their newly turned 12th month old daughter Brooke-Lynne Lillan Black in front of him with a heavy disgusted frown marring his gorgeous face.
"Amy help," He whined "She smells really bad."
Looking down into Brooke's smiling face Amelia couldn't help smiling, she loved her babies no matter how badly either of them smelled and they both could out do each other when their ready.
"Sirius I'm stuffing the chicken for Dinner tonight."
"I'll do it just change her." He thrust her into her arms then stepped back hastily wiping his clean dry hands on his clothes.
"Fine" Amelia held Brooke against her hip and looked at Sirius, he was rolling up his sleeves "Just finish stuffing the mix into the chicken then leave it I'll be back and finish what I'm doing."
"OK" He looked at the chicken with a slight frown "Wait where am I stuffing this mix?"
"In its cavity region honey that big whole stuff it in there."
"What!" He looked at her horrified "You mean I have to put my hands....in there no."
"Sirius how do you think I make it taste so good huh get in there or would you rather clean up baby poop."
Sirius looked like he was seriously considering (No pun intended) until there was a sudden pop echoing from the hallway.
"Only us."
Amelia turned to find James Potter strolling into the kitchen clutching his and Lily's 13 month old son Harry around his stomach as he slept soundlessly.
"Where's Lily?" She asked frowning slightly.
"She's not home from work and I found myself bored since Harry went down for his nap, I tried to keep him awake and it worked for a while till I turned my back for one second and he's out like a light."
"Serves you right babies need at least one nap a day even if their sleeping through the night, although I wouldn't let him sleep too long. How long has he been asleep."
"About two hours." He shrugged lifting a slipping Harry higher in his arms.
"Wake him up." She instructed "Gently I'm just going to change Brooke and Sirius remove your watch before you stick your hand up tonight's chicken."
"Yes ma'am." He saluted her grinning, James shook his head chuckling and walked off into the living room trying to wake Harry.
"Watch it Black," Amelia warned "I may love you but I don't have to like you." Seeing his face fall Amelia winked smirking and walked out kissing Brooke's soft hair.
Knock knock
"Sirius...is everything OK?" Molly Weasley's voice came through Sirius closed bedroom door, pulling him from another daydream that he frequently indulged in.
Sighing heavily Sirius sat up running a hand over his tired face, he didn't see the point of doing anything any more with Harry gone back too school and Remus gone almost everyday trying to get werewolves on the good side. He found himself thinking about Amelia and Brooke more and more. Remembering that his wife committed suicide burned him but remembering that their daughter was happily living her life without him in it burned him even deeper. Sure he loved Harry but Brooke is his own flesh and blood he helped create her with the love of his life, he held her when she was just minutes old, he named her, he over came his newly discovered fear of soiled nappies when he was changing her and she smiled up at him with wide grey innocent eyes. Brooke was-is his life, it was centered around her once upon a time. He was the stay at home dad while Amelia for some reason went to work (to keep her sane so she claimed even though they never needed the money). When Amelia left for work Brooke was always asleep and Sirius made it his duty to do all the good father things, he woke her up, fed her, bathed her then dressed her in his favourite outfit his old school Quidditch shirt he had shrunken to fit her and jeans, and keep her entertained till Amelia came home ready to play happy familes. Then everything fell apart, he went to jail the Potters got murdured, Harry got sent away, Remus went missing and Amelia selfishly took her own life.
Sirius could remember hearing about it, it was miserable day as per usual in that dungeon tower of a prison, the air was crispy and fresh from the sea that surrounded the prison.
The guards that day had avoided his cell like the muggle bubonic plague some giving him looks of the utmost hate and others given him looks of compassion as if they knew something. Then just as dinner (Moldy bread, a couple slices of cheese and a bucket of water) was transfered into his cell (Seeing as his was heavily guarded and not allowed to leave) a copy of the daily Prophet was slipped in.
There on the front page in bold flashing words read 'Wife of murderous convict, Amelia Elizabeta Black DEAD'. Half of the paper was dedicated to her pictures of her funeral thousands of mourners dressed in her favourite colour of green. Articles on her home life growing up as the granddaughter of William Maverick Minister of the Italian Ministry.
When Sirius read how she died he felt his heart skip a few beats there was no mention of a dead baby or of a missing baby just reports of Amelia who took her life. It seemed that Brooke-Lynne Lillian Black never existed and it was only when Sirius met up with Dumbledore the year he escaped that he learned of Brooklyn Stronghold who was in the care of her mother's only and youngest sister Annabeth Stronghold and how she changed Brooklyn's name to protect her while growing up.
"Sirius." Molly knocked again, hesitating before she called once more, "An owl came for you, I err have the letter its addressed to you for your eyes only and-" He swung the door open "Oh well here."
Thrusting the letter into his hand Molly turned and stalked off, Sirius walked back into his room dropping down onto his bed. Turning the letter over he ripped off its red wax seal and unfolded it lifting it to his eye level as he fell back on the pillows.
To my dear Brother (His eyes widened at this)
I hope you are as surprised as I am that I'm actually taking the time out of my busy schedule to write to you, and if you have not already figured out who I am its me Annabeth the younger sister of your ex wife. I'm not really writing you for pleasantries I'm merely writing you with a request that I hope you will fulfil seeing as it benefits you as well.
Christmas is 3 weeks away and as it so happens my business here in the states has finished with results we as the light side could hope for, and seeing as my business has completed I wish to spend the holiday with my niece your daughter. I know your thinking what does this have to do with you but according to our old professor your house seems to be the only safe place I can have a happy and colourful Christmas with Brooklyn.
I have spent every Christmas with Brooklyn and I do not wish for this one to be any different especially in the dark times we live in, I wish to make this Christmas one for Brooklyn to remember.
Following my advice I gave to you through Albus I hope that you have found time to talk to Brooklyn and let her know who you are because if not I will be doing it within the first day there.
Moving on from that I have a few requests, a real Christmas tree with decorations, a Christmas dinner that we both know Amelia would have been proud of (Do not cook it) and a room for myself and Brooklyn.
Thank you for taking my requests into consideration I will be arriving December 22nd and will need to talk to you about the possibility of Brooklyn and myself staying with you until further notice.
Hopefully this letter receives you in time.
Annabeth Emmaline Stronghold.
Tightening his fist Sirius crumpled the letter into a ball before tossing it into a corner, he had not seen Annabeth since Brooke's first birthday and she still annoyed the crap out of him deeply.
"Bloody hell" He ran a hand down his face sighing heavily. Annabeth and Brooklyn underneath his roof together. "I can't do it."
"May I inquire as to what you can't do?"
Looking up Sirius saw Albus standing in his bedroom doorway peering at him. His hands were clasped together in front of him and his blue eyes stood out against his dark purple robes with matching hat.
"Is there another meeting?" Sirius stood to his feet "Is Harry OK?"
"Harry is fine calm down." He stepped into the room, looking around he noticed a few pictures of a young Sirius, Amelia and baby Brooke placed on his dresser. "I see Remus finally gave up his pictures to you then."
"Umm yes." He ran a hand through his shoulder length black hair. His jaw muscles working as he swallowed "I guess the ones we kept," He started, referring to Amelia and himself. "Were destroyed."
"Quite the contrary Annabeth collected them, it seemed scroungers and the then current Minister of magic had tried to auction them off" Sirius' grey eyes flew to his in surprise. "It would have been successful as everything seemed to believe Brooklyn disappeared of the face of the earth but Annabeth claiming t be the only living relative claimed them and anything else that belonged to you both for Brooklyn."
"Oh so not only does she have my daughter but my things too." Sirius shook his head. Walking over to his bedroom window he looked down at the street seeing a group of school children walking past "I received a letter from Annabeth."
"I know."
"So you know what she has asked of me then?"
"Yes and I also know that what she asked can be possible I have already expressed her terms to Molly who has agreed wholeheartedly." Sirius closed his eyes nodded. "Though there seems to be a task you must complete before the school term finishes in exactly two weeks."
Sirius grumbled, he knew exactly what Albus was talking about. He had to tell both Harry and Brooklyn that he had a wife and a child who happens to the girl Harry's currently feeling up underneath the table in the library.
"Do I have to?"
"I'd say so yes. I'm sure Brooklyn would appreciate if it came from you and not her aunt and I'm positive so would Harry especially as both he and Brooklyn have entered some form of adolescent relationship"
With a resigned sigh nodded "OK fine I'll write her a letter and-"
"No a letter will not do," Albus cut in gently "this kind of information deserves to be told face to face."
"Well I can hardly face her can I I'm a escaped convict."
Albus never replied instead he placed a brass key in dire need of cleaning on top the night stand.
"The key will activate tomorrow morning, it will bring you to Hogwarts there you will meet Harry at the Quidditch pitch in your other form. From there he will bring you to my office where both myself and Brooklyn will be waiting for you. Good evening Sirius."
With that said Albus disaparated out leaving Sirius staring at the key on top his night stand as if it was a present of evil.
OK so here's what I'm going to do, I'm going to immediately add the next chapter since everybody is jumping down my back get them to meet. However it will suprise you how the next chapter ends so...get on it it.