Authors Note:
This story was just a random idea I have had floating around in the back of my head. I have always wanted to write a story with Ginny as the female lead, but the Ginny in the books not the one from the films. And yes Ginny is not with Harry, sorry for those of you that are hoping, but no, it is not going to happen. So this is my take on a restoring the House of Black, so please let me know what you think, I would love to hear from you all.
The chill in the night air was making Ginny shiver, she rubbed her arms to try and warm up her bare arms as she paced back and forth. Ginny had had to call to her team and explain that a family commitment had come up and she would be unable to come to practices this week. Her trainer Cara had been an arse until she explained that some ancestor had screwed her over with a blood oath. Then Cara finally relented so long as Ginny agreed to keep up her training as much as she could at home. She had agreed but Ginny had to wonder just how much time that she had. She then had to tell her mother, a conversation that had quickly turned to screaming and tears until Molly had finally relented on the condition that she could be there when the ritual was performed.
Ginny was surprised that Gringotts had allowed it, surprised but extremely grateful for it. Ginny might be an adult, but sometimes it was nice to have your mother there for support and Ginny knew she had the greatest Mum of any of her friends. She might have had a temper but she also had a heart of pure gold and loved her children more than anything in the world. Her mother was currently talking to Arnblade, making him triple check every minute detail of the ritual before she would allow them to begin. Ginny after all was her baby, her only daughter and she would not let them risk her life for some blood oath.
It also meant that they had been standing in the cold night air for three hours, and the sun had long since gone down so that the ritual area was bathed in moon light. Ginny had been asked to wear a silver grecian style dress, that whilst beautiful, did not keep her warm at all. She wasn't sure why she had to wear this and briefly wondered just what exactly were they expecting to happen here that she needed to wear this dress. She was also barefoot but being as they were on the grounds of Black Manor, which was pretty much a ruin, she guessed it was to connect her to the ley lines, that she could feel thrumming below her feet.
It was kind of like how Hogwarts felt when you passed through the gates but calmer, and not amplified by hundreds of hormonal teenagers casting magic. The land felt old and as Ginny wandered around the ritual site she fought hard to calm her nerves. Whilst she was resolved to do this, that didn't mean she was in any way confident about it. She was also glad that there was a stipulation in the contract that should the ritual be unsuccessful her family would be released from the duty. A small selfish part of her didn't want the ritual to succeed. The Blacks had their reputation for a reason, and whilst she knew Sirius there was no guarantee that he would be the one the ritual called forth. For all she knew she could get one of his ancestors that had probably started the tradition of removing the tongues of wives who spoke to much.
History of magic had lots of delightful little snippets like that hidden within it, not laws but traditions that the ministry had had an uphill battle overturning. It was only last year after all that a law had finally been put in place for the protection of female heirs. The new law stipulated that these women could not be forced to marry distant cousins to further the family cause and keep old money with old families. She knew of at least three witches in her year that had been incredibly relieved to have been spared that horror. Its why it had been one of her favourite subjects in school, it was full of interesting facts and shocking scandals that she was often surprised that she was one of very few that enjoyed it. Because really, anyone who claims to be a gossip but has no interest in history will never understand just how shocking some of the scandals they discuss are.
It was now after midnight and Ginny was startled when her name was called by Arnblade. It seemed her Mum had finally relented and agreed that everything that could be done to keep Ginny safe had been done. Arnblade had been surprisingly kind with Ginny, treating her with respect and understanding as he had talked her through the ritual and what she could expect. He had also told her that Harry Potter had been informed that the attempt would be made, but at her request he had not told Harry who would be performing the ritual. She knew that he would try to stop her, to find another way and as much as she appreciated the effort she couldn't allow him to risk her family.
No, Ginny would do this, this was her decision to make and she felt that she had made the best one that she could. True, with each passing moment she was getting closer and closer to being petrified but she had made her mind up and her resolve would not waiver. The ritual was surprisingly simple, considering what they would be trying to achieve. Four braisers had been set up at the North South East and Western points of the ritual circle, each of these representing the elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Ginny would be in the centre of them and she would represent Spirit, being a living vessel she would also be the link to connect to the mortal world. Ginny took her place in the centre and gave her mother a weak smile. Closing her eyes, she focused on the magic flowing through the ley line until she could feel it pulsing with her own. She then searched out the Northern braiser and used her magic to connect to the earth from the estate that had been placed there. "The earth is our mother, and the North our guiding star, with you we anchor ourselves to this plane and find our way through it." She could feel the earth responding to her words, becoming a gentle but strong anchor for her magic.
She then turned to the eastern brasier and the fire that was burning steadily there. Within it were phoenix ashes that had been relit using dragon fire. Both items were incredibly rare and illegal to purchase in the UK so Ginny briefly wondered exactly how the goblins had managed to procure them. "To the east we see new beginnings, the dawning of a new day. Fire you are our symbol of life, a burning flame that can be quickly snuffed out. We ask that you rekindle your flames and burn with us anew." Ginny gasped as she felt heat envelop her and was relieved as the heat of the flames chased away the chill from her skin.
Ginny now faced the southern braiser and was amused as to what had been done here. A small magic rock pool had been created here, with a waterfall through the middle to allow the water to flow. "The south represents the past and what has already happened, we ask that we learn from you, so that we do not recreate the same mistakes again. Water you cleanse our skin from toxins and our souls from taint, with you we are renewed. We are eternally grateful for your blessings and ask that you cleanse House Black from the darkness and death that have seen it to ruin." Ginny could feel water rising from the ground and rushing over her toes and soaking the bottom of her dress as she turned once more.
The very air began to pulse as she faced the west and Ginny took a steadying breath. Within the final brasier was a very small tornado that whirled with almost dizzying speed. Some small blossoms had been picked up within it as it spun in place. "To the west we have the end of days, the passing of day into night, mayy you aide our passage to open the pathway into the next world so that we might guide the worthy back. Air we rely on you for our lives, you are the force that keeps us living, we ask you help the worthy renew their life." Air whipped around Ginny now, spinning around her as she felt herself float from the ground. Magic was now swirling around her and she fought to steady herself.
She could distantly hear her mother's concerned shouts as she focused on her essence, her spirit, that tangible force that made her who she was. It was then that everything went blindingly white. Ginny couldn't see anything but the blinding light around her, she could hear nothing but the beating of her own heart and felt a sharp tug at her navel. Ginny screamed, the pain was unimaginable and felt as though she was being ripped into two. The pain reminded her that she was alive but she had trouble keeping control as the pain ripped through her. Ginny was certain that she had passed out, but maybe only for a few moments. She could feel herself growing steadily weaker as the magic grew stronger.
She could hear voices in the distance once more but she struggled to find hers as she landed hard on her knees. Her hands sank into the mud and she whimpered in pain. It was then that she seen that her dress was drenched in blood, her blood. Her stomach was bleeding, the ritual had required payment of some kind and had taken it as her blood. She could feel the magic slowly ebbing away and was shocked to see that the sun had started to rise. How long had she been trapped in the blinding light and pain? She looked around but had a hard time recognising some of the faces around her, and whilst she could hear her mother she could not see her.
There were more people gathered around her and yet they were all keeping their distance, or acting as though she wasn't there at all. Ginny started to panic wondering if she had somehow become trapped on the wrong side, a living being in the world of the dead, but if that was the case, surely she wouldn't be able to feel anything. She could wrap her fingers around the grass and smell the scent of the nearby overgrown flower bed. Ginny's hand shook as she gently touched her stomach, the sting from the wound making her whimper. It was then a hand appeared before her eyes, palm facing upwards, asking to her wordlessly to accept their help rather than demanding her acquiescence.
She took the hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet, she was also very happy that when her feet threatened to give out from beneath her, that they steadied her. However this person was he was tall, broad shouldered and the white dress shirt smelled faintly of freshly mown grass. He also smelled like sandalwood and leather and Ginny couldn't help but think he smelled incredibly good. As she looked her up she gasped as she met familiar grey eyes. He looked younger, and healthy but she knew him. She cleared her throat and whispered "Sirius?"
His concerned grin turned into a half smile "It's me firecracker, although I am not sure why you went to so much trouble. Your mother has been screaming bloody murder for the past hour because you wouldn't wake up and they couldn't get passed the ritual boundaries. Never thought I'd see the day she'd lose her temper and not be on the receiving end of it. Woman actually called me dear." He pulled a face that had Ginny laughing and then whimpering in pain. Tears filled her eyes as she realised that she had done it, she had brought Sirius back to life. His thumb wiped away the tears before he lifted her into his arms as she clearly was too drained to support her own weight. "Never thought I'd be back with the living, and certainly not at this dump, it's worse than my mother's house." He settled himself to lean against one of the stone braisers containing the ashes and held her closer.
"Your mother and Arnblade filled me in, told me all about the Blood Oath and what the ritual did to bring me back. She also told me what would have happened if you didn't. I am sorry sweetheart, if I had known about it I would have named Harry as my heir and left him the title of Lord Black, that way he would have continued the line. I am so sorry." He sounded tired to Ginny, weary even, and the tone alone let her know that he had been chewed out by her mother. "Mum means well, I mean she killed Bellatrix to keep me alive if that doesn't tell you how much she loves her children I don't know what will."
Sirius chuckled in her ear and Ginny realised just how much she had missed the mischievous marauder. "Remind me to give her diamonds, she finished my darling cousin Bella off, she deserves to be bedecked in diamonds." Ginny raised her eyebrows and turned to look at him, fighting back a laugh. "I see how it is, I resurrect your sorry hide and get an apology but my Mother offs your cousin and you plan to drown her in jewels?" She bit back a smile as she pretended to huff "Ungrateful mutt".
"Sirius quit flirting with the girl and pay attention, we are discussing the fate of our house and you are distracted." The voice was stern and Ginny felt her blood run cold as she realised she had brought back more than Sirius. But who, and what did that mean? Was she expected to be wife to both of them? She looked over the stranger with a critical eye but she could not place him from the portraits she remembered from Grimmauld place. "Ginevra Weasley meet my Father Lord Orion Black, you will have to excuse him, he died in the seventies and appears to have left his sense of humour there."
Orion noticed her look of disquiet and bowed before her in a mark of respect. Now that Ginny's eyes were clearing she could see the similarities between them. The appeared to be similar in age, but what worried Ginny was that they appeared to be the same age as her, if a little older. Orion looked to be in his early thirties but Sirius appeared to be her own age. It made Ginny nervous, how was she meant to cope with both of them. She had barely managed the idea of being responsible for one Black, let alone two. Orion appeared to be thinking along the same lines as he smiled and looked her over once more.
"I am afraid we have yet to be reunited with our wands otherwise we could have healed your wounds already. I would be remiss if I did not offer you my deepest gratitude for the sacrifice that you have made on behalf of my house. I apologise for what saving my family has cost you and wish to calm your fears. You will only be bride to one of us you need not worry that you will be expected to deal with us both. As Sirius came through first, the magic has claimed him as heir to bring House Black back to life. I shall help guide you both as you restore this once great house to its rightful place in society. I have been married Miss Weasley, and I found it brought me little happiness. Should I chose to do so again, rest assured I have no intentions of ever sharing the woman with another, not even my own son."
Ginny didn't know what to say to that so chose to nod and say nothing. She was relieved and confused but decided that some questions could wait to be answered. She was tired and hurt more than she had in a very long time and she desperately wanted a shower and to sleep the day away. She rested her head on Sirius' shoulder and focused on his breathing. There was something peaceful about it and Ginny found it lulling her into a peaceful slumber. She had almost fallen asleep when she felt Sirius' breath catch and straighten from his relaxed pose. His entire body tensed and caused Ginny to waken in alarm. "Pup" he called and Ginny followed his gaze to a familiar sight. Harry stood only feet away staring in shock, his hands pressing against the invisible barrier. "Sirius..."