Rory hated taking the train. She hated it when she did it for school, she hated it when she had to do it to visit her grandfather, or when she had to go anywhere else outside of London. But there was little else she could since she wasn't old enough to apparate and wouldn't be for several more years.

Dramamine only did so much for her. Usually, she just left the blinds down on the Hogwarts Express, but that wasn't an option on a train full of muggles. She just covered her eyes with a sleep mask and waited until they arrived. That was the only thing that helped.

Once she and her dad were back in London, Rory was surprised that they didn't head straight home. Instead, they walked a different path from the train station.

"Where are we going?" Rory asked. "You'll need to be going soon, won't you?"

"Yes, but I'm not going to leave you unattended all night," Remus said.

"So where are we going?" Rory asked.

"You'll see when we get there," he said.

Thankfully, it wasn't raining anymore during their walk, but the ground was still damp, and they had to avoid being splashed several times by passing motorists.

They finally reached a street called Grimmauld Place and her father seemed to be counting the houses until they stopped.

"See anything curious?" Remus asked pointing. Rory looked at the houses in front of them. There was nothing peculiar to her eyes. The houses were old and all squished together like a row of townhouses often were. But there was nothing odd that she could tell.

"Nope," Rory said. "Just some old houses. Bet the muggles have wildly over-priced them."

Remus sighed. "Sometimes I wish I could join you on the train of thought your brain goes down sometimes." He knelt down and picked up a piece of paper from the ground. "Read this."

And she did. "Number 12 Grimmauld Place?"

Remus pointed again at the houses. That was when she noticed that the houses were labeled incorrectly. They jumped from 11 to 13. Number 12 was nowhere in sight.

But then the two houses seem to spread apart and from between, it emerged another house. It was a bit shabbier than the other houses. Its front garden was completely neglected and a wrought iron gate was rusting away.

"Whose house is this?" Rory asked as they walked up the front steps.

"That's going to be completely obvious in just a moment," he replied. He pushed open the door and there was a long corridor before them. The walls were lined with every piece of snake memorabilia imaginable.

"Slytherins," Rory said. Gas lamps hung overhead and she groaned. "Why do wizards hate electricity? Surely-."

"Please spare me one of your 'wizards hate technology' rants today," Remus said.

Rory sighed. He had another night of being a werewolf. He didn't need her to be annoying today.

"Sorry," she replied. She looked at the walls and then she saw a family crest. It was covered by cobwebs and active webs, and a large number of frighteningly large spiders. But she recognized the crest. "Is this Sirius' house? Is he here?"

Remus pointed down the hall and Rory took off down the hall.

"Be careful of the-."

But Rory figured out what he was pointing out a second too late. A troll leg umbrella stand. She tripped over and barely caught herself on the ground. She was fine, but she'd made a bit of a ruckus, catching herself on a nearby curtain that also hung dangerously low to the ground. She thought nothing of it until she heard the shouting.

"STAIN OF DISHONOR! A BAD SEED BORN FROM A ROTTEN APPLE! FILTHY MUDBLOOD LOVER! HOW DARE YOU SULLY MY HOME WITH YOUR PRESENCE!"

Rory covered her ears. The heckler was at full volume. She looked up in time to Sirius, Remus, and a young woman with pink hair pulling the curtains closed over the portrait of a very serious-looking woman.

"See, I told you it would take someone else out," the woman said.

"It's a good way to tell if people are paying attention when they come in," Remus teased her.

"You're Aurora?" the woman asked.

"Yes," she replied.

"Your dad is hilarious. And by that I mean, he isn't actually hilarious," the woman said.

"Aurora," Remus said, "this Nym-."

"Stop telling people my government name," she said. "We have had this conversation."

"But it's your name," Remus argued.

"Well, it's a stupid name," the woman said.

"This is Tonks," Remus said. "Nymphadora Tonks."

"Oof," Rory said wrinkling her nose at the name. "Surname only. Got it."

"Thank you," Tonks said graciously.

"Why would your-?"

"Why would my mother name me Nymphadora? Because she's—I love her very dearly. But because she's insane," Tonks said.

"But kids are cruel. Like. That's a lot," Rory said.

"You get me," Tonks said. "I like you already. A lot more than either of your dads. Fathers. Parental people. Don't know what you prefer to call them."

"Well, he's Sirius, or Dog Dad if I'm writing him a letter," Rory said pointing. Then she pointed to her dad. "And this is just Dad unless I'm cross with him. Then he's just 'Super Annoying.'"

Tonks cackled. "You're funnier than your dad as well."

"Tonks is your cousin," Sirius leading them through the door Rory had been seconds from crossing through before her altercation with the umbrella stand. "Her mother, Andromeda, was my favorite cousin. She was disowned because she married a muggleborn."

"A muggleborn Hufflepuff," Tonks added in.

"I think it's weird that everyone dislikes Hufflepuff when they're objectively the best and Gryffindor is like the worst," Rory said.

Sirius and Remus both chimed in at this, but Tonks just laughed.

"Oh, can I keep her?" Tonks asked, tossing her arms around Rory.

"How is Gryffindor the worst?" Sirius asked. "You're a Gryffindor!"

"Hufflepuffs are so kind and friendly, like, that's literally their two key traits. Meanwhile, Gryffindor is full of people who wake up every day and choose violence," Rory said.

"I don't think—"

"Gryffindors don't have a fight or flight instinct. It is only fight. At least Slytherins take a breath to think before they decide to be jerks," Rory said. "I was upset with Snape and called him 'a salty bitch' to his face in a room full of Slytherins. We just don't care."

Remus and Sirius were silent for a moment.

"I can think of a few counterarguments, but mostly she's right," Sirius said.

"Annoyingly so," Remus said. "I have to get going."

"Yes, of course," Rory said. She walked away from Tonks and hugged her dad tightly. "Be safe. Take care of yourself."

"I do my best always," he said. "But I'll be going back to the flat. I want you to try and sleep. Please. The Weasleys and Hermione will be here in the morning to keep you company until I get back."

Rory sighed. "All right." There was no point in arguing. She was sure he'd only come back to Lyall's house this morning was because he couldn't argue with his own father. "But get back here as soon as you're able. You know how I worry."

"Of course," Remus said. He kissed the top of her head. "Give them as much trouble as you want."

"Will do," Rory said. "Love you, Dad."

"Love you too," he said. He waved goodbye to the others and walked from the house.

"I completely forgot that I was supposed to be irritated with him after that wholesome display of fathering," Tonks said.

"He is a very good dad," Rory said. "Probably the best."

"Won't find me arguing with that," Sirius said. "You'd be a little shit if I raised you on my own. Probably for the best that I'm getting to know you now that you're your own person."

"Dad might argue that I'm a little shit regardless," Rory said. "And speaking of being a shit-."

"You have run out your profanity allowance for the day," Sirius said.

Rory rolled her eyes. "You've had a whole house to live in all this time and you've just been letting yourself live on the streets this whole time?"

Sirius sighed. "Let me show you something." He led her from the dining room and through to the drawing-room. On the wall, there was a large tapestry. At its top, it read "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black." Beneath it was the Black Family Tree.

Rory's eyes scanned the tree. She found Walburga Black.

"Whoa, she married her cousin? Like, her first cousin?" Rory asked. She looked to Sirius. "Were you born with webbed fingers?"

"How did you—"

"It's a common birth defect in children who are closely related," Rory said. "Did I have webbed fingers?"

"No, you were practically perfect in every way," Sirius said.

"Like Mary Poppins," Tonks said.

"Who?" Sirius asked.

"No one," Rory said. She looked down at the names beneath. Regulus Black, her uncle, Sirius's brother. But Sirius' name was not next to it. Instead, there was a large burn mark. "Your name is gone."

"Yep," Sirius said. Beside Walburga were her brother, Cygnus, and his children. Rory recognized one of his children immediately.

"Bellatrix Lestrange?" Rory asked. "She tortured Neville's parents. They're in St. Mungos."

"You know the Longbottom's little boy?" Tonks asked.

"Neville's like my brother. Has been since first year," Rory said. Then she saw another name. "Narcissa Malfoy? Draco Malfoy is my first cousin once removed? That's disgusting, but also, I can probably use the fact that we're related to my advantage. Won't like people knowing we're so closely related."

"How could anyone not like you?" Tonks asked.

"My dad is a werewolf. Kids were howling at me when I got onto the train last year. And then they found out my other dad was a 'serial killer.' And my boyfriend is Harry Potter and everyone thinks he's crazy," Rory said. "Before that, I was just 'weird' I guess. People used to ask who was more annoying, me or Hermione."

"Hermione is one of Harry's best friends," Sirius said.

"And my roommate," Rory said. "She's the whole reason Harry and I ended up getting together honestly." She felt her cheeks blush.

"Good on her," Sirius said.

Rory pointed to the burn mark between Narcissa and Bellatrix. "Who's this?"

"My mum," Tonks said. "My dad is muggleborn which was unacceptable to your grandmother."

"Your mum married a muggleborn and wiped her off the family tree?" Rory asked. She looked to Sirius. "What did you do?"

"I was Gryffindor. I wouldn't tolerate her bigotry. Then I ran away before my sixth year and that was the straw that broke the camel's back," Sirius said.

"Where did you go?" Rory asked.

"I stayed with Harry's dad," he replied.

"Ah," Rory said simply. "So that explains it. You and Harry's dad have been planning this since you were 16 then."

Sirius chuckled. "No worries, Aurora. I know you are very much your own person. I think Harry is a little bit afraid of you."

"As he should be," Rory said.

"How long have you two been together?" Tonks asked.

"Since the 22nd of November," Rory replied.

Sirius paused. "Wasn't that around when I talked to you? And you said he'd asked you out, but it wasn't anything."

"And it was true when I told you that," Rory said.

"So what happened?" Sirius asked.

Rory pretended to examine the tapestry closely. Her fingers ran over the spot where Sirius was supposed to be.

"And then you left and he asked if he could kiss me and I said okay," Rory said.

"Aww," Tonks cooed. "No boy has ever asked if he could kiss me. They were all assholes apparently."

"Harry is pretty great," Rory said. Harry was more than great. He was perfect. The way he kissed her was perfect. The way he held her was perfect. The way he talked to her and held her hand. Everything was perfect. She didn't feel like he could be real sometimes because he was everything and more than she'd ever wished for.

And she missed him desperately. They were supposed to go out for their birthdays. To see a movie or get a coffee or have dinner together somewhere the floors were sticky and they served chips with every entrée. But now Voldemort was back and trying to kill him. He couldn't go gallivanting around in public, could he? He certainly couldn't take her on a date.

"But as I was saying," Sirius continued on, "I stayed with James and when I graduated I got a place with your mum."

"And after you got out of Azkaban and came back into the country, why didn't you just come back here?" Rory asked.

"That loud portrait in the hallway that was shouting at you about being a 'stain of dishonor?'" Sirius asked. Rory nodded. "My mother. Delightful woman, isn't she?"

Rory frowned. "I knew you said she was the worst, but I didn't think she was 'curse my own grandchild from beyond the grave' worst."

"She did while you were alive as well. Once news of your existence got round to her, she took the time out to write me a letter about how you're never going to amount to anything," Sirius said.

"Wow," Rory said. "I know you're not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but what a bitch."

"That's being polite about it," Sirius said. "I don't have any good memories here. But it was sitting here empty, it's got about a million other protections on it outside of the fidelius charm. Plus, I know it would make my mother absolutely roll in her grave knowing that an organization dedicated to the downfall of Voldemort has taken up residence here."


Rory had dinner with Sirius and Tonks. Afterward, Sirius showed her to her room where her dad had already brought her things. She was exhausted, but she was still afraid to sleep. Afraid of the nightmares.

She tried to read herself to sleep but was unsuccessful. After two hours of worrying about nightmares, her dad, and making no headway on sleep, she climbed out of bed and decided maybe a glass of water would help her.

Rory was surprised to see the light on when she walked into the kitchen. Sirius was standing at the stove pouring milk into a pot. He looked over to her and smiled.

"Remus wasn't kidding about that newfound insomnia," Sirius said.

Rory shrugged. "Doesn't help that I never sleep well when the moon's full. I used to sit up all night and wait for him to get home. When I was really little I used to stay with my grandpa during the full moon. He said that to this day he still doesn't sleep well."

"I know you were with him yesterday, but do you see much of Lyall?" Sirius asked.

"Not as much since I started school and can look after myself," Rory said. "Dad says he doesn't like to trouble him. Dad is great at most things, but accepting help is not one of them."

"Not much has changed, I see," he said, motioning for her to sit. Rory took a seat at the table and Sirius pulled out a second mug to go with the one sitting on the table. "Here, I'll make you my special, fancy tea."

Rory cocked an eyebrow at him. "Chamomile, honey, and milk?"

Sirius turned to her from the stove. "Don't tell me Remus made you fancy tea?"

"He did. He told me it was a special potion that one of his friends used to drink to help him sleep when he was a child," Rory said.

Sirius chuckled. "Sneaky one, your dad."

"I think he tried very hard to make sure I grew up knowing little pieces of you," Rory said.

"If you're about to go on another gush fest about him, I don't think I can handle it," Sirius teased. Rory chuckled. "Did you know I had no idea he took you in until I got to Hogwarts?"

"Really?" Rory asked.

"Yep," he said, stirring the pot on the stove. "I knew where to look for Harry. Lily had told us all about her sister. But my mother wanted nothing to do with you. I went around Andromeda's to see if you'd landed there. I thought you might've ended up with Theo's brother, Levi, but no one's heard a word from him since he ran off with some girl after you were born…" He sighed.

"What do you think happened to my mum?" Rory asked.

Sirius shook his head. "I wish I knew, Aurora. I don't know that she really wanted to be a mum. She was always adamant that you were going to be her only child, and I didn't mind. But those last few weeks before she disappeared she… She didn't want to hold you or play with you. I left to see James and Lily, that night obviously. It wasn't until they were all asking me what happened to her that I even knew she was gone."

Rory nodded. "Well… If I've learned anything this last year, everything happens for a reason… Not always a good reason though. At the very least things worked out all right for me."

"I'm glad you feel that way," Sirius said. He went to the cupboard and grabbed the tea, dropping the bags into their cups. He poured milk into their cups and squeezed a bit of honey into each. Rory stirred her mug, waiting for the tea to steep in the milk. "You really have grown to be more remarkable than I ever imagined."

"Dad keeps telling me that as well," Rory said.

"Because he's right," he said. "I'm going to be grateful to him forever for raising you."

"Me too," Rory said. "Sounds like your mum would've been the only alternative and she does not sound like a fun time. I'd be racist and hate my boyfriend. Might still like Mattie though."

"Even though she's a Gryffindor?" Sirius asked.

"Her dad is Pike Cerbus," Rory said.

"Holy shit," he replied.

"Matilda is very pretty and charismatic so people easily ignored her father's, you know, gruesome murders," Rory said. "Everyone was so weirded out by her dad first year, no one wanted to talk to her. And Neville was so awkward no one hung out with him either. And I was… Well, everyone was annoyed by Hermione and I was so worried about people finding me annoying too that I just kind of… Gravitated to the two people who wouldn't draw attention."

"And now they mention you in the papers," Sirius said. He took a seat beside her.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Mostly I wish they wouldn't talk about dad, at least by name. As if his life isn't difficult enough already." She took another drink from her mug. "Can I tell you something I've never told Dad?"

"Of course," Sirius replied.

"When I was 12 or 13, I was always afraid that he wouldn't come back when he left. He always talked about how he wished he could do this for me or that for me. Always wanted me to be better off than I was. And I get it. But when I was little, I just always thought that I wanted my dad to not work so much, to not be so tired, to just have more time to be my dad. Just being my dad was always enough for me. And I feel like he keeps thinking someone else could've done it better," Rory said.

Rory wiped tears from her eyes.

"Sorry," she said. "I just-."

"You love your dad," he said with a nod. "And I promise he's not going to leave you. Not ever. That's not the kind of person he is. And he would never do something that would hurt you so badly."

Rory emptied her mug, feeling the velvety warmth of the milk and tea lulling her to sleep already.

"Think I'll try and get some sleep now," she said. "Thank you for the 'fancy tea.' And the chat."

"Any time," he said and Rory knew that he meant it sincerely.

She hugged him, tightly and he kissed the top of Rory's head. For the first time, she felt their connection. She felt that he was her dad and that she was his daughter. It didn't detract at all towards her feelings for her actual dad, Remus, who'd raised and bathed and cared for her for 14 years. He would always be her dad. Sirius was just like a second parent. He was a second parent.