Dear Saiph,
I hope this letter has reached you well.
This letter contains some private information so make sure no
one is around when you read it. C has recently contacted me and has
asked me to send word to you that you are needed at camp. I have sent
Confirmation about this to Dumbledoor already and will pick
you up in Hogsmeade on December 9th, I will go into more detail
when we meet in person in case someone intercepts this letter.
With Love,
R.A.B.
On the morning of December 7th, 2007, Saiph received her first-ever letter from her father Regulus Black. Half of it may not have made much sense to her but she was still happy to have it. The Professors had been pelting her to the bone with Homework and assignments for a couple of weeks now in preparation for the mid-year exams. The exams themselves would not be happening until early February but it didn't hurt to be prepared. At least, that's what the professors thought. Saiph completely disagreed and hoped that this trip with her dad would excuse her from any and all assigned holiday work.
The letter itself was mostly gibberish to Saiph, who was C and why did he need her at camp and why did all of this have to be kept private. There was also the fact that this 'camp' had now come up more than once and was therefore of at least some importance to her. She would just have to find out. Saiph, despite never actually meeting her father (technically) still trusted him. What kind of parent would put their child deliberately in danger? Scratch that. Saiph could think of many parents fictional or not that would do that.
On a more positive note, Saiph had seen Scruffy again not one week ago and now they could meet again. Well if her dad allowed her anyway, they might be on a tight schedule but Saiph had puppy eyes for a reason.
Two days later Saiph was packing her bags ready for her trip when she heard the door shut behind her. "Hey Pansy," she softly said, concentrating on the ladder attachment that broke in her bag. She would've used magic but she hadn't thought of it in the moment, still used to her life as a muggle in her OR. "Whatcha need, or were you just coming to say goodbye, I-" She was cut off by Pansy's frowning face and stopped what she was previously doing. "What's wrong Pans, you gonna miss me that much huh?" Saiph teased, patting the bed beside her. Pansy sat down almost on instinct but was still rigid. Then, she mumbled something.
"Sorry? Speak up, mumbler," Saiph said playfully, still grinning from the news of an early holiday she has yet to pack for.
Pansy sighed and looked into her eyes, that's when Saiph knew it was serious. She frowned and stared back into Pansy's dark eyes. "You never apologised to Draco did you," It was said more like a statement than a question.
"No, why?" Saiph asked, confused, to her knowledge Pansy had been just as accepting of the situation as Daphne and Theo.
"You know how I feel about him and since you broke his arm he won't talk to me, So please apologise to him. Then we can all be friends again." Pansy pleaded.
A contemplative silence settled over the room.
"I'm sorry. I can't do that," Saiph avoided eye contact as she said this. "I admit I don't have the moral high ground when it comes to what I did to him but… I will not apologise for trying to defend the life of an innocent animal. If it had just been about the arm, then, believe me, I would… but it's not just that." Saiph hated to disappoint her friends at any time but when it came to her morals and the ethics of the situation, she would abide by her beliefs no matter what.
The emerald-eyed girl didn't have to look at Pansy to tell she was disappointed so she instead proposed a compromise. "How about if you can convince him to get his dad to call off the execution then I will apologise and everything will be right as rain. Sounds good?" It did sound good but Pansy knew her limits and convincing Draco to do something he didn't want to was not on her list of capabilities.
"I wish that could happen, but you know Draco, Saiph. You know no matter what I say once he puts his mind to something he won't stop." Pansy paused as if debating her next words very carefully. Pansy knew the prospect of Saiph apologising was basically impossible at this point, but she was a teenager and her hormones still controlled a large portion of her decisions. So, she lifted her head with determination in her eyes and said in a snotty voice, "Either you apologise to Draco or I don't think we can be friends anymore. My parents already don't like you and you getting in the way of our relationship is ruining our future betrothal–"
"What about your betrothal! Gods! Pansy, grow up and stop being a brat, this weird wizarding ritual of yours is archaic and if you're really going to let it ruin our friendship then I don't even want to be friends. In fact, I wish I never met you." Saiph yelled.
Pansy eyes watered as she stayed silent, then slowly, she got up and walked stiffly to the door never once turning back. Saiph, now calmed down from her sudden moment of rage was now spiralling, her guilt and pride mixing to make a horrifying soup in her stomach. "Wait–" She said weakly before being cut off by the slamming of the door.
The green-eyed girl scrunched her hands into her hair and pulled before falling back onto the bed. "Stupid, stupid stupid," she gritted out, hot tears of confliction welling in her eyes. There it was again, her stupid temper, it had always been a problem for her even before she shifted. She was always getting mad at the little things, small repeated noises, people using her things, and shallow teenage comments.
Saiph felt silly for crying, after all, she was the one that lost her temper, right?
After a few minutes more of guilt-ridden thoughts and self insults Saiph had to pack for her trip. Her father was due to arrive at 3 and it was now 1:30. For the next hour and a half the young girl sped around the room packing the essentials and non-essentials into her suitcase. Finally, it was time to go.
Regulus Black was not at all what Saiph had imagined while reading the books. In the books, the man had died when he was eighteen and wasn't mentioned much beyond that. Sure, Saiph had known he was handsome from her memories but that didn't even come close to the real thing.
Regulus was a tall man with a lean figure and curly black hair. His cheek and jawbones looked sculptured by the gods to perfection. His eyes were a sterling grey colour that reflected the light. He wore a black suit with an emerald tie and a solid expression. Despite all this, he felt like home. A welcomed feeling after the stressful day Saiph had had.
"Bonjour, Papa," Saiph said sheepishly when she approached. The girl swore she saw his face light up when he saw her, a warm smile spreading across his lips. Though she had never seen it personally, Saiph got the feeling he only acted like this when she was around. He was her dad and she loved him but he was also a former high-ranking death eater and you don't get a job like that for no reason.
Regulus pulled her into a warm hug once she got close enough that smelled of sandalwood and expensive cologne. Versace if she remembered correctly, with some complicated French name to go along with it. The Black family, like most Pureblood families, had a special love for France, resulting in holidays every second year and an extensive knowledge of the French language.
"Comment ça va? Tu vas bien ma petite étoile?" Her father asked.
"Oui, ça va très bien, merci papa. Et toi?"
"Ça va bien, merci. There was not a day spent not missing you little star, I hope Hogwarts has been treating you well,"
"It has been good Papa, well apart from the mass murderer on the loose– but enough about that, there is someone I need to check on before we leave," her father looked unsure, Saiph could see the unease in his eyes from the subtle mention of her estranged uncle. "promise it will be quick," Saiph added swiftly as an attempt to soothe his doubts, throwing in the famous puppy eyes for good measure.
Regulus nodded his head slowly, all caution seemingly gone once the puppy eyes were deployed. Works every time. Saiph grinned and grabbed her father's hand before speeding towards the shrieking shack. Hogsmeade was buzzing with activity today making the streets crowded, still, Saiph weaved through the crowd with ease, practically dragging her father behind her.
"C'mon you're gonna love him," Saiph yelled over the noise of the crowd. That was a lie, Regulus held a very strong dislike for dogs, especially large black ones. One could even say he loathed them.
"Him!" Regulus sounded alarmed but Saiph ignored him in favour of trudging around to the back of the Shrieking shack where she had last seen Scruffy with his pile of food and blanket. Thankfully he was already there, resting on the now slightly dirtied blanket.
"Papa meet Scruffy. Scruffy meet my Papa, Regulus Black," Now if she was talking to a human Saiph would have never had introduced her papa as her papa, let alone Regulus Black. They had decided a long time ago that it was best if everyone thought he was dead and that Sirius Black was her father. It was safer that way. Usually, Regulus was introduced as her adoptive parent, some random wizard from America that had taken pity on a poor orphaned baby.
From the moment the two locked eyes they seemed to be transported into an unbreakable trance. The world went silent and all movement around them seemed to stop. For a moment it was only the two of them laughing and chasing each other around the halls of the dark house they called home. Then, just as quickly as the memories came they were gone again.
If Saiph had noticed this pause in time she certainly didn't say anything about it. Too caught up in petting the fluffy black dog, none the wiser of who he really was. Regulus had faith he wouldn't hurt her, he just hoped that that faith wasn't misplaced.
Regulus recognised the look his daughter was giving him, the one that said 'be nice'. It was a look she gave him a lot. Hesitantly, Regulus lifted his hand "Hello," he said, clearing his throat immediately after and receiving a curt bark in return. That was it, the unspoken agreement. They would ignore it until the time was right and that time was not now.
Just like that things were back to normal.
"Scruffy, you've hardly touched your food, do you not like it? Oh but you've eaten your steak, should I buy you more of those," a bark of confirmation was all Saiph needed to send her father back down to the village to collect more food.
Saiph knew something was wrong, the way her father acted around the dog seemed almost forced. Like he was trying his hardest not to show his real emotions. When Regulus returned with the food, it was time to go.
The father and daughter were now standing arm in arm apprating to the ministry of magic. For international travel they would need a portkey, of which could only be procured at the ministry.
There seemed to be an abundance of ex-death eaters working at the ministry as of late, of which around ¾ would recognise Regulus Black. Now the only issue was avoiding them. The lady at the Department of Magical Transportation was nice and set them up right away with an old number plate that looked as if it had been run over more than a few times.
On the 23rd floor of the ministry, there was a large space set up specifically for portkeys that was constantly flooded with high-ranking ministry members. Unfortunately for them today was the day a large party was coming in from Bulgaria and France. In accompaniment was Lucius Malfoy.
Saiph had only met the Malfoy Patriarch a couple of times, all were at Kings Cross Station when he was dropping off or picking up his son. With her luck that was all she needed to catch his eye.
"Ah, if it isn't the little Black spawn. Have you seen your father lately by any chance? I would love to be the one to bring him in." Drawled Lucius Malfoy much like his son.
"Yes," Saiph replies confidently, "he's standing right behind me, but if you meant Sirius Black, I share no relation with that criminal." It hurt to say but she had to keep up appearances.
Lucius looked to the man behind her, a flash of recognition in his eyes, perhaps it was a good idea to use the disillusionment charm but it was too late now. "Yes, the American wizard who took pity on a poor crying child. Say, have we met before? You look familiar." Malfoy said with a grimace.
Saiph sent a harsh glare in his direction, Malfoy may have been married to her nicest cousin but that didn't stop him from being a right prick. It had rubbed off on his son too.
"No," Regulus stated firmly, leaving no room for argument. He needed this conversation to be finished as soon as possible. "You may have seen me at MACUSA as it is my place of work but I can not imagine you've seen me anywhere else."
"Now we must be going. Our portkey is set to leave…." Regulus looked at his watch. "Ah, now. It was lovely to meet you, Lucius, do come by my office at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, MACUSA, Reginald Gray, if you want to have a chat. My door is always open." All of them knew Malfoy would never take up the deal. To make themselves less suspicious they had to hide in plain sight, even if that meant exchanging pleasantries with stuck up English purebloods.
In America, there wasn't an obvious hierarchy based on blood. They simply felt no need to discriminate in an already low population. Regulus from his many years in the land of the free had adapted to this mindset.
Using a portkey felt, much like the books described, a hook pulling you somewhere at the back of your navel to your location. The feeling was sickening, Saiph closed her eyes to avoid seeing her breakfast once more. When she opened them again she was in a large modern apartment styled with greens, blacks, and greys.
Home.