The hall watched as the screen switched to 1991.
A young girl runs down the stairs. She swerves into the kitchen, and stands in shock. "Aunty Dorcas!" she shouts, hugging the older woman, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to pick the twins up," Dorcas Meadowes, in all her glory, says. "I also made you breakfast Iola."
"My girl looks so grown up Siri," Lydia sobs to Sirius, "and I didn't even get to watch her grow!"
"I know Lyds, I know," Sirius tried soothing her, but there was nothing he could do. The young girl beside him would have to watch her daughter grow up without her. All he could do was sit with her, and watch alongside her.
"Thanks Aunty," Iola replies, digging in, "you know aunty, you never told me what your job actually is."
"That's classified information Iola," Dorcas replies, and edge to her voice now.
"Really," Iola's eyes gleamed, she had hit her mark, "there's only one job that is classified in this world. I've got you caught Unspeakable Meadowes."
"I'm an Unspeakable?!" Dorcas Meadowes perks up from the Ravenclaw table, "I can't even believe it."
"Congrats!" "Good work!" "Of course our Dorcas would be an Unspeakable." All sorts of praises were given to the overwhelmed Ravenclaw witch.
"Our little Star is certainly clever," Euphemia whispered to her husband, "she knew exactly how to trip Ms. Meadowes up."
"I agree Effie," Fleamont said endearingly to his wife, "but she didn't get that from Lyddie. And she is certainly not Sirius's daughter. So who taught her such skills?"
"I wonder as well," Euphemia smiled at her husband, "although I'm sure we'll find out."
"Great going Meadowes," Dorcas mumbled to herself, "keeping this secret ended your marriage, and now an 11 year old knows."
"I got married?" Dorcas asks surprised, "and seemingly divorced?!"
"It seems so Dorcas," Hestia Jones calls to her friend from the Hufflepuff table, "who would've thought?"
Lydia Potter felt Sirius tense under her. This whole experience was jarring to her. She wasn't too surprised she'd died. She was always too reckless, too cocky for her own good. But bringing a Dark Lord down with her? That's what surprised her. She knew she was one of the smartest witches to ever attend Hogwarts, but in all her bravado she never thought she was that good.
"If it makes you feel any better," Iola says softly, "Uncle Reggie told me to do that. Said it would work wonders."
"Curse you Regulus Arcturus Black," Dorcas thundered, "I'll get that smug little brat at the next family gathering."
"I'm involved in this," Regulus Black was surprised. He thought any chance he had left with his brother was gone. Sirius believed in mudbloods and blood traitors, had a child with one even. Regulus on the other hand, believed purebloods were superior. So what changed about Sirius that he would allow his brother into his daughter's life. So involved, in fact, that she gave him a nickname. What could possibly have changed? He would have to observe very carefully.
"I guess so little brother," Sirius said mockingly, "finally decided those stuffy purebloods weren't good enough?"
Regulus was about to answer, but the screen started moving again, and a boy and a girl ran on.
"Mummy!" they shouted, and Dorcas leveled a look at them.
"Do you have your bags, dears?" she asked them.
"Of course we do Mummy," the girl said enthusiastically, "we already said goodbye to Daddy."
"Alright Callie, Benjy, say goodbye to Iola," Dorcas said as she began leaving.
"Bye Anthe," Callie squealed, hugging Iola, "come on Benjy, we're going to be late."
"Coming Callie," Benjy said, still hugging Iola tight, "gonna miss you Anthe."
"And I'll miss you too," Iola said cheerily, "tell Neville hello if you see him."
"Okay!" the twins shouted, leaving Iola alone in the kitchen.
"I have children!" Dorcas shouted, her face one of shock.
"Guess so Dorcas," Pandora Fawley smiled at her friend, "and very cute children at that."
"I wonder who the father is," Dorcas wondered aloud, not noticing the smirking faces of certain individuals who figured it out.
"Why were the twins calling Iola, Anthe?" Alice Longbottom asked softly, barely heard over the people's speculations over Dorcas Meadowes's baby daddy.
"Her full name is likely Iolanthe," Fleamont said, a certain detectable glee in his voice, "she's an ancestress of the Potter family. Lyddie probably named her daughter after her.
"Morning Iola," a deep voice greeted the young girl, "Did Benjy and Callie leave yet?" 32 year old Sirius Black walked through the door.
"Yes Daddy," Iola bounced out of her seat to hug her father, "Aunty Dorcas picked them up a few minutes ago."
"Still believe you aren't the father Black?" Severus Snape sneered at his enemy. He was thrilled that Lydia Potter had died. Half the source of his misery was finally gone from his life.
"When you raise a child, regardless of biology, is it wrong to be called dad?" Sirius said calmly, "Iola must consider me her father, despite not being her father biologically."
"You really are a fool brother," Regulus mocked his brother, "the child looks a jarring amount like you. How can she not be of your blood?"
"It must have worked Daddy!" Lydia Potter suddenly tugged on her father's ear, "there's no other way to explain it."
"Of course my beautiful heart," Fleamont said, holding his daughter's arm, "you're too brilliant to fail." Sirius was confused about what the two were talking about, but turned the other way. Lydia would tell him eventually. They rarely hid anything from each other.
"It's nice to have some peace and quiet," Sirius laughs, "they're my children, but they're a handful. They're definitely carbon copies of me at that age."
Silence filled the hall. Sirius was blushing fiercely from his seat. Lydia was simply laughing at him. "Me and you. We-" Dorcas Meadowes stuttered from the ravenclaw table.
"Three grandchildren," Orion said calmly, "and two from a mudblood. At least the firstborn is a pureblood girl, regardless of her blood traitor family. How sorrowful that there should be half bloods in the House of Black's great dynasty. "
"You take that back!" Sirius Black bellowed, wand pointed at his father, "Dorcas is a talented MUGGLEBORN witch, and Lydia is the sweetest, kindest witch I have ever met in my life. If Dorcas and I were really to have children, those children would be perfect the way they are. And you have no grandchildren. You are not my father. Monty and Mia have three grandchildren. Two from me and one from Lydia."
"Put your wand down Mr. Black!" Professor McGonagall shouted, "you are not to use magic against your father, whether you consider him that or not, Sit down, and allow the film to continue."
"Yes Professor McGonagall," Sirius sheepishly sat down, and the hall was too stunned to add anymore.
"Wait a minute!" Hestia Jones shouted, "didn't the film already establish that Dorcas was divorced?"
"Awkwaaard," Lydia sang in Sirius's ear, laughing at his blushing face. He hadn't even considered that.
"I personally think Benjy's more like Aunty Dorcas," Iola said profoundly.
"I agree my little star," Sirius said softly, "and I also know that this letter certainly doesn't belong to me." Sirius handed a letter to Iola.
Iola opened it, and began reading aloud, "Dear Miss Iolanthe Serene Potter..."
"She got her Hogwarts letter," Lydia breathed softly, "and I wasn't there to see it."
"You named your little girl after me," Sirius gripped Lydia's shoulders, "I love you so much Lyds."
"You too Pads, you too," Lydia laughed wetly, "and of course I kept my promise."
"Why is her last name Potter?" Regulus asked harshly, "shouldn't it be Black?"
"Did you not just see the blow up your father and Sirius had?" Barty Crouch Jr. asked his friend, "he clearly wants nothing to do with them. If I had the option to distance away from the Crouch name, I'd certainly take it."
"Touche," Regulus sighed, appeased. He wished his brother could just come back to their family. Why couldn't he see Regulus needed him to be his brother?
"We're going to Diagon Alley," Sirius said, "get ready for apparation." The two suddenly apparated, and reappeared in Diagon Alley. "Where to first love?" Sirius asked softly.
"Ollivanders," Iola said cheerfully, "it's really the only thing we need to buy. I have the rest of the stuff at home."
"Don't forget uniform," Sirius pointed out, "we'll head to Madam Malkins after. The rest of the house elves will help us gather from around the house."
"Of course Daddy," Iola agreed eagerly, "I'm so excited."
"Me too love," Sirius said, misting up, "your mother would have been bouncing off the roof by now if she was here."
"I definitely would Padfoot," Lydia said, tears all gone. She was a brave girl. She took her time to get over it, but she would move on. Yes she would die, but Siri would be watching her girl. Iola was in the safest hands after hers. She of course wondered where her parents were, but they were old, and were likely already dead by that point. She only hoped that they had gotten to meet her little girl at least once. And Siri's girl and boy. He was as much their son as she was their daughter.
"Good Morning Ms. Potter," Ollivander creeped in, "I have been expecting you. You look just like your mother. Her wand was Sycamore wood, 10 1/2 inches, and a dragonstring core."
"You aren't wrong Mr. Ollivander," Sirius said softly, "Lydia was always very proud of her wand."
"Mr. Potter!" Ollivander said excitedly, "Red Oak, Dragon Heartstring, and 11 inches. Surprisingly unyielding."
"Potter!" Orion shouted, "my son is no filthy Potter! He is a Black, and with a little more discipline, will be proud of his heritage."
"I will never consider myself your son," Sirius thundered, "and if the Potter's will have me, then I will happily take their last name."
"And we would give it to you with joy," Monty said joyfully, "you're as much our son aas Lydia is our daughter."
"Thank you Monty," Sirius said softly, "I'd like that."
"Someone's getting along with the in-laws," Peter Pettigrew said teasingly to his roommate.
"They're not my/his in-laws!" Lydia and Sirius shouted in unison. People continued to sigh, not liking to see the teens in denial.
"Oh," Benjy Fenwick said softly, "I have the same wand wood."
Proceed to a montage of Iola trying to find her wand in the store. Eventually, she lifts a beautiful, light wand, and a glowing light shines off from it. It's nicely done, with a seashell-like design at the edge. Iola watches as the light shines, a silvery reflection coming off her eyes.
"It can't be," a small whisper is heard, but no one can quite tell who said it.
"You Potters like to surprise people don't you?" Ollivander asks mysteriously, "Pear wood, 12 inches, and with a phoenix feather core. Pear would is most often found in popular, kind-hearted people. You will certainly make an impact on our world Ms. Potter."
"Thank you Mr. Ollivander," Iola politely responds, "Daddy, hurry up and pay. I want ice cream!"
"She's certainly our Lyddie's," Fleamont chuckled, "Ice cream first."
The screen shifted, and a completely different scene showed up.