Chapter Twelve

Sirius sat in the bright sun room at Lily's house and smiled. He was surrounded by fabulous views, wonderful decorating and enough flowers to open a shop but all he was interested in was the tiny bundle in his arms.

"You know Lily isn't going to drown her." Nikka laughed, wincing slightly as she moved, "You could have let her go and bathe her in the kitchen."

"I'm not sure I approve of her being washing in the sink." Sirius said, not taking his eyes from his new born daughter.

"You used to wash Harry and Danica in the sink all the time." Lily laughed, handing the fresh cup of tea to Nikka, "Now give me the baby. Nikka need to try and feed again."

Sirius reluctantly handed the baby back to her mother and sat down next to the bed.

Nikka lowered the neckline of her nightgown and tried to encourage the baby to latch, "I just can't seem to get her interested." she sighed.

Lily smoothed her hair, "Don't worry about it. It can take a while and to be honest, there are always bottles."

"Be easier when we get home." Nikka said, relaxing back against the pillows, "Not that I'm not really grateful that you let me have her here." she said quickly.

Lily waved a hand dismissively, "I know what you mean. There's nothing as good as your own bed. I'm just happy to help."

Nikka smiled at her friend, she was truly very grateful. Lily had jumped into action when Nikka had said she wasn't sure where she wanted to give birth, suggesting they have a few options set up so that Nikka could choose when the time came.

As it happened the roomy, airy conservatory at Lily's was were they were when Nikka's labour had started and quickly progressed, even if Sirius had forgotten the baby bag and had had to nip home for it.

"Knock knock." Harry said, poking his head round the door, "Can I come in?"

Lily looked to Nikka who nodded and smiled.

Harry grinned, closing the door softly behind him, "Dad told me you were up here and all finished. He also told me not to disturb you but I ignored that part."

Sirius snorted a laugh and pulled Harry into a hug, "This is your little… umm… god-sister?"

"I don't think that's a real title." Lily laughed.

"I'm taking it!" Harry said, poking his tongue out at his mother, "She's beautiful."

"Thank you." Nikka smiled, stroking the fine down of hair on her baby's head, "We're going to write and send pictures to my family up in Scotland this evening, and send one to Danica, announcing the birth."

"She's going to be made up." Harry grinned, "When are you guys heading home?"

"When your mum kicks us out?" Sirius smirked.

"Well, considering we lived with you for over fifteen years I think you can stay a while should you choose." Lily pointed out, rolling her eyes, "Right now, Nikka needs to rest. You can come and visit again later."

Harry nodded, stroking the baby's hair and blowing her a kiss as he left the room.

The next morning, Sirius and Nikka arrived on the doorstep of Grimmauld Place, the baby carefully tucked in Nikka's arms.

No sooner had they arrived than Kreacher threw open the door, beaming.

"Master has returns." Kreacher grinned, giving them a low bow that almost made his nose touch the floor, "And with the child."

Nikka and Sirius came in, stripping off their coats and boots, before heading towards the living room.

"May Kreacher sees the child?" Kreacher asked, smoothing the front of his pillowcase.

"Of course." Nikka smiled, crouching down so that Kreacher could see the baby.

She was snuggled in a purple, fluffy baby grow with a matching hat and a soft, pink blanket. He reached out a long, gnarled finger that the baby grabbed hold of, moving it over her face in her sleep.

"Child is perfect." Kreacher said softly, a tear dripping down onto her from his long nose.

"I wish to see the child." a loud, commanding voice echoed down towards them, "Bring her here."

Sirius's face turned stony, as he glared down at Kreacher, "What on earth is my mother's picture doing uncovered?"

Kreacher looked guiltily at the floor, "Mistress heard me singings, I was cleanings and she heard me sing about the coming baby."

"That doesn't really explain why she's uncovered Kreacher." Nikka said, slightly more calmly than Sirius.

"Mistress wants to see grandchild." Kreacher whispered.

"For goodness sakes, bring her over here Sirius." Walburga snapped, "You never could do what you were told. Head as empty as the sky."

Sirius glared up the stairs at her picture, "Fu…"

"Let's just show her." Nikka said calmly, worried that Kreacher was going to burst into tears, "She's literally stuck there, she can't hurt the baby."

Sirius grumbled but nodded, placing a hand at Nikka's back as she walked slowly up the stairs to the landing.

Nikka pulled the blanket away from her daughter's face, holding her up to that Walburga could see. Both Sirius and Nikka noticed the harsh woman's face soften slightly.

"I never thought I'd have the chance to be a grandmother." Walburga said gently, "It's a girl?"

"Yes." Sirius said tightly.

Walburga sighed and nodded, "Well, as long as you are both healthy. Boys will come along in their own time. She is rather beautiful."

"Thank you." Nikka said, "We certainly think so."

"I had both Sirius and his brother right here, in the house." Walburga told them, "Difficult labours for them both… I hope she didn't give you too much trouble."

"She didn't." Nikka said, "No more than is to be expected anyway."

Walburga sighed, smiling slightly at the baby, "Put cabbage leaves, cold from the larder, in your brassier. It'll help bring in your milk."

"Currently looking more like we're going to bottle feed." Sirius informed his mother, earning him the expected, disapproving look.

"I see." Walburga said tightly, "Don't name her after me."

"We weren't planning on it!" Sirius snapped.

His mother nodded, "Very good… you… you are not the son I hoped you would be."

"I am aware." Sirius hissed.

"However, I am… I am pleased you have found a good lady to be by your side and that you are continuing the ancient and most noble house of Black." his mother informed them, "And she is rather perfect. I am going to leave."

"What?" Sirius asked, confused by the change in tone from his mother.

"I am going to leave." Walburga repeated, "I have spent far more years being covered up, stuck here watching as all sorts have traipsed through my house. It is clear there is no place for me here any more."

"I wish I could disagree." Sirius said bitterly.

"I know, as do I. But let us be frank with one another." Walburga said clearly, "You were a disappointment to me as a son… as I was a disappointment to you as a mother. Me haunting you from an old, yellow portrait isn't going to to change that. You are a father now, do not make the same mistakes that I did."

"Where will you go?" Nikka asked softly.

"I have other pictures." Walburga said dismissively, "There is a rather lovely spring scene hanging in the Victoria and Albert museum that I can visit. Besides, this is your home now… I… Good bye."

"Good bye mother." Sirius said softly.

"Would you… would you tell me the child's name before I go?" Walburga asked, "I shan't return, so I doubt that we will see one another again. I would like to know the name of my first grandchild."

"Dora." Nikka told her, "After my friend."

"Dora Miranda Sofia Elizabeth Black." Sirius said proudly.

"A fine name." Walburga smiled, "Goodbye Dora…"

Sirius and Nikka watched as she walked out of the frame, the picture slowly faded to white, before the now blank canvas and frame faded into the wall, leaving nothing but a square of wallpaper that hadn't been faded by the sun.

"Danica… you have a letter." Emily pointed out, waving the envelope in front of Danica's face.

Danica grinned, turning her attention from her Transfiguration homework that was due in in less than an hour.

Beatrice rolled her eyes, "I told you you should have gotten that done last night."

"I know." Danica grumbled, "But I got distracted."

"You've been distracted from your breakfast as well." Daniel grinned, "Your toast is cold."

"Botheration." Danica sighed, ripping open the letter.

"Well? Exciting news from far off lands?" Emily asked.

Danica grinned and shook her head, "Not quite, exciting news from home. My uncle and his girlfriend have had their baby!"

Danica's news was met with a ripple of congratulations and cooing from her friends.

"Lady Nikka DeGere and Mr Sirius Black welcomed the arrival of their first child, a daughter, on the twenty seventh of September, 2000." Danica said in a posh voice, reading out the official birth announcement, "The child is to be name Dora Miranda Sofia Elizabeth Black, and weighed seven pounds one ounce at birth. Mother and child are both doing well."

"That's such a pretty name." Beatrice said.

"There's a picture as well." Danica said, showing the little picture of Dora, tucked in her cot and breathing softly.

Daniel sighed, "She looks so cute! Like a little doll!"

Danica nodded and grinned, "I can't wait to meet her."

"You never know, you might be able to excuse getting out of your homework for your exciting news." Emily laughed.

Danica rolled her eyes, "I doubt it." there was another letter tucked in the envelope which she forced herself to ignore or she really would never get her homework done.

She needn't have worried about her homework, Professor Stewart was rather more forgiving in her marking that Professor McGonagall had been and was perfectly happy with Danica's work, even though it did have a small jam and butter stain in the corner.

Danica curled up in her favourite armchair by the fire in the Hufflepuff Common room to finally read the rest of her letter.

'Dearest Danica,

We both hope you are well and are enjoying your time at school, not to mention we of course are both looking forward to seeing you soon. As the birth announcement said, both Dora and I are doing well. Your mother was on hand to help me through the labour and it was a great comfort to know your father, and his potions, were just downstairs should anything have gone wrong.

My parents and brothers are hoping to visit in the coming weeks, and we're planning on having a naming over Christmas time, so you can be home. I think with the amount of weddings coming up Professor McGonagall may get annoyed at your frequent absence if we aren't careful.

Dora is a delight, I think you are going to love her. She hardly ever cries and smiles all the time, although mummy did say that was probably just gas at such a young age, , however, choose to believe she is just a genius.

Sirius's mother has left her painting, in fact she has left the house. The painting isn't even on the landing, it just sort of… melted into the wall. It was all very strange. Sirius had a good cry afterwards. You know as well as I do that it wasn't exactly a love filled relationship but he seemed rather sad to have lost her.

H e got Kreacher to place the family tapestry up there on the landing, for all to see. Dora is already on there, lovingly embroidered by Kreacher. It looks really grand up there, one of the first things you see when you walk in the house now.

I really can't wait to see you and I hope you're enjoying yourself!

All my love

Nikka.

P.S. Have you found the secret entrance from the Hufflepuff Common room into the kitchens? Second brick on the right of the star covered sky picture.

Danica grinned, skipping up the stairs to store her letter away in her trunk before thinking it would be an excellent time for some cream buns, as well as perfect occasion to test out Nikka's info about the secret passage way.