Chapter Three
1999-November
On the morning of her eleventh birthday, Danica woke up and shivered, a cold wind blowing across her skin. It hadn't been half of cold as a wolf.
She knew that her family wouldn't be happy with her for running out in the dead of winter to roam the Malfoy Grounds, but the magic filling the house had been making her fur stand on end. It had seeped from room to room, snaking into every nook and cranny until Danica had felt as though there wasn't any air left.
Remus had felt the same way, and when the shrill squeal of pain from twenty month old Luca echoed down to them Danica had been unable to bare the pain in Remus's answering howl.
Waking up cold and slightly stiff had been a small price to pay under the circumstances.
The memories were slightly blurred as Danica tried to force her mind to remember where Remus had gone. They'd been playing tag and then she was pretty sure that he'd run off towards the oak woods.
First thing first was getting inside.
There was clothing hidden around the grounds for them both, so it didn't take long for Danica to find a shift dress and pull it on over her very tangled black hair.
Butterflies filled her stomach, she was both accelerated and terrified to find what would be waiting for her in Malfoy Manor.
Once the Battle of Hogwarts had finished, and everyone had woken up the next morning, the weight of impending doom lifted from their shoulders, there was nothing left to do but pick up the pieces.
The school was rebuilt. The surviving death eaters were arrested and trials arranged. The injured treated, many being moved to St Mungo's for further care. The death returned to their families to arrange to have them laid to rest.
For Harry and his family, after the shock had worn off, the main priority was doing everything they could to save Sirius.
James had given them a clue, saying they had the resurrection stone that could save Sirius; as he had never died using the stone would be something of a miracle cure.
Using it was dangerous though and there were many other factors that needed to align so they could call Sirius back after over three years lost through the veil. However the time had come, and Danica would either be walking into find her uncle awake, or dead.
The walk back to the Manor took far longer as a human than it had as a wolf, four paws were far more convenient really.
"Missy Danica, your mother had sends us to finds you." an older house elf said, walking out the back kitchen door, pulling off a frayed lace pinny, "Is you well?"
Danica nodded, the breath tight in her throat and every limb feeling heavy with dread, "Did… did it work?" she whispered after a few moments.
The house elf smiled, "Yes Missy Danica. Master Sirius is awakes."
Danica felt the world spin and had to clutch at the wall to stop herself from falling, "I…"
"He is waiting to sees you." the house elf said, "In his room."
Danica nodded and called her thanks to the elf, rushing past her without another thought. She climbed the stairs to the library that had been used as Sirius's bedroom, two at a time, stumbling more than once as she went. The door was open and Danica forced herself to stop, taking several deep breaths to slow her heart rate before walking in.
She knocked almost silently on the door and tiptoed in.
"Don't worry," Lily smiled, holding her hand out to her daughter, "He's still awake."
Danica smiled, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Nikka was snuggled up on the bed next to Sirius, she'd clearly been crying for hours, her face red and blotchy but she looked happy.
"Uncle Sirius…" Danica didn't know what to say.
"Come… here… ki…" Sirius struggled to lift up his arm to gesture her over.
Danica rushed over, almost jumping on him in her eagerness to give him a hug.
"He's very weak still." Andromeda told her softly, "His spirit is back and safe but he's not used his body really in over three years. It'll take time."
"I don't care." Nikka whispered, "I'm just so glad to have you back my love."
"Love… you… too…" Sirius said, tears dripping down his cheeks.
"Lets get some breakfast." Lily said, "And leave Nikka and Sirius to have a little while alone."
Nikka begrudgingly let go of Sirius and left the room. Tonks quickly caught up with her, Luca snuggled in her arms.
"Danica, did Remus come in with you?" Tonks asked.
Danica shook her head, "No I'm sorry. We got separated a couple of hours before dawn."
"We will be having words about you leaving the Manor last night by the way young lady." Severus said, frowning slightly at her.
"Oh Dad, I couldn't stay up last night, it was awful. There was so much magic in the house, it was like we couldn't breath. It burned through our fur…" Danica tried to explain.
Severus pulled his daughter into a hug, smoothing down her hair, "I just worry."
Danica waited until she was sat around the large Malfoy dinner table with a bowl of hot porridge and cream before asking what happened last night.
Lily and Severus look to one another for a moment, wondering if the other thought she was old enough to be told.
"It was a very old spell, rewritten to deal with the veil." Lily told her, "We used the resurrection stone to focus blood magic. Everyone with a blood link to Sirius dropped a small amount of blood onto the resurrection stone, which was placed on Sirius's chest."
Danica frowned slightly, "I don't understand…"
"Neither do I, and I was there." Draco smirked, "That level of magic is just… far beyond the knowledge most of us will ever have. It was powerful though. I could feel myself being pulled, through the cut on my arm, down towards the stone…"
"We heard Luca crying." Danica said, "Did it hurt?"
"The cut did." Narcissa said softly, "But not the magic. It just felt…"
"Weird." Corvus finished for her, "I was really pleased that I could help. I know I've not got a lot of Sirius in me… but…"
"You have as much as I do." Draco said kindly, "You're family, whether you like it or not."
Corvus grinned and nodded.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, until Remus walked in.
He was wearing an ill fitting robe that was far too big and had twigs and leaves in his hair, as well as a large smudge of mud over one cheek.
"Sorry I was so long… I got myself rather lost out in the woods." Remus said breathlessly.
He walked over to Tonks and kissed her fondly before taking Luca in his arms and hugging him tightly.
"He's alright Remus," Tonks assured him, "It was just a little cut."
Remus smiled down at his wife, "I know. It was just… it was difficult last night. It was all worth it though. Sirius is alive again isn't he? I could smell it as I came in."
Tonks let the tears drip down her cheeks, "Yes. He's alive and awake. We did it."
The feeling of happiness didn't leave the Manor for many weeks as Sirius slowly recovered his strength.
It was hard going, forcing his muscles to work again; not to mention having to catch up on the last three years.
"So Harry really died?" Sirius asked again one evening.
He was playing cards with Remus and Lucius, propped up in his bed.
Remus nodded and took a card from the deck, a small frown forming between his eyes as he tried to think of a way to use the rather useless card to his advantage, "Yep. That took some getting used to."
"He's quite fine now though." Lucius said reassuringly, "And he passed his NEWTs with flying colours earlier this year."
"I can't believe they all went back." Sirius laughed.
"Draco said it was about half the year." Lucius said, "Ronald didn't go back, nor did Zabini, any of the Death Eaters' children… apart from Draco naturally."
"And he saw James." Remus said softly.
Sirius smiled, leaning back against the pillows slightly, "I don't want to hurry it along, but it'll be good to see him again one day. From the looks of things Severus got close though."
"Yes." Lucius agreed, "That was a very close call. Young Miss Parkinson saved him but only just and… well, you've seen the scars that were the price."
Sirius nodded, "It feels strange to have gone to sleep in the middle of it all and woken up with it all over. Danica, Harry… they've both grown so much."
"Nikka hasn't changed much though." Remus said, giving his old friend a slightly dirty smile.
Sirius grinned, "No… no she hasn't. Although she's been left with a few scars as well. Mostly from that gods awful night at the Ministry she says."
Remus snorted a laugh, "Now since they are all under her clothes when she's dressed, how would you know how bad her scars are."
"Your go Lucius." Sirius said, trying to maintain a straight face, "In truth I'm surprised she waited for me." He sighed, his fingers playing with the pendant at his neck. It warmed at his touch, warming the one that Nikka still wore as well.
"Why are you so surprised?" Remus asked, "She loves you, she nearly died from grief at the thought of loosing you I swear."
"She's just so young… three years of me just… laying here. And even now, it's been two weeks and I can barely move myself from my bed to a chair." Sirius said, frustration getting the better of him for a moment.
"You're getting stronger, Sirius. That's what you have to focus on." Remus told him, "I know it's not easy but you will get there. You'll be walking down the aisle in no time."
Sirius grinned again, his smile was certainly getting more exercise than his arms or legs were, "She asked me as soon as she could stop crying."
"I look forward to being a bridesmaid." Remus laughed, "It's so very good to have you back old friend."
