chapter three
“Tippy?” Dahlia called out after she’d showered and picked out her outfit. A pair of royal blue robes with silver accents that complemented her pale skin and dark hair. She noticed emerald eyes were bright and sharp when she looked in the mirror.
“Yes Mistress?” Tippy said, appearing with a pop. She tugged on her ears as she shifted from foot to foot in front of Dahlia.
Dahlia blushed from her spot in front of the vanity. “Will you do my hair?” She asked shyly, fighting not to fidget.
Tippy’s eyes grew wide and filled with tears as she clapped her hands. “Oh Tippy would be honored to do Young Miss’ hair, she would!”
Dahlia’s whole face went up into flames, which spread down her chest. Her heart raced, nobody had ever wanted to do anything like this for her before. She took a deep breath, clasping her shaking hands in her lap. “Can you do a braid?” She asked softly.
“Tippy can do it.” The eager little elf said, bouncing on her feet as she started to run her hands through Dahlia’s thick curls.
Dahlia nodded, keeping her eyes on the countertop. “Okay. Thank you.”
Fifteen minutes later, Dahlia’s hair was tied up in a beautiful chunky braid that would around her head in a crown. She loved it and thanked her elf profusely, even bending down to tentatively give the elf a hug. It was her first hug in this body and she tried her hardest not to burst into embarrassing tears. Having Tippy apparate her to Diagon Alley, she hurried into Gringotts where she was promptly collected by a goblin and directed to a private room where one Arcturus Black was waiting for her.
He was a tall, distinguished looking man. He was dressed in a pair of expensive looking robes in a rich emerald green color. He had a cane in the shape of a mighty serpent, even though he didn’t seem to have any issues walking and his posture was held immaculately. He looked wizened with his grey hair but he didn’t look nearly as old as how she remembered Dumbledore looking. Though, she supposed they were about two decades apart in age.
He stood as she entered the room, giving a short bow. “Lady Potter.” He greeted her kindly, a speculative look in his eye.
“Lord Black, please call me Dahlia. It’s nice to meet you, sir.” She returned, curtsying to the best of her ability.
Arcturus gave an amused huff and smiled softly down at her, gesturing for her to sit beside him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear. You may call me Grandfather.”
“Okay, Grandfather.” Dahlia whispered, nervously fiddling with her hands.
“Now what’s this business about you living with muggles?” Was what he said next, an air of distaste in his words.
“Oh yes. They told me I was left on their front doorstep when I was a baby. They’re awful, but I’ve been staying at Peverell Manor and the elves have been taking really good care of me, promise.” She said emphatically, after handing over a slightly altered copy of her Inheritance Test.
Arcturus looked mutinous for a moment before his expression smoothed over and he clicked his tongue and shook his head. “That won’t do.” He said, turning to the Goblin. “Gornuk, I’d like to get temporary emergency custody of Dahlia until a time when the Potters will can be read.”
Gornuk cleared his throat and nodded sharply. “The will reading is scheduled for one week from now.” He croaked. “As you are her great grandfather, it should be simple to arrange custody. At least in the eyes of the goblins.”
The ninety year old wizard waved a dismissive hand and got a shrewd look in his eyes that worried Dahlia. “Let me handle the ministry. And Dumbledore.”
Dahlia blinked in wonder at the man. It was really that simple? All she had to do was write one letter to a competent adult and boom…. no more Dursleys. It made her want to cry and scream and rage to no end but she was also infinitely grateful.
“Thank you, sir. I mean- grandfather.” She said softly, disbelievingly as the Goblin, Gornuk, left the room.
“Think nothing of it my dear.” Arcturus replied with a warm look in his eye. “Now tell me, what is you’ve been doing since you got your letter?”
“Well, when I got my letter I my aunt freaked out.” Dahlia lied slightly, giving a wince. Maybe her aunt hadn’t freaked out in this world but she would have if she’d known the letter arrived. “But I managed to convince her to drop me off at Diagon Alley and when I came here to get money like Aunt Pentunia said to and they told me I needed an inheritance test to prove who I was. I didn’t know I was famous or anything!” She shook her head incredulously and shot him a wide eyed look. Arcturus nodded indulgently for her to continue. “After that I went shopping for my school supplies and some new clothes. Ragnok gave me a portkey to the Manor, then wrote to you and Madame Bones. I only came back to Diagon Alley once to pick up my wand. I’ve been staying at home and learning as much as I can.” She finished, breathing a bit heavily after her nervous rambling.
Arcturus smiled again. He smiled a lot for someone of the Black family. Then again, Sirius had spoken of his grandfather fondly during Harry’s fifth year. “It seems like you’ve been through a lot, my dear. Don’t you worry, I’ll take care of everything from here on out. Your godfather will be back with you in no time, if I have anything to say about it.” He said assuredly. “When were you supposed to meet with Madame Bones?”
“Uh, tomorrow, sir.” She answered, smiling nervously. “Here at two.”
“Very good.” Her great-grandfather mumbled under his breath before nodding and standing sharply. “I will accompany you. Come. Let us go home, you can call one of your elves for your belongings when we get there.”
“Home, sir? I mean grandfather, sorry.” She questioned hesitantly, blanching as she thought about Grimmuald. She did not want to live there. At all.
“It’s okay, Dahlia.” Arcturus said, bending down to look at her more closely. “I know that this will all be an adjustment. Everything will be okay. And yes, home. We’ll be heading back to Black Manor.”
“Grimmauld Place?” She questioned unthinkingly.
Arcturus shot her a surprised look as they made their way out of the bank. “No, dear girl. Not that blasted place. No, Black Manor is much more appropriate for a young girl such as yourself. Though I am curious as to how you know about Grimmauld Place.”
Dahlia swallowed anxiously. “I saw it on my inheritance test. Padfoot- I mean Sirius named me his heir.”
“Ah.” Arcturus clicked his tongue and looked at her a bit knowingly. She blushed under the attention and fought not to blurt out more justifications to prove she wasn’t lying. Technically, she wasn’t. It had been on the parchment. That just wasn’t exactly how she knew about it in the first place but he didn’t need to know that.
She’d decided that she wouldn’t tell anyone the truth about where (when) she came from until it was absolutely necessary. With the exception of Sirius and Remus, of course. And she would leave it up to Sirius’ expertise on whether Arcturus should know the truth of now.
Luckily for Dahlia, her self proclaimed grandfather didn’t press.
As they were exiting the alley, Dahlia caught sight of a familiar chubby face among the crowd. Stood with his grandmother was Neville Longbottom. She almost gasped as she recognized him and as they passed, on a whim, she decided to bump into him on purpose.
Both of them let out yelps as they fell into each other, landing in a heap on the ground.
“I’m so sorry!” They both squeaked at the same time, wide eyes meeting.
Dahlia let out a small laugh and shook her head, standing and offering a helping hand to the blushing boy. “It’s okay. It was my fault. I apologize again Mr…”
“Longbottom, Heir Longbottom. But you can call me Neville, if you like.” Neville answered nervously, accepting her hand letting her help him pull himself to his feet.
Dipping into a curtsy, she smiled back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Heir Longbottom. I am Lady Potter and this is my Grandfather Lord Black.”
“L-Lord Black! Lady P-P-Potter!” Neville’s eyes went wide with shock as they darted between the young girl and the older man.
“Lord Black.” Augusta cut in sharply, narrowing her eyes. “I didn’t realize you were Harriet Potter’s guardian.”
Arcturus opened his mouth to reply but Dahlia couldn’t help cutting in. “Uh, miss? My name is Dahlia, not Harriet. That’s my middle name, actually.”
“Hm. Dahlia, then.” Augusta said, returning her attention to the other adult and leaving Neville to chat quietly with Dahlia.
“So are you going to Hogwarts this year?” Dahlia asked softly after a few moments of awkward silence.
“Yes- I mean yes.” Neville bumbled apprehensively.
“Really?! Me too!” Dahlia said brightly, ignoring his nervousness. “What house do you think you’ll be in?”
“My parents were in Gryffindor but my Gran thinks I’ll be Hufflepuff.” He answered a bit sadly.
“Hey! Nothing wrong with Hufflepuff. But anyway, you look like a proper lion to me.” Dahlia reassured the boy, smiling brightly when he grinned tentatively in response.
“Thanks. What about you, what house do you think you’ll be in?” Neville asked, gaining a bit of confidence.
“Slytherin or Hufflepuff.” Dahlia answered promptly.
Neville raised a brow, looking comically confused. “Those two are very different.”
Dahlia shrugged. “Not really. Both are known for being stringently loyal.”
“Oh.” Neville said, nodding cautiously.
“Anyway, so, did you get your wand yet?” She asked, as she noticed Augusta and Arcturus returning to their sides.
“Nah, Gran says I should use my dad’s wand. Legacy, y’know?” Neville responded, fingering the wand that appeared in his hand.
Dahlias brows furrowed. “But Neville, the wand chooses the wizard.”
“Really Augusta.” Arcturus tsked. “You should know better. Go buy the poor boy his own wand.”
“Oh shut it you old bag.” Augusta retorted sharply, earning a booming laugh from the regal wizard. Dahlia watched the interaction with wide shocked eyes but tried to focus on the conversation at hand. This was important. Neville needed his own wand.
“He wont reach his full potential if he doesn’t have his own wand.” Dahlia interrupted sharply, a sage knowledge in her words. “You are damaging his magic with your actions.”
All three other magic users gave her a strange look but Augusta nodded slowly.
“You are quite right, Lady Potter.” Augusta said, shooting Arcturus a strange look that he reciprocated. Had she said too much?
“Come, child.” Arcturus beckoned, waving an impatient hand.
“Bye Neville! Bye Regent Longbottom!” Dahlia called over her shoulder before shooting a look at her grandfather. “I didn’t know you were friends with Augusta Longbottom.”
The old wizard had an amused gleam in his eye as he replied, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, my dear.”
“Hmph.” Dahlia huffed, grasping his hand as he made to apparate out of the Alley.