Chapter Three
18 August 1995, Grimmauld Place
“Sirius Orion Black!” Remus’ voice echoed through the Black Townhouse. “You’ve been acting all mysterious and giddy in turns since we got back from Diagon Alley! Fess up or I’ll make you!”
“Y’know what? Make it a defectors’ meeting,” Sirius suggested. “Teens welcome too.”
Everyone that wasn’t a Dumbledore fan in the Order – Severus and Minerva included – gathered in the kitchen, and Bill put up privacy and secrecy wards, before settling down with tea.
“I have an announcement to make, and it shouldn’t leave the boundaries of this meeting,” Sirius said as he put an arm around Aria’s shoulders. “As of the 15th of August, Aria is officially my daughter. Athanasius Peverell – formerly Gaunt – and myself blood adopted her after the Gaunt and Potter lines were reabsorbed into the Peverell family.” He gently nudged Aria, and she dropped out of the shift, blowing a strand of her white hair out of her face.
Fred and George fell out of their chairs, Ron turned beet red, and Hermione and Ginny fanned their faces. Not even the older people were unaffected, as observed by Dora’ hair turning beet red.
“I’m aware my daughter is a heartbreaker and I will have to beat off potential suitors with a stick – or the Black Family’s plethora of spells – but don’t you dare thirst after her, you lot,” Sirius’ eyes flashed with warning.
“Quick poll. Who’s into women, just women?” Remus asked.
Bill, Kingsley, Ron, and Ginny raised their hands.
“Who’s into men, just men?” Remus raised a hand.
Fred, George, Molly, Minerva, and – surprisingly – Severus raised their hands.
“Who’s into both – or anyone that doesn’t conform to the binary?”
Sirius, Aria, Hermione, Dora, and Charlie raised their hands.
“And just how many of you had a sexuality crisis the moment Aria shifted into her natural form?” Remus raised his hand again.
Everyone except Sirius, Minerva and Aria’s hands went up.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Sirius muttered, before returning to a normal voice. “Anyways, here’s the official story – as concocted by Athanasius and myself.
“Athanasius got knocked up during a one-night stand, and kept it secret. Then he had to leave on business – as he’s an independent enchanter – after giving birth and couldn’t conceivably take Aria with him, so he gave her to me. And because nearly 19-year-old me did not want that responsibility, and James and Lily were struggling to conceive, I gave her to them instead, and she form-locked into an appearance that blended the two of them. And from there on, nobody could tell she wasn’t theirs, because Lily hadn’t been seen in public since May 1979, and nobody was going to do a blood test to check, since blood magic is illegal in Britain.
“And, considering that I was rather footloose and fancy-free before Halloween 1981, and would fuck anyone that consented, it’s actually believable,” Sirius finished with a dramatic flourish.
Hermione let out a startled laugh. “Well, as long as you’ve accepted responsibility now, I have no commentary.”
Minerva smirked, drawing uneasy glances from the two remaining Marauders.
“Yes, Minnie?” Sirius dared ask.
“Since Aria is officially a whole new person, she could be resorted as a new student,” Minerva took a sip of her tea.
“I could kiss you, Professor,” Aria confessed. “Because I dread returning to Gryffindor Tower in September.”
“I’m aware, Miss…”
“Peverell,” Aria supplied easily.
“Not Black?” Dora raised an eyebrow.
“I’m supposed to be a bastard child, Dora,” Aria returned sarcastically.
Sirius gave a bark of laughter. “The I’ll have you know my parents were married comeback won’t work anymore. Poor you.”
“I, however, do now have access to the Black Grimoire,” Aria returned icily.
Sirius blanched. “Yeah…”
Dora giggled, and Aria smiled.
“Okay, bets for what House Aria will be in now?” Remus called for the bet.
Molly and Minerva voted Gryffindor. Bill, Charlie and Remus voted Ravenclaw. Dora voted Hufflepuff. But the vast majority – Sirius, Kingsley, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred, George, and Severus – voted Slytherin.
“How are you so sure she’ll be in Slytherin?” Remus raised an eyebrow at his best friend.
“Have you met her?” Sirius scoffed. “She’s pure Slytherin. Ambitious and determined, plus resourceful.”
Hermione smirked into her tea. “Get on her bad side, and you’ll see why most sane people tread lightly around her. She’ll rip your reputation to shreds, because she’ll find every sordid little secret you’re hiding, and air it to the world. And heavens help you if you hurt those she loves, because death would be a mercy you will not be granted.”
Everyone traded looks at that declaration.
24 August 1995, Ministry of Magic
Aria was in the public seating, smiling to herself. Athanasius had called for a re-examining of evidence for Sirius, and had sparked a retrial in the process. Not only had Dumbledore been ousted as Chief Warlock – the position going to Tiberius Ogden, as predicted – but there was a whole furore in the newspapers over the disappearance of the Gaunt and Potter seats – and the reactivation of the Stinchcombe seat.
But she – along with Andromeda and Hermione – was present for Sirius’ long-awaited trial. Aria watched the proceedings, amused by Fudge’s nervousness as Tiberius took over.
“Bring in the accused.” Tiberius’ voice was firm.
Sirius was brought in – flanked by two Aurors – and dressed neatly. Aria had all but bullied him into robes befitting Lord Black, to the entirety of Number 12 Grimmauld Place’s residents’ amusement. The Veritaserum was administered, and the questioning started.
“Please state your full name.”
“Sirius Orion Black.”
“What is your date of birth?”
“9 November 1959.”
“Were you the Potters’ Secret Keeper?”
“No.”
Sirius’ answer sparked an outcry among several in the public seating, but a withering glare from Tiberius shut them up.
“Were you a Death Eater?”
“No.”
“Were you in any capacity in the service of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”
“No.”
“What was your relationship with James Charlus Potter?”
“We were Blood Brothers.”
“What was your relationship with Peter Aiden Pettigrew?”
“Close friends, but we’d started drifting apart.”
“What was your relationship with Remus John Lupin?”
“Close friends, closer than Pettigrew.”
“What was your relationship with Lily Marie Potter née Evans?”
“Close friends.”
Tiberius took a deep breath. “Did you kill 12 muggles on the 31st of October 1981?”
“No.”
“Did you kill Peter Pettigrew on the 31st of October 1981?”
“No.”
“Please describe the events of the 31st of October 1981.”
“I had been playing decoy – making sure I was seen in bars, and around the country – when I felt something was just wrong. So, I went to see Pettigrew. But his flat was empty, without any signs of a struggle, so I knew he’d sold James and Lily out. I was about to turn and leave, when a searing pain shot through my chest. The Blood Brothers bond had snapped, and I knew James was gone.” Sirius’ voice was thick with emotion despite the Veritaserum. “So, I got on my motorbike, and made my way to Godric’s Hollow. By the time I got there, the kids’ bedroom was half rubble. James was at the bottom of the stairs, dead from the killing curse, and I could hear Harry crying upstairs. So, I forced myself to go to my godson. Lily was lying in front of Harry’s crib, and I initially couldn’t see Aria and panicked until I felt her wrap her arms around my leg. So, I lifted Harry out of the crib and knelt there, holding the kids to my chest.
“Hagrid came and said Dumbledore found a safe place for the kids, and I initially was reluctant to let them go, but then something seemed to wash over me, and the only thing on my mind was revenge. So, I gave them to Hagrid and set off in pursuit of Pettigrew. I found him just after nightfall, and went to stun him, when he cried out about how I could betray James and Lily, before sending a Bombarda at the gas line. He hit me with a cheering charm before cutting off his finger and turning into his animagus form, and disappearing down the sewer. I was arrested five minutes later, and shipped directly to Azkaban.”
“What was the nature of your relationship with Harry James Potter?” Tiberius didn’t want to ask the question, but he had to.
“I was his godfather.”
“What is the nature of your relationship with Aria Potter?”Â
“Aria is my biological daughter.” Sirius’ simple statement sent gasps reeling through the Wizengamot.
“Would you please elaborate on that statement?” Tiberius was stunned.
“Aria is the by-product of a one-night-stand I had had in December of 1978. The other parent was unable to care for her at the time, and 19-year-old me was in no mood to take care of a child. James and Lily were struggling to conceive at the time, and were all too happy to take care of her.” Sirius’ tone was a little pained, but still proud. “Aria is a Metamorphmagus, and she virtually instantly locked into an appearance that blended James and Lily perfectly.”
“How was that not discovered?”
“Blood magic is – after all – illegal in Britain, and the only way of discovering the deception at the time was a blood test, as Potter Manor was still unsafe due to Fleamont and Euphemia’s deaths from Dragon Pox.”
“No further questions,” Tiberius said with a firm nod. “Administer the antidote.”
Sirius shook his head as soon as the Veritaserum wore off.
The Wizengamot conferred, before Tiberius gave the results. “Sirius Orion Black, you’re free to go. 10,000 Galleons will be provided per year of unlawful incarceration, and 5,000 per year you spent on the run.”
Aria quickly did the math. 10,000 Galleons per year, for 12 years, plus 5,000 Galleons per year for 2 years… Makes 130,000 Galleons.
Sirius nodded gracefully, before standing and addressing the Wizengamot. “As I am no longer on the run… I hereby claim the Black Seat, remaining in its traditional faction.” The seat lit up. “And I declare Aria Peverell my Heir.”
Athanasius stood up with a small laugh. “I declare Aria Peverell my heir.”
“Way of breaking the news…” Aria muttered to Hermione before her hair went bright red from embarrassment.
Hermione patted Aria’s shoulder consolingly as Lucius Malfoy – of all people – facepalmed.
“Am I correct in assuming Heir Peverell is your daughter, Lord Peverell, Lord Black?” Lucius’ silky voice barely hid his disbelief.
“You are correct, Lord Malfoy,” Athanasius said with a small laugh.
Aria just shook her head, muttering to Hermione again. “May you live in interesting times.”
Hermione could only pat her blood sister’s shoulder.