Dealing with Goblins.
Since Amelia Hope stepped foot in the wizarding world via A Magical journal she found in the gutter outside her house. She's Used her knowledge of the Harry Potter universe, or Original Timeline as she calls it to; adopt/kidnap the boy in question, possess Petunia Dursley or Nia Evans as she now goes, strongarm Albus Dumbledore into giving her a teaching position at Hogwarts. Muggle Studies, obviously. All in one day. In the two years since then, she's exposed Peter Pettigrew as a death eater and freed the wrongfully accused Sirius Black. Became double possessed by Tom Riddle's diary and befriended a Basilisk named Lamia. When Nia left for the Summer Hagrid cried when he met Lamia and had Harry teach him simple instructions in Parseltongue so he could communicate. It's the sweetest thing.
In the last four weeks of summer, Nia has come to the conclusion that living with Sirius Black is like living with a depressed ghost and his insane guard dog. The only time the two feel like one being is with Harry. She's almost jealous of their bond. Sirius Is a real connection to his dad. James's best friend. It's good for both of them in the long run and having a grown wizard helping to look after Harry and all his reckless glory has only helped even with the mood swings. Both of their mood swings.
Another added benefit of living with Sirius is that Nia no longer needs to bother Sev every time she wants to go to Diagon Alley. Like today the week before Nia's birthday and the return to Hogwarts Nia and Harry sit in the stacks of Flourish and Blotts with Hermione. She didn't come with them, they just found her here.
Hermione is looking through the textbooks for each elective, struggling to make her decision while bonding with her new cat Crookshanks who doesn't seem to like Nia. Harry's working on his potions essay which was left to the last minute again, while Nia researches how to make a deal with a Goblin without starting another war. She's pretty sure she can do it and is just waiting for the Weasleys to ditch her kid. She says with love.
"So what's gonna try to kill me this year, a dragon? Voldemort's secret child." Harry asks, tossing his paper aside apparently done with potions. "That would mean Voldemort had a girlfriend. Gross."
"Girlfriends in general or Voldemort having one. Cause Tom was kinda cute when he was younger. It's how he charmed most of his followers in the early days." Nia says offhand and Harry contemplates it for a second longer than expected.
"I guess, what does he look like now? The ghost that came out of Quirrel?"
"Maybe? I know when he comes back the dark magic he used to stay alive had side effects including extreme loss of melanin, hair and somehow a nose." Nia says with a straight face as she turns the page in her book of Goblin-made artefacts and their history.
"Are you screwing with me?" Harry honestly sounds like he cannot tell and it's brilliant. Nia meets his eyes with a sweet smile and shrugs before going back to her book. "Your attempt at distraction didn't work. What am I in for?"
"I don't know."
"You always know."
"Well I know some things, school things but the near-death experience I handled last summer and currently running from Mr Weasley with a cauldron in his mouth." Nia sees out the window above Harry's head and he smiles brightly.
"I hope he's doing it as Padfoot."
"Never know with Sirius," Nia doesn't answer and Harry glares pointedly.
"So what's your plan then? I doubt you're just planning on grading papers all year." Harry has his stern face on and there's no way to explain what she's doing without the H word and they are not ready for that conversation. Nia smiles mischievously. "I'm prepping."
"For?"
"Next year,"
"Why?"
"Dragons."
"You suck."
"Love you too." Nia grins as a Human Padfoot enters the shop with the Cauldron in his hand. Harry's eyes furrow and Nia can't help but laugh.
"I found the Weasleys. Why do they always smell like corned beef and sweaters? Every single one. It's weird."
"I feel like that might be insulting," Fred smiles as he walks George on his tail. "Potter, Evans. I assume Granger is in the back somewhere," There's a faint sound of affirmation from the stacks and George walks off in that direction with a wave.
"How was Egypt and where's Ron and Ginny?"
"Getting a new pet. Apparently, Percy's been getting royalties for his Lockhart rewrite and offered to buy him an Owl. And Egypt was amazing, Bill showed us all the stuff he's found curse breaking and we have some ideas to help with our assignment." Fred answers with all the subtlety of a hand grenade.
"A summer Assignment?" Harry asks suspiciously and Nia purses her lips.
"They're doing me a favour and if they can get it to work I'll let you know the plan. Till then don't worry."
"Did you learn nothing last year?" He replies sternly and Nia flinches as the spot on her leg where the scar remains twinges with phantom pain.
"It's not dangerous on its own, and The Twins are working under Sev. If it works you and I will do it together. I know I can't do it alone Hero." Harry hesitantly accepts this as Hermione and George come out of the stacks Hermione holding a piece of paper while George is sliding an early nineties cell phone into his pocket. Nia rolls her eyes, George as smooth as that is. Your brother has dibs. Then again the concept of dibs is more than a bit sexist and Nia was never completely sold on Romione. So power to you Thing Two.
None of the kids understand why Nia's making faces at herself but Harry pulls attention away by telling them about his birthday present from Padfoot. A Firebolt, as promised. Nia appreciates the save of what he probably assumes is some very important plans and not barely concealed amusement at his friend's future romantic entanglements but such is the charm of Nia Hope.
The now rather large group leave Flourish and Blotts and meets Mrs Weasley, Ron, Percy and Ginny at the pet shop as they come out with a tiny tawny Owl.
"He's beautiful!" Hermione gushes and never has Ron looked happier. Oh, Ronald, and Nia was hoping seeing himself written from an outside perspective would give him some self-awareness. Next project, get Ron some self-esteem.
"I have an appointment at Gringotts, Molly would you mind watching Harry?" Nia asks and Harry narrows his eyes. The kid is far too suspicious, she isn't always up to something. Right now she is but that is beside the point. Molly agrees eagerly of course as Nia kisses Harry's hair and walks off to the bank.
Nagnok, the Goblin that gave Nia their House, is waiting for her in a small office. The only human-sized furniture is the chair Nia sits on.
"Miss Evans, what is it you made this appointment for? I was under the impression Miss Sookie Potter was still running the household." Nagnok says going through papers upon papers of numbers that make Nia's head swim.
"She is, this is regarding my account and if there is enough in it to commission a blade." She responds and Nagnok puts down his Quill and summons another black ledger but this one is nameless.
"There is enough for a small one. A dagger perhaps. May I ask what you need a Goblin-made dagger for?"
"Well, I would like to treat it in this and use it to destroy Tom Riddle's Horcruxes. When that task is complete I'm happy to return it to you." Nia places one of the two Vials of Basilisk venom on his desk and the Goblin raises an eyebrow.
"I see, well that is certainly something we can do for you however there is one more requirement from you. Your true name. I'm afraid we Goblins do not take well to liars where our gold and creations are concerned." Nia isn't surprised the Goblins see straight through her, with last year's revelation that Nia isn't as human as she once thought it's practically to be expected.
"I suppose that makes sense, I trust you can be discreet, especially concerning the Headmaster."
"The privacy of our customers is of utmost importance," Nagnok swears and Nia takes her pendant and switches form from the tall blonde and skinny Petunia to her true short, curvy, brunette self.
"Then I am Amelia Hope." Nagnok once again takes a drop of Nia's blood and her name burns into the ledger in gold.
It takes an hour to hash out the details and design of Nia's weapon but by the end, she's more than happy and set to have her own way of defending herself and Harry by the New Year.
She finds the Weasleys having lunch at the Leaky and pays their bill before they get the chance. Harry looks up from where he, Ron and Hermione are laughing at something the twins did and Nia smiles back. He excuses himself and runs over.
"What happened, why were you in Gringotts so long?"
"I needed a weapon to defend myself, I can't exactly use a wand. It's done now, you don't need to worry. Go back to your friend's Hero." Harry nods in understanding and runs back over. Nia takes the seat next to Padfoot who's staring into the middle distance as he tends to do when overwhelmed. Ever so lightly she nudges his shoulder with her own. Shaking himself out of his trance he gives her a charming but fake smile.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just a bit out of it. Did you get what you need?"
"As of New years, I won't need Dumbledore to destroy Riddle's toys." She confirms as he fades again. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Do you ever get the feeling something terrible is about to happen?" Sirius asks solemnly, looking over at Harry's laughing face with a look of worry on his own.
"All the time. Occupational hazard I'm afraid, but we should be fine. Your breaking out of prison was the scary thing supposed to happen this year. We actually have time to prepare for Voldemort's return, to be ready for him."
"Maybe, but you thought you stopped Tom Riddle's diary as well, he just adapted to your changes. What if that happens again? Peter could escape and come after Harry."
"He won't. Even If he could escape, he's too much of a coward to face us. He'd go looking for his master in hiding. Whatever happens, we'll handle it, Padfoot, I promise." He smiles sadly as though he doesn't believe her. She can't do anything more to help him though so instead gives a comforting side hug and speaks with Arthur about Egypt and his and Ron's extra credit summer work.
It's well into the evening when The Potter and Weasley Households part ways as Molly insists on making them dinner in return for Nia paying for lunch. Percy disappears sometime before desert when he receives a letter and his brothers tease him about his secret girlfriend, apparently the twins have placed bets on who it is. They try to get Nia in on it but she refuses, making them believe she already knows and doubling down on their interrogation.
By the time Harry Sirius and Nia make it back to Fleamont Manor the now free house Elf Sookie has fallen asleep at her sewing table, her head resting on the brand new folded Gryffindor robes in varying sizes and draped in the Ravenclaw robes she'd made for Sirius's Newfound Niece Harper Snow.
Dobby the also free and newly hired elf was also asleep on the couch to her left with no such comforts. Harry rolls his eyes and picks up the sleeping elf to take her to her room. Sirius Is about to follow with Dobby when he stops dead in front of the coffee table.
"Padfoot?" Nia asks, walking up behind him slowly to see what caught his eye. On the table unopened is a thick letter with Sirius's name on it in messy black scrawl "Is that?"
"Remus's writing," Sirius confirms his voice barely above a whisper. Nia can't see his face but she knows he's not far off crying so she places a hand on his shoulder to ground him. "Why would he write back now? It's been a year," Now he's definitely crying and struggling to breathe. Nia sits him down next to where Dobby curled up and kneels in front blocking his line of sight with the letter.
"Sirius look at me, what colour are my eyes?" She asks and he shakes his head breathing erratically. "Sirius please."
"Brown, Petunia's are blue." He manages eventually.
"Okay, what are Harry's three favourite drawings he's done?" She tries again and his brown furrow.
"Ron rescuing Hermione from the troll, our family with you, me, Sookie and his parents in front of the Manor and the Quidditch match where Malfoy falls off his broom." Sirius's voice stops quivering and his breathing evens out some. "Thank you."
"Any time. You don't have to read it tonight, it's late and he kept you waiting long enough it's only fair." She tries to convince him to go to bed and forget about this till the morning when he hasn't had a couple of drinks with dinner and two magical creatures to keep him from doing something stupid and dangerous. Oh how she loves house Elves
"No, I have to. Could you read it to me?" His eyes are closed and he leans forward till he's leaning on his hands. This is a lot and so personal but she wants to know so bad.
"Why?"
"When you say things, the way you think. It makes the hard stuff easier to deal with because you just see it as something to figure out. Whatever that says it's gonna be hard and I need you to help me figure it out." He doesn't open his eyes and his voice is sure which makes Nia tear up.
"Padfoot are you okay?" Harry's voice breaks the tension and Nia has a second.
"Nothing to worry about Prongslet." Sirius looks up at Harry with a tiny smile.
"Can you take Dobby to bed and then go yourself?" Nia asks and Harry walks over to collect the now snoring Elf. Before he does Harry hugs Sirius tightly. Then he drapes Dobby over his shoulder and uses his free arm to side-hug Nia before walking upstairs.
"If we're doing this we're doing it in the best possible circumstances. Let's get you some cocoa." Nia says suddenly offering her hand as she stands. Padfoot takes it and lets her lead him throughout the Manor to collect things until they arrive at Sirius's room and settled themselves on either end of the bed.
Slowly Nia opens the letter.