The Brighter Years of Black (3)

1994 (18)

A loud knock sounded at the door of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Erica opened it slowly.
"Miss Black?" She nodded slowly.
"Sorry to interrupt Miss Black. My name is Kingsley Shacklebolt, I'm an Auror for the Ministry of Magic. May I ask you a few questions?"
"of course" she stepped aside "come in, would you like a cup of tea?" She flashed the auror a charming smile. Her Godfather had warned her the Ministry would likely want to speak to her after last year. He said the most important thing was to make a good impression, make them like her, she did not want them as an enemy.
"That would be lovely Miss-"
"Please, call me Erica" she interrupted, resting a delicate hand on his arm.
She handed the man the steaming cup of tea and moved to sit opposite him.
"May I ask what this is concerning?" She asked, her smile never faltering.
"Miss Black, I'm afraid I need to ask you about your father..." the tall man hesitated, clearly examining her face for any emotion.
"My father?"
"Yes... and just your life in general if that's okay?"
"Of course, whatever you need Mr Shacklebolt" the petite girl smiled shyly.

"Erica... when was the last time you saw your father?"
She thought for a moment... "October 1981- i would've been around 5 years old at the time"
"Okay" he nodded, making a quick note of her answer.  "And how long have you been living here, at number 12 Grimmauld Place?"
"Since I was thirteen... so 89?"
"And do you have any information on your father that may help the Ministry?"
"No." She said with certainty.
"Do you seriously expect the Ministry to believe that after thirteen years in Azkaban; Sirius Black hasn't even attempted to contact his only daughter?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
This question caught her off guard, she hadn't expected to be asked something so invasive...
"I... I honestly don't know Mr Shacklebolt. I cannot claim to understand the mind of my father nor do I wish to try." She said firmly.
"I understand Miss Black, I'll be on my way now." She followed the man to her front door. He turned to her at the last moment.
"Oh and Miss Black, be sure to contact the Ministry if you find out any new information"
Nodding she smiles weakly "I will."

Walking back into the kitchen, she stops dead in her tracks.
"Dad.. what in Merlin's name are you doing here?" She sighed, her hand rubbing her forehead firmly.
"Erica...?" The man looked shocked, his wide, slightly crazed eyes staring disbelievingly at the woman his daughter had become.
"Get out.." she mumbled, her entire body filling with rage.
"What?" He choked out. Somewhere between a cry and laughter.
"I said get the hell out of my kitchen!" She bellowed.
"I'm afraid I can't do that Erica, this is, after all, my house too" He said shooting her a playboy smirk she recognised from her Godfather's old photographs.

"Why... why didn't you come see me sooner? You got out a year ago..." she said, desperately fighting the sobs threatening to leave her lips.
"I would've loved to Erica... but I needed to find Harry.. He needed me"
"And what about me dad? What did I need? What did I need when I was 2? 3? 5? What about if I was 13? What about this year? Answer me dad! What then hell makes him matter more than me??" At this point she was yelling, tears streaming down her face.

Sirius Black stormed out of the kitchen. And up several flights of stairs. Speechless,  marching purposefully away.
It was hardly the welcome he'd expected from his daughter...
Perhaps she didn't need him at all- she'd been without him for so long. At least Harry was happy to see him, at least he heard him out..
He had returned, come to see his only daughter after fourteen years, expecting a warm welcome ..
He couldn't help but notice how much she was like her mother... The moment he'd set eyes on her he had seen only Willow... She shared the same long ringlets of hair, the same kind, bright smile, her fiery temper and tender heart were also identical. She brought back memories of his late fiancé, her mother, yelling at him after nights out and pranks.
He hadn't expected such a volatile response... What did Erica have to be so upset about? She hadn't been rotting in a cell for 12 years, she'd been with Remus, attending Hogwarts...
His anger bubbled, regret and rejection, delusion consuming his mind, dulling his senses...