𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 9

Sirius was the first to wake up, his sleep for once not plagued by the nightmares of his past. He looked down to see his daughter's head in his lap, her wild curls strewn out everywhere and tiny snores escaping her nose.

He ran his fingers through his hair, as Euphemia Potter used to do when he lived with the Potter's. She would just talk about her day, what creatures she had seen, as her soft fingers detangled each curl on his head.

Oh, what he would do to see that old witch's face now. He could just imagine the delight in her eyes, how she would see Natasha as her own granddaughter. She'd spoil her, that would have been certain, although not as much as James and Lily.

When Natasha was only a few months old, Lily would talk about all the things she would do when she grew up, whilst James whispered Quidditch facts non discretely from the other side of the couch. Fleamont and Euphemia had already passed before Natasha's birth, so Natasha had no grandparents, as Sirius definitely was never going to introduce her to Walburga or Orion, and Aurelia's parents were muggles who despised magic.

Natasha stirred, and she opened her eyes slowly, yawning like she had never done it before. "Morning," she mumbled, clearly not a morning person as she slumped on the other side of the couch.

"And the happiest of mornings to you as well my dear child. Now, who's excited to go back to school?!" Sirius said, his overly cheerful mood gifting him with Natasha's favourite finger stuck up in the air.

"Natasha!" he exclaimed, feigning shock as he dramatically threw his hand over his heart. "I never thought a child of mine could do such a thing!"

Natasha giggled, sitting herself up. "You should hear my vocabulary then. I know words like fu-." At that point, Sirius dove to shove his hand over Natasha's mouth, silently laughing on the inside at her knowledge of colourful language.

"So, going away from that conversation," Sirius chuckled nervously. "Do you need any more prank material before you head back? Natasha's eyes widened before her head started to nod furiously.

She jumped up from the couch and sprinted upstairs, her father sighing and slowly following, mumbling something about being too old for this.

The attic was where Fred, George and Natasha had kept their pranking materials, purely because Molly hated it at the Burrow and Aurelia didn't like heights. The attic had all sorts of mismatched products – ranging from fireworks, to quilts with itching spells, to rings that could produce streamers.

Sirius watched in amusement as Natasha wildly ran around the room, grabbing as much as he could. He knew from two days ago that she and her friends were planning a prank, but he also knew from experience that one could never have enough material.

Using her purse which she had enchanted at school in her first year, Natasha managed to stuff everything she needed into it, whilst it looked like there was nothing there. It even weighed as if it were empty, and Natasha's excuse for it could just be she wanted to get her purse from home.

With that packed, it was finally time for Natasha to head back to school. She embraced her father for a long time, his head resting on hers. "Promise me that if you need anything, you'll owl me?" she asked, and Sirius nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"I promise sweetheart. Just remember to look for a black dog when you exit the train, I'll be by the Weasley's," he said and she nodded, picking up her purse and stepping into the fireplace.

"I love you dad, also please shave. That beard makes you look like a hobo," she shouted, before calling out 'McGonagall's Office' and throwing her Floo powder, whisking her back to Hogwarts.

Sirius laughed, running his fingers through his truly atrocious beard. "I love you too pumpkin," he whispered, before going upstairs to fix his face.

~.~

McGonagall was teaching a class as Natasha came through her fireplace, which meant Natasha had full access to everything inside.

Including the items, she had confiscated.

Just as she was about to reach for the pack on dung bombs on the desk, the door flung open, revealing Remus Lupin, who, other than a few scratches on his face, looked just as he always did.

"Professor Lupin, I swear, it looked like my arm was reaching for it but honestly, I don't control my arm," Natasha said. Remus smirked, taking a seat on the chair opposite McGonagall's desk.

"It's quite alright Miss Black. Chocolate?" the teacher asked, and Natasha nodded, happily taking a bite out of the tiny treasure.

"How is he?" Remus' voice broke Natasha out of her happy trance, and she raised her eyebrow, not certain if she should talk about her father. Remus noticed, and sighed, pocketing his beloved chocolate bar.

"Natasha, I know that I have been distant in your life, when really I should have been supporting you and your mother, but after Harry said that Peter had showed up on the map, I knew your father was innocent," the professor stated, absentmindedly tracing a finger over the scar on his hand.

"He's well, Professor," Natasha answered, a smile gracing her face. Remus grinned and looked at the girl, noticing how happy she was when she answered.

"Is he safe, Natasha?"

Natasha grabbed the box of dung bombs and nodded. "I tried to tell him to shave, which I never got a response too, but yeah, he's safe. Molly visited us yesterday, but I'm sure you wish to catch up with him, no?"

Remus chuckled at the mention of his best friend with a beard, remembering how he couldn't even grow a chest hair as a teenager. "I do wish to see him, after all catching up in the middle of my furry little problem isn't ideal. Oh, and Natasha, I'm not your professor anymore, I resigned this morning."

Natasha shoved the dung bombs inside her purse and turned towards the door, silently processing the news of her favourite teacher's resignation. "Well Uncle Moony, you know the way, just owl if he gets weird. I guess if you're leaving, I'll see you soon?"

Remus nodded and Natasha winked, skipping out of the office.

She really was a Sirius sometimes.