Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Fourty Six

(TW)
She shifted in her seat silently, feeling increasingly uncomfortable before she spoke;
"Well, I mean, it kind of did. When the order moved in, I had to stop everything I had grown for myself over the years. I lost my room, I had to quit my job because I had no where to work. I stopped eating, I lost sleep and stopped going out, my mental health went to shit" she explained slowly and calmly, Sirius nodded and for a brief moment, she thought her father might be understanding of her perspective in the chapter of the story which they had shared;
"But that's not our fault. You chose to do those things." He shrugged and her heart ached at his harsh words before that hurt hardened in her chest, "Excuse me? I chose this?"
"Well yeah, I mean.. You were given everything. You had every opportunity and instead, you chose to torture yourself until you gave up." The man shrugged, leaning back in his chair,
"That's.. That isn't fair." Erica stuttered, a look of pure fury on her face, "I never had a mother, I never had a father, I was raised by a teacher. I love Mooney and I owe him so much but the moment I went to Hogwarts, he threw himself into Order work. I had to take care of him. I left Hogwarts early, I'm not entirely sure why, Dumbledore just kind of told me to and I did.. I worked my arse off, I finished four years of schooling in one year whilst editing for one of the most popular writers of the late 80's and early 90's. I did everything right! I wanted to become a teacher and an author and I did and I will and I did all of it without an ounce of help from you! I did it all on my God damn own! I raised myself and now I'm raising my own girls, and I will be damned if I let them down the way you let me down, the way everybody let me down." Sirius Black sat, in stunned silence as he stared at his daughter. For the first time since she was born, he didn't see himself or Willow, he saw Erica; the girl that Mooney raised, the girl who graduated from Hogwarts in four years, the girl who faced death head on and came out victorious..
"Erica, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was a terrible father to you" He sighed, leaning forward to bury his face in his hands, his daughter scoffed coldly at that;
"That's giving you too much credit, you weren't a terrible father. You weren't a father at all" He flinched at her words like they had stung him; "I know..." he mumbled.

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"Okay girls, Charlie will be here soon, are you sure you've got everything?" the twin's mother asked, peeking absentmindedly into the bags before closing them again.
"Mum." Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Wills packed, we definitely have everything we could possibly even imagine needing and probably more." she scoffed.
"I think I remembered everything mum" piped up Willow with a worried half smile,
"I'm sure you did Willa, I was merely asking" chuckled Erica Black at her eldest daughter
"Sorry I'm late" mumbled Charlie Weasley as he tumbled out of the fire place in the library of the Black manor
"Elegant as always, Weasley" Smirked the woman who stood in front of him
"Shut it, Black" he groaned, dusting himself off
"Naww," she cooed, "you love me" throwing her arm around his neck, he caught her with a sigh and smiled as he muttered; "Not by choice." The twins giggled as their mother playfully slapped their Godfather's shoulder.
"Alright then!" the woman exclaimed, "Time to get going, I'm due at the castle shortly" she grinned, stepping forward to kiss each of her daughter's temple "I love you both, stay safe, give Charlie hell for me and I'll see you in just a few short days"
Both the girls laughed as they followed the ginger man into the flames, leaving their home behind.
"Now!" shouted Erica, "Reg, Mooney, Dad, Marlene, Dorcus. I need to head up to the castle. My office's address is on a note on the fridge in case any of you want to write or floo, Harry's dress is also written down there in case of emergencies. Please try not to destroy my house. I'll pop back every now and then to check on y'all. Okay?"
"Sure" Shrugged Sirius, barely glancing up from his copy of 'The Daily Prophet', Remus elbowed him, "Hey!" grunted Sirius indignantly. Remus rolled his eyes and turned to look at his God-daughter. "I'll make sure nothing bad happens, Pup"
"Thanks Mooney" She sighed, stepping forwards to hug the man and kissing his cheek before pulling away with a weak smile. Erica picked up a brown satchel bag and
"Is that all you're taking?" Asked Sirius, finally looking up from his paper with a furrowed brow,
"Capacious extremis" she shrugged, laughing lightly when her father's look of confusion didn't disappear, "an expansion charm" she clarified whilst pulling the bag onto her shoulder. "I'm apparating this year, I'm five months pregnant, I don't much fancy lugging a massive trunk up to the castle" she laughed. Turning the handle to the front door, she paused to look over her shoulder at the five people she was leaving to run her home in her absence.
She waved, smiling weakly at them, "Bye"

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Erica stood at the gates to the castle, the wind in her hair and the soft morning sun on her skin, it felt wonderful to be home. She had never felt the same connection with the grounds as she believed other students did, Willow cottage had always been her home, for a short while she would've even considered Grimmauld place her home but Hogwarts had always been a school to her. She loved the castle and it's grounds and her love had only grown since she had begun working there, her cottage was still her home but Hogwarts had become her heart.