A Sliver of Change | S. Black

Part 2: Chapter 7

Part 2:

Chapter 7 –

September 1st, 1973

"Emilia Potter!" A voice she knew as Sirius yelled from her right.

Lia cringed at the use of her full name, absolutely loathing her mother for naming her it.

"Yes Sirius, what can I do for you?" Lia asked as he stopped himself in front of her, huffing from his run.

Mellie came over to the two, handing Sirius a bottle of water.

"Here you go Mr. Black," She said, "It looks like you could use more exercise in your life, seeing as how out of shape you are."

Lia snickered at her elf, panting her shoulder to show her gratitude for her attitude.

Sirius glared at Mellie's back as she walked away, before turning to Lia and smiling.

"I could blood kiss you for what you did to Walburga at the end of last school term," He exclaimed.

Lia smirked; remembering how she slipped a dungbomb into Walburga's bag before they had left the train station at the beginning of summer. As she looked towards the women in question, she noticed that the putrid being was already glaring back at Lia and Mellie. She knew that Walburga treated her house elf like crap, thinking that all they were meant for was for them to be another servant to serve on them. Lia knew that was complete bullcrap and that Mellie deserved every ounce of good in this world.

Glaring back at the women, she let her face turn into sneer, watching as Walburga stared at her with pure hatred. Showing the older women a certain finger, Lia turned back to Sirius.

"The hag deserved it Sirius," Lia said matter of factly, "Nobody disrespects my boys."

Sirius brought the girl into a hug, whispering a thank you in her ear. Before Lia could comment back, a voice interrupted them.

"Sirius dear, how lovely it is to see you," Lia heard her mother say.

Despite him being invited, Sirius wasn't able to visit Potter manor this summer. He could only sneak one letter past his mother, sending it to the Potters and saying that she had forbade him from going there. Sirius of course tried to sneak out regardless, but Walburga had cut off the floo network and taken away his broom from him.

So, to say that the family was happy to see him was an understatement.

"Sorry Mrs. P... Mother," Sirius spit, "had other plans for me this summer."

Lia shivered at the thought of what he was forced to do and promised herself that she would discuss it with him later.

"Oh darling, don't worry about it. I understand how crazy that old bat can be, someone really should teach her a lesson," Octavia connivingly said, a scary glint in her eye.

"I agree, and even crazier now that Reggie is attending Hogwarts. Mom doesn't need another disgrace in the family," Sirius responded.

Lia turned towards the Black family, noticing a little boy that looked like Sirius. His face was covered in nerves as Walburga screamed in his face, and despite Lia not being able to hear, she knew that what she was saying wasn't pleasant.

"She always was a wretched crone, even in her younger years. If I ever get the chance, I won't hesitate to hex her into the next century," Octavia sneered.

Both children knew her she wasn't kidding. Having grown up in a household like Octavia did, she found herself sometimes unable to wash away the slyness of her childhood. Not that Octavia would ever want to, Lia thought. Her mother never once showed any regret being placed in Slytherin, saying that it was a part of her personality. As much as it scared Lia sometimes, especially when she refused to listen to her mother, Lia knew that some of those traits had been passed on to herself. She was 90% Gryffindor, and 10% Slytherin, hurting anyone who placed those she loved in jeopardy.