A Sliver of Change | S. Black

Part 2: Chapter 56

Part 2:

Chapter 56 –

May 18th, 1981

Lia smiled brightly as she laid the plates of food on the table, dusting her dress off from the flour and moving to grab the bottles of wine from the kitchen. She cursed herself for telling Mellie to stay at James' while everything was going on and wished that she had asked for her to come back for today.

Sirius had run into his cousin Andromeda last weekend while at Diagon Alley and despite her being a Black, she had done exactly as Sirius did and broke off from the family, instead choosing to marry a muggle for love. The two hadn't seen in each other in a few years and she was proud that Sirius had invited her over to their place for dinner, excited to finally meet the infamous Andromeda Black.

And her daughter, Nymphadora who Lia had heard was a metamorphmagus, one of the first that Lia would ever met seeing as they were quite rare in the wizarding world. Andromeda told Sirius that her husband Ted would be unable to attend due to his work, but she was thankful to finally meet the two of them at least.

She placed the bottle of wine on the table and listened to the loud footsteps descending the stairs, Remus and Sirius rushing into the room at the smell of the food, no doubt starving after practicing duels all morning.

She swatted Sirius' hands away when he reached for a Yorkshire pudding and pinned him with a glare, "we will not eat until our guests arrive," she declared menacingly, "and if you so much as take a crumb off this table, so help me I will cut that hand off."

Sirius raised his arms in a defensive position and sat down in his normal seat at the table, releasing a loud huffing breath. She heard a knock at the door and moved to the entrance of the house, giving Remus a warning glare when he tried to swoop his fingers into the gravy and take a lick.

Knowing that the second she was gone they would do whatever they liked, she quickly rushed to open the door, a large smile gracing her face as she met one of the only family members of Sirius' that she knew had a chance of liking her.

"Andromeda!" She exclaimed, waving the two in, "it's so nice to finally meet you!"

Andromeda smiled at her, her black hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck, slight wisps of grey seeping out. Her hazel eyes were kinder than any other Black she had met, despite Sirius' and Lia knew instantly that she would like this woman.

She looked down to see little Nymphadora clutching onto her mother's skirts and watched with fascination as her hair changed from black to pink, her eyes turning the bright blue colour of Lia's.

"And you must be Nymphadora," Lia smiled, lowering her height to reach the child's, "I'm Lia."

She held out her hand for her to shake but Nymphadora sent her a glare, her hair turning a bright red colour as she snapped out, "my name is Tonks."

Lia grinned at the fire within her and watched as Andromeda slapped a hand against her daughter's mouth, embarrassment flushing her face, "my apologies, Lia. She is quite a wild child."

Lia waved her hand, not bothering to take offence of Tonk's words and directed them to the dining room after hanging their coats up.

"So, Tonks," she asked politely, "how old are you now?"

Despite her earlier attitude, Tonks smiled at her widely, her front two teeth missing as she held up eight fingers, "I turned eight just last week!" she told her.

Lia smiled softly at the child, "well happy belated birthday then," she said to her.

She watched as Tonks skipped to a chair in the dining room, and frowned as Remus's calculating eyes followed her heatedly, his face contorted with confusion.