Born from the Ashes (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 5

Returning to his childhood home was a strange experience for Sirius Black. 

He had spent his childhood in misery before being tossed out that same front door. His picture remained blasted off the family tree. It was the same address, the same cranky house elf, the same nagging portraits, and yet he felt as though he couldn't recognize the house itself anymore. 

The house felt alive, less stifling and dark. The halls no longer felt like a coffin buried under the dirt. He thought perhaps the years in Azkaban had made even the drabbest place look full of life, or maybe it was that his experience inside the home had made it darker than it was. 

But no that wasn't it, the house had truly changed, not because of a few pillows or a wallpaper change, the very air in the house felt lighter. 

"Alya, darling why don't you give me and your grandmother a moment," Sirius said softly as he pushed the black hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. 

Alya didn't go far, she left the room and remained in the hall, not that Sirius was aware of that. 

"How dare you-"
"Sirius, listen-"

"NO! Who gave you the right to take my daughter? When I find out what you've done to her, I will personally carve out that black charcoal you call a heart." Sirius snapped as tears filled Walburga's eyes. 

"...I am sorry for how I raised you and Regulus... I have made so many mistakes. I regret each and every moment I failed as your mother... You do not need to forgive me, I know that... But I swear to you on my magic that I adored Alya. I raised her how I should have raised you. She is brilliant and gorgeous. Every step she has taken she did on her own, even finding the evidence to release you. She is going to rule the world how it should be. If that... If that is was you could have been, had I just been your mother, then I have committed a crime of the worst kind... Alya has known no hardship but missing you, I assure you."

"I simply do not believe you." Tears filled Sirius' eyes as years of torment stared Walburga right in the eye. 

"I will show you. I will show you every minute of her childhood if you'd let me..." Walburga said practically begging. 

Sirius hesitated, but the opportunity to see his little girl grow, to experience her important moments, was too much to turn down. 

Walburga took his hand and opened her mind, allowing every moment she had experienced with Alya to play out. 

Sirius watched in awe at his brilliant little girl. 

Her first steps. 

Her first accidental magic. Her adorable giggles echoed through his ears as she walked across the ceiling. 

He watched how quickly she learned languages and potions. He watched in awe as she mastered wandless enchantments. 

He saw her approach her grandmama about publishing her ideas, a brilliant book, then another, and another. 

He saw her play with Draco and walk Lucius like a dog with her every command. 

He smiled at her sweet pouty face when she was caught for whatever mischief she had caused. 

Alya was so like him and yet so much better in every way. 

His greatest accomplishment was his daughter. 

He came out of the memories, falling to his knees as he sobbed, wishing that he had been in just one. 

Alya came back into the room, hugging her father's neck as he sobbed harder. 

"It's okay, daddy," Alya whispered as she held the broken man. 

It wasn't, nothing about it was okay. But she still held him as he released years of regret and loss. 

Sirius scrunched his nose at another disgusting vial of some mystery liquid his daughter handed him. Potion after potion that Alya and Severus Snape had concocted was poured down Sirius' throat. 

"Alright daddy that was the last one, now go take a bath and I'll cut your hair afterward." Alya's high, posh voice filled the air as she commanded her father yet again. 

She was a bossy little thing, but like everyone else, Sirius followed the little Lady's every whim.   

He did as he was ordered washing from years of grim and muck. He had noticed he was less pale and gaunt after drinking Alya's potions. He had put back on some healthy weight although he was still very thin. 

He did have to re-fill the tub at least three times in order to get completely clean. He put on his robe before calling Alya in. 

"There's my daddy! I almost didn't see you under all that nastiness... NOW! Let's cut all that!" Alya teased as she got a comb and some scissors. 

"What you don't like this?" Sirius teased back. Alya squealed as Sirius shook out his wet mane like a dog, getting water everywhere. 

"Sit down you mutt! You're getting me all wet. And no I don't like it, you look like Merlin with that beard." 

He did as he was told, sitting on the floor so that the little girl could reach him. 

She kept his hair long enough to still see the loose curls, it was styled noble but not shaggy. She also allowed him to keep some of his beard, allowing some stubble to remain. She did however shape the beard so it looked well cared for. 

She smiled at her work, waving her hand, and with a wandless spell dried it. 

"All done!" 

"Well done, my love! Don't I look dashing! Where'd you learn to do that? Not cutting many boys' hair I hope." Sirius said in a teasing tone, though she could tell that he was being slightly... Sirius. 

"I cut Draco's hair all the time! Now let's get you dressed. We went shopping the other day so I picked out a lot for you. Tell me what you find to your liking and we'll get more of it." 

He chuckled as the little girl spoke like a mini adult, "I'm sure whatever my princess has selected for me will be more than adequate."

He learned that Alya had a penchant for dressing him like a pureblood prat lord. And while that is an accurate depiction of his standing, it wasn't how he dressed pre-Azkaban. 

However, the flattering comments from his baby quickly dissuaded any doubts about the style. 

He stared at the Lord Black ring in his daughter's palm as she held it up. "It is yours, Father," Alya announced holding it out once more. 

"I was disowned my little love, I am a Black in name only," Sirius said as he knelt to her level. His knees cracked under his weight after years of captivity. 

"Grandmama told me about when you were kicked out. She was the Lady Black but she was not head of the home, therefore only Lord Black could officially disown you. Which he did not. You may have been kicked out but the birthright remains yours, as are all assets therein." Alya explained. "You are still Sirius Black, Lord of the Ancient and Noble house of Black. You are father to the Heiress Black. The ring is and always will be yours for as long as you live."

Tears once again filled his eyes as he delicately took the ring from his sweet girl's gloved hand. He slipped it onto his left ring finger before kissing his daughter on the head. 

"I am going to give you the world, my star," Sirius whispered as he pulled Alya into his arms, basking in his freedom. 

The Ancient and Noble House of Black was reborn from the ashes of a broken home.