Losing Hope: Sirius Black's daughter Book 1

Summer's end

I had never been so happy. Not just because I was going to Hogwarts (but believe me this was the major factor) but also because uncle Remus was elated by his new job. I was almost thirteen and the reason I was not already at Hogwarts was because of the financial problems my uncle Remus had. He did not like to waste the very small fortune that my mother Rhine Clearwater had left for me. Not that I was complaining, uncle Remus had taken great care of me and I was happy. He had taught me all that I knew about magic, and according to him I was as smart as my father. I could tell that this was great praise even though I knew very little about my father. He didn't talk much about him. Uncle Remus was apparently never that close to my mother thus I did not really know much about her either. Surprisingly though, he would rather search his memory for random details about my mother than to talk about Sirius Black, his best friend. All that I knew about my father was that he was smart, full of mischief, dark and mysterious, oh and that he was arrested for murder. 

Summer was coming to an end and I liked taking walks outside our isolated house so that I could see the sun setting over the trees in the forest. On this particular day I was taking my usual short walk behind our tiny house when a great black dog leapt in front of me. I was so shocked and scared that I almost wet myself. I wanted to scream but the poor thing whined and I just had to pat it. Something about the dog was familiar and it called out to me.

"Miley!" I heard uncle Remus calling from inside the house and the dog ran off as if in terror. I sighed as I went back inside.

During supper, uncle Remus sat across from me biting his lip, and I knew that something was wrong.

"What's up?" I asked him. He sighed and looked down,

"I guess you have to know. It's your father. He escaped from Azkaban." That was some shocking and disturbing news.

"What? But no one has ever done that before!" I exclaimed .

"Well he did it....too smart for his own good. Be careful, he might come for you Miley." he added gravely. Would my father look for me?

In bed that night I was a storm of thought. Was I wrong to hope that he would look for me? That he cared for me? Dared I to hope that underneath the murderer was a father with a heart? I hated my father for succumbing to the dark side obviously, hated him for leaving me an orphan. I detested him for not loving my mother enough. Yet I also loved him because, well, he was my father. So I wanted Sirius Black to stay away from me but hoped that he would come for me.

The last days of summer swiftly went by and my Hogwarts letter arrived . I was so happy that I could barely contain my excitement. 

The 31st of August found me in Diagon Alley. Uncle Remus could not come with me as it was his 'time of the month'. He told me to be careful though, honestly you would think Sirius would pop up right there when there was an intense search for him. Uncle Remus gave me the key to Rhine's Gringotts vault . She didn't own much when she died but what little she had was now mine . So after I had my money I went for robe fitting in Madam Malkin's and she took my measurements and told me to return later, so off I went.

I needed a new wand so my next stop was Ollivander's. This was going to be costly.

"Miss Black, I expected you earlier than this!" the old man said when I introduced myself.

"Oh, I was using my mother's wand sir." I said politely.

"That's not right Miss Black, the wand chooses the wizard you know. Yes, it is nine inches, holly and dragon heartstring huh? Yes I remember." He eyed me before bringing me the wands so I could try them. I finally found my match after three tries. It felt good in my hand.

"Eight inches, pine and a centaur hair core. I wonder .." he said, and of course I had to ask.

"Wonder what sir?"

"I rarely use centaur hair because they don't give it away easily . However all its wands have so far chosen great Seers." he told me looking very interested in me. I paid for my wand and bolted from the shop. There was something creepy in there. I kept well away from the other Hogwarts students as I bought my books, cauldron and Potion ingredients. I decided to buy an animal with my change but I wasn't sure what to buy. So preoccupied was I that I bumped into someone and would have fallen had he not caught me. 

"Whoa, you okay?" he said and I found myself staring at the most amazing gray eyes as the blonde haired guy stared down at me smirking. He looked very familiar."Well hello Venus." he said releasing me.

"Venus?" I asked, I hadn't noticed that there was another guy with him until he spoke.

"You know, the Roman goddess of beauty." I blushed as they went on their way. I finally decided to buy a black owl with brown flecks. After collecting my robes, I packed up all my Hogwarts stuff and headed home.

That night, uncle Remus was restless and I knew that it was because the full moon was approaching.  "Are you packed?" he asked and I nodded swiftly and he stood up "It's almost time, lock and bolt all the doors, I have to go to the forest. " he said leaving .

"Wait uncle Remus, can you tell me something? What was my dad's middle name? I-I need to name my owl." I stuttered. He stared down at me suspiciously.

"Orion."  he said before leaving .

As I lay in my bed for the last time that summer, I tried to remember where I had seen the blonde guy with the gray eyes then it hit me, it was five years ago.

Lucius Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy.

And then I couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts.