Sirius Black's Daughter

Chapter Twenty-three Padfoot Returns

Posted: March 12th, 2021

Major editing: August 7th, 2021
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One of the best things about the aftermath of the second task was that everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened down in the lake, which meant that Ron was getting to share Harry's limelight for once. Natalia noticed that Ron's version of events changed subtly with every retelling. At first, he gave what seemed to be the truth; it tallied with Natalia and Hermione's story, anyway - Dumbledore had put all the hostages into a bewitched sleep in Professor McGonagall's office, first assuring them that they would be quite safe, and would awake when they were back above the water. One week later, however, Ron was telling a thrilling tale of kidnap in which Natalia struggled single-handedly against fifty heavily armed merpeople who had to beat her into submission before tying her up.
Natalia, of course, denied that that happened and hit Ron in the back of the head.

"But she had her wand hidden up my sleeve," Ron assured Padma Patil, who seemed to be a lot keener on Ron and Natalia now that they were getting so much attention and was making a point of talking to them every time they passed in the corridors. "She could've taken those mer-idiots any time she wanted."
"What was she going to do, curse at them?" said Hermione waspishly. People had been teasing her so much about being the thing that Viktor Krum would most miss that she was in a rather tetchy mood.
Ron's ears went red, and thereafter, he reverted to the bewitched sleep version of events. He just wants Natalia to be more acknowledged but he can tell it's starting to get out of hand.
Natalia has also been teased about how Harry would miss her the most. But what people don't know is that they are basically siblings and the only family they have.

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As they entered March the weather became drier, but cruel winds skinned their hands and faces every time they went out onto the grounds. There were delays in the post because the owls kept being blown off course. The brown owl that Harry had sent to Sirius with the dates of the Hogsmeade weekend turned up at breakfast on Friday morning with half its feathers sticking up the wrong way; Harry had no sooner torn off Sirius's reply than it took flight, clearly afraid it was going to be sent outside again and gave Natalia her letter as well.

Sirius's letter was almost as short as the previous one.

Be at stile at end of road out of Hogsmeade (past Dervish and Banges) at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Bring as much food as you can.

"He hasn't come back to Hogsmeade?" said Ron incredulously.
"It looks like it, doesn't it?" said Jae.
"I can't believe him," said Harry tensely, "if he's caught..."
"Made it so far, though, hasn't he?" said Ron. "And it's not like the place is swarming with dementors anymore."
Harry folded up the letter angrily and put it in his pocket.

Natalia's read;

дорогой мой цветок!
Я так по тебе скучаю и не могу дождаться, чтобы увидеть тебя снова.
Вы усложняете жизнь Снайвеллусу? Я надеюсь вы.
Я тебя люблю!

(Translation: my dear flower!
I miss you so much and I can't wait to see you again.
Are you making life difficult for Snivellus? I hope so!
I love you!)

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Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing in a huddle outside the classroom door with Pansy Parkinson's gang of Slytherin girls. All of them were looking at something Natalia couldn't see and sniggering heartily. Pansys pug-like face peered excitedly around Goyle's broad back as Natalia, Jae, Harry, Ron, and Hermione approached.
"There they are, there they are!" she giggled, and the knot of Slytherins broke apart. Natalia saw that Pansy had a magazine in her hands - Witch Weekly. The moving picture on the front showed a curly-haired witch who was smiling toothily and pointing at a large sponge cake with her wand.
"You might find something to interest you in there, Granger!" Pansy said loudly, and she threw the magazine at Hermione, who caught it, looking startled.
At that moment, the dungeon door opened, and Snape beckoned them all inside.