Harry Potter and The Girl Who Lived

chapter 9

It was the day of the Quidditch world cup and we had all set our alarms to go off early. This wasn't a problem for me and my siblings as we were used to getting few hours of sleep, however, it appeared to be a big problem for my dad. After we were all dressed, Harlem started making bacon and eggs when I realised Sirius was not yet up. So huffing, I went upstairs towards my dad's room.

I had just gotten to the top of the flight of stairs when I stopped. Upstairs, on the last floor of the house, was my grandparent's room. They were dead but the room had been used to temporarily house an animal named Buckbeak (I didn't ask so I don't know) Then on this floor, there was my dad's room, with the door shut. That wasn't what made me stop. On the other side was a door that leads to my Uncle Regulus's room. Most of what I knew about him was from Kreacher as dad hated talking about him. I went towards it and looked inside. Sure enough, the room was exactly the same. If I didn't know better I would have thought someone still lived there.

It was through this room that I and Kreacher bonded. He found me in here one time when I was little. I was cleaning up as it was dusty, then when I spotted him I made him tell me about my uncle. That was often how I spent my evenings.

Shaking away the memories, I turned to my dad's door and started banging on it. I could faintly hear him groaning on the other side and I even heard a "go away" that I chose to ignore. Finally, after a lifetime of banging, a very annoyed looking Sirius opened the door. I laughed at how irritated he looked.

'Come on sleepyhead, time to get moving. Harlem's making breakfast and we need to leave soon to meet everyone else for the world cup!'

He just sighed, making me laugh again and muttered a "one minute" before closing the door again. I waited outside just to make sure he hadn't gone back to bed again, but also to annoy him. I could tell it worked as when he re-emerged he raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes.

Once we were all fed and Sirius had his coffee, we got ready to Apparate to the grounds where we would be camping. Leaving felt like getting sucked up through a tube, and when we landed Sirius gave us all an impressed look.

'What?' I asked.

'Well, it's just that no one ever takes well to Apparating, especially on the first time.'

'Oh'

We had landed near a pile of what I could only assume were used portkeys on a deserted stretch of misty moor. I was going to ask my dad what we were doing here, as we were all confused when my answer arrived. The Weasley's as well as another man and his son arrived via portkey.

'Seven past five from Stoatshead hill,' said a wizard standing by, with a gold watch in hand. As the wizard and his companion said hello to Arthur, the other man came up to us, his son not far behind.

'Ah, Mr Black, good to see you! You remember my son Cedric, don't you? Ah, and who are these three?'

'Hello Mr Diggory, Cedric you have grown. This is my daughter Cara and her half-siblings Harlem and Alice.'

Both Mr Diggory and Cedric seemed shocked at the news that I was his daughter. It would have been quite comical if I wasn't so distracted by Cedric's good looks. Diggory was the first to break out of his stunned silence. Before he could ask the inevitable questions I turn to him and say, 'I lived with my dad till I was eight, then I went to live with my mom and two siblings. We lived in America, so that is probably why you haven't met me.'

'Oh, so will you be going to Hogwarts this year or are you just here for the world cup?'

I stuttered a little before I replied as I was not ready for a question from Cedric. Again I blame it on his looks. Behind me, I could hear my siblings snickering, so I broke out of my daze and replied.

'Yes we are going to Hogwarts this year, and probably for the foreseeable future.'

'Well, that's good. I'm sure school won't be so boring with you there.'

With that, he and his father bowed their heads in a formal nod and walked away to find their tent. I ignored my dad's blinding smile, about my comment on staying for the foreseeable future and turned to Alice.

'Did you hear that? He totally meant that in the way I think he meant that right or was he not flirting and just meant school would be more fun with more new students? And did you see his face! It is so handsome!'
Alice just rolled her eyes.

We had gotten to our tent, which was near the edge of the woods, where we were also close to the Weasley's and the Potters. Hermione was staying with Ginny in their tent and uncle Remus was staying with us. I had heard him muttering something about it being dangerous to leave Sirius in charge of three kids at an event like this. He was probably right. I was sitting on my bed watching everyone else move around, in the oddly spacious tent when my dad came over and sat next to me.

'So got your eyes on any boys back at your camp?'

His sudden question made me choke on air and I was suddenly very worried about where this conversation would end.

'Er, no why?'

'Oh no reason, I'm just curious. What about that Cedric guy. I heard what he said. He seems nice, mind you, he is two years older than you. Then again when I met your mother she said she was four years younger than me so I can't say anything.'

'Ok dad, no I'm not interested in Cedric, I barely even know him. We have had like, one tiny little conversation, if you can even call it that.'

'Yeah, it wasn't a conversation if all he did was flirt. Don't give me that look. Anyway, I'm just saying if you are interested in him like that, please be careful. As much as I love you I don't need a little you running around. I know I had far too many close calls when I was your age. But yeah, just be careful. You know how it all works right?'

At this point I had my hands covering my face, begging for the ground to swallow me whole. I was so uncomfortable. It didn't help that Alice and Harlem were laughing their ass's off at the table. Luckily help came when Remus rolled his eyes and stood in front of my dad.

'Sirius, leave the girl alone. I'm sure she doesn't want you having this conversation with her right now. Save it for another time!'

A little while later I was looking around for Harry. Alice was reading a book in the tent, and Harlem was exploring the forest. I turned past a particularly fancy tent, with peacocks on the front, when I bumped into someone. I looked up and started apologising to the boy. He looked to be the same age as me with blonde, almost white hair, grey eyes and pale skin. He sneered at me and looked like he was about to do something when a pretty woman with black hair and white highlights came behind him and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder.

'Draco, who is this?'

Even the way she spoke was elegant. I figured this must be the boy's, Draco's, mother.

'I don't know, she bumped into me.'

'And did you apologise?'

'Oh there is no need, I wasn't looking where I was going, mam. It was my fault. If anyone should be apologising it would be me.'

'What lovely manners. Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy and this is my son Draco.'

Something about her seemed familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Especially the name. Narcissa. Where had I heard that before? Realising that she was awaiting me to introduce myself, I tipped my head and said, 'I'm Cara Black, nice to meet you.'

At my name, she raised a brow and asked if I had any relation to Sirius Black. I was a little confused about how she knew my dad and was about to answer when the man himself appeared.

'My daughter I'm afraid. Before you question it, she moved to America to live with her mother when she was eight. She has come back and will be starting at Hogwarts. Oh yeah, Cara, this is my cousin Narcissa and her son. That would make Draco your second cousin, wouldn't it?'

'Yes, it would. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you Cara, but I'm afraid Draco and I must be going. Goodbye Sirius.'

'Cissy.'

After a formal bow of the head from both parties, the Malfoys left, and we turned back to the direction of our tents.