Chapter Text
Artemis Narcissa Black sat at her vanity mirror with her mind running wild as she brushed her long black hair.
"Artemis, may I enter?" Asked her Father with a small knock on the door.
"Yes, Papa." She answered softly, her mercury Grey eyes looking at the door through the mirror.
Entering through the door was none other than Lord Sirius Orion Black. He and his Husband, Consort Remus John Lupin-Black, had adopted her at the tender age of 3. She was forever grateful for their love and care.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, taking a seat next to her. "Soon you will be off at Hogwarts."
She put down her brush. Her eyes were steady on the dark wood before her. How did she feel? She was anxious, yes. Excited? Most definitely. With a deep breath, she looked at her Father's face. She gave a timid smile.
"I have quite the mix of emotions." She admits, her eyes meeting his. "I am excited to begin this new chapter of my life. I am excited to go and learn magic and be with my friends through this new chapter. Yet, I am also anxious about seeing them."
Sirius knew who his daughter meant by them. They were her Birth Parents, James and Lily Potter. Old friends of his, although the keyword there is old. After they abandoned her, he could never forgive them. Nor would his husband. So, using his Lordship and his rights as her then Godfather, he adopted her as his own. Since she was three years old, he and his husband raised her. They also had help from their new friends.
"Would you feel better at Beauxbatons or perhaps Durmstrang?" He questions.
She sat on the thought for a moment. Each school had significant reasons for being an exceptional alternative.
Beauxbatons, which was in beautiful France. A country she loved visiting with her friends, Pansy Parkinson, Heiress Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, and Heiress Susan Bones, with their Mothers and Susan's Aunt. Beauxbatons was exceptional in their Charms courses and Potions studies. She had no doubt she would thrive there.
Durmstrang, located in northern Europe, was an excellent school in its own right. Its main focus is geared towards Defense Magics and Transfiguration. She was aware of their Darker nature, as they were more suited to Dark or Grey cores. Not that she would struggle with that. She had a Grey core herself.
"As well as that sounds, I do believe I should at least do my first year at Hogwarts. If certain individuals cause too many or too big issues, then we can look into transferring for the Second year." She grins. "Besides, Dray would never forgive me if I went to some other school and left him to fend off the idiots himself."
Sirius gave a bark of a laugh at that. He couldn't agree more with that. He loved his cousin so much that he saw him more as a nephew, but the boy was stuck to his daughter's hip. They acted more like Brother and Sister than as cousins.
"Fair enough. Well, pup, ready to go to Diagon then? Don't tell her I said this, but I do believe your Aunt Cissa is frothing at the mouth to take you shopping for your first wand. Your Uncle Sev, too." Sirius whispers playfully.
He smiled widely as she laughed. He knew she still struggled from time to time with the Potter's abandonment. He knew she had never felt unloved by him, his husband, or their extended family. That never could stop the sting, like a permanent scar, on her heart. Especially when the Potter family was still in the news every other day.
"Uncle Sev!"
Severus Raven Prince gave a rare smile as he spotted his Godson and Goddaughter. The two eleven-year-olds hugged him on either side. He gave a small kiss to each head.
"Hello, you two. Ready to go shopping for supplies?" He asked gently.
Many saw Lord Severus Prince as a grouchy wizard. Which wasn't completely inaccurate. However, he was more than that. He was a caring Godfather who loved his Godchildren dearly. He was a brother to many, even if it wasn't by blood. He was a brilliant Potions Master. Youngest to ever gain the mastery. His proudest moments were with his family, though.
"We are ready, Uncle Sev!"
"Then where shall we begin?" He asks softly.
"First, to Gringotts so the children can officially get their Heir rings." Lucius Malfoy states calmly.
Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, Lord of the House of Malfoy and Draco's father. Many saw him as cold and hateful against all things not pureblood. Many felt he did not even love his wife, thinking she was forced into her marriage with him. Both children knew better than that. Lucius was kind and loving. He loved his wife dearly and spoiled her often. He was very affectionate but less so in public. And it wasn't that he hated all things not pureblood; it was the idea that he was forced to abandon his traditions to make those entering his world feel more comfortable. He had no problem with them having their ideals and religion, but he was not comfortable with them making his own illegal, which was exactly what was happening.
"Mummy! I want that one!"
Sirius, Artemis, Remus, Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, and Severus all froze upon hearing a squealing, high-pitched whine. They knew exactly who that was. Soon, into view, was Rosalie Potter and her parents, James and Lily Potter.
"Let us go, children, I do believe we have important things to do," Narcissa says with her nose up. She knew the Potters could hear her.
"Malfoy." Lily Potter sneered. "Always thinking you are better than everyone."
"Not everyone." Narcissa says matter-of-factly. "My niece, Artemis? She is becoming a fine young Lady and I am pleased with how delightful she is turning out to be. Not that you could understand."
"What is that supposed to mean!" Shouted Rosalie.
"It simply means, Potter." Artemis states. "That you lack the control of a proper Lady. You shout crudely, you are quite rude to staff of businesses, you throw a tantrum when you do not get what you want, and you treat house elves in the worst of ways. Whereas I speak calmly and with purpose, I treat all business staff with respect, I take the word No graciously, and I treat house elves kindly as they ought to be."
"House elves are there to serve us. Who cares?!"
Artemis could not lie. She was secretly pleased to see the way murmurs and whispers began filling the people around the two groups. She also spotted a certain, beetle.
"House elves serve us, yes, but I believe that earns them even greater respect. If not for House Elves many of our day to day would be disrupted because we rely on them as much as we do. A happy and well treated House Elf goes above and beyond because they are cared for and loved. Take Kreacher, for example." At the sound of his name, the Elderly house elf appeared. "This is Kreacher. He has been in the Black Family for what is it Kreacher?"
"10 generations now, Miss Artemis."
"Yes. And you look very well I say, wouldn't you agree?"
Many could say they also agreed. Kreacher was wearing a uniform of sorts. It looked to be a basic set of black trousers, a black turtleneck, and the Black family crest stitched on both.
"Yes Miss Artemis. Miss Artemis and Master Sirius and Master Remus all treat Kreacher well."
"Thank you Kreacher, you are dismissed." Artemis smiles kindly to Sirius. "Papa, can we go now?I want to finish at Gringotts then to Olivanders. I am looking forward to visiting with him. He did say he had a new book on wandlore to show me."