Together (Snape Fanfic)

His shout rippled through the air, adding to the already shaking walls from his stomps.

"Candice!" his voice gruffly, "where are you?!"

The owner of the name crouched silently in her hiding space. To keep herself calm - and breathing not too shaky - she receited her usual lines:

I'm Candice. Candice Black. Daughter of the late Regulus Black. Half blood with a dead muggle mother.

You expected more motivational words? Mere facts kept our girl sane. The words blurred as she repeated them over and over. The girl blocked out the world around her and focused on her facts. It's what's all she had left after all...

Nobody in the Wizarding World knew of her existence, until her uncle found her as an orphan in Australia. Sirius Black was very much alive after falling into that veil. Dare I say, the veil actually gave him his life back, after getting hit by that cruel Killing Curse. I'm sure you all know the story of the Vanishing Cabinets, how they were a pair. The veil too had its pair; hidden and forgotten in an Australian cave structure. Sirius at first believed the place to be heaven, but he soon realised how wrong he was, as through hushed whispers he heard of Voldemort taking power overseas.

By chance, he wondered into a cosy little café, that his niece owned. By chance, they recognised the signature Black's noses on each other. By chance, the orphan and the lone pup found a family.

I call it chance; Candice called it fate. She believed that they were always meant to meet. Her father himself said to her that she was only hidden until it was safe to come out. She was a witch without a wand, inbetween other magical and non-magical folks. Was it ever safe to come out?

Just over the age of sixteen, the girl is rethinking her whole life; all her life decisions; but most importantly: her present ways of living.

"CANDICE!" Sirius roared again, harshly bringing her back to reality she has been trying to forget.

She won't cry. No. She will not shed her tears for such useless situations. She promised that to herself, the first time this happened. When she was naive enough to try and help his intoxicated self.

Friends. And more friends. Deaths. A lot of deaths. That's what the Battle of Hogwarts and Voldemort's reign in general lead to. Deaths. Candice heard Sirius mumbled their names: James, Remus, Tonks, Fred and so on. To her, the names were almost unknown. Nevertheless, she clearly saw the effect their passings had on her uncle.

Would you believe if I told you that the girl wanted to learn how to use magic? It had always been her dream. One of her many dreams. Yet when she thought her wizard of an uncle will fill her claims; he snapped his wand. He refused to use magic, and no longer transformed into the beautiful black dog he had once shown the girl. Sirius also got into muggle ale. Alcohol. Who knew they had a stronger effect on wizards than muggles? Firewhiskey and butterbeer were one thing. Vodka and brandy were another.

"I will find you! You will regret hiding!" the man's voice sounded once more, determined, with a hint of fatigue.

I'm Candice. Candice Black. Daughter of the late Regulus Black. Half blood with a dead muggle mother.

Regulus Arcturus Black. Her father hated his name. He favoured his initials: RAB. He ended up in Sydney, hiding from the Dark Lord, who was - at the time - reawakening. He told noone his real name, except the muggle girl he courted and eventually married. The girl was an orphan, and a street thief, so keeping low profile was part of her everyday routines. Rab and Cathy (his wife) managed to get a fixed home, and with his riches, they were able to give a future to their newborn daughter.

Sadly, no happiness lasts forever.

Candice was just only four years old, when Death Eaters came for her father. She remembers crystal clear of those moments.

"Mommy? What's happening?" her younger self asked in fear.

"Hush sweetheart. You don't need to worry." her mother had her in her lap and held her child extra close.

Her father then came rushing back into the small room.

"Noone knows you're related to me. Make sure you keep it that way."

He gave his girls one last look and went outside to face the darkness.

The girl shook her head out of the memory. Some things were more painful than her present reality. Like her past. Although, sometimes she wishes hard that she had a time-turner and could go back to her little coffee shop. Years after Sirius' arrival at her humble abode, news came from the other side of the world that Harry Potter has finally defeated the Dark Lord. And so they moved. Her uncle took full responsibility of her (as she was still underage), and they moved to England. Candice sold her cafe - her only possession with some worth - and with that money, she aided Sirius in buying a nicer house than Grimmaulds place.

I'm Candice. Candice Black. Daughter of the late Regulus Black. Half blood with a dead muggle mother.

Ah yes, her dear mother. After her father sacrificed his life, so they had time to run and hide somewhere, Cathy had fallen ill. Candice still wondered that maybe her mother was already ill beforehand, but hid it well. Either way, it didn't stop her long awaited end to her suffering, just before her child's tenth birthday.

"Only ever trust your hero." were the woman's last words.

Candice knew who she meant, however at the moment in time, her supposed search felt useless. Perhaps he'll come. Her hero. Save her. Take her away. Oh, but who was she kidding?

I'm Candice. Candice Black. Daughter of the late Regulus Black. Half blood with a dead muggle mother.

Her reassuring whispers seemed further and further away, as she sensed her drunk uncle in the kitchen. Not even metres away from her hiding spot. Candice seized to breathe, not wanting to give away her location. But one can only function without oxygen for so long...