The next morning at Grimmauld Place, I was sitting at the large kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee. The house was quiet, except for the faint clinking of dishes from Kreacher moving about in the background. Rose sat across from me, picking at her breakfast, her gaze distant as she stared at the plate. Something was clearly on her mind.
"What's bothering you?" I asked, lowering my cup.
She looked up at me, blinking as if snapped from deep thoughts. "It's Sirius... he's been acting kind of strange since last night."
I raised an eyebrow. "Strange how?"
Rose sighed, pushing her plate aside. "Last night, after we got back from the Weasleys, he seemed... distant. Not in a bad way, just like he was thinking about something really important. Usually, he's always talking or teasing me, but this was different."
I frowned. Sirius was always full of energy, so hearing this was odd. "Maybe he's still processing everything after the trial," I suggested. "It's a big change going from being hunted to being free."
"Maybe," Rose muttered, though she didn't look convinced. "But I think there's more to it."
Before I could say anything else, the kitchen door swung open, and in walked Sirius. His demeanor was noticeably different—his usual carefree smirk was absent, replaced by a more serious, focused expression. He looked more put together than usual, his dark hair neatly tied back, and his eyes sharp with purpose.
"Morning, Shiro. Rose." He nodded at both of us as he took a seat at the table.
"Morning," I replied, exchanging a glance with Rose.
Sirius sat in silence for a moment, clearly gathering his thoughts. Finally, he turned to Rose, his tone unusually formal. "Rose, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Rose tensed, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Sirius took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers. "After everything that's happened... the trial, the fight to clear my name... I realized something important. You're the closest thing I have to family now. And I want to make sure you're taken care of—properly."
Rose blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I want to adopt you," Sirius said, his voice steady. "Both legally and magically. I want you to be my heir."
The room went completely silent. Rose's mouth fell open, her eyes widening in shock. "Y-You want to adopt me?"
"Yes," Sirius confirmed, his voice filled with sincerity. "I've thought a lot about this, and it's the right thing to do. You deserve to have a real family, Rose. You've been through enough."
Rose looked at him, clearly struggling to process what she was hearing. "But why? Why me? You've only known me for a short time."
Sirius smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in it. "Because you are my God-daughter and you remind me of someone I lost. James was like a brother to me, and I couldn't protect him. But I can protect you. I can give you the family you deserve."
Rose was speechless, her eyes welling up with tears. "I... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything right now," Sirius reassured her, leaning forward to rest a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not doing this for myself. I want to make sure you're safe, that you have the protection of the Black family name. Legally and magically."
Rose glanced at me, as if seeking reassurance. I gave her a nod, offering a small smile. "It's a big decision," I said gently. "But if it's what you want, we'll support you."
After a long moment of silence, Rose finally nodded, wiping her eyes. "Alright," she whispered. "If this is what you want, I'll do it."
Sirius beamed, his face lighting up. "Thank you, Rose. You've made me very happy."
Rose gave a small smile, but I could tell she was still overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. And to be fair, who wouldn't be?
---
The rest of the day passed quickly. Legal arrangements were made, and by afternoon, Rose was officially Sirius' heir, both legally and magically. However, there was a palpable tension in the air, like a storm brewing in the distance.
Later that evening, as we sat in the living room, Sirius looked more somber than he had all day. Rose was curled up in an armchair, reading a book, but she kept glancing over at him, sensing the shift in his mood.
"Sirius, what's wrong?" Rose asked after a long moment of silence.
Sirius sighed, rubbing his hands together. "There's something you should know. Not everyone is going to be happy about this adoption."
Rose frowned, sitting up straighter. "What do you mean?"
"There are still Death Eater sympathizers out there," Sirius explained. "People who believe in the old ways—the Black family's dark legacy. They'll see you becoming my heir as a direct threat to their influence."
"Why would they care?" I asked acting as if I didn't knew anything, leaning forward in my chair. "You've disowned them, haven't you?"
"I have," Sirius confirmed. "But that doesn't mean they've disowned the Black name. Some of them still see it as their birthright, and they'll do anything to protect their claim. By making Rose my heir, I'm cutting them off from the family fortune and influence."
Rose's eyes narrowed. "So what? Let them be mad. I'm not scared of them."
Sirius smiled fondly at her. "That's the spirit. But be careful, Rose. They're dangerous people. They may try to retaliate."
I crossed my arms, my mind already racing through possible scenarios. "If they make a move, I'll deal with them. I won't let anyone harm Rose—or you, for that matter."
"Thank you, Shiro," Sirius said, his expression grateful. "But don't underestimate them. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
Rose clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. "Let them try. I'm not backing down."
Sirius chuckled, though there was a shadow of worry in his eyes. "That's James' spirit in you, Rose. He never backed down from a fight, either."
The conversation shifted after that, becoming more lighthearted as we talked about future plans. Rose was still adjusting to the idea of being Sirius' heir, but I could tell she was starting to feel more comfortable with it. She even started making jokes, teasing Sirius about his newfound role as her "guardian."
---
As the evening wore on, Sirius made a sudden announcement.
"We should celebrate," he said, standing up with a grin. "Tomorrow, let's take a trip to Diagon Alley. You can't be my heir without a proper introduction to the Wizarding World, Rose."
Rose's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "That sounds great! Shiro, you have to come with us."
I smiled. "I wouldn't miss it."
Sirius clapped his hands together. "It's settled then. We'll head out first thing tomorrow morning."
As I sat back in my chair, watching Rose laugh and joke with Sirius, I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. The Death Eaters weren't going to take this lying down and they could attack Rose during the World Cup too. But for now, we could at least enjoy this moment of peace before the storm hit.
The next morning, we were up early, with an air of excitement lingering around the house. Today was the day Rose would officially be declared as Sirius' heir. We were heading to Gringotts to finalize the Black family vaults. The importance of it was clear in the way Sirius seemed lighter, more hopeful than I'd ever seen him.
Lupin arrived just in time, greeting everyone with a warm smile. As we prepared to leave, I noticed Rose fidgeting with her cloak, clearly nervous about the day ahead.
"Relax, it's going to be fine," I said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me and smiled softly, though the tension remained.
Sirius, ever the cheerful spirit, clapped his hands. "Ready, everyone? Let's go make it official!"
We took the Floo Network to Gringotts, and the moment we stepped out into the gleaming, towering halls of the bank, I could feel the weight of history that came with the Black family name. Goblins eyed us curiously, though they quickly resumed their business.
"Welcome to Gringotts, Mr. Black," a goblin said in a raspy tone as we approached the counter. "We have prepared the documents for the heirship transfer."
Sirius nodded in acknowledgment. "Good. I want everything ready for my heir, Rose Potter."
Rose's cheeks flushed slightly at being referred to as his heir, but she maintained her composure.
"Mr. Lupin and Mr. Emiya will act as witnesses," the goblin continued, gesturing for us to follow him to a private office.
As we walked, Lupin leaned over to me. "How are you feeling about all this?" he asked quietly.
I shrugged slightly. "I'm just here to make sure everything goes smoothly. It's a big day for Rose."
Lupin nodded in agreement. "It really is. Sirius has been waiting for this moment, for something to hold onto."
Once inside the office, the goblin presented a series of papers, each of which Sirius signed without hesitation. He had a determined look in his eyes, like a man finally reclaiming his life.
"Rose Potter, please step forward," the goblin said, holding out a small but intricate silver ring. It gleamed under the office's dim lights. "This is the Black family heir ring. It represents your position and your connection to the family. It will also grant you access to the vaults."
Rose hesitated for just a moment before stepping up. She glanced at Sirius, who gave her an encouraging nod. With a deep breath, she slipped the ring onto her finger.
The ring glowed faintly, binding itself to her, and in that moment, Rose officially became the heir to the Black family.
Sirius let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for years. "It's done," he said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
After a few more signatures from Lupin and me as witnesses, the goblin bowed. "Congratulations, Miss Potter. The Black family vaults are now under your control."
Rose smiled, her nerves finally easing. "Thank you," she said, almost in disbelief.
We left Gringotts and, as promised, headed out for a celebratory meal. Sirius took us to a small, tucked-away pub in Diagon Alley. It was a cozy place, perfect for an intimate gathering.
Over our meal, conversation flowed easily. Sirius regaled us with stories from his youth, some of which even Lupin hadn't heard before. Rose, clearly more relaxed now, was laughing along with the rest of us. It was nice seeing her so carefree, if only for a little while.
At one point, Sirius turned to me. "Shiro, I can't thank you enough for all you've done. For Rose, for me."
I waved him off. "It's nothing. Rose is my friend, and I take care of my friends."
Sirius smiled at that. "Still, it means the world to us."
After the meal, we made our way back to Grimmauld Place. The atmosphere was light, and for the first time in a while, there was hope for a brighter future for both Sirius and Rose.