Chapter Two, A Fresh Start

Dahlia woke with a soft groan as the sun shone on her face through the minute gap in her curtains. Groggily she looked up and found her father, Sirius in his Padfoot form, curled up fast asleep on her bed. She was confused for all but a moment until the nightmares of the previous night hit her, causing Dahlia to groan despondently, running a hand through Padfoot's black shaggy fur to calm and centre herself as she looked around her beautiful room. Like the rest of the room it was styled in a Georgian-Victorian but modern style but her room also had a touch of French elegance that she knew Zoe, Alice and Rosie had decorated.

The walls were a light blue panelled walls with a white border, the curtains over the large bay windows were a peach colour to match the curtain hanging around the Queen size four poster bed, the wood stained a nice olive colour that went well with the light green cushions on the bed and the bench at the foot of the bed. The floor was a shiny mahogany laminate flooring that matched the doors and the bedside table, a large fluffy white rug took up most of the room. A black chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling, white wall scones sat on either side of her bed. On the right hand side of the bed just before the door to the bathroom was a off-white French side table standing in front of a gold gilded mirror with a lamp on top.

The bathroom door was behind the bed, her closet door on the other side of the bed, the windows with a window seat on the left hand side of the room and the door to the hallway was at the front of the room near her white sofa and armchair, and a small, an oak bookcase holding her non-school related reading material, soft baby blue rug which sat in front of a silver fireplace).  The bathroom was decorated in whites, creams and soft greys. The floor was a white and grey diamond shaped marble tile, the walls a crisp, fresh white and cream blinds over the large windows that overlooked the vast grounds. Large off white cupboards holding a white marble sink took you most of the north-facing wall surrounded by a large mirror with silver wall sconces. A vase holding fresh pink roses from the garden stood on one side of the sink, on the other was a bottle of hand soap and a bottle moisturiser, a bottle of mouthwash and a holder holding a toothbrush and toothpaste.

The drawers were filled with replacement hand soaps, hand and body moisturiser, shower gel/ shower cream, wash mitts, shampoo and conditioner and deodorant. A large shower stood behind the door taking up most of the wall there with a built-in rack and seat. In between the white porcelain toilet and the cupboards was a metal towel rack holding dark grey Egyptian cotton towels, face, and hand towels that heated with magic. In front of the windows was a large bathtub with a shower head attached to the taps, a white fluffy stool sat beside the bathtub and against the wall facing the bathtub was a wicker basket for dirty laundry. The walk-in closet had shocked Dahlia when she first arrived at the Manor. The ceiling of the closest was a nice cream colour which matched the laminate flooring and the wooden closet shelves.

A gold golden crystal chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling bringing a vast amount of light to the one window room which had a light blue blind to cover it. A cream, French Aztec patterned rug covered the middle of the room, a royal blue bench sat in the middle of the room with a small golden table holding a cast of white roses beside it. In a corner at the top of the room opposite the built in space for her school trunk and other bags was a white French dressing table with a large three point mirror which folded up stood on the dressing table against the wall, a matching wooden stool with a royal blue upholstered seat to match the bench and numerous drawers holding all sorts of makeup, makeup brushes and even perfumes. The room held more clothes than Dahlia had ever owned in her life. There were large chest of drawers holding lacy underwear, swimwear and pyjamas, built in spaces for all sorts of clothing, shoes and even accessories and jewellery.

"I'm sorry you had to sleep in here, Dad, and as Padfoot." Dahlia apologised, shamefaced.
Padfoot opened one grey eye to stare at his adoptive daughter for a couple of seconds before he jumped off the bed, changing back into himself mid jump.
"Never, ever, ever apologise for having a nightmare, pup." Sirius said gently but firm as he took her into a tight comforting hug that radiated love, safety and acceptance. "Not after all you've been through. And you're not alone anymore. You have me, your friends, Remus, Jasper and all of the Cullens who will do anything to see that beautiful smile on your equally enchanting face." He declared dramatically, earning a small giggle which he counted as a win.

"There it is." He said happily. "Now, why don't you get your crazy elf, Dobby, to run you a nice relaxing bath before joining me for breakfast. Afterwards I'll run through the Black and Potter portfolios with you. We have some more Heiress lessons to complete, I want you to be prepared for everything."
"Thanks Daddy." Dahlia said gratefully, hugging him tightly as she buried her head in his chest as they heard the bath running.
"You're welcome baby." Sirius said softly, kissing her head while running his fingers through her hair.

Cursing his ex-friend in his mind as he felt her trembling against him from the nerve damage. "Take as long as you need and don't forget to take your potions and let Dobby help you. The trembles will stop soon, I promise. Do you need my help?" He asked concerned, hands held out ready to catch her if she fell as she slowly climbed out of bed, forcing her trembling limbs to cooperate which only intensified the shaking. "Breathe Dahlia, breathe." Sirius coaxed, helping his daughter get her breathing back under control.
"It's okay, I can do it." Dahlia finally answered, now that she was sitting on the edge of her bed and could take a moment.

"You're doing so well pup. It's only been a couple of weeks. Don't push yourself and set yourself back further. You are doing so well, I'm proud of you." Sirius said proudly, his whole demeanour showing how he felt, not just in his voice.
"You are?" Dahlia asked, tears in her eyes.
"Of course baby." Sirius promised, kissing her forehead.
"I love you, Dad." Dahlia said softly, shyly.
"I love you too, baby." Sirius said choked up, hugging his daughter tightly. "Now, let's get you to the bathroom for that nice warm bath." He helped her stand on shaking feet and made the slow procession around the bed and into the bathroom.

Despite Dahlia's face flushing with embarrassment Sirius never uttered a word on how long it took instead he talked about the investment ideas she had suggested the day before one of which had been the joke shop Fred and George were setting up, which she had invested in by giving them her Triwizard winnings. When Sirius and Emmett had found out they immediately wanted to invest as well and wrote to Gringotts requesting it, the Goblins quickly set everything up and notified the twins, causing the others to groan in despair.
"Dobby can helps Miss Dahlia now's, Master Dogfather." Dobby declared from the bathroom doorway making Sirius literally bark out a laugh. He loved it and never corrected him. "Head elf Tarak, has breakfast ready in the dining room."

"Thank you Dobby." Sirius said gratefully. "I'll see you in a bit, sweetheart." Sirius said, kissing her forehead before heading down to the dining room.
"Missy Dahlia, let's get you in the bath and potions taken." Dobby said firmly, grasping her hand gently leading Dahlia into her en-suite bathroom.
"Thank you Dobby." Dahlia sighed, relaxing into the warm water as the potions took effect as Dobby washed and conditioned her long, blood red tresses.

Much like Dahlia's bedroom, the rest of the Manor kept with Georgian-Victorian style but with a modern twist. The kitchen otherwise known as the house-elves domain had cream coloured walls, mahogany drawers, cupboards and sideboards with grey marble worktops, mahogany and oak laminate flooring, wall sconces hung from the ceiling, large windows that looked out over the grounds filled with an assortment of magical creatures that had been let out of their stables and into the section of the grounds created for them, away from the flower gardens and the gazebo, and a thick oak door led out into the garden.

The family dining room, much smaller and intimate than the formal dining room, had white walls, Aztec pattern blinds over the windows which held a white window seat beneath, and light oak laminate flooring. A long oval shaped, glass top dining table sat in the middle of the room with several white upholstered chairs surrounding it. To the left of the room was a small black marble fireplace with several candelabras in front of it and a small potted plant, a crystal chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling. A painting of a forest made by Euphemia Potter née Braithwaite - Dahlia's paternal grandmother - hung above the fireplace, and to the right of the room was a white dive board with a black marble top held a potted fern plant and a bronze lamp with a cream lampshade.

The Grand Hall held numerous portraits of Black Ancestors with a large ornate fireplace that was connected to the Floo Network. Whereas, the portraits of Dahlia's parents and grandparents were in the library to avoid fighting with the blood supremacists. The manor consisted of three studies. One for Carlisle where he often completed paperwork from the hospital, one for Sirius which held both the Potter and Black portfolios and everything he'd need as Lord Black, and one for Dahlia where she could complete her homework in peace if she didn't want to use one of the desks in the library. All of the studies were designed in much the same way; the only difference was the contents they held. The walls were a dark olive with tall mahogany bookshelves holding Dahlia's school books and extra course books.

The pine laminate flooring was covered mostly by the white and dark grey floral rug (Sirius and Carlisle just had a grey and white rug respectively). A window overlooking the rose garden was nestled between the tall bookcases with an oak desk sat before it with a comfy cream  desk chair. The desk held a black lamp and a few photos that couldn't all be placed in her bedroom or within the living rooms. And finally a brown leather ottoman sat next to one of the bookcases on the right hand side of the room, and a grey crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

The library walls were painted a calming sherwood green which went well with the white ornate ceiling, oak laminate flooring and the numerous rows of floor to ceiling redwood bookcases. Portraits of Euphemia, Fleamont, James and Lily Potter were above the large ornate redwood fireplace. Wall sconces sat dotted around the room bringing a warm atmosphere to the large room. Two Aztec pattern rugs covered the middle of the room beneath the desks and the sofas. The two oak desks with white desk chairs sat in front of the large window which could be covered with redwood slatted blinds and green velvet curtains. In front of the fireplace sat two green leather sofas with red plump cushions, a small bronze table sat between them and a foldout redwood sideboard stood south of the sofas but facing the fireplace with a blue marble vase sat atop it.

The music/ family was located at the back of the house with a sliding French door that led out into the rose garden with a white patio with garden furniture in perfect condition. The walls were panelled and in a mint colour, the floor a light oak laminate flooring with a dark beige rug under the black grand piano with matching black leather bench near the large bay windows and a fluffy beige rug in front of the white ornate French fireplace. White sideboards sat against the walls and on either side of the fireplace holding candelabras and photos, a mahogany clock sat on the mantelpiece and a mirror was on the wall above, a bronze chandelier hung from the ceiling. Three white sofas with colourful cushions sat in front of the fireplace with a mahogany coffee table between them and matching side tables sat next to the sofas.

The large living room was decorated with soft dove grey walls, dark oak laminate flooring, and large bay windows looking out over the grounds. Two plush grey sofas with pink and grey cushions and a matching chair all sat facing a white fireplace. A black coffee table sat between the sofas and armchairs, and a grey and blue rug sat beneath the coffee table. On either side of the fireplace held black wooden side tables holding vases, candelabras and photos. On the walls above the fireplace and above the table were some paintings that Alice and Esme had painted. A large crystal chandelier hung from the middle of the ornate ceiling bringing light to the room with the wall scones dotted beside the fireplace and along the walls.

As for the smaller living room which was more formal and designed for hosting guests and was decorated as such. The ceiling is stark white which a crystal chandelier hung from, Champagne patterned walls with a beige trim around the top of the walls and a soft cream carpet. An ornate fireplace sat at the top of the room with a marble bottom and mantlepiece, sitting before the fireplace was a glass top coffee table with a grey shaggy rug beneath. The east facing walls were taken up by large bay windows that looked out over the rose garden when not covered by beige velvet curtains. Besides either of the windows were soft beige armchairs with purple and grey cushions and small glass top side tables stood on either side of the armchairs, against the west facing wall was a beige sofa with the same cushions. And finally against the south wall beside the door was a glass top side table holding a lamp with dark beige lamp shade and a vase of the freshest roses.

***

After a relaxing bath Dahlia had a little more strength and control over her muscles thanks to the potions and was able to get dressed without aid and embarrassment. She had changed into a blue button up shirt, a white pleated skater skirt, white knee-high socks and cream ankle boots. After she'd finished getting dressed a knock on her door had announced Zoë who offered to do her hair and makeup for her which Dahlia had happily agreed to. So five minutes later, she had her hair up in a braided ponytail, the braid being a fishtail braid, the ends were curled and a few strands framed her face, and her makeup consisted of a Smokey eye eyeshadow, winged eyeliner and mascara and rose pink lipstick.
"There we go. You look beautiful, Jasper won't know what hit him." Zoë declared happily.
"Thanks Zo." Dahlia said happily hugging the other female after she'd put on her Heiress rings.

"You're welcome, Lia. Now, let's get you downstairs for some breakfast as I hear you have a busy day ahead of you." She teased, helping the teenager to her feet and down the winding staircase and into the dining room. Zoë couldn't believe how strong she was for all she's been through, but Dahlia also reminded Zoë of herself and she swore to herself she will never let anymore harm come to the young witch. Maybe she would convince Jasper to train both Sirius and Dahlia in self defence. It would come in handy and would certainly be a shock to the witches and wizards who thought it was beneath them and relied heavily on their magic. She will not let any harm come to this father and daughter duo. Not if she had any say in it.