PART ONE

"She dealt her pretty words like Blades—

How glittering they shone—

And every One unbared a Nerve

Or wantoned with a Bone—

She never deemed—she hurt—

That—is not Steel's Affair—

A vulgar grimace in the Flesh—

How ill the Creatures bear—

To Ache is human—not polite—

The Film upon the eye

Mortality's old Custom—

Just locking up—to Die."

Emily Dickinson

Nora watched as the snow fell, fluffy snowflakes dusted the bare branches of trees but melted at contact with the ground. She watched with some amusement as a fat little squirrel scurried up the tree before looking at her through the window. Her gaze glossed over until she could no long see the window or the scene outside, but instead it was as if she was speeding through a tunnel, full of burning green light. She could see familiar faces in the fire, eyes glued to her. Then the image shifted to an old house, empty and decaying. She had a very clear image of a herself even though she looked quiet different- dirty and fearful.

Nora blinked back into reality as the door opened behind her and quickly shut again. The squirrel was gone. She turned around to see her brother, Nicholas, leaning against the wall.

"What?" She asked.

"Are you ready?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

She blinked slowly, trying to understand what he meant. She looked him up and down, seeing him in dress robes.

"Oh, right. The party." She sighed and shook her head. "I just need my shoes."

"Mum hates that dress, y'know." He watched her move around the room, steadying her balance with a hand on her bed.

"Mum hates everything." She huffed, straightening up and finding her balance in the heels.

"Are you alright?" Nicholas asked, eyes narrowing. "Did you have a vision?"

She took a deep breath. "I don't know. It wasn't complete…just some random images." Nora shrugged. She knew it wasn't that simple. He knew that as well. Nora had a rather unique skill with Divination. Her parents had discouraged her from taking the subject and even more from developing her Sight, thinking she had made it up. They did not believe in it, and like most people, thought it a worthless form of magic. That didn't change the fact that she did have visions and found that her predications were often scarily accurate. Nicholas was one of the few people who actually believed her.

"C'mon. We're already fashionably late to the party." He held out his arm for her and the two left the room. They didn't say anything as they made their way down the hall and to the staircase. Once on the main floor they separated into the throng of people: family friends, colleagues, and anyone her parents thought were important.

"Nora!" A hand pulled her to the side. Noelle Zabini smiled at her. Her hair was smoothed down- it usually was when she was home. Nora always loved with Noelle's hair was in its natural, curled, untamed state, but Mrs. Zabini did not agree.

"Hey," Nora returned the smile, relieved that her best friend was the first person she came in contact with.

"Your mother seems to have outdone herself." Noelle took a sip of a gold liquid. "This champagne is top notch."

Nora laughed. "Where's your date?"

Noelle surveyed the room briefly and shrugged. "Avery is around here somewhere."

"How is that going by the way?

"He's a good kisser, so…fine." Noelle smirked, "I doubt it'll last long."

Nora shook her head. Noelle was, for lack of a better word, a player. Nora was one of the only people thatNoelle was actually herself around. Not unlike most pureblood women, Noelle was rather cold on the surface. Emotions could easily be manipulated, so it was better to prevent that. Noelle and Nora had been friends since they were children, throughout their schooling, and now found themselves incredibly close. Noelle was smart, manipulative, and beautiful, but she was unbelievably loyal and full of love.

"Avery probably went off to find Evan." Noelle said, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

"Another person for me to avoid," Nora sighed.

"Just tell him you're not interested." Noelle said.

"You know that's not the reason I'm avoiding him."

"I'd bet he'd leave you alone though." Noelle finished off her drink.

"There you are," Gabriel Avery said, coming up behind Noelle, his arm slinking around her waist. "Hello Nora."

"Gabriel," she nodded.

"Do you want to dance?" He asked Noelle.

"Sure," She said, her expression shifting to an almost picturesque look of sweetness. Nora almost laughed. The two headed off the dance floor. Nora picked up a glass of wine as a tray passed by. She took a large gulp, before making her way through the crowd. She nodded and smiled at people as they passed. She caught sight of Nicholas with Narcissa Black. Narcissa wasn't looking at him, but at her hands which were tight around the glass in her hands. Nora had only once seen Narcissa's perfect façade crack and that had been when she broke up with Nicholas. She was certain Narcissa loved her brother but in their families, love didn't get you very far.

Nora could feel her mind growing foggy, clouding her sight. She could still see Narcissa but not as she was. She was older, hands touching a face that seemed eerily familiar. 'Is Draco alive?'

"Nora!"

She jumped, eyes snapping into focus. She blinked and found herself staring into the face of Evan Rosier.

"Evan."

"Are you alright?" He put his hand to her elbow.

"Yes, thank you." She pulled on a smile.

"Good," He glanced at his feet. "I was wondering if we could talk for a moment? Alone?"

"Oh, well, Evan." She frowned slightly. "I don't know if that's a great idea."

"Please," his hand was still on her arm and his eyes locked with hers.

"Alright," she sighed. She took his hand and led him out of the main room. There were people milling about in the hallway so she led him to the kitchen. There were a few house elves mucking about. "Could we have the room?"

The elf standing close to her let out a squeak and bowed low before rushing from the room. The others followed suit. Evan didn't say anything for a moment, just hovered near the counter.

"I know you told me to give you space."

"I remember." Nora shifted her weight and leaned against the door. "I haven't changed my mind."

"I told you I loved you." Evan finally looked at her, his brow furrowed.

"That doesn't change anything."

"Doesn't it?"

Nora took a sharp breath. "Evan, I can't do this with you and you know why."

"No, I don't. You haven't talked to me and you have yet to tell me why you're doing this to us."

"Calm down. We are fifteen. We had a fling and you fucked it up." Nora shrugged.

"I know how I feel about you." His jaw clenched.

"You don't really know me," Nora sighed. "We've known each other a long time but you don't know me. You…you don't care about people Evan, just what you can get from them."

"Nora-"

"I saw what you and your friends did to Ava Allaire." Nora said.

"Why do you care about her? She's just some-"

"Mudblood?" Nora finished. "Yeah, but she's still a person."

Evan opened his mouth as if to retort, but he shut it quickly. A tense silence paused for a moment before he finally spoke. "People like her don't even compare to us."

Nora laughed humorlessly. "You're cruel, Evan...I don't give a shit if you hate Muggleborns, I really don't. But I already have a Death Eater for a brother and I don't want one as a boyfriend."

"I'm not a Death Eater."

"Yet," Nora rubbed a hand over her face. "I refuse to get sucked into this 'war'. I don't want any part of it."

"You don't have a choice!" He exclaimed, taking a step towards her. She pushed herself from the wall, and stepped close of him. Their faces were inches apart.

"Would you kill me for the Dark Lord, Evan?" She lifted her hand to his face, lightly tracing his jaw. He seemingly, involuntarily leaned into her touch.

"Of course not." He breathed.

"If I don't have a choice, then you might not either." She said before pressing her lips lightly against his cheek. Before he could say anything else she turned away from him and left the room.

She turned opposite of the direction of the party, and instead stepped through a door to the back yard. A burst of cold air bit her skin as she shut the door behind her and stepped into the yard. She carelessly kicked off her shoes and placed her bare feet against the icy grass.

"Rough night?"

Nora jumped and spun around. Sirius Black was leaning against the wall, just out of view from the door. She felt a flash of irritation. "Can't get away for a second," She muttered and let out a huff of air. She turned away from him, staring out into the darkness before her.

"What are you doing here, Black?"

"Here as in the party or outside?" He said, voice laced with humor. She could practically feel his smirk.

"Both."

"My mother is trying to 'socialize' me." He said. Nora looked over her shoulder at him kicking his shoe at the grass.

"She hasn't figured out it's a lost cause yet?"

"Apparently not." He said and glanced at her.

"She ought to cut her losses." Nora said. "Any idiot could see how pointless that endeavor is."

He made a noise of agreement. The two stood in silence. Nora hadn't spoken to Black in a long time. Once upon a time they had been friends, or at least, friendly. Their fathers were friends which had intertwined their lives early on. He'd been to her house more times than she could count but once they started school, they stopped speaking.

"Here," Sirius said suddenly. Nora watched as he shrugged off his coat and held it out to her. "What? Just because I'm a blood traitor doesn't mean I don't have manners." She cautiously took it, pulling it on for some protection against the wind.

"Thank you."

He nodded, falling into silence once more. Nora looked up at the sky, spotting Sirius- the star. "How is Andromeda?"

"What?"

"I figured you kept in touch…being fellow blood traitors and all." Nora raised an eyebrow, as she faced him. He let out a low laugh.

"She's happy." Sirius eyed her curiously.

"Is it true she had a baby?" Nora asked.

"Nymphadora." Sirius said.

"That's a terrible name." Nora laughed. "She may have avoided the star theme but it looks like Andromeda is still a Black after all, what with a name like that."

Sirius smirked and nodded.

Nora thought for a moment. "Do you want to see something?"

"What?"

"It'll get you further from the party." She watched him consider it before shrugging. She reached out and took his hand before leading him further into the yard. They reached the edge, were the woods met her yard. He stopped.

"You're not going to kill me are you?" He asked, only somewhat joking.

"Not yet," She laughed and pulled him into the tree line. Her feet followed a familiar path leading her to a slight clearing. It was significantly brighter here then the rest of the woods. There was a pond, the stones on the bottom glittered with a soft glow. "They're moonstones." She explained, letting go of him to stand at the edge of the pond. She sat down, pulling her dress up to slightly so she could.

He sat down as well, several feet away.

"I come here when I need clarity." She said. "It's safe here." She looked over at him, unable to read his expression.

"Why did you show me this?" He looked at her, almost with caution.

"I don't know. I just…well it may sound stupid to you, but I just felt it." Nora turned her gaze to the water. "The only other person who knows about this is Nicholas. He found it and brought me here once."

She paused before saying, "I feel connected to life here, to everything. I don't know why I brought you here or even why I'm telling you, but I am. I feel like I can trust you and I don't feel that very often-with anyone."

"You don't know me." He said, seemingly echoing what she said earlier that evening.

"No, I don't and I'm not pretending to."

xxx

Nora opened her eyes, blinking slowly as she came to consciousness. She rolled onto her side only to jump up at what she saw. Slowly she climbed out of her bed, the night before coming back to her. After she had shown Sirius the clearing-for reasons she could not begin to comprehend- they had ended up back at the house and sneaking a bottle of firewhiskey up to her room. She couldn't remember who had made the first move, but it hardly mattered now that he was asleep in her bed and the only clothing she had on was her underwear. With an arm over her chest she quickly grabbed a shirt from her wardrobe before sneaking into the hall. She pulled the door shut behind her and ran directly into Nicholas.

"Good lord!" She exclaimed, nearly falling into the wall.

Nicholas chuckled, "Sorry. I was just going to the bathroom." He looked her over. "Why aren't you wearing pants?

"I…I just woke up!" She hissed. He raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have a guy in there?" He made a face. "Gross."

"Why would you say that?"

"I don't want to know what my baby sister gets up to with guys!"

"No! Not that! I meant why do you assume I have someone in there!"

"Look at you! All guilty and hungover!" She shh'd him. "You're too young to be doing that… who is it? Is it Rosier?"

She gawked at him. "No!"

He made a face that clearly showed he was enjoying this. "What a scandal. My sister getting drunk and hooking up with guy who isn't her boyfriend."

"Evan is not my boyfriend." She hit him.

"Oh come on! You can tell me who it is. You know I can keep a secret." Nicholas smirked.

"We are not having this conversation any more." Nora said. They stared each other done for an intense moment before Nicholas made for the door. They struggled before he finally managed to twist the door knob and they both went tumbling in.

"You dick!" Nora said, trying to catch her balance.

"Oh my god." He said, mouth hanging open in surprise. "Sirius Black?!"

Nora quickly closed the door behind them. "Keep your voice down, would you?"

"You hooked up with Sirius Black?" Nicholas looked from her face to the sleeping boy. She opened her mouth to say something but just ended up grimacing. Nicholas burst out in laughter which was apparently what it took towake Sirius. He sat up blearily, taking in his surroundings and the siblings.

"Good morning sleeping beauty!" Nicholas laughed. Nora punched his arm, but he was enjoying himself far too much to be bothered.

"G'morning." Sirius said rubbing his fingers into his eyes.

"Aw, look at his bed head." Nicholas finally stopped laughing.

"Oh just piss off." Nora groaned.

"I really didn't think you had it in you," Nicholas smirked. He shook his head and made for the door. "Don't worry, your secret in safe with me."

Nora and Sirius stared at each other once he had left, an awkward air settling in.

"You should probably go. I'm sure your parents are worried about you." Nora said finally.

He snorted, but got up anyway. She tried to look away as he got dressed, but she apparently was not that strong. He tugged his shirt over his head.

"You can use the floo in here," she said. She gestured to the fireplace on the wall behind him.

He didn't say anything as he grabbed a pinch of floo, but before he could do anything she interrupted him. "Look, about last night-"

"Don't worry about it." He said quickly. "It didn't mean anything."

"Right…" Nora took a breath. "Take care of yourself, Black."

He shot her a quick smile and then he was gone. Nora stared at the fireplace a moment longer before letting out a sigh.

"Here's to 1976."