When they arrived at Hogwarts, Antlia felt stunned. In all her dreams and fantasies, she had never once pictured Hogwarts to be the majestic castle that stood before her. Even in the dark of the night, she was able to admire its beauty and couldn't stop staring at the sparkling reflection in the lake.

They rode in thestral drawn carriages up to the school where things on the inside was just as breathtaking as they had been on the outside. Along all the halls hung magnificent, larger than life paintings, all alive and moving, some even following them from frame to frame down the hall. She couldn't help but to stare in awe as they walked.

"You've never seen a moving picture before? Are you sure you're a witch?" Lucius scoffed at her, almost immediately receiving a stern, disapproving look from Narcissa.

Antlia was too mesmerized to let Lucius and his condescending tone get to her. "I lived in a muggle town with my mother. We didn't venture out into the wizarding world much."

Lucius looked like he had something else to say, but he changed his mind as Narcissa let go of him and grabbed onto Antlia's wrist.

"Oh, you're just like a little first year," she cooed in a softer tone. "Come on, just wait until you see the Great Hall."

Antlia just smiled, but when Narcissa pulled her into the Great Hall, all she could do was blink in shock. The ceiling was enchanged to replicate the stary night sky that clear and crisp evening. Many silvery figures floated about the room as students in house colors sat at their appropriate tables. The entire room was abuzz with the excitement as friends reunited under candles floating just below the ceiling. Just a head of her on a raised platform, several professors took their seats behing a long table facing out towards the students.

"This is amazing," she whispered in wonder as she took a seat at the Slytherin table.

Remus couldn't help but to laugh. "You make it all seem so exciting."

"And you weren't excited the first time you came to Hogwarts?" Severus asked blandly.

"No. Hogwarts is just another place in the wizarding world. I know living around other wizards isn't a familiar concept to you, Severus, but please do try to keep up." Lucius sneeared back at him, not even giving Regulus a chance to respond.

Antlia didn't pay the three boys any attention. Instead, she was people watching. She saw James and his friends take their seats at the Gryffindor table, laughing and making a commotion with one another. Peter Pettigrew was the quietest of the group from what she had noted so far. He was definitely the most awkward person out of the four. He seemed unsure of himself, as if he was really thinking about everything he did or said while he was around his friends. There was almost even a certain air of admiration about him for the other boys.

Sirius was well, interesting to say the least. He had been hostile around her, but now that he was in his element, his composure was that of a completely different individual. He seemed just as arrogant as James, if not more so, and most certainly carried a more playful, maybe even mischievous attitude. Watching him interact with his friends, he was definitely the most daring and rambunctious.

Then there was Remus. He was definitely the most reserved and had been the kindest Gryffindor to her so far. From what Antlia could tell, he was the most level headed out of the boys and seemed to be the logical one that kept his friends in check. There was something off about him though. His eyes seemed weary, almost sad. Even those kind smiles he had flashed her seemed tired. Something was definitely off about him and concerning her even more, his scent was, well, quite frankly it was odd. Something about it caused her to think about moments being back at home in France with her mother, but she couldn't really name a specific memory no matter how hard she tried.

Last, there was James Potter. He was unique in his own rite and seemed to be the leader of the group, acting as the final touch that blended together all their personalities. He was a pompous fellow to say the least, but he seemed able to reign it in for the most part to be able to function like a fairly decent person. One thing was apparent with him though-he had a very large thing for Lily Evans.

Lily Evans sat further on down the Gryffindor table, not even bating an eye at Potter as he kept glancing her way. She wasn't purposefully ignoring the boy, she was just enwrapped in her own conversations. Several different faces kept her attention, even some from other houses, but it made no difference to the young witch. She simply greeted them with that warm smile of hers and continued on the conversation. It made complete sense why Potter was so entranced by her-she radiated happiness and seemed to easily lift spirits around her.

James wasn't the only one who seemed to stare at Lily a lot. Narcissa and Severus both had a habit of briefly checking on the red headed girl from the Slytherin table. Narcissa didn't stay distracted for too long though. She'd find herself focusing on her Gryffindor friend but after seeing her familiar smile as she interacted with her housemates, the young blonde would return her attention back to those in her immediate surroundings. It was a different story for Severus however. More often than not, Antlia found him watching Lily. He was tense, carrying an almost protective air about him, but he didn't move from his seat at the table. And rightly so, for that matter. Lily was enjoying herself; she clearly didn't need Severus' intervention, and even if he wasn't fully acknowledging it, he knew that much was true.

When the sorting began, Narcissa and her friends only half paid attention, mainly just listening for which first years were being placed into Slytherin. After each of the new students had found their permanent houses, Dumbledore, the Headmaster, stood and gave a lighthearted welcoming speech. The Slytherins around Antlia seemed to pay him no real mind, only showing interest in the feast when food suddenly filled the golden plates before them.

Antlia had the time of her life. It had been several months since she had carefree options of what to eat. She paced herself though, trying to sample everything that caught her eye without seeming ravenous. Luckily for her, the first years seemed just as eager as she did to take advantage of the seemingly endless meal before them, so she didn't really have to waste too much effort on keeping up appearances.

After dinner, she followed Narcissa, Regulus, Severus, and Lucius into the dungeons where their common room and dorms were hidden away. It was cold and murky as they walked through the corridors, but once they entered the Slytherin common room, Antlia felt like she had found herself in an entirely new world. The room itself was clearly still a dungeon style space, but it was warm and inviting with it's decorations and renovated architecture. Flickering green lamps hung from the low ceiling on chains, lighting up most of the space. Half the room was lined with windows that shown into the lake Antlia had seen by the school, adding to the mystical feel of the room. Her favorite part though, was the fireplace. It was already lit and crackling to combat the cold of the deep lake waters and the chilling air of the dungeon, but it made the room feel entrancing and welcoming. Above the glow of the flames was an elaborate mantel, topped with an emblem of a silver serpent, the mascot for the Slytherin house.

"Welcome home," Regulus smiled as he plopped down on one of the leather sofas.

Antlia couldn't help but to smile as they all took their seats. She got stuck sitting next to Severus, but he paid her no mind as he delved into his book once more. Narcissa sat cuddled up to Lucius, but he was staring down Regulus, clearly distracted from the girl beneath his arm.

A few other students from the Slytherin table at dinner wondered into the common room, but many quickly retreated to their dorms. Antlia was able to introduce herself to a few of them though. Corban Yaxley was one of the first few that stopped and acknowledged her. He introduced himself politely, making small talk about the feast and sorting ceremony before a set of twins named Alecto and Amycus Carrow stole him away. Alecto had, however, given her a friendly wink before she and her brother ran off with Yaxley.

"There's still a few other important Slytherins you need to meet," Narcissa sighed as she stood up and stretched. "I think its a decent time to show you your dorm though, what do you think?"

Antlia looked up to her and gave her a small smile. "Sounds perfect." Truth be told, she was tired. All the excitement of the day had left her a little drained, and the moment she began to think about resting, she remembered Dumbledore had informed her when he privately sorted her that Hogwarts classes started prompltly the next day after students arrived. The more she dwelt on the idea of her first day of actual classes, the more she realized it was a good idea to rest up.

Narcissa's stiff smile returned before she disappeared down a hallway, trusting the French girl to keep up. It didn't take but a moment though, before she stopped them both in front of an ordinary door, just like the others that lined the corridor. "Lucky you," she grinned as they opened the door to a dorm suited for just a single member, Antlia's things already resting at the foot of the bed. "You're a single room as well."

"You don't share either?"

Narcissa gave a small nod as she watched Antlia slowly walk in. "A few Slytherins have their own spaces. Its not quite as common in the other houses though."

"Oh?" She returned curiously.

The petite blonde signed. "Look dear, I know everything is new and you have a lot of questions, and believe me, I don't mind guiding you, but it's late. I need my rest too."

Antlia could feel her cheeks growing hot with embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't meaning to keep you."

That odd smile of hers returned once more. "Get some rest, Antlia. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Daddy!" Six year old Antlia Dubios cried with delight as a young man with dark hair apparated into the kitchen where the child had formerly been twirling on the tile.

"My little princess," the man returned warmly as he scooped her up into his arms. "Where's your mother?"

Young Antlia just buried her face against the man's neck. As if on cue, a woman with sharp dark eyes and platinum blonde hair strolled into the room, carrying a handwoven basket full of empty viles and assorted containers. Her eyes fell immediately on the man holding her daughter and she stiffened before quickly setting the basket down on a counter top.

"Orin, what at you doing here?" There wasn't hostility in her voice, but her posture alone told the man she wasn't by any means glad to see him.

Orion chuckled lightly as he stroked the child's hair. "I came to visit my daughter. You haven't invited me in a bit and I was in France for the day, so I figured I'd drop by."

"You've never just been in France. Don't lie to me."

He ignored the woman for a moment as he pulled Antlia back from him, smiling warmly down at the child. "Doll, how about we go out for treats?"

The child's face lit up but her mother took a step closer and pulled her out of her father's arms, cradling her close to her chest. "This isn't our arrangement, Orion."

"Darcy," the man tsked softly. "Things change and sometimes its for the best. Just look at yourself. You're struggling to manage your daughter and your work on top of your illness. I think I should help out a little-"

"No." Darcy's reply came short and sharp.

"Mommy's sick?"

"Antlia is well taken care of. I don't need your help or your money."

"She's my child too, Darcy. And I will not have her grow up in muggle hands when you're gone. Her place is in the wizarding world, and she should be at Hogwarts when she is of age! Or even Beauxbatons! Merlin, just not around those filthy muggles."

Darcy's face turned bright red as she pressed the side of her daughter's face against her chest, trying to cover both her ears. "Muggles are people. They deserve the help Antlia and I give them. I will not allow you to brainwash my child with your superiority nonsense."

Orion stood still for a moment, his gaze still focused on his child before he looked to her mother. "There are changes coming, but I don't have to tell you that. I want my daughter on the right side of things though. My daughter will be taken care of, and whether or not you like it, Antlia is my child. She has a legacy to live up to and she will be apart of it. You can't keep her from it."

"You have two sons-go force it on them. Go home, Orion. You aren't welcome here."

He moved closer to give his daughter a goodbye, but Darcy just glared at him. "You know as well as I do that your time is limited. Don't make her suffer alone when you're gone. She has family in London. She deserve to know them." With that, he disappeared with a loud click.

Antlia had tears in her eyes as her mother released her grip and looked down to her. "Mommy's leaving?"

"No dear, not soon. Mommy is just sick."

"But you're a healer! You fix everyone else! Fix yourself!"

Darcy gave a weary laugh as she carried her into the living room. There, she sat down in a rocking chair and rested Antlia in her lap. For a moment, she rocked her as a small fire started burning in the confines of the hearth. "Baby girl, I love you."

"But why won't you fix it, Mommy?"

She gave her daughter a sad smile. "I'm trying, hun. Your momma's never going to stop trying."

Antlia immediately hugged onto her chest, quiet as they rocked. "Mommy?" She asked softly after a few moments of listening to the fire crackle. "What's a muggle?"

"They're just like you and I," she said with a soft smile as she lightly tapped her daughter's nose. "Except they don't have magic."

"That's sad," Antlia frowned.

She gave a small nod. "But most of them don't even know about magic, or don't believe in it, so they aren't sad. They just live and are happy without magic."

"And Daddy doesn't like them?"

Darcy gently shook her head. "He thinks I shouldn't let them know about magic, even when they are sick and we can heal them."

Antlia frowned, looking down at her hands. "But I like helping. No one should be sick. Especially not you, Mommy."

Darcy kissed her forehead. "I agree with you, doll."

"Maybe one day someone will heal you, just like you heal them!" She exclaimed with a sudden burst of hopefulness.

"Maybe, but even if they don't, I want you to help people, even muggles, when I can't." Darcy paused, lifting her daughter's chin to look her in the eye. "You're special, my little flower. Never forget that."