Authors Note: Hi, again! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it means a lot. I must have re-written this a million times... gah. Anyway, review! And, of course, enjoy...


The summer break was approaching. Which meant, more tests. Aero was getting extra tutoring from Charlie Weasley. There was much speculation as to why the Head Boy- a Gryffindor, no less- would be helping out a Slytherin Princess.

Aero didn't really care. Charlie was nice enough, and seemed to be cheering Fred on in his decision to befriend her. She hadn't heard anything from George, and hoped that was a good sign.

At lunch, she talked to Mara and Slyvia and Dari. Draco was spending more and more time with Crabbe and Goyle. Aero approved of that. He was getting independent. Sometimes she'd feel uneasy with the way the three acted- before shrugging it off. Draco wasn't stupid, right?

She kept tabs on Potter, who seemed to be doing well. She'd celebrated silently when he'd gotten in the Quidditch team. Again, the numbing truth that she couldn't share her excitement with her fellow Slytherins dug it's fingers into her resolve.

Still, Potter was alive.

And today, he wasn't at lunch. This shouldn't have freaked her out. But it did.


"He's what?" Aero said intensely. Her eyes were full of fear.

"I said," Helen said nervously, "He's in the infirmary. Madame Pince says he'll be alright, but Aero!"

Helen had apologized profusely for the incident at the library. Aero wasn't sure what to believe, but the defeated look on Helen's face had convinced her.

"Yes?" Aero said impatiently.

"They're saying he faced He Who Must Not Be Named!"

Aero's mind went blank. On her watch. He'd- he'd faced the Dark Lord on her watch.

"And he's alive?" Aero gasped. Potter was dead. Oh, Merlin. No. Dumbledore would-

"W-well, yeah-"

"I need to go." Aero turned and ran. The relief pouring over her was indescribable.

"Hey!" Helen called. Aero ignored her.


She burst into the infirmary to be met with Fred and George's surprised gazes. She ran to the hospital bed. Harry was lying on it. Asleep. Alive.

"I'm sorry!" she gasped. Fred looked at her, worried.

"Aero? What happened?"

Her heart was calming down. She shook her head and gave a tense smile.

"Just checking in on the local celebrity," she said.

She turned, and left. Fred caught up with her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She felt a bubble of hysteria rise in her throat. Drunk with relief, she smiled in a way that the Weasley hadn't seen in years.

"Perfectly," she said.


"Letter for you," Mara said to Aero. Aero held out her hand and Mara passed her the parchment which had landed on the Slytherin table, in front of her. Recognising the wax seal, she frowned.

She unfurled it curiously.

Dear Aeronissa,

We have heard of your progress at Hogwarts, and your support of Draco, and are very proud that you have upheld the Lestrange name, now that your mother cannot.

While we know that your studies are important, your aunt and I would request that you return home next week, from Tuesday to Thursday.

We would not ask if your visit would not be fruitful.

I apologize for our abruptness, but the future of the family may be at stake.

Regards,

Lucius Malfoy

"Who's it from?" Mara asked, pulling her hair into a bun at the top of her head. She slid a green clip into it to keep her dark hair in place.

"Luce," Aero said, dazed. What could be so important?

Mara laughed, shaking her head. Her hair came undone and she blew a strand out of her face. "I still can't get used to you calling him 'Luce'. It's like...sacrilege!"

"It's a family thing, I guess."

"What do you call your Aunt Narcissa? 'Cissy'?"

"Yeah, actually. Draco hasn't got a nickname, though. He'd kill me."

Mara smirked. "What, the hero worship doesn't go that far?"

Aero shook her head, smiling.


"Understood," Dumbledore nodded, reading over the letter Aero had handed him. The usual twinkle in his eyes was dull, however.

Aero looked at him. "What's wrong, sir?"

He seemed to shake himself, and smiled at her kindly. "Nothing, dear child. I hope your visit is, as Lucius so eloquently puts it, 'fruitful.'"

She turned away from him, to leave.

"Ms Lestrange?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Your uncle has, shall we say, very complicated loyalties. Be aware that all is not well."

She left, head spinning.

Be aware that all is not well.


"Bye," she said to Draco, ruffling his hair. He moved away, but she could see the confusion in his eyes.

The jealousy.

"Why did they ask for you?" he asked. She stared at him, before sighing.

"I don't know. Maybe I've done something wrong."

"Yeah, right," he said, his thin face uncertain.

"Ms Lestrange," a voice said behind her. She turned to see a man with several piercings looking at her.

"Hi, Kingsley!" she said. Of course she'd need an escort to go to Malfoy manner- too many people with wands wished she was dead or resented her in the wizarding world. Kingsley was there to ensure she wasn't killed on the way to her home.

Just another measure to remind her of what an outcast she was.

She said her last goodbye to Draco, and heard a shout.

"Aero!"

"Fred?" she said incredulously.

He looked uncomfortable. "Look, I heard you weren't coming back, so I thought I'd say that-"

"What? Of course I'm coming back."

He looked surprised. Relieved? "Really? Oh. Okay. Well, bring back a souvenir."

She laughed. "You really want a stuffed house elf?"

He looked shocked. "No! I mean, a souvenir, like, a toy!"

"Sure, Fweddie, I'll bring you back a toy," she said, rolling her eyes.

Fred cursed internally. Toy? Why did he have to have said TOY? George would laugh at him if he ever caught wind of this...

"Bye," Aero said, looking amused. He pulled her into a hug, only to see Draco glaring at him poisonously.

Aero could smell something almost like freshly mown grass. Fred pulled away, and the scent was gone.

"I don't think your cousin likes me," he said, grinning.

"Dont be ridiculous!" Aero said, a bitter taste rising in her mouth. He was still a Weasley, no matter how friendly. Why did she keep forgetting that?

Kingsley coughed. "Time to go, Ms Lestrange."

Fred wagged a finger at him. "You'd better be careful with her!" he said, imitating Molly Weasley. The effect was so ridiculous Aero had to smile.

Fred watched her leave, all the while feeling Draco's burning glare driving into him like a knife.

"Stay away from her!" the boy said, sniffing imperiously.

"That's nice," Fred said distractedly.

"You aren't any good for her, as a friend or anything else, and with your family's history, with the fact that you're a blood traitor, a Weasley on top of it- are you listening to me?"

Fred wasn't. He gave the boy a distracted pat on the head -much to the Slytherin's disgust- and walked away with his hands in his pockets, whistling.


After Kingsley dropped her off beside Malfoy Mansion Aero rang the doorbell and waited. The doorbell wasn't really all that necessary, but it was a constant source of amusement for the Malfoy's magical visitors. Doorbells were just for appearances, after all.

"Aeronissa!" Narcissa Malfoy greeted her.

"Cissy!" she replied. Narcissa balked.

"Why must you call me that? A bad habit from your mother!"

"No doubt," Lucius interjected, suddenly appearing. He looked at Aero, his face closed off, his long silvery hair thrown over one shoulder.

"Join me in the study when you are presentable," he said shortly. To an onlookers, he appeared abrupt. But Luce was always like that. It didn't really count as abrupt anymore, with him. Aero grinned, surveying the dark wood floors and high ceilings.

Home.


"You must be wondering why we called you here," Lucius observed.

Aero nodded, and sat down in a seat opposite his desk. She was wearing a forest green dress which came down to mid-calf and had three-quarter length sleeves. The edges were trimmed with dark grey lace, adding to the rather gothic outlook.

"You are aware that we have always supported the Dark Lord," Lucius said pleasantly.

The study suddenly seemed very stuffy. Aero froze. Why had they called her in? Why...

"Your dear mother in particular. That is why she is in Azkaban."

"Yes?"

"How would you feel about paying her a visit?" Lucius asked.

"But she's in Azkaban! With the Dementors!" Aero said incredulously.

"I'm sure they would grant a visit to her only heir and daughter," Lucius said smoothly.

He looked like a snake.

"Tomorrow, perhaps?" he said, smiling.

Aero nodded, excited more than afraid.

She would see her mother. Her mother. Finally!

"Why haven't I seen her before now...I mean, recently?" Aero asked, suddenly disturbed.

"Your mother is...ill." Lucius said, seemingly at a loss. "Yes, terribly ill."

"With what?"

Again, the snake look. "You shall see."


Azkaban was horrible. Terrible. Aero shivered as she walked through its walls, determined not to let her eyes waver from the guard-who-was-leading-her's back.

"Ms Lestrange," he said, stepping away. She realized which cell she was in front of. Ignoring the guard's contemptuous look, she knelt down. The damp stone hit her knees and the wet moss stained her already green dress darker. Aero was starting to hate that dress. She tried not to scream when a hand grasped her elbow through the bars.

"Daughter. It has been too long!" a voice rasped. It was female. Bellatrix.

"M-mother? Bellatrix?"

"It's me, little girl...let me look at you!"

Aero stood up, nervous, and twirled slowly. She sat back down.

The voice sounded pleased. "Very good genes I gave you! I trust you're looking after our wittle Drakie?"

She'd been looking after Potter for the most part. Swallowing the guilt, she nodded.

"Good...and are you loyal to our Lord?" the voice was impatient for an answer. Watchful. It made Aero slightly uncomfortable that she couldn't see her mother's face.

Only in pictures.

"You mean...Voldemort?" Aero asked carefully.

"Do not speak his name!" Bellatrix hissed angrily. The grip on Aero's arm intensified.

"Sorry! But..?"

"Of course, my child, who else? Well?"

"I- I don't know..." Aero said, afraid suddenly. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Look," Ballatrix said. She extended her arm, bare. The Dark Mark was clear on her abnormally white skin, pale from lack of sun.

"Would you bare this for me?" Bellatrix whispered, almost gleefully.

Aero almost ran, but confusion clamped her legs in place. Ballatrix's next words sent her into a panic.

"If you don't, our darling Drakie will have to..."

Bellatrix had been told of her daughter's...tolerant inclinations. And while her daughter would take the Dark Mark for Drakie, it would bing her to the closer Dark Lord in turn. Closer to Bellatrix herself.

"Draco?" Aero asked, sounding strangely vulnerable.

If I don't take it he will...he's too young...he'd die...

The thought made her cringe.

"He will miss out on such an honor," Bellatrix said thoughtfully. "But I'd much prefer my blood to be close to the Dark Lord than silly Lucius's little prince!" Her voice went sing-song at the end.

Aero was made of stone. The Dark Mark. But Voldemort wasn't even active anymore...why did this even..? She bit her mouth closed. If she took it...if she didn't take it...

Draco.

"When?" Aero asked.

"Soon! When the Dark Lord returns!"

The years in Azkaban had made Bellatrix mad. Even so, she thought the silent tears rolling down her daughter's face were cried out of joy.

Aero felt like a part of her was dying. The part that trusted her mother- dead.

Like Fred's loyalty to her once he found out about what she was going to become.

Death Eater. Everything she'd fought against- every time she'd defended her house-

Worthless.

Bellatrix laughed.

"Luce said you were ill," Aero said distantly.

Bellatrix threw back her head and smirked."Oh, yes. I'm terribly sick!"

You are, thought Aero sadly, you are sick.

She stood up. "I would gladly bare the Dark Lord's mark, mother," she said coldly. Her heart felt frozen. She shook off her mother's claw-like fingers and walked away, leaving the guard to catch up with her. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and strode to the waiting carriage with a pride only someone who had lived with the Malfoys could ever dream to achieve. A pride that said surrender was just a means of survival.

When the Dark Lord returns...


I know, I know :( Still, can't be bad forever, right?