Violet Day- thank you so much for the feedback! Thanks for the note about my spelling, I must have mistyped. I know what you mean about having characters who dislike her, and I haven't found a point yet where she finds someone she really doesn't get along with, as she's quite collected, but it will definitely come! Thanks for the review and I'm glad you enjoyed the start!
I like it here in Scotland, it's colder, the air is fresh, no humidity and such. It's exactly that; a breath of fresh air, being back here after over a year and a half.
As I walk through the courtyard, I remember it vaguely from running up to the quidditch pitch, so excited with life.
"Miss Prince." I look up, and at this early hour, in front of the great door stands Professor Snape, just as I remember him.
"Hello, cousin." I say with a greeting, and his eyes narrow. "Don't worry sir, I won't refer to you as such, I just thought to let you know that I know."
"You're a couple of months late." He states, as sure enough its November, frost gathering on the tall towers of the castle.
"I only had reason to return recently. I have a message for the headmaster, along with my wish to reattend Hogwarts." I say, and Professor Snape turns his head, and opens the door with a flick of his wrist, and leads me into the castle.
The castle is empty at this early hour, and it doesn't take long to reach the memorable gargoyle.
"Cockroach cluster." Professor Snape says clearly, and I follow him up the stairs.
"Airlea, so good to see you again, I hope on good terms." Dumbledore is waiting in his chair as we stride in, and as I bow my head, my smile is pained.
"I'm afraid not, Headmaster." I tell him.
"Ah… what is her update?" Dumbledore asks thoughtfully.
"A few more days." I say, with an air of finality.
"How dreadful. I'm so-"
"I find myself in need of a home once more Professor, is the offer still standing of my returning to Hogwarts?" I question, interrupting him smoothly.
"Of course, Airlea, you are always welcome here. I'm sure the Weasleys will welcome you home, along with the Hogwarts' students." Dumbledore tells me. "Take a seat, I will fill you in on anything your Mother may have missed."
I do as he says.
"Lemon drop?" He offers, and I shake my head. "Well, last year for starters, I'm sure you know of the chamber of secrets."
"Yes, I know all of that, the victims along with Ginny and Harry. I also know of the philosophers stone in first year as well. Have the dementors behaved themselves?" I say calmly, whilst letting Dumbledore know the extent of my knowledge.
"… So far, yes. Though they have shown signs of possible resistance. For now though, it is under control." Dumbledore says. "It seems there is nothing I need to tell you my dear, except give you your new timetable. Do you know which extra subjects you
wish to take?"
"Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures." I say easily.
"Then all is done. You may move into your dorm room, I believe breakfast will be starting in around an hour, so you have time to unpack." Dumbledore tells me, and I take hold of the timetable flying towards me.
"Thank you Professor." I say politely.
"It is good to have you back, my dear."
12321
As I let my trunk trail behind me with an easy flick, it heads up to the girl's dormitory, where just as I remember, all the girls are still asleep. There's an empty bed, one I guess had only just appeared, by the window showing the dark waters of the
lake. I let my trunk unpack itself as I take off my charcoal winter coat, hanging it up as I find myself a set of Hogwarts robes. I change into the white shirt and black skirt with the green striped tie, pulling on the black robes on top. I put my
waist length dark red chocolatehair into a French plait, and freshen myself up.
I glance at the clock, reading just before six. The girls are starting to stir, and I don't feel like saying hello right now. There's only really one thing in my head.
Draco.
The friend I remember, the one I'd promised I'd come back to. I head back down the stairs, where a smaller boy, must be a first or second year is has just arrived in the common room. He takes a look at me with wide eyes, obviously realising he hadn't
seen me before.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Airlea Prince." I answer evenly.
"What are you doing here? I've never seen you before, you're not a Slytherin!"
"I assure you, I am a Slytherin. What's your name?" I ask, easily catching the enraged accusing look in his eyes. What a pain.
"Lyson Avery, what's it to you?" I let out a sigh.
"For your information I have been away from Hogwarts visiting family, I'm a third year, and it would do you well to remember it, boy." I say seamlessly, before walking past him, and with a quick mutter under my breath, I start walking up the stairs to
the boys dorms.
"What are you doing? Girls can't-"
"Silencio." I mutter, carrying on up the stairs. I note the first-years dorm, then the second, and come to the third. I listen closely through the door, and hearing nothing, with a quick alohamora I enter.
The room is filled with snores, and five beds around the room, emerald curtains drawn.
I cancel out the three beds with randomly mussed clothes around the base, which leaves two, side by side. My guess for the other is Zabini.
But it's the open book on the bedside that gives it away.
I pull the curtains open enough so I can sit on the side of his bed, and examine his sleeping face.
His pale white hair is the same as I remember it, but mussed up from sleep rather than the gelled back way I remember. His skin is just as pale, and he wears an emerald quidditch jersey. He must've gotten on the team.
I place a light hand on his shoulder, and quickly cast a silencing charm around his bed.
"Draco?" I murmur lightly, shaking him lightly. His eyes flutter slightly, and his face scrunches up as he moans slightly, before I murmur his name again and his eyes open sleepily.
"Hm?" His eyes open fully, and he blinks a good number of times, as he looks back at me. "Wh.."
"It's good to see you Draco."
"Airlea? Is that really you?" He sits up suddenly, placing a hand on my shoulder in shock. "I'm not dreaming am I?" He suddenly pulls me into a hug, and in my surprise I slowly wrap my arms around him, before he quickly pulls back.
"Bloody hell, wait, are you back? Where have you been are you-"
"Draco." I say smoothly, holding back his questions. "Why don't you get dressed and we'll have breakfast together."
12321
It doesn't take long for me to wait in the common room, pointedly ignoring the few looks I get from the couple of students awake, before Draco comes down in uniform, his shirt untucked and his tie still in his hand.
"So you really have changed your hair." I note softly, and he rolls his eyes at me, and sure enough his hair is simply parted rather than the mess of product I remember. He's grown too, towering over me really.
"You haven't seen me for years and that's your conversation starter? I know you're antisocial, but honestly." He chuckles and I smile, following him out of the common room.
"Not years Draco, I wasn't gone for two or more." I say easily, and he just raises his eyebrow.
"This early breakfast better be worth it Airlea. I need the full two hours of catch up." He tells me sincerely.
"Why do you think I broke the school rules?" I question teasingly.
"You'll have to teach me that."
"No chance, Malfoy." I reply easily, as we turn into the hall.
There aren't many students at all; none at the Gryffindor table, three at the Ravenclaw table and two at the Hufflepuff. Two at the Slytherin table, one which I recognise.
I chuckle lightly and Draco glances at me.
"What is it?"
"That boy over there had a little fit about me being an imposter this morning, Lyson Avery, I believe it was." I say amused.
"Really now, causing an uprising the second you get here, honestly do I have to take care of everything for you?" Draco leans closer to me teasingly, before slinging his arm round my shoulders, giving an obvious smirk/sneer to the poor second-year, whose
brow furrows deeply before he stares worried at the table.
"Draco, you haven't changed one bit." I murmur to him as we sit down, food appearing in front of us. I take the tie from his hands and lean over to fold his collar up and slide it round his neck.
"I'd say the same, but I have a feeling something has changed." He replies, and I look up at him tersely as I finish tying his tie.
"I told you I'd explain if I could when I got back, didn't I?" I say, racking my memory. "I met my mother."
"What? That's why you left?" He asks, visibly shocked. "I assumed your parents were…"
"Yeah, so did I. No one ever told me about her, though I know my fathers dead." I tell him honestly. But this is the part I have to lie about. "She had an illness you see, Seryosis."
"But isn't that… terminal?" He asks, and I nod.
"She could be dead now, or at least in a few days." I say, keeping my eyes firmly on my food as I feel his gaze on me.
"Airlea, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It was easy to accept, since it was what I'd believed all along. The reason I went away was because she wanted to know her daughter, before she died, and she knew she only had a year or so. And I… I wanted to know my mother." I say softly.
"We didn't do much, she basically just home-schooled me all this time… but it was nice."
"God Airlea, this is horrible." Draco says, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm glad I'm back though, I never thought I'd say it but I missed friends." I say, scoffing. "And I'm extremely glad at the moment that we've almost carried on straight off where we left, I was terrified of having to make new friends all over again."
I say, and Draco pulls me into a one armed hug.
"No chance of that, I've got my homework cheat back!"
"Hey! Who knows, maybe I've fallen behind!"
"I sincerely doubt that."
"So what have you been up to? I saw your jersey, you get on the team?" I question, and he smirks proudly.
"Naturally, the whole Slytherin team is on nimbus 2001, we'll win for sure this year! The championship ended up cancelled last year." Draco says glumly. "Wait, did you ever fly while you were away? I'm sure I could get Flint to give you a trial, you'd
replace Bletchly for sure!"
I consider it as I chew and swallow my bite of toast.
"I guess… I did fly a little, but I don't have a broom. Plus I'm sure I'm rusty, and I've never exactly played before." I say honestly.
"That's fine, the brooms belong to the team, not the players, so when you get in you'll get a nimbus 2001!" Draco says excitedly.
People have started filtering into the great hall, and it isn't long before the girls of Slytherin come walking down.
"Drakie! What are you doing awake so early?" I hear the voice from behind me, and recognise it I'm surprised to see the grin on Draco's face.
"Well look who's back? My best friend's decide to grace us with her presence once more!" He says easily, and I glance back lightly to see Pansy Parkinson, staring at me, obviously irritated.
"Prince? Is that you?" She questions and I give a small nod, before smiling as I see Tracey behind her.
"Airlea? Oh my God your back! Malfoy said you were returning but, it's been over a year!" Tracey says as she sits down next to me insistently.
"Closer to two really. It was an insistent call, I went to live with relatives in Oman." Kind of in Oman.
"The Middle East? Wow that's crazy, are you coming back to school though?" She asks as I hear the growing whispers from around us.
"Yeah, joining back in." I confirm.
"Shouldn't you join first year though, you never completed the year, let alone second year. I doubt you'd keep up with us." Pansy says sneeringly, and I turn to her, my face straight.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." I say nonplussed, and cast a glance over the whispers going over the rest of the hall as the boys start coming down.
"Well I've finished eating, so…" I trail off, standing up, wanting to avoid any big gathering and my plate disappears. Draco stands up too with a smile, and I start walking away.
"Drakie? Aren't you going to have breakfast with me?"
"I already ate." He answers carelessly, slinging his arm round my shoulders, smirking at me as I raise my eyebrows.
"Still fighting off the engagement thing?" I question softly once we're out of the hall.
"Definitely." He mutters.
"Actually Draco, there's something I have to do, and I have a feeling you won't want to be there." I say warily.
"Hmm?" He questions, and we meet eyes. "Oh, the weasles… yeah… I guess I'll see you back at the common room? I'll take you to class,what subjects did you take?"
"Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures." I answer.
"Aw, I do divination instead of Arithmancy… but we have Ancient Runes first anyway. It's good to have you back Airlea." He says with a smile, hugging me lightly and I'm slightly surprised as it takes me a few seconds to hug back.
"You too Draco." I say softly, before we part ways.
12321
It was easy to see the Gryffindor table had been the most empty, so I can hope to assume the Weasleys are still in Gryffindor tower. Fred and George will still be here, fifth year now, and Percy seventh. But more importantly Ginny will now be a second
year, and not to mention Ron, still close friends with Harry.
I reach the Fat Lady's portrait and sit on the closest step and wait for them.
"Slytherin girl, what are you doing? Get out of here honestly, this is Gryffindor territory!" The Fat Lady whines at me and I mentally roll my eyes.
"I have nointention to breaking an entry, I am merely waiting for some people." I state. "In fact, have any of the weasleys, you know, ginger hair, left yet?"
"Oh you mean the head boy? Yes he left not too long ago, the rest haven't come out yet." She says as she swings open for some first-years who jump slightly as they see me. So much for bravery.
"Percy's head boy… not surprising I suppose." I murmur to myself, and then the portrait door opens once again, and out steps a ginger girl who looks round at me surprised.
"Airlea? Airlea is that you? Where have you been? I thought Fred and George were just playing when they said you'd disappeared, but then they came home from Hogwarts and you weren't with them!" She says, shocked, bringing me into an immediate hug.
"I went to visit relatives Ginny, they live far away in the Middle East." I tell her softly.
"I was so worried, but Mum and Dad said not to worry but they didn't tell us anything!" Ginny says, her eyes slightly watery. "Come on, Fred and George will be dying to see you!"
She take my hand and pulls me over to the portrait.
"Flibbertigibbet." Ginny says strongly to the Fat Lady.
"But- but she's a Slytherin, what are you doing girl?!" The Fat Lady wails and I give her a short smirk as Ginny pulls me through.
"Fred, George! Airlea's back!" Ginny yells up the stairs to the boys' dorms,and a shout comes back down.
"Quit screaming Ginny, what are you going on about?" It's not Fred or George, but Ron.
"Hello, Ron." I say with a smile, and his eyes grow wide as he walks down. He's grown taller, and behind him follows Harry, who just looks on slightly surprised.
"What? You weren't joking Ginny…" Ron mutters as he comes up and hugs me. "You gave us a right scare, disappearing like that! I thought Malfoy had kidnapped you but then he even told us you'd left Hogwarts! Bloody git!" Ron says as he hugs me, and I internally
roll my eyes, of course he'd turn a reunion into a jab at Draco.
"As I was just telling Ginny, Ron, I was visiting relatives in Oman in the Middle East." I say.
"But why didn't you write?" Ron asks. "Wait a second, I'll get Fred and George-"
"Our little baby! WE'VE MISSED YOU WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" I hear their voices as they run down the stairs and I don't have time to prepare for them to tackle me into a hug, lifting me off the floor.
"Why are you so much taller?" I strangle out as George's arms are tight around my neck.
"You've grown too!"
"Yeah, you're much prettier than before!"
"Not that you were ugly to start with but-"
"You've grown! Did we hear something about Oman? What the bloody hell were you doing there?" George says, releasing me from his grip.
"Turns out I have a few relatives there, a few second and third cousins mostly." I say with a shrug.
"Why didn't you write then, or visit? We didn't even know where you were!" Fred complains.
"There's a war going on over the flight zone, so communication only really works through Floo, which is very expensive to travel all the way back, plus Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur knew where I was." I say.
"But they didn't tell us!" Ginny whines, and I smile.
"Don't worry, I'm back for good now, my relatives dispersed. I promise to make up the time, okay? We're all staying here for Christmas right?" I say, and there's a chorus of agreement.
"It'll be a Weasley Christmas at Hogwarts then!" Fred cheers.
"You guys should go to breakfast, there isn't long till class." I say, and the twins and Ginny leave.
"We have to wait for Hermione anyway or she'll kill us." Ron says and I smile.
"It seems like you've stayed with smart friends then." I note, nodding to Harry.
"Of course, us Gryffindors are smart naturally… hang on what are you doing in here?!" Ron realises and I smirk, cocking my head slightly.
"Ginny brought me in here to say hello. Anyway, don't you change your passwords?" I say and Ron just frowns.
"Oman isn't too far from Egypt is it?" Ron asks, and I look at him questioningly.
"Not really." I say.
"They won a family trip to Egypt over the summer, sounded like a load of fun." Harry tells me and I nod.
"Scabbers got scared in the pyramids though, and all the cats of course!" Ron tells me. "Oh and guess what Hermione's done? She's got a cat, monstrous thing!"
"She's not the only one." I say with a smile.
"What?"
"I got a kitten- she's an amber tabby, her name's Aspen and she's gorgeous!" I gush over my kitten and Ron just gapes.
"You've done it now, he'll never forgive you." Harry says to me and I just raise an eyebrow, amused.
"Look here's Hermione, let's go to breakfast." Ron says grumpily as Hermione comes down the stairs. "And you, get out of our common room!"
I follow them out with a light smirk on my lips, before parting ways, going back to the common room to get my school stuff.
I go up to the dorms and let Aspen curl round my neck as I pick up my books, and head down to the common room, where Draco just comes down at the same time.
"Is that a cat?" He asks surprised, and I smile, stroking her head.
"This is Aspen, my little baby." I say sweetly, and Draco steps forward hesitantly. He reaches out to her on my shoulders, and she doesn't move an inch until he places his hand where mine was just stroking. She keeps her gaze fixed on his, before settling.
"Ha, she's pretty." Draco says, before I lift her off my shoulder and let her pounce onto the floor and look around the common room.
"Of course she is, she's mine. Ancient Runes?"
"Let's go."
And she's back! From now on this will track Airlea through third year and probably fourth year as well. I know this was a slow start, but I've finally got to the place I can really start writing, and I plan to establish Airlea as a thoroughly accomplished wand-user. Anyway, read and review as always, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter!
