Aura was led into a carriage with a man who looked worn and was wearing patched robes and a dilapidated suitcase. Bethany jumped into the carriage as well and told the driver to get to Hogwarts immediately.

"What the hell was that thing on the train?" Aura asked, trying not to remember some of the memories it had brought up.

"A dementor. One of the Azkaban guards. Here, eat some chocolate it will help." The man said, handing them a large piece of chocolate each. Aura grew even paler as he said this. Her father had been in Azkaban and he had to feel this every day? He had been there for about a year until he was proved innocent. It must have been torture.

"You look familiar…" The man trailed off.

"Me?" Aura asked confused.

"Yes. Well, I guess I've seen so many faces that all seem familiar." The man confessed as Aura and Bethany exchanged glances.

"What is your name?" He asked motioning to Aura.

"Aurelia Snape. I go by Aura, though." She said, shaking his hand.

"I am Professor Lupin, your new DADA teacher. You said your surname was Snape?"

"Yes."

"I knew your father. I used to go to school with him, actually. We weren't exactly the best of friends." He said, laughing.

"Have any of you seen a red, black, and yellow coral snake? I lost mine." Aura asked, as Lupin furrowed his brow.

"I thought those weren't allowed."

"The headmaster said I could have her at Hogwarts as long as she didn't bite anyone. Her name is Arista." Aura said looking around.

She was still freezing inside the carriage and she saw two dementors guarding the entrance to the school. They hurriedly entered and various warming and drying charms were cast on them as they entered the school.

"I think Hermione's found your snake…" Ron said, turning around to look at Hermione who had gone deathly white at having a snake on her arm. Aura grabbed her quickly and put her in her pocket.

Aura was examined by Pomfrey upon arriving and sent to her dorm for rest. Aura didn't feel very tired though so she chose to instead sit in front of the fire and wait for the first years to come in.

When her father gave his welcoming speech she noticed something. A shy first-year was standing in the corner, looking down at her shoes and never even looking up as tears slid down her face.

"What's wrong?" Aura asked, walking over to her and putting a hand on her should.

"I don't fit in." She said, looking up at Aura.

"You do fit in. The Sorting Hat put you in Slytherin for a reason. You belong here."

"Who are you?" She asked, looking at her cautiously.

"Aura. I'm Professor Snape's daughter."

"He's scary." She whispered, as Aura laughed.

"Trust me his bark is worse than his bite." She said, getting a small smile from the little girl.

"What's your name?"

"Annabelle Johnson. I was born in America but my parents moved here to England a few years ago."

"That's nice. I've never been across the ocean, but it must be pretty cool. During the summer my father sometimes takes me to our different manors in other countries across Europe."

"What about your mum?"

"She was murdered when I was six. I saw her die, I thought my father was dead as well until I was reassured he was just unconscious." Aura said, with a faraway look in her eyes.

"My mum left my dad. She hates him and me. She was a witch and my dad's a muggle. She left when I was four, after we had moved to England."

"You're a half-blood?"

"Yes. Nearly everyone here is a pure-blood, aren't they?"

"My father and I are half-bloods as well. No one would dare mess with me. They know I have a temper to rival my father's. Would you like to meet my pet? She won't bite, I promise."

"Okay! Where is she?" Annabelle said, her face lighting up. Aura pushed up her sleeve, revealing Arista.

"Her name is Arista. She promised me she wouldn't bite anyone."

"You can understand her?"

"I'm related to Salazaar Slytherin. He was a Parselmouth and my father and I are too. I need you to keep this a secret though. I don't want the other first-years to be afraid of me."

"I promise I won't say anything." She said, reaching out a hand and slowly touching Arista's head.

"Who isss this human?"

"Arista, she isss a friend of mine. Her name iss Annabelle Johnson. Sshe iss lonely."

"I will be nice to her. Will sshe pet me?"

"Yess. Sshe iss afraid of you, though. Be very cautious." Aura hissed quietly.

"Wow! You can talk to her!" Annabelle said, looking at her in awe.

"Remember, Annabelle, you can't tell anyone. Horrible things happened last year and I don't want anyone else to be afraid of me. I was nearly blamed for those things, until I was taken as well. If Harry Potter hadn't rescued me, I'd be dead." Aura said.

"What happened?"

"A huge sixty-foot snake called a basilisk petrified several muggle-borns from different houses except for the Slytherins. A girl named Ginny Weasley was possessed by something and she came looking for me one day. She grabbed me so hard that I couldn't get free and opened a chamber known as the Chamber of Secrets. She pushed me into it and jumped down as well. She only let go of me when the thing possessing her was outside of her. She was extremely scared and passed out. I saw a diary next to her and foolishly touched it. I felt like I was being drained of all strength and I fainted. I woke up when Harry Potter destroyed the thing that possessed Ginny. We were both covered in blood and slime from the chamber and the basilisk lay dead next to me. Harry had slain it with just a sword. He had destroyed the diary and untied the Weasley girl." Aura said, looking at the girl to find her gaping in horror.

"Harry is a Gryffindor, though. I won't speak to him much this year, I'll just speak to him barely enough to be civil. Anna, the first rule of our House is, we present a united front. Always defend someone you see being bullied or hurt form our House."

"I understand. Thank you!" She called, rushing up the stairs to her dormitory.

Aura smiled at her and went upstairs to her dormitory as well. She put Arista in her tank and took out a mouse from the container. Arista slithered around the tank, trying to catch it, until she swallowed it whole.

"Thank you…"

"You are mosst welcome…" Aura replied.

She slipped into a deep sleep soon dreaming about both Harry and Draco. How was she going to choose between them when she cared for both of them? Even though Harry was something like a long-lost brother. And she still couldn't forget the handsome Cedric Diggory.