Aurora tensed at Black's use of her first name and raised a questioning eye brow at him.
"You're family," Professor Black said simply "blood related, or not. It doesn't matter to me."
"You don't call Draco by his first name."
Black barked out a laugh. "No, no I don't."
"Why?"
Black sighed and leaned back in the red armchair he had sat himself in.
"I was the outcast of the family," he said gently. A thoughtful look crossing his face.
"Like me?" She whispered.
"Yes. I was actually sorted into Gryffindor too."
"You were?"
"Yes. I was actually thinking of trying to connect with Draco once I took the DADA post here Maybe give him a bit of guidance, tell him he doesn't need to be like his father, but after seeing the way he treats you…His own sister. No, I can't. If he came to me, maybe but-"
"I'm not his sister by blood though. It doesn't matter how he treats me. He's your real family" she said softly. Green eyes looked down at the office floor.
"Doesn't matter how he treats you? Didn't I just say blood doesn't matter to me? It never mattered to me and that's one of the reasons why I'm not like the Malfoys and Blacks, why I'm the outcast."
"Why do you care about me then? I care about blood status, that's how I was raised, that's what I know!" Her voice began to rise slightly. She didn't want him to think she was like him. She was a Malfoy. She was right because that's how she was raised. Blood mattered, didn't it?
Black gave her a sad smile before saying softly "No, I don't think you do. I can tell, you aren't like the Malfoys, or other Blacks. Talk to me, tell me what's been going on? Why have you been sleeping in the Slytherin dormitory?"
No response. Sad, curious green eyes stared into gentle grey ones.
"I had a very different reaction to being sorted into Gryffindor," he tried. "I was so excited, old Minnie threatened to take points off Gryffindor right after the hat shouted its verdict. It was still my very first night at Hogwarts and as soon as the hat called Gryffindor, I had been about to bad mouth my parents right in front of everyone in the Great Hall, teachers and students. So Minnie intervened and threatened to take points away." He was grinning, a hint of mischief flashed across his grey eyes.
"Really?" She gasped before adding "Who's Minnie?"
"Professor McGonagall" he said, smirking "but don't tell her I said that."
Aurora smiled faintly and for just a moment, Black saw a hint of longing flash across her green eyes.
"So, what I'm trying to say is, try to embrace being in Gryffindor. Even if you aren't ready to talk to me yet, just know that my door's always open, okay?"
Aurora nodded.
"I'll escort you back to Gryffindor tower, it's getting late" he said checking his wristwatch.
Aurora stood up and followed him out of his office. She again had to trot to keep up with his stride. When they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, he turned to her.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"What those slimy Slytherins did to you was cruel. Don't be ashamed to be in Gryffindor and like I said, you can always come to me anytime you need. Okay?"
Aurora nodded.
Professor Black bid her goodnight as she stepped through the portrait hole.
"AURORA'S BACK" the twins cackled when she had entered and the portrait hole had closed.
Aurora offered them a fainst smile.
"This must be your first time in the common room since the first night!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Finally," Ron chimed in.
Aurora was ushered further into the common room and ended up chatting with Ginny, the twins, the trio and Demelza.
"So, Slytherins got too much?" Fred said evenly, raising an eye brow.
"Sort of."
"What happened?" Hermione asked gently.
Aurora explained what had happened with the Slytherins. She knew the whole school would find out anyway. She just didn't want anyone to know that the Gryffindors were bullying her too.
"Merlin." Ron said when she had finished.
"I swear I will get Draco and the rest of them back for what they did to you" Harry said angrily.
"It's not worth it." Aurora said softly.
"But-"
"No."
"At least they're getting punished" Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, all Slytherins who were in the common room given detentions and loosing house points. I feel like Christmas has come early" Fred said as both twins put their hands to their hearts. The group of them laughed.
"I'm going to go to bed" Ginny said still giggling.
"Same" said Demelza. "Coming, Aurora?"
Aurora nodded and followed Finny and Demelza up the dorm stairs.
Aurora and Demelza said goodnight to Ginny as they entered the first year girls dorm, while Ginny carried on to the second year girls dorm.
When they entered, the other girls were already in there and the taunting began.
"The muggle hater's back!" Romilda sneered.
The other girls laughed except for Demelza.
"Get out" Snapped Ophelia. "We don't want to room with a Malfoy, didn't we make it clear we didn't want you here the first night?"
"You did" Aurora confirmed stiffly.
"Muggle hater Malfoy. She doesn't belong with the Slytherins and she doesn't belong here" Sage shrieked.
"STOP!" Aurora and Demelza exclaimed together.
"Aw, are we hurting little Malfoy's feelings?" Romilda smirked.
"Just leave, your pathetic" Ophelia jeered.
Sighing, Aurora once again grabbed her stuff that had magically been sent over to Gryffindor from Slytherin (probably by Dumbledore) and stood up to leave.
"No Aurora-" Demelza tried gently.
"Please leave" Romilda countered.
"Would you just stop?" Demelza was beginning to cry.
"No, I don't think we will" Sage said, sticking out her tongue.
"It's alright, Demelza I'll be okay."
"but where will you-"
"I'll be okay," she gently took Demelza's hand in hers "don't cry, you'll see me in the morning. I promise."
"But-"
"No, I'm not welcome here. It's okay."
With one last sad look to Demelza Aurora left.
She used her bookbag to carry her stuff in. When she entered the common room, she was met by a concerned Hermione.
"Where are you going? It's past curfew."
"I'll be right back" Aurora tried.
"You're lying!" Harry exclaimed standing up and walking towards her "please tell me you're not going to the Slytherin common room again? What they did to you tonight was abuse!"
"I'm not, I promise."
"Were the other girls in your dorm being mean to you again?" Hermione asked gently.
How did they know that? Aurora panicked realizing that Demelza probably told them.
"N-no," Aurora stuttered before adding hastily "everything's fine."
"But is it really?" Harry challenged.
"Yes!" She was just about to climb out of the common room when Hermione stopped her.
"We're just worried. Not to mention that Pettigrew is on the loose."
"I know."
Aurora turned back around and ran.
Aurora wandered as quietly as she could through the castle before finding an empty classroom that was in a slightly more tucked away spot in the castle. She entered, closing the door quietly behind her.
After having read the articles on Pettigrew with the trio a couple of weeks ago, she was nervous about Pettigrew, but she was tired of the bullying.
She curled up on the floor in the corner of the classroom, where it was harder for her to be seen and fell asleep.
October 7, 1993
It had been several days since the fiasco in the Slytherin common room. The whole school had been in awe that the Slytherins had actually been punished. Aurora had been getting sympathetic and pitying looks from her peers, except from the girls she shared her dorm with.
The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had stopped calling her a muggle hater as well, at least for the time being.
She hadn't spoken to Astoria and Lyra since the incident. Astoria at least had the decency to send he apologetic loos.
While she wasn't sleeping in her dorm still and was instead sleeping in that empty classroom, she was eating meals with the Gryffindors and sitting with them (specifically Demelza in classes).
Today the Gryffindors had their first flying lesson and it would be with the Slytherins.
"Come sit with me!" Ginny called to Aurora and Demelza as they entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
Aurora and Demelza made their way to where Ginny was sitting.
"Demelza, I know you've already met Colin, but Aurora, this is Colin Creevey" Ginny introduced, gesturing to the boy sitting across from her.
"Hiya, Aurora! Nice to meet you, I'm in second year with Ginny." He held out his hand and tentatively Aurora shook it.
"Hi," Aurora said softly.
"So flying lessons today?" Ginny asked.
Both Demelza and Aurora nodded.
"I'm dreadful on a broom," Colin laughed,
The others laughed too.
"I think you'll love it" Ginny smiled at the two girls reassuringly.
"How long have you been flying, Ginny? I'm Muggleborn so I've never flown before" Demelza asked curiously.
"I've been on a broom since I was 5" Ginny said and then she scowled "my brothers wouldn't let me play Quidditch with them so I'd wake up early, sneak into our broom shed and teach myself to fly instead."
"I knew you did that!" Fred exclaimed coming up behind Ginny and clapping her on the back. "Good on you."
Ginny's scowl turned into a grin.
"Draco played Quidditch all the time growing up," Aurora said "but I was never allowed and I wouldn't have dared sneak a broom."
"If it makes you feel better" Ron said pausing between mouthfuls of sausage "Harry's beat him at every Quidditch game. Harry was the youngest seeker in a century because he was allowed to play for the Quidditch team in first year and Draco wasn't. It was really all thanks to Draco that Harry got on the team because he stole something from Neville- a Rememberall and Harry had to get it back. McGonagall saw and put him on the team. Draco had to buy his way onto the Slytherin team in our second year when his-I mean your father bought the whole Slytherin team Nimbus 2001s. Harry's beaten Draco at every game." He finished smugly, going back to eating his sausages.
"That's great Harry!" Aurora said, smiling faintly at him. Harry grinned back.
"I remember when he bought those Slytherins those brooms" she added softly, more to herself then to the others.
"You do?" Harry asked.
Flashback
September 1st 1992
"Well come on then," Lucius snapped at Aurora once Draco had left on the Hogwarts Express. "I have a surprise for Draco." His expression was smug as he dragged Aurora out of Kings Cross Station and into the warm Summer air.
He apparated them to Diagon Alley. As always when there was Apparation, Aurora collapsed onto thr ground on arrival, head spinning.
"Get up you foolish girl! Proper ladies don't flutter about with such clumsiness and lack of grace."
"I'm sorry, sir."
Aurora stood up and followed Lucius down the cobbled street of Diagon Alley.
They passed several shops before Lucius came to a stop in front of one. Quality Quidditch, a store Aurora knew well.
Lucius entered and placed an order for several Nimbus 2001s.
"For Draco and the Slytherin Quidditch team" he said smugly, seeing Aurora's questioning look.
Aurora nodded.
"I'll be delivering them to Hogwarts myself" he added.
Aurora nodded.
When Lucius had paid for the new brooms he snapped his fingers "Dobby!"
Dobby their house elf promptly appeared in the shop in front of them.
"Yes, Master Malfoy?" he asked bowing low.
"Take these brooms back to Malfoy manor."
"Yes, Master Malfoy, but what about the other brooms?" His tennis ball like eyes moved to look at the couple of broom parcels still on the counter.
"The girl will carry them. Now go!"
Aurora gulped as Dobby disappeared with his pile of broom parcels.
"Well, you heard me, get the remaining packages, let's go."
Aurora struggled to hold the broom parcels as they made their way out of the shop and back onto the street.
"If you drop, or destroy a parcel, you will be in so much trouble" Lucius sneered at Aurora, leaning in so his face was inches away from hers.
"Yes, sir."
He grabbed her and apparated them back to Malfoy manor.
Once again, Aurora fell in a heap, with the broom packages falling as well.
Needless to say she had been in a lot of trouble.
End of flashback.
"Yes" she whispered to Harry.
"Are you okay, you're looking awfully pale" he commented. Concerned green eyes locking onto her haunted ones.
"Yes," she said, trying to sound more at ease then she actuallu was.
"Well, we better get going" Demelza said standing up.
Aurora nodded and got up as well.
Several "good lucks" rang out as they left the Great Hall and made their way down to the Quidditch Pitch.
When they arrived, the Slytherins and other Gryffindors in their year had already arrived.
"Ah, good you're here" said a rather stern looking, but not unkind Madam Hooch.
"Now all of you, stand beside a broom that's placed on the grass. Do not touch the broom unless you have been given the instruction to do so."
The brooms had been spread out on the grass in a straight line. Aurora and Demelza stood next to each other.
Aurora couldn't help, but notice how old the school brooms looked as she waited for Madam Hooch to give them further instructions. They were noting like the shiny, smooth finish and trim of the Nimbus 2000 and the Nimbus 2001.
"Alright, now when I tell say, you're going to reach out your hand and tell the broom up and it should jump right into your hand. Practice without brooms first. Ready up!"
"Up!" The class chorused.
"Good. Now, we aren't going to mount the brooms, we're just going to get them in our hands first. Ready on the count of three hands out and UP!"
Aurora listened as her classmates around her said "up". Many of the brooms lay on the ground the first coupe of times. Demelza and Lyle had been the only ones successful on getting their brooms into their hands on the first try.
"Well done, Robbins and Avery" Madam Hooch called.
"Up!" Aurora said, but nothing happened.
"Up!" She tried again, but nothing.
"Aw, is the squib having trouble?" Lyle smirked.
"Hasn't detention taught you anything?" Aurora said through gritted teeth.
"Nah," he said smugly.
Aurora scowled before returning to the task of getting her broom to jump into her hand.
"With conviction!" Madam Hooch said to the class. "You need to mean it. Up!"
Aurora tried and tried, but nothing happened.
Madam Hooch moved on despite Aurora's lack of progress.
"Now we're going to mount our brooms and kick off from the ground. No going high, come straight back down ove you've made it off the ground."
The class mounted their brooms and kicked off.
Aurora watched in awe, especially with how well Demelza was doing.
Feeling frustrated Aurora tried one last time "Up!"
The broom jolted up just the tiniest bit, but Aurora was quick and snatched it. She kicked off from the ground and began to rise a little bit before her broom began to quiver and then fall to the ground.
It hadn't been a high drop at all, but Aurora fell onto her ankle.
"Ow" Aurora said softly.
"Oh, dear" Madam Hooch said coming up to Aurora and inspecting her. "I'll have to levitate Miss Malfoy to the hospital wing. Sprained ankle. Brown, collect the brooms and put them in the broom shed just a ways down and to the right. Class dismissed.
Aurora felt strange as she was semi levitated to the hospital wing. When they got their the Hogwarts matron, Madam Pomfrey bustled over.
"Quidditch injury," Madam Hooch informed "probably a sprained ankle."
"Very well," Madam Pomfrey tutted, "I will take Miss Malfoy from here."
Madam Hooch left the hospital wing.
'Does it hurt?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she scanned her wand over Aurora's ankle.
Aurora nodded.
"I'm afraid you do have a bit of a sprain," she confirmed. "It's minor though, drink this Potion it's a pain reliever." She handed Aurora a goblet which she accepted and downed, grimacing at the taste.
"I'm going to wrap your ankle up and put a healing charm it'll be better in the morning. Just take te wrap off when you wake up."
Aurora nodded as Madam Pomfrey got to work attending to the injury.
"Alright," she said after a few minutes "this will do off you go then."
When Aurora left the hospital wing it was time for lunch. As she came up to the Gryffindor table, Demelza yelled excitedly "Aurora, you're okay!"
Aurora smiled faintly and nodded. "Just a little sprain, it'll be netter in the morning."
Demelza looked relieved as they filled the others In on what happened during their flying lesson.
"Not everyone's a natural at Quidditch," Hermione soothed.
"Yeah," Ron piped in "I think Quidditch is the only thing Hermione isn't good at."
Hermione huffed as she poured herself some pumpkin juice.
Aurora looked over to the Slytherin table and saw a group of them with heir heads together.
Draco noticed that she was watching them and started making gestures of her falling off her broom while the other Slytherins sent her smirking looks.
"Ignore them" Harry said.
She nodded and turned away.
The rest of the day she endured "squib" jabs and falling gestures from the Slytherins and girls (except Demelza) in her dorm behind the professors backs during lessons.
Since her friends were picking up on her leaving the common room at night, she had to be more careful when she went off to the classroom she slept in. She'd either go really late after spending time in the Gryffindor common room, or slightly earlier before curfew.
She had to keep making it seem like she was okay.
She had to.
Blood mattered.
Even if Professor Black said that it didn't.
She didn't belong in Slytherin, but she didn't belong in Gryffindor.
She felt like an outcast.
She was an outcast.
Wasn't she?
But was thar a bad thing?
Professor Black seemed pretty content with being an outcast so maybe she could be too.