Author's note: Please be aware that I own ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, everything, except my made OC(s), belongs to the wonderful Lady J.K. Rowling. THIS IS A TRIAL RUN! I would very much like to hear your thoughts. I was originally never going to upload this fiction. However, I know it was something I was looking forward to sharing. This is a Sirius Black/OC. So, welcome back readers! I hope you enjoy this one as much as you have the first 2 Harry Potter stories! :) Do enjoy, this is the PRE-Harry Potter Era, so it's going to be a bit. If she survives long enough. Keep your heads up and Enjoy!
Also, I'd like to point out that "The Marauder's Fox" 1 and 2 has been UPDATED on a different fiction site, I have not had the opportunity to make the changes here as of yet due to having to do it all by hand since I cannot transfer files from one location to another, and I've seemed to have found more Correction errors which need to be tended to as well. So I deeply apologies for the long length of time it has taken me to get anything updated fr the finished work which needs to be fixed. If you'd like to read the updated versions on 1 and 2 of Marauders Fox, you can check it out on AO3, my username is the same as it is here. Tried making it easy for you guys lol :) Have a great day!
Chapter 4
Morning came like any other day she'd woken to, only this time there was no laughter downstairs, no one calling up to her to wake up or the smell of breakfast to wake her up, no Nesrin or Louie bouncing on her bed to wake her up with the dogs or her Lynx kit trying to play and chew on her long platinum blonde curls.
She'd had the best dream possible as she slept. The Haven was still intact, her godmother was laughing in the kitchen with her wonderful husband holding her in his arms as she cleaned dishes, Louie had been playing his wizard chess with his friend, Colin Thomas and River Shackelbolt while she and Nesrin had been laughing and playing with the animal's and Aurelia had been forced to climb the Lynx's wall in their home to get the kitten unstuck while he cried from being so high up.
Waking up to the empty room and the silence of the Tower, Aurelia sighed sadly as she uncurled herself and rolled onto her back to look up to the bed's curtains. With another sad sigh of realizing she had been simply dreaming, she rubbed her tiered face to wake up a bit more, yet the sudden and gentle scream of an owl startled her to sit up right and looked straight at the foot of her bed. Blinking with confusion as she saw the large trunk, the stack of books, a cauldron, a brown paper bag that likely had more things in it as well as the large cage sitting upon a chair beside the trunk with a clean burgundy dress robe and black flats and stockings. Completely speechless, Aurelia slowly got out of bed and approached the owl's cage that was now crying and nipping at the lock. The gold key hanging beside the lock for her to easily find. As she unlocking the cage, Aurelia opened the front gate and let the dear creature out. She was momentarily shocked when it fluttered its large wings and perches itself on her bedpost and did a happy shake. Softly giggling at the cuteness of the owl, she slowly held her hand out to it and let it reach out for her hand, rubbing its head against her offered hand. "Well, you're very welcome. What is your name I wonder?" she asked the Owl.
"Whatever you wish to name him," Minerva said from behind her at the dorm's door.
Startled, Aurelia sighed with a hand over her small chest at her fast-beating heart rate, "Professor, you startled me."
Smiling at the girl, McGonagall approached her and the Owl, petting the creature with a smile, "I can see. Well, breakfast will be down in the great hall, as usual, I figured I'd come up and get you in case you did not know where it was. Dress and I will see you in the Common Room downstairs. The washroom is right through there for you to brush your teeth and everything else if you need." She informed the girl. Nodding, she excused herself and left the girls' dorm room, and walked down to the Common room.
Sighing softly, Aurelia grabbed the dress, stockings, and shoes and searched for the toothbrush and toothpaste. She took some time for herself to dress and brush her teeth and ran her fingers through her hair to clean the curls up a bit before walking to the Owl and held her arm out for him. Her smile grew as he came to her without question, loving the soft pet he got to his neck before they walked down to the Common room where McGonagall waited for mainly Aurelia.
The smile on McGonagall's face at seeing the Owl walking his way up Aurelia's arm and rested upon the girl's shoulder had her smiling with happiness. She had mainly wanted to get the girl her school things so she was prepared, but the need for an animal was a requirement for the students regarding transfiguration classes, but she knew the girl needed someone that could be some form of emotional support for her. She'd gone through a traumatizing event, many events really, and coming back in time about twenty years further than was planned was undeniably stressful.
Yet, McGonagall couldn't help but think that maybe it was for the better in the long run? Only time could tell them the answer. "Come along, Professor Dumbledore will be discussing things with you as well."
With her nod of understanding, McGonagall escorted Aurelia to the Great Hall where the rest of the Professors were waiting. Breakfast wasn't large or massive like it would be when everyone would be there. It was small and simple, honestly, it was a breakfast she was used to and loved. Biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs, a few cereal boxes and bowls, and plates with milk and juice. The Professors had sat at their usual table, called the High Table, on the raised platform with a chair set across from the Headmaster. Setting the Owl on the chair's arm, Aurelia took the seat across from Professor Dumbledore, "Good morning." She said to them all and received good mornings from everyone.
"Eat, and take your vitamins, then we will talk," Dumbledore told her, pouring her a cup of juice.
Blinking with some curiosity, Aurelia did as told. Taking the vitamins that Madam Pomfrey had placed beside her suddenly in a tiny pill bowl and ate the eggs, bacon, and sausage. "Thank you, that was delicious," Aurelia told them with a slightly happy smile and watched the Owl nibble on the breadcrumbs she'd broken up for him.
"You will not be going to the Diggory's, nor the Lovegood's," Dumbledore said randomly.
Stunned, by all means, Aurelia shook her head at the sudden blast of mental confusion, "I won't? You said just last night that they were the best option of taking me. I mean, I'm a kid, I can't exactly live on my own Professor. I have nothing to my name." Aurelia spoke with some worry.
"I know what I said last night dear girl. But for your safety and the knowledge you have brought back with you is the highest priority… Your Professor's letter explains plenty. And I cannot risk them questioning you and likely finding something wrong with our story. Besides, Mr. Diggory's brother has passed away due to an unfortunate accident in Paris with no wife or children, sadly. For now, we shall house you here during school and will surely find a home for you to go to before Summer comes." Dumbledore explained calmly after he wiped his mouth clean with the cotton napkin and took a sip of his morning juice. "However, for now, you are more than welcomed to exploring the School and the grounds to get accustomed to. Professor McGonagall has already acquired your school supplies and when School begins we shall then sort you into a House. Upon that, the house's Dorms shall be your home until school comes to a close for Summer." He went on explaining, and it appeared there would be no argument.
And truly, Aurelia wouldn't argue with him, she was after all a person that should not exist in a time that she truly didn't exist in. So, she had no room to complain about any of this because they didn't have to do any of this for her. But the thought of being sorted before a large group of people she was unfamiliar with frightened her. Swallowing back some of her worries, Aurelia released her breath, "I have to be sorted in front of everyone?"
"Well, yes, that is generally how we present our students to their classmates. Have you already been sorted?" McGonagall asked curiously.
Shaking her head, Aurelia blushed, "No, the Sorting Hat was lost in the battle that set the Palace in ruins. I think Riddle may have destroyed him himself or something. Something to do with the sorting Hat insulting him I suppose. But I watched him enter the Tower where the Hat was kept, the rest I am unsure of, it went by so fast." She admitted.
"I see," McGonagall said taking a drink of her tea. "Nevertheless, it is nothing to worry over. It mostly sorts by what your family has already been sorted into, however, there are occasions where there is one child or sibling sorted into a different house. Like Mr. Black, his family had to my knowledge always been sorted into Slytherin, he's the only child sorted into Gryffindor. It is possible you could be sorted into - what Houses have the Diggory's been in again?"
"Hufflepuff, Professor McGonagall. And the Lovegood's have mostly been sorted to Ravenclaw." Professor Sprout said with a smile. They had gone to school with young Mr. Lovegood's grandfather, who Amos's father, Edger, had been named after.
"Ah, yes, that is correct. Thank you, Pomona." Minerva said with a thankful nod to the Professor and close friend since school together in their youths.
Looking between the two witch teachers of different houses, Aurelia studied them closely, "So, it's mostly possible I'll be in Hufflepuff then? Isn't that your house Professor Sprout?" she asked curiously.
"Why yes, dear it is. A lovely Dorm room it has too." She said with a widening smile.
Smiling at her enthusiasm, Aurelia smiled in return, "Really?"
Nodding to the girl, Professor Sprout's smile continued to grow, "Yes. It is wonderful. But the gardens are my favorite place to be." She admitted to the girl and as she saw the bright smile and the happy light that sparked on the young blonde's face, Professor Sprout prayed to all the higher beings that Aurelia was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"What house was your godmother in Aurelia?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Gryffindor, her husband was a Slytherin, my father was a Hufflepuff and Aunt Cho and my mother, Luna, were both in Ravenclaw, so my upbringing was all around mullite-house based like everyone else I grew up with actually. No one argued over houses begin better, no one degraded the opposing house or anything." She told them with a nonchalant shrug.
"Well then, I think we can all presumably say that it's possible you could be sorted into any house then." A man said with enlightenment as he drank his coffee.
"Professor Slughorn has an interesting point. There is nothing to fear of being sorted, my dear." Dumbledore said though the sudden fall of her happy face told him she wasn't worried about being sorted into either of Hogwart's Houses but of being sorted in front of others alone.
"There will be first years arriving going through the same thing. However, I must ask. They will be sharing the same fears of being sorted, at least those who were not raised in magical society, would you care to go first, to show them there is nothing to fear at all?" Dumbledore asked. His eyes watching her curiously as if he already knew she'd say yes, or at least sincerely hoping she'd say yes.
Though she was baffled and a bit speechless for a moment, Aurelia looked between Dumbledore and the others watching her. Taking a calming breath, Aurelia took into consideration what he was saying. She'd have a few days before they arrived to get used to the idea and less nervous unlike those newly arriving would be on the spot, and they would have no time at all to gather themselves much. It would be on-the-spot bravery and slight panic as they were called up one by one. "I don't see why I can't," she said with a small shrug filled with nervousness.
Smiling, Dumbledore tapped her hand tenderly, "Brave girl, now, run along and explore, oh and may I ask if you have thought up a name for your new friend?" He asked, glancing to short-eared Owl.
Smiling and gently petting the Owl, Aurelia sighed softly, "Julius," she answered sweetly. At the name, the Owl hooted happily and shook his feathers.
Smiling as they watched her, Albus went on and nodded, "Be careful wondering, the Dungeons are off-limits as well as the Dark Forest, everything else you may see. Enjoy." He told her, watching her smile brighten, and took off down the Great Hall with a soft jog. Looking to the Owl still resting there looking at him, Albus nodded, "Look after her, will you?" he asked the Owl who hooted again, shook his feather in an agreement, and flew after her.
"Are you sure she's safe on her own, even if she is on school grounds, Albus? What about the young man she told us about last night?" McGonagall asked with worry.
"He will not arrive for some time, Minerva." He told her.
"Oh? And how may I ask you know this precisely?" she asked with doubt.
"Her Professor knew all along she wouldn't be the one to save them. The Professor admitted to attempting several times at time travel with your very own Time-Turner and failing each attempt. It was why she wrote her letter addressed to me. She had every intention of sacrificing her future self for her past self and the others to live, to make a new future, and to safeguard her friends as best I could." Albus admitted to Minerva. Though he was keeping something to himself about the letter, which he would never reveal to anyone if he could help it. Because that part he intended to die with was about the girl now running out the Great Hall and towards the front of Hogwarts.
Aurelia sighed as she walked around the grounds, putting to memory at how gorgeous it was with the School being alive and thriving. The Ruins always seemed to give her the spooks, the first time she had been up there she'd been searching for the ghosts said to still haunt the grounds and the ruins of the Castel. Well, she had found one, that being Helena Ravenclaw. The dear lady's spirit didn't seem happy to see her when the Grey Lady screamed and began to cry as she vanished from her sight, saying something about a flower.
Looking up towards the Ravenclaw Tower, Aurelia sighed and decided maybe now was the best time to confront the poor lady ghost about why, in her time of 2028 just a few months ago to her, why she had screamed at Aurelia and flew away crying. It was fair, at least Aurelia thought it was, she'd never met the dear Grey Lady before that. When she had asked her Godmother about it, Hermione had scolded her a good one.
None of the kids were supposed to be going up there because the ruins were very dangerous. A lot of times Death Eaters trolled those grounds to see if they could grab one of them. It was why the Order did constant sweeps of the Ruins. They had mainly restricted the ruins to the young and new generation because they didn't want them to see all of the destruction as well as possibly getting hurt due to how destroyed it had been. Mr. Longbottom, one of the Order's Auror's, had in fact fallen through the main stairway to go up from the front doors shortly after the Battle. It had left him with a limp that they'd been unable to fix unless he'd had surgery. The man had never married.
Walking up the steps Aurelia sighed, uncertain as to how to find or speak to the woman if she had screamed and fled from her in her time, there was no question in her that the Grey Lady would do the same in this time. But, it was worth a try this time around.
"My Lady?" she calmly called with calm curiosity. "Lady Helena?" she called once again as she entered the Ravenclaw side of the Hogwarts castle.
"Who summons me?" a lovely soft voice called up to her as she came through the sidewall. Her eyes falling upon the backside of nothing but long platinum blonde curly hair and a burgundy long dress with slimming sleeves. Yet as the girl turned around to face her, the Grey Lady, even without legs or having to walk, felt as if she would collapse as she stared at the young sweet face that Helena had sworn she'd never see again. Everything was the same, her tiny frame, her long curling hair, her deep green eyes she shared with her father, her oval-shaped face, creamy skin, and the light freckles that she swore had been kissed across her cheeks and nose by angles and a thin upper lip. The girl had been so precious as a child, so sweet and warm-hearted. Everyone assumed they knew who her father had been, but they were gravely mistaken because the records that had been done were wrong. Misleading others for her safety. But they had all been curious as to why she'd been born with ash blonde hair rather than dark brown or red hair like the girl's parents had. But they hadn't cared, they knew who the parents were, as did Helena. "Agatha?" Helena whispered with shock.
Staring at the ghost of a woman, Aurelia's jaw dopped then gently shook her head, "I'm sorry, I believe you've mistaken me for another person. My name is Aurelia. Aurelia Aurora Newnan…" She said introducing herself. Licking her lips a bit with nervousness as she stared at the Ghost, honestly surprised she wasn't screaming or crying and fleeing her, "I-I just wanted to speak with you about something, um, I -"
"You are not from this time, I know." Helena interrupted her and began to circle the girl who resembled her little sister as she studied Aurelia curiously. "All of us spirits know who you are. But I never knew you looked so like her." Helena whispered, coming full circle she stopped before the young girl looking up at her with wide eyes full of curiosity. Wishing she could hold the girl, Helena did the next best thing. Her ghostly hand came to Aurelia's pink fleshy cheek and tried to imagine the warmth she knew the girl's body was giving off her living flesh. "She ran away after mother died, Agatha, she ran because she did not believe her father could protect her. I returned here as a ghost and found mother had passed from an illness and Agatha had run in fear. The stories say she ran away with a lover, but like me, she was running from a Wizard who desired her." Helena told the girl watching her. At the girl's confusion, Helena moved forward and past her, "Follow me," she told the girl.
Confused, Aurelia followed after Helena through passageways she never even knew existed in the Castle, but as a Castel built many cemeteries ago, she should have known better than to assume there would be no secret passages. Especially in a Castle built by Witches and Wizards who without a doubt loved their secrets. "Lady Helena, where are you taking me? And what are you talking about?" She asked after minutes of walking, Julius had even gotten tired of flying through the descending staircase and down passageways slowly and perched himself on her shoulder. Though he had nudged her for a while to let him be held since her shoulders were a bit too slim for him to continue sitting at an angle. He was much happier in her arms.
"You will see." That was all Helena had answered her with.
Finally coming to a large room, Helena held her hand out to the door as she floated off to the side letting Aurelia inch her way to the door and open it.
The door opened with a scream on the old door henges, the cobwebs over the other side of the door as it opened inward broke apart as candles lit the room around and a stale smell hit her nose. Poking her head into the room Aurelia found it stuffed with old trinkets, paintings, and statues. "What is this room?" she asked curiously.
"This a room filled with things that were once Agatha's, mothers, Agatha's father, a few of my things. The rest are things the other founders placed in here for safekeeping, to protect them from time. Only someone with the blood from one of the founders can open this room. Look at the far wall to the left." Helena instructed sadly.
Walking in with some worry, Aurelia looked around the stacked belongings. They had been draped in the houses colorful silk drapes to protect the items, the paintings lining the walls were all covered in sheer black covers to show they had all passed and mourned. As she walked to the painting Helena had instructed her to, and the painted faces that showed through the sheer black cover had Aurelia wishing she were seeing things, maybe blind. Her hand trembling as she gripped the still soft fabric before her head turned to look at the Ghost, silently asking the Lady permission if she could remove the cover. At Helena's gentle nod, Aurelia looked back to the painting and lifted the fabric up and over the top to not accidentally pull the painting off the wall in case it may be attached to the frame or catch onto something as she pulled. These were old paintings after all, and care was to be taken regarding them. As well as respect.
As she looked at the painting of the dark red-haired man with a thick red beard and dressed in red and gold clothing, his sword strapped to his side and the tall brown pointed hat sat upon his head, with a hand lovingly placed upon the woman's shoulder as she held a baby girl of ash blonde hair, deep green eyes and a wide smile. The woman's long and straight dark brown hair was pulled back from the sides of her face, her silver and blue-studded Diadem was worn proudly upon her head. Her porcelain pale skin was still beautiful, but the deep blue dress made her look paler than she may have truly been. Beside the sitting woman holding the baby girl was a small child of the same features as her mother and dressed in a silvery blue dress. Sadly, the standing young girl appeared less happy than her soft smiling mother.
"My father had passed, and mother took comfort in the arms of a friend of hers, Godric Gryffindor. They'd only been together a few times and mother was with child shortly after. When he married his wife, they wished to conceal the truth of their daughter's birth. A friend of theirs stepped in and claimed the child as his when people began to demand to know who the daughter's father was. Godric was about to stand and tell them when his friend shot out of his chair and demanded that the accusers accusing my mother and Godric of infidelity be charged themselves when everyone began to demand a blood binding be done, to see if the Wizard's claims were true. Mother refused."
"Why? What would have happened?" Aurelia asked weakly, afraid to ask what would have happened.
"Mother's and Godric Gryffindor's reputation were on the lines. They'd have been executed and Agatha would have been sent away. Maybe killed herself."
"What? Why?"
"Because the accuser was attempting to give false evidence that they'd had an affair while Godric had been married. Which was not true. He'd told mother months before she even told him the child was his. He'd married in the summer of that year, mother found she was with child in March. Godric had agreed to an arranged marriage with a childhood friend shortly after his and mother's last coupling. Godric's wife was furious when the accusations came too but had defended Godric and mother, saying mother was with child before they'd been married and before the agreement of her marriage to Godric had been made." Helena informed her.
Confused, Aurelia looked back to the painting. "So, wait a moment, are you telling me that Godric Gryffindor and your mother, Rowena Ravenclaw, had a child together?"
With a short nod and a gentle and sad smile that spread across the Grey Lady's youthful face. "Yes, Agatha Gale Ravenclaw." Helena told her.
Seeing the sadness on her delicate smile, Aurelia looked back to the painting, "His wife knew? Didn't she?"
"Yes. She did everything in her power to protect Agatha. But there was something that none of us could have seen coming." Helena said weakly. "Salazar Slytherin's son fell in love with her, Trian Slytherin. And he loved her more than his own life. But he scared her, his ideals were like that of his father's. When she ran from the School he succumbed to some form of illness and died a few years later. None of us, not even Helga Hufflepuff or myself, even one of our best Healers, could not think of what it was, or how to cure him. They later said he'd died of a broken heart because he knew she was no longer in this world. His father said his son would be forever cursed to come back each lifetime with no room for love because Agatha had taken his heart with her." Helena had described the story as if it were two star-crossed lovers bound to endless time of reincarnation to find each other and until the other could find it in her to love him. While the story was beautiful and sad at the same time, Aurelia felt there was more to it than that. "How many children did Salazar Slytherin have, Helena?" Aurelia asked.
"I do not know, unfortunately. Train, his eldest, and his youngest that I am aware of. There's a painting of him and his younger brother there, on that wall." Helena answered politely in her soft tone.
Setting Julius upon a cloth-covered table, Aurelia walked and maneuvered as carefully as she could through the clutter of things to the wall holding the medium-sized dark wooden framed painting. Pulling the cover up from the painting, Aurelia's breath froze in her throat as her body went cold as death as she stared at the man painted upon the tapestry.
Seeing the girl trembling with what she could only say was terror, Helena rushed over to her alongside a hooting Julius, "What?" Helena questioned, her eyes glancing to the two young men in the painting.
"It's him… It's Bane." Aurelia whimpered, backing away from the painting with fear, she knew it wasn't possible, but her fear was telling her otherwise. Imagining Bane coming through the painting after her. But she saw the difference in the eyes. She couldn't find it in herself to fear this person that represented the painting. It was simply the creative imagination she feared of Bane. But the sheer similarities, it was as if she were looking at his identical twin. The man she feared. But he couldn't find her, he couldn't get to her… Could he?
"So, his father was right then. His son shall be returned in search of his love. Aurelia, this man you fear, he cannot get you here if he is yet to be born." Helena told the terrified girl.
Covering her mouth as she looked away from the painting, Aurelia closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm herself from the panic. Helena was right. Bane was not even born in this time. He could not touch her here. Regaining her self-control, Aurelia chose to look to Helena rather than the painting.
"What did he do to frighten you?" Helena asked.
"He's strong, very powerful, but there's just something about him that frightens me. I never knew him as Bane Riddle, I knew him as Gaius Gallows since I was a child. He claimed full responsibility for destroying the Haven and those within the walls. He's done everything to frighten me."
Shocked by her words, Helena reined herself in from her own fears as she sighed softly and nodded. "So, you fear him because of his strength and his family ties? Nothing more than who his parents are as well as his actions of recent?" she asked.
Thinking of it from Helena's point of view, Aurelia took a small breath of small embarrassment as she nodded.
"Usually, a young witch like yourself would enjoy the thought of having a powerful mate. What else frightens you about this young man?"
A bit aggravated with Helena, Aurelia held back her huff as she calmed herself, the ghost woman was simply asking for curiosity. She was not attempting to be offensive. Then again, Aurelia was forever on guard when it came to Bane Riddle. "He killed my uncle and Mr. Dursley… My Godmother. The only family I've had since I was a child after my parents were killed. They were trying to protect me, and he killed them like it was nothing. He's the reason my family and the Haven members are dead. He's the reason why my family is dead. But that look in his eyes when he had me in his hold. It was…It was this deep-searing look of… I don't know. It was like looking into a fire. He was frightening."
Circling the girl as she spoke, Helena listened to what she was saying, the worry and fear, the uncertainty in her voice. The look she was describing sounded like he was looking at the love of his life, but she could be wrong. Escapally since Aurelia was telling her what he had actually done, the deaths he had caused, via actions as well by his own hands and wand from the sound of it. "Love perhaps?"
Hearing the last word she wanted to hear, Aurelia's fear bubbled up in her as she looked at Helena and tears began to spill over her eyes, "No, please don't say that. I find it very hard to believe that… He of all people could love anything."
Watching the girl's fear, not directed to the man she was just moments ago afraid of, but the fear that a crazy man could possibly feel love. "Even a monster can love something, Aurora."
Watching Helena float there just looking at her, Aurelia's eyes diverted back to the portrait of her family then back to the Portrait of the Wizard that Helena claimed was in love with her baby sister. "How old apart were they to each other?" she asked curiously.
"Ten years. She was sixteen when she ran away. Like I was when I ran away with mother's Diadem." Helena answered.
Her brow frowning with her own curiosity, Aurelia looked back to Helena, "When did he die?" Aurelia asked once again, her mind now doing curious circles.
"Thirty-two," Helena couldn't help but smile a little as Aurelia asked her questions and continued to look back and forth between the paintings before her eyes landed on a hidden painting half covered by a green silk cover under Train and his brother's painting with a few other covered portraits in front of it.
Shuffling the paintings carefully, Aurelia uncovered the painting she was curiously drawn to and lifted the small portrait into her hands as she studied careful brushstrokes the painter had taken careful care to make this. It was a painting of an older version of the baby girl who strikingly looked like Aurelia. The resemblance honestly creeped her out. With the young woman's curly ash blonde hair pulled back from her face, a wide happy smile, her green eyes shining as the man behind her held her wrapped in his arms, his mouth smiling and almost hiding in her hair. "She loved him."
Helena's smile turned sad as she nodded, "Yes, she did. However, Trian slowly began to lose his mind we later found out there was a young wizard who had placed a curse upon him. I only know this because I heard Salazar cursing the Wizard. Salazar demanded to know why his son had been cursed, and the Wizard had claimed that no snake would taint her, that she would never be Trian's, that she would be his and no one else's. However, the curse was only meant to drive him insane, not kill him, yet the way he suddenly became ill, it was not an effect of the curse." Helena explained. No one knew this truth. Only herself and those who had witnessed the encounter. Hardly any of the ghosts knew of this, except maybe the Bloody Baron, and that was simply because he'd stalked Helena even into death.
Now heartbroken for the couple, Aurelia continued to study the painting, "But they appear to be so happy, why would -"
Sighing painfully at remembering the past so much, Helena looked away from Aurelia sadly, "That is enough of the past, come, there is something I wish you to have." Helena said, turning from the girl she floated to a blue silk-covered table, "Under here there is a small jewelry box with the initial 'R' upon it. In this box, there is a silver ring with a deep blue studded gem. It's yours." Helena told Aurelia and watched as the girl carefully lifted the cloth up and over the table a bit to find the jewelry box, and opening it to reveal the pale blue velvet padding inside that held her mother's jewelry. A soft smile grew upon her face when the girl froze upon seeing a long silver chain with a small metal charm at the end with the engravings of R&S on the back, studded with a blue-green gemstone. "You are not ready for that item Aurora," Helena spoke to Aurelia softly, almost laughing when Aurelia was startled awake from the daze the necklace had likely pulled her into.
Aurelia had dazed out from the room for a moment upon her eyes meeting with the blue-green stone on the necklace, for a moment she could have sworn she felt her body or soul being pulled back from her body, almost as if it was attempting to flash her back to something, somewhere else. But she feared it and fought the magical pull. Hearing Helena's voice speaking to her, Aurelia woke up softly panting, almost as if she hadn't been breathing, like she'd been under the heaviness of deep water. Setting the necklace back inside, she found the small, studded ring Helena had mentioned. "It's lovely." She whispered with a smile as she studied the ring.
"Mother had it enchanted to fit a true Ravenclaw. Place it upon any limb you wish; a finger, your wrist perhaps, maybe a necklace? Wherever you wish, and it will fit you." She informed her, watching as Aurelia did so, Helena nodded in approval while Aurelia smiled and studied the item with a soft smile. "You should finish your exploring, I have tired. Too much speaking of the past. Even though I have no body, I still hurt from thinking of such things." Helena said before swiftly floating through the walls and vanishing.
"Wait! Helena!" Aurelia called after the Grey Lady. This was so much more than she'd gotten the last time, and it made her wonder why Helena had fled from her crying and screaming. But as she ran after the fleeing ghost, Aurelia lost sight of her quickly and easily as the woman was not only dead but a ghost and able to go through solid things. Making it very difficult for her to follow after her. As soon as she and Julius were out of the room Helena had shown them the door had slammed closed, frightening the two of them. Turning to the now-closed door, Aurelia sighed and did her best to maneuver back through the passageways and corridors, only she found herself coming out a side hall leaving the Castle. Sighing as she tapped her small foot against the stone she huffed and clapped her arms at her side. "Very well, I will leave her alone. Mainly because I'm completely lost… Again."
She had spent the next day wandering and the next two days McGonagall had her in a classroom doing work to catch up on her work and going to get her wand. To which she had to sadly inform them that she did not have, likely losing it when Bane had slipped them out from the Haven. Dumbledore had come up with a study plan for her. Summer classes. She was remarkably catching up on some time, but with the amount of schoolwork plus the summer work the students always did and were given to prepare them for the next year and to keep them brushed up on things, she knew she hadn't even scraped the top of the pile of work. And she had two years of this to go through plus the third year was starting. Hopefully, she did not get confused with the schoolwork.
The day the students were arriving, Aurelia had been moved from Gryffindor Tower, cleaning the girl's dorm she had stayed in herself and tried to find something to do. She'd never thought she could be so excited to see the Castle bustling with Witches and Wizards from around Europe to come here to live and study Magic. She found herself very excited. But it had worn down into nervousness as the day went on with no one there but the continuation of the teachers. As the sun had come up and hit mid-day, it was now late in the afternoon, about five-thirty possibly, when the Train's steam horn sounded at the arrival in Hogsmeade. She felt her stomach begin to knot rather than jump with excitement as she watched the many students unloading from the train across the high point she watched from.
'So many people.'
"You worry over nothing my dear. You will be fine." Dumbledore told her as he approached her at the window of one of the walkways of the Castel that looked out towards Hogsmeade.
"There's so many of them. A castle full of students who have to share a Dorm. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just… well,"
Understanding what she now meant by her worry of being sorted in the Great Hall full of students, Albus now felt sadden for her time. "There weren't many children were there?"
"There were six hundred survivors in the Haven, including born children. Magical and muggles alike even a few magical creature offspring." She told him sadly.
Nodding and now fully understanding, Albus sighed, "I see," he simply answered. They stood there in silence for some time before he gently tapped her clasped hands she was using to lean into the opened window archway watching as the returning students getting into the wagons and first years began to load up into the boats with Hagrid leading them. "Let us go and met our students, my dear." He said calmly and headed down the halls.
Smiling as she jogged after him and walked beside him towards the Great Hall. She had dressed in her school robes without the embroidered logo of House or the houses together. Her school tie was black, and her skirt was also the usual black. Dumbledore didn't think it necessary for her to walk in with the first years, so he had her stand to the side of the platform to wait to be called whilst everyone spoke together as they entered the Great Hall. All the while no one seemed to notice the platinum blonde standing off to the side.
At least she thought she hadn't been noticed.
Sirius smiled as he turned and tossed a rolled-up piece of paper and tossed it at a Ravenclaw brunette and laughed with full amusement when she slowly turned to look at him. Her warm skin tone was glowing in the Great Hall's candlelight, her long, thick brown and tight curls hung long to her low back with the majority of her hair separated from the right over to the left with a few strands tucked gingerly behind her right ear.
Turning her bright green eyes to him had Sirius grinning at her with a charm she always found annoying. While she was his friend, she hated that he tried to flirt with her and every girl in the school. But he had his good sides, this was just an annoying side she really wanted to just smack off his face even though she knew he meant nothing by it. He was just being his usual playful self, but she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
Laughing at her reaction to him, Sirius seared his grey eyes at her with teasing enjoyment. He loved messing with her because she knew he never meant anything by his playfulness. "Hello Kathrine," Sirius said to her. He laughed harder when she rolled her eyes at him with annoyance and turned her back to him once again. They'd been friends since they were kids, before Hogwarts. Their families were close, very close. Sadly, her Aunt had been married off to the Rosier family and he worried that she was next to be 'sold off' to the next pure-blooded family that her family, or father and grandfather, chose for her. For now, he'd have as much fun with her as he could then try to convince her to leave her family's ways behind her. Like he had chosen to do. He loved her like a sister like he still loved his brother, but his brother was in his own hard place and rock than Sirius himself was, and it was only more difficult for the girls of families like Sirius's. Yet, as he'd turned to look away from her and the doors opened with Professor McGonagall walking the first years into the Hall, his eyes caught sight of a platinum blonde curly-haired girl hiding in the corner behind the Slytherin table.
Unfortunately, with everyone's heads moving around in his line of sight, Sirius moved around with them to try seeing around them. When he couldn't, he tried to stand, only for the old man to clear his voice and begin to speak. James pulled him back to sit on his behind. Sirius huffed a bit as he turned a slightly irritated look on his best friend who simply shrugged at him curiously with some soft and his natural charming chuckle.
Seeing Sirius was actually a little annoyed with him, James' grin faltered a little with some worry, "What?" James whispered his curious question to Sirius with a small shrug.
Opening his mouth to answer, a small collective "Shhh," from a small group of girls, that being Kathrine and a few of her Ravenclaw friends, plus Lily Evans and a few other girls in Gryffindor house shushed them with slight annoyance. Both boys sighed and turned their attention to Professor Dumbledore as he grinned their way with a mischievous smile before he continued. It always made them wonder if he had been a troublemaker in his youth like they were. That was a funny thought for them though.
Grinning to his sorted house's table at the two young boys he could always honestly relate to, James Potter and Sirius Black. Two mischievous boys with a knack for pranking fun. "I have a surprise for many of you, to all of you assuming that I have no family, however, I will inform you to which I do. A friend of mine has recently passed on and left his granddaughter in my care, unfortunately, she has been homeschooled for the majority of her life. So, to start our sorting, my goddaughter shall be the first to start our little tradition of Sorting. Aurelia, please come up and let Professor McGonagall place the Sorting hat upon your head." Dumbledore said calmly, holding his hand up and out towards Aurelia, who at this point was confused but did as told as the Hat came awake and began to sing.
Slowly walking to the front of the Platform as the Hat sang, she looked at the little faces of the children there and she couldn't help but smile at them. They were so young, so precious. Walking up the few steps to the chair and McGonagall, who had this smiling look of 'I told you not to worry'. Aurelia took a seat on the chair and let the Professor of Gryffindor house place the hat upon her head.
She was somewhat spooked suddenly when the Hat came alive once again after it had sung its opening song. And honestly, she found his song rather catchy and somewhat amusing.
"Ah, I know you, dear girl... Your thoughts and memories are rather loud child… I see an Eagle guarded you. Ah, yet a Lioness watched over you, watched you grow and clever herself. Cleverness I know you have, loyal and brave – everyone has fears my girl, never doubt yourself. You have determination in your tasks and power behind your actions. I knew a girl like you once, a very long time ago." He spoke to her calmly, knowing her stomach was doing turns. "I kept my promise to her parents then, and I shall keep that promise alive today." His voice echoed in her mind for a moment, before calling her House he was choosing to sort her in, "RAVENCLAW!" He shouted loudly. He grinned with happiness as the Ravenclaw table clapped.
Smiling a bit with a blush at so many people's eyes on her, Aurelia felt a relief leave her when McGonagall lifted the Sorting hat from her head and told her it was alright for her to get up and sit with her Housemates. And she did just that with an exhaled breath of relief, though she wasn't sure where to sit that she grew nervous all over again, her hand running up her left arm to rub away the nervous chill that crept over her body. It wasn't until she was walking past a certain Gryffindor group, the young boy that continued to watch her sent chills through her. His black hair was shoulder length and partly pulled back into a short ponytail, though he still looked a little rebellious in his clean school uniform. His grey eyes shining after her with what she had no idea to name, and his subtle smile as he watched her walk between the two tables. The look he was giving her sent a jolt of excited nervousness through her on top of her already wreaking nerves. Taking in a softly shuttered breath, Aurelia looked away from him and back to the Ravenclaw table, she was stopped as she looked at the lovely girl who had stood and smiled at her as the Ravenclaw girl gently grabbing Aurelia's hand, easing her over to their table and sat Aurelia between herself and one of the friends she'd been sitting by.
"Hi, I'm Kathrine," the girl introduced herself with a smile, offering her a hand in welcome.
Smiling to the strikingly lovely girl, Aurelia took her hand. The two girls shook one another's hands. "Nice to meet you, Kathrine, I'm Aurelia." For the first time in a while, Aurelia felt as if she were smiling for real.
The sorting continued and the feast went on as every year started. Aurelia laughed and giggled with Kathrine, who she discovered was a Crouch family member. Kathrine's friend, Heather McMartin, with her golden-blonde hair being pencil straight and shining brown eyes. As they ate and laughed and chatted, Aurelia felt a sudden tap at her shoulder. The sudden act of someone likely trying to get her attention confused her as she looked around. Finally looking behind her, her dark green eyes met grey eyes shining after her with a grin of interest and mischief. His grin was charming and truly seductive. She'd met a few boys like him before, but none compared to how attractive he was. Seeing his eyes darting down to the small balled-up piece of paper, Aurelia sighed as she reached for it.
Kathrine sighed as she gave Sirius a look of seriousness and gently placed her hand on the new girl's arm as she reached for the piece of paper, "He's just messing with you Aurelia, there's nothing on the piece of paper." She tried to tell the girl as she picked up the balled-up paper Sirius had tossed at her new Classmate. She gave him an annoyed glare as she watched Aurelia uncrumpled the piece of paper as Sirius playfully stuck his tongue out at her. Her eyes, however, glanced to the paper and was shocked to find something actually there on the paper.
'Hello, beautiful,'
She honestly had to admit that she was shocked he even wrote something on it. He never did that. But as Aurelia ask for a pencil, Kathrine was about to stop her from responding, only to cover her mouth with some laughter as she looked back to Sirius who was now curious and smiling curiously. Though, he knew if Kathrine was giggling at something then maybe he should worry.
When the piece of paper was folded and sent up to fly to him, he looked at the origami dove that had landed in his palms. Curiously unfolding the paper, Sirius read her response. He was filled with gleeful entertainment as he grinned at the response.
'Hello, thank you, and no.'
Chuckling, Sirius looked back to the platinum blonde smiling back to him with a wide giggling smile before she turned back around and dropped her head in her folded arms as she, Kathrine, and Heather giggled to themselves with Kathrine hugging Aurelia, telling the new girl that she was amazing.
Because Sirius Black had just been shot down. 'Challenge accepted,'
Thank you all for taking the time to read this story. I hope each update will be better for you future readers, as well that you all still enjoy returning to read this fantastic journey of my Harry Potter PRE and POST events of the storyline like I did with the Marauders Fox. I hope you've all enjoyed the chapter(s) so far! Reviews are always welcomed. Have a wonderful night/day!