14 August 1972
"Dora, get up!" Regulus shouted. "I get my wand today!"
Dora looked through her sleepy eyes at Regulus' excited face. She groaned but pulled the covers off her body.
"I'm up now, Reg," Dora said, groggily. "I'll meet you and the others downstairs once I'm ready." Regulus appeared happy with this response and rushed out the door to wake Sirius in a similar manner.
Dora got dressed in simple purple robes and hesitated before bringing her wand with her. She thought that going to Ollivander's with a wand he had made but wouldn't be purchased until 1982 would be unwise. However, with the increased number of Death Eaters on the streets, she decided she might be able to avoid going to Ollivander's and convincing Walburga to allow her to skip that stop.
Dora stepped out into the corridor to find Sirius lazily dressed, while Regulus was proudly donning some of his best robes. "Let's go!" Regulus shouted, thundering down the stairs towards the drawing room.
Sirius sighed loudly, and followed Regulus down the stairs, while Dora discreetly cast a few spells on Sirius to improve his disheveled appearance. The last thing Dora wanted was another Walburga lecture on etiquette before heading out to Diagon Alley.
Luckily, Dora's spells had been effective enough that Sirius looked presentable, so Walburga, Sirius, Regulus, and Dora stepped into the Floo to get to Diagon Alley.
Dora beamed when she stepped out of the Floo at Diagon Alley. It was just as she remembered it; colorful, happy, and busy.
"Sirius, take your brother and cousin to Madam Malkin's for the robes," Walburga ordered. "All three of you will need sets. Don't wander off," she emphasized, eyeing Sirius.
"Yes, Mother," Sirius drawled. Once Walburga was out of their eyeline, Sirius suggested, "Let's go to Zonko's before she notices."
"No," Dora said, much to Sirius' dismay. "We'll go later. I'll manage it," she promised. "Let's get the robes done now before Aunt Walburga comes back and screams bloody murder at us."
"Fine," Sirius gloomily replied. Dora, Regulus, and Sirius made it to Madam Malkin's and got measured for their robes; it was wise that Dora had suggested they go straightaway, as Walburga had managed to get in and out of Gringotts rather quickly.
The apothecary was the next stop, for cauldrons and potions supplies. Next, Walburga took them to Eeylop's Owl Emporium. Sirius hadn't wanted an owl the prior year, and Dora had her half-kneazle Athena, so Regulus was gifted with a grey screech owl he decided to name Zeus.
The next stop was Ollivander's; concerned about the wand issue, Dora suggested that she and Sirius look at Quality Quidditch Supplies while Regulus got his wand. Walburga, thankfully, agreed to Dora's idea (Dora may have cast a small Confundus Charm on her Aunt to achieve the desired effect), so Sirius and Dora set off for Zonko's.
Once there, Dora suggested, "Sirius, you go in there and get what you need. I'll keep an eye out for Aunt Walburga and Reg."
"You're the best little cousin ever," Sirius flattered. "Andromeda can be the best big cousin," he added. Dora rolled her eyes and let Sirius through so she could keep an eye out for the others.
"Please, mum?" Dora heard a familiar voice call from the apothecary across the street. Dora looked up and her heart skipped a few beats. It couldn't be - Remus?
Dora looked up and studied the trio emerging from the apothecary. The boy simply had to be Remus. He was shabbily dressed, even as a 12 year old. He had far fewer scars on his face and arms than Dora had ever seen. His sandy brown hair was the same shade she remembered, less the grey hairs Remus' older self had sported. She locked eyes with him – and seeing his honey-brown eyes confirmed her theory. It was Remus. Her Remus. Dora kept herself rooted to the ground, knowing she hadn't yet met this Remus.
The two adults standing on either side of him must have been his parents. They too wore worn, but well-cared for clothes. Remus took after his father in build and bone structure, but his smile, eyes, and hair were his mother's. Mrs. Lupin was clearly a Muggle, though she looked far more comfortable with Mr. Lupin and Remus at her side.
"Please, mum, just let me look at Zonko's?" Remus pled. Of course he wants to go to Zonko's, Dora thought; the Marauders wouldn't be pranksters without their props and tools.
"You may look, son, but return in five minutes' time," Mr. Lupin said gruffly. "We haven't all day." Remus looked positively gleeful and rushed across the street, oblivious to Dora's staring at him on the way into the shop. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin followed suit, and like Dora, they stood outside the shop waiting for their Zonko's-obsessed twelve-year-old.
"What are you doing out here alone, dear?" Dora looked to her right and found Mrs. Lupin's kind face smiling at her. "Are you lost?"
"No, ma'am," Dora assured her. "I'm waiting for my cousin. He's stocking up for the school year."
"You must be a patient girl," Mrs. Lupin said, smiling. Oh, you have no idea, Dora thought. I had to wait a sodding year to kiss your son in my timeline.
"Do you go to Hogwarts too?" Mrs. Lupin asked.
"Not yet. I start next month."
"My Remus is going into his second year. He's a Gryffindor, just like his father," Mrs. Lupin said, proudly. "Do you know which house you'll be Sorted into?"
"Hufflepuff, I hope," said Dora. "My whole family is a bunch of Slytherins though."
"Remus has a lot of run-ins with those Slytherins," Mrs. Lupin explained. "He doesn't get into as much trouble as his little friends, thankfully."
As Mrs. Lupin spoke, Dora noticed Walburga and Regulus leaving Ollivander's, but Sirius hadn't come out of Zonko's.
"Mrs. Lupin, can you excuse me? I must find my cousin before my Aunt notices," Dora quickly explained.
Mrs. Lupin gave Dora a quizzical stare, and Dora realized too late that Mrs. Lupin hadn't actually introduced herself; bollocks, Dora thought, way to bugger that up.
Dora rushed into Zonko's and found Sirius and Remus chatting animatedly near a display of dungbombs. Of course. She grabbed Sirius by the ear and he responded with a loud "OI!" while Remus looked bewildered that his friend was being dragged away.
"Sorry!" Dora called, dragging Sirius by the ear outside. She looked at Sirius' bags filled with products and huffed at him, "You couldn't have given this to Remus to take for you?"
"How did you know that was Remus?" Sirius asked, taken aback.
"Oh never mind," Dora grumbled. "Minimo!" was cast on the bags and they shrunk down so she could put the packages in her pockets. "I'll get them back to their original size when we get back; Walburga's going to murder us if we're late to Flourish and Blotts," she hissed. Sirius stared at her, gobsmacked by the spells she had cast so effortlessly.
By now, Remus had already stepped out of Zonko's; he and his parents watched the interaction between Dora and Sirius with some intrigue. Dora slapped her palm to her face and said, "I don't have the time for this. We've got to go." She dragged Sirius by the hand off to Flourish and Blotts, leaving a very confused Lupin family behind her.
Minutes later, Dora and Sirius were out of breath and carrying books to the counter from Flourish and Blotts. Blessedly, Walburga was distracted in conversation with Madam Malfoy and Narcissa. "How did you know Remus?" Sirius asked.
"Lucky guess," Dora lied.
"That doesn't explain how you knew my mum," said Remus, from right behind Sirius and Dora. "She said you called her Mrs. Lupin." Remus cocked his eyebrow at Dora.
"Call it magic, then," Dora huffed. "I really don't have a better explanation."
"Maybe Dora's a Seer," interrupted Regulus.
"This is Dora?" Remus asked. "Your cousin with the chocolate?"
"One and the same," Dora responded. "I'm Pandora Black." She offered her hand to Remus', and he hesitated before taking it in his and shaking it.
"Thank you for all the chocolate, Pandora," Remus said, a grin forming on his face.
"You can call me Dora," she replied. It's what he should have been calling me for awhile anyway, back in my original timeline.
"Here," Remus offered a bar of chocolate to Dora. "It's the least I can do." The bar of chocolate brought back memories of the first time she'd met Remus in her original timeline:
Tonks had stepped into the library at Grimmauld Place for the first time, as the first meeting of the Order of the Phoenix had adjourned. She had been terribly curious to explore her mother's ancestral home. She was looking at the spines of books when a soft voice called from behind her.
"Enjoying your time here?" Tonks whipped around to see Remus Lupin at the threshold of the doors to the library.
"A lot of books on pureblood etiquette," Tonks noted. "I wonder if my mum ever had to read them."
"Ah yes, you're Andromeda's daughter," Remus said softly.
"Do you remember her? I remember meeting you when I was younger, at Christmastime," Tonks said.
"I remember your mother, but I especially remember meeting you," Remus said with a smile.
"I never had all that much tact, even as a child," Tonks said apologetically. "I think I'd asked if you if you needed help finding your mum and dad. My parents told me you'd lost them and I didn't realize they'd died. Sorry about that."
Remus chuckled. "I believe there was chocolate involved when we first met."
"If it was Christmastime, I believe it."
"Even if it isn't," Remus said, while reaching a hand into his pocket, "I always have chocolate to share with you." He handed her a bar of chocolate from Honeydukes.
"Awfully kind of you," Tonks smiled. "Want to share?"
"Of course," Remus said, gesturing for them to sit on an old velvet settee. She sat next to Remus on the settee and began opening the bar of chocolate, handing a piece to Remus.
"I still can't believe Professor Snape is in the Order," Tonks shared. "I thought he hated everyone."
"He grows on you," Remus said. "Maybe in time he'll grow on you, too."
"Doubt it," Tonks retorted with a snort. "He spent seven years mocking me mercilessly for my clumsiness in class. Little did he know I'd be one of his best students!"
"Teasing's one of the ways he shows he cares," Remus said with a smile.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Tonks said, snapping off another piece of chocolate and giving it to Remus.
"One day I'll have to tell you about the time Severus took James Potter on a date," Remus chortled. "We haven't told Harry yet."
"Wait, is Snape gay? Was Harry's dad bi?" Tonks asked.
"No, neither of them are, to my knowledge," Remus smiled. "But a good friend of ours managed to trick them so Harry's mum wouldn't have to pick between them."
"Awfully nice of the friend," Tonks said. "Watching out for Harry's mum and all."
"You remind me of her," Remus said softly.
"In a good way, or a bad way?" Tonks teased. "I hope the good."
"A different way," Remus said cryptically.
"Do you still stay in touch with her?" Tonks asked, already feeling a pang of…something…in her heart.
"No," Remus said, his eyes set ahead. "I lost her a long time ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry Remus," Tonks soothed. "The war must have taken a lot of good people, huh?"
"Maybe those we lost can be found again," Remus murmured.
"I like to think so," Tonks replied, as she broke off one more piece of chocolate from the bar. "I hope you find what you're looking for, Remus."
"I think I already have," he smiled, looking pensive again.
"Thanks, Remus," Dora beamed, receiving the bar of chocolate from the young Remus. "I knew it was a lucky guess."
"You could still be a Seer," Regulus offered.
"I'd really rather not be," Dora said. "I think Seeing the future would be too hard, especially if it isn't pleasant."
"Then you could change it!" Sirius exclaimed.
"That's not how it works, Sirius," Remus explained. "When Seers predict events, they sometimes happen anyway, even if others try to prevent it."
"It's all rubbish," Dora insisted. "I'm not a Seer."
"Whatever you say, Dora," Sirius teased. "What's in my future?"
"At the rate you're going, a stint in Azkaban," Dora said matter-of-factly. Regulus, Remus, and Sirius burst into laughter.
Dora didn't have the heart to tell them it was the truth, even if she was working to prevent it. Aunt Walburga appeared to be finishing her conversation with Madam Malfoy and Narcissa, so Dora jabbed Regulus and Sirius to alert them.
"We've got to go, mate," said Sirius, clapping Remus on the back. "See you at King's Cross?"
"Definitely," Remus said, smiling, and turning back out of Flourish and Blotts to meet his parents.
"Wait!" Dora called. She pulled out the Zonko's bags from her pockets and cast "Engorgio!" to them to bring them back to full size.
"Pack these and bring them back for Sirius, yeah?" Dora asked.
"Of-of course," Remus stammered, again awed by Dora's magic. "I'll see you at King's Cross, Remus," Dora said, hugging him tightly. When Dora pulled away, Remus looked as shocked as he did the first time they kissed in her original timeline, leaving Dora grinning as she rejoined her cousins and Aunt Walburga to go home.
….
1 September 1972
Dora's heart soared when she crossed the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross station. The scarlet Hogwarts Express brought her joyful, nostalgic memories. Though it was a different time, it was the same place, and Dora felt grateful to have the familiar train to board for a sense of normalcy in the upcoming months.
Sirius led the way onto the train, dragging his trunk enthusiastically to the first available door.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your mother?" Dora hissed.
"More like good riddance for awhile," Sirius grumbled.
"Please, Sirius," Dora pled. "Just a quick goodbye and then we'll join you." Sirius pouted but joined Dora and Regulus in saying goodbye to Walburga, Orion, and Al. Walburga patted Regulus and Dora on the head before they left; coming from Walburga, that may as well have been a set of blubbering kisses.
They boarded the train and Sirius led them to a compartment near the end.
"Black!" a voice shouted. All three Blacks turned around to find the source of the voice.
Lucius Malfoy stood behind the three of them. "Which one of us did you want, Malfoy?" scoffed Sirius.
"Regulus," Lucius replied. "Although Pandora is more than welcome to join us."
"Us?" Dora asked.
"Before I join the prefects' compartment, I was looking to offer you and Regulus spots in a compartment with a few friends," Lucius drawled.
"Let's go, Dora," Regulus urged.
"No, come with me, Dora!" Sirius asked.
"How touching," Lucius sneered. "Pandora can do far better than dally with the company you keep, Sirius."
"I think she can decide that for herself, Malfoy," Sirius insisted.
"You know what? I can decide that for myself," Dora cut in. "I'll see you all when we get to Hogwarts." She bolted past Regulus, Sirius, and Lucius until she found an empty compartment and shut herself in with an upset Athena in her basket. Stupid boys.
A few minutes later, the compartment door opened and a red-headed girl with brilliant green eyes crossed the threshold.
"Is this compartment taken?" the girl asked.
"Just by me," Dora said. "As long as you don't bring a bunch of obnoxious boys in here, we'll get right along."
The redhead pondered for a moment and asked, "What if it's just one boy and he's not so much obnoxious as…grumpy?"
"Grumpy?" a familiar voice complained.
"What else would I call you?"
"Dignified?"
"Not with that scowl, I wouldn't."
"It's the last compartment available, just go in," the surly voice replied.
The redhead popped her head back in and asked Dora, "Fine, the boy says he's dignified. Is that alright?"
"One wrong move and I'll hex him," Dora grumbled.
"You can't possibly know how to hex me already," the boy stepped into the compartment, followed by the redhead.
"I do, and don't try me," Dora replied. "You seem alright, though, so I'll let it go."
"First year?" the redhead asked.
"Yes," Dora said, evenly. "My first year at Hogwarts."
"I'm Lily Evans, a second year Gryffindor," the redhead said, offering her hand to Dora. Harry's mum!
"Pandora Black, no house yet," Dora replied, shaking her hand.
The boy had a curious expression on his face. Dora offered her hand to him, and he hesitated before he took it.
"Your name?" Dora asked the boy.
"Severus Snape," he replied. "Second year, Slytherin."
Bloody hell, it's Professor Snape! A 12 year old, kid Snape! Dora thought. Wicked.
"Why'd you look at me like that?" Dora demanded.
"Like what?" Severus asked.
"You had an odd expression on your face when I said my name," Dora clarified.
"I didn't realize there were more Blacks coming to Hogwarts this fall," Severus sighed.
"You know Sirius?" Dora asked, knowing that the animosity had clearly been growing between Severus and Sirius.
"Unfortunately, yes," Severus griped.
"He's a toerag," Lily explained. "Rude, arrogant, and those friends he keeps aren't much better."
"You mean Remus?" Dora asked.
"He's the best of the bunch," Lily said.
"Not saying very much," Severus added. "Lupin might be the best but they're all still rubbish."
"How do you know Sirius?" Lily asked. "Are you his sister?"
"Cousin," Dora said. "After my mum died last year I went to live with him and my cousin Regulus. He's starting at Hogwarts this year too."
"That's the Black I expected," Severus said. "I expect you'll be Sorted into Slytherin with the others like you?"
Lily looked at Dora nervously; "others like you" was likely a way of asking if Dora was a blood supremacist like the others in her family.
"No, actually, I was hoping to be Sorted into Hufflepuff," Dora said. Severus scoffed and Lily looked at Dora curiously.
"Hufflepuff, really?" Severus jeered. "Almost as bad as a Black in Gryffindor." Lily playfully hit Severus' shoulder, leading him to scowl.
"My grandfather was a Hufflepuff," Dora explained. "I admire him very much. He gave me my familiar, Athena." Dora pointed to the basket holding her now-content half-kneazle.
The compartment door opened and a boy with messy, jet-black hair, and round glasses stood at the threshold. He looked remarkably like…
"Lily!" the boy shouted. "Did you miss me over the holidays?"
"Not in the least, Potter," Lily said, coldly. Potter? This must be Harry's dad!
"Not even a bit?" James asked, looking crestfallen.
"I believe that's what she said," gritted Severus.
"You'd rather sit with Snivellus?" James asked.
"Always," said Lily, airily. Severus now sneered at James.
"OI! JAMES!" Sirius' voice bellowed through the corridor.
"Did she say yes?" Sirius now asked, peering through the compartment door.
"No," James pouted. "And she said she'd rather sit with Snivellus. What does he have that I don't?!"
"A working brain, for one," Lily quipped. Severus' lips curled in a smirk while Dora laughed out loud.
"Who're you?" James asked.
"Dora! There you are! What are you doing here? Lily's fine, but Snivellus? Really?" Sirius demanded.
"I was in this compartment first and they joined me. They've been perfectly pleasant company," Dora remarked.
"This is your cousin, Pandora?" James asked. "The one who gave us the farting chocolate eggs?"
"That was you?!" Lily and Severus asked, simultaneously.
"It may have been me," Dora said, grinning.
"Brilliant," James said, beaming. "Why don't you join us in our compartment?"
"I tried to get her to, but Reg and Malfoy beat me to it, and she got stuck with Snivellus," Sirius explained.
"What's going on?" a squeaky voice called. "James didn't come back and Sirius left and Remus thought you'd gotten in trouble already."
"Nothing, Pete," Sirius said. "We finally found my cousin and she's been stuck with Snape this whole time."
"And Lily!" insisted Dora. "Be nice, Sirius."
"I don't need your pity," Snape snapped. "I'm leaving now." He stood up, scowling, and pushed through the boys in the corridor to the other end of the train.
"Sev, wait up!" Lily called, running after him.
"Wicked!" Sirius popped into the compartment and plopped himself next to Dora. James and the boy named Pete joined them.
"Don't you have another friend waiting?" Dora asked.
"Remus!" Pete cried. "I'll get him now." Pete scurried off to find Remus, while James settled himself into the compartment with Dora and Sirius.
"How'd you do the thing with the chocolate eggs?" James asked.
"A potion," Dora said. "I had Kreacher make the eggs and fill them with a gas-inducing potion."
"Wow," James said. "We could use her in Gryffindor."
"Who in Gryffindor?" Remus' voice called as he entered the compartment. His eyes lit up when he saw Dora. Pete followed Remus and they sat across from Dora, Sirius, and James.
"Pandora in Gryffindor, that's who!" roared Sirius.
"Nope," Dora said. "Hufflepuff for me."
"Hufflepuff?" James asked, aghast.
"My grandfather was in Hufflepuff," Dora explained. "That's where I'd like to be."
"No changing her mind, mate," Sirius said. "I tried all summer and she won't budge. Anything's better than Slytherin though. It's where Reg is going." Sirius scowled.
"What about your parents? Were they in Hufflepuff too?" Pete squeaked.
"My mum studied at Ilvermorny and was in Horned Serpent House," Dora said. "My dad was like most of the other Blacks, so he was a Slytherin."
"Why didn't you go to Ilvermorny then?" James asked.
"My mum died last year," Dora replied. "My dad wanted me here and my grandfather agreed. I think he hopes I'm in Hufflepuff too."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Remus, quietly.
"It's alright," said Dora. "I feel lucky to be going to Hogwarts, after all."
"I hope you get into Hufflepuff," Remus smiled. "If it's that important to you, that's where you should be."
"Thank you, Remus," Dora said. "For that, you deserve a treat!" Dora pulled out a Chocolate Frog and gave it to Remus, who grinned as he took it from her hand.
"You didn't give me any!" Sirius protested.
"You haven't been kind," Dora said, casually. "Kind boys get treats."
"There's no hope for us, then, mate," Sirius said, jabbing James in the side. "Ol' Remus and Petey still have a chance."
"I don't think we've actually met," said Dora. "I'm Pandora Black." She offered her hand to the boy called Pete.
"I'm Peter Pettigrew."
Dora felt a momentary jolt of rage; this Peter would grow up to betray the Potters. Sirius. Harry.
"Dora, your hair!" Sirius pointed. Dora looked at her hair and noticed it had morphed to a fiery red, reflecting her rage at Peter.
"Fuck," Dora muttered, to the shock of all the boys in the compartment. She continued, "Excuse me, just accidental magic." She stood up and rushed out the compartment, putting her hood over her hair on her way to the loo. Once there, she morphed her hair back to its glossy black. How could I be so careless? Use Occlumency next time you see Peter. Uncontrolled anger leads to mistakes. Mistakes. I cannot make a mistake, Dora thought. She looked at herself in the mirror again and felt pleased with her morph.
She stepped out of the loo and wandered back to the compartment where Sirius and his friends had been.
"What in Merlin's name was all that about?" Sirius asked. "I've never seen you lose control with accidental magic."
"Was it something we said?" Remus asked.
"No, it's hard to explain," Dora replied. "Something reminded me of what I lost," Dora lied. "I got upset and that's how it comes out sometimes."
"We didn't upset you, did we?" Remus asked, looking alarmed.
"No, it's nothing to do with you," Dora said, fatigued. "Maybe I just need some rest." She feigned a yawn and Sirius motioned to the other boys to leave her in the compartment. They stood, one by one, and returned to what Dora assumed was their original compartment.
Dora lay down on the train bench and covered her face with her hands. I mustn't lose control. I mustn't lose control. I mustn't lose control. Dora enjoyed a few minutes of silence until the compartment door crashed open again, and she groaned.
"I found you!" Regulus said excitedly. "She's right here!" he called to his right.
The compartment filled up with boys Dora hadn't met yet. "Dora, I met up with a ton of Slytherins with Malfoy! After I told them you were my cousin, they all wanted to meet you!" Regulus was bouncing with excitement. Despite her own tiredness, Dora gave in and sat up to meet them.
"This is Augustus Rookwood," Regulus introduced. Rookwood nodded in Dora's direction. "He's a first year, just like us!" The names followed quickly as Dora met Slytherin after Slytherin.
"Walden Macnair, sixth year."
"Corban Yaxley, fourth year."
"Evan Rosier, sixth year."
"Geoffrey Gibbon, sixth year."
More familiar faces started to flow through the compartment: Goyle (fourth year), Avery (fifth year), Mulciber (third year), Dolohov (fourth year) and Nott (seventh year). Finally, Narcissa stepped in.
"I think Dora's had quite enough," Narcissa said, sharply. "Let the girl enjoy her first train to Hogwarts." She eyed Lucius, who gathered the others and led them back to their compartments, but not before joining her himself.
"Dora, how wonderful to finally see you," Cissa said. "I heard you made quite the impression on young Mr. Snape."
"I did?" asked Dora.
"He said he'd met my cousin-in-law-to-be," said Lucius. "He was perturbed that you had an interest in Hufflepuff House."
"Is that a problem?" Dora dared.
"Not at all, Pandora," Lucius continued. "I let him, and the others know, that the Dark Lord values hard work and loyalty."
"That was…nice of you."
"Simply the truth, Pandora," he responded. "You'll find that you'll be quite supported in your House," he continued.
"Thank…you?" Dora was perplexed. Had Azkaban's dementors been replaced by unicorns, or did Lucius Malfoy really suggest that the Slytherins would support a little Hufflepuff?
"Be sure to accept the support, Pandora," said Lucius. "It's rare to have so many connections at your age." He paused for a moment. "Be sure to avoid those who do not support you. You wouldn't want to be allying yourself with the wrong sort." Lucius smirked, got up, and left the compartment without another word.
"He's right, Dora," Cissa affirmed. "Be careful who you spend your time with. We wouldn't want you to get the wrong support." She stood up as well, leaving a confused Dora behind her. Unsure of what else to do, Dora gave into sleep and rested until nightfall.
….
1 September 1972, Hogwarts
Dora had been woken up abruptly when she heard a sharp rap at the compartment door.
"Dora?" Remus' voice could be heard through the door.
"Yeah?"
"We're almost at Hogwarts. You should probably get changed into your robes."
"Thank you, Remus," said Dora. "For remembering me." She stood up and opened the door, finding Remus fully dressed in his school robes. She dug into her pocket and took out another Chocolate Frog. "For your kindness," Dora said.
"That's really not necessary, Dora," Remus said.
"It wasn't necessary for you to tell me to get dressed," she retorted. "Take it."
Remus took it, blushing lightly, and went back to his compartment. As Dora got dressed, she thought about this Remus. This 12 year old, awkward, sweet boy. She was in her 11 year old morph, but at mentally 23 (or was it 24 by now?), she hardly looked at Remus as a love interest. Dora wondered, with some worry, if she would grow out of love for her Remus, the 36 year old Remus she knew, by growing up with this younger version of him. Time travel was too complicated, she thought. What if this young Remus grows up to be a Remus I can't love or recognize? The thought hurt her, and she set it aside. Now is not the time to wonder about lost future-past loves, she thought, now is the time for Sorting and spying.
The train finally came to a stop and she got off. She nearly went on her way to the thestral-drawn carriages, until she realized she was a first year again and would need to cross the lake in the boats with Hagrid.
Hagrid's booming voice sounded through the night, calling all the first years his way to be taken to the castle on the boats. Dora caught up to Regulus and clambered into a boat with him, the future Death Eater, Rookwood, and another boy she didn't recognize. They sped off across the lake and to the castle.
When they had arrived at the castle, Professor McGonagall led the first years through the corridor up to the Great Hall. At long last, thought Dora. The doors to the Great Hall were opened and Dora felt a rush of warmth and longing course through her. Home. Not her parents' home, but a second home. The closest she'd come to home in nearly a year.
The first years were led up to the Sorting Hat. It sang its usual song, and the Sorting began.
"Ardmore, Julian!" became a Ravenclaw after a few seconds.
"Attel, Auden!" became a Gryffindor after nearly a minute.
"Barrington, Briony!" became a Hufflepuff after almost two minutes.
"Belby, Hercules!" became a Slytherin nearly instantaneously. With each new Sorting, cheers from the new House roared through the Great Hall.
McGonagall called, "Black, Pandora!" and Dora trudged up the steps to place the Sorting Hat on her head.
"I've seen you've been Sorted before, Miss Black, or, should I say, Miss Tonks?" the Hat spoke to Dora.
"Hufflepuff, please," Dora requested. "I don't want to be anywhere else."
"Slytherin would serve you well this time around, or even Gryffindor," the Hat offered.
"No, please, Hufflepuff," Dora begged. "It's where I belong."
"But why not Ravenclaw? You have a fine mind, not unlike your father, Edward," the Hat suggested.
"Hufflepuff," Dora thought with all her might. "It has to be Hufflepuff."
"Very well then, Miss Black, it will be…"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat bellowed. Dora took off the Hat and was immediately bewildered to hear cheers from all over the Great Hall. The Hufflepuffs were obviously cheering her on, as well as a small group of Gryffindors. Curiously, a sizable portion of Slytherins had stood up and clapped loudly as Dora made her way to the Hufflepuff table.
The staff table looked at the scene with bemused expressions; what sort of Hufflepuff got such warm support from both Gryffindor and Slytherin? Even the students looked on with puzzlement. Dora sat herself down at the Hufflepuff table, feeling self-conscious, until she heard "Black, Regulus!" from McGonagall.
It only took a second, and Regulus was Sorted into Slytherin and sat at the table across from Dora. She smiled widely at him as Lucius and the others shook his hand to welcome him to Slytherin House.
The Sorting continued and each of the House tables were slowly filled with new, young faces. Dumbledore made his welcoming remarks and introduced a frail wizard called Denzell Weatherby to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts that year. Then, the feast finally began.
"Pandora Black, huh?" asked a fair-faced boy a few seats from Dora.
"That's right," Dora said. "And you are?"
"Calvin Macmillan, fifth year prefect," he proudly stated. He had a pompous air about him, as he stuck his chest out so Dora could see his prefect's badge more easily. Dora fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Are you related to the Black family?" another boy asked. This one had sandy blonde hair and a charming smile. "I'm Amos Diggory, Head Boy." Cedric's father! He was just a first year when I met him in my timeline.
"I am," Dora said, in between bites. "Sirius and Regulus are my cousins."
"You're Narcissa's sister?" a girl asked. She had wide eyes and soft blonde curls. "I'm Eloise Abbott, the other fifth year prefect."
A few others looked up as Narcissa's name was mentioned. She must have some sort of reputation, Dora thought.
"Nope," Dora replied. "I'm an only child, Narcissa's a cousin too."
"Why aren't you in Slytherin?" another girl asked. "If you're a Black? Are you going to be in trouble, like Sirius? He got so many Howlers last year."
"My grandfather was a Hufflepuff," Dora explained for the umpteenth time. "My mum's dad," she clarified.
"Oh," said the girl. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Philomena Smith."
"Your mum wasn't in Hufflepuff?" asked Amos.
"No, she studied at Ilvermorny," Dora replied. "When she died last year I came here to live with my dad's family."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said another girl sympathetically. Everyone here is so authentically kind, Dora thought. This is where I belong. "I'm Genevieve Bones."
"Who's your grandfather?" Calvin asked.
"Newt Scamander," Dora replied. Nearly all the students around Dora gasped and she was pummeled with a barrage of questions. "The Newt Scamander?" "What is he like?" "Did you ever get to see his lab?" "What is it like in America?" "Does he really have an Erumpent?" As Dora spoke about Newt, she felt more relaxed than she had in many months. Though Newt wasn't her real grandfather, she felt ever more grateful to have had his family's support in this new timeline. She had never been prouder to be a Hufflepuff.
Dora chatted animatedly with her new Hufflepuff friends. She occasionally heard last names that she had heard in her own timeline, making her comfortable knowing her past (future?) classmates' children. At long last, the feast wrapped up, and Dumbledore sent the students to their dorms.
As Dora already knew her way, she was able to sneak past the throng of Hufflepuffs to the common room. She tapped the familiar barrel – two from the bottom, middle of the second row, to the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff – and entered the all-too-familiar Hufflepuff common room.
She skipped across the common room to the corridor that held the dormitories and went up the stairs to find the door labeled "FIRST YEARS." Dora stepped into the familiar, rectangular dormitory to find six four-poster beds ready for their new residents. Dora found her trunk at the foot of the bed in the middle, on the left side of the dormitory. She sank down on the bed, exhausted. Before she could let sleep come, the dormitory door opened and her fellow first-year Hufflepuff girls came into the room.
"How'd you get here so fast?' asked one of the girls.
"I asked one of the prefects while the Sorting was happening," Dora lied. "I was knackered and just wanted to get to bed." The other girls seemed satisfied with the answer and looked around to find their trunks.
"I don't think we got a chance to meet earlier," began one of the girls. "I'm Zarya Davies."
"Pandora Black," Dora said, offering her hand to Zarya. The girl hesitated before shaking Dora's hand. Dora then turned to the next girl, to shake her hand. "What's your name?" Dora asked.
"Isolde Wallace." The girl had short black hair and sparkling blue eyes. "I'm a half-blood," she added.
"Okay?" Dora responded, head cocked to one side in confusion.
"That doesn't matter to you?" asked another girl.
"Why would it?" Dora retorted. "What's your name?"
"Scholastica Martin," the girl replied. "I'm a half-blood too. Thought you'd care about that sort of thing." Scholastica swept her own long brunette waves over her shoulder.
"Because of my family," Dora sighed. "Not all of us are like that."
The two remaining girls visibly relaxed and walked up to Dora. "I'm Elissa Nguyen," one of the girls introduced. "I'm a Muggleborn."
"So am I," added the other girl. "I'm Perpetua Girard."
"Lovely to meet you all, really," Dora said. "Please don't think I give a toss about blood status. I'm more like my cousin Sirius than anyone else in the family."
"You're a pureblood then?" Zarya asked. "I am too."
"Yeah," Dora said. "Doesn't matter to me though." Dora shrugged and went into her trunk to find her pajamas. Athena was already perched contentedly on Dora's bed, waiting on her mistress to finish her conversation.
"I'm really glad you feel that way, Pandora," said Scholastica. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me for basic human decency," mumbled Dora. "If you don't mind, though, I'm off to sleep. It's been a busy day and I just want some rest." The other girls agreed, murmuring their own tiredness to one another.
"By the way, this is my familiar, Athena," Dora added, pointing to the fluffy mass at the foot of her bed. "She's a half-kneazle." The girls oohed and ahhed over the creature, before Dora fell into the bed and closed the curtains. Finally, she crept under the soft, honey yellow covers, and fell into a deep slumber.