It was amazing, Marina thought, just how many people had no common sense. She'd been to Diagon Alley all of ten seconds when people had started pointing at her and whispering. Dromeda had shot down the first witch with gossipy questions with the glare of death, but the rest didn't seem to learn from the woman's mistake. She wondered just how much trouble she'd get into if she sent the reporter who'd come up with her new moniker a jinxed howler.

"Cheer up," Ted told her merrily. "Look ahead." Her honorary uncle was a muggle-born wizard and was therefore as used to the stares and gossip as she was. That he'd married a witch from a pure-blood family that prided itself on that very fact didn't help his case. Marina would never understand the House of Black in that regard. She did as Ted suggested and started grinning immediately.

In front of Gringotts, the wizard bank, stood a family. They were friends with the Tonks due to the fact that the rest of their own family was also made of pure-blood fanatics. Jupiter Nott had married Laura Abbott, much to his older brother Benjamin's dismay. In itself it wouldn't have been a big deal since the Abbotts were pretty much pure-bloods themselves, but Jupiter and Laura were muggle sympathizers; Jupiter's family considered him a blood traitor. Of course the stigma extended to the couple's children: Bianca was the oldest, born in 1970, and an apprentice in arithmancy – she wanted to teach someday. Next was David, born in 1972, he'd finished school and was currently one year ahead of Dora in his auror training. Tyler was the youngest, born in 1982, and was very grouchy about not being allowed in Hogwarts yet. Then there was Carmen, born in 1978, and Marina's best friend. They were in the same year in Hogwarts, but Carmen was a Ravenclaw; she was wearing her blue and bronze house shawl. It had been a close call between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor – her parents houses. Apparently Carmen's intelligence outweighed her courage. With Marina it was the reverse, which was why she was wearing her red-gold Gryffindor gloves.

She started running at the same time as Carmen and they met halfway, hugging like they hadn't seen each other in ages when it had in fact only been a week. Ty shook his head in disgust, Bianca smiled understandingly and David... he always looked as if his world had been knocked off its apex when she was around.

The girls let go of each other. In the muggle world, Carmen would probably have been labelled a Latina, what with her light olive tan and mahogany hair. In contrast, she had sky-blue eyes. Marina was the exact opposite: cream tan, blonde hair and sea-green eyes.

"You got your list too?" Carmen asked, not even mentioning the article. That was one of the many reasons she was her best friend.

"Yes. Along with a P.S.," she replied, referring to the Hogsmeade permission slip, and pulled out this year's Hogwarts letter; they compared the new supply list.

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3 (Miranda Goshawk)

Unfogging the Future (Cassandra Vablatsky)

Intermediate Transfiguration (Emeric Switch)

The Monster Book of Monsters (Edwardus Lima)

Numerology and Grammatica (M. Carneiro & L. Wakefield)

Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles (W. Wigworthy)

Spellman's Syllabary (Rosana Amorim)

The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts (Arsenius Jigger)

"Divination?" Carmen asked incredulously, at the same time as Marina questioned, "Arithmancy?"

Her friend really shouldn't have been so surprised that she'd opted for Divination. Everybody who knew her also knew that she had a knack for Cartomancy – reading tarot cards. On the other hand, she was absolute rubbish at Palmistry – reading palms. The subject was only required for very few careers in their world, so she wasn't too worried. Passing was all that mattered on this one, not necessarily the grade.

"I love subjects that make sense," Carmen commented her own surprise dryly. And with Bianca for a big sister, it made sense she'd chosen Arithmancy.

"You're actually taking Muggle Studies?" Marina asked bemused. "All you have to do is ask Ted."

"They like people with the O.W.L. at St. Mungos," Carmen shrugged. The brunette wanted to become a healer; meanwhile Marina already knew she wanted to make up for her extended family's numerous sins and become an auror. Nobody should have to suffer like she, and Harry, and so many other had. So choosing a career to stop them all once and for all was a given..

After getting their money, they parted ways. Bianca volunteered to go with the girls, while the adults dragged poor Ty wherever it was they had to go. David said good-bye to meet with his best friend for some time off before their next shift. Like every year, Flourish & Blotts was crowded. Sometimes she wondered if the owners had put an extension charm on the place for so many people to fit in. There were a few young ones around that told Marina that the first-years had received their letters. Merlin, she remembered that feeling. She'd known she was a witch of course, it was impossible to live with Dora and not know the family was different, but that hadn't been a guarantee she'd get into Hogwarts. So when the letter had come, Ted and Dromeda had organised a small celebration – and proceeded to buy her Starlight.

"Hard to imagine we were that small and intimidated once," Carmen commented as one of the kids all but hid behind her parents when one of the sales people approached.

"Not really," she shook her head. "Just wait until Ty gets his letter." They proceeded to buy their books, with some additions for their private collections, and then filled their supplies of quills, ink, parchment and vials for Potions.

And then, naturally, Carmen dragged her to Quidditch Quality Supplies to buy a new broomstick. Her family had collected money like maniacs for a year and given it to her on her birthday – they knew she wanted on her house team. Marina knew her friend had already put a large chunk of that money into her vault at Gringotts – the Notts were by no means poor but they weren't rich either and Carmen didn't want to burden her parents later on. So when she bought herself a Nimbus 1700 instead of waiting for the new model that would hit the market next week, Marina wasn't at all surprised. She then dragged the sisters to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment and bought herself a new set of tarot cards, seeing as hers were just about finished.

The fitting for their new robes at Madame Malkin's took all of five minutes and they were summoned in even less time. Magic was a wonderful thing. After that they sat down at Fortescue's and ordered ice cream. It was typical that they were first, seeing as the adults knew just about everyone and everybody knew them. They had to stop to chat a lot. Poor Ty. All things considered it had been a good day.

She should have known someone would try to mess it up.

Benjamin Nott, the sisters' uncle, and his son Theodore materialised in front of them out of nowhere. If she hadn't known better she'd say they had apparated. Benjamin was a pure-blood fanatic through and through and appeared to have no love for muggles. In fact, he'd been a follower of the monster that had killed her mother; the Ministry had never been able to prove it so he'd walked away unscathed.

"Well, if it isn't the blood traitor convention," he said smoothly but with a certain bite to his words. Dromeda was no better than his brother in his eyes, as she had married a muggle born. That was why her parents had disowned her after all. As she was her ward, he painted her with the same brush as her.

"Don't you have anything better to do, Ben?" Bianca drawled, bored.

"Yes, it sure looks like Theo needs to buy some things," Carmen added, taking in her cousin's state of dress. He was still in muggle clothes – how Benjamin justified that one, she was curious. The three of them were all dressed in casual robes.

"You stay away from my son in Hogwarts," Benjamin warned. Marina couldn't help it and snorted.

"If you raised him in your image, Mr. Nott, I can't think of a single reason why I'd want his company," she told him seriously. His eyes narrowed; in that respect, he reminded her of Lucius Malfoy. Dear Merlin, she and her friends were related to quite a bunch of fools.

"Benjamin," a stern voice suddenly sounded and the sisters grinned at their father's entrance. He was alone, which was a good thing considering Laura really hated these confrontations with his family. The elder Nott didn't acknowledge his brother by using his name. He turned with blank mask on his face.

Sometimes she wondered why people insisted on being stupid. Marina had been born with natural empathy, the ability to sense others emotions like they were her own. It was a lesser version of legilimency, the ability to read minds. Mostly though, it was a pain in the arse. But she knew for a fact that Benjamin didn't hate his brother any more than Jupiter hated him. They had a fundamental difference of opinion, or morals really, and had parted ways over it. But they were brothers and still loved each other, despite the elder one's icy demeanour. She was fairly sure that if it hadn't been for his Lord and Master, he wouldn't even have disowned Jupiter all those years ago. Of course, his puppeteer had been gone for twelve years now and he was still acting a fool. Then again, Narcissa Malfoy hadn't reached out to reconcile with her sister either; not that Dromeda had done any such thing. It literally hurt to sense their love for each other and witness their foolishness. But the dark brand on Benjamin's arm hadn't disappeared with his master's fall.

"Take your leave, Ben," Jupiter said calmly, quietly. "Stay away from my children."

"You have lost the right to speak to me so freely a long time ago," Benjamin stated, his voice colder than ice. Pain laced both their insides and Marina swallowed at sensing it.

"You've had this argument a hundred times over," Carmen sighed exasperated. "Why rehash it again?"

"Because your uncle is still hoping your father will come around," Marina answered quietly. "And vice versa."

Carmen and Bianca winced. It was highly unlikely that either brother would ever relent. They were stubborn as mules and both believed to be right; of course the younger Nott actually was right.

"Marina, I'm sorry," Jupiter said, suitably chagrined. "I forgot."

"It's okay," she shrugged. "I'm used to it by now."

Theodore seemed appropriately confused but his father was not. Marina got the distinct impression he knew about her innate ability. Apparently, someone at school didn't know how to keep their mouths shut. Big surprise.

"It's bad enough this is your reality, Mr. Nott," she said in earnest. "Do you really have to make it worse on both of you?" There was a flicker of pain in his eyes that supported all her assumptions. She was so tempted to meddle and get them to at least try and reconcile, since Benjamin didn't feel inherently evil like for instance McNair, but she didn't think either one of the brothers would appreciate her sticking her nose where it didn't belong.

"She has a point, Dad," said Theodore suddenly, sounding every one of his eleven years young. The frown on his face reflected how worried he was about his father's state of mind.

"Don't ever admit to anyone in Slytherin that you agreed with a Gryffindor," she advised him. "They'd make your life hell."

"I'm surprised at your civility," Benjamin cut in. Marina very slowly turned back to look at him.

"Because your Lord and Master murdered my mother, you mean?" Both of them flinched at her calm accusation.

"There is one good thing about the empathy: I always know what to expect. And you, Benjamin Nott, are not a cold-blooded killer, in spite of what you wanted your Death Eater friends to believe."

The entire family Nott present gaped at her; she wasn't aware her voice had changed into airy mumble – her mark of Seeing.

"The Dark Mark branded onto your skin is not a sign of loyalty, but one of slavery," she continued, oblivious to the worried looks her friends were exchanging. "The time will come when once again you will have to choose. To stand with the one who shattered your soul, or to side with those who would seek to heal it."

Marina blinked rapidly. Everyone was looking at her oddly.

"What?"

"You just had a premonition or something," Bianca explained with a healthy dose of awe in her voice. Marina groaned.

"So what did I say this time?"

"Basically that my uncle could still redeem himself," Carmen noted.

"I don't need the Sight to know that," she snorted. "My empathy's enough for that. No Death Eater that truly believes feels the way he does."

"I'm still present," Benjamin remarked dryly.

"Marina doesn't see often but what she sees has always been true so far," Jupiter remarked and never took his eyes off his brother. The hope that had risen in him choked Marina's throat. Merlin, they must have been close in their youth for him to hope like that.

"I will think on what was said," Benjamin said and sounded remarkably like the politician he was. He turned on his heels and walked away, one hand on his son's shoulder. Young Theo might be the key to his father's salvation, whether he knew it or not. Then again, what did she know. She didn't even remember what she'd seen.

"Your mother and Andromeda are at the Magical Menagerie," Jupiter told the three of them as if nothing had happened. "Ted took Tyler to Broomstix." It was a cheaper shop than Quality Supplies, so it would be the perfect place to get Ty's first broomstick, as she knew Ted had promised. And Marina was the only one with a pet in the house so she figured Dromeda was buying supplies for Starlight.

"Let's go to Sugarplum's and stock up. Then we can have a three on three Quidditch match before calling it a day," Jupiter suggested. Everyone was game so they hustled to find the others. Marina was lucky to have them all.