Chapter 2

They had only been at the Potters for a couple days during which Ara found that she couldn't sleep. She woke each night with terrors, seeing Cedric's lifeless body, sometimes even Alaina's lifeless body lying before her. It was a similar night tonight, and it was because of that that Ara found herself in the Potter's kitchen, sitting in a chair next to their small table, with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head resting on her knee, a steaming cup of milk gripped tightly in her hand.

The door to the kitchen opened and Ara barely spared a glance, just enough to see Lily coming through a brief look of surprise flashed on her face.

"Can't sleep?" she asked softly, walking over to the coffee pot, waving her wand to brew a fresh pot.

Ara frowned and glanced towards the clock on the wall. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, it was 6:00am… She hadn't realized she'd been up for that long.

Lily sat across from her "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" she asked kindly. Ara was still amazed at just how nice the Potters could be, even after how rude Ara had been.

She shook her head.

Lily sighed "Harry's been having nightmares too," she said knowingly. "He talks to his dad about them… it helps him quite a bit, just describing the dreams."

Ara took a sip of the still steaming milk. She leaned back in the chair, still keeping her leg held up to her chest as though the cocoon would help her.

"It's nothing in particular… not really. Sometimes its Cedric, sometimes its Draco or Harry…" She didn't talk about Alaina. She didn't want to bring her up. She couldn't stand the thought of being at all related to her death.

"What you two went through, was horrible… and you were so close to Cedric, it's normal to think about it all… I read once that nightmares were ways of processing the challenging things that happen to us."

Ara shrugged "Well I wish I'd stop processing it… I think sleep would do me better."

Lily laughed and Ara offered a small smile.

"Can we talk about something else?" Ara asked quietly. "I just don't want to talk about it anymore, I'm tired of people asking if I'm alright and asking about my feelings… I just don't know what to think or feel."

Lily reached forward and grabbed Ara's free hand. "Of course," she said. "Why don't you tell me about Charlie… how are things going?"

Ara sighed; she didn't particularly want to talk about that either. He had written her, but it was odd only communicating through writing. "I don't know what's going on with us. He's in Romania… He wrote me and told me that his dragons were glad he was back, and that Kit said 'hello'."

"Who's Kit?"

Ara smiled "He's a Zmey of sorts, I think… truthfully I didn't ask him. I ran into him in the third task, he's part dragon."

Lily looked surprised "I didn't even realize those existed."

Ara shrugged "me neither, but it was kind of hard to deny when one was standing right in front of me."

"I'm sure Charlie would rather be here with you," Lily said after a moment.

Ara sighed "perhaps…. Frankly I'd rather just be there with him. Out of this bloody country."

Ara stared at the contents of her mug, the swirling white liquid with small steam rising from the top.

"Do you trust Severus?" Ara asked not looking up from her cup. It was one of her thoughts she'd recently been obsessing over.

"I do," Lily said softly after a short moment of silence. "Is there a reason you don't?" She asked after Ara didn't respond.

Ara shrugged "it's not that I don't trust him… he just always took my uncle's side… he always seemed to admire him or something…. It's just kind of hard to believe he actually works for Dumbledore."

Lily nodded "Well he used to be a Death Eater and many people still believe he is… even the Order that is reconvening doesn't know that he's truly on our side. Some don't even know he's a spy.

"Well I suppose one thing is certain, he's good at lying," she said with a bitter laugh.

Lily smiled at her sadly "he told me you used to call him 'uncle,' that you were really close."

Ara nodded "as shocking as it may be, considering how horrible he is to Harry, when I was young, he was always kind… My aunt loved me, but she was always so prim and proper that it could be a bit suffocating… When I went to Severus's it was like it didn't matter what I did or who I was… I always thought he would have made a great father… he used to read to me… something my aunt and uncle never did. There was one story that he'd read that he made me swear to never talk about to anyone,"

Lily simply looked at her, a small smile on her face, urging her to continue.

"Superman," she said with a wry grin. "I didn't realize at the time that it was a muggle story."

The smile slid off her face as she remembered the night, the night with Yaxley.

"My uncle wasn't kind…. He hated me and when I went to Severus's house, I felt different. I thought that he'd always be there, in a way I kind of thought of him as superman. Someone who I could turn to, someone who'd save me should anything truly horrible happen."

"What happened Ara?"

Ara shrugged, a small tear finding its way down her cheek. "superman died…." She hesitated, not sure if she could continue the story, it was something she'd never talked about. "It was a dinner party at Malfoy Manor there were a lot of old death eaters there, ministry officials, other important people so I was supposed to be on my best behavior. The party was dwindling down and Yaxley… got me alone."

She looked at Lily only to look away quickly, Lily had tears in her eyes as her hand covered her mouth.

"He didn't get too far… I panicked and well somehow managed to get his bottom jaw stuck back in his throat... he was lucky he survived."

"that's when you ran to Severus, and he sent you home," Lily said, clearly remembering the conversation in Snape's classroom.

Ara shrugged "he wasn't superman after that… All his stories were just that, stories. He became another adult I couldn't trust so I threw myself into training, decided no one would hurt me again… My aunt became kinder after that, she showed affection a little more… My uncle realized he couldn't push me around anymore," she shrugged.

"In a way I suppose it was good that it happened… I certainly wouldn't have been able to get Harry out of that graveyard had I not pushed myself magically… learned all I could."

Lily shook her head "while I'm glad you saved Harry… I wish you hadn't gone through that… Had Severus known, I'm sure he wouldn't have sent you away," she said quietly.

Ara shrugged and stayed silent. She didn't know what to think about him anymore. It was true that her ideal of Snape had gone away that night, she had grown cold and distant towards him. It was hard not to.

"what is it that you like to do for fun?" Lily asked, changing the subject when she realized Ara wouldn't want to discuss it anymore.

Ara frowned and wrinkled her nose "well I like quidditch," she said. "I also like creatures… you know reading about them, meeting them."

Lily simply smiled and waved her hand for Ara to continue.

"Um… I like…. Well hanging out with my friends I suppose," she said with a shrug.

They sat there talking for nearly another hour, getting to know each other a bit better. It turned out Lily had a sister who had always been jealous of her magical abilities and that her parents were ecstatic to have a witch in the family. Ara found herself admiring Lily even more, the more they talked.

The sun had risen, and Ara found herself no closer to sleep when the door opened once more and James walked in, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

He paused looking at the two of them before shrugging and heading to the coffee pot.

Ara glanced back at the clock on the wall and was surprised to find it was already eight. She sighed, going over her mental list of things to do. 1. Decide on a job 2. Claim inheritance 3. Write to Charlie 4. Research how to become an Animagus.

She figured some of them could wait and that she needed to take her aunts advice, which meant going to the bank and claiming her inheritance. It had seemed urgent and while her parents were imprisoned, she didn't want a chance of them being able to name another heir, one that agreed more with Voldemort's ideals. That would mean Voldemort would have essentially an unlimited amount of money.

"I'm going to the bank," she said tiredly, rubbing her hand over her face.

Lily frowned glancing at the clock. She had stood up and moved over to where James was standing. "Shouldn't you try to get some sleep? You've been up all night."

Ara shrugged "I can sleep later; I need to claim my inheritance… don't want that to end up in V-Voldemort's hands."

Lily nodded and James offered a supportive smile "Do you want one of us to go with you?" he asked.

Ara shook her head "I'll be fine. I can slip in and out without being noticed," she said with a smirk.

An hour later, Ara found herself in the main entrance to the bank. She walked quickly towards the front, to a goblin she knew from the times she went to the bank with her uncle. She knew he didn't particularly like her uncle, he had been a bit too rude to him on too many occasions.

"Ragnok," she said, approaching his desk and bowing when she reached him.

"Miss Lestrange," he said, offering a small tilt of his head in response.

"I hope you're doing well and that your gold is abundant," she said politely.

"Thank you miss Lestrange, you as well. What can I help you with?"

"I need to claim my inheritance," she said quietly, looking around as though afraid someone would overhear and disapprove.

Ragnok gave her a pointed look but nodded his head and stepped away from the desk. "Please follow me." He led her to a small room off the main chamber, it held a desk and two chairs across from it. "I will get Ricbert. He will be able to assist."

Ara nodded gratefully and sat in one of the chairs, fidgeting her fingers nervously.

"Someone was just in here yesterday trying to revoke your inheritance." An older goblin with a white beard walked in and Ara recognized him, but she assumed it had been years since she'd seen him. She assumed this must be Ricbert.

"I assume that would have been my uncle?" She asked offering him a small bow as well.

"Lucius Malfoy, yes. He was of course unable to do so."

Ara nodded, while the thought crossed her mind, she didn't think he'd actually be able to take it.

"I have a wizard coming in who will help with the process," he said, sitting beside the desk.

Ara nodded. They sat in silence for only a couple minutes, Ricbert was shuffling through papers, Ara assumed it was information on herself.

The door opened and Ara had to hold back a groan. Another goblin entered, this one wearing medical clothing, but what bothered her most was that Bill was the wizard that followed.

He hesitated as he entered, it seemed he didn't know who he'd be helping either. He shook his head slightly before turning to Ricbert "How can I help sir?" he asked.

Ricbert held up his hand and gestured for the other goblin to do her work. She walked up to Ara and pulled back her sleeve, tapping a vial to Ara's skin. It burned hot before she watched the vial fill with dark red liquid.

The liquid then dropped on a piece of parchment and Ara watched as her name appeared at the top, a list of family members appearing below her, confirming her lineage.

"Miss Lestrange, I will have Bill here take you to your family vaults. He will explain your inheritance to you and help you get your family rings. All I need is a signature here" he said, pointing below the family tree where her name sat in print.

Ara signed the parchment and thanked Ricbert. She was surprised that had been such a quick process, she supposed it made sense. All they needed to do was prove that she was who she said she was, the inheritance was already hers.

She followed Bill out of the room and towards the carts that led to the vaults. He walked in silence and it was clear that he'd rather be doing anything but help her. She followed him into the cart and grabbed on tightly as it gave a lurch.

"Because you have a noble inheritance, you gain the title of Lady Lestrange," Bill said not looking at her. "Obviously you have access to your family accounts and at some point, you'll need to name an heir in case you're killed or something."

Ara snorted "Is that something you're hoping for?" He still didn't look at her, but she saw a slight shake in his head.

"Not particularly… My brother would be upset, and I'd have to take time off to keep him from doing something stupid." He said. "With your noble inheritance and your title, you also have a seat on the Wizengamot…. I'm sure your uncle told you about that."

Ara nodded, not that Bill could see given that his back was still towards her. She had grown up in politics, she knew the society well. She thought she probably knew it better than Bill did.

"Then I won't go into detail," he said, sitting back as they went further and further into the depths of the bank.

"Are the Potter's one of the noble families?" she asked.

Bill sighed "yes… they are, but they aren't one of the sacred twenty-eight."

Ara nodded, she remembered hearing something about that. Someone believed that while they were pureblood, there may have been some muggle or muggle born in their lineage.

"you're super talkative, aren't you?" she asked after they rode in silence for a bit longer.

Bill mumbled a response, running his hands through his hair, pulling strands out of the ponytail.

The cart slid to a halt and Ara hopped out after Bill. They both followed the goblin, walking past a large chained dragon. Ara sucked in a breath as she heard the clanging. It was clear these dragons had been inhumanely trained. She felt sick watching the magnificent beast shrink back, away from the sound.

She glanced at Bill and was glad to see the grimace on his face. It meant he disagreed with its treatment as well. He glanced back at her and for the first time Ara saw something other than contempt or annoyance directed towards her. It was softer, almost caring.

"I haven't told Charlie," he said leaning closer so she could hear him without drawing the attention of the other goblin. "He'd lose it and I'm not exactly in a position to get them to stop."

Ara nodded in an unspoken agreement not to tell him. While she hated the way it was treated, she couldn't exactly break it out. Plus, at this moment in time it was important that the bank was on her side, on everyone's side.

When they reached the vault, the goblin touched his hand to it and the door melted away and revealed a cave like opening, crammed from floor to ceiling with golden coins and goblets, silver armor, the skins of strange creatures — some with long spines, others with drooping wings — potions in jeweled flasks, and a skull still wearing a crown. As she walked further in she could see small family heirlooms, ones that she had only heard about. She ran her hand across a necklace that she knew belonged to her great grandmother.

Bill reached forward and handed her a small envelope.

"There's a list of properties as well as people who have access to the account. There's also specific information regarding the enchantments used to protect everything in here…. The last few pieces of parchment are a list of everything in both your vaults, which includes everything from galleons to random boxes."

"Vaults? There are more than one," she asked, pulling out the paper inside the envelope, but not looking closely at it.

Bill nodded "You also have one in France."

Ara remembered her conversation with Fleur only a month ago… her family had originated in France, it would make sense that there would still be bits and pieces of them left behind.

"Am I able to take people off the list of people who have access to it?" she asked.

Bill nodded "you can take off and add whoever you'd like. Just let Ricbert know when you've decided."

He was no longer looking at her and Ara sighed, she supposed he'd been civil enough.

She glanced around the room once more, the stuff in there was truly magnificent. She had a sinking feeling as she realized some of what was in there may have been stolen, or at the very least earned in an unsavory way.

What caught her attention most wasn't a bright or shiny heirloom, it was a small box, sitting on a table. It looked out of place. She walked over to it and ran her hands over the finished top.

"What is this?" she asked looking quickly at Bill.

Bill shrugged with a look of indifference.

She opened the lid to the box and was surprised when what seemed to be a tree grew out from it, branching in every direction.

"It's your family tree," Bill said, a hint of awe in his voice. It was clear his earlier indifference had been forgotten.

The tree itself was amazing, filled with faces. "There's no women," she said after staring at it for a few moments.

Bill walked closer looking at the tree himself as though he didn't quite believe her.

It was indeed filled with men's faces, surrounded by flowers and branches.

"I've never seen one like this," Bill said.

Ara felt that she could spend hours looking at it but decided she'd rather do it in the comfort of her own room, somewhere where there wasn't a goblin watching her every move. She was surprised that she didn't so much mind Bill seeing it, although she supposed that was because she didn't actually dislike Bill, he only disliked her.

She put the top back on the small box and watched the brief flash of disappointment that crossed Bill's face. It seemed he was fascinated by the subject.

Ara rolled her eyes "you can see it later," she said, tucking it safely in her arms.

She took a small sack and filled it with galleons and sickles. She figured it would last her a Draco a while without them having to come back. She then followed the other two out of the vault. The goblin sealed it back up and it wasn't long before the three of them were on the cart back up to the top.

Bill walked Ara back towards the entrance of the bank, much to her surprise. She had expected him to ditch her as soon as they made it to the top.

"Did you move back here then?" she asked him, last she heard he was living in Egypt.

Bill nodded "The transfer was just made official… with everything that happened during the last task, I decided not to return to Egypt."

Ara nodded secretly wishing Charlie had made that decision as well… she knew it wouldn't be possible, there were no dragon sanctuaries in England.

He looked towards her quickly before looking away, seemingly deciding on something. "Where are you living?" he asked.

She glanced around "the Potters… for the time being."

Bill nodded "I guess I'll see you this weekend then." He said when they reached the front entrance.

Ara frowned "why's that?"

"we were invited over… there's some sort of picnic."

Ara frowned, she wondered if they did this often. Have people over, she supposed it wasn't too abnormal, they had people over all the time when she lived at Malfoy Manor.

"See you then," she said with one glance back at Bill who was looking at her with a curious expression. He nodded to her, before turning and heading back to work. Ara made her way out to the crowded Diagon alley, thinking it would be a good idea to get an owl.

Ara was grateful to Lily, it seemed she had a solution, other than dreamless sleep potion to get her to sleep. It was some sort of tea, but it did calm her and take away some of the nightmares. While she still struggled with sleep, she could at least get a few hours a night.

She spent the next couple of days playing quidditch with Draco, Harry, James, and Sirius. Much to her surprise, Draco and Harry were acting as though they had never been enemies. She couldn't help but smile at the carefree look on his face. One that was so rarely there when they were at home.

Saturday came and Ara found herself in the kitchen trying to help Lily, 'trying' being the key word.

"Is there a reason we're doing this by hand?" she asked as a glob of batter dropped from her spatula onto the counter.

Lily laughed "because this dish tastes better without magic," she said.

Ara rolled her eyes and shook her head. She seriously doubted that.

"Do you even know how to cook withmagic?" Draco asked with a smirk.

Ara frowned before shaking her head. "I think I helped dobby make some sort of a stew once…"

Draco snorted "Even I made more than a stew."

"Yes well your father didn't beat you after watching you be friendly with the house elf."

There was an awkward silence that followed her statement and she wished she could take it back. She meant it jokingly, light hearted even, but Draco's smile fell from his face and he paused in the slicing of the strawberries. Lily simply stared at her, a look of concern in her eyes.

"Sorry," she said "it was no big deal honestly."

Neither of the others responded although they both looked like they disagreed.

Ara went back to mixing the batter, ignoring the infrequent looks of sympathy the other two sent her way.

It wasn't much later that Draco had gone out to the large garden in their back yard and helped James and Harry set everything up. Lily had told Ara she didn't have to do anymore, Ara figured that was because she had done a horrible job and not because Lily was being nice. Instead Ara stayed chatting with her, she greatly enjoyed her company.

There was a small chime heard throughout the house and while Lily smiled, Ara tensed up. She couldn't help but worry. While she knew everything would be fine, she also knew she'd be seeing some people who weren't too fond of her. She wished Charlie would be there, he'd at least help her feel like she belonged.

Lily left to open the door and Ara headed to the back yard where the others were. She figured she could at least stay occupied with Draco and Harry.

She couldn't help the fond smile that formed at the sight of them. Harry and Draco were laughing at James who was doing some sort of trick with his wand. Living here had truly done wonders for Draco, and it had only been a week. He seemed much more lighthearted, as though he's had a taste of what a carefree life would look like. One where he doesn't have to act or be something he isn't.

A drink floated in front of her, it was in a short glass and was a blue slushy drink. She looked around and saw Sirius holding a similar one, walking towards her with his wand out.

"It's called a blue frosty… It's some sort of muggle drink Lily showed me."

Ara sipped it and was startled at how good it tasted. It was some sort of cocktail.

"Never thought something so blue could taste so good," she said with a smirk.

Sirius nodded and smirked "and it'll get you shit faced quickly."

"Thank merlin," she whispered under her voice.

Sirius sighed and nudged her with his elbow, "they'll all like you."

Ara shook her head "I highly doubt Molly will like me much… and I already know Bill hates me."

Sirius frowned "what makes you say that?"

"He helped me at the bank… pretty much ignored me unless it was necessary to talk."

Sirius shrugged "want me to beat him up?"

She snorted "yes please."

He smiled and flung his arm around her, pulling her close and kissing the side of her head.

It didn't take long before the back yard was filled with people. Sirius had gone and said 'hello' to the Weasleys before engaging in an animated discussion with Lupin. Lily was talking with Molly and Harry was talking with Ron and the twins. Ara was already on her second drink, standing off to the side, choosing instead to watch.

"Is this what you usually do on gatherings Lestrange?" came the taut voice of Bill Weasley. "Do you drink and ignore people?"

Ara looked his way and smirked when she saw he himself was getting a drink.

"Probably not much different than you."

Bill wore a closed mouth smile and raised his glass in agreement. "I haven't been to these events in a while… probably a few years."

"hm… too good for the small family gatherings?

Bill rolled his eyes "of course not… I lived in Egypt."

Ara nodded.

"So what was it that made the two oldest Weasley children move so far away after school?"

Bill frowned and shrugged "what was it that made you want to leave?"

"I wanted to get away from my family…. Don't know that I'd feel the same if I had a family like yours."

Bill grimaced "that's not why I left… well I guess." He seemed to struggle with what to say and Ara wondered if there was more to the perfect family, something no one noticed. "It's not that I didn't love my family or that they didn't treat us well…. But when you grow up poor and with a million siblings, I guess part of you itches to get away from that, to find adventure… alone." He laughed at how absurd it sounded.

"That makes sense," Ara said reassuringly. "but now your back." She knew he was back because of what happened during the final task, but part of her wondered what that really had to do with him.

Bill sighed once more and poured himself another drink. "Ron is best friends with Harry and my parents are so close with the Potters…. I know they'll end up on you-know-who's hit list and well… considering what they've already been through with Ginny, I want to be there for it."

Ara frowned, she didn't know what had happened with Ginny, but she thought better than to ask.

"That's why you didn't leave England, right?" Bill asked.

Ara nodded "I couldn't leave Draco at my Uncle's mercy… he would have been recruited and he doesn't have the heart to do what they would want him to do…"

Bill nodded, swirling his drink in his glass, staring at it with a frown.

"I'm kind of surprised you're talking to me," she said honestly, staring at him intently.

"Me too," Bill said.

"It's probably because I'm so charming," she said jokingly.

Bill snorted "you're about as charming as a dead slug."

Ara gave him a knowing smile; she knew he was fond of her and it helped ease the nerves in her gut. Most of Charlie's family may not like her, but Bill was his best friend. She felt that if she could win him over, she could win any of them over.

"Why are you looking at me like that Lestrange?"

"you love me… there's no point in denying it."

"I hate you," he said flatly.

Ara shook her head walking towards him and hugging him around his middle "it's okay, I won't tell anyone."

"there's nothing to tell, I hate you." He said, although he gave her a small squeeze back, showing he clearly didn't hate her.

Ara pulled away and made to refill her drink. Bill was called away by one of his siblings and Ara returned to looking at the crowd. There were many more people there then there had been and most of them, Ara didn't know. She recognized one man as a ministry Auror but wasn't sure who he was.

"Wotcher," the woman who approached her was pretty, she was slightly taller than Ara herself and looked to be the same age. She had bright pink hair and nearly tripped as she reached for a drink. "sorry, I'm a bit clumsy…. I haven't seen you around here before," she said with a large smile.

Ara smiled, the girl was certainly outgoing.

"Sorry, the name's Tonks," she said brightly, putting her hand out confidently for Ara to shake.

"It's a pleasure," Ara said grasping her hand. "I just met the Potters this last year," she said simply.

"Yeah? Are you a student of theirs?" she asked.

Ara figured she must not be her age, she must've been older considering she had no idea who she was.

"um, no I wasn't one of their students."

"Sorry," Tonks said with a shrug "I just know they're at school all year and you seemed a bit young to be a teacher… you know you never said your name," she said bubbly.

"I'm not a teacher," Ara said with a grimace. While she didn't particularly want this girl to run the other direction screaming, she knew everyone there would know her name eventually. "I was a Durmstrang student… My name's Ara… Lestrange."

Tonks's reaction wasn't one that she had expected. Rather than grimace and get quiet, possibly even make an excuse to leave, her smile got wider, and she grabbed Ara's shoulder's excitedly. "Why didn't you say something?" She nearly shouted.

"Sorry?"

Tonks rolled her eyes and flung one arm around her shoulders "I've heard about you, but didn't realize you'd be here…"

Ara tensed still staring at the girl in bewilderment.

"I don't think the Potters have told many people I'm living here…"

Tonks simply stared at her, giving her a large grin. "I didn't realize you were living with the Potters… Mum offered to have you live with her and dad, but Sirius had said you'd be more comfortable with him."

"I'm sorry," Ara was truly confused now "who's your mum?"

"Oh, sorry, I suppose I didn't mention and my name would mean nothing to you… but we're family," she said brightly.

"Oh," Ara said, Tonks had pulled her arm off of Ara and instead grabbed her hand, dragging her across the garden.

She stopped in her tracks and instantly at the sight of the women. She tensed up as he gut twisted into knots.

"what's the problem?" Tonks said turning to Ara with concern in her eyes.

It was then that Ara realized the differences in appearance, while the woman resembled her mother, there were also many differences. Her eyes caught her off guard, she had laugh lines surrounding them and they were warm, happy even. It was something she had never seen in her mother.

The woman made eye contact with Ara and smiled largely, and Ara wondered if her mother would have been this beautiful had she been more care-free.

"Ara," she said, her voice was raspy as though she were getting over a cold.

"This is my mum… Andromeda Tonks," Tonks said letting go of Ara's hand.

Ara raised her eyebrows in surprise "Andromeda… like Aunt Andy? "

Her smile grew "well I'm glad to see my sisters didn't make it seem like I didn't exist entirely…"

Ara frowned and shook her head "no, Aunt Cissa told me about you."

"Anything good?" she asked.

Ara avoided her gaze "she said you ran off and got married… that you left her behind."

A look of surprise came over Andromeda's face. It seemed she had expected something worse.

"For the most part she spoke highly of you… at least when she told us about when you were children."

"She thinks I left her?"

Ara shrugged "I honestly don't know… Aunt Cissa… She avoids talking about her family."

Andy looked contemplative, running over what Ara said through her head. Ara knew her aunt was truly a good person, she just got caught in a horrible family.

"So anyways," Tonks said "we're cousins and now you know why I was so excited to meet you. I don't have cousins you see, unless you count my dad's nieces and nephews, but they're muggles so we don't see them much."

Ara smiled kindly at her, Tonks sure could talk, but Ara found her joy refreshing.

"Ara this is my husband Ted," Andy said, gesturing to a man behind her. He had a kind face and a round belly, much different than her own father and her uncle.

"it's a pleasure," she said reaching out her hand and shaking his. "So, your last name is Tonks?" she asked, looking at Tonks.

Tonks tensed and rolled her eyes in the direction of her mother.

"I'm afraid my daughter prefers to go by her last name." Andy said sending Tonks an exasperated look. "Her name is Nymphadora."

Tonks groaned "if you must call me by a first name, please call me Dora," She said.

Ara laughed "I'll call you whatever you want."

She glanced around and saw Draco standing only a few feet away talking to the twins. She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her. He stumbled over his feet "Yes?" he asked after ramming into Ara.

"This is Draco," she said to the other three. If possible, their smiles grew even larger. "Draco this is Aunt Andy and Uncle Ted… and Tonks," she said gesturing at each in turn.

"your mum's sister?" Draco asked Andy surprised. She nodded and shook his hand.

"I didn't know you were friends with the Potters… no wonder you were burned off the family tree."

Ara slapped her forehead with her hand. It was no wonder Draco had made so many enemies in his years at Hogwarts. He had absolutely no tact.

Andy scoffed "well it was my marriage to Ted that got me burned off the tree…"

"oh," Draco said, "Is he a muggle?"

Andy shook her head "muggle born."

"ah," he said looking as though it made sense. "seems like a dumb reason to burn someone off a tree," he said with a shrug.

Ara was surprised, while she knew Draco was coming around, she thought he had always been a bit prejudiced against muggleborns. Then again, he had been spending more time with Hermione, maybe he was growing fonder of them.

"then again I suppose Sirius was burned off the tree for refusing to join you-know-who…."

Ara shrugged, they both seemed like bad reasons to disown someone.

"Shall we go for a walk?" Andy said, glancing at the others around her. Ara and Draco nodded and followed Andy and Tonks while Ted was pulled in a different direction.

"Congratulations on the tournament," Andy said, walking the rose garden, leading her to a bench in the center. "You faced some truly horrifying creatures."

Ara smiled and shrugged "The creatures weren't all that bad… Dragons are simply misunderstood."

"And you went to Durmstrang?" she asked Ara.

Ara nodded "I'd rather have gone to Hogwarts… Although I did like being countries away from my uncle."

Andy nodded; she was gazing Ara intently as though studying her.

"how about you Draco? What house were you in?"

"Slytherin," he said somewhat hesitantly.

"Eh," Tonks said wrinkling her nose, jumping away as her mother attempted to hit her.

"I was in Slytherin as well," Andy said reassuringly.

"I'm sure I would have been as well had I been at Hogwarts," said Ara.

The four of them sat on two benches. Andy pulled Ara next to her while Tonks and Draco sat across from them.

"I was glad when I was told that you both… left."

Ara smiled sadly "we couldn't stay there."

Andy nodded, "I felt the same… I was just a couple years older than you when I left my family."

"I don't think it was ever really a choice… well not for Ara anyways," Draco said. "Sure, I could have stayed and taken the dark mark early, but they would have used us… both of us."

Ara looked at him intently, it wasn't often that he talked about leaving home.

"Are you happy here?" Tonks asked, glancing between the two.

They both nodded and Draco smiled largely "If you would have asked me last year if I'd enjoy living with the Potters I would have said you were mad… I just wish mum could be here," he glanced down at his hands.

It was Ara's concern too. Somewhere in the back of her mind was the constant worry for her aunt, the only death eater she truly cared for.

Andy reached over and grabbed her hand "I know it was hard leaving the life you've always known… but things will be better here. I'm so glad I'll get to know my niece and nephew. I never dreamed I'd be able to meet you again."

Ara smiled sadly before her mouth slipped into a frown. "You've met us before?"

Andy's smile dropped as well turning into more of a grimace. "yes, well just you Ara…. After your parents were arrested and sentenced to Azkaban... well I fought for custody of you."

"you wanted me to live with you?"

Both Draco and Ara wore similar looks of shock. Shock at the idea that Ara may have grown up completely differently.

Andy nodded "I did… Unfortunately, the courts believed that you should grow up with someone you knew… You knew Narcissa and you didn't know me."

Ara sighed at the thought of what her life may have been like had she grown up with a different aunt. She never would have been sent away, it was unlikely she would have received the same punishments, she never would have had to learn how to duel at the age of thirteen. Noshe thought. No matter how much she would have loved it, she wouldn't trade her life for anything. She had Draco and she was strong. Everything she went through only shaped her into who she was today, no matter how horrible.

Draco was fidgeting uncomfortably with the hem and Ara knew what he was thinking.

"As lovely as that would have been… I am glad I grew up where I did."

Andy nodded in understanding before staring intently at her daughter. She huffed and gestured towards her daughter's short hair, "must you wear it like this?"

"I like it mum," she said with a small blush. They seemed to get into some sort of a staring contest for after a moment Tonks rolled her eyes and her hair changed from short pink to shoulder-length brown hair. "Happy?"

Andy nodded in agreement.

"Wow," Draco said, "you're a metamophamagus."

"I am," she said confidently changing her nose from normal to a pig nose. Draco and Ara laughed.

"Come along dear cousins, let's leave the old person to talk with her friends."

Draco snorted and the two of them allowed themselves to be dragged away. From a distance Ara watched Andy find Ted engage in conversation. Tonks grabbed two drinks and gave one to Ara before handing Draco a lemonade. She glanced at her parents before changing her hair back to the bright pink.

Ara smiled, she thought it was far more fitting.

"So…" Tonks hesitated, sipping her drink while looking at Ara. She seemed to be torn.

"What is it?" Ara asked hesitantly.

Tonks sighed "well…. I'm really just curious…."

"yes?"

"Are you dating Charlie Weasley?"

Ara looked surprised, that hadn't been what she had expected. "erm… I don't know…"

Tonks snorted "how do you not know if you're dating someone?"

"well it's complicated… we were together and then we weren't, and I guess we haven't really decided what we are." She frowned "you know Charlie?"

Tonks nodded "we were in the same year at Hogwarts, good friends too. He's actually one of the few people I've kept in contact with since we graduated."

Ara nodded and she felt shame at the brief rush of jealousy that slipped in the pit of her stomach. She knew Charlie didn't like Tonks. But it didn't mean she didn't wonder if he had ever liked her.

Tonks rolled her eyes as though reading Ara's mind. "I'm into older guys and Charlie is younger than me by a whole two months."

Ara blushed. "I'm sorry, I'm not usually the jealous type."

Tonks shrugged "wouldn't matter to me even if you were… we're family, right? We're supposed to have each other's backs?"

Ara and Draco glanced at each other before nodding. They seemed to fit well with the Tonks'. It felt like they had known each their whole lives.

Most of the guests had left and Ara returned to her room to get away from it all. To get some space. While the day had been good overall, she still got the cold shoulder from Mrs. Weasley as well as some of the other guests she hadn't met.

She ran her hands through her hair, tugging at the ends. Her mind was busy as she thought about her aunt, the one she had never known, the one she could have had a life with, a very different life where maybe people didn't jump at the sight of her or run in fright.

She paced her room, uncertain of what to do, what to think. She felt restless like she needed to be doing something but didn't know what to do. She glanced at the drawers of her temporary dresser and walked over to it, pulling open the top drawer. She pulled out the small black box and set it on the floor, kneeling beside it. She'd been busy over the last couple days and hadn't really had time to look at it.

She rubbed her hands nervously on her thighs. She couldn't quite explain the knots in her stomach at the thought of looking at her family tree.

She opened the box and watched in awe at the branches twisting and growing, revealing everyone in her family. Most names she didn't recognize although there were many repeat names such as her great great great grandfather Radolphus. There were also many names that were clearly French, reminding her of what Fleur had said.

She finally found her father, Rodolphus, and her Uncle Rabastian. There was a flower surrounding her father's name, but not her uncles, she wondered if that was her mother's flower, if all the women were represented by flowers. She frowned when she saw the single branch stemming from her fathers. The only thing on the lone branch was a wilted flower, one that looked like it had been dead for a while. She looked closer and off to the side there was another flower, healthy and alive, but completely detached from everything around it.

Her frown deepened as she questioned what she had initially thought. Maybe the flowers weren't women at all, maybe women weren't represented on this family tree. There was a small niggling at the back of her mind that told her that wasn't true. But what would that mean? Would that mean that she had had a sister? And perhaps more importantly, where was her flower? Was she floating unattached?

She shook her head of the thoughts, maybe the magic on the family tree was wearing off.

There was a wrap on the door and Ara closed the box quickly as the door creaked open. Draco stood there smiling at her, his face turning to a look of confusion at the sight of her and the box on the ground.

"what's that?"

Ara shrugged "It's nothing."

He didn't look convinced but didn't push for more information.

"Everyone else is gone and we were going to play some sort of muggle game… Want to join?"

Ara hesitated, looking at the box once more. It wouldn't be good to dwell on it, not until she met someone who could help her figure it out. "Alright," she said quietly, grabbing the box and jumping up to her feet. She put it in the top drawer of her dresser, whispering a small spell to lock the drawer before following Draco downstairs.