A/N: Oops this one is pretty long! I'd definitely only suggest embarking on this chapter if you have a solid 30 minutes to spare, a cup of tea/coffee, and some serious snacks.

No one has told me that the flashbacks are confusing so I'm just gonna carry those on for now. Eventually we won't need any more, but not till like chapter 9. Any questions/comments let me know :)

Enjoy the last of the weekend!


Chapter Four

Sunday dinners at Hogwarts were the best, Aurelia thought. She piled second helpings of roast potatoes, slices of ham, Yorkshire puddings, plenty of vegetables, and a healthy coating of gravy onto her plate happily. Combining a little bit of everything onto her fork, she placed it in her mouth and mentally commended herself for going in for seconds. Regulus' tuneful chuckle sounded beside her and she looked over to see him watching her.

"What?" She asked, dabbing her mouth with her napkin in case there was a rogue trace of gravy that had caught his attention.

"You're in your element aren't you?" He laughed.

She screwed her face up in mock annoyance. "May as well make the most of it while I can," she pouted.

He held his hands up in defeat. Money was tight in Aurelia's household and whilst they often managed to skilfully swerve the subject, he did feel guilty at the contrast between her circumstances versus his own when it was brought up. "Okay okay, woe is you little Lia, you enjoy stuffing your face."

"I will," she grinned in victory. She herself didn't particularly care about being poor but it was useful how awkward everyone else could be about it, especially since it hadn't always been that way for her.

BANG!

Aurelia and Regulus jumped at the sudden noise, their heads swivelling to the other end of the Slytherin table where chaos had broken out. A number of the seventh year Slytherins had jumped from the benches; their chicken dinners had exploded in their faces and they were now covered in feathers, stuck on by some strange sticky substance that looked akin to the gravy they'd just been consuming.

Shouts of laughter rippled across the hall; none louder than at the Gryffindor table, where the self-named marauders were clutching their stomachs and howling with glee. Severus Snape, Emmett Mulciber, and Evan Rosier were the worst hit, something that didn't escape the notice of the boys in red - they had likely engineered it to happen that way. Snape was spitting with rage as every spell he used to try and vanish the feathers only made them double, to the point where his eyes were almost completely covered. The effected parties scattered from the hall, shouting curses at the Gryffindors who responded with taunts about the upcoming Gryffindor versus Slytherin quidditch match, offering the team in green the chance to chicken out now before they were colossally beaten by the lions.

With most of the student population still beside themselves at the humiliation of a collection of the most unpopular Slytherins in the school, Aurelia cast a glance at Regulus. As she feared, he was watching Sirius silently as he was clapped on the back by his housemates and different people took it in turns to shake his hand appreciatively. Any time Regulus witnessed Sirius having a laugh with his housemates, Aurelia felt an instant sense of dread about his reaction. Not that he would actually say anything, though. In fact, he tended to go very quiet, enclosing himself in a desolate pit of mourning that was nearly impossible to pull him out of. And what was worse was that his silences were lasting longer and longer, stretching into the evening and following days.

"I don't want to talk about it," Regulus interjected just as she'd opened her mouth to offer some comfort.

She frowned. "Yeah and you probably never will want to talk about it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't."

"Well what do you want me to say?" He countered quietly, though thankfully the great hall was still abuzz with chatter and no-one could hear them anyway. "That I'm humiliated? That I'm unbelievably jealous of his friends and at the same time furious with myself for giving a shit?"

"Yes," she responded simply, her eyes warm and understanding, "that's exactly what I want you to say. Every time you feel it I want you to say it."

He sighed, disarmed. "And what if you're not around?"

"I'm never far away," she said with a smile, wriggling closer to him on the bench and looping her arm through his. "See?" She took another bite of food with difficulty as their linked arms moved together. "You can't get rid of me."

"Good." He gave her a small smile, which widened when she smiled back. She didn't push him to say anything more on the subject, and for that he was grateful.

He watched her struggle to continue to eat with amusement, and when she next pierced a potato with her fork and lifted it to her mouth, he jerked their interlinked arms so that the potato missed its destination and prodded her cheek instead.

"Hey!" She whined.

"Honestly, Aurelia, didn't your mother teach you any table manners? Food is to be eaten not played with!"

She attempted to eat the potato again only to have it jerked away from her mouth. They spent the rest of the mealtime in a similar vein, Aurelia giggling while she tried to eat something only for Regulus to jolt her arm away. It was silly really, but nevertheless Regulus walked back to the common room that evening feeling like a weight had been temporarily lifted off his chest.


Midway through the week, Sirius was sitting with his friends at breakfast, discussing the recently announced Slytherin quidditch team line out and where the weaknesses were. Their musings were interrupted, however, by the sudden onslaught of owls delivering the morning's post, and Sirius watched in amusement as the Potter's family owl delivered a parcel of freshly baked cookies and pastries to James. Remus and Peter also got letters from their families, and for a short while everyone was preoccupied with their post.

He cast a look around the hall; there had been more post than usual this year, and Sirius knew it must have a lot to do with the growing threat from Voldemort and his allies. A familiar bird flapped in late and Sirius watched it circle above their heads before it located the correct recipient of the letter tied to its leg, swooping down over the Slytherin table and landing neatly on Aurelia's empty plate. He watched her untie it and slip it into her pocket, glancing discreetly at the people around her to see if anyone was paying any notice. The bird flapped away as soon as it had been relieved of the letter. Sirius watched it go, trying to recall where he'd seen it before.

Not for the first time, James incorrectly followed Sirius' gaze and said in a low voice, "I just don't get how he got away with it."

Remus and Peter looked up, following James' line of vision to Emmett Mulciber, who was sitting to the left of Aurelia.

"Surely your testimony to Dumbledore was enough to get him expelled?" Remus added.

"His father is on the school board," Sirius growled, "he's practically untouchable." He opened his mouth to say more but as he did, Mulciber leaned close to Aurelia and murmured something to her. His fists closed tightly, the memory of what he did to Mary flying to the forefront of his mind.

"God, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in their common room sometimes, wouldn't you?" Peter sighed wistfully.

"I mean we could be…" Sirius sent a conspiring look to James for support, but the Head Boy shook his head.

"Can't risk getting caught, it'll ruin my game plan for Evans," he said seriously.

Remus scoffed and Sirius rolled his eyes. "And how's the plan going for you, Prongs?"

James straightened his tie importantly. "Well provided we win the match next week then it's going just fine, thanks."

"Mmm, yeah, I suppose she hasn't called you a conceited prick yet today," Sirius pondered slowly, pretending to think hard. "She must be falling for you mate."

"Oh bugger off. You just make sure we win the match and I'll take care of the rest."

Sirius raised his hand in salute. "Aye, Captain!" Then after a pause, "are you sure you don't want some help with the wooing too? I'm told I can be pretty damn charming when I want to be." He waggled his eyebrows for extra effect.

"And on that note," Remus interrupted loudly as James' face grew red, "I'm off to Care of Magical Creatures. See you in the free." He finished, referring to their shared free period before lunch.

The boys simply waved in response, James far too focused on the idea that Sirius could charm Lily more effectively than he.


As Remus neared the small barn by the forbidden forest which housed the matagots they were rearing. He heard a familiar cry of, "Ouch!", and hurried to get there faster.

"Everything alright here, Aurelia?" He asked calmly as Aurelia yanked her hand out of the jaws of the matagot, massaging her knuckles and glaring at the very pleased looking cat-like animal.

"No," she snapped. "The bloody thing is growing teeth like a shark and feels the need to eat me rather than the food I'm trying to give her."

Remus reached out and stroked the baby matagot's head, who purred and nuzzled in closer. "Have you tried rubbing some clove gel on her gums, she's probably teething?" She gave him a stony look and he shrunk back guiltily. "You would have tried that if I'd been there to help," he corrected.

Aurelia nodded once. "Correct. How is your grandmother, by the way?" Her tone made it clear she didn't believe his consistent excuse for missing their planned sessions to work on their class project, which this year was the rearing of a matagot, or Cheryl, as Remus called her. They'd been paired up by Professor Kettleburn, their Care of Magical Creatures teacher, at the start of sixth year, and Remus' absences had been too frequent for Aurelia not to guess that he was hiding something.

"She's getting a bit better, I think," he said with rehearsed casualness. "Thanks for asking."

Her light blue eyes pierced his for a moment longer before she inclined her head to him. "Glad to hear it, and you're welcome." She turned back to the matagot, who made another swipe at her hand. "Right, I'll hold her still and you can rub the lotion on her gums, I'm not letting the little shit get her teeth into me again."

Remus did as he was told, the animal responding far more compliantly to him than she had to Aurelia, causing the Slytherin to grumble even more as she went about her work. As he stroked Cheryl's head, he made a mental note to get Sirius to ask Aurelia what she thought about his absences; he was worried she was getting close to putting two and two together, especially as she was taking Astronomy.


It was Saturday, and in an unexpected act of kindness, Professor McGonagall had released Aurelia from her detention two hours early so she was now walking through Hogsmede to the pub to see if Narcissa had hung around for her as she'd said she might. She pushed open the door to the Three Broomsticks and looked around until she saw a flash of blonde hair and felt arms wrap around her shoulders in a hug.

"Lia!" Narcissa greeted, holding her back at arms length when she was done with her embrace, and looked her up and down. "You're looking skinny!"

Aurelia rolled her eyes but smiled back at her long-time, and only, female Black ally. "Whatever you say, Cissa." She looked past Narcissa, scanning the space for a free table, and spotted a small booth on the far right wall. "Come and sit, I've got a new book for you."

The two wound their way over and made themselves comfortable on the cushiony leather seats. "What title is it this time?" Narcissa asked with interest.

"It's 'Happiness at Taddsworth'," Aurelia said, pushing the book across the table to the blonde, "bit soppy but sometimes that's not a bad thing."

Narcissa smiled, putting the book safely in her expensive looking satchel. "Sounds perfect."

"So how's married life treating you?" Aurelia asked, smiling at the glow that lit up Narcissa's face at the mention of her husband. But before she had a chance to respond, a drawling voice interrupted from behind Aurelia's head.

"Sorry to interrupt, Narcissa, but I'm just desperate to see my baby cousin."

Aurelia's face hardened as she turned around to see her cousin's irritating face. "Gus," she greeted stiffly, "I didn't expect to find you here."

His eyes narrowed in response. "Stop calling me by that name, Aurelia, it's too familiar - as I've told you." Aurelia's cousin, Magnus, often took it upon himself to correct Aurelia for little infractions here and there, making no effort to hide the fact that he thought Aurelia's parents had done a poor job in raising her as a lady.

"How can I help?" Aurelia responded in a professional tone, completely ignoring his comment.

"Now now, won't you give your cousin a hug, dear Aurelia!" Magnus said loudly, attracting the attention of the nearby tables, Sirius' included.

Aurelia allowed herself to be pulled into a stiff embrace but wasn't surprised when Magnus used it as an opportunity to speak into her ear. "I hear you've been disrespectful to my dear friend, Emmett, Aurelia."

"How so?" she countered, not revealing anything.

Magnus ignored her, continuing in a growl, "I expect you to make a union with him, Aurelia, and soon too."

"Well good thing it's not your choice then, isn't it," she said, stepping back.

Magnus revealed his teeth in what Aurelia supposed was meant to be a smile. "It's Father's choice."

"Not his choice either." She folded her arms across her chest.

He scoffed, leering at her. "It's hardly your father's choice though is it?"

"No," Aurelia agreed, "it's mine. And my answer is no."

He laughed in her face. "Oh Aurelia, I'd forgotten how terribly naive you are. Now you be nice to our dear friend," he pulled her back close on the pretence of another hug, but Sirius could see his fingernails digging into her arm,"or you can be sure there'll be consequences."

Aurelia dug the heel of her boot into Magnus' foot, smiling just as menacingly. He didn't flinch, and for a moment they just stood there in a standoff to see who would break first. Magnus remembered himself first and chimed, "Have a wonderful few months, won't you Aurelia? I look forward to receiving an update from you soon."

Before she could answer, Regulus joined them out of nowhere, and Magnus stood up a straighter on sight of him. "Regulus, old chap," Magnus greeted, shaking Regulus' hand.

"Gus," Regulus nodded, "not giving our Aurelia a hard time I hope?"

Magnus seemed to be fighting an inner battle but responded with a tight smile, his tone remaining respectful. "Just reminding her of her familial duties."

"And Gus was just leaving," Aurelia added lightly. "Do try not to slip and break your scull on the ice on your way home, cousin!" Aurelia called happily after him.

Regulus turned his head to hide his laugh and joined Narcissa at their table. Once Magnus was far enough away he turned to Aurelia, speaking in hushed tones, "What was that all about?"

She scowled. "He reckons I should marry Emmett Mulciber."

"Oh," Narcissa said, seemingly underwhelmed. "He's not that bad is he?"

The brunette looked at her as if she were going insane. "Not that bad?" She repeated. "He's a maniac and a pig."

Narcissa gave her a sympathetic look, but continued on in a practical way, "I can see what you mean, but the fact that he wants you must be quite nice. And I mean, it's not as though you can be all that picky, considering…" she tailed off.

"Considering the Black's don't want me anymore." Aurelia finished for her coldly. The cousins exchanged an awkward look.

"Come on, Lia, that's not what she's saying," Regulus reasoned.

"True though, isn't it!" Aurelia responded hotly, standing up to leave. "Enjoy the book Narcissa."

"You're not leaving already are you?" Narcissa asked, sounding genuinely upset. "You only just got here!"

But Aurelia was too annoyed to sit back down. "Sorry Cissa, but I have to get back to the castle. Have a good Christmas." She didn't wait to engage in the usual hugs and kisses goodbye, and instead stalked out of the pub and back up the path to the looming castle.

It had been a slow day so Sirius was relieved that the rest of his table at the Three Broomsticks were as intrigued by the drama between the Blacks and Averys as he was; they wouldn't read into his attentiveness. In response to a pointed look from Remus, Sirius got up and followed her out. Remus had asked him to speak to Aurelia to try and throw her off the scent as to why he was absent from lessons so frequently, and if truth be told he was dreading it. He had been intrigued by the interactions between Aurelia, his cousin Narcissa, and Aurelia's cousin Magnus however. In particular, it was odd to see Magnus be so respectful towards Regulus - he wondered if he could find a way to bring it up to Aurelia.

As though she'd heard her name in his thoughts, she turned round at that moment and glared at him. "Must you walk so loudly?" She snapped.

He blinked, taken aback, then smiled widely - Aurelia was hilarious when she was angry, at least when she was angry at someone other than him. "Something got your goat, Peach?" He asked in a sing song voice, falling into step beside her.

"What do you think?"

"Gus being a twat again?"

She nodded. "Yeah. But isn't he always?"

Sirius snorted in response and for a while they just walked in silence.

After they'd rounded the corner of the main village and continued on the leaf-strewn path to the castle, Sirius said calmly, "I didn't realise you still keep in touch with Andromeda."

Aurelia's face snapped to look at him. "How do you know about that?" She hissed, looking around urgently to make sure they were alone.

"I recognised Ted's owl at breakfast earlier this week."

She swivelled on her foot to block him in his tracks with her body and looked up at him, her eyes wide and beseeching. "You can't tell anyone!"

Sirius looked down at her, noting the familiar scent of her perfume, and sighed. "I wasn't planning on it," he said gruffly. "I understand how dangerous it is for you to be speaking to her, but question is - do you understand?"

"Obviously!" Aurelia glowered. "But it's worth the risk."

Sirius nodded slowly, thinking, and fixed her with an intent, almost bitter, look. "What I don't get is that I thought you and me were a lot closer than you and Andy, and yet you're willing to risk speaking to her but won't say two words to me."

His words caught her completely off guard. She breathed out heavily, trying to find the right words. "It's different. You're different." She began pacing back up to the castle but he caught up with her easily.

Then, in a most tentative way, as though the question had been burning inside her for a long while, she said, "Do you resent me for not going with you?"

He had to think about that one. The honest answer was that yes, he had resented her for it, it had been an almighty slap in the face at the time. Pride 0 - Aurelia 1.

But now?

It had been something he'd mulled over a lot since the summer; he liked to think the whole situation had matured him - he wanted to be above petty grudges, to be the bigger person. Besides, if she wanted to stay in that life it wasn't his problem.

He glanced back down at her, she seemed vulnerable at the moment. His full honesty would undoubtedly encourage another argument so instead he fixed her with a stern yet gentle look, kind of like how his father looked at Regulus when he was having a self-pitying moment."No, Peach, I don't resent your decision to stay," he consoled gently. "Do you understand why I left?"

She swallowed, trying to ease the terrible burning in the back of her throat. "Yeah- maybe- I don't know. I think I'm starting to," she conceded, her voice somber, "but that doesn't make it any easier."

He felt a sudden rush of guilt at the sound of the tremor in her voice. It was only these quiet times that revealed the state of her languishing. He hated feeling responsible for bringing her down, and every time he thought about it he just felt anger that she was making him feel that way. It wasn't his fault she didn't have the balls to follow him, it wasn't like he hadn't given her a chance.

No, he thought. Now wasn't the time to drudge it all back up.

It was his turn to stop her from walking. He seemed to loom intimidatingly over her, the top of her head barely reaching his collar bone, but when he brushed his thumb across her cheek he was as gentle as ever. Unthinking, unquestioning, she turned her face and pressed her lips to his palm. The act drew him closer instinctively; he was completely transfixed by her, the pent up feelings of anger, betrayal, loss, swiftly sliding away.

"Lia, I-" Sirius started in a whisper - some shouts just around the corner made them both jump, jolting them back to the reality where he was a traitor and she a conformist.

Aurelia jerked away from him, not making eye contact. "I should go," she mumbled, then hurried off in the direction of the dungeons.

He watched her form getting smaller and smaller as she fled the scene, one hand dragging through his hair and clutching at the roots. "Fuck."

And again, "Fuck!" Remus' request had completely slipped his mind. He'd just have to find another opportunity to speak to her about his… fury little problem.


Back in her dormitory, Aurelia was laid on her bed staring at the canopy above her, angry tears rolling into her hairline as her mind replayed their encounter. He said he didn't resent her for not going with him that night but she could tell that he didn't understand why she hadn't gone with him. He thought she was just a sheep, being a good little girl for mummy and daddy. Her fists balled in her sheets.

Despite her relentless efforts to keep it buried, the memory of the last time she had been that close to Sirius came flooding back.

The extended Black family, their spouses, Aurelia, and a few other family friends were gathered in the formal sitting room after a meal in Grimmauld Place to celebrate Regulus getting his Prefect badge.

"I'm so very proud of you Regulus, darling," Walburga Black gushed, "aren't you proud, Orion?"

Sirius' father was clearly trying not to roll his eyes as his wife forced him to confess his pride for the fifth time that evening.

"Ten points to Slytherin," Sirius muttered darkly, unable to bite his tongue any longer. Walburga's attention snapped to him, she was not a patient woman and Sirius' behaviour had been particularly insolent that summer. All it took was his presence, however silent, to send her into a rage.

"Shut your ungrateful little mouth, Sirius Orion Black!" She practically screamed, her face reddening until it had reached a most unhealthy beetroot colour.

Sirius glared at her but didn't say anything further. He pulled on his collar to loosen it, the heat and tension in the room making him feel like he would suffocate at any given moment.

Bellatrix tutted loudly, grimacing maliciously at Sirius from the chair opposite. "You shouldn't be so bitter, little Gryffindor. Just because your brother has now surpassed you in every way…

Perhaps you should consider declaring Reggie as your heir, Uncle, have Sirius as the spare instead."

Aurelia felt Sirius brace beside her and nudged him softly with her leg in a silent show of support. He offered her a tight smile but didn't relax, and with his eyes fixed on the table it looked as though he was having some battle of wills in his head.

"I don't think you give Sirius enough credit, Bella," Aurelia said diplomatically, "He's really very intelligent. You're almost always top of the class aren't you, Sirius?"

Bellatrix's harsh cackle interrupted any response that Sirius might have made. "Still clinging onto the idea of my dear cousin, are you Aurelia? I wouldn't bother, Rabastan saw him with a filthy mudblood in Hogsmede last month."

Walburga slammed her glass down. "WHAT?" she bellowed.

"Nothing happened," Sirius insisted, though it was more to Aurelia than anyone else, "Mary's just a friend."

"I don't care if this girl is 'just a friend' or not," Walburga screeched, "I have told you time and again that you are not to consort with that filth! You will respect my wishes or you will leave this house!"

"FINE!" Sirius roared as he leapt to his feet. "I'LL LEAVE!"

Silence. Nobody dared move or even breathe apart from Sirius, who had stormed out of the room and up the stairs, presumably to gather some things from his room. A few moments later and something seemed to click in Aurelia, who jumped to her feet and threw herself up the stairs and into his room.

His trunk was open and he was grabbing random items in piles and chucking them inside haphazardly.

"Sirius, stop!" Aurelia shrieked. "You can't honestly be thinking of leaving!"

"Get out the way," he growled as she tried to close the case to stop him packing anything else. "Pass me that book."

In a daze, she passed it to him and he tossed it on top of the clothes and other belongings he'd managed to scramble together. He snapped the case closed and pulled it upright, striding towards the door.

"No!" She jumped in the way to block his exit. "Sirius, please, just calm down a second!"

He sucked in a breath and fixed her with a steady gaze. "I'm perfectly calm," he said rigidly, though his shaking hands begged to differ. "I cannot stay in this shithole for one more minute, Aurelia," he added, his speech staccato.

"But what about Regulus?" She squeaked. "You can't just leave him, he won't be able to cope, he's-"

"I am SICK," Sirius half-shouted, "of always having to put Regulus first! I have friends who actually give a shit about ME and what I want!"

Aurelia gasped, livid. She took an angry step forward. "Then what about me? Or do you not care about leaving me behind either?"

Taking a deep calming breath, he closed the gap between them and covered her angrily balled up fists with his hands. "I want you to come with me."

"Ha! So you want me to believe that was your plan all along, do you? I'm just a second thought to you, aren't I?" She wrenched her hands from his grasp, recreating the space between them.

"No," he groaned, pained. "Believe me, Lia, please? I want you to come with me!"

Tears were rolling down her cheeks."How can I come with you, Sirius?" She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. "There's people relying on me."

His gaze flicked between her eyes and her lips and he found his head moving forward intuitively, his lips touching hers gently at first, and then firmly, resolutely, as her body pressed into his.

"Come," he whispered into her lips when they parted.

She opened her eyes slowly, her lashes brushing his skin. She'd been standing on her tiptoes, and as her feet touched flat to the floor, Sirius thought how small she looked.

"I can't come with you, Sirius."

His eyes, previously passionate, warm, enticing; clouded over in an instant. His voice was cold, "Fine. But I'm not staying." And with that he pushed passed her and hauled his trunk down the stairs.

The occupants of the kitchen, previously shocked and unmoving, woke at the sound of the trunk clanking down the steps.

"BLACK!" Lucius Malfoy and Rodolphus Lestrange's voices called in unison, with their bodies following into the hallway soon after, wands drawn.

"Do you really think we're going to let you bring any more shame on the Black family name?" Lucius hissed, the family was still recovering from the impropriety of Andromeda's hasty exit.

Sirius barked out a laugh and raised his own wand with a snarl. "Nothing can be more shameful than having a bunch of Death Eaters in the family."

Hearing his taunt, Bellatrix came crashing into the hallway, quickly followed by the other Blacks, who it seemed had been trying to restrain her. "Right, you little freak!" She lashed her wand at him.

"NO!" Aurelia screamed, and hurled herself in the spell's path, a great slash cutting across her shoulder. Sirius looked at her, horrified.

"Get out," she growled.

Without so much as a second glance, Sirius flung the door open and made his final escape.

Walburga screamed. "What the hell have you done, you stupid girl?"

"Why would you just let him walk out like that?" Regulus accosted her next, his voice cracking.

"You had no right!" Bellatrix screeched. "You'll pay for that you wretched little bitch!"

"Enough." Solemn, Orion pushed the door shut with unprecedented restraint. The screaming accusations didn't cease, however, and Aurelia was swiftly slapped across the cheek by a raging Bellatrix.

"ENOUGH!"

Shocked, all activity froze. Orion was a man of quiet authority, but he could be even deadlier than his wife when pushed. And in that moment he stood there, silently seething, Aurelia's only ally.

"Fuck this!" Regulus punched the wall with all his force. Tears were visible on his cheeks. He span around, took the stairs two at a time until he reached his bedroom, and slammed the door shut behind him.

Orion ignored his son's display and turned instead to Aurelia. "Go and get yourself cleaned up."

She took her excuse without question, following in Regulus' footsteps and then up two more flights, locking herself in the third floor bathroom.


Please leave me a review, would be great to know what you make of this fic :)