Same disclaimer as always.
"The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters" Ron was bouncing in his seat as he read the title.
"Yes we are finally getting to the good stuff," Sirius exclaimed.
acted as though any chair with Aurora in it were empty.
Luna got up from her spot and came and sat on Aurora's lap, giving her a hug. "I always see you," she said.
Aurora squeezed her back, and laughingly said, "And not just in the seer way."
"That way too," she replied, getting up and going back to Neville.
Hedwig swooping in and out of the open window as she pleased.
"That sounds relaxing actually," Hermione and Lily said.
Aurora loved reading her potion's books, it was looking to be her favorite upcoming class.
Ron had to stop reading for a moment, he couldn't contain his laughter.
"That didn't last long did it Ro," Draco asked sarcastically.
"Why not," James wondered, "Slughorn is a great teacher, if you can get over him picking his favorites for his 'Slug Club'."
"Slughorn retired in '81." Fred said. "His replacement is a great potionier, but not the best teacher."
She couldn't wait to try out some of the spells in her other books. She was learning a lot from her Defense against the Darks Arts books. Reading her theory books she learned that magic was more intent than it was saying spells and waving your wand.
"Well done, Miss Potter," Dumbledore pronounced. "It can take some people years to learn that."
"She's been able to do wandless magic since she was at least 14," Amice boasted.
Her etiquette books that she had picked up taught her a lot about proper dress and hair style for a young witch, as well as how to greet people. One of the books talked a little about the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and in this book she learned a little more about the Potter family, as well as the Black family. If she really was the heir to those two families, she couldn't wait till she was older and could read their grimoires. Her family histories sounded so interesting.
"You really wanted to learn about the Black family," Sirius asked. "Based off of what was said in a book bought in Diagon Alley."
"Yea," Aurora shrugged. "Dark or not, they are still my family, and if we want to change the perception of the family we have to know where we come from."
"Besides, it's how you use magic that really matters, not if the spell is light or dark. Technically the killy curse was a light spell at creation. It was used to put animals and the suffering patients at hospitals out of their misery." Luna added airily.
"It was an advisor of Caesar that tweaked the spell just a little that caused it to become a dark curse," Hermione advised.
"I guess I never thought of it that way," Sirius mumbled.
Then there was the letter that she had taken from her vault. It was a letter from her parents, telling her about her Uncle Sirius, who was also her second father, and who was supposed to raise her if anything happened to them. She learned all about her Uncle Moony.
"Everything," he whispered. Aurora nodded affirmatively, a wide smile on her face.
"It never mattered to me."
It talked about her Aunt Alice and her Uncle Frank, and their son Neville, who before they all went into hiding was like her old brother - if you counted one day as old enough to be a big brother Aurora thought. They also told her that she was in charge of her own life, and no matter what anyone said, no one but her decided her own fate. She read this letter every day.
...counting down to September the first.
"I always did that too," Sirius said. Lily, Severus, Neville, and Peter nodded their heads in agreement.
Grunt. Aurora supposed that meant yes.
"I wish you had told me you spoke troll," Hermione grumbled.
"It would have made things much easier," Rod added, while the non time travelers looked concerned.
Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?"
"No, the Ministry banned them," Amelia said. "Said they were a threat to the Statute of Secrecy."
"There is no platform nine and three-quarters."
"I'm not going to like this at all am I?" Lily asked, looking more mad than worried.
Aurora asked, trying to keep things friendly.
"Seems rather pointless," Alice stated. "They seem determined to dislike you no matter what you do."
"Taking Dudley to the hospital," growled Uncle Vernon. "Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings."
The Marauders, and Fabian and Gideon snickered.
paced the room, waiting for the Dursleys to get up.
"A bit keen there?" Peter asked.
facing the platforms with a nasty grin on his face.
"That bastard!" Lily, Alice and Marlene shouted.
"True, but I never would have gotten my trunk onto a cart without him," Aurora said.
She'd have to ask someone.
"Need to have someone on the lookout for muggle-borns," Alastor mumbled.
Seeing the anger on her parents' faces, Aurora soothed them, "Trust me, everything worked out for the best."
In the end the guard strode away, muttering about time wasters.
"Well that was rude," Pandora sighed. "You are obviously a child on your own and are lost, he should be a little more patient."
"I think he thought I was pranking him."
they had an owl.
"Molly to the rescue!" Fabian and Gideon cheered.
"Yes she is," Aurora said fondly, smiling at Molly and Arthur.
"My mum is the best!" Bill exclaimed.
"Mom, can't I go…"
"Ickle Gin-Gin," Fred teased.
Ginny pulled her wand out, and Fred blanched.
"Only joking, I am Fred," said the boy, and off he went.
"Oh, I always hated it when you two do that," Molly exclaimed, looking at her brothers.
"Now you'll have -"
"You're own set -"
"When we aren't with you anymore."
"Excuse me," Aurora said to the plump woman.
"I'm so proud of how polite you are," Lily said.
He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose.
"RO!" Ron exclaimed, while the other time travelers laughed. He rounded on them quickly, scowling, "Wait until she meets you, and we'll see what she thinks then,"
Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
"It is a rather amazing sight the first time," Ted mentioned.
"Gran, I've lost my toad again."
"Round-faced boy?" Neville asked looking amused at Aurora.
"Oh, Neville," he heard the old woman sigh. She hoped this was her god-brother, she would have to go looking for him later.
...
poked out a long, hairy leg.
Ron shuttered a little.
"Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!"
"You boys are good boys," Arthur praised.
"We like a good prank, but you and mum raised us to always help someone in need," Fred said. "Plus have you seen how cute she is, who wouldn't want to help her," he added, pulling Aurora into his side, kissing the top of her head.
With a last look at Aurora, the twins hopped off the train. She heard the second twin say to his brother, "She sure was cute. I hope she's in Gryffindor with us, I wouldn't mind looking at her every day."
"You heard that!" Fred exclaimed.
Aurora giggled and nodded her head, giving him a swift peck, "I think you are rather fetching too, and I enjoy looking at you every day. Especially at night." Fred, and Ron, turned a bright pink. Ron already knew too much about his best friends sex life, before and after his brother, he didn't need to hear more.
"Nope!" Sirius yelled. "I do not need to hear that!"
James growled at Fred softly.
"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nose?" said one of the twins, it sounded like Fred.
"You just met us, and you can tell us apart?" Fred was shocked. People he and George had known for years still had difficulties telling them apart, and George was missing an ear.
"Your voice hadn't finished changing at 13, so George's was a little lower," Aurora said. "Plus when you're near your magic feels different from George's, and you have more freckles than he does."
Everyone looked at her in amazement. Alastor chimed in, "You'd make a fine auror with those observation skills you got there lassie."
"I thought about it," Aurora replied.
The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Aurora noticed a red and gold badge on his chest with the letter P on it.
"He changed already," Remus asked, shocked. "You've only been there for like five minutes."
"Oh, shut up," said Percy the Prefect.
"You two," James laughed.
"I love it," Sirius finished.
If I get one more owl telling me you've — you've blown up a toilet or —"
"Oh Molly," Lily sighed, smiling at James, "You never give a prankster ideas."
"Don't know what I was thinking," Molly sighed, shaking her head in exasperation.
He was almost as tall as the twins already and his nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it.
"Must you notice everything, Ro," Ron sighed, rubbing his nose, glaring at Aurora.
"Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see her, Mom, eh please…"
"Awww…. Little Ginny has a crush," Sirius teased.
"You've already seen her, Ginny, and the poor girl isn't something you goggle at in a zoo. Is she really, Fred? How do you know?"
"Thank you Molly," Lily said.
"Yes, thank you." James added. "I have a feeling we'll be thanking you a lot over the course of these books."
"You never have to thank me for looking out for a child," Molly blushed.
"Yea, mum loves looking after people," Ron said.
"Besides, she practically adopted Ray from this moment right here," Fred elaborated. "Her being Ron's best friend just gave her an easy reason to show it."
"Asked her. Saw her scar. It's really there — like lightning."
Aurora shifted her hair to hide the scar.
"I forbid you to ask her, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though she needs reminding of that on her first day at school."
"Well Fred never asked," Aurora laughed.
"We'll send you a Hogwarts' toilet seat."
"Never did get that," Ginny grumbled.
"We sent it to a more worthy recipient," Fred said, causing the Marauders to laugh and the teachers to sigh, between the Prewitt twins, the Marauders, and now the Weasley twins, they were never going to get a year without pranksters. Who knows what happened between the years either.
She didn't know what she was going to — but it had to be better than what she was leaving behind.
"It really was," Aurora sighed happily.
"Everywhere else is full."
"You are such a liar," Amice laughed, "Cedric and I passed several compartments that had empty seats looking for Aurora."
Ron blushed, "Unlike you I didn't have a reason to sit with her though and that was the first thing I thought of."
still had a black mark on his nose.
Ron rubbed his nose again.
"Aurora," said the other twin, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then."
"Nice introduction," Sirius laughed.
"Bye," said Aurora and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.
No sooner had the twins left than the door slid open again.
"Hello again, Aurora," Cedric said, walking into the compartment, his sister, Amice, trailing behind him shyly. "And hello again, Ron." Ron just nodded hello in return.
"H-h-hi Ced," Aurora stuttered, stumbling and stuttering over his name, no even able to finish it.
"You calling him Ced was an accident," Amice asked, laughing so hard she was holding her sides.
"Shudup," Aurora mumbled.
"Ced huh?" he laughed, "I like it." Aurora blushed a bright red. "Anyway Rory, I was wondering if Amice could sit here with you." Aurora nodded quickly, she had never been given a nickname before, she didn't think girl or freak counted.
"Sure," Aurora added, smiling.
"He could have asked you for anything and you would have said yes wouldn't you," James asked, not really expecting an answer. He was the same way with Lily from the moment that he had met her.
Cedric gave Aurora a soft smile, before giving Amice a kiss on the cheek. "If you need anything I'm near the front with Wayne and Roger." Amice giggled at Aurora's sigh once Cedric closed the compartment door once more.
"Are you really Aurora Potter?" Ron blurted out.
Aurora nodded. "Of course she is," Amice blurted out.
...
Aurora pulled back her bangs to show the lightning scar. Ron and Amice stared.
"Ron!" Fred yelled. "That's so rude."
"I'm sorry Ro," Ron whispered, ashamed. "I really didn't mean to stare."
"And this was the second time for me," Amice said, her voice wavering. "I'm so sorry."
"It's ok guys," Aurora reassured. "I showed you, so I expected it. It's the others who try to look at it even when my hair is covering it that I have a problem with."
"That sounds like it could get annoying really fast," Peter said.
"You have no idea," Hermione stated. "And I am just friends with her."
"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley," Arthur scolded, which made Ron wilt even more, and Fred and Ginny duck down to avoid their fathers anger, which ,when he was actually angry enough to use their full name, was even greater than their mothers. "You shouldn't be eager to hear someone recount the deaths of their parents."
Ron nodded his agreement meekly. He was no longer excited to read about his first train ride with Aurora.
"I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."
Molly sighed, "He left the wizarding world when he turned 18, and asked that we never contact him again." Arthur put his arm around his wife. "His parents were in their 80's when they had him, and he just never developed magic. Everyone always supported him, but with his brother and sister both having magic, it was very difficult for him."
Lily looked at the older woman with sympathy, she could relate on the opposite side, after all this woman had heard about how her sister hated her so much that she abused her daughter.
"So you must know loads of magic already."
The Weasleys were one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight after all. Aurora also remembered reading that the Diggory's were a well respected family as well. Ron and Amice both shrugged noncommittally.
"I really didn't know much," Amice said. "Cedric said he would teach me more once I got my wand."
"I know dad taught Bill a couple things after he got his wand before he left for school," Ron explained, looking at his father and his older - young- brother. "Bill taught Charlie a few first year spells, and Charlie taught Percy."
"Percy was too uptight to do magic during the summer," Fred continued. "We asked him if he would teach us like Charlie did for him, but he just told us to ask Charlie, who said that it was Percy's job."
Arthur looked over at his infant son, maybe this would help him learn how to teach his middle child to not be so rule abiding. Even the one interaction they saw with him showed that he was very uptight.
"And honestly by the time Ron started, George and I forgot."
"Ron taught me a couple things before my first year though," Ginny said. "Besides he learned things he never would have otherwise with Ro as his best friend," she added with a snicker.
I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."
Molly leaned over and took the notebook from her husband, and turning to a new page wrote Pay more attention to all the children (Percy and Ron).
Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat gray rat, which was asleep.
The trio and Neville all stiffened in their seats. The only people who noticed the slight movement were Sirius and Alastor.
"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff — I mean, I got Scabbers instead."
"How old is that rat?" Kingsley asked. It couldn't be too old, but if it was Percy's first, he had to have been nearing the end of his lifespan.
"Older than you think," Draco replied.
Ron's ears went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much, because he went back to staring out of the window.
"I don't have a pet at all," Amice said, trying to ease some of Ron's embarrassment. "My parents want me to prove I can be responsible and get good grades first."
"A very sensible approach," Columba agreed.
Aurora didn't think there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl. After all, she'd never had any money in her life until a month ago, and she told Ron so, all about having to wear Dudley's old clothes and never getting proper birthday presents. This seemed to cheer Ron up.
"That sounds so bad," Ron muttered. "I thought you meant that the Dursleys weren't very well off and that we had something in common. Not that they were utter bastards."
"I knew what you meant," Aurora assured, "The book didn't translate that thought well though.
"I'd have thought you, of all people —"
"We learned very quickly that Aurora doesn't do anything the way people expect her to," Neville stated, drawing chuckles from the other time travelers.
"I bet I'm the worst in the class."
"Not even close," Draco drawled, "besides you haven't met Crabbe and Goyle yet."
"Soon though," Aurora teased, which caused Draco to slouch in his seat.
"Are they still vying for Malfoy attention," Lucius asked.
"Their fathers told them to keep close to me and act as protection." Lucius just hummed in reply. It made sense, and would protect his son, he might have to grant them an audience.
Aurora, who hadn't had any breakfast,
"You need to eat more," Andromeda grumbled. She had seen how much the girl had eaten at breakfast, and after hearing about being starved as a child, it was a wonder at how strong her magic was if most of it that hadn't been blocked had been sustaining the girl through her childhood.
the woman didn't have Mars Bars.
"Mars Bars are my favorite too," Lily said, wishing for one, when suddenly a pile appeared on the table in front of her, causing her to squeak in surprise. "Oh I like the new packaging."
"I do love this room," Luna sighed.
Not wanting to miss anything, she got some of everything and paid the woman eleven silver Sickles and seven bronze Knuts. Amice also buying an armful as well.
...
"She always forgets I don't like corned beef.."
"Write that down Arthur," Molly whispered.
"Swap you for one of these," said Aurora, holding up a pasty. "Go on —"
"You don't want this, it's all dry," said Ron. "She hasn't got much time," he added quickly, "you know, with five of us."
"It wasn't that dry," Aurora said, "he just doesn't like corned beef. It's the one thing he won't eat." Hermione laughed, agreeing.
"Go on, have a pasty," said Aurora, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron and Amice, eating their way through all the pasties, cakes, and candies (Aurora had tried a sandwich and it was one of the best things she had ever eaten, but this one time she wanted to stuff herself with junk food rather than something good for her).
"I hope you didn't make a habit out of this," Lily said. "I understand, as you've never had the opportunity though."
"Nah, next year we ate the sandwiches," Aurora said, her and Ron laughing.
but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy."
"Cedric has two Ptolemy," Amice offered smiling, "I could see if he would trade with you."
"He didn't have a Hufflepuff, so we traded next summer," Ron explained. The Weasley and Diggory parents just beamed that their children were turning out to be such good friends.
Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.
Hermione grabbed one of the pillows off the couch and started hitting Aurora over the head with it. "You are the absolute worst!" she exclaimed. "You can remember the most obscure potion and Defense facts, but you couldn't remember this!"
Aurora chuckled, hiding her head under her arms, "Oops."
You can start collecting."
"Picture's move around in the wizarding world," Amice explained. "Some portraits can also talk. And if done right, not simple frog cards, the pictures have a little bit of the person's personality too." Aurora stared at her, wide eyed, that sounded amazing. She had never had her picture taken before, and it would be interesting to see a wizarding picture of herself.
Ron and Neville laughed, "Colin's picture next year…"
Severus however was thinking, 'There's the Potter conceit.'
they don't move at all?" Ron sounded amazed. "Weird!"
"You are so much like dad sometimes," Ginny laughed, and Arthur blushed.
Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin.
"Do you still collect?" Remus asked.
"Naw, I had other things on my mind," Aurora said cryptically.
George reckons he had a booger flavored one once."
"I got a belly button lint flavored one once," Amice gagged.
Several people shuttered in sympathy.
funny gray one Ron and Amice wouldn't touch, which turned out to be pepper.
"Potter luck," Sirius grumbled. He always got all the weird flavors while James got all the good ones.
Neville laughed, "The only time she ever has good luck is with Bertie Bott's beans."
This of course just made Aurora's parents even more worried.
round-faced boy Aurora had passed on platform nine and three-quarters came in, she remembered his grandmother calling him Neville, and Aurora wondered if this was her god-brother. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?" When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
"He'll turn up," said Aurora. "I can help you look if you want." She scrambled to get to her feet and follow the boy.
"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him…"
He turned to leave, and "I can help you look if you want." She scrambled to get to her feet and follow the boy.
"Oh I hope you guys are close," Alice muttered.
"She's the best sister I could ever ask for," Neville replied, a huge smile on his face.
"So," she decided to get straight down to business, "Which way did you come from?"
Neville pointed from the left so Aurora started walking right. The corridor's weren't very large, but that didn't bother Aurora that much as she was very skinny. "Do you like toads?"
"They're really helpful in a greenhouse," the boy mumbled. "And I've been helping Gran with hers for years. I'm really looking forward to Herbology at school, so Gran bought me Trevor, but he keeps running off."
"Herbology is my favorite too," Frank said.
Neville started, "Gran always said your favorite was Defense." Augusta just let out a soft huff.
Frank glared fondly at his mother, "Alice is better at Defense than I am. I prefer Transfiguration and Herbology." Neville smiled, as much as he hated always being compared to his father growing up, finding out that a lot of that wasn't true, but also that he had a lot in common with his father made him feel good. It also explained why his grandmother didn't put up much of a fight when he talked about Herbology, and was always buying him new plants.
"That's nice, I brought an owl, she's very pretty." Aallotar leaned into a cabin and asked about a toad.
"I saw her, she is very pretty," the boy muttered, and Aurora beamed back at him. She was very proud of Hedwig, and so grateful to Hagrid for getting her for her.
"What's your name?"
"N-Neville Longbottom."
Aurora turned around, throwing her arms around him in a hug,
"The first time I ever initiated a hug."
"I was hoping you were when I heard your grandmother call you Neville. I'm Aurora Potter, and you are my god-brother." Aurora was so excited, the letter from her parents made her want this boy to be her brother as they should have grown up as.
"No way!" Neville exclaimed, "You're Aurora Potter?"
Aurora playfully crossed her arms across her chest, "Well technically Potter-Black."
"When do you start going by Potter-Black, not just Potter?" Regulus asked.
"I started really using it the summer before third year, but it wasn't well known until fourth year."
"OH NO! I didn't mean to offend you-" Aurora cut Neville off by laughing, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I was joking Nev-" the boy's cheeks turned red "-want to be friends?" she asked shyly, hoping that she hadn't offended the boy with her teasing.
"Y-You wa-want to be friends with me?" he asked in disbelief.
"Why is that so surprising," Augusta demanded. "You are a Longbottom, and if your father is indisposed, you are the next Lord Longbottom."
"Well actually I'm going to call you my brother! But you can just call me your friend if you want." Aurora clapped her hands together.
"Uhm, sure," said Neville, not believing that the Aurora Potter would want to be friends with him, let alone call him her brother.
Aurora got up and went over to the couch Neville was sitting on. Luna just moved over to make room between herself and Neville for Aurora. "You were always meant to be my brother, and I hate that you doubted that for even a minute," she said softly to him.
Aurora squealed and then wrapped her arms around his neck again, "Yay! Neville and Aurora, Hogwarts won't know what hit them. We'll be more infamous than the Marauders. That was the name of my dad's group of friends when he was at school," she explained at his confused look.
She nodded on the door to the last compartment in that car and it slid open, Cedric stood on the other side.
"Oh, hi Cedric" Aallotar exclaimed, surprised, her cheeks flushing. "We're looking for a toad."
"Sorry Rory, but I'll keep an eye out for you?" he said, asking for Neville's name
Neville looked at Aurora for a moment before answering, "I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom."
"Hello Neville, I'm Cedric. And I hope you and Aurora find your toad then Neville. She's a good friend to have." Cedric's friends in the compartment all turned to stare at her, trying to catch a glimpse of her scar.
Seeing how awkward Aurora felt with people staring at her, he pushed her slightly behind himself, hiding her from view, "The best there is. She's my sister!" he exclaimed. "Thanks for your help Cedric." Even Cedric blocked Aurora from view after he saw how his friends were staring at her.
"He's never even blinked at your fame has he," Columba asked. She didn't know all that happened, but she could almost infer based on Aurora's reactions to some of the mentions of him, as well as the fact that she was with Fred and not her son, and yet she knew that Cedric wouldn't regret anything if the two of them got involved. Her husband however she knew would push for Cedric to stay away from the girl once he either figured it out or found out in the books.
"Never," Aurora answered. "I've never been Aurora Potter, The-Girl-Who-Lived, to him. I've just always been Rory." Her hand once more grabbed her necklace, the others in the room this time able to catch a glimpse of what looked like a locket and another charm. Neville pulled Aurora closer.
"I'm sorry we couldn't find Trevor," Aurora said as they arrived back at her compartment, Ron and Amice were sitting together talking.
"That's okay, he'll turn up eventually. Thank you for your help."
Aurora ducked back into the compartment and plopped back down on the seat next to Amice.
"We saw your brother," Aurora said cheerfully, trying to fight the blush from creeping back across her face when she thought of Cedric.
"You're fighting a losing battle," Peter, Remus and Sirius laughed. James just stuck his tongue out at his friends.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk."
The rat was still snoozing on Ron's lap.
Ron shuddered in memory of all the places he had let Scabbers sleep.
"Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway —"
"Oh dear, that doesn't sound very safe," Sprout said, worried for her future student.
He had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again. Neville was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
"Back so soon, Nev?"
...
She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.
"I would too," Barty said. "She's rather imposing."
Hermione just crossed her arms with a huff.
Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.
Fred burst out laughing, "You really fell for that?"
"How did you ever think that was a real spell," Ginny asked, laughing as well.
Ron just shook his head, "I thought they were trying to teach me something, I didn't think it was another prank."
Fred looked down, a little ashamed that instead of helping his younger brother before he went to school, he and George gave him a prank spell.
I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"
Ron finished reading this, huffing out a breath. "Merlin, 'Mione. How do you talk that fast?"
Barty flushed a little, remembering his earlier comment.
Lily looked at her amazed, even she hadn't learned all her course books by heart before she left for Hogwarts.
She said all this very fast.
Aurora looked at Ron and Amice, and was relieved to see by their stunned faces that they hadn't learned all the course books by heart either. The non course books that she had picked up on the other hand she had memorized no problem.
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.
"Amice Diggory," Amice answered.
"Aurora Potter," said Aurora.
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course — I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Please tell me you didn't really believe everything in those books," Draco asked.
"Oh she did until she got to know me," Aurora said.
"She has a bad habit of believing anything in a book is the truth," Ron added.
"Oh I hope that doesn't last too long," Pandora exclaimed.
"No, I learn very quickly that people can print whatever they want in books and the news."
You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."
"You have got to take a breath," Ron gasped again.
And she left, taking Neville with her.
"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron.
"Ron!" Molly snapped.
Hermione quickly came to his rescue, "It's okay Mrs. Weasley, I wouldn't have wanted to be in the same house as me at the beginning of my first year either."
He threw his wand back into his trunk. "Stupid spell — George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."
"What house are your brothers in?" asked Aurora.
"Cedric is in Hufflepuff, and so was dad," Amice said. "Mum is Greek so she went to Beauxbatons."
"My brothers are in Gryffindor," said Ron. Gloom seemed to be settling on him again. "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
"There is nothing wrong with Slytherin," Regulus defended.
"A few bad people have given it a horrible reputation," Alastor agreed.
Aurora looked down, she had nothing against Slytherin, and the hat was right, she probably would have done well in the house, the only reason she was against it was because of Malfoy. She wondered for a second what it would have been like if she had been Black-Potter, not Potter-Black.
"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron.
"Oh they are so far away," Molly complained.
"Bill moves back home at the end of our fourth year," Ron reassured her.
"I'm going to break into Pharaoh's tombs mum," Bill piped up.
The time travelers laughed before Ginny explained, "He's a curse breaker for Gringotts. He was assigned to Egypt for a couple years on a team that searches old tombs." This caused everyone else to laugh as well. Even at 7, Bill knows what he wants to do.
a lot more comfortable saying "Voldemort" without worrying.
Several people agreed with her.
"What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked Aurora; he and Amice had argued for years about the Cannons and the Falmouth Falcons.
"Er — I don't know any." Aurora confessed.
James looked horror stricken.
"I know them now, and I'm a Puddlemere fan."
"Aren't we all," Fred said, talking about all the people who were on the same team as Oliver.
it wasn't Neville, or Hermione Granger this time.
"Oh who is it this time," Marlene said. Couldn't Aurora just enjoy a trip on the train without all the comings and goings.
"They're saying all down the train that Aurora Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?" He then noticed Amice in the compartment as well and added, "Hello Diggory."
"Real polite Draco," Amice laughed at her boyfriend.
"And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Aurora recognized the last name.
...
My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."
"This is your influence," Narcissa scolded Lucius.
He turned back to Aurora. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
She really didn't like how this boy was behaving, but every etiquette book she had read, and the lessons from Mrs. Figg, said that to not shake his hand was one of the worst insults. So she stood and with gritted teeth said, "Heir Malfoy, I'm glad to make your acquaintance. I am Heir Potter-Black," as she shook his hand. "I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," she added coolly, dropping his hand and stepping back next to Amice.
"That was very well done Aurora," Regulus praised.
Sirius grinned, "Not how I would have handled it, but your way might be better, cause now he can't claim insult."
You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."
"Oh Draco," Narcissa sighed. "No matter how much we dislike people, we must be polite when among our betters, and like it or not, Potter is a Noble and Most Ancient house, and she is also Heir Black."
Draco nodded, "I don't do a very good job living up to the Black name for a long time, and I apologize mother."
"It's okay Cissy," Aurora defended. "Draco turns out to be a great friend once he gets over his snobbishness."
"In other words until fourth year when I knock some sense into him," Amice added, getting a scowl from Draco.
Amice, Aurora and Ron stood up, it was one thing to insult her, she was used to it, but Aurora wouldn't let anyone insult her friends.
"Say that again," Ron said, his face as red as his hair.
"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered.
"Unless you get out now," said Aurora, more bravely than she felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than her, Amice or Ron. "I've usually been on the receiving end, but I will stand up for my friends."
"You would do very well in Hufflepuff, Miss Potter," Professor Sprout said.
As much as Aurora loved Cedric, she disagreed with her professor, for touting loyalty, Hufflepuff's were very quick to turn on her, except for Cedric and Amice. They were the only two that stood by her in her second and her fourth year, and they were almost turned against by the rest of their house for it.
Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle —
"Only good thing that rat ever did," Aurora mumbled.
And so he had.
"Sounds familiar," Remus teased, causing Peter to flush.
"Very," Hermione whispered angrily to Ron and Aurora.
And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"
"Oh Hermione," Lily laughed, "you are going to want to loosen up a little, people are acting like children because they are children."
"I know," Hermione sighed. "I was always told I was mature for my age, I never had any friends in primary. I really wanted to make friends at Hogwarts, but I didn't really know how to relate to other people my age, so I went about it the wrong way."
"That's ok we saved her," Aurora laughed at the double meaning.
Ron glared at her as she left. Aurora peered out of the window. It was getting dark. She could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down. Ron went to the men's bathroom while Amice and Aurora changed into their robes. She smiled as Amice helped her tie her tie. She had a feeling that her parents were watching her, and would be proud no matter where she was sorted.
"Of course," James said. "We will always be watching over you."
"And it doesn't matter where you get sorted," Lily added. "You'll be an asset to whichever house you join."
Aurora just beamed. Sirius had told her the same thing many times, and that he would have been proud no matter what house also, but it was something completely different to hearing it herself.
The three of them crammed their pockets with the last of the sweets and joined the crowd thronging the corridor.
"Alice forgot all hers one year, and complained the whole feast that she had left her sweets on the train," Lily said, while Marlene laughed.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
Everyone who had seen it before sighed. There was no better sight than Hogwarts lit up at night, ready for the start of the school year.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Aurora and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville and Hermione. Amice was in a boat with a curly haired boy, and two females, one with blonde hair and the other with brown.
"Justin, Hannah, and Tracey," she said to Draco who looked confused. Then for the others in the room she elaborated. "Justin Finch-Fletchley, he's a muggle born. Hannah Abbott and Tracey Davis.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"I still have no idea how he got there," Neville grumbled.
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
"I thought that chapter would never end," Ron complained. "Can we have a snack before we read more?"
As soon as he said snack, everyone's favorite snack items appeared on the tables in front of everyone.
While they were digging in, Lily took the book. "I am going to read my daughter's sorting."