CHAPTER 4

It had taken Aquila a few weeks to get use to being a student again, in Transfiguration she always sat in the seat that she use to when she was in school with Minerva. Today was an easy day for her, she already knew the theory for that term, having studied it to refresh before starting school.

Today she was sitting in class listening to Professor McGonagall teach the lesson, she looked around noticing that at least half her were struggling. She turned back to the items on her desk and did the spell their professor had asked without an issue. She sat there for the rest of the lesson reading a second year text book. "Miss Black, please stay after class." Professor McGonagall said before excusing the rest of the class.

Aquila packed up her things but stayed seated as Minerva took the empty seat next to her. "How are you settling in, Miss Black?" The Professor asked with her hands together on the desk.

"I'm fine, Professor." The dark haired witch responded with a short tone, it was hard for her to be around the other knowing the truth but only being 12 she couldn't do anything about it.

Minerva sighed as she looked at the girl. "You remind me of someone I once knew, many years ago. Before even your mother was born." The professor spoke softly, Aquila just sat and listened. "She was a very talented witch, she could've been teaching this class instead of myself." This made the young girls heart squeeze.

"I'm sorry, Professor. My mother told me the story about when my great aunt Quil fell in love and one summer she was killed by rouge aurors, never able to go beyond her 18th year." The young girl spoke looking down at her hands in her lap. "I didn't know her, but mother said she was talented and could've taken any job here."

Minerva watched the young girl as she told the story. 'How does this child know so much about this, how did she know who I was talking about?' she asked herself before sighing. "I believe your mother is correct, Miss Black. The Wizarding world lost something great that day." The older witch stood back up and wiped away a tear so that her student couldn't see. "Right now, off to lunch with you." She told the girl who instantly got up and ran out of the room.

After a few moments to pull herself together Minerva made her way down to lunch and took her normal seat next to Albus. "Is everything okay, Tabby?" The man asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Minerva didn't speak, slowly she ate her food, glancing over at the young Slytherin from time to time. Once she was done, she stood up and left the head table to get some air. Soon she was joined by Madame Pomfrey.

"Min, is everything alright? You've been off since sorting a few weeks ago." Poppy questioned as she fell into step with her friend. She had noticed the latest Black that night as well, she wasn't shocked to see her, but she was shocked at the hat stall.

Minerva sighed and paused next to her friend. "Aquila." She spoke softly looking up at her friend. "She sits where we use to in my classroom, she knows the story of her great aunt Quil." She placed her hand to her forehead for a moment. "She knows my lessons front to back." She started pacing before looking back at her friend. "She doesn't even use my last name, it's always Professor. Pops, I think I'm going insane."

Poppy watched her friend carefully but didn't interfere, she knew better than to cage the lioness. "Min." She gently took her hands. "She would've picked Gryffindor if it wasn't for her parents." She tried to joke. "Give her space, give her time. Remember she is only 12 right now, no long the 18 year old you remember. She may know everything from before, she may only remember bits of it. But her soul will remember you when it is time."

Minerva sighed and nodded before continuing her walk around the lake. She needed to live like she had done for over thirty years.

Aquila's first year seemed to have flown by, she was top of her classes once again. Her second year was much less stress free with her brother being there, and with Potter and his friends finding the stone. Her fourth year started and her first week had gone, on the 4th of September she had turned 15 and received a gift from her mother and one from her Aunt Vi who she guessed got her things after she passed. From her mother she had received a leather bound journal that was beautifully carved with the constellation of Aquila on the cover. The second gift from her Aunt Vi was a locket, it was her own locket with a picture of herself and Minerva in it. She use to wear it all the time, and was even wearing it when she died. Slowly she unclasped it and gently put it around her neck. The magic of their love radiated around her in a soft golden glow before sinking into her sink, she figured it was because she was wearing the locket the first time they made love.

She gently touched the necklace and grabbed her bag before heading to her first class, she decided to skip breakfast. She needed some time alone. Her first class was Charms, which she enjoyed and was good at, she completed her work before the end of the first period, so Professor Flitwick let her leave early. She made her way to the quidditch pitch and found her broom in the lockers and put her bookbag inside before going for a ride around Black Lake, something her and Minerva use to do when they weren't against each other during Quidditch.

Minerva watched out her window as she saw a student flying gracefully around the grounds and noted it was Miss Black. She watched from her window reminded of the times when she was in school.

"Quil! You're going to fall!" Minerva raced after the other who had just completed a number of fancy loops.

"I'm fine, Min! I wouldn't be the best chaser here if I couldn't handle a few tricks." Aquila teased, they were both chasers for their teams and Aquila always enjoyed teasing the other about it.

"Best chaser, hmm?" Minerva's lips curled into a knowing smile. "We shall see." She giggled before racing off on her broom in the other direction, her lover quickly following behind.

Once at the quidditch pitch they landed, still giggling. Aquila pulled Minerva close by the hips and placed and gentle kiss to the others lips. "I love you, Min."

Minerva gently touched her lips as she came back to reality. "Still as insane as ever." She chuckled watching the girl do many of the same tricks that use to give the older woman a heart attack.

Aquila continued to fly before landing back on the pitch heading to her locker not noticing she was being watched. She put her broom back and took her bag from her locker and put it on her shoulder before walking out, not looking up she ran into someone. "Sorry, Professor." She mumbled not looking up but noting the robes.

"It's quite alright, Miss Black." Minerva spoke softly leading the girl to the stands and taking a seat with her. "I couldn't help but notice the tricks you were doing while flying today."

Aquila sat down next to the woman and sighed. "I know as a third year I shouldn't be doing them." She knew those moves were even to complex for the 5th year students.

"But you handled them like I've only ever seen one before, besides myself that is." Minerva looked down and saw the locket, a smile appearing on her usually stoic features. "I just wanted to tell you to be careful, Miss Black."

"Always, Professor." With that the young girl stood up and headed back towards her dorms, finding her brother in the common room. "Draco."

Draco looked up and smiled seeing his sister. "Quil, to what do I owe this pleasure?" He questioned with a quirked eyebrow.

"I'm going down to see Madame Pomfrey about some pain potions." She told her brother before roughing up his hair. "My back is only getting worse." She sighed before leaving her bag with her brother and heading down to the hospital wing.

Once inside she looked around seeing no students, which she thanked Merlin for. She walked around to the office and knocked lightly.

"Come in." She heard from the other side of the door, so she slowly opened it and stepped inside before taking a seat.

"Madame Pomfrey, I hope you don't mind me stopping by unannounced." Aquila spoke softly as she fidgeted with her hands.

Poppy looked up when she heard the voice and was shocked. "You look just like your Aunt Quil when she was your age." The matron spoke with her hand to her chest.

Aquila sighed and nodded gently touching the locket. "I don't just look like her, Pops.. Sorry.. Madame Pomfrey." She quickly corrected herself forgetting it wasn't the 1950s anymore.

"You.." Poppy muttered before looking the girl over. "You're Aquila Ursula Black, aren't you?" She questioned.

"I am." She admitted now looking up at her old friend. "I was born with all her memories, right up until.." Her voice trailed off as she looked around the room. "That night." She finished in barely a whisper.

Poppy got up from her chair and walked around to the fourth-year student. "Why are you here in my office, Quil?" She questioned softly placing a gentle hand on the girls back.

"My father is getting closer to the truth, mother has known since I was around 8." She began. "We don't tell Draco anything because he will tell father, and if he finds out, he will find a way to take Min's job." Aquila explained relaxing at her friends touch. "I came to ask you to keep an eye on her for me.. I don't know what's coming or who is going to do it, but I need her safe."

"I will keep an eye on her." Poppy promised softly. "I promised you that a long time ago, I will always look out for her." She added softly before hugging the girl and going back to her own seat.

Aquila looked up at her and smiled. "Thank you, Pops. I knew there was a reason you were the first one I told when I started having feelings for her." She chuckled before leaving the office.

Poppy sat there for a moment with a small smile on her face after the young witch left. "Always, my friend." She whispered more to herself than anyone else.

It was coming to the end of her fourth year and she had managed to stay out of the way most of the time, she decided not to get involved with the whole Sirius Black business, even if he was family. She sat at the last feast of the year but barely touched her food. "Dra, I'm going to go for a walk. I'll see you on the train." She told her brother before getting up and leaving the hall and headed down towards the quidditch pitch.

She didn't realise that she was being watched. Minerva was talking to Albus, but kept her eye on the young Slytherin. She watched her leave and waited a few moments before excusing herself. She headed down to the quidditch pitch, knowing the girl would be there.

"It's a lovely night." Minerva spoke as she watched the girl sit in the middle of the pitch. She stepped closer and sat down next to her.

Aquila looked up when she heard Minerva's voice and offered a small smile. "Not as lovely as the last night before summer in 1949." She responded as the woman sat down beside her.

"Aye, that was a lovely night." The older witch smiled as she looked up at the sky. "It's sad that the summer of 53 killed us." She spoke turning to look at the girl next to her, she was looking more like her lost love every day.

"I'm sorry." Aquila whispered looking up at the older woman as she reached up to caress her cheek. "I'm sorry we never got to grow old together." Her voice cracked mid-sentence as she moved her head to rest on Minerva's shoulder.

Minerva gently wrapped her arm around the 15 year old and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay, Aquila. Shh." She cooed trying to calm the young woman down. "It wasn't you who ripped us apart, that was your father." She whispered.

Aquila shook as she cried only calming down half an hour later. "I will find my way back, Min, I promised I'd find my way back."

"I know, Quil." She whispered with a smile, holding her for a little longer. "We should head back to the castle, you've got a train to catch tomorrow." She gently let her go and stood up.

The Slytherin student smiled and stood up as well. "Mother kept this after I died." She gestured to her locket. "Narcissa gave it back to me for my fifteenth birthday." She added as they walked back towards the castle.

"I gave you that for during your sixth year, after the Yule Ball." Minerva smiled remembering how they danced together not caring who saw. "It still suits you brilliantly."

Aquila smile beamed at the memory. "You did look fabulous in that emerald green dress." She chuckled. The first time she saw Minerva that night her jaw dropped.

Minerva blushed. "Your mother gave me your dress from that night, I still have it." She told the girl softly as they were getting closer to the doors.

"I wonder if it will fit me now." She teased before putting her emotions back into their box. "Thanks for checking on me, Min. I appreciate it." She whispered before kissing the woman's cheek and headed for the common room.