CHAPTER 6

Diagon Alley seemed to be less crowded than usual and for that Aquila was thankful. They made their way through the stores, buying whatever it was that she needed including both Slytherin and Ravenclaw robes. Now they were stopped outside a jewellery store.

"Go, put in on the Black account." The blonde whispered to her daughter with a small smile. "I need to go to the bank." She added and headed towards Gringotts.

Aquila smiled as she watched her mother walk off before heading into the jewellers. She looked over the items in the cabinets before stopping in front of a beautiful locket with a cat on it. "Can I take this one, please?" She gestured to the piece she wanted. "Put it on the Black account." She added to which the worker nodded and quickly put through the item. It was wrapped up and handed to the girl who took it with a thankful smile.

The dark haired witch left the shop and waited outside for her mother. It didn't take long for her mother to come out, looking like the perfect pureblood as always. "Did you get something, darling?"

Aquila nodded and showed her mother the neatly wrapped gift. "It's like my locket, except it's got a cat on it." She explained happily.

Narcissa was happy to see such joy in her childs eyes, she hadn't seen it for a while. "I'm sure she will love it." She held onto her daughters hand and apparated them back to the manor.

The young woman went into the house followed closely by her mother. "I'm going to go start packing, I know school isn't for another week but I want to be ready."

Her mother nodded and sent her off with the items to get ready for another school year. Narcissa sighed as she made her way to her husbands study, he should be home by now. "Lucius." She greeted sitting in a chair across from him.

"Hello, my love. How was your day out with Aquila?" He questioned putting his glass of firewhisky down.

"It was good, I haven't seen her that happy in a long time." She answered with a small smile. "You can't marry her off, Lucius."

He smiled at her first comment but it faded at the last part. "She's a pure blood witch, Narcissa. We were engaged when you were her age." He wanted his daughter to follow the traditions of the family.

"I know all of that, Luci." Narcissa sighed and put her head in her hands. "As much as I hate lying to you, I accepted her destiny when she was only 10 years old. I have also already given her permission to follow her heart once she is of age."

This made Lucius pause, his wife already had a suitor for their daughter and he knew nothing about it. "Who?" He couldn't find anything else to say. "Who is she going to marry?"

Narcissa looked up at him and shook her head. "Very few people know her story, and very few would keep it a secret to keep them safe. I can't tell you, I can't put her at risk."

This made him stand up from his chair and move over to his wife. "Cissy, please be honest with me." He begged her softly. "I know Draco is my heir but I love Aquila as well."

Her blue eyes met his looking for some kind of lie but didn't find any. "Aquila will marry a half-blood witch." She wasn't going to give a name, not yet.

Lucius sighed and nodded. "If that's all you can give me, I thank you."

"She was also a hat stall like my aunt, she has requested to be moved to Ravenclaw." She told him softly.

"I will need time, but I can deal with that." He offered her a rare smile before kissing her softly. "I love you, Cissy."

Minerva sent the owl off later that day. She sat down on her sofa and poured herself a glass of whisky. She sighed to herself going through an old photo album.

Aquila was pulling Minerva through the castle towards an unused courtyard.

"Quil, you're going to get us in trouble." Minerva laughed as she followed behind.

"It'll be fine, Min. I just want a few moments alone with you." Aquila admitted pulling her girlfriend close with a smile.

Minerva rested her forehead against the others with a smile. "All you had to do was ask."

Aquila chuckled and wrapped her arms around Minerva's neck before kissing her softly. "I can't help that you are the most beautiful witch here." She teased with a giggle.

"You need glasses, sweetheart." Minerva chuckled and playfully slapped Aquila's arm.

She smiled at the memories of her time when she was a student in these halls. Her and Aquila finding secret places to spend time together without the whole school finding out.

It had taken Aquila the rest of the week to fully prepare herself for the upcoming school year. She would turn sixteen in 5 days and tomorrow she would be back at school, but tonight her parents had requested they had a family dinner for an early birthday celebration.

She sat at the dining table dressed in tartan pants and a lose black top. "I don't want this to take all night." She wanted to get back to her room.

"Quila, please." Her mother implored gently, she didn't want a fight tonight. "It's your birthday dinner, can we please enjoy it."

Aquila sighed and nodded. "Of course, mother. I'm just anxious to get back to Hogwarts." She admitted softly.

"This wouldn't have anything to do with your future fiancée, would it?" Lucius asked softly making his daughter look straight at him with fear in her eyes.

"What do you know?" She questioned not wanting to give away more than what he already knew.

Lucius sighed and put his fork down. "I know that you are in love with a half blood witch.. It's not what I have wanted for you, but I also want you happy." He admitted with a small smile.

Aquila arched and eyebrow and looked at her mother who nodded to admit that she told him as much. "As much as I would love to continue this conversation, I don't feel safe doing so."

"Of course, dear." Her father responded softly. "Whenever you are ready."

Aquila nodded and went back to her meal.

"We are proud to have a Ravenclaw in the family, darling." Narcissa broke the silence.

Draco looked up between his parents and his sister. "Ravenclaw? But we are both Slytherins." Obviously confused.

"I had the choice in my first year to pick Ravenclaw or Slytherin." She explained softly. "This year I've decided to not hide behind my family name and be myself."

"But there has never been a Malfoy anywhere but Slytherin." Draco protested.

"You would be right, Dra, but I'm not a Malfoy.. I'm a Black." She reminded him. "Yes, I will always be a Malfoy by blood, but at heart.. I'm a Black and always have been."

At this her brother was even more confused, he knew his sister didn't go by Malfoy since before her first year at Hogwarts. "We are meant to be family, Quil."

"I know that, Draco. I know we are family!" She hit the table with the palm of her hand. "Something are safer as secrets, you wouldn't want the whole world to know that you did in fact have a crush on the boy who lived last year would you?!" She questioned before storming out of the room causing Draco to slump into his chair.

"Draco?" Narcissa questioned softly. "Is this true?"

The youngest Malfoy looked between his parents before nodding.

"You two will give me grey hair before I'm 50." Narcissa sighed but nodded. "I would prefer if you kept your distance."

Draco nodded and ate his dinner silently.