CHAPTER 7

Being back at school made Aquila feel more at home, and not being in Slytherin anymore helped the most. Now she was free to leave the common room whenever she wanted without her younger brother asking her where she was going.

Today it was Tuesday the 4th of October 1994, Minerva McGonagall's 59th birthday. Aquila was now 16 for a month and now she was heading down to the head of house for Gryffindor. She had the small gift in her pocket and she strolled through the halls, greeting a few people as she went.

Once at the office door she knocked and waited. "Come in." She heard and smiled gently opening the door and stepped inside.

"Miss Black, what can I do for you?" Minerva questioned over her square framed glasses.

"I just wanted to wish you happy birthday." She smiled and placed the gift on the woman's desk.

Minerva looked at the small gift and looked back up at the student. "You really didn't need too, Miss Black."

"Aquila." The young woman answered softly. "You can call me Aquila when we are alone.. I know we've never been close since I've been back at Hogwarts, but it's my fifth year and I wanted to get to know you again." She admitted as she started rambling from nerves.

"Aquila, stop please." Minerva put her hand up to stop the girl from talking. She opened the gift and the small jewellery box that was inside, letting out a gasp she held it in her hands. "Aquila.." She breathed.

The younger witch just smiled. "It reminded me of the one you gave me, I saw it and had to give it to you.. I would've waited until the ball like you did, but it was your birthday.. I have something else for the ball." She smiled again moving around the desk. "Do you want me to put it on you?"

Minerva watched her carefully before nodding. "Thank you."

Aquila took the locket and placed it around the professors neck before letting it go. "It also has copies of the pictures in mine." She whispered before moving back to the side of the desk.

Minerva was still shocked at the gift and who had given it to her. "I would assume it has the same enchantments on it?" She questioned with a raised brow.

"Of course, only you, a child of yours and myself can wear it.. If anyone else tries they'd be in for a nasty shock." She answered quickly.

The professor nodded as she touched the locket with a smile. "I'll cherish it." She promised. "Is that all, Aquila?" She questioned slipping back into professor mode.

"Umm.. I was actually wondering.." She played with her own locket as she spoke. "If professors and students can share a dance at the ball?" She mumbled hoping that Minerva wouldn't hear in some way, but knew because of her animagus.

Minerva sighed and slipped off her glasses. "Aquila, dear. It would be more appropriate if I was your head of house, and as I am not I dare to think how that would look."

"I'll let you think about it." She sighed and headed for the door. "Oh and I might need that dress after all." She smiled before leaving.

Almost a month later and it was now November and Aquila still didn't have a date to the Yule Ball next month. She sighed and went to the library finding one Hermione Granger soaked up in a pile of books. She smiled slightly and headed over.

"Evening, Granger." She greeted putting her homework down on the table across from the Gryffindor.

"What do you want, Black." Clearly not happy to see the older witch.

"I was wondering if you had a date yet?" Aquila questioned softly, not wanting to come across like a prat or annoy Madame Pince.

Hermione looked up at the girl confused and to see if she meant any harm by her words. "No, I haven't. Why?"

"Would you like to be my date?" The older girl offered with a small smile. "I know you'd probably prefer to go with Weasley or Potter though, so if you don't want to…" She trailed off.

The Gryffindor was shocked. A Black asking out a muggle-born. "Are you serious?"

Aquila could only nod. "Nothing romantic though, as friends and share a dance…"

"Why not ask one of the Slytherins who have been eyeing you off since my first year?" Hermione questioned.

"Because they are prats. I don't want to go with a guy." She admitted softly. "I can't take my soulmate." She mumbled.

"Soulmate?" Hermione questioned. "Why can't you take your soulmate?"

Aquila sighed and looked around to make sure they were alone. "I know you read a lot.. Did you ever read the legend of a pure blood girl who feel in love with a half-blood 41 years ago, the girl was killed and her father cursed her name never to be spoken by the family again?"

The brunette thought for a moment before nodding. "Aquila Black." She paused looking at the girl across from her. "Her mother countered her fathers curse after a vision of her daughter being born again.." She paused again. "Are you?" Her voice getting softer now.

"I am." She nodded.

"Aquila.. Who is your soulmate?" Hermione questioned softly never having been able to complete the puzzle from what she could find, and the bookworm in her needed to know.

"Hermione.." Aquila sighed and shifted in her set before seeing the girls Transfiguration book on the table. She pointed to the text book and looked away.

Hermione's eyes went wide and covered her mouth. "McGonagall?" She whispered mostly to herself. "Okay, I'll go with you." She agreed.

The older girl looked up and nodded thankfully. "I'll meet you at Gryffindor tower thirty minutes before the ball." She smiled before leaving the library and to her dormitory.