Although happy at the beginning of the trip Auria's mood quickly
disintegrated as she neared the school. Memories of Brendan swam in her
head while she flew north, so that by the time she arrived in the common
room she was just as depressed as when she'd left.
It was nine o'clock at night when Auria apparated onto her dormitory bed. After checking to make sure no one was around she left her room and headed downstairs. The Marauders were sitting in chairs around a small oak table doing homework. Remus looked up and smiled at her as she approached them.
"Feeling better" James asked her jokingly as she sat down on the couch next to him.
"Yeah, whatever" she said sadly.
Everyone looked at each other and then returned to their homework, figuring that she was not in the mood to talk. Auria sat there staring at the table. Sirius was sitting directly across from her and she didn't really feel like making eye contact with him.
"Oh right, McGonagall was looking for you earlier" Peter said closing his transfigurations textbook a few minutes later.
"For me" Auria said pointing to herself in surprise.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sirius nod.
"She said that it was urgent" he said and then quickly looked down avoiding her eyes. "I told her that you were sick and couldn't leave your bed. Then she asked why you weren't in the hospital wing, so I told her it was girl stuff, whatever that is."
A smile played at the corner of Auria's mouth. She couldn't help but be amused by Sirius' unknowingly brilliant cover up.
"Thank you" she said quietly. "So, what did I miss today?"
Remus proceeded to tell her what happened in each class and let her copy out his notes. Auria was just finishing up the last page from Defense Against the Dark Arts when McGonagall came bursting in the common room. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
"Oh, Auria's your up, and better I see" she said briskly, rushing over to them. "Good. Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office right now please. It's about a certain letter you've received."
Auria's stomach plummeted to the floor when she noticed the frightened look in McGonagall's eyes.
"This is it" she thought to herself. "The ministry has told Dumbledore it's my fault that Brendan is dead and they've come to take me to Azkaban. Or, that I've received letters from Voldemort and they're going to convict me as a Death Eater."
As she looked up her wide frightened eyes met Sirius'.
"Coming?" McGonagall asked impatiently.
"Yes" Auria replied quietly, not breaking her gaze with Sirius.
"Is he coming with you?" she asked her.
Auria decided that she'd faced enough trauma alone. Slowly she moved her hand across the desk and gently placed it on top of Sirius'.
He smiled supportively at her in silent understanding. He quickly turned his hand over so that it held hers.
"Yes" he said without looking away.
Auria could see that he was trying very hard, despite the situation, to hide a smile.
"All right well come along then" she said heading towards the portrait hole.
Auria and Sirius stood up and followed her out into the school. Not once during the entire trip did Sirius let go of her hand.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Ms. Jacobs" Dumbledore said brightly as the three of them entered his office. "Please sit down, and you too Mr. Black."
They sat down in the two chairs facing his large cluttered desk.
"Thank you Minerva, that will be all" the headmaster said, dismissing her with a wave of his arm.
"You're welcome" she replied and headed out the door, closing it softly behind her.
"I received a-" Dumbledore paused, looking down at Auria's clothes. "Changing your style?"
"I'm in mourning" she replied flatly.
"I see" Dumbledore said nodding his head wisely. He locked his fingers together and leaned back in his chair. "I received, actually I should say, you received a letter this morning from a rather disturbing person" he began, emphasizing the word disturbing. Auria knew who it was from the instant he described the sender. "The owl that sent it was given strict orders that it should be delivered to you, and you alone. It was only with the use of a stunning spell that I was able to pry it out of the creature's beak. I hope you don't mind" he said, his blue eyes twinkling, "but due to the oddity of such orders, I took the liberty of opening it myself.
He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out an envelope. "I will of course let you read it, seeing that it is your mail. But I must warn you," he leaned forward onto his desk. "That what you find in here may or may not disturb you."
Dumbledore slid the letter across his desk. With trembling hands Auria picked it up and looked at the inscription on the front.
Auria Jacobs Gryffindor Table The Great Hall Hogwarts
She turned it over and pulled out the letter. The letter was written in the same neat script writing as before, but this time the ink was green.
"The accuracy of your last letter impresses me. Although I do not usually take the time to answer the insulting questions of a "filthy half muggle" I have decided to make an exception and answer yours.
Yes, it is hypocritical to ask someone not of pureblood to join me, however, you were right in stating that my followers are not as powerful as a certain sixteen-year-old girl. You Auria, unlike all the other useless things at that muggle loving school, have the potential to rise to greatness in magical talent and power.
As to why I chose you, a filthy muggle lover, to stand beside me is simple. You are the only one that is either brave enough or foolish enough to look me in the eye. I will only teach someone who has the courage and daring to face me without fear.
Join me Auria. This is your last chance, so chose wisely."
Auria looked up and placed the letter on the desk as if she had not a care in the world.
"Can I read it?" Sirius asked tentatively.
Auria lazily handed him the letter.
"So?" she said looking firmly at Dumbledore.
"So" he repeated his eyes widening. "Voldemort has sent you a letter. It is not everyday that students from this school receive a letter, especially one as flattering letter as this one, from the Dark Lord."
Auria looked at the ground and shuffled her feet. "Well I'm obviously going to say no," she muttered.
"That's good to hear" Dumbledore replied, his eyes taking on their usual amused look. "Now, about these insulting questions you asked him. Would you like to tell us about that?"
Auria could tell from the tone of his voice that she didn't really have a choice. She looked around the room and saw something red and gold move suddenly. With a swish of his wings Fawkes gently landed on her knee. His presence gave her strength and so she began her story. Still staring at the floor she told Dumbledore and Sirius all about her last letter from Voldemort and in an embarrassed whisper the response she'd sent him. When she was done she looked up to find Dumbledore gazing at her in amazement while Sirius started at her in shock.
"And you sit here in my office, alive and unscathed" the headmaster said leaning back again. "If anyone else had written a letter like that to Voldemort they'd be dead by now."
"Yeah well someone already is de-" Auria stopped herself quickly and looked up. "When did you say you received that letter?"
"This morning at breakfast" Dumbledore replied confused.
Suddenly, as if hit by a bolt of lightening, Auria felt a mix of anger and relief wash over her.
"Voldemort didn't kill Brendan," she muttered gazing off into space, absent mindedly petting Fawkes. "Why would he do it and then ask me to join him? Snape did it. Snape himself killed Brendan to get revenge" she said darkly her bright eyes narrowing.
Auria clenched her fists and her breath quickened. "If he was intending to ask me to join him he wouldn't have killed him. I bet he doesn't even know I knew Brendan."
"What?" Sirius asked puzzled.
"I'll explain later" she replied quickly. "Was that all?" she said turning to Dumbledore.
"Yes, that was all" Dumbledore replied, surprised at her demand. "Evidently you are no stranger to his letters. However, I must advise you to write a more polite response this time. Voldemort does not possess a great deal of patience."
Auria nodded and ran out of the office dragging Sirius behind her. Once they were safely hidden in a dark classroom Auria explained her revelation to Sirius.
"Voldemort didn't kill Brendan to get back at me," she said locking the door. "Voldemort didn't even want him dead, or care about him for that matter. If Voldemort was intending to have me join him then why anger me by murdering my friend? That's the thing though, Voldemort didn't kill Brendan, Snivellus killed him."
Sirius eyes bulged in understanding. "So it's not really your fault Brendan is dead. That's great," he said happily.
"But he's still dead" she replied sadly.
"I know, I'm sorry" Sirius said softly. Then he paused, gathering courage. "So are WE ok now?" he asked nervously.
Auria nodded.
"Oh good" Sirius said loudly, clutching his chest.
"But you'd better never say anything that mean to me again" Auria replied in a warning tone.
"I won't, I promise," he said quickly.
Slowly Sirius stretched out his arms and wrapped them around her. Auria remained completely rigid so he gently tightened his grasp. Finally, after a few moments he felt Auria's body relax and her hands wrap around his neck. They stood there hugging for a long time, Sirius savoring the feeling of her body pressed against his. As they broke apart Sirius leaned in and gave her a long soft kiss on the lips.
"We should go back to the common room" Auria said sternly, breaking the kiss, but Sirius noticed that her cheeks were flushed.
He nodded silently and they left the classroom.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They entered the common room five minutes later, to find it deserted.
"Goodnight Sirius" Auria said yawning.
"Goodnight love" Sirius replied bending down to kiss her again.
"Don't push your luck," she said, pushing him back playfully.
"Right" Sirius said seriously.
"See you in the morning" Auria said heading up to bed.
"Great" Sirius replied, practically skipping up the steps with joy.
That night Sirius fell asleep relieved that he and Auria were back together, but concerned about her getting letters from Voldemort. Auria fell asleep that night with a grin on her face, firstly because she was back together with Sirius, and secondly, she had decided which hexes she was going to use on Snape in the morning.
It was nine o'clock at night when Auria apparated onto her dormitory bed. After checking to make sure no one was around she left her room and headed downstairs. The Marauders were sitting in chairs around a small oak table doing homework. Remus looked up and smiled at her as she approached them.
"Feeling better" James asked her jokingly as she sat down on the couch next to him.
"Yeah, whatever" she said sadly.
Everyone looked at each other and then returned to their homework, figuring that she was not in the mood to talk. Auria sat there staring at the table. Sirius was sitting directly across from her and she didn't really feel like making eye contact with him.
"Oh right, McGonagall was looking for you earlier" Peter said closing his transfigurations textbook a few minutes later.
"For me" Auria said pointing to herself in surprise.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sirius nod.
"She said that it was urgent" he said and then quickly looked down avoiding her eyes. "I told her that you were sick and couldn't leave your bed. Then she asked why you weren't in the hospital wing, so I told her it was girl stuff, whatever that is."
A smile played at the corner of Auria's mouth. She couldn't help but be amused by Sirius' unknowingly brilliant cover up.
"Thank you" she said quietly. "So, what did I miss today?"
Remus proceeded to tell her what happened in each class and let her copy out his notes. Auria was just finishing up the last page from Defense Against the Dark Arts when McGonagall came bursting in the common room. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
"Oh, Auria's your up, and better I see" she said briskly, rushing over to them. "Good. Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office right now please. It's about a certain letter you've received."
Auria's stomach plummeted to the floor when she noticed the frightened look in McGonagall's eyes.
"This is it" she thought to herself. "The ministry has told Dumbledore it's my fault that Brendan is dead and they've come to take me to Azkaban. Or, that I've received letters from Voldemort and they're going to convict me as a Death Eater."
As she looked up her wide frightened eyes met Sirius'.
"Coming?" McGonagall asked impatiently.
"Yes" Auria replied quietly, not breaking her gaze with Sirius.
"Is he coming with you?" she asked her.
Auria decided that she'd faced enough trauma alone. Slowly she moved her hand across the desk and gently placed it on top of Sirius'.
He smiled supportively at her in silent understanding. He quickly turned his hand over so that it held hers.
"Yes" he said without looking away.
Auria could see that he was trying very hard, despite the situation, to hide a smile.
"All right well come along then" she said heading towards the portrait hole.
Auria and Sirius stood up and followed her out into the school. Not once during the entire trip did Sirius let go of her hand.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Ms. Jacobs" Dumbledore said brightly as the three of them entered his office. "Please sit down, and you too Mr. Black."
They sat down in the two chairs facing his large cluttered desk.
"Thank you Minerva, that will be all" the headmaster said, dismissing her with a wave of his arm.
"You're welcome" she replied and headed out the door, closing it softly behind her.
"I received a-" Dumbledore paused, looking down at Auria's clothes. "Changing your style?"
"I'm in mourning" she replied flatly.
"I see" Dumbledore said nodding his head wisely. He locked his fingers together and leaned back in his chair. "I received, actually I should say, you received a letter this morning from a rather disturbing person" he began, emphasizing the word disturbing. Auria knew who it was from the instant he described the sender. "The owl that sent it was given strict orders that it should be delivered to you, and you alone. It was only with the use of a stunning spell that I was able to pry it out of the creature's beak. I hope you don't mind" he said, his blue eyes twinkling, "but due to the oddity of such orders, I took the liberty of opening it myself.
He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out an envelope. "I will of course let you read it, seeing that it is your mail. But I must warn you," he leaned forward onto his desk. "That what you find in here may or may not disturb you."
Dumbledore slid the letter across his desk. With trembling hands Auria picked it up and looked at the inscription on the front.
Auria Jacobs Gryffindor Table The Great Hall Hogwarts
She turned it over and pulled out the letter. The letter was written in the same neat script writing as before, but this time the ink was green.
"The accuracy of your last letter impresses me. Although I do not usually take the time to answer the insulting questions of a "filthy half muggle" I have decided to make an exception and answer yours.
Yes, it is hypocritical to ask someone not of pureblood to join me, however, you were right in stating that my followers are not as powerful as a certain sixteen-year-old girl. You Auria, unlike all the other useless things at that muggle loving school, have the potential to rise to greatness in magical talent and power.
As to why I chose you, a filthy muggle lover, to stand beside me is simple. You are the only one that is either brave enough or foolish enough to look me in the eye. I will only teach someone who has the courage and daring to face me without fear.
Join me Auria. This is your last chance, so chose wisely."
Auria looked up and placed the letter on the desk as if she had not a care in the world.
"Can I read it?" Sirius asked tentatively.
Auria lazily handed him the letter.
"So?" she said looking firmly at Dumbledore.
"So" he repeated his eyes widening. "Voldemort has sent you a letter. It is not everyday that students from this school receive a letter, especially one as flattering letter as this one, from the Dark Lord."
Auria looked at the ground and shuffled her feet. "Well I'm obviously going to say no," she muttered.
"That's good to hear" Dumbledore replied, his eyes taking on their usual amused look. "Now, about these insulting questions you asked him. Would you like to tell us about that?"
Auria could tell from the tone of his voice that she didn't really have a choice. She looked around the room and saw something red and gold move suddenly. With a swish of his wings Fawkes gently landed on her knee. His presence gave her strength and so she began her story. Still staring at the floor she told Dumbledore and Sirius all about her last letter from Voldemort and in an embarrassed whisper the response she'd sent him. When she was done she looked up to find Dumbledore gazing at her in amazement while Sirius started at her in shock.
"And you sit here in my office, alive and unscathed" the headmaster said leaning back again. "If anyone else had written a letter like that to Voldemort they'd be dead by now."
"Yeah well someone already is de-" Auria stopped herself quickly and looked up. "When did you say you received that letter?"
"This morning at breakfast" Dumbledore replied confused.
Suddenly, as if hit by a bolt of lightening, Auria felt a mix of anger and relief wash over her.
"Voldemort didn't kill Brendan," she muttered gazing off into space, absent mindedly petting Fawkes. "Why would he do it and then ask me to join him? Snape did it. Snape himself killed Brendan to get revenge" she said darkly her bright eyes narrowing.
Auria clenched her fists and her breath quickened. "If he was intending to ask me to join him he wouldn't have killed him. I bet he doesn't even know I knew Brendan."
"What?" Sirius asked puzzled.
"I'll explain later" she replied quickly. "Was that all?" she said turning to Dumbledore.
"Yes, that was all" Dumbledore replied, surprised at her demand. "Evidently you are no stranger to his letters. However, I must advise you to write a more polite response this time. Voldemort does not possess a great deal of patience."
Auria nodded and ran out of the office dragging Sirius behind her. Once they were safely hidden in a dark classroom Auria explained her revelation to Sirius.
"Voldemort didn't kill Brendan to get back at me," she said locking the door. "Voldemort didn't even want him dead, or care about him for that matter. If Voldemort was intending to have me join him then why anger me by murdering my friend? That's the thing though, Voldemort didn't kill Brendan, Snivellus killed him."
Sirius eyes bulged in understanding. "So it's not really your fault Brendan is dead. That's great," he said happily.
"But he's still dead" she replied sadly.
"I know, I'm sorry" Sirius said softly. Then he paused, gathering courage. "So are WE ok now?" he asked nervously.
Auria nodded.
"Oh good" Sirius said loudly, clutching his chest.
"But you'd better never say anything that mean to me again" Auria replied in a warning tone.
"I won't, I promise," he said quickly.
Slowly Sirius stretched out his arms and wrapped them around her. Auria remained completely rigid so he gently tightened his grasp. Finally, after a few moments he felt Auria's body relax and her hands wrap around his neck. They stood there hugging for a long time, Sirius savoring the feeling of her body pressed against his. As they broke apart Sirius leaned in and gave her a long soft kiss on the lips.
"We should go back to the common room" Auria said sternly, breaking the kiss, but Sirius noticed that her cheeks were flushed.
He nodded silently and they left the classroom.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They entered the common room five minutes later, to find it deserted.
"Goodnight Sirius" Auria said yawning.
"Goodnight love" Sirius replied bending down to kiss her again.
"Don't push your luck," she said, pushing him back playfully.
"Right" Sirius said seriously.
"See you in the morning" Auria said heading up to bed.
"Great" Sirius replied, practically skipping up the steps with joy.
That night Sirius fell asleep relieved that he and Auria were back together, but concerned about her getting letters from Voldemort. Auria fell asleep that night with a grin on her face, firstly because she was back together with Sirius, and secondly, she had decided which hexes she was going to use on Snape in the morning.