Revised 16th June 2004
Disclaimer : I don't own any HP characters (don't I wish I did?) I do, however, own Aurora (or Rora), Mara and Lana.
Thoughts either to oneself, or, more usually, to another person are in italics.
The bits in Old Tongue are at the end of the sentence. I've changed this so you could all read it properly! Any problems/queries, email me : aurorawillowhotmail.com
I dedicate this chapter to Hannah the honourary pirate, my Jonny Depp and Pirates obsessed friend. And very bad eggs . . .
Aurora could not sleep after that. In the morning, she got up early and went to the library, looking for books about sorcery. As she was searching the many rows of shelves, she heard voices.
"She's very strange," a boy's voice.
"Yes, I know. I know a lot about sorcery, but I'd like to know more. I suppose she could teach me, if she didn't hang around with Malfoy."
Granger. Hermione Granger. And the ginger one. Ron Weasley. They were obviously talking about her.
And why should I like her? a voice said in her mind. She's a mudblood
Muggles aren't that bad you know. I live in the Muggle world, and they can be quite alright some times. I really don't know why you hate them so much.
Well . . .
Are you awake?
I couldn't sleep. There are all of these voices buzzing in my head. It's amazing!
You don't like her because she gets better grades than you.
No I…
Yes.
No.
Yes.
No.
Don't argue with me Draco. You'll soon find out I always win. Now, it's nearly time for breakfast.
I'll meet you in the Great Hall.
Sure.
People stared at Aurora strangely as she went down to the Great Hall. Obviously news of what had happened the day before had reached the whole school.
"It usually does," said a voice behind her.
Aurora turned around. "Hey. What do you mean?"
"If anything unusual happens here, everyone soon gets to know about it, no matter how secret you try and keep it," Draco said. "Even the stuff with…"
"With?"
You Know Who. And Potter. Dumbledore never even tries to stop us from hearing about it.
Aurora could sense he was probing random minds of anyone who walked past them.
"Stop it."
"What?" he asked.
"Probing. As I said earlier, too much can tire you."
"But it's so interesting!"
"I know. Try and probe my mind deeper first, then other's."
Over the course of a month, Aurora learned… not a lot. She mostly taught Draco in her spare time, and did absolutely no school work whatsoever.
"Miss Polgana, will you please stop that? It's very distracting!"
Aurora had been sitting in Professor McGonagall's class for nearly an hour now, and she was bored. It was the last lesson Friday afternoon, Transfiguration.
Oh well. she thought. At least it's Halloween on Sunday.
And Quidditch tomorrow! said a little voice in her head. You get to see me play against Potter!
I know, you've told me a million times.
But it's…
No!
What?
He's here.
Who?
Look. Aurora grabbed Draco's hand quickly under the table.
No! Why is he here?
About you.
Again? What did I do this time?
Apparently I've been a bad influence on you. He wants Dumbledore to try and stop us from being friends.
Like that's going to happen!
Aurora flicked another piece of paper at the back of Harry's head.
"Will you stop that?" he asked.
"No," she answered defiantly.
"Miss Polgana, I have already told you to stop that, now desist! Homework is…" Aurora stopped listening at this point. What was the point of her being here? She already knew how to change animals into 'useful everyday objects', so what was the point?
Maybe to meet me? asked the voice.
Maybe, she said, smiling.
"Now," Professor McGonagall said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "It's time to go."
There was the usual Friday night push for the door as everyone rushed to get back to the common rooms. Aurora and Draco walked, hand in hand, through the winding corridors to the entrance hall. Standing there was a figure, cloaked in white.
"Who's that?" asked Draco.
"No!"
"What?"
Aurora marched up to the figure, who turned suddenly, pulling off her hood.
"Kala? Mane Seldekala?" [A/N : The girl's name.]
"Aiya Ara Morwen," the girl said calmly. Aurora was far from calm. [A/N : Hello Ara Morwen]
"Man le cared sinome?" [A/N : What are you doing here?]
"Sídh! Lenka undu." [A/N : Sh! Calm down!]
"Anta amin maa le." [A/N : Give me your hand.]
Silently Kala gave her hand to Aurora, who recoiled.
"Le cor," she said quietly, removing her ring from her right hand index finger, and giving it to Draco. Kala did the same to her ring which was almost exactly the same as Aurora's. [A/N : Your ring.]
Hold them in separate hands. she told him silently. I don't want to think of the consequences if you don't.
"Anta amin maa le," she said again, this time extending her hand with caution. Aurora felt a cold sensation run through her as she pushed into Kala's mind, breaking down a few barriers, including the one which seemed to prevent her from speaking English. [A/N : Give me your hand.]
"Hello Ara."
"Mara. I really didn't expect you to get sick of Lana so soon! And my name is Aurora by the way."
"I'm not 'sick' of Lana. She sent me here to…"
"Keep an eye on me?" Aurora interrupted. "I'm not surprised."
"Are you Mara?" Draco's voice spoke up from behind them. Mara looked at him as if he were dirt, the way he normally did to others. "And do you want these back?" He held out the rings, which both Aurora and Mariana snatched quickly.
"Yes. And you are?"
Don't tell her. Your family hasn't exactly got the best reputation among the Rana's.
But can't she see I'm not like my father?
No. She doesn't have very good psychic powers.
"Now Mara, I will take you to Dumbledore. He'll need to see you." Are you coming? she asked Draco.
Yeah, he said hesitantly. I need to see my father. We aren't exactly on the best terms at the moment, and I've got to talk to him.
"Come on then."
"Don't you have a lesson now?" Mara asked Aurora as they walked down the corridor.
"No. They've just finished for the day. Here we are," she paused. "Cockroach cluster?" she said hesitantly. The phoenix started its ascension to the door of the study. Aurora grabbed Draco's hand and they stepped onto a step. "Just step on," she told Mara.
"But…"
"Or you'll have to climb the steps."
"OK…"
When they reached the top, they heard voices from inside.
Reminisce. she said silently.
Why? Oh yes. This is where we first saw each other.
It's really like last time. Except last time you were inside. Her hand touched the doorknob, and then she paused.
Come on. Draco put his hand on top of hers, knocked once and slowly swung the door open. The voices stopped abruptly.
"Hello father."
"Draco?" Aurora felt Draco's hand grip hers even tighter. "Miss Polgana. We meet again."
"Mister Malfoy. Professor Dumbledore, Sir. We've brought Mara to see you."
"Not another one Dumbledore?"
"Aurora's life is very much interlinked with Mara's. It seemed only right that she should come here too."
You have never told me why my father hates you so much.
My father was… I don't know how to put it. A kind of Death Eater, but not. He worked for You Know Who.
Really? And that's why he hates you?
Yes.
What else is in that secret part of your brain that I'm not allowed to go in?
I don't think you want to know. Memories mostly. Of things that I've seen… and done. You'll never be able to break down the barrier though, so don't even try.
Then it seemed, with no effort whatsoever; Draco broke down Aurora's mind barrier, and searched into the secret part of her brain.
Dammit. Aurora quickly set up another barrier, throwing Draco's mind out in the process.
"Ow!"
"You see Dumbledore, she's hurting him now!" Lucius Malfoy seemed to show emotion towards his son for a second, but that soon went.
Can't you do something? To make him stop hating you so much?
Maybe… Aurora searched into Lucius' mind, probing gently around. He's cold isn't he?
He didn't have a lot of love in his childhood. It seems coldness is the only thing he knows.
Doesn't he even love your mother?
Probably not.
Or you?
No.
Aurora kept searching until she found the memories part of Lucius' mind. Slowly and carefully, she began to change things that had happened between him and her father. Lucius, it seemed, had always thought himself You-Know-Who's right hand man, until her father came along, with a lot more power, and able to do much worse things.
Then her father had disappeared. Just gone. No one knew where or why. Or that was the supposed story. Aurora thought there was more to it, but she had never got round to asking her mother. It was over sixteen years ago, about six months after Aurora was born.
Did your mother know nothing about your father?
Yes. She knew everything. But she couldn't stop him. If she did, he'd kill her. And me with her. She wouldn't risk her baby's life.
Are you done yet?
Nearly. she paused. There we go, all changed. He should be a bit nicer to me now. Should be.
Dumbledore had been keeping a close watch on Aurora throughout this. "Are you finished Miss Polgana?"
"Yes sir."
"Good."
"What has she finished?" asked Lucius, a look of amazement on his face.
"Nothing," chorused Aurora and Draco simultaneously.
"Now," Dumbledore said, turning to Mara. "Miss Selde."
"Hm?" Mara had not been listening. She turned to Lucius Malfoy. "Are you…"
Don't even ask it Mara. Aurora sent out her thought to Mara. You already know the answer.
Mara's eyes widened, and she whipped back round to face Aurora. "How…"
"Didn't you know?"
"No! How? When?"
"I've been this advanced for nearly six months now. I'd have thought the great Lana would have picked up the signals." She laughed at the look of horror on Mara's face. "Aw. Baby! You'll catch up with me one day."
"Miss Polgana. Could you tell me what house Mara is going to be in? It would save a lot of trouble," asked Dumbledore.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"To you maybe, but not to me."
"Gryffindor." She noticed Lucius Malfoy's face change at this.
"Well, we will have to get Professor McGonagall up here then. Minerva!"
As if she's going to hear that. thought Mara
Of course she will. Aurora thought to her. They're quite advanced you know. One more step and they'll be nearly like us.
Professor McGonagall swept into the room.
"Albus?"
"You have an addition to your house Minerva. Miss Selde here."
"Are you two," she waved a hand at Aurora and Mara, "related? You look very alike."
"We are sisters, but not related," replied Aurora. God no! How awful would that be?
"Sisters, but not in the strictest sense of the word," said Mara. "More like…"
"It's difficult to explain," cut in Aurora. "We… Everyone who is a sorcerer or sorceress is 'related', as brothers and sisters, but aren't blood related. Is that right?"
Mara nodded.
"She knows more about that kind of stuff than I do," Aurora said. She reads so much! She could give Granger a run for her money. she thought to Draco.
Yeah, but you read a lot too.
Mostly The Tome though.
You never have told me what's in that.
Because you aren't meant to know yet.
OK…
"Now, Miss Selde, I suppose you had better go to the Gryffindor common room and settle in. I will find someone to look after you," said Professor McGonagall.
Let me guess…
Yes?
Potter, Weasley and Granger?
Well done. It was kind of obvious though.
"Miss Polgana and Mister Malfoy, it is nearly time for dinner. Perhaps you should go and get ready?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"Bye Mara."
"Bye Aurora."
