A/N: Wow, I'm so humbled at the response I'm getting for this story, and I'm thrilled that you guys like it! This chapter is a bit longer, as I had quite a bit of drama to fit in there. From here on out, it's going to be a more exciting story with plenty of things happening throughout. As always, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited and followed. It means the world to me. Hope you like this chapter!
Summer couldn't get any more insufferable. At least, Aurelia didn't think it could, and it had only been two weeks since she bid James farewell on the Hogwarts express as it rolled into Kings Cross Station. It had been two very long, painful weeks without him, and for once, Aurelia couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts. Her family home was quiet, as usual, and when her family did decide to show up she realized why she didn't enjoy going home in the first place. When her mother wasn't nagging her about boys (well, pureblood Slytherins such as Lestrange that is), she constantly attempted to drag Aurelia along to social events where she was bound to meet such boys. Naturally, she couldn't very well tell her mother that she was very happy with Gryffindor blood-traitor James Potter, who was hosting notorious blood-traitor Sirius Black in his family home. That would not sit well with Lady Ambrosia.
Her father, on the other hand, could not stop talking about his job. Since Augustus had chosen not to follow in his father's footsteps (Merlin knows what he was up to), he was now expecting Aurelia to do so. Aurelia, who had wanted to work with magical law enforcement ever since was four years old and heard her grandfather tell magnificent stories of trials back when he was minister. She knew her father meant well, but it was madness. She had no intention what so ever of working for the International Confederation of Wizards, and it was near impossible to make that clear to her father.
Thankfully, Augustus hadn't been around much since she got back from Hogwarts, and thus, neither had Lucius. The absence of the latter, however, was much more understandable seeing that he was busy planning a wedding, or more likely, getting to know the bride. She had only seen Augustus once since she had been back, as he had his own flat now, and as per usual, it hadn't been a very pleasant encounter. The two siblings had never really gotten along, and people who didn't know them very well might guess that they were too much alike, which was only part of the truth. While they were both very passionate in what they believed in, and very loyal to their friends and family, August had always been much more vocal and quite the dreadful conversationalist, a more flamboyant Fawley, if you will. The large clash between the two siblings, more unfortunately so, was the fact that what they believed in was not the same thing. In fact, they were opposites. While her brother was a snobby blood-purist who couldn't possibly belong anywhere other than in Slytherin, Aurelia believed in equality and in kindness, even more so than your average Hufflepuff.
Their latest fight had been, as they so often were, about the war; the raging bloody war, which her brother deemed necessary, and justified. Each time it came up in conversation, she was infuriated, and similarly to her brother, she simply couldn't bring herself to stop; to calm down. So, last week, when he had muttered under his breath that 'those filthy mudbloods have no place at Hogwarts', a terrible row had erupted, which ended in hexes thrown across the house, and a terrifying scolding from their mother somewhere along the lines of 'if you fancy getting yourselves hexed you might as well do it properly'. This particular time, she hadn't actually hexed them, but there had been times when she had gone as far. It wasn't strange, per se. Their grandfather, Brutus Malfoy, had been a horribly cold and harsh man when he was alive, and Aurelia could only guess what her mother had been through when she was brought up. Perhaps it didn't make it any more right, but it was all she knew, in their mother's eyes, that was simply how you raised children.
If the summer was insufferable, the wedding couldn't possibly be described in words. Aurelia wasn't one for social events, particularly not ones where all the guests were blood-purist twats who constantly made remarks that would have Hufflepuff turn over in her grave. Moreover, Aurelia could swear there was something hanging in the air, something dark. It was the war, she could sense it, and its existence was more noticeable in these social groups than it was at Hogwarts.
There was also the issue of clothing. Seeing that it was mid-July, there was a heat-wave in Wiltshire, and Ambrosia had insisted that Aurelia wear her black dress-robes. She was dying, least to say, and seeing that there was no getting away from there, she simply had to make the best of the situation. So, she socialized, in a never-ending game of play pretend, drinking elven wine and playing the perfect pureblood daughter. At least her mother would be happy.
"Fawley," a familiar voice hung in the air right behind her, where she stood by the bar attempting to avoid people. An attempt which clearly had failed. As she turned around, she realized why the voice had been familiar, and the sight of Regulus Black triggered a feeling of longing at the back of her mind. He looked so much like his brother; Sirius. And how she missed him, James, Remus, even Peter. She missed their pranks, their silly games of whiskey gobstones, their late-night conversations in their dormitory. She had missed James to insanity during these two weeks of summer, but she hadn't realized until she saw Regulus just then, that she missed all of them; her boys.
"Black," she responded with a small nod, expressionless to the world, to him. Under no circumstances would she let him in on how she missed his brother, nor the other Gryffindors.
"A word? In private," he bid, taking her arm and leading her away from the party. She would've slapped his hand, pulled away from him, yelled at him, if her mother hadn't specifically told her just what would happen if she caused a scene tonight.
"Doesn't seem like I have much of a choice, now does it?" Aurelia muttered under her breath, finally pulling her arm away from his when they were at a fair distance from the party.
"Muffliato," the younger of the two mumbled with a light flick of his wand, causing the girl to take a cautious step back.
"Forget it, Black."
"Listen up, Fawley. I'm only trying to help you."
"Well, you can redirect that towards someone who actually requires your help."
"Would you snap out of it and listen to me?" he snarled, and Aurelia could tell that he was being serious.
"Fine. Speak."
"If you want the choice to be yours, you need to make it right now."
"What are you on about?"
"Your parents… They're going to have you betrothed to Lestrange, I heard them."
"Not that it is any of your concern, but that absurd, Black. My father would never agr…"
"Well, he already has. But if you go to them now, before they have a chance to tell you, perhaps there's still a chance."
"And what do you propose I tell them, that I haven't already?"
"Tell them you choose me, for instance."
"You? Really? And what in Merlin's name makes you a better choice than him?"
"It would buy you some time for one, I'm not seventeen for another year."
"Oh, please, Black. It's obvious you're just making a play for it."
"I've heard how he talks about you, seen how he glares at you. I'm warning you, Fawley, you don't want to marry him."
"Well, I don't want to marry you either, so that's that."
It was obvious she was getting on his nerves. The already agitated boy looked as though he would drag his own hair out as he looked around to make sure nobody was hearing their conversation.
"Merlin, Fawley. He's taken the bloody mark, alright? Don't let them do this."
He was whispering, even though he had already cast a Muffliato charm, and once again, he was proving his seriousness in the matter. What she couldn't wrap her head around was why on earth he would care. That was, unless there was something in it for him, which in this case, there obviously was. Her hand in marriage would gain him riches, influence and power, and yet, there Regulus Black was, indicating that he was concerned about her.
"What mark? I have no idea what you're on about."
"The dark mark, Fawley. The brand on his sodding arm that proves his loyalty to you know who. He's a bloody death eater, is what he is."
Aurelia couldn't find it in herself to speak. Rabastan Lestrange, a death eater, two weeks after his graduation. Granted, he had always been all for pureblood elitism, and a right git at that, but attacking and murdering innocent people? Joining an evil lunatic? No more than two years ago, this boy had been courting her, and now he was a death eater. She stumbled back, managing to catch her balance right before she was about to fall over, and realized she hadn't taken a breath since she had heard those words; death eater. She collected herself, took a deep breath, and regained her composure. It doesn't matter, she thought. Regulus was obviously making this all up in order to gain an advantage. And even if Rabastan had taken the mark, her father would never agree to it. He had promised her that she would be allowed to marry out of love.
"I appreciate your concern, Black. But you obviously don't know my father. Mind your own business, now, will you?"
With that, she left him behind, and walked back to the party; a party which she had no interest being at in the first place. While this wedding had solved one of her issues, the prospect of marrying her cousin, it seemed to have stirred up quite a few new issues, or at least made her aware of them.
It would be well past midnight before she had a real run-in with her brother, who was conveniently sitting out back with the groom, Lucius, by a secluded table. Now, while they weren't particularly her favourite people in the world, she was tired of pretending around people she didn't know, around people she needed to make a good impression on. Now Augustus and Lucius, for better or worse, knew her. And from the looks of it, they were pissed, and in all honesty, Aurelia wasn't exactly sober herself.
"My congratulations to the happy groom," she joked as she approached, taking a seat in one of the two available chairs at the table.
"Oh, sod off, Aria," her brother muttered, taking another gulp from the bottle of fire whiskey they most likely had snatched from the bar. Not that it would be considered snatching when the groom was involved, she supposed.
"I hear it'll be your turn soon enough," Lucius smirked, patting her shoulder, as though everyone was let in on a secret she didn't know.
"If that's the case, then I'm glad you're off the market, cousin."
"I assure you that's the case, haven't they told you yet? You're being betrothed to my brother-in-law, I'm sure they're finalizing it as we speak," Lucius was deadly serious, grey eyes glued to her as though he was anticipating her reaction. Almost as though he was so unhappy himself, that paining her would lift his spirits.
"It's true. About bloody time, too, if you ask me," Augustus filled in, him too anticipating a reaction, and Aurelia would be damned if she gave them one.
"Nonsense. Father would never agree to it, especially if he has taken the mark."
"Why, dear sister, that's precisely why they would allow it. Rabastan is in a position to protect you now, come the war. You'd do well to remember that."
"Protect me? Are you bloody mad, Augustus? How on earth would a death eater be able to protect me?"
"Well, that's what we're all doing, innit? Gaining good positions with the Dark Lord to protect the little mudblood-loving twat. Some appreciation would be nice," Augustus spat out, and Aurelia felt like she had lost all control over her body for the second time that evening. If she weren't sitting down, she would've bloody well fallen over at the notion.
"What do you mean 'we're all'?" she asked, through gritted teeth, barely noticing that she had gotten up from the seat, leaning over the table glaring into the grey eyes of her older brother, who looked rather amused at the sight of her aggravation.
"Did you think Rabastan was the only one to receive the mark?"
"You wouldn't…"
Apparently, they would. And as soon as the two boys, one white blonde like herself, and one sandy blonde, had pulled up their left sleeves up to reveal the darkness beneath, Aurelia had stumbled away from them, lightheaded. They were just boys. Sure, they were both older than her, and one of them had just been married, but at twenty and twenty-three years old, they were both boys nonetheless. And they pretty much made up half of her family. Despite the quarrels and the teasing, they were her closest family. Or at least, they had been. She didn't know what they were anymore; who they were.
Before she knew it, Aurelia had made her way down the long, hedge-curved driveway, and through the iron gates. Surely, she had walked for quite a while before she reached the road, but that had gone by unregistered by the girl, who at this point was more like a walking ghost with tears in her face.
It was odd, while she hadn't planned it, there she was, standing alongside a road in Wiltshire, sticking her wand out in the air only to find the Knight Bus pulling over seconds later. Somewhere in her subconscious, she had to have known that the bus was the only way for her to get away from there without gaining any notice. And she needed to get away from there, although she had no idea where to go. She couldn't very well go home, nor could she go to Hogwarts. And seeing as she was underage, she couldn't very well take in to the Leaky Cauldron either.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick your wand out, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Nigel Akers, and I will be your conductor this evening. Where does the lady wish to go?"
"The Potter family home, Cornwall," she managed to explain, after silently contemplating for a bit. Perhaps it wasn't the most well thought-out decision, but it was the only place she could think of. She honestly had nowhere else to go, and while she was certain there was nothing that could make her feel any better, she could really use James' comforting embrace just about now.
"Are you alright, miss?" the conductor inquired, curious blue eyes looking around at the otherwise empty road.
"Just fine. Keep the change," Aurelia mumbled, handing him a galleon from her purse, before stepping onto the bus.
Once she was standing there, in front of the large house with dark windows, well past midnight, Aurelia realized she had no idea what to do. This was certainly not planned, and there she was, probably looking a right mess in her fancy dress robes and blotchy, wet face. But she had just learned that she was being promised away to a right git and bloody death eater, and uncovered that her brother and cousin had also taken the mark, and thus, she honestly didn't have much left to lose.
She wiped her eyes off with her sleeve, before taking the courage to walk up to the door and knock hard, three times, praying to Merlin that it would be James who answered the door. Naturally, it wasn't. As the door swung open, an elderly woman in a dressing gown, looked back at her with calmingly familiar hazel eyes. Her hair had almost completely turned grey, but Aurelia could tell it used to be black once, and while concern and perplexity was written all over her face, her smile was bound to be friendly and soft. She was beautiful, Aurelia concluded. Aging and grey, but beautiful nonetheless.
"Mrs. Potter, I'm so-sorry for disturbing you at... this hour, but… Is James home?"
"I'm afraid not, dear. How may I help you?"
"Oh… I… I'm sorry, I should…"
Aurelia had just admitted to herself what a horrendous mistake coming there had been, and was about to apologize, turn her heel and leave, when she was interrupted by a swearing, shirtless, and messy-haired Sirius Black launching down the stairs.
"Merlin's bollocks, what's happened to you?!"
"Language, Sirius. You know this girl?"
"Yeah, this is Fawle… Aurelia," he responded, moving past the woman to all but push Aurelia inside the house.
"Ambrosia's daughter, are you? You've surely inherited her beauty. Coming straight from the wedding, I presume?"
The girl couldn't bring herself to do anything but nod, swallowing down hard at the lump in her throat, and finally relaxing her shoulders as Sirius wrapped an arm around her back.
"And you know my boys?"
"She's… a friend. A close one. You can trust her, mum," Sirius assured, earning a nod in response from the woman, who uncrossed her arms at the notion, wrapping her dressing gown tighter around her waist.
"Alright. We'll speak in the morning. Sirius, I trust you can show her to the guest room and make sure she has what she needs?"
"Yes, mum. I'll take good care of her."
"Thanks, Mrs. Potter," the blonde managed to utter, as she was being led towards the stairs of the beautiful, old house, by arms that were just about holding her together at the moment.
"Call me Mia, dear."
A/N: AAH, I can't hide my excitement at the fact that things are beginning to happen in this story! I hope you're all as excited as me! I feel like I'm leaving you with a lot of questions here: Is she going to marry Rabastan? Where's James? Was Regulus really trying to help her? Will she tell Sirius what happened? Please favorite, follow and review to let me know what you think! All reviews make me super excited and I'm really happy to hear your thoughts, whatever they may be!