A/N: It's here, Chapter 16! Thank you so much to everyone who has been reviewing, favoriting and following, I just love to read your comments, and you reviewers are the reason I get motivated to hurry up with the updates and keep writing! This chapter is dedicated to everyone who left me a review for chapter 15; amessybookshelf, latinagirl-reader2010, Maylak, AnnabethChase-Wisdom'sDaughter, Angelusica, iuy, Raven that flies at night, Reader, and xmusecliox. You guys are amazing, I hope you like this chapter!
September was brilliant. Aurelia had all but forgotten about her family, and all the issues they posed, only to have a whole month free of drama with her newly found friends. Well, she couldn't claim it had been entirely drama free, but surely that wasn't possible at all. Apart from some fights that James and Sirius had picked with some Slytherins, and some pranks gone wrong, it had been absolutely blissful.
Aurelia had spent nearly every night with James, either in his new dorm, in his old dorm, or in the room of requirement. The rest of the Marauders were beginning to accept her more, and barely even minded having her in their dorm anymore. During daytime, that was. Remus still objected loudly if he woke up to find a girl in his dorm.
She had gotten closer to all of them since the start of term. After filling Peter and Remus in on the events of summer, they had both been more supportive of her relationship with James (and her occasional visit to their dorm). Peter was inquisitive and curious as ever, but he seemed to have become more sensitive after she reluctantly had told him about her encounter with Rabastan that Easter.
Her relationship with Sirius was strange, in a way. While there were many reasons for it to be strained, they were such close friends, perhaps because of how their lives had taken such similar paths. She hadn't asked him again about Marlene since being on the Hogwarts Express, and quite frankly, she didn't want to talk to him about girlsafter the drama such topics had stirred up between him and James over summer.
Aurelia was constantly telling herself that there was no chance that James had been correct in his conclusion that Sirius fancied her. It surely didn't seem realistic. But then again, remembering the way he had snapped at her on the train, saying that he was in love with someone other than Marlene… Aurelia was left somewhat frightened. She wasn't sure she could handle it, if it were true. The last thing she wanted was to put a strain on James' and Sirius' relationship, and quite frankly, she couldn't bear the thought of losing Sirius as a friend.
Whenever James was out patrolling, or when she had received a demanding letter from her parents that only he could understand, Sirius was the one who would keep her company, or make her smile again. Not counting James, Sirius was probably the best friend Aurelia had ever had, and thus, she wouldn't entertain a thought that might very well make her lose that; lose him.
Remus, who much like Aurelia prioritized his grades over pranks, was the most difficult of the boys to win over. He had seemed somewhat uncomfortable around her ever since she found out about the lycanthropy. While she wasn't one to judge, and didn't view him differently since learning the truth about him, she knew how stigmatised lycanthropy was, and she could understand why he was cautious around her.
As of late, he had warmed up on her ever since she sat down next to him in the library, and helped him out with his arithmancy homework. Since then, the pair often sat in the library together when the remaining three marauders were out picking fights or pulling pranks. Sometimes, though, the tall boy had no choice but to join his friends in their mischiefs. At other times, after having one too many drinks, Remus would be the one initiating pranks, coming up with the most brilliant ideas.
Things with James had been wonderful. Ever since he'd called her his girlfriend, Aurelia had done her best to ignore the fact that he had to spend time with Lily Evans. They were just working together after all, and whenever James wasn't studying or working, he was spending time with Aurelia and the boys.
There had been plenty of trips to Hogsmeade, some more permitted than others. Of course they had gone on the rare weekend trips to Hogsmeade, bought candy and butterbeer, and In Aurelia's opinion, spent a little too much time at Zonko's.
But then there were the unsupervised trips to Hogsmeade, the private ones which only their group of five knew about. The ones that were made using secret tunnels, invisibility cloaks and animagus forms. Despite their forbidden nature, those were Aurelia's favourites.
Usually, they would go to the Three Broomsticks. While its owner, Madam Rosmerta knew them all very well and was quite friendly with the group, she always needed some convincing before serving hard liqueur to Hogwarts students. However, it usually didn't pose a large issue, seeing that Aurelia was the only one in the group who wasn't of age.
This Wednesday evening, in the end of September, was no different. Well, it was different in the respect that James and Aurelia had gone to Hogsmeade on their own, but they had still snuck out under the invisibility cloak and went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer or two. It was the kind of escape they both needed; away from slimy Slytherins and tiresome prefects alike.
It was as though things had been too good that one month, and the universe simply decided that enough was enough; that Aurelia Fawley's good fortune should go to someone else.
It had started well. Aurelia and James had met up outside the Hufflepuff common room, as they so often did, then they used the hidden passageway by the one-eyed witch statue to get to Hogsmeade, sneaking out of Honeydukes under the invisibility cloak. It was absurd, really, and had you told Aurelia a year ago that she would be sneaking out of Hogwarts with James Potter using hidden passages and an invisibility cloak, she certainly wouldn't have believed it. Nowadays, it had nearly become a routine of theirs, and the girl understood that the castle held many more secrets than she could've imagine; secrets that she was only beginning to learn about as she started her sixth year at the school.
They had gone for a walk first, strolling through Hogsmeade hand in hand, almost like a normal couple, on which didn't have to worry about pureblood families, betrothals and death eaters. To Aurelia's dismay, they had spend a fair share of time at Zonko's joke shop, where James was trying to find supplies for his next prank on Remus. Then they had headed to Tomes & Scrolls, where the Hufflepuff had bought three new books on Magical Law Enforcement, which James argued was 'undoubtedly the dullest topic available'.
When they finally arrived at the Three Broomsticks, it was getting late, and the pair was content, slightly tired, and terribly cosy; a condition which didn't decline with a few butterbeers.
The incident didn't happen until they were leaving the pub to head back to Hogwarts, a few hours later. Aurelia blamed herself for not being more attentive, for the illusion that they were perfectly safe in Hogsmeade. That illusion was why they walked out of there perfectly content; distracted. His arm was thrown casually over her shoulders, and both her arms were wrapped securely around his middle where she walked beside him.
He had just reached out to push a stride of her hair behind her ear when that venomous voice behind them spoke up.
Ordinarily, Aurelia Fawley would point out a head of white blonde hair in any crowd, from any distance. But then again, ordinarily, she wasn't wrapped in James Potter's arms in such crowds.
"If you wish to keep your hands, Potter, I suggest you take them off my cousin this very instant."
The girl stiffly turned around, completely gobsmacked at meeting the glaring eyes of her cousin, Lucius Malfoy, and the uncharacteristic surprise on the face of his companion; Severus Snape. To her terror, she was speechless. No words would suffice in explaining, or excusing this situation to her cousin. His striking grey eyes, so similar to hers, were looking straight through her, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was convinced that the furious young death eater in front of her read her better than anyone else.
"I'd say you are in no position to threaten me, Malfoy. And you Snivellus, consorting with his kind? Did you finally take the mark, too?"
For better or for worse, James Potter had a knack for coming up with quick, and impeccably irritating comebacks. Now generally, this was a talent which often came in useful, and one that Aurelia envied. However, at times the reckless boy would spit these comebacks out without any consideration, and end up putting himself in very tricky situations. This was one of those times. It wasn't exactly something she could hold against him, but the young witch couldn't help but to mentally curse him for his stupidity.
James Potter had just revealed to her cousin - the blood purist, daddy's boy, death eater - that he knew about the blonde joining the Dark Lord's forces. Not only was the Gryffindor still standing with his arm smugly wrapped around her shoulder, but he had implied that she had shared information with him that could very well lead to the imprisonment of her cousin.
"You blood traitor scum!" the young man finally hissed at his cousin.
"How dare you tell this maggot such lies? Father will be hearing about this!"
Lucius turned on his heel, quickly striding out of the pub, down the street, his cousin throwing her boyfriend a deadly glare before hurriedly following him with much shorter strides.
"Lu, wait! Please, I can explain!"
"There is nothing to explain, Aurelia. You told him. You might as well have thrown your own family into Azkaban."
"I didn't… He… he's only assuming, I was so upset after the wedding and… He won't tell anyone, Lu. He doesn't get along well with Severus, that's all. He won't tell anyone, I swear."
"You are in love with this twat," the young wizard muttered in realization, shaking his head in disbelief as he turned his gaze back to throw a glance at the seventeen-year-old prankster who was standing across the street, in the doorway of the pub.
"You know you can't marry him, Aurelia. He is a blood traitor, a mudblood-lover, and not nearly good enough for you. You'd best break this off now, whatever it is, before it goes too far," he continued, turning those cold grey eyes back to his young cousin, who was close to tears.
"You don't understand, Lucius. I… I love him," the witch mumbled, nearly inaudibly, cautiously looking up at the tall boy whose face could only be described as emotionless.
"I don't understand? Please, Aurelia. Is that what you think, that I'm incapable of love? You, if anyone, should know the value in concealing such hazardous emotions. Now, I'm asking you to end this because I love you, cousin, however difficult that may be for you to understand. Not only do I want you to survive this war, but believe it or not, I wish for you to be happy."
"But I am happy with him, Lu."
"Well, let's see how long that lasts."
The wizard turned to leave, his back straight and expression stoic as ever.
"Lucius?" she asked hesitantly from behind him, causing him to pause in his steps and turn around.
"Why did you join them? Really?"
"To keep your reckless prat of a brother from getting himself killed," he replied to her direct question honestly after a long, contemplating silence.
"Oh… And Lu, are you going to tell them? About James?"
"I'll keep your secret, this once. But you need to start taking care of yourself, Aurelia, we can't look after you at Hogwarts. End it, cousin. You're setting yourself up to get hurt."
The kiss he placed on the top of her head before he walked away was the last thing Aurelia had expected from her cousin. But then again, he had surprised her more than once in a matter of minutes, and she wasn't quite sure what to believe anymore. He had told her that he loved her, that he wanted her to be happy, that he had only joined the death eaters to protect Augustus, and finally, that he wouldn't tell anyone about her and James.
He was changed. Either Narcissa had been an amazing influence on him, or this was who he had been all along – beneath the mask.
It made her quite sad, to think that he had joined such a terrible cause only to protect Augustus. Only thinking about it now, she realized there was so much more to it – them joining the death eaters, than she had originally thought. While she was still terrified and appalled at the fact that they could support and choose to participate in such hateful and barbaric activities, there was another angle to it. There was a war coming, and she didn't want either of them to get hurt, no matter which side they were fighting on.
"Excuse me, did I just see a bloody death eater kissing you?!"
Needless to say, idealist James Potter was furious when Aurelia returned to the Three Broomsticks after her conversation with her cousin.
"Really, James? You just let it slip that I told you about him taking the mark. Do you realize what consequences that could've had? You should be happy he kissed me, because that at least indicates that he isn't going to avada me, or lock me up in Wiltshire. Now, give me the bloody cloak!"
"Lia, that guy's a total git. I didn't mean to…"
"Give. It. To. Me."
"Alright, alright," the boy complained, shoving the rolled up piece of fabric into her arms, before returning back into the pub, likely about to pick a fight with Snape.
And so, Aurelia walked back to the castle alone that night, wrapped tightly in a cloak that smelled like him. The boy she loved irrevocably, despite however bad that might be for her, and despite his lack of respect or understanding for the love she held for her family.
James Potter was like a beautiful curse. And how she loved all the symptoms that came with it, despite the lingering suspicion at the back of her mind, that this curse would one day be the death of her.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading! What did you guys think of Lucius? I never really liked adult Lucius, and just saw the chance here to show a different side of him, and I hope you can see that side of him! Please let me know if you liked this chapter by favoriting, following and reviewing (it makes me incredibly happy to read every single review, so please take a few seconds to write me a note!).