Meetings
"Now are you sure you remembered everything?" Narcissa asked for the hundredth time. She was fussing over Draco straightening his already straight robes.
"Yes, Mother." Draco sighed trying to pull away from his mother.
Narcissa sighed trying to hold in her tears until her son was out of sight, but it was proving difficult. "Alright then, but if once you get there you see that you have forgotten something, owl us and we will send it, you understand."
"Yes, Mother," Draco repeated finally getting himself away from his mother's clutch.
"Oh, but I'm so proud! My baby boy is finally going to Hogwarts! You're going to become a fine young man within those walls, I just know it."
Aurora watched the scene taking place from beside her trunk with a deep sadness. She had accepted a long time ago that she would never have a mother, but in times like this, when she witnessed the love between a mother and her child, it hit her how much she wished she did have a mother to fuss over her.
"Narcissa, let the boy breath." Lucius commented smiling at his small family, "Now Draco, you will remember to act according to your family name. Do not associate with any Mudbloods and keep Crabe and Goyal close. Of course, you will be sorted into Slytherin but owl us in the morning to tell us how your first night went."
"Yes, Father," Draco replied sounding a lot more enthusiastic than when he was speaking to his mother.
"What exactly is the sorting?" Aurora asked partly out of curiosity and partly to break up the family moment.
The Malfoy family turned to their ward having momentarily forgotten that she was there. Draco and Lucius sneered at her, but Narcissa smiled tenderly and said, "There's nothing to worry about, it's only an enchanted hat that tells you where you will be best suited."
"A hat?" Aurora asked highly amused, "That's it?"
"You will remember to do your best in securing admittance into Slytherin, will you not?" Lucius said, or demanded more like.
"Aunt Narcissa just said a hat tells you where you go so how do I make su-"
"I know that you are at a disadvantage, what with your upbringing, hopefully, the time you have spent with us will aid you. It would be a disgrace if your pureblood name was brought down by you being placed in Hufflepuff." Lucius continued as if he hadn't heard her speak. "I know it will be difficult for you, but do try not to embarrass Draco, he has the Malfoy name to uphold and if he tells me you have done anything to disgrace him in any way you will be severely punished. Am I clear?"
Aurora tried her best to stop herself from glaring at the man, but it was becoming harder every time he opened his mouth. Thankfully her aunt prevented her from saying something she wasn't sure she would regret.
"Now dear, there is no reason to worry, Aurora will be spectacular I'm sure of it," Narcissa assured her husband placing her hand on Aurora's shoulder. Aurora was thankful for her aunt, she has been one of the only bright spots of her summer… besides all the etiquette lessons that is.
"Mum there's the train!" A young voiced called from across the platform. Aurora looked over and saw a family of redheads rushing toward the train.
"Well… if it isn't the Weasley family." Lucius sneered. "If you want an example of how not to be Aurora just look at them. They have turned away from all pureblood traditions and have disgraced their ancient name."
Aurora watched as the plump redheaded mother kissed and fussed over her children, Aurora couldn't help but wish she was a part of that family. Wish that she could touch just a little of that kind of love. Looking at the family she was a part of now and how they stood a foot apart of each other even when expressing love for one another… Aurora knew that she wanted the exact opposite of what they had to offer. Power. Money. Influence. She didn't want it.
"Thank You for your hospitality this summer. And I'm sorry I'm not what you expected." Aurora said holding on to her trolley tightly trying to keep the tears away. "I don't know if I will make you proud, but I will do everything I can to honor the memory of my parents. Or at least honor what I believe them to be."
"That is all we ask Aurora, dear." Aunt Narcissa said smiling.
"If you don't mind, I would like to board the train now. I'm sure there are things you would like to discuss with Draco in private."
All three Malfoys looked at Aurora strangely, not understanding where her attitude was coming from, but Lucius was thankful none the less. It would be good to be rid of the girl for most of the year. "Go ahead, girl."
"Goodbye," Aurora whispered turning around towards the train. Looking at the steaming scarlet engine she felt a small electric shock run through her body making her shiver in anticipation. Smiling, truly smiling, she pulled her trolley after her as walked towards the train wiping away the only tear that escaped her. It was almost like leaving the orphanage… she knew she was going somewhere better than what she was leaving.
After handing her trunk to someone with an HG badge on her chest Aurora made her way onto the train to look for somewhere to sit. However, it seemed as if luck was against her because the first compartment she picked was filled with older looking Slytherins, some of which she had met over the summer with the Malfoys.
"Well if it isn't Black. Lost, are you?" A burly looking troll of a boy asked. Aurora started to close the door when another voice said, "Leave the girl alone, she's pitiful enough as it is."
Aurora gritted her teeth and slammed the door shut. She stomped away towards the back of the train and stormed into the compartment closest to the end of the train. There was already a boy sitting there, but at that moment she didn't care.
"Mind if I sit here?" Aurora asked already heading towards the window seat. She couldn't believe that jerk! What did he mean she was 'pitiful?!' She'll show them how 'pitiful' she could be! Taking out the DADA textbook from her bag she plopped down in her seat and tried to concentrate on something other than her messed-up family or those stupid boys.
"Mum- geroff." A muffled voice reached my ears. Trying to look from the corner of her eye Aurora saw the same crowd of redheads her uncle had pointed out to her on the platform. For the most part, Aurora tried to block out the sound of their conversation and focus on her book. It was the last one from the first-years reading list and she wanted to finish it before arriving in Hogwarts. However, the more she tried to ignore them, the more it caught her attention… especially what they said next.
"Hey mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?" One of the red-headed boys said sounding excited. The black-haired boy sitting across from her hurried back in his seat so he couldn't be seen from outside the window and without noticing what she was doing Aurora turned her head a fraction to see what had caught his attention.
"Who?"
"Harry Potter!"
'Harry Potter? The Boy Who Lived?' Aurora thought looking at the boy across from her again. 'No way.' She had always pictured The Boy Who Lived as some all-powerful person who would be bigger than life. Aurora thought for sure that the boy she was sitting with was wearing a shirt that was four times too big for him and he couldn't be taller than her! This was the boy that her Uncle had encouraged Draco to befriend all summer? 'Well, I guess I'll see how great he really is if takes Draco up on his offer.' Aurora said to herself. Almost without realizing what she was doing, she focused her eyes to see his colors… they were beautiful full of reds and white. 'I don't think Draco will have much luck being his friend.' Aurora though with a vindictive smile. Served the prat right!
"… do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?" Aurora's ears snapped back to the conversation taking place outside her window. Would he remember? Aurora herself had tried her hardest to learn the most she could about the war, but it seemed that Malfoy Manner had no trace of it. She had even tried to question her aunt about it but like when she brought up her parents her aunt had forbidden her from asking questions. Would Harry Potter know more? Should she ask? Sneaking a peek at Harry and the absolutely terrified look on his face Aurora guessed not.
"I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school." Focusing back on her book Aurora gave herself a mental shake of the head, Mrs. Weasley was right. Besides, it hardly mattered what You-Know-Who looked like, he was dead after all.
It didn't take long for Aurora to notice she was being stared at and looking up she saw Harry Potter looking at her. Snapping her eyes back to her book Aurora tried to ignore him the best she could. She doubted that Harry Potter wanted anything to do with her.
Two minutes later the door to their compartment opened and a tall redhead boy with a black spot on his nose came inside. "Do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full." Harry nodded his head, yes and the boy took a seat next to me. It was quite in the compartment and no one really knew how to start talking to each other. That is until the door opened again.
"Hey, Ron." The two boys were a little older and clearly related to Ron came inside. They were twins Aurora absently noticed trying to pretend that she wasn't eavesdropping. "Listen, we're going down the middle of the train to see Lee's giant tarantula."
"Right," Ron muttered flinching so slightly nobody noticed but Aurora. Giving up on trying to be subtle Aurora looked up and noticed that one of the twins was looking at her with curiosity, but before he could speak to her his brother was rushing them out after saying,
"Harry, did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is our brother Ron. See you guys later."
"Bye." We all muttered.
And again silence… until Ron burst out,
"Are you really Harry Potter?" Not being able to stop herself Aurora snorted into her book to hide her smile, because really? Who would want to lie about that? Ron shot her a glare, but she simply ignored him and turned the page of her book. Harry laughed and lifted his hair back to show him a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead. Aurora couldn't help herself and she peeked at the scar from the top of her book. It looked so much like a lightning bolt it was amazing.
"Wicked." Ron awed. "So that's where You-Know-Who-?"
Before Harry could answer Aurora put her book aside no longer being able to hold her tongue.
"Why would you ask him that?" She asked bewilderingly, "He was a baby when it happened!"
"I was just asking!" Ron argued, but a shade of pink was spreading to his ears.
Laughing Harry interrupted the two and said, "It's ok! Yes, that's where it happened but she's right I can't remember any of it."
"Nothing?" Ron said before flinching back at the glare Aurora sent him.
"Well- I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."
"Wow," Ron looked amazed, but Aurora noticed that he wasn't really aware that he was making Harry uncomfortable with all the staring she coughed a little knocking him out of it. Harry shot her a small thankful smile before asking them both, "Are all your family wizards?"
"Mine are, for the most part, I think," said Ron. "There might a second cousin who's an accountant, but we don't talk much."
So he must belong to an old family, I wonder why the Malfoy's don't like them, Aurora thought.
"Do you really live with Muggles?" Ron asked. "What's that like?"
"Awful! They are horrid, well not all of them but the ones I live with are." Harry answered passionately, "I wish I had three brothers!"
"I have five," Ron answered glumly, "I'm the sixth in my family and I have a younger sister too. It's not too great because its like Mum wants me to live up to my brothers. My older brother was Head Boy, Charlie was Quidditch Captain, Percy just became a prefect and Fred and George joke around, but they are really popular and are smarter than they act." With each word Ron seems to wilt a little more, "I tend to get all their old stuff. I got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat." He said pulling out a fat and scruffy rat from his pocket.
Seeing the rat Aurora let out a squeak and leaned as far back as she could away from him. Harry let a laugh at her reaction and even Ron's mood seemed to cheer up.
"Ewww! Why would you have a rat as a pet!" She exclaimed with disgust. Hearing the squeaks of the rat Aurora noticed in the back of her mind that she couldn't understand it.
"His names Scabbers and he's useless. But Percy got a new Owl for being made Prefect and they couldn't aff- I mean, I got Scabbers." Ron said losing his smile again. While Aurora didn't see anything wrong with not being able to afford a new pet until a while ago she couldn't afford anything either. Harry must have been feeling the same way because he started to explain how he grew up not knowing about magic and off his family's cast-offs. Aurora couldn't believe that she and the Boy-Who-Lived had grown up with a similar background. It was crazy and maybe a little selfish, but it made her feel a little better to know she wasn't alone.
Ron himself seems to feel better also hearing that his childhood hero could relate to him.
Weren't they a bunch. Finding kinship in each other's hardships.
"Until Hagrid came to get me I didn't know anything about Voldemort-" Ron let out a frightened and amazed gasp interrupting Harry.
"What?" Both he and I asked at the same time.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!"
"Why wouldn't he?" Aurora asked confused. The Malfoy family never talked about the war or about He- Who- Must- Not- Be- Named and they had only basic books that mentioned the war but never elaborated on anything.
"People don't say that name! No one! Ever!" Ron said making Harry blush.
"I'm not trying to be brave! I just never knew that I shouldn't say it." Harry rushed to say.
"Well, I don't see the big deal. It's just a name." Aurora said rolling her eyes. It wasn't like saying the name would summon the guy. Ron shot her glare and opened his mouth to say something but Harry was quick to say,
"What about you? What's your family like…I'm sorry I don't think we got your name?"
"My name is Aurora Marlene Black." She answered proudly. This is the first time she was able to use her full name and she likes how it sounded. However, while Harry smiled at her answer Ron let out a loud gasp.
"Did you say, Black?" He asked aghast.
"Yes…why?" She asked defensively, sitting up a little higher.
"The Black family is one of the oldest families and one of the darkest! It was said that the whole bunch was supporters of the You-Know-Who!" He exclaimed making Aurora lean back in her seat. She didn't know what to say. She had read in the Malfoy library that her family had a complicated history but that didn't mean she would be the same as them! She wanted to be her own person.
"Is that true?" Harry asked quietly as if he didn't want to scare her.
"I don't see why that matters!" She said strongly, "I wasn't raised with my family. Both of my parents died during the war and I ended up at an orphanage. I didn't know about magic and until recently I didn't even know my own last name! If you want me to be ashamed of a family I never knew then don't hold your breath! This is my name and I won't deny it!"
The more she said the more the boy's eyes widened. By the time she was done it was Ron who answered her first, "I'm sorry Aurora. About your parents."
"Don't worry about it. You didn't know." She said not looking at the boys. "If you want I can find somewhere else to sit."
"No!" They both answered quickly making her look up hopefully.
"You don't have to leave." Harry said smiling at her, "We don't care about your family's past. Right, Ron?"
"Yeah! Who cares right?" He said a little too brightly.
Laughing Aurora beamed at her new friends, her first friends!
After the three were done formally introducing themselves they were quiet for a time, simply relaxing and enjoying the view that was passing them by. Aurora herself had never felt so much peace. She was on her way to a school that was literally magic, she was making friends, and she felt like nothing could go wrong now. She was daring herself to be happy and to believe that things could change for once in her life.
When the trolly came by their compartment, Aurora (who had been too hungry to eat before leaving) and Harry jumped up and rushed towards the sweets. Ron however stayed put and pulled out a bunch of sad-looking sandwiches.
"Don't you want any candy?" Aurora asked.
"Nah, mum packed me lunch," Ron opened a sandwich and grimaced, "Its corn beef, she always forgets I hate corn beef."
Aurora and Harry looked at one another before turning to the lady at the trolley and saying, "We'll take the lot!"
After placing all their candy on an empty seat, Aurora turned to Ron and said, "Come on, if you don't help us eat this it's just going to go to waste." He didn't need to be told twice.
Aurora was unwrapping a Chocolate Cauldron when Harry asked, "These aren't real frogs are they?" Laughing Aurora shook her head. She had wondered the same thing the first time she had one.
"No, it's just a spell, they usually only have one good jump in them anyways." Ron explained while reaching for a Liquorice Wand, "Besides, it's the cards you want. Each one has a famous witch or wizard on the back."
Harry eagerly opened the chocolate and caught the frog before it could jump out of the window of the train. "I got Dumbledore!" He exclaimed examining the card he had gotten.
"Cool, I usually give my cards to my cousin because he collects them. He has several of Dumbledore, I don't know why he doesn't just get rid of the doubles." Aurora said munching on her sweets.
"You can trade them and stuff, I got a lot of Dumbledore's cards as well. "Ron mentioned.
Before anyone could say anything else, the door slid open and a teary-eyed boy poked his head in.
"I lost my toad, would any of you have seen him around?" He asked with a quivering voice.
"No, sorry." Aurora said feeling bad for the boy, "Would you like some help looking for him?" She offered.
"No, but thank you. Someone else is already helping me look. If you seem him let me know."
As soon as the door shut behind him Ron was saying, "I don't know why he is so bothered, if I had a toad, I would lose him the first chance I got. But then again, I have Scabbers so I can't talk,"
"No, you can not," Aurora muttered under her breath frowning at the rat Ron pulled at of his pocket.
"Fred gave me a spell to turn him yellow, want to see?" Ron asked getting his wand.
Harry nodded eagerly, and Aurora sat up to watch but before Ron could utter a word the door opened again.
"Have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost one." A girl with big bushy hair asked. She was about Aurora's height, if maybe a little taller and she was already in her school robes.
"No, he came in already and we told him we hadn't seen it. "Harry answered the girl because Ron seemed to surprise by her entrance to say anything.
"Oh, you're doing magic! Let's see then." Aurora rushed to get out of her way as the girl stalked in and sat down across from Ron. Poor Ron seemed a little flustered at the audience but cleared his throat and started to chant
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,
Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
There was a quick flash of yellowish light, but Aurora felt no pulse of energy coming from the spell and wasn't very surprised when nothing happened to the rat. Ron however seemed to be resigned as his ears turned red.
"Are you sure that was a real spell?" The girl with bushy hair asked. "Well, it's not very good now, is it? I've tried several spells myself at home and they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family is magic except for me and we were all very surprised when my letter came, but then I was so pleased to be accepted, it is the very best school of magic I hear- I've already read all my course books, of course, I just hope it will be enough- I'm Hermione Granger by the way, who are you?" All of this was said in on very long breath and Aurora didn't know whether to be impressed or concerned that she could talk so much in one sitting. Luckily, the boys each looked as nonplussed as she did about the whole situation.
"I'm Aurora Black"
"Ron Weasley"
"Harry Potter"
"Are you really?" Hermione asked in a rush of excitement. "I've read all about you of course from some extra books I got for light reading."
"I'm in books?" Harry asked meekly. Aurora couldn't help but feel bad for him, he was raised in the muggle world like she was and while the Malfoy's had their flaws, they did their best to prepare her for what Hogwarts was going to be like. Harry had no one to help him through it all.
"Don't you know? I would have found out everything I could if I were you." Hermione exclaimed and Aurora narrowed her eyes and the busy body girl.
"If you read so much about him, then you know he was raised by muggles and therefore might not be aware that he is mentioned in any magical books… or was that not included in those books?" Aurora said gaining a glare from Hermione. Hermione seemed about to retort when Ron asked in a hurry,
"Do any of you know what house you will be in?" This worked in making Hermione turn away from Aurora's stern gaze and she redirected her thoughts on the Hogwarts houses.
"I've been asking around and it seems like Gryffindor is the best, Dumbledore himself was in it, but Ravenclaw wouldn't be so bad either? Well, I'd better get back to helping Neville find his toad. You three better change, I expect we will be arriving soon." And just like that, Hermione left their compartment leaving three very bewildered people behind her.
"Whatever house I'm in I hope she's not," Ron muttered shaking his head in astonishment. Aurora couldn't help but agree, she knew she should have held her thoughts in check, but she was so annoying, and Harry looked so lost she couldn't leave it alone. But it didn't seem to endear her to Hermione any either. "Stupid spell," Ron continued, "I should have known it wouldn't work, Fred gave it to me."
"What houses are your brothers in?" Harry asked curiously.
"Gryffindor," Ron muttered sounding depressed, "my entire family has been in Gryffindor, I don't know what I will do if I don't get in. I guess it wouldn't be too bad to end up in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, as long as I don't end up in Slytherin! Mum might disown me!"
"What's wrong with Slytherin?" Aurora asked quickly, knowing very well that her uncle expected her to be placed in that house along with Draco.
"It's the house that Vold-I mean You-Know-Who was in," Harry answered looking almost unsure.
"Oh, I didn't know that," Aurora whispered feeling sick to her stomach. She didn't want to be in the same house as Voldemort. Shaking the thought from her head, she stood up and told the boys, "I'm going to go change into my school uniform and robes, you better do the same before it gets too late. "Ron, being the tallest one, helped her grab her robes from the top carry on shelf, and before she walked out of the compartment Harry rushed to say,
"Thank you, for before with Hermione. I wasn't sure what to say to her." He admitted with a shy smile.
Aurora beamed at him before saying, "don't worry about it, that's what friends are for, after all, right?"
Harry and Ron grinned and said, "Right!"
Aurora giggled before stepping out the door and closing it behind her. Once she did, she felt some of the happiness fade as she thought about their conversation about the houses.
Aurora couldn't help but sigh sadly as she looking around for the bathroom before moving down the train, she knew her uncle well enough by now to know that if she didn't end up in Slytherin, when she went back for the holidays she would be in a lot of trouble. But on the other hand, Voldemort caused the war that made her an orphan… she did not want to be a part of anything that held his legacy.
"Are you lost again?" A voice said from behind her. Turning around in surprise Aurora saw the Slytherin boy from earlier, the one that said she was pitiful. Straightening her back and raising her head like her aunt taught her to do to those where not Malfoy's (and therefore not worthy) Aurora simply turned around and walked away.
A chuckle sounded behind her making her face flush, but she didn't turn around again not wanting to give him the pleasure of seeing her uncomfortable. Finally seeing where the girl's loo was, Aurora hurried away from the boy with as much dignity as she could. Thankfully, the loo was empty, so she didn't have to wait, and she quickly changed her clothes. Taking a moment to look at herself in the mirror, Aurora wondered, not for the first time, what house her parents were in and what they would want for her. Looking away from her gray eyes Aurora took a deep breath before heading back to her compartment and to her new friends.