Notes: All fictional, does not follow anything in the story. Just wanted to explore a what if story with Eileen Prince. All characters and their ages have been shifted so that they can appear in the story.

4th Year: Eileen Prince, Myrtle Warren, Olive Hornby

5th Year: Orion Black

Great Aunt Dora's funeral was held just a day before Eileen was set to return to Hogwarts.

The entire affair of the funeral was dreadful and boring.

This was not how Eileen imagined she would be spending her last day of summer. She was supposed to be coped up in her father's library, brushing up on her potions recipes. But instead, she's here, dressed head to toe in a black dress that was dragging itself on the ground and shimmering black jewelry that her mother had said "suited her" although it just added more unnecessary weight. Eileen was barely even able to see through her bangs let alone the black lace that was covering half of her face.

Every time she had tried to shift it around, her mother had shot her a dark glare across the room. It was hard to pretend not to notice the way her mother's blue eyes glimmer in the dimness of the room so Eileen couldn't pretend that she didn't see it.

Eileen sighed, twisting on her spot. She couldn't even move from her spot.

Her mother had explicitly told her while gripping onto her forearm hard enough to leave a bruise behind, that her duty was to greet the guests politely like a good pureblood lady. To make sure to welcome them with a Prince's warmness–whatever that meant.

In other words, Eileen was tasked with greeting a bunch of nobodies–well, Eileen could hardly call them nobodies.

It would be a insult she supposed, to the pureblood families that took the time out of their clearly busy schedule to come and offer their condolences to Great Aunt Dora.

The whole ceremony was a dreadful event.

They list all of Great Aunt Dora's accomplishment (which honestly amounted to nothing other than graduating Hogwarts as a proud member of the House of Slytherin, something all pureblood families seem to bask in). Then there was a moment where they would speak about Great Aunt Dora's great character but the person who was supposed to do that ended up getting sick so it was scrapped altogether because everyone else didn't want to speak on Great Aunt Dora's character and everyone knew that Great Aunt Dora was anything but nice.

In all honesty, Eileen couldn't quite understand why they decided to hold a funeral for Great Aunt Dora.

As far as she knew her mother and father weren't very fond of Great Aunt Dora. And sure they were technically the last relatives of Great Aunt Dora but still–no one really liked the old witch. Eileen had only met Great Aunt Dora at least three times in her fourteen years alive. All of her encounters with the old witch had been nothing but miserable. Mainly because each time she visited Great Aunt Dora in her old French countryside manor, the old witch always complained about how Eileen hadn't gotten engaged yet while Eileen's older siblings were already at least two or three years into their engagement.

Great Aunt Dora always boosted about how she had been engaged in her first year of Hogwarts yet she seemed to always forget that she never got married. Her engagement had been broken off for reasons unknown.

Eileen didn't care enough to investigate.

But the point was, Great Aunt Dora shouldn't be opening her mouth. Still, Eileen took everything that Great Aunt Dora said with a grain of salt.

And each time Great Aunt Dora would insist on dressing her up like a proper pureblood lady which meant dressing her in extravagant Victorian dresses that puffed out like no one's business and that also meant having to wear a caged hoop that Eileen struggled to fit through the doors of many shops in Diagon Alley. Great Aunt Dora would then proceed to take her out to find a suitable pureblood boy to get engaged with. If Great Aunt Dora couldn't find a suitable pureblood boy then she would spend her time harassing anyone that smelled like a mudblood and chase them with her crane.

How Great Aunt Dora knew who was a mudblood was a great curiosity to Eileen. But then again, the old witch was old enough to know every single pureblood person in the continent. She's always been that kind of fanatic.

But those moments, in Eileen's opinion, was always fun to watch.

Seeing a bunch of Auroras trying to calm her angry great aunt.

Eileen had learned a long time ago that she wasn't allowed to complain and each time she tried to do so, her parents would tell her to keep her mouth shut and go along with Great Aunt Dora's whims.

She was surprised to see so many pureblood families come and pay their respects to her Great Aunt Dora. As far as Eileen knew, no one was close to her great aunt and the old witch didn't really have any visitors so it was safe to assume that no one liked the old witch. So she supposed this whole thing was all about traditions, paying their respects to an old witch that lived so long that she probably knew of each of the pureblood families' ancestors.

Which Eileen assumed was the reason why so many pureblood families stopped by.

Eileen remained tight-lipped, preferring to stand in the corner as the last of their guests finally arrived. She took to hiding in the corner so that she wouldn't have to speak to anyone. She would not dare to say her thoughts out loud in front of her mother or father. Still it was boring and the only entertainment she had was just staring out of the window, looking at the wind blowing the tree leaves–a small indication that summer was about to end. The sun had finally dipped low enough for the blues and purples in the sky to appear.

Nightfall wouldn't be too far.

And the whole funeral affair was yet to end.

"Prince," a smooth voice greeted.

Eileen didn't have to turn around to figure out who it was. But she also made no moves to show that she had heard the older boy.

"Really," the voice drawled out. "Don't be childish, Eileen Prince. I know you heard me."

She clicked her tongue and turned her head to meet the boy's cooling silver eyes. "I was hoping that if I ignored you enough that you would get the message, Black."

Orion Black.

He was a year older than she was. The bane of her existence really because it was clear as day that his father, Lord Black, was very smitten with Eileen. She wasn't particularly sure why. She supposed it was because she had once beaten Lord Black in a game of gobstones. Other than that, she wasn't sure why Lord Black was even showing any interest in her. And now Orion Black like the obedient son he was, was affectionately trying to court her in hopes of gaining approval from his father.

Stupid Blacks and their stupid obsession with stupid stuff.

Of course, she had snubbed him.

Sure Black was handsome.

Probably one of the handsomest in the whole of Hogwarts. Summer had done him particularly well, his boyish looks and body had grown into something…more manly. He was clearly at a cross between boyish and a man. He had grown a couple of feet, towering over her small frame. But it wasn't imposing like her father. His classic black hair cut short enough to frame his face. To compliment his pretty face–if Eileen didn't know any better, she would have swoon after him too but thankfully she wasn't smitten.

Though it was hard to fight off the fluttering feelings that pop up every now and then.

Great Aunt Dora would have thrown an engagement party if she knew about this and it would have been printed all over the press–Eileen could already foresee the title.

HOUSE OF BLACK AND HOUSE OF PRINCE UNION!

Thank Merlin, the old witch was good as dead.

"You wound me, Prince," Black drawled out, stepping closer to offer his open palm to her.

Eileen stared down at his hand before she turned the other way, a clear refusal that she did not want him to greet her in the traditional way. Black seem to understand because he retracted his hands back. His expression didn't fall one bit which only annoyed Eileen even more.

"Didn't think you'd actually show up," Black said.

She scowled, she didn't really want to make small talks with the older boy but a quick glance towards her mother made her stiffen before she replied curtly. "Mother insisted."

"Oh yes, Madam Prince is really a force to be reckon. I would not want to cross her," Black said.

"Don't worry, you won't be crossing paths with her today, tomorrow or in the future." Eileen sharply replied. "As long as you mind your own business, Black."

Black chuckled, leaning in close to stare at Eileen through her laced covering. His nose brushed against hers, and Eileen could feel her cheeks grow hot.

"Now, should we really be on last name terms?"

"Yes." Eileen replied coldly, stepping back, hoping that the lace was enough to cover her expression. "I don't think we're close enough to be on first name basis, Black."

"Don't be so cold. Don't you get confused with referring to everyone as Black? You can just call me Orion if you want."

"Thankfully no. I know all Blacks and I will continue to refer to you and your cousins as Black. And I don't want to call you by your first name, Black."

"You will become a Black soon."

Eileen scoffed. "In your dreams."

"You know it's inevitable, Prince," Black says dismissively. He looked passive as ever as if the funeral is just another pureblood gathering which to be frank, probably is. As far as Eileen knew, no one really really knew Great Aunt Dora. "Our opinions don't matter. If your father and my father says we marry then we must marry."

Eileen snorted. "My father would rather eat his foot then let one of us marry into your family."

Black chuckled, offering his hand to her.

She pursued her lips, not really wanting to let him kiss her hand but as etiquette demands it, she couldn't refuse him a second time. Not unless she ended up causing both the House of Black and the House of Prince get into a small scuffle. She'd rather not get an earful from her parents over this. With a defeated sigh, she placed her hand on top of his, trying not to be self-conscious of how big Black's hand had gotten. She didn't realize how much he had actually grown over the summer.

The older boy smiled, pressed his lips against her knuckles–his lips staying longer than Eileen would have deemed appropriate.

"See you in Hogwarts, Prince."

"Likewise, Black." Eileen said.

She watched him carefully, waiting until he was fully gone before she removed her laced black gloves and tossed it towards the fireplace. The material immediately disintegrating into nothing as the fire consumed it.

/.../

The first day back into Hogwarts couldn't come sooner. Unfortunately the funeral ran longer than they had expected and Eileen was on ready to go into the train and take a nap. She only had two hours of sleep before her mother had rudely awoke her to catch the train to Hogwarts. Fortunately she was being accompanied by only one of her parent. Unfortunately, it had to be mother.

Her mother had a handkerchief pressed against her nose as if she was about to grow sick by the smell. Eileen's mother had always been a little dramatic when it came to taking the train and to be frank, Eileen could have taken the the floo to Hogwarts but the headmaster had made it mandatory for all students in England to take the train.

Mother had tried to write a complain to the headmaster but it was easily overturned.

"Remember Eileen," her mother started, sounding nasal because of the handkerchief and Eileen could only give half-mind listening to her mother's yearly rants about making sure to not embarrass the House of Prince. And to only associate with clean blood. "...are you listening?"

"Yes, mother, I heard you. I won't cause any problems. I'll only associate with clean bloods. I promise I'll be good this year."

Her mother gave her the stink eyes, clearly not believing her. Eileen couldn't blame the older woman after what she did last year. But to be frank, it wasn't even Eileen's fault. Okay, only part of it was her fault. Her parents had been furious when they received the news of what she had done in school. They were called to Hogwarts to discuss her punishment and unfortunately it had been a semester of cleaning without magic.

The whole incident had been a great sore spot for Eileen because none of Eileen's siblings had had their parents called to school for anything.

And Eileen, the outlier, did what none of her siblings did.

"If your father and I hear anything–," her mother said sharply, "–and I mean anything, young lady, we won't hesitate to pull you out of school and have you homeschooled like your sister."

"Promise I'll be good," Eileen promised.

She began to sweat a little because she surely didn't want to be homeschooled like her older sister. She heard how dreadful it was from her older sister. Her poor older sister had been shipped off to who know where in America to get homeschooled by this brilliant witch. Despite the rave reviews, her older sister's letters were full of nothing but complains about her teacher and well Eileen didn't want that.

"Alright then, off you go, Isla. I will be expecting a letter at least once a month."

"Yes mother, I'll try my best," Eileen said, rushing to get into the train.

She ignored her mother's screech that she didn't want Eileen's best and how she better write. Eileen sighed and pushed her luggage through the long corridor, her path getting cleared like she was something to be avoided. Well she supposed she might as well, considering last year's incident. She finally found a semi-empty carriage, a smaller girl jumping in her seat when Eileen slammed the door open.

"Is this free."

It wasn't a question. Eileen wasn't blind. She could very well see that the only other person in the compartment was the Ravenclaw girl. Before the other girl could reply back, Eileen was already trying to shove her luggage into the empty spot above their seats.

"...it's free," the girl muttered softly under her breathe once Eileen took her seat.

Eileen stared at the brown haired girl, she had large round glasses that were far too big for her small face. Not that Eileen was going to point that out. She recognize the girl, she was also in the same year as Eileen. What was her name again?

M…Mary? Merlin?

She shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't like she was going to see the girl again so Eileen ruffled through her bag and found her potions book. She turned her attention to her potions book and began to read the first chapter. The train began to move and they just sat in silence, just the way Eileen liked it.

It was halfway through reading the first chapter that unfortunately, their silence was interrupted when the door slammed open and a sweet voice was singing, "Oh~ there you are, Myrtle, hiding away from us again?"

Eileen tore her eyes away from her book and saw Olive Hornby, another Ravenclaw, standing by the door with two other girls that Eileen couldn't seem to recognize. They were clearly here to cheer or be Hornby's backup.

Hornby met Eileen's eyes and offered her a sweet smile. "Good morning, Prince. Don't mind us, we're just here to visit our good friend, Myrtle, isn't that right?"

She turned to stare at her compartment partner. That's right, that was her name. Myrtle Warren.

"A…ah," Warren's voice shook with fear. "L…leave me alone, Hornby!"

Hornby's high pitched laugh echoed through the compartment, she walked up to Warren who was pressing her back against the window. Her eyes shaking and glossy with tears and Eileen returned her gaze back to her book.

If they weren't bothering then this was none of her business after all.

"Summer really made you braver," Hornby sneered, grabbing Warren's necktie. "The Sorting Hat should have placed you into Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw."

"S-shut up! I-I am a Ravenclaw!"

Hornby's laugh was echoed by her goon of friends and Eileen couldn't focus on her potions book anymore. She had to read the same sentence twice and still she couldn't process what it was saying. Finally having enough, Eileen snapped the thick book shut, stood up and smacked Hornby with the front cover. The blonde girl screeched in pain, holding on the back of her back, spluttering as she stared at Eileen with wide eyes.

"W-what do you think you're doing, Prince?!"

"Shutting you up," Eileen replied. "You're too noisy."

"You..! You're going to pay for this," Hornby sneered. "Don't think you can just hide behind your pureblood family and get away with this."

"Yeah, yeah, shut the door on your way out."

Hornby's cheeks grew red in frustration or embarrassment. Eileen wasn't sure but she was pleased when she heard the door slam shut and she returned back to reading her book in silence.

A moment passed.

Maybe two.

Who knows really but Eileen just knew that when she finished chapter one of her Potions book, Warren spoke up again, timid but no longer sounding like she was on the brink of crying.

"Thank you."

Eileen looked up to stare at the Ravenclaw girl. "I wasn't doing it for you."

Warren's cheeks grew red. "I know that! But still, you…you stopped her."

"Well yeah," Eileen said, shoving her book back into her bag just as the train came to a slow stop. "For my sake. Not yours."

"Thanks anyways. I'm Myrtle by the way. Myrtle Warren. You might not remember me but we're in the same year."

"No, I remember you. Prince."

Warren blinked her eyes, still waiting. But Eileen didn't say anything else.

"No first name, Prince?"

"It's not like you're going call me by my first name. We're not close enough to be calling each other by first names."

Warren smiled, "Well lucky for you, I know your name. Eileen. Can I call you that?"

Just Eileen's luck. Here was another annoying fly that was fluttering around her. Just like stupid Orion Black. Dear Merlin, she just wanted to have a quiet Hogwarts year.

"I said we're not close enough," Eileen replied, and walked out of their compartment.

"Wait for me, Eileen!"

Eileen sighed. Maybe she should have found a different compartment.