Here's chapter seven everyone! I am trying to redeem myself but I can see that I have lost a lot of my dedicated readers. Waahh...hopefully continuously adding chapters will bring you all back!

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Chapter 7

The sun never crept into the girls dorms like it did in her bedroom at Severus's and that was part of the reason she hated living in the Dungeons. She could never really feel like it was morning when she woke up. Sighing she went to her trunk and began getting dressed. She needed to get her timetable from Severus before she set off to her first class. Today was a day where she would most likely spend all of her time with Draco and none of it with Ashley. She had done nothing to warrant his tantrum and she refused to talk to him until he apologized.

Tying her hair up into a low braid she grabbed her wand and side bag and left to start her day after a nice breakfast. The Great Hall seemed a buzz with tons of students and she had been greeted kindly by them all. But when she went down to sit next to Draco and saw Ashley sitting all by himself she just stuck her nose up and rushed past him. Without saying hello or acknowledging his existence whatsoever.

"Morning Rory," Draco said, welcoming her to join him. "I heard what happened with the Willow…did Severus…flip?"

"In a word…yes." she said putting a piece of toast on her plate. "I have detention with that blond idiot as a punishment."

"How many?" Draco asked, passing her the jam.

"Knowing dad, probably a weeks worth." Aurora sighed, spreading the lovely, blackberry, jam on her bread. "But maybe if I am lucky he will shorten his sentence."

Draco chuckled and began eating from his own plate. Constantly Aurora found herself briefly looking at Ashley. His blond hair shimmered to her this morning…it was just as light in color as Draco's if not a bit lighter…but it seemed longer in length now because he clearly hadn't taken the time to get it cut over the Summer. His, silver, eyes went from his plate of scrambled eggs to hers and t hey locked briefly. She couldn't tell if he was contemplating walking over to her or if he was just trying to beat her in a staring contest. Either way he would not win!

"Umm…Rory?" Draco asked. "Are you and Blake fighting or something?"

Aurora blinked, breaking the connection and turned away.

"Sort of," she sighed. "He's being a jerk."

Looking down at her plate she decided that she wasn't as hungry as she had thought she was and decided that one more bite of toast would suffice and then she would head off to beat the rest of her house mates…she just needed to find out which class she had first.

"Did dad hand out the timetables?" she asked with another sigh. "Can you tell me what our first period is?"

Draco nodded and pulled out his schedule.

"Herbology with the Gryfindors."

Nodding Aurora stood from the Slytherin table and made her way out of the Great Hall. She wished that she had time to go off and find Cedric, but she really didn't want to risk being stuck with Ashley as a partner. So quickening her pace she made her way outside to the greenhouses. It was a rather gray day outside but Aurora supposed that would fit the situation. She was fighting with her best friend and he didn't want to do anything to resolve it, but Aurora refused to apologize considering nothing was her fault! As Aurora continued to walk she found herself being stopped by the arrogant ass himself.

"Aurora!" he beamed. "I've been wanting a word…you're class doesn't start for a few minutes do why don't you come and talk with me for a moment."

"Uh…well…"

Before Aurora even had the chance to refuse her new Professor was pulling her to the side and talking her ear off.

"Rory," he said with a shake of his head. "Rory, Rory, Rory."

Aurora wanted to slap him but refrained from doing so and waited for his ego to make his head swell to the point of popping!

"When I heard…well it was all my fault…I should have kicked myself…"

Well at least there was something they both agreed on.

"Don't know when I have been more shocked! Aurora, flying a car to Hogwarts! I mean really? Of course I know why you've done it! Stood out a mile Rory!"

Aurora had pretty much left and went to her happy place. It had chocolate frogs, a baseball bat, and Lockhart's face right in her line of sight. WAM!

"Gave you a small taste of publicity didn't I?" The blond annoyance said. "Gave you the bug…you got your first taste of publicity and couldn't wait to do it again."

Aurora felt her eye twitch slightly.

"And I understand Aurora," he said gripping her shoulder. "But see here young lady…you can't start flying cars to try and get yourself noticed! Just calm down, okay? There is plenty of time for fame once you are a bit older."

Aurora wanted to rip those pearly, fake, teeth straight out of his head!

"And I know what you are thinking…it's easy for me to say seeing that I am already internationally famous. But when I was twelve I was just like you…a nobody."

She was going to kill him…Professor Dumbledore would find his corpse next to the Black Lake. At least she knew that her father would be pleased. Was she really a nobody? No! More people knew who she was than who he was! And Merlin she bloody well hated it!

"I'd actually have to say I was more of a nobody…I mean don't a few people know who you are?" he asked, pompously. "With that whole He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ordeal."

Gently he moved her bangs to the side and eyed her scar.

"I know, I know…it's not as brilliant as winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile…five times in a row may I remind you….but it's a start Rory!"

He gave Rory a hearty smile and briefly pulled her into a very awkward hug, and then he walked off. Leaving Aurora too stunned for words. All she knew was that any minute if one person touched her scar once more she was going to kill them.

"Hey Rory-

-WHAT?" she roared, turning around.

It was only then that she realized who she had yelled at. Standing in front of her, looking very handsome in his Hufflepuff robes was Cedric. She felt her cheeks flush and she looked down at her black dress shoes. Merlin she felt like such a twit.

"Something bugging you?" he asked, frowning.

"No…" she said with a small shake of her head. "Not something…people!"

"I take it you spoke with Professor Lockhart?" Cedric said, placing a brotherly arm around her.

"Unfortunately," she snarled. "Cedric…he said I was a nobody!"

Cedric rolled his warm eyes and laughed.

"Yeah, you only killed You Know Who and stopped him from stealing the Sorcerer's Stone last year. But hey who can call you a somebody after going through an ordeal like that!"

Aurora laughed and wrapped her arm around him as well. Aurora loved having Cedric as her older brother. He was great and she always felt like she had a certain seal of protection that no one else could understand. She almost wished that she had a free period that she could spend with Cedric, so they could talk and catch up.

"Why didn't you answer any of my letters, Rory?" he asked walking her to her class.

"A bloody House Elf stole all my damn letters!" she spat. "I know it's hard to believe me but it did happen!"

Cedric held his hands up in surrender.

"Hey Red, I believe you!" he smirked. "With how your life is anything could happen…then I suppose it was smart of me to wait to give you your birthday present."

"Awe," Aurora cooed. "Ced you didn't have to buy me anything."

"Well of course I didn't have to," he laughed. "What kind of present would it be if I had to buy it for you! I thought it would help you with your Quidditch game, come and see me at dinner and I'll give it to you. Okay?"

Before Aurora knew it they were at the greenhouse, sighing somewhat sadly Aurora hugged her older brother briefly before disappearing into the warm, glass, house. The smell of plants and dirt tickled her nostrils and Aurora sneezed. She had horrible allergies. As soon as Draco walked in through the door with his two meat head buddies Aurora grabbed him.

"You are my partner," she said smiling.

Draco looked rather shocked but smiled and agreed anyway.

"I heard that Lockhart got a hold of you."

Aurora sighed and nodded rather stiffly.

"He's such a bloody pain in the arse!" she snarled. "He thought I rode in that flying car to Hogwarts to get attention!"

Draco laughed and put his gloves on. Aurora glared somewhat, she didn't find it humorous at all! She had half a mind to tell her father and beg him to cause the man severe pain! But she knew that Severus would enjoy the fact that he was annoying her. He would feel that his punishment was well placed; so that meant sucking it up and dealing with that damn man's antics.

"How was that car ride?"

"Shut up Draco." she snarled.

"I'm just-

-Shut up Draco!"

"Okay, okay," he laughed.

No sooner then when Draco had said that did Professor Sprout come in. Aurora really did not fancy Herbology…mostly because she just could not stand the thought of actually getting really dirty. She liked to be clean but she was very good with plants seeing as the Dursley's used to make her do yard work all the time.

"Good morning class," Professor Sprout beamed. "Today we are going to be repotting mandrakes! Can anyone tell me what a Mandrake is."

Aurora watched as Hermione's hand shot up along with hers but luckily Professor Sprout decided to call on her first.

"Yes, Ms. Snape."

Aurora paused briefly…she only just noticed that this was the first year back as a Snape…rather than a Potter. Smiling somewhat she turned to her teacher and said, "Also known as Mandragora the Mandrake can be used as a restorive to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."

"Wonderful Ms. Snape, truly wonder…ten points to Slytherin."

Aurora smiled and felt Draco nudge her arm, playfully, with his elbow.

"Show off," he chuckled

"Underachiever…you knew that answer to!" she whispered back.

"Yeah but you said it as though you have a textbook shoved into your head!"

Sticking out her tongue she turned back to listen to what her Professor was saying.

"Who can tell me the mandrake is very dangerous."

Smirking at Draco she pulled his hand up and waited for sweet, sweet, revenge.

"Mr. Malfoy?" she asked rather shocked.

Draco turned to her and glared.

"Haha." she said mockingly.

Draco sighed and turned to his teacher, "Umm…isn't it's cry fatal to anyone who hears it?"

Aurora nodded and watched as their very short and stout Professor beamed at them. Apparently she wasn't used to Slytherin contributing to a lesson other than Potions or DADA.

"Precisely! Another ten points," Professor Sprout exclaimed. "Now these Mandrakes are still very young so they will not kill you…but they will knock you out for a good ten hours or so. Right so everyone take a pair of earmuffs!"

Aurora looked distastefully at the pink fluffy things but did as she said and placed them over her ears. She could still hear everything, but it was more or less muffled. Aurora already knew what a Mandrake cry entailed, living with Severus had its benefits. So she just waited to see if her Professor gave the signal for everyone else to follow her example. She watched as her fellow classmates did so and Professor Sprout pulled and a little muddy infant flew out.

The young Snape always felt like they were the ugliest things on earth. But Severus had changed her mind when he saw her a Nome that they had been hiding in the back yard. She watched closely as her teacher tossed the Mandrake into another large pot. As soon as the little guy was covered in some soil Aurora took off her earmuffs with the rest of her classmates. Surprisingly she was not looking forward to this. Knowing her luck the damn thing would bite her or get a hold of her hair.

"Rory," Draco said getting her attention. "She said four to a table…look who's coming over."

Aurora's head moved to the direction Draco was pointing and saw that Ashley was slowly moving towards them. Narrowing her eyes she turned her back on him and put her earmuffs back on. She worked silently and prepared her pot for the little Mandrake. She had done this enough times with Severus to be able to finish promptly and then move to help her fellow Slytherins at the table. Crab and Goyle were idiots…but she felt bad at watching them struggle…so she helped them with their mandrakes before reporting back to her Professor.

"Were would you like him, Professor Sprout?" she asked warmly. "Is there anything else I can help with?"

Professor Sprout took the pot and smiled.

"Merlin you have an advantage living with the Potions Master; eh Rory?"

Aurora blushed and nodded. It was true that while living with Severus she had learned a lot, but she hoped her other housemates didn't consider that to be cheating or anything…especially when she took the time to help most of them. But Professor Sprout just told Rory to head back to her table and help her classmates. She looked to see that Ashley was struggling immensely to get his Mandrake into the pot and it was with a heavy sigh that she came over and did it for him.

"Cover it up with some soil," she instructed coldly.

"Rory-

-your welcome." she said grabbing her bag and heading off to Transfiguration.

Aurora didn't want to give Ashley the chance to say he was sorry just yet. She wanted him to feel bad about what he had said to her yesterday. The only thing that bothered her was how boring Transfiguration had become. And whenever she looked it seemed that Ashley was staring into the back of her head. She dared to make eye contact with him once and found that he just avoided her gaze. Sighing she turned back to her work and continued transfiguring mice into silver buttons.

When class ended Aurora was pleased that half the day was already done. All she needed was to eat lunch and her favorite studies would begin.

"Oh joy," Draco said from over his sandwich. "Guess who we have first?"

"Don't say Lockhart." Aurora said snatching his schedule. "Damn…he is such a pain in the arse!"

Draco smirked and put his schedule back into his bag.

"On the brighter side of things I think we have potions right after," he said nudging her shoulder. "That should cheer you up."

"No it shouldn't," she breathed. "Guess who is my potions partner?"

Her eyes scanned the table to Ashley who was just staring blankly off into space. She sighed…why couldn't he just come over and admit he was wrong…of course that would never happen. And the reason for that was because he was just as stubborn as she was. They were so alike that they just continuously butt heads. But she wouldn't change how close they were…she would however change how far apart they were becoming.

"Rory," Draco said gently. "If you really miss him that much…don't you think you should just go talk to him. Sure he was being a git…but I was towards you once and you forgave me."

"That was different Draco," she said resting her head on the table. "You came and apologized…but Ashley won't…"

Taking her bag Aurora decided that she might as well go and head to DADA before Lockhart had the chance to meet her off again. Draco watched his friend leave and he couldn't believe that he was actually going to do this. If anything he should be overjoyed that Aurora was finally starting to hate Blake…but seeing his best friend hurt he just couldn't find anything satisfying about it. So it was against his better judgment that led him to sit in front of his mortal enemy.

"Stop acting like a bloody troll and go apologize to Aurora, Blake." he snarled, coldly. "She misses you and it's the least you can do for being a complete thick head."

Ashley looked up at Draco rather surprised but decided that he was probably just trying to play some stupid joke on him.

"If Aurora missed me she would talk to me," he said with a sigh. "And you must take me for a fool if you think I would believe you were trying to help me and Aurora become friends again."

"You are a fool," Draco growled standing. "But she's sad…if your not in her life…for whatever bloody absurd reason. Personally I think she deserves someone better…you should go and talk to her. Because I'm not going to try and help you the next time you screw up with her."

Grabbing his bag Draco pulled it over his shoulder and left the Great Hall to go and see if he could catch up with Aurora. Little did he know that Aurora had already been stopped by Gilderoy Lockhart himself.

"Aurora!" he beamed. "I was just thinking about you! Professor Snape said that he wanted me to monitor your detention!"

Damn her father!

"Did you ask him to do that?" he chuckled. "Looking to get some time to me for yourself?"

Yes, so then she could kill you without any witnesses being there to turn her into the Ministry.

"Well he said that he would let you know when your detention was…I assume you are heading to my class?"

"Yes sir." she said rather stiffly. "I…I was just waiting for my friends to catch up."

She looked to see Draco and Ashley trailing behind her and very swiftly she latched her arms around both of them and rushed away.

"Did we just save you from the Golden Twit?" Draco laughed. "Was he asking for your autograph."

"Shut up Draco," Aurora snarled. "I swear to Merlin I will hex your butt!"

Realizing that she had grabbed Ashley's arm in her means to escape she released him and blushed furiously.

"Rory, wait." he said taking her arm back. "Can…can we talk?"

Aurora nodded and they walked a couple feet away from Draco.

"Rory…I'm sorry," he said gently. "I really am…I should have bashed Prof. Snape…and I should have known that you wouldn't sell us out. I was just so mad about the car that I took it out on you. Friends?"

Aurora smiled and hugged Ashley with all her might.

"Best friends." she said locking arms with him and going back to do the same with Draco.

"Ready to head for Hell?" Ashley chuckled.

"Ugh…" Aurora and Draco both moaned.

Alright guys, I'm keeping my promise. I am actually really motivated to get through this book in the saga because that means I'll get to do the third! OMG! SIRIUS WILL FINALLY BE! Haha, but I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. Please Read and Review!

(no flames :) )