AN:

Yep, it's been a hot second, but this is the longest chapter I've posted for this story to date so if it's any consolation, you get this monster of a chapter, and from the start it's pretty much chock full of stuff that furthers Lillian's story.

I hope everyone enjoys it. ATTENTION: For the most part, this was written in sections. Big plot points created and then everything else sort of filled in to make it run smoothly. I am 90% positive everything's copacetic. If anything is jumbled or confused, please let me know politely, so that I can correct it. Thank you, in advance.

WARNING: Pretty sure I dropped one or two major curse words, but otherwise, it is has it always has been.


Side note: Reviews at the bottom


The next few weeks passed in an unsurprising blur

People still stayed clear of her in the hallways, still feared her, the older students because they knew suddenly just how capable, how powerful, she was, the younger students because the older students did. Their fears and aversion to her didn't run rampant for long, however, not when most of the school was up in arms over the way Slytherin had flattened Hufflepuff in their quidditch match, which meant Gryffindor was most definitely out of the running for this years' House Cup, and Quidditch captain Oliver Wood's utter despondency over the loss led to him wailing at the oddest of moments – during study hall, at breakfast, in the boy's bathroom.

The best part of the fiasco that was the Dementor mishap was that she was no longer the prime suspect of one Albus Dumbledore, for how could she be the next incarnation of Evil if she was capable of casting such a powerfully light spell? That didn't mean she was without his attention overall, however, because now he watched her with calculation, he watched her to learn, to discover how to manipulate her to fight for his cause. Now, she was a tool he just had to obtain in order to fight the 'good' fight, for she could only ever be good, or evil, to him. With her power, her potential, she could never just be neutral, or grey. His inability to acknowledge that option would be his folly, but his inevitable downfall would never be a concern of hers.

So instead of worrying about Dumbledore, or what her peers thought of her, she focused on her friends, on her family, on the upcoming holiday and tutoring the students professors had brought to her attention after carefully considering their struggles.

She even got Devon to laugh in all of Professor Flitwick's classes since he had decorated for the holiday. Devon, whom had been quiet ever since Lillian had succumbed to a state of fatigue, but had become even worse since she learned that the twins wouldn't be staying at Hogwarts this Christmas, leaving her behind with the likes of the Golden Trio. Devon was helpless to remain solemn, however, when Professor Flitwick's fluttering fairies – little shimmering lights to the unaware mind – liked to congregate in Lillian's curls for the duration of every class, making her friends' hair sparkle as though each obsidian curl were decorated with a string of diamonds.

It was hilarious not only because it only furthered the theory that no creature could resist Lillian Black's charm, but also because of the way their classmates gawked, completely unable to resist the allure of a pretty Lillian Black made ethereal by fairy magic. What was funniest, though, was Draco doing his best to scowl the others into looking away, even when he himself found distraction in his cousin's curls. Blaise, in all of his wisdom, didn't pretend to not find the sight catching, and though his gaze raked over her glittering curls with more grace than even Devon could manage, Blaise focused on Flitwick's lecture and glanced over every few minutes as though to only acknowledge, yes, they were still there, and so was she.


PoA


"I'm thinking she's warm enough." Devon mused sarcastically as she watched Draco attempt to wrap a second scarf around Lillian's neck.

Devon may have been more subdued than usual after having witnessed Lillian's fatigue, but Draco had been a downright mother hen. Then again, Devon couldn't understand how Draco must have felt after seeing Lillian so drained a few weeks ago. Her vulnerability after the Dementor showdown was a display of humanity that reminded Devon that for all the great, impossible things Lillian Black was capable of, she was still just like any other student; capable of pain, capable of pushing herself too far, too fast, and suffering for it. Devon doubted, however, that Draco ever forgot just how vulnerable Lillian could be, so maybe that was why he was still behaving in such an overbearing manner – because Lillian had made herself vulnerable in order to protect him.

Draco ignored Devon's barb, instead gave up on the second scarf to gesture viciously at Blaise, who stared with a quirked brow but an amused patience Devon didn't quite understand, "First stop, Three Broomsticks. It's snowing out, a butterbeer will warm her tummy nicely, keep her from getting sick when you start your shopping."

"Draco, I'll be fine." Lillian promised, a smile on her lips, but affection and compassion in her voice; she wasn't at all bothered by Draco's behavior, wouldn't begrudge him his need to see her over-well until his protective instincts subsided.

"The first sign of a Dementor and you squirrel her away back to the castle." Draco ordered, regardless of Lillian's plaintive.

Mouth amused but eyes serious, Blaise conceded all of Draco's demands with a sharp nod. It was probably the only reason Draco was letting Lillian out of his sight at all, because he trusted Blaise to look out for her like he trusted none other but family – Draco refused to acknowledge the reason that was for at least another year.

"And as soon as you're done with Longbottom – " The main reason he wasn't accompanying Lillian and Blaise to Hogsmeade to begin with as Longbottom had completely gotten over his illogical fear of Lillian once McGonagall had assigned Lillian as the boy's tutor, so they were grabbing a mug of butterbeer and chatting over some of the Gryffindor boy's fears in regards to the final they had just taken, meaning though his presence wouldn't be rejected, Draco's proximity might make the Longbottom revert to a mass of stuttered nerves. " – We'll meet up outside of Zonko's to shop."

"We'll probably be finished before you are, cousin." Lillian teased warmly, and it was true, the boy spent as much time in a chocolate shop as Lillian would in a menagerie, or she and Blaise both would a bookshop.

"Nevertheless." Draco sniffed with feigned arrogance.

Lillian laughed before turning sober eyes to Devon, "Are you sure you can't come to Hogsmeade?"

Devon shrugged, tried not to let it show just how saddened she was by the circumstances – Lillian wasn't fooled. "I still don't have a signed slip, and the twins have put off thinking of gifts for the family for so long, they've been frantic these past couple of days, I think they've forgotten me."

"You don't remember the way they took you?" Draco wondered, not at all mean, actually genuinely concerned that she couldn't accompany everyone else; not that he would ever let on about that.

Devon shook her head, "Not well enough to risk getting caught out or lost. You lot go, have fun, I've got a few things I can get done around here, besides, Professor Snape asked to see me before lunch." And she wouldn't have even dreamed of mentioning Snape to Lillian after the rough past couple of weeks, but it seemed that something had transpired in just the last few days that had nearly absolved all of the dark-haired girl's derision for their head of house.

Lillian didn't like leaving Devon behind, but there wasn't anything she could do to change her friends' circumstances so she let it go and agreed. "We'll bring you back some things. Was there anything you needed?"

"I'm still set from the last time, thank you though." Devon flashed her friend a cheeky grin, warmed by Lillian's thoughtfulness, but she didn't want Lillian fretting.

"We'll be back in a few hours." Draco called out over his shoulder, ushering Lillian out of their empty dormitory, Blaise following a few steps behind, amused eyes on the cousins, as Draco, once again, began quizzing Lillian to ensure she had anything and everything she could possibly need for a few hours outside of the castle.


PoA


"Oh yes, this little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school." Fred said with a gleeful smirk.

"You're winding me up," Harry accused as he stared down at the parchment.

"Oh are we?" George teased. He took out his wand, touched it to the parchment, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

And the life of Hogwarts flooded the map, the entirety of the castle etched out in scrawling ink, showing Harry things he hadn't been aware existed. It even showed the names of everyone inside the grounds! As the twins went into further explanation, Harry cast a cursory glance over the details shown.

He saw the muggleborn Slytherin Maccabee in Snape's office, and he wondered briefly why she would be talking to a teacher and not with her friends headed to Hogsmeade. Noticed Nott, another Slytherin, with a group of names he was unfamiliar with, though he knew that none of them were Slytherins, which was odd, he didn't think any friend of Lillian Black's would be friends with anyone else – let alone anyone outside of the Slytherin house. Malfoy was, as per usual, with his brainless goons Crabbe and Goyle. The most surprising of all, however, wasn't the fact that Black was with Zabini, but the fact that Neville of all people was walking beside the Slytherin duo. Something must have shown in his face at that, because the Weasley twins peered forward to see what he was looking at.

"What's wrong, Harry?" They asked together.

"Nothing, really," He responded absentmindedly, "It's just, well, Neville's walking with a couple of Slytherins."

Ignorant of the looks the twins shared above his head, like they were mildly surprised by the disdain in Harry's voice, the prejudice exhibited from the boy who really didn't know enough of their world to judge anything, they searched out Neville's name and realized just why Harry sounded so off-put. The boy didn't really know what to make of Lillian Black, and to be fair, most of the school didn't, but she wasn't anything to be weary of, the twins knew, unless one made themselves a threat to the well-being of her friends. The twins themselves had nothing but respect for the Black Heiress, not when they got on so well with Devon, and Little Black was Devon's sister from another mister.

"Lillian's been – "

" – Tutoring a couple of students – "

" – Struggling in their courses." The twins explained.

" – She has – "

" – Been helping Neville – "

" – With McGonagall's load."

"Just Neville?" Harry wondered why he hadn't heard anything about this yet. Figured Malfoy would love to lord the information over everyone's head, how stupid they were. Harry didn't really think much of Slytherins, especially not those in any way affiliated with Malfoy.

"No – "

" – A Ravenclaw – "

" – Seamus too – "

" – A Hufflepuff – "

" – A couple of Slytherins too."

"Anyways Harry," The twins clapped rough hands to his shoulders, made him stumble and look away from the map.

"Remember the phrase to turn it off – "

" – As we've got some shopping to do so we're off."


PoA


"I'm fretting for nothing, aren't I?" Neville murmured bashfully into his half-full mug of butterbeer.

Lillian smiled reassuringly, "Your uncertainties aren't nothing, Neville. However, I feel confident in the progress we've made these past few weeks to say you've most definitely managed, at the very least, an Acceptable on the exam."

Neville blushed from the praise, cast a concerned look at Blaise in case the other boy objected to Lillian's attentions only to find the dark-skinned boy paying them no attention, reading from a book propped against the table as he took steady, sophisticated-looking sips from his mug.

Neville couldn't help but gape at the boy who had the mannerisms of the most well behaved of lords. How could a teenager be so sophisticated? Neville glanced at Lillian only to find her smiling at him with an understanding sort of amusement, causing his flush to deepen even as he wondered if she realized the picture they made together – for she was no less sophisticated than Zabini.

"I really do appreciate all the help, Lillian." And he was so proud of himself, of the way he no longer stuttered in her presence, in the way he felt confident in acknowledging her, and being acknowledged by her, in the halls between classes.

"It's honestly been a pleasure, Neville." Lillian assured, "If you aren't opposed, I would be more than happy for us to keep studying together, whether you need the help or not."

Neville's grin was broad and happy, "I'd love to, Lillian. I…well, I'd like to count you as a friend." Neville didn't have too many friends, but he knew Lillian would make one of the best ones a bloke could ever ask for.

"Of course, Neville." Lillian assured with absolutely zero hesitance, and it was then that Neville realized just how many people were so incredibly wrong about this fantastic girl; this girl that their world hated and feared because her father's fate made her a dangerous uncertainty. And when he looked over at Zabini again, Neville realized he actually had the boy's attention, only now he knew he didn't want it, not when he could so easily decipher the underlying threat in ethereal eyes, a threat that should Neville ever betray Lillian, it would be with the awareness that it made him an enemy of Blaise Zabini.


PoA


"Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!"

"You'd have thought that Black and Potter were brothers!"

"Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends…the best man at James' marriage to Lily."

So much fury in his blood at the knowledge he had been ignorant of all this time. Why had nobody ever told him? Dumbledore, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Cornelius Fudge…why hadn't anyone ever mentioned the fact that Harry's parents had died because their best friend had betrayed them? He shared classes with that traitors bloody daughter! His father was best friends with Lillian's father and it had gotten him killed! What if she got him killed?! She was living with the Malfoys of all people, she was probably even more capable than her father ever had been!

Harry didn't know how he had escaped the Three Broomsticks without being caught out. Didn't know how far he'd gotten on the path back to Honeydukes when his rose-colored lenses caught sight of the very traitor's spawn in question. There she was, without a care in the world, smiling at whatever her ferret-faced of a cousin was whining about, walking beside the ever silent, ever disproving Blaise Zabini, bags on their arms, bags he could never have afforded before he had come to this world and realized his parents had died. Been killed! Killed by her father! And here she was, practical royalty, laughing on a snowy day even though his whole world had been just utterly upended by his parents being killed by his father's best friend!

Their paths were going to cross, and instead of ducking around to avoid them, instead of listening to the increasingly frantic shouts of Hermione and Ron behind him. For his friends were concerned that his rage would have him do something irreparable, for the force of his emotions already had window hangings rattling dangerously as they passed, and they feared what he would attempt to do to Lillian with his misdirected temper, but they ultimately feared whatever Draco or Blaise would do in retaliation to whatever Harry blindly attempted.

Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. He wanted them to hurt. Wanted them to stop laughing and feel just an iota of his pain for once in their pampered lives but he didn't want to destroy them, not yet, not when he was more angry in that moment at all the people who had lied to him about the truth of his parent's deaths.

So Harry ignored his wand, and instead shouldered past Draco, didn't appear to even hear the platinum haired boy's reflexive taunt, but where he barely touched Draco, Harry slammed past Lillian, causing all of her bags to slip from her hands as she lost her step and began to crumble. Hermione and even Ron gaped bewilderingly at the display of violence towards the girl who had really gone out of her way not to inspire grief with Harry, though they didn't dare stop to offer condolence or help, merely scurried after their friend with renewed desperation.

Luckily, before Lillian could do more than shift off balance, Blaise was there, stepping into her path and curling his arms around her waist so that with her momentum, she fell against him instead of past him. Her hands curled against the warm sweater beneath his cloak, her shoulder absolutely throbbing, as Blaise basically cradled her to him as he kept her steady, letting her regain her breath and her composure before he shifted them until her feet were firmly beneath her. Smoldering gold eyes locked on her instead of the offending wizard who had dare plow through her without a care for the damage potentially done to her.

Draco, however, who wasn't as benevolent, leveled his wand and shot off a curse that would leave the bespectacled boy limping for days before he began to manually collect all of Lillian's bags, cursing vividly beneath his breath all the while, needing the menial distraction to keep himself from chasing after Potter and casting an unforgiveable – for Draco was getting scarily close to possessing enough hatred towards the Golden Boy to power an unforgiveable for at least a few seconds.


PoA


The train ride home was quiet and peaceful, for the most part. Draco was still brooding over Potter's act of violence, scowling fiercely every time he looked to the part of Lillian's shoulder that was nastily discolored, so discolored that not even the bruise paste they had acquired from Snape had turned the thing any lighter than black. With Severus and Draco's combined fury, Lillian was completely relieved to be spending the next couple of days at Andromeda and Ted's instead of at home with Lucius and Narcissa.

In fact, Lillian would be incredibly pleased if her Aunt Andromeda was waiting at the station when the train arrived so that there was even less of a chance to be seen by her guardians. For all their polite indifference in public, Lillian knew that once they got home and they saw the bruise Harry Potter had left upon her? She wasn't too certain the other boy would return to Hogwarts in the New Year with all of his limbs attached and in working order.

No, it was best to let all of the Malfoys settle over the next few days, that way, with her continued application of Severus' bruising salve, when they asked to see the discoloration, it would be a pale green or sickly yellow instead of a riotous black and purple.

Gratefully, Merlin was on her side when the train arrived, so after a crushing hug given to her cousin in the safe confines of their train compartment, and a small smile given to Blaise with a promise to write, she was off the train and whisked away by her aunt with a brusqueness that left her Narcissa and Lucius scowling mutinously a couple of minutes later.


PoA


The first two days at the Tonks was spent catching up with the relatives she hadn't seen in ages. Was spent laughing with her Aunt and Uncle, and joking with her silly cousin; they spent late nights baking biscuits and watching movies and early mornings over tea and quick flies on their brooms in the backyard.

It was one such morning, when Ted and Nymph were outside flying without Lillian, that she and her Aunt spoke about the one thing they had all dutifully ignored.

"If your father gets to the goblins…" Andromeda broached carefully.

Lillian knew what Andromeda was hinting at immediately, for it was something she and Lucius had spoken extensively about when she had come of an age where they could honestly discuss the first war and just how all parties' actions would come to affect her should another war begin.

"Once he was arrested, all of his titles and possessions immediately fell to be inherited by me. Until I am of age to claim my status as Black Heiress, Narcissa is acting as my beneficiary. The goblins are permitted to give my father nothing but medical assistance and a small fund should he ask for it; anything more and they must contact Narcissa." Lillian explained with a calm efficiency suited to an experienced Member of Parliament or the Wizengamot.

"My father is in no way capable of claiming the Black Lordship, nor is he capable of changing his will, for it was cemented – as is – on the day he was sentenced to Azkaban. Even should he be cleared, all charges erased and him declared innocent, he will be incapable of claiming the title he refused upon my grandparents death, nor will he be capable of stripping me of anything my surname has given me."

Andromeda didn't know why she was so surprised that her sister and her husband had planned for such an eventuality of Sirius leaving Azkaban. But she was. She was surprised that they had so securely insured that Sirius could take absolutely nothing from his their his daughter.

"We annually visit each property within my purview so that each house recognizes and accepts my magical signature and that no property falls into disrepair. Lucius even restored all those that had been neglected as a gift to me on my tenth birthday."

If ever any doubts remained in Andromeda's heart about the babe whom Remus Lupin had placed within her arms being raised by Lucius Malfoy, it were instances like these that assuaged a majority of her worries. For Lucius Malfoy cared fiercely for the little girl thrust upon him, a girl with the potential to ruin everything for he and his family considering whom he served and who had sired her.

"During the first war, your father housed the rebellion." Andromeda cautioned, for she feared how others would force Lillian to become an even greater part of the upcoming war that she was by birthright alone.

"A very complicated blood ward was commissioned through the Goblins." Lillian began to reassure, knowing that her Aunt was giving voice to fears that had probably plagued her for as long as Sirius had done the unthinkable and given up his daughter for vengeance that destroyed him. "Lucius and I worked extensively, and exclusively, with Bill Weasley – " A quick one-two blink the only acknowledgement Andromeda gave at the name of the boy who was friends with her daughter. " – Creating a ward that would let my father into Grimmauld Place, but in no way permits him to invite others into the home, or permits him any sort of power as a landlord."

"And it'll work?" Andromeda didn't doubt the talent of William, Lucius and Lillian; but she knew Sirius' intelligence, didn't dare to underestimate his ingenuity when he held purpose.

"If, for any reason, we have missed something, Kreacher is under the strictest of instructions."

Andromeda visibly startled, "He's still alive?" Andromeda vividly remembered the surly old house elf that was ancient when she was a child; the elf who had served only her mother and her brother Regulus with any sort of faithfulness.

Lillian laughed, "Reluctantly so. I have Dobby going to him every couple of weeks to 'apprentice' under him – though I send Dobby mostly to drive the other elf so crazy he can do nothing but behave honestly and without thought to any master current or otherwise. Kreacher curses me for it, but he has seemed more youthful these past few years."

Andromeda snorted, completely undignified but not bothering to demurely deflect from her social faux pas, "Devious."

Lillian smiled politely, though her eyes shone wicked. So much like her father. It was a sad thought, for who could this girl have been had Sirius not been so stupid? Who could Lillian have become had her mother never been killed? What would Sirius have done that night if it hadn't just been a child – his child – at risk, but the love of his life, too?


PoA


"So how has training been?" Lillian asked over the lazy movements of her wand. She and Nymph were doing a couple of exercises designed to help her cousin with her inability to walk without tripping; they had designed an intricate course meant to help with Nymph's footwork, Lillian using her wand to cast a string of bubbles that popped loudly in order to – quite literally – trip her up.

"Aside from my utter lack of coordination? Brilliant." Nymph flashed her cousin a wide grin, managed not to trip with the brief distraction, did a little happy dance, and then went face first into the ground.

Lillian had the grace not to laugh aloud, though the red-haired witch refused to look at the younger girl to see her amusement.

"Moody swears that it's my inability to walk that'll see me done in for."

"If you are proficient in all the other areas, I'm sure they'll still hire you on, you just won't ever be sent on stealth missions." Lillian teased.

Nymph groaned as she jumped back to her feet and began again, "The stealth missions are the fun missions."

Lillian rolled her eyes but didn't comment. "How is Moody?"

"Bloody mental is what," Nymph swore as a bubble popped right behind her ear, made her fumble but she managed to keep her feet. "Half the time I think he's really trying to kill me."

"He's unconventional," Lillian agreed, though she knew the man had taken it considerably easier on her own learning's for threat of all the bureaucratic paperwork he hated being heaped upon him at Lucius' request. "But you'll never have a better mentor."

"That's the only thought that keeps me sane." Nymph agreed. "But what about you? You've taken up tutoring, yes?" Nymph utterly hated that her admission into the Auror program had taken away the time she usually spent with her younger cousin, hated that they had only been able to keep in touch through letters that were as infrequent as ever due to the rigorous nature of her program.

"I have, it was only for a few weeks before term ended that the professors brought some students to my attention. I think they've given me the ones they've no tolerance for anymore," Lillian had the suspicion that it was McGonagall, in particular, whom was being driven to drink by her more lackluster of students.

Nymph laughed at that, "How many?"

"Right now? Five."

"Tell me about them." Nymph instructed, for Lillian's letters were always vague when it came to anything she thought Nymph would be uninterested in hearing. Nymph wondered when Lillian would realize that anything the girl had to say would be interesting for the sole fact that it was Lillian doing the saying. Nymph loved her cousin fiercely, as did her parents, and wanted to always be aware of what was going on her life, always included, because she could spend so few moments actually in her presence.

"Well, there's Neville – "

McGonagall had held them both back after class one afternoon, and though Lillian hadn't ever been rude to the other boy, had even helped him on more than a single occasion, he was an anxious mass of young teenager as he stood behind McGonagall, shifty and unable to even look at Lillian for fear of something uncomely happening to him.

"Is this about upcoming exams?" Lillian inquired, straightforward with the stern witch because she knew the woman wasn't prone to mincing her words.

"It is," McGonagall agreed with a quirk of a smile at the corner of her mouth; pleased with the girl's tenacity, almost affectionately so. "As most Professors do, I hold hours in my office meant to assist students in need of further help. I haven't brought anyone to your attention mostly because I figured it wouldn't be necessary until the next term started. However, with finals approaching I've been bombarded with fretful first years and no longer have the time necessary to sufficiently help a couple of my students. Consider Mr. Longbottom your trial run, Miss Black. We'll see how his work improves over the next week, and he'll report to me about the quality of your lessons, and if everything seems up to par, I've a couple more students to send your way."

Lillian's eyes lingered on the other boy, noticed the way he gaped at the Professor as though she had just said something astounding, before he noticed Lillian's attention and immediately looked away.

"I'm more than happy to help Neville with whatever he needs, Professor, but only if he's okay with this arrangement and wouldn't feel more comfortable continuing to see you instead."

McGonagall's brows rose in obvious surprise before she turned and leveled the boy with a superior glance that just dared him to suggest otherwise than the arrangement his head of house had made.

"N-no, t-this is f-fine. T-thanks L-L-Lillian."

McGonagall turned to look at Lillian with a pleased smirk, as if saying, 'see, what on earth were you worried about'. "Alright then Neville, as long as you're sure. Meet me in the library after dinner, be prepared to walk me through anything you have questions about, anything you're worried about, and everything you're struggling with."

"O-okay," The boy gaped at her, as if astonished by just how seriously she was taking this, just how serious she seemed to be willing to help him.

" – He was really nervous at first, but I can now count him a friend, I think. He went down to Hogsmeade with Blaise and I, anyways. Didn't stutter once the entire time we spent at the Three Broomsticks."

"That's marvelous, Lilly," Tonks announced, always happy to hear that someone's prejudices against her cousin for a reputation unwarranted were dismissed as folly. "Who else?"

"Well, after Neville came Seamus – " And Lillian laughed just thinking about the Irish boy.

"As you are well aware," McGonagall began with stern eye on the boy whose face was half marked by charcoal. "Mr. Finnigan has a propensity for blowing things up."

Lillian's mouth twitched into a small smile, she couldn't resist, and the Irish boy gaped at her for the show in emotion seen rarely, and never when not surrounded by one of her buddies. "See what you can do with him before I give you the rest of them."

"Yes ma'am."

"How'd you fix him?" Tonks demanded to know, for there was no alternative in her mind, Lillian had most definitely managed to help the boy somehow.

"There wasn't really anything to fix, Nymph." Lillian chastised gently, throwing a string of bubbles directly in her cousin's face and delighting in the squeal she made when she fell on her bum. " – But – "

"It's bloody useless!" Seamus dropped his wand and crossed his arms, brogue thick as he downright pouted at the scorched table.

"It isn't useless, Seamus."

"Then why isn't it working?" He demanded to know – and it was a good thing Lillian had had the foresight not to work with the other boy in the library, because his shout alone would have seen them kicked out.

"It isn't working because you're trying to hard." Lillian explained calmly and with a level of patience that didn't falter, not even in the face of Neville's rampant uncertainties.

"That's rich. I want it too bad so it's not working." The Irish boy let out a string of curses Lillian dutifully ignored with a prim sort of ladyness that made the boy flush brightly once his mind had caught up to his tongue.

"It isn't working because you're putting too much magical power into the spells. These are simple casts, Seamus, when you put so much power into it, the item gets a surplus of magic and with not enough room to house it, the only way to release that extra magic is to explode."

Seamus' brows furrowed thoughtfully, his mouth twisting downward, contemplating what Lillian had to say but not really believing her. He was a half-blood, how on earth was it possible for him to be too strong; he had been under the impression he would have to try harder than everyone else because of his muggle father. It just didn't make any sense. He wanted to believe her, but how could he?

"You're thinking too hard, Seamus," Lillian gently chastised, smiling warmly when he lifted his heavily scowling face to look at her.

Picking up his wand, feeling the inherent thrum of power in it, she placed it into one of his clenching fists, "When you cast, don't shout, don't command, speak the incantation like you would speak to your friends, speak the incantation with a respectful politeness you would to McGonagall, or Flitwick."

When the boy didn't do anything, she encouraged him just to try it, he had nothing to lose for he had already lost both of his eyebrows. He laughed when she told him as much, startling himself because Lillian Black had just made him laugh, and then he did as instructed.

"I don't think anyone has ever hugged me as hard as he did when nothing blew up." Lillian mused thoughtfully, even now, helpless not to smile in the face of Seamus' success and his utter elation with said success. "McGonagall was so impressed she gave me fifty points."

Nymph laughed, as impressed as McGonagall, but not because of the results of her cousin's tutoring, but because Lillian had had the unbelievable foresight to actually know that Seamus wasn't struggling because he couldn't comprehend, but because his core was not only inherently stronger than average, but it also didn't respond well to forced shouts.

"Were all your other students as interesting?" Nymph wondered, for Lillian had told her only of two students so far, one of which a stuttering mess of nerves who now went out with her for butterbeers, and the second an unlikely powerhouse that would probably wind up adoring the very ground her cousin walked on – not that Lillian knew that.

"In their own ways." Lillian agreed. "Luna was definitely someone refreshingly different."

Luna Lovegood was all white-blonde hair, big blue eyes, and fae-like features. She gave off an air of not being all there, a head-in-the-clouds, too dreamy girl with zero awareness of the reality in which every one else lived in. Lillian knew better.

Their first meeting had the girl spouting of a string of unrecognizable words, before her hazy blue eyes cleared for just a second and she gave a very lucid 'hello'.

"You don't have any wrackspurts."

Lillian's head tilted, "Are those magical creatures?"

Luna smiled dreamily, "Yes."

Lillian gave a thoughtful hum, studying the second year Ravenclaw McGonagall had brought to her attention. She didn't think the girl dense, she wouldn't be in Ravenclaw if she was. She didn't think her utterly unrealistic either. Lillian had good instincts, and in regards to Luna Lovegood, well, the girl felt to her like magical creatures did; like some mythical beauty that was misunderstood but lovely to its' core.

So for their first meeting, Lillian had asked Professor Flitwick if they couldn't borrow his classroom, Flitwick had only need to hear the word Luna before he understood and agreed with a broad, slightly sharp grin. "You take care of my claw, Miss Black, I like her." The half-goblin professor had warned, though they both knew the warning had been obsolete. Lillian wasn't likely to mistreat anyone, let alone a girl like Luna, and the professor was well aware of that.

It had taken all of one minute for the fairies to bury themselves in Lillian's hair, and from that moment on, she had held Luna's undivided attention, the girl's expression vividly clear and utterly riveted by the entirety of their lesson.

"She has even joined a couple of our study sessions in the library since." Lillian added; thinking of the utterly ridiculous expression Draco had given her when the second year Ravenclaw had sat down beside him without so much as a by-your-leave.

"What is this?" Draco had demanded, morbidly curious about the fae-like girl who didn't say a word as she claimed the only empty seat left, opened her book, and began reading.

"Draco, meet Luna Lovegood, I'm tutoring her for Professor McGonagall." Lillian explained, amusement plain in her voice.

"Another one?" He demanded, indignant but not wholly displeased by the strange addition to their table. "First you befriend Neville, whom I can no longer take pleasure out of frightening because he's now under your wing. Then I've got to put up with Seamus beaming at you every time you walk into a room," And he was vividly aware of how Blaise had suddenly stilled, apparently unaware of the attention Lillian had recently gained, "And now this? Some waif of a girl who doesn't even think to balk at sitting beside me?"

Devon smothered her laughter in Theo's shoulder, Theo who was carefully hiding his face behind an open text.

"You're upset because of how not scary you are, cousin?" Lillian mused.

"I have a reputation to protect!" He yelled defensively – and it was a good thing they had put up privacy charms or else hell would have reigned upon them in the form of one Madam Pince.

"The Blibbering Humdinger's are laughing at you." Luna said in airily.

The utterly baffled expression on her cousin's face had Lillian laughing from deep within her belly, enrapturing everyone at their table, even Luna, until Draco grudgingly admitted to himself that the Lovegood Ravenclaw could stay.

Nymph could only laugh as uproariously as she was sure Lillian had at the thought of such an odd girl interacting with their very prim and proper cousin. Nymph was pretty sure she would kill to see such an interaction in person.

"Hannah Abbott was lovely," Lillian had helped the girl with her defense. The only student that Remus had brought to her attention, and much like with McGonagall, she was pretty sure the man was testing her, for what, she couldn't fathom. "She does your old house proud." For Hannah had been nothing but nice from the get go, by then word of her tutoring had spread, so Hannah knew nothing malicious would possibly come from spending time alone with her. But even then, Hannah lacked the caution that the others had possessed, even Luna had been weary of being made fun of at first.

Nymph perked up with pride at the goodness of the Hufflepuff name, "None from your own house though?"

"One," Lillian affirmed, "A first year, Caroline Goodwin. She's from America, struggling with a few classes not because she's incapable, but I think she's drowning a bit in the different atmosphere."

"You sound fairly concerned about her, Lillian." Nymph stopped her exercise to give her cousin her full attention, and sure enough, there was a worried frown on the other girl's face.

"I am." Lillian agreed.

Caroline Goodwin was a meek little blonde girl, with freckles across the bridge of her nose and beneath her pretty brown eyes. She also seemed dreadfully uncertain of everything, the school, her peers, her magic. Lillian had immediately regretted, upon their first introduction, having been so busy as to not have noticed the little girl drowning in her own house.

Severus had, despite the tension between them for weeks, seen what Lillian was doing for the students he knew she had met with – for it was nothing so simple as tutoring, she was mentoring them – and decided she could do something for the girl not even he could help.

So they met in his office, and despite her cool indifference to him, he had broached the topic with her, expressed his concerns for the hatchling that seemed uncomfortable even around him and that's how Lillian knew how serious things had the potential to be. Snape may have been seen as a strict bastard to everyone else, but to his house? He was their only champion, he was fiercely protective of every Slytherin student, expected them to abide by a standard set high, but in return, he would forever go against any opponent looking to strike them down.

He had also, despite their tension, made sure to inform Lillian that in no way was she at all responsible for this girl's fate. That in no way, was this her fault, because Lillian cared so deeply for creatures, and family, and strays, that Severus feared Lillian would blame herself for not catching sight of Caroline's need sooner. His order not to blame herself was the only thing that kept her for wallowing in self-recrimination upon her introduction to the girl in question.

Caroline was skittish, and uncertain, and looked at Lillian from wide eyes that broke her heart because they were as afraid as they were hopeful. Hopeful that maybe someone would look at her, see how scared she was, and help her.

Severus had only introduced them a few days before term ended so Lillian could barely do more than sit with the girl for a few brief moments in the morning before breakfast before she was consumed by everything else already on her plate. She had vowed, however, to take the girl wholly beneath her wing once term started back, vowed to introduce Caroline to Luna, vowed to herself that Lillian's safe haven would become Caroline's – should she so desire.

"I wrote her a letter, the very day we left Hogwarts, so that when she went home it would be waiting for her." Lillian sighed.

"Give her time, Lillian," Nymph reassured, concerned for the girl Lillian had mentioned, but concerned for her cousin as well. Nymph didn't want Lillian to take on more than she could handle, and it sounded as though this girl, Caroline, may just be more than the others combined. Nymph could only hope that Lillian's support system – that, Draco, Blaise, and Devon – didn't let Lillian's Gryffindor tendencies hurt her.

Lillian conceded to Nymph's wisdom with a somber smile, before forcefully lightening the subject, "There was one more would-be student," And the wicked glint in grey eyes made Tonks weary.

"Would-be?" The pink-haired woman questioned, uncertain if she really wanted to know.

"Pansy Parkinson." Nymph lit up with laughter, familiar enough with pureblood society and her cousin's life to know full well just who Pansy Parkinson was.

"Was she in any way subtle?" Nymph demanded to know, only laughing more when Lillian leveled her with a challenging look that read, 'really? Pansy Parkinson, subtle?'

She was sitting in the Slytherin common room, curled up in an armchair late one Saturday night, not alone, for Blaise sat in the armchair across from hers, the rectangular table between them, when Pansy marched in the room from the direction of the girl's dormitory, dressed in her slinky pajamas as though she were twenty-three and not thirteen.

"I've been waiting for you all night."

Considering Lillian hadn't ever spent time with Pansy before, she was suitably startled. "I beg your pardon?"

"I need to talk with you," Pansy ordered.

"About what?" Lillian couldn't fathom Pansy having anything of import to speak with her about.

Pansy scoffed before stepping further into the room and perching herself on the arm of the couch closest to her in a way that had the strap of her chemise falling from her shoulder, and the hem of her short riding to reveal even more of her thigh.

Lillian cast a bewildered glance to Blaise, who was doing nothing but staring steadily back at her. Lillian's lack of attention, however, alerted Pansy to the fact that Lillian wasn't alone.

The short-haired girl took notice of Blaise and let out an undignified squawk, flushing clear to her roots as she jerked and landed in an ungraceful scrawl along the couch.

Blaise's gaze didn't move from Lillian, who was utterly flabbergasted by everything.

Pansy straightened herself with quick and sharp movements when she realized Blaise wasn't paying her any attention. That didn't stop the other girl from demanding, "Do you mind giving us the room?" Phrased like a question but spoken with a bite that suggested the boy didn't really have a choice.

Gold eyes flashed dangerously as his gaze swung lazily to the other girl, making her flush once more before he returned his attention to his book and slowly turned a page, a clear dismissal of Pansy's presence, and a vivid declaration that he was going nowhere.

"Anything you have to discuss with me, can and will be heard by Blaise, Parkinson, otherwise you know where your bed is." Lillian admonished, a fierce edge to her gaze that told the other girl she was treading on thin ice, and Pansy realized any patience Lillian had for her had dissipated upon her attempt at dismissing Zabini.

"Right," Pansy cleared her throat, threw her shoulders back, and began with the same undeserving confidence she had entered the room with. "I hear your tutoring."

It took all of her strength not to roll her eyes, "Yes."

"I want to be tutored." Pansy explained, "In potions."

Suddenly aware of the purpose of Pansy's visit, Lillian, without having to move a muscle, made Pansy freeze as though locked in the stare of a predator. For Lillian's eyes had darkened to a black storm, her eyes sharp and eviscerating.

"Even if I accepted your request, even though it is the professors that bring students in need to my attention," Lillian challenged with a quiet edge that had Blaise peering up at her through his lashes, stilling lazily flipping the pages of his book. "How could you possibly need help in the only subject you're receiving an O in?"

Pansy balked at the idea that Lillian knew her grades, and struggled to find the well-structured speech she had created before she had approached Lillian.

"I – uh –" Pansy suddenly realized how bloody awful this idea was.

"The only reason you would need tutoring, by me, is because you have intentions for my cousin. You're pretty, Pansy, but let me give you some advice, feigning stupid in this house is going to get you killed. And any chance you had at Draco died the very second you thought to use me to get to him." Pansy felt a cold chill crawl along her spine, and when she looked to Blaise – in all of her stupidity – to seek help from the predator's grasp she found herself in, it was to find the other boy utterly riveted by Lillian.

"If you thought Draco's inattention to your pursuance was devastating," Lillian added once the other girl had realized Blaise would be of no help, "Just wait until he hears just who you were willing to step on to gain his affections." And then Pansy realizing just how royally she had screwed up, because it was a fact every Slytherin knew as inherently as they knew it was the world against them, that Draco would kill any who dared to threaten or mistreat his cousin.

For all that the world recognized Lillian Black as nothing but an inconvenience to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy…Draco Malfoy had adopted Lillian Black as his own, the only inconvenience she would ever be to him, was the potential number of bodies he would inevitably have to hide once the war burgeoning on the horizon had arrived.

Nymph had stopped laughing to stare open-mouthed at her cousin, "You're fucking terrifying."

Lillian grinned a wicked grin and shot a string of bubbles directly into Tonks' open mouth.


AN:

THANKS TO ALL WHO READ, FAVORITED, FOLLOWED, ETC. YOU ALWAYS HAVE AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN TO BE AWESOME!

Lottie: Patience is a virtue and I like to try it. Hopefully this tides you over for a bit. ;) There will definitely be more father cub feels down the line between Lupin and Lillian, so I'm glad you liked them.

Guest: I hope you loved the multiple BlaisexLillian moments here. They sort of just kept happening. If you enjoyed last chapters caring Draco, how much did you enjoy this one? haha. I had planned to make mention of her potentially helping Harry in this chapter, but that sort of just didn't fit this time. Next chapter, I have plans on mentioning it then.

Jafcbutterfly: I definitely know I need to be more frequent, I really do, it's a problem and I'm working on it. haha. but thank you for staying a loyal follower despite the infrequency of updates. I really do appreciate it.

RockChic733: Takes a beautiful human being to know a beautiful human being! haha. Thank you so much! And I know I wasn't as quick with this one but it was a monster so, I feel proud giving you that! :) So glad you enjoyed protective Lillian! Hope you enjoyed a motherhenning Draco, haha, and a silently protective Blaise. Hopefully you got your detail satisfaction in this chapter - I will admit to personally wanting more out of the last chapter at least but it was just sort of coming up short for me and I didn't want to force it. This monster just kept shouting at me though, so hopefully it all ran together smoothly. There will definitely be more internal struggle Lupin, but there will also most definitely be him taking a side later on down the road - it won't always be an internal struggle with him. Thank you so incredibly much for all the faith you have placed in me. Honestly, it's truly inspiring, and you've no idea what it means to me. :)

Guest: Will she, or won't she help Harry? Only time will tell...haha, kidding. We'll actually see a bit of that answer next chapter (hopefully) it was supposed to be in this one, but it just wouldn't fit with everything else that happened.

Tinsela: We'll see her decision on that very soon. I'm glad you like Lupin's relationship with Harry too! Thanks so much for the support!

Miii: Hopefully the length makes up for the wait! Thanks for sticking around to read it! I really appreciate it!


See you next time!

Have a kick ass week!

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