Chapter Two

"Dora!" I exclaimed as my eager cousin wrapped me up in a hug. She was a few years older than me, in her early twenties, but still acted younger. Over her shoulder, I saw my mum cancel the levitation charm on my trunk and drop it to the ground before blowing me a kiss and apparating away. She'd come back in two days after indulging in some pampering treatment as usual. My mother never denied me my heritage, or the family that it brought.

"Gemmy," she laughed, pulling back. Her hair was bright pink, contrasting perfectly with the green robes she was wearing today. I only saw her a few times a year (and sometimes we bumped into each other in the streets) so these visits were a treat for us both. "You're so short," she said, her hair changing from pink to yellow. "You make me feel like a giant. Come in, quickly, before mum comes out."

She dragged me into the house, talking rapidly about her Auror training and a few missions she'd been on. I'd given little through on my future career but an Auror was not something I'd pick, especially as I would be a target. I'd compromise everything and desk work didn't suit me. I summoned my trunk in after me, letting it sit by the doorway.

"Gemima," Aunt Andy cried, pulling me from her daughter and into a hug of her own. Her husband followed suit straight after before they both returned to their seats at the kitchen table. Dora and I joined them. "So, Gem, what subjects are you taking this year?" That always seemed to be the first question asked when you meet somebody, or see a person after a great length of time.

"I am taking Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Ancient Runes and Defence Against the Dark Arts this year. I haven't decided what I'm going to do after Hogwarts, so I'm taking most core subjects."

"Your father took those exact subjects, too."

I beamed. Andromeda loved to tell me stories of my father, or little details. I soaked up as much as possible. He'd always been this amazing person in my mind and the image needed to be fuelled. Aunt Andy encouraged this.

"What about you two?" I asked. "Dora has already filled me in on the need-to-know and the not-need-to-know of Auror business but how are your jobs going?" I shot an amused look at my cousin and her hair changed to orange. I laughed.

"Well, it's going as can be expected," said Ted. "With you-know-who around, nothing's that easy anymore." Ted worked at the ministry and as a muggleborn, this was particularly difficult.

"Yeah," joined in Aunt Andy. "But Dora joined the Order last month."

"Really?" I said, my interest peaked. "Is that dangerous?"

"No more dangerous than being an Auror," she said with a serious tone. It felt so weird to see her acting so serious but in these dark times, even the most childish of us had to grow up quickly.

I took a deep, subtle breath and said, "I was thinking about joining the Order."

The three of them turned to face me, their faces pulled tight until it looked as if they would combust from worry. "Are you sure, dear?" said Andromeda. "It's a big job. And you'll be going against your family."

"I'm sure," I said. "I'm seventeen now. Plus, my dad's all for it. It was his idea. He wants me to take Draco and get out as soon as possible." Dora's hair turned a deep blue. They would help me, I know, and with their trust, Dumbledore would help Draco and me. I'd go on whatever mission I had to get us out safely. "But enough of that. Did you enjoy your Christmas? Did you get the presents I sent?"

And just like that, the thick atmosphere melted away. I knew we'd return to this conversation before my visit was done but for the first part, we'd celebrate our connection and bond and have fun. "Yes," squealed Dora. "I love the bag you sent. It's so tiny and I can fit anything in it. It's great at work and everything. Thanks, cousin." Dora gave me another hug. I moved over so we could share the same seat, her arm still resting on my shoulders.

"No problem," I laughed. "Hermione Granger showed me how to do the charm. I have one, too."

"Yes, thanks, dear," said Andromeda. Ted nodded his agreement.

"Oh," I suddenly remembered. "Aunt Andy, I have something to tell you. I've changed my surname. I'm Gemima Black now."

She clasped her hands over mine. "I'm so, so proud of you, Gem. I knew this day would come – that you would claim your heritage and change the face of the Black. Hopefully now, The Noble House of Black will actually be noble."

"I hope so, too," I said, delicately. I knew I wasn't the last Black – Bellatrix and Andromeda and Sirius still lived, as well as Dora distantly – but after Sirius Black ran away more than two decades ago, my father Regulus had become the heir and after him, me. Now that I am seventeen, everything belongs to me. I wasn't sure how to feel about that but I hoped truly that I would make Andromeda proud. "Dora, do you want to fly with me?" I asked.

"Hell yes," she said, jumping up and running upstairs, probably to fetch her broomstick. I jumped up, too, hopping over to my trunk, popping it open and pulling out my own new shrunken broomstick. After closing the trunk and shutting it, sending it upstairs to Dora's room, where I normally stay with Dora while I'm here. I double checked I was still wearing my charm bracelet and I had my wand, I waved goodbye to Andromeda and Ted and ran outside.

Dora was at the upstairs window, sliding it open. I mounted my broomstick and started to rise, waiting as Dora copied me and hopped onto her broomstick, out the window. As this was still a muggle area, we disillusioned ourselves. We could still see each other but nobody could see us unless they knew where to look. But they could still hear us.

"Race you," Dora shouted over the wind.

"Where to?" I called back.

"Diagon Alley."

Dora shot straight ahead, so I followed her. We ended up doing tricks in the air – loops and wronksy faints and flying upside down. Anything you can think of, really. We landed in the middle of Diagon Alley easily. Nobody noticed. I shrunk my broomstick and clipped it onto my charm bracelet with the rest of the charms. Before taking the disillusionment charm off, I fixed my hair perfectly into an acceptable hairstyle of pureblood society and smoothed down my expensive robes. Even if I disagreed with a lot of what the pureblood society stood for and I was going to join Dumbledore, I was still an esteemed member for now and I had to act like it. After I was ready, I took the charm off.

Dora had already taken the charm off herself and was peering into the Quidditch shop's display case eagerly, holding tightly onto her broomstick. I joined her. "Looking for anything in particular?"

"No," she answered. "I just like seeing what's new. Nothing yet, it seems. Let's just go shopping."

"Wait," I told her. "I don't have any money on me. Come with me to Gringotts."

"Alrightie."

I pulled her along and into Gringotts, marching past all the goblins with my head held high until I reached the main desk. "I would like to enter my vault," I said to the goblin on the desk.

"Key?" He asked.

"I don't need one." At this, the goblin looked up, startled, obviously recognising how rich I must be to not need a key (even if I did have one if it came to that). His eyes widened as he looked upon me. I guess the curls and grey eyes gave me away quite easily.

"Of course, Miss Black," said the goblin, stepping down from the desk. "If you would follow me."

Dora and I followed the short creature off to a side door and into a cart. The car spun every which way but I was used to it by now and we both spent enough time on a broomstick to maintain our composure. Although, Dora did say "wicked" when we passed underneath the Thief's Downfall and continued down into the deepest levels of the bank.

"Which vault?" said the goblin. Normally, they'd combine all my vaults but I'd decided I wanted to keep them all separate in order to not get the jewels and other items in the vaults mixed up.

"The Selwyn one."

We continued further and further down under Gringotts before the cart came to a screeching halt. We stopped outside Vault 1436, guarded by blood wards. Only someone of Selwyn blood would be able to open this vault but if that person did not have enough Selwyn blood, the key would be necessary too. This was my first time visiting this vault (I hadn't visited the Black one either) considering I only inherited them both when I turned seventeen last week, so I didn't know if I needed the key or not (I didn't think so but I wasn't sure).

The goblin gestured for me to place my hand on the door and sure enough, the locks started to grind and click without the help of a key. Then, suddenly, the great tall doors shifted open and I was exposed to the enormous wealth my grandmother had left me (she'd disowned my mother). There were piles and piles of galleons all around the enormous room and yes, it was big enough to be a room, a ballroom. Along with the piles of galleons were jewellery and furniture. Hanging on the wall were the deeds to numerous estates and land and real estate all around the world.

"Wow," I muttered. I had not been expecting this. The Malfoy vault was way smaller than this (not that I would tell my father this).

Dora was standing behind me. "I knew you were rich, Gem," she said. "But I didn't imagine this."

"Neither did I."

I walked further into the vault, taking a small bag off the wall and, after casting the undetectable extension charm, I started to put galleons into the bag. I'd needed to come here anyway, to collect some money for the upcoming school year. I added a lot in, more than double of which I would actually need. I also spotted a little necklace sitting atop a nearby pile of galleons with the Selwyn crest and pocketed it, feeling the need to show off this part of my heritage, too. Most people who knew me didn't know I was also an heir to The House of Selwyn, too.

"Do you want anything, Dora?" I called back to her. She was standing at the entrance (her broomstick shrunken and in her pocket), talking to the goblin. "Take anything you want." I walked back over to her, satisfied with my take. After shrinking the bag (and adding a lightweight charm to it), I pocketed that also, placing it in the pocket beside my wand.

"I'm fine," she said, taking a step back so that the goblin could close my vault.

I stopped nervously, observing her. "Are you going to see me any different now that you've seen this?" I asked, waving a hand towards the closing door of the vault.

"No, of course not," she said, putting an arm around me and leading me towards the cart. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering. "I'm always going to see you as my little sister no matter how much money you have. Don't ever think otherwise." She squeezed me before we stepped into the cart.

"Okay." And we were off again, zipping through the maze of tunnels, back into Gringotts and then into Diagon Alley. First, we went into Flourish and Blotts because I wanted to (Dora didn't like reading that much, where I bought a couple charms books, a book on animagi, as well as some for ancient runes, which I stashed in the shrunken bag of galleons. After that, we made a quick stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, where we bumped into my fourth-year professor Remus Lupin.

"Hello, Tonks," said Professor Lupin, walking past the Ice Cream Parlour. He stopped, joining us for a chat. "How are you?"

"Wotcher, Remus," replied Dora. "As good as can be. And you?" She leaned forward just a little, her hair turning from purple to bright pink. Did Dora like him? Judging from her big smile, I thought so. I was happy for her. Everyone deserved happiness in times as dark as these.

"Me, too."

"How is Arthur?"

"He's getting better. Still recovering, you see."

"Of course." It went silent for a moment before Dora found an ice breaker. Me. "Do you know my cousin, Remus?"

"Yes, of course, Miss Malfoy, how are you?"

"Fine, thank you, Professor Lupin." I answered, standing beside Dora as her hair turned an ever more brilliant shade of pink. Professor Lupin didn't seem to notice.

"I'm not your professor anymore, Miss Malfoy, you do not have to call me Professor," he said, half-stern, half-joking.

"Okay," I said. And that was the end of that. Nothing is more awkward than talking to your ex-teacher especially when he was in his forties and your cousin, in her twenties, liked him like that. But then again, what was age really? I'd support her if it came down to it.

"Well anyway, Tonks, Miss Malfoy, I'd best be off. Goodbye." With a wave and a quick pace, Remus Lupin was off.

When he was far enough away, I turned to my cousin. "You like him," I declared, laughing. "Oh, Dora." I pulled her into half a hug, my robes swishing around me. "It's okay. I'm sure he likes you, too, and if he doesn't, he's an idiot."

"Gem!" She exclaimed, looking around. "I just- I don't think he likes me. Of course, why would he? He's a lot older and more mature."

"You're mature," I said. Then I changed my mind. "Scratch that. Opposites attract. Younger. Older. More mature. Less mature. If it's meant to be, it will work out, I promise."

"You're right," she said. "Wait. That's another person more mature than me. Gosh." And then we both started laughing, although nobody really noticed. We were now at a back booth in the Ice Cream Parlour. "Come on, I need to buy some new clothes."

She pulled me out of the booth with our ice creams still in hand and headed down the alley, Lupin out of her mind for now. After shopping for new clothes (of which we bought many), we were walking past Eeylops Owl Emporium when I spotted the most beautiful owl. It was love at first sight. I knew I had to have her. Normally I just used my brother's owl or one of my parent's but this one just… spoke to me, I guess. Dora was still pulling on my arm when I stopped suddenly, so naturally, she tripped over but, still entranced, I reach out and steadied her before dragging her with me into the shop.

I walked straight up to the counter with purpose. "Excuse me," I said. "I'd like to buy that owl in the window display." I pointed her (because, somehow, I knew it was a her) out to the shopkeeper, who, smiling, immediately went to fetch my familiar. I stopped then. Yes – my familiar because that was what she was. I had felt the strangest pull to her, as if she belonged to me. My mother had described this to me when I was young – every witch/wizard has an animal familiar that they bond to. If the animal really is your familiar, it will live as long as you do, and die when you die. It's called imprinting.

The shopkeeper came back with the owl on her shoulder but when it saw me, it instantly flew to me, landing on my extended arm. The shopkeeper grinned, nodding to Dora. "That's her familiar," she told Dora. "You can tell."

The owl was perfectly white and dark grey, the colours blending spectacularly, and while her colouring was absolutely perfect, I felt it was her eyes that were her best feature – a deep aquamarine, a flawless mix of green and blue. She was beautiful and nothing could ever make me think any different.

Straight away, I poked around the shop, choosing an expensive, spacey, luxurious cage, owl feed (enough for a year at Hogwarts), as well as various cage extras I decided my owl needed in order to live well and comfortable. My owl stayed on my shoulder through all of this, pecking its beak against my head lovingly. I reached up and stroked her feathers before returning to the counter, where Dora and the shopkeeper were talking. I laid down all item on the counter and let the shopkeeper ring them all up.

"She's really pretty," Dora said, reaching up to pet her but my owl drew away, bending her head over mine to escape Dora's hand. "Oh, guess she doesn't like me."

"I love her," I declared. "Dora, it's the most amazing feeling. I feel as if we belong together. I don't know how I'll ever let her send letters," I laughed.

"I'm sure you'll find a way."

The shopkeeper charged me a total of thirty galleons for everything (the owl was ten and the cage was fifteen), which I charged to the Selwyn vault now that I knew its vast size.

My owl, which I still needed to name, flew into the grand cage as if it knew precisely what I wanted. I smiled down at her. After locking the door, I shrunk the rest of my purchases down and added them to the other stuff I'd acquired today.

"Come on," said Dora. "I think it's best we floo home now."

"True."