Saying goodbye to mother at the train station was a cold affair. She was still furious with Bellatrix, and as a consequence snapped at Cissy and I constantly all morning. When we finally reached the station, she looked us both up and down critically.

"Andromeda, you've managed to get mud on the hem of your robes already. How you cope when you're at school, I don't know. I hope you don't intend to go around looking like a ragamuffin all term. You're representing Lucius as well as the House of Black now, you know."
"Yes, Mother," I said. "I'll be sure to behave myself appropriately."

She pursed her lips disapprovingly. "Well, I hope so." She turned to my sister. "And Narcissa- you might not be engaged yet, but the same rules apply to you. I expect you both to do well this term. I certainly don't want to hear that you're following your sister's example."

I didn't bother to point out that Bella had done brilliantly at school- taking more subjects than most people thought was possible and getting top marks in all of them through a combination of talent, caffeine and barely leaving he library for her entire NEWT year.

"No, mother," Cissy and I said, itching to get away.

She frowned and passed a critical gaze over us again, before giving first me and then Cissy a stiff hug. "I hope so. Be sure to write. And Meda- make sure you write to Lucius as well."

I nodded. "Of course. I can hardly wait to receive his replies."

"Goodbye, then," Mother said.

"Goodbye, mother," I said, barely managing to keep the obvious relief from my voice.

"Bye," Cissy said too, and I could tell she felt the same. We both pulled our trunks across the platform quickly, hoping to get away before mother could find anything else to criticise. Neither of us dared look back.

Cissy quickly found a group of her friends and went to join them, but it took me a little longer to find Elladora. Just as I was about to give up and try to find a carriage without her, though, I saw her push her way through the crowds ahead of me.

"Dora!" I called. She glanced around, missing me completely. "Dora!" I called again, and this time she saw me immediately. We both grinned at each other and pulled our trunks across the platform to hug.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"Where were you? I've been looking for ages," I responded. "C'mon, we'd better go and find a compartment- I don't want to end up in one full of first years again."

Dora shuddered at the memory of our journey the previous year, and the two of us began to walk towards the shining scarlet steam engine. "So how was your summer?" she demanded. "I barely heard from you at all- what've you been doing? What happened?"

"I'll tell you when we find a compartment," I said. I still hadn't told her about my engagement, and I didn't want to try and explain it over the noise and bustle of the platform. Also, I was more than happy to put off the moment for a little longer.

"Why didn't you write more? Are you annoyed at me?" she demanded.

"No, of course not. Why would I be?" I dragged my trunk onto the train, pushing past a knot of squealing second year Gryffindors to find an empty compartment. I shoved my trunk roughly under the seat and threw myself down on the seat. "Wow, it feels good to be going back. I can't believe this is the last time we'll do this journey."

"I know! Isn't it scary?" Dora agreed. "But you don't get away that easily- tell me why you haven't been responding to my letters. What's been happening?"

I took a deep breath and forced myself to look at her. "Dora- I'm engaged." I stared at my hands, hating the way the words sounded.

"What?" she gasped. "Engaged? To who?" Then she burst out laughing. "Ok, you got me for a moment there. You actually looked serious. What's really been happening? Is it Bella?"

"I'm not joking. I'm really engaged. Although Bella's been acting weird too." I sighed again. "Honestly, I thought that summer was supposed to be relaxing." She still looked doubtful, so I showed her the finger on which my ring glittered. "Look," I said glumly. "Actually, that reminds me- now mother can't see me, I'm going to take it off." I slipped off the ring with relief, carefully stowing it in a locked compartment of my trunk.

I looked up to find Dora was staring at me intensely. "You really aren't joking, are you?"

I shook my head.

"Wow…"

I nodded, slowly and sadly.

"Do you mind if I ask- who? Why?"

"Lucius Malfoy. And… I don't know. He's a perfect match for me. My family want it. I- I don't know."

"But you barely know him, and we're so young! You can't love him, surely."

I shook my head mutely. "Please, can we talk about something else? How's your brother?"

She pulled a face. "I've barely seen him, to be honest. But I'm a bit worried about him and father. I think they might be involved in… something."

"Like what?"

"No idea." She paused and pulled another face. "I'm probably imagining it, I suppose. I just have a bad feeling about things, with the way they've both been behaving. Still, it's none of my business, I suppose…"

I sighed. "Something good must have happened to one of us over the summer, surely?"
Elladora grinned. "Of course it did- I've had loads of time to work on my novel, for one thing. I finally finished the first draft!"

"Oh wow!" I said. "Do I get to see it?"

Dora gave an exaggerated shudder. "As if! It's still dire- I need to lock it in a drawer for a few months, until I can bear to edit it."
"Oh go on… At least tell me what it's about."
Dora shook her head emphatically. "Definitely not."

I wheedled with her some more without success, and then we moved on to discussing the books we'd read over the summer- although even with Dora, I didn't quite dare mention Pride and Prejudice. The rest of the journey passed pleasantly, though. I had to go to the Prefect's compartment briefly to receive my duties for the next year, but I got away as quickly as I could so that I could have a chance to catch up with Dora. We both bought vast amounts of sweets when the trolley came round and made ourselves so much at home in the carriage that I was disappointed when the train finally pulled into Hogsmeade station and we had to move.

It was worth it once we got up to the castle, though. The Great Hall was decked with the usual start of year decorations: huge banners of the house animals hanging from the four walls, with streamers and candles in the house colours suspended in the air above the table. Above those, the ceiling was beautiful, a deep navy blue specked with brilliant white stars. Dora and I sat through the Sorting in absolute silence for the first time ever, not even giggling when one boy's name was announced to be Merle Insballs. We both knew that we were drinking in the scene for the last time.

When it was over, Dumbledore stood to address the mass of students. His usually smiling face was grave, and his blue eyes lacked their characteristic twinkle as he began to speak.

"And so another year begins, and not a day too soon! I see that many of you have acquired quite spectacular suntans this year- you'll end up as wrinkly as me in a few years time." For the first time that evening a smile lit his face, as a laugh rippled through the student body.

Then the smile vanished again. "On a more serious note, those of you who read the Daily Prophet- and many who don't-will undoubtedly have heard about some rather disturbing events over the summer. Before we tuck in to what the House Elves assure me will be a truly splendid feast, I would like to ask that you do not allow these kinds of events to spill into the way you behave at school." He paused and looked around the room. "There will always be those who believe themselves to be different, and those who will go to rather unpleasant lengths to support their beliefs. However, as students of Hogwarts I hope you will find yourselves able to rise above this."

He surveyed the hall slowly, his eyes travelling over the students slowly enough that we all felt as though his gaze focused specifically on us. I noticed a few people at the Slytherin table fidget uncomfortably. And then Dumbledore's face creased once more into a smile. "And now- let the feast begin! I don't believe I can bear to make myself wait another second for a large helping of our delightful Hogwart's roast parsnips!"

He sat down to a flurry of applause. "Hear, hear!" Elladora said, grinning as the golden serving dishes on the table suddenly filled. "I'm starving!"
"Yeah," I agreed. "It must be at least an hour since we last stuffed our faces to the bursting!"

Elladora laughed, and began to heap chips onto her plate before smothering them in gravy. "I haven't been able to have chips all summer- mother's worried that chips will spoil my marriage prospects." She rolled her eyes, then glanced at me. "I suppose you don't need to worry about that anymore, at least."

I paused with my hands halfway to a bowl of sausages, my appetite suddenly disappearing. "No. I have to worry about what wedding dress I'll fit into, and making sure I'm able to look after a house." I began to pull my hand back from the sausages.
"Sorry, I didn't think" Elladora said. "C'mon- we're back at school now. Let's try and forget about our families, shall we? We don't have to listen to them for at least three months."
I forced a smile. "Yeah. I suppose so." I reached for the sausages once again, a little more slowly this time. But by the time Elladora had regaled me with hilarious anecdotes about the muggle baker in the French village where she'd stayed, I'd fully regained my appetite and was able to heap second helpings onto my plate as though I had not a care in the world. And when the first course vanished and dessert appeared, my appetite was almost enough to match Elladora's as we excitedly piled cakes, mousses and pies onto our plates.

That night, I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face and a ridiculous amount of food in my stomach. I loved Hogwarts.

A/N: Thanks for reading this far- if anyone has! As always, reviews are hugely (and I mean hugely) appreciated.