Aquila spun her fork around the plate, trying and failing to accomplish a single mouthful. "So, Aquila, do you have a boyfriend?"

She glanced up quickly, nearly elbowing the table in the process. Her mother shot her a look of disdain at her blatant display of ill manners. "Oh, no. I, er, no."

"And whyever not? You're a very beautiful girl!" Petunia insisted. Aquila swallowed. There was no way she could get out of the questioning without being rather blunt.

"Well, let me rephrase that, then," Aquila began. "You see, I did have a boyfriend. Very handsome man named Cedric Diggory." Petunia nodded for her to go on. She caught Dudley seeming to recognize the name and glance at Harry. Aquila kept her eyes on Petunia. "We dated for two and a half years. We were great. And then last winter, he goes to the Yule Ball - a Christmas party for the four champions of the TriWizard Tournament - with a different girl. Mind you, I was quite surprised when I found out that my own boyfriend wouldn't be escorting me to the school ball, but instead a girl that's in the same class as me and was, before that point, one of my best friends." Aquila snorted and picked up her glass of water.

"So, I went to the ball with his best friend. He didn't care. We talked it out afterwards and he admitted it was a mistake, but she asked him before he could ask me..." Aquila rolled her eyes to tell them what she thought of that. "Come spring time, the second task of the tournament, each champion had the person they cared for most kidnapped and placed at the bottom of the lake. I was not Cedric's most prized possession. It was Cho Chang, the girl he escorted, my ex-best friend. I almost called it off, but I was stupid and listened to him as he begged me to just wait until the end of the tournament because he wasn't thinking right." She took a sip of water and glanced at Petunia. "And then he was murdered in front of Potter here. So... I did have a boyfriend, but he died, so I don't have one anymore."

There was a tense silence. "I'm very sorry to hear that."

"Yes, I was as well." She smirked as she sipped her water once more. "I'll move on eventually. It is a woman's duty in my world to marry high up in the Ministry's standards." Her words were dull, as if she was relaying a speech she had heard a million times. "With my blood, that is. I can only honor it with a good marriage."

"Spoken like she knows her place," Vernon laughed, reaching for his fourth glass of brandy. "I'm sure her father's very proud."

"Oh, he died long ago," Euryale said. Aquila was surprised with the strength she spoke with. It wasn't like she sobbed over him like the day the body was delivered to their door with the words traitor etched upon his chest. Aquila remembered seeing him before her mother had locked her in her room. If there was one thing the Dark Lord believed, it was honor in death. The honor he gave Regulus Black was delivering his body back to them.

"And how old are you, Ella?" Vernon questioned.

"I'll be seventeen this August," Aquila answered carefully. She successfully bound a few strands of the pasta and placed in it her mouth.

"Same as our Dudley. June twenty-third, right, lad?"

Dudley looked up from his plate. "Right."

"A man in our world," Euryale smiled at the boy. "Seventeen is the age of adulthood, you see."

"Is that so?" Vernon asked. "Is that when you graduate, then, from that magic school of yours?"

"Typically, you graduate at the age of eighteen, but that just depends upon the birthday," Aquila admitted. "I have a rather early one. Potter, on the other hand, is the youngest in his class. Though we are only twenty seven days apart on the calendar, we are in separate years. You must be eleven by the time you enter your first year. Not a day younger come August first."

"And do you take A levels? Our Dudley's going off to college this year," Petunia stated proudly.

"A levels?" Aquila repeated, confused. She glanced at Potter, who seemed to have a better grasp at the Muggle world than she.

"NEWTs for us," Harry stated.

"Yes, we do, then," Aquila nodded. "In our seventh year. I'm only going into my sixth this year. Mr. Potter will be in his fifth."

Petunia seemed fascinated. "And what do you wish to study, come next year? Better yet, what profession do you wish to persue?

"I hope to take as many NEWTs as I can," Aquila admitted. "Specifically astronomy and Arithmancy. However, I'll most likely take History of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Potions, if I get the proper OWLs for Professor Snape's class."

"Yes, Severus is very specific in who he admits into his class," Euryale sighed. "I've written time and time again, hoping he'd be more lenient, but to no avail. My eldest, you see, received an Exceeds Expectations and was cast away from the class. Severus, however, only accepts Outstandings, just a grade higher." Petunia seemed to blanch at the name.

Instead, she said, "You have an elder child?"

"Oh, yes, after my brother - Evan. Evan Andromede Black. He's currently in Spain for the Order of the Phoenix."

Aquila kept the scowl of distaste from appearing. "That's simply wonderful. Will he be living with the two of you, when he returns?"

"Oh, he won't be returning," Euryale stated. She sipped her tea as Petunia shot Vernon a confused look. But Euryale offered no further comment, and the Dursleys thought it better not to push.

"Aquila, you never said what you wanted to do once you graduate," Petunia reminded the girl.

"Oh, I didn't?" Aquila asked. "Sorry. Um, well... I'm not quite sure, but I'm a massive fan of Quidditch and I really hope to be a professional player one day. It's a sport in our world, see. You fly broomsticks ... er, I think it could be quite comparable to your football matches. Only there are a few balls that are charmed to do some severe damage. I remember my first match I broke my arm and leg in three places because I fell three hundred feet. Of course it was alright the next day. Madame Pomfrey is an excellent healer. But I couldn't stop flying since. It's exhilerating. My first match was against Potter. Of course we lost, but we almost had the snitch. Our scores were three hundred and ten to Gryffindor and three hundred to Ravenclaw. Best game I've ever played. We had three people get knocked out and it was pouring and-" She stopped suddenly, blushing. "Sorry." She cleared her throat and glanced at her mother. "I won't have a profession when I'm older. Mother's organizing a marriage with a family in Italy." Aquila met Petunia's eye and rolled them so that her mother couldn't see. "I'll graduate and stay with the family until I marry one of their sons." She let out a breath. "Befitting of a girl my caliber."

She glanced at Dudley across from her to see him surprised. "Arranged marriages still exist?"

"Be glad we don't put you in one, boy," Vernon stated. "I understand the reason. These are tough times we're living in."

"Indeed they are," Euryale admitted. "With the war starting, I fear my children may be the ones to fight it, just as my generation were the ones to fight the first war." She glanced at Vernon and smiled. "You've been so kind to take in Harry as you did. Family is always family."

"As I've always said," Vernon boomed. "Spoken well right." He sipped his brandy. "Tell me, Ella, what is it you do at this school of yours? Do you have friends?"

"Dad," Dudley groaned.

"Oh, it's pretty much like any school, I'd imagine," Aquila admitted. Aquila was confused though. He seemed interested in her world, not repulsed like Petunia had warned. "Sports, card games, wizard chess - which is brutal - erm, there's ghosts and unicorns that roam the grounds. There was once a dragon, too, but the Ministry made any dragon in Britain illegal, so she was shipped off to Romania. Oh, there was a three headed dog, too. Real Cerberus. Um, we go to class. There's this little village we can shop in some Saturdays. If you aren't studying, however, you're usually up to no good." She laughed quietly, like it was an inside joke. Vernon laughed loudly with her. "I do have friends. Everyone in Hogwarts is amazingly friendly towards one another." Potter snorted. "Some people, that is. Though, if you're ever in a time of need, you'll have someone to help you through it." She glanced towards Potter. "I daresay Potter's got the biggest fanclub in the castle."

"Castle?" Dudley blurted. "You go to school in a castle?"

"Oh, yes, it was built by the four founders - Godric Gryffindor, the lionhearted and the brave. Lover of all witch and wizard, and Muggle alike; Rowena Ravenclaw, the wise and the all knowing. Keeper of archives and knowledge for all of those she took under her wing. Helga Hufflepuff, the kind and humble. She took in all those that had no other place to go. And then Salazar Slytherin, the cruel and the cunning. He that uses any means to achieve his ends may take refuge in his house, and turn rotten by the time the years over. They built the school a thousand years ago. Rowena's daughter roams the castle after an escape gone wrong."

"Fanclub, boy? What are you, a superstar?" Aquila glanced at Harry confused. They didn't know? When no one laughed, Vernon seemed confused himself. "Are you?"

"Er, defeating a wizard may have warranted some girls to, er... well, start a fanclub."

"And give you love potions at every turn," Aquila threw in.

"Er, yeah, that too."

"What did you do, then? Why do they love you? I mean, you aren't that good looking, are ya?" Dudley asked. "And, I mean, you were just a baby."

"Oh, he's saved dear little Ginny Weasley's life." Aquila grinned as Potter blushed. "And Hermione Granger's. And just about everyone else that year in danger of the basilisk. He also saved a French girl's little sister even though she wasn't 'yours to save'." She glanced at Vernon and then Petunia, before finally Dudley as she said, "I assure you, he keeps his hero quota plenty full by the time the year's out."

"That so, boy? Why didn't you say?" Vernon said as though he was proud, but Aquila caught the flat tone and how he avoided looking Potter in the eyes.

"Er, it's nothing big, really," Potter muttered. "I don't like the, er, fanclubs or whatever."

"Do teachers give you good grades just because of it?" Dudley asked, seemingly interested in that response.

"Teachers hate him just because of it," Aquila replied honestly.

"Most of them don't. It's just Snape - and that's only because of my dad. And I reckon the new defense teacher will like me. Mad-Eye did, even though he was a Death Eater."

"Sorry. Remind me again how many teacher's we've been through? My first year we had this teacher that couldn't even read try to teach us defensive spells that I don't even think he's heard of. My second year we had a blithering idiot that stuttered his way through a lesson and Potter murdered him."

"I didn't murder him."

"Sorry, he tried to kill you. It was self defense, really. You-Know-Who was hiding under his turban. And then third year we had a ... ugh, another idiot that was quite vain. If he wasn't talking about himself in class, he was talking about what he would do if he confronted a giant snake that was loose in the school. Fortunately... er, unfortunately, he managed to get knocked around by a few rocks and his mind turned to mush and he couldn't even remember his own name." Harry snorted.

"It was Ron's wand, not the rocks."

"Was it, really?" Aquila asked, surprised. "I've always heard the rocks. Wasn't Weasley's wand broken?"

"Exactly."

Aquila snorted. "And then fourth year... I will admit, despite Lupin's condition, he was the best teacher I've ever had. I actually learned in his class." She glanced at the Dursley's, who didn't know. "He was a werewolf and by the Ministry, sadly, they are restricted from interaction with people. Shunned from society, really, for a condition they can't help. Werewolves are made by force, not by choice. Dumbledore was very kind to give him the job, just as Snape was kind to give him the wolfsbane potion. Fifth year... Merlin, Mad-Eye was insane. I mean, it wasn't him, just some imposter, but torture curses in class, the killing curse?" She gave a disgusted sigh. "Glad he's gone. The positions cursed so no one can maintain it more than a year."

"That's horrible," Dudley muttered.

Aquila shrugged. "We're pretty used to weird at my school."

"And where did you move from, then?" Vernon questioned. "For not having a telephone, I'd imagine it was somewhere far?"

"Dogweed Glen," Euryale stated. "It's a wizarding community off of East End in London. Around twenty thousand of our kind live there. We stayed there after my husband died until the war started once more."

"What made you chose Little Whinging?" Petunia asked. "I daresay, we aren't even on the map."

"Precisely," Euryale smiled. "It's a good place to hide from the wrong people. Albus Dumbledore suggested it to me in passing. Of course, I didn't realize Harry Potter would be residing just down the road, but now I see why Dumbledore was so insistant. You're a man to be guarded, Mr. Potter."

Potter didn't seem happy with this. Aquila finished the spaghetti off of her plate and took a sip of her water. Her eyes darted up to meet Dudley Dursley's, but he looked away quickly, as if embarrassed. She was curious as to why that was. Maybe he had more questions but didn't want to ask.

"You're always welcome to stop by," Aquila told them, her eyes darting from Dudley to Harry and then around to the parents. "I like company. Mother would like some as well, right, mother?"

"Of course. I'm afraid the house is a little packed with boxes, but once those are sorted out, you're welcome over any time for tea, lunch, dinner, even brunch. You needn't get in contact with us before, either. Just drop by. We're quite used to it," Euryale admitted.

"And the same with you two," Vernon insisted. Aquila saw Petunia jerk in surprise - but the rather pleased sort when something went unexpectedly well. "Such a well-raised girl you got there. Saved my boy today, she did."

"Saved him?" Euryale repeated, glancing at Aquila with concern.

"I didn't-" Aquila winced. "It's not what you think. I went to the park, and it started to rain..." She winced again as her mother probed her to continue. "Er, well you see Potter got separated from us-" She gestured towards Dudley. "And we were at opposite ends of the tunnel and they came out of nowhere-"

"You know better than to use magic outside of school," Euryale warned.

"I didn't," Aquila promised. "The dementors attacked. I-I told Dursley to stay still and calm but it was the weirdest thing. The dementor didn't go for me. It pushed me away. It was given orders to go after those two. I nearly broke my wand with the force. And it attacked him. I've never produced a patronus. I couldn't even think of a memory. I was trying and I was about to-but I didn't. Potter's patronus got the dementors out of there and we helped Dursley get home and-"

"You didn't think to inform me that dementors attacked?"

"It wasn't like I could," she muttered. "It was pouring outside and I had to make sure they treated him properly before there was any permanent damage. I thought that was more pressing-"

"They could come back."

Aquila took a deep breath - one that was quite obviously forced to those watching the exchange - and she nodded. "You're right, I'm sorry. Next time I'll think to inform you immediately." Euryale nodded in satisfaction. "It was a wicked patronus, though," Aquila smirked, glancing at Potter. "What is it? A deer?"

"Stag," Potter corrected. "The same as my father's."

"Wicked," Aquila approved. "Me dad's was a crocodile."

"What is a patronus?" Dudley asked, confused.

"It's a representation of your soul, in a projection through a spell. It can be any size, but usually, by the time ten seconds of casting has past, it is life sized to what one would be. Most take the form of common animals - badgers, horses, deer. It is very rare if one takes the form of a magical creature. Albus Dumbledore's, the headmaster of my school, has the patronus of a phoenix. A bird that is reborn from its ashes. And there's a rumor that the Dark Lord's patronus is a basilisk, a giant snake that when one looks into its eyes, you die." She watched as the color drained from his face. "But I highly doubt that last bit. A memory to produce a patronus must be pure and happy and untainted by anything - and the Dark Lord kills too much for his memories to be untainted." She sipped from her water. "And it can't just be any happy memory. It has to be the happiest memory you've ever had. That just thinking about it makes you smile."

He nodded, like he understood. She wondered if he really did. He seemed smart. But in a way that he didn't want others to know it. She didn't know if that was a good thing or not. "Have you ever gone to school? Er, Muddle schools?"

"Muggle," Aquila corrected lightly. "And no... They've always fascinated me, though."

"A real learner, this one," Vernon deduced.

"Where are you going to college?" Aquila questioned. "That is what you call it, right?"

"Er, Brooklands. It's just a little bit away from here," Dudley answered.

"And what do you study there? I'd imagine you don't have Potions or Charms class."

"Uh, I'll be studying business, accounting, law, and psychology," he admitted, turning a bit pink.

"Just like his dad," Vernon approved. Dudley didn't seem happy with that, but nodded anyway. "He'll take over the business once I retire."

"Oh? What is it you do?" Euryale asked, intrigued.

"Drills," Vernon stated. "I'm a director for Grunnings. A drill manufacturer."

"Fascinating," Euryale stated, though she had no clue what that even was. "You must love your job very much. Does it pay well?"

Aquila choked on her water. "Mother," she hissed. Euryale didn't seem to notice her mistake. She glanced at her daughter and away again. Aquila recognized the look in her eye. She was going to ruin everything. Ruin it like she always did. Amos Diggory - the kindest man she had ever met - had grown to hate her mother being around, just because her mother despised the world for what had been taken from her - her husband.

"It's a question, Aquila, darling. He doesn't need to answer if he doesn't wish to."

"Mother, don't do this, please."

"Do what, darling?" Euryale asked. "What about you, Petunia? Do you work?"

"No, I don't," Petunia stated. She glanced at Aquila as the girl dropped her head.

"And whyever not? Isn't that Muggle custom, where the woman works as well?"

"No-I don't think so."

"Oh, strange. I could have sworn it was."

"I think it's time we left," Aquila admitted after a tense silence. She stood hastilly, pushing her chair in and grabbing her plate and her mothers. "Do you put your dishes in the dishwasher, Petunia?"

"I'll get those," Petunia insisted, rising. "Must you be leaving so soon?"

"And you, Mr. Potter... My husband's dead because of you."

Tears threatened to pool in Aquila's eye. "Yes, it's best," Aquila said in a forced pleasant tone. "This dinner was very lovely. I-Thank you very much for inviting me to stay. I'm so sor-"

"I didn't do anything to your husband. I don't even know who he is," Potter replied honestly.

"Didn't do anything?" Euryale hissed.

"Okay," Aquila stated, forcing her mother out of the chair and pushing the chair back in, neatly. She bit her lip to keep the tears from pooling. "It's time to leave, mother. Please, don't say anything more. Don't ruin this night-"

"Regulus Black," Euryale snapped, ignoring her daughter. "Your precious godfather's brother. He backed out of the Death Eaters for you. He went to Dumbledore because of you and now he's dead. Murdered-"

"Stop it," Aquila snapped, glaring at her mother. "Stop it right now. We're leaving." As her mother turned quickly and rushed to the hall for her coat, Aquila felt the tears of shame in her eyes as she gazed at the shocked Dursley family, and Potter looked extremely confused. "I am so sorry. So sorry. She always does this and... It's not your fault, Potter. She doesn't blame you at all. She blames everyone she meets..." Aquila swallowed. "Please, forgive me. I-She always promises she won't do it again and I'm a fool to believe she'll keep her word. I apologize profusely for your ruined evening and.. I'm sorry for this. I'm so sorry-"

"Oh, dear," Petunia insisted, rushing towards the teenage girl. She hugged her tightly. Aquila recognized the scent of lavender and hibiscus. She smelt calming. "It's alright."

"Your dress. Do you want me to-?" Aquila asked, her voice muffled in Petunia's shoulder as the woman refused to let go.

"Oh, keep it. I'll bring your dress to you in the morning. How's that?"

"Are you sure-?"

"Your dress isn't dry yet anyway, so I'm quite sure." She released the girl and Aquila wiped away a few tears. "Now, I expect you over for tea tomorrow, Aquila. I believe we'll be quite good friends."

She was inviting her back? "I-Er, of course. I feel so too." She glanced into the hall where her mother was muttering to herself angrily. "I'm so sorry, again. If you'd like me to help with dishes or-or- anything. I don't know how to do much without my wand, but I feel so horrible and-"

"Nonsense. We'll manage. Despite everything I had a lovely evening getting to know you," Petunia insisted.

"It was lovely getting to know all of you," Aquila insisted. She saw Vernon watching her strangely as if he didn't know what to make of her. She nodded to him. "Thank you, Mr. Dursley for having me stay for dinner as well. That was very kind of you." He just nodded back to her and grumbled something. She nodded to the two teens before glancing at Petunia. "Thank you."

"Now, hurry home. I think you've just caught a break in the rain." However, loud clap of thunder diminished that theory and a heavy onslaught of rain poured against the roof, echoing in the silence. Aquila glanced at her mother once more. She could cast magic because of her mother. They couldn't trace it back to her, just her mother. She pulled out her wand and saw Petunia blanch a bit.

"Sorry, I just don't want to get wet. It only works before you go out into the water, you see..." Aquila waved her wand around her. "Impervius." A thin layer of gold sparks erupted from her wand and Petunia jumped back in fright. But the sparks settled around Aquila and she gave an apologetic smile as Petunia seemed to realize that it wasn't harmful magic. "I won't get wet now."

"Er, was that a bit of magic?" Dudley asked. At Aquila's nod, he pressed. "How do you do it?"

"A wand," she explained quickly as she heard her mother grow impatient. "It channels the magic inside of a... witch or wizard." She bit her lip. "Thank you for dinner, again... Er, I should be leaving. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, dear. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Aquila nodded and brushed at the tears on her cheeks before she turned and grabbed her mother's arm with a bit of force and thrust her out into the rain. "Eugh, they have no taste in style," Euryale muttered.

"Honestly? You need to stop it," Aquila warned. She made sure the door was closed before she forced her mother along the path to the sidewalk. "I know you hate the world because dad's dead, but you don't need to ruin any chance I have at making friends."

"The boy sitting across from you was making googly eyes at you the entire time. He likes you. His intentions weren't honorable. Besides, you're to be betrothed. Why not just break his heart now instead of later?"

"They're the first friends I've made since we moved to this God forsaken town. The first friends I've ever made outside of school that aren't one of your Death Eater friends. I know you're an Order member, but you really do have friends in the wrong places. And I hate all of them. You try to make me to be this perfect lady, when in reality, I'm not. I'm just as screwed up as you are, but I want to make my own friends and live my own life. And maybe you'll put me in some arranged marriage with the Count of Monte Cristo or whoever, but I can still make friends."

"Not friends that want nothing more than a good shag before they go and get you pregnant and leave you with no one to marry you-"

"You don't even know them!" Aquila insisted. "Petunia offered me a dress to change into while my own dried. Vernon loathes magic, but he allowed me to stay for dinner and you were invited over, so that they could meet you. Petunia wanted Vernon to change his views on magic tonight! But what do you do? You ruin everything. You ruined what would have been me making friends with a very nice family - and their son and Harry Potter. Who saved my life today."

"That's another thing we need to talk about. Dementors?"

"When did you want me to visit? Before or after the storm?"

"You should have-"

"They aren't supposed to be here," Aquila insisted. "Someone set them on Harry and Dudley. Do you understand that? I wasn't the target - they were. And Harry's patronus charm would have gotten him expelled - especially when performed in front of a Muggle - but he wasn't because your magical signature is over the area. Any magic performed around here is written off as by you. They won't know Dudley was present because they'll assume that you were the only one there. Whatever happened will happen again." She swallowed as she shoved open Number 8's door. "And we need to be there to protect them."

"And your sob story? How your boyfriend died?"

"He did!" Aquila cried. She shut the front door after her mother was inside. "Do you not remember Cedric Diggory? You scared his father away after you tried to get him to sleep with you. He loathed you because you tried to break us apart. We could have been married, but you messed that chance up. And I loved him. Merlin, I loved Cedric so much, and he was murdered. In a blink of an eye, he was sprawled along the ground in front of the entire school and I could do nothing as I stared down at his body like it wasn't real. I felt so helpless as his father cried over him and Cho Chang - the stupid bitch that took him from me - went to him and I couldn't. Because I was stuck at the top of the rafters and by the time I knew what had happened, they had blocked it off. And I felt so... it was like you with father. I felt so dead inside." Her mother glanced away quickly. "But that doesn't make me dead to the world. I want to move on, to get new friends, to fall in love again and to - to-" Aquila stopped, seeing that her mother didn't seem to be listening anymore. "You would have noticed when I got back how I was so withdrawn, crying all the time... Who did you think I was dating? You knew Cedric died. All you care about is father. Father's dead. He's been dead for fifteen years. I know you cry over him every night, but he's dead. He'll never come back. And you need to get over it. You can't make everyone hate you. It doesn't make it easier to hate yourself."

Aquila headed up the stairs. "Aquila, we need to talk about this-"

"No, we don't. Because I'm not asking you to not do it ever again, because clearly you're going to. So there's no point. You simply just will die a lonely woman because you make everything awkward, uncomfortable, and you make people hate you."

"Aquila-"

"No," Aquila said firmly, shutting her bedroom door shut behind her. The sound of her mother's sobs echoed into the house, just as they did every night.