Merlin, this could be bad. She had absolutely any idea what he thought of heights, nor of high speeds, but she hoped to Merlin it was... good. So when Angelina floo'd over, they walked in silence to Potter's house, joining the Order entourage with a smirk.

"Aquila!"

Heads snapped in Aquila's direction and she smirked as she spotted the bubblegum haired woman. "Tonks!" She hugged the six year elder woman heartily, before looking her over. "Merlin, Auror training's been good to you!"

"We're taking you and the Muggle too, right?" she asked.

"Er, I should probably tell him the change of plan, first, but yes." Tonks glanced at Angelina and gave the dark skinned woman a nod of acknowledgement. "Angelina's going with us, too."

"The more defense the better," Tonks grinned. Aquila pushed past the woman and into the house where Remus, Kingsley, and Mad-Eye were talking to Vernon and Petunia. When Petunia spotted Aquila, she squeaked and rose, rushing towards the girl.

"You make sure he doesn't fall," Petunia requested firmly.

Aquila waved off her concern. "I'm an excellent flier, Petunia. I promise he won't. Where is he?"

"His room," Petunia informed her. "His things and such are in his bag."

"Wonderful," Aquila grinned. "Thank you, again, to you and Vernon, for letting him attend. He won't regret it, I promise that."

Petunia's green eyes watched the teen as she smiled nervously. "Oh, I have no doubt about that. Now, if anything goes wrong, or he gets hurt or sick-"

"I'll contact you directly," Aquila finished, already having this conversation with the woman. "I promise he'll be in good hands."

Petunia nodded and kissed the girl's cheek before Aquila followed Tonks up the stiars. "Potter ready yet? We're waiting on him."

"Packing that attrocious trunk," Tonks giggled. "Hurry, hurry, you still need to get your things."

"Yes, mum," Aquila said in a dull voice before she knocked lightly on Dudley's door. It opened immediately and she saw Dudley in one of the plain jerseys she had transfigured for him. She grinned upon seeing it. "It fits!" She assessed it, making him turn around, much to his embarrassment. "Awesome, I was worried I missed a spell or something that automatically corrected size."

"It's wicked, thanks."

She bit her lip as he turned to face her. "Right, so there's been a change of plans. How do you feel about roller coasters?" Unsure of where this was going, he shrugged.

"Love 'em, why?" His tone of suspicion was just what she was looking for. "Are we... bloody hell, we're riding that broom thing, aren't we?"

"Flying," she corrected. "And yes. Er, you're with me. And I already promised your mother that you will not fall so you better follow my instructions."

"But I can't... like fly. I'm not magical."

"Oh, you won't be the one flying. I will," Aquila grinned, tugging on his arm. "I need to get my broom. But you're flying with me, doc."

"What?"

"If you're going to watch it, you might as well feel like what they do. Besides, it's only until we get to London." His apprehensiveness was not lost on her. She gave him a reassuring smile and took his bag. "Right, this is going in my trunk, and ... yes, be sure to wear comfortable shoes..." He nodded and got to put his shoes on while Aquila opened the door to Privet Drive, Number 4. A gust of wind blew her hair back and she grinned to herself. Oh, it had been months since she'd flown. She was not going to let this moment pass without some fun. Her trunk was resting on the doorstep, her broom beside it. Grinning, she opened her trunk and tossed Dudley's bag inside, before sealing it with a sticking charm. She was not letting her knickers fly across the Thames.

Soon the Order began to file out and they stood as a group on the sidewalk.

"Nymphadora-" Mad-Eye started.

"Don't call me Nymphadora!" Tonks spat at her Auror head. Aquila pulled Dudley beside her as the witch's hair turned red.

"You take Black's trunk. Remus, you have Potter's."

Aquila gave her trunk up and pulled Dudley behind her. "Right, so I'm going to need you to sit behind me, so I can drive. Now, you hold onto me and don't let go, got it?" Dudley nodded, understanding this was life or death. "And you put your feet here-" She pointed to the metal prongs by the broom brussles. She climbed onto her broom and floated beside Dudley, scooting forward slightly. Lowering herself a little bit, she was just low enough for him to get on. He did so, his arms circling her.

"Mmm, you smell good," Aquila stated. He was wearing that cologne and Merlin, she loved it.

"Er, thanks."

"Right, you feel like you're getting sick, you better not get sick on me," she stated firmly as she gently rose in the air. "We're going to go pretty fast to stay in formation, so you better not chicken out."

"And if you fall," Angelina said as she got on her broom beside him, winking. "I'll catch you."

"And don't look down unless you can handle it." Aquila gripped the handle of her broom as everyone else mounted and she crossed her legs under her, since Dudley's were in the holders. She shifted slightly so she was comfortable and Dudley's arms tightened around her as they rose in the air until they were as high as the rooftops. Mad-Eye ordered them into position and Aquila glanced at Potter to her left smirking. "Race you, Potter."

"I think I'm a bit faster, Black," Potter returned, smirking back. Oh, it was on.

"Right, away!" Mad-Eye called and then they were off.

"Bloody hell," Dudley breathed, his body flush against hers with the speed. His chin rested on her shoulder and she couldn't help but laugh.

"You're lucky I'm not doing any tricks," she called over the wind. "I usually do."

"You do this all the time?"

"Mmmhmm," she hummed, keeping Potter in her peripheral vision. Her wand was securely stuck in her boot, but she could get it in a second if she needed. Angelina, however, did the tricks. She barrel rolled under them and Dudley did look down. She could tell because he stiffened slightly when he realized they were above the cloudline.

"How long of a flight is this?" Dudley asked.

"About an hour!" They turned sharply and Dudley tensed, steadying himself before he fell. Maybe she should have stuck him to the broom.

Nearly ten minutes into the flight, Aquila's hands started to go numb. She gently sat up, her broom still going the same speed and stretched out her hands.

"You aren't even touching it!"

"Don't need to. It knows which way to go," Aquila informed him. "It'll keep going forward." Once her hands were feeling again, she zipped forward as she suddenly dipped and became the head of the group. "We switch like geese, so we don't look like resting targets," Aquila informed him. They veered off course suddenly, heading south. "Throw the dogs off our scent."

"Dogs?"

"Bad guys," she stated simply. "We don't say their name when we're out in the open. Brings bad luck." They went back on hours and for another ten minutes, she led until Remus took over. She took the spot beside him, Potter staying in the middle at all times. "Say, Remus!" The man glanced at her briefly to let her know he was listening. "He knows I'm coming?"

"He's going to," Remus called.

Shit. That was going to be weird. She had never met her uncle. Never. She just knew he was innocent. Knew he was Order headquarters.

"Who's he?" Dudley questioned.

"Uncle," Aquila said quietly. She didn't know if he heard her, but the rest of the trip was silent. When they reached London, they skimmed the water of the Thames, Aquila laughing in glee as Mad-Eye got low enough to cause some water in his wake, hitting them square in the face. They flew past a ferry and as soon as they reached a park, they prepared to land. "Right, hold on tight!" She got low enough to almost hit the trees and came to an abrupt halt, causing Dudley to knock into her. He slid off the broom and she followed, clutching it in excitement as she rounded on him. "Well? Like it?"

"Wicked," he insisted.

She nodded and glanced towards Tonks as she got her trunk back, dragging it towards Mad-Eye as he delivered them to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Bloody hell... She read the slip with a nod and glanced towards Dudley as he did the same. He would be obliviated of the name later - not that she was telling him that. She took his arm and they carefully crossed the road to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. He couldn't tell when the houses began to pull apart, but she knew when he began to see it because he gasped.

She grinned as she glanced over her shoulder at him and followed Dudley through the door. She pressed her lips to her fingers as she glanced at Dudley, and he nodded, understanding to be quiet. She grabbed her wand and made her trunk levitate in front of her as they walked past a door where people were arguing. Just as she was about to get to it, Tonks tripped and all hell broke loose. Loud, screeching noises sounded, crying, "Mudblood! How dare they besmirch the ancient and noble House of Black! How dare such filth enter these doors-"

"That's grandma," she informed Dudley. "She was lovely."

"That portrait is talking," Dudley said with surprise.

"Mudblood! Mudbloods in my house! Werewolves! How dare they enter-"

"Oh, shut up, you old hag," a voice cried. The curtains shut abruptly and Aquila turned, recognizing the man. Merlin, he looked just like her own father. His long black hair wavy and his gray eyes. He only saw Harry though and hugged his godson heartily.

"Sirius," Harry stated, hugging the man back. "Merlin, look at you!"

"Look at you!" Sirius returned. "Look more and more like your father every day!"

"Ella! Darling!" Mrs. Weasley. Aquila smiled at the red-haired woman behind her uncle and hugged her tightly. "My, look at you! It's been ages since I've seen you!"

"Molly," Aquila greeted. "Goodness, you seem to be getting younger."

"Oh, nonsense," Molly waved her off. "And who is this, Aquila?"

Aquila glanced at Dudley, biting her lip. "Right, this is Dudley. He's Potter's cousin. He's going to Quidditch trials with me tomorrow, but we came with you lot for the easier travel."

"Oh! Welcome!" Mrs. Weasley engulfed Dudley in a hug and the boy seemed at a loss before slowly hugging the woman back. "We love having friends over! Now, you're bunking with Harry and Ron, I hope you don't mind. We only have so many cleared out rooms. Aquila, darling, you'll be with Angelina and Tonks."

"Smashing," Aquila smiled. "Oh, and Dudley, be sure not to touch anything hanging around. We haven't quite looked over everything yet."

"Dinner will be in a half hour," Molly stated simply, shooing them away. She took Dudley's arm and led him up the stairs, and as soon as they reached the first landing, there were two cries of "Harry!"

"You're going to wake the portrait again, Weasley," Aquila sighed, pushing past them. "Say, Weasley, where's your lot's room?"

"Second door on the left," Ron called to her carelessly. She rolled her eyes and glanced at Dudley as they went to the designated room.

"Right, that's Ronald Weasley, the ginger. He's Potter's best mate. And the girl is Hermione Granger. She's bloody brilliant. She's Potter's best mate too. And you'll probably see Ginny, Ron's little sister. She has a complete crush on Potter but he's blind." She glanced around the room, seeing Weasley's Chudley Cannon's posters lining the walls. "Weasley's already decorated, I see. These are the Chudley Cannons. Horrible team." She set down her trunk as she spotted his bed and the uncharacteristic stack of letters assigned to Potter on the other made one. "This is your bed," she informed him. She took his bag out and placed it at the foot. "I have yet to find mine, but I'll find you before dinner starts. I hate to leave you, but you'll meet Potter's friends -" She trailed off as said friends entered. "Er, right, that's my cue. See you soon. Sorry!" She gave his arm a squeeze before she dashed out the door.

She found Angelina making out with a twin she sincerely hoped was George and groaned. "Alright, Angelina, break it up-"

"Oi, Black, I'm kissing my girlfriend here, mate-"

"Yeah, and I'm trying to find my room, so I can put my trunk and broom inside."

"Across from ours, beautiful," Fred stated as he exited his own room. Right, then. Aquila rolled her eyes.

"Go romp with Alicia, Weasley."

"Oi!" Aquila just laughed and entered her own room. It wasn't magnificent by any means. The walls were just as dark as the rest of the house and the bedding was a deep purple on each matching bed. She spotted Tonks, but moved to claim hers before Angelina named one. She set her trunk down at the foot of it and her broom soon followed. Merlin's beard, Sirius hadn't even glanced at her. Did he not even know about her? She was two when he was chucked in prison. A long time ago, but it wasn't like he could forget his neice, right?

They had never met, they hadn't... ever met. Merlin, and she was going to run away here just a few weeks ago? She ran her fingers over the edge of her trunk before tucking her broom away inside it. Angelina entered a minute later with George and that was definitely Aquila's cue to leave, yet again.

"Remember, dinner's in about twenty five minutes," Aquila chided.

"Oh, we'll finish in time," Angelina smirked before going back to snog George.

"And not on my bed!" Aquila cried as they moved towards it. She slammed the door shut in exasperation before moving back towards Potter's door. Dudley looked extremely uncomfortable as he sat there on his bed as Hermione Granger prattled on about something. He had no idea what she was talking about.

"Granger, if you're still reciting text books, and this coming from a Ravenclaw, you should probably be quiet." Granger closed her mouth and glanced towards Aquila. Weasley and Potter were on a bed talking heatedly about something. She gave an easy smile to Dudley. "Right, since George and Angelina are probably doing more than snogging right now, I've been kicked out of my room. So, let's leave the cherished Golden Trio to themselves."

Dudley seemed highly relieved with that. "Yeah, I agree."

"We'll find Fred. He's probably up to no-"

"Come on, don't you want to hear the Order meeting?"

It was a good idea while it lasted, and then that blasted furball ruined everything.

"This is why I have an owl," Aquila muttered. Granger shot her a glare.

"Crookshanks is more of a companion than an owl!"

"Tell that to Potter," Aquila smirked. She glanced at Fred, winking. "Freddie, darling, this is Dudley. Mind if we join you while Angelina romps with your more handsome self?"

"Am I allowed to show you new products?"

"Of course," Aquila grinned. She dragged Dudley along and he sank down on one of the twins beds. "You would have bunked in here, but Molly knows better. It's absolutely dangerous. The twins are quite explosive when they're inventing."

"You invent?" Dudley asked in interest.

"Of course! Why, since the wee age of three we were pranking the house of the humble family of Weasley." Aquila rolled her eyes at Fred's antics. "My uglier self and I - and he is rather uglier, isn't he, Aquila?" She shook her head behind Fred's back and Dudley snorted. "Yes, I quite agree. Anyway, Georgie and I have been selling products to students of Hogwarts going on seven years now. It breaks my heart, it does, that this is our last year to try the products out on ickle firsties. It's the poltergeist that's kept us in business for so long. If he didn't take responsibility for half of our products gone wrong, why, Gonnie would have kicked us out years ago!"

"And Gonnie is...?"

"Our Transfiguration teacher," Aquila input. "And Peeves the Poltergeist just likes getting in trouble, Fred. He doesn't take your bad products credit just to take the credit. He likes it when the teachers yell at him because they can't do anything."

"Ah, you see, our latest invention is brilliant! Fantastic! It'll blow you youngling's minds!" Fred rummaged in a trunk by his bed and pulled out a small black looking object. "This beautiful masterpiece that was quite brilliant, if Georgie and I say so ourselves, and is designed specifically for the greasy dungeon bat himself - Professor Snape."

"Oh, Merlin. You do realize that he's going to murder you and stuff your body into the Gryffindor points glass?"

"Ah, but it'll be worth it," Fred insisted. He presented it to Dudley. "It's perfectly safe. George and I tested it out ourselves. Go on, eat it. Just like a jelly bean-"

"What does it do?" Dudley asked.

"You have no idea how the magical properties of that will affect him," Aquila reasoned.

"Ah, but we do. We took it to a Muggle shop just down the road." Fred winked at her. "Obliviation spell afterwards, of course-"

"Fred you can get in serious trouble for that!" Aquila protested.

"It was worth it. This beauty, as you so beauitfully asked, is to give you the appearance of our dear Potions Master. It only lasts ten minutes, but it will drive Snape crazy."

"Don't eat that before dinner," Aquila requested gently. "Professor Snape is here - I heard him when we came in. He'll no doubt be having dinner with us."

"All the better reason to eat it!" Fred insisted.

"After people are sent off to bed," Aquila returned. "He doesn't even know anyone yet, don't start him off on the bad food."

"She does have a point," Dudley input. He held out the black candy to Fred and the Weasley took it with a sigh of defeat. "After dinner."

"Oo, I like this one," Fred stated with a grin. Fred let his long ginger hair fall in his face as he put the black bean back in place.

"So, you're friends with the Ireland team too, then?"

"No, that's just Aquila. She's mates with the whole lot. I'm more on-again off-again friends with Lynch. Angelina's closer to them than most of us," Fred shrugged, but obviously pleased with the topic change.

"You make it sound like a romance, Fred," Aquila laughed. "Oh, Aidan! I'm your friend right now, right, Aidan?" Her voice was a high pitched one and extremely breathy as though she was under the effects of a love potion. "My name's Fred, Aidan-"

"Oi, I'm not like that."

"You are on the inside!" Aquila accused. Dudley laughed at Fred's indignant expression. "Don't even try to deny it."

"Oi!" he cried. "If Alicia didn't say I couldn't hit you with a pillow, I would be hitting you with a pillow."

"I'll be watching my drinks, then," Aquila quipped. "I can't trust you as far as I can throw you."

"I can throw you farther, hence I'm the better beater, Black."

"Better beater?" Aquila barked out a laugh, rolling her eyes. "Sure, Weasley."

A shrill cry of Mrs. Weasley's "Dinner!" had them up and leading the crowd down the stairs. Aquila kept close to Dudley, as she could tell he was feeling a little out of his world, and since they were in the front of the crowd, nearly crashed into Professor Snape on his way to leave. The man stopped suddenly and sneered down at them, making them all halt.

"Professor Snape," Aquila greeted, far braver than the Gryffindors behind her it seemed.

He intoned his head slightly, "Miss Black." And then he was walking away.

"Bloody hell, he's a bit scary, isn't he?" Dudley muttered.

"That's Professor Snape," Aquila informed him. "Brilliant Potions Master."

"Brilliant?" Ron echoed. "He's a git."

"No, he's really not. He's the highest ranked N.E.W.T. student to ever grace Hogwarts, and he's probably got the best teaching methods."

"Teaching methods? He deducts points from Gryffindor for just breathing wrong!" Fred cried.

Aquila grinned behind her towards the Gryffindors. "It's not my fault you're in Gryffindor and don't have, as a collective whole, enough brains to make up a first year Ravenclaw." When they entered the dining room, the feast was already laid out and Order members that resided at Grimmauld Place were seated around the table. At the head was Sirius, and the other head was Arthur, and Tonks, Lupin, and Molly were scattered about. Aquila sat beside Tonks with a smile and Dudley chose the seat beside her.

Potter chose the seat closest to Sirius and she could just begin to hear the murmurs of their private conversation.

"Where's Angelina, Fred? And your brother?"

"Oi, I'm George!" Fred cried. "Honestly, woman!"

"Fine, where's Fred, George?" Molly said, her temper ticking as her twin son smiled at her brightly.

"Only kidding, I am Fred. He and Angelina are talking Quidditch tactics for next years team. She's Captain."

"And you didn't stick around?" Molly asked suspiciously.

"And miss your cooking?" Ron piped up, coming to his brother's rescue. "Honestly, I'd rather eat than play Quidditch."

As they began to pass around dishes, Dudley whispered in her direction. "There's no... like, bat wings or dogweed in this, right?"

She laughed, "No. It's all normal - everything you see here can be made in the Muggle world."

He grew less apprehensive about the food and tried it. Seemingly pleased with what he got, and even more pleased when it wasn't foul, he ate heartily.

"Oi! Black, you could have told us dinner started."

Aquila rolled her eyes, but spoke the same time Sirius did. "I wasn't going to interrupt that heated Quidditch debate-" she started just as Sirius began with, "Not my job to retrieve you-"

There was silence a moment as her and Sirius made eye contact before Aquila continued, glancing back to George. "It's not like we didn't save you a plate," Aquila finished quietly. She cleared her throat and turned back to her own plate, feeling uncomfortable as her uncle's eyes stared at her.

"So, I don't believe I've met the new comers," Sirius said at last.

"This is Dudley Dursley," Molly introduced with a smile. "And you know Aquila-"

"Black," Sirius finished apprehensively. "Muggleborn?"

"Pureblood," Aquila corrected stiffly. She sipped from her pumpkin juice, feeling the tension in the air.

"Which one of my cousins had you?"

Aquila swallowed the juice and set it down, hesitating before she replied. "None. Your brother, Regulus, was my father."

She heard a few forks scraping their plates as silence swallowed the room. Molly chose to continue on with the introductions. "And this is Angelina Johnson. She's in the same year as the twins. Gryffindor, right, sweetheart?"

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Angelina answered. She glanced towards Aquila worriedly. "And thank you for letting me crash here for the night. We were going to just go to my place, but I feel a bit safer here."

"Oh, it's no big deal, dear," Molly insisted. Aquila took a bite of the roast in front of her, savoring the taste. Merlin, Molly was the best cook on the planet. She glanced at Dudley to see him engaged in a conversation with Angelina. She glanced towards Tonks, seeing the woman a bit uncomfortable.

"I was hoping to talk to you, actually," Aquila informed the woman. The Auror looked towards her, raising an eyebrow of question. "You see, I was wondering just what my brother is doing in Spain."

Tonks glanced around before giving Aquila her full attention. "I can't discuss that with you."

"Is he recruiting?" Aquila asked. "Is he... doing missions to find Death Eater hide outs? Like... I just want to know if he's safe, or if he's putting himself on the line."

"He's... safer than most," Tonks said after a moment. "I can't tell you much. He's keeping Muggles safe. Getting married-"

"I know. Rosa Javier," Aquila muttered. "Have you met her?"

"No, but I've heard of her," Tonks nodded after a moment. "Gorgeous girl - Italian and Spanish decent. From what I understand, they fell in love pretty fast - and they are excellent fighters. Her and your brother. She was president of the duelling club in Instituta Madrid. She also is in an Auror program with your brother - I guess that's how they got so close."

"Oh," Aquila murmured. "Her family is head of the Order there, right?"

"Mmmhmm," Tonks confirmed, taking a bite of potatoes. "She's also destined to take over once her parents retire due to old age. They're in their sixties, now. Her father was severely injured in the first war and he has difficulty walking. Her mother is a healer at St. Juliano's. Head of the Department of Incurable Diseases."

Wow. He certainly picked someone. "Well, I hope they have a lot of kids," Aquila admitted. "She doesn't have siblings?"

"Single child," Tonks nodded. "She has plenty of Uncles, but they don't want to take over. They think it's too dangerous. As far as I'm informed, Rosa's eager to take over. She's absolutely lethal on the field. Never met a better fighter, except for Mad-Eye, of course." Wow. Certainly an excellent pick, Evan.

They moved onto the topic of Quidditch next, and Aquila pondered a thought before asking, "Any bets you'd like me to place on your behalf?"

She thought carefully. "If you can get a bet placed for Adrian Davis to be on Liverpool Leeches, and Glynda Gladwell for Holyhead Harpies, that'd be great."

"I'll see what I can do," Aquila smirked. She would, of course. Tonks usually attended when she didn't have Auror duty. But now she had Auror and Order duty and couldn't. Oh, well, less people the merrier, as Aquila believed. Afterall, her entire house was the secluded and introverted house. Aquila was probably the most outgoing since... well Helena Ravenclaw. Once dinner ended, and Mrs. Weasley insisted she had the dishes, she moved to leave the dining room, not wanting to get stuck with Sirius. Merlin, and by the way he was looking at her, that's just what he intended.

"Aquila." Aquila stopped and Dudley looked at her as he moved towards the door. "If I may have a moment?"

"Go on," Aquila muttered to Dudley, slowly turning to face the Uncle that had broke Black tradition and been sorted into Gryffindor. She could hear Arthur Weasley, who had been itching for a chance to talk to Dudley all night ask him the exact purpose of a rubber duck.

"Bit of a joke, really," Dudley explained as he left the room. "You just put it in your bath when you're a kid. Gives the children something to play with, I suppose..."

The man looked identical to what she pictured her father would look like after twelve years in Azkaban. His eyes were gray and stared at her as if he was trying to find any evil within. Any darkness. She met his eyes blankly. Here it came.

"You look just like him," Sirius stated at last. Aquila raised an eyebrow in surprise, not expecting that. "Death Eater to the core, are you?"

"My mother is Euryale Rosier," Aquila said simply. She didn't rise to the bait. "My brother, Evan, is in Spain on Order business. He's engaged to Rosa Javier. I'm not a Death Eater."

He shrugged to himself and leaned back against the table, his arms crossed in front of him. An elderly looking elf was pulling things off of the table as he grumbled under his breath about Mudbloods and traitors. Obviously a creature she didn't want to cross. "No, but your father was."

"Regulus Black was my father," she said sharply. The elf paused and stared at her, its eyes widening. "My loyalty will always lie with him, just as all Black's loyalty is not with a master. My father was a great man that was involved in the wrong crowd." She forced herself to hold Sirius's gaze. "If I'm a Death Eater, I wouldn't be going to trials with a Muggle through my invitation, would I?"

"A cover-"

"Merlin, you're as thickheaded as my mother," she interrupted. Must have been a trait inbred people carried. Was she thickheaded? "My loyalty is first to my father, and second to the Order. I despise the Dark Lord with my entire being. He murdered my father and I want him to pay for that." Sirius didn't seem impressed with this and glanced towards the elf.

"Get to clearing the table, you filthy creature."

How dare he? He acted no better than Malfoy did to his own elves. This man was related to her? She saw nothing to be proud of. "Is there something you wanted, sir?" Aquila bit out as Sirius's gaze traveled back to her. He looked her over, as if trying to spot a Dark Mark. Honestly?

"What is your intention in the war?"

"I plan on joining the Ireland Quidditch team and avoiding a marriage contract," Aquila informed Sirius simply. "Though my mother has relented for now, there will no doubt be a contract in order for me again, and I'll have to start all over to convince her its a bad idea. And then I'll try out for Ireland next year, hopefully make it and do that on top of my studies. I won't have time for war. And if I did, I'd faithfully fight for the Order. I see no reason to not fight for the Order. I'm not a supremist. I believe Muggles and Muggleborns and Purebloods are all equal. There's no reason to fight about something you believe me to be. I'm not who you think I am."

Sirius pulled himself away from the table and towards her. His wand was drawn and it pressed against her neck. She raised her chin defiantly but didn't reach for her own wand. She didn't want to raise to the bait. She was smarter than that. "I do hope you'll watch your step. You may be a neice, but that doesn't mean I trust you. I never even knew you were alive."

"And here I was," she said softly, her lips curling into a smirk, "thinking I'd run away from home and appear at your doorstep. Here I was thinking that you were an innocent man that could be trusted without questions asked. That you were family, the good side of the family. How silly of me to want to go to you for help."

"Run away?" Sirius asked, eyebrow raised.

"You've met my brother," Aquila said quietly. "Evan. Evan Black. He stops by frequently for mission information. He says he's met you. I was going to run away and he said here was best. But I suppose he was wrong. He rarely is, that. Being a Hufflepuff and all."

"Hufflepuff," Sirius repeated as if it was a foreign word. He stepped back, a confused expression on his face. "And your house?"

"Ravenclaw." He was surprised, but pride refused to let him be embarrassed for his earlier assessment of her. "I think it best I make sure Dudley's okay. I don't want him to be caught in a conversation with Arthur Weasley too long. Mr. Weasley sometimes gets a bit carried away with his questions of the Muggle world." She turned and was about to leave when she glanced back. "If that's all you wanted, of course, sir?"

He cleared his throat, sheathing his wand. "When are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Dawn," she answered curtly. She wanted to ask why, but thought better to be suspicious. He'd no doubt be patrolling outside her door to make sure she didn't kill anyone in their sleep.

"And your Muggle... Potter's cousin you say?"

"He's not my Muggle," she said carefully. "And yes, he is. Rather nice man, if I do say so myself. Despite all the things Potter's no doubt been telling you, because I saw the look you gave him at dinner. He's not a bad person... Neither am I. I hope you'll realize that before you spend the entire night without any sleep."

She was about to reach the door when a throat cleared behind her. A tiny voice, rough with age, spoke. It was one she thought was vaguely familiar, but didn't identify as anyone she knew. "Kreature is here to serve Mistress," it spoke. Aquila glanced at the withering elf. Its eyes were wide and there was something in the way he looked at her. Sadness. "Kreature was Master Regulus's personal elf, Mistress. Kreature will serve the daughter of Master Regulus dutifully, Mistress."

Aquila tilted her head to the side. "Thank you, Kreature. I'm sure you'll be a fine elf. But I require nothing of import for the evening. Please, clean the table off and rest. I'm sure you're very tired for having kept this house in such pristeen condition."

The elf nodded immediately, its torn ears flapping in his exuberance. "Of course, Mistress. Kreature will do as Mistress requires. Mistress is not a blood traitor. Mistress is kind to Kreature. Kreature lives to serve Mistress, as he has served Mistress's Master Regulus. Kreature will overlook Mistress's selection in friends."

"And I am very thankful for that, Kreature. Thank you, again." She glanced at Sirius, sniffing in displeasure. "Good night, Uncle Sirius. I hope to see you at breakfast."

The black haired man began to say something, but she was already out the door, passing a muttering portrait of her grandmother on her way up the stairs. She reached the second landing and let out a puff of annoyed air before continuing on to her room. She needed to change to her pajamas. And she needed to get to bed for the early morning. She would see Dudley then. She doubted he'd want to be engaged in conversation in front of Potter's friends. She didn't want to, that was.