For the final week of term, Aurora kept her head down as much as possible. She avoided Potter when she could, only speaking to him when no one else was around to overhear his whispered worries about her father, and her questioning about whether he had actually managed to sleep the night before — usually, the answer was no, and it showed on his face. They didn't discuss what had happened in any explicit terms, and Aurora was happy to keep it that way. It seemed he needed that, too.
The configuration in the common room had changed, if not by much. Rather than Draco, Pansy, Vincent and Greg, Aurora was most often joined by Daphne, occasionally alongside Blaise, and Theodore. Lucille and Millicent both appeared antsy, though for different reasons, and Gwen, Robin, and the rest all distanced themselves over the other side of the common room.
She was most comfortable talking to Cassius and Graham, in truth. They slipped, mercifully, into friendship as opposed to the mess and confusion of earlier in the year, and Aurora could not have been more grateful for the reprieve. The Quidditch pitch was available for use again, and both were more than up for an early evening flight with her. Of course, Aurora claimed that she just wanted to ensure she was ready for next year and they could work together as always, but the truth was, she needed the freedom flying gave her, the feeling of weightlessness, the ability to forget everything else and just focus on what she was doing in the moment. Ballet gave a similar feeling, but it was a solitary hobby, for her, especially now that dance club had disbanded for the year. Flying gave her connection, too, and she was grateful for it.
A few nights before they were due to go home, Dumbledore summoned Aurora to his office, which was hardly surprising. She had been waiting for this moment, sat across from him, and was rather surprised when, instead of saying anything worthwhile, he first offered her a sherbet lemon.
"Thank you," she said as she took one, watching his eyes glimmer at her. Dumbledore was a strange man, one whom she could not yet understand. He had an extraordinary amount of influence for a mere headmaster, but she supposed that was what happened when the government was incompetent — and had been for many years — and nearly all people in the country came through the same educational institution.
"Lady Black," he said, and Aurora tried not to smile smugly at hearing the title. This wasn't time for needless pride. "We both know what happened last week. No doubt, you have very much to deal with when you return home this summer holiday."
She smiled thinly. "I rather think so, yes."
"I do make a habit of getting to know my students," he told her, "even if they do not realise it. This school has had so many students pass through its doors, each with their fair share of secrets by the end. I know that your situation, even so, is a peculiar one. Few take up lordship while still a student."
His pause invited explanation, and Aurora thought for a moment before replying. "It was out of necessity. Had my relatives survived, I would have assumed formal ladyship at seventeen, or upon graduation. But you doubtless knew this already."
He dipped his head, with an amused smile. "I know that navigating such a position may be tricky. I am afraid even I have little advice that you will find useful. But, Lady Black, I believe I do have a proposal that will interest you.
"You have full control of the Black family estate, correct? All of its properties?"
"That is correct." And easy for anyone to find out, even if the details were concealed to the untrustworthy. "Why does this concern you, Professor? I do hope you are not planning on an expansion of Hogwarts Castle, I fear that would be rather too ambitious, even for you."
A smile crossed his face, but didn't quite reach his eyes. "Lady Black, as you are aware through your father, I am organising a movement to help defend this country against the return of Lord Voldemort." Some of the portraits on the walls muttered, annoyed, at the words. "I am aware that you have a number of heavily warded, well-guarded houses, ready at your disposal, which are uninhabited except for your house elves." Something dropped into her stomach as she realised what he was getting at. "Lady Black, might I have your word that this conversation does not get passed around. You understand, I cannot have word of any of our activities getting to the wrong people."
She nodded slowly. "You have my word. On that, alone."
"Good. The Order of the Phoenix was a group set up at the beginning of the last Wizarding War, to fight Lord Voldemort and his supporters, separate from the Ministry. As Minister Fudge has not seen fit to take any action in the past week—" he had not even so much as called his council, and Aurora knew some of the Assembly members were growing restless with all the rumours that were coming out and being ignored "—this group is being recalled. But we need a headquarters."
It was as she thought, then. He wanted her allegiance.
"Professor, while I support your cause, I do not know that I can pledge anything to you. It would be a mistake on my part, to do so, I feel."
"I am not asking for much," he said lightly. "I know of your home in London, Islington, currently unused? Another in Kensington? Both would be useful for their proximity to the Ministry and Wizarding London."
She tensed at the mention of Grimmauld Place, the house in Islington. It was hardly a place for the Order — really, for anyone who was not an approved of member of the Black family — or one which she thought any of Dumbledore's allies or supporters would take to. If they got anywhere Grimmauld Place, she was certain, they would take out every artefact they deemed as 'dark' and strip her family's heritage away.
"You can't be serious," she said. "Professor, that house would be wholly unsuitable." Dumbledore bowed his head, at the same time gesturing for her to go on. She pursed her lips and admitted, "Our house in Kensington, I am less familiar with. But I still don't know that I like the idea of having a rebel order creeping through my property." With a sigh, she dared herself to ask, "Has my father already spoken to you about this?" Dumbledore nodded, and Aurora squeezed her eyes shut, annoyed. It would have been nice of him to give her a bit more warning, or any at all.
The idea behind the Order, Aurora understood, but she did not want to ally herself to it, especially not when the political mood was still uncertain. Houses such as Malfoy and Nott and Selwyn all would support the Dark Lord, houses such as Greengrass and Caradas trying to remain neutral, those such as MacMillan and Abbott staunchly on the side of the 'light'. But that did not necessarily mean Dumbledore, and Aurora knew that she could not make such a decision while within the walls of Hogwarts, anyway. She needed to learn more, so that she could make a choice not only informed by personal ideology and opinion, but by her political needs. But she could hear Dumbledore out. If there was no viable alternative, she did still need to protect herself — it was just difficult to do that while defending her name, politically.
"What would you offer me, anyway?" she asked. "Out of pure curiosity. I can't imagine you expect me to help you out of sentimentality?"
"I may be an old man," Dumbledore said slowly, "but I assure you, I have quite the network of friends. You told me you were interested in Alchemy?" Aurora nodded, uncertain.
"You told me to keep studying and I could choose to take the subject in my sixth year, with sufficient O.W.L. results."
"I'm sure it won't surprise you to know that I have very many contacts within Alchemy, even now. I could perhaps, help put you in contact, or assist you in starting studies earlier than would be usual. Don't think me arrogant, but I must admit are many areas of magic which I have acquired a strong base of knowledge in, including rare magic. I do not only mean Alchemy — I practice Occlumency, Legilimency, and consider myself rather capable of wandless magic. Or," he went on, "as you are aware, I have many Ministry connections, too." Somehow, Aurora doubted those Ministry connections meant quite so much at the moment, not with Fudge seemingly so frustrated with Dumbledore. Many followed Dumbledore, but she would not take that for granted. And she had power of her own; Dumbledore was not going to serve her right now. "Of course, I have other options."
Then why was he asking her? Aurora couldn't help but ask, though felt she knew the answer. Perhaps he was curious about her family, wanting to poke his nose in. Perhaps he wanted to get a measure of her, to see just how much 'dark' magic abided at Grimmauld Place.
The fact that he thought to ask her rattled Aurora first of all, and the lack of useful offers frustrated her.
"Why my family houses specifically?" she asked slowly. "If, as you say, you have other options."
"In truth, your house is simply best placed." She wasn't sure that she believed that. "The wards may need reinforcing, and I would be happy to be Secret Keeper for a Fidelius Charm on the property, to tighten security."
She almost laughed. Surely Dumbledore couldn't think she would let him do that. Perhaps her father would have, but Aurora did not want Dumbledore interfering in her family or its magic.
"Most of our members do not have the means to accommodate us. A headquarters, a base from which to operate, would be of great benefit, especially if we end up conflicting with the Ministry. I would compensate you, too, of course. Your father suggested it — were it up to him alone, he said, he would have offered up anything he could to help."
"Well, I'm not my father."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Indeed, you are not."
"You helped me recover from a curse when I was a child," Aurora said, narrowing her eyes. He blinked, clearly thrown off by this line of questioning. Good. "A curse cast by Bellatrix Lestrange, designed to kill me, or at least harm me beyond human capacity. The Transmogrifian Curse?"
"I — I do not know," he said, and it annoyed her to realise the sincerity of his tone.
"But you treated the curse."
"I removed most of the traces of Dark magic from you, yes. Though it has become more and more concerning that those traces do not seem to have disappeared... Entirely."
That was what she had feared. "You have a Pensieve, here, don't you? A rather nice one, if Potter's description is accurate." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "Professor, I am in danger with the Dark Lord's return, too. Many of his followers would kill me, one of them Bellatrix Lestrange. For that, I need friends. I'm not stupid. That doesn't mean I accept your offer, though."
"But?" His mouth twitched into a small, victorious smile which she despised.
"But i will consider it. If," she cautioned, "you will help me to uncover the truth of the curse upon me, and why it has manifested and persisted in the way it did. I want access to your memories, your knowledge, and I do not want you to coddle me and shield me from Dark magic as you try to do for every other student. It is rather too late for that, I fear."
"You wish to learn Dark magic?"
"Learn about it," she corrected, rolling her eyes. As if she would ask Dumbledore for that — it would have been a certain way to end the conversation, at least. "And how to fight it, properly. I can think of no better teacher alive."
Dumbledore opened his mouth slightly, then closed it, and bowed his head. "Then I shall consider your offer, too, Lady Black. Knowledge is a noble pursuit."
"I'll let you know my decision as soon as I can, Professor. But you understand, I cannot promise anything right now. It would also be rather inappropriate to do so, I feel." She was sure she could hear Phineas Black tutting in approval, but then, it could just as easily be disapproval.
Dumbledore nodded at her. "As you wish, Lady Black. Thank you for your time. Take a sherbet lemon on your way out, I hope not to have too big a surplus by the end of term."
-*
The Leaving Feast that year was unusually subdued. Even the official presentation ceremony for Cedric Diggory's Triwizard win, was overshadowed by the notable absence of Professor Karkaroff. Rumours abounded about what had happened, some sticking by the theory that he had been killed by the Dark Lord, but many insisting it must have been some rogue Death Eaters instead, in some freak breach of security, or, bizarrely, that he had staged his own murder and brought Potter along for reasons unknown, which Aurora thought made very little sense but clearly comforted some of her fearful peers.
Headmaster Dumbledore acknowledged the truth, of course, in his speech. He spoke of unity, of the need to maintain the connections between schools and between houses which had been fostered during the tournament. During the speech, Aurora noted most of her friends at the table muttering amongst themselves, even as the other tables nodded along. The other three houses were always united, after all. When he mentioned Harry Potter, derisive snorts went around the Slytherin Table — which admittedly did not help their case for unity, if they ever did want to propose one — but Potter himself looked deeply uncomfortable with the attention.
They did, however, join in the toast to Karkaroff, alongside their Durmstrang tablemates, though many seemed grudging. Draco had spoken all year about how Karkaroff was an old friend of his father's, but now he appeared uncertain of what he was supposed to think, and his hands shook around the goblet he raised.
That evening, Aurora's friends did not gather for one last night in the dorms as they usually did. At least, not that she was aware of. Instead, she sat up talking to Gwen, going over their plans for the summer. These included Aurora's plans to ensure Gwen's safety, should there be a violent resurgence in the Dark Lord's name — though she doubted it would happen so soon — as well as more general plans to meet up, if possible.
It was still with an uneasy feeling that she boarded the Hogwarts Express the next morning, and sat with Daphne, Theodore, Gwen and Robin. The weather could not have been more different to the downpour in which they arrived last September — instead, it was bright and sunny, summer air warm against the mass of black robes.
"My mother wrote to me this morning," Daphne told them as the train rushed through the mountain glens. "And Astoria. She wants us to go to France for the summer, so I'll only see you all on Merlin's Day. Grandmother's hosting again and she'll be furious as ever if we miss it."
A frown creased Theodore's brow as he glanced to Daphne, then Aurora, who nodded in understanding. The Greengrasses had been known to be neutral in the last war, despite some of their house sharing rather openly in the same ideology which the Dark Lord and his supporters had espoused. It hadn't made them particularly popular, and while most had welcomed them back into society — they had little choice, with the way things turned — it was clear that Daphne's parents were unnerved by the possibility of the Dark Lord knocking on their door again. This time, it would be even more difficult to refuse.
"I don't know where I'll be this summer," Theodore said quietly, looking at Aurora, "but I might go somewhere with my mother, if she's well. I think she'd like that."
Aurora nodded, sinking back against her seat and looking idly out of the window. Merlin's Day, she night receive an invitation for, and perhaps more of the key families might invite her to smaller events, but she felt the Parkinsons' family gala might be off the table this year.
"I'll write," she said, not looking at any of them, but instead focused on Theodore's shifting reflection in the glass. "I'm sure we'll find ourselves seeing each other at some point."
"Yeah," Robin said, not sounding like he believed a word of it. In truth, it was unlikely any of them would get to see the Oliphants — at least if she visited Gwen, no one would be around to gossip. But Aurora doubted she would see any of her friends, outside of the designated social events. Even though Theo and Daphne held no sympathy for the Dark Lord, she would not be able to protect them from it, or herself from the shadow cast by him onto their families.
Unless there was a way to protect them, she thought. But there was little she could do right now, even as Lady Black. She had to find a place in the Assembly, in politics, safeguard herself while trying not to draw attention or scorn from the Dark Lord's side.
Her mind drifted back to Dumbledore's offer. It would be most unexpected for her to open her door to the Order, which when she thought about it, was possibly a part of the reason Dumbledore had thought it such a good idea. The Order was a secret society. No one need know of her involvement, but this way she had personal protection, and something to offer prospective personal allies — a connection with Dumbledore, and the protection of the only wizard the Dark Lord had ever been truly afraid of.
She would still negotiate, of course. He had to offer her more than he thought he was already. But, she considered, staring out the window, she would never have protection from the Dark Lord or his supporters. Not unless she joined them, and she doubted they would want her — only her name. She was Aurora first, she thought, something which she rarely let herself consider.
"It's only for two months," she said as she turned. "Then we'll be back at Hogwarts. Relatively safer." She hoped. She wasn't sure how safe she really felt Hogwarts to be anymore.
Theodore smiled sadly at her. "How's the shoulder holding up?"
She blinked, surprised at the question, but grateful for it, that he had both caught onto what she was worrying about and changed the subject from that even greater worry. "It'll heal," she told him, "I'll be good as new by September and perfectly prepared for Quidditch."
"Good," Robin said, grinning over at her. "I don't care about Harry Potter, we need to thrash Gryffindor."
"I certainly hope that we will," Aurora laughed. "As long as our new Beaters and Keeper are up to scratch. Either Cassius or Graham will be captain, and we make a good team as Chasers. Cassius is a better tactical leader, but Graham might be better at keeping the new recruits in line."
"Are they holding trials this time?" Gwen asked. "Or is it invitation only again?"
Aurora shrugged. "I don't know. I know my spot's guaranteed by either captain. Cassius might have trials, Graham might have a list prepared of candidates already."
Robin nodded thoughtfully, and glanced at Theodore. "We'll try out if we can, won't we, Theo?"
Theodore grimaced. "Sure. In our O.W.L. year, our priority must be Quidditch."
"It doesn't have to be a priority," Aurora sighed, "but if you're good, you should give it a go. Have some house pride. Merlin knows we need someone smarter than Derrick and Bole on the team. And Bletchley too for that matter."
Daphne laughed, and Theodore conceded her point with a grin and a low, "Maybe," before the conversation turned to the question of their O.W.L. prospects and the issue of prefectship next term. Personally, Aurora was confident in all her subjects, except Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, and imagined she would be a candidate for prefect. But it did depend on the level of input Dumbledore had, over Snape's. Even so, she thought she was certainly up high on the list of potential prefects, just as Theodore was. She could see them making a good team, and it seemed he thought so too, when he grinned at her and whispered in her ear, "I look forward to working with you, Black."
She rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile. "Don't count your chickens, Nott."
"Do you not have faith in me?" She glanced at the other three, and allowed herself a small smile when she looked back to Theodore.
"Of course I do. But maybe if you agree to Quidditch tryouts, I might have a bit more."
His eyes lit up as he started to laugh, and Aurora couldn't stop herself from smiling back. At least for this journey she could pretend everything was alright with the world. She could allow herself the luxury of laughing with her friend, in a sun-filled carriage, as if she was truly happy.
After lunch, she and Theodore headed further down the train towards the carriage where Draco and Pansy were sat, with Vincent, Greg, Blaise, Lucille, and Millicent. It was rather a squeeze to get in, and from the looks that passed over her, Aurora got the distinct, creeping feeling that she wasn't really welcomed. Draco and Pansy spoke to her as usual, but Millie was visibly uncomfortable and while Aurora didn't know if it was her imagination or not, she felt certain that there was something wrong. It didn't take much to figure out what, but she hated that she could feel it affecting her already.
Her friends were careful with their words, too. They spoke not of their families, but of Cedric Diggory's victory party — which she had of course, not been able to attend — and the exam results which had just been released that morning, something which she knew none of them were really bothered about, other than perhaps Draco, and herself and Theodore.
Leaving was almost a relief. She stepped out of the carriage as they neared the south, going in search of better conversation and a carriage where she didn't feel so stifled. Nothing was certain yet, but from the air of conversation, it certainly didn't seem to her like Fudge and his Ministry were going to move. If they had, they would have already done it.
But she knew that the Assembly confirmation was to take place next month, anyway. The forty-nine elected delegates would be chosen by their constituents, to represent their parties and people in the Assembly. Once it sat, the new assembly would have to confirm the Minister, or deny him, in which case a new Minister would be chosen. The confirmation could be set in motion at any time, though it always had to happen after a new election.
Perhaps Fudge worried that if he did make a move and admit the Dark Lord's return — with Potter lacking credibility and Barty Crouch apparently now refusing or unable to give a statement — he would take the blame. For a strong leader, the promise of war victory might mean popularity at elections, but as the other side had yet to launch a real attack on the public or government, it seemed Fudge would play it down, at least until he was secure. After all, he had to know that if he were to go to war, he would be declaring war on those who had funded his Ministry all these years.
The strategy, she felt, was deeply flawed, but if it was the case, she felt she could understand it, just a little. If she was in his position, she thought, perhaps she would be tentative to shake things up, too.
"Aurora?" a voice called along the corridor to break her out of her thoughts, and she turned sharply to see Cassius and Graham, striding towards her.
Seeing Cassius still made her slightly uncertain, but she smiled at him as best she could. "Hello, you two. Come to do the rounds?"
"Wanted to check in on our favourite little Chaser," Graham said, ruffling her hair as he came closer. She glared up at him, which only made him laugh. The effect was rather lost on someone twice her size and almost a foot taller than her.
"I wanted to check in on you," Cassius corrected, "Graham's words were 'bloody hell, should we make sure Black's shoulder's going to be alright for Quidditch next term?"
Despite herself, she laughed. "It should be, if Madam Pomfrey has anything to do with it. Really, it feels mostly fine now. You saw me flying yesterday anyway."
"Yeah, but we haven't tried you with a Quaffle yet," Graham said, rolling his eyes as though that were obvious, while Cassius grinned. His smile was directed at Aurora, but she was surprised and somewhat pleased with herself to find that she no longer felt those disarming flutters at his gaze.
"I'll be perfectly fine, Montague. I'm more worried about you, after that truly awful dive yesterday."
"The sun was in my eyes," he grumbled.
"It was a bit cloudy for that excuse, mate," Cassius laughed. "Might have to replace you."
"Y'wouldn't dare," Graham said.
Aurora and Cassius exchanged a grin. "We would," she said, flicking her hair. "Do not doubt us."
With a glance back to Cassius, Aurora found herself surprisingly at ease. The tension and uncertainty that had surrounded them had evaporated, and it was a relief. As much as she liked Cassius, and always had, she wasn't sure that romantic feelings were something she could even deal with right now. She felt, rather, that she would be perfectly happy never to have to feel them again, and deal with all the confusing consequences.
When they disbanded, with promises to write and organise summer training, Aurora went back along the carriage, and saw a cluster of people around one compartment door. Even from a distance, she could make out Vincent and Greg, towering a distance apart, presumably with Draco in the middle of them. She debated, for a second, turning back and joining Leah MacMillan, Apollo Jones, and Lewis Stebbins, whom she had spotted a few compartments back, but she told herself that whatever unease she had felt earlier, it should not affect her cousin.
"Trying not to think about it, are we?" Draco said softly to whoever was inside, oblivious to her approach. "Trying to forget it ever happened?"
A muffled voice inside the compartment, but it was blunt, and sounded like Potter. Something sank inside of Aurora.
"You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! Didn't I say that you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember? When we met on the train, first day of Hogwarts, I told you not to hang around with riff-raff like that! Too late now, Potter! They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back!" Cold washed over her, sickening. "Mudbloods and Muggle lovers first! Do you want Granger to end up like your mo—"
Aurora didn't know what happened next, only that spell fire burst from the compartment and the other side of the corridor, and she had to flatten herself against a wall to avoid it. Her heart was pounding, not from that but from what Draco had said.
Mudbloods and Muggle lovers first.
Nausea rose in her throat. Draco had never said such things so plainly, not to her, not that she could or wanted to remember.
Now her cousin was on the floor, unconscious, and she herself too stunned and hurt to move, as the Weasley twins walked over to her.
"Alright there, Black?" one of them said loudly, and Potter immediately poked his head out of his compartment. "I hope we don't need to stun you, too."
She could hardly formulate an answer, staring at Draco. "Don't — don't just leave him there," she said, her voice betraying how shaken she was. They were just words, yes — but they were words that she didn't want to hear, least of all from her cousin. He wouldn't have said it if he knew she had been listening, she was sure. But he had said it, and she had been.
"Put him in an empty compartment," she told one Weasley, as Potter came over to her, a frown on his face that appeared almost concerned. Had it been a more opportune moment, and she had felt less sick, she might have laughed at the expression being directed at her.
As it was, she let him ask, "How much did you hear of that?"
She shook her head, swallowed tightly. "Enough. If you'll excuse me, I must return to my friends."
"Aurora," Potter said as she turned, "you can sit with us."
She blinked in surprise. Tried not to stare, at the absurdity of that statement. No, she very well could not, even if he was offering.
"We've only got a little while left anyway," he went on, "come on in. I promise I'll rennervate Malfoy. Well." He paused. "Hermione will."
She tutted and rolled her eyes. "I suppose my father will be pleased to see me making nice with the darling godbrother."
Potter grinned cockily and tugged her inside his compartment. Ron Weasley gave her a funny look, but seemed to grudgingly accept her presence, and Granger seemed, if anything, excited to see her.
As the Weasleys and Granger started up a game of Exploding Snap, Aurora sank against the seat, feeling out of place as she folded her hands in her lap, until Potter said quietly, "Listen, I know you like Malfoy, but don't tell me off for hexing him after what he was saying. He was about to say my mother, and he knows Voldemort's—"
"I know what he said," Aurora said calmly, trying to come back to herself. "I told you, I heard. But he didn't mean it." Even as the words left her mouth, she knew them to be a lie. "He wouldn't say it if he knew I was there."
Potter shrugged, something cold in his eyes.
"But he said it."
"Yes." That cold feeling trickled through her stomach. "He did. Even knowing that I..."
She blinked, as though trying to squeeze the thought out of her head. Saying such things to Potter, about Draco, felt wrong. Even if what Draco had said to him was also wrong.
"I told you who was there," Potter said lowly. "I know you don't want to bring it up, but... If you're unsafe there, in the common room, tell someone."
She stared at him. "Why?"
"Because you shouldn't be."
"Draco wouldn't hurt me. I feel perfectly safe around my own cousin, thank you very much, Potter."
"I know that, I'm not trying to say he would, but just — I'm trying to... Say, that if you need somewhere to go, find us."
"Why?" Aurora asked again, baffled by the conversation which seemed to mean more to him than it did to her.
"Like you said," he said with a shrug. "Play nice with the darling godsister. What are brothers for?"
"You're not my brother."
Potter gave a strange sort of grin, like a laugh was trying to make its way to the surface, but was being blocked. "I know. Just saying. You're not that bad as a godsister."
She scoffed, but the words were surprisingly pleasant to hear. If only, she told herself, because her father would be glad to hear them repeated. "Thank you, Potter. And likewise — you'll be safe with your Gryffindors, but if you need anything this summer, I know where you are, and you know where to send my owl."
She stood, as the train slowed towards King's Cross Station. "See to it that Draco, Vincent and Greg are all revived. I'll see you on the platform — my father will be waiting to see you, too."
She let that sink in to Potter's delighted expression as she closed the door, headed back to Gwen, Daphne and Robin. They had been rejoined by Theodore, and also by Leah MacMillan, and Aurora decisively failed to mention anything about Draco and what he had said. It didn't sit well with her at all, but this was her cousin. The most important person in her family, in her life, the only constant feature she had.
It was an isolated incident, she told herself. Draco was showing off, because he was worried about his father this summer. Nothing more, she thought.
But she was lying to herself.
Aurora was one of the last to leave their compartment on the train, lingering behind with Theodore, who looked just as anxious.
She smiled shyly at him, trying to give off an encouraging look. "My siblings are all out there already," he said, staring out the corner of the window. "My mother isn't."
"I'm sure she's alright."
Theodore frowned. "I know." He turned to her, concern etched in his features. "Your father's waiting for you."
"I know," Aurora repeated, "I just want a moment, before I go out and have to confront... Everything."
"Yeah." A small, sad smile quirked up Theodore's lips. "Me too."
She waited, hesitant, before managing to speak. "Find time to write to me, alright? I hope your mother's okay."
"It's not just her I'm worried about," he admitted. "I mean, of course, I am worried about her. Especially since she isn't even here. But I'm worried about my siblings, too, being stuck around my grandfather. I'll have to try and convince them to come with me and mum."
Aurora nodded. "Good."
Then, they both turned to the door, heading out together. "Be safe," Theodore told her, and she raised her eyebrows.
"Really? You're telling me to be safe, Nott?"
He rolled his eyes. "Don't be insulted, Black."
"Hardly," she scoffed, then smiled at him. "You be safe, too, Theo. I'll see you in September."
Easy, warm quiet fell between them as they walked, and Theodore let Aurora off the train first, lingering at the end of the carriage until she was gone and he could head towards his grandfather without worrying about being questioned. Aurora found her own father with ease. He stood with Dora, whose hair was a bright violet colour, and had most certainly added a few inches to her height for the occasion.
Her dad pulled her into a tight hug once she reached him, setting down her cat cage and trunk. His arms wrapped warmly around her shoulders, as he held her to him. "Where did you get to?" he asked. "You must be the last off the train."
"Second last," she said, as her dad kissed her forehead. "Theodore and I wanted to wait a minute."
"Theodore?"
She declined to add the Nott, instead saying, "My housemate. He's a bit anxious about going back to his family for the summer."
Her father nodded, understanding in his eyes as she stepped back. "Do you think he'll be alright?"
Aurora changed a glance over her shoulder to see Theodore had been swallowed by the crowd. "He'll be safe. It's complicated — for everyone."
She was made vaguely aware of Potter looking at her, distracted from his conversation with Dora. No doubt he was thinking about what Draco had said, and that night in the graveyard. He knew who Theodore was too, but Aurora met his gaze and defied him to say anything against him.
Taking in a sigh, Aurora picked up her trunk and moved to embrace Dora for a short moment, before turning towards the exit of the platform. "Shall we go? Are Potter's aunt and uncle waiting for him?" Her father still had a questioning look in his eye, but she sent him back a look that indicated they would talk later.
Potter groaned. "You know, Sirius, I really don't think they'd care if I just didn't show up. They'd probably throw a party."
Her father growled. "And that is precisely why I want to turn around right now and take you home with me. But that's kidnapping, apparently."
"You're my godfather! And I want to go!"
"I know." Her father's face fell. "Dumbledore insists you have to go, to renew the protection in your blood. One week, maybe two. I'll visit whenever I can, and so will Aurora."
She tried not to show her protestation on her face at that declaration. "If they lay a finger on you, give you any hassle, I'll be there like that." He clicked his fingers and Potter grinned reluctantly. "And remember," he said as they approached the gateway to the Muggle station, "you are so, so loved, Harry." Aurora looked away uncomfortably, feeling like she was intruding. "I'll get you out of there as soon as it's safe to do so, and we know that Voldemort's forces aren't going to be able to find us. Alright?"
Potter pulled a face, but nodded. "Alright."
She could see in his face that it really wasn't alright, and her father knew it too. "Bloody Dumbledore," he muttered under his breath, and clutched Potter's shoulder like he truly was intending on turning around and running off with him. But Dora nudged them forward.
"I am an Auror, remember," she said, "please, no kidnap attempts in front of me. I hate paperwork."
Potter laughed, and leaned against Aurora's father, as they passed through the barrier between platforms.
She recognised his family immediately, noticeably Muggle, Petunia with her hideous floral dress and outdated hairstyle, Vernon in a large suit. The boy was a surprise, more muscly than she remembered, but still with a rather thuggish look about him, like he would beat up any one of the little first years leaving the platform right now. She glared at him and he stared back, eyes darting between herself and Potter, who cottoned onto this and grinned.
"Hey," he called over, "you remember my godfather, right? And this is Aurora. My sister."
Dudley sneered. "Don't know how she can stand you."
"I don't," she said lightly, so that only Dora, her father, and Potter could hear. Her father frowned, but Potter seemed almost amused.
"Come on then," Vernon said, clapping Potter on the shoulder, in something which was possibly intended to come across as familial but instead looked more like he was trying to break his shoulder. "Better get you home."
"Not so fast," Aurora's father said, and he and Dora slipped away, the latter looking very unamused by the Dursleys' attitudes.
Aurora and Potter lingered by the edge of platform ten, quiet, until she cleared her throat. "You did revive Draco, didn't you?"
Potter nodded. "Well, like I said. Hermione did. Fred and George helped but I figured me and Ron might have made things worse."
"You truly are awful," she agreed, though only halfheartedly. After all, Potter had — to her annoyance — just come top of their Defense class for the second year in a row, not to mention having won the Duelling Club championship.
It was to her surprise that Dudley Dursley sidled up to them, looking as out of place as Aurora felt — she had put on Muggle clothes since she would be leaving the station this way, and it was a strange feeling, her legs wrapped in tight blue denim jeans. "You're the — you know, then," he said, and Aurora blinked.
"Am I?"
He nodded furtively. "You're another one of... them."
"He means you're a witch," Potter said, and both of them shushed him urgently.
"Honestly, we're around Muggles, at least keep your voice down—"
"You can't say that word, Dad'd kill you if he wasn't—"
"Well, she is," Potter snapped.
Dudley stared at her then shrugged. "Don't look much like one."
"Well, I am trying to blend in," Aurora drawled, "I'm sure people would have a few questions, were I to turn up in emerald robes and a pointy hat."
Potter snorted, while Dudley went crimson, and glared between them both. "You even have the same shit jokes," he muttered, sticking his hands in his pockets. He turned a glare on Potter. "You'd best be careful this summer. I'm Junior South-East Heavyweight Boxing Champ now."
"I'm terrified," Potter said drily, and Aurora bit back a smile when he grinned at her.
"I'm sure you wouldn't intend that as a threat," she said, fingers itching for the wand in her bag. "Would you?"
Dudley scowled, and they were spared his retort by his mother calling him over, her eyes shining with fear when she saw them both talking to him. Pathetic, Aurora thought, as she sauntered over and rejoined her father and Dora.
"We'll see you soon, Potter," she told him.
"Look after yourself," she heard her father murmur, hugging him once more. "And Petunia? Anything happens — I'll know about it. Trust me."
With that, Petunia paled and Vernon went red and Dudley's eyes went wide. Potter grinned appreciatively at his godfather, and then, sun shining above them, they went their separate ways.
Author's Note: And here ends the fourth year! Clocking in at a truly monstrous word count of 309k words, I'm not entirely sure how I managed to get through this section of Aurora's story, but I know I couldn't have gotten this far without all the amazing support and lovely comments I've gotten from you guys! So for that, thank you all so, so much, it means the absolute world!
That said, I'm going to take a little hiatus from this fic of a month or so, before diving into fifth year. The reason for this is that I'm running into a lot of plot complications with fifth year, and making progress much slower than I wanted to. In order to be able to write the best story I can, I'm going to take a little break to really give me time to organize the plot and get as much written as I can for when I return.
As always, thank you all so so much! :)