Dear Draco Malfoy,

How are you? I do wish you had taken the time to talk to me in Diagon Alley, I have missed your company so. I presume you have bought your wand by now - what make is it? Mine is hawthorn with dragon heartstring, which Aunt Lucretia seemed quite pleased with, so I am very happy.

I haven't seen you in some time, or Pansy, and I do miss you both. I apologise for my actions at Arcturus' funeral, I oughtn't to have shouted and it was most rude of me when you and your family were offering me a kindness. Please accept my apology, and I hope that your mother and father will too — the last thing I wanted was to offend any one of you, especially as you have all been so good to me, and you are family.

On another note, I am very excited for Hogwarts now. With luck, we will all be in Slytherin together and have a wonderful time learning. Please write back to me as soon as you can.

Yours sincerely,

Aurora Black

She sent her letter off the morning after she had been to Diagon Alley and received a reply a few days later.

Dearest Aurora,

I accept your apology and have reported it to Mother and Father. While my father is still not pleased with your actions, he understands that we will remain friends, especially once we arrive at Hogwarts. I have also received my wand — it is made of hawthorn and with a unicorn hair core. Mother and Father are both quite happy with it, though I was hoping for an ash wand, but am sure this will suit me well.

We are going on holiday to France soon and so I won't see you the rest of the holidays; however I am sure we will have plenty of time together at Hogwarts.

Yours,

Draco Lucius Malfoy

Aurora smiled as she set Draco's letter aside, relieved that all was well. Now she just had to think about Hogwarts. She would be in Slytherin, but from there she wanted to make more friends than only Draco and Pansy. With luck, of course, she and Pansy would be in the same dormitory, but there were bound to be other girls in their year — Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode, Alice Runcorn, Frida Selwyn, Leah MacMillan and Lucille Travers were all the same age as them — whom she could befriend. In addition, there was Harry Potter.

He ought to be the same age as her, and therefore in the same year. She didn't know which Wizarding family he had been staying with, but certainly not one the Blacks associated with. Still, that could be overcome. She didn't want to be his friend necessarily, but she knew Draco thought it would be prudent of them to try and get along. Whatever his family's previous allegiances and political views, Harry Potter was famous. He was the boy who lived. He would be a useful ally to have, and if he ended up as a Slytherin, all the better.

"You don't need to make friends with blood traitors like that," Aunt Lucretia told her, shaking her head. "That's where your father went wrong. Befriending Potters."

"Draco thought it would be a good idea," she admitted.

"Draco is a silly boy," Lucretia said, and then sighed, crouching so that she was at eye level with Aurora. "You will get along quite well without Harry Potter. At least wait until we see what house he is Sorted in, and where his allegiances may lie. Understand?" She nodded quickly. "And besides," Aunt Lucretia said, and her voice was a little quieter, a little softer, "I'm not sure Harry Potter would like you to talk to him, after everything."

She knew what that meant. It was her father's fault his parents were dead, after all. Making friends with Harry Potter was a stupid idea. She wrote to Draco and told him she wasn't going to entertain it any longer.

Arcturus had left in his will most everything to either Lucretia or Aurora. While the house at Grimmauld Place had originally been in his charge, it now went to Aurora, and she and Lucretia set about sorting through everything in there. "Anything that gives off a magical energy," Lucretia instructed, "you do not touch it. You tell me immediately and do what I say when I deal with it, yes?"

Aurora nodded her assent and Aunt Lucretia set her free on the third floor. She searched the rooms one by one. Aunt Lucretia had just said to look for anything that was Arcturus', and nothing here did; they looked like boys' rooms. One decked out in the Slytherin colours green and silver, but the other and astounding scarlet and gold for Gryffindor. She blinked in surprise as she hovered in the doorway. This was her father's room, she realised, from when he had lived here. It felt so strange to stand there, but a part of her was curious too, as to why this had been left like this for so long. She combed through the room, listening out for any sign of Aunt Lucretia coming upstairs — she didn't think she'd like to find her here — and there wasn't much of value until she stumbled across a stack of papers. Muggle photographs.

They were old, and it took Aurora a while to pick out her father — there. With Lucretia's eyes and her hair and her grandmother's cheekbones. He was laughing, head thrown back happily, and though the photo was stagnant it seemed more alive than any other. It was strange to see him like that, as opposed to the murderer she'd always been told he was.

There were others in the photos too, as she poured through them. One she thought might have been her mother — they had the same eyes, and at the age she seemed to be, she looked similar — but she didn't know. That hurt in an unexpected way, the fact that she didn't even know what her mother looked like.

One was of a girl and a boy, just growing into adulthood. One with brilliant red hair and green eyes that were bright despite the fadedness of the photo, and a boy with messy hair who was grinning. The girl looked fondly annoyed with him, in the process of rolling her eyes when the photo was taken. She turned the photo over, looking at the elegant handwriting. James and (a very annoyed) Evans. James. James Potter? And was that Evans, was that Lily Potter? Her head spun. "Aurora!" Aunt Lucretia's voice called. "Is everything alright up there?"

"Fine!" Aurora called nervously, stuffing the photos in her deep robes pocket. "Nothing important here!"

She hurried out of that room and into the Slytherin room, pretending to be interested in a ring with a snake on it, as Aunt Lucretia. "Come on," she said, "I doubt there is much on this floor anyway. The drawing room needs more cleaning than I am up to, we'll do that at another time. There is an awful lot of Dark magic around here." She looked about and shivered. "It's no place for you, Aurora."

Aurora followed her back out of the house into the sunny London street. She took her aunt's arm and kept a firm hand on the photos in her pocket as they Apparated away. Those pictures were important. One might even have been of her mother, and one was definitely of her father. She didn't know how she felt about that yet.

On September the First, eleven year olds across Magical Britain awoke excited for their first year at Hogwarts, and Aurora was no exception. Though she was, as she kept reminding her aunt and uncle, almost twelve, and becoming quite grown up, she did find herself smiling a bit in the mirror when she got dressed. All of her books, robes, and other school equipment were packed neatly and organisedly in her trunk, and her cat Stella sat by her feet. "Well," she said, with a lump in her throat. She wished Arcturus had been there to see her off, to wish her well and tell her she'd be a shoe in for Slytherin. She wondered what he would think of Harry Potter. He would probably say the same as Aunt Lucretia. But he would also say, be brave, be good, and know your worth, and he would tell her to be happy and that he was always, always proud of her. "Time for school."

They got to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and Aurora clutched a little list of her Hogwarts Plan.

Work hard and study, and ensure all your teachers like you so you have a better chance of getting help in classes and better grades.

Befriend other purebloods and Slytherins and ensure everybody knows you are a true Black, not a blood traitor or a Dark Lord's servant.

Don't cry and don't whine. Do not discuss your father, and do not entertain such discussions around you. Make Arcturus proud.

It wasn't much and it wasn't a solid plan, but Aurora was determined to stick to it. "We'll see you for Christmas," Aunt Lucretia said, hugging her once Aurora had gotten all of her things into a compartment Draco and Pansy had shown her to. "Write to us after your Sorting and after your first week of classes, I want to make sure your professors all treat you correctly."

She nodded. "I will, Aunt Lucretia." She squeezed her tightly in another hug. For a moment she considered not letting go, holding on forever. Everyone was so much bigger and louder than her, and no one knew who she was yet but they would soon. And she was worried they wouldn't know her for her, or the reasons she wanted them to know her.

"And remember. You are a Black. You are part of one of the noblest and most ancient families in our world. People may think what they want of you for it, but they will never forget that." She smiled at her. "Make sure they associate your name with you, Aurora."

Aurora nodded nervously, before she let go of her aunt and hurried back onto the train. She couldn't help herself from peeking into various compartments as she passed. Two red haired twins were holding another boy's tarantula; further down, a nervous looking boy was holding a toad very tightly, and the dark-haired boy from Diagon Alley sat alone looking out the window. She frowned at him. It didn't look like he was talking to anyone seeing him off, but he was watching the platform like he wished he was.

"Hello," she said quietly, and he turned around, eyes wide. He had awfully messy hair, and his clothes looked far too big for him. They were Muggle clothes too, or at least they were very unfashionably robes. She wrinkled her nose. "Are you talking to someone?"

"No," the boy said abruptly, sitting down.

"I didn't think so." She considered going to sit down with him, but decided against it. Draco and Pansy would be looking for her. "Didn't your parents manage to get through the platform? They have to hold onto a wizard to do it, if they're Muggles. It's a precaution."

The boy blinked. "Both my parents are dead."

He said it so plainly. She stared at him. "I'm sorry," she said quietly and sincerely. "So is my mother, if that helps. My f—" She stopped herself. This boy's parents were dead, and he had messy black hair and green eyes and was clearly her age, and she didn't understand why he was dressed like a Muggle. But the idea that he might be Harry Potter was enough to stop her speaking. "My friends are waiting," she said quickly, tilting her chin up. The boy who might have been Harry Potter blinked at her in confusion.

"Oh. Right." He sounded almost sad, and Aurora felt a little bad, because she wouldn't like not to know anyone. But there was no way she, Aurora Black, could go and introduce Harry Potter to the few friends she had. First of all, they'd all be all over him and she did not want that. Second of all, he'd be bound to hear who she was. What her father did. She didn't want that.

"You don't know any other wizards, do you?"

He shook his head. "I didn't even know I was a wizard until my birthday. And that was only a month ago."

It was Harry Potter. Her stomach seemed to plummet. "Oh," she said flatly. "Well, you're here now, aren't you? That's what matters. I'm sure you'll meet someone soon. See you at Hogwarts."

She hurried back down the length of the train to the compartment where she'd left her trunk. Draco and Pansy were already sitting there, along with two large, strongly-built boys, the pretty blonde Daphne Greengrass, a plump, mousy-haired girl, a short, stocky-looking girl with a curtain of thick red hair, and two boys, one short, pale and pensive looking, and one with angular cheekbones and dark skin, whose eyes lit up with interest when Aurora entered.

"Aurora," Draco said cheerfully, and nudged Greengrass out of the way so he could stand and hug her. "We were beginning to think you had gotten yourself lost."

"I had to say goodbye to Aunt Lucretia," she told him and smiled nervously at the others, though giving her her best impression of confidence. It's all in the appearance, Arcturus had told her. Act regal, and you are regal. Act a fool, and you will always be a fool. "She is worried about me."

"Of course she is," Draco said, and Pansy smiled, giving Aurora a quick hug. "Well, I ought to give you introductions. You know Daphne Greengrass, don't you?" Aurora nodded to Daphne, who raised a cool hand in greeting. She had an indifferent sort of elegance about her. "This is Millicent Bulstrode." The plump brunette girl waved, smiling warily at Aurora. "Frida Selwyn." The red head gave Aurora a cool, appraising look and nodded her head stiffly. "Theodore Nott." Draco pointed to the pensive boy in the corner, who smiled awkwardly and promptly looked back at the book he was holding. "Blaise Zabini." The tall, dark skin boy considered Aurora for a moment like he was studying a particularly interesting portrait. He nodded, and Draco nodded. "And this is Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle." The two other boys nodded their heads, and Draco turned back to Aurora with a grin. "Lucille and Alice said they'll be along shortly — Alice wanted to say hello to Susan Bones."

"Okay," Aurora said, and then though that was too indecisive. "Well, I'm Aurora Black, And it is lovey to meet you all at last. This is my cat, Stella." She gestured to Stella, who was standing to attention at her feet, and Frida Selwyn cooed suddenly.

"I love cats," she explained. "But my mother's allergic to them, which is awfully inconvenient, as we've never been able to have one. My sister and I have owls instead, and they're very handsome, but they're not the same as cats."

Aurora smiled. "Stella's lovely. You can say hello to her if you want."

Frida did, and Aurora grinned at Draco, who nodded to her approvingly. They sank back down into seats, Aurora pressed between Draco and Pansy with Stella on her lap, and the others all talked quickly and excitedly. "My sister says the Hogwarts feasts are the best feasts you'll ever have," Millicent Bulstrode told them all loudly. "And we have three excellent house elves, so you all know the food must be exceptional for Drina to say so."

Pansy laughed. "Well, I'm not sure the food will be quite my highlight," she said, and Millicent flushed. "But I personally am very excited to begin Potions work. Father never let me help him." She looked at Aurora. "I'm ever so jealous you got to brew."

Aurora flushed. The only reason she got to brew was because Arcturus was too ill and too old. She had enjoyed it at the time but thinking about it now felt odd. "I'm sure I'm not that much ahead of everybody else," she said encouragingly, playing at modesty. "And I've hardly any experience with other aspects of magic."

"Well, I'm going to try out for the Quidditch Team," Draco said, and Frida laughed.

"First years aren't allowed," she reminded him. "Don't be silly. You don't even get to bring your own broom."

"I don't need my own broom to be good," Draco told her. "You'll see. I could be the youngest seeker in a century."

"Or Aurora could," Pansy said, and grinned at Aurora. "She's a brilliant flyer. Better than you, Draco."

Draco went pink. "Don't be silly," Aurora said, laughing. "We're well matched. I'm sure our last races have all been one for one."

Pansy smirked, but they didn't get any further into their conversation. Two girls had just entered, one tall and dark skinned, with curly black hair, and the other equally tall but her friend's opposite in every other respect, pale and blue eyed and with straight, honey blonde hair. Aurora was immediately envious of that hair.

"Lucille," Pansy said hailingly. "Alice. Come and meet Aurora."

Lucille looked at Aurora interestedly, then breezed onwards. "I have someone better. Word is, Harry Potter's on the train."

Aurora froze. Everyone started talking immediately, all gibbering excitedly. "What's this?" asked an older girl, coming over. "You're awfully loud for some first years."

"Drina," Millicent said excitedly. "Harry Potter's on the train!"

Drina raised her eyebrows. "Is he now?" Millicent nodded.

"Lucille heard."

"Susan Bones told me. She'd heard it from Katie Bell, some Gryffindor, who heard it from Fred and George Weasley."

"Your source is a Weasley?" Drina scoffed. "It might as well be a broken-winged owl."

She returned to her seat, but Aurora heard her telling some others the story too. "Come on," Draco said to her, getting to his feet.

She looked at him. "Where?"

"To fins Harry Potter, of course." He glanced over her head. "Crabbe, Goyle, with me. Pansy?"

Pansy shook her head. "I'm not going to look for Harry Potter. He can find me." She folded her arms and Draco looked at Aurora desperately.

"I'm not coming with you! I told you what my aunt said."

"Please, Aurora," Draco said, eyes wide and pleading. "I need you to come with me."

"No you don't."

"I do! Please?"

She stared at him and sighed very loudly. "No. But I will tell you he's that way."

"You've already met him!" Draco was staring at her like she'd betrayed him.

"Briefly. He was—" She stopped herself from saying he was dressed like a Muggle. Perhaps she had better go. She didn't mind people who dressed like Muggles — Arcturus had taught her that Muggles had value too, even if others denied it, and the fashion was just a bit strange — but she didn't think Draco might be the same, from her conversations with his grandfather.

She didn't get to correct herself though. Draco pulled her to her feet and was dragging her down the train with her. Crabbe and Goyle lurked behind. "I don't think this is a good idea," she told Draco in a whisper. "It's Harry Potter!"

"Exactly!"

"I bet your father wouldn't like it if you were friends with him."

"And what would your father think?" Draco snapped, and Aurora shut up promptly. She had no choice but to follow Draco now.

They came to the compartment with the boy who was probably Harry Potter in it. He wasn't alone anymore; a red haired boy sat with him, with a rather sad looking rat dozing in his lap.

Draco knocked sharply on the door and opened it. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's here," he said, looking at Harry Potter with great interest. "So it's you, is it?"

Harry Potter looked to Aurora, and then to Draco. He pulled a face — it wasn't that noticeable, but Aurora could tell already that he didn't like Draco, which was peculiar. "Er, yes," Harry said awkwardly.

Draco glanced behind him. "This is Crabbe and Goyle. And this is—"

"Draco," she whispered warningly.

"My friend Aurora. And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

She sighed in relief that he hadn't said her surname. She knew it was only a matter of time before everyone found out anyway, but she wanted to wait. The ginger boy coughed. The sad rat on the ginger boy's lap opened one eye and then squeaked, bolting off of the ginger boy's lap and straight towards Aurora. She jumped in fright, instinctively kicking the thing away, and the ginger boy scrambled about trying to catch him. "Scabbers!" he cried. "Scabbers!"

"Get that disgusting thing away from me," Aurora said, staring down her nose at it. "It could have any sort of disease!"

"He's not diseased," the ginger boy said defensively. "He's my rat. You just kicked him."

"Well, don't let him near me, then," Aurora said shortly, shuddering. "And who are you, anyway?"

"No need to ask, Aurora," Draco said with a laugh. "My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair and more children than they can afford." She'd heard of the Weasleys, of course. Blood traitors. She was still pretty sure she was related to them somehow. Uncle Ignatius definitely was, as a Prewett. Draco looked sharply at Harry Potter, who was staring at them. "You'll soon find, Potter, that some Wizarding families are superior to others. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

Weasley was still glaring at Aurora, who shifted uncomfortably. This wasn't how she wanted this to go. She tilted her chin up further and looked down her nose at him as Draco held out his hand for Potter to shake. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks," said Harry Potter coolly, and Aurora raised her eyebrows.

"I told you this was a waste of your time," she told Draco, making to turn away. But he wasn't done.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer, you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them either."

"Draco!" Aurora said sharply, shocked he would bring that up. She saw a look of recognition dawn on Weasley's face as he gaped between her and Draco and Potter. "Stop it. You shouldn't speak of such things."

Draco rolled his eyes. "If Potter hangs around with riff raff like the Weasleys and that oaf Hagrid... Who knows what might happen."

"Draco," Aurora whispered, and turned aghast back to Weasley and Harry. "I'm awfully—"

But Weasley had stood up and was glaring at them both. He had gone very red. "Say that again."

"Oh, you're going to fight us now, are you?"

"Draco," Aurora hissed. Louder, with every ounce of authority she could manage, she said, "No one's going to fight anyone." She looked at Potter and Weasley with a look that said, and you had better not try it. "Are you? I think it's quite beneath all of us."

"We will if you don't get out," Potter said, and she realised he meant her, too.

"Come on, Draco," she said. "Let's go."

"I don't feel like going," he said, and she resisted the urge to strangle him. The trouble making fool. He was going to make a scene just for the fun of it. "We've eaten all our food, and your compartment's full of it."

Then, just as Goyle reached for a chocolate frog, Scabbers the rat struck again. He lunged for Goyle, biting his fingers, and Goyle shrieked. He waved his hand wildly in the air, yowling as he tried to throw the rat off.

Aurora slapped it off of him, shoving him down the corridor. The boys ran off as the rat disappeared, but Aurora lingered in the doorway for a second, watching Harry and the Weasley boy look for Scabbers. Harry looked up. "What are you still doing here?"

She sneered. "Nothing. The rat's that side of the compartment, you're looking in the wrong place."

Then with a last look at Harry Potter, she turned on her heel and stalked back to the compartment where Draco was already telling everyone the story of Weasley boy's feral rat.