They walked through the many hallways of the ministry of magic, she could feel her heat beat racing as they got closer and closer, what if this didn't work, what if Andromeda didn't know what she was doing and lost.

"Here he is," Andromeda said before leading Atria over to a man, he had dark skin dressed in pristine robes, he obviously worked at the ministry and she even felt like she recognised him but she didn't know where from. "Atria, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt," Andromeda said indrtodusing the two.

"Miss Black," he said extending his hand, "I'll be assisting your aunt today."

"Assisting?" Atria asked not rasing her hand to shake his before turning to Andromeda, "I thought it was going to be you and-"

"We are going in for a negotiation," Andromeda explained calmly, "if you could call it that, to avoid a hearing. If we can come to an agreement today then their will be no hearing."

"So he will be representing me," she asked Andromeda but Kingsley replied, "yes but this meeting is very unofficial and they will have Corban Yaxley with them, so it's best you have someone who can handle him." Atria nodded stiffly before tuning back to andromeda, "Andromeda can I talk to you for a moment."

The older women looked to Kingsley with a small smile before turning back to Atria, "alright."

They walked around the corner before Atria turned back to her," I don't know him."

"I know."

"I thought it would be you," Atria said looking in Kingsley's directing as if making sure he wouldn't come around.

Andromeda shook her head, "I don't have the qualifications," Andromeda said, "and Kingsley is very good, he knows what he is doing, he'll get you through this."

"But what if he can't," Atria argued, "if there's a hearing he wins."

"You don't know that," Andromeda said dismissively, lifting her hand trying to lay it on Atria's arm, but she moved away quickly, obviously displeased Andromeda was going behind her back.

Andromeda sighed she may have been losing her patience, before explaining, "Remus has been talking with Kingsley, and he has done some digging."

"Remus has been..." Atria hissed under her breath, as Andromeda's eyes became smaller., "behind my back?"

Andromeda looked down at Atria as her patience wore thin, "Atria you need to grow up and you need to do it now," Andromeda said. Atria took a small step back, shocked by the coldness in her tone. For the few days she had known Andromeda she had always seemed calm and collected this was the first time she had ever seen her get even a little bit angry.

Andromeda closed her eyes before taking a deep breath and looking back up at Atria, seemingly once again calm, "I know trusting the adults might be hard," she said softly, "but you are now surrounded by people who want to help you, and you have to let them. If you want this to work, trust me, and believe me when I say Lucius will not be a problem."

"How do you know that?" Atria asked, how could Andromeda assume that once they stepped into that room, Lucius would not be a problem.

"Because I do," Andromeda said, taking Atria's hand, "Now take a deep breath and let's go."

Atria nodded as they walked around the corner, her shoulders hunched as she still was in the mood for a sulk.

"Everything alright?" Kingsley asked as they reproached.

"Excellent," Andromeda said squeezing Atria's hand reassuringly.

"Well, we are right up this hallway," Kingsley said, giving Atria a small smile before turning away from them.

"Are you ready?" Andromeda asked, reaching out her hand and tucking away a piece of hair from Atria's face.

"No," Atria said, "but I don't think I ever will be."

The room grew closer and closer as the walked, and she caught a glimpse of the man with the cane in the corner of the room his hands folded on the familiar snakehead walking stick.

Her eyes zoned in on him with fear, she didn't even notice her aunt until she walked into the room and the familiar embrace enfolded around her.

"Darling," her aunt exclaimed as she held her arms tightly around Atria, Atria's arms slowly moved to return the hug.

"Cissy," she whispered.

Her aunt pulled back, but still held Atria by the shoulders. She smiled before her eyes ran over her and her look turned to disgust, "what are you wearing?"

She was wearing an old dress that had belonged to Tonks, with purple flower patterns as well as an old black coat, not something far from what she would usually wear but plainer and less expensive, "all my clothes are still at the manor," Atria replied with a small toothless smile.

Her aunt returned the smiled before picking a piece of fluff off the jacket and saying disdainfully, "Well, I thought she would have dressed you in something better than this."

"Nice to see you to Narcissa," Andromeda said, dismissively as she sat down her eyes glued to the table.

"Yaxley," she heard Kingsley say before shaking hands with the other blonde-haired man in the room.

"Shaklebolt," she heard the gravelly voice of Corban Yaxley reply.

Atria felt herself begin to shake as she sat down between Andromeda and Kingsley, Her aunt sat opposite to her While Yaxley sat across form Kingsley. Her uncle sat in the corner away from the table as if trying to avoid something. The energy in the room felt off, more tilted and slippery then she had ever felt it before. Her eyes darted nervously to Lucius who sat in the corner his eyes glued to the cane as if trying desperately not to lookup. She found herself unable to look away from him, of all the ways she thought he would act this was not one, she thought he would stare her down with his usual way of intimidation, but nothing, not even a flinch, he looked more like a petulant boy sitting in a corner.

To her surprise when she looked over to Andromeda, she sat in some ways the same, her hands in front of her on her table, as her eyes stayed glued to her wedding ring as she twisted it nervously around her finger.

"Atria this is nonsense," her aunt said, splitting the silence in the room.

Atria found herself wanting to sit with her eyes glued to the table as well, not wanting to look at her aunt as she brushed her aside once again.

"No, it's not Cissy," Atria murmured, looking up and locking eyes with her aunt.

"Yes, it is," Narcissa said, reaching out to take Atria's hand across the table, but Atria pulled it away quickly. Her aunt let out a huff, "this is you acting out, you know it is, so lets put this to an end and simply come home," Narcissa went on to explain.

Atria shook her head, "That place is not my home."

Her aunt leant back in her chair as if she had just been burnt, and Atria felt the guilt begin to creep in as she looked into her aunts hurt eyes.

"Miss Black has made it fairly clear that she has no interest returning to Malfoy manor with either you or your husband Mrs Malfoy," Kingsley said speaking up for the first time.

"Well, she doesn't get to choose she is a child" Narcissa snapped.

"Well I should," Atria said softly.

"Miss Black you are under the age of 17," Yaxley said in a soft and calm tone that in a certain light still appeared menacing. "Mrs and Mr malfoy are your guardians. Your godfather could be charged with kidnapping if your aunt pleases to do so, the situation is going far beyond a runaway child. So if that could be avoided, I think it is best you go home with them."

"But you don't have proof that Miss Black was even with Remus Lupin," Kingsley said," or taken against her will. Did she not leave Malfoy manor of her own free will." Kingsly said looking between Narcissa and a silent Lucius, "Miss Black is clearly unhappy living with you and your husband, Mrs Malfoy."

"So you decide its best she lives with a woman she has may be known for, my guess a few days, who has never cared about our family and is probably too happy to take Atria away from us, she probably can't even afford to feed another child," Narcissa said her voice cracking slightly towards the end of her sentence."

"I don't mind at all," Andromeda said softly looking up at her sister.

Narcissa scoffed, "this was probably all your idea wasn't it."

"It was not, it was mine," Atria said, finally finding her voice.

Narcissa looked over to Atria, a look she had been given many times but not under this circumstance, shut up, her aunt was telling her. But this time it was not in hopes Atria would get in less trouble but because she was goring frustrated. Her aunt looked away before addressing Kingsley again. "She got into an argument, nothing more, she's simply angry and lashing out."

"I am not," Atria snapped. She could feel she was getting angrier and angrier by the second, but Kingsley unexpectedly reached a hand out and placed in on hers. Atria looked up at him timidly, he gave her a soft nod as if asking her to let him take from here, And Atria nodded back.

"Mrs Malfoy there have been some serious claims made against you and your husband on Miss blacks behalf," Kingsley said calmy.

Her aunt's eyes widened as they darted between Atria and Kingsley, "Serious claims? what is he talking about Atria?"

Atria kept her head bowed and closed her eyes, 'it was all going to be okay', she told herself over and over again, just a few more minutes.

"Mrs Malfoy, is it true you where drugging your niece?" Kingsley asked.

The room sat silent for a moment. "I Beg your pardon," Narcissa replied coldly, but she didn't seem to be begging for anything.

"Atria needed assistance, potions to help her sleep?" Kingsley continued.

"She is a very anxious child she has always had trouble sleeping."

"So she took it willingly?" he questioned," It was never given to her by force."

Her aunt sat in silence as if lost for words or excuses.

"Mrs Malfoy, I think the only reason you agreed to this was because you and your husband both agree a ministry hearing will not be in your favour," Kingsley boldly stated, "The agreement we have written out is that for a year Atria will reside in the home of Andromeda Tonks under her guardianship and at the end of that 12 month period, we will meet again and decide where to go from there."

Narcissa shook her head, "And leave my niece with her," she said nodding over to Andromeda, refusing to look at her," I refuse."

"12 months with visits to see your niece, that is our offer," Kinglsey said.

Narcissa was obviously getting flustered and Atria could see her aunt's eyes growing glassier and glassier by the second. "So what," she began, "Andromeda takes her away from the people she has been raised by her entire life because she is unhappy," she said contemptuously, "she is happy some of the time and when she is not, she acts out and needs some discipline, that is normal parenting."

"I think we can both agree your idea of normal parenting is far different from mine Cissy," Andromeda said coldly.

"I have the paperwork written out," Kingsley said, placing a small pile of papers in front of him, "and you will not receive this offer should there be a hearing."

Yaxley didn't seem bothered at all, neither did Lucius. As if they couldn't care less. While Narcissa sat glaring across the table at turned to her husband, who for the whole of the meeting had sat silently. The cruel hint Atria was used to still on his solid face as he nodded stiffly to his wife.

Narcissa nodded back before turning back to Kingsley, her eyes darted to Atria before back to him, "12 months?"

"Yes," Kingsley replied.

Narcissa sat still for a moment, before nodding slowly, "Alright."

They had filled out of the room. Her aunt hadn't said a word of goodbye to her after it had been arranged that Atria's things would be sent to the Tonks home by this evening. Twelve months of freedom, no more fear fo living in her uncle's soul-crushing grip. But silence, she felt nothing. He had not said a word or made a move, not a look or a sound, and she felt it. She felt a deep cavern of emptiness growing within her. It had been easy, too easy. As if she was almost left to wonder on her own. Maybe he thought she would come running back, or expected her to fall on her face and fail. No there was something else and she couldn't help but feel she was missing it.

"I told you it would all be alright," Andromeda said proudly, as she put her arm around Atria's shoulders.

"He didn't even speak." Atria murmured to herself.

"What was that dear?"

"He didn't say a word the entire time," she said looking up at Andromeda, "Don't you think that's odd?"

Andromeda nodded, "I think it's because he knew he would lose."

Atria shook her head trying to stop herself running over her uncle's action, "maybe."

Andromeda nodded giving Atria's shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

"So I'm dropping you off at Remus's for the afternoon, so you can tell him that good new. Your things we'll be delivered to the house tonight and when you come home I can help you unpack if you like."

Atria smiled, "okay."

"You know what this means right," Andromeda said cheerily before stopping her walk and turning to Atria

"What?" Atria asked slyly.

Andromeda smiled before placing her hand's on Atria's shoulders, "No more borrowing clothes."

She knocked on the familiar door and it opened rather quickly to reveal a dishevelled Remus Lupin.

"Well," He demanded hopefully his chest rising and falling as he breathed deeply.

"For the next year I will live with the Tonks," Atria stated straightforwardly.

"Yes!" Remus exclaimed before lunging and taking Atria in his arms, lifting her off the ground as he madly spun her around. Atria could help but giggle as she returned the hug and he lowered her to the ground.

"That's great!" he exclaimed.

Atria nodded, "yes I know."

"Well tell me about it," he said leading her over to the table, "how was it?"

"I don't know," she said sitting down as she explained, "it was odd, Lucius didn't even speak, does that seem strange to you?" she asked.

Remus titled his head to the side in agreement, "maybe his ego took a hit when he realized he wasn't untouchable."

Atria nodded but still, her mind was stir crazy.

"You talked to Kingsley," she said turning to look at hi but she didn't seem all that displeased.

He ran a hand through his hair before looking at her slyly, "I knew you wouldn't be happy with me but I only told him bits and pieces."

"You told him about my potions."

He nodded, "yes I did."

"Remus."

"yes."

She bowed her head, "thank you."

He nodded acceptingly at her words before asking, "Did you get your father's letter."

She leant back in her chair a gleeful look in her eyes, "yes I did."

"You know he loves you a lot."

She nodded bashfully, "do you know how to reach him?"

"I do."

"So if I write something you could get it to him?"

He nodded, "I could try."

Atria nodded, "could I borrow some parchment and a quill please." she said, taking off her jacket and hanging it on the back of the chair.

"Of course," he said, standing up before walking over to a set of drawers and pulling out what she needed.

He walked it back to her, "address it to Padfoot,"

"Padfoot?"

He shrugged, "its an old codename,"

Her brow was still furrowed in confusion, "if the minstry finds a letter from you addressed to Sirius Black then we will all be in some trouble," he went on to explain.

"Of course," Atria said.

She dipped her quill in her ink, You see a plan had begun to unfold in her mind, a plan involving the Black family and all the assets, assets that her uncle now had no power of for the year, she could now use them and not need direct permission and it may just help her bring her father closer.

She began writing.

Dear Padfoot.

I'm alright, actually better than alright. For the last 12 years, I have been living with Narcissa Malfoy, your cousin, and I just found out I will no longer have to. I will now be staying with Andromeda Tonks your other cousin for the next year and maybe permanently after that. I hope you fine and somewhere safe, and in regards to that I'm also writing to say I have a plan, but it will have to wait until the Christmas holidays before I can act upon it. With this recent separation, most of the Black assets do fall under my soul control. I will discuss it with you soon, I hope in a person, but it may mean you won't have to hide so far away.

I can't wait to see you, and I hope it is soon.

Love Atria.

After the night bus had dropped her off, she walked up the now-familiar walkway to her new unofficial home. As she got closer, she could see the figure of Nymphadora lounging on the front porch, in an old chair seemed to like very much. she had this weird contraption. It went over here ears and when she had them on she couldn't hear a word anyone said.

"Hello," Tonks said, taking the thing off her head as Atria approached.

"Hi," Atria said as she walked up the steps that led to the front door.

"So, How are you feeling?" Dora asked.

"Alright," Atria shrugged putting her hands in her pockets.

"Alright," Tonks said sitting up straight, "you're out of the vampire nest and all you can say is alright."

"Alright," Atria shrugged, "whatever you say," Before making her way to the door.

"I'm just making sure you're okay."

Atria turned back to her before replying meekly, "You don't even know me."

"I do actually," Dora said, "you might not remember but-"

"You knew me when I was a baby, that's it." Atria finished just wanting to get inside.

"Actually," Dora said standing up from her chair, "I was going to tell you the heart-wrenching story of how I sat by your bed last year "

Atria titled her head.

"In the hospital wing after you were poisoned," Dora went on to explain.

"Really?" Atria asked.

"Yeah," Tonks said sitting back down in her chair, "because I was worried, believe it or not." She finished before moving to put the things back over her, ear's ending the conversation.

Atria reached for the doorknob once again but turned back to Tonks, curiosity may have killed the cat, but she had to know. She walked up to Dora and tapped on the shoulder. Dora removed the things from her ears once again and Atria asked, "what is that thing?"

She held the headband thing up, "you don't know what this is."

"No," Atria said stubbornly not wanting to be made to look stupid.

"It's a CD player," Tonks explained.

Atria just looked even more confused, "it plays music."

"And the," Atria made a motion to the things Dora had over her ears.

"Headphones, they're so no one else can hear. want to try?" Dora moved over on the small armchair and patted the small place next to her. Atria stood back for a moment before,"Sure," she said sceptically before squeezing in next to her cousin.

"Okay they go like this," Tonks said before pushing Atria's hair away from her ears and placing the headphones over them. Atria nodded and then Dora grabbed the cd player, "and then it plays music," she said pressing play.

It was loud and frighting. This was not music it was something else, she took the earphones off.

"What is that?" she asked obnoxiously.

"Its a band called Alice in chains," Dora said rather proudly laughing a little bit at Atria's reaction.

Atria nodded before taking the headphones completely off, "well its something."

Dora nodded as Atria stood, "you know what," she said, "I think I might like you a little bit."

Atria was a bit caught off by the comment and didn't know how to react, " thank you," she said awkwardly.

Dora shrugged before holding her hand out, as if telling Atria it was her turn, "this where you say you like me too."

Atria nodded a little a smile coming to her face as she told Dora,"you seem nice."

"Why thank you," Dora said attempting to copy Atria's accent, "Now come inside dinner would be ready now," she said before standing and walking into the house, Atria following at her heels.

"Come on girls sit down," she heard Edward say as he set the table for dinner," flicking his wand around as he did it.

"Actually, I think I might just go to bed," Atria said softly looking at him, stopping the bustle fo the kitchen.

He looked to his wife who shrugged from where she sat, "Well it had been a long day, ill put something to the side if you feel hungry later "

"Thank you."

"I put your things in your room if you wanted to unpack and also we have another addition to the household," Andromeda said before looking down at Atria's leg.

She felt something rubbing against her leg and she looked down to see her familiar companion, "Caspian," she said excitedly bending down to pick up her cat, "Hello," she cooed

"I've always wanted a cat," she heard Nymphadora whisper.

"What about kreacher?" She found herself asking.

Her aunt gave her a sad smile, "He refused."

"He didn't want to see me?" Atria asked.

"No, he did," Edward went onto explain.

"But not while you were in this house," Andromeda finished.

"Oh," Atria said trying to hide her disappointment at the fact it would be a long time before she saw her trusted house elf, "alright."

"Well good night," she said before turning with Caspian in her arms.

"Goodnight" she heard Andromeda call behind her.

She went into the room she had been lent, well I guess now it was just her room. It was small maybe a quarter of the size of her one at Malfoy manor. But she liked it, it had a single bed, an empty bookshelf in the corner and a cupboard at the end of her bed that may or may not fit all her clothes. . Her trunk and bags had been set next to the bed and she knew that there was no way they had packed all her stuff. She placed Capsian on the purple covered bed.

"I hope they were nice enough to pack all my books," she said rubbing Caspians head as he purred against her, "but somehow I doubt it."

So she took out her wand and got to work.

A few weeks had passed since she had moved in with the Tonks, and August was a little over two weeks away. She hadn't left the house much, she rather like staying inside, she had only been out to see Remus or when Tonks was bored and dragged her out of the house. Not a single word had come from the Malfoy's, not a letter or an attempt to meet. Not even from Draco. And while she was a little bit upset, he didn't mind all that much. She sat now with Caspian on her side as she read through From Egg to Inferno: a Dragon-Keeper's Guide, she found Dragons rather amusing and it was something she was growing more and more attracted too.

The truth was she still felt a bit odd a bit out of place, while the Tonks were nothing but loving and accepting a part of her still dreamt of the day she was with Sirius. Was that absurd, she craved a man she barely knew, in truth, all she knew about him was really what other people told her about him.

"Atria," she heard from beyond her door with a knock before she saw Edward pop his head through.

"Yes Edward," Atria said politely before sitting up ion her bed.

"You have a letter," he said before walking up to her and handing it to her,

"anything else," she said.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"I don't know actually?" she said looking at the unfamiliar handwriting. She opened it as Edward peered down.

"Harry Potter?" He asked

"Yes he's a friend," Atria said dismissively as she read over the letter

"Ahh, a friend," Edward said suspiciously.

"Yes a friend," Atria said petulantly.

"Alright," he said, "Dinner will be ready in a bit okay."

"Alright," Atria said nodding.

He moved towards the door but before he closed it he turned back to her, "You know I've told you before you can call me Teddy."

Atria nodded with a toothless smile, "Thank you Teddy."

And with that, he closed the door.

She re read the letter.

Dear Atria

I haven't heard from you so I was getting worried, I wrote to Remus and he told me about how your living with your cousin now. That is the best news I have gotten all holidays. Well, that and I can stay with Ron for part of the holidays. I was also wondering if you had heard anything from Sirius, whether he is okay or not, We could even talk about it in person if you like.

I was hoping if you want to if we could go to Diagon ally this Friday? Just a question.

Please write soon.

Harry

She put it down, in truth Harry had been one of the last things on her mind, selfishly. But maybe going out to see him wasn't the worst idea.

Dear Harry

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