Part One

Chapter One

Year One

"Everyone's got somewhere to go

And they're gonna leave me here on my own"

-Simple Plan

THE wheels of the trolley squeaked as Lenora pushed it ahead of her. Her belly ached with each squeal, noticing how Mother's shoulders tensed more and more with each noise as Walburga Black walked ahead of her. She should have picked her trolley more wisely, Lenora thought. She shouldn't have made Mother cross. Not on such an important day.

Sirius walked beside her into King's Cross Station, her twin's black curls bouncing as he walked. Mother had tried to smooth his curls that morning, reiterating the importance of looking their best for their first day at Hogwarts as she gathered and pinned Lenora's identical curls half up. It was important for young ladies to look their best, Mother had reminded her, and Mother was always right. Sirius had messed up his hair before they had even left the house, Walburga grumbling about it the entire ride to the station in the town car Father had arranged to pick them up from 12 Grimmauld Place.

Lenora followed closely behind her mother, King's Cross bustling around her. Sirius's owl hooted from its cage atop his trunk on his trolley, her brother several steps ahead of their mother now. Lenora poked her fingers into the carrier atop her own trunk, stroking her cat's silky fur. Sirius had gotten an owl, she had gotten a cat; young ladies did not have owls or toads, her mother had told her.

Walburga kept her face expressionless, her eyes narrowed. She gripped Regulus's hand as she walked, her heels clicking against the polished floors, Reg having to jog to keep up with her pace. She had a look of disdain as she called after her eldest son. "Don't run, Sirius."

Lenora swallowed, she hated when Mother was cross. She wished Sirius wouldn't do that; that he would just stay behind Mother as instructed. She didn't want her to be upset before they left. Lenora cleared her throat, "Will we be to the train soon, Mother?"

Walburga nodded, "It is not much farther. I expect you both to be on your best behavior when we arrive at the platform. It's our family's first time having an heir and spare in attendance since your father attended, and I won't have you tarnish our family's reputation at Hogwarts before you even arrive."

Lenora nodded, the wheels of her trolley squeaking under the weight of her trunk. Spare. The word sat in her belly like a heavy stone. "Yes, Mother," she said obediently.

"I can't wait to go to Hogwarts," Regulus chirped happily, looking to his mother. It would be two years before he would join his siblings at the school. Lenora would miss him terribly while they were away.

"I'll be a Slytherin, just like you. Right, mother?"

"Yes, Regulus. Now, hush."

"I expect you both to write once a week. Your father and I paid out a small fortune to outfit you for the school year, the least you can do is write. Understood?" Walburga tilted her head, her eyes piercing into the twins.

"Yes, Mother." Sirius and Lenora said in unison.

"Good." Walburga nodded, gesturing to the small barrier between platforms. "There."

Lenora watched as a lanky boy wheeling a trolley approached the barrier, speaking with his parents happily in a language she didn't understand. Walburga made a face like she had heard something offensive.

"Ugh, the Welsh," she muttered, as if the word tasted foul in her mouth. "I'll be happy once this is over with and I am away from these types."

Lenora listened as the boy looked up at his father with a nervous expression, his father saying something to him in their language. Lenora quite liked the way it sounded; melodic and rhythmic and floating like the music her mother made her study. The boy nodded at his father's words, the two sharing a smile as his parents held onto his trolley beside him, the trio pushing it together and disappearing through the wall.

Walburga scoffed, her grip on Regulus's hand tightening, the boy tugging at it. "You're hurting me," Regulus groaned.

"Don't whine," she snapped at the boy, turning back to the twins. "Come along, we shouldn't waste our time on these types." she said.

She stepped ahead of her children, walking swiftly through the barrier, Regulus dragging behind her as she disappeared.

Lenora and Sirius stood beside one another, sharing a quizzical look as their mother disappeared.

"How do you reckon we do it?" Sirius asked his sister.

"It looks like we just walk through it." She replied.

She wished her mother had stayed with them; had talked them through how to get through the barrier. But young ladies didn't ask stupid questions.

Sirius shrugged, pushing his trolley ahead of him and breaking into a sprint, barreling through the barrier. Lenora watched her twin disappear, fear rising in her as she stood alone. What if she couldn't get through? What if she was stuck here? Mother would be cross with her if she did not come. Lenora took a shaky breath, pushing her trolley, the wheels squeaking as she broke into a jog. The trolley burst through the barrier, Lenora finding herself on Platform 9 3/4.

Lenora's eyes widened at the sight of the large scarlet steam engine. She had heard Bella and Cissy talk of the Hogwarts Express, but it was far more spectacular that her cousins had described. Sirius and her mother were pushing through the crowd towards the train, Lenora having to jog to catch up with them. Sirius smiled at his sister, "Wicked, isn't it?"

Lenora watched around her as families embraced; parents kissing their children on their cheeks and wrapping them in tight hugs. She spotted the boy from earlier, his mum's arms wrapped around him as she kissed his honey blonde hair, his dad removing his wristwatch and fastening it to his son's wrist, beaming proudly at the tall boy. Lenora felt her belly ache as she watched his mother kiss him again, wiping proud tears from her cheek as he boarded the train, turning a final time to wave at her parents, his father wrapping an arm around his mother.

Father was away for work, but he had sent a letter wishing them well the previous morning. Best wishes, Father, it had read. Sirius had crumpled it, tossing it in the bin. Lenora had fished it out when he left the room, gently smoothing out the wrinkles and tucking it under her pillow. She had slipped it into her trunk before they left that morning, carefully tucked between her new robes.

"Don't slouch, Lenora," Walburga hissed, flicking Lenora's back with a manicured nail.

Lenora's shoulders snapped back, her posture rod-straight and chin lifted slightly as she turned to face her mother. Walburga nodded her approval.

"There will be plenty of temptations when it comes to food. Control youself," she said to the girl, "Be sure to watch your figure."

Lenora nodded, Walburga turning her attention to Sirius, "Behave," she said tightly, "We will see you at Christmas. Off with you both."

Walburga took Regulus' hand, turning and hauling him by the wrist off of the platform. Regulus turned, waving over his shoulder to his siblings with a sad smile. Lenora felt a tug in her as she waved to her brother, Walburga giving his wrist a sharp tug when he lagged behind her.

Sirius grabbed her by the hand, pulling her towards the train, "Come on, Nora!"

Lenora felt herself growing nervous as they drew closer to the train. Her belly ached again, her brother taking notice when she slowed. Sirius squeezed her hand tighter, whispering, "Come on. It will be fine."

Lenora smiled, squeezing his hand back and stepping onto the train. They followed the line of students onto the huge train, friends embracing happily and filtering into compartments, laughter and chatter filling the air. It was far too loud, far too improper. Mother would have hated it.

"Upperclassmen get to board early, so most of the good compartments are taken. We'll be lucky to find an empty one," Sirius explained, peeking into the windows of compartments. "This one isn't too full. Let's give it a go."

Sirius pulled the door open, two boys looking back at them. Lenora recognized one of the boys as the Welsh boy from the platform. His eyes fell upon her, Lenora noticing the thick pink scars that crossed his face in a jagged slash from temple to chin. She dropped her eyes. Young ladies didn't stare, it was rude. A dark-haired boy sat opposite him, thick glasses ringing his eyes, his hair sticking up all which way.

"You boys alright?" Sirius said, smiling at the two, who nodded, "Everywhere is full. Can we sit with you?"

The boys nodded, Sirius bounding into the room. Lenora lingered in the doorway, waiting to be invited in. Sirius waved her on and she stepped into the compartment, shutting the door behind her.

"I'm Sirius," her brother said, taking a seat beside the dark-haired boy.

Lenora perched herself on the opposite end of the bench as the scarred boy. Back straight, she thought. Don't slouch. Cross your ankles, fold your hands. Be a lady. Walburga's voice echoed through her head, Lenora folding her hands in her lap, back not touching the seat.

Sirius pointed at her. Mother would have a fit if she saw him pointing. "This is my sister, Lenora."

Lenora offered the two boys a polite smile, nodding. "Hello," she forced out, nerves churning her stomach.

"I'm James. James Potter," the boy beside Sirius said, returning her smile.

"Remus," the boy beside her said softly, "Lupin." He had a thick Welsh accent, Lenora noticed. His eyes fell on Lenora again. They were a hazy green, reminding her of the sea glass she and Regulus collected every summer on holiday by the shore. The corners of his mouth turned up in a shy smile, "I like your bow."

Lenora's hand went to her hair, touching the emerald green velvet ribbon mother had tied in her hair that morning, a slight blush to her cheeks. Sirius and James launched into a conversation about quidditch, neither boy stopping for a breath.

Remus' eyes stayed on Lenora, his gaze not straying from her. Her lips parted, but she refrained from saying anything as she watched the two boys speak. Mother had always told her to let the boys do all of the talking; it was unbecoming of young ladies to chatter on. Men would think you dense.

Remus's mouth curved up at the corner, green eyes lingering on her for a few moments longer before he returned to listening to James and Sirius.

"Slytherin!" The sorting hat cried out.

Lenora felt a wake of relief wash over her as the sorting hat was lifted from her head, the belly ache she had since arriving at the castle dissipating.

Sirius had stayed with his new friends when they had stepped off of the boats, leaving her to slip to the back of the crowd when they entered Hogwarts. A redheaded girl named Lily had been kind to her, she and her friend chatting with her, but Lenora had to stop talking to them once she had learned that Lily had come from a muggle family, and that the boy's dad was a muggle. Mother wouldn't have approved. She made towards the Slytherin table, catching her cousin Andromeda's eyes who patted the seat beside her. Andromeda squeezed her shoulder when she sat, "Welcome, Nora."

Lenora smiled up at her older cousin, turning when Sirius's name was called. Andromeda reached under the table to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. Lenora knew that Andromeda got belly aches like her, too. She was thankful she was there.

Sirius took a seat upon the stool, the stern witch who had introduced herself as Professor McGonnagal placing the hat upon his wild hair. Sirius's new group of friends all sat at the Gryffindor table, Lenora feeling a sense of calm knowing that Sirius wouldn't be able to socialize with them. They didn't seem the type Mother would have approved of. The scarred boy from the train caught her eye, offering her a wide grin from across the Great Hall. Lenora dropped her eyes, looking back up at her brother.

"Hmm… yes… I know! GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat roared.

Lenora felt her wave of calm dissipating as Sirius bounded towards the Gryffindor table, a wide smile splitting his face as his friends clapped him on the back as he took his seat between them. Andromeda squeezed her hand again. Lenora couldn't believe it, "There has to be some mistake."

"The Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes, Nora," Andromeda said.

But it had to this time. She watched her brother laugh and applaud the next student to be sorted, her eyes stinging. She felt angry, he had promised that they would do this together. She felt her belly ache once more, but this time, she didn't think the ache would go away.