Despite the war, King's Cross was still full of people when Aurora and her family headed for the Hogwarts Express on the first of September. Harry and Elise trailed behind her, whispering conspiratorially about something or other which Aurora had little interest in — a band, she thought.

"You be careful this year," her dad said when they reached the train platform. Dora hung beside them, scanning the platform like she was intent on scaring off anyone who came within breathing distance of them. "All of you. Keep your heads down and stay out of trouble."

"Hark who's talking."

Her dad raised his eyebrows. "You can cause mischief, but I mean dangerous trouble — you should be safe at Hogwarts, but still. There's no guarantees."

Elise reached for Aurora's hand and gripped it tightly. She squeezed it back, hoping it was reassuring. "We'll be alright," Aurora told her dad, glancing at Dora, too. "Don't worry. You need to worry about yourself, too."

"Nah, I'm fine — always am." His smile was not convincing. "Right, you've all got everything? Elise, I've been given strict instructions, to tell you to write at least once a week, and make sure you get your homework all in on time — even for History." Elise groaned. "Harry — try not to wind up your professors too much, and don't let the whole chosen one thing inflate your head." He winked. "Aurora — you look out for yourself. Be careful in that common room."

"I'll be alright," she promised, "not all Slytherins are dickheads. I've got Leah and Gwen and Robin and—" She cut herself off before she could say Theo's name. "I'll be fine. We'll stick together."

"Well, you'd better. And, the two of you — I've got it from a reliable source that Duelling Club's starting back up."

"Really?"

"Ah, wicked!"

"What's Duelling Club?"

"Oh, it's brilliant fun — we'll have to see if we can get you in with the lower years. It'll be massively helpful for you."

"That's as may be," her dad said with a tone of caution, "but I don't want to hear of you two trying to blow each other up or anything, understand?"

"Us?"

"But we're best friends," Aurora said, blinking innocently as she put an arm around Harry's shoulders. He leaned in, grinning with the act. "I'd never do anything to hurt him."

"Nor me her."

"And we're not at all competitive, if that's what you're trying to say."

"Not at all."

"Not even in Quidditch."

"No — Quidditch is going to be very civilised this year."

"We definitely won't land each other in the hospital wing two days before a match."

Her father sighed and pinched his brow as Elise giggled. "Behave yourselves, please, for the love of God."

"Always," Aurora chirped, ruffling Harry's hair. He glared at her, then turned it to a smile when he looked at her dad. Aurora stifled a laugh.

"Get on the train, then," her dad muttered, shaking his head, "little menaces."

Aurora's laughter died off as they moved towards the Hogwarts Express. The bright scarlet seemed somehow foreboding, and as she turned her back on her father, she found herself having to grip onto the rail at the side of the door for support, dread curling round her heart. She turned back suddenly, almost bumping into Harry in the process, and flung her arms around her dad, holding him close.

"I love you," she muttered into his shoulder, and felt his soft smile at her hair.

"Love you, too, sweetheart. Now, get yourself on that train — it's going to be fine."

"I know." She stepped back, blinked back the tears stinging her eyes, and tilted her chin up. She could not let her emotions get the better of her this year. She had to stay calm, and collected, and she could not cry just because she wouldn't see her dad for a few months, like some sort of homesick child. "Write me as much as you can."

"And you, me. And one of you has the mirror, right?"

"Harry's got it."

"Good lad." He nodded to Harry. "I want to speak to you both at least once a week, okay? And Elise, if you can, we'll see if I can organise to have you call with your parents." Elise nodded with a grateful smile. "Now, go. Before you're late." He gave Harry a quick hug, too, and ruffled Elise's hair, and then all three embarked onto the train, lugging their trunks behind them.

"I'm going to find the girls," Elise announced, and Aurora and Harry both moved to follow her. "Guys, I'll be fine on my own."

"Yes, well." They exchanged glances.

Harry said, "I'd better have a look for a compartment too — Ron and Hermione are always running late."

"And I've no idea where my friends are sat, so, I might as well come explore, too."

Elise sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes, turning away. "Fine. You're both big fusspots."

They both ignored the dig, instead following Elise down the train. Nearly everyone they passed did a double take, staring at Harry and then passing their gazes over his company. Clarissa Drought faltered and waved at him with a flirtatious smile, with Harry seemed entirely nonplussed by, turning to Aurora as if for explanation. She merely shook her head at him, and saw Clarissa off with a raised eyebrow and cold glare.

When they came to the compartment where Clara and a handful of Elise's other friends were sat, Aurora stopped her before she could slip inside the door. "You look out for yourself," Aurora told her, brushing stray fluff from her shoulder. "Come find one of us if you need anything, or if anyone gives you any trouble."

"I'll be fine," Elise sighed, but Aurora still felt her relief when she sank into a hug with her, and then Harry. "You know it's really uncool to have my big cousin fuss over me."

"Suck it up," she told her, "I had to."

But as she withdrew, she could feel that all of Elise's friends were staring at them, too, their conversation dispelled. "I'll see you later," Elise told them. "Stop fussing." She grinned and slipped inside, to immediate rowdy chatter. When the door closed, Aurora and Harry lingered, both a little uncertain.

"I should see where the girls are," Aurora said, gesturing vaguely along the aisle. "Or find a good seat. One or the other."

"You know you can sit with me," Harry reminded her, not for the first time, "we don't have to suddenly not be friends again once we head back to Hogwarts."

"I know," she said, "but I want to see Gwen and Leah, and…" Well, there wasn't really anybody else anymore. Not realistically. Theodore, but she wouldn't seek him out today. She wouldn't do that to herself.

Harry gave her a horrid, understanding look. "Just put your stuff in with us, yeah? Then you at least aren't lugging your trunk up and down the train."

"Fine," Aurora muttered. allowing Harry to lead her along. "But only because this thing is heavy and Stella's getting restless. I'm going to leave at the first opportunity I get."

"Course you are," Harry said cheerfully, spotting a flash of red hair up ahead and hurrying to catch up with Ginny, which forced Aurora to hurry behind him. "Ginny!" he called down the corridor. "Ginny, hey!"

Ginny turned, grinning as she saw them. "Hello, you two! Did we beat you to it this year — fancy that!"

"I would have put money on you being later," Aurora said, shrugging. "Suppose you're faster when you don't have this twat holding you up, hm?"

She made to enter the compartment Ginny had just left, inhabited by Neville and Luna, but Harry stopped her. "I'll get that for you," he said quickly, and heaved the trunk up, clearly straining to swing it up onto the luggage rack above. He had to stand on his tiptoes to do so, though she supposed he was at least a bit taller than her.

"Thanks," she said flatly, but he didn't look at her or even acknowledge the gratitude — he was just looking at Ginny. "Ah," she muttered under her breath. "I see how it is."

"Hm?"

"Never mind. How was your summer, you two?" Aurora asked, stepping in and giving Harry and Ginny a moment in the corridor to chat. His cheeks were pink, though she wasn't sure he had noticed yet.

"Daddy and I went searching for a Crumple-Horned Snorcack," Luna said seriously. Neville looked at Aurora for clarification, and she merely shrugged.

"That's great. Did you find one?"

"No, but that's alright. They're very elusive creatures."

"Right. Er, Neville?"

"Didn't get up to much over summer," Neville said with a shrug. "Gran's been talking about you the whole time, but I reckon she might be proud of me, after the whole Ministry thing. Says I'm finally living up to my dad…"

Aurora didn't know what to say to that, just smiled weakly and turned to Harry, who slipped into the carriage. Ginny was gone, though she did not know where to, and Harry's cheeks were pink. He ran his fingers through his hair as though he had only just realised it was a mess.

"Ginny's off then?"

"Yeah. She's, uh, gone to see Dean Thomas." Considering Harry and Dean had usually been decent friends, it was amusing to see the wrinkle of his nose and disdain in his eyes. "Good summer, you two?"

"I've already asked them that," Aurora said flatly. Neville looked awkwardly out the window.

"Have you ever seen a Crumple-Horned Snorcack, Harry?" Luna asked him.

He floundered, looking at Aurora in confusion. "Uh, I don't think so. Probably wouldn't know if I did though, so…"

There was a knock at the door. Harry jumped, and Aurora craned around him to see a tall girl with dark hair, waving in the window. Harry opened the door and proceeded to stare at her for a long moment, before she got her nerves and said, "Hello, Harry. Would you like to sit with me and my friends? Our compartment's just over there." Her gaze slid to Aurora with disdain, and then mockery towards Neville and Luna. "You don't have to sit with them."

Harry blinked. "Who are you?"

Aurora elbowed him in the side and the girl's face fell. "We already have a compartment," she said with faux sweetness. "Thank you, though."

The girl looked at Aurora again, with a somewhat judgmental look. "I was asking Harry."

Aurora sneered back, looking her up and down.

"I'm fine here," Harry said, voice filled with scorn.

"Well," the girl continued with brisk pleasantness, "if you change your mind…"

"Sure," Harry said falsely, already backing away. The girl got the picture and, slightly pink in the face, hurried off. Harry shut the door behind her.

"Who was that?" she asked him, intrigued.

"She's in the year below us, in Gryffindor. Romilda something…"

"Vane? Her father was an advisor to Lord MacMillan, now in with Vaisey, I think — I knew I recognised her from somewhere."

"That doesn't narrow it down at all—"

"I bet she fancies you," Aurora said, peering out the window with glee. "Or at least, she fancies 'The Chosen One'."

"What, my good looks and sharp wit aren't enough?"

"Not nearly. They're basically non-existent. You'd better get used to popularity, Potter. I get the feeling Romilda Vane isn't the only one with her eye on you."

"That's true," Neville piped up. "Hannah Abbott was talking about you just the other day."

Harry's cheeks went pink again. "You are somewhat attractive," Luna said mildly, nodding along, "in a dull, conventional sort of way, I suppose. I can't say that's of much interest to me, though."

"Oh." Aurora smirked as his cheeks reddened further. "Thanks, I guess?"

"You're still ugly," she reassured him, "they just think you're interesting now. Don't worry, I'm sure it'll wear off soon."

"Come sit down, you two," Neville said, breaking them up, "I've got this cool new plant, see, it oozes sap."

Deciding she did not want to be anywhere near anything that was oozing, Aurora thought this a good time to make her exit. "Actually," she said briskly, "I ought to go find Leah and Gwen, wherever they are. Have a good journey, all — and please, don't let him make more of a fool of himself than usual. Come on, Stella."

She picked Stella up, to a new of protest, and with Neville grinning at her, Aurora hurried back out of the compartment, bracing herself for the stares in the aisle as she made her way towards the usual Slytherin end of the train, in the hopes of finding her friends there. Sixth and seventh years often all shared a big carriage together, less individual compartments, but she hoped her friends would have the sense not to subject her to that.

But before she could even get close to the spot where she expected to find her friends, she came across a buoyant Felix Vaisey, who immediately demanded to know if he was going to be invited onto a Chaser spot this year.

"I assume you're captain," he said, "when I asked Malfoy he said he was sacking it, and—"

"Draco's what?" she asked, the words struggling in her head. Stella mewled with her, eyes narrowed at Vaisey.

Felix stared at her. "Yeah, he's quitting as Seeker. I thought he would have told you first, sorry—"

"No," she said softly, "no, he — it doesn't matter. I'm sure he would have told me once he saw me. But as to your question, I'm hoping to hold tryouts in the Sunday afternoon slot; Gryffindor are taking Saturday afternoon, and I'll try and get some intel on their new Chaser lineup to make my decision. But you're in with a good chance, so I expect to see you there."

Felix grinned. "I couldn't be seen to disappoint Lady Black, could I? Should I tell Urquhart?"

"If you see him, go for it, though I've not confirmed the time. We'll definitely be running tryouts though — that's two Chasers, a Keeper, and a Seeker I've to fill now, and reserves."

"So you're expecting I'll move up to a proper position?"

"Don't push it, Vaisey," she said, though with a grin, which he reciprocated.

"I'll see you on Sunday, then," he told her cheerfully. "Unless, you're going this way?"

"I think so — I'm looking for Leah and Gwen, if you've seen them?"

"Oh, yeah, they were down that way." He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. "Just through to the next carriage, somewhere on your right I think."

She smiled, relieved that they were close. Fewer people would see her that way. "Thanks, Vaisey. I'll let you know about Quidditch tryouts once I've figured it out."

He grinned back and waved, doing a funny sort of bow just before stepping back, like he was unsure of himself. Aurora watched him go, amused, before turning and heading the way he had indicated to find her girls.

"Morning all," she said, tossing her hair as she waltzed into the carriage a minute later, where Gwen and Leah were sat with Sally-Anne. Stella leapt from her arms and made a beeline for Gwen, curling up in her lap with a contented purr. "Sorry I took so long — I was held up chatting, and it's been a wretchedly strange morning. Apparently half of Hogwarts fancies Potter now, and of course I have to deal with the sheer horror of that concept on top of Harry's own obliviousness, and now I'm already down a Seeker for my Quidditch team." She shook her head, rolling her eyes, eased back against the chair. "What else is new? Oliphant not here yet?"

The girls exchanged meaningful looks. "What? Is something wrong?"

"I was just telling Leah," Gwen said, voice somewhat sheepish. "Me and Robin broke up last week. It's fine," she added hastily, at the stony, shocked look on Aurora's face, "but, I don't think he'll be joining us."

"You didn't say anything." Aurora slumped in her seat. "I'm sorry."

"I figured you guys had bigger problems." Gwen looked away, her cheeks pink. "Like I said, it's fine."

That sounded like a lie. "Are you sure? You've been together almost two years, that's a bit of a big deal."

Gwen shrugged, looking down, lips pursed like she was holding back words she did not know herself strong enough to say. "It's fine. It is what it is. I've kind of known it was coming for a while, so..." She trailed off, and none of them knew what to say in the ensuing silence.

"Well," Leah cut in eventually, "anyone heard about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"No idea. But I know Dumbledore's brought his old Potions master back, so either he's finally sacked Snape, or, he's got the job he's always wanted and will be dead within the year." She grinned, enjoying the surprise on the girls' faces.

"The old Potions master? Who?"

"Slughorn — your parents — your mother will know of him, Leah." The words seemed to wound her. She flinched back, then nodded, shakily. "He taught my dad, and Andromeda and Ted. Don't know why he's come out retirement, though."

"Perhaps he's joined forces with Dumbledore," Sally-Anne said in a thrilled, conspiratorial tone. "Do you think?"

"It's a possibility," Aurora said, shrugging as she leaned back.

They spent much of the morning discussing the new appointment and speculation on Snape's position, before conversation turned to O.W.L. results and the upcoming Quidditch season. Really, everyone was just avoiding mentioning politics, for it would surely annoy Aurora and cause Leah to spiral over memories of her father, and none of them wanted that. Shortly after one, a small, mousy-haired witch appeared round the door of their compartment, staring at them like they were wolves. When her gaze landed on Aurora, she shivered.

"Excuse me," said the nervous little girl, wringing her hands together. "I've been told to bring this to Lady Aurora Black, from Professor Slughorn."

She handed over a slip of parchment, hands trembling as she stared around the compartment full of Slytherins. "We don't bite," Aurora reprimanded, unfolding the note. "I promise."

The girl did not appear convinced.

Dear Lady Black, the note read.

As you may have heard, I — Horace Slughorn — have the honour of becoming your new Hogwarts Potions Master this year. I have heard much about you, and admit myself greatly curious, and eager to learn more. I would be much obliged if you would join me and a few others for a spot of lunch in compartment C today, as soon as you are able.

Sincerely, Professor H.E.F. Slughorn

"Lovely," Aurora said, and smiled at the girl. "You can go now, dear, no need to loiter." The girl scurried away without a backwards glance, and Aurora pulled out her handmirror and lipgloss, quickly trying to wrangle her hair into a more elegant updo than its simple ponytail, before applying a fresh coat of blush pink lipgloss. "I look acceptable to meet a professor for lunch, don't I?" she asked Leah, who looked taken aback, but nodded. "Good — I suppose I shall learn more about our Potions Master over lunch, then."

"I wonder why he wants you," Gwen said, and Leah stared at her.

"It's obvious, isn't it? She's Lady Black. Everyone wants to know her; and my mum has mentioned him, before, said he was always trying to create a little network of his favourite students — people he thought were important. I bet he'll have Harry in there, and Ernie, if he's lucky."

"That would make sense," Aurora said, slipping her things back into her handbag and standing up. "Suppose I'll find out. You're all alright without me?"

"I think we can survive without Lady Black," Sally-Anne said with a laugh, and Aurora smoothed down her skirt, checking her rough reflection in the glass of the door.

"If you say so. I'll see you all later — if Elise comes by asking for me, or Harry, send her on to compartment C. If you're right, Leah, I imagine there's a good chance we'll both end up there."

She waggled her fingers in goodbye and sauntered out of the compartment, down the aisle towards compartment C. There were still many people staring at her, but thankfully most had become absorbed in their own little bubbles. It was just as well. Their gazes felt heavy and expectant, and as much as she forced herself to keep her expression neutral and eyes stony and cold, she wanted to curl up beneath the weight of it all. everybody expected her to be something different, and she didn't even know who she wanted herself to be.

As she made her way down, a certain silhouette caught her eye. Sat by the door of small compartment was Theodore, the late summer sun streaming in and illuminating his face. It took her breath away, just seeing him again. He had gotten taller, sharper, somehow, and yet the light softened him with a gentle glow.

Noticing her gaze upon him, Theo turned and looked up from his book, surprised. Aurora's breath caught in her throat, and she took a step closer, just to see who he was with. Robin and Lewis Stebbins and another boy, Rannoch Rowle from the year below, both oblivious to her presence as they chatted by the window.

But she could not go in.

She turned away, kept on walking, and then at the last second, she turned to wave back at him, hopeful of a smile. He had already turned back to his book. She should not have been so disappointed as she was.

Aurora stopped off on her way to change into her school robes in the bathroom, feeling that was more formal. As such, there was already a handful of people in Slughorn's compartment when she arrived, to her surprise; the note had not indicated a larger gathering, but she supposed it had not necessarily stated otherwise. Ginny Weasley stood nervously, the only other girl, and seemingly rather baffled by her presence in the room. The three others were a tall Gryffindor whose name Aurora couldn't quite place, the Ravenclaw Marcus Belby, whose uncle had invented the Wolfsbane Potion, and then, as her luck would have it, Blaise Zabini, wearing his same usual expression of cool curiosity. His eyes glimmered when he looked at her.

And presiding over all of it was a large figure in velvet green robes, golden buttons gleaming on his waistcoat and sleeve cuffs. Professor Slughorn, surely. He leapt up when he saw her breezing in, beaming.

"Aha!" he cheered, apparently quite delighted with himself. "And if I am not greatly mistaken, this is our very own Lady Black!" He hurried over to her, clasping her hands tightly. "Pleasure to meet you, my girl, an absolute honour."

"Oh, please, Professor," she said with a light, charming laugh, "not at all. I have to say I'm delighted to get to meet you — I've heard many stories."

"All awful, I'm sure," Slughorn said with a genial laugh. "No, no, I've known your family for quite some time — I dread to think how many Blacks I've taught over all my years! Do you know everybody — Blaise Zabini, I'm sure you will be acquainted with."

Aurora nodded to him with a cold smile. "Oh, Blaise and I go way back. As do Ginny Weasley and I, as a matter of fact."

"Ah, yes — the Potter connection, I've heard." Slughorn laughed as though this were a great joke and Aurora laughed along, somewhat bemused, exchanging a glance with an equally baffled Ginny. "Now, this is Cormac McLaggen—" He gestured to the fair-haired Gryffindor "—I don't know if you'll have crossed paths — and Marcus Belby?"

"Pleasure to meet you both," Aurora said politely, smiling at them in turn. Belby gave her a strained, uncomfortable smile, where McLaggen smirked in a way that she decidedly did not like, sizing her up, his gaze lingering too long on her chest.

"Come, now, take a seat — we've two more to arrive, and that'll be us."

One of them, Aurora was certain, would be Harry. And indeed, she was proven correct when she went to sit by Ginny, who whispered, "I still can't decide if this is punishment or reward," and Harry wandered through the doors, Neville trailing behind him.

Slughorn sprang up again, delighted, gaze fixed on Harry. "Harry, m'boy!" he cried, hastening over to wring his hand. "Good to see you, good to see you! And this must be Neville Longbottom!"

"Interesting choice of guests," murmured a voice from Aurora's left, as Blaise leaned in towards her. "Don't you think, Lady Black?"

"From what I hear of Slughorn, it isn't surprising in the least."

"Ah," Blaise said, "but I said interesting, not surprising."

She glared at him, quite unamused by him, and the fact that he thought he could return to some inane conversation with her after not speaking in months. "Don't be pedantic," she told him, "it's annoying."

Blaise just grinned at her, and then let the expression drop quickly as Slughorn tried to introduce him to Harry and Neville. If the new Professor thought there might be any inter-house amity between them, it seemed, he was greatly mistaken, for they regarded each other with little more than cool disdain.

"Of course, Harry, I know you're a dear friend to Lady Black here, but Neville, I don't know if you…"

"Yeah," Neville said in a small voice, glancing over. "Yeah, I know Aurora quite well, actually."

Slughorn's face lit up. "First name basis and everything! Now there's a coup for inter-house unity!"

Aurora grimaced as Blaise covered up a snort of laughter with a cough. Just then, the door opened for the final time, and Aurora glanced up to see Ernie MacMillan enter, chest puffed up as though to make himself seem grander than he was. "Hello," he called across the compartment, and Slughorn turned quickly, eyes lighting. "Ernest MacMillan — you must be Professor Slughorn, sir?"

Ernie hastened to reach the Professor. "I certainly am — pleasure to meet you, Lord MacMillan." Ernie flinched at the address, and Aurora felt a twinge of pity at the familiarity of it. "Now, I believe you are the only Hufflepuff in attendance — but you'll know our Harry, of course, and I daresay Lady Black."

"Yes." Ernie seemed to forget how to speak for a moment.

Aurora cut in, "Ernie, Harry, and I have known each other some time now. His sister is one of my closest friends, as a matter of fact."

"Ah, yes — Leah's the elder girl, isn't she?"

"Yes, sir," Ernie said, trying to recover himself. "She's in the same year as us all, too — a Slytherin."

Slughorn let out a surprised laugh. "Is she really? I can't say I ever saw a MacMillan in Slytherin house, but I suppose there's a first time for everything — I certainly look forward to meeting her."

"I'm sure she feels the same, sir," Ernie said, and Aurora held back a laugh as he caught her eye.

"Well now," Slughorn said as he settled into a seat at the head of the dinner table, indicating for Harry, Ernie and Neville to do the same, "this is most pleasant." Ernie slipped into the free seat on Aurora's other side, grimacing. "A chance to get to know you all a bit better. Here, take a napkin; I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember, is rather heavy on liquorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things… Pheasant, Belby?"

He didn't wait for Belby to answer before he scraped a massive piece of pheasant onto his plate, and slid easily into reminiscing about how he had taught his uncle Damocles, as he served everybody else. Aurora could tell he took pleasure in hosting, and he was good at it, looking at everybody in turn, making sure no one was left out, commanding their attention but maintaining a friendly sort of warmth about him. It was admirable, really, how at ease he was, even when Belby choked on his pheasant and was unable to tell him anything of worth about his famous uncle, though he did go somewhat cold after that, and turned to McLaggen.

McLaggen was somewhat more successful, easily prattling on about how his father was close to the Minister of Magic — and throwing Aurora a wink when he pointed out Scrimgeour's new status, as if that was going to solidify any sort of camaraderie between them — while Blaise gave a detail-sparse account of his mother's accumulation of wealth and the tragic, untimely and of course, entirely accidental or natural deaths of her seven late husbands. Neville, on the other hand, looked deeply uncomfortable as he was made to discuss his parents' Auror careers and eventual torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, something which Aurora definitely did not think of as appropriate lunch table conversation. Slughorn gave him the same questioning look that he had held towards Belby, before turning to Aurora.

"Of course, I couldn't forget about Lady Black. Now, I've taught, what, at least a dozen of the members of the House of Black, but I have to say, you may yet prove the most intriguing. For a start, I've never met one to serve in the Assembly at such a young age — I dare say the only Assembly member to ever hold a seat so young without a regent must be Harry here!" Harry grimaced at the reminder of his lordship status, then turned it into a bright smile when Slughorn looked at him. He was learning manners, at last.

"Well, I'm sure I could still stand to learn a thing or two from you, Professor," Aurora said with a grin, and Slughorn laughed indulgently, his eyes twinkling. "I daresay I've still plenty to learn in politics, but I hope I've been doing a good job so far."

"You've certainly been making waves," Slughorn said with a chuckle. "All these speeches. You seem quite the orator."

"Oh, hardly." She waved him off with a laugh. "No, I merely say what I believe will best serve the public. Though I am glad you find it to be having an impact — I am hardly the most experienced member, as you say. But I do feel that new experiences, are necessary to be brought to politics. How else might things change?"

"Indeed," Slughorn said, brushing over his moustache, "indeed. Now, tell me — there are rumours about a certain young cousin of yours, a miss Elise?"

"Oh, yes!" Aurora said warmly, sitting up straight at the opportunity to show Elise off a bit, and to shrug off the stilted, proper flattery. "She's a distant cousin, in terms of blood relations, but we're quite close — Harry knows her, too. She's really rather brilliant; Ravenclaw, of course, and just starting second year, but she was top of her class in almost everything last year."

"Including Potions, I saw."

"Yes — she really enjoys the subject, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to meet you."

"I look forward to it, my girl; give her my regards, will you? I used to like doing a regular supper club, in the past — your uncle was a regular figure, as was Andromeda Black — I'm sure we could meet then." Aurora was not sure if Elise would hate that or not, but she smiled anyway, nodding. At least it would give her a leg up.

"And Mr MacMillan," Slughorn added, turning slightly to Ernie, though Aurora's mind was working backwards to Slughorn's words — he had mentioned Regulus. Only as her uncle, but still. That struck her as strange. Perhaps it was only because so few of her family were ever willing to discuss him, but it felt like a secret topic, not something a teacher could bring up in casual conversation and skip over so lightly.

She tried to block out her own curiosity, and the unsettled feeling that was working back over her, to tune into Ernie beside her. "I do plan to carry on my father's work, though, as well as I possibly can. He's been an inspiration to me all my life, and I know the impact he's made has been tremendous. I only hope I can do the same."

"I'm sure you shall," Slughorn said sincerely, glimmers of pity in his eyes. At least he was capable of sincerity, Aurora thought. And at least it was only Ernie here, and not Leah, for the irritation she felt at his bringing up the subject would, combined with her affection for Leah, surely have led to her saying something rude that she would later regret. "And I look forward to seeing it. We've so many bright young minds here, all fascinating students. And now, of course," he said, moving on and sweeping his arm out as he turned to Harry with the air of someone who expected their introduction to be accompanied by a fanfare of trumpeters, "Harry Potter!" Ernie sank down in his seat, seemingly annoyed by the change in tone. "Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!" He paused a moment, sizing Harry up, before he said, "The Chosen One, they're calling you now?"

Aurora's chest grew suddenly tighter as she saw the momentary panic flit over Harry's face. "Of course," Slughorn continued when Harry said nothing, "there have been rumours for years — I remember when — well — after that terrible night — Lily — James… And you survived! And the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary—"

Beside Aurora, Blaise let out a sceptical sound halfway between a laugh and a cough.

"Yeah, Zabini," Ginny Weasley shot back vehemently, "you're so talented — at posing!"

Aurora couldn't help but laugh at that, even when Blaise shot her a filthy glare. "She isn't wrong," she whispered.

"Hypocrite."

Slughorn, quite unbothered, continued on at Harry, apparently deciding that the Prophet was a worthwhile and trustworthy source of information on the 'fabled prophecy'.

"We never heard a prophecy," Neville told Slughorn, rather pink in the face, as though embarrassed by himself that he had spoken up at all.

"That's right," Ginny said, tilting her chin, "Neville and Aurora and I were there, too, and all this Chosen One rubbish is just the Prophet making stuff up as usual."

Slughorn looked to Aurora for confirmation, and she nodded. "Frankly, I think the Prophet is just being overly hopeful. Not that I can blame people for buying into it. It's an appealing fantasy, but I'm afraid it is just that — a fantasy."

"You were all there, too, were you?" Slughorn asked, looking between them all eagerly. Blaise looked at Aurora sideways, as though expecting her to say something more, whether to him or to Slughorn. She hadn't spoken to him about that night. She hadn't really spoken to anybody about it, other than those who were there. Slughorn quickly spiralled into a longwinded reminsicence about the Holyhead Harpies Captain, Gwenog Jones, which Aurora anticipated would be the highlight of the meeting for both herself and Ginny.

It did all get rather dreary, as Slughorn recited all the famous people he knew and Aurora tried to commit their names and anecdotes to memory in case it ever came in useful. She itched for a piece of parchment and quill — even a spiral notebook and biro pen would do — as the precious connections entered her mind and flitted out, without anything exciting enough to latch onto.

By the time he let them leave, the sun was setting over the hills, and they were little more than a half hour away from Hogsmeade Station. Blaise hurried out of the compartment and did not spare her a backwards glance.

"I'm glad that's over," Neville muttered, coming to her side with Harry and Ginny. "Strange man, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is a bit," Harry said, though he appeared distracted. His gaze was fixed upon Blaise's retreating figure. "How come you ended up in there, Ginny?"

"He saw me hex Zacharias Smith," Ginny told him, and Aurora grinned. "You remember, that idiot from Hufflepuff who was in the DA? He kept on and on asking what happened at the Ministry, and in the end he annoyed me so much I heard him. When Slughorn came in I thought I was going to get detention, but he just thought it was a really good hex and invited me to lunch! Mad, eh?"

"Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous," Harry said, still glowering at Blaise.

"We can't all have your hard-earned fame," Aurora drawled, but trailed off when she saw the contemplative look on Harry's face. She knew that expression far too well. "What?"

"I'll see you three later," Harry said, tugging his Invisibility Cloak out from his pocket.

"Where are you going?"

She felt sure she already knew the answer, by the way his gaze was following Zabini. "You want to hear?"

Of course, he wanted a chance to eavesdrop on Draco. But Aurora rather felt she'd be sickened by whatever she heard, and at any rate, the two of them would have little luck at hiding under that cloak together for a prolonged period of time. He'd step on her foot and she'd snap at him and he'd get annoyed and speak too loudly and the cloak would fall out and they'd probably both get hexed.

"Just tell me what you find out," she said wearily, and Harry pulled the cloak on fully, disappearing from view.

"What was that about?" Ginny asked, staring at her.

"Just Harry Potter being Harry Potter. Secrecy, mischief, espionage. Do you mind if I join you for the rest of the journey?"

"Sure," Neville said, with a wary shrug.

They set off, but a second later the compartment door opened again and Ernie hurried out after them. "Aurora?" he called, and she turned, forcing a smile. She gestured for the other two to continue on, and bowed her head in greeting.

"Ernie. How are you?"

"Well. You know." He shrugged loosely, shaking his head. "I wondered if I could walk with you for a moment."

"Of course," she told him, turning. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, nothing."

"Come on. Slughorn wasn't exactly delicate in there."

"No, it's not that — it's fine. It's all anyone wants to know anyway, how I'm continuing my dad's legacy, coping with… Everything." A twinge of pity went through her. "I just hoped to get you alone, and Harry, but he seems to have disappeared off already. It's about this proposal they're putting through early October, in the Assembly."

"Yes, of course. The Dark creatures bill."

"Yes. I don't think my father would have been in favour of it at all. Blanket punishment wasn't really his thing. And I think that, although many of the Progressives want to support it for the sake of wartime unity, it really cannot be allowed to stand as is."

"You're going against your and your father's party so soon?"

It was the wrong thing to say. Ernie's cheeks flushed red at the sharpness of her words and Aurora wished she could bite them back. "They would never have gotten away supporting it with him in there. I've got to do as he would."

Aurora raised her eyebrows. The sentiment was one she understood perfectly, and yet, found it rather misguided, especially when she heard it from the mouth of another. "I haven't researched it and the background enough yet to really have a firm decision," she admitted, "but I don't like the basis of it, either — the idea that all Dark creatures, based purely on the Ministry's credit, seems a pretty slippery slope to go down. Not to mention, it'll push those it targets even further towards our enemies, rather than protecting anyone."

"Precisely," Ernie agreed, voice soft with relief. "I think the proposal should focus on working with communities such as werewolves, vampires, against You-Know-Who. They should believe that they stand more to gain from the Ministry than him."

"Right now, they don't. The Ministry has never been kind to those it seems lesser than magical purity, or less than human."

"Exactly!" Ernie enthused. "My father always wanted to start the fight, but he never had the time!" Even in thirty years of lordship. Aurora was not sure how true Ernie's claim was, but it was far beyond her to question him. "I think people will listen to me, at least my father's friends, and if you can get Harry on side, his voice means everything." It needled her, slightly, that her role here was really just providing a link to her godbrother, but Ernie was too caught up for her to mention it. "We've a chance to really make our mark, and help people, don't you think?"

"Perhaps, yes. It is a bold move to make so early in your career. But these times may call for boldness."

Ernie beamed at her, though his lip wobbled. "Glad to have you stand with me, Lady Black," he said, far too earnest for her liking, but she smiled anyway. "Shall we arrange a little meeting — me, yourself, Harry, sometime this week? It'll be good for us all to get together."

"Of course," she said, trying to sound convincing. "That would be nice." She paused a moment, as conversation floundered, then said, "I'm sitting with Leah on the train, by the way. Come sit with us, I'm sure she's got something to say about all this."

"Oh, my sister's something to say about everything," Ernie laughed, though the sound was hollow. Still, he followed her on the way back to her compartment. "She'd rather my job than any other."

"I see."

"Of course, I always take her advice. I represent the family, too, as much as myself, one mustn't forget that."

"Of course not."

"But still — she is not lord. My father had every confidence in me." He puffed up his chest as he said it, forced himself to stand taller in a way that betrayed his true fear. When she looked upon him, Aurora felt cold pity twist around her heart.

"I'm sure he'd be very proud," Aurora said, and winced at the blandness in her voice. "Come on — we're almost at Hogwarts, I expect."

Ernie's presence in their little compartment was not much welcomed by his sister, who glowered when he sat down next to Aurora. Why, she did not know, and a questioning glance at Gwen showed she did not know, either.

They arrived in Hogsmeade a quarter of an hour after Aurora and Ernie sat down, and he made a hasty exit to find his Hufflepuff friends, leaving the girls to pick up their satchels and Aurora to try and coax Stella out from under the seat. They were the last ones off, hurrying to the departing coaches. Leah squinted into the dark space where the thestral lurked, frowning. "Is there… Something there?"

Understanding dawned on Aurora and she reached for her friend's hand. "It's a thestral. It might become clearer. It won't hurt — remember, Hagrid showed us them last year?"

"Of course." Leah swallowed tightly and turned away, hurrying up into the coach. "I remember. You only see them if you've seen someone die."

Gwen looked determinedly out at the horizon, unsettled. "Yeah," Aurora said, climbing up behind her friend and pulling the door closed so the carriage started to rattle away. "That's right."

No one spoke after that. Aurora watched the shadowy landscape glide past them under the moonlight, as the castle came closer. Only when they managed to grab seats at the Slytherin table, with Sally-Anne, Clarissa, and Tracey, did Gwen managed to get the courage to break their discomfort and ask, "Is that Slughorn there, then?" She pointed to him sat at the High Table, contrastingly jovial next to a sour-faced Professor Snape. When he caught Aurora looking over, he smiled, and gave a jaunty wave.

"That's him. I imagine he'll be rather different than what we're used to in Potions class."

"Won't bother us — I think you're about the only person taking it. Snape seems to have put most of the year off."

"Really?" she glanced around at the girls. "Aren't any of you taking Potions?"

Tracey Davis turned and stared at her like the question was absurd. "No. It's dire."

"But it's so important!"

"Snape wouldn't have anyone but the best. I'm surprised you're putting up with him."

"He's not Potions teacher anymore," Gwen said excitedly, before Aurora could, "Slughorn is — the old guy beside him. Snape must have gotten the Defense role. Aurora was talking to Slughorn on the train."

Clarissa Drought raised her eyebrows, unamused. "Bully for you."

"Harry was there, too," Aurora said casually, and Clarissa flushed.

She held back a smirk. Gwen sighed and turned back to Aurora as the other two huddled over to whisper, presumably about the absurdity of a perfectly normal question. "How was it, then, anyway? Ernie seemed to like him."

"That's always a red flag," Leah said with a grimace.

"It was… Interesting," Aurora said. "He seemed to just want to know our stories, not us. He'd invited some others too — Potter, of course, and Neville Longbottom, Blaise, Ginny Weasley, that Gryffindor McLaggen, and Marcus Belby."

"The blond Ravenclaw guy?"

"The very same."

Gwen grimaced. "Clarissa went out with him for a bit last year, didn't you?"

Clarissa turned back again, annoyed. "With who?"

"Marcus Belby."

"Oh, him." She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah. Nice enough, I suppose, if you're into boring, but he's a rubbish kisser. How'd you know about that?"

"Can't remember," Gwen said, frowning. "Someone must have mentioned it in passing." Tracey looked down, suddenly very interested in the table.

"Well, I don't think Slughorn asked him to demonstrate that talent. He wasn't best impressed though — Belby's uncle invented the Wolfsbane Potion, but he doesn't seem to know him all that well. McLaggen, on the other hand, knows half the Ministry, but he seemed a right creep to me, so I hope Slughorn doesn't allow him back."

"Oh, he is," Sally-Anne confirmed with a shudder. "Tessie from Gobstones told me about him. I wouldn't get involved."

"As I thought. Anyway." Aurora tossed her hair. "How did you all cope without my presence?"

"Well, Daphne Greengrass came by for a bit," Leah said. "She introduced us to her cousin, Rian, first year."

"Lucan Greengrass's brother?"

"Yes, the same. It was weird but I suppose she's just trying to court favour with anyone she can. Pansy came looking for you, too, but Gwen told her to fuck off."

"She deserved it," Gwen said, as Aurora let out a startled noise of surprise.

"Thanks," she said, shaking her head. Her gaze slid, unwillingly, along the table to rest on Pansy, who was wringing her hands together nervously, shut off from the conversation around her. "I suppose I'll have to talk to her at some point."

"You're not obliged…"

Leah trailed off suddenly as the doors to the Great Hall were flung open and McGonagall led the new first years into the hall. There were an awful lot of them this year, a giant clump of ants in their black robes, peering around them in awe. Yet there was an air of uncertainty amongst some of them, too, the ones who heard whispers on the train or in their homes, the ones who had made their minds up about Dumbledore, or the war, or both.

The hat's song was much like the year before; all about unity and friendship, pulling together in the darkest of times. But Aurora had never felt the school so divided, even within Slytherin; or maybe it was just she who had been divided from her friends. As the first years settled in along their tables, Aurora noticed an absence at Gryffindor between Ron and Hermione, the latter of whom was watching the room carefully, anxiety written over her face.

"Harry's missing," she whispered to Leah, "look. Granger's worried."

"Where'd he go? Didn't you say he was with you?"

"Yeah, until…" She looked back down along the table, to where Draco was sat, looking all too pleased with himself. Her gut twisted. "He went after Blaise, I think to try and spy on Draco. Shit."

As soon as the sorting finished up, she hurried over to Draco, who smirked at her approach. "Look who it is, everybody. Lady Black herself."

Aurora ignored Greg and Vincent's laughter and the way they all looked her up and down. She speared Draco with her best glare, crossing her arms. "What did you do to him?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

"Harry. He's missing."

"He's Harry to you, now, is he?" He raised his eyebrows, amused. "I haven't seen him since Madam Malkin's."

"You're lying."

"Am not."

"Are too. I can tell. Your eyes are too wide and you're blushing. It's embarrassing how easy it is to know."

His cheeks went even pinker, but he held her gaze. "I don't know where he is, Aurora. Now piss off, you're putting us all off our dinner."

She glanced around at his little entourage of her old friends, saw the way Daphne and Blaise glanced at each other and looked away. Theo was on the other side of them, making a great show of reading a book, but his gaze kept flicking upwards, to her. She wished he would say anything and yet also couldn't think of anything worse.

"If you say so, Draco," she said eventually, with a sigh. "And by the way — you're off the Quidditch team." He stared at her, as Pansy gasped. "Sorry. It's just, I need decent players this year to rebuild, seeing as I'm the one who has been chosen as the new captain — I'm trying a new strategy this year, of choosing a Seeker capable of catching the snitch when we need them to." She winced, and heard Theo let out a small, hastily-covered laugh. "And I need people who can work in a team, rather than chasing glory for themselves."

Cheeks pink, Draco muttered, "I was going to quit anyway."

"Then there's no problem," she said with an icy smile, casting her gaze over the rest of the group. "Enjoy your dinner, everyone. It really is so lovely for us all to be back here again."

She turned and flounced away, ignoring Draco's mutter of, "Bloody bitch," that followed.

"Well?" Leah asked.

"He denied it, of course, but he's lying. If Harry doesn't show up by the end of dinner, I'm going to tell McGonagall — though I imagine Weasley and Granger already suspect."

"You don't think he's killed him?"

Aurora scoffed. "No. Draco's too much of a coward — and You-Know-Who would want to do it himself." Unless, he had somehow managed to send him into a trap. Merlin, none of them should have ever left him alone.

Harry finally arrived just before pudding began, his face covered in blood. Down the table, Draco let out a whoop of laughter and met Aurora's eyes with a smirk, a challenge. She glared right back, heart pounding.

Aurora could not finish dinner quickly enough, not even really caring when Dumbledore announced Slughorn as the new Potions Master, and Snape as Defense teacher, despite the divided response among her peers. She instead hurried to the Entrance Hall, where she managed to catch Harry leaving dinner with his friends and drag him off to a quiet corridor off the usual house routes to talk.

"What in Merlin's name happened?" she hissed at him, and he grimaced, then seemed to cringe even more at the pain of it.

"Your cousin."

"I assume you mean Draco, and not Elise."

"Obviously. He caught me from under the Invisibility Cloak, spying on them. Broke my nose too, but Dora fixed it for me. He clearly didn't like that he'd been overheard."

"And what did you overhear?"

Harry paused a moment, as though worried about what he could tell her. "Don't tell me you don't trust me."

"Of course I trust you. I just don't know if you want to hear… They weren't exactly nice about you, when Zabini told them you were at Slughorn's dinner."

"Who's they?"

"Malfoy and Zabini mostly. And Crabbe and Goyle. Parkinson didn't say much. But, I did find some stuff out. Malfoy seems to think he could join up with the Death Eaters by the end of the year, that Voldemort wants him for something he doesn't need Hogwarts for. I don't know what, but, he's definitely up to something."

"That doesn't necessarily confirm it," Aurora said weakly, leaning against the wall, "Draco has always been inclined to exaggeration. But it does make your theory seem more likely." She folded her arms, leaned back with a sigh. It would be strange if no one else had already known, though. Usually, that group would be inseparable — at least Pansy and Draco. It wasn't a good sign that they had been separated, Draco isolated. She swallowed, putting aside her other questions and forced herself to ask, "What was it he said about me?"

"Well." Harry stared at the floor, cheeks reddening, as though he regretted having brought it up at all. "It was more Ginny than you, but, I think the words he used were 'filthy little blood traitor'."

She took a moment to recover herself from the sting of the words before she was able to let out a cold, high laugh. "Is that all? I can't say I'm surprised. Of course he'd turn. Did the others agree?"

"I… Well…"

"Did they?"

"Well, they didn't exactly disagree."

"And who's they?"

"Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini. The other ones weren't there." Lucille and Millie had probably wound up with the Greengrasses and Carrows. And Theo wasn't with them; that gave her a sense of relief, at least.

"At least I know where I stand," she said with a sigh. "Is that all you got from Draco? Nothing about what he might be doing — if anything?"

"He wouldn't say. He implied that he had something in mind, but all I got was that it wasn't anything to do with you this time — Parkinson asked," he added, when Aurora looked at him in surprise.

"And he didn't tell her what he was actually doing?" And she didn't already know. What could possibly be going on that he wouldn't confide in anyone, even his mother or Pansy? It wasn't a family matter, she knew that for sure now. She didn't want to admit it to Harry. Not yet.

"Not a word."

"Well." She pursed her lips. "Either that's all exaggeration, for show, or there's something specific, something he isn't allowed to share. If Draco had a mission he was allowed to share, he'd tell them, I'm sure of it — Pansy would at least now, they tell each other everything. At least," she said before she could stop herself, a wave of sadness breaking over her, "they always did." She caught her words, shaking her head. "He might just be bragging, but his father isn't exactly Voldemort's favourite person right now. It doesn't really add up. Unless he has real reason to believe…"

Somehow, the thought of Draco becoming a Death Eater was not as shocking as it should have been. It turned her stomach, yes, set off a restless anxiety inside of her, fearful of what he might do and what he would become. But somehow it also felt inevitable, and she doubted there was anything she could do, now, to take him off that path. He'd never let her in again anyway.

She ran a hand through her hair, twisted a curl. "If that's all, I'd better get to my common room before anyone notices me missing. And you, too, you don't want to be alone in the corridors, just in case. You've still got the mirror on you, right?"

Harry nodded. "Malfoy didn't notice it."

"Good. Let my dad know what happened, before Dora tells him and Andromeda and Ted and gets everyone flapping about worried." She sighed. "I'll let you know if I hear anything about Draco. And be careful, please." She jabbed a finger at him. "I'm fed up of having people ask me why you're covered in blood, or look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards, or whether you've fought a dragon or are just a clumsy sod."

Harry grinned. "Cheers, Aurora, that's really sweet of you."

She shook her head, and could not bring herself to smile in response. "Anytime, Potter."