Happy March everyone! Spring will finally be here soon and I can't wait! The UK is currently in the middle of a deep freeze and it's actually snowing and setting. My hours at work will start to increase soon so I'm working on getting as far ahead on updates as I can. Big thanks to everyone reading this.
Lots of love,
LM xxxxxx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 3:
Aurora just curled up in the corner by the window and watched everything go by. She shivered and Draco got something out of his bag and passed it to Aurora before watching as the 11-year-old got a book out and began reading it.
"She won't give you any trouble," Draco told Astoria, Daphne and Blaise, "she's scared and nervous and just worried about everything. Just make sure she gets something to eat," he said before Pansy arrived at the compartment door.
"There you are Draco…" she started before her eyes fell on Aurora, "who's she?"
"Some relative of mine who's come to live at the Manor, not that it's got anything to do with you. What do you want?" Draco asked.
"We've been summoned to the Prefect's carriage," Pansy said glaring at Aurora.
"Just leave her alone Parkinson," Astoria said as Aurora looked up from her book.
"Keep an eye on her," Draco said before rising from his seat and leaving with Pansy.
Aurora went back to her book before Blaise turned to the sisters,
"She's weird and doesn't seem to talk."
"Just leave her alone," Daphne said.
"I can't believe Draco's got us stuck babysitting some weird relative," Blaise added.
"She's scared and nervous and going by the look she was giving Narcissa she didn't want to come with us. She's also a First Year and is probably worried about what House she'll be in," Daphne added, "Draco is trusting us with her so if you can't be nice then don't say a thing and make her worse."
"Thank you…Daphne…" Aurora said as she tried to remember the names.
"You're welcome Aurora," Daphne smiled before glaring at Blaise.
The journey had progressed slightly and everyone was doing their own thing when suddenly the door to the compartment slid open.
"There you are Edwards," Natalie smirked, "we hoped you hadn't got lost. And you've already latched onto some older kids? That won't save you from us."
"You were meant to make sure we all got the train together but you couldn't care less about me could you?" Aurora said.
"Why would anyone care about someone as pathetic as you?" Chloe said before snatching Aurora's book away from her before being faced with wands.
"Give her that book back now," Astoria said, "or else. You don't mess with anyone related to the Malfoys." Chloe and Natalie burst out laughing,
"That's rich coming from that pathetic thing," Chloe said before throwing the book at Aurora and managing to hit her face causing her to whimper out as it had hurt her before Draco arrived back. The look on Aurora's face warned Draco that the two girls could be kids from the orphanage.
"Get back to your compartment now," Draco ordered, "I am a Prefect. What are your names?"
"Natalie Adams and Chloe Daniels, Gryffindor House Third Years," Natalie said, "just came to give Edwards a warning," she said before heading off with Chloe.
"I'm going to find Pansy," Blaise said before getting up and leaving the compartment. Astoria went and closed the door.
"You need to tell us what's going on Draco," she said, "because from that she really isn't related to you at all is she?" Draco looked at Aurora before sighing,
"Aurora they won't say anything. I promise." He waited to see what Aurora would do and eventually the witch nodded,
"OK," she said, "they defended me against them."
"Aurora is an orphan that we befriended as she was abandoned by those two witches, well her orphanage. Mother saw her alone and scared and we helped her and now we are going to foster her," he said before turning to Aurora, "are those the two that bullied you this morning?"
"Yes. They have done since I was little," Aurora said before wincing out as the book impact began to be felt.
"They stole that book and then threw it at her," Astoria said, "so she is technically a Malfoy?"
"We're saying she's a relative for now and then are going to present her at the Christmas Ball we always hold at Christmas," Draco said before sitting down on the other side of Aurora, "but that stays between us. Mother and father are probably at the Ministry now sorting it all out. Mother found out what those witches did to her and she is never going back there." Daphne smirked as she watched Draco.
"Someone's in big brother mode," she said.
"We don't know what they've done to her but as far as everyone outside this compartment is concerned she's a Malfoy," Draco said before hearing the trolley lady coming and turned to Aurora, "want another pumpkin pasty? I'll get you a packet of Bertie Botts' Beans and a Chocolate Frog as well. Don't worry about the money. I'll get these."
"Yes please Draco," Aurora said smiling softly and put her book down, "and a drink?"
"Anything you want. Mother, father and I are going to give you everything you've never had Aurora," Draco said before going and purchasing some food and drink for himself and Aurora before Daphne and Astoria got some stuff.
Aurora was tucking into the pasty and smiled softly as she ate. She just focussed on eating, unaware of what the others were talking about.
"Did she even get fed?" Daphne asked.
"The bigger kids appear to have pushed the younger ones out of the way. Aurora couldn't eat this morning because of that Natalie messing up her room," Draco said, "we got lucky. Kids like her…I don't even want to think what she's been through… Those girls could make her life hell if she's in the same House as them."
"They'll have to battle two families of the Sacred 28 first," Astoria said.
Eventually Aurora fell asleep and Draco allowed the witch to rest her head on his lap. He didn't really care as it was Daphne and Astoria there and they didn't judge.
"Bet that's the first time she's been able to sleep properly," Daphne said watching the 11-year-old witch.
"Yes I think so to," Draco sighed, "I bet father will get an investigation going once we can find out what happened to Aurora."
"Better wake her up. She needs to get her robes on," Astoria said before Draco woke Aurora up and they got into their robes before putting Aurora's bag into her trunk.
"Now you have to go in the boats with the other First Years," Draco explained, "think about me and Daph and Tori and the Hat will listen to you Aurora. It listened to mother and put her in Slytherin over Ravenclaw," he said before the train stopped at the station, "get a carriage and hold it for me. I need to warn that oaf to respect Aurora."
Draco made sure he had Aurora's hand and led her towards a giant.
"Oi Hagrid! Respect and look after my relative here or father will make sure you don't have a job tomorrow," Draco said feeling Aurora shaking.
"Respect your Professors Malfoy but fine where is she?" Hagrid said before calling for more First Years and then looking down at Aurora, "OK I'll watch her." Draco kissed her head and promised that she'd see him soon before he headed off.
Hagrid made sure he had Aurora at the front and stuck her in a boat with a few others. Her eyes widened and she gasped as she saw the Castle for the first time and almost cried as she couldn't believe she was finally at Hogwarts and hopefully away from the orphanage bullies. She wondered where the Slytherins slept and hoped she'd be one of them by the end of the Sorting. She was beginning to feel sick as the boats came to a stop and they were told to get out and then were led inside by Hagrid before a witch in a tartan robe met them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Professor McGonagall," she greeted them before going on "Now in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are... Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now while you're here...your house will be like your family. Points can be given and be taken away". She then disappeared and the First Years were left in silence.
After some time, Professor McGonagall had turned back to them "We're ready for you now. Follow me please," she said and led them into the Great Hall.
If Aurora wasn't about to faint then she felt like she was going to at that moment as they walked into the Great Hall. She instantly looked for Draco and found his eyes and saw Daphne and Astoria with him, Blaise too and that Pansy. He nodded and that helped her get to the front before Dumbledore gave the usual notices and then the Hat began to sing and the Sorting was underway.
"Aurora Edwards!" McGonagall called and Draco and Astoria had grabbed each other's hands without realising they had. The Hat was placed on her head.
"Draco and Astoria and Daphne. Slytherin please!" she pleaded with the Hat.
"A relative of Draco Malfoy are you?"
"Yes I am. Please Slytherin. Please. He's all I've got." Next thing Aurora heard was the Slytherin table going crazy and she walked very unsteadily down towards the Slytherin table. Daphne was instantly on her feet and manged to get Aurora sat between her sister and Draco before she practically fainted.
Draco grabbed some pumpkin juice and gave it to Aurora and looked up at the Headmaster who nodded at the Prefect. Dumbledore had indeed received the owl from one Lucius Malfoy and wasn't going to do anything to anger him.
"You're fine Aurora. You're fine," Draco said, "you're safe."
"Give it a rest Draco," Pansy said before Draco glared at her.
"You have no idea what she's been through. Anyway Tori, Daph and me will watch over her. You dare upset her and you'll be sorry," Draco said.
"She is not a relative of yours," Pansy said, "I will find out who she is and then she'll have nobody. You are lying Draco and everyone can see it." Daphne just waved her wand and Pansy fell silent as Aurora finally seemed to be able to realise where she was.
"You're safe Aurora. It's OK. They're in Gryffindor and you're here in Slytherin. Pansy will shut up if she knows what's best for her," Draco said before putting bits of food that had now appeared in front of them, "I will keep you safe no matter what." Aurora nodded before eating her food and beginning to relax. She just hoped she would be able to stay with the Malfoys and never have to go back to the orphanage again.