Hey Everyone! I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart for the update being late. I totally forgot when I updated last last month but I'm back with updates this month. Big thanks to everyone reading this.
Lots of Love,
LM xxxxxx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 5:
Aurora's first day had ended up with her having to go to Madam Pomfrey before her first class of the day. A girl called Charlotte, who was in the same dorm as Aurora, reassured Draco that she'd stay with her and make sure they got to their first lesson.
"I know your timetable so I can keep track of where you are and if those girls come near you touch this," Draco passed her a token, "and it will alert me, Daph and 'Stori," he said before kissing her head softly and watching as Charlotte led Aurora to the Hospital Wing.
"I just hope her wrist is the only thing Pomfrey looks at," Daphne said, "see you later Astoria," she said before heading to Charms with Draco.
"So do I because only mother and father will know what's happened to Aurora and everyone knows she's got something to do with me," Draco said before sighing, "mother said we're trying to keep her real identity a secret until the Malfoy Ball at Christmas but I do not trust Pansy or those two girls as far as I could hex them," he added before they walked into Charms.
"It's just my wrist," Aurora insisted, "please. I just want to get to Potions."
Madam Pomfrey, of course, didn't believe a word the 11-year-old had said. She didn't know that Aurora had been in and out of St. Mungos ever since she was born but she knew that something was up because Aurora was adamant that it was only her wrist that was hurting when she'd been kicked around the ankles by Chloe.
Eventually the Matron accepted that she wasn't going to get an answer out of Aurora and sent her and Charlotte down to the dungeons with a note.
Everyone was waiting for Snape to deduct points but, of course, Snape was Head of Slytherin House and an old friend of the Malfoys and Aurora was staying with the Malfoys so therefore she wouldn't even be looked at.
"See me at the end of the lesson Miss Edwards and Miss Lewis," Snape simply said before the girls separated and watched groups that were already preparing the potion that Snape had set them.
The professor looked around the classroom and noticed that Aurora didn't seem to be paying any attention.
"Aurora come here please," he called and Aurora hadn't heard him so he asked again and this time Aurora did hear him and made her way to the front.
"Sorry professor," she said, "I'll do my research and get an essay to you for next lesson."
"No Aurora. I know things are hard for you," Snape said softly, "I'm Draco's godfather and a close friend of Lucius and Narcissa. I know what is happening and should you feel the need to talk to anyone I am here. Now an essay on the potion for next lesson and you can just sit and do whatever this lesson only." Aurora nodded and hurried back to her seat and began to try and research the potion the rest of the class was making but she just couldn't concentrate. The uncertainty of what was happening with the Malfoys and trying to avoid Natalie and Chloe was worrying her.
The lesson ended Aurora and Charlotte bumped into Draco and Daphne in the Entrance Hall.
"Malfoy? Who is she?" I want to help her but I can't if I don't know how," Charlotte said. Draco watched that Daphne was talking to Aurora before he took Charlotte aside.
"She's an orphan who is going to be fostered by my parents," Draco whispered, "she's scared and nervous and struggling I think. She could do with a friend right now but do not push her to answer you because she will push you away." Charlotte nodded before heading off with Aurora and Draco and Daphne headed back to the Common Room.
Sadly for Aurora she had a Flying lesson and she wasn't confident at all with Flying; not even at the orphanage. Usually someone would make her fall off her broomstick so she never really had the chance to fly.
She stood next to her broomstick and waited for the instructions but then the fear began to overtake her and it wasn't long before she was having a panic attack and she touched the token as it was the first thing she could think of.
Suddenly Draco was rushing out and Madam Hooch went to shout at him but saw him go straight to Aurora and lead her away. Clearly Madam Hooch knew something as she didn't even try and protest and stop Draco.
Draco just took Aurora to the Prefects' area and sat her down and waited for her to calm down.
"Scared of flying?" Draco questioned, "look you are safe with me and nothing is going to happen to you. Did those girls push you off your broomstick at the orphanage?" Aurora just wiped her eyes and cried softly,
"Yes…" she whispered.
"What else have they done to you? You need to tell me Aurora because I have to keep you safe until you are officially under mother and father's care," Draco said, beginning to soften his tone as he realised that that was probably the best way to speak to…well his little foster sister.
Aurora just couldn't speak; all she did was cry and shake and when Draco put his hand on her arm she whimpered and looked at Draco.
"You are safe with me. Nobody is going to hurt you Aurora," Draco said, keeping his hand on her arm, "whatever happened mother and father will get you help and you can tell mother everything. She will listen to you Aurora. She may seem like an ice queen, well she was known as the Ice Princess of Slytherin in her school days, but mother always puts her children first."
Draco waited before wrapping his arms around Aurora and he'd suspected he'd get a reaction but she tried to push him and kick him out of the way but he remained firm and then Aurora seemed to get the message she was safe and she calmed down and then looked at Draco.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you," she whispered, "please don't send me back there."
"You are never going back there. Where our family sits in society means that us fostering you won't even be questioned. In fact I'm surprised Elara hasn't been already," Draco said.
"Who's Elara?"
"Mother's owl. Mine is Eros and Father's is Hermes."
"I don't have an owl. I don't even have proper robes or anything really. Us orphans are forgotten and nobody wants us once we're around my age because we aren't cute and innocent anymore."
"Innocent?"
"Yeah you know like when you're 5-years-old and get away with everything because you're at the cutest thing ever. When you get to my age you're going away to school so there is really no need to foster or adopt someone like me because we're coming to Hogwarts."
"That doesn't mean a child shouldn't get a loving home though," Draco said, "every child deserves the right to be in a happy and safe home where they are loved."
"Even by the Ice Princess of Slytherin?"
"Do not tell her I told you that," Draco said before noticing that Aurora had calmed down enough, "now go and find 'Stori or Charlotte in the Great Hall and I'll be along soon." Aurora nodded and smiled slightly before heading off. Draco grabbed some parchment and a quill and began to write a letter to his mother.
Dearest Mother.
I had hoped to not have to be writing home so soon but Aurora is having major problems and those girls from the orphanage have already found her and basically bullied her. She's been checked over, well her ankle and wrist have but she's really not focused in class. She knows about Severus's connections to us but I'm more worried about her panic attack. I need help and advice.
I gave her a token that allows me, 'Stori and Daph (as in Daphne and Astoria Greengrass) to know when the other is in trouble. We had a spare one so we gave it to her so if those girls or Pansy Parkinson went near her she could touch it and we'd instantly find her. I have a copy of her timetable so I know where she is. Anyway I felt the token heat up and hurried out to the Flying class and she was in the middle of a massive panic attack. I instantly got her inside and those girls always pushed her off her broomstick and obviously that triggered the panic attack.
I fear they have really hurt her and damaged her in some way. I held her close and she kicked and screamed and tried to push me away. I think we need to get her checked out once all the legal stuff is sorted. She's very fragile right now and could really do with knowing where she stands because she needs stability and right now she's so scared. I don't care if you write to her. She doesn't have an owl though so I'll let her use Eros to reply, just can we get some reassurance? And some of your cookies. They really comfort her as does the perfume bottle.
Love,
Draco (and Aurora)
Draco looked at the letter and knew it was short considering what had happened, but he needed advice on what to do. He also thought that maybe his parents had managed to find out something about Aurora that would help him be able to help the girl that his parents were taking in.
He hurried to the Owlery and then quickly found Eros,
"Do not come back without a letter and cookies Eros," he said feeding the owl some treats before watching the bird take flight. He then suddenly remembered Aurora and Astoria, oh Astoria how his heart fluttered when she was around, and now Daphne were in the Great Hall so he hurried as well as a Malfoy would hurry and was soon in the Great Hall and sat down eating, hoping Eros would come back with answers soon.