Hey everyone! The UK has rain for the first time in forever. Got a busy week so uploading today before it all starts. Big thanks to everyone reading this still and BlindKitten97 and Torrach for the reviews.
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LM xxxxxx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 19:
Malfoy Manor:
Lucius was in his study working through some paperwork for the legal case against the orphanage when his personal House Elf, Cypress, appeared.
"Master an owl has arrived and I have retrieved the letter and brought it to you," Cypress bowed before taking the unopened letter over to Lucius and then disapparated with a pop as he was dismissed.
He sat and read the letter before his eyes widened and he was soon sweeping out from his study and then straight to his wife's. She was busy finishing off the final touches for Aurora's room and the Christmas Balls preparations.
"Cissa…I just received a letter and I know everything," he said as he just walked into his wife's study.
"Know what?" Narcissa asked.
"Pansy Parkinson and Natalie Adams are cousin," Lucius said, "that's why they're so friendly and Pansy knew who Aurora was when she'd never even met her." He passed Narcissa the letter and watched as she read it.
"Natalie's family were disowned but the two found each other when Natalie started at Hogwarts," Narcissa sighed, "we need to warn Draco, Astoria and Daphne without Aurora knowing. I think Charlotte should know too. The last thing she needs to learn about is the connection between the two girls."
"Well we can pull the three of them out during their lessons. Charlotte could be a problem though," Lucius said.
"Actually it won't be," Narcissa said, "let's get this done with," she said before the two apparated to Hogwarts and asked to see Draco, Charlotte, Daphne and Astoria.
Eventually all four students were in Snape's office whilst Aurora was in Charms. Charlotte had been grabbed when Aurora hadn't been looking during the chaos of traveling to classes.
"Mother, father what is going on?" Draco finally asked after neither parent had spoken for a few moments.
"We know some information and felt that you needed to know for Aurora's sake but we don't want her to know," Lucius said.
"Pansy Parkinson and Natalie Adams are cousins," Narcissa said, "Natalie's family was disowned and the two realised after Natalie started at Hogwarts."
"So Pansy knew who Aurora was because of Natalie…? So she really is in danger?" Astoria quizzed, "all she's done is try and be normal. It's not fair."
Silence filled the office as everyone digested what had been said. Draco had an arm on Astoria's shoulder and Charlotte was sat on Daphne's lap. Snape was listening before he sighed,
"I will also watch over her. I am her Head of House."
"Thank you Severus," Narcissa said, "that information does not leave this room. The last thing we need is Aurora finding out because she will freak out and have a panic attack and probably hide. She is also finally settling down as well." There was a general mummer of agreement because Snape took Charlotte up to the Charms classroom just as the lesson ended and explained why Charlotte had missed it.
Aurora and Charlotte made their way down to the Great Hall and Aurora found herself pushed against the doors as Natalie, Chloe and Pansy walked passed. Aurora sat down next to Astoria and sighed. She grabbed the nearest goblet and began to drink from it clearly not wanting to eat anything.
"Aurora you need to eat something," Astoria said before doing something that she shouldn't have done. She put a sausage on a fork and then tried to feed Aurora. To her surprise the witch opened her mouth and ate the food so Astoria just carried on feeding the young witch until she'd had enough.
"She knows something," Draco said once Aurora and Charlotte had headed off to lesson, "she's not stupid."
Charlotte had been kept back after her class and Aurora decided that the Great Hall was the safest place for her to sit as there were other students around. She sat down and made sure she had a Goblet of drink close by before she settled down to read her book. Reading had always been Aurora's way to escape from the problems she was having and knowing that Narcissa loved reading as well gave the young witch some comfort that she wasn't alone.
She sighed happily as she had a sip of her pumpkin juice before she carried on reading her book. It was one that Astoria had brought her at the weekend and she had been dying to read it. She should have been doing her homework but wanted to read to calm down after the day before she attempted her homework. She'd barely started reading before she found the book snatched out of her hands and she looked up and froze when she saw who it was.
"Give me back my book Pansy," Aurora said.
"How old are you again? This is a book on Unicorns," Pansy said.
"And? So what? I love Unicorns," Aurora said, "give me back my book now. Pansy stop!" she screamed as she saw Pansy going to rip some pages out of the book.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Miss Parkinson," came Snape's voice before he took the book from Pansy's hand and gave it back to Aurora, "both of you. With me now."
Aurora followed instantly before Pansy followed a few steps behind. They headed to Snape's office and Aurora instantly went over to Draco and he held her close.
"I caught Miss Parkinson about to destroy Aurora's book," Snape explained.
"She deserves it," Pansy said.
"No she doesn't and neither does she deserve you and your poisonous cousin Natalie making things harder for her," Draco said, instantly jumping to Aurora's defence.
"What are you talking about Draco?" Aurora asked before she looked at Draco. The wizard sighed,
"Mother and father came to visit earlier and told us that Natalie and Pansy here are cousins and that is how Pansy has been able to single you out from the start with Natalie and Chloe."
Aurora pushed herself back and out of Draco's arms and looked around at everyone. She couldn't speak as she looked at them. Finally some words managed to exit her mouth,
"You all knew?" she questioned and watched as they all nodded, "and you never thought to tell me.2
"We were under orders from father," Draco said quickly and everyone realised that Draco was trying not to damage Aurora's relationship with Narcissa as no doubt her friendship with Astoria was about to be broken.
"What about Narcissa?" Aurora asked.
"She wanted to tell you…" Astoria said.
"But she got overruled…" Daphne said.
"He just wanted to protect you Aurora," Draco said before trying to put the young witch close and hold her but she pushed him away and took one look at everyone in the room before running out of the office and as far away as she possibly could.
She found herself on the forth floor thinking that she needed somewhere to hide and then suddenly a door appeared out of nowhere so she quickly went inside it and looked around. There were rows and rows of books and comfy chairs by a fireplace. Aurora went and sat down in a chair by the fireplace and carried on reading her book and then did her homework. She didn't want to talk to anyone. They had all betrayed her, well that's what she thought, and that hurt her so much right at that moment in time.