Love The Heartless

Chapter Twenty-One

September 1st, 1971

10:45 am

Aurora searched the crowd as she instructed first years on where to go. She only had fifteen minutes till she had to leave. Where were they?

"Looking for someone?"
Aurora turned and quickly threw herself into the arms of her girlfriend.

"I thought you weren't going to make it!"
"Of course, we'd see you off, love." Carina smiled, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.

Carina and Aurora had been dating for three months shortly after Ted and Andromeda's wedding. Aurora had been nervous about letting someone into her life again, but Andromeda thought that it would be good for her to get out. And damn, her daughter was right once again.

"Mum!" Andromeda waddled through the crowd, trying to squeeze past people.
"Hey, kiddo. How are you feeling this morning?" Aurora hugged her tightly.
"We're fine. This little niffler is refusing to move out of my ribs though." She complained.

"Where's my son-in-law?" Aurora scanned the crowd.
"He got called in. His boss made him floo in early this morning. Something about a certain document needing to be filed." The younger witch rolled her eyes.
"That's quite alright. I'll floo home this weekend and see you lot, alright?"

The Hogwarts Express blew the warning whistle.

"I have to go, but I'll see you all soon, yeah?" Aurora took both her girl's hands, squeezing them tightly.
"I'll pop in for a visit this week." Carina gently kissed her cheek and wrapped an arm around Andromeda's shoulder. "Don't worry, Ted and I have her. We'll write every day."
"Please do, I'll miss you both." Aurora stepped onto the train and the door closed behind her. 
She waved from the window until the two women were too small to see anymore.

Aurora sighed and began her job of patrolling up and down the halls. Why Dumbledore chose her to be part of the team to watch the children this year, she had no idea. But maybe she could use the time to go over her class plans.

She was once again in charge of defense against the dark arts until a replacement could be found. Carina had been offered a position in the Ministry that she couldn't pass up. 
Aurora opened the door that passed into the second part of the train and heard shouting ahead.

They had just left, how could someone already be causing trouble?

Aurora made her way towards the commotion and cleared her throat as she approached a boy standing in the doorway to a compartment.
The boy turned, and Aurora looked at him concerningly. The boy had to be a first-year, but his obvious malnourishment made him seem smaller. His face was curtained by greasy black hair.
"Is there an issue here?" Aurora poked her head in the compartment and was met by five other first-years looking at her warily.

"No issue, ma'am." A boy with dark hair, pale skin, and grey eyes grinned up at her.
"Are you a Black?" She asked him.
"Yes ma'am. Sirius Black." He leaned back with his hands behind his head. His arrogance made his familial ties obvious. 
"Come on Lily. Let's go find somewhere else to sit." The greasy-haired boy told the small red-headed girl.

"Yeah, let's go Sev." Lily brushed past Aurora and led the boy away.
"Were you all being cruel to that boy, or was it the other way around?" Aurora already knew the answer. These four would most likely be the troublemakers of their year.
"We were just chatting, Professor..." A boy with sandy blonde hair, and a long scar across his face, trailed off.

"Professor Nott. I'll be your defense against the dark arts and transfiguration Professor this term. And who might you lot be?"
"I knew I knew you!" Sirius exclaimed. "You got my cousin 'Dromeda away from my crazed cousin!" 
"So, I take it you don't get along with Bellatrix." Aurora held back a smirk.
"No way. She's mad. How is my cousin?"

"She will be coming for a visit at some point this week. I will ask her if she would like to see you. Perhaps you two could have tea and catch up. Now, what are the rest of you lot named?" She flicked an eyebrow up at the other three boys.

"James Potter."
"Peter Pettigrew."
"Remus Lupin."

"Lupin... Doesn't your Father work with the Ministry?" She asked.
"Yes, Professor," Remus replied, uncomfortably. Hmm. Something was odd about that boy. Aurora made a mental note to check up on him throughout the year.

"Alright, you lot. Try to keep yourselves out of trouble. I have to go monitor the rest of the train. I'll be keeping an eye out on you four." Aurora nodded and shut the compartment door behind her.

Aurora turned and ran right into someone.

"My apologies- Narcissa." Aurora straightened herself up. Narcissa had grown up over the summer. She carried herself with more elegance than before, and she had lost her childlike face, her features becoming more pointed and mature.
"Ror- Professor Nott. I was sent to check on my little cousin. He is in his first year."
"Noted. Have a good trip to Hogwarts." She nodded to the girl. "I'll be seeing you in class."
"If I may ask," Narcissa blocked her path. "How is my sister?"

Aurora studied the girl before her. She seemed sincere, but she was still related to a death eater, perhaps she was one herself.

"Andromeda is well." 
"Please tell her that I think of her every day, and-"
"Narcissa! Come."

Aurora turned and saw a smirking Lucius Malfoy standing behind her.
"Mr. Malfoy." Aurora nodded politely, although she would love to hex him into next week.
"Professor." The blonde sneered. "Come, Narcissa. Lee wants to discuss our engagement."
"Ah, congratulations you two. I am sure you two will be... content together." Aurora tried to keep eye contact with Narcissa, but the young blonde refused.
"Thank you, professor," Narcissa mumbled, walking past her.

------------- 

Aurora sat at the teacher's table as the first years filed in behind Minerva. They looked as if they were getting smaller and smaller every year.

"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Black, Sirius."
Of course, he would be first.

The small boy made his way to the stool, sitting down quickly. Minerva went to place the hat upon his head, but before it could even touch him, the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Aurora's mouth dropped open, and she heard muttering throughout the great hall. A Black in Gryffindor?
Regardless, Aurora began clapping with the Gryffindor table, who welcomed their newest member.

"Evans, Lily."
The small girl was shaking noticeably and took a deep breath as the hat was placed upon her head. 
After a few moments, the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The amount of students standing dwindled, as they were divided equally into their houses.
"Potter, James."

The dark-haired boy bounded up the stairs, grinning as Minerva placed the hat on his head. Like Sirius Black, the hat had hardly touched his head before calling out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Snape, Severus."

Aurora watched intently as the greasy-haired boy walked to the stool, head bowed.
"SLYTHERIN!" 
He looked longingly at the Gryffindor table as he made his way to his house's table.

"Pettigrew, Peter."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Lupin, Remus."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

This was going to be an interesting year.

AN:

I was trying to think of a way to honor the late great Dame Maggie Smith, but nothing I thought of was good enough. Maggie Smith was a huge part of my childhood. From Harry Potter, to Pan, to A Room With A View, she was like an Auntie who would pop in to check on you every now and then and ensure you were alright before popping off on her next adventure. I dedicate this chapter to the Headmistress of Hogwarts, who protected her students with all that she had and made our lives magical.

"Oh Captain my Captain, you will be missed."