As much as Aurora had missed Hogwarts, she certainly did not miss all of the assignments that the professors had started giving out on the first day of classes.
"Sometimes I just cannot wait until we are out of this place. At least we won't have to deal with writing five page essays." Narcissa groaned as Aurora and her walked into Slughorn's classroom.
"I can't tell if I hate or love this class." Aurora replied to her as they both sat down.
"I think the problem I have is with Slughorn. I still don't know how you managed to skip all of his Slug Club parties last year." Narcissa said.
The room was then starting to fill up. Mainly with Gryffindors.
"Well he can't make me go to them if I'm 'sick' am I right?" Aurora smirked. "And plus, I was rather occupied with other things last year."
"Oh yes, I know." Narcissa said, looking at Marlene who had just walked into the room with Lily and another girl with dark hair that she didn't seem to recognize.
Like always, Marlene was in her usual outgoing and playful mood, with Lily and Mary laughing along with whatever they were talking about.
"We are going to crush those Slytherins at the match."
"Calm down, Marls. The next quidditch match isn't until two months." Mary told her.
"But you know how she is. And James too for that matter." Lily said as the three sat down. "They're both so determined to win."
"Yeah, because we will." Marlene emphasized. "But as much as I love our team, I have to admit, the Slytherins aren't too bad either when it comes to Quidditch."
"They beat your arses in like the first two matches last year." Mary agreed with Marlene.
"Can we not talk about quidditch for one minute?" Lily groaned. With Marlene and James (and even Sirius at times), it was always nonstop talking about quidditch.
"Well what do you suggest we talk about, then? Potions? Arithmancy? Ancient runes— can you believe she took ancient runes?!" Marlene exclaimed, causing Lily to lightly slap her on the arm.
"You know, it can actually be quite interesting." Lily defended herself.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Marlene snorted.
"Oh here comes dear old Sluggy." Mary whispered as Professor Slughorn entered the room.
"Hello, hello! Welcome back to another year of potions with me." Slughorn greeted them. "Now this year'll be a tad bit different. Difficult even. Seeing as it's your last year at Hogwarts and you have to take your NEWT exams at the end of the year. And for now, I won't assign any partners so you may all work with whom you wish."
"Now, open your books to page 268..."
*****
Aurora pretty much zoned out during the rest of the class and Narcissa had to snap her fingers in front of her face a couple of times to tell her that it was time to leave.
"What? Oh— right! Sorry." She quickly answered before getting up and gathering her things. For some reason, potions was starting to bore her. But maybe that was because she didn't have any motivation. No one at Hogwarts did, with Voldemort quickly gaining more power and recruiting even more people. And that of course, always led to more deaths.
The rest of the day went by rather quickly, or so it seemed to since Aurora couldn't exactly concentrate.
It was pretty much the same thing for every class; the professors welcoming the students back and then assigning something for them to
complete.
Even at dinner, Aurora couldn't focus on what her friends were saying.
"I told him that! But you know how he is and-" Veronica stopped mid sentence just as she realized that Aurora's mind seems to be elsewhere. "You alright?"
"Me? Oh yeah, I'm just tired. Slughorn already assigned us an essay that we're supposed to complete by the end of the week." Aurora monotonously explained. "There's just so much going on— Anyways, what were you saying?"
"I was telling Cissy about our little shopping adventure to the muggle area." Veronica smirked. "And Evan's reaction to it all."
"I still can't believe that you got a tattoo, Aurora! I've always wanted one but that would probably give my parents a heart attack." Narcissa sighed. "And plus, Lucius doesn't really like tattoos."
"Lucius? Why do you care what he thinks?" Aurora asked, genuinely curious. She hated it when a woman though that she had to listen to her husband and obey him. What was the point of marriage at that point?
"Well, he is going to be my husband soon. But it's fine, I can live without a tattoo." Narcissa smiled, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. "Anyways, speaking of the wedding, my mother wants the theme to be dark green and very 'slytherin-y'. But I on the other hand would love for there to be lots of flowers. Hydrangeas perhaps, they're my favorite."
"You should do what you want to. It's your wedding after all." Aurora told her. As much as Aurora would've loved to attend her best friends wedding, she had to think about the possibility that she might not be able to if she were to leave.
But her thoughts soon got interrupted as she turned to look at where Veronica's gaze was at. Regulus, Evan, Avery, and the other death eaters. All sitting together.
"I get that they're all in that stupid cult, but do they really have to spend every waking second together too?" Veronica said, her voice laced with disgust and anger.
"Ronnie! Don't say those things. At least not while we're sitting in a table full of Slytherins." Narcissa smacked her arm, hoping that no one heard her friend.
"What? Why?" Veronica taunted jokingly.
"You know why. Do you know what they might say, or even do, if they find out that you're talking bad about the Dark Lord?" Narcissa cautiously told her.
"Well I quite frankly don't give a shit about their 'death eating' cult or their bloody 'dark' lord." Veronica raised her pumpkin juice with a smile. "Cheers."
It was in that moment that another student, a Ravenclaw who seemed to be around her third year, came up to Aurora.
"Uh- Dumbledore asked me to tell you to go to his office. And that he likes cauldron cakes." She quickly said before hurrying back off to her table, mainly because of the glares the other Slytherins were giving her.
"Why would Dumbledore want you?" Narcissa asked in confusion.
"I honestly don't know. But I'll meet you back at the dorms, yeah?" Aurora told them.
"Yeah, see ya."
Aurora was confused as to why Dumbledore wanted to see her. She hadn't done anything wrong, so that was out of the question. Perhaps he knew about Regulus? But then again, what would that have to do with her?
She reached the Headmaster's office and it was then that she realized that 'cauldron cakes' was the password.
Aurora hadn't really been in Dumbledore's office that much. Only once or twice in her second year for punching two Slytherins for talking bad about Sirius in front of her. And the other time was in her fifth year when she 'accidentally' turned a boy into a rat for making unwanted advances on Veronica.
The room was quite big, and it was filled with various peculiar objects.
"Hello Miss Black." The voice of Dumbledore came from somewhere, and she turned around and saw him sitting at the desk. "Have a seat."
"I don't want this to sound rude, but why am I here?" Aurora asked him as soon as she sat down.
"Well, as you know, things around here are changing. Times are getting darker." Dumbledore calmly explained. "Do you know what you'll do after Hogwarts?"
Aurora almost laughed at the question. Did he call her all the way here just to ask her what her plans after Hogwarts were? "Well, I'm not too sure as of now, but I plan on being a healer."
"A healer, excellent choice. " He paused for a moment before continuing. "Seeing as things are getting worse, I have decided to put together a group. A team. To fight against the Dark Lord and his forces."
"And you are planning on recruiting a bunch of teenagers?" She asked him, raising a brow.
"Most of the people who are getting recruited are of age of course. And I am inviting you to join." Dumbledore explained. "It is entirely your choice."
Aurora thought about it. But how would it even work? After all, she still lived with her parents. And they were definitely on the opposite side. "What is this group exactly."
"Well it's called the Order of the Phoenix..."
*****
Hi loves!
I don't know when I'm gonna update again since I am literally failing school lol and have like so much assignments but I'll try my best to write more
And also, what do we think about Aurora joining the order?? 👀 Marlene will be there....
anyways, i hope y'all have a nice day/night and remember to take care of yourselves and stay safe! <3
-j