"Headmaster." Ursa says as she walks into Dumbledore's office.

     "Ursa." Dumbledore says in greeting. "Have fun."

     "Ready Baby Bird?" Fawkes asks.

     "Stop calling me that." Ursa says with an eye roll. Ursa is engulfed in green flames and transforms into her phoenix form. She takes off after Fawkes out the window. After some flying practice, they go back to Dumbledore's office. Ursa gets ready to transform back on landing before she notices Professor Slughorn in the office. She lands on Fawkes' perch next to Fawkes.

     "I thought you only had one phoenix companion Albus." Slughorn says.

     "I do." Dumbledore replies.

     "Then why are there two there? And why is one green?"

     "Ah that." Dumbledore looks up at Ursa and Fawkes. Ursa looks between the two nervously before nodding at Dumbledore. "You know Fawkes already." Fawkes flaps his wings. "The other one is Ursa."

     "Like Ursa Malfoy?" Slughorn questions. "Funny that they are both named that."

    "No, you misunderstand." Dumbledore replies. "That is Ursa Malfoy."

     "What?" Ursa jumps off the perch and lands on the floor. Green flames engulf her, and she transforms back into a human. "Miss Malfoy? You're an animagus?"

     "Not exactly sir." Ursa replies. "I am a Jade Phoenix. I was born with this power. It's the reason I am such a powerful witch."

***

     "Ah Ursa Malfoy." Slughorn says as Ursa walks into his party. "Glad to see you."

     "Thank you for inviting me, sir." Ursa says in reply. "I hope to have some fun tonight."

     Ursa mingles and chats with people until she's talking with Harry. Slughorn comes over and joins the conversation. Slughorn grabs Snape's cloak and pulls Snape towards him. "Stop sulking and come and join us Severus." Ursa holds back her laugh but cannot disguise her amused smile, causing Snape to glare at her. "I was just talking about Harry and Ursa's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught them."

     "Funny, I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all." Snape says. "As for Ursa, she has always been a natural potion maker."

     "Yes Professor Slughorn has heard the story of what got me interested in potions." Ursa says.

     "Your explosion?" Snape questions.

     "That caused the crack in the potions room wall. Yes." Ursa glances around and sees Hermione hiding behind a curtain. "If you'll excuse us."

     "Yes of course." Slughorn releases Snape and walks away. Snape gives Harry a glare before walking away too.

     "Why did you-" Harry starts before Ursa gestures to the curtain. They walk over and investigate.

     "Hermione?" Ursa questions.

     "What are you doing?" Harry asks. "What happened to you?"

     "I've just escaped- I mean left Cormac under the mistletoe." Hermione replies.

     "McLaggen? That's who you invited? The boy who called me a Death Eater."

     "I mean you are." Harry mumbles and Ursa rolls her eyes.

     "I thought it would annoy Ron the most." Hermione says. "He's got more tentacles than a Snarfalump plant." A waiter opens the curtain.

     "Dragon Tatare?" The waiter asks.

     "No, I'm fine thank you."

     "Just as well, they give one horribly bad breath."

     "On second thought, it might keep Cormac away." Hermione takes the tray and takes a bite of one. She sees Cormac headed their direction. "God here he comes." Hermione gives Harry the tray. Hermione slips out the curtains as Cormac enters the area and Ursa chuckles.

     "I think she just went to powder her nose." Harry says.

     "Slippery little minx, your friend," Cormac says before taking a bite of the dragon tatare. "Likes to work her mouth too, doesn't she? What is this I'm eating by the way?"

      "Dragon Balls." Ursa answers. Snape throws back the curtains and Cormac throws up on his shoes.

      "You just bought yourself a months detention McLaggen." Snape says as Harry tries to slip away. "Not so quick Potter." Snape steps out of the curtains and Ursa turns to Cormac.

     "Karma's a bitch isn't it McLaggen?" Ursa says. "That's what you get for calling me a Death Eater." Ursa smirks as she leaves the curtain and goes to find Luna. Slughorn approaches her before she can find her.

     "Ah Miss Malfoy." Slughorn says. "How are you?" Before Ursa can answer, Filch drags in Draco.

     "Take your hands off me, you filthy Squib." Draco snaps and Ursa sighs.

     "Professor Slughorn sir." Filch says. "I just discovered this boy lucking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party."

     "Okay. Okay I was gate-crashing. Happy?"

     "Outside now." Snape says through the connection as he walks up to Draco. Ursa slips out the door as Snape speaks. "I'll escort him out."

     "Maybe I did hex that Bell girl, maybe I didn't. What's it to you?" Draco asks as Snape drags him into the hall where Ursa is waiting.

     "I swore to protect you." Snape says. "I made the Unbreakable Vow."

     "Just let Severus and me help you Draco." Ursa says.

     "I don't need protection or help." Draco says. "I was chosen for this. Out of all others, me, and I won't fail him."

     "Yes you will, that's why he chose you. He wants to punish Father and he needs an excuse to kill you."

     "No he chose me because he knew you wouldn't do it."

     "Stop that. You know I would do anything to protect you and Mother. Even this."

     "Enough of your bickering." Snape says. "You're afraid Draco. You attempt to conceal it but it is obvious. Let us assist you."

     "No." Draco snaps. "I was chosen. This is my moment." Draco walks away and Ursa sighs.

     "He would have chosen me if he actually expected one of us to do it right?" Ursa asks Snape.

     "Yes. You would be much more likely to succeed."

     "I'm trying to get Draco to see that he is just doing this so he has an excuse to kill him but his damn pride is getting in the way."

     "That's your father's worst trait too. Thinking he's better than everyone because of his blood and money. Though that does describe your whole family except for you."

     "Some days I question how I ended up so different because I don't think it was just getting sent away. I was caring before that too."

     "You've always been different. Your heart is like Andromeda's. You have Andromeda's heart, Bellatrix's recklessness, and Narcissa's loyalty."

     "Lucky me." Ursa says sarcastically. "and I am not as reckless as Bella."

     "True but you can be. Though even Bella wouldn't sass the Dark Lord."

***

     "I heard Professor Slughorn has returned to Hogwarts." Narcissa says.

     "He has." Ursa answers.

     "Remember that stupid little club he had?" Bellatrix asks.

     "You only think the Slug Club was stupid because you were not a part of it like Lucius and me." Narcissa says.

     "Yeah he reformed that." Draco says.

     "I assume you are both a part of it." Ursa snorts.

      "Shut up." Draco snaps. 

     "Am I wrong?"

     "I am in it." Ursa says. "Draco is not."

      "And why not?" Bellatrix asks.

     "Well I assume the fact Father is a Death Eater and in Azkaban has something to do with it but I could be wrong."

     "Then how are you in it?"

     "Because she's an annoying know-it-all." Draco says and Ursa rolls her eyes.

     "I am in it because of my potion skills and magical intelligence and strength. He also knows about the phoenix thing now so that too."

     "May I remind you that you were almost not in it."

     "Yes, luckily Dumbledore and Potter both believe I am on their side and reassured Slughorn that I am nothing like Father or Auntie. Which is relatively true other than the Death Eater part."

     "You should try to get Professor Slughorn to join us." Bellatrix says. "The Dark Lord has been looking for him for a while."

     "That would defeat the purpose of my cover Bellatrix." Ursa replies and Bellatrix rolls her eyes.

     "Right pretending you are not a good pureblood."

     "I am a good pureblood. Just not your definition."

     "You are not a good pureblood. A good pureblood would not have had to been tortured to get them to join the Dark Lord and would have helped us at the Department of Mysteries." Ursa rolls her eyes. "Do not roll your eyes at me brat."

     "Enough Bellatrix." Narcissa says. "She has done the right thing now, that is all that matters."

     "But-" Narcissa gives Bellatrix an angry glare. "Fine."

***

     "Draco's plotting something, I know it, something to do with Voldemort. He and Ursa have been given a task or a mission and Snape was offering to help.

     "Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy for a mission?" Lupin asks Harry.

     "I know it sounds mad-" Harry starts.

     "Has it occurred to you, Harry, that Snape and Ursa were simply pretending to offer Draco help so he could find out what he was up to?"

     "That's not what it sounded like. It sounded like they both knew what was going on."

     "Perhaps Harry is right Remus." Tonks says. "I mean to make an Unbreakable Vow-"

     "It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgement." Lupin says. "Dumbledore trusts Snape and Ursa, therefore, I do."

     "Dumbledore can make mistakes." Harry argues. "He said so himself."

     "You are blinded by hatred."

     "I'm not."

     "Yes you are. People are disappearing Harry. Daily. We could only place our trust in a handful of people. If we start fighting amongst ourselves, we're doomed."

     "And you know Ursa would never do anything to harm us." Tonks says.

     "She tortured you dad!" Harry exclaims. "She would do anything to protect Draco and her mum. She said it herself."

     "Enough Harry." Lupin says.

     "Wait, Ursa was the one who tortured my dad?" Tonks asks. "You told me it was Bellatrix, and that Ursa rescued him."

     "I forgot she didn't know." Harry says. Arthur and Lupin both sigh.

     "The physical torture was Bellatrix but it was Ursa who used the Cruciatus Curse on him." Lupin says.

     "But she also freed him and brought him to us." Arthur says. "She did it to prove her loyalty to You-Know-Who after he found out that the Order trusts her."

     "Does my mum know this?" Tonks asks.

     "Yes." Lupin replies.

     "I need air." Tonks stands and Lupin tries to gently grab her.

     "Dora." Lupin says as Tonks pushes him away. Tonks goes outside where Hermione and Ginny are watching Ursa show off some tricks Fawkes taught her.

     "Sometimes I'm jealous of her being able to do that." Hermione says.

     "Did she tell you why she's here?" Ginny asks. " I thought she was going to stay home the whole break."

     "All I know is Bellatrix did something to her. Maybe her mum too because she doesn't have her wand." Ursa lands in front of them in human form and bows. Hermione and Ginny clap while they all laugh. Tonks walks over to them as they walk back towards the house. Before anyone can react, Tonks has her wand out and Ursa pinned to the side of the house, one arm across Ursa's upper chest and Tonk's wand at her throat. "Tonks what are you doing?" Hermione asks. "Ginny go get Lupin." Ginny goes inside as Tonks stares at Ursa in anger.

     "Why are you angry at me?" Ursa asks calmly.

     "You know exactly why I'm angry at you!" Tonks spits.

     "You found out the truth. Dora I-"

     "No, you don't get to call me 'Dora' after you tortured my dad."

     "I didn't want to." Lupin runs outside.

     "Dora? Dora let go of her." Lupin says as he jogs over. Ursa puts a hand out for Lupin to stop.

     "I did not have a choice." Ursa says. "I did not want to do it. I went against the Dark Lord, which means I risked my life, and freed him the first chance I got. I saved him from death. The Dark Lord gave Bellatrix permission to kill him. I am sorry for torturing him, but I am just trying to keep all of my family alive, both blood and chosen."

     "If you didn't want to do it, why did it work?" Tonks asks.

     "There is a difference between 'meant' and 'want.' I meant it because I was doing it to protect my family. I was doing it to protect Draco and my mother, and you and your mother and your father too. I hate myself for doing it but I need the Dark Lord to trust me." Tonks releases Ursa and steps back.

     "You promise you didn't want to do it?"

     "Completely. I cried and stared out the window for hours afterwards. I'm sorry." Tonks hugs Ursa.

     "Why didn't anyone tell me you tortured him?"

     "You did just pin me to the wall and hold me at wand point. And ignored my letters for two weeks after you were told it was Bellatrix. I think that kind of answers the question." They both chuckle. "I hope you know, when I say blood and chosen families, you're both. I do recognize you as my cousin and Andromeda as my aunt to everyone but my parents."

     "I know Girly. How did torturing my dad protect him though?"

     "I was hesitating and he almost said you and your mother's names. My mother and Bellatrix hadn't realized who he was yet. They would have killed him right there after getting the location of at least your mother out of him. My casting cut him off. I had already brought him here before they found out who he was. Which I told them because Bellatrix was trying to torture it out of me."