CHAPTER FIVE
' draco malfoy is a treacherous ferret '

AURORA grimaced as she pressed the dampened washcloth against Harry's skin, ridding him of the blood that stained his skin.

Harry huffed, twisting in Aurora's hold, "Are you almost done? You could've just used a spell you know."

Flicking Harry on the nose, Aurora removed the cloth, "My mum was a muggle, I do things the muggle way sometimes."

Harry shrugged, shifting on the couch so his back was pressed against the back of it rather than sitting on the edge. "Rory, why don't 'Mione and Ron believe me about Malfoy?"

Aurora sighed as she took a seat beside him, tossing her legs up to rest in his lap. "Hermione and Ron just think he's too young I suppose."

"And you?" Harry inquired, placing one of his hands on her knee.

Aurora toyed with the loose threads on her sweater, biting down on her lip. "Honestly, with Lucius in Azkaban, someone needs to take his place in their ranks. He failed last year and Draco taking the mark makes sense."

Harry nodded in agreement, messing with the laces of Aurora's Doc Martens. "Would Nott know?"

"What?"

"It's just, you're friends with Nott, aren't you? His father is in Azkaban now too. He might know if Draco took the mark or not."

Aurora pursed her lips. Theo hadn't responded to her letters throughout the summer and had barely been able to look her in the eye at the feast, she didn't even know if he would talk to her now. "I can try to talk to him."

"Thanks, Rory."

"Anytime, Bambi."

Harry looked up from her laces, eyes narrowed as he took in Aurora's smirk, "No more nicknames. We established this your second year."

Aurora shrugged, the smirk still plastered on her face. "No, you said no more nicknames. I, however, have been taking the time to come up with the best suited for you. Came to me last year when you showed me your Patronus."

Harry chuckled, "I need one for you now."

"Do your worst, Bambi."

AURORA wrapped her fingers around Theo's wrist, tugging him behind the portrait with a huff. Shoving him back against the wall, she glared at him.

He thrashed in her hold, grumbling. "Aurora, let me go."

"No." She pressed her forearm against his chest, holding him against the wall in a position he couldn't move in. "You've been ignoring me, I want to know why."

"Salazar's pants, why are you so bloody stubborn?"

Aurora shrugged, "Now, can I take my arm away without you running?" When Theo nodded, she pulled her arm back, leaning back on the stone wall across from Theo.

Theo glanced at the tapestry, lifting his wand to cast a disillusionment spell. He turned back, meeting Aurora's gaze with a sigh, "Rory, things aren't safe. You aren't safe."

Aurora waved her hand dismissively, "None of that. I can handle myself quite fine, thank you. It is honestly insulting that you would insinuate otherwise. Now, tell me what the fuck is going on with you."

Theo diverted eye contact, silent under her gaze. Aurora used that time to properly look him over. His dark unruly hair had grown slightly. He had taken on more muscle and had grown in height, towering over her. He looked miserable in his face, dark eyes noticeable under his eyes and cheekbones sticking out against his skin. He flinched when Aurora laid her hand on his cheek before raising his hand to rest on hers.

"Aurora, please. I can't put you in danger."

"If you haven't noticed, that ship sailed the second I got on that train my first year. And if not then, it did when I fought against your father and Lucius last year."

Theo stiffened at the mention of his father before sighing. "After my father was arrested, along with the others they were able to catch, Draco and I were called to a meeting. You-Know-Who was angry that they had failed in procuring the prophecy and needed to punish someone for it."

"You and Malfoy?"

Theo nodded, still holding her hand in his. "Draco and I were separated. Draco was taken into a room with him and some of the Death Eaters. I sat in the other room, heard his screams." Theo shook his head, gulping. "He came to see me after, brought Fenrir Greyback with him."

Aurora felt her stomach tighten, eyes widening as it came together, "Theo,"

Theo continued speaking, eyes fluttering shut, "He spoke to me about my father's failure and how poorly my father spoke of me. That I was weak and sullied myself with blood traitors and those of lesser blood. The full moon was that night. He sat there and watched while Greyback transformed, ordering him to bite me."

   "Theo," Aurora lifted her free hand, tilting his head to the side and pulling his shirt aside, revealing the scar of Greyback's teeth on his neck, "Merlin."

   She reached forward, pulling Theo into her arms, tucking her chin into his chest. Theo laid his head on her chin, kissing her hair. "They left me after I was bitten. I think they planned to let me bleed out but Narcissa found me."

   "And Malfoy?"

   "He took the mark."

HARRY whined, trying to grab the textbook back from Aurora who chuckled, running from him to hide behind Ginny.

"Rory, come on, give it back," Harry pouted, holding his hands out.

Flipping through the Potions book, Aurora grinned at him, "Oh don't pout, Potter, you'll get wrinkles."

Peering over her shoulder, Ginny looked at the book, "What is that?"

Hermione approached them from where she was seated at the fireplace, arms crossed over her chest, "That is the reason Harry is getting better marks than me in Potions! I told him he should return the book to Professor Slughorn, it's blatant cheating!"

Aurora and Ginny dodged Harry as he ran towards them, moving to the other side of the common room to look through the book, Ginny pointed out a signature, "The Half-Blood Prince?"

The handwriting looked familiar, but Aurora couldn't seem to place it. Glancing up at Harry, she spoke, "Have any idea whose book this was?"

"Not a clue,"

Aurora closed the book, handing it over to the boy, "I call dibs on that book next year."

Hermione stood gaping behind Harry, "Aurora! You cannot have that book. Harry is going to the right thing and return it, aren't you Harry?"

Harry's eyes grew wide as he backed up, glancing between Aurora and Hermione, "Erm, sorry 'Mione, Rory, Quidditch."

Ginny called out to him as he ran towards the portrait hole, "We don't have practice till tomorrow, Aurora and I are on the team, may want a better excuse next time."

   "WHY do you smell like McClaggen?" Theo grumbled when Aurora entered the alcove.

   With a frown, Aurora brushed off her robes. "The git wouldn't stop touching me at Quidditch practice, I made beater by the way. Wait, you can smell that?"

   Theo mimicked her frown, scratching the back of his neck with a grimace, "Yeah, the wolf doesn't like it, he, well, considers you pack I think."

   "Pack? I thought only wolves could be pack."

   Theo grabbed her forearms, leaning down to press his cheek against her cheek and then her hair, "There," he let out a breath of relief before sniffing, "that's better."

   "What was that?"

   He returned to awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "I scent marked you." Theo dropped his hand, shoving them into his pockets, "To answer your question, most packs are wolves but animagi can be too."

   "Theo, I'm not a werewolf or an animagus."

   "Is there anyone in your family who was a werewolf? It could explain why the wolf is comfortable with you and your scent."

   Aurora frowned, shaking her head, "My mum was a muggle and my dad is muggle-born. Even though my dad somewhere in his family line would be traced back to a pureblood family, I don't believe anyone was a werewolf."

   "That's," Theo paused, sniffing again to confirm his thoughts, "odd. My wolf still considers you pack. I suppose I can look into my family libraries over the holiday, see if any books are left after the Ministry raid."

   "Is anyone else pack aside from me?"

   Theo nodded. "Blaise. His paternal great-grandfather was a werewolf so he still carries that blood. Seeing as we were already friends, we had started a bond that was complete when I turned."

"Is there any other way that I could be pack without having a werewolf ancestor?"

"If you were a mate."

"Am I?"

Theo's nose twitched. "No, not mine at least. I would've known the moment I saw you after being bitten."

A frown was etched into Aurora's face as she leaned into Theo, "Think you could loan me some books?"

   Theo nodded, pressing his cheek against her head, "Yeah, I have some in the manor's library. I'll have the elves send them to you."

"Thank you." Aurora was silent for a few seconds before speaking again, "It was Malfoy, wasn't it?"

"What?"

"Katie Bell. Harry thinks Malfoy is the one who hexed her."

Tucking Aurora's head under his chin, Theo pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I think so. He's barely around anymore."

Aurora nodded, "Okay."

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, embracing each other before Theo spoke, "Rory, you say the word and I'll rip McClaggen's throat out with my teeth."

"That won't be necessary. I'm sure one of my bludgers will just accidentally go barreling in his direction one of these days."

   CROSSING her legs, Aurora settled herself at the end of her bed, grinning down at Ginny who had rested her head in Aurora's lap. Ginny's face was still red, hands practically twitching for her wand after her fight with Ron.

"He is such a bloody arse! Implying I am some sort of slag for snogging my boyfriend, "Ginny huffed, "as if it's my fault the only snog he has gotten is from our aunt!"

Stifling a laugh, Aurora ranked her fingers through Ginny's hair, "I'll hex him for you."

   "That would be greatly appreciated, thank you." Ginny sighed, eyes fluttering shut, "Okay, I think I've gotten my ranting out of my system. Onto more exciting things,"

   Aurora removed her fingers from her hair, allowing Ginny to sit up. The glimmer in Ginny's eyes and the mischievous smile that pulled at her lips immediately knew that Ginny was definitely over her ranting. "Like?"

   "Like," Ginny's voice was higher, almost a sing-song-like tone, "you and Nott sneaking into alcoves together."

   Rolling her eyes, Aurora nudged Ginny, "Gin, you know Theo and I are only friends."

   "Come on Rory! You need a good snog," Ginny grumbled, shoving Aurora's shoulder.

   "Who said I was in need of one?" Aurora grinned, winking at the ginger beside her.

   "You've been holding back," Ginny gasped, holding a hand to her chest, "who have you been snogging if it's not Theo?"

   "Never said it wasn't Theo,"

   "Aurora Deveraux," Ginny narrowed her eyes, grabbing the wand beside her, "you may be my best friend but I am not above hexing you for information."

   "Ginevra Weasley," Aurora mimicked, chucking at the grimace on Ginny's face, "you may also be my best friend but I too am not above hexing you in retaliation."

   Ginny jumped up, getting into a dueling position, "I'm sorry it has come to this but I need to know," she held her wand up, "wands at the ready!"

   Aurora moved quickly to stand, legs bent and wand raised, "You're so dramatic."

   Ginny pouted, sending a stinging hex at Aurora which she easily deflected, "I'm going to find out who you're snogging Rory!"

   SLINGING her bag over her shoulder, Aurora exited Transfiguration without Ginny— which felt incredibly odd. The redhead had decided to accompany Ron and Harry after they both ended up in the infirmary.

   Ron for consuming something with poison in it— a story Aurora still needed someone to fill the blanks in on.

   Harry for being knocked out during a Quidditch game by McClaggen. The same game that after Harry fell, one of Aurora's bludgers hit McClaggen, knocking him from his broom.

   The game had also caused a rift between Ginny and Dean after Dean laughed when Harry was knocked out— something that Ginny did not find funny.

   Aurora yelped when a hand wrapped around her wrist, twisting her around and pulling her into an alcove, "Merlin!" Glancing up, she groaned, "Blaise, what were you thinking!"

   "I'm afraid I haven't got time for a lecture Aurora, it's Theo."

   If Aurora hadn't understood the phrase, 'my heart dropped to my stomach' before, she definitely did now. "Is he okay?"

  Blaise nodded, pulling her down the hallway, "The moon is approaching and Draco said something that put him on edge. He told you about pack right?"

   "Yes,"

   Blaise hummed under his breath. "Well, whatever Draco said along with the moon has him on edge. Being around pack can help him. He's especially protective over you if you hadn't noticed."

   Aurora follows Blaise into a classroom, shivering when she felt the wards allow her in. Squinting, she saw Theo at the other end of the room, leaning against the wall, cradling his head in his palms.

   "Theo?"

   Theo met her eyes, flashing gold before returning to the blue-green state they normally were. Pushing himself from the wall, he embraced Aurora, bending down to press his cheek to hers.

   "Mate?" Blaise clapped Theo on the back, brows furrowed into what Aurora believed to be a worried expression.

   Theo mumbled something incoherent, releasing Aurora from his grasp while mumbling to himself, "Not good. Not good. Not good."

   "Theo, mate?"

   Theo ignored Blaise, his eyes clashing against Aurora's, "I may have an idea as to what Malfoy's task is."

AFTER giving the information from Theo to Harry, Aurora felt overwhelmed.

Katie Bell, the poison, everything— it all made it feel so real.

She knew it had been but seeing it— feeling things change, it snuck up on Aurora, suffocating her.

The few weeks that followed seemed to blend together— Harry was still trying to catch Malfoy and doing business for Dumbledore, Ginny and Dean were still arguing, and Theo was on edge. Aurora was, well, struggling.

She sighed, folding the parchment and handing it to Flora, "Take that back to dad, will you?"

Her father had been corresponding with her even more than usual, staying at Grimmauld Place for the time being as an active member of the Order. Dumbledore had been sending her father out on missions. Ones that he was in no way trained to do.

One day, she was going to give Albus Dumbledore a piece of her blood mind.

   AURORA had not expected to find Harry staring at the fire when she returned from class. Her brows furrowed when he didn't acknowledge her presence, just staring at the fire blankly.

   "Harry?" No response. "Bambi?"

   Harry's eyes flickered to hers and immediately began to fill with tears, "I could've killed him!"

   Aurora immediately sank to the floor beside him, pulling him into her arms, "Harry, love, I need you to tell me what happened."

   Harry choked on a sob, sniffling as he looked at her, "Malfoy, I-I followed him into the bathroom after I spoke to Katie. We began to duel and I used a spell I found in that book. I swear I had no idea what it would do!"

   "Harry, what happened?" Her fingers brushed his cheeks, wiping the tears from his skin.

   "His skin," Harry croaked, "it slashed and he fell over. It would've killed him. Snape found us."

   "Are you hurt?"

   "Aurora, I almost killed him! I used Dark Magic."

   "Harry, we need to get rid of that book, right now."

   "I already did," Harry leaned into her hug, "I hid it in the Room of Requirements."

   "Okay, good."

   "Aurora, Sirius once said that people aren't defined by being good and death eaters, do you think I'm a bad person?"

   "Anything but Bambi."

GREEN lights flashed as Aurora ducked behind a wall, trying to block out the sounds of shouting and shattering.

Draco Malfoy was a treacherous ferret.

A scream cut through the air at the same time as shrill laughter. Aurora gulped as goosebumps raised on her arms. Running down the corridor, she halted at the sound of laughter, "Where are you off to little Mudblood?"

Twisting around, she met the faces of one of the Lestrange brothers and Dolohov, Lestrange was the one who called out to her. Dolohov made a humming noise, "This is the one who fought Nott when we went to retrieve the Prophecy."

She could tell they were dragging it out— they wanted her to beg.

She wanted them to bleed.

She aimed at Lestrange first— he was going to be easier to take down. As soon as her spell hit him in the chest, he flew back into the wall behind him, a crack filling the air as Dolohov faced her. "Bad little Mudblood. Should've killed you at the Ministry."

Pushing her fears aside, a smirk tugged at her lips, "Rather bold of you to assume you could have."

Snarling, they began to shoot spells in the direction of one another, dodging and deflecting them as Lestrange lay on the ground.

Sweat coated her forehead but her movements did not slow. Dolohov showed no mercy and it would be her death if she did. Her chest heaved as she dodged another spell, its color not one she recognized.

It was her mistake to not be aware of everything around them. Because while she dueled Dolohov, Lestrange had risen, coming to stand behind her. She noticed when it was too late, she was surrounded.

"Not so confident now, are we?" Dolohov smirked, advancing towards her with heavy steps.

Aurora swayed on her feet as he raised his wand— the last thing she heard was the sound of a growl.

Werewolf.

GROANING, Aurora sat up, blinking to remove the sleep from her eyes. Glancing around, she recognized the infirmary, noting most of the beds were filled.

"Thank Merlin,"

Aurora jumped at the house, turning to see her father sitting beside her bed, eyes brimmed with tears.

"Dad?"

"Hey, love," Liam stood, dropping a kiss to Aurora's head.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure what all you remember so I'll start from the beginning. The Malfoy boy let Death Eaters into the building, they attacked some of the students, you included," he paused, eyes darting over her as if to check for any injuries, "Dumbledore is dead."

Aurora's eyes widened, snapping up to meet her father's, "Is everyone else okay?"

"The Weasley's eldest son, Bill, got scratched by Greyback. Didn't turn him."

Before her father could continue, Madam Pomfrey was rushing over, wand raised and caring spells on Aurora, "Dear, you should be resting." She shared a glance with her father before grabbing some potions, "Whatever spell used to knock you out was one I'm unfamiliar with," she tapped Aurora's arm, gesturing to her shoulder and chest, "it left scarring on your shoulder and across your chest, I'm afraid I am unable to heal it."

With a shrug, Aurora peered at her shoulder, lips pursing as she noticed the purple skin peeking out from the top of her hospital gown, "That's alright."

"The potions will help with the discomfort," Madam Pomfrey began rushing towards another bed, calling out, "you're free to go! Your friends are waiting for you!"

   HERMIONE pulled on Aurora's arm, apologizing when Aurora winced at the pressure. "I have something for you."

   Aurora followed her out of the hospital room, "What's going on?"

   Hermione looked nervous, her eyes darting around as she pulled something from her bag, holding up a notebook, "Listen, Harry, Ron, and I, we may have to leave. I don't know when but keep this with you at all times. I have a matching one, they're charmed. When we are gone, I will write to you every few days with information. Whatever I write in mine, will appear in yours, same for you."

   "Hermione," Aurora sighed, she knew this way coming, "stay safe, okay? I'll check every day for notes."

   Hermione surprised Aurora by pulling her into a hug, "Look after Ginny, will you? Harry thinks it's best to break up with her before we go, he wants to keep her safe."

   "I will."

   "We're going to win this."

   I really hope you're right.

one more chapter ;)

let's pretend this chapter
isn't awful, okay?

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