Chapter 1
“I’m sorry, you agreed to a what with who?!” Aurora Rosier exclaimed, slamming her hands down on her cousin’s desk in his private office. Draco Malfoy sighed, running a hand through his hair, “Aurora, calm down, I can’t afford another new paperweight if you throw another fit.” Aurora lets out a huff, “Well, maybe if you didn’t agree to idiotic alliances, I wouldn’t ‘throw a fit’!” The dark brunette female sits down in a chair in front of her cousin’s desk with a huff, as his right hand, Blaise Zabini, leans against the wall behind her.
“Aurora has a point, Dray, agreeing to an alliance with the Potter family? What brought this on?” The Italian asks, dusting some non-existent lint off his dress pants. Draco runs a hand through his hair again, taking a deep breath before he answers, “Believe me, it’s our best choice right now, the Potter family has resources we could definitely rely on. Plus, their alliances with the Longbottom and Weasley families could help us too.” Blaise and Aurora share a look, silently communicating with nose twitches and raised eyebrows before they both give a nod and turn towards Draco.
“Well, you didn’t make us your second’s for no reason, but I think we should hold a meeting with the Potter family head and his seconds before we sign anything.” Aurora suggests, to which Blaise agrees with a nod of his head. Draco thinks it over, before he also nods his head, he has always trusted his distant cousin's opinion about anything that goes on in the family since they were young. “I agree, I’ll have Theodore send a message” Blaise says, pulling out his phone to message the curly haired enforcer.
“Also, let Nott know we’re going to meet on neutral ground, so no one feels overpowered.” Aurora suggests, Draco nods, “Good idea, so any idea where we are meeting?” “...Just one.” She says, twisting a curl around her finger, an anxious habit from childhood. Draco catches this and gives her a look, “You’re not suggesting…there.” Aurora nods her head, “...fancy a visit to our favorite cousin?”
A week later, on Friday night, Draco, Aurora, and Blaise are sitting in a private room in their cousin, Luna’s, bar, The White Dragon. Aurora is sipping on her whiskey, while Blaise keeps an eye out for their guests, as Draco waits on a couch, giving off an air of power. “Calm down, cousin, or our guests might not fit in here with your ego.” Aurora teases over the rim of her glass, as Blaise lets out a snort. Draco rolls his eyes, but lets a soft smile cross his face at his younger cousin's teasing. “Relax, little snake, they’ll survive.” Draco says with a confident smirk, as Blaise lets out a small noise.
“We have guests.” he says, motioning with his head at the three approaching characters. Draco and Aurora straighten up, as the new head of the Potter family, Harry Potter, and his two seconds, Hermione Black and Neville Longbottom, approach the trio. “...Potter.” Draco drawls, as Aurora sits down on the couch next to him, Blaise leaning against the side of the short, leather couch. “Malfoy, I’m surprised, when we got your message to meet, we thought you were backing out.” Harry says, a sly smirk on his face.
Aurora lets out a huff, “Hardly, now sit down.” Harry raises an eyebrow, but he does sit on the opposite couch, Hermoine sitting to his left while Neville leans against the back of the couch on his right. “Well, my cousin has decided that it would be best for us to meet and go over the deal before any ink hits the pages.” Draco says, laying out the alliance paperwork on the table in between them. “What, you don’t trust us?” Hermoine says with a sneer, causing Aurora to let out a small laugh. “Piss off, I don’t trust anyone I meet on the first encounter.” She retorts, throwing back the rest of her drink, to Draco and Blaise’s amusement.
Harry places a gentle hand on Hermoine’s leg, “It’s okay, ‘Moine, I get it. This is the kinda stuff Dad and Sirius trained us for.” Draco and Aurora perk up at the name of the oldest Black son, “Sirius? Like, Sirius Black?” Draco asks, receiving a small nod from Harry. “Yeah, he’s one of Hermoine’s dads.” Harry says, with a proud grin. “Oh, well, I like you more now, I’ve got two dads myself.” Aurora admits, seeming to surprise the three newcomers on the couch across from her.
“...you do?” Neville finally speaks up, peaking everyone’s interest. Aurora gives him a smirk, before she nods and replies, “Barty and Evan Rosier, I’m Aurora Rosier.” She replies, with a proud grin. Draco and Blaise let out a chuckle at Aurora's carefree explanation, while the three newcomers share a surprised look among themselves. “What, something on my face?” Aurora teases, making Draco and Blaise laugh a bit louder this time.
“No, we’re just…surprised, is all.” Harry says, a small smile on his face. Aurora just raises her whiskey glass at him. “Well, shall we get to business then?” Draco drawls, leaning forward in his seat. This makes everyone snap to business, as the two new heads of their respective families start to discuss the paperwork that outlines their possible alliance.
Aurora notices her glass is empty so she rises and heads to the drink cart in the corner of the room. She was never one for business and discussions, she was more for the fast pace part of the lifestyle. The illegal deals, the shootouts and car chases, call her an adrenaline junkie but she lived for it. As she’s refilling her glass, she hears someone approach her, Aurora turns and sees one of Potter’s second leaning against the wall near the drink cart.
“...you’re the Longbottom boy, Newton or something, right?”, Aurora asks, sipping on her whiskey. This makes the boy smirk, “Neville, actually.” he says, his voice smoother than the whiskey in her glass. Aurora smirks back at him, “Neville, huh? Think I like Newton more.” she teases, loving how it makes him blush deeper.
Neville chuckles again, reaching over and tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, “Then what should I call you then?” he whispers, leaning closer to her. Now it is Aurora’s turn to blush, her brain blue screening for a moment before she can reply. “Aurora, you can call me Aurora.” Neville nods his head, “Aurora.” he repeats, his deep voice sounding even deeper in her ear.
Aurora feels herself nodding her head dumbly, almost like a bobblehead. She likes how he says her name, she wants to hear him say it even more, but of course, they’re interrupted by Blaise. “Yo, lovebirds! You done yet?” he snickers, making Aurora want to throw her drink glass at him. “Heh, we should probably head back over.” Neville says, leading Aurora back over to everyone else. The other four are wearing match smirks, Aurora is confused on how they were able to do that, as she sits down next to Draco. Neville returns to his spot leaning against the couch behind Harry.
“...Well, if everything is in order, I think we’re ready to sign these?” Harry asks, holding out a pen to Draco. The Malfoy family boss nods his head, accepting the pen and signing the paperwork with a flourish, handing the pen back to Harry. After Harry signs the papers, everyone can let out a sigh of relief, knowing that the two families are finally able to put aside their differences and work together. I mean, what could go wrong now?