Chapter one, the beginning of a new
September 1st was normally a happy, yet tearful, affair for most. Parents sending off their children to Hogwarts, tears of first years and parents begging to write. Of course, there were the more dignified pureblood families who sent their children with warnings to behave, and to take care of themselves.
For, the now Lady, Ainsley Potter it was no longer happy. She stood among the crowd of people, wearing all black and her head dropped slightly from her usual high headed pride. Her face was slightly gaunt, as if she wasn't sleeping. Her eyes sunken in, her lips chapped.
Lady Ainsley Potter was mourning. Mourning her parents, her friendship, and most importantly; herself. She felt lost. Her heart hurt, she still cried herself to sleep. Coming home to find her parents had been dead for months was painful. St. Mungos ruled it as old age or a possible heart attack and Magical Bond breaking. But everything in Ainsley screamed that it was wrong.
“Heiress Potter.” The caramel skinned young woman glanced up as saw, newly appointed, Lord Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy was only 3 years older than Lady Potter. She didn't know him personally, but of course she knew of him and his family. They were almost as powerful as her family house, and were highly well known in politics.
“It's Lady Potter now, Lord Malfoy…” she whispered sadly. The blonde man's eyes widened a little.
“I'm sorry for your loss, I had no idea.” The young woman waved off his condolences, asking with her eyes if he needed something, “My father had been trying to contact you… you, about the yule ball we have. His letters weren’t being received. I see now, why. Would you still like to attend?”
Lucius hesitated at the mention of his father trying to contact the late Lord and Lady Potter as he saw the miniscule wince the new Lady Potter made.
“Perhaps. I will see how I feel about it in November and send a letter.” Lady Potter said to the young man. He nodded and glanced in the direction of his betrothed, Miss. Narcissa Black. Ainsley followed his gaze and smiled softly, “It was nice speaking to you, Lord Malfoy. I will leave now, so you can say goodbye to her.”
The new Lord went to stop her, but she had already brushed past him and onto the train.
~
Ainsley made her way to her usual compartment but froze when she saw the other marauders inside. The door was open and the laughing between them stopped when she stopped in the doorway.
“Come to preach more dark bullshit, Potter?” The young woman flinched at Sirius Black’s harsh words and her eyes swept to the other two. Peter looked down at the ground and Remus put his nose in his book. “If youre just going to stand there like an idiot, fuck off.”
She was shoved back into someone and the door slammed shut.
“Ugh! Get off me Potter!” A familiar voice hissed angrily. Ainsley rushed to get up and began apologizing to Evans, “Oh shut up, God, you're so annoying.” The red head smacked the other girl's hand and got up herself, brushing off her floral dress.
The green eyed girl glared harshly at her and huffed, stalking away.
The singular Potter moved slowly to farther back in the train as it finally took off from the station. She wanted to be alone. She found an empty compartment next to the bathrooms and closed the door. She shut the blinds and curled up in the seat.
Her new feline friend, Silas, curled up on the booth seat next to her as she stared out the window at the passing world.
~
Soon, the muggle scenery faded to the rolling green hills of the countryside. A knock sounded at the door and it opened to reveal Miss Narcissa Black and her older sister, Miss Bellatrix Black.
“Hello Lady Potter, We’re changing into our robes, Would you mind us joining you in here? The bathroom is occupied.” the blonde sister stated. The older, curly haired sister just stared at the younger blackette with cold eyes.
Ainsley nodded and pulled her knees to her chest as she looked back out the window, having changed into her uniform already.
“Your cat is beautiful. Does it have a name?” Narcissa asked with a soft smile. Ainsley glanced at her as she sat across from the caramel skinned girl. The elder Black sister sat next to her sister with her arms crossed.
“Silas,” Ainsley stated quietly, her knees still pulled to her chest. The Gryffindor girl chewed her lip contemplating before stating “I like your hair…”
Narcissa grinned, “I can do yours, if you'd like.” Ainsley nodded slowly, with a miniscule smile.
Bellatrix watched as her sister sat next to the Potter girl and braided her hair in a traditional braid. The elder girl admitted that her hair was long, extremely long. She knew that Potter had a lot of power, of course she did. The girl was brilliant in any spell casting and magical theory. But her hair was never this long.
From what Bellatrix remembered, her hair only reached her mid back last year, now Potter’s hair was well past her knees. She assumed it was because she no longer had any family to share her magic with, so any familial magic was transferred to her. As well as the fact that any Braithwaite Magic her mother carried was also transferred.
The elder Black sister was brought from her thoughts at the compartment door opening. Narcissa and Potter’s eyes moved towards the door as well.
Standing there was the youngest Black, Heir Regulus, as well as Heir Evan Rosier, Miss Pandora Rosier, Mr Severus Snape, Heir Barty Crouch Jr, and Mr Rabastan Lestrange.
“What are you doing with Potter?” Of course, Snape was the first to ask. Practically spitting the girls last name with loathing and hatred.
Ainsley went to pull herself away from Narcissa but her hand was grabbed softly and held in place by said girl.
“We were changing and she was letting me braid her hair.” the youngest Black sister stated sternly.
“Whatever, let's just go. Potter can braid her own damn hair.” Snape went to grab the Older girl and stumbled when the back of his robe was grabbed. “What the hell? Bellatrix, let me go.”
“My sister wants to braid Lady Potter’s hair, so leave them be. If you're that worried, sit down.” The older black haired girl states coldly. Snape huffs and sits next to Narcissa, who went back to braiding Lady Potter’s long hair.
The others joined, Pandora floated to sit on the ground in front of Ainsley and began trying to talk to her, but the other girl had curled into herself and stayed silent.
All eyes were on her and Narcissa, it was deathly silent in the compartment, and Ainsley felt suffocated. She hated it, the cold eyes of untrust. She understood, of course. Sirius and her had bullied and pranked some of them for years. Mainly Snape. But Sirius said it would be fine, they were death eaters. She felt horrible everytime… and of course when Sirius had almost killed him she threw up. She felt disgusting. That's when she and the others started having issues. Sirius laughed it off, Peter just went along with what he said, and Remus was too quick to forgive his boyfriend.
Ainsley couldn't, she couldn't condone almost killing someone just because you didnt like them or were jealous.
The looks were getting too much and Ainsley sighed, laying her head on her arms she fell into a wary sleep.
~
“She fell asleep.” Pandora states softly, glancing at Narcissa.
“Good, she looked exhausted.” the older blonde answered. Of course, Snape sneers and the others still coldly watch the gryffindor.
“Good, then we can leave. Let's go.” Snape stands to leave but pauses at the door when the others don't follow. “Narcissa, seriously. She’s fine. She's searching for attention, like always. It's Potter for Salazar’s sake.”
“Severus, her parents died… plus, from what I heard, Sirius and the others have been ignoring her.” Pandora said softly to the stringy haired boy. While her voice was soft, her eyes held a fire that dared him to say something bad about the sleeping girl.
Of course, Severus Snape was never good at reading people, or signs. And he started a rant on how Ainsley Potter is a selfish girl who was acting for attention, her friends were most likely in on it, etc etc.
Bellatrix had enough of the boy's whining and grabbed him by the back of his collar, “If you want to stay in the compartment, you'll sit down and shut up. The girl is hurting and doesn't need your jealous hatred right now.” Snape went to interrupt but the crazy haired young woman glared harshly, “And before you start again, I'm well aware about your feud between my cousin and Potter. However, if you ever took notice, the girl never actively participated in Sirius’ bullying, and she tried to apologize to you after the incident with their wolf friend.”
Everyone's eyes were on Bellatrix and Snape as he cowered under her harsh and truthful words.
“I am sorry…” All eyes snapped to the previously sleeping girl, whose eyes were only on Snape. Who went to tell her off but stopped as she spoke again, “I tried to tell Sirius it was a bad idea, but he yelled that I was defending ‘a slimy snake’. He told me he wasn't going to do it after I begged him not to… Obviously he lied.” she whispered the last part and everyone frowned.
“You told him not to, and he ignored you? I thought you two were best friends, shouldn't he listen to you?” This was Regulus asking, He was confused about his brother's actions.
“I have no idea why he’s acting like this… But I felt horrible after. He laughed it off even though he risked my life as well, since I saved Snape. Peter has zero backbone and I think Sirius is either his idol or he's scared of him. Remus wont go against Sirius, even if he’s in the wrong.” Ainsley let her head fall into her hands in frustrated sorrow, “I even brought it to Professor Mcgonagall, who told Dumbledore. Nothing was done. I know the favoritism is there, but he's looking the other way at an attempted murder!”
Snape, who had been jealous of Potter and Black because of their wealth and status, who had been just as hateful because they got to be around Lily, who had been bullied and bullied the two right back, was seeing Ainsley Potter in a new light.
She had tried to get her friend punished, because he almost died. He always thought she was in on the joke to get him to owe her or something. But the raw emotion in her voice and the tears that filled her eyes…
“I'm sorry too…” the small caramel skinned girl looked at the lanky boy, “I thought you were in on it.”
Snape sat back down, and the group relaxed around the Gryffindor girl slightly. Enough to talk and play games, instead of stare at her in caution.
Ainsley was truly smiling for the first time since the end of last year.