Chapter 12: Beneath the Malfoy Mask

POV: Aurora Malfoy (female Draco(Stella)'s older sister)

Aurora Malfoy rose before dawn, the soft glow of enchanted lanterns casting her Slytherin dormitory in muted hues of green and silver. She stretched languidly, allowing herself a moment of quiet contemplation before the day began. Her roommates, still cocooned in their blankets, slept soundly. Aurora valued this solitary hour—it was the only time she felt entirely herself.

Her thoughts drifted, as they often did, to Damian Fawley. Her fiancé in name only, Damian remained blissfully unaware of the arrangement. Aurora had insisted on this; she wanted their bond to form naturally, not as a result of external pressures. It wasn't just about appearances. Deep down, Aurora wanted Damian to choose her, not to accept her as a consequence of their families' plans.

Aurora reached for her journal, flipping to the page where she had written his name in elegant script. "Damian Fawley," she whispered, a small smile playing on her lips. He wasn't perfect—not yet. His spellwork was impressive, but his lack of finesse in other areas amused and frustrated her in equal measure.

Her mind flicked back to the conversation with her parents. Lucius and Narcissa had initially been surprised when Aurora suggested Damian as a match, but the logic had been irrefutable. His uncle, Alaric Fawley, was a rising star in the wizarding world, already on par with legends like Grindelwald at the same age. Alaric's engagement to Tonks strengthened ties with the Black family, presenting an opportunity for an unprecedented alliance between the Malfoys, Fawleys, and Blacks.

Besides, Damian himself was a Seer or so everyone thought, Aurora was skeptical concerning this particular aspect of Damian's life, not that she didn't believe in Seers, since in her previous life, she had read Trelawney's prophecy in Harry Potter, Seers definitely existed.

She just heard her parents talking about how everyone discovered that Damian was a Seer, it was little known but since she was to be engaged to Damian, her parents encountered his own parents even though they were squibs and lacked status, they would still become family.

Aurora then heard about how he wrote Harry Potter. He didn't know about the wizarding world at the time, unless it was a huge coincidence, he was like her.

Both were special and in that Aurora was quite happy, besides, she always was quite domineering even in bed in her past life so there wasn't much of a problem for her.

Aurora set the journal aside and dressed meticulously, donning her robes with practiced precision. Today, she thought, would be another step forward.

The dungeons were colder than usual that morning as Aurora entered the private training chamber. Serena Prince, her godmother and personal mentor, stood waiting, her wand in hand.

"Late again, Aurora?" Serena's tone was teasing, though her sharp gaze left no room for excuses.

Aurora inclined her head. "I apologize, Professor. I was reflecting on today's plans."

"Reflection is valuable, but action is better. Let's see if you've improved."

The duel began without further preamble. Serena moved with deadly precision, her spells crackling with raw power. Aurora countered with equal skill, her wand slicing through the air as she conjured shimmering shields and retaliatory hexes.

For twenty minutes, the chamber was filled with flashes of light and the sharp cracks of spells colliding. Aurora's heart raced, her muscles aching as she pushed herself to the limit. Finally, Serena called a halt, her expression unreadable. She didn't even look the slightest bit weathered by their bout, though it didn't surprise her much, she knew the power of her sister's godmother, one that now likely surpassed that of her own godmother, Bellatrix Black (or Lestrange if you prefer, frankly the Black family was quite strange)

"You've surpassed my expectations," Serena said, lowering her wand. "But remember, raw talent isn't enough. You carry the Malfoy name, and with it comes responsibility. Power without purpose is meaningless."

Aurora nodded, breathing heavily. "I understand, Professor."

"Good. Now go. You've earned your breakfast."

The Great Hall was bustling with activity when Aurora arrived. The aroma of fresh bread and roasted sausages filled the air, mingling with the chatter of students. Aurora's gaze swept the room, landing on Damian Fawley at the Ravenclaw table.

He looked... frazzled. His hair was tousled, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. A telltale ink smudge on his cheek suggested he'd been up late studying.

Aurora took her time approaching, selecting a seat nearby. She allowed their gazes to meet briefly before offering a polite smile.

"Good morning, Damian," she said, her tone light.

He blinked, clearly surprised but recovering quickly. "Oh, good morning, Aurora."

"Long night?" she inquired, gesturing subtly toward the ink smudge.

Damian laughed nervously, rubbing at his cheek. "Just trying to get ahead in Charms. Professor Flitwick's assignments are... thorough."

Aurora nodded, hiding her amusement. "If you ever need assistance, I'd be happy to help."

"Thanks, but I think I'll manage," Damian replied, though his tone lacked conviction.

Aurora let the conversation end there, content with the small connection. She returned to her breakfast, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. Progress, however minor, was still progress.

Later that morning, Aurora entered the Potions classroom, the air heavy with the scent of brewing ingredients. Today's lesson was on Veritaserum, an advanced potion far beyond the level of most students her age. Yet Aurora's level of skills stood confidently among the best of the seventh-years, though she was still a third year.

Professor Serena Prince surveyed the class with her usual air of quiet authority. "Today, we will discuss the theoretical principles behind Veritaserum's effectiveness. Miss Malfoy, perhaps you'd like to enlighten us?"

Aurora stepped forward without hesitation. "Veritaserum's efficacy lies in its ability to bypass the subject's natural resistance to compulsion. This is achieved through the careful balance of ingredients, particularly powdered moonstone and stewed jobberknoll feathers, which destabilize the subject's magical defenses."

As she spoke, Aurora noted the impressed expressions of her classmates, even those much older than her. She felt a surge of pride but kept her demeanor composed.

"Excellent," Professor Prince said. "Miss Malfoy, you are dismissed from today's practical work. Spend the time reviewing your personal project."

Aurora returned to her seat, the whispers of admiration from her peers barely audible over the pounding of her heart.

The Slytherin common room buzzed with energy that evening as students gathered to discuss upcoming events. Aurora sat gracefully on a plush green armchair, flanked by Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis.

"What do you think about the private inter-House dueling tournament?" Daphne asked.

Aurora sipped her tea thoughtfully. "It's an excellent opportunity to showcase our strengths. But we must also consider alliances. A united front within Slytherin is more important than individual victories."

Her words carried weight, and the other students nodded in agreement. Aurora had cultivated her influence carefully, balancing ambition with diplomacy. She knew the value of unity, particularly in a House as competitive as Slytherin.

"Besides, there will be difficulties, there aren't much in the upper year but we have a few monster in fourth year like Ollivander or the Weasley twins, Diggory is also quite formidable, all in all we can't be sure to win."

Later that night, Aurora climbed to the Astronomy Tower, seeking solace under the stars. The cool breeze tugged at her robes, and she wrapped her arms around herself, staring out at the sprawling grounds below.

Despite her accomplishments, there were moments when Aurora felt the weight of her reincarnated memories acutely. The matriarchal structure of this world, so different from her past life, often left her feeling unmoored. She had adapted, of course—Malfoys always did—but the dissonance lingered.

Her thoughts turned to Damian. She wondered if he, too, felt the strange pull of memories that didn't quite belong. If he ever suspected the truth about her feelings or their shared future.

As Aurora descended the tower, she nearly collided with Damian, who was balancing a precarious stack of books.

"Damian," she said, steadying him instinctively. "What are you doing up here?"

"Studying," he replied, his tone defensive. "I needed some quiet."

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "And you thought carrying half the library was a good idea?"

Damian laughed sheepishly. "Fair point."

She helped him reorganize the books, their hands brushing briefly. For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the night air wrapping around them.

"You're doing well, you know," Aurora said softly.

Damian glanced at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Thanks. That... means a lot."

As they parted ways, Aurora felt a warmth in her chest. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep her hopeful.