Four years have passed and suddenly Estella was faced with the O.W.L's. Irvine was stressing out, tapping everywhere to keep his nerves in check.

"I really don't want to fail these," Irvine grumbled as the two of them sat in the library, "Do you know how stressful it is to get an O?"

"I'm sure you'll do fine, Vin." Estella said calmly, trying to ignore the stares of the Gryffindor boys across the way. "Besides, Lily is going to help us with potions after her patrol with Remus."

"When is our patrol?" Irvine asked, "I wouldn't mind having an hour or two just freely talking,"

"We talk anyway?" Estella said with a raised eyebrow. Estella looked how many of the Black family does, either dark black hair or blonde much like her cousin Narcissa. "I know you're stressing—,"

"Why is Potter staring you down?" Lily said as she joined them after her patrol, she had her nose scrunched up in disgust after James had winked at her from where he sat with Sirius and Peter. "Hopefully you might be the new, Lily?"

"Why are you characterizing yourself?" Estella laughed.

"Because I am in distress," Lily sighed, "Please oh please, let there be another girl where James falls madly in love with other than me of course,"

"Distress." Irvine said quietly catching the attention of the girls, "That makes two of us,"

"Two peas in a pod," Lily smiled at the Hufflepuff, "Well, I wouldn't mind studying with you two together but Remus asked for you to go over to where they are now,"

Estella roller her eyes dramatically before landing on some Hazel eyes known to belong to James, how she knew that? She would never know. James grinned as he caught her attention and waved at her to come over.

Estella sighed before turning to her friends, "It seems like the Captain wants me,"

"You're in Hufflepuff," Lily pointed out, "He's not your Quidditch captain,"

"He certainly acts high and mighty sometimes doesn't he?" Estella chuckled before waving and walking towards some of her favorite boys. "You wanted me?"

"How's my favorite cousin?" Sirius interrupted James, "Irvine isn't looking to good is he?"

"No," Estella said before looking at Sirius strangely, "Why would you be concerned about Irvine?"

"Because he will stress you out," Sirius rolled his eyes, "You two almost act like siblings because you copy each other's mannerisms,"

Estella cross her arms and purses her lips, her eyebrows furrowed making her nose scrunch up a bit. Someone thought she looked very cute like this. "And? You jealous?"

"Jealous?" Sirius said, "How dare you assume such a thing,"

"Anyways," James said coughing slightly, "Estella, darling, I want—,"

"If the question is for the Hufflepuff common room then no," Estella said smirking slightly at him, "Goodness knows what you'd all do with that information, apologies Remus,"

"Wha— Hey?" Sirius said, "Remus isn't that of a goody two shoes!"

"He is a Prefect," Peter said.

"I probably could get the password if I asked," Remus shrugged, the boys looked at him hopefully, "But I wouldn't give it to you,"

The three looked crestfallen, Estella couldn't help but chuckle at them. Remus and Estella shared looks of amusement to this.

"That wasn't what I was going to say anyway," James continued his earlier conversation, "We...I would like for your help with a certain thing we've been working on,"

"Are you really going to tell her, Prongs?" Sirius said calling him the weird nicknames the boys had for one another that year, it confused her greatly, "Are you —,"

"We won't tell her ...that.. please?" Remus said to the boys, they nodded silently knowing what Remus meant by the, That. "Okay, Estella. You're good at Charms?"

"She's excellent," Sirius said, Estella smiled at her cousin. "One of the 'Brightest witches of our age'"

"Who said that?" Estella said, "I don't remember being called that,"

"People have said it to your parents, I've heard it before." Sirius said, "My mother hates hearing it, says it's not honorable."

"I've been getting that from her," Estella said, "Git,"

"Woah," James said, "I thought you were meant to be a Hufflepuff,"

"You know, not all Hufflepuffs are nice nice nice," Estella retorted, "I can hex someone, that I dislike without a care."

"But you won't," Sirius said.

Estella sighed, knowing that Sirius was right. He knew her inside and out and the same for her. Estella didn't want to harm anyone even if they deserved it because she would feel guilty for the rest of her life. However, she wouldn't hesitate to hurt anyone who crossed her or her family.

"Anyway, what do you want my Charms skills for?" Estella said, wanting to go back to Irvine and Lily who were both probably flirting with each other. Estella wouldn't say this to James, he wouldn't like it.

"We've come up with a map," James said, "We just need a charm that shows everyone up on it and we don't know how to do that,"

"Oh that's easy," Estella said, "The Homunculus charm, is what you're looking for,"

"The what?" James said, he knew it very clearly but he didn't know why he wanted her to keep talking.

"It tracks people, I guess," Estella shrugged, "I need to go study for the O.W.L's now,"

"But it's October," Sirius said, "Why on earth would you study now?"

"Irvine," Estella said bluntly, Sirius rolled his eyes at this. "Jelly,"

"Am not," Sirius said, "Go study, little bookworm,"

"Thanks, glad to be of service to you lot,"

"Wait," James said, as the girl went to get out of her seat, "Will you help us do the charm?"

"I—," Estella started.

"Great! see you soon," James grinned, before leaning back in his chair. Sirius gave him a indifferent look before waving to his cousin who walked back to her friends. "What? We needed help with charms didn't we? Why not have a professional?"

"If you say so, prongs," Remus said, "We don't want to bother her too much, it's not like we're super close,"

"Yeah we are," Peter said, "She hangs around us at least everyday,"

"Whatever," Sirius said, "Lets just get this work done so we can go see what Peeves is up to,"

~ ~ ~

Estella and Irvine had their patrol together after dinner on the west side of the castle, both of them relaxing as most students were in their common room. Or they were supposed to be. Irvine definitely looked calmer walking around with her rather than in the library.

"They want your help with charms?" Irvine said, "Since when did they want to study for the O.W.L's?"

"Yeah," Estella said, she had only told him they needed help with Charms and nothing about the map. She was sure they wouldn't like the news of the Marauders map around the school, "They realized that it was time to start worrying about the future I guess, about time too,"

"Hmm," Irvine said, "Anyways, guess when the next match is,"

"Next week?" Estella guesses, Irvine nodded. "Ooh, nice, against who?"

"Ravenclaw," Irvine said, "She wants us to practice more, because she's very set on winning the Quidditch cup,"

"What captain isn't?" Estella laughed, "I swear, Quidditch is the only thing people have time for nowadays,"

"It's a good sport!" Irvine defended, this reminded Estella way too much of Sirius and James, "You're part of the team, or did you forget?"

"Yeah, I know," Estella said, "I'm just not completely insane about it, you know?"

"People would love to be in your position," Irvine said, "You shouldn't take your chaser spot for granted,"

"Alright," Estella teased, "If you chaser, imma beater,"

Irvine sighed at the puns, but smiled. They loved their patrols together, just the two of them. Estella Black was a strange case, they never really talked about her home life knowing it was quite different from his loving family. Irvine was a pure blood, but not quite as prejudiced as Estella was brought up as. However, luckily for her she was able to change her views when she got into Hufflepuff.

The house was welcoming for a major wizarding family to join them, the older students taking her under their wing and teaching her things she never opened up her eyes too before. It was life changing.

"Are you going home for christmas?" Irvine said.

"I don't know," Estella said, "I miss my family I do, it's just I can't help but notice ever since I didn't get Slytherin. They've acted indifferent, I know they held hope that I'd be like everyone else in the family and now they are disappointed in me. Like, I'm not their perfect poster child anymore."

"At least," Irvine said, "You haven't been like Sirius to them, who has been hanging out with blood-traitors as they call it,"

Irvine scrunched up his nose at the word, not liking it at all how her family behaved. He guessed he was one of the lucky ones. Estella modded solemnly, knowing how hard Sirius had it at home better than her she guessed as she hung out with Irvine a pure blood. However if they found out she was good friends with Lily Evans, a muggleborn they would sure not act kindly.

Alula was different, she was there for her sister and knew she hung out with Lily Evans. The girls made a pact to stick with each other as the times got darker, so they never told their family about Alula's half-blood boyfriend who was in Ravenclaw. Archer was already in too deep.

Once their patrol was over they went ahead down to the common room, it was quiet. The time was nearing midnight of course and it was on a school night. The two bid their goodbyes before going to bed. Estella always seemed to have these visions why she was sleeping and they always seemed so real. She never told anyone about it in fear that her family might use her as a weapon for the Dark Lord, she definitely didn't want that.

In the dream, Estella stood in the Great Hall. Wondering why she was there when she was meant to be sleeping she wandered out going to the Hufflepuff common room. She didn't notice that she wasn't alone. It was like she was a ghost walking through the students in her dream too tired to notice anything weird about it. She stopped when she saw Severus Snape lurking around a dark corner.

It was near the Library, she hadn't realized how far the Hufflepuff common room was from the Library. She cursed to herself silently, but as she tried to walk backwards the dream pushed her back to where she was before still facing Serverus Snape. It was like some spirit telling her to check what he was doing. Serverus then went into the restricted section. Estella's breath hitched as she didn't want to move forward. Some part of her mind still believed this was real and  didn't want to break the school rules.

Curiosity got the better of her and she moved forward, she didn't like this one bit. It was no secret that Snape liked the dark arts but he seemed to be looking for something. Once he couldn't find anything he walked out towards the Defense section of the Library where he pulled out some books on dark creatures. He stopped on the page of a werewolf, he nodded to himself.

Estella didn't know why this was important but then the dream shifted to being beside the whomping willow, the moon shon bright. Before she took a step however she was woken up.

Estella woke up in a pool of sweat, it was morning, obviously. She didn't mean to ignore her roommates good mornings but she did.  She was so lost in her own mind that she hasn't even realized that her socks were inside out. Once she was dressed, properly, might I add. She went to the Great Hall knowing that Irvine was an early bird and probably there already.

Estella was excited to fill her belly, when she walked in. However before she could sit down she was dragged out of the Hall by a familiar boy. James.

"Whatever reason you have for taking me away from my food, spill," Estella said, crossing her arms and staring at the Potter boy.

"If you had no one else, would you come to me?" James said, Estella raised her eyebrow at the question and glaring slightly in concentration.

"What do you—,"

"Answer the question," James said, his Hazel eyes bore into her dark green eyes.

"Yes," Estella said, thinking over it. If she didn't have anyone else she would certainly go to someone familiar. "I probably would, Why the question?"

"Just wondering," James said, walking away with a smug smile. Estella rolled her eyes before following him into the Great Hall. She couldn't keep the smile from her face as she sat down beside Irvine at the Hufflepuff table.

"You woke up late," Irvine noted as she started making her breakfast.

"You woke up early," Estella said defending herself, "I.. never mind,"

Estella was wondering if she should tell Irvine about her strange dream, if anyone would understand it would be him as her best friend. She didn't know if it was something she should be concerned about.

"We have Quidditch practice later," Irvine said, "My sister says to be early or get our asses kicked,"

"I love that your sister is the captain," Estella grinned, "She's amazing really,"

"What about Alula being the Slytherins team captain?" Irvine asked, "Do you think she's amazing?"

"Hell, even I know she's brutal on the pitch," Estella shivered, "One Of The four scariest captains right after the Gryffindors captain,"

"She's your sister," Irvine smiled.

"She's brutal at home too," Estella shrugged, "I'm just glad the first match is with Gryffindor and Ravenclaw,"

"What?" Irvine asked, "No, it's Hufflepuff and Gryffindor they changed it last night,"

"Ugh," Estella groaned, "Please tell me it's not, I don't want my bad Quidditch skills to be shown off in front of James Potter,"

"What why?" Irvine asked. "Besides your Quidditch skills are legendary, your father is Saros Black after all,"

"It's not like he played brilliantly," Estella frowned at the mention of her father who was secretly working for the Dark Lord on top of his Quidditch career. "He quit Puddlemere United Three years ago."

"Best team in the league!" Irvine said proudly, "You definitely inherit his skills, you're a brilliant Chaser."

"Thanks Irvine," Estella said before looking over to where James sat with his friends and narrowed her eyes, "I'm going to show Gryffindor what they get for underestimating us,"

"Yes!" Irvine cheered, "Hufflepuff pride!"