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Chapter Text

I walked out of McGonagall’s office with a smile on my face, because I had been able to convince the ministry during the summer to let me use a time turner so that I could take all the classes this year. It wasn’t that hard actually, my grades were convincing enough for them. I walk down the stairs from her office and walk outside to see if I can make it work. McGonagall had already explained it to me about how to use it and the basic rules so that I don’t get in trouble with the Ministry.

I start walking over to the courtyard when I feel someone bump into me and push me to the ground and I barely notice the rushed sorry from the person as I notice that the time turner had just been smashed into a rock and it starts to spin fast and magic radiates off of it and I close my eyes quickly. 

After the light fades and I look up I’m still in the courtyard but it looks slightly different. I hear a voice behind me and when I turn around I gasp when I see a younger version of McGonagall looking at me with a raised eyebrow and glancing over my clothes and at the time turner. Noticing the difference I blink.

“What Year is it?” I ask curiously my voice letting out a hint of a worried drip to it.

“1973, and may I ask who you are, girl?” I gulp. Welp, that's not good. I think for a minute and then say quickly. 

“I need help. Can we talk in your office Professor McGonagall?” I watch her eyes widen at me knowing her name and then she nods quickly and helps me up as we walk to her office. On the way I look around, noticing the lack of students.

“Uhm, Professor where are all the students?” She looks at me thinking for a minute then says.

“They won’t be here till tomorrow.” I nod and look around taking in the differences between now and my timeline. When we get to her office she points at the chair and I sit down. 

“Now if you don't mind me asking, who are you?” I nod at her question and run my hand through my hair. 

“Well…”

An hour later and she’s nodding and thinks for a minute before getting up and leading me to Dumbledore’s office. When we get there I retell the story and he nods, seeming to think for a while.

“Well Miss Granger, It seems you are in quite the predicament.” I nod while he talks. “However, I do believe that the time turner will send you back when it regains its energy. That might be a while because it seems you’ve taken quite the jump and it will take a lot for it to send you back so be prepared to stay a while.” I Blink and sigh.

“What will I do then?” I ask sadly.

“We will sort you into a house and you can continue your education.” I mull over his words and my eyes widen. 

“Why do I need to be sorted again, when I already was in Gryffindor?” I ask curiously.

“Because Ms. Granger for you it has been 3 years since you have been sorted and it might be different now.” I let McGonagall’s words roll in my mind and I nod in understanding because it does make some sense. 

“Exactly as Minerva says, and in the meantime we will give you a new name.” I nod and listen.

“Because you are a muggle born a lot of people won’t be very accepting so I’ll give you the name of an old friend of mine so Ms. Granger you will now be Ezra Gaunt.” I blink at her words.

“Professor, isn’t the Gaunt family directly related to Salazar Slytherin.” I watch McGonagall nod and hum.

“Yes they indeed are and my friend Victoria would be quite happy to pass her name to you.” I think over that.

“Are you sure?” She nods and I sigh and nod as I watch her start to write a letter and then send it with an owl.

“That is going to Victoria, because if you are going to be her heir you need the family crest. It should be here tomorrow.” I nod. I still find it hard to believe that this Victoria lady will just let me use her name but there's not much I can do anyways.

“Because it would be strange for a third year to be sorted, we’ll sort you now so you can get comfortable.” I nod and sit down on a stool as Dumbledore walks over with the sorting hat and places it on my head. I sit still and wait.

“Well well, what do we have here?” The hat starts talking. “A third year huh and it seems I put you in Gryffindor when you were a first year correct?” I nod and the hat chuckles. “Well time does change people and I am seeing here that now your….Slytherin!” My eyes fly open in shock. 

“Seriously?!” I watch as the hat nods with a grin.

“Yes it seems to me that you have developed quite the cunning personality and resilience.”  I groan and sigh as Dumbledore hands me my new robes and McGonagall leads me to the dungeons. 

“You know I think Slytherin will be good for you.” I blink at the Professor’s words.

“Why?” 

“Because even though they are quite secretive they are smart and like the hat said, resilient.” I hum and think over her words. “Besides, it goes well with your new identity, don't you think?” I hear the chuckle in her voice and I roll my eyes. 

“Yay.” I say sarcastically and she smiles when we get to the dungeons.

“I do believe the current password is… Cobra. It will change every two weeks so watch the notice board okay?” I nod and smile.

“That’s actually kind of cool I’ll admit that.” She smiles and nods and steps aside to let me say the password.

   “Cobra” I say to the wall and the bricks slide apart opening up into a big space decorated with green and silver accents. I walk in and look over the common room. I turn around when I hear McGonagall's voice. 

“I’ll come to get you for the feast tomorrow and to give you your crest, and good luck Ms. Granger or should I say Ms. Gaunt.” I nod at her and watch as she turns and leaves.

  Throughout the night I had found the dorms and claimed a bed in the corner of the room. The dorm was a circular room with big windows showing into the black lake and the beds tucked into alcoves into the wall. Each bed has a curtain for privacy and a desk and dresser next to it in the alcove. After that I went exploring the commons. The common area has a big couch with multiple loveseats and recliners in the middle with a big silver accented fireplace in the wall in front and shelves with Slytherin achievements along the walls. The furniture was mostly green and silver. 

Around the walls were bookcases and a few tables to sit at and big windows also looking into the Black Lake with alcoves at the windows to sit and relax. There was also a girls bathroom and boys bathroom on one side of the room. So after I had explored and gotten situated into the different atmosphere I looked through the bookcases and grabbed a few and sat in an alcove at one of the windows and started reading which was interrupted by the giant squid in the lake apparently trying to play with me through the window. 

By the time the next day rolled around I had named the Giant Squid, Simon. So when McGonagall walked into the commons while I was trying to get Simon to leave me alone I looked up and sighed happily for the distraction. 

“Seems like you're already making friends.” I roll my eyes.

“Funny, Professor.” She chuckles and walks over with a trunk and hands it to me which I looked at confused.

“Victoria sent this over for you. It has clothes, books, snacks, anything you could possibly need and of course.” I watch as she pulls out a necklace with a green snake wrapped around a black coffin. I look it over and then slide it onto my neck. I open the trunk and gasp. McGonagall was right, there's enough clothes and everything I could need, even hygiene products. I look up.

“Uhm, tell Miss Victoria I said thank you.” McGonagall laughs and smiles.

“Tell her yourself she left her address on a paper in there and she sent over a bird for you to use as well. I believe it's up at the one window that rises above the lake.” I nod and run up a set of stairs to that very window that she mentioned that I figured was for owls anyways. When I get to the window there's not an owl but a big Red Tailed Hawk and I blink and open the window and it screeches and jumps onto my shoulder and settles down. Welp, that's a new one.

I walk back down to the common room and look at McGonagall.

“Seriously this Victoria lady sounds way too nice are you sure this is fine?” I asked worriedly. 

“Of course, Victoria has always been kind hearted and she needs an heir anyways.” I blink in shock.

“But I'm a muggle born.” She nods and smiles.

“Times are changing, it is very obvious that purebloods can’t stay pureblood forever without health issues arising. Despite most purebloods not giving up, Victoria is aware of this fact and does not mind.” I blink and nod thinking it over. She’s right for purebloods to stay pureblood they would need to be increasingly inbred which affects health and genetics, magic or no magic. “Besides, all of these fancy things will only prove that you are a Gaunt.” I nod at her words, finding the logic in that.

“Yeah I get it. So I’m the heir of Gaunt now?” She nods pointing at the crest.

“That Miss Granger is the pureblood version of adoption papers.” I hum at the comparison. 

“But what happens when I go back to my timeline?” She thinks it over then answers.

“You’ll still be the heir but I do recommend you continue the conversation of what being heir means with Victoria when you see her in person.” I nod and hum.

“Okay, thanks Professor.” She nods and turns to leave.

“The Feast is in an hour, get changed and meet me outside.” I watch her walk out of the common room and then I walk up to the dorm carrying the trunk and the Hawk still on my shoulder. I get to my bed and think and grab a pillow and put it on the shelf of my desk and put the Hawk down on the pillow. 

“Hmm you need a name.” I think for a few minutes “Well if I’m Ezra you can be Azrael” The Hawk tilts its head then lays down and I nod. “Azrael it is.” I hum and pull on my skirt and button up my shirt and finish by putting on my green tie and look in the mirror and then blink when Azrael lands on my shoulder with a pair of earrings in his beak. I take the earrings seeing their little snakes and sigh and put them on.

“Happy now?” He caws and then goes back to the bed I made for him and I roll my eyes and head downstairs. I walk out and into the Dungeon hallway and McGonagall looks up and smiles.

“You look like a true Slytherin now, Miss Gaunt.” I hum and nod. 

“Thanks Professor.” I spent all night thinking about how to pull off this act after all. We talk while we walk up to the Great hall and I move to sit at the Slytherin Table and sit on the end hoping to avoid people. That's when I look up as the doors burst open and students come rushing in and I watch as a group of boys my age run over to the Gryffindor table laughing after pushing a black haired boy with Slytherin robes who walks over and drops onto the bench opposite of me. I look him over and recognize him. Professor Snape or here Severus Snape. Strange why was he being shoved? I stiffen when I feel someone drop down next to me.

“Hey you're new here right?” I look over to see a girl who looks to be a few years ahead of me with long black curly hair and black eyes.

“Y-yeah” I stutter a bit.

“Cool, I’m Bellatrix Black, that boy across from you is Severus Snape or Sev for short.” I nod as I remember her name from the newspapers about her being Voldemort's right hand death eater. I watch as a girl who looks only a year above me sits down next to Bella. She has the same hair color except slightly lighter and straighter. 

“I’m Ezra Gaunt.” I say evenly and watch as her eyes widen and she smiles.

“You’re a Gaunt! That's amazing!” She says excitedly.

“Bella, leave the girl alone.”  The girl who had sat next to her says.

“You're such a party pooper, Andy.” I watch as she looks back at me. “This loser is my younger sister Andromeda.” I nod and watch as the girl rolls her eyes and a blonde girl in my year sits down next to Severus.

“And that Blondie is our baby sister Narcissa.” I blink at Bella’s words. Malfoy’s mom? I look over as a blonde boy who looks to also be in my year sits down next to Narcissa. “And that twat is Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa’s best friend.” Malfoy's dad? I nod trying to keep up.

“Shut it Bella.” I watch Lucius snark back and before Bella can say anything back, Dumbledore stands up front and announces that it's time to sort the first years.  

Chapter Text

After the sorting and the feast had ended we all headed back to our common rooms. While we were walking I watched as the Black sisters, Lucius and Severus walked next to me talking about the year and what classes they were going to take. 

“So Ezra right?” Lucius says walking on my right and I nod and he smiles. “What electives are you taking?” I think over his words and we talk about the classes for a while as we walk down the hall. Throughout the next few days I got to know them. Bella is in 7th year and is a troublemaker and gets detention every other day. Andy is a lot more serious and is pretty smart too, she’s also in 4th year. Narcissa is sassy and she knows she's beautiful and she makes sure everyone knows but she’s also pretty funny and she’s in 3rd year with me. 

Lucius is also in our year and he acts like he’s the king of the world but he’s also a gentleman and insists on opening doors for all of us. Severus is in our year also and he’s really quiet and soft but is nice overall. They were all kind of nice but we weren’t really friends until the other day, because no way was I going to become friends with a bunch of the biggest death eaters, besides Andy. 

I was awake late at night running over the details. So, my time turner is busted and won’t send me back to my time for who knows how long. Great. I’m stuck in Slytherin and now I’m the heir of the House of Gaunt. Also great. So far the closest thing I have to friends are a giant squid, a hawk, a younger McGonagall, and a bunch of future death eaters. Oh that’s great for my social record. I groan out loud then open my eyes when I hear my curtain pull open and see Narcissa standing there with Andy and Bella. 

“Hey Ez, get up.” I blink at Bella’s words. 

“Why?” 

“Because you look like you need to relax.” I look over at Narcissa when she says that.

“I’m fine.” 

“No you're not, you need a distraction.” I groan at Bella and she laughs pulling me up.

“Where are we even going?” I sigh and start to get dressed into jeans and a green hoodie that Victoria sent me. 

“Somewhere fun, trust us.” I nod and pull on my shoes and follow them out of the dorms and into the common area where Lucius and Severus were waiting. 

“Come on, let's hurry if we want to be back and get some sleep before classes start tomorrow.” I yawn at Lucius’s words and let Narcissa drag me along while we walk out into the dungeon hall and sneak through the halls until we get to a statue of a one eyed witch and he says a word and it slides open to reveal a set of stairs that we all go down one at a time and Narcissa leads me down.

“Hurry, I’m hungry.” Bella whines at the front.

“Stop whining Bella.” Cissa snaps at her.

We keep walking for a while on the path and we go onto a cut off that leads to a part of the cave filled with water. I look around on the rock for chairs and boxes and a couple tables. I look at Bella.

“What is this place?” I ask curiously.

“Our hangout spot. There’s a spell on the path that keeps people from finding this little side path.” I nod at the explanation and look at the water.

“How deep is it?” I wonder out loud.

“Deep enough to jump in and swim.” I look over at Lucius and nod.

“We come here to swim, hangout and play games when we’re bored.” Cissa says from next to me.

“And since you seemed to be in your head so much we decided to bring you with us.” Andy says while pulling off her shirt. I blink.

“But you guys just met me like a few days ago?” I say, confused.

“Yeah but we think we’ll be good friends and you don’t seem to have any.” Severus says while taking off his shoes and I blanch. Even they think I don’t have friends. I sigh and look around at Narcissa’s encouraging smile and Lucius with a satisfied grin as he had just pushed Bella into the water. Bella is laughing and pulls Lucius in after her. Andy is laughing and helps shove him in. Severus is sitting on the edge with his legs in the water and I finally grin and pull my shirt off and I hear Narcissa cheer and do the same. 

A few minutes later, Sev is on Lucius’s shoulders, Narcissa is on my shoulders and Andy is on Bella’s and we’re all trying to shove each other into the water. I laugh when Cissa pushes Sev off and we cheer as she gets Andy and Bella too and she drops off and hugs me and I hug back.

“We are one hell of a team huh, Ezra?” I grin and nod with a laugh and cough when Bella jumps on my back shoving me under, when I come back up I throw water at her.

By the time we are getting back to our common rooms, Cissa has her arm thrown around my shoulders and Sev and Lucius are walking on my left. 

“Welcome to the squad Ezra.” I smile at Bella’s words. 

I think that through, I mean what can go wrong? I have a different name, different identity and besides they don’t seem that bad right now. There’s also the fact that if I’m going to be here for a while I do want to have some friends and I need to fit in the best I can. So why not? 

“I’m happy to be part of it.” I say to them and gasp as Bella lifts me up and spins me.

“Good, cause I like having you around Ez.” I smile and laugh. After that we say good night to the boys and then go up to our dorms. When we get there I see Azrael and he caws and goes back to sleep and I roll my eyes teasingly and get changed back into my pajamas and lay down in bed.

“Good night Ez.” Bella says from her bed.

“Night Ezra.” I hear from Andy’s bed.

“See ya in the morning Ezra.” Cissa says before laying down. 

“Night guys.” I say back to them and close my eyes.

The next day, saying we’re all tired is an understatement however I choose not to acknowledge it that much. As we walk to Breakfast together we stop when Sev gets shoved into a wall by a Gryffindor with shaggy black hair and hazel eyes, James Potter. I feel the moment we all freeze and look over. Bella stiffens from her spot in front and I have to grab Lucius to keep him from punching the boy.

“Leave him alone Potter.” Cissa says stiffly. 

“Why should I listen to you stupid snakes, when he won’t back off Lily.” James snaps back. 

“She’s my friend. I'm not going to stop being friends with her.” Severus says easily.

“Bullshit, Snivellus you like my girl and I don’t want you around her.” James snaps back, shoving him harder and Lucius tenses even more, but before he can do anything the rest of the Marauders show up. Sirius Black, a boy who could be considered handsome if you liked the rugged troublemaker look, he had black hair and black eyes and his tie was loose and his shirt untucked. Remus Lupin, he had a much more put together look but with shorter sandy colored hair and then Peter Pettigrew who was considerably short and seemed younger then he probably was. 

“Leave him alone, cousin.” Bella says from behind us and Cissa and Andy nod. Sirius rolls his eyes.

“Then tell Snivellus to leave Lily alone cause she’s James’s.” I almost gag at how objectifying that sounds. 

“It's up to her about who she wants to hang out with for one, and second off all she’s not some object you can control everything about.” I say coolly, letting my thoughts out. I watch as James snaps his gaze to me and tilts his head.

“And you are?” He says that in a way that says he just wants a reason to insult me.

“Ezra Gaunt of the Most Noble House of Gaunt.” I say evenly, putting more steel in my words. He blinks and laughs.

“So you're the new snake that’s related to Salazar huh?” His eyes harden and he pushes Severus over to us and Lucius catches him. “Listen snake, no one cares that you're more snakey than the others. So watch what you say cause you have no right to talk to us. So shut your scaly mouth.” I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes.

“Hey shut up.” Cissa says steely, pulling me closer to them.

“Cousin, if you don’t want that friend of yours in the infirmary you should get him to shut his stupid mouth.” Bella says through her teeth and the energy shifts dangerously as Sirius stiffens and thinks then grabs James’s arm. 

“Let’s not waste our time on them, come on James.” He says quickly.

“Fucking Fine, but watch your mouth Gaunt.” James says to me with a glare before letting Sirius pull him along. 

“Yeah, watch it snake.” Peter says then runs after them as Remus glares and flips us off before following them. 

“What the hell is wrong with them?!” I say loudly after they leave. 

“Sirius and his stupid friends think they're above everyone else just because they're in Gryffindor.” Andy says while checking Sev for bruises. 

“I have half a mind to beat the shit out of them for talking to you two like that.” Lucius growls between his teeth. I sigh and rub my forehead. So, Harry’s dad is a complete asshole, noted.  

Chapter Text

A few hours later we’re walking into our Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom which we sadly have with the Gryffindors. Our teacher is some older guy named Mr. Jefferson, however he probably won’t stay the DADA teacher because they never stay. We sit down at desks and listen.

“Okay students, so I want to throw you guys straight into a project because I believe that hands-on work is the best way to learn so you will each have one partner to do the project.” Everyone grins until he starts talking again. “And no you can’t pick your partner I’m assigning them.” Everyone groans and I huff, as long as I'm not with one of James’s stupid groupies. 

He spends the next 10 minutes explaining the project which is just to learn how to use your Patronus correctly and then write an essay on how and what its uses are basically. 

“So our first partnership is…” He says as he walks around looking at us. “Lucius, you're with Severus.” I smile at them as they sigh in relief and high five. “Narcissa….you’re with Tauria.” Cissa shrugs and nods at the said Slytherin girl. I watch him pair up people randomly until he looks at me and thinks. “Ms. Gaunt you will be with…” He looks around at everyone. “Ms. Evans” I blink at that name and watch as a red headed Gryffindor girl with forest green eyes walks over and drops down next to me. 

I blink in shock, he just put a Gryffindor with a Slytherin? Not like I care, but the problem is that to him I’m a pureblood Slytherin and he just paired me with a muggle-born. I’m not going to bully her but it's the idea that the teachers never do that because the bullying is likely to happen. Jerk. I look over at Lily and see her watching her hands nervously. Can’t blame her. I'd be nervous in her position too. 

I watch as everyone gets their partners and I attempt to ignore the scathing look I can feel James giving me. I look over at Lily and hum.

“So… I’m Ezra Gaunt.” I introduce myself and watch as she looks up as if shocked I’m even talking to her. I wait patiently for a response.

“Lily Evans.” I smile and nod. 

“Nice to meet you.” I say back, in honesty I probably should be a jerk to pull off the act but she looks so nervous I can’t. 

“Nice to meet you too” I smile at her response and then turn to my notebook.

“So we need to learn how to use our Patronus so do you know yours?” I ask softly and she shakes her head and I nod. “Neither do I, so when do you want to get together?” I watch as she blinks.

“Huh?” I smile. 

“For the project so we can practice.” 

“Oh, uhm I don’t really care.” I nod and think. 

“Okay, how about tonight out by the Black Lake?” I say and watch as she thinks and then nods.

“That’ll work.” I nod as class ends and I grab my stuff. “See ya later then Ms. Evans.” I say with a grin and walk over to where Cissa and the boys are waiting for me. 

Lily Evan’s POV 

“S-see ya.” I mutter as my new project partner jogs over to a few other Slytherins and I blink again out of my shock. When Mr. Jefferson put me with a Pureblood Slytherin. I knew it was because he probably doesn’t like muggle-borns and wanted me to be picked on or something and I was ready for it.

I however was not ready for the fact that she didn’t say one mean thing and didn’t mention my blood status or call me a mudblood and that if anything she seemed fairly nice. Hence, my inability to speak, well that and the fact that Ezra seems to be the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen and not in an overbearing way like some people but it's subtle and natural. I come back to reality when I hear James calling my name and I groan. 

“Merlin Lily, I’m so sorry you’re stuck with that stupid snake.” My eye twitches. “I just tried to convince Mr. Jefferson to let me be your partner instead like we should have been but he won’t let up.” I hum.

“It’s fine James, I don’t mind being paired up with a Slytherin.” I say easily as I grab my stuff and start to walk out ignoring how James and his friends follow along. 

“You should, I met that damn snake and she’s worse than the others!” I hum, highly doubting it he says that about every Slytherin. 

“James, I can handle myself if I need to but for now leave it alone and work on your own project.” I notice how he stiffens. 

“Lily, you should’ve been paired up with me, not that bitch.” I don’t know why that sentence gave me the automatic urge to smack him. 

“James, drop it. I can’t switch partners, it's fine.” I groan as I continue whining the rest of the day while he is still following me. 

I somehow manage to lose him after dinner and make my way out to the Black Lake, I walk out to where the dock is and notice her sitting on the dock watching the lake. I walk over and she turns and smiles. 

“Hey Evans” I hum and look her over. She’s wearing her uniform skirt but not the robes. Her shirt sleeves are rolled up and her green tie slightly loose so that the top button of the shirt is unbuttoned.

“Hey.” I sat down next to her. “So, any plan?” I ask curiously.

“Hmm, well all we can do is try it.” I hum and nod as she stands up and stretches. “Okay Evans let’s see what you’ve got.” I laugh and stand up noticing how she’s a good few inches taller than me.

“Expecto Patronum.” I say stiffly and sigh when nothing happens and I look up as she nods and repeats the spell but nothing happens either. For about an hour we keep practicing until eventually a little spark comes from my wand but nothing really changes for Ezra. 

After we finish practicing for a while we decide to call it a night due to having curfew coming up. As I grab my bag I look over at her. 

“See ya later, Evans.” I nod and smile softly at her.

“Yeah. see ya later, Gaunt” I watch her grin and walk up to the castle. I stay for a minute and look up at the sky and at the constellations with a smile. I walk back up to the castle and head straight to Gryffindor tower. When I get there I tell the fat lady the password and the portrait opens as I walk into the common room ignoring James as he stands up and starts to talk. I walk by and up to the girls dormitory, where I go to my bed and sit down sighing. 

“Hey Lily, what’s got you worked up?” I look up as Molly Prewett walks in and sits down on her bed that's next to mine. 

“I don’t know Molls.” I lay back with a grunt as my head hits the pillow.

“This about that Slytherin you're stuck with in DADA?” I nod at her words.

“Well not particularly, it's partly her, partly the fact that James is well being James.” I look up at the ceiling.

“Haven’t you told him you don’t like guys multiple times?” I hum.

“Yep.” 

“Well then he should back off.” I nod at her words.

“Oh, I know. But I can’t do much when he thinks that it's something he can just fix.” I groan.

“Yeah that’s because he thinks he can turn you straight.” I nod.

“I know.” 

“So…About that Slytherin.” I hum.

“What about her?” I ask curiously.

“How is she as a project partner?” I look back up at the ceiling, running over the night.

“She’s actually a great project partner.” I watch Molly look at me shocked.

“Really?” I nod.

“She also was really nice and normal.” 

“Not a single comment?” I shake my head and look over as Molly lays back on her bed. “Woah” I nod at that. “Sounds like a keeper.” I snap over to look at her. 

“Molly!” I watch her laugh.

“What?” 

“She’s a Slytherin!” I groan when I realize my slip up.

“So if she wasn’t she’d be an option?” I sigh and lay back.

“I hate you.” 

“Nah, you love me.” I roll my eyes at her and throw my pillow at her face.

   Ezra Gaunt’s POV

I walk into the Slytherin common room and jump when Narcissa grabs me and pulls me up the stairs to the window where we send the birds out and in.

“What?!” I gasp after being dragged up the stairs and look at Bella, Andy, Sev, and Lucius looking at me.

“You’re paired with a Gryffindor.” I nod.

“Yeah, so?” I watch Bella sigh.

“So Ezra be careful, James believes she’s his girl.” I grunt and nod.

“I honestly don’t care, she's fun.” They sigh.

“Damn’t Ez. You really love to start these fights huh?” I laugh at Cissa’s words.

“Guess so.” Lucius groans and shakes his head.

“Whatever… we’ll have your back if something does happen.” I smile at his words and look around at them as Bella and Andy nod in agreement and Sev smiles. I grin and pull them all into a hug.
“You guys rock.” Bella laughs and tightens the hug. After a few games of poker later, we’re heading up to bed. 

I walk up to our dormitory and conjure a mouse into the little bowl I have for Azrael, then get changed and lay down. 

“Hey guys.” I hum as Cissa speaks.

“What's up sis?” Bella says from her bed. 

“You guys are my sisters and my best friends…that includes you Ezra.” I smile and sit up to look at her as she sits down on her bed.

“I think the same about you three although I haven’t known you that long.” Bella grins. It’s true and maybe a bit strange but I really see them as family now. They’ve basically taken me in and given me friends in a place where I would be so alone. So yeah, I do see them as my sisters and I see Sev and Lucius as brothers. I never had siblings so it’s nice really, to have that relationship with someone. 

“Goodnight guys.” I say to them and I hear them respond. I might just be fine here after all.      

Chapter Text

The Next morning I woke up in a better mood than normal, after calling the squad my siblings it was nice to feel like a part of something. I get up and stretch and sigh noticing the girls are gone, so I get up and get dressed in my same uniform as normal and my Gaunt Crest, I also conjure Azrael's breakfast and he tilts his head and eats.

I walk downstairs into the common room and see the girls and boys waiting for me on the couch talking. As soon as they see me Sev stands up and runs over to me and hugs me tightly and I cough slightly but hug back.

“What's up Sev?” I ask with a smile.

“We told him what you said last night about us being like your siblings.” Bella says from where she’s having an arm wrestle with Lucius.

“I will also give you a hug after I beat this delinquent.” I laugh at Lucius’s comment.

“Hurry up you two we have class.” Andy says exasperatedly. Me and Cissa nod as well.

We wait patiently and eventually we have to call it a tie because neither's arm has moved at all. After we call it a tie, Lucius throws his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side.

“I’m happy to be your brother.” I smile at the whisper in my ear.

We get to the Great Hall and sit down to eat Breakfast when I see Lily storm into the Great Hall looking rightfully pissed with an angry James running after her. I narrow my eyes and watch carefully and when the gang notices my change in demeanor they look over and narrow their eyes too.

“That's not how you treat a lady.” Lucius mutters from beside me, and Sev grits his teeth worried for his friend. I watch for a minute but when James grabs Lily’s wrist I get up.

“Hey what do you guys say we show them how snakey we can be?” I ask with a smirk, and the hat's words come back to me about how I’m more cunning. Okay I see it now.

“Hell Yeah!” Bella cheers getting up and Andy stands up and fixes her tie. Cissa stands up and wipes her hair out of her face while Lucius stands up keeping his arm around me protectively. I smile, noticing he’s really taken to the brother role. Sev gets up and nods.

“Lead the way sis.” I smile at Andy’s words and we walk over as a group to where James is arguing with Lily. I step up and grin.

“Well this isn’t very lion-like, is it Potter?” I say with glare and a twisted smirk. Bella stays next to me protectively and so does Lucius and Andy, Cissa and Sev stay right by me. I smile inwardly, happy to have found a family in this timeline.

Lily’s POV

“Leave me alone James!” I yell as I walk towards the Great Hall. Already irritated far too early in the morning.

“No, not until you tell me why you were hanging out with that snake!” He yells right as we walk inside.

“It’s none of your business, James.” I say with a huff. For some reason I glance around and see Ezra watching us carefully. I relax for a second and then James grabs my wrist and tugs me around.

“Why are you looking at the snake like that?!” He yells again and I grit my teeth.

“Well this isn’t very lion-like, is it Potter?” I turn around slightly at the voice and see Ezra standing there along with the very well known Black sisters and Lucius Malfoy along with Sev. I tense slightly knowing all of them but Sev are pure-bloods and even though Ezra’s nice her friends might not be.

“That's no way to treat a lady.” I blink and double check to make sure I heard right, yep that was Lucius who said that. I tilt my head at his arm being around Ezra’s shoulder and for some reason I feel a bud of anger at it.

“Stay out of it you damn snakes!” James yells unceremoniously and I feel him start to tug me but then I feel a gentle but firm hand grab my other hand and effectively pull me out of his grip and right into Ezra. I blink and turn slightly red before looking down.

“You can’t treat people like that Potter.” I hear Ezra speak stiffly and I relax when I feel her hand stay locked in mine.

“Fuck off Gaunt. You're a damned snake who shouldn’t be touching my girl.” I grit my teeth and snap.

“Go away James. I can be friends with whoever I want, and I’ve already told you I’ll never like you!” I feel Ezra squeeze my hand softly and I relax slightly. James stiffens and looks at the number difference and grits his teeth, running off to the Gryffindor table. I watch Molly run over and check me over. After I calm Molly’s mother-hen tendencies, I hear an elegant yet monotone voice speak up.

“You two can come sit with us, if you want too.” I look over and see the middle Black sister is the one who said that. Andromeda, I think. I nod and look back at Molly to see her kind of zoned out looking at said Black. I blink and realize something. Oh and she was tormenting me about liking a Slytherin? I laugh slightly to myself.

“Sure we will come sit with you guys.” I watch as Ezra lightens up a bit and they lead us back to the Slytherin table where everyone glances for a second, but when they see the Slytherins with us they look back down. Ezra drops onto the bench on one side and without thinking I drop down next to her. Lucius and Sev take spots opposite of us, with Bella and Cissa next to them. Andy drops down next to Ezra and Molly sits next to her without question.

I’m admittedly nervous for a few minutes, I mean I’m surrounded by pure-bloods, but after those few minutes I start to relax while Lucius and Bella apparently continue a tied arm wrestle match? Cissa is gossiping about something while Sev eats and nods. I glance next to me and see Molly kind of having a conversation with Andy, who doesn’t seem to show much emotion on her face or talk a lot, Ezra is refereeing the arm wrestle match and everyone will chip in to make jokes.

“You okay?” I zone back into reality at Ezra’s question.

“Yeah, why?” I ask with a hum. I see her tilt her head.

“I could hear you thinking.” I blink and laugh. Ezra smiles and I notice that it seems to catch the attention of the whole group, Cissa and Sev stop gossiping and look at her softly, Bella grins widely, Lucius has this strange proud look on his face, and even Andy who had been roughly emotionless the whole time softens and smiles, which has Molly’s whole attention. Overall, during breakfast me and Molly somehow seem to blend into the chaos easily.