⬫◊ Aurora Black - chapter 12: the house cup ◊⬫

Instructions

⬫◊ Chapter 12: The House Cup ◊⬫ Following Hermione's advice, Aurora had focused on studying and getting the best grades possible. She spent hours in the library, doing homework, essays or simply preparing for her exams. She enjoyed doing all that work, especially when it paid off. “Miss Black, this job is perfect… too perfect, I might say. It deserves a 112 out of 100” That particular comment referred to research for charms class, but it could have applied to any subject: even Professor Snape seemed delighted with her, despite his initial misgivings. However, in this life everything has consequences, and to be the best witch of her year, she had been leaving aside her friends little by little. One day, Theo had kept her in astronomy class, worried about her behavior. “Aurora, you can't stress that much,” he said, getting straight to the point. She rolled her eyes. Lyra repeated the same thing to her at least five times a day. “Come to the music room this afternoon, after eating.” “But…” she protested. “It wasn't a question,” he said as he handed her the book that he had, moments before, taken to make sure she didn't leave before him. Since then they both began to meet every week in the same place, at the same time. She didn't stop spending entire days in learning every detail she could find in the books (whether or not they were part of the mandatory syllabus), but it was a relief to see how she relaxed after her meetings with Theo... especially for Emma, who didn't hide that smirk every time she saw Aurora smiling with her friend. “I told you I would win, Claire,” Gabriel said with a proud smirk. He was standing right in front of the Fat Lady's portrait, trying to catch his breath after challenging his friend to a race. He had started calling Aurora by her middle name since he had read it in one of her Potions papers. She rolled her eyes as she undid her ponytail, leaving her brown curls free of it. "You have had lucky. And your shoes are more comfortable” she said competitively, although she couldn't help but smile, because she knew perfectly well that she was never going to run faster than Gabriel. “Sure,” he said, laughing. Just then, they saw a girl appear, turning the corner. Hermione. "Aurora!! I was looking for you!" she said. Ron was right next to her, and they both looked really tired. "What's happening? Is everything alright?" Aurora said worriedly. “Harry is in the hospital wing. He has faced Quirrel and who you know!!” Ron blurted out, unable to contain himself. “But now he's fine!” Hermione added quickly before Aurora had time to process all the information. "What?!" she and Gabriel said at the same time. He and Harry weren't very close friends, which was perhaps why it was even more shocking to him. Ron covered his mouth with his hands. He was so worried about what had happened that he hadn't even realized that Gabriel was still there. Hermione sighed. “Aurora, go see him. Visiting hours will end soon.” She nodded and started to walk, but she turned around to look at Gabriel. She didn't want to leave like that, without giving any explanations. He nodded in understanding and watched Aurora walk away from him. Then he looked at his housemates. “Can you explain to me what is happening?” Aurora arrived at the hospital wing, where Harry was debating with Madam Pomfrey about his discharge. “Harry!!” she said, hugging him. “What did you think you were doing?!” “It wasn't Snape in the end-” he began to explain, but Aurora didn't let him finish. "I do not care! You were supposed to research Flamel! Don't put your life in danger!!” After a warning look from Pomfrey, Aurora calmed down and stopped scolding Harry, who sighed in relief and began to tell the whole story. By the time he had finished, Aurora's eyes were wide, and her face was paler than usual. The nurse was about to offer her a stretcher. Despite everything, they both managed to convince Pomfrey to let Harry out just in time for the House Cup ceremony... although they suspected that they wouldn't have succeeded if Dumbledore hadn't given the order for it. Especially after snatching victory from Slytherin, giving extra points to Harry, Ron, Hermione and, surprisingly, Neville. Aurora decided that she would have to talk to him later. Everyone was cheering or booing the new change of winner… everyone except Aurora. At any other time, she would have been happy for her gryffindor friends, pitying Emma and Theo for the unexpected defeat... or she would have simply dreamed of how to make her house win the prize the following year. But she was too focused on a single thought: Without her mother, in an unknown country... Where was she going to spend the next summer vacation?