⬫◊ Aurora Black - chapter 18: Good memories ◊⬫

Instructions

⬫◊ Chapter 18: Good Memories ◊⬫ Aurora was lying face down on the soft violet sheet that covered her small but comfortable mattress. With her elbows on her pillow, her head rested on one of her delicate hands as she slowly turned the pages of the old album she now owned. An extremely unusual view of the usually formal and disciplined Black... even more so when appreciating the casual updo from which some of her characteristic brown curls escaped, free of it. The smiling, surprised, scared or even angry faces that those photos showed her were simply hypnotizing. She could spend hours contemplating each one of them… each expression she would never be able to see on her parents' faces… each moment they would never be able to share in the warmth of a crackling fireplace. Because, no matter how cold, distant or indifferent Aurora could appear to the world, she also felt that sharp needle in her heart, the pain, perhaps deeper than anyone else, when she remembered those she had once loved. As soon as she heard the sound of her door handle, she wiped away the only tear she had not known how to hold back and she sat with her back leaning against the wall. “I'm awake, you can come in” she said, raising her voice slightly so that it could be heard in the hallway. Remus opened the door slowly while letting out a loud yawn. It was obvious that he was tired, as usual, although that didn't stop him from having a positive attitude and smiling pleasantly every morning. “A little late, right? Breakfast is already-” he began to say until his eyes fell on the book that was still open next to the girl. “Looking at the photos again, huh?” Aurora looked at him for a few seconds before gently nodding her head. Lupin let out a soft sigh and settled down next to her in an understanding, almost parental attitude. He glanced at the page it was open to and pointed to one of the photos, in which two young people were holding hands under one of the tall trees that surrounded the immense grounds of Hogwarts. “I took that one” he smiled to the surprise of Aurora, whose eyes were wide open, perplexed by the attitude of her godfather. In the end, it was going to be true that he would keep that deal… “It's the first time we saw your parents together… they hid it from us for weeks” he said with a chuckle. A small smile appeared on Aurora's lips. "Really?" she asked with a hint of hope in her voice, thinking that Remus would, perhaps, decide to speak. "Yeah! Although it was largely our fault for teasing them all term… that was too many pranks even for James,” Remus laughed, lost in memories of him. “And speaking of jokes…” Thus they spent much of the morning, going through different episodes in the life of that curious gang nicknamed 'the marauders'. When they finally decided to have breakfast, the sun rose high in the sky, almost as radiant as the smiles of both sorcerers. “Oh, by the way, several letters arrived this morning,” Remus said, pointing to the table where Midnight usually left the mail. Aurora rushed to pick them up with such vigour that she almost tripped over one of the chairs. As expected, one was from Theo, which she saved for later, and she continued reading the others. Emma's, Harry’s, Hermione’s, Hogwarts’ letter... “Remus, can we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow, pretty please?” the girl asked with bright eyes. “I need new books, and a quill, and parchment… and Lyra says she'll be there! I haven't seen her all summer, and Gabriel-” “Of course,” he replied with a chuckle, cutting off Aurora's rambling before she could keep going further. “Besides, it was time to go back to the Weasleys’, anyway.” "Again? But there is only one week left until we go back to school!” Remus sighed. “I know, Aurora, I know. I won't be able to accompany you to the train…” “Oh… okay” She looked down, disappointed, and only looked up when she felt her godfather's hand rest on her shoulder. “You know I would love to go,” she said with a sad smile, “I promise next year I will do my best to go with you” She nodded slowly. As much as she was eternally grateful to have a home again, every time he left it was like being alone again, going back to the orphanage... it was something she could never get over. She reluctantly finished her orange juice and headed to her room again, intending to relax by playing a few songs on her guitar before answering her friends. On the bright side, at least she would be able to see them soon.