Tidal Wave [george weasley post war]

Prologue

"Gin..." The brunette woman began with a sigh.

Thin fingers with tips painted black gripped tightly onto the steaming mug of coffee sitting in front of her. At twenty years old, Aurora Sinclair has seen it all, even as the youngest of two children born to Michael and Adeline Sinclair of Ottery St Catchpole in Devon, England. Nibbling on her lower lip, Aurora let her blue eyes land on the ginger woman sitting besides her at the quaint, quiet coffee shop located on the outskirts of Muggle London. She knew her friend, her only friend really, would not let her leave without agreeing to come to the Burrow for Christmas dinner. "You know I'm not too great with crowds..." Aurora let out a soft giggle as she took a small sip of the scalding liquid before her.

"And let's face it," She wiggled one of her thick, dark eyebrows before smiling again. "Your family is most definitely considered a crowd! And I mean that most endearingly..." She finished, licking her lower lip and setting the mug down on the oak table between them.

"Rory!" Ginny exclaimed, almost out of frustration for her stubborn friend. "You said so yourself that your parents have not been staying home for the holidays and nobody should be alone, especially at Christmas!" The ginger ran her fingertips through the ends of her hair before flipping it behind her shoulders.

Aurora sighed again. She seemed to be doing a lot of that recently. No matter how many days, weeks, months and eventually years would pass, Aurora's parents could not handle the loss of her older brother, Michael. He would have turned twenty-four this Christmas but like so many others, he died on May 2, 1998. The Battle of Hogwarts. The day that would forever live on in infamy as the day Harry Potter finally killed Voldemort.

But to so many families like the Sinclairs and the Weasleys, it was a day that brought a horrible ache which festered deep within the confines of their chests.

"Uh – well, yes. Fine. You're right, Gin." Aurora smiled softly and absentmindedly rubbed her thumb against the rim of her mug. Her deep red lipstick smudged off against the white ceramic every time she brought the mug to her lips for a sip. Her deep brown hair was tied back in two thick plaits that reached down to the middle of her back.

Ginny smiled widely as her hands clasped together. "Perfect! So you'll come, then? Mum will be so happy. Every single time we speak she brings you up because she says she misses her second daughter!" Ginny giggled and rolled her eyes at the thought of her Mum complaining about how Aurora never comes to visit.

"Yes... Yes I'll come! Happy?" Aurora finished the coffee, setting the now empty mug down and dabbed the corners of her mouth with the napkin. "Now I must be going because Merlin forbid I'm late for work. The Friday before Christmas no less!"

 

Aurora and Ginny both stood up and wrapped their arms around the other. "I've missed you. I know we're both busy adults now, but I would truly like to see you more. No excuses either, miss!" Ginny wagged her pointer finger at Aurora before buttoning up her black winter coat. Aurora smiled and slid her own coat over her shoulders before fastening the buttons. "Yes, Gin, I won't be a stranger. I promise!" Both women left the coffee shop and walked their separate ways. Aurora deeper into Muggle London, and Ginny further away so she could find a safe alley to apparate back home from.

 

After the Battle of Hogwarts, Aurora finished her studies alongside her best friend Ginevra Weasley. Her family home remained standing in Ottery St Catchpole and was only full of life every so often when she went to clean and water the plants her Mother was "trying" to bring to life. Aurora was a muggle-born witch, and although she was proud of her heritage she found herself become distanced from the wizarding world. After leaving Hogwarts, she rented herself a flat in the heart of London and soon after found herself attending university to study art.