contrite
/kənˈtrʌɪt,ˈkɒntrʌɪt/
feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.
Aurora had let Theodore in. He was now standing awkwardly in the room while Aurora went to sit on the edge of Draco's bed. Theodore his head hung low and he didn't know where to start. "I'm sorry, Aurora," He took a step closer to the bed.
Aurora stayed silent, barely acknowledging him. She was upset with him because of what he did, she was hurt because of it. Aurora had started to think that she had really done something wrong. At least the voices in her were blaming her, they were always blaming her. The guilt eating her alive.
Maybe there was no reason for her to be mad. The letter was as much Theodore's as it was hers. Maybe Aurora wasn't so upset with him if he had just asked her. A few simple words, 'Aurora may I burn this letter?'. She would've said yes if that would help him cope and would give him closure. If only he had just talked to her.
Theodore had just walked away after she had brought the bad news. He walked away without even once thinking about Aurora. She had a suspicion about how he would react, but she never would have thought that he would just walk away. Theodore could've yelled at her, he could've started crying, he could've just blankly stared at her. He didn't do any of that, and that was okay he could just come back later so he and Aurora would've gone through this pain together.
Aurora had waited and waited, hoping he would come back. But he chose to burn the stupid letter with his stupid girlfriend. The worst thing was that Aurora felt like he had chosen Daphne above her. Her brother with one of her best friends and they both couldn't be bothered to even ask Aurora if she was okay, how pathetic.
Aurora was willing to forgive him but she knew that she would not be able to ever about forget this. "Why didn't you just ask me, Theodore?" She whispered, eyes still looking at the ground. Theodore got down on his knees so that he was at the same height as Aurora, "I don't know, Aurora. I wasn't thinking,".
He waited for her to respond but she didn't. Theodore could not see her eyes but the tears rolling over her cheeks were saying enough. He actually was a bit scared that she wouldn't forgive him. He had been an awfully bad brother, what was he thinking– burning the last letter they got from their father without even asking Aurora if she was okay with it?
Theodore realized that he had brought this on himself. He realized that he should've talked to her instead of walking away. Tears started to run down his cheeks now too. Filled up with remorse he started to talk about moments he and Aurora had spent together.
Like that time they went to the lake and fed the ducks or that time he let Aurora sleep in his bed when she thought that there were monsters under hers. Or when he decided that 'bug' would be a great pet name for her. He called her like that because when they were playing outside he had seen how her eyes lighted up when a ladybug landed on her hand.
Tears dripped down his chin as he pleaded for her to forgive him. This made Aurora look up, her eyes locking with Theodore's. He begged for forgiveness. He cried, saying, "I know that what I did is wrong but please, please Aurora, forgive me, bug,"
How could Aurora say no, not when he was literally begging her for forgiveness? She got off the bed and for a moment Theodore thought she was going to walk out and leave him behind– just like he had done to her. But she didn't, she slowly went to sit on the ground, next to him. Her hair was for her eyes but he could hear the sobs leaving her mouth. And he was so, so sorry.
After a little while, she lifted up her hand and grabbed Theodore's, "I forgive you".
He heard three words. Three words and he cried harder. Three words that rocked her and created emotions he couldn't even explain. They changed the balance astronomically. Three words, which, to him, changed everything. He heard them, echoing in his mind, and he held onto them.
Theodore his hands were now going around Aurora's fragile body, hugging her like he hadn't seen her for over a million years. "You don't know how much that means to me, thank you. Thank you, bug," He mumbled into her neck.
He told her that he would help her. He would help her along with Draco and Pansy. He told her that she was strong– strong enough to stop the self-harming and strong enough to shut out the voices. She could do this, with a little help here and there, but she was indeed, strong enough.
They had talked, and talked, and talked until they had both made promises. Whenever this would happen again, they wouldn't abandon each other.
When they had walked out of Draco's dorm, into the common room. Pansy, Blaise, Daphne, and of course, Draco were sitting on the couch. They looked up at Theodore and Aurora waiting for them to say something. "We're good," Theodore smiled, making everyone smile. Aurora was happy that everyone was friends again, at least almost everyone. She still hadn't forgiven Daphne, it wasn't like Daphne had asked for it though. However, she did forgive Theodore and Mattheo.
She forgave Mattheo but she would not forget what he did, because even though they weren't in a relationship, it was a spiteful thing to do. He could've told her that she was not exactly what he wanted. That he needed more than her. Aurora felt betrayed. She had finally allowed herself to become friends with someone new and to trust him.
Trusting someone is maybe not a big deal for everyone but it was a big deal for her. She always had a feeling he would do this, but he told her no so she was naive and believed him. Aurora had tried to give him everything he wanted but like always, it wasn't enough. She did not love him but she did like him and she had opened up to him. That was why it hurt so much– she had trusted him and once again her trust was violated.
Aurora's heart is damaged, but nonetheless optimistic. But that's the problem, she sees the best in people, and as result, she gets hurt. Like with Theodore, she had thought that he would stay but he didn't, she wanted to see the best in him which led to her getting hurt.
It's hard for her to open up, but once she does, she can't stop. The people don't mind, stepping all over her, so she builds yet another wall around her. Now opening up becomes even harder, but she knows that she has to try. She has to try to let her walls break off and to let her guard down because she cannot live with all the hurt building up inside her.
Aurora went to sit in between Draco and Pansy. Draco's hands came to lay on her thigh, giving it a little squeeze. He knew how hard this was for her, she and Theo hardly ever argued. "I missed you," Aurora laid her head on his shoulder. "I missed you too, love,"
