"Jupiter was supposed to be a star, but failed..."
In 1943, Aurora just wanted to get through her fifth year without being noticed. That was, until, she attracted the attention and inevitable obsession of an older, enigmatic student called Tom. In t...
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December 1943
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On an unremarkable Friday afternoon, Aurora sat at the back of her divination class, her chin in the palm of her hand, bored out of her mind as she watched the gentle snowfall on the other side of the window. Professor Trelawney chattered on about exams and assignments, but her words were drowned out as Aurora's mind ventured elsewhere, thinking about the snow and about the Winter Ball a week prior. The Christmas break was looming ahead, and Aurora was unsure whether she'd remain in the castle with her friends or go back home to London to celebrate with her brother, or return to her mother in Edinburgh.
In the midst of her silent reverie, someone placed a gentle a hand on Aurora's shoulder, snapping her back to the boring reality of the divination classroom. She glanced rightward where she met the warm, brown eyes of Edmund Carrington watching her intently. Rather too intensely, Aurora thought.
"You need to pay attention to this," he whispered. "It's important."
Since they kissed beneath the fireworks after the ball, rumours began to circulate that Aurora and Edmund were courting, much to Edmund's excitement and Aurora's distaste. She didn't have the heart to tell Edmund she was unsure about her feelings for him.
So she did the worst thing she could have possibly done; she numbly went along with it.
"Thank you," she said, feigning a sweet, sheepish smile that only made her feel disgusted with herself. What am I doing? Aurora thought. She'd been unpopular before but now, due to her association with Edmund, everyone knew who Aurora Archangel was. Aurora couldn't withstand the amount of attention she garnered in such a short space of time. It didn't feel right at all.
The only thing that really mattered to Aurora was her O.W.L's. She didn't want to deal with the societal pressures of courting and romance.
It had never interested her before, and it certainly did not interest her now.
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At the end of her divination class, Aurora bade a hasty farewell to Edmund and quickly headed to the library to return the books she'd borrowed for her studies that term. The librarian, Madam Grey, was situated on the ground floor nearby the Restricted Section in a large, oak desk ridden with tottering piles of books and inkpots.
"I must return these," Aurora said.
The librarian nodded without bothering to meet Aurora's gaze above the desk. "Name?" she drawled, her voice bored and monotonous.
