"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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August
1944
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It was early morning, the skies had opened and the room was filled with a warm ethereal radiance as Aurora sat by her mother's bedside. The manor's undulating hills and the chirping songbirds heralded another warm and cosy August day, just like the ones that had come before it and the ones that would soon follow before autumn enveloped the world with its brisk embrace.
"How is Tom enjoying his stay?" Isabel asked. Since Tom began his stay in the manor he'd only seen Isabel Archangel twice. The woman was far too ill and jaded to perform hospitalities - that was up to the Archangel siblings and the maidservants.
Aurora smiled. "He's enjoying it, mama. Thank you for allowing him to stay, again. I know I have thanked you many times but I am very appreciative. Cygnus really likes Tom," Aurora giggled. "He carries on making sly marriage jokes but of course, I can't expect a seven-year-old to understand the gravity of it."
Isabel sat up on her bed nestled amongst a confusion of cushions, slowly sipping a bowl of soup with a large, wooden spoon. "What does your other brother think of him?" she asked with a quirk of her dark brow.
"I don't know... Saiph doesn't really like anyone though. He's so judgemental for no reason and it really annoys me, ma. Tom hasn't done anything wrong to deserve Saiph's distrust."
"But Tom seems like a gentleman! What isn't there to like about him? He's a lovely young man."
Aurora gave a shrug. Since it bothered her a little, she tried not to think about Saiph's issue with Tom over the past few days, even though she was genuinely unaware of what it was. Her irritation increased as she gave it more attention, and she was eager to enjoy her summer without any unresolved grudges.
"He acts as if Tom is some torturous sadist," she muttered under her breath. A man couldn't get more perfect than Tom.
He was too perfect, even.
"Well," Isabel began contemplatively, "perhaps he just needs to grow on him? How about a trip into town? Then the two would bond a little."
"Town? It's a ghost-town, mama. Because of the muggle war. There'll be nothing to do..."
"Mr Towney's restaurant is still open."
"Is it really?"
"Yes. I'll give you some money for you and Tom both, how does that sound? It'll be nice to give him a tour of the town and he'll become familiar with our neighbours."
"It would be nice ... I think it'll be good for Tom to meet some new people. He's hardly had the best life in that orphanage and all."
Isabel nodded. "Hm - it's a shame indeed. He's such a lovely boy but he hasn't been dealt the best cards in life, has he?"
