𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀 | 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

✧ chapter 11 ✧

­­­1976

Aurora crept quietly up the staircase to her dorm and opened the door as quietly as possible, shutting it with just as much caution once she was inside. She leant up against the old wood and let out a sigh, relieved to finally be able to sleep and allow her brain to process what had happened. Before she could make her next move, however, she was blinded by three wand tips lighting up and shining directly in her eyes.

"Someone was out late." Marlene remarked, and Aurora could just hear the smirk in her voice.

"Before any of you get any ideas, I was smoking in the astronomy tower, alone." Aurora stated, emphasizing the word 'alone' to really get her point across. She wasn't sure why she lied about being with Sirius, it wasn't like anything suspicious was going on. She just instinctively felt that he wouldn't want lots of people knowing about the conversation he had with his brother. Aurora herself had many questions regarding what she had heard, but felt it would be tactless to ask under the current circumstances.

"Ugh I do wish you would quit that." Lily groaned, flicking her wand to deluminate the tip and flopping back down onto her bed.

"I've been smoking since I was fourteen Lils and I'm fine. Besides, it relaxes me." Aurora retorted, which was met with nods and murmurs of approval by Marlene and Mary.

"Yes, but surely inhaling all that smoke and the chemicals inside can't be good for your respiratory system. Not to mention it stinks, and it is against school rules for students to smoke, especially muggle cigarettes. If a teacher catches you with a pack of Marlboro's you're done for." Lily pushed in a feeble attempt to convince her friends to quit.

"You're not going to turn me in, are you Lils?" Aurora teased, batting her eyelashes at her friend.

"You better watch it Faulkner, Miss Evans is a shoo in for Head Girl next year, then what are you gonna do? No more smoking in the bathrooms for you." Marlene teased, poking her friend in the ribs.

"Oh come off it, Marls, you smoke like a chimney." Aurora shot back, swatting away Marlene's perfectly manicured hands.

"Yeah, but I'm better looking. A bat of my eyelashes and she'll let me off for sure."

"Can you please stop talking about me like I'm not here?" Lily piped up, exasperated by her friends and ready to go to sleep.

"Alright, Captain Cranky." Aurora muttered under her breath, changing into her pyjamas and getting into bed.

"I heard that." Lily remarked, not bothering to roll over and face the now giggling forms of Aurora and Marlene.

  ✧ ✧ ✧   

The next morning Sirius was woken up by a very eager James, already dressed in his Quidditch robes.

"Morning Padfoot!" James beamed, ripping open the curtains around his bed and allowing the room to be filled with sunlight. This was not appreciated by the other three occupants of the room.

"What time is it?" groaned Remus, rolling over to check the clock on his bedside table.

"Six o'clock sharp!" James exclaimed enthusiastically, earning another groan from Remus, who buried his head under his pillow in an attempt to go back to sleep.

"Bloody hell Prongs, shove off and let me be." Sirius mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Sorry, no can do my guy, we've got Quidditch today, which means I want you up, dressed, fed and warming up in half an hour. I've booked the pitch for a last-minute practise this morning." James beamed, not taking the hint that all his friends did not wish to be conscious for at least three more hours. It was a Saturday after all.