𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀 | 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

✧ chapter 13 ✧

1976

"Potter! I need to have words with you." Aurora announced as she entered the Great Hall, not even waiting until she was sat at the table. Her dramatic entrance garnered some attention from the other students scattered arbitrarily throughout the hall.

"I'm not in the mood, Faulkner." James responded, not even looking up from his porridge.

"I don't care what mood you're in to be quite honest. What in Merlin's name possessed you to say such horrible things to Lily-"

"I don't want to hear it, Faulkner." James cut Aurora off, thumping his balled up fists down on the table, practically spitting her name.

The sudden outburst caught Aurora off guard momentarily, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Once again, I don't care what you want. How dare you say that to anyone let alone Lily. What's this all about, James?"

"I messed up, I know. I just got so angry. I can't keep this up any longer. I can't keep chasing her. She has made it abundantly clear that she is not, nor will she ever be interested in dating me, so this is my official declaration. I, James Potter, hereby surrender. I am throwing in the towel. Finito. I am done with Lily Evans." James then silently stood from the table, not making eye contact with anyone. "Be on the Quidditch pitch in half an hour." Were his parting words as he exited the Great Hall, his voice cracking halfway through the sentence.

On his way out, James accidentally bumped into Sirius, not even stopping to apologise. Sirius let out a low whistle as he sauntered over to where Aurora sat, flanked by Remus and Peter.

"Wow, he is really cut up about us locking him out." Sirius stated, sitting opposite Aurora.

Aurora simply let out a long groan and slammed her head onto the table in front of her.

"Was it something I said?" Sirius joked, earning a chuckle from the boys sat beside him.

"What a mess." Aurora muttered to herself, still not bringing her head up off the table.

"What's happened now?" Remus asked in his kindest voice. He always had been the best at deciphering girl's moods and knew exactly what to say to extract information without earning a slap or violent outburst of some kind.

"Where do I begin?" Aurora groaned, finally lifting her head to face the boys sat opposite her.

"Well, the beginning is usually a good start." Sirius jested, earning a warning look from Remus as he saw the death glare Aurora was shooting him.

Sirius hadn't noticed Aurora's glare and was still laughing with Peter. Aurora narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists even tighter out of frustration, her nostrils flaring slightly.

"Boys are impossible!" she finally snapped, thumping her fists on the table in front of her similarly to how James had earlier. The force with which her fists met the table was enough to startle Sirius out of his trance and disturb the goblet of pumpkin juice in front of her. The silver cup spun around a couple of times, teetering a little before it settled, still upright. The three boys all breathed a sigh of relief, which was short lived as Aurora stood up so quickly that the goblet was sent flying in the direction of Remus, who quickly deflected it with a simple shield charm. Unfortunately, this sent it ricocheting in Peter's direction, who unluckily for him didn't have Remus' superb reflexes. The goblet connected with his temple, the impact mixed with shock knocking him off his stool. Aurora didn't even look back at the mess she made as she followed in James footsteps and stormed out of the Great Hall.