𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀 | 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

✧ chapter 24 ✧

1976

After the boys over dramatic scene in the common room Aurora headed towards the portrait hole. James, Sirius and Remus said they would catch up with her as they had some last-minute preparations. Aurora figured this was all to do with their long overdue back to school prank and decided it would be best if she got a proper head start on the boys so by the time they arrived she would be feeling the effects of the spiked punch.

As usual, the ball was being held outside in the school grounds. This meant that the banks of the Black Lake would be transformed into a seasonal wonderland. There would be a polished dancefloor conjured somewhere and everything would be lit up with traditional ritualistic lanterns. The All Hallows Eve Ball was much less a celebration of the commercialised Halloween holiday and much more a celebration of witchcraft and wizardry's origins and century old practices. That's why it was not a costume ball and all attendees were required to wear their best traditional dress robes. This meant that decorations were always handmade by the house elves to represent traditional pagan magic utensils and practices. All materials were sourced naturally from the Forbidden Forest and all the decorations had an organic feel to them. Traditional altars were set up at the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western points of the grounds and the lanterns were charmed to float around accompanied by decorative fog. There were canopies made of tree branches and vines which were surrounded by fireflies to look like muggle fairy lights. There was also always a layer of fog and lanterns floating over the Black Lake, illuminating the shadowy depths below. When Aurora first saw it at her first ball, just like all the muggleborns before her, she was speechless. Even after six years however, the ethereal beauty of it all still managed to stun her.

When Aurora finally reached the steps leading down towards the section of the grounds where the ball was she groaned. She was one of the final people to arrive and she was alone, this meant her descent down the steps and grand entrance to the ball would be such an overdone cliché.

'Not on my watch.' She thought, perching on the banister and sliding all the way down. Once she reached the bottom, she not so gracefully slipped off the end, almost taking out an unknown fourth year student.

"Typical." Lily smirked, laughing along with Mary, Marlene, Peter and their dates at Aurora's entrance.

"You didn't happen to see the rest of the Marauders?" Peter asked anxiously, checking behind Aurora to see if they were close behind.

"As a matter of fact, I did. They were finishing some plotting of the evil variety I assume and said they'd be right down." Aurora replied, seeing relief wash over Peter. It was then that Aurora noticed Peter's outlandish garb as well. The final Marauder was dressed in the same glittering sequined fabric as the other three, his a powder blue. At least he had tried to coordinate with Mary.

"Would you mind if I go meet up with the lads Mary? I promise it won't take long and then I'll dance with you if you like?" Peter asked sheepishly, obviously feeling guilty at having to ditch his date so early in the evening.

"Of course, Pete! I'll catch up with you later." Mary beamed, waving as Peter scurried up the stairs to go find the boys.

"You lot better not be planning anything that'll lose us hundreds of house points!" Lily yelled after Peter as his form quickly grew smaller.

"You'll just make them back for us anyway!" Peter yelled back, grinning mischievously before disappearing at the top of the stairs.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Lily groaned.

"Lighten up, Lils! Judging by their outfits I think the boys will be putting on quite a show." Aurora comforted, smiling at the thought of the Marauders doing a song and dance number of some sort. With those four boys, the possibilities were endless.