𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀 | 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

✧ chapter 49 ✧

1977

The morning following the annual all nighter the seven were all tired, but happy. This year every single one of them had managed to stay awake until breakfast, even Peter. They knew they would really feel the sleep deprivation by lunchtime but they didn't regret it one bit.

In all the excitement from the night before, James and Lily momentarily seemed to forget their duties as Head Boy and Girl however. This became apparent when they were approached by two apprehensive first year Gryffindor's who were unsure how to get to their first class. McGonagall had handed out the student's lesson timetables a few minutes earlier and the seven hadn't even bothered looking at theirs yet. They knew they would be the same as last year's more or less and they were far too exhausted to coax their bleary eyes into reading.

"Excuse me, we were wondering if you could show us the way to our first classroom?" The bolder of the two first years asked, pointing towards the other end of the table where a small cluster of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff first years were watching apprehensively.

"Professor McGonagall told us to come to you with any questions we might have." The other piped up. James's head shot to where McGonagall was sitting at the staff table. Their eyes met and James's narrowed as he saw what he thought was a smirk.

"That crafty little-"

"Of course, we'll help you!" Lily cut James off before he could let out a long and rather impressive string of expletives aimed at their head of house.

James sent Lily a pleading look, doing his best puppy dog eyes. Lily just rolled her eyes in response and dragged him from his seat to help the first years.

'Help me!' James mouthed to the others as he was hauled from the hall.

Aurora, Marlene, Sirius and Peter gave him the finger in response while Remus just smirked. Aurora then turned her attention back to Meatball, who had been neglected lately. Aurora had left him with both her parents during the holidays but decided to bring him to Hogwarts for her final year as he was a gift from Mary and therefore it would be like a piece of her was coming with them all. Meatball had grown significantly and was now the size of a large gerbil. He spent most of his days perched on Aurora's shoulder or napping in the hood of her robes. Meatball was more similar to Mary than anyone had actually realised.

"So, it's charms first thing Monday morning again this year." Remus stated, finally glancing at his timetable.

"Could be worse," Sirius mused after Marlene let out a rather loud groan.

"Could be potions," Aurora added, spooning another mouthful of cereal into her mouth.

"I don't do potions you twits, I do Care of Magical Creatures with Peter and Mar-" She cut herself off, frowning, "with Peter." She corrected, pushing her scrambled eggs around her plate with a fork.

Sirius reached across the table and gently placed his hand on hers, silently reassuring her that mistakes like that were okay. She smiled back in response. Aurora eyed their hands suspiciously. She was under the impression that Sirius had ended things with Marlene. She then reminded herself that she was still technically with Remus. She had hardly spoken to him really since Mary died. The image of his hurt, betrayed face when she chose Sirius over him at the funeral flashed through her mind. She needed to end things with him soon but she wasn't sure how.

✧✧✧

During charms Aurora sat as far away from Remus as possible and focussed on everything Flitwick was saying, surprising everyone by actually taking notes. Remus tried a couple of times to get her attention to no avail.