The boy who loved

Chapter 6.18 (A Sluggish memory)

"Promise me you'll look after yourself...stay out of trouble..."

"I always do, dad," said Aurora, hugging Remus. "I like a quiet life, you know me."

Remus and Sirius chuckled.

Aurora stepped into the emerald flames of the Floo Network at Grimmauld Place and shouted, "Hogwarts!" She had one last fleeting view of her sitting room and Remus' and Sirius' concerned faces before the flames engulfed her.

She ended up in Professor McGonagall's office, who barely glanced up from her work as Aurora clambered out over the grate.

"Evening, Black. Try not to get too much ash on the carpet."

"No, Professor," as Aurora brushed the ash out of her hair, Harry came spinning into view. After him came Caspian, then Elizabeth, then Jace and the Weasleys must have decided to send Ron and Ginny at the same time because they arrived a few seconds later.

All seven of them trooped out of McGonagall's office and off towards Gryffindor Tower. "Baubles," said Ron confidently, when they reached the Fat Lady, who was looking rather paler than usual, and winced at his loud voice.

"No," she said.

"What d'you mean, 'no'?"

"There is a new password," she said. "And please don't shout."

"But we've been away, how're we supposed to-?"

"Ara!" Hermione was hurrying towards them, very pink-faced and wearing a cloak, hat and gloves. "I got back a couple of hours ago, I've just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck- I mean Witherwings," she said breathlessly. "Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Sirius got us a dog." Said Aurora simply.

"He got you a dog?" repeated Hermione. "What does Nox think?"

"He's afraid of Nox," shrugged Aurora. "So what's the new password?"

"Oh, right, abstinence,"

"Precisely," said the Fat Lady in a feeble voice, and swung forwards to reveal the portrait hole.

"What's up with her?" asked Caspian.

"Hangover," shrugged Aurora, "she always drinks far too much at Christmas. Her friend Violet is a really bad influence." Caspian fell down on the couch in front of the fire and Aurora sat down beside him, with her back against the armrest and her legs slung carelessly over his.

"Oh, Harry, by the way I've got something for you," Hermione rummaged in her pocket for a moment, then pulled out a scroll of parchment with Dumbledore's writing on it.

"Great," said Harry, unrolling it at once. "He asks for you to come with me this time, Ara," said Harry as his eyes skimmed over the words. "It's tomorrow night. Good because I've got loads to tell him - and you, Hermione. Let's sit down-"

But at that moment there was a loud squeal of 'Won-Won!' making Aurora jump and Lavender Brown came hurtling out of nowhere, flinging herself into Ron's arms.

Several onlookers sniggered. Hermione gave a tinkling laugh and said, "There's a table over there...coming, Ginny?"

"No, thanks, I said I'd meet Dean," said Ginny, though Aurora could not help noticing that she did not sound very enthusiastic.

Harry led Hermione away to a table, leaving Ron and Lavender locked in their embrace with Elizabeth throwing pieces of rolled paper at their heads.

"I have always known Gryffindors were quite hormonal type people," said Caspian, looking at Ron and Lavender with fascination. "I just had no idea it could look that-"