Semper

13

First year for the Marauders has ended. Everyone passed with flying colors, and it was no shock that Aurora, Lily and Remus had scored the top marks among their peers. James and Sirius, along with Diya were right there as well, but it was more due to them being naturally intelligent (as Sirius explains, Aurora called it bull) and not because they studied hard. And that would always be a point of annoyance for Aurora.

"But this doofus didn't even study! He just opened the book a night before the exam yet got an O! Why?" She groaned as she flopped down on her seat on the Hogwarts Express express, Remus sitting beside her as he patiently listened to her complaining about Sirius who – as usual – had started bragging about getting an O without studying, all the while Aurora had worked her arse off to get a similar – yet better – result.

"It will catch up to him soon Rory, don't worry." Peter said as he sat in front of her, offering her a sugar quill which she gladly accepted. Her rage and annoyance quelled down as the sugar hit her tongue, so she didn't make any remarks when Sirius entered the cabin with James in tow.

"And why were you two late? It's almost time for departure." She asked them, as she cocked an eyebrow at them, still eating the quill. Yet that sweet moment was ruined when James snatched the quill from her hand and ate it all up in two bites, all the while Aurora looked at her – now James' – quill.

Remus, Sirius and Peter looked at the duo, looking once at Aurora's betrayed/ shocked face, and the looking at James' victorious face.

"You–" That was all Aurora said, as she pounced on the taller boy, who went down with a yell. No other person in the room helped the two as Aurora started licking and tickling the Potter boy. They all knew he deserved it – no one comes in between Aurora and her sweets, muggle or not.

"Sorry! Sorry! Peacefire!" James shrieked yet Aurora continued.

"You ate my quill Potter! You're dead!" She said putting him in a chokehold, as James patted the ground as surrender. After a whole minute, Aurora released him as he scrambled back, both panting heavily.

"I hate you." Aurora said, breathing heavily as her eyes narrowed at him playfully.

"Right back at you Rora." James said as he smirked.

"Anything from the Trolley, dears?" The trolley last came in, as everyone looked at James.

"What?" He asked as Aurora rolled her eyes.

"This is your redemption Potter." She said, patting his head patronisingly as she started choosing what candies she wanted to take home, knowing that James was going to pay for it.

His fault for eating her sugar quill.

▪️

"Mother! Father!" Lily and Aurora Evans shrieked as they ran past the magical barrier and into their parents awaiting arms. From the cornor of her eyes, Aurora could see her sister behind her parents, hands crossed across her chest and a sulking expression on her face. Smirking slightly, sbe slowly got out from her father's hold and ran straight towards her unsuspecting elder sister.

"Tunia!" She shrieked as she pounced on her, as Petunia yelled, but managed to catch her younger sister before both of them could fall. Petunia tried to pry Aurora out from her tight hold, but it did nothing but increase the giggles of the younger girl and the amusement of the parents.

Jean slowly nudged Lily forward too as she looked back at her mum once, then slowly and reluctantly she too hugged Petunia. Lily hadn't forgotten the last words Petunia had said to her and Aurora. And she would never tell them to Aurora too, Lily might have lost her relationship with Petunia, but Aurora hasn't.