Semper

17

Aurora was pissed. To say that what Lily said to her hurt, would have been an understatement. And she didn't even have the courtesy of saying it in private, no. She had to shout out her hatred towards her own twin sister and her friends in front of the whole world. Safe to say Aurora avoided Lily like Dragon Pox.

That fight was two days ago, and the Marauders were getting ready to sneak out for the full moon going to occur in less than four hours. Remus was on his bed, a thin layer of sweat shining on his forehead as he felt pain throbbing in his mind. This is what none of the five liked, the waiting.

Suddenly Aurora jumped up, cracking her back as the boys looked at her. "I'm going to the kitchens to get some mini chocolate tarts, anyone want?" She said as she looked at the four boys.

As expected Peter readily nodded, while James looked at Sirius and Remus. Remus shook his head no, which wasn't a surprise. The self loathing Remus has for himself just increases tenfold during the full moon days, and thus he punished himself with instances like these.

Sirius would usually accompany Aurora wherever she went, but for some reason he never ventured down to the kitchens if he had a choice. Said it reminded him of the house elves back at Grimmauld place. When she tried to make him explain, he shut off. Topics like the Black household, his Brother Regulus was a touchy subject for him.

James – being the mama bear – having assured nods from Remus and Sirius looked at Aurora. " None for us." He said as she nodded.

"If I'm late, don't wait up." She called out as she went out, the other occupants of the floor not giving her much of a glance. Everyone knew that the boys' dormitory had a fifth occupant by the name of Aurora Evans. Even the prefects got to know it later on once they got pranked when they tried to remove her. And now, well she is the prefect alongside Remus.

To be fair, she had lied to the boys a bit. More so like telling half-truth, because as she went down the stairs and into the common room, instead of turning towards the gate for going out, she turned and went up to her own dormitory- one she hasn't been in since her fight with Lily.

Inside she saw Alice and Marlene chatting silently as she slowly entered. Both the girls turned to look at the source of the noise as they stood up in shock.

"Rory!" Both the girls screamed as they ran and embraced her.

"Where were you?" Marlene said but then shook her head, "Scratch that , I know where you were, but why did you not come back?" She said as Alice nodded rapidly.

"Sorry guys, but you know what happened?" Aurora said as a cold look flashed across her eyes yet again as the other girls exchanged a worried glance.

"It doesn't matter that she screamed at James or my boys or even at me. It's more about what she said that hurt me." Aurora said, glaring at the wall behind the girls angrily, willing the tears slowly welling up to subside. She didn't know that Lily and Diya had silently entered the room. "Lily has known about my struggles – well as much as I've told her about, and yet she used it against me. Comparing me with those who have tormented not only but her as well since we came to Hogwarts. It's that and so many other things, like how she believed Snape over me, her own twin, her own flesh and blood. It hurts when she reduced me to the second choice, and even now doesn't realise her mistakes and only apologizes for screaming at me. Well, I don't need her apologies. Families never say sorry, they shouldn't have to. Families have trust, but because of these circumstances-" Aurora scoffed, giving the girls infront of her a shaky smile as she shook her head, "- I don't know if there ever would be solid trust between us ever again." She said as arms wrapped around her from behind as she let out a gasp of shock.

The fiery red locks of her sister came into her view as she saw Diya and Lily come up from behind her. "How much did you listen?" She whispered, her arms instinctively wrapped around Lily's form as she guided her infront of her. The twins sat down gingerly on the nearest bed as Alice and Diya sat in front of them on another bed and Marlene made herself comfortable on the beanbag.

"Enough." Diya replied, giving the elder twin a soft smile as she nodded.

"I'm sorry, I should have trusted me before. I'm sorry!" Lily cried, suddenly remembering what Petunia had told her long before the twins had started Hogwarts.

You become rude and mean and yet, Aurora still forgives you. She always does.

With those words ringing in her head Lily shook her head, coming out of Aurora's embrace, "No, you need to be mad. Why aren't you bloody mad? I practically called you one of .....one of them and yet you do nothing but accept my apology!"

All anger had vanished from Aurora's eyes as she looked at her sister with amusement in her eyes, "Well, what do you want me to do?" She asked.

Many would say that Aurora shouldn't have accepted Lily's apology so easily, but as an empath she could clearly see that Lily meant it, and that was all she needed.

"I don't know! Anything! Ask me to do something, anything , something dramatic! I don't want you to forgive me so easily!" Lily rushed out as Aurora felt the panic rise steadily within Lily. Alarmed, she looked at the other girls for guidance.

"Lils, what are you talking about? Aurora forgave you, its okay." Diya soothingly muttered as she came beside Lily.

"No no, Petunia told me , she told me this always happens!" Lily blubbered as Aurora's brows furrowed.

"What did Petunia say Lil?" She asked as the rest of the girls looked on in confusion, because Lily and Aurora rarely ever talked about their elder sister.

Lily stilled for a moment, thinking it through. She didn't want Aurora's relationship with Petunia to be spoilt just because of her. But with a stern glare from Aurora she sighed but gave in, "It was before first year, when we had that fight over Sev-Snape." Lily corrected herself, a bitterness filled inside her on thinking of her ex-bestfriend.

"I remember, what about it?" Aurora asked back as she saw Lily visibly hesitating, "Lils, you can tell me anything." She assured as Lily nodded.

"She said that its because of me you're always hurt. I don't know what I saw most of the times and it hurts you, yet you forgive me. Even when I don't deserve it." Aurora sucked in a sharp breath but Lily continued "And I agree with her." She whispered as Aurora looked shocked.

"Lily. Lily it's not your fault whenever I'm sad! Yes, we sometimes have our fights, but that doesn't mean I blame you whenever anything goes wrong in my life! Petunia was wrong to say this, and even more so when we were mere eleven years old!" Aurora ranted as she stood up, now more upset about Petunia.

But then she suddenly remembered what she came to do here in the first place. "I'll talk to Petunia as soon as we go home, but don't think more about this topic okay Lily? Its utter bull, and I've never blamed you for anything. Well other than the time you ate my sugar quill, but that you did do so...." She cheekily said as Lily smiled slightly, her eyes still bloodshot and tear stains on her cheek. But her crying had stopped, for which all the girls were glad.

"But - " Aurora interrupted as all four girls looked at her "- there is one thing you can do for me to forgive you, if that's what you want." She said mischievously smiling as Lily got nervous but nodded. "Anything." She said as Aurora's smile widened.

"Give Prongs a chance." She said as Lily choked on air as Alice laughed.

"Take it or leave it." Aurora said as she went out of the room, but not before seeing Lily's red face and Marlene's hooting.

She took off for a run, knowing she was running late. It was nearing eleven and the boys usually reach the Shack by ten. Talking seriously takes up time she thought as she quickly looked around her surroundings, going into a bathroom and turning into her animagus form of an owl, she flew up to meet her boys.