Stars and Ground

✩CHAPTER 1✩

Aurora Cresswell had just received her letter to Hogwarts. She already knew it was coming, of course. Regardless, she was beyond elated that she was finally going to be able to perform magic and whatnot. Who wouldn't be? She already knew quite a few spells, as she grew up in a pureblood household, where her parents expected her to keep herself educated. She read her letter again. 

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Dear Ms. Aurora Cresswell,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

Please find the enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment. 

Term begins September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress 

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Aurora read the supplies she was allowed and squealed when she found she was allowed a pet. She'd always wanted one, but she was never allowed one. She was eager to go down to Diagon Alley to get her supplies. There was only one problem; there was no way that she would be able to get a pet if her mother accompanied her. She would have to convince her mother to let her go by herself somehow. 

She ran downstairs, "Mother?" She ran to multiple rooms, trying to find her mother. 

"In the kitchen, Aurora." Aurora quickly followed her mother's voice and found her sitting at the table. "I was wondering if I could go to Diagon Alley by myself..." Her mother let out an exasperated sigh. "I have some business to attend to. I will accompany you there. However, you may shop by yourself."

"Can we go now?" Aurora begged, jumping up and down.

"Manners," Her father reminded, sourly. They were always trying to get Aurora to be the perfect lady or whatever. "Sorry, Father." She straightened herself up and tried to appear more patient. "I am busy now. We will go tomorrow," her mother decided. Aurora sadly nodded and went up to her room. She knew there would be no point in arguing. When her mother made up her mind, there was no changing it. Today would be a long day.

***

Aurora woke up early the next day and quickly got dressed. She couldn't wait to start her shopping. She was surprised that her mother had actually let her shop all by herself. She was always so concerned with letting her daughter alone in public; she didn't want her 'getting in the wrong company.' 

Aurora joined her family downstairs for breakfast but realized that they had already eaten without her. This was normal for her. Her father always reprimanded her for her lack of punctuality. Eventually, her parents stopped trying to get her to wake up on time. They told her that it would be completely up to her to show up on time and that they would not wait for her anymore. She asked Kristy, the house-elf, to fix her up some breakfast politely. She always was polite to the house-elves when her parents weren't around. They didn't believe in being nice to house-elves. She gulped down her breakfast and lazed around until it was time to go.

"Come. We should be on our way. Orion and you shall do your shopping together." Aurora groaned quietly. She was hoping to be able to get her stuff without her twin brother. Orion glided down the stairs like the gentleman he is. He upheld his posture too. Mother was always so proud of him. He made being an upper-class aristocrat seem so easy. That wasn't so easy for Aurora. She had to put all of her attention into how she stepped her steps if she wanted to appear sophisticated like her family. They took the Floo Network to get to Diagon Alley. Just before they entered, their mother stopped Aurora. "Posture." 

"Yes ma'am." Her mother nodded and they entered Diagon Alley. People watched them pass through. They always did. Reporters and newspaper people crowded by, taking what pictures they could. The Cresswell family was very prestigious. They were well known as well. People were always interested in them; they were a very secretive family. Little was known what happened in the walls of the Cresswell Manor. 

Aurora's mother firmly gave her a look that said, 'don't screw up.' It was a whole lot of pressure. When they were out, Aurora couldn't make any mistakes. Every step she took had to be precise. Every expression she wore was studied. One wrong step could mean bad news for their family. Orion was a natural at this. He could act sophisticated in his sleep. Unfortunately, that was not the case for Aurora.

True to her word, her mother split ways with her children. Aurora and Orion went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions first. The store wasn't crowded today. Other than Aurora and Orion, there was only Madam Malkin and another boy that looked their age. Madam Malkin fitted Orion first. It didn't take too long. Aurora got distracted. Her eyes wandered to the boy. He had shoulder-length black hair and grey eyes. He noticed her too and stared back. Then, he did something no one else did. He smiled at her. Aurora was about to smile back, but her brother looked at her. She sighed. She still had an appearance to put on. Madam Malkin was done with Orion and moved on to Aurora. She took Aurora's measurements, and soon enough, Aurora and Orion had their robes. Orion politely thanked Madam Malkin in a monotone and guided his sister to the door. As they were leaving, Aurora stole one more glance at the boy. She wondered if she'd meet him at Hogwarts.

The next destination was Flourish and Blotts, a bookstore. Orion paid an employee to get their books for them. Aurora wanted to smack her brother and tell him that they could do it themselves, but she knew better than that. The man returned with their books and handed them to the children. Aurora almost slipped up and thanked him, but she caught her tongue. She didn't want her brother blabbing to her parents. "Could we get some extra books?" She asked Orion.

"What for? We already have them in our library. You know that." Aurora didn't argue. She wouldn't let her brother ruin this. She wanted to have fun; she wanted to get up and explore. Not have everything handed to her. There was no fun in this. How could Orion live like this? 

They slowly, but surely, got all their supplies. "5 minutes, Ri. That's all I need," She pleaded. She wanted to go to the pets store. She knew her brother wouldn't go with her. "Fine. Meet me back here in 5 and we'll go to get our wands." Wands. How could she forget? That was the most important thing on the list! Orion wanted to get them first, but Aurora talked him out of it. Save the best for last, right? She made sure to act all classy and all. She paid no attention to the reporters. She kept a stone-like face. She made sure she was standing upright. She wouldn't fall like the klutz she was. She wouldn't mess up this time.

When she arrived at the pet store, she was greeted by this old lady. She looked at all the animals. She wasn't sure what she should get. She was deciding between an owl and a cat. An owl would be more useful, but a cat would be more fun. She went over to the cat section. There was an owlery at school; she'd just utilize that. There was a big selection of cats to choose from, but she decided on a small cat with white fur and blue eyes, much like her platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. 

She paid for her cat. She decided to name her Artemis. Holding Artemis dearly, she went out to meet her brother. The entire way, she was wondering how to look sophisticated while holding a cat. Lucky for her, the day was coming to an end, so there weren't many people out. She could finally relax. Orion frowned at the cat in her hands but didn't say anything about it. He probably already suspected where she was going. The twins walked into Ollivander's Wand Shop. They were greeted by a sweet old man. Once again, Orion got his wand first. He didn't show any excitement at it. Aurora knew he was really excited inside, though. They've talked about this moment for ages.

Ollivander measured the length of Aurora's arm and asked her a few questions. After giving a few wands a try, she found the perfect one; an 11 inch, Cherry Wood, Pheonix Feather Core. Aurora flaunted it to her brother, who gritted his teeth. Pheonix feather cores were extremely rare and powerful, if you have the patience for them, that is. Aurora was ecstatic that she got this wand. She collected herself, paid Ollivander, and she and her brother returned home. Aurora went straight for her bedroom. She wasn't in any mood for her family's antics.