Stars and Ground

✩CHAPTER 3✩

Aurora met her roommates: Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon, Mary Macdonald, and Donna Shacklebolt. They didn't talk to her at all. This year was just great. She sighed and put her trunk at the edge of her bed. Artemis jumped on top of it. "Didn't know you were capable of carrying your own luggage," Donna said. 

"I carry my own luggage everywhere, thank you very much. It's not that difficult," Aurora replied. Some people assumed that she was incapable of doing anything. Donna rolled her eyes and fell back on her bed. Aurora gathered that they weren't going to be great friends. So much for that dream.

***

The next morning, Aurora got up and got ready. This was her first morning not waking up at her manor. It was oddly different. She liked it. Usually, the house-elves would set her clothes out for her, but she liked picking them out on her own. She quickly finished up and went downstairs. She was careful to mind her posture and all. She was one of the first ones at the Hall. Her brother looked surprised. She stopped herself from smiling at him. He gave her an approving nod. She sat down in a seat. The 4 boys sat across from her. Sirius Black wanted to say something to her, but James advised against it. They didn't need a prudent within their ranks. 

Owls started flying in, dropping mail. Aurora was surprised to see a letter. She made sure to not look too intrigued. She opened it. Little did she know, it was a howler. "AURORA JANE CRESSWELL! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THIS FAMILY! HOW DARE YOU GO AND GET YOURSELF SORTED IN A HOUSE FULL OF HALF-BLOODS AND MUDBLOODS?! WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE YOUR BROTHER?! DON'T BOTHER COMING BACK TO THE MANOR, YOU'RE NO LONGER WELCOME THERE!" The entire hall shuts up. They all felt bad for her. Except for the Slytherins. Aurora was trying her best to not react. She felt like crying or throwing something. She was a Cresswell. She couldn't act like that. She bit her lip nervously. She wasn't a Cresswell anymore. Her parents practically disowned her. She looked past Sirius Black, and to her brother. He looked pale. He thought for a moment and walked over to her. She felt a little grateful for her brother. He was risking his reputation for her. As he got close, she shook her head. "Careful. Wouldn't want to get too close to a house full of half-bloods and mudbloods, right?"

"Can I speak with you?" Aurora nodded and followed her brother out of the Great Hall, this time not paying attention to how she's walking. Once they leave the Hall, her brother hugged her. "I'm sorry, Rora. I didn't know that they'd disown you!" Aurora smiled slightly. Her brother might seem like an emotionless jerk, but he's really just a big softie inside. "It's okay. They would have found out soon enough. How do you think they'll take my name off the heir?" 

"I don't know. I guess someone will come and draw some blood soon," He answered, shrugging. The two entered the room again as Aurora nodded, trying her best not to smile. "Well, at least I can smile in public now. And, I don't have to worry about my posture or anything. And I can do this, and you can't do anything about it!" She messed her brother's hair and ran back to her seat, smirking at him. He calmly fixed it, but she could tell it was taking all his restraint not to get her back. Immediately, at least. 

Aurora ate the rest of her breakfast, aware that everyone's eyes were on her. She wondered what she'd do about Summer Break. It wasn't like she had many friends. Any at all, actually. She could stay at Hogwarts over the other breaks. It was taking everything for her to not cry. She didn't know how she was able to do it. She always had to try super hard to hide her emotions. It never came naturally for her. She didn't want to break down in front of all these people, though. That would make the covers of the newspaper. She could just imagine it. 

Aurora just wanted to go up to her dorms and crawl into her bed and cry. Professor McGonagall started to hand out schedules. When she got to Aurora, she gave her a sad smile. Sirius wanted to hug her. He knew what it was like to be the black sheep of the family. He wasn't sure how she'd react, though. As of that breakfast, the Gryffindor table no longer hated her. They were sure she'd fit in just perfectly.