CHERRY // marlene mckinnon

-twenty

  Aurora froze. What could her parents want from her now.

She then carefully opened the letter, as if something was about to jump out of it.

After the letter was read, it fell out of her hands. Aurora was frozen. She didn't know how to react.

  Dear Aurora,

You might be wondering why we are writing to you as you are 'disowned'. But before you were born there was something we had agreed to. A betrothal. It wasn't remembered until now. Our first-born daughter was to marry Alexandre Avery. You most likely know him as he is also in Slytherin house. You are to return straight home after school ends to sort things out. And we also know about your half-blood 'girlfriend'. You must separate yourself from her as there will be consequences if you don't. You have ruined your reputation and this marriage arrangement just might fix things.

signed

  Walburga and Orion Black.

It was as if the world around her had stopped. The only thing she she could hear was the thumping of her heart and the deep breaths she took to try and calm herself down.

And without a second thought, to without even saying anything, she ran out of the Great Hall, with the letter still tightly clutched onto her hands. She could barely breathe or think straight.

"T-This...this can't be happening." She muttered to herself.

Her hands were shaking and she found it hard to breathe all of a sudden. It felt as if the walls were caving in. Her tears didn't start pouring it until after she reread the letter about two or three more times. Then all of it felt real. She was going to marry the person who outed her in the first place. That monster. She still couldn't believe it.

Aurora ended up sitting in the empty hallway with her back leaned against the cold wall.

She then saw four figures walking towards her. It was her friends.

"Aurora! Hey, what happened? Are you okay?" Narcissa asked, her face filled with worry.

But Aurora didn't say anything at first. Instead she just handed her the letter. "Why don't you take a look for yourself."

So then Narcissa read the latter. Her face turned into one of shock really quickly.

"What is it?" Regulus asked looking from Aurora to Narcissa.

"Here." She gave the letter so Regulus, Evan, and Veronica could read it.

The three of them all had that look of pure shock written all over their faces.

Before they could react, Aurora quickly got up and ran away. Again.

But this time she went to her dorm. She just wanted to be alone right now.

And so she sat in the dark and empty room, all alone. The only noise that was heard was her silent cries.

She despised Alexandre Avery. And now she was bound to marry him. She still didn't know what to tell Marlene. Aurora knew if she told Marlene the truth she would do anything and everything in her power to prevent the whole marriage from happening. Not that Aurora wanted it to happen in the first place. Aurora was worried that if Marlene did anything, her parents would go after her and most likely hurt her.

And before she knew it, she fell into a deep slumber.

*****

"Do you think she can hear us?"