Aurora walks down the hall wishing she stopped by the dining hall for something to snack on. She's heading to the library alone to find a few books before curfew. Most of the students are in their rooms by now relaxing but she needed to get new things to read about the Fallen souls. She's been procrastinating because of the Yule Ball but now she rather just do it than talk to Fred and George. She's in new territory with them and rather just dance around it until she has to deal with it. Just like she's been doing with her bonds, until now.
Passing a few doors that are all closed she sees Snape's door cracked open. She peeps into the crack and looks to his desk. She smiles when she sees his bowl of Green apples just as she suspected. Aurora noticed he'd put only green ones in the bowl for himself, she's never seen someone take an apple from the bowl. She's never seen him eat one in front of her but she would notice will become empty then stock the next day. Waiting to hear anything Aurora then slowly opens the door and heads to his desk, she looks around the room once before facing the apples again. She grabs one and sinks her teeth in it to hold as she grabs another. Aurora's about to grab one more and leave but just as she grabs the third one someone hand grabs her shoulder spinning her around.
"How. Dare. You. Nearly five years of magical education and no one has taught you searching someone's… Apples…"
Snape's angry snare turns in to a low puzzled one while staring at Aurora with an apple in her mouth. He had thought she was going through his belongings, he had never come across a student trying to eat his fruit. The apple in her hand drops to the ground in the silence, taking the one out of her mouth Aurora picks the other one up and puts them back in his bowl. She pretends she had never stuck her teeth into one as she speaks up.
"Yeah... Sorry, I was hungry for… Apples and… I couldn't find any in uh, the dining hall."
"They didn't have any apples, you say?" Snape mumbles with a low sigh as if he shouldn't be surprised picking up the bowl and shoving it into her chest, "Bring my bowl back. Cleaned."
"Uh, okay. Will do. Thanks…" Aurora's face softens in confusion a little as she grabs the bowl from falling. Snape then processed to guide her quickly to the door and pushes her out while snapping, "Do not waste them."
He shuts the door without her being able to say anything else. For a moment she stands there going over what had happened, after a minute she smiles at the door before grabbing an apple and taking a loud bite knowing Snape could hear it. She then processed to walk away with the bowl eating her first one of the night. Aurora smiles at the bowl, it's possible a Gryffindor girl could be his favorite student. She turns into another hall and sees the door she's been heading to all along. Going into the library she tries to chew softly while going down an aisle. Finding a section about lifelines Aurora puts her bowl on a desk and begins pulling out books with riddled titles. Taking another bite from her paper she begins reading the table of content to see if it might have something connecting to her situation in any way.
"You didn't perchance take those apples from Professor snape, love?"
"Cedric." Aurora turns like she caught red-handed but relaxes when she sees Cedric. Covering her mouth as she chews and says to him shyly, "Actually, he gave them to me."
"Amazing." Cedric smiles while coming up to stand beside her, "I've only ever seen him throw one at a student."
"Really?" Aurora lets out a giggle once she swallows her food while Cedric answers with a tilted smile, "Once… But yes. Aurora?"
"Cedric?"
"I… Would- I would love to escort you to the ball this Sunday. If you'll let me?" Cedric says a bit nervous as he pulls out something wrapped that was hiding in her robe continue in a polite warm tone, "I know it's a bit late but I wanted to do or get you something…"
"I'd love to go with you," Aurora whispers a little stunned he's asking her, she thought he already found someone. Fred and George seem like he was already spoken for only a few weeks ago. Cedric grins and she can see a shade of red go to his pale cheeks. Taking his gift Aurora bites her bottom lip before thinking out loud, "You didn't need to do anything but ask me…"
"Open it." Cedric nods encouraging her to embrace it instead to find from his gesture. As she begins to unwrap it Cedric leans closer to her and watches her while explaining why he got it for her, "I wanted to get something you'd keep… Something that said this must be Aurora's… I got a few ideas from Fred and George-"
"Hand in hand…" Aurora reads the title when the wrapping is gone and realizes what it is and looks up at him in surprise, "Fred and George told you to get this for me?"
"Yes. They informed me you had two others that go along with this one." Cedric explains with a small smile from seeing her look at in carefully like it'll break any moment, he pushes a curl behind her thinking out loud, "They told me there was one more to complete the whole collection but I couldn't find it..."
"Thank you..." Aurora kisses him on the cheek before looking back down at the book, she's staring at it but isn't focused on it. Her mind is on the twins telling Cedric to give her this book and letting him ask her without them interfering. The feeling of angry toward Fred and George vanished realizing they had never really left her without a date. It stinging feeling of them not taking still lingers but because of this book she knows they're still waiting to marry her, they're still going to want her around but they also wanted her to give her a chance with someone else. Aurora focuses back on Cedric when he whispers, "You can tell me if you don't like it, love."
"I like you more than the book…"
"I'll take that as a victory."
"Heads up, Cedric there might be a party going on Hogsmeade after this-"
"-Make sure you and Aurora be there, Mate. " George finishes his brother's sentence as they come up behind Cedric. The three guys are dressed in their best robes as they wait for their dates, they're waiting in front of the entrance to the ballroom. Students started arriving in beautiful dresses and suits, it's only a matter of time before they're all dancing the night away. Cedric nods to the guy's new information as they wait anxiously while thinking out loud, "Sounds like fun, I'll let Aurora know what's happening."
"Why, mate, what makes you think she doesn't early know?" Fred smirks while putting his hands in his pockets while watching kids descend from the staircase before whispering, "Just don't let her out drink you tonight… You can't control her beyond that point-"
Fred stops taking when the woman in conversation emerges in front of the staircase with her sister Hermione. Fred loses the words in his mouth when seeing the red dress almost sparkle as her body moves against the dress. She had the same color on her lips making the dress look as if it was made for only her to wear. Her hair is still in wild curls but looks as smooth and soft as ever, she has red ribbons in her hair to help it from falling into her face. Aurora walks down the steps with her sister and sees Cedric, Fred and George glued to her. Her cheeks get as red as her dress and for a moment all of them are doubting they've ever seen true beauty before now. When Aurora is at the last step Cedric head's to her give her his arm. Victor comes into view and offers his arm to her little sister. Fred and George watch the girls practically glowing, they felt something drop in their stomach when Aurora has yet to look their way.
Perhaps Hermione gave her a long talk after realizing Fred and George have been trying to get her to do a spell from The Fallen Soul. When Hermione put the pieces together she was furious and told the twins everything she had to say about it, down to the last word. They weren't bothered by it, mainly because she doesn't even know about Harry and Aurora's bond. However, they get the feeling Hermione will keep up a fight to get them not to do it. They love a challenge and Aurora is turning into the hardest one in every way. Cedric and Aurora head over to them making Fred wag an eyebrow saying.
"Lovely dress, princess. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you picked it out just for me."
Aurora's eyes dart away making Fred's eyes widen slightly wondering if was right. George moves his mouth to say something but their Professor comes up to the four suddenly. McGonagall looks at everyone out of breath before looking to Cedric and Aurora, "It's about to begin are you and Ms. Granger ready?"
"Ready for what?" Aurora perks up confused not knowing she's supposed to be ready for something more to do besides dressing up. McGonagall looks at her a bit worried before begins to move them to the ballroom, "It's a tradition the champions have the first dance- Potter! You'll be fine Ms. Granger, now, go on it's about to start… Mr. Potter!"
"See you on the dance floor, love."
The twins say together as Cedric begins to lead her into the ballroom, they can't help but run their eyes over her body as she turns her back to them. Her hair hangs down her back in beautiful curls and red ribbon, her hair stops where her hips get wider. Aurora takes one glance behind her and sees the boys still watching her. They wink at her at the same time they find her looking back at them. Their eyes leave her when their own date appears together and their attention has completely left Aurora. She's happy she's going with Cedric but the tinny lingering feeling of wishing Fred and George had asked her instead stays in the back of her mind. Looking up at Cedric Aurora smiles nervously, he squeezes her hand and winks down at her. Aurora slows her pace only for a second after he winked. The wink fills her heart but she wouldn't admit to herself it wasn't the same as Fred and George.
When the champions begin walking down the aisle everyone's looking at Aurora and Hermione surprised their dates aren't who they expected to be. The girls walk beside Victor and Cedric smiling at everyone they passed. Aurora's smiling at everyone but her eyes are only searching the crowd for is Fred and George. Her attention then is drawn away from the students when Cedric turns her to face him as he slides a hand around her waist.
Looking back up at him Aurora sets her hand on his shoulder and starts dancing with the other champions. She feels a little tense from feeling eyes on her and not knowing who's. After a moment he pulls her closer and others begin to join on the floor. Aurora sucks in a breath feeling his chest against hers. Winking at her he then picks her up by the waist and spins her around. She lets out a low laugh as she drops her down and she begins to loosen up and relax more. It had occurred only a few seconds ago that this is the first time she's dancing without Fred and George.
The rest of the dance is a blur after the first dance, blurs of dancing and wandering eyes. Aurora stayed by Cedric's side the whole night laughing and dancing with him. She always kept looking back, she knows she shouldn't but every time she did she would see Fred or George. Fred would be twirling Angelina and making her laugh or George would be swinging Katie around like he would with Aurora. Every time she glances at them she felt less and less close to them when all she wanted was to be closer. She would sometimes catch their eyes but she couldn't read them. It's when Aurora sees Fred dip back like he's the woman for Angelina that makes her stop dancing and propose to Cedric.
"Could we perhaps get something to drink?"
"Of course, love." Cedric kisses her forehead before taking her hand to pull them off the dance floor, "Come on."
As they begin to break apart from the couples dancing Cedric leads her to their table. He lets go of her hand and before heading to get them glasses of punch. Aurora watches him walk away and can't help but look him up and down, she smiles remembering when she used to get nervous in his presence. Looking away Aurora notices Ron alone miserable and frowns, he's watching Hermione and Harry in the crowd. She's about to head over to him when Fred and George appear in front of her with Angelina and Katie.
"Aurora, amazing… Isn't it." Angelina speaks up to Aurora with a lovesick smile that has Fred written all over it, "The Ball? Everyone having a splendid time, don't you agree."
"Everyone really is." Aurora agrees while leaning back on the table, "Even the head of Slytherin seems to be enjoying it."
"Oh, Professor Snape, no." Katie laughs and glances over to him while blurting out, "I haven't seen him move to one beat all night."
"Can you notice the difference between him now than in class?"
"I'm sorry, love." Fred states as they all glance at the expressionless Professor before telling Aurora, "He seems like the same bruting bloke he always is…"
"Well… It's not impossible to notice."
Aurora says with irritation growing inside her, if their date weren't there the twins would have just blindness agreed with her and continue on with another topic. Looking up at the twins Aurora realizes they're watching her in amusement while Katie and Angelina keep making glances at the Professor of the topic. Aurora could tell he's relaxed watching the students, his arms aren't folded and he doesn't have a crossed expression at the moment. Truth is, she isn't sure but she could sense he seems at ease tonight. Angelina stares at Snape for a hard moment before shaking her head and saying, "Prove it. I can't tell a bloody difference with him."
"Oh, yes. Aurora." Fred lights up at the idea knowing this will be fun, "Prove it."
"Unless you can't…" George wiggles an eyebrow knowing Aurora dislike being proved wrong, "No pressure, Princess."
"Evening everyone… Darling." Cedric says to everyone around Aurora as he comes to stand beside her while handing her a glass. Fred and George are still watching her with a mischief smirk as Cedric starts to say, "How is everyone-"
"Cedric, hold my glass for a moment." Aurora blurts out knowing she won't be able to do anything until she wipes for the smug expressions from Fred and George, "I'll be back."
"Get ready for a show, ladies and gentlemen." George chuckles as the group watches her walk away toward Snape. Cedric looks at his friends and his date confused about what he missed while he was gone. Fred and George move so they all don't look like they're staring blatantly at the Professor. Aurora is almost to Snape when he notices that he's her destination. When she reaches him she offers an awkwardly shy smile and coughs out a laugh. Snape's lips go thin before he speaks up loud enough for her to hear him over the music.
"Can I help you, Ms… Granger."
"Um… Well, I…" Aurora stutters in a panic knowing he'll get annoyed in a matter of seconds from just babbling. Pausing Aurora let out the only thing she could muster up, "Would you like to dance? With me."
His face stills for a moment and his expression has become unreadable.
"Every Professor here has danced at least once tonight." Aurora points out quickly while offering weakly, "I thought perhaps you'd want to as well…"
"It's very bold of you to assume I'd want to dance, let alone with a Gryffindor student..." Snape says darkly while watching her smile slowly falling. Snape breaths in heavily while lifting his hand for her before letting out a sigh, "However, I don't see the harm. You did bring my bowl back, as promised. Even if it's was full of red and yellow apples, Ms. Granger."
"I didn't waste any of your apples either. I expect you to do the same with mine… out of courtesy."
Aurora smiles nervously as she tries to joke, her heart is beating rapidly from knowing what she said was bold. It helps that she did give him back his bowl cleaned just as she promised, Aurora thought it would be funny to fill it with red and yellow apples for him. She a little impressed he didn't her head chopped off right then and there but instead lets her take his hand silently after the comment to proceed walking beside one another to perform the formal dance for the Yule ball.
Students are moving away from them, not understanding how Aurora could be getting Snape to join them in the crowd. She glances at her friends and sees every single one watching her like she's about to dance with a snake. When they turn to face one another Aurora can tell there's plenty of room for them between the students to dance. She isn't sure if they're afraid of what Snape's going to do to her or if they're scared of what he'll do to them near him. Looking back up to her Professor they two begin the dance the annual dance. Snape seems to be at ease as they go through each move of the dance.
"Are you…" Aurora speaks up wanting to know the truth, "Having a good time tonight, Professor Snape?"
"Evidently…" Snape mumble before catching her eyes and looking away, "I am."
"Evidently?" Aurora laughs while sharing a bright smile his way, of course, he says yes in the most dreadful way. Her smile is about to drop but stays still when she sees the corner of his lip move up. He lets out a dramatic laugh that Aurora can't tell if it's real or sarcastic while saying again in a tone, "Evidently."
They go back to silently dancing without looking at one another but Aurora can't stop smiling now from knowing Snape is possible of doing the same. Aurora dances as if she's being graded on it, which she basically is by dancing with a Professor. She's standing straight and stepping more precise to keep up with his standards. Glancing up at him Aurora sees he's still watching her but now with eyes that seemed to be almost sad from looking at her. When the song ends they let off one another and bow in front of one another. Aurora looks up as she stands back up and sees his eyes glacier with an underline of red. She looks at him in concern for what has changed his expression, nothing ever does.
"Professor-"
"You enjoy the rest of your evening, Aurora."
He speaks up in a hushed tone before turning around, Aurora watches him for a moment leaving to where he had earlier been before walking back to her friends. She hadn't done anything that would upset him which kept her wondering why he looks so crossed with her for a single moment. When reaching her friends Aurora drops the thought and says to them casually.
"Like I had said… He's enjoying the party."
"Wicked…"
"Shhh. The both of you. Love- stop falling!"
"Stop pulling my hair, Fred- FRED."
"HUSH."
"Aurora... Do it again. I'll never ask you to do anything ever for the rest- Brilliant!"
"Boys…"
Aurora is giggling up the stairs hanging onto George as Fred keeps pulling at her hair to smell. He keeps asking her to light a flame on her finger, every time he does he looks at it like it's magic he's never seen before. Even if it's just a flame as big candlelight, the liquor in his system help that. Aurora showed him earlier and he's been asking her to show him throughout the night. She noticed she was able to do small things like that, it was similar to how she cracked the ground in the boy's restroom. She's just focusing more now on when controlling it because she knows she can. It's getting harder too when the stairs start making her feel drunker and drunker with each step. The three of them drunkenly walking up the stairs to the common room in Gryffindor.
They had just dropped off Cedric who was just as drunk as them. After the Yule Ball died down all the upperclassmen went to The Three broomsticks for a little after-party in Hogsmeade. It was a good laugh and fun, the three of them had forgotten all about their little problems and just enjoying the party. That was until they had the problem of going back to their rooms without being seen, Katie and Angelina had left earlier from the party in fear of this. Luckily Aurora, George, and Fred drunk together made them sober enough to know where to go without being seen without the Marauder's map. Aurora had to hold her shoes and dress to not trip over herself. Fred didn't help her case since he didn't notice his obsession with her hair was making her stumble back constantly into him.
"Guys… Guys. Hold still." George whispers angrily at them as he tries to be their rock while looking at the fat woman in the painting and saying, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good- wait a bloody minute..."
"Wrong password, Forge. Nice one." Aurora bursts out laughing making Fred cover her mouth with him trying to hold his own as they fall to the ground. Aurora falls into Fred's lap laughing as if it's the funniest thing she's ever heard while Fred tries hard to keep her quiet. George rolls his eyes at them and flips them off where they lay on the steps before telling the painting the right one. When the door opens George pulls them up defending himself, "I say one wrong thing while you two are belligerent on the floor and I'm the idiot..."
"I solemnly swear..." Aurora mimicking his voice as they push themselves into the common room before ending in her own tone, "You are right, you're the idiot."
"Clever, Princess." George wraps an arm around her kissing her forehead saying as stumbles further into the room, "Do you need help getting out of that dress before bed?"
"Oh, you'd like that." Aurora spurs before pushing off him, "Since Katie bailed on late night fondue..."
"Aurora, love you're drunk. That's why I'm asking…" George sighs in amusement while watching her try to pick up her dress from the ground while trying to stand still. He takes her hand to keep her balance while using his free one to help her pick up the red fabric. He a better drunk than her and brother, he always had a better tolerance out of them growing up. He hears her growl in frustration that she needs his help making him smirk while adding, "But… you're wrong. I've wanted to help you out of this dress before Katie bailed on me-"
"Oh, mate!" Fred then grabs her other hand and Aurora begins to help warmth all around. She's not sure if it's the booze, the twins, or a sibling's magic enter her system. That doesn't stop her from letting them, she felt like she should dare try. Fred uses her hand to help him face them straight as he tries to point directly at her brother saying, "We agreed not to say anything!"
"Come on… She was asking for it." George grins at his brother knowing she did walk into that teasing. Aurora looks between the two confused on what they agreed upon and blurts out, "Does this have to do with that spell? The… The.. Perpetuum Unum Diem spe-"
Aurora's words are caught in her mouth when her arms go numb, her fingers feel like rocks entwined with Fred and George's. Pulling away from the twins violently Aurora trips over her shoes on the floor and falls back. She falls to the ground and groans, George and Fred kneel in front of her quickly to help her sit up. Her face is scrunched from the pain in the back of her head. Fred's pushing her curls out of her face as she holds the back of her head. Lifting up her right hand Aurora opens her eyes.
A single silver ring.
"Impossible…" George breaths out and grabs her hand but when he does he sees his right hand wearing the same one. It might dark and they might be drunk but not enough to pretend not to see what they what's in front of them. The lines inked in their fingers sparkled in the moonlight coming from the window to prove how real it is. Aurora let's go of her head and grabs Fred's hand to find the third pair. Looking up at Fred she sees him look at his hand with slight fear, "You- you…"
"I only spoke the words." Aurora whispers before looking away from them without blinking while stating, "There was no wand… After I said it out loud- I- felt it and knew… Oh, god- I'm going to be sick."
One look and Fred and George link arms with her own and carry her upstairs quickly. They basically run to her bedroom's bathroom once the door is open. Aurora holds it just until Fred lifts the toilet seat up. George grabs her hair and pulls it back to look away from her sounds. Fred lights a few candles before turning and watches his brother sit down next to Aurora to hold her hair while her head is in the toilet. They both find each other's gaze but don't speak up, too many things were going on for them to say anything clever. Aurora didn't even try the spell and it worked, George thought and smiled a lopsided smile, third times the charm.
"Ms, Granger… Is it possible for your small mind span to stay focused?" Snape walks over to her with a crossed expression, "I would have assumed you'd be just a slight interest in trying something as difficult as liquid luck."
"I don't need luck..."
Aurora mumbles in a low tone without looking up to her Professor. Instead, her eyes stayed glued to his wall off books in his room trying to read the titles from the distance. The class stays silent and continues to work but keeps glancing at the two cautiously. There's only a day left until the next task, Aurora could feel Hermione and Harry's anxiety. Hermione is so busy with Harry she hasn't even reminded Aurora about their bond. It seemed easy for Hermione but she only has Aurora tied with her. Aurora has four people linked to her now and she could feel it all the time. Her body never seemed tired or worn out but she did so much each day. If her mind was thinking rapidly her body would levitate or her finger will light like a candle. Aurora knows she has to focus her mind more but it feels like that she has to do it constantly now.
The Oldest Granger still felt and thought as she normally would. Everything just seems to have more power than she has to contain. She needs to find more about how to control it, she's probably not doing it right and now she doesn't even know if the book will know what to do if you four ties to your lifeline. Fred and George have been spending most of their time now looking for books. Aurora is convinced Fred and George have already read half of the whole library and Hermione read the other half at this point. That's why she's glancing at Snape's collection of books, she's that desperate. Maybe she does need liquid luck but she doesn't want to chance another binding spell. Glancing at her right hand Aurora drops it under the desk and looks up at Snape sighing knowing it's best to go bold or go home with this certain Professor.
"Would you know anything about something called… Fallen Souls?"
"Ms. Granger, it's nearly impossible to become one. Nor should you waste time trying." Snape's face flattens nodding to her potion book in front of her, "I suggest you stick with just trying Felix Felicis. You'll have better… luck doing it correctly."
Snape turns around to watch the other students but Aurora keeps her gaze on him. What does that mean? Aurora thought as she watches him. He doesn't seem bothered by her question but he always does know she's down three of the spells. After a moment Aurora looks back to her book at the potion she's actually tried before a few years ago. Aurora did a terrible job but until her fourth try, she's become very good at potions since that potion got them a Quidditch win. She's come along way since her first year. Potions usually interest her but not more than what she has become with just a few spells. Aurora could feel the power now, she could feel in her veins and heart. She has become a potion and has no idea what it truly does.
Glancing up Aurora looks at Snape's apple bowl, he has a single yellow apple left. She assumes it will be restocked next time she sees him. Seeing the yellow stand out in his classroom Aurora can't help but think of Cedric. They haven't talked much but that on her part, she's been quieter and distant with him. She didn't want him to notice the ring on her finger, she'll talk to him more outside when she has mittens on. Cedric noticed she became as sheepish as has the beginning of the year but he didn't comment on it when he tried talking to her. Aurora couldn't help but think he's a patient man just like Fred and George. Her stomach knots up knowing if he would still want her she'll always be with Fred and George evidently. Her emotions flare up at the thought of just Fred and George being her, it makes her look down at her hand under the desk.
The three of them have been taking this day by day, mainly because the three of them are so busy. It happened just when everything started to pick up with holidays. The air between the tree has changed but light teasing and chatter haven't. They didn't talk about Cedric, Katie, and Angelina when together. They didn't talk about what the rings meant either, they didn't know what to say first or who should say something first. They all have mixed emotions and feelings that can't be ignored but have already been answered by the silver lining.
Aurora spent days thinking to herself how she let the spell happen. She comes to the conclusion Hermione and Harry's magic together allowed her to perform the spell without a wand. You're supposed to say Perpetuum Unum Diem with a wand but Aurora guesses she didn't need one after doing the first two. Aurora wished she found out another way that she could do that but she doesn't regret it. The thought made her angry because that the reason they were able to do the damn spell in the first place. Hearing a cough Aurora looks up and sees Snape watching her again. She stands up straighter and looks back to her book but still can feel him studying her from another student's desk. He's waiting for her to actually start putting things in the pot. When she glances his way and sees him still glaring. Sighing like Snape would do at her Aurora mumbles out loud for him to hear knowing he'll have something to comment after.
"Guess I'll make it one more time…"