Chapter 3.

Lessons.

Aurora woke up early in the morning and her first action was to look over the schedule Professor Dumbledore gave her.

Schedule for Fourth Years

Potions

Herbeology

Charms

History of Magic

Transfiguration

Defense Against the Dark Arts

She folded it into the back pocket of her pants and placed her books in a simple black bag along with the quill. She tidied up her hair a bit with a few black pins and by the time she was finished with her robes, Hermione was in the Common Room wide-awake.

"Morning!" Hermione said brightly as Aurora took a seat in an armchair. "You've got your schedule I presume?"

"Potions, herbeology, charms, history of magic, transfiguration, and defense against the dark arts," she recited happily.

Hermione nodded her head in approval. They headed for the Great Hall where they spotted Harry and Ron with Fred and George already devouring their oatmeal.

"G'Morning," Ron said, his mouth full. "Wike ah was sawung wis wis Awi."

"What was that?" Fred placed a hand behind his ear.

"This is Auri," Ron repeated, swallowing the food. "And Auri, these are my stupid brothers, Fred and George."

Auri smiled kindly and they shook her hand affectionately.

"Actually, he's the stupid brother," Fred corrected.

"We're the smart talented twins," George piped in. "He just doesn't got it."

Ron scowled at them, finishing his breakfast and bid good bye, tugging Harry to their first lesson.

Hermione hastily buttered her toast and swallowing half of it, waved and followed Ron and Harry out the door.

"Well… I… erm," Auri said uncomfortably to the twins. "I'm off to Potions."

Potions was in the dungeons, which was a long way from the Gryffindor Common Room as it as on Slytherin property. It was dark and musty, and she felt a sickening feeling in her stomach, walking down the narrow corridor. She followed a series of flickering torchlights and entered Snape's classroom. All eyes turned to stare at her and she wished she stayed in the Common Room, or even better, overslept again.

"I see you're the type that enjoys to interrupt lessons in progress," Snape turned from the blackboard and have her an unpleasant smile. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"Well, erm… y-you see…" she felt stupid, standing in the doorway.

"Yes? We're waiting," the professor stared at the clock and pretended to be impatient. A group of Slytherins sniggered.

"M-my first class is potions, s-sir," Auri stammered. "Th-this is potions, right?

"Quite obviously," Snape answered coldly. "Aren't you a very late comer."

"Y-you see, sir, I used to go to another magic school, but then I was transported here, and so, in a way, I-I'm new," Auri lied.

"I see," Snape walked quickly to her, staggering a bit, and pulled her to a seat. "That way, we don't have all day." He looked at her and gave her a quick nasty smirk. The Slytherins sniggered again. Auri fumed at the potions teacher, her cheeks still pink from embarrassment.

"… And for this potion, we will need the following ingredients listed on the board. Please take out your cauldrons," she heard the professor's voice from a great distance, lost in her thoughts.

"Are you deaf?" she jumped abruptly as Snape towered over her. "Where is your cauldron?"

"Sir, I don't have one," Auri answered, her voice quivering.

"Very well," Snape said quietly. "You may use one of mine from the cupboard." He turned to the class and said, "You may begin."

Auri chose an old looking cauldron from the cupboard and the ingredients listed on the board. Thankfully, they were all labeled neatly.

Step 1. Fill the cauldron to the brim with steadily boiling water.

Step 2. Throw the dragon's tooth to the center. It should be turning a dark blue.

Step 3. Cut the newt's tail exactly one inch and place it in the cauldron.

Step 4. Spread pixie dust. DO NOT stir.

Step 5. Wait exactly an hour before adding the final ingredient, a piece of your own hair. Stir counter clockwise for a minute. Let the potion sit.

This was all very simple. She was surprised at how simple it was. The liquid turned a sky blue as stated in the book. At the end of the lesson, Snape walked across the isles, rudely commenting. He said nothing when he peered into her cauldron.

The most boring and tiring class was as she had anticipated, history of magic. Defense Against the Dark Arts was the most exciting because it was where she could use the wand Professor Dumbledore so generously gave her. She met Harry, Ron, and Hermione back in the Common Room doing their homework as always.

"Hi," Hermione greeted her, not looking up from her books. "How'd your day go?"

"Very nice, but I don't like the potions master very much," she replied honestly.

Ron shuddered. "Blimey, I can't blame you. Who likes him?"

"Oh, a letter came for you by the way," Hermione said, looking up from her books. "It's from Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore?" Harry stared at her. "Why would he…"

Aurora ripped open the letter and read:

Please see me in my office. This is your 8:00 magical lesson. The password is Nimbus2000.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

"What does it say?" Harry said, having a great difficulty concealing the excitement.

"Nothing special," Auri replied simply. "I've got to go. Don't wait for me."

They looked up at her curiously, Harry - suspiciously, and she hurried down the flight of stairs to Dumbledore's office. She whispered "nimbus2000" to the gargoyle, and a secret door opened, letting her inside. Dumbledore was at his desk filing through some papers. He handed her an old dusty book from his drawer, saying, "Read a chapter of this every night. There is background information on the school and our magical world, along with a glossary of terms." She muttered a quick thanks and took a seat in one of the large comfortable old chairs.

"You have your wand, I assume?" Professor Dumbledore said, looking up from his papers.

"Oh… yes," she pulled out the wand from beneath her robes.

"Now the first step is to learn how to hold the wand correctly," the headmaster continued. He took the wand from Aurora and demonstrated. "Now you try." She repeated the movement perfectly, her hand gliding gracefully through the air. "Very nice," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "You are a quick learner, which leads us to a few simple spells."

"The spell is called wingardium laviosa," the headmaster went on. "It is a simple spell that is used to lift objects into the air, like this." He demonstrated. "Be very clear and say the spell with the wand movement."

She tried but the cup that she was lifting barely budged, fidgeting in place. She must have looked discouraged because Dumbledore said, "That's quite alright, my dear. Practice makes perfect, as we all know. Try to do the movement smoothly, imagine you are embedding lines in the air. Perfect lines. Close your eyes."

She obeyed and very gracefully, almost carefully, lifted the cup into thin air. When she opened her eyes, she shrieked in surprise at her success, and the cup came tumbling down, smashing into pieces. Auri blushed furiously.

"You do not understand how gifted you are," Dumbledore said seriously. "Already you have learned this spell, being non-magical, while it has taken students weeks to learn. I am… impressed."

He searched his drawer for another book and handed it to her, "Here is another book. It is a book of spells, useful spells I should say. Try them a dozen spells each day. A month from now I will give you another book, with more difficult spells, and gradually, you will catch up to the rest of the students." She nodded. "Very well then, off you go," he said quietly. She turned to walk towards the door, but paused, and whispered, "Thank you, sir." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he watched her leave, arms wrapped carefully around the books.