Aurora could feel Draco's eyes burning into the back of her head as the feast began. His stare made her feel warm as if he was trying to burn her with his gaze. This sensation would not stop until the end of dinner when the first years would be guided to their respective common rooms and dormitories.

"You don't seem very excited, Rory," Harry nudged Aurora in the ribs.

"Rory?" Aurora responded puzzled. She'd never been called that before.

"Yea, I thought it was nice. Since we're friends now," Harry pushed his glasses up his nose again for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. "That was dumb, I won't call you that."

"No, its okay. I like it." Aurora replied, smiling widely at him. Harry looked relieved. She hadn't had nicknames growing up. Her mother was insistent she only be called Aurora. It sounded royal to her, and never wanted her little princess growing up to be called any different. Her father hadn't been affectionate enough to her to gift her one either. And Draco's "nickname", if you could call it that, was just her last name or any other insulting term he could think to call her. Having a friend was already refreshing. She knew Harry appreciated the closeness too. Neither of them had had the best childhood.

"Alright then, Rory, why don't you seem excited? You seem quite upset actually."

"I'm alright, just a bit shocked. I wasn't supposed to be placed in Gryffindor. My father will be so angry when he finds out I didn't get into Slytherin."

"Why?"

"He just," she paused, "thinks differently than other wizards. It just won't be good." Aurora did not feel comfortable stating her father's exact beliefs. They were unpopular and in Aurora's opinion immoral. Since arriving at Hogwarts, she has met several people who her father would have called inferiors, and Aurora found them to be perfectly nice. How could she be better than them for just being different?

You have time to tell him don't you?" Harry furrowed his brows. Aurora got the impression Harry was already not the biggest fan of her family. She couldn't blame him, she wasn't either.

"Not exactly. Draco will probably write to him tonight about being placed in Gryffindor, along with reporting that I am friends with you and a Weasley."

"Malfoy? Why would that prick do that?"

"He's a family friend. My father instructed him to keep tabs on me at school."

"It'll be okay, I'll talk to him."

"No. Just ignore it, this is my problem."

Harry seemed as if he might argue for a moment, but decided against it. And continued to follow Percy Weasley, the Gryffindor prefect, to the common room. Ron had spent half the trip complaining about his brother. Aurora couldn't imagine not enjoying having siblings. Growing up she wanted more than anything for a playmate. Sure Draco was fine enough to grow up with until he reached seven or eight. From there he got more and more unbearable as he parroted phrases from their father, and grew an obsession with blood purity.

As they made their way up through several staircases and pathways, many first years were amazed by the many portraits speaking to them from the wall. Aurora like other non muggleborn students were used to it, but the few who were not from a wizarding family, as well as Harry, stood in awe, taking in the scenery around them. Aurora herself was amazed at the inside of the castle. Hermione behind her was informing the students around her about what she had learned about the portraits in Hogwarts: A History.

Ron on the other side of Harry was getting more agitated the longer Hermione babbled on.

"Relax Ron," Aurora laughed. He grumbled in acknowledgement.

"I'll relax when she shuts her mouth."

"I'm the one who will probably share a room with her, you'll never have to talk to her again after tonight."

"Yeah, yea," said Ron. Though he did seem to perk up a bit after considering Aurora's words.

"Alright first years!" Percy announced. "This is our portrait," He gestured to a large women with a round, white face dressed in an elegant blue gown. She held a wine glass in her right hand while her left remained seated on her lap.

"Ahhhhhhh," The portrait shrieked.

Ron brought up his hands to cover his hears then yelled, "Bloody hell is she trying to burst our eardrums."

"Hm. I broke the glass last time," The fat lady shrugged.

"Fortuna Major," Percy called out to her. And with that the portrait door swung open. "Don't forget the password first years. It changes every few months."

The common room was more beautiful than what Aurora expected. Bulky, crimson couches lay strewn about the area along with several seating areas. Gold tapestries hung around the walls framing the room to give off a homely vibe. Golden detailing of lions were hung over the red brick fireplace and a large, fluffy rug lay before it. Aurora felt that she belonged here. Whether her father liked it or not, she was sure she was a Gryffindor. She was just hopeful her mother would accept her at least.

After a long lecture and small tour given by Percy Weasley. The students were dismissed to their dorms. Following the rest of the girls to their dormitory, Aurora made her way to her room. Opening the door, she found Hermione Granger, someone who would introduce herself as Parvati Patil, and a bubbly girl named Lavender Brown.

Satisfied with liking all of her roommates, the girls began to unpack their luggage that had appeared from the Hogwarts Express.

"There are so many cute boys here! This, is going to be a great year!" Lavender squealed. A boy crazy roommate should be interesting.

"I thought Harry Potter was rather cute. I wasn't sure what to expect since I've only heard of him, but I am not disappointed," Parvati said whist folding her clothes and placing them in her drawers.

"I'm much more excited about the classes. I've read about all the professors, they're all quite brilliant," Hermione chimed in. She continued on as the girls set up their room. Aurora remained quiet as the girls talked amongst themselves. She had never shared a room before, let alone been in a room with a lot of other girls before. She felt shy in their company, but was still glad to be there.

"What do you think Aurora?" Lavender called, bringing Aurora out of her concentrated state of organizing her portion of the large room.

"Huh?"

Lavender rolled her eyes playfully, "What do you think about the boys here? You looked rather comfortable with Harry on your way here."

"Oh that," Aurora blushed again. Embarrassed she looked away. The brightness of her face would be much more obvious in the dorms. With the cold outside she could've at least blamed the weather on her reddening face. "That's nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing. You like him," Parvati chirped in. She had smug expression on her face as she crossed her arms. Luckily for Aurora, the conversation had redirected to Hermione she began again about what class she anticipated to be the most challenging, which would she like the most, and which she dreaded.

"I hardly know him guys."

"Oh love at first sight!" Lavender squealed. Aurora only amusingly rolled her eyes.

Finishing unpacking, Aurora headed for the door.

"I'm going to go send a letter guys, I'll see you in a bit."

Exiting the room and going back down the girls' dormitory stairs she took in the common room once more. This was home now. Opening the portrait door, she was immediately startled.

"So that's the Gryffindor common room. I have to say the red and gold is rather ugly, the Slytherin room is much more aesthetically pleasing," Draco commenting leaning against a rather disgruntled portrait. The portrait speaking a string of profanities in Draco's direction was left ignored as he continued to prop his back against it. Why did he always have to stand like that ugh.

"Draco! You scared me!" Aurora snapped. "What are you even doing here?" Aurora herself was sure that she likely wasn't allowed to leave the dorms, she didn't expect Draco to also be breaking rules.

"My job. Your father is going to be bloody furious when he finds out you got sorted into Gryffindor," He snorted. Aurora only rolled her eyes and continued to walk past him. She could hear footsteps begin to follow her.

"Malfoy," She stopped and whipped her body to face him. "Go away. I don't need your foul odor following me around the castle. The best part about not being in the same house with you is so that I don't have to see you."

Draco only threw his head back and laughed. Aurora was preparing something else to day when he shoved her against a wall and leaned in close to her ear.

"You can avoid me as much as you want, but you will not get rid of me. I have to admit, I was interested in Janus' original request for me to babysit you, but knowing how much you hate it, I'm going to get special pleasure in this," His breath tickled her ear and she could smell his overpriced cologne and mint.

"Sod off," Aurora glared back, shoving him off of her. "And don't you ever touch me like that again or I'll hex you."

"See you tomorrow, Princess." He laughed at her then walked off, likely back to his dorm.

"Don't call me that!," she yelled to his retreating figure. If he heard her, he showed no acknowledgment of it. Aurora was left irritated once again. Draco Malfoy could be infuriating at home, but it was unlike him to be so persistent in pissing her off.

Attempting to calm herself, Aurora carried on to the mailing room. Just as she expected, Spry, her snow white owl awaited her. Mother must've sent him right after she left. Quickly jotting out a letter to her parents, she decided it would be best for them to find out from her that she had made Gryffindor rather than give Malfoy the pleasure of breaking the news. Her fingers shook as she wrote,

Dear Father and Mother,

I have made Gryffindor. I hope that you won't be too displeased with me. I will write again soon.

-Aurora

Scrolling up the letter and handing it off to Spry, she knew it would be awhile before her father speaks to her again. Unsure if she enjoyed the idea of less contact than she already had with him or not, she silently made her way bad to her common room and dormitory. Exhausted by the trip, she figured she would wait until tomorrow to concern herself with tonights events and what she would do to combat Malfoy's future behaviors. She had been caught off guard too many times today already. But for now, she would keep the different encounters with him today off her mind. She hoped that with the start of school he would gradually begin to leave her alone. There was no way he would be persistent enough to bother her all year, let alone a single term. Yes, of course, once classes started he would be too busy to bother her.

Entering her room, she noticed the three other girls already asleep. Shutting the door and tiptoeing as lightly as she could to her bed, she pulled herself under the covers. She had really made new friends today, the task she was most anxious about while attending Hogwarts. Smiling as she drifted into sleep, Aurora could hardly wait for classes to commence the following day.