Aurore could hardly focus, not with the tendrils of sleep creeping up on her mind. The words inside 'The Standard Book of Spells', a textbook required for Charms class, were blending into an unreadable mess that she was having a hard time reading.
Averting her eyes for a moment, she took a look around the classroom.
Three rolls of desks occupied by students from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor faced the teacher's table at the front of the room. It wasn't much to look at, not when compared to the DADA Classroom, but Professor Flitwick, a short wizard with white hair, made it warm and welcoming.
Perhaps this is why I'm having a hard time staying awake.
Aurore stifled a yawn and tried to focus on her reading once again. She made it halfway down the page, familiarizing herself with basic charms before her tired eyes began to close.
"Miss Greenwood," the squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick called out.
Aurore snapped to attention and glanced at him standing on a stack of books in front of one of the two blackboards beside his desk.
"Please see me after class," he added.
Her face heated up in embarrassment. She ignored the humorous looks of her peers and buried her attention back into her work.
For the remainder of the class, Aurore managed to stay awake, though it wasn't easy. She remained in her seat as the other students were excused, filing out one by one; Hermione gave her a sympathetic look as she passed.
Standing, she sauntered to the front of the classroom and waited for Flitwick to finish his notes on the Levitation Charm.
"How are you fairing on your charms work?" He asked in curiosity, turning around to face her.
"Decent, I think," Aurore answered. "Though I need to master my wand movement."
She hoped that when meeting Hermione soon she'd be able to practice. There was something about the way the brunette casted spells that intrigued Aurore.
"Thank you for your concern, professor; you're too kind… and I apologize for nearly falling asleep. I stayed up a bit late reading about constellations after Astrology class this morning," she explained.
"It's no excuse though."
"Your honesty is admirable," Flitwick stated. He buried his face in his hands at the compliment Aurore gave him. "But please try to stay awake next time. Your O.W.L. exams won't be so forgiving if you aren't familiar with the material."
He had a point. This is why Aurore felt much worse about nearly falling asleep in his class. She was thankful at least that Flitwick didn't take points from her house.
Excusing her, Aurore gave her gratitude and then hurried from the room.
She was surprised to see Hermione standing in the hall near the door.
"Were you given detention?" She asked.
"Luckily no. Quel soulagement (what a relief)," Aurore uttered with a sigh.
Hermione hummed.
"That is lucky. Professor Flitwick is rather generous, don't you agree?"
Aurore did. She shook her head. Realizing that Hermione might have been waiting on her, she widened her eyes.
"You weren't waiting on me, were you?"
"I have some time before Transfiguration class," Hermione answered. "I didn't mind. And besides, I wanted to see if you were still interested in meeting me in the library; I was thinking of Saturday."
She had Transfiguration next? Ironically, so did Aurore.
"Of course. I'm eager to learn what I can from you."
"And I as well," Hermione stated.
Aurore reached into her robes and removed her curriculum sheet, showing it to the young witch; she grinned in response.
"How interesting. Shall we, then?"
Aurore shook her head in agreement and leisurely walked beside Hermione toward the ground floor. She was thankful that the brunette seemed to know where she was going. Chatting about the classes they had attended in the past few days at Hogwarts, she learned that Hermione liked Charms; the former favored Herbology and Astrology - the reason for her sluggishness.
When they arrived, Aurore was saddened to part from their chat to join her house and sauntered to the front row on the far left, setting her books on the desktop.
The room in general was rather large, surrounded by high windows with four rows of three desks, but what interested her more was a gorgeous silver tabby cat sitting on the teacher's desk, watching everyone who sauntered in.
Was this Professor McGonagall's cat?
"Bonjour (hello)," Aurore greeted the tabby as she sat down. "You are very lovely."
The cat directed its attention to the blackboard closest to it, almost as if it was telling her something. Aurore read the words McGonagall had written and hummed, taking out her 'A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration' textbook. She was meant to write down and familiarize herself with the Transfiguration alphabet, 26 unfamiliar characters that directly translated to the letters of the English alphabet.
Aurore took out her ink pot and quill, beginning her work. She found it nerve-wracking that the class was starting to fill, ignoring the fact that first-years from Slytherin were among them. And before long the room was silent except for the out-of-sync scratches of quills on parchment.
The classroom door abruptly opened, drawing Aurore's attention to the back of the room. She was surprised to see Ron and Harry running late, rushing down the aisle toward the front. They were fortunate that McGonagall was not yet present; she seemed like a woman not to be crossed.
"Made it!" Ron exclaimed with a tired sigh. "Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?"
Aurore turned her attention to the front of the room toward the teacher's desk. Where was she? In shock, she watched the tabby leap from the top and elegantly transform into McGonagall, walking through the aisle toward them.
She's an animagus?
This fact alone didn't disturb Aurore; she had heard of witches and wizards who could transform into animals and back again at will. No. What disturbed her was the fact, she told the professor that she was lovely.
Perhaps she'd be too occupied with Ron and Harry to make mention of it if she did.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed in shock.
"Thank you for that assessment," McGonagall retorted. Despite the compliment, she seemed unphased. "It'd be better if I transfigured Mr. Potter and you into a watch. Then one of you might be on time."
Aurore turned her attention back to her work but continued to listen.
"We got lost," Harry uttered.
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats," McGonagall quickly remarked.
Harry and Ron said nothing in response and took their seats as McGonagall sauntered to her desk. Before she passed the front row, she turned her attention to Aurore, standing beside her.
"Thank you for that comment."
Aurore felt her face heat up in embarrassment. She honestly felt like her head might explode. It was unreal the sort of day she was having.
History of Magic had to be the most boring class out of the six that Aurore had attended since she came to Hogwarts.
The room was interesting enough, filled with books about the history of the Wizarding World. But this was not enough to keep Aurore attentive; not when the ghost of Professor Binns, a shriveled man with a balding head, began to teach in a dry voice about the Gargoyle Strike of 1991. Ten minutes in and the tendrils of sleep that she thought she had overcome was creeping back over her.
Her 'A History of Magic' textbook wasn't even necessary, not when Aurore couldn't follow the professor. She tried to read through the book herself, but before she knew it, her eyes were closing.
A moment later, in her opinion, a voice startled her. Aurore opened her tired eyes and glanced up at Professor Binns as he floated beside her desk. His expression was one of disappointment.
"5 points from Hufflepuff, Miss Greenwood, for interrupting the class with your snoring," he declared.
What?! Sno–
Aurore paused, witnessing Draco, grinning at her from across the room.
Did he have something to do with this? She narrowed her eyes at him and once Professor Binns floated by, she brought up her hand and mouthed the incantation to the Fire-Making Spell, swishing a fake wand in the air.
In response, Draco widened his eyes in alarm, staring at her in disbelief for a moment before a Hufflepuff student interrupted.
"Where is Professor Binns going?"
Aurore peered over her shoulder and watched the professor pass through the classroom door, muttering to himself. A moment later, the student who spoke out stood and sauntered to the door, opening it.
"I think he wants us to follow him," she pointed out.
One by one, the classroom emptied into the corridor where the artifacts were, joining Professor Binns.
"Familiarize yourselves with the unique histories that Hogwarts has to offer," he instructed. "There is much to learn here in this room."
He began to prattle on about the Goblin Rebellion of 1612, floating near a case with a horn in it. A few of the students spread out throughout the hall, but Aurore and a handful remained; she figured the Rebellion would be on the exam, and though she was going to have to study the textbook to make up for her mistake in class, she wanted to make sure that she paid attention now.
If only Professor Binns would speak in a clearer, more expressive voice.
Aurore could hardly hear him. She waited for him to float away from the case and down the stairs before she approached it, attempting to read the information plate.
"Think you're funny do you?" A familiar voice asked.
She raised a brow and peered over her shoulder, seeing Draco standing behind her; Crabbe and Goyle were nearby, goofing around near the base of the stairs.
"Excusez-moi (pardon me)?"
Draco narrowed his eyes and approached the case, standing beside her.
"Some witches and wizards can cast magic without wands," he pointed out.
"Your head isn't on fire, so I guess I'm not one of them," Aurore mentioned with a snort.
Draco tightened his jaw.
"I don't know how things are in France but–"
"London… Westminster to be exact. I'm not from France, though my grandmother is; she barely speaks a lick of English," Aurore interrupted him.
The blond knitted his brows together.
"So?"
Aurore turned up her eyes.
"So, if you plan to insult me, at least get the facts straight."
"I've never heard of your family before. And my father knows every wizarding family that attended or attends this school," Draco stated.
Not all of them.
Though she reckoned this is the reason he knew Ezra, having attended the year after him. But why was Draco meeting him near the statue? It wasn't her business, but Aurore wasn't going to pretend as though she wasn't curious.
"Shame. My parents are hard-working people," Aurore mentioned. "They might not be much to someone like you, but they do contribute in their way to the Wizarding World."
She wasn't about to tell him what her parents did for a living, but the more she thought about her family's status, the more she couldn't contain her curiosity.
"Did your father also tell you about the Frost family?"
Draco snorted in response.
"Those blood traitors? Had everything they ever wanted just to muck it all up in the end."
What did he mean?
Ezra is a blood traitor?
Aurore had no idea what being a blood traitor meant. Perhaps Niall knew; he had explained to her the significance of status in the Wizarding World the last time she asked.
Does it matter though? He was nice to me on the train.
She could tell that something was hurting him; Ezra seemed to be shouldering a heavy burden on his own.
"You shouldn't call him names," Aurore uttered.
"What?" Draco questioned.
Aurore gave him a sympathetic look.
"Kicking someone who is already lying down in the dirt is cruel. I shouldn't pity you… But for some reason I do."
Before Draco could react, Aurore sauntered past him and down the stairs to where Professor Binns was, ignorant of the wide-eyed expression that Draco was giving her.
She didn't have the strength to deal with him and his cruelty at the moment. But a question did cross her mind.
Did status make him this way?
Perhaps this is why she felt pity for him.