Chapter One
Aurora sat at the bureau at the end of the dormitory. She sat with the window wide open opposite her; it was such a hot night. Aurora pulled back her sandy blonde hair into a tight bun on the back of her head; she took the make up off with a single wipe, picking up the quill she resumed writing.
Cedric my star, my angel, dear brother,
It has been only one year since your death and already I am noticing changes around me. For one a lot more people want to know me, I think that is because of you. Cho keeps stopping me in the corridors and sending me notes in lessons, she wants to talk about you. I don't want to talk about you Ced not because I don't want to remember you it's just I want to get on with my life. I want to remember you in my own special way, not be forced to talk about it.
"Lights out!" Professor McGonagall cried from the stairwell of the Gryffindor common room. Aurora dimmed her oil lamp slightly and went back to finishing her letter.
Ced I have to go. I'll write tomorrow brother,
Your sister,
Aurora.
Aurora got up off her chair and put the neatly folded letter into a red suede box by her bedside. She blew out the oil lamp and tucked herself into bed. About to draw her curtains, Aurora saw someone's face emerge from the bed next to her. It was one of her best friends Aurelia.
"Are you okay?" she whispered, holding out her hand
"Fine," Aurora snapped and she saw Aurelia's face be reduced to shock, she softened her tone, "I'm fine, thank you," and Aurelia smiled again.
"Are you sure you're fine," her other best friend, Astra, asked leaning over her bed and holding out her hand.
"I'm fine thank you," Aurora smiled again and held both their hands lovingly. In the early morning, they fell asleep.
It was a coincidence that all their names were beginning with A. The other girls in the dorm did not really approve of the trio and though the girls kept themselves to themselves the others could feel the tension in the dorms.
Aurora didn't like conflict between the girls and tried her hardest to get along with everyone but Aurelia and Astra were shy and didn't really like mingling with the other girls.
Term had started but Aurora couldn't settle. Her brain was still in holiday mode and night after night since term began Aurora would sit at the window sill of the Gryffindor tower, behind the bureau, and watch the glistening lake ripple in the moonlight and the steam of the trains puff into the dark night.
Most evenings Aurora sat gazing at the stars. It was something about them that had fascinated her; maybe it was the Auroras, the north/south polar lights that connected her with astronomy. It was no doubt that Astronomy was her best subject and she was on good terms with her teacher, Professor Sinistra, whom she shared the same name with.
Aurora also took Charms, Defence against the Dark Arts, Divination, Flying, Muggle Studies, Potions, Transfiguration which she would be taking for her O.W.L's this year. Aurora was intelligent but not intelligent enough for Ravenclaw. She had spoken to Professor Dumbledore about her place in Gryffindor as her brother Cedric was in Hufflepuff. Dumbledore simply replied, "Having to accept your fears makes you fearless," and that was a piece of advice that Aurora knew she would take to her grave. When Cedric was tragically killed she knew she had to accept his death and conquer it. Loosing a twin was the most unbearable emotion in the world, obviously as Aurora and Cedric were very close. Aurora didn't think that she'd ever get over it, but she knew she'd have to try.
One night Aurora had a theory when looking at the stars like she always does. She was feeling particularly low about Cedric like she does every now and again; she looked up and saw a star shining particularly brightly. She felt a warm feeling come over and she felt as though Cedric was looking down on her, guiding her, that's when she began to write letters to him.
During down time Aurora felt cut off from other people, like she couldn't relate to a lot of her classmates. When this happened she went to see her good friends, Fred and George Weasley. Luckily they were in the same house as her and they knew just how to cheer her up.
At the beginning of the year it would be announced that Professor Umbridge was going to be our new DADA teacher, Aurora loved DADA but Umbridge gave her shivers.
"What do you think of her?" she asked Astra, enthusiastically.
"Oh my word, what an old trout!" Aurelia cried, butting in, this was clearly the news of the week.
"I know," Astra screeched as she sat cross legged on her bed.
Aurelia began to undo her French plait and got her bed ready. Aurora opened the window and took a huge breath of night air.
"Close the window, freak," Parvati spat, shivering. Aurora turned around and shot her a glare.
"Night air is good for you," Aurelia saved her.
"Haha yeah, gimme some of that!" Lavender joked.
"Shut your face yeah?" Astra snapped.
"I'm not taking your crap," she spat at Lavender as she passed. She walked out of the girls dorm and down into the common room in her pyjamas. She was looking for Fred and George, she needed a giggle. Entering the common room she saw Seamus, Dean, Ron, Harry, Neville, Fred and George sitting around a table in the middle of the room playing wizard poker.