Chapter Fifteen
Belittled as a Mudblood
A/N: I want to give a HUGE thank you to all my readers! Those who've commented, favorited, liked, bookmarked, kudos, you name it! It means a lot and I hope everyone can't wait for the future for Aurora and Severus.
Disclaimer: I only own Aurora and any other OC's. Remember, I will occasionally use quotes from both the books or movie, depending on the scene; I do know own direct quotes or phrases.
~ oOo ~
"And just what do you think you're doing?"
"Reading a book. Geez, you make it sound as if it's not allowed."
Lifting her gaze from the thick paperback book, Aurora was greeted by a chaste kiss from the Potions Master, his arms full of parchment, desperately needing to be graded. Following his form until he set the stack upon the table, her eyes returned to the page she had been reading; that is, Severus walked behind her chair and pulled the book from her fingers.
"That's not very nice, you know," she mumbled, slowly reaching above her head from the comfortable position of her chair, though Severus retreated from her reach.
"You're the one who said we would finish grading our student's midterm exams, and here I find you sitting by the fire reading a book." Flipping back and forth between the cover and the page she was currently on, Severus examined the red and white coloring, noting the title and depiction of what seemed to be…a dinosaur? "What exactly is this book?"
Finally tearing the novel from his hands, Aurora returned to her position as she placed a bookmark inside so she wouldn't lose her spot on the page. "It's only the best thing ever!" she exclaimed. "It was published only a few years ago and I've read it several times. It's ahh-mazing!" Giggling like a child, Aurora stood before placing her book on the table, waiting to be read further once she was ready for bed.
"Jurassic Park…" Severus read the title, wondering what they hell it could mean.
"How to simplify this… Basically, a man creates technology to clone dinosaurs through DNA retrieved from fossilized mosquitoes, and then opens up a park. Thus the title: Jurassic Park."
"That's it? You're reading something almost four-hundred pages long about someone who can bring dinosaurs back to life."
"You know? It's days like this I'm glad I'm Muggleborn; I feel like we have more imagination than the world of magic."
"Your statement is not lost on me as I'm a Half-Blood."
Taking a seat at her table, Aurora pulled spare quills and ink pots as she stared at the large pile of parchment. Severus had already graded the potion his students were required to brew for the exam and requested her assistance with the written portion. Roughly grabbing half of the stack, she placed it on her side of the table and Severus sat across from her. "I haven't even described the best part."
"There's more to your book?"
"Yep! Before the park is opened, one of the employees attempts corporate espionage; meaning, he steals viable dinosaur DNA and is wanting to sell it to a rival company for major cash. However…" Stopping mud-sentence, Aurora grabbed on essay, briefly reading the first few sentences before glancing up at the man who had narrowed his eyes in her direction. "Is something the matter?"
"Aurora…" Severus growled lowly, but ultimately ended up chucking as he, too, grabbed an essay.
"Alright, alright. In his attempt to escape, the park loses complete power, meaning the dinosaurs have a chance to escape from their electrified cages. While conducting a tour of the park with the owner's grandchildren and dinosaur experts he brought to the island, the Tyrannosaurus Rex escapes and attack their vehicles. The rest of the book is about the characters surviving the island before they are eaten by carnivorous dinosaurs." She sighed, scratching several marks here and there on the first essay. "This book is so damn good."
"I will admit, Aurora, that does seem…entertaining." Narrowing her sight, Aurora was baffled that he didn't sound sincere. Didn't this man ever read? Does he not know how important this was to her?
"Tch, entertaining? You know what would be entertaining?! Seeing the movie that's being released this weekend!" Screaming with excitement, Aurora placed the quill on the table before any unnecessary ink could befall the remaining essays. Taking deep breaths, knowing she was becoming overexuberant, Aurora smiled as she noticed Severus placed his quill down as well.
"Aurora, is this your way of asking me if we could go see the film?" Never before had she desired to give Severus a "puppy dog" look until that moment, as she never wanted to force the man into a corner, finally wavering the man to agree to what she wanted.
But damn, if she did want to see that movie to one of her favorite books.
Widening her eyes and pursing her lips, Aurora glowed, devilishly watching Severus waver, diverting his attention before releasing a heavy breath. Peering from the corner of his eyes, the poor man had a feeling what they would be doing the following weekend, but couldn't hold off the smile creeping upon his lips. "Alright Aurora, I'll take you to go see this movie. We'll go next weekend."
Eyes enlarging even more, she couldn't believe her ears. "Wait, for real? You'll really take me?" Jumping out of her chair, Aurora launched at the male, arms circling around his neck as his wrapped around her waist. Tightening his arms, the man knew Aurora was looking for ways to distract her mind, the thoughts running rampage within the forefronts of her mentality.
The following weekend would be one year since the death of her mother, Cassandra.
Severus knew this was closing in for the last few weeks, watching Aurora throughout the day whenever they were together. Whether she knew it or not, her gazes were spent looking into the distant and she had periods where she zoned out, not remembering a conversation or what she had been doing at the time. Severus was expecting Aurora to mention wanting to visit her mother's grave at some point, but had yet to do so, which caused the professor to wonder if she wanted to go out and see this film to help. The man knew, in some way, she was still grieving.
Abruptly pulling away, Aurora kissed his cheek before returning to her seat. Grabbing a quill, she was quiet for a few moments as she sorted through several essays; the Potions Master followed suit as they continued to work in silence. When half her stack was finished, she paused when reaching for the next piece of parchment. "I know what you're thinking, your face says it all."
Glancing over his quill, the man said, "Aurora, I…"
"Severus, it's ok, really. But answer me this: did you agree to go with me to see the movie just because I wanted to? Or because you thought it would be a good distraction." Seeing how he was wording the answer in his head, Aurora quickly added, "I'm not mad sweetie, not at all. I'm just curious." She smiled in reassurance.
Reaching across the table to grab her hand, Severus squeezed; she was very perceptive and he needed to remember that. "It was a mixture of both. I know you're still grieving over your mother, Aurora, but you were so excited about this book that…I couldn't say no."
"Severus Snape…" Squeezing his fingers, Aurora felt herself tear up, knowing this man was everything she wanted, everything she had been looking for. "I don't…I don't deserve you. You're so incredibly sweet."
"I am anything but sweet, Aurora."
"I doth protest to your statement, Severus. You're sweet to me, and that's what matters." Wiping at her eyes, Aurora grasped the quill again, her focus returning to the rest of the essays. The air stilled between the two, but it was comfortable as they each worked to finish grading the stack of students work, though neither wanting to do so. Severus continued to stare at the woman who held his heart within her hands. Face flushed and eyes misty, Aurora was a beautiful human being, both inside and out, and the male professor truly believed that she deserved him.
But the man didn't believe as if he deserved her.
~ oOo ~
The next few days had gone smoothly for Aurora as she was awaiting the weekend where she and Severus would go on their first official "date" to see the film version of Jurassic Park. Though she was ecstatic for the upcoming weekend, there was a dark cloud dangling above her head, causing the woman's smile to eventually fade before she smeared it back into place. Severus' instincts were true and she knew before his statement was explained; in a way, Aurora was still grieving for her mother.
She tried not to let the grief consume her, drowning herself in grading papers and perfecting her lectures for both classes, but only so much could be done before the female would remember her mother's smile, her laugh or how her presence simply didn't exist in their world no longer.
With Halloween on Saturday – along with the first Quidditch game of the year – Aurora spent the week thinking of a lesson plan for her potions course on Friday so the Second Years could enjoy the holiday during class. The woman decided on something creative and non-potions related as she knew the students deserved a break. Despite the incident with Draco Malfoy several weeks prior, the class was running smoothly and all her students were doing extremely well, and wanted this to be their treat. Speaking with Hagrid, the half-giant provided her with the supplies she needed and was curious to see how her Halloween lesson would turn out. Shrinking the items and placing them into her basket, Aurora exclaimed that she would visit Hagrid the following week and report how everything went.
The following afternoon, Aurora left her quarters early, walking into her classroom to find it empty, as the class wasn't to begin for another twenty minutes. Her course was after lunch and the last class of the day for most of the students; she really was hoping this would make them smile, that they would have an "easy" last course before their weekend began.
Removing any utensils and cauldrons from the student's desks, she placed them on the tables lining the class wall and placed a tiny pumpkin on the desks where her students would sit. Smiling, she took her own seat and resumed grading the midterm exams for the potions course. The exam had been earlier in the week, which was another reason she wanted to give the class a break. Quill scratching into the parchment, she was almost finished with the last pile of exams when her students began filing in, heading towards their seat. From the corner of her eye, she could see some looked up at her at the front then back down towards their desk, straight at the baby pumpkin. On the chalkboard, she had written, "I will answer your questions once class begins," so she would only need to provide one answer for the curious object upon her desk.
Once class began and every student was in their seat, Aurora stood from hers and faced the class, a giant smile on her lips. "Good afternoon everyone!" Several students replied while others mumbled a weak answer. "Oh, you poor things, no energy today?"
"We've had midterms all week," one replied.
"I know, I'm currently grading your exams, which you should receive by next week." Some smiled and others scowled, not wanting to see how they scored; Hermione, of course, beamed, wanting to know then-and-now. Chuckling, she continued to speak. "Well, I'm guessing some of you are wondering what's with the pumpkins on your desks? Today, since it's the day before Halloween, I wanted to give each one of you a chance to relax, to do something different for today's lesson, so…" Waving her hand in the direction of the tables in front, Aurora released the spell on each pumpkin, causing the vegetables to increase, returning to their original size. Once done, Aurora flipped the chalkboard over to the other side where she had created a drawing earlier that morning.
"Today, you're going to be making Jack-o'-lanterns!" she stated excitedly.
"What?!"
"No way!"
"My Friday just got better!"
Grinning, Aurora could feel the positive energy radiating from her students as a majority were pleased with the turn of events, glad they could rest easy in their last class of the day before the weekend. She was met with some apprehension as she glanced over at Draco and his friends, who were scowling, switching their stares between the pumpkin and their professor. Ignoring those who she knew did not want to participate, Aurora grabbed her own pumpkin from her desk and used magic to move an empty table in front of the class so she could carve hers as the students worked on theirs.
"Alright, you guys excited?"
"Yeah!"
"Good, I'm glad! It may be silly to some, but each and every one of you has worked hard so far this term and I wanted to give you guys a break." Pointing across the room, she added, "Over there, I have provided a collection of knives and different tools that can be used to carve your pumpkins. When you're done, come see me. Oh!" Some students quickly rose from their seats, but froze when their professor needed to state another word. "One last thing, I promise. Please don't throw away the seeds. There are bowls for each of you, please place them in there. We will be needing the seeds for a potion next term."
"Yes, professor," the students murmured as they moved to the table with the different tools and began working to carve a pumpkin that fit their personality. Watching the students for a few moments, Aurora knew this was a good lesson for the day. Only graduating eleven years ago, the witch remembered fairly well what it was like to be a student and wished some of her professors allowed an easy lesson once in a while. Moving around to grab her personal equipment, Aurora grasped her chin, considering what design she should do.
"What if we don't want to carve a pumpkin?"
Glancing up at Vincent Crabbe, Aurora blinked, standing straight as she cocked her head to the side. "You don't want to make a Jack-o'-lantern?"
"No! This is ridiculous and we shouldn't have to do it," Draco answered for his friend, most likely the one who instigated the conversation.
Sighing with annoyance in the air, the female answered with, "Fine, you don't want to carve a pumpkin, you don't have to." Grabbing a set of gloves from behind her, she turned to see the three Slytherin friends grinning mischievously.
"Good, I don't want to partake in a tradition Muggles started; I shouldn't have to steep so low," the blonde Second Year complained.
An eyebrow arched into her hairline at the boy's comment; Draco's expression fell slightly as he noticed when she turned towards the three. "Oh, is that what you think, Mr. Malfoy? Well class, I guess there will be a lesson today." Several individuals groaned as they stared at the blonde, but he just stared straight back, arrogantly confident that he was in the right.
"Here's a history lesson for everyone to know. The firsthand accounts were created by witches and wizards before it was adopted by Muggles, to which the traditional Jack-o'-lantern derives from Ireland. From the accounts I've studied, Merlin himself was the first to use the idea of a Jack-o'-lantern to ward off poltergeists in his travels. Merlin carved scary faces into wooden logs and placed a candle inside; he created the notion that poltergeists were scared of the 'fiery face' and kept their distance for those who carried these around."
"This is so stu – "
"Don't interrupt, Mr. Malfoy, I'm talking." Clearing her throat, Aurora continued, her annoyance and anger on the rise. "Witches and wizards between Britain, Scotland and Ireland adopted Merlin's technique, but several centuries ago, a Muggle encountered a witch and noticed her carved log and questioned what it was, to which the witch answered it was used to banish evil spirits. From then on, Muggles within Ireland adopted this tradition, but carved turnips, as pumpkins weren't native to the European continent, as they derive from the Americas. These Muggles thus carved their turnips only during October and increased as the month passed. The thirty-first of October is called 'All Hallows Eve' because Muggles believed this was the day the spirits would rise from their graves to haunt those who still live. And that, Mr. Malfoy, is the true history of the Jack-o'-lantern."
"This is still childish, I will not be carving one!"
His statement caused the woman to chuckle. Oh Draco, you're twelve, still a child yourself! Swallowing what she really wanted to say, the female stood her ground and finally stated, "Mr. Malfoy, if you feel that way, then I expect a five-page paper on the properties of the Blood-Replenishing Potion, focusing on its importance in the medical field and why you should be learning it within this Medicinal Potions course. Due Monday."
"There's no way I'll be able to get that done by Monday, what with Quidditch tomorrow!" Snarling, Draco starred down his professor, believing he was going to win, but as Aurora crossed her arms, the boy frowned. "Wait until my father hears about this," he sneered.
Ignoring the same comment the boy used all too frequently, Aurora simply stated, "You might want to get started Mr. Malfoy. If I don't see a carved pumpkin by the end of the class, then I expect the five-page assignment first thing class starts Monday afternoon." Draco sneered to his friend then grudgingly stood to fetch the necessary tools he would need. Shaking her head, Aurora fixed her attention on her own pumpkin and placed the long gloves upon her hands. They were a present gifted to her by Severus from her birthday earlier in the year and they were long enough to cover up to her elbows. The male professor knew the female wasn't very fond of touching live specimens when preparing ingredients with her bare hands; and for instances such as this, they were also perfect for cutting open the orange vegetables and scooping their gooey seeds out.
"Professor? How come you're wearing gloves?"
Looking up at Harry, she noticed several other students, hands covered within the insides of the vegetables, asked the same question as they saw her covered hands. Smirking, Aurora tossed aside the seeds, deciding to clean them once she was done, and answered, "To put it bluntly, I'm allergic to pumpkin." The widened expressions of her students caused the female to burst into a fit of laughter.
"How're you allergic to pumpkin?" Ron asked, slicing his knife to finish his carving, smiling with content.
"I'm not sure, Mr. Weasley, I was just born with it. My mother noticed when I was real little when I tried to eat pumpkin pie; sadly I broke out in hives and my throat started to swell. So, anything pumpkin related I can't eat."
"So you can't eat pumpkin pie…" Ron confirmed.
"No sir."
"Pumpkin Pasties?"
Aurora shook her head.
"Pumpkin pancakes?" another student asked.
"Sadly no, but they do sound delicious!"
"Wait…what about pumpkin juice?" Hermione asked, curiosity, once again, consuming the girl; but Aurora shook her head, not even knowing what the drink tasted like. "Then what do you drink?"
"Mostly water."
"Alright, but if you can't eat anything with pumpkin in it, why're you still wearing gloves?"
"I can touch the outside of a pumpkin just fine, but if I touch the inside, such as the seeds? My skin gets red, blotchy and itches really bad. The worst reactions are when I consume it; I lose the ability to breath the more I consume."
"I'm sorry professor, you're really missing out," Ron said, but Hermione jammed her elbow into his side.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Mr. Weasley. Besides, if you haven't noticed at dinner, I'm more of a chocolate fanatic anyways."
After the discussion, the class fell into a comfortable silence as her students continued to finish creating their lanterns. Some were already finished and waited for their friends and some were just finishing up. Aurora had worked on creating the basic design, with gaping eyes and jagged teeth, but she then added a small flower where its head would be. Walking around the classroom with bowl in hand, Aurora collected the seeds from the students and looked at the different carvings her students created. All were wonderful!
That is, until she stopped in front of Draco's pumpkin and his friends.
"Mr. Malfoy," she exclaimed, placing the numerous seeds inside her overflowing bowl. "It would seem you did not partake in finishing your pumpkin."
"Tch, I told you. It's ridiculous and I will not do it."
"Fair enough, but then I expect your five-page essay on my desk when class starts Monday afternoon."
"Are you kidding me? That's absurd, I have Quidditch tomorrow!"
"Yes, you've already stated so, Mr. Malfoy. And what is it you're wanting me to do about that?"
"I will not write that essay. Wait till I tell my father hears about this nonsense! He'll have you sacked before the weekends over!"
The comfortable silence that once filled the room was now filled with hostility. Aurora set the bowl onto the front table, inhaling and exhaling slowly, knowing Severus' godson was pushing her buttons. Didn't help her patience was wearing thin. "Contact your father all you want, Mr. Malfoy. You were given two options and refuse to do one; therefore, you must do the other. There will come a time where you must make a decision, regardless of whether you like it or not."
"Tch, did you not hear what I said about my father? Do you even know who he is?"
"Why yes, yes I do. But let me give you an outside lesson, Mr. Malfoy…" Walking towards his desk, Aurora held her hands against the edge of the desk as she bent downward, her face closing in upon the boys. "Life isn't always fair, and whether you like it or not, your father will not always be there to back you up when you cry and complain. If you don't like something that happens to you, suck it up and suffer through it."
"I can't believe Dumbledore has allowed you to teach here. What do you know, anyways? My father was right, you'll never be nothing more than a filthy Mudblood!"
"Draco Malfoy!"
Not her own, but Hermione's voice seeped through the professor's ears. Frozen in place, Aurora could do nothing other than stare into the miniature person that was Lucius Malfoy's son, who did nothing but smirk viciously in her direction. Blinking as she stood straight, the female walked towards the front of the class and faced the chalkboard, not sure what to do in a situation such as this. Turning to face the boy, Aurora narrowed her eyes before taking a deep breath.
"Draco Malfoy…" The whisper leaving her lips was dripping with venom as she accentuated each word. "I've already taken House Points away for your use of that word before. In this case, I believe one-hundred and fifty points should be enough…" Draco stood from his seat, mouth open to yell before Aurora cut him off, thrusting her hand through the air. "Bite your tongue and take responsibility for your actions or I WILL remove more points Mr. Malfoy! Two weeks' worth of detention with me and Professor Snape, unless your Head of House increases your punishment!"
Hastily grabbing his belongings, Draco and his friends slammed the door open and left the classroom, their voices echoing across the stone corridor as they stormed off. The rest of the students turned from the door to their professor, whose shoulders slumped as she dropped into her desk chair. Quietly, but with soft aggression, she urged, "Class is dismissed; everyone leave, now."
Grabbing their pumpkins, the students one by one left the class, each offering a sympathetic glance towards their teacher; each wanting to say something, but nothing they offered would undo the damage their classmate had caused. The trio were the last to leave as Hermione stepped forward, but Harry grasped her arm and pulled her back. They each thanked their professor for a great lesson and hoped she had a great weekend as well. Smiling as best as she could, Aurora stated the same towards the three as they left; but once the door was closed, she quickly moved around the classroom, casting wandless magic here and there to clean up any mess that was missed.
She placed the seeds in the ingredient storage and quickly cleaned all the utensils before subsequently leaving her classroom and, after checking to see that no student was in the corridor, jogged towards her chambers where she slid through the portrait's opening. Taking her cloak off and haphazardly throwing it somewhere within the front room, Aurora placed her wand upon the nightstand once she entered the bedroom. Falling upon the bed and curling into the fetal position, Aurora closed her eyes...
And simply breathed.
Time fell through the cracks, and with her bedroom being down in the dungeons, she was barely able to see any light, only when the sun rose in the morning could it be visible through the Black Lake. It hadn't taken long for Merlin to curl around his mother's tummy nor Sapphire to squeak, nudging Aurora's face, questioning the loss of emotion. Not wanting to ignore her pets, the female did what she could to raise an arm and caress one's fur and one's scales.
Mudblood.
The word echoed and beat inside her head with the rhythm of her heart.
Mudblood.
Mudblood.
MUDBLOOD!
Sapphire and Merlin stood on edge as Aurora quickly rose to her feet, wanting, no, needing to rinses away the dirt she felt was covering her disgusting skin. Tearing the clothing from her limbs, the dress, leggings and undergarments cluttered her floor as she slammed the bathroom door behind her, leaning against the wood, catching her breath before stepping in the shower. Metal pipes roaring to life, Aurora was drenched in freezing water; leaning her head down, she let the water cascade over her hair, plastering the locks against her face and shoulders. Breathing in and out, her chest beat against her ribcage, body heating with anger and numbness, despite the water being the opposite temperature. Pushing herself against the side of the shower, Aurora slid down the tile, hands covering her face, lips open to the scream raging against her lips, tears molding into the shower and disappeared down the drain.
Sapphire, still in the bedroom, flew towards the door and tapped the wood with her snout, then scratching with the claws on her wings, trying to attract her owners attention. The dragon could hear the females wailing, thus squeaked on her own, wanting to be held, for her owner to smile. Squeaking once more, Sapphire flew through the chambers as the portrait opened, allowing her to leave and fly through the emptiness of the dungeons to the only other room she was most acquainted with.
Just with Aurora's, Severus' portrait was enchanted to grant access towards Sapphire if ever need be, and the dragon never used it unless she was with her owner. As the wizard in question was sitting with his back towards the opening portrait, he assumed his female counterpart had entered as he asked, "Enlighten me, how did your students like their treat?" When he received no answer, the man sipped his drink and asked another question. "Was it that bad Aurora?"
Squeaking as high a pitch she could, Sapphire rapidly flapped her wings, flying towards the man and landing on his knees. Taken aback, Severus set his drink down and looked around to see where Aurora was. Looking down at the dragon, he noticed the frantic expression within her eyes; how the man could tell, even he did not know. Sapphire squeaked again and again, nipping at the man's clothing, pulling in the direction to leave his chambers.
"What is going on Sapphire?"
Standing, Severus maneuvered the creature to sit upon his arm, but the dragon still dragged the man with her talons. "Where is Aurora, Sapphire?"
SQUEAK, SQUEAK!
With the portrait opening, Sapphire flew from his arm past the door, hovering mid-air, waiting for the professor to follow. Sighing, as he had no idea what the dragon was doing, pursued the creature as it quickly flew back towards Aurora's chambers. "If this is her doing, I swear..." Severus mumbled, lips tightened into a thin line.
Walking through her portrait, Severus was met with silence before he heard the water running in her bathroom. "Sapphire..." the man growled, looking in her direction.
SQUEAK!
Flying in her bedroom, the dragon landed in front of the bathroom door and clawed at the wood. I know how Aurora loves you to pieces, but what the bloody hell are you doing?! Walking closer, the Potions Master was met with the increased loudness of the running water, but as he leaned into the door, the man was met with weakened sobs and muffled crying. Shaking his head, Severus surveyed the room, noting the strewn clothes across the floor and how Merlin jumped from his position on the bed and mimicked Sapphires actions as he pawed at the door was well.
Swallowing, Severus knocked against the door, the depth within telling the man something was clearly unbalanced. "Aurora."
No answer; so, he knocked again. "Aurora...? Are you in there?" Heart drenched sobs echoed more into his ears, the sound dreadful against his soul.
Grasping the handle, the door wouldn't budge. Dammit woman! he thought, knowing she charmed the door to lock. Waving his hand and prying it open, Severus was greeted with ice filling the air, bumps instantly rising on his skin against the coldness. "Aurora?!" Nearly ripping the shower curtain off its hinges as he opened the square shower, Severus stiffened.
Aurora was in a heap against the tiled floor, leaning on the wall as her legs curled into her chest; her head was sitting atop her knees, hair plastered and framed her face. She was visibly shaking and Severus deduced that she had been in there long enough for the hot water to run dry, not knowing she purposely set it towards ice cold. Quickly turning off the pipes and kneeling to his knees, Severus gingerly placed a hand on her shoulder, wincing as his fingers stung from the frostiness that was her own skin. "Aurora...?" he whispered.
Slowly tilting her head upwards, Aurora's bright blue eyes were dark and burned with red, sobs still echoing from her mouth as she bit her lips, chest tightening upon his gaze. "S-Severus..." she muttered, lips quivering.
"What're you...? Aurora, why...? We-we need to get you dried off." Grabbing the thickest towel she had, Severus stepped inside and knelt onto the tiled floor, wrapping the fabric around her shoulders, causing the woman to tremor. Grabbing her beneath the legs, Severus carried the woman and sat on her bed, curling her into his chest, rubbing up and down her arms.
"I'm...g-gonna get y-you wet..." she stuttered.
"I don't care about that Aurora, just tell me what's going on," he demanded, voice soft but hinted with force.
Shaking her head into his chest, her tears seeped through his front as she grasped his frock until her knuckles were white. "Mudblood..." she whispered. "That's all I am, just...just a filthy Mudblood..."
Blinking, the Potions Master was stiff, frozen as the water she bathed in. What had she just said? Did the man hear her correctly? Opening and closing his mouth, Severus tightened his limbs around her frame, cradling her head underneath his chin. Speaking softer than before, he gently asked, "Aurora...what are you saying?" Shaking her head, the female wouldn't speak, causing Severus to sigh, knowing there was only one way he'd discover what was running through her clouded mind. "Do you trust me, Aurora?"
"Always," she said instantly, her eyes seeking his as she nodding, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
Placing a finger against her forehead, the man whispered, "Legilimens," before being swept away, looking through the last hour within Aurora's eyes.
And boy, did the man see everything.
He saw Aurora tidy her classroom in preparation for the treat she wanted to gift her students; the happiness she felt when her students smiled to carve their pumpkins; her and Draco's first encounter; along with Aurora describing her pumpkin allergy. But it wasn't until Draco began arguing with his professor the second time that Severus understood why Aurora was withdrawn, detached from her bubbly personality.
"I can't believe Dumbledore has allowed you to teach here. What do you know, anyways? My father was right, you'll never be nothing more than a filthy Mudblood!"
Knowing he should retreat from her mind, Severus lingered, watching as Aurora took a seemingly excessive amount of House Points from Slytherin – an action he was in full support of – and observed how she lingered in the classroom. She radiated with self-hatred and loathing, all against herself. The woman was never one to doubt who she was, but Severus could see the wheels turning her mentality. Draco's words truly cut the woman open, making her question the self-worth she had in the Wizarding World.
Dismissing the spell, Severus returned to cradling the woman in his arms, who, thankfully, was warming against his skin.
Caressing her silky wet hair, Severus kissed her temple before pulling the woman from his lap and sat her on the edge of the bed. Grabbing the towel, he fluffed the material around her head, attempting – in the best way he could manage – to dry her hair and decrease the water droplets still soaking the long strands. Silence fell between the two and Severus wanted to respect Aurora being inaudible. Moving around was giving the male a sense to calm his rage; furious at his students for disrespecting their professor. Granted, Severus knew the beliefs of the Malfoys and expected Lucius to raise his son in a manner that reflected himself, but Severus never expected the boy to retaliate against Aurora and slander the woman – in class, nonetheless.
Tossing the towel in the bathroom, Severus grasped her undies from the floor and crouched in front, assisting the woman in dressing. Standing in only her lower undergarments, Severus grabbed a t-shirt and her yoga pants, standing by her side as she dressed. Once clothed, he guided her into the living room where she sat in her chair while the Potions Master placed a pot of water on the stove, sitting on the table across from her once the tea was ready.
"Aurora, I..." Sighing and taking a quick sip, Severus placed his cup to the side. "I don't condone this behavior, I hope you know that."
Taking a moment to drink the entire cup, Aurora gave it to Severus before bringing her legs up and curling into the couch. "I know..." she said softly, her eyes brightened as they stared into his. "Severus...I know the real you and how you don't support the whole Pure Blood versus Mudblood debate. But, I also know that while you're here and around the Malfoys, you change your façade to fix their mold."
Grasping her hands, the male always wanted to be physically close to the woman he loved, but in that moment, he had never felt the need to be as strong. She was correct in that he wore a façade, one that he dropped when they were alone and away from the prying world. Gritting his teeth, "I'm very proud of your punishment. I don't appreciate my house losing a large amount of points, but I fully support what you did."
A smile finally graced her lips as she dropped her legs and moved into Severus' lap, his arms wrapping around her once more. "Unless you decide to increase his punishment, I wasn't going to change if you disagreed. He's just lucky I don't request Dumbledore expel his sorry ass."
Nuzzling her neck, Severus whispered, "I'm sorry, for what happened. Draco...should not have said that to you..."
Smiling even more, Aurora felt warm as her skin tingled with delight. "I appreciate you care, Severus. An apology on your behalf is not necessary, as you weren't the one to call me...well, a you-know-what."
"Don't believe him," the man stated harshly. Jumping in his arms, Aurora was caught off guard at his tone, but the man continued. "Don't you dare believe what Draco or his father say. I don't care what blood you have. You're not filthy; you're Aurora-Nyx Warrington, the brightest witch of our age."
Kissing his nose, she said, "Told you Muggleborns were special."
"Heh, that you did, Aurora, that you did. I do have a question: have you spoken with Dumbledore?" She shook your head. "Aurora, this is a matter the Headmaster should hear, and I think Draco needs to be there as well."
Allowing his words to soak, Aurora groaned. "I shouldn't argue with you on this, huh?"
"Don't even try," was the man's response.
"Give me credit where it's due, I'm getting better."
"One only gets credit if they pass. As a professor you should know that, Aurora."
"Oh, how dare you, Mr. Snape."
"Yes, how dare I, Mrs. Snape."
...
...
...
Turning in his arms, Aurora beamed at the professor, whose cheeks were glistening with embarrassment. Not once did he change his direction or avert his eyes, he simply looked straight on at something random across the room. Aurora, however, kissed his cheek and laughed. "Severus...? I know that was an accident. A cute accident, but one nonetheless."
"I am not cute, Aurora, and you know that."
"Says the man who just accidently slipped the words 'Mrs.' into his previous statement."
"A slip of the tongue, Ms. Warrington, it won't happen again."
Grinning, Aurora could see her lover overthinking his words, but secretly hoped there was some truth to his words. Not wanting to push the matter further, she stood and walked towards her kitchen, glasses in hand to refill their tea. Severus watched, but quickly chased after her and pulled the woman to his chest, mouth falling close to her ear.
"I love you, Aurora Warrington."
Kissing his chest through the thick frock and she turned to face him, Aurora replied the same. "And I love you, Severus Snape."
Scanning her features, Severus couldn't contain the additional thump of his heart. The beauty for which Aurora possessed was incomparable to any other witch the wizard had encountered. His statement was truthfully a slip of the tongue, but whispering the name throughout his mind over and over led the man to believe he wanted to turn the accident into reality.
Aurora-Nyx Snape...the woman who deserves such a name, but the man who does not deserve the woman who would own his name.
~ oOo ~
Later that evening at dinner – after grudgingly changing into appropriate attire for dinner in the Great Hall – Severus had spoken with Albus prior and agreed to meet them in his office afterwards. Once everyone's bellies were full, Aurora followed Albus and Minerva to the Headmaster's quarters while Severus left to fetch Draco. The Headmaster and Headmistress were positively talkative, and Aurora attempted in keeping up with the chit-chat, but she didn't have the heart for it. Severus helped earlier after he "rescued" her from the shower, but all she wanted to do was sleep the numbness away.
Also, it didn't help that the witch and wizard were traveling to visit her mothers grave after Quidditch the following morning.
Upon arriving in his office, Albus took his seat behind the grand desk, watching Aurora as she fiddled with her outfit, nervously switching her gaze from the ground to the door, awaiting Severus' arrival.
"Aurora?"
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"Is everything alright? I noticed you were unfathomably quiet this evening."
Breathing deeply and releasing said breath, Aurora glanced at Minerva before taking the seat in front of Albus. The Headmistress placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, to which she smiled gratefully. "Well, you see, sir, there was an incident between me and one of my students in class this afternoon and, well... Severus stated that I should explain to you what has happened."
"Yes, I noticed the Slytherin House took a nasty drop in their points this afternoon. If I may, was that you, by chance?"
Aurora nodded, causing Minerva to glance between the two. "Whatever could have happened for one-hundred and fifty points to be taken away at once?" she cried.
Twiddling with her thumbs, Aurora was jittery and on edge, not sure if she should wait for Severus or not, despite the fact he wasn't there during her class. "Um, well, you see sir..." but her sentence was cut off when the office door opened, with Severus' deep voice filtering through from the other side.
"Wait here, we'll call you when ready."
Peering through his small framed glasses, Albus could see a tuff of blonde hair before the door as the male professor walked through, making his way towards the desk. "Headmaster," Severus greeted, standing behind Aurora, his hand gently grasping her shoulder.
"Severus. It would seem one of your Slytherins has caused some trouble today."
"Unfortunately, sir, this matter is a difficult predicament, one I believed Aurora should explain." Nodding in her direction as the female in question stared up into his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Aurora began recanting this afternoons occurrence. "Albus, during my Potions class today, I wanted to treat my students for Halloween as they've been doing a splendid job so far this term. I gave them the opportunity to carve pumpkins, to have a relaxing class. Draco and his friends expressed their decision to not participate and I gave the ultimatum to carve their pumpkin or to write a five-page paper to hand in on Monday. Towards the end of class, Draco began to argue with me once more, claiming he shouldn't have to do such an activity, to which I said he would then have to do the paper." Albus nodded as Minerva moved beside the Headmaster, watching as Aurora could feel her cheeks warm, the moisture of her eyes intensifying.
"The boy complained about that too, saying he has Quidditch tomorrow, claimed his father would have me sacked over the weekend and couldn't believe you, Albus, allowed me to work here as...as I..." Tightening his hand, Severus knew Aurora was struggling, but pushed her to say the word once more. "Draco Malfoy called me a filthy Mudblood in front of my entire class," she whispered, crossing her arms as she leaned back into the oversized chair.
Gasping, Minerva covered her mouth as Albus sat straighter in his chair, his voice, for once, taken away, leaving the man speechless. The aged wizard knew the Slytherin House was filled with students who believed only in "Pure Bloods," but never thought one would confront their professor on their blood status. "What happened next Aurora?"
"I took away more than enough House Points, as well as giving the boy two weeks-worth of detention with myself and Severus in attendance. He tried to argue with me some more but I told him to leave my classroom or I would remove more points. He left with his friends and I dismissed the rest of my students."
"Oh, Aurora...I am so sorry that has happened to you..." Walking towards the female, Minerva bent down and gave her old student a hug.
"Thank you, Minerva, I appreciate it."
Clearing his throat, Albus questioned her with, "I will make note of this and contact Draco's father; Lucius needs to know that his son has broken one of the school's rules. Is there more to his punishment you would like to add?" Aurora shook her head as Albus turned towards the Slytherin Head of House. "Severus?"
"I stand by Aurora's discipline."
"Very well." Pointing towards the door, Albus stated, "I assume the boy is standing outside?" Severus nodded as the Headmaster waved his hand to open the door, Draco standing just behind the wood, stepping inside towards the group of adults. "Mr. Malfoy."
"Headmaster," the boy stated, attempting to not sneer to those surrounding him.
"I have heard an ordeal occurred between you and Ms. Warrington today. You have called her something that is against one of our school rules, correct?"
"Yes."
"Alright. The punishment that has been given will remain the same. However, I will be owling your parents, explaining what has occurred. But, let me make myself clear: if I hear that you have said the word within this castle one more time, the consequences will be severe. Do you understand, Mr. Malfoy?" The boy nodded as Albus met Aurora's eyes. "One last thing, Mr. Malfoy. I expect the paper Ms. Warrington has requested you complete be on her desk by the beginning of her class on Monday."
"Are you serious? I have Quidditch tomorrow!"
"Mr. Malfoy..." Severus growled, but Aurora stood, gently nudging the man away, facing Draco who narrowed his eyes.
"Wait, Mr. Malfoy. If you apologize to me right here, right now and swear that you will not utter that word anymore within this castle, I will reduce the assignment from five to two-pages."
"Aurora," the Potions Master muttered.
Draco stood stock still, eyes glancing between his professors and the Headmaster, to which Albus nodded his head, as if to tell the boy take the deal. Tightening his lips, Draco raised his head and, with tension across his features, said, "Professor Warrington, I apologize for this afternoon and the name I called you. The assignment will be finished come class on Monday." Nodding, even though she knew the boy hated his own words, Aurora let the situation go as Severus guided the Second Year to the door.
Facing Albus and Minerva, Aurora stated softly, "Unless there is anything else needed on my behalf, I think I'll head to bed."
"Get some rest Aurora," Minerva said, clasping her hands in front.
Nodding, she answered, "I'll try," and walked towards the door as Severus waited so they could walk towards the dungeons together. But Severus wasn't quite finished with the Headmaster.
"Albus."
"Yes, my boy?"
"Aurora and I plan on leaving the grounds tomorrow after the match, unless we are needed here, that is."
"Oh crap, thanks for reminding me!" Running a hand along her tired face, Aurora smiled in embarrassment. "I'm sorry I meant to ask. Severus is going with me tomorrow to visit my mother, if that is ok."
Tilting his head towards the Head mistress, Albus inquired, "Do you have any objections, Minerva?"
"Absolutely none. Take as long as you need tomorrow."
Bowing slightly in respect, a tradition she picked up in Japan, Aurora smiled gratefully, giving them a good night once more before she and Severus traveled down towards her quarters. Once inside, the witch and wizard spent the remainder of the night curled on her bed, with Merlin and Sapphire cuddling near their feet as they talked throughout the night. Looking back on the day, Aurora was scared; she was mad at being called the ugliest word in her magical world, but more afraid with the path their society was heading.
First the spirit of Voldemort returns the year prior, and now the Chamber of Secrets? It seemed odd, with the increasing debate between Pure Bloods and Muggleborns, with a student even calling out his professor paced on her blood status.
Forcing said thoughts from her mind, Aurora fell asleep that night in the arms of a man she knew could care less how pure her magical blood was.
~ oOo ~
The following morning, Aurora and Severus found themselves walking towards the Quidditch Pitch, cloaks firmly wrapped around their shivering frames. Lucius Malfoy was currently striding along the opposite side of Severus, avoiding the female at all costs – for that, she was grateful. Treading their way up the wooden stairs towards the professor stands, the three adults were nearly towards the top when Aurora tripped on one of the steps, falling towards her knees when a firm grip tightened around her forearm, keeping her from falling harder.
"Might want to be more careful, Aurora," Lucius' voice range through the female's ears as she stood, noting the die-hard Slytherin was the one to catch her. "Never know when you'll be swept from your feet and meet a sticky end."
Catching Severus' gaze, she narrowed her vision and continued to climb, standing at the top after a few moments. The three took their seats in the row against the stand railing directly in front, with Severus in the middle as they anxiously waited for the match to begin. Just as the previous year, the first game was Slytherin versus Gryffindor, with Draco Malfoy as the new serpent Seeker. Lee Jordan's voice rose over the enchanted speaker, finally leader to the two teams battling against the quaffle to score the most points.
Nearly an hour later, the score was ninety to thirty, Slytherin in the lead. Lucius proudly watched on as his son searched for the snitch, occasionally making rounds with the other team members around the pitch. Aurora groaned, her eyes moving back and forth, watching as the green team was being sneaky in their techniques to steal the quaffle from the red team.
Tensing, Aurora quickly looked around the pitch, catching the attention of Severus as he grasped her hand, hiding the action from his male counterpart. "What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure, something...something just doesn't feel right." Observing the Gryffindor members, she noticed in the distance a small ball swiftly making its way in the direction of Harry, quickly realizing it was the bludger. Its path seemed off, somewhat straight and Aurora squinted to see what was going to happen; her eyes widened the moment Oliver Wood was attacked, broom broken in two as he fell straight to the ground.
"No!" she screamed, standing to her feet as she grasped the railing, overlooking the pitch to see where Harry Potter was flying as she analyzed the movements of the bludger. "Bloody hell, the damned things a rogue bludger, it's been tampered with!"
Between the stand and around the pitch, Harry maneuvered his broom just enough to avoid the bludger each time it gained just enough speed. Flying towards one of the tower stands, the boy flew alongside the front as the nasty bludger went through, before he quickly flew down, meeting Draco in the middle of the pitch. Seeing the snitch, he moved to grasp the winning item as the Slytherin seeker followed, their paths winding through the ditch that separated the field and the stands.
Several moments passed before Draco was suddenly knocked off his broom and thrown into the air, rolling several yards against the grass before landing with his legs doing the splits. Aurora winced as Severus and Lucius stood, glancing at the boy with worried expressions, though the female knew Draco's father was steaming because his son failed.
In under a minute, Harry was able to gain speed on the snitch, the bludger blaster his arm, most likely breaking the bone, and winning the game as he slid to a halt in the sands beneath the goal posts. The bludger, still rogue, dropped with enough force in effort to attack Harry that it left imprints in the sand before Hermione was able to use Finite Incantatem to destroy the damn thing for good. Students and teachers rushed to the boy's side as Aurora watched from the stand. She could see Gilderoy kneeling to his knees and grab the Harry's arm, raising his wand in doing so.
"Oh no you don't!" Aurora yelled, jumping over the railing and disparate, landing next to Gilderoy as he finished using the Brackium Emendo spell, causing Harry's arm to go limp as the bones were removed from his elbow down to his fingertips. "What on earth have you done, Gilderoy?!"
"My spell was going to fix Mr. Potter's arm! But, ah, as you can see, it kinda...backfired on me."
"Kinda?! There's no bones left!" Hagrid argued as Aurora stole a glance from the half-giant.
"Harry, if I may?" The boy nodded as she gently took his arm and examined the extent to the professor's enchantment. It didn't take the female long to inspect the arm, as there was literally nothing within his arm! "Alright," she sighed after a few moments. "We need to get you to the hospital. This would've been a quick fix but now you'll need something stronger." Standing, she assisted Harry onto his feet as his friends retrieved his broom and anything that fell from his uniform.
"Something...stronger, professor?" Harry asked, eyes nervously blinking in question of what he was going to have to undergo.
"Mhm. Looks like you'll need to drink Skele-Gro."
After escorting the boy to the Hospital Wing and explaining to Madam Pomfrey the situation, who was just as exasperated, Aurora left and began striding towards the dungeons to change when Severus found her on the First Floor. "Severus?"
"Albus sent me his Patronus. He wants us to meet him in his office."
"Whatever for?" the witch asked at they made their way up towards the Seventh Floor.
"I wasn't told much, other than Lucius is making a formal complaint against you." Continuing to walk, Severus stopped when he realized the woman was no longer beside him. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed she remained motionless, eyes narrowed in anger.
"...you're shitting me, right?"
"I wish I was, Aurora."
"Bloody hell," she whispered angrily, stomping her feet against the stone floor as they climbed the remaining staircases. "Is there...is there something I've done wrong, Severus?" They were outside the gargoyle guarding the secret staircase when she asked, though the male knew nothing he could say would calm her fears. Aurora and Lucius had an interesting relationship when they attended school together; she being in her first year when Lucius was in his last. Needless to say, the two butted heads quite often.
She wasn't bullied, but the two of them were similar between James Potter and I, Severus thought bitterly.
Taking her by the arm before she muttered the password, Severus did nothing nor said anything. All he did was gaze into her blue yes just as she stared into his beautiful obsidian. "Regardless of what Lucius will say, know that Dumbledore will not sack you."
"I know. It's just...it's ridiculous that Lucius thinks he can get away with whatever he wants. Must be nice having that kind of power," her tongue was laced with sarcasm as Severus rolled his eyes, not being able to withstand the chuckle escaping from his lips. "Sherbet Lemon," Aurora stated, facing the gargoyle as the pillar turned, the stone staircase revealing itself as it raised towards the office door. Appearing before the aged wood, Aurora leaned forward, wanting to be rude and eavesdrop on the conversation at hand.
"I assume you received my owl, Lucius."
"Of course I did, Albus. This is unacceptable! Why is my son being treated in such a manner?"
"I would like to provide an answer, Lucius, ah, but I think she will be able to provide it better."
The door opened, revealing Albus sitting at his desk, a smug grin plastered on his face as Lucius turned towards Severus and Aurora. Holding up the letter the man received, Lucius demanded an answer when he asked, "Severus! What is the meaning of this?"
"Lucius, I'm the one who punished Draco."
Stunned, the blonde adult swiveled his feet and dropped his hands, letter finding its way into the pocket in his cloak, fingers playing with the snake head atop his walking stick. "You...?" The man blinked several times, either not understand the woman's words or refusing to accept her answer. "What could my son have done for you to belittle him in such a way?"
"Belittle him?" Stepping closer, Aurora walked within inches of the arrogant man, mere inches away from his face as she raised her head. "Lucius, you haven't been a student at Hogwarts for quite some time, so, as someone who used to be a Prefect, let's clear something up. When a student breaks the rules, they are punished. Your son called me a Mudblood in class yesterday when he refused the assignment. I gave him two options and he refused both, so? I took House Points away and gave him detention. Be thankful I didn't suggest suspension or expulsion."
"You ungrateful little – "
"Let me ask you something, Lucius: who was belittling who? Hmm?" Crossing her arms, Aurora glared at the man, on the edge of having to repeat the fact she was called a Mudblood by a student once again. All she wanted to do was push the memory to the back of her mind and forget it all but no!
"And Severus? You agree with this?"
Slowly nodding, it was apparent Severus had been thinking of his response as he coolly replied with, "Despite me being Slytherin's Head of House, I must respect Aurora's act of discipline as her colleague. If the transgression was minor, I would object, but considering your son broke one of the school's rules, I must comply."
Nodding without removing his eyes off of Severus, Lucius could do no more. "I see," he muttered, clearly still angered, but allowed the situation to slide, seeing how his closest friend and Draco's godfather could do nothing at hand. "Dumbledore," Lucius stated, turning to acknowledge the Headmaster before briskly moving forward several steps, the man paused and peered down at the witch. "You might want to watch your step next time, Aurora," he mumbled, only for her to hear, before removing himself from the Headmasters office.
Releasing a deep breath, Aurora ran a hand through her hair, glancing at Albus as he watched her closely. "Albus, thank you for the warning. As much as I would love to stay and talk, I really want to go visit my mother, especially after the last twenty-four hours I've."
"I understand, my dear. Please pay my respects for your mother as well."
~ oOo ~
Hours passed as the darkness of the night swarmed over the sky, the night filled with a bountiful of stars that glistened ever so brightly. As they apparated back onto Hogwarts grounds, Aurora tilted her head up, gazing at the speckled sky as she reflected the way her Saturday transpired. It had been tiring and strained her energy, but after the match and confrontation with one Lucius Malfoy, she had been able to enjoy her time spent with one Severus Snape.
She first apparated to her mother's grave where they spent some time with her mother, asking question after question, Severus wanting to know more about her mother and life before she discovered her lineage involving magic and becoming a witch. It was peaceful, something Aurora hadn't expected as she was saddened her mother was no longer with her; but as the witch stared upon the grave, she knew her mother was in a painless world as she joined her step-father in the afterlife.
And as the man kept his promise, Severus treated Aurora to see Jurassic Park later that evening, the man somewhat dazed to see the theatre crowded with individuals of all ages. They had changed into Muggle clothing, Aurora donning a simple shirt, jeans and her converse, whereas Severus wore dark jeans, a button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, but kept his dragonhide shoes. When they were leaving her house, Aurora swore that man was handsome despite what he wore, but couldn't refrain from her cheeks burning with desire and lust; Severus took note and only chuckled.
As they had left the theatre after midnight, the witch was giddy and addressed every single detail regarding the movie, to which she had loved. She claimed it was very different than the book, but understood the changes they made and stated that as a movie, it could stand on its own and requested she see it again. After they had apparated back onto the grounds, Severus, watching every move she made as they made their way towards the dungeons, couldn't remove his eyes from such a beauty. He hadn't expected to appreciate the movie, but was impressed and enjoyed her commentary afterwards.
Walking through her quarters, Aurora was greeted by Sapphire and Merlin who curled into her legs, meowing and squeaking as she trekked to the kitchen, fetching them each a snack. Sapphire, having grown fond of Severus over the previous year, flew into the air and landed around his shoulders, an action that surprised the wizard when it first happened, but welcomed the creature, knowing it made Aurora swell that her animals accepted him as she had.
They crawled into bed not long after, Aurora instantly fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow; Severus pulled her body against his own, fingers playing with her hair, simply observing her before his eyelids grew too heavy.
Eating breakfast the following morning, the pair discussed any plans for the day when a translucent shape walked through Aurora's portrait. Recognizing the phoenix form as the Headmaster's Patronus, the two stood on their feet as the form spoke, Albus' voice pulling through:
"Aurora, Severus: meet me in the staff room. There's been another attack."
~ oOo ~
And yes, if anyone can't tell, I am a HUGE fan of Jurassic Park! LOVE IT!
I did some research on this: apparently, Lucius is several years older than Severus, by six or seven years, and for some reason, I didn't think the gap was that big. So, for the sake of my fanfiction, when the three were all at Hogwarts together, Lucius was in his seventh year, Severus his fifth, and Aurora was in her first, just in case there needed to be any clarification.
Let me know if there are any questions!
And please, review, review, review!
Chocobocolina :3