Draco had never been to America before now; he'd traveled all across Europe, but never to the United States. He thought it was time to live a life away from his parents, so he decided to complete his medical studies at the University of Applied Magical Studies in New York. So far Draco liked New York, and he was also fond of the campus.

It was a lovely October evening, and Draco had just finished his rounds at the University hospital. He was currently waiting for Wyatt outside the library. Of course Wyatt was never known for his punctuality, so Draco decided to entertain himself with one of his medical books.

After ten minutes or so, Wyatt swaggered over to where Draco was standing and said, "We need to get you a hobby."

"You're late." Draco said, still fixated on the text before him.

"What can I say, I run on my own time."

Draco sighed and closed his book. "Fine, let's go. I'm starving."

"Are we eating in the dining hall?"

"Yes Wyatt, where else?"

The two friends made their way across the court yard to the dining hall, when suddenly Wyatt stopped dead in his tracks. Draco looked at his friend with concern and was about to ask him if anything had happened, when suddenly Wyatt made a beeline to a familiar looking brunette.

"AURORA, MY LOVE! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" Wyatt bellowed out as he threw his hands in the air.

As she glanced up at his obnoxious friend, Draco realized that this was the same girl that he saw at the wedding, Miss Aurora Pontellier. The only difference was that she was wearing glasses.

She must need them for reading, Draco thought to himself.

"Wyatt, must you be so loud? I'm trying to read."

Wyatt put a hand to his chest and gasped in disbelief. "Do you see how cruel she is to me?!" he cried melodramatically to Draco.

"Well, it's not much of a surprise, considering it's you, Wyatt."

Wyatt clutched his chest and flung himself over the table, knocking Aurora's books to the ground. "OH, MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU WOUND ME! How could you be so awful, after all we've been through together?"

"Wyatt get up, can't you see you're disturbing the lady."

Wyatt look up at Draco. "Fine, fine, you're no fun. Oh right! You two haven't formally met yet." He stood up and adjusted his coat. "Aurora, this is my best mate, Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is the lovely Aurora Pontellier."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Aurora said with a bright smile as she reached over to shake Draco's hand.

"The pleasure is all mine. I must apologize for Wyatt's behavior; he hasn't been fully trained yet."

Aurora chuckled at Draco's remark and turned to Wyatt. "You know I'm going to make you pick up all my books, right? Because it's your fault they're all over the floor."

"Yes, yes, I know." Wyatt sighed as he began to collect all her books off the ground. "Would you like to accompany Draco and me to dinner?"

"Dinner? What time is it?" Aurora asked as she looked at her wrist watch. "Oh my! It's 6:30! I can't believe I've been out here this long!"

"How long have you been out here?"

She pursed her lips "Mmm, I'd say about five hours, probably."

"Five hours!" Wyatt said astonished. "Doing what!?"

"Reading on how to differentiate between various minerals." Aurora said as she adjusted her glasses.

Wyatt made a gaging noise. "I don't know how geology majors are able to look at this stuff for an extended amount of time. It's so boring."

"I'm also reading up on the origins of the Earth, and you know, life."

Wyatt blinked. "You are reading about rocks, don't act high and mighty."

Aurora opened her mouth to retort, thought the better of it, and instead asked, "What's for dinner?"

Wyatt smirked as if to say he'd won. "Let's find out."

Wyatt began to walk ahead, and Draco faced Aurora and commented, "He does have a point. Rocks are boring, sorry."

Upon seeing the murderous expression on Aurora's face, Draco immediately rushed to catch up with Wyatt.

"Do you think it was a good idea to invite her to dinner?" Draco asked his friend as he snuck a peek back at Aurora who was following behind.

"Yes, why not?"

"Why, I don't think she's very happy with us."

"Us? What did you do?"

"I told her that I agreed with you; rocks are boring."

Wyatt stopped dead in his tracks and looked Draco directly in the eye. "You really do have a way with ladies don't you?"

"What? I was being honest!"

Wyatt just shook his head and continued to make his way to the dining hall.

Once inside, the party of three got their food and were comfortably seated at a table near the window.

"So I noticed you got a new haircut." Wyatt exclaimed as took a sip from his water.

Draco glanced at Aurora and took note that her hair was significantly shorter than he remembered. At the wedding he recalled that it was waist length but now she sported a look of soft chocolate curls that stopped at her chin.

"Yes! I'm glad you noticed!" She said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Very 1930s, I love it! But I must ask, why the sudden change?"

"I just thought I would try something different. I've had long hair all my life, and besides, change is good."

Wyatt nodded as he took bite from his mashed potatoes. The three ate their dinner in silence. After they had finished their meals, Draco suggested that they all go to the local café for a cup of coffee. Wyatt declined the offer, apologizing and muttering about how he had to brew up a potion for potions class for the next day. Aurora, however, gladly accepted the invitation.

The café wasn't far from campus- it was only a five minute walk. It was a small but comfortable place.

"I usually come here every Friday evening." Aurora said as she took a seat next to Draco on the couch.

"Do you really?" Draco took a sip from his coffee.

"Yes, it's part of my weekly routine. I like to come alone because sometimes I just get fed up with dealing with other human beings"

This earned a chucked from Draco, "Don't you think it's a bit boring doing the same thing, following the same routine?"

Aurora adjusted her knee length skirt. "Not really, no, I actually enjoy the consistency. I'm not fond of surprises."

Draco chuckled lightly. "Neither am I."

Aurora smiled and took a sip from her tea. Draco seemed like a nice guy. A bit quiet; but then again, so was she when in the presence of strangers. They sat there in an awkward silence, both taking sips from their beverages. All the while Draco took note of her features. Aurora had high cheekbones, delicate features, and a straight, Romanesque nose. Even though he didn't know her that well, he had to admit that she was beautiful.

"I want to apologize for that comment I made earlier. It was rude, I'm sorry." Draco said as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

Aurora chuckled "Do you honestly think that I can't handle a few jabs? I mean look who I'm friends with…Wyatt!"

"How do you know Wyatt?"

"He's good friends with my brothers, so whenever they came to visit me here they always brought Wyatt along, and it seemed as if he spent every summer with us in France. Basically, Wyatt is like the brother I never wanted. Three is enough; I don't know how I got landed with four. How about you- how do you know Wyatt?"

"We went to school together."

"Oh! You attended Hogwarts! All of my brothers attended school there."

"Yes, I've actually met Reginald, and Emerson. Emerson was in my year, we were dorm mates actually. But I never talked to them much, we would exchange simple pleasantries if we saw each other in the corridors. Funny, I never saw you, though." Draco was well aware that she did not attend school at Hogwarts, but he felt that it might make her uncomfortable if he revealed that he knew about her living situation before they had even met.

Aurora sat up straighter, adjusted her glasses and looked directly at him. "My mother and father thought it would be best if I was educated here in the United States."

"I see, and how are the schools here?"

"I guess about the same as any other. I attended an all-girls boarding school, Metis Academy. My female cousins attended school with me as well."

"Why is it that it was only you and all your female cousins that were sent here to live in the States?"

"That's the way things are done in my family. I guess you can say that they are set in their Victorian ways."

"Interesting." Draco said as he stroked his chin.

"What?" Aurora asked defensively. "What do you find interesting?"

"Sorry I didn't mean to offend, it's just that I've never heard of that before."

"Well, I suppose our parents were able to take solace in the fact that we were far away from any dangers. Times were difficult in Europe for a while."

At that instant Draco understood what she was referring to; she may have been raised here, but she was not completely ignorant to what had transpired six years ago. He instinctively drew his left arm to his body.

"Is that why your parents kept their distance?"

"Yes and no." Aurora sighed "I was sent here to be fostered by my uncle Gavin when I was three years old. I've said earlier that this is how things are done in my family, and this is how it's always been. But enough about me, tell me about you? What are you studying, are you a graduate like Wyatt?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Yes I am, I'm studying to become a healer."

This seemed to catch her attention. "Oh really! That must be so interesting! I bet it's nothing like the rocks I've been reading about!" Aurora smirked.

Draco laughed at her remark. "I guess it is; however, the workload could really drive a person mad."

"I can imagine."

Aurora glanced at her wrist watch and noticed it read 8:30, and she had a ton of work to complete before the next morning. "Well, it was nice chatting with you, but unfortunately I have to head back to my suite." Aurora said as she stood.

"Would you like me to walk you there?" Draco asked, standing as well.

"Oh no, I'll be fine. I don't want to be a bother."

"Not at all, honestly it will make me feel better knowing that you got back safely."

Aurora smiled, "Well if you insist."

Draco returned the smile and walked beside her as she led the way to her suite.