It was a beautiful day in San Francisco, Eleanor couldn't have picked a more perfect day to go bike riding. The sun was shining and there was a light breeze in the mid-July air. Clovus was following behind her on his bicycle. When Eleanor suggested that they go bike riding throughout the city Clovus was more than enthusiastic. Their first stop would be at the much famed Golden Gate Bridge.

When crossing over the bridge Clovus couldn't help but admire the sight before him. The bay was as blue as the sky, there was a flock of pelicans diving down towards the water in search of food. Clovus looked forward and noticed that Eleanor was slowing down and then came to a complete stop.

"Do you want to walk the rest of the way and possibly take a few photos?"

"Ja!" Clovus exclaimed, now he had the opportunity to get a good look at San Francisco Bay. The boy looked out to the horizon as the wind blew in his face pushing his hair back, he inhaled taking it all in; there was a slight hint of sea salt in the air.

"Excuse me, sir?" Eleanor addressed a tourist who was passing by.

The man stopped and looked at her.

"Do you mind taking a photo of my brother-in-law and me?"

"No, not at all!"

Eleanor handed the man her camera and then stood next to Clovus and threw her arm around him bringing him close to her.

"Say cheese!"

"Käse!"

Eleanor threw her head back and laughed at Clovus' little joke, yes she did tell him to say 'cheese' but she never specified what language he had to say it in.

As she continued to laugh at her brother-in-law antics and the man continued to snap shots of her and the teenager.

"Thank you so much sir!" Eleanor stepped forward and retrieved her camera from the man, who merely nodded and continued on his way.

After snapping a few more photos on the bridge Eleanor and Clovus continued to walk the rest of the way until they reached the other side.

"Lass uns gehen Clovus."[1] Eleanor climbed back on her bike and continued to ride with Clovus not to far behind her.

Their next destination was Pier 39 or Wharf 39, there was much to do there and Eleanor knew that Clovus would enjoy it. Wharf 39 was another famed tourist spot with many shops and restaurants, there was even a sea lion show.

"Bist du hungrig?"[2] Eleanor asked getting off her bike once more.

Clovus didn't say anything he only nodded.

"Okay, we'll stop to eat and then we'll continue the rest of the way on foot. How does that sound?"

"Good, but what are we going to do with our bikes."

"I know a little charm that will shrink them so that they can fit into our pockets! Come bring them over here." Eleanor began to walk behind a building, "I can't do it in plain view of all the Muggles."

Clovus was now asleep on Eleanor's couch, it was 2 in the morning and they had just returned from a full day of exploring the city. Eleanor smiled at the sight before her, when he was asleep Clovus looked much like the boy she first me about 10 years ago. Back when he was a child Clovus would always run around and fall asleep in the most peculiar places, one time he fell asleep under the dining room table and another time he ended up in a bathtub. Regardless of where this child slept Eleanor would always pick him up and carry him to bed, but she couldn't do that anymore. Clovus was a grown 17 year old boy who was a good deal taller than her, there was no way Eleanor could manage to lift him up even if she tired. She was only 5 foot 3 inches for heaven's sake! And Clovus was what, 6 foot possibly? Regardless Eleanor just shook her head and grabbed a quilt from her bedroom and draped it over his sleeping form.

"Tomorrow, we'll go to Los Angeles." She whispered to the unconscious boy before leaving to prepare for bed.

XXXX

Draco set his broom aside, he had just returned from a friendly Quidditch match with a few of his mates. When they invited him to play he couldn't help but jump at the chance, he hasn't been on a broom since he completed his undergrad back in England. Draco missed zipping through the sky with the wind in his face and whipping his through his hair. But now the fun was over and he had to get some work done before going into work tomorrow. He also needed to take a shower, as a result of playing Quidditch he was a sweaty mess.

He was in his bedroom beginning to undress when he heard a rap at his door. Draco sighed and put his sweaty shirt back on and walked to the door to see who it could be. There's no way it could have been Wyatt because the door would have been blasted off its hinges by now, also Wyatt was his best mate (a consequence of that was that the bloke didn't understand what privacy was), and he hasn't seen or heard from Aurora in a while, she had to be back from her trip by now, Draco made a note to send her an owl as soon as he had some free time. Draco looked through the peephole to see who was at his door.

"What the hell?" He grimaced and opened the door.

"Draco!" His visitor threw her arms around him. "How are you? It's been ages!" The young woman said as she pulled away from him.

"Hello Pansy how are you?" Draco forced a smile, what the hell is she doing here? And how did she find out where I live?!

"I'm doing well!"

The two stood facing each other awkwardly.

"Well, aren't you going to let me in?" Pansy asked not really bothering for a response because as soon as the words poured out of her mouth she allowed herself inside Draco's apartment.

"I-er-sure, whatever." Draco let out an irritated sigh, and here I thought I left all the bagged back home.

"So, Pansy, what are you doing here?" Draco asked watching Pansy explore his apartment. She only set foot in it a minute ago and she was already beginning to get on his nerves. She was touching everything and anything she could get her hands on, when she picked up the pocket watch at Aurora had given him he immediately rushed over and took it from her.

"Please don't touch that." Draco said rubbing the top with his shirt to remove any fingerprints that she may have left on it.

"Why, what is it?"

"It's a pocket watch," Draco pressed the top to show the clock inside, "see?"

"Oh, what's so special about it?"

"It was a gift from a dear friend of mine."

"Oh, Wyatt?" Pansy beamed.

"No, not Wyatt."

"Then, who?"

"You wouldn't know her."

Pansy's face fell. "So it was from a female friend."

"Yes.

"What's her name?"

"I already told you that you wouldn't know her."

"Did she go to Hogwarts?"

"No, she went to school here in America." Draco was getting irritated with all of Pansy's questions.

"So," Pansy said as she move to the couch, "what are we going to do today?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm here on holiday and I decided to come visit you. I hope you aren't busy."

"Well, I was going to take a shower and then finish up a report before I have to go into work tomorrow."

"Can't it wait?" Pansy gave him an imploring look.

"…Not really…"

She blinked a few times and continued to stare.

"Let me shower and then we can catch up for a little bit, okay?"

"Great!"

"I'm warning you though, I do have to get my work done so…"

"Don't worry I'll try not to keep you for too long." Pansy winked.

With and irritated looked Draco crossed over to his bedroom and shut the door behind him.

XXXX

Pansy looked around the café adoringly.

"This place is so cute! What is it called again?"

"It's literally called 'Delilah's Café'."

"Oh, and I'm assuming that Delilah would be the owner of this establishment?"

"Yes, she's a very nice lady. See the barista over there?" Draco motioned to a young woman with auburn hair. "That's her daughter Harleen, and the cook." Draco was now looking at a young man who was standing beside Harleen. "That's Leven, Delilah's son."

"You are on a first name basis with these people?"

"Yes, I come here all the time." Draco took a sip from his coffee and pretended to look interested as Pansy launched into some story about what she has been up to these past few years. Quite frankly he couldn't care less, she was boring back when they dated at Hogwarts and she was still boring now. Honestly he couldn't understand how someone could talk so much about nothing.

Aurora clutched her leather briefcase, she was very excited to meet with Dr. Hines and the rest of the team to tell them what she had discovered about the samples she collected at the Grand Canyon. But she had about two hours to kill before she had to meet with them so she decided to stop by Delilah's for a cup of coffee, she also wanted to go there in hopes of possibility running into Draco there. She had been back for about 5 days now and she had yet to see him. As soon as they return to New York Dr. Hines put his team straight to work in the lab, so Aurora didn't have much free time to catch up with friends.

Once she was in front of the café Aurora immediately recognized Draco's platinum blonde hair and she also noticed he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by a girl with shoulder length brown hair with a pug nose. The girl was merrily chatting away and by the looks of Draco's unfocused eyes, he wasn't paying much attention. Who was she?

Aurora took a deep breath and entered the establishment with the brightest smile she could muster.

"Draco!" She exclaimed.

Draco was pulled out of his stupor and stood upon seeing his friend. He was relieved to see that she was in much higher spirits than when she first left, she even looked healthier. Good she's been eating and sleeping, Draco thought to himself as he watched her. Aurora was wearing her white lab coat over a simple pair of black slacks and a purple blouse. Draco had noticed her tanned skin and her slightly sunburned cheeks and nose, her hair was pulled into a neatly held bun, she looked absolutely adorable.

"Aurora! Welcome back!" He took her hand in his.

"Thank you! It's good to be back!"

Pansy looked between the two, it did not go unnoticed how Draco nearly jumped out his seat when this girl arrived. And he was so eager to greet her too, her lips formed a thin line as she cleared her throat to gain his attention.

Both Draco and Aurora looked down at Pansy as she cleared her throat.

"Draco," Pansy forced a smile, "aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"

"Oh," Draco looked awkwardly between the two women, "Pansy this is my friend Aurora Pontellier, Aurora this is Pansy Parkinson."

Aurora offered her hand to Pansy. "It's nice to meet you."

Pansy didn't accept Aurora's hand instead she merely looked at the girl. "Pleasure."

Aurora withdrew her hand awkwardly. "Um-okay?"

"Aurora, would you like to join us?" Draco said giving Pansy a pointed look as if warning her not to pull another stunt like that again.

"Oh, you two seem a bit busy, I don't want to be in the way."

Pansy opened her mouth as if the dismiss Aurora but Draco quickly cut in.

"Nonsense! Stay, I haven't seen you in forever."

Aurora chuckled. "It's only been 17 days, Draco."

"17 days too many."

Aurora laughed and looked at her watch. "Well, I guess I can stay for a little while."

Draco pulled up a chair so that Aurora could sit next to him. Pansy was not happy about this. She came here to visit Draco and spend some time with him and her plans have just been ruined by this tart! Lord only knows how much she hated to share Draco with another person.

"Aurora, you look strangely familiar."

Aurora shifted uncomfortably, she didn't like the way Pansy was eyeing her.

"You may remember her from the New Year's Ball, Aurora was my date. You also may remember her brothers, they attended Hogwarts with us." Draco gave Pansy another look warning her to watch herself, but of course Pansy didn't get the hint.

Pansy's lip twitched, she knew she recognized this girl from somewhere but couldn't quite put her finger on it. She remembered how exceptionally pretty the girl on Draco's arm had been, but that was all because of the make-up and whatever else this tart had done to look the part. But now seeing her like this without an ounce of makeup on her face she looked plain. Once more she looked between the two and monitored Draco's gazes, every so often his eyes would shift in Aurora's direction.

"How did you two meet?"

"We met here, at University through a mutual friend. What is your history with Draco, aside from being schoolmates?" Aurora was well aware that Pansy had a problem with her being here, does she feel threatened for some reason?

"He used to be my boyfriend."

Aurora gasped with mock enthusiasm. "Draco! You didn't tell me you ex was coming to town."

Draco merely shrugged. "Well, love, I didn't know that Pansy would be stopping by."

Pansy sneered, never had she ever heard Draco address anyone by a pet name. "Where did you go to school?"

"I attended an all-girls private school in Boston."

"Huh…"

There was a brief pause.

"Aurora is a geology major, top of her class!" Draco cut in, trying to keep the conversation going.

Aurora simpered. "Draco please, you're embarrassing me."

"It's true! Only 5 students out of 400 got selected to conduct fieldwork under your professor and you were one of them! That's very impressive."

Aurora blushed and began to fidget with her hands. "It's not that impressive." She murmured.

"Ah, and you're so humble too! Tell me, how was Arizona?"

"Hot, but it was dry heat, nothing like New York's humid climate. It was very nice actually."

"Did find anything interesting while you were at the Grand Canyon?"

"-Geology? How…fascinating…" Pansy stated desperately trying to gain their attention.

"Yes, it is. What are you studying?" Aurora questioned.

"Divination."

Aurora opened her mouth and then shut it not trusting herself to speak. Personally she thought divination was a complete waste of time.

"Excuse me for a moment, I would like to get a cup of coffee." Aurora stood and made her way to the counter where the barista, Harleen, was standing.

"Aurora! You're back!" Harleen exclaimed.

"Hi Harleen."

"Do you want your usual?"

"Yes, please."

"So who's that girl that Draco's with?" Harleen asked looking over Aurora's shoulder.

"That would be Pansy Parkinson, an old schoolmate and ex-girlfriend of his." Aurora stated irritably.

"Now that's an unfortunate name."

Aurora laughed. "I supposed it is."

"Is she bothering you?"

"A bit," Aurora leaned closer to Harleen, "between you and me I think she still has feelings for him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the moment I walked through the door she's been nothing but rude and a bit defensive."

"Hmmmm, well if you ask me, by the looks of it I'd say that the feeling isn't mutual-"

Both women looked back at a very irritated looking Draco.

"-I think she annoys him." Harleen continued.

"Yeah, he doesn't seem too thrilled to see her." Aurora couldn't help but laugh.

Back at the table Pansy leaned over and whispered harshly to Draco. "Why is she here?"

"What do you mean 'why is she here?' this is a public establishment."

"No, what I mean is why did you invite her to sit with us?"

"Because she is my friend." Draco was looking at Pansy as if she had three heads.

"Friend? Yeah right, you seem to have a little more than friendship on your mind."

"And what do you mean by that?" Draco sneered.

"How good is she? You know, for you to keep her around?" Pansy leered.

"You have it all wrong."

"Do I? Just take a moment to think how odd it looked for you to show up to the ball with that girl, a girl no one has ever seen before, on your arm."

"You are talking absolute nonsense, and I don't appreciate you speaking about Aurora this way. She's a respectable lady, not some woman I met on the street!"

Pansy smirked. "Come on, you can tell me, you want to want to shag her don't you?"

"We're not having this conversation. And again, I find it absurd that I have to repeat myself, stop speaking about her this way."

"Or perhaps you've already had her. What's so special about her anyway? I may not know her personally, but I know thing or two about her family-"

"-Enough!"

"She can't be that great, I mean her own parents didn't want her-just gave her up like that! Without a second thought."

Draco was fuming he opened his mouth to once and for all put Pansy in his place but stopped when he heard someone delicately clear their throat. He looked up and saw Aurora standing behind Pansy with a murderous expression. Draco had never seen Aurora look so angry, and Pansy looked like someone whacked her over the head with a broom.

"That, Miss Parkinson, is absolutely none of your business." Aurora stated in a hushed tone, she was so quiet that Pansy and Draco had to lean in to hear her. "But seeing as how you have been misinformed allow me to educate you. My parent's sent me here when I was three, so yes they did 'give me up' as you say, but you see my family still clings to the old Victorian ways." Aurora drew in a breath and continued to glare at Pansy. "Of course I can't expect someone as simple as you to understand the dynamics of a family that is old blood and old money." Aurora paused for a moment. "As for my friendship with Draco, you seem to be under the impression that the only reason he keeps me around is because he wishes to bed me. I do not know under what circumstance you were both dating, but seeing as how you are making such accusations says enough. Just because he befriended you for the sole purpose of bedding you does not mean that he has befriended me for the same reason." Aurora turned to Draco. "Draco, I have to go, frankly I don't care much for the company you keep." And with that Aurora briskly walked out the café.

Draco sat for a moment with his mouth wide open, he couldn't believe that Aurora, his Aurora, just verbally eviscerated Pansy the way that she did. He stood and rushed out the café to try to catch up with her, but once he was outside there was no sign of Aurora anywhere. "Damn!" he muttered under his breath.

"Well, good riddance!" Pansy stated from behind him.

Draco turned around. "What the hell is your problem?" He spat out with as much venom as possible."

"Wha-"

"No, don't even defend yourself. Here I was thinking that you could behave yourself and act like an adult but no, you couldn't resist could you?"

Pansy didn't respond.

"What has Aurora ever done to you huh? Where you really feel that threatened by her presence that you felt the need to insult and disrespect her? And why are you even here?"

"I thought I'd come for a visit." Pansy answered meekly.

"Well you know what, go home! You've done enough and to be honest I have no desire to see you."

Draco turned away and briskly walked up the street to try and find Aurora so he can apologize for Pansy's monstrous behavior. Poor girl, he knew that her family was a very touchy subject for her. So much so that she was literally losing sleep over it and that complete airhead Pansy had to go and throw it in her face.

[1]: "Let's go"

[2]: "Are you hungry?"