Aurora examined herself in the mirror, she was wearing lilac colored satin robes. It would seem that her sister-in-law Leonora, Nathaniel's wife, had just given birth to their second child not too long ago. Aurora had received an owl bearing the delightful news, also summoning her to their mansion in England.

Fully satisfied with her appearance Aurora threw her cloak over her shoulders and prepared to Apparate to her brother's residence. She closed her eyes and felt a rush of wind, then felt her feet leave the ground, in the next moment she found herself in the drawing room of the mansion.

"Aurora! Bienvenue!"[1] Nathaniel greeted his sister with a kiss on both cheeks. "Je vous remercie d'être venus."[2]

"Je vous remercie de m'avoir invite."[3] Aurora smiled.

"Tante Aurora! Tante Aurora!" A little boy of 6 ran into the room.

"Etienne!" Aurora crouched to the floor with her arms outstretched. The child leaped into her chest and wrapping his arms around her neck. Aurora laughed wrapping her arms around him and hoisted herself back up again.

"Mon canard! Ça va?"[4]

"Hey! I'm not a duck!" The boy exclaimed.

"Au contraire, mon cher, vous êtes."[5] Aurora said as she smothered her nephew with kisses.

Nathaniel cleared his throat gaining their attention. "Etienne, why don't you go play, I promise you will have time to spend with your aunt later."

The child pouted as Aurora set him down. "Okay." Etienne was gone as quickly as he came. Aurora stared after the child, marveled at how much he resembled her brother.

Nathaniel Pontellier was Emmanuel and Ophelia's the eldest child, so naturally he was set to inherit the family business and estate. He was tall man of 31, with thick brown locks that has been combed back to keep out of his face. He was handsome, with green eyes that were identical to his sister's, his chiseled face was clean shaven and he was dressed in his favorite tailor made robes. Nathaniel was quite the society man, he even struck himself a good match by marrying one of the few remaining Romanovs.

His wife Leonora was the great-granddaughter of the ever famed Grand Duchess Anastasia. Although the Muggle world believed her to be dead along with the rest of the imperial family, the old bird was still alive in kicking, extremely bitter at the world but alive none the less. She had just turned 103 this past June. The Grand Duchess currently resided in German countryside, Nathaniel recalled how fond she was of Etienne in their last visit and made a note to send her an owl to notify her of their latest addition to the family.

"Will the others be here soon?" Aurora asked as she took a seat on the love seat that was positioned across the arm chair that Nathaniel was occupying.

"No, they haven't been informed yet." He picked up the bell that sat on the table and rung it. In an instant a house elf appeared holding a tray. "Tea?" Nathaniel offered as he reached for a cup.

"Yes, thank you." Aurora took her cup and sipped her tea slowly. "Why haven't you informed anyone yet?"

"It was Leonora's desire to see you first."

"I must say, I'm flattered. Is she well?"

"Oh yes, she's perfectly fine. The midwife has given her a strengthening potion not too long ago. You can go up and see her now if you'd like."

"Oh, yes, of course!"

Aurora stood and smoothed out her robes before walking out of the drawing room into the foyer. She lifted her skirts and she made her way up the grand marble staircase. She walked to the east wing of the mansion where Nathaniel and Leonora's bed champers were located. Along the way Aurora couldn't help but admire at the countless of family portraits that were hung on the walls. There was one with Nathaniel, Leonora and Etienne, one of Leonora at her debutante, Nathaniel at his graduation, and finally the portrait that made Aurora stop and smile was the picture of her and her three brothers. The four Pontellier children were all sitting on a bench and behind them stood their grandparents Adalius and Magdalenna Pontellier, the patriarch and matriarch of the Pontellier family.

Aurora remembered that summer vividly, it was the summer of 1993; she was 9. Her parent's had sent them to spend the summer with their grandparent's at their summer home in Nice. Aurora loved every moment of it, her grandfather Adalius would always slip her sweets when her grandmother wasn't looking. And her dear grandmother Magdalenna, as austere as she was, would take them into the city on some wild adventure. Yes, nanna was a little unconventional but who cares?! Aurora chuckled at the memory of her grandmother casting a levitation spell on Emerson and tossing him into the ocean for getting a little too cheeky with her. After a few moments Aurora shook her head and continued to walk to the bedchamber.

Aurora stopped once she reached two large mahogany double doors, she lifted her hand to knock but before her knuckles made contact the door opened and there stood a small old woman. It was Bernadette the family midwife, she and delivered every baby ever born into Pontellier family. The woman was ancient, she had been in the midwife business for over a century; Bernadette even delivered Aurora's great-grandfather Menander.

"My have you grown! Tell me dear, when will I be delivering one of your children?" The old woman jested.

"As soon as I find a husband worthy of me." Aurora winked.

Bernadette let out a laugh, "and here I was thinking you were still a docile little thing."

Aurora shrugged. "University has given me a back bone."

Bernadette leaned forward. "Good! I like a strong woman. Lord knows I've seen decades of women being over shadowed by men, let me tell you I've had enough if it!"

"Decades? Don't you mean centuries?"

"Don't push it girl. I said I like strong women, I don't care much for cheek." Bernadette wagged her finger at Aurora sternly.

Aurora chuckled. "Is Leonora awake?"

"Yes, yes, but keep it down. You mustn't wake the child."

Aurora nodded and ventured into the room.

Leonora looked dreadfully exhausted, despite taking a strengthening potion, her red hair was piled into a messy bun atop her head, dark circles rested under her brown eyes; she was wearing a simple blue dressing gown. In her arms she held a baby wrapped in a white blanket. Aurora walked up to her and pulled up a chair to sit next to the bed.

"Congratulations." Aurora smiled and out stretched her arms. "May, I?"

"Of course." Leonora said in a thick Russian accent. "I haf girl." She smiled as she handed the baby to Aurora.

"She's beautiful." Aurora said as she sat back down pressing her new niece to her chest, she was so small! She had red hair and a round face just like her mother. "What is her name?"

"I vant you to name her."

Aurora looked up at her sister-in-law, completely flabbergasted. "You can't be serious? You want me to name her?"

"Yes, vhy not? I vant you to be her godmother."

Aurora blinked a few times still shocked at what Leonora had just said.

"This is vhy I am wanting to see you first, to tell you. Are you wanting to be godmother?"

"Yes, yes, of course I would! Thank you so much, I am so honored!" Aurora could barely contain herself. "But why not Reginald or Emerson?"

"Reginald already godfather to Etienne and I don't like Emerson. Too wild."

Aurora laughed. "Well I don't fault you there. Thank you so much Leonora, again I say, I am honored. When will the baptism take place?"

"One week. Look for owl."

"I will, I will!"

"My baby needs name." Leonora reminded her.

"Oh yes! Of course, of course!" Aurora stared down at the child and thought for a moment. "Artemisia?" Aurora looked up.

Leonora nodded in approval. "Good, strong name."

Just then Nathaniel entered the bedchamber. "Does my daughter have name yet?"

"Yes, her name is Artemisia. She has gained a new godmother was well." Aurora smiled up at her brother.

Nathaniel nodded. "Good, I am happy that you accept. By the way mother and father are here."

Aurora's face fell.

"I know you have a bit of an aversion towards them-"

"Aversion? What makes you say that?" Aurora asked as she handed the child back to her mother trying her best to seem unaffected by the news of their parent's arrival. She followed Nathaniel to the outer room of the chamber out of Leonora's earshot.

"Please, there is no need for you to pretend or lie to me."

"Again, Nathaniel, I am at a loss of what you are talking about."

Nathaniel let out a frustrated sigh, he knew Aurora well enough to know that she deeply resented their parents for sending her away. In fact resented them for it as well, yes she was in good hands with their uncle Gavin and his wife Celeste, but still the Victorian era has long past but they still insisted on sending her away. She could have also received a proper education with them, what was the need to send her to America? And now here she was pretending that everything was okay, as if she didn't care, ph! It vexes her deeply, he knows it does and she refuses to admit it, or at least out loud she refuses. He could see it in her eyes, whenever she was in the same room as them. Yes, she assumed a calm, indifferent equanimity but her eyes don't lie, he could see the seething rage behind them. And now there's talk of marrying her off! Despite Aurora nearly completing her undergraduate degree, Nathaniel couldn't help but feel it was too early for her to marry. But alas it was out of his hands, all he could do is wait and see where things would turn.

XXXX

Nathaniel sat quietly sipping his tea looking between his parents and his very tense looking sister. No one spoke, Aurora was fidgeting with her hands longing to be anywhere but in the same vicinity as her parents. As for Emmanuel and Ophelia, well…

"Aurora." Ophelia smiled.

"How is school?"

"I'm on summer holiday, mother." Aurora stated indifferently.

"I see." Ophelia said slowly.

There was a long pause and then Nathaniel cleared his throat.

"Didn't I hear you say last summer that you decided to declare a minor?"

Aurora pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes, that is correct."

"So, have you declared?"

"Yes, I am minoring in physics."

"Plan on becoming a geophysicists?" Nathaniel smiled fondly.

Aurora shrugged. "Something like that."

"Are planning on continuing on the graduate level."

"Yes."

"Any ideas on what you are going to do your masters in?"

"Not yet, however I did get accepted into the University of Applied Magical Studies' graduate program. I received an owl a week ago."

"That's fantastic, congratulations!" Nathaniel was thrilled, he knew his sister was brilliant, in his opinion she was the smartest one of the lot. "Who knows maybe you can go for your doctorate degree."

Aurora surrendered a small smile. "You really think I could do it?"

"Sure, why not?"

"At this rate you'll die an old maid." Emmanuel stated roughly.

Nathaniel looked up at his father and shot him an irritated look. "What do you mean by that?"

"Do you indent to stay in school forever?" Emmanuel asked Aurora vindictively.

"I don't see what the problem is?"

"Yes, father, what seems to be the issue? I honestly see nothing wrong with Aurora continuing her education to the highest degree."

Aurora looked at her brother appreciatively, now that Nathaniel was backing her up maybe her parents would listen for a change.

"I didn't ask for your opinion sonny!" Emmanuel turned back to his daughter. "Have you not thought about what we discussed in July?"

"Yes, I have father, and to be frank I think it was complete codswallop!" Aurora spoke a bit more forcefully.

"Aurora, watch your tone!" Her mother blanched.

"I apologize mother, but your husband is forcing the tone." Aurora stood having had enough of this absurd conversation. "If you'll excuse me, I promised Etienne that I will spend some time with him before I got back home." Aurora hastily exited the room, not paying any mind to her father calling after her.

"The nerve of that girl! See, this is why she needs a husband! She needs a man to tame her."

"All she needs is her father to stop breathing down her neck and let her be!" Nathaniel growled. "Honestly father, leave her alone, she's at perfect liberty to do as she likes."

"I will not have my daughter labeled as a loose woman!"

"Loose? Her pursuing an education means she's loose?!" Nathaniel was baffled by his father's outrageous logic, the man was truly losing it.

"No, however I've heard rumors of late that she's been gallivanting with the Malfoy boy and Belby."

"Father, do you hear yourself? Wyatt is nothing more than a friend, she considers him to be a brother, like me or Reginald. As for Master Malfoy, it would seem that his intentions are pure."

"'Pure' you say? If his intentions were truly pure then why hasn't he come to me yet?"

"I don't know, maybe it's because Aurora is not interested in courting anyone at the moment. She is all wrapped up in her work and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that."

The two men continued to argue completely oblivious to the fact that Aurora was around the corner listening intently. She smiled, she didn't expect Nathaniel to defend her so fiercely. Normally he sided with their parents but it seems that it was not the case this time. Well good! Maybe he could get it through their father's thick head that she was not ready to marry, nor would she just to keep him happy.

[1]: "Welcome"

[2]: "I thank you for coming"

[3]: "I thank you for inviting me"

[4]: "My duck? How are you?"

[5]: "On the contrary my dear, you are."