Aurora sat alone in a private booth in a dimly lit restaurant called 'The Atlas'. It was an upscale restaurant located on 5th avenue in Manhattan, very popular among Muggles and magical folk alike. It was rumored that the lobster here was to die for, but Aurora did not come to dine. The only reason why she ventured outside the small suburban village of Briarcliff Manor was to receive a package. Aurora pursed her lips and began to drum her fingers on the table impatiently, she had been waiting almost 15 minutes.

"I'm so sorry to keep you waiting Miss Pontellier, work was a dismal!" A man with tan skin and dark eyes slid into the booth sitting directly across from her. "You'd think that I pay my people enough to solve their own problems, but no, they can't think for themselves, I always have to come in and save the day!" He finished brandishing his arms dramatically.

"It's quite alright Dante," Aurora poured herself some wine. "Do you have my package?" She asked indolently as she poured him a glass as well.

"Why yes, yes I do!" Dante reached into his briefcase and pulled out a glossy brown wooden box. "Fresh off the boat! I even went to the pier to pick it up myself."

He slid the box over to Aurora who placed her hands over the polished finish. She undid the golden clasp and lifted the lid revealing the contents of the box. A dozen cigars were placed neatly in a row before her, Aurora picked one up to exam it.

"The best Cuban cigars ever rolled!" Dante boasted with a proud smile as he took a sip of his wine.

The Warrens of Philadelphia, as well as the Amadis family of Spain were in the business of tobacco. Together the two had over hundreds of plantations all over the Americas, but their crown jewel was the one sitting in Havana, Cuba where the best cigars in the world are rolled.

Aurora said nothing, she held the cigar up to her nose and took a whiff; her nostrils were instantly filled with the scent of fresh country tobacco and a hint citrus. A content smile played at her lips, she placed the cigar back in the box and shut it.

"If they taste anything like the way that they smell, I will have no doubt that you are telling me to truth."

Dante chuckled. "Do I look like a man that would lie?"

Aurora's lips slowly formed into a catlike smirk. "Omnis homo mendax."[1] She lifted her glass taking a large sip and continued, "I will only take your word for it once I've tried them myself…then again these aren't for me."

"Oh?"

"These are for my grandfather, I plan to visit him over the holiday."

"I see…well I do have something else that may interest you."

"Do you?"

Dante reached into his suitcase once more and pulled out another wooden box and handed it to Aurora.

"What is this?" She asked quizzically eyeing the box.

"Beatrice let slip of that little habit of yours…"

Aurora immediately looked up at the man eyeing him dangerously, it was clear by the expression on her face that she was disgruntled by that fact that he knew about her smoking habit. It was not something that was public knowledge among those in her social standing.

"I mean no harm," Dante stated earnestly. "And rest assure that I will not utter a word to anyone. The only reason why Beatrice told me was because she thought you might be interested in our products."

"Is that so?" Aurora ask slowly.

"Yes, if I may?" Dante gently took the box from her hands and opened it revealing two compartments. One stored fresh tobacco leaves and the other had fresh paper to roll the tobacco in, there was even a bed that held a long wooden cigarette holder. Aurora eyes went wide, she never had a cigarette kit before, for fear of it being discovered, but now that she lived on her own…and the tobacco smelt so fresh too…so much for quitting, how can she turn such a thing down?!

"How much?" She asked.

"Oh no, Miss Pontellier, you misunderstand me…" Dante shut the box and placed it in her hands. "This is a gift."

"From whom?"

"From me, consider it a gestor of good faith that I will not reveal you. I will only accept payment for the cigars."

Aurora nodded, she reached into her purse where she kept her wand, with a quick wave a bottle of wine appeared, but not just any wine, it was a bottle of 1798 Pontellier Domanie Viticole. Dante eyed her curiously as she handed him the money for the cigars and the wine.

"Consider this my gift to you." Aurora picked up some of the tobacco leaves and examined them closely. "If these are as good as your family claims them to be, you will be hearing from me very soon."

Dante nodded. "I look forward to it. It was a pleasure doing business with you Miss Pontellier." He reached out to shake her hand. "Thank you for the wine."

"The pleasure is all mine." Aurora smiled as she held his hand in a firm grip.

Aurora stood in front the suite with wide eyes. The door was shut but she could hear a lot of commotion from behind it. She could hear doors banging, glass smashing, boys shouting, what on earth…

"Catch it stupid!" She heard a boy cry out.

Aurora leaned closer to the door so she could hear well.

"I can't! The little shit is moving to fas-NO! THAT'S MY QUIDDITCH TROPHY!" Another boy shouted.

"Martian! Grab it! It's coming your way!"

"What on earth is happening in there?" Aurora asked no one in particular, she knocked on the door and took in a deep breath for fear of what she would find beyond that door.

The door opened and her mouth fell open, there stood a half-naked teenage boy wearing nothing but his snitch patterned boxer shorts. He let out a high pitched scream and slammed the door in her face.

"THERE'S A GIRL HERE!"

"Ooooooooooooooooooo" multiple boys cooed.

"Well don't be rude, open the door and let her in!"

"I'm not dress-"

CRASH! –"THAT WAS MY FATHER'S FOUNTAIN PEN! For God's sake who the hell let that thing in here?!'"

Aurora continued to stand in front of the door with her mouth gaping open, maybe she was in the wrong building, perhaps, and instead of entering a dorm building she entered a psych ward? There must have been a big mistake. The door opened once more and she found the person she was looking for.

"Avrom." She breathed

"Rory!" the teenager stepped outside to greet her. "I didn't know you were com-"

BANG!

"Martian get it!"

"What in blazes is going on in there?!" Aurora asked peering over Avrom's shoulder trying to get a look of what could possibility be going on in that suite of his.

"Some genius let a niffler loose and how it's destroying our suite. But how did you get in here? The building is protected by a charm that only allows students and teachers to enter."

"I spoke with the Dean, I told him that I was your cousin and he said that he'll allow me to visit -"

"Avrom I got it!" Another teenaged boy appeared holding a small furry mass with a long snout, it was a niffler alright…

"Awesome job Clive! Now throw it away…or something, I don't care as long as it's nowhere near our living quarters."

"I know exactly what I'm going to do with this little guy." The one called Clive held the struggling niffler up to his face. "I'm going to toss him in that jerk Johansson's room!"

"Yeah!"

Both Avrom and Clive high-fived before he went running past Aurora with the niffler in hands followed by the half-naked boy.

Aurora looked after them appalled, the teenage male was a very odd specimen. "He should really put some clothes on. The November air isn't very forgiving, he'll catch a cold that way."

"Well that's Martian for you, he doesn't really like to wear clothes."

"I can see that."

"Would you like to come in?" Avrom asked opening the door wide so that Aurora could get a clear view of the suite, which was now completely destroyed.

"Or, I have a better idea!" Avrom shut the door. "Why don't I take you out for coffee?" His cheeks were growing hot with embarrassment. He knew how particular his cousin could be.

"Coffee is fine."

The two cousins walked side by side as the cold November air pierced their faces, Aurora lifted her scarf so that it covered her reddened and numb nose and mouth, and Avrom did the same. Their overcoats whipped behind them as they dodged countless of people making their way to the campus coffee shop. Avrom attended an all-boys preparatory school similar to Metis Academy, it was called Lenape Preparatory School for Wizards. It was named after the Native American tribe that originally inhabited Manhattan before the colonist arrived.

"So how are your classes going?" Aurora asked as she unbuttoned her coat.

"They're okay." Avrom had just returned to their table with their beverages.

"You graduate this year no?"

"Yes! I'm super excited!"

"Have you applied to any universities yet?"

"Yeah, I guess you can say that…"

"What do you mean by that?" Aurora lifted her mug to take a sip of her coffee.

"I applied to a few schools as well as the Defender Academy."

Caught off guard, Aurora coughed swallowing the hot liquid burning her throat. "What?!"

"I want to be part of the Defender Square."

"Why?!"

"…"

"If you're so keen on locking the 'bad guys' up, just become a law-wizard! There's no need for you to do such dangerous work!"

Defenders are an elite militant group that work directly under the American Minister, they were dark wizard catchers as well as defended the magical population from threats like the 'Hunters', an underground organization that sought the end of all magical creatures and folk because they deemed them 'unnatural'

"Yeah right! As if I'll be able to immobilize dark wizards with a desk!"

"Have you told your mother?"

This made Avrom pause, indeed, he had not told his parents anything of the nature of the work he would like to pursue post-secondary school. He was the only son of Gavin and Celeste Pontellier, so of course they would love nothing more for him to sit in a fancy office behind a nice shiny mahogany desk. In fact his mother wanted him to take part in the family business, or become a tax wizard…for the family business, but that was all so boring! Where was the excitement in fermenting grapes or digging up rocks, or filing taxes for that matter?!

"Why are you here anyway?" Avrom asked slightly irritated.

"I was in the area and I thought since I was here I'd pay you a visit. That's what family members do you know, they check up on each other."

"What brings you here to 'smelly, Manhattan?" Avrom smirked, he knew there was only so much of the city that Aurora could really take. In her opinion there were too many people and the streets reeked of sewage…she wasn't wrong though, some of the streets do smell horrible.

"I came here because I had to pick up a gift for grand-père-"

"You plan on visiting him soon?"

"Yes actually, I wanted to see him and Nana over the Thanksgiving holiday."

"What did you get him?"

"Cuban cigars."

"Aren't those contraband?"

"You really need to pay attention to politics cousin." Aurora simpered. "They are contraband in the Muggle world. The Magical Congress, who by the way advise our Minister, couldn't care less what the Cuban Council of Magic is doing, why deny themselves the simple pleasures of cigars."

"Speaking of one not paying attention to politics, did you know that the Minister is going to change his title?"

"What?"

"He wants it to be uniform with the Muggle government so instead of 'Minister', which was a title given during the colonial days, it will be 'President'."

"Huh…" Aurora sat back in her seat. "Interesting, when will this take effect?"

"The start of his next term I believe, so in January."

"I see. Do you plan on going home for the holiday?"

"Do you honestly think that I have a choice?"

Aurora let out a small laugh, if it were up to her aunt she would have had the boy homeschooled but as it is, her uncle thinks that Avrom will learn some independence being away from home. The nice thing was New York City wasn't too far from where her uncle lives in Scarsdale, New York. Avrom can simply catch a train at Grand Central Station and the ride home will only take about an hour at most.

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad."

"You're only saying that because you can come and go as you please now." Avrom crossed his arms and pouted.

"I think you'll enjoy this Thanksgiving."

"How do you know?"

"I heard that your parents are inviting the Van Coevordens over."

"Yeah so…"

"What do you mean 'so'? That means Cornelia is going to be there!"

At hearing this Avrom stopped pouting and learned forward in his seat. "You think she'll come?"

"Has she ever failed to attend a dinner party at your parents' house?"

"No."

"Then she'll be there."

Avrom paused for a moment and then leaned back in his seat thoughtfully. "I guess going home won't be so bad after all."

Aurora stared up at the portrait before her, a woman with thick black hair in a velvet red gown, wearing a silver headband stared back at her, a fierce aura emanated from her.

"How long has it been since your last visit, girl?" The woman spat.

"I'd say it's been a while." Aurora answered sardonically.

"Hmph, ungrateful brat, what kind of grandchild doesn't visit her grandparents in 3 years."

"The busy kind."

"And to think that you are of my blood!" The woman crossed her and continued to look down at Aurora disapprovingly.

Aurora smirked. "As much as I would love to hear you lament about your sacred bloodline Madam Lefay, I must find my grandmother. Do you know where she is?"

"On the terrace, she's entertaining a guest."

Aurora nodded and walked past the portrait making her way to the terrace, when she reached the double doors that lead outside she stopped spotting a petite girl with mousy brown hair who hovered near the door, looking unsure of what she should do.

"Berenice?"

Berenice, who was Beatrice's all too quiet younger sister, looked up in surprise. "Rory! What are you doing here?"

"Visiting, and you?"

"Same."

"So does Nana really have a visitor? Morgana told me that she was entertaining a guest."

"Yes." Berenice. "The Grand Duchess Anastasia is here."

"Do you think they're swapping revolution survival stories?" Aurora giggled at her own joke. Berenice however, did not find it funny.

"Nana isn't that old, and what happened to the Grand Duchess and her family was a horrible tragedy."

Aurora clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "Oh come on lighten up! Anyway I've been dying to speak with grandmamma Anastasia for ages now." Aurora walked to the door, but was stopped immediately when Berenice seized her arm.

"Rory you can't just waltz over there!" Berenice groaned.

"Why not?"

"Because that would be rude!"

Aurora pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, and people thought that she was the wet blanket of the family. Berenice was worse, it was almost as if she was a carbon copy of their aunt Celeste! Lord knows that Beatrice has tried to corrupt her all too good sister but to no avail.

"We're in our grandmother's house, how is going over there to say hello to her and her guest rude? If you ask me, it would be rude of us to not make our presence known."

"But Rory! She's royalty! You can't just go up to her and speak to her!"

"Ph! And what are we? Peasants?!"

"But-"

"Listen Berenice, we are the descendants of Morgana Lefay! We have royal blood flowing through our veins too! Now let's go and say hello."

Aurora grabbed Berenice's hand before she could protest once more and pushed through the double doors to the terrace where her grandmother and Anastasia were enjoying their tea.

"Nana." Aurora greeted her grandmother with a curt nod before kneeling to kiss the ring on her grandmother's right hand, Berenice followed in suit. Aurora turned to Anastasia and bowed her head kissing the ring on her hand as well.

"Grandmamma, eto priyanto videt' vas snova."[2]

"Il est agréable de voir que vous deux avez ne m'a pas oubliée."[3] Magdalenna, Aurora and Berenice's grandmother said cynically.

"Nana, please." Berenice began to plead with her but Magdalenna held her hand up to silence the girl.

"Zees are my granddaughters, Aurora and Berenice." Magdalenna presented the two girls to Anastasia who merely nodded.

"You are Nathaniel's sister, no?" She asked with a heavy Russian accent.

"Yes, I am." Aurora gave her warmest smile.

"Come, come!" The elderly woman waved her over, "you sit vit me!"

Aurora flashed Berenice a triumphant smile, ha! Can't go up and speak to her…yeah right! Here she was offering her a seat!

"You live in America, no?"

"Yes I do."

"Vat is the government like?" The Grand Duchess has always had a fascination with the political functions of different countries.

"Well we have a Minister…well soon he will be called 'President' instead, just like the Muggle leader of the country."

"Muggles!" Anastasia spat on the ground, cause both Aurora and Berenice to jump in their seats.

"Now you've done it." Magdalenna murmured as she drank her tea.

"They are so arrogant! Vat do they know? Thieving little mongrels." There was so much malice in her voice that Aurora could feel the hatred emanating off the old woman. "For 300 years my family ruled over Muggles and magical folk with iron fist! No one dared cross the Romanovs! We were fearless, but Muggles got too cocky. And look what they did! Butchered my family like dogs!" Anastasia was now purple in the face, Aurora feared that if this kept going they may need to call a healer. Truly, it was tragic of how a 300 year old dynasty ended the way that it did…Well not exactly ended, to Muggle world the Romanovs were finished, the remaining members of the family have gone undergrown after the revolution and only the magical world is aware of their presence. They even have influential roles in Russia's magical world…

"If you ask moi, zee only thing Muggles know how to do is take. They take what is not theirs-"

"Mon amour vous avez-"An old man appeared onto the terrace looking rather confused.

"Grand-père!" Aurora exclaimed as she stood and threw her arms around her grandfather kissing him on both cheeks.

"Ma petite! I 'ave missed you!"

"Bonjour Grand-père." Berenice waved.

"Ma poupée, Berenice!" Adalius was enthralled, he loved it when his grandchildren came to visit him. "Magdalenna! Mes petites-filles sont venus me rendre visite!"[4]

"Zay came to visit me too!" Magdalenna huffed.

Aurora tried to stifle her giggles, as her grandparents got older they have developed somewhat of a competitive nature when it came to the affection of their grandchildren. This was going to be a lovely visit, she was absolutely looking forward to spending the week with them, and to make things better Berenice was here was well. Maybe she could get her to loosen up a little.

"How would you like to go horseback riding through the vineyard tomorrow?" Aurora learned over whispering in Berenice's ear.

"Sure, I'm in."

"And maybe we can convince grand-père to let us in his wine cellar."

"It's not going to take much convincing, all we have to do is ask."

Both cousins giggled, yes this week was going to be perfect!

[1]: "All men are liars"

[2]: "It's a pleasure to see you again"

[3]: "It is nice to see that you two have not forgotten me."

[4]: "My granddaughters have come to visit me!"