One two three four five six seven. Seven days Aurora had been shut up in her flat refusing to come out. Stand walk sit smoke, stand walk sit smoke, stand walk sit smoke drink, stand walk sit smoke drink, stand walk sit smoke drink sleep, stand walk sit smoke drink sleep, stand walk sit smoke drink sleep, stand walk sit smoke drink sleep. Seven days, for seven days she repeated this cycle. She tried to empty her head of all the chaos that filled it. What the hell was happening to her life?! How could any of this have happened? First she was attending class going about her business being a normal student and then she gets slammed with threats of being sent home and a courtship proposal all at once. It was a complete disaster, she was trapped either way.
"Here you are Miss Rory." Lini squeaked as she handed Aurora another glass of wine.
Aurora nodded taking a big gulp and went back to cleaning out her desk. She desperately needed a distraction and this was the best she could do for herself. She found countless scrapes of rough drafts she had written for Dr. Hines and some old letters from her parents which immediately threw in the fireplace. She let out a deep sigh, she was almost done; Aurora reached into the back of the drawer making contact with what felt like a book. She wrapped her slim fingers around it and pulled it out.
It was a small leather bound book that she knew very well. Aurora smiled, it was her diary from her juvenile years. Taking a seat on the floor she opened it and began to read the first entry she set her eyes on:
June 20, 1998
Dear Diary,
I have some exciting news! I just received my acceptance letter to dance for the Russian ballet! I will be traveling to Moscow in two weeks to start training with the rest of the company. I can't believe it! It's as if all my dreams are coming true, I would love nothing more than to be the lead in Swan Lake or The Nut Cracker. But personally I'd prefer Swan Lake.
I'm getting chills just thinking about it! Becoming a professional dancer is all I want to do, arte choros ibi libertas[1], I can be anything and anyone!
Uncle Gavin and Aunt Celeste are more than pleased and that bitter sow Rhea is beyond jealous, ha! If things go exceptionally well I'll get to travel and dance all over the world!
My discipline is second to none, I will train and work hard every day to become the best dancer the company has ever seen!
A sad nostalgic smile graced Aurora's lips, she was a dreamer. She dreamt of becoming a world class dancer and traveling the world with her ballet shoes. And when the dream of becoming a dancer was crushed all she had left was the dream of traveling the world. And now it was in danger of slipping through her fingers. Her father has threatened her to return to France and Draco is practically implying that they marry. Oh yes, he only asked to court her but courtships usually lead to marriage.
She couldn't comply too her father's wishes of returning to France and as far as courting Draco goes…she can't have her cake and eat it too! How was she supposed to travel and be in a relationship at the same time?! It was way too farfetched.
Aurora let out a frustrated sigh and took another big gulp of wine when she heard tapping at her window. She looked up and saw her mother's owl sitting on the window sill.
"This can't be good." She muttered to herself opening the window allowing the owl in. She untied the letter that was attached to his leg and gave him and owl pellet.
"Why don't you rest Ollie? I'll send you home tomorrow."
The owl responded by cocking his head to the side and nipping her finger gently.
Aurora opened the letter and began to read the familiar handwriting that stained the parchment.
Aurora,
It has come to my attention that you have yet to give an answer to Master Malfoy. Let me remind you that he is a fine young man from a good family. Your father and I are puzzled as to why you have not accepted yet, we thought the answer to his proposal would have been obvious.
I write to you in an attempt to persuade you to accept. That boy came to your father and me and asked for permission to court you and we gladly gave it. Listen well my dear child, snatching the young scion of the Malfoy family is a great feet. Here in Europe young women throw themselves at him left and right, and you managed to capture him. It seems that he is so enthralled by you that he will not be satisfied with anyone else.
I cannot understand why it is taking you so long to give the young man an answer. Rest assure that a courtship such as this will result in a very prestigious marriage. He will provide you with a very lovely and comfortable life. Your father and I wish nothing but to know that you are well cared for. Which is why your father has changed the terms of his pervious demands. You have two choices, either you graciously enter into a courtship with Master Malfoy or you will return home to France with no quarter, you won't have to pick a suitor your father and I will pick one for you. I trust that you will make the right decision.
Mother
Aurora took a deep breath, set the offending letter on the table and with a simple gaze of her eye ignited it. Lini rushed over to extinguish the flames only to find that her lady had moved on to another target, the wine glass.
That was it, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Aurora considered herself to be a very tolerant young woman but enough, she thought she had been pushed to her limit when her progenitors didn't come to her graduation but this…This pushed her beyond a limit that she didn't even know existed! They were making her choose between marriage and marriage. One more favorable than the other but the result was still the same she would be tied down. She looked down at her diary. Travel the world, if she entered conjugal life how would she ever travel at her leisure? What wife would leave her husband months at a time for the sake of travel, it just didn't happen!
That's it, her very last opportunity at freedom gone! Aurora placed her hand over her chest, her heart hammering at her ribcage threatening to burst out of her chest cavity. It was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe gasping for air she fell to her knees. Her vision blurred and all she could see was colored spots and then her vision went black.
Aurora woke hearing nothing but the shuffling of Lini's feet. She opened her eyes, she was tucked in her bed.
"Miss Rory! You're awake! You gave Lini a scare; that you did."
"What happened?"
"You fainted Miss."
"Why?"
"Lini does not know. A letter came from my lady's mother, which disturbed her most grievously." The elf squeaked nervously.
Aurora thought for a moment and then she remembered that wretched letter her mother sent her. Gone that's it gone! Her freedom! Her dreams! Gone! Tears started to prickle her eyes how could this have happened? She was nothing more than a bride in a gilded cage. She had been given every luxury in the world but the only condition was she must comply to her father's will. A man she hardly knew! What kind of life was this?! Everything was predetermined for her! Her life was just one giant list commands. Even her "choice" of husband wasn't really her choice.
She sat up in her bed and pulled her legs to her chest resting her head on her knees remaining in that position. All was silent expect for the ticking of the clock that sat at her bedside table.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. Her head snapped up looking straight ahead. She was no longer in control of her body. It was as if she took a step back and let someone else control her. Pushing the duvet off of her Aurora rushed to the closet and grabbed her suitcase. She tore it open and began to throw all sorts of robes and casual wear in it. She stopped at the sight of some extravagant dress robes, the robes she was meant to wear at the New Year's Ball, she only looked at them for a moment and continued to fill the suitcase.
"Miss Rory, are you going on a trip?" Lini asked meekly.
"Of sorts." Aurora's voice was unfamiliar and hollow.
She quickly dressed into some robes and slipped on her black traveling cloak. She grabbed her trunk and pulled it down the stairs.
"But Miss Rory, the ball is two days from now!"
"I am aware." Aurora put her boots on. "I will write to you." With trembling hands she picked up her handbag and pulled out a small purse. "Here, this has enough gold in it for a year's worth of rent. Give it to the landlady. Tell her that I am traveling and do not know when I will return. If I am gone for more than a year I will send more gold."
"B-b-but Miss Rory!" The elf sputtered in shock, her mistress had never acted so rashly.
"Do as I say Lini! And Look for my owl. I will write to you only when necessary, do not tell anyone of my wearables."
"But Miss Rory! Your wand!"
"I don't need it!" Aurora pulled on her gloves and exited the flat. "Lock the door!"
With her heart pounding and blood rushing through her ears Aurora continued on her way down the stairs and out of the building into the cold December night.
Snow crunching beneath her feet, blistering wind stinging and blowing snow into her face. Aurora couldn't say how long she had been walking, dragging her baggage along with her but she was finally able to find refuge in her desired destination, the train station. She looked up at the board that had the schedules on it. What's the plan you damned fool? You walked all the way over here and didn't think of where you would go next. She scolded herself.
Aurora looked around not sure of what to do, where will she go-
"Hurry up Sarah! The last train to Boston leaves in 10 minutes!" A Muggle woman pushing her daughter along rushed past her.
That's it! I'll go to Boston!
Aurora walked down the aisle, the train was absolutely deserted save for some Muggle travelers. She took an empty seat by the window and watched the snow gently float down to earth. This all felt so surreal to her, did she really just pack up her things and leave? And with no plan as to where to go or what she will do after Boston. Well she only dreamt of traveling and now it has become a tangible reality because she made it so. The horn sounded and the train began to pull out the station with a soft hum. Aurora continued to stare out at the ink blue December night. Regardless of where she ends up one thing was sure a new chapter of her life was about to begin.
[1]: "There is freedom in the art of dance"