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"REMUS JOHN LUPIN!" The scream alerting both Aurora and Remus, and the girl was close to tear as she couldn't manage to breath properly. Leaving Remus to apologies profusely at the idea of scaring Aurora, scaring Lily for being here.

Had he fallen asleep?

Lily narrowed her brow at the two of them, and realized that Remus was not like that with anyone. Even girls who threw themselves at him he declined. So perhaps she misjudged the situation in its entirety.

"Lils he was just reading me a book so I could sleep...I swear nothing—" Lily nodded and started to apology for scaring ether of them. Especially after what her friend had been through.

"It's already dinner?" Aurora mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she looked miserable. Lily came over and put the back of her hand to her head. "Rory you're burning up." She ushered out, and Remus did the same.

"She's right, Aurora is this normal?" The girl nodded an affirmative. "I heal really weird, I'll be perfect tomorrow!" She cheered, but Lily ushered them to get her to eat. Even if it would only be a little bit.

Not having to help her down to the grand hall was an upgrade, but the glances the rest of the student body had given only wanted Remus to hold her and block her from the questions and all that.

"And? How did it fair?" Sirius spoke, grinning so loudly. And Remus merely filled his plate with a given bit of food before looking to James who smirked as well. 

"You have your bedhead, I take it went very well then?" The smile was contained for a moment behind the sip of pumpkin juice Remus had given himself and the rest of the smiles followed in pursuit.

"Past few times I've talked to her she's been too honest...She has a lot of trust issues." Sirius scoffed and nodded. "Ain't that the truth, bet her little group over there is the only ones that will ever—" Remus just shook his head and sighed.

"She said she doesn't trust Lily. I suppose there's a difference between knowing someone from letters for three years, but in person I guess they haven't gotten there yet." James frowned, looking over to the girls. And although Aurora attempted to follow along through the girls talking amongst themselves, it didn't work as she still looked awfully tired.

"Not even Lily?" Remus shook his head. "It has to do with her parents, she was barely five when they d-died." The werewolf blinked and simultanisouly the lot took in a suck of air. If Aurora wasn't perfect prior, then this was finalizing fact. Something traumatic happening at such a young age, and it made Remus feel thankful that his parents were there.

Because for Aurora, she's been alone.

"You think that ex of her's—" The glare Sirius had gotten from James was all that to do for being silenced, but it gave Remus a bit of thought to what he could think of. "Wells is more than private, so how much do you think that ex of hers knows? Or knew rather." The boys thought in silence and Remus really took it to heart.

"I'm sure she trusted him, if they've—" His face turned instantly red and his mates knew what he was referring to. "Don't think your gal looks at it like all that lovey dovey shit there mate, I think she's lost the idea." Remus refused to believe that, if Aurora wasn't getting enough love, then he'd provide it.

"You don't think she loves her uncle? Or that relative that got hurt a few weeks back?" Sirius shrugged and turned to look at Aurora. "Caring and loving are two separate things. She cares about us, but love? It takes a bit to get there." Remus narrowed his eyes towards Sirius, who was referring to himself and comparing himself to her.

Although Aurora wasn't looking for that sexual interaction as much as he was, she definitely saw it as a stress reliever as well as just a fun activity. He didn't doubt that himself or she would find the proper person to prove it wrong, but it'd take a lot of weaving through the walls to get by.

"Sure Moony's up for a challenge, perhaps get something for her for christmas?" Sirius closed his eyes, his words not amounting to anything that was said. 

"Prongs, no bloody offense. But your idea of getting a gal hasn't worked yet." The tension lingered even after the conversation turned, but James was a bit peeved at what Sirius had reminded him. So they took their anger out on a certain Slytherin that showcased to the rest of the house what happens when you target one of the Gryffindor team members.

Yet to Aurora, it was the worst news to hear the next morning as Lily had told her. Severus had come to the Library sporting a tinted a black eye, and what hurt even more was that Aurora was left feeling unhelpful due to the fact that she wasn't there to heal him. 

Leaving him to go to the infirmary, which he hated almost as much as she did.

It was the last week as they were set to leave Thursday, and Severus has been sneering at every bit, at every turn in Alchemy or in study group. Aurora felt entirely at fault, as her teammates must've went after him due to his house, but also because of James' infatuation with Lily.

And that was easiest taken care of by going after her friend.

It hurt every moment when Aurora made this revelation, again and again, she did favor the boys. Almost like McGonagall does, but it was defiantly one sided as she wouldn't respond to the paper whenever in class. Would refuse to go to Hogsmead, even if it was Remus.

Rather than attempt to ignore Remus she merely cut visits short so he wouldn't be able to question it. He knew quiet well how busy she was as doing homework beside her was...Horrendius. Though she made it a point to still tutor him in potions, even if it made Severus angry.

"He needs help in potions Sev, besides does he do anyt—" 

"Rory. He's the worst of the bunch, he isn't to be trusted." Aurora swallowed, now Lily didn't think that of Remus. But to be the worst of the bunch?

It gave leeway for Severus to lead up to the reveal, but hopefully it'd make matters quiet a lot easier when he finally finds their sanctuary for nights of the full moon. Then he could go tell off the world.

It was finally the last day at Hogwarts, and she was fairly excited to get out of the castle and back home for a night before planning her travels. The girl had stayed up quiet a long time the night before to plan such a bout. Oh she wanted to go everywhere, Switzerland, Norway, France, Spain...There wasn't enough time in the holiday break to get through all of them, nor give them proper attention.

Which lead to her planning her summer.

Lily had left to go to a prefect meeting while Severus stayed at Hogwarts. Having to do with his Homelife and how his muggle of a father didn't think magic was all that special. And Aurora knew all too easily what that meant. So it left her in the compartment alone and with a map.

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"Oi! Found her! Wells you are the bloody hardest person to find." The girl pulled her glasses up to her head and she rolled her eyes. "I have grey hair, I think I'm pretty distinct." He scoffed sitting beside her and looked over the map.

"Planning to hide some treasure?" She looked over to James. "I'm planning my vacation if anything, you think Paris would look nice at all this time of year?" She questioned, but nobody on the cart gave her a decent answer that she liked. So she shrugged and added it to the list anyhow.

Sirius took it in hand and took in a deep breath. "Merlin, are you going home at all?" 

"Nah, Germany's a waste, I've been there all summer. Sort of boring." In truth, it was largely empty and she did not want to be alone.

So Aurora smiled, perhaps she needed to get out of Europe entirely...Maybe she needed to go elsewhere entirely.

Remus was surprised to see Aurora in the cart with the lads, but it was never the less a blessing to see her smile up towards him.

"And what sort of plan do we have here?" He offers, taking the map and she points off to a country. 

"I'm on the hunt for some norther lights." She declared, and he eyed her in confusion. "You're not going home for the holidays?" She shook her head in the instant and continued to list a few ideas on what she would need in order to prepare.

Yet it was the worry that Remus wouldn't be able to get to give her the Christmas gift. And Sirius knew that was exactly what was on the werewolf's mind. "We're almost at the platform, why don't you go and get dressed?" He issued, and Aurora looked at the clock and thanked Sirius for the reminder before hurrying off to the bathroom to get changed.

"I swear pads, you read my mind sometimes." He issued, digging into his satchel to find the little gift and placing it into her own bag. Hopefully she'll be able to see it and not leave it discarded.

"You've been going off about it the last two weeks, I rather not hear about it over break. Oh Prongs, we have to ask Wells if she'll help." James looked at Sirius for a moment but then realized that they needed her desperately.

"Right, tell her when she comes back." James reminded and the cart was just waiting for the girl to return. However seeing her in jeans with a cloak in hand had Sirius laugh. "Oh shut up Padfoot." She growled, sitting back between him and Remus as she looked at James for help, but he was not going to offer any.

"I didn't know you owned a pair." 

"Sod off, you know I can dress like a muggle." She nudges, making Remus' cheek flare up. Luckily she didn't even need to look in that direction to know anything more in the sort.

"Yes I meant pants, I thought you stuck more to dresses." She shrugged. "It's winter...Besides I have mastered the art of wearing a corset...You should've seen Lils face when she tried on—" Aurora slapped herself to stop the idea of babbling, but James was eating up every word.

Lily bloody Evans wearing a corset? That was enough for him to have happy Christmas.

"Fuck. I need to shut up sometimes." She mumbled, pulling out her book but James snagged it in the moment. Her eyes flared up dangerously, and Remus hadn't understood why her heart beat had picked up so loudly beside him.

Not until he looked to the book.

"James. Give it back." Remus ordered, the stern tone catching James off guard. So the boy looked to the book, seeing that it was just a mythology book. Yet Aurora's eyes hadn't deviated, like she stilled to plan the attempt of James Potter.

Remus looked between the two and it was almost in the instant that Sirius could see that look. "Give it back Prongs." Sirius offered, and the boy didn't understand what he had done wrong and offered it back. Which Aurora snatched and held it to her chest.

"Aurora he—" 

"Don't bother, not like James knows what anything valuable is if it'd smack him in the face." She growled, grabbing her satchel and removing herself from the compartment. Remus closed his eyes as he leaned his head against the seat.

"What did I—" Sirius shook his head at James' ignorance. "Merlin Prongs, she looked like she was about to pounce." Remus agreed with Sirius' point of view and he sighed.

"That book...Her mother gave her." Sirius stilled as it became very important as James jumped up and tried to find the girl. Yet Remus and Sirius knew it wouldn't end well.

So it was Remus who took the lead and held Prongs back. "Not the best idea, I'll go." James closed his eyes and apologized, especially since it had her leave the cabin she had been in the entire ride back to society.

Remus found her pretty easily as she was in another empty cabin, shocking how she already made herself look all the more smaller than normal.

"Aurora?" Her eyes looked up but she didn't bother holding it as she returned to the book in hand. The one that was manhandled by Potter.

"James didn't know that—" 

"Don't defend him Remus, it could've been a normal book. He shouldn't grab things like a child." She spit, and he knew she was triggered at her gifted book being taken from her.

"He tried to run after you but I doubt that would've ended any better than before. Sirius said you were about to pounce." She nodded and held it even further into her hold. "I just...I don't have much of them to—" He held his hand up.

"Aurora you are perfectly justified, however, prior to James' ignorance they were going to ask you for a bit of help." Aurora was intrigued at the idea. And with her tilted head he continued.

"Pads told his family he's staying home, but he's going to Prongs'. We just need to hide his trunk and er—Him." Aurora thought for a moment, blinking as she concocted a plan. 

"Alright, I've got it..." She spoke, and after a few seconds she hadn't given him any insight to what will occur.

"Er, want to fill me in?" She pouted and playfully narrowed her eyes. "I dunno...I suppose." She shrugged, and she began to share her plan to one of the maurders.

Sirius was starting to worry, he needed Aurora to help as it'd be much too obvious for ether of his friends to have the extra trunk. Of course it'd be his, and in the eyes of his parents it would be mutiny to get caught.

Barely with five minutes left had Aurora returned, and it was the shovel of apologies and begging that had her strongly overwhelmed and she merley smirked. "Sirius as much as the entire female population likes to see you on your knees, I don't like it...So." She eyed Remus and he shook his head. This was going to be good.

"What did you have so far of this brilliant plan of yours?" She questioned, and James dug into his bag and held up a cloak. One of the biggest ticket items of the Mauders arsenal.

Aurora reached out towards and felt the fabric, none of the boys had to tell her what it was since it was pretty clear as she knew. "This is how you visited me in the infirmary, isn't it?" She asked, and Remus nodded. Only to get a whole lot of yelling as it wasn't his to share.

"Merlin, lay off him will you? You're telling me now anyhow...So you'll wear this and then? Where do I come in?" 

"My trunk darling, I was hoping you could take it and hand it off to Mrs.Potter or something in the sort." Aurora rolled her eyes and went along with the initial plan she had prior.

"Which ones your trunk then?" She questions, and he points to one in the far right. She Knicks her head towards James, but he didn't get the hint. She pointed her wand up towards it and shrunk it to the point where it was pocket sized.

"Aurora are you bloody mad?! You're—" 

"Not of age? Since my Uncle is so widely popular and I'm such an influence, guess who has a bit of reign?" She allowed and the boys looked all the more tempted.

"Makes it a bit easier to know you'll be all over bloody Europe when you can use your magic." Remus smiles down at her and she returned it. "Yes, but it also makes it easier to get from one place to another." 

"Y-you have your license?" She nodded once more and the boys, mostly James and Sirius, were slapping one another like girls getting a makeup deal.

"Merlin it isn't the biggest deal, it was much harder to learn so young." She countered, not like the boys heard it anyhow. They were waiting for the fact that a ministry official would be waiting to bring her off.

But as the train stopped she passed off the cloak. "Have a good holiday you lot, please for everything holy...Behave." She pointed her finger off and allowed another smile. Little did they all know that she asked Sirius where they all lived.

That boy was the only one who knows that she was more than likely giving gifts.

She had indeed done so, as much as she hated their antics and strayed from them time to time. She managed a few gifts, for Peter it had a bit difficult but it was a very comfortable sweater as well as his favorite candy, as well as quick drying ink from America. Hopeful for the fact it would lesson his splattered handwriting.

For Sirius and James it had been easier, she made little planks of gold for their brooms with their little pet names they have for each other. Which added to Peter's gift of a notebook, highlighting a gold plank with his nickname.

There was an extra bit for Sirius, she promised for when they get back to school that she'd give him a tattoo. If he wanted it that is, and that'd be quiet hilarious and perfect payback, as it was going to hurt. Alot.

Not Remus, that was an entirely different story. She had gotten him a book with the engraving of 'Moony' like the rest of them. But it had been on a book like Peter's. After that she had been stuck, so she allowed another sweater to come into the mix. But everyone had gotten sweaters, and everyone had gotten a little plack.

She was undoubtedly closest to Remus, so how was she meant to make it special?

After everything he had done for her? Never minding the fact that they had been intimate twice already. He made sure she was feeling alright constantly after the Slytherin attack, voicing his concern. So how impersonal would a box of chocolates be? Very.

So instead it was a much more personalized gift that took some time, about a week and she hadn't been done with it when saying goodbye to the train. But she was hoping that it'd aid him in studying potions.

In reality the handmade potions notebook was already in a sort of draft stage, but it'd give him some pointers and it'd always be a good reference in continuation with the syllabus until 7th year when he can choose wether or not he'd want to take it.

So that's it then? A sweater, chocolate, a book and another book? Merlin could she be any more of a bitch? So she rallied the excuse that she doesn't really celebrate Christmas in her letters to the boys. The only issue is, there wouldn't be a chance to give them to her like Moony had.

Sirius, with the entire fortune behind him. Had gotten her a very pretty and very expensive earrings of golden snitches that he'd think she'd like dearly. For James it was the same, he had gotten her a very nice copy of 'Quttachge of the ages' as well as a Germany roster poster.

Peter was worried in what to get her, so he apologized in his note and managed to get her a gift set from Honeydukes, and thanked her for all that she had done in tutoring him in charms.

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Now for Remus, he had gotten her a necklace with a rose charm on it. Just like the princess in the sleeping beauty movie had laid with, he thought it'd compliment her hair well. And it was charmed a bit, to give off certain colors as a rose doesn't always have to be red.

However, as she went off and found Lily. Meeting Mr. and Mrs.Evans for the first time, it was the odd man in the hood that lingered near her.

"Anything we need to be concerned about?" Sirius whispered under the cloak, but James shrugged of to Remus as he had no intention of talking to air when trying to speak to Sirius.

"Perhaps, we'll wait and see," James whispered, nudging for the group to follow along to his mother. Who had been talking to Mrs.Lupin on the train.

"She's talking to Lily's parent's Prongs, I doubt she wants to be bothered." James offers before smiling up to him mum, who held a bright smile and a readying kiss on the cheek.

Same for Remus as his mother was all too happy to see her son. "Look how tall you've gotten!" She dotes the entire time, especially in the ride. As though his mother knew of his impending crush on a new girl.

When they arrived at the house it was like a breath of fresh air, and even better that Wither had escaped his pen to come and say hello.

"Yes yes, I missed you to boy...Bet mum has some good snacks waiting for you hm?" He cheered, earning a snap of the beak. The two of them always had been great pals, ever since Remus' father bought him home after a raid that left Wither injured and allow.

It happened two years after Remus had first been infected, so it gave him something, a project to work on. Especially since his family had secluded themselves from any neighbors for his sake.

Wither was his first real friend.

When he came into the house he was greeted with the fresh smell of baking bread, the Christmas kind. The holiday spirit came in a rush as the tradition was about to begin once again.

Yet, when it all calmed down and he was getting ready for bed he looked at the photo from his truck. Frank had taken a picture of him and Aurora during the Halloween ball. Truth be told he kept it a secret, he had her in his arms, they had been dancing, and the smile was oh so wide on her face as they swayed back and forth to the music.

It allowed him to relive the night, even the events that followed their dancing. Merlin he had been so happy about the holiday that he had forgotten about Aurora for the time being, she must've gone off out of the country already.

Alone, looking for her northern lights. It sounded like fun, but he much rather hear that she went home with Lily or Alice. Or even to Germany so she was somewhere that he'd know. Or knew.

**

Aurora, on the other hand, was basking in the freedom. She felt alive in Norway. So much so that the small hut she was staying in became her oasis for the entire holiday. She'd hike the given trails, go to the villages, magical or not. Stay up all hours of the day, dive into the fresh caught fish that was bloody Devine.

She wanted to stay, so desperately did she want to stay.

However, it was one faithful night that a knock on the door presented her with a questionable glance. "MERRY CHRISTMAS RORY!" Seb shouted, almost knocking her down with the bag he had brought. Confusion whipped up as she narrowed her eyes.

"Did you bring the whole store with you too?" She questioned, and the boy scoffed up a line. "Of course not, I stopped at the manner to cheek the shields and Daisy had all these gifts ready and waiting. Then on top of that, you didn't tell your Uncle your plans." The girl shrugged up and placed all the presents under the tree before grabbing the big bag for Seb, there were more than a few gifts in there. And after everything he's done for her? It still wouldn't be enough.

"How about we watch a muggle movie like last year?" Aurora pouted, they hadn't been able to keep up their tradition last year but it was all the more better when magic gave them the ability to project the movie up onto the wall.

With the warm chocolate milk set in their stomachs and a smile on Aurora's face did she glance at Seb. "Merry Christmas." She whispered, and he pulled her in for a tight hug. "Happy Yule you little Wiccan Devil." He cheers, and she giggles as two sibling like friends allowed to have the evening off.

"You didn't think those boys you befriended would get you anything?" She glanced over at him, she was staring at the pile of gifts before her. Handling just one in hand before looking back to Seb. 

"I should've told them earlier I don't celebrate, but my roommates didn't take no for an answer so..." He laughed his way out of the room just for a second before returning.

"Let's see, you have your American friends, these mates of yours and your gals. So, which one are you opening first?" She decided the first one she was going to open was from her Uncle, and it was a very old limited edition potions book in some foreign language that Seb couldn't identify but it had Aurora going bonkers.

"There's only eight in bloody existence!" She screamed, and Seb choked on his tea in shock at her risen voice. He sometimes forgot under all that matured outlook that Aurora still was a kid.

Most of her presents ended in the same adoring factor, however there was one that she waited for. And it had been at the bottom of her bag since perhaps the train ride. Remus was a sly boy when it comes to his pranks or gestures of kindness. And here it was entirely.

Aurora had taken out the small package long after Seb had gone to bed, and just with the littlest bit of candlelight did she read the letter attached to the wrapping.

Merry Christmas Aurora!
I didn't know what to get you, but I knew pads was getting you jewelry so I thought I'd go that root. Maybe you can be Princess Aurora with the full costume next Halloween ball? 

Have a good Christmas darling. 

-Remus J Lupin.

Aurora was intrigued to say the least, so when she ripped the neatly packaged box to discover a necklace with a purple rose on it did she smile. "Hm, he's trying Onyx I'll give him that..." she whispered out, however the second she touched it. The color of the rose changed. Her mouth gawked at his ability to make it into something personal and sweet. Depending on her mood, as she soon found out, it'd change.

Perhaps this way he could see visibly how she's feeling every time they'd chat. To be fair her attitude had changed drastically through the entire semester thus far. The boys always claimed it was because she's new and still learning the ropes of how not to be overworked.

However Remus didn't take that as an excuse, Aurora knew quiet well how to manage her time as he saw her agenda. The poor girl had assignment after assignment but she knew the material. It was the extra curricular activities that drained her, Quidditch especially. The girl could defiantly do Alchemy the entire day, but she'd take the longest bloody nap afterwards.

"Mate you have to stop, it's driving me bloody insane." Sirius kicked Remus from his position across from the werewolf. "Well, what'd Aurora get you?" He offered, looking further through the book he had gotten from her.

"Nothing worth the blood sweet and tears from that book she bloody drew and filled up Moony." Peter popped up from his snacks and disagreed. "That's not true! Wells made the little golden thingies. She made them in Alchemy." All the boys simultaneously looked to the handwriting and Remus smirked.

"Yeah, that's her handwriting." He breathed, his hand going over his name and then sighed. She still didn't know, and telling her seemed...Pointless, especially after not hearing from her other than their gifts.

"I knew she was going to send something, how'd you think she got addresses?" Sirius scoffed, making Remus shrug. Everyone else had sent it to her Germany location in hopes of her stopping by just for a moment. And it turned out alright considering Seb managed to get them.

"I think it's pretty brilliant, she wrote a bloody potion handbook for him," Sirius smirked, he'd keep silent of what she offered him because he was in desperate want after thinking of what to get and where. Thinking an alchemy term would be the best as it'd be elusive to what it meant.

"Oi I certainly like Wells with Moony, she's very nice. Better than...Er what was that Ravenclaws name?" Peter offered, and Sirius leaned his head back to think of the name. "Leave Sofia out of this, I just...Aurora gets along with you lot better anyhow." Remus pouts, the girl had been his infatuation from the third year up until the middle of four, but it hadn't been this strong.

So when the time came to the date he had worked up to go to, he realized it was just a mere two-minute crush.

They were all in a circle of James room, Remus was set to leave the next morning or so as it was just a night to spend with his friends. It had been New Years Eve after all.

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Date Posted: 12-06-18

Time: 5:07

Word-Count: 5082