𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝

Messy Creatures

Rewritten

Every step up the Gryffindor tower to the Gryffindor common room felt heavy. Like her legs were underwater, unwilling to move. It felt like an eternity, a stool that led to a noose.

Aurora had her luggage ready. Everything was in a backpack in her quarters. She no longer wore her coat. She didn't need to now that everybody in Hogwarts knew who---or rather what---she was. The rumours were quick to spread, false and true. Though one thing everybody was sure of; Aurora is a Harpy, and her place is no longer here.

She moved up and stood in front of the portrait, the Fat Lady sleeping and snoring, unaware of her presence. Aurora stilled and fiddled with her thumbs, staring at the painting unsurely.

Would they even care?

Well, I mean of course they're going to be shocked, but would they care that she was leaving?

Perhaps that's not something friends do.

Aurora knew that by now the common room was empty and no one was there except the Golden Trio. There's no way they went to sleep, despite the fact that it was past one in the morning.

She cleared her throat softly, but the Fat Lady didn't even stir.

"Hey!" Aurora cried out sharply, her eyes set in an annoyed glare. The Fat Lady woke up with a jolt, her hand flying to her chest to calm her nonexistent heartbeat.

"No need to shout, young lady!" she scolded.

"Let me in," Aurora said firmly.

"Password?"

"Wattlebird."

The portrait opened with an annoyed huff from the Fat Lady. Aurora clenched her fists before she went through the portrait, her gut tightening uncomfortably. She immediately felt warmer upon entering the common room, her eyes going blind for a little because of all the red. At first glance, the place was empty. But upon closer inspection, you could see three heads nestled together, staring into the fireplace.

Aurora, baffled at the bizarre scene of three grown students staring into the fire as if it was holding the answer to all their problems, frowned confusedly, but she couldn't bring herself to care. Her footsteps attracted their attention and they immediately turned away from the fire and to her, all gazing up at her with surprise.

Bollocks, there's no getting out of it now.

"Rory!" Hermione said loudly, jumping up and running towards her, embracing her in a surprising hug.

What the bloody hell was this witch doing?

Aurora's eyes widened for a fraction, unable to process why Hermione was hugging her all of a sudden. What did people usually do when someone hugged them? Okay, no, she doesn't like this. Aurora awkwardly patted her back, then pushed her away with an uncomfortable look on her face.

"What's happened? Are you alright? Was Dumbledore angry? You stupid girl!" Breathing in deeply, Hermione supplied her lungs with ammo before attacking her with words once again. "How could you lose your composure like that!"