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CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
A LONESOME CHRISTMAS
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Christmas in Aleksander Mansion is quiet.
Once the Yule Ball ended, the following day she took the train straight back to England. She was so hungover, she wasn't even sure if she took the right train.
On the fourth floor of the house, in the last room in the hallway Aurora lies asleep. From looking at the girl anyone could tell she was uncomfortable - her head was dug underneath her pillow, she had several blankets wrapped around her body, and her arm hung against the switch of her night-light.
When the clock on the wall in her bedroom reaches five in the morning a metallic-vibrating noise echoes throughout the bedroom. Instantly, the black haired girl is awake and softly climbs out of bed.
She quickly makes her way over towards the door and when she is there she softly locks it. Carefully, she moves back over towards the centre of the room where she lies down across the floor. After a second, she began to workout.
And so she continues to do so.
Since returning home, she hadn't gotten one letter off Harry or Ron. Both of them hadn't been talking to her and Hermione - it was childish really. This had been the first time they all hadn't spoken. She didn't know why Harry got so annoyed with her over not offering to go as his date.
Why would he be so mad about that? Plus when he said "Gross," referring to the both of them being together, what was that about?
He would be lucky to end up with someone like her, she thinks. She doesn't understand why he was so annoyed, that was the problem. She went with Luke because he was her friend.
Plus why would he have wanted to go with her to the ball?
For the next few minutes she continues doing sit-ups on the ground: Today was an important day, or at least she was told. Every Christmas ball she attended, especially since she was getting older and in her family she was expected to find a Suitor.
Not that she wanted one.
She just kept up the appearance that she did.
When the clock strikes six o clock, she stands up quickly and unlocks the door. In the span of three seconds, she gets back under the covers and shuts her eyes and attempts to appear as though she was sleeping.
A knock arrived on the door almost seconds later, and footsteps enter the room. "Miss Black!" the curtains are pulls open. "Awake! Awake!"
When she's opened her eyes she's greeted by Emilia.
"Good morning, Miss Black." Emilia greets, "Up now! We have a busy day ahead of us. First off, we must begin preparation for the Ball this evening. Okay, I must take measurements, and then whilst you are doing your studies I will adjust some of the outfits we have. When you are finished at four o'clock we will get you ready!"
A nod comes from her as Aurora stands up.
For those next moments the woman takes her measurements.
"What are you thinking off?" Emilia questioned, "You're stressed."
"I'm not."
She was.
"I'm fine."
She wasn't.
Rotandia strolled into the room, with her hands crossed. "I think she needs to wear something that flatters her. The only issue is there aren't many things to do so."
Aurora rolls her eyes, not letting it get to her.
Rotandia comes over behind her, and claps her shoulders. Her nails digging into them. Aurora looked at her in the mirror in front of her.
"What do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror?"
Aurora takes a deep breath. "Well, I see a hideous little girl, with a very big nose. She is really annoying. Ah, yes and I also see me."
In response Rotandia sent her a swift glare before leaving the room.
After this, she spends the day studying. The rest of the day goes by slowly.
She does her studies, mostly French, and a bit of Spanish. Then, it's Defence, because apparently, you know when she became a Death Eater like her grandparents, she needed know.
Her a death eater?
It made her laugh.
The rest of the day went smoothly, and when the ball arrived she did what she usually did.
She played her part.
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On the twenty-fifth of December, she woke up shivering. She steps out of bed and notices it's almost lunch time. She quickly dresses herself before leaving the room. The house is quiet. Unusually quiet.
Also why was she allowed to sleep in? Where was Emilia?
"Hello?" she calls out. "Is anyone home?"
When she is meant with no response, she goes into the kitchen. No house elf's are there. Her eyebrows furrow, as she looks around at the empty kitchen. She sighed, before leaving. As she leaves she spots one of the house elves going down to the basement.
"Sheldem!" she called after the house elf. He turns around and skips over. "Where is everyone? My grandparents?"
"Oh! They are gone, Miss Black."
"Where?"
"To Italy for the next two weeks. They won't be back till January second. Did you not know?"
She shakes her head. "No I didn't. Are you positive they won't be back?"
"Certain. They sent us all down to the basement for the next couple weeks to clean."
"Right, all of you can stay around for the week." the calls making them all turn around. "No need to stay in that basement. It's to cold down there. You can stay in the guest room. In the beds. That's an order as well so you can't refuse. You can also eat from the fridge whatever you want. Take some thicker clothes also."
"Master Black!" Sheldem bellows. "That is to grateful!"
"You all go!" she teases. "Before I change my mind! And make sure and eat!"
The house elves all run away in delight. She smiles softly and she looks around at the empty house. She enters the living room, and sits down on the couch. Just as she does so, Fred and George's owl flies in through the open window. There is also a package connected to its leg.
There is another letter.
She reads through the letter softly with a small smile, before opening the parcel. When she does, it's a jumper from Molly. It's blue, and hands her initials on them.
She could imagine them all, surrounded by the fire, having a big Christmas with their family. Sharing stories, doing what other people did during Christmas.
"Merry Christmas, Miss Black!" a small voice bellows, and it's one of the house elves. He holds a cupcake in his hands with a candle.
She smiles softly. "Thank you."
The house elf scurries away, and she watches it go before looking around at the empty room again.
Aurora blows out the candle. Merry Christmas indeed.
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So, she ends up in a bar, on New Years Eve, the night before her birthday.
Considering, it was Christmas, and she had nowhere else to be. She ends up taking a taxi, yes a taxi, like a muggle, because there's literally no orrery way she could get into London, and she ends up in this bar.
She sits at the end of the bar.
She always hated Christmas.
No, correction, she despised Christmas.
She hadn't had one good Christmas. If anything this was the best considering her grandparents were gone to Italy for the weekend. She was free to do whatever she wanted. Another good thing about her grandparents being gone was the fact she was free to wear what she want.
Which is exactly why she wore a white lace tank top, and a black high waisted mini skirt. She also wore black heels that Hermione had given her for Christmas. She had worn light makeup, and curled her hair at the bottoms.
She made an effort, because why not.
Plus she was incredibly bored, incredibly bored.
"Can I get you another, one?" the barman questions coming over. He had given her the first three for free. She nods and slides over her glass. He chuckles. "You're not eighteen are you?"
She raises an eyebrow. "Does it really matter? This is my fifth drink, I don't think you care very much."
The man chuckles and hands her the drink, before going to serve other people.
Aurora looks around. The bar is packed, and as her eyes scan the room, she spots a group of men in the corner. A few of them were looking over towards her, and one even stood up. She rolled her eyes and looked away.
"Not today." she mutters, downing her drink. The spot next to her is taken. "Here we go-"
"Hi, there." the man smiles, his hand reaches out to and lands on the edge of her seat.
However before she could say another word, another man had imputed. He pulls out his wand, and points it at the mans throat.
"You've had to much to drink. You're tired. Go home, now." he warned.
The man scrambled to his feet and left the bar, alongside his friends.
He turns to her and sighs like she had been a problem to her. He smiles. "Are you alright?"
"I'm sorry. Do I know you?"
"Just...be careful." the man said. She gives him a look. "It's London, it's Christmas. You're a fourteen year old girl, alone. Keep your wand on you, and don't talk to anyone you don't know."
And then, the man is gone.
It was only when he was gone did she realise he he said her exact age, and wand. So he was a wizard? How did he know her? Her eyebrows furrow.
Maybe he knew her from the newspapers.
She shakes her head, and returns to her drink.
Finally, Luke comes into the bar, like its his first time being inside one. He looks around. He is wearing a surprisingly fashionable outfit - he wears a dark bluepair of jeans, a mahogany coloured shirt, and most importantly, a jet black leather jacket.
Aurora doesn't hesitate to smile, when he spots her.
He comes over, and leans in pressing a soft kiss against her forehead. Before he says anything, he goes to the barm.
"Can I get a beer, please?"
So, she sees it straight away in him. He is..more confident. Not just in his fashion choice, but the way he was acting. He was more confident. So since Luke had made two new friends at the ball - Edward and Sammy. Or at least since he started talking with them over Christmas, he had gained confidence.
It was nice to see.
"I got lost twice," he tells her, sitting down beside her. He grins. "You look lovely."
"I can't believe you came!" was all she could reply with. "You never want to go to pubs."
"You never want to meet up during Christmas," he mentions lightheartedly, which she does nod at. She couldn't meet up at Christmas. "How is your Christmas? Are your grandparents with you?"
"No, no they're back at home. How is your grandmother?"
"She's okay, she was really happy I was meeting with you though. She's spending some time with Alfred." Luke made a face. "Still can't believe my grandmother has a boyfriend."
She chuckles. "Give her my best."
"I will. So, have you spoken with him?"
At this, she shrugs. "No, not even a Christmas letter. Fred and George sent me a letter saying he was a git. Worst part of all is I barely remember what we argued about. I was a little bit-"
"-drunk....?"
"Very drunk." she repeated, and he laughs. "Still I
know it might have something to do with the fact he's in love with you."
She rolled her eyes. "Luke. A girl and a guy can be friends without-"
"Friends don't look at each other like that-"
"Like what?!"
"He gives you the look!" Luke bellows, in a whisper. "It's obvious. He likes you!"
"No he doesn't, and even if he did I don't feel the same. He doesn't either. We're just friends, alright? Best friends." said Aurora. "It's the truth. He's my best friend."
Luke snorts. "He's jealous of you and Enzo, it's obvious."
She gives him a look. Harry was jealous, yeah, right. "Jealous? He was not jealous. Maybe he was jealous of Enzo, because he's popular?"
"No," Luke laughed out. "He was jealous of you being with him."
Her mouth falls into a thin line. "That's not it-"
"Yes it is."
She rolls her eyes, "-it's not!"
"Whatever, you'll see it soon."
She sends him a small smile, before rolling her eyes, whilst he grins and gets another drink. The rest of the night went on to be one of the best she had ever. She talked with Luke for hours, they danced, she even convinced him to do karaoke.
Her lonely Christmas, had turned to the opposite.
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Luke and Aurora: 🥺🥺
This book is such a slow burn between Haurora but I love it!!