Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 5 First Day of Classes

I woke extra early the next morning, too early even for this early bird. But since I was too keyed up to go back to sleep I got up and got ready. I dressed swiftly in a hot pink top and jeans. I'd wait to put on robes until going down to breakfast so they wouldn't wrinkle.

Harry was sitting by the window when I went downstairs. He smiled and said, "Beat you this morning."

"Looks that way. But at least I took the time to brush my hair."

"I did! There's not much I can do with this mess."

"...So..."

"So." Once again we found ourselves at an awkward silence. We sat on the sofa, each lost in private thoughts, until the sounds of other students rising reached the common room.

"I'd better go get my robes."

At breakfast Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House, handed out the new term schedules. Everyone started to compare classes. I noticed that I shared all but one class with the others:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

Advanced History of Magic (with Hufflepuff House) 9 a.m., Professor Binns

Advanced Transfiguration 10:00 a.m., Professor McGonagall

Advanced Potions (with Slythernin House) 11:00 a.m., Professor Snape

Lunch 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.

Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts 2:00 p.m., Professor ????

Metaphysical Meteorology 4:00 p.m., Professor Dumbledore, kindly await instructions at the stone gargoyle statue

Tuesday, Thursday

Advanced Care of Magical Creatures 9:00 a.m., Professor Hagrid

Advanced Charms (with Ravenclaw House) 10:30 a.m., Professor Flitwick

Lunch 12:00 noon - 2:00p.m.

Advanced Herbology 1:00 p.m., Professor Sprout, Greenhouse 8

"What's Metaphysical Meteorology?"

"Something to do with the weather, I suppose. Why?" Hermione asked without looking up from the table. She was busy trying to devise a study plan for the four of us in her homework planner. N.E.W.T.s would be here before we knew it she'd said.

"It's my last class today. Professor Dumbledore is teaching it."

"I didn't think he taught classes."

"He usually doesn't, Ron. He did teach me Occlumency last year but that wasn't a class."

"I guess I'll find out at 4:00. Guys, we'd better get moving if we don't wanna be late for History of Magic."

Neville told Ginny we would see her at lunch and we hurried off to Professor Binns's class. There the entire room, with the exceptions of Hermione and me, fell into a drone-induced stupor. It was the most boring experience of my entire life.

In Transfigurations Professor McGonagall had the class transforming desks into tea cozies. It took an enormous amount of concentration so not much talking occurred for the rest of the hour. By the end of class, Harry and Hermione had successfully transformed theirs and I had managed a wood colored cozy. Ron's however, still had legs.

Ron and Harry dragged themselves slowly to Potions behind Hermione and me and we took seats near the back. Even I was dreading a year of Snape.

"At least it's not double Potions this year," Harry whispered.

Professor Snape swooped into the room, the door banging closed behind him, wall torches dimming. When he settled in front of the classroom his gaze swept over the students. I saw that he gave Harry a particularly evil glare before settling his beady eyes on me.

"Miss Weasley, from America, I assume."

"Yes, sir."

"Professor Dumbledore has told me you last attended The Marie Laveau School of Magic. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Dreadful schools in America. They fail to teach the most fundamental basics and are sorely lacking in the ability to teach new spells and potions. Or so I've heard tell." He paused as if for effect. "Tell me Miss Weasley, what would you get if you were to add a Pepperup potion to an infusion of tobslung mere and rea fungus?"

"Rock bite antidote, sir."

"I see Miss Granger has been infecting others with her over the top study habits already this term."

"No, sir. We went over that in Potions last year with Mrs. McMorris."

"I see...Today we will be dividing into pairs and preparing Skele-Gro potion. Madam Pomfrey's store has been sadly depleted thanks to certain persons who seem to require it quite often." He shot Harry another menacing glare. "Potter, Longbottom; Granger, Mr. Weasley;" he continued calling partners until "and let's see...who's left? Ah yes, Malfoy and Miss Weasley."

'No!'

Draco smirked and brought his potions book over to my desk.

"Been thinking of me, Beautiful?"

"Only when I feel the need to retch."

"Ouch, that hurts."

"Are you going out with that loser?" he asked when Harry glared over at him.

"No," I replied but a soft smile found its way onto my lips anyway.

The blonde scowled. "Whatever could anyone see in him?"

"Besides the fact that he's the nicest guy I've ever met, funny, and a great friend? Oh, and there's also his being a superb Seeker."

Draco glowered. "I play Seeker too."

"So I've heard. Haven't managed to catch it yet during a game against him, have you? Now if you don't mind, I'd really like to finish this potion before the bell rings."

We completed the project in silence. When class ended I hurried over to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Grabbing lunch before DA, I related what had transpired in Potions with Draco.

"I'm going to pull a Mad-Eye on him one day and turn him back into a ferret," Ron promised.

"I can handle it. I've been dealing with guys like him since I was 11." Ron was sweet.

"But."

"If you two are through, we need to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I wonder who'll be teaching this year?" Hermione pondered.

"I don't know. The usual seat at the professors' table's been empty," Harry answered.

"We shall just have to go and see," I remarked grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her to her feet.

There was no teacher present when the five of us entered the DA classroom. We sat in desks near the front and chatted quietly for a few minutes.

"I wonder where the professor is?" a timid looking girl asked.

"Maybe they couldn't find one this year," another answered.

"I heard no one wanted to take the position. We're just going to sit here and have a study hour all year."

"Maybe he was late getting to class because someone set off Dungbombs in the corridor near the professors' lounge," a voice chimed in. Professor Remus Lupin walked over to his desk.

"Professor Lupin!!" a chorus exclaimed.

"Good morning class. Professor Dumbledore has persuaded me to return. It seems there are many students who begged for my return." He smiled at Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "Today we will be discussing Vampires. Can anyone tell me something about them?"

Several hands shot into the air.

"I'm sorry I don't recall your name."

"Aurora Weasley, sir. I just transferred here. Vampires are witches or wizards who have been bitten by an infected bat or another Vampire. They live off blood, either human or animal. There's no known cure."

"Hermione, you wish to add more?"

"Not all Vampires are evil. Some retain their humanity and are valuable members of their communities."

"Who knows what to do if you should run across an unfriendly one? Ron."

"Stake it through the heart with a piece of wood."

"Well, that would kill it but I was only wanting to scare it away. Neville?"

"Extremis Lumos."

"Excellent, five points to Gryffindor. This more powerful version of the Lumos spell is like a blast of sunlight. It will send any Vampire in the vicinity scurrying. Let's try." He doused the torches.

Shouts of "Extremis Lumos" abounded around the room. Feeble rays of light were seen coming from several wands until mine, Hermione, Ron, Harry's beams lit up the dark classroom.

"Wonderful class. I think that will be all for today." Professor Lupin walked up to Harry while the other students left.

"Why didn't you tell me you'd be teaching this year, Remus?"

"I thought I'd surprise you. So you're Arthur's niece. I hear you share his fascination with Muggles."

"It's kind of hard not to when you live surrounded by them, sir."

"You'll have to tell me all about them soon. Sirius and I are very sorry we were unable to attend your welcoming party."

"Oh, that's ok."

"You lot had better get going. I'll see you at dinner."

"Bye Remus."

"Bye Professor Lupin."

"It was nice meeting you, Professor."

The group was still talking about Remus's return when we heard a most unpleasant voice.

"Don't tell me Dumbledore actually hired that werewolf to teach us again."

'Hadn't I dealt enough with him already for one day?'

"Shut up, Malfoy. He was the best DA teacher we ever had," Harry lashed out, advancing on Draco, wand drawn.

"Harry, no. Come on, let's just go."

"Listen to Aurora, Potter. Even a Mudblood lover like her realizes that this time, I'm right."

Talk about pissed me off. 'Bad idea, Drakey.' Windows shattered as the wind rushed in. Torches flickered and sputtered out. Lightning flashed across the sky outside. I felt the familiar sparking sensation in my eyes.

"Aurora! Aurora!"

I dimly heard Harry calling my name, frantically trying to get my attention. Draco had no idea what he just started. Harry grabbed me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes. He told me later he had been very surprised to see how blue they'd turned and the flickers of white within the depths.

"Aurora!" Harry shouted once more to no avail.

Wanting only to hurt Draco, I ignored him. That's when he gathered me in his arms, pushing my head down on his chest. He whispered calming words softly, melodically. The wind slowly died.

Draco stared, almost in concern. He watched as I shook my head to clear it. No one had ever attempted to calm me down when I had an episode. Amazing what a few gentle words could do.

"I've warned you twice now, Draco Malfoy. You won't get another," I said advancing on him. "I've heard the story about Professor Lupin. I've also heard he's an amazing teacher, werewolf or not. As far as your hatred of anything Muggle, I hope someday you'll be brave enough to look past your father's horrible opinions and learn to form a few of your own. Some of the best people in this world have Muggle backgrounds. You need to realize bloodlines aren't what matters, a person's heart is." I turned from him and walked away, throwing a "Reparo" behind me. The others followed, unsure of what to say.

When I entered the common room, I immediately sank into the sofa by the window. I noticed Hermione come in but didn't speak.

She sat next to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine in a minute or two. People like him just make me furious. There isn't time in life for that sort of bigotry."

Hermione pulled me into a hug. Needing the comfort I curled into the other girl's side and rested my head on her shoulder. "Where are the others?"

"Harry dragged Ron out to the lake. I told them we'd be there in a bit."

I gave my new friend a wobbly smile. "Thanks."

"Any time. We better go. If we hurry we can walk for a bit outside. You've still got class with Dumbledore before its time for dinner." She led the way to the water's edge where all our friends were sitting looking worried.

"You okay, Cuz?"

"Yeah."

"Gin, you're starting to sound like her," Ron teased.

"Good. I love the way she talks." The friends laughed. We sat quietly enjoying the peace until I said I'd see them later and went off to class with Professor Dumbledore.

Once there I stood before the stone gargoyle wondering what to do next. A voice whispered in my mind, 'Sugar quill.'

"Sugar quill?" I repeated out loud. 'Where had that come from?'

The gargoyle leapt to the right, revealing a moving staircase. 'Cool!' I stepped on it and it brought me up and into a large, spacious office. Sneakoscopes, magical globes, and other unidentifiable instruments were scattered throughout the room on various tables and shelves. A magnificent red phoenix sat perched on a stand next to the large desk. I walked over and petted the beautiful bird. Its feathers ruffled in enjoyment.

"Hello, you gorgeous boy. Want to know a secret? I can turn into a silver phoenix. Maybe one day we can fly together."

"I'm sure Fawkes would enjoy that," Professor Dumbledore answered, suddenly appearing.

"Oh! I didn't know you were here, sir."

"Quite alright, my dear. As for your confession to Fawkes your father has informed me. I looked you up in the registry. Let us begin our class. First you should know that you are here so that I can teach you about your Storm Taming abilities. There will be no grade given for this. We are merely here to expound upon your powers. I understand there have been two occurrences recently involving Mr. Malfoy."

"I'm sorry, sir. I tried to control it but he just gets under my skin so badly with his 'Pure-blood' nonsense. I haven't lost it like that in years."

"Mr. Malfoy does seem to be quite the antagonist. But that is why we are here. Your father wrote to me as soon as he learned of his transfer. Apparently someone mentioned to him that I am an authority on Storm Tamers."

"There are others?"

"The last Tamer was born five hundred years ago. I learned his story from a man in Romania many years ago. He was eager to pass on his knowledge. Before we parted, he told me he had had a vision of one who would seek my guidance. I was to teach her everything he had shared with me. Perhaps one day in the distant future you will meet him."

We got so involved discussing the history of Storm Taming that neither of us noticed the time. When he finally bid me good day it was time for dinner. Head filled to the brim with new facts I rushed downstairs, starving. I sat with my Gryffindor friends and impatiently waited for the scrumptious food to appear.

Professor Dumbledore stood up and patiently waited for the chatter to die. "I have a few announcements to make before dinner. I was going to wait until next week but I have been informed that the female population in this school would be livid. This year we have decided to expand our traditional Halloween feast to include a costume party for all students to be held on Saturday. Costumes are mandatory. Prizes will be awarded for most imaginative, scariest, funniest, and best couple's costumes. Our annual Yule Ball will take place on the Saturday before Christmas. Fourth years and above only, unless you are invited by one. And lastly, but certainly not least, we are most pleased to welcome back Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin." He paused, waiting for the explosion of applause to end. Professor Lupin smiled and nodded towards the Gryffindor table, the loudest of the three Houses cheering. Slytherin was silent. "That said, tuck in!"

"So what happened with Meteorology?" Ginny bombarded as soon as Professor Dumbledore sat. I told my cousin and the others about two hours spent with Professor Dumbledore.

After dinner, we retired to the Gryffindor common room, where drained, physically and mentally, I had to tell them the American was ready to call it a night. I headed upstairs, changed clothes, and brushed my teeth. I closed the drapes surrounding the bed, laid down, and drifted off.

7