Just one problem ((open))

[natxthexrat]

Aurora walked on to the Hogwarts Express, more excited than usual. She was going to meet her dad! After all these years, Aurora was going to meet her dad! Aurora practically skipped to an empty compartment in the middle section of the train and sat down. There was so much to talk about! The only problem was that Aurora only had a week to find a way to get to the high school reunion, find her father without even knowing so much as a name, convince him that he does have a daughter, then convince him his daughter was a witch, all without her parents finding out. Yes, just a small problem.

Aurora busied herself with the scrapbook. Staring at it, searching for clues, hoping that this little book would help her get to know her father better. Before she knew it, tears filled her eyes, and she could barely see through her tears. Aurora didn't care, nobody was watching...or so she thought.

Aurora heard a small sneeze and looked up to see what had caused the sound. Thanks to her stupid tears, she couldn't make out who it was.

"Who's that....who's there?" It was as if Aurora had gone blind...she couldn't see a thing.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn stuffed a sweater into her red bag. She smiled as she zipped it closed. That was it. All of her school things were packed away. Maryn was going home for the holidays. She always went home for the holidays, but this was different. This was bittersweet. On one hand, Maryn would get to see Nate. She adored her newly bald younger brother and she missed him so much. Then, on the other hand, Maryn had gotten through half a school year without Leon. Maryn could barely remember a train ride without him since third year. Well, except for the train ride to school months before. Maryn missed him so much. She really did, but she was moving on. She had to. But, it was still hard and Maryn knew it would be. Leon was a dear friend and Maryn had cared deeply for her. This year had been tough without him, but Maryn had managed to make it through. She never thought of herself as a strong person, but she was. Maryn had so much weight on her shoulders, but she still managed to get through. Maryn slung the red bag over her shoulder. She brushed her reddish brown hair from her face. Maryn was somewhat back to the old clothing habits. She wore her hair down gracing her back again, but her hair was shorter now than it had been the year before. Maryn was no longer dressing as girly yet plain as she had before. She was back to her old jeans and a deep pink sweater which wasn't exactly girly. Maryn donned her new converse on her feet. She looked around her empty dorm and then left the room.

"Achoo!" Maryn let out. She was running to the train in Hogsmeade. She could be late in any second and Maryn couldn't miss the train. It was freezing and Maryn's jacket was stuff in her bag instead of on Maryn, but Maryn tried to push through the cold. "Achoo!" Maryn hadn't been out in the cold in awhile. She had mainly stuck around the castle all year. She just wasn't used to the cold. Maryn sighed as she entered the cozy train. After she dropped her bag off in the Baggage Compartment, Maryn looked around for her own place to sit. She looked around the rooms at the middle of the train. There was no way Maryn would sit in the back. Nope, she promised herself never again would she do that. Maryn finally just entered a compartment. She saw a familiar face in the room and let out a smile. Aurora. Maryn had met her once and they had got along quite well, but Maryn hadn't seen her since then. But, Maryn actually liked the younger Slytherin girl. She didn't seem to be like the other Slytherin girls or at least Maryn didn't think so when she had met her. Maryn noticed tears in Aurora's eyes. She was about to say something, but. "Achoo!" She sneezed. Maryn looked up at Aurora. "Hey." She said softly. "It's me, Maryn. I just need a place to sit." Maryn said not wanted to pry too much. "May I?" She asked pointing to an empty seat. Maryn sighed sadly looking at Aurora. "Are you okay?" She asked.

[natxthexrat]

Aurora wiped her eyes quick enough to see who was standing in front of her. It turned out to be Maryn Lively, a girl she had met in the halls a few months ago, but hadn't seen since.

"Hey Maryn! It's great to see you!" Aurora said, flashing her one of her beautiful smiles. Unfortunately, the smile was not a distraction big enough to hide her tears. Maryn had already seen.

"Oh, it's nothing, I'm just digging up some old memories I didn't expect to even think about for a very long time...I'll be fine." Aurora said. "I don't even know how it happened."

"You know, I seem to recall me asking you the same question that night in the corridor...I hope you're over whatever it was you were upset about." Aurora said, closing the scrapbook while trying to change the subject. She wasn't ready to talk about her dad yet...or would it be a good idea to have someone to talk to? Aurora really wasn't sure...but if Maryn didn't ask, she didn't have to know. Aurora wasn't secretive, but she wasn't one to drop all her problems on the shoulders of her friends without warning.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn released a half smile. Yes, it had been a while since Maryn had first met Aurora. Maryn didn't exactly remember what she had been upset about back then. She was better now. Right? Maryn was getting used to her new life, but it was still hard. Of course, Maryn always knew it would be. Maryn took a seat. "It's good to see you too. It has been awhile." She said smiling. Maryn looked at Aurora. Maryn knew tears when she saw them. Of course she did. All Maryn had been doing since Nate was diagnosed was cry. Then when Leon..well, when Leon passed the tears just came and came. Maryn listened to Aurora and then raised an eyebrow calmly. "Then, it isn't nothing." She said giving a little smile to not make her statement sound so serious. "Memories get the best of people all the time." Maryn started. Her eyes sort of tranced. Maryn snapped out of her little gaze after a few second. "Oh, sorry." She said. Maryn wasn't about to say that her mind had flashed a great huge picture of Leon on her, but it had. Leon's image had just been planted in her mind once again. Great. "It's like when you try and search your past for memories you desperately want, but when you find them, it isn't what you thought it would be." She took a breath. "Like, what you are looking for didn't bring relief like you thought it would. Only more pain than before." Maryn sighed and looked over at Aurora. "Is that what your feeling?" Maryn asked. She wasn't really prying. Actually, Maryn had just told a lot about herself without really meaning to. Digging for memories of Leon inside her train only hurt worse. It made Maryn hurt all over missing him. If that was what Aurora was experiencing, then Maryn understood it.

Maryn looked out the window for a moment. "Um, I don't even remember what I was upset about really. I guess that means I'm over it." She sighed. "I mean there's still pain." Maryn looked at Aurora. "I guess there always is when someone dies, but I'm getting better day by day. I'm just ready for the healing to be over so that I can just get on with whatever I want to do with my life." Maryn sighed. "Whatever that is." She shook her head for a moment. No, she wasn't going to do this again. Stop feeling sorry for yourself Maryn. She told herself. Stop it. Finally, Maryn slapped her head. She looked up at Aurora. "Oh, sorry." She said calmly. "Memories." She said. Maryn knew Aurora probably didn't know what Maryn meant by that, but Maryn didn't care. Maryn looked over at Aurora. "So.." She started. Maryn's head was still whirling with memories, but she didn't care. Not one bit. She hadn't slapped herself too hard either. It wasn't like Maryn hit herself often or anything, she just needed a wake up call a moment ago. "What had been up with you lately?" She asked calmly. Maryn smiled lightly and then frowned. She waited for Aurora to say something.