Under The Sun ((Kain))

[Aurora Chan]

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief as the band did a final bow and exited the stage, glad to be out of the glare of the audience and the overbearing bright lights that shined upon them during the performance. She saw Daniel flash her his typical smile at her as they toppled down the stairs in a bunch, and automatically reciprocated it, throwing her hair quickly into a high bun to relieve her body from the increasing heat. She could see the boys visibly sweating, and immediately gathered everything around once in the girls’ room, a delighted, proud beam on her face. “Well done everybody! Another one down, and I think we did a pretty good job!” There was agreement in the form of grunts and grins from around, and finally Aurora dismissed the members, her arm rubbing against her forehead a she watched everyone filter gradually from the room, fatigued and hoping for rest to come soon. “Remember, practice at Lizzie’s next Monday!” Aurora called after her friends, until there was only Daniel and her remaining. “I’ll see you later then, Dan.” Aurora smiled softly, packing up her belongings slowly, eyes choosing not to meet his.

“Yeah. I’ll see you later. Aurora.” Turning, Daniel disappeared through the door with his guitar aboard his back, leaving Aurora motionlessly staring at herself in the mirror, hands frozen as they attempted and failed to draw the string of her duffel bag.
”He never calls me Aurora.” Aurora thought to herself remorsefully, before finishing up her job and exiting the room. Time to go home. Looking at her watch as she strolled down the corridor leading to the main area, Aurora realised it wasn’t too late yet with a surprised glance, and finally managed to make it to the entrance. Because of the summer times, the sun had yet to set, and the evening glow lit up the surroundings beautiful. Smiling, Aurora looked around lovingly, appreciating the home she lived in that was Manchester. Having been born and brought up in this place for more than sixteen years, Aurora was indeed very fond of her home. She wondered how hard it had been for Ari and Harmony to part with America, and then London, but it seemed everywhere they went, darkness and sorrow was left in their wake, and penetrated their memories too. Aurora promised herself she would be there as much as possible from now on for her cousins. They needed somebody. Everybody needed somebody.

Hoisting her bag onto her shoulder, Aurora looked around, wondering where her Dad was. He was going to pick her up sometime soon, but when she had no idea. Extracting her muggle mobile phone, Aurora dialled her father’s number before walking slowly down the pavement, watching the odd car pass by with a calm expression on her face. “Hey Dad, we’re done. Where are you?” Aurora asked once having gotten through. She blessed muggles for making such amazing technology, listening to her father’s voice echo down the receiving end. “Right, okay. Call me when you get here. Bye.” Hanging up, Aurora ambled causally down the road, before seeing a park in the distance, and walked towards it, deciding not to stand around waiting for her dad to get here. Entering it, Aurora smiled at the sight of some children running around with parents watching over them carefully, protecting and loving them. Spotting some free swings in the distance, Aurora couldn’t stop a grin etching onto her face and ran over to them, plonking herself down on a swing and beginning to push herself slowly, gradually gathering speed as she pushed off the ground and into the air in delight. Aurora felt like a five-year-old again, naïve, innocent and carefree. She watched silently as the golden sun slowly made its way towards the horizon, welcoming the night and tempting a new day, and let her mind wander back to the past, where everything had seemed so… perfect. Lost to her thoughts, Aurora was oblivious to her surroundings until a voice broke her out of her reverie, and she looked up in surprise.

[Kain Damien R3]

Kain had walked around all day in boredom, his parents were gone for a week, his sister often at friends' houses. He strolled through the streets with only one thing on his mind. Next year at Hogwarts. He walked down the streets in his regular muggle outfit. Baggy jeans, hoodie, and his favorite pair of Timberland shoes. He had his music player in his ears, music banging through the earpluggs. Silently rapping along with the Muggle music he oh so enjoyed he often got looks from people. He walked along, hands in his pockets, seeing all of the Muggles doing their every day things. Groceries, Some men in business suits rapidly talking to their cell phones about Muggle things Kain couldn't even understand. His cell phone rang. He looked at the display showing a photograph of his father. He answered the phone. " Kain. " He said, hearing his father's deep voice. " Hey Kain, it's your dad, listen, me and your mum are gone for another couple of days, keep an eye out on your sister ok?" His father asked. Kain rolled his eyes. It seemed as if his parents were barely home ever. " Fine, she's at one of her friends' house right now, I guess she'll sleep over there. " Kain replied. " Okay, well, just look after her ok, you're responsible for her now. " His father said. " Fine, I'll call her later and let her know you won't be home for another couple of days. " Kain said. After an approving 'OK' from his dad he hung up the phone and kept walking.

After a couple of minutes Kain reached the park. As he strolled through the park he could see a lot of children play on the playground, parents talking to each other about their children. However, one child stood out. Seeing it wasn't a child. He looked over to the swingset and saw a girl, probably a couple of years older than him swinging. Kain couldn't help but smiling. The girl looked like she was having fun like a toddler. He decided to walk over to her and see why she was alone in a park, sitting on the swings. He strolled over to the girl while removing his hoodie from his haid. His short, scruffy hair immediately sprung back in model, spikey as it was. He reached in his pocket, stopped the music player and approached the girl. The girl seemed familiar somehow, he just couldn't put his finger on it. He pulled the earpluggs out of his ears and looked at the girl, who seemed to have completely missed Kain. She had her eyes closed with a huge smirk on her face. Kain couldn't help but grin. " Uhm, hi. Any reason why you're all alone on the swings?" Kain asked with a wink and a friendly smile.

[Aurora Chan]

Aurora observed the boy in front of her for a second, before replying to his question with a large grin. “Sorry, I completely spaced out there. I’m just waiting for my Dad to come pick me up.” She smiled friendlily, then extended a hand to the younger boy. “Aurora Chan. Nice to meet you.” Aurora had never been one to be shy, and introduced herself right away. He may be a stranger, but she wasn’t too afraid of younger guys… Plus, there was something about the boy that Aurora felt she knew… “And you are…?” She asked curiously, dangling contentedly on the swing. “I could swear I’ve met you somewhere before.” Aurora declared suddenly after a moment’s silence. “I don’t know where though… Hey, you don’t go to the same school as me, do you?” She asked with a slight frown, trying to recall if this boy did indeed attend Hogwarts too. She couldn’t ask him out right though, in case he didn’t, and then asked her what this “Hogwarts” was. Aurora laughed to herself at the thought of such a ridiculous situation, before smiling at the younger boy again. “So, what are you doing here? Do you live around here? You’re on your summer holidays too, right?” She was curious about her company, and didn’t waste time trying to get to know him.

Aurora knew the muggle schools were all on their holidays too, so no wonder there were so many children running around on the streets. Gazing around at her surroundings, Aurora noted the trees overhead that moved in the light breeze, creating a whishing noise as the lush green leaves clung on until the start of autumn. It was only the start of her summer holidays, but already she was missing Hogwarts like she hadn’t seen it in years. Aurora wondered what she’d do once she left Hogwarts for good after her seventh year, and felt apprehension crawl down her spine. Hogwarts was like a second home to her, and leaving it would mean leaving friends and memories behind. Seven years worth of it. Her next two years would be spent crazily revising and learning the required knowledge for her NEWTs, and Aurora knew they’d flash by in no time. She smiled sadly to herself, thinking how wonderful life was despite its hardships. Aurora enjoyed everything that came her way, even if she fell into a depressive hole now and again. That was life for you… It wasn’t always fair, what with Ariane and Harmony having had to face such troubles in life so early on, and with Aurora losing Daniel over and over again, but… There was still something beautiful about life. That was one of Aurora’s gifts. She could see the beauty within the ugliness, and make it shine in the face of adversity.

[Kain Damien R3]

The girl looked at Kain and asked if he went to the same school as her. Kain smiled. " Yeah, I attend Hogwarts too." He told her with a wink. She introduced herself as Aurora Chan. He had heard of her. She was a 6th year in Hufflepuf if he wasn't mistaken. " Nice to meet you Aurora, I'm Kain Damien, 3rd year Ravenclaw." He informed her. She told him her Dad was picking her up. " Ah, I was wondering what you were doing here." He told her with a wink. " My parents just took off, so I'm alone with my sister right now, it's kind of boring but I guess it's also kind of nice to be alone for a little while."

Kain liked to be alone or with his close friends, but they all attended Hogwarts and he wouldn't see them until the new year of school commenced. He was the type of guy who liked to be alone, listening to music. He looked at Aurora who seemed to enjoy herself on the swings. She asked him if he lived near here. He smiled. " Yeah, about 5 minutes walk from here. It's a pretty nice house, nice and roomy. " He said. He smiled and stood there for a second, then decided to join Aurora on the swings. He sat down and started rocking forward and backwards slightly. " I haven't done this in ages." He said with a big smirk on his face. " I used to be scared of swings, as a child I once fell off and hurt my head, I still have the scar." He told her as he pointed at his eye.

[Aurora Chan]

Aurora smiled friendlily at the boy when it was confirmed that he did indeed attend Hogwarts also. ¡§I thought so¡K So that¡¦s where I¡¦ve seen you from. It¡¦s a surprise I didn¡¦t recognise you right away. Normally I know most people from Hogwarts.¡¨ She listened intently to his introduction, before smiling in understanding. ¡§Ah¡K It¡¦s probably because you¡¦re a Ravenclaw then. I don¡¦t know as many of them as I do Gryffs and Huffles like me, I must admit. Plus you¡¦re a good deal younger¡K Most of my acquaintances lie in my year, of course, the year above, the year below¡K Perhaps a few Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs in the lower years, because my brother is in Gryffindor first year, going into second.¡¨ Aurora explained to Kain as she rambled on. ¡§It¡¦s lovely to meet a fresh face though. So are you going into third year, or your fourth? Third, right? Because I¡¦m sure I¡¦d know you if you were going into your fourth.¡¨ Aurora asked curiously, a spring in a step as she pushed off from the ground.

¡§It is nice to get away from the protective glare of parents¡K That is, if your parents are protective in any way.¡¨ Aurora commented with a nod, though doubted that Kain¡¦s parents sounded anything like her own. She knew well her own parents would never leave her and Leo by themselves alone, despite Aurora already being sixteen, almost seventeen in half a year. She would be able to learn how to apparate then, as well as how to drive a muggle car. It was to be a major step into the adult world, and although Aurora was apprehensive about it, it also brought exciting new prospects. Aurora smiled as Kain described his house, saying he lived near by. ¡§Oh, so you must live quite close to me.¡¨ She smiled happily. ¡§It¡¦s always odd to meet Hogwarts students near where you live, because you separate them from your outside life, only expecting to see wizards and stuff in Hogwarts. It¡¦s funny when the two worlds clash, but for me, it¡¦s always been like that. I led a half muggle, half wizard life, and I¡¦m a pureblood.¡¨ Aurora described her past honestly, hands entwined around her swing¡¦s handles. ¡§I like it though. I went to a muggle primary school and all. I quite enjoy being half and half despite the loss of belonging.¡¨ Aurora thought of her half Chinese, half English lifestyle too, and smiled wryly, before becoming aware of who she was talking to.

¡§Oops, sorry. Immersing you in deep stuff there. Forget I said any of that, Kain.¡¨ Aurora laughed, waving away her inner thoughts with a dismissive shake of her hand. ¡§I lose myself in chatting sometimes. I can go on for hours.¡¨ She admitted with a playful grin, then decided that Kain definitely reminded her of a boy she had talked to on her train ride home on the Hogwarts Express at the end of the year. A boy by the name of Ethan Jacobs, a Gryffindor in the year below her. He had a reputation for being extremely flirtatious, and she had experienced it first hand now. Loki, a friend of hers from her year and a Gryffindor also, had commented on how Ethan¡¦s constant winking caused him to look like he had a permanent twitch, causing Aurora to chuckle to herself at the memory. Kain¡¦s winking, or anyone¡¦s winking, would always cause her to remember that incident now. Kain wasn¡¦t as flirtatious as Ethan, that was for sure, because no one seemed to beat that fifth year student, but he wasn¡¦t far off with the regular winks. Aurora watched as Kain took a seat in the wing next to her, before smiling sympathetically at his words. ¡§Oh dear. That must¡¦ve hurt.¡¨ Aurora giggled despite feeling sorry for the younger Kain as she leaned in to examine his scar. ¡§Well, you can catch up on what you¡¦ve missed now, putting your age aside. I¡¦m sixteen, and I still love swings. I¡¦ve always loved them, you know. Don¡¦t know why. Reminds me of when I was a kid, like you, but for different reasons. Nostalgia really gets to me.¡¨ Aurora admittedly, swinging a little. She supposed the one word she¡¦d use to describe what swings represented to her was innocence.