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Post by Aurora Chan on Aug 29, 2009 14:11:45 GMT
The room was empty; the trunk was packed. Aurora sat on its lid, gazing fondly around her bedroom of eighteen years. The next time she set foot in here, she would be a year older; nineteen years old, almost twenty - wiser. Aurora's first thought was dust. She had decided to leave several beloved items at home - a few books, old clothes, fraying posters - and they would gather days of dust. Aurora knew she need not be worried, though. Her mother, always a neat freak, would no doubt keep it constantly clean; Jenny would not let her daughter's bedroom descend into cold and emptiness, she would keep it warm, alive, loved. Smiling to herself, Aurora sat up and flipped her wand, sending her trunk out of the door. Helix was already downstairs, where the rest of the family had gathered, waiting. Aurora hurried briskly to meet them, a brave but sad smile worn on her face. "It's time," she breathed, a mixture of anticipation, fear, disbelief and excitement dancing across her eyes, a myriad of expressions for the unknown that lay ahead of her. This was the hardest part of Aurora's journey - leaving home behind and saying goodbye. Goodbye was a hard word to say, harder than everyday life ever accredited to it. She had already experienced this with Daniel, a few weeks ago, when parting ways with her bandmates. They both knew that when she left, she would never contact him again, even when she returned to England; too much had happened, too many unfixable pieces of broken hearts. Aurora was glad; she had been over Daniel for a long time, but to finally receive physical closure was a relief for her ten-year-old feelings. However, the same relief would not come with leaving her family. Aurora hadn't even told her friends, she was so scared she would change her mind. The first person Aurora hugged was Harmony. Her younger cousin was beaming at her tearfully, and as their arms wrapped around each other, Aurora closed her eyes and wished Harmony the best of luck in life. Like Ariane, Harmony had not travelled easy routes, even though she deserved all the happiness in the world; Aurora hoped she would find that at last within the people around her, people like Rex Carter. "Bye Harmony," Aurora sniffed, drawing away with one of her trademark smiles. "Take care, and don't get into too much trouble." Then, her mum was hugging her tightly, like she would never let go, and Aurora gave a tearful laugh as she embraced her back just as fiercely. "I'll be fine, Mum," she reassured with confidence. "I'll be just fine. I promised to write every day, didn't I?" And then her dad. Aurora grinned at the expression on his face, half regretful, half proud, and pulled him into a bear hug reminiscent of her childhood days. "Bye Dad. I'll always be Daddy's girl." Aurora was embracing Leo next, looking up at his matured face. "Bye kiddo," she joked. "When I'm back you'll probably be a whole head taller than me!" Finally, Aurora turned to the last person in the living room, the one standing away from the rest, gazing at her sadly - perhaps the saddest eyes of them all. Aurora's smile faltered and the gates of her tears began to open without her consent. Quickly, Aurora approached her best friend and hugged her, burying her face against Ariane's shoulder to hide her fears and guilt as she whispered, "I'm sorry, Ari." |
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Post by Aurora Chan on Sept 3, 2009 17:03:41 GMT
Aurora watched her luggage disappear with a wave of a wand. "Thanks." She smiled, then shuffled towards her ticket out of Britain: a portkey. Her trunk and owl would be sent ahead of her to America, for she could not apparate with them, but she would soon be reunited with them on the other side of the world. It was odd, travelling so conveniently from one country to another. It was much like Aurora's family's annual holidays; except this time, she wasn't coming home after a month of sunshine and laughter. This time, she was staying for good. It was not a trip back to Hogwarts, but a trip that would completely change her life. Aurora swallowed, a little nervous. She had been entirely sure of her decision up to now, but last-minute jitters was somewhat getting the better of her.
As she followed the queue towards her 'flight' to America, here where international travel was moderated by the Ministry's Department of Magical Transportation, the area that specialised in portkeys, Aurora turned one last time to wave her family goodbye. Her parents looked extremely tearful, her brother a stalwart soldier; Harmony was putting on a brave smile, and her sister was, as usual, standing apart, looking apathetic. Aurora smiled at them, at her family picture without her, and felt the pangs of regret and sorrow in her heart. Gently soothing them away, she gave one last murmur between her fingers, before turning around and disappearing through the doors.
Each step she took brought her further and further away from her world; her family, the people she loved, her entire life for the past eighteen years. But a large part of Aurora knew it was time to make that tear from that world; to separate herself, expose herself to the elements. Biting her lip nervously through her smile, Aurora sat down and waited for the summons for her portkey that would take her straight to the centre of the magical department in New York, where she would be spending the next year there, working on her music, away from everyone she'd ever cared about. It was scary; it was exciting.
It didn't take long for a wizard to ask the travellers bound for New York on the 5:15 portkey to gather around. A few others joined Aurora, surrounding an object that was specially magicked to transport them. "Ready?" came the low baritone voice of the wizard. "On three, everyone touch the portkey. One... Two... Three." Aurora's finger tapped the object, just a gentle touch, and immediately she felt her body sucked in. The sensation was rather like Apparition, but not the same either, and this was proven when moments later, she landed unceremoniously on her side, crashing onto soft carpet, thankfully.
"Ow," Aurora groaned softly, though a small grin lingered on her face. She quickly stood up and brushed down her robes, before looking around her. They had arrived, though one could hardly tell; they were in a room, specially designed for arriving travellers. A witch immediately bustled towards the arrivals and asked for identification, passports, and Aurora quickly took hers out. Gazing around, she saw the baggage claim area, where Helix sat in her cage, looking sleepily at the witches and wizards in the room. Aurora smiled to herself. She had arrived.
Ten minutes later, she was leaving the building, and was straight away hit with the city of New York. Aurora's eyes widened at the sight of yellow taxis driving past, the piercing accents of Americans, the towering skyscrapers, and knew she had landed in an entirely different country. She had been to America before, but not New York; only Washington, and that had been five years ago. Breathing in deeply, Aurora fished out an address she'd been given, and wondered if she could risk Apparating. After a few moments of pondering, she grabbed her luggage and disappeared with a loud crack.
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Post by Aurora Chan on Sept 5, 2009 16:54:31 GMT
The letter crumpled between her fingers, gently folded into thirds and laid, rectangular and over-read, on the table. Her hand trailed the parchment lovingly, then wrapped itself around a large mug of steaming hot chocolate. Aurora pressed the china to her lip and sipped carefully, relishing the warmth that washed her mouth with sweetness. These were the days she loved best - Sundays, not Saturdays. Saturdays were fun, with constant entertainment in the form of travelling New York, gaining experience, busking in the streets to lift a smile on the Americans' faces, but Sundays was Aurora's real day off, where she could lie in and spend every waking hour basking in her apartment, alone; maybe in front of the TV, flicking through her hundreds of channels, or writing letters home. This morning she had received Ariane's; had already read her neatly inked words a thousand times. Aurora still smiled at the reassurance gained from her best friend; the news of moving in with Jez in London, in her newly purchased apartment, hearing about how well Auror training was proceeding. It was good to know home was happy.
Aurora was happy. It had been three weeks since she had arrived in America, and her new routine had been easy to fall into; delightful too. Aurora enjoyed every moment, learning about, writing and making music nearly all day every weekday, and spending the weekends either exploring the amazing city of New York or relaxing in her generously provided apartment, with its beautiful backdrop of the city from the floor-high windows. This music course had not been a mistake, but of course, Aurora still missed her family dearly. It had been difficult, the first week, adjusting without the usual surroundings, the familiarity of her family by her side. Aurora heard from her parents and brother often enough, though. Her friends, on the other hand, were a different matter. Aurora had only just managed to find the strength to write Kael, her closest friend outside of her family, a letter, explaining the truth. It was harder, because it was him. Aurora had stumbled through it, biting her lip nervously all the way and worrying over every sentence; what if it gave her away? What if she was too obvious?
Kael was oblivious, though. He was sharp, but oblivious too; especially to girls' feelings. A small, wry smile twitched at Aurora's lips, and she sipped her hot chocolate again. The letter had been finished, though, and she had sent it off, hoping he would forgive her; for the lack of contact through the summer, and then leaving without so much as a face-to-face explanation. It had been necessary, though; Aurora would not have been able to leave if she had seen Kael in the flesh. She had avoided him purposefully. It was true; she loved him too much. A cloud shadowed over Aurora's warm eyes. Yes. She loved him. That much she knew. But she wished it weren't so. She couldn't even admit it out loud to Ariane, though her best friend had always been extremely sensitive and astute. Aurora had a feeling that after Tristan MacCay, Ariane was even more aware of such feelings than Aurora herself was. Ariane understood, now, the pain Aurora felt over Daniel; and Aurora couldn't wish that upon anybody. She couldn't face Kael, and she was glad she didn't have to for a long time. She missed him, his witty remarks and his cutting humour, but it was for the best. Anyway, he would be sure to tell Lynne and Seth of her situation, and hopefully they would write back too. Smiling reassuredly to herself, Aurora leaned against her sofa and turned on the TV.
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