======Professor Aurora Sinistra======
=====Introduction=====
Professor Sinistra is the long-serving Professor of [[Astronomy]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. She teaches her classes at midnight in the [[Astronomy Tower]], the tallest tower of the castle. Throughout the series, she remains a background character, with her presence noted at school events and her subject being a core part of the [[Hogwarts]] curriculum, but she has no dialogue and very little direct interaction with the main characters in the novels.
=====Biography=====
Professor Sinistra's life before or after her tenure at [[Hogwarts]] is not detailed in the original novels. She was the Professor of [[Astronomy]] during [[Harry Potter]]'s entire time at the school.
In the 1992-1993 school year, [[Harry Potter]] and [[Ron Weasley]], while flying the enchanted [[Ford Anglia]] to [[Hogwarts]], spotted Professor Sinistra conducting a midnight [[Astronomy]] class in the [[Astronomy Tower]].
During the 1994-1995 school year, she attended the [[Yule Ball]] as part of the [[Triwizard Tournament]] celebrations. She was seen dancing with [[Professor Filius Flitwick]], who was so short he could barely see over her arms.
In the 1995-1996 school year, the practical portion of the [[Astronomy]] [[O.W.L.]] took place on the [[Astronomy Tower]]. During the exam, a major conflict erupted below as [[Dolores Umbridge]] and several [[Auror]]s attempted to sack [[Rubeus Hagrid]]. The ensuing battle resulted in [[Professor Minerva McGonagall]] being hit by four [[Stunning Spell]]s simultaneously and hospitalized at [[St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]], causing a great disturbance for the students taking their exam.
Professor Sinistra's involvement in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] during the [[Second Wizarding War]] is unknown.
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
The novels provide no description of Professor Sinistra's physical appearance.
Her personality is largely unwritten. As a long-standing professor at [[Hogwarts]], she is presumed to be a knowledgeable and competent [[witch]]. Her attendance at the [[Yule Ball]] and willingness to dance suggests a social side that is not reclusive. She maintains a professional, if distant, presence on the [[Hogwarts]] staff.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
As a professor at [[Hogwarts]], Sinistra is undoubtedly a highly skilled and magically proficient [[witch]].
  * **[[Astronomy]]:** This is her area of expertise. [[Astronomy]] is a core class at [[Hogwarts]], required for all students for their first five years. It involves studying the night sky, including stars, constellations, and planets, using [[telescopes]]. The subject has practical applications in other magical fields, such as [[Herbology]] and [[Potions]].
No specific spells, [[wand]] details, or [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]] form for Professor Sinistra are mentioned in the novels.
=====Possessions=====
While no specific possessions are named, as the [[Astronomy]] professor, she would have owned and used various instruments for her work, such as [[telescopes]], [[star charts]], and armillary spheres. She would also have possessed a [[wand]].
=====Relationships=====
Professor Sinistra appears to have a standard professional relationship with her colleagues on the [[Hogwarts]] staff. Her most notable interaction is dancing with [[Professor Filius Flitwick]] at the [[Yule Ball]], which indicates a friendly rapport between them. Her relationship with students is unknown, as she is never depicted speaking directly to them in the books.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Aurora:** The name is not used in the novels but is widely accepted through supplementary material. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn. The name also refers to the //Aurora Borealis// (Northern Lights) and //Aurora Australis// (Southern Lights), natural light displays in the sky, linking her name directly to celestial phenomena.
  * **Sinistra:** This is a Latin word meaning "left" or "on the left hand." It can also carry connotations of being "unlucky" or "ominous." In the context of [[Astronomy]], it can refer to apparent planetary motion from right to left. There is also a real star named Sinistra in the constellation Ophiuchus.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * Her first name, **Aurora**, is not mentioned in the seven canonical books. It originated in the //Harry Potter Trading Card Game// released by Wizards of the Coast and was later confirmed on the Pottermore website (Pottermore).
  * In the film adaptations, Professor Sinistra is portrayed as a tall, dark-skinned [[witch]] with dark, braided hair. She is played by an uncredited extra in //Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets// and by actress Genevieve Gaunt in //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban// (uncredited) and //Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire// (credited) (film).
  * Professor Sinistra has a more developed character in the mobile game //Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery//, where she is depicted as a stern but fair teacher who is passionate about her subject (video game).