Jupiter | Harry James Potter

lxxi ; incorrect assumptions

 
  Jupiter woke up in Harry's bed, a usual occurrence throughout the week, since she had been staying up so late to help him after his detentions. She stirred slowly, expecting to feel his warmth beside her, but instead, her hand met only cool, rumpled sheets. Her eyes blinked open in confusion, and she sat up, scanning the room.

The dorm was quiet, bathed in the soft, predawn light that filtered through the curtains. Harry's bed was empty, and his belongings were still neatly placed where they had been the night before.

Jupiter quietly slipped out of the room, careful not to wake Ron or the others, who were still snoring softly in their beds. As she reached the top of the stairs, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned just in time to see Harry disappear through the portrait hole, a piece of parchment clutched tightly in his hand.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She had a sinking feeling she knew exactly where he was headed. Without a second thought, she followed him, slipping through the portrait hole just as it began to close.

The castle was eerily quiet at this hour, the only sounds being the soft echo of her footsteps and the distant hoot of an owl from outside. Jupiter moved quickly, her heart pounding as she made her way through the familiar corridors. She knew Harry's habits too well to mistake his intentions. The letter in his hand was meant for her father, and he was heading to the owlery to send it.

She made a point to keep her distance from him so he wouldn't hear her following him and get suddenly defensive. As she neared the owlery, the air grew cooler, and she could hear the faint rustle of wings from within. She slowed her pace, creeping up the stairs silently, not wanting to alert Harry to her presence just yet. Before she could peer in, she heard another voice inside.

"I didn't think anyone else would be up here this early. . . . I only remembered five minutes ago, it's my mum's birthday."

Jupiter peeked through the door, and felt her blood begin to boil as she saw Cho Chang standing next to Harry, who was tying a letter to Hedwig's leg.

"Right," Harry said blankly, tying his letter to Hedwig's leg. "Nice day, yeah?"

"Yeah," Cho smiled, looking around for a suitable owl. Harry sent Hedwig off through one of the windows.  "Good Quidditch conditions. I haven't been out all week, have you?"

"No," Harry shrugged, starting to make his way to the door. Jupiter quickly let it shut and hid behind the wall beside it, her heart pounding at the thought of Harry being alone with Cho. She was insanely pretty, and brilliant at Quidditch. Not to mention, one of the most liked girls in school. If Harry was going to date anyone else in the school besides Jupiter, it would be her.

"Hey, has Gryffindor got a new Keeper yet?" Cho asked. She heard Harry's footsteps stop.

"Yeah," he said, turning to face her. He put on his best polite smile. "It's my friend, Ron Weasley, d'you know him?"

"Is he any good?" Cho asked as Jupiter pressed her ear to the thin wooden door.

"Yeah," Harry shrugged, "I think so. I didn't see his tryout, though, I was in detention."

"That Umbridge woman's foul," Cho said in a low voice. "Putting you in detention just because you told the truth about how — how— how he died. Everyone heard about it, it was all over the school. You were really brave standing up to her like that."

Jupiter's heart pounded as she pressed herself closer to the wall, her breath catching in her throat. She clenched her fists, feeling a mix of anger and jealousy twist inside her. The sound of Cho's voice, soft and admiring, only fueled the storm brewing within her. She knew it was irrational, but the thought of Harry, her Harry, being alone with Cho Chang—of all people—made her stomach churn.