CLOUDGAZING - blaise zabini

six

"Aurora, get your ass up out of bed!" Jasmine exclaimed, shaking Aurora's shoulders a bit. "You're gonna be late!"

"For what?" Aurora mumbled in a scratchy voice, still mostly asleep.

"Quidditch tryouts are today!" Jasmine reminded her, in disbelief that Aurora had forgotten.

"Oh, shit!" Aurora shouted, opening her eyes immediately. She jumped out of bed and sprung into action, throwing on some sweats and a t-shirt to at least get down to the changing rooms in. She frantically darted around the room, careful not to awaken her three other roommates, brushing her teeth and hair, sliding on some shoes, putting on a little bit of sunscreen, and checking herself in the mirror.

"Okay, I gotta get going for warm ups," Aurora told Jasmine.

"I'll be down to watch by the time you're up in the air," Jasmine responded encouragingly. She handed Aurora a few snacks she'd nicked from the dining hall the night before, knowing that Aurora wouldn't have time to eat breakfast. "Eat these on the way down."

"You're the best, thanks!" Aurora waved at Jasmine and soon enough, she was out the door, determined to perform well at the tryout session.

+++

"Shut it!" Ginny Weasley yelled, addressing the thirty-some Gryffindor Quidditch player hopefuls on the field. Aurora gladly halted her somewhat awkward conversation with a fifth-year named Jacob to listen.

Harry Potter, the captain, of course, explained the schedule for that days tryouts briefly but thoroughly. Beaters would have their own session first, and then the chasers and keepers would have a go.

"Get started with warmups guys, do whatever you think you need to do," Harry said. "In about twenty minutes, we'll get things started. Aurora sat her broom down and began to stretch on the lawn, trying to keep her nerves down.

Soon enough, Harry announced that it was time for the beaters to have their session, and about seven boys and girls stepped over to Harry. Anyone trying out for chaser or keeper headed to the stands, not wanting to get knocked out by a bludger.

Aurora spotted Jasmine in the stands and waved at her, walking over to sit by her.

Then she noticed. A few rows back sat Blaise Zabini. What was a Slytherin doing at a Gryffindor tryout? Probably spying, Aurora thought. She chose to act like she hadn't seen him and quickly sat next to Jasmine.

Clearly, though, Katie Bell had also seen Blaise. She waved at him and exclaimed, "hey Blaise! What are you doing here?"

"Oh god," Jasmine sighed, "here goes the shitshow." Aurora just chuckled a little at her comment, so focused on tryouts that, for once, she wasn't in the mood to comment on someone else's social interactions.

Aurora's first time trying out for the team had been the year before, and she'd been beaten out by Alicia Spinnet, Ginny Weasley, and Katie Bell.

This year, though, she was determined to make it on the team.

"Looks like it's almost your go, good luck," Jasmine said. Just after she did, Harry motioned to both the chasers and keepers that it was their turn. Aurora headed down to the field, broom in hand. It was go time.

"Alright, we're just gonna do some basic drills. Chasers, I want you to do your best to show agility, speed, balance, and resourcefulness. Remember, just because you take the most shots at scoring doesn't mean that you're the strongest player, so really focus on making good shots, not just a lot of them. I'm looking for teamwork, too. People who hog the quaffle don't get us anywhere. Keepers, I'm looking for someone who can block all types of shots in different ways, so ensure that you show me everything you can do." Harry explained everything sternly, and Aurora couldn't help but feel just a tad bit overwhelmed.

"Mount your brooms!" Harry commanded. Everyone did so.

"On the count of three, go. One. Two. Three!"

Aurora kicked off, leaving the ground gracefully. All summer, she'd practiced speed and shooting drills in secret, carefully hidden from muggle sight. She was ready for this- she had to be.

"Bennet!" Someone shouted Aurora's name, and she prepared to catch the ball. Soon enough, a leather quaffle was hurtling towards her, and she caught it, hugging it to her chest. She sped towards the goal, not holding back. At that time, the keeper trying out was the same fifth year she'd been talking to before tryouts. Determination etched on her face, she shot the quaffle. It flew towards the right ring, and although Jacob dove to block it, it slipped in. Aurora made her first score. In an instant, the ball was back in someone else's possession.

Although Aurora made a few more scores throughout the session, Katie and Ginny made noticeably more, and as Aurora sunk back to the ground, her heart sunk as well. She didn't feel optimistic at all. She said her goodbyes to some of the Gryffindors on the field before heading to meet back up with Jasmine.

As she climbed the stairs leading to the stands, she kept her head down, upset with her performance just a little bit. When she reached the top of the stairs, she ran right into a tall figure, not looking where she was going.

"Watch it, Bennet," Blaise said with a laugh.

"Oh, sorry," Aurora mumbled, trying to push past him.

"Hey, wait up. I wanted to chat with you," Blaise turned a little to face her again.

"What?" Aurora asked tiredly.

"There's a Hogsmeade trip coming up on Saturday, you know," Blaise started, "and I was wondering if you wanted to meet up there. You're pretty cool to hang out with, you know."

Aurora smiled just a little bit. "Yeah, sounds good. I'll see you then." She waved a brief goodbye.

"Yeah," Blaise waved back and walked away, grinning slightly.