CLOUDGAZING - blaise zabini

seven

Aurora tapped her fingers on her desk, skimming aimlessly through her defense against the dark  arts homework. She had hoped that Snape would be more relaxed this year after finally getting the job he wanted, but if anything, his classes had only gotten more difficult. Each night, she had pages and pages of reading to do, along with questions to answer and papers to write-- just for one class! 

That particular night, she was alone in her dorm, for her roommates had gone to the common room to study together. They'd invited Aurora, but she declined to join them, saying she wasn't feeling that well. It was partially the truth. Ever since quidditch tryouts, Aurora was pretty much a nervous wreck. Her main goal that year was to finally make it on the quidditch team, but what if she didn't? She couldn't stand the thought of it.

The sun was starting to set, and Aurora hadn't even finished half of her homework yet. She could already tell this was going to be a late night. God, Aurora, you wouldn't have to stay up so late if you actually knew how to focus for half an hour, she thought to herself. She continued reading, getting sleepier and sleepier by the minute. 

Suddenly, the door slammed open, Jasmine bursting through it. Aurora whipped her head around, wondering what all the commotion was. "Aurora, come on! Harry's posting the quidditch results in five minutes! Let's go!"

Aurora sprung up out of her creaky wooden chair, her heart beating right out of her chest. Her hands started to shake a little bit. This was it. Jasmine and Aurora sped down the stairs, careful not to miss any steps. The quiet roar of students murmuring excitedly had already begun in the common room, only worsening Aurora's nerves. As she emerged into the common room, she saw countless students piled in couches and chairs, some sitting on each others laps. Harry stood in front of the fireplace, holding a wrinkled piece of parchment in hand. Jasmine led Aurora to the spot where their roommates were seated, and Aurora bit her lip nervously, not even bothering to greet her friends. She felt a bit light headed.

At last, Harry addressed the tense crowd, "Quiet please, everybody, I'm about to announce the lineup!"

In an instant, the room went completely silent. All eyes were on Harry.

"So, uh, I'll start with our keeper, Mr. Ron Weasley!" Everyone applauded and cheered, a few calling Ron's name excitedly. Ron stood up and bowed jokingly before Hermione Granger tugged on his arm, ordering him to sit back down.

"For our beaters, we've got Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper; congrats guys," Harry continued once the room had gone quiet again. Another burst of applause broke out as two tall and strongly built boys fist-bumped each other proudly. 

"And lastly, our chasers," Harry began. Jasmine reached over to hold Aurora's hand, squeezing it tightly. Aurora felt as if she could pass out, but she squeezed back anyway.

"Ginny Weasley, Katie Bell, and Aurora Bennett!"

Aurora couldn't believe it-- relief, joy, and pride washed over her all at once. Jasmine threw her arms up into the air, letting out loud yelps of excitement. Aurora's roommates clapped her on the back, proud to be associated with the Gryffindor chaser. And Aurora just smiled, because that was all she knew to do. She just smiled and let the feeling of victory sink in.

"Congrats again guys, and welcome to the team!" Harry shouted, now sticking the piece of parchment to the mantle above the fireplace for those who had missed the announcement to see.

"You did it, Aurora!" Jasmine shouted, wrapping her in a hug. It was hard to tell who was more excited: Aurora or Jasmine.

"I can't believe it," Aurora breathed, still smiling and in shock.

Another hand clapped her on the back, and Aurora turned to see who it was. "Hey, Katie," Aurora said in surprise, trying to keep calm, "Congrats!"

"You too, girl," Katie said with a grin. "I can't wait to play with ya!"

"Yeah, me either!" Aurora smiled, not used to Katie being so friendly. 

"Anyways, just thought I'd say hi, I'll see you on the pitch!" Katie turned and walked away, probably to go tell Ginny the same thing she had just told Aurora.

"Look at you, in with the big leaguers now!" Annie, Aurora's roommate joked.

"Yeah, we'll see about that," Aurora responded with a laugh. "I don't think I'll ever get used to Katie and Ginny talking to me like that."

"You'll be fine," Ella, another one of Aurora's roommates, encouraged her. "Just don't forget about us, okay?"

Aurora laughed along with the girls, still in disbelief she'd made it in.

+++

"My best friend's on the quidditch team, my best friend's on the quidditch team," Jasmine sung as she and Aurora ascended the stairs. It was almost ten o'clock, and although Aurora was happy about the results of tryouts, she knew she still had a crap ton of work to do. Both the girls entered their room, Jasmine plopping onto her bed and Aurora heading straight back to her desk.

"Damn, I've got so much work to do," Aurora sighed. She opened her herbology books and begrudgingly began to scribble annotations on a page about poisonous water plants.

"Really? I got all mine done earlier today,"Jasmine commented, oblivious to Aurora's distress.

"Not helping," Aurora shot back.

"You're right, sorry," Jasmine's excited aura dimmed a bit. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Nah, I'm okay," Aurora responded.

"Okay, well, I'm off to bed," Jasmine spoke, changing into her pajamas already. "Congrats again," she said with a smile.

"Thanks, sleep well!"

Jasmine's light clicked out, and only minutes after that, Aurora heard her breathing heavily, a telltale sign that she was asleep. For once, the dorm was silent, as everyone else was still in the common room.

Aurora set off to work once more, finally able to be productive after the weight of anxiety about quidditch tryouts had been lifted. She knocked out her herbology, potions, and divination homework in less than an hour, much to her delight.

As she packed her backpack for the night, she heard a quick rap on the door. Confused, she strode over to it and called out, "who is it?"

"Hey, its me," Katie's voice sounded from the other side of the door. Aurora clicked it open, unsure of what Katie needed. 

"Hey," Aurora said, putting on an energetic smile.

"So," Katie started, getting straight to business, "Ginny's got a date with Dean Thomas during the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow, and I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me? Otherwise, I'll be alone," Katie laughed.

An uncomfortable feeling filled Aurora's stomach. First of all, was Katie seriously asking her to play the backup friend? And second of all, Blaise had already asked to spend time with her on the trip, but it wasn't like Aurora could just tell Katie that-- things would be hella awkward.

"Oh, uh," Aurora stammered, "That sounds like a lot of fun, but I've already told someone I'd hang out with them."

"Oh, that's cool," Katie replied, not skipping a beat. "Who is it?"

Aurora paused, not sure whether or not she should tell the truth. 

"Uh-- Blaise Zabini."