CLOUDGAZING - blaise zabini

eight

"oh," Katie's face fell. She didn't say anything else, just tried to put a smile back on her lips.

Aurora cringed inwardly; she regretted telling Katie already, but she had already lied to Jasmine about meeting with Blaise once already, and that was bad enough.

"Maybe some other time?" Aurora asked, trying to salvage the conversation.

"Yeah, sure," Katie replied half-heartedly. "See you."

Katie walked away before Aurora could even respond. She sighed and shut the door softly. Zabini, you better not have just ruined my quidditch season, Aurora thought to herself.

Pushing the encounter from her mind as best she could, Aurora prepared for bed, eventually drifting into a deep sleep.

+++

"First Hogsmeade trip of the year, students," McGonagall addressed the excited crowd of teenagers standing in the foyer outside the Great Hall. "As you all know, these outings are a privilege given to you all by the school. That privilege can be revoked, should you misbehave. You all know the rules; your parents signed the document. There are no excuses for misconduct."

The large group of about two hundred students followed her through the castle doors, thestral-drawn carriages awaiting outside in the courtyard. The ride to Hogsmeade only took about ten minutes, thankfully. Aurora thought the carriages were too bumpy.

"Hey, Aurora!" Blaise called, edging through groups of students to reach where she was standing with Jasmine.

Aurora turned and smiled, giving a friendly wave.

"Draco's in kind of a bad mood today," Blaise muttered once he was close enough to Aurora for nobody else to hear them. "Mind if I ride with you two?" He nodded at Jasmine, indicating that he was talking about her as well.

"Yeah, no problem," Aurora said coolly.

"What are we talking about?" Jasmine stepped into the conversation.

"Blaise is gonna ride with us," Aurora told her, realizing that Jasmine wasn't familiar with her and Blaise being so friendly.

"Okay?" Jasmine said, giving Blaise a once-over.

"Uh, also," Aurora began, "Blaise and I are... studying together today during the trip."

"Potions test," Blaise added, catching on.

A brief, questioning look flashed over Jasmine's face, but she quickly nodded in assent. Even though she seemed fine with it now, Aurora just knew that Jasmine would be flooding her with questions as soon as the two girls were alone.

As more and more students boarded the "horseless" carriages, Blaise, Aurora, and Jasmine got closer to getting aboard one. 

At last, a carriage pulled up and Jasmine climbed up the small stairs into the compartment. Aurora tried to do the same, but Blaise smoothly took her hand into his and said, "let me help you up."

Aurora flushed, caught off guard to say the least. "I can do it myself," she said quickly.

"I know," Blaise muttered, his voice almost at a whisper. Aurora quickly stepped inside the vehicle, pulling her hand away as soon as she was seated across from Jasmine. Blaise slid into the seat right next to Aurora, leaving a comfortable space between them.

"So," Jasmine started as the carriage pulled into motion, "you're a potions nerd just like Aurora I take it?"

"More by chance than by choice," Blaise admitted. "Slughorn's taken a liking to me and I can't seem to get away."