CLOUDGAZING - blaise zabini

thirteen

"That was one hell of a first practice," Aurora said, panting as she touched ground the same time as Ginny.

"No doubt," she agreed. "It gets easier though."

Aurora noticed that Katie was still hanging in the air, waiting for Harry to touch ground. What a kiss-ass, she thought. She shook her head and turned her focus back to the ground.

"Hey, thanks for making me feel welcome," Aurora looked at Ginny as they walked back towards the equipment shed. "I know you and Katie are tight, so it means a lot that you're supportive and everything."

Ginny smiled. Despite the gloomy weather around them, her energy was warm. "Of course, I see how irrational she can be. I love her, I do, but she just hasn't been herself lately. I'm glad you're on the team, really. It's nice to have someone less high-strung around."

Aurora laughed, "glad I could provide some relief." The two ducked into the shed, Ginny knocking on the wall twice to flick the lights on. Aurora placed her broom in the cubby, staring proudly at her plaque above it. She gave Ginny a friendly nod, "I'll catch up with you later, Ginny."

Ginny smiled back as Aurora left quickly, hoping to avoid Katie. Thankfully, she was just coming off the field, still a ways away from the shed. Aurora began the long trek back up to the castle, wanting to be in the warm halls as quickly as she could. It was getting dark, and the weight of her charms essay hung over her shoulders. Another long night of work.

Soon enough, she reached the gates and entered the main hall, washed in the golden warmth of the castle, stepping from ornate staircase to staircase up to the dormitory. Finally, the massive portrait of the Fat Lady came into view, and next to it stood none other than Blaise Zabini. Aurora smiled to herself as he spotted her and began to walk towards her.

"What on earth are you doing up here?" Aurora asked.

"Can we please go work on the essay together?" Blaise begged, a glint in his eye.

"Blaise, you are not allowed in my dorm, you know that," Aurora reasoned, smiling.

"Your dormitory is not the only place to work on an essay,"  Blaise quipped. "You know, the library still exists and is open until ten!"

Blaise put on a cheesy grin for a few moments, hoping to charm Aurora into spending a little extra time together.

"Okay, fine," Aurora said, unable to resist. "Let me go grab Jasmine, though, she needs to work too."

"Hurry!" Blaise called as she disappeared behind the portrait door.

+++

"You'll never believe It," Aurora sighed, stepping back out.

"What?" Blaise asked.

"She payed a third year to do it for her. A Ravenclaw." Aurora laughed a little bit, unsurprised at Jasmine's antics.

"A real bummer," Blaise joked. "Well, we must be off then, lots of work to do!"

"You seem disappointed," Aurora laughed. The pair fell into step as they went down the stairs, down to the library. It was seven o'clock now, and the halls were fairly quiet. Several portraits watched as they descended the staircases.

"Yes, I am supremely disappointed that I have to be alone with you."

"My ass you are," Aurora said, bumping into his shoulder.

"So, how was practice?"  Blaise asked, looking at her.

"Difficult," Aurora sighed. "And not made any easier by the fact that Katie Bell wants to wipe me right off my broomstick." Aurora's tone was more hushed now, not wanting to be overheard gossiping about one of Gryffindor's star quidditch players.

"She's got to get over herself," Blaise rolled his eyes a little. "There are probably a hundred other guys just as attractive as I am in this damn school, not to mention that damn bartender the third years go crazy for at the three broomsticks," he muttered.

"I don't know about that," Aurora said in a sing-song voice. "You're pretty special."

"Shut up," Blaise said, looking away to hide his face.

"You know it's true," she continued, relishing seeing this side of him.

"I don't want to hear it," Blaise continued, still blushing. They had reached the library now, but Aurora took Blaise's hand, gently, and breezed past the entrance, into a narrow corridor down the hall. 

Aurora held both of his hands now, her small ones intertwining with his strong, but delicate ones. The dim hallway was so narrow that both their backs were against the walls, and the only light came from a single torch beside a door at the end of the short hallway. 

"What is this?" Blaise breathed, his voice lower than normal.

"Broom closet," Aurora nodded her head to the left, towards the door  and torch.

"We have work to do," Blaise said quickly.

"Yeah, we do," Aurora responded, smirking a bit.

"I don't want to do work," Blaise added, almost in a trance.

"Me either," Aurora said, squeezing his hands tighter.

"Is it okay if I--" Blaise started, looking into Aurora's eyes.

But without responding, knowing what he was asking, she stood up on her tip toes and met his lips with hers, her eyes fluttering closed as the two pressed together in the secrecy of the hallway. Her head was spinning, her heart filled with a feeling that felt like the brightest blue sky on a clear day. The scent of sandalwood and parchment and a bit of dust from the hallway floated around her, Blaises lips as soft as a cloud might be. His hands closed around her waist as they swayed slowly, as if waltzing in place to soft and low music.

They emerged from the kiss, and Aurora tapped her nose gently to Blaise's, smiling softly. She whispered, "come one, we have work to do."