The Golden Mare - Cedric Diggory

A Late Night Randevu

The common room was creeping with shadows later that night, and the full moon shined brightly through the window. The fire still crackled lightly as Aurora stood in front of it, waiting for Harry to come down.

Aurora closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of the flames on her skin, until suddenly, someone shook her shoulders.

"BOO!! They screamed. Aurora let out a screech and turned around, to see that no one was there. For a moment, pure terror occupied her mind as her heartbeat raced and her breath quickened, until she realized who it was.

She rolled her eyes. "Harry!"

He took off his invisibility cloak and doubled over in laughter.

Aurora crossed her arms as a faint blush grew on her cheeks. "I don't see why this is so funny."

Harry eventually stopped laughing and gave her a grin. "I think you would understand if you saw your face."

She let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead with her fingers. "Okay, okay, whatever. Are you ready to go? Do you have the map?"

He nodded. "Yup, I got it. Let's go. We both have to get under the cloak, so come here."

Aurora walked over to Harry as he brought the cloak over them both. They had to huddle quite close together so that it covered both of them. She could feel the warmth of his skin and the sweet scent of firewood and chocolate that marked his signature aroma.

"Are you ready to go?" Harry whispered, as he brought his wand out under the cloak and quietly muttered "Lumos".

Aurora could just make out the shadows of his face and the distinct emerald orbs behind his spectacles. The corners of her lips turned up slightly as she looked at her friend. "Ready."

The two made their way through the castle, closely watching the Marauders map in case someone was nearby. Although they had passed Filch carrying around a lantern at one point, they were safe under Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Where did you get that?" Aurora asked, pointing to the map. "That really would have come in handy at my old school."

Harry let out a small chuckle. "I got it from Fred and George. They had stolen it from Filch's office, and gave it to me in the third year when I was trying to sneak into Hogsmeade."

"Do you know who made it?" Aurora asked, feeling curious. Whoever made it must have been a very talented wizard, she thought. The magic looked complex.

Harry grinned. "Yes actually. It was my father and his friends. Sirius Black, my godfather, Remus Lupin, my old defense against the dark arts professor, and-" Harry cut off, as it looked like he was struggling to say the last name.

She blinked at him. "Who else?"

He turned his head toward her, his eyes showing a pain that she could not understand. "No one. That was all. Anyway, let's keep moving." He said quickly.

Aurora narrowed her eyes as he changed the subject and continued to walk onward, but decided to not press it. After all, he wasn't pestering her about why she needed these ingredients.

Eventually, they got to Snape's room. His classroom was marked with a large black door, and a spiral staircase going downward after they would walk in.

"I can open it," Harry whispered as he grabbed the handle and swung the large door open. Aurora flinched as it made a loud squeaky sound, and prayed that Filch or Ms. Norris hadn't heard it.

"Come on, let's get in before someone notices," Harry hissed under his breath as they started to submerge down the staircase.

Snape's room, although always ominous, was especially eerie at night. Green light emitted from lanterns hung around his room. Aurora wrinkled her nose at the usually putrid scent of Snape: black ink, old shoes, and hair grease.