Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 6 Slytherin Prank

The next morning I woke up in a furious mood. I had had another dream about Mother. It had been weeks since the last one. I yanked the curtains back and went to shower and dress. I charmed my hair into a single thick braid. A touch of lipstick and mascara and I headed to the common room for the sofa.

The sun was peeking out at the morning when Harry plopped down beside me.

"We have got to stop meeting like this."

"Then you should stay in bed," I said joking.

"Ah, but then I wouldn't have the pleasure of your company."

"Well then, maybe we should continue." Odd, but my mood altered dramatically. I felt much better. The silence was comfortable this time as we watched the dawn break. Eventually, the rest of the group decided to venture out of bed.

"Have you two gone mad? Why are you up so bloody early again?" Ron asked yawning.

"Aurora and I watched the sunrise."

"Yeah right. Mione, I know what they're up to. You're in here snogging," Ron said hitting Harry on the arm.

I know my face turned as red as Ron's hair. "Ronald Weasley! How could you even say something like that!"

"I was only joking," Ron said, clearly puzzled over my reaction.

"Well, I don't think it's funny to imply someone's...well...you know!"

"Oh! Aurora, he meant kissing. Here snog means making out, shag means, well what you were thinking," Hermione explained to the ignorant, embarrassed idiot.

"Oh." My face somehow managed to turn even redder. Everyone laughed.

"Sorry but now that that has been cleared up, can we go down to breakfast? I'm starved," Ron admitted.

When we had made our way to the Hall and were busy eating, Harry caught everyone's attention. "Guys, I've come up with the perfect prank to pull on the Slytherins. The Marauders are going back in business," he said deviously.

"What are you up to?"

"Imagine this if you will..." He whispered his plans and all agreed it was a prank the original Marauders would have been proud of. Hermione was a little hesitant but after Ron reminded her of how the Slytherins treated her, she too came to the conclusion that they deserved whatever they got. "Aurora?"

It had been a while since Shawna and my last prank, but it was like riding a bike. You couldn't forget how to do it. "I'm in."

"We'll do it Saturday morning at breakfast. It'll take a couple of days to get the charms in place," Harry decided.

Classes flew by. Friday in Potions, Professor Snape announced that the class would be working in Monday's assigned pairs for the remainder of the year. Harry and Ron shot me worried looks but I simply smiled and whispered I could handle myself.

Draco slung his book bag besides mine and settled himself into the empty seat. "Miss me?"

"About as much as I would a large boil on my butt."

"Now that's a picture. But I digress, I had a dream about you last night."

"Let me guess. You annoyed me, thinking you were being charming, so I turned you into a toad."

"Actually I was charming and swept you off your feet, like the prince that I am."

"Only in your dreams, Draco."

"You and Potter dating yet?"

"I don't see how that is any of your business but no."

"Then it's a date."

"Excuse me?"

"Hogsmeade, next Saturday. I'll meet you in front at 10:00."

"I'd rather go with Mr. Filch."

"Surely you jest. Every girl in this school wants me."

"I can assure you, not all of them."

"How about the Halloween party? Has anyone asked you to that yet?" he asked with a rogue's grin.

"No." I couldn't help but laugh at his persistence. 'He is kinda cute.'

"Will you be my date?"

"Sorry, no."

"You've gone and hurt my feeling."

"Aww, poor baby. Maybe Madam Pomfrey can make it better." I put a hand over my heart, trying to look sympathetic.

That evening I curled up on the couch by the window, looking out over the lake. I could just make out the giant squid lazily swimming on top of the surface. 'What is Draco up too? First he's mean and nasty, now he's trying to be nice and charming. I just don't understand men.'

The next morning I woke from a dream, in which Harry was sitting with Draco, chatting over a cup of tea. 'That was weird.' I jumped up, suddenly remembering what day it was. I ran to the bathroom I shared with the other girls and quickly showered. Fretting over what to wear for a few minutes I finally picked out a light pink cropped T-shirt that was a little low cut and a pair of low-slung jeans. I tamed my hair to fall in soft curls down my back and carefully applied makeup, putting on a smidge more than usual. 'Not bad.'

I met Harry downstairs on what I had come to think of as our sofa watching the day break. Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny wandered down right after the last golden red rays faded over the distant mountains and took chairs next to the sofa.

"The 'Marauders' name has been forgotten in this school for far too long. It's time to fix that," Harry announced with a gleam in his eye. "Everyone knows what to do, right?" At the affirmative nods, he said, "Then let's go prank some Slytherins."

The six Gryffindors stepped out of the portrait hole as Marauders. I headed to the Great Hall entrance filled with dread. 'Someone remind me why I'm doing this again?' The others slid into a secret passageway that would lead them to the hidden balcony above the dining room. 'Why had I agreed to do this? It'll never work.'

I noticed several dropped jaws as boys turned to watch as I tried to walk seductively to the table. 'Well, maybe it will work.' I sat at the Gryffindor table, throwing what I hoped were inviting looks to the Slytherins. A few minutes later, one of them approached and asked why I was sitting alone.

"Because all my friends are still sleeping," I said batting my eyelashes. 'Man, he's almost as greasy as Professor Snape. I cannot believe I agreed to do this.'

"Want to sit with me at the Slytherin table? We'll keep you company until they get here."

"That's nice of you." Following the grease ball I smiled when I noticed Draco was not at the table. 'Good.' For some unknown reason I didn't want him involved in the prank. We made small talk and soon almost every boy at the table was flirting with little ole me. I flirted back, using Shawna's patented Southern Belle charm. Merlin knows I'd seen her use it often enough. Just as I was beginning to think the Marauders had given up on the prank and I'd be stuck with the Slytherins forever in the hell we had created, it happened. Every male Slytherin at the table spontaneously turned into a giant teapot. But no, that wasn't all, although that was bad. They also started to sing:

I'm a little teapot,

Short and stout.

Here is my handle,

Here is my spout.

When I get all steamed up

Hear me shout,

Tip me over, and pour me out!

As soon as the last words were sung a message written in blue smoke appeared above the table: The Marauders Strike Again! The boys returned to normal but were so incised they didn't notice as I returned to the Gryffindor table, laughing so hard I was crying. Harry and the others joined me moments later, managing to look innocently confused by the laughter of the students. Harry even asked why I was crying with a straight face.

Harry looked up at the Professors' table where only Remus and Professor Flitwick were sitting. The small Charms teacher was talking animatedly with Remus about the transfiguration spells and charms necessary to pull off a prank of that magnitude. Remus caught Harry's eye and gave a slight smile.

The next Potions class:

"Morning, Sunshine."

"Draco."

"Dream of me last night?"

"As a matter of fact I did. There was this enormous dinosaur attacking Hogwarts and it stepped on you. So sorry, but you didn't make it." I sighed dramatically.

Draco looked at me puzzled. I could only imagine what he was thinking. 'I'm a Malfoy, one of the oldest bloodlines existing. No girl has ever dared talk to me like that before. Girls fall over themselves to get me to notice them.' But you know what, I'm not like other girls. I'm different; I treat people like I'd like to be treated by them, unless you're an ass to me that is. Draco wasn't really that bad though. He was kinda growing on me.

"So how are classes going?" When I glanced at him suspiciously he muttered, "Just thought I'd make nice today."

"Okay...I'll play along. They're going good. Professor Sprout has some really interesting plants and Hagrid showed us a new species of tramucles Thursday in Care of Magical Creatures."

"Hmm. I dropped that class last year. Didn't see much use in it."

"It depends on what you wanna do when you get out."

"I suppose," Draco said woodenly.

"Draco, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Anyway, why would you care?"

"Draco, I may like to tease you but that doesn't mean that I hate you."

"Potter and his crew do," he said tossing his silky, blonde hair towards Harry.

"I don't think that he does. You're just always there annoying him. I've heard the stories, Draco. They can't believe I even talk to you."

"Why do you?"

"I guess I see a different side. I think if you tried a little harder you could actually be a nice person to know."

"Hmmp." He sat in silence for the reminder of class. When the bell rang he darted out.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked walking over.

"I'm not sure."

Wednesday's class Potions class was very quiet. Draco didn't say two words the entire time. He sat there in his seat, looking off into the distance. I was forced to complete the assigned potion without much help. Professor Snape took the vial without comment.

Lessons with Professor Dumbledore had been progressing well. He told me everything he had learned about Storm Taming skills and had me practice mediating in the quiet spaciousness of his office. We'd just started on control exercises. I would try to move small objects to where he directed me to place them. He warned it could be exhausting to concentrate my powers that specifically. He was right. I was pooped. As soon as supper was over, I headed straight for bed.

The next day was horrible. First in Care of Magical Creatures Hagrid had set us to feeding the tramucles and one had spit venom on me, burning a hole in my robe. In Charms class I had been paired with Neville who put the tickling spell on me and then couldn't get it off. I was crying tears of pain before Professor Flitwick had seen what was going on. Then to top off my miserable day, I accidentally beheaded a shrived prumharp in Herbology when Ron made me laugh and Professor Sprout had gave me a foot long essay on the medicinal properties of the plant. The only thing keeping me from jumping in the lake and letting the squid have me for a snack was Sky Ball practice.

The Gryffindor team met in the locker room of the stadium.

"Alright, team. We only have one more practice scheduled after tonight before we play Hufflepuff next Saturday. Our team's got the best Keeper, Beaters, and Chasers in the school. So if everyone plays like I know you can, we'll be unstoppable! Now let's go play some Quidditch!"

"Yeah!" the team yelled after Harry's speech.

Harry watched Dean and Seamus hit Bludgers at Ginny, Dennis, and me for a few minutes. They never got close to hitting me. As soon as a Bludger would get within ten feet, I swerve to avoid it. It always amazes me how the broom and I seem to be a part of each other. Ginny had scored five goals and Dennis had stolen the Quaffle six times. Ron was in his element; circling around his hoops like a giant bird of prey, ready to pick off any Quaffle that came near him. I only managed to slide three past him. After thirty minutes Harry, I realized, was still holding the same position. I watched as he closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the cool breeze against his face.

"Harry! Watch out!" Seamus yelled.

He turned to look but before he could get out of the way a stray Bludger caught him in the stomach. Thinking quickly I used my newfound control to try to direct his fall without being found out by the rest of the team. He fell quickly but landed softly on the grass. No one noticed. When my Cleansweep touched down only Ron saw me stumble. (I was still working on energy conservation.)

"Are you okay, Harry?"

"I'm fine. Just out of breath." He looked up at me and mouthed, 'Thanks.'

I nodded.

"Sorry, Captain. Didn't mean to hit you."

"That's okay, Dean. It happens. I think we should call it a day. It's almost time for dinner anyway." Harry got up slowly and the team headed for the castle.