Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

The next morning Harry was waiting on the sofa staring at the glorious display outside the window. I sat gently beside him. The Boy Who Lived looked lost in his thoughts.

"Knut for them."

"Huh? Oh, um...just thinking about yesterday's practice. Thanks for that by the way. You must be making a lot of progress with Professor Dumbledore. No one even noticed that little pick up of wind."

"Yeah, I've got more control. I can direct it in small gusts now."

"That's good."

"So." 'He's so cute!'

"...So."

Ron and the rest of the group's arrival saved us from making more awkward conversation. At breakfast, Hermione sat reading the Daily Prophet while the rest of us talked about the upcoming Hufflepuff game. I looked up from my stack of pancakes and noticed the owl post arriving. Amazed I watched as two owls landed next to my plate and hooted impatiently, each shaking its leg, vying for their message to be read first. I removed the parchment from a grey eagle owl and silently read it. I shook my head, amused, and read the next. It was from Blake, the klutz of Hufflepuff. By the time I'd finished I was blushing profusely.

"What?" Ginny asked.

"They're invitations to the Halloween party."

"Who are they from?"

"Umm."

"Let me see those," Ron insisted.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you'll just threaten to beat them up if they don't leave me alone, that's why. Just like you used to with any guy who was interested in Ginny."

"You're not going with either of them are you?" he demanded.

"Of course not. Now, can we please change this subject?"

Later in Potions:

"Get my invitation, ravishing partner of mine?"

"Yes, Draco. I've already told you no. Now give it up. And stop saying things like that."

"You like him, don't you?"

"Who?"

"Potter."

"We're friends."

"Sure. How long do you think it will take before Wonder Boy realizes you like him and makes a move?"

"I'm not ready for a boyfriend right now," I said. But I was thinking, 'Is that really how you feel? At least be honest with yourself, girl.'

"Tell you what, I'll leave you alone on one condition."

"And what pray tell would that be?"

"Meet me in the library today at 5:30."

"Why?" I asked, suspicious once again.

"To talk for a little while. If I'm going to lose you to him, I'd at least like to be friends."

"Right, and I'm suppose to believe that?"

"On my word as a Malfoy, I'll stop asking you out."

"I don't know, Draco."

"I'm serious, just friends."

"Umm..."

"Please?"

It was the please that convinced me he meant it. "Okay, but you'd better not try anything. I know hexes it would take Madam Pomfrey weeks to sort out."

"I'll behave. Well, to a point."

That afternoon at lunch I discussed Draco's proposal with the Marauders, leaving out the part where he had mentioned Harry.

"I don't trust him."

"I know you don't, Ron, but I think he was actually being sincere this time. He swore on his family name. What do you think, Harry?"

"I think he's the biggest prat I've ever had the misfortune to meet but it's your call. If you decide you want to, one of us could be in the library in case you need us."

"That's sweet but I'll be fine. He wouldn't try anything with that many people around." 'And if he does, he'd be sorry.'

Five-thirty was there before I knew it. I found Draco already at a table in the corner of the library.

"Hi."

"Hi," I answered tentatively, sitting opposite him.

"So..."

"So."

"Look, I want to apologize for what I did on the train and for the other day. I didn't mean to upset you so much."

"Then why do it?"

"It's kind of my thing with Potter." He shrugged as if that explained it all.

"Okay, I get that, I think. So why apologize?"

"I've been thinking about things lately. You really believe what you said the other day in the hall didn't you? About Mud...I mean, Muggle-borns?"

"Yeah. I have two best friends who are Muggle-born. Hermione you know. Shawna was my best friend back home. She was always there for me growing up. She may not be around anymore but she'll always be my best friend. I defend my friends."

"Must be nice to have that kind of friend."

"I have five more just like her now."

"I've never had that."

"Maybe if you were nicer to people you would."

Draco got quiet for a minute before he asked if I would tell him more about Shawna. I told him a couple of stories I had told the Marauders on the train until it was time for dinner.

"Can we do this again?" he asked when we got up to leave.

"I'd like that. But next time, you have to share a story."

Over dinner Ginny wanted to know how it had gone with Draco. No wanting to gossip I would only tell her that he had apologized and we'd had a nice talk. Everyone was awestruck.

Once back in the common room, I plopped down onto the sofa and closed my weary eyes. Between the session with Professor Dumbledore and the talk with Draco I was beyond worn out.

Harry shook me awake thirty minutes later. "Aurora, why don't you go to bed?"

"Sounds great but I'm too tired to move."

"Come on, I'll help you up." He pulled me to my feet where I immediately got dizzy and grabbed him for support.

"Sorry must've gotten up too fast."

"That's what I'm here for. Now come on, go to bed."

"Night."

"Goodnight, Aurora."

As tired as I was once I'd made it to bed I had trouble falling asleep. Harry's emerald eyes and the way I'd felt in his arms kept me awake. I relived the shivers that had raced down my spine. My hands had landed on his chest to steady myself when I'd stumbled. The contact had sent a jolt of electricity throughout my entire body. When I finally did sleep, I dreamed of him.

The morning of the Hufflepuff game finally arrived. I watched as early twilight gave way to the glory of the rising sun. I had already braided my hair and dressed in my lucky Sky Ball clothes: a lime green tank top and a pair of ratty jeans that had tears in the knees. Dad hated this outfit but it was my favorite. It was what I had worn when the Manicores had won the National Pennant. Playing Quidditch was hot work and the tank would keep me cool under the robes. The kneeless jeans allowed greater range of motion while flying.

I sat thinking about my strategy for the game with a new team. I'd played with the Manicores for five years. I had known every move every player would make at any given time. We had been a mean, green, Sky Ball machine. 'Would I be able to recapture that with my new Gryffindor team? What if I got out on the pitch and sucked?' The longer I thought on it, the more nervous I became.

Harry and Ron came down to find their Lead Chaser pacing back and forth mumbling to herself.

"Not nervous are you?" Ron asked knowingly.

"Oh no, not at all," I replied sarcastically.

"Aurora, you'll be great. You're the best Chaser we've ever had. Just don't tell Gin I said that," Harry said putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.

'There went those sparks again. Can he feel them?'

"Hey! I heard that. You'd better watch it or I'll put my Bat-Bogey hex on you," Ginny warned walking up with Hermione. "It's true though, Cuz," she whispered. "We've all seen you play. You're fantastic. Gryffindor is sure to take the cup this year with the team Harry's put together."

"Thanks guys."

"Anyone else hungry?"

"Ron!" the gang cried together.

"What? I'm hungry."

The five of us laughed at him and went to eat breakfast.

The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers when we walked in. Harry gathered his team and encouraged us to eat while being too antsy himself for more than a piece of toast. Even after five years of playing, he told me, he still got butterflies before every game.

"Ready for your first game with us, Aurora?" Dennis asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I said trying miserably to sound confident.

"You'll do fine. I mean, it's only Hufflepuff," Seamus retorted encouragingly.

I sat picking at the food, occasionally bringing a bite to my lips. Glancing over at the Slytherin table I saw Pansy Parkinson sitting beside Draco. She must have felt my gaze because the girl looked up and sneered. Pansy then whispered something in Draco's ear that made him turn an angry red. I watched as he extracted himself from her and headed toward the Gryffindor table.

"Can I talk to you for a moment, Aurora?"

"Be right back guys."

"I just wanted to say good luck," Draco revealed once out of earshot of the others.

"Thanks, Draco. Um...what did Pansy say to make you so mad a minute ago?"

"She made a snide comment about how the only reason you were on the team is because Potter must want in your pants. I told her if she'd ever seen you fly she'd know better and she shouldn't talk about things she didn't know about."

"Hmm." 'Pug faced bitch.'

"Well, you'd better go finish breakfast. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

I walked back over to join the others where Ron immediately wanted to know what Draco had wanted. I told him he had wished me luck to everyone's disbelief. They shook their heads in marvel and we continued to watch Ron devour everything in sight.

'That boy can seriously pack away some food,' I thought, reaching for a handful of fresh cherries. I couldn't stop thinking about Draco. 'Had he really truly changed? Was his offer of friendship genuine or was it merely a way to get closer to Harry so the Slytherin could hurt him later?' My thoughts jumbled inside until Harry told the team it was time to go.

On the way to the stadium I asked Harry about Gryffindor's pre-game rituals. When he replied that they didn't really have any except a pep talk, I inquired if we could maybe incorporate one of my old team's. Harry said as long as the team agreed, sure. The Gryffindor Quidditch captain led his team to our locker room where everyone changed into their team robes.

"Okay team. Aurora has something to ask you and then I'll give the traditional Oliver Wood speech."

Eyes cast down I stood before the team. "As some of you may know I was with the Manicores for five years. Albert, the Captain, liked to play a song to fire up the team before the game. I thought if everyone was okay with the idea we could try it." I looked around nervously as everyone nodded.

"For those who don't follow Muggle music, it's by a group called Queen and it's called 'We Will Rock You'. We even played this during the matches for the crowd." Taking my CD player out of my gym bag I popped in a CD. (Dad had charmed it to play without electricity when he gave it to me on my 16^th birthday.) I pressed play and the sound of Freddie Mercury's powerful voice filled the locker room.

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise

Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day

You got mud on yo' face

You big disgrace

Kickin' your can all over the place

Singin'

'We will we will rock you

We will we will rock you'

Buddy you're a young man hard man

Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day

You got blood on yo' face

You big disgrace

Wavin' your banner all over the place

'We will we will rock you'

Singin'

'We will we will rock you'

Buddy you're an old man poor man

Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make you some peace some

day

You got mud on your face

You big disgrace

Somebody better put you back into your place

'We will we will rock you'

Singin'

'We will we will rock you'

Everybody

'We will we will rock you'

'We will we will rock you'

Alright

By the time the second chorus began the team had all stood and were trying to sing along. "We will, we will rock you!" They watched and followed me as I showed them how to stamp their feet and clap to the song, just like the stadium fans back home had done every game. After the song the team's adrenaline was sky-high.

Harry looked the team over and began. "I'm not going to make some long rambling speech. I'm just going to say that I know we can win, especially if we play like we have been in practice. Aurora; you, Ginny, and Dennis score every goal you can. Keep the Quaffle on our side. Watch out for their Beaters. I've seen Hufflepuff's new guys; they're huge. Ron, protect the goals with whatever it takes. Dean, Seamus, beat the hell out of those Bludgers. Keep them off our people and on theirs. I'll catch the Snitch as soon as I see it, as long as we're ahead which I know we will be. We've got the best team in this school. So, let's go show everybody!"

"YEAH!!!"

The team ran to the stadium entrance.

"Hey, Aurora!"

"Yeah, Harry?"

"I think we need to teach that song to the Gryffindor fans."

"It's always been one of my faves. Now come on before they start without us." I grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him onto the pitch.

Colin Creevey, who had replaced Lee Jordan as Quidditch commentator two years ago when he graduated, had just finished introducing the Hufflepuff team when we caught up with the rest of the team.

"AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: THE GRYFFINDOR LIONS!

KEEPER CO-CAPTAIN RON WEASLEY

BEATERS DEAN THOMAS AND SEAMUS FINNIGAN

CHASERS GINNY WEASLEY AND DENNIS CREEVEY

LEAD CHASER NEW COMER AMERICAN AURORA WEASLEY

AND SEEKER CAPTAIN HARRY POTTER!"

I heard the roar from the Gryffindor stands and Slytherin's boos. I strode to the center of the pitch and mounted my broom, itching to start the game. I gave the Hufflepuff Lead Chaser standing across a polite nod. He returned it before turning his attention to the Quidditch ref.

"I don't have to tell you all I want a nice, clean game." Madame Hooch bent down and released the Bludgers and golden Snitch into the air. With a heave, she tossed the red Quaffle into the air.

"GRYFFINDOR IN POSSESSION OF THE QUAFFLE RIGHT OFF. THEIR NEW LEAD CHASER HAILS FROM MAGIC COVE, LOUISIANA WHERE SHE HELPED LEAD HER TEAM THE MANICORES TO CAPTURE THE NATIONAL PENNANT JUST LAST SEASON."

"AURORA EASILY AVOIDS A BLUDGER HIT BY THE HUFFLEPUFF BEATER AND SENDS THE QUAFFLE TO TEAMMATE GINNY WEASLEY. WEASLEY EASILY SLIDES PAST KEEPER MACMILLAN AND SCORES! 10-0 GRYFFINDOR."

I felt a rush of pride at Ginny's goal.

"HUFFLEPUFF IN POSSESSION, NO WAIT, DENNIS SLIPS IN AND STEALS THE QUAFFLE. CREEVEY IN POSITION TO SCORE AND OH! HE MISSES. SORRY LITTLE BROTHER."

Play continued for a few minutes until I chased down the Hufflepuff Chaser in possession and managed to steal the Quaffle. Flying as fast as my new Cleansweep would allow to the goals, I wrung the ball through.

"AURORA SCORES! GRYFFINDOR UP 20-0."

"HUFFLEPUFF WITH THE QUAFFLE. RON DIVES TO SAVE AND NARROWLY MISSES. 20-10."

The Gryffindors collectively groaned. I started chanting "We will, we will rock you." The team looked at me like I was crazy, which I am but that's another story, then grinned and sang along.

"WHAT'S THAT? SOUNDS LIKE SINGING. PLEASE NOT THE WEASEL KING SONG AGAIN." Then the crowd heard Colin laugh. "FOLKS, THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM IS SINGING 'WE WILL ROCK YOU' BY THE MUGGLE ROCK GROUP QUEEN."

The song served its purpose, refocusing the team on the game and raising spirits.

"POTTER MUST HAVE SEEN THE SNITCH. HE'S RACING TOWARD THE HUFFLEPUFF FAN SECTION."

From the corner of my eye I saw Harry tear across the field, keeping far ahead of the Hufflepuff Seeker, Justin Finch-Fletchley. He stretched his arm out and...

"HARRY HAS THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS 170-10! WHAT A SHORT GAME, FANS. GRYFFINDOR WINS IT IN ONLY 16 MINUTES."

I caught up with the team back on the pitch. Dennis and Ron picked Harry up on their shoulders and paraded him to the waiting Gryffindor fans. After they set Harry on his feet, Hermione grabbed Ron and gave him a big kiss in congratulations. Neville had made it to Ginny's side and pulled her into a deep embrace. I looked at the couples and felt envy claw my heart.

"Great game, Aurora."

"You too, Harry. I knew there was some reason you were Captain. Must be those mad skills."

"Thanks," he said looking down at his feet.

The crowd swept the team up and carried us to the Gryffindor common room. Ron and Harry snuck out to the kitchens and returned with butterbeer and food for everyone. We celebrated until Professor McGonagall came in around one in the morning and told 'the lot' of us to go to bed and left to return to hers. The overzealous group mumbled but filed upstairs.

That night I relived the game in my dreams and watched as a raven-haired Seeker with forest green eyes caught a struggling Snitch in his gloved hand.