Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 9 The Past Revisited

Saturday morning I got out of bed, threw on some old clothes for Sky Ball practice, and finished my toiletries. I then charmed my hair into a ponytail and went to greet the early morning sun. Harry plopped down next to me a few minutes later breaking me from a daydream.

'Think of the devil and here he comes.' "Morning. You're up early."

"Too hyped up. Ready for another exciting afternoon of Quaffles and Bludgers?"

"Always."

The rest of the group came down thirty minutes later.

After all but Ron had finished breakfast Hermione asked "Are you two ever going to fill the rest of us in on the prank?"

Ron motioned us closer and related his and Harry's plan.

"You two are geniuses! They'll never expect that, certainly not tonight."

"The only thing is, if Draco's not included they'll know it was us," Harry concluded.

"I'll talk to him at lunch and see what he thinks."

"Are you sure we can trust him?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, I am. I think he'll go along with it just because we thought to ask him. What's the distraction this time?"

"You three," Harry answered with a devilish grin and proceeded to tell us in detail how we would go about it.

"Mione, if you don't feel comfortable, we understand if you don't want to do it. We don't want them upsetting you."

"That's sweet, Ron, but I won't let them get to me."

"Neville's our lookout. He'll signal when the time is right to commence pranking," Harry informed us.

"Harry, do you really think the three of us can cause that big of a commotion?" pondered Ginny.

"Aurora's done it by herself once already. Add the other two most beautiful girls in school into the equation and I'd have to say definitely."

Ginny smiled at this, turning only slightly pink.

'Did he just say I was beautiful?' "Besides when I get through with your hair and makeup your own mothers wouldn't be able to pick you out of a lineup."

Hermione and Ginny looked at me and started giggling.

"I like that idea," Hermione said.

"We'll talk some more at lunch. It's time for practice," Harry announced rising from the table.

Once on the pitch I felt an immediate release from the stress of classes and my disappointment of not going to the party with Harry. Elation overcame me so intensely it threatened to buckle my knees. I closed my eyes, breathing in the uplifting scents of freshly cut grass and the sun-drenched day. The wind whipped through my hair, fanning it out like one of the castle banners.

"You feel it too don't you?" Harry asked, startling me. I had forgotten that I wasn't alone.

"Feel what?"

"The pull of the game."

"It's more than that with me. I sense the excitement of the wind. It speaks to me sometimes. It whispers to my soul to just let go, follow it wherever it takes me. Crazy, huh?"

"No. That's what I experience every time I fly."

We shared a smile and went to meet the other players. Harry had decided that today he would mix the first string team with the reserves and have a scrimmage game. He divided us into two teams, being careful to keep most in the same position we usually played. Colin would stand in as referee. He tossed the Quaffle, beginning the game.

What followed was a fast and furious game. The score was 50-190. Our team was ahead but Harry was searching hard for the Snitch. Harry spotted the Snitch a few seconds shortly after Ginny had scored another goal for us and dove towards it. I didn't see him catch the Snitch. I was too busy making my own move.

"What happened? What did I miss?" He had flown down to the pitch to see Ginny and Ron hugging me.

"Aurora scored another goal right when you grabbed the Snitch," Ginny explained.

"You should have seen her Harry. It was amazing. Seamus had the Quaffle after Gin's goal. Aurora flew over him and buzzed the top of his head. He dropped it! She looped under him, grabbed it out Dennis's hands, who'd caught it, and scored a goal before Geoffrey realized she was near the hoops!" Dennis exclaimed.

"Nice play."

"Thanks. Nice catch, a little too quick on the uptake though," I teased.

"Yeah, well next time we'll be on the same team so it won't matter, will it?"

"What's wrong, Potter? Jealous?"

Harry leaned in close. "Of you? Not likely, Weasley."

"Will you two give it up already?" Ginny remarked at seeing her cousin and The Boy Who Lived gazing heatedly into each other's eyes.

An impromptu game broke out a few minutes later when several 6^th year Gryffindors challenged the 7^th years. We spent the rest of the morning playing. The older students won every game, teasing the younger players mercilessly all the way to the Great Hall for lunch.

The group decided to split up after we'd eaten. Ginny and Neville headed for the greenhouses to see the new plants Professor Sprout had recently acquired. Ron and Hermione walked towards the Astronomy tower. I spotted Draco leaving and told Harry I'd meet him under the tree by the lake's edge to let him know if Draco agreed to the prank or not.

"Draco, hey! Wait up."

"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" Draco asked once I caught up.

"We need to talk. Care for a walk?"

"Okay."

I led him outside and we walked slowly around the large lake. "I'm going to trust you by telling you this. I hope you'll go along with it but it's your choice."

"What are we talking about?"

"The Marauders are planning a prank tonight on the Slytherins."

"Again? Who are the Marauders anyway?"

Big breath. "Us. Me, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville and Ginny."

"I should have known. What does this have to do with me?"

"We thought if you weren't included in the prank it might look suspicious."

"So you're asking for permission to pull a prank on me?"

"Err, yeah."

"I'll do it. Don't tell me anything. It'll raise less doubt if I'm as surprised as everyone else. Wait, how embarrassing will it be?"

"Let's just say, I hope you like being Jack."

"Got it."

The walk had taken us to the shore opposite Harry. He waved and motioned for us both to join him.

"I think he wants you to come too."

"Nah, he's just being Harry."

"Come on."

"No, you go. I'd like to be by myself." He sighed.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll see ya later, alligator."

"After while, crocodile."

I left giggling at the silly phrase coming out with 'perfect' Draco Malfoy's drawling English voice.

Harry asked how it had gone with Draco. I told him he had agreed but hadn't wanted any details.

"That's probably best."

"Umm hmm."

We sat relaxing under the tree. There was a slight breeze that seemed to beckon the colder days of winter. I rested my back against the tree and sighed peacefully. I had never felt this carefree and tranquil before with someone else. Being with Harry had a way of pushing all negative thoughts from my mind.

"Something wrong, Harry? You're awfully quiet."

"I was just thinking about Mum and Dad."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was a happy thought."

"You were only a year old, weren't you?"

"Yeah but Remus and Sirius have made sure I know what they were like." He smiled gently and continued. "Dad proposed under this very tree."

"That's neat."

"He botched it though," he said with a wide grin. "When he bent down on one knee, he stumbled and rolled into the lake. Sirius said he was so embarrassed that when he got out, he tried to leave but Mum wouldn't let him. She pushed him down and told him to try it again. So he did."

"That's so sweet. What a wonderful story."

"Sirius tells me a new one at least once a week. I've heard tales about their pranks, Mum and Dad's disastrous dates, and a few concerning me. It's not the same as having them here but I know them now."

"You're lucky to have such a great godfather."

"He's more than that. He's my friend. So is Remus."

"What's Sirius like? Ginny's told me a little. I know he was framed for murder by Peter and all that but what's he like?"

"He and Dad were best friends, like me and Ron. Sirius is the last of 'The Most Noble House of Black'. He was one of the few decent wizards to come from the line. His cousin Tonks is one of the others. His parents didn't exactly support Voldemort but his younger brother did. Sirius spent most of the summers and holidays at Dad's..." he trailed off.

"Harry, if it's too hard to talk about, don't. I understand."

"No. I want to. I need to." He paused to look at me. "Anyway, Sirius was and still is a master of pranks. He loves a good joke and strives to make everyone laugh. The twins love him. They get lots of ideas from him for their shop. He's also very vain, or at least, he thinks he is. He'll tell anyone who will listen how handsome and charming he is."

"Is he?"

"I suppose."

"When do I get to meet him?"

"Next holidays are Christmas. We're having it at our house this year."

A black owl interpreted us, dropping a letter on my lap. It landed next to me and preened. "You're such a good boy," I cooed, scratching Nightshadow right above his beak. "Here you go." I fed him a piece of bacon from a cloak pocket. He gobbled it and soared off to the Owlery with a hoot of thanks.

"So who's it from?" Harry asked when I made no move to open the letter.

"Shawna. I'll read it in a little while."

"Feel up to a game of Wizard's Chess?"

"What time is it?"

"Around 3:30."

"I've got to get back to the dorm. I told the girls to meet me. We're going to have some girl talk then I'm doing their hair and makeup."

"Who are you going to the party with?" he asked.

"Draco. You?"

"No one. Well, guess I'll go see if I can get a game of Quidditch going then."