Chapter 14
Disclaimer: As you all know, Harry Potter is not my idea...which is a shame really. The only characters/things I have introduced are Trinity Narcia, Kristi Lazuli, Aurora Moonstone, Joel, The Mummy and George, Tom, McD. Though, I doubt that some of you will ever see this! However, if by some chance certain people mentioned above do stumble upon this text, you're an inspiration for this, and we think you're cute...hopefully we'll meet again next year?
A/N: This chapter is begins in April, although the majority of this piece is a flashback to new years eve. This is going to be quite a difficult chapter for me to write because there are things that are going to be mentioned that have happened, and until now, I've never spoken about it. So this may get a little bit heavy at times...sorry people.
A lot had changed since midnight on December 31st, 2004. It was the Rum's fault though. Why did Johnny have to bring 100 crates of the stuff?
The gang had just been reunited after the Easter Holidays, and things were strange. The New Years Eve Party had changed everything. Mainly things had changed for the better, but things that went on beneath the surface complicated matters. It was late, and everybody else was in bed. Everybody apart from 2 of the gang. In one chair, Aurora was sitting texting her friends in the Muggle World, across the room, in the kitchen, Joel was at the table drinking coffee. The tower was silent, except for the crackling of the logs on the dying fire, and the sound of the wind outside. It had been ages since Aurora had spoken to Joel, and tonight was no different. Joel came out of the kitchen, mug in one hand, and sat down on the sofa opposite her. Without realising it, she turned round, as if to avoid conversation with him, and carried on texting her friends. Yawning, she placed her phone on the shelf behind her and turned round to face the fire. "Are you ok?" Joel's voice broke the silence. Aurora nodded. "Are you sure? You've hardly spoken since the others went upstairs." Again, she nodded, remaining silent. "You're lying. What's wrong?" His voice was calm, and still quiet.
"I was thinking"
"What about?"
"Tom"
"Oh?" Joel had a pensive look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. That's the problem. He's fine"
"If everything is fine, then why are you worried?"
"I didn't say that I was"
"Come on Aurie, I know you well enough to know when something's wrong." He smiled, although he was somewhat surprised at what he had just said.
"If I told you, you'd tell him, or you'd tell somebody else" She muttered darkly
"I promise I won't say anything...does that mean you're going to tell me then?"
She nodded. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and braced herself. "Do you know what happened a few months back before Christmas?"
Joel looked shocked, "Nope, though I knew you were ill"
"Right. Well, there was a chance that I could have been pregnant..."
"Oh! How come's you didn't say anything to us?"
"Because I wasn't sure. Tom knew, but that was it. I was thinking of how different things would be if I had been" She sighed.
"But isn't that a good thing?"
"I don't know. I guess that if I had been, it would have ruined things, and I'd have had to leave. But after all that happened, it kinda changed things. A couple of years back, things happened which really shook me up, and then literally 2 weeks later, I met Tom on Site and stuff, so I guess I connect him with what happened. I really, really don't want to associate him with that...maybe it would have been better if I hadn't met him."
Joel left his seat and knelt on the floor in front of her. Taking her hand, he whispered something to her and looked at her. She stared at him and nodded before breaking down. "Jesus Aurie, why didn't you tell anybody?" Aurora looked at him and shrugged. He let go of her hand and reached for her face, removing a strand of hair from her eyes. "Does anybody know about this, apart from me?" She shook her head, "You're the only person who knows"
"Why didn't you tell anybody?"
"I couldn't. It was my sister's birthday and I didn't want to wreck it for her."
"For God's sake, somehow I think that this is a bit more important!" His voice rose, scaring her, "This is just the kind of stupid thing you'd do! You know what happens if you keep silent- your past comes back to haunt you!"
He stood up and stormed into the kitchen. He made a cup of coffee, making a great deal of noise doing so. How nobody woke up, no-one understands. 10 minutes later he returned, a mug of coffee in each hand. He placed them on the table. "So, are you going to tell anybody about this?"
"No."
"But what when things get on top of you? What are you going to do then?"
"What I've done for the past few years- ignore it, and get on with what I'm doing!"
Joel stood up again, somewhat agitated. Quickly, he sat back down, and leant forward to hug Aurora. She returned the hug, and stood up to get her coffee from the shelf. Joel stood up and passed it to her, "Just sit down- you need to learn to tell people about these things"
Half an hour later, she looked at her watch. It was 3:30am, and she was feeling tired. "Sod it, I'm gonna crash down here tonight- I don't want to disturb the others"
"ok. Do you want me to go?"
"Nah, you might disturb the others, and that lot early in the morning? It's more dangerous than you may think!" She replied laughing. Removing her wand, she pointed to the ceiling and whispered "Accio bedding" Immediately, 2 pillows, and 2 blankets flew through the door from the dorm. She sorted her bedding and went to the kitchen to wash up the empty mugs. Upon her return, she went over to Joel, "Thanks for everything mate, you're a dude."
Joel blushed deeply, "Well, what are friends for eh?" He smiled.
Aurora laughed, "Thanks" and kissed him on the cheek. She sat down on the sofa and helped Joel set up a temporary bed. As she removed the cushions from the seat, she looked at Joel, who looked at her too. Both of them blushed and looked away. "Oh well, night" he said quietly.
"You're going to sleep already!"Aurora laughed. She felt wide awake now the caffeine was flowing.
"Well....I thought that, seeing as it's so late, I'd go to sleep, like a normal person" The reply was said without the faintest trace of tiredness in his voice.
"But you're not normal are you?"
"And how would you define normal then, Aurie?" Joel asked.
Aurora stood up and turned to face him, "Oo-er....that's a difficult one". Suddenly she was aware of how close they were standing. She laughed nervously, "Erm..."
Joel looked away briefly.
"Ah, sod it!" Aurora said under her breath.
"Pardon?"
"Erm, nothing...was thinking something along the lines of 'Oh Bugger'"
"And why would that be?"
"Right...have you ever felt torn about something?"
"Once or twice, why?"
"You know, when you need to make a quick decision, the decision you make could change a lot?"
"Vaguely...when I got that problem, I just follow my heart"
"ok then..." She took a hesitant step forward, Joel did the same. "Then if you think that's the best thing to do..." She pulled him towards her and kissed him.
"Bloody hell! Aurie, didn't know you had it in you!" Joel said sounding surprised.
"Sorry..." She sat down on the sofa.
Joel sat next to her, "Did you mean to do that, or was it just heat of the moment thing?"
"The first one"
"Oh...but what about Tom?"
"I'm going to sound a bitch for this, but, just for one night, can we forget about everything and everybody?"
"Erm, if you want to" Joel seemed shocked by the previous statement.
"Thanks...so..."
Joel leaned forwards and kissed Aurora. A few minutes later, she pulled away. She tied her braids back out of her face and stood up. "Budge up!" she whispered laughing. Joel obliged and Aurora climbed onto the Sofa.
"Oo-er...this is fun" She said when she took a moment to breathe. Suddenly, she heard footsteps upstairs, and looked at her watch, "OH GOD! it's 6:30am- we've lost 3 hours!!"
"Blimey!" Joel laughed, "Maybe we'd better stop what we're doing, you should be asleep" he continued winking.
"True" Aurora stood up to go back to her chair, turning back, she kissed Joel again. "Thanks"
"Anytime" He replied, still smiling.
Aurora went to the armchair and curled up. 2 hours later, she woke up, aware of somebody standing over her. "Oh.you are alive!" Tom said laughing
She sat up and stretched, in the corner, Joel was going up the stairs. He caught her eye and smiled. "It looks like it don't it?" she replied.
Krysti appeared at the bottom of the stairs, "Aura! I've got your stuff up here"
"Coming!" she shouted, slightly relieved that she had an excuse to escape. Tom had to go to the Owlery so he arranged to meet her by the fire in half an hour. On the door, Krysti had pinned a note-
The things have arrived. When you come in, lock the door. The others are all downstairs, so they won't interfere with it. Krys.
Aurora read the note, and walked into the Dorm, bolting the door behind her. The room was empty, apart from Joel who was getting dressed.
"Where's Krys?" Aurora asked
"She's just gone to the bathroom"
"I'M IN THE BOG!" Krysti's voice came through the bathroom door, "HANG ON A MINUTE,I'LL BE OUT SOON"
Both Aurora and Joel laughed.
"Aurie, why did you lock the door?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Krys told me to- the stuff we ordered has arrived, and we need to sort it"
Joel knocked on the bathroom door, "KRYS, IS MY STUFF HERE TOO?"
"YES!"
"Looks like it's just us three then" Joel said smiling.
"Aye, indeed it is"
"Right, about last night.?"
"Yes, I don't intend on telling Tom, and I don't regret it either"
"Ok.that's a definite answer.any chance of a repeat?" Joel stood up and sat on the box by Aurora and Tom's bed. his hand touched Aurora's. She turned to look at him. Their heads moved closer together.
"Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?" Aurora asked laughing.
"Fac ut gaudeam" Joel replied
"OH MY GOD!!!" Krysti shouted. Neither Joel nor Aurora had heard her leave the bathroom.
"Aura! What's going on?"
"Nothing"
"Don't give me that.I understand Latin you know.and by the looks of things, I'd say it was the latter of the two, and also, to Joel, "No she won't", she's got Tom"
"Oh dear.Krys, please don't screw- it just happened.she was talking to me about something, and it just happened."
"I don't care what's going on.its Tom you should be talking to, not me. I'm staying out of it this time.
Disclaimer: As you all know, Harry Potter is not my idea...which is a shame really. The only characters/things I have introduced are Trinity Narcia, Kristi Lazuli, Aurora Moonstone, Joel, The Mummy and George, Tom, McD. Though, I doubt that some of you will ever see this! However, if by some chance certain people mentioned above do stumble upon this text, you're an inspiration for this, and we think you're cute...hopefully we'll meet again next year?
A/N: This chapter is begins in April, although the majority of this piece is a flashback to new years eve. This is going to be quite a difficult chapter for me to write because there are things that are going to be mentioned that have happened, and until now, I've never spoken about it. So this may get a little bit heavy at times...sorry people.
A lot had changed since midnight on December 31st, 2004. It was the Rum's fault though. Why did Johnny have to bring 100 crates of the stuff?
The gang had just been reunited after the Easter Holidays, and things were strange. The New Years Eve Party had changed everything. Mainly things had changed for the better, but things that went on beneath the surface complicated matters. It was late, and everybody else was in bed. Everybody apart from 2 of the gang. In one chair, Aurora was sitting texting her friends in the Muggle World, across the room, in the kitchen, Joel was at the table drinking coffee. The tower was silent, except for the crackling of the logs on the dying fire, and the sound of the wind outside. It had been ages since Aurora had spoken to Joel, and tonight was no different. Joel came out of the kitchen, mug in one hand, and sat down on the sofa opposite her. Without realising it, she turned round, as if to avoid conversation with him, and carried on texting her friends. Yawning, she placed her phone on the shelf behind her and turned round to face the fire. "Are you ok?" Joel's voice broke the silence. Aurora nodded. "Are you sure? You've hardly spoken since the others went upstairs." Again, she nodded, remaining silent. "You're lying. What's wrong?" His voice was calm, and still quiet.
"I was thinking"
"What about?"
"Tom"
"Oh?" Joel had a pensive look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. That's the problem. He's fine"
"If everything is fine, then why are you worried?"
"I didn't say that I was"
"Come on Aurie, I know you well enough to know when something's wrong." He smiled, although he was somewhat surprised at what he had just said.
"If I told you, you'd tell him, or you'd tell somebody else" She muttered darkly
"I promise I won't say anything...does that mean you're going to tell me then?"
She nodded. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and braced herself. "Do you know what happened a few months back before Christmas?"
Joel looked shocked, "Nope, though I knew you were ill"
"Right. Well, there was a chance that I could have been pregnant..."
"Oh! How come's you didn't say anything to us?"
"Because I wasn't sure. Tom knew, but that was it. I was thinking of how different things would be if I had been" She sighed.
"But isn't that a good thing?"
"I don't know. I guess that if I had been, it would have ruined things, and I'd have had to leave. But after all that happened, it kinda changed things. A couple of years back, things happened which really shook me up, and then literally 2 weeks later, I met Tom on Site and stuff, so I guess I connect him with what happened. I really, really don't want to associate him with that...maybe it would have been better if I hadn't met him."
Joel left his seat and knelt on the floor in front of her. Taking her hand, he whispered something to her and looked at her. She stared at him and nodded before breaking down. "Jesus Aurie, why didn't you tell anybody?" Aurora looked at him and shrugged. He let go of her hand and reached for her face, removing a strand of hair from her eyes. "Does anybody know about this, apart from me?" She shook her head, "You're the only person who knows"
"Why didn't you tell anybody?"
"I couldn't. It was my sister's birthday and I didn't want to wreck it for her."
"For God's sake, somehow I think that this is a bit more important!" His voice rose, scaring her, "This is just the kind of stupid thing you'd do! You know what happens if you keep silent- your past comes back to haunt you!"
He stood up and stormed into the kitchen. He made a cup of coffee, making a great deal of noise doing so. How nobody woke up, no-one understands. 10 minutes later he returned, a mug of coffee in each hand. He placed them on the table. "So, are you going to tell anybody about this?"
"No."
"But what when things get on top of you? What are you going to do then?"
"What I've done for the past few years- ignore it, and get on with what I'm doing!"
Joel stood up again, somewhat agitated. Quickly, he sat back down, and leant forward to hug Aurora. She returned the hug, and stood up to get her coffee from the shelf. Joel stood up and passed it to her, "Just sit down- you need to learn to tell people about these things"
Half an hour later, she looked at her watch. It was 3:30am, and she was feeling tired. "Sod it, I'm gonna crash down here tonight- I don't want to disturb the others"
"ok. Do you want me to go?"
"Nah, you might disturb the others, and that lot early in the morning? It's more dangerous than you may think!" She replied laughing. Removing her wand, she pointed to the ceiling and whispered "Accio bedding" Immediately, 2 pillows, and 2 blankets flew through the door from the dorm. She sorted her bedding and went to the kitchen to wash up the empty mugs. Upon her return, she went over to Joel, "Thanks for everything mate, you're a dude."
Joel blushed deeply, "Well, what are friends for eh?" He smiled.
Aurora laughed, "Thanks" and kissed him on the cheek. She sat down on the sofa and helped Joel set up a temporary bed. As she removed the cushions from the seat, she looked at Joel, who looked at her too. Both of them blushed and looked away. "Oh well, night" he said quietly.
"You're going to sleep already!"Aurora laughed. She felt wide awake now the caffeine was flowing.
"Well....I thought that, seeing as it's so late, I'd go to sleep, like a normal person" The reply was said without the faintest trace of tiredness in his voice.
"But you're not normal are you?"
"And how would you define normal then, Aurie?" Joel asked.
Aurora stood up and turned to face him, "Oo-er....that's a difficult one". Suddenly she was aware of how close they were standing. She laughed nervously, "Erm..."
Joel looked away briefly.
"Ah, sod it!" Aurora said under her breath.
"Pardon?"
"Erm, nothing...was thinking something along the lines of 'Oh Bugger'"
"And why would that be?"
"Right...have you ever felt torn about something?"
"Once or twice, why?"
"You know, when you need to make a quick decision, the decision you make could change a lot?"
"Vaguely...when I got that problem, I just follow my heart"
"ok then..." She took a hesitant step forward, Joel did the same. "Then if you think that's the best thing to do..." She pulled him towards her and kissed him.
"Bloody hell! Aurie, didn't know you had it in you!" Joel said sounding surprised.
"Sorry..." She sat down on the sofa.
Joel sat next to her, "Did you mean to do that, or was it just heat of the moment thing?"
"The first one"
"Oh...but what about Tom?"
"I'm going to sound a bitch for this, but, just for one night, can we forget about everything and everybody?"
"Erm, if you want to" Joel seemed shocked by the previous statement.
"Thanks...so..."
Joel leaned forwards and kissed Aurora. A few minutes later, she pulled away. She tied her braids back out of her face and stood up. "Budge up!" she whispered laughing. Joel obliged and Aurora climbed onto the Sofa.
"Oo-er...this is fun" She said when she took a moment to breathe. Suddenly, she heard footsteps upstairs, and looked at her watch, "OH GOD! it's 6:30am- we've lost 3 hours!!"
"Blimey!" Joel laughed, "Maybe we'd better stop what we're doing, you should be asleep" he continued winking.
"True" Aurora stood up to go back to her chair, turning back, she kissed Joel again. "Thanks"
"Anytime" He replied, still smiling.
Aurora went to the armchair and curled up. 2 hours later, she woke up, aware of somebody standing over her. "Oh.you are alive!" Tom said laughing
She sat up and stretched, in the corner, Joel was going up the stairs. He caught her eye and smiled. "It looks like it don't it?" she replied.
Krysti appeared at the bottom of the stairs, "Aura! I've got your stuff up here"
"Coming!" she shouted, slightly relieved that she had an excuse to escape. Tom had to go to the Owlery so he arranged to meet her by the fire in half an hour. On the door, Krysti had pinned a note-
The things have arrived. When you come in, lock the door. The others are all downstairs, so they won't interfere with it. Krys.
Aurora read the note, and walked into the Dorm, bolting the door behind her. The room was empty, apart from Joel who was getting dressed.
"Where's Krys?" Aurora asked
"She's just gone to the bathroom"
"I'M IN THE BOG!" Krysti's voice came through the bathroom door, "HANG ON A MINUTE,I'LL BE OUT SOON"
Both Aurora and Joel laughed.
"Aurie, why did you lock the door?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Krys told me to- the stuff we ordered has arrived, and we need to sort it"
Joel knocked on the bathroom door, "KRYS, IS MY STUFF HERE TOO?"
"YES!"
"Looks like it's just us three then" Joel said smiling.
"Aye, indeed it is"
"Right, about last night.?"
"Yes, I don't intend on telling Tom, and I don't regret it either"
"Ok.that's a definite answer.any chance of a repeat?" Joel stood up and sat on the box by Aurora and Tom's bed. his hand touched Aurora's. She turned to look at him. Their heads moved closer together.
"Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?" Aurora asked laughing.
"Fac ut gaudeam" Joel replied
"OH MY GOD!!!" Krysti shouted. Neither Joel nor Aurora had heard her leave the bathroom.
"Aura! What's going on?"
"Nothing"
"Don't give me that.I understand Latin you know.and by the looks of things, I'd say it was the latter of the two, and also, to Joel, "No she won't", she's got Tom"
"Oh dear.Krys, please don't screw- it just happened.she was talking to me about something, and it just happened."
"I don't care what's going on.its Tom you should be talking to, not me. I'm staying out of it this time.