Chapter 5: Year II - Part II

January 2019

Cahill,

I'm struggling to find a gift for Marietta's birthday next week. I was wondering if maybe you and your other roommates would be able to help me? I really want her to like it…whatever it is. So just, uh, any advice would be welcomed.

Ian Halifax

—–-–—

Morgana looked up from the note that had sailed towards her as a paper airplane and immediately burst into peals of laughter, drawing the attention of Professor Flitwick. "Miss Cahill! Memory charms are not a laughing matter! Try to pay attention."

Aziah raised a questioning eyebrow as Morgana stuttered out an apology while trying to stifle her giggles. "What's so funny anyway? Certainly not the idea of an obliviate backfiring on the caster."

Morgana giggled slightly and passed the note off to Aziah who then had to struggle to contain her own giggles and stop herself from staring at Halifax as he steadily grew redder on the other side of the room. "We should just tell him to get her a nice bracelet and be done with it," Aziah eventually managed to get out.

This time it was Morgana who raised an eyebrow, "Do you think she'd go for it? We're only 13 after all. Or do you mean glass beads like yours?"

Aziah pushed her sleeve down to hide the bracelet Liam had given her, trying to avoid drawing any more attention to it. She had been subject to questions about it almost everyday from her friends. "No, a real one. I think Mari really likes him."

"If you say so."

Halifax,

Sorry for our outburst, we just couldn't believe you'd be stumped like that. Get her a bracelet. Yes, that kind of bracelet. She'll love it, or you can hex both of us into next month.

Morgana & Aziah

—–-–—

Feb 8, 2019

Father,

Thank you SO MUCH for the Falcons jersey! I know it will bring me amazing luck next game, even though I'm the only Falcons fan on the team. The idiots in my year are staunchly for Puddlemere, even though Albus says his Uncle Ron would hex him for not supporting the Cannons.

Regardless, if I'm feeling lucky then the whole team will be lucky to have me, won't they? Maybe Sylas will even let me wear it during practices.

All my love,

Zia

—–-–—

"This is getting ridiculous, Cahill!"

Aziah was miles above the pitch dodging bludgers and whacking as many as she could back at the floating targets, her dark grey Falcons jersey abandoned near the feet of her captain as he determined the oversized thing would slow her down in the air, leaving her in just a light long sleeved shirt to brave the biting air.

"Oh relax, Montague. Gaunt's a big girl, she can handle it."

Just as Sergio got those words out, a bludger clipped Aziah's shoulder, sending her into an impromptu barrel roll. She quickly regained control of the broom, only to come face to face with another bludger that she barely managed to avoid by flattening herself to the broom and dropping her bat in the process.

"Cahill!"

"Okay, okay! I was going to anyway," yelled Sergio as he signalled to Sylas to stop the simulation.

The petite beater touched down in front of the rest of the team that had paused training to watch her with a scowl on her face. She marched right up to Sylas Cahill, jabbing her finger into his chest, "You are trying to kill me, Cahill!"

Sylas threw his hands up in defence, "Hey, hey, hey, you were handling it pretty well until that last one. I just want you to be prepared for everyone thinking you'll be an easy target."

"Plus, on game day you'll have me to help you out," said Montague, stepping forward with a smirk on his face and holding her jersey out to her.

Aziah looked him up and down, "That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence," she replied jokingly, sending the team into fits of laughter. Before she could snatch her jersey out his hand, Montague ran over and scooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder as he ran in the direction of the Black Lake. "No, no, put me down!" Aziah said, laughing all the while and lightly hitting his back. Montague laughed loudly and mimed throwing her into the lake before setting her down on the bank as the rest of the team joined them.

"Are morning practices really so terrible when you get to see that every other day?" sighed Scorpius, plopping down beside Aziah and pointing out at the sunrise.

"For a second I thought you were talking about Montague tormenting me and I was going to push you into the lake," cried Aziah tugging on her Falcons attire for some warmth, "But yes, the sunrise is great."

"I like it better from the safety of the heating charms surrounding the pitch," grumbled Zabini.

Aziah laughed loudly, "Oh, come here you big baby," she said, opening her arms so he could snuggle closer for warmth.

"You're the baby of the team not me," came the snarky reply as he lowered himself to the ground. Just as Zabini sat next to Aziah he was interrupted by a cry of "DOGPILE!" as the entire team jumped on top of each other, becoming a messy tangle of limbs on the bank of the lake.

Eventually they all righted themselves, huddled in a small circle for warmth while the Cahill twins alternated casting warming charms. "The two of you are just reminding me that I still haven't started my essay for Flitwick and it's due tomorrow," whined Aziah.

Scorpius and Albus shot up in disbelief. "Tomorrow? I thought it was due next week?" wailed Albus, as Scorpius only held his head in dismay.

"I could help you with it if you'd like, Gaunt," said Montague, lazily swinging his arm over her shoulder, "I'm pretty good at charms if I do say so myself."

Aziah giggled as she shrugged off his arm, "Oh my issue isn't knowledge, it's trying to fit everything into just 15 inches. The boys on the other hand may need some help." She gestured over to her Slytherin classmates who were arguing over everything from the due date to the contents of the essay.

"Besides, Montague, helping a girl with her homework is no way to ask her out," piped up Zabini, sending both Aziah and Montague into sputtering messes.

"Speaking of asking girls out, who are you taking to Hogsmeade for Valentine's next week, Zabini?" asked Ness, holding in his laughter at Montague's reddening face.

"Ciara Finnigan," replied Zabini, a smirk stretching across his face.

"Ciara?" asked Albus with a shocked expression, "She's pretty fit."

"Yeah, Zabini. What does she see in you of all people?" snarked Sergio.

Aziah shrugged, "He's not bad looking." The entire team's heads whipped around to look at Aziah causing her to sink into herself and look at them sheepishly. "What? None of you are bad looking, except maybe Potter and Malfoy, and Zabini's maybe closer to the top end of the scale."

"Oi!" came synchronised shouts from her yearmates.

"Ah, thanks, love," chuckled Zabini, pulling the small girl into a one armed hug, "But no boys for you."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You heard him right, little love. No dumb boys for you, especially not playboy scumbags like Zabini," said Sylas sternly.

Aziah cried out in dismay. She loved being on the team and was growing closer with her teammates everyday, but it seemed as though she'd just gained five overprotective older brothers. She shot a glance at Albus and Scorpius who only shrugged and nodded in agreement with their captain. Seven overprotective older brothers.

"So what are you lot going to do next year when I can go to Hogsmeade then? When a bloke asks me to go to the village for Valentines?"

"Simple! You go with us!" chirped Sergio.

Aziah facepalmed and lay back on the grass, allowing the boys on the team to continue their conversation on the fittest girls in the school. She needed to spend more time with her female friends.

—–-–—

Feb 14, 2019

Aziah sighed as she pushed another box of chocolates off her plate at breakfast, ignoring the glares from her teammates and the laughter of her friends surrounding her. "That's the tenth one today, Soot! You're on a roll!" laughed Ekon as he happily dug into the box of chocolates, occasionally passing some off to Marietta or Xerxes, who had taken a liking to all the treats he was suddenly being given.

"Oh, oh! Listen to the note with this one," Morgana announced excitedly, clearing her throat. "You're so nice, you're so sweet, to be your Valentine would make my life complete!"

The laughter started up again. "Anyone who's seen Gaunt on the pitch would know she's anything but sweet," scoffed Montague from a ways down the table.

"I think she's so popular because she's a female beater, and an attractive one at that," replied Lillith, removing yet another box of chocolates from Aziah's plate with a smirk.

"I don't understand any of this! I'm not-"

"Eh hem"

Aziah spun in her chair to see a boy standing behind her who looked remarkably similar to Lilith, slightly wavy brown hair and grey eyes. "Who are-"

She was cut off by a groan from Lilith beside her, "Oh, not you too. Go away Damon."

The boy, Damon, glared at his sister. "Well I'm obviously not here to see you. I'm here to give this to Lady Gaunt," he replied, brandishing a nicely wrapped long box.

Morgana snatched the box out of his hands, and unwrapped it to the sounds of his protests. She stopped short once she'd removed the paper. Lilith stared at the gift open mouthed before turning back to her younger brother. "DAMON THOROS NOTT, THAT BETTER NOT BE WHAT I THINK IT IS!"

Her shouting drew the attention of the entire Slytherin table and Aziah wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow her up and deposit her safely in her bed. She snuck a peak at the box Morgana was now inspecting, recognising it as a jewellery box, which caused her to groan loudly and lightly bang her head on the table.

"I DON'T CARE IF FATHER TOLD YOU IT WAS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT!"

"YOU DON'T SEE ME YELLING OVER EVERY PIECE OF JEWELLERY YOU GET!"

"I AM OLDER THAN YOU AND AZIAH!"

Aziah peaked up at Morgana and hissed at her to get her attention. Morgana tore her eyes away from the shouting match and looked at Aziah questioningly. "He's a first year?" she mouthed at her friend.

Morgana smirked and mouthed back, "Yeah, but I heard he's a month older than you."

Another loud groan followed by her head banging back onto the table, just before Montague and Zabini appeared behind Damon Nott to gently escort him from the table. Aziah could swear she heard them say something about teaching the boy a lesson about hitting on their sister, but in this case, she decided ignorance was bliss. She hated Valentine's day.

—–-–—

March 2019

Damned little snake,

How are you avoiding all the Marauders' pranks lately? It was one thing to avoid setting off dungbombs but you knew the EXACT time to avoid sitting at the Slytherin table to avoid being covered in gravy during dinner last night! My brother put me up to asking you about it. Merlin alive, I think he has a crush on you. Bloody preposterous that is, my own blood having a crush on you of all people.

Anyways, out with that secret intel,

A. Potter

—–-–—

Aziah smirked as she shoved the note to the very bottom of her bag after Scorpius handed it to her.

The boy in question raised a blonde eyebrow, "Nothing? No intel for the rest of us sad sods?"

Aziah laughed quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of Professor Sinistra as there was really nothing funny about the movement of the planets. "Oh me? I have nothing to share," quipped Aziah, "I might even say it was a little birdie that told me. They are terribly difficult to keep out of common rooms after all."

Scorpius narrowed his eyes at her. He knew she knew something, and was speaking in a code of sorts but he couldn't figure it out for the life of him.

"Yes, I'm sure with enough determination a little bird could even tell me where these blasted planets are meant to be going," muttered Aziah, resolving to ask Ekon to help her out with this damned star map. Honestly, why go forward with an astronomy class on a cloudy night – charmed telescopes or not.

There was a pause then, "do you think there's anything beyond the stars?"

Aziah took her eye off the telescope to look quizzically at the wizard next to her. If Lilith were here she'd be calling him a nutter, but alas, she'd ended up with a week's worth of detention for not completing any of the homework Professor Weasley assigned for the term.

"Nevermind. That's a silly question," muttered Scorpius, noting Aziah's prolonged silence.

"My tutor once told me that they're the eyes of the dead," Aziah said softly, drawing Scorpius' attention, "The eyes of souls of those so long dead that they are no longer ancestor spirits, just guides in the endless night."

A silence fell over them as they gazed reverently at the cloudy night sky. Scorpius opened his mouth to say something but was cut off.

"You're basically a starman you know, being named for a constellation. Nowhere near as otherworldly as David Bowie though," remarked Aziah.

"The muggle singer? I don't really–"

"The wizard singer. You didn't think a muggle could be that amazing did you?"

—–-–—

Malfoy,

This is a LOAN simply because you have led me to believe that you have not been sufficiently blessed with some of the best music the world has ever known. I expect it back next week otherwise there will be hell to pay.

Aziah

—–-–—

Scorpius removed the note from atop the parcel that had appeared in his room the night after his oddly relaxing astronomy lesson with Aziah.

Gently freeing it from the brown paper it had been wrapped in, he found a portable record player atop a battered and clearly well loved vinyl, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

That night, after all his dorm-mates had long since dozed off, Scorpius allowed himself to indulge in Ziggy Stardust, drifting off to the sounds of Moonage Daydream.

—–-–—

May 2019

Mother,

I'm sure you heard all about last week's quidditch game from father (I saw him in the stands) and I promise I am fine! The bludger only lightly clipped my shoulder, the fact that it hit me at just the right angle to dislocate said shoulder was just unfortunate. I was able to play well enough with my off-hand though and STILL hit a bludger harder than Montague.

Being on the team is really great, you know. They're like the seven older brothers I never asked for, but treasure dearly. If they knew I said that though, they'd laugh me into next year. I'd still trade them for Delphine and Charlotte in a heartbeat. I'm sure the boys at Beauxbatons are far less annoying though.

Love,

Aziah

P.S. Can you ask father to ask his friend, Mr Nott, to stop letting his son send me jewellery? I'm at the point where I'm just hiding from him now and I feel very foolish. I don't want to be in a courting arrangement with anyone at 12, especially not Damon Nott.

—–-–—

The Slytherin and Gryffindor second years filed into the defence classroom only to find it devoid of desks and chairs, and covered in…padding?

"Come in, come in!" Called Professor Bill Weasley from the centre of the room, "And leave you bags at the door, please."

Once his students had assembled around the edges of the room, the professor continued, "Since you have all worked so hard this year," he spared a glance at Lillith, "since most of you have work so hard this year, I thought I'd give you a sneak peak at what you'll be learning next year."

The room immediately began buzzing with whispers between students, some excited, since confused, and some, not whispering at all.

"We're duelling! You're letting us duel!" yelled a very excited Kenyon Jordan, setting off a ripple effect of even louder chatter.

"Not quite, Mr Jordan," chuckled Professor Weasley, "You will not duel with each other, you will instead duel with me."

At those words, the classroom fell silent. Helena Longbottom looked like she was about to be ill.

Aziah raised her hand, "Um, Professor, how is being beaten to a pulp a reward for our hard work?" Morgana nodded furiously from beside her in agreement.

Apparently, "duel" was a bit of a misnomer for what was expected of them. All they had to do was land a single expelliarmus while Professor Weasley rained down tickling jinxes that they would either have to block or dodge.

Aziah watched critically as the Gryffindor boys leapt at the chance to "duel," and ended up giggling on the floor within seconds. She scoffed loudly as Thomas Mawdesley dodged into a jinx instead of away from it, and carried the momentum straight into the padded wall, where he slid to the floor laughing uncontrollably.

"Well, Miss Gaunt, would you care to be the next up?" asked Professor Weasley, raising a single eyebrow, "I assure you this is not as easy as it looks."

She hesitated for a second until she saw that they were out of Gryffindor fodder anyway. "I suppose I'll need to get it over with eventually."

Stepping into the centre of the room, she readied her wand and settled into her best imitation of a defensive stance.

"All set?"

She nodded then the barrage of jinxes began.

Wand completely forgotten, Aziah could only focus on not getting hit, knowing that Potter and Malfoy would tease her relentlessly for it, even though the Gryffindors went down in seconds.

After what felt like aeons of dodging jets of pink light, the onslaught stopped and Aziah looked warily at her professor while trying to catch her breath.

"Expell-" before she could finish the spell she was hit with a jet of pink light and crumpled to the floor laughing and clutching her stomach.

Professor Weasley quickly dismissed the jinx and looked at his student with a strange mix of disappointment and… was he impressed? Aziah dragged herself up off the ground, shooting glares at the Slytherin boys ensuring they didn't utter a word.

"Miss Gaunt," she spun around to face her professor, "The goal was not only to dodge, but to attack. Only dodging the enemy, especially for as long as you did, will do nothing but tire you out, creating an easier target. One must learn to multitask."

Aziah grumbled to herself as she settled back into her place leaning against the wall between Morgana and Marietta as one of the Slytherin boys stepped up to "duel".

She could multitask. She was already multitasking, paying attention to the jinxes and thinking about the quidditch game in two days trying to do the maths on how many points they'd need to make it to the finals. Scorpius went down in 30 seconds with a loud thunk as his head hit the floor. Aziah winced – maybe she should start thinking of how they would play with a reserve seeker.

—–-–—

Aziah was cornered the second she walked into potions the Monday after their game against Ravenclaw.

"Aziah."

"Liam," smirked Aziah - they were still partners even though she'd sent several bludgers his way on Saturday. She supposed he had some snarky remark about how Slytherin had cheated to win the match and advance to the finals.

"Are you avoiding me?"

Aziah's smirk fell quickly. This was not the post-game banter she'd prepared for.

She pushed past him and moved towards their brewing station, beginning to inspect the instructions that Professor Slughorn had written on the chalkboard.

"I'm not ignoring you," she said, double checking her notes.

The boy in question scoffed, "Really? You've been icing me out ever since Yule. You barely wave at meals, you leave immediately after potions, and I swear you spend more time in your common room than ever!"

Her mouth dropped open, "I'm not avoiding you, I'm avoiding Damon Nott. I'm sorry your bruised ego was caught in the crossfire."

"If you're not avoiding me then why haven't you said a single thing about the bracelet I gave you."

She became silent as she methodically began crushing her gryphon claw, "I… I just need to think about it."

Liam threw his hands up in frustration, "They're GLASS beads, I don't see what there is to think about, just wear the bloody thing."

Aziah whipped around to glare at him, "If that's all they are, Boot, then I don't see why you're getting your bollocks in a twist. Now shut up and let me focus."

She turned back to the strengthening solution, pushing ingredients that still needed the be prepared onto his side of the bench, leaving no room for discussion.

—–-–—

June 2019

Little Snake,

It feels like only yesterday you were sitting on my knee and now you're playing in your first quidditch final.

You should treasure these moments, my dear. Indeed it is moments that contribute to the quality of life, not the time itself spent living. My life thus far, while full of regrets, I would say has an ample measure of quality.

Good luck on your exams. I cannot attend the game but I'm sure Slytherin will come out victorious.

All my love,

Adelophis

—–-–—

The Saturday after her final exam saw Aziah pacing nervously around the unisex area of the Slytherin quidditch locker room, muttering about freezing charms.

She didn't even notice when Sylas and Sergio walked in holding aloft the precious captain's placebook.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Gaunt, SIT DOWN," roared Sylas after observing for a few minutes.

Aziah let out a startled squeak and plopped down next to Montague, barely able to focus on the strategy the twins were laying down for the team.

Frowning slightly, Montague swung his arm over her shoulders, "you alright there, Gaunt?"

"I'm just… I'm so sure I completely messed up everything on my charms exam," she whispered back.

He let out a quiet chuckle, careful not to be heard by the twins who had turned their attention to lecturing a pale looking Scorpius Malfoy on seeker tactics.

"I'm sure you did fine. Just channel that worrying bollocks into smacking bludgers at the Gryffindors, yeah?"

Aziah looked up at him and smirked, "Maybe you should worry a little, then you'd be able to actually hit any of them."

The twins clapped loudly to draw the whole team's attention, "Now this game will be tough, and James Potter is fast on his damned broom, but we can win this!"

The team let out a collective cheer as they grabbed their brooms to ride out onto the pitch for the final game of the season.

—–-–—

James Potter was indeed fast. Too fast for Montague to hit, too fast for Aziah to hit, and too fast for Scorpius to beat him to the snitch. The sour mood set in over the Slytherin table and the leaving feast as they not only lost the quidditch cup to Gryffindor, but the house cup to Ravenclaw.

"I'll get him next year," scowled Scorpius, taking out his anger on his mashed potatoes. Albus nodded vigorously next to him. Brother or not, he was determined to make the team next year and beat Gryffindor.

"Can you lot not let all this moping ruin the joy of summer on the horizon," quipped Morgana, rescuing Aziah's potatoes from a similar fate of Scorpius'.

"It's just a game," agreed Persephone, putting another bite of food in her mouth, pausing only when she felt eyes on her.

Aziah, Albus and Scorpius were staring and the usually quiet girl, with a mixture of shock and horror.

"Trynn," began Albus, "Quidditch is an art."

"It's dance with the wind, a pure test of skill" continued Scorpius.

"They wouldn't have a whole cup for it if it was just a game," concluded Aziah, nodding along with the boys.

Persephone only shrugged in reply, looking at them curiously, "since when do you get along well enough to finish each other's sentences anyway?"

Ian Halifax perked up from his seat next to Marietta, "Is this a truce I feel on the horizon? No more ridiculous back and forth?" He had previously claimed that acting as the go-between for the Slytherin boys and girls was putting a strain on his budding relationship.

Aziah sighed, crossing her arms, "I supposed a divided house cannot stand."

"Truce?" asked Scoriups offering his hand. She shook it, nodding, and the rest of the girls followed suit, shaking hands with the boys across the table.

Just as the mood was beginning to lighten up again, Aziah heard a throat being cleared behind her. She swivelled around on the narrow bench, coming face to face with Liam Boot.

"Aziah," he started, running a hand through his hair nervously, "That bracelet, although glass, would mean a lot to me if… I mean… Aziah, will you be my girlfriend?"

A collective gasp came from the second year SLytherin contingent as Aziah shyly looked away, feeling her cheeks heat up before nodding.

Liam let out a loud whoop and scooped her up off the bench, swinging her in circles and he hugged her.

The girls swooned. The boys laughed. Wolf whistles were heard from Liam's friends and the neighbouring Ravenclaw table. And Scorpius Malfoy… scowled and went back to mutilating his already pulverised potatoes.

A/N: the triumphant return? I hope so. Trying my best to get back into it!