Rain began to boom against the windows lining the corridor to the Great Hall. As Rachel stormed along it, she saw that a broom closet on the wall was partially ajar. Strangely familiar giggles and hushing sounds leaked out, and Rachel decided she should leave well enough alone. It was probably just Jim Bruggs and that Margaret girl at it again anyway.
With a muttered "at least wait until its dark", Rachel continued to the Great Hall. She saw Jackie, Will and Cathy sitting near the end of the Hufflepuff table, apparently playing wizards chess.
Sirius Weasley was a little ways down, flirting with a Hufflepuff 5th year. His flaming red hair clashed horrible with a bright yellow tie he had festooned his robes with. Rachel recognized it as the one that both glowed in the dark and sang "I've Got Sunshine" when prodded. How he was a friend with the dorky Paul Lupin was a mystery to Rachel.
Moments after she sat down, Angelina came bustling in, looking flushed.
"Quidditch Practice. Tom's got us nearly every night this week!" She explained, flopping down next to them. Henry appeared next, also looking flustered.
"That's strange," Rachel thought to herself as she glanced up at the bewitched ceiling, which accurately reflected the stormy sky. "Why would they practice Quidditch in this weather?" She shrugged to herself, and realized Henry was going on about something again.
"Someone stole my Silver-Streaker Gobstone!" he whined, "It's my favorite! I've been searching all over this castle!"
Just then, Sirius walked over to their end of the table.
"Looking for this?" he inquired pleasantly. He pulled a perfectly round ball from his pocket, transparent with small moving silver flashes speeding around inside. Henry snatched it as Sirius sniggered and winked at Cathy. Henry turned very red when his girlfriend started giggling, and looked as though he was about to cry. Jackie elbowed Cathy in the side, at last ending poor Henry's embarrassment.
Awkward silence. Rachel cast a harsh look at Sirius's receding back.
"Henry, mate, you've got red jam on your face," Will noticed, taking out his handkerchief and handing it over. Henry blushed again, and rubbed his face. To Rachel's disgust, Will licked the pinkish spot on the cloth as Henry passed it back, and cracked a smile.
"Not strawberry, watermelon! Mmm." he said with delight, licking his lips. Rachel turned to him, nose wrinkled in disgust.
"What Jackie sees in you, I'll certainly never know," she remarked, and pulled out a book. Awkward silence once again.
"So, erm, how did you date with Paul go Rachel?" Jackie asked innocently, not looking up from the chessboard and obviously trying to change the subject. Angelina dropped the broom catalog she was reading. For a moment it seemed she had gone into shock.
"Paul LUPIN? You're dating PAUL? And you didn't even tell me?!" She accused, now looking extremely put out. Rachel had had enough. She stood up and grabbed her books.
"I WAS NOT ON A DATE! WE WERE WORKING ON THE CHARMS PROJECT!! WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM?" Rachel knew she was shouting, and she left the Great Hall before Professor McGonagall came over to scold her.
"Funny," Jackie said quietly after she walked out, "no one said she was in love with him. Today." The friends exchanged amused glances. "You know what this means, don't you?"
They nodded conspiratorially. (a/n: definitely my word of the day!)
Slightly out of breath, Rachel shivered at the top of the Astronomy tower. She was one of the first to arrive; there was still about 10 minutes to go before midnight.
They were going to be looking at Aquila, the Eagle constellation. Of course all the Ravenclaws were excited, and Rachel was eager to begin. Paul hadn't arrived yet, and neither had Martha or any of the other three girls from Rachel's dorm.
Professor Sinistra was probably still in Professor Vector's office…most of the students believe them to be quite a couple. They of course deny everything, especially because they are both married to other people. Oh the drama.
Rachel glanced again at her watch. 3 minutes until midnight. Most of the students had arrived by now and were gazing absently at the night sky, which had cleared up considerably in the last three hours. A hopeful dark cloud or two was still skirting the skies, but many a glittering star winked down at the students.
"Where is Paul? Sure hope he didn't fall asleep or something." Rachel wondered aloud, and then sharply reprimanded herself for the concern. "Not like I care or anything, of course. Unless…what if he fell unconscious because of blood loss from the nose? If he dies, I could go to Azkaban!" Rachel bit her thumbnail, worry crossing her round face.
"Talking to yourself again?" whispered a voice from behind her. The speaker's mouth was inches from her ear, and she could feel his soft breathing. Rachel squealed and jumped forward.
"Don't DO that Paul!" she hissed, slapping him hard on the side of the head. He grimaced, and she remembered about his nose.
"Oops, heehee…er….sorry," she got out, smiling sweetly. He smirked and pulled out his star chart.
"Not so worried about me, now I see?" he remarked, causing Rachel to blush slightly. He pulled out his star chart. Professor Sinistra had just come in.
"Okay class, focus your telescopes and observe the Heavens!"
An hour and a half later, the exhausted Ravenclaw's dragged themselves to bed. Rachel had found Aquila, though she still couldn't figure out how it looked remotely like an eagle. She dropped her bookbag onto her four-poster, and noticed a pink book corner sticking out of the side pocket. Paul must have slipped that blasted book in during Astronomy.
"He's such a stupid git!" Rachel muttered, causing Martha in the next bed to stick her head out.
"W-who?" she inquired with a badly suppressed yawn.
"Oh, um, Xiashu…"she blurted, hoping the gossipy, and yet clever Martha wouldn't suspect anything.
"Oh. Yeah. Well, we all know that, don't we?" She smiled sleepily. "G'night Rachel."
"G'night," Rachel replied, and was asleep within minutes.
(a/n ok now I'm realizing they keep ending with her falling asleep----and I definitely need to spice it up. Any ideas? J )