A/N: AU after HBP! This is Harry's 6th year, my style :). All creds to JKR, except for Marie who belongs to me.
Chapter Two: Through The Stars
Upon returning to the common room that night, Harry got caught up with Ginny and Seamus, playing exploding snap, and joined the game, laughing and bantering with Ginny, as all thoughts of Marie left his mind. They stayed up late, and when they finally did get to bed, Harry dropped off immediately into a dreamless sleep.
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The next morning, when the first rays of light peeked through the curtains of his bed, Harry awoke, and climbed out, and headed for a shower. As the warm water massaged his back, his mind drifted once more to Marie, and yesterday's tutoring session. He remembered how excited she'd been at his offer for a ride on his broomstick, and he considered following through on that offer. Where was the Ravenclaw common room? Where was her dorm? He could pick her up there, if she liked. He'd have to talk to some of her friends. It wouldn't be betraying Ginny of anything, not romantic, just friendly. Hell, he had no obligations to Ginny anyhow. Harry got out of the shower, got dressed, and headed down to the great hall for breakfast.
He immediately spotted Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table, and joined them.
"Morning Harry!" Hermione greeted.
"How'd it go yesterd-mmph?" Ron inquired, while stuffing a scone into his mouth.
"Well—" Harry related the tale of meeting Marie, told them a little of what she'd told him herself.
"I offered to give her a ride on my Firebolt," Harry told them "But I don't know where her dorm is, to pick her up."
"I'll ask around." Hermione assured him.
After breakfast, Hermione pulled him aside, as the others filed off for class.
"Be careful, Harry." She warned.
"Careful of what?" He asked, indignantly.
"Ginny. You've given her all sorts of hints that you fancy her. She'll be devastated if you get yourself involved with this Ravenclaw."
"I'm NOT involved with Marie!" Harry said, frustrated.
"Alright, alright." Hermione said "Calm down. And I'll try to find out where the dorm is,
for you.
"Thanks" He said. And they hurried to Transfiguration."
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Hermione came into the great hall several minutes late to dinner that evening, and sat down in her usual spot, between Harry and Ron.
"I've got it, Harry!" She said, beaming and handing him a slip of paper.
"What?" asked Ron.
"The directions to Marie Prince's dorm!" Harry exclaimed delightedly. "Thanks Hermione!"
"What does he need to go there for?" Ron asked, looking startled.
"I told her I'd let her ride the Firebolt" said Harry "Catch you guys later! Thanks Hermione!" And with that, Harry jogged back to Gryffindor tower to grab his Firebolt.
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Harry mounted his broom right outside the window in his dorm, and opened the little piece of paper that Hermione had given him. It was a rough sketch of the east side of the castle with a little arrow pointing to a window in one of the small towers. He crunched it in his fist, and took of through the twilight.
In no time, Harry was circling the very same small tower, looking for the window indicated on his slip of paper. Sure enough, the small window was lit up, and the goldeny glow of fire light could be seen in the lavender dusk. Summoning his courage, Harry dived from above the tower, slowing expertly in front of the window. Luckily for him, unlike the Gryffindor dormitory, the Ravenclaws had single rooms. Inside the window he saw a small clean room, with a blue bedspread, where a black cat lay stretch. The bed had silk, midnight blue drapes over it, and writing with a gold tipped quill on a desk in the corner of the room sat Marie, her long black ringlets cascading down her back, tied messily on her head in a bun, with long strands of raven curls escaping.
He rapped on her window, and she started and looked up, her surprise turned to amazement, as she hurried to the window and opened it. Harry grinned at her, his cheeks red from the air, and his hair mussed from the wind.
"Would you like a ride?" He asked.
"I'd love one." She replied simply, pulling on a coal grey cloak, and a scarf of blue and bronze- the Ravenclaw colors, as he led her to the window.
At the window she paused, unsure of how to mount the broom hovering just outside.
"May I?" Harry asked. Upon her nod, he grasped her waist with her strong arms, and hoisted her, surprisingly light body onto the broomstick, before hopping on himself.
"Hold on tight" He laughed, before taking a steep dive, and heard Marie exhale sharply. He felt a little flutter in his stomach, and was not positive what it was from- the dive, or Marie's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, in fear of falling. Harry did a few more elaborate dives, and loop-de-loops, earning thrilled laughter from Marie, before calmly rising and circling slowing overhead of Hogwarts.
"Wow, Harry, this," She started breathlessly. Regaining her composure, she added "Thank you. This is wonderful."
They circled for a while more, and watched the moon come up, speaking softly with each other, and finally, Harry turned the Firebolt around and headed back towards Marie's dorm room. At the room, he brought the stick to the windowsill, hopped off and lifted Marie off. Her normally pale cheeks were flushed pink with exhilaration, as she pressed her lips to his cheek, and bid him goodnight.
Speechless, Harry just hopped on his broom, and grinned, waved goodnight, and sped off into the dark. Long after the small tower was out of sight Harry slowed his broomstick and pulled his hand up to touch the warm spot on his check where her lips' had touched. He grinned a giddy, crazy grin, and zoomed full speed ahead to his dorm room, where his roommates were already in bed. He hopped off his broom, waving silently to Neville, who was in bed reading, before falling onto his bed, and falling asleep in his robes. His dreams were filled with gleaming black curls, and big, deep, blue eyes.
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