CHERRY // marlene mckinnon

-seven

The week soon came to an end and assignments piled up on top of Aurora's desk like a stack of pancakes. It was only the first week but apparently the professors really wanted to keep them busy.

It was Friday and Aurora woke up, got dressed, put her hair in a ponytail, and headed to breakfast with her friends. Just like she did every other day.

The trio, consisting of Aurora, Narcissa, and Veronica, entered the Great Hall and sat in the Slytherin table.

"It's only the first week of school and I don't know how they decided it would be okay to give us a shit ton of assignments." Veronica said, as she poured some pumpkin juice in her cup.

"I agree, I have to write this long essay on the charms we're learning for Professor Flitwick. And on top of that I have other assignments." Narcissa added.
"It's so exhausting."

"Anyways, think about the bright side, our first Hogsmeade trip for this year is tomorrow!" Veronica exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

"We've been there many times, yet you still act like you've never been there, Ronnie." Aurora said.

"I just have one thing to say; dates. And i know it may be a little late since the trip is tomorrow, but, we can still try to find dates!" Veronica said, sounding excited like earlier.

"Let me guess, you're saying that because you already have a date and don't want us to feel lonely?" Aurora asked with her eyebrows raised.

"What?! No! I don't have a date! What makes you think I'm going to Madam Puddifoot's-"

"shit."

Veronica started blushing and got really red after she exposed her plans by accident.

"So you do have a date!" Narcissa said.

"Shove off, Cissy. It's not like you're not going with Malfoy—I did it again didn't I?" Veronica groaned.

"What do you mean I'm going with, Malfoy?" Narcissa asked, but Veronica stayed quiet. "Ronnie?!"

"Ugh okay, fine. Lucius was asking me if you were going to Hogsmeade with anyone because he wanted to ask you. Today." Veronica said, with a sigh.

"If I'm being honest, I don't even know what you see in him. He can be a real dick sometimes." Aurora said.

"Oh shut up. He's quite sweet once you actually get to know him." Narcissa defended him, blushing even just by talking about him.

"So? Are you gonna say yes?" Veronica pried.

Instead of saying anything, Narcissa got
up from her seat and walked away.
"What is she-"

"Uh, Rory, you might want to look that way." Veronica said, pointing to Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy.

They were talking and the girls couldn't make out what they were saying. But, just at that moment Narcissa started walking back with a huge smile on her face.

"He said yes." Narcissa said, proudly.

"Said yes to...?" Aurora asked, obviously confused as to what her cousin was talking about.

"To go to Hogsmeade with me!" Narcissa replied.

"You asked him?" Veronica said, still
looking stunned at her friend's actions.

"Yes. Now can we please move on from this. It's really not that big of a deal." Narcissa said, still staying calm.

"For now I'll drop it, but this conversation is not over." Veronica said, eyeing her.

"Anyways, both of us have dates and we obviously can't leave you alone. So, i was thinking-"

But before Veronica could finish, Aurora cut her off.

"Absolutely not. I don't want or need a date. It's not my thing." Aurora snapped.

"Come on. Like I said on the train, you need to live a little. And to do that, you need to enjoy your teen days before it's over." Narcissa said. "And plus, you haven't been on a date in forever."

"Exactly! The last time you went on a date was like last February with that one Ravenclaw guy." Veronica kept trying to convince her best friend to go on a date. "What was his name? Zack? Zayn—"

"Xenophilius?" Aurora replied.

"Yes, that's the one! What was so bad about him?" Veronica asked.

"Nothing, he was quite sweet actually. Its just that during the whole date, he seemed to to be distracted by someone else." Aurora told her, remembering that day. Xenophilius Lovegood was a very interesting person. And he was the one to ask her out on the date. But during the whole date, his mind, and eyes, seemed to be elsewhere. And in the end, he finally told her that he asked her out so he can make a girl jealous and get her to notice him. But Aurora didn't really mind. She didn't feel that type of connection towards him either, so they both decided that they would be better off as friends.

"Oh come on. I'm going to feel bad leaving you all alone." Veronica pleaded.

"No. That's my final answer. I'll be fine by myself." Aurora said, and gathered her stuff and started to leave.

She left her best friends puzzled by her answer but it was true. She didn't need to waste her time dating. It was pointless. To put someone else's happiness above your own? And in what happens in the end? Heartbreak.

She walked until she reached the potions class and walked in. There weren't many students and she made her way to her seat. A few minutes later, Marlene walked in. Over the week, they've gotten closer and made up from the argument in the beginning.

"Hey." Aurora greeted.

"Hi." Marlene replied.

"So we should probably start working on the potion." Aurora said.

"Yeah. Anyways I'll get the ingredients."
Marlene replied, getting up from her seat.

They made some small talk while working on the potion, but non of them seemed like they were in a good mood.

*****

The day came to an end and Aurora made her way to the girls dormitories. She read for a while before falling into a deep slumber.

While, on the other side of the castle, three girls were wide awake gossiping and talking about boys.

The Gryffindor girls dormitories were filled with laughter and chatter.

"Ok so I have to tell you guys something. But, please don't make it a big deal or get mad." Lily said.

"When you say that, it makes me feel like I should make a big deal." Marlene
replied, and Lily threw a pillow at her.

"Ok, Lils, ignore her comments, so what is it you wanted to tell us." Alice asked.

"So, uhm, JamesaskedmeifIwantedtogotohogsmeadewithhimandImayhavesaidyes" Lily said, really fast.

"What? I couldn't make out a single word you said." Marlene asked, confused.

"I said," Lily sighed, "James asked me if I wanted to go to Hogsmeade with him and I may have said yes."

"YOU WHAT?!" Marlene shouted so loudly that even people in the common room could hear.

"Shh, keep it down will you?" Lily said.

"Aw, I knew it. You guys are going to be such a cute couple." Alice said, smiling.

"What- we're not even dating!"

"Yeah, but Lils, usually one date is what leads to people dating." Marlene chuckled.

"It is not a date! We're just going to Hogsmeade together." Lily corrected her.

Alice and Marlene looked at eachother.
"Yeah, whatever you say." They both said.