Jemma Simmons and the Astronomy Tower
- This is a terrible idea.
- I think you mean “terribly fun”.
- Why is it that when we say “terrible”, you always hear “fun”, somewhere ? You might want to get your ears checked.
- Very funny. Come on, where’s your sense of adventure ?
Jemma and Leo exchanged a glance, and Leo sighed at the look in Jemma’s eyes. Leo would have been quite content to stay in the common room with a book, but Jemma had wanted to follow Skye, an experience that rarely ended well. Skye’s plan of the evening was to sneak into the Astronomy tower to see shooting stars.
It was quite tame, for a Skye plan, and Jemma was excited about the possibility of seeing the sky from such a great spot. Leo groaned, and Jemma straightened her scarf, following Skye up the stairs.
- Careful, Skye whispered. Prefects are doing their rounds at night. I saw Coulson earlier. He gave me a pass last time…
Phil Coulson was one of the Gryffindor’s prefect : he was a fifth-year student, and he was very fond of Skye. He had taken her under his wing during her first year at Hogwarts, while the young girl had trouble adjusting to life at school. He was indulgent with her - perhaps a little too much.
- Almost there, Skye whispered.
Jemma shivered at the cold air of the staircase, but she couldn’t keep the smile of her face. Jemma was adventurous, more than she let on : she didn’t want to just sit and read. She wanted to experience things, she wanted to live.
- Come on, Leo, she murmured excitedly. We’ll get to see the beautiful sky…
- I see her everyday, Leo mumbled.
Jemma rolled her eyes at the obvious joke :
- Not our Skye. The sky.
- All I heard was beautiful Skye, so, thanks ! Skye said, grinning.
Leo’s cheeks flushed a little in the dark, as though he hadn’t realized the implication, but he said nothing more. As they reached the top of the stairs, Jemma froze, and grabbed Skye’s arm.
- There’s someone there ! she whispered, her eyes widening in alarm.
- I knew I should have stayed in bed, Leo grumbled, taking a step back. I hate the both of you.
Skye cursed under her breath, which made Jemma’s eyes widen even more - for a third-year student, Skye knew a lot of wizarding curses. Where had she learnt all that ? The three students backed into the wall, trying to remain unnoticed, slowly backing away.
- Wait, a male voice suddenly said. There was a noise.
- Was there ? a female voice answered.
- Yeah. Heard it. Hang on. Pocket. Wand. Light. Lumos !
The three students froze as a light suddenly shone upon them, and Jemma squinted, raising a hand above her eyes for a second, before she froze.
- Hey, midgets.
A dark-haired sixth-year was standing in front of her, a pretty redhead peeking out from behind him. Jemma’s eyes widened. She recognized them both : the boy was Anthony Stark, Ravenclaw student, and the girl was Pepper Potts, a Hufflepuff sixth-year. Jemma swallowed : Pepper was a model student, and she was sure to scold them, wasn’t she ?
- We’re not midgets, Skye said, tilting her head. We were just…
- Leaving, Leo finished, grabbing Skye’s arm. Come on…
- You shouldn’t be here after hours, you know, Pepper commented, raising her eyebrows.
- Technically, neither should we. What ? Stark added when Pepper glared at him. I’m just saying.
- We were here because you told me there was something potentially life-threatening in the Tower. All I see is the sky, and some third-year students.
- Did I say life-threatening ? I meant life-changing. Of the epiphany, changing your outlook on life kind.
- You are impossible.
- I’ll take that as a compliment.
- It’s not one.
While the couple bickered, the three students took the opportunity to make a quick exit, rushing down the stairs as fast as they could. As they reached their destination, away from the tower, they stopped, out of breath, and looked at each other.
Each of them burst into fits of giggles.
- That was close, Leo breathed, still laughing.
- Do you think they’ll tell on us ?
- I don’t think the girl knows our names, Skye said.
- Well, Stark knows us, we’re in his house, Jemma said, her cheeks still flushed from laughter. But he won’t tell. He already loses ten points a day. And then wins them back as soon as he loses them.
- I can’t believe these two are going out, Skye added, shaking her head.
Jemma gave her a quizzical look :
- Going out ? Are they ?
- Well, if they’re not, they will soon, Skye answered. Come on ! The bickering ! The banter ! That was obvious. You two geniuses are blind, sometimes.
- Not blind, Leo corrected. Just completely uninterested in the matter.
- I don’t care either, Skye retorted. I just observe. Nuance. Anyway, I should get back in the common room before…
- Before somebody sees you ?
The three students turned, and Skye’s grin turned into a sheepish one. Grant Ward was standing in front of the Gryffindor’s common room entrance, his arms crossed, a sour look on his face. Jemma refrained the urge to curse under her breath.
- We’re past curfew. You three should be in your dorms.
- So should you, Skye shot back.
- I was looking for you, Grant said, taking a step forward. Before a prefect sees you. Didn’t you lose enough points already yesterday ?
- That was a harmless little spell ! It’s not my fault if capes are highly flammable…
- You’re not a first-year anymore, Skye ! Grant retorted, his voice raising a little.
- I know that ! the girl answered, crossing her arms.
- It doesn’t seem like it. You should know better. What if something happens to you ? To all of you ?
- I can take care of myself, Skye answered, her voice shaking slightly.
- Can you ?
- Stop it, Jemma said, noticing the way Grant’s words seemed to get to Skye.
Grant tore his eyes away from Skye, landing on Jemma, and the girl saw a flash of surprise in his eyes. There was something about Grant Ward that often made Jemma uneasy - she couldn’t say she liked him, but she knew the good side of him too much to dislike him. He was obviously worried about Skye and in away, Jemma guessed he was right : the castle could be dangerous, and they were hardly experienced wizards. But Skye already had so much trouble having faith in herself, at times - this was no way to make her feel more confident.
- You’ve made your point, she added, her tone quiet but firm, her expression serious and soft. She gets it.
He seemed about to speak, but he said nothing, merely staring at the girl for a few moments, before nodding in understanding.
- We should all get back to her dorms, he said.
Skye shot Jemma a grateful look, before nodding, holding her arms over her chest protectively. Grant gave her a glance, his expression softening, and he walked behind her towards the portrait. Jemma nudged Leo, whose eyes were following Skye’s retreating back, and they started walking away. Jemma heard Grant whisper the password to the portrait and she turned to see him look back briefly, before stepping into his common room behind Skye.