Pixie Dust
Aurora felt a surge of relief as she exited the stadium. She had felt a relief knowing she didn't have to worry about the interview any longer. When she reached the sidewalk outside the stadium, she took a moment to glance back at the imposing structure one last time. She was hoping this wouldn't be her last time here. With a deep breath, she drew her wand and apparated to Pansy's house.
Pansy’s home was like something out of a fairy tale—a grand, multi-story house built from stone bricks, exuding an almost castle-like grandness. The front garden was quaint, while the expansive back garden was lush and vibrant, adorned with ivy and greenery. Many windows allowed ample light to spill into the rooms.
She moved out of her family's house almost two years ago and had begged Aurora to move into the too-big-for-one-person house. Though Aurora had always dreamed of such a house, she enjoyed her independence too much to take Pansy up on it.
The house felt barely lived in except for Pansy's bedroom and a walk-in closet. Pansy was often away, preferring company to solitude. She loved hosting gatherings and holidays, so Aurora had only been there a few times, just with Pansy. Pansy’s need for social interaction often meant inviting the three boys to join them. She makes a point that no one ever feels excluded.
Despite Pansy’s popularity during and after Hogwarts, she felt she had few true friends outside that circle. Many people had been unkind to her, often excluding the witch from things, but Aurora was one of the few who stood by her, frequently explaining that the jealousy from others was the root of Pansy's exclusion.
As Aurora knocked on Pansy’s door, it swung open almost immediately, as if Pansy had been eagerly waiting.
“So, how did it go?” Pansy asked, closing the door behind Aurora.
“I’m not entirely sure. My anxiety made me forget most of the interview after I sat down,” Aurora admitted. She noticed Pansy had changed from her pajamas into a crisp white collared shirt, a short brown skirt, and a matching vest paired with dark tights and knee-high brown boots.
“If I do get the job, I’ll need a map of the stadium. It took me nearly 25 minutes to find where I was going.” Aurora’s cheeks flushed as she remembered the coffee mishap.
Pansy reassured her that getting lost was normal at first. However, Aurora couldn’t stop thinking about the Quidditch player who had spilled coffee on Pansy’s shirt when Pansy caught her attention again.
“Rory, are you okay? You seem a bit lost in thought,” Pansy observed.
“Oh, just thinking about how hungry I am,” Aurora lied.
“Do you have a lunch spot in mind? If not, we could always go to The Red Ram,” Pansy suggested.
“That sounds perfect. Are you ready to go now?” Aurora asked.
Pansy nodded, and the two of them headed out. At The Red Ram, they opted for a table for two, foregoing their usual large table. As they settled in, Aurora decided to tell Pansy about the coffee incident.
“There’s actually more to the interview story,” Aurora began. Pansy looked up from her menu, clearly interested.
“When I was wandering around the stadium trying to find the offices… I ended up walking—or more like crashing—into a Quidditch player.” Before Aurora could finish, Pansy interrupted
“Uh, I'm so jealous; I bet he was built and gorgeous, you lucky girl.”
“I mean, yeah, he was running into him was like running into a brick wall,” Aurora was laughing a little as she said it. “but that's not the part I'm trying to get on about; he had a coffee in his hand, and it spilled all over your top.”
“There doesn't look to be any coffee on it,” Pansy noted.
“I flipped the top around so for the interview.” Aurora pulled the jacket off and showed Pansy the back of the shirt. “But don’t worry Wood already asked for my information and said he promised to replace it.” the other woman now had a cheeky smirk. “What Is it Pansy are you upset?”
“Yes, I am upset.” she said with a smile “You’re meaning to tell me you just happened to run into Oliver Wood a hot freshly single Quidditch player, and hes already dropping money on you, I knew you were a lucky girl. I'm going to have to shrink you and keep you in my back pocket, so maybe I'll run into sexy quidditch players who drop money on me.”
“So you're not upset about the shirt?”
“Of course not, it’s last season’s anyway. I’m just jealous of you. Maybe I’ll visit you at the stadium and pretend I can’t open a pickle jar or wear a super tight skirt and bend down slowly to pick up a quill. Oh, I’ve got it—a white blouse, no bra, and a water bottle that spills all over me. Just wait, give me one chance, and I’ll make it count.” Pansy clasped her hands together with a playful pout, jokingly begging Aurora.
“I’d love that, but I haven’t even gotten the job yet.”
“Oh, I'm sure you will. I'm certain actually, I know both Blaise and Draco but in a good word for you, I'm sure that you will get a letter soon, if not tonight, saying you got the job. Pansy always had a particular look about her when she knew information that you didn’t, and this right here was the look.
“Pansy, do you know something that I don’t know?”
“Blaise made me promise not to tell, but after your interview, he asked them about you. They love you, and they’ll offer you the job once they finalize the contracts.” Pansy beamed, and Aurora couldn’t contain her excitement, letting out a squeal and grabbing Pansy’s hand.
“Blaise also made me promise not to tell you, but he got the five of us into Pixie Dust tomorrow night.”
While the 5 of them rarely went clubbing, Aurora loved it. Most people think the music is so loud that you can't think about it, and that’s exactly what she loved about it. She didn't have to be Aurora with a long to-do list or sensible Aurora. At clubs, she could be a girl who enjoys being around her friends and who dances all night long. She also loved that clubs were one of the only magical places where all her friends could go without judgment. Most clubs were full of people her age who understood what they all had gone through and that they all had to do things they weren't proud of to save themselves during the war. While older people expected them all to lay their lives out like Harry Potter did.
The rest of the lunch was filled with joy and laughter. Aurora was thrilled about the job and the upcoming night out. She paid the bill as a thank you for the loaned and damaged clothes, giving Pansy a big hug and promising to return them soon. Pansy assured her to take her time. that she wouldn't be missing them.
*****
Saturday felt like it dragged on as Aurora eagerly awaited the clubbing night. She went out for a run mid-day and was so bored that she did an extra 30 minutes. When she arrived home, she had gotten a few letters in the mail. The anticipation for the letter from the Cannons was beginning to drive her mad even though it had not even been a total of 24 hours since her interview. She immediately knew which one it was. Her heart raced as she ripped it open. She read the whole letter four times because she was just so excited about what the gold writing was saying. Inside, there were details about her schedule, sick and vacation days, traveling schedule, and gym access. She was incredibly excited about the gym access as winter approached, and running outside in the snow was not the most desirable of things to do. After folding the letter, she sent a note to Pansy with her owl, Opal, confirming the good news. She read it once more, though, when she opened her window for the bird to leave through. She couldn't help but do some happy dancing when she was caught off guard by a different owl flying through her window. The owl had a small parcel with a note attached. The note read:
Aurora,
Within this parcel, you will find one ridiculously priced shirt; with that, my debt to you has been fully paid. I hope that soon you can repay the debt you owe me; my day was truly dreadful without my coffee.
-Oliver Wood
Aurora couldn’t help but smile as she unwrapped the package—it was the exact same shirt she had borrowed from Pansy. She made a mental note to buy Wood a coffee the next time she saw him. She petted the owl, gave it some treats, and let it return to him. She placed the shirt with Pansy’s clothes to return later.
When the time came to get ready for the night out, Aurora was brimming with excitement. She styled her hair into loose curls, applied a light touch of makeup, and heard Pansy in her head telling her how good she looked naturally.
She found a dress in the back of her closet that was so dark green that it looked black in the proper lighting. The dress had a scoop neckline and an open back that felt luxurious and ended at Aurora's lower back. The dress was made out of a silky material that felt cool on her skin. She found a pair of tall black heels that she hadn't worn in years, grabbed the clothes she had borrowed from Pansy, and went to leave. When she saw herself in the mirror on her way to the fireplace, she was proud of how she had looked.
She felt comfortable flooing to Pansy’s house because she knew she was coming this time. Secretly, Aurora was excited to see what Pansy was wearing because she always looked so classy and well put together. It was impossible to be classy wearing clubbing clothes, or so Aurora thought; when she appeared in Pansy’s fireplace, she noticed the other witch immediately. Pansy was wearing a silver sequined bralette with a matching pair of high-waisted trousers that showed off her completely flat stomach, and on top, she had a matching oversized blazer. She had pulled her hair into a slicked-back ponytail. The witch made eye contact and began speaking.
“You look gorgeous, my love, and I'm so glad you're here. I need advice.” Pansy held out two sets of earrings, swapping which one she had on her ears. " Do I do the dangly ones or the hoops?”
“The dangly ones, and I just want to say you look more sophisticated than anyone has ever looked going into a club” Aurora smiled.
“That is the goal, Rory. Don't be so silly now. You know how I like to make a statement.” At that moment, Draco popped into the room from the fireplace. He was wearing black dress pants and a loose, half-buttoned black collared shirt.
“Merlin Pansy, I'm sure they have a disco ball there already, but good news, if it falls, we could just strap you to the ceiling.” Pansy rolled her eyes playfully at Draco's comment.
When Theodore arrived a few minutes later in black pants and a checkered-print button-up, he and Pansy had a similar conversation to her and Draco, but this one ended in a middle finger from Pansy.
When the group settled on the couches, waiting for Blaise, Pansy brought around a bottle of fire whiskey for the four to take shots from. Shortly after the second shot, Blaise finally arrived. He was wearing dress pants and a slightly sheer shirt that he didn't even bother to button.
Now that the group was entirely together, they headed to the club; the boys all apparated themselves, but the girls apparated together. Once outside the club, Aurora was bursting with excitement. Blaise led the way, and the rest followed him as he walked past the long line. Aurora was starting to feel like they wouldn't get in. However, Blaise told the huge bouncer his name and slipped him a few galleons, and they were in with no problems.
As soon as Aurora stepped inside the club, she was enveloped by the pulsating rhythm and the vibrant energy of the crowd. The thumping bass of the music seemed to resonate with her heartbeat, and she felt an immediate sense of liberation. She swayed to the beat, her body moving instinctively as she let herself get lost in the music. The dim lighting and colorful strobe lights created a kaleidoscope of hues that danced along with her.
Draco had reserved a private table for the group, and they made their way through the crowded club, weaving between enthusiastic dancers and clusters of animated conversations. The air was thick with the mixed scents of perfume, cologne, and the faint trace of spilled drinks. Draco, who had always been indifferent to the club scene, looked visibly out of his element. He was likely to remain at the table, nursing a glass of fire whisky and observing the chaos around him. Pansy, ever the social butterfly, would undoubtedly work to coax him onto the dance floor, much to his reluctance.
Theodore, on the other hand, had a different agenda. His interest in clubs was primarily fueled by the opportunities to meet new people, particularly women. He had a knack for disappearing for hours, engrossed in conversations or flirtations with various women he met during the night.
Blaise often found himself doing whatever he pleased. He would dance for a while, drink with Draco for a while, and Flirt with girls; he was really in his element in clubs.
Upon reaching their reserved table, everyone settled in. The table was situated in a prime spot, slightly elevated to offer a clear view of the dance floor and the DJ booth. The group liked to have at least one drink together before splitting up. A cocktail waitress soon approached, her tray laden with an assortment of colorful drinks. The group ordered their first round—Aurora chose a vodka cranberry, and Pansy opted for the same. Aurora couldn’t help but notice Theodore’s gaze drifting toward the edge of the dance floor, where a few women were catching his eye.
The club was packed tonight, and the energy was electric. Aurora was eager to pull Pansy onto the dance floor. She loved dancing with her friend; Pansy’s effortless grace and confidence on the floor felt like they oozed onto Aurora. When Aurora was dancing, it was the only time she was genuinely content with people noticing her. It always helped that she only ever did things like this after a few drinks to help take the edge off.
After the group had gotten around to their second drink, Pansy had done sufficiently enough begging to get Draco to dance so that she wouldn't feel bad leaving him at the table. The girls eagerly made their way out, pushing through the swarms of people who were also lost in their own dance euphoria. They started at the edge of the dance floor but gradually made their way toward the center, where the music was louder and the crowd more frenetic.
Pansy frequently checked on Draco to ensure he was still engaged in the experience. Though Draco never truly embraced the club atmosphere, he participated because he knew how much it meant to Pansy to have everyone together. Aurora and Pansy danced with ease, their drinks long been emptied as they immersed themselves in the rhythm. Aurora relished these moments when she could lose herself in the music and the company of her friends.
After nearly an hour on the dance floor, both Aurora and Pansy were ready for a refreshment. They maneuvered their way back to the bar, continuing to dance as they navigated through the sea of bodies. The bar was packed, and everyone struggled to get the bartender’s attention amidst the clamor of voices and the clinking of glasses. Except for Aurora and Pansy, who were attracting quite a bit of attention, Aurora thought it must be because of Pansy; her presence was magnetic, and the bartender seemed particularly attentive to her.
While they waited for their drinks, Aurora’s gaze wandered across the bar, and she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. A brunette Quidditch player stood near the end of the bar, accompanied by two redheaded men. They were still waiting to be served. A sudden thought struck Aurora, and she decided to seize the moment.
“Do you guys sell coffee?” she asked the bartender over the noise of the club.