Among the Stars

       Thursday was flying lessons for first years, the Ravenclaws were with the Hufflepuffs. Wisteria, Shannon, Penelope, Jane, and a girl who they met in potions the other day named Christine Broadmoor make their way down to the Quidditch pitch together. Wisteria isn't quite sure how Quidditch works, Severus doesn't like the sport very much so his attempt at explaining it was pretty poor, but she knows it involves flying on brooms.

       "I've actually already ridden one." Penelope tells them. "My older sister is a fifth year and she doesn't like riding her broom, so I taught myself how to ride in our backyard. It's really fun."

       "Do you think you'll try out for the Quidditch team next year?" Christine asks.

       "Probably not. I'm not really the kind of girl who plays sports."

       "This is going to be awful..." Shannon says, she'd been nervous all morning. "I'm gonna fall! And then I'll hit my head and go into a coma and miss months, maybe years, of school and I'll be so far behind on school work that I'll never be able to catch up and then I wont be able to get a job and my life will be over!" She sucks in a deep breath and the other girls laugh.

       "Calm down Shay." Wisteria says. "Even if you do fall and bump your head, though I doubt you will, Madame Pomfrey will be able to fix you up before you know it."

       The girls fell silent as Madam Hooch made her way towards them. "Stick your right hand out over your broom." Madame Hooch yelled so that everyone could hear her. "Then say 'Up!'"

       In one loud chorus everyone yelled, "UP!" Shannon's and Penelope's brooms flew into their hands immediately, Wisteria's made a little hopping motion, and Christine's and Jane's didn't move at all. Jane gave a frustrated grunt and she tried again. Wisteria looked around and saw only two other people with their brooms in their hands already. One was a Ravenclaw boy that she didn't know and the other was a Hufflepuff boy. He looked mildly surprised that it had worked so well, but otherwise didn't react. As if he felt Wisteria looking at him, his eyes flicked up and locked with hers. Wisteria blushed and looked away, continuing to try and get the broom into her hand. On the third try it shot up and she was able to grab it. Soon, everyone had a broom in their hand and Madam Hooch continued.

       "Good, now mount your broom and jump. The goal is simply to hover."

       Wisteria swings a leg over her broom and with a deep breath jumps. She's a little shaky at first, but quickly gets the hang of it and regains her balance. Shannon and Jane had less luck than her and fell off and had to try again. Christine and Penelope on the other hand were having no difficulties whatsoever, and neither was the Hufflepuff boy. He seemed to be casually sat on his broom and looked bored, unlike most people who gripped their brooms with white knuckles and looked nervous. Once again, he and Wisteria made eye contact and once again her face flushed red, though this time she fell off her broom entirely. As she got back up and dusted herself off Christine gave her a playful smile.

       "That Hufflepuff boy is pretty cute, right?"

       "What? I-uh... I guess." Wisteria stammered, blushing even more.

       Christine laughs, "He keeps looking at you Wisty. He might like you?"

       "Oh please. I don't even know his name."

       "So? You should talk to him. In between this lesson and dinner."

       Wisteria glanced back at him to find his eyes already on hers. "Maybe..." she mumbled as she got back on her broom and jumped. This time balancing came easier to her.

       Flying lessons are over and the girls are starting to make their way to the Great Hall when Christine stops Wisteria.

       "Go! Talk to him. I'll distract the girls so they'll leave you two alone." Christine winks at Wisteria and walks away, leaving her friend red faced. Wisteria turns and sees the boy walking towards the lake. She takes a deep breath and runs after him

       "Hey!" She yells, effectively catching his attention. He turns and looks at her. Up close she gets a better look at him and notices that he's much more attractive than she originally thought. His brown hair is slightly messy, but it looks naturally so, not like he spent hours this morning trying to get it that way. He is tan and lean, and not tall, but not short either. His eyes are beautiful and have an odd twinkle in them, similar to the one Wisteria often sees in Dumbledore's eyes.

       "Yes?" He asks.

       "Are you not going to eat dinner?" She says the first thing that popped into her head.

       "I don't usually eat in the Great Hall. Too many people, too much noise. I can't think. Besides, the Hufflepuff Common Room is near the Kitchens. If I get hungry I can easily just sneak in there and get the house elves to make me something."

       Wisteria nods and tries to think of something else to say. "You were really good on that broom today."

       He gives her a small smile. "Thanks. You were pretty good too, especially for a muggle born."

       She looks at him surprised. "How did you?.."

       His smile broadens. "You look just like Lily. She was helping me with my charms homework the other day. I took a guess. You guys are related right?"

       "Yeah. She's my twin sister. My name is Wisteria, by the way."

       He holds his hand out and she takes it. Wisteria is beyond shocked when he brings her hand to his mouth and plants a kiss on it. "Michael Alderton. It's nice to meet you Wisteria."

       She ignores her burning face and forces herself to keep talking. "You too. Are you going to try out for Quidditch next year."

       "I don't have much interest in sports. I might though. What about you?"

       "Oh. I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. From what I've read I have the right build for a Seeker, but I think I would be better as a Keeper."

       He looks at her, surprised. "Are you sure? That's a tough position."

       She smiles. "I'm a tough girl."

       Michael laughs and it brightens his whole face. "Fair enough. You should go eat, I've kept you from dinner long enough."

       "Oh. Right."

       He must see the disappointment in her face because he quickly adds, "If you ever need help in any of your classes feel free to come and find me. I'll be happy to help. If I'm not in the library I'm probably near that tree over there."

       Wisteria smiles. "Yeah, okay. I'll see you around."

       A few hours later she's sitting in the Common Room with her friends and they are pestering her about her conversation with the Hufflepuff.

       "What was his name?"

       "Is he nice?"

       "What did he smell like?"

       "Did he ask you out?"

       "Is he cute up close?"

       "Shhh!" Wisteria says, blushing furiously. "Will you give me a chance to speak?" She takes a deep breath. "His name is Michael, and yes, he is very cute up close."

       "What about his eyes?" Shannon asks. "Oh, I just love guys with pretty eyes."

       "He had the prettiest eyes I've ever seen. I don't even know how to describe them. They were mostly green with some brown and they had little golden specks in them."

       "What did he smell like?" Jane asks.

       Wisteria laughs. "Like apple pie and caramel."

       "What was he like? Was he nice?" Penelope asks. "If he's not nice then I don't care how amazing his eyes are or how amazing he smells, you are not dating him."

       "We aren't going to date!" Wisteria protests. "We had one conversation! And anyway, he was very nice. He told me that if I am ever struggling in a class he will be willing to tutor me."

       Christine and Shannon squeal. "He wants to spend more time with you! That's a good sign!" Christine says excitedly.

       "Ooh! I wonder how he'll ask her out?" Shannon asks.

       Wisteria groans. "You guys are loud. I'm going to bed." As she walks away she hears Penelope yell after her,

       "Don't deny it darling, it will happen!" followed by the giggling of all of Wisteria's friends.