Midnight Decision (Aubrey!)

[YORI OSHIRO]

She shouldn’t be doing this. Each step she took toward the great hall, a sinking feeling would settle into the pit of her stomach. Her hand clenched on the small slip of paper with her name hastily scrawled on it. What was she doing? Yori certainly wasn’t a hero by any stretch of the imagination, but the idea seemed to have hooked into her mind.

The Japanese girl wasn’t a hero, but damn did she want to be. She remembered how her brother ran into things headfirst so easily. While it normally landed her brother in trouble, at least he had something to be proud of. She just wanted to know the feeling it gave for once. It looked so exhilarating when she watched him. Maybe the hufflepuff was jealous to an extent. After all, Ichigo always made it seem so easy, but maybe that was true to his house name. They came from the same family though, so why did he get it, but not her?

The Hufflepuff wanted to prove that wrong. She hated to admit it, but she was growing tired of being the meek person in the family. Yori didn't like the idea of her being just this frail-- useless girl. She was more than that. Though it scared her sometimes, the Asian can think and strategize well. What she didn't have in physical capabilities, she could make up for in mental prowess. At least, in theory. There was still one last hurtle that she needed to overcome.

Fear. Plain and simple fear. Little probably wasn't the right word for this sort of obstacle. She could guess that was the reason why she could only bring herself to even step near the goblet when it was the dead of night, having already taken the time to sneak over to the Great Hall. She didn't want the prying eyes to question her once she finally placed her name inside the pool. She had no real answers to give to them. She had such a hard time just not being afraid of the people around her. How could she dare to face the unseen horrors that would come with the tri-wizard tournament?

She sank into one of the deserted tables, feeling the tremors overcome her for just a moment. The hufflepuff knew about her desire to be more courageous, but this seemed more like a giant leap than a small step in the right direction. She should be taking her time to earn that, so why was she doing this to herself? Her head sunk into her palms, trying to calm herself down. There was still time before the names would be drawn. No one would know about how she retreated from putting her name in tonight at least.

If only she could actually bring herself to leave.

[AUBREY LYNN MCNEAL]

The Hogwarts Tournament, one of the most famous tournaments out there. Well next to the Tri-Wizard Tournament that doesn’t exist anymore. Aubrey remembered watching the tournament three years ago when she was in her third year. It was one of the most exciting things that she could watch, next to Quidditch that is. Now that Aubrey was in her sixth year when the next Hogwarts Tournament rolled around she had planned on entering herself in, the thing is she doesn’t want anyone else to know.

Now why would this peppy Gryffindor, who is afraid of flying, want to enter herself in the Hogwarts Tournament? She wanted to prove to many that she belonged in Gryffindor and that she really was brave. But why was she doing it secretly in the dead of night? She knew that many of the Weasley’s and Potter’s as well as others would not want her to; they were a bit protective of her, especially James.

So now here Aubrey was late at night, she didn’t even know what time it was. She was sneaking around cautiously since she knew that other prefects would be out and about and it wasn’t her night to patrol and even though she was a prefect she knew that even she could end up with detention. She had half-wished she had asked Albus to borrow the invisibility cloak, but knew that he would question her as to why and her who plan would be ruined.

The corridors looked pretty empty and not much noise could be heard as Aubrey made her way down one of the moving staircases, getting off of it just before it began to move. Then she made her way down to the last set of stairs that would get her to the ground floor where the Great Hall and Goblet of Fire were located.

It didn’t take long for the young blond to get to the Great Hall where the Goblet of Fire was located. She looked up at the Goblet and gazed with amazement. It really was magnificent with the way the green fire glowed in the goblet. She was so amazed by it that it took her a bit to realize that she wasn’t the only on in the Great Hall.

She noticed that at one of the house tables a girl was sitting there with a piece of parchment in her hand. Aubrey looked down at the one in her hand that had her name and house written upon it. Perhaps the other girl was there for the same reason. Aubrey decided to go and find out why the girl was just sitting there instead of dropping the parchment into the Goblet.

When she got closer to the girl she realized that it happened to be Yori, a Hufflepuff girl that was a year younger than her. She didn’t know much about the girl and only saw here every-so-often, but she still felt that she should perhaps find out why she was sitting there. “Hey Yori,” Aubrey said as she slid into a seat straight across from Yori. “How come you’re just sitting here?” she asked lightly.

[YORI OSHIRO]

Her heart froze when she heard someone call her name, just knowing that she was in trouble. Who else would be wandering these halls at night other than the prefects? She really did try to stay out of trouble as much as she could (being the nice girl of the family and all). There wasn’t a way she could exactly hide what she was doing out so late if the Hufflepuff got into trouble as well. Oh, that would just put salt in the wound. Yori took pride in being able to hide things well and covering her tracks.

Trying to face the music, Yori uncovered her hands with a look of pure horror. Oh, she even recognized the prefect. At the very least, Aubrey wasn't someone that she commonly ran into in the hallways. She didn't have many to share it with that would care-- hopefully. She knew that Aubrey can be a little chatty, but well... maybe if she asked the redhead to show discretion. ”Oh! Aubrey... I... Please, I can explain! Just let me...” The Japanese girl stopped her pleading when she noticed the gryffindor slip into the seat across from her. Oh, she wasn't in trouble?

That's great, she supposed, but why was Aubrey out here if that was the case? She couldn't really see the girl here for a similar reason Yori was. After all, the redhead was a gryffindor. Weren't they expected to do something like this? She shook the thought out of her head, passing a shaky smile over to Aubrey. ”I'm just thinking is all,” she tried to explain, trying to dance around the exact subject, ”I couldn't really sleep tonight.”

The paper was still in her hands, and the Hufflepuff couldn't help pausing to glance over the slip, a rare frown forming on the Japanese girl's lips. She couldn't see herself as champion material; she knew that. She should be tearing the slip apart at that very second. Instead, she humored this late night conversation. If Yori wasn't going to land herself in trouble, she might as well. ”What are you doing up so late? Are you on duty?”

[AUBREY LYNN MCNEAL]

Aubrey kind of wanted to giggle when Yori had started to freak out that Aubrey was there. She should’ve guessed that she would get that kind of reaction since she was a Prefect after all. But what some of the students never realized is that at times Aubrey was a bit laid back on things when it came to being a Prefect. If she told Yori that she wasn’t supposed to be out there since it wasn’t her night to patrol she might have been a bit shocked that Aubrey broke curfew once in a while as well.

Then Aubrey noticed a piece of paper in Yori’s hand, was she perhaps entering herself in the Goblet of Fire as well? Then there was a slight frown on the young Japanese girl’s face. She was probably just as scared as Aubrey was when it came to entering her name in. Aubrey felt that she shouldn’t be scared; she was a Gryffindor after all. Gryffindor’s were brave weren’t they? “Oh well I guess you could say that I’ve came to think as well,” she said softly before glancing over at the Goblet of Fire for a moment.

Why was it so hard to do one of the simplest tasks out there? Besides the Goblet might not even choose her name for all she knew. So what was it that she was afraid of? Did she really think that perhaps her name would get chosen? She didn’t know the answers to that. She knew that there were several other Gryffindors that planned on entering in as well and they were probably much more worthy of it then she was. “You know how we have the tournament coming up? Remember what it was like three years ago watching the four champions out there doing the tasks that none of us have ever thought of before?” she asked Yori wondering if she remembered the tournament just as much as she did.

*** Sorry about the wait. >.< But I promise to be faster from now on!

[YORI OSHIRO]

She didn't see the glance to the goblet of fire, but it wasn't hard to figure it out. Aubrey wasn't on patrol if she wasn't going to report Yori, and under most circumstances, traveling to the Great Hall past curfew wasn't really worth any risk since there was nothing down there during the night normally. She didn't really know what place was good so late at night. She supposed the library would be nice to stop by with no one there, but there was the issue of getting a good light (lumos was good in a pinch, but it strained her eyes too much sometimes). In fact, it was probably those late nights that she needed reading glasses for particularly small text.

The hufflepuff smiled at Aubrey at the similar response. It did surprise her to think that a gryffindor such as herself needed to sneak at night just to put her name in the Goblet, but its not like she could say anything. Just the mere thought of it made her shiver-- her heart pound. God, how she hated to be a coward. It was just too easy to crawl back in that shell of hers. Yori half-wished she had told her brother of her intentions. At the very least, there would be someone there to push her along. ”Suppose we could help each other, couldn't we?” Well, there was Aubrey here right now, and Yori wasn't about to turn her away. She seemed like a nice girl the few times they had talked.

Her eyes fell on the goblet as Aubrey talked, the frown reforming on her lips. ”It was terrifying...” Yori began softly, ”But I couldn't help envying them. They were faced and gotten past things I could never even dream of. They... They were heroes.” They had something the Japanese girl didn't, and more than anything, she wanted. Dearly, dearly wanted it. She was so very tired of being weak. It was such a giant leap though. The Okinawan didn't know if she could do it alone, or not fall on her feet somewhere along the way. She didn't want to humiliate herself. Yori would rather hold onto that small bit of dignity left.

[AUBREY LYNN MCNEAL]

Aubrey nodded. Indeed the two of them could help each other out. Sure they were in different houses, but it could be fun going against each other in the tasks that the Professors had created for this whole tournament. “Yeah they did look like heroes,” Aubrey said all dreamy like as she remembered crushing on the boy who was the champion for Gryffindor, of course she has long since been over that childish crush, cause now she was dating Scorpius Malfoy. “You know if we enter and get picked, we can look like heroes too,” she nodded lightly after she came back to reality from thinking of the past Hogwarts Tournament.

Aubrey stood up an raised her arms up in the air, her piece of parchment with her name on it still in her hand. “Can’t you imagine it, out there and just finishing up coming in first for the task when you hear your fellow classmates chanting your name over and over?” Aubrey closed her eyes as she imagined herself standing below all of the classmates after finishing a task that involved dragons, she imagined she would have a burn but she would still be standing there with a smile upon her face as she heard the Gryffindors cheer for her. Of course she could imagine Scorpius cheering for her as well, even though he was in Slytherin. She was pretty sure he would still cheer for her.

[YORI OSHIRO]

Yori could feel the wistful air between them, and knew for certain at that point that the two were there for the same reasons. It didn't seem too surprising, the Japanese girl supposed, despite the fact that she was speaking to someone in the bravest house. It was silly to expect gryffindors not to have their moments of weakness as well. It would be a little worrisome if they hadn't. At Aubrey's words, she recognized the suggestion in it. Oh dear... ”We could be heroes, couldn't we?” the Okinawan answered vaguely, ”I wonder what it feels like.” In a way, she was hoping Aubrey would push her into putting her name in.

Yes, the hufflepuff was scared, but she wondered if maybe the pay off was worth it. She did get tired of seeing the weak one; however, wasn't there a reason why she was seen as such? Just the idea of the tasks sent her shaking. ”I don't know if I can do it,” Yori finally admitted meekly, keeping her eyes trained to the table, ”I'm... I'm scared of what'll happen. I've never been a fighter, but...” She let out a breath of air, ”It's tiring just having people looking after you. What I wouldn't give just to even solve one of those tasks. I think I would just be happy with that..” The Okinawan would like to think so anyway. Competition had never been something the hufflepuff really cared for.

[AUBREY LYNN MCNEAL]

Aubrey opened her eyes and looked down at Yori with a smile before taking her right hand, forming it into a fist and then hitting it onto the palm of her hand. “Then it’s decided the two of us shall enter our names into the Goblet of Fire so that we may become our house champions and be the heroes of Hogwarts,” Aubrey announced to Yori before looking up at the Goblet and it’s mighty blue flames.

She then looked back at Yori and smiled at her once more. “How about the two of us head up there together and put our names in at the same time,” Aubrey suggested as she waved her piece of parchment. She then turned and headed towards the Goblet of Fire that stood at the front of the Great Hall. It’s blue flames looked as if they would never die out and she just couldn’t wait until the day of the ceremony where she hoped to hear her name get called out. She could just imagine the look on some of her friends faces when they find out that she actually did enter the Goblet of Fire when her name got announced. She really hoped that it did, then she could finally prove once and for all that she did belong in Gryffindor.

[YORI OSHIRO]

Though she knew the suggestion was coming, Yori was surprised how quickly it came out, staring in a bit of shock at Aubrey for a few minutes. Still, this was her chance. Aubrey was offering that support, and she wasn't sure she would bring herself to do it without it. She swallowed thickly, trying to calm her nerves as she met the gryffindor's face with the best determined gaze the hufflepuff could muster at that moment. It... wasn't much. ”Y... Yes!” she responded with a clear tremor in her voice. The Okinawan could barely believe that she was doing this.

As Yori began to follow Aubrey toward the blue flames, panic nearly struck her like a semi. What if her name actually did get chosen?! What the hell was she going to do then?! She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves as she reached closer to the goblet of fire. She had to be realistic; even if the Okinawan regretted the decision, what were the chances that she would be actually chosen? Not that great, she imagined. There were plenty of better suited hufflepuffs. Worse come to worse, they would do her house proud. She stood next to the goblet, feeling that weight in the pit of her stomach. After putting her name in, she would still have to consider the possibilities. There would be research needed to be done-- help was going to be needed.

”Aubrey?” she spoke up quietly as she clenched the piece of paper, ready to put it in the goblet. ”If only one of us gets to become champ, can we promise to help each other? I... I'm gonna need help learning more practical forms in dealing with tasks, and... despite being a hufflepuff, I know a few things. I'm... I'm good with books.” She felt a slight twitch from her and knew she may have rambled a bit. Yori uneasily smiled to the older girl. ”I... I hope you make it. Good luck.” Another deep breath, and she was ready.

[AUBREY LYNN MCNEAL]

Aubrey stopped just when she was about to put her name into the flaming blue fires of the goblet. Aubrey hadn’t thought about the fact if only one of them got in, because it was probably bound to happen. But could Aubrey help a Hufflepuff when it came to the actual tournament. Well of course she could, the matter of the fact was could she get away with it without any of her fellow Gryffindors knowing?

Aubrey thought for a moment looking at the young Japanese girl before a smile grew on her face. “I don’t see why not, but I’d think it’d be best to keep it a secret from our fellow house mates, you know what I mean? I don’t think we want any trouble caused from it,” she nodded lightly hoping that Yori could agree to that. She knew it would be fun for the two of them to help each other out and it would be really great to get to know Yori more as well. She seemed like a really nice girl that Aubrey could definitely get along with.

Aubrey then looked back at the blue flames and held her parchment up once more before letting it go and she watched the small piece of parchment get engulfed by the flames. It was actually quite fun to watch and honestly Aubrey wanted to do it again, but she had a feeling that if she did she would just get herself disqualified. “Good luck to you as well Yori! I know that whoever gets in will do great!” she said confidently.

[YORI OSHIRO]

She wasn't surprised to hear about keeping quiet on working together. While Yori didn't really care about how her house felt about her helping a gryffindor during the tournament, she wasn't about to deny Aubrey that sort of secrecy. It would look like sabotaging your own house if it really was an open communication sort of thing. The hufflepuff didn't want to put Aubrey through that. The heated stares and accusation would be too much for anyone really. ”That sounds like a plan to me,” the Okinawan answered with a wide smile, giving a small nod. Yes, that was easy enough to agree to.

Aubrey seemed to truly be a nice girl, and Yori looked forward to working with her. She knew that if she really did get chosen, she would need all the help that she could find. The hufflepuff was aware that she wasn't the most athletic (hell, she probably wasn't the smartest knowing some ravenclaws), but she knew how to make connections. Even with lies, the Japanese girl had skill in making friendships and getting information. She could learn everything else as the tournament began. Hm, Yori almost laughed. There was no reason to assume that she would get chosen for this crazy thing. The goblet probably had some weird thinking in this that would rule her out, of course.

Doing her best to convince herself of this, the hufflepuff outstretched her hand, shaking, as she released her slip at the same time as Aubrey. It was done, like ripping a bandaid quickly off. Painful, but only for a short minute. It was almost a weight had been lifted from her heart then, watching the flames flicker and change colors with the parchment. She could at least push it to the back of her mind until later; she wouldn't mind getting some sleep. The burden was gone. Yori would probably sleep well tonight. ”You're right!” the Okinawan grinned confidently. She hoped it looked more confident that she really was. ”We'll both work our damnest for it, won't we?”