Who: Zacharias Smith and Jake Dorny. When: August 14th, 1998. Late evening. Where: Jake’s new place. What: Stargazing, conversation, wine, adorableness? Rating: R.
Zacharias quite liked astronomy. It surprised some people, because it wasn’t really something he talked about profusely, and it wasn’t one of the subjects he was so obviously good at, like Potions or Arithmancy. But he liked the night sky – there was a certain majesty about it, a vastness. And it was the sky. He loved to fly in it, and to watch it.
The Perseid Meteor Shower tended to be the grandest meteor shower of the year, and Zacharias always made a point of watching it, at least one night. It was one of the things that had made him love astronomy in the first place. His mother had taken him and Ernie out one night when they were little tots – it had been so late, at that age! – and they’d watched the shooting stars streaking across the sky, eating warm cookies and drinking lemonade.
It seemed natural, when it came up, to invite Jake to watch with him. The Slytherin was becoming very important to him. When he’d first contacted Jake, nearly a month and a half past now, he hadn’t known what to expect. But now? Now he knew that Jake was something special, and was becoming something special to him.
It was with a bottle of wine that he had gone over to Jake’s new place, eager to see the flat, but more eager to see the young man who would now be living there. It was very nice – he had expected no less – and the rooftop terrace was perfect for watching the sky. With a large blanket spread out, with room enough for two, and a couple of wine glasses to go along with the bottle, it was rather ideal.
The weather had, once again, cooperated – it seemed to be on their side. The sky was clear and the stars were out. “This is the perfect location,” he said as he sat down on the blanket, taking the bottle of wine and tapping the cork with his wand, casting a removal charm. The cork slid out easily and Zacharias poured some into each of the glasses, handing one to Zacharias. “And a rather ideal night as well,” he said, setting the bottle down and picking up his glass, clinking it against Jake’s. “With the most ideal company.”