So, here's a multi-chap fic based on my Next Gen OC Aisling Finnegan. I also wrote a short little one shot about her, called 'The Butterfly Effect' so check that out if you want. I might write more one shots about her too if this and that get good feedback, so yeah.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any related names, places, characters, etc.

Chapter 1

She sat at the top of the Astronomy Tower, staring at the sky. Sitting on the ground beside her was her wand, which she had dropped carelessly – she wouldn't need it soon, anyway. Finally, she could no longer gaze the stars, even though she knew this would be the last time she ever could.

She shakily bent over the parchment in her lap, writing a letter to her cousin. He was the only one she cared enough to write to, her only friend. Hot tears rolled down her freckled cheeks, as she sealed the letter, tying it to the leg of a patiently waiting school owl. "Take this to Scorpius Malfoy," she said, tying the knot tightly. "Sixth year, Slytherin house." The owl flew off, headed to the owl hatch that led to the Slytherin Common Room. She could have left the letter there, or with her things, but a small part of her wanted Scorpius to come running in and stop her.

She looked down at the red lines covering her arms, fresh cuts from a blade that she had thrown over the wall. She slid her sleeve over her arm, before stepping to the edge of the tower, sliding up so that she was sitting on the wall. The tears, which had been slowly, quietly falling, increased to loud, racking sobs. She huddled on the wall, staring at the ground. Finally, she swung herself around, until her feet were hanging in the air.

"Goodbye," she whispered, sliding closer to the edge. Just as she was about to shove herself over the side, someone's arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back to the inside of the tower.

She wrapped her arms around her savior's neck, crying into his – because it was definitely a male – chest. He ran his fingers through her hair.

"Merlin, Finnegan," he breathed, "Don't you dare do that again." She recognized the voice as that of Albus Potter, her cousin's best friend.

"Potter," she said, pulling away and wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her sweater. "What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to the dorms, when I saw an owl flying from up here," he replied, shaking a little, "I know it had Scorp's name on it, but I intercepted it, and sent the owl back so it didn't have to fly there. I didn't read it but I knew where it was coming from, so I decided to stop by." He paused, looking at the girl in front of him. "I'm glad I did."

Albus ran a hand through his already messy black hair, and examined her. Aisling Finnegan was tall and thin, with fairly long brown hair. Her green eyes peered at him through black glasses, though they were fogged up from her tears. She was shivering, even though it was fairly warm, and she was wearing a school sweater and a pair of skinny jeans. Albus picked up her wand, and handed it over.

"Come on," he said, taking her hand, "You need something to eat."

Aisling yanked her hand away. "I don't need to eat anything," she announced, walking backwards toward the wall, "I need to finish what I started." She was calm, almost too calm, but just slightly shaky. Just enough for Albus to know that she wasn't entirely ready to go yet. Albus shook his head, walked over slowly, and picked her up bridal style. She squealed, but wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from falling.

"You're really light, you know that?" he whispered as he walked down the stairs. It was fairly late, but not yet curfew, so they earned a few odd glances from other students. When they say Albus, however, the students would roll their eyes, and keep walking – strange things always seemed to follow him around.

"No I didn't," Aisling replied, removing her arms from his neck to cross them indignantly. She knew better than to try to fight it – Albus was a beater (which had surprised everyone in the Wizarding world) on the Slytherin team (which was even more shocking), and one of very few people who could beat Scorpius in an arm wrestle. "Considering the fact that no one has carried me since I was, maybe seven," she finished.

"Well you are," Albus told her, smiling a little, "Possibly lighter than Lils and she's super skinny." Aisling crossed her arms, and let out a little "humph" sound, but otherwise didn't respond.

In a few moments, the two of them reached the painting of a fruit basket that concealed the entrance to the kitchens. "Erm, Finnegan," Albus said cautiously. Aisling looked up, frowning at the boy above her.

"What is it Potter?" she asked, glancing a bit behind her. There were the barrels that marked the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. If she could only get free from his arms, she could retreat to her dorm, it was only a few steps and a few knocks away…

"Could you tickle the pear for me?" he asked her, shaking her from all thoughts of escape. She fluttered her eyelashes in the ridiculous way she had seen her friend Rosie do many times.

"Could you put me down?" she asked. Albus shook his head.

"Nope," he announced. She sighed, and reached up, tickling the oddly shaped green fruit. The portrait swung open, and Albus stepped through. They were soon surrounded by House Elves, one of whom hurried off to retireve food for the two of them, and the rest rushed off to continue their duties, and prepare Aisling and Albus a place to sit. It wasn't until he had been ushered a circle of chairs in front of a fire place, that he set her down.

"So…" he started awkwardly, "Why did you, you know…"

So, yeah. Please review?