"Alice! Where are you going? Our next class isn't for another twenty minutes or so," Mary questioned.
"I'm not going to class today," Alice called behind her into the group of girls.
"Why not?" One of them asked. They all looked at her confused.
"I'm going to Hogsmead today," Alice replied happily. The other girls stared. None of them were going to Hogsmead today.
"Alice," Lily said. "You are only a second year. You can't go to Hogsmead until you are a third year."
Alice continued to get ready acting as though she hadn't heard what Lily said. As she put the finishing touches on her outfit, she turned back around.
"I'm going to Hogsmead today because I have been asked to go with someone. Not an official date but just to spend the day with someone."
Before the girls could complain more, Alice started talking again.
"I know that second years aren't normally allowed to go to Hogsmead, but because he went to Professor Dumbledore himself, I get to go."
"Who are you going to Hogsmead with?" June asked.
"I really shouldn't tell you," Alice protested.
"Come on, Alice! Tell us who you're going with! We won't tell a soul," promised Lily.
"Alright," Alice looked around the room at all of their faces. "I'm going with Frank."
"Frank Longbottom?" They all asked.
"Yes, Frank Longbottom! I happen to really like him, so if you have a problem with that, you can leave." Alice snapped.
Lily put her arm around Alice's shoulder. "No one has anything against Frank. They're just jealous."
Alice smiled at lily then went to finish getting ready.
oooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Alice walked down the stairs into the common room slowly and carefully.
"Frank?" she whispered quietly. She saw him rise up slowly from a chair by the fireplace. he was a tall, gangly third year boy with dark curly hair and buck teeth.
Although in the minds of most girls at Hogwarts he was not quite a heart throb, Alice thought that he was the most handsome boy she had ever seen.
"You look... I mean... hi," Frank stuttered. He walked over to where she was standing on the stairs. He reached out and took her hand in his. It looked so small in his large hand.
They slowly walked out of the Common Room. The Fat Lady drew a sharp breath as they walked hand in hand past her.
Frank led her to the courtyard by the front gate where the other students were waiting to be let out to the roads towards Hogsmead.
"Now students, going to Hogsmead is a privilege. This privilege can be taken away from you if you mistreat it," Professor McGonagall explained. She went on explaining for quite a while before she opened the gate.
All of the students rushed towards the road to Hogsmead. Frank yanked Alice toward him to protect her from the rampaging students.
"Come on, I know where we should go first," Frank whispered in Alice's ear. He led her down the streets of Hogsmead to Honey Dukes. This was going to be a good day for them.
oooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Alice smiled as she laid in bed that night. One thought kept running through her mind. 'I love Frank Longbottom!'
oooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Frank closed the curtains on his bed and smiled to himself. Even though he was only thirteen, Frank knew one thing. He loved Alice Carter.