Chapter 1

Before she was received a letter on her eleventh birthday inviting her to attend Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dinah's life was considerably conventional. Or as her best friend Dominque put it, absolutely dull. She was an average girl, the only difference between her and her peers and school being that she did not have the English accent due to her being raised in Canada until she was seven. Her father, Ewan McGregor was British, and a professor of mathematics at the University of Leeds, where he met Allison's mother Marilyn. Her mother was a history graduate student, who had been travelling through the country when she had met her father. Her mother, ever the romantic, described it as love at first sight, and from the moment he bought her an ale she knew he was the man she would marry. Her father tells a similar experience, telling his daughter constantly that he was the luckiest man in the world, having the smartest, kindest and most beautiful wife. She traveled home to Toronto Canada, and after a year of letters and phone calls, Ewan transferred to a local University and they got engaged. Two years later they were married and had twins, Allison Artemis and David Apollo .

They moved back to England for when Ewan was offered a research position at Oxford, and Allison grew to love the country. The twins kept their mothers native accent, but grew into their customs and culture with great ease. Still Ally loved her North American culture immensely, and continued to watch American tv, listen to American music, and read American literature. They weren't quite like other kids. Her parents simply didn't raise her like others kids were. Her Aunt Mary joked they were more like their student than their child, and that was because her parents raised them, somewhat unconsciously, as an academic. They read the twins scientific articles as bed time stories, they watched documentaries instead of going to the movies, and her father taught them advanced multiplication at seven. They never forced the life on them, they simply didn't know any other way to raise them, and Ally and David took well to it. She liked reading her mothers history books whilst David preferred maths and science. They picked up academia quickly, and planned to follow in her parents footsteps of higher education, that was until she got her letter from Hogwarts when she was twelve.

Her parents reacted well, especially when one of the Professors from the school, a Professor Longottom came to explain the situation to them. Ally and David were a muggle borns, wizards born to muggle parents. I mean at first they thought it was a joke, but after they witnessed the teacher turning a cup into a clock and making their dining table float, they took the situation seriously. Her mother was terribly excited, she couldn't believe her children were wizards and attending a witch school. She always told Ally the only thing that she resented was her being away from home for so long. Her father was very nervous of magic. He was a strict man of science and reason, the possibilities had changed his view of the world and made him question everything he had ever known. Still, when Ally and David told their parents they wanted to go to Hogwarts, he supported them.

The weeks leading up to her attending was completely chaotic. They had a great deal of trouble finding Diagon Alley, where she was to get her supplies. When they finally found it, they walked around for hours trying to find all of the supplies. In the end, with much assistance from shop clerks and kind passerby giving them advice, they got everything. They even got an owl in order for her to write her parents. Her father was completely terrified of the creature, but her mother adored it. The brown speckled bird was a mischievous little one, constantly trying to steal treats and collecting household items to add to a treasure trove in his cage. David had named him Newton, which her father was extremely pleased with, Ally had wanted to name him Achilles but what can you do?

The Train Platform was even harder to find, especially considering her mother was an emotional wreck the whole time. When her father watched a young boy run through a brick wall, Ally and David cheered in excitement. The other side was wonderfully busy, with a similar feeling to Diagon alley. It felt foreign, but also familiar, filled with wonder and joy. Her father helped her get her belongings on the train, whilst her mother held her tightly, sobbing into her hair something about her growing up too fast and leaving the nest. This was not unusual, her mother was an emotional person, and incredibly protective of them. She broke down when Ally went to summer camp when she was nine. Ewan eventually pulled her away. Saying that the train was leaving soon. Her father hugged her tightly, making her promise to stay out of trouble before she boarded the express.

The twins suck together until a group of first year boys had waved him into their compartment. David was going to turn them down, but Ally encourage him to go. She didn't want David to feel like he had to babysit her. She found a small compartment, and was soon joined by a two girls that seemed to be her age. One ginger, one blond but undeniably related, and snickering to each other. When they saw the compartment was occupied, they introduced themselves to her as Dominque and Roxanne Weasley, first years. That was the beginning of her adventure at Hogwarts, sitting with the two girls, talking animatedly and playing games. The cousins would become her closest friends, and would stick with her for the duration of her schooling.

The next two years were a blur. She was sorted into Gryffindor, something that didn't surprise the David nor her parents, she was always the adventurous one in the family. David was sorted into Ravenclaw, which although she was happy for him, she couldn't help but feel sad they weren't going to be joined at the hip anymore. Her first year was entertaining, she found herself enamoured with the school and classes, quickly making it to the top of her class. She had a knack for charms and potions, despite the fact that professor Slughorn totally chose favourites. She was lucky she was one of them. Her favourite class by far however, was history of magic. She supposed it was from the interest of history nurtured in her by her mother. Her mother always invited she relay everything she had learned in letters to her, as she liked comparing it with muggle history.

The year flew by, and soon she as home again and recounting the tales of her year to her parents. Then came second year, when over the summer, she had gone to Dom's for a week. There she had learned that she loved Quidditch. She had loved watching over first year, but she played for the first time over the summer. Bill, Dom's dad, said she was a natural, and that she should try out for the team that year. She did, but she didn't make it. She supposed it was because she was only a second year. That was when she learned James Potter was her true nemesis, he was in her year, but he did make it. In only second year he made the team as their knew Chaser, and he loved to taunt Dinah about it. Though he was never particularly nasty, or outright mean, he didn't mind making comments. Roxy and Dom assured her James didn't mean it, and that she was very fun. It didn't stop her self-esteem from plummeting whenever she heard him and his friends snicker. James Potter had been frenemies since first year, when she corrected one of his answers in class. Apparently it had embarrassed him, and he began to tease her endlessly for being a "know it all". She wouldn't go as far to say he was a bully, because he never publicly humiliated her like some kids did in muggle school, but it wasn't nice.

Third year came around, and her parents allowed her to visit Dominique again for a few days in the summer. She loved her parents and siblings, and Ally couldn't help but love the family immensely. Bill and Fleur were very kind, and Fleur loved Dinah, and occasionally wrote her throughout the years. That year she finally made the team, and her parents had congratulated her with a broom of her own. Before she had used one of Dom's, since she didn't play other than in the summer. It was the Nimbus 4000, a slightly older model, but she loved the broom. After countless hour of practise, it was like they were on the same wavelength, the broom knowing what she would do before she did. Third Year Gryffindor won the house cup, which her captain, Jonathon Wood, was extremely happy about since it was his last year. Dinah attributes a lot of her skills to him, even though she only knew him for a year, he really helped refine her raw talent into pure skill. He had joked once that if she kept improving, she would make a great captain one day, and she took that to heart. Ally wasn't sure if she wanted to play professionally, but it was certainly an option.

That summer was relatively calm. Ally and her parents visited Canada for the most of it, and Dinah got to spend time with her cousins and maternal grandparents. She also began going through puberty. She grew taller, and some bra sizes, and she began to curl her hair and wear mascara and lipgloss. She still a her baby face, and wasn't as skinny, her mother ensured her that she was beautiful, and being on the chubbier side didn't make her any less pretty. But that was easy for her to say, her mother was a tall, willowy goddess.

Fourth year was the same as third year, Quidditch practise, hanging out with Dom and Roxy and being annoyed by James Potter. nothing extraordinary happened, and it seemed to our with third.

Fifth year was filled with studying for owls. The teasing from James, Fred and their friend Max only worsened because they knew the next year one of them would be captain. the current Captain, Shelby Lock was graduating that year, and was going to pass it along to one of them. She never said it, but the whole team, hell all of Hogwarts knew. James and Ally were the best players, and knew the game better than anyone. They were the first ones at practise and the last to leave. To make it worse, they were both chases, and she couldn't deny James was a brilliant. Despite not being friends, they worked well on the pitch together. They were evenly matched, but James had a year more experience. However, Ally was a little more calculative. She pirded herself in making some risky but advantageous moves, like being able to fly without hands. Its not as impressive as it sounds, but she got MVP fifth year for flying above the other teams chaser and turning upside down to grab the quaffle out of his hands, while flying at least 40 km/h. She had used that confusion to score the winning goal, right before Lily Evans caught the snitch.

It was also the year of her first date, a kind boy from Hufflepuff names Jason. He was in her charms class, and asked her to Hogsmeade after a few weeks of getting to know each other. The experience was not that bad, although a little awkward. Jason was cute, and respectful, and smart, the only downside was that he was a little dull. Or as Dom put it, "bloody boring". Still she started dating him for a few weeks, until they decided that they just didn't see their relationship going any further. They went back to being acquaintances, something Dom and Roxy seemed happy about. When she asked them about it, they had simply said that they thought he was fine, but she deserved the absolute best, because she was one of the best people they knew. She had given them big hugs. She couldn't help but feel honoured to have such sweet friends.

Then the summer came, and her parents decided to go to Scotland to visit her fathers relatives. It was wonderful, and getting to know the family she had never met was enlightening, especially once she had stumbled upon her cousin Angus using magic in his room. Turns out he had graduated from Hogwarts a few years before she arrived, and the two became extremely close after that. He was a halfblooded unlike her, his father being a wizard and his mother a muggle, and he worked at the ministry of magic. The two got along quite well, and she started to write him when she went home.

Now to the present, Ally and Daniel were at the breakfast table, waiting for their letters. This year was monumental, today would be the day if she found out she got Captain. David was reading a book beside her, probably getting started on the years work. David, unlike Allu, had no interest in Quidditch. His goal was to be head boy, and Ally was sure he would. He had the best marks, perfect attendance, clean record and was arguably the best prefect. He was a natural leader, and Dinah couldn't see anyone else in the position. Although her and Davids relationship grew distant over the years, the twins were still incredibly supportive of each other. He went to all her games and they studied together every Sunday night during the year, and Dinner twice a week. David was sure she would get Captain, saying she would revolutionize the team with her plays. She was excited, she was confident in her skills. James was good, and had more experinece, but Ally was strategist, and Shelby Lock had actually been very impressed with her. Plus she got MVP, its just common knowledge that when a player won MVP in the final, they would be the next Captain.

She was also getting getting ready to floo to the Burrow, making sure she had everything with her. Ally was staying with Dom until school began the next week, so she was bringing with her all her school supplies as well. It was imperative she left nothing behind, especially her books. With her Newts coming up next year, she needed top marks if she decided she wanted to do something besides Quidditch.

She had already said goodbye to her parents, they had left earlier in the morning to meet some friends visiting from out of town. Her mother cried as she did every year, but it was her fathers reaction that surprised the most. He hugged her tightly, a few tears escaping his eyes. He didn't let on to what was bothering him, and left the room, leaving both Ally and her mother in confusion.

A tap at the window Brough the twins attention, where a pristine white owl was perched. Ally rushed to grab the letter, leaving David to give it a treat as she admired the letter. It was surprisingly light, the same as Davids. Tear threatened to spill as her stomach dropped. She just stared at it, suddenly terrified. This was what she had worked for for the last three years, what if sh didn't get it. All that hard work for nothing. David took his letter from her, but stayed standing next to her.

"Are you going to open it?" He joked, and Ally nodded.

"It feels light" She explained. David rolled his eyes.

"Don't give up before you open the letter. No one deserves Captain more than you, your the best player I've ever seen." He encouraged her, and Ally took a deep breath, ripping it open and pouring its contents on the table.

The only thing that fell out was a sheet of folded up paper. Her eyes widened, checking the empty letter again. Ally reached for the paper, 'maybe theres a mistake. Maybe they forgot to put it in.'

The letter was the average Hogwarts, no mention of her getting Captain at all. She felt tear run down her face as pure unadulterated rage bubbled in her chest. She didn't realize David was hugging her until she was sobbing into his chest.

"I worked so hard, i thought i had it. Why didn't i get it?" She cried, David rubbing her back soothingly.

After a few minutes, she had calmed down, not before realizing she was about to go to Dom's family party, and that Potter, the undeniable new Captain, would be there. She wanted to scream. She hated that prick, she hated that he got it and she didn't. She worked hard to be a balanced student, she got all O's on her exams and Owls, as the letter said, she was a fantastic player, and she had a relatively clean record. What she hated more was that he deserved it too, just as much as she did.

"Do i have to go?" She asked David as they walked to the fire place. She had wiped her face with a tissue, making sure when she got there she didn't look like she had been crying.

"Unless you want Dominque to kill you, probably" David responded, standing in from to her.

"I wish you were coming" She told him, and he laughed.

"No offense, but id rather hangout with my books that that mess. Besides, i want to get started on schoolwork" He reasoned, and she knew the real reason. David never really got to know the Weasltes because he had his own friends, so he felt awkward at the parties since he didn't know them. Plus, he had the biggest crush on Dom, and couldn't function around her.

"I know. Ill miss you though" She respinded, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back, pulling away to look at the clock.

"You better go, you're twenty minutes late"

Ally gasped, and straightened her outfit one more time before she stepped in the fireplace. She wanted to make a good first impression after a long summer apart from her friends, especially since she was seeing everyone. She was wearing her favourite outfit she had bought with her other at the start of the summer, a pretty blue and black summer dress with her favourite jean jacket. She also spent a good hour doing her hair and makeup, some simple eyeliner and some lip gloss, both of which she had to fix after her cryfest. Ally felt confident in this outfit, something she had never really been in her own skin. Ally had always been on the chubbier side, and although she had lost some of the weight, she was still pudgier than Dom and Roxy. She knew there was nothing inherently wrong with being a bit bigger, but being surrounded by stick thin, stunning Weasley's had always made her feel a little out of place

She took a deep breath, waving to her brother, green flames erupting all around her. She felt the familiar twirling sensation before landing in a cloud of dust in the fireplace. When she stepped out, trunk in tow behind her, she was engulfed in a hug before she had time to see who it was. She was frozen for a second, then she saw the blond hair and smell of flowery perfume. She embraced the girl back, laughing when she heard her best friends speak.

"Ugh I've been waiting for you forever, i haven't seen you all summer because you run off to Scotland and you keep me waiting!" Dom screech in her ear, and Ally pulled back sending a playful look to the pretty girl.

"I was twenty minutes late Dom, don't have an aneurysm there"

"Twenty minutes might as well be two hours. You know-"

"Early is on time and one time is late. Yes Dom, I've been friends with you for six years i know the drill" She finished, smiling warmly at the girls playful miffed expression.

"And yet your always late" She muttered, Ally rolling her eyes in response as Dom looked her up and down. The surprised look on her face was enough to send a wave of nervous butterflies to her stomach, and Dom looked at her with sad eyes. Clearly she had known she didn't get Captain.

"How are you doing?" Ally sighed.

"Ill be fine, just a bit f a shock you know. I was so confident, but i can't say it was rigged. I just wish it had gone a different way." She shrugged, and Dom hugged her again, gentler this time.

"Im sorry, i know how much it meant to you."

"Ill be okay, besides, just because i didn't make Captain does not mean i won't let James Potter get me down. Honestly, this summer has been great, and i feel happy. Im not letting this ruin that"

"Thats awesome, and you look great Ally! Ill have to beat my cousins off you with a stick" She jokes, and Dinah laughed. She was glad Dom approved, not that she wouldn't. Dom was the most supportive person she'd ever met, but it definitely was nice to here someone besides her mother say it.

"I'd be surprised if they took the time away from Quidditch to realize I was here, seriously Dom you're family is almost as bad as the Woods" She said as she watched a figure zoom by the window on a broom. Of course all the family breaks out the brooms every family event, crazy the lot was about the sport.

"Like you aren't. Come on, Mama has been dying to see you" Dom spoke, sending a passive wave towards the window, dragging her along and leaving her luggage beside the fireplace. The two girls made their way outside and over to the lawn chairs crowded with gingers. Ally smiled politely at the group of adults, mostly Dom's aunts and uncles. She said hello to a few as she passed, finally landing next to Fleur and Bill Weasley.

Fleur was as beautiful as ever, and smiled widely at Ally. She pulled the teen into a tight hug, kissing both of her cheeks in greeting, which Ally returned. The gesture wasn't too odd, she had Quebecois family on her mums side that did that. The first time she met Fleur she had astounded the women with her French, and although it was different, Fleur appreciated it greatly. The two would often speak back and forth in the language, as would her children since they knew it as well. Bill was at the conversational level, but some words still confused him. He was working hard though, and Ally could tell Fleur loved him even more for it.

"Salut Ally, comment était ton été? Ah tu es magnifique ma cherie, tu as finalement pris m'avis. Maroon est votre couleur." She spoke quickly, appraising the girl up and down.

"Merci Madame Weasley, je suis visite mu famille dans Glasgow, c'est fantastic. Tu es très belle madame, as-tu fait quelque chose avec tes cheveux?" She responded, noticing a difference. Fleur was a natural blond, and had been long as long as Dinah could remember. It was now closer to a bob, but still so elegant yet modern

"Oui, Je l'ai coupé il y a quelques jours, je ne suis pas habitué à être si court, mais j'aime le changement" Fleur ran a hand through her hair, a delicate smile on her face.

"il a l'air merveilleux, très élégant. Ça te va très bien" she complimented, and smiled when Fleur gave her a thankful nod. Dom rolled her eyes from beside her mother, kissing her mother on the cheek before pulling Dinah away again.

"Okay mama, the games ending, were going to hangout with Roxy and the others okay?" Dom stated, dragging her away from the adults. Ally began to feel the butterflies erupt in her stomach again, wishing her best friend would just tun around and walk back to the older generation. Ally always got along better with adults, she was practically raised as one, and so she never had problems engaging in conversation with them. She regularly talked to parents and professors over other students, besides her friends of course, simply because they had knowledge and wisdom her peers didn't have. Plus adults didn't tease you like teenagers did.

Still she did her best to not look like a deer in the headlights as she was surrounded by yelling teenagers, greeting most of them with quick hellos and some scattered hugs. She had a pleasant conversation with Dom's cousins Rose and Lily, before being ambushed by her brother Louis and cousin Albus, and their friend Scorpius. Louis was in her house, and Albus and Scorpius were his best mates, all two years younger than Ally. She chatted with the three fourteen year olds while Dom and Roxanne were arguing about some small thing. All three boys had surpassed her small 5'3 frame in height, which she joked about playfully while they used her head as an arm rest. She liked the trio, while Louis was quiet but observant, Albus was charismatic, and Scorpius was sarcastic and quick witted. Ally was always surprised that Albus was the Slytherin and Louis was the gryffindor, and their personalities seemed switched when you first met them. She was even more surprised at how close the two had gotten to the Malfoy heir, especially after hearing about the deep seated hatred between both families. However, Scorpius had proven to be nothing like his pureblood fanatic family and became well aquatinted with her quickly, his dark humour and silver tongue winning her over immediately. She got along with the two quite well, the three being academics like herself, and they asked her about the course work for their fourth year in depth, since apparently the rest of their family didn't give enough detail as they wanted. After about ten minutes Dom interrupted, shouting something about them all going up into the attic.

Ally followed Dominque up the stairs, falling into step with Roxanne, her other best friend. While Dom was very type A and a natural born leader, Roxy was relaxed and loved to fool around and have fun. She balanced out Dom's crazy and Allys obsession with Qudditch.

"S'up ally, how was Scotland?" She asked as the large group moved up the countless stairs in the burrow.

"Good, managed to have a little fun like i promised. How was yours?"

"Bloody brilliant. Da' let Freddie and i help out with his latest products, called lights out liquorice, one bite and you can see in the dark for a whole ten minutes. Right useful that'll be when sneaking around after curfew" Roxy beamed as she explained the product, and Ally enthusiastically asked questions. Roxy loved her father joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Both she and her twin Fred loved pranking others, just like their father did. Roxy had been working on ideas for products as long as Ally had known her, usually trying to one up her brother. The two were fiercely competitive, despite the fact that George told them they would both inherit the shop. She supposed thats the reason Roxy spent all her time with Dom and Fred with James, because hanging out together for long period of time lead to heated arguments.

Once the large group was all seated in the furnished attic, Dom, Roxy and Ally all squished into one chair, and all the cousins began to mill around and talk to each other more freely now that they were out from under their parents watchful eyes. She watched Albus, Scorpius and Louis play exploding snap around a circular table, Hugo and Lily playing wizard chess in a corner, Molly and Lucy braiding each others hair while whispering and laughing. On the other end of the room she saw Rose chatting with Alice Longbottom, and Lorcan and Lysander Scamander, the latter of the blond twins was in her house. She was so engaged in observing the room she didn't notice three boys walking up behind the couch they were sitting on. She tensed when she heard their horribly familiar voices.

"So Dom, when were you gonna tell your favourite cousins you invited our favourite McGregor to the party?" Fred spoke loudly, scaring the two girls beside her. After a second of shock, Dom craned her neck behind her, eyes narrowed suspicsioucly at the three teen boys, sounding annoyed when she spoke.

"First of all, you're not my favourite cousins, and secondly, I don't think who we invite is any of your bloody business" James tutted in response, walking around the couch and collapsing on the arm chair in front of them.

"Now Dominque, is that any way to talk to your Quidditch Captain?" He teased, pointing to the silver age on the front of his shirt. 'Bloody hell, of course he's wearing it, just what his ego needs' Ally though to herself.

"Your my prat cousin and ill talk to you however i like you bloody prick. And would you stop bloody showing off that badge, were not even at school yet!" Dom argued, and Roxy rolled her eyes from behind her head at Ally, earning a light chuckle in response. Clearly this wasn't; the first time she had heard this argument today.

"What Dom? Jealous?" He bit back, causing Dom's earns to turn red from either anger or embarrassment, Ally couldn't tell.

"You little wanker, ill have you know i-" She started to spit back when Ally interrupted her.

"Don't waste your energy Dom, we all know he's still bitter about the fact that he didn't get MVP after the championship game last year" She spoke nonchalantly, gauging his reaction. She remembered his sullen face when she got the ribbon from Lock very well, since she took pleasure in anything that brought Potter misery. The angry blush that traveled up his neck did the trick, and Roxy cackled from her place on the other side of Dom. James narrowed his eyes at her, but instead of throwing an insult back he just looked at her. Like, really looked at her, up and down. The scrutiny made her skin crawl, and she crossed her arms and glared.

"What?"

He seemed to realize he made her uncomfortable and smirked.

"Just wondering where your hiding your harpy legs in that little dress" Ally could feel her face go bright red when Freddie and Max laughed. Harpy had been a running insult since she yelled at them for pranking some first years last term. Ally rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to hit him. She wasn't a violent person really, but something about James just made her want to throw down.

"So Potter do you have any new material or you going to keep recycling the same shitty jokes?"

"Theres nothing wrong with recycling old jokes, especially the they fit so well"

"You sure know how to charm a girl Potter, calling girls harpies really reels em in" Max joked, earning a laugh from the girls. James rolled his eyes.

"Whose side are you on dude?"

"Usually whichever side your cousins on" he responded, throwing a wink at Roxy, who jokingly blew a kiss back. The two of them had been flirting since fourth year. It started as a joke to annoy James and Freddie, but its just part of their interactions now. Roxy swears their just friends, but Dom and I knew she totally fancied him. Ally couldn't blame her, Max was a good looking bloke, with a toned boy and pretty brown eyes, the guy looked like a brown Adonis. Despite how much Dinah wanted to punchJames, she could never bring herself to dislike Max, or Freddie for that matter. They teased her yes, but they knew where the line was, and didn't like to cross it like James. Plus Max has been her potions partner since first year, the two of them being the awkward third member of trios. Max was funny, smart and very sweet. Roxy didn't know it, but Ally's been talking her up to him since third year. Ally just knew they would make a great couple.

"So Allison, how does it feel knowing James got Captain and you didn't" Freddie asked, earning a kick from Dom.

The trio of boys were jokesters, but there was no denying Freddie was the funniest. He took after his dads knack for pranks, plus his killer humour had even the staunchest Slytherin in stitches. He was also the tallest of the three, standing at a whopping 6'3, with beautiful dark skin and a head of dark curl like his sister. Freddie's personality was infectious, he was constantly smiling and could make even a gloomy day seem sunny. That being said, he loved to take the piss out of people, and his twins friends were no exception. Freddie actually came up with most of the jokes about her, although they were always said in jest rather than malice Honestly Freddie just did that to everyone, so his taunting never did anything more than annoy her. Honestly, Ally had a little crush on him in third year. That ended a while ago, after she told Roxy and Roxy told him accidentally during an argument. She had muttered something about how she couldn't believe Ally fancied him, and well, that throughly embarrassed her. Roxy had apologized immediately, and threatened them to not say a word. It was never brought up again, but Ally couldn't look him in the eye for about two years.

Still she had a dilemma about the question. Did she want to make a snarky comment an insist the badge belonged to her like she wanted, or did she take the high road and act like she really didn't care. In the end, her brain won and she chose the latter.

"I don't mind all that much, Congratulations James, i know how hard you worked for it." She told him earnestly, which seemed to confuse him, in fact it confused all of them. I guess they knew how much she wanted it, plus a chance to tear down James was an opportunity she rarely missed. 'Take the high road ally, you'll be happier for it'

"Oh, thanks" James responded, and Ally raised an eyebrow.

"What, wasn't expecting that answer?"

"Well no, but i must say I'm liking you being nice to me McGregor, keep it up and maybe i'll take you to Hogsmeade" He teased, and Ally rolled her eyes.

"Thanks for the warning. I think i just ran out of compliments" She smiled at him, and he leaned back laughing. There was a glint in his eyes that she couldn't quite place when he looked at her. Roxy looked between the two.

"Wow you too are being nice, is everyone else seeing this?" Freddie nodded.

"Yeah, i thought i was hallucinating" James smacked him for that.

"I can be nice to McGregor, its in my nature to be nice to pretty girls" James said cooly, throwing a wink in her direction, and Ally felt her face go pink.

"I don't know what worse, you teasing me or flirting with me" She said, earning a laugh from the group.

"Well if id have known it would make you go that red i would have started it sooner"

"Piss off" She grimaced, throwing one of the throw pillows at him.

The rest of the night went well, the three trouble makers left them alone after a while and they got to talk about their summers in peace. Ally couldn't shake the weird feeling in her chest whenever she thought of her interaction with James. It was weird to not be arguing, although she supposed not taking the bait changed the outcome. Still, usually conversations with the prick ended with her laughing at him, not with him. She couldn't deny that she liked joking with him, and that he was quite fit. She always knew James Potter was good looking, all the girls at Hogwarts who weren't related to him thought he was god on earth. But she never really saw it, made because she was too busy being angry with him. But when they were laughing together, and joking back and forth, she couldn't help but notice that he had a nice smile. He would push his dark, messy hair back, and his glasses framed his angular face nicely, accentuating his brown eyes.

God she was fussing over James Potter, the same day she cried over him winning Captain over her. This was weird. Ally had never really though about guys, besides muggle celebrities. She was simply too long with school and all her extracurriculars. But James Potter of all people was weird, especially since her heart skipped a beat when he called her pretty. Wait, did she fancy James Potter?

'Get your shit together Allison. It was a cute boy calling you pretty, of course you were going to get flustered. Don't read into it too much' Her rational mind told her. 'Once you get back to Hogwarts, everything will go back to normal'

If only that were true.