Aliana's POV

"Right, and last night, Michael was nearly crying his eyes out when Dad said that he couldn't give him special treatment." I laughed with Hermione when we sat at the Gryffindor Table for breakfast. The two of us hardly slept last night, mainly because we were up all night talking and getting to know each other. "Honestly, he was biting his lip, blinking madly and sniffling like an idiot,"

"That is bad," Hermione laughed, picking up a goblet of pumpkin juice and began drinking from it. I put a few pieces of toast on my plate and began eating them. Slowly, I looked up, feeling eyes on me, and looked at my left, then at my right. I looked ahead, before I slowly turned around to see a black cloth standing behind me. Slowly, I looked up and smiled nervously when I saw daddy standing there, his face red and glaring down at me

"Hi, daddy. . ." I swallowed heavily, hoping that I didn't sound as nervous as I most probably looked. Slowly, dad crossed his arms over his chest and continued to stare down at me, not saying anything. That's when it hurt most; when he gave me the look and didn't speak. It also made me more nervous. "I hope you slept well. . . toast?" I asked, holding up my plate with only one piece of toast on it. I could hear a growl rip from the back of his throat, and I knew I was in trouble.

Tilting to the left, I could see Alex, Michael and Draco staring at me, as well as the rest of the school. My brother's faces were red, and Draco's was green. He hadn't looked right recently. And it worried me. I looked back up at dad, "Just say something!"

"What. . . are you wearing?" Daddy managed to say, his voice low, angry, hurt, confused. I swallowed again. Crumbs.

"Well, naturally, I'm wearing clothes. You didn't expect me to come nude, did you?" I asked, trying to make a joke out of the situation, but Dad wasn't laughing. He wasn't even smiling. I swallowed again, "Lavender helped me get ready this morning. . . I was running a little late. . ."

"Brown?" I noticed Lavender look up at my father when her surname was called, "Why is my daughter dressed like this?"

"It's the fashion, sir," Lavender said quietly, looking away as he turned to glare at her. "Sorry,"

"One week's detention," Dad growled, before he turned back to me when I began to protest

"But, dad, that's hardly fair," I said, looking at him. He stared down at me. "She's only trying to help me fit in here. Would you rather that I'm a social outcast? Would you rather that I have no friends because they're scared you would give them a detention for befriending me?" I looked away for a second, before I looked back at him, "If you give my friends detentions just for helping me, then I hate you." I knew that something would stir within him. The last thing he would ever want was for me to hate him. And he hated that I used it against him in an argument. I could see the gears turn in his head as he continued to stare down at me. After what seemed like years, but was 2 minutes in reality, Daddy looked away from me

"Fine. No detention, Brown. But don't think that I won't be harsh in class to you," He said, giving her a cold stare, before he walked up to the Staff table and sat down, not looking at anyone when he did so. I sighed heavily, before I turned around again and looked down at my plate. I could sense everyone's eye on me, but I didn't meet anyone's gaze.

- - -

Alex's POV

I stared at Ali sympathetically. She had always been Dad's favourite, from the moment she was born. He rarely fought with her, and now he was mad at her. For trying to fit in. It was pretty pathetic. Although, I nearly went over to her and asked her what she was wearing myself. The skirt was far too short, but, she did look nice. I sighed, turning around so my back was to Ali and looked at Draco, who was sat opposite me. "You don't look right,"

"I'm fine." He said through gritted teeth, now staring down at his plate of toast, his fists clenched together either side of it. Since he had to see the Dark Lord during the summer, he had been different. I could tell that Aliana could sense the difference and I knew it scared her. I know that Draco and Aliana weren't close, but she was still scared for him in any bad situation he was in; no matter how small or easy to get out of it was.

"If you're sure." I sighed heavily, picking up my goblet of pumpkin juice. I brought it to my lips, about to drink from it, before it was taken from my hands. I looked do my left and saw Ali sitting beside me, my drink in her hands. She was close to crying. I could tell, even if she wasn't showing it.

"He hates me," Ali's voice was choked and cracked, as if forcing down that lump you get in your throat when you're upset. "He won't talk to me. He hates me. He'll ignore me. He'll think I don't exist." I quickly wrapped my arms around Ali awkwardly, as we were sat side-by-side. I lifted her up lightly and pulled her over so she was sat on my lap. Her head was buried in my chest, her hands were clenched on the front of my robes and she began crying.

"He doesn't hate you," I whispered in her ear, stroking her hair gently, something she loved every time she was upset. It seemed to calm her down, but she was still crying, just not as hysterically as before. "He's just being a good dad. He's worried for you, and doesn't want all those boys drooling over you." I heard her mutter something that sounded like "I'm too hideous to be drooled over" or something along those lines and I had to roll my eyes. She didn't see herself as other people see her. I looked at Michael and Draco over Ali's head and saw that they had no idea what to do. Typical. Every time Aliana was upset, I am always the one that has to cheer her up. Maybe that's why I'm her favourite brother. . .

"Maybe you should drink something." I heard Michael say. He and I both knew that he had no idea what he was doing. "Or go to class. . . Dad's not the potion's master this year. . . so you can calm down in potions." I felt Aliana slowly look up

"Dad's not potions master?" Ali's voice must have hurt from all the crying she was doing, "But... why? He's brilliant at it,"

"He's always wanted the Defence Against The Dark Arts position, you know that. . ." Draco said, finally speaking. He didn't sound angry or upset at anyone. "I guess Dumbledore's finally given him what he wants; his family and his dream job." Ali, Michael and I all sighed together

"Yeah. . . well, I'd best go sort this mess out and then get to class," Aliana said, sliding off my lap and into the seat beside me. She picked up my drink and drank it, before she stood up again, "Later guys." She leaned over the table to give Michael and Draco a kiss on the cheek. She then kissed my cheek and left the Great Hall, presumably to find the bathroom to sort out her appearance.

"You like her." I looked away from the large oak doors to look at Michael when he spoke to Draco. "Don't deny it. You've liked her for ages."

"I have no idea what you're on about," Draco said, standing up and walking out of the hall. I looked at Michael and gave him a 'what was that about' look. He shook his head, before he followed our friend. Well, great. Draco might like Aliana. That's one more boy we have to fight off her.