As the group made their way up the stairs to the dorm, the boys all had a sneaking feeling that Alyssa was keeping something from them. Although most of the year did not see through Alyssa's act of sweetness and light, they seen her for her true self the moment they first met her. Alyssa was mischievous and had a habit of becoming very mysterious and indirect when she was plotting something. They had seen her only a few times that day which, in itself was strange as she normally stuck to Sirius like glue, but in the times they had seen her she was acting unlike herself and she never normally would have wanted to join them in their dorm to chill out with them, leading the boys to believe that she was planning something.
Despite James's suspicions about Alyssa's motives he doubted that they had anything to do with the marauders and so his main concern was to just relax for a while before retiring to bed and dealing with whatever Alyssa was planning in the morning. Unfortunately for him, he would not have the chance to wait that long.
As the second years strolled into their dorm they were surprised to notice that the curtains of the usually unoccupied four poster bed were drawn with a noise similar to breathing escaping from it.
"Who closed the curtains around the spare bed?" Asked Peter in genuine confusion.
"Why would anyone do that?" Remus reasoned, looking curiously at the bed, "Do you think there's someone in it?"
"What if there is?" Peter squeaked the casual tone in his voice now becoming more fearful, "What are we going to do if someone's in there?"
"Oh come off it you two," James scoffed, "Is this your idea of a joke? That the best prank you can come up with?"
"Ooh, closing the spare beds curtains," Sirius mocked, laughing, "I'm terrified,"
"I didn't do anything," Remus shrugged, walking past the bed, apparently deciding that it had been Peter's idea of a joke and after recovering a text book sitting down and burying his nose in it.
"Neither did I though!" Peter exclaimed, seeming scared now, "I didn't!"
"You've lost it mate," James laughed, sitting on the floor at the foot of Remus' bed, "That was the worst prank you've ever pulled,"
As Peter nervously passed the bed and joined James, Remus and Alyssa who had bounded over after James, Sirius remained standing near the spare bed, thinking. He was always very good at detecting when someone was lying, having stretched the truth numerously himself and from the seemingly honest reaction of Peter to the accusation of pulling a bad prank Sirius was coming to the conclusion that Peter's concern of there being an occupant may be genuine. Admittedly, Peter was not the brightest wand in Ollivanders, but nevertheless he was a marauder and closing the curtains of an unoccupied bed and pretending he thought there was someone in there hardly seemed a very worthy prank.
On the other hand, he thought as he walked slightly closer to where the others were sitting, besides Peter having of closed the curtains what other option was there apart from someone being in there.
"I'm creeped out," Peter said, nervously, eyeing the bed nervously as Sirius sat down, "I think that there's someone there,"
"Oh for Merlin's sake Peter," James groaned, "You pulled a rubbish prank and we saw through it, accept it."
"I don't think he did," Sirius said, suddenly, "I mean, what would be the point?"
"Aha," James laughed, "Nice try mate, but you can't save this one, no ones falling for it,"
"I'm serious," Sirius said, "I think we should have a neb,"
"Do you think someone is in there?" Alyssa grasped, dramatically clapping a manicured hand over her mouth.
"Well, I dunno," Sirius said, truthfully, "James, lean over and pull 'em open would you?"
"And get whatever you've set up behind them shot at me?" James scoffed, "I doubt it! You do it!"
"Fine," Sirius said, rolling his eyes as he stood up and walked over to the bed, "As if I'd of been in on such a lame prank,"
Slightly curious to uncover the mystery surrounding who had closed the bed curtains, James watched as Sirius grasped the drapes and yanked them back.
"What the…?" Sirius said loudly, taking a few steps back in confusion.
There before his and his watching room mates' eyes lay a sleeping stranger.
"Who the bloody hell is that?" James asked, bounding over to the bed, "Wake him up!"
"There's no need," The stranger replied, "I'm awake,"
"Well, what are you doing in our dorm?" James demanded.
"Sleeping," The stranger replied, with a sigh as he pushed himself up, "Henry McNally, I'm the new guy and you're new room mate,"
Henry McNally, Sirius decided right there was not someone he would be getting along with. Obviously he was there age, but he looked quite a lot older. He was well built, possibly a Quidditch player and handsome in a groomed way with deep brown eyes. His skin was lightly tanned and his chestnut hair fell gracefully to frame his face.
"Henry!" Alyssa's cheery voice announced, awakening Sirius from his thoughts as she stood up next to the bed, "I had no idea you were in this dorm!"
"You two have met already?" Sirius asked, looking from Alyssa to Henry, "When?"
"This morning silly," Alyssa smiled, looking past Sirius and straight at Henry, "I showed Henry to the tower,"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sirius demanded, glaring at Henry.
"Tell you what?" Alyssa asked, still smiling, the picture of innocence, "Would you like a report every time I help out a new student?"
Sirius rolled his eyes, realising Alyssa's plan, she had known Henry was in this dorm and wanted to watch their reaction.
"Well, this can't be right," James declared.
"Yeah, they can't just throw a new kid into our dorm," Sirius stated bluntly, still glaring at Henry, "You'll have to go,"
"I don't want any trouble guys," Henry said, his voice soothing and relaxed, "If you like I can try and have another word with Al- Sorry, Professor Dumbledore but I don't think it'll do any good."
"Why?" Sirius demanded, picking up on the fact that Henry had almost referred to the Headmaster by his first name as though he knew him personally, "Did you ask to share with us?"
"Well, I was under the impression when my parents sent me here that I'd have my own dorm," Henry said, "However, Professor Dumbledore said that this was the only available dorm,"
"He's right," Remus said, "There are thirty dorms for each year and up until now there are-"
"Alright Remus," Sirius sighed, shifting his stare at Henry momentarily to Alyssa who was clearly in her element watching the situation, "We don't need the calculations,"
"I'm glad to be here though," Henry smiled, "I mean, I wasn't expecting to have to share but Dumbledore said you were all very nice,"
Sirius laughed, "Yeah, we're the most popular kids in the year,"
"So you should be counting yourself lucky to be here," James smirked, "Although I doubt you're stay will be very long,"
"Well," Henry smiled, clearly understanding that he wasn't welcome, "We'll see,"