Another disclaimer because I used direct quotes from the movie. I Do not own Harry Potter nor any of the characters except Alice.
Enjoy! =D
After I changed into my Hogwarts robes, I went into the Great Hall to sit with Ron and Hermione.
"Where's Harry?" I asked as I sat down across from them. Ginny joined us and sat down next to me.
"We were wondering the same thing." Ron said through a mouth full of food.
"Would you stop eating! Your best friend is missing!" Hermione said, whacking Ron with a book.
Between scarfing down food and being smacked repeatedly on his arm, he managed to say, "Turn around, you lunatic!" We all turn around to see Harry walking towards us covered in blood.
"He's covered in blood again. Why is it he's always covered in blood?" Ginny said mainly to herself as she looked him over in worry.
"Looks like it's his own this time." Ron replied after he swallowed.
"What'd I miss?" Harry asked. We all stared as he sat down between Ginny and me. He was acting as though he wasn't holding a bloodied handkerchief to his nose.
"Not much." Hermione said, still concerned that he was bleeding. I guess I should have been more worried, or more attentive, but I droned myself out as my hated vibes traveled over to Draco. I knew he did this to my friend.
I spent the rest of dinner completely lost in thought. I was thinking about nothing in particular, just random things popping in and out of my mind.
"Oi, Alice." Ron's voice snapped me out of my reverie.
"Yeah?" I asked looking up.
"We're going up to the dorm. Are you gonna come?" He asked.
"Ok." I said standing up and following them out of the great hall. We walked up the long winding staircase to the dormitory. I had missed all the talking paintings and the ghosts just floating around the halls. I've even missed Peeves the friendly neighborhood Poltergeist. Sarcasm intended.
We had reached the painting of the Fat Lady that hid the entrance to Gryffindor House.
"Password." The Fat Lady asked.
"Does anyone have the password?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Harry, we're the prefects." Hermione said.
"Fortuna Major." Ron announced to the Fat Lady. She swung open signaling the password was correct. We stepped through to the warm, welcoming common room of Gryffindor Tower. The sound of the crackling fire soothed me, and the view from the window in the corner next to the homework table was breath taking. I had missed everything about Hogwarts.
"I'm going upstairs to change." I said to no one in particular.
"I'll go with you." Hermione said.
We walked up to the girls' dorm and found our trunks. I pulled out a pair of black cotton shorts and a bright red t-shirt. I threw my hair up into a messy bun and slipped on some socks that matched my shirt.
"So how was your summer, Alice?" Hermione asked.
I laughed even though it was full of scorn. "Depends on which part you ask about."
"Uh, overall?" She asked uncertainly.
"Overall, it bombed." I replied.
"Why is that?"
"I had to go back to my parents and since I know you saw what happened in Knockturn Alley, you can just image how well the rest of it went." I looked up at her shocked reaction.
"How did you know we were there?"
"You three aren't very good at hiding; Your gasps were pretty loud." I said laughing trying to lighten the mood.
"Did anything else happen?" she asked, referring to Father slapping me. "Like that over the summer, I mean."
I began putting things away and hung up the dress I had been wearing earlier. "Almost. The real trick is acting how he wants me to act. It isn't easy what-so-ever, what with the bleached looking blonde hair and the dressing in black every day. "
She just nodded, then completely changed the subject. "I'm going to go back downstairs, are you going to come?"
"I don't think so, I'm exhausted, and I haven't had a decent night's sleep in a few weeks. Tell Harry and Ron I said goodnight."
"I will. Goodnight Alice." She said turning to leave.
"Goodnight 'Mione." I returned.
After she left, I heard a tapping at the window. I turned around to see Errol. My heart instantly swelled and I could feel my smile spread across my face. I walked over to let him in and take the letter from him and as I expected it was from George.
Alice,
I just found out Zonko's Joke Shop wants to sell some of our Wheezes, pitiful really as they can't come up with their own ideas anymore, but they want us to come to Hogsmeade the same day you guys get to go. So I'm hoping to see you there? If you can go, meet me at the Three Broomsticks.
Love from,
George.
P.S. Oh and Happy first day back!
Every time I saw his untidy scrawl it always made me smile. I went over to my bed and grabbed a quill and some ink from my trunk. I sat down on my bed, set the letter on the nightstand, and wrote:
George,
That's great! I can't wait for Hogsmeade weekend so I can see you.
I'll be waiting at the Three Broom Sticks.
Love from,
Alice.
P.S. Thank you. It's great to be back!
I sent Errol on his way again with the letter. I closed the window and walked back over to my bed and slide underneath the covers. I slipped into my first peaceful sleep in a long while.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I were sitting in front of the fire place in the common room.
"Ugh, I'm hungry." I grumbled as by stomach growled. "I'm going to go down to the kitchens. Anyone want to come?"
"You're not allowed in the kitchens." Hermione reprimanded. "Besides you should have eaten at dinner."
"I wasn't at dinner, remember? I got detention." I said.
Ron laughed. "I swear you're in detention almost as much as my older brothers."
"I don't think anyone is in detention as much as those two." Harry chuckled.
"How is it I have never met your infamous older brothers?" I asked quizzically.
"Because you're that talented." Ron said poking fun.
"Oh shut up." I rolled my eyes. "But seriously I'm going down to the kitchens. Anyone coming?"
"Don't feel like it, but bring me back some of that pudding we had for dinner." Ron replied.
"I'll think about it. How about you Harry?" I asked turning towards him.
"Not this time, I am so behind on Snape's assignment." He answered.
"Alright, I'll be back whenever." I said turning and walking towards the portrait hole.
"Do you even know how to get in?" Ron called after me.
"I can figure it out." I said as I crawled out of the hole concealed behind the Fat Lady.
It was almost curfew so I had to be quick about this. I walked through the long corridors and down the ever-changing staircase. It was so quiet in the halls; Since they are usually filled with chattering students and walking was difficult. It was spooky, but nice.
I had finally made it to the entrance to the kitchens. Now I just had to figure out how to get in. I heard once apon a time that you tickled something on the painting, but I couldn't remember what it was.
"Just standing there staring at the fruit won't get you into the kitchens." Said a laughing voice from behind me. I whipped around, scared that it was a teacher, but instead I saw the smiling faces of two tall, red-headed boys.
"Fine then," I said challenging these two boys. "Do you know how to get in?"
"We sure do but-" The first one said.
"We don't do favors for Malfoys." Finished the other.
I sniggered and turned back around to face the portrait, analyzing it once again.
"And what do you find so funny?" Said the first one again. There was a slight difference in their voices. The first one's was a little bit lower and huskier.
Without looking back at either one of them I said, "Being branded as a stereotypical Malfoy before even knowing my name or anything about me is getting pretty old."
"A Malfoy is a Malfoy." The second one said.
"How do you know?" I took a step closer to the painting to examine it closer. "Have you ever talked to the only Malfoy that was put in Gryffindor House?"
"We are right now." The first one replied.
"Doesn't count if you excusing me of being a no good Malfoy." I said simply.
"Ok, I give, the other Malfoy would have been-" The first started.
"Trying to hex us into oblivion by now." The second one finished.
"Well there's your first indication that you two are being idiots." I said turning around to face them once again.
"Indication you don't know how to hex us maybe." The second countered.
My eyes narrowed and my hair flashed from being the pale blonde it usually is to a deep red. The two boys took a step back looking perplexed at the sudden change in my hair color. "Oh no if I wanted to hex you I would have the second you two came up behind me. Coming from the Malfoy family, I know hexes that would make your head spin, literally."
"Oh really-" The second one began.
"Then show us." The first said, but he took a step closer.
I once again turned my back on them to face the painting. "I don't feel like exerting that much energy on you slimy gits."
"Slimy gits, eh." The first said.
"We're definitely not showing you how to get into the kitchens now." The second added.
"I'm not interested anymore anyway." I turned to walk back up to the dorm.
I heard one of the boys take a step forward. "Well if you hate people accusing you about things before they know your name, tell us what it is." I could hear it was the first one that had spoken.
I stopped short, surprised. I turned around to face them. "It's Alice."
The one that had spoken smiled. "I'm George Weasley."
The other one sighed, and reluctantly gave his name. "Fred."
"So you're the infamous Weasley twins I've heard of but never seen." I said sizing each one up.
"Infamous?" The first one, George, said tilting his head to the side. I found this to be oddly cute, I have no idea why since he was being a jerk earlier.
"Not quite, but we're getting there." The other, Fred, added.
"Good luck getting there." I said sarcastically. "I'm heading back up to the common room now." I went to leave but before I took a step my stomach growled and I swear it echoed off the walls.
"Sounds like someone is still interested in getting into the kitchens, but is too stubborn to say so." George said mockingly.
"Yeah well, I'm out of luck aren't I? Seeing as how you won't tell me how to get in."
"We might make an exception-" George started.
"If you ask nicely." Fred once again finished.
I rolled my eyes. "Will you, please, tell me how to get into the kitchens."
"You're in luck, because we were heading in there ourselves." George said smiling. He walked over to the painting and tickled the pear. It giggled and turned into a doorknob. He grabbed it and twisted it, and it swung open to reveal the enormous kitchens of Hogwarts Castle. There were house elves bustling about everywhere. There were five long tables set up exactly like the ones in the Great Hall. I was willing to bet that they were directly under the ones in the Great Hall, too.
"Yeah the first time here is amazing." Fred said.
"No, doubt." I agreed.
"I imagine you're used to seeing house elves all the time, what with the Malfoys' prestigious wealth." George said.
I walked over to a fruit bowl sitting on a counter, and grabbed an apple and took a bite of it. I chewed the piece rather slowly while thinking over what I was going to say. "I guess, but I definitely prefer the nice, quaint house I live in on the beach. No house elves, no massive staircases, and no ridiculously sized rooms." I watched them as what I just said sank in. I took another bite out of my apple waiting for their responses.
"I've heard that the Malfoys have an enormous manor, with enough house elves to take care of the entire school." Fred said skeptically.
"You have heard right." I said with an evil smile.
"I am so confused now." George said.
"It's true that the Malfoy Manor is extremely extravagant in size, but seeing as how I live in an house on the beach, I don't have house elves or the overly exaggerated rooms." I loved seeing their reactions to everything I was saying. I haven't a clue on why I was telling them this though.
"Okay I'm lost. What about you Fred." George asked his twin.
"As lost as you are, Georgie." Fred answered.
I just shook my head and laughed. I turned around to find some more food, and it wasn't long before I heard them following.
"You can't just say something like that and-" George began.
"Not tell us what you mean." Fred finished.
"Sure I can." I shrugged and turned towards a house elf and asked him for any kind of food. The house elf scurried off and I faced the twins again. "Why would I want to tell you what I mean? I'm just a Malfoy, aren't I?"
"If we say we're sorry then can you tell us what you mean?" George asked.
"Alright." I said smiling.
"We are sorry Alice for assuming you're just a slimy Malfoy." The brothers said at the same time.
"Apology accepted." I turned around and continued to walk through the kitchens.
"Hey that's not fair." George said walking after me.
"You said you would tell us." Fred said following suit.
"That's true but I never said when." I sniggered as I approached at one of the tables. When I sat down the house elf, I spoke to earlier gave me a plate of food and a drink. "Thank you sir." I said to the elf.
The house elf sputtered and blinked rapidly at me. After a few minutes of his seemingly surprised reaction he squeaked out, "My pleasure, Miss." He then bowed and went back off to work. I looked up and saw the twins had taken the seats across from me, and they were looking at me as if I was an alien.
"What?" I asked, giving them a quizzical look.
"You were just nice to that house elf." Fred said.
"Yeah? Is it a crime?" I asked as I took a bite of the chicken on my plate.
"You really aren't a typical Malfoy." George added.
"Isn't that what I tried to tell you?" I took a drink from the goblet.
"Yeah well." Was all George said.
"So are you going to tell us about what you meant earlier?" Fred questioned.
"Not tonight. I'm going to head back up to the common room before I get detention again today." I got up, carried my plate and goblet over to the sinks, and once again received sputtering and rapidly blinking eyes staring at me. I walked back over to the table before I headed out. "Goodnight, Fred, George." I said taking an extra second looking at George.
"'Night." Fred replied.
"Goodnight, Alice." George said in a lower and slower voice. I melted on the inside at his voice.
I nodded and walked out of the kitchens and back up to the dormitories.
"Alice. Alice! Wake up!" I heard Hermione through the thickness of my dream state. I groaned and rolled back over. "It's time for class."
I hope you enjoyed! Until next time!
