The Quidditch practice wiped Alessia out every night she went. She and Wood had agreed that twice a week was the best option. Tonight was her night off and she pored over her textbooks while in the Gryffindor common room. Alessia still felt out of place there, but she liked waiting for the team to return.

The longer she waited, the heavier her eyelids felt. She put her arms on the desk and then laid her head down.

It was that dream again. She was bleeding from deep wounds and bound to a chair. This time she tried to scream for help. But no sound came.

A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped awake with a yelp.

"Sorry," George said. "I just wanted to make sure you got to bed properly."

Alessia groaned and stretched. It was getting worse. "Thanks," she said, gathering her books and parchment.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

She couldn't tell if she felt patronized or cared for as she pinched her nose to stop the sudden bleeding. The simple answer she had: "I don't want to talk about it." Alessia walked up to her dormitory, leaving George looking befuddled.

The next day was Halloween. Aromas of pumpkin wafted through the corridors. Alessia had gone up to bed, but never fell asleep again. Getting up for class was more difficult than usual that morning.

When she arrived in Charms class, Professor Flitwick announced that they would finally be trying the Hover Charm. Most of the class had been looking forward to this day since seeing Neville's toad fly around the classroom.

Professor Flitwick put the class into pairs. Harry was with Seamus Finnigan and it was difficult to decipher if Ron Weasley was angrier than Hermione Granger about them being partners. She hadn't spoken to Harry or Ron in weeks. Alessia was left with Neville Longbottom as her partner.

"Now don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" Professor Flitwick reminded the class. "The swish and flick."

He demonstrated the movement. "Everyone," he beckoned.

"The swish and flick," the class and Professor Flitwick repeated in unison.

"And enunciate!" the Charms teacher prompted. "Wingardium Leviosa. Off you go then."

Neville had already forgotten the wrist movement. He kept swishing without flicking.

"Longbottom," Alessia stopped him. "It's swish and flick."

"Right, right. Thanks."

In front of them, Hermione had begun to correct Ron about his pronunciation.

"You're saying it wrong," Hermione snapped. "It's Levi-o-sa. Not Levio-sa."

"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.

Alessia watched them as Neville's continued swishing went unnoticed to her this time. Hermione waved her wand and flicked it while saying, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Their feather rose off the desk and hovered higher and higher as she flicked her wand more. This drew the attention of everyone in the class and they stopped.

"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick cried. "See here, everyone. Miss Granger's done it!"

Ron looked a mix of jealous and frustrated.

"Well done, dear," Professor Flitwick said with a smile.

While everyone looked in awe at Hermione's accomplishment, Seamus returned to trying to make the feather fly.

"Wingard Leviosa!" he said. "Wingard Leviosa!"

An explosion erupted and Seamus was covered in soot again. The feather was hovering, but it was smoking from a few embers.

Alessia was leaning over her desk to tap Hermione on the shoulder, but the booming had made her jump. She sat back down.

At the end of class, Harry and Ron walked out together. Alessia was trying to catch up to Hermione, but she was rushing past the boys and then out of sight.

"I think she heard you," Harry said as Alessia caught up.

"Heard what?" Alessia asked him.

"Erm-"

"Well?!"

The boys exchanged glances. Alessia scoffed and hurried to the next class in hope to catch Hermione.

Only she wasn't there. It was unlike Hermione to miss any class time. Alessia took notes of everything they did in History of Magic.

When the class was released, Alessia hurried to the dormitories to see if Hermione had gone up to bed. She wasn't there either.

Giving up, Alessia headed down to the Halloween Feast. A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and even more swooped over the tables. Candles in the pumpkins lit the Great Hall as they floated in midair.

Alessia took a seat next to Harry. "Where's Granger?"

Neville overheard the question and leaned in. "Pavarti Patil said that she wouldn't come out of the girls' bathroom. She said that she'd been in there all afternoon. Crying."

Harry glanced back at Ron. Alessia watched Ron shrug.

"What did you say to her, Weasley?" she demanded. "It was obviously something you said."

Ron's aggravated response was interrupted by Professor Quirrell sprinting into the hall and shouting, "Troll! In the dungeon!" he whimpered. "Thought you ought to know!" He sank to the floor in a dead faint.

There was an uproar. The students began to scream and rush out of the room.

"Silence!" the headmaster's voice boomed. The chaos ceased. "Everyone will please not panic. Now… Prefects will lead their Houses back to the dormitories. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons."

Alessia followed the Gryffindors back to the tower, assuming the boys had done the same. When they entered, most of the students sank into armchairs or other available seats. Alessia spotted Fred and George and approached them. She caught George's eye and he waved her over.

"Having a nice Halloween?" Fred asked.

"Sure, I guess," Alessia said noncommittally. Suddenly aware that she did not convince the twins, "It's just a bit weird being here instead," she recovered quickly. "I grew up in a Muggle town, so we always had trick-or-treating."

"What's trick-or-treating?"

"I feel like this is something we should be involved in," George said with an amused smirk.

Quick-witted, Alessia narrowed her eyes at them. "No, it's not."

"Oh, c'mon, McKinnon," Fred insisted. "Tell us. We won't do anything to you."

"Yes, but I suspect you'd try to prank the Slytherins."

"So that's where 'trick' comes in," George said, his eyes glinting mischievously. The twins stood up from their seats. "What's 'treat'?"

"Shite," Alessia muttered. Her eyes darted around the room. "Please don't do anything on my account. My mum would kill me."

"What she doesn't know won't kill her," said Fred.

"She's an Auror. She'd know. Besides, Slytherin was my mum's old House - bollocks." She hadn't wanted to reveal that last part.

George sat back down. "Really?" he asked.

Alessia realized she couldn't come back from her mistake. "Yes."

"What did your mum say when she found out you're a Gryffindor?" George asked.

Alessia bit her lip. Her mother had told her to make the late Seamus McKinnon proud. "Look," she said, her voice wavering. "Do what you'd like, just don't involve me." She walked away, ignoring George's question. The feast had been moved to the common room, but she strolled past and up the stairs to her room.

Hermione was still missing. Alessia had noticed that Harry and Ron were absent as well. Attempting to shake the rising concern in her mind, she pulled out her notes and textbooks and began to read.

The distraction wasn't enough. Alessia could still hear the low rumble of voices downstairs and decided to return to the feast. To her relief, the three Gryffindors that she had been worried about were standing near the entrance.

"Hey Granger!" Alessia called as she approached. "I've been trying to find you."

"Why?" Hermione asked, turning around and she fidgeting with a grimy sleeve.

"Wait. Why are you covered in dust?"

"The troll came to the girls' bathroom and Harry and Ron actually saved my life."

"You might not have needed saving if Ron hadn't insulted you," Harry interjected, appearing at Alessia's side. Alessia made a noise between a scoff and a gasp.

"What was it you wanted to say before?" Hermione inquired, looking desperate to change the subject.

"I wanted to tell you that I thought you did brilliantly in Charms class today," Alessia praised. "Been trying to tell you since you made the feather fly, but Seamus made his feather explode. Then apparently Ron insulted you, so now's the only chance I've had all day."

Hermione flushed bright red. "Thanks."

"Hey, McKinnon!" Fred called. "No need to explain trick-or-treating to us anymore. Harry told us."

Alessia turned to Harry. "You did what?"

"I didn't know they didn't know!" he protested.

Alessia groaned. "If they do anything tonight, I'm going to jinx your pillow, Potter."

"Relax, McKinnon," George said from behind her. "We'll bring you back a souvenir."

"Like what? Part of a door?"

"I was thinking of something a bit smaller," Fred said. "But we'll bring you that, then!"

"Please don't."