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Chapter Eight

Hogsmeade

Alice pushed past her lingering unhappiness and stifled her anger long enough to prepare for her date. She decided on thick black leggings, boots that reached her knees, and a navy-blue sweater that reached her middle thighs. Rose dressed her garb up with a thin black belt that went around her torso. It would be chilly outside so she chose to wear her creamy colored pea-coat her great Grammy presented her with last Christmas.

"What about a hat?" Alice asked as she twirled in front of the floor-length mirror. Lily and Rose were dressing themselves as well, but not quite so fashionably.

"Goodness no! That's why we left your hair down." Rose laughed as she buttoned her jacket. She looked snug in her thick coat and washed-out jeans. Alice immediately wished that they would have let her wear a pair of nice denim slacks. Wearing leggings felt like walking around naked.

"Be nice, this is her first date." Lily waved Rose's giggles away as she practically skipped to the bathroom with tooth-brush in hand.

"Lily, I need to tell you something." Alice whispered and drew her towards the bed.

"What?"

"Last night, your brother and I got into an argument." Lily's brows drew together in confusion.

"What happened? Did you give him a black-eye, because I would have."

Alice nodded, "No, he kissed me. I told him that Zachariah was none of his business, he apologized and somewhere in-between that we started kissing."

Lily's mouth formed into a perfectly large 'O' and her face became as red as her hair.

"You have got to be kidding me. Right? He literally forced you into kissing him?"

"K-kinda. I mean, it was all so confusing and I was just so overwhelmed!"

"I'm going to beat the shi-!" Alice placed a firm hand over Lily's mouth and frowned.

"Please don't."

Lily pushed her hands away and narrowed her dark, brown eyes at Alice. Realization and surprised dawned on her moments later.

"You liked it, didn't you? You liked the fact that he apologized and then kissed you?"

"I don't know." Alice blushed fiercely.

"Oh, Alice. You can't be serious!" Lily slouched and fell backwards with her hands firmly over her eyes.

"It was my first kiss, okay? I can't help it."

"All-right, all-right. Under those circumstances only can I accept what he did to you."

"Did what to who?" Rose chimed in as she came back out. Alice could practically smell the mint coming off her breath and they were nowhere near one another.

"I was just warning Alice about boys. Ya know, don't let him do this or that."

Rose snorted, "You're such a mom sometimes."

"Whatever, let's just get going. Don't want Alice to miss her first date, do we?"

"Of course not!" Rose tossed her tooth-brush onto the bed and hastily threw her purse over shoulder. The three of them bounded down the stairs, through the common room, and out into the hallway. The Dining Hall was buzzing with students eating lunch, chatting over what they were going to do in Hogsmeade and what they would buy. The first and second years would remain inside the Castle since the third year's and up would be harrowing the journey.

"I see Zachariah!" Rose whispered loudly in Alice's ear as they entered.

When Alice found where Rose was pointing to, she felt herself become nervous all over again. He had not spotted her yet and so it was easy for her to measure the situation better. Thankfully his friend An was wearing something more expensive than what Alice had on, so it drew attention away from her outfit. However, Zachariah looked positively handsome. He donned a green jacket and tan slacks. His scarf was silver and green, like the colors of his House. Around his friends, he looked so comfortable and natural that the idea scared Alice. She had no clue what to talk to him about!

"Oh, he's looking over here. Wave to him or smile!" Lily pinched Alice's bare left-hand that hung limply at her side. The flaxen-haired girl winced softly and grinned. He acknowledged her with a wave of his hand and held up his right index finger, signaling that he would be over shortly.

Alice breathed a sigh of relief then and sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"Great, Zachariah isn't the only one looking over here." Lily nudged Alice and pointed towards James. He was standing in a group of mixed Ravenclaw's, Hufflepuff's, and Gryffindor's. They all seemed to be so involved with their conversation, all except James, who was staring at Alice. His expression was grim and the girl hanging on his arm, presumably Lenore, did not seem to notice her boyfriend's wandering eyes.

"Who cares. That git can stare all he likes, it isn't as if he'll do anything." Alice turned away from him and forced her body to forget. She was supposed to be mad at him for hurting her, for kissing her, and for anything else she wanted to be angry about. But that was not the case. She still yearned for him and felt the tingle on her lips from their kiss when all she wanted was to forget it ever happened.

"Well, well. I think I'm a bit underdressed." Alice's gaze snapped up from her feet to the cerulean-eyed boy in front of her. An had abandoned his side for her other friends and upon further inspection, it appeared that Rose and Lily fled long ago.

"Underdressed? I think I'm overdressed."

"Nonsense. You look lovely!" He grinned and his dimples appeared. He was too adorable.

"Thank-you. I usually don't dress this nicely." Alice took his hand when he offered it and they began to walk with the large group. It was time to leave for Hogsmeade and thankfully, the crowd was big enough that no one was paying much attention to the Slytherin and Gryffindor.

"I think that makes me extra lucky today, don't you?"

"Hardly!" Alice laughed weakly.

"I disagree with you, strongly. You have to understand that it is not ever day that I am in the presence of such a pretty girl." Zachariah's strong, Scottish accent sent the butterflies in her stomach into a mad frenzy.

"Such a charmer." Alice giggled.

"I think that might be the first time my charm has actually worked." He admitted and smiled innocently. Something about his kindness and genuine interest in her caused Alice to relax a little more than she usually allowed herself.

Here was a boy who was both charming and modest. He did not have history with her, that was evident, and he hardly knew who she was. However, the longer she walked with him around the little village and held his hand, the closer to him she felt. His strong presence and alluring personality kept her thoughts driven towards a happier place, one that did not involve a single thought about Potter.