11. Alissandra Carter.
When I got in the Hogwarts' Express on that Saturday night, I was so exhausted by the rest of my week that I soon fell asleep against Remus' shoulder.
On Thursday, boys had decided to teach me how to play Quidditch, and it appeared that thanks to my powers I was rather a good Keeper. Remus and I even won a part, before Sirius decided to "take my fate in his own hands". Meaning distracting me to prevent me from stopping the ball thrown by James.
On Friday, Helen and I had gone shopping, because all my belongings hadn't been sent from "home" yet. We bought new clothes to fill the cupboard and she offered me a photo album so I could keep all my new memories in my heart. In the evening, I even smiled a little when James made his pudding explode.
On Saturday, apart from packing and preparing to depart for London, I had tidied my new acquired bedroom and it really felt like home, until Sirius came in changed into his dog form and decided to wash himself on my bed, which I had to clean up before cursing him petrified.
The letter Pr Dumbledore had sent me was safe in my backpack, in which I had put my album, few treats for the journey and of course my dearest wand, though I didn't really need it to protect myself.
When I woke up, it was still dark outside and all three of the boys were sleeping. Peter had joined in whenever he did and I hadn't heard him. Which wasn't that bad as he really was creeping me out. Lily had obviously came by as her perfume still lingered in the air.
I silently got up and opened the box' door as to go to the toilets. When I passed the first wagon, I ran into a tall figure with deep grey eyes looking stunned but not angry.
"Oh, Regulus!" I said surprised.
He looked even more stunned as I didn't curse him dead. But I hadn't had any reasons to curse him...
"Hello, Vala." he replied. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was walking."
I suddenly understood where he was heading.
"Are you going into Gryffindor's wagon?" I asked smirking.
He blushed a little.
"No, I wasn't. I was just...wandering about."
I looked at him not oblivious at all.
"You know, you can tell me you wanted to see him, even asleep. It mustn't be easy for you to lose your brother all in a sudden."
He looked at me and brushed his hair just like Sirius used to.
"Yeah, well... I didn't want him to go. You know, now I'm just...the hope of the family. Kind of thing."
"Yes, I do know how it is. Anyway, Regulus, it was a real pleasure to talk with you, you're a very sensible Slytherin and I didn't know it could exist. But if I'm not going right now, I might pee on you."
He smirked a little and let me pass him.
"Hope I see you soon, Vala."
I waved goodbye and rushed to the loos.
o°o°o°o
When I got back in our compartment, they were all awake, with James' eyes eagerly looking towards the door.
"Nope, James, I'm not her."
Lily hadn't come by yet, and he was getting nervous by the second. She had sent me a comforting letter during that week, probably warned by James, and I now knew she was struggling with her new feelings towards him.
"I don't think she will come over, Prongs" I said, using his nickname for the first time.
"Why not?" he asked looking barely concerned.
"She wants to make sure you missed her." I said smirking though I didn't want to.
Sirius looked at me as a curious beast.
"Wow, a smirk! What's his name?" he asked, and I sensed a little jealousy in his voice.
"Actually, it was Regulus, and he sends you his regards."
He jumped out of his seat, fist before his face.
"You befriend the enemy?" he threatened.
I smiled and got up too. Facing his grey eyes tempering within, I took a deep breath.
"I was going to the toil, Sirius, and I walked in your brother, minding his own business. Now, if you may, I can choose whether or not I'm going to talk with people who never harmed me."
His eyes duelled mine for a minute and then they surrendered.
I sat down and rested my head on Remus' lap. I sensed him chuckle and it made me grin.
The first real grin I've given since Wednesday.
o°o°o°o
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Remus asked when we got out of the train.
I was already starting to head for the castle where Pr Dumbledore was most probably waiting for me.
I turned and waved him back.
"No, thanks, Rem', I think I won't get lost."
"But you can get into trouble" he added sneering.
"You're right, Moony, that's why I'm going to accompany her without her consent."
And before I could protest, he silenced me with magic and pulled me with him towards the high walls.
When we got into a deserted corridor, he slapped me against a wall and started pushing his head to mine. When our lips were only inches close, I made him stop.
"What do you think you are doing?" I whispered between my teeth.
"What do you think?" he grinned before trying to kiss me again.
"And have I given you permission?" I asked gently pushing him back and getting my own balance back.
He sighed.
"Miss Emerald, might I kiss you, please?"
I grinned and he grinned back. "Gotcha" I thought.
"No, you can't."
And I continued to the eagle gargoyle.
"Fizwizbiz" I announced.
"Good afternoon, Miss" the gargoyle replied before letting me pass.
I knocked on the door and heard a little chuckle behind it. I took it I could enter.
Pr Dumbledore wasn't alone. At all. Lissia was sitting in front of him, killing me with her piercing black eyes.
I silently walked to the second armchair and stretched my hand.
"Lissia, good day to you" I said.
She looked at me as if I had plague, but shook hands nevertheless. I turned to our headmaster.
"Sir." I nodded.
"Vala, thanks to join us. I hope the trip hasn't been difficult?"
"No, it hasn't. It was a real holiday." I added, seeing him looking suddenly sad.
"Anyway, Misses. I asked you to come over because we do have some issues getting the corridors proper. When I mean proper, I mean that even the best prefects can't take some fellow students to rejoin their dormitories late at night."
I grinned. I knew who he would talk about.
"Those prefects therefore asked for reinforcements, and I do believe you are the two most sensible girls in Gryffindor when it comes to those you call the Marauders"
I looked at Lissia, perplexed. I was surely enough objective when it came to night pranks, but Lissia? Sirius' girlfriend?
"I would then ask both of you to accept the post of "Nightwatcher" until those four boys come back to their senses. Can I count on you?"
I nodded. No matter who it would be with, I'd do it. For my sake.
"I don't want to be paired with her" then said Lissia.
Pr Dumbledore pierced her with his blue eyes, as a grandfather would look his granddaughter when after a bad doing.
"Miss Carter, I think you'll find that any animosity you might have for Miss Emerald is unjustified. And, by the way, it is unnecessary for you to pair up for the task. All you have to do is to meet every two nights or so and decide where you're going to patrol."
I looked at her and waited for her gaze to meet mine.
"Alissandra" I said, using her full name as an attempt to talk as to an adult being, "I do not fancy your boyfriend" and I kept glaring at her until she finally saw that I wasn't lying.
"I'll do it" she eventually sighed.
"I expected you to." Pr Dumbledore said before heading us to the door. "I'll call on you next week to see how you're doing."
o°o°o°o
When we got down the stairs, Sirius was waiting. For me obviously, as he didn't know Lissia was with me.
He looked surprised for a tiny second, but only I could tell. Lissia looked at him grinning and in response he took her hand and jumped on her snogging. I rolled my eyes as I walked away.
"Where are you going?" then yelled Lissia, soon catching up with me, Sirius behind her gluing her waist.
"Commons" I said, obvious as it was.
"So" she added, "now that we are to work together, did you really mean what you said up there?"
She stopped and looked at me with X-raying eyes.
I put my hands before me in surrender.
"I did. And I also mean this: be careful, Alissandra, be very careful, 'cause sometimes the bird falls down the nest and breaks its neck"
She nodded but I wasn't sure she got it right. We silently walked, all three of us, the our common room, even winning a very surprised glance by the Fat Lady.
…...
Hello! I've got several questions for you and I'd really like you to answer these as a review..
Shall I make Regulus Vala's friend? Would it bother you if I did as Reg' wanted to prove his brother he wasn't bad and him trying to get Siri with Vals?
Do I need to add a female character to the story so that Remus would get busy and have less time to protect his...friend?
When do you want to know the whole story about Vala's half-lycanthropy?
Who would like a Snape cameo?
Is Lissia a real bitch or will she come with her senses and see Sirius is using her?
Thanks a lot if you dare answering, I really need inspiration!
Ana