"Where were you all day?" Fred asked, as Alexandra joined him and Alanna at the Gryffindor table for dinner.
"Oh, I felt a bit sick after Transfiguration this morning," Alexandra lied. "I went to the hospital wing to lie down."
Alanna looked up at this. By the look on her face, Alexandra knew that her lie had not deceived her, but luckily, Alanna said nothing.
"You okay?" Fred questioned.
"Oh, yah," Alexandra nodded. "Just a headache. I'm fine now though."
"You really did miss a lot," Fred stated, passing Alexandra a bowl of steaming potatoes. "If you want I can lend you my notes to copy tonight. Although I can't teach you how to do the charm we learned with Flitwick today; you know how lousy my spell work is. But potions was interesting. Professor Slughorn taught us how to make a hair-growing potion, and while we were making it, Phillip McKorcle's cauldron tipped over on him! He had hair everywhere!"
Alexandra cracked a small grin. "Shame I missed it." At least Fred's still treating me normally, she thought miserably, stabbing at her potatoes with her fork, while she watched Alanna eat silently, still avoiding her gaze.
Once the deserts were finished, there was the usual rush of students making there way out of the Great Hall. Fred, Alanna and Alexandra decided to hang back for a few minutes, as to avoid the crowd, and once the Hall had cleared out the three started up the stairway.
"Oh, look who it is," Fred said quietly suddenly, his eyes narrowing. He was staring straight ahead at none other than Wretermoust.
"The little git," Fred said under his breath. "I swear, once I learn a proper spell, he'll be the first I test it on."
"But you'll get in trouble," Alanna spoke up softly. "It's against the rules to duel."
"Honestly Alanna, you really believe people here follow that? Haven't you seen any duels since we've been here? I've seen about five myself."
Alanna didn't answer. She simply shrugged and went back to her silence.
"Anyways," Fred continued as they neared the common room. "Thank goodness it's almost Christmas holiday. I defiantly need a break from all this homework."
"So you're not going to stay at Hogwarts over the holiday then?" Alanna asked.
"Nah," Fred said. "I'd rather spend it at home. My grandma always makes a huge feast on Christmas, and her cooking is delicious, wouldn't miss it for the world. Plus, James and Louis will be dying to hear all about Hogwarts."
The three reached the portrait of the fat lady and gave her the password (bittlebeddle) and stepped through the opening and headed towards their usual table to begin on their homework.
"What about you Alexandra, you're going home for Christmas, aren't you?" Fred asked as her opened his bag.
"Yes, I really miss my dad, I can't wait to see him again," she answered. "And I'll probably see Harry and Ginny as well." She began taking books out of her bag like Fred, but then she noticed Alanna was only fiddling with the strap of her bag, with a look of deep thought on her face.
"Are you okay Alanna?" Alexandra asked gently.
"Hmm?" Alanna said, snapping out of her trance. "Oh, yah. I'm actually feeling a bit tired. I think I'm going to head up to bed."
"But it's only seven!" Fred exclaimed.
"I know," Alanna said, standing up. "But like I said, I'm really tired. I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, she hurried up the stairs to the girl's dormitories.
"Whatever," Fred said. "Come on, Binns assigned us an essay on the Goblin War of 1231, due Monday."
"You know what," Alexandra said, rising from her seat. "I think I'll go to bed too. I think that headache really knocked the energy out of me."
"Right," Fred said, shutting his own book. "Well, if you and Alanna are going to put this off, I will too. Maybe I can talk Teddy into a game of chess…"
Alexandra bid Fred good night, and then went up to her dormitory. She knew the reason Alanna went to bed so early. She was avoiding her, like she had been all day. Alexandra had had enough of it. She was going to confront Alanna and get this incident resolved once and for all.
Alexandra entered the dorm, which was empty except for Alanna. She was lying on her bed, still fully clothed, staring up at the ceiling.
"I thought you were going to bed," Alexandra said, making her way over to her friend.
Alanna jumped, apparently startled to see Alexandra. She opened her mouth to reply, but Alexandra cut her off before she could.
"I know what's going on Alanna," she said. "You're avoiding me."
"What?" Alanna sputtered, sitting up. "That's absurd."
"No, it isn't," Alexandra stated, folding her arms. "And I know why. It's because of last night, isn't it?"
"Wha- no!"
"You think I did that to Grace and Tiffany in purpose, don't you?" Alexandra said seriously.
Alanna didn't answer to this.
Alexandra moved closed. "I didn't do it on purpose though, Alanna, you've got to believe me."
"I-I do," Alanna said slowly. "It's just, it all happened so fast. And you shot fire at them, Alexandra, it was really scary."
"I know, I know, I feel terrible about it," Alexandra said. "But I don't know what happened. I just pulled out my wand, just for show, you know, and before I knew it, well, you know what happened. But I did not want to hurt them."
The two girls didn't say anything for a moment. Then Alanna took a deep breath; "I was being stupid," she said. "I was acting like a complete idiot over this whole thing. You're my best friend, one of the only friends I've had my whole life."
Alexandra cracked a small smile. "Thanks. So, we can let this whole thing go?"
"Absolutely," Alanna nodded.
Alexandra grinned. She felt like a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Alanna was by her side once more.
"So," Alexandra said, collapsing on her bed. "What are you going to be doing over holiday?"
Alanna shrugged. "Probably just stay around here."
"You're not going to go home?"
She shook her head. "Nah, I don't think so."
"But why-"
"What are you and your dad planning on doing?" Alanna interjected before Alexandra could finish her sentence.
"Probably just stay home," she answered. "We might go over to my dad's cousins' house, but that's about it."
"Sounds fun," Alanna said, smiling at her friend. "You know what? I think I'm going to go to the lavatory now, before they all start filling up."
"Oh, okay," Alexandra said.
Alexandra stood up and walked out of the dormitory leaving Alexandra caught up in her own thoughts.
Why wouldn't she want to go home? Alexandra thought. But she had just gotten back on good terms with Alanna, and Alexandra most certainly was not going to wreck that by putting her nose where it did not belong.
She'll tell me eventually, Alanna told her self, lying down on her bed. When she's ready.
AN- Sooooo sorry about the long wait. There's really no excuse for it. I know I hate waiting for updates in the stories I read, and I feel awful about doing it to you guys.