School had continued on as it always did. Ron returned to class two days after the love potion incident. Harry was very suspicious of Alyson after that day he had been keeping a very close watch one her and she think she knew why. Draco had all but basically disappeared he was not showing up to classes, he had basically quit the qudditch team and rarely showed up for meals. Harry knew that Alyson knew something and he made sure to inquire about it every day.
"I wonder where Malfoy has been hiding" Harry said bluntly as he shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth and chewed on it while deliberately starring Alyson down.
"Yeah where has our slippery friend been hiding" Ron spat with a mouth full of food.
"Don't worry im sure he's around" Hermione said trying to ease the tension.
"Harry I haven't spoken to him in weeks I don't know why you won't just accept that and leave it alone" Alyson growled as she slammed her potions book shut and glared back at him.
"I don't know maybe because you're a death eater and so is he" Harry whispered hoarsely so no one could hear him.
Alyson snatched up her stuff before getting to her feet.
"Alyson come on he doesn't mean anything by it" Ron pleaded as he tried to reason with her.
"Harry look!" Hermione said suddenly which caught Alyson's attention as she turned to look and see what she was pointing at.
"Katie Bell" Alyson said.
"I need to go talk to her" said Harry as he stood up to go over and talk to her.
"I'll see you later" Alyson said to Hermione and Ron before leaving to exit the great hall.
Just as she was about to leave the building she saw a familiar blonde haired wizard headed her way. Draco's eyes glanced up and met hers. They held each other's gaze for a few minutes before Alyson turned on her heel and headed out towards the carriages to go hogsmeade to meet up with Fred.
"Hey Alyson" said a dreamy voice.
"Hey Luna" Alyson smiled as she crossed her arms over her books and held them tightly to her chest.
"Going to hogsmeade?" she asked as she motioned towards the carriage that was pulling up.
"Of course, I'm meeting Fred." Alyson explained.
"Oh yes that's right I forgot you and him were dating. I always thought you were with Malfoy" she giggled.
"Oh" Alyson replied as she turned her eyes to the ground.
"Want to ride to hogsmeade with me?" she asked as Alyson sighed feeling relieved she had changed the subject.
"Yeah, Sure." Alyson replied as she climbed up in the carriage behind her.
Luna talked to her thankfully about classes and different theories she had about conspiracies that were going on inside the castle. Alyson felt herself nodding and responding but not really paying attention to Luna at all. She kept thinking about Draco and about how close they used to be. She thought back to the day when the dark lord and her argued over him.
"Alyson what are you doing up so late?" asked the dark lord as he entered the library quietly.
"Couldn't sleep" she replied as she turned her attention to the book that was in her lap. She had been on the same page for the last thirty minutes but found she couldn't read it because her thoughts kept going back to a certain blonde haired boy.
"You sure it wouldn't have to do with a certain young man in the house?" Voldemort asked as he raised his eyebrow at Alyson and a small smirk appeared on his face.
"No. Of course not" Alyson replied as her eyes dropped to the floor.
"Oh to be young again." Voldemort chuckled as he took a seat next to her on the couch.
"Is it that obvious?" Alyson said feeling ashamed.
"You care for that boy more than I've ever seen you care for another including myself." He confessed to her as he patted his hand.
"But he cannot be mine and I will never be his" she barely whispered as she kept her eyes on the ground.
"Oh Alyson you knew that if there was a way I'd be the first to make it happen for you but it just simply cannot be. If I could magically rid you of your feelings for him I would but alas there is no such way" Voldemort said as he turned away from her and starred out of the window.
"Did you ever…you know love someone?" Alyson asked feeling curious about it.
"There was a girl once but it wasn't meant to be." He said in a tone before sighing and turning back to her.
"Alyson I promise you will be happy one day. And there will be a man out there who will make you happy but I can tell you now that it won't be Malfoy." He said before getting to his feet.
"Is it true you're planning on marking him." Alyson asked as she turned to look at him.
"I knew you would hear about that." He said with an angry tone.
"Please, please don't mark him. If you ever cared for me you wouldn't do this" Alyson pleaded with him as she rushed to his side.
"Alyson you know I care for you but this has to be done" he said without looking at her.
"My Lord please he's just a boy don't force him to do something unless he truly means to commit" Alyson begged again.
"He will commit my dear, he has no choice." He spat as he turned to look at Alyson.
"You can't! I won't let you!" Alyson nearly yelled at him as she pulled her wand from her pockets while tears streamed down her eyes.
"You would be so foolish as to raise your wand against me for some silly boy? Alyson you've always been my strongest follower but your love for this boy makes you weak and you will stop acting like this or I will deal with you accordingly" he warned as he turned to leave the room.
"I won't let you do this" Alyson replied as she threw herself in front of the door to block his way.
"Alyson stop it you're being childish" he hissed.
"No not until you listen to me." She cried desperately.
"Alyson this behavior is not appealing or attractive" the dark lord said.
"I don't care how you think I'm acting. I love him!" she shouted without thinking.
As soon as the words left her mouth Alyson regretted it. She felt a sharp string cross her face as she dropped to the floor and raised her hand to where the dark lord had struck her.
"How dare you speak those words to me. I told you that love made you weak and now look at you begging me to spare a boy who doesn't even love you back. You're pathetic. Love is making you crazy. Now pick yourself up off the floor and get yourself together and I will hear no more on this matter do you understand?" the dark lord threated as he threw the door open and slammed it hard behind him.
Alyson dropped to the floor and cried her eyes out. She didn't care who heard her while she hysterically cried out feeling herself breaking into a million pieces. Sometime while she was crying someone slipped into the library and wrapped their arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
"You shouldn't allow yourself to fall apart in front of the dark lord" Snape warned her as he carried her off towards her room.
"He's going to mark him Severus how could I not do anything and everything I could to stop it" Alyson choked out through her sobs as they reached her room.
Snape pushed the door open and sat her gently down on her bed.
"Enough, pull yourself together Alyson. If he learns that boy is your weakness he will tear him apart." Snape warned as he conjured up a tissue and started to wipe her face with it.
"He couldn't he cares about me too much" Alyson cried.
"In is not in the dark lord's nature to love Alyson and you know that. You have known that so why you would do something so stupid is quite beyond me" he said to her.
"because I love him" Alyson whispered.
"If that's true what you say then you need to let him go because you should know that as long as the dark lord lives he will be jealous of any man you show affection for and I would not be surprised if he hurt or even killed them." Snape warned her.
"Well looks like we've arrived. I'll see you in class" Luna said before nodding and then stepping off the carriage which brought Alyson out of her thoughts.
"Yeah sure thing" Alyson muttered after her before slowly climbing out of the carriage.
Fred was waiting for her not far from the carriages. Alyson felt her heart skip a beat at the very sight of him. But at the same time she felt a stomach full of dread because she knew if anything ever happened to him it would be all her fault.
"Alyson" He smiled as he ran up to greet her.
He pulled her tightly into a warm hug. Alyson instantly melted against him caving into his charms. She buried her face into his sweater and inhaled sharply.
"What's the matter?" he asked as if he could tell something was wrong.
"Nothing I just miss you is all" Alyson replied as she pulled him into another hug.
"And I missed you" he smiled as he leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head.
"So what do you have planned for us today?" Alyson smiled up at him forgetting why she had been upset in the first place.
"Well I figured a nice big butterbeer would cheer you up" he suggested as he laced his fingers with hers and led her towards the three broomsticks as they did she noticed a blonde woman with glasses watching them both very closely.
Alyson decided to wave it off and not let that woman put her in foul mood so she smiled at her, the woman returned the smile and then turned away. Alyson felt satisfied with that and allowed Fred to take her inside the three broomsticks to a table in front of the shop next to a big window.
"Morning folks what can I start you out with" a male waiter asked as he smiled brightly at both of them.
"Two butterbeers please" Fred asked as he turned his attention back to Alyson.
"So how are your classes going, I see you're still being worked to death by Slughorn" Fred said as he motioned to the books that Alyson had sat on the table next to her.
"No not really just working hard to get these potions down, though I should just best asking harry for help since he's the top in our class right now" Alyson added with a sneer.
"Ah don't worry you're still my potions queen" Fred teased as the waiter arrived and slide their butterbeers on the table.
Alyson proceeded to order some French toast while Fred ordered a breakfast sandwich before turning his attention back to Alyson.
"How's work going?" Alyson asked as she looked to Fred hoping to hear nothing but good news.
"It's going pretty well though it's been slow the last few days since the death eaters attacked another shop about three shops down from ours" Fred admitted as he looked to Alyson for her reaction.
She gulped heavily and downed her butterbeer quickly trying to avoid speaking right away.
"Alyson stop worrying, if the dark lord wanted me he would have gone after me much sooner" he laughed as he leaned across the table and kissed Alyson gently on the lips. Alyson smiled against his lips before scooting up herself and cupping his face with her hand.
"I love you" Alyson whispered to him before pecking him again.
"And I love you" he replied as he pulled away from her and sat back in his seat.
They smiled at each other, Alyson felt a slight blush cross her cheeks as she and him continued to converse about school, work and Fred's family.
"So how is your mom?" Alyson asked knowing his mother still didn't really care for her.
"Alyson she likes you more than you think" he laughed as he shoveled his food in his mouth.
"I doubt that" Alyson snickered.
"You know it was her idea to get you a promise ring" Fred added.
"What?" Alyson nearly yelped as her mouth fell open.
"Don't look so surprised" he laughed as he placed his hand under her chin and pushed her mouth shut.
"I would have never thought…" Alyson started slowly.
"Like I said she likes you a lot more than you think" he laughed.
They finished their meals and headed out of the shop. Fred hand Alyson's hand in his and he was rubbing his thumb over her ring smiling.
"I can't wait to marry you" Fred beamed as he pulled her towards him, taking her hand in his and kissing her hand gently.
"And what makes you think I'd say yes" Alyson teased as she walked away from him.
"Well if you don't I'll just have to send this back" Fred teased as he held a box out towards her.
"Fred what is that?" she laughed as she reached out for it but he snatched it away.
"Ah! Ah! You can only have this if you promise that you'll marry me one day" he winked at her and got down on one knee.
"Fred stop it!" she squealed as she felt her face burning red as she looked around noticing all the people starring at them.
"Well go on say it!" Fred insisted.
"Alright fine yes" Alyson growled as she smacked him playfully.
Fred opened the box slowly and inside was silver bracelet with silver pendant on it in the shape of a heart and in the middle was a small garnet.
"Fred I simply cannot accept another gift from you, you've given me enough" Alyson smiled as she pulled him to his feet.
"But this one is special it's not like the rest" he smiled as he pulled the bracelet from the box and placed it around her wrist.
Suddenly she felt a tingling sensation and as she looked down at the pendant it began to change and the words next to you appeared on the charm. Alyson looked from the charm to him and then back at the bracelet.
"I charmed it so it tells us where the other is and or what we are doing." He smiled as he pulled a hidden chain from around his neck to show a matching silver pendant except his was circular shaped with a small garnet.
"But this is really the best part." He said aloud as he held the pendant in between his fingers.
"It allows us to communicate at all times" Alyson heard him say in her head.
"But how…?" Alyson started.
"I heard a rumor that you are a telepath and can read people's minds, so I thought it would be clever to devise a spell so we could speak to each other since I can't read minds but now we can always hear and talk to each other whenever we want" he beamed at her as he took his necklace and hid it back under his shirt.
"Not only are you incredibly charming but you are also a genius, how did I ever get so lucky?" Alyson teased as she wrapped her arms around Fred tightly.
"No I'm the lucky one, to have the most beautiful and amazing witch in the entire world at my side" he whispered as he pulled her into a passionate kiss.
Alyson and Fred's date ended a lot sooner than she had wanted but at least she had got to spend the day with Fred. Fred kissed her a million times before he allowed her to get on the carriage and made her promise to talk to him tonight via their new matching telepathic pendants.
Alyson smiled as she looked down at the bracelet and the words thinking of you appeared on it. She rolled her eyes and laughed aloud and smiled at nothing. When she reached the castle she couldn't wait to tell Hermione about her day. She raced up to the common room as fast as she could with the biggest smile on her face.
"Password" the fat lady asked.
"Tapeworm" Alyson nearly shouted at the woman as the portrait swung open and Alyson rushed inside.
"Hermione you'll never guess what happened today!" Alyson gushed as soon as she laid eyes on Hermione who was sitting on a chair near the fire.
It was then she noticed Ron and Harry but Harry looked miserable and scarred his eyes were on the ground and he was playing with his hands. He looked very upset and worried.
"Harry? What is it what's wrong?" Alyson asked as she came near him.
Harry jumped to his feet automatically and rushed towards Alyson placing his hands on either of her arms.
"Alyson I…I'm….I'm so sorry, I didn't m…mean to…" he stuttered as he searched her face.
"Didn't mean to what?" Alyson asked as she waited for an answer. When he didn't reply she said again.
"Oh honestly harry what did you do now? Blow up Malfoy like you did to your aunt for being a prat?" Alyson laughed as she looked to Harry.
Harry's face paled and his eyes grew wide in horror.
"Harry?" Alyson asked as her smile suddenly dropped and she stepped back from him.
"He didn't mean to hex him. He read a spell in the book he didn't know what it meant" Ron said as he tried to defend Harry but before he could say another word Alyson turned and ran from the common room.
"ALYSON WAIT!" called Hermione's voice as she tried to run after her.
"ALYSON PLEASE!" she shouted but Alyson was already down the steps taking two at a time.
She was running as fast as her feet would take her to towards the hospital wing. She knew it had to have been bad for Harry to be stuttering. She kept running until she reached the hospital wing and threw open the door.
"Miss Saunders, visiting hours are over!" Madam Pomfrey yelped as she jumped in the air at the sound of the door banging open but Alyson didn't care she ran to the bedside that she was attending and saw Draco laying there covered in bandages. Bloody towels sat in several bowls that surrounded his bed and he looked as if he were dying.
"oh god" Alyson cried as she felt her legs buckle as she dropped to her knees. Her hands were shaking and she felt as if all the air had left her body.
"Is he? Is he going to be alright?" Alyson asked with tears streaming down her face.
"He has a long recovery road ahead of him but I think he'll be just fine. Mr. Potter hit him with a very dark spell. Lucky for him Professor Snape showed up when he did otherwise…" she trailed off as she looked over him.
"Here let me do that" Alyson said as she took a wet cloth from her and started to dab the dry blood from around one of his wounds.
"Alyson you don't have to" she said slowly watching her with a sad face.
"Please" Alyson asked as she turned her face towards her allowing the tears to spill down her face.
"Of course" she whispered as she handed her the bowl and quickly told her how to dress the wounds.
Alyson nodded and did as she had instructed. She sat there at his side wiping the blood off his somewhat lifeless body as she heard a voice whisper to her.
"Harry didn't mean it. He didn't know what the spell was going to do he found it in that blasted book." Hermione sighed as she took the seat across from her and handed her some clean bandages
"It's okay Hermione. Draco's alive and that's all that matters. But you tell Harry if he has any respect for me he will destroy that damn book before he kills someone" Alyson choked out as she placed a bandage over top one of Draco's wounds.
"He said he was in the bathroom crying. Harry startled him and that's when Draco attacked him." Hermione explained.
"Why was he crying did he say?" Alyson asked.
Hermione shook her head no and Alyson felt even worse than she did before.
"He's going to be okay" Hermione assured her.
Alyson nodded as she took another clean cloth and wiped more of the blood off.
"Alyson you shouldn't beat yourself up over this it wasn't your fault" Hermione said.
"NO but I should have been there! I could have stopped it!" Alyson nearly yelled at her as she slammed the cloth into the bowl and felt tears escape her eyes.
"And I tried to hex him myself when I found out Ron was poisoned. I told him I hated him. What if he would have died and that was the last thing I told him?" Alyson whispered as tears slipped down her face.
"He knows you love him Alyson" Hermione assured her as she stood up and patted her on the arm.
"He'll be fine, please try and get some sleep tonight" Hermione whispered as Alyson nodded and she left the room.
Alyson sat there and starred at Draco feeling so guilty for him being attacked. Her heart broke every time he struggled to breathe. She placed one of her hands in his after she finished dressing all his wounds and pulled a blanket over his half naked body. She wondered where Pansy was, and why she wasn't the one at his side doing this for him. Alyson suddenly felt very tired as she laid her head down on the side of the bed making sure to hold on to Draco's hand before drifting off to sleep.