"Bloody hell," Fred muttered as him and the rest of the fourth-year students filed out of their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. "Al and Rose weren't kidding when they said that class was intense!"
"I never thought Stunning would be that difficult," Alanna said. "Alexandra was the only one who actually managed to do something."
True, Alexandra was the only one in the entire class who managed to make any progress with her Stunning. She hadn't exactly stunned her partner, Alanna, but she did make Alanna fly into a set of bookshelves across the classroom.
"Sorry about that," Alexandra said as Alanna massaged her sore shoulder.
"Oh, it's okay," Alanna said. "So, what did you guys think of Hensworth?"
"Definitely a nutter," Fred said.
"He knows what he's talking about, though," Alexandra said.
"Well, yeah," Fred nodded. "But he seems sort of...paranoid, don't you think?"
"But Fred, you know how serious this is right now," Alanna said. "He was right, telling us that we need to learn to defend ourselves. But what frightened me the most from what Hensworth said," Alanna said, lowering her voice. "Is the sound of those Inferi. Dead bodies that walk around? I don't know what I would do if I came across one of those."
"Well, let's just hope we never do," Alexandra said.
"Hey, Fred, Alanna," James said, catching up to the three. "Quidditch practice after lessons today, have you heard?"
"No, but hey, I'll have a chance to show off that Wonski Feit I've been working on all summer!" Fred said excitedly.
"But we have so much homework," Alanna sighed.
"Eh, who cares? We have a free period all morning tomorrow, we'll do it then," Fred shrugged.
"Lucky you," James said. "I've got about two feet on goblin trials to do tonight. Plus, I've only just realized I left my Defense Against the Dark Arts book at home."
"You can always borrow someone's from your year," Alexandra told him. "I doubt you'd be able to get an owl home in time."
"Nah, I don't need to," James replied. "My dad's on guard duty here today. I ran over and asked him to give my book to Louis's dad, who's going to be here tomorrow on duty, so I can get it from him then. One of the only perks there are about having your parents constantly at the school...I haven't been able to do anything! I couldn't even use all of my dungbombs the other day because I was too worried McGonagall would rat me out to my mum or dad while they were here!"
"It's rough, mate," Louis nodded. "Not only is Claridina seeking to rule the wizarding world, she's also putting an end to our mischief making as well."
"Hold on," Alexandra said slowly. "So you're dad...he's here now?"
She remembered Rolwat's warning. She had until the end of the month to give her mother more information about Harry. She knew she was going to have to start working on this soon. As much as it would pain her, she knew she didn't have any other choice, if she wished to stay alive.
"Yeah, why?" James asked.
"Just wondering," she said quickly. "Is-Is here for the rest of the night?"
"Until midnight, I think," James shrugged.
Until midnight...she could easily slip down to the grounds while the others were at Quidditch practice. But to do what? She had to think of something.
For the rest of the afternoon, the gears in Alexandra's mind spun wildly. She was torn between feeling frustrated that she was having so much trouble coming up with something and satisfied with the fact that plotting against Harry seemed to be coming far from easy to her.
"I really hope practice doesn't go long," Alanna said as her, Fred and James gathered their brooms and Quidditch gear.
"Well who's the new captain?" Alexandra asked. "Savannah Wood left last year, didn't she?"
"Yes, she did," Alanna nodded. "And she made Daniel, the Seeker, captain."
"Hopefully the bloke will be a bit more lax than Wood was," Fred mumbled. "What are you going to do tonight, Alexandra?"
"Oh, I reckon I'll just start on some homework," Alexandra replied quickly.
"Leave it out for me, if you finish, will you?" Fred said.
"Fred, that's cheating," Alanna said, rolling her eyes.
"I'll change some things around," Fred said. "Now come on, we wouldn't want to be late."
Alexandra watched as her friends hurried out of the common room. She knew that if she wanted to head down to the grounds and find Harry, she'd best leave now, if she were to be back up by curfew, especially since she didn't have the invisibility potion this time.
So with some trepidation, Alexandra set off to the grounds. The sky was just beginning to darken, so she could still see her surroundings fairly well.
She spotted Harry standing by the school gates. Hoping that if she talked to Harry long enough, he'd let slip something to her eventually, Alexandra began to run towards him. She stopped in her tracks though.
She saw Teddy Lupin suddenly come over to him, and he had a grave expression on his face. It looked as if they were discussing something serious. Perhaps serious enough to be about the Order, or their plans about Claridina.
Quickly, before either Teddy or Harry caught sight of her, Alexandra ducked into some nearby bushes, and strained her ears to hear what the two men were saying.