While things at the Burrow were fairly smooth, even with Mr. Cuddles around, Ron was not pleased with them. He slunk around the house like an angry, old cat, snarling at everything that remotely had Allegra's touch to it.
One day, he happened upon his least favorite house guest observing his parents' wedding pictures on the wall. A small smile had found its mark on her face and her arms were folded.
"I bet you're jealous," Ron snorted as he walked by.
"Sorry?" Allegra breathed, turning her head to give her full attention to Ron.
"I said you're jealous," Ron repeated sourly. "Being a Slytherin, you'll never marry someone you love."
"That's not true," Allegra said, shocked.
"Yes it is. You'll end up with some stuck-up git like Malfoy."
"What's wrong with Draco?"
"Nothing if you like stuck-up gits," Ron snarled.
"I love Draco," Allegra announced, her eyes filled with confusion and hurt. "Why would you say something like that about my boyfriend, Ron?"
"Stop pretending you're so bloody nice!" Ron shouted. "I know who you really are! You're just a slimy, ambitious, vain pureblood like the rest of your Housemates." He took a stride towards her, nearly pinning her to the wall. "I see right through you, Yollesgrave. My family may have fallen for your cheery smile, but I know you. I know all of you and your sort."
"Ron, please stop it," Allegra sniffled, tears welling in her eyes. "You're hurting my feelings…"
Ron shoved her.
"Heaven forbid I hurt your feelings before you have the chance to hurt my whole family." He shoved her again. "Even if you did love Malfoy, which I bet you don't, he wouldn't love you back. He's incapable of love. I bet you he's cheating on you right now."
"ENOUGH!" Allegra suddenly shrieked, her face growing redder than the afternoon sun. She burst her way out of Ron's grip and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "Draco would never cheat on me," she growled menacingly. She whirled Ron around and shoved him up against the wall with a loud thud. "Never say that about him ever again or I'll kill you. Now. Leave…me…alone." She slammed Ron's back into the wall over and over again, hard enough to make him cry out in pain with each blow.
"ALLEGRA!" shouted two voices in unison. The Weasley twins ran forward, grabbing the Slytherin's arms and attempting to pry her off their brother.
But the girl snarled at them in such an animalistic manner that they immediately released her.
"What's going…RON!" Hermione screamed as she entered the room. She frantically pawed at the back of Allegra's shirt.
Suddenly, Allegra's arm released Ron and swung around, striking Hermione in the stomach and causing her to fall backwards and collide with the opposite wall. Fred and George ran to aid her.
However, just as quickly as it had come, the red hue on Allegra's face faded to be replaced by a pale, tearful complexion. She gasped and dropped Ron to the floor, backing away shakily.
The previous confidence Ron had held in his face melted and panic burst from within. He scrambled up to his feet, feeling the sharp sting in his spine. But he soon forgot the pain when he saw the look on Allegra's face.
"All I ever wanted was to be friends," Allegra sobbed. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm so sorry, Ron…I'm so sorry…" She fell to the ground, holding her knees to her chest and burying her face in her arms. "So sorry…So sorry…"
Ron didn't know what to do. His body started moving of its own accord as he stooped down and brushed his fingertips against Allegra's shoulder. Feeling the warmth, he pressed his palm to her arm and got down on his knees. He stared at her for another few seconds before slowly cradling her in his arms and stroking her hair soothingly.
"Th-There, there," he mumbled. He felt her body shake with sobs and couldn't help but hold her closer. "Calm down. Don't cry."
This only made Allegra cry harder and Ron began to panic. Fred and George's mouths dropped open, their hands still clutching Hermione's arms to help her stand up. Hermione had a shocked and scared look on her face. It was then that Whimsy walked into the hallway, giving the pair on the floor as well as the audience of three an odd look.
"Come on, Allegra. I'll take you upstairs to our room," she said simply.
"It's okay," Allegra said, suddenly chipper again. She bounced up the stairs, waving back down to the first floor. "I'll see you later, Ron. It was nice talking to you!"
Ron and Whimsy stared up after her, silently. The whole hallway experienced a deathly silence.
"I think something's wrong with her," Whimsy whispered. "I used to think it was just her personality…but…that was insane…Maybe I'm just overanalyzing things again."
"No," Fred said, finally pulling Hermione back to her feet. "For once, I think you're not overanalyzing things…"
...
Around midnight, when Allegra and the rest of the household had fallen asleep, Whimsy was sitting by the window. A cool breeze was wafting in, making the lace curtains blow into the room like pale ghostly arms. Any shadow in the darkness drew her attention as she eagerly awaited the reply to the letter she had sent early that afternoon.
And then…her patience was rewarded.
An owl with plumage as black as the night itself swooped noiselessly into the window and perched on the desk. It extended its leg, revealing a little, black leather bag. Whimsy untied it from the owl's leg, but instead of flying away, it waited for a reply.
Inside the bag, Whimsy found a small roll of parchment, sealed with the Yollesgrave crest. She carefully unrolled it to make as little noise as she could and turned on a lamp, careful to only illuminate the paper and not the whole room.
Miss Janviér,
I must first inform you that what is in this letter is to remain of the strictest confidence. I am only sharing it with you because I find you trustworthy of our family's secret. Secondly, I must ask you that you do not tell my wife that you know of Allegra's condition. She is not aware that I am telling you and will most likely disapprove of your knowledge in this matter, despite my feelings on the subject. And lastly, I must ask you never to tell Allegra. She knows nothing of this and it is her parents' decision to let it remain that way.
Allegra is what Muggles call "bipolar." This means that she tends to violently change moods. This makes being around her in a dramatic situation very trying. In some cases, it has even been dangerous to those around our daughter. We have attempted to remedy the situation by creating as little friction as possible in her growing up.
We have also found that, in the presence of her basilisk, she is surprisingly calm and at ease. There has never been a case so far when she has had a fit when around her pet. Allegra's mother and I have known this since we found the serpent in a shop in Nocturn Alley. Allegra, then only four years old, took a liking to the sickly little thing (it was only about three feet long at the time) and I wasted no precious moments in purchasing it for her. She raised it as carefully and gently as a mother and, for a time, she seemed to be cured.
However, when she began school, the fits became more frequent again. They were not as aggressive as the one you have described to me in your letter, but they were enough to worry her mother and myself once again. We made it a point to bring her back home for every holiday possible so she might be around a more comfortable environment and her beloved snake.
In her second year, I believe, she met you. School became a better surrounding for her with your cool head keeping her in check. Mrs. Yollesgrave and I have always been quite thankful to you for this. This is another reason why I feel justified in telling you this information.
Do understand that our family cannot have such a story about Allegra circulating as it would damage her reputation beyond repair. This must be kept covert. Please reply with my owl. I shall send back the bird which delivered your letter in the morning as its light-colored plumage might compromise the secrecy of our correspondence.
Olave Yollesgrave
Whimsy held her hand to her mouth, her eyes staring in disbelief at the story of Allegra's life written before her. She shook her head and bit her lower lip.
"I shan't tell a single soul," she whispered to herself, retrieving a piece of parchment to on which to write her reply. "I'll take this with me to the grave."