A man with long white-blond hair and cold gray eyes stands before the Dark Lord. His cold, hard expression weakens with fear as he approaches.
"My Lord," the man says.
"I have called you here, Lucius," says the Dark Lord, "I have a mission. A mission that which your family will be greatly rewarded for... if it succeeds."
"The man called Lucius nervously nods his head once waiting for the Dark Lord to continue.
"They both must be killed," says the Dark Lord, "But, my focus for now is on the girl."
"Am I to carry out this mission?" Lucius asks.
"No, I need someone on the inside. Someone who can get close." The Dark Lord seems to ponder for a moment.
"Who, then?" Lucius asks in a shaky voice as if he were even daring to speak up.
The Dark Lord's snake-like eyes flash dangerously. Lucius swallows nervously.
"Bring me your son. I wish to speak with him," the Dark Lord says, finally.
"Yes, my Lord."
Alli sat up in the silky green sheets. It took her a second to remember where she was. She glanced over at the clock on her bedside table. It was nine o'clock - strangely late for Alli. She stretched and then thought back to her dream. Lucius. That name was so familiar. Alli groaned, aggravated that she had slept so restlessly during the night before her first day of classes. She searched the room for her roommate, Ashley, but she wasn't there. Then, someone knocked on the door.
"Yeah?" Alli called just loud enough to be heard outside the room. The door creaked open.
"Alli?" said Ashley. She peaked her head into the room slowly, as if she were unsure if she could come in.
"Why did you knock?" said Alli rudely, "You live here."
"Uh, Draco Malfoy is looking for you?" said Ashley.
Alli groaned and rolled her eyes remembering the drama from the evening before.
"He said he wants to speak with you," Ashley continued.
"I don't want to talk to him," Alli said plainly, "Did he say why?"
"He just said he needs to talk to you, that's all," Ashley said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Tell him I said to go fuck himself," Alli said, annoyed.
Ashley snickered.
"I'm not sure that would be such a great idea," Ashley said. Alli rolled her eyes.
"I don't want to talk to him," Alli said, crossing her arms, "Just tell him I said, 'No.'"
Ashley closed the door. Alli sighed angrily. 'I don't want to talk to him. Do I? No, I don't,' Alli argued with herself. 'He's a complete dick. I don't want anything more to do with him.' A few moments later, Alli heard another knock on the door that interrupted her thoughts.
"What now?" Alli called. The door opened and Draco walked in. Alli glared at him.
"Alli?"
"What," Alli said curtly.
"I need to talk to you."
"No, shit. Why else would you be here?"
Draco ignored her sarcasm. "Listen, about last night— "
"I don't care anymore," Alli growled.
"I didn't expect that to happen the way it did, Alli," said Draco.
"For it to happen like what? To ask me to sit with you on the train, tell me you like me, make out with me, and then turn your back on me to go sleep with some other girl, who you apparently don't even like anymore?" said Alli, raising her eyebrows, "Seriously, Draco?"
"No, you don't understand. That's not what happened," Draco explained.
"Really?" Alli said angrily, "Come on. What else is there to explain?"
"Pansy was just a summer fling," Draco said quickly, "That's it. She's not my girlfriend. I ended things with her before I even met you, I swear!"
"Well, obviously she didn't know that. She was all over you at dinner and then when you were in the hallway before we got back to the common room…" Alli shook her head.
"What are you talking about?" Draco asked trying to play dumb.
"I saw you kissing her in the hall. Don't pretend it didn't happen."
"So you were spying on me?" Draco accused.
"As if you would have even noticed me there."
"Alli, I— "
"Just get out of here," Alli growled.
"It wasn't my fault. She kissed me, Alli. I didn't kiss her back. I promise, I want nothing more to do with her," said Draco. "Please, understand that," he added.
"I'm done," Alli said, "Go away."
"Well, I'm not done," said Draco sternly, "And I'm not leaving."
"I don't want you here."
"You leave then," Draco said stubbornly.
"No, this is my territory."
"Fine," Draco said, defeated. He stood up to leave. But, Alli felt a tug at her heart as he began to walk out.
"Wait," said Alli, quickly. Draco stopped and turned around. Alli stood up and slowly walked over to him. "Draco-"
But, Draco didn't let her finish. He kissed her lips slowly.
"I have no feelings for her. Believe me," Draco said, quietly, his lips still inches from hers. Alli breathed in, deeply, and then nodded.
"Okay," she said. Alli took another deep breath and let it out slowly, "Kiss me again."
Alli held Draco's hand as they walked into the Great Hall for lunch. Pansy Parkinson glared at Alli when they sat down.
"Hey, bitch. What's up?" Alli addressed Pansy. Pansy stuck her nose in the air with a little "humph", stood up, and walked away. Alli laughed.
"Why do you have to be like that?" Draco asked.
"It's fun," Alli said with a smile. Then, a familiar laugh caught her attention. She looked over her shoulder to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione getting seated at the Gryffindor table. Alli thought back to her dream and told Draco she would be right back. Hermione glanced up from reading the Daily Prophet as Alli approached, then looked back down. Harry and Ron turned around in their seats.
"Harry," said Alli, "Can we talk?"
"I'll, er, be right back," Harry told Ron and Hermione. Ron gave him a half-smile. Hermione continued to read without acknowledging him. Harry followed Alli out of the Great Hall. They stopped just outside a broom closet. Alli turned to face Harry.
"Do you remember how we shared the same dream that night at the Weasley's place?" Alli began. Harry nodded his head. "Well, I had another one last night."
"I did, too," Harry admitted. Alli looked at him, worried. "But, it's nothing to worry about," he said, quickly, "I have them all the time."
"Well, I don't," said Alli, "and it's freaking me out. These dreams... they feel so real, and the man in my dream last night was familiar. I can't remember where I've seen him before. But, I think I know him."
"Was his name Lucius?" asked Harry.
"I think so," said Alli, "yeah."
"Alli, there's something you need to know about Malfoy," Harry told her.
"Harry, don't start," said Alli, "I already told Hermione that I don't care so-"
"The man in the dream is Draco Malfoy's father," Harry cut her off. Alli was silent.
"Harry, these dreams aren't real... are they?" Alli asked, nervously.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. He seemed at a loss for words.
"I really like Draco," Alli told him, "a lot."
"You shouldn't," Harry said. With that, he left Alli standing there feeling as if her heart had dropped into her stomach.
The first day of classes had begun. Alli wandered from the Entrance Hall into the corridors. She looked down at the schedule in her hands. 'Transfiguration. McGonagall. Room 216.'
"Does 216 mean second floor?" Alli muttered. She looked up at the hundreds of moving staircases above her. She continued walking through the crowds of students who all seemed to know exactly where to go. She felt like a lost first year and it made her feels stupid. Alli climbed the staircase to the second floor and neared a classroom. Room 232. "Okay, 232. 216 has to be just down this way, right?" Alli said to herself. But, the next classroom she came to read Room 243. "What the fuck," said Alli, frustrated. She stopped walking and stood there dumbly. Another student walked past, bumped her shoulder, making her drop her class schedule.
"Um, excuse you," Alli snapped as the student continued on their way. Alli groaned and bent down to retrieve her schedule. When she stood up, she bumped into someone else, who turned around and glared at her before walking away. "Seriously?" said Alli, "Does no one here care about personal space?"
"This isn't America," came a voice from behind her. Alli rolled her eyes and turned to see Pansy Parkinson. Alli smiled at her sarcastically.
"Why are you such a bitch?" Alli said with a small laugh.
"You best keep your mouth shut," said Pansy.
"That's the best line you got?" Alli sneered, "Come on, Pansy. I know you can fight a little better than that."
"You need to watch where you step, Potter," said Pansy, "Stay away from Draco."
"Why do you care? He doesn't even like you," Alli reminded her.
"I'm warning you," Pansy said, "You don't know who you're messing with."
Alli rolled her eyes as Pansy walked off. After many more minutes of searching, Alli found her way to Room 216. She opened the door slowly and peeked her head inside the classroom. Professor McGonagall turned her attention to Alli, as did the rest of the class. Alli tried to play it cool with a smile as she stepped inside and walked down the rows of tables to an empty seat.
"Sorry," she announced. McGonagall gave her a stern look. "I got lost," Alli said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Do be on time, Miss Potter. I wish to not be interrupted in the middle of my lecture. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sorry," Alli replied. She sat down quickly and opened her Transfiguration textbook to the first chapter.
"Now, as I was saying, we will be focusing on more advanced transformations this term. I do not expect you to know how to do this perfectly on the first try. Like all things this type of transfiguration takes practice," McGonagall said, "And practice is important. I want each of you to be prepared for your exams when the term comes to a close."
Alli flipped aimlessly through the textbook as Professor McGonagall went over the topics they would be discussing this term. Alli suddenly realized how late she had been when McGonagall assigned a short reading and dismissed the class. Alli packed up her bag and got up to leave when McGonagall called her name.
"Miss Potter?"
Alli sighed, turned around, and said, "Yes?"
"You were late to my class," said Professor McGongall, sternly.
"I got lost," Alli reminded her with a shrug of her shoulders.
"I suggest a map to find your classes for the time being, understood?" said McGonagall. Alli nodded slowly.
"I would totally use a map, Professor," Alli said. "But I don't have one and I have no idea where to get one so— "
McGonagall handed Alli a folded piece of parchment. Alli open it up to see a map of Hogwarts. She gave McGonagall a forced smile.
"Right," said Alli, "thanks."
Alli turned on her heel and left the classroom. As she entered the corridor, she spied Draco's head of white-blond hair amongst the crowd of students. She grinned and made her way towards him. She passed a group of giggling first year girls who stared after her.
"That's Allison Potter, isn't it?" one of the first years whispered to her friends.
"Yes, she's supposed to be related to Harry Potter," another one said.
"That's wicked," a third one added.
"But, she's in Slytherin! How can that be?"
"Yes, that is true…."
"She is sort of rude. Don't you think?"
"I heard the craziest thing the other day, too!"
"What is it?"
"Yes, tell us!"
"I heard that Allison Potter might have survived You-Know-Who as well."
The girls shook their heads.
"No way. Nobody can survive You-Know-Who except Harry Potter."
"That's just what I heard."
"Well I don't think it's true."
"Yeah," the girl sighed. "I guess not…"
"Hello there," Alli said sliding up next to Draco and matching his pace. "Did you not see me leaving Transfiguration?"
"I did see you," Draco admitted, "I was just enjoying you chasing after me, that's all." Draco let that famous smirk appear on his lips.
"Oh, I see," said Alli with a giggle. Draco touched his hand to hers and looked at her with a genuine smile. It was a smile that Alli had yet to see from him. She got lost for a moment in his eyes as they walked and she sighed. After a few seconds, she caught herself staring and cleared her throat. "So, um, what's your next class?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," Draco told her.
"Hey, me too!" said Alli, excitedly. She looked at her schedule, briefly. "With, uh, Professor Snape?"
"Yeah," said Draco, with a tone of annoyance. Alli looked at him curiously.
"Do you not like Professor Snape or something?" Alli asked him.
"No, it's just-" Draco paused, "Nothing, never-mind."
"Um, okay," said Alli. She looked back at her schedule. "Looks like it's in Room 400. Hold on." Alli suddenly halted in the middle of the corridor. Draco raised his eyebrows, slightly amused, as Alli dug through her bag and pulled out the map that which McGonagall had supplied her.
"You don't know where you're going, do you?" Draco said with a small laugh. Alli sighed, defeated, and shook her head. Draco chuckled again making Alli smile. "Come on," Draco said, grabbing her hand in his, "I'll show you where to go."
Alli laced her fingers with his and held his hand tightly as he led her up two flights of stairs to the fourth floor. They entered Room 400 a few minutes past the time. Professor Snape was standing at the front of the classroom. Alli's smile faded when she saw him narrowing his eyes at the pair of them. Draco looked at Snape and immediately dropped Alli's hand. Alli looked at him and noticed that Draco's expression had changed suddenly from flirtatious to extremely serious. Draco left Alli and sat down in an empty seat.
"Miss Potter," Professor Snape addressed her in a deep, but quiet tone that made chill bumps form on her arms. Despite the spine-chilling feeling his voice had given her, Alli looked him in the eye.
"Yes, Professor?" replied Alli.
"You are late," Snape told her. Alli glanced at a clock hanging on the back wall. The students who were already seated turned around in their chairs to look at Alli.
"By, like, a second," Alli responded, matter-of-factly.
"By three and a half minutes," Snape corrected.
"I mean I was late to Transfiguration by like twenty minutes and Professor McGonagall didn't care that much," Alli retorted, "I mean, she was a little mad, but she gave me a map after class and wasn't too upset by it," Alli continued, with a shrug of her shoulders. Snape eyes flashed dangerously. Several students gasped in shock. Snape took a step towards Alli and his face got strangely close to hers.
"Take. A. Seat," Snape growled. Alli nodded and took a seat next to a Gryffindor boy.
"That was quite risky of you," he told her. Alli shrugged.
"I guess," she replied. The Gryffindor held out his hand to her.
"Seamus Finnigan."
"Alli Potter," Alli said shaking his hand lightly. Professor Snape walked to the front of the classroom and the students' voices lowered until the room was silent.
"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion, I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced," Professor Snape said.
'O.W.L.s?' Alli thought. She quickly raised her hand. Alli saw Snape glance at her, but he ignored her. "Excuse me," Alli said, waving her hand in the air slightly, "I have a question."
Snape paused in the middle of his next sentence and sneered at her.
"Yes, Miss Potter? What is so important that you have to interrupt me in the middle of my lecture?" Snape growled.
"What is O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. mean?" asked Alli, "I'm confused."
"Standardized exams," the boy named Seamus muttered to her quickly under his breath.
"Um, what?" said Alli.
"You take them at the end of fifth year and sixth year," Seamus told her. Snape cleared his throat. He had made his way over to Alli's table and was glaring down at her.
"If you have not taken your O.W.L.s, then I believe you are in the wrong class, Miss Potter," Snape said to her, apparently still annoyed she had interrupted.
"But, I mean my schedule says I am," Alli told him, "Look." She pulled her class schedule from her bag and had started to open it up to show him, but Snape snatched it from her hands. He looked down at it.
"Get out of my class," Snape said to her.
"But, what about-"
"Get. Out," Snape hissed.
Alli rolled her eyes, grabbed her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook, and her bag. Alli stood, held out her hand to Professor Snape, and raised her eyebrows.
"My schedule, Professor," Alli said. Snape slowly handed her the schedule in his hands. "Thanks," Alli snapped at him, snatching it from his hand.
With that, Alli stomped out of the classroom. She rolled her eyes after the classroom door closed behind her. "I fucking swear," Alli grumbled to herself as she retrieved her map from her bag, then headed down the stairs in the direction of the Slytherin Common Room.