Chapter 3
First Test
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Their first night back at Hogwarts was a good one. They missed the comfort
of the warm common room, the softness of their beds, and the privacy of
their dorms. It was nothing like home. Alli had longed to be back at the
school, so had the rest of the gang. They considered this their true home,
where they could be themselves without worrying about the thoughts of
others. The only thing they had to worry about was breaking the school
rules.
The little gang of six had a habit of breaking the rules. Ever since their
first year they had broken a multitude of rules, losing their number of
House points, but somehow they always seemed to win the House Cup. It never
ceased to surprise them each time they won. This was one more reason for
Malfoy to harass the group.
"Rise and shine sleepy head," Ashlyn said opening the covers of my canopy
bed. "It's breakfast time." Their first breakfast of the year always seemed
to be the best, most likely because they just went months without having a
homemade breakfast, or not one like Hogwarts cooked.
"Morning already," Alli groaned crawling out of bed. "I call shower first!"
She jumped out of bed, grabbed some clothes, and sprinted to the bathroom
before anyone could object.
"I get it next," Alli heard Ashlyn call as she turned on the hot water. The
hot water felt good on Alli's sore muscles. The train ride over made her
muscles extremely stiff.
"Alli, are you trying to drown yourself?" Cristina called obviously
annoyed.
"Chill out babes, I'm almost done," Alli called as she wrapped a towel
around her hair. "Who's next?" Ashlyn pushed Alli aside then slammed the
door behind her. "Hoy, she is grumpy isn't she? Sorry, Cristina."
"I heard that Alli!" called Ashlyn. This gave both Alli and Cristina a fit
of giggles.
Once Alli got control of her giggles she performed the quick drying spell
on her hair. She styled her hair then looked around. "Where's Hermione?"
she asked Cristina.
"She's already gone down to breakfast with Harry," she replied not looking
up from her trunk. She was looking for her shoes. "Oh, Ron said he'll meet
you down in the Great Hall."
"Thanks, I'll wait for y'all though," she replied plopping down on her bed.
I wonder what my schedule will be like, she thought as she waited. Finally
Ashlyn got out of the shower and Cristina got in. She wouldn't take too
long, she never did.
"Is everybody ready?" Alli asked as Cristina finished braiding her hair.
"Si, I'm famished," Cristina replied.
"Sure," said Ashlyn stepping out of the dorm.
They went downstairs into the Great Hall and found Harry, Hermione, and Ron
looking over their schedules. "What does this year look like?" Ashlyn asked
plopping down next to Hermione.
"Potions with Slytherin first, then Care of Magical Creatures, also with
Slytherin, then Herbology with Hufflepuff, and Alli and I have Arithmacy
and you all have Divinations. Sounds fun doesn't it," she said gloomily.
Alli's stomach took a jolt each time Hermione mentioned the name Slytherin.
"Why do we always end up with Slytherin for Potions and Care of Magical
Creatures?" She asked. "Remember what happened two years ago?" The memory
was all too clear for all of them. Malfoy had made their classes a living
hell for the past four years, their two classes with Slytherin will be just
another year for them.
"How can I forget," replied Harry.
"Speaking of Buckbeak," Ron piped in, "Have you heard from Sirius lately?"
"Not yet," Harry replied. "But I'm expecting a letter real soon." Just as
he set that a swarm of owls flew into the Great Hall.
Alli caught sight of her snowy owl, Diricawl. Diricawl carried a nice big
brown package from her home.
"Bloody hell!" she heard Ron say.
"What's the matter?" I asked looking at him.
"Pig landed in my cereal," he said picking the small owl out of his bowl.
They all laughed.
"What did you parents send you Alli?" Ashlyn asked, as Alli tore the paper
off the package.
"My new book," she said. "I left it at home." She picked up her hard cover
book titled The Two Princesses of Bamarre and opened it up.
"Well, we better get going to class," Hermione said. She didn't like to be
late. But saying that they had Potions with Professor Snape she was right.
As all six of them traveled down to the dungeon not one word was said.
Harry and Hermione walked hand-in-hand, as so did Alli and Ron. Alli was
getting nervous and Ron could sense it. She was terrified of seeing Malfoy,
but having two classes with him was simply unbearable. It comforted her to
know that Ron was by side the whole time.
"Why Potions?" Ashlyn asked as they took their last flight of stairs down
to the dungeon.
"I know, I know," was all everyone else could say. They dreaded their first
class, but still they trudged on.
Finally they got to class and into their seats just before the ball rang.
Ron sat next to Alli, Harry sat next to Hermione, and Ashlyn sat next to
Cristina just like they had the year before.
Snape walked in, his hair as greasy as ever, and eyed Alli and Ron
suspiciously. The couple didn't really like the look he was giving them.
"Just for today we are going to change things around a bit," Snape said his
eyes never left the couple. "Beck, move next to Malfoy," Alli as scared to
death now, "Patil, move next to Weasley."
Alli eyed Ron a look of terror was on her tan, petite face. His face didn't
seem share her fear he looked almost happy. That worried her, she new Padma
Patil was pretty but she thought Ron was more than that. But she had other
things to worry about, Malfoy.
Malfoy had a wide smile on his face. He seemed to be enjoying this. This
did not help the way Alli was feeling. As she passed Harry and Hermione' s
desk they shot her a worried glance. Is Snape out to get me or something?
she asked herself.
"Can we get a move on Beck?" Snape snapped making her jump and step up her
pace. She took her seat next to Malfoy. "For Miss Beck's lack of
consideration ten points from Gryffindor." This made Alli feel even worse.
Not to mention Ron looked nice and smug with his new table partner.
As Snape went on with his lesson Alli couldn't keep her eyes off of Ron.
She was on the verge of tears she was so mad at him. Just as she was
thinking of how to deal with Ron later a hand slipped under the table and
onto her knee. It was Malfoy' s hand. She shuddered and held back a scream.
She didn't want to risk loosing any more points for Gryffindor. She glanced
over at Malfoy. He had a smug look on his face. She pushed his hand away,
but that didn't work. His hand only drifted further up her thigh. She
didn't know how long she could last.
Finally the bell rang and she jumped out of her chair, grabbed her books,
and ran out of the classroom. She was crying, she was mad at Ron for
hurting her like he did, and she was scared for her life. Ashlyn, Cristina,
and Hermione ran after her, leaving Harry with Ron.
"Alli, wait up!" Hermione called. "What's the matter?"
"R-Ron," was all the short Keeper could say.
"What did he do?" Ashlyn asked.
"D-didn't he l-look nice and s-smug next to Padma," Alli said between the
sobs. "And t-then Malfoy." She could say no more, she as crying too hard.
"It's okay, Alli, it's okay," Hermione said rocking Alli.
"Now Alli," said Cristina, "what did Malfoy do?"
"He.he.violated me, he felt me up," Alli said, then continued to sob.
"Oh Alli," said Hermione. "We'll go talk to Hagrid to see if we can skip
class today, he won't mind."
"Th-thanks," was all Alli could say. Their first time together in months
Alli's and Ron' s relationship already had had a bump in the road. Their
first test and they didn't survive.
