bChapter Twelve: Snow in Your Face/b
The Christmas holiday ended a week later, and Sirius and Anaral never did mention the three Muggle families to Harry and Alysia. Alysia often thought of telling her parents what she'd overheard, but whenever the opportunity came, she changed her mind. She didn't mean to show that she was upset by the whole ordeal, but she'd begun biting her nails again-a nervous habit she'd picked up when she was eight years old. She'd become a rather talented liar and covered up her now bitten and cracked nails with gloves or mittens.
Harry, she realized, had never enjoyed such a Christmas holiday. Every day for the rest of the holiday, they played in the snow like children, making magical snow sculptures that bore amazing likenesses to several professors and friends of theirs. As the holiday drew to a close, Harry complained that he didn't want it to end.
"Back again to classes, homework and a school attacked by various manner of beasts. But I think I'd rather do that than play in the snow for the rest of my life," he remarked caustically as they came in the last morning of the holiday, noses red and cheeks flushed.
"Back to seeing our friends and playing Quidditch, as well, in case you've forgotten. I think playing in the snow would be a much better activity with our friends, don't you?" Alysia pointed out, removing her gloves rapidly so Harry didn't see her bitten nails and start asking questions. She subconsciously reached for the Unity Amulet and felt it warm up as it began to glow in her hand.
"True," Harry agreed. They were now out of their wet clothes and sitting in the warm kitchen, sipping butterbeer that warmed them through and through. "Another good thing is that I won't have to listen to your ridiculous snoring another night."
"Snoring!" Alysia exclaimed indignantly. "I do not snore!"
"Oh yes you do, and talk in your sleep as well. I think last night you asked me if I would like to eat an orange with the lion and the lamb," Harry teased, and Alysia laughed.
"I used to talk in my sleep when I was younger. . .when Dad was in Azkaban. It usually means I'm nervous about something," Alysia admitted.
"What are you nervous about now?"
"I don't know." She was lying, and Harry probably knew it, but he didn't press the issue.
They'd agreed to meet up with Ron and Hermione at school the day before classes began. Late that night, they were still awake and packing their trunks, talking about the highlights of the vacation, from their snow sculptures and snowball fights to the arrivals on Christmas morning. It wasn't until two o'clock in the morning that they finally fell asleep. Six hours later, they were sleeping on the earliest train to Hogsmeade station, and by that evening, they were sitting in the library with Ron and Hermione, all talking about the rest of their vacations.
"Bill and Charlie and Percy showed up two days after Christmas. . .so we basically had two Christmases. Bill brought Fleur with him. . .it looks like they're getting along rather well. Mum's expecting grandchildren any day now," Ron chuckled. "But it was a great holiday."
"I would imagine," Hermione answered briefly. "Mine wasn't nearly so much fun. A lot of my relatives have rather archaic notions of what a witch is. . .kind of like your aunt and uncle, Harry. So my parents spent a lot of time explaining the whole notion to them." She sighed. "It really is quite a pain."
"I can think of more painful things. . .like a snowball in your face. Isn't that right, Harry?" Alysia teased, causing everyone to break out in soft laughter. Suddenly, three out of four smiles froze. Alysia followed their gaze to the doorway, where Draco was standing, and jumped up to greet him.
"When did you get here?" she asked after hugging him.
"About an hour ago. I went to the main hall after unpacking, and your mum was there, telling me that you were here. So, naturally, here I am," he smiled. "And here you are. And here they are. . ." He waved his hand nonchalantly at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Looks like we're all here, doesn't it?"
"That it does," Alysia answered with a sigh. "Come on, sit down with us. We're all talking about our holidays."
Draco stiffened. "No. . .I think not. I. . .I'll talk to you later, Aly." And with a kiss on her cheek, he was gone.
"I don't understand him at all," Alysia sighed, returning to her friends. "At times, he seems changed, and just when I think he's decided that he doesn't dislike everyone who isn't like him, he proves me wrong. I don't know that I'll ever get through to him."
"Don't worry about it," Harry suggested, and Alysia smiled at him gratefully. Before anything more could be said, several fourth-year girls came into the library, giggling about something. When they spotted Harry, they giggled even more.
"Wonder what that's all about," Ron commented as Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil came in, also giggling.
"Oh, hello," Lavender giggled, smiling at the four. "I suppose you haven't heard yet."
"Heard what?" Hermione asked.
"About the ball-the Spring Ball!" Parvati answered, twirling around excitedly. "For fourth-years and up. It was your mother's idea, Alysia."
"Was it?" Alysia was not impressed, but the girls nodded vigorously.
"They used to have them every other year when she was here. I think it sounds like a fabulous idea, don't you?" Lavender giggled.
"Fabulous," Ron groaned.
"We'd better go. . .we have a project for Divination due tomorrow. But we wanted to let you know the good news. It's not until April 11, though, so you've got plenty of time to plan. Have a good night!" The girls hurried from the library still giggling.
"Great. Another ball," Harry groaned, and Ron nodded his agreement. Hermione looked thoughtful.
"It could be fun." She was looking pointedly at Ron who was scowling at no one in particular. "Really. None of us are mad at each other this year-so let's just go!"
Alysia shrugged. "Sounds good to me. I guess there was a reason I got that gown for Christmas."
"I guess so."
The first day of classes after the Christmas holiday ended up being as exciting as any. Between a Sasquatch shipped over from America in Care of Magical Creatures and a storm-brewing solution in Potions, Alysia was more than ready to take a nap by that afternoon. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed any such luck. An overly-exuberant Susan and Moira had positioned themselves on either side of her bed and were talking so quickly that Alysia had to stop them and ask them to repeat themselves.
"We were just wondering who you're going to the ball with. Draco?" Moira asked, shoving her glasses up her nose.
"Does it matter?" Alysia grumbled, rolling over and pulling her pillow over her head.
"Well, not right now, no, but there's a school-wide ice skating party on the lake, and we figured you might want to join," Susan offered. "Draco was looking for you."
"That's nice." Alysia remained snugly under her covers. She heard brief whispers and footsteps that told her Susan and Moira had finally left. Before she could slip back into dreamland, however, a dog's bark nearly made her fall out of bed. She glared down at her father. "What? Can't a girl nap anymore?"
He gave her an endearing look and tugged on the covers, pulling them to the floor. Alysia wrinkled his nose at him and stood up wearily. She pulled on her warm, winter clothes and made her way outside to the lake, where almost the entire school were showing off their ice skating skills. Getting a pair of ice skates from Hagrid, Alysia sat down on a log near the lake, not really wanting to humiliate herself. Draco was soon sitting next to her.
"Don't you want to skate?" he asked.
"I don't know how," Alysia admitted begrudgingly. "And I don't particularly want to make a fool of myself in front of the whole school."
"You won't make a fool of yourself!" Draco laughed loudly, causing several people to turn and look at them. "Look, I'll teach you."
"That's quite alright. I prefer to stay on dry land, if you please," Alysia answered, folding her arms across her chest indignantly. Harry, Ron and Hermione swooshed to a stop right in front of her.
"What's the matter, Aly?" Hermione asked.
"She doesn't know how to skate," Draco supplied, and Alysia gave him a pinch in the arm. "Ouch!"
"We can teach you, you know," Ron pointed out.
"But. . .I. . ." Alysia trailed off and looked at Draco pleadingly.
"Don't look at me! For once, I agree with them," he told her without smiling.
"Come on, Alysia, you'll have so much fun!" Hermione exclaimed, grabbing Alysia's hands and pulling her to her feet. Before she could sit back down, Draco had his arm around her waist on one side and Harry on the other. Hermione shifted her grip to one of Alysia's arms and let Ron take the other. Alysia had no choice but to move with them onto the pond.
"It's just like walking," Draco explained. "Put one foot in front of the other and push off."
"Don't kick your foot out too far behind you. . .you might get someone in the face," Harry cautioned. "That's it. Nice and slow."
"Relax a little. There's no way you can fall with this many of us holding you up," Hermione pointed out.
"Steady now. A little faster." Ron pulled on her arm a little, and Alysia felt laughter bubble up.
They made it around the lake four times before finally deciding to go get some butterbeer from Hagrid's hut. All five of them were laughing merrily, which, to the rest of the school was noticeably odd.
"So are you feeling a bit more confident now, Alysia, or should we still propel you around the lake?" Harry teased and Alysia giggled into her mug.
"I think I can make it on my own, thanks," she replied. "Though I wouldn't be at all opposed to having you all nearby in case I start to fall."
"No problem," Draco replied, kissing her cheek. Then suddenly it was as if everyone became aware of their company. Awkwardness filtered through the air, and the Gryffindor three took a step back away from Draco, who eyed them disdainfully. Alysia stood in the middle, feeling very much like a tug- of-war rope. She looked first at the Gryffindor three and then at Draco.
"Now, see, what I don't understand is how five minutes ago, we were all jolly good friends, and now suddenly, randomly, you all hate each other again!" she exclaimed. "It just makes me so glad I came here instead of telling Mum to ship me off to Beauxbatons or something like that."
"Aly. . ." Draco began, but Alysia put up her hand to silence him.
"For heaven's sake, we're on the same side at the end of the day, so can't you just pretend to like each other for my sake?" she cried. When no one answered, she pulled out her wand, yelled "Accio boots!" and changed and ran into the building in a few minutes flat. Back in her bedroom, she ignored the knocks on the door and simply fell asleep.
"You can't shut out the world forever, you know," a voice said, and Alysia jolted awake, seeing her mother sitting at the foot of her bed.
"Why? How long have I been asleep?" she mumbled, looking out the window at a dark evening.
"About five hours," her mother answered, straightening Alysia's blankets. "Don't you think it would be much easier to confront your problems rather than running from them?"
Alysia groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. "Must you?" her muffled voice asked.
"Yes." Anaral took the pillow from her daughter and held it in her lap. "It's a miserable habit you've developed, Alysia. You don't deal with your problems, you run from them, and they never really get solved."
"Well forgive me for not really wanting to hash things out with them out in the cold," Alysia snapped. "I don't really feel like erasing six years of bad blood between them all myself."
"You might have to, if you want to be with Draco and be friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione," Anaral pointed out. Alysia gave her a poisonous look, and Anaral laughed. "Oh, sweetie, I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's what you needed to hear."
Alysia rolled her eyes and grabbed the pillow back from her mother. After hugging it to herself for a quiet moment, she decided to ask her mother about the three Muggle families. "Mum. . .I heard you and Dad talking Christmas night, you know. . .about the three Muggle families." Her mother sighed heavily. "What happened?"
Her mother sighed again. "It was just like before. They were interrupted in the middle of their Christmas Eve celebrations, apparently. No one realized what had happened until someone heard about the strange 'pyrotechnics' on the evening news. And by then it was too late." Anaral traced her finger along the pattern of Alysia's quilt. "Your father received word about it at around midnight. He was up all night contacting people. . .and then up the entire next night again."
"Understandable," Alysia admitted and sighed. "I suppose I should go talk to everyone, shouldn't I?"
"That might be a good idea. Harry, Ron and Hermione were heading for the library, last I saw, and Draco was stalking around the edge of the Dark Forest." Alysia smiled her thanks and ran from the room without even stopping to brush her hair.
Her first stop was the library, and sure enough, the Gryffindor three were there, working on an assignment for Potions that Alysia had yet to begin. Hermione was the first to see her, and she gave a timid smile, nudging the boys. They all looked at her expectantly.
"I just wanted to apologize for running off like that. I should have stayed and talked things over with you guys and Draco," Alysia finally stated. "But I also came to point out that things would be so much easier for all of us if we'd all get over our differences and learn to just. . .well, be friends."
"You seem to forget that the other party in this little incident is a hateful and arrogant. . ." Ron began, but Alysia cut him off.
"Ron, don't you think you're being just as hateful and arrogant by not giving him a chance to see if he's changed at all?" she pointed out. Ron looked sullen. "Believe it or not, we are on the same side."
"What if you're wrong, Aly?" Hermione asked. "What if Draco's just fooling you and trying to fool us into thinking he's 'good' or whatever, so he can get to Harry and. . ."
"That's not going to happen. I'm sure of it," Alysia stated firmly. "Can you please just try to be friends with him? It would mean a lot to me."
The three looked at each other, and Ron looked about ready to say no when Harry spoke up. "For you, Alysia. . .alright." Ron glared at him and Hermione looked unhappy about it, but neither openly protested.
"Great, then!" Alysia exclaimed smiling. "I'm going to go find Draco." She began to hurry out of the library then turned around for a brief second. "Oh and Ron, if you don't ask Hermione to the Spring Ball, I take no responsibility for my actions."
Laughing, she skipped off, not waiting for a response from Ron or Hermione, though she could hear Harry laughing. It didn't take much thought to figure out where Draco would be, and sure enough, Alysia could see him sitting high in "their" tree. She sneaked up to the tree and, barely daring to breathe, slammed her body weight against it, making the tree shake violently. Draco swore and Alysia laughed aloud. "Come down here! I want to talk to you!" she called. She heard him mutter something under his breath and jump down from the tree.
"Well?" he demanded, folding his arms across his chest. Alysia smiled at him hopefully.
"I thought you might want to try to be friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione. . .for my sake." Alysia tried to look her cutest, but Draco only scowled at her. She stopped smiling. "Draco, this is getting ridiculous. You were having a great time with them when we were skating. They really aren't so different from you, you know. No more different than I am."
"You don't understand, Aly. We're. . .well, they're. . ." he tried, but Alysia just glared at him.
"Draco Malfoy, I am sick of hearing the same old lines from you. They aren't any better now than they were when you first tried them," she stated firmly, then softened a bit. "I don't want to choose between you and them." Alysia sighed and leaned back against their tree. "I care about you a lot, Draco. I don't want that to mean sacrificing the only friends I've ever had."
Draco sighed and kicked at the tree. "It's not fair, is it?" he finally asked, and managed a half-hearted smile at Alysia. "Alright. For you, I'll try to get along with them."
"Thank you," Alysia whispered, putting her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. She let go and they began the walk up to the castle. "I don't suppose you've thought much about the Spring Ball, have you?" she asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
"Actually, I have. And I was wondering, Miss Karadhras, if you would like to come with me?" Draco turned and looked at her hopefully as they entered the castle. The sun was setting, giving the entire place a rosy hue.
"There's nothing I would enjoy more!" Alysia giggled, taking his hand. "Do you suppose we could get a table with Harry, Ron and Hermione?" Draco scowled. "Please?"
He heaved a dramatic sigh. "If we must, we must," he answered and, pinning Alysia against the wall, kissed her. She rested her arms on his shoulders and returned his kiss. His grip around her waist tightened, their breathing quickened, and suddenly, someone cleared his throat nearby. Alysia and Draco opened their eyes to see Professor Snape glaring at them.
"As much as you may enjoy your youthful. . . urges. . .the hallway is not the place for them. Twenty points from Hufflepuff and twenty from Slytherin, and detention for both of you for that. . .exhibition." With that, Professor Snape swept off, leaving Alysia and Draco to laugh hysterically at being caught making out by the Potions master.
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bA/N/b: How exciting! I finally figured out .html! w00t! Anyway, sorry this one took so long, but it is now finished so this story can pick up. Lots of stuff will happen in the next couple of chapters. . .hope you're enjoying yourself!
Keep Reading!
The Christmas holiday ended a week later, and Sirius and Anaral never did mention the three Muggle families to Harry and Alysia. Alysia often thought of telling her parents what she'd overheard, but whenever the opportunity came, she changed her mind. She didn't mean to show that she was upset by the whole ordeal, but she'd begun biting her nails again-a nervous habit she'd picked up when she was eight years old. She'd become a rather talented liar and covered up her now bitten and cracked nails with gloves or mittens.
Harry, she realized, had never enjoyed such a Christmas holiday. Every day for the rest of the holiday, they played in the snow like children, making magical snow sculptures that bore amazing likenesses to several professors and friends of theirs. As the holiday drew to a close, Harry complained that he didn't want it to end.
"Back again to classes, homework and a school attacked by various manner of beasts. But I think I'd rather do that than play in the snow for the rest of my life," he remarked caustically as they came in the last morning of the holiday, noses red and cheeks flushed.
"Back to seeing our friends and playing Quidditch, as well, in case you've forgotten. I think playing in the snow would be a much better activity with our friends, don't you?" Alysia pointed out, removing her gloves rapidly so Harry didn't see her bitten nails and start asking questions. She subconsciously reached for the Unity Amulet and felt it warm up as it began to glow in her hand.
"True," Harry agreed. They were now out of their wet clothes and sitting in the warm kitchen, sipping butterbeer that warmed them through and through. "Another good thing is that I won't have to listen to your ridiculous snoring another night."
"Snoring!" Alysia exclaimed indignantly. "I do not snore!"
"Oh yes you do, and talk in your sleep as well. I think last night you asked me if I would like to eat an orange with the lion and the lamb," Harry teased, and Alysia laughed.
"I used to talk in my sleep when I was younger. . .when Dad was in Azkaban. It usually means I'm nervous about something," Alysia admitted.
"What are you nervous about now?"
"I don't know." She was lying, and Harry probably knew it, but he didn't press the issue.
They'd agreed to meet up with Ron and Hermione at school the day before classes began. Late that night, they were still awake and packing their trunks, talking about the highlights of the vacation, from their snow sculptures and snowball fights to the arrivals on Christmas morning. It wasn't until two o'clock in the morning that they finally fell asleep. Six hours later, they were sleeping on the earliest train to Hogsmeade station, and by that evening, they were sitting in the library with Ron and Hermione, all talking about the rest of their vacations.
"Bill and Charlie and Percy showed up two days after Christmas. . .so we basically had two Christmases. Bill brought Fleur with him. . .it looks like they're getting along rather well. Mum's expecting grandchildren any day now," Ron chuckled. "But it was a great holiday."
"I would imagine," Hermione answered briefly. "Mine wasn't nearly so much fun. A lot of my relatives have rather archaic notions of what a witch is. . .kind of like your aunt and uncle, Harry. So my parents spent a lot of time explaining the whole notion to them." She sighed. "It really is quite a pain."
"I can think of more painful things. . .like a snowball in your face. Isn't that right, Harry?" Alysia teased, causing everyone to break out in soft laughter. Suddenly, three out of four smiles froze. Alysia followed their gaze to the doorway, where Draco was standing, and jumped up to greet him.
"When did you get here?" she asked after hugging him.
"About an hour ago. I went to the main hall after unpacking, and your mum was there, telling me that you were here. So, naturally, here I am," he smiled. "And here you are. And here they are. . ." He waved his hand nonchalantly at Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Looks like we're all here, doesn't it?"
"That it does," Alysia answered with a sigh. "Come on, sit down with us. We're all talking about our holidays."
Draco stiffened. "No. . .I think not. I. . .I'll talk to you later, Aly." And with a kiss on her cheek, he was gone.
"I don't understand him at all," Alysia sighed, returning to her friends. "At times, he seems changed, and just when I think he's decided that he doesn't dislike everyone who isn't like him, he proves me wrong. I don't know that I'll ever get through to him."
"Don't worry about it," Harry suggested, and Alysia smiled at him gratefully. Before anything more could be said, several fourth-year girls came into the library, giggling about something. When they spotted Harry, they giggled even more.
"Wonder what that's all about," Ron commented as Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil came in, also giggling.
"Oh, hello," Lavender giggled, smiling at the four. "I suppose you haven't heard yet."
"Heard what?" Hermione asked.
"About the ball-the Spring Ball!" Parvati answered, twirling around excitedly. "For fourth-years and up. It was your mother's idea, Alysia."
"Was it?" Alysia was not impressed, but the girls nodded vigorously.
"They used to have them every other year when she was here. I think it sounds like a fabulous idea, don't you?" Lavender giggled.
"Fabulous," Ron groaned.
"We'd better go. . .we have a project for Divination due tomorrow. But we wanted to let you know the good news. It's not until April 11, though, so you've got plenty of time to plan. Have a good night!" The girls hurried from the library still giggling.
"Great. Another ball," Harry groaned, and Ron nodded his agreement. Hermione looked thoughtful.
"It could be fun." She was looking pointedly at Ron who was scowling at no one in particular. "Really. None of us are mad at each other this year-so let's just go!"
Alysia shrugged. "Sounds good to me. I guess there was a reason I got that gown for Christmas."
"I guess so."
The first day of classes after the Christmas holiday ended up being as exciting as any. Between a Sasquatch shipped over from America in Care of Magical Creatures and a storm-brewing solution in Potions, Alysia was more than ready to take a nap by that afternoon. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed any such luck. An overly-exuberant Susan and Moira had positioned themselves on either side of her bed and were talking so quickly that Alysia had to stop them and ask them to repeat themselves.
"We were just wondering who you're going to the ball with. Draco?" Moira asked, shoving her glasses up her nose.
"Does it matter?" Alysia grumbled, rolling over and pulling her pillow over her head.
"Well, not right now, no, but there's a school-wide ice skating party on the lake, and we figured you might want to join," Susan offered. "Draco was looking for you."
"That's nice." Alysia remained snugly under her covers. She heard brief whispers and footsteps that told her Susan and Moira had finally left. Before she could slip back into dreamland, however, a dog's bark nearly made her fall out of bed. She glared down at her father. "What? Can't a girl nap anymore?"
He gave her an endearing look and tugged on the covers, pulling them to the floor. Alysia wrinkled his nose at him and stood up wearily. She pulled on her warm, winter clothes and made her way outside to the lake, where almost the entire school were showing off their ice skating skills. Getting a pair of ice skates from Hagrid, Alysia sat down on a log near the lake, not really wanting to humiliate herself. Draco was soon sitting next to her.
"Don't you want to skate?" he asked.
"I don't know how," Alysia admitted begrudgingly. "And I don't particularly want to make a fool of myself in front of the whole school."
"You won't make a fool of yourself!" Draco laughed loudly, causing several people to turn and look at them. "Look, I'll teach you."
"That's quite alright. I prefer to stay on dry land, if you please," Alysia answered, folding her arms across her chest indignantly. Harry, Ron and Hermione swooshed to a stop right in front of her.
"What's the matter, Aly?" Hermione asked.
"She doesn't know how to skate," Draco supplied, and Alysia gave him a pinch in the arm. "Ouch!"
"We can teach you, you know," Ron pointed out.
"But. . .I. . ." Alysia trailed off and looked at Draco pleadingly.
"Don't look at me! For once, I agree with them," he told her without smiling.
"Come on, Alysia, you'll have so much fun!" Hermione exclaimed, grabbing Alysia's hands and pulling her to her feet. Before she could sit back down, Draco had his arm around her waist on one side and Harry on the other. Hermione shifted her grip to one of Alysia's arms and let Ron take the other. Alysia had no choice but to move with them onto the pond.
"It's just like walking," Draco explained. "Put one foot in front of the other and push off."
"Don't kick your foot out too far behind you. . .you might get someone in the face," Harry cautioned. "That's it. Nice and slow."
"Relax a little. There's no way you can fall with this many of us holding you up," Hermione pointed out.
"Steady now. A little faster." Ron pulled on her arm a little, and Alysia felt laughter bubble up.
They made it around the lake four times before finally deciding to go get some butterbeer from Hagrid's hut. All five of them were laughing merrily, which, to the rest of the school was noticeably odd.
"So are you feeling a bit more confident now, Alysia, or should we still propel you around the lake?" Harry teased and Alysia giggled into her mug.
"I think I can make it on my own, thanks," she replied. "Though I wouldn't be at all opposed to having you all nearby in case I start to fall."
"No problem," Draco replied, kissing her cheek. Then suddenly it was as if everyone became aware of their company. Awkwardness filtered through the air, and the Gryffindor three took a step back away from Draco, who eyed them disdainfully. Alysia stood in the middle, feeling very much like a tug- of-war rope. She looked first at the Gryffindor three and then at Draco.
"Now, see, what I don't understand is how five minutes ago, we were all jolly good friends, and now suddenly, randomly, you all hate each other again!" she exclaimed. "It just makes me so glad I came here instead of telling Mum to ship me off to Beauxbatons or something like that."
"Aly. . ." Draco began, but Alysia put up her hand to silence him.
"For heaven's sake, we're on the same side at the end of the day, so can't you just pretend to like each other for my sake?" she cried. When no one answered, she pulled out her wand, yelled "Accio boots!" and changed and ran into the building in a few minutes flat. Back in her bedroom, she ignored the knocks on the door and simply fell asleep.
"You can't shut out the world forever, you know," a voice said, and Alysia jolted awake, seeing her mother sitting at the foot of her bed.
"Why? How long have I been asleep?" she mumbled, looking out the window at a dark evening.
"About five hours," her mother answered, straightening Alysia's blankets. "Don't you think it would be much easier to confront your problems rather than running from them?"
Alysia groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. "Must you?" her muffled voice asked.
"Yes." Anaral took the pillow from her daughter and held it in her lap. "It's a miserable habit you've developed, Alysia. You don't deal with your problems, you run from them, and they never really get solved."
"Well forgive me for not really wanting to hash things out with them out in the cold," Alysia snapped. "I don't really feel like erasing six years of bad blood between them all myself."
"You might have to, if you want to be with Draco and be friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione," Anaral pointed out. Alysia gave her a poisonous look, and Anaral laughed. "Oh, sweetie, I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's what you needed to hear."
Alysia rolled her eyes and grabbed the pillow back from her mother. After hugging it to herself for a quiet moment, she decided to ask her mother about the three Muggle families. "Mum. . .I heard you and Dad talking Christmas night, you know. . .about the three Muggle families." Her mother sighed heavily. "What happened?"
Her mother sighed again. "It was just like before. They were interrupted in the middle of their Christmas Eve celebrations, apparently. No one realized what had happened until someone heard about the strange 'pyrotechnics' on the evening news. And by then it was too late." Anaral traced her finger along the pattern of Alysia's quilt. "Your father received word about it at around midnight. He was up all night contacting people. . .and then up the entire next night again."
"Understandable," Alysia admitted and sighed. "I suppose I should go talk to everyone, shouldn't I?"
"That might be a good idea. Harry, Ron and Hermione were heading for the library, last I saw, and Draco was stalking around the edge of the Dark Forest." Alysia smiled her thanks and ran from the room without even stopping to brush her hair.
Her first stop was the library, and sure enough, the Gryffindor three were there, working on an assignment for Potions that Alysia had yet to begin. Hermione was the first to see her, and she gave a timid smile, nudging the boys. They all looked at her expectantly.
"I just wanted to apologize for running off like that. I should have stayed and talked things over with you guys and Draco," Alysia finally stated. "But I also came to point out that things would be so much easier for all of us if we'd all get over our differences and learn to just. . .well, be friends."
"You seem to forget that the other party in this little incident is a hateful and arrogant. . ." Ron began, but Alysia cut him off.
"Ron, don't you think you're being just as hateful and arrogant by not giving him a chance to see if he's changed at all?" she pointed out. Ron looked sullen. "Believe it or not, we are on the same side."
"What if you're wrong, Aly?" Hermione asked. "What if Draco's just fooling you and trying to fool us into thinking he's 'good' or whatever, so he can get to Harry and. . ."
"That's not going to happen. I'm sure of it," Alysia stated firmly. "Can you please just try to be friends with him? It would mean a lot to me."
The three looked at each other, and Ron looked about ready to say no when Harry spoke up. "For you, Alysia. . .alright." Ron glared at him and Hermione looked unhappy about it, but neither openly protested.
"Great, then!" Alysia exclaimed smiling. "I'm going to go find Draco." She began to hurry out of the library then turned around for a brief second. "Oh and Ron, if you don't ask Hermione to the Spring Ball, I take no responsibility for my actions."
Laughing, she skipped off, not waiting for a response from Ron or Hermione, though she could hear Harry laughing. It didn't take much thought to figure out where Draco would be, and sure enough, Alysia could see him sitting high in "their" tree. She sneaked up to the tree and, barely daring to breathe, slammed her body weight against it, making the tree shake violently. Draco swore and Alysia laughed aloud. "Come down here! I want to talk to you!" she called. She heard him mutter something under his breath and jump down from the tree.
"Well?" he demanded, folding his arms across his chest. Alysia smiled at him hopefully.
"I thought you might want to try to be friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione. . .for my sake." Alysia tried to look her cutest, but Draco only scowled at her. She stopped smiling. "Draco, this is getting ridiculous. You were having a great time with them when we were skating. They really aren't so different from you, you know. No more different than I am."
"You don't understand, Aly. We're. . .well, they're. . ." he tried, but Alysia just glared at him.
"Draco Malfoy, I am sick of hearing the same old lines from you. They aren't any better now than they were when you first tried them," she stated firmly, then softened a bit. "I don't want to choose between you and them." Alysia sighed and leaned back against their tree. "I care about you a lot, Draco. I don't want that to mean sacrificing the only friends I've ever had."
Draco sighed and kicked at the tree. "It's not fair, is it?" he finally asked, and managed a half-hearted smile at Alysia. "Alright. For you, I'll try to get along with them."
"Thank you," Alysia whispered, putting her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. She let go and they began the walk up to the castle. "I don't suppose you've thought much about the Spring Ball, have you?" she asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
"Actually, I have. And I was wondering, Miss Karadhras, if you would like to come with me?" Draco turned and looked at her hopefully as they entered the castle. The sun was setting, giving the entire place a rosy hue.
"There's nothing I would enjoy more!" Alysia giggled, taking his hand. "Do you suppose we could get a table with Harry, Ron and Hermione?" Draco scowled. "Please?"
He heaved a dramatic sigh. "If we must, we must," he answered and, pinning Alysia against the wall, kissed her. She rested her arms on his shoulders and returned his kiss. His grip around her waist tightened, their breathing quickened, and suddenly, someone cleared his throat nearby. Alysia and Draco opened their eyes to see Professor Snape glaring at them.
"As much as you may enjoy your youthful. . . urges. . .the hallway is not the place for them. Twenty points from Hufflepuff and twenty from Slytherin, and detention for both of you for that. . .exhibition." With that, Professor Snape swept off, leaving Alysia and Draco to laugh hysterically at being caught making out by the Potions master.
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bA/N/b: How exciting! I finally figured out .html! w00t! Anyway, sorry this one took so long, but it is now finished so this story can pick up. Lots of stuff will happen in the next couple of chapters. . .hope you're enjoying yourself!
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