Chapter 2: Sixth Year

*****

            "Angelina, I really want to thank you guys for offering to show me around today…"

            "It's nothing Alinora- we told McGonagall we'd be happy to do it and we are.  This place can be a bit confusing to begin with." she grinned.

            They entered the Great Hall to the sight of hundreds of student eating breakfast.  Alinora mentally braced herself and followed Angelina down the row between two of the enormously long tables.  Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet, two other sixth years she'd been introduced to the night before, mirrored them on the other side of the table.

            "The table to our right belongs to Ravenclaw, the one to our left is Hufflepuff's and the one on the far left is Slytherin's.  Okay," she said pointing to an open area coming up on their left at the Gryffindor table, "that's where we're headed.  See the two tall red heads?  That's Fred and George Weasley- we told you about them last night.  Beside George is their brother Ron, then Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, and Ginny Weasley.  She's a third year, the youngest and only girl in the family, so they tease her constantly.  On this side is Lee Jordan- he's a sixth year too- Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom and Colin Creevy.  They're all fourth years except Colin, who's in Ginny's class.  Everything making sense so far?"  She gave Alinora an impish grin.

            Alinora grinned back, "Clear as mud!  I'm sure I'll figure them all out eventually- like before I graduate…"

            They finally reached the empty seats they'd been aiming for and sat down beside Lee, with Katie and Alicia taking the seats opposite them, beside the Weasley twins.

            "Hey all, this is our newest addition to Gryffindor house- Alinora Roane- she transferred in.  McGonagall brought her by last night." Angelina said in answer to the curious looks they were receiving.  "She's a sixth year too and we're showing her around and introducing her to everyone.  So Be Nice!"  She shot a pointed look at the twins who did their best to look innocent and unjustly accused.  It wasn't terribly successful.

            One of the red heads, Fred- Alinora connected the name from the quick introductions- gave her a mischievous grin and pulled something out of his pocket and offered it to her.  "Welcome to Gryffindor house Alinora.  I'm sure you'll be quite happy with us."

            Alinora looked closely at the piece of candy he was holding out to her and a mischievous smile of her own played across her lips.  "While I'm sure I'll be quite happy here, I don't think it would be helped much if I suddenly turned yellow and…" she took a closer look at the candy, "sprouted feathers on my first day here.  But I appreciate the sentiment."

            Still grinning he shrugged and stuck the candy back in his pocket and shot a mock accusing look at the group of girls she'd come in with.  "Katie!  Alicia!  Angelina!  How could you guys have warned her off so quickly?!?  How will she ever feel she's truly a member of Gryffindor with you guys pulling pranks like that?"

            He turned slightly and punched George lightly in the shoulder to pull his attention away from the conversation he'd been having with Ron and Harry.  "Did you hear that George??  The girls have been spreading stories about us to Alinora- all completely untrue and unfairly biased against us too, I'm sure!  How can she be properly welcomed to the group if she won't trust us?"

            With that, George looked down the table, caught Alinora's eye and grinned.  She startled- it had felt like someone had shot a bolt of electricity through her whole body and a thought flew through her head so quickly that it barely had time to register, let alone be processed immediately.  She fought to control her expression as she saw his eyes darken briefly and his smile falter before resuming their original expression.

            Smiling at her he simply said, "Then I guess we'll just have to try harder."

            Breathing now back under control she stared back at him, a smile lurking at the corners of her mouth and a wicked twinkle in her eyes, "You're quite welcome to try," she said with a slight bow of the head to the two, "but I am completely sure I'm up to the challenge."

            Dear goddess she thought those eyes… what was that?!  What in the world have I gotten myself into here?!?  This promises to be a very interesting year…

*****

It was a rather subdued group of students that finally arrived at King's Cross Station after the end of what could only be described as a very eventful, and not altogether pleasant, year.  The Hogwarts train had finally come to a halt and the students were busy unloading their trunks and other belongings from their compartments.

            Alinora got her trunk out onto the platform and tugged it to an unobtrusive location near a large clock.  She glanced up to check the time.  Ten minutes to go.  She sat down on her trunk and watched her classmates hurrying around.

            "Ali?"

            She turned around and smiled.  Katie and Alicia had come up behind her.  "We wanted to say good bye before leaving.  Aren't your godparents here yet?"  Behind Katie's shoulder she could see Angelina coming over too, pulling Fred by the hand and followed closely by George and Lee.

            "I'm going home first- to visit my relatives.  I'll be leaving in…" she glanced up at the clock again, "seven minutes."

            "Well, have a good time and try to write if you can.  If you get bored, send me an owl and you can come stay with me- I'd love to have you!"  With that Katie gave her a hug, which the rest were quick to do as well.

            "Do try to stay out of trouble for the next two months- especially you two" Alinora said, shooting a mock glare at Fred and George, who as always were trying to look innocent and still failing miserably.  "I don't know if I'll be able to send word to anyone this summer, but I'll definitely be seeing you all come September 1st."

            Glancing at the clock again she quickly took a seat on her trunk and grabbed the handle firmly.  She pulled a pendent out from beneath her shirt.  "Damn, I really hate these things…" she muttered, getting a shocked look from Alicia and a grin from George.  "Time to go- See ya!"  With that the clock above her head began to chime the hour.  She took hold of the pendent and suddenly she and her trunk disappeared.

            "Wow…"

            "Wish it were that easy for me to get home!"

            And with that they said good bye to each other and separated to find their families and begin their own trips home for summer break.