Chapter 30-Paul Crane
"Good Morning" Ginny said walking to the Gryffindor table.
"Morning" Alana said trying not to look at Harry.
"Mails here" Hermonine said as owls flew into the room
. "Hello Bowen" Alana said as he dropped her mail.
"What's this?" Alana said looking at the howler.
"It's a howler," Seamus said sarcastically.
"I know what it is, but I didn't do anything" Alana said starting to open it.
"Hello Alana" the howler said.
"Oh lord" Alana said recognizing the voice.
"It's grandfather, if you look at the daily prophet you would see a story about the delinquent friend Paul Crane. Stay away from him" John said as the howler ripped apart.
Alana quickly opened the paper and read "American Heir missing"
"Who's Paul Crane?" Ron asked.
"He's my friend, just misunderstood" Alana said quickly as she began to read. "He left with half of his inheritance, which he was supposed to get when he was 21. His grandfather is going to be pissed" Alana said looking worried.
"Of course" Hermonine said.
"No you guys don't know about the Crane family. Paul's grandfather Charles is a supporter of, well you-know-who." Alana said as the table stiffened.
"They use their power and wealth to do horrible things. Paul's father Ben has some sort of conscious but he is afraid of Charles. Paul's mother Samantha is a cold heartless bitch she favored their oldest son Ethan. IF they find him they can kill him" Alana said as Justin walked to the table holding the daily prophet.
"Did you see this article about Paul?" Justin said.
"Yea" Alana said sadly.
"Your grandfather is right for once stay away from him" Justin said.
"We don't know why he ran away" Alana began to say.
"But if the family is known for their support of Voldemont" Harry said as Alana twinged a little. "Of you-know-who, anyone near them can get into the crossfire" he finished.
"Ms.Deerr, you have a visitor," Dumbledore said.
Alana shook her head and turned around. "Hopefully she can help you" Dumbledore said as a man and woman turned walked in face.
"Ethan, Mackenzie" Alana said.
"I guess you saw the paper," McKenzie said giving her a hug.
"Yes" Alana said.
"Has Paul tried to contact you at all?" Ethan asked.
"No" Alana said coldly.
"Whatever you may feel about me Alana, Paul is my brother, well half-brother, nonetheless I'm worried about him" Ethan said as Harry saw Alana rolling her eyes.
"Whatever you say Ethan, I wouldn't care you did. I mean you could just tell that monster of a mother of yours then she can tell Charles" Alana began to say.
"Do you want to help Paul?" Ethan said angrily as Lupin walked towards them.
"Of course I do, but telling the golden child of Samantha Crane is not going to help Paul" Alana said angrily.
"Ok, Ms. Deerr you made your point" Lupin said getting in between Alana and Ethan.
"If he does contact you, please let me know" McKenzie said.
"I'll try" Alana said as she started to walked away. "I'm glad Paul left that awful place, hopefully he'll never go back there," Alana said angrily slamming the door to the great hall.
"That went well," Ron, said as the trio watched Dumbledore talk to Ethan and Mackenzie.
"Paul isn't a saint though, he can do the craziest things, he's arrogant, a gambler, a potion head, cocky because the girls love him, he's not evil person, I didn't care for the guy personally" Justin said as Harry nodded.
"I think he had a thing for Alana, but it didn't work out because of his grandfather" Justin added as Harry felt a rush of jealousy in his body.
"He's cute" Padma said looking at the picture of him.
"If you like the dark blonde hair thing" Harry said as the group grinned at his reaction.
"I hate Ethan Morgan" Alana said as Hermonine and her were walking into charms a few hours later.
"You said that three times already," Hermonine said.
"So this is the fourth, he got all the attention and he ended up not being a Crane after all" Alana said as they took a seat.
"You been avoiding what happened between you and Harry last night" Hermonine asked.
"Hermonine I don't know what to do" Alana said.
"Well what happened?" Hermonine asked.
"We were yelling at each other about Malfoy, and then we end up kissing and holding each other" Alana said.
"That's not the first time," Hermonine said.
"I'm not going to ask how you know that but know it wasn't the first time," Alana said.
"Maybe you and Harry should talk about it" Hermonine said as Harry and Ron walked in. Hermonine and Alana smiled as Harry and Ron took seats in the last row.
"Good Morning class, let me start by saying that the choir and dance clubs were phenomenal" Flitwick said as the class laughed.
"Well let continue from last weeks lesson," he added as the class started.
An hour into the class, "Ms. Deerr you have another visitor" McGonagall said walking into the charms room.
"If it's Ethan Morgan I have a class" Alana began to say.
"No its your brother William" McGonagall said.
"William is in the states," Alana said to herself.
"He told me to give you this" McGonagall said handed her a mirror.
"Crane" Alana said looking at the detail of the mirror. Harry noticed that she was reading something from the mirror.
"Is something wrong" McGonagall said.
"I'll be right down, get the notes for me please" Alana said to Hermonine. Alana glanced at Harry as she walked out.
"Hello sis" A man in sunglasses said wearing a hat and a trench coat.
"Can I have permission to take her out for a walk?" the man said as Alana realized that this is not her brother.
"I don't see the harm, she needs to be back by dinner" McGonagall said looking at Alana who nodded.
"Well enjoy the rest of the day" the professor said and walked away. Alana turned around and said "Hello Paul".
"I knew you would get the mirror," Paul said as they walked away from the castle.
"How have you been?" Alana said giving Paul a tight hug.
"I never been better" Paul said.
"Right after your appearance in the prophet today" Alana said as Paul took off the sunglasses.
Paul sighed and sat down on a rock.
"What's going on? The Cranes must be furious" Alana said.
"I saw something a few weeks ago in grandfather's study" Paul said starting to look stressed.
"What did you see?" Alana asked concerned.
"I was looking for well I was going to have a party and I needed stuff for potions" Paul began to say.
"Your still doing that stuff" Alana said disgusted.
"That's doesn't matter, I saw grandfather coming in and I hid in one of the trap doors. He had two men with him and they were holding a man who looked like he was hit with a torture curse" Paul said.
Alana shook her head as Paul continued. "Grandfather was trying to get some information about a jewel the emperor red," Paul said.
"That is in the prophet a month ago, two aurors got killed for trying to protect it" Alana said.
"Well the man wouldn't tell him and then my grandfather used Avada Kedavvra. I never saw anyone go through that curse before so I jerked around in the trap door. I saw the deed to my inheritance and took it. Grandfather order his goons to kill me I bearley got out of the Crane mansion alive" Paul said as tears filled his eyes.
Alana sat down next to him not knowing what to say. "I'm going to find the emperor red and give it to the ministry of magic before Grandfather does. Then I'll show what type of wizard he his" Paul said.
"I'm going to help you" Alana said standing up.
"Wait no, I just wanted to let you know I was ok" Paul said.
"Paul! I've been hearing all day to stay away from you. At least if you have another person backing you up, you won't be dead!" Alana said.
"You probably don't know where to start" Alana said.
"I do, well the man who died was an expert jeweler. There's a jewelry store in Hogsmade that just opened and his daughter is the owner. I'm going there tonight," Paul said taking out his portkey.
"I'll go with you, I'll meet out outside of school after dinner" Alana said.
"Oh all right, I could never argue with you" Paul said as nodded. "You look great" Paul said getting a better look at her.
"Thanks" Alana said looking back at the castle.
"It's good to see you again," Paul said with a smile.
"Same here" Alana said. "Wait how did you manage to get here, I know you have the money but" she began to say.
"Appear" Paul said as he pointed his wand near a bush. A flying motorcycle appeared.
"Nice" Alana said looking at the detail.
"That's not all" Paul said as he pointed his wand again.
"Another one for who" Alana asked. Paul pointed at her. "
Me? Paul this is wicked. Almost like old times" Alana said walking towards it.
"Just say it was from that weasel of a brother" Paul said as Alana laughed.
"Don't worry" Alana said as it started getting dark.
"We should go back," Paul said as he put his sunglasses back on.
"I'll meet you around 9 in hogsmade using my portkey" Alana said as they walked to the castle.
"It's not like Salem" Paul said getting a look at the castle.
"I think it's better" Alana said.
"Whatever you say," Paul said as they walked in.
"Thank you professor McGonagall for letting me spend time with my sister" Paul said as they walked towards McGonagall and Lupin.
"I thought your brother was in the states Ms.Deerr" Lupin said as he got a better look at Paul.
"So did I, it was a surprise visit" Alana said nervously.
"I'm trying to mend family problems, that's why I have her that motorcycle. Don't tell mom and dad," Paul said giving Alana a hug.
"I won't but you should get going" Alana said motioning Paul to go.
"Nice to meet you William" Lupin said as Alana walked into the great hall.
"That was a close one" Alana thought.
"Your back" Hermonine said as she made space for Alana to sit down. "
Yep" Alana said as Harry smiled at her.
"Your brother gave you that flying motorcycle it's wicked" Seamus whispered to Alana.
"I'll tell you later" Alana whispered.
"There's a DA meeting tonight," Harry said seriously. "W
hat time?" Alana asked. "After dinner" Hermonine answered.
"Oh" Alana said nervously.
"Hey Mike" Alana said as she saw Michael walking in, Cho followed behind him flashing Alana a look.
"If that girl keeps doing that, I'll gladly tell her what I think of her," Alana said looking at Cho.
"Why is she in DA if her friend sold you guys out" she asked.
"Well she wasn't the one that did it" Harry said.
"Maybe because you were dating her at the time" Alana thought as she felt a glimmer of jealously.