Chapter III
Everyone at Hogwarts that day had piles upon piles of homework. This made Aly more confuzzled then ever since she didn't attend any of her classes. So when she reached the Gryffindor Common room, she dropped her books on the floor and slumped into a chair.
"Need a little help?" queried Harry.
"Definitely, I don't understand ANY of this!" complained Aly "Well it was difficult for me also, but you'll get used to it."
"Thanks for the support, but I'm not getting this."
"So what did you do to end up here? A witch like you should be out in the real world."
"In Tortall, I got in trouble with my parents. Unlike anyone here, I have the Sight. I see flashes of the future, and I can tell if people are dishonest towards me."
"Am I a dishonest person?"
"No, you're a really awesome guy who cares about others welfare before his own."
Harry blushed a deep red, and continued, "I think what you did to Malfoy was really cool. How did you do that?"
"I didn't HAVE to snap, I just like the effect. It's quite simple, you focus your magic on your target, and POOF, it just happens, for us anyway."
There was an awkward silence for what seemed hours, but finally Harry got up and said, "I think you're awesome." Then Harry blushed redder then before, and fled the room.
Aly sat there speechless.
"Did Harry compliment me? Do you think he likes me?" she said to herself "No I doubt it he's probably just complimenting me on what I did to Malfoy. Yeah that's
it." she said unsure.
Even though that wasn't the case. Aly decided to find out more about Harry. She started searching the shelves to see if she could find anything about him or his unmentioned parents.
After five minutes of searching, Aly found a book titled: "The Ups and Downs of the Dark Arts." She opened the book flipped to the index and saw that Harry was in the book. She flipped to the page and started reading.
"The Potter family was through some rough times. When Harry was just and infant, 'You-Know-Who' murdered Lily and James Potter. 'You-Know-Who' would have killed Harry too, but something stopped him. 'You-Know-Who' tried his very best to kill Harry, but from aloof his efforts, Harry only got a lighting bolt shaped scar on his forehead."
Aly stopped reading. She felt so dreadful for Harry; she thought she might start crying.
"So that's what happened." Aly thought, as she put the book she was holding away. Aly thought her life was bad, if Aly's parents passed away she would surely perish with them. She simply wouldn't be able to handle it. And what of 'He who shall not be named'? Aly had never heard of someone so sinister that no one even spoke their name aloud. Just then she had a ghastly preminition of the face of "You-Know-Who". But the peculiar thing about it was that it didn't seem like a human. It had all the human features, but it looked more like floating cloud or gas.
"This is what I HATE about the Sight. It never helps me." she grumbled to herself.
That night, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. (A/N: unintentionally clichéd)
Aly decided to establish a list about what she needed answers for.
1) Who is he who shall not be named?
2) Why is Malfoy after me?
3) Does Harry Potter like me?
While Aly took her quill off the page and started thinking about the answers, vague words started appearing on the page, and as the words continued, they became clearer:
You are an inquisitive one:
1) Voldemort
2) I cannot say
3) Yes
Aly's eyes were bulging, as the words appeared on theparchment.
1) Because Harry likes her!!
2) she has NO idea, who this Voldemort was, or is.
But if the paper, answered her that time...
"Who are you?" Aly wrote.
"Tom Riddle" The paper replied.
"Who is that?" Aly waited... and waited.... but no reply.
Aly was terrified. She was shivering, but luckily, everyone was in deep asleep, so the paper wouldn't rouse anyone. Just then, she heard a noise coming from the Gryffindor Common Room. Aly decided investigate, what was happening could be vital. And just in case she needed it; she snatched the parchment from the bed, and snuck out of the room so as not to wake anyone.
As she started walking in the halls, she heard snoring. She viciously whipped herself around, alert, but instead of seeing anyone, she saw the picture. Snoring.
"These pictures can get on your nerves." Aly complained to herself. Then, as Aly was nearing the common room, she saw dark figure sitting on the couch. And as Aly got closer she noticed it was... Whew, only Harry, not who I thought thankfully.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" Aly whispered.
"My scar, well see, I should have told you this alrea-"
"Its ok, Harry, I know what happened, I read about you and your family in a book. I'm really, really, sorry about what happened."
"Oh, well its ok. I'm about used to it by now, but I still miss them. By the way, what are you doing here?"
Aly pulled out the folded piece of parchment from her pocket, and handed it to Harry.
"Who are Tom Riddle and Voldemort?"
There was silence for a while and then Harry replied, "The same person."
Aly had a mystified look on her face when Harry continued, "Tom Riddle has a middle name, and if you switch all the letters around in it, it spells: I Am Lord Voldemort. And Lord Voldemort is well who some people call... You-Know-Who. AND after he killed my parents, he became very weak, so he needs someone he can basically feed off of to get energy, in order to hurt someone else. Now, though, you can just call him a spirit."
Aly was perplexed. "Then who do you think he's feeding off of, and why would he want to hurt anyone else?"
"Those are really good questions, but I don't have the answer for either of them." "Well I suppose we'll have to stay away from danger." said Harry after some hesitation.
"If danger doesn't stay away from us."
And those were the final words that were spoken before they went to sleep inductile Hogwarts started wreaking havoc. The following day at Hogwarts was Aly's Transfiguration class.
None of her friends were in this class so Aly was feeling in a somewhat morbid mood. She grabbed her books, and plodded down the hallway. She took a seat, and set her books down on the floor. Professor McGonagall had a way with people. She frightened them often. Professor McGonagall just had that sorrowful look on her face, especially when she wore her rounded black hat that gave her a big downcast on her face.
"Ok class," started Professor McGonagall "Today you will be working with partners."
"Uhhhhhhh" groaned Aly in her head. She was not looking forward to this.
"Aly Cooper with...." Professor McGonagall trailed off. She looked at her list and picked a boy. "Draco Malfoy." She concluded. She went on listing people, but Aly wasn't listening. She was too preoccupied with her new partner. Before she knew it, Professor McGonagall was yelling.
"Well?" Professor McGonagall said, "Get to work!"
"You better come to me," Draco drawled. He looked at her and smirked. "Because I'm not coming to you."
Aly started mutter curses under her breath. "Shut up, you stunad." (A/N: stunad means stupid person in Tortallan.) She hissed while trudging toward the boy. of course, everyone didn't know what a stunad was. They looked at her puzzled.
"Stop this foolishness!" roared McGonagall. Everyone immediately got to work. "Your first assignment is to turn the mice you have in front of you into moles."
Aly sat on the stool next to Malfoy. He muttered under his breath a spell, which actually turned the mouse into a gigantic rabid spider. The spider jumped off the desk and headed to one of the pairs. The two kids shrieked and ran away crying.
Suddenly Miss M said something in an inaudible tone, and the spider turned to its regular size. She quickly scurried over to the spider and flicked it out the window.
"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!!!!" the teacher demanded.
All the groups slowly turned their heads, ending up looking at Aly and Malfoy. Malfoy of course never gets in trouble, (A/N: NOT!!) and obviously he wanted to turn in the "real" culprit. So, as quickly as humanly possible, Malfoy shot his finger directly at Aly.
After what seemed like hours of yelling, Aly found herself walking down detention hall, with a small little pink pass in her hand. As Aly passed by a picture, the old man in it said, "Hey, girly, watcha in for?" in a gruff voice.
Aly said to the heavy-set man, "I know you probably hear this all the time but, I was framed. "
"Well uh.. Go take your seat with the other 'framed' young man." he said in a mocking tone.
Aly just looked at the picture -man and strolled on into the room. In it she saw multiple desks lined up in a row, a blackboard in the front of the room, and a morbid looking boy sitting down in the back of the room.
Aly decided to sit down next to him, as she thought to keep him company, when really she wanted to keep herself from going out of her mind from boredom. As Aly noisily pulled out a chair, the boy with the scar on his head looked up.
"Oh, Harry, hi. What are you in for?"
"Uh, you don't wanna know."
"Same here."
"But one question, Harry, did it have anything to do with Mal----"
"---foy." Harry finished.
"Well that answers one theory of mine, Malfoy is out to get us. "
"But why would he?"
"Don't ask me I just moved here. But what motive would he have to hurt us?"
"I guess that is the big question then isn't it?"
Boy, Harry looks wonderful right now. Wow look at his swirling green emerald eyes. I know he likes me, from the note.... wait I wonder if the... could the note have lied? I wonder if he's interested... Why do I even like him at all? What's so great about him? I mean I just met him and he hasn't done anything special for me... OK my subconscious is officially confusing me.
Aly looks beautiful. Was all Harry could think while staring at her chest.
"Umm... Harry.... what are you staring at?"
"Uh... nothing... it was... nothing... really."
"Ok then. So what are we going to do about this?"
"Well.... we could meet in my dorm. I know it's against regulations and everything.... but we could just talk softly. No one would know...."
"Ummm.... I don't know. I'm in enough trouble as it is..."
"Well that's the only place I can think of... unless you have a better idea..."
"No... I'll go to your dorm."
"OK." said Harry a little too excitedly.
"Um, I'll meet you tomorrow, then. How about 9:00?"
"Ok, you can use my cloak. It can make you invisible. But just make sure you don't bump into anyone, or sneeze or anything."
"Can do."
"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Ok, tomorrow."
For the rest of the class Aly and Harry kept quiet until their sleeping teacher got woken up by the bell, and told them that they were dismissed.
"Aly, did you hear that?? I am SO excited about the ball!!"
Yes I'm just overjoyed.... not! Aly thought.
"Since that wizard is coming into town we need to have something formal, and what better then a ball?"
"Yes what better?" Aly mumbled.
"And we'll need dates to go with!"
"Who are you thinking of going with Aly?" Said Hermione.
Harry she thought.
"Um.. I don't know. What about you?"
"Don't tell anyone this, but I really want to take Harry. I love him so much. I just wish he would notice me. I'm going to ask him to escort me to the ball. I just hope he accepts."
"Yeah, good luck."
So much for my idea. I guess i'm going alone then...
"So Aly, what do you have to wear? I have something just perfect, do you?"
"Well, no, not really. I normally don't wear dresses."
"Then I guess we'll just have to go to the dressmaker after class."
"Um, ok... I'll see you later."
"Ok, bye!"
Charms class seemed to go by all to soon since Aly was not looking forward to this little excursion.
Aly met Hermione after class at the shifting stairs, and they were off into the city. They went to the best dressmaker in town, to try and find something fitting for Aly to wear. When they went into the shop, there was a beautiful blue dress in the window. Its neckline was down to the breast area, and fit around the shoulders. it was silk and was pleaded towards the bottom. It was a very shiny since it had been just made. But it was only Hermione's opinion, that it was beautiful.
EWWW!!! How can she like that disgusting dress??!! Now she'll want me to try it on. AND I'll have to wear one of those atrocious corsets. I always had to wear one to my mothers' formal dinners. She didn't like wearing one either. Uhh... here we go again.
"Excuse me miss, can my friend here try on that gorgeous blue dress that's in the window?"
"Sure, hun. Hold on just let me get it down."
As the shopkeeper was getting the dress of the dummy, Hermione was going on about how beautiful Aly would look in the dress or something of the like. Aly wasn't paying attention. She was wondering how she was going to get the dress on in the first place.
"OK here sweetie, you can try this on. But first let me help you with your corset. Those things are very hard to get on."
After some of Alys' persisting grudge against corsets and dresses in general, it was a struggle, but it got on.
"That looks absolutely gorgeous!!!!" Hermione shrieked.
And although Aly barely ever agreed with Hermione, It looked stunning on her, and it fit her shape just right. The shopkeeper agreed with Hermione.
"Gorgeous, beautiful. What other words can I use to describe it?"
"We'll take it!" said the overjoyed Hermione.
A/N: Back in Alys room....
"Ok Aly hold still while I get this thing on..." said Hermione as she was fingering her corset.
"OUCH! Hermione that's way to tight. I cant even---" Aly fell.
"---Stand."
"You'll get used to it. It's not so bad, really."
"Uhh... says you."
"Aly you look splendid!"
"Well that's certainly a lot better then I feel..."
"Ok Aly, now its time for the hair gel. Now try not to move your head that much..."
Oh great now I'll look like an oversized Barbie doll.
"There, done. How do you like it?"
"It's fine Hermione." Said Aly while looking at the mirror, and turning around.
Well I guess it's all right. I look fine but I can hardly breathe! What am I supposed to do while i'm dancing? I fall right on my face! Or I'll fall on some one else.
(A/N: funny thought. Hehe)
"Thanks a lot Hermione. You really helped." Aly said as she hugged her friend.
"I'll see you at the ball then?"
"Yeah, see ya."
As Hermione left the room Aly plopped down on her bed. Careful so her reddish-blonde ringlets wouldn't be tosseled.
The worst part of right now is that I have to wait. I hate waiting. Especially in this corset. Every moment I spend in this corset, is another moment I could be breathing correctly.
"DING DING DING!!!" Her alarm went off.
"Uhh finally I thought it would never be time for the ball!"
Aly was sitting next to the punch bowl watching Hermione and Harry slow dance.
As if I would ever have a chance with him. Hermione can really get on my nerves sometimes. Now I'll just be sitting here the whole time.
Aly was in a rather morbid mood and decided to go outside and sit down. She sat on the edge of the fountain, not caring that almost everyone was looking at her as she left.
Well at least now I don't have to watch them. And they can't see me. I'll just spend the rest of my time out here. No one will even care anyway.
Harry walked off of the ballroom floor to go and see Aly.
"Hey." He said while closing the door to the ballroom.
Aly didn't answer.
"I know it's none of my business, but why are you so upset? You should be happy you're here. It's not all the time Hogwarts throws a ball."
Aly turned her head which showed tear strokes an her face. She quickly wiped them away.
"Nothings wrong."
"You know you really look beautiful now."
Aly sadly smiled at him and turned her head.
"Why are you upset really?" Harry inquired.
"It doesn't matter. You probably wouldn't care."
"Try me."
"Well say a girl liked this boy, but she thought she had no chance with him. And it seemed like he was interested in someone else."
"Well I'd say talk to this boy."
"What if she's afraid he won't feel the same way?"
"Just try. The worst he can do is say we can just be friends."
"Right now that feels a lot worse than it sounds."
Wow. She really is not interested in me. She likes another boy! How could I ever be so stupid? Thought Harry.