Second Comings
Chapter Five
Four and Six and Half Feet
Disclaimer: I do not own the HP world that belongs to JK Rowlings she just graciously allows us to play in it. And her characters are hers she just lets us have our own spin on them. All the characters you do not recognize our mine. I own Alianna, Adiann Akurse, Victoria Talons (Tori), and Tyler Griffith. Julia White owns Devon Aingeal and Shanka Nosizwe. So leave our original characters alone Do Not steal them please. If want a more indepth look at whats going on with the trio and such go read Harry Potter's Worst Fear by Julia White. Our fics are interconnected. Ok sorry on to the story…
I wake up to find Ginny and Tori already up looking over their schedules. Tori's blue streaks from yesterday are gone. It's back to it's normal three colors; Brown, red, and blonde.
"G'morning Alianna." Tori says throwing a pillow at me right when I yawn.
"G'morning." I throw the pillow in the floor and walk over to the window and stretch.
"Hello Alianna I'm Ginny Weasley." She holds out her hand which I take gently. I hope she doesn't burst out screaming again any time soon.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Alianna Conclamo your um new roommate."
"I hope you don't mind, but I let Ginny have some of your chocolate while you were still sleeping." Tori gets up and start to throw some books in her bag.
"Oh no that's fine. I have loads of it anyways."
"It was dead delicious. I can't wait for you to have some Honeydukes though. It's the best. So how are liking school so far?"
"It's good. The best school I've been to so far, although the homework is exhausting."
"Yeah the homework around here will kill you. Oh damn I've got to go meet with Luna to see what classes with have together this year. I'll see you later in Herbolgoy if I don't get to talk to you at breakfast." She smiles as she runs out the door.
"It might be best if we don't bring up anything about what's gone on to her. I mean you saw how fragile she is last night." Tori throws her bag over her arm.
"Sure."
"Ok let's go get breakfast."
We walked down the stairs to the completely empty Common Room where a tall boy with ginger hair the same color as Ginny's is sitting alone.
"Morning Ron."
"Morning Tori."
"Off for breakfast yet?"
"No waiting on Hermione." His voice seemed see this as a good thing, but maybe bad at the same time.
"Well I'm glad you're back."
"Me too." He smiles as we walk out the portrait hole toward the Great Hall.
"Ronald Weasely. Ginny's older brother. She has loads of brothers. There's Ron, Fred and George, they're twins. Percy, Charlie, and Bill." She says putting on lip balm as the stairs cut us off.
"Six brothers? She's lucky to have such a big family." We turn back up the stairs and take another flight.
"Well now that's all she has. Let's see what do we have first? Oh yes Herbology. I think it'll be a bit different than what you were used too." She says looking over her schedule as we pass into the Great Hall. Ginny spots us and waves before going back to conversation with a girl sitting on the Ravenclaw table. I scan for Tyler, but he's nowhere to be seen. I really just want to see him smile. Every morning so far it's lifted my day to see him at breakfast.
"Still no peanut butter." I whisper taking a bite of dry toast.
"Maybe you could ask someone about that. See her, the girl Gin is talking to? That's Luna Lovegood." Tori points to a girl with long straggly blonde hair with her porridge covered spoon. Ginny seems to be chatting away to her, but the girl has a rather dreamy look on her face. No peanut butter and no Tyler is not making my morning that well.
"Morning you two." A voice says from behind me.
"Hey Tyler. So how wicked is Alianna on the field?"
"Pretty wicked. So Alianna can we meet up later? Maybe tonight after dinner?"
"Sure." I smile looking into his deep brown eyes. He smiles back and walks back to the Ravenclaw table.
"Do you fancy him?" She pours more sugar in her porridge.
"He's my friend." I lift my shoulders as I say it. He's the only guy to be my friend in a long time. Ginny runs over to the end of the table to sit with a group of people I don't recognize. Then again I don't recognize anyone. Everything is new, strange, and foreign. The voices, people, faces, classes, teachers, halls, corners, rooms, clothes, just everything. That feeling of always being alone has been somewhat lifted by Tori and Tyler's presence in my day to day life. I fill my glass with orange juice and down it quickly to unstick the dry toast in my throat.
"You need something more than toast." Tori slices a banana into her porridge with cream and more sugar.
"I hate breakfast." I make my goblet spin around on its edge.
"You should really eat more. For me breakfast is one of the best meals because of porridge, sugar, and cream. And fruit…and kippers, sausage, and eggs. Oh yeah and orange juice. Breakfast is just great. Oh gosh here comes Charles." She puts her head down and tries to hide her face with half a piece of toast.
"Hello Victoria. Good morning isn't it? I was hoping to see if you wanted to go out on the lake later on?" A guy who looks to be about sixth year says with a handsome voice.
"Oh I don't know Charles. I really have plan I can't break off tonight. Maybe some other time though." She smiles crumbling her toast into pieces.
"Alright then. Have a good day in classes." He walks off and out of the Great Hall.
"You don't have plans tonight?"
"I know I don't." She scraps out the last spoonful of porridge and downs the last bit of orange juice. "So are you ready for-"
"I LOVE YOU!" Yells a voice close to the exit. What's left of the people in the Great Hall turn to stare where the voice came from. I give Tori a puzzled look that she returns. I look down to the end of the table where Ginny is fumingly stuffing her bag and waving. I poke Tori and point down to Ginny.
"We're late for Herbology!" Tori grabs her bag and throws me another piece of toast as we rush after Ginny.
"Why didn't you come and get us Gin!"
"Because I was talking to my boyfriend thank you!"
They yell at each other as we run down the corridors and out onto the lawn and into a greenhouse.
"Well now we may begin seeing as how all my students are here." A plump women with gray hair flying away from her face says as we run in.
"Sorry Professor Sprout." We say in order before taking a spot at one of the crowded dirt covered tables. A pair of gloves sits in front of me and I follow Ginny and Tori in on putting them on along with a dirt covered apron.
"Now fifth years lets start. We are going to begin with Hellebore. Hellebore while being extremely toxic is used in many potions. Plants of the Hellebore or Helleborus genus such as Veratrum are very poisonous if not handle the right way. So I'm here to teach you the right way so you don't go killing yourself. Now who can tell me what major potion uses Hellebore?"
Ginny raises her hand and follows with the answer of Draft of Peace. It earns five point for Gryffindor.
"Now today as you see we will be dealing with Black Hellebore. So take out your trimmers and let's get to it. Turn to page 184 in your books and follow instructions one through fourteen for the trimming and handling process. Do be careful as your Hellebore leaves and flowers will be used in Potions class for practical later on."
Small brown cloth bags appear beside our scissors with our names on them. I start to snip off the deep green flower with maroon tips and set them beside the bag. I put the leaves in a different pile.
"They smell nice." Tori breathes one in deeply then starts to cough big rough gasps.
"Miss Talon do be careful. If you would read at the top of the page unlike Miss Talon you'd see not to breathe in the smell off the flowers too much or it will cause you to lose your breath. Too much of the aroma is intoxicating which can lead to instant death. Who can give some other names for Black Hellebore and the poison made from its leaves? Anyone?"
People begin to look at me as I raise my hand causing me to which I hadn't done it in the first place. She nods my way and smiles eager to hear my answer.
"Well…" my voice cracks. Tori elbows me. "Black Hellebore native to England is also known by Griffon's Foot, Fernleaf Hellebore, and Setterwort. Setter Death is the poison made by Black Hellebore leaves when they have wilted and died."
"Very good Miss Conclamo. Now follow onto step ten in removing the petals…" She continues on.
"Bravo Alianna. This stuff used to grow around my house. Fred and Gorge used to pick it for mum and she would have a coughing attack." Ginny says with sad eyes and a half smile tearing off the petals.
"I like the color green. As a matter of fact I really like green." Tori pulls off one glove and runs her thumb and index finger down a strand of hair causing it to go the same deep green as the leaves in her pile. A couple girls look over and giggle at Tori.
"Miss Talon five points from Gryffindor for disrupting class. Now put your petals, flower bulbs, stalks, and leaves in your bag. I hope you were paying attention in class last year because I want a four foot essay on everything you learned last year. Now, now calm yourselves class. It's due next week, thank you class. Miss Conclamo seeing as how you won't be able to do this assignment I'll just need to give me a twelve inch essay on the different type of Hellebore." She says taking off her gloves to reveal dirty finger nails.
"Four feet! Professor Sprout is mad!" Tori says as we walk toward Transfiguration.
"This homework is going to drive me mad." Ginny stuff her Herbology book in her bag angrily.
"I hope McGonagall gives us a break."
"Not in a thousand years Alianna!"
After walking forever we pass the last corridor and go in to take our seats. I nudge Ginny and hand her a piece of chocolate. She mouths thank you with a smile before Professor McGonagall walks out looking stern through her square specs. The light chattering that had been going on instantly stops.
"This is your fifth year class. This year is not to be taken lightly. As you all know, and you better, is the year of the O.W.L.s. How many O.W.Ls you get is what will lead you into what you will go into after Hogwarts. It's also time to start deciding on what you will exactly do after school. So what you learned up until this point is gravely important! Hopefully you haven't spent these last five years skiving off classes. So I want you to go over what you have learned so far. You have one week to go over all you've learned so far for a six and a half foot essay. So I suggest you spent the time you have until lunch studying." She takes a seat at her desk and pulls out a book. "I said studying not whispering."
"She wants an outline by tomorrow? Tomorrow! I don't think I have time to eat." Ginny runs her hand through her ginger hair letting out a restrained breath.
"I don't think my body can handle food right now. Did you see the book list she gave me to help me with it?" I pull my hair into a loose knot and try to keep it from falling in my face.
"Well you should be happy she's letting you off with two feet. I need something to eat or I'm my brain is going to cease to work." Tori slouches her shoulder and drags her bag on the ground beside her as if it weighs two hundred pounds. Ginny drops her bag and all her books, quills, and notes fly out. We go over to help her.
"Don't worry I'll get it." She pulls out her wand. "Go on ahead and eat." Her tired voice says. We nod and take our seat closest to the Staff Table. Tori ladles out beef stew and a huge piece of bread for me. I take it reluctantly. I sip at the warm broth that suddenly eases all my nerves. For once I'm grateful for something to eat. The cloud that had formed in front my eyes starts to lift and the force that had been making my arms heavy is gone.
"Do you think we could just sit here all day and drink strew broth?" I ask laying my head on the table and taking a small bite of bread.
"If it were possible yes, but we have double potions and studying to do. Come on." Tori pulls my arm and puts a rolls in my hand.
"Alianna it wasn't that bad. I mean even I've put in a few too many ingredients before." Ginny's older brother Ron says as we walk out of potions. Out of all the times to mess up on something I choose the Draft of Peace practical. I ground my leaves to much into a paste and used too much of it causing my whole table to go into a coughing fit. Shanka was nice enough to help me, but all the people staring made me wish I could fall into my cauldron and disappear in the green-black liquid.
"Yeah Ron and you having to retake fifth year potions this year. Your trying to give Alianna advice? That's rich." Ginny smacks him on the arm playfully.
"Everything is just so different." I whisper.
"Don't worry. At least Professor Nosizwe isn't like Snape. He would have failed you for the whole year for something simple like that." Ginny smiles reassuringly.
"Yeah you should really be glad that Snape is gone or whatever. You haven't had the pleasure to get points taken from you for walking the wrong way or sneezing in the middle of class…"
"Or changing the color of your hair, or nails, or making little glass figure with your potions." Ginny cuts off Tori mocking her voice.
"Honestly Tori you should turn Malfoy's hair red or puce or something. Of course nothing can beat," Ron closes his eyes for a moment before saying with joy, 'the amazing bouncing ferret'."
They all three give a laugh as we walk down the corridor and onto some stairs.
"Want to go the Common Room before dinner?" Ginny asks. We all shake our heads no. A girl with blonde hair who I saw in class comes up behind us on the stairs as if by accident.
"Hello Luna. This is Alianna Conclamo. I think you saw her in potions?" Ginny says back to her friend.
"Hi." She says rather dreamily. I smile back.
"Honestly are you always on the stairs? Don't have anything better to do than to come by and stare at me. What am I saying? It's what I do all day. Such beauty, such grace, such…"
"An old ugly hag!" Tori pipes as we pass the picture of the beautiful girl staring into her mirror. The picture huffs and sticks her nose in the air as we pass.
"So what's it like in American school?" Ron asks as he sits down at the table, buttering a roll, and stuffing it whole in his mouth.
"It's different. You don't have houses. It's more like groups." I say with a shrug.
"Do you have prefects and Head Boy and Girls?" Ginny asks bringing out a book to study over while taking a bite of roasted chicken. I shake my head no.
"I mmmm amm Premmfmect."
"Ron swallow before you talk." Tori throws a piece of her roll at him.
"Sorry. I'm a Gryffindor Prefect." He leans back with a rather satisfied look on his face. I guess he thinks that impresses me.
"Ron she probably has no idea what a Prefect is." Ginny says over her book and chicken. I go to correct her when Ron cuts me off.
"Oh well Prefects have loads of responsibilities. It's a very big honor. We kind of have power over the rest of the students. Basically I can tell them what to do. I give out detention things like that. I try to keep order in Gryffindor Tower. If it wasn't for all those bloody first years I have to handle my job would be a lot easier." He draws out the last couple words.
"Honestly!" Ginny says closing her book with a thump. "Where are Harry and Hermione?"
"Who?" I say quietly eating a buttered roll.
"Harry's my best mate and Hermione is my girlfriend." He grabs a roasted chicken leg.
"Harry is my boyfriend. Ron forgot to mention that."
"And what they are both forgetting to mention is that he is not just Harry; He's Harry Potter." Tori swirls her mashed potato covered spoon in a circle above her head in a 'whoop tee doo' manner. They all stare at me for a moment. Waiting for some kind of reaction to The-Boy-Who-Lived.
"That's nice." I smile and sip at my goblet.
Their eyes pierce me. All three of them seem to be taken aback. Ginny lets out a weird giggle and Ron eats more of his chicken. Ron's face goes strange and he drops his chicken leg as two people approach the table.
"Harry! Hermione! We were just wondering where you two were." Ginny beams at tall boy with rather messy black hair. She scoots over to let him sit between her and her brother.
"Hermione, where have you been? I've missed you." He gives a meager smile to the girl standing beside him. She sits down slowly looking me up and down. Her bushy brown hair is half pinned up, but it looks like it wants to stand on end. She smiles back at him noticing Ginny, Luna, and Tori. Ron goes on about well he did in potions making me want to crawl under the table even more. Instead I stare at the face across from me. His eyes meet mine and I turn away quickly. I can't help but notice how deeply aching they were though before I turned away.
"So Gin who's your friend?" His head jerks my way causing his hair to move a bit from in front of his forehead. I see a vague crooked line and think about what I once read in a book back at Americus in Modern Magical History. How much pain he must go through when someone brings up what happened that awful night.
"Oh this is Alianna Conclamo. Alianna this is Hermione Granger." Ginny points to the bushy haired girl beside Ron. Her eyes norrow a bit before lighting for a moment.
"So you're Alianna! Nice to meet you. I'm your tutor. Professor McGonagall said you're from America right?" She smiles.
"Yeah, um…I don't need a tutor." I answer quietly with a shake of my head. Anyone, but this girl. I can tell already she doesn't like me by the way she is squeezing Ron's hand.
"Oh well, Professor McGonagall thinks you do. Hogwarts is very challenging and I'm top of my class." She smiles with an arrogant turn of her head.
"AND THIS," Ginny says loudly before either one of us can say another word to each other, "is Harry my boyfriend."
I smile into his eyes as he takes my hand gently.
"Nice to meet you Alianna, how are you liking Hogwarts so far?" He lets go of my hand. He stares at me for a moment as if waiting for something more than my answer.
"It's nice." I say simply and take a sip of some pumpkin juice. His face goes weird, but make to normal just as quick. He's on the Quidditch team and so is Ron they explain. I nod and shrug with a faint smile.
"You don't talk much do you?" Hermione says. I nod and pick up another roll still as hot as when walked into the Great Hall.
"That's surprising considering your name means 'One who shouts loudly'"
I lower my roll from my mouth as she stares at me with utter dislike.
"I talk when it's nessasary. I don't just babble on like a know-it-all…" The more we say to one another the thicker the tension is across the table. I almost stand to my feet with my last comment taken back by my own strength in the conversation.
"So met your twin have you Potter?" The tall white blonde haired boy walks out. Harry's jaw locks together as he turns to face him.
"Didn't I just hex you yesterday Malfoy? Care to make it two days in a row?" Harry's hand slips to his wand without the blonde guy seeing.
"Honestly Potter when I first saw Harriett here I thought you had decided to dress as a girl to hide from the Dark Lord." Two ugly fat blokes behind him laugh.
"What's your reason for dressing as a girl Malfoy? Your dad is friends with Voldemort isn't he? So why'd you grow your hair out so long?" Tori's eyes shoot daggers at him.
"Why you little…" He raised his arm to go for his wand when Ron stands up.
"Shove off Malfoy!" Ron's wand is pointed right at the guy's heart. "Why don't you just get away from here?" Ron's voice strong with each word. It was more a command than a question. A guy with light brown hair and broad shoulders comes over in a fast pace. His voice sounds so familiar as he tells Malfoy to bug off or he'll ban him from the Quidditch team.
"Sorry about that. I'm Adiann Akurse. New captain for the Slytherian team." He and Harry shake hands. His voice, his voice. I know it. I've dreamed about it. I don't even hear what he says to the people around me before he walks away. Now sitting in the Common Room with them asking me tons of questions I answer with one to two words. The way he walked, talked, his mouth it's like I've seen it all before. Forgotten movies with bad lightly flash quickly before my eyes, but I can't hold onto them.
"Good night Harry." A couple people say as we sit by the fire a couple hours and a hundred questions later. Tori sits on the floor with her head bobbing up and down seconds away from hitting it. Ginny is curled up in a chair with the same book scratching away at a scroll. Tori rises up with a jolt.
"Tyler! Alianna Tyler!"
I throw all my books and note down in the floor and go running to the portrait hole. As soon as I walk out he is standing there with smile.