Disclaimer: Harry Potter is from the creative genius that is J.K. Rowling.
We are not her. This is merely a fanfiction to tide us over until Book 6.
A/N: We both thank you for the views.
Very soon, the Great Hall was beginning to get quiet as more and more people left for their common rooms. Alaire covered her mouth, yawned, then looked at the men beside her.
"I believe it is time to retire," she said getting up. "Would you two gentlemen please escort me to wherever it is we go?"
Quickly Harry hopped off his seat, "I'd be glad too."
"Uh, sure," Neville said as he quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"Great!" Alaire said linking her arms with the two men. "Shall we?"
Walking out of the Great Hall, Neville and Harry both felt a little nervous. The American girl between them seemed be highly curious about everything. She asked about the portraits, the armor, and the house elves -- which they did not have in the States. She knew quite a bit about the architecture of the castle. She pointed out bits of stonework and gave them bits of trivia about them. The boys had never noticed any of the decorations she pointed out but acted appropriately for teen boys and assumed the arrogant postures of two people who had seen it all before.
Alaire was asking about the stairs when, suddenly, a staircase began to swing out as they stepped on it.
"We'll have to go the long way now," Harry complained, watching as the fourth floor disappeared and the sixth floor came into sight.
"This is great!" Alaire said looking down. Her demeanor switched smoothly from nerd extrordinaire to smooth adventurer. "Do you have anyone that does stair surfing or jumping?"
"Er," Neville looked at Harry, who just shrugged. "What do you mean?"
"Like say, jump from this stairway, down to that one," she said pointing to a staircase about three meters away that was also moving.
"No," Neville said. "Filch would skin us alive even if we didn't break our necks."
"Spoil sport," Alaire teased. "You can't tell me neither of you have never broken a rule and done something dangerous and exciting."
Neville looked accusingly at Harry who just looked grim.
"Not for fun," Harry said solemnly.
"No hang gliding? Bungee jumping? Sky diving? Extreme biking? " Alaire asked as the two boys shook their heads, with each question.
"Skinny dipping?"
Both turned red with her last query.
"Well, I'll just have to fix that," she told them with an amused smile.
"Are all Americans mad?" Harry asked increduously.
"Yes and no," Alaire said happily. "You've heard of laughing in the face of danger? Well, we Americans prefer to give danger a wedgie and send him on his merry way."
A sudden image of Alaire giving Voldemort a wedgie flashed in Harry's head as he burst out laughing. Never before had he thought anything involving Voldemort would be funny, but Alaire had proved him wrong.
Neville looked over at Harry, who was holding his side from laughing. Shaking his head, he turned to Alaire and asked, "Were you serious about needing help in herbology?"
"Yes," she sighed. "I am afraid I don't know much about the native plants over here. I'm more used to Venus Gatortraps than Whomping Willows. If magical plants could grow just about everywhere, I'd be better off."
"Gatortraps?"
The trio was now in front of the Fat Lady. Harry gave the password and the door swung open as the three of them continued into the common room.
Alaire gave Neville a grin. "Just kidding. Gators taste too good to let the plants eat them." Neville didn't know how to take this. Was she still joking? Did they really eat alligator in New Orleans? Deciding to simply ignore the possible joke, he told her, "I'd be willing to help you after classes if you want. Madam Sprout won't mind me taking you into the greenhouses and teaching you about some of the things the younger classes are dealing with that you haven't seen before."
"That would be wonderful."
"And I would have no problems going over potions with you, that is if you don't mind," Harry said catching his opportunity to get some time with Alaire.
"Mind? Well I have always relied on the kindness of strangers," she said in her best southern accent. This however, was met with confused stares from the two Gryffindors.
"Ok you don't get it," she said, unlinking her arms from them. "Then how about this."
She leaned over and kissed Harry then Neville on the cheek. Harry raised his hand to his cheek as Neville turned red. Alaire smiled at their reactions. She saw a younger girl go up the stairs and decided they must lead to the dorms.
"Thank you for the wonderful evening," she said softly before going up the stairs. "Pleasant dreams."
The next morning, Harry, Ron and Neville sat at the table waiting for the girls to come down for breakfast. Neville was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment while Harry and Ron compared notes on the upcoming Quidditch season. Neville had stayed up late looking for some books that may help Alaire learn about European herbology. He had several picked out, but didn't want to overwhelm her. Hermione had done that to him and the rest of the Gryffindors too many times. He had narrowed his selections down to two books that he hoped she would be interested in. Unfortunately, by doing that he forgot to finish the rest of his summer homework for charms. He was quickly trying to finish his essay before breakfast.
A few moments later, someone bounced down the stairs from the girls' dormitory. Looking up, Neville saw Alaire attempting to adjust the clasp on her robe. "Cumbersome thing," she snapped at it before sitting down at the table between Neville and Harry.
"Sleep well?" Harry asked.
"All right," she answered. "And how are you boys today?"
"Starving," Ron answered looking at the stairs to the girls' dormitory. "Where's 'Mione?"
Harry and Neville just rolled their eyes.
"I picked out a few books that you might want to read about herbology," Neville said, digging out "Primal Plants" and "British Bubbling Botanicals".
"Thank you," she said taking them then opening "Bubbling Botanicals".
"Some of those are in greenhouse four if you'd like to take a look," Neville said. "The hellsbore and timid lovesnaps."
"That reminds me," Alaire said turning around and pulling out a book from her bookbag. "Here you go. I thought you and your girlfriend could use this."
A yellow book with big block letters landed on the table. The three boys leaned forward to look at it. A grin crossed his face reading the title, and he held the parchment closer to him so no one could see him trying not to crack up laughing. Ron's ears turned bright red.
"Romance for Dummies?" Harry asked trying not to laugh.
"We . . . I . . .I told you last night we weren't a couple," Ron sputtered while turning red and trying to look anywhere put at the book on the table.
"Oh please, denial isn't just a river in Egypt," said Alaire sarcastically as she turned back to her book. Neville quickly started coughing trying to cover his laughter.
"Like Hermione would read this anyway," Ron grumbled under his breath. He paused, "Then again, it is a book."
"I don't think she's the one that really needs to read it, Ron. Where is Hermione anyway?" Hary asked impatiently.
"I don't know those other two girls in the room with me were having a fit over something," Alaire said still reading.
A moment later, a loud ruckus was heard coming from the girls dormitory. Hermione came down, almost tripping as she was trying to calm down the two seventh-years behind her. Lavender and Pavarti did not look at all happy. Scanning the room, Hermione's eyes locked on Alaire as she stormed over to her.
"What is this I hear about you putting up walls in the dormitory to create your own room?" she asked sternly.
"I put up a folding screen partition, not a wall. I don't appreciate people gawking at me as if I was on exhibit in a zoo," Alaire said, not bothering to look at her as she turned a page.
"That's against the rules," Hermione explained. "Everyone here lives in joint dormitories. All years share a single dorm room!"
"You don't."
By this time, Harry, Ron and Neville had put down their various readings and were watching the argument unfold. By the tone of Hermione's voice she meant serious business. Alaire, on the other hand, seemed nonchalant but firm.
"I'm head girl," Hermione said proudly.
"So I've noticed."
Ron inhaled sharply, waiting for Hermione to explode.
"I have special privileges. I have worked hard to earn them."
"So that makes you better than everyone else?"
"Well, yes, as far as a separate room is concerned," Hermione snapped. "It says in 'Hogwarts: A History' . . ."
"Ah," Alaire said putting down "Bubbling Botanicals" and pulling a familiar book on the table. "It says here in "Hogwarts: A History" that all students from the United Kingdom Attending Hogwarts share a dormitory. I'm not from the United Kingdom. Nowhere in this rubbish does it say Anything about students from the United States, France or anywhere else in the world for that matter."
Hermione turned bright red.
"Merlin, this is not going to end well. She just told Hermione that 'Hogwarts: A History' was rubbish," Ron whispered to Harry.
"I have ears Ron," Harry snapped. "I've never seen Hermione this angry at anyone . . .other than you."
Hermione took several breaths, trying to calm herself down. "While you are here, the Gryffindor House will be your home, and you are expected to abide by the rules of the house."
"And you were asked by the headmaster to let me adjust."
"Adjust, yes. Create your own rules, no."
"You might not be aware of this, Hermione, but in the United States our personal space is a lot larger than those of Europeans or Asians. We can get terribly irritable and feel threatened when that space is invaded upon. How would you feel if someone you didn't know invaded your personal space and insisted on doing so because of cultural differences?"
Hermione's mouth opened, closed, then repeated the gesture. Neville was reminded of a goldfish, a very, very angry goldfish.
"I assume you only want me to feel at home and get used to my new surroundings. Don't you think that by taking away the cultural definition of the amount of personal space I need will hinder any progress made to make me feel at home?"
"Er, well yes, but --" Hermione said caught off guard.
"So you agree that I will need time to adjust, and therefore, should have my own space to adapt?" Alaire asked smiling.
"No, I don't have a problem with it," Hermione huffed before stomping up the stairway.
"Good." Alaire turned to the amazed crowd around her. "My father's a business lawyer for an architectural firm and my mother handles works as a pro bono lawyer for the homeless." She gave them another smile. "You do not push us around."
She turned to Neville. "Do you think you have a few moments to look over my schedule and come up with a meeting time to teach me more about herbology?"
"Yeah," he said nervously as he got up. "Let's walk down to breakfast and I'll take a look."
"Wonderful," she said, linking arms with him before turning to Harry. "Are you coming, Harry?"
Harry looked at Ron. His best friend's mouth was open and he seemed quite astonished. "I'll be down in a minute."
"Suit yourself," she said before tugging on Neville's arm to leave. Harry watched as they left the common room, before turning to Ron.
"What's the matter with you?" he asked irritated.
"Wow," said Ron astonished, looking at where Hermione disappeared. "Do you think she could teach me to do that?"
"Do what?" Harry asked confused.
"Render Hermione speechless during an argument."
Harry snorted, and patted Ron on the back. "I'm sure just snogging her would do it mate," he laughed throwing the "Romance for Dummies" book at him.
A/N: We both thank you for the views.
Very soon, the Great Hall was beginning to get quiet as more and more people left for their common rooms. Alaire covered her mouth, yawned, then looked at the men beside her.
"I believe it is time to retire," she said getting up. "Would you two gentlemen please escort me to wherever it is we go?"
Quickly Harry hopped off his seat, "I'd be glad too."
"Uh, sure," Neville said as he quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"Great!" Alaire said linking her arms with the two men. "Shall we?"
Walking out of the Great Hall, Neville and Harry both felt a little nervous. The American girl between them seemed be highly curious about everything. She asked about the portraits, the armor, and the house elves -- which they did not have in the States. She knew quite a bit about the architecture of the castle. She pointed out bits of stonework and gave them bits of trivia about them. The boys had never noticed any of the decorations she pointed out but acted appropriately for teen boys and assumed the arrogant postures of two people who had seen it all before.
Alaire was asking about the stairs when, suddenly, a staircase began to swing out as they stepped on it.
"We'll have to go the long way now," Harry complained, watching as the fourth floor disappeared and the sixth floor came into sight.
"This is great!" Alaire said looking down. Her demeanor switched smoothly from nerd extrordinaire to smooth adventurer. "Do you have anyone that does stair surfing or jumping?"
"Er," Neville looked at Harry, who just shrugged. "What do you mean?"
"Like say, jump from this stairway, down to that one," she said pointing to a staircase about three meters away that was also moving.
"No," Neville said. "Filch would skin us alive even if we didn't break our necks."
"Spoil sport," Alaire teased. "You can't tell me neither of you have never broken a rule and done something dangerous and exciting."
Neville looked accusingly at Harry who just looked grim.
"Not for fun," Harry said solemnly.
"No hang gliding? Bungee jumping? Sky diving? Extreme biking? " Alaire asked as the two boys shook their heads, with each question.
"Skinny dipping?"
Both turned red with her last query.
"Well, I'll just have to fix that," she told them with an amused smile.
"Are all Americans mad?" Harry asked increduously.
"Yes and no," Alaire said happily. "You've heard of laughing in the face of danger? Well, we Americans prefer to give danger a wedgie and send him on his merry way."
A sudden image of Alaire giving Voldemort a wedgie flashed in Harry's head as he burst out laughing. Never before had he thought anything involving Voldemort would be funny, but Alaire had proved him wrong.
Neville looked over at Harry, who was holding his side from laughing. Shaking his head, he turned to Alaire and asked, "Were you serious about needing help in herbology?"
"Yes," she sighed. "I am afraid I don't know much about the native plants over here. I'm more used to Venus Gatortraps than Whomping Willows. If magical plants could grow just about everywhere, I'd be better off."
"Gatortraps?"
The trio was now in front of the Fat Lady. Harry gave the password and the door swung open as the three of them continued into the common room.
Alaire gave Neville a grin. "Just kidding. Gators taste too good to let the plants eat them." Neville didn't know how to take this. Was she still joking? Did they really eat alligator in New Orleans? Deciding to simply ignore the possible joke, he told her, "I'd be willing to help you after classes if you want. Madam Sprout won't mind me taking you into the greenhouses and teaching you about some of the things the younger classes are dealing with that you haven't seen before."
"That would be wonderful."
"And I would have no problems going over potions with you, that is if you don't mind," Harry said catching his opportunity to get some time with Alaire.
"Mind? Well I have always relied on the kindness of strangers," she said in her best southern accent. This however, was met with confused stares from the two Gryffindors.
"Ok you don't get it," she said, unlinking her arms from them. "Then how about this."
She leaned over and kissed Harry then Neville on the cheek. Harry raised his hand to his cheek as Neville turned red. Alaire smiled at their reactions. She saw a younger girl go up the stairs and decided they must lead to the dorms.
"Thank you for the wonderful evening," she said softly before going up the stairs. "Pleasant dreams."
The next morning, Harry, Ron and Neville sat at the table waiting for the girls to come down for breakfast. Neville was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment while Harry and Ron compared notes on the upcoming Quidditch season. Neville had stayed up late looking for some books that may help Alaire learn about European herbology. He had several picked out, but didn't want to overwhelm her. Hermione had done that to him and the rest of the Gryffindors too many times. He had narrowed his selections down to two books that he hoped she would be interested in. Unfortunately, by doing that he forgot to finish the rest of his summer homework for charms. He was quickly trying to finish his essay before breakfast.
A few moments later, someone bounced down the stairs from the girls' dormitory. Looking up, Neville saw Alaire attempting to adjust the clasp on her robe. "Cumbersome thing," she snapped at it before sitting down at the table between Neville and Harry.
"Sleep well?" Harry asked.
"All right," she answered. "And how are you boys today?"
"Starving," Ron answered looking at the stairs to the girls' dormitory. "Where's 'Mione?"
Harry and Neville just rolled their eyes.
"I picked out a few books that you might want to read about herbology," Neville said, digging out "Primal Plants" and "British Bubbling Botanicals".
"Thank you," she said taking them then opening "Bubbling Botanicals".
"Some of those are in greenhouse four if you'd like to take a look," Neville said. "The hellsbore and timid lovesnaps."
"That reminds me," Alaire said turning around and pulling out a book from her bookbag. "Here you go. I thought you and your girlfriend could use this."
A yellow book with big block letters landed on the table. The three boys leaned forward to look at it. A grin crossed his face reading the title, and he held the parchment closer to him so no one could see him trying not to crack up laughing. Ron's ears turned bright red.
"Romance for Dummies?" Harry asked trying not to laugh.
"We . . . I . . .I told you last night we weren't a couple," Ron sputtered while turning red and trying to look anywhere put at the book on the table.
"Oh please, denial isn't just a river in Egypt," said Alaire sarcastically as she turned back to her book. Neville quickly started coughing trying to cover his laughter.
"Like Hermione would read this anyway," Ron grumbled under his breath. He paused, "Then again, it is a book."
"I don't think she's the one that really needs to read it, Ron. Where is Hermione anyway?" Hary asked impatiently.
"I don't know those other two girls in the room with me were having a fit over something," Alaire said still reading.
A moment later, a loud ruckus was heard coming from the girls dormitory. Hermione came down, almost tripping as she was trying to calm down the two seventh-years behind her. Lavender and Pavarti did not look at all happy. Scanning the room, Hermione's eyes locked on Alaire as she stormed over to her.
"What is this I hear about you putting up walls in the dormitory to create your own room?" she asked sternly.
"I put up a folding screen partition, not a wall. I don't appreciate people gawking at me as if I was on exhibit in a zoo," Alaire said, not bothering to look at her as she turned a page.
"That's against the rules," Hermione explained. "Everyone here lives in joint dormitories. All years share a single dorm room!"
"You don't."
By this time, Harry, Ron and Neville had put down their various readings and were watching the argument unfold. By the tone of Hermione's voice she meant serious business. Alaire, on the other hand, seemed nonchalant but firm.
"I'm head girl," Hermione said proudly.
"So I've noticed."
Ron inhaled sharply, waiting for Hermione to explode.
"I have special privileges. I have worked hard to earn them."
"So that makes you better than everyone else?"
"Well, yes, as far as a separate room is concerned," Hermione snapped. "It says in 'Hogwarts: A History' . . ."
"Ah," Alaire said putting down "Bubbling Botanicals" and pulling a familiar book on the table. "It says here in "Hogwarts: A History" that all students from the United Kingdom Attending Hogwarts share a dormitory. I'm not from the United Kingdom. Nowhere in this rubbish does it say Anything about students from the United States, France or anywhere else in the world for that matter."
Hermione turned bright red.
"Merlin, this is not going to end well. She just told Hermione that 'Hogwarts: A History' was rubbish," Ron whispered to Harry.
"I have ears Ron," Harry snapped. "I've never seen Hermione this angry at anyone . . .other than you."
Hermione took several breaths, trying to calm herself down. "While you are here, the Gryffindor House will be your home, and you are expected to abide by the rules of the house."
"And you were asked by the headmaster to let me adjust."
"Adjust, yes. Create your own rules, no."
"You might not be aware of this, Hermione, but in the United States our personal space is a lot larger than those of Europeans or Asians. We can get terribly irritable and feel threatened when that space is invaded upon. How would you feel if someone you didn't know invaded your personal space and insisted on doing so because of cultural differences?"
Hermione's mouth opened, closed, then repeated the gesture. Neville was reminded of a goldfish, a very, very angry goldfish.
"I assume you only want me to feel at home and get used to my new surroundings. Don't you think that by taking away the cultural definition of the amount of personal space I need will hinder any progress made to make me feel at home?"
"Er, well yes, but --" Hermione said caught off guard.
"So you agree that I will need time to adjust, and therefore, should have my own space to adapt?" Alaire asked smiling.
"No, I don't have a problem with it," Hermione huffed before stomping up the stairway.
"Good." Alaire turned to the amazed crowd around her. "My father's a business lawyer for an architectural firm and my mother handles works as a pro bono lawyer for the homeless." She gave them another smile. "You do not push us around."
She turned to Neville. "Do you think you have a few moments to look over my schedule and come up with a meeting time to teach me more about herbology?"
"Yeah," he said nervously as he got up. "Let's walk down to breakfast and I'll take a look."
"Wonderful," she said, linking arms with him before turning to Harry. "Are you coming, Harry?"
Harry looked at Ron. His best friend's mouth was open and he seemed quite astonished. "I'll be down in a minute."
"Suit yourself," she said before tugging on Neville's arm to leave. Harry watched as they left the common room, before turning to Ron.
"What's the matter with you?" he asked irritated.
"Wow," said Ron astonished, looking at where Hermione disappeared. "Do you think she could teach me to do that?"
"Do what?" Harry asked confused.
"Render Hermione speechless during an argument."
Harry snorted, and patted Ron on the back. "I'm sure just snogging her would do it mate," he laughed throwing the "Romance for Dummies" book at him.