Shout out to...

xDarkHorsex for being so nice and giving great reviews.

Rylie D I will update. XD

And just so everyone knows... I don't know British slang, and I certainly don't know what they said in the seventies so... I just thought I'd clarify for anyone who planned on sending me hate mail.

Chapter 7. Hogsmeade and Letters

The whole school was getting wound up about Hogsmeade.The younger students were very down because they weren't old enough to go. All the girls were talking about what they were going to buy and who they were going with. The guys were happy that Zonkos had recently received a new shipment of products. Ally heard James talking about it rather animatedly in the common room one night. Looks like he's got a knack for troublemaking... doesn't surprise me.

Ally wasn't excited about any of that though. At first, she was just like the other girls, but then she received her mother's reply.

Al,

I feel very happy calling you your new nickname, it fits you.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?"

I'm really glad that you have lots of friends, and this school isn't like Beauxbatons. Lily sounds like a great friend and I hope you get along well.

Hogsmeade sounds great! I enclosed the permission slip you sent me; don't forget to give it to your teacher so you can go. Be careful about any haunted buildings, teenage witches and wizards have been known to play pranks.

Do you remember your cousin Haley? Well, while we're talking about Hogsmeade, your cousin has offered to meet you there! She says she's got a surprise for you and your friend. Don't badger me with questions because I don't know what she has in store.

I have discussed it with your father; we both agree that it is perfectly alright for you to stay over Christmas break. With our free time maybe we'll plan a vacation.

Write to me often, I don't want us to lose touch!

Love,

Mum

"So what do you think your cousin is going to give us?" Lily asked Ally.

"Who knows?"

Ally had gotten her letter earlier that week, during breakfast. She had been very happy to see her old family owl again; it was a short eared owl that her father had tamed back in France. She wished it would have stayed a little while longer, but after a quick drink, it took flight in a flash.

There really wasn't anything new to report. Every day Lily and Ally would either go to the Library and study, or go back to the common room. Lily would content herself with reading a book, while Ally would play card games with Sirius, or joke around with Pria and Carla.

The most interesting part of the day was, by far, what idiotic way James would ask Lily on dates. In the hallways, the common room, the library, the owlery, the astronomy tower... even during class. Ally giggled at the memory.

"Any questions class, so you can get to work?" Professor McGonagall said.

"Professor," James held up his hand and stood up, "I have a question."

"Yes, Mr. Potter?"

He turned to Lily, smiling confidently.

"Lily, will you go with me to Hogsmeade?"

The whole class had erupted in giggles and laughter, while Lily turned beet red (not with embarrassment but anger) and put her face down on the desk.

Ally teased Lily to no end about that moment.

"Oh, Lily," she sighed, "If only all of us single gals was as lucky as you are in your love life, with a proposal every five minutes!"

"Oh, shut it." Lily would say and throw whatever was closest to her at Ally, normally a book or quill. One time, Ally was lucky enough to be barraged with a basket of rolls.

"What is with you and rolls?" she asked, taking a bite out of the one she caught.

"Yeah," Sirius joined in on the conversation, "What I wonder is what would happen if Jamesy was made of rolls."

"She would be snogging him silly right now."

They both looked at Lily and then James.

"Sad." they said in unison.

"Meh," Lily replied, returning to her dinner.

"So what are you two going to do at Hogsmeade?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Ally's got her cousin coming to give her a gift."

"Oh," Sirius looked over at Ally, "Pray tell, what is this gift?"

Ally thought for a moment.

"Don't really know. My mum said it was for me and Lily. It's from my cousin Haley and she's pretty awesome, so I'm sure it isn't a bad gift."

"Where are we going to meet her?"

"Don't know, but don't worry. Once she sees me she'll scream and shout and we won't have any trouble finding her." She rolled her eyes.

"Family trait," Sirius asked.

"Naturally," she said stiffly. "Every Pierce had been known to make a fool of themselves frequently. It's our trademark! You commoners have no idea orf true nobility."

Turning her nose up snobbishly, Ally stood up.

"Come dearest Lily," She grabbed Lily by the arm and hoisted her up, "We aren't welcome with these peasants."

"Yea, verily," Lily imitated and they walked out of the great hall arm in arm.

The Next Day...

Bang, bang, bang. Ally pulled the pillow over her head. Bang, bang, bang. What is going on? Who's making that noise? It took a while for Ally to process what was happening and she opened her eyes wearily.

"Lil..." She murmured.

"Meh?"

"I think someone is at the door."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Really?"

"Yeah, really, and I think they want in..."

"No... I don't think so..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"You're probably right. I think they might be mistaken. They're obviously confused; everyone knows certain death meets anyone who wakes us up." Ally replied.

"Yes, they are deranged... that is the only solution."

"Yea, verily."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"I wonder when they will realize that they're witches, and can open the door at any time they wish."

They both heard small whispers behind the door, then a shushed. 'Alohomora'.

"Why are they being so silent now?" Ally asked. "There's no chance for a surprise attack now."

The door creaked open, admitting Pria and Carla to their dorm.

"Whoa!" Pria exclaimed. "Your room is so fabulous!"

Ally and Lily laughed into their pillows. Peeking out from under the covers, she could see them looking around in amazement. Carla curled her toes up in the rug and Pria was poking every thing.

"Aren't you up yet?" Pria asked after a while.

"After that incredibly rude awakening, I'm split between falling back asleep or waking up to bash you over the head, then falling back asleep." Lily said.

"Ah," Ally said wisely, "I too, am suffering from the same internal conflict. However, I have a better work ethic than Lily and will now rise to greet the morning."

She threw off the covers and stretched.

"Cool pajamas." Pria said.

Ally looked down at her pajamas. They were light blue and the front of the shirt said 'Beauxbatons prep...' while the back said '... aka Psycho'

"My mum got them for me. She said they reminded her of me... She never explained why."

They laughed and Ally got up to take a shower and change. As she did, she could here the distinct sounds of Pria and Carla trying to force Lily out of bed. Good luck with that... she thought. When she was done she marched over to Lily's bed and whispered in her ear.

"Lily, James is in your bed."

She shrieked, jumped out of bed, grabbed her wand and pointed it at the pillow while Pria and Carla collapsed into giggles.

"That. Was. Not. Funny." Lily seethed.

"No, it wasn't," Ally conceded, "but I simply had to show our friends the rare sighting of the red haired afro."

Pria and Carla made fake ooooohs and aaaaaaahs while Lily tried to flatten out her hair. She huffed and retreated to the bathroom to get ready.

"Are you wearing that?" Pria asked as she looked at her up and down.

"Yeah, why?" She glanced at her attire in the mirror. She wore her normal school uniform.

"Because it isn't required for you to wear a school uniform, didn't anyone tell you?"

"Great!" She changed and Lily and their friends to headed down the castle to the entry hall. There was a group of students already milling around, talking and joking. Ally separated from her friends for a moment to find Professor McGonagall and give her her permission slip.

Then, she rejoined her friends in line waiting to be checked off for the trip. When they were ready, they left the castle through the great doors.

The carriages were already waiting for students and Ally, Lily, Pria and Carla all climbed into one carriage.

"Does anyone know what pulls these carriages?" Ally asked when they had all settled in and had started moving.

"They're pulled by thestrals," Carla said, "At least, that's what Hagrid, the groundkeeper says."

"Hagrid?"

"He's been groundkeeper for a while," Pria interrupted, "He's really tall, nearly twelve foot! People say he used to be a student here. Can you imagine him in Charms class compared to Professor Flitwick?"

"If he's a wizard he doesn't show it. I've never seen him do a spell of any sort; he carries around that umbrella, not a wand." Lily said doubtingly.

"Maybe he was expelled," Pria shrugged her shoulders.

"Who would expel Hagrid though?" Carla said, "He's such a sweetheart! I've never seen him be mean to anyone. He's so optimistic, too!"

"You don't know if he even was a wizard in the first place, Carla." Lily remarked. "From the look of him, I'd say he was at least a half giant or more."

"How do you figure that?" Ally said.

"Well, besides his height," Lily replied. "I've seen him get hit by those Herbology plants, the ones that shoot stunners out, and he wasn't affected at all. Only a giant could have that tough skin."

They stopped talking as the carriage came to a stop at Hogsmeade.

Ally was first out as soon as they stopped. Nice. she thought, surveying her surrounding. There were several streets branching off of the main one, shops and pubs lined the streets. It was a crisp autumn day and Ally pulled her cloak closer as she had seen her friends do the same.

"Where to first?" she inquired when they were all standing in the street.

"Honeydukes!" Carla said excitedly.

Ally spent the rest of the time being carted off to every notable store her friends could think of. Nearly all of the spending money she had been given was gone by the time they withdrew to the Three Broomsticks. Ally had bought several sugar quills at Honeydukes after hearing excellent recommendations from Carla. Then they went to the bookstore for Lily to pick out a pile of books.

Pria had nearly dragged her to Zonkos. When they got there she spoke to the owner, they looked like good friends. Apparently, Pria's mother had done the Zonkos owner a favor and Pria convinced him to allow her and her friends into the backroom.

"Where all the good stuff is hidden..."

Ally looked through several boxes with her friends, she decided on a black and white striped wizard hat. When she first put it on she was reminded of the sorting hat.

I see you met my brother then... The hat whispered in her ear.

She jumped up and tore the hat off. Her friends laughed at the look on her face.

"What's with the hat?" Lily said.

"I don't know," Ally replied. "But I guess I'll buy it."

The rest of the day she wore the hat around Hogsmeade. It would say the most ridiculous things at moments. Sometimes it would comment on what people wore, what they bought, what house they were in...

Hey girl... see that Hufflepuff? She's cheating on her boyfriend! I saw it earlier in the shop.

Oh, I wish I was human...

That person should be in Ravenclaw... not Gryffindor! I should really have a talk with that brother of mine.

How many Slytherins does it take to screw in a light bulb? Come on, guess!

"Don't be silly Ally, take off that crazy hat, we're inside!"

Crazy am I? The hat said Why I ought a...

"Fine..." She said sadly and put the hat away.

"So when are we meeting your cousin?" Lily asked, "You said she'd be here."

"Oh, I don't know," Ally said. "All I know is that she's going to be here."

"She better be here soon. We only have an hour and then McGonagall wants us back at the castle."

"Yeah."

Lily has a good point. Ally considered. If she doesn't get here soon then we'll just have to leave without seeing her. I wonder what she has to give me. She thought this over as her friends joked around and sipped drinks. She tasted her Butterbeer warily and looked out the window. Watching everyone who walked by, she began to wonder if her cousin was even coming. It's not like Haley, she's so responsible.

When the clock struck five, their group left the Three Broomsticks. She kept looking constantly, having not lost hope. They joined the large group of students waiting for the carriages to appear. While her other friends were talking she pushed her way through the crowd trying to find Haley.

"ALLY! ER—AL—HEY IDIOT!" She heard behind her.

Ally spun around in time to be swept up in a big hug. She was released and looked up at her cousins beaming face. She wore a violet robe contrasted with a red hat and her blonde hair was tied up in a top knot. Her eyes were a bright brown behind her square glasses.

"Haley!"

"The one and only!" she said, "Listen, I know you don't have a lot of time, I got caught up in trying to get your present!"

She pulled out an envelope and handed it to her.

"This is for you and your friend! Don't lose it!" She smiled and hugged her one last time before aparating.

"Who was that?" Pria asked as her friends suddenly surrounded her.

"My cousin," Ally replied and looked at the big envelope in her hand.

"That was your cousin?" Lily said looking at her. "But I didn't even see her!"

"Sorry," A carriage pulled up to them and they got in, "I barely got to see her myself. She gave me this."

Ally showed her friends the large envelope and they looked at it curiously.

"Open it later in our room," Lily said. "We don't know what it is yet."

Pria and Carla agreed with Lily and they spent the rest of the ride in silence.

Later...

"Well," Lily pushed the envelope towards her friend, "Open it!"

They were up in their room and Carla and Pria had joined them in curiosity.

Ally took her wand and tore through the top. She slid out whatever was in it and three letters fell to the ground, two black letters and a white one.

Ally picked up the white one that was labeled 'read first'. She tore it open and read it aloud to her friends.

Al,

Hey girl, how the heck are ya! Sorry we've been out of touch. There have been a lot of things going on with my life. I finally joined a magical law firm and moved into a new apartment in the city! Yay!

When your mum told me that you were moving to the UK I was so excited. I was very happy to hear your nickname was Al because my nickname is Hal! We rhyme! Pause for laughter.

"Ha... Ha..." Pria said sarcastically.

The black envelopes I sent you and your friend are my gift to you. Wear black and white and have fun!

Love,

Hal

"So what are the black envelopes?" Carla said.

'I don't know. Haley didn't really reveal anything." Ally replied.

"All she said was 'wear black and white and have fun'." Lily agreed.

"Should we open them now?"

"Guess so."

Ally and Lily each picked up a black envelope. Ally observed that there was a pattern on the edges that looked very intricate. On the other side there was the seal of her Uncle's Hospital.

Weird...

She opened the seal and pulled out a black piece of paper with slanted white writing on it. It said...

My first cliffhanger! evil laughter