Mary:
''Welcome Lucius.'', resounded the Voice of Theo's father. I gave the grey eyed Man a sceptical glance. Theo had the same look as me and as if on command we both stood up at the same time.
Over the Holidays I got an Invitation from the Nott family. I could stay with them until school would start again. I immediately accepted, because I would not have survived the remaining three weeks at my Grandma's Place. Since I had portrayed her the incident of last year, she just sat sullen in her chair, muttering all sorts of weird stuff to herself. My father was on a Business trip so it was easy to choose Theo.
Now, prepared for everything, we walked down the Stone stairs and looked around the Corner. What I saw made me groan in annoyment. Lucius sat on the opposite of Theo's father in front of the fireplace and they talked to each other. That wasn't the worst. Next to Lucius sat no other than his son Draco.
I admit, he changed for the better. His blonde hair fell over his forehead, and now his gray eyes shone even brighter. As if he had sensed our presence, he raised his head and looked at me. His eyes widened briefly, and he stood up abruptly.
''What the hell are you doing here, Riddle?'' he asked without even a 'hello' first.
I already wanted to answer, but Theo was faster.
''She stays here over the holidays.'',
I couldn't really interpret his Voice. But Malfoy could.
''Since when does your father allow Mudbloods to stay here?'', his voice was full of scorn.
It was instantly silent. The fathers turned their heads in our direction.
Slowly I went to the fair-haired, stretched out my hand and slapped him. Then I stepped even closer to him, grabbed his face and hissed,
''I'm the furthest away of being a Mudblood as a Slytherin can be, Malfoy. Remember that, you Bastard.''
I let go of him and pushed him away from me. Elegantly I turned around and went up the stairs again. Leaving four startled male beings behind.
Alice:
''Alice! Open the door! Something important happened!'' The voice of my aunt came through my sleep to wake me. Groaning, I opened my eyes and there she was already. Aunt Minerva stood three feet away from my bed.
''What's going on?'' I asked, still tired.
''Someone escaped from Azkaban! Sirius Black!''
It took me three seconds until the Information came to my brain. As soon as I understood everything I sat up. ''So it is possible to break out of there! How did he do it?''
I had jumped out of bed and was already putting my clothes on.
''Don't even think about it! I told you this so that you'd be careful and not that you'll do something dangerous.'' She stated, with a serious look in her eyes. Looks like I wasn't going to get more out of her.
''Alright… Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?'' I closed the chest with my stuff in it and put my red hair in a ponytail.
Minervashook her head disapprovingly, but didn't say anything else about that.
''Hagrid wants to see you. He wants to test something for the classes next year.''
I thanked her before passing by, to leave the room.
When I reached Hagrid's cottage, I could hear his voice coming out of the forest. I followed her and landed on a little clearing. ''Hagrid?''
He turned around and smiled at me. ''Ah Alice, I'd like to present you Buckbeak.'' Behind himappeared a hippogriff, who was about a head taller than me. Thrilled I slowly stepped closer.
''You're beautiful…'' I stopped next to Hagrid and admired this wonderful Creature.
'' You have tobow down before him, and if he likes you, he will do the same.'' Hagrid explained, his Voice full of pride.
Itook another two steps towards him, then bowed down. Instead to bow, Buckbeak came directly to me and leaned his head against my shoulder. I raised my hand and began to fondle him.
''Everything is alright… you're a great Guy, aren't you?'' As if he wanted to answer me he lifted his head and pressed it lightly against mine. He closed his eyes and I did the same. Everything around us was silent and I could only hear our steady breathing.
Azkabanhad to wait, I would first take care of my new friend here.
Mary:
To my dismay the Idiot stayed with the Notts, because his own family was too busy. Yey! Luckily he didn't accompany us to the Diagon alley. Therefore, I was able to at least enjoy half a day with Theo.
''I'm so sorry Mary!'' Confused, I looked at him.
''Why?''
''Because Malfoy's here.''
I waved him off. ''It's not that bad.'' I muttered. He gave me a sceptic look.
To avoid having to continue to think about Malfoy, I looked around and saw a whole bunch of orange-haired people, among them a dark red and a brown tuft. What surprised me was a blond-haired person, whom I had never seen before. She walked right next to Alice and George. She seemed to feel my gaze, because she turned around and ice-blue eyes stared right at me. I raised my eyebrows and turned away again.
Alice:
4 Days before this Meeting
The Weasleys had invited me to stay at their House. Actually only for an Afternoon, but Minerva absolutely wanted to distract me from this Azkaban incident and therefore,had shipped me there for the rest of the holidays. I had to admit, her plan worked. I hadn't been bored enough to do something stupid.
''Alice, come here! Our guest is going to be here any minute now.'' Ron's voice cameup to me and led me down to the kitchen where all the others were waiting.
I knew that Hermione should come sometime later this week, but I had the feeling that this guest wasn't her. I stood between Ron and George, when I noticed that the later was slightly red in the face. Okay, something was going on here. Mrs. Weasley was just passing in front of me, when I decided to ask.
''Ehm, Mrs. Weasley, what's so special about this guest?''
Shestopped abruptly in front of me and turned to me. ''She's a childhood friend of the family and she is the only one who could always keep George and Fred apart. To this day we don't know how she does it. In addition she's kind of special.''
''Why?'' I asked curiously.
''She's in Hogwarts too. She's a Hufflepuff even though her character doesn't really fit that house. She's brilliant and most of the School curriculum bores her. Therefore she would have fitted better in Ravenclaw, but she's also brave and she possesses other important character traits of Gryffindor. But the most important is, that she values loyalty, fair play and hard work. Personally I think that this is why she was put in Hufflepuff. She wouldn't have fitted neither in Ravenclaw nor in Gryffindor.'' Mrs. Weasley ended her sentence precisely in the same moment as the doorbell rang.
When shewalked to open the door, I looked at the line in which we all stood. First there was Mr. Weasley, then Percy, Fred, George, me, Ron and Ginny at the end. Mrs. Weasley opened the door and a blonde girl entered the house. She hadthe hint of a smile on her lips but otherwise she looked totally bored. Did I mention her hair? They were so fair that they even made Malfoy's hair competition and yet they radiated a pleasant heat. She came up to all of us and stood in front of our row.
'' . '' She nodded briefly and then went along the whole series. ''Weasley, Fred, George... no Weasley. '', She stood in front of me and in that second a shining ice blue collided with a juicy nature green.
Althoughher long blond hair radiated heat, her eyes were cold. We eyed us briefly a bit curious before she continued to walk. '' Weasley, Weasley. ''
When shehad passed by Ginny, she turned around again. Ms. Weasley came to us and smiled.
''Dimé, Alice you will be sharing a room. I hope that's okay for you. I am sure that you will get along well. '' had just surprised her entire family with these few words.
So Dimé was her name… Our eyes met and for a while the whole room was silent. We stared at each other without looking away for even a second and suddenly we both had a small, evil grin on our face.
''Yes we will. '', We both said in unison.
Mary:
''Good. I wish you three a good year! '' With these words, Theo's father said goodbye. I smiled at him and nodded.
''Goodbye and thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Nott. '' I beamed and walked into the train.
''Hey Riddle. Where are you going? '' Was that necessary? Slowly I turned to Malfoy.
'' To a compartment? '' I replied, annoyed. He raised an eyebrow.
''Come with me. '' He said, grabbing my wrist. Too stunned to defend myself, I got dragged in a Slytherin compartment. It was empty. What did he want from me?
''What are you doing? '' He just looked at me. God, what was wrong with this boy?!
''What is he planning? '' Confused, I looked at him.
''Who? ''
''Don't act dumb! You know who I mean!'' He hissed and stepped closer.
''Uh, I have really no idea who you're talking about Malfoy!''
He sighed, obviously annoyed.
''I'm talking about him! ''
Honestly, the boy should express himself more precisely. I still had no idea who he was talking.
''Malfoy! I have no idea!'' Amused, I noticed that he was close to despair. Why didn't he want to say the name? ...Oh, now I knew who he was talking about.
''How would I know if he is planning something? In addition, dead people aren't planning anything!''
'' You're his daughter! You should know. There is a rumour going around that he is alive and still lurking somewhere. ''
''He's not my father. He is the brother of my grandmother! '' I clarified.
''It doesn't matter what you are. You are related to him. That's enough. So what do you know?''
Exhausted, I sat down on the bench.
''Malfoy... I do not know anything. He's freaking dead. Potter destroyed him 13 years ago!'' I said, and was annoyed at every word.
''Then why does father speak with Nott's father about it?! Explain that to me Riddle!''
''I... '' The train jerked and stopped abruptly. What the heck? We could not possibly have been there already.
''What? '', Malfoy began but ended suddenly when he felt the cold that gripped me as well. What was going on here?
''They're probably looking for Black. '' Draco muttered.
''What are you talking about?'' I asked, still very much frightened about the sudden change in atmosphere.
''Dementors. The guards of Azkaban.''
An eerie feeling and a rattling breath was the only thing I could perceive. The Dementors were in the immediate vicinity. Ok I'll never do anything stupid, I never wanted to go to Azkaban. These things gave me the creeps. When the guards of Azkaban had disappeared, Malfoy sat down on the seat in front of me, and after awhile we were joined by Theo and Astoria. While the others talked I stayed silent and watched the passing landscape.
Alice:
The trip to Hogwarts had been strange. I sat with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a man who had looked as if he was sleeping at first, in a compartment. Harry was telling us a few things, as the train suddenly stopped and the Dementors came. One had attacked Harry, but the 'sleeping' man was able to save him with a Patronus. Until then I had never seen a Patronus before, but it was god damn amazing. I had decided to learn him as fast as possible. The man had introduced himself as Professor Lupin, our new teacher for the Defenses Against the Dark Arts. This trip was way too long and I hoped that I didn't have to take this train every year now.
When we finally arrived at Hogwarts, Dumbledore held, as every year, a speech and then let us go. Since last year, not much had changed, Neville was still a slob, Finnigan continued to search for the girl, causing explosions andMalfoystillboasted aboutunimportantstuff. The only difference was that I also watched what Mary and Dimé were doing this year. At the Hufflepuff table everyone was so cheerful while Dimé quite comfortably ate her food. Mary sat between two Slytherin girls and smiled.
I was very pleased when I remembered what would happen in Hagrid's lessons. Speaking of lessons, I couldn't see professor Lupin anywhere, which meant that he might just have some time to teach me the Patronus. Halfway through dinner I got up and left the Hall to search for Professor Lupin. I just couldn't wait any longer.
