"Uruz."
"Physical or mental strength."
"Good. Hagalaz."
"Interruption."
"And the last one, Geb-"
"Bethesda," McGonagall gasped, rushing into the classroom. Aly and Professor Babbling both looked up. Aly was spending some time with Professor Babbling to go over what they had learned into today's lesson. It was the very next day after John's appearance. Both Char and Aly requested to sit together. Luckily for Natasha, she was moved next to Devon, her 'crush.'
"Minerva, what's wrong?" Professor Babbling exclaimed standing up, her eyes worried. "All you alright?"
Professor McGonagall grasped the doorframe for support. "No, I'm fine. Can you...can you run up to the hospital wing and tell Poppy that we'll be having some visitors in the hospital wing? It's urgent."
"Of...of course," Professor Babbling stammered glancing quickly at Aly. "Of course, I will."
McGonagall was already gone. Babbling turned to Aly and sighed sadly.
"Do you want to wait here, or shall we continue this lesson tomorrow?"
"Er..." Aly said, "I'll just wait here. I'll be less distracted." Professor Babbling nodded and then took off for the hospital wing.
Aly looked over her shoulder at Babbling and sighed. Probably something to do with Malfoy.
She continued studying her notes on the runes when she heard some footsteps behind her. She smiled slightly as Hayden walked into the classroom.
"Hey," she said lightly.
"Hullo. Studying for a big test?"
"No, just getting in some extra review."
"You need extra review?"
Aly grinned and rolled her eyes as Hayden took a seat next to her at the desk. "Yes, even I need extra review, Hayden. Don't sound so surprised."
"But you're so...smart."
"Well, that may be true..."
"Oh, how modest."
"I always am."
Hayden grinned at her, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked at her book. "Looks complicated."
"It is, sort of. How's divination? I heard Trelawney was teaching all the sixth years," Aly said sympathetically.
"Well, she's been making some pretty wacky predictions. Like yesterday. She predicted that I'd get a pie thrown in my face."
"You're joking."
"No. And then today she said I'm going to find myself in an embarrassing position."
Aly raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"My underwear."
Aly raised an eyebrow, and Hayden couldn't stop the smile from spreading to his face.
"You're so bad," she laughed, leaning back in the chair.
"No, I'm serious!" Hayden protested, feigning innocence. Aly continued to laugh and Hayden frowned. "Fine, but when you see my pretty colored underwear, you'll believe me."
Aly burst into more laughter after even possibly thinking about Hayden naked down to his underwear.
Hayden grinned at Aly and she smiled at him, shaking her head. "You're cute when you laugh."
"Thank you," Aly said, grinning. "I haven't always found it attractive, though."
"Have you ever heard of an attractive laugh? No, I said you look cute when you laugh, not the laugh itself. That sounds like a donkey."
"Well, that's nice!" Aly exclaimed. "There goes my self-esteem."
"I'm kidding," Hayden said, ruffling her hair. "Get back to your work before Babbling bites you."
"She won't. She had to run up to the hospital wing and prepare it. Two students are coming up and McGonagall looked worried."
"Malfoy," Hayden growled.
"Obviously."
Hayden sighed and stood up. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Stay smart, and don't try to pants me."
"Will do," Aly grinned.
"Poor Katie," Amanda said sympathetically. "That sounds terrible. They had to move her to St. Mungos?"
"Yeah," Aly replied as she opened her History of Magic book. "Harry's replacing her with Dean Thomas."
"Poor Katie," Natasha added as she opened her book. They were all in the library which was reasonably empty.
"Did you see the Daily Prophet?" Amanda asked quietly.
"Yeah," Natasha replied, just as quiet. "He's back in." Aside from the others, Natasha is the only other one that knows about Damien and Char's brother.
"That was some smart thinking," Amanda praised.
Aly grinned and nodded. "I didn't want to get involved."
"I'm glad," Natasha said, eyeing her. "If you were discovered, you probably wouldn't even be here."
"What does the Daily Prophet say?" Aly asked, motioning to it under Amanda's book.
"'John Boyle, the death eater caught last year at Hogwarts was found inside of the telephone booth that connects the muggle world to the Ministry of Magic yesterday. He was bound and gagged, discovered by a Ministry worker who was going to work that very same day. Boyle was not discovered missing weeks after his breakout from Azkaban. The only mystery that remains is how Boyle was found bound and gagged. "Obviously," Minister of Magic Rufus Srimgeour said in a statement yesterday evening, "the death eater Boyle could not have just bound and gagged himself up on purpose. Evidently someone already found him and decided to drop him off. We do not know who, unfortunately, but the only thing that matters is that Boyle is back where he belongs.'"
Amanda looked up from the paper and grinned at Aly with satisfaction. "They have absolutely no idea what happened. Hogwarts wasn't mentioned once. Nor you!"
"Brilliant!" Natasha said happily. "I guess that situation ended happily, didn't it?"
"Sure did," Aly grinned. She looked up at the clock and groaned. "I've got to go soon. We have practice."
"Oh, you have a game coming up, don't you?"
"That's right. Against Slytherin. I can't wait to beat their foul behinds," Aly said, grinning darkly.
"And I can't wait to watch you beat their foul behinds," Amanda grinned. Aly rolled her eyes. "You know," Amanda added absently, "I think Char was serious about getting you that Firebolt."
"He's insane. I don't need another broom. Char doesn't need to spend anything on me. He's been spending money on me every Christmas," Aly protested, showing her bracelet.
"Whoa! That's from Char?!" Natasha exclaimed quietly.
"He gave it to me second year and I've been getting a charm from him every year since."
"Oh," Natasha sighed. "How beautiful."
"Well...it's nothing, really," Aly said, flushing.
"Which one did he give you last year?" Natasha demanded, admiring the charms.
"That one," Amanda replied, pointing to the glimmering pink heart. "Last Christmas, when they finally got together."
Natasha smiled brightly at the charm. "This is pink sapphire, you know."
"Really? He went that far?!" Aly exclaimed, looking at the bracelet.
"That boy does love you."
"A bit too much, if you ask me. I'll be heading down now."
"Bye!" Amanda called joyfully as Aly gathered her books. "Don't get distracted by your lover!"
"Shut up." Natasha snickered.