Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot and various children of Rowling' s characters. So technically, I own people whose family belongs to a very rich British woman.
The battle to find an empty compartment proved harder than the two girls thought it would. Part of that was because Becca insisted to stop and talk to every Weasley aboard the train. Finally, they found a place to sit near the back of the train. The girls talked about the new school year for a bit, then Becca left to use the bathroom. After making sure the door was securely closed, Alison opened the clasp of the basket she had carried into the compartment and stuck her hand into it. A tan snake wrapped around her wrist and hissed at the redhead tenderly, "How are you Mooneyes?"
Smiling fondly at the pet name, Alison responded, "Good Nassau. I'm relieved that I passed my Defense O.W.L., you know I rubbish at stuff like that."
"Nonsense, you could have passed it with your eyes shut. Will you take me with you during your Flying?" Nassau asked.
"I don't know if I should, you almost fell at the last match. It's not safe." Alison answered as Nassau slid up her sleeve, trying to get comfortable.
"Then why are you doing it, Mooneyes? And Redtop as well? If it is dangerous for an elder like me, the surely young ones like you should remaining your nests?" Chided the snake as she settled around Alison's neck.
Chuckling slightly at the way Nassau referred to Becca, Alison said, "We have been trained so me will not fall and we have clubs and protective gear. Headmistress McGonagall would stop us if we began to fall anyway."
"Do you realize how disturbing it is to wake in on a Parseltongue conversation?" Asked a voice from the doorway.
Alison looked up quickly and saw Becca, "Oh it's just you."
The dark-skinned girl rolled her eyes, "You sure know how to make a person feel loved. Now stop talking to it. It's really creepy."
Nassau pouted, "Tell that inconsiderate youth that I can understand what she says and I don't enjoy being called 'it'. I have feelings as well!"
Alison translated and Becca quickly apologized, it didn't take a Ravenclaw to know that having an annoyed snake living in the next bed over will most likely end in pain. Nassau nodded, then returned to her basket, asking to be woken when they arrived. After talking for a bit, the two girls decided to play a game of chess. Just as Becca won, the plump witch opened the door asking if they wanted anything. Becca and Alison spilt the cost of three-dozen chocolate frogs and licorice wands.
Whilst chewing enthusiastically on a frog's head Alison glanced at her watch, "Merlin's left foot! It's nearly noon!"
"So?" Replied her friend, spraying bits of licorice everywhere.
Alison was rummaging around her knapsack, unaware that she had half chewed food sticking to her hair. Finally, she reappeared holding a bottle containing a navy liquid. She uncorked it and the fragrance of vanilla and cabbage filled the air. Making a face, Alison drank it all in one large gulp, and then gagged. She replaced the cap and returned the empty vial to her bag.
"Disgusting smell, I don't know how you stand it. Can I open the window?" Becca asked.
Alison nodded and took a swig of pumpkin juice, trying to erase the foul taste from her mouth. After a moment, a sharp breeze filled the small space. Becca turned to her friend, "Why in the name of hippogriffs do you drink that? It's positively fetid."
Alison sighed, "Dunno, my parents says it's allergies, but it sounds like a load of waffle to me," The gray-eyed girl stretched leisurely across the seat, "I've been taking it as long as I remember, I've told you this oodles of times."
"But," persisted Becca, "You've never had an allergy attack in your life-"
"Which is the usual result of an anti-allergy potion." Alison interrupted.
They bickered on for few moments, using the same arguments as always, the strange blue liquid was common start of small rows between the two. The two girls were quickly rolling on the floor play fighting and shouting. "I thought I heard your docile tones," A calm voice said from the doorway,"And you thought it was a dying elephant, Jonas."
Looking up from where they were wrestling on the floor, Becca and Alison were graced with the image of Bryan and his fellow Slytherin, Jonas Zabini. "Sneaking into our compartment with out us knowing and waiting until we did something embarrassing to let your presence know," Alison stood up and walked until there was only a few inches in-between herself and her brother, then enclosed him in a tight hug, "I've never been so proud of my life. Now that you know that, get out."
The Zabini boy laughed, "I feel the love in here."
"Shut up, Jonas," Bryan said, "I just came to make sure you took your afternoon dose. I don't want you to hurt yourself before the year even starts."
"Don't worry," Alison replies, "I'm fine, now shoo or I'll have Nassau at your heels."
Rolling his eyes, Bryan leaves, Jonas in his wake asking who Nassau is. Shaking her head, Becca shut the door and locked it as Alison stared out the window. She looks relaxed and Becca doesn't have the heart to awake her from whatever daydream she may be in. She wonders, idly, what her best friend is thinking and wishes she were trained in Occulmancy.
Alison is wondering what it is like to live as a Muggle, with no idea magic exists, and she imagines it must be terrible boring. Auntie Hermione ensures that she found ways to keep herself entertained, but it doesn't count, because she is a witch. Muggle-born, yes, but still a witch. The sixteen-year-old's mind wanders, slowly going from her memories of a tea party she had with her parents when she was younger to the first time she rode the Hogwarts Express. She wonders if Bryan does make the Slytherin Quidditch team, if she will be able to hit a Bludger in his direction. She can't seem to decideon an answer. Finally her thoughts rest on the landscape in front of her, it is beautiful.
The sun is being to set, making the sky a canvas of reds, purples, and pinks, going on until it hits the Earth. Th land was a flat stretch of green with the occasional house to prove that civilization existed. It was all rather charming, people still living on the countryside, away from the noise and rush of big cities and towns. This life and to be simpler, yet complicated at the same time. While they ate food they raised with their own hands, a bad crop or harsh winter could mean being hungry for a while.
Alison had never truly been hungry in her whole life. She has experienced the feeling of an empty stomach after a game of Quidditch or during the lesson right before lunch, but she has never felt starved of anything. Food can easily be prepared, by either a house elf or her mother. Love is not sparse in her family, and she has Becca to lean upon when times get rough. Attention is given to her, but in a fair amount, because no one can be in the spotlight forever, and it is the brief moments that satisfies her until her are time comes again. Knowledge never seems in short stock, which is only because she does not yearn to know, yet.
She tears here eyes away from the window and turns to her friend, who has long since fallen asleep sitting up. Shaking her arm gently, Alison says "Get up now, we need to change into our robes."
Becca acknowledges her with a grunt and stands up to get to her trunk, Alison follows suit. Soon, they are wearing the trademark Hogwarts uniform for girls, gray skirts with matching sweaters over white button up blouses. Scarlet and gold ties match the crests on their black robes. Trainers are traded for sensible loafers and socks for stockings.
Slowly, the train slows to a halt. After checking that Nassau is securely hidden inside her sleeve, Alison exists the train with her cousin. The quickly find Bryan and Jonas and insist on sharing a carriage before they are separated for dinner in the Great Hall. Alison stomps and shouts for every new Gryffindor and claps politely for all the others, she listens attentively to the Headmistress' start of term announcements. When dinner finally appears on the golden plates, Alison almost forgets about the second dose for the day.
Stomach growling, she pulls out another navy vial out of her pocket. The thought of the foul aftertaste dims her appetite, but not by much. Just as she is about to put the vial to her lips, she can feel eyes on her. She looks up; Violet Smith is staring at her, thin lips in a taut grimace. In Alison's opinion, Violet is not the most pleasant girl in the world. She is short, blonde, and quite snobby. "What in the name of Merlin are you drinking?" She asks, pinching her short nose over dramatically.
"I would assume after attending a magical academy for seven years, you would be able to identify a potion," Alison replies coolly.
"What are you keeping from us, Malfoy?" As Violet says Alison's surname, her eyes narrow.
"I have no secrets."
"Yes you do, everyone does. Is it a Wit-Sharpening Potion, is that how you pass your classes? Or perhaps something that improves your flying skills? It would explain why you got picked over me for Beater. The Malfoy family has been known to be riddled with cheats."
"Shut your mouth," Becca has overheard what was said, and she is now clutching her goblet so tightly her knuckle has gone white, "She was picked because she was better than you, it was nearly four years ago, get over it."
Violet looked at the two younger Gryffindors disdainfully, "Prove it. Don't take that stupid potion and prove that your not a lying cheat, or our you scared?"
Looking her coldly in the eyes Alison shoves the vial into the blonde's hands, "You wish."
Violet looks shocked, but pockets the potion. Alison assures Becca she will be fine without it and only after promising to go the Hospital Wing if she feels ill, begins to eat. They are lead up to the common room by the prefecta and told the password. (Phoenix Ashes)
After talking excitedly with her dorm mates for an hour, Alison decides it's time for bed. As she slips into a faded pair of pajamas, she doesn't fell any different than on nights in which she had taken her nightly dose of potion.This only makes her wonder more, how that strange blue liquid affects her life.
A/N: What does the potion do? I know, but do you?
The Allknowing Tonks: You're close with polyjuice, but not quite. :hands out cookie:
jimmy- loves-hermione: You clever devil! I do hope it wasn't too easy to figure it out. :hands out cookie:
rasberitwist: Thanks; it took me ages to figure out a original way to explain Alison's life. :hands out cookie:
Do you want a cookie? Then review and maybe you'll be mentioned in the next chapter! Until then, my readers.
M.