"Try and have fun, sweetie."
"I will."
"Meet some new friends and keep in touch."
"I will."
"Take care of your little sister."
"I will."
"Do your homework and keep your grades up."
"I will."
"I love you."
"I know," Aliana looked up into her fathers warm brown eyes with a smirk playing on her lips. "I love you too, daddy. I always will."
--
Seats of the softest brown leather encased Aliana into her compartment. The station, the people, the hustle of school trunks being hauled around was so very unlike the properness of her old school. Here she felt at home; the others were not perfect and yet they shone with happiness. See Mom, she wanted to say normal people don't act like they've got a stick shoved up their ass. But she wouldn't because she just might end up with something else stuck there instead.
Here, she allowed the warm environment to encase her in a recently rare joyous mood. Aliana showed her white teeth through her infectious smile. As she laughed and joked with her sister she waved goodbye to her parents. Here she was going back to school. This was normal and she was normal.
"Hey Ali, I'm gonna go find some kids my age, okay?" Sadah Moxley grinned at her as she ran off, her blond locks bouncing behind her.
"Sure sweetie," Aliana replied although her sister was long gone. She envied that trait about her. Sadah had always been so confident with herself; she seemed to attract everyone with her outgoing personality. She had charm and wits, even her cunning remarks were always projected at the perfect time. Sadah really was the symbol of perfection because she was one of those people who never really noticed how amazing they are.
Aliana drifted back from her thoughts as the train chugged into motion. The horn was blown and they were off to school, off to Hogwarts.
--
Draco's eyes shifted from suspicious eyes to demeaning eyes to accusing eyes and suddenly jolted back, to her eyes. Sweet honey brown specks pulsed out from the alarming green. Her eyes laughed with her, they swayed with her. Swishing her hair from her face she turned to him, no not to him but to her parents in front of him. Smiling and waving her parents turned from the station and left him staring at her. A pure blood he noticed as Wade Moxley strode from sight. He recognized his face because his father had become friendly with him regarding business lately. But he lived in France, which would explain the new girl though. He couldn't help but thinking that he'd never had a French girl before.
As she stood to place her luggage above in the overhead compartment his eyes followed her body. The tight muggle clothes clung to it fitting her every curve. Her sweater had risen up exposing her tanned stomach and the tip of a tattoo. He was even more interested now and as she sat down his eyes studied her face, again, taking in every sweet detail. She was gorgeous and he couldn't take his eyes away.
When time came for Draco to board the train he did so regretfully. He wouldn't have minded staying and watching her. Rather than miss the train, though, he rested on a decision that he would have her before Christmas. Before the holidays she would be his and he could take her home to daddy dearest and show off his latest work.
--
The ride had been long and Aliana was dead tired. She had spent her time writing to friends in France and catching up on the latest articles about "the incident". She could now stand to read them without bursting into tears, it seemed like she had began to heal. Most of the injured had returned home safely but a few were still in hospital. What worried her the most, though, was the little girl who had been driven mad. It was so tragic to think that the rest of her life would be spent in the one hospital room surrounded by healers. She would live her life full of sympathetic people who put on cheery faces in the most un-cheery situations. The dark arts scared her. They could do so much damage with a flick of the wrist. To kill was one thing but to torture, you'd have to be mad to torture someone to a point where they loose their mind.
She thought again of what her family stood for. No, they were not Death Eaters but they were just as bad. Her father associated with them all the time. Their closest family and friends were associated with the Dark Lord. She was not, however. Although she felt no sympathy for the Potter boy, she also felt no sympathy for the horrid creature who calls himself Voldemort. Her father had explained his want for safety for their family. This was his excuse for being friendly with the Death Eaters. There was no "Their nice people and we like them" but it was rather "We are safe with them Aliana. So shut the bloody hell up and be nice." Her father could be so charming.
The castle could be seen in the distance so she decided to change into her plain school robes. In her eyes they were atrocious. Yes, the ties were kind of cute but the whole outfit put together was no where near what they had worn at Beauxbatons. Oh, how she missed the silk of her previous uniform. She adored being dressed up in the blue and grey shades, feeling the soft fabric gliding against her skin as she moved about.
Sadah had yet to be seen so Aliana assumed she had met some new friends. She wasn't worried about her little sister; she could find her way with the rest of the first years. So, Aliana pulled herself from her seat and headed to the washroom to change.
Out of the compartment she noticed a group of people huddled at the end of the hall. And, oh boy, it was perfect little Potter himself standing with his groupies outside his compartment. She figured she'd have to kill herself if she ended up in his house. She wasn't quite sure why she didn't like him. He had an air about him that just screamed I know I'm better than you are. Ya that was it, confirmed by the wonderful look he flashed at her. His eyes caught hers as she walked past and he narrowed his into a glare. Guess the boy's got some problems Aliana thought as she narrowed her eyes back at him. And because of this distraction or maybe her lack of observation she failed to notice another pair of eyes on her.
With one last glance at his highness she turned and strode into the girls washroom only managing to topple over someone already inside.
"I am so sorry," Aliana embarrassedly helped the girl up.
"No problem. Potter can have that effect on some people," the girl added laughing. "I'm Rayna Keen, by the way."
"Aliana Moxley," she replied sticking out her hand. "And I most definitely am not into Potter."
"I didn't say you were," Rayna replied with a slight smirk playing on her lips. "There's some change rooms down at the end."
Pulling Aliana along behind her Rayna headed for the far end of the washroom. Laughing along with her new friend Aliana allowed herself to follow. She allowed herself to be introduced to Rayna's friends Elizabeth Rodden and Kyrah Spenton. Most importantly, though, she allowed herself to be normal.
And after countless attempts at getting her to admit her secret love of Potter, Aliana felt normal. That was until the train lurched to a halt and the girls scrambled to get off with the other students.
Aliana, unsure of what to do wallowed in relief as she heard her name being called. Professor McGonagall herself was placed directly across the sea of students from her. So, Aliana moved through the waves of second years towards her new professor.
"I came to greet you myself as I am certain you could become quite lost in a mess such as this," she greeted her while gesturing her arm at the crowd. "Please, hop into the carriage and I'll meet you at the doors of the school."
"Sure, Professor."
"Oh, and Miss Moxley," her voice rang again causing Aliana to turn her head in time to see the stern look of the professor turn into a sweet smile. "Welcome."
With this warm welcome Aliana traveled back to the castle in the cool crisp air feeling quite cozy. She managed to spot Sadah traveling across the lake towards the school already with a bunch of friends at her side. This warmed her even more but only lasted until she reached the front doors of the school. Her nerves had once again set in.
"Good ride, Miss Moxley?"
"Yes, professor," Aliana responded as she shivered from the now apparent cold. "Although it is a little chilly now."
"That it is, follow me inside and we'll get you lined up with the first years for sorting."
If Aliana wasn't freaking out before she was freaking out now, not literally but in her head she was going crazy. How humiliating is it to be sorted with the first years. Her sister was going to be sorted with her. She could already feel her face turning red.
"Now, it's not very often that we have an older student transfer here. So unfortunately our only option on such short notice was to sort you along with every one else," McGonagall explained. And with that she pushed her up into line with the rest at the very front of the Great Hall.
Feeling like all eyes were on her, because of the size and age difference Aliana pretended to be small. She wished she didn't feel so big and cursed her long legs and taller than average 5'9 height.
Soon enough the sorting began and she felt the embarrassment lift slightly as most people began to watch the first eleven year olds seat them selves at the stool. She did too and was engrossed in the words of the talking hat. It appeared as though it was talking to the person and yet she could not hear or see either patron talking.
"Lucia Armstrong," the unknown Professor read from the list as it began obvious as to whom Lucia was.
The short brunette with the largest and brightest blue eyes Aliana had seen stepped towards the stool and reluctantly allowed the hat onto her head. Minutes passed and the girl seemed concentrated on the hat. Her brows furrowed almost as if she was fighting it with her sheer will.
And finally it answered, "Gryffindor!!"
A load roar echoed from the table of crimson as Lucia padded down towards the table. Unfortunately for Aliana, Lucia was only the fifth to be sorted and they were nowhere near done.
Girl after girl and boy after boy were sorted and Aliana found herself wondering how many children could be made in one year. Bloody hell, there was twelve months of mating from the whole of England standing in front of her. And it was going so slowly, couldn't the hat make up its mind?
So, she found her eyes wandering over to the table where Rayna and the others were sitting. Smiling at them her eyes found there way to the table right of them and into the icy depths of Draco Malfoy. He was staring right at her with no intention to look away. So she held her ground and questioningly stared back. The contest, however, was broken by the call of her name.
Smiling at the Professor she strode to the stool and placed the hat on her head. Quite confident of her placement she waited to hear the hat call out her house but was quite surprised with the outcome.
"Ah, have yourself placed already eh?" The hat had not talked to anyone else so why was it talking to her, she looked up in alarm. No one else seemed to be phased by this. "I'm in your head so you can stop making a fool out of yourself by looking around like that," the hat replied to her thoughts.
In my head. You have got to be kidding me.
"Not kidding, so a Ravenclaw? You see yourself as a Ravenclaw? Smart, cunning, intelligent, witty and a Ravenclaw?"
Yes, I suppose, I am fairly smart.
"Not Slytherin though?"
No, I'm not like them. I'm not a dark witch.
"You do know I am inside your head right now; I know all of your thoughts and all about you?"
That's not true. Even in her head she didn't sound convincing or strong. Just put me in a house, so I can get this over with.
"As you wish," the hat opened its replacement mouth. "Ravenclaw."
She stood and gracefully moved towards her table and her friends forgetting what took place for the rest of the festivities.
Sadah had also been sorted into Ravenclaw as Rayna had expected. She explained how nearly all families ended up in the same house. Just then the last name was called and sorted into a joyous Hufflepuff allowing the feast to appear on the table.
"Hello, Aliana right?" A friendly face smiled as she sat down beside her. "I'm Padma Patil."
"Hi," was all Aliana could say to that.
"Oh, I absolutely adore your accent are you from France?"
"Yes, I am actually," Aliana replied all the while thinking about what a complete fake this girl was. Not an ounce of personality in her.
"That is soooooo interesting. I have always wanted to go to France. Have you seen the Eiffel Tower? Did you go to Beauxbatons?" Padma continued to go on and on but Aliana didn't hear a word after she mentioned her old school.
"Beauxbatons, did you go there? Were you there when..?" Elizabeth asked cutting Padma off in mid sentence.
This commotion, catching the attention of the majority of the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables, thoroughly worried Aliana. So much for a normal school year, if her old school was going to be brought up all the time she couldn't escape telling them what happened.
"So what happened?"
"What did you see?"
"Did you see him? Was he powerful? Is he really back?"
Questions were pouring over Aliana as she sat there in silence contemplating her answer. She had to tell them something. No answer would just lead to more problems later.
And as she opened her mouth to speak everyone quieted down. "I honestly don't remember much," Aliana swallowed hard before she continued. "I do remember a big crash, coming from the Dining Chamber. I remember everyone screaming and running and I remember being scared but that's all. The next thing I remember was lying in the middle of a field not too far from the palace. I had just woken up but I don't remember how I got there or what happened before that."
Everyone sat with their mouths gaping. This girl survived the Dark Lord, this girl got away from He Who Must Not Be Named. So the questions stopped and attempt at conversation was made. Aliana quickly jumped at the change of subject and chatted fiercely about the upcoming quidditch tryouts.
--
With the feast over and all stomachs threatening to explode the Headmaster found his way towards the students. Before he bade them goodnight he had a few words to say, and a few cautions to promote.
"Welcome back to our old students and welcome to our new students." Dumbledore's eyes layed slightly longer on the new sixth year Ravenclaw before he moved on. "This summer has been quite eventful for all and so I hope this feast was blissful and enjoyable in the midst of such confusion. I am sure everyone has heard of the news. Yes, Voldemort is back. We shall not let this news crush our spirits though. I know many of you would give up your lives in battle tonight but I caution you not to. When the time comes we shall fight but for now we shall work on becoming better fighters. The strong and victorious are wise and pure of heart. So, I advise those who question their motives to think twice before fighting because with a confused and cloudy mind comes a confused and cloudy heart. One with a confused and cloudy heart has not allowed it to become pure because it takes intelligence to create a pure heart. And with that pure heart I know you will all do great things but not, not until you allow it to be pure. Voldemort is strong now and he has strong support but he does not have a pure heart. That is where we prevail and that is how we will win." Giving the last statement time to sink in the Headmaster paused for a moment. "Now, on a lighter note I know we have all enjoyed this fabulous meal and I can tell that, like me, most of you have become sleepy. So, I will let you off to sleep, for tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning if you will and we need our rest for what lies ahead. The beauty of life is that you never know what may cross your path next."
As Dumbledore stepped down students began filing out of the Great Hall and into the dormitories. Aliana included, walked slowly behind Rayna contemplating Dumbledore's words. A shoulder bumped into her and she gazed up noticing the familiar silver eyes of the boy from the Slytherin table. A smirk rested on his flawless face but before Aliana had the chance to take more in he was dragged away by the crowd.
A/N: Yay, it's finally a decent size. So, I apologize for any hard feelings towards my portrayal of Harry, it will come up later in the story. I do have some explanations, but once again sorry to all of you wonderful Harry fans. Please review and keep reading!!