"Due to unforeseen circumstances compromises will have to be made," Professor Snape drawled addressing the warm room of prefects. The 'emergency meeting' had been called for just after dinner. "Since it is no longer safe for some students to patrol the halls at night, we have decided that to maximize security, all of you with one or two muggle parents must either patrol with someone with two magical parents of your year or," he paused "you may opt out until the situation is resolved." There was a wave of murmurs before he brought the room to a hush.
"Now, if you would please split into two groups so we can finish this promptly," he began but the room was already in motion, the groups quickly made. The disparity was almost embarrassing. In one corner stood maybe 7 kids, Alle included, while across the room stood the other 19. Of course it was expected, but still amazing.
Once the room had settled the professor continued. "Alright. One last thing. If all prefects from Slytherin would step forward." Again there was mumbling. "Wonderful. For those of you with two muggle parents these are your choices. Remember you must pick someone from your year." There was snickering and grumbling all at the same time, but the choices began with the seventh years.
They went through one by one, only one or two Slytherins had been picked by the time it got to Alle. Well this was wretched, but her choice wasn't hard.
"I'll take Malfoy," She said quite simply. It was easy really; Nathaniel was respectful to everyone, or at least he wasn't disrespectful. By any means better than Agatha Moore, that girl was literally a snake.
The boy nodded in acknowledgment raising a brow. The Slytherin girl rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner so that everyone could tell what she was doing even from behind. But the picking went on. There was a half blood Hufflepuff in her year who chose the other Ravenclaw prefect, Jeremy Overson. Predictable really, but Alle found little enjoyment in predicting choices. Personally she found the boy infuriatingly annoying. Either way this was a decently ridiculous policy. Either the monster strikes or the fun loving Slytherin partners set their patrol mate up for disaster, but it was the condition and she was not about to back out.
"Wonderful," Snape sounded when the choosing was done. "Now we will have a schedule posted in the great hall tomorrow morning. There will be no patrolling tonight. Get to bed." With that hall of 26 students scurried off to bed, whispering amongst one another. Alle wasn't interested in running anywhere so she lingered a bit.
"Nice pick," a familiar voice said as someone nudged her shoulder playfully. Of course it was her new Slytherin partner. She look at him out of the corner of her eye.
"I'm not sure. Personally Jeremy was preferable but I guess you'll have to do."
"You're right, I'm clearly inferior in every regard. Well except looks." He laughed. "Goodnight." And he was gone before she could even respond. This was going to be interesting.
The sky was a dark grey, not yet black but sprinkled with stars. Stars that twinkled and shone as bright as they young lady below them. Curfew would certainly be in the next few minutes and she would have to report to patrolling duty. There were always things she looked forward to, patrolling was not one of those. Well that was until yesterday with the new rule. She sucked in a deep breath and stood still, allowing the cool breeze to cleanse her. There was always too much darkness, and too little light. He was light, hidden in darkness. She was sure of it. It was a leap of faith, one that could be her end, but she wanted it more than anything. His ability to love and care had been compromised, but she was determined to fix it. Maybe this would be the friendship the needed, the person she needed. Friends are there, friends do care.
He was late, of course he was late. She peered over at Lockhart who was tapping his foot without purpose. The real problem would be if he didn't show up. 'Impossible' she thought to herself. 'There is no way he should skip'. Nathaniel Malfoy had done it this time.
"You!" Alle yelled from across the hallway. "You skipped and left me alone!" She pointed a finger at him accusingly. "How could you?" She fumed. The startled boy sighed, having predicted a reaction of this sort.
"I…" he began before being cut off by the girl in front of him who had rapidly closed the distance between them.
"You didn't even let me know is what you did," she yelled. "The least you could have done was tell me."
"I know, but," he attempted to reason quietly with her.
"No if you knew you wouldn't have missed patrol." At this point Alle was inconsolable.
"Listen to me Alle," the boy tried, but it was too late to talk reason.
"Never, you said you had my back and that you would always be there, how could you leave me like that. How irresponsible of you honestly for Merlin''s sake you call yourself a prefect but-" she was abruptly cut off.
"Shut up Mudblood," he snapped, raising his voice. By now the crowd that had gathered stood silenced in awe. Never before had Nathaniel said that word to a person.
The girl stood awe struck as well. Fuming, she reached her arm out and connected her fist with the boy's face. The boy stumbled back a few steps but for the most part kept his ground. He didn't look as physically hurt as he did emotionally. Shocked by her own actions, the girl scurried off to potions well aware of the flushed boy she left behind.
"Now please stand facing your partner, wands drawn," Lockhart announced before waving his wand to make the desks disappear. Alle took her position opposite her unfortunate partner, Nathaniel.
"Three, two, one, duel!" the scruffy man yelled, and the spells flew. Colors flashed through the air.
"Reducto!" Malfoy shouted from across from his partner.
"Protego!" she responded. It went like a rally back and forth for a while until finally Alle decided to try something new.
"Mepulathem!" she exclaimed, catching the boy off guard; within an instant it hit the boy, and he began to melt.
He began to puddle down near his ankles. This wasn't the plan, Alle thought. That spell was only meant to make him unbalanced. She froze in shock of what she had managed before snapping into action. "Petrificus Totalus," she yelled before the boy could melt anymore.
"Miss Jones, what is the meaning of this?" Lockhart inquired, flittering over.
"I um….well I didn't mean to, it was only supposed to make him unbalanced, not this." She was near tears.
"Take him to Madame Pomfrey at once!" He commanded, and she complied. With the little dignity she felt she had left she brought the half melted boy down to the hospital wing. She really had done it now.