i dont own anything. yeah, i think it sucks too. i hope your enjoying the story!

and so the next chapter begins...

Harry groaned. He knew that Ginny had liked him since his first year but he had never returned her feelings. He felt bad about it, but what was he supposed to do? The boy who lived turned back to Allie. Her pale face was frozen with fear. "She'll be fine. She knows I don't like her, like her. I'll talk to her and-"

Allie began shaking her head at him fiercely. The reddish tint was back in her eyes. "That's not what I'm worried about." She all but whispered. Harry scrunched his forehead together. He had no clue what she was talking about... Oh my gosh.

"Allie..." He started, scared to ask the question. "How long was Ginny standing there?" Harry just remembered that not only had he just confessed his love for Allie in the middle of a very public place, he had also said some things about her being a vampire and having a lightening shaped scar. Damn it! You're such a git! He mentally smacked himself.

"I don't... I don't know." She said, Allie walked backwards until she reached the wall for support. "I wasn't listening to anyone's thoughts but yours... and then I calmed down and she....you." She was in shock, her secret could very well have been revealed, the one thing that she wanted to keep to herself. The one thing that would change everything.

"Well maybe she didn't hear anything." Harry said hopefully. "Maybe she just saw us hug. She didn't run off screaming or anything about you being a you-know-what that survived the you-know-what."

Allie scoffed at him. "Thanks Harry that makes me feel loads better, I love to hear that people run and scream when they find out who am I." She leaned down to take off her heels. Allie immediately shrunk several inches. "I don't know what she heard. Her mind or... my mind is so messed up right now I can't get a clear idea of what she's thinking." Allie bit down on her bottom lip so hard it started to bleed.

"Hey." Harry walked over to her and grasped her shoulders tightly and bent down to her level so they were eye to eye. "Listen to me. No matter what it will be ok. I'm here for you so are Ron and Hermione. Everything is going to be fine." He was so cool and collected on the outside but his insides felt like they were gnawing at each other. He'd seen Allie freak out and he knew that was not what either of them needed right now.

Allie clenched her jaw and nodded once. She couldn't meet Harry's eyes. He placed his hand under her chin, forcing her to look up. Their eyes locked and once again he felt like nothing else in the world mattered but them being together. Harry felt himself slowing leaning down towards her.

He was an inch from her lips when she turned her head to the side so he kissed her cheek. "Harry, I have to go find Cedric, he's probably wondering where I..." She trailed off. Tears appeared once again in her bright blue eyes. She grabbed her shoes and ran down the hall at lightening speed. Without the high heels to slow her down she could run at inhumanly fast speeds like the half vampire she was. In two seconds she was gone, leaving Harry alone in the dark corridor, stunned and broken hearted.

~*~

I can do this. I can do this. I can't do this. Allie's mind chanted as she ran down the hall away from Harry and her feelings. Allie knew she loved him, she wasn't a complete idiot but that didn't mean they could be together. Sometimes love isn't enough. Harry wasn't safe around her, he wouldn't admit that but she could.

Allie collapsed on the floor, she couldn't see any more through her tear blurred eyes. Her dress cascaded around her in a wide circle on the marble. Allie threw her heels at the wall across from her out of frustration, she cradled her head in her hands sobbing as quietly as she could trying not to draw attention to herself. She tried desperately to clear the tears from her eyes but they just kept coming. Everything was so complicated and Allie was pretty sure she was having a mental breakdown.

She had to find Ginny and explain to her why she can't tell anyone about what she heard. Allie also had to talk to Cedric, she really needed Hermione, and she really wanted to see Jake. But once again she was alone... and crying. The small girl knew she had to get up but she couldn't find the strength to. How did she manage to screw everything up? Allie had to get back to the ball. Hopefully Ginny was there and she could explain everything.

She finally pulled herself together and stood up. She walked over to where her shoes had landed and picked them up before returning quickly to the Great Hall. She searched the perimeter of the the Hall, there was no sight of red-headed girl anywhere. Allie spotted Cedric sitting at a table with his friends. Allie watched him smile and laugh as one of the boys sitting next to him told a story that he found pretty hilarious. She really liked him, there was no way she was could break his heart, even if she wanted to.

She caught Cedric's eye and gave him a small smile. A look of concern flashed across his face. He said something to his friends and half ran to Allie. Oh my gosh. Does he know? How could he? Had Ginny come and gone already?

He rushed up to her, placed his hands on either side of her face, and scanned her up and down. "Are you alright?"

Allie wrinkled her forehead. What is he talking about? Then she remembered. The last twenty minutes she had been bawling her eyes out. Plus she was sure her hair and dress were a mess, not to mention the mascara trails running down her face. Allie nodded to him, but Cedric wasn't convinced. He looked her over once more. His face changed from concern to fury.

"Where is he?" He looked around Allie, eyes narrowed in his search. Allie's own eyes widen.

"Where's who?" She asked timidly.

"Ron. He was being a total jerk all night and then he started yelling at you. I'm gonna-"

"Cedric, I'm fine. Really. It's ok." She let out a deep breath, relieved he wasn't talking about Harry. Ginny hadn't told him anything, maybe she wasn't as bad as Allie thought and she was going to keep this secret for her. Allie placed a hand on his upper arm. He looked down at her, his eyes taking in every inch of her face. "I'm ok." She reassured.

He nodded once and wrapped his arms around her. She returned the gesture and nuzzled into his chest. Being in Cedric's arms made her feel safe and comfortable, like nothing could touch her. With Harry, the effect was the exact opposite. She felt dangerous and uneasy every second, she hated that feeling. But she loved the boy that made her feel that way.

She had to decide, right now. She couldn't keep doing this to herself and to them. Her choices were: the one she was drawn to or the one she wanted to be drawn to. Simple as that. With that final though she made her decision, hoping it wasn't the wrong one.

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An hour later Allie walked into the Gryffindor Common Room. Shoes still dangling from her hand. She never did put them back on, they killed her feet and gave her a huge blister the size of a baseball (eww). She stopped in her tracks. Harry was sitting in a chair by the fireplace, forearms resting on his knees. He had taken his dress jacket off, untied his tie, and undid a couple buttons on his shirt, it seemed he didn't even feel like changing his clothes after their little scene in the hallway. He raised his head to look at her.

She walked over to sit on the floor by the fire, dropping her shoes off on the coffee table on the way. "Have you seen Ginny? She never came back to the Great Hall." Allie asked. Harry just shook his head. Allie looked away from him and into the fire where the last log was beginning to go out.

"You're still with him, aren't you?" Harry questioned soberly. He didn't look at Allie when he asked the question, he kept his eyes on his folded hands.

"Harry, you have to understand that-" he looked up at her with sad eyes that made her stop mid sentence. The sight was almost enough to break her heart. "It's better this way." She said quietly.

"Bullshit." Harry said, his eyes were now glued to her. Allie turned her head away and shook her head to drown out the sound of Harry's voice. She didn't want to hear this. "That's bullshit and you know it." He continued.

Allie got up and grabbed her shoes before stalking up the stairs leading to her dormitory. She didn't turn back to look at Harry once.

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Allie woke up late the next morning, her and Hermione were up until 4 o'clock talking and crying about the events of the Yule Ball. Overall the ball sucked, both of them agreed. Allie had looked for Ginny in her room last night but she never came in. Allie shot up in her bed. Ginny knew about her. Allie looked around her room, no pitchforks or people with torches. Maybe Ginny was being a decent person and not saying anything. Merlin, Allie hoped that was the case. The digital clock on her night stand read 9:45 am. If she wanted to make it to breakfast she had to go now. She threw on some sweat pants and put her crazy half curled hair up in a bun. She didn't even bother to put her contacts in. She threw a pillow at Hermione to wake her up to. Ten minutes later the two were rushing down to the Great Hall. They walked in and the space was back to normal. The room no longer had the ice rink like floor, just it's four long house tables. Hermione and Allie entered and all talk stopped. Every person present stared at two.

Allie looked around, even the Slytherins were looking at her. "What's going on?" Allie leaned into whisper to Hermione. She furrowed her eyebrows and shrugged. One first year stood up from the Ravenclaw table and walked slowly over to the two. He stopped right in front of Allie. She bent down a little to look at him (she didn't have far to go since he was probably only three inches shorter than her.) she gave him a little smile. "Can you tell me what's going on?" She said in her sweet sing song voice.

The boy just stared at her with wide eyes. He lifted his hand and pointed to her left wrist. She pursed her lips together and stood up straight. Everyone was still silent and staring. Another older boy from Ravenclaw (who Allie guessed was the little ones brother) came up and put his hands on the boy's shoulders. In one quick motion he grabbed Allie's wrist and ripped the bracelet from around it. The bracelet dropped to the floor and revealed her lightening shaped scar to him. Allie tried to yank her wrist from his grasp but he wouldn't let go. The boy took a step back and held her wrist in the air to show the rest of the students.

"It's true!" was all he said. Some gasped while others were fascinated. Allie continued to fight for her arm back while a crowd of students formed around her, all the kids were shouting at her. With the help of Hermione she got the guy to let go. The two were bombarded on every side with no way to escape the growing mob trying to get a peak at Allie's scar.

"Hey, back off." Allie yelled at a boy who was probably an inch from her face. He didn't pay attention, he continued to push closer to her. Allie saw a flash of red hair as Ron came between the guy and her and pushed him away with surprising force, the guy staggered back a few steps and rammed into a couple of girls. He grabbed Allie and Hermione's hands in each of his own and acted like a battering ram, pushing the three out of the large crowd.

They made it out of the Great Hall and ran around a corner. Ron dropped the girls hands. "Thanks." Allie said to Ron. He nodded grumpily. He was still mad at the two, but that didn't mean he was going to let them get trampled by a mob of students.

"How did they find out?" Ron asked breathlessly. Allie slid down the wall she had been leaning against. The seriousness of the situation hit her like a head on collision. The whole school knew about her now and it was all thanks to...

"Ginny" She said flatly. Ron's eyes widened. She explained everything to him. When she finished his ears were beat red, by far redder than Allie had ever seen them.

"Miss. Cullen" Allie jumped at the sound of her own name. Professor McGonigal was standing ten feet away from them. "Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office." She looked from Hermione to Ron. "You two may come, as well." She turned around and started to led them to the Headmaster's office.

They arrived at the giant wooden door that Allie was becoming very familiar with, McGonigal unlatched it and pushed it open. Ron led the way into the room followed by Hermione then Allie. She walked with her eyes directed down at her feet. The school was in complete chaos and it was her fault. She didn't need to see the disappointment in Dumbledore's eyes. Allie knew she screwed up.

"What'd you do now squirt?" A familiar husky voice said gently but teasingly. Allie looked up and immediately felt tears filling her eyes. She ran up to Jacob and jumped into his arms. She let the familiar, comforting scent of the mixture a forest and adog fill her. "I missed you too buddy." He whispered to the top of her head.

Allie pulled back and felt her feet land back on the ground. She smiled up at her adoptive father. He had gotten even taller. Jake had to be 6'6 by now. Allie noticed that he cut his hair short again, too. She gave him another hug. "Jake." was all she could say. She hadn't known how much she missed him until this moment.

"Miss. Cullen?" Dumbledore tried to get her attention. She looked over to her headmaster. He motioned to a chair across from his desk. She complied with his request and took the seat. Allie looked around the room and realized that Harry was there also. He had given his seat up so Hermione could sit next to her. Jake stood behind Allie with his hands on the back of her chair. "Now, Miss. Cullen. How did the student body come to know about your unique circumstances?" Dumbledore asked.

Allie once again replayed the evens of last night (well not all details of course). Allie gave him the Sparks Notes version. She told Dumbledore that her and Harry had gotten into an argument where they had said some stuff about Allie's scar and that she was a vampire. She also said that Ginny had overheard their conversation. "And that sir, is how I think it got out." Allie finished.

"Who else knew about you besides Harry?" Dumbledore questioned.

"Just Ron and Hermione, sir. But I know it wasn't them they would never do anything like that." Allie defended them.

"Are you sure about that?" the headmaster said.

"Of course, sir." Allie said without hesitation. "After all, Professor I can read their minds. They are trustworthy people, I know this for a fact."

Dumbledore nodded his head. "I agree. But you didn't tell Mr. Diggory?" Allie furrowed her brow.

"No. Cedric doesn't know." Well I suppose he knows now. Holy crap, Cedric knows. She didn't know why he was bringing Cedric into this. She would have named him with Ron and Hermione if she had told him.

"Who's Cedric?" Jake asked Allie. She waved his question away.

"Curious." Dumbledore said.

"Sir?" Allie had no idea where he was going with this. He was so cryptic sometimes.

"Well Mr. Diggory is your boyfriend and has been for a while. It's strange that you didn't choose to confide in him." Dumbledore's words were like a slap in the face.

Allie looked to Harry who (unsurprisingly) was looking back at her with big green eyes. Had he told Dumbledore about their connection and that Allie chose to disregard it to be with Cedric? Harry shook his head silently telling her he had nothing to do with it.

"You have a boyfriend?" Jake asked angrily. "Why didn't you tell me? Your dad would kill me. I want to-"

"Jake! Can you please focus?" Allie said trying to keep her guardian on task. She nodded to the headmaster to continue.

"Yes, well." Dumbledore started. "The question is what are we going to do about damage control-so to speak?"

"Sir if you want me to leave the school, I completely understand." Allie volunteered.

"No, Miss. Cullen you will stay here, like I've said before. Leaving the school will not solve your problems. You are meant to be here." The Professor gave her a knowing smile. There was something he wasn't telling her and it would pretty much drive her nuts until so found out.

"No, we will ensure the students and parents that you are not dangerous and explain your situation to them. It is time the world knew who you are, Allie." She looked up at the older man. He had never called her by her first name before. She wrinkled her forehead and shook her head at the headmaster.

"But I don't want the world to know.." She stated like in was the most obvious thing in the world. "I didn't want them to know." She pointed in the direction of the Great Hall.

"I know, Miss. Cullen. But the truth of the matter is that they do know. And there is nothing we can do to make this go away." He stated.

Jake placed a hand on Allie's shoulder. "So we just explain every aspect of Allie's life to a bunch of people she doesn't trust with the information?" Jake was a boy after Allie's own heart, blunt and completely honest. Neither of them cared if what they said sounded bad as long as it was the truth that was all that mattered.

"What else are we supposed to do?" Dumbledore questioned, his patience with the American's never wavering. Jake thought about it and just shook his head. There really wasn't anything else they could do. "Then it is settled. We will share Allie's story at dinner tonight."

Allie folded her arms against her chest. "Woo freaking hoo" Allie mumbled under her breath, Jake smacked her across the head lightly. She pursed her lips together, this is not what was supposed to happen, no one was supposed to know.

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled. "Miss. Cullen you and your friends are free to go." Allie nodded, the blond and Hermione stood up.

"What about my sister?" Ron asked slightly irritated. Dumbledore folded his hands together on top of his desk.

"What about her, Mr. Weasley?" the headmaster asked in his calm voice.

"She told Allie's secret to the whole school! You aren't going to do anything?" He asked. Allie's eyes raised out of surprise, Ron was sticking up for her. That was the last thing she expected to happen since last night.

"Ron, it's ok." Allie tried to tell him. Ron raised his hand up to silence her.

"Well, Mr. Weasley , I'm afraid there is nothing we can do when someone spreads gossip around the school. It is frowned upon but is not punishable." Dumbledore informed him. Ron sternly nodded his head before walking out of the office followed by Hermione and Harry.

The small blond gave Jake one last hug. "I'll miss you." She told him. He gave her one last squeeze before letting go.

"I'll miss you too squirt. Don't forget to write, even though I can't read you chicken scratch it's still good to see it." Allie laughed before leaving the office. Harry was sitting on the stairs waiting for Allie. He stood up instantly when the big wooden door closed.

"Hey." He said gently. Allie gave him a lopsided grin and stepped onto the stair, the case immediately sprang to life and the two slowly went down to the main level. "I hate what Ginny did to you. I feel respon-"

"Don't blame yourself Harry. Things happened last night that shouldn't have and... it was out of our control. Ok?" It was awkward to be around Harry. She pretty much was in a awful mood and being reminded of last night... well it wasn't the best thing in the world right now. The stairs stopped spinning and Allie stalked off before Harry or anyone else could say anything to her.

"Allie!" She heard Harry call after her. She didn't stop running, she had to get away.

tell me what you think! thanks for reading!