Disclaimer: yeah, yeah. We all know this; I don't own anything you recognize. They are J.K.'s. yadda-yadda.
Dedication: To everyone, summers over! Where the hell did it go?
But especially to the class of 2005,
because in 3 days we will rule the school!
XxXxX
Aly had to admit that the party had been fun. There was lots of food and laughter, but in the back of her mind the numbing feeling of the vision still lurked. To make matters worst, it seemed to intensify when James and Lily started arguing over which was more important: Quidditch or studying.
Sick of the argument after only a few moments into it, Aly had decided to go to bed. Sirius stopped her and made sure she was alright. When she said sure, he gave her a weird one-arm hug and she got a funny feeling her stomach.
During the next week, Aly did her best to keep extra busy. When she wasn't studying or doing homework or in class, she played chess with Remus, watched Quidditch practice with James, and even helped Filch clean up the messes from the boy's pranks. However, one evening, only a week after the first, she had the same vision.
This time she was just at the entrance to her father's office. She got up and felt slightly relieved that it hadn't happened in front of him. She had been planning on meeting Lily and Remus in the library, but instead she turned and headed straight to the common room to find Sirius.
She found him in a back corner, whispering to James over some scraps of paper. She cleared her throat to get their attention. Both jumped and James instinctively swept the papers down into his lap to shield them.
"What?" James snapped.
"I want to talk to you," she said ignoring James and looking at Sirius.
The two boys shared a quick glance and Aly lead on, "It's urgent."
Sirius looked at the pleading look in Aly's eyes and said to James, "Later."
He put his arm around Aly's shoulders and led her away, leaving James with an open mouth.
He steered silently out of the common room, down through, the front hall, and outside onto the dark grounds.
"Again?" he asked once they had reached the lake.
She looked at him, surprised. Then said weakly, "Yes."
He sank onto the soft sand of the shore. She sat down next to him. He seemed very deep in thought and Aly decided it was best not to interrupt him.
"There only seems to be one alternative to me and you aren't going to like it," he told her.
"What?"
"Go tell your dad," he said looking at her.
"WHAT?!? Oh, hell no! Are you out of your mind? I just came from his office and he was lecturing me about not going to bed early enough. Can you imagine what he'll have to say if I tell him I'm fainting and then seeing things? I mean, come'on! I – why would I – I mean – for the love of . . ."
"Look, calm down. I can't think of anyone else who would know how to help you," he said calmly grabbing hold of her shoulders.
"He'd probably think I'm just lying."
"No he won't. He'd believe you. I do, and I'm your worst critic. If you can convince me, you can convince him."
She looked at him. He looked so calm, so collected, so uncharacteristically serious.
"No, she said firmly. "Maybe it's just all in head. Maybe I'm making it all up. I'll just ignore it. Maybe it'll just go away."
"If you wanted to ignore it, why did you come get me then?" he asked.
"Because I just need someone to talk too."
"Why not Lily?"
"I haven't told Lily. You're the only one who knows."
"Really?" he said raising one eyebrow and smirking.
Aly's temper began to rise. "Look, it doesn't mean anything," she said through clenched teeth. "You just happened to be the first person I saw after it happened."
"Riiight," Sirius drawled smirking.
"Shut up," she said pushing his shoulder and they both fell silent. That seemed to happen a lot when she was around him.
"Well, alright," Sirius said getting up. "I must go."
"Okay," Aly said standing up too. "I'll see you later, my mysterious marauder."
"Marauder?" he questioned.
"Yeah, it means like prowler. I know it was you who tried to sneak up into the girls dorm last night," she said with a smile.
"Marauder, huh?" he thought for moment. "Ok, anyways, later."
He turned to leave, but Aly grabbed hold of his sleeve. "Oh, and remember --"
He cut her off and whispered into her ear, "My lips are sealed." He then grinned and jogged back towards the castle, right past the group of girls who had gathered around the open door, trying to investigate who was outside.
Aly shivered and pushed the feeling of his breath on her ear from her mind. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately too. She sighed before setting off the library to see if Lily and Remus were still there, ignoring the girls who giggled and pointed as she passed.
XxXxX
what'cha think?
Ok, I'm tired now, it's 1:14 am and as any of my friends would tell you, it's well past my bed time. So, I'm off, to let my head be filled with visions of sugar plums and such.
REVIEW!!!