Alina Nightshade doesn't think much about James Potter. Only that he seems rather keen on being annoying.
James Potter thinks Alina Nightshade is a mystery all wrapped up in a very pretty girl. And he is keen on trying to be her friend.
James Potte...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Alina traces the patterns on her ceiling, her mind churning with memories from the night before. Tomorrow, they'll all be heading home for the summer.
Merlin, she's screwed.
Completely and utterly screwed.
She can't stop replaying the look on James Potter's face after she kissed him: his pupils wide, his brown eyes hazy and full of something she can't quite decipher. He looks... so pretty.
Why did she do it?
She doesn't know. Maybe it was a way of saying goodbye, a parting gift to remember her by over the next two months.
Sighing, Alina rubs her hands over her face, then forces herself to sit up. She needs to talk to someone about this, right? That's what friends are for, aren't they?
Yes, they can help. She stands, still in her simplest clothes—loose shirt, loose pants, since everything else is packed away. She has only her party outfit for that night and the clothes she'll wear on the train left out.
The thought of going home makes her stomach twist. She shoves it aside, slipping on her shoes before heading out of the dorm. The common room is mostly empty, only a few lingering students who've yet to leave. She breezes past them, out of the Slytherin common room, and starts her trek to Gryffindor Tower.
She only hopes she won't bump into James on the way. She's not sure what she'd say to him.
The castle halls are quieter than usual, with most people outside soaking up the summer sun, savoring the last moments before heading home. Eventually, she makes it to the entrance of the Gryffindor common room—only to realize she doesn't know the password.
She glares at the portrait of the knight, her nails digging into her palms.
"Password?" the knight asks, tilting his head at her.
Alina ignores him, her mind racing. How to get in without a password? She briefly considers blasting the door open but doubts the Gryffindors would appreciate that.
"Alina?" a familiar voice calls from behind.
She turns to see Mary standing a few steps away, her dark hair curled around her and catching the light from the hall windows, giving her a soft glow.
"Mary," Alina says, relief flooding her. "I wanted to talk to you, Lily, and Marlene, but I don't know the password."
Mary smiles. "Ah, of course. Next year, we'll make sure to get you a list."
Alina nods as Mary whispers the password to the knight, who shoots her a disapproving look before swinging open to let them through. The Gryffindor common room is lively for midday, though thankfully there's no sign of James or his friends.
Mary steps in first, with Alina close behind. They climb the stairs to the girls' dormitory, and Alina catches fragments of a heated exchange as they approach.
