survivor | HARRY POTTER

-Chapter 7-

The Gryffindor's, Alyssa, and Millie were sent down to the Great Hall immediately, where they were joined the minuets later by the students from Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw, who looked extremely worried. Dan immediately headed over to Alyssa, embracing her tightly and asking her over and over again if she was okay whilst she checked to see if he was hurt.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle." Dumbledore told them as McGonagall and Flitwick closed all the doors to the Great Hall. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the Prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately." He added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."

Dumbledore paused, about to leave the room, and brandished his wand. The long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls, and within a second the floor was covered in hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags. "Sleep well." Dumbledore smiled, closing the door behind him.

The Hall immediately began to buzz excitedly as the Gryffindor's informed the rest of the school about what had happened. "Everyone into their sleeping bags! Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minuets!" Percy shouted, clapping his hands to get attention. It didn't work.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Alyssa, Millie, and Jess all grabbed their seeping bags and dragged them into a corner. Cedric, Fred, and George followed. As they all climbed into their sleeping bags, their minds racing, they all tried to settle down into a comfortable position. Alyssa had used the sleeping bag as a mattress instead of getting inside it, and was lying on top of it covered by a bunch of blankets she had created with her wand. She was lying next to Harry, who was next to Ron, who was next to Hermione. On Alyssa's other side, Jess and Fred were snuggled closely together, and Millie and Cedric were holding each other protectively.

"He's here for you, isn't he?" Alyssa asked, turning her face in Harry's direction. She was lying on her back, her eyes wide and shining under the shimmering stars. Instead of answering with a lie, Harry reached down and took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. "He won't get you. I won't let him. He'll have to get through me first." She said seriously, nodding to herself as she returned her attention to the ceiling. "Worried about me now, Ali?" Harry asked, rubbing her hand with his thumb. "Don't get cocky, asshole." She rolled her eyes.

"It's hard to think that we hated each other two years ago." She whispered, the both of them still staring upwards at the ceiling. "I didn't hate you. Yeah, I found you a bit annoying and all, but I asked you out at one point, remember?" Harry reminded her, a grin slipping onto his face at the memory. Alyssa snorted slightly and nodded. "Yeah, it was fun to reject you. We've come a long way, you and I." She sighed, glancing at him slightly out of the corner of her eye.

"Yeah, we have." Harry smiled slightly, and silence fell over them like a blanket. "Hey, Alyssa?" Harry asked suddenly, glancing at her. Her eyebrows rose at the use of her full name as she turned to stare at him. "Yeah?"
"I want you to promise me something." Harry said, his tone extremely serious. "I don't like making promises unless I know I can keep them." She said.

"I want you to promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what Black does, you'll never put yourself in danger to keep me safe. I could never live with myself if you got hurt trying to protect me." Alyssa's head swam with sarcastic comments at his words, but the sincerity of his voice had her throat closed up. "You know I can't promise you that, Potter." She sighed, glancing up at the ceiling again. "Can you promise the same thing for me?" Harry was silent, and she could see a battle in his eyes. At last he sighed and shook his head. "Never." There was silence between the two as they lay there, wide awake, their hands locked together, staring up at the ceiling.