Never-Lasting •~H.Potter AU~• (ON HOLD)

10 |not yet to be trusted|

"WILL SHE BE ALRIGHT?"

Aliana asked Professor McGonagall, who had led the four of them to her office to discuss what had happened. Professor McGonagall nodded. The trio and Aliana had explained to the professor what they saw, with Katie touching what seemed to be a cursed necklace and floating in the air before falling down hard on the snowy ground.

"Professor, can I see Professor Dumbledore please?" Harry Potter said suddenly, the conversation before seeming to not even matter.

Aliana looked up at the weird question but sat in silence.

"The headmaster is away until Monday." She answered.

"Away?" Harry said with his voice slightly raised, emotions getting the best of him at that moment.

"Yes, Potter, away!" McGonagall said, clearly upset at the tone of voice used at her. "But anything you have to say about this horrible business can be said to me, I'm sure!"

Although Aliana looked straight ahead, she couldn't help but notice from her peripheral vision Harry Potter turning to her for a second before looking back at the professor.

"Nothing. Nevermind. It's not that important."

McGonagall seemed like she wanted to speak up on Harry's answer, but was interrupted by Aliana clearing her throat.

"If I may add, I have a feeling the cursed necklace could have been given to Katie by another student."

The room stood silent as McGonagall straightened up.

"That's a very serious accusation Ms. Snape. Do you have any proof that may back up your claims?"

Aliana shook her head as he kept her vision straight at McGonagall. However, she could see from the side of her eye the trio looking at her with almost gaping mouths.

"Just an idea to place out there. I mean, it wouldn't make sense to have a necklace that dangerous just lying about somewhere. And even if it was I don't believe Katie would be naive enough to pick up a box from the ground. But that's not really the case here as she was entrusted with the necklace to give to someone else. Katie would have to had known the person at least a little bit to accept something out of the blue like that. This could account her student peers or even an adult."

McGonagall looked displeased by the statement. Not because it was incorrect. No, what Aliana Snape had just said made perfect sense. She was displeased because this could mean something greater is happening that would cause harm to all.

Meanwhile, the trio sat there in complete silence. Harry especially was speechless. He knew it had to be Malfoy. He wanted to speak out on it with McGonagall but with Aliana there he had second thoughts. Sure he was starting to grow fond for the girl,

but not yet to be trusted.

But with Aliana saying something like that, Harry could tell that her case was more believable than his. No one except Aliana yet believed his accusations towards Malfoy, even though he knew they were right. Even though it made sense to present the situation this way, Harry would still wait until Dumbledore comes back to tell him what he thought abut Malfoy and the necklace.

When McGonagall let them go, the four of them walked in silence through the halls. Aliana griped the bag of pastries in her hands tighter.

"What was it you were going to tell Professor McGonagall Potter?"

"Probably something about Malfoy." Ron answered Aliana in an almost joking matter. Harry hit his elbow unto Ron, giving him a look. This quickly made Ron shut up.

Aliana looked at both of them before sighing.

"I see. You think Draco Malfoy has something to do with this. Well as I've stated before I do believe you in that this Draco boy is suspicious. If he was the only who was responsible for this then he's not that smart."

The trio got a small chuckle out of that, even if Aliana didn't mean it in a joking matter. It was most likely her serious tone that made the delivery of her statement all the more funnier.

"You're right about that one Aliana. I mean, the cursed necklace didn't even reach the castle. Whoever it was didn't have a foolproof plan."

The air become a bit more light as they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. Was they made it the warmth of the crackling fireplace welcomed them. The trio began to take off their jackets as Aliana placed the ignored pastries on a table. Harry walked up to her and presented Aliana with the scarf she lent him earlier. Harry said a small thanks as Aliana took the scarf from his hands.

And with Aliana smiling brightly at him, Harry felt just a bit warmer.