Into the Unknown

Right now, I am stuck in the Gryffindor boys' dormitory with the (in)famous Harry J. Potter. And I am extremely confused.

I honestly haven't a clue of what's gone on in the past few days. Everything is in chaos, everyone is confused, and Dumbledore is no longer the headmaster of the school. The governors voted him out, and have yet to replace him.

He made sure that Harry was protected before he left. So, he cast a protective charm, so that Harry'd be safe no matter what.

There is, generally, no authority here now. The professors are always in meetings and whatnot, no matter what. I mean, we do have classes, but they're always out in another world. Probably talking about what to do if a Death Eater becomes the Headmaster. Sure, Rob Higgins and Colleen McDonahue are still alive and kicking (Head Boy and Girl, respectively), but they can't handle hundreds of kids.

Speaking of Colleen, she came up to me today. Wanted me to know about my brother...how he's gone and all. I love Colley, she's the sweetest person, ever. I already knew: Malloy, that Slytherin prefect, told me two weeks ago. Malloy's okay, for a Slytherin.

So, after that, Colley and I went down to the library to work on our Potions essay.

Katie was off snogging some sixth-year Ravenclaw, in order to make George jealous. They'd just broken up, for the twenty thousandth time this month. And I thought that when Oliver and I dated, that we had a tumultuous relationship...she and George are kissing one second, screaming at each other the next. Honestly. I'm not exaggerating. They just can't get enough of each other.

Katie and Angelina really think that I need a boyfriend. They've been setting me up with any willing boy in school, who include Fred, Lee, and Davies. It stinks, because I've already sort of set my sights on somebody else.

Angelina was talking to Hermione Granger and Sam Hunter (Angelina's boyfriend of the hour), about the war and Harry and crap. I don't care about Dumbledore's troops. But then again, I do care about Harry. The kid's like a brother to me. Well, not really, we never really knew each other well. Only from Quidditch. I just felt that I HAD to take care of him, no matter what. We still don't know each other, in a sense, so, in that way, I guess he's sort of like my brother. Actually, he and I get along. Avery and I practically kill each other when we talk, and Gavin would always pull my hair whenever he saw me. They'd both pull pranks on me and put stink pellets in my Quidditch bag. It was the most annoying thing ever.

Well, besides Fred and George Weasley, of course.

Anyway, Harry has been sort of a recluse, or as reclusive as one could be in a dormitory full of hyperactive teenage boys. Granger's worried about him, hasn't seen him (outside of classes, at least) in two weeks. She's gone into the dormitory a few times, but Harry's rejected her each and every time.

Back to Sam and Ange. Hermione was trying to convince both of them to get Harry

out of the dorm. Her efforts were in vain. For the past few weeks, Angelina and Sam have constantly been all over each other, snogging every two minutes and thus they have little time for anyone (or anything) else. It's disgusting. Thus, they had tons of excuses. And so, when I came up to them, they took the opportunity to turn Hermione's attention to me.

"Um...Hermione...why don't you ask Alicia? She's got nothing to do," Ange said flightily.

*Thanks Ange...* I thought.

Granger swerved to look at me, a manic glint in her eye. She reminded me of Oliver Wood, in a mad scientist/evil genius sort of way. You could tell that she knew that I was frightened of her (for the time being, at least). And so, she asked me to go cheer Harry up.

"Why not Colleen?" I pleaded. I abhor the boy's dorm. The stench from the seventh-year dorm is abominable (mostly accountable to the twins and Lee), and they all run about in their underclothes. It's absolutely repulsive.

"No....she's a Hufflepuff. Can't get into the GRYFFINDOR Common Room if you're from another house, remember?" Angelina replied.

I remembered that Angelina has had QUITE a few Hufflepuffs up to the dormitory herself, but decided against speaking up. I might as well go, I thought. No need for confrontation.

I trudged back up to the Common Room. Always Alicia. Why do I always have to be so NICE?

I plugged my nose, preparing to make the trip to the boy's dormitory. I hesitated, then remembered what would happen if I broke my promise to Hermione. So, I dashed up the stairs and into the boys' dorm.

I walked from door to door, trying to find the fifth year dormitory. I have been up here before, several times, in fact. Not that I've been there to...you know. I've gone there out of the kindness of my heart: to retrieve my room-mates so that they won't House points taken away during a surprise "raid" by the Prefects (or occasionally, McGonagall).

A few minutes later, I found it. I took in a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

"Hermione, I don't want to talk to you right now. Just leave me the hell alone."

"It's not Hermione…it's Alicia," I replied.

Instantly the door whipped open, revealing a flushed Harry.

"Sorry, Alicia," he beckoned me in, smiling shyly.

He sat down on one of the beds, and patted a spot next to him. I plunked down next to him.

"So, Hermione sent you, right?" he implored.

It was my turn to blush. "Well, uh, yeah."

"Thought so. I mean, why else would such a pretty girl come up to see me?"

I could feel my face turning red.

"Well, we're all really worried about you, is all. You've barely spoken to any of us…even during Quidditch."

He twiddled his thumbs for a moment, and then looked away.

"Just tell me, Harry. Tell me what's wrong…"

He shook his head no. "There's nothing wrong, Alicia. I've just been so tired."

"Come on..." I prodded.

That was when he spilled. It all came out in one huge wave of anger and frustration. About Cedric Diggory's death, Cho Chang's apparent disinterest in him. About how he was embarassed of his legacy as the Boy Who Lived, and how he felt responsible for everybody's anguish and pain. His eyes showed hurt and anger and sorrow: I did not want to see them like that ever again.

"And, no matter what anybody says, it's going to be known as MY fault. Oh, little Harry Potter," he mimicked. "Did you know that he was there when that Diggory boy died...what a shame..."

I put my arms around his skinny body.

"I know what you're going to say, Alicia. Don't even bother. I honestly don't want to hear it. "

He was scaring me by this point. Generally, he was a calm person. But...he was...for lack of a better word....volatile, ready to explode at any moment.

"Harry...you know, my mother is a Muggle. Da's a wizard. They divorced when I was five. Couldn't take the pressure or work out their differences. I was so mad that they'd done that to me and Avery and Gavin. And then there's the fact that I'm half-and-half...made fitting in hard...the Muggle kids around Mum's house thought I was weird..."

"Knew it. I knew that you were going to come out saying something like that. Knew it. That's just like you," he interrupted.

He fell silent, and the muscles in his back relaxed. The outburst was over as quickly as it had started. I pushed his bangs back.

"Don't tell anyone about this. Not even Katie or Angelina or...Hermione. Especially not Hermione," he looked up at me, eyes shimmering with hope and trust.

"I won't."

"Promise?" he questioned, like a child.

"Promise."

I kissed his forehead, and he smiled.

"You know, Alicia Spinnet, I always did trust you..." he said.

That was when he kissed me. I was taken by surprise at first. His glasses were smushed against my face, and it was rather uncomfortable. But, after a moment or two, I decided that I liked it.

Then, the moment was ruined by Colin Creevey running in with his camera, shouting Harry's name. He stopped, eyes wide open and glassy with shock, and then, not knowing what else to do, took a picture. Then, he dropped to the floor in a dead faint.

It was actually quite comical. In a sick and twisted way, of course. If Katie or Ange, or even Colley knew, they'd burst out laughing. And then they'd tell the Weasley twins, who find it rather humorous to exploit my (extreme lack of a) love life.

And that leaves me where I am now. Harry and I are sitting on his bed, faces red, with an unconscious fourth year boy lying on the floor in front of the door. What a wonderful way to end such a romantic/dramatic moment.

I stand up, and gingerly step over Colin. I turn around, and say:

"Well...uh...guess I'll see you later."

"Uh...yeah," he blushes.

I half-sprint, half-skip down the stairs and into the Common Room, where Hermione is standing, tapping her foot anxiously (in typical, impatient fashion, of course).

"So, Alicia, what'd you find out?" she says.

I walk away from Hermione.

Honestly, I don't know why I just did that. Hermione looks like she's about to kill me. It actually looks like the vein in her forehead is about to burst, and her face is slowly turning a wonderful shade of crimson.

I feel like I should tell her...because she DOES deserve to know what's on.

But I just can't. I promised him.

Katie says that I'm "glowing." That I suddenly seem more radiant. Angelina agrees. I tune out there words.

You know, I think that I've fallen in love.