Learn to Fly

Three years later...

"Alora, are you ready to go yet?"

"I can't find my wand!"

Severus groaned. It was the same every year.

"Have you checked your bedside table?"

"Found it!"

"Well, hurry up!"

Alora walked into the room, smiling broadly.

"Keep your hair on, Dad. The train doesn't leave for another half hour."

Alora felt a poke in the small of her back. She turned around and saw Lenna holding out her yearly parcel. Alora thanked and hugged her.

"See ya later, okay?"

Lenna grinned and headed off to the kitchen.

Severus held out his arms and Alora walked into them, receiving a long warm hug.

Severus gazed down at the beautiful fifteen year-old. She had changed over the years; her silky black hair now fell layered around her shoulders with the occasional blue streak, she was taller and she had matured wonderfully. Severus had to admit, whether he liked it or not, Alora was becoming a young lady. He'd never been more proud of her.

Severus gave her a tight squeeze and heard her murmur, "Careful, Dad. You don't wanna squeeze me to death."

He chuckled softly and released her.

"See you at school."

Alora grabbed her things and a pinch of floo powder.

"Bye, Dad."

Then she disappeared in a burst of green flames.

*

Alora gazed out the window, looking extremely bored.

Cow. Cow. Sheep. Cow. More sheep. More cows. Bloody hell! Isn't there anything out there other than sheep and cows?

Alora leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

Man, it sucks not having any friends.

It was her fifth year at Hogwarts, and she sat alone in a compartment on the train to school, yet again. She got along with people fine; they stopped to chat with her, but she never had any close friends of her own. To be quite honest, Alora was a loner.

"Maybe this year will be different," she murmured hopefully.

Yeah, right, said the nasty little voice at the back of her brain.

Alora sighed and pulled out her discman. She was about to press 'play', when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.

A blonde boy had poked his head into the compartment.

"Do you really need this whole compartment to yourself?" he asked in a sneering, commanding voice.

Alora sneered back.

Trying to push me out, are you? Well, I'll show you.

"Nah, I just didn't wanna share a compartment with hormone driven teens. Watching people snog is not my favourite form of entertainment."

He looked shocked, like he didn't expect her to talk back. Alora rolled her eyes.

"You can sit in here if you want to. No one's stopping you."

The boy, much to Alora's surprise, entered and sat down. For about twenty seconds, they eyeballed each other. Then the boy looked at the ceiling, apparently bored.

No conversation from him, then.

Alora pulled out Lenna's package and began to unwrap it.

"Is it your birthday?"

She glanced up and shook her head.

"My house elf gives me a package for the train ride every year."

Alora pulled away the paper to find the regular tin of biscuits and a beautiful pair of black woollen gloves.

"Lenna, you're too much," she murmured as she pulled them on.

They were soft, warm and fitted perfectly. The blonde glanced at her hands.

"Nice gloves."

"Thanks," she answered cautiously.

Alora promptly put them away and opened the tin.

Yum, choc fudge.

She glanced at the boy, who was staring absentmindedly into the hall, and held out the tin.

"Hey, do you want one?"

The blonde stared at her then took a biscuit.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

May as well try and talk to him.

"So, where are your friends?"

"They'll be along soon. Why are you sitting alone?"

Alora grinned evilly.

"Do you want what I said before, or do you want me to dive into the details of teenage hormones?"

His face gave her a look that looked like a smile crossed with a sneer.

"I get your point."

He held out his hand.

"Draco Malfoy."

She took it.

"Alora Perry."

He gave her that strange smile/sneer again.

There was a tap on the door and two large boys walked in. Draco stood up.

"Alora, this is Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle."

She shook their hands in turn.

"Nice to meet you. You wanna sit down?"

They both nodded and sat.

"So, what houses are you boys in?"

Goyle glanced at her and muttered, "Slytherin. We all are."

Alora put on a face of mock horror.

"Oh, no! What's a innocent Ravenclaw to do, trapped in a room full of evil Slytherins?"

To her surprise, they all chuckled. Draco gave her a real smile.

He's really quite handsome.

"We're in the sixth year, what about you?"

Alora grinned.

"Fifth year and still lovin' it."

"You said a house elf?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Your point being?"

"You must be from a pure-blood family, but I've never heard the name 'Perry' before."

Alora groaned.

"Oh, great. You're one of those 'pure-blood only' types."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Alora leaned closer, fixing him with a steely glare.

"If I was to say I was a half-blood, you'd probably sneer and walk off. If I were a muggle-born, you'd probably hex me and call me a 'mudblood'. I don't wanna spend my time with a bunch of superficial, pure-blooded dickheads! I'm outta here!"

She abruptly stood up and made to leave.

"Alora, wait! Look, I'm...sorry. It's just that, as Slytherins, we have unwritten guidelines on who we are to associate with."

She faced him. He looked sincere.

"You don't apologise much, do you? 'Cause you suck at it."

But she did sit down, arms crossed and eyebrow raised, like she was daring him to press on the subject of the purity of blood. Draco cleared his throat, apparently embarrassed.

"So, uh, are you into Quidditch?"

Alora's face lit up.

"Yeah! Who isn't?"

Draco smiled, pleased that he had found some common ground.

"What's your team?"

"The Woollongong Warriors. Yours?"

"The Falmouth Falcons. Do you play it?"

Alora sighed.

"Only when Dad is in the mood. He's not really into flying."

Draco gave a sympathetic glance.

"Too bad. Are you any good?"

"I'm not bad, but I'm not brilliant either. You guys play, don't you?"

Crabbe spoke up.

"Were both beaters and he's the seeker."

"Yeah, I know. I go to every game. You guys aren't half bad."

"Thanks."

The talk about Quidditch lasted until the food trolley came round. Alora took this opportunity to stock up on sweets, as she didn't know how long it would be until the next Hogsmeade visit. She went to buy some Pumpkin Pasties, but Draco stopped her.

"I'll get them."

Alora shook her head.

"I can get my own."

Draco winked.

"But I insist. I'll meet you back in the compartment."

She shrugged and hauled her sweet stock into her trunk. She then sat down next to Goyle.

"So, do I call you by your last names?"

"You can call us Greg and Vince if you want. Everyone else does."

"Cool."

Just then, Draco walked in with a stack of Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties.

"Thanks, Draco."

"That's okay, Alora."

Alora frowned.

"Could you call me 'Ally'? I hate 'Alora'. That's what my dad calls me when he's giving me the lecture."

Draco smiled.

"Sure, Ally."

Alora grinned and took a pasty.

After the four had devoured the food, Alora brought out the tin of biscuits.

"Help yourselves. Lenna makes so many, I never finish them all."

As they ate their way through the biscuits, a girl with bushy brown hair poked her head in the door. Draco sneered.

"What do you want, Granger?"

Alora stared at the girl, then recognised who she was. It was the girl who had talked to her on her first train ride.

"Hello, Hermione. How have ya been?"

Draco, Vince and Greg stared at her.

"You know her, Ally?"

"Only momentarily."

Hermione looked at her curiously.

"Have we met?" she asked politely.

"Well, we haven't spoken since your second year."

Hermione's eyes widened.

"Alora?"

Alora grinned.

"Long time, no see."

"What are you doing sitting with Malfoy?"

Alora raised an eyebrow.

"I felt like it. Now, what's up? You look all flustered."

Hermione smiled weakly.

"It's my cat, Crookshanks. He's gone for a walk and I can't find him. Have you seen him? He's a large, fluffy ginger cat."

Alora shook her head.

"Sorry, I haven't. But if I do, I'll let you know."

Hermione nodded and left the compartment.

"He's gone for a walk and I can't find him," Draco mimicked.

Alora glared at him.

"This better not be that 'mudblood' crap again."

Draco studied his nails elegantly.

"I just don't like her. She's a show-off, a know-it-all and she hangs around with Saint Potter."

Alora rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, whatever. Just don't pull me into your little war, okay?"

Draco nodded.

"I've been meaning to ask: where are you from? Your accent is different."

Alora smiled.

"I moved here from Australia when I was ten. That's probably why you've never heard my last name. The Perry's are a old Wizarding family there."

Draco grinned slyly.

"I wondered why you supported an Australian Quidditch team."

"And what's wrong with that?"

She said this light heartedly, but he could hear the casual challenge in her voice.

"It's just obvious that the teams from England are far more superior."

Alora grinned, trying but failing to look offended.

"Bugger off! Us Aussies could beat you Poms in a heartbeat!"

This mock argument continued until the train stopped. They all piled out and cued for the carriages.

Alora silently watched the thestrals that pulled them. She had been able to see them ever since she had started school.

Because of Jes, Severus had explained.

Even though a great price came with the sight of these creatures, Alora thought they were strangely beautiful.

When a carriage arrived, the boys clambered in first, and then helped Alora in.

"Oh, my. Am I worthy of the presence of such gentlemen?" she murmured dramatically.

"You are worthy, Milady."

Draco gave her a friendly wink and a mock bow.

Alora giggled and elbowed Vince.

"You better keep Draco on a leash. I'd hate to think of what would happen if the hormones kicked in."

Greg flushed and Vince chuckled.

A short time later, the carriage pulled up at Hogwarts. Alora waved to the boys and headed to the Ravenclaw table. When she was seated, she scanned the Head table.

Her dad was sitting there with his face screwed up in the usual scowl. His 'school face' she fondly called it. Professor Dumbledore gave her small wink and Alora smiled back. Hagrid grinned at her and she smiled again.

Hagrid was the only person that made Hogwarts bearable. His door was always open, his kettle always on the fire and his ears always ready to listen. He knew about her dad and was perfectly okay about it, so she was able to spill her frustrations to him and he would be able to understand.

Dragging herself out of her thoughts, Alora continued to view the table.

A young woman with short bubblegum pink hair was talking to Professor McGonagall.

Must be the new DADA teacher. Thank God that Umbridge woman is gone!

After the Sorting, Dumbledore stood and the whole hall went silent.

"Good evening and welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. Just a few start of term notices. As you know, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden to all students. I would also like to introduce Professor Tonks, who will be filling the Defence Against the Dark Arts post."

There was polite applause.

"Also, as a special treat to the school, a Valentine's Day Ball will be held for all students."

This announcement brought a lot of whispering from the school's female population and groaning from the male. Dumbledore smiled.

"Let us begin this delicious feast."

Alora was chewing her way through a rather juicy chicken leg, when she sensed someone watching her. She looked up and her black eyes met a pair of silver blue ones. Draco smiled and Alora smiled back. A dark haired girl seated next to him elbowed and glared at him. She then sent Alora a dirty look. Alora grinned sarcastically and waved.

Geeze, what's her problem?

Draco rolled his eyes and mouthed 'Help me'.

Alora giggled. Hogwarts was getting brighter by the minute.