Gifted

23

"Come on," I said. I walked next to Neville for awhile until we came to a door. There was music playing inside and you could hear people talking.

"Did you hear," Neville said, as we paused in front of the door, "there's supposed to be a vampire."

"A vampire?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "Some person wrote about him in a book. At least, that's what I heard."

"Ah."

"Well, let's go in," he said. Neville walked forward and opened the door, pulling me in with him. I looked around, examining my surroundings. The walls had been decorated with streamers and colorful glitter and decorations. There were people in uniforms walking around and offering people drinks and food. I recognized some of them as fellow students. Then off in the corner, under the mistletoe was...no, it couldn't be...

"Is...is that Hermione?" I asked. "Under the mistletoe with Cormac?"

"Yeah, I think it is," Neville murmured beside me. I watched as they talked and Cormac leaned in. Hermione's eyes widened and she disappeared, walking away from him, quickly and quietly. I suppose he had his eyes closed because he didn't notice.

"Hermione?" I questioned as she passed us. She went to stand behind Neville.

"Oh, hi, Aly, Neville," she said.

"What are you doing here with Cormac?" I asked.

"Well...well I," she looked over, back towards the mistletoe, "oh god, here he comes." She disappeared again and I'm not sure where she went. I watched as Cormac passed by us.

"Hey, Aly," Neville said, nudging me with his arm, "do you suppose that's the vampire?"

I looked over to see a man talking with Slughorn. Standing next to him was an older and paler looking man who was eying a group of girls that were talking amoung themselves.

"I would suppose," I said. "Let's go say hi."

Neville and I walked over to Slughorn.

"Hi, Professor," I said cheerily.

"Ah, Miss Weasley!" Slughorn exclaimed, "Mr. Longbottom. I'm glad to see you came. May I interduce you to my old student, Eldred Worple, writer of the Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires. And then his friend, Sanguini."

I held out my hand to Worple and Neville did the same.

"Nice to meet you, sir," I said. Sanguini looked at us and nodded. I noticed he had dark bags under his eyes.

"Same," Worple replied.

"Come on, Neville," I said. "Nice seeing you, Professor, Mr. Worple." Neville and I walked away, taking a glass of punch from on the the trays. I watched as Harry came in with Luna and talked to Slughorn, Worple, and Sanguini. Then Harry and Luna walked away. Neville and I stood, leaning against a wall, sipping our punch as we watched everyone talk, laugh, eat, drink, and dance.

Suddenly the do slammed open and Filch came in dragging none other then Draco Malfoy by the ear. Everything went silent.

"Professor Slughorn," Filch said, "I discovered this boy lurking in and upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

I closed my mouth in a straight line. Hoping, praying that he wouldn't look over towards me.

Malfoy pulled away from Filch looking absolutely furious.

"All right, I wasn't invited!" he exclaimed. "I was trying to gatecrash, happy?"

"No, I'm not!" Filch replied. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"That's all right, Argus," Slughorn said. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you mat stay, Draco."

I'm not sure if Malfoy or I was more unhappy. Malfoy looked rather furious, even though he just got out of punishment.

"Thank you, sir," Malfoy said, putting on a fake smile that I could see right through.

"It's nothing, nothing," Slughorn said, waving his hand in dismissal. "I did know your grandfather, after all...."

I toned out the rest of the conversation after I say Malfoy's eyes flicker over to me. He smirked in my direction, glancing at Neville. I crinkled my nose at him and grabbed Neville's arm.

"Come on," I said. I took us so that we were standing behind one of the curtains that was hung up and sat down on the nearest chair.

So may questions were swirling around in my head. What was Malfoy doing out? Why had he seemed so unhappy?

I looked around the curtain to see Malfoy, Snape, and Harry were gone. I shifted uncomfortably.  

"I'd like to leave," I said quietly.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm sure," I replied, nodding my head.

"Okay." I took the hand Neville offered and he helped me up.

"Thanks," I murmured.

We walked across the room and out the door. Everything was quiet as we walked towards Gryffindor Tower. Neville stopped walking.

"Aly, I never got a chance to actually ask you," he said.

"Ask me what?"

"Will...will you be my girlfriend?"

I stood, frozen for a minute before my brain regisered what he said. I blinked a few times.

My god, why was I waiting? The obvious answer was yes! I'm such an idiot.

"Aly...?"

I opened my mouth and closed it again and I felt tears coming to my eyes. Why couldn't I talk? Why couldn't I answer him?

"Aly...it's okay if you say no, I just-"

I ran, making his sentence cut short. I ran away from him, straight into Gryffindor Tower, up the stairs, and into my room just as I burst into tears. Bella, who was sitting on her bed reading a muggle magazine glanced up at me with concern.

"Aly?"

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Aly's dress to the side ->

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