Thump. Thump. Thump.
That was the only thing that the students of Gryffindor house could hear. The next morning of Aliah's party, the older students resembled zombies. Those who had a lot to drink were sleeping on the tables. Fred and George however, had fallen asleep on their breakfast.
Aliah opened her eyes and saw Ginny slouching her way to the table. She fell onto the seat and rested her head on Aliah's back. "You look like how I feel," Aliah yawned. Ginny groaned and lifted her head.
"Well at least I don't have marmalade on my face," she motioned to her brothers. Aliah looked up and turned to Ginny. The two girls shared a look before bursting into laughter. The noise caused the twins to wake up.
The rolled their heads simultaneously as they sat up. The yawned and opened their eyes. Lifting their arms, the boys leaned back to stretch. The girls laughed as a piece of toast fell of George's cheek onto his lap.
Fred noticed this and laughed.
"Look in the mirror before you laugh at me," George grumbled as he left the table. Fred panicked and up the nearest spoon. His face dropped when he saw the pieces of banana on his forehead.
"Idiots," Ginny laughed as Fred ran out of the Great Hall to follow his brother. The two girls leaned on each other as they laughed. Aliah almost falling out of her seat. When they finally calmed down they started to pile their plates with food.
"Sooo," Ginny dragged on. Aliah turned her head, only to be greeted with a smirking Ginny. "What did you do yesterday?"
"Nothing much. Walked around, went to the library," Aliah shrugged
"Not to mention spent hours at the astronomy tower with a certain Slytherin Prince,"
She didn't know how it was possible, but Aliah chocked on her coffee. Ginny grinned smugly as leaned on her elbow. "So, what is going on with you and Malfoy?"
"I don't know, haven't spoken to him since yesterday," Aliah blushed
"Liar!,"
"Sshh,"
"Something did happen," Ginny accused
"Well, we may have-"
"ALIAH!" A male voice called. Aliah thanked whoever for being saved. Ginny leaned in towards her friend.
"You are not getting out of this that easily,"
Aliah smirked as she rose from the table, "Honey, that's what I am best at." She swirled around to be faced with Malfoy. "Blondie!"
"Can we talk?" Draco asked confidently. Aliah nodded and reached for her bag.
"Arrivederci!" Aliah winked. She followed Draco out of the Great Hall.
He led her outside to the edge of the black lake. Aliah sat down and rested against a large tree, the bark scratching into her robes. The sun shone brightly over the water. Draco paced slowly in a circle.
"Sit down for Christ sake," Aliah mumbled. Draco stopped pacing but didn't sit down.
"So about yesterday," that made her eyes shoot open, "I was wondering would you go out with me?"
Aliah burst out laughing. Draco slouched and turned slightly away.
"You are serious," Aliah said commented more than questioned. Draco moved his gaze towards her. She stood up and walked over to him. Aliah placed her hands on his shoulders and adjusted his posture so he was facing her. "I like you Draco, I do, but it is way too soon. We've known each other for what? A month?"
Draco straightened up and his cocky smiled returned. "So? I will make you mine,"
"I'll make you a deal, shall I? If you still like me when school resumes, I'll go out with you,"
Draco smirked and leaned down to peck her lips.
"Just you wait, Aliah Holt, you will be mine."
--------------------------------------------
The common room was crowded with students from the first to the seventh years. It was loud. Between the student conversations and the background music, Aliah could hardly tell her story to Hermione and Ginny.
"So, after Christmas, you and Malfoy are a couple?" Ginny asked. Aliah shrugged. "Woah, never expected someone as kind as you, to get close to someone like that, especially a Malfoy,"
"He isn't that bad,"
"He makes everyone in this place miserable," Hermione said
"He isn't that bad to me," Aliah replied. "Anyway, I believe I can help him,"
"Change him?"
"No," Aliah shook her head. "No one should change for anyone. I mean, I believe I can bring out the true Draco. The one behind the mask,"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but Malfoy is horrible,"
"Hermione," Ginny reached out to her friend. "Let's give him a chance,"
Hermione stood up and walked away. Aliah sighed. "Is he really that bad?"
"To her and every other muggle born, yes," Ginny's eyes soften at Aliah's guilty look. She placed her hand on the new girl's knee. "If you like him, be with him,"
Aliah was about to thank the redhead when two pair of arms wrapped around each of her shoulders, caging her in.
"So," Fred smirked, "a little birdie told us,"
"That someone has a boyfriend," George continued. Aliah blushed. She went to stand up but was pushed back down.
"Not so fast,"
"We need details," The twins said in unison.
"I'm going to leave you to it," Ginny smiled.
"Don't leave-" Aliah scowled when Ginny disappeared into the crowd.
"Now where were we?" Fred wiggled his eyebrows.
--------------------------------------
Once again. Aliah found herself in the library. Though she was determined to find evidence of her true heritage, she knew that her heart wasn't in it. She stood from the desk and went to check the shelves. She ran her hands along the leather spines of the books. She mentally ticked off the books that she had read.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked. Aliah turned and smiled at the owner of the voice.
"Searching. You?"
Draco held up a dark book. "Potions. Want to help me study? I heard you need a tutor,"
"Sure. I need to take my mind off this," Aliah stepped in line with Draco. Though his strides were long, she somehow stayed by his side. "I never knew how hard it was to find history. This is Hogwarts, there is a freaking book solely based on its history,"
Draco shrugged his shoulders and sat at the table where Aliah was previously sitting. She sat near the window and looked at the courtyard below. It had started to snow and the fountain was slowing freezing over.
A warm hand was placed over hers. She turned her head and was met cold grey eyes. "You will find out the truth, I promise you Aliah,"
"I don't know if I even want to know the truth," Aliah glanced down. "Does that make me a bad person?"
"No. It shows that you loved the people who raised you. Aliah, this is Hogwarts. Out of everything that I have learnt from here, is that no matter if you want it or not, the truth will eventually come out. There are no secrets here,"
Aliah nodded her head. "Thank you,"
Draco smirked and pushed a book towards her. "I would read chapters five to twelve,"
"Way to get a girl's mood going," Aliah grinned as she opened the book. Draco watched as she immersed herself in the book. How her body went still except for her eyes and the occasional flip of the page. Her hair would hang over her face until she pushed it behind her ears.
He noticed that when she didn't understand something, she would curl her bottom lip and bite it with her teeth. Every now and then, Draco couldn't help and glance over at the beautiful girl opposite him.
Even though he didn't want to admit it, at that very moment, he felt the love he had for her.