I miss California, I miss the warmth that state always brought every day of the year. It's freezing here, literally every second of the day I find myself shivering. No matter how many blankets I add to my bed, I still find myself turning into an Ali icicle. It's even colder as the months went on and it was now December and Christmas was sneaking up on me quickly. Umbridge banned Hogsmeade trips so I'm forced to find whatever random junk I can to give my family and friends this year. I hope my brother likes old treacle tart, I'm sure I can scrape off the mold.

The one thing keeping me sane with this monster of a teacher running our school, was Dumbledores Army.  Every few days the group of us would meet in the room of requirement, and Harry and I would teach them defensive spells. They were all catching on quite quickly actually which was nice, and I had to get used to using my wand again which was odd. I had grown accustomed to using my powers when I needed magic that holding the stick in my hands felt foreign to me.

And on top of everything, Umbridge banned quidditch! I played in one game this year (We won of course) And then she decided to ban something else from the school, what a for lack of a better word, bitch. 

"That's all great guys!" I called over to Fred, George and my sisters who were all disarming each other. Although I'm sure they would rather be disarming each other with their lips instead. I gagged at the image I was constantly seeing with the four of them. I swear it was like watching Animal Planet, I don't recommend it to anyone. My father would have a field day if he knew what those two were up to, but they were of legal age now and could technically do whatever they wanted.

This would be our last lesson before Christmas break, so I was trying to instill as much lesson as I could today. Harry was beside me eyeing Cho across the room, and I really just wanted to smack him across the head and shout to him that someone who cared for him was standing right beside him, but I never did. Harry and I would probably never happen, and whenever a boy would catch my eye around school I would just compare them to Harry. Sadly none of them lived up to my awkward raven haired best friend. It doesn't help Harry is probably the only boy in school who isn't terrified I would kill them, well there's Ron too, but hes like my brother and I don't want to cross that border.

"Where are you going for break Harry?" I asked as we stood at the front of the room watching everyone else practise their spells. "Back with Sirius" He said with a smile. I nodded my head knowing he was excited to see his Godfather again. "Well, tell him I say hello. My mother has us doing some traveling back in the states"

"I will, don't get into too much trouble" Harry said nudging my shoulder with his. Why does he do things like that? He clearly only likes me as a friend, so why torture me with these actions Harry?! I swear I turned beet red every time the boy touched me, accidental or not. "Yeah" was all I could manage out before walking over to Hermione. 

"What are you doing over break Mione?" I asked her as she conjured a spell towards Parvati Patil. She pulled her wand down before turning her attention to me. "Nothing much, probably catching up on the school books for next year" of course you are Hermione, she probably knows more than my sisters combined, and they're in seventh year. Although Andi and Aurora weren't the smartest wands in the shop, I love them dearly so it's okay for me to say that.

"Why don't you come on vacation with me and my family? The twins will probably be owling Fred and George the whole time, and I really don't want to watch my brother try and pick up muggles the whole time" I said pretending to gag, Damian was across the room flirting with Luna once again. It was hilarious watching the two of them interact with each other actually. 

"Sounds like fun, you sure your parents wont mind?" She asked. I shook my head "No way, my mother obsesses over our friends, she'll probably want to adopt you by the end of the trip" I said smiling thinking about my mother I hadn't seen since the beginning of the school year. Hermione laughed "Well I'll owl my parents tonight asking permission, where exactly are you going?"

"Well were heading back to California for a couple days, you'll love it there. And then were traveling to Texas and I'll show you the wizarding community out there, and we end in New York City. They have enough books to fill your time I'm sure" I said nudging her shoulder with mine. Hermione smiled and looked genuinely excited to be traveling with us. My family was crazy sometimes, but they really are fun to be around.

"Well my parents are normally really quick to reply, I'll have an answer for you by the end of the week" She said before Parvati pulled her away needing help with another spell.

The lesson went by rather quickly, with everyone pretty much acing the disarming spell. "Great job everyone! Keep practicing over holiday and I'll let you know about the next meeting when we get back" Harry said, applause erupting around the room. I smiled at Harry before heading out of the room of requirement with my brother and sisters, Fred and George of course trailing behind us.

"Oh, I'm so ready for vacation" Aurora said tossing her arms around George's waist, who kissed the side of her head. Why couldn't I have that? The closest thing I had was with the ferret Malfoy, and I don't care how hot the boy is, I wasn't going there again. But a part of me was willing to give Draco a second chance, especially if it got Harry to finally notice me.

"Me too, I'm scared I might kill Umbridge if I don't get out of here" I said with a groan as I stuck my wand in the back of my pants, I had little use of it anyway.  My brother chuckled and tossed his arm around my shoulders, which felt awfully bare at the moment. "Crap, I forgot my bag! I'll see you guys at dinner!" I told everyone and turned around the run back to the room of requirement. "See you later Ali bear!" Damian shouted back at me.

The room of requirement was thankfully still there, as the doors seemed to disappear right after everyone left, I guess Harry or Hermione decided to stay or something. I was right in saying that Harry had stayed, but he sadly wasn't alone. His lips were locked with Cho's in a heated kiss underneath a mistletoe that hung from the ceiling. 

I couldn't help but gasp as I saw the boy I had fallen for, kiss someone who wasn't me. Sure I was young, but at almost sixteen I knew love when I saw it, and I now sadly knew heartache. Harry still had no idea I was in the room, and I sprinted out of the door before he ever could, leaving my bag laying on the ground. 

Later that night I skipped dinner altogether and hid away with the curtains drawn on my bed. Hermione asked if I was alright several times, I just pretended to be asleep. I really didn't need to make things awkward between her and Harry. I definitely couldn't go to Ginny with this either, as she has had a huge crush on Harry since before I was even around. I just couldn't get the image out of my head of the two of them together, and the tears didn't let up until way into the night.

I realized how painful it was going to be, but I needed to distance myself from Harry. It hurt to know he would never feel for me the way I did for him, and being around him constantly was only a reminder of that. Maybe I should give Draco another shot? He really was the only boy in school to show me any interest, even if it might have been fake. That will get Harry's attention for sure, seeing me with the blonde ferret. But I sighed and shook that thought away, I would deal with Malfoy after Christmas break. 

It had to be way past midnight when a piercing pain shot through my head, it was like someone was driving a knife into my skull. I cried out in pain and climbed my way out of my bed and onto the floor. Someone cast a lighting spell on the room which only made the pain intensify "Ali, what's that matter?" Hermione's frantic voice yelled at me. I heard a jumble of other voices as well, but my eyes rolled into the back of my head and suddenly I wasn't in my dorm anymore. 

I was in a long corridor, with barely any light illuminating the long hall. This wasn't like a dream, it was like I was apperated to a different location and had no idea where I was. "Hello?" I called out. At least this crippling headache was finally gone, but this place was giving me the creeps.

I saw a light farther up and was suddenly surrounded by what looked like globes, with nothing inside. Where the hell was I? Footsteps could be heard behind me and I whipped around to see Ron's father walking towards me. "Alisanna? What the bloody hell are you doing in the ministry?" He asked, pointing his illuminated wand away from my face. 

"The ministry? Mr.Weasley i was just in my dorm five minutes ago!" I said frantically, motioning to my red plaid pajamas I was wearing. He looked just as confused as I was. This made no sense, was I dreaming? Was this some cruel joke by Fred and George? "How is that possible?" He asked. He turned around to lead me out of the corridor when a large snake appeared out of thin air and attacked Mr. Weasley. 

"NO!" I shouted and the snake turned to face me instead. I could see Mr. Weasley was alright, the snake missed and he now had his wand pointed at the snake. He want's you.....He needs you... I heard the snake speak to me. I shook me head and firmly said "No" I spoke. 

You will lose the ones you love if you do not join him, you were brought here for a reason. Blood and destruction will follow if you do not help us. 

It was as if the snake was a human and was speaking to me as clearly as any of my friends. Mr. Weasley looked frightened to his core, and frankly I couldn't blame him this was freaking weird. We will meet again my child....And just like that the snake was gone. Mr. Weasley I saw was shouting something at me, but it wasn't long before I was back in my dorm breathing heavily with tears streaming down my face. 

"Ms. Soloria! Are you alright?" Mccgonagall's worried face asked from above me, I could see the majority of Gryffindor house surrounding me, including Harry who looked more intrigued than anything. "I'm fine, I'm fine"

In reality I wasn't fine, this incident struck something within me that shook me to my core and I knew this wasn't going to stop anytime soon, this was just the beginning.