Loyalty Till The End
Alice had never been more excited for anything than she could remember in her whole life. It made the next month pass slowly. She tried to remain busy, writing letters to Lysander, Christmas shopping, working with the dragons and Quidditch was supposed to keep her more than occupied. The days only seemed to pass more slowly the closer the day came.
Even Christmas Day itself felt uncomfortable and slow.
The Potter's Boxing Day party was of course Alice's greatest source of anticipation. As she arrived with her parents all she could think about was the excitement she'd have the next day. Her bags were all packed with everything she suspected she'd need.
The party itself was always a highlight, but when Alice saw Charlie and Felix this time, it was slightly more celebratory than their normal greeting. She'd found them almost immediately in the crowd. Her parents and her sister each immediately branched to their own separate places, so no one even noticed she'd left them.
"There's our little fledgeling!" Felix exclaimed as Alice ran up to them inside the party. He pat her shoulder before reaching out to the little Dusty, "And this must be Stardust."
Alice nodded as she watched Dusty lean into Felix's fingers.
"She's a beautiful one, that's for sure." Charlie nudged under Dusty's neck, "A Hebridean Black of course."
"Same breed as Duke." Alice explained, "But she has the more typical purple eyes than Duke does."
"That's common with Hebridean's." Charlie exclaimed as Dusty now acknowledged him. "Duke is also older, the eyes become less brilliant with age. He's approximately forty years old if we go off of Kai's notes on the little guy."
"I assume he's with your mother." Felix asked looking around.
"Yes!" Alice answered.
"And she's with Ginny I presume?" Charlie asked raising a taunt eyebrow.
"Where else would she be?" Alice shrugged.
Felix chuckled, "And your father is smoking Chimera cigars with my brother and Harry?"
"Probably." Alice laughed.
"And Minnie is on the dance floor with that Slytherin boy she decided was worthy of her attentions?" Charlie said raising his eyebrow at Minnie and Cas who had awkwardly taken to the floor.
"I happen to remember you decided a Slytherin boy was worthy of your attentions." Felix reminded Charlie with a nudge of his shoulder.
Alice felt a giggle escape her throat.
A loud screech echoed over the music. The three looked up to see a tiny black mass flying through the air.
Charlie exclaimed excitedly as Duke landed upon his shoulder, "There's my little buddy!"
Duke nudged his head against Charlie.
"I see you've got yourself a lady." Charlie whispered to Duke.
Duke cowered slightly.
"She will come around." Charlie encouraged with an encouraging nudge to the chin. "Stud like you."
"They're eating together." Alice said before lightly petting Dusty. "And yesterday she accepted his gift and gave him one in return for Christmas. Dad wasn't pleased, cus it was a Mandrake, but still it's progress."
"Progress indeed." Felix clapped his hands in a refined and small motion. "I am sure once you two return from America with us, the absence could bring them closer."
"Or rip them apart." Alice retorted, "I'd have insisted on bringing Duke, but mum-"
"It's not smart, not with her condition. He probably wouldn't leave even if you brought him." Charlie put his hand on Alice's shoulder, "Dragons can sense illness, especially in those they have bonded with, they know when they are close to death or have at least knocked on the door. Just last week, poor Hattie, her companion of four decades contracted a terrible disease. She refused to leave him, even up till the moment. She howled and whined until we let her to him. Loyalty till the end."
Alice's heart sank.
"Duke will not leave your mother for extended periods if she is in danger." Charlie said taking a deep sigh, "He will protect her, or at least he will believe he is protecting her. Dusty will extend that to you as well someday."
"I've wondered though, why doesn't she panic when I play Quidditch?" Alice asked, "I mean it's a scary and very dangerous activity."
"She believes you aren't in danger. You must not show any fear on the pitch." Charlie shrugged, "You are too confident at your craft I hear."
"She's incredible that's what she is!" Lysander's excited tone exclaimed as he stepped up behind Charlie. "Hi Lissy."
Alice's stomach flipped as she saw her dear friend. He was dressed very smartly. "Hi Lysander."
"Mr. Scammander!" Felix greeted looking him over, "I hadn't seen your mother and father yet."
"Unfortunately, only I can represent the Scamander's this evening. My mother and father are busy helping a mooncalf give birth." Lysander's eyes traced over Alice's face, "They asked Lorcan to help as well."
"I'm surprised to see you then." Charlie laughed, "Mooncalf births are a beautiful sight."
"I'm not always the most comfortable with creatures." Lysander grimaced.
As if on cue, Duke jumped from Charlie's shoulder and perched himself upon Lysander.
"I'd say Duke would think otherwise, but he's so self reliant." Felix insisted with a slight chuckle.
"It's true." Alice insisted with a small nod. "I personally just think Duke is just a good judge of character."
Duke proceeded to nudge his nose against Lysander who smiled in return, "I'm not sure what has made Duke so affectionate towards me, even growing up in Professor Fyre's class Duke would choose my desk to sit at."
Charlie and Felix exchanged a look between each other. Alice swore she could see a tear forming in Charlie's eye.
"He probably finds you to be a familiar face Mr. Scamander." Felix said sounding familiar to how Freya had been when describing Lysander.
"Lissy!" A loud, squealing, but welcome voice entered Alice's space. Alice felt the arms of Lily Potter, one of her favorite people in the entire world, wrap themselves around her, nearly knocking Dusty from her perch. "Oh my Lissy!"
"Lily!" Alice said turning around to tightly hug her. "I missed you."
"I am your uncle and I did not warrant such a happy greeting." Charlie groaned throwing back his head."I was barely given a grunt when you saw me this morning."
"You are not Lissy!" Lily argued at her uncle, sticking out her tongue.
"I think this may be our excuse to cease the talk of dragons with Miss Alice." Felix interjected before taking Charlie's arm. "We shall have much time in the coming week."
"Of course we will." Charlie winked towards Alice.
"Come now Lysander since your mummy isn't here, I expect you will be entrusted with leading us on the floor." Lily joked excitedly grabbing his hand.
Every year Lysander, Lily, Aunt Luna and Alice would dance together at the Potter's Party. Aunt Luna was an eccentric dancer, but Lily who was the eldest of the little group, and Luna's Goddaughter had always attempted to join in.
When Lysander and Lorcan became old enough, they too would follow and dance with Aunt Luna, well until Lorcan decided it wasn't cool anymore.
Alice of course had been the last to join the ecstatic dance, but she'd been practically thrown onto the floor by her Aunt. Luna would exclaim it was all of her children brought together. Her little family of her boys and her Goddaughters.
The little group, now a trio decided to continue the tradition. Dancing wildly with their hands swatting the air and skipping together in ridiculous patterns. Lily's boyfriend, Harold Wood also eventually joined them on the floor.
A few years ago Alice had fancied Harold. He was a talented Quidditch player and his hands were very sturdy looking. Alice's fancy had melted away when she saw how happy Lily was. Lily played for the same team with him.
Harold and Lysander both insisted that the group take a break from their frolicking. Retreating to the punch bowl.
"What do you think your father wants?" Lysander asked Alice pointing to the edge of the tent where her father was pointing aggressively at Lysander.
"Maybe he wants us to try a Chimera Cigar." Harold said as he handed Lily a drink. "Come on now Scamander, come join the big boys."
Lysander shrugged before following Harold across the tent.
"That's a very pretty dress Alice." Lily exclaimed as the men left them. "Yellow and blue suit you."
"Thanks, it's my two favorite colors." Alice said twirling around. Her grandmother had made it for her.
"Then that is a sure sign you should come play for Puddlemere with Harold and I." Lily laughed, "It's the colors of the team."
"I knew that Lily." Alice stopped her twirls. "But I'm only ever going to play for Gryffindor. Not that if I had a team I wouldn't pick Puddlemere, but I plan on going into Dragonology."
"I forgot." Lily said with a deep sigh and making eye contact with her mother across the room. "Besides, mum would murder me if I suggested you play for anywhere but with the Holyhead Harpies."
"Green is not my color." Alice laughed, "Or else I'd have already been in Slytherin, which thankfully I am not. And like I said, I'm becoming a Dragonologist."
"I know." Lily smarted back, "Can't blame me for trying now can you? I've seen you play Lissy, it's incredible. I know professionals who can't do that stuff you do."
"It's really just good fun." Alice said, trying to play off her compliments.
"I also know people with less than half your talent who would give their right arm for it." Lily insisted nodding towards Josie who was standing with her father.
Josie's father seemed to be paying very little attention to her, his back was turned as he spoke to his mother, the matriarch of the Weasley family. Josie's arms were crossed as she looked around the floor, her gaze conveniently avoiding Alice's.
"Josie is a very talented Captain."
"And a barely decent chaser." Lily rolled her eyes, "Everyone knows why Gryffindor has been winning Lissy, and it's certainly not Josie's mediocre skills as Captain."
"That's harsh Lily!" Alice defended.
"Honest, simply honest." Lily reminded.
Alice refused to speak anymore on the subject, crossing her own arms. She had her problems with Josie, but if there was one place she earned respect, it was the Quidditch pitch.
"Don't hate me Liss." Lily laughed throwing her head back making the red hair around her face fly, "I heard through the grapevine you could be Captain next year."
"I doubt that." Alice said, but her mind wandered to the idea. "Dad is in charge of that, and he can't be seen as biased."
"No one would accuse him of bias." Lily pat Alice's shoulder.
Alice and Lily's conversations quickly ventured through more Quidditch talk, but Alice couldn't retreat from what Lily had said about Josie.
She almost felt sorry for her, especially as Josie remained practically alone. Cody, Cas, Minnie and Lysander seemed to almost ignore her completely and she looked rather forlorn without Lorcan's mouth wrapped around her's.
Alice took a deep breathe and decided to take pity on Josie.
Josie was stationed by the drinks, a large half empty glass in her hand.
"What are you drinking Josie?" Alice asked, trying to start conversation.
"Just some drink I stole off of my dad." Josie breathily said, looking Alice over. "Want some?"
"No thanks, I don't want the wrack spurts." Alice explained, "I have to travel tomorrow and I want my brain to be perfectly aware of every bit of it."
Josie didn't respond, just pressed her lips and nodded her head.
"Having a nice time?" Alice asked.
Josie shook her head, "Same old boring party like every year."
"I guess. The music selection is quite nice though this year, almost better than last year's selection!" Alice said trying to make Josie smile even a little bit. "I am enjoying it, especially for dancing."
"Upset you can't ask Lorcan to dance?" Josie said beneath her breathe after moving her drink from her face.
"No." Alice said with a shake of her head. She was surprised to admit even to herself she'd barely even dwelled upon it. She'd been having such a lovely time it hadn't seemed important.
"Oh sure you weren't." Josie poked as she drank a little more. Her nose became pinched as she looked Alice over. "Isn't that your yearly tradition or something?"
"No." Alice insisted before lying, "Not since I was little enough to have a fancy for him."
"So what yesterday?" Josie said with a cock of her head.
"I don't fancy Lorcan anymore." Alice mostly lied. "I moved on."
"Sure you did." Josie swung her drink around in her hand, "You decided to muck around with both Gryffindor Beaters, that's what you did. Practically ruining what little trust they have in each other. We're lucky they haven't made a fuss at practice, what with you slagging around the team. Should I expect you will be after Ozzy next?"
Whatever high Alice had been riding since seeing Charlie and Felix had begun to fade.
She starkly defended herself, "No of course not."
"Maybe Sarah Brenna is right." Josie laughed.
"About what?" Alice exclaimed gripping the wand in her pocket. "I thought you hated her."
"I do hate her." Josie grimaced, "But I've been sitting next to her in potions and she says some pretty intuitive stuff."
"Like that my sister is fat and ugly?" Alice reminded smugly.
"Not the stuff about your sister, the part where she said slags must run in the family." Josie's expression was devilishly harsh as she looked at Alice with slanted eyes. "Like mother like daughter."
Before Alice could raise her wand and jinx Josie, she felt a hand on her's.
"Lissy, go for a turn on the floor with me?" Lysander's voice asked.
Alice turned to look at him.
His face pleaded to her. He still had Duke upon his shoulder.
"Of course." She said before leaving Josie completely behind.
"What happened?" Lysander asked as he walked her to the floor. His shirts smelled of cigar, but his breathe didn't.
"She's a bitch." Alice whispered pushing the hot tears in her eyes back. It wasn't anyone's business what was said, she was sure a complete tussle would ensue if she told. "And she's pissed."
"Worse than I was?" He asked as the song started.
"Much worse." She said. "I think she just said some stuff because she didn't want me asking Lorcan to dance, which I actually didn't plan to do if he were here, he's a rotten dancer."
"He is a rotten dancer." Lysander agreed as they started dancing.
"Exactly." Alice felt a smile creep onto her face. Alice felt Dusty crawl out from her pocket. Alice tacked on the lie, "And honestly I don't even fancy him anymore, I haven't in forever. I don't know what gave her that idea."
"Then ignore her and just have fun Lissy." Lysander twirled her around, like he always did before facing her. As she looked into his eyes, she felt something explode in her chest. His eyes weren't the same color as she'd remembered.
"I thought you had green eyes." She exclaimed looking into his eyes. They were beautiful and crystal blue like the sky on a day after the rain clouds had blown away.
"I do, well sometimes." He admitted before blinking quickly. "They change color sometimes. Depending on how I feel."
Her heartbeat fluttered faster than she could have ever remembered. Everything that had happened moments before melted away. Now, she felt like it was just herself and Lysander.
Her heart beat faster than when she'd flipped her broom.
"What does blue mean? Do you feel ok?" Alice asked as they linked elbows. She wanted to say something.
"It means I feel just fine." Lysander said with a twinkle in his eyes from the lights.
Alice laughed as they linked arms. She imagined what would happen if he held her closer.
"You look beautiful Alice." Lysander insisted holding both of her hands and doing a quick hop step.
Duke moved closer to the shoulder Dusty was placed upon.
"You have to say that." Alice responded, wondering if he meant it, before the two went under a bridge of their arms.
"No I don't." Lysander said he twirled her closer to him. She could feel his hot breath.
"I suppose you don't." Alice liked how he looked at her. She liked how it felt as he twirled her back around.
Dusty's claws weren't digging into Alice's skin, instead she moved closer to Duke.
Alice looked up at Lysander.
He held her slightly closer, slightly more how everyone around them danced.
She could feel his heartbeat, just as it had, the day on the train.
It was steady and strong.
He wasn't just Lysander anymore. He was something more, something she couldn't put her finger on.
His hand was on her shoulder and his fingers felt like little tiny prickles.
He was someone older, someone more refined. Someone, she couldn't imagine being away from.
She imagined kissing him.
Maybe those letters she had been sending him really weren't nothing.
What if he kissed her back?
Maybe, she did have feelings for him.
Was that why it bothered her when she heard he might have a girlfriend?
What if they disappeared from all the prying eyes who didn't care to pay them attention anyway?
Maybe, he had feelings for her too?
Maybe he saw her as more? More than just some little girl who followed him around.
No, she couldn't do this.
She couldn't ruin everything with Lysander.
They were friends.
Just friends.
"You alright Lissy?" Lysander asked as the music stopped.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Alice asked stepping back, terrified about how she felt.
"You got quiet."
"Listening to the music." Alice lied forcing a smile.
Lysander stepped towards her, "You've also turned red Lissy."
"Me, turn red?" Alice continued lying. She felt her feet moving away.
Dusty fluttered on her shoulder.
Alice looked to her, she was shivering intensely. "Is it cold in here?"
"Cold?" Lysander asked.
Duke was also shivering upon his shoulder.
"Yes, Duke and Dusty are shivering." Alice reached out for Duke, happy for an excuse. "I think I'll take them inside Ginny's house. Warm them up."
Duke flew onto her other shoulder. He was shaking profusely as was Dusty.
"Want me to go with you?" He asked.
"No!" She exclaimed, the terrifying thought of kissing him coming back. They'd be alone inside the house. "No, I just need to breathe."
Alice ran from the tent as quickly as her feet would carry her. She ran into Ginny's house. She placed both dragons by the fireplace in their sitting room. They ceased shaking almost immediately, their eyes just staring at each other.
She took a deep breathe and watched the fire dance. It looked how she had felt barely moments before.
She couldn't breathe it was so hot. She looked over to the little balcony above the beach through the glass door.
Air would feel nice.
She let herself out and took a deep breathe.
Alice sat down against the pole of the dark balcony. She enjoyed the coolness that the wind brought. Her brain kept running the dance over and over.
She kept herself from just bursting out with her feelings.
She resisted the urge to just run back inside and tell him how she felt.
She couldn't ruin her friendship.
She couldn't do what she always did and just jump into things.
She'd ruin it. She couldn't ruin her friendship. He wasn't Hector or Jonah who's attentions both seemed irrelevant to her after dropping her mild feelings for them.
He was Lysander. He meant something.
She'd just be Alice about it like she always was.
She'd be annoying and he'd never speak to her again. He'd maybe ask her for the salt or occasionally comment on the weather.
The thoughts of what kissing him crept back into her mind.
She felt her hands begin shiver from the drastic shift from warm, to hot, to now freezing.
She sat herself atop her hands, that would warm them.
Alice stayed still as she looked down to the front step of the house. Two figures were approaching. It was Ginny and her mother.
Alice pulled herself back more against the balcony, the last thing she wanted was her mother to see her like this, completely flustered.
The dark corner of the balcony was a faithful concealer.
"Did you get me one?" Ginny giggled like a school girl leaning against Alice's mother. They stopped outside the doorway, just in Alice's view.
"Yeah, Nev snuck me one of his', you really should just tell your mother you and Harry like these things. You aren't twelve you know?" Her mother laughed, thankfully her attention fully on Ginny.
"Yes, but I don't want to hear how it isn't ladylike." Ginny coughed.
"These things smell horrendous." Her mother groaned pulling a cigar from her pocket.
Ginny shrugged, "Because they are good."
"Nasty things." Her mother then passed it to Ginny. Her hands were shaking intensely.
"You wouldn't hate them if you tried them."
"Oh forgive me for avoiding anything that smells like smoke." Her mother defended. "I hate that Nev has one once a year."
"You sleep with a dragon in your bed." Ginny reminded as she took her wand and murmured, "Incendio."
"I know he snores but you don't need to call my husband out like that." Her mother coughed.
Ginny laughed as she took a puff on her own, "You know what I mean."
"And of course I see the irony." Her mother continued. "Duke helps me live, I feel like those things will just speed up the process."
"I know Sam." Ginny said as she blew a bit of smoke from her mouth. "How is your-"
"It's fine. Lores said the treatment two summers ago had mild positive effects. I can feel them, but even I'll admit I don't think it was enough to get me back where I was before Crawford's little visit." Alice's mother revealed.
"What if you did another treatment?" Ginny asked receiving a silent answer from Alice's mother.
"Not nearly as bad as those cigarettes Charlie likes." Her mother said obviously changing the subject, "Let's hope my Alice doesn't pick up that habit."
"She probably will though, eventually." Ginny reminded. "Probably pick up the scars too."
Her mother shuddered, "I know."
Alice looked down to her milky white arms that were covered in goosebumps. She'd never really considered what scars meant to her mother.
"You could always suggest to her what I suggested to you." Ginny mentioned with a sly upturn of her eyes.
"She wants Dragonology, so badly." Her mother admitted leaning back, "And I will encourage her, whatever she wants to do, if she puts in the work. She has been."
"But she's-"
"Talented, I know." Her mother smiled, "And you aren't the only one beating down my door Gin. She's talented with dragons too, I'm excited she's going with your brother."
"Of course you are." Ginny laughed, "Because she'll be safe and far away from that bitch."
It wasn't the fluster of Lysander that now left her heart beating faster. Ginny was referring to Freya.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Her mother answered.
"Why do you cover for her?"
Her mother shrugged, "I'd rather she kill me outright. Gives her less satisfaction."
Ginny shook her head, "You are so strange Fyre."
"But if she messes with my daughter anymore, I will kill her myself." Her mother explained with a gruff grunt.
"I don't doubt that." Ginny said after taking another puff of her cigar.
Another figure strode up the beach to the porch.
"Professor Fyre, Mrs. Potter, have you two seen Alice?" Lysander's voice floated across the wind. "Alice was acting odd, one moment we were dancing and the next she, well, she just ran out with the dragons."
Her confused feelings returned as she noticed his eyes searching the beach.
"Last I saw, she was dancing with you Mr. Scamander." Her mother said as Ginny shoved the cigar behind her back. "What do you mean she ran out with the dragons?"
"Alice said she was taking both dragons inside." Lysander insisted. "That they were cold."
"We haven't seen her, but she very well may be in there." Ginny exclaimed. "You can go in and check if you'd like. Make sure my house isn't being burnt to a crisp."
"I'm just worried I have upset her in some way." Lysander explained, "She was just acting very strange."
Alice pulled her legs closer, worried her running away may have given him a different impression. That she was angry with him, of all people.
"She's probably just taking care of the dragons." Her mother said with a smile, "However, if I know my daughter, she may just need a few moments alone, she's just always had dramatic big feelings and sometimes she feels the need to express them in dramatic big ways alone."
Alice felt embarrassment charge through her body, making her shivers worse.
"I don't mind her big feelings." Lysander said making Alice's heart leap from her chest.
Ginny said with a sly smirk, "Of course you don't."
"I'm just worried I've upset her."
"I doubt it." Her mother insisted to him before putting a hand on his shoulder, "You are one of her closest friends. I am sure she just wants a few moments alone with her dragons. That seems to be where she finds the most comfort."
Her mother was right, Alice was desperately ready for her trip. Hoping it made things make more sense than they did in the present light.