Chapter 4
Ally clicked open her suitcase. She was in her new dorms in the Slytherin girl’s rooms. When she had entered, Ally had found her suitcase and cat carrier in the Slytherin common room. There were only a few first year Slytherin girls, so there were many beds open. Ally chose the bed closest to the door.
Ally picked up the cat carrier and placed it on the bed. She opening it and Houdini hopped out. “Here’s our new home. See. I promised to let you out as soon as we got up here.” The cat glanced around at the room. He gave a disappointed chirp, expressing his underwhelming attitude. “I know it’s not much. But it’s home for the next seven years. So get used to it.” She nudged Houdini off the bed and started to remove items from her suitcase. The few other 1st year girls were unpacking quietly. Ally didn’t talk to them and they didn’t talk to her. Best to let them all get settled first.
When she finished unpacking her things and getting Houdini comfortable, she grabbed a book she was in the middle of and left the dorm. She skittered down the stairs, scanning the room for a good place to sit. Ally halted at the bottom of the stairs. There was only one other person in the common room.
Ally sat down timidly in the comfy chair across from Draco Malfoy. She whipped open her book and started to flip through the pages. After finding her page, she settled in to read.
“What are you reading?” A voice inquired. Ally’s gaze flicked up at Draco. “Alanna the Lioness.” She replied before turning back to her book. “What’s it about?” Ally sighed and closed the book, placing one of her fingers in it as a bookmark. “It’s about the first female knight in Tortall, the magical land the book takes place in. But female knights aren’t allowed, so Alanna, the main character, has to disguise herself as a boy in order to train at the castle.” Draco scoffed and draped himself across the couch he sat on, the picture of arrogance. “As if a girl could pass as a boy. That’s so stupid.” Ally glared at Draco. Alanna the Lioness happened to be one of her favorite books. Ally slammed open the book and dropped her head down. She ignored Draco and continued to read.
Her ears pricked as she heard the boy shift in his seat. When she looked back up, he was curled into the corner of the couch, looking down at his hands guiltily. He looked up and caught her eye. Ally looked back down. “Hey….look I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it…like that. I meant….it’s stupid that they didn’t realize she was a girl. I-I mean….wouldn’t it have been obvious?” Draco looked away.
Ally didn’t look at him. “She cuts her hair short and deepens her voice. When she starts to…develop…she tapes down her…yeah. Some of her friends and teachers suspect it, but she doesn’t confirm it until after she earns her knights shield and the right to stay.” She explained tartly.
Draco nodded and leaned back against the couch. “I guess that makes sense.” He cleared his throat. Ally looked up at him. He looked away. “Apology accepted.” Ally murmured. Silence ensued. “What do you read?” Ally asked after a few moments, closing her book again. Draco shrugged. “I don’t read very much.” He paused. “But….have you ever read Defy The Night?” Ally frowned. “No, I haven’t. What’s it about?”
Draco smiled. “Its about a girl and her partner in crime. They break into the palace every night to steal a flower that is the key ingredient to a medicine that helps cure a fatal illness going around the kingdom. Half the story is from the girl’s perspective, and the other half is from the perspective of the King’s Justice.” Ally watched him as he explained the captivating story to her. “I’ll have to read it sometime.” She replied. Draco smiled. Ally smiled back.
Two obnoxiously loud boys clunked down the stairs. Draco stood abruptly. His expression changed, as did his demeanor, attitude, and entire character. “Took you long enough.” He barked at the two boys. “Come on Crabb. Come on Goyle.” The two boys were in a heated argument. “And quiet down, will ya?” Draco snapped. He whirled around and walked to the door that led out of the common room and out onto the hall. The two boys, Crabb and Goyle, followed. None of them gave Ally a glance as the door slammed behind them.
Ally blinked at the door, wondering what the heck had just happened. Most of all, she wondered what had happened to the boy she had just been talking to about books.