#ps:starter

Glass in hand, Allannah strolled around the room, smiling at strangers and nodding at acquaintances. She paused and took a sip from her glass, enjoying all opportunities to drink wine. She was thankful for this night, approving completely the hospital’s decision to host such an event. It was a great fundraiser, and, she thought, it would do some good to a lot of people to go out and enjoy themselves. 

As she kept walking and chatting with guests, Al had another moment of appreciation, this one for being able to partake in training for a job she loved, even without her seventh school year being completed. She missed Hogwarts dearly, but it wasn’t safe anymore. It was good to be in St-Mungo’s, she felt safe there. 

At least she did up until the moment when aggressive shouts started echoing through the building.

Al reached for her wand immediately and looked around, panic bubbling in the pit of her stomach. What was this? Death Eaters? I had to be. It was always them. She looked around, recognizing the masks, and the panic kept bubbling. What was going to happen to the patients? The girl started speed walking through the hallways, praying and hoping that everyone stayed safe. 

As she walked through the halls, she arrived to an empty corridor. Well, almost empty. A single masked figure was on the other side, and something in Allannah’s heart snapped. 

“Why are you doing this? Why do you all have to ruin everything?!” She said loudly, feeling emotional. “Don’t you understand? You’re the ones causing catastrophe, not muggle-borns or so called blood traitors.” She aimed her wand at the person, but her arm was shaking, and she didn’t cast anything for a moment. Did she know this person? Were they her friend? She shook her head, but kept the wand raised, almost daring the figure to start something. 

“So what if my dad still gives me an allowance? I didn’t hear you complaining last week when you ate half of my groceries.” Allannah paced around her one-bedroom flat as she spoke on the phone. She had moved into the apartment alone a few months ago, and although she worked she still struggled a bit, what with the busy environment that university put her in. She walked around the small space a few times before she heard a knock on her door. “Hey, I’ve gotta go, I’ll text you later.” Confused as to who would be visiting her, she pressed the end button on her screen.

She made her way to the door, using her iPhone as a mirror to make sure she looked presentable. She opened the door and instantly grinned at the sight. “I didn’t know you were coming over today, is that pizza?” Suddenly she wished she had on more than just jeans and a t-shirt, wanting to impress the girl who stood in front of her. “I’ve missed you, come on in.”

Tic. Tic. Tic.

The muggle clock Allannah had hidden in her closet echoed through her bedroom. It wasn’t very late, but Al knew it was after midnight, and she knew what after midnight meant. After midnight meant it was her birthday. As she stared at the ceiling, everything felt weird. It was her birthday and she wasn’t going to be shopping for school supplies the next day like the previous years. Instead she’d be working, being wished a happy birthday by colleagues and not classmates. She thought she had gotten over Hogwarts closing, but apparently not. 

She sat up, and debated sneaking out. She could apparate, if she wanted to. She could find Greta and Birdy and wash down copious amounts of cake with firewhiskey like they had done the previous year. It felt pointless, though, celebrating something like a birthday when a war was on the horizon. She wanted to be excited about her birthday, but even a party didn't sound as swell as it once had. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she knew what Davey would say. We can’t just stop living because hard stuff is going on, Ali. After a few more moments of sitting in the dark she sighed and stood, grabbing her robe from the edge of her bed and her wand from her desk. 

Al stopped to take a bottle of wine from her father’s study before making her way down the stairs and out the garden door. She walked around for a while until she reached the beginning of the gate that surrounded the manor. She glanced down at the bottle in her hand and proceeded Accio’d a chair and a glass. She looked over her flowers and plants and smiled slightly, knowing that her fellow Hufflepuffs would be proud of such a lovely garden. She closed her eyes, picturing her house mates’ voices for what seemed like the millionth time. She glanced at the sky and soon sat down.