One or the Other

7. Christmas

Alice's POV:

The next morning I was awakened by Pansy shaking me awake. "Alice it's Harry he's freaking the fuck out for some reason and is waiting for you outside of the common room".

"Pansy it's 4 in the morning, what are you even doing awake? And did he say what he needed?" I muttered while half asleep.

"Nope, he refused to tell me and just ordered me to get you. Also, Astoria kicked me out" She said annoyed.

"Damn what a fucking bitch. She's probably just mad because Draco shows no interest in her anymore. Also what do you mean he 'ordered you'?"

"Your brother is very rude and demanding, but he seems stressed so maybe you should talk to the twat"

I snorted "Yeah sounds like him. Thanks for letting me know"

"And tell Theo to be more discrete with the hickeys, they're getting out of hand!" She said laughing.

"Oh- yeah haha," I responded with a nervous laugh.

"Okay that wasn't suspicious at all," She says while quirking up a brow.

"I'll tell you later," I sighed as I rolled out of bed.

I quickly threw on shorts and a hoodie making an attempt to cover up hickeys from last night then made my way downstairs.

"What could be so important that you have to wake me up at the ass crack of dawn to tell me?" I huffed annoyed as I walked towards my distressed brother.

"So um you know how I've been having nightmares about... everything," he said quickly while shaking and in a sweat.

"Yeah, Harry are you alright why are you shaking?? Come here" I said as I pulled him into a tight hug.

"It was real Alice! And he almost died and I think it's my fault!" He cried while sobbing into my shoulder.

"Hey hey hey it's okay it's over now. You're here and you're safe. Breathe and tell me what's going on" I said while still holding him in my arms.

Fast forward 10 minutes

"Okay okay let me get this straight, you had a dream- I mean vision about Mr. Weasley getting attacked by something you think was you EVEN THOUGH you were laying in your room here at Hogwarts?" At this point, Harry had calmed down and we were sitting on the couch.

"Yes, but it was real! He's at St. Mungo's healing" He said while steadying his breathing.

"Okay, so there's no need to worry about him. And Snape has you practicing Occlumency? So that the dark lord can't get back into your head?" I asked confused

"Yes exactly" he whimpered while breaking into tears again. "Why is this happening to me Alice?? And Dumbledore won't even look at me! No one is helping!!"

"Look Harry whatever this is, we'll get through it together okay so pull yourself together mate. We. Are. Stronger. Than. Him. Okay? Get that into your head. Now please go take a shower, you stink"

He laughed through his tears and stood up wiping his tears with his sleeve, "Thank you, Alice, for being there for me even though I've been a douche to you" He said as he pulled me into another hug.

"Of course. I don't know why I still deal with you though" We both laughed and he walked out of the common room and toward the Gryffindor towers.

*Christmas Morning*

Usually for Christmas Blaise, Pansy, Theo, Draco, and I would take turns going to each other's houses to celebrate Christmas (except for mine of course) and this year we were going to go to Draco's home but instead I decided to go with the Weasleys because I wouldn't be able to stand the awkwardness between Draco and Theo for so long.