"I'm not dumb enough to pick a fight with him right now," Alice said.
Theodore shook his head. "Not just now—never. The elders talk about him. He's terrifying."
Alice didn't answer. Whether she clashed with Voldemort wasn't up to either of them. It'd come down to whose path got in whose way.
And she already knew the answer: yes.
As long as Voldemort was alive and in the game, they'd butt heads. No avoiding it.
But Theodore didn't need that weight today.
They slipped back into the Slytherin common room one after the other. Flint and his crew were gone—probably off to Quidditch practice.
In the dorm, Pansy and the girls were up, chattering away.
Millicent spotted Alice. "Up at the crack of dawn? Where'd you sneak off to?"
Alice grinned. "Theodore had Pansy track someone down for him. I went to meet the guy."
She gave Pansy a quick nod—nice work. Pansy's anxious face broke into a smile.
Alice suddenly noticed: Pansy looked… actually cute when she smiled. Different vibe.
Millicent glanced between them. When did these two patch things up?
Then it clicked—Pansy crying over cash a few weeks back. Must've been the bridge.
Alice really is big-hearted, Millicent thought. She snuck a glance at Alice's chest, then sulked. Eleven-year-olds were starting to notice development. And thanks to Alice, half the dorm felt insecure.
Pansy, meanwhile, was glowing. Stepping out of pure-blood snobbery had opened her eyes. The world looked brighter when you treated everyone like people.
Take Tracey Davis—she'd only really seen her after dropping the attitude.
Tracey's mom and Pansy's had been tight at Hogwarts. The war split them over politics. Tracey's mom married a Muggle businessman; Pansy's joined the Parkinsons.
Peace brought the moms back together, and Pansy met Tracey. But family bias had made her sneer—until now. Turns out Tracey was a whiz at Ancient Runes.
That's how she ended up connecting her with Theodore.
Alice caught Pansy staring. "Theodore says you did great. You can help him with other stuff too."
Pansy nodded quietly. She'd expected that. Alice and Theodore were solid.
Then she remembered something. "Flint's probably gonna jump Theodore. Warn him."
"I'm worried he'll think I'm lying if I say it."
Jump him?
Alice froze. So Flint couldn't get to her, he was targeting Theodore instead—her closest ally.
No wonder Theodore snapped at Flint earlier. This wasn't their first run-in.
"Where'd you hear that?" Alice asked.
Pansy lowered her voice. "Draco's on the Quidditch team, right?"
"Flint slipped during practice—Draco overheard. I was watching two days ago and caught Draco telling Goyle."
Alice nodded. It tracked. Didn't smell like a setup—Flint wasn't clever enough, and Draco wouldn't be his pawn.
Still, Theodore needed the heads-up.
But how Flint planned to strike? That needed digging. And not through Pansy—that'd burn Draco.
She told Millicent and the girls to keep their mouths shut. No dragging them into this.
As she mulled it over, a tap-tap-tap hit the window.
Everyone turned. An owl was pecking the glass. Weird—Millicent scratched her head. Not one they knew, and not mail time.
Alice opened the window and scooped it up.
Millicent squinted. This must be Alice's "special" owl. Looked normal enough.
Except… those eyes. Super judgy.
Alice cradled it. It squinted in bliss—then caught Millicent staring and gave her a haughty side-eye. Ew.
Millicent glared back, puffed up.
Pansy snorted.
Stardust shot her a withering look too.
Pansy went silent.
Millicent's scowl flipped to a grin.
Alice rolled her eyes and bopped Stardust's head. It shook side to side—not the full owl head-spin.
Millicent noticed. "Wait—"
"Stardust isn't a normal owl," Alice said.
Millicent nodded. Makes sense. Extraordinary owner, extraordinary pet.
Alice set Stardust on the desk. It hopped around, dodging spots it didn't like, then landed in front of Pansy and pecked her bracelet.
Alice raised an eyebrow. What's that about, bird?