Something in Common (Allaire)

[Ophelia Burke]

After leaving Tyler in the library, Ophelia was positively giddy as she ran all the way down to the Slytherin common room. As she entered the common room, she let out an excited giggle, and then quickly covered her mouth in an attempt to recover her dignity.

Her first kiss! It had all been kind of a blur, really, and she hadn't really had time to enjoy it. But Tyler was so cute and funny... even if he did insist on calling her that silly nickname.

She practically floated over to one of the couches by the fire and sat down, smiling blissfully. Was this what being in love was like?

[Allaire Burke]

It was one of those nights where no one else was really in the common room. It was the type of night that Allaire liked to be in the common room because she could be in quiet while everyone else was off doing whatever they wanted. There was one other person in the common room while she was there, but the girl was studying and keeping quiet. Allaire smiled to the girl as she took a seat on the couch and opened one of her books.

Although Allaire did have her book open, she wasn't reading the text on the page. Her thoughts were elsewhere. She looked up and stared into the fire as her thoughts continued to rage wild in her mind. At first, she didn't even hear a giggle, but she did feel someone sit down on the couch. Allaire turned, wondering who it could be, half of hoping that it was Ashton. She found that she enjoyed talking to him and just being around him.

A smile settled on Allaire's face as she noticed that it Ophelia. She looked mighty happy about something or another. Closing her book, Allaire sat up. "What happened," Allaire asked with interest as to why Fee seemed to just float around.

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia looked over at her sister as if seeing her for the first time. She had been completely unaware of anyone else in the room; she was far too caught up in her own thoughts.

"Oh!" she gasped, shocked at first. After a moment, her breathing returned to normal and she broke into a smile "Ally, it's you!"

She giggled and bounced up and down on the sofa. "I have a wonderful secret... but you mustn't tell anyone, especially Kassia. She'll tell Daddy, and I don't want him to know yet!"

[Allaire Burke]

Allaire let out a giggle as Fee seemed shocked. "Of course it's me," she said smiling. Ophelia's excitement seemed to be contagious, because Allaire started to feel excited. She slid closer to Fee, putting her book down on the table in front of the couch.

"A secret," Allaire said excitedly. This was better than reading a book at the moment. "Please tell me! I promise I won't tell!"

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia let out a tiny squeal, then leaned forward and took her sister's hands in hers. "Oh, Ally..." she said excitedly. "I met someone. And he's cute and he's funny and he likes me just as I am. He asked me to the Yule Ball, and... we kissed! Isn't that wonderful, Ally? It all happened so fast... I've only just met him tonight, but I like him so much!"

[Allaire Burke]

Ophelia's secret sounded like something she would have read in a book, but Allaire couldn't help but smile. "Really," she said excitedly. "That's wonderful!" Allaire let out a giggle and squeezed Fee's hands. "Kissed? Was it like one of those fairy tale stories?" She couldn't help but feel excited for Ophelia, especially since she thought it was alright to tell her.

"What's his name?"

[Ophelia Burke]

"It was like a fairy tale story... only I kissed him!" Ophelia gushed. "I know, it's very shocking of me... I don't know what came over me. But I was caught up in the moment or something... and he was just so cute!" She giggled again, fairly bubbling over with excitement.

"His name is Tyler. And... Oh, Allaire, you won't tell anyone, will you? He's a Gryffindor!"

[Allaire Burke]

Allaire continued to smile at Ophelia's excitement. Never had she seen her sister so excited over something, not even something new that father bought for her.

She slightly gasped, then giggled a little when Ophelia said that she was the one that kissed him. "Of course I won't tell anyone Fee! Promise!" Allaire gave a thoughtful sigh. "He sounds like he's really nice. I'm really happy for you Fee!"

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia let out a happy sigh, then threw her head back against the back of the sofa, closing her eyes blissfully. "It's everything they say it is, Ally," she breathed. "I mean... maybe it's too soon to say I'm in love with him," she said, feeling a sudden note of caution creeping into the back of her mind.

"But I like him so much... and I've never felt this... happy... before. Even when I buy a new dress, I don't usually feel this happy. It's like I'm tingling all over and I feel alive for the first time! Doesn't that sound crazy?"

[Allaire Burke]

She also thought that it was too soon for Ophelia to say that she was in love, but Allaire was beyond happy that Fee found someone that made her so giddy. "I don't think it sounds crazy," she said. "I think it sounds lovely." Allaire folded her legs so that she was sitting indian style on the couch.

"When are you meeting him again?"

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia thought about that for a minute. They hadn't actually made any definite plans at all, except for the dance. And that they would probably see each other in class and maybe study together. But she had run out without making any firm plans with him.

"I don't know," she said honestly. "But I can't wait!"

[Allaire Burke]

She couldn't help but giggle again. "Maybe you should send him an owl or something with a definite date on it or something. Although of course I'm sure that you'll probably see him in one of your classes, won't you?" Allaire would keep to her word and keep her sister's secret. So far it sounded like a good book, and she could be in the middle, keeping a secret.

"I am happy for you Fee. Really I am. Did he ask you to the dance or anything?"

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia sat up and ran her fingers through her blonde curls. "I should," she said. "We could arrange secret meetings... Oh, can you imagine! Sneaking around the castle, meeting in passageways... like something out of one of your stories!"

She let out a happy sigh and looked over at Allaire. "He did ask me to the dance. I can't wait to buy my dress so he can see me in it... Oh, I hope you find someone, too, Ally. It's just the most exciting feeling in the world."

[Allaire Burke]

"Maybe you'll finally have your prince Fee," said Allaire with a smile. She sighed and leaned back on the couch.

At the mention of finding someone, Allaire still had a soft smile on her face as she turned to look at her sister. "I hope that I do too." She grew quite for a moment. "What was it first like? Did you want to keep talking to him for as long as you could?"

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia began to twirl a curly lock around her finger. "Oh, yes," she said happily. "I didn't want to stop talking to him at all! I met him in the kitchens... You know how I always go down after dinner to get a snack because I don't eat in front of the other girls? Well, he was there, drinking a hot chocolate. And we were talking, and then Kassi came in! And she kept giving me this look, like I shouldn't be talking to him, and I just kept talking to him anyway, and then when her food came, we left, but I told him I would be in the library later, because I had some studying to do, only I really didn't, and when I went back to the library later, he was there waiting for me!"

[Allaire Burke]

Allaire's eyebrows rose slightly as she said that Tyler was in the library waiting for her. "Maybe he likes talking to you too if he was in the library waiting on you," she said. "The next time you go meet him, I'll make sure to keep an eye on Kassia so that she doesn't go looking for you or anything so you can have plenty of time talking to him." Allaire gave Ophelia a wink.

She turned her head to glance into the fire and then she looked back to Ophelia. "I have a little secret too."

[Ophelia Burke]

"You would? Really?" Ophelia gushed. "Oh, that would be so helpful... I mean, I love Kassi, I do, but she always feels like she needs to be my keeper or something, like I'm a child. I'm the big sister, not her! I am not a child and I am not stupid. You agree with me, right, Ally?"

She was still thinking about the situation with Kassia when she heard Allaire mention that she also had a secret. "Oh! A secret!" she burst out excitedly. "What is it, Ally? I promise I won't tell anyone!"

[Allaire Burke]

Allaire nodded. "I do agree with you, and that's why I'll do my best to keep her busy. After all, you do need time with him if he is going to be your prince." She laughed quietly.

As Ophelia seemed interested, Allaire sat up and leaned closer to her so that she could whisper just in case anyone was near. "You can't tell anyone at all," she whispered. "Do you know Ashton in Slytherin?"

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia had to think for a minute. She didn't always pay attention to other people, because she was usually so wrapped up in herself. Most of the boys, even the ones in Slytherin, really seemed beneath her, in her not so humble opinion. She couldn't always remember who was who.

"I'm not sure I remember which one he is. But I've heard the name. Why?"

[Allaire Burke]

Pushing her hair behind her ear, Allaire looked at the couch and then back to Ophelia. "Because, I like him," she whispered softly. "I mean, he reads too and the conversations we have... it's wonderful." Allaire gave a soft sigh. "He's great to talk to, and he's a gentleman." She smiled a little. "Although, I don't know if he likes me back. I haven't really talked to him in a couple of days because I haven't seen him." Part of her wondered if he was avoiding her. "The time we were in Hogsmeade was probably the best time I had."