Goodbye Draws Nearer

In two weeks time Alexander would be sitting his NEWT's. Two weeks was all he had left to revise everything he knew in his chosen areas of study. After that he'd have a week or so killing time around the castle before he entered the big wide magical world. It was weird how quick time had flown, it felt only a week ago when he'd been sorted into Slytherin, then only yesterday that he'd watched his sister Ally sorted into Ravenclaw. His childhood was more or less over. The little fun left would be pure blood socials and family dinners. That is all the leisurely time Alexander had to look forward to. Of course that view on his future was optional but Alexander wanted to become the best. He wanted a high flying career within the Ministry of Magic, he wanted to change the face of the Ministry, reestablish a citizenry where pure bloods were at the top of the magical hierarchy once again. In two weeks his fate would have been decided. He needed the grades to get a job interview - the interviews he felt he'd fly through. He'd done his research. He'd practised all he had to do now was revise.

Walking through the library Nott found himself opening one of the study rooms. It was a small room with three desks to sit two people each. The room was no bigger than the boys dormitory in the dungeons and a familiar face was sitting at one of the desks, no doubt she would be revising for her OWL exams.

'Fancy seeing you here.' He greeted his sister with a grin before the Slytherin swung his satchel bag from his shoulder and dumped it down onto the desk opposite his younger sisters. 'How are things?' Alexander began to ask conversationally, 'I feel as though I've barely seen you the past few months.'

Books from every subject were scattered all over the table as Ally poured herself in them.  It was important that she passed her OWL exams with top marks,  it all determined her career as well her classes for the next two years.   She was already in some advance classes due to her making top marks.  Ally thought she was already starting to take on sixth year classes already.  She honestly didn't know,  but it was harder than the beginning of the year was.

Although Alexander told her that this year wasn't going to be a walk in the park though,  she was going to work her butt off this year.   He wasn't lying about it,  but she barely seen her brother in months,  probably since school started.   If she did see him,  it was just a 'good morning' or a 'hi' as he headed towards the Slytherin table.   She missed spending time with her brother,  she missed the good ole days before he went to Hogwarts.   Although she wasn't going to let him or anyone else see her cry.  

Hearing a familiar voice, All looked up at her brother shaking her head and rolling her eyes at him.  " I'm always in here doing my homework or studying, I hate studying in the library. " said Ally.  It was to loud and noisy for her taste.  Ally liked peace and quiet when she worked or studied. " What are you doing here,  I think this is the first time I ever saw you in here!"said Ally honestly smirking at him.  If he was in here, it was times that Ally wasn't here, but she was usually always here.

'I usually spend most of my time in the library.' Alexander answered non-nonchalantly as he pulled back the chair and sat himself down. 'You'll need more than class notes and set books from class for your NEWT's.' He told her. It was true. Throughout his OWL's he spent most of his time pouring over notes he's made in class and the extra reading of set books. The past year the Slytherin had found himself pouring over the most complex of books to get other views, theories and knowledge of areas outside of the curriculum. He probably wouldn't be tested on some of it but it sure would contribute to his understanding of the subject as a whole.

Opening his book: An Extensive Review Of Goblin History In Magical Europe, Alexander continued to talk to his sister:

'It's hard to think I'll be leaving soon. I've spent the past year with my heads in books completely alienated from the student life just so I get good grades and a good job. It's a shame really.'

He spoke as though they were still close and told each other everything. The pair spent only short amounts of time with each other lately but to the Slytherin Allyson Nott was a Nott, she was his pure blooded sister and she would always would be. To Alexander that mean't everything.

"How in the bloody world can you even study in that mad house?"Ally asked him shaking her head. " I saw a bloody couple snogging each heads off in the back of the library!"said Ally rolling her eyes. " A bit annoying, especially when you heard them moaning while you're try to find a book."said Ally. "Oh really? Well... at lease I know what to expect when the time comes. " said Ally. " I'm covering everything, although I made nothing but top marks I thin I'll do good. " said Ally confident.

" Is there anything that I'm missing Alexander?"Ally asked him curiously. " The Professors told me I'm freaking out to much, but it wouldn't hurt to be over prepared."said Ally simply. Ally spent the past year studying for her exams, people told her she was studying to much. Ally wanted her parents be proud of her , seeing how she broke the Nott tradition. She knew she was looked down for that, not only by her parents but other purebloods.

Ally looked up from her books, and looked at him with sadness in her eyes. She wasn't close to her brother, but she did admit that she was going to miss him. " There's a end of the year party there having, so maybe we can catch up on our partying. " said Ally smirking at him. " As for me, if you're worried I'll be fine. "said Ally simply but honestly at the same time. They weren't as close as they were, so Ally learned to take of herself.

It made Ally sad they weren't as close as they used to be, with her getting sorted into Ravenclaw. Although she wouldn't admit it to her brother, Ally was a Nott they didn't show or wear there hearts on their sleeves. He didn't even know that she dated a muggle born in her third year, although no one knew.

'They were probably mudbloods too no doubt.' Alexander muttered with a slight chuckle as he heard Ally tell him about the couple she had seen kissing in the library. 'I get what you mean though, it's easier to concentrate in here.' He admitted, turning over a page and dipping his quill into a pot of shiny black in to take notes on the chapter he had started to read.

Not looking up at Ally he continued to write be responded all the same. 'You'll do fine, especially seeing as you've been getting top marks all the time.'

His quill paused. A party? An end of year party? Well, Alexander would certainly be attending. Perhaps his final memory of the castle wasn't going to be of the library after. A few drinks, maybe a kiss from an attractive seventh year pureblood and socialising would friends did sound a much more enjoyable way to conclude his time at Hogwarts as from July he'd hopefully be finding work in the ministry and that mean't his social life would be greatly narrowed with not seeing friends everyday.

'I'm in much need of a party.' He replied, looking up and putting his quill down. 'I'll miss you.' Alexander told her, a faint smile on her face as he looked towards his studious sister. 'We don't really spend much time with each other anymore but it's nice to see you around, say a casual hello.'

Turning his head back down to his work he continued to write. 'Oh, and I don't need to worry about you.' He added, a grin forming on his face. 'I've seen what you're capable in the dark followers.'

The dark followers was perhaps the only time this year when they'd be in each others company for longer than five minutes at a time. Hopefully Alexander would find a place on the death eaters after he graduated, but is that what he wanted? Indeed he certainly stood for everything they stood for, agreed on all their issues, but maybe it would be better to establish his career in the ministry before he declared his allegiance to them.

'Do you know what you want to do after Hogwarts?' The Slytherin asked, meaning about a faction. The dark followers was all fun and games, it certainly gave Alexander a taste as to what the death eaters would be like, but it was simply that: all fun and games, a student group. The Death Eaters was more extreme. More dangerous. More dark. At this moment in time Alexander was on the fence as to whether stay neutral or sign up for the death eaters.

"Yeah you're probably right about that. " said Ally honestly shaking her head before chuckling. " I know I am, that's why I always study in here!"said Ally simply. Looking back down at her notes, Ally bit her lip thinking. She always did that when she was thinking about something.

" Yeah I know, but I just want to be prepared for them. " said Ally simply. It was the way Ally was,she was always prepared even when she was little.

Ally needed a good party to go to, she needed a couple of fire whiskies and maybe a kiss by a attractive boy. It been awhile since Ally been to a good party, the last she went to was thrown by a Slytherin fifth year named Cupid during Christmas break. Ally was starting to get that good girl image on her, so she had to do something to show that she wasn't. Although Ally was a very clever and smart girl, Ally knew it wasn't a weakness though like people were tell her. She was evil and she had beauty and brains.

Ally smirked. " Why thank you Alexander, I take that as a compliment from you. " said Ally. " Although I'm not as good as you, I'm getting there. " said Ally honestly. " I know we don't spend time together as we used to, but I'll miss you too. " said Ally honestly.

The dark followers taught her new spells making her stronger. But some of the spells Ally already knew for their father taught them. Although it was the only place where Ally saw Alexander more than five minutes. She was honestly going to miss her brother next year, he was what made Hogwarts fun when she spent time with him.

Ally looked up biting her lip. " I honestly don't know Alexander, I know our family been in the death eaters for ages. " said Ally softly but honestly. " But I want to establish a job in the ministry before I do anything. "said Ally simply. Ally wasn't sure she wanted to be in the death eaters, she wanted to stay more neutral and do her own thing. She didn't want to answer to anyone but herself.

It was nice to hear that Ally would miss him too, it made him feel that his feelings towards her were reciprocated, strengthening that blood ran thicker than water.

Ally appeared to share the same views as Alexander. She too wanted a job in the Ministry and wanted to establish that before she joined the death eaters. If Alexander were to sign up right after Hogwarts it could ruin any chance of a recognised career if the secret were to ever be leaked.

'I feel the same as you.' Alexander replied softly. 'I support what they stand for but I'm thinking it may be a bit too dangerous. I wouldn't want to get thrown into Azkaban.' A shiver ran down his spine. That's where their grandparents were: Azkaban. Their parents had signed up after their parents capture and so far they'd been lucky, but how long would they remain lucky in keeping their allegiance on the down low.

'Even if I weren't sent to Azkaban or found out it'd take a toll on getting started in the Ministry.'

Pausing to think for a moment Alexander wrote another couple of sentences before looking up at Ally once again. 'Do you know what you want to do in the Ministry?' He asked. For some reason it hadn't been something they'd gone into detail with, sure they both knew each other desired a role in the Ministry but the Ministry was a big place. Where exactly did his sister want to work?

Ally looked up at him obviously surprised by her brother statement. She honestly thought that he'll sign up the minute he graduated from school. Alexander was the golden child, he did everything their parents wanted him to do. Ally on the other hand, didn't she was sorted into Ravenclaw and went against the pureblood ways and dated a muggle born. Although no one knew of it, she was sure Alexander didn't even know.

" I'll hate to see me end up in Azkaban as well. " said Ally softly before letting out a shiver. That was one place she didn't want to see,even if she was an visitor. That place scared Ally to no end, she heard people killing themselves due to going crazy. Her grandparents were there, she didn't want to end up like them if she could help it. She was worried her parents were going to end up there, but luckily they been able to keep their allegiance secret.

Ally bit her lip before responding to her brother question. " Probably in the law enforcement."said Ally honestly. " This stupid law inspired me to make changes to our world. "said Ally simply. " If I can get in law enforcement, so many things I would change like this stupid law. "said Ally honestly. Ally hated this law, she hated every bit of it with a passion.

So Ally wanted to go into the law enforcement squad? No doubt she would make it. She was smart, very smart for her age but still had that determination within her. Kind of like Alexander himself, although perhaps he was more ambitious than he was clever. In all honesty it didn't surprise him that Ally wanted a high flying career in law, after all, their Mother and Father had encouraged them to work hard and aim high.

'Hopefully this stupid law will have changed by the time you get a job there.' Alexander replied grimly closing his book as he felt too involved in the conversation to concentrate.

'I received my letter the other day.' The Slytherin began. 'I have a meeting tomorrow, but I'm undecided about whether to go or not. I don't want to for I know I'll have been partnered with a muggle born or blood traitor but at the same time I dont want to oppose the ministry. If I don't follow their laws they're hardly going to employ me?'

It was a situation Alexander had been dreading, a predicament he'd thought and thought about months before he even received his letter. Thankfully NEWT exam preparation had distracted him but lately the only thing on his mind was his letter. Would he be sent to Azkaban? Was it really an empty threat as his Mother suggested? Alexander didn't like the be the guinea pig but it appeared that's what would have to happen to uphold the Nott's pure blood status.

Ally eyes darkened at the mention of the marriage law. "We can only hope,  I don't to get paired up with some idiot!"said Ally honestly.  "I'm glad I'm not sixteen yet,  hopefully this will all be over once my birthday comes in December. "said Ally.  She was hoping it would,  she didn't want to be matched.  But she didn't want to go to Azkaban,  that place scared her to no end.   Having Alexander go there cause of this law was her worse fear.

Ally sighed she didn't want her brother to follow this stupid law,  but what choice did he have?  If he didn't he'll end up in Azkaban for not following it like he was suppose to.  Ally didn't want that to happen,  no matter how much she hated this law.  It was a stupid law in her opinion,  they should be able to marry whoever they wanted to. They shouldn't be force to marry and have a baby within a years time.

" Alexander I would hate to see you in Azkaban, so please go please?"Ally asked him softly.   " If you don't go they'll throw you in Azkaban for not following the stupid damn bloody law!"said Ally honestly.   " I know you haven't called me this since we we're little and you probably forgot about it,  but promise Ally-Cat you'll go?"Ally asked him with her famous puppy pout.   He used to call her that when they were little,  Ally was sure he forgot about it,  but Ally didn't.    He called her that while their father called her Allygator.