Stargirls PV Dealla Prince

Aly chuckled at her friend's jab towards Transfiguration, famously one of her own least favourite subjects. "Don't ask me! I'm the one who got an Acceptable on their essay right before the holiday. How was I supposed to know that you can Transfigure a human into a chicken, a ferret, a bat, or a pig, but a rooster is just too out-of-bounds?" Her lips blew a raspberry of disappointment, remembering suddenly that she had shoved said essay down into the deepest depths of her expandable trunk, where it probably still sat in a sad little crumpled ball. She should probably get that at some point and go over the finer details of what, exactly, she'd gotten wrong... at least, if she wanted to better herself for next time. "I'll honestly be quite shocked if I manage to pull an Outstanding in Transfiguration - and Potions, too," she mumbled, dramatically draping an arm over her eyes. "Everything else I feel rather comfortable studying, but those two are just... Merlin's baggy bloomers, I dunno how you like 'em so much. They're just so boring. And hard."

As for the assumption that Aly didn't know a single seventh-year, she bolted up with an indignant look on her face. "That is so untrue! Absolute slander!" the fifth-year proclaimed with an angry twist of her nose. "I know Cec!" Of course, the insinuation that Cecily, Aly's longtime Quidditch captain and good friend, would be graduating soon was immediately regretted - the fact that Cec wouldn't be leading the Ravenclaw team next year or the year after that was something Aly had very much avoided in her thoughts since the beginning of the year. She didn't want to step onto a pitch that didn't have her curly-haired blonde leader there, beckoning her forward. She had to get off this topic, and quickly, too, before she joined her best mate in crying atop the Astronomy Tower. "But, er, yes, other than that, not really. Oh, there's Bloom too, I suppose - not that I've spoken to her in a while. I certainly don't know any seventh-year boys is the point here." Turning her head to face Dee again, she quirked an eyebrow. "Unlike some of us, apparently. Well, don't introduce me if I'd be stepping on any toes!" Her words were pointed, apparent. She would always - always - put Dee's heart first. They would never have to worry about the age-old question between teenage mates, what if we fancy the same bloke, that much was for sure.

She let Dee take back the firewhisky with ease - Aly's head was beginning to feel lighter than an enchanted golden balloon, and it was an odd sensation, one that she felt needed not to get worse. The fifth-year listened to her friend explain, not for one second believing that the tears on her face were purely because of the strong drink in her hand and mouth, about feeling like she was stuck behind the rest of their classmates - behind Aly herself. Wordlessly, as Dee spoke, Aly scooched closer and wrapped her arms around her; anyone in this situation could use a hug, and this particular Ravenclaw was known for giving the best ones. She let Dee cry, let her set down the bottle, and used one hand to rub her friend's opposite bicep in what she hoped was a comforting fashion. When it seemed like she had explained herself out, Aly nodded slowly, trying to figure out what to say next; normally she was an excellent giver of pep talks, but it seemed that her best mate wasn't exactly in the mood for another one. Finally, she settled on one thing she did best: talking about herself, too. Relating the situation to her own.

"I understand - I think," she agreed, still rubbing Dee's arm in slow circles of solace. "But I also think you're being too hard on yourself. It's not like I'm going onwards and upwards much, either, you know." A slight shrug accompanied her words. "I'm playing Chaser, but I don't love it. I'm growing bored with the Healer internship, even though I've thought I would be one my whole life. Maybe... maybe I'll switch positions, or quit the internship, or something of the sort. And you could do the same if you feel like it." The idea of Dee quitting the duelling team or the Hogwarts Headliner, two things she had done basically since she and Aly had become so close in their third year, sort of seemed out-of-place, but... it wasn't the worst idea, either. "Sometimes you need to leave behind what makes you feel like the old you," the teenager whispered, "so that you can find the new you ahead."

She let go of Dee, but turned herself fully to face her, pulling one leg up to rest bent on the cold stone floor beneath her.

"I'll tell you what," Aly told her - almost dared her, really. "If you decide you feel like moving on from duelling and the Headliner, really embracing a new Dee, I'll switch positions again and quit the internship. Maybe I'll find a new one or something else to keep me busy. And maybe you will too." She leaned forward to plant a peck onto Dee's cheek. "And you'll definitely find a better bloke at some point, too. I'll keep an eye out for you."

Aly extended a hand out, palm ready for a shake.

"Deal?"