Ayla wandered down Diagon Alley humming softly to herself. After coming home from Eirene's birthday party she had convinced her parents to let her continue on her own private Holiday. Being the eldest Collins kid Ayla was given permission to do as she pleased for the Christmas Holidays. Of course she was required to be home for Christmas Eve and Christmas day but other than that she could be wherever she wanted. It was a liberating experience and was definitely helping her feel like herself again. The first term of school had been brutal. Her homework hadn't killed her too much but everything social oriented had gone horribly sour. She was hoping that the holidays would give people enough time to settle down and forget all about the horrible rumors that had been spread about her.

Sipping on hot cocoa Ayla's green and gold eyes wandered to a darkened section of the street, the entrance to Knockturn Alley. She had heard plenty of things about it while at school and her parents didn't let her go near it when they were shopping in Diagon as a family. She didn't really get why people were so terrified of the place. She knew it was supposed to be a haven for criminals and dark creatures but that could easily be just all talk. Afterall she knew first hand that teenaged kids would believe anything they were told. Deciding that she was better off finding out for herself Ayla veered left and entered the darkened alley.

Knockturn was such a contrast from the main section of Diagon. Even the sun seemed to be dimmer here and the snow that covered almost all of the ground, save for a few trails where people had travelled, was duller than the bright cheery snow that gave Diagon's it's current festive feeling. The snow here reminded Ayla of back home. In December snow always seemed like such a magical thing but once January hit it was dirty, dingy and slushy and all you wanted was for it to go away. The shops seemed to loom over the alley and the foundations themselves seemed like only magic was left to hold them up.

She couldn't see anyone at the moment as she walked deeper into the forbidden neighbourhood. Most of the shops didn't even look like they were open despite the gruesome displays that glistened in their windows. She saw a torch at the end of the alley where very faint music was drifting from. It looked as though whatever was down there was the only place that actually had signs of life.

Ayla drew her jacket tighter around herself realizing that those shadows at the corner of her eyes were actually people or rather things huddled up in the cold. She should have turned around but she was determined to find out why this place was so feared, stupid, yes but she never really prided herself on making highly intelligent decisions.

From the shadows, she watched; silently judging the girl that had just come down the alley. It seemed to Donna that this was the girl’s first time down in Knockturn Alley and she wanted to make it…memorable. Today Donna had chosen to adorn herself in the muggle outfit she was so fond of, giving her the appearance of a Mud-Blood lost in that dark place alone. Donna silently drew her wand and pointed it at her body, then, using a charm, coated her skin with a film of sweat making it cold and clammy .Taking a moment to compose herself, Donna took a deep breath and stumbled from the shadows; falling to the snow right in front of the girl. Donna choked out a fake sob and began wailing; as is if she was truly crying. After making sure that there were tears coming down her face Donna lifted herself to her knees and stared at the girl. She painted a very heart wrenching picture; the snow she had fallen into had turned to slush and soaked her shirt, the fake tears streaming down her face were causing her makeup to run, and just the overall aura of patheticness. The denizens of Knockturn Alley watched on from the shadows in amusement.

For, you see, they had all seen Donna at one time or another and knew that she was by no means the pathetic girl she made herself out to be. They figured she was merely having some fun with the child and knew better than to interrupt. If they did Donna might cut them off at the Black Chimera, or worse draw her wand on them. After seeing what she had done to poor Billy the other week they were in no hurry to anger her.

“Thank goodness you’re here!” Donna practically shrieked. She lunged forward and grabbed the sleeve of the girl, “I need your help, it seems I took a wrong turn somewhere and end up here.” At this point she let out another sob and lowered her head so as to hide the smile that had invaded her face. After composing herself, Donna lifted her head and gazed into the girl’s eyes, “I was so scared! These men accosted me and started to chase me around. I didn’t know what to do, but then I saw you.” Donna released the child and sat back on her haunches, wrapping her arms around herself and shaking. “Do you know the way out of here?”

Ayla jumped when the girl fell in front of her. She literally came out of nowhere and considering her current surroundings Ayla was definitely prone to be jumpy. She looked down at the girl with slight panic and gave her a similarly frightened look. She didn't look like she was a student then again it was hard to tell in the low light and with her face so distraught. It was very possible that she was a seventh year whom, like Ayla, had decided to find out for herself whether this place really lived up to it's reputation. The story she spouted suggested that perhaps it had.

Ayla gently pried the girl's fingers from the front of her coat. As bad as she felt for the girl she didn't feel bad enough to let her ruin her new Jane Norman jacket. Her mother had thought it would add to the new adult air Ayla had been trying to exude and the young Hufflepuff had fallen in love with it instantly.

She placed her hand on the girl's shoulder trying to look as comforting and understanding as she could, all the while her green and golden eyes kept darting to the shadows looking for the men that the girl had supposedly run away from, "It's going to alright." Her voice trembled slightly and her Canadian accent was as thick as ever. She looked behind her to where she had sworn she had come from but now the alley seemed to have closed in on itself and it was impossible to tell whether there was actually an opening there or not. She glanced back to the torch at the end of the street where she could still hear faint music. She gestured behind her, "I'm pretty sure the way out is back there but," She looked to the distant torch again, "I think there's a restaurant up there or something, maybe they'll let you floo home."

She looked the girl over again. She was sweaty and scared and crying but she didn't seem to be hurt or anything. Ayla crouched down, conscious to not get too deep into the snow, "Are you hurt?"