Alex Russo walked around the Hogwarts corridors. It was late. She was just kicked out of the library, not because it was being closed, but because she snuck into the Restricted Section of the library without a note, permission – nope, nothing at all. And boy, Madam Pince was furious.

"Think about doing that again, and I'll send you back to America where you belong," Madam Pince spat.

The Russo family moved to Sheffield just months before Alex turned eleven. Her parents had intended on homeschooling her for the appropriate amount of time, but they decided it would be nice without Alex in the way of everything once she received her letter. Alex, on the other hand, wasn't at all excited that she had to go to some magical hellhole for nine months straight. She just wanted to go back to America, where all her friends were.

Alex was walking around in her Slytherin robes. She had a Potions essay due the next day, which she only half finished. Alex set that aside from her mind, and just began to walk around. She wasn't going to bed. Not yet. Why not just enjoy the cool air of October?

She made a left turn. Then a right. A right again. Left. Right. Right. Left. But then she stopped. Where am I? she thought.

She looked around and didn't recognize the place. The corridor was deserted. Or at least that's what she thought.

Bugger….

She didn't panic. Not yet, at least. But she kept it cool. Calm. She was Alex Russo, wasn't she? She knew how to keep her cool. So instead of trying to retrace her steps, she went on further. She stopped when she saw a door that said Do not open on it.

Of course Alex was going to completely ignore what it says. Curiosity rushed through her, just as fast as she went after the doorknob.

"What do you think you're doing?" came a cold voice.

Alex turned around. It was Draco. She knew him from her classes, but she never talked to him. From what she's witnessed in her three years at Hogwarts, Draco was a bully. Of course Alex was one too, but she was just oblivious to the fact that there were other bullies out there as well.

Alex glared at the blonde-haired beauty. "Why do you care?"

Draco merely smirked. "You Americans sure think you're tough. Not unless I get Pansy to ram your head against the –"

"Save it. No one else is here, so you can drop the act," Alex rolled her eyes. She knew that Draco only acted this way just to seem tough. Alex, on the other hand…. Alex's attitude came natural.

Instead of making a smart remark, Draco rolled his eyes and glared at Alex. "Why are you here in the first place?"

"I… was looking around. That's all." Worrying that he might not have bought the statement, she added, "Why are you here?"

"Taking a walk," he yawns. "I think I might go to bed. You coming or what?"

Alex nods and walks side-by-side with him.

"Were you….following me?" Alex makes out, hoping she didn't sound like a complete creep. There was a short pause, and then Draco burst out laughing.

"Why would I be following you around? No one knows you even exist, except the little first years you pick on," he said.

Alex let out a gasp. She didn't even bother to hide the hurt on her face after what Draco had said. She knew it was true, but she didn't need some blonde-haired bimbo to say so.

Draco didn't even bother to notice. He just kept on walking, and that was when Alex realized her reaction was still planted on her face. But then Draco stopped walking.

"What?" Alex said, who stopped when she was only a few inches away from Draco, and turned her head.

"What? No snide remarks?" Draco said, with an eyebrow raised.

"Nope. None at all," Alex said, purposely saying it in an arrogant tone, and she continued walking with her head in the air. She didn't know how to get back to the Slytherin dungeon, so she made tiny baby steps until Draco bothered to catch up and lead the way for her. But he didn't.

Alex turned around once more and made out, "Well?" as rude as she can make it.

Draco shrugged. "I'm not tired anymore."

"Well I am," said Alex.

Draco smirked. "How are you going to find your way back now? Everyone else is in bed."

Alex glared. "If you don't show me the way to the dungeons now, I'll –"

"You'll what?" said Draco. "What the hell will you do to me if I don't take you back to the dungeons?"

Alex gulped. She didn't exactly know what in the name of Godric she'd do to him. Without thinking, she said, "I'll hex you."

Draco clapped his hands once and pulled his wand out. "One duel won't hurt, now would it?" He noticed the scared look on Alex's face. "Come on, Alex. No one's here to see us right now. If you manage to sack me, no one will find me here until dawn."

Alex, unsure if she wanted to duel while most of the castle was asleep, nodded nonetheless and pulled her wand out, that was tucked in her sock on her left leg.

No one said a thing, so Alex decided to start. "Explliarm –"

"Stupefy!"

Alex totally forgot the shielding charm. Duck, you twit, duck! She tells herself, but it's too late.

WAM.

She gets hit.

Alex felt herself fall hard on the floor, but didn't feel a thing. She saw Draco run up above her and everything was black.