Well, here's Chapter two. I'm sure you all can already guess what's going on, but I don't want to go into a full blown reveal yet. It has to wait just a bit longer. Perhaps the next chapter or the one after that. I also hope to start introducing more of the demon influence into the story soon. Anyway, please enjoy!

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. All the first years had been sorted and they were now waiting for Professor Dumbledore to begin his start of the term speech. Alex sat next to him, and would cast him worried glances every few seconds. "Alex, stop it, please." He finally said after the umpteenth glance. "I'm fine, really."

She let out a little breath of relief and opened her mouth to say something, but she was interrupted by a hiss from behind them. They both turned and saw Malfoy leaning close to them from the Slytherin table. "Is it true Potter? Did you really faint on the train?" He snickered and Goyle imitated fainting.

"How did he find out?" Ron whispered. "Did you tell him Alex?" She shook her head earnestly and shoved Harry's shoulder to look away from Malfoy. But he didn't.

"Shove off, Draco." She hissed. Malfoy's eyes widened. Apparently he was not expecting a rebuttal from Alex.

He studied her for a moment. Then laughed. "You just think you're so tough, don't you Lexi?"

Her lips formed a rather dark smile. "Tougher than you Malfoy. I'll take you in a duel any day."

He scoffed and turned back to his table-mates.

"A new game you two are playing, Alex?" Hermione whispered. The dark smile never left her lips.

"Maybe." replied Alex.

Dumbledore stood and greeted the students. "Welcome!" The candlelight sparkled off his half moon spectacles and Harry felt better than he had after eating the chocolate. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, and for some of you your first year at Hogwarts. I have a few announcements before we dig into a spectacular feast," Harry suspected he was going to say something about the dementors that were on the train. "As you may have noticed, Hogwarts is playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business," A crease formed in Dumbledore's brow. He must not be happy about the dementors at the school, Harry thought. "It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving or understanding. If you were to encounter one, there will be no mercy. I hope that none of you will give them any reason to harm you." He looked out among the students who were all very tense.

"On a happier note," Dumbledore continued, a smile appearing on his face. "I would like to welcome a couple of new teachers. First is Professor Lupin, who had kindly consented to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position." Lupin stood up from his spot and bowed his head as people in the hall clapped for him. Harry was able to study him a little better. He was pale, thin and his clothes were more shabby than they had appeared on the train. Harry stopped clapping, it wasn't his eyes he was seeing Lupin through. There was a little extra distance, it also seemed a little odd for him to be seeing the back of his own head. It dawned on him like a crashing wave that it was Alex's eyes that he was seeing though. Apparently, Alex had now noticed that she was not alone in her sight or mind. With a swift kicking sensation, Harry was sent back to his own eyes and received a very dark look from Alex.

Your training starts tomorrow. It was all she said. The clapping died and Lupin sat down.

"Professor Kettleburn has decided leave us and retire with what remaining limbs he has. However, I am delighted to appoint our very own Rubeus Hagrid as your new Care of Magical Creatures teacher." The applause from the Gryffindor table was the loudest. Hagrid was immensely red under his thick black beard an awkward grin plastered on his face. "Now then! Let the feast begin!" And at his words, food filled the golden plates in front of them and Harry felt even more hungry than he thought he was as he dug into his food.

Alex headed down to the dungeons. Everyone was already in bed, but she couldn't sleep. How could she after what Harry had done? Granted, he didn't know he had done it until it was too late, but he had done it never the less. She had already spoken with Hiei about beginning Harry's telepathy training tomorrow evening. She would be there of course, to make sure that Hiei's anger didn't get the best of him as it had done with her in the past. There were things that she didn't want Harry to know about. Sure she trusted him completely, if he did find out something, to not tell anyone, but that didn't stop her from not wanting him to actually know about it.

She maneuvered the halls in the dungeons, knowing that the person she sought would still be awake. Hiei could not complete the training she needed. It was a self taught skill to read someone's mind or to block people from seeing their own. She did not have this natural ability, as Harry and Hiei did. But there was another way she could learn. Alex stopped at the wooden door. She took a breath and gathered her courage and knocked. "Enter." Alex opened the door and stepped inside.

"Good evening Professor," said Alex, as she shut the door behind her. It was Professor Snape's office she was visiting this evening. It was his help she was going to be requesting. One of the things she had been doing during her disappearances while at Diagon Alley was corresponding with Professor Snape. "I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

His eyes narrowed at her, as if was one of the most ridiculous things she could be asking him. "Of course not, Denton. I assume you are here to speak of the content of your letters." His voice was low and cold. There were unknown reasons to his dislike of her and Harry. She nodded, her heartbeat quickening.

"Sir, I was hoping that you would be willing to teach me Occlumency and Llegimens," Alex spoke rather quickly. She was terrified of what she would do if Snape turned her away. All the professors at Hogwarts knew that she and the Detectives were demons, so as to be able to help protect the students better. Snape regarded her for a second.

"And why do you think I am the best suited candidate for your request?" He said, standing up from his desk that he had been sitting behind. He moved around it in a fluid motion and walked over to a bookshelf, searching for something.

"I- well- I've spoken with Professor Dumbledore and he tells me that you could help me, if I asked," said Alex. She had sent letters to Dumbledore over the summer, hoping that it would be him who could teach her. She wasn't going to tell Snape but she had even tried to penetrate his mind. She had found walls of a misty, fluid silver, it was nothing of the likes of which she had encountered before. Hiei's walls were a cloudy black, and the Darkness dragon seemed to patrol for intruders. He turned to face her, a large, leather bound book in his hands. His eyes were narrowed and calculating. Alex leaned back, and wanted to huddle into herself.

"You should not try to delve into another mind without permission, Miss Denton," said Snape, in his low voice. "I have felt you trying to find ways past my Occlumency walls. It will not work at your level. You have to be stronger." He stepped closer to her and held out the book. "Read this," She took the book from him, her eyes never leaving his. "If you manage to understand what it says, come back to me, and we will begin your lessons. If not," He turned to a door that Alex guessed led to his private chambers. "Then return the book to me and never request something like this again."

Her jaw hung open, then realizing how rude that looked, she shut it again and muttered, "Yes, sir. Thank you Professor." And left the room. Once outside his office, Alex opened the book. The letters were ones that she had not seen since she was a child. They weren't any human language known in the Muggle or wizarding world. How did he get his hands on a book written in the ancient Khukui language? The Khukui, if Alex remembered correctly, were an ancient tribe of demons. Some still lived in the demon realm, but they were reclusive. She looked at the page she had opened to. Some words were familiar to her, but she would have to do some serious studying and researching in order to fully learn the language and read the book. Alex sighed and closed the book and made her way back to the tower, only pausing for a brief moment by the stone wall that led to the Slytherin House.

She could call out to Draco right now and he would be there in a instant, she felt the need to talk to him, a time when they wouldn't be interrupted by other students. But when she found his mind, it was immersed in a dream, one that made a faint smile form on her lips. Sweet dreams, Draco. She thought and then continued to the tower. She would have to compose a letter to Koenma so that she could send it out tomorrow morning. She needed books and papers that recorded the Khukui symbols and meanings.

The next morning, the first morning of classes, Alex felt excited and anxious. She had gotten up early to go to the Owlery so that she could send her letter to Koenma. She hoped that he would comply, for it was such a simple request, it seemed silly to Alex if he told her no.

Now she sat in the North Tower, tapping her fingernail on the rim of her teacup, utterly bored. The class was waiting for Professor Trelawney to emerge from her office and begin class. I really should have listened to Fred and George when they told be this class was a load of dung. The classroom itself was rather ridiculous; twenty circular tables were scattered across the tiered room, each table had two or three armchairs, the curtains on the windows were closed, candles on the tables provided meager lighting. A fire was burning, which provided the rest of the light, and also made the room stiflingly warm. Shelves wound around the outer edges of the room, filled with tarot cards, crystal balls and of course, books. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at the table next to her, looking as bored as she felt. Yusuke and Hiei sat at her table, also looking bored. Kurama had been smart and didn't sign up for this class, but instead was taking Arithmancy. Kuwabara was taking Muggle Studies.

"Welcome," said a soft, misty, lowish voice called into the room. They turned to see a woman of middle age, weary draped multi-colored robes making her thin frame look a little awkward in them. She had large glasses that magnified her eyes to almost double their size. "Welcome to Divination young ones. I must warn you that if you do not possess the Sight, there will be little I can teach you. Books can only take you so far..."

Alex had to take a glance at Hiei. He possessed what Trelawney would have called the Third Eye. It made her giggle a little to try and imagine if Trelawney could see under the bandage wrapped around his forehead. Trelawney continued, "You boy," She pointed to Neville, who blanched. "Is your grandmother well?"

"I think so," Neville whispered. She had walked over to his table and picked up his teacup and looked in it.

"Oh," She set his cup down and said nothing more. Neville looked in the cup along with Dean Thomas, who both looked utterly confused. "Now, take the cup from the person next to you and try to interpret the dregs at the bottom, consult you book Unfogging the Future," The tinkling of cups could be heard from around the classroom as people grabbed each others teacups.

Alex peered into Yusuke's cup, and looked at her book. "I think I see some clouds here, which means- trouble, and, hm, I think this is an hourglass, which says you need to decide on something. So maybe you're going to have trouble deciding on something?" This is the stupidest thing ever! She complained to Yusuke. He just smiled and continued to 'fake' interpret Hiei's teacup. Hiei wasn't even trying with hers. He just sat there with an unreadable face.

Professor Trelawney was listening to Ron and his failing attempts to interpret Harry's dregs. Trelawney had taken the cup from him. She took a couple glances at it and then gasped and set the cup down. "My dear! You have- the Grim!" She said, rather dramatically.

"What's the Grim?" Ron asked.

"The Grim, my boy, the Grim!" was all Trelawney said, as if they should know exactly what that was.

Yusuke flipped through his book and found the passage. "The Grim," He read aloud. "is an omen that comes in the shape of a giant black dog- the worst omen- an omen of death," They all looked at Harry who could only stare into his cup and try and find the Grim that Trelawney had found.

"Harry, will you stop worrying about that stupid omen Trelawney thought she saw?" Hermione grumbled as they stepped into a clearing in the nicer part of the Forbidden Forest. It was used for presentations of magical creatures for their Care of Magical Creatures class.

Harry looked at his feet and adjusted his bag on his shoulder. "Sorry, it's just, I dunno, strange." He muttered to his feet. He felt an arm sling across his shoulders. Looking up he saw Alex, she was smiling brightly. He knew the whole thing had been quite a joke to her. Something he also saw were two bright steel eyes on a shadowed face. He shook his head; another vision in Alex's memories. His training would begin that evening after dinner. He was frightfully nervous about working with Hiei.

"Harry, don't worry about it so much," she said as they found spots near the fence in the clearing. A few other Gryffindors, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs were already there. She let go of his shoulder and pulled out the Monster Book of Monsters that was wrapped with rope to prevent it from biting her. Other students had their books wrapped similarly. "You haven't seen a big black dog lately, have you?"

"Well-"

"Look who's here," A drawling voice called from their left. They all turned, save for Alex, and saw Malfoy flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. Hiei had come down from Divination with them, but made no move to stand at Draco's right shoulder, as he used to do. Now Hiei stood at Alex's shoulder, and Harry couldn't understand that relationship.

"Shove off Malfoy," said Ron. "We really don't want to deal with your crud today." Harry didn't miss the dirty look that passed Alex's eyes, aimed at Ron, not Malfoy.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked, unable to hide his curiosity. Malfoy looked at Alex, an unrecognized look in his eyes.

"I'm taking this class of course," He replied, his tone not matching the look on his face. "Though I didn't know that that oaf Hagrid would be teaching it. I just might have to reconsider my choice," He trailed off as Alex pulled her wand out.

"Enough Malfoy," she hissed at him. Crabbe and Goyle advanced on her, but to Harry's surprise she stood her ground, as though the two fairly large boys didn't scare her. Harry hadn't seen her so hostile to Malfoy since their first year. Harry looked at Malfoy who actually looked worried that she might hex him. He instantly looked at the ground, but didn't mutter an apology.

"Crabbe, Goyle, back off," said Malfoy. They looked at him, but didn't question, and backed to his sides.

"Everythin' alright here?" Hagrid walked into the clearing, dead ferrets hung around his neck.

"Of course Hag- Professor," Alex turned and Harry saw none of the raging hostility that had been there but the face of an angel plastered on her face, her wand had disappeared into her shirt sleeve; it was still a little too warm to be wearing their robes outside. Hagrid's face flushed at her calling him Professor.

"Alright then, I've got a special treat for yeh all," He whistled and they waited in abated nervousness. Hagrid was known for his like of dangerous creatures.

After a few tense moments, out from behind a clump of trees walked an unusual creature. The top half looked like an eagle with antlers, feathers gleamed all the way down to his top haunches, which were actually sturdy talons rather than horses legs, where wings sprouted up and outward, and the bottom half was that of a horse speckled gray and strong.

"This," said Hagrid looking very proud. "is Buckbeak. He's a hippogryph." He threw one of the ferrets at Buckbeak who caught it and swallowed it whole. "Hippogryphs are proud creatures. Yeh should never insult one, 'cause it may be the last thing yeh ever do." Harry glanced at Alex, who had that apprehensive, but appreciative look in her eyes. He felt the same way, he was quite proud of Hagrid's first lesson going well so far. "Yeh always wanna wait for the hippogryph teh make the first move, it's polite. Then yeh bow before him and wait for him teh bow back, if he does, then yeh can touch him.

"So who wants teh go firs'?" Harry heard a shuffle of feet and thought that everyone was moving forward, all wanting a chance to touch the great beast. When he turned though, everyone but himself and Alex had stepped backwards. "Excellent! But I think only one o' yeh should go first, Alex how about you?"

She smiled and stepped forward, making her way next to Hagrid. "Now, Alex," Hagrid's voice could be heard from where the class stood. "Just stand before Buckbeak and bow, and keep yer eyes locked with his."

Alex move with a grace Harry hadn't ever noticed before. She took a few steps forward and bowed low, keeping her head up and her eyes on Buckbeak. Buckbeak's large orange eyes connected with hers. he made a little chirruping noise and inched closer to her. Harry admired Alex's bravery. She didn't move or flinch. He studied her, learning at what he should do when it came to be his turn in front of the hippogryph. Then something happened to Harry that he wasn't expecting. He was in Alex's head again, seeing her thoughts. Stay absolutely still, you move and you'll be in the hospital wing. Is that what you want? What would Draco say? He'd probably throw a temper tantrum, again. Of course, I have every right to be angry with him, what with the stunt he pulled today, he has every right to fear me- Then Harry was thrown out of her head by a force he had not seen in her mind before; a long black dragon roared at him.

I would not advise doing that again, Potter. A male voice growled at him. Harry turned and saw Hiei glaring at him with such intensity, he thought that he would catch fire right where he stood.

Harry turned back to Alex when the class cheered. She had received the approval of Buckbeak and was now stroking his feathers gently, she showed no sign of knowing that he had once again intruded into her thoughts with out her permission. Harry knew his abilities were spiraling out of control at a rapid rate. But one thing nagged at Harry; she was so absorbed in thoughts about Malfoy, it almost seemed unnatural. He knew that there was something going on, and he was going to find out what it was and he would use his new telepathy ability to do so if necessary.

Alex felt the eyes of her peers on the back of her head. But she continued to stroke Buckbeak's feathers, they were quite soft and well taken care of. "You're such a sweet thing aren't you?" She crooned at him. He clicked his beak in reply. "Very good Alex!" said Hagrid, beaming happily at her. She smiled back and stepped away from Buckbeak. A gray brackish mist hovered over her eyes momentarily and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. What was Hiei doing in her mind? That was what his mind shields looked like. Had Harry been in her mind again? What had he heard if he was?

Alex shook her head of these thoughts and walked to Hagrid. "Alrigh' Harry, it's your turn."

Alex watched as he hesitantly stepped forward. "Now, remember what Alex did there with Buckbeak." spoke Hagrid, nudging the boy forward when he hesitated next to the half giant. Alex stepped back, not wanting to interfere with Buckbeak's judgment of Harry. She found herself standing next to Maria Moorland when she stopped backing away.

"Is there something wrong between you and Malfoy?" Maria asked cautiously. "You seem to be butting heads in the past couple of days. It's only the first day of classes and the angry sparks are already flying. Alex had to smile. The ruse was working well, better than she had anticipated.

"A little," said Alex, setting a soft disappointed sigh into her words. "I really haven't a clue as to why. We parted ways on good terms when I left the manor earlier this summer-"

"So it true?" Millicent spoke up in a soft whisper. Alex watched Harry out of the corner of her eye. He was doing well with Buckbeak. Hagrid was hoisting Harry up onto the hippogryph's back. Lucky, getting to ride Buckbeak. Oh well, it buys me time. "You really did stay at Malfoy Manor?"

"Yes," Alex tilted her head to the side. With this view she could see Draco staring at her from his leaning position on the fence. "Why does that seem so shocking? Mrs. Malfoy had invited me herself. It wasn't just Draco."

"I heard," said Maria, a sharp glint in her eye. One that Alex had never really liked, one that reminded her of the Dark families these girls came from. "that Malfoy and you are, well-"

"Well what?" Alex's voice became hard as stone. Draco sat up immediately, Goyle and Crabbe took a step towards her and the other girls. Apparently her voice had raised in tone as well.

Maria lowered her voice to a harsh whisper, "That you two are an item."

"That's ridiculous!" Alex laughed and glanced at Draco, he was already walking over to them. Hagrid whistled and Buckbeak came gliding down into the clearing. Harry jumped off the hippogryph's back, looking elated. Alex had to smile, it was nice to see him looking so happy. She glanced back to Draco, who had a jealous tint in his eyes.

Draco was jealous and angry. Maria and Millicent were harassing Lexi about something and Potter had gotten to fly on the hippogryph. It just wasn't fair! He wanted so very badly to defend Lexi from what ever the girls were saying to her, and to try and one up Potter.

Trumping Potter seemed to matter more in this instance.

Draco stepped towards the now neglected hippogryph. "You're not so tough, are you?" He taunted.

"Draco!" He barely heard Alex's plea in his name.

He continued walking towards Buckbeak. "Yea, you're not so dangerous are you you great brute." The words had barely slipped off his tongue when Buckbeak reared back and lashed out with his large talons. Draco saw white, and felt pain in his right arm.

"Draco?" A familiar female voice called his name, and he felt soft, gentle hands brush his arm as if it were porcelain. He didn't open his eyes, not wanting to see the hurt, and probable anger that would fill Lexi's eyes.

"It hurts!" He cried. If he could, he would play up the pain as much as possible, it actually didn't hurt very much, and was probably nothing more than a wide scratch. He felt large arms scoop him up like a giant bag of flour.

"I'll take 'im up to the hospital wing," came Hagrid's voice, almost booming in his ear. Draco still had not opened his eyes. "Class dismissed."

Don't think that you're out of trouble, Malfoy. You won't be able to get away while you're stuck in the hospital wing. Lexi's voice was vicious in his head. He pictured the fox form of herself baring teeth and fur standing up on end in anger. It was not a pretty sight.

He certainly was in for an earful when he was cleared for visitors, and now regretted his decision of not protecting her from Millicent and Maria for trying to best Potter.

"Harry, don't worry, I'll be there with you," said Alex. She was standing in the Gryffindor common room with Harry. Ron was playing a game of wizard chess with Kurama and Hermione was helping Yusuke with their first Potions essay of the year.

"He's going to end up killing me, I know you've wanted to a couple of times now," He glanced at her from under a curtain of hair. She sighed.

"It's not like that Harry," said Kurama, having one of his knights take out one of Ron's pawns. "You're sensitive to the new powers you have. Alex may have thought about killing you, but she would never act upon that impulse."

Alex reached out to Harry and brushed away the hair that hung in front of his face and rubbed her thumb over his lightning bolt scar. There was a tingle in her moon scar on her left eye. He flinched from the unexpected gesture. "Everything's going to be fine Harry. Hiei is the best teacher for you." She pulled her hand away. Harry slowly nodded.

"Alright."

"Then let's go Harry," said Alex making her way to the portrait hole, Harry followed her, albeit cautiously.

Alex led the way to a classroom on the fourth floor that McGonagall had given them permission to use to train when it was raining outside. She was bringing her bag which carried the book that she had received from Snape. It also contained several scrolls that Koenma had sent immediately to her to help her decipher the book. They entered the classroom and found Hiei standing in the middle of the room.

"I'll be over here," said Alex, settling into a nearby desk. She was mostly there to keep an eye on Hiei, make sure he didn't push Harry too far beyond his limits; after all, Harry was still just human. She also hoped that she was far enough away from the fray that Harry wouldn't be able to get a glimpse into her head.

Hiei glanced at her but said nothing. She knew that his attention would have to be fully focused on Harry for this.

"So what exactly are we going to do?" said Harry, his voice was shaky. Hiei made him nervous, Alex noticed. He does that to most people though.

"We are going to train you and your mind to stay where they belong," said Hiei in his forceful, commanding voice. "In your own head."

"You're making it sound as if it's my fault that I wander into Alex's head-" He stopped short and glanced at Alex apologetically. She shook her head to show him that she understood. It really wasn't his fault, and with Hiei's help he will be able to hone his ability and use it freely.

Alex opened the book and scrolls as Harry summoned some pillows in case he fell from Hiei's force of training and they began.

The scrolls were very old, but provided a perfection translation and pronunciation of the Khukui language. Thank you Koenma, this is perfect. Alex pulled out a few blank parchments and began transcribing the book into English.

She was a few pages in when she began feeling a tugging at the edge of her mind. She was plunged into a deep darkness. There was a light in the center of the darkness, like a stage light shining from above. In the single light was herself, and someone else- they were embracing. But even she couldn't see who it was, and that bothered her. Was it Draco? Or someone else? Alex turned her head and saw Harry standing next to her looking stunned and frightened. "Out! Now!" She screamed. The figures under the light turned to face them, and Harry gasped, Alex had her back turned and her hand on Harry's upper arm, pulling him out of the depths of her mind.

Alex opened her eyes, and lifted her head, a parchment stuck to her cheek. She pulled it off and strode over to Harry, who was lying on his back amongst some purple plush pillows. She pulled him to his feet with astounding strength. "What did you see?" She growled. Hiei was standing back, unsure of what exactly had happened.

"I saw-" choked Harry, scared of the probable fiery look in her eyes. She closed them and set Harry down, telling herself to calm down.

"Tell me Harry, what did you see?" She spoke a little more gently, though she she couldn't quite keep the growl out of her throat.

Harry shuddered at the growl in Alex's words. She truly was hiding something. Or, was it that even she didn't know what she was hiding and him to tell her what he had seen?

"I just saw you, Lexi," He decided using her new found nickname would help calm her. He had to lie, pretend that he saw nothing else, while he figured out what the hell was going on. This seemed to appease her for now. She let go of his shirt and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, Harry, I didn't mean to react like that," She sounded sad, and full of regret. "I wish I hadn't." She smiled at him, and that smile unnerved him. It wasn't one that Alex normally bore on her face. "I'll try harder to help rather than hinder you, Harry."

"I think we're done for tonight. Tomorrow, same time Potter." Harry nearly jumped, he had almost forgotten that Hiei was with them. He nodded at the boy as he left the room.

"Harry, I want to show you something," Alex said from the desk she had been working at. Harry walked over and looked at the parchments and scrolls on the table. Some of them were in English but most had strange markings that he didn't recognize.

"What is this?" said Harry, picking up the book that bore the strange markings.

"It's a book written in Khukui. A demon language almost forgotten among my people," said Alex waving her hand over the scrolls. Harry looked and saw that they were translations of the demon language. "It's a project for me. So that I may be able to keep you and others out of my mind." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Tell me, did you see the- dragon, that protects Hiei's mind?" Harry noticed that she practically choked on the word 'dragon'. He nodded. It was a fierce thing, Harry remembered as it had shoved him out of Alex's mind earlier and Hiei had used it against him in their training.

"It is our hope that you will soon be able to do that yourself. To have a protector of your own mind," She sighed, and Harry hoped that what had been bothering her was about to leave her mouth. "I, well, I have to work the hard way to get that. Since I am not a natural telepath as you seem to be, I have to find other means to protect my mind."

"And," Harry wanted to push her until she at least told him some of the truth. "How are you doing that? Does this book have some sort of spell to help you?" She looked at him and her eyes widened, as though the thought had never even crossed her mind.

"It's- it's possible," She hesitated and took the book from him, running her fingers down on of the pages. "But I don't think that's what he had in mind for me when he wanted me to figure this book out."

"Who's 'he'?" Harry asked, tilting his head in curiosity. There was more to this than Alex was letting on. He didn't remember Alex being this complicated in their first two years here. Her face paled and her muscles tightened but Harry forced her eyes to stay locked with his. "I don't want to force it, but I will find a way into your head if you don't tell me, Lexi."

She relaxed and, surprisingly, smiled. "Well, you are a pushy person, aren't you? Why do you care so much Harry?"

"Because," It felt strange for him to be the target of questioning now. Now he felt Alex's uneasiness. "You're the only family I have left, besides the Dursley's, if they could count as family. I care about you, I worry about you." It was kind of embarrassing to admit that. But maybe if he could admit that, then Alex would reveal some of her own secrets. Then Alex surprised him by pulling him in a tight embrace. Startled for a moment, but then Harry wrapped his arms around her back, returning the gesture.

"Thank you Harry, for thinking of me as family," She whispered into his ear. "I won't ever forget that." She pulled him back. Harry saw that she had placed the book on the desk. She looked at it. "Professor Snape is going to, hopefully, be helping me in my training. But I have to decipher the book first." She gathered all her stuff and placed it in her bag.

"Snape?" Harry was stunned. "But, he hates us, why would he help you?"

"I don't need to know why, Harry. I just want him to be able to." She led the way out into the corridor.

Harry frowned. "What if he tries to hurt you or something?"

Alex laughed as they stepped onto the staircase. "I highly doubt that he would try something so bold right here in the castle. He's smarter than that."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Harry muttered as they reached the seventh floor corridor. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the Fat Lady's Portrait. Before Alex spoke the password, Harry wanted to get one last attempt in of what else she was hiding. He grabbed her arm and she turned to him.

"Is there something else that's bothering you Harry?" said Alex, in one of her most innocent voices. One that could have possibly been picked up from the Weasley twins, since it was the same voice they used when they were hiding something.

"Actually, yea." He tried to be as confident as possible. "I know that you're hiding something else. I want to know what it is." There it was, Alex avoided his gaze this time, looking down at her feet.

"It's nothing-"

"Don't." He spoke forcefully, enough so, that Alex actually brought her head up. He took a deep breath. "There are enough secrets flying around this school and between all of us," He knew that she would know he was talking about her and the detectives and Ron and Hermione. "So, even if you can't trust them with your secret, can't you trust me with it?" He let go of her arm and shrugged. "I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually, but we can have it in a controlled environment or-"

"Fine." She sighed. "But, you can't tell a soul. Promise?"

"By Merlin, I promise."

Wednesday morning, Alex made her way up to the Infirmary to have a chat with Draco. She was still extremely displeased with his performance during Care of Magical Creatures. It had even caused Lucius to file a report with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry and now the whole ordeal was under investigation.

Alex entered the Hospital Wing and found Madam Pomfrey working with a young first year who had fallen off a broom while trying to ride one without permission. "Ah, Miss Denton, you aren't injured again are you? And so early in the year."

Alex flushed and rubbed both her arms. In her first year she had sliced open her left arm while helping deal with a troll and last year had managed to get a Basilisk fang pierced through her right arm. Alex shook her head at the nurse. "No Madam Pomfrey. Actually I'm here to see Mr. Malfoy, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all. He's perfectly fine, but seems reluctant to leave. I have indulged his whims, but he will be released tomorrow morning," She eyed Alex carefully while mending the young boys' broken arm. "Perhaps you're the reason he refuses to leave?"

Alex's cheeks grew even warmer. But not from embarrassment. "I don't think I am right now, but when I get through with him, I will be."

"Well don't make too much noise, or I will be forced to make you leave," Madam Pomfrey escorted the first year boy to the door with his newly repaired arm. Alex caught her muttering, "And with Mr. Malfoy if at all possible."

Alex moved towards the only bed that had the curtains drawn. No doubt Draco had heard her voice and shut them. She sighed and shook her head. He should know better by now. She flung back the curtains with fluid motion. Draco was sitting there, fear in his eyes, but a determined look on his face. "Here to yell at me about Monday?"

She shook her head. She was going to be in control of this conversation. "No not yell." His face relaxed a bit. "I'm here to scold you." His face now held the fear his eyes held. She took a deep breath, there was no going back now. "Draco what were you thinking? Buckbeak could have actually killed you!" He flinched slightly but didn't back down. The look in his eye reminded her that of his father, and his bloodline.

"But he didn't-"

"One step more and-"

"What? So now Potter gets all the glory?" He hissed at her, his eyes blazing with anger and no fear. "Why does it seem that I'm doing everything wrong for you this year, yet Potter is getting every bit of your attention?" Alex actually shrank back at his words, then stood firm again. So he was jealous of Harry? She smiled, it was a bit cute.

"Draco," She murmured and sat in a chair near his bed. "Harry, is going through something that only I and Hiei can possibly help him with. But you," She sighed. He had to understand that there were others who needed her attention as well, and that things couldn't always be like their week at the Manor. "You're different. You shouldn't be as jealous as you are. Harry's like a brother to me. And there will always be things that I share with him, that I can't share with you." She grasped his hand and squeezed. "You've opened yourself to me in ways I will probably never understand, but I want to. I want to understand you Draco. But, I don't want you to change for me. Be yourself."

He looked at her hand and returned the gesture. "I am being myself. It's just that there's something about you that makes me want to change. To be a better person for your sake."

"And I thank you profusely for that Draco," She shook her head and pulled her hand away from his grip. "But that's not what I was here for." Now it almost seemed like a joke to scold him, after the confession he had just laid at her feet. "Is there any way you can get your father to withdraw the charges against Buckbeak and Hagrid? I don't want to see that poor creature executed."

Draco sighed. "I'll do what I can, but my father is always determined to make life for Dumbledore a living hell. If I had known what my actions were going to cause, I would have helped you deal with Maria and Millicent."

"I didn't need help with them," said Alex earnestly, she didn't want to tell Draco why they had been harassing her. "They were just trying to get information out of me about- certain things. Nothing serious."

"Well, I'll hex them the next time it happens." Alex patted Draco's head playfully.

"Sure you will Draco," She rose from her seat and made her way to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow. We have our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I'm sure you won't want to miss that."

"I won't."

"Good. Because I'll drag you there if I have to." And with that she departed the Infirmary and made her way to breakfast.