A/N: Well it's not been a whole year since the last update, but I admit I'm not doing much better. Hopefully I really will update more frequently now that it's summer though, so onwards and upwards. If anyone is still reading this, please let me know what you think :) DISCLAIMER - I'm only writing a story, nothing more.

Barely days had passed since Potter had found out about her fathers' horcruxes, but Alyssa was still on edge. No matter what her father said about their discovery being part of his plan, she could see that the news had shaken him and the longer Dumbledore was still alive, the more danger her father was in. The plan had to be stepped up, and fast. Luckily, mending the vanishing cabinet was going better than expected and Alyssa knew that, unlike her cousins past attempts, this plan was going to be fool proof. However, the plan wouldn't go half as well as it could if Potter wasn't insisting on being a complete idiot and dragging herself and Weasley along on his pathetic wild goose chases in the dungeons to catch Draco acting 'suspiciously'. She knew she would have to get away soon to get to the room of requirement and as luck would have it, the perfect opportunity presented itself to her just moments later. As the trio passed Snape's classroom, the door was flung open and, in his hurry to escape, Neville Longbottom barrelled Potter and Weasley down to the floor. She secretly smirked to herself before offering him a hand to pull himself back up, he really was the clumsiest person she had ever met. Even as her plan was forming, Weasley had already picked himself up and was back to his usual obnoxious self, "Honestly Neville, don't you look where you're going?" Before the boy even had a chance to respond, Potter had joined in too, looking suspiciously into the still open door and asking, "What were you even doing in there Neville?" Neville paled considerably at this and Alyssa had to physically restrain herself from growling in frustration before he quickly responded, "I f-failed an essay and S-Snape wants me to re-do it, do you think you could help me Hermione, I'm not sure I can cope with having to go in there on my own again", this last part was added with a sheepish smile and vaguely pleading look. Alyssa grinned to herself, "Of course Neville, why don't we head over to the library now and get started?" Before any of the boys could protest, she grabbed hold of his wrist and dragged him in the direction from which she had come. Once Potter and Weasley's grumbles had receded into the distance, she noticed Neville smiling gratefully at her, "Thank you so much…" was all he managed to say before she stopped walking and cut him off fondly, "You've really got to do better than that you idiot" He grinned back at her and this time he was the one pulling her forward as he said, "I know, I know but they put me on the spot and I panicked, they bought it though, didn't they?" Alyssa had to admit that she could fault his logic and allowed him a brief smile before pulling away from him and continuing to walk along beside him, "Just remember you need to be more careful than that, we can't have them finding out!" The quiet chuckle she heard from beside her seemed to ring through her head.

FLASHBACK

Alyssa was sitting quietly in the corner of her brand new room in her aunt and uncle's house, in the distance she could hear her cousin playing with one of his many friends, the sound of their happiness cutting into her like a knife. She looked down at the floor, cold wave of sadness spreading through her and washing over her. Suddenly the door burst open and in came six year old Draco, tugging his friend along by the hand, a small boy with grey eyes and curly black hair. She stared silently as Draco began to speak, "Lyss, this is my best friend in the whole world, Lex and he can be your best friend too if you want" turning to Lex he began to explain, "this is my cousin Lyss, she's not really my cousin but my mummy and daddy were her mummy and daddy's best friends, except they've both gone away to the angels now so she's come to live with us" Alyssa felt a tear run down her face as she listened to the childish explanation, she was barely six months older than Draco and yet she had lived through so much more and felt so much older than him. By this point Lex had noticed her tears and ran over to her, pulling her into the tightest hug his small body could manage, "You seem like you're really nice Lyss, even if you're really sad at the moment, I know how you feel though, I haven't seen my mummy for a long time because she got taken away and my Daddy isn't home much, we can be your new family" Alyssa smiled, "Well if we're family now then you should know that I'm Alyssa Electra Riddle." "And I'm Alexander Septimus Snape." At this point Draco couldn't resist joining in, "Well I'm Draco Lucius Malfoy" at which the other two children both laughed, a small watery giggle from Alyssa and a quiet chuckle from the small boy who was holding her and they replied as one. "Yes Draco, we know."

END OF FLASHBACK

Alyssa shook her head briefly and noticed that while she had been lost in thought, the two had made their way to their destination. Pushing open the door, they entered together and were greeted by the third person in the room, "I didn't realise you two actually spent time together outside of this room." Alyssa just had time to reply, "Shut up Draco" before she was spun around and pulled into a kiss, which ended much too soon for her liking. Leaning backward slightly, she looked up into the face of Neville Longbottom, who smiled down at her, "I can't kiss you like this it feels too weird." Silently she waved her hand and felt the glamours disappear as she replied, "Does this work better for you then, Alexander?" In the background she could vaguely hear Draco miming vomiting and cursing the 'cuteness of his two best friends', but Alyssa was too busy staring into mesmerising grey eyes before her.

Thank you for reading :)