The Serpens Order

Chapter 3

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Alexis tried not to think about it, but she couldn't help not to. She'd avoided Flint at all costs for about a month now, even If she most of all wanted to corner him and make him tell her the truth. Which no one seemed to keen to tell her, she'd tried tot talk to Scorpius, Estelle, Ash and even Isidore but all of them seemed oblivious to what was happening as well. Even if Estelle showed a slight concern about her parents, they too had been acting strangely lately.

She hadn't told Megan, or the guys, which might be stupid but she wasn't sure they would understand. They didn't have that kind of problems with their family, Megan's family wasn't even involved in Magic business and the guys families was… well famous for the opposite of hers. They didn't have that dark past, somehow lurking in the back of their minds at all times.

It was colder outside by now, and morning frost could be seen over the grass, and the air was starting to pinch your skin when you where outside. Other news had made the school go haywire, the Christmas dance, it was still a long time left but all the girls where already gossiping about it. Alexis didn't really care yet, as mentioned she had more important things to worry about then to get a cute guy to ask her to the dance.

Even if that wouldn't be too bad…

Currently she was sitting in charms, while Estelle tried to figure out ways to get a guy to ask her to the dance. She said it was a guy in the second year, but she wasn't that good of a liar and Alexis was well aware that she was talking about Scorpius. But being to tired to argue about it, she let it be and listened to the other girls yapping reluctantly. She glanced back at Ash who where sitting with Isidore on the bench behind them, and he gave her a knowing look. No doubt he also knew Estelle had a crush on her brother. Well, according to Ash pretty much all of the slytherin girls seemed to like him.

Huh. They apparently didn't know him too well. She shrugged of the thought and tried to focus on the teacher, but couldn't, her mind kept drifting off in different directions. And she was happy when the lesson finally ended, and then remembered she had potions immediately, and her mood fell as fast as it had risen. Estella disappeared into the crowd of slytherin girls, so she accompanied Ash and Isidore to potions. Not being surprised when she saw James and Scorpius standing as far from each other as possible in the hallway, glaring at each other menacingly. And when Ash put an arm around her shoulder just when James and Fred turned towards her, she glanced at him angrily. That was obviously just a move to make them angry.

"Don't push it" She hissed in his ear before sliding away when they reached the others, and she could hear him laughing as he joined up with her brother. And she rolled her eyes, while Megan's eyes widened when she reached her friends.

"Megan, you look like a fish, close your mouth" She grinned at her friend.

"Did he ask you to the dance?" She exclaimed silently, so that only their gang could hear her. Both James and Fred winched and looked at her desperately.

"What! No, why would he?" She narrowed her eyebrows at that outrageous statement.

"Oh, I dunno… just looked like it" Megan blushed slightly.

"Well for your information no one have asked me yet, and its still like a month until the dance" She said, and leaned against the wall. Her eyes accidentally meeting Stanley's further down the hall. He and his gang where standing a bit away from Scorpius and his friends, which was something she knew everyone noticed, consciously or unconsciously. It wasn't really normal that they divided into different gangs, and knowing her brother she was pretty sure he didn't like Stanley, he was like a smaller Preston. And now when Score knew about her encounter with Preston, she knew he hated him.

"Well, its never too early you know" Megan grinned. "Or else all the good ones will be gone" She flipped her hair.

"Really, never thought you where one to think like that?" She mocked her friend while James and Fred stared disbelievingly at Megan.

"What?" She exclaimed. All of them smiled and shook their heads, mumbling 'nothing at all' as the teacher came and let them into the classroom.

Professor Bole, their teacher, was also the head of slytherin. Wish made this her least favorite class, since she hated Bole and his strange temper.

"Today class, I am going to divide the class into pairs, and we will be working on a truth serum"

The class stirred in their seats.

"Of course the truth serum won't be strong, and many of you won't even succeed making it since it's pretty advanced. And even if you do, the effect will only last for a few minutes" The teacher continued. Alexis looked at Professor Bole, she'd never really liked him. He was a severe man with a quickly descending hairline and always dressed in the same black robes. But for once, he had actually picked an interesting potion to make.

"Okay lets see… Mr. Montague and Miss Brown, Miss Wood and Mr. Travers (Leroy Travers, a slytherin) She quickly looked at the girls, who seemed devastated. Ash wasn't the happiest either. The teacher continued to pair Gryffindor´s and Slytherin's up, ignoring the scowls from the students. He even put James and Scorpius together.

"And let's see… ah, Miss Malfoy and Mr. Goyle. That's all of you, well get to work, instructions on page 21. Chop, chop!"

Megan stared at her, she'd been put with Isidore, at least Alexis knew he wouldn't do anything against her. Beside her Fred made a funny face walking over to Estelle, who looked even worse.

"Hey Malfoy" Stanley dump down beside her that Fred had just left, with a self conscious grin on his face.

"Shut it Goyle"

"Just trying to be nice" He shrugged his shoulders beside her. While she opened her book.

"Look, we don't have to fight, just get this done and then we can go back to hating each other again, okay?"

"Sure" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh and before you begin, I need you to be cautious, because this potion is dangerous before its ready, don't spill it, it burn through your clothes and skin, do everybody understand that?" Professor Bole shouted to them all. Alexis gulped, and threw a quick glance at Stanley, to her horror he looked oddly happy.

She kept an watchful eye on Stanley during the whole time, afraid he might do something. But he was behaving quite nice, better then usual anyway. Soon they where almost done, their potion having a deep blue color, just as the book said it should have. Professor Bole came by and phrased them on it, well only Stanley really.

"I'll go get the last ingredients then?" Stanley asked as she steered the potion in her cauldron.

"Yeah sure" The sooner we are done and I'll get away from you, she thought. Stanley went to fetch the ingredients, and stopped to talk to one of the guys in his gang for a moment. Laughing hysterically at something. She turned her eyes back at the potions, and for one second she thought of the possibilities of this potion. She could make her parents tell her the secret they where hiding from her…

She didn't notice that Stanley was back beside her, and then everything suddenly happened very fast. He had the ingredients in a box, wish he put down right next to the cauldron. The box accidentally pushed down her book on the floor, and she bent down to get it, then he made a move as to help her, and his robe caught the end of the cauldron, making it tip over, right on to her arm.

The pain wasn't instant, since the potion had to burn through the clothes first, and during that short time she looked up at Stanley. He didn't look sorry or regretful. But then at the same time the pain hit in, he started shouting sorry, and tried to help her up. She pushed him away, as the teacher noticing them, and all the other.

"What happened?" Bole came hurrying towards them.

"I'm sorry professor, I didn't mean to, it accidentally knocked over" Stanley lied successfully, because Bole barely looked at him.

"Miss Malfoy, go to the hospital wing immediately!" He bellowed at her, while she was working hard not to let the pinching pain show on her face. Not here, not now.

"Professor, maybe someone should go with her?" It was James, ha was beside her now. And was then pushed away by Scorpius one second later, who looked at her with worried eyes.

"Alex, you okay?"

She didn't answer, if she tried to she would surely start to cry.

"No. I want all other students to stay in the classroom and continue with their potions. Miss Malfoy is not badly hurt, I'm sure she'll manage" He gave her a stern look, and then Scorpius as he started to object. Score put one arm around her shoulders, steadying her until they reached the door.

"You gonna be alright?"

She nodded with difficulty, and then slid out the door quickly. The pain was consuming all of her thoughts as she clutched her burning arm running through the castle. Stupid, Stupid Stanley, he did that on purpose. And knowing Bole he would never believe her if she told him, she was practically screwed.

Madam Pomfrey sighed loudly as she entered the infirmary, but quickly looked over her arm and poked at it with her wand several times. And the pain went number for each time, when Pomfrey put some kind of bandage around it Alexis suddenly noticed her wet chins. She hadn't been able to hold in the tears after all, she quickly rubbed them away with the end of her sleeve.

"My dear, an accident like this, Professor Bole should know better then letting first years make truth potions" Pomfrey mumbled while fussing around her arm. Feeling better now dear?"

She nodded, the pain was gone and her arm only felt a little sticky.

"I won't have to stay during the night will I?" She thought of spending the night at the hospital wing and shrugged uncomfortably.

"No no dear, you can go now if you want to" Pomfrey smiled and then disappeared behind a curtain. At that moment the doors burst open and a group of people streamed into the room. First where Scorpius and James, bickering about something, after them where Fred, also sending Scorpius angry glances, and then Megan who looked a little intimidated by Scorpius but her eyes where the first to focus upon Alexis.

"Alex!" She ran over quicker than any of the guys, even if she was much shorter.

"You okay?" She asked when Alexis jumped off the bed, and her brother came up by her side.

"Yes I'm fine, doesn't even hurt anymore. Can we leave now please?" She exclaimed at the little huddle who had formed around her, trying to shatter them. Only Megan seemed to get the point, and seized her arm to drag her out of the room.

"We are late for girl talk in the library" She hissed in Alexis ear, while dragging her out in the hallway, and Alexis just had time to wave at the boys to show she was okay before she was dragged around a corner.

"See you before dinner!" She shouted to James and Fred. And Megan who has slowed down rolled her eyes.

"Seriously can't those guys live without you for a minute?"

"We're best friends"

"Maybe you should go to the dance with one of them" Megan muttered.

"I don't think so" She answered, trying to hide a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. Megan stopped.

"Seriously"

"No, we're friends" She repeated sternly.

"Whatever you say" Megan dropped the subject as they reached the library, and saw Courtney and Shannon sitting in a corner. Having a hushed conversation under the stares of the twitchy librarian. She and Megan thumbed down next to them.

"Hey, you okay Alex?" Both of the girls looked at her arm worriedly.

"Yepp, barely feel it" She smiled "Now, what's the emergency?"

All the girls smiled at each others.

"Brian asked me to the dance!" Courtney exclaimed happily.

"Woe, that's great!" She answered, happy for her friend.

"I know, he asked me during potions, just before your… accident" She finished.

"Oh, well, that wasn't really an accident, you should have seen the killer look he gave me. I'm already planning a revenge"

"No, you'll get into trouble again, c'mon Alex. You've already served detentions" Megan sighed.

"But I can't let him get away with it, you hate him too Megan!"

"The best way to annoy them is to show that you don't care"

"But I do care!" She cried, as the librarian cast them an angry glance.

"I know but just don't do anything"

"Girls, I want you to leave this library immediately!" The librarian stood by their side apparently, and they all jumped.

"Sorry" They all mumbled and slid past her and hurried for the door. Courtney jumped around very happy the rest of the day, and finally the rest of them had to tell her to calm down, when she almost went off one of the moving staircases because she wasn't paying attention.

She did however, not revenge on Stanley, but she was pretty sure that Scorpius had said something to him, because Stanley didn't talk to her during the rest of the potion classes that week. He just sent her these angry glances and then he would look sour and look away quickly as Score would come up beside her or look his way.

Well, at least that problem was out of the way then, but that didn't mean she hadn't enough problems to think of. And it would show that some problems that she'd thought she'd gotten rid of was in fact, still there.

One afternoon, she James and Fred where walking over the almost empty yard, the dark was beginning to fall and Fred where gesticulation like crazy telling them about his great ghost stories that he used to tell James little sister Lily and his own Little sister Roxanne.

Then Preston showed up in front of them, but he wasn't alone. He was flanked up by two other bulky third years, smiling stupidly and menacingly at them. They stationed themselves so that they cut of their way, making the three of them stop. All of them scowling at the bigger guys.

"Out of the way Preston!" James hissed at the bigger guy, and suddenly a flash of memory came through her mind as she remembered James last fight with Preston. It hadn't ended well, wish wasn't that strange considering Preston was about twice as big as James. She grabbed his hand, stopping him from stepping forward. They would not win a fight against this guys.

"Naaw, little James is being hold back by his girlfriend" One of the other guys sniggered, and the other two laughed. She felt a blush rise on her cheeks again, and quickly let go.

"Shut up Preston! Just go away!" She spoke with a high voice.

"Nah, you know, you got me in detention little girl, I'm not about to just let that pass" Preston took a step forward toward her, and one second later Fred and James had stationed themselves in front of her. Even if the situation wasn't exactly funny she had to roll her eyes at them behind their backs anyway, pushing them away so that's he could slid between them.

"Alex, keep back!" Fred whispered.

"Oh shut up!" She wasn't about to just stand by and watch. But she almost regretted it when the Preston and his gang advanced on them, the two guys eyeing James and Fred and Preston reaching for her…

"Get off my sister!" She spun around in surprise hearing the familiar voice. Scorpius, Ash and Isidore had successfully pushed away James and Fred, so that Score was standing in front of her and Ash and Isidore on each side of her. For once she actually was happy to see them.

Preston laughed, but she could see his eyes flickering over them. It was six against three now, he wouldn't risk it.

"C'mon Scorpius, we're in the same house" He grinned at her brother. While James wrenched free from one of Preston's friends and reluctantly joined up beside Scorpius. Fred was looking at Ash with a slightly disgusted look but still stayed beside him.

"You should know that that doesn't say much anymore, does it Flint?" Her brother retorted, and she gave him a surprised look. Preston however, didn't answer, he just snorted before looking over them one last time.

"Maybe so Malfoy, but I never thought you would sink so low that you sided with… them!" He spat out the last word in disgust.

"I'm siding with my sister" Scorpius answered calmly. And Preston narrowed his eyes.

"I'm just telling you Malfoys, your stupidity will be your defeat" He spat out and then turned around harshly, his friends following looking bewildered.

"Yeah you walk away" Fred shouted after them, earning eye rolling from the whole group.

"What?" He exclaimed "They're cowards" He continued. And James smacked him in the shoulder. But Alexis didn't look at them, she was watching her brother, he was wearing the same expression she'd been wearing for months now. He also knew that's something wasn't right, she tried to catch his eyes, but he seemed to be out of thought.

"You okay?" It was Ash who had put an hand on her shoulder, she turned away from her brother and looked at Ash, wondering if he felt that something was wrong.

"Uh- huh" She answered absently.

"Sure?" James was on her other side, and Ash scowled at him.

"Yes, I just said I was, nothing happened, you where all here!" She exclaimed tiredly, wondering when everybody would stop being so protective and worried.

"She's fine, C'mon now" Score gave her a quick glance and she smiled gratefully, sometimes he knew exactly what she was thinking. Isidore and Ash followed him reluctantly, Ash 'accidentally' bumping into James shoulder as they walked past. She gave both of them a warning look, even is she was pretty sure the back of Ash's head didn't see it. Fred frowned beside her.

"You have a way of getting into trouble you know that" He put one arm around her shoulders, and she was grateful because by now it was pretty cold outside.

"I know, trouble seems to find me" She muttered back, letting her head fall onto Fred's shoulder. Not noticing the way James barely looked at the two of them as they went back to the castle.

That night she felt like she'd won in some way, but also lost. She was now absolutely positive that something was wrong, because her brother had noticed it too. And the hostility in Preston was deeper then just the fact that they didn't like each other. And her Parents and Mr. Flint, that also lay deeper then just despising of each other.

But one thing had made her feel better in this whole mess, facing a common enemy Gryffindor´s and Slytherin's had cooperated, this was something that had never happened before she was pretty sure off. Even if it just had been for a short moment, it was a sign of hope for her, and that made her falling to sleep with a slight smile on her face.

The following days the only subject of speaking was the upcoming Christmas dance. It would be held the night before everyone would go home for the break. So everyone was going, most people actually seemed to have dates. Aaron asked a Ravenclaw girl, and she could see that after that Shannon gave that girl killer looks whenever she had the chance. Guys could really be oblivious when it came to girls, it was so obvious that Shannon liked Aaron that everyone knew it, well except him of course. So then Shannon said yes to a Hufflepuff boy, only hoping to make Aaron jealous, it was all very complicated, and she tried to keep out of it. She knew that Estelle had asked Scorpius, and judging by her happy looks lately she was pretty sure he had said yes.

"Aren't you guy's going to ask someone?" Megan asked James and Fred one day, when the four of them where having dinner. Alexis hoped deeply that she was the only one who noticed how Megan's eyes fluttered to Alexis as she asked them.

"Huh?" Fred's head shot up from where he had been deeply concentrated on his food, making his bronze hair fall into his eyes.

"You know… the dance, you can't have missed it?" Megan exclaimed.

"Well, a few girls asked me but…" Fred didn't finish the sentence, Alexis felt her eyes widen. Nobody had asked her yet to the dance… Megan glanced at her seeming to sense her sudden mood change.

"Why didn't you say yes?" Alexis asked, actually wondering. Fred turned to her instead, a slight smile playing over his features.

"They seemed really boring" He only said and returned to his food. Both Megan and Alexis rolled their eyes.

"You then James?" Megan prompted at the black haired boy, who seemed slightly uncomfortable

"Well, I don't know yet" He said finally, and avoided Megan's stare. She sighed loudly and muttered 'Boys' under her breath, only loud enough for Alexis to hear.

"C'mon Alex, lets go" She grabbed the other girls hand and dragged her off the chair. A new habit of hers to drag people everywhere?

"Bye" Both boys called in unison as the girls disappeared out of the hall.

"Soo… what's up?" Megan asked her.

"What do you mean?"

"You looked really sad when I brought up the dance"

"Oh… well its just that… nobody asked me to the dance yet" She blushed slightly. Megan had turned down a by who asked her because she didn't particularly like him, but at least she'd been asked.

"You really don't get why?" Megan frowned.

"What, why?" Alexis stopped, and looked at the shorter girl, who only shook her head.

"I'm surprised that you can be so stupid when I know you are smart" Megan stated.

"Oh just tell me!"

"Okay okay, its because of James and Fred, and probably your brother and his friends too, you know, Ash and Isidore…"

"What's with them?" She asked, now confused.

"You are always with James and Fred"

"Yeah, we're best friends"

"But many of the guys are intimidated by them, you know…"

"Oh…" Finally she understood what Megan was trying to say. "But there is nothing between us, you know that"

"I'm just saying" Megan shrugged. Alexis didn't bother answering. But she couldn't help thinking, if what Megan said was true, then she'd never get someone to go to the dance with. Wish was exactly why, she became so surprised when someone actually asked her.

She, Fred, James and Megan where waiting outside the potions classroom, she and Megan standing a bit away from the guys. When someone tapped her on the shoulder, she spun around to see Ash standing there with a broad smirk on his face.

"Hey Alex" He grinned.

"Hey Ash…" She answered, slightly suspicious.

"Well, I was wondering, you know, since where friends…" She couldn't help but snort slightly at the use of his word, and he rolled his eyes at her. "-if you wanted to come to the dance with me?"

She actually dropped her books.

Did Ash just ask her to the dance? Ash! In front of both James and Fred. She didn't even bother to pick up her books, she just stood there, staring at him.

"Ehm… Alex, you awake?" He waved his hand in front of her face, she slapped it away. But he was still smirking.

"So what do you say?" He leaned against the wall, waiting for his answer, for a moment she thought about saying no only to wipe that self conscious smirk of his face. But at this rate he was the only one who had the courage enough to ask her, and no one else probably would if she turned him down.

"Okay then" She finally answered calmly, turning away from him immediately, but she caught a glimpse of his victorious grin.

"O…m…g" Megan breathed.

"What?"

"Oh, just a muggle expression" Megan waved her hand dismissively.

"What did he say?" James and Fred was by their side now.

"He asked her to the dance" Megan smiled.

"What?" They two boys exclaimed simultaneously.

"Yeah"

"What did you say?" James gave her an incredulous look.

"I said yes"

"Why?" Fred's eyes widened in shock.

"Yes, he's a slytherin" James joined in.

"Because he's the only one who asked me. And he's one of the reason Preston and his gang didn't beat us up before" She said coldly, she'd never felt an urge to defend Ash or anyone of those she knew in the slytherin house before but now she felt that the boys where being completely unreasonable.

"But…" Fred started.

"Oh shut up if you know what's good for you" Megan sighed, and Fred fell silent, and for the first time since she started Hogwarts she felt angry towards the boys. They where being just like everybody else, assuming things from what others told them.

"Don't make a big deal out of it" She mumbled as they walked in to the classroom, and she didn't talk to them during the whole class. It was strange, it wasn't like she wanted to be fighting with the boys but they where behaving really immature. Glancing back she could see them both looking over at Ash, who still seemed to be wearing that smirk. Then she felt a bit angry towards Ash to, if he could just loose the grin.

Later that day a Ravenclaw girl asked James to the dance, she was pretty, really pretty, with dark long red hair and a cute hart shaped face. He said yes, and she walked away with an overjoyed look on her face, Alexis couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation towards the girl.

"Huh, the third Potter to fall for the red haired curse" Fred muttered beside them.

"What?" Megan asked interestedly.

"Look, James grandmother had read hair, James mother has read hair, it seemed like the curse is unbreakable. James will probably end up married to the girl" Fred joked. James blushed violently and pushed Fred out of his tracks, and Fred just laughed. Alexis actually felt even more hostility towards the totally innocent girl after that, but why did she? She didn't care.

Megan finally poked Fred in the ribs one day, suggesting that they should go as friends, and he agreed. That way, they where all set for the upcoming dance, and Alexis finally started too feel a little anticipation for the dance. And the fact that after that the term would be over, and she'd be going home to Malfoy Manor for the Christmas break. And maybe finally find some answer to what had been bugging her during her time at Hogwarts.

Thanks for the reviews, both of them. (I'm not at all sarcastic) Okay, just kidding. What do you think about this chapter, more drama, eh? Next chapter will be up soon of you review, maybe with some answers?

Bye :D