So here's the next chapter. It's almost done! As you may have noticed, it's really short... I'm not a big fan of the second book. But I promise that Year 3 and beyond will be the most exciting, because that's where things really start developing, such as Alex's past. Yay! Alright so here we go!

"I know that Hagrid likes dangerous creatures, but really? Setting one loose on the school?" Kuwabara said in a hushed tone the next morning after Harry and Alex had described what had happened with the diary. It was now sitting at the bottom of Alex's trunk. "Isn't Hagrid a half-breed anyway? Why would he want to set loose a monster that petrifies and kills Muggleborns?" These were all the same questions that they had been wondering about the night before.

Alex spotted Hiei and Draco enter the Great Hall; Hiei looked tired.

"'Scuse me just a second." Alex got up from the table and walked over to them, her school robes trailing behind her

"Morning Alex," Draco said. She nodded to him.

"Hiei." He looked at her with his tired eyes. "Did you know what that diary really was?" She asked in all seriousness. He suddenly looked alert.

"You're not hurt are you?" She sighed inwardly.

"It doesn't harm people... at least I don't think so, not the diary." She watched his muscles relax. She could feel Draco's curious gaze on them, probably wondering what could cause Hiei to be so protective of her. Because if something happens to me, he goes to the demon form of a jail, which isn't pleasant, or so I'm told. It sucks to be the adopted sister of the young prince of Spirit World. She thought.

"Than what does it do?" She breathed a little easier. So he didn't know what it was. Which meant that he if he had, he probably would never have given it to her.

Not in front of Draco. He doesn't need to know yet. But it showed us who may have opened the Chamber fifty years ago. She spoke telepathically, while saying aloud, "You can have a conversation with it. Someone must've placed some sort of spell on it."

It showed you? As in a memory? Isn't that Dark magic? Hiei's words hit her like bricks. Of course, it was Dark magic. Perhaps this Tom Riddle wasn't such a Saint after all. But she would keep that to herself for now. But they still needed to speak with Hagrid about his side of the story. "We're going to visit Hagrid later this evening. I know you like to know where I am, so that's why I'm telling you." She said, filling in the silence so that Draco wouldn't get suspicious. Her words were actually saying for him to go with them that evening. They weren't really going to visit Hagrid, they really weren't sure how to bring up that kind of topic, so Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara decided to let off some steam in their training circle.

"Thanks." He muttered, a a small flush showing on his cheeks. She turned to look at Draco, her first sign of acknowledging his presence.

"Draco, I wanted to thank you for the flowers on Valentine's day. They're still quite beautiful. Did you put some sort of spell on them?" He smiled. She knew he loved it when he was complemented, it was the Malfoy in him.

"Actually yea, I did. They'll be that way for quite awhile." He said proudly. Alex turned back to the Gryffindor table. The others were now pouring over the timetables they were suppose to fill out for next year. She sat down next to Harry and looked over his shoulder.

"Divination? Really?" She looked at her own timetable. "I guess it couldn't hurt." She smiled at him as he watched her write it on the parchment. He looked at her new schedule.

"You're taking Care of Magical Creatures too?"

She double checked her schedule and placed it in her bag. "Well yea, I mean it sounds loads more interesting then the other classes we could choose from." She glanced at Hermione, who had decided to just sign up for all the classes. "Though I don't why I would want more than two electives, and if either one doesn't pan out, I can always take another class, right? And I still don't know what I want to do with my future."

Harry and Alex were on their way up to the Gryffindor common room after their Quidditch practice. Wood was holding practice almost every night for their up coming match against Hufflepuff. They had barely made it to the sixth floor when Neville came running down the stairs. He stopped in front of them, panting.

Alex titled her head to the side, giving the plump boy a quizzical look. "What's wrong Neville?"

He took a moment and managed to say, "Alex, Hermione sent me to get you- there's something wrong in your dormitory." Panic struck her heart. What if someone had found her swords, or worse yet-

Alex flung herself up the remaining steps to the seventh floor and down the corridor. At the Fat Lady she almost yelled the password, earning herself a glare from the Lady as she swung open. Alex nearly glided inside, ignoring the stares from the others around her and climbed the stairs to the girl's dormitory. Hermione was already there, trying to clean things up as best she could. Scattered across the floor were all of her things from her trunk. Books were torn apart, parchments and her clothes hung from the rafters and other beds, ink was smeared across the floor."Alex!" Hermione cried when she saw her. "I tried, but well-"

"The diary, is it here?" It was the only thing on her mind. If the diary was gone-

"I don't know, I haven't been able to search for it. All your demon things are still hidden away-"

"I don't care about that Hermione!" Alex flung up her arms. Why doesn't anyone understand the gravity of the situation? That diary is Dark magic. Alex took a deep breath, and calmed herself. Now wasn't the time to be in hysterics, even though she desperately wanted to be in that state right now. Alex pulled out her wand from her sleeve and waved it. All her things lifted off the floor and out of Hermione's arms, books repaired themselves and the ink returned to its jars. Clothes folded themselves and everything tucked itself neatly back into her trunk. When everything was cleaned up, Alex returned her wand to her sleeve. Hermione stared at her.

"I see you've been practicing." She said, looking a little jealous at the display of magic she had just witnessed. Alex couldn't help but feel happy about besting Hermione at magic for once. They made their way downstairs back into the common room. Alex noticed that everyone was trying to not look at her. Harry and Neville had made their way to the common room, Ron was standing with them, along with Kurama and Yusuke.

"Is everything alright, Alex?" Alex glanced at the floor and back at Harry.

The diary is gone Harry. Someone took it. She spoke in his mind. It was probably the first time she had done that to him, so she wasn't surprised to see the startled look on his face. "Everything is fine Harry, nothing was taken." She said, more loudly than necessary but it got the prying eyes away from them. "I'm going to go get cleaned up." Then she left the common room to be in her own thoughts, or so she thought. Alex knew Hiei would want to know about what had happened.

Hiei.

What?

The diary-

What about it? He didn't sound pleased about being disturbed. She sometimes wondered what he did in his free time.

It's been stolen. By a Gryffindor. She had to stress that point. No one else knew the password or had the ability to sneak into the Tower without notice. Hiei I'm worried. That diary is Dark Magic. She waited a bit for a reply. Some sort of outrage from him. But nothing came. Hiei? Nothing. She got worried and she left the dormitory and made her way to the dungeons. She had to be careful, since it was after curfew but she had to find out what had happened to Hiei. Thanks to her trip into the Slytherin House earlier in the year with Harry and Ron, she knew exactly where it was. Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest.

"Hiei?" She called out in a whisper. A shadow eclipsed her. She looked up and was nearly nose to nose with Draco. "Merlin!" She cried. "Draco, what are you doing here?" She asked after she managed to calm herself. He looked at her with an odd expression.

"I could ask you the same thing." He had straightened up to allow Alex to stand fully. He crossed his arms across his chest. Alex noted that he looked very much like Hiei or Kurama when she was being reprimanded by them. She also noted that she and Draco stood face to face. It was stark contrast to the height that Yusuke, Kuzuma and Kurama had over her and the height she had over Hiei. "So are you going to tell me why you're here, or should I be a jerk and go get Professor Snape and get you in trouble for being out late?"

She let a smile creep over her face. "And get yourself in trouble in the process? Because, as I see it, you are also out late. So I'll answer your question with a question: Why are you out so late?"

Draco blanched but regained his composure. He shouldn't have lost his cool in the first place, if he was a proper Malfoy. She smiled inwardly. "I was on my way back from Slytherin Quidditch practice." It was then that she noticed that he held his broom and had his practice robes on. "And once again back to you; what-"

"I was looking for Hiei." She said roughly, she didn't want to hear the question again.

Alex? A familiar voice sounded in her head, but it wasn't Hiei's.

Harry? She called hesitantly. He learned quickly, she was sure of that.

Good, I got it! He sounded rather proud of himself. She would be too, for one who didn't naturally have the gift of telepathy, it would be rather difficult to learn. Anyway, have you seen Hermione? She disappeared after I heard that voice again, and she ran off muttering something about going to the Library. We were looking for you and ran into Hiei, he was on his way to meet you in the Tower, and Hermione dragged him with her. If he had been talking, the boy would probably have been winded and speaking breathlessly. Alex eased the muscles in her body that had been tensing. At least they were both safe. And she could safely return to the Tower.

"Alex? Are you listening?" Draco was practically waving his hands to get her attention. I need to get better at splitting my attention between mind chatter and this annoyance.

I'll be back soon Harry. Tell the others not to worry alright?

Sure.

"I'm sorry Draco, what were you saying?" He sighed, his body was more relaxed than she remembered it being when they first met on the Hogwarts Express, something that made him more childlike, rather than the stuck up snob he liked to play.

"Would you like to come to the Common room? There's something that I'd like to show you that I think you would like." Alex thought her heart had stopped for a moment.

"But, I'm not-"

"Allowed." He sighed again, but with a more exasperated tone to it. "That's a load of rubbish if you ask me. At least in your case." He flashed her a smile. "You have me and Hiei to defend you from the others. Along with Crabbe and Goyle... and Maria."

Now it was her turn to fold her arms over her chest and give a ridiculous look. "Crabbe and Goyle? Maria I understand but-"

"They do what I tell them to. Are you coming or not? It won't take long." He was already making his way to the end of the corridor. She dropped her head and followed, this could not end well.

Alex followed Draco into the circular room. She did her best to look bewildered and awed by it's grace and beauty. Some of it was real, and some was fake. Alex had seen it all before, but she wasn't about to reveal who she was to Draco, not yet, she told herself.

Maria was sitting on one of the divans. She looked up as they walked in and the scowl she had on her face turned into a smile. She stood and walked over to them, hugging Alex while she was there.

"Finally." She spoke, her voice was quite gentle for a Slytherin, where most of the girls had harsh voices. "You've been saying you were going to bring her in here for ages. I thought I was going to have to do it myself." Alex had to smile. She wasn't expecting a welcome like that.

"Thanks Maria." She spoke softly. "That means a lot to me."

Maria flashed her smile at Alex, and lowered her voice so that Draco couldn't hear, "Well, he's been talking about it for weeks. Normally we're not allowed to bring people from other Houses, but we've seen the older students do so," Alex could hear the hinting implications in Maria's voice. Alex nodded in understanding. "Granted, we can't tell you the passwords, but bringing you here while with one of us is within our power. I'm sure you've seen Gryffindor's bring in people from other Houses?" Alex nodded again, her thoughts drifted back to the lost diary. Even still, it wouldn't be possible for someone to have taken the diary that was outside our own House, unless they were brought in. But the mild damage done to my things could only have been done by one person.

"Where'd Draco go?" She asked as Maria dragged her over to an empty couch by the fire. Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle were all sitting in chairs nearby. Pansy never looked pleased when Draco was giving her attention. Jealous. Alex thought mildly.

"He said he had something to give you." Alex was mildly curious. She had already received a beautiful bouquet of magical flowers from him, what more could he give her? Then, as she sat there having Maria chat in her ear, she realized something. He's trying to woo me! With gifts! Her hand automatically went to the necklaces at her neck. Is it possible for him to be my secret admirer? She could think no further on the matter because Draco came out holding something wrapped in cloth.

"Here," He handed it to her. It was quite heavy. "My mother thought you might enjoy reading this." Alex sighed a metal sigh of relief. It was from his mother, not from him. She unfolded the silken cloth and revealed a book wrapped in leather. It looked old, even ancient. Alex carefully opened the pages. She felt the eyes of the other Slytherins watching her, it was rather unnerving. There were many pictures in it, many of family trees of wizarding families. The words that followed the trees told the stories of each family.

"Draco," said Alex. There were almost no words to describe her gratitude. "I will have to thank your mother for such a wonderful gift." She saw Draco whisper in Goyle's ear and Goyle got up and left. The others took the hint and also departed to their dormitories. She swallowed hard, now she and Draco were alone in the common room.

"Mother would love it if, in return, you would come and stay with us for a short time during the summer." It wasn't really a question. She looked him in the eyes, it wasn't just his mother who wanted her to come visit. But she didn't like the idea of being around his father, Lucius Malfoy, there was something about that man that made her stomach queasy. Draco's eyes were practically pleading the words that his pureblood trained mouth could not form. Alex sighed and smiled.

"If it will please you and your mother, then I would be honored to come and stay for a time." She replied. A smile formed on the boy's face. Perhaps it will be a good time for me to tell him about my being a demon. I will have to tell him at some point, so why not in a place he finds comforting. The clock on the wall struck. She looked at it, it was midnight. She stood clutching the book to her chest. "I really need to go Draco, I've got my match in the morning!"

He walked her to the entrance of the House. "Thanks for coming Alex, you're welcome here anytime." She smiled.

"Thanks Draco." She left and carefully made her way back to the Gryffindor Tower. Once in her dormitory she saw that Hermione's hangings were pulled shut. At least she made it back safely. And Alex fell into a deep sleep, all the while still clutching the book Draco had given her.

Alex wolfed down a breakfast. She was running late and need to get to the pitch quickly. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, without attracting attention to her speed, and made it to the pitch just in time to meet the rest of the team getting ready to head into the locker rooms.

"Cutting it a little close aren't you?" George whispered to her as they sat on the benches and Wood began his speech. "What, was you're pony tail crooked?" She glared at him.

"No, I slept in. I had a late night." Alex muttered angrily. It was a short speech by Wood, and the team made their way out onto the Quidditch pitch. But before they could mount their brooms, Professor McGonagall stepped onto the pitch with a giant megaphone.

"I need all students to return to their dormitories immediately. The match has been canceled. Prefects please make sure that everyone returns in an orderly fashion." She pulled the megaphone away from her mouth and turned to the players. "Potter, Denton, I think you should come with me."

Kurama, Yusuke, Kazuma, get down here now! Alex didn't like the inflection in McGonagall's voice. The boys were walking up to them moments later, Ron jogging along behind them. McGonagall eyed Alex, and then said, "Yes, perhaps it's best if you all come with as well." She led them up to the castle and up the stairs to the Hospital Wing. Alex was not prepared for the sight that came before her eyes. In two beds next to each other were Hiei and Hermione. Hiei was frozen in a very defensive pose, more than likely getting ready to attack whatever had petrified them. Alex found herself shaking. She was scared. If Hiei was attacked then that did not bode well for what could happen to her or even anyone else. Hiei was suppose to have been protecting her. Now who did she have? She felt a hand gently grip her own. She glanced over to see that it was Yusuke.

"At least he tried to protect Hermione." Was all that he could muster. Yusuke looked up to Hiei, and now here he was, lying on a bed like stone. Alex looked at Hermione. She looked terrified.

At least she was smart enough to drag Hiei with her.

"Can any of you tell me why they might have had this with them? Miss Granger was holding it when they were found." McGonagall held up a pocket mirror. They all shook their heads. "Very well, I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower. I need to address the rest of the students anyways." She led the group back up to the common room. It was packed with Gryffindors muttering to each other, curious as to what happened. "No student is to leave the Tower after six o'clock. All evening activities are hear-by postponed. Teachers will be escorting students from class to class, and to any other place you may have to get to. You will not leave any place without an escort." She sighed and looked at the students with a very grim face. "I've never been so distressed, if the culprit is not found, I'm afraid Hogwarts will be closing forever." She added in a very distressed voice. She departed the common room and the room burst into rumors and speculation.

Alex stayed in a shadowed corner of the room, she had her knees under her chin and her arms folded over her knees. She felt strangely numb to everything around her. Her last bit of protection was lying in the Hospital Wing. Of course Yusuke and the others are strong, but Hiei- he's like the brother I need looking after me. The shadow following me. Her mind felt unstable without his voice lingering in her head.

"Alex?" She jumped, startled by the voice, and looked up to see one of the Weasley twins looking at her. Her mind couldn't focus enough to distinguish which one it was. He sat down next to her. "Are you okay?" It was odd, hearing a Weasley twin sound so serious, normally they would be making jokes to lighten the mood and make people feel better. She managed a weak smile.

"I could ask you the same thing." Her voice sounded small and meek. He smiled.

"I'm fine. George is entertaining the first years, so that they stay out of a panic." So it was Fred she was talking to, they never lied to her, knowing that she would find out the truth. "Yea, I know, I'm a little out of my element here, so work with me, alright?" She managed a laugh. His face lit up. "There's the Alex we know." The smile on his face faded. "Look, I'm just gonna tell it to you straight, so I can get back to being a normal, prank-playing wizard," Alex forced another smile onto her face. "Hiei may be lying in the Hospital Wing, but you have your own strength. Isn't this the kind of thing you've been training for?" Alex did her best to avoid his gaze, but she couldn't help but put them back on his eyes. There was something about the twins that made them irresistible to watch, perhaps that's why they did so well in attracting audiences for their experiments and presentations.

"Maybe it is, but I feel," She searched for the right word to describe how she felt. "Empty." She settled on that, it was closest to how she felt. "Ever since I met Hiei almost two years ago, it's like he's been connected to me. I don't think it's just because we're both... demons," She whispered the word. "And ever since then, I haven't done much that he hasn't been there for, or seen through my eyes, thanks to his third eye. Because of his petrifaction, there's a hollow spot in my mind where his presence would linger. And strangely enough, I miss it."

Fred was unable to reply to that. Instead, he pulled out something from his pocket and moved his hands about in odd gestures, like he was folding something very small, Alex watched him in mild fascination and curiosity. She had watched the twins in work before, but she had never seen this. After he was done, he pulled out his wand and waved it. "Hold out your hand." She did so, it was still shaking fairly badly. He grabbed her hand to help steady it. In her palm he placed a small paper creature. It was a fox and it was moving. "It's yours. You said that you were a fox demon, right? Well, I know it won't help repair the empty spot in your mind, but it might help take your mind off of the missing piece. At least until Hiei comes back." She smiled at him.

"Thank you Fred. It means a lot." He let go of her hand, and already it was a lot steadier.

"Alex?" She tore her gaze away from the paper fox to look up and see Harry and Ron looking down at her.

"Excellent! I'm free!" Fred exclaimed, as though it was her fault for him being so serious. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth but she held as firm as she could. He quickly left them to join his brother in showing off chocolate frogs that turned into real ones.

Alex sat straighter, her mind feeling clearer. "What's up guys?"

"We were thinking," Ron started. "That it might be time to finally go visit Hagrid." Alex nodded.

"I think it's time to get out my dad's old cloak."

Harry's dad had owned an Invisibility cloak and Harry had received it as a Christmas gift from Dumbledore last year. Harry sat on it most of the evening while they waited for the rest of the Gryffindors to go to bed and only when they were sure that no one would come back down the stars did Harry pull it out.

It wasn't a pleasant trip down the corridors late at night. It was more crowded than ever with teachers, ghosts and prefects patrolling them. Alex transfigured herself into a small fox to make it easier for Harry and Ron to maneuver around the extra patrols. They slipped out the into the cool night. Everything was eerily silent as Harry and Ron ran as best as they could across the grounds to Hagrid's hut.

Alex transformed back into her normal self and knocked lightly on the door. What greeted them was the booming bark of Fang, Hagrid's boar hound and Hagrid yelling, "Back Fang! Back!" The door swung open and Alex was met with a crossbow.

"Hagrid!" She didn't know what else to say, the only other weapons she had ever had pointed in her face was a sword and wand. He pulled the crossbow back.

"Oh, it's you." Then he seemed to truly realize who was standing at his doorstep. "Come in. Come in." They sat in chairs placed around the room and Hagrid poured them some tea. Alex knew something was wrong when he let her cup overflow.

"Hagrid? Is everything alright?"

"Wha-? Oh, yea everthin's fine."

"Did you hear what happened to Hermione and Hiei?" Harry asked, not taking the fruitcake Hagrid had placed in front of him.

"Oh, yea, that, yea I heard abou' it." There was a slight break in his voice. He was placing more fruitcake on a plate when there was a knock on the door. Hagrid dropped the plate, panic was on his face. Alex transformed and jumped on Ron's shoulder as Harry threw the Invisibility cloak over their heads. Once Hagrid was sure they were covered he opened the door. "Oh, hello Professor," There was a long pause in Hagrid's greeting. "Hello Minister." Alex flicked her ears. The Minister of Magic is here? This cannot end well. Dumbledore walked in looking extremely more grave and serious than Alex had ever seen him. behind him entered a shorter man with gray hair and he wore a rather anxious expression.

"That's Dad's boss," Ron hissed. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic!" Harry elbowed Ron to shut him up.

"Bad business Hagrid, very bad business." said Fudge in what he probably thought was a miserable tone. "Five attacks on Muggleborns. The Ministry's got to act."

Hagrid paled and was very sweaty. "I never," He finally managed. "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir-"

"Hagrid has my full confidence. I don't believe that he attacked those students in the past, and I don't believe he has done so now," Dumbledore said in his quiet commanding tone. Fudge's mouth twitched.

"Look, Hagrid's record is against him," Fudge said, uncomfortably.

"I am telling you Cornelius, taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest." Hagrid paled even further.

"Take me away?" He spoke as meekly as a giant man could manage. "Not Azkaban." Alex felt herself shiver, she had heard of Azkaban. She felt Ron stiffen under her, she nudged his face in reassurance.

Before Fudge could reply, there was another knock at the door. Dumbledore answered it. Alex nearly fell off Ron's shoulder. Lucius Malfoy stepped into Hagrid's hut wearing a black traveling cloak and wearing an ever more noticeable cold and satisfied smile. "Already here Fudge, good, good..."

"What're you doin' here?" Hagrid growled, seemingly regaining his lost strength. "Get outta my house!"

"Please, you think I enjoying coming out to your- er- you call this a house?" sneered Lucius, as he looked around the small cabin. "I was simply told that the headmaster was here."

"What can I do for you at this time of evening Lucius?" Dumbledore spoke politely, but there was a burning fire in his blue eyes.

"The governors feel that these attacks simply do not look good." Lucius pulled out a rolled up parchment and handed it to Dumbledore. "These are the signatures of all twelve governors for an Order of Suspension." Dumbledore looked it over.

"Well, if the governors wish for my removal then I shall step aside."

"Professor! Yeh can't! If yeh leave there'll be killin' next!" Hagrid exclaimed.

"Calm yourself Hagrid." Dumbledore said sharply. Dumbledore had not taken his eyes off Lucius Malfoy's cold gray ones. "However," He said slowly, so that no one missed a single word. "I will only truly have left this school when there are none loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." Alex was sure that his eyes flickered to where they stood, hidden under the cloak.

"Admirable sentiments," Malfoy said, nodding his head, and he led the way out of the cabin. Dumbledore followed. Fudge waited for Hagrid to go ahead of him.

Hagrid stood his ground for a moment and said, "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have teh do would be teh follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em straight. That's all I'm sayin'." Fudge stared in stunned silence. "Oh, an' someone'll need teh feed Fang while I'm away." And with that he led the way out the door, and Fudge followed and shut the door behind him.

Once the door was shut, Ron pulled the cloak off them and Alex changed back. "There'll be an attack a day with Dumbledore gone." He muttered. Alex sighed, looking at the door, nothing was ever easy for them was it?