Ok so Alex does quite a lot to decieve her friends in this chapter, hence the name 'Alex's Deception' There's a little suprise at the end of this chapter I hope you like it, but please don't go to the end read it then read from the beginning just to find out lol. Thank you for all the reviews and Happy New Year, I know it's kind of late hopefully 2011 will be a good year for us all.
Chapter 7 – Alex's Deception
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Alex sat in the common room on that Saturday evening. Hermione looked over at Harry who was reading once again from the Half Blood Prince's book.
"I think it might have been a girl, it looks like girls writing," Hermione said peering over at the book even though she disliked it.
"How many girls have been Prince's?" Harry retorted smirking at Hermione who didn't answer his question scowling and pulling away her essay that both Ron and Alex were trying to read upside-down. Harry looked at his watch quickly snapping the book shut and hurriedly putting the copy of Advanced Potion Making into his bag. "It's almost eight, I better get to Dumbledore's lesson," Harry said quickly clambering to his feet.
"Oooh!" Hermione gasped looking up at Harry at once, "Good luck! We'll wait up, we want to hear what he teaches you!" Hermione said gleefully.
"I hope it's going to be alright," Ron mumbled all three of them watched as Harry left through the portrait hole. The three sat there for a moment in silence, the common room beginning to slowly empty.
"Don't you think Harry is losing his nut a bit with all this Malfoy stuff?" Ron began looking up at the two girls, Hermione was engrossed in finishing her essay while Alex was craning her neck trying to copy.
"Ron!" Hermione snapped glaring at him, "Harry's your best friend how can you say that!" She continued.
"Ron may have a point Hermione," Alex said putting down her essay, anything that would be a distraction from work seemed a good excuse.
"Well…" Hermione said thinking for a moment, "He is always on about it being Malfoy and that is kind of odd," Hermione spoke the words slowly still thinking it through.
"He's blinded by hatred." Alex added quickly.
"Also." Ron added "In our second year we all thought Malfoy was the heir of Slytherin and look at how wrong we were there." Ron chuckled in amusement, recollecting his second year. "Malfoy a Death Eater come off it!" Ron said beginning to laugh, a small smile appeared on Hermione's face and Alex laughed along with Ron.
"Well I'm going to bed." Alex said suddenly getting up from the floor, Hermione turned away from her essay looking confused.
"Aren't you going to wait for Harry to get back?" Hermione inquired.
"Oh um no, I'm really tired." Alex replied quickly hurrying up the stairs before Hermione could say another word.
"If you ask me she's off her nut too," said Ron looking at the stairs up to the dormitories.
"Yes, I agree she's been acting distant and quiet which is totally different from last year," Hermione analyzed. Max strolled through the portrait hole and Hermione seized her chance.
"Max!" Hermione called, Max turned smiling at Hermione and taking a seat beside the fire.
"Oh hi guys," He replied beaming.
"Max how are things with Luna?" Hermione asked trying to make conversation with him.
"Oh well, sometimes I don't know what she's talking about but then again I have no idea what I'm talking about half the time either," Max replied smiling to himself.
"Yeah know the feeling," Ron muttered to himself, Hermione frowned at Ron but Max seemed totally oblivious.
"How was your summer?" Hermione inquired taking a seat beside Ron.
"Oh um pretty good," Max said shrugging. Hermione and Ron glanced at one another before Hermione continued.
"Do you think Alex is acting a little odd lately?" Hermione added, she wasn't sure if Max was totally getting what she was asking but some insight was better than nothing at all.
"No," Max answered simply, Hermione's face fell it seemed clear that Max wouldn't notice if his sister was acting odd he'd probably not have noticed if she'd disappeared. "How would you react if your boyfriend was killed by a werewolf?" Max continued casually, Hermione sat up staring at Max totally perplexed.
"Ma-ma-mason was kill by a wer-werewolf!" Hermione stammered repeating what Max had just said.
"Bloody hell, Mason was a nice bloke." Ron said hanging his head.
"Yeah, I'm kind of upset…I never got the chance to have werewolf thanksgiving," Max interjected, Hermione and Ron stared at him.
"Oh I'm going to have to see how she is!" Hermione declared getting up immediately.
"I don't think she wants to be reminded Hermione," Ron called after her but it was too late Hermione had disappeared up the spiral staircase, Ron shrugged to himself leaning back in the comfy armchair.
"Alex?" Hermione called pushing open the dormitory door and peering inside but the room was completely empty. Hermione rushed out the dormitory running down the steps when she knocked into Alex who was closing the door to the boys dormitory, Alex quickly stuffed some objects behind her back.
"Oh Alex…why were you in the boys dormitory?" Hermione asked raising her eyebrow. "And what have you got behind your back." Hermione asked trying to look but Alex turned.
"Ohhh, this is the boys' dormitory, I was wondering why it was so…smelly," Alex replied quickly turning to run back up the steps.
"Alex wait," Hermione called following after her and pushing open the door of the girls dormitory once more. Alex was sat upon her four-poster bed ignoring Hermione who was stood in the doorway.
"Alex if you need anyone to talk to…" Hermione said timidly closing the door behind her.
"No I'm fine!" Alex insisted Hermione began making her way towards Alex's bed.
"I know you're trying to put on a brave face, but it's ok to cry sometimes," Hermione assured sitting beside Alex. "Keeping it bottled up will only make things worse," Hermione continued, a tear rolled down Alex's cheek, she quickly wiped it away sniffing.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alex replied shakily not meeting Hermione's eyes.
"Alex…" Hermione began softly pausing for a moment. "I know about Mason," Hermione continued quietly. Alex's bottom lip began to tremble, Hermione knew she was trying to keep it in but she was failing. Within just a few short seconds Alex burst into tears clasping on to Hermione.
"I just got him back," Alex wailed into Hermione's shoulder, Hermione hugged her before pulling away.
"Alex if you ever need to talk about anything…I'm here," Hermione said assuringly, Alex bit her lip, Hermione had said 'anything' could she really tell her anything and everything? Alex nodded in conformation deciding not to tell Hermione anything. After a few moments of silence Hermione got up from Alex's bed, the marauders map slipped from beneath Alex's pillow landing on the floor. Hermione glanced down at the floor and picking up the map,
"Why have you got Harry's marauders map?" Hermione inquired looking at Alex's suspiciously. Alex thought hard before answering,
"Harry said I could borrow it," Alex replied quickly, Hermione raised her eyebrow. Harry never let anyone borrow the marauders map why would he let Alex?
"But he never lets anyone use it," Hermione replied slowly thinking.
"Uh, Harry has a thing for me," Alex replied slowly, Hermione thought for a second accepting the lie and handing back the map.
"Fine, I'm going back downstairs," Hermione replied slightly jealous of Alex, she would of thought being one of Harry's best friends she would be entitled to borrow the map too.
Once Hermione had left the dormitory Alex pulled out Harry's invisibility cloak pulling it over her head and creeping down into the packed common, through the portrait hole making her way towards the room of requirement pulling off the cloak and waiting. A few minutes later Malfoy rounded the corner a serious look prominent on his face.
"What are you doing here, I don't need your help!" Malfoy hissed glaring at Alex. Alex waited for a moment before answering.
"Have you fixed it?" Alex asked looking at Draco expectantly. Malfoy shifted his weight uncomfortably.
"No," Malfoy replied not meeting Alex's gaze. Malfoy walked past the wall three times thinking hard, an oak door appeared that allowed Malfoy and Alex to enter, it was a room filled with many of what Alex supposed to be abandoned objects, the room was dark and filled with dust, Malfoy headed over to a huge black cabinet.
"This is it?" Alex asked peering at the cabinet slightly disappointed, she couldn't understand the significance of it but she recognised it as the same object that had been in Borgin and Burkes.
"It's a vanishing cabinet," Malfoy told Alex in an unpleasant tone. "I don't know why you're trying to help me the Dark Lord chose me not you," Malfoy spat, glaring at Alex.
"I'm glad he chose you and not me," Alex replied simply,
"But you know what you can help me," Malfoy hissed turning to smile at Alex.
"Ok, how?" Alex asked not to sure if it was going to be a good thing or a bad thing. Malfoy did not reply pointing his wand at the vanishing cabinet.
"Harmonia Nectere Passus!"Malfoy whispered, there was a clank, Malfoy opened the vanishing cabinet taking out a package wrapped in brown paper, "Don't open it," Malfoy hissed as Alex took hold of the package. "None of your silly friends are to know about this package," Malfoy continued, Alex nodded.
"Is that all for today?" Alex asked turning to leave the room.
"Yes, whom ever you give it to make sure they give it to Dumbledore," Malfoy called after Alex who just nodded, pulling the cloak back over her, heading back to the Gryffindor common room still hidden under Harry's invisibility cloak, hiding the package in her trunk under a pile of her belongings, Alex pulled the cloak off her creeping into the boys dormitory where Dean, Seamus and Neville were sleeping, Alex crept towards Harry's bed placing the invisibility cloak and marauders map back to where she had found them, Alex stood still as Seamus muttered something in his sleep quickly slipping out of the dormitory and down the stairs into the common room which was almost empty apart from two dark figures sat in armchairs which was Ron and Hermione.
"Hey guys," Alex announced smiling at the two taking a seat in the comfy armchair beside the fire.
"Oh we thought you were asleep," Ron said turning to smile up at Alex,
"Oh I was just…reading," Alex lied, both Ron and Hermione raised their eyebrows at Alex not believing that was true but before they could say anything on the matter Harry appeared through the portrait hole.
"So what was Dumbledore's lesson about?" Ron asked enthusiastically as Harry took a seat beside Alex.
"We were looking at a memory," Harry replied shrugging.
"What no spells?" Ron said disappointed, Alex laughed.
"Well Dumbledore says we need to know about Voldemorts past, it was a memory of his mother." Harry explained.
"Oh sounds interesting," Hermione said waiting for Harry to continue.
"Voldemort's mother was in love with the muggle Tom Riddle, but Tom Riddle didn't love her so she gave him love potions, they got married and when she was pregnant she decided she wasn't going to give him the love potion anymore, Dumbledore said she probably thought he would stay because of the baby but he didn't." Harry explained, Hermione, Ron and Alex just stared at him. "I'm tired I'm going to bed," Harry yawned exhausted.
Alex sat at the Gryffindor table with Hermione who as usual had the Daily Prophet open oblivious to everyone sat around her.
"We've got Quidditch tryouts this morning!" Ron said excitedly joining Alex and Hermione at the table, Harry followed just behind. The post owls arrived, swooping down through the window. Harry had received no mail since the start of term, he was surprised when his snowy owl Hedwig landed in front of him carrying a large square package. A moment later Ron's owl Pigwidgeon landed with an identical package.
"Ha!" said Harry unwrapping the parcel to reveal a new copy of Advanced Potion Making.
"Oh good," Hermione said delighted. "Now you can give back that copy,"
"Uh no," Harry replied staring at Hermione who's face fell at once. "I'm keeping it!" Harry continued pulling out the old copy of Advanced Potion Making. "Diffindo!" he muttered the cover of the old tattered book, he did the same with the new on replacing the new cover with the Half Blood Prince's book. Alex and Hermione looked as if they had been slapped round the face. "Reparo!" Harry said fixing both the books. Hermione pressed her lips together looking angry. Ron spotted the Daily Prophet on the table in front of him.
"Anyone dead yet?" He asked casually, he asked the question every morning. Hermione picked the newspaper back up from the table reading the front page.
"No but there has been some more Dementor attacks," Hermione replied, Alex looked up snatching the paper from Hermione.
"Alex are you ok?" Hermione frowned as Alex scanned the paper for any news that might be relevant to her. A knot that had formed in Alex's stomach disappeared after reading quickly through the articles.
"Yeah I'm fine." Alex replied slowly.
"Things are getting quite serious aren't they?" Hermione whispered, there had been a horrible incident the day before, when Hannah Abbot had been taken out of Herbology to be told that her mother had be found dead. Alex was scared it might happen to Justin who was working for Gringotts.
The friends made their way out of the Great Hall heading down towards the Quidditch pitch, Alex decided she wasn't going to try out because she couldn't really be bothered with all the training that was required, she would have enough on her plate worrying about her family and completing the mountains of homework that seemed to be set each day. Alex and Hermione were there to cheer Ron on who was trying out to return as the Gryffindor keeper as he had been on the team last year, Ron did not usually cope well with nerves but in the end Ron usually got the job done. Standing before Harry were at least half of Gryffindor House stretching from tiny first years clutching old school brooms to towering seventh years who looked extremely intimidating. A tall broad seventh year with wiry dark blonde hair, swaggering towards Harry a confident grin upon his face.
"Cormac McLaggan." He said standing in front of Harry, "We met on the train, I'm part of the Slug Club." He said out stretching his hand, Harry ignored it and McLaggan pulled his hand away. "I'm trying out for keeper." McLaggan announced, Harry nodded not taking much notice, it didn't interest him, he already didn't like McLaggan's arrogant attitude.
"Right stand over there." Harry said pointing McLaggan in the direction where a small group were huddled. Cormac ground his teeth together, he had obviously hoped that Harry would have given him some sort of special treatment as they were both favourites and part of the Slug Club. The tryouts took all morning as Harry had expected they would, Alex was fed up, she just wanted the morning to be over, she knew Harry didn't want to do keeper tryouts because of Ron she knew he was afraid that he'd have to tell Ron if he didn't make the team. Harry had finally found himself three new chasers, Katie Bell who had an amazing try out, joining the team as she had done last year, Demelza Robins who had, had quite a decent tryout and finally Ginny Weasley who had been the best chaser of the lot scoring seventeen goals. Finally it was time for Keeper tryouts, this was the last thing Harry wanted but it was nothing to the way Ron was feeling, he was already a light shade of green an he hadn't even mounted his broom. There was a mixture of boo's and cheers from the crowds watching as the first five applicants only saved two goals which was of very poor standard. To Harry's dismay Cormac McLaggan had saved four out of the five penalty shots, but missing one by going in the complete opposite direction earning himself laughter and boo's from the surrounding crowd. It was Ron's turn at last and his face didn't look any better, Harry had thought Gryffindor's victory last year would have boosted Ron's confidence but he was clearly mistaken. Ron clumsily mounted his broom, but Harry had no need to worry, Ron saved all the penalty shots making Ron the clear winner for the title of Gryffindor Keeper. Ron had clearly beaten McLaggan, none the less it didn't stop McLaggan's red face being inches away from Harry's.
"Give me another go!" A red faced McLaggan breathed through gritted teeth, a vein pulsing in the middle of his forehead.
"No." Harry said boldly standing his ground as McLaggan took a step towards him without feeling intimidated by Mclaggan's much taller, broader build compared to that of himself. "You've had your turn, you got four and Ron got five, so Ron is keeper." Harry responded fiercely. "Now get out of my way." Harry said pushing Cormac a side. Harry thought that Cormac would have punched him but nothing came, he turned to face his new team each with broad smiles on their faces. "Well done." Harry croaked. "You've all done very well."
As Harry and Ron left the changing rooms, Hermione and Alex came running towards them.
"Well done Ron!" Hermione beamed as she ran towards them from the stands, Alex trailing just behind her. Ron looked extremely pleased with himself going on about it as they made their way back up to the castle. Explaining every detail of what happened an how he felt, Alex rolled her eyes.
"I thought I was going to miss that last penalty." Ron said cheerfully, he still hadn't stopped talking about it and Alex was quite frankly becoming irritated. "A Tricky shot from Demelza, if you looked it had a sort of spin on it-" Hermione cut him off quickly.
"Yes, yes, Ron you were magnificent." Said Hermione looking amused.
"I was better than McLaggan anyway." Ron said still in a highly satisfied voice. "Did you see him lumbering off in the wrong direction, he looked as if he'd been confuded." Ron laughed, Harry noticed that Hermione had turned red bowing her head away from Ron's view. "And that shot from Gin-" It all became too much for Alex when she finally snapped rounding on Ron.
"Yes Ron we all saw it ok!" Alex said hotly glaring at Ron breathing heavily, All Harry, Ron and Hermione could do was stare at Alex in disbelief as she had snapped. Her sudden loss of temper didn't seem to affect Ron's happiness, but it appeared to bother Hermione who seemed the most hurt. Ron and Alex went in to the Great Hall both acting as if Alex hadn't said anything at all. Harry caught Hermione's arm before she could enter the hall.
"What?" Hermione said defensively avoiding Harry's penetrating green eyes.
"If you ask me, McLaggan looked as if he had been confunded." Harry said casually. "And he was standing right in front of where you and Alex were sitting." Harry continued.
"Oh alright I did it!" Hermione said surrendering, she had been caught and she wasn't going to deny it. "But you should have heard the way he saying about Ron and Ginny, besides he's got a nasty temper you don't want someone like that on your team." Hermione said trying to make it seem as if her actions were fair, Harry thought for a moment she was right Harry didn't want to have someone like McLaggan on the team. Harry and Hermione headed down towards the Gryffindor table to join Alex and Ron but their path was blocked by Professor Slughorn.
"Harry m'boy!" Slughorn boomed excitedly making a lot of people turn and stare. "Just the person I've been looking for, what do you say to a spot of supper tonight in my room, just a few rising stars, I hope Miss, Granger and Miss. Russo will favour me in joining also." Slughorn was talking as if Ron didn't exist at all with out even acknowledging his presence.
"I can't come." Said Harry and once, Slughorn's face fell at Harry's words. "I have a detention with Professor Snape tonight." Harry explained.
"Oh dear." Said Slughorn glumly. "I was counting on you Harry, I'll talk to Professor Snape and explain our little situation." Slughorn beamed, Harry smiled trying his best to be polite even though he knew there was no way that Snape would move the date of his detention again. "I will see you three later tonight." Slughorn smiled casting his eyes over his three favourite students quickly still without noticing Ron. Ron sat grumpily his happy mood had disappeared, Slughorn had acted as if Ron didn't exists, Ron had not taken kindly to being ignored by Slughorn. After dinner they made their way up to the Gryffindor common room, Ron was sat in the armchair his arms folded staring over at Lavender Brown. Harry sat for a moment trying to think of something to say.
"Can you think of any way Malfoy-?" Harry began before Ron cut him off.
"Oh just drop it will you Harry." Ron barked in annoyance, he wished Harry would just let up on the subject of Malfoy.
"Listen, it's not my fault that Slughorn has invited Hermione, Alex and Me to his stupid party, none of us want to go!" Harry said firing up.
"Well as I'm not invited to any parties." Ron said rising from an armchair to his feet. "I think I'll just go to bed." As Ron turned Alex stood up quickly catching Ron's arm before he could leave. "What are you-?" Ron started but he was unable to finish his sentence as Alex pulled Ron's face toward hers crashing her lips onto his. Ron's eyes widened in surprise, wrapping his arms around Alex and pulling her closer, Hermione's heart sank glaring at Alex and Ron quickly turning and running up to the girl's dormitory Lavender Brown too looked disappointed glaring at Alex and Ron as they kissed. Harry felt a spark of jealously grinding his teeth together watching as Alex pulled away from the kiss both Ron and Alex breathing heavily. "What was that for?" Ron said breathlessly smiling at Alex, Alex smiled back shrugging.
"I thought it might make to feel better-" Harry cut across Alex.
"I'm late for Snape's detention." Harry interrupted coldly. "Don't wait up for me." Harry said quickly making his way out of the common room, he was fuming angry at both Alex and Ron. How could his best friend do that to him, Ron knew how he felt about Alex.
What are your feelings towards Alex right now? Do You feel sorry for Harry and Hermione? What are your thoughts of her working a long side Draco? What do you feel about the Ron and Alex moment?
I won't be posting next week because I have exams I need to revise for, I hope you guys understand, I'm sure you do...you wouldn't want me to fail now would you? haha
