Well. I'm Back.

Heck yes.

I'm really sorry. And I don't blame you guys if you've stopped reading. I really don't. I have my reasons for not updating, including lack of computer for about 3 months….but that really isn't a valid excuse. So I'll just apologize.

And try and write a killer chapter of course. J

Thanks to my reviewers. You guys are what made me decide to continue this story.

OH, and by the way, on the 2nd, I actually went and SAW Wicked, my inspiration for this story. Amazing, absolutely wonderful. I cried.

Thanks to the following Reviewers:

Captain Speed-o

Southernsweetdevil

Adrilily

Sarah

Now, chapter time. YES

Chapter 9 : Bitter Disappointment and Fights

"Okay, so wait, what you're saying is, that I'm going to your house the day after Christmas?" I asked Draco.

George and I had been going out for about a week and a half. Secretly of course.

And honestly….well….. I was having the time of my life.

George was just so funny. And sweet. And charming.

And don't even get me started on his hair.

"Lexi? Lexi!" Draco poked me, "Hey, genius, I'm trying to answer your question here."

"Oh, sorry." I grinned.

No, I wasn't thinking about George or anything. Certainly not. Not me. No way.

"Yeah, you are coming to my house, okay?" Draco asked, obviously irritated that he hadn't been able to hold my attention.

"Well, that should be fun." I commented. "We can get lost in that awful hedge maze of yours."

Draco laughed, "More like you can get lost. I know my way around it."

"Yeah, only because you blast your way through the hedges." I answered back.

Draco's house is huge. I mean really, huge. And in his gardens, his parents thought it would be fun to put a hedge maze in.

It wasn't.

I got lost, and Draco annihilated the hedges trying to find me.

I was quite flattered that he took such an interest in my well being, actually.

"So? It's called thinking on your feet, Alexis dear." He drawled, smirking at me.

"What it's called, Drakey, is being lazy and unable to solve a simple problem." I quipped back. "I would've found my way out."

"Eventually"

"Shut up."

It wouldn't have taken me that long, really.

I'm seriously, I was nearly out of there.

Honestly.

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"You got a detention? You, got detention!" Draco smirked, "Never thought I'd see the day."

I gaped, "But how? Who? I mean really, you're a…..well,….."

Draco finished, "Chang, you're a goody-goody. Let's not sugarcoat it."

"Draco, stop being mean!" I said, "So, what did you do, Cho?" I smirked, "Were you being disobedient?"

To be honest, Cho getting a detention was really strange.

I mean, really, really out of the ordinary.

It would be like Granger's hair not being frizzy, for crying out loud!

"I didn't really do anything! I just really had to go to the bathroom, and Trelawney wouldn't let me, so I kind of….swore at her." Cho finished. I burst into laughter.

"She wouldn't let you go?" Draco asked, "What was she doing, holding you hostage?"

"She said that I had to stay, or else when I got back, my 'Inner Eye' wouldn't be in sync with the aura of the room…." Cho trailed off, looking bewildered. "I wasn't aware my 'Inner Eye' even worked."

"Don't worry, I feel mine is often taking a vacation." Draco said, grinning at a group of Ravenclaw 4th years.

"Your mind is often taking a vacation, Draco." I smirked, "And don't stare at 4th years. It's creepy."

"Look who's talking." Draco muttered. "Weasley's two year older than you."

"Shut up!" I whispered frantically. "I do not want anyone to hear!"

Draco smirked, "Embarrassed?"

I frowned, "More like not looking forward to the opinion of our classmates." I paused, "Especially those hotheaded Gryffindors."

Not saying I couldn't take them. I could, believe me.

"You should have thought about that before. I swear, I don't know why I bother fraternizing with you. You'll be the shame of our house." Draco shook his head at me.

"Shut up. You love me. And even if you didn't, you're stuck with me." I replied, grinning.

"Hey, guy, I'll see you. I'm going to head to the library." Cho waved, then walked off towards the staircase.

"Boy, she's just a bundle of fun." Draco yawned.

"Shut up. She's nice. And she's a girl. I'm tired of hanging around so much testosterone." I replied. "Now, what do you want to do?"

"Oh, you mean you aren't going off to see your little boyfriend?" Draco raised his eyebrows at me.

"No, I'm not. And I wish you would stop being so mean to me about this. It's my choice, not yours. I'm not a child." I stopped, glaring at him.

"Well, Lexi, I just don't think it's a good idea. You don't even know the Weasel, and up until a few months ago, you couldn't stand him." Draco pointed out.

Ugh.

I really don't want to fight with Draco right now.

"Draco, let's drop it, okay? If I get my heart broken or whatever, then you can say 'I told you so'. But until I do, just let me handle things, okay?" I paused, "Please?"

Draco sighed, "Alright. But you had better not become some emotional heartbroken loser. You're too good for that."

Since that was about as close to complimentary Draco got, I decided to let the rudeness of the comment slide.

"M'kay." I said, "Now, let's go sit out by the lake."

Well.

It was Saturday. Supposedly the most fun day of the week.

Not for Lexi. Oh no. MY Saturday's are always cursed, somehow.

It's like the Powers That Be hate me.

I was by myself. Draco decided it would be fun to make the Hufflepuff's plates hover above their heads, ultimately falling on them all at the same time. Therefore, he got a detention.

I was furious that he hadn't asked me to help, and as a result, wasn't talking to him anyway.

Blaise was hanging out with Cho. Which seemed pretty strange to me, but I wasn't going to bother them.

And Pansy was on a date. Apparently, she thought she could make Draco jealous.

Which, if I may say, is a long shot.

Anyway.

So I had nothing to do. No one to hang out with.

And normally I would go and find George, but he's at the shop this weekend.

Hmph.

"Well, I can't just hang around the Common Room all day." I said to myself.

Because breathing in all that mold can't be good for your system.

But where to go? You know, Hogwarts has suddenly become much more boring in the past months.

"What's wrong, Lexi?" Pansy came bounding in, "I just got back from my…date." She sighed dramatically.

"Draco's not here, Pans." I said simply. She dropped the act.

"Ugh, it was awful, honestly." She plopped down next to me. "He took me dancing, but he had two left feet!"

Oh.

Darn.

"Well, that's never good." I said, my path to the door still set. "Sorry, but I was just heading out."

"Oh really? Where to?" Pansy asked getting up.

"Uhm, well, probably just walking around. You know, nothing special." I said sweetly, praying that she wouldn't come with me.

"Ugh, well, I don't think I could walk around anywhere. My feet are killing me." She said, dropping back down onto the couch.

Someone up there must love me.

"Well, I'll be back in a bit." I said, smiling sympathetically.

Poor Pansy.

I really do sympathize. Bad dancing can really kill your feet.

But anyway…

I left the Common Room, wondering what I was going to do with myself. I decided to take a little trip outside, to clear my thoughts.

However, I heard hushed voices arguing as I came up from the dungeons. Curious, I hid behind a suit of armor.

It was… wait, gaaaah. I can't see.

I turned, trying to adjust my position. After I had made myself more comfortable, I peeked out, and saw…

…Ginny and Potter?

Ginny and Potter… fighting?

To me, it had always seemed that Ginny and Potter were the two most level-headed when it came to their little group. Seeing them fight was kind of….strange, to say the least.

"…and I don't care what you say, they have no right to know what you only suspect!" Ginny snapped. Potter looked equally irritated.

"All I'm saying is, you can't help but notice something between them. It's completely obvious." He said, rolling his eyes.

Weasley and Granger. That's what they were talking about, I was sure.

Apparently, Ginny and Potter noticed the 'sexual tension' between the two, and were debating on whether or not to confront them in an effort to further their relationship.

I personally sided with Gingersnap. Nothing good comes of having your friends try and solve 'couple' problems.

"Honestly Harry, what good can come of us telling Hermione and Ron that something may or may not be going on between Lexi and George?" Ginny whispered furiously.

WHAT?

Are you kidding me?

How can Potter even think that would be a remotely good idea? How does Potter even know- even suspect- that anything would be going on with George and I?

I wanted to jump out and yell at him right then and there, but decided that that wouldn't be the most intellectual thing to do. The main reason was that it would increase his suspicions about my possible relationship with George.

So I restrained myself. Barely.

"It won't cause anything but endless interrogation of George, and it'll just cause way more trouble with Lexi than we want. You know if they start hounding her, Malfoy will round up his goons and come to her defense." Ginny continued. "We don't need that kind of trouble."

"But-" Potter began, but Ginny cut him off.

"And besides, I don't see the problem. George is a big boy, he can look out for himself. And you've even said Lexi isn't that bad." Ginny continued.

I decided at that moment that I would do something really nice for the Little Weasley.

Bake her a cake, maybe.

I'd have to learn how to bake one first, but……

"Look, I'm not trying to say anything against Lexi. We all know she isn't that bad, even if she tries to be. What I am saying, however, is that she's still a Slytherin, she's still best friends with Malfoy, and she isn't exactly receptive to any of George's friends." Potter paused.

"We know that, as much as George tries to act like he isn't, he a hopeless romantic. He digs himself into thing that he can't get out of. Lexi, for the most part, seems pretty much emotionless. Let's be honest about this Gin, they won't last, and George will be the one to get hurt. It would better to just end it now" Potter finished.

Ginny opened her mouth to respond, but I cut in.

Stupid me. Stupid, stupid Lexi.

"Potter, shut up." I growled. "First of all, I am completely filled with emotions. I'm feeling one right now. Three guesses what it is?"

Potter cocked an eyebrow, "Anger?"

"Anger…border lining on absolute rage." I finished, "I don't appreciate what you said. At all."

"Give me something to suggest it isn't true." He replied cooly.

I gaped at him.

Pompous jerk.

If I had known Potter better, I would've maybe realized he was baiting me. But then, I thought he was just being as asinine as his dorky little friends.

"Fuck you, Potter. I don't need to explain my feeling to you or anyone else unless I want to. I don't like a lot of people. I admit it. But if I didn't really care about…" I stumbled, "…if I didn't care, I wouldn't waste my time." I finished coldly.

I felt a bit confused. Here I was, trying to…justify my feeling to Harry Potter.

Harry Potter, my best friend's mortal enemy. Well, not mortal enemy, that sounds so…extreme. Rival, maybe.

"Lexi, you don't have to…" Ginny drifted off, looking as confused as I felt.

"I know…I don't. But I am…and I don't know why." I scoffed, "Maybe I'm getting soft."

Potter smirked, "Conrad, you were never that hard to begin with."

"Shut up! Stop it! I don't know who you think you are, talking to me like this. My…this…with…it changes nothing!" I said fiercely, "I'm not going to become your friend! Leave me alone!"

Potter just continued to grin, "No problem. And thanks."

"For what?" I muttered.

"You just won over my complete approval." He said, walking away.

What a jerk!

Like I sought it out or something! Like I even thought that I needed it!

"Like I care Potter!" I called weakly to his retreating back. I turned to Ginny, "He had better keep his mouth shut."

"You can't keep it a secret forever." She said bluntly.

Well, give the girl a Galleon!

Obviously, I knew that.

"I know." I said firmly. "I just…this needs to be done…delicately. You can't say it isn't unusual. And it won't exactly be accepted..positively." I finished lamely.

"Well, you guys need to think of something, before anyone else catches on." Ginny said simply, and walked away.

I am not baking her a cake. Not, not, not!

I wasn't stupid, I knew what needed to be done. It was just…hard.

Could anyone blame me? Neither George or I could benefit in any way from this relationship.

Except for the fact that…it made us happy.

Which is supposed to be the only thing that mattered.

Pshh.

Whoever thought that theory up obviously never had to deal with social groups and family feuds.

Sigh.

I could tell….something was definitely going to blow up in my face.

I could only hope I wouldn't get burnt too badly.

I was in the library with Blaise and Draco when the subject of George and I was next broached.

"Lexi?" Draco asked quietly. I looked up from my essay on Partial Human Transfiguration.

"Hmm?" I responded, pushing a strand of hair out of my face.

"Have you told Blaise yet?" Draco whispered to me. I looked at Blaise, who was trying to solve an Arithmancy problem. He was working so hard that he didn't notice the slight smudge of ink he had gotten on his cheek.

"About what?" I said, turning back to Draco.

"About you and…you know." Draco said, raising his eyebrows.

"Me and…oh!" I paused, "Me and George?"

"Yes, clever girl." Draco replied sarcastically, rolling his famous grey eyes.

"Shut up. No, I haven't." I said, feeling a bit guilty. "I've been waiting for the right time."

"No time like the present." Draco said., leaning back on his chair and looking at me expectantly.

I took a deep breathe. Blaise wasn't as volatile as Draco could be, but he had the kind of quiet anger that scared me to death.

"Blaise?" I said gently. He looked up. I touched the spot on his cheek where the ink was, trying to rub it off. "You have ink on your face."

He grinned, "Thanks, mother hen." He attempted to go back to his work.

"Blaise, I uh…have to tell you something." I said, wringing my hands.

Blaise looked up, "Yeah, Lex?"

"I, well, I don't really know how to say this, or how you're going to react-" I started.

"You're going to blow your top off Zabini." Draco cut in.

"Thank you Draco." I said, giving him a withering glare. Now, Blaise, don't get upset, but I'm…uhm….'involved' with someone." I finished, and I felt myself flush.

Blaise looked slightly more interested, " 'Involved'? Involved with someone who I dislike? Obviously, since I'm apparently going to 'blow my top off'…."Blaise looked thoughtful, "Who?" He asked sharply.

"Well, okay, but before I tell you, you have to promise- "I began, but Blaise cut me off.

"I'm not promising anything, Lexi. Now tell me." He said sternly.

I looked down. Then I looked back up.

I wasn't going to be a coward, and I wasn't going to be ashamed of the fact that I was dating George. I was tired of people trying to make me feel bad about my feelings.

I looked Blaise in the eye and said evenly, "George Weasley."

As I look back on that moment, I think that Blaise may have actually had a miniature heart attack. He made this funny choking noise, and his eye twitched. He also had a violent arm spasm. If I hadn't been so afraid of being killed, I would have laughed.

"That…is….." Blaise trailed off.

"Disgusting? Revolting? Yes, I thought so too, but you know how our Lexi is. I'm resigned now, and look at the whole thing with tolerant distaste." Draco piped in.

"Shut up, Draco." I snarled, "Blaise?" I said, much more gently.

"Do you have any idea, and damn idea, of how wrong this is?" Blaise hissed at me.

"Not only is it just wrong in a compatibility-based sense, but you're completely degrading yourself, you family, your House, and the people who associate with you." He said coldly.

I felt like I had been slapped. This had been much worse, much more frightening and heart wrenching, than any amount of yelling Draco could have done.

"Blaise…. Don't be like this…" I said, reaching out to him, He pulled away abruptly, hitting my arm away.

"Don't touch me." He said, looking away.

I wanted to scream, wanted to do anything, just something that would make him understand how unfair he was being. How much I needed him to be behind me on this.

"That isn't fair! You like Cho, and she's in a different house! I though you, of all people, would understand…" I trailed off.

"I can handle myself Lexi. You can't." Blaise interrupted. "Besides, a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin? Strange, but bearable. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor? That's just fucking selfish." He spat/

"Selfish? What the hell?" I asked furiously, trying to regain my composure.

"Because you're risking so much. It would cause chaos Lexi. Don't you get that? People are in different houses for a reason. You…dating, A Gryffindor, our worlds would be thrown together. We're separated because we're different." He said coldly.

"Blaise, don't you ever get tired of it?" I pleaded.

"Not really. It keeps order. We do our thing, they do theirs. And you're risking all that, and for what? A fling with the first male that looks at you appreciatively?" He snapped.

I felt the color drain from my face. Draco looked stunned, even Blaise looked a bit surprised.

"Lexi….I…that was a bit…." He trailed off. I blinked.

"I can't believe you said that." I whispered.

"I didn't mean…" He started.

"Yes, you did. You meant it all. It's funny, you say how much different you are from the Gryffindorks, but….that sounded a lot like something I would expect to hear from them."

Blaise looked at the ground, "You can't really…I just lost my…"

I was so disappointed. Blaise was the one person whose supported I had wholly expected. I knew he wouldn't be thrilled, but I never thought he would strike out like this.

I was disappointed, but above all, I was mad. He was being completely hypocritical.

"Leave me alone." I hissed coldly, glaring at him. He looked at me, shocked.

Draco stood up, "Blaise, I think you should uh…. Go." He jerked his head towards the library door.

Blaise stood there. I rolled my eyes and started gathering my things. "Fine. I'll leave." I said icily.

If Blaise made any motion to stop me, I didn't notice as I walked out. I hurried out of the library and headed for the Common Room, my head reeling, momentarily wondering where Draco was, but then realizing I didn't really care. He started this. He could go to hell, along with Blaise.

Why was I giving up so much for George?

The question popped into my head before I had time to stop it. Did I actually care for him, or was this just a way of rebelling against how I was raised?

Was I seeking to do the right thing in defending him so much, or was I only seeking attention?

I hurried down the hall, not knowing where I was going, bumping into people, not bothering to acknowledge them.

Until the zipper on my bag caught on someone's bag and tore it.

I turned, angrily, "God, can't you watch where you're going?" I snapped nastily, whipping my head around.

I wasn't in a great mood. And I was prepared to take my anger out on whatever poor sap had decided to run into me.

"Excuse me, you ran into me." Someone snapped.

'Someone' being the only person in the whole school who would dare talk to me in such a way.

"Screw off Granger, I'm not in the mood." I glared viciously at her.

"Ohh, did someone hurt wittle Lexi's feelings?" She cooed sarcastically.

"Granger, don't push me. You do not want to start right now." I said warningly.

Granger stared at me for a moment, lost in thought. Then she said, "Come with me."

She has got to be kidding.

I'm not stupid.

Does she really think I'm that dumb?

"Hah, fat chance. Why should I?" I said, completely aware of how childish this response was.

"Just come on." She dug her nails into my arm and started dragging me. I flinched and pulled out of her grasp.

"Don't touch me." I said, my voice filled with venom, realizing I was using words that Blaise had said to me moments ago. "I'll go, but I won't be pulled along like a mindless child." I said, a bit haughtily.

"Whatever." She muttered, leading the way into a classroom.

I walked in behind her, and she shut the door.

"Sit." She said.

"I'll stand. I'd rather." I responded coolly.

"I want to know" She paused, "What exactly, if anything, is going on with you and George?" She glared at me.

ARGH! Honestly, why today? Why, why, why?

"I don't have time for this." I muttered, going to leave. Granger sprang to the door and blocked my path.

"No. I want to know Conrad. Now." She said quivering.

"None of your business Granger. Out of my way." I said, glaring evenly back at her. Every bit of tension and hate we had ever had for each other filled the room.

"I'm not stupid. I can see it." She scoffed, "You're a bitch, you know that? Stay away from him. He's too good for you."

"Don't tell me what to do." I said, trying to stay calm.

Killing Granger wouldn't exactly win me admiration from George.

"No, Stay away from him Conrad. I don't know who you think you're kidding. He's out of your league." Granger spat, "I don't know what he's think either, but…"

I was done. I was so tired, I don't know, I just snapped.

"No, Granger, I won't. I'll do whatever the hell I want, you don't have any control over George's life, and certainly none over mine." I paused, grinning.

"You know what? I am interested in George, and he likes me back. I'm dating him Granger, we've kissed, and he cares about me. And heck, I even care about him. We're going out, 'Mione', and there isn't one thing you can do about it." I finished triumphantly.

"You little who-" She started.

"And I don't care what you say, or what anyone else says. It's my choice, and since you mean less than nothing to me, I don't care what you think." I said, sidestepping her, heading for the door. I felt a gust of air rush next to my ear, and turned around. She had her wand out.

Merlin, I was having a bad day.

"Granger, don't even try it." I scoffed.

"Next time I won't miss." She snapped.

This wasn't about just George and I anymore. It was deeper than that. This was just Granger and I, and the fact that she was going to try and hurt me in a way she had obviously wanted to do for a while.

"What is your problem? Jealous?" I teased, knowing it wasn't the most intelligent thing to do.

But there was no way I was going to lose to my worst enemy.

"Hardly. You won't last." She scoffed, "George is my friend. And you're going to ruin him. If you really cared like you say you do, you'd leave him now."

She was looking for a reason to fight me. And George was her answer.

"Don't use George and I as an excuse to fight me Granger." I said, grasping my wand.

"Why not?" She asked smirking.

"Because I don't know about you, but I personally don't need an excuse to want to kick your ass." I said, grinning.

'Conjunctivitis!'

'Densaugo!'

'Expelliarmus!'

'Furnunculus!'

'Stupefy!'

'Protego!'

This and many more spells shot around the room. Suddenly, Draco burst into the room, looking angry.

"Granger, get the fuck away from her!" Draco stormed in. He pointed his wand at Granger. "Go."

I looked at Granger. Her teeth were enlarged again, and she had boils on her left arm. She also had a large bruise on her cheek.

I looked down at myself. My robes had been singed, and the skin around my wrist was blistered. I felt the side of my face and was surprised to feel blood.

Granger glared at me, and walked out.

Draco held out his hand, "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine." I said, taking his hand. I stood up and winced. My leg was sprained, guessing from when I dodged one of Granger's spells.

"Let's get you to the Hospital Wing." He said, letting me lean on him. I protested, but when I stumbled, a short cry escaped my lips.

That settled it.

We walked off to the Wing, me with one not-so-small question on my mind:

Was George really worth all of this?

AHHH! DONE! I hope you guys like it! Next update should be soon! 3 day weekend next week:D