14. NORBERT'S FLIGHT

Weasleys usually grated on Alex's nerves. She could make an exception for one ready and willing to take a fire breathing, overgrown dragon off hers and her friends' hands. No dragon meant Hagrid wouldn't be fired, and Malfoy would look like the git he was.

A perfect series of events.

Alex soon realized, however, that things rarely turned out so perfect.

"How'd you let it bite you? You've got to be kidding me!"

Alex had been all smiles when Harry and Hermione told her that that Charlie Weasley agreed to take Norbert. That changed when she also learned Norbert had bitten Ron's hand. It was nearly big as his head and had forced him to go to the hospital wing by midday. The second classes got out, Alex, Harry, and Hermione paid him a visit.

"Jeez..." Alex moaned. Ron's hand not only remained swollen but had become a sickly green. "A poisonous dragon. Of course. Why doesn't Hagrid just breed a whole herd of the bloody things?! Dragons for everyone!"

"Be quiet!" Hermione shushed her with her finger. Madam Pomfrey lurked about, ticked off at her patient being disturbed. "What if she hears you? We told her it was a dog bite, so let's keep it that way."

"...A poisonous dog then."

Dragon or dog, there wasn't a chance that excuse would work, Alex thought. Gazing at Ron pitifully, she leaned on suggesting they simply chop his hand off and be done with it. There wouldn't be any proof of Norbert then.

"How are you feeling, Ron?" asked Harry.

Ron gave a miserable groan. "My hand isn't the only problem. Malfoy was here earlier. He told Madam Pomfrey he wanted to borrow one of my books just so he could have a good laugh at me. He kept saying he would tell her what really bit me. Why did I have to hit him during the Quidditch match? That's gotta be why he's doing this."

"Or," said Alex, "it's because his whole family is the definition of evil."

"Agreed," replied Harry. "But, that doesn't change the fact Malfoy really does know about Norbert."

"It's okay. It'll all over by midnight on Saturday," said Hermione, though it was more to the ailing Ron than the others. Saturday was the day Charlie promised to come pick up their huge problem.

"Oh no!" Ron sat up, sweating like he was back in Hagrid's sweltering hut. "No, no, no..."

"Just spit it out already!" Alex demanded.

"Charlie's letter was in that book I mentioned! Malfoy took it, and now..."

"He knows when and how we're getting rid of Norbert..." Alex was grateful she was sitting down. She would have collapsed if she otherwise. "See? If we had just cursed him when we had the chance…!"

"What is with you and wanting to hex people?" said Hermione scathingly. Alex wondered if she heard about her and Tristan's impromptu duel awhile back. "Listen, we..."

She didn't get the chance to finish. Madam Pomfrey shooed them out, insisting they were chatting too much for Ron to get any proper rest.

"She's a feisty, old witch, eh?" said Alex as they headed downstairs. "Now what?"

"The plan hasn't changed," said Harry. "There isn't any time to send an owl to Charlie, and if we waste any time, we could lose our only chance to get rid of Norbert."

"Yeah, but Malfoy still knows! It's not like we can turn invisible and slip past him!"

Harry grinned. Hermione gave a mischievous laugh.

"What?" said Alex, clearly out of the loop on something. "What?"

#

"AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK?! SERIOUSLY?!"

Hermione shot her hand over Alex's mouth. Fortunately, only the birds in the trees of the forest overheard her.

"Why are you always shouting?!" said an irked Harry. "Yes, an Invisibility Cloak. I got it as a Christmas present awhile back. That's how I've been sneaking around without being caught. More importantly, Malfoy doesn't know anything about it."

"Brilliant!" Alex could hardly contain her excitement. She had read all about invisibility cloaks in the past and would have given anything to have one of her own. "So, we can use that to slip past him and any professors that might get in our way!"

"I don't think all three of us, plus Norbert, can fit under the cloak," said Hermione, frowning.

"We'll figure it out later. Let's get to Hagrid's first," suggested Harry.

Once they arrived, they spotted Fang. His bandaged tail informed them Ron wasn't Norbert's only victim. Harry knocked on the door, only for Hagrid to stick his head out of a window instead. Black smoke poured of his hut, smoke everyone was sure wasn't a byproduct of the fireplace.

"Can't let you lot in," said Hagrid. Soot coated his huge face. "Norbert's jus' at a tricky stage. Nothin' I can't handle."

Another jet of smoke flew over his shoulder and almost knocked him over.

"...Just let us in already, Hagrid," said Alex testily. "We've got Charlie's reply."

They filled Hagrid in, and he teetered on the edge of tears. Norbert had bitten his leg at the same time, so that probably had mostly to do with it.

"You might want to let Madam Pomfrey have a look at that," said a cringing Alex.

"It's...no problem," Hagrid grunted. Norbert wouldn't let go no matter how much he tried to shake his leg free. "He's only got my boot. Jus' playin'. Jus playin' a bit."

Gasps rang out when Norbert rammed its tail into a wall, rattling windows and eardrums. Alex, Harry, and Hermione took that as their cue to leave.

"What makes us so sure Hagrid's house won't be in flames before Saturday?" said a weary Alex. She almost ran to the castle if it meant no longer inhaling toxic dragon smoke. "This is madness..."

"You're quite the pessimist," noted Hermione.

"...And you're as sharp as a tack. So, how are we doing this?"

"It's like Hermione said—there isn't enough room for all of us under the Cloak," said Harry.

"I'll be lookout then. I can keep an eye on Malfoy and—don't look at me like that! I can do it! Seriously!"

"Whether you can do it or not isn't the problem!" Hermione snapped. "The whole point of taking the cloak is so we aren't seen! If you get caught..."

"Then the only person that gets detention is me," Alex argued. "Malfoy might have something sinister planned. Remember what happened in the trophy room?"

Harry and Hermione argued with Alex all the way back to the castle. It didn't matter. Her mind was set. After coming this far, they weren't going to leave her out.

"Fine," said a resigned Harry. "Remember—midnight on Saturday. We'll meet up then."

Alex smirked. "It's a date."

#

While she didn't normally enjoy being wrong, Alex was happy to see Hagrid's hut in one piece Saturday night. She also couldn't argue with the past few days being Malfoy-free. Still, it was oddly suspicious he hadn't reared his blonde head to gloat.

"Worry about him later," said Harry as they readied for the main event. "Come on."

Alex had to admit being invisible was a strange feeling. She could hear their footsteps as she, Harry, and Hermione tiptoed their way out of the castle and toward Hagrid's hut. She couldn't, however, see their shadows.

"Well, at least Peeves can't see us either, the big jerk. I thought he'd be playing tennis forever," she remarked.

Peeves had made them more than a little late in meeting Hagrid. Perhaps being another ill omen, black storm clouds gathered in the night sky. Rain would likely complicate things. The sooner they got Norbert, the better in Alex's opinion.

Thankfully, a tearful Hagrid had Norbert secured in a large crate and ready to go.

"I packed tons o' rats and brady fer the journey. Oh, and his teddy bear is there too. You know, in case he gets lonely," he said. He wasn't bothering to hide his dejection. Alex couldn't say she felt any sympathy when they still had the task of a transporting a big, heavy, and dangerous dragon. Speaking of Norbert, they all heard what sounded suspiciously like a teddy bear's head being ripped off. "Yeh wanna give him a big hug 'fore he goes, Alex? I can unpack..."

"No, thank you." Alex spoke so fast, she came close to biting her tongue. "Shall we get going?"

"I thought you'd never ask," said Harry. He and Hermione threw the Invisibility Cloak over the crate before hopping under it themselves. "Give us a hand, yeah, Alex?"

"I live to serve."

Even with three people lifting it, the crate weighed a ton. It didn't help that Norbert wouldn't sit still, either excited or agitated at what was happening.

"Bye bye, Norbert! Mommy won't forget you!"

"...Just shut it already," said Alex out of earshot. "And a one…!"

She took point, being the sole one not hidden by the cloak. There wasn't anyone around, so for the moment, it hardly mattered. The three slowly, but surely, lugged Norbert into the castle. Peeves, thankfully, had gone.

"You think Filch would have a heart attack if he saw this?" joked Alex. "A dragon at school. And he complains about kids walking around in muddy shoes."

"If it's alright with you, let's save the talking for later," said Harry with a few grunts. Alex might not have been able to see him, but his irritation was clear.

"Yes, sir."

Midnight had to be close. Alex wished they had some way of telling the time. All they could do was keep going, with the hopes something nasty wouldn't pop up around the corner. She followed Hermoine's instructions to the letter. They moved through more hallways than she would have preferred. Finally, they reached a staircase. Getting up it without breaking their backs proved a challenge, but they managed in the end. The sight of another flight of stairs made Alex want to sob like Hagrid.

"Keep going!" Harry hissed. "We're nearly there!"

'Nearly there' ended up being another five minutes of grueling work. Alex, gasping for air and sweating through her robes, knew she would drop dead on the spot if she saw any more stairs.

"Wait!" whispered Hermione fearfully. They almost dropped Norbert's crate on their fingers. Something up ahead moved. Alex might have been the only one visible, but all three of them darted to a dark corner.

Covering her mouth, Alex stifled her heavy breathing. "What do you think…?"

Hermione shushed her. Alex was glad she did. Two figures came into view. One held on tightly to the other, the second person trying and failing to make a getaway.

"I knew it!" said Alex in quiet triumph. Professor McGonagall, wearing a robe and hair net, pulled Draco Malfoy along by the ear. A lamp swung in her other hand, with the light nearly hitting Alex. "Something tells me Malfoy wasn't taking a pleasant stroll of the castle before McGonagall got him."

Perfect. This had to be the greatest reward for having to work so hard hoofing a dragon around. Things got even better.

"Detention!" McGonagall hollered. "And twenty points from Slytherin!"

Alex mouthed "Twenty points!" and held up her hand for a high five. No one could see it in the darkness though.

"Out of your common room in the dead of night! You have some nerve, young man!"

"You don't understand, Professor! Harry Potter is coming! He is, and with a dragon!"

It sounded so stupid. Alex, muffling her laughter, wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't carried said dragon. Speaking of which, she felt a newfound fondness for Norbert. He had become as quiet as a mouse.

"A dragon? Rubbish! Professor Snape will hear about this, I'm afraid! Come along now!"

Malfoy squealed all the way down the hall. Then, things grew quiet. Alex, Harry, and Hermione didn't stand around to celebrate. They sped up their final, albeit lengthy, staircase. The frigid air that met them at the top meant they had reached their destination at long last.

"Long time no see," said a beaming Alex when Harry and Hermione threw off the cloak. "Ha! Detention! Did you hear that? And he lost points! Serves him right!"

"Tell me about it!" Hermione danced around gleefully. "I could sing!"

"Please, don't," pleaded Harry. "I think Norbert's asleep."

Alex yawned. "I wouldn't mind doing the same."

Sitting around and waiting didn't help any of them stay up. Still, the buzz of Malfoy being busted kept them awake for the next ten minutes. Norbert had woken up and once again went crazy inside the crate.

Alex patted it, saying, "No need for all that. Your ride is here."

Four dots grew into four broom sticks, which in turn became close enough to make out four people.

"All right there?" said one of Charlie's friends, grinning. Charlie himself seemed missing in action. None of the new arrivals had bright, red hair. "I see you've got a rowdy one there."

"Take him please." Alex got down on her hands and knees. "Before he burns down the whole castle!"

Charlie's friends were more than happy to do so. They brought out the harness they would use to carry Norbert to his new home. While fascinating, Alex yearned to get the job done as soon as possible. She, alongside Harry and Hermione, helped the dragon keepers hook a less than cooperative Norbert safely onto it.

"Thank you. Thank you," said Hermione. The relief in her voice was palpable.

Harry, shaking hands with Charlie's friends, added, "And don't be in too much of a hurry to come back, Norbert. Please."

Norbert's handlers said their final goodbyes. They flew off, with Norbert calm for the first time in anyone's recollection. Perhaps flying in the open sky was something of a relief after being cramped in a crate for some time. Whatever the case, Alex couldn't see any trance of the group after a minute or two.

"Done like dinner." She wiped her hands clean. She would sleep soundly tonight. "Let me go first and check things out. Back under the cloak, you two, okay?"

Harry and Hermione nodded before disappearing again. Alex shook her head, thinking she would never get used to the odd sight.

"Lumos."

With her wand alight, Alex gradually made her way back down. She could hear Harry and Hermione right on her tail. She sped up, trying not to trip them up. She couldn't see them, but it was so dark that she doubted they could see her, even with the extra light from her wand.

"That went swimmingly," she whispered, still chipper. "Goodbye, Norbert, and good riddance."

"Do you think Hagrid is still upset?" asked Hermione.

"He'll get over it," remarked Harry. "Let's just get back already."

A sound plan, Alex thought. "No need to be so worked up. Malfoy is out of our hair thanks to McGonagall. Heh. I kind of hope she woke Snape up. Just imagine his face when..."

They stopped. It might have only been her nerves, but Alex swore she heard something ahead. She extinguished her wand on the double. While not as tense as when they were carrying Norbert, her heart still pounded with trepidation.

"What do we have here?"

She couldn't help it. Alex shrieked, a byproduct of a head sticking out of the darkness and stopping in front of her. The toothless grin of Argus Filch nearly stopped her heart. He grabbed her arm before she could run, his grip as tight as a bear trap.

"Out of bed at this hour? Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Alex checked over her shoulder instinctively. Nothing was there. She knew Harry and Hermione were still behind her, however, because she could hear their bated breaths.

"Y-You...got me..." she told Filch in the hopes of distracting him.

"Of course I did." His ugly smile grew wider. "Just you, eh? Where's your little buddies?"

Alex said nothing. It didn't damper Filch's good mood.

"First year outta bed this late. No respect for rules. Professor McGonagall will love to see this."

Filch pulled Alex along. All the while, she realized something stupid.

Wait! Norbert's gone! I would've fit under the cloak now!

So much for her master plan. She groaned, wanting to jab her wand in her eye. There wasn't any point crying over spilled milk. Quietly gesturing for her friends wait until Filch hauled her off, she played the part of a willing victim.

"Happy are you?" she told the caretaker. "Think you'll get a reward? I get in trouble every five seconds. Professor McGonagall will just roll her eyes and send me on my way."

"That's a smart mouth you've got. You're lucky this ain't the old days. I'd strap you to the wall and..."

"Stupefy."

Red light flood the hallway, followed by a grunt of anguish. Alex screaming trailed that and the clamor of something hitting the stone floor. Whatever it was, Alex tripped over it and landed on her behind. Thoroughly freaked out, she reached around madly for her wand. Her fingers danced around it before she finally got a good grip on it.

"L-Lumos!"

The newfound illumination revealed a startling surprise. Filch had been the one hit by the Stunning Spell. He laid face down and completely still. Her trembling arm moved to the left.

Someone else was there. Her wand lit up their sallow face. Jason Samuels had his hands around her throat by the time she realized it was him. He thrust her into a wall, squeezing down even harder. Her fingers prodded uselessly at his arm in an effort to break free. He had a good forty pounds on her and two years of practice as a Beater. That was strength she couldn't hope to match. With her wand, and consciousness, slipping out of her grasp, all hope seemed lost.

"I've been waiting a long time for this, Worthington," Jason muttered. He looked like he hadn't gotten any rest in days. His robes were tattered and his voice was coarse.

D-Dammit! He was just waiting for me to be all alone!

The one time she would have been more than happy for Filch to be up and moving, he was out cold. She kicked at him but got no response.

A crazed-looking Jason laughed in an equally depraved manner. Alex couldn't believe this was the last thing she would ever see. Her head limped to the side.

"T-Tristan...help..."

"LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!"

The spell sailed over Jason's head. It was enough though to get him to release his would-be victim. Alex, coughing violently, struggled to catch her breath. All she could make sense of was the clatter of frantic footsteps approaching.

"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted Hermione. Her second spell missed as well. Jason jumped to a safe distance, allowing Hermione to crouch down to Alex. "Are you alright?!"

"P-Peachy..." Alex wiped the drool from her mouth. "W-Watch out for..."

Harry had it covered. He tackled Jason right when he was about to pounce on Alex again, knocking them both over. Harry got on top of Jason but the latter kneed him in the face. As Harry rolled off of him, Jason sprang to his feet. Hermione readied another spell, but Jason slapped her wand away. She yelped as he readied to strike her.

"No you don't!" cried Alex. She climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You came all this way just to get your butt kicked by me again, huh?!"

"Get the hell off me, Worthington!" Jason countered. He flailed about. When that didn't work, he resorted to running backward into a wall. Alex slammed into it and cried out in pain before releasing him. "It's not like I mind killing your little friends too, but…!"

Everyone's heads shot up. Voices could be heard in the distance. They grew louder by the second. Cursing, Jason ran for it.

"Get back here!" Alex found her wand again. It didn't matter. Jason was long gone. "Dammit! That creep!"

Her adrenaline pumped through her veins and screamed at her to make chase.

...No. That would be dumb. He already got the jump on me once tonight.

Jason probably knew the corridors and secret passageways better anyway.

"Everybody okay?"

Hermione shook like a leaf, clearly shaken up. Harry held a hand over his bleeding and sprained nose. Alex, meanwhile, got the last of her coughs out.

"T-Thanks, guys," she said. "I owe you big time."

"Who was that?" said Hermione. "Oh no. Filch..."

"He'll blame us for knocking him out," said Harry in despair.

"What is going on here?!"

Professor McGonagall stumbled upon an incredibly odd scene—three more students out of a bed and an unconscious caretaker.

"We didn't do it!" Alex said at once. "We didn't, Professor!"

McGonagall didn't speak. She was too stunned. Her wide eyes settled on Harry's nose.

"Stay still, Potter." She held her wand up to it. "Episkey."

It was like an invisible rag staunched the blood. His nose looked as good as new. Alex made a mental note concerning that spell.

"All of you," the anger she had shown Malfoy returned to McGonagall's face, "my office. Now."

She didn't have to say it twice. Alex, Harry, and Hermione followed after her. With the wave of her wand, McGonagall summoned a stretcher for Filch that hovered and took the lead. The group headed down and toward Gryffindor Tower. Every step felt like further affirmation of a death sentence. They were in serious trouble. The three held their heads close together.

"Who was that?" Harry whispered to Alex. "We were waiting for you and McGonagall to go when we heard a scream."

"Why didn't you get under the cloak?" said Hermione, still sounding anxious.

"Because I'm an idiot." Alex shook her head. "I told you before that Snape tried to have me killed. That was the creep he hired."

She wondered if her friends had taken her seriously at the time. They certainly did now.

"I would have never believed it." McGonagall shook her head in dismay. "Up in the Astronomy Tower in the dead of night. Mr. Filch knocked out."

"We didn't do that, Professor! Honestly, we…!"

"Be quiet, Miss Worthington! I will allow you to explain yourself once we get to my office. However, I think I already have a good idea what's going on."

Someone was waiting for them when they turned a corner.

"Neville!" uttered Alex, bewildered.

"Alex?" Neville, just as confused, took stock of the situation. "I...was trying to find Harry and Hermione and warn them. Malfoy said he was going to catch you, and you had a..."

Harry shook his head frantically.

"So, that's it then?" said McGonagall. Suddenly, Alex felt safer in Norbert's company than hers. "You fed Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon to get him in trouble, and then poor Longbottom here heard the story and believed it as well. Well, I caught him before you three. Well? Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"

No one did. They felt more compelled to answer to Neville, who looked heartbroken. None of them had considered him brave enough to pull a stunt like this, and it had cost him dearly. Alex knew it was their fault he was going down with them.

"Professor! Listen, I was attacked! I didn't do that to Harry's nose, and I didn't hurt Filch. You shouldn't be taking us away, but…!"

"What nonsense are you saying now, Worthington? I'm disgusted! Weren't you already in a heap of trouble, young lady?! Fifty points from Ravenclaw!"

"WHAT?!" That wasn't fair, not one bit. Alex could have screamed again. She already lost twenty five points the other day with Flitwick. McGonagall's punishment would make a whopping seventy five. "But…!"

"And don't think I'm letting you off the hook, Mister Potter and Miss Granger! I would have thought being in Gryffindor meant more to you—yes, Longbottom, you will get detention as well! All four of you in fact. Even if you were trying help, nothing gives you the right to walk about as you please after curfew! It's very dangerous—and fifty points will also be taken away from Gryffindor."

Alex swore she saw Harry's head spin. "W-We'll lose our lead in the House Cup if you…!"

"Fifty points each, Potter..."

Hermione grew faint.

"Professor, please! You can't…!"

"I can, Potter.My office, you lot. Now."

They arrived in front of it, and she pointed a stern finger, directing them to get in if they knew what was best for them. Alex had seen Professor McGonagall mad, but this was something else. Her nostrils flared, and she gazed upon everyone like they were a pack of escapees from Azkaban.

"I am taking Mister Filch to the hospital wing. You four are to wait here. I would highly advise against even thinking about wandering off again. ...Do I make myself clear?"

They nodded. McGonagall strode off with Filch's stretcher. The air in the room matched that of a funeral. For a long while, no one said a word. Neville, sniffling every now and then, refused to look anyone in the eye. In turn, the others couldn't work up the courage to apologize.

"She...thinks we really got Filch, doesn't she?" a dejected Alex mumbled.

"I don't think so," said Hermione. "She's really mad we're out of the common room this late, but..."

"Why does she want us here then? She would've sent us to bed if she didn't suspect us! This is the worst! She didn't even give us a chanceto explain ourselves! This isn't fair!"

Alex craved to punch someone. She knew Snape was a tyrant, though she always thought better of McGonagall. The woman could be strict but was usually fair.

Silence fell over the office again. Alex's thoughts wandered. The moment she got back to the Ravenclaw common room, she was as good as dead. Already known for being loose with points, she had lost her House fifty in one fell swoop. Then again, Gryffindor had it worse. Harry, Hermoine, and Neville had lost them one hundred and fifty.

"You know," Alex began, "we should go on the run. Leave now while we have the chance."

"...Shut up," said Harry quite bitterly. Nodding, Alex had no qualms with that request.

Seconds ticked by, then minutes. The hospital wing wasn't exactly close, but everyone felt Professor McGonagall should have been back already.

"Maybe she's chewing out Malfoy too," said Alex, hoping to get even a little sanctification out of the night.

Almost on cue, McGonagall burst into the room. Stranger still was Severus Snape being at her side. His cold, black eyes scanned the surprised faces leering back. Alex couldn't breathe. Her throat tightened up as if Jason Samuels was choking the life out of her again.

He wanted to see if Jason got me. No wonder he looks so upset. I'm still breathing.

"Potter and Worthington. Why am I not surprised?" Snape sneered. What Alex wouldn't give to wipe it off his greasy face. "They seem to be in one peace, Professor."

"Yes, but…" The others only then noticed Professor McGonagall's anger was gone, replaced by worry. "Worthington says they were attacked. Potter had a bloodied nose. I'm afraid Mister Filch was also hurt. They say they didn't do it, and frankly, I'm inclined to believe them."

"Is that so?"

Mild curiosity painted Snape's words. He mostly sounded bored, however, as if students being assaulted in the halls was an everyday thing.

"Very well. We will discuss this in a moment, Professor, but we shall first see these students safety to their common rooms. Hopefully, they do not waste our generosity."

If Snape felt he was doing them a favor, he was the only one.

"Thank you, Severus," said McGonagall. "Alright, Potter, Granger, and Longbottom. You will follow me. Worthington, Professor Snape will take you back to your common room."

Alex opened her mouth to protest. Professor McGonagall gave her a piercing glare, changing her mind.

"Come then, Worthington. I do not plan to stay up all night for your sake."

Snape left without waiting on her. Alex remained where she stood, in no particular hurry to follow the man who had been striving to kill her. This arrangement made no sense.

Did...Snape set this up on purpose?

"Well, Miss Worthington?" said McGonagall testily. "Go on then."

Alex really wouldn't have gone if she wasn't convinced McGonagall would transfigure her into a thumbtack. She nodded to Harry and Hermione, silently telling them to run to Professor Dumbledore if she didn't come back alive. Neville continued staring at the ground. Though crestfallen, Alex didn't attempt speaking to him.

Snape led her through the castle, keeping a good distance ahead. Alex got the feeling he didn't want to be near her. Finally, they agreed on something. She kept as quiet as Neville and wondered when Snape would make his move. She had her wand at the ready. This time, she wouldn't let anyone pull a sneak attack.

"I suppose I should thank you, Worthington," Snape said while they headed up a staircase. Alex had enough stairs for a lifetime, not to mention enduring Snape's gloating tone. "Slytherin should be in first place in the House Cup standings thanks to tonight's...transgressions. You're in luck, however. It seems you won't be scrubbing my cauldrons after all."

Alex's head shot up. "What was that?"

"'What was that, Professor Snape?' I know you and Potter hardly care for authority, but you will address me properly, Worthington."

"...What was that, Professor Snape, sir?"

"Very good. Professor McGonagall has something else in mind for you and your band of troublemakers."

Hearing that almost matched Samuels trying to kill her. Alex could have sworn Snape only agreed to escort her as an excuse to drop such a horrifying bombshell.

"What happened to Malfoy? Did he get detention too, sir?"

Snape didn't sound as triumphant when he replied, "That is none of your concern."

"I'm just saying it's not fair if we're the only ones that get punished."

"Even though you were the ones sneaking out after hours? Who knows how much more mischief you would have gotten into if Filch didn't stumble upon you? I've stated this before—I realize you believe yourself above the rules due to your status as a Worthington, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to be as insufferable. I would have hoped Samantha would have taught you to be less like her."

Samantha. Alex froze. That was her mother's name.

"Wait. You know Mother?"

"What did I tell you about manners?"

Alex ignored him. "How do you know my mother? She's never mentioned you before."

Snape stopped all of a sudden. Alex nearly bumped into him. He rounded on her, somehow looking even more irate than usual.

"For your information, Worthington," he began, his voice sharper than any knife, "I do not need the recognition of your family to get by."

"I-I wasn't saying..."

"Be quiet. Why is you don't know how to shut that mouth of yours? Yes, you really are your mother's child."

"Don't talk about her like that!"

"I said be quiet, foolish girl!"

"No!" Alex was done playing the meek schoolgirl. She didn't deserve her family badmouthed by the likes of Severus Snape. "I hate you! You think you can talk to people however you want just because you're a teacher! If you think my family is insufferable, then you're about one hundred times worse, sir!"

Alex's chest heaved up and down. The full weight of what she said didn't hit her at first. She had just screamed a Hogwarts teacher's head off.

"...Oh no."

That was it. After Snape killed her on the spot, he would take every point Ravenclaw had.

Snape's upper lip quivered. Growing pale, he uttered, "...I believe I've taken you far enough. You should be able to reach your common room from here."

He left in the blink of an eye. Still, Alex could hear his angry footsteps for the longest time.

"He...didn't take any points."

He hadn't taken her life either. She patted herself down to make sure she wasn't a ghost. She guessed she should have been happy, yet, she was far more confused.

"Why didn't he try to kill me? And how would someone like him know Mother?"

From the way Snape spoke, he and her mother were more than passing acquaintances.

#

Alex didn't have to wait long the next morning to discover the consequences of the prior night. Every Ravenclaw she met gave her the dirtiest look they could muster, from the dormitory, the common room, and even in the Great Hall. Though Ravenclaw winning the House Cup had been a long shot, Alex goofing around with a bunch of other stupid first years had killed all hope. If she hadn't gotten similar treatment in the past, her feelings might have been hurt. The only real issue was finding a seat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

"This seat's taken."

"Ugh. Worthington. You're still hanging around?"

"Sorry. I'm waiting on a friend."

"Go sit somewhere else, Worthington. You might get me in trouble by association."

"How rude," Alex grumbled. She made her way down the end of the table, but even there, people scooted over to make sure she couldn't rest her weary legs. "And that's just childish!"

"Feel free to have a seat over here, Worthington! You and Potter are our heroes!"

The Slytherin that had spoken burst into laughter alongside his friends. Alex wasn't sure how she felt being the Queen of the Slytherins. They were now well ahead in the House Cup standings and had Alex, Harry, Hermione, and Neville to thank for it.

The Ravenclaws weren't the only ones bitter. Even the Hufflepuffs who had once cheered Alex for giving them a crucial win in Quidditch had turned on her. Like the Gryffindors, they had been hungry for a Slytherin loss at long last.

"Over here, Alex. Yes. Right here."

Finally, a friendly face. Alex ran before anyone took the spot Luna Lovegood had waiting for her.

"Sorry!" Alex shouted after elbowing a fifth year boy. She wasn'treally sorry. "Thanks, Luna. I owe you one."

"You can give me two if you desire," said Luna with a faint smile. "You must be famished. I've been watching you for some time. Everyone hates you again."

"Yeah, I...have that effect on people apparently. I'm gonna be Tristan number two at this rate..."

"I don't hate you, Alex."

"I know." Alex, nodding, gave Luna a gracious smile. "...Not even a little bit?"

"Not even a little, even if you are the Queen of the Slytherins.
Suddenly, Alex wasn't in a smiling mood.

Breakfast was tense. Alex got through it despite the scowling and bad mouthing thrown at her left and right. She took glances at the staff table, specifically at Snape. It might have been her imagination, but he seemed to be avoiding eye contact. Giving up, she blew him a raspberry.

"Worthington! A word!"

"Oh God..."

Alex ducked her head. It didn't do much in stopping Robert Hilliard, a Ravenclaw Prefect, from marching over to her.

"What's this about you losing Ravenclaw fifty points last night? What were you doing out of the common room? Did Thorne put you up to this?"

Alex's head hurt from the abrupt interrogation. "Tristan? What does Tristan have to do with anything? I went out on my own."

"Aha!" Robert pointed a stern finger. "So you admit it! What were you thinking?!"

"Of course I admit it. Everyone in the school knows by now."

"Just listen to you! You clearly aren't taking this seriously!" Robert shook his head not unlike a disappointed father. "It's Thorne's fault! He's rubbing off on you! You would do best not to..."

"Whoops." Alex 'accidentally' tossed a stack of pancakes smack dab on Robert's aghast visage. "Sorry about that."

Red-faced, Robert stormed off. Alex, feeling generous, blew him a raspberry too.

"I wonder how long this is going to last," she said with a sigh. "I don't mind hexing a jerk or two, but being Miss Unpopular all the time wears at the nerves."

"We could use some Knickknackers right now."

Alex took a long while to process that. "...I'm going to regret asking, but what's a Knickknacker?"

"Oh, they're all over Ireland. Something about the air there. Anyway, they like stealing people's underwear while they aren't looking. If you've ever felt a breeze in your pants out of nowhere, it's a Knickknacker for sure."

That sounded heavenly to Alex. For once, she hoped Knickknackers weren't another Loony Lovegood invention. The idea of everyone who had given her grief running around commando pleased her greatly.

#

"I mean, it probably is my fault. I'm a bad influence, after all."

"Yeah, and Hilliard is a git like you said. Forget him."

Tristan snickered. "Something tells me you wouldn't have lost Ravenclaw fifty points if I weren't around."

"If you were around, we would've gotten Samuels once and for all."

"Yeah." Tristan grew serious. He made sure no one else in the common room was listening in. "I can't believe he showed up when he did. I mean, I can believe it, but..."

"I get what you mean." Alex sighed. "Everyone here hates me, but if I leave the common room, I'm as good as dead."

"I don't know about that. Snape didn't try anything, right?"

"...No. He didn't." Alex still couldn't wrap her head around that. "I ticked him off good though. He might actually kill me during the next Potions lesson. He knows my mother, but she's never mentioned him before. You would she would have warned me how much of a creep he is."

"He's full of it. I wouldn't listen to a word he says."

That made sense to Alex. She nodded. "Well, at least exams are coming up. That should distract everyone from hating my guts so much."

It didn't. The same could be said for Harry, Hermione, and Neville. The library was the only place they could breathe in peace. As such, the four did nothing but study diligently. Hermione didn't even have anything smart to say. After all, Madam Pince would never allow the sorts of rabid taunts they received everywhere else.

"How many god forsaken goblin rebellions were there?" said Alex in exasperation one particular afternoon. The book forts were back and taller than ever. She pushed one aside to see the others. "I used to read about them back home, but for some reason, it was more fun then..."

"No, it wasn't," said Ron assuredly. "You're a complete nutter."

"Thank you."

Alex expected Harry to tell them to be quiet like usual, or Hermione to remind them to focus solely on their studies. Neither did. With her mood soured, Alex went back to reading about a rebellion that took place near Hogsmeade.

Quidditch practice was a mixed bag. While everyone on the team was obviously irked at Alex screwing up again, they didn't full on ignore her like last time.

"Please, don't do anything else before the Gryffindor game," pleaded Roger Davies. "You're a damn good Beater, Worthington, so we can't afford to lose you, not when we still can't track down Samuels."

Alex bit her tongue to stop herself from saying she would be more than happy to drag Jason back kicking and screaming. She wouldn't promise he would be any use to the team after she broke all of his limbs though.

"And where the hell is Thorne again?" cried Roger in frustration. Alex, snorting, didn't have the heart to say Tristan was ditching on purpose just to get under Roger's skin.

The week before exams came in a blur. Alex, having read more books in the span of a few weeks than her entire life, felt tapped out. Her bloodshot eyes couldn't do it anymore. She needed some cases of Wideye Potion to have any hope of staying awake. She was up to the early hours of the morning memorizing anything she thought would be useful come test time.

"What did you do during your first year to get through all this?" she asked Tristan desperately.

"Nothing," he answered. "You think I only went through first year one time?"

That sent Alex into a panic. Her mother wouldkill her if she sent a letter home saying she would have to repeat her first.It took her a long while to realize Tristan had only been joking.

The stress of exams just about made her forget about the Philosopher's Stone. Snape hadn't stolen it yet, and Jason Samuels hadn't taken another attempt on her life. She felt like a normal student for the first time in a long time.

Save for being public enemy number one, of course.

"What are studying, Worthington? I hope it's how to transfer to Slytherin."

"Pardon? If you wanted to be hexed, all you had to do was say so."

The would-be bully yelped and ran when Alex pulled out her wand. People might have disliked her, but she had enough witnesses during her duel with Tristan for them to know not to mess with her.

"Right," she said, returning to her Charms homework. "Swish and flick..."

She stopped, remembering she had forgotten to pick up a book from the library.

"Harry!" she exclaimed when she incidentally ran into the person in question ten minutes later. He seemed as dejected as when she last saw him. "Guess there's no point asking if you're alright."

"Hello, Alex. No, I can't say I am. I tried to resign from the Quidditch team."

"You what?"

Harry shrugged. "It didn't feel right playing after...you know. Wood wouldn't let me though."

"Well, that was smart! I've seen you play, Harry. You're brilliant! Besides, you can get Gryffindor all those points back..."

"Right. If we win at Quidditch. Wood said the same thing. It's the same for you then, right? I guess the Ravenclaws don't have much to worry about with you on their team."

Alex puffed out her chest. While her Quidditch skills had been complimented by many, Harry Potter's word was the best of all. "I'm alright. My team won't missme, but I'm sure your team would miss you."

She had really hoped that would cheer him up. She didn't even garner a whiff of a smile.

"Going to the library then?" she said, changing the subject.

"Coming back from it actually. I had to..."

Sobbing from a close-by classroom drew their attention. Alex figured it must have been some poor soul finally breaking from the pressure of the upcoming exams. The crying, however, didn't sound like it came from someone their age on further inspection. Alex gestured for them to check it out, and Harry followed closed behind.

"No...no...please. Not again..."

"That's Quirrell's voice!" whispered Harry. Alex nodded and wasn't sure how she didn't recognize that shaky, pathetic tone sooner. They moved a bit closer to the doorway. "Someone's threatening him, I think."

"Sure sounds like it."

Snape. They might not have been able to see him in the room, yet, they knew Snape must have had a wand aimed directly at Quirrell's heart.

"Okay, okay. I-I understand..."

Alex and Harry pressed themselves against the wall as footsteps thundered toward the exit. Quirrell, adjusting his turban, strode past them. He didn't give them so much as a passing glance.

"Didn't he see us?" Alex turned her head in confusion. "Poor guy. He's that much of a nervous wreck."

"No one's here," said Harry, peering into the classroom. "Wait! Look there."

He pointed to an open door on the other side.

"Snape must've slithered out through there." Alex smacked her lips. "We should've helped Quirrell out when he had the chance. Did you hear the way he spoke? It sounds like he's already told Snape what he needs to know to get the Stone!"

"Let's tell Ron and Hermione."

They headed to the library to do exactly that.

"That's it then," moaned Ron. "Snape's going to get the Stone! Quirrell told him how to get past his spell!"

"What about Fluffy?" said Hermione. "It's like Hagrid said—only he knows how to get past him."

"Well, maybe Snape knows how to do it without Hagrid's help. Remember when Hagrid was here looking up stuff on dragons? Maybe Snape's done the same thing, but with giant, three-headed dogs. There's a million books here, after all!"

"No wonder he didn't try to kill me a few weeks ago," said Alex, scrunching her face in deep thought. "He knew Quirrell was about to crack! It wouldn't do him any good drawing attention to himself before then!"

"There you have it!" said Ron triumphantly. "So, what's the plan, Harry?"

"Easy," Alex chimed in his stead. "We take Snape down while we still have the chance!"

"No! We need to go to Dumbledore!" said Hermione. Ron glared at her. Alex did the same, crossing her arms for good measure. "Don't look at me like that! We should've gone to Dumbledore from the start! If we try to stop Snape, they'll throw us out of Hogwarts for sure!"

"Tristan and I have already gone over that! Even Albus Dumbledore can't help us if we don't have any bloody proof!" snapped Alex. Heads popped up from their work and onto her. "The only person that can help is the same one that just spilled the beans on how to get the Stone, and I don't think that's bloody likely when his own reflection probably gives him the chills at this point!"

"She's right." Harry's voice was lifeless and full of misery. "All Snape has to say is he wasn't the one behind that troll on Halloween. Who do you think Dumbledore will believe? We all hate Snape, and that's no secret. They'll think we just made all this up to get him sacked. You know good and well Filch won't help us. For whatever reason, he actually likes Snape, and us getting thrown out would be like music to his ears. And don't forget we're not even supposed to know about Fluffy or the Stone. That alone would take some explaining."

Hermione sat back down, thoroughly won over. Neither Alex nor Ron could say the same.

"Look," began Alex, "I agree with most of what you said, but we can't just sit here and do nothing, can we?"

"Sure can."

Her jaw fell open. In the beginning, Harry had been adamant she keep her nose out of this mess. Now that it was knee deep, he was telling her to give up?

"Look, mate, we just need to do a bit of poking around," suggested Ron.

"Not happening," said Harry, shaking his head. "I think we've done enough poking around."

The discussion ended there. Harry didn't answer any further cries for action. Alex, flummoxed, stopped short of calling him a coward.

"It's just some stupid points! They'll get over it! If Snape gets the Stone…!"

She eventually saw she was wasting her breath. Marching out of the library, she intended on tracking down Tristan. He would back her up.

"What…?"

He wasn't in the common room. In fact, she couldn't find him anywhere.

"Why in the world would he disappear now?!"

No one claimed to see him, though Alex felt everyone was still giving her the cold soldier and probably lying.

"...Maybe it's not just some stupid points."

There was nothing to be done. Grudgingly, she studied until it got late and then went to bed.

#

"There's the post."

Hundreds of owls soared into the Great Hall per Luna's claim. A tawny owl fluttered happily onto Alex's shoulder. In the midst of thinking, she didn't notice.

"Demeter is here," Luna announced. Alex still didn't respond. "Oh dear. You're looking positively awful again."

Alex neglected to fill Luna in on the latest concerning Snape and the Stone. The less people wrapped up in the mess, the better.

Then again, Luna's nuts. It'd be good to have her when we go to take down Snape.

Snape, for once, wasn't the problem at hand. She opened Demeter's letter, reading it over and over again like that would change what it said.

"What? Why?!"

Your detention will take place at eleven o'clock tonight.

Meet Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.

Professor M. McGonagall

"Who's ever heard of detention that late?" Alex, upset, tossed the letter over her shoulder. Demeter hooted in protest. "Oh, shut it, you!"

So, it was time to serve her detention at long last. It went from cleaning cauldrons to doing Merlin knew what. As long as it didn't involve Snape, she supposed she couldn't really complain.

"You guys get that letter too?" she asked after she went over to the Gryffindor table.

"Of course. And we deserve it," said Hermione weakly.

"I mean...I guess..."

Suddenly, Hermione shouted, "Oh, you're not taking this seriously! This is exactly why you keep getting in trouble!"

Conceding the point, Alex shrugged. Hermione, sighing, gave up and sat back down.

"It's cause she's nosy," said Ron with a mouthful of kippers.

Again, Alex shrugged. "You're no better."

"No, but I don't have detention."

"This time."

Ron shrugged himself. He had only been spared their fate because of a nasty dragon bite.

"I should've let Norbert bite me," Alex said under her breath. "No, he should've just eaten me for lunch."

Her foul mood brought everyone down further, so Harry asked her to go back to the Ravenclaw table. Once again, she couldn't find a seat. She wasn't that hungry anyway, so she stomped out of the Great Hall to get some extra studying in.

"...Still not here."

An empty common room greeted her. It most notably lacked Tristan.

"Can't he at least have the courtesy of telling me when he's going to vanish into thin air?"

Didn't he care Jason Samuels or Snape could attack at moment's notice? She kicked a chair in frustration though regretted it as she hopped around in anguish.

"Could today get any worse?"

"Sure it could. I can think of a few ways."

Alex put a hand on her wand and whirled around.

She was too late. Jason Samuels had his wand pointed right between her eyes. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and she didn't dare move, not even to knock the smirk off of Jason's face.

"Hello, Worthington. You weren't hungry from the looks of it. Neither was I," said Jason in a conversational tone. "Why so glum? You were just talking about me, right? I thought you'd be more happy to see me."

END