THE START OF A NEW YEAR

Summer had gone by. Things had slightly changed at the Malfoy's manor. Lucius was still Lucius, but Narcissa had softened. Probably Draco had something to do with it, but now, Alex was able to write letters to her friends and Remus without hiding. And she was also able to read the letters they wrote back. Lucius didn't like it, of course. But Narcissa must have talked to him about it, because even though he had a dog face every time she received or mailed a letter, he didn't say anything.

So, Alex spent all summer in touch with her friends and Remus. She mailed Ron, Harry and of course Hermione. But she had developed a stronger bond with Neville and the twins. Especially with Fred. Neville was a soft scared boy, and Alex felt like she had to protect him. As for the twins, they always made her laugh, and Fred seemed to care a lot about her.

However, the one Alex had spent more time at summer, was Draco. They lived together, of course, but they enjoyed each other company. They spent time at the gardens, playing around, lying on the ground, reading, laughing…Both of them had practised all summer long for the Quidditch team. They wanted to get in. Alex wanted to try out for one of the beaters positions. Draco wanted to try out for the seeker one.

It was the end of august. Both of them had received their letters to Hogwarts, for the second year. There was a list of books and ingredients needed for the new year, so they had to go to the Diagon Alley to get all of the stuff. They were in the garden, relaxing, when Lucius showed up.

- Draco, get dress. You too, Alexa. We're leaving. – that was weird. Lucius was usually way too busy to act like a father and take Draco somewhere. But taking also Alex?

- Where are we going? – asked Alex, standing up from the ground. Lucius looked at her like she had said something awful.

- You need to buy stuff for the new year, don't you? Let's go.

- Mother is not coming with us? – Draco said.

- I think I have made myself pretty clear…Your mother has other matters to attend. Let's. Go. – he turned around and went back inside. Draco and Alex looked at each other and went to their bedrooms to get dressed.

They put on their Hogwarts uniforms and robes and followed Lucius to the living room, where they used the fireplace to travel to their destiny. However, they were not at the Diagon Alley.

- I thought we were buying the stuff that we need for Hogwarts… - said Alex looking around.

- I don't have to give you any kind of explanations, Alexa. – Lucius looked at her with anger in his eyes. – We're at Knockturn Alley. I have something to do. Move.

Lucius led the two kids around the alley, which seemed pretty dark. Not just in matters of lightning, but also the people around, they looked like the bad kind of people. They headed towards a shop called Borgin and Burkes. It was a dark shop, filled with dust and weird things all around. Draco and Alex looked around, and saw something that caught their eyes. It was a withered hand. Draco was about to touch it, when suddenly, Lucius almost hit him with his walking stick.

- Don't touch anything, Draco. – the cane itself was coated in shiny black lacquer. At the top of the stick there was a silver snake's head, which had green crystal eyes. It was actually the handle of Lucius's wand, which was hidden inside the stick.

- Yes, father.

- Same goes to you, Alexa…

- Yes, sir… - she looked at Draco as Lucius turned around to make sure he was okay. Lucius was a scary man, that was for sure. But Draco had to deal with him as a father, which was even worse.

- Uh, Mister Malfoy, what a pleasure to see you again. – a stooped man emerged from the back room. He looked at Draco and Alex. - And young Master Malfoy and Miss Black, too. Delighted. I must show you, just in today and very reasonably…

- I'm not buying today, Borgin. I'm selling.

- Selling? – Lucius took out of his robe a roll of parchment, unravelled it and handed to Borgin.

- You are aware no doubt that the Ministry of Magic is conducting more raids on private houses. There're even rumours of a new Muggle Protection Act…I have a few items at home that might prove embarrassing if the Ministry were to call. Certain poisons and the like…

- Hmmm…yes. I see. – Borgin was reading the roll of parchment that Lucius had given him. "Poisons and the like…what a great father figure…". What kind of person kept poisons around their kids? Not that Malfoy cared, that was for sure. Alex looked at Draco, who was getting closer to the same withered hand as before. Before Alex could say anything, he reached out to it and suddenly, the hand grabbed him. Alex hurried towards him, and helped him to slip free.

- What the bloody hell is that? Are you okay? – Alex was startled, and so was Draco.

- I'm fine… - he eyed the hand with malicious glee. – I want it.

- You…you want it? That thing just scared the hell out of us and you want it? – Alex looked at Draco with disbelief and a small smile. He shrugged at her.

- Can I have this? – Draco asked his father. Alex knew Lucius would manage to give Draco an unpleasant answer.

- Ah, the Hand of Glory. Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder. Best friend of thieves and plunderers. Your son has fine taste, sir. – Lucius's face was already changing into a worse demeanour. "Here we go…".

- Hopefully my son will amount to more than a thief, Mister Borgin. Though if his marks don't pick up…

- It's not my fault the teachers have favourites! That Hermione Granger… - Draco looked down.

- If only that Hermione Granger was the problem… - Lucius looked at Alex. Hermione and her were top of their class. Hermione won by only a couple points. But Alex was still ahead of Draco, and that pissed Lucius. – However, I would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl of no wizarding family beat you in every exam.

- Just because she doesn't come from a family of wizards doesn't mean she can be better than any of us. – Alex was not going to stay there and hear Malfoy talk bad about her friend. Lucius walked up to her with a deadly look. Without a warning, he hit her with his cane in her face. Not hard enough to knock her down, but neither light enough to not hurt her.

- One day you'll learn to shut up when the grownups are talking…or else… - Alex bit her lip to keep any more words from coming out. There was blood on her face. It was not the first time Lucius hit her. He despised her. No doubt about it. Draco stood there, trying not to make a single move.

- It's the same all over… - said Borgin. – Wizard blood is counting for less everywhere.

- Not with me. – he turned his back to Alex, and headed towards Mister Borgin. Alex looked at Draco. He had a look of guilt on his face, but he didn't say a thing. – Very good. I'll expect you at the manor tomorrow. Come, Draco. Alexa…

They all walked outside the shop and headed towards the Diagon Alley, to finally buy all their stuff. In all that time, Draco and Alex didn't talk to each other. He felt bad for her, but he couldn't fight his dad. And especially not for her. That would only end up worse, for both Draco and Alex. She knew that too, and that's why she didn't try to talk to him either.

- I have to do some things at Gringotts. Why don't you too head to Flourish and Blotts to buy your books. I'll be there shortly. – and with that, he left both kids alone and headed to the bank.

Alexa started walking towards the shop when Draco grabbed her hand.

- Hey…Listen, I'm…

- Sorry, I know. It's okay. – she kept on walking, and he walked behind.

- It's my fault, I shouldn't have mentioned Granger.

- You are not to blame for your father being a bully, Draco. We're okay, I promised… - she looked at him with a soft smile, which he returned, although he still felt guilty.

Flourish and Blotts was a bookshop in north side, about halfway down the street on the left-hand side. It was where most Hogwarts students purchased their schoolbooks. It was filled with bookshelves stacked to the ceiling. When they got closer to the store, Alex saw the Weasley twins at the door. With a big smile, she started running towards them, leaving Draco behind.

- FRED! GEORGE! – both boys looked back and saw Alex running to them. They both started smiling, and Fred ran towards her as well.

- ALEX! – both Fred and Alex hugged each other hard. He raised her from the ground. – How are you, little braids?

- I'm great! Especially now, seeing both of you! George! – George walked up to her and hugged her too.

- Did you miss us, slithergirl?

- Of course I did! – just as she said that, Draco walked past her.

- I'll see you inside, Alex. – and with that, he got into the store.

- Good to see you too, Malfoy. – George waved at him. – Nice as always, isn't he?

- Yeah, it's been a long day… - Alex sighed. Then, Fred looked at her and saw the blood on her lip.

- Woah, what happened to you? – he softly grabbed her face. – Are you okay?

- Oh, yes, it's fine.

- That doesn't look fine, Alex. – George was worried too.

- I was running around and fell to the floor. Really, it's fine! Let's go in, shall we? – she tried to dismiss the conversation and walked inside the store, the twins following her. – Woah, why are there so many people?

- Gilderoy Lockhart, apparently, he's going to be signing some books. Must be around here already. – said Fred, still worried about Alex.

- I've never heard of him, to be honest.

- He's a famous writer and wizard. Apparently, he's done a lot of crazy things and wrote about all of them. - George explained.

- Our mother is a big fan. There she is, front row.

Suddenly, Hermione walked inside the store, followed by Harry.

- Alex! - Hermione hugged Alex happily.

- Hermione! Harry! It's so good to see you, guys.

- You too! Are you okay? - Harry asked Alex, giving her a pat on the shoulder. He was clearly talking about Alex's lip, but his worry was different than the twins. Like he knew what had happened.

- Yeah, I'm fine…thanks.

- Oh, hey, Harry! Alex, you're here too! - Ron came from the front row.

- Oh, Harry. Thank goodness. We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far. - a red headed woman walked next to the kids. She was probably Ron's mother. She looked at her. - I'm Molly Weasley. You must be Alex, right? Fred talks about you all the time.

- No, I don't. - Fred looked annoyed at what his mother had just said, like he was embarrassed.

- Nice to meet you! - Alex said with a big grin on her face.

Everyone around them started cheering. A handsome, golden-haired wizard with stunning pearl-white teeth appeared at the front of the shop.

- There he is! - Molly Weasley looked radiant as she looked at Gilderoy Lockhart.

- Mum fancies him. - said Ron to his friends as Molly gave him a jab in the shoulder and started to make her way to the front. A short man with a camera bumped past.

- Out of the way! This is for the Daily Prophet! - with that, Lockhart looked up and flashed a smile. Suddenly, his face changed.

- It can't be Harry Potter? - The crowd whispered excitedly as Lockhart dived forward, seized Harry's hand and turned him towards the photographer. He said something to Harry in a whisper. - Ladies and gentlemen! What an extraordinary moment this is! When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchase my autobiography, Magical Me, which, incidentally is celebrating its twenty-seventh week atop The Daily Prophet's Bestseller List, he had no idea that he would, in fact, be leaving with my entire collected works! Free of charge!

People all around them started clapping. Women seemed to be charmed by Gilderoy Lockhart. However, Alex thought he was a weird man, and for the looks of the male around her, she wasn't the only one thinking that. Harry went back to the crowd, and gave Molly Weasley all of the books that Lockhart had given him.

- Harry, give them to me and I'll ask him to sign them. You guys wait outside, I'm going now. – with that, all of the Weasleys, Hermione and Alex started heading outside the store.

- Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter? – Draco had climbed down the stairs and was standing now in their way, clearly pissed. – Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page.

- Leave him alone! – before anyone else could say anything, Ginny Weasley, the little one of the family, stepped up to Draco.

- Look, Potter. You've got yourself a girlfriend! – he said with a mocking voice. Suddenly, Lucius walked right beside him. "Great…".

- Hey, Draco. Be way gentler. – he moved Draco to the side with the help of his cane. – Mister Potter…Lucius Malfoy, we finally meet. Excuse me. – he grabbed Harry's hand at pulled him closer to take a look at his scar. – Your scar is legend. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you.

- Voldemort killed my parents. He is nothing but a vulgar murderer.

- You must be very brave, Mister Potter, to dare speak his name. Or foolish.

- Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself. – Hermione stepped in the conversation.

- This is getting better by the second… - whispered Alex to herself. Lucius's eyes slide, only to find Hermione staring defiantly.

- You must be Miss Granger. Draco's told me all about you…and you parents. – both Hermione and Lucius looked where her parents were talking with Mister Weasley. – Muggles, aren't they? And you…redheads, lost look, worn second hand books…must be the Weasleys.

Lucius grabbed a book that Ginny was taking in a cauldron. Mister Weasley saw what was happening in the distance, and decided to came into the conversation.

- Guys! It's mad in here. Let's go outside!

- Well, well, well…Father Weasley. – Lucius said with disdain.

- Lucius.

- Busy time at the Ministry. All those raids. I hope they're paying you overtime. Although judging by the state of this, I'd say no. What's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it? – Mister Weasley didn't know what to do or say, not in front of his kids. Alex felt sorry for the entire situation, but what could she do. She had already paid the price of standing up for one of her friends. What would Malfoy do if she defended the Weasleys as well?

- We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy.

- Clearly… - Lucius looked once again to Hermione's parents. – The company you keep, Arthur. And I thought your family could sink no lower. – he returned the book that he had taken to Ginny's cauldron. Mister Weasley smiled at his children. – I'll see you at the Ministry. Draco. Alexa. Let's go.

- I'll see you at the school. – said Draco, leaving the store right behind his father.

- I'm sorry about all of that, Mister Weasley. Bye, guys… - Alex followed as well.

She felt so bad for her friends. She felt powerless every time Lucius was around. He was an awful human being. And she hated him for it. When they returned to the Malfoy's manor, Alex headed directly to her bedroom. That was one of the few things that she didn't hate about the place. It was a manor, and therefore, there were plenty of rooms to spare. So even though she wasn't cherished by the Malfoy's, they didn't care about her having a decent room. And she knew no one would bother her in there. Except for Draco, perhaps. Once she closed the door behind her, she started packing up her things. The Hogwarts Express left for the magical school the next day, and she didn't have anything better to do after the day.

Suddenly, someone knocked on her door. Alex was startled. She opened up the door, and found Draco standing there, with a plate full of waffles.

- Can I come in? I bring some offerings. – he said with a little smile.

- You need to stop apologizing with food… - she said going back to her doings. – …and maybe, stop being a bully.

- A bully? Not liking your friends makes me a bully?

- Insulting them does! I could say a lot of things about your friends, you know? But I don't. Cause it's not fair or nice. And to be honest, I don't care about them.

- Potter is the one who shows off whenever he has the chance.

- It's not his fault he is famous!

- Maybe not, but still. He should be more…humble. – Draco sat on Alex's bed. She couldn't help but laugh at his words.

- You're one to talk about humility.

- Forget it. Just…I'll try not to insult your friends when you're around.

- That doesn't sound as good as you think it does…but I'll take it. Now get your ass off my bed and help me out with this. – she said while throwing him a cushion. They both smiled, as Draco helped her with her trunk.