All through Charms, Alexa thought of ways to tell Harry about the danger that he was going to encounter. She knew she would need his full trust if she was to help him so she decided to get to know him a little more before she would tell him.

After the Charms class came lunch and though Hermione was not talking to her, Alexa walked to the Great Hall with her trying to start conversation.

"So do you like Professor Flitwick? He seems nice enough to me. He seems like he's pretty lenient on grades too."

Hermione didn't answer but simply resumed walking. Alexa was not about to make herself into the bad guy so Hermione could feel better. No way, no how.

"Whatever then. I'll see you much later, much later."

Alexa turned around and ran smack dab into Draco. She smiled at the surprised look on his face

"Hey Draco, what's up? Have you been following me?"

He looked at her and gave her his signature smirk.

"Why are you so interested in getting that Mudblood to accept you? What did you do to make her mad anyways?"

Alexa rolled her eyes and decided to let Draco have it. She was so sick of his "Holier-than-thou" act.

"Why are you such a prick? You have no respect for anyone do you? Boy, have you changed. You sound just like your father you know that?"

As Alexa turned on her heel to leave Draco grabbed her wrist, his eyes shooting daggers.

"Don't ever compare me to my father. You know what he's like, I'm sure you haven't forgotten that oh so very special day. I'm nothing like my father. You should be glad."

Alexa wrenched her hand from Draco's grip and slapped him as hard as she could. He took a few steps back, stunned that his friend had actually hit him.

"Draco Malfoy if you ever lay a hand on me again I will kill you! Don't put it past me either. I have grown up a lot since that day. To tell you the truth I had forgotten about it. You just made me realize why I never bothered to keep correspondence with you when I left. I hate you."

This time Draco didn't try to stop Alexa as she stormed off heading for the Great Hall.

****** (In the Great Hall)

Ron and Harry were questioning Hermione's behavior and Hermione wasn't too happy about it. Harry knew that it was a touchy subject and wanted to avoid it all together but Ron just didn't seem to get it.

"Why did you go and get all mad at her? She didn't do anything wrong."

Harry knew what Ron was saying was right and didn't want to bring it up but he did anyway.

 "Ron's right. She can't help that she knew what she was doing and got the potion right."

Hermione shook her head pensively.

"I know it's just I'm used to being on top of everything and it's the first day of classes and already I'm falling off."

Harry was still trying to cheer Hermione up when a frazzled looking Alexa came into the Great Hall and slowly sat down next to him. He looked at her and smiled brightly.

"Hi Alexa! How are you doing?"

She was surprised by his attitude and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hi Harry. How have you been? I noticed that we don't have many classes together today."

As their conversation continued Hermione began to fidget then finally spoke.

"Look Alexa I'm really sorry about the way I acted today. I was being childish and immature. Will you please forgive me?"

Alexa reached across the table and gave Hermione a quick hug. Hermione let out a sigh of relief and slowly a smile made its way onto her face.

"Of course I'll forgive you. Now what's there to eat?"

They all laughed and began to fill their plates. They began to compare their schedules for the afternoon and discovered they all had the afternoon off. Ron insisted that after lunch they all give Alexa a tour of the whole castle. Alexa was so busy joking and laughing that she hardly noticed when Draco came into the Hall and approached their table.

"Aren't we just the happy little family? So when do you guys start holding hands and break out in Kumbaya?"

Not wanting to start an argument Harry forced himself to talk civilly.

"What is it you want Malfoy?"

Draco chuckled, "Actually I was just wondering if the Mudblo- but before he could finish, Alexa had grabbed his arm and whisked him into the hall.

"What is it you want Draco? I'm really not in the mood for any of your obnoxious and snide remarks."

Draco's expression changed from slyness to one of sincerity and concern. The change in his expression made Alexa want to laugh but she held it in.

"Look Alexa, I didn't mean to hurt you earlier…I was just having a little trouble keeping my temper down."

Alexa smirked which surprised him.

"Is that a Draco apology or something?"

She looked into his eyes which he quickly averted to the floor.

"I guess so."

Alexa stood there for a second studying Malfoy. He'd a grown from a scrawny eleven year old to a suave, handsome guy. Not to mention that fact that he towered over her 5'6" frame at 6'1".She remembered when she used to pull his ears and make him cry.  Thinking about that made her laugh which caused Draco to look up from the floor and into her eyes. They stared at each other for a minute or two as if in a trance.

"Alright then Draco, I forgive you. See you later."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek which sent his stomach into flip-flops. He watched her walk back into the Great Hall and with a sigh followed her in. They both sat at their house tables and finished eating every so often glancing in the others direction.

Harry noticed the eye contact.

"So what did Malfoy want?"

Alexa shrugged nonchalantly.

"Nothing much. He was being a jerk earlier and wanted to apologize. I told you guys he's not that bad."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other before bursting out with laughter. This confused Alexa since she was being serious, but she joined in the fun.

"What. Why are you laughing?"

 After dinner as Alexa was walking up to her dorm with Hermione and Ron's younger sister Ginny, Harry and Ron ran up to them. As they began the trek to the Gryffindor common room Harry walked beside Alexa and the two fell slightly behind.

"Hey um… Alexa…do you want to come with me?"

Alexa looked at Harry confused wondering what he was talking about.

"I guess so. But where do you want to go?"

Harry shuffled his feet, his face turning bright red.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to come with me for a walk. You know so, we can talk and get to know each other a little better."

Alexa nodded.

"Alright let's go."

Alexa cleared her throat loudly which caused Hermione, Ron and Ginny to turn around.

"We're just going to go for a walk."

Ron looked crushed then straightened up and glanced sideways at Hermione.

"What about the guided tour of Hogwarts?"

Anxious to get away from them Harry snapped.

"Ron she'll be here all year. We'll be back in a while. Don't worry about it. Why don't you guys practice a couple games of Exploding Snap because when we come back we are going to kick your butts."

 Satisfied with the silence from the three, Alexa and Harry linked arms and walked down the stairs leaving Ron, Ginny, and Hermione standing on the landing rendered speechless and looking slightly bewildered.