"So where are you from?"

As Alex and Dean walked through the winding hallways of the castle the conversation turned from idle chit-chat to more serious and personal questions.

"I…err…"

Dean looked at her questioningly.

"Alexa?"

Alex bit her lower lip, Draco hadn't told her where Alexa was from! Sure making up a lie would be easy enough, but what if it somehow got back to Dean that she had lied? That would surely look bad. Luckily, Alex was once again rescued by her new favorite person, Draco Malfoy.

"Why do you want to know Thomas?"

As Draco stepped from the shadows, Alex could feel Dean stiffen at her side.

"What do you want Malfoy? Why are you on the third floor? Shouldn't you be in the dungeons with the rest of the Slytherin Scum?"

'Wow,' thought Alex, 'I'm liking Dean more and more each day!'

Draco smirked and looked directly into Alex's eyes.

"I had some business that I needed to clean up with Alexa here. Isn't that right Alexa?

Alexa gave a short sigh before turning to Dean.

"Look Dean," she began apologetically, "I had forgotten that I told Draco that I would meet him tonight. Maybe we can continue this conversation later?"

She threw a backward glance in Draco's direction.

"Alone?"

She looked into Dean's eyes hopefully, still chewing on her bottom lip. Dean looked at her and smiled.

"Sure. I'll talk to you later when you get back to the common room."

He threw Draco a menacing stare as he began the trek back to the common room.

"Do you need me to stay here with you? Cause I can and I will…if you want me to that is."

Alex smiled in spite of herself. Dean was a great guy.

"No that's alright. Draco here doesn't pose any threat. He's as harmless as a…ferret."

At Alex's comment Dean burst out in laughter and Draco burned with anger. After Dean had turned the corner, Draco grabbed Alex's wrist tightly.

"So I imagine Potter told you about the time that crazy coot decided to hassle me, huh?"

Alex stifled back a laugh and stepped back, coming in contact with the wall.

"Chill out Draco. It was just a little joke. No harm done. Besides, I think that ferrets are kind of cute."

Draco, surprised at Alex's comment, released his grip on her wrist but saying nothing.

"So what did you want to tell me?"

Draco looked at her with a perplexed smile on his face.

"What?"

Alex laughed, bringing a smile to Draco's face. He loved that laugh…not that he'd ever admit it…

"You said that you needed to talk to me. What was it you wanted to say?"

His smile now gone, Draco looked her up and down before he spoke.

"I don't like you hanging out with that pansy Thomas. I see that you two are getting "close".  Just thought I'd let you know that he's not worth your time and that you should dump him before you get too attached. Trust me, you're better of not associating with him."

Alex shook her head in disgust, she just didn't understand Draco.

"What's your problem?"

Draco shook his head, his mouth fixed in a slight scowl.

"What do you mean?"

Alex hastily ran her hands through her hair.

"Who the hell do you think you are to tell me that you don't like who I'm hanging out with? Just because you have no friends doesn't mean that you should start bashing mine!"

Once again Alex had gone too far, and once again, Alex found herself pressed against the wall, her wrists held tightly in Draco's hands.

"Listen to me and listen to me good. You aren't here to make friends. You're here because this is the only place that you'll be safe. And do believe me when I say, Dean doesn't like you. He's merely using you to get what he wants."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Draco regretted ever thinking them. He could see the hurt in Alex's eyes…amidst the anger. She was furious. Alex closed her eyes and summoning all her strength wrenched her hands from Draco's grip.

Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn.

"Well you want to know something Draco? I'd choose Dean over you any day even if he is just using me! You and I both know that and it's killing you! I thought nothing of it as first but now I see…you're jealous! Don't think I didn't notice. The stares and scowls…Draco Malfoy, Hogwarts Slytherin Prince is jealous! And all because he can't get what he wants…for once in his life. You know I heard stories about you but I never really believed that they were true…until now."

Draco snorted, shocked, but too arrogant to back down.

"I'm jealous? Of who? A big-mouthed mudblood who prides herself on being so much better than she really is? Oh yeah, that's it. I'm jealous of the half-breed bas…"

Before Draco had time to finish insulting Dean, Alex had slapped him three times across the face. Her blows were hard and precise, leaving Draco's cheek stinging. He grabbed his cheek rubbing it savagely.

"Stupid Mudblood! You dare strike a Malfoy?"

Alex was fuming. At that moment she wished she had a gun so that she could just blow Draco away and be done with. But where would that leave her? Alone. In all truthfulness, Draco was the only person she trusted. She had grown up without a father and now her mother was gone, finding her only source of reassurance in a tall blonde-haired boy with a bad temper. It was useless fighting him; he was the only one who really cared and if he stopped…what then?

"Look, I don't want to fight you on this one. I'm sorry that I hit you. I'm going back to my common room."

As Alex turned to leave, all the anger Draco had directed towards her just moments ago, disappeared in a wash of sympathy and yes…even guilt. Though sorry he'd said all those things, the Malfoy pride was still in his vein and Draco watched Alex walk slowly down the hallway, his heart fighting a losing battle with his mind.

******

As Alex walked into the common room she feigned a smile. Dean was the first one to speak to her, jumping hastily up from the couch in front of the immaculate fireplace.

"Hi Alexa! Are you ready to finish talking now?"

Alex faked a yawn and smiled sheepishly.

"Might we be able to talk some more tomorrow? After dealing with Malfoy, I'm quite tired and just want to go to bed."

Dean nodded and took a deep breath.

"Sure, that's fine by me. Goodnight Alexa."

Alex smiled and started up the steps towards the dormitories.

"Goodnight Dean."

The minute Alex reached the sixth year girls dorms, she threw herself on her bed, sobbing. On the outside, to everyone else, she may have looked happy but inside, her heart was aching. Her mother was gone…Alex knew that she wouldn't see her anymore. She didn't know how long she was going to be at Hogwarts, even thought she absolutely loved it here, she missed London. And the radio. And the cinema. She missed her life in general. What about Draco? Was there something there? Alex didn't realize that her sobbing was getting progressively louder until she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

Alex looked up to see Eliza Dishque staring back at her with a look of utmost concern on her face. She sniffed and sat up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.

"I suppose so. Sometimes a girl just needs to let all her feeling out or she'll absolutely bust. You know?"

The girl smiled and offered Alex her hand.

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I'm Eliza."

Alex smiled, her tears now gone and shook Eliza's hand.

"Hi Eliza. I'm Alex..a. Let's try that again. I'm Alexa. You're new right?"

Eliza's cheerful expression fell slightly and she lowered her gaze to the ground.

"Yes. I'm from Germany. Sorry if I seem a little down. I just miss my family. I'd never been to boarding school before Hogwarts and… it's a lot different here."

Alex stood up.

"I know what you mean, I was just feeling a little homesick myself. Why don't you tell me what Germany is like? You know, to take your mind off of things?"

Eliza looked up, meeting Alex's gaze.

"Ok."

As the two girls talked into the night, both were comforted in the fact that they had found a new friend.