I don't own Harry Potter or the characters barring my own inventions. Kudos to Ms. Rowlings for creating world with such a palette of possibilities. Enjoy and please review. Thanks...LA

Previous events: Hermione' got Ron on Spew duty for a month and Harry's stomach's doing serious cartwheels...

Chapter 3

Fork of the Snake's Tongue

The clunk of the wooden door echoed down the dungeon halls. Harry had to take a moment for his eyes to adjust to the decay saturated darkness that lay onward. Muffled sounds filtered up to his ears, as he started to descend into the bowels of the school, towards Potions.

Shadows in the distance were whispering ghostly; their forms only highlighted by several spitting torches high overhead.

Only by chance did Harry notice movement in the translucent shade of a large statue. A tall, lanky figure was accompanied by a woolly haired figure. It was Ron and Hermione with their backs to Harry. They were whispering too.

"Hermione, should we talk to him?"

Harry slowed down.

"No." Hermione said calmly

"Good. "We don't need to tell Dumbledore, either then?"

Harry stopped.

"No." she repeated.

Ron let out a sigh that sounded like a much relieved, whoo.

I guess the teachers are watching out for poor Potter, too! ...

Suddenly a vision of the lemon drops came to Harry.

They're just trying to help . Harry gripped his pack strap a little tighter.

"Right, then. So we just wait...and... see."

"These things take time Ron, Harry still loves Sirius, and he'll need to work through it alone; until he wants to talk, we just need to take his mind off things."

"You're right. You're always right." Ron's voice was patient, but strained.

He was silent for a few moments, but when Harry took an uneasy step forward, Ron sighed heavily again.

"Ron, what is it?"

Harry could see the outline of Hermione's profile. Then a warm laugh, devoid of any judgment came out of her, soft and restrained.

"Ron you really are too much, sometimes!" Her shadowy hand melted with the silhouette of Ron's cheek. "Of course Harry's going to want to play Quidditch."

Ron's profile came into view and Harry had the sudden urge to do something, to either look away, or make his presence known. But he was rooted, mutely, in a nebula of indecision.

"'Mione, I was just thinking."

"What's that Ron?"

"In this light, you look so...so...

"So what?" Hermione said playfully.

"You look so much like Trelawney, it's scary."

Before for Hermione could respond, or Harry could blink, Ron pulled her towards him. For three horrifying heartbeats those silhouettes, belonging to Harry's two best friends, were one.

A circus of uncertainty blundered about in Harry's head. Hundreds of questions whizzed in and out but a voice came through it all, calm and clear.

Just back away. You didn't see anything; it's that easy. Just get to the bottom of the steps, as if you just came in.

Surprisingly enough, Harry's feet worked and he edged his way backward.

"Umphh, hey what...

Harry lost his balance and fell backwards. He heard the delicate whoosh of parchment and the clang of ink bottles as they spilt and broke on the stone floor. Luckily for Harry, someone broke his fall nicely.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." Harry managed to free himself from the tangle of limbs and stood up.

"Well, I don't expect you have eyes in the back of your head, but apology accepted."

A hand glided out from the mess of black robes at the bottom of the stairs and Harry took it.

It was a girl; that much Harry could make out by the voice. But in the shadows, it was very hard to see exactly who it was until she stepped into the light.

"Oh, ah... hello," he said awkwardly.

"Hi. I'm Alexandra," she spoke casually. "I know who you are."

"Yeah, er...right."

Harry wanted to get away, he felt like they were being watched. As he bent down to retrieve the stuff that she had dropped, he heard her mumble something beneath her breath. It sounded like, "Say something!"

"Oh, you don't have to do that," she said as Harry handed her stuff over. "I...um...Thanks... bye." She finished and walked away briskly.

Harry stared at her, confused. What was that all about?

"What was that all about?" Ron asked coming out of the statue's shadow. Harry jumped, thinking he'd actually posed the question himself.

"Oh, I tripped her at the foot of the stairs and..."

'Hey Harry?" Ron interrupted. "Did you see her Wednesday last?" Ron whispered hurriedly. "I think you were at the library."

"See what?" Harry was looking at Alexandra as she slid into the shadows by the classroom door.

"Well Malfoy and his lot came into the Great Hall, throwing their weight around and everything. And the little sod picks the seat right next to that girl; What's her name?"

"Alexandra." Hermione answered a little too, quickly.

Harry could feel, rather than see, Ron's eyebrow go up.

"Anywwwaay, Malfoy's got his crew seated all around her and starts talking to her. And right in mid sentence she just gets up and walks away. Just OK, done eating now, I guess I'll go. You should have seen his face! I don't know why you didn't hear about it before--"

The dungeon door opened with a bang against the wall. Everyone looked at Snape's daunting figure in the doorway.

"Well!" sliced through the musty air. He moved aside and slinked back within the shadows of classroom.

Suddenly Crabbe and Goyle came out of nowhere and stood guarding the entrance. Students filed past them slowly and cautiously.

Harry leaned into Ron.

"You know I was really surprised that we got our Potions O.W.L's, but these two, there's no way."

Ron rolled his eyes. Shaking his head, he said, "Well, I bet Snape'll want to keep all his old mates happy, what better way than to—" A fat, knuckled hand appeared before him. It was Crabbe, whose beady eyes narrowed and glanced back at Goyle.

"What, is it invitation only, today? I'm all for not being on the guest list." Ron huffed.

They watched as Goyle leaned in to whisper to Crabbe.

"I knew we we're dressed properly!" Ron said, turning toward Harry. "I'm so embarrassed. Can you believe a swanky place like this doesn't have dress robes on hand?" Ron's voice went a little higher, sounding a lot like Mrs. Weasley. "Come along Harry, Hermione. I'm sure there are other places less, picky and dark, or depressing, or smelly, or vile, or..."

"Now look here," Hermione started, holding her wand. "Either you get out of the way or I'll make you."

"You don't want to get in the way of Hermione and her lessons." Harry warned half-heartily.

An altercation was averted, though, when Crabbe lowered his hand and stepped slightly aside.

"It's good to see that you've come to whatever senses you have, mate. Really, I'm proud of you," Ron cooed. He tapped Crabbe quickly on his bolder of a shoulder and stepped through. Hermione went in, but not before separating them even more with the tip of her wand.

There was no commotion that usually accompanies the beginning of a class, but that was to be expected in Potions. Just when Harry looked away to get out his herb rack, an elbow to the side got his attention. Several others noticed too.

Crabbe and Goyle were flanking Alexandra. Her small stature was ever more apparent, put in between Malfoy's oxen. She looked immune to the situation, however, as if she were walking by herself. It was not until they stopped her in front of Malfoy's usual station that a faint line manifested at her brow.

She sat down on Malfoy's usual side and as soon as she did so, Malfoy himself walked through the door. He grinned malevolently at Alexandra. Harry couldn't see the look she gave him. When Malfoy sat down, she just set up her caldron, oblivious to everyone.

Snape was standing in front of the class, arms folded across his chest, surveying them all menacingly.

"I am quite astounded that some of you," his eyes fell on Neville, "have made it this far. It would seem that some weren't putting forth the effort in class that appeared so conveniently during last years' O.W.L..s. I assure each and every one of you," again Snape's eyes darted towards Neville, "that classroom effort shall be double and even tripled, perhaps, in some hopeless cases, in preparation for N.E.W.T.s."

He glided through the rows, inspecting tools and supplies.

Malfoy puffed up when Snape stopped in front of him. Harry watched as Snape looked from Malfoy to the Slytherin girl. Snape whirled on the Gryffindor three, as if he felt the waves of their curiosity.

"Mr. Potter, back again? Pity. I so looked forward to our parting." His voice lingered amongst the dungeon walls. "Miss. Granger, I warn you now," he spat, not removing his eyes from Harry, "cheating is a serious offense. And I'll not have you whispering these two through N.E.W.T.s. Is that clear?" He waited.

Hermione clenched her fists so tight her knuckles went white.

"Silence, Miss. Granger? I didn't think it possible."

Hermione suddenly relaxed her hands and blood flowed through them again. She looked calmly at Snape.

"Yes, Professor, very clear."

Snape got in Hermione's face and whispered, "There are worse punishments than expulsion, Miss. Granger. Please keep that in mind."

Snape sneered at Harry and glided back to his desk. "You're assignment is on the board. You are not to speak until you are out of this classroom Understood?"

When the lesson was over, Malfoy caught Alexandra at the door. Harry thought if Malfoy looked any more full of himself, he'd pop. Ron used a more colorful expression for what Malfoy was full of, which made Harry laugh and Hermione scowl.

"He looks absolutely ridiculous. If he only knew. He's such an idiot." Hermione whispered.

Harry looked at her.

"Only knew what?"

Hermione scowled at Malfoy and whispered, "Later."

"Who's that?" Ron said impassively.

A tall, dark featured Slytherin had just approached the pair. It seemed innocent enough to Harry until the new boy took Alexandra's arm and led her away from Malfoy. The look on Malfoy's pale face was pure malevolence and he drew his wand.

"Come on." Harry said hurriedly.

They rushed to the door as fast as their loads would allow and ran smack into a circle of students.

The next few moments seemed to happen in slow motion for Harry. He distinctly remembered later that he'd seen Alexandra look at the Slytherin boy with such a smile that it seemed to burn into Harry's mind. It was gone as soon as it had come when the boy went down. Crabbe and Goyle were on him in no time and that's when Hermione's voice snapped Harry out of his weird trance.

"Harry, we have to do something; Malfoy hit him with a jelly-legs jinx. He doesn't have a chance. She's really nice, I was going to tell you both, but it was never the right time. We have to do something, Ron. They can't do this to Malcolm!" .

Harry reflexively pulled out his wand. So did Ron, and together they shouted...nothing. At least no sound came out. Crabbe and Goyle were knocked back enough for the other Slytherin to get in a punch, but they regained their control quickly due to the weakness of the soundless spell.

Pansy Parkinson was standing across the way, grinning from ear to ear. Harry had only enough time to glance at Millicent, before he, Ron, and Hermione where hit with the Petrificus Totalus charm.

Harry felt as if his entire being was transformed into a solid mass of thoughts behind his eyes, being the only part of his body he could move. It was the first time he ever recognized his body for the tool that it was, a vehicle for his mind. He pushed this feeling away and watched helplessly, at the scene unfolding before him.

Alexandra drew her wand with lightening quick agility. Harry made to move and his eyes teared up in a wave of backfiring messages from his brain. He blinked away the liquid, as hot embarrassment swelled in his stomach. Hopefully, the fact that he could feel his stomach meant that the spell might be wearing off a bit.

He watched as Goyle's knees pinned the Slytherin boy—Hermione had called him Malcolm—to the ground, and he saw Alexandra point her wand at Crabbe, who was beginning to kick the fallen boy.

Before she could utter a single word, Malfoy grabbed her wrist from behind. Hermione gasped and it echoed in Harry's ear.

Malfoy had twisted Alexandra's arm behind her back, disarming her with alarming efficiency. Her struggles were futile against him. In seconds Harry could see the sparkle of her tears, even in the dim torchlight. She made one last-ditch effort to break free, bringing her foot down hard on Malfoy's left and elbowing him in the ribs. However winded, Malfoy looked quite amused at her actions and quickly took charge again. He turned her around and gave her a good smack across the face, bloodying her lower lip slightly. Then he whirled her around again, stripped the emerald green ribbon from her hair, and tied her hands firmly behind her back. Her hair was long and thick, and it fell in a heap onto her left shoulder.

"Now, then, won't you be a good little mouse?"

"Let go of 'er!" shouted the pinned Slytherin in husky Scottish tones.

"I think she's happy where she is, Malcolm. Or at least she will be," hissed Malfoy. He wrapped his long, thin fingers around the base of her neck. Rubbing his thumb along her creamy flesh, his eyes suddenly turned predatory. Malfoy leaned his head beside her and kissed her neck just below her ear, letting his tongue trail the edge of her lobe. He then whispered something Harry could neither hear nor discern, but a curious mist the color of rubies drifted into her ear. She stiffened and said no more.

"Get off me, damn it!" cried Malcolm. But suddenly he stopped struggling and went still. He was looking at Alexandra with such incredible fear in his eyes, that Harry grew sick.

Hermione sniffed and Harry turned his head without realizing he'd regained the ability. She was tearing up. Why?

"No, Alex, Nooooooooooo!"

In a burst of white rage, (Harry knew that feeling well enough to know it when he saw it) Malcolm threw off Goyle and kicked Crabbe in a highly sensitive area. Harry was thoroughly surprised to see that the Slytherin had managed to hold on to his wand. Malcolm was now pointing it at Malfoy, or rather at Malfoy through Alexandra. There was definitely a bruise coming on his right eye, but his face was so flushed that it was barely noticeable.

"Alex, move!"

Alexandra merely stood in front of Malcolm not even blinking.

"Alex, listen to me. You're strong enough! Fight 'im!" Malcolm begged.

"Now move!"

Goyle caught up to him and grabbed him in a tight bear hug. So tight, in fact, that Malcolm dropped his wand. It stopped rolling at the base of a high glossed shoe too large to be a student's.

"What is going on here?"

"I saw it all Professor. Malcolm Baddock interrupted Draco's conversation with... Alexandra," Millicent said almost jumping up and down.

"It's true Sir," Malfoy chimed on cue. "Baddock tried to steal Alexandra away. Tried," Malfoy looked condescendingly at Malcolm, "but failed." His smirk touched his cold eyes.

"But sir, Malfoy's put a –"

Snape held his hand up, silencing Malcolm. "Miss. Prewett, how do you feel?"

There was no answer.

"Sir, I think she's in shock at this blatant intrusion. Shall I take her to Madam Pomfrey?" Malfoy said hastily.

"Yes, Draco. I think that would be best."

Harry saw Malfoy leading Alexandra away, knowing full well they were not going to the hospital wing.

Snape whirled on Baddock. "I do not suffer arrogant quarrels, especially ones in my own House. Detention, I think will be in order."

Snape looked around. "I'd be on my way if I were you."

Ron was the last one up the stairs, his joints making a popping sound at every other step.

"Harry, we've got a debt to repay." he said through groans of pain.

Both Harry and Hermione were only moderately stiff, but Ron could barely stand straight. He walked hunched like an old man.

"I don't like this," said Hermione. She was holding a book across her chest.

"I know, Hermione. But what could we've done?" Ron put an arm around her shoulder.

"There was more to that back there. I thought I saw something that I couldn't possibly have seen."

"Was it a red mist?" Harry asked taking Ron's other arm.

Hermione's head turned towards him so quick that he was sure she injured herself.

"Oh, Harry. I hope we're wrong."

They were almost at Charms. Harry looked around and saw Malcolm, holding his eye and muttering to himself.

"I failed her, what am I going to do? I failed..."

And then a thought crossed Harry's mind and he suddenly became queasy again. What would Ginny think when she found out he had failed too?

I just want to thank a few people...for reviews!

Gillyweed: I'm so glad that you liked the letters. I was really afraid about the Dumbledore one, but all of them were really fun to do. Mint julep: thanks for taking the time for a review. I hope you enjoy the rest. Grangergirl: your review was very kind and it helped me a lot. This is my first fanfiction and it's really scary to put myself out there. Thanks for the load of confidence. Apocatha: I'd not be here typing this if it weren't for you...enough said.