Crushed
Chapter 1
By: EckoStalker

Author's Note: Who else thinks it's time for Alexis to get a man. I do!!!Deep Shadows

It was a time of relatively low pranking in Hogwarts this week, so the infamous Artimis and Alexis had seen fit that another duel be staged. They decided it should be more interesting, so there would be as much footwork as dueling.

They spent the night in their abandoned classroom, staying up half the night to plan and practice.

The next morning ensued, and the Misfits decided to go into character during Dinner that night. Artimis was deemed to start the set-up, and did so near the end of Dinner. Artimis started in by snickering and turning to a few other Slytherins at her table, saying slyly," Watch this." Artimis took a handful of garlic noodles from a nearby platter, turned in her seat and aimed.

Alexis sat, oblivious, at her own Gryffindor table, having an animated discussion with Harry and Hermione about Hippogriffs, when suddenly; there was a wet splat against her head. She flinched instinctively, and then sat straight, glaring as she slowly glanced over her shoulder. She pulled a wad of noodle pieces out of her silky, white hair and scowled. Almost everyone at the Gryffindor table silenced, knowing full well that NO ONE messed with Alexis's hair. Besides the foolish one.

Alexis calmly grabbed a small carton of pumpkin juice, and then steadily ambled towards the Slytherin table and straight to where Artimis sat cracking up with her Slytherin buddies. Alexis smiled sweetly, opened the carton, and casually poured the sticky sweet liquid over Artimis's head.

"For good measure, dear."

Artimis growled, jumped up, and pulled out her wand. "Courtyard. Now."

They both stalked out, avoiding eye contact, and groups from every table nonchalantly as possible followed. Snape and Lupin looked at each other knowingly, and then went back to eating.

At the courtyard, they faced off, Apollo taking wages and a Caller being chosen. Artimis started, and yelled the infamous, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Alexis yelled, "Protego!" as she back flipped out of the way. She then threw, "Rictusempra!" at Artimis, but she jumped up and grabbed a low branch hanging from the tree overhead, and vaulted into the branches, dodging the spell. She snickered, and Alexis jumped on the low stone wall lining the courtyard.

Artimis growled, "Expelliarmus!" several times, but Alexis cart wheeled continually along the narrow wall, frustrating Artimis with her misses. Alexis jumped off and handstand, walking towards the tree on her hands as Artimis flipped out of the tree nimbly. Alexis back bended and came up yelling, "Fagouro!" as Artimis shouted, "Dissoculo!"

Both spells hit their targets, and Alexis rubbed her eyes viciously as Artimis fell over, scratching frantically. Alexis stopped, and listened intently, then yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" in Artimis's direction, hitting her head on.

Alexis waited patiently for the Blinding curse to wear off, and then casually sauntered up to Artimis's prone figure. "NO one messes with the hair. Thank you."

With that, Alexis lifted the curse and turned to walk away. Artimis got up, red in the face with embarrassment, and pointed her wand at Alexis's back, muttering, "Immobilus!"

Suddenly, a boy out of the crowd stepped out in front of the curse and quickly shouted, "Impervius!"

The spell backfired, and Alexis spun around in surprise. The boy spoke, "Tis not honorable to attack when your opponent's back is turned."

Everyone stared in silent awe, Artimis frozen in place by her own spell. Apollo stood out and yelled, "Alright everyone! Get! Professors will probably be coming around soon!" Everyone slowly dispersed, Draco lifting the spell from Artimis and helping her to her feet, while she stared in surprise and shock. They left and the boy turned to Alexis, smirking.

"Hi, those were some pretty awesome moves back there."

Alexis blushed slightly and nodded her head. Jason Kinsler was his name, and he was tall, lanky, and muscular. He was pretty attractive. He had spiked, light brown hair and piercing gray eyes that sparkled. He was also a Gryffindor, and was dressed casually with his white shirt untucked, no tie the guys usually wore, and the collar of his shirt unbuttoned at the top. He walked smoothly towards her and smiled gently. Alexis choked out, "Um... lots o, of practice..." Alexis stammered. She knew exactly who he was. She actually had some sort of a bad crush on him. Well, Artimis said it was bad, Alexis thought it was just fine. She usually watched him during classes, and he was pretty smart. Once or twice, they actually had conversations together, and Alexis could barely restrain herself from hugging him during those memorable times. He was usually laid back, but he did like his pranks now and then, which, for Alexis, made him even better. He had several other boys he usually hung out with all the time, but now they were nowhere to be seen.

"Um... thank you. For helping me... I... I would've been down and out h, had you not in... Interfered."

"No problem... um... You wanna walk with me?"

"... um... Sure!"

So, they walked. Classes were over, so they had no teacher problems. As they strolled about the school in the dimming light, they talked of past pranks and duels, and both found out they had much more in common. They were near the shorefront of the lake when Jason stopped her and pulled her around to face him. She looked up at him in surprised confusion.

"This is hard for me, but a... Alexis... I... um... I've liked you for quite a w, while now, but I was afraid t, to say anything..."

Alexis stared at him, open mouthed. He took it as a sign of loathing and looked away, blushing and frowning.

"No! It's alright... I've l, liked you, too.... Whoa..." Alexis stammered, also blushing and glad the darkness hid it.

Jason looked down at her, smiling warmly. He took a deep breath, and then took her hand.

"Alexis, will you go out with me?"

Alexis sucked in a breath and barely held in her excitement. She looked up into his pleading eyes and melted. She whispered softly," Y... yes."

He grinned widely, and then hugged her around the waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he spun her once off her feet, both laughing happily.

He spoke softly, "Every time I saw you, it was amazing. That duel tonight was awesome. You're so talented and beautiful... I couldn't bring myself to asking you for fear of being let down."

Alexis blushed deeply, her green eyes dazzling in the moonlight. He held her still around her waist and she spoke, "I kind of always had a crush on you, so we were in the same boat."

"Well, I'm glad we got over our fears."

She smiled and they walked together to the edge of the lake, looking out over the still, glassy water as the half moon cast bright highlights over the surface. Alexis looked up at him and smiled, and then Jason lowered his head and grazed her lips softly with his. She closed her eyes and turned into him, the kiss growing deeper as she drunk in his scent and melted against him as he tasted her lips.

After a moment, they parted and looked intently into each other's eyes. Alexis smiled in surprised ecstasy at her first kiss, and from that point on, she was in love.

They walked hand in hand back through the darkness towards the school, being as quiet as possible to avoid Filch, Ms. Norris, or any other roaming teachers. They strolled happily into the Gryffindor Common Room, and both stopped at the end of the girls' staircase. Alexis stepped up a few steps to be eye-level with Jason as he spoke, cooing softly, "Sit by me at Breakfast, alright?"

"Ok." Alexis said quietly as he kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Goodnight." With that, Jason turned gracefully and started up the boys' staircase.

Alexis watched him for a minute, and then bounded up the stairs two at a time and practically skipping into her room. She made her way over to her bed and plopped down, sighing contentedly, careful not to wake the other slumbering roomies. That night, Alexis barely got any sleep.

Jason smiled as he watched Alexis run up the stairs, noting her smooth movements and lithe body. He frowned very slightly then shook his head roughly, making his way back into the Common Room and quietly towards a far, dark corner of the room, where three boys stood in the shadows silently. Their names were Brad, Krinston, and William. Brad, the tallest of the group just above Jason, and pretty buff, spoke quietly, "I see she went for you."

William, a thin, tall boy with glasses, added smirking," You sure you're not falling for her too much?"

"Very good play out, I'd say." Krinston joked daringly. He was the shortest, but his size didn't matter when it came to a fight.

Jason glared at their snarky comments, and spoke with authority." Shut it. Yeah, she fell for me. She's going to be hanging with us a lot, so be nice and say nothing. Got it?"

"Be nice? I wonder why..." Brad said knowingly. Jason got in his face and Brad flinched slightly. "After the stunt, when she finds out, she's welcome to still stay with us. So I'm free to like her as much as I wish." he growled.

Krinston said to himself. "If she wants to stay with you... I doubt it..." William rammed him in the ribs to quiet him.

Jason stood tall, and spoke, "If she doesn't, her loss. I can get over her easily." He gestured for them to quiet and all grouped together and quietly made their way to their dorms for the night.

SWEET AND SAPPY AIN'T IT!

READ AND REVEIW!!!!