Disclaimer: If you want Xan have her.

Author's Note: Deeper down the rabbit hole we go. Basically this chapter does just that, not much fun for our Xan Marlow but good for you readers. Anyway so here it goes. Thank you so much for all the reviews!

Chapter Five: Neon Blondes and Coconuts.

"Look at his hair," Blaise said his face contorting in disgust. "He looks like a bloody skink."

"I love you, Marlow," Draco said staring with utter fixation at the gryffindor table. "You are officially my right hand man."

"I thought I was your right hand man!" Teddy said hotly.

"Did you ever turn Potter's hair neon blonde?" Blaise said.

I sat across the table from the guys, legs crossed and smoking a cigarette. I was very pleased with myself because my hair was long forgotten. I was the hero of the day thanks to a few well directed loud mouths telling the entire school that Marlow and Baddock had hexed Potter into oblivion. Conveniently enough, no one except my "people" knew the truth about the detentions.

"Thank you every so much Draco for the promotion," I said sarcastically, reaching for the Daily Prophet. I mumbled under my breath, "self-centered ass." I cringed as I saw the article on the third page. Marlow Trial Set for February 15th. I sneered and scanned the article. Falsely told accounts of my father's projects etc. Oh no, they did not just bring up my name. Alexandra Marlow, the heir to everything her father owned and more, has yet to be interviewed about what she will do with Marlow corporations. If she chooses to follow in her father's footsteps, how long will Headmaster Dumbledore protect her? I crumpled up the paper calmly but angrily, causing the other guys to look at me with raised eyebrows.

I picked up my other two pieces of mail. One was from the headmaster and the other was . . . shit. "What's wrong with you, Xan?" Blaise asked, noticing my expression.

"Nothing," I said, shoving the letter quickly into my robes. "Just a note from the headmaster." I opened the letter and read it. "He wants to see me in his office as soon as possible."

"What does that old coot want now?" Malfoy asked.

"Probably wants to get some information out of you," Blaise said jokingly.

I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. "Are you guys going to Hogsmeade today?"

"Yes," they all answered. Great. I was going to have to be with Finnegan on the back of the moon in order for them not to see.

I found myself ten minutes later standing in front of Dumbledore's office with my arms folded across my chest. Just before I began hollering for the old man, he came up behind me. "Glad to see you could make it, Miss Marlow."

I nodded, "Pleased to know your timing is perfected, Headmaster. What is it you wished to discuss with me?"

"Please come in," he said motioning for me to follow him. "Miss Marlow, due to recent events I thought it would be appropriate to talk with you. You know, Professor Snape knew your father in school and I met after he –"

"Started his first organization. With all due respect, headmaster I know this already."

He smiled at me and his eyes sparkled. "I suppose you do."

"Headmaster, did you bring me here to ask me if I have any intention of expanding the family empire?"

He paused. "What are your plans for after you graduate Miss Marlow?"

"I am the heir to the Marlow empire," I said calmly. "I will most likely take over intelligence until my father dies and I then I will become the CEO of Marlow Enterprises."

"Miss Marlow," he said, sitting down. "I must stress that in these times, the public is prone to supporting aurors and the order. The high society you were born into isn't well-liked."

"Of course," I said fumbling with a cigarette in my pocket. "Why else would they crucify my name in the papers? My father's arrest made Harry Potter a hero. Again."

"I want to know I am doing my best to keep reporters away but –"

"Thank you professor but I do not need your help. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an engagement in Hogsmeade," I stood and his eyes twinkled as though he knew what I was up to.

I turned to leave but he said one last thing. "You might want to consider ending your smoking habit, Ms. Marlow."

I glanced over my shoulder at him then lit up a cigarette and walked out.

"Hey there, Xan." I found Blaise waiting for me.

"I thought you would be in Hogsmeade already," I said, taking a drag of my cigarette.

He shrugged, "Decided to wait for you."

"I am honored."

"So what did they headmaster have to say?" he asked as we walked.

"Just wanted to share his opinion on my father's position."

"I got that talk earlier in the term," Blaise said scrunching up his face. The Zabinis own an italian robe making company, very chic (why do you think he is dressed so well all the time) and when Blaise's uncle refused to help voldemort after Harry Potter crippled him, voldemort called Blaise's uncle and accomplice and got thrown into azkaban.

"How are you doing with that bet by the way?" Blaise asked.

"Dandy," I lied.

"Teddy is doing terrible," Blaise said with a grin. "He got shot down twice by ravenclaws and he has too much pride for hufflepuffs."

"Thank god," I said exhaling.

"What about you?"

I smirked, "How do you think people would react if I had a gryffindor on my arm?"

Blaise tilted his head back and laughed. "They would either think you were the most brilliant or the most slutty slytherin to ever walk the earth. Are you actually thinking of doing it?"

"I would have to take my chances on the first," I said with a wink. "How's Hermione?"

"Oh she's fabulous!" he said with a leering grin. "I overheard her and weasley arguing. You should check it out, Xan."

"What am I, your slave?"

He laughed, "What do you think my plan of action should be?"

I snorted, "You don't care what I have to say Blaise, you are too ambitious for your own good."

Blaise ran off a few minutes later after the golden trio, looking to sweep hermione off her feet. I didn't have my slytherin badge on (I was in fitting trousers and jacket) so I walked through hogsmeade searching for Seamus Finnegan.

"Why 'allo ther' gorgeous," I turned around and was facing a want with flowers coming out of the end. I smirked (my form of smile) and took them.

"Thank you."

"Where would the lady like to go?" he asked grinning. "The three broomsticks perhaps?"

"Are you planning on showing me off to your friends on the first date?" I asked slyly. Oh that was clever Marlow.

Seamus laughed, "Then how about to the pub on the other side of hogsmeade?"

"Perfect."

"So what house are you in?" he asked as we began to walk.

I smirked. "I'll give you two guesses."

"Ravenclaw?"

"No."

"Hm . . I would feel daft fo' askin' but Gryffindor?"

"Nope sorry, tough luck." I said with a grin.

"Well then what is your favorite color?"

"Hm green and black. You?"

"Blue."

"Nice and simple."

"It's just a color."

I thought about that for a moment. "You're right, it is."

"Would ya like to get somethin' to drink?" he asked.

It seemed too early for firewhiskey so I asked for a butterbeer once we got inside the place. "So tell me 'bout yourself," Seamus said taking a sip of his own butterbeer. "I don't even know your last name, Xandra."

I smirked, "Do you really need to know it?" I couldn't believe what I was doing. I was flirting with Seamus Finnegan! A gryffindor who didn't likely know who Xan Marlow was. On top of it all, he was flirting back. This was a strange situation indeed.

At the end of the day we walked back to the castle and in the empty courtyard went our separate ways, that was of course, my request. "Are ya sure ya don't want me to walk you to your common room?"

"You just want to find out what house I am in," I answered. "See if I'm lying about the ravenclaw."

"How'd ya know?" he asked playfully.

"Bye Seamus," I said turning to leave.

"Wait a moment, Xandra," he said. I turned and he kissed me quickly on the cheek. I gave him a small smile than slithered off.

The next morning I was walking with Morgan, Draco, Blaise and Teddy who were all ranting about the quidditch game, specifically Kognovich. "She had to have just got on the team because of her fucking last name," Moon said harshly.

"If she's terrible," I said, taking a drag of my cigarette. "Why are you complaining?"

"Because she is a wretched slag!"

I rolled my eyes. "Keep talking like that and someone will think you're serious."

"You just had to get into a hexing fight right when I was scoring didn't you?" Blaise said glaring at me.

"I think Harry Potter's hair is a nice trade off."

"There she is," Draco said gesturing ahead of us. "Kognovich and another hufflepuff."

"Justin Finch-Fletchley," I answered. I didn't like seeing the two so cozy.

"Xan, you handle him," Morgan said. "I have to talk to Kognovich."

"Dandy," I said, walking right to Justing, taking his arm and pulling him around the corner.

"What is going on with you?" I hissed.

"What do you mean me?" he asked, showing a great deal of bravery and not slinking back.

"I smell it on you," I said sounding quite creepy and intimidating. That caused him to pop like a balloon.

"You don't care about me, Xan, Lindsey does."

"Whoa, whoa," I said, trying to shush him. "Keep it down."

"Look, see you can't even bare to have your friends know you are involved with a hufflepuff! Over a year Xan and we are going no where," he looked up at me with pleading eyes. "And now you want to stake your claim?"

I couldn't bear to look him in the eye and admit he was right. "Fine," I said pushing away from him. "Suit yourself, Justin." I sneered and walked away. I didn't actually want to walk away you know. But I wasn't about to stand there and have someone play therapist on me.

As we entered the great hall, after Morgan had roughed up Kognovich a bit, I noticed Seamus staring directly at me. Fuck, was my initial thought but then I noticed Harry Potter next to him, grinning. Despite this tragic event, I threw them both my best smile. Never accuse a slytherin of being non-versatile.

That night after an excruciating day of lessons, I waltzed down to the detention room where McGonagall was waiting with her arms folded across her chest. Oh and wonderboy was there too. "You're late, Miss Marlow."

"I blame Professor Flitwick," I said with a grin. I had created a new hex of sorts in Transfiguration that day involving an elephant charm and I know already that McGonagall isn't a fan of my creativity.

"Now," she said. "You both are to stay in this room until 9 pm. Violence of any kind or smoking is prohibited."

She gave me a glare and I grinned. "Yes ma'am." She breezed past me and I sat on the table while wonderboy sat in a chair. I noticed he was avoiding my eyes.

"Is there something wrong with my face, Potter?" I asked. "You aren't looking me in the eyes."

He sneered. "You don't deserve it."

"Well then,"I said lighting up a cigarette.

"Do you mind no smoking in here?" he asked sourly.

"As a matter a fact, I do. Want one?" I offered. He stared at them like they were snakes. "Ah, I see how it is, Mr. Wonderboy doesn't like to live."

"I hardly see how infecting my lungs is living."

"Only a dandy ass would say that," I replied puting my smokes away.

"Excuse me are you calling me gay?" I shrugged. That got him all riled up. "I am not gay!"

"Suit yourself, wonderboy," I said drawing out my words.

"I'll prove it to you!"

I looked at him. "Oh yeah, how?" He faltered. "See Potter, you have nothing to say for yourself."

"Sod off, Marlow."

After a few minutes I began to talk. Just talk. I do that sometimes but it is usually planned to get on someone's nerves. "I had a goldfish once. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Then my cat got it out of the bowl. When my father found it on the carpet he got so angry I thought steam came out his ears. I wanted to bury it but –"

"Shut up!" wonderboy shouted. "Bloody hell you are the most annoying –" when he saw my grin he stopped.

"Potter," I began and he tensed up. "How do you undo that hair spell you put on me?"

"After all that you expect me to unhex you?"

I shrugged, "I suppose you like being neon blonde."

"You unhex me and I will unhex you," he said.

I shrugged, "Fine." I didn't really care. So I turned his hair black again. But when it was time for him to do it, he accio-ed something out of my pocket. "You bastard!" I shouted reaching for it but he was already reading it.

"Dear Xandra, I expect you are in good health and that the papers haven't been bothering you. I am writing in regards our estate and your future succession into the Marlow empire that I have built for you. I –" I didn't let Potter finish. I snatched the letter out of his hand and put a fist in his face.

"Bloody hell!" he shouted stumbling back.

"Serves you right."

Before I knew what hit me I was thrown across the room. When I peeled myself off the floor, I shouted, "Elephantes!" Wonderboy's ears became the size of dinner plates and his nose extended into a trunk.

"That is enough!" Snape came storming in because he had undoubtably watched the hole thing. How, I don't know, he's amazing. "Get into separate corners and stay there. If I hear one word!"

"She isn't allowed to smoke professor and she's a bloody chimney right now!"

"Not one word, Potter!"

So he left and we went to our corners. I took advantage of the situation and after thirty minutes began to sing. "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, dediledee, there they are a standing in a row, bum bum bum, big ones small ones . . ." and there wasn't a thing wonderboy could do.

After detention let out, I was turning to the corridor of the dungeons when I saw a familiar head of bushy brown hair come scampering out of the common room. My cigarette almost fell from my lips. " Zabini's good."

Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed that chapter to some degree, it wasn't my personal favorite. Though I promise you the next one will be more fun. Slytherin Truth or Dare! Anyway, was always I love feedback! Cheers!