Disclaimer: don't own anything you recognise from the books….

A/n: okay…. so yes I did say I would update sooner, but my flu actually got worse and my mum wouldn't let me out of bed or give me a pen and paper to write on 9cos she thought it was homework)…then when I finally got better which was on the Tuesday I had heaps of school work to catch up on…. so I am sorry for not being able to update sooner and making everyone wait…..anyway here is the next chapter….

"Alex, we're waiting," her fathers voice came into her bedroom, from what it sounded like, Blaise was at the bottom of the stairs. She ignored him and turned back to the mirror for the hundredth time.

Her normally curl hair, hung dead straight, flowing past her shoulder. Carefully she smoothed out the non-existent creases in her purple dress, the material swaying gently across her knees, the pendant that her father had given her hung delicately around her neck. Applying a ruby pink lip gloss to her lips, finishing off her natural look make up, Alex wrapped herself in her red coat, picked up her bag that was sitting on the bed and finally made her way down the stairs.

"Finally," Draco (jr.) exclaimed. Everyone ignored him.

"Okay," Blaise began, as he walked toward the door, "Let's go." He opened the door, revealing two black cars waiting out the front. Hermione, who was holding Maddy's hand followed him out to the door step, with the rest of the Malfoy's close behind. Slightly confused, Alex stood in the doorway.

"Why don't we just floo there?" she asked, "wouldn't it be quicker?"

"You can't floo there," Draco told her as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Besides it's not as if were in such a big rush to see Riley, are we?" he finished in a teasing voice.

She ignored him, waiting for one of the adults to reply to her.

"What Draco means is that, because there are still Death eaters in Azkaban, it's too risky for them to have floo set up in case one of them breaks out and goes after Harry's family," Lydia explained, as Draco followed his father to the second car.

"Alex, just enjoy the trip," Hermione told her, climbing into he car with Blaise and Maddy.

Slowly she made her way to the first car, climbing in, sitting opposite to her mother and father. (A/N: I picture the cars to be like limo's on the inside, but I can't be bothered describing it.)

Once everyone had their seatbelts on the car began to move out of the Zabini estate and was soon travelling along the streets of muggle London. After twenty minutes or so of listening to Maddy sing songs about nonsense and her parents talking, the cars pulled into what resembled the country side, soon they pulled into a new estate and before finally stopping in front of a house.

Stepping out of the car, Alex had the chance to take in the huge house. It was just as big as the Zabini manor, but while her fathers house was in a red brick, this was built with a white wash stone, above the main entrance was a magnificent balcony, which looked to open from a ballroom. She followed her parents and Maddy to the door as the Malfoy's got out of their car, suddenly the nerves of seeing Riley again set in.

Hermione waited for the Malfoy's to join them on the door step before she knocked on the door. Once she did, it was lung open by Ginny Weasley.

"Hermione," She squealed as if she was sixteen again, pulling he brunette into a tight hug, 'Come in, Harry," She called, "Their here,"

Harry appeared from a door to the left of the entrance, his jet-black hair sticking up slightly.

"Happy New Year," He called excitedly, shaking Blaise's hand, before kissing Hermione and Alex both on the cheek. Finally, he turned to the Malfoy's, each of the twins now holding onto their parents tightly, Ginny, Hermione and Blaise watched Harry carefully.

"Draco, Lydia, did you have a good Christmas?" He asked them brightly, holding his hand out to Draco, it appeared to be a form of peace offering.

Hesitantly, Draco took it, both men looked at each other, understanding that the past was the past.

"Everyone's upstairs," Ginny told Hermione, taking their coats, before showing the group upstairs into the ballroom. Here they found the entire Weasley Family, Mr. And Mrs Weasley were talking to some people Hermione didn't know, Fred and George were playing with the younger Weasley children, Charlie was talking to Bill's wife fleur, while Bill, Jess and Ron were talking to Ben Walker. Other Hogwart's teachers were their aswell, Professor Snape, Professor Brown the substitute charms teacher, Professor Bertie the herbolog teachers. Then there were the remaining order members, no-body seemed to notice the new group of guests who were being escorted by the hosts, except for one person, Nicole Weasley.

"Alex," She squealed, "Your finally here."

"Weasley, give her some space," Draco sneered as Nicole hugged her tightly.

"Shut up Draco," Alex replied jokingly.

Draco opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again as the two girls walked off, leaving him with the adults.

Hermione watched as Blaise and Draco drifted off towards Ron and Bill, while Harry tried to get Ginny to dance with him, but after no luck he took Lydia for a dance, while Maddy and Chelsea began a game with Fred and George and the other Weasley kids.

"So, did you have a good Christmas," Ginny asked her slyly, handing her a glass of wine.

Hermione looked at her, so far the only people who knew about their engagement were Alex and the Malfoy's. She glanced at Blaise's who was now talking to Ben.

"It was fantastic," she replied, grinning at Ginny, "Blaise asked me to marry him,"

She heard Ginny gasp, before the red head grabbed her hand, finally noticing the ring.

"Oh my God, Hermione you said yes to him, that's fantastic," Ginny squealed.

"What's fantastic and what did you say yes to?" Ron asked, from behind his sister, looking confused.

"Blaise and Hermione are getting married," Ginny said. Hermione looked at Ron, waiting for his response, expecting it to be disappointment or anger (she knew how he felt about Blaise).

Instead he face turned into a broad grin.

"That's great news, I'm really happy for you Mione," He said referring to her Hogwarts nickname.

"Really?" Hermione asked, unsure why.

"Really," he replied, hugging her tightly, "but if her hurts you again I swear he'll be sorry," he kissed her on the top of the forehead.

Breaking apart, Hermione saw that Blaise, who smiled at her, was watching her, her brown eyes locked on his blue ones. She knew that he wouldn't hurt her again.

"Wait, you actually had a good Christmas with Malfoy?" Nicole asked her for what seemed like the seventh time.

Alex nodded, but she hadn't actually heard Nicole's question. Not properly anyway, she was too busy searing the room for a set of emerald green eyes, beneath that messy ash red hair. She couldn't find him, and the nerves in her stomach were replaced by a stab of disappointment, that he wasn't waiting for her.

Nicole continued talking to her, but she couldn't make out any of the words. Draco soon joined them, but before he had the chance to speak, Alex excused herself and pretended she need to use the bathroom.

Standing in the hallway, she realised she didn't know where the bathroom was, but she wasn't ready to go back in and talk to her friends, instead she decided to wander the floor she was on, in hope of finding the bathroom of course.

Slowly she came to hallway and she began to walk along it, hoping to find the bathroom, the pictures along the wall waved and grinned at her as she looked at them. Finally she came to a door, which had the word bathroom across it.

Silently she pushed the door opened and stepped inside. Putting her purse on the bench, she turned the tap on and watched as the water flowed into he basin. She turned the tap off, picked her purse back up and walked back towards the door. She collided with Professor Walker in the hallway.

"Miss Granger," He said, "I hope you had a good break?"

Alex nodded, noticing the dark purple bags beneath his eyes and the tiredness that filled his voice.

"I have," she responded quietly.

"Yes, very good, it means you will be ready fro the new school term," he spoke, but he was distracted and it didn't seem as if he was actually talking to her.

She watched as he entered the bathroom, before she made her way back down the hallway toward the potter's ballroom. A door to her right suddenly swung opened, and Riley came out hurriedly, not even noticing she was there.

Quietly she followed him down the hall, watching him scold himself for reasons unknown to her. Finally he stopped, in the doorway of the ballroom, Alex stopped a few feet behind him, watching as he scanned the room. Moments later, a look of disappointment spread across his face.

"Excuse me," Alex said loudly enough for him to hear her, "but your blocking the door way,"

He turned to face her, she grinned at him and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm hug.

"Where have you been," Nicole demand as Riley entered the ballroom, Alex slightly behind him, their hands clasped together.

"No where," Riley replied carelessly, sitting a chair, pulling Alex onto his lap.

Facing the fact that she probably wouldn't get an answer, Nicole turned back to her conversation with Draco, who was eying the other two suspiciously.

"So, you really have been in your room all night?" Alex asked him as he played with her hair.

"Seriously?" he said absentmindly, "I got bored so I decided to take my broom out and I lost track of time,"

"OH," Was all Alex could say. He continued to play with her hair, his fingers every now and then grazing the back of her neck or shoulders.

"Did you have good Christmas?" He asked her, "Draco wasn't to much of a git?"

Alex laughed, softly, and shook her head, "it was alright,"

"Just alright? Maybe one last present will turn it into pretty good," Riley joked, but Alex knew he was being serious.

"You didn't need to get me anything riley," She said, facing him his green eyes making her heart melt.

"Well I did," He said shrugging, "but if you don't want it, I guess I can give it to some other girl."

Alex pouted at him, "well if you do that, I guess I could just give your present to Draco then,"

He cut her off, covering her mouth with his.

"Follow me," he whispered, standing up, heading toward the doorway.

Slowly Alex followed him, grabbing his present, which was inside her bag. She followed him back down the hall way and into the room, which she watched him come out from. Inside it was a typical teenage boy's room, clothes and books and other things were strewn across the floor. But his bed was neatly mad and a gold box lay neatly on the edge of the red quilt.

Silently, she sat on his bed and handed him the gift wrapped in white paper.

"Merry Christmas," She said giving him a small smile. He placed the gift she gave him on the bed and picked up the gold box, handing it to her, "Merry Christmas," he replied, kissing her gently on the cheek.

She took the box, and he picked up the gift she had given him. They both waited for the other to begin to unwrap their own presents, but when Alex didn't, Riley slowly pulled the stick tape off the paper.

"I wasn't sure what to get you, Draco tried to help me pick it out," She said nervously.

"It's great," Riley exclaimed, examining the black and gold metal watch, "You got Draco to help you?" he looked at her, one of his eyebrows raised slightly.

Alex shook her head, "No, but I needed some one to blame if you didn't like…" she responded, a smile playing on his lips. She was glad he liked it, it had taken her ages to find, and she had actually given up and was looking in the quidditch shop for Logan when it caught her eyes, she (being a quidditch hater) even thought it was cute with its little snitch on the second hand which seemed perfect since that was Riley's position.

"Well, I love it," He said, pushing his shirt sleeve up and wrapping the cool metal around his wrist, "Your turn," He said motioning toward the gold box on her lap.

Carefully, Alex untied the gold ribbon and slipped it off the bow, slowly she lifted up the lid., to reveal a dark purple leather diary, with a lock and a silver fountain pen, laying on top of white tissue paper.

"I wrote a message inside of it," Riley said nervously before Alex had the chance to say anything.

She unlocked the journal and turned to the first page.

Alex,

Merry Christmas.

Love Riley.

"Original," Alex said grinning at the redhead.

"Well, um yeah, I thought you could use it to write your music in, that's why every second page is music paper, and my mum enchanted it so that the pages never run out." He said quickly.

"Riley, this is really great," Alex said , re-locking the book and placing it back inside the box.

"I know you already had your bleu one, but this one locks, that way other people can't read it," Riley's cheeks turned a violent shade of red as he accidentally let his secret out that he had read her book.

"That's a good idea," she said softly, crawling onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She kissed him slowly, before gently pulling away; he pulled her closer and kissed her again. Suddenly they were interrupted by a loud continuous beep.

"what the hell?" Riley shouted, standing up, letting Alex fall to the floor.

"Ow," she replied, not really in any pain though.

She grabbed his wrist and puled her self up, Riley looking frantically around his room to find the beeping.

"It's the watch," She said, pressing the small button on the side of the face, "Draco said he was going to set it to freak you out, I didn't think he was serious."

The beeping finally stopped, leaving Alex and Riley standing in the middle of his room, silence surrounded them.

I could kill Draco for interrupting that, Riley thought to himself angrily.

Oh my god, I could kiss Draco right now, what if my dad found out, oh my god, Alex smiled sweetly at her boyfriend as the horror filled her of what might have happened if they hadn't been interrupted.

Riley put a hand on the back of her neck and leant down again, only for Alex to pull away this time.

'Um, I think Nikki might be looking for us," She said quickly, walking out of his room.

She was halfway down the hallway before Riley had even processed what had happened.

"Five,"

"Four,"

"Three,"

"Two,"

"One,"

"Happy New Years!" shouts of joy and laughter came from the Potter's party.

"Happy New year," Blaise whispered into Hermione's ear, from behind he wrapped his arms securely around her waist. Together, on the Potters balcony, they watched the fireworks from London fill the sky.

"Happy New Year Blaise," She responded, leaning back, her head fining his shoulder.

A spray of gold and red stars filled the sky, to be followed by a shower of silver and green ones, she turned to face him, their eyes locking on the others.

"Would you like to dance?" Blaise asked, smiling kindly at her.

Hermione nodded, her brown curls bouncing slowly around her face, "I'd love to,"

And together they danced alone on the balcony, as the sky exploded with whizzing stars and new colours showered over them.

He watched them, from the shadows of the balcony, they thought they were alone, but he watched them in silence, hating every moment of it.

At that precise moment, it took every ounce of his strength not to reach and curse Blaise Zabini, for he had stolen something that was his, something he loved. Something he probably wouldn't get back, her love.

Now Blaise was going to pay.

A/N: Okay, there's the chapter, I hope you enjoyed, Hermione's creepy stalker is definitely back init now, (and even though some of you may know who it is, you might be wrong)…he probably won't be revealed for another few chapters though, but I will definitely be having his point of view to bring the story out a bit more…

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