Disclaimer: don't own anything you recognise from the books…
Hey guys…sorry for the long wait, but schools been hell lately, I've had to pick my year 12 subjects and then I had three assignments due at the same time and a biology test…it was painful…but anyway thanks again to all my reviewers…. Hope you like this chapter…
By the way half way of writing the first part of this chapter I decided that I should probably explain why Alex is acting like this…she's taking the threats much more personal as if their all her fault because she made Hermione go back to England…(sometimes I think to much incase all those people were wondering why I've made a fictional character this way).
Alex sat on the stone bench and watched the city lights, as a gentle breeze twirled around her. Vaguely she heard the door t the courtyard open, but didn't turn to see who was coming up here, hoping they would ignore her aswell.
It had been three weeks since she left Hogwarts, and while she had settled back into the American lifestyle, she still felt out of it with her friends, especially the twins, and after seeing her parents during their trip with the Ravenclaw students, she was beginning to have doubts about whether or not this was the right decision.
"Lex," a low gentle voice spoke to her, making her jump slightly.
"Charlie" she said awkwardly, moving across the bench so he could sit, it was the first time they had spoken to each other since she returned.
"Um, you left this in the practice room," He handed her the purple diary Riley had given her. Alex took it and then watched as Charlie turned back toward the door.
"How's your nose?" she asked in a feeble attempt to make up with him, hoping she didn't sound sarcastic.
"It's fine," Charlie replied, turning back to face her, a smile playing on his lips, "I know now never to get you mad again though.
"Well, did I ever mention how sorry I was?" She asked.
"I think you just did," Charlie answered, finally sitting down next to her, "besides I didn't take it too personal,"
"Oh," Alex replied, turning back to face the city lights. They sat in silence.
"Well, is anyone ever going to tell me what happened between you and Georgie, or am I going to have to punch a few more people?" Alex asked joking, breaking the silence.
"Well, when you find out, be sure to inform me," Charlie answered seriously, "Cos, I'm still trying to work it all out."
"Huh?" Alex answered, "you mean you don't want to just 'be friends' with her?"
Charlie shook his head, "I was just trying to explain to her that we used to talk more when we were friends, then she took it the wrong way, like Georgie does and thought I was saying I didn't want to go out with her anymore."
"Oh," Alex replied, slightly confused, "Why didn't you explain that to her?"
"I did, but you know Georgie, she only hears what she wants to hear sometimes," Charlie replied and Alex nodded in agreement.
"What about you, are you ever login to tell the twins why you came back all of the sudden?" Charlie asked her.
"How do you know I haven't already told them?" Alex replied, not looking at him.
"Because I'm sure if you had you wouldn't be sitting up here alone all the time," Charlie pointed out.
"I can't tell them," Alex replied.
"Why not?" He asked.
"Because I just can't," Alex answered.
"Well, whatever it is, it's changed you and I can already see that you can't deal with it by yourself," Charlie replied, "you can't keep pushing people away."
"I'm not pushing anyone away," Alex exclaimed, standing up. She leant against the railing and looked down at the cars that were passing the unseen building.
"Really? What about your parents? You barely spoke to them when they were here?" Charlie paused and he stood up too, "And what about Riley and Nicole? They just wanted to help you Alex, but you won't let anyone in,"
"Their better off with out me, Charlie," Alex replied quietly.
"How can they be better off without you when they were all prepare to do anything for you?" Charlie kept pushing he questions.
"You wouldn't understand, no one would understand," Alex answered as tears began to prick her eyes.
"How do you know unless you tell some one?" Charlie said putting an arm around her as the tears spilled over.
She pushed him away and sat back on the stone bench.
"It's none of your business Charlie," She said wiping the tears away.
"It is when one of my friends is getting hurt," answered quietly, "even if they are doing it to themselves," (a/N: he means emotionally hurting herself, not physically)
Hermione watched as her Fifth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff class continued with their charm's assignments. Ron was sitting at a desk to the right of her, marking his own classes papers, even though he was no longer teaching them.
Finally the bell went and the students began to pack their books.
"Assignment's to be handed up nest lesson," Hermione told the class as the Hufflepuffs began to exit the room. Ron, who began to put away his quill and parchment, looked up just as his niece was passing his desk.
"Nicole, is your dad still in France?" he asked her, the same time Draco called out tot her.
Ignoring Draco she nodded to Ron and quickly walked out of the classroom.
"That was odd," Hermione said walking toward Ron's desk.
"What was?" Ron asked, oblivious to what she was talking about.
"Nicole, usually she talks quite a bit, and she hasn't even waited for Sam and Draco," Hermione replied quietly, motioning toward the last two Gryffindor in the classroom.
"Oh, yeah…" Ron replied.
"She's been like it since Alex left," Draco piped up, hearing their conversation, "then when Riley left it got worse,"
"Oh," Hermione replied, as the two teenagers left.
Ron still didn't say anything.
"Um, Ron, don't you think that's a problem?" Hermione asked him as they too exited the classroom and headed toward the great hall.
"What?" He asked.
"Nicole, your niece, is secluding herself from everyone," Hermione told him, "don't you think we should tell Bill or Fleur?"
"No," Ron replied, "it's just Nicole, she never really had any friends,"
"Draco and Sam just tried to talk to her and she ignored them," Hermione pointed out, "something would have to be worrying her,"
"Don't stress over it Hermione, she's always been like that, she keeps to herself, gets it from Bill," Ron told her as they sat down.
Nicole, why aren't you replying to my letters? You are getting them aren't you? I haven't done anything wrong have I, or said anything to upset you? Please write back, I miss getting letters from you. – Logan.
The red head scrunched the piece of parchment up and put it on the table. Quickly she grabbed a sandwich and stood up as she saw Draco and Sam enter the great hall. As they sat across from her she left, without saying a word.
"Nic-" Draco called after her.
"Just leave her," Sam cut him off, "she'll come around eventually,"
"I just don't get why she's being so weird," Draco told her.
"Think about it Draco, before Alex came we didn't really talk to her did we?" Sam asked him.
He opened his moth to speak.
"We didn't Draco, you used t tease her about being a Wesley, and I was too busy with Natalie and Jess to even bother," Sam told him, "then when Alex came we took the time to get to know her, but she thinks that because their gone were just going to dump her again."
"But we haven't," Draco pointed out, "We've tried to talk to her,"
"I know," Sam said rolling her eyes, "I guess she's just pushing us away because she's less likely to fell hurt that way because she thinks we will leave her by herself."
"Oh," Draco answered, "well at least she's still talking to Logan, his owl comes in almost everyday,'
"That doesn't mean she's answering them," Sam pointed out as lunch finished.
"Hermione, look at this one," Ginny squealed, holding the magazine out to her.
Hermione took it and Blaise tried to look at the picture over shoulder, but Ginny pulled it away again.
"You can't see it Blaise," Ginny told him, "it's bad luck,"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, but turned Ginny, "Come on, we'll look at them in my room,"
With a flick of wand the magazines were in Hermione and Blaise's bedroom and Ginny pulled the brunette in their, leaving Harry and Blaise alone.
"So," Harry said, "I thought you guys were planning simple wedding?"
"We are," Blaise replied, turning back to his paper.
"You shouldn't let Ginny help then," Harry told him laughing slightly.
Blaise raised his eyebrows at him, but didn't say anything. He flipped through his paper, until he came to the sport section and found himself facing a group of teenage boys, one of which had dark red hair and green eyes.
Skimming the article Blaise read that these were the WQA's newest students, and hopefully quidditch's next superstars. On closer examination of the picture, Blaise could clearly see that Riley didn't look happy to be in the photograph.
"Have you heard from Riley?" He asked Harry, folding the paper up.
"Yeah, he owled us on the weekend," Harry looked up from his own paper, "Said he hadn't started his classes yet, but the training was almost every night,"
Blaise nodded as a squeal came from the bedroom.
"Hermione, this dress would look perfect on you," Ginny said, for about the fifth time.
Hermione took the magazine and looked at the picture. Ginny was right; the dress was perfect, especially on the size eight model that was walking around the page wearing the dress.
"I already told you, Gin, I just want some nice dress robes, we don't want anything over the top," Hermione said handing the magazine back to her. She picked up one of her papers and continued to mark it.
"Come on 'Mione," Ginny replied, using the nickname she knew annoyed her, "Can't you just picture Blaise's face if you walk down the aisle in something like this,"
"No, I can't," Hermione replied.
"Fine," Ginny sighed as she continued to flip through the magazine.
Five minutes later, she was finally bored of looking at the wedding magazines.
"What does Alex think about all this?" Ginny asked putting the magazine down.
"She's fine about it all, I guess," Hermione said looking up from her paper.
"And she like's it back in America?" Ginny said quietly, turning the page over.
Ginny nodded in agreement and both women turned back to their papers/magazines.
"Hermione?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Mmm?" Came the reply.
"I know you said you wanted a simple wedding, but I think Alex would look gorgeous in this dress,"
A sigh came from the other side of the room.
"Well, let me see then," Hermione finally said, putting her quill down.
Alex sat at the Niveus table. Logan was sitting across from her, scribbling in his black notebook while listening to his headphones, Georgie was talking loudly with a group of sixth year girls, but Alex could feel people watching her. Shivering slightly, she quickly finished her meal and pushed her chair away from the table.
Ignoring the three people across the hall who were watching her, and Georgie and Logan who were now looking at her too, Alex slowly made her way toward the doors.
But before she reached the doors, she was stopped by one of the three.
"Alex," Brian said brightly as he grabbed her wrist as she passed the Croceus table, "Where you going?"
"To the library," Alex replied, hoping he would get the hint and leave her alone.
"Great, I've gotta pick some books up," He replied and followed her out of the hall to the library.
He hummed slightly as they walked to the library, ignoring the glares that Alex kept sending his way.
"What do you want Brian?" Alex finally asked him as the walked up the stairs.
"I already told you, I need to pick some books up, Lex," Brian told her, although he was obviously lying.
"Come off it," Alex stopped, "I've known you since I've been coming here, I would doubt you would even know where the library was,"
"That really hurts Alex," Brain laughed, clutching his chest, "you cut me real deep,"
"Shut up, this is because I wouldn't tell Charlie isn't it? God I wish everyone would just mind their own bloody business," Alex snapped.
"Charlie? Charlie? Oh Charlie, that nutter who is so obviously in love with Georgie, bless his soul, he didn't tell me to do anything, I just need to go to the library and I thought you might like some company," Brain joked with her, "why what was he trying to get you to tell him?"
"You know bloody well what he wanted me to tell him, the same thing you want me to tell you," Alex yelled, as they came into the corridor.
"Alex calm down," Brian said seriously now, 'we just want to help,"
"Well you can't, no body can help," She was shaking now, "I just want you all to leave me alone,"
She turned to walk away.
"Alex," Brian spoke again, "you don't mean that-
"Yes, I do," Alex said angrily, turning back to him, "I just wish you would all go away,"
"Well we won't, not until you tell us what's wrong," Brian replied.
"There isn't anything wrong," Alex lied, "so why don't you just-
"Alex, there is obviously something wrong," a new quiet voice filled the corridor.
Alex turned to look at Kimmie and Logan who were standing in the doorway of the corridor.
"What? If I said I'm fine then I'm fine," Alex snapped at her.
She felt sick, why couldn't they just see that she didn't want them to know that it was better for them that way? She dropped her bag as the bile began to rise in her throat, and covering her hand with her mouth she ran to the nearest bathroom.
An owl tapped on the closet window that Draco was sitting near in the Gryffindor common room. He opened the window and watched as it flew into the room, neither he or Sam recognized it. Forgetting about it, he left the window open so it could leave and sat back down.
The owl finally landed, on the shoulder of Nicole Weasley, who was sitting on her bed, alone, in the girl's dormitories. Startled by the owl, she carefully untied the letter that was attached to its leg and watched as it flew back into the common room.
Nicole,
Look, I don't know why your not answering my brothers letters, and at the moment, quite frankly, I don't care. There's something wrong with Alex and she won't tell us what's happened, I just wanted to know if you or any of your fiends know anything about it. She won't talk to any of us, and I'm worried she might do something stupid. Please write back ASAP. – Georgie.
Re-reading the letter, Nicole took a deep breath and finally let everything sink in.
"Draco," She called, running down the steps to the common room. He looked up at the sound of his name, and Sam turned toward the red head.
"Hey," he said slowly as she reached them. Nicole didn't say anything; instead she thrust the letter into the blonde boy's hands. As he read the letter he paled slightly (if it's possible for a malfoy to pale, that is).
"Riley knew didn't he and he was going to leave, that's why she's gone," Nicole said calmly.
Draco looked at her, putting the piece together as Sam read the letter.
"I think we need to go see Professor Granger," She said, standing as she finished reading the letter.
Nicole nodded, but didn't speak.
"She's going to be okay, Nikki," Sam told her, "we knew something was up before she left,"
"But I was so angry with her," Nicole told them, "all I thought about was myself,"
"It doesn't matter," Sam told her, hugging her, "what matters is that we go see her parents so they know," Nicole nodded and let them lead her out of the common room.
"Excuse me, Professor Walker? Do you know where Professor Zabini is?" Draco asked the teacher as they passed him in the corridor, it was a known fact between al the students now that out of class time the potters, Professor granger and Professor Zabini all disappeared, with the Weasley's every now and then.
"No, um..I must be going, appointment you see," He said rather quickly, walking off, leaving the students alone.
They walked down the corridors for a further ten minutes, until finally they came to Ron and Jess Weasley, who were entering the castle.
"Uncle Ron," Nicole said feebly, "we…um…need to see Professor Granger,"
"Why?" Ron asked, out of curiosity.
"Charms assignment," Draco said quickly, "I need help,"
Sam glared at him.
"Draco, shut up," she turned to Ron and Jess, "it's about Alex."
"What about her?" Jess suddenly interrupted.
"Um, we'd rather just tell Professor Granger," Sam told them nervously.
Ron shook his head, but when his wife looked at him, he quickly changed his mind.
"Wait in the great hall, I'll go get her for you," Ron told them and quickly disappeared up the stairs.
Alex gagged over the toilet seat, tears began to run down her face. Wiping her mouth, she heard the bathroom door open, and the footsteps stop out the front of her open cubicle.
Alex pulled her knees up so her chin was resting on them and crossed her arms so Logan couldn't se her crying.
"Just leave me alone," she said between sobs. He ignored her and sat on the cold tiles next to her, motioning for Kimmie and Brian to wait outside. He put his arm around her.
"It's alright to be scared," He told her, as she let him hug her. She buried her head into his shoulder.
"I don't want to be," Alex sobbed into his shoulder, "but I can't help it,"
"I know," Logan whispered, as the door opened again. Logan looked up at his worried sister. Georgie nodded to Logan as she sat with them on the floor.
"everything's going to be okay," Georgie told her, squeezing her hand softly.
A/N: okay that's where I'm going to leave it…..yes I don know that's what riley told her in the library, but I couldn't think of anything else that would fit….i hope you all like it….please REVIEW
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