Ch.4 Friction

Draco looked up as the first years came in. He looked them over each one, slowly. His eyes glanced over Alexa, and then he did a double take. O…crap. It's the girl I jinxed on the train. I didn't know she was a new student! He paled slightly. Making a new enemy is definitely not what I need right now. And why does she have to be so hott?

"Draco?" Pansy looked at him curiously. "Are you ok? You don't look so good…"

Draco managed to shrug, but look macho about it. "Probably just ate too many cauldron cakes." He felt an elbow in his side. He turned swiftly.

"Draco!" A voice called quietly.

"Blaise, you shouldn't startle people like…" Draco started.

"Quite a looker, eh?" Blaise said to Draco. "The tall one."

Draco turned and looked at the first years. "O yes, quite." Shit, shit, shit!

"If she's in Slytherin, I'm going to ask her to sit with us," Blaise said firmly.

Draco looked slightly sick. "And if she's not?"

"Then she's a filthy muggle lover and I'll never even look at her again."

"Hey look! She's being sorted!" Crabbe exclaimed a little too loudly.

Draco and Blaise both glared at him, but then immediately turned their attention to the front. They watched, anticipating, as McGonagall put the hat on her head.

The hat thought for a few moments. Then, "SLYTHERIN!" it declared loudly.

"Yes!" Blaise said victoriously.

No, Draco moaned.

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"Let the feast begin!"

Alexa gasped in surprise at platters full of every type of food imaginable appeared in the middle of the table. She was about to dig in when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned slowly and saw a dark-haired handsome boy about her own age in front on her.

"Hi, I'm Blaise Zabini."

"Alexa Regalton."

"You don't need to sit with all the first years," Blaise said invitingly. "Why don't you come sit with us?"

"Us?" Alexa asked, standing up. Maybe this house won't be so bad after all.

Blaise jsut smiled and guided her about ¾ of the way down the table to an empty seat. "Guys, this is Alexa Regalton. Alexa, this is Crabbe and Goyle."

They both waved politely and then went back to stuffing their faces.

"Pansy Parkison."

Pansy turned and looked appraisingly at Alexa and then smiled. "I'm sure we'll be good friends."

Alexa gave her a smile in return.

"And Draco Malfoy."

Alexa froze inside and then turned and put on a false smile. "Ah, the prat who jinxed me on the train….well met."

Draco met her gaze, but did not apologize.

Alexa would have liked to sit far away from the death-eater creep, but unfortunately, her seat was between Blaise and Draco, so she made do with edging away from him slightly. She reached forward and loaded her plate with food.

"So why'd you move here?" Pansy asked Alexa.

"My dad got a job in the ministry. I didn't really have much of a choice in the matter," Alexa replied.

"Where are you living?" Blaise asked.

"Actually, we're living in a muggle neighborhood. But I'm not home all that much, so I don't mind it. I hate being away from the wizarding community."

Blaise turned and said something to someone on his left, and Alexa looked across to the Gryffindor table.

Alexa scanned the table, locating Harry, and suddenly he looked up and his gaze locked with hers. Alexa looked around her swiftly and then gave Harry a fake evil look and then crinkled her nose, as if in distaste. Harry smiled and winked at her.

Alexa smiled back, glad she still had a friend there.

"What are you doing?" Draco demanded.

Alexa sighed. She turned and looked at Draco with disdain. "Just because you don't like him, doesn't mean he and I can't be friends."

"What!" Blaise interjected. "Friends with a Gryffindor? And Harry Potter at that? Unheard of. Prohibited."

Alexa glared at Blaise. "What the hell? The only way this school is going to survive is if we all work together against Voldemort. That means putting aside personal," she glanced at Draco, "differences with others."

All of them flinched, but then glared at her with stony expressions. Even Crabbe and Goyle dropped their food to glare at her.

Alexa looked at all the angry faces around her. "O please, don't tell me you actually LIKE Voldemort." She lowered her head and shook it back and forth. "Maybe I don't belong in this house after all." She picked up her silverware and began eating slowly.

The silence at Alexa's part of the table was unbearable. The more the noise of the great hall around them rose, the more the silence surrounding Alexa deepened.

"So," Blaise said, not being able to take it anymore. "What is everyone taking for classes?"

Crabbe and Goyle were once again involved in their food, so Pansy answered. "O, I'm taking Charms, Astronomy, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts." She smiled at the irony of the last class.

Draco sighed. "Potions, DADA, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Charms, and Herbology."

Blaise looked questioningly at Alexa.

Alexa met his eyes and gave him a small smile. "I'm taking Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, DADA, Herbology, Ancient runes, and Arithmancy."

Pansy gave her a look. "Maybe you don't belong in this house. Ravenclaw would better suit you…" she sneered, "…as it does all other…"

Blaise shot her a warning glance.

Pansy faltered. "…other smart people."

Blaise smiled. "I'm taking Astronomy, Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and DADA."

"Looks like we all pretty much have the same classes," Pansy said.

Blaise and Draco nodded in agreement.

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"Maybe I don't belong in this house after all."

Draco sighed inwardly. He'd seen this coming. She was going to be trouble. But, maybe she could be brought around. She wouldn't be the first. They'd have to lay it on pretty thick.

Is she even pure-blood? Draco wondered. I wonder why she really moved here, and why she is so prejudiced against Voldemort?

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"Maybe I don't belong in this house after all."

Blaise groaned softly. Damn! Why she'd have to go and say that? But, he thought reluctantly, she definitely has spirit. Why does she hate Voldemort so much, I wonder? I mean…she came from America, what could she possibly know about him? He sighed. I don't know. Maybe we're being close-minded. I owe it to her to give her another chance. Besides, he added, if I want her, then she needs to be accepted in the group. Win/ Win situation. Maybe she'll even come around.