Ch.5 Friends and Enemies
"And you are all dismissed! Prefects of houses…please do your customary duty…And everyone have a great first day of classes tomorrow!"
Draco sighed and stood up. "Hey all you stupid first years! Follow me unless you want to die."
Pansy chuckled appreciatively. "But really, Draco, you shouldn't scare off the first years."
"They shouldn't be in Slytherin if they are going to be scared off by that."
"Of course," Pansy simpered as the first years began gathering reluctantly around the two.
Alexa gave the group an upraising looked. I don't really want to go with first years, and, I can only take so much of Draco and Pansy. Alexa hesitated on the outskirts of the group, not really wanting to join.
"Why don't you leave the first years and join the sixth years?" A voice said next to her ear.
Alexa turned her head slightly to find that it was Blaise. She gave a sideways smiled. "I was thinking of doing that."
"Allow me to help you." Blaise gently pulled her away from the gathering group. "Besides, I can give you a better tour of this school than those two," he jerked his head in Draco and Pansy's direction, "anyday."
"I appreciate it."
Blaise guided her to the Slytherin common room, pointing out various classrooms and hallways on the way. They reached the portrait.
"Ultimate loyalty." The portrait swung open.
Alexa stared in wonderment as Blaise guided her into the common room. The portrait swung shut behind them, increasing the volume of the chatter in the common room in front of them. "What was that?"
"That was our Slytherin password. Security reasons, you know. Don't want any Gryff…um…enemies coming in any time they want."
Alexa grimaced. "Sure. I understand perfectly."
"So…anyways, your dormitory is up on the left…sixth door up."
"Right." Alexa headed towards the left staircase.
Blaise started and caught her arm. "You aren't going to wait for anyone?"
Alexa turned. "Do you want me to?"
Just then, Draco, Pansy and the first years popped through the door. "So, first years…boys on the right, girls on the left…bottom door, because you're at the bottom of the food chain. Any questions?" Draco said aloofly.
Pansy snickered. "Now go to bed, children. It's past your bedtime." The first years moved slowly forward into the common room, breaking off and spreading out, gradually.
Pansy walked forward, seeing Blaise and Alexa. "Hello Blaise. You really ought to come with us to bully the first years; it's quite fun." She turned to Alexa. "I trust he's already given you 'the tour.' Not that it matters." She laughed coldly. "You'll get to know it soon enough."
Pansy turned and strode up the stairs with her own clan of friends. Alexa followed behind.
They reached the dormitory door and pushed it open, strolling inside.
"Omygosh, girls," Pansy said to the five in front of Alexa conspiratorially, "We HAVE to have a talk. Come over to my bed."
Alexa stood in the doorway for a second and pursed her lips. I figured this would happen. Already, leaving me out. Ostracized. She sighed and walked over to the only other empty bed, which so happened to have her trunk at the end of it. She inspected her things and then climbed onto the bed, laying spread-eagle and looking at the ceiling.
She heard the girls giggle and she could feel them looking over at her, laughing, criticizing, despising. Then they got bolder. Words, phrases, drifted Alexa's way.
"Omygosh…look at her hair…"
"I can't believe she said that…"
"I can't stand her…"
Alexa snorted. They hadn't even known her for ten minutes yet and were already making judgments.
"Did you see how all the guys are obsessed over her?"
"Well, all I can say is, she's not taking my Draco…"
Clearly Pansy's voice. Alexa smiled. Wow I didn't know I was such a threat. She breathed deeply. I should probably start unpacking.
She sat up slowly, and pulled her wand out of her pocket. She waved it at all the drawers and her trunk, and they all slid open. Alexa crawled over and looked into her trunk. The girls were trying hard not to look at her now. They were quiet too.
Alexa pointed her wand into her trunk and clothes levitated out of it. They floated, gently, into the waiting drawers and settled themselves in neat little piles. Alexa looked into her trunk, contemplating. The girls were watching now; they couldn't help it. They threw little glares yet while watching in awe because of the simplicity and the fluidity with which she performed her magic, non-verbally.
Alexa pointed her wand into her trunk and this time books, parchments and other school supplies flew out, settling themselves upright on her bed-side table.
Finally, she reached into her trunk and pulled out a small picture frame with her hand and gently closed the lid of the trunk by hand. She placed the picture in front of the books on the bed-side table, facing the bed. So I can see it when I wake up and fall asleep. Alexa sighed, looking at the picture and fell back onto the bed.
The girls were still quiet. Alexa grimaced. "You can stop looking at me you know." She glanced over at them.
The girls were all indignant. Pansy raised her head haughtily. "What makes you think we were looking?"
"The fact that your face is towards me."
"Well…" She trailed off. "Don't talk to her," She said to the people around her.
"Why?" Alexa asked.
"Don't answer."
"I can hear you, you know."
Uncomfortable silence filled the room.
Then, one of the girls turned and looked at Alexa pitifully. She turned and got off the bed and walked over to Alexa's bed.
"What are you doing?" Pansy demanded.
The girl turned and gave Pansy a dirty look. "Just because you don't like her doesn't mean I have to. Besides, you're not being fair to her." She turned back to Alexa. "What was it like in America?"
Alexa smiled at the girl gratefully. "What do you mean?"
"Did you go to…what's it called… um…New Pork?"
Alexa laughed. "It's New York. Actually, I did once\; My dad had job to do for the ministry up there and he took me with him. They have huge buildings there…they're so tall they touch the sky. Everyone is selling everything. Everything is expensive…"
One by one the girls left Pansy's bed and walked over to Alexa's, drinking in her every word, until Pansy, herself, reluctantly walked over and joined the group.
Alexa smiled at her as she came over. Pansy gave a small smile, more of a smirk in return. She sat down at the foot of the bed.
"Was Voldemort strong there?"
Alexa turned. It was Pansy, Pansy with an evil grin to accompany her smirk. Alexa smiled, indulging her. "It's no different then it is here. America has it's own faction of Death Eaters. They still follow Voldemort's every command…and die in the process. Or get captured, but it's the same thing. Good always triumphs over evil in the end."
Alexa looked into Pansy's glaring eyes. She found fear there, hiding beneath the surface. Fear of what? Of me? Of Him? What are you afraid of?
Pansy looked down, uncomfortable. "I think we should go to bed. Classes start tomorrow, and we could all use rest." She looked up, back in control. "I get the bathroom first."
A short while later, The girls were all in bed, the lights out. One by one they all fell asleep. Except Alexa. Soon the sound of snores and heavy breathing filled the room.
Alexa rolled over and tried to bury her head in her pillow. She couldn't sleep with noise. She rolled to the other side. She cast a silencing charm over all the other in the room, but then the silence was too loud. She removed the charm and sounds once again soared through the room. She tried muggle ear plugs, but noises still filtered through.
ARG! I can't take this anymore! She sat up rapidly, grabbed her pillow and blanket, and headed down to the common room.
She walked down the stairs quietly and then reached the ground floor. It was dark, and the fire had gone out. She nearly fell flat on her face as she walked towards the largest couch. She reached the couch and plopped exhaustedly onto it.
She landed on the couch and suddenly realized, someone else was already on it. "O my! I'm so sorry!" She scramble to get up, but slipped back onto the couch again.
The person sat up slowly, and helped Alexa off the couch, sleepily.
"I'm so sorry…I didn't see you."
"It's ok; I like being woken up by girls falling on top of me," a male voice answered.
"Is that sarcasm?"
"A little bit of both." The boy sighed and pulled out his wand. "Maybe I should make a wall around me so that doesn't happen again?"
"I don't think that's necessary, but by all means…go ahead."
Instead the boy lit his wand. "Who are you anyways? Alexa?"
"Blaise?"