A/N: Wow, I've never gotten so many reviews! Its amazing. But actually mmmm…, my anonymous reviewer, there was actually more than one reviewer that attacked my writing, two in fact, but the first one I deleted because it was very offensive. Nevertheless, I appreciate your feedback! Thanks also to dido and actress19! Err…whoever you are, be patient and the story will reveal itself.

Ch.7 The Same as Them

Alexa and Blaise walked in uncomfortable silence back up to the portrait hole. Once inside, they split up to go up to their dormitories with out saying anything to each other.

Alexa sighed and gathered her books for Arithmancy and Charms, putting them in her bag along with parchment and several quills. She walked back down to the common room to find most other sixth years relaxing on the couches. She eyed them enviously.

She walked towards the portrait hole and left, taking the route back to the Great hall, and eventually, she located her Arithmancy classroom. As she entered, she looked for anyone she knew to sit next to. Spotting Hermione, she took the empty seat next to her.

Hermione looked up as Alexa sat down. "Hey. Are you ok in…that house?"

"Not really, no."

Hermione shrugged. "Well, when you'll in a house full of death eaters…"

"Supposed death eaters."

"O?" Hermione said surprised, "Then you've found one that isn't?"

"Blaise Zabini has been nice to me."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, giving Alexa a I-can't-believe-you're-falling-for-that-one look.

"What?" Alexa asked.

"Alexa, I'm sorry to say this to you, but probably the only reason he's being nice to you, is because he wants you."

"I know."

"You know?"

"I'm just choosing to take advantage of the situation."

"So then, explain that little spark that comes into your eyes when I said his name."

"Spark?"

"Alexa, don't fall for anyone in Slytherin; no good will come of it."

"What you don't think I can hold my own?"

"What I'm saying is you need to be careful. You claim to have such anti-Slytherin sentiments, and already, here you are falling for a Slytherin boy." Hermione gazed at her concernedly.

"I'm not falling…"

"Yes you are. You need to watch yourself, Alexa, because we tend to be influenced by those around us."

"I will never become like them. And I don't like him that way, Hermione. "

Hermione gave her a knowing look and a shrug before turning back to her book.

The teacher walked into the classroom, shutting the door behind her. "Okay, class, let's begin!"

"I don't," Alexa insisted to Hermione.

Hermione just stared with rapt attention at the teacher.

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The bell rang and Alexa hurriedly packed up her school supplies and rushed out the door.

"Hey…" Hermione had caught up with her.

Alexa turned. "Are you off to Charms too?"

"Yes."

"Great; I'll just follow you then."

"So getting back to what we were talking about before…" Hermione said.

"Can we talk about something else?" Alexa asked.

Hermione gave her a look and sighed. "Alexa, you need to find out where you're loyalties lie. You're in compromising situation, and the only way you're going to get out of it is by choosing."

"I thought I asked if we could talk about something else."

"I'm done."

Alexa sighed. "So when does Quiddich start around here?"

"You'll want to ask Harry that; I'm not so involved inQuiddich. Harry's Gryffindor captain though."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

They rounded a corner, hurriedly moving to the side to avoid a large crowd of students.

"Here." Hermione pointed at classroom with her hand.

They turned sharply into the classroom. Hermione found Harry inside and sat down next to him, waving at Alexa to sit next to her.

Alexa saw her, and then she saw Blaise further back in the classroom trying to get her attention.

Hermione saw Blaise and raised her eyebrows at Alexa.

Alexa glowered at her and stepped towards Blaise. But then, instead of sitting by him, she sat a few rows in front of him and a few rows behind Harry and Hermione: neutral territory.

The bell rang and Professor Flitwick stepped up onto his podium. "Today is a review day," he squeaked. "Please open your books to page fifteen. Can anyone tell me the incantation for a levitating spell?"

Several students raised their hands.

"Wingardium Leviosa," one student answered.

"Excellent! How about a summoning charm?"

"Accio," another child answered.

"Correct!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed enthusiastically. "Now we are going to practice these two spells. Everyone, wands out. I want you all to summon those pillows on the far end of the room to your desk, and then leviatate them back to their original spot."

Everyone pulled out their wands.

"Ready…begin!"

Alexa sighed. "Accio pillow." The pillow zoomed across the room to her. It paused in midair. Alexa grew an evil smile on her face. "Wingardium leviosa…" She raised her wand, causing the pillow to rise, and then made it fly and hit Harry in the back of the head.

Harry turned around rapidly, and Alexa gave a small 'oops' look and waved.

Harry smiled charmingly, just before sending a pillow zooming into her.

"O…now that was uncalled for," Alexa said. She sent a pillow smashing into both Harry and Hermione.

"Pillow Fight!" A student called excitedly. He enchanted a pile of pillows and sent them magically soaring throughout the room.

The class turned into outright chaos.

"Now class! Stop it! Stop!" Flitwick squeaked, panicking.

Alexa grinned and picked up a pillow with her hands. She felt a sharp whack on her head and turned to retaliate. TherestoodBlaise, smiling like a lunatic.Alexa adjusted her grip and then swung the pillow right into his grinning face.

"OW!" Blaise rubbed his nose. He looked up and glared at Alexa, but with his smile he looked more like a clown than a wizard.

Appropriately, Alexa laughed. "You big baby!" Come here and I can make it better… Alexa blushed at her thought and pulled her pillow over her face to cover it, which luckily coincided with Blaise's next attack.

"Class, stop it this instant!" Professor Flitwick squeaked comically. Finally, losing patience, he pulled out his wand and pointed it into the air. "Immobulous!"

Everyone and everything in the classroom froze. Professor Flitwick calmly sent the pillows back to their places in the back of the room.

"Finite." Everyone unfroze. "Now if you would all take your seats and we will move on to the next spell," Flitwick said.

Alexa sighed and returned to her seat. She noticed a note sitting there and opened it slowly.

It said:

It's lovely that you're trying, but you can't be neutral all the time. -Hermione

Alexa read it and shook her head. "Yes, I can… and will."

"All right, the next charm is the cheering charm. Anyone?"

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When the bell rang, Hermione quickly gathered her things and left the classroom, joining the throng of students heading to the Great Hall for lunch. She sat down in the middle of the Gryffindor table to be shortly joined by Harry and Ron.

Hermione placed some food on her plate and looked around the Great Hall. She spotted Alexa coming the main doors. Hermione looked at the Gryffindor table and the Slytherin table. Hmmm…I wonder how's she going to pull off neutrality this time? Hermione watched Alexa expectantly,andto her surprise, Alexa began walked toward her, Harry, and Ron.

Alexa stopped behind Harry. "Nice class you guys." She smiled.

Harry looked up at her. "Do you want to sit?"

Hermione watched Harry closely. Do I detect hopefulness?

Alexa bit her lip. "Sure, I guess I can sit for a bit." She pushed between Harry and Ron. "What's up?"

"That was a sweet fight you started," Ron said enthusiastically. "Bloody brilliant."

Alexa smiled saucily and brushed off her shoulder, causing Hermione, Harry, and Ron to laugh. "Sometimes its fun to start something. Besides, it's not like it was dangerous or anything," she said.

Hermione smiled. "You never know…someone could make a person choke on goose feathers or something. A Slytherin maybe?"

Harry and Ron laughed, but Alexa's smile faltered.

"Not putting you in that category of course," Hermione amended quickly. "You're not like them." For now…

Alexa sighed. "No, you're right for the most part; but not all Slytherins are bad."

"Really?" Ron asked. "Name one that isn't…besides you."

"Well, I'm flattered." Alexa gave a small smile. "But…" She trailed off.

"You see? You can't think of one right off the top of your head. There all just a bunch of evil, kniving,cruel, prats."

Alexa laughed. "You know what's funny? You're just as quick to jump down their throats as they are to jump down yours." She paused. "Maybe if you actually try giving each other a chance, you'll find out that there is more to each other than you know. But instead, you both hate each other…so how does that make you any different from them?"

Her question remained unanswered. Alexa took it as her cue to leave and stood. "Well, I guess I'll see you all around." She slowly walked away to the Slytherin table.