Ch.8 Fire and Ice

Alexa approached the middle of the Slytherin table. She moved to sit down by Blaise and received glares from the surrounding group, except for Blaise, who was studiously looking at his plate.

Alexa looked around at all of them. "What?" She said, confused.

"I thought we'd been over this." Draco met her gaze coldly.

"Been over what Malfoy?" Alexa said, an edginess in her voice.

"Over the Gryffindors. Or rather…away from them."

"Draco, what I am so over is your pathetic fude. I see no reason why I should make your quarrel mine. So I see no reason why I can't talk to AND be friends with Harry, Ron, and Hermione."

Draco stared at her. "Slytherins hate Gryffindors on principle, but my enmity with Harry runs deeper than a fude or quarrel."

Alexa raised her eyebrows mockingly.

Blaise looked up and gave her a warning look. Alexa ignored him.

"Harry, Hermione, and Ron…" Alexa started.

"Are sworn enemies of the Dark Lord." Pansy finished smartly. "And followers of the Dark Lord do not consort with or befriend the likes of them," she spat contemptuously. "And as a 6th year in this house, you should be above them, above their kind, and ready to tackle any task the Dark Lord gives you."

Alexa eyed her angrily. " I thought I made it incredibly clear that I do not follow the Dark Lord and I never will." She paused, fury building in her. "And as a 6th year in this house, you should be above contempt. Real wizards do not make petty enmities and grudges and most certainly don't carry them into adulthood." She looked at Draco sharply.

"WHY YOU…" Pansy started viciously, pulling out her wand.

Blaise stood up rapidly, grabbed Alexa's elbow and pushed her forcefully back into the wall. "Don't be stupid Alexa. You're going to get yourself killed.," He muttered through clenched teeth.

Alexa glared at Blaise. "I am perfectly capable of …"

"Killing yourself. Stop, Alexa. Think. Breathe," Blaise said harshly.

Alexa looked down at the ground. Is this the time? Should I tell him? She closed her eyes. I'll tell them all. She snapped hereyes open and lookedup into Blaise's. "Let go of me, Blaise."

Blaise didn't let go. "Whatever you're going to do, don't do it."

"Blaise, I swear to God, if you don't let me go, I will hex you myself," Alexa said coldly, fury exploding from her eyes.

Blaise slackened his hold on her, and Alexa pushed past him and marched back to the table.

"You know what?" She asked furiously, slamming her hands down on the table. "I think it's time you knew something about me. It's time you all knew." She glowered at each of them. "I am not anti-Voldemort on principle," she spat. "I actually have reasons for my hate."

"My mother was an avid follower of Voldemort in America. She was His most loyal death eater and would have given her life for His pathetic cause." Pain filled Alexa's voice. "Our family was probably the most deeply engrained in the dark arts out of anyone, besides Voldemort Himself. She was His perfect replica; her fury was cold, her power stronger than anyone's. She was powerful enough to replace Him if she really wanted to.

"But she never did. Voldemort, however, felt threatened by her, so he killed her. Personally." Alexa paused, biting her lip. "He came to our house; I think my mother knew something was up. She told my father to grab me and run. I don't know how he got out; I don't know how we survived, because death eaters were swarming our house," She recounted painfully.

"And then all I remember was the screaming. And even though I was barely over one, I remember it like it was yesterday. And I dream about it all the time, reliving it again and again, the horror of my life…caused by Him." Alexa gathered breathe. " Don't," she said, her voice filled with anguish and anger, "Tell me that you hate someone; you don't know what hate is until you have experienced what I have."

Alexa wrenched herself away from the table and hurried into the corridor outside of the Great Hall.

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Alexa disappeared into the corridor.

Pansy breathed. "O my God…she's psycho," she said, laughing.

Blaise glared at her. "It isn't funny, Pansy. Shut your mouth before you say anything else stupid."

Draco sighed. "So what do we do about her?"

"Do about her?" Alexa's friend Kaitlyn interjected incredulously. "This girl just poured her soul out to you, and you're asking what to do with her? Even a Slytherin has to have some compassion, but it's obvious you don't." Kaitlyn turned away from him in disgust.

Draco raised his arms in protest. "Well, what is she doing in this house if she's so anti-everything and can't we petition to Dumbledore," Draco spat the name, "to remove her from this house?"

"You know he won't," Pansy replied. "And besides," she sneered, "The sorting hat probably has a purpose for sticking her in here," she said venomously.

Blaise turned and glared at her. "Didn't I tell you to keep your mouth shut?"

Pansy stared at him in shock.

"Well," Blaise said hesitantly, "At least now we know why she feels the way she does."

"This is all assuming, of course" Draco said, "That her story is true."

Blaise looked at him with disbelief.

"You actually believe that whole story?" Draco asked surprised.

Blaise met his gaze evenly. "I don't know. But I plan to find out."

A/N: And i know this is short, I'm sorry. I just couldn't think of a better stopping point because i wanted the fury to just...hang with you. Anyways, please read and review!

Thanks to xtotallyatpeacex for her faithful reviewing! You get a gold star!