Disclaimer: Don't own it, unfortunately…..

Props to Mak for being my beta!

Review, I need some please.

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Chapter Five

Afternoon Fun

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Alex laid in his bed thinking about what Allie said last night. He liked Hermione but he still felt stupid about crying on her shoulder like a baby. Spending the day with her would hopefully alleviate some of his worries. Now he just needed to find a way to talk her into spending the day with him. Sighing, he got up and dressed to go eat in the Great Hall.

As Hermione was getting up from breakfast Alex walked up to her. "Hey, Hermione, what are you doing today?"

Hermione smiled replying, "Not too much. I'm done with my work but I might study for Ancient Runes just in case."

"Do you want to do something with me today?" he asked nervously.

"Alright, but I do have to help Harry and Ron with their homework later," she said as they started to walk outside.

He took her to the Quidditch pitch. She didn't know why he brought her there and asked him so.

"Well a little birdie told me you aren't a fan of flying," he said smiling.

"No, I just don't like it. Not everyone is a Quidditch freak," Hermione replied defensively.

Laughing at her getting angry, he said, "I'm not a Quidditch freak but I do like flying. Perhaps you weren't shown how fun it can be."

"I don't think it's very fun. You just fly around."

"Well hopefully I can change your opinion." He took a necklace from around his neck and unclasped a small broom about the size of his index finger. Whispering a spell the broom expanded to its normal size. He swung his leg over the broom and held out his hand. "Com on Hermione, I won't let anything happen."

She held out a shaking hand to him and he helped her onto the broom. She sat in front of Alex and he placed her hands on the broom. He kicked off hard, scaring Hermione, who let out a small gasp, and they flew around the pitch a few times.

He showed her how to maneuver the broom easier than she was taught. Once she was comfortable he flew them over the lake. As they were skimming the lake he grabbed her hands and did a barrel roll. She screamed loudly as he flipped them over. Once he finished the roll he stopped and laughed at her. She turned around and glared at him. "What?" he asked innocently.

Hermione responded by shoving him off the broom and into the lake. He came up from the water with a shocked look on his face. "Why you…." He said as he tried to grab the broom. Hermione sped away to the edge of the lake and laughed at him.

"That's what you get!" she said smugly. Alex was swimming toward the shore when she dismounted with no grace what so ever, landing on her behind. This gave Alex time to get out of the water and reach her.

"Think you're funny do you?" he said seriously. She stopped laughing when she heard his tone. Suddenly, he picked her up off the ground and flung her over his shoulder. He marched over to the water and dropped her unceremoniously into the water.

She stood up, soaking wet, and looked furious. "Alex!" she shouted as she jumped on him, knocking him over. She submerged him under the water, but not for too long, he was just too strong. They fought until they were exhausted. Lying on the shore they tried to catch their breath.

Alex rolled onto his side facing Hermione. He started playing with a blade of grass and said, "I'm sorry about running off the other day. The only excuse I can give you is that I was embarrassed."

She touched his cheek and his eyes shot up. "I thought as much and I don't hold it against you. It must be difficult for you being here. But, if you ever need to talk I'll be here."

Alex smiled and leaned closer to her. He brushed his lips against hers. He pulled back slightly and said, "Thank you, Hermione."

She just smiled and pulled him back to her for another kiss, this one being more passionate.

Later that evening, Hermione was helping Ron and Harry study. She wasn't thinking about it too much and they noticed it.

"Are you daydreaming?" Ron asked suddenly.

"No," she said. The boys were not convinced and quickly started asking her twenty questions. She told them about her day with Alex, though she left out the kiss. They were protective of her and she really didn't feel like having Harry and Ron hassling Alex over this. They weren't too happy about her new friendship with Alex but they didn't say it to her face.

XXX

The next day Alex decided to go talk to the headmaster. He felt he needed to apologize for the way he talked to him the day they told him about the attack. If his mother was still alive she would have definitely grounded him, right after she made him apologize. Knowing this, he decided to take a page out of her book and do the right thing. Now, if only he could remember the way to the headmaster's office.

He knew this was the correct tower, but which floor was difficult for him to remember. The day of their meeting, he wasn't paying attention because is mind was defiantly on different things. After walking around for thirty minutes he almost gave up, but, he heard footsteps coming his way, and hoped that whoever it was could help him on his way.

Harry came up the stairs on his way to talk with the headmaster. He wanted to talk to him more about the Order of the Phoenix, more importantly what they were doing to help fight Voldemort. On his was up he saw Alex standing in the middle of the hallway looking a little lost, "Hey, Alex, what are you doing up here?"

"I'm trying to find the headmaster's office. Do you know where it is?" Alex hoped he did because if he didn't then he was just going to have to give up and track him down after breakfast the next day.

"Yeah, I know where it is. I'm heading that way now. Come on," Harry said as he started to lead the way up the flight of stairs. He knew that Hermione was smitten with Alex and that he seemed to like her as well, but he didn't know exactly how to tell him that if he hurt his best friend there was going to be hell to pay. "You and Hermione seem to be getting close."

Alex didn't know how to respond to that so he just shook his head and gave a simple yes answer. Harry stopped in front of a large gargoyle and turned to Alex. "Just…..don't hurt her alright? If you do, Ron and I will have to hex you."

Alex started laughing at Harry's heart felt statement. "Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of hurting her." Looking at where they stopped Alex asked Harry, "Why are we stopped here?"

Satisfied with Alex's answer Harry looked at the gargoyle, "This is the entrance to the headmaster's office. Now, we just need to say the right password and we can enter. It's usually a sweet of some kind so let's get guessing."

After a few minutes of guessing incorrectly they got the correct sweet, milk chocolate oranges. They rode the spiral staircase up to the office's entrance and knocked on the door. They heard a muffled "Enter," and walked into the circular office. The headmaster was sitting behind his enormous claw-footed desk chatting away with Fawkes, as if he understood everything the headmaster was saying. Looking up at his students, he smiled a smile that reached his twinkling blue eyes. "Good evening, what brings you two up here?"

Harry started quickly, wanting to have his conversation with the headmaster first. "I wanted to talk to you about, you know, the old crowd."

Slightly puzzled at what Harry said, Alex spoke next. "I just wanted to chat with you for a few minutes. If you two need to talk, I can always come back later."

Albus was slightly puzzled at what the two boys wanted to talk about. He had an idea of what Harry wanted to discuss, but Alex was a completely different story. For the first time he was at a loss because he didn't seem the sort of young man that just came to chat about odds and ends.

"Harry, how about we talk now," he nodded to Harry and then addressed Alex, "If you wouldn't mind waiting outside we can talk after Harry and I are done."

Alex agreed and walked outside the office, sitting on the steps thinking about his upcoming apology. Not even five minutes later, Harry came storming out of the office, mumbling obscenities. He had gotten no information out of the headmaster and was incredibly angry that he was being treated like a child who can't be told what's going on. Alex moved out of his way quickly, trying to avoid being run over. Watching the Gryffindor storm down the stairs, he shook his head and entered the office.

Despite the obvious argument that the two had had, the headmaster was still smiling when Alex entered. Albus motioned for him to sit in the chair in front of his desk. "Now, what was it you wanted to discuss Mr. Barneo?"

He said it so grandfatherly that it made Alex feel even worse for yelling at him. "I, uh, wanted to apologize for the other day when I yelled at you. Looking back at it, I don't blame you for not telling me who that man was."

Albus was slightly surprised at the apology. He didn't let it show of course. "I accept your apology though it is unnecessary. I understand you were emotionally upset and that you wanted to know who murdered your mother. Trust me, Mr. Barneo; it isn't good to dwell on these things. The time will come when you find out the identity of that particular individual. Until then, just live and enjoy your life."

Looking down at his hands, Alex replied, "Yes, sir."

"You are enjoying your time here aren't you? Especially, with a certain young Gryffindor lady, if I'm not mistaken," he left that sentence hang in the air as he watched the young man before him squirm a little in his seat.

"Uh, yeah, Hermione is great…." Alex couldn't believe he was having this kind of conversation with the headmaster.

Chuckling to himself Albus held up his hand. "It's alright Mr. Barneo; there is little that happens in this school that I don't know of. I also know you are now Professor Snape's assistant. Of course, I didn't find that out on my own."

"Yes, Professor Snape asked me to assist him last week after he examined me for hours on end." Alex was more comfortable with this subject than girls and the headmaster picked that up. They talked for thirty more minutes about various things. Neither of them expected the other to be so easy to talk to, and Albus invited him back to chat whenever he had the chance. Alex agreed and left to write his essay in Charms that was due at the end of the week.

XXX

Samuel, the oldest student in the dorm, requested a meeting with Dumbledore a few days later to discuss the details for the Quidditch team. He was so excited about the new team that he ran all the way back to the dorm. He told everyone in the dorm and they decided to have tryouts on Saturday. It was agreed that those who wanted to would try out and the whole house would vote and pick the members of the team.

Alex and Michael were thrilled to hear about the team. Michael was the best keeper in the entire Northeast and Alex was an accomplished seeker. They were confident that they could pull a great team together. On Saturday the whole house packed the stadium to watch the try outs. Hermione even came out, to support Alex.

At the end of try-outs the votes were cast. In the common room later that evening, Natalie, who didn't try out, notified the house of the new team. "As keeper: Michael O'Neil!"

"Hoo-wah!" the housemates yelled out.

"Chasers: Alyse O'Rourke, Allie Patterson, and Jamie Jackson!"

"Hoo-wah!"

"Beaters: Jacob Wiley and Jonathan Landon!"

"Hoo-wah!"

"Aaaand seeker: Alex Barneo!"

"Hoo-wah!"

"Alright! Now let's beat these Brits into the ground!" she exclaimed trying not to laugh.

The rest of the house couldn't stop laughing for a good fifteen minutes. Natalie was definitely going to be a comedian one day.

XXX

Sunday morning Alex caught up with Hermione before she entered the Great Hall. He was still excited about making the team that he just had to tell someone. He was in such a good mood he picked her up and swung her around. "I made the house Quidditch team!"

She laughed at him as she was set down. "Congratulations! You deserved it. Hopefully you can give Harry a run for his money."

"Thanks! What are you doing today?" he questioned.

"I was planning on finishing up my Potions essay and then starting Transfiguration."

"Do you want to meet up in the library after breakfast?" Alex said as they entered the Great Hall.

"Sounds good. I'll see you then," she said as she sat down at the Gryffindor table.

Alex made one stop before sitting down with his housemates. Draco had his back towards Alex and he jumped when he heard Alex behind him. "So I hear you're the seeker for Slytherin."

Smirking, Draco replied "Yeah, I'm pretty good too."

"Well I guess we will see."

"What are you getting at?" Draco asked curiously.

"I just made seeker and I can't wait 'till we play you!"

"Oh please, we could kill you in less than twenty minutes," he said smugly.

"You wish Malfoy." Alex replied playfully as he walked away.

"Hah! You American's couldn't play a proper game of Quidditch if you were given written instructions."

Over the last week they had started getting along and joking around with each other. Harry and Ron were skeptical about Alex before, but now they were even more wary of him, especially if he was going to befriend Draco Malfoy.

XXX

Alex met up with Hermione, Harry, and Ron outside of the Great Hall after breakfast.

"What are you two doing today?" Alex asked looking at Harry and Ron.

"We're going to fly for a while." Ron beamed.

Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You two haven't even started your Potions essay. You need to get started on it!"

"Hermione!" They yelled simultaneously, rolling their eyes.

"Come on Hermione don't worry about them too much. They will get it done, let them enjoy the morning. You have all year to get on their case." Alex said smirking.

Harry and Ron were trying not to laugh at the obstinate look on Hermione's face and decided on a quick goodbye and a hasty retreat to Gryffindor tower to pick up their brooms.

Hermione playfully glared at Alex and smacked his shoulder. "Come on."

"Yes ma'am," he smiled as he watched her walk down the hall toward the library.

Their time in the library was spent looking up information for their potions essay. They sat close to each other and talked quietly about how picky Professor Snape could be when grading essays. As much as he enjoyed spending time with Hermione he had to leave and assist his potions professor.

Hermione was so busy with her essay she didn't hear him say he needed to go, so he bent down to lightly kissed her cheek whispering goodbye to her. She was surprised when he kissed her and she was about to reply but he was already walking down the aisle with his bag slung over his shoulder.