A/N- Lessons!

The first week was certainly memorable. Alexandra, along with the rest of the castle was to be eternally confused at the hat's decision.

Perhaps the only thing that overshadowed Alexandra's paradoxical situation was the arrival, or rather survival, of one Harry James Potter.

Stares and whispers followed the pair wherever they went.

However, I'm afraid she didn't have much time to ponder the rumour mill as they were rather busy with their new timetable...

(Taken from Harry Potter wiki- xylomancy is basic divination)

...

Transfiguration first week of September 1991

Transfiguration was simple enough, their first lesson with Professor McGonagall they had to transfigure a match into a needle, thanks to plenty of observational classes, it was easy.

By the end of class, Alex was one of two that had managed the task successfully. The other witch being none other than Hermione Granger (however, Alex would be proud to say she was most certainly first).

"Very well done Miss Potter, 8 points to Gryffindor." McGonagall praised, offering a rare smile.

"And Miss Granger! It seems that we must be quite lucky to have two capable witches in Gryffindor. Transfiguring during your first class is quite the achievement. 10 points to Gryffindor."

Alex frowned.

Charms September 1991

The first charms lesson of the year.

While Alexandra hadn't spent much time with the Ravenclaw head of house, she always admired the usefulness of charms. After tireless practice with her training wand (a gift from professor Dumbledore after her first show of "accidental magic" at seven), it was no surprise she managed the levitation charm effortlessly.

"As expected of the Hogwarts celebrity! 10 points to sly-Gryffindor!" squeaked the little professor.

Alexandra just smiled politely, setting her feather down gently, and stared across the room, where one bushy-haired muggle-born was berating a frustrated Ronald Weasley.

"It's Levi-O-sa, not levio-SAR!"

"Well, you do it then, if you're so clever!"

And she did, nearly effortlessly, if Alex did say so herself.

Perhaps, Granger might be more apt at magic than most muggle-borns.

Defense against the dark arts first week of September 1991

Honestly, could be summed up in one word: disappointing.

Professor Quirell was far too traumatised and quivered way too much to teach them anything important, or, merlin forbid, actually dangerous.

Even Professor Carter used to be better, and she was American! She actually taught Fred and George the difference between Vampires and Werewolves without taking a fifteen minute break. For Merlin's sake!

Luckily, she had managed to nick Bill Weasleys tattered edition of the first-year textbook. All it took were some repairing spells and the book was good as new. With notes. From a cursebreaker!

Win-win.

Potions first week of September 1991

Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls. Alexandra loved the dungeons, she had spent plenty of time hiding behind cauldrons and helping Professor Snape brew for the medical wing. Plus, the Slytherin dorms were down there.

The dungeons- strangely enough- were as close to home as she could feel.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word – like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses...I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Following the speech, Professor Snape paused.

"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Despite both Harry's and Alex's surname being Potter, everyone knew who the Professor wa referring to. Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

"I don't know, sir," said Harry.

Snape's lips curled into a sneer.

"Tut, tut – fame clearly isn't everything."

He ignored Hermione's hand.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter. Well-deserved laughter, but still rather rude.

"I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"

Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.

"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"

Alexandra frowned watching the spectacle and raised her hand.

Snape nodded towards her.

"Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant sir, it also goes by the name of aconite, a bezoar would be found in a goat's stomach and the answer to your first question would be the draught of living death."

"Very well, 10 points to Gryffindor." Snape let out a small smile, "Perhaps, it would do you well to learn from your sister, Potter, at least one of you haven't let fame get to your head."

To this Alexandra raised her hand once more.

Without waiting for approval she began,

"Professor I'm not aware if you know but he's been living with absolutely awful muggles. I don't believe it fair to expect him to know potions as well as a child who has all but grown up in the dungeons! How is he to let fame get to his head when he wasn't even aware of it a fortnight ago-"

"I believe that will be enough."

She clamped her mouth shut.

"2 points from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn, Ms Potter."

Professor Snape swished around, his cape billowing.

"Stay behind after class."

Harry slowly shuffled closer to her, murmuring a quick thanks. She nodded curtly, quickly scribbling down notes which she'd never need.

To be honest, it'd only take a glance to realise she was doodling.

Well 'twas a good thing she sat in the back.

Soon enough they partnered up to start working on a potion for boils. Poor Neville managed to muck up the simplest of potions and Alexandra, who'd been working with Hermione, couldn't help but feel pity.

After the lesson, Harry had managed to lose them not one, but TWO points, merlin how were they ever to win the house cup?

"Alexandra, stay behind," drawled Snape as the clock chimed.

Alex had nearly forgotten about her staying behind so she stopped stuffing her books into her satchel and waited calmly as the students filed out of the classroom.

Once everyone had left Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You are aware no one thought you to be a Gryffindor?" he asked rhetorically.

Alexandra nodded anyways.

"Even with your new house it will not do for you to blatantly contradict a professor, am I very clear?"

"But you were being unfair! To both Harry AND Neville, how's that alri-"

"Quiet, I did not ask you to question my decisions," he snapped.

"What do you have against Gryffindor, wasn't my mother a Gryffindor, I dare say you were rather attach-"

"BE QUIET."

Alexandra paused, mouth open. Usually the potions professor would never raise his voice at her, it was specially reserved for the O.W.L and N.E.W.T students, who were all unanimously dunderheads.

"I am repeating myself once more, you are NOT to contradict me in lessons, do you understand."

She nodded.

"Use your words, you're old enough."

"I understand, but I don't agree."

He shook his head,

"It's not for you to agree with," he paused as if wanting to say more. "Well... leave, you don't want to be late for your lessons do you?"

Alexandra refrained from reminding him it was a Saturday and as thus, a half-day and nodded picking up her bag.

Ron and Harry had headed off to Hagrid's, while Alexandra made her way up to the library, it wouldn't do to be behind on homework, especially with the long transfiguration essay due in two days.

She had nearly finished when she saw Professor Quirrell enter the library. Towards the restrictive section, no less. She supposed teachers got unrestricted access, but she still felt a little annoyed that the quivering man got access to the section far easier than she did, granted she was eight when she went snooping.

She began to follow him when she was stopped by a certain muggleborn.

"Where are you going?" she asked, in that annoyingly oscillating pitch.

"No where that would concern you, Granger." responded Alex resting her head back on the chair.

She reached back into her satchel and pulled out a quill, no less a peacock feather one, courtesy of the Malfoys.

"Does it not get tiring being so pompous all the time?" asked Hermione pulling a seat opposite Alex.

"I have no clue what you're talking about," responded Alexandra, scratching away at the parchment.

"Why must you always be so arrogant? There must be a reason you were sorted here-"

"My, Granger I didn't think you were one to believe in stereotypes, especially with your..."

"My what?" asked Hermione voice getting higher now.

"Status." finished Alex, smiling sweetly.

Hermione slowly started turning red, an angry look on her face.

Sighing, Alex put the quill down and started,

"Look, Hermione, being a muggleborn is not easy. Being as skilled a muggleborn as you is not common either. I have seen many first-years, living in Hogwarts, but you definitely have much more a talent for magic than most of their stupid little faces."

"Err-"

"No, let me finish. You started this," continued Alex, "As for my sorting, if you would once pull your nose out of those useless textbooks, you would realise that no one is quite sure of my sorting least of all, me. And pompous? I believe you would be too, if you were the girl-who-survived" she said, winking playfully.

"Still, what do you have against me?" said Hermione, nearly pouting childishly.

"Why does it matter?"

"It matters!" Hermione yelled, making Pince glare, "As you have made so very clear Hogwarts has a hierarchy, and as I think you're aware, you're somewhere at the top, thanks to something you did as a BABY!"

"Harsh-"

"I don't want to pick a fight, I have... many ambitions for the future, and like you said, being a muggleborn isn't easy. Therefore, having the sympathies of a... pureblood may help my future."

Alexandra snorted.

"Granger, I am not a pureblood, I'm half-blooded at best, my mother wasn't unlike yourself,"

"Then why the vendetta?" she crossed her elbows with a frown. Her face would get frozen in that extremely unflattering position if she wasn't careful.

"Because, I was to be top of the class before you arrived, I had a sure shot at valedictorian AND head girl, before your bushy haired muggle bred arse arrived."

"Scared you might actually have to work now, Potter?"

"Not at all, I have my ways."

Hermione groaned, muttering under her breath.

"I'm sorry, this is not how I wanted this to go," she finally ground out, extending a hand out."Can we perhaps be friends?"

"You have just thoroughly insulted me, I would not be in the right frame of mind to accept your friendship," Alexandra giggled. Then she took her hand, shaking it delicately.

"Then again, noone ever said I was."

Hermione let out a tense laugh too. Which resulted in Madam Pince almost throwing them out.

Good thing Alexandra can be very persuasive when she wants to.

After the two of them had finished their homework for the week, and checked out some books, Alexandra bid Hermione goodbye, saying she was going down to the kitchens to grab some dinner as she had missed the feast.

Therefore, it was certainly unexpected when she was pulled behind the statue of a gargoyle, she nearly screamed until she saw the attacker.

"DRACO, are you trying to kill me!" she half yelled, pushing him off her.

"Stop yelling!" he hissed.

Alexandra shook her head, was he trying to give her a heart attack?

"Mother and Father don't yet know about your... sorting," he whispered.

"They're not my parents, Draco, why would they not need to know?" Alex whispered back.

"Don't be daft," he scoffed, "Alexandra, you were supposed to be Slytherin, not GRYFFINDOR!"

"I'm the one being daft! I don't see what's so wrong with being Gryffindor!" she said, eyes narrowing. "Does it really look like I have time for this? Listen, I really don't care-"

"Well, for one," Draco started condescendingly, "Gryffindors are brash, and loud and rude, not to mention they have no idea of wizarding society, plus... you're stuck with the weasels!"

"I'd like to let you know that the Weasleys are perfectly kind people-why are we whispering?"

"I'm not sure."

"Oh okay, well, the Weasleys are kind people, perhaps loud and brash, but they've been extremely kind sharing their home with me!"

"They cannot afford another mouth to feed, Alex," said Draco, pulling her up. "We can't change your house, but you cannot keep fraternising with the enemy-"

"THE ENEMY?" she scoffed, punching his arm as she re-aligned her satchel.

"You know, Potter, Weasel and the likes."

"Oh please, Harry's my brother need I remind you it'll probably be worse if I'm not seen with him" she thought for a moment, "You know what, I think that you're upset he rejected your friendship."

"Merlin you're being impossible, I'm trying to help you." he said, clearly resisting the urge to stomp his foot.

"I'm right aren't I?" asked Alex, cocking an eyebrow.

"You're acting childish, don't say I didn't warn you." said Draco, regaining his composure and pulling something out of the pocket of his robes. "Here, mother owled me this, it's for you."

Draco threw her a little package, wrapped in silky green parchment and wrapped with a silver bow.

"Well, open it."

"Isn't it supposed to be for me?"

"She didn't send me anything." whined Draco. "Isn't part of chivalry sharing?"

Alex shook her head and untied the bow, in it was a quill, thankfully not emerald green but purple, with little crystallised peacocks engraved onto the stem.

"This is extremely pretty, and far too expensive."

"Owl her in the morning will you?"

"Of cour-"

"And tell her to send me something too." With those parting words Draco spun on his heel dramatically, in a rather good impression of one potions master, and walked down the corridor.

Alexandra snickered and resumed her path down the kitchen, stomach grumbling.

Hold that thought, she thought, as she ran back to the Gryffindor dorms, she needed to find the twins.

That'll teach him to ambush me in the middle of the corridor.