Okay...you probably got two emails about this chapter. That's cause I had to take it down and fix one thing. This is my original A/N

A/N: I...don't have anything to say.

OH! Yes I do! Tania Dethartis in this chapter!

Even better, my sister(also known on here as JaylynGilferBustinex) is the creator of Tania and she (with my help) is writing out Tania's story parallel to this fic. She has few chapters up right now and I HIGHLY recommend reading it if you want to know more about the Detharts. She's on my Favorite Authors list if you want to find her.

BUT! This is important. She has used the name Tania Dethart for two different characters in two different fics. The one you want to read is "Under the Surface"! (You do NOt want Slytherin Army: Death Eaters Reborn...at least if you're looking for the companion fic).

Sorry about the mix up.

Blaise cut through the other Slytherins heading for common room after dinner and drew even with Alex. "You wanna tell me what's going on?"

"Going on? Is something going on, Blaise?" Alex flashed him a bright smile and kept walking.

"Yes, there is. Whatever you're up to."

"Up to?" She sniffed disdainfully. "I'm Alex Bellmonte! I'm never 'up to' anything...I plot, but that is all."

Blaise cut her down dryly with a simple, "You're going to have a Snitch fly up your nose if you keep it that high in the air for much longer."

"Well..." Alex stalled.

"Alex. It's not like I'm gonna blab to Milli...or like Milli for that matter."

Alex sighed. "I haven't asked Vince or Greg yet, but I don't think they'll mind..."

"Vince and Greg? You're conspiring with Draco's muscle? Without me?"

"Well, first off, I'll remind you that the Crabbe and Goyle lines are at least as old as Zabini and that from what I can remember off the top of my head the Goyles are, in fact, an older House than yours."

"Uh...huh..." Blaise did not look inspired to care.

"And, you annoying git, I just said I haven't asked them yet. Meaning they aren't part of the plot yet. But I will be asking them. I'm going to need everyone I can get for this one...well everyone I can get whom I trust."

"You trust them?" Blaise asked seriously as he stepped into common room.

"Not with my life," Alex temporized, "but certainly with yours!" she added grinning.

"Oh thanks," he drawled. "Don't I feel loved."

"If you wanted to be loved you should've been a Gryffindor."

"True. True. Let's grab a table and you can tell me all about it."

"About being loved?" Alex shot her friend an incredulous look. "How would I know about that any more than you do?"

"No, silly, about your plottings. Here." Blaise pulled out a chair for her.

"Oh that." Alex smiled as she dropped onto the seat. Her friend chuckled and found his own chair. He then proceeded to watch her with seemingly infinite patience. Alex knew better but wasn't going to annoy the boy further by making him wait.

"Well, you know of our problem with Moody, correct?"

"I know about the ferret incident, I know that a quiet petition was passed around to ask our parents for leave to skip his class in protest...that was you, I'm assuming."

"And you saw how well that worked," Alex confirmed bitterly. "Not one Slytherin missed Defense Against the Dark Arts, either by choice or by parental command. Any way you turn it, that's failure."

"Not your fault, though. I mean I never expected that protest to work. It's too public a display."

"I know but...hang on a second Blaise. Tania!" Alex called, spotting the other girl across the room. She froze at the bottom of the Dorm stairs and slowly turned towards them, her books clutched to her chest.

"Come join us," Alex called again, quieter. Tania didn't respond for a second.

"I was just going to get a book from my room," she finally said.

"Well, bring it back down and read here." Alex said, smiling wryly. "Even if we're that boring, you should be able to read."

Tania proceeded to pale brilliantly. "I-I wasn't trying to imply you were, Lady Bellmonte..."

Alex sighed and rolled her eyes, cutting the other girl off. "I'm not offended, but I will be if you keep calling me Lady Bellmonte. That's my mother."

"Alright, Alex," Tania agreed quickly. "I'll be right back." She threw a glance at Blaise, who was currently twirling a quill him his fingers and yawning, before fleeing upstairs.

"What was that?" Blaise asked as soon as Tania was out of sight.

"Do you realize that she doesn't talk to anyone? She's practically a ghost. The only times I've managed to catch sight of her since we got off the train she's been floating on the fringes of the fifth years, hiding behind Hunter. I haven't managed a word with her...and I've been trying. I can't tell if she's the best actress in the world or if she really is that fragile, but either way-" Alex abruptly cut herself off.

"What? Afraid you'll show that the Ice Queen has a heart after all?" Blaise teased gently. "You've noticed the same thing I have. Falon Dethart is a nasty little bugger, who also seems to be a budding sadist..."

"Not to mention he's annoying as hell. But you're right too. If she is as fragile as she seems, well I like Hunter and he seems to be trying his best to protect her..."

"Stop trying to excuse away your decision, Bellmonte. And if it makes you feel better I'll keep an eye out for her."

Alex smiled. "Go ahead, but don't go over board. You wouldn't want another girl accusing you of stalking her, now would you?"

"I'm guessing we'll be covering your little plots later then?"

"Can't distract you with anything. Ah! There you are."

Blaise jumped to his feet as Tania appeared once more on the scene, a heavy text under one arm and note supplies clutched in her hand. She froze for the barest second as he pulled out a chair for her, then gingerly sat down.

Once she was safely at the table, Blaise returned to his seat. "What are you reading?" he asked kindly.

"Potions of the 13th Century," Tania responded in a low voice, making a show of laying out her parchment and quills to avoid looking at him.

"Really?" Alex leaned in towards Tania a little. "I've heard of that one but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Will you let me know if it's any good once you finish? I'd love to borrow it off you if it is."

"Of-of course," Tania agreed, sending Alex a look out of the corner of her eye that Alex would have expected off of Blaise, not her. It clearly read "How the bloody hell haven't you read this book? What have you been doing with your life instead?"

Alex grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Anyway," she changed the subject, "we were talking about Moody. I must say the bloody man bugs me."

"He's not even one of those Professors. The ones that condescend us because we're Slytherin," Blaise explained to Tania.

Tania nodded, but from the look on her face she was only acknowledging the explanation.

"You disagree?" Alex asked.

Tania paled, but answered. "Yes. Well, I mean, maybe he's nicer to you older students..."

"He's not," Alex said flatly, thoughts of their lesson earlier filling her mind.

"What I meant," Blaise broke in, lightening the mood just by being there. "is that, while he does condescend and poke at us, he seems to...to understand us I guess?" For once Blaise actually looked like he was at a loss for words.

From across the table Tania was nodding slowly. "Those professors act out of a fear of an unknown but assumed evil, while Moody knows what we are and what he's dealing with and acts according to that...so it's different even if the result is the same," she murmured to herself.

"Exactly!" Blaise exclaimed causing Tania to jump out of her skin. "That's it exactly. Ha! Beauty and brains. I do believe she's the perfect woman, Alex." He reached over and took Tania's hands in his. "My dear, would you do me the honor of marry-OW! ALEX!"

Alex waved her wand at him. "Put the girl's hands down and I won't have to hit yours again."

"Tania, he was joking," Alex assured the bright red girl. "Never, and I repeat never, believe a proposal from him unless it comes in the form of a letter from his grandmother with your parent's signature on the bottom as well. I would know from experience."

She sent a pointed glare at the smirking Blaise. He rearranged his face for a moment and managed to look a little bit contrite. It didn't last long though.

"Besides, I think we've covered that she was too young for you. What about your familial duties?"

Blaise grinned. "Oh I believe I could work myself up to the task..."

"Blaise!" Alex yelled, pointing her wand at his nose. "Talk about Moody," she ordered threateningly.

"Fine. Fine. Just put your wand away." Once she'd complied, Blaise smiled. "I didn't know you were this into old men though, Alex m'dear."

Alex's hand dove back into her pocket.

"Okay, OKAY! Tania, say something insulting about Professor Moody!" Blaise yelped. "Quickly, girl! I'm seeing my life flash before my eyes!"

"I...I..." Tania stuttered frantically before spitting out what could only have been the first thing to pop into her mind. "P-Professor Moody is an immature, idiot of a scum bag. His mother was an owl and his father was a Triverian maggot! He fornicates with his dust bins!"

Alex froze. "W-what?" she asked in a strained voice.

"Oh I think you heard her, Alex."

A/N: Mwahahahahahahaha! Blaise just brings out the worst in everyone doesn't he? He is SO my favorite character! Review! ...and don't forget to check out the Tania fic!(Remember, Under the Surface)