Hermione swam over to the rock that she jumped off of. Where was he? Hermione sighed, then started to climb the rock. As she was about to reach the top, something grabbed her ankle and pulled her in. She couldn't open her eyes underwater to see what it was that was pulling her hair. Finally, who ever it was, let her go and Hermione swam to the top.
"What the-" Hermione was interupted when Edward splashed her face with water then laughed.
Hermione coughed. "Edward!'
"That was fun," Edward said.
"What! You thought that was fun?" Hermione was shocked.
Edward nodded. "Why? You didn't?"
"You almost drowned me!"
"I didn't even touch you," Edward said. "Shark is when you hide on somebody, then a few minutes later, you go back in the water and splash them."
"Wait, that wasn't you?" Hermione asked.
Edward shook his head. "No. I never touched you."
Hermione was confused now. "Then... who was that?"
--
After they ate, Harry walked Bella back to her dorm. WHen he opened the door for her, she stopped walking, and turned to look at him. He looked back at her. Some of her hair was in her face. Ron gently brushed his hand against her face, pushing her hair away.
"I'll see you in the morning," Ron said.
"You too."
Harry smiled, then started to walk away.
"Harry, wait," Bella took his arm and made him stand where he was before.
"Yes?"
Bella gently put her lips on his. She wondered what his reaction was going to be.
--
"Ron, what happened to you?"
"I tried to beat up Malfoy," He replied, gasping a little when Hermione put an iceback on his forhead.
Hermione sighed. "And, why in the world, were you doing that for?"
Ron shrugged. "Because."
"Because, why?"
Ron rolled his eyes. "I was protecting my friend."
"Who?"
The door opened and Alex walked in carrying bags of ice.
"These are heavy," Alex said, as she shut the door.
Hermione looked at her. Alex looked up, noticing Hermione's stare.
"Sorry, did I come in at the wrong time?"
"No," Ron said, quickly. "Thanks for the ice, Alex."
"No problem," Alex put the bags down on the table. "I do owe you..."
"For what?"
Hermione looked at both of them.
"You know what I mean."
Ron shook his head.
"Protecting me..."
"Why do you owe me for that?"
Hermione was furious. She couldn't stop glaring at that... girl. How did she even meet Ron? She will have a talk with him. Soon. Where was this girl even from? Hermione, silently sniffed the air. The scent smelt so good. She had to have a taste... just, a little taste. It wouldn't hurt. Where was that smell coming from?
Alex shrugged.
"Uhm, would you excuse us for a moment?" Hermione asked. Alex nodded then left the room. She shut the door.
"Ron, who is she?" Hermione put more ice in the icepack and put it on his forhead.
"My friend."
Hermione sighed. "What's her name?"
"Alex."
"How did you meet her?"
Ron felt like he was getting in trouble. "My cousin, Raven, introduced me to her..."
"Do you think she's pretty?"
"I... uh-"
"How old is she?"
Ron swallowed. "Sixteen..."
"A year younger than us. That's rediculas! How could you be friends with her? What is it that you like about her?"
Ron felt dizzy.
"What is she? Vampire, werewolf, witch, what one?"
That cut off Ron. "Uhm..."
"Your so dumb! She could be part of Voldemort's army! Have you ever thought of that? I bet you haven't! A year younger than us! What the heck, Ron? What's wrong with you? I thought you were smarter than that but obviously, it seems like I'm wrong. I thought I was right for once. She isn't pretty. I don't know what you see in her. Your messed up in the head or something," hermione took a breath, then started scolding again. "You barely know her!"
Ron just looked at the ice that was on the table.
"I'm going to make her life miserable," Hermione put more ice in the ice pack.
"Don't!" Ron said. "Be nice to her."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "We'll see."
Ron sighed.
"I'm not talking to you, until you tell her to back off."
"Hermione," Ron moaned.
"I'm serious!"
From behind the door, Alex looked at the ground. She decided it was best not to go in there right now. She'd go in later.
--
At lunch, Alex held her tray in her hands and sat at the end of an empty table. Once again, she had no one to sit with. She shrugged at the thought. Alex pulled out a book from her back and opened to the page she left off on. She started reading, turning the pages as slowly as she could. Alex looked at all the people around her smiling, laughing, and giggling with there friends.
Ron sighed, thinking about Alex and what Hermione had yelled at him about yesterday. It wasn't like her. She changed this year, but Ron didn't know why. He missed the old Hermione. The one that used to hang out with him and Harry. He remembered going to Hagrid's and riding BuckBeak. He remembered her helping him study for potions class.
But, Ron couldn't face the fact that all of that had changed. There was no more hanging out. There was no more studying. No more Hagrid's. All Hermione was interested in, was trying to make Alex's life miserable. Out of all the people, why Alex? Why couldn't she make Malfoy's life miserable? Ron looked to his right and saw Hermione, at the end of the table, sitting with a guy. He didn't look familiar.
Maybe he had something to do with this. Who was he, anyway? He sort of looks like... Viktor. Ron held his pencil so tight, thinking about Viktor, that he thought it was going to break in half. Hermione needs to be with her friends that she had before. Ron didn't like her new friends. Not at all. He needed to talk to Harry after lunch. Maybe he'd have an explanation.
Ron looked at the other end of the table, not wanting to look at Hermione, and saw Alex sitting by herself. He got up, with his tray, and sat across the table from her. He sighed. Why couldn't it be the end of lunch already? But, once lunch was over, he'd have too look for Harry.
"Hey, Ron," Alex said.
"Hi."
"Something wrong?" Alex asked, closing her book.
Ron shrugged. "Just, Hermione."
"Speaking of Hermione, I think I know why she hates me..."
"How do you know she hates you?"
"I... sorta, was listening to the conversation outside of the door. Sorry."
Ron shrugged. "Its okay. But, why do you think she hates you?"
Alex put her book in her bag. "Well, because..."
"Wait, what are you? Vampire, werewolf? It won't matter what you are... You'll still be my friend," Ron was serious. Hermione ,will get over it.
Alex shook her head.
"Witch?"
She shook her head again.
"Then what are you?"
"Promise you won't tell anyone?"
"Promise."
Alex swallowed. "I`m... mortal."
--
"Hello, my sweet, Raven. Its nice to see you again," Malfoy smiled.
"Thanks. You too."
"That outfit looks really good on you."
Raven smiled. "I like it too. One of my favorites."
Malfoy chuckled. "You know your cousin, Ron?"
Raven nodded. "What about him?"
"Well, since Its close to Halloween, I think we should play a few tricks on him."
"That'll be fun."
Malfoy chuckled, again. "Yes. It will. We should also play pranks on that girl he hangs out with."
"Alex?"
"Yeah, her," Malfoy said.
"I can't wait for, Halloween."
