Hello! I've been starting finals and currently in the middle of them so thanks for your patience. Wow, thank you all so much for all the follows, favorites and reviews, it definitely helps motivate me and I really appreciate it! This was originally a oneshot, then Ragnor wandered in, so we'll just see where/how this goes, okay? Hm…I wonder if this title still applies. I might just try to mention coffee in every single chapter. ;) ANYWAY, thank you, you guys are the best! If you have ideas about the story or comments about what you'd like to see next, let me know!

~Plot stuff, so like I said, this used to be a oneshot and I didn't plan to address Magnus's powers. So I just switched a few small things in the earlier chapters so Alec and his siblings are no longer Shadowhunters. Because if Magnus wasn't a warlock, then I thought it was kind of weird for Alec to be a Shadowhunter. So Magnus and everyone else is a mundane. Thanks for your review, manibarilo! (Salut! Á bientôt! Hope that was right…haven't taken French since middle school). They'll have to rely on the strength of their personalities haha.~

Have a great day!

~ xx Lady Knight xx

Part 4

The next day, the sidewalk was crowded with pedestrians eager to start their holiday shopping. Jace walked ahead on the sidewalk, as they couldn't walk three across. Alec and Jace had rebelled against Isabelle's idea of matching outfits and she was pouting as she walked along in her high-heeled boots.

Isabelle took one look at Alec and Alec knew he was in trouble. It was the first alone time they'd had since last night at the coffee shop.

"So, Alec…you want to talk about what happened last night?"

"Nope."

"Did you know that guy? Or, I mean did you want to know him? Or the guy we passed who was just coming in?"

"Isabelle…"

"Alec, I'm your sister and all I want is for you to be happy."

Alec grimaced.

"Look Izzy…I appreciate it, I do. But for once could you please mind your own business?"

"No. I'm incapable of doing so."

Their conversation took a brief halt as a crowd of tourists all following a yellow umbrella enthusiastically swarmed by and pushed them up against a wall, pausing the conversation. When they had finally passed, Alec resumed talking:

"Izzy, what about your love life, hm? I'm your brother and I only want to see you be happy." Alec mimicked.

"Don't be like that." Isabelle was annoyed now. "I'm serious."

"And so am I. Now if we don't hurry then we're going to be late to school. Can't be late on the first day back."

Isabelle exhaled loudly, her breath turning to steam that dissipated in a blink.

"Why do you always have to be right? Must get old sometime."

"Not really, no." Alec grinned at her.

"What are you guys talking about?" Jace yelled from almost half a block away. "Let's goooooooooo."

Slipping and sliding down the icy sidewalk, they went.

"Sir? The new transfer students are here."

"Yes, thank you Amatis, send them in." Headmaster Luke Garroway put aside the letter he had been writing and ignored the blinking icon on his computer that told him he had mail. He was rather distrustful of technology that attempted to tell him what to do, as he saw it. Taking a long sip of coffee, he examined the new students filing into his office.

"Please, have a seat." he gestured to the sofa and chair in front of his desk. Luke's office did not look like a typical headmaster's office, it had a more lived-in feel. Isabelle wondered if he did live here. Artwork adorned the wall behind him, bright crayon drawings and paintings. One could tell as the painter grew more and more advanced, ending with a painted portrait of Luke with a woman who must be his wife.

"Ah, that's my wife." Luke nodded at the portrait.

"Did you paint them?" Isabelle asked, though she did not particularly care.

"No, that would be my step daughter, Clary." Luke said proudly. "She's certainly come a long way." He laughed, gesturing at the crayon drawings.

The Lightwoods smiled uncomfortable back at him. Luke settled in his seat and laid his long fingertips on his mahogany desk.

"So. Why don't you tell me about yourselves and then I'll help you get started with your first day here at the Academy."

There was an uncomfortable silence as Alec looked to Isabelle, Isabelle looked at Jace and then they both looked to Alec.

"Well Alec is the oldest." said Isabelle, smiling.

Alec coughed, glaring. "Yeah. I'm Alec and…I like sports. This is Isabelle. "

"Oh really? We have an excellent sports program here, perhaps you'll look into it. What about you Isabelle?" Luke said smoothly.

"Well I've modeled before. But I was thinking about taking up acting." Jace snorted at this.

"Admirable. I'm sure you'll be successful. And what about you?" Luke asked, focusing on Jace.

"Jace."

"Ah. Is Jace a nickname?"

"No, it's my name."

"Oh, I see. Well what appeals to you about the Academy, Jace?"

"Sports, I guess. I play the piano too."

Luke's eyes lit up. "Really? We hold a piano competition here in January. It's quite the event." He cleared his throat sheepishly. "We haven't…ah…won …for many years though."

Jace smirked.

"So," Luke said quickly, "Here are your schedules. I've arranged for three of our student ambassadors to come and meet you and see you to your classes. If you have any questions or problems, my door is always open. If you have problems with your schedule, speak with Ms. Amatis, our secretary."

Luke's desk phone rang loudly. "Go ahead and send them in." he said in response to a squeaky question.

"Any questions or concerns? Speak now or forever hold your peace. Just kidding." Luke said, his smile fading as the Lightwoods remained stony faced. "Just a little joke."

A girl with bright red hair and green eyes cleared her throat by the door.

"Clary! And Simon and…who are you?"

The boy named Simon smiled nervously. "You see Headmaster, Eric sort of isn't feeling well today. But you did ask for three ambassadors."

"So we recruited Magnus." Clary said, smiling brightly. "It's just for today." The other boy at the door currently had his hair gelled into a Mohawk with blue streaks and was shining with glitter. Alec felt his stomach tighten unexpectedly at the sight of him. Isabelle noticed as well, meanwhile Jace was occupied with staring at the girl with red hair.

Luke sighed, looking annoyed. "Just when does Eric think he's going to be feeling better, hm? If he keeps skipping school-"

Clary examined her Converse sneakers and Simon adjusted his glasses. He settled his glasses back into place then caught sight of Isabelle. His eyes grew comically large behind the frames. Magnus smiled at Alec, who looked down hastily and thought he could feel his ears turning red.

"You'd have to ask Eric that, Luke." Clary said evenly. "I mean, Headmaster." Clary amended, when Luke raised his eyebrows.

"Very well. Shall I pair you up or will you-"

"NO." six voices said at once.

Luke looked amused then shook his head, handing Clary a stack of folders. "On your way, then."

Out in the hall, Clary pulled out the three folders and handed them around without looking at the names.

"Isabelle, you're with me." Clary announced.

"Jace." Simon announced, looking disappointed.

"Hello again, Alec." Magnus said, smiling wider.

Alec nodded yet again. God, why couldn't he come up with anything to say, something snappy and preferably sexy sounding?

Jace was examining Simon like he was about to snap him in two.

"Usually, we have all the new transfer students meet up at lunch and answer questions and stuff, see how it's going." Clary said. "You're all okay with that?"

"How'd you get into the student ambassador program? Luke said you're an artist." Jace blurted.

Clary smiled. "Luke's my stepdad. He asked for a favor. You could say it isn't the most popular club at the Academy right now, so we're just filling in until it…gets off the ground a bit."

"If it ever does. Ouch!" Simon muttered, upon being elbowed sharply by Clary.

The bell rang, signaling the beginning of classes, the signal for them all to disperse.

"Here we go." Magnus said to Alec, beckoning. "Welcome to the Academy."