Chapter 6

The next morning, Alex slips on her uniform and slips her hair into a ponytail. Sitting on her bed, Alex closes her eyes with her head in her hands.

I can't believe I killed mom. It's my entire fault.

Not hearing the knocking on her bedroom door, or the door opening, Alex jumps as the bed shifts before arms wrap around her.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Alex hears her father's voice.

"Do you hate me?" Alex whispers looking at her black flats.

"Why do you ask that? You know I don't. I love you."

"I'm sorry for killing mom." Sighing Lupin shifts knowing this keeps coming up no matter how many times he tells her it's not her fault.

"Alex," Lupin places his hands on her cheeks gently making her face him, "Mom's brother killed her. He messed up the potion on purpose and when a potion goes wrong, mom always tries to fix it before anyone gets hurt or killed. When she tried to fix it, it went haywire and poison got into her body. The poison was killing her. It's a miracle you are here today. The doctors are lucky enough to get the poison out of you in time, but it was too late for mom. The poison was already in her heart and brain. There was nothing they could do. When we were on our way home from the hospital, mom collapsed in the field not far from the house. Justin ran to the house to get Mad-Eye and you want to know mom's final words?"

Alex nods with tears flowing from her brown eyes.

"For me to remind you that she loves you and will always be in your heart. Mad-Eye and I had to act fast as her heart gave out. We were lucky to get you out in time. The poison spread through her entire body. The spell the doctors casted was to shield you for a little while, the spell didn't even work, or pretty much at all. Mom fought for six hours to keep you alive. No one blames you because it had nothing to do with you."

Feeling his own tears fall, Lupin pulls Alex into his lap. Hugging her close, Lupin knows this time the story got through to her. It was the right time. If only the newspapers and books got it right. They all say Annabella Stonely died during childbirth. They left out Annabella's brother screwing up the potion and poison from the screwed up potion entering her body and killing her and almost killed Alex as well.

~H&A~

Sitting alone at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast, Alex keeps her head down while looking at her schedule. Right after lunch she has class with her father. Her first class is with Professor Snape, then Professor McGonagall. The class after her is some class about non-magic folk. After her father's class is the tall man she was sitting next to last night, Rubeus Hagrid. After his class is learning the history of magic, then greenhouse class and learning spells.

Hearing someone clearing their throat, Alex looks up to find a girl with brown hair and blue eyes. Staring up at her nervously, Alex doesn't speak.

"Hello, I'm Susan Johnson. I'm in Gryffindor. May I ask what your name is?" Susan asks politely.

"I'm Alex." Alex whispers.

"May I join you?"

"I guess." Sitting down next to Alex, Susan fills her plate before speaking again.

"What house are you in?"

"Gryffindor."

"Really? That's amazing. I've never seen you here before. Are you a first year?"

"Yes. Plus my brother is new too." Alex reveals slowly calming down her nerves.

"What year is he in?"

"Fifth."

"Wow, that's so cool. I'm in my second year. Would you like some help getting to your classes?"

"Yes please." Susan smiles before they finish their breakfast.

Once finished, Susan looks over Alex's classes before leading her to her first class.

~A&H~

After each class, Alex spots Susan standing outside her class each and every time. Walking to lunch together, Susan asks Alex if she would like to meet two of her friends. Shyly accepting the request, Susan leads Alex over to a red haired girl.

"Alex this is my friend, Ginny Weasley. Ginny this is Alex." Susan introduces.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Alex." Ginny smiles holding out her hand. Shaking the older girl's hand, Ginny looks the younger girl up and down, "Are you a first year student?"

"Yes I am." Alex nods biting her bottom lip.

"That a girl. That means you didn't have to deal with the school having drama last year. Or my brother's best friend getting hurt by the school's bully."

"Who?"

"My brother's name is Ron. His best friend that got hurt is Hermione Granger. The school's bully is Draco Malfoy."

"I think I met Ron and Hermione yesterday on the train. I don't know a Draco Malfoy."

"That's good. You will soon sadly. But if he hurts you, let me know. My brothers taught me a few curses to get revenge." Ginny smirks, "Fred and George, they are twins, are pranksters."

Alex smiles shyly, "My dad says I have his troublemaking skills."

"That is amazing for an eleven-year-old girl." Ginny grins before looking at Susan, "Are we going to get Luna?"

"Yes we are." Susan looks down at Alex, who is playing with her fingers, "Alex, would you like to meet Luna at her table where we will eat?"

"I…" Alex stutters, "I guess so."

Seeing the girl's pale face growing paler, Susan places her hand on Alex's arm. Jumping back immediately, Alex trembles.

"Uhm." Alex starts, "I'll be right back."

Watching Alex run toward a black haired boy, Susan and Ginny watches them hug.

"She's so scared." Ginny whispers. Susan nods in agreement, keeping her eyes on Alex. Watching her take the boy's hand, and tears glistening in her eyes, Alex pulls the boy into their direction.

Once the boy and Alex are standing in front of them, Susan gives them a gentle smile. Alex bites her lip looking at the ground.

"I'm sorry Alex ran off like that. She's incredibly shy and scared of meeting new people and being around so many." The boy apologizes, "I'm Alex's older brother, Justin."

"Hello. I'm Ginny Weasley and this is Susan Johnson." Ginny greets while introducing herself and Susan.

"Girls are you coming?" Jumping at a new voice, Alex looks to see a blonde haired girl standing next to Susan and Ginny, "Oh hello, I'm Luna Lovegood."

"Hello. I'm Justin and this is my little sister Alex."

"Pleasure. Would you like to join us for lunch?"

"Sure." Justin smiles at Luna. Luna smiles leading them over to the end of the table with people with blue badges.

"This is the Ravenclaw table." Susan informs Alex seeing her confused look on her face, "Luna is a Ravenclaw student."

"Oh." Alex nods, "That's the house Justin is in."

~H&A~

Over the first week of school, Alex has gotten a little more comfortable around Ginny, Susan and Luna, but is still on guard. Justin is always around her at meal times and with his new friends during breaks. Justin introduced Alex to his new friends, Cho Chang, Cedric Diggory and Fred and George Weasley. Letting his sister get used to her own new friends and his, Justin knows in a few months, Alex will like to introduce them to each other so their friends will all be one group.

With Harper and Zeke, Justin and Alex did the exact same thing and the friends who never got along; pretty much got kicked out of their friends because they said some things to hurt Alex.

Sitting in the library, Alex is writing her fifteen-page assignment for potions. Naming all of the ingredients they are learning and the potions that includes them is what the assignment is about.

"Hey, Alex." Looking up Alex sees the girl from the train.

"Uhm… hi?" Alex looks at her confused. The girl smiles.

"I'm Hermione Granger. May I join you?"

"I… I guess y… you m… may." Alex stutters nervously.

Taking a seat, Hermione pulls out her books with a reassuring smile.

"I will not hurt you, Alex. I'm not like that." Hermione promises. Seeing the young girl nod, Hermione knows Alex is still terrified. Doing her work, Hermione keeps looking at the young girl before her to see she is very slowly getting comfortable with her.

"There's the mudblood." Hermione hears an hour or two later. Groaning, Hermione looks up at the boy she hates with a passion, Draco Malfoy.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione sighs. Seeing Alex looking up from her work, Hermione silently prays that Malfoy will not say anything to hurt her.

"I don't want anything. You're at my table." Malfoy smirks.

"You don't own a table Malfoy. Nothing in the school can be owned by you. There are five other tables you can work at."

"This is my spot. Get out."

"No. You're not the boss of me."

Malfoy steps forward so his face is right in her's.

"I will be. Get out of here."

"Hey!" Alex snaps, "Leave her alone." Malfoy turns to Alex with a smirk.

"Oh look at what we have here. Granger is sitting with a twat. What are you, kid? Half-blood or dirty blood like Granger?"

"Back off." Alex growls. To Hermione's shock, Alex's brown eyes flash purple before going back to brown.

"Malfoy, get lost and leave Alex and I alone." Hermione snaps.

"Never. Alex here will be my little servant." Malfoy tosses his textbook at Alex, "Do my homework or I will make your life a bloody hell."

"No. Alex will never be your servant. You don't own people, Malfoy." Grabbing the boy's textbook, Hermione tosses it at him before packing her's and Alex's work. Before Malfoy could say a word, Hermione grabs Alex's hand, dragging her out of the library.

Please review.