Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character made up by J.K. Rowling. I do however take partial ownership over the story line and the main character, while the other O.C's are made up by my friends and my sister.
Early morning rose as the light splayed across Draco Malfoy's face. The young man cracked open his eyes and sat up groggily from his place on the blankets and pillows strewn about the floor. Softly running his fingers through his platinum blond hair, he analyzed the room to find Tom still asleep, but the girls were missing. Draco stood and quietly made his way down the hallway and into the kitchen only to find Nona wringing her wrinkly little hands nervously. "Nona," the boy slowly stepped towards the smaller elf, "What's wrong?"
"Oh young master Malfoy, good morning," the small elf squeaked as if to avoid telling him. Draco raised an eyebrow at her before repeating himself, "What is wrong Nona?" Nona once again started to fret and pulled on her long ears, "Little miss and miss Giovanni…" The boy stiffened and his steely gaze refocused on the elf. Instead of speaking Nona just pointed towards the back of the house where he suddenly heard a loud sound of glass shattering.
Running as elegantly as only a Malfoy could, he reached the back door only to hear the tail end of an argument. "I can't believe you Alex! Neither are you taking your potions, but now you're smoking again! What's next Alex, you're slowly killing yourself for no reason," Caryn finally yelled storming in past Draco and down the hall. The young man stepped out the threshold to find Alex repairing a glass ashtray before putting the burnt down butt out.
The older girl glanced up wearily, her green eyes dull from lack of sleep, "Are you going to yell at me and try to smite me with the ash tray as well?" Draco cracked a small smile and took a moment before replying, "No, though smoking is disgusting, you are an adult four years my senior and therefore have no right to force you to stop…how did she word it? Killing yourself slowly?" Alex smiled and nodded appreciatively.
After a few moments of silence Alex's voice broke through, "I think a porch swing would be lovely back here don't you?" Draco leant against the porch railing looking perplexed for a moment, "What's a porch swing?" The young woman laughed in glee for a moment un able to believe his question, "Well, it's kind of like an outside bench that lightly swings almost like a rocking chair for more than one person." Draco nodded slightly wondering what this obviously muggle contraption would look like. As Alex contemplated the so called garden, a small brown barn owl landed beside her.
Just as she received the package of letters from the owl's tiny leg, Nona came out giving a piece of toast to the bird who hooted appreciatively, "Breakfast is prepared and waiting little miss and young master Malfoy." They both nodded quietly and followed Nona to the dining room. The room itself was an impressive size however; it seemed the four young adults would be seated cramped around a tiny table as Alex blew a strand of hair out of her face, "This is utterly ridiculous, we are going to do some serious work to this house. We have a lot of shopping to do and it seems we've all just received our Hogwarts letters so eat up and be ready in an hour to leave."
After passing out their respective letters the group settled in to their breakfast of pancakes, toast, sausage, and pumpkin juice to gain their energy for the day ahead. "Nona," Alex called sitting back in her chair, "While we are away could you possibly thoroughly clean the entire house and remove all of the old furniture?" Nona nodded her head excitedly, "Of course anything for little miss. What did little miss planning for house?"
Alex smiled as she thought about her plans, "A complete and utter redecoration project including the outside. We have muggle neighbors who will be undoubtedly nosey. Therefore, we will have a good show to put on." Nona and Caryn giggled excitedly while the boys groaned rolling their eyes. "Remember, an hour before we leave. We're all in this together now," Alex stated while she stood, "I'll be downstairs until we leave if you need me." As everyone nodded Alex went in search of the basement to see what she could find. As she approached the bottom of the stairs she gasped as the sight before her. It seemed to be an incredibly immaculate potions lab. Alex smiled to herself as she inspected everything and took inventory of the ingredients she would need for future usage.
At precisely an hour later they found themselves floo'd into the Leaky Cauldron and heading into Diagon Alley where Caryn stood in wonder and Alex with amusement. "Alright gentlemen, kindly guide us to the bank and whoever needs money if they have any retrieve it. I also need to convert some into muggle money," Alex said as they set off towards the bank. After hours of shopping the group collapsed into their chairs back in the Leaky Cauldron. School supplies where all placed in Alex's never ending bag that was given to her as a present while all furniture and things for the house was directly delivered there as purchased making it slightly easier. Alex smiled as they ordered their lunch knowing Crispin had ordered for their muggle stuff to be delivered from America as well. Tonight was going to be a very interesting night indeed.
It was a quarter past seven by the time the group was done redecorating and ate their supper. Alex sighed as she sank down onto her new porch swing, vaguely noticing her god brother moving to sit beside her. "Draco," she started hesitantly, "What was my father like?" The boy seemed to think for a moment slight shock covering his face, "You really don't know anything?" The girl shook her head sadly. "He was a good man Alex. Sure he was snarky and viewed as evil, but that's because he was a spy as well as a brilliant potions master and revered teacher," Draco said seeming to think back.
"How are you only a seventh year at the age of twenty-two," the young man gently asked the witch beside him. "I started school at sixteen and at the time it didn't make sense why I wasn't accepted sooner. I apparently was supposed to come to school here, but I guess my father refused to let me. I met Caryn by accident and her parents being wizards recognized me for what I was. They contacted the school and I was enrolled as the oldest first-year ever," Alex winced slightly at the mention of the Giovanni's and decided to drop the subject. "Draco, what do you want to be after graduation," Alex's simple question seemed to surprise him. "Well that's an odd question. Growing up with my father it was always 'You're going to do this or that' no questions asked. I think I'd like to be an auror or maybe a medi-wizard." Alex smiled slightly at his admission, "That's very noble of you. I want to become the wearing world's first music professor."
The rest of the summer passed by quickly as the group found themselves entering the Hogwarts Express. Alex sighed as she left her friends behind in search of the heads compartment to meet the head boy before the prefects showed up. Entering the compartment, she noticed she was alone and stared out the window watching the other family's saying goodbye for the year. The young woman then sighed wondering what it would have been like if her own family where there to wish her well. Suddenly, the door was thrust open and a boy with messy brown hair, emerald green eyes, and glasses entered before quickly shutting the door behind him.
Green clashed against green as their eyes met and the boy took in her appearance. The young woman had eyes like his, long black hair that flowed to her waist, and reminded him of…'No, it couldn't be,' he thought to himself. "I'm Harry," the boy said putting his hand out. "Alex," she replied quickly shaking his hand. The two fell into an awkward silence before suddenly the door was slammed open once again and a screeching could be heard as a girl shorter than Alex with crazy brown hair rushed in pointing an accusing finger at the older girl.
"How dare you… you Slytherin cow," the girl screeched. Alex cocked an eyebrow at the girl, "I beg your pardon miss…"
"Granger, Hermione Granger to be precise and how dare you take the head girl position from me!" Alex sighed and before she could respond a certain blond male she grew close to interrupted, "First of all Granger, Alex here is four years your senior, highly intelligent, and the kindest woman I have ever met. So quit your screeching and look past your childish insecurities before you judge others. I would hate to see McGonagall upset with the Gryffindor princess just because she has a problem with whom the headmistress herself chose to make head girl."
Draco smirked proudly as Hermione shut her mouth before turning towards Harry, "Oh look it's the boy-who-lived-past-his-expiration-date." Harry glared at the boy in front of him, "Malfoy, what are you doing here?" I am here to check on my dear friend, god sister, and guardian to make sure she is still sane being stuck alone with you," Draco said before turning to Alex, "Alright love?" Alex laughed and nodded before the rest of the prefects came in for the meeting. It went well enough for Alex as she waited for everyone to leave.
"Harry may I speak to you a moment," Alex asked nervously after the others had finally cleared out. He nodded and watched the girl waiting for her to speak, "One of my best friends is a sixth-year transfer and she was sorted into Gryffindor. I guess what I'm trying to ask…will you please look out for her when I can't?" The boy looked up at Alex as if debating if she was telling the truth, "What's her name?" "Caryn Giovanni," she said fondly and smiled when he nodded his consent. "Thank you very much Harry." She said before she left the compartment in search of Draco, Caryn, and Tom.
The scene she entered upon was quite amusing to Alex. Draco and Tom sat awkwardly next to each other as far apart as they could possibly get as Caryn was lying on the other side, "Sit up or be sat on." Caryn made no motion to move so Alex plopped down onto the younger girl who just laughed. It brought back the summer when they had celebrated Caryn's birthday, back before Crispin, Caryn, and herself even thought about Hogwarts. Lost in her thoughts Alex almost didn't catch Draco speaking, "We're almost there, we should get our robes on."
The great hall was filling quickly with students as Alex left Caryn with Harry. Draco gracefully took Alex's arm and lead her to the Slytherin table before she was seated wedged between him and Tom slightly uncomfortable with their close proximity. Another girl promptly took a seat at Draco's other side squealing, "Drakie, why are you sitting next to the new girl? She's not pretty at all; I bet she's a prude!" Half of the other females giggled as Alex began to fist her hands tightly in her lap. "I don't know what you are blathering about Pansy," a boy sitting across from her started, "You are jealous because this gorgeous angel graced us with her presence making you look even more like a pig than you already do. Besides, whether she's a prude or not she's surely nowhere near as dirty as you are."
Draco smirked at the boy as Pansy looked on the verge of tears adding on, "If she wasn't my god sister, I'd moon over her myself. She's everything you yourself are not Pansy. Now, remove yourself from my person. I have never been nor ever will view you as anything more than an easy dog in heat who so verbally insulted my family." Pansy pulled away in tears to be consoled by the other girls as Draco shook hands with the mystery boy. "Blaise Zabini," the boy said offering a nicely tanned hand to Alex. "Alex," was all she offered as he took her hand and gently brushed his lips against her knuckles before she could pull away.
"Welcome to another new year at Hogwarts," McGonagall boomed calling all attention from the students, "It has been rough since the war and now it is once again time to move on. I wish you all a good year in this time of peace. Now, before we begin our feast since the first years are all sorted, I have quite a few announcements to make." The students groaned slightly in frustration as she continued on, "First off, may I remind you that the Forbidden Forrest is still forbidden and the list of banned items can be found on Mr. Filch's door. Next, after the spring holidays the professional Quidditch league is going to send a team of players to Hogwarts to do a shop and the school's best players will be selected for a friendly match against their team."
The students went crazy cheering as McGonagall tried to quiet them, "Now as I'm sure you can see we have a few new faculty members. Mr. Crispin Hoight is taking over Defense Against the Dark Arts, Mr. Matthew Wayne is taking my place as professor of Transfiguration, and Mister Vladimir Dimitru is here as an apprentice to professor Slughorn." Once again applause went around the room while the three men politely nodded towards the students.
"Finally, we have three new transfers, whom I would like you all to welcome. As I call your name please stand for a moment," the headmistress announced before calling Caryn first. Alex began to pale as the clapping stopped to allow McGonagall to call out Tom's name. Alex gulped as the clapping stopped once again, "Alexiian Snape." Gasps where heard all across the ball as Alex stood up and she paled some more trying to pretend that the entire school population was NOT staring at her, but to no avail they were.
Looking over petrified to Caryn, Alex nearly cried before the younger girl jumped up and began clapping. Draco, Tom, Cris and Matthew joined in and soon the rest of the teaching staff did as well causing the other shocked students save for a few to join. Alex tried to calm down as she felt Draco's arm around her shoulder and helped her back into her seat. "After the feast, I need to see Miss Snape and Mr. Potter, while all younger years are to follow their prefects to their respective houses." Alex was grateful for the food to appear so she had a valid reason to stare at the table. She was more than a bit on edge as murmurs where spreading all around the hall and a few students were still staring.
"It will all die down eventually, you know," Blaise's voice broke through Alex's thoughts as she looked up at him. "He's right Alex," Draco started, "they'll get bored eventually and leave you alone." "I hope so," Alex stated playing with her mashed potatoes, "I've never really liked a lot of attention, but by the way they're acting it's if they're terrified or something." The boys shrugged and continued eating as Alex excused herself and walked to stand outside the entrance to the Great Hall. "This is going to be a very long year," Alex said to herself and waited for Harry and the headmistress.
As the students began to pile out Alex fidgeted from all the looks she got as they passed by and was relieved to see the two she was waiting for standing in front of her. She followed them silently through a few hallways vaguely paying attention. The trio finally came to a stop in front of a portrait of a young man with red hair looking extremely bored. "Fred," Harry asked aloud looking to McGonagall who nodded. "Hey Harry, the new head boy are you," Fred smiled slightly. Harry just nodded as McGonagall spoke, "These are your head dorms and your password shall be fireworks unless you choose to change it." She bid them a goodnight before heading back to her office.
Fred glanced at Alex and grinned, "'Ello love, what's your name?" Alex sighed and introduced herself once again. "You look so down lovely. Oh I know…what do you get when you cross a snow man with a vampire," Fred asked. "I'm sure I wouldn't want to know," Alex replied. "Frostbite of course," Fred exclaimed waggling his eyebrows. Harry cracked a smile where Alex just stared, "Fireworks." "Aww already? Goodnight you two," Fred sighed before admitting them entrance. After entering, Alex took off quickly to the room marked as hers and fell onto her bed crying softly from the frustration of the day.
Later that night a single shadow could be seen slinking through the castle slowly heading towards the Owlery. Stepping forth into the room, the first shadow is met by another. "It is as you thought," the first said to the second, "What are we to do? I want him back!" The second seemed to remain still, "Stupid fool, I already knew who she was. You are worthless! You will do nothing until I say otherwise. For now lay low as you've already seemed to put yourself at a disadvantage." The first merely bowed its head before removing itself from the area quickly. Two owls took off into the bleak night carrying letters before the second shadow slunk away into the night.