Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter characters, Rowling has all the credit. The artists have credit for their own songs as well, I just love music.

Author note: Okay, I'm not going to be able to update for a while I'm going to Bush Gardens tomorrow and my Aunt is down for the weekend. So, sorry I'll try and write a few more for you guys.

'Italic'-thoughts

Chapter 4

Hermione and James shared the same look on their face, but Hermione broke the silence first. "You are a Siren?" I just stared up at Bernard and he stared back, "Half-Siren. My mother is a half-Siren as well, and since the Siren gene is dominate naturally I'm part Siren as well." I looked over to Mrs. Hermione, glancing at James quickly as I did so but his head was turned towards my mom. "Contrary to what you're thinking Mr. Potter, I am not half-Siren." Casandra answered James's unasked question, she looked slightly pained and disappointed when she said this; James noticed.

"I thought Draco was married once before, but I thought it rude to ask. So you're from the first marriage and your mother was a half-Siren." Hermione stated knowing she was right. I replied simply, "Yes." "So, Scorpio is yours, Casandra, not half-Siren." Hermione stated again just so all was clear. Casandra nodded, "Yes."

Hermione was not trying to be rude; Casandra knew this, she was just piecing it all together. Hermione continued to study Alexis with her eyes. It was a rare thing to see, much less meet, a half-Siren or Siren even now in the magic world. Siren's stick to their kind and usually live out at sea. But every now-and-then you get the Siren who's all about image and power; point-and-case my real mother. She lured my dad in with her voice and kept him for a while until she got bored, just like she does with every other guy.

Suzanne decided to appear, "Mistress, lunch is ready." "Thank you Suzanne. Please send it out to the patio. Carl will you be staying?" Casandra asked not even bothering to look up from Suzanne. "No madam. I best be off, I'm sure I'm late as it is." Carl said looking over to me. I could tell he wanted a good-bye hug, but I was miffed he was so careless with my inherited 'gift' as my mother called it. "Yes, don't be later then you already are Carl. I'll write you." Carl looked down a bit when I used his name and not 'love'. "Right, well bye." With that he left for the fireplace.

After we all heard the roar of the fire Casandra spoke up, "That couldn't have gone better." She looked over to me with a sickly-sweet sarcastic smile. "Mom…" I sighed as I began to pet Bernard again, resting my head against his warm feathery neck. "I stand by what I said before Alexis, I don't like him. You should drop him." Casandra said as she briskly walked to the table. "Anyway, lunch is served," she said looking back to Hermione.

I sighed again and followed my mom over to the table and we proceed to sit down. Mom and Hermione sat along one side of the table, Scorpio sat at the end; or 'head' as he liked to call it when dad wasn't around. I took a seat at the other side of the side, across from Hermione and to the left of Scorpio. James moved to take the seat next to me but Bernard headed him off and began squawking loudly in James's face and stomping his front feet.

I jumped up "Bernard no! No stop!" James took quick steps backward and I placed myself in front of Bernard. He stopped squawking but I could tell he was still wound up. "Stop don't make me send you away Bernard." I said giving him a stern look.

"You seriously think threatening to send him away is going to work?" James asked in a strained and shaky voice. Sure enough Bernard calmed down a bit more, but was still ready to protect Alexis if James decided to move.

Alexis walked up and began to stroke his neck while her other hand rested gently on Bernard's chest. He seemed pleased that her attention was back on him again. "Okay, you know how to greet a Hippogriff right?" I asked looking over at a shaken Potter. "Yeah, I learned of it last year but…wait...no, no, no, no! He'll gut me!" James shouted, he got the particular vibe that this Hippogriff wasn't a fan of the male wizard population and he wasn't about to bow to just get his head stomped in. "James come on, he won't do anything when I'm here. I won't let him." For some reason James felt a twinge fly through his body when she said that. "And I'd really like to eat my meal in peace instead of babysitting Bernard. Just try please…" James eyes flicked from Bernard to me a few times before resting on me. His eyes showed his uncertainty and I thought he would back down, but instead he took a deep breath and nodded.

James That look she had on her face, in her eyes, James was sure he would have robbed Gringotts bank if she asked him. So he took a deep breath and nodded and began to go through all he knew about Hippogriffs and stories his father had told him.

Alexis James took a step forward; now everyone was on edge, and he bowed low and held there waiting for Bernard to comply, hopefully. Bernard cocked his head one way then the next, then snorted and jerked his head back quickly. I began to get worried that this wasn't the best idea after all. Bernard took two steps forward so he was right in front of James. James began taking in quick breaths, but then he remembered his father talking about his first meeting with a Hippogriff, and how he kept his breathing paced and relaxed; for the most part. So James took a deep breath and did as his father had done, he had done what was necessary and not it was up to the bird, Bernard.

I was about to step in, it never took this long for Bernard to decide about someone, but then Bernard amazed me. Bernard shook his head one last time and slowly began to bow low, tucking one leg under his body, and lowering to James bowed height.

James looked up and looked straight into the eyes of a bowed Hippogriff. Slowly, James started to rise and Bernard mirrored him.

Everyone heard Hermione heave a sigh of relief. Scorpio actually clapped for James; go figure. My mom just produced one of her sly smiles, and I smiled big at him. James's smile was growing as well. James slowly reached his hand out and cradled Bernard's beak before Bernard took another step forward so that James's hand was now brushing his feathers. I walked up even with Bernard and patted him for being out of his normal behavior with boys. I looked over at James smiling, "That's amazing, you're the first boy out of the family Bernard has bowed to. You must be a keeper."

James I looked over at Alexis as she spoke to me and I noticed her smile, it was gorgeous and really made her face shine. 'She's a Malfoy she's supposed to be God-like.' "Nah, I'm just a Seeker. I do know a few good Keepers though." I watched her eyebrow raise and her face shift to a look of confusion briefly before it became a more curious look. I chuckled a bit, "Camp…," I figured I'd drop her a hint. She squinted a bit; it actually made her look cute, but still beautiful, at the same time. "Camp, Quidditch camp…Oh, you dork!" She laughed as she finally got my joke.

Completely forgotten to the teens, two mothers watched the whole exchange between Alexis and James. Casandra approved of the Potter boy but she wasn't sure he was man enough for Alexis. He seemed like a nice boy but he'd have to be more in order to keep Alexis in the long run. Hermione was surprised by James, not because he made friends with Malfoy's Hippogriff, but that he openly tried to flirt with Alexis. James over the years had become a shy boy because tabloids would print every-single-thing that James would do, so in turn he became a very self-conscious. He was always being proper, polite, and he wasn't much of a ladies' man because he got enough attention as it was, and the girls who liked him weren't in it for him.

Scorpio was sickened by the interaction between his sister and the Potter boy, so he turned his attention to the trays of food.

Alexis "So speaking of Quidditch camp, why are you with Carl?" James asked after stroking Bernard a few times. 'Oh god, not you too." I said ducking under Bernard's neck and walking over to the table. James rushed after me, "No I just meant that, you know, he doesn't seem right for you." 'God what is it pick on Alexis's love-life today?' I turned sharply; placing one hand on my hip and the other on the table, "Why? Why is he not good for me?" James noticed her change in demeanor and went back to his timid self, "Well, I umm…I just think he's not really interested in winning the home game, so to speak. He's more interested in scoring goals…" I noticed that James became a bit timid as he answered; not looking at me while he spoke and turning his head slightly away-as if he was going to be scolded. I nodded as I processed what he said 'scoring goals.' I didn't realize my eyes had wondered away from him until I had to find him again as I spoke, "Scoring goals? How many goals?" I was no idiot I knew what scoring goals meant. I wasn't purposefully looking angry at him but I had just found out my boyfriend (soon to be ex, or unconscious, either was good for me) was 'scoring' with other girls.

James scratched the back of his neck, he hated being the rat but Alexis deserved better, at least that was what the nagging voice in the back of his head was telling him. "I only know of the ones at camp, and to be honest it would be easier telling you who he didn't shag." "James!" Hermione detested the word 'shag' it was demeaning. "Sorry." After apologizing to his Aunt James looked over to Alexis and gave a regretful look and a quick half smile.

"I told you-""Mother please." My mom started to say what I knew she was dying to say since day one I started dating Carl, but frankly I didn't want to hear it. I looked out over the yard taking some deep breaths. There were only two things I wanted to do right now; destroy Carl, and sing. Since the first was an unwise choice right now I chose the second. "Wanker, I feel the need to go to Diagon Alley Mother." Scorpio said with his father's smirk, "Scorpio you're not helping the situation, not that I'm setting the best example. But no, we cannot go hunting for Carl down Diagon Alley." Casandra said with unhidden disappointment in her voice.

James James felt horrible, Alexis looker genially bothered by this, "Sorry, Alexis. You seemed fond of him." *Humph* Alexis rolled her eyes and looked at me briefly, "Yeah, just like every other guy I've dated. What a shocker that he'd go and do the exact same things." She just shook her head. 'This isn't the first time this has happened to her…that blows.'

Alexis I blew out a deep breath of air making my bangs flutter as I looked over to my mom silently asking if I could go. She nodded and I quickly turned and began walking to the end of the patio, "Bernard, come." I said raising my hand and once he was next to me I jumped up side-saddle on him and he took off to our spot.