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.

'Italics'- thoughts

'Bold'- singing

'Bold/italicized'- just the song that goes to the chapter

'((Bold and in double parentheses))'- Singing with Siren abilities, with only one set of parentheses its talking with the ability.

Author's Note: Hey guys, god I have missed writing so much since school has once again consumed my life. So, as of right now I'm saying screw it because I really want to write damnit lol. And a warning it may not be my best but I tried to keep it goin. Let me know what you think plz.

Chapter 18

It's been two weeks and is now its mid-October and we had gotten into our routine; I would divide my time between Rose, Al, Chris, and Steve and my Slytherin classmates. I mean I'm really starting to like Rose's group but I still need my Slytherin time too. And yes if you questioning why James is not in that group it's because he's spending most of his free time with Ashley…isn't that sweet?

We walked into the Great Hall and tucked in to eat, "Hey, Alexis I was wondering if you have a date for the Hog's Mead trip this weekend?" Troy asked not a second after I sat down and he said it loudly making sure people close heard him.

I smirked this was going to be like a slap in the face for him, "I have two actually," Troy went quite as did some other boys around us. Then Caroline piped up, "I don't have a date Troy…"

I just stared at her, "Desperate much?..." The girls around us laughed, "Wait you have two dates?" Troy asked staring at me. "Yep, what you expected me to only get one?" I asked smiling at him while pulling some fish and chips on my plate.

"Excuse me; while I still have most of you here, I would like to make an announcement." Headmistress McGonagall said from the front of the hall. "It has been requested that we have a Halloween dance, to help encourage inter-house cooperation. And I have decided to allow it." Noise burst to life in the hall. "Alright, alright, calm down; now I expect appropriate attire."

"Aw, take all the fun out of it…" I said under loud enough for people sitting next to me to hear and I received giggles in response. "And," McGonagall continued, "If one fight, one fight, breaks out…it's over. This dance is a privilege this year and it's on your shoulders if we make it yearly. Okay, now more information will be on your common room boards so back to your meals." And with that she walked out.

"Well, this Hog's Mead trip just got a lot better, anyone else agree?" I said laughing and the girls and I began discussing the different things we could be, within reason of course…

Later that day as Chris, Al, and I were making our way to our classes after study hall; we didn't go to the library to work because we simply could care less about work today, and we came across James and Ashley. Let's just say Chris and Al began placing bets as soon as they saw the black head of their friend…

"Hey James," I stepped in front of him, "I just wanted to let you know that Rose and I decided to work together today in Potions; just so you're not blind-sided in class." James nodded and said thanks but I wasn't done yet, "Oh, and umm," I looked at Ashley and tapped my lip, "I think the collagen in your lip sprung a leak sweetie…"

Funniest part was Ashley touched her lip where I was indicating before I even finished, fool. Chris and Al very un-Gryffindor like chuckles and Ashley; being a bit slow just realized what I said, when she looked back up at me I was making the 'eek' face with my hand covering part of my mouth.

James glared at his brother and friend as I began to walk away when Al saw his brothers face, "ha-ha, right *clears throat* not funny. But hey you got nothing to worry about Ashley; we all know you don't really have a collagen in your lip." At this Chris stopped laughing and looked over at Al and just stared like, you did not just say that…

James put his arm around Ashley and began to walk away but she twisted out of his grip, spun to face me, whipped out her wand and shouted, "Stupify!"

The hex only grazed my shoulder but it was enough to piss me off, I saw Chris make a run for me the second I had my wand out, "Eat Slugs you lion-flee-bag!!"

I threw the spell at her but James pulled her out of the way and Chris caught my arm before I could cast another one. The two boys herded us in different directions as some of the younger years ran to tell the professor's…little brats.

Chris walked me all the way to Potions to make sure I didn't go hunting for that sad little lioness, "Look you don't got to see her for the rest of the day okay? Now just try not to poison my friend in this class and you will have made it babe." Chris said reassuringly. I gave a small smile up at him when he called me 'babe' he could be charming if he tried. "Thanks…" I said as he gave me a hug. As he pulled away he said, "And just for the record, what you said was hilarious!" He finished with his mischievous twin grin before taking off to class.

I walked in to class and took my seat next to Rose and we waited for class to begin.

James I managed to walk in right as the door closed itself, I gave a quick smile to the professor and cast a glance around the room and found everyone was already in groups. 'Wonderful…' Then out of reflex I searched for Rose and then made my way over. It was only when I got a few desks away that I saw Alexis sitting next to her 'Bugger…o well.'

Alexis I heard a deep sigh and Rose looked over; I already knew who it was. "Hey, can I work with you guys?" James asked. Rose looked baffled at this, "Of course James, that's a stupid question." So James took his seat and we all listened to Miss Scarlet give us directions.

After a few minutes Rose finally noticed something was off, James and I weren't looking anywhere near each other and when Miss Scarlet gave us the go-ahead to start working Rose questioned us.

"Okay, what is going on between you two?" She raised her eyebrow looking at James then looked over to me. I shrugged, "I had another delightful encounter with Ashley." "Oh-no" was all Rose said.

"She's the one who started the fight this time! If you hadn't said anything Alexis nothing would have happened!" James had to calm his voice halfway through his rant. I rolled my eyes, "Oh snod-off, she's the one who disrespected me first so don't go all noble on my arse."

"What? She didn't say anything to you, you're the one who turned to her and made that stupid comment!" James said still trying to keep his voice in check. I closed the two pace-gap between us and got right in his face, "Okay, I know this is hard for you since you're a boy, but try, really try to remember my first encounter with that troll. Tell me who was the first to disrespect who then?"

James's stance relaxed a bit when he recalled our encounter. "Yea, see I'm just spreading that 'undying' love. Okay?" I said turning back to our ingredients.

"But why live up to her expectations of you? Prove her wrong that she's doesn't know the real you!" James said with a louder than indoor voice.

"Oh, I just hate disappointing people when their already set the bar for me…" I said back in a tone that clearly said 'piss-off'.

Just as he was about to shoot back a response Miss Scarlet slide in behind us and we both looked at her, "Finish this little drama-spat after class, your distracting the other students." I looked past her and everyone was staring at us; I rolled my eyes, "Apologies, Professor." She gave me a meaningful before nodding and walking away.

I looked across to Rose, "What do you need next?" I caught her off guard and she shook her head briefly, "Oh, umm" she looked down at our book, "Five beats, no stalks." I nodded grabbed five beats from the basket, cut off the stalks and handed them to her.

We barely spoke for the rest of the class, and I just wanted to get the hell out of class, go somewhere and scream/cuss/sing my anger out. But there was nowhere to do that around here…this was going to be a long year…

When the bell rang I was the fourth person out of class; James and Rose were a few people behind me. I cast a glance around quickly trying to see who I was going drag around with me, that's when I found someone unexpected leaning on the wall outside of class, Chris.

He smiled when he saw me and came forward extending his arm to me. I raised my eyebrow, but smiled and twirled my arm around his, "Well this is unexpected." He chuckled "Yea, well I got to get something right every now and then, right?"

He looked over my shoulder and met the eyes of an angry James, Chris gave a gentle shrug, "We have next class together…"

I didn't look to see James's reaction but I didn't have to because Chris started walking to Chorus. "You shouldn't have done that, he's your friend…" I said in a quiet voice, I was tired of people listening in on me today. "Yeah I know but he'll get over it, I'm not the one who called his crush a lion-flee-bag." He said laughing.

I let out quiet chuckle before he continued, "That and she doesn't have a right to treat you like that. I mean I won't lie, I was skeptical at first when I found out you were a Malfoy, but your different from what people think you are and I'm just glad I got to know you before judging." He looked down and gave me a sweet smile. "Aww, your sweet Chris." I leaned up and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "See, aren't you glad you said yes to being my date? You landed yourself a charming guy, if I do say so myself." He puffed out his chest causing me to laugh.

When we arrived to Chorus class Mrs. Ruthford informed us we would be working on Christmas songs today. So we broke off into our groups and began working…well sort of…

"So! I hear that you and Ashley got into it again today? How come I am never around when you two get into it?" Jasmine asked jokingly. "Yeah, bitch would have been eating slugs if someone hadn't pushed her out of the way too…" I said grumpily. Most of the group laughed before we settled and began working.

"Okay I say we work on Ding Dong Merry on High. That has the most lines spread out among the group and we still had trouble with it the last time we tried it out."I said flipping through my paper book. Everyone agreed and we all began discussing who would sing what.

"Okay, I think the underclassmen come in and sing the intro, 'Ding dong dong,
Ding dong dong, Ding dong dong, Ding dong dong, Ding dong dong, Ding dong dong…' Then we come in and take the main verse, 'Ding dong merrily on high, In heav'n the bells are ringing, Ding dong! Verily the sky Is riv'n with angel singing, Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!' We all chorus the longs "ah's" between each 'Gloria, Honanna in excelsis!' Then back to us again. Does that sound good to try or shall we try something else?" I said looking up at the group from the book and I was meant with a 'what' stare.

"Umm, could you go over that a bit slower for us 'Lexis?" Jasmine asked in junction with head nodes from other people in the group. I rolled my eyes, 'it has been too long of a day for this…'

"Okay, let's start by getting…third year chorus and fourth year chorus over here." Jack began walking over to round the groups up. "Okay, now here's how it will work; the chorus groups will sing the 'Ding dong dong' throughout the whole song. We; the fifth year first strings, will sing the main chorus lines okay? And you know when you listen to the song there are 'AAAaaaaaAAAAaaaaaHHhhhhhHHhhh' in the middle of the chorus's; both first strings and chorus will sing those together. Then finally we take the final chorus again. And this is going to get confusing at the end, but everyone will finish that off because we all will be singing our lines in unison anyway." I took in a deep breath.

"Did that help at all?" I said starting out into our small group. "Yeah, that actually made more since… but we'll get it better going through it. And where did you come up with this ordering girl?" Jasmine said once again speaking up. "I've seen the Celtic Woman perform this before and I thought it was very well put together." I said; I had in fact been to a lot of their shows, I wanted to tour with them when I became old enough; if they allowed me.

Jack returned with the two chorus groups, "Okay, let's get into groups and I'll guide us through it, since I'm just so above you all and you can't grasp it…" I said earning a few hits from Jasmine and Crystal and wines and complaints from the rest of the group before we all laughed.

The rest of class was actually very productive and got my mind off of the past drama with James, for however short of a time. But we almost got it perfect at the end of class and everyone said how easy the layout of the performance was compared to how I said it…idiots.

Our little group walked out of class together chatting about what we could do to improve or what we wanted changed, Al and Chris talked about the different instruments they could play and maybe changing up the composition a bit. We walked to the courtyard where we would usually meet up with Rose, James, and Steve; I was so wrapped up at all the ideas everyone was shouting at me I didn't pay attention.

We almost reached our spot when Chris grabbed my arm, "Hey, would you take a walk with me?" I wouldn't have thought anything of it but Chris looked over my shoulder and I knew who was there, and who else was with him.

"Crap dude, we're caught in quite a jam…" Al said running his hand through his fiery red hair. "Oh yeah, sorry I forgot girl…" Jasmine said turning to me, "Let's go somewhere else, unless you want to hash it out with her? Or him…" She finished.

"Yes, I think somewhere else is a good idea…" I said sighing. As we started to walk away we heard someone shout "Hey!" It was Rose, "So tell me why I must suffer for my cousins' argument with you? Were you just going to leave me? She is really getting annoying talking about you…" Rose said sighing under her breath at the end.

"No, I just figured you wanted to stay with your cousin, he is your cousin… Which brings me back, why are you all sticking with me when he's your friend and family?" I said turning to Chris and Al.

"You heard my reason," Chris said shrugging. "Umm, I'll use his reasoning…but it was bad enough before you two got into this tussle, I'd hate to hear what she goes on about now…" Al said leaning in a bit to by passers couldn't hear him.

I stood there thinking, should I really walk away with his friends and family, or should I send them away? I looked at everyone before talking, "You know this is just going to make things worse…you all were his friends first." Al spoke up first, "Okay, how 'bout this? Chris and I go hangout with him for a few then make up some excuse and come find you? That way everyone is happy?"

Al didn't want to piss off his brother but he didn't want to hang around Ashley to much either, he was beginning to think she was quite irritating with this whole Alexis thing.

I nodded, "That's fine but don't feel like you have to come, I got my girls." I said finishing with a wink. "No please we insist…" Al said walking toward his brother, Chris joined him but not before taking my hand and saying "Well it has been a pleasure being in our company darling." I couldn't help but laugh and give him a hug and whispering in his ear, "I'll see you later sexy," and I smacked his ass while he walked away. Everyone laughed before we walked back through the arc way we came through and proceed to go outside.

As Rose, Jasmine, Crystal, and I walked past the groups of teens studying and socializing Rose spoke in a quiet voice meant for only us to hear, "Why is everyone staring at me? Or, okay us?" I looked around and sure enough almost everyone was looking at us; and I noticed most of the Gryffindors had their eyes glued to Rose. I laughed, "Well, you're with us why wouldn't they stare?"

I noticed that didn't help Rose at all when I looked back I saw a worried expression on her face. "They're just jealous girl, don't worry." Jasmine said waving her hand. I spun to stand in front of her, "And besides, you're in the spotlight now that you're with us." I gave her a dangerous smile before turning and carving a path through the staring crowd.

Then Crystal decided to bring up, probably the most important, conversation today that I had forgotten about! "Okay, so we need to decide what we're going to wear to the dance." She said looping her arm with mine. "Oh my god! I forgot! Damn, ok I'm thinking group theme…" I said squeezing her arm and looping my free one with Rose's. "Yeah, but what?" Jasmine fed in looping her arm with Crystals other one.

We all continued to walk throwing out ideas such as Greek goddess, elves, muggles, rock stars, and the list went on and on; oddly Rose stayed quite through the whole thing. Then something dawned on me, "Hey where's Lily, I haven't seen her since the train? First years are allowed to go to the dance right?"

Rose shrugged, "I'm guessing they are Headmistress didn't say anything about grade restrictions; we'll know for sure when we go back to our common rooms. And as for your first question, coincidently she's right over there talking with your classmates?" We all looked in the direction Rose was looking because the last part of her statement struck all of us as strange.

There was a small group of Slytherin boys huddled around Lily, who was sitting on a bench. I had a feeling they weren't discussing class, Lily wore the same expression that James would wear when he was in his 'shy' mode.

I cast a quick glance over to Jasmine and she gave me a small nod, and as though we all thought the same thing in that one moment we all made our way over to Lily.

Rose pushed forward past us and past the boys, "Hey," she said to before looking back to the boys, "Is there a problem here?"

I hung back a few feet behind the boys, Jasmine and Crystal went up to stand next to Rose. I watched and waited to see if these boys would go quietly or not.

"No, no problem, just asking Miss Potter if she'd like to accompany us to a well know broom cupboard…" The boy snickered. Rose whipped out her wand so fast a barely had time to sidestep the boys husky body as it came flying at me. That's when the other boys noticed me.

"Now you boys wouldn't be picking of my friend's cousin would you? Because I know a few other Gryffindor boys who would gladly make the detention worth it." I said squinting at them slightly. "I think James would understand if I dealt with it now…" Rose said with a tone to rival an angry redhead.

"That means leave now you imprudent bunch!" Jasmine shouted throwing up her hands. The boys scoffed and slowly left; trying to leave with some dignity. I looked at Jasmine, "Imprudent?"

"Don't hate that I have a superior vocabulary." Jasmine said smiling at me.

"Why didn't you tell James or me that they were giving you a hard time? Or was this the first time?" Rose said in a demanding voice to Lily. "I was going to tell him…after this week…if they kept it up…" Lily replied with her voice growing lower at every pause. "Why wait? Next time just tell us okay? We went through it and we agreed that we weren't going to let that happen to you okay?" Rose said rubbing Lily's back as if she were a child.

"Everyone's got to learn to deal Rose; you can't shelter her from everything. Look at me, you think my father would want me dealing with all these air heads who hate me for things I've never done? I'm not saying 'feed her to the masses' but something's she will need to deal with on her own." I said crossing my arms and looking to Lily and surprisingly she gave me a small smile, I gave her a wink.

Rose went speechless; "Well come on your with us now too, we're discussing what we're going to wear to the dance. You can come right?" I said to Lily as she stood up.

"Oh, yes I can go." She nodded. "Great, I got the best idea during that little encounter too!" I said smiling before turning and heading in the direction that we were heading, but I ran right into a chest. I looked up and saw it was Chris again.

I raised my eyebrow at him, "Aren't you supposed to be with your friend right now?"

"We stayed as long as we could," "But Merlin, that girl was driving us mad!" Chris and Steve said in their twin talk. "They speak the truth!" Al said in an over dramatic voice that sounded like a preacher.

We walked until we were on the side of the hill; and away from the majority of the mass of people, where we stopped and talked. "I wish we something to sit on…" I grumbled. Chris, Al, and Steve looked down at me, "Well what did you have in mind? I do have the means to accommodate you toots." Chris said winking at me.

I tapped my lip in thought, "Hmm, how about two couches, one loveseat, and a chair? That should be enough room for all of us." The boys saluted and we all turned and with a few waves of our wands; and a few misfires between the twins, we had our furniture.

I jump promptly into the chair and sunk into its fluffy comfort, "Ahh, yes this is just what we needed." I sighed. Everyone then took their seats, "So what was your brilliant idea for the dance Alexis?" Crystal asked.

"Oh!" I sat up, "Well I was thinking…" I looked over to the boys, "Muffino, there they don't need to hear our idea." But then the boys started yelling 'why did you do that,' blah, blah, blah.

"To bad there isn't a mute charm as well…"I grumbled, "Anyway! I think we should go as… Vampires!" I said smirking.

"Oh, yes! We can have a lot of fun with that." Crystal said right away. "Yeah, make boys drool, what's more fun than that?" Jasmine said laughing.

Rose had an unsure look on her face, "Oh no you don't! Why don't you want to dress up and pull a few heart strings?" I said glaring at her. "I don't know I just don't want to put myself out there you know…" Rise said looking down a bit.

"We wouldn't make you wear a slut suit! We're going to do it with class and a touch of desire." I said laughing. Lily sat up a bit, "Sounds fun actually…" she said casting a glance from the corner of her eye to Rose; who was shocked.

"Smashing, I may turn you into my mini-me yet." I said joking but I found Rose glaring at me. "Oh, come one it was a joke! I don't have a little sister, you can't blame me." Rose smiled at this, why I don't know.

"Okay, but I choose my dress." Rose said finally agreeing. "Okay, you choose we approve." I said smirking and she began to protest causing all of us to laugh. Then we heard one of the boys clear his throat rather loudly and we agreed to discuss this later, and I undid the charm and we all talked and poked fun at each other until it got dark and they called us in.

As we walked into the great hall I couldn't help but look at the Gryffindor table, when I did I saw James looking back at me, then I turned to go to my table. When I finally sat down at my table Scorpio said, "So I hear you had a wild day."

"Ugh, not right now Scorpio, I'm actually in a good mood…" I said rolling my head dramatically and sighing. He just laughed, "Okay, but I want to hear about it."

After that he let it drop and we ate and discussed our days; well most of them, and after that we headed to our common rooms to tuck in after doing what we needed to get done. And boy was I excited to see what the next few days held for me!! (If you didn't note the sarcasm in that go live with the stupid, smelly trolls you idiot.)