A/N: Hi guys! First off thank you for your reviews, or just for reading! I'm glad it's positive and not all 'Go home Diana,' :) I do appreciate them all and I'm so happy some people subscribed too! You are all amazing!

Anyway, I did intend to have this up early but with lectures and procrastinating and procrastinating in lectures. I've only got around to it now :P So here's chapter two, review if you can!

Love

- Diana

The morning began when Lexie was awoken by Sian who appeared to have a timetable and she was waving it at her. She sat up and grabbed it, scanning it. Double Transfiguration on a Monday, then Potions, Care of Magic Creatures and ended with a double period of Defence against the Dark Arts. Lexie shrugged; it could have been a lot worse for the first day.
Care of Magical Creatures had always been one of her lesser subjects, however it would be interesting nonetheless. Defence against the Dark Arts caught her attention too, the first DADA lessons of term always proved to be an experience. Whether it was due to the varying teaching methods of the line of professors or something else all together, she wondered what Umbridge had planned. She tossed it into her bag, dressed and went to breakfast where she took full advantage of the spread of delicious food.

With the lessons following suit fast, Lexie left Care of Magical Creatures heading for the next class. Since they'd left the forest, Lexie could hear Sian gushing enthusiastically beside her.
"Don't you just find Bowtruckles fascinating? Did you know that it can show extreme violence if it or the tree it resides in is threatened? It's remarkable! I like them almost as much as Fire Crabs! Did you know they're preserved against those who would want to use its jewelled shell," Sian sighed "I just love Care of Magical Creatures!"
"I would have never guessed" Lexie pulled a face and was hit in the shoulder with a textbook. Where Lexie's academia failed her, Sian seemed to shine. On her first ever lesson, Sian born to Muggle parents, so unfamiliar with many creatures children from magical families grew up with, formed a fascination with the subject.
As they approached the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom; they noticed a group of Slytherins lingering around, sniggering. Seeing Draco amongst the laughing group, Lexie strode over.
"Haven't you got a class, you're a prefect now! Shouldn't be waiting in the corridors!" she joked as she put on a mock authoritarian voice. Draco raised his eyebrow.
"You know I could have you put in detention for that back chat, Fortian," he smirked.
"Detention? I can assume you'll give those Hufflepuff first years down the corridor one too? They're looking awfully suspicious…" she returned the comment, watching as Draco glanced over her shoulder for the non-existent students.
He caught her eye and shrugged. "Very funny," he spoke then scanned her robes for a Prefect badge. "You're not a prefect?"
"Nope," Lexie replied. Ideally she wouldn't have minded the role but she wasn't about to admit that. "I think they went with Padma Patil," Lexie put in and Pansy Parkinson, Draco's girlfriend sniggered. Lexie was unsure if it was at the mention of Padma or something else entirely.
"So are you just out of…" Lexie cocked her thumb in the direction of the Defence against the Dark Arts classroom, hoping to divert attention away from the uncomfortable feeling she had around his girlfriend.
"It was hilarious!" Draco grinned "Potter only went and got a detention on the first day!"
Lexies' eyes went wide "What for?"
"He was giving it all that 'You-Know-Who' is back rubbish, honestly with him and Dumbledore together this schools getting worse! My father always thought Dumbledore was awful and now he' actually backing up Potter!" disgust consumed his pointed features. "Pathetic," he finished with scorn.
She bit her lip, she desperately wanted to point out it wasn't entirely unlikely Voldemort had returned but knowing Dracos vast dislike for Harry Potter she settled on what she hoped was a 'Did he really' expression. His turbulent rivalries had never been an issue in their friendship. Until now, she suspected.
It seemed satisfactory "I know! It's a disgrace!...Oh, Alexandria, Father has heard…" he spoke in a lower tone "news. He is informing your father tonight and suggests you send him an owl so he can tell you, I think you'll-,"
He halted mid-sentence, most uncharacteristically, prompting Lexie and several other Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs they took the class with to follow suit.

There stood Professor Umbridge, black bow wedged onto her plump head, wearing a pink skirt and jacket two piece.. 'Hem-hem'
She done that weird little polite cough. It seemed to have an effect. The Slytherins began to move off and the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs filed into the class.
"Do you think she's going to be good? Would she have given out a detention that easily if she was?" Lexie leant forward and whispered to Sian as they moved into the class
"She used to work for the Ministry, I wouldn't be surprised if she keeps tight reins on us,"
'Hem hem' There it was again. Grating.
"Good Afternoon, class,"
A chorus of 'Good Afternoon, Professor' came back at her. Lexie cringed.
"Now," she surveyed the class. "Wands away and take out your quills,"
Sian turned to Lexie and cocked an eyebrow.
When the class had put away their wands, Umbridge took out her own and waved it at the Blackboard.
Basic Principles for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Well, as your teaching in this subject has been…rather disrupted I feel it best to return to a Ministry approved structure to get you up to the standard you should be for your O.W.L's," She waved her wand again and the message disappeared replaced by the course aims. "Now" she continued. "Take out your books and read chapter one; basic for beginners,"
Lexie opened it apprehensively and stared down at the book, attempting to read. By the third paragraph she decided; It was the most mind numbing book she'd ever read, it was dull and certainly not what she expected of a fifth year textbook.
"Professor" she blurted out "This textbook is-"
"Please raise your hand if you wish to ask a question, young lady,"
Lexie shoved her hand into the air.
"Yes, Miss…"
"Fortian," she stated, politely "Professor there's nothing in here about actually defending ourselves or she leafed through it "really, I mean... I was just thinking really…will be learning any practical?"
"Not in my classroom, Miss Fortian, the theory should be more than enough to achieve a high grade in the exam. Study carefully and you will be able to perform the practical." Umbridge smiled sweetly.
Lexie bit her lip and diverted her eyes back to the textbook. Frustration built up inside her with every sentence of the text. When she caught herself reading a line for the third time, she flung her arm into the air again, making Sian jump beside her.
"Professor, is there any other material for this subject or is this it!" she was clutching at straws now "I need enough knowledge to take this in sixth and seventh year and there's no way this is fifth year level, it's not even second year!"
"Miss Fortian, my aim is to teach you defensive theory; read the text, understand it and you will pass your O.W.L," the Professor was poised at her desk. ", And unlike your previous teachers for this subject, my structure has been approved by the Ministry of Magic, your concerns are unnecessary, back to your text book, young lady,"
"That's useless considering they seem to be ignoring the obvious of late, if we're attacked, reciting Chapter Two" her eyes shot down and then back up "Common Defensive Theories and their Derivation, to a bunch of Death Eaters isn't going to help us out much," Lexie retorted only half sure she was doing the right thing.
"ENOLUGH" the Professor screeched, "Miss Fortian, you will join me for detention tomorrow night,"
"But-" Lexie caught herself. "Yes, Professor,"
"Good, now if you'll continue to read" Umbridge spoke, calm once again.

Tuesday lessons raced by in a series of Potions, Divination, Herbology and slowed down just in time for History of Magic. As Professor Binns droned on about goblin wars and the uprisings of certain groups in 1749, Lexie made a mental note to skip her dinner and get a start on the homework before detention with Professor Umbridge. They'd already been given homework on labeliing the drawing of a Bowtruckle, which thanks to Sian's enthusiasm, Lexie estimated she could manage, a 12 inch essay to write by Professor Snape on the properties of Moonstone and how it is used in Potion making, and another essay for Professor Sprout on self-fertilizing shrubs.
When the end of the class came around; she was almost first out of the door. Professor Binns; probably didn't even notice the students leave, she doubted. As she headed to the library in a hurry to get as much done as possible, she felt a hand on her shoulder and spun around
"Hey,"
It was Sian.
"Arent you getting something to eat?"
Lexie considered it, food was greatly more tempting than essay writing but she shook her head "I want to get this done tonight, I have detention with the old bat tonight and tomorrow we'll just get more work no doubt, you can tag along if you want? Moonstone followed by shrubs? Sound tempting?"
Sian wrinkled her freckled nose
"I think I'll take the roast dinner. I'll see you in the common room, let me know how detention…goes." Sian wondered to herself exactly what detention with Umbridge was. Probably bowing down to a picture of the Minster or something equally ridiculous. Lexie, however, was not likely to tell her if it resulted in anything of the sort.

When she reached the library, Lexie was happy to notice few others. Two girls in the corner pouring over a Transfiguration textbook, a boy sitting by a bookshelf, another sat at a table reading the dreaded Ministry assigned book and another girl reading to herself. At least she wasn't the only one which proved some comfort.
Lexie started pulling books off the shelf at random, not sure of if they were correct. She wanted a distraction from Umbridge. The woman already frustrated her. Throwing herself down at a table noisily; she chucked open a Potions book and began scouring for any words related to Moonstones expecting them to jump out at her.
The noise she made had caused the girls to look over at her, giggling into their copies of Witch Weekly. She shrugged and turned her attention back to the textbook, and began writing the beginnings of the essay. The flow returned fairly quickly and she was soon satisfied with her work.
Lexie scanned the library; since she'd began two of the girls and one boy had left, obviously the lure of the Great Hall was too much for them. It wasn't dark outside yet, she still had time before she had to face her second ever detention.
Feeling more optimistic; she rested her quill down and moved back to the bookcases in the hope of finding information on the self-fertilizing shrubs. Lexie was totally at a loss again. She would pull out a book every now and then, flick through it, sigh frustrated and push it back onto the shelf, finding nothing. The remaining students seemed to be studying her as if she was highly dangerous.
With one last scan of a textbook, she was resigned to her fate. She'd had to ask someone. Lexie looked from the few remaining students and back to the shelf. God this was awkward, as someone who prided herself on having Ravenclaw intelligence, asking for help was pretty much like surrendering. She took a deep breath and approached, coughing to gain attention. When it failed she rolled her eyes, she was being stupid. Just ask for help. No one is going to think you're stupid.
After a minutes deliberation Lexie settled on the boy that she recognised from her own year. Lexie sighed "Excuse me, um…Hi.." she smiled slightly awkwardly, "I was wondering if you could help me out looking for anything on self fertilizing shrubs?, I'm Lexie by the way," she added on, hoping to come across as friendly. Her frustration with the bookshelf probably didn't send out the right signal. "You're Neville right? We had Transfiguration together last year, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw,". She smiled.
He diverted his attention from the textbook he was reading and nodded at Lexie. "Self fertilizing shrubs?" he repeated, then returned her smile, albeit shyly. "You should read Flesh Eating Trees of the World, or Shelbys Safe Guide to Severe Shrubbery, they're both pretty useful and really interesting,"
Lexie nodded "That'd be great,"
She watched Neville walk over to shelves she had neglected and pull a couple off the top shelf and pass them down to her. She grinned "Thanks, Neville..if you need anything on.." Lexie glanced back to her spot at the table "Moonstones, I'd be happy to help and return the favour,"
She moved back to her table and had to have only taken three steps when she heard an embarrassed cough then a "Actually…" Lexie turned around and pulled out the other chair at her table, Neville smiled gratefully.
"Thanks," he sat down next to her "I…I think Potions has to be my worst subject," He looked at the shiny copy of Advanced Potion Making then back to Lexie "I think Professor Snape hates me," Neville muttered. "I'd rather just have more Herbology lessons,".
"I think Snape hates everyone," she raised an eyebrow which rose a laugh. She stretched out her arms, linking her hands together and cracking her knuckles before pulling the stack of textbooks towards them. "Right. Essays,"

An hour or so had to have passed, before that sinking feeling fell. She was mid sentence, mid conversation about something she'd now forgotten. It was as if it had come from nowhere. Lexie went still all of a sudden, then ever so carefully, and not completely sure of if she wanted to know; she pulled back her sleeve and stared down at her watch.
Her detention with Umbridge was in five minutes.
"Are you okay?" Neville asked her, sounding a tad worried by her sudden pause.
"I think I need to go, Umbridge, detention, late," Lexie began sweeping her possessions into her bag before turning flustered to Neville "Thanks again, by the way, I'll…I'll see you around,"
And then she took off.
She ran to Umbridge's office, and by what some people would describe as sheer luck. Umbridge opened the door just as Lexie was doubled over, easing out a stitch which was raging its way down her left side.

"Hem-hem" The professor looked curiously at her, a very slight frown forming.
Lexie straightened up, wincing slightly. At least she was on time.
She followed her into the office and glanced around, cynically. The wall was far from how Lexie remembered it under other teachers. It was clad with china plates, a kitten on each one, the room was pinker than she could recall and it looked more like a grandmothers tea room than a Defence against the Dark Arts office.
"Take a seat, Miss Fortian, I want you to write lines," Umbridge gestured at a table with a quill and parchment already set out.
Lexie did so and fumbled in her satchel for her quill. The sinking feeling reoccurred when she realised she'd left it in the library and her spares were back in the Ravenclaw common room.
"Professor, I haven't brought my quill, I think I've left it in the library,"
A tut followed by a "Just as well, you'll be using mine today," Umbridge smiled somewhat condescendingly. Lexie nodded and picked it up
"What do I write"
She considered this then looked at Lexie "I must not speak out of turn,"
"Yes professor...wheres the ink?"
"You won't be needing any ink,"
Lexie although confused proceeded to write.

"I must not"
As she did, a searing pain pulsed down the back of her hand and she almost dropped the quill, she shuddered, took a deep breath, steadied herself and continued to write.
"Speak out of"
Again the pain pulsed over her skin, feeling like someone was drawing a blade over her hand. Slowly yet deeply.
"Turn"
Lexie cast a glance at the back of her hand again, wishing she hadn't, a lump formed at the back of her throat and she almost choked when she saw the gleaming red blood over freshly cut wounds. The words she was writing had appeared on her hand. She bit back her lip unsure if she was containing tears or trying to stop herself throwing up.

Over and over she wrote the message. It would heal then cut into her shiny new scars, leaving the message clear and white by the time she stumbled back to the Ravenclaw tower in a frenzy of panic, confusion and tears.

The next days classes seemed to speed through in pulled down sleeves and diverting questions from Sian about what detention was like.
The final class of the day; Divination seemed to come around faster than expected and she leant against the wall outside the classroom, facing the other way, absorbed in her own thoughts. Sian stood next to her, clearly given up on trying to work out why her friend had gone so withdrawn all of a sudden.
Lexie's inner debate over whether or not to go to Dumbledore was pulsating in her head. The pros and cons flipping over and blending together into one big haze until she heard a cough and turned around to see Neville holding out her quill and her timetable.
"You, um you left these in the library yesterday," he spoke, glancing from the floor to Lexie and back again. "I know you had Divination now, I saw it on your timetable," he passed over her quill and her timetable.
Lexie smiled "Thanks.. hey how did you do with the Potions essay?" she asked. He looked up at her about to answer when another voice came from behind her, as if it had come from out of nowhere.
She recognised it immediately, as did Neville as Lexie noticed he diverted his gaze back to the floor. Sian had clearly heard too as she took a couple of steps closer to the source of the voice
It was Pansy and a group of her friends. "Well, if it isn't Sian Turner? Mudblood right?," She declared.
Lexie felt a surge of anger. Did she really just say that? Pansy hadn't realised Lexie was there yet. Keeping a cool head, she kept her back to Pansy, half curious to see what else she'd say.
"And whose Turner with today? Longbottom and… whose the other one,"
Forget facing the other way. "Me," Lexie spun around. "It's me, Pansy, Sian's in my house and Neville was just returning some things I'd left,"
The pug faced smirked a sly smirk in each of their directions. "Alexandria? Well, aren't your standards dropping," If she was caught off guard he covered it well. "I know you're not the prettiest girl but I think you could do a little better eh? A Muggleborn and the biggest loser in the school," she cackled.
This felt somehow different to the usual back and forth jokes she'd shared with Draco. Pansy had a quality to her voice which suggested she wasn't joking.
"Cut it out, Parkinson," Lexie attempted to bite her tongue.
Pansy had always put Lexie on edge. The Slytherin girl had been very cutting to almost everyone who she and her gaggle of girls decided was inadequate. Her callous remarks were mostly directed at students she felt wouldn't bite back; yet something in her eyes told Lexie; if she wasn't friends with dearest darling Draco, Pansy would have made some snark comment on her slightly longer nose, how she was kind of on the short side or her thick hair. This was verging dangerously close. Pansy as if she knew smirked.
"Come on," she gestured for her friends to follow "Lets not waste our time on these lot"
And off she went pursed by her giggling friends.

**

The run in stayed with her right through Divination and past dinner. So much so that it wasn't until before bed that she remembered Draco earlier. Mr Malfoy had news he was informing Lexie's father about and she was told to send a message as soon as possible. Lexie cursed herself silently. She was getting into the habit of remembering things at such inconvenient times.
She went over to Sians bed
"Sian, I need to borrow Archie?"
Her friend nodded, half in slumber and Lexie thanked her and jotted out a letter rapidly, and quickly went to the Owlery and found Archie nestling somewhere near the top. He snapped somewhat indignantly at her first, responding to her as he would any other. Archie was notorious for only responding to Sian herself. Desperately wanting to clear out of the cold, stone room. Lexie found a mouse on the floor, it was dead and relatively undamaged. She swooped it up and held it out to Archie.
"Come on... come get the," she winced "dead mouse, good Archie!"
Grinning as he flew down, and opened his beak expectantly. Bribery. It gets you everywhere. she thought to herself. And once Archie had done with the rodent, Lexie fixed her short note to his leg with tie and set him off into the night.

A/N: I know it's quite a slow moving story; If you think I should make it faster moving, just let me know but I intend on picking up the pace more soon. :)

Again, review if you want! Be nice :P