With much of the castle empty, Alexandra found it far easier to search the library without having to think up excuses every five minutes as to what she was doing. Spring holiday had begun four days ago, and Alexandra was spending most of her days in the library. Alanna, who of course had stayed at the castle over the break as well, would stop by her table from time to time, but there was little to no conversation between the girls, as Alexandra would barely look up from her books, so Alanna would get up and say goodbye after only a few minutes.

Unfortunately, though, even with the peace and the solitude the depopulated school allowed Alexandra, she had yet to find out anything about the Prince. She wasn't going to have that many more chances for success either, she realized, since she had gone through nearly every single potion book in the library with no success. She glanced over at the gated off Restricted Section and longed to stroll through those shelves. Perhaps if she came up with a good enough explanation, she could persuade a teacher to write her a note to grant her permission to go in there. She'd have to wait until classes started again, however, unless she asked Hagrid. Hagrid was certain to ask questions, though, and she didn't feel like she could stomach lying to him. Maybe if she went down to Slughorn's office he would give her a note; he had been ignoring her ever since that incident in his office several weeks ago, but maybe he would figure this would assure her silence. She remembered, though, that Slughorn was not at Hogwarts right now; he was apparently vacationing with a former student who was now a successful wine maker.

She let out a sigh. It seemed as if she had reached a dead end. Maybe there was just going to be no finding out who this Half-Blood Prince was. He was just a name in an old potions book anyway; she tried to reason with herself. Just because he wrote down all those spells and those notes about the Athrimo potion doesn't guarantee he was brilliant. He probably just copied all that stuff from another book. Yes, that's it. But even though she told her self this over and over again, trying to get that damn Prince out of her mind, she still had this inexplicable desire to at least find out who he was.

He was just another student here, she told herself firmly. That's all.

Alexandra quickly put away the last of the books she had been looking through, grabbed her bag, and headed up to the common room. Alanna was sitting by a window playing with an Exploding Snap set that Fred had left.

"Hi," Alexandra said, sitting down in the empty chair across from her.

"You finished in the library?" Alanna asked, not looking up from the card house she was carefully constructing.

"Yup," Alexandra nodded. "Have you been doing this all day?"

"Not much else to do," she said simply. "I've finished all my homework and even got a head start studying for exams.

"Oh," Alexandra said, suddenly feeling guilty about not spending too much time with her best friend. "Do you want to play a round of Gobstones? Albus left a set here. Or we could go out to the grounds. It's really nice outside."

"Maybe," Alanna said, looking up from her cards finally. "If you'll tell me one thing."

"What?"

"What have you been looking for in all those potions books?"

"I've told you," Alexandra said. "I've been-"

"Nobody, not even me or Rose, looks through every single potions book in the library just to get a little ahead in class," Alanna said, looking right Alexandra. "You would only do that if you were looking for something specific."

Alexandra felt her stomach clench. She knew Alanna would not accept her refutes; she was too smart for that. But all the same, if she knew Alexandra had been pouring over the books trying to find a name she had found scribbled in the margin of an old book that had had specific notes about the brewing of Athrimo, what would she think of her?

"Okay," Alexandra said, thinking fast. "You're right. I was trying to find out about…someone."

"Someone? Who?"

Alexandra let out a deep breath. "Slughorn."

"Slughorn?" Alanna frowned.

"A few weeks ago," Alexandra started softly. "He asked me to go to his office during class. Do you remember?"

"Yes," Alanna nodded. "I do."

"Well, anyway," she continued. "While I was in there, I found this picture of Claridina."

"Really?" Alanna asked, looking puzzled. "Why on earth would he have her picture in his office?"

"That's what I was wondering too," Alexandra said. "And then he came in and caught me looking at it and he…he started crying. He was saying things like it was all his fault, and that she was a monster."

"Why?" Alanna asked.

"Because," Alexandra said. "He told me that when she was a student at Durmstrang she sought him out to teach her more about potions. He helped her become so gifted with them."

"Oh my goodness," Alanna gasped. "Has he told anyone?"

"No," she said quickly. "And he told me not to tell anyone either, which is why you can't repeat this to anyone. Not even Fred."

Alanna nodded. "Of course not. But what were you looking for in those books that had to do with him?"

"I just wanted to see…to see if Slughorn had any history with Dark Magic and potions like Claridina has," she lied quickly. "I didn't find anything, though, so it looks like Slughorn's just someone who got caught up in one mistake."

"I'm sure he didn't realize what he was doing," Alanna said. "He may be a bit off sometimes, but Slughorn's not a bad person."

Alexandra nodded. She felt terrible and guilty about selling Slughorn out like she just had to protect her own hide, but what other choice did she have? Besides, Alanna wouldn't tell anyone.

…

"I really do like Hagrid's cooking," Alanna said, massaging her jaw as her and Alexandra walked back from Hagrid's later that day. "But those rock cakes are just far too hard."

"I know what you mean," Alexandra nodded.

It was getting dark out now, and the girls began to quicken their pace back to the castle. Just as they were about to enter the school, though, they saw two figures go around the corner leading to the Forbidden Forest.

"Who's that?" Alanna asked.

Alexandra stood on her toes. They were a good distance away but she could just make them out.

"It's Scorpius!" she whispered frantically. "And Wretermoust!"

"What are they doing going into the forest? They'll get in trouble if they're caught."

"Come on," Alexandra said. "Let's see for ourselves."

"Are you mad?" Alanna said, but hurrying after Alexandra anyway. "We'll get in trouble too!"

"There's no one around to see us except for Hagrid," Alexandra said. "And he's not about to give us a detention."

"Fred's been rubbing off on you," Alanna muttered.

Struggling to keep the boys in view but also maintain a distance, Alexandra entered the forest. She spotted the boys standing near a large tree. She signaled for Alanna to join her behind another tree a few yards away.

"Forest is a bit of an odd meeting place," she heard Wretermoust say to Scorpius.

"It's not a meeting spot," Scorpius spat. "I was trying to get away from you!"

"Why? We're on the same team now?"

"No, we're not," Scorpius said firmly.

"Does the Potter boy know about your father yet?"

"Leave me alone," Scorpius said. He turned to leave but Wretermoust grabbed his arm.

"In a bit of time," he said in his haunting voice. "Things are going to happen. And when they do, I suggest you show the right side a bit more loyalty. Don't think you'll be spared just because of what your father has done for my mother."

He released Scorpius's arm and strolled out of the forest, leaving Scorpius looking very pale and very scared. After about five minutes he finally gathered himself and headed back up to the castle.

"What was that all about?" Alanna asked. "Why's he harassing Scorpius?"

Alexandra didn't answer; she had too many questions of her own.