Author's Note: I own Alex and that's about it really.

Chapter 8 New Friendships Formed

Alex went down to the damp dungeons and opened the door to one of the classrooms. There was a set of instructions laying out on the table with some background information on the potion. She picked up the parchment and saw it was the Polyjuice Potion. Smiling gleefully, she sat down and began getting the ingredients from the storeroom and setting up her cauldron. She had just started getting the fire going when Malfoy came in. Alex handed him the parchment and he read it as she got the water boiling.

"Sounds difficult," he said, handing it back.

"It sounds worse than it is," Alex said casually.

"Some of this stuff I haven't even heard of," Malfoy continued, looking at the ingredients, "Boomslang skin, moonstone, bicon horn…"

"Look, this is boomslang skin," she said with a hint of annoyance, holding up a red-brown substance, "This is moonstone because of that silvery glow it has, and this is a bicon horn, see how long it is?"

"So, Snape was right about you, you really are an expert potions brewer," Malfoy said with raised eyebrows.

"No, I just know my ingredients," Alex returned coolly and began cutting up her roots, allowing Malfoy to add the juice of the root to the potion.

They worked in silence for an hour until Malfoy spoke.

"Rumors are flying around the school," he said in a would-be laid back tone.

"Really? Sounds fascinating," she deadpanned as she read through the information while the cauldron simmered.

"Yeah, people are saying that you and Potter were together when You-Know-Who came. They say that you're distant cousins and that you both have scars like lightning bolts."

"That's the thing about rumors," said Alex, laughing quietly, "You can never tell what is true and what isn't."

"So…are they true?"

"Well, Harry and I are not distant cousins, sorry to disappoint," she said, looking at Malfoy, "But yeah, I was there and I do have a scar like he does, though not as large."

"Do you, you know, remember anything?" he asked.

She sighed and leaned back, "Not much, just a flash of green…lots of screaming and crying…and laughter…high, cold laughter."Alex shuddered violently and added, "I don't really want to talk about this."

"Just one more thing," he said and Alex sighed but nodded reluctantly, "Where's your scar?"

Alex rolled up the sleeve of her robes and rubbed at her arm so the make-up came off. It was faded somewhat, but still plainly visible. Malfoy stared at it until she covered it up and glared at him, and they went back to work. Once they did all they could do, they began cleaning up. As they were leaving, Alex stopped.

"Hey Malfoy," she said and he turned to her, "I never got to thank you for helping me out at the World Cup. So thanks…for everything."

Malfoy smiled and left, Alex going up to the common room. She found her friends waiting for her by their spot near the fire.

"How was it?" Harry asked.

"Not bad," Alex said with a ghost of a smile, "Not bad at all."

…...

"This is disgusting!" said Ron as he held up a skrewt, "But at least I found its mouth."

He began shoving lettuce into the hole he found when the creature let out a strange, strangled noise and began writhing angrily. Ron set the skrewt down and watched as it blasted away.

"I don't think that was its mouth, Ron," said Hermione.

"You mean…EW!" Ron began wiping his hands on his robes while Alex, Harry, and Hermione roared with laughter.

"Someone give me a hand here!" Hagrid shouted.

Alex, still laughing heartily, went over and saw Hagrid tearing down a shed behind his house.

"What'cha doing Hagrid?" Alex asked, helping him rip a strip of wood off the side.

"Gettin' rid of this shed," Hagrid said grimly, "Too many memories."

Alex then realized this was Buckbeak and the other hippogriffs' shed from last year. They worked in silence, Alex trying to figure out a way to tell her friend that Buckbeak was alive and very happy, but wasn't sure how much Hagrid knew.

"I'm sure Buckbeak is fine," Alex said slowly as she ripped a board off with surprising strength, "He's a smart hippogriff."

"Too many things ta be worrin' about," said Hagrid, taking five boards off at one time, "Especially now."

"What do you mean, Hagrid?" Alex asked.

"I have to teach everyday," said Hagrid, counting off on his large fingers, "Get the grounds all ready, and then there's you four always getting' into trouble somehow."

"We don't try to," said Alex with the slightest hint of a smile, "Trouble finds us."

"Yeh mean like last year?" Hagrid asked grimly, "With Professor Lupin and all?"

"Yeah, something like that," Alex said cautiously, "You know what happened?"

"Dumbledore told me everything," said Hagrid, sitting on a tree stump and wiping his sweating forehead, "Everything."

"So you know about…?"

"Yup," Hagrid said with a smile, "He'd be real proud of yeh if he could see yeh all year."

"Let's hope he doesn't try," said Alex, her smile fading a little, "I want him to stay out of sight until I can prove he's innocent."

"I know, I hope so too," Hagrid said, stretched, and began taking boards off like they were made of dough, "So how are things up at the castle?"

Alex shrugged. Word had gotten around faster than ever. People were clogging up corridors to get a look at Alex as she had left the castle, whispering as she passed and fingers pointed. She felt like something on display at a zoo. It was worse than when people had found out she could talk to animals.

"Dumbledore was angry with Mad-Eye," Hagrid said consolingly, "Said he had no right to have done that. Don't know what's gotten in to Mad-Eye, he's mostly very watchful of what he says. Must've thought everyone knew."

"It would have come out sooner or later," sighed Alex, "This hasn't turned out to be a great start of the year."

"I heard about Snape's lessons too," said Hagrid, "Word has it you're a real master, might give him a run for his money, so they say."

"I wish my training was as easy as the potions," Alex said heavily, "I can't concentrate as well with that…person standing over me and breathing down my neck, criticizing my every move."

"Seems to me that yeh've been gettin' training in things yeh have a knack fer," said Hagrid, a smile creeping onto his bearded face, "An' when yeh have a knack fer somethin', yeh'll be fine."

"Thanks Hagrid," said Alex with a smile.

"Did I mention how busy I've been lately?"

"Yeah…why?" asked Alex slowly.

"Yeh've got a knack fer creatures, don't yeh?" Hagrid asked and Alex nodded, "How 'bout havin' some lessons with me? Yeh can help me 'round the grounds on Saturday mornings."

"I'd love to Hagrid!" Alex said happily and hugged her giant friend.

They worked on the shed until lunch, the four politely refusing lunch at Hagrid's by saying that they weren't hungry, and went up to the castle to eat. Afterwards, they did their homework in the library. Alex was struggling through her Arithmancy while Hermione tried to explain it.

"No Alex, you put that number over there-"

"But why?" said Alex furiously, "I thought Professor Nellie said to put it here!"

"That's only when you have…Can I help you?" Hermione's tone turned to ice.

Alex looked up and saw Malfoy watching them.

"I need Ratcliff for a minute," he said.

Alex got up and followed Malfoy over to the Potion's section of the library. They stopped and Malfoy took down a book, skimmed through the pages, and showed it to her. Alex looked down and saw it was the instructions for the Polyjuice Potion she and the others had used two years ago. Along the margins were notes she had written in pencil, so she could erase, but never did.

"You want a second opinion on our potion?" Alex asked, keeping her face and voice calm.

"Those notes look a lot like yours," Malfoy said suspiciously, "And, if you did brew it before, it would explain why you already knew the ingredients and barely looked at the directions while you brewed."

"Aren't you observant?" said Alex sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "I know the ingredients because I read. You should try it sometime, it'll help expand your tiny little brain. And I don't look at the directions as often because I know what I'm doing!"

"Because you've brewed it before!"

"No, because I've read it before," said Alex. She wasn't lying; she had to read the instructions before brewing. "Those notes are mine because I wrote in stuff I thought would make it better. Now, is that all you wanted to talk about or are you going to keep on trying to get me in trouble?"

"I don't want to get you in trouble," Malfoy said quietly, "That's why I'm doing this, I'm warning you. Snape's seen this and he thinks you and your friends were up to something before. I'm trying to help."

"Why?" Alex asked angrily, bringing her voice down too, "And don't give me that whole 'making up for all those years' crap. You never do anything unless there's something to gain from it. What can you possible gain from helping me?"

"Your trust, your friendship," said Malfoy. Alex would have laughed if his face wasn't so serious. "I've realized that I was a jerk, I know that now. We have a lot more in common than you think we do. We like potions, we live in the same neighborhood, our houses were made by the same architect, we're even in the same classes. But if you want me to help you, I need to know the truth. Did you ever brew the Polyjuice Potion before?"

Alex just stood there, her mouth slightly open in shock. Malfoy wanted to be friends? They had things in common? Realizing she had to answer, she tried to formulate syllables.

"No, I never brewed it before."

Malfoy nodded, but his face showed he didn't believe her, and said, "Then I'll see you later. Good luck with the Arithmancy homework."

Alex headed back to her friends and sat down in a trance. Thoughts were spinning and she didn't even hear the others until they shook her.

"What?" she asked, looking around.

"You okay, Alex?" Harry asked, "You barely even noticed us when you came over here."

"Did he do something to you?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"No," said Alex, shaking her head and pulling over her Arithmancy work, "He didn't do anything, that was the weird part."

...

September flew by like the leaves outside the castle walls. Alex really enjoyed her time with Hagrid as he showed her different creatures. She was learning a lot and Hagrid was definitely a better instructor when it was one-on-one training. Lessons with Draco continued and it was as if the dungeon was a neutral zone. They barely talked outside of discussing the proper method of brewing a potion and asking each other to pass an ingredient or so. Even though they didn't talk, Alex knew that something was changing between them. It wasn't a big change or anything like that. But the fact that they could be in the same room together without biting each others' heads off was definitely a huge progress.

She only wished she was making some progress in her time with Snape. Sadly, all she ever felt after those lessons was annoyance and fatigue. Alex had returned from a particularly grueling lesson with Snape and saw people gathered around the bulletin board, talking anxiously.

"What now?" she asked Fred as she tried to read.

"Dumbledore wants all the students to be in the Great Hall at eight tomorrow morning before classes start." Fred said.

"Is someone in trouble?" Hermione asked, coming over to them and staring accusingly at the twins.

"If they are, it's not us," George said with his hands up.

So the next morning, Alex, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went down to breakfast at their normal time and saw the Great Hall had new colored banners. There was light blue with two wands crossing each other on the right side. To the left was a dark colored banner that seemed to be made of a heavier material. People around them seemed to know what they meant, even Ron did.

"The blue is Beauxbaton's school color and seal," Ron said, "They're a school in France somewhere. The dark banner is for Durmstrang, no one knows exactly where that is. They don't like to talk about their school much, my dad told me. He said that he worked with someone from there and all he could get out of him was that it is very cold where they are."

Before Alex could ask anymore questions, Dumbledore stood up and greeted the school with a smile.

"I assume everyone here is wondering why we have the banners of other wizarding schools in our Great Hall? No need to worry, we are not combining schools, we are competing against them in the Tri-Wizard Tournament."

Gasps and cheers erupted and Dumbledore waited patiently until everyone was silent.

"For those of you who know about it, I ask you to still pay attention because the rules have been changed since your parents have explained it to you. The Tri-Wizard Tournament is a friendly competition between the three largest wizarding schools in Europe: Beauxbatons Academy, Durmstrang, and Hogwarts. It takes place every few years, but this is the first time in a long time since we have actually done it. The rules have been fixed for the safety of the students. To tell you about them, I introduce you all to Mr. Barty Crouch."

A side door opened and Mr. Crouch came in, looking a little thinner than before. Hermione noticed to and gave a satisfied sniff and muttered, "Mustn't know how to cook without his elf."

"Good morning everyone," Mr. Crouch said in his business tone, "Over the years, the Tri-Wizard Tournament has been for promoting national school unity. However, it has not always been the safest way of doing so. This year, my fellow Ministry officials and myself have been working very hard for your safety and the safety of those you love."

Alex turned to her friends and raised her eyebrows questioningly. This sounded like it wasn't very safe before, like people actually died during the competition.

"The rules are as follows: There will be only one witch or wizard per school so that there will be three players. This is why it is called Tri-Wizard, three wizards and three schools. There will also be three tasks the contestants must go through and they will be difficult, testing not only your magical skills, but your metal and physical skills as well. The winner will be the one with the most points at the end of the three tasks and will receive a thousand galleons, the Tri-Wizard Cup, and glory for their school."

He paused and looked at all the students. Everyone was listening eagerly, each wanting the glory, and the money too.

"There is an age limit this year. No one under the age of seventeen by Halloween may enter."

Angry shouts filled the Great Hall. Alex sighed, it would have been great to enter but she was nowhere near the age limit. Fred and George however, who would be seventeen in April, were furious. They were the last to stop booing, and only stopped because McGonagall gave them a withering look.

"Thank you Mr. Crouch," Dumbledore said and a very small applause filled the hall as Mr. Crouch left through the side door again without a wave of good-bye. "On Halloween, we will have our feast as usual, but with a few special guests. The members competing for Beauxbaton's and Durmstrang will be joining us for the year and I know you all will make them feel at home here.

"You will have all Halloween day, for those who are eligible, to sign up for the Tournament. Details about how to sign up will be told at lunch on Halloween, after the other students arrive. You will only have your first two classes that day and after your second period, you will drop your bags off in your common room and go out onto the grounds to await our guests. Now, go off and learn from your teachers!"

All day, people were talking about the tournament. It was a relief for Alex because people were talking about that more than her. She managed to get through the entire day without having to use her Invisibility Necklace to avoid the stares and pointing. Finally, she headed down to the dungeons and found not Malfoy, but Snape waiting for her.

"Until Mr. Malfoy comes in, I need to discuss something with you. Amazingly, you have completed all the training necessary for the next part of our lessons. Starting next week, I will be teaching you the art of Occlumency and Legilimency. I can see you have not the faintest idea what I am talking about," Snape said, his lip curling, "Occlumency is protecting your mind from invaders while Legilimency is using your mind to invade others'."

"So…I'm going to learn how to look into people's minds?" Alex asked, "Isn't that private stuff?"

"It is important to learn," Snape said coldly, "Dumbledore insists you learn it. It may come to be useful, learning what people think about."

"The mind is the only place where people can think whatever they want without others knowing," said Alex, "I don't want to invade their privacy. If they think to themselves that I'm an idiot, great for them! I don't want to learn Legilimency. You can tell Dumbledore that I don't believe in reading things that aren't meant to be read."

"You foolish girl!" spat Snape angrily, "Legilimency isn't all about reading minds, you can use it to your advantage. You can have the upper hand on someone."

Alex just stared back at him, her eyes fiery. Snape gave her a malicious smile and muttered something. Suddenly, Alex felt pressure in her head. It got harder and harder until Alex had to screw up her eyes to fight it. In her mind's eye, she saw a metal door being forced open and a flood of memories coming through.

Her grandparents' dead faces, their bodies being lowered into the grave, Fluffy growling viciously at them, Harry being strangled by Quirrell, Alex fell to her knees as she tried desperately to close her mind, the Basilisk's voice in the walls, Lupin transforming, her pain when she thought her father was going to the dementors.

"What's going on in here?"

Snape's concentration slipped and Alex used that to force him out and to shut her mind. She opened her eyes and found herself on her knees with Snape standing over her and Malfoy by the door, looking from Snape to Alex with anger and fear. Alex realized she was shaking horribly and stood, leaning on the table for support. Snape gave her a look of deepest loathing and swept to the door. Just before leaving, he turned back.

"I'll speak to the Headmaster about this." He closed the door with a BANG and Alex looked at Malfoy. Her knees buckled and she fell. She braced herself for the cold flagstone, but found she never hit it. Malfoy had run over and caught her before she hit the ground.

"What the bloody hell did he do to you?" he said as he helped her into a chair and got a cup of water.

"Nothing," said Alex, her voice shaking just as much as her body was and she knew he wouldn't buy it.

"Nothing?" Malfoy said angrily as he brought her water over, "I walk in there and find you on your knees, shaking, while he's standing over you! He obviously did something because I've never seen you shake like this before."

"And you care why?" Alex snapped, eyes aglow with an internal fire, "For the last three years, you have never cared if I've gotten hurt. Hell, I bet you've secretly enjoyed it!"

"Can't a guy be nice?" asked Malfoy wearily.

"Nice, you? Oh that's a laugh!" snarled Alex with an eye roll.

"Look, I know you don't believe me when I say I just want to try and mend things between us. But even so, can you at least enjoy the fact that I'm not making your life a living hell?"

"You never made my life hell," she said with a glare, "I can handle anything you say or do to me."

"Nevertheless, if you can't understand why yet, at least just sit back and enjoy it. So," he said, returning the conversation back to its original topic, "Are you going to tell me what Professor Snape was doing?"

"I…I don't want to talk about it," she whispered.

Malfoy opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it and began preparing the potion while Alex tried to calm herself down. What Snape just did was like last year during her detention, only worse. He chose all the horrible memories in her life and played them before her eyes, making her relive the pain, sorrow, and fear. Now more than ever, she never wanted to learn how to do that, only how to defend herself from it. Once she was sure she wouldn't fall over again, Alex stood up and helped her partner with the potion. They worked in silence the entire time and as they cleaned, Alex thinking about what Malfoy had said and done over the last month. It wasn't until they had finished and were leaving that Alex spoke.

"Thanks, by the way," she said before he opened the door, "If you hadn't come in and stopped…it, I don't know what would have happened."

He just nodded turned to leave. Feeling like she wasn't finished, she spoke again.

"See you tomorrow, Draco."

He stopped and spun around, a strange look on his face. Alex just stood there, trying not to laugh at him. He looked totally shocked.

"You…You just called me by my first name," he said, obviously taken aback.

"Yeah, well, after all you've done for me, I think you deserve it. I may not get why you're acting like this, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy not being tortured by you and your cronies," she said with a shrug, "Unless you want me to call you Malfoy, that is."

"No," he said shaking his head and grinning, "Draco's fine."

"Good-bye Draco."

"Good-bye Alex."

She felt like she was ten times lighter and happier as she went to bed that night.

Author's Note: So…who's enjoying the Alex/Draco relationship so far? I know it seems like they became friends kind of quickly, but a month had passed without Draco being a complete asshole. If that bothers you, I apologize and you can just imagine that it happened at a slower rate. :P

Since my review reply is still down, let me get back to my reviewers:

Azuresilver: I know, Alex really had to deal with a lot of crap. Thanks for your review!

0Goddess Nyx0: The purpose is just so that his two best students are semi-challenged. Sadly, he's not planning anything for them. I like the way you think though! :D Yeah, Alex really hates all the attention but other things will happen so that the attention will be taken off of her. ;) Thanks for your review!

Madscientist128: Haha, thanks hun! I'm so glad you liked this chapter but there are many more to come. Hopefully you'll enjoy the others as much as you enjoyed the last one. I know, Alex has it pretty rough with those Slytherins, huh? Thanks for your review!

Natsuki-chan2912: No, I'm not planning on Alex competing with Harry. I had thought about it when I first wrote it, but I decided that would be too much. Hogwarts already has two champions. Can't be too greedy, can we? ;) And I'm sorry to say that Alex and Draco won't be getting together anytime soon. They move…extremely…slow. However, I really like that idea of Snape walking in on them. I might write a one-shot about it, obviously an AU for my AU story. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and thanks for your review!

Are you calling me crazy?: Haha, I'm glad you liked my disclaimer. I like to make them fun but sometimes I just run out of ideas or am too tired to think of them, since I update at night before I go to bed. Yay, I'm so glad you figured out how to fix your Document Manager! I can't wait to read the next chapter of your story! And yeah, I'm a senior. It's awesome and sad at the same time because I'm excited for college and all but my high school is really close-knit. Anyway, thanks for your review!

ZebraPotter18: Aw, thank you so much! I hope to hear from you as the story goes along. Thanks for your review!

GinnyWho: Hooray, you're reading the prequel! Let me know what you think of it please! Thank you for your review and I'm glad you like Alex!

Finally, since this A/N is long enough, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my friend madscientist128! Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and all of the fun that Alex is going through. :D

Please follow in the footsteps of the lovely reviewers above and take the time to review this chapter. Thank you! :D