Author's Note: If I were J.K Rowling, I would be totally awesome. As it is, I'm merely a teenager who enjoys writing about her world. madscientist128: I hope you enjoy this and I edited this story while listening to "Somewhere Only We Know" on repeat! :D
Chapter 10 Suspicious Almost Always Lead to Arguments and Awkwardness
Alex burst in the potions room and found Draco sitting by the cauldron with everything laid out neatly.
"I was about to get a search party," he said with a playful smile, "What took you so long?"
"Hermione was explaining Arithmancy to me," Alex said, panting and sitting down on a desk, "We lost track of the time."
"You have a hard time with that subject, don't you?" Draco asked, coming over to her and sitting down beside her, "Here, let me see the weekend's homework."
Alex pulled it out of her bag and handed it to him. He looked it over, occasionally nodding or shaking his head. He pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing for Alex to join him.
"What are you doing?" she asked, sitting down and looking over his shoulder.
"Well, unless you want to hand this in with all these errors, I'm going to help you get this straight. By the end of the year, you'll be getting 'Outstanding' on all of your homework."
"But what about the potion?" Alex asked, "Don't we need to—?"
"Relax," he said with a smile, "I've done all we can do for today, but we need to check on it in exactly twenty-four hours. Can you do that?"
"All right," said Alex, "I have to warn you though, I'm really bad at this."
"I'll be the judge of that."
Draco proceeded to go over every problem in the packet. He made everything so simple that Alex wondered why she had never gotten it. While Hermione would get impatient after awhile if Alex didn't get something, Draco would try explaining it a different way, or relate it back to something in their life. When Hermione would have stopped to get herself calm, Draco was willing to spend hours on end going over the same set of problems. Finally, they reached the last and the hardest problems. Alex was getting frustrated because she didn't understand it, no matter how Draco explained it.
"I told you I'm horrible!" she burst out angrily, "I'm just not good at this! Maybe I should drop it and save me, and you, the aggravation of dealing with my stupidity!"
"Alex," Draco said gently, "You're a lot better off than you think. You understand everything, that's evident in that you were able to figure it out. Not everything in life will come easy for you, and this is one of those times you have to work especially hard. But just because you have to work more, does not by any means make you stupid. You're the smartest person I know, besides Granger but she's smarter than everyone."
Alex laughed and looked at Draco. Why hadn't she known he was so nice, so funny, so different than the other Slytherins? Hermione's voice came floating into her mind, "Malfoy's manipulating and cunning…just be careful". Shaking her head to remove those thoughts, she put her packet back into her bag and looked at her watch. Gasping, she stood up in alarm. It was eleven o' clock, well past curfew time!
"What's wrong, Alex?" Draco asked.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" she whispered, as though someone would hear them, "It's eleven, curfew is at nine thirty!"
Draco cursed and began pacing. Alex was nervous, but not for the same reason as her friend. She would have no problem getting back to her common room unseen, though it was much further. No, her problem was Draco. They were in the dungeons but, if memory served her right, the Slytherin common room was well past the classrooms and deep into the damp corridors where Filch could be lurking unnoticed. She couldn't let him take that chance, not after all he had done for her. But how was she to explain everything?
"…and yours is all the way upstairs," Draco was muttering to himself, "Filch could be anywhere!"
"We don't need to worry about being caught," Alex said quietly, fiddling with her heart-shaped locket and making her decision. Besides, she could always put a Memory Charm on him if she decided she wanted to.
"What do you mean we don't have to worry?" said Draco, "We'll get a detention for this, it's extremely late! The last time I was caught out of bed, I had to go into the forest!"
"Calm down, Draco," said Alex, walking over and putting a hand on his arm. He stopped pacing and stared at her, "I…I have a plan. Keep your eyes on me, don't look away."
She backed away slowly, Draco's grey eyes on her. Taking a deep breath, she turned the knob to the right and she vanished. He blinked, staring at the spot where he saw her disappear from. Smiling, Alex walked right up to him and turned the knob to the left, reappearing. Draco jumped back in alarm and looked wide-eyed at her.
"How did you…where did you…what's going on, Alex?"
"This was my mother's necklace, there were only three made in the world. My aunt and my great-step-grandmother each had one. Whoever wears it becomes invisible."
She waited for him to react, but he just stared from the locket around her neck to her face. Finally, something clicked and he spoke.
"Are you telling me that you can become invisible at will? Wow Alex," he said, chuckling, "That's kind of creepy, I'll never know if you're right behind me or something."
"So, you like my plan?"
"I love it."
Alex enlarged the chain so that she and Draco could both wear it and be comfortable. They left the dungeon and began walking through the winding passageways. Draco would whisper directions to her as they walked. They had just turned a corner and were stopping for Draco to get his bearings when shuffling footsteps filled their ears. A light up ahead was growing larger and Alex saw a pair of cat eyes looking just where they were standing. All of a sudden, Alex was pushed into the corner of the wall with Draco in front of her. She saw his face reflected by the lantern, his eyes were wide. He was scared.
"Did you hear something, my sweet?" Filch asked his cat, Mrs. Norris, "Are there students out of bed tonight?"
The lantern light was getting brighter and Draco had to move closer to avoid being hit by the lantern. He was right on top of Alex, who sucked in her stomach to give Draco more space. Over his shoulder, she could see Filch look around, shrug, and mutter something. He walked off, Mrs. Norris following at his heels. Alex let out a great breath and leaned her head back. She noticed that she was still up against the wall and that Draco hadn't moved.
"What are you—?"
He put a finger over her mouth and pointed to his ear. Alex listened hard and heard something too. Another pair of footsteps were coming, though much quieter. A pale light came by and Alex saw the distinct outline of Snape's face. He walked right by them, much to their relief. After a few seconds, Draco leaned close to Alex's face.
"I think it's safe," he breathed softly.
Alex nodded and they continued to the Slytherin common room without anymore run-ins. They stopped at a wall and Alex took the necklace off Draco. She too made herself visible.
"That was interesting," she said in a whisper, "I've never had that happen before."
"What, Filch creeping up on you?" he asked, smiling playfully.
"That and Snape being in the same area," said Alex, "So I'll see you tomorrow?"
"You better believe it!"
She waved and became invisible. Draco stared at the spot where she had been, sighed and shook his head, muttering the password to get into the common room. A door appeared and he vanished through it. Quietly as possible, Alex returned to her common room and went to sleep.
…...
"Where were you all last night?" Hermione asked as Alex pulled on a sweatshirt to go outside with the others.
"I was working on the potion, remember?" said Alex coolly. She was still a little upset with Hermione.
"I never saw you come in though," said Hermione as they walked to the common room, "And I went to bed an hour after curfew, which means you came back late."
"We lost track of time," Alex replied, stopping at the bottom of the girls' staircase. Hermione gave her a raised eyebrow look, making it hard for Alex to control her temper, "Nothing happened, all right? He's just a friend, not even a good one like you guys."
"I believe you Alex, but—"
"But what?" she snapped, "You actually think I would throw myself at a guy like that? That I would waste my time in a broom cupboard when I could be doing something I enjoy? And I mean, come on Hermione! I may be spending time with Draco and learning about him, but I cannot easily forget the hell he put you all and myself through the last three years. It will take a lot, a lot, for me to even think about liking him in an even remotely romantic way after all of that. And if you really think that I am that easy, Hermione, then you don't know me at all!"
Alex turned on her heel and used her long legs to stride quickly out of the common room. She was happy to be going with Hagrid, that way she could have the brisk air to calm her down. Why would Hermione even suggest that she and Malfoy would…it was too much for her to imagine as she shivered in displeasure.
Besides, she thought as she knocked on Hagrid's door, Guys don't like me like that. They only talk to me to ask about homework and school.
She and Hagrid went back to the newly built shed for the Beauxbaton's winged horses. Alex found them swaying slightly and they spoke to her in slurs.
"How much wine did you give them, Hagrid?" asked Alex as one white horse leaned against the shed wall and was giggling.
"She told me one bucket a horse," said Hagrid, pointing to the tubs he called buckets, "Yeh think I put too much?"
"Just a tad," Alex said with a smile and began combining the wine. She was carrying it in when heavy footsteps entered the corral and she saw Madame Maxime invite herself into the area.
"Vere is 'Agrid?" she asked Alex, like she was a servant.
"He's inside," said Alex, struggling under the weight, "I'll get him."
She placed the wine on the table and told Hagrid who was out there. He jumped about a foot in the air, causing several pots to clang together, and began putting his hands down on his hair, as though to tame it.
"How do I look?" he asked nervously.
"Uh…great Hagrid, like always. Why?" she asked but Hagrid was out the door and at the shed by the time she said those words.
She waited for him to come back, but after fifteen minutes, decided he didn't need her to do anything else. She left him a note and went back to the castle. Remembering her essay in Defense Against the Dark Arts, she headed to the library where she found Hermione sitting by herself. Unsure of what to do, Alex began searching for books that would help her. As she went down a row of shelves, she saw a guy with a crooked nose peeping through the books toward the other side. He hadn't seen her, but she saw it was Krum, looking at a studying Hermione.
"You know," she whispered, making him start and spin around, "You can go say hi to her, she won't bite or anything."
"Vou know her?" Krum asked.
"Her name's Hermione," said Alex, "She's a Gryffindor and my friend. But like I said, if you want to introduce yourself, go ahead."
Giggling from the next bookshelf made them turn around. A group of girls from first to seventh years were standing behind a shelf, some glaring at Alex angrily. A book slammed shut and Alex saw Hermione storm out of the library, obviously annoyed. Krum's shoulders slumped and he sighed.
"Vey follow me everyvhere," he said, jerking his head at the groupies, "I cannot get a moment's peace."
He left the library followed by the girls. Alex checked out her book and returned to the common room, sitting next to Harry and Ron.
"Where's Hermione?" she asked as she was finishing her essay one hour later, "We should leave for the Great Hall in a few minutes."
"She's in the dormitory," said Ron, stretching and yawning, "Came in here all upset by something just a few minutes before you did."
Alex told them to go one ahead and waited until they left. She then went up the stairs and entered the dormitory room. Hermione was sitting on the floor reading, but looked up when Alex entered.
"Hey."
"Hi."
Alex stood there, not knowing what to say. Finally, Hermione spoke, breaking the awkward silence.
"Saw you in the library today," she said, "Those giggling idiots were distracting me. Every time Viktor Krum goes in there, he has to bring them too."
"He doesn't like it, you know," said Alex, joining her friend on the floor, "He says he doesn't get a moment's peace with them following him around."
"Yeah, well, that's what you get when you're a famous Quidditch player," said Hermione, "He's always staring at me too, and that's gets annoying. He thinks he's being so secretive, hiding behind the bookshelves."
"I think he has a thing for you," said Alex with a smile.
Hermione gave a snort and smiled back, "Please, why would he be interested in me? I'm just a girl he sees in the library everyday. I'm not even that pretty."
"Don't say that!" said Alex, slapping Hermione's arm semi-lightly, "You're very pretty and that's why he likes you."
"I don't want him to like me," she muttered but before Alex could ask what she meant, Parvati and Lavender entered, telling them they would be late it they didn't hurry down.
The Great Hall was packed with students. Alex had to search a little before she found Harry and Ron. She pushed her way through the crowd and joined them, Hermione following her. Just as they sat down, Dumbledore raised his hands for silence.
"Thank you all for coming!" he said, his blue eyes twinkling merrily, "The Goblet of Fire has chosen our three champions for the tournament."
He put out all the candles except for the jack o' lanterns floating above the tables. Alex watched the goblet's blue flames and jumped when it turned bright red. A piece of paper flew out and Dumbledore caught it.
"The champion of Beauxbaton's Academy is Fleur Delacore!"
Everyone clapped and the vela girl stood and walked up to Dumbledore, shaking his hand. He pointed to a side door and she went in. All eyes returned to the goblet as it glowed red and a second piece of paper flew out.
"Durmstrang's champion is Viktor Krum!"
"No surprise there!" shouted Ron as he applauded. Krum slouched over to the Hogwarts Headmaster, shook his hand, and went through the same door. For a third time, the goblet glowed red and a piece of paper was caught by Dumbledore.
"Finally, the Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff table went crazy. It took Cedric a few minutes to reach Dumbledore because everyone was patting him on the back and high-five-ing him. Once he was through the door, Dumbledore stood in front of the goblet to talk to the remaining students.
"Congratulations to our three champions, I know you all will cheer them on as they-"
But he stopped as students were whispering and pointing behind him. He turned and saw the goblet was glowing red for a fourth time. A fourth piece of paper shot out of the fire and Dumbledore caught it, reading out the name.
"Harry Potter."
Whispers went out through the hall and Alex's jaw dropped. She looked at Harry, who obviously was just as confused as the rest of the school was. Shakily, he stood up and walked up to Dumbledore. No hand shaking this time, the Headmaster pointed to the side door and followed Harry inside.
"Everyone go back to their common rooms immediately!" Professor McGonagall said sternly.
The crowd of people began shuffling out the door and there was a bottle neck as everyone tried to push through. In the confined space, Alex heard people talking amongst themselves.
"Potter always gets the glory, why can't Hufflepuff have a chance?"
"How could he have gotten his name in there? He's only fourteen!"
"It's not fair, it's always Potter this and Potter that!"
"Hey, why don't you shut your trap!" snapped Alex to the person who said the last comment, a sixth year Slytherin, "You really think he wants to get himself killed in a tournament?"
"You would say that wouldn't you, you're his little scar partner," sneered the Slytherin, causing his housemates to snigger, "Come on now, the winner of this tournament wins not only a ton of galleons but eternal glory. It's got Potter's name written all over it!"
After jinxing the boy into a polka-dotted pig, Alex pushed her way ahead, Hermione and Ron following. Ron's face was stony and didn't even laugh when Alex said the Slytherin was handsomer as a pig. They were separated as they got closer to the door so Alex never asked him what his issue was.
She felt someone grab her hand and spun around to see Draco. She let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
"If it was anyone but you or my other friends, you'd have been in the Hospital Wing." she said with a laugh.
"Good thing you looked before you jinxed then," he said and dragged her out of the current of the crowd, down to the dungeons. Once the door of the classroom was closed, Draco let go of her hand and she began pacing.
"Everyone thinks it was Harry who put his name in," she vented as she went back and forth, becoming more agitated with each step,"But it couldn't have been! Harry wouldn't have done it! He hates all the attention he gets because of who he is, just as much as I do right now!"
"But how did his name even get in?" Draco asked, "Someone must've put it in, even if Potter didn't himself."
"Harry wouldn't have asked an older student to put his name in, if that's what you're getting at," said Alex, "No, someone must've done it to try and get Harry killed."
"But why—?"
"Because that's always the case!" Alex said angrily and still pacing, though much faster now, "People are always trying to kill him because they think that'll bring Voldemort back! They want revenge for something he did when he was a baby…something I did with him." Alex stopped pacing and stared off into space, her mind racing, "They could have put me in there too, but they didn't. Why…Why just Harry? Unless…they don't know about me or…they've got something else planned for me…a plan to kill me too."
Draco went over to her and drew her close. Alex put her head on the top of his shoulder and sighed. Right now, she needed the comforting gesture and she could feel the sympathy in his embrace.
"Nothing is going to happen to you, nothing will happen to you" he said quietly, "I won't let them hurt you, ever. I promise you, Alex."
Alex pulled away and eyed him suspiciously. However, his expression was completely serious and she had a feeling he really meant it. He wasn't about to go back on his word in this case.
"Thanks Draco," she said, smiling, "I'm glad I can count on you." He merely nodded and patted her on the shoulder.
They spent the next ten minutes adding the ingredients. Alex happily said that it was almost finished. All that was left was a little of who they were changing into.
"Um…are we actually going to use it?" he asked.
"We should you know, shame to waste all the time and effort we put into it."
They moved the cauldron into the far corner of the classroom and cleaned up their area. It was eight thirty but they didn't feel like leaving yet so they just talked for another fifteen minutes. Their conversation ranged from music to food. Alex was telling Draco her favorite types of candy.
"I'm a huge chocolate fan," she said, "My favorite chocolate bar is Hershey's because it's so creamy and it reminds me of warm nights, sitting by a bonfire back in America."
"Hershey's?" said Draco.
"It's a kind of Muggle candy," she explained, "I'll ask Erin to send me a bar so you can taste it."
"Honeydukes has great chocolate," he said, "I think we go next weekend, right?"
"Yeah, it got bumped forward because of the schools coming."
"You going with anyone?" he asked.
"Just my friends, why?"
"Just curious," he said with a smile, "I know this place off the main road where they have the best chocolate fudge. Maybe I could show you next weekend?"
"Sounds great!" said Alex, "How about we meet by the Shrieking Shack around one, then we've already had lunch and can have dessert."
Draco and Alex said their good-byes and headed back to their common rooms, this time before curfew.
Author's Note: So…I'm dying to hear your reactions to this chapter! Likes, dislikes? Anything you were expecting that didn't happen or something you want to know if it will occur later on? Leave a review like these lovely folks and I will answer your question!
azuresilver: Don't worry, Draco's niceness towards Alex will not go unnoticed. Trust me, it will be very interesting when all that occurs. ;) And he will be in a fight too! Thanks for your review!
GinnyWho: I'm so glad you enjoyed the prequel and are still enjoying the series! It's so good to hear that. Thanks for your review!
Peanut7890: Let me welcome you to the series then and tell you that it's so great to have you reading it, even if you did stumble on it by accident. It was fate! Haha! :D Congratulations for figuring out Alex was Sirius' daughter; yes, the Black family eyes are always a bit of a give-away but I love them so much! As for getting closer to Viktor, hopefully you enjoyed this chapter then! They talk every once in a while, but they won't be as close as Hermione and he were with correspondence and certainly not romantically. I decided not to have Alex in the tournament because that would make Hogwarts have three champions and that would be really unfair to the other schools. I guess good ol' Voldie will have to find another way to get to Alex…hehe! I hope you continue to enjoy the series and I hope to see many more of your reviews! Thanks for your review!
Natsuki-chan2912: The centaurs aren't really important in the next few books but their words are obviously very important in the final book. The Battle of Hogwarts will still be very important but Alex's role in everything will hopefully add more depth to it all. I don't want to give away the ending so if you stick around for the final book, you'll get to see what I have planned up in the ol' noggin. ;) Anyway, thanks for your review!
MsPaigeMedows: Actually, a lot of the book's events will be the same. It's more the motives for it all that will be changed. But this is AU so don't worry, some stuff will not be in canon. This lets me let my imagination run wild…a scary thought but it'll turn out all right in the end. As for Alex's date to the Yule Ball, you'll just have to wait and see…hehe! ;) I hope you continue to enjoy this book and thank you so much for your review!
There you have it! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, put me in their favorites, and put me on alert. As always, your support is a better pick-me-up than Starbucks hot chocolate (my version of coffee since I can't drink that stuff)! :D