Alex was very focused and paying close attention, as Ron spoke about the various halls and corridors and rooms that they passed, as they walked along Ron's tour. He was certainly paying much more attention to his surroundings, as Ron walked in front of Alex, leading him, he would spin around, walk backwards, and look everywhere and anywhere except forwards, the way they were headed. He also seemed to Alex to be in a hurry, which he most definitely was, pointing at things and places around the school with his index finger out in front of him, completely turned around by the time he was done regurgitating the relevant information at Alex, pointing and facing behind while already on to the next point of interest. Alex was paying close enough attention to Ron, at least, to see that he was about to practically run directly into one of the other students, a girl. Ron was speaking too fast for Alex to get a word in edgewise, so the two students collided with a crash and tumble, and books and pages all in the air then scattered on the ground. Ron began apologizing, wondering who he was apologizing to, his other hand on his forehead where he had taken most of his fall. It was Hermione.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted.

"Sorry." fretted Ron as he helped Hermione up.

"Next time watch where you're going whenever you do tours of Hogwarts!" nagged Hermione as she reached down to get her books that were scattered around the school's floor. "After all, I'm the one who taught you about this academy in the first place. If it wasn't for the fact that I have to study for my classes, I could be the one doing the tours here." She retorted,

"And that was the last piece of birthday cake you're now wearing."

Alex's ears perked up, "Oh, birthday cake? I do enjoy a good birthday. I enjoy them so much that I have one every year! Where's the birthday boy or girl? You know what people get on their birthday, don't you? One for each year?"

"Oh," Hermione smiled, just realizing the joke as she began to answer,

"She's right here. I mean, it's me. It's my birthday today actually, I just turned 18. I would offer you a piece of cake but -."

Hermione looked over at Ron. Seeing him with pink birthday cake frosting smudged all over his face made her feel just that little bit embarrassed. She then looked back over at Alex, who was still looking at her.

"That's okay, it looks good on Ron." Alex mused.

They both exchanged a laugh as Ron cleaned the frosting off of his face.

"Uh, Alex this is Hermione, Hermione, this is the new student, Alex." Ron said.

"Pleased to meet you, Hermione." Alex said as he gently took her hand and raised it upwards ever so slightly. He kissed her hand, and Hermione blushed.

Ron, in a vain attempt to display authority, lunged over to them, and grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled it away from Alex.

"There's no kissing in the halls, it's one of the rules. Hermione, I thought you knew better!" He said quickly.

"Ouch, Ron! My arm…and you're getting frosting on my sleeve!" Hermione winced as she pulled her arm back from Ron.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Alex asked, glaring at Ron. "It's rather rude to grab anyone like that, especially a fine lady like this Hermione. I think an apology is in order."

Hermione started to say "Oh, but that's not necess-"

"Of course it is. Ron…apologize to the young lady".

Ron paused. He felt small, and didn't like being told what to do.

"Hermione, I'm sorry but if someone saw, you could have gotten into trouble"

There was an awkward moment or two of the three students exchanging looks.

Ron raced to think of how he could salvage any self confidence he still had.

"As I was saying, Hermione, Alex is a new transfer student here and I was just showing him around Hogwarts."

"Oh really, which academy are you from exactly?" Hermione asked as she wondered where this new mysterious student came from.

Alex was dead quiet for almost a minute as he tried to remember the name of the wizarding school he was from, it almost looked like he was coming up with some sort of clever lie.

"Why, it's the one that's in Russia of course!" Alex replied proudly with a smirk that grew across his face.

"Oh, you mean Koldovstoretz?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, that's the one," Alex said.

"The dear old skolliwolli of Koldovsolli, yes, yes, lots of good memories there."

"What did you call it?" Hermione looked puzzled.

"Oh, sorry, Ron said I shouldn't speak that way. I was using a bit of the old slang we used to use. I'm finding it hard to cut it out, it's my like, mother tongue."

Hermione's face became even more blushed,

"Oh well, after school sometime you should show me it."

"My tongue you mean?"

Ron coughed loudly, "Anyway! We've got to be going now, just started the tour we have. See you later Hermione!"

"I'll see you later?" Hermione asked to Alex.

Alex smirked and nodded his head yes back to her as he and Ron continued down the hall on Ron's tour.