Miss me? No? Thought not. Haha, woooow. I haven't updated in a LONG time. I've been caught up in school work, so I hope you guys can forgive me? *guilty smile* I'm so sorry – but for those who are reading this right now, thanks for sticking with me and being patient! =) So because of the long wait, if you can't remember what happened last chapter, I think it's best to go back and read it, haha. Also I'm curious to know your opinions, so I'm going to ask a few questions at the end and if it's ok, please answer them in a review. Sorry if this chapter is terrible, I was sort of uninspired but I HAD to update eventually, right? *O*

Yeah, so this chapter is NOTHING special. And I'm sorry that this chapter wasn't great and didn't involve any couples or romance, but I wanted a bit of mystery in here somewhere :p Hope you enjoy!

As I lay awake in bed that night, Malfoy's unsettling words echoed in my head.

Stay as an outsider, out of the attention, where you belong and where you won't get yourself killed, unlike your brainless mother.

Did he know something I didn't? It took me a while to recover from the frozen state he had left me in. If it hadn't been for Snape, who returned to the room minutes after, I would most likely still be down in the dungeons, staring blankly.

When I returned from detention, Harry, Hermione and Ron were on my tail, expressing their concern as they asked many questions, most of them having to do with Malfoy and whether he hurt me or not. As much as I loved my friends, I hated how they thought it was their duty to involve themselves in everything. They might be the golden trio, but it would be nice for someone to remind them that the world doesn't revolve around them. Sighing, I snuggled my face deeper into my pillow. I probably wouldn't be saying half of these things if the bags of exhaustion beneath my eyes weren't weighing me down.

Much to my dismay, I didn't get to sleep until three hours later, and it was all thanks to a blonde Slytherin and his questionable behaviour.

Considering I fell asleep late, I awoke rather early the following morning. I didn't bother to wake Hermione as I crept out of the girls' dorms, thinking of a convincing excuse to tell her later when she asks why I didn't wait for her. Truth is, I didn't want to. I didn't want to see anyone today. I didn't know why and my sudden change of mood even made myself sceptical. I hardly ever got angry but if I did it was for something reasonable. But I had no excuse today. I just felt the need to grip something in my hands and break it.

I looked around the deserted common room which surely would remain empty for another hour or so, before walking out of the portrait and heading down to the great hall. I wasn't necessarily hungry but if I didn't do something, Merlin knows what type of scandal my anger would persuade me to do. I walked through the grand doors and bumped into something hard in the process.

"Would you watch where you're going?" A voice hissed. I looked up into the eyes of Draco Malfoy.

This is your chance, ask him what secrets he knows of your mother… A stern voice echoed in my head.

"Sorry." I grumbled, pushing myself up to my feet and brushing the invisible dirt off my robes. "Why are you up so early?" I eyed him suspiciously.

Don't forget Alex, remember to ask him about what he let slip yesterday! The voice in my head warned once again.

"Now why would I tell you…" He growled, looking me up and down. "A blabbermouth Gryffindor, of all people? A untrustworthy lot you Gryffindor's are, shouldn't be known for your bravery but your nosiness."

Come on, ask him already about your mother… it could be important… if you don't do it now, you'll forget…

I ignored the insufferable voice in my head, huffed and folded my arms across my chest. Despite our height difference, I was determined to leave this rant as the bigger person. "I only asked why you were up so early, I don't recall asking to hear your personal thoughts and feelings!"

"Might want to consider that the next time you open your mouth." He snapped before striding away.

He certainly caught me on a bad day. I was frustrated and I couldn't think of any bitter words to spit in his face. "S- shut up!" I yelled, stomping my foot against the floor while glaring at him. I was really bad at arguing, as you can see.

He half-turned around with what I thought was a smirk on face. "Shut up? Seriously?" He remarked wittily, to which I replied with a grunt. We both stood in silence for a moment, a silence which consisted of exchanging disgusted glares. He opened his mouth and I broadened my shoulders to prepare for any harsh comment he'd throw at me, when nothing came out and he smugly walked away.

I blinked, my mouth agape… what was I going to ask him again?

Ugh… about your mother… your mother! The voice yelled impatiently.

"Oh, right." I muttered, turning to summon Malfoy once more when I slumped disappointedly as his retreating form turned a corner and disappeared from my line of vision.

Unbelievable… The voice snapped disapprovingly, now adopting a tone which sounded a lot like Kim. Such a messed up girl… Forgetful, incapable of asking the simplest of questions and you're talking to yourself!

"I do not talk to mys-" I began defensively when I stopped abruptly once realising what I was about to say. Looking around the empty hallway, I shivered and continued through the doors for breakfast, wondering what triggered my peculiar mood and whether Malfoy was on his way to that cabinet or not…

I really want to know what's up with him lately. Something's not right, and the jerk of disquietedness in my stomach told me I might have something to do with it.

As days passed, my eyes seemed to have developed an attraction for Malfoy – they followed him whenever he left a room or entered one. They could easily spot out his platinum blonde hair from a sea of wizards and they sent alarming messages to my brain whenever he left dinner in a mad dash or a look of skittishness found his features. I don't think I'd be so interested in the Slytherin if not for what he said about my mother. But how could I detect a way for him to tell me such a dark secret?

I could think of one scheme, but could it work? I guess the only possible way to find out was to visit a certain Professor.

"Professor?" I asked him on the second Tuesday of November, staying behind in class as the other students rushed out the door.

"Miss. Russo, shouldn't you be running along to your next class?" Professor Slughorn smiled uneasily. Ever since I informed him rather dramatically about my mother's death he grew somewhat uncomfortable around me.

"I have a free period next, sir." I smiled, settling into a seat at the front of the class.

"I see.." He muttered thoughtfully, suddenly perking up and smiling. "Then how may I help you?"

I pulled out a piece of parchment from my bag which listed ten specific ingredients. I pushed the parchment across the table and saw his face soften with confusion as he read over my writing. "Is this particular potion familiar to you, Professor Slughorn?"

He nodded, inclining his neck to level his face with mine. "Indeed it is. A rather difficult potion to brew, my dear girl."

I nodded, displaying a small smile. "I was hoping you could help me with it. Its purpose is not for harmful reasons, I assure you. But my life's desire is to become a healer and to get the job; I need to succeed in brewing several potions – especially problematical ones."

A look of surprise invaded his beady eyes whilst he nodded and whispered. "Of course…brilliant. I'll help you right away. We should begin immediately."

The month of November flew by and faded into nothingness. December had taken its time to dazzle us with its presence, but once it arrived, I couldn't have been any more thrilled – my potion Professor Slughorn was kindly helping me with was half completed and kept hidden in the back of his office and I got to home in a few weeks time. I wasn't tired of Hogwarts, just the people within it. Including three rebellious Gryffindors.

I sort of distanced myself from the golden trio as the Christmas holidays neared and I think they had gotten used to my absence. No longer would they ask why I didn't sit by them for dinner or hang around with them in the common room, but I made sure to smile at them while passing in the hall or to work with Hermione in classes. A moaning conscious forbade me from speaking to them, Harry especially, mainly because I had to discover what Malfoy was up to and if I was determined to accomplish that challenge, I couldn't have the interrogative Boy-Who-Lived on my back, asking why I was suddenly interested in the Malfoy heir.

But keeping away from Harry had its disadvantages. Despite the fact that my cheeks still blush red whenever he looks at me, there was something I needed from him; the type of equipment he'd get rather suspicious about if I randomly walked up to him and asked if I could lend, especially since I've been giving him the cold shoulder for the past fortnight. But no matter, after this whole Malfoy situation is over, hopefully the trio can forgive me and we'll go back to normal.

One Saturday morning I awoke in a very bright mood. The potion that had taken Professor Slughorn and me twenty-one days to brew should finally be ready today. I crept out of the dormitory and rushed down to the dungeons, knocking sharply on the door to his office before the sun had even risen on the other side of the castle.

A sleepy Professor Slughorn opened the door thirty seconds later, his swollen face rather pale and wrinkled. I observed his striped pyjama's before I looked up at his sluggish expression. "Morning, sir! I was just passing by and wondered if my potion was ready?"

Now, under any circumstance, no Professor would've given me such a potent potion if fully conscious. So left but with no other choice, I set my alarm before even Hermione would stir in bed and am now bothering my Potion's master at exactly four o'clock in the morning. I doubt even Snape would be up lurking at this time…

"Uh – huh - uh, um yes. It's … it's in the back." He slurred, swaying slightly on his feet while his eyes drooped closed. A low gurgle drowsily rumbled in his throat.

I grinned and slid passed him. The gooey and frothy looking potion was spiralling around the dark cauldron at the back of his room before I lifted a small ladle I found on his desk and poured the revolting smelling substance into the flask I held in my hand. Once the flask was dangerously full and the cauldron was half-empty, I placed the lid above the flask and waved my wand. The cauldron disappeared with a small flash of light.

"Thanks, sir." I said to Professor Slughorn, who had now begun snoring lightly while leaning on the door for support. He jumped once I brushed passed him and groggily nodded and closed the door. I doubt he'd even remember I had dropped in by breakfast. Taking advantage of people was a very bad thing to do, but what other choice do I have? This plan was the only idea my useless brain could come up with to learn what Malfoy knew of my mother.

Luck was on my side today. Not only was it Saturday and I had no classes or homework to get distracted by, but I found my next victim walking in the halls hours later. Remembering the favour I needed to ask the raven-haired boy, I jogged up behind him and Ron in an empty corridor, interrupting a rather important conversation as I reached the duo. Before either of them noticed my presence, I glimpsed the worn out Advanced Potions Making book in Harry's right hand. I frowned. He was still carrying that thing around, huh?

"All she ever wants to do is kiss me, Harry!" Ron was groaning, his cheeks flushing pink. "So, you're still coming over for Christm- Oh, hullo Alex."

I stopped sheepishly by their side and smiled. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?"

Ron opened his mouth then closed it, a look of apprehension plastering his pink face. "Uh, er, no. Harry was just on his way to see Dumbledore. What's up?"

I turned to Harry and gave him the biggest smile I could muster. I felt bad for doing this, I really did; but it needed to be done. "Could I borrow the Marauders Map, Harry?"

He told me of the map a while ago and I was intrigued by it to say the least. It was one of the two things I needed to discover what Malfoy was up to – the Potion being the other.

Harry raised an eyebrow. I could see Ron looking at me curiously from the corner of my eye too. "Um … why?" Harry asked, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.

I cringed slightly, racking my brains for an excuse. Arithmancy; perfect. Harry nor Ron took Arithmancy, they chose Divination instead. I scratched the back of my neck and feigned a grimace, trying to appear as embarrassed. I've never been a very good liar but I'm sure this excuse will sound convincing and innocent enough. "I forgot to hand in my Arithmancy homework, so if I have the map I'll know where Professor Vector is and can sneak in to her classroom without her noticing I had given my assignment in late. Please. This grade is rather important."

All suspicion was erased from Harry's eyes. "Um, sure." He gave a small smile, his voice sounding slightly put-off. "Go ask Neville to get it for you, it's up in the boy's dormitories. To open it, tap your wand against the parchment and say," he lowered his voice. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

Was that it? That's all it took to get it off him? No begging, pleading, cutely batting my eyelashes and rocking on my heels? Huh, well that was easy. I gave him a bright smile. "Thanks Harry." I said. He nodded. An awkward silence soon fell upon us. "Well, bye then." I shrugged, running off.

As I proceeded down the hall, I could feel their eyes on my back and I just about heard Ron say. "Bit of a nutter, isn't she? I wonder what's gotten her so emotionless."

Emotionless? Although slightly offended, I pretended I hadn't heard him and resisted the urge to turn around and scold Ron. Instead, I pricked out my ears to catch Harry's response. His answer wasn't clear, he barely announced a word, but judging from the small huff he released before I turned the corner, it sounded as if he agreed with his redheaded friend.

Ouch.

"Thanks Neville." I grinned ten minutes later, taking the blank piece of parchment from his shaking hand. I didn't have to do much for Neville to obey my orders, I simply touched his arm and informed him what I needed him to do and he was already sprinting up the stairs with flaming red cheeks.

Wow, the sorting hat was wrong, I clearly belong in Slytherin. How many times have I lied to or sabotaged someone today? I think I've lost count. But it's all for a good cause. A voice tried reassuring in my mind and I nodded in agreement. This was for my mother; I couldn't let my guilty conscious get the better of me now. I'd save my apologies for later.

Checking to see if Neville retrieved the right piece of parchment, I huddled in the small corner of the common room and tapped my wand against the heart of the paper. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." I whispered, scanning my eyes across the room to make sure not one naked eye was watching me. When I looked back down at the map, it was activating from its blank mode to a magnificent piece of paper that was carved with black spidery lines that traced across the parchment to form a small diagram of Hogwarts with hundreds of student's footprints bouncing from room to room around the school.

I could see Hermione walking out of the library toward the Great hall for dinner, Ron walking unknowingly a few feet ahead. Harry was located in the headmaster's office with Dumbledore himself while Luna Lovegood was also making her way to the Great hall from the green houses. I watched a certain Slytherin linger around the seventh floor for a while before his footprints completely vanished from the paper. Wide-eyed and startled, I clutched the map closer to my face. Where did he go?

I stared at the spot where Malfoy stood not a second ago when a pain in my stomach increased and grumbled thunderously. I folded the map and ran up to the girl's dorms, slipping it into a secret corner of my trunk along with the flask that contained the potion I received earlier this morning.

Running back down to the common room, I decided to attempt the golden plan an hour before curfew on a full stomach when I was stopped before I had even reached the portrait by some second year that held a vanilla envelope in their hand. In a high-pitched voice, they told me that they got it from the owlery and that it was addressed to me before running off, looking afraid. Although curiosity killed the cat, I opened the envelope in wonder and read the message, before dropping the letter in horror.

Dun dun dun! Nothing special, eh? But it's so late and I got more tired as I wrote this so half of it was written out of pure laziness. Shows how dedicated I am! =D I hope you enjoyed anyways, and btw, I hope you all had a GREAT Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR! That's how long it's been since I've updated, it's been a new year! Wow! I hope 2012 is a great year for all of you! Anyways, before I leave and stop bugging you all, there's a reason not one couple was in this chapter. Let's face it, I'm stumped. Some of you want Alex/Harry and others want Alex/Draco. So I'm going to pressure you all and say decided RIGHT NOW! What couple do you want the story to end in? I promise the next chapter will be better, cause it will! Alex's plan will take action in the next one and you'll see what the letter said! Thanks for reading again! Bye!