A special thanks to cookiemonsterRULEZ and EmoKpopTrash123 for voting on every single chapter.

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Standing in the corner with her hand still holding the empty glass of pumpkin juice, Alexa threw a nervous glance on her emerald green sleepers. She had no courage to lift her gaze and look at her surrounding. The mind that was cursing her non-stop about her inability to take a proper decision was not helping her wrecking nerves at all. She adjusted the silky material of her deep emerald gown for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. The smoothness of that old fabric did nothing to comfort her. It was her mother's favourite gown. And knowing that this fabric had encased her mother's body at one point in time in history made her admire and envy that piece of cloth. However, she never dared to throw it away, since it always had given her the warmth she thought was appreciated by her mother.

"Snow, Leave it." Beside her, Logan spoke, "You are looking good already."

Alexa lifted her gaze from the ground and her soft brown eyes got connected with the reason she was in that dull place.

"I can't help it," she replied truthfully.

"I am so sorry," Logan spoke. The guilt he was feeling was visible in his concerned eyes.

She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, a short smile dancing on her baby pink lips. "Hey don't worry. I am fine. I just -" She paused thinking carefully about her next sentence. " - need more pumpkin juice. Yeah, that's what I need."

He gave her a smile full of appreciation. "I will fetch some for you. That's the least I can do after pulling you into this mess." With that said, the McLaggen boy left her side.

Now alone, Alexa's mind drifted off to their earlier conversation. When Logan had said that he received that invitation on the same day, she knew he was not being truthful. Not the slightest. She remembered how Logan confessed that he had received it quite a few weeks back, but he was planning to skip. He knew he was a Slug-Club member only because he was a McLaggen, an heir to one of the richest and the most reputed family in the magical community. He knew Slughorn, personally, never favoured him and to be honest, the feeling was mutual. Hence, he had no intention to attend that stupid dinner, but then Zabini pointed out that the Slytherin house head had held a grudge against those who didn't show up to these gatherings in the past. He didn't have the heart to worsen his already bad relationship with his potion master.

First Alexa was angry that he lied to her, but when she saw how desperate he was for her to forgive him she agreed. And so now she was there standing near the wooden table waiting for her best friend to come back.

"I am warning you one last time. Keep your bloody hand to yourself, if you wish to not lose it."

Alexa was brought back from her trance by a whisper. She turned around to see a girl and a boy standing, a few feet away from her. The boy's back was facing her, but she was sure that this boy was Abraxas Malfoy. After all who would miss that unmistakable shade of platinum blond hairs? Her gaze moved to the girl he accompanied. In her purple gown, she was looking every bit of elegant and graceful.

"It's not like I love putting my hand around you." The boy replied. "I am doing what I promised Evan."

"Bloody Evan." That blond girl cursed. "As I distinctly remember he told you to accompany me, and not to be all over me."

"I am not all over you." Even his pale neck burned in embarrassment. "I am doing what I think will help you from being kicked out."

The girl, otherwise known as Evanka Rosier, gave him a sharp look. Her deep grey eyes were glaring daggers on the brown-eyed boy who wished nothing but the ground to open and swallow him completely. Though Alexa was unable to see his face, his slumped shoulders were an indication of how defeated he was. The girl scoffed in a very unladylike fashion. "Whatever. I want you to not follow me for at least five minutes. Let me enjoy my view." Evanka replied and tilted her head in Alexa's direction, making direct eye contact with the latter. A smirk graced the former's lips as she winked at Alexa who turned into a tomato and looked away, feeling an utter embarrassment from being caught.

Abraxas who did not miss this, turned around to see where his escort was looking at. His eyes also landed on Alexa, who was by now squirming uncomfortably in her spot. His eyes automatically narrowed on the girl in front of him when he realized she belonged to Riddle. He turned back to his companion, "Don't even think about it. She is taken. Besides this will ruin all our hard work."

"Five minutes won't hurt the white boy," Evanka commented back, and without giving him a chance left his side.

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"Enjoyed the show?" Evanka exclaimed as she took a halt in front of the hybrid girl. The smirk from earlier was still in its place.

"I am -" Alexa opened her mouth to apologize but was cut off when,

"Don't tease the girl Rosier." Anthony Avery joined their one-sided conversation. He gave a big smile to Alexa who smiled back in response. They were acquaintances after all.

"Avery!" Evanka exclaimed. "Another unwanted interruption." She looked around to find he was alone. The female eagle who accompanied her not long back was nowhere insights. "Where is your escort? Scared you already?"

Anthony scoffed. "She isn't you to scare boys away." He sided with his betrothed.

"Yeah, she isn't," Evanka snorted. Then she stepped forward and pinched his cheek tightly "But you are so cute to have a crush on her."

Anthony turned bright pink, causing laughter to erupt from the female Rosier. A smile graced Alexa's lips. It was actually adorable.

"Your juice." Logan joined their group holding the glass of pumpkin juice in his right hand. He threw a nod and a smile in his tutor's direction, who nodded replicating his greetings.

Alexa reached forward to take the glass from Logan's hand, but Evanka snatched it away before she could do so. She gulped the drink down in one shot. All three people were looking at her in utter disbelief.

"It wasn't exactly for you," Logan replied.

"Well, it's your fault for bringing only one glass in the first place cousin." The new yet familiar voice joined the conversation. Evanka turned around and pulled the owner of this new voice in for a hug.

"Rebekah, girl, how have you been?"

Rebekah snorted as she pulled back from her best friend. "I have been fine for the last thirty minutes that you left me alone."

"Hey, you can't blame me." Evanka complained, "Every minute with that white boy feels like an era to me."

The boys in the group stiffened for completely different reasons. Anthony was having a hard time taking his eyes off his wife-to-be, while Logan was confused about how to react to his cousin.

Ignoring both male candidates in the group, Rebekah held her hand out for Alexa to shake. The latter took her hand without any hesitation.

"So, how does it feel to be free from O.W.L. year finally?" Rebekah asked the badger. All four pairs of eyes turned in her direction.

"Very good," Alexa replied. She was getting used to the attention. All thanks to her traitorous body and that annoying git. Speaking of git, where was that snake? She wondered. She hadn't seen him at the party. And to be honest, Tom was the boy who treasured time like nothing else. Without realizing she asked, "Where is Tom?"

"Ah! Missing your lover, aren't you?" Anthony spoke. His eyes twinkling in the process. "I am actually surprised you didn't show up here with your boy."

Alexa turned red in embarrassment. She didn't know how many times it had happened that evening. "Just asking."

She didn't realize that she had not denied the hypothesis, but not everyone else was as oblivious as her.

"Of course you are." Anthony teased. It was something he enjoyed the most. After all, he was not a Slytherin without a reason. "However to answer you, he has got some Prefect duties. Don't worry your lover will come and I am looking forward to seeing his reaction when he will."

And as if he had jinxed it, the Slytherin prefect entered the room at the very instant. Clad in his black robes he was looking every bit of handsome. Even more than usual. Though he was wearing the cheapest robes among all the boys present in that room, they did not obscure his perfection. He was the finest and he knew it. His eyes were searching through the sea of his schoolmates to find the people he actually knew. His dark chocolate eyes widened when they landed on the girl he tutored that year.

He saw that she had left her dark hairs open, allowing them to reach her waist. Her emerald dress was looking old, but it was complimenting her pale skin better. Her fingers were interleaved as they played with one another, a habit Tom knew she had whenever she was in public. Unlike other girls, her face lacked any makeup, not hiding the freckles she had on her cheeks and nose. To be truthful, she was looking simple yet beautiful to him.

What was she doing there anyway? He was not expecting to see her there. He thought she was not a people person. His jaw clenched. The darkness swirl in his eyes when they landed on the reason behind her presence. That Logan boy. He was standing beside her. It didn't take a minute to the finest pupil in his era to realize that McLaggen had not learned his lesson yet.

Was he not clear enough last time?

Was that boy really as pathetically dimwitted as he looked?

He cursed under his breath. Without wasting a moment he took fast-paced strides in the direction where the group was standing. He stopped his marathon only when he was standing right in front of the centre of his attention. He grabbed Alexa's hand roughly and pulled her with him toward the exit of that place, leaving everyone stunned behind.

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I am so sorry if this chapter wasn't up to your expectations. Please refer chapter 27 in case you don't remember Evanka Rosier. I know her appearance was overdue.

If you liked this chapter and want to read more, then please vote and share this story with your pals, it will motivate me in writing more.

Thank you all!!!