"I seriously don't understand this." Alec loomed over his potions notes, his Gryffindor robes sat on the back of his chair, "I'm going to fail my O.W.L's."

"Oh, don't be like that. I passed them, I know you can." Magnus, a seventh year Slytherin and a prefect, leaned back in his chair, his eyes shining at Alec, "You're lucky I'm here, I need to study for my N.E.W.T's."

Alec looked down at his hands, "You really don't have to if I'm keeping you from your own studies."

Magnus reached over and took his hand, lacing his fingers with Alec's, "It's fine, I'm just teasing you. I feel ready for my tests. You're smart Alec, I know you'll pass."

It was a secret that these two had been meeting in the library for the past two months, getting each other ready for their tests. Over the course of their time together, they sort of fell for each other, but their friends didn't approve of their relationship.

"Hey, it's almost time for dinner," Alec stood up, stuffing his books and parchments into his bag, "I'll meet you at the owlery afterwards, okay?" Magnus looked up at him, a hurt look on his face.

Quickly, Alec gave Magnus a quick kiss and ran off towards the Gryffindor dormitory. It was difficult being from two houses, but they tried.

Outside of the library Sebastian Morgenstern, another Slytherin leaned against the castle wall, "Hey there Lightwood, another meeting with your platonic friend Magnus?"

"Get bent Morgenstern," Alec turned away, he knew his face was red, he couldn't allow him to see it.

"It'll never work Lightwood," Sebastian hissed, "There's a reason we're all split up into houses, to keep the blood pure."

"Wow, are you really saying that?" Alec turned back, "I actually forgot people like you exist," Sebastian suddenly approached him, pressing his wand against his throat, a snarl on his lips, "Sebastian, do you really want to get into any more trouble? They'll kick you out if you keep it up."

There was a loud crack and a flash of gold light, and Sebastian hit the ground with a loud thud. Veering around, Alec saw Magnus tucking his wand back into his robes and rushing off in the other direction. Taking Magnus' example he rushed off to the Gryffindor dormitories.

"Draconis Adarnis," Alec told the Fat Lady, and she swung open the door. The fires of the common room were low, giving off a gentle glow. Jace and Clary sat, sharing an armchair, both passed out wrapped in each other arms. Alec felt a jealous ache; he wished he could be comfortable with Magnus like that.

There were several loud thumps and Isabelle barreled out of the girls' dormitory, she looked frustrated. She wore a short black dress with matching flats, "Alec," she wheezed, "Are you alright? I haven't seen you lately."

Isabelle was the only person who was fine with his relationship with Magnus. She was very open minded and he really relied on her for moral support, "Izzy, would you like to walk to dinner with me?"

"What about those two?" She gestured towards the bundle of bodies on the chair.

"If they aren't responsible enough to pay attention," Alec said, "Then they aren't deserving of a meal. I'll go get changed real fast, and I'll be down."

Isabelle smiled and sat down in a chair, pulling her legs close to her body.

After Alec had hung up his bag, he pulled off his robes and scarf, noticing a large bruise on his neck in the mirror. He pressed his fingers to it, it was tender. Magnus, damn you, he thought blushing. After he dressed down, he pulled on his house scarf to hide the deep bruise that was present.

Quietly he walked down the steps and found Isabelle examining the ends of her long black hair, "Are you ready, Iz?"

"Yeah," she said eyeing him. They walked through the door of their dormitory and Isabelle grabbed his hand, "So, I wanted you to know that hickey was pretty noticeable, I'm glad you put a scarf over it." Alec found his hand going to his neck, Isabelle laughed, "So you two are getting pretty serious?"

"I guess," Alec saw peeves heading towards them, and he pulled Isabelle down a corridor so he wouldn't find them. When he had passed, wearing a helmet from a suit of armor singing something quite rude, Alec had turned to his sister and said, "I mean, we don't really have that much time alone at all. Magnus keeps asking me to sneak into his common room during Christmas."

"Mom and Dad wanted us to come home for Christmas." Isabelle looked troubled.

"I know, but…" Alec stepped out into the main hall again, "Magnus is being really helpful with my studies, even though he has his own to work on."

"Do you love him?" Isabelle wrapped her arm around Alec.

Thinking back four months ago, Alec was coming out of Herbology. He had upset some 5th year Slytherins by knocking over his fanged geranium on one of the girls. It was a complete accident, but they didn't want to listen.

They cornered him out in front of the greenhouse, six to one. They grabbed him and shoved him to the ground, after they beat him up they were about to start throwing hexes at him, when they started dropping one by one.

Magnus stood, his wand drawn looking fierce, it was the first time he had ever seen him up close. Bloody and sore Alec walked over to him to offer his thanks, when he grabbed him and dragged him to the infirmary, "What did you do to make them so angry?"

Madame Loss tended his wounds as they talked, "I knocked over a poisonous plant on them by accident. I really didn't mean to."

Magnus started laughing, "That would do it. That group is a bunch of thugs."

"Tell me about it." Alec sighed.

"What's your name? I'm Magnus Bane," he said.

"I know your name," Alec looked away trying to hide his face, "I'm Alec Lightwood."

They sort of stared at each other for a moment, before Madame Loss tossed them out of the infirmary. Alec, now feeling better decided he would go to library and study for his exams, when Magnus offered to help him.

And they started to meet every day after school like that, and eventually Magnus kissed him.

"I do love him I think," Alec admitted to his sister, "I just hate how he's Slytherin and I'm Gryffindor."

"Well," Isabelle pressed her hand to the door of the dining hall, "You need to be sure if you love him, and I think you should spend Christmas here. I'll tell mom and dad that you're behind on studies or something and want to work on that." She let go of his hand and pressed the doors open, "You better pass your O.W.L's though."

"I will." Alec said, walking over to his usual seat with his friends Will, Jem, and Mark. Will and Jem were whispering to each other, lately they had taken to bothering the muggle-born Ravenclaw girl Tessa. Alec thought they both fancied her, and Mark was reading the daily Prophet.

"Look at this," Mark showed Alec, "It's about Magnus' father. Supposedly, he's under fire because of the current dragon incident." Alec took the paper in his hands; Magnus' father looked nothing like him, except for their eyes.

Gringotts on Fire

Earlier this week Ministry of Magic representative for Gringotts was caught embezzling funds from several accounts. The losses the Bank received have yet to be calculated, but now Asmodeus is nowhere to be found. Officials have inspected the home of his family, and soon will interrogate his two children on their whereabouts.

The rest of the article was just gibberish, and Alec's mouth went dry and he looked over at the Slytherin table. Magnus held the same copy of the Prophet his eyes wide, then he glanced over at Alec. He stood up and left the great hall in a hurry.

Isabelle saw the exchange, "Take some food with you, and find him." She whispered to him, "Go make sure he's okay." Alec grabbed several rolls and some chicken on a plate with a bottle of pumpkin juice and ran to the owlery, hoping that would be where he was.

"You never told me about your father," Alec sat on the bench looking at Magnus, his elbows rested on his knees and he held his head in his hands, "I'm sorry this happened."

"It's alright," Magnus sighed, "I knew this would happen. My dad had way too much money for his job, this just like him!" He lifted his head and leaned on Alec's shoulder, "I'm sorry… hey you brought food." Alec handed over the plate of food and Magnus picked up a roll, "I thought being at school, he wouldn't be able to get to me but I'm sure the ministry will be here soon."

"What are you going to tell them?" Alec took a piece of chicken and took a bite.

"What I know." Magnus stared at his roll thoughtfully, "That all of a sudden, he had a lot of money and didn't tell us where he got it."

"You have a sibling?"

"A sister," He took a small bite of the roll, "She's at Beuxbatons, my dad didn't want me to be around her." Even though Alec liked hearing about his life, he wished he was talking about something good. He felt bad for him.

"Magnus," Alec leaned his head on Magnus', "I… I think I love you."

Magnus sat up, his eyes were wide, "Y-you do?"

"I do." Alec could feel himself shaking, "I love you, and I can't wait till I'm out of school so we don't have to be apart all the time, and pretend like we don't know each other." Magnus grabbed the plate of food Alec was holding and placed it on windowsill.

"I love you too Alec," He grabbed his scarf and undid it, revealing the dark bruise, "Haha, cute."

"Sh-shutup." Alec pulled back crossing his arms, "Now I have to wear this for a few days," He said gesturing at the scarf.

"You know," Magnus pulled out his wand, "I can help."

"Can you do healing magic?" Alec leaned back even farther, "Can you do it well, I mean?"

"Of course, I wouldn't do any magic on you that I didn't feel was unsafe." He looked amused.

"Fine," He said pulling off his scarf, "Just be careful." Magnus grabbed the back of Alec's neck, and pressed his wand to his bruise.

"Episkey." He whispered, and there was a brief tingling sensation, "There, all better." He didn't let go of Alec though, he only leaned in closer, "Thank you for coming to find me. I was pretty upset about this, but I feel better now. I love you."

"I love you," Alec leaned in feeling Magnus' lips on his; it was short lived because Alec heard two sets of feet barreling up the steps. Quickly the two broke away looking in opposite directions, trying to not look awkward.

Two first years, Emily Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn stood before them, Julian holding a letter. They almost looked scared of the older students, "Sorry, are we interrupting something?" Emily said.

Magnus stood up, "No, no. We were just leaving. Here, chicken." Magnus handed Julian the plate of rolls and chicken. Alec followed closely behind.

"That was hilarious." Alec said once they were down on the fields, "Those poor kids' looks so confused."

Magnus looked over to the tree line of the forbidden forest, "Have you figured out what you were doing for Christmas Holiday?"

Alec's heart dropped slightly, "I-I decided to tell my parents I was behind on my studies and stay."

Magnus looked back, his eyes were shining, "That's great." His smile was wide. He grabbed Alec into a hug, rubbing his back, "We should go, it's getting late."

"Are you going to be okay?" Alec pulled back, Magnus still holding him.

"Yes." Magnus kissed his forehead, "I'll see you tomorrow? Outside the painting of the Fat Lady?"

Alec nodded and leaned back in for one last hug, "Mmhmm." They let go of each other, Alec walking back inside, heading up towards the fourth floor. Jace and Clary were rushing down the stairs, looking like they had just woken up.

"Dinner's over." Alec told them.

Jace looked irritated, Clary just sighed, "Well that sucks."

Without saying anything else, Alec turned back and went inside of the dorm. He flopped down on his four-poster bed and closed his eyes; he couldn't believe what he had told Magnus.

He was sort of excited for Christmas though.