"I never out and out lied," she said tightly. "I avoided the topic and refused to talk about it. What was I to do? Stand up on the Slytherin table in the Great Hall and announce 'Hello. My name is Tracey Davis. My mother is Evangeline Mulciber and my father is an automobile mechanic.' Bloody hell, all I did was play the game the best way I knew how." It was enough to make her want to cry but she wouldn't do that in front of anyone, not even her friends.
Alex's confession had her seeing red. "You great arse!" She flung a cushion at his smug smile. Before it had a chance to bounce, she was following in its wake to punch his shoulder before sitting down on his Daphne-less side. "Don't scare me like that!"
Leaning around him, she flashed a deeply relieved smile at Daphne. "Keeping this one happy shouldn't be too onerous. What do you think? Should I deliver my reports in scanty lingerie or just cater to his ego?"
Sighing she leaned her cheek against his shoulder. Alex was the best choice she could possibly have in this whole wretched mess.