Pleasant Connivance

Chapter 1

5th book

Characters: Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sirius, Lupin, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Harry, Malfoy, Neville, OC (Alexis Black) portrayed by teenage Christina Ricci (Casper and the Addams Family Values)

Twist: Regulus Black did marry a pureblood witch(Adelaida Brunner) and had one daughter (Alexis) who was sorted into Slytherin and is in the same year as Harry Potter. He died trying to destroy the locket like in the series but later, until Alexis was 5. Voldemort was "merciful" and didn´t murder Adelaida, who raised Alexis by herself. Narcissa Malfoy and Andromeda Black offered help and took her in on summers and Christmas.

The house was all set. It was beautifully decorated (elegant Victorian style), 6 rooms with a bathroom on each, a kitchen, a wide dining table and a living room. Despite the Ministry and the wizarding world´s scepticism, Voldemort had indeed returned and measures were absolutely necessary. Also, for Hogwarts ´own good and as for generations to come. As well as to avoid another war. Now, all that was left to do was bring the guests.

Alexis Black couldn´t stop thinking about this handsome, round-faced boy. She started having a crush on him last year. She had a rather cold, dry temper and she didn´t usually liked anybody. She had no idea of why she liked this...Gryffindor. He was losing some of his fat every time but still kept his charm. He was adorably shy. She got really worried when Professor Moody cruciated that spider in class. He seemed pretty upset.

Flashback

Neville Longbottom was leaning against the wall after DADA staring at the stained glass. His eyes were watery. She couldn´t help stopping behind him and poking him lightly on the arm. He turned around and his face was of complete sadness. It was also saying "what now?"

"Ehrm, hey Longbottom. Are you alright?"- being a Slytherin and a direct descendant from the noble and most ancient house of Black, she didn´t know how to approach people like this. His expression relaxed and he sweetly nodded at her.

That was enough to bewitch her. Then, she just had to go and start rambling.

"You seemed pretty bothered...I mean, not that I wasn´t, but it seemed to affect you...more?"

"I´m OK."

He was very surprised. Why was Alexis Black from Sytherin (someone he never talked to, but seemed both scary and nice) concerning about him?

"Good."

At that moment Professor Moody came to ask him the same and invite him a cup of tea. He smiled a little at Alexis before going back upstairs.

End of Flashback

They didn´t talk much throughout the rest of the year. She usually hung out with Slytherins. Her cousin Draco got carried away by his father´s ideals but had always been nice to her. They had been playmates since early childhood and she made him feel better. She felt this familiar affection towards him. Zabini was a cool guy, Pansy, her dorm mate (crazy stalker), she tried to avoid. Just as those two idiot body guards following Draco around.

One day, Snape had this brilliant idea of sitting them together in Potions. Snape adored her even if she wasn´t evil, though he barely showed it. They understood each other´s mood very well without having to talk. He sucked. She was not excellent either, but at least descent. She liked him anyway. One day he accidentally dropped a very acid ingredient on the potion, causing effervescence and making it explode on her robes. He started to apologize, but before she could say anything and before it burned her clothes, Snape rose from his chair and removed it with his wand.

"Merlin Longbottom! You idiot boy, after 4 years you cannot prepare a simple potion!"

Neville looked down ashamed with himself. All the Gryffindors looked about to kill Snape, Sytherins were laughing hard, and Alexis gave him a sympathetic look and mouthed "it´s ok." For the second time, Neville was surprised. He expected her to mock him too, but she seemed understanding. He heard her dad had been a Death Eater, she hung out with Malfoy, she obviously had something to do with Bellatrix, and until third year, he thought she was close to "notorious mass murderer" Sirius Black. Bur even though she hung out with Malfoy a lot, she was never a bully. She seemed weird and arrogant yes, as if everything and everyone was just ridiculous for her. Whenever Malfoy was tormenting him and she was present, she would just roll her eyes at her cousin, yawn, and say things such as "Draco, knock it off. It´s useless."

This year, they didn´t see much of each other. But she thought he had gotten cuter. He seemed to smile more often. He on the other hand, found her natural goth aspect intriguing since first year. He remembered her walking towards the sorting hat with pale face, very thin eyebrows, tiny round nose, wide forehead, intimidating appearance, light brown eyes, and a pair of very long braids. Her face hadn´t changed much during the years, just her hair. She cut it and it now reached her shoulders, it was also of a lighter shade of brown.

It was time for the plan. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking through the halls for the first time without looking for something. Suddenly they all felt dizzy and were lifted from the floor. Against their will, they were apparated to the house.

"What is this place?"- asked Ron.

"I´ve never read of suddenly appearing in one place! Or this house for that matter!"- exclaimed Hermione stressed. How she hated not knowing something.

"I just hope it´s nothing to do with Voldemort."- said Harry worried.

"It´s a rather beautiful place."- said Hermione taking a look around.

"Exactly Hermione! Maybe since he´s back, he wants to fool us first."

At that moment Ginny appeared as well.

"Ginny! You too?"- said Ron.

"Hey, I have no idea of what just happened. I was going to the Quidditch field to get some practice and then I´m here."

"Same to us."

Professor McGonagall came next. The students hoped she would know something, but she was as lost as them.

The Weasley twins were next.

"Are you thinking the same as me Gred?"

"What are you thinking Forge?"

"Anything to..."

"Get out of homework and detention is great!"

Both with a sigh: "Great minds think the same!"

This caused McGonagall to shake her head in disapproval and the students to laugh.

To everyone´s misfortune, Snape appeared in the room as well.

"What the...oh, Minerva."- He said coldly.

"Severus. You too."- she replied with the same coldness.

Then, as if Snape wasn´t enough, came Draco Malfoy. That made Harry drop his suspicions about Voldemort. If those two were here, and had also no idea of what was going on; then at least it wasn´t another one of his efforts to kill him and his friends.

"Oh great. It´s Potter and his crew..."- he said with a face. Fred and George maturely stuck their tongues at him, while the rest except Snape rolled their eyes.

They waited until Lupin appeared. Then Alexis Black. Another Slytherin though not as bad as these two, thought Harry.

"Ehrm, hello?"

"Hey..."- they all answered exhausted. What the hell was going on?

She turned to Draco. "You too?"

"Hey cousin. Yeah. "

"But what..."

"Not even Granger knows."

Hermione glared at him and made a fake smile.

Sirius came happier and greeting his old friend Lupin and the trio enthusiastically. Then he turned to Alexis and embraced her in a tight hug.

"Hello my favourite niece!"

Draco rolls eyes a little offended. Why is it that the whole family adored his cousin? Well he adored her too, to be honest.

"You two...know each other?"- asked Harry amused.

"Well let's see."- said Alexis- "Sirius Black, Alexis Black, ringing any bells?"

"Harry, I thought I´d told you. She is my brother Regulus´s daughter. "

"Well, yeah. But I also know not all Blacks get along, and you were in Azkaban for some time. And now you´re on the run."

"True. True."- said Alexis- "I only get along with Draco here (Draco smiles), Aunt Andromeda, cousin Tonks, and of course Sirius. "

"Oh. That´s great!"

This was news to him. He could barely understand how this girl who seemed like the typical dark pureblood could also get along just fine with people like Sirius and Tonks.

"Yeah, don´t be jealous Potter."- said Draco bitterly.

"Shut up Malfoy! You´re the one who should be!"

"Guys please. "- said Alexis and they stopped.

A letter appeared by magic on the table. Hermione ran to take it and read out loud.

Dear witches and wizards,

Sorry for the inconvenience of having to drag you here. This house is of my property and you are all my guests to stay for the amount of time needed. Yes, the wizarding world is under serious circumstances. I have chosen you to live under this roof and coexist with each other. Nobody will notice your absence. I think there is one person missing. You must wait for him and then, feel free to use the kitchen and go to the bedrooms with your names on the door. Some of you will share. This house is charmed in such a way that you cannot get out until you have formed an honest friendship and teamwork. New and unexpected relationships will be formed during this time. Each one of you has a small "mission" to accomplish. I do not need to point them out.

Have fun.

There was no signature. Who could it be? There was an awkward silence. Everyone was thinking whether they could do this. Sirius was the first one to break the silence.

"What exactly did he mean by "under serious circumstances"?"