AUTHOR: Poeticjustice89
DISCLAIMER: I am but a lowly writer and all the characters from the book and recognizable scenes belong to J. K. Rowling and affiliates. I own nothing nor do I have the desire to do so, or at least that's what I keep telling myself. O well, the world is a cruel place...
A/N: I▓ve extended the Hogwarts school year by two sessions, which are eighth and ninth. It serves my purpose. They're in their seventh year and most of the material is AU. I hope you enjoy. Warning: I would like you to note that all charachters engaging in certain romantic situations are all mature and of age (17-18)
1. INTRODUCTIONS
"TEN POINTS TO SLYTHERIN FOR THAT SPECTACULAR GOAL PAST THE SLYTHERIN KEEPER!"
The crowd roared to life as the stands vibrated with cheers for the Raven claw supporters. Alexis watched in silence from the corridor leading from the pitch to the locker rooms. Her eyes darted back and forth with the quaffle as it swapped hands. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the Slytherin beaters send a bludger flying straight at the Raven claw seeker. It was a narrow miss, but the resulting force knocked her off her broom, once again cheers erupted from the Slytherin's, which were only magnified when their seeker, a platinum haired boy caught the golden snitch. "MALFOY HAS THE SNITCH, SLYTHERIN WINS!" The commentator▓s voice boomed through the stands. She stayed a little longer and watched as the players landed and congratulated each other before retreating. Halfway through the corridor someone bumped into her from behind. She turned around and was face to face with the beater who had sent the raven claw down.
"Hey aren't you..." she had barely started speaking when someone shouted "Flint!" from the opposite end of the corridor. He pushed his way past her and went off in the direction of the voice.
"Well, that was interesting" she said aloud.
"Don't mind him, manners aren't really his forte" Alexis turned around to see a tall chocolate skinned girl donned in what she deciphered - with the little knowledge she had gained about the school - to be Gryffindor quidditch robes.
"Hi, I'm Angelina" she took the offered hand.
"Alexis, I'm new here" she replied with a smile. "I thought the game was over...■ she added pointedly looking at the other girl's robes.
■Oh, yeah it is, we're practicing for an upcoming game." She nodded her head. "So could I ask you something?" she asked Angelina
"Yea sure"
"Who was that guy?" She pointed her finger in the direction 'Flint' had gone off to.
"That was Marcus Flint. Slytherin captain and resident ass hole" They both laughed at the last part. After a few more minutes of small talk, Angelina pointed out that she needed to get going before her captain sent out a search party but promised to meet up to talk later. They then parted ways, Angelina heading towards the pitch and Alexis to the castle. She managed to retrace her steps to Dumbledore's office without much trouble.
When she got there she found her guardian and the headmaster talking outside the stone gargoyle that guarded his office. "Aah there you are dear girl. You▓re aunt and I we're just talking about you." The headmaster said as soon as he saw her. She looked at her aunt; eyebrow raised
"Alexis I▓ve informed professor Dumbledore about your, situation and he has graciously agreed to enroll you■. Alexis gave the headmaster a small smile as her aunt bid him farewell. She then pulled Alexis to the side.
⌠Lexis, I hope you like it here. It is the safest place I could think of. ⌠She could clearly hear the ill-disguised desperation in the older woman▓s voice.
⌠It might be the safest Aunt Cass, but I▓d rather be with you and Angel.■ She replied a little indignantly.
⌠Darling, your cousin and I have things we need to do┘┘┘┘.and I promised your parents I would not let you have their life. Our life.■
Alexis pouted; she knew very well what type of ▒life▓ her aunt was taking about, but reluctantly agreed.
⌠When will I see you again?■ Her aunt smiled, sorrow in her eyes and hugged her. ⌠I have to go. Take care.■
Alexis watched until her aunt▓s retreating back had been swallowed by the darkness. In the distance, she could hear the dinner bell ringing. She hugged her cloak tight around her body clasping it with the silver rose at her neck. Pulling up the hood, she walked in the direction of the great hall.
XXXXXxxxxxXXXXX
Students pilled into the great hall, ready for the evening meal, when they noticed someone leaning against the wall opposite its entrance. The person▓s eyes had been obscured by the hood but they could see the rest of the face illuminated by the candle light which caused the person▓s lips to glitter. They assumed it was a new female teacher; she looked a little too old to be a late first year student.
When the hall was full, Dumbledore clapped his hands, signaling for the students to be silent. He then beckoned her in. ▒First impression▓s▓ Alexis heard her mother▓s voice say, in her head. She entered the hall at a steady pace, boots clicking softly on the cold stone and stopped where the tables began.
She lifted her hands, careful not to let the sleeves slide down past her wrist▓s and slid the hood off. All eyes were on her as the hood fell to reveal brown skin glowing under the candle light, her shoulder length hair which had been pulled back in a ponytail, let loose a few rogue strands of hair which softly kissed her cheeks. She paused for a second and scanned the teacher▓s table and smiled when she saw a familiar face. She continued up to the head table, meeting Professor McGonagall advance.
⌠May I have your attention please?■ Dumbledore asked the hall of students, who were anxiously chattering amongst themselves.
⌠Thank you. Now I▓m sure you▓re all eager to acquaint your stomachs with the delicious meal■ He was met with mummers and nodding heads
⌠However, before you start I would like to introduce to you, our new student.■ He pointedly looked at Alexis.
⌠Due to certain circumstances Ms. Marcel had to transfer here from her old school and I pray that in the spirit of togetherness you may all accept her and treat her as one of us. Now if you▓ll bear with me, Professor McGonagall will sort Ms. Marcel into her house and then, we can eat.■
Alexis nodded politely in the headmaster▓s direction, before sitting on a stool transfigured by the afore mentioned professor. As soon as the hat touched her head it shouted out ⌠GRYFFINDOR!■ which Alexis found to be quite odd. Neither of her parent▓s had been in Gryffindor. Her mother had been a Raven claw and her father a Slytherin. She walked over to the Gryffindor table hesitantly and relieved when she was beckoned over by the girl she▓d met earlier. She took a seat amongst the current eight years who all introduced themselves. Unknown to her three pairs of eyes observed her keenly. A pair from the teachers table, another from the Slytherin table and yet another from the Gryffindor table.
XXXXXxxxxxXXXXX
The weekend was spent roaming the grounds and acquainting herself with areas her aunt and parents had told her stories about. Outside, she walked towards the black lake and sat down on a dry patch of shore. She closed her eyes and let the wind blow through her hair, enjoying its moistness as it caressed her face. Alexis felt more than heard someone sit down next to her. A few minutes of companionable silence went by before she opened her eyes and looked to her side. It was one of the twins.
⌠Hi George, what▓s up?■ She asked leaning on her elbow and looking up at him.
He took his time before turning to face her, a somber expression on his face ⌠Girl friend blues■ he said.
The one thing Alexis had noticed when she had been initiated into the Gryffindor lifestyle was the twisted love triangles that existed between the house mates. She thought it was all crazy, Hogwarts was a huge school and if they could get over their inter house phobias then a semblance of normalcy might be restored in the world. But then again, that was just her.
⌠Oh, who▓s the girl?■ Alexis asked concern lacing her voice. The twins reminded her of her cousin Angel, only they came in two.
⌠Hermione■ He replied plucking at a piece of grass near his hand.
⌠You mean your brothers best friend, the one dating Potter?■ Alexis said, not knowing she▓d just opened up a Pandora▓s Box.
⌠Who told you that?■ George asked looking at her strangely.
⌠Grape vine, plus it▓s kind of hard to block out conversations about things you don▓t want to know when you sleep between Hogwarts most successful 411▓s. According to my sources, they▓ve been dating for close to a week now.■ She looked over at George who was studying the black lake like it was a Van Gogh.
⌠We just broke up yesterday; or rather she dumped me yesterday.■
⌠Oh. I▓m sorry, I shouldn▓t have said anything■
⌠Do you want to be alone?■ Alexis added after a few minutes of silence. She was answered with a nod. Before she left she added ⌠Anytime you want to talk┘┘┘.■ He nodded.
XXXXXxxxxxXXXXX
Alexis walked back to the castle thinking of what just passed. ▒Bloody people and their sordid love affair▓s▓. Alexis▓ first impression on meeting the golden trio had been ▒Is this a joke?▓ She▓d heard of Harry Potter and his golden posy that ran around wreaking havoc and escaping death. She had thought they would be a little more impressive.
She stopped as soon as she reached her destination and knocked twice on the door, she was answered with a muffled ⌠come in■.
Alexis entered the room and as soon as she saw the person she was looking for, she rushed up to him and engulfed him in a bone crushing hug, tears in her eyes. He returned the hug and held her as she cried a little. The last time she had seen him was at her mother▓s funeral two months ago, then she had been whisked away by her aunt before she could even register what was happening.
She withdrew from the embrace after a few more minutes and looked up into the other▓s eyes.
⌠Missed me?■ He said with a smirk. She laughed and hit him lightly on the arm.