A/N: This is my first fanfic, so please be nice! Feel free to criticize it (just don't be mean please), I know this isn't perfect. Please read and review!
Full summary: Alexis Keithstone cannot perform any spells, nor can anybody-when around her-can either, so why was she accepted into Hogwarts? And why does everyone have high hopes for her even though she is so different? Set nineteen years after the Battle in DH. Pairings Fred Weasley (Jr)/OC, Scorpius/Rose.
Chapter one: Magic dead-point
Alex's hands shook as she tore open the thick, yellowed envelope bearing her name and address in emerald- green ink. The absence of post stamps struck her odd, and there was something about this envelope, the way it was made of parchment and its old-fashioned seal, it seemed... forbidding yet familiar. Hesitant, as though expecting the letter would suddenly burn up, she unfolded it and forced herself to look at the first sentence.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF-
-"Alex? Your breakfast's getting cold!" Alex's mother called out from the kitchen. Alex frantically stuffed the envelope in her pocket, though she didn't understand herself why she wanted to hide this letter from her parents.
"Morning Alex, let's see the mail eh?" Alex's father reached out and gently tugged the small pile of envelopes from her grasp.
"Ah... Electricity bill...darn, the rates have gone up again! Moving on... dear, your sister is going to Paris for the next few days, and wants us to take care of that dreaded cat of hers..." He shuffled through the rest of the mail, not noticing how stiff and strange his daughter looked.
Alex's mum turned away from the sink, wiping her wet hands on a nearby towel. "Alex? Today's your thirteenth birthday, are you sure you don't want to invite friends over? Your father and I promise not to dress up like last time... Alex? Are you listening to me? Alex!" Her daughter was still standing by the table, staring out the window with a blank expression, giving no indication that she had heard her mother.
"Huh?" Alex snapped out of her thoughts, "Oh... yeah, my birthday... er-no, I just want it to be family this year..." her voice trailed off as she continued to ponder about the letter she had received.
A loud thud shook her from her thoughts again. Someone was standing out the front door. Alex's father got up with a small sigh and walked down the hallway to open it. Alex trailed behind, curious as to who it was for them to be visiting so early in the morning.
The door opened and revealed a tall woman wearing an expression not unlike Alex's principal when he spoke at assemblies- strict yet kind. Her clothes were immaculate, a crisp blazer and blouse accompanied with a flowing skirt, but it seemed to Alex that the woman felt uncomfortable in these clothes, her hand was constantly tugging at her blazer and blouse as though it scratched her.
"Yes?" Alex's father asked rather rudely. He was not a morning person. The only people he would talk to before work without biting their heads off was his wife and daughter. Everyone else suffered his dirty looks and constant angry mutterings.
Not this woman though, she just returned the glare with a cool look and brushed her blazer down.
"I have assumed that you have received the letter? Yes? It would be good manners if you could invite me into your house, it is rather uncomfortable talking to you outside in this absurd weather." And without waiting for a reply, she brushed past Alex's confused father and settled down on a couch in the living room.
With his mouth hanging open, Alex's dad banged the door shut. Alex's mother was already preparing refreshments for the, er, 'guest'.
Seeing both Alex and her parents walk into the room, the woman stood up and extended a hand, which Alex's dad took with suspicion. The woman shook it, and promptly settled back onto the armchair.
"Now, I can see you have many questions regarding the letter. First of all, it is not a joke. It is all true. Secondly, it may –or may not - struck you as odd as to why Alexis received her letter on her thirteenth birthday, and not her eleventh, as per tradition... why are you all staring at me as if I have gone mad? And take a seat would you? It's hard on my neck at my age." The woman waited until they were all seated nervously before giving them a quick look.
"You... haven't received the letter?" She asked finally.
"What letter?" Alex's mum managed to ask.
The woman sighed, "must be Longbottom's fault... he did have a poor memory when I taught him..." grumbling slightly and muttering under her breath, the woman reached into her blazer pocket and produced an identical envelope to the one Alex had opened before.
"That envelope!" Alex gasped. The three adults all turned to look at her with surprised expressions.
"You recognise this envelope? I am Professor McGonagall by the way, to simplify matters. Did you read its contents?" The woman asked.
Ignoring pointed looks from her parents, she shook her head. "I-I didn't get the chance." She said forlornly. "I didn't have time to read it properly."
"Well that can be arranged. Take this letter instead and read it out loud so your parents can hear it." Professor McGonagall leant back onto the cushions and impatiently motioned for Alex to read it.
"HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall.
Dear Alexis Keithstone,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Your sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress."
At first she felt joy, then she felt confused and then... nothing. It seemed a joke to her, witches and wizards don't exist, she had been taught that at her first year at primary school. But, sneaking a look at the woman in front of her, she felt a flicker of hope. Maybe... just maybe... she was a witch, and she could perform magic! Her mind was already compiling a whole list of pranks she wanted to pull on her cousin.
She glanced at her parents, half expecting them to fall onto the floor in a dead faint. To her surprise, her parents looked slightly relieved.
"She didn't get it when she turned eleven, so we both thought, you know, that she was a Squib like us, after all, wasn't there a case where a whole wizard family was wiped out due to all of their children were Squibs and couldn't produce wizards and witches...?" Her father said sadly, but then he brightened.
"So... who knew? Our little Alexis, a witch at last!" He flashed his wife a cheerful grin, who returned it with a small happy laugh.
"Oh this is wonderful! My Alex, a witch!" They both started talking at once, about Hogwarts and the rumours of a teacher being an actual ghost and how there was a room that could change to suit your needs...
"Excuse me for breaking up this cheerful moment, but I do need to explain why your daughter did not receive her letter when she turned eleven." Professor McGonagall broke in briskly. She looked, for the first time, slightly uncertain at the turn of events.
"But before I do that, I have to ask you two a question. Who was the last person in your family to attend Hogwarts, or any magic school for that matter?"
It took quite a long time, and after some head scratching and darting looks at the wall where all the photographs hung, Alex's dad and mum managed to come up with some answers.
"I guess... the last wizard in my family was my great-great-grandfather, and the last witch was.... I think... his cousin? Or second cousin, I'm not sure." Alex's mother gave a small nervous smile.
"Er... for my side of the family it was my... grandfather's brother and my great-great-great aunt, I think, anyway, but what has this got to do with Alex?" Her dad asked.
"I am sorry to say, before you get too excited, that Alexis will not be able to perform any kind of normal magic, but-"
"WHAT?!" Alex's dad spluttered in rage, "You accept my daughter into Hogwarts and then tell us that she cannot do magic? What is this? Are-"
"Please do not interrupt me when I am talking, it is rude." The headmistress of Hogwarts snapped, she smoothed her skirt and resumed her position.
"As I was saying, Alexis is not able to perform normal magic. This is due, I think, to the decreased amount of magic in the family. Your family, or families I should say, are the very few of the wizardry families to produce so many Squibs. This has led me to believe that Alexis is a magic dead-point. This was not confirmed until two days ago, when a witch standing beside Alexis in a muggle supermarket tried to summon her handbag, and found she could not do it. I believe that Alexis herself cannot do magic, and those around her, when in close contact, cannot either, for the duration of the time of being together. Her magic-yes, I consider it magic- is unique, and is very rare and important. If not controlled, she could hurt fellow wizards and witches unknowingly. Thus, I have arranged a place for her in Hogwarts, for her to interact with wizards and witches, to control her powers. I have no doubt that she is a great asset, especially in these seemingly peaceful times..."
The woman let a few moments for her words to sink in before turning to Alexis. "Have a think about it, won't you? You will face troubles at school, being different to others, but if you do not learn to control your magic, you will hurt others. I await your answer by the 31 of July." She was about to let herself out of the house when Alex shouted out for her to stop.
"I want to go, to Hogwarts that is, I-I don't want to hurt others... if that is okay with my parents." She glanced at their faces, sad but proud at their daughter's decision. They nodded.
"Well then, it is settled, visit Diagon Alley for your school things and I shall see you at Hogwarts on the first of September. Oh! Dear me, I nearly forgot!" The Headmistress pulled out a long, thin box out of her skirt pocket and gave it to Alex.
"A wand specially made for you by Ollivander, normal wands help focus and channel normal magic from wizards and witches, this wand is similar, but different, it was made to focus and channel your magic. Have a nice day." With a small crack, she disappeared; leaving the Keithstone family all huddled together in a tight embrace, with a muggle glancing at them weirdly from the sidewalk. It seemed they forgot to close the door.
Alex took a deep breath and sprinted. She closed her eyes, expecting a loud crash and her trolley rebounding off the wall, but to her surprise, she found herself running still, and burst out onto Platform 9 ¾ . Hundreds of students milled out about her, all saying farewell to their family. Alex took a deep breath and headed towards the train, the Hogwarts Express.
"...don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood." Alex caught a red-haired man gesturing at student and telling his daughter. She gave a small grin as his wife looking half stern and half amused, told him to not turn them against each other before they've even started school.
Their daughter looked slightly nervous, but still emitted confidence. She had red hair too, but unlike her father, her colour was between red and brown. She wore it long, and the curls elegantly flowed down her back. Her eyes shined bright, a nice blue colour that she seemed to have inherited from her father, along with the freckles. Alex immediately felt that she and this girl would get along well, she seemed nice, and it was her first year at Hogwarts too.
But you're thirteen, a nasty small voice sounded from her head, people your age have already been at this school for two years. You'll be ridiculed and laughed at. Blinking back tears, and trying to ignore the voice, Alex stumbled up the steps of the train, struggling to pull her heavy trunk with her. It burst open, but luckily, none of her belongings fell out.
"Here, I'll give you a hand," a tall boy helped her snap it shut and dragged it up the steps.
"Thanks," Alex smiled, "I think I packed too much."
The boy shrugged, "I've seen heavier, some of the girls actually have two trunks, one for cosmetic potions, and the other for dress robes I've heard. I'm Fred Weasley by the way, it's my third year." He stopped abruptly, leaning down to get a better look at her, "Say, I haven't seen you before, did you transfer?"
"Er... no, this is my first year here, due to, er, complications. I'm Alexis Keithstone, but I prefer Alex." She answered hastily, looking up, she took in his profile. He was tall, red-haired and seemed related to the family she had seen before.
"Keithstone? I've heard about you, blimey, it's going to be tough though for you isn't it? But I guess your magic is useful, I don't mind having it actually, that way James won't ever be able to jinx me-hah!"
Startled, Alex gave him a surprised glance. "Y-you've heard about me? About me not able to perform magic? Doesn't that mean everybody here knows too?" As she spoke, her voice got louder and higher, causing some of the students nearby to look at her strangely.
"Did I hear right? You can't perform magic? I thought Hogwarts didn't accept Squibs like you?" A cold, sneering voice came from behind them. Alex jumped and turned around, noticing that Fred gave the boy a nasty look.
"Malfoy isn't it? Scorpius Malfoy?" Fred smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "Fancy seeing you here - and Alex may not be able to perform normal magic, but, from what I hear, she has a rare and precious magic that, oh, I don't know, might surpass yours?"
The blonde boy with metal grey eyes bored into the taller boy's. "Aren't you one of the Weasleys? Fred, I think? Well, from what I hear about you, you were this close-" Malfoy pinched his forefinger and thumb together-"from getting expelled. Pity your last prank backfired eh?"
And then with a smirk, he sauntered off into a nearby compartment. Nearly spewing with rage, Fred pulled Alex's trunk upright and helped her into a compartment. "I need to help with my family, be back in a sec." He said in a rush, before bounding down the steps and helping a boy with dark hair and blue eyes pull his trunk up.
"Go to that compartment there, my things are already there, please James?" Alex heard Fred ask the boy. The compartment door rolled open, James walked in, not noticing Alex. "Darn Teddy," he was muttering, "He could've told me he liked-blimey, who are you?" He suddenly became aware of her, sitting stiffly on the seats.
"Er, Alex Keithstone-" A flicker of recognition appeared in James eyes. "Oh! I've heard about you..." his sentence trailed away as if deep in thought. Then he suddenly straightened and brandished a wand. "You don't mind if I... try something out right?"
Bewildered, Alex shook her head. "Go ahead," she said, looking forward to be able to see someone perform magic.
He pointed his wand at his trunk, "Accio Daily Prophet," he muttered. He stood there, as if waiting for something. After a few awkward moments, he turned around. "So it is true. Normally I have no problem in performing the Summoning spell, but I guess with you around... it really is astounding, but at least there won't be anyone who can hex you."
This cheered Alex up; she hadn't realised that she wouldn't-couldn't -be subjected to being bullied if people fired hexes at her.
They spent the next ten minutes or so talking. Alex found out that he had a large family, and he also confirmed that Rose, Ron and Hermione Weasley-the family she overheard- was his cousin, uncle and aunt, and that Fred was also his cousin.
"It must be fun, having so many people that care about you," Alex commented wistfully, "I just have mum and dad, I suppose. I do have an extended family, but we don't really...get along well. I think it had to do with me pulling a few pranks on my snobbish cousin, because since then, I've never received a Merry Christmas card, not that I mind though." She added, giving a small satisfying smirk.
At the mention of her pulling a joke on her cousin, James leant forward. "How do muggles pull tricks on others?" He asked, a cheeky grin on his face. Alex obligingly handed over her most treasured book: 1001 ways to have fun with your boring-est relative by Kathleen Krunch.
"Oh this will be so good, imagine Rose's face..." He flipped open the book, his grin getter wider and wider as he read down the contents page.
The compartment door slid open again, this time Fred, Rose and a scrawny, dark haired boy who greatly resembled James walked in. Rose and the boy both looked nervous and slightly scared at the prospect of them going to Hogwarts, Alex felt her stomach churn; they looked the exact same way as she felt.
"Alex, this is Rose and Albus," Fred introduced them. At the mention of his name, the boy looked up looking rather annoyed. "It's Al. Only dad and mum can call me Albus." He said, plopping down opposite James, who gave him a wicked smirk.
"Hi," Alex greeted them both nervously. They both nodded and smiled. Rose and Fred sat down too. Fred sat beside James and Rose sat in between Alex and Al, to Alex's delight.
"First year here?" Alex asked Rose, who nodded. "I'm kind of nervous," Rose admitted, "I dunno which house I'll be sorted into."
"House? Hogwarts have houses? What are they?" Alex asked, suddenly alarmed. At her old school, they didn't have houses as the teachers there thought that houses did not promote unity within the school.
Rose stared at her strangely, as did Al. "Aren't you a third year? Or...oh! So you're that Alexis Keithstone! Yeah, there's four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." She then proceeded to explain each house, what they represent and what qualities their students value. Rose seemed more confident now, and talked with more enthusiasm. Alex reckoned it was because she finally could explain the confusing ways of Hogwarts to someone else, a nice change from having heard second-hand tales from her many cousins.
The next couple of hours passed by rather fast. Through the two Weasleys and Two Potters (Rose and Fred Weasley, James and Albus Potter), Alex found herself knowing everything there was to Hogwarts.
"So you're saying, there are many secret passageways? And that you can go into the kitchens and get food without too much fuss? Oh my gosh! This year is going to be awesome!" Alex no longer felt strange, in fact, she found herself more and more like one of them. It seemed the feeling was mutual.
Fred nodded, "My dad refuses to tell me all of the secret passageways, but me 'n' James reckon we've nearly found all of them." He looked at James, who flashed Fred a small grin.
"This year, we're going to sneak into Hogsmeade. I mean, both of us have permission to go, but it isn't as fun if we go the proper way. Sneaking in is much more..." Struggling to find the right words, James slumped back into the seat.
"Daring? Exciting? Fun?" Alex supplied. James clapped his hands together. "Exactly! Just the words I was looking for!"
Someone knocked on the door and it slid open. A woman stood outside with a trolley laden with food.
"Anything from the trolley dears?" She asked kindly.
"Er... Do you have a Mars Bar?" Alex asked hopefully. She had a sudden craving for chocolate.
The woman gave her a strange look. "Mars Bar? I'm sorry, I don't have that, what about a Chocolate Frog? Or one of these nice Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?" She said, gesturing to each item on the trolley.
"Er..." Alex looked desperately at the others, not having the faintest idea what she was talking about. To her relief, Fred caught on and jumped in.
"Three Chocolate Frogs and One Bertie Bott's, please, and a cauldron cake." He dug into his pockets and fished out some coins. He counted thirteen Sickles –silver coins- into the woman's outstretched hand and took the food off her with his other hand.
"Forgot you lived with muggles," Rose stared. Al stood up after a moment's hesitation and purchased two cauldron cakes and six Chocolate Frogs.
"I'm collecting the cards," he explained to Rose, who looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Fred tossed Alex and James each a Chocolate Frog. Gingerly, Alex opened hers. To her horror, it jumped up and clung to her nose.
"There, the frog's gotten its jump. You can eat it now," Fred said, sniggering at her expression. He himself tore open the packet and firmly held onto the frog before stuffing it inside his mouth.
"Ah got Bumbledorr," he sighed with his mouth full. Rose shot him a withering glare. "Eat with your mouth shut, Fred, it's disgusting."
"Forry," He replied, giving her a sheepish grin. He swallowed and showed Alex his card. "All Chocolate Frog has a card that you can collect. You can have mine if you want, I've got about ten of Dumbledore."
Alex took up his offer and looked at her own card. She held it up and saw a man with jet black hair, green eyes and glasses. A caption below read Harry Potter. He seemed familiar.
"Oh, you've got dad," Al leant in and saw the photo on the card. Alex blinked at him.
"Your dad's on a collecting card? Wow!" She breathed in awe. Al looked at James, and they both shrugged.
"He defeated Voldemort nineteen years ago apparently. I heard that people back then were even afraid of saying Voldemort out loud, must've been some powerful, crazy wizard huh?" Al said.
Harry Potter's photo gave Alex a wink and strolled out the frame. With a squeak of fright, she dropped the card and its packet onto the floor. "It-He-just winked and walked out!" She gasped.
"Oh yeah, I heard from mum that muggle photos just stay still. Nah, the people in our photos and portraits can move around if they want to. Like the Fat Lady of Gryffindor." Rose explained. Alex fleetingly remembered Rose and Al mentioning the Fat Lady portrait who guarded the entrance to the Gryffindor's dormitories entrance.
The doors suddenly banged open, Scorpius Malfoy and several people sneered in. "Oh, this is the Potter and Weasel compartment is it?" He smirked.
Fred and James cracked their knuckles menacingly, "Get out, git. Malfoys and thick-headed people aren't welcome." James snarled.
Scorpius caught Alex's eye and raised a pale eyebrow. "You're not one of them. You're that Squib from earlier aren't you? Hope you're in Slytherin." And with another smirk and a guffaw from a big bulky boy behind him, he turned to leave.
"Oh. It's time you changed into your school robes, we're nearly there." He said facing them again, and after a few moments of smirking, he banged the door shut.
James nearly threw his Chocolate Frog at the door. "Stupid bastard," he muttered, to Rose's disgust.
"James, don't swear. And why are you guys all so mean? He seemed all right." Rose asked. Al nodded in agreement.
"He seemed better than his father, from all the stories my dad told me. At least he didn't go on about pure-bloods and muggleborns and all that." Al said.
Fred and James looked at each other. "Okay, so we were quick on the uptake to insult him. But did you see and hear the way he treated Alex? Made being a Squib seem like a total idiot or something." Fred said.
"But he said that he wanted Alex to be in Slytherin!" Rose retorted, refusing to back down.
James sighed. "He just wants her in his house so he can bully her without neither of us there to back her up. And sadly, much as I want to deny it, Malfoy was right about one thing. We do need to get changed, although-" he glanced at Rose who was already in her school robes, "-guess Rosie doesn't need to."
Fred and James left the compartment, with Al trailing behind. Rose helped Alex into her school robes.
"Everything is so different to the world I grew up in!" Alex complained, as she tried to wear her robes correctly. Rose just smiled. "I'm sure you'll get used to everything." She said kindly. "Besides, your magic is way unique, people will be nice to you, I'll guarantee it."
Alex turned to look at her, not believing one word. "That's exactly why I'm worried, Rose, I'm different to all of you. It feels like...I don't belong. You heard what Scorpius said."
Rose's head snapped up. "Er... Another thing you have to get used to is calling people by their last name. Only those who are close to you can you call us by our first names. I'm sure Fred, James and Al won't mind you. I certainly don't."
Alex stared at her. "Oh darn, another thing I have to remember. At school, I called everyone, even people I hate, by their first name." She sighed and thanked Rose for helping her dress.
The train pulled to a stop just as the three boys tramped back in. Al, Rose and Alex clambered down the train together, to join the other First years who were all crowding around a giant man.
"Firs' years? And Alexis Keithstone? All here? 'Right. Let's go." The giant man named Hagrid led them to several boats.
Alex gulped. For once she was glad she was short for her age. Or else she would've stood out among the eleven year olds.
Al, Rose and Alex claimed one boat. Alex was still worried about which house she'd be sorted into. But as the boats neared the castle, all her worries were washed away.
"This is-it's so-" The words caught in her throat. Hagrid turned to look at her with a kind wink.
"It's great, ain' it?" He smiled.
Alex nodded, losing her fear of the overgrown man. I think I can get used to this, she thought with a shadow of a grin.
After re-reading this chapter, I realised that Alex wanted a Mars Bar, same as Harry did when he first boarded the train. I was going to change it...but then thought that it'd be better if I kept the same.
Until next chapter!