AN:- So this is my second fanfic. I've changed lots of stuff in the story like Theresa and Jerry are muggles and also Narcissa is not Sirius's cousin sister and hence Sirius and Draco are NOT related... a reader pinpointed this so I decide to post it here itself : I know that every pureblood is related to one another in the wizard world but since this is my fanfic so let's just pretend that it's not so and hence I repeat Draco and Sirius are not related. Anyways I hope you like the story and pls review.. constructive criticism and suggestions are welcome...
'Hi mom,' said 10 year old Alex while swinging the subway's door open as she walked in. 'Hey Alex,' said her mom Theresa.
'How sad it is that school's starting one month from now. I wish holidays were a bit more longer,' she said sighing.
'Seriously Alex dear? One month isn't enough for you?' Alex grinned, 'Course it isn't.'
Alex had an elder brother Justin who was 24 years old and stayed in London. He occasionally (really often actually) came to visit his family here in New York. Alex's younger brother Max was 9 years old and went to school along with her. Max and Alex had to help their parents in the subway sandwich shop, though sometimes (most of the times for Alex in this case) not wishfully.
'Where's dad?' asked Alex as she climbed upon the counter to sit.
Theresa smiled mysteriously before saying, 'Preparing a little surprise for your birthday honey.' Tomorrow was Alex's birthday and everyone but her was making a big fuss about it. She didn't understand why birthdays were such a big deal. Birthdays were just like any other normal day for her.
'Hallo Alex!' Justin boomed from behind making Alex jump up. As soon as she spotted him she squealed happily and hugged him as a smile crept up his face. 'Justin! When did you come?' Max said coming from behind joining in the hug. 'Okay that's it,' Alex said pulling away as Justin smiled and answered Max's question, 'Well, I got a little holiday from my job and then I remembered about Alex's birthday and then I packed my bags and here I am now!'
'Justin my son!' Jerry, Alex's dad's voice came as he entered carrying a sort of package or something. 'What's that?' asked Alex immediately. 'I bet a fortune, it's a humongous statue of the great Maximan!' Max said while Alex rolled her eyes.
'I bet two fortunes that it isn't a statue of you, Maximilian,' Alex said Max's real name with a smirk. 'You dare dishonor the great Maximan?' Max said enraged. 'It's a gift you two,' their dad announced before ushering them upstairs. Alex dumped her bag on the sofa and ran to her room.
Once in her room, Alex bolted the door and slowly rolled up the sleeve of her left arm revealing a black tattoo made on the inner side of her arm. It had been there since Alex was a small child . She didn't know what it symbolized and why it was there but she had figured out it was some kind of dark evil sign judging from the figures drawn in the tattoo which depicted a skull with a snake around it. This tattoo normally didn't hurt and wasn't painful but since last year the tattoo had been hurting like anything and causing hot searing sensations in her body and mind.
At first the pain was rare and occurred once or twice in a month or so but soon the pain became really often and now daily. Apparently it was hurting now too as Alex rubbed it feverishly, trying to calm her nerves.
This tattoo was one of the weird things about Alex. Another of these peculiarities were that Alex could fly. She had discovered it when she was about three. She had been trying to reach the top of her tall wardrobe when all of a sudden she'd risen in the air. At first she had thought it was normal but when she asked mom whether humans could fly the answer had been no, which had made her panic to such an extent that she had started beginning to believe that she wasn't human! But as she grew, Alex learnt to use her flying skills as her strength, like in basketball, since her height was a bit short, she sometimes flew while playing basketball to score points.
And she was also sure no normal people dreamt of eccentric snake like faces. Almost every night she dreamt of this ghastly white face that had odd slits for nostrils and glaring red eyes, laughing a cold, high laugh that freaked her out. The strange thing about this face was that it appeared as if someone's face was behind his face. She liked to call this face the weirdo face.
Then there were some rare better nights when she'd dream of two other people. She didn't know why but she felt that they had a connection with her. One of these people, a woman had a beautiful face that resembled hers a lot. The same brown eyes, same sleek black hair with the exact same mischievous yet cute smile on her face. She would wave and smile at her. The other face was of a tall well built and darkly handsome man with fair skin, medium and lustrous black hair, striking grey eyes and an air of casual elegance that Alex also shared. Both these people seemed vaguely familiar to her but however hard Alex tried she just couldn't remember who they were.
. . . .
'Alex! Open the door!' squealed the gleeful voice of Harper as she knocked on the door. Alex hastily rolled down her sleeve and opened the door. 'Alex! Look what I got for your birthday,'
Alex inwardly groaned at the thought of her birthday and said, 'telling me already are you, huh?
'Well I know its tomorrow but I was so excited. I can't wait for you to see it. You're gonna love it!' Harper cried.
'Man, why does everyone have to make a big deal outta nothing! It's just one birthday!' Alex said. 'C'mon it's your birthday. Not just any other ordinary day,' Harper said.
'Anyways, where's my gift?' Alex asked not wanting to argue with Harper.
'Ta-da!' Harper said as she took out two twin locket necklaces. Both lockets had a photo of Alex and Harper riding a roller coaster in which Harper was screaming while Alex was enjoying the ride and laughing, embedded in them and the word BFF strung through them. 'Here, this is yours,' Harper said handing her one of the locket necklaces.
'Aww, thank you so much. This gift is awesome! I was thinking you were gonna give me one of your home made jewelry,' Alex said hugging her friend. 'I wanted to give you that only, it was a pair of earrings with a chunk of watermelon attached, just imagine how lovely, but mom said this locket would do much better.' Harper confessed as Alex muttered under her breath, 'Good choice,'
Alex spent the day talking and playing with Harper while pranking her brothers. Finally at evening Harper went away still chuckling about some prank they'd pulled on Max.
That night Alex was visited by the two friendly people again in her sleep. They smiled serenely and waved at her whispering, 'Happy birthday honey.' Alex murmured something in her sleep as they waved before disappearing. This dream made Alex feel really happy though she didn't know why. But Alex's pleasure didn't last for long as only seconds later another face; the weirdo face appeared. He let out an evil cackle and said,' Well, well Alex. Long time no see dear. But don't you worry, we'll be meeting very soon.
She woke up in the morning sweating haunted by the dream. His voice still echoed inside her head. What did he mean by we'll be meeting soon? Alex did not want to know, it dawned upon her he might come and visit her on her birthday. Alex hastily waved the idea away thinking it was impossible but she couldn't help thinking what if he did turn up today as she got dressed wearing a simple black t-shirt and blue jeans and put on the locket that Harper had given her fondly.
As soon as Alex came downstairs she heard Max and Harper singing or rather shouting in unpleasantly loud yet shrilly tones, 'Happy birthday to you, may god bless you …'
'Alright guys, you can stop for I see no need to blast off my ears please,' Alex yelled above all the noise trying to silence Max. 'Happy birthday sweetie,' Theresa kissing her forehead and handing Alex a dress wrapped in a parcel. 'Mom, you know I hate dresses,' Alex grumbled as she kissed her mother back.
'Here you go Alex dear. Many happy returns of the day,' Jerry said pulling Alex into a bear hug before he presented her with a coffee mug that said- YOU'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THE WORLD'S BEST FATHER! 'Thanks dad!' Alex said. Then Justin came forward and hugged Alex who hugged him back. 'Happy birthday sis,' Justin said as he gave her some packaged sweets and candies. At first she was dismayed but she discovered that these were no normal sweets. 'This can fill a room with bluebell-colored bubbles that refuse to pop for days!' he said pointing to a pack of gum which said - Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. Another package was labeled Every Flavor Beans. 'Believe me when I say all flavors. Not only chocolate or vanilla they have earwax and vomit flavored too.' Justin warned Alex who nodded gleefully. This certainly was her favorite gift.
'From where did you get this?' asked Max as his mouth hung open in surprise.
'Oh, London's specialties you see. There are lots of things there that you won't get here in New York,' he said grinning.
Next, Max handed Alex a pillow in the form of a half eaten sandwich while saying, 'That's the best in my pillow collection use it carefully, plus don't eat it it's not real. I tried once which resulted in this shape' he said. 'Thanks for the info,' Alex said rolling her eyes sarcastically while taking mental notes about not to sleep with her head on it.
'Is this the Russo's sandwich place?' asked a tall, slender and very old man. Alex eyed his silver hair and beard which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing strange long robes, a purple cloak which swept the floor and high heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkling behind his half moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked as though it had been broken at least twice.
'Sorry, but we're closed today,' said Theresa. 'Professor Dumbledore!' gushed Justin shaking hands with him. 'Ah, Justin Russo, one of the best students of Hogwarts. You made me proud by becoming the head of the Auror office, ' Dumbledore said smiling.
'You two know each other?' asked Jerry.
'Yeah about that dad, I've got some explaining to do,' Justin said and started narrating the whole story. 'Dad, you remember when I was eleven, some lady McGonagall had come and claimed me to be a wizard and capable of doing magic, she told you to send me to Hogwarts. But- but you had refused thinking that it was some joke,' Justin paused and gulped.
'That happened the day before you disappeared,' Jerry said slowly as if putting together pieces of a puzzle.
The truth was that Justin had been so intent upon going to Hogwarts that despite the fact that Jerry had refused he had went along with McGonagall to Hogwarts. Meanwhile Jerry and Theresa had been dead worried, they'd searched all the U.S but hadn't found him all those 7-8 years.
Suddenly when Alex had been about 4- 5 years old, he had reappeared immediately after he'd graduated from Hogwarts and announced that all this time he'd been in London and now he had a job there. When he was asked why he'd been missing he had made up some excuse which Jerry and Theresa had bought easily.
'I lied to you..' confessed Justin at last as he finished narrating the true story.
'Justin Russo..you...' Jerry said, his voice telling him that he was really angry. 'Jerry, I believe you can have your family time later, no offence but right now I need to talk to Alex,' said Dumbledore.
'You don't mean to say that Alex is also a..' guessed Justin. 'Yes she is a witch also,' Dumbledore nodded. 'Good lord! Two wizards in a muggle family!' said Jerry quite happy forgetting his anger.
'Wait you know what a muggle is?' asked Justin in disbelief.
'Uh..well..um our friends, they are.. I mean they were wizards,' Theresa stammered.
'I think it's time to tell Alex the truth Theresa, don't you think so?' Dumbledore said quietly.
'Whatever do you mean?' asked Alex bewildered.
'Ah, Alex Riddle Black, charming like your mother aren't you?' Dumbledore sighed.