1
"When's that girl coming, mum?"
"She should be here any minute, Ronald. And you'd better treat her well; she's under strict protection of the Order." Ronald Weasley and his best mate, Harry Potter, both gave his mother a questioning look.
"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley but could you explain again WHY she's staying here." Harry had been given permission to stay with the Weasleys for the summer and had been told just now, on their second day of summer, that they had a new addition to the household.
"I've told you boys twice already. She's a just a girl. Only about a week younger than you, Harry. Her name is Lexia and although she grew up here, she's been studying magic in America for the past 4 years. Apparently, they're much farther ahead of our education over there. However, she'll be attending Hogwarts with you boys next term and she will be in your year."
"But mum, you still haven't explained why she's under the protection of the Order. Is she becoming a part of it?"
"No, Ronald. She's neutral in the war. She spoke with Albus Dumbledore, and has been put under his protection. No one knows anything beyond that. Albus said that when she wished to let everyone know why she came to him, she would. And you two boys better not start snooping around to find out. It's going to be hard for her, she won't know anyone in the school and Albus thought it wise to have her stay with us so she can get to know the two of you and hopefully Hermione if she visits often." Then there was a soft knock on the door. "That's Lexia and Dumbledore now. You boys best behave."
Molly went to open the door, expecting Dumbledore to be there but it was only Lexia, dressed very 'American' in a pair of tight, dark blue jeans and a form fitting white shirt which was high cut and showed off about an inch or two of tanned mid-drift. Molly was expecting a poor defenseless girl, but this girl had power radiating off of her. Apparently, the boys expected a girl similar to what Molly had expected for their mouths dropped instantly when they took in her long wavy dark reddish brown hair that hung to the middle of her back, and her seemingly aqua colored eyes. Standing at about 5'7" she was nothing near a defenseless creature. She smiled and showed off her perfectly white teeth. "Sorry, Albus couldn't make it. I kind of wanted to go shopping first and then I just told him I would come alone. You must be Mrs. Weasley. Thank you so much for allowing me into your home."
For some reason, Molly felt the need to hug her, probably because it was in Mrs. Weasley's motherly nature to hug everyone. Lexia returned the hug awkwardly, for she'd never been shown that type of affection from any adult. She'd never had the chance. "Welcome deary, this is your home now too."
"Thanks again, I really do appreciate it." She looked beyond Molly and saw the two boys. She recognized Harry Potter right away. He was the first person she'd heard about since being home and the reason she'd had to leave all those years ago. "Umm, Harry and Ron right? I'm Lexia"
Before Harry could really think of something to say, Ron spoke, which was quite unusual. Ron was usually the one to stand gaping while Harry used his brain. But his intelligence was failing him at the moment. "Yeah, nice to meet you."
"Same here, thanks for being okay with this."
And that's when Harry remembered, she was hiding something, she was the enemy until he figured out what was going on with this girl. He watched as Molly Weasley went into the kitchen before he responded. "No need to thank us, we really aren't all that okay with it." Harry assumed she was being overly sweet because there was an adult in the room, and he was right. She wasn't about to take any shit from him, although he wasn't expecting her to take offense.
"Look, I know you want to know why I'm here. I'm sure I'll tell you soon enough. But for now, there are parts of my past that I really don't want to bring up to people I barely know. It's human nature to be judgmental. Just because I'm keeping certain parts of my life to myself doesn't mean I'm the enemy. And I won't bow down and spill my guts to you just because you're the great Harry Potter."
Harry looked at her. "Actually, because I am Harry Potter, secrets do make you my enemy. I don't trust easily."
"Nor do I, my dear. I guess you'll be watching you're back until you stop acting like an asshole because there's no way I'm telling my secrets to an arrogant prick that I can't trust." And with that she left the room and walked to the kitchen. "Mrs. Weasley could you tell me which room is mine? I need a shower, it's been a long day."
"Certainly dear, its right across from Harry and Ron's…up the stairs, go right, third door on the left. The closest bathroom is at the end of the hall."
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley"
"Call me Molly, dear." And with that, Lex went to her room. Her bags were already there. She stripped, wrapped a towel around her body and walked down the hall to the bathroom. While on her way, she passed Harry and Ron who both stood there starring as she walked past them.
"This is going to be a great summer, mate."
"Ron, for all we know she could be a former death eater."
"Harry, you're being an arse. She just walked past us completely starkers. The mark isn't small, we would've seen it. She's definitely not hiding much and she seems pretty open. Give her a chance."
"I don't know Ron. You might be right but what if you're not. We don't know her."
"She doesn't know us either. And she was completely fine with living here because she knew she wasn't safe anywhere else. She trusts us with her life and you can't even trust her to sleep under the same roof as you do. I know Dumbledore trusts her if he sent her here."
"Alright fine, let's find out for sure." Harry walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door before Ron could stop him. He could hear the water running and knew she was already in the shower. He waited a bit and knocked again and then heard the water stop running and the shower curtain being pushed aside. He was about to knock again, just for fun, when the door opened a crack and she peaked out.
"Where's the fire?"
"There is none."
"Have a reason for bothering me in the shower then?"
"I wanted to apologize."
She seemed to think about this for a minute. "Fine. Do it then." Lex then opened the door a bit more so Harry could see the back of her in the mirror but she still hid her body behind the door. She was completely naked. No mark on the back.
"I'm sorry for being an arse. However, I still want to find out what it is that you're hiding. But I know you'll tell me if or when you feel comfortable doing so. I know it's not easy being here. But I'd also like to know why you're back in England if you moved to America to run away from something in the first place."
"I needed to come back. I left knowing I would eventually. This is my home, I couldn't stay away forever. But I'm a bit cold, so if you don't mind…"
"Right, sorry." And he winked, why he winked he wasn't sure. She turned around and he immediately glanced at the mirror. He didn't see much but he didn't see any markings anywhere on her body. When he really thought about it, she had more reason to not trust him than he did to not trust her. He'd eventually find out her secrets, but he could wait.
"What the bloody hell was that?"
"She doesn't have any marks…anywhere." And he smirked.
"Bloody hell, Harry, you totally just looked like Malfoy for a second."
"Not cool Ron, not cool at all."
The boys went back to their room and started to play a game of Wizards Chess. Ron had defeated Harry twice before Lexia walked in, wearing only a grey tank top and navy blue and grey boy shorts. Her wet hair was draped messily around her shoulders and back. "So, Albus told me there was another girl living here close to our age. A year younger I think he said."
"That's my sister, Ginny."
"Ooh, got it." After a few hours of sitting and talking, mostly about what Hogwarts was like, Lex was beginning to feel relaxed around them, and they were beginning to really enjoy her company, even without her looks, they were glad she was around.