Chapter One: Tear Upon the Rose


"Alexis? Are you still awake?" A sleepy voice called down the stairs.

Alexis stood up from the sofa in the rec room in her basement. She walked to the base of the stairs and looked up to find her father standing at the top of the stairs. She smiled sheepishly up at him.

"Hey dad."

"Kiddo, you've got to sleep."

"I know, but I can't. I have tried. I swear."

"I know sweetie. But you've got to try."

Alexis nodded once and watched as her father disappeared upstairs once more. When she couldn't hear his footsteps any longer, Alexis padded quietly up the stairs, stopping in the bathroom. She turned on the tap, watching the cold-water fall into the porcelain sink. Alexis cupped her hands, catching the water there. Splashing the water on her face, she looked up into the mirror. Alexis always described herself as plain. Her skin was tan, her hair a dark brown, her eyes a honey brown. When she stood up straight, she was an average 5'6". She wasn't skinny, but average size, her body a combination of hard muscle and soft fat. Alexis was pleased with her body, and had no reason to hate herself. Sighing as she looked at the bags under her eyes, she stepped out of the bathroom and made her way into the kitchen. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as she passed through the living room. She stared into a corner for a moment, and then shook her head.

"Snap out of it Alexis. It's the lack of sleep," She whispered to herself.

Her stomach rumbled slightly as she passed into the kitchen. Smiling slightly, she decided to make herself a late night snack. As she did so, she started to get a strange feeling. The hairs on the back of her neck raised once more, a shiver running down her spine. If she listened closely, she could hear a faint buzzing. Alexis shifted slightly when she realized that it was coming from the living room. Picking up a sharp knife, she went back to the entrance of the living room, listening. Now she could hear whispers.

"When are we going to do this?" A female voice asked. "The train will be coming soon and we still have things to do before we can leave here."

"Hold your threstals Tonks. We don't want to scare the girl," A man's voice growled in answer.

Threstals? Alexis mouthed, trying to wrap her mind around this word. What the hell was going on? Feeling quite brave, she held the knife firmly, and stepped out of the shadows of the doorway.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Alexis growled.

Out of thin air, six people appeared. Alexis stared at them for a moment, her mouth falling open. She took a step back. A man with graying hair stepped forward.

"Please, do not be afraid Chloe," He said.

"What did you just call me?" She hissed.

"I am sorry Alexis. I called you Chloe, your real name."

"My name is Alexis. That's the way it has always been and that is the way it is staying. Who the fuck are you and what the hell do you want?"

"I am Remus Lupin. This is Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hestia Jones, Bill Weasley, and Nym-" He was cut off by the purple haired woman.

"Don't call me Nymphadora!"

Remus smiled, "Sorry. And this is Tonks."

"Thanks for the introductions," Alexis replied, the sarcasm evident in her voice as she rolled her eyes. "But that means nothing to me. What the hell do you want?"

"We want to bring you to England to help your brother."

"My brother? What does Jason have to do with this? And why England?"

"She doesn't know?" Tonks hissed and her hair started changing colors rapidly.

Alexis did a double take, "Dude, your hair just changed colors," She said awed.

Tonks beamed, "I'm a metamorphmagus. I can change my appearance at will," Tonks changed her nose then, "See?"

"Cool!" Alexis frowned then. "Wait a second! Are you telling me that, that magic exists?" She said slowly.

Everyone nodded, "Look, we don't have a lot of time. Someone will explain everything later," Moody growled.

"Fine. What exactly do you want from me?" Alexis asked.

"We need you to come back with us, to provide blood protection. Sister's a closer link then aunt," Remus answered.

"But why now? Why not before? Why was I even brought here in the first place? And for that matter, how can I trust you?" Alexis pointed a finger in their direction.

"We are telling the truth. You just have to trust us ok?" Hestia answered. "We don't know the answers to your questions."

"You're just lackeys then?" Alexis snickered. "Doing someone else's dirty work?"

All of them visibly bristled and Bill even growled under his breath, "We're not anyone's lackeys. We choose to do what we do. If you don't come with us willingly, we can always take you by force."

"I would like to see you try," Alexis backed up, on guard.

Remus gave Bill a dirty look, "Bill," Remus said in a warning tone.

Bill looked apologetic as he said, "Sorry," He looked over Remus' shoulder to Alexis. "I'm sorry Alexis."

Alexis took another step back, "I don't know if I can do this,"

"You must be brave now," Kingsley said.

"What do you expect from me?" Alexis asked.

"We need you to come back to England with us. Once you have been trained a bit, Dumbledore will probably set you up to live with your brother."

"Do you expect me to give up how ever many years of my life just to be dumped back in this one when you don't need me anymore?" Alexis asked icily.

Tonks was the one who stepped forward, placing her hands on Alexis' shoulders. Her grey-violet eyes looked into Alexis' honey brown ones.

"You're part of our world, where we want you to remain. It wasn't our decision for you to remain here this long. If it was up to us, you would have been at Hogwarts, a year before your brother. The blame lies with someone else," She said softly, a smile tugging at her lips. She cut off Alexis' obvious questions. "Not now. Later. I will make sure you are both taken care off," She whispered and winked.

"Thank you," Alexis whispered back.

Tonks smiled and stepped back. Alexis took a deep breath, thinking for a moment. She looked back up toward them, making her decision.

"Fine. I will do it. Now what?"

"You have a glamour on you. That needs to be taken off. And then it's time for us to leave," Remus answered.

Alexis ran a hand down her face, "We should go downstairs. So we're not heard."

Everyone seemed to nod, most of them looking visibly relieved. "Alright. Moody, Kingsley, guard the front and back entrances." Alexis watched them leave. "Bill, stay at the top of the stairs. Warn us if someone gets up. Hestia, you will stay on the stairs. Tonks, you will help me."

Alexis, Tonks, and Remus walked quietly down the stairs, Alexis catching Tonks when she tripped near the top.

"Thanks!" Tonks said cheerfully.

Once they were downstairs, Alexis sat down on the sofa and looked up expectantly at the other two. Both Remus and Tonks took out their wands and Alexis flinched.

"They are just our wands. Think of them as a focus for our magic," Remus said and Alexis nodded.

"Can I see one?"

Tonks handed Alexis her wand, "Cherry wood with unicorn hair, 10 1/4 inches."

Alexis gave it a small wave but nothing happened. She looked up curiously.

"Was something supposed to happen?" Alexis asked.

"Not likely," Remus answered. "Once a wand chooses the wizard, it becomes attuned specifically to their magical aura. It's not attuned to you, so it is not surprising that nothing happened."

Alexis nodded as she absorbed this new information. She rubbed her hands together slowly as she looked at them. She looked back up into Remus and Tonks' faces.

"Just get this over with," She said quietly.

Remus nodded firmly and turned to Tonks, "Are you ready?"

She nodded, "Yep. Let's do this."

Alexis closed her eyes, screwing up her face as if she was expecting it to hurt. Remus and Tonks waved their wands over Alexis' body in specific patterns, chanting quietly in Latin. White and gold lights shimmered around Alexis' body, until they finally disappeared. She flashed a dark midnight blue before she finally opened her eyes. Tonks conjured a mirror, handing it to Alexis. Alexis examined herself in the mirror. Her hair was raven black now, falling almost to her waist in soft waves. Her skin was paler, her eyes hazel, her nose longer, her lips slightly smaller. She turned her head downward and stood up. Alexis' clothes hung more loosely from her body and when she looked up, her eye level had changed. She was now several inches taller than Tonks, and only slightly shorter than Remus.

"Holy crap," Alexis whistled. "Damn, I look different."

"No offense Alexis, but do you have to swear so much?" Remus asked.

Alexis snickered, "Sorry dude. It's part of me. I swear, a lot. You will have to get over it."

Remus bowed his head and just shook it. And that's when he started to laugh. When he was done, he wiped tears from his eyes, the smile still on his face. Tonks had her hands on her hips, a smirk on her face.

"Care to explain Remus?" She asked.

"Just as stubborn as her mother," Remus smiled.

"Look, I know that I have other parents, biological parents. Where are they?" Alexis asked quietly.

Remus' smile turned into a frown, "They are dead Alexis," He answered just as quietly.

Alexis closed her eyes, attempting to hide her true emotions. Ever since she had first found out about her adoption, she had wanted to meet her true parents. And now she was not going to have the chance. She took a deep breath, and opened her eyes once more.

"So I have a brother? And an aunt?" She asked quietly.

"Yes, Harry is your brother. And your mother's sister Petunia, and her husband and son. Your uncle and cousin," Remus answered.

"How old is my brother?" Alexis found that she had a hard time saying the word brother.

"Fifteen. He will be 16 in July," Tonks answered.

"Irish twins," Alexis said as she thought to herself. "I'm seventeen. How the hell am I suppose to be an older sister to a kid I don't even know?" She asked herself quietly.

"Remus!" Hestia hissed and Remus walked over. "One of the Muggles woke up."

"Pretend you are asleep Alexis," Remus hissed as he disappeared, Tonks following.

Alexis snickered.

"Alexis, I thought I told you to try and sleep," Her dad's voice came down the staircase once more.

"Sorry dad. I was just going to try again."

"Try to lay down in the dark. Save some electricity," He chuckled.

"No problem dad," Alexis saluted smartly.

Remus and Tonks appeared once more, "How come you did not do as I told you?" He asked.

"I think I know myself a little better than you do. I'm an insomniac most of the time. It's worst in the summer when I don't have as much to do. My dad would have thought it was a little weird if I was actually sleeping," She giggled.

"Do you take anything for it? A sleeping potion or Muggle medicine?" Tonks asked tentatively.

Alexis frowned and shook her head vehemently, "I refuse. I deal with it as best as I can."

Tonks noticed Alexis' tone and realized this was not a topic to discuss. Remus noticed as well. That's when they both checked the time simultaneously.

"Remus, we need to get going if we want to keep our return to England a secret. Besides, we have to make sure we get to the train on time to meet Harry."

"You are right Tonks," He turned to Alexis. "Alexis, most of us are going to leave now. Hestia is going to stay with you to help you get all of your things together. We only have an hour. See they monitor all incoming portkeys-" He cut himself off when he saw the confused look on Alexis' face. "It's one of our ways to get around. We have only an hour before the guard changes in the International Portkey Office."

"Fine. Whatever. Just go," Alexis waved her hand in dismissal, already mentally figuring out how this was all going to work.

"Alexis," Remus began.

"Just go Remus," Tonks pushed him along and he left. "Alexis, look at me," Alexis did as she was asked. "I'm going to be around quite a bit, and so is Remus. I want to make sure this transition is as easy as possible. If you are unhappy about this, you don't have to come."

"I want to come. But you do realize that coming with all of you means I have to give up everything I know? Everything I love and care about? Do you have any kind of idea what that feels like?"

Tonks looked down at the floor, finding her shoes incredibly interesting for a moment before she looked back up, "No I don't know what that feels like. Take your time ok? Because before you know it, you will be in England, with your brother."

Alexis looked down at the floor, "I know," She whispered.

"Then I will get Hestia so you can get your things together."

Tonks put a hand on Alexis' shoulder, squeezing it for a moment before walking upstairs. Alexis heard a distinct thud that meant that Tonks had tripped again.

"Gods Tonks, can't you ever stay on two feet?" Alexis heard Hestia snicker.

"Shut up Hes'," Tonks grumbled.

Hestia Jones came down the rest of the stairs. Hestia was a black haired, blue-eyed woman, around the same height as Alexis. Alexis immediately noticed the scar running across her neck, disappearing at the collar of her shirt. Hestia noticed her gaze and spoke up.

"You like?" Hestia smiled.

"What happened?"

"Near the end of the first war, I was fresh out of the Auror Academy and they sent me off with my partner on a call that had come in. We tangled with half a dozen Death Eaters before reinforcements arrived. One of them got me with a curse. So now I have the curse scar."

"How big is it?" Alexis asked, awed at the woman.

"It ends here," Hestia pointed to her stomach. "Tore me from neck to stomach. I thought I was going to die. But I got really, really lucky," She put emphasis on the word really.

"What are Aurors?"

"Hmm… They're like your policemen. Yes, I think that's the right word."

"And Death Eaters?"

"You-Know-Who's followers," Hestia noticed Alexis' confused expression. "We don't say his name. He's a really bad guy back home. By the end of all this shite, you will know a lot more about him."

"How do you figure?"

Hestia sighed, rubbing her forehead, "Your brother defeated him when he was a year old. No one knows how it happened. Your brother is famous for killing him the first time," Hestia paused, biting her lip. "Look Alexis, I know you have a lot of questions, but we really have to start getting ready to leave. I will answer any of your questions though, I promise."

"Thank you,"

Hestia smiled, "Not at all. Come on."

Alexis opened the door to her bedroom, turning the light on. Hestia pulled something out of a pocket and set it on the floor. She brandished her wand and Alexis watched as it grew in size. It was a black trunk with silver trimmings. Hestia opened the lid and stepped back.

"You should be able to fit everything in here. And if not, well, we will figure something out."

Most of Alexis' clothes no longer fit her so she figured most of it could be given away. She kept her athletic shorts, sweatpants, some shirts and sweaters, and her two smallest pairs of jeans. All of her books, and random possessions were put into the trunk. When she was finally done, she turned to Hestia who had been organizing the trunk as Alexis handed her things.

"Is that everything then?" Hestia asked and Alexis nodded. "Ok, let's get out of here then."

"Hold on a sec'," Alexis interrupted. "What about my family? Is it even legal for you to do this?"

Hestia gave a small smile, "Dumbledore said he would take care of all of this. But I do have a letter for them," Hestia pulled out an envelope from an inside pocket. "So they're not worried."

Alexis nodded once, following Hestia up the stairs. They paused in the kitchen, Hestia placing the letter on the table, in full view. Hestia guided Alexis outside and into the backyard. They stopped in the middle of the yard, and Hestia paused as she rummaged around in her pockets for something. Alexis simply stared at the home she had grown up in, taking deep steadying breaths as she tried to gain control of her emotions.

"You ready Alexis? The portkey is set," Hestia said softly.

"Just a minute. They were good to me," Alexis answered.

Alexis looked at the house and then looked to the stars. She turned to Hestia then, walking back to her side.

"I'm ready," Alexis said, taking Hestia's hand.

"Ok, just touch this piece of rope. A finger is fine," Hestia reached over and waited for Alexis to grasp the length of rope. "1, 2, 3…"

They disappeared.