Chapter 2: Portkeys and Patronus'

Harry had been surprised to see how much Ginny knew about him. Sure he understood that people watched his life. He had been in the public eye unknowingly, but aside from rumor and speculation, she managed to get further into him then either Ron or Hermione. The former would not be so surprising, as Voldemort himself could pretend to be Harry and get away with it. Harry imagined Voldemort trying to 'hang out' with his young friend, wearing his glasses and a cheap wig, bad-mouthing Snape, blowing off homework and calling Hermione uptight, (again). The two had met during the confrontation for Sirius' soul the previous year.

'Even he thinks she's too much to handle, then again he also likes the sound of his own voice…." Harry thought to himself. The previous year, Voldemort had approached Sirius Black for help. During this, he had finally taken notice of Hermione and Ron. The 'mud-blood', he had been pretty crude about- (using the kind of language that best describing a monkey that mated with dogs) and the latter was a blood traitor who was too attached to, "A filthy beast parading itself upon its masters. Pushy and foolish in the truth of the powers in this world." Ginny had her mind ripped open. That was the sound he heard now when dementors were around. It was so high, like his ear drums were shattering. Voldemort forced himself into her, drenching her very soul with his disgusting energy.

Strangely, young red-headed woman had not spoken to Harry all morning. It was fine with him. He felt as though he had all the worst parts of him removed by their conversation. He was now available for Quidditch, hatred of Snape, and the typical jokes on Dumbledore's age.

"Dumbledore is so old, he remembers when evil was born," Ron muttered, still too tired to be upbeat, but not so much that he did not want to participate in a particularly rowdy round of 'what mates make Snape', which Hermione had won accidently when, while defending the teacher's ancestry from her friends' accusations, accidently went on a ten-minute rant on the exact contents of a troll's toilet. The things that had come out of her mouth were so disgusting even Mr. Weasely was looking at her with new eyes.

"Dumbledore is so old," Began Percy, who happened to participate, "His wand needs to be carbon-dated."

Hermione laughed, but everyone else just looked even more exhausted.

"He's so old," popped in Fred, "His baby teeth are fossilized," Finished George.

"Harry," Said Ron, "you haven't had a go yet." It surprised the orphan that he was participating in a family event… though he knew on some level, he was. But he was not ready to play.

"Dumbledore is dirt's father," he spit out lamely.

"Who's its mother then?" Asked Ron.

Ginny sprinted past them, up the hill, "Dumbledore is older than gender. He didn't need one."

The boys were Dumbstruck. "Well, boys, what would we be without our women?" Added Mr. Weasley as they reached the port-key.

"I would give anything to keep her away from me!" Yelled Justin. Alex fake-sobbed even louder.

"Oh, Mija, I'm sure you will have fun…" She glared at her son, who was now trying to drop his sister off at the house.

"I wish you weren't my brother!" Alex yelled at the top of her lungs.

The room stilled.

"Don't you ever, ever say that," Her father growled in a low voice. "You have no clue, none, what something like that could cause."

Alex looked up, "Okay, so why can't I go to England with Justin?" She snapped.

"British wizards are different than us. No competition, no flashing until you're seventeen. Besides, Professor Crumbs asked for Justin, if he won't take you, you can't go. I know you really want to go to Europe, but the Old World just went through a couple of huge upheavals. It's starting to quiet down, but it's too dangerous for an inexperienced wizard."

Justin let out a squeak before he could stop himself. The family stared at him.

"I wouldn't say inexperienced… she brash, rough, nasty…" she glowered, "But she could be one of the finest if someone prepared her."

"Great! You do it!" With that, the adults bolted, leaving Justin and Alex to square off.

Alex flipped her hair back, striding to Justin using her pseudo-flirty walk. "Max!" Justin yelled, "Alex has candy for you!"
"What? I do not!" She said in shock. It was too late. Her little brother ran down tackling her to the ground.

Justin took this time to go to the family lair. He took out his wand, scratched the back of his head, and focused. Closing his eyes he muttered.

"Expecto Patronum…" a wisp came out. He knew without opening his eyes he had not done it well enough. Apparently kissing Miranda was not enough. He just had to try again. "Expecto Patronum…" He focused harder, but sneaking off with Juliet was not enough, either. Harder, he told himself, again, again, until you get it right… "Expecto Patronum!" Something oddly limbed disappeared in a flash.

"What are you doing?" Asked the last person Justin needed to hear from. He did not open his eyes. "Go away Alex, I did this before, I can do this again!" It would not take him long he knew, and Justin knew almost everything, except how his sister managed to get under his nerves.

"I told Max that I wasn't Alex. He didn't believe me, and then I told him you weren't Justin. He seemed to believe that…" She trailed off. "What were you doing?"

He turned to look his cute little sister in the face. It was odd for him, the way he saw her, more a girl best friend than as a sister.

"I was trying to generate a patronus. I thought I sensed a dark angel the other day," He explained. Alex shrugged and plopped herself in the comfy chair. She couldn't think of a time that she would need a patronus to fight off dark angels.

"How's it work?" She asked. Although he would be wasting time, (she never paid attention to him) he may open up enough to teach her, and then she could convince him to keep teaching her, and then take her to England….

"You need a happy thought," He said introspectively.

She glanced up at him sarcastically, "Any happy thought? This isn't Disney!" She snapped.

Justin sighed, frustrated. Alex sensed that today she should try and co-operate. "Look, I have my wand," She added sheepishly, holding it up. Justin seized her hand. Pulling her up, and holding her close to him, Justin extended their hands intertwining. Her lungs seized nervously. Her eyes went wide as a wind filled the area. Books flipped through pages, the chair rocked back and forth, the candles in the corner flared brilliantly. "Expecto Patronum"

Justin's wand vibrated so hard it was tapping the jewel on his sister's. A thin white mist poured from both, but only Justin managed to produce a Patronus. A large bat burst from within, soaring around the room. It settled on his shoulder. He looked at it forlornly.

It looked surprisingly like a certain blonde girl…

"Oh Justin," Whispered Alex, holding him close.