So I just took my SATs on Saturday… yeah, the highlight of my weekend let me tell you… that was sarcasm by the way, SATs are like some form of torture or something, I swear. Anyway, I will probably end up updating every Saturday (in this case Sunday… sorry), so yeah, next chapter.
UNIVERSAL AUTHORS NOTE: I may forget to post this on every chapter, but basically, I don't own anything that looks familiar. If you recognize it, I don't own it. If you don't recognize it, chances are I came up with it.
"…so, any questions?" Mr. Lupin asked. Lexi was sitting in a small sitting room/family room. She was sitting in the most uncomfortable chair, while Mrs. Weasley—even though she insisted on being called Molly—and Mr. Lupin--who also asked to be called Remus—were sitting on a soft love seat. Lexi stared at the wall over Mr. Lupin's left shoulder trying to gather her thoughts.
Mr. Lupin and Mrs. Weasley had just told Lexi about how secretly there was an entire Wizarding society. They even had a ministry of magic! They had just told her the biggest secret of her life and they had to ask f she had any questions?! Of course she had questions!... she just didn't know what they were yet. Too many thoughts were swirling around her head, for her to form a coherent though. Finally, she managed, "why are you telling met this?"
"Well, Mrs. Weasley started, glancing at Mr. Lupin. The look she gave him screamed SECRET. "Well, since you have seen so much of our society already, we felt that, well, that you should know," She finished, definitely not convincing Lexi.
"Okay," she said, skeptically, "you couldn't use some random hocus-pocus and make me forget?"
Mr. Lupin's face remained completely clear and respectfully indifferent, while Mrs. Weasley was not doing as good of a job of hiding whatever secrets they had. They got lucky though, for after a few seconds of awkward, tense, silence, there was a loud crack, and steps were heard in the kitchen.
Mrs. Weasley jumped up, her face clearly showing her relief of not having to answer Lexi's question.
On any other occasion, Lexi would feel slightly guilty about pushing them and making them feel so awkward but they had asked if she had any questions.
She sighed and glanced out the window, quietly listening to Mrs. Weasley fuss over Mr. Weasley. Lexi was lost in her own world, and didn't even realize that Mr. Lupin was still watching her closely, as if assessing her.
Lexi was snapped out of her daze by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's voices getting louder.
"Oh but Arthur, she's so young," Mrs. Weasley was saying.
"Molly, she needs to know, look at Harry" Mr. Weasley answered, the footsteps stopping.
"That's different," Mrs. Weasley insisted.
"No, Molly, it's the same," Mr. Weasley answered calmly.
"Lexi doesn't have you-know-who out to get her!"
"She has a death eater out to get her, maybe more, plus her father…"
Great Lexi sighed inwardly, more secrets. Her mind didn't even start to go into panic attack mode. "Death eaters"? "You-Know-Who"? Lexi stopped listening while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley continued arguing over whether or not to tell her. Either Socrates or Plato said "Ignorance is bliss," and they had it right.
After another ten minutes of absolutely nothing, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out, with fake smiles. Lexi was surprised that they actually thought that she hadn't heard anything that they had just said to each other. The tension in the room escalated as the silence continued. Lexi was sure that they were waiting for her to speak, but her stubbornness held her back. No way was she going to break the silence.
"Erm… well dear," Mrs. Weasley started awkwardly, trying to ask her husband for help. Obviously he was still angry about whatever argument just took place because he was studiously ignoring her, "well, how about something to—"
BANG
Everything seemed to happen at once. The front door was blown off its hinges, and in the now vacant doorway stood an intimidating man. He was dressed in dark robes with a hood drawn down covering his face. Lexi realized that this figure could be a woman, but the daunting stance they held, screamed male.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were blocking Lexi's view, trying to protect her from whoever was breaking into the house.
Remus had run over alongside Lexi and while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were having some sort of silent conversation, Mr. Lupin grabbed her arm.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the voice hissed menacingly,
"What do you want?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Ah, Arthur, you're protecting her two?"
Lexi saw recognition flash across Mr. Lupin and Mr. Weasley's faces. "No," they both said at the same time. The scared, little girl part of Lexi hoped that they weren't answering the man's questions with 'no'.
"Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley asked frightfully.
"Mr. Lupin's face hardened in anger. He released Lexi's arm and took a step towards him. "What do you want Lucius? He's not here," he said, his voice still smooth.
"Ah, well, I know he is hiding somewhere, and don't worry I'll find him later. We both know though, that once I've got her," the voice said, turning to Lexi, "then he will come to me. So, for now, I want the girl. Besides the Dark Lord may yet have plans for him."
Lucius. Lexi had almost forgotten where she had heard that name before. He knows Brianna and Joe. He knows my father. Is that the 'him' they're talking about?
Lexi was about to say something to him when Mr. Lupin said, "what has she done to you? Why would you want her as well?"
Lucius chuckled, "you have to ask?"
"Molly," Mr. Weasley breathed, so quietly that Lexi barley heard, "now."
Mrs. Weasley shot Mr. Weasley a fearful look, then stepped backwards slightly so that she could reach out and hold Lexi's hands behind her.
Mr. Weasley side-stepped in front of Mrs. Weasley; Mr. Lupin and Lucius still in the midst of their mini-show down.
As Mrs. Weasley was turning, Lucius' head shot up and Lexi saw his face.
She was positive it was one she wouldn't ever forget. He had long blond hair that was wispy and graying. His dark, angry eyes, with the deep dark circles around them made him look like death—hence death eaters she figured. The paleness of his face made his eyes pop out even more, suggesting that he hadn't slept in quite some time. His thin lips and sharp, angular nose made him look even more severe.
Before he could do anything though, blackness surrounded her. It felt like she was getting sucked through a tube, and her lungs felt like they had stopped working. After a few seconds of this bizarre feeling, she found herself on a narrow street. It was obviously an alleyway. She could hear the bustle of a town to her left, while darkness was to her right.
Mrs. Weasley was moaning next to her. Lexi herself was pretty sure Lexi was in shock. She didn't move anything except her eyes. Weren't we in a house? WHAT THE HELL?? This thought snapped her back and she quickly started truing in circles. No house. There were also no alleyways near the house. Did they just…?
No. There may be such a thing as a wizard, but they can't teleport. Lexi realized how ridiculous that sounded. Who was she to say that they couldn't?
She rounded on Mrs. Weasley about to demand an explanation, but the sight in front of her stopped her cold. Mrs. Weasley was on her knees shaking back and forth. With some difficulty, she managed to snake out her wand, and start spinning it in complicated circles. Lexi realized she was crying. What was she supposed to do?
"I don't know where to take her, come quick," she stuttered out.
Immediately, Lexi was consumed by shame. This was all her fault. If only she hadn't gone looking for them, if only she hadn't pissed off Lucius—she didn't even know what she did—if only, if only.
Seconds after her pity-party started, two loud cracks split the silence.
Charlie and, Lexi guessed, his older brother, appeared out of nowhere. The other Weasley—the hair and face gave him away—knelt down in front of Mrs. Weasley, trying to get her to calm down. Charlie came over an asked, "you okay?"
Lexi decided that saying that she felt really guilty right now, would not help the situation. They had more important things to worry about. She decided to settle with a simple, "I'm fine."
"I don't believe you," he said, looking at her closely. Lexi felt herself relax when he change subject, "what happened?"
"Lucius broke in and said that he was looking for me. I think your parents know why," she answered, her eyes locked on Mrs. Weasley. Lexi prayed over and over again that Mr. Weasley and Mr. Lupin were okay.
"They know?" he asked surprised.
"Well they were talking about something before he came. I—uh—I tuned them out a little. But then when they were talking to him, they kept saying 'him' and stuff, so…w ell, yeah…" Lexi finished, dropping her eyes.
"Don't worry about it, right?" he said, trying to catch her eyes.
"Yeah, right," she said, failing at sounding sure.
"Charlie," his brother called.
"Bill," he asked.
"I think she's going into shock," he answered.
Charlie ran over and knelt next to Bill. "Mum," he said soothingly, "they're fine."
"No," Mrs. Weasley wailed.
Oh, God, Lexi thought sickly. She tried to dampen her fear and panic. Again, the hopelessness started to set in. She staggered over, and fell next to Charlie.
What felt like hours passed and still no one came. Lexi tried to hold herself strong as she kept her face straight. She knew that she needed to comfort Mrs. Weasley right now, but her own fear and panic was still eating at her. Eventually, she let herself give, and she leaned against Charlie. At any other moment, this kind of contact with someone she barely knew would be like a sin. She didn't do the whole buddy-buddy contact thing.
Bill was holding Mrs. Weasley, and Lexi was leaning against Charlie, when another loud crack broke the silence. Before Lexi then looked to see who it was, the fact that there was only one 'crack' sent alarm bells ringing.
"Arthur," Mrs. Weasley cried out in happiness. Mrs. Weasley spun around and let out a chocked sob. Mr. Weasley was trying to support a bleeding Mr. Lupin.
Lexi's breath hitched for a second, the dark, narrow alleyway complete with the almost dead body. The scene seemed to freeze as she realized how in-over-her-head she was.
In a second, though, everything snapped back. Bill ran forward to start fixing Mr. Lupin; Mrs. Weasley all but threw herself at Mr. Weasley; Charlie reached forward and caught Lexi before she could run.
"Where are you going?" Charlie asked.
"I can't do this! Who's after me? Why is Mr. Lupin, like, dead? This is my fault!" Lexi said, half hysterical.
"Lexi, come on, you aren't thick enough to believe that, are you?" he asked angrily.
"Yes, obliviously," she snapped back.
"None of this is you're fault. Now, let's figure out what happened okay? Everything will be fine after we find out why Malfoy did this."
"But… wait, Malfoy?" her hysterics starting to subside.
"Lucius Malfoy, that's whose after you, I'm assuming."
"Yes, it is," Mrs. Weasley answered.
Everyone was looking at them—including Mr. Lupin, he was still beat up, but alive—and Lexi's face flushed. She wondered how long they had been listening to their conversation.
"So, what's going on?" Charlie asked.
Mr. Weasley glanced uneasily at Lexi, then at Mr. Lupin. "Maybe we should go home first. We need a nights rest, everyone looks exhausted."
"Dad," Charlie started, "first of all is it safe to go back, and—"
"No, he's right," Mrs. Weasley said, still gripping Mr. Weasley tightly.
"And yes, it is safe, he's gone. Remus and I put up plenty of wards; they aren't coming back any time soon."
Bill and Charlie both looked like they wanted to argue, but the look on Mrs. Weasley's face silenced them both. Charlie sighed and stood, holding out a hand for Lexi.
"Are you okay bringing her?" Mr. Lupin asked as he tried to stand on his two feet. He ended up having to rely on Bill for balance: his injuries hindering his regular movements.
"Yeah," Charlie answered, glancing down at Lexi, "You ready?"
"Um…yes?" she asked, not sure what she was getting ready for.
Charlie smiled and started to turn away from her. At the same time, Lexi felt the same feeling rush through her body when Mrs. Weasley had brought her to the alleyway.
A second later, she was gasping in the Weasley's living room. Charlie was just standing next to her waiting for the others to come, with a slight smirk on his face. Lexi huffed, when she realized he was making fun of her.
Once the others showed up, Mr. Weasley, Bill and Charlie all went outside to, "set up wards". Yeah, they actually said that. Lexi almost rolled her eyes at how ridiculous that sounded.
"Come on, I'm sure you want some tea, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, pushing her though to the kitchen.
"Oh, no, I can make it for you and the others, you need it more than I do," Lexi said, denying the need for attention.
"Now, now, I'm fine. You're the one who has never experience something like that before," she said busting around the kitchen.
"You have?" she asked.
"Of course, dear," Mrs. Weasley answered.
While tea was being made, and food cooked, the clock behind Lexi started changing. Lexi looked at it closer and realized that it wasn't actually a clock. There were hands and writing around the boarder, like a clock. The hands, though, had pictures on them, which, on closer inspection, turned out to be pictures of the family. The outside had writing such as "work", "traveling", "school", "mortal peril", etc. "School" had four hands pointed at it; three at "home" and Mr. Weasley's said "work".
"Oh, my clock," Mrs. Weasley said smiling at it. She had noticed Lexi's staring, and explained it's important, "I always worry, and so having it makes it easier to not worry."
"It's amazing," Lexi said, still admiring it.
"Why has he gone to work already?" Mrs. Weasley asked, clearly unhappy about that.
Charlie and Bill entered seconds later. Before Mrs. Weasley could ask about Mr. Weasley, Bill quickly said, "Order called, they need him on guard duty at the place tonight."
Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to protest, but decided against it.
"I'll show Lexi where she can stay. Bill and I have to go, but if something happens, call us, right? And go to bed at sometime, mum," Charlie said, leading Lexi out of the kitchen.
As Charlie led her up the stairs, and through the house, Lexi tried to see everything at the same time. Wizarding houses are awesome, she thought. Then, realizing how bad of a time it was to notice this, she shook her head and quickened her pace.
"Here we are," Charlie said, opining a door on the left. Inside here were moving posters plastered to every wall space available. Women and men were flying in and out of the pictures on broomsticks, wearing long robes. There were also a few posters with a… band? Labeled "Weird Sisters".
The bed looked very inviting, and the desk and the trunk went almost unnoticed as she thanked him. Lexi almost ran over to the bed, as she collapsed on to it, not even bothering to get undressed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, waking up a few hours later to a screaming Mrs. Weasley.
So, I'm not going to do the whole 'if you don't review I won't update' thing, but, you know, the button IS there for a reason…so… if you don't feel like being lazy, review, please.
