5 Chapter 6: A Bloody Thank You
Alexis began to nervously kick her legs back and forth as they waited and waited for someone, anyone, in the Wizengamot to speak. She had taken Harry's hand as well, and didn't know exactly who was squeezing who's hand tighter. Then, finally, Madame Bones spoke.
"Those in favor of clearing the accused of all charges?" she asked in her booming voice.
Nearly every hand seemed to raise slowly into the air, the last being Octanius Lestrange's, who practically shrugged at his fellow Wizengamot members when they looked at him in surprise. He nodded towards Alexis who kindly nodded back.
"And those in favor of conviction?"
Only six hands rose: Cornelius Fudge's hand being the first, followed the toad-woman. Swine was the last to raise hand and did so rather lazily.
Fudge glanced around at them all, looking as though there was something large stuck in his throat, then lowered his own hand. He took two deep breaths and then said, in a voice distorted by suppressed rage, "Very well, very well... cleared of all charges."
"Excellent," said Dumbledore briskly, springing to his feet, pulling out his wand, and causing two of the three transfigured armchairs to vanish. "Well, I must be getting along. Good day to you all."
Alexis and Harry barely noticed he had left before the two had even gotten to there feet, suddenly full of excitement and unused adrenaline.
"We did it!"
Alexis hugged Harry enthusiastically and Harry hugged her back just as tightly, paying no mind to the slowly departing Wizengamot. It had work. Harry was cleared!
"And this," started Harry kissing Alexis's left cheek, "is why," he kissed her right cheek, "you're my best friend. Alexis Lestrange, where would I be without you?"
"Dead or in prison," Alexis answered bluntly making Harry smile even wider.
"Yeah, well, it's a good thing I'm not without you then, isn't it?"
Alexis hugged Harry again laughing. The two were still hugging when someone cleared their throat. Standing in front of them was Octanius Lestrange.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said calmly and in an aristocratic tone that reminded Alexis so much of Lucius it nearly frightening, "but I would like to congratulate you both on your trial."
"Thank you?" Harry asked more than said.
Octanius smiled before leaning closer so that only Alexis and Harry could hear him say, "Despite our... different stands on some things, I too do not approve of some of our Minister's ways of dealing with what he sees as..." Octanius looked directly at Alexis as he spoke now, "... Problems. Especially if those problems are blood or they harm my relatives."
"That's... good to know," said Alexis.
Octanius nodded, stepping back.
"Famille ne Première."
"Family First," translated Alexis. Instinctively, her hand went up to her neck were she wore her first family heirloom with those exact words on it. Neither Octanius nor Harry missed her reaction.
Octanius smiled once more before turning to head off. However, he stopped and spoke one last time to Alexis, saying, "Has anyone ever told you that you have the exact same eyes as your father? The perfect shade of green."
"Once," said Alexis, remembering the first time she had met Octanius at Draco's party. He had tried to hint at her heritage. "The perfect shade because it looked like death, I believe is what he said."
Tipping and invisible hat, Octanius sent Alexis an award winning smile before continuing on his way. The two best friends followed his action and left the courtroom as well with each other's arm over their shoulders, grinning. By the time they had made it out, there were only a handful of wizard and witch left inside, none of which Alexis knew by name besides Swine and Madame Bones.
Mr. Weasley was waiting outside from them, although he wasn't looking their direction when they entered the corridor. Instead, he seemed to be mournfully following the fleeing head of his third eldest son.
"We won!" Alexis exclaimed cheerfully, earning her a small smile from Madame Bones as she passed.
"That's wonderful!" said Mr. Weasley. "Well, of course, they couldn't have found Harry guilty, not on the evidence, but even so, I can't pretend I wasn't -"
"What is this about you two helping a goblin this morning?"
Swine had spoken. Having been the last to leave the courtroom, - Alexis also noticed Swine had immediately changed out of his plum robes in favor of his normal Muggle clothes- he was able to speak to them freely.
"Um, so I knocked a goblin over," started Alexis.
"And Alexis and I helped him up," finished Harry.
"His name is Staunchfang," said Alexis. "Isn't that cool, Mr. Weasley? Staunchfang."
"It's funny to say too," said Harry. "Staunchfang."
"Staunchfang."
"Staunchfang."
"Staunchfang, Staunchfang, Staunchfang, Staunch-" Alexis and Harry chanted together until Swine covered both of their mouths with his hands.
"I swear, you were more mature in your first year," grumbled Swine.
"Yeah, but we were kids back then," said Alexis cheerfully, pushing Swine's hand away.
"Now we're teenagers," said Harry happily.
"With all these," Alexis leaned forward and whisper, "hormones," Alexis leaned backwards again, "that make are minds go cuckoo."
Harry spun a finger next to his head saying cuckoo over and over again.
"Plus, it pisses you off," said Alexis casually with a shrug. She turned to Mr. Weasley. "Ready to go, Mr. Weasley?"
"Right!" said Mr. Weasley, jumping a bit at the mentioning of his name. "Bye, Carter."
Swine merely hummed before waving lazily as the three walked off.
"I'm going to take you straight back so you can tell the others the good news," Mr. Weasley said, leading the two back towards the lift. "I'll drop you off with Charlie on the way to that toilet in Bethnal Green. Come on..."
Alexis and Harry exchanged looks.
"Um, toilet?" asked Alexis.
"Yes," said Mr. Weasley. "Someone jinxed a toilet to start biting people on the rump whenever they take too long while... using it..."
"And how do you plan on fixing that?" asked Harry in a high voice, trying not to laugh.
"Oh, it's a simple enough anti-jinx," said Mr. Weasley as they mounted the stairs, "but it's not so much having to repair the damage, it's more the attitude behind the vandalism, Harry. Muggle-baiting might strike some wizards as funny, but it's an expression of something much deeper and nastier, and I for one -"
Mr. Weasley broke off in mid-sentence. They had just reached the corridor containing the lifts, and Cornelius Fudge was standing a few feet away from them, talking quietly to a tall man with sleek blond hair and a pointed, pale face.
"Perfect," muttered Alexis as none other than Lucius Malfoy turn to face them.
"Ah," said Lucius with his signature aristocratic drawl, "Patronus Potter. The Minister was just telling me about your lucky escape, Potter. Quite astonishing, the way you continue to wriggle out of very tight holes... Snakelike, in fact..."
Harry's lip did a slight twitch very much like Sirius's right before he bared his teeth like a dog. Alexis wouldn't blame Harry if he did as well. Last year had destroyed her and Lucius's once loving uncle/niece relationship. She held no warm feelings towards the man who was going to watch her best friend get killed and do nothing about it.
"Well," said Alexis, "Harry is pretty good at escaping, right Harry?"
"Oh yeah," said Harry coldly, his eyes locked with Lucius Malfoy's. "Especially with help from my best friend. She's a saint at saving lives."
Fudge snorted rudely. Actually, everything about him seemed rude to Alexis, especially the look of disgust he was shooting the teenagers' way.
"I'd like to finish this discussion later, Lucius," said Fudge, standing up tall. "Perhaps after I deal with the rumors about children making apologizes for the Wizarding World to the goblins. Supposably it happened right under our noses this morning in the Atrium. Can you believe it?"
Fixing his plum Wizengamot robes, Fudge walked off, leaving Alexis, Harry, and Mr. Weasley alone with Lucius.
'And now for the awkward pause,' sighed Ron.
'You don't need to narrate, ginger,' said McPherson.
'Bugger off,' grumbled Ron.
'I swear,' said Cedric, 'if you two grow up...'
'You do know I'm nearly twice your and he'll forever be a fourteen year old boy, right?' McPherson deadpanned so casually that Alexis nearly smiled.
Lucius cleared his throat.
"You should be careful who you let call you friend, Alexis," he said, giving Harry a disdainful look. "It may get you into all kinds of trouble if you're not careful."
"You do know I'm right here, right?" asked Harry.
Lucius gave Harry a sharp look before turning back to Alexis.
"Your aunt wishes to see you for her birthday," he said casually, as if Alexis and him were talking amicably, "as you weren't there for Draco's."
"Aunt Cissy will understand that my guardian said no," said Alexis simply.
"Why," said Lucius as if he found Alexis's words humorous, "you haven't even asked."
"It's Moody," said Alexis, as if that explained everything. She let Mr. Weasley lead her and Harry towards the lift when Lucius called after her:
"So that's where you've been?" he asked as though he already knew the answer, "staying with the paranoid old man?"
"Where else? And that's my uncle you're talking about," Alexis shot back.
"No, your uncle is standing in this hall with you," said Lucius calmly.
Alexis went to sneer at the Deatheater only to grin cruelly instead.
"You're right," she said before taking Mr. Weasley's hand. "Come on, uncle. Al's probably worried sick."
The trio then climbed into the lift and left, leaving a seething Lucius behind.
.
"You said what?" roared Sirius with laughter, nearly dropping his burger in the process.
After Mr. Weasley, who had a little extra skip to his step for seeing his rival put in his place, had left Alexis and Harry with Charlie, the trio had bought four dozen or so burgers to celebrate. Returning to the Grimmauld Place to share them with all their worried friends, Alexis and Harry then began retelling the trial.
"I said, 'Let the record also show that the Minister yelled at a fourteen year old girl for no reason other the fact that she said let the record show,'" said Alexis who had began giggling as the twins started chanting while they did some kind of war dance:
"He got off, he got off, he got off -"
"That's enough, settle down!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, though she too was smiling.
"Listen, Sirius," said Charlie, "Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry -"
"What?" said Sirius sharply.
"He got off, he got off, he got off -"
"Be quiet, you three!" yelled Mrs. Weasley. Charlie, however, seemed unperturbed by his noise siblings.
"Yes, dad said he saw him talking to the Minister after the trial. He asked Hex to visit the Malfoy's too."
Sirius looked over at Alexis, who had just taken a rather unladylike bite out of her second burger. Seeing the worry in her uncle's eyes, she smiled as best she could with stuffed cheeks leading to more laughter.
"Dad thought Dumbledore would want to know," chuckled Charlie.
"Absolutely," said Sirius. "We'll tell him, don't worry."
Charlie nodded.
"Oh, and mum, dad said he'll be home late. He's covering Tonks' guard duty so she can get some sleep, but Kingsley might stop by for dinner -"
"He got off, he got off, he got off —"
"That's enough - Fred - George!" said Mrs. Weasley.
There was a loud CRACK! from the hallway outside the dinning room. Seconds later, Swine walked in.
"Oh, hello there," he said cheerfully, not to anyone in the room but the food on the table. He happily took a burger and sat down next to Sirius and across from Alexis and Harry. "Whoever bought these is my hero."
Alexis and Harry exchanged looks but said nothing while Swine ate.
"Thought you liked Molly's cooking better," said Remus as he entered the dinning room. He smiled at Alexis and Harry in congratulations.
"Oh, I do," said Swine, "but I'm starving. Missed breakfast thanks to you, trouble."
He nodded towards Harry with a wink and Harry couldn't help but to smirk. Alexis felt as if she was going to go into shock.
'He's trying to be nice,' said McPherson.
'But-'
'He's trying," he said again. 'That's a lot from him.'
'I still don't like him.'
McPherson sighed.
'Fair enough.'
"But I thought you wouldn't be back until five?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
Swine swallowed the last bite of his burger before answering.
"Fudge gave me the day off because all he had left was a meeting with Malfoy," he said carefully. "Which, by the way, only strengthens my theory on the Ministry ordering the attack on Harry."
"Octanius seemed to think so too," said Alexis.
"Yeah, he told us after the trial," added Harry with a nodded.
Swine raised an eyebrow at them both.
"He got off, he got off, he got off -"
"Quiet!" shouted Mrs. Weasley. "What did you hear, Carter?"
"Apparently Malfoy was assigned figuring out where you," said Swine to Alexis, "were staying this summer or at least that's what it sounded like. I suggest we put up some patrols around Alastor's place."
"Madeye wouldn't like that," said Sirius.
"But he'll be safe," said Swine.
"It will be up to him," said Remus. "I'll go Floo him right now but I highly doubt he'll want people watching him. He is paranoid, remember? Besides, he has Viktor."
Remus stood up to go but not before ruffling Alexis and Harry's hair.
"I knew the two of you would be fine," he said before disappearing down the hall.
"There's nothing those two can't do together," laughed Hermione.
"Except agree that they're fries and not chips," Alexis muttered under her breath but Harry heard her.
"We are not starting that again," he said firmly, crossing his arms.
"Of course not," said Alexis, "because they're fries."
Harry went to retort when he was cut off by not only the twins but Charlie, Hermione, and Sirius as well chanting:
"HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF -"
"SHUT UP!" roared Mrs. Weasley.
.
The rest of the day passed in a blur for Alexis and Harry. The two, having spent almost all of it on an emotional high, and couldn't help but to feel jolly about everything they did. They were even giggling happily while cleaning an old and moldy China Cabinet for Mrs. Weasley.
However, their cheerfulness seemed to end all at once late into the night.
Alexis and Harry had stayed up passed their curfew and although this was normal as they did this every night with the other teenagers of the house, the two best friends had stayed up even later trying to name all of the star constellations on Alexis's bedroom ceiling.
"Orion," said Harry.
"We already found that one," said Alexis. "Twice now."
"Well, I don't know any other star constellations," scoffed Harry. "What about that one? The one next to Hercules."
"Ophiuchus?" asked Alexis.
"Err, is that the one that looks like a teabag?"
"No," said Alexis. "I think you're talking about Lyra and it looks more like a kite."
"If that's the one to the left of Hercules then yes," said Harry. "Err, just so we're sure, which one is Hercules again?"
Alexis rolled her eyes and Harry chuckled.
"It's the one-"
There was suddenly a loud CRACK!, followed by a THUMP! and scream from a voice downstairs and both friends jumped. The voice had sounded uncannily like Mrs. Weasley.
"Get Remus! Get Remus, quickly Charlie!" she was screaming.
Alexis was on her feet in a second and Harry was right behind her. They had only reached the hallway, however, when Remus, wide eyed and alert, charged out of his room taking strides.
"Go to bed, both of you," he said hastily as he hurried passed them. Sirius came running out of his room seconds later in just as much of a hurry.
"Bed," he repeated before running even faster to catch up with the quickly hurrying Remus.
The two friends stood frozen in the hall until they heard Charlie's voice. He must have met up with the two Marauders on the stairs.
"It's Madeye - Viktor brought him back - they attacked - Merlin, there's so much blood -"
Alexis's eyes widened. Something had happened to Moody? She couldn't believe it. Without a single step in hesitation, Alexis hurried down the stairs with Harry in tow. She had to see if he was okay, if he was alive.
However, what she saw would have had her screaming like Mrs. Weasley had she not covered her mouth. Swine, Remus, Sirius, and Kingsley were all working together to carry a very battle bloodied Moody. His magical eye was spinning lazily around while the other was sealed shut by two great bruises on his face, one covering the whole of his forehead and the other being a great gash that traveled from his ear passed the already missing part of his nose. His hair was caked in blood and what looked like plaster while his right ear seemed to be dripping blood still. Kingsley was being very gentle with Moody's right arm more than likely because of what gash he had under his sleeve that was turning his already dark jacket darker. His usual metal leg was missing completely and there was a very noticeable cut on the back of his good leg.
"Clear off the table!" barked Swine as he led the group carrying Moody into the dinning room. "Bill - Charlie - help get Viktor in here."
"I can valk," said a thicker than usual Bulgarian accent.
Alexis hadn't even noticed that Viktor was in the hall, her eyes having been looked on Moody's bruised body in horror. Thankfully he wasn't as bad as Moody, though he was still pretty torn up. His left arm looked broken and there were several large gashes on his back. His short hair was also covered in plaster, along with his dirty clothes and the back of his head near his neck looked as if someone had dragged their nails across it.
Viktor took one step from the wall he had been leaning on and nearly fell. Charlie and Bill had his arms in a second leading him into the kitchen with the others.
"Get him on the table, damn it!" Swine barked as he Remus, Sirius, and Kingsley lifted Moody up higher so they could.
"We're trying," huffed Sirius.
"Try harder!" snapped Swine and Moody was finally on the table. "Kingsley go firecall Dumbledore. Tell him they were attacked and we'll keep him updated. Then get some bloody Aurors over there."
Kingsley barely nodded before taking off for the kitchen.
"Viktor, sit."
"I am-"
"God damn it, I said SIT YOUR ARSE DOWN!" barked Swine, his silver eyes fierce. Viktor obeyed. "Molly, get started on Viktor's wounds. I'm going to need you and Remus's help but I don't need him bleeding out either."
Molly hurried over to Viktor. She cut off his shirt so she could get to his wounds before making him sit on the chair backwards so she could reach his back and he could lean his chest and arms on something.
Meanwhile, Swine and Remus were busy at removing Moody's blood covered clothes as well. When they removed his jacket and a small puddle of blood fell from it, Swine spewed out a new string of curse words. Alexis panicked and rushed forward before Harry could stop her.
"Al!" Alexis cried but she wasn't alone. McPherson had shouted as well, only adding to the growing panic inside of her.
"Al!" she cried again, running to her uncle, blood or not, as fast as she could. Sirius caught her.
"Hex!" he shouted, trying to pull her towards the door. Alexis was fighting him off like a child, her hand outstretched towards Moody like an infant's towards their mother. "Go back to bed."
"I need blood to give him blood," said Swine, ignoring both Alexis, Sirius, and now Harry who had followed his best friend into the dinning room. He waved his wand over one Moody's wounds quickly before pointing it at himself. "Recipis mi sanguinem."
A small prick of blood from on Swine's arm. It began lifting into the air and towards Moody, followed by another drop and another until a stream of it was going into the wound on Moody Swine had waved his wand over. After what felt like hours of Swine simply transferring blood, Moody, who hadn't made a sound or even a slight hint that he was still breathing, took a sharp intake of breath.
"Al!" Alexis cried out, reaching for him but unable to reach because of Sirius holding her back.
Moody's magical blue eye fell on her in what looked like hazy recognition of her voice. His right arm, despite its horrible gash and smashed state, raised slowly towards her's as if he were offering it for her to take.
"Bed, Hex," said Sirius again, who, like everyone, seemed to not seen have Moody's action. "You too, Harry."
"No," said Swine calmly, turning everyone's head towards him. "Let them stay."
"Carter," started Mrs. Weasley, "they're not a part of the Order-"
"I'm well aware of that," he said, his eyes focused on Moody's wound. He summoned a needle and string along with two potions Alexis knew from experience were blood replenishing potions. He put one of the potions to Moody's lips, lifted Moody's head up, and said, "Drink up you crazy bastard."
"But they're chil-"
"They're both here," Carter said as Moody only out of instincts, because Alexis was sure he was only partly conscious, slowly drank the potion, "and I can use the help. Kingsley should be getting things taken care of on the Ministry side so I'm short a few hands."
"But-"
"It is not open to discussion," said Swine, chugging a blood replenishing potion of his own though it did nothing to get rid of the paleness of his face. "Sirius, get me some hot water and my tools. We're going to have to do a lot of this the Muggle way. Remus, start getting any and all metal you find in either of his legs out. Bill - Charlie, help your mother with Viktor. Harry."
Harry jumped. He didn't know anyone had even noticed him in the room with everything going on.
"Y-yes sir?" he asked rather lamely.
"Are you squeamish around blood?" Swine asked without even looking up from his needle which he had just laced with string.
"N-no?" Harry asked more than stated.
"Can you stitch?"
"Yes."
"Can you stitch well?"
"Yes."
Swine summoned another needle and string.
"Start stitching up his leg," said Swine so calmly that Alexis wasn't surprised the look of disbelief that crossed Harry's face for half a second before he took the needle and string from Swine and walked down to Moody's leg. "Today, Harry. Its not very safe to drink more than one blood replenishing potion and his wounds are still bleeding."
"Y-yes, sir," said Harry, his voice only shaking slightly. He put on a determined face and began looping the string through the needle with only slightly quivering hands. Alexis knew why he was doing it too. They had asked for this, for the Order to treat them like adults, or rather not to treat them like children, and Swine was doing just that.
The begrudging amount of respect she had just gained for him did not go unnoticed in her tone.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked without any spite or sarcasm in her voice as there usually was when she talked to Swine.
"I need you to take his left hand," he said just as neutrally as Alexis has spoken, "before we start. I can't give him anything to numb the pain because of the potion."
Alexis knew Swine wasn't lying about the potion making it impossible for them to numb Moody before they started stitching him up but that didn't explain why she was supposed to take Moody's hand... unless... Unless Swine was doing that for her benefit.
"Got it," said Alexis, with a sharp nod. She was at Moody's side in a second, taking his much larger hand into her small one.
"I'm here, Al," she whispered quietly to her uncle. Moody, though rather weakly, squeezed her hand in acknowledgment.
.
Sitting in on a surgery was not at all how Alexis had hoped to spend her night and early morning but she had done so without complaint. Mrs. Weasley had finished patching up Viktor long before Swine had finished with Moody, and had ordered Bill and Charlie to carry Viktor, who - despite trying hard not to - had fallen unconscious before she finished, upstairs to get some rest. She had then joined in helping take care of Moody, going back to clean up the wound on Moody's leg that Harry, despite never having stitched up a person before, had done a fine job sealing, and all of the other wounds that she could clean.
Sirius, after returning with Swine's medical equipment and the hot water, had done his best to help as well. Unfortunately, he wasn't very adept with healing and had settled with holding the bowl Remus was putting metal shards into. Remus had been busy at that for most of the night.
Once Harry had finally stitching up Moody's leg, looking rather pale the entire time he did so, Swine had suggested he get some sleep as he was no use to them unconscious from exhaustion and Harry, being too tire to argue but not very sure on leaving his best friend alone, had sent Alexis a questioning look.
"Go to bed, Harry," she whispered, unable to raise her voice much higher. She had been sitting in the same spot for nearly three hours, holding her uncle's hand through the whole process. Every time Swine or Harry had stitched him or Remus had tried removing a piece of shrapnel or Swine had reset one of several bones, Alexis had felt Moody's hand tighten around her's and heard him grit his teeth in pain. Whether he did so because of the surgery or his other injuries she didn't know, but seeing him in pain until he had re-fallen into complete unconsciousness had done its toll on her.
Harry nodded before heading up the stairs on slightly shaking legs.
They had finally seen the results of the war. The two had been there when the war had begun and had been in its battles, they had even seen its first casualties, but they had not expected this. They had not been ready for this side of the war.
"What time is it?"
Alexis started at the words. She had fallen asleep a few hours after Harry had left. She remembered rest her head on the table next to Moody's, her left hand clutching his right hand for dear life while her right hand ran slowly through his caked hair to soothe both her and her uncle as Swine finally started fixing his shattered right arm. Looking around, however, she found herself in her own bedroom again, tucked in like always. For a moment she had thought it was all just a horrible nightmare.
"Nine-thirty I think," said a voice different from the first. This one was belonged to Mr. Weasley. "Molly feeding the younger ones."
"Has she -" started the first voice again. It was Swine.
"No," said Mr. Weasley. "No, she hasn't told them yet. She was going to wait until everyone was up."
There was a sigh of relief.
"Good," said Swine. "That's a good idea. This way they all get the same facts at the same time."
"And what are the facts?" asked Mr. Weasley. "All I've been told is that Moody's house was attacked. Is that true?"
"Yes," said Swine grimly. "Viktor was barely able to get him out of there and were damn lucky today is a full moon instead of yesterday or there wouldn't have been anything we could have done for them."
"So it was Greyback's pack?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"It was Greyback himself and a few wizards from what Viktor told me," said Swine. He then sighed angrily through his nose. "I said we should have put up patrols there."
"But why attack now?" asked Mr. Weasley. "Everyone knows that Madeye is her legal guardian. Why did they wait until last night to attack?"
"Only reason I could think of was that they wanted to make sure she was there," said Swine. "And the only way they could know that is if they physically saw her at his house or if-"
"She told them," whispered Mr. Weasley so quietly Alexis had to strain to hear him. "Carter, after the trial, Malfoy, he asked, in a very roundabout way, if Hex was staying at Madeye's."
"Shit!" hissed Swine.
"I should have realized," said Mr. Weasley. "Merlin, I should have realized!"
"Don't blame yourself," said Swine, his tone still pissed but not towards Mr. Weasley. "It's bad enough that Tonks is blaming herself because she was sleeping when it happened. Damn, she's going to be even worse than Tonks, isn't she?"
"Should we not tell her?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"She'll find out anyways," said Swine. He sighed again. "Damn it! She's going to blame herself!"
"But it wasn't her fault," said Mr. Weasley. "No one blames her for something she had no control over!"
"But if she's anything like Tom she will anyways," said Swine, his voice growing distant as he walked down the hall. "I'll see you later, Arthur. I have work to do..."
"But you just went to bed!" said Mr. Weasley. "I'm sorry, Carter, but you need sleep."
"Arthur, I have a job to do," said Swine.
"And apparently so do I," said Mr. Weasley. "It's called watching out after you while Madeye is bed written. Get to bed. I mean it. One day of rest won't kill you."
"But I don't," started Carter before pausing. "I don't sleep well, Arthur. My mind is too active."
There was a creaking noise as a bedroom door opened up down the hall.
"Carter you need some sleep," said the voice of Remus. "We all do, including you Arthur, but you especially Carter. I know you didn't sleep at all the night before because of guard duty. Get to bed before Molly whips you."
"She'll do it," said Mr. Weasley. "My wife will mother you to death Carter if you don't get some sleep."
Swine sighed.
"Fine," he said in defeat. "I'll get some sleep if it will shut you two up."
A door closed again and there were footsteps on the stairs heading down. Apparently Swine's word was all it had taken for Remus and Mr. Weasley to leave him alone. Hearing him sigh once more, Alexis climbed to her feet and moved towards her door. She didn't know what she was doing until after Swine walked past her room and she stepped out into the hall.
"Thank you."
Swine froze. Ever so slowly, enough to make Alexis have to fight back her desire to squirm, he turned around to look at her.
"Excuse me?" he asked quietly.
"Thank you," Alexis repeated. "For helping Al. Thank you for saving him. I-I don't know how- I can't imagine what it would have been like if the last thing I said to him had been... Thank you."
Perhaps it was her crazy hair or perhaps it was because she had started tearing up in front of him, Swine suddenly looked very uncomfortable, unnerved even, when Alexis thanked him. He fidgeted in place.
"You shouldn't... Don't... you shouldn't be thanking me," he said quietly. "I did my job."
"Your job involves letting frightened little girls hold their several bruised uncle's hand?" asked Alexis with a raised eyebrow despite still having a few tears in her eyes.
"Apparently," said Swine sarcastically without looking at her. "Besides, he asked for you."
"So thank you," said Alexis again.
"I don't- stop saying that," said Swine, turning on his heels. "I haven't done anything worth a thank you."
Alexis grinned suddenly at Swine's retreating backside.
"Well thank you for your honesty!" said called after him.
"Quit it," Swine grumbled before disappearing into his room, the door closing firm behind him.
Alexis smiled softly once more.
Moody had been attacked and so had Viktor in an effort to capture her and she blamed herself for it just like Swine said she would but something good had come out of the attack.
Alexis had found a new way to annoy Swine.
So I ended this chapter on a funnier note because there's only one or two chapters left until the gangs back at Hogwarts and I didn't want them to be depressing.
Lots of stuff happened in this chapter. The verdict to Harry's trial was reached, Lucius showed up (however only briefly), Wizards ate burgers, Harry showed his lack of knowledge on Constellations, Moody's house was raided by a werewolf leading a wizard filled gang, Viktor saved Moody's life so that Swine could save Moody's life, Harry got to be a doctor while Alexis had a cute/sad/what-the-hell-is-going-to-happen-next scene with her legal guardian, Swine was bullied into going to bed by a werewolf and a ginger, and Alexis found a new way to annoy Swine by saying thank you.
All and all, not my best and the saving Moody's life scene took forever to right but I got the point across.
Now...
Review Responses:
91: Power to the people! Or if you ask Hex, Power to the People, Creatures, and Anything Cute (Alexis's definition of the world)! No Ministry can hold her down!
tomwilliams1990: it's actually Alery (like Valerie but without the V) for Alexis/Harry but I'm glad you like them! More of both to come! Glad you liked the Alexis influenced trial!
534667lc: maybe not for that reason but maybe. Umbridge is crazy, remember? She likes cats! Cats! And pink! PINK!
mwinter1: Well than Dick Van Dyke is my hero and deserves a special services award. Also, how do you know this? I mean it's on my level of weird facts and I know Marilyn Monroe had eleven toes
jessica02: That's great to hear!
caring16: hmmmm... Idea forming... This may happen but no promises ;) I'll tag you in it if it does though!
RAINBOWNEMESIS: Hex is growing up but, in the words of the Doctor, What's the point of growing up if you can't be childish sometimes? And yeah, Alexis doesn't want to go British. It's an American thing.
HazelVex: I'm glad you liked it! Here's some more!
iciclefangAJ: ! *house elf here... Mistress is shaking on floor with laughter... What do I do computer people?* ! Can't breathe... Laughing too hard... *Mistress... Why are you turning blue? Mistress? Miiiisstresss? Hellooo?...*
aandm20: Awesome to hear! Glad you thought Swine's warning was funny and that you caught the Doctor Who references!
EmoOwlQueen: Yep, that's Hex! She'll cut you off in a heartbeat but Merlin forbid you cut her off
LyliLovexxxx: Maybe they will... Or at least try to. Glad you liked Charlie! He will be in the series a lot more than he is in the original series
LyraBlack22: Glad you liked it! Let the record show that Alexis and Harry's bickering was my favorite part to write.
Spottedmist: Maybe... ;D you'll see. Glad you liked the trial!
Goddess of Leo: When I first read your review I thought it said mature instead of mutual and started laughing so hard my brother threw a text book at me so I'd shut up. If there ever is, which I'm not saying there will be, it will never be mature.
WheresDaBeef: Glad that made you laugh! Alexis had fun harassing Fudge! Sorry if Lucius's time was short but I'm probably going to have him show up on more time before Hogwarts to make up for it! Warning though, if he does show up Alexis will be pissed off at him. Lastly, Ron thanks you for the ten points!
Kaylee13133: No, Alexis has not casted a full Patronus yet. And right now all I can smell in the air is fishsticks and chocolate 'cause I'm eating fishsticks and chocolate. They didn't kiss (Charlie: Riiiiiiight). And no need to apologize! Real life comes first! Hope you did well on your test! Glad you like evrything Alery and have stood strong with your anti-Vex feelings. However, I won't tell you if hats a good or bad thing 'cause youl find out eventually. And I'm glad you like the Fred and Hermione relationship. Heres some more!
So I'm glad you all are liking Alexis's sassiness but sadly it's not always a good thing. Some of the things she says might come back to bite her on the rump like the jinxed toilet Mr. Weasley had to deal with. Ex, Moody and Viktor getting attacked.
On another note, I looked at the poll results on my profile and I added up all the votes to give you a total view on who everyone thinks is Hex's dad (Only showing top five)
1. Tom Marvolo Riddle/Voldemort 48 - This was expected. It's the Dark Lord, and Bellatrix's Master. There's definitely a chance that he made an adorable baby with a twisted sense of beauty and eyes the same color of his mother... Just saying.
2. Remus Lupin 45 - It would make Alexis the child of a forbidden love story kind of like the one your school assigns you to read but instead you sparknote it. Yep, mother's looks, father's eyes, and a very instinctive attitude that gets her into trouble. Maybe she's a Black, maybe her dads a werewolf...
3. Severus Snape 38 - I get it, guys. His true love is Lily. I know! But even if he didn't move on from her Alexis is still a possibility. Snape is smart and cunning and has awesome hair - NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY ROWLING! - and Bellatrix likes challenges. Snape would most definitely be a challenge.
4. Barty Crouch Jr. 29 - The first love... Well second. It all depends on who's right, Remus or Barty, as I've never said which one knew the truth of what Bellatrix was thinking when she did what she did. Barty as he dead would definitely explain Alexis's sense of humor and her inability to say no to Harry like Barty couldn't for his Bell, though for different reasons (... Probably) Plus Crouch Sr. seemed rather convinced she was his granddaughter... You know... before he tried to strangle her to death.
5. Rodolphus Lestrange 27 - It's saying something when the husband of Bellatrix makes fifth on the list. Honestly people, what do you think Bellatrix is, a ... point taken. But anyways, Octanius is convinced she's a Lestrange and Alexis very well maybe. She has the eyes but I really can't say much more in Rodolphus's case because he hasn't made an official entrance yet so bare with him a bit longer.
And those are the top votes! These are not the only candidates and I'd love to hear your opinions on who and why you think someone is Hex's dad!
Please Review
DCF