The next day Alex and Jessi spent some time exploring the castle, taking care to check out passageways mentioned in the books. Completely on accident they discovered that there were various other secret rooms and passageways that even the marauders and the Weasleys didn't know about. They had Alex's proclivity to fall to thank for those discoveries.

Of all the rooms, Alex's favourite was within the passage that they had led Remus through; it was a little room that you could access by tapping three bricks. It led to a little garden with a bench, ponds, and flowers. It was where she went to read and forget that a war was coming when Jessi was off in her favourite spot for some alone time. Luckily, Jessi's favourite spot was hidden behind a framed mirror just across the way from Alex's. It consisted of a round room with a window seat and a skylight. Large, cushy pillows decorated the floor around a baby grand piano and paper lanterns were strewn about the room. It was convenient that they both had those places, because as close as they were, they both valued privacy and liked to spend some time alone with their thoughts or a good book.

Alex and Jessi also found more ways out of the castle and started to create a map of their own, which was just like the Marauders', only more detailed. They spent most of their evenings working on it, carefully detailing every inch of the castle. It took about three nights of research in the library to discover the spell that the marauders had used, but both agreed it was worth the tedious research.

~x~

The next day Alex and Jessi went into the great hall for lunch and found only McGonagall and Jane sitting at the table.

"Hello Alex dear!" McGonagall smiled.

"Jessi! You look lovely today! Come sit by me, dear."

Alex skipped up to their table, with a laughing Jessi following close behind, and sat down in between the pair, Jessi sat next to Jane, as requested. Instantly food appeared on their plates and they took a bite calmly.

"Dears?"

"Yes?"

"Later this week Dumbledore will be sending you with another student to go and get your supplies." McGonagall told them.

"Isn't it still kind of early in the summer to go do that?" Jessi pondered.

"Dumbledore sends certain families their letters early, mostly the larger families or families that go in large groups, so that the shopkeepers aren't swamped."

"Oh, okay."

"That makes sense actually." Alex laughed, making Jessi laugh at her obvious remark.

"So be prepared to leave and go shopping the next time you're called up to Dumbledore's office." Jane informed them.

"Will do." Jessi affirmed.

"And make sure you bring your money with you."

Alex laughed. "Okay, we get it. You don't need to be mother hens, We'll be fine!"

Jane and McGonagall exchanged a look, but said nothing more on the issue.

"Do you think we're prepared enough for the year's lessons?"

McGonagall and Jane both nodded. "Yes. We've all taught you everything you'll need to know and you passed all of your exams with extraordinary results."

"Okay good. I'm just nervous." Alex fretted.

"Agreed." Jessi muttered.

"Which is understandable, but it will be fine dears, we have faith in you."

"Thank you. That means a lot." Jessi smiled

"I'm so excited, but I'm scared too. What if we don't fit in?" Alex worried, voicing a concern that she and Jessi hadn't quite been able to voice to each other.

"Dears, no matter where you go, you'll always be unique. You're just those types of people. But that doesn't mean that you won't find a place at Hogwarts that will be just right for you." McGonagall smiled, placing her hand over Alex's.

"Exactly. Don't change yourself, no matter what. If someone is actually your friend, they won't want you to change." Jane added, ruffling Jessi's hair affectionately.

"You already have Remus. He's one of the truest friends you can have. You'll be fine."

Alex and Jessi smiled gratefully and went back to their tea as McGonagall and Jane shared a look. They had expected there to be concerns, but that one had thrown them for a bit of a loop.