Chapter 20

Last Time:

Sitting in the courtyard with Carly, Alex watches as Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle runs by them and into the school. Alex could see Malfoy's nose bleeding.

"What did the idiot do now?" Carly mumbles.

"No idea." Alex replies reading and answering questions for her History of Magic homework.

As the two girls work on homework, they see Lupin running by with Snape following ten minutes after. Looking at each other, they pack their homework in silence, into their bags before running after their two teachers.

Staying a good distance away from Snape, Carly and Alex follow in the shadows. Arriving at a tree, Snape waves his wand before disappearing beneath.

"Come on." Alex whispers to Carly before they run across the grass and into the ground.

Now:

Peeking through the door, the two girls spot Snape knocked out cold, Lupin and a man cornering another and Hermione, Ron and Harry in a corner by a bed. There is blood on the ground.

"That's Sirius Black." Carly whispers to Alex.

"That's the man that saved me!" Alex whispers to herself in shock.

"WHAT?" Carly asks shocked.

"He saved me over the summer."

Carly stares at Alex shocked beyond speechless. Suddenly there is a creek sound, making the conversation that Alex's mind couldn't absorb, close.

"Who's there!" Sirius snarls. The door flies open revealing Carly and Alex.

"Ahh, Carly Sistruck and Alex Russo." Lupin frowns, "What are you two doing here?"

Before either girl could answer, Sirius grins.

"So we meet again, Alex Russo."

"Thank you for saving me that night a few months ago." Alex smiles nervously.

"It was my pleasure. Now I think and your friend should get out of the way before you both get hurt." Sirius nods over to the corner where Harry, Ron and Hermione are. Knowing Sirius would never hurt her, Alex gently pushes Carly over to the corner with herself between Carly and Sirius, "Now."

Sirius turns back to the man, Alex have not noticed, is trapped between Sirius and Lupin. Both adults have wands pointed at him.

Barely catching a word in their gruff voices, Alex watches the scene unfold. The man tries to escape, but Lupin pulls him back. He tries once more, but Sirius holds him back as Lupin makes a rope appear and ties the man's hands behind his back.

"What are you doing?" Alex cries seeing the ma in pain.

"This man turned Harry's parents into Voldemort and betrayed them." Sirius answers angry.

"How would you feel if he tied you up and you were hurting?"

"I would rather die than betray Harry's parents, who were my friends!" Sirius turns to Alex, "Now you better be silent or I'll tie you up. I should have sent you and your friend back up to the school."

"Shut up!" Alex whispers pretty scared at Sirius's tone of voice.

"If someone close to you, betrayed your family, would you hurt them if you had the chance? Or better yet, would you betray for family?"

Alex feels tears build up in her eyes as one slides down her cheek.

"For your information, you parents and brothers are dead!" Alex screams at the adult who now has his back to her. Alex closes her eyes, pulling out her wand. She points it at Sirius whispering a spell.

When she opens her eyes, she sees Sirius trapped in a circle with an invisible shield. The man and Lupin are trapped as well.

Looking passed the three men, Alex notices Snape on a bed. Snape slowly sits up, looking around confused.

"We have to go." Carly whispers in Alex's ear, pulling her out the door.

~A&H~

Walking over to her bed, Alex spots a white envelope on her bed. A few weeks ago, Alex wrote to Petunia asking her why she has been so calm finding out she is a wizard and has magic, while freaked out about Harry.

Opening the envelope after pulling a lantern down from a hanger, Alex places it on her bedside table. Leaning toward the light, she begins to read;

Alex,

It took me a long while to get used to the idea of you being magical. I have had a change of heart about the magical world within our own. I lost my sister because she was a witch before she died. My parents adored her, leaving me in the dark. I was like a shadow in her light.

Instead of fixing it, I pushed her out of my life. When Harry came into my life, I feared the same thing would happen to Dudley or Harry would lose control and hurt the family.

When you told me you're a wizard, in American terms, but a witch and our terms, I never saw you use magic nor lost control. I never knew for months. I reminded myself of that, which calmed me down. You're my daughter, Alex. I love you. I may never be one hundred percent okay with you being a witch, but there is nothing that can change that. Either way, I love you.

~Mom

Smiling softly, Alex folds the letter and slips it into her trunk. Hanging the lantern back up, Alex crawls into her bed and falls fast asleep.

~H&A~

Eating her final dinner at Hogwarts until September, Alex and Carly are talking non-stop about the summer holidays.

"My brother and his friends are going to see the Quidditch World Cup in August. Who knows, maybe my parents could get the whole family tickets and maybe you could come!" Carly grins excitedly, "But I am going to miss seeing you everyday."

"Me too. I get to see my friend Michelle. I get to see my foster brother and foster parents. I just hope Vernon hasn't slipped into his old ways." Alex whispers. Besides Harry and the family, Carly is the only person who knows Vernon used to hurt her physically and verbally.

"I hope he hasn't either. But you can write to me right?"

"Yes I will." Finishing dinner, the two girls head to the common room before saying good night to their older friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Sitting on their beds, Alex and Carly exchange phone numbers since Carly's family are half-bloods and love muggle technology.

The next morning Alex rubs sleep from her eyes and looks up to see Hermione shaking her awake with Carly slipping her shoes on her feet.

"The train leaves in a few minutes. We have to hurry." Hermione pulls Alex out of bed and tosses her, her uniform they have to wear on the train until halfway through the trip back to the train station.

After changing, Carly, Hermione and Alex head down to the Great Hall where they quickly grab toast. Running outside and down to the train station in the cool morning air, they arrive to the train. Climbing on, Alex and Carly joins Hermione in Harry and Ron's compartment.

"Are you happy to go home?" Ron asks after the girls eat their toast and Harry buys them candy for the five-hour trip.

"I'm excited to see mom and my friend Michelle again, but I'm going to miss Carly and the school." Alex answers a little happy but also upset. Hermione wraps her arm around Alex's shoulders.

"Don't worry, Alex. It's for three months, then we all will be back at school." Hermione smiles, "Besides, when Ron and I write to Harry, we can send you one all in one trip."

"Really?" Alex asks softly as Carly ignores everyone and is already starting her summer homework.

"Yup. Even though we met Harry first, in the last nine months, I look at you like a younger sister. Younger than Ginny. And less annoying." Ron agrees, "I hate writing once in a while, but I'll make an acceptation."

Alex giggles, rolling her brown eyes.

"What about Carly?" Ron gives an annoyed puff in fake frustration.

"I guess I could add her to the growing list."

"What?" Carly asks in confusion looking up from her work.

"You do know you don't have to do homework already, right?" Alex looks at Carly's homework.

"I know, but I want it out of the way."

~A&H~

Walking through the barrier, Alex pushes her trolley with her trunk and owl on top. Harry's trunk and owl are on it as well.

"Harry!" Jumping, Alex turns to see Ron's mother pulling Harry into a hug.

"Hey Alex." Turning right around, Carly pulls Alex into a hug, "I will write to you and see you in September if not sooner."

"Okay, have a great summer." Alex smiles hugging Carly back before pulling away.

"You too."

Watching her best friend walk away with her family, Alex looks back over to Harry, who is now joined by Ron's father, Ginny, and Hermione.

Feeling sort of left out, Alex pushes the trolley forward slowly as she looks for Petunia, Vernon and Dudley.

"RUSSO!" Groaning silently at Malfoy's voice, Alex stops and lets Malfoy walk over.

"What would you like, Malfoy?" Alex asks softly.

"Sadly my father wants to meet the special American wizard." Not wanting to deal with drama, Alex follows Malfoy to his parents, "Father, Mother, this is Alex Russo. Russo, this is my father and mother."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." Alex greets holding out her hand. which both parents accept.

"You as well, Ms. Russo." Mrs. Malfoy smiles, "How old are you? You look more twelve."

"I'm eleven, miss." Alex corrects awkwardly, "I know this is hurried, but I best go find my foster family."

"Oh, we are sorry for keeping you." Mr. Malfoy apologies politely, "It's nice meeting you."

"You as well, sir."

Leaving quickly, Alex spots Petunia and Vernon in a heated argument with Dudley ignoring them playing a video game. To her surprise, Harry is standing there awkwardly.

Once making it over to them through the big crowds, Alex stops in front of the fighting grown ups.

Finally, Petunia looks away from Vernon and smiles at Alex.

"Oh honey, I missed you." Petunia pulls Alex into a much-needed hug.

"I missed you too mom." Alex whispers.

And that is the chapter. Please review.