4 Chapter 25: The Jackalope and the Beetle

Warning: Angry Alexis = cursing in both senses of the word

Alexis sighed through her nose and rolled her eyes. Moody's silver chest shook violently like it always did when she visited her uncle's office. Plopping down on the Defense teacher's couch, it occurred to Alexis that she might be spending too much time in this particular office. She had spent most of her free time - that is, the few moments she wasn't with Harry or Grim - last year in the office bonding with Remus, especially after her incident with Snape. The only difference this year was the Defense teacher was her legal guardian and uncle, though technically his uncle title was as honorary as Remus's.

'Yeah, but Moody didn't kiss your mum,' said Ron. He, like Alexis, shuddered at the thought of Moody in any romantic situation.

'You do know he didn't always look like that, right?' said McPherson.

"Are you telling me that-"

'If you finish that statement, we'll all be scarred,' Ron cut in, sounding very disturbed.

McPherson chuckled softly but Alexis barely heard it when a familiar cackle filled the air.

"Talking to yourself again, dearie?" Moody asked.

Alexis smiled at her uncle with a shrug.

"Maybe," she said nonchalantly.

Conversations with Moody had become casual over the past few months especially since the Second Task. The ex-Auror seemed to have been taking strides trying to get to know her better especially after Alexis let it slip what had really happened in the Chamber of Secrets two years ago.

Moody had subtly asked her for perhaps the seventh time how she was fairing after being under the water half a day when Alexis had finally had enough.

"I'm fine, Al," Alexis said firmly. "Honestly, you weren't this worried when I was dancing with Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets."

Moody had raised a very high eye brow at her.

"Err, I can explain?"

"I'm listening dearie."

After having to tell Moody in more details what had happened her second year, the ex-Auror had been very curious about Alexis's interaction with the memory of Tom Riddle more so than the diary itself oddly, Alexis was glad she hadn't let anything slip about how she came across Sirius the first time in her third year.

"Have you mastered the Expallesco Charm yet?" Moody asked as Alexis stood up from her spot on the couch.

"Think so," Alexis said. She took a deep breath before casting the spell. "Expallesco!"

Despite her body becoming transparent, Alexis's Black family grin was very visible on her lips.

"Diffindo!"

A red light zoomed towards Alexis but despite knowing it would pass through her the Gryffindor dove out of the way, narrowly dodging the spell and canceling out her own.

"Stop flinching so much," Moody grumbled.

"That could have killed me!" Alexis argued.

"Only because you broke your spell," Moody corrected. "It would have passed right through you otherwise."

"Like you wouldn't flinch," Alexis muttered to herself but apparently not quietly enough.

"Right," said Moody, "I'll cast the Expallesco Charm and you cast the Diffindo jinx, alright dearie?"

"Alright,"

Alexis grinned as Moody rolled up his sleeves before frowning.

"Where's your tattoo?"

Moody, who was about to cast the charm, lowered his wand. He raised the eyebrow over his good eye.

"What tattoo?"

Alexis snorted at Moody's joke.

"Alright," she said going along with her uncle. "If you don't want me knowing what it is I get it. But you've already seen mine," the dark chimera came instinctively to her hand, making it visible, "so it would only be fair if I at least knew what yours was. Harry thought it would be a rabbit but don't ask me where he got that idea."

"It's not a rabbit," was all Moody said on the subject before changing it entirely. "Curfew is almost here. You should go find Potter before he gets in trouble."

"Yes mom," Alexis said teasingly. She grabbed her cloak but turned towards Moody before she left. "But I got you something."

Reaching into her pocket, Alexis pulled out a blue rabbitlike paw on a gold chain. Both of Moody's eyes fell on the odd object in curiosity.

"It's a blue moon jackalope paw," Alexis explained simply. "They're famous in the States, really lucky and stuff."

Moody simply stared at the paw as Alexis pinned it to his giant trench coat.

"Now don't say I never get you anything," Alexis teased before heading for the door. "Night, Al!"

Moody watched his niece go. When he was sure she was gone, he shook his head and said:

"More questions for you Alastor."

.

The fact that she now only had one twin with her in Transfigurations class had yet to grow on Alexis despite the school year drawing closer and closer to an end. She and Fred had been partners all year, much to Professor McGonagall's annoyance.

"I'm just saying, Hex," said Fred as the two practiced transforming their birds into goblets. Fred was having trouble making his cup silver instead of rainbow like his parrot. "I don't think Hermione and Harry are going to work out."

"That's why we don't pay you to think," Alexis teased. "Besides, it's not like you've been helpful. You asked Moony to the dance before Prongs had the chance."

"We've been over this," Fred sang. "He wasn't going to ask her."

"Because some had already asked the girl he wanted to go with," Alexis countered.

Fred shrugged before finally getting the transfiguration correct.

"That's true but not how you think."

"Fred Weasley, I will-"

"If you two would kindly focus on your work," McGonagall cut in. "Thank you."

Alexis and Fred shared grins before returning to their work. When class finally ended, the two joined George in the hall before heading towards lunch.

"I miss Quidditch," Alexis sighed as the three made their way down to the Great Hall.

"Me two," the twins said in unison.

"You think we could start a pick up match with some of the Durmstrang students?" George asked aloud.

"And get hexed off our broom?" said Fred.

"I'd catch you," Alexis teased earning her two Weasley chuckles.

The trio was just outside the Great Hall when two nearly transparent arms grabbed Alexis's shoulders and spun her around as if she was playing pin the tail on the donkey. Cackling, along with Fred and George's laughter, filled the air.

"Ballerina, ballerina," sang Peeves, "spin so fast that no one can seeya!"

Alexis nearly fell backwards into Fred and George only for the twins to push her forward. Peeves, who had solidified enough to catch things, caught her with another cackle.

"See ya, Hex!" the twins called over their shoulders as they disappeared into the Great Hall. They were the only ones, save for Harry and Moody, who had only seen it once, that understood Alexis and Peeves's friendship.

"Hi, Peeves," Alexis said cheerfully. "Miss me?"

"Of course not!" the poltergeist exclaimed though the mayhem in his eyes disagreed. "I haven't seen you in ages, Hex."

"You walked me to class this morning," Alexis corrected.

Peeves blew raspberries at her.

"Anywho," he said as if Alexis hadn't spoken, "I've been hearing rumors about what this Skeeter woman wrote about you and I've decided to do something about it."

Alexis blinked.

"Err, what exactly have you decided to do?"

Peeves grinned wildly.

"This!"

Without warning, Peeves pulled out perhaps the biggest red marker Alexis had ever seen. She had no idea how the poltergeist had gotten ahold of the Muggle writing device but didn't have time to question it when he started scribbling something down on her arm. Alexis, deciding to stand still and let Peeves do whatever he was scheming and be done with it, waited silently for him to finish.

"There," said Peeves as he finished.

Alexis looked down at her arm and couldn't help but to smile. In big red letters read 'PROPERTY OF PEEVES THE POLTERGEIST.'

"And your reasoning behind this?" Alexis asked but Peeves didn't answer. Instead the spirit of Hogwarts dove into the ground cackling.

'That ghost is crazy,' Ron said almost immediately after they were alone.

"Poltergeist," Alexis corrected, shaking her head. She finally made her way into the Great Hall.

Nearly every head snapped Alexis's direction as she entered. At first she thought it had to do with the fact that she was late but then realized every one had the same thing in their hands: a newspaper.

Making eye contact with Seamus, the Irish fourth year jumped to his feet before running over to her and handing her his copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Bad?" Alexis asked before looking at the rag in her hand.

"Very," he said grimly. "But she focused on one target specifically this time."

"Who?"

Seamus shook his head, telling her it was best that she read it on her own to find out what garbage Rita Skeeter had written this time.

Three seconds passed. Four. Five-

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHI-"

Almost as if it had become a habit, it had over the last few months, Seamus cover Alexis's mouth before she could curse in front of the entire student body. Again.

Glaring down at the paper in front of her so much that the edges were aflame, Alexis reread the headline.

LESTRANGE FOLLOWS THE FAMILY TRADITION IN DARK ARTS?

As many of my lovely readers know, I, Rita Skeeter, have been tasked with reporting information on the TriWizard Tournament, or rather, TriWizard love triangle. But what if I, Rita Skeeter, were to tell you, my brilliant readers, that our seemingly lovely love story was actually a sham? Yes, I, Rita Skeeter, have discovered that our three brave champions, International Quidditch Star Viktor Krum, future Auror and current Head Boy Cedric Diggory, and World renown hero, the Boy Who Lived Harry Potter are not in love with Alexis Lestrange, heir to the Lestrange and Black family fortune, because of their hearts' desires but because of love potions!...

Alexis looked up from the paper, having accidentally lit it on fire. Luckily, Collin was at her side in a second with his own copy. Already having read the first and second page, Collin had flipped it over to the third page. Alexis picked up were Collin had left off.

...and to make matters worse, when I, Rita Skeeter, tried to warn poor Mr. Krum of Miss Lestrange's treachery, I, Rita Skeeter, found myself confronting a love drugged zombie of a man instead of the Bulgarian Seeker we all know and love...

Alexis jumped ahead, having accidentally burnt the next two paragraphs.

... and Dennis Creevey seem to be in on the schemes. Twice I have come across the older of the two brothers explaining to his younger brother how Harry Potter will marry Alexis Lestrange no matter what. Frightening isn't?

"I'll show her frightening," Alexis growled, finally having enough.

"Err, Hex?" asked Lavender Brown, cautiously walking up to her dormmate. "When did you and Harry kiss?"

"What?" Alexis asked.

"Rita Skeeter said that right after Chee, err, Cho I think she meant, that right after Cho apologized through gritted teeth for punching you because she caught you making out with Cedric-"

"WHAT?"

"- that you admitted to kissing Harry."

Alexis groaned loudly, banging her head on the table.

"That's not at all what happened," she mumbled.

"So Krum didn't ask you to visit him in Bulgaria either?" Dean asked, joining her schoolmates.

Alexis groaned loudly again.

"One," she mumbled into the tablecloth, "these are both out of context. Two, how the hell would she have known any of this stuff? It was said in private."

"I don't know," said Dean, "but she's a real fly on the wall if she can get all this information."

Alexis groaned once more.

"Are you sure no one was in the room with you or near by when you said any of that stuff?" asked Seamus. "Maybe disguise?"

"No," said Alexis firmly. "It was only me and Cho or me and Viktor. The only other thing was a be-"

Alexis's head snapped up as a sneer crossed her lips. She tightened her hands into fist, leaving noticeable scorch marks on the table cloth. Suddenly she was on her feet and moving towards the door of the Great Hall. She knew what was going on and she was going to tell the only adult she knew would do something about it.

"Tell Harry I'll see him at class," she mumbled to Seamus as she left, her eyes never turning from the direction she was heading.

'She's a fucking Animagus!' Alexis hissed as she stormed towards Moody's classroom. 'The little -'

McPherson sighed, 'I suppose this is better than you cursing aloud.'

"Are you not listening?" Alexis growled, climbing up the stairs. "This woman is trying to ruin my life and she's getting away with it because she's an illegal Animagus!"

'Hex, calm down,' advised Ron.

But Alexis could not calm down. All she could do was feel angry and see red. Rita Skeeter had to pay and if she didn't get to Moody fast enough Alexis might take out her own justice on the evil woman.

"Moody!" Alexis barked, throwing open the Defense classroom doors aggressively. She was greeted by an empty classroom which was to be expected seeing that it was Thursday and Moody's last class was right before lunch.

Growling in frustration, Alexis was just about to leave when she noticed the door to Moody's office was slightly ajar.

Alexis's eyes narrowed. Moody never left his door open, especially not halfway.

'Get out of here, Alexis,' McPherson said seriously. 'Now.'

"Moody?" Alexis called, ignoring her late guardian's words as she stepped forward towards the door.

'Alexis, get out of here,' McPherson said firm once more.

"Moody are you alright?" Alexis called again growing anxious and worried. She was just about to push the door open when-

A familiar beetle flew rapidly out the crack in the door as if it was trying to run for its life. Alexis's eyes narrowed.

"Oh no you don't!" she barked. "Stupefy!"

The blue beetle, having been hit dead on by Alexis's spell, tumbled to the ground and didn't move. Without a second of hesitation Alexis approached the beetle and, after fighting the very strong desire to step on it, casted a revealing spelling returning it to its actual form.

Alexis placed her foot on top of the unconscious reporter before casting, "Ennervate!"

Rita Skeeter woke with a start, immediately trying to climb to her feet in a panic. When she realized she was unable to because of Alexis's foot on her chest, the reporter looked up at Alexis with panic filled eyes.

"We have to run," Rita Skeeter whispered in a frightened tone. "He saw me. He knows who I am. Please, we have to run. We have to-"

"Shut up!" Alexis snapped, silencing the reporter woman instantly. "You're an illegal Animagus!"

Rita Skeeter nodded her head frantically.

"Yes, yes," she rambled. "I know. Please, we have to-"

"You've been spying on my friends," Alexis accused. "You've been spying on me! You even tried to spy on Moody!"

"Yes it's true," Rita Skeeter admitted hastily. "Turn me in! Just get me away from here! Don't let him find me!"

"You can't possibly think I'll listen to you, can you?" Alexis hissed, her blood boiling. "When Moody gets back-"

"NO!" Rita Skeeter wailed. "Please! Not him! He's not who you think! Just let me go! Let me go! Let me-"

Alexis let out a painful yelp when Rita Skeeter, in her panic to get away, bit her ankle. Growling angrily as the woman scrambled to her feet, Alexis cast the one spell she never thought she'd use, especially not on someone whose back was turned to her.

"Curcio!"

A feeling of sick joy filled Alexis as Rita Skeeter fell back to the ground screaming in agony as her body twitched frantically. Alexis had never seen something so fascinating. She grinned cruelly at the sight, enjoying the look of shear pain sketched across the reporter woman's face when-

'Alexis!'

The calling of her name by McPherson snapped Alexis out of whatever stupor she had fallen into, making Alexis realize what she had just done. Bile filled her mouth at the sight in front of her but more specifically at the feeling of pleasure she had gotten from it.

Despite having lifted the curse, Rita Skeeter's body was still twitching. Some of her limbs had even twisted in awkward directions Alexis knew they weren't suppose to go.

"I'm so sorry," Alexis apologized, falling to her knees at the reporters side. "I didn't mean, oh God."

She tried to help the injured woman but Rita Skeeter merely shrieked in fear, doing everything in her capability to get away from Alexis.

"Stop!" Alexis hissed, coving the panicking woman's mouth. Alexis was panicking too. She had used one of the Unforgivables merely because she had been angry. Now Rita Skeeter laid in front of her twitching in pain, her body bent in angles they shouldn't be.

"Please," Alexis whimpered, panic fully taking over. "Please, let me help you. I didn't mean to... I just..."

"Oblivate."

Alexis watched as Rita Skeeter's body went still, her eyes glazing over with a peaceful look as a soft green cloud of light collided with her. Looking up, Alexis met the sight of her Uncle Moody, his face grim.

"Are you alright, dearie?" he asked softly.

Alexis choked on her tears.

"I didn't mean to," she cried, tears covering her cheeks. "I couldn't control myself. She made me so angry with what she did to Harry, to my friends, to... To me."

Moody said nothing. Instead, he wrapped his arm around his niece and let her bury her face into his chest where she could let her tears flow. And Alexis did. She cried silently, her body shaking in her uncle's arms as the realization of what she had done hit her.

Alexis had been so close to killing Rita Skeeter and for what? A few slandering articles? All of her friends had stood by her despite the woman's words, yet Alexis had attacked her. Something had finally snapped inside of her and Alexis had allowed Rita Skeeter to take its wrath.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity trapped in her own thoughts were not even McPherson said anything, Moody spoke.

"She won't remember what you did," he growled softly. "But her body will. The bloody woman will cower whenever she sees you despite not knowing why."

Moody gave a small cackle, no doubt in attempts to calm Alexis. It, however, didn't work.

"I'm going to Azkaban," she whispered into his shirt. "I'm going where I belong. I'm no better than my mother."

"No listen here, dearie," said Moody firmly. He lifted Alexis's chin up so she was looking him in the eye. "You're not going anywhere. I've taken care of it. She thinks you merely caught her, threatened to turn her in if she didn't write an apology article, and then, as she was leaving was hit by a silly first year with a flyswatter. She didn't transform into her human form until after the room was empty. She doesn't remember what you did."

"But I do," Alexis said. "I tortured her, Al. I tortured her and enjoyed it."

Moody stayed silent for a long while after that but Alexis didn't mind. She reburied her head into her guardian's chest as she did her best to forget what she had just done but it was playing on repeat over and over in her head.

Unexpectedly, Moody kissed the top of her head in an affectionate gesture she had not received since McPherson. He ran his callused hands through her hair in attempts to soothe her. It felt strange but comforting and Alexis couldn't help but to feel a sense of security because of it.

"Thanks Al," she whispered. "I... I love you."

There was a pause. Moody's body stiffened and for a moment Alexis thought she had done something wrong, something even worse than curse Rita Skeeter, when Moody spoke.

"I love you too, dearie."

I'm just an asshole, aren't I? Anyways, a necessary but short chapter once again. I had to show you all how far Alexis and 'Moody's relationship has developed. Alexis is very close to her uncle but is starting to see oddities in his personality. Why has it taken so long? Again, because Alexis doesn't want to see them. Moody is her last connection to McPherson (the fact that she can talk to him in her head doesn't mean she can't miss him) and feels like she's the same thing for Moody. I also wanted some twins and Peeves time no matter how small it was. As for why Alexis attacked Rita Skeeter, that will be explained better later.

Review Responses:

91: well, here's more!

534667lc: Haha very true!

reallytrulyyours: Me either! But you know who can? Alexis. And Remus. And Sirius. Actually, the only one ready to meet them seems to be Krum. :P Now, random things, 1.) Yes and no. 2.) I'm not saying he will but technically Alexis has already casted the spell on Cedric (First Task) 3.) Vex is perfect! It means annoy in Latin so it's very suitable for the two lol 4.) Can't make a comment. 5.) Really want to make a comment but can't. 6.) Maybe but how can Athena's daughter by a demigod if she was born out of Athena's head? No. I refuse this. As for Poseidon's kids, you're right but what about Hades? I find it very difficult to believe he of all the gods cheated on his wife. Once more, did the gods all plan to have kids around the same time? Maybe the reason Grandpa/uncle Zeus said they couldn't have anymore was because he didn't want to get them all Christmas presents... Hmm, that sounds right to me actually. 7.) Maybe. Alexis visiting Krum is still on the table but I'm not sure about Dementors. I can't say much more without spoiling anything sorry. Thanks for the review, and please, more questions!

gossamermouse101: lol that's great! That was what I was going for!

jazzkay: That's awesome to hear! As for whether or not I know who Alexis's father is, here's how it goes, going into the book, as in the first chapter plus prologue, I had chosen Voldemort but once I started really writing and started writing snips for the next few books that I realized how it really could be anyone and changed it several times until I reached midway through the second book were I wrote a really hard scene for the seventh book and made my decision. It has not and will not change on who her father is since then. I'm working on a oneshot for Ron right now though. As for Alexis/Krum (Vex, thanks to reallytrulyyours is their official ship name) and Alery I happy to hear your thoughts on the two. Thanks!

Heroes Twin Blades: I love cookies! Peanut butter ones... With chocolate chips. And white chocolate chips... And a glass of milk... Chocolate milk... Anyways, that's awesome to hear! And yes I'm American but I refuse to say what state I'm from because it falsely represents my views and beliefs so yeah. Go Cornhuskers (that is Nebraska right?)

mwinter: and here it is

caring16: looking forward to the fifth book because of the toad. *shrugs* mah I'm the author, I know why. ;)

InLuvWithCandy: Me too! And that is why it's going to be a secret until the very end or at the very least the sixth book or maybe the fifth or maybe at the end of this book... Never know ;P As for your disbelief in Remus and Snape as Alexis's dad, just remember that Bellatrix was Sirius's friend for a long time as well as the Marauders as a whole until fifth year. There is a lot that we, well, the readers like yourself, don't know yet. And Snape is a man and Bellatrix is a seductive female. Again, there may be factors you've yet to be shown towards that. Then again, it might just be Voldemort and you're just wasting your time on the other guys. ;P And Alice Moody should be updated as soon as I figure out how to write this Quidditch match!

aandm20: Awesome! I always wanted to be an earthquake!

Raging Raven: Alexis is fourteen and Krum is seventeen, going on eighteen next summer. I think Krum deserves to reach his eighteenth birthday before Sirius, Remus, Moody, and every Deatheater including Snape kills him, don't you? Sorry not this summer, at least for the Bulgarian's sake lol

jessica02: Why, thank you!

PandaBear121: well, if you insist!

Kaylee13133: sad face for that boy. And yes, reading for fun makes you awesome! I should know, I do it too! :) And her dad will definitely be revealed in one of the next three books or the end of this one! You're welcome! As for the breakouts, that will be really really fun!

Jilyluv11: I've given multiple hints, the problem is I've also given you false hints as well ;)

Nightshade: Don't worry, I'm not quitting anytime soon!

santosedanica: Either way, I'm glad I made the list!

Thanks everyone for your reviews and please continue reviewing! I love reading what you think and adore answering your questions!

Remember, I updated a oneshot in Peter Pettigrew's POV on the Chimera Tattoo and am working on Ron's as well as Snape's and Barty's. I am also working on the first shot of Harry's (Le)strange Story. An update for Alice L. Moody is on the way!

Please review!

DCF