Sorry for the wait guys! I'm posting this straight after I finish my last sentence of the chapter so there won't be any review response for another hour or so.
Enjoy!
Chapter 25: Just a Little Strange
Alexis took an instinctive step back as another set of crazed cackles filled the air.
"You," Alexis breathed, her eyes locking on the psychotic looking man only a few paces away from her partly hidden by the tree line. As he moved closer, still cackling as he did so, the large scar he bore on his face starting from the left corner of his mouth to the bottom of his left ear (curtesy of Alexis herself last year) became more apparent while his chocolate brown eyes gleamed with something dark and unstable. He wore rather fashionable Muggle clothes and would have blended in nicely in London had he not looked so insane.
Bartemius Crouch Jr. grinned at Alexis and against her will, Alexis's whole body shivered in fright.
"Did you miss me, little bell?" asked Barty teasingly, his face shining like a little boy on Christmas at the sight of Alexis. Out of the tree line, he took another step towards her. Alexis took a step back only to find her path blocked by something. Looking up slowly she found not a something but a someone.
Octanius stood behind her looking directly at the cackling man standing in the outskirts of the tree line.
For a brief moment Alexis almost panicked. Paranoia invaded her thoughts as she looked from Octanius to Barty. It would have been too easy for Octanius to be a Death Eater, Alexis realized far too late. He had been trying to gain her trust for so long and now Alexis had finally let her guard down. This had all been a trap, Alexis thought, and that he was going to hand her over to Barty.
But then Octanius, despite being an aristocratic, Pureblood Lord now, had not always one and the part of him that was still a rebellious youth was not above proving a woman wrong.
With a gentle yet firm grip, Octanius grabbed Alexis by the shoulder and slowly moved her behind himself until she was completely shield by his body (if she were to stop poking her head out around his arms that is). All the while his wand was pointed directly at Barty in his other hand. His eyes, Alexis noted, were focused so intently on the Death Eater in front of them that he seemed to be taking in every detail of the man.
"Not a step closer, chap," said Octanius calmly, almost sounding too casual. He sent a warning spark only inches in front of Barty that lit a small patch of grass ablaze in a strange purple flame.
The flame stopped Barty in his tracks. He looked up at Octanius with a new grin, one that reminded Alexis a great deal of one of Umbridge's forced smiles. A small chuckle, too brief to be true, escaped Barty's lips as he stared directly at Octanius with a look that said one word: Move.
But Octanius did not and it was then that Alexis noticed that Barty had not drawn his own wand. She could only assume it was up his sleeve ready to be used at a moment's notice – and she had a feeling that Octanius not moving was one of those moments.
Of course, this wouldn't be the first time Alexis was wrong though.
Instead of drawing his wand, Barty clapped his hands together as if in anticipation.
"Well, well, well," sang Barty. "Would you look at that! Little Tanius."
If the childhood nickname was supposed to get a reaction out of Octanius, Alexis thought it failed miserably. However, Barty carried on without much pause.
"Look at you," he said, rocking back and forth on his side of the slowly dying purple flame, "all grown up. Heard the Ministry has been making you play prince with your cousins away."
Octanius merely yawned.
"You should remember by now that taunting never really bothered me, Crouch," said Octanius lazily.
Alexis choked on a cry when Barty suddenly lurched forward, his hands outstretched towards her cousin's neck, only to find himself with a wand digging into his neck. Barty bared his teeth like an animal.
Octanius smirked.
"You on the other hand," he said, grabbing hold of Barty's shirt with his free hand and using it – along with his wand – to back madman into a tree, "cannot say the same."
"Careful, Lestrange," growled Barty.
Octanius let out a genuine chuckle.
"Says the wizard with no wand save for the one digging into his throat," said Octanius. "I'm a breath away from ending you and you are telling me to be careful? I would call you mad but…"
"You never had it in you to kill, Lestrange," Barty hissed.
"Yes, well," mused Octanius, "Première Famille changes a few things. Stay away from my cousin."
Barty sneered before cackling coldly.
"You think you can stop me from getting to my little bell especially when it's the will of the Dark Lords?" he all but yelled.
"That is exactly what I think," replied Octanius, his eyes never leaving Barty, nor did his wand leave the madman's throat.
"You always were a hero around the fair sex, cousin," said a low, tired voice.
Alexis's eyes snapped away from Octanius and Barty to the same part of the tree line Barty had first appeared from. To her surprise, she found a ghost of a man standing there.
Thin and gaunt in the face, the man bore dark hair that hung limply around his face and in front of his familiar green eyes. In frightening realization, Alexis recognized the man from a memory that didn't belong to her.
"Rabastan," said Octanius, his voice calm though Alexis saw his body tense. Alexis could see why too. Despite looking half dead, the Deatheater before them wasn't lacking in intimidation – nor a wand, which he happened to be pointing directly at Octanius. "It has been a long time."
"Indeed," said Rabastan neutrally.
Octanius released Barty and carefully began backing away, not once lowering his wand (though now he continued to look rapidly between Barty and Rabastan). Only now did Barty draw his wand, though Alexis only caught it from the corner of her eye as she was too busy keeping an eye on the older Lestrange.
Rabastan Lestrange seemed to be examining Alexis with a scrupulous eye, as if to memorize exactly what she looked like, before finally locking eyes with the fifteen year old. Alexis stood at her full height when he did before sending him a venomous glare.
"She definitely glares like her mother," comment Rabastan calmly, never breaking eye contact.
"Wait until I hex you," said Alexis, letting her fingers crackle with excess magic as a warning, "then you'll definitely know who my mother is."
"Has her mouth too," sighed Rabastan, unfazed by Alexis's threat.
"Leave her be, cousin," said Octanius, finally positioning himself between both Alexis and the two Death Eaters.
Rabastan's face soured into a sneer worthy of a ghoul with his gaunt face and he broke eye contact with Alexis to send a piercing look Octanius's way.
"You dare tell me what to do?" Rabastan barked in outrage. "You have no power over me."
"Nor you over I," said Octanius, now eyeing both Rabastan and Barty carefully. "You're not the heir anymore, Rabastan, in case you did not realize it. And as acting head, it is my job to protect her, even from you… or has Azkaban made you forget our family law?"
"Don't preach to me," growled Rabastan, taking a step forward. "I know my place. It's you that needs to be reminded of your own."
"I don't particularly care where either of your places are as long as you two stay away from me," said Alexis over Octanius's shoulder, pointing at Barty and Rabastan.
"I think I will have to agree with the lady," said Octanius, slowly backing away until he was next to Alexis again. "Say goodbye to your uncle and his pet, dear."
Alexis wasn't quite sure what was going to happen next. Octanius was slowly moving her away from the two Death Eaters while Barty and Rabastan slowly advanced towards them in return.
"I could take the madman while you take… him," offered Alexis, not exactly sure what to call Rabastan.
Octanius smirked all the while still keeping his eyes locked on the Death Eaters in front of them.
"If it comes to it," he muttered quietly to her in response before adding clearly, "but it shouldn't. You two are going to just let us go, are you not? Let us part ways unfollowed and no alliances you have with your lord will be harmed and my family, our family Rabastan, can remain neutral."
"I would have hoped," said a new voice from the tree line, making Octanius stiffen in front of Alexis like a wooden board, "that after fifteen years, you would have realized how impossible neutral status is in our world, Octanius."
A tall man, taller than even Rabastan, with shoulder length black hair walked out of the shadows of the woods. His face was gaunt, though hidden well by his dark beard that he wore neatly groomed like his hair. The man's eyes were cold and calculating but a fascinating green in color that seemed to freeze Alexis in place when they fell upon her. This was not a man of weak constitution in front of Alexis nor was he a man too weak to lead. This man, despite his ghoulish complexion, was one that demanded respect that thrived on authority and would undoubtedly take what he saw as his own without so much as a finger – or wand – being raised to stop him. This man, Alexis knew without a shadow of a doubt, was Rodolphus Lestrange.
'And this is exactly why I said not to trust Slytherins!' huffed Ron.
'Oh, shut up, ginger,' grumbled McPherson.
'Really not the time, you two,' bemoaned Cedric.
Alexis would have snorted in agreement had she not been trapped under the gaze of the true head of the Lestrange family. Rodolphus Lestrange's eyes seemed to be looking into her very soul. He watched her ever so carefully that Alexis held her breath, afraid that her smallest of movements would give some important detail about her away. Finally she had enough.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer," Alexis snapped, though she highly doubted she sounded any more impressive than an annoyed four year old to the man.
"Cousin," started Octanius, warningly.
"You know, I should have expected my day to go like this," said Alexis, baring her cousin no mind. "It's just my luck. First crazy shows up and then…"
Alexis paused, unsure as to what she was supposed to call Rabastan and Rodolphus. After all, technically they were her as much her relatives as Octanius. Nonetheless the Gryffindor delayed in an exact title for them.
It also didn't help that Rodolphus had yet to stop staring at her, putting her on edge.
"Octanius," said Rodolphus, his eyes still never leaving Alexis despite his head turning towards his cousin.
"Please, Rodolphus."
Alexis blinked in surprised. She had never thought it were possible for anyone to make the proud lord that was Octanius beg.
"She's under my protection," whimpered Octanius, sounding very much so like a man fighting a losing battle. He looked tense, as if he was expecting a beating from the older Lestrange. That did not help calm Alexis's nerves at all. "I can't just… please."
"A Lestrange never begs," snapped Rabastan harshly. Octanius visibly cringed, leading to a grand grin to light up Barty's scarred face and an uneasy shift from Alexis.
"Octanius," said Alexis slowly, "what are you-"
"Lordship, my dear cousin," said Octanius so calmly that only his wand hand shaking told Alexis he wasn't calm at all. "The members of a house are loyal to their family head…. I'm only the acting head."
"Octanius," said Alexis. She was growing increasingly nervous and Octanius's refusal to look her direction wasn't helping. "You told me I could trust you. This is me trusting you."
Octanius gave a forced chuckle, sounding extremely pained. At long last he looked at Alexis but not for long. His green eyes met her own for only a fraction of a second before trailing to his own feet, his head bowed like a humble servant. He then returned to looking at the Death Eaters in front of them.
"I told you I wouldn't let you get hurt," whispered Octanius. He still had his wand drawn and on a constant swivel between the two Lestrange brothers and Barty but it was becoming less pronounced. "They would never hurt you."
"Yeah," said Alexis, trying to shrug off Octanius's hand as she took a step back, "but it's not exactly them I'm worried about."
"Cousin," said Octanius, his voice soft and broken. "Do you remember what I told you? The words you would probably never hear leave a Pureblood's mouth ever again?"
Alexis's eyes widened. Octanius's wand hand began to falter.
"You son of –"
"I'm sorry, dear," whispered the defeated Lord, finally releasing his grip from Alexis's arm. Alexis, however, was frozen in disbelief at his betrayal.
"Lower your wand, Octanius," order Rodolphus and Octanius, though reluctant, did as he was told.
Alexis jumped back violently as if she had been burned. Her eyes flickered endlessly between her foes – now four instead of three – as she tried to prepare herself for whatever was to come.
"Time to go home, little bell," sang Barty with a giggle.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," hissed Alexis. "Any of you."
Out of the corner of her eye Alexis saw Rodolphus draw a wand from his sleeve. Instantly she tensed, ready to fight but Rodolphus raised his wand towards Octanius. To Alexis's amazement, Octanius did nothing towards the action but smile a broken smile.
"Not exactly a perfect family reunion, cousin," he joked grimly.
"No," said Rodolphus neutrally. "No it was not. Obliverate."
Alexis watched in mute awe as Octanius did nothing to avoid the true Lestrange Lord's spell. The younger of the Lestrange men closed his eyes when the spell hit him before falling forward only to be caught by Rabastan who proceeded to lower him to the ground carefully.
"Well that's no fun," sighed Barty dramatically. "I was really enjoying the crushed look on little Tanius's face."
"Hold your tongue, Crouch," snapped Rabastan, immediately wiping the smug look off Barty's face and replacing it with one of fury. "You speak ill of my blood."
Alexis, seeing this as her opportunity to escape as Barty suddenly got in Rabastan's face, took a large step back. She thought to run for it but the moment before she broke out in a sprint a large hand gripped her shoulder.
"While they may be easily distracted, girl, I am not," said Rodolphus sternly, his grip on Alexis's shoulder firm.
Alexis nearly panicked. She had to act fast or else she was going to be in a very sticky situation.
'Apperate!' shouted Ron.
Clinging to Ron's idea, Alexis thought fast of somewhere busy enough that she could lose Rodolphus and not be caught apperating. Immediately her mind went to the train station and without so much as a second thought she apperated.
Feeling a tight pull in her naval, Alexis tried hard to focus on the train station's crowded entrance but the sudden squeeze on her shoulder and her inexperience of apperating with a side along - not to mention the fact that she hadn't apperated on her own since arriving at Hogwarts - made it difficult. When she suddenly appeared in her new location, Alexis fell forward landing hitting her right side roughly on something metal but thankfully without Rodolphus holding on to her.
"Impressive," said Rodolphus's voice, making Alexis scramble to her feet in fright. She was barely able to take in the fact that she had apperated onto the actual subway track before she focused all her attention on the Death Eater before her.
"Not many fifteen year olds can apperate," said Rodolphus with only a hint of pleasure in his tone.
Alexis cautiously stepped backwards over the track never letting her eyes leave the Lestrange Family Patriarch.
"Not many fifteen year olds can say they've had a conversation with a Death Eater on a train track either," said Alexis blankly.
Rodolphus's lip gave a shadow of a twitch, the only hint Alexis had seen thus far to say that the man had emotions other than stern or bored.
"And here Bartemius said you were witty."
Alexis shrugged, moving slowly to her left as Rodolphus moved towards his, making the two go in circles.
"What can I say," said Alexis, "you caught me on an off day."
"Hmm," hummed Rodolphus.
Despite having his wand at his side instead of pointed at her, Alexis still felt very uneased by Rodolphus's piercing look. He watched her carefully like a green eye predator watching its prey all while planning the perfect time to strike.
"You look like your mother," Rodolphus finally said after several silent laps around.
"Good eye," said Alexis scathingly.
"You sound like her too," continued Rodolphus, the ghost of a lip twitch returning.
"So I've been told," replied Alexis just as sarcastically.
"Now let us see if you duel like her," finished Rodolphus.
Alexis's eyes barely had a second to widen in surprise before Rodolphus snapped his wand at her. A purple light just narrowly missed her when Alexis dove out of the way. Instead it lit up the stone wall behind her, leaving a bright purple scorch mark.
"The fuck man," muttered Alexis. Immediately she was diving again when a second jinx, this one red, was shot her way.
"Language," said Rodolphus, as if to justify his sudden attack.
"Are you -!" shouted Alexis before mumbling off, "fucking Purebloods. Expelliarmus!"
Gracefully Rodolphus moved out of the way of Alexis's charm, an unimpressed look on his face.
"Is that all they've taught you in defense?" he asked close to mockingly.
"You really should not be taunting me right now, buddy," growled Alexis. She was thinking hard, trying to find a way to get help or at the very least far enough away that she could apperate again without the risk of Rodolphus tagging along.
Rodolphus graced Alexis with a ghost smile.
"Alright then," he said before wordlessly waving his wand once more.
"Protego!" shouted Alexis before shooting back a jinx of her own.
Rodolphus dodged it flawlessly. Alexis had to admit, despite his half dead look the Lestrange Lord was an excellent duelist. Spell after spell was sent back and forth with Alexis narrowly dodging while Rodolphus barely lifted a finger.
"Expelliarmus!" Alexis shouted for perhaps the fifth time and for perhaps the fifth time again Rodolphus dodged it.
"It is rather boring when you use the same spell over and over," said Rodolphus dryly.
Alexis responded back to back with, "Stupefy! Diffindo! Reducto! Fuck off!"
Rodolphus dodged all three curses (and sent a strong stinging charm in response to Alexis's outburst) easily.
"If that is all you have," said Rodolphus, sounding close to a disappointed professor, "then I suppose it is time I end this, girl."
Sending a spell wordlessly once more, Rodolphus distracted Alexis just enough that he could charge at her. Alexis, seeing this only milliseconds before Rodolphus could reach her, reacted purely instinctively in response.
"Crucio!" cried Alexis, just as Rodolphus was upon her.
In his close quarters to her, the Lestrange Lord had no time to avoid Alexis's last desperate attempt to remain uncaptured. He was hit full on the dark curse, sending him to the ground twitching violently in pain.
Alexis panicked at the sight.
As soon as she realized what she had done, the raven haired girl released her curse. She fell to her knees at the side of the man only minutes ago she was fighting.
"I'm sorry," Alexis bellowed, drawing close to Rodolphus as he gasped for air below her. Carefully, she placed her hand on the twitching form of the man, trying in a vain attempt to ease the pain she had caused.
"I," she stuttered, "I'm so sorry. I didn't – I… oh God."
Rodolphus, his body still shaking in response to Alexis's curse, made no coherent reply to Alexis's blubbering.
"I didn't mean to," Alexis whimpered.
'Hex,' said McPherson.
"I swear, I didn't-" continued Alexis.
'Hex, listen to me,' said McPherson more urgently.
"Please, I-"
'Alexis, move!' bellowed McPherson just as a bright light began to fill Alexis's vision.
The fifteen year old froze. In her panic she hadn't even realized a train was coming despite the shaking of the track around her. However, the loud scrapping noise of the train charging her way was unable to be missed.
Alexis lost all movement in her body. Her eyes widened at the sight of the train and her brain seemed to shut down completely. It looked like the end of-
"Don't move, Josobelle," whispered Rodolphus's voice in Alexis's ear just as his arms pulled her against his chest and in his embrace.
"Let me-"
"Expallesco," gasped Rodolphus.
Alexis froze at the familiar spell just before the train reached the two of them. She closed her eyes tight as the train passed through them, listening only to the irregular heartbeat of the Death Eater holding her still.
Rodolphus's grip was tight. It did not loosen even the smallest of fractions as the train passed overhead. Yet Alexis found that she did not care. Despite the man's Death Eater status, the amount of relief that washed over Alexis when she discovered him not to be completely maimed from her use of an Unforgivable had been exhausting to say the least. She would not have even noticed that the train had fully passed had Rodolphus not sat up.
At that moment Alexis tried to break away from him but to no avail. Rodolphus had her in a secure grip. His arms remained wrapped around her tightly, but not so tightly as to cause her pain.
"Let me go," Alexis said shakily. Her voice came out barely above a whimper but Alexis failed to care. Both her body and mind were exhausted. She didn't think she could fight much longer.
Looking up at Rodolphus, Alexis did her best to send him a defiant glare, nearly faltering at the look Rodolphus gave her in return. Though he wore no true expression on his face, the Lestrange Lord's eyes held an emotion Alexis was hesitant to name.
For only a moment she would have called the emotion sorrow.
Pop!
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Alexis snapped her head to the left down the tunnel when she heard voices calling her – familiar voices. Remus and Tonks were the clearest but she was sure she heard the slight Scottish twang of Mr. Diggory as well. The Order was looking for her.
"Goodbye, Josobelle," whispered Rodolphus into Alexis's ear, his voice so close that his beard grazed her cheek.
With his words having been said, Rodolphus pulled Alexis to her feet, kissed her ever so chastely on the cheek, stepped back, and apperated away with a loud Pop!
"Bloody, fucking hell," cursed Swine just as he and the rest of the Order arrived just in time to see Rodolphus apperate. He then proceeded to go down a long list of curse words Alexis was most certain Mrs. Weasley would not appreciate in the slightest know Swine had said in front of her or any other minor. But somehow Alexis found it safe to assume that the last thing on Swine's mind was the Weasley Matriarch reprimanding him.
It was the last thing Alexis was thinking about as well.
Well, there you have it! Alexis's first encounter with the Lestrange Brothers/Her (maybe) Uncle and (could be) Dad! Not as exciting or as long as I had originally planned but my time was up. I won't let there be this long of a delay again if I can help it but it will probably be only one update every two weeks until summer. That's just the kind of college I attend, sorry.
Review Responses:
HazelVex: lol yes, Barty is back! Though I find a certain lord to be a bit more important in this chapter to be completely honest.
Raven that flies at night: We're getting there, but no Bellatrix quite yet. She will be hearing about this encounter soon though. PS Sirius thinks so too.
mwinter1: really sorry about the delay!
91: Yeah, really let that cliff hanger hang. No Bellatrix yet though. I'll try to update sooner (maybe in the next few days even)
Em-x. everlasting: And here it is! Not quite Bellatrix yet but your questions will eventually be answered. Perhaps even soon. Promise to keep writing!
gossamermouse101: The line reminded me of a mixture of Princess Diaries and Lord of the Rings too
lizy2000: no thank you for your patience!
caring16: the question really is why though
The Viking Stranger: You always do enjoy the complicated story parts, don't you? But quite true on what question everyone would ask. You, however, worded it in such a way that it could be a bad joke which had me laughing quite a bit.
santosedanicaa: Alexis=cheese now. This is a thing forever. Thank you for giving me several moments of laughter because of your review. Also, my name isn't actually Keith but yeah, missed ya'll too. The Harry POV is already posted in the Chimera Tattoo story.
Guest: Hoping you have some sanity left to regain, much love –Keith the Evil Dark Lord
hmhp: I'm sorry for your lost and your phone messing up. I'm also sorry in my delayed update. I'm working to make my updates faster. As for Dumbledore being gay, yes I did know and I also feel like his life story would make an excellent spinoff tale
EmoOwlQueen: I love Swine all the time (Ron: Really, Keith? Even when he was a right arse? McPherson: She created him, ginger. She made him that way)
phoenixfelicis07: I think Harry would listen too, but I'm not the emotionally unstable teenager trying to put her life together like Hex. I'm glad you love Octanius, but I'm curious to hear what your feelings are towards him now, seeing as his trustworthiness has finally been tested. I did post the one in the Chimera Tattoo story so it is up in case you haven't read it. Davis Flint is related to Marcus Flint (Davis is Marcus's uncle). Glad you noticed it was Barty and not Bellatrix by the way but I would have been surprised if you hadn't. You always catch the clues I scatter no matter how small ;)
RAINBOWNEMESIS: Nope, its Barty!
Goddess of Leo: Well, Swine made it eventually lol. Someone should warn Barty though seeing as your out for his head.
LyliLovexxxxx: Tis Barty!
Guest: Thank you! You the best PinkTimelord!
Ingridie: I think its because I have Evil and Dark in my title that I ended it that way…
Guest: That's why Hex is so torn with her emotions. All Hex has ever wanted is her mother, her real mother, long before she ever knew who her mother was. And now that she knows that Bellatrix is her mother, she can't just will away her greatest wish like it was nothing. She is trying though, hence the teenager angst
Guest: Sorry!
WheresDaBeef: updated! Sorry!
Alexx: Nope, still alive
HazelVex (again): I'm glad you understand. Again, Happy Christmas to you too!
Goddess of Leo (again): glad you liked it!
lizy2000 (again): Hello? Yeah, I couldn't help that one J
91 (again): and here it is!
Kaylee13133: Hope you did well on your exams! It sucked that you had to take one on Saturday but that's life. However, it was Barty not Bellatrix
That's everyone! Please review!
And MERRY CHRISTMAS!
DCF