4 Chapter 26: The Bowl on the Top Shelf
Before you read this chapter I hope you all stop and read this little note. A lot of you aren't happy with Alexis's blindness to Moody/Barty and others aren't happy that McPherson hasn't told her that Moody isn't Moody yet so I think it's best I get this over with. Alexis has a flaw, she only sees what she wants to see. Yes she's observant but she's also very stubborn. This is why even though McPherson warns her about things she doesn't always listen and why despite it being painfully obvious she doesn't see a certain wizard's affection towards her as anything more than friendship. Heck, she didn't even know Krum liked her until he straight up kissed her. Anyways, Alexis is flawed, which is why I disagree with any Mary Sue comments made towards her, and her flaw is very frustrating especially to you guys. Also remember though that you've read the book or at least seen the movie (and therefore know a certain someone is bad) while Alexis is living it.
With all this said, there will be strong examples of her flaw in this first scene and it may be the death of me. It's very Alery but also anti-Alery because of Alexis logic.
Actually, the entire chapter is connected to Alexis's flaw so...
Enjoy!
With Moody's help, or rather his lack of mentioning it, Alexis was able to get past what had happened in the Defense classroom involving Rita Skeeter. A small article was published two days after the incident stating a full apology and things slowly became normal again. In fact, it all just seemed like a bad dream- one that Alexis kept having every time she fell asleep.
She had hoped her lack of sleep would go unnoticed by her friends and schoolmates but after Viktor, along with several other friends, asked her if she was getting enough sleep Alexis wasn't surprised when Harry confronted her in the Common Room the first night of Easter Break.
However, the fact that he was holding two warm comforters and two fluffy pillows did earn him a raised eyebrow.
"Moony told me you were having nightmares," Harry said as if that explained the fact that he was laying the two blankets out on the floor near the fireplace. He then continued, "This was the cure for nightmares last time. I don't see why it wouldn't work again."
Alexis smiled fondly at her best friend. Harry smiled back, having already made himself comfortable under his own blanket.
"You're a dork," Alexis said, shaking her head.
"I know," said Harry, his smile turning into a full grin. Sighing, Alexis joined her best friend.
"You're lucky that almost everyone went home for the break," she mumbled burying her head deep into her pillow before sighing in content.
"And you're lucky Rita Skeeter came to her senses and apologized before you did something horrible," said Harry.
Alexis froze. Despite knowing Harry was just teasing, the thought of Rita Skeeter twitching before her crossed her brain once more. It made falling asleep difficult and when she did, her dreams were once again haunted by her actions.
"Hex! Hex, wake up! Hex!"
Alexis woke to someone shaking her violently. Looking up groggily, Alexis could see Harry staring down at her worriedly. She couldn't take it. Despite wanting to keep her crime a secret, Alexis threw her arms around Harry's neck and told him everything.
She told him her anger. She told him her discovery of how Rita Skeeter had figured out all the secrets she published. She told him how she found the woman fleeing Moody's office. She told him how she had stunned her. She told him how she had gotten so angry when the woman tried to flee her presence that...
"I hit her with an Unforgivable, Harry," Alexis whispered, tears streaming down her cheek. "I tortured her... I don't know why I just... I'm just as bad as my mother..."
Harry, who had stayed silent the whole time Alexis told him what had happened, took his best friend's hand and squeezed it.
"Hex," he said, not knowing what else to say. Alexis didn't know what else to say either. She pressed her head against her best friend's chest until Harry placed his hand on her chin, lifting her face even with his own. What happened next totally confused Alexis and no doubt Harry as well.
One moment Alexis was looking into her best friend's almond-shaped emerald green eyes and the next minute she was being kissed by him. Harry Potter. Her best friend.
She didn't know why, but the kiss surprised her, making her pull back.
Harry looked almost hurt by her actions before quickly turning red with embarrassment.
"Sorry," he apologized quickly, "I-I didn't mean- I didn't..."
Alexis thought fast, her mind spinning for some odd reason. Harry had kissed her, she knew that, but why? Did he like her? Of course not! They were best friends and she was with Viktor. And Harry liked Hermione. That's right!
'So why did he kiss you?' Ron asked teasingly.
Alexis didn't know why though. She thought back to the kiss. It was soft and gently almost as if he was just barely trying to touch her lips just like when he kissed her cheek. Of course!
"It's okay, Prongs," Alexis said with a smile. "I know you were trying to kiss my cheek. It's fine."
Ron groaned in annoyance. Harry deflated.
"Right," he said. "That's it."
"Work on your aim," Alexis teased, resting her head back down on her pillow. She then became somber. "Thank you though, for listening. I... I don't want to lose our friendship, Prongs."
Harry took a second before responding with, "Me either, Padfoot."
And with that, Alexis closed her eyes and drifted off into her first night of peaceful sleep in a long time.
.
Easter Break came and went as was the remaining days of the school year. The Third Task was drawing closer each day as were exams and O.W.L.s as well as Alexis's first N.E.W.T. She had taken to studying mostly with Viktor in the library but on the few occasions when Viktor couldn't join her Alexis would study inside Moody's office, which had more or less become a second Common Room to the fourth year. It was during one of these particular study sessions when something very strange happened.
Moody had only just left his office to talk with Professor Flitwick when the silver chest gave its usual shudder only this time far more violently, so violent in fact, that it rocked backwards, slamming into the wall. The wall shook, causing several objects on its shelf to fall to the floor, some of them even shattering as they hit the ground.
"Shit," Alexis hissed, placing her quill down on top of her potions notes.
She stood up, casted a silent fixing charm, and moved to the cabinet to retrieve the broom when the chest gave one last shake, just as violent as the first, causing one last object to fall to the floor.
A strange looking bowl filled with a gas-like liquid, that somehow hadn't spilled when it fell much to Alexis's amazement, spun on the floor after its fall from the top shelf. If the bowl hadn't fallen, Alexis was sure she never would have noticed it either.
But despite all of this, Alexis, not wanting to break the trust she had built with Moody in the last few months, simply picked up the bowl and placed it down on the counter for Moody to put away properly on his own.
Or, at least, that was what Alexis had planned to do if she hadn't caught a glimpse of her own face in the bowl.
"What the?" she mumbled, stepping back towards the bowl with new found curiosity.
'Its a pensive, Hex,' McPherson explained. 'Alexis, don't-'
Alexis, having touched the liquid in the bowl, suddenly felt herself being pulled inside the bowl and falling to the bottom. It was freakishly similar to when Tom Riddle had pulled her inside of his diary only this time she wasn't inside Hogwarts.
Instead, Alexis found herself standing inside a small, dimly lit bedroom that's only form of furniture was a singles bed. Two people were inside the room besides her: the first, a beautiful, young woman she immediately recognized as her mother, who was seated on the edge of the bed, and the second, a tall, straw haired, young man with deep brown eyes, who was staring out the small window into the night's sky.
"Barty," Bellatrix said, her voice like nothing Alexis had expected. It was soothing, perhaps even caring, just as Alexis had always hoped but never imagined it would be. "Barty, please. If things go south-"
"Go south?" the man Bellatrix called Barty said with a laugh. "The Dark Lord is recruiting more and more wizards and witches to our side. The Ministry is running around like its a headless chicken and now, with whatever news Severus gave the Dark Lord, which seemed to please the Lord greatly, we're one step closer to winning this war. How could things possibly go south? At least, they can't for you, Mrs. Lestrange."
The man's voice was cold with a hint of anger at his last words but Bellatrix continued.
"Barty, I need to you to promise me you'll try and save yourself."
Barty whipped his head around so fast Alexis was surprised it didn't hurt him. He snorted in disbelief before frowning at her mother.
"Why would I ever do that?" he sneered. "The Master said if we are ever captured -"
"Barty please," begged Bellatrix. "We might need an outside man. What if-"
"Ask your husband then," Barty spit, his eyes never meeting Bellatrix's.
Alexis shifted awkwardly in the background, not sure what she was watching but she had a feeling it was someone else's memory.
"Well this is interesting."
Alexis nearly jumped out of her skin at the familiar sound of McPherson's voice who was standing right next to her.
"Tom!" she said before trying to hug her only to fall through him. "Right, memories. Can't touch."
"Actually," McPherson said, turning towards Alexis as if he could see her. "I'm only here because you are. Same with ginger over there."
He pointed over to Alexis's left were none other than Ron Weasley stood in his classic maroon, Weasley Christmas sweater.
"How are we even here?" Ron asked, too confused to acknowledge his friend.
"Oh," said McPherson, "well-"
But McPherson stopped suddenly when memory Bellatrix spoke.
"The Dark Lord approves of this," Bellatrix said finally. "He told me to tell-"
"So you merely came because you were order to do so," Barty stated more than asked. He scoffed.
"I wanted to Barty," Bellatrix said but Barty didn't seem to believe her. "Barty please. I don't want to lose you."
"You lost me the moment you married," Barty spat.
Alexis's mouth fell open.
"Is this the guy my mother almost-"
"Yes," said McPherson. "Bartemius Crouch Junior. But why does Al have his memory?"
Before Alexis could attempt an answer, Bellatrix spoke.
"You know it wasn't by choice," she whispered. "The marriage contract-"
"Don't give me that, dearie," Barty hissed but he didn't see angry at Bellatrix anymore. "We could have married anyway. We could have had a family."
Bellatrix shook her head, laughing lightly.
"Always about kids with you," she teased. "Rodolphus wants to wait but- ... I'm sorry. Barty, I'm so sorry."
There were tears in her mother's eyes that seemed to draw Barty to her. He took her in his arms held her close, running his hands through her hair in a gesture Alexis knew she had seen before.
"I hate it when you cry, Bells," he whispered. "Please, stop."
Bellatrix looked up at Barty.
"Only if you promise."
There was a pause were Barty looked unsure before he finally spoke.
"I promise. Anything for you, Bells, anything."
Alexis was surprised by the heated kiss shared between the two before she was forcibly pulled through to the next memory. She, along with McPherson and Ron, were in a carriage of some sort as well as three other men. The first she immediately recognized as Barty while the other two were clearly brothers, with their similar emerald colored eyes and dark features blending with the pale skin. The youngest was resting his head against a bar in the carriage looking in a great deal of pain while the oldest, who had finally turned away from caring for his brother, looked Barty dead in the eyes.
"Don't forget what you have to do," he growled, his full black beard giving him a fierce look.
"He won't believe it," Barty muttered as the oldest returned his attention to his brother.
Not even bothering to look up from his work, the bearded man said, "Maybe not. But the old man loves his wife and your are her only son. Her tears are all it will take and then you know what you have to do."
Barty merely nodded his head before the memory changed once more. Alexis found herself standing beside four kneeling figures, each heavily chained. She recognized the four instantly. The first was Barty, followed by the two brothers and then her mother. In front of them stood a grand jury and a very familiar judge.
"Father, I didn't!" Barty shrieked in a panic. If it wasn't for the fact Alexis had heard the scheme she would have thought it was in true terror. "I didn't, I swear it. Father, don't send me back to the Dementors-"
"You are further accused," bellowed none other than a younger Mr. Crouch over his son's voice, "of using the Cruciatus Curse on Frank Longbottom's wife, when he would not give you information."
"Is this," Alexis began to ask but McPherson nodded before she could finish her question.
"This is your mother's trail," he said grimly.
"Mother!" Barty screamed, his call focused at a green eyed, little witch beside Mr. Crouch. The witch was shaking as she sobbed mercilessly. "Mother, stop him. Mother, I didn't do it, it wasn't me!"
"I know ask the jury," shouted Mr. Crouch to Alexis's disgust, "to raise their hands if they believe, as I do, that these crimes deserve a life sentence in Azkaban!"
Every hand in the room rose but before Alexis could make out Barty's next cries she was pulled into another memory. This time, it was one of only Barty, his young facial features no longer as young and his eyes cloudy as if he was in a trance. Alexis recognized the look from when Moody had casted the Imperius Curse on her classmates. To her great surprise, however, Alexis found herself not inside Azkaban but in a tent similar to the one Amos Diggory had for the World Cup only grander.
The tent flap swung open revealing Mr. Crouch at his current age with a sour expression.
"He's supposed to be covered up at all times," he growled, looking at his house elf Winky threateningly. "Hurry up and take him to the top box. I have work to do."
Alexis caught a brief glimpse of clarity in Barty's eyes before the vision changed once more. It was just starting to clear up when-
"Now-now dearie," said Moody's voice as a hand grabbed her shoulder. Alexis didn't even have enough time to scream before she was pulled out of the the pensive. "What have I told you about curiosity?"
Alexis gulped. There was a look in her legal guardian's eye she had never seen before. It was terrifying.
"The chest," Alexis began.
"Oh, you were in the chest too?" Moody said in a false amused voice. He took a step towards Alexis who instinctively took a step back.
"What? No," Alexis said quickly. She began to ramble. "It shook really bad and hit the wall and things fell and I was cleaning it up when it shook again and this bowl fell and I picked it up and put it on the counter for you to put away when you returned but-"
"You got curious?" Moody all but sneered at her. "You thought you might just take a peak?"
"Al, what's gotten into you-"
"Don't call me that, dearie," Moody said with an actual sinister chuckle. "You know that's not my name."
Alexis was trying to slow her beating heart but it was becoming a difficult task. McPherson was yelling at her to get out while Ron was reenforcing her late guardian's demands. Alexis wanted nothing more but to do just that but couldn't. Moody had her pinned in the corner where the silver chest sat.
"Please, Al," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to. I wasn't trying to peak I just fell in. Please. I-"
Moody silenced her by placing a hand over her mouth.
"Shh," he said calmly. "I'm not mad at you, dearie."
Suddenly the term dearie connect all the clues Alexis had just witnessed. Her savior, the man she was talking to, the memories, they were really-
"Barty," Alexis all but breathed. Moody, or rather, the face of Moody grinned.
"Very good, my little bell," he said in a frightening tone. "You really are as smart as your mother."
"Barty, please," Alexis said. "Let me go."
Barty-Moody cackled softly before pulling Alexis towards him in an unexpected hug. It was not as comforting as it once had been, in fact, it felt a great deal like the last time she was forced to hug Tom Riddle's memory. It worried her beyond belief.
"Now-now, child," he said his voice changing slightly as his body shook. "Don't worry. You want remember a thing."
As the man in front of her began to shift back to his normal form, Alexis watched as the man took a sip from his flask and returned to looking fully like Moody. He raised his wand towards Alexis and smiled widely.
"Think of it as relearning a secret, dearie. Obliverate!"
Alexis woke up with a start as the silver chest in Moody's office shook violently for the umpteenth time.
"Had a nice nap?" Moody snorted from his desk.
Alexis rolled her eyes at him.
"Shut up, Al," she mumbled before falling back asleep.
.
Poor Harry! He finally did what he's been trying to do for so long and Alexis still took it wrong! What is it going to take?
Now, Alery aside, the big focus on this chapter is background history (and Alexis's flaw) I'm hoping, if I ever get it finished that is, that this chapter has inspired ProBartys everywhere that at least one person is sure who Alexis's father is and make them eager to read his oneshot. Whether he's right or wrong, however, is a different story which I have three more books to explain. I really enjoyed writing Barty scenes though. I never believed he was innocent, I mean obviously he's a good actor seeing that he pretended to be Moody for a full school year (both this story and canon) it wouldn't be too hard for him to fake being innocent.
Sorry the chapter was short but I had to stop it there or else it would be too long.
Review Responses:
tikitay13: A little more than close but now she's back where she was. Grr, darn you Tennant! As for you question, probably not. She'd probably think it was the next female she saw Harry bonding with
Nightshade: And I love it when people catch the references so thank you!
OliviaIE: Errr, SPOILER so I can't answer sorry
LilyiLovexxxxx: This soon enough?
jessica02: Spelling man, spelling! What's worse is their both forms of latin words one meaning torture while the other pertains to spices.
NeverBeyondRedemption: (make sure to sing this teasingly like a gay man or Woody from Suite Life on Deck) somebody doesn't like Rita Skeeter
mwinter1: First off, wow, a review longer than awaiting more! What's going on? Secondly, as I said earlier and at the top of this chapter, Alexis doesn't want to see it so she doesn't but McPherson is trying to get her to understand something weird is going on not hinder her from figuring it out.
trakster24: I understand the busy schedule! And I'm glad you see all these 'clues' leading to Barty being Alexis's father. I will try my hardest to shake you faith in them whether Barty is or isn't the father ;D. Now for what Rita Skeeter saw. I'll give you a hint, it starts with SPOILER. I love you comment about Voldemort. It made me giggle and so did your comment about Remus (though the later was less controlled ;) ) As for Remus and Sirius's reaction to Krum: well, maybe not the Burrow seeing that Sirius moved out but the two will be meeting him soon. And I do mean both of them meeting him ;) As always, thanks for the review and please review again!
gossamermouse101: That was a really deep thought about "Moody" which I'm happy to hear. I really like writing his character in a different view point but I hope chapter didn't destroy it for you. There's a lot going on with him that I have yet to show (not sure if that's a spoiler or not but ooh well) As for Alery, err, we have some work to do.
Hero's Twin Blades: I really don't know how to fix your reviewing problem other than to make sure your signed in first. Other then that, the stereotypes are why I don't publicize my state. And finally, your comment on Barty is very point on but you can guess how
aandm20: ... Jk jk, that would be a SPOILER if she was though and how would that even work? McPherson: Well- Shut up Tom. No for real, I can't say yes or no but I can try to confuse you into thinking one or the other can't I? Just don't be disappointed as the series progresses ;)
InLuvWithCandy: Awesome! Mind explosions! *pulls out umbrella* thank you!
IciclefangAJ: Me too to both of the two. (Yes, I wrote that sentence merely so I could use all the forms of 2 in it)
Again, thanks for the reviews! I hope we liked the chapter! Please tell me your thoughts, concerns or questions in you REVIEWS!
DCF