Alexandra carefully picked up the rolled up bit of parchment. The ink had barely dried, and the parchment was fresh and crisp. Every so gently, she unrolled it, and began to ready.
Dursley,
Can't say I'm surprised you told them where I was. I knew you would know I was here. Right now thoughts might be circling your little head. Thoughts like why you and I could look at the Basilisk; why I said you and I were alike.
And you know what? I can tell you.
I can tell you all that you wanted to know and more.
I can tell you things that would curl your hair even more than it already is.
Things that will turn your entire world upside down.
And I'm your only way to find out.
Don't worry; I'm sure I'll be out of trouble with the Ministry soon enough, and back at Hogwarts by next term.
Remember, we're more alike than you think.
Alexandra read the letter over many times, each time her brain forming more and more questions. She was feeling so many things. Frightened, of course, but also intrigued, curious, and even amazed. But still, as she read that last line, she told herself firmly that it was a lie. She was in no way like Wretermoust.
She tucked the letter into her bag, and headed back down to the Gryffindor Common Room.
...
"And then Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron went down there," Fred was saying excitedly to Teddy. "And they saw it! Beast is still down there now!"
"You're full of it, Fred," Teddy said. "You expect me to believe that deep within Moaning Myrtle's bathroom is a secret chamber with a Basilisk?"
"Alexandra and Alanna saw it too, didn't you guys?"
"He's right," Alanna nodded. "But the Ministry of Magic is getting it out right now with roosters."
"Roosters?" Teddy repeated.
"The cry of a rooster is fatal to a Basilisk," Alanna explained.
"You saw all this too then, Alexandra?" Teddy questioned.
"Yes, he's telling the truth."
"Bloody hell, then," Teddy breathed. "A real live Basilisk in Hogwarts. Well, at least one good thing came out of this. That bloke Wretermoust is bound to be expelled."
"Here, here," Fred said happily. "I'm so glad I've seen the last of that git, aren't you, Alexandra?"
"Yes," Alexandra replied softly. "I am."
…..
"Glad to see you caught the boy," Kingsly said to Harry and Ron as they arrived back to the Ministry.
"I thought you were still at the school supervising the Basilisk's removal," said Ron.
"Just got back. We released the roosters and the beast was dead in no less than ten minutes. Hardest part was moving the body without making a big disturbance in the school."
"What do we do with this one, then?" Harry asked, pointing to Wretermoust.
"His mother just arrived and is waiting with Rondett and Clemmens in my office. Take him to Interrogation Room 10 and I'll have them escort her down."
Harry and Ron nodded, and led Wretermoust into the elevator and down to the interrogation rooms, where they were surprised to see Hermione waiting for them.
"What are you doing down here?" Ron asked.
"I managed to tweak the court schedules for today," she replied. "I moved the Masden hearing to tomorrow, so we're able to take him now in Court Room 6."
"Brilliant," Harry said. "You're a lifesaver, Hermione. Can we take him there now?"
"Once his mother arrives," she told him. "But Harry, I need to talk to you for a second."
"Sure. Ron, you've got him?"
"Yup."
"What's up?" Harry asked as him and Hermione stepped away from Ron and Wretermoust.
"I just thought you should know that Claridina has a half-brother who used to work here years ago."
"She does?"
"Yes. Maxwell Eppilep. He used to be very influential, even before Voldemort infiltrated the Ministry. He's retired now, but I have a feeling Claridina might have contacted him before she was brought in."
"Well it won't be a problem, will it?"
"I don't know, Harry. From what I heard in my department he was notorious for getting convicted witches and wizards who deserved to be sentenced off on technicalities."
"Can't we stop him from speaking?"
"No. The law says that Wretermoust is allowed to have defense if he so chooses, or in this case, his mother choses."
"Blimey, Hermione! What if he gets off?"
"Don't worry about that now," Hermione said quickly.
Harry ran his fingers through his hair, and silently turned and headed back to Ron and Wretermoust, who were now joined by Claridina, the two Aurrors who had escorted her down, and a tall, thin, graying gentleman who Harry had never seen before, but instantly knew was Eppilep.
"Are we ready to begin, Mr. Potter?" Claridina asked. "I would like to get this whole matter smoothed over as soon as possible."
Forging false calmness, Harry instructed the party to follow him and Ron and led them down a long corridor to Courtroom 6.
…
AN- Well, this portion of the story is winding down. There will be about 2-4 more chapters. However, there is A LOT more to come. I plan to have the sequel to this ready sometime around mid-June, so if you will be interested in reading it, you can either add me on author alert (but keep in mind I publish other stories for categories other than Harry Potter), or drop a review telling me to send you a PM when I publish it so you can find it. Or you could just search the new stories everyday, but that would get a little hard, and so many new HP stories are published each day. Well, anyway, thanks for the reviews guys, I love reading them! And sorry about all these cliffhangers, but you know…