The Alexander Chronicles Year 6: The Darkness Falls

Chapter 12: The Christmas attacks

Alex covered Bianca as an explosion made a hole in the Burrow. "Cyrina, it is them. Take Bianca and go. I hold them off." Sirius said as he drew wand and ran out to defend the house. Victor Greengrasss, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George followed.

Alex could hear the fighting outside. It sounded like there was a big number of Death Eaters. "We got to help." Harry said drawing his wand as well. Before Alex knew it Ron and Tracey was ready as well. They ran out ignoring Molly Weasley cries for them to stay. Alex took a quick look at Daphne, Cyrina who was holding Bianca, and Selene. They all looked scarred. "I am sorry." He said before he ran out to help.

Alex immediately went to join his father who was duelling Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband. He could see Harry nearby duelling Gibbon, but Harry seemed to be doing well. So Alex decided to help his father even the odds. "Ah the baby Black." Bellatrix said as she saw Alex. "Come and join the fun."

"You shouldn't be here." Sirius said as he blocked a curse from Rodolphus.

"I leave when the backup gets here. I am not losing you too." Father and son moved in synch. However so did the Lestrange couple. Alex sent two curses in a row against Bellatrix but she blocked them.

"Ha ha," the witch screamed. "The baby Black can fight."

"Fulgur" Alex hit Bellatrix with the lightning curse, but he was forced to end it so he could block an attack from form Rodolphus.

Bellatrix gave another laugh as she sent curse towards Sirius. "Oh cousin you should be proud that son of yours. He is a beast."

"Shut up." Sirius hissed.

"What? Afraid that he ends up like poor Reggie? Don´t worry your brother was a weakling."

Sirius growled and began sending more harmful cruses at the witch. However, Bellatrix deflected them with ease. Alex was focusing on Rodolphus who was as good as his wife. He and Alex continued to trade cruses, both trying to get past the other´s defence. It was then Alex saw his chance as he kicked a lose rock in Rodolphus´ face and as the male Lestrange was distracted Alex stunned him.

"You will pay for that!" Bellatrix screamed.

"Surrender Bella." Sirius said.

"You have to kill me!" Bellatrix said as she send the killing curse at Sirius, making Alex conjure a rock wall to take the blast.

Now it was two against one, but Alex had mistaken earlier Bellatrix was better than her husband was. Still Alex and Sirius was good, and Bellatrix had to focus on her defence.

"Now. I wish I could kill you baby Black." Bellatrix said she jumped back while sending a cutting curse at Sirius. "But my lord have promised that to someone else."

"Who?" Sirius hissed.

"That would be me." Silan said as he suddenly stepped up next to Bellatrix. "Hallo Xander." Without warning Silan sent a powerful, spell at Alex that sent flying. Sirius couldn´t help, as he was busy fighting his own cousin.

"Come on Xander get up. Get up and fight."

Alex growled and set a cutting curse at Silan and then got his feet. Alex was glad that he had trained with Mad-Eye. Silan had gotten better, a lot better. Alex knew that he couldn´t lose focus for second. The two cousins was about evenly matched. Alex used a lot of different curses and spells. Some hit Silan, but he blocked most.

Silan laughed, "Oh Xander this is it. The grand duel."

"You talk too much." Alex panted as he sent a plasma blot curse at him.

"Come don´t you want talk." Silan said in a mocking voice. "You are gonna die soon."

Alex didn´t respond. Silan had gotten stronger and his magic felt unnatural. Worse Alex could tell that there was a hidden power. Silan continued to send curse and Alex continued to block them, and attack back. Then a second Death Eater appeared. It was Corvidae. The duel got a lot harder, and Alex quickly began to feel tried. The pair quickly got the advantage over Alex. He narrowly avoid a cutting curse from Silan, but Corvidae´s Depulso hit. Alex groaned as he hit the ground and screamed as Corvidae cast the draining curse at him. Alex screamed as he was engulfed by the red lightening. Corvidae held the curse as Alex twitched at the ground.

"Silan you can kill him now, and don´t play with your food." Corvidae said having tortured Alex for a minute.

Alex watched helplessly as Silan pointed his wand at him. The tip of his wand glowed green. Silan smiled, but Alex refused to close his eyes. He wasn´t going down without a fight. "Avada -"

Just was Silan was about the cast the deadly curse he was sent flying. Alex weakly looked at his side and saw Daphne. She was flanked by her father, Tracey, Mad-Eye, Sirius and Harry. "Get your hands of my boyfriend." She hissed and gave Silan and Corvidae a furious look.

Corvidae sneered. "I have heard of you."

"I can say the same." Daphne replied in icy cold voice. "As I said get away from him!"

Corvidae sneered as more aurors arrived. They were a small team, she could fight and she knew she could kill her blasted nephew and a lot of the pathetic orders members and aurors. Yet the risk of capture was too great as her fellow Death Eaters had fled. "Silan we are leaving. We can call this a draw."

"Your boyfriend are as good as good harlot." Silan sneered as he and Corvidae apparated away.

…

It had been pretty bad attack. The Burrow hadn´t been completely destroyed, so luckily it could be rebuilt. However, that was one of the very few good news. Two of the aurors that had come as reinforcements had been killed, one of them had been the Head Auror. To make matters worse all of the Death Eaters had escaped.

That attack had been one of several. The Death Eaters had attacked Hogsmeade, and a town near Slytherin old castle. There had been serval casualties. People was now even more afraid.

"This is getting out of hand." Rufus Scrimgeour said. "We are helpless. You have to step up Black."

Sirius didn´t say anything, but just looked at the Minister with an angry expression.

"Minister with respect. We are still dealing with the mess that Fudge left behind." Pius Thicknesse said. "We need more aurors and Hit-Wizards for this. We are out numbered and as much as I hate to say it then we are out classed."

"Then what do you suggest." Scrimgeour said.

"We need allies for this." Thicknesse said. "I have contacts in MACUSA. We should ask for help."

"What does you say Black."

"I agree that we need help." Sirius said. "We have some retried aurors that left because of Fudge. We need them back. Then we have the new recruits we need to get them ready."

"And what of Pius´ suggestion about asking the Americans?"

"Do you trust the Americans?"

Thicknesse nodded. "As much as I trust our aurors. We need them, but I can´t ensure that they won´t be moles."

Scrimgeour growled. "I would hate that we need to call for the Americans. We will be the laughing stock in the whole wizarding community."

"With respect sir." Sirius said. "We be the laughing stock if we don´t act."

Scrimgeour growled but nodded. "Right. Thicknesse take contact. And Head Auror Black get your men ready."

"Sir."

"You head me Black." Scrimgeour said. "You have some experience, and your family name doesn´t hurt with our chances at those who haven´t taken a side in this blasted war."

Sirius nodded. He was pleased with the promotion. It was a chance to protect his family.

…

Late in the afternoon, a few days after New Year, Alex Harry, and Selene lined up beside the kitchen fire to return to Hogwarts. The Ministry had arranged this one-off connection to the Floo Network to return students quickly and safely to the school. It seemed that either Sirius or the Minister wouldn´t take any chances with Harry´s safety. Sirius had been even more away since his promotion so there was only Cyrina and Bianca. Bianca was very upset that Alex was leaving and was crying a lot. Luckily, none had been seriously hurt at the Death Eater attack and Bianca had only gotten a bit scarred as Cyrina and Daphne´s mother had been quick to get her and the younger kids away. Truthfully, Alex assumed that it had been worse for them.

"Hey don´t cry Bianca." Alex said in a soft tone. "I just have to go to school for a bit." Bianca giggled and grabbed Alex´s finger making to older boy smile, "I will miss you sis." Alex kissed Bianca´s forehead, before hugging his mum. "I going to miss you as well mum."

"Take of yourself okay." Cyrina said giving him a very tight hug . Cyrina then went to hug Selene and Harry, "that goes for you two as well. Take care of yourself and take care of each other okay."

The three teens nodded, "yes aunt Cyrina." Selene smiled. "I keep an eye on the two boys."

"Yeah don´t worry we will be careful." Harry agreed.

Cyrina smiled and cheeked her watch. "Good you better hurry up. Professor McGonagall is expecting you any minute now. Harry nodded and stepped into the fireplace first. Alex watched as he yelled, "Hogwarts" and disappeared in green flames. Selene followed seconds after.

"Right so take care okay mum. I love you."

"I love you too, and don´t worry okay. We have added even more protection now."

Alex nodded as he grabbed some floo powder and walked over to the fireplace. As he dropped the powder, he yelled "Hogwarts" and disappeared in green flames.

He had one last fleeting view of his mother and Bianca before the flames engulfed him; spinning very fast, he caught blurred glimpses of other Wizarding rooms, which were whipped out of sight before he could get a proper look; then he was slowing down, finally stopping squarely in the fireplace in Professor McGonagall's office. She barely glanced up from her work as walked out from the fireplace. "Evening, Black. Try not to get too much ash on the carpet."

The three of them trooped out of McGonagall's office, Selene said her goodbyes and headed towards the Ravenclaw common room and Alex and Harry walked towards Gryffindor Tower. Alex glanced out of the corridor windows as they passed; the sun was already sinking over grounds carpeted in deeper snow. In the distance, he could see Hagrid feeding Buckbeak in front of his cabin. Sirius had decided that the hippogriff would be much happier at the Hogwarts grounds and with the half giant.

"Baubles," said Alex confidently, when they reached the Fat Lady, who was looking rather paler than usual.

"No," she said.

"What d'you mean, 'no'?" Harry said.

"There is a new password," she said.

"But we've been away, how're we supposed to — ?"

"Harry! Alex!" Hermione was hurrying toward them, very pink-faced and wearing a cloak, hat, and gloves. "I am so glad you are okay." She said giving them both a hug. "I was so worried when I heard about the attack on the Burrow. How are the Weasleys?"

"They are okay." Harry said. "Daphne´s father knew a guy that was good at magically repairing houses, so the Burrow is as good as before."

"Great I've got something for you, Harry;" said Hermione. "Oh, hang on — password. Abstinence."

"Precisely," said the Fat Lady in a feeble voice, and swung forward to reveal the portrait hole.

"What's up with her?" Alex asked.

"Overindulged over Christmas, apparently," said Hermione, rolling her eyes as she led the way into the packed common room. "She and her friend Violet drank their way through all the wine in that picture of drunk monks down by the Charms corridor. Anyway . . ." She rummaged in her pocket for a moment, then pulled out a scroll of parchment and handed it to Harry.

"Great," said Harry after having read the note. "It is another lesson with Dumbledore." Alex still found it a bit weird that Harry only were leaning about Voldemort´s family and past, why wasn´t it magic and duelling? Alex had already leaned loads from Mad-Eye, and he had really grown to like to old ex-auror. He sort of looked forward to the lesson the following night.

After having dumbed their stuff in their dormitory the three Gryffindor went to the Great Hall to meet up with the rest of the gang. Alex noticed that serval students kept looking around each hoping that it hadn´t been one of their friends that had been killed in the Christmas attacks as the Daily Prophet had dubbed them.

"I am really sorry about your home Ron." Alex heard Tracey say, He could see that she was taking to Ron. The Weasley boy smiled a bit as Tracey softly laid her hand on his arm. "I am just relived that no one was hurt."
"Well uh the house is pretty much rebuilt, but uh my mum is pretty shocked." Ron and smiled as he noticed Alex and the others "Hey guys - how-"

However, at that moment there was a loud squeal of "Won-Won!" and Lavender Brown came hurtling out of nowhere and flung herself into Ron's arms. Several onlookers sniggered. Tracey´s expression changed at an instant. "Sorry I got to go vomit."

"Trace wait." Alex said following her out of the Great Hall.

"I am not in the mood Alex." She said. "P-please go." Alex could hear that she was at the breaking point of crying.

"I am sorry that you had to see that, but look it is just a thing."

"It is not just that." Tracey whispered. She turned and Alex could see that the tears was streaming down her cheeks. "I keep feeling like I am cheating on him."

Alex silently grabbed her hand and let her to a more private place. "Blaise would want you to be happy."

Tracey snorted, "Yeah right how would you feel if it had been Daphne?"

"Like you," Alex said truthfully. "And you would have said that she would want me to happy." Alex signed. "Look I know it is hard, but I also know that Blaise would want you to be happy."

Tracey nodded, but signed. "It doesn´t matter anyway. Ronald clearly has eyes for another girl."

Alex snorted. "Uh please that won´t last. It is clear that Brown isn´t Ron´s type. He is just a confused fool. They will break up pretty soon."

That seemed to calm Tracey down a bit. "Do you really think so?"

"Yeah come on Trace it is clear that he likes you."

….

The mood at Hogwarts was strange and even more students hadn´t returned. The start of the term had one pleasant surprise for the sixth years: a large sign had been pinned to the common room notice boards overnight.

APPARITION LESSONS

If you are seventeen years of age, or will turn seventeen on or before the 31st August next, you are eligible for a twelve-week course of Apparition Lessons from a Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor. Please sign below if you would like to participate. Cost: 12 Galleons.

Alex smiled to himself. He had looked forward to lean to appart for a while now. Not that he was that sure if it would be his preferred transportation, but it would be a useful skill.

Alex, Harry, and Ron joined the crowd that was jostling around the notice and taking it in turns to write their names at the bottom. Ron was just taking out his quill to sign after Hermione when Lavender crept up behind him, slipped her hands over his eyes, and trilled; "Guess who, Won-Won" Alex signed and hurried out of the common room. The two of them was just too much, but at least Tracey couldn´t see them this time.

Alex quickly ran into Jack Bennett. The normally outgoing and happy Gryffindor´s eyes was red and it was clear that he had cried.

"Jack what is wrong?"

The second year Gryffindor jumped in surprise. "A-Alex! I didn´t see you."

"You mind was clearly on somewhere else." Alex studied the younger boy something had definitely happen. "Are you okay?"

Jack defensively dried his eyes. "I don´t have it worse than anyone else. I mean Web and Sam both lost family members in the Christmas attacks." Alex didn´t respond, he just continued to look at the second year. Jack´s eyes flickered and began tearing up. "I it´s my d-dad. He w-was shot."

"Uh" Alex knew that the boy had lost his mother a while back, and he had seen how close he was with his father.

"He was shot while on duty." Jack added. "There was that bank robber. My dad was about to arrest him, and he got shot."

"Is he?"

Jack shocked his head. "He is at the hospital.

"Didn´t Dumbledore and McGonagall offered you to stay? I mean I am sure they would allow you to stay with the rest of your family."

Jack looked at his feet. "I like it better here."

Alex didn´t miss there was something in Jack´s voice. "You know you can trust me right?"

Jack signed. "What can you do?"

"Where did you live during your holiday"
"My grandparents." Jack said. "They are fine, but they are super worried about dad and uh well they are-"

"They are what?" Alex asked looking at the younger boy.

"They are really strict and uh magic isn´t." Jack paused.

"Did they hurt you?"

"They uh." Jack paused and rubbed his arm. "They didn´t."

"Show me your arm!"

"What why?"

"Just do it." Alex said.

Jack closed his eyes and lifted his sleeves there was definitely grab marks.

"My dad told them about my uh talent last Christmas. They said it was unnatural and stormed out. I hadn´t heard from them since, and then the social services just dropped me off."

"Jack I promise that we will figure this out. We find a place for you and your dad to stay."

Jack smiled, "y-you t-think dad will make it."

"I think he will." Alex said hoping he was right, but there was no way he would abandon Jack to some magic hating muggles. He was sure his parents would agree. His mother hated child abuse with passion.

…

Alex hadn´t really expected Mad-Eye Moody to go soft on him. Mad-Eye would often used dirty tricks, since a Death Eater would do the same. The attack one the Burrow had proved that, therefor Alex wasn´t surprised that Mad-Eye had increased the training. This time the duel was very hard as Mad-Eye had allied with Tonks and some guy named Diego Caplan. It was pretty hard and Alex was quickly forced into a corner.

"How am I supposed to defend from that?" Alex panted from the ground.

"You think the Death Eaters play fair." Mad-Eye said, not that Alex had expected anything else. "They will team up on you, and it might be their best duellers that those so. You think Ambrosius and his mother was hard then imagine if Bellatrix Lestrange was with them."

"You did decent," Caplan said.

"Yet decent is not enough." Mad-Eye said. "Get back up and try again, and this remember what I have taught you. Remove the enemy´s advantages."

Alex nodded. He had to divide them somehow, not that it was easy. The three aurors was well coordinated and a good team. "Right," Alex said and drew his wand.

This time Alex did a little better and he actually manged knock Caplan into a bookshelf so he only had to deal with two. He then began isolating Tonks and to his surprise he manged to stun Tonks. Caplan had gotten back on his feet and re-joined the duel. It was pretty had, but Alex could see that Mad-Eye and Caplan was getting tried as well. Alex took a second to calm himself before he jumped back in the duel. The three wizards continued to trade spells, until Alex manged to send one of Mad-Eye spells into Caplan, making knocking the wizard unconscious.

"Let us call for timeout Black."
Alex nodded, "right." He said dropping to the ground in exhaustion.

"You really pack a mean punch cousin." Tonks said as she had recovered from Alex´s spell.

"Yes, you did okay Black." Mad-Eye said. "Still you need do get better if you want to take on the top Death Eaters."

"Don´t expect Mad-Eye to give you that many compliments Alex." Tonks said. "You are brilliant, and you could easily give some of the auror departments best a run for their money."

"Which is sad I suppose." Caplan said. "Still I agree. You have potential Black."

Alex grinned, Dora was on of Mad-Eye best students, and Diego Caplan was respected auror in MACUSA so it was nice to hear praise coming from them.

….

Alex was still unsure about Harry´s lessons with Dumbledore though. They was still about Voldemort´s past. This time Dumbledore had showed Harry a memory of Voldemort faming his uncle for murdering the Riddle family. It didn´t really add anything new, other confirming Alex´s belief that their justice system had been flawed even then. While Harry didn´t give, much details on where it had happened then Alex knew it was the small house that Alex had believed to be a garden shed. Alex also knew that the ring Harry had talked about was the resurrection stone. He also knew that Dumbledore had destroyed it, which was good, because Alex had never felt something that evil before.

Then there was the memory with Slughorn. Harry had told Alex, Hermione and Ron that it had been changed by the old potions professor. Harry had been tasked by getting the reel one from him. It was important because Voldemort had asked for something called a Hurcrux. However Slughorn had changed his answer meaning he properly had told Voldemort a lot more than he should have.

"It should be easy, He loves you. Ron said. "Won't refuse you anything, will he? Not his little Potions Prince. Just hang back after class this afternoon and ask him."

Hermione, however, took a gloomier view. "He must be determined to hide what really happened if Dumbledore couldn't get it out of him," she said in a low voice, as they stood in the deserted, snowy courtyard at break.

"I have heard what word before." Alex said as began walking around. "Horcrux. I have heard it somewhere. But I can´t remember what it means."

"You don´t know." Harry asked. "I just figured that you of all people would- " Harry paused as he properly realised how it sounded. "Sorry I didn´t mean it like that, but you know the dark."

"It is fine Harry." Alex said, as did his best to remember where he had heard about a Horcrux before. "I know that is properly dark magic. Very dark, but I can´t remember what it purpose is."

Alex wished that he had easier access to Slytherin´s portrait as he properly would have an idea. Maybe he could also go through his journals to see if had written something or maybe there was a clue in the library. It would of course take a lot of time to go through all the books as Alex didn´t have the faintest idea what a Hurcrux could do. Dumbledore had also told Harry that they couldn´t use owls or any means of magic commutation meaning that they would have to wait to ask Sirius.

He had to try search the chamber. It would had been easy if Slytherin hadn´t wanded the place with anti-summering charms.

….

Chapter end