Chapter 2

Back to Hogwarts

10 yrs after the events of Halloween 1980

"Alex! Come on! You're gonna be late!" Remus shouted up the stairs of the small cottage he and Alex called home. It was 10:15am on September 1st, the day that students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry caught the Hogwarts express at Kings Cross Station to take them to school.

"Coming! Just give me a sec!" Alex shouted back, putting the last of her belongings in her trunk, including a brand new Nimbus 2000 broom. Alex, now entering her 5th year of studies, was a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, the best sport in the world, as far as she was concerned. Along with the other two chasers, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson, they were a force to be reckoned with, now if only they could win the Quidditch Cup from those nasty Slytherins.

"Alex! I'm not kidding! We have to go now!" Remus shouted, dragging Alex from her thoughts as she put her broom in her trunk and dragged it out of the room. "I'm gonna need some help if you want me to be able to bring this downstairs on my own Remmy," she said, looking down the stairs at Remus. He quickly placed a weightless charm on it and she grabbed it and ran out the door. "Come on Rem! I thought you said that we were gonna be late if we didn't leave RIGHT now?" she teased, putting her wand arm out and waving.

With a BANG! A big purple bus appeared and a young man, no more than 16 years old opened the door. "Welcome to the Knight bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this morning." "Yeah, yeah, we heard this all last year Stan, we need to get to King's Cross Station as fast as possible," Alex said, as she and Remus boarded the bus. "Alright, that'll be eleven sickels each please, but for firteen you get 'ot chocolate and for - " "That'll be alright, Mr. Shunpike, we're just fine, thanks," Remus said, paying the man, and moving to a back compartment. "Blimey, aren't you - " he started saying, looking at Alex. "Katie Bell, nice to see you again, Stan," Alex replied quickly, shaking her head slightly to move her hair over her scar. "Right then, I'm sure you have lots of work to do, so we'll be at the back, let us know when we get there, please," Remus said, getting annoyed.

As they reached the back of the bus, they each took a seat, and held on as the bus gave a lurch as it moved to it's next destination. "So you excited about going back, Alex?" Remus asked. "Well, yeah, but at the same time I'm nervous," she answered quietly, staring out the window. "How so?" he asked, looking at her. "Well, there's OWLs this year, of course. And Quidditch, you know we really want to win the Cup this year, but we have to find and train up a new seeker, so we might have a problem there. And, well, you know," she said, drifting off at the end. "Harry?" Remus asked quietly. "Yeah, he's starting his first year this year. I haven't seen him in 10 years, Remus! What am I going to say? How do I even talk to him? I don't know what to do!" she exclaimed, her nervousness becoming more and more apparent. "I'm not going to tell you what to do, Alex. He's your brother, and I think you should follow your instincts. Just take it slow. Take the time to get to know him again, but give him room to breathe, but above all, just trust your instincts, they'll guide you," he said comfortingly, reaching over and taking Alex into a reassuring hug. "Everything will work out, you'll see," he said, pushing her back and looking into her eyes. "Thanks Remus," she said gratefully, moving to wipe her eyes and gather her belongings. "King's Cross Station, coming up!" Stan shouted to the bus passengers. As the bus lurched to a stop, Remus and Alex grabbed her things and moved to disembark.

They walked to the barrier between platforms, and leaned casually against it, Remus looking at his watch and then they were through. "Alex!" a voice shouted over the noise of the barrier. "Oliver!" she shouted in recognition, running over to meet a burly, brown-hair boy. "It's so good to see you! How was your summer? You have to tell me everything!" she said excitedly, as she gave him a hug. "You ready? I've already got us a compartment, here, I'll take your trunk. I think Remus wants a word," he said, taking her trunk. He nodded to Remus, and made his way onto the train. Alex turned to Remus. "Take care of yourself this year. Don't get into too much trouble this year, please? I think I've had enough owls from McGonagall to last me awhile," he said. "Me? Get into trouble, whatever are you talking about kind sir?" she said, putting on her most innocent face. Fighting to not laugh, Remus said, "Seriously, though. Have a good year, and remember what I said earlier, ok? Owl me if you need anything." "Of course Remus! Don't worry so much about me. Take care of yourself, promise me?" she said, looking at him right in the eyes. He sighed, and nodded. Giving Alex a quick hug before she went off to get on the train, he chuckled as he thought, 'so much like her parents.' He then apparated back home.

Alex got on the train and quickly found the compartment that she, Oliver, and a couple other 5th years were sharing. She had been made prefect that year, and would soon have to go up to the Prefect's compartment for the meeting, but planned on not staying there for the whole trip. Looking out her window, she spotted the unmistakable Weasley family. Spying the twin beaters, Fred and George, she poked Oliver, "Looks like our beaters already have plans for this year," she said, pointing at the twins waiting to board the train, whispering quietly to themselves, with identical grins on their face. Oliver laughed, "well at least you can't say our years at school with those two are boring!" She kept on looking, spotting fellow Gryffindor 5th year prefect, Percy Weasley. He was a little bit too much of a stickler to the rules for her taste, but he was a good guy nonetheless. She gasped, among the redheads, was a small boy, with unruly black hair and glasses that looked so much like the ones she had seen her father wear in all the pictures around home, and from the few memories she had of her parents. "What is it?" Oliver asked. She just pointed the boy out. Oliver's eyes widened. "Is it really? Are you sure?" he asked. "I think so, can't be sure though. He looks so much like my dad- " she said distractedly, still staring intently out the window as the boy boarded the train. She sat back in her seat, lost in her thoughts. Soon, the train was underway, and the familiar rocking of the train brought her back to the present. Currently, Oliver, Joan, and Will were engaged in an argument, about Quidditch of course. They were trying to decide which team would make the top 5 this season, and debating the merits of all the players and their team strategies. "Don't you think, Alex?" Joan asked. "What? Sorry guys, I wasn't paying attention," she smiled apologetically. "Well, that's obvious. You know there's a rumour going around that Harry Potter is on the train? Maybe we should go try and find him and introduce ourselves. After all, we are the Gryffindor elite," Will said with a laugh. Alex's eyes, just widened, both in shock and in anger. How could someone she had called a friend for the better part of the past 4 years, just say that right in front of her? They all knew how sensitive she was about being reminded of how she was. The-girl-who-lived. Was that the only reason they hung out with her at all? All her insecurities resurfaced, bringing back with them her anger at the unfairness of it all. "If you want to gawk at someone famous, then feel free, I'm sitting right here. Just leave him alone! He doesn't deserve to be gawked at just because of something we did when we were too young to know any better! You guys are just like everyone else! I thought you were different. That you like me for who I was, not for who everyone thinks I am!" she screamed, storming out of the compartment. Oliver looked at the other two. "Good going guys, you know better than that. Even if you were just joking, which you had better have been, you know how she feels about it. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go try and find her before she lets her temper get the better of her and does something she regrets."

Alex stormed down the train corridor, ignoring everyone in the other compartments as she made her way up to the front compartments where the prefects were meeting. Maybe there she could get some peace. Before she got there though, Oliver caught up to her and stopped her. "Alex, they didn't mean anything by it. You know how they are, they just don't think before they speak, or act, or do anything," he said with a smile. "I know that, it's just- ARGH! It will never stop will it?" she said, not as angry anymore. "Probably not, but you know I like you for who you are, right?" he asked nervously. "Of course!" she answered, giving him a wide smile. "I really should get up to the Prefect's compartment before Percy comes searching for me," she said, moving to go. "Wait a second, I have something to ask you. Umm. Will you. would you. umm" he started nervously. "What?" she asked. "willyougooutwithme?" he asked quickly. "What? I couldn't understand that, Oliver." "Will you go out with me?" he asked again, taking a deep breath. "Of course I will!" she yelled, giving him a huge hug. "Well then, umm. I guess I'll see you after your meeting then," he said. "Yes, I'll come back as soon as it's done," she answered, still with a wide smile on her face. He walked down the corridor, leaving her standing there. "Alex! Come on! You're going to miss the meeting if you don't move it!" Percy shouted, sticking his head out of the compartment door. "I'm coming!" she yelled back, running down the corridor and into the Prefect's compartment.

After the prefect's meeting, where new school rule's were addressed, duty was explained, and the schedule for prefect's patrol and prefect meetings were handed out, passwords chosen and distributed, Alex headed back to her compartment, feeling considerably light hearted and happy. Walking in, she looked at Joan and Will, "I'm sorry for how I acted guys. You were just having fun, and I overreacted," she said. "No no, we should be the one apologising. We were out of line, we should have thought before we spoke. You know how we are, open mouth, insert foot. That's no excuse, but we wanted to say we're sorry," Joan said, looking at Alex. "It's ok guys, it's just you know, he's my brother, who I don't even really know, and I don't even know if he remembers me, or even knows I exist, and it's a big mess," she said, looking down. "Don't worry Alex! It'll work out! We're Gryffindor's finest, no one can ignore us. We'll help you!" Will exclaimed, smiling wide. "No guys, I think I want to do this on my own, you know, quietly, but thanks guys. You're the best," she said giving them both a hug. Returning to her seat beside Oliver, she blushed fiercely as his hand brushed against hers. Looking at the two blushing Gryffindor's, Joan and Will suddenly jumped up from their seat on the opposite bench. "Are you?" "Did you?" "She said yes!" "Really?" "WOW!" they exclaimed, both at the same time, overlapping each other with each new exclamation. "Umm, yes, yes, yes, yes, and we know!" Oliver said, laughing at the other two's exuberance and taking Alex's hand. Alex just smiled, and taking a quick look out the window said, "we're almost there guys, we should get ready you know." "Yes ms. Perfect!" Joan and Will chimed together. "That's what you're going to be calling me all year? Well I think I can live with that, after all, I am perfect as everyone knows!" she said laughing. With that, the four laughing 15-year-olds donned their robes and put away the games and snacks they had taken out during the voyage and prepared to disembark.

The train pulled up to the station and slowed to a stop. As they disembarked, Hagrid, the large Hogwarts gamekeeper called out in a booming voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" Alex turned and tried to spot Harry, but no luck. As she and her friends made their way to the carriages, Alex spotted the Thestrals who pulled the carriages, that most of the other students were convinced were horseless carriages. Getting into the carriage, she quickly shut the door before Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain could come near and try and annoy them all as usual. As the carriages made their way up to the school, Alex sat quietly, trying to think of what she was going to do with regards to Harry.

Not having come any closer to a decision when they reached the school, they all got out and made their way into the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast. "Hope the Sorting is quick this year, I'm awful hungry," Will said, as they waited for the first years to arrive with Professor McGonagalll. "You're always hungry, Will!" Alex exclaimed, laughing at the reproached look on Will's face. With a loud bang, the Great Hall's doors opened, and Professor McGonagalll came in followed by all the new first years. All the older students craned their necks trying to get a good look at the new students. When they reached the front of the Hall, the first years stopped, many looking quite nervous and unsure of what they were to do. Professor McGonagalll went up and stopped to the side of a stool on which an old hat rested. The hall went quiet as the sorting hat began it's song:

Oh you may not think I'm pretty

But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat then me. You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all. There's nothing hidden in your head So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring nerve and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! Your're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

Alex clapped along with the rest of the students as the sorting hat finished it's song. Professor McGonagalll stepped forward with a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!" The sorting had begun. Alex sat back and tried to pay attention to the new first years. She clapped as Gryffindor received new students, and waited impatiently for Harry's name to be called. Oliver grabbed her twisting hands and held them still. "Relax," he whispered, "there's nothing you can do to speed it up. His name will be called soon enough." "Potter, Harry," McGonagall called. The hall went quiet as everyone strained to see the famous boy-who-lived. Alex remembered the same thing happening at her own sorting 5 years ago. The boy with the black hair and glasses that she had spotted with the Wesley's at King's Cross Station made his way up to the sorting hat. Everyone waited. Suddenly, the hat yelled: "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table exploded in applause. Fred and George began shouting, "We got Potter! We got Potter!" Harry made his way to the table and took his seat. Alex looked up to the High Table and Professor Dumbledore caught her eye and gave a small smile.

The rest of the sorting continued, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet and began his beginning of term speech. "Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He sat back down. Alex laughed and clapped and cheered along with everyone else. The tables had filled with food and pumpkin juice and Alex dove in, not realizing how hungry she had been. During the course of the meal, Alex stole glances down at where Harry was sitting, talking to Percy and what looked like the newest Weasley.

As the meal ended, the food disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet again. The hall went silent. "Ahem - just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest in the grounds in forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." The Weasley twins just sat there looking fake innocent. "I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." There was a few scattered laughs, but mostly, students looked around. Alex looked up at Dumbledore, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" Professor Dumbledore announced. Percy led the Gryffindor first years out of the hall, while Alex rose and with the other prefects told the Gryffindors the new password. Giving Percy enough time to finish his introduction to the Gryffindor common room to the first years, Alex and the rest of the older students made their way up to the tower. "Password?" the Fat Lady said. "Caput Draconis," replied Alex and the portrait swung forward and the Gryffindors went into the common room and up to their dormitories. "Good night Alex," Oliver said as he took her aside. "Good night, Oliver," she replied. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he ran off to catch up with Will. Joan came over and dragged Alex upstairs to the 5th year girls dormitory where they proceeded to chat until the other girls told them to go to bed as they had classes the next day.