Chp 5: Jexerelle
"Harry!" there was the sound of sixteen pairs of ruffled feet and Harry was swallowed into a massive hug by eight members. Finally being released and able to breathe properly, Harry gazed around at the somewhat cleaner house. Ginny, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were all staring back at him eagerly.
Once the dust had settled a little, Dumbledore stepped forward and formally introduced Josie and Leah to the rather unusual looking greeters. Slightly overwhelmed, Leah and Josie said hello and than excused themselves to their rooms; lead by Dumbledore.
The usual chatter picked up around the place that Harry suddenly realized was very cold, and Ron and Hermione whispered to Harry about some of the exciting stuff that they had overheard.
"They have decided on some big, massive move...but we can't figure out what the move is. And they're talking about plans with the ministry – which isn't being much help because they are so unorganized right now." The three friends walked upstairs unnoticed since the majority of people were busy preparing dinner.
"Do you know who those other two girls were? I mean it's not like they're old enough to be in the Order – so what are they doing here?" Ron mumbled as they passed Sirius' mother's portrait. Harry shivered slightly and had the sudden urge to be around Leah.
"Well, Josie – the one with dark brown hair – is Dumbledore's great niece or something, I don't know her at all. But Leah – the blond – is my cousin." And when Ron and Hermione both looked shocked at this, he tried to explain the bizarre situation as best he could. Since Harry's information lead to question's he couldn't answer, they decided to go and welcome the newcomers properly.
"Leah? It's Harry, is it all right if we come in?" Harry stood outside a door on the third floor and waited for an answer. Instead Leah just opened the door and stood aside.
"Ha! Five minutes, I win!" Leah walked over to Josie, who handed her a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans.
"What do you mean, you win? Win what?" Harry plopped onto Leah's bed and leaned against the wall, suddenly realizing how tired he was.
"Well, Uncle Albus gave us some background information on the three of you; you like to know everything that's going on. So Xyler and I made a bet: I said you'd wait until after dinner, and she said ten minutes top. Until you decided to come and interrogate us for information on the Order that we don't have." Josie sighed and leaned against her bedpost.
"Oh, well. . . wait, why did she call you Xyler? I thought your name was Leah?" Ron leaned coolly against the wall, trying to look relaxed and smooth.
"It's both. My name is Leah Charlie Xyler. Leah because it was my grandmothers – our grandmothers (she winked at Harry), Charlie after my dad, and Xyler because it's Billy's last name and I consider him family." Leah gave a sly smile and Ron felt a slight jolt in his stomach.
"So, what do you guys want to ask us?" Leah straddled the back of a chair and Hermione sat down beside Harry. There was an awkward silence, but once Leah and Josie assured them it was okay, questions came from random thinking.
"Is Canadian ministry exactly like England's? Do you have a Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department? Does someone named Krugen Kreddil work there, because I've heard my dad talking about him and I don't know who he is." Ron fired question after question to the new girls, who seemed to be expecting this.
"Yes, to all of those questions. Now our Ministry I'm sure is a little different than yours, but they run on the same code and creed – so they must run similarly. But I bet you don't have wizards trying to melt ice bergs or riding polar bears like we do!" Leah laughed and the atmosphere seemed to lift. After that the five talked for nearly two hours straight until they were called for supper.
For the next few days, the five plus Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were finishing off the house. They had cleaned most of it last year, and Sirius had been working on it through out the rest of the year, but some dark corners still needed detoxifying. Plus they were adding decorations and furniture that made the house seemed more, well, houselike.
Most of the time Harry was okay, but when a room triggered a memory of Sirius, emotions that Harry couldn't handle or face yet overwhelmed him and he had to leave. Ron and Hermione were quick to pick up on this fact, but since neither of them knew what to do, they let him alone to sort things out.
But once this happened for about the sixth time, they were trying to figure out how to talk to him. Debating what would be the right move, Leah came over and said that she had better handle this. After all, she knew what it was like to lose her entire family to Voldemort too.
Leah peered into the hallway, but Harry wasn't there. She looked around the rest of the level and still couldn't find him. Finally, she found him in the kitchen sipping on Butterbeer.
"Harry? Is it all right if I sit down?" Leah approached the table, but decided it best to get permission before intruding on Harry's solitude. He nodded and Leah sat down across from him.
"Look, I don't really know how you feel, and I don't know how to help you even though I've been in a similar situation. The only thing I do know is that your pain is deep and won't go away like you want it to. You're going to have to face this before it will start to heal, but I can promise you – that once you do do that, it will heal. The pain will never leave completely, it will always be there, but in time it will become less, then not so much, eventually bearable, and finally and ache that shows how much you loved Sirius. A testament to him and his memory – something that will never be forgotten . . . should never be forgotten." Leah reached across the table and held Harry's hand.
A warm touch started to spread to his arm and eventually his whole body. Memories of Sirius, good memories flooded his mind and he started to remember why he missed Sirius so much – because he was fun, and adventurous, a rare quality in your guardian.
"Remember those thoughts Harry, remember the reason you miss him is because you love him. There is no shame in that. Feel proud that you knew Sirius Black, even if no one else did." Leah got up and hugged Harry, he suddenly felt – well he couldn't figure out what he felt. He was no longer sad that Sirius was gone, but happy that he had lived. He saw images of Sirius at Christmas, and during the summer break, than he saw a great black dog in a train station. Leah let go and the memories faded. She stood up and smiled and with out a word left the room. She knew that Harry had to be alone to sort these things out and she knew how important it was to do that, because sadness after a while becomes hurt, hurt turns into despair, and despair only leads to evil.
"Amazing isn't it?" Harry jumped out of his seat. Lupin had snapped him out of a daze and it took Harry a minute to realize where he was.
"Sorry? What's amazing?" Lupin sat down across from Harry and got himself a butterbeer. Harry took the hint and sat down again, relaxing a little, unsure of how his muscles had become so tense.
"The feeling they leave you with. Incredible! Just a smile can make any day worth living, and a hug – well I think you know what I mean." Lupin took a swig of his drink and plunked it down on the table with a satisfied sigh.
"What feeling? Who are they? I have no idea what you mean!" Harry was completely lost on where his old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was leading him.
"You don't? Well, I thought that the three of you – or at least Ms. Granger – would have figured it out by now. Do you not see it?" Lupin faced Harry now and looked at him like the teacher Harry missed so much.
"See what? What am I suppose to see?" Harry was running things through his head that he thought he should have seen. Signs in the media of Voldemort and his followers? But Lupin had a smile on, so it couldn't be anything bad.
"Have you looked at Leah?"
Harry was baffled by this question. Of course he had looked at Leah, he had spent almost two weeks with her. "Yeah..."
"No, have you really looked at her, have you looked into her eyes? They're a very startling blue – almost crystal like. And they seem to glitter gold at you when she's really happy – right?" Lupin paused for a moment for Harry to nod. "Well, that should have told you right away that there was something unique about her. After all, how many witches do you know with diamond and gold eyes?" Seeing the Harry was still lost as to the point of this conversation, he continued. "How do you feel when Leah's around? Think hard about the last couple of weeks."
Harry thought, and every time he could remember Leah in the house, he had been happy. "Happy I guess, but what does that have to do with anything. I just found out I have a cousin – what else would I feel?" Harry tried to see what Lupin was pointing out and had a feeling it was right in front of his face.
"When she was sad, did it seem to get colder in the room?" Lupin was now leaning across the table, challenging Harry to put the puzzle together.
"Yeah, I guess. But I haven't seen her sad too often." Something in the back of Harry's mind started to fit the clues together, but he couldn't see the picture yet.
"Well, if there is one thing I hope I have taught you, it's that there is balance in life. It may not always be obvious, but for every good – there is bad. So would it not make sense, that for every bad – there is good?" Lupin and Harry were now almost nose to nose.
"Right! But what does that have to do with Leah? Are you saying she's bad and I'm good – or I'm bad and she's good?" Harry had a nagging feeling that he should be understanding this, but couldn't grasp the idea.
"What would you say is the ultimate bad creature?"
"Easy – dementors." Harry shuddered just thinking about them.
"Right, so what would the opposite of a dementor be?"
"Something that made people feel happy – relive good memories instead of horrible ones." Suddenly it fit, Harry now understood where Lupin was going. "Are you saying that Leah is an anti-dementor thing?"
"In the most basic sense – yes. But they are called Jexerelle, or Jexies. A very rare race – not unlike the Veela. But Leah is not a full Jexie, her grandmother was one I believe." Lupin finished his butterbeer and sat back in his chair. "They spread warmth to those around them, a sensation that everything will work out. . . a very deadly weapon if used accurately. A pure Jexie – which I don't think exist anymore – can get anyone to do as they ask, they simply have to smile and that person will do anything to get the feeling back, and I mean anything!" Lupin got up and conjured a sandwich in the kitchen.
"So you mean, that Leah can make me feel happy? And relive good memories? All without me wanting to?" Harry now understood why she seemed to make Sirius' death easier.
"Sort of. With part Jexies it only work's if they are happy too. If Leah is upset or hurt, than the room – and her – will turn cold. And most of the people around her won't be able to feel happy. But they won't feel miserable either. . . just a sense of pity for the Jexie or a need to make things warmer – and trust me, no fire or blanket can do that." Lupin finished off his lunch and headed to the door. "Why do you think Dumbledore finally decided to let her visit you? He thought you might need some cheer in the summer holidays."
And with that he left. Leaving Harry slightly confused, thinking about his cousin being a Jexerelle, and slightly cold.
"Harry!" there was the sound of sixteen pairs of ruffled feet and Harry was swallowed into a massive hug by eight members. Finally being released and able to breathe properly, Harry gazed around at the somewhat cleaner house. Ginny, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were all staring back at him eagerly.
Once the dust had settled a little, Dumbledore stepped forward and formally introduced Josie and Leah to the rather unusual looking greeters. Slightly overwhelmed, Leah and Josie said hello and than excused themselves to their rooms; lead by Dumbledore.
The usual chatter picked up around the place that Harry suddenly realized was very cold, and Ron and Hermione whispered to Harry about some of the exciting stuff that they had overheard.
"They have decided on some big, massive move...but we can't figure out what the move is. And they're talking about plans with the ministry – which isn't being much help because they are so unorganized right now." The three friends walked upstairs unnoticed since the majority of people were busy preparing dinner.
"Do you know who those other two girls were? I mean it's not like they're old enough to be in the Order – so what are they doing here?" Ron mumbled as they passed Sirius' mother's portrait. Harry shivered slightly and had the sudden urge to be around Leah.
"Well, Josie – the one with dark brown hair – is Dumbledore's great niece or something, I don't know her at all. But Leah – the blond – is my cousin." And when Ron and Hermione both looked shocked at this, he tried to explain the bizarre situation as best he could. Since Harry's information lead to question's he couldn't answer, they decided to go and welcome the newcomers properly.
"Leah? It's Harry, is it all right if we come in?" Harry stood outside a door on the third floor and waited for an answer. Instead Leah just opened the door and stood aside.
"Ha! Five minutes, I win!" Leah walked over to Josie, who handed her a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans.
"What do you mean, you win? Win what?" Harry plopped onto Leah's bed and leaned against the wall, suddenly realizing how tired he was.
"Well, Uncle Albus gave us some background information on the three of you; you like to know everything that's going on. So Xyler and I made a bet: I said you'd wait until after dinner, and she said ten minutes top. Until you decided to come and interrogate us for information on the Order that we don't have." Josie sighed and leaned against her bedpost.
"Oh, well. . . wait, why did she call you Xyler? I thought your name was Leah?" Ron leaned coolly against the wall, trying to look relaxed and smooth.
"It's both. My name is Leah Charlie Xyler. Leah because it was my grandmothers – our grandmothers (she winked at Harry), Charlie after my dad, and Xyler because it's Billy's last name and I consider him family." Leah gave a sly smile and Ron felt a slight jolt in his stomach.
"So, what do you guys want to ask us?" Leah straddled the back of a chair and Hermione sat down beside Harry. There was an awkward silence, but once Leah and Josie assured them it was okay, questions came from random thinking.
"Is Canadian ministry exactly like England's? Do you have a Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department? Does someone named Krugen Kreddil work there, because I've heard my dad talking about him and I don't know who he is." Ron fired question after question to the new girls, who seemed to be expecting this.
"Yes, to all of those questions. Now our Ministry I'm sure is a little different than yours, but they run on the same code and creed – so they must run similarly. But I bet you don't have wizards trying to melt ice bergs or riding polar bears like we do!" Leah laughed and the atmosphere seemed to lift. After that the five talked for nearly two hours straight until they were called for supper.
For the next few days, the five plus Ginny and Mrs. Weasley were finishing off the house. They had cleaned most of it last year, and Sirius had been working on it through out the rest of the year, but some dark corners still needed detoxifying. Plus they were adding decorations and furniture that made the house seemed more, well, houselike.
Most of the time Harry was okay, but when a room triggered a memory of Sirius, emotions that Harry couldn't handle or face yet overwhelmed him and he had to leave. Ron and Hermione were quick to pick up on this fact, but since neither of them knew what to do, they let him alone to sort things out.
But once this happened for about the sixth time, they were trying to figure out how to talk to him. Debating what would be the right move, Leah came over and said that she had better handle this. After all, she knew what it was like to lose her entire family to Voldemort too.
Leah peered into the hallway, but Harry wasn't there. She looked around the rest of the level and still couldn't find him. Finally, she found him in the kitchen sipping on Butterbeer.
"Harry? Is it all right if I sit down?" Leah approached the table, but decided it best to get permission before intruding on Harry's solitude. He nodded and Leah sat down across from him.
"Look, I don't really know how you feel, and I don't know how to help you even though I've been in a similar situation. The only thing I do know is that your pain is deep and won't go away like you want it to. You're going to have to face this before it will start to heal, but I can promise you – that once you do do that, it will heal. The pain will never leave completely, it will always be there, but in time it will become less, then not so much, eventually bearable, and finally and ache that shows how much you loved Sirius. A testament to him and his memory – something that will never be forgotten . . . should never be forgotten." Leah reached across the table and held Harry's hand.
A warm touch started to spread to his arm and eventually his whole body. Memories of Sirius, good memories flooded his mind and he started to remember why he missed Sirius so much – because he was fun, and adventurous, a rare quality in your guardian.
"Remember those thoughts Harry, remember the reason you miss him is because you love him. There is no shame in that. Feel proud that you knew Sirius Black, even if no one else did." Leah got up and hugged Harry, he suddenly felt – well he couldn't figure out what he felt. He was no longer sad that Sirius was gone, but happy that he had lived. He saw images of Sirius at Christmas, and during the summer break, than he saw a great black dog in a train station. Leah let go and the memories faded. She stood up and smiled and with out a word left the room. She knew that Harry had to be alone to sort these things out and she knew how important it was to do that, because sadness after a while becomes hurt, hurt turns into despair, and despair only leads to evil.
"Amazing isn't it?" Harry jumped out of his seat. Lupin had snapped him out of a daze and it took Harry a minute to realize where he was.
"Sorry? What's amazing?" Lupin sat down across from Harry and got himself a butterbeer. Harry took the hint and sat down again, relaxing a little, unsure of how his muscles had become so tense.
"The feeling they leave you with. Incredible! Just a smile can make any day worth living, and a hug – well I think you know what I mean." Lupin took a swig of his drink and plunked it down on the table with a satisfied sigh.
"What feeling? Who are they? I have no idea what you mean!" Harry was completely lost on where his old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was leading him.
"You don't? Well, I thought that the three of you – or at least Ms. Granger – would have figured it out by now. Do you not see it?" Lupin faced Harry now and looked at him like the teacher Harry missed so much.
"See what? What am I suppose to see?" Harry was running things through his head that he thought he should have seen. Signs in the media of Voldemort and his followers? But Lupin had a smile on, so it couldn't be anything bad.
"Have you looked at Leah?"
Harry was baffled by this question. Of course he had looked at Leah, he had spent almost two weeks with her. "Yeah..."
"No, have you really looked at her, have you looked into her eyes? They're a very startling blue – almost crystal like. And they seem to glitter gold at you when she's really happy – right?" Lupin paused for a moment for Harry to nod. "Well, that should have told you right away that there was something unique about her. After all, how many witches do you know with diamond and gold eyes?" Seeing the Harry was still lost as to the point of this conversation, he continued. "How do you feel when Leah's around? Think hard about the last couple of weeks."
Harry thought, and every time he could remember Leah in the house, he had been happy. "Happy I guess, but what does that have to do with anything. I just found out I have a cousin – what else would I feel?" Harry tried to see what Lupin was pointing out and had a feeling it was right in front of his face.
"When she was sad, did it seem to get colder in the room?" Lupin was now leaning across the table, challenging Harry to put the puzzle together.
"Yeah, I guess. But I haven't seen her sad too often." Something in the back of Harry's mind started to fit the clues together, but he couldn't see the picture yet.
"Well, if there is one thing I hope I have taught you, it's that there is balance in life. It may not always be obvious, but for every good – there is bad. So would it not make sense, that for every bad – there is good?" Lupin and Harry were now almost nose to nose.
"Right! But what does that have to do with Leah? Are you saying she's bad and I'm good – or I'm bad and she's good?" Harry had a nagging feeling that he should be understanding this, but couldn't grasp the idea.
"What would you say is the ultimate bad creature?"
"Easy – dementors." Harry shuddered just thinking about them.
"Right, so what would the opposite of a dementor be?"
"Something that made people feel happy – relive good memories instead of horrible ones." Suddenly it fit, Harry now understood where Lupin was going. "Are you saying that Leah is an anti-dementor thing?"
"In the most basic sense – yes. But they are called Jexerelle, or Jexies. A very rare race – not unlike the Veela. But Leah is not a full Jexie, her grandmother was one I believe." Lupin finished his butterbeer and sat back in his chair. "They spread warmth to those around them, a sensation that everything will work out. . . a very deadly weapon if used accurately. A pure Jexie – which I don't think exist anymore – can get anyone to do as they ask, they simply have to smile and that person will do anything to get the feeling back, and I mean anything!" Lupin got up and conjured a sandwich in the kitchen.
"So you mean, that Leah can make me feel happy? And relive good memories? All without me wanting to?" Harry now understood why she seemed to make Sirius' death easier.
"Sort of. With part Jexies it only work's if they are happy too. If Leah is upset or hurt, than the room – and her – will turn cold. And most of the people around her won't be able to feel happy. But they won't feel miserable either. . . just a sense of pity for the Jexie or a need to make things warmer – and trust me, no fire or blanket can do that." Lupin finished off his lunch and headed to the door. "Why do you think Dumbledore finally decided to let her visit you? He thought you might need some cheer in the summer holidays."
And with that he left. Leaving Harry slightly confused, thinking about his cousin being a Jexerelle, and slightly cold.