Chapter 25: Late Starts and Foiled Pranks
"Lexie it's aboot time to leave if we wantae git to th' courthouse on time," called Robert up the stairs.
Lexie took one last look at her appearance in the mirror of the guest bedroom she had called home all summer.
At age 13 she could detect the small changes in her appearance, not nearly a woman, but no longer a young child either. Her brown hair was pulled back smoothly into a casual bun she would never admit took as long as it did, no longer thin and choppy after a summer of Isobel's kindness, the closest thing she'd ever experienced to what having a mother might be like. The remnants of her once uneven fringe had now grown out and swooped gently away from her face with the help of Isobel's knack for trimming hair with a wand.
She realized that no matter how much home cooking she ate she was destined to being scrawny and small, but at least now she could find acceptance and appreciate for her delicate features and large eyes that still bore some hints of her haunted past but at least no longer carried the shadows underneath from restless nights.
She checked her new blouse was still carefully tucked into her also new skirt one last time and checked her tights for any runs "Here we go, you can do this," she told her reflection before turning around and hopping down the stairs to meet Robert in the kitchen.
Robert smiled kindly as her as he held up some toast, "You look lovely lass, come let's hurry or we wull miss th' train." Isobel squeezed Lexie in a tight hug, "Ye wull do great 'n' ah will see ye whin ye git back."
Robert and Lexie had planned to take the train all the way to London in time for her to give testimony in the afternoon. After the trial both Robert and Isobel would bring her to Hogwarts. She would only miss the first two days of the term so Lexie wasn't worried about missing school, but she worried what the boys would think although Dumbledore assured her he had it under control.
Lexie had doubts Sirius and James would take whatever reason he gave as an acceptable one, but she supposed she would worry about that when the time came.
Lexie and Robert made it to the courthouse early where she was rushed off to a room by herself where she was told to wait until she was called forward. Lexie had been given the option to sit in the courtroom and watch the trial but she had declined since she didn't fancy seeing Celine any longer than necessary.
A man in a suit opened the door and summoned her, she took one last deep breath and stood to face her nightmare for hopefully the last time.
"Has anyone seen Lexie? The train leaves in two minutes and I can't find her in any of the compartments. You didn't loan out your cloak again did you James," asked Sirius plopping down into the seat next to Remus.
The other three boys looked up and frowned, "I figured she was with you," replied James.
"She's going to miss the train if she isn't here in the next 60 seconds," Remus said in a worried tone.
Just as he said that they heard the whistle of the Hogwarts Express signifying it was time to depart causing the four boys to look around nervously with no sign of the fifth member of their group.
"Do you reckon something happened to her?" asked Peter.
"Dunno, we need to find a professor though once we get to school, it isn't like her to be late," replied James worrying his lip between his teeth.
Sirius stayed quiet still frowning while his eyes searched the platform that was now passing by as the train picked up speed, "Where the hell are you Lex?" he mumbled to himself.
The train ride felt like it took four times longer than usual with all the boys worrying about their friend and even sweets and games wasn't enough to distract them.
When they finally arrived at Hogwarts and were shuffled to the Great Hall Sirius immediately drew his eyes up to the High Table where Dumbledore sat with most of the other staff members.
"I'll be right back," said Sirius as he hurriedly made his way across the hall dodging other students. He knew the sorting would begin soon and had to make it quick.
"Where is he going?" he heard James voice to Remus, but he paid no attention.
Sirius stopped in front of Dumbledore, "Sir, can I speak to you, it's urgent." He said partially out of breath more from worry than physical exertion.
Dumbledore regarded him with a smile, "Ah. Mr. Black, I had an inkling it wouldn't take you long to pay me a visit. Although I had hoped you had enough patience until after the feast."
Sirius frowned, "Sir, it's Lex – Lexie Hall I mean, she's not here and she wasn't on the train."
Dumbledore's smile didn't let up as he replied, "Ah yes, I'm aware. Lexie had a personal situation come up and I'm afraid it is going to delay her a couple days."
"A couple days sir," Sirius exclaimed, "but she is going to miss her classes!"
Dumbledore chuckled, "Ah what a wonderful friend to care so dearly about her academic success Mr. Black. And here I thought you were more concerned she would not be present to assist in your yearly start of term prank you five had planned."
Sirius felt his ears turned hot.
"I ask that you please be seated Mr. Black as the sorting is about to begin, but please don't worry Lexie is scheduled to arrive in just a couple days. Perhaps this will give you time to plan something even grander than a few charmed toilets, hm?" winked Dumbledore.
Sirius felt the heat spread from his ears to his face and mumbled something incoherent before scurrying away back to his mates sitting at the Gryffindor table right as the sorting was announced to begin.
"What did you find out?" whispered James as the other two stuck their heads closer to hear.
"She'll be here in a couple days, Dumbledore already knew."
"Thank Merlin, well at least now we know she's okay," replied James.
"Oh, and uh, project charmed chamber pots is a no go too, Dumbledore knows" Sirius grumbled.
"What?!" exclaimed James, Remus, and Peter at the same time causing Lily to send them all a nasty look from several seats down.
"How did he-" James was cut off as Sirius hushed him and shook his head mouthing "later" while the other three boys sent a discrete glance towards their headmaster who was sporting a small smile and a twinkle in his pale blue gaze.
Lexie watched the scenery whiz by as Robert sat across from her his nose buried in a book about musical theory. Had it been just a few hours ago she was in a courtroom testifying?
Seeing Celine again had somehow been both harder and easier than she had expected. The woman who had been so cruel to her had looked much smaller and frailer than she had remembered, no longer in control and abusing her power, she had seemed almost meek in the courtroom. Not that Lexie spent much time looking at her since much of her testimony was given with her hands clasped tightly in her lap while she focused on the lawyers and judge asking her questions.
But reliving all of her injuries, all of the mental and emotional pain one single person had caused her, had been excruciating. Lexie took a deep breath, whatever happened she had done it, she had survived and now it was in the hands of the law to administer justice.
Robert heard her breath and looked up giving her a pained smile, "Ye did great lass, A know we've only known each other for a couple o' months, but Isobel an A are so proud o' ye. Ye dinnae have tae worry aboot thon horrible woman anymore. A promise. The law is on yer side."
Lexie sent him a small smile buoyed by his words, it was true enough. Even had the trial not occurred, her life was now at Hogwarts and even had Celine not been caught, the last two years had been the best of her life.
Lexie found herself grinning out the window, she couldn't wait to home to the castle and those she considered her real family.
It was late by the time the train pulled back into the station and Lexie hopped off with Robert trailing her, Isobel rushed forward and immediately hugged her tight, "Ye brave girl, A knew ye wad dae amazin" she whispered as Lexie felt her eyes tear up a little.
"Come on now, let's get some sleep sae ye will be restit for yer classes tomorrow," she said giving her husband a kiss on the cheek as the three of them made their way back to the McGonagall's house.
Lexie felt the day's events catch up to her and didn't even remember getting into bed before she fell into a deep sleep that for the first time in a long time didn't include anything bad.
The McGonagalls brought Lexie back to Hogwarts early the next morning while most of the occupants in the castle were still fast asleep. Robert and Isobel gave Lexie one final crushing hug before she was led back to the Gryffindor common room by none other than Professor McGonagall who gave Lexie the password and departed after sharing a small smile with her.
Lexie entered the common room, her trunk had already been delivered to the girl's dormitory the night before, so she quickly went up to grab all her school supplies for the day.
The other occupants of her dormitory were just waking up and they all greeted her with a smile and welcomed her back. Lexie had assumed word had already spread that she was just starting the term late since nobody questioned her as she gathered what she needed.
Lexie made her way back down the common room, plopped herself in one of the chairs facing the boy's dormitory staircase and waited.
She heard several pairs of thundering footsteps and laughter before she saw them, but it wasn't long before her four best friends were tumbling down the staircase. James saw her first and immediately whisked her into a hug while the other three joined until they were all intertwined and laughing as Peter and Lexie squeaked from being squished by their three taller friends.
"What the Hell Lex," Sirius finally said as they all separated their cheeks all hurting from smiling so much, "you have no idea how stressed we were when you didn't show up for the train."
"I'm so sorry," she said, "I thought Dumbledore would have said something to you."
James laughed, "Oh yeah, he said something alright, why did you tell him about the chamber pot prank?"
Lexie's jaw dropped, "What? I didn't say anything. You think I tattled?" she said offended.
"Well, none of us told him and he knows, and you were the only one who spoke to him apparently," retorted James.
"I did no such thing," argued Lexie, "why would I tell, you think I want detention? How does Dumbledore know anything? I swear he has eyes in not just the back of his head but has spies all over the castle. That man knows way more than anyone ought to know."
"She does have a point mate," reasoned Sirius, "I mean if I didn't know any better, I swear he could read minds."
James threw up his hands in defeat, "Well however he found out he knows so our prank is officially ruined! What are we supposed to do now to welcome all the students back at Hogwarts? I mean it's bad enough we are three days into the term thanks to a delayed start and now we don't even have a prank."
Lexie and Remus shared a secret smile that didn't go unnoticed by the other three, "Well we may have come up with a backup option."
"Well let's hear it then," retorted James.
Lexie rolled her eyes and gestured the others forward into a huddle while she whispered their carefully thought-out plans.
And the following day when the doorknobs to every bathroom insulted anyone who entered and every toilet seat in Hogwarts (other than the one belonging to Moaning Myrtle) was found hanging from the branches of the Whomping Willow, only five very tired students (and one whimsical headmaster) knew how they got there.