Disclaimer: Still don't own anything you recognise form the BOOKS…
A/N: hey…wow I guess I can appropriately say that the ending shocked a few people…. your reviews were quite interesting actually but I have one question if not Neville, who else? I mean he was the most unexpected person that would be doing this…anyway I'll quit rambling and get on with it…
Hermione woke the next morning, with Blaise/Neville's arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She snuggled closer to him, not allowing herself to get up, and his grip became tighter. Then a loud knock came from the door.
"Hermione," Harry said entering the room. He was fully dressed and had a pile of parchment in his hand. "We have a problem,"
"What?" Hermione yawned. She sat up in the bed and Blaise mumbled something into his pillow, obviously awake now, "Can't it wait until I'm up, Harry?"
"No, it cannot wait," Harry replied, "the students are arriving tonight and the dorms are still too small, not to mention we don't have enough beds."
Hermione climbed out of the bed and pulled her robe over her pyjamas, before marching the deluded Harry out of her bedroom.
"First of all, Dumbledore is enlarging the rooms after the sorting tomorrow night," Hermione yawned again, "and secondly, we have to wait for Professor Dokoft's reply on how many students are coming, before we can go into Hogsmeade and buy the furniture,"
She looked at Ginny who was sitting on the couch reading a magazine. The red head glanced at her and gave her a small grin.
"We should get everything sorted now though," Harry replied, "that way everything won't be rushed,"
"Harry," Hermione said softly, sighing slightly,' why don't you work n the menu for the feast and take it down to the kitchens, instead. I'll get Ron to sort out the furniture,"
Harry nodded and turned toward the table where papers were scattered everywhere.
"I'll be back later," He told the two women.
Hermione sat on the couch next to Ginny as he disappeared.
"You know you'd probably would be less stressed if you hadn't got Harry to help," Ginny told her.
Hermione shrugged and yawned again, as Blaise/Neville came stumbling out of the bedroom. He ignored both of the women and sat at the table, his head resting in his hands.
"What's the time gin?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Um...almost eight thirty," Ginny replied, "so I guess Ron will be here soon,"
Hermione nodded in reply, before getting up and heading toward the bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Blaise/Neville asked her.
"I have to get ready," Hermione yawned again, "my first class is right after breakfast, you know that,"
Blaise/Neville grunted in reply, watching as the door closed behind her.
"I'm taking it you two didn't do much sleeping last night, Blaise," Ginny joked with him.
Blaise/Neville didn't reply, unaware that she was talking him.
"Blaise?" Ginny asked slightly concerned, usually he answered her, even when she was joking.
He turned and looked at the red head, blinking a few times.
"What?" he finally asked her.
"Are you alright?" She frowned and put down the magazine.
"I'm fine," he replied. They both sat there in silence, the only noise coming from the shower behind Hermione's closed door.
"So are you excited about seeing Alex again?" Ginny broke the silence.
"Yeah…. Sure," came his distant reply, "You know, back at Hogwarts, I never thought I would be a parent…"
"What?" Ginny asked slightly confused, "I mean, Blaise…I know we didn't really talk much while we were at Hogwarts, but at Grimmuald place you always wanted to be a dad…"
Blaise/Neville didn't reply, blocking her voice out. Without realizing he was ignoring her, Ginny moved into her own bedroom, closing the door behind here with a bang.
As the door shut, he pulled a small flask out of his robe and bought it to his lips.
Alex stood on the roof of the school building. For the last time she felt the cool breeze across her face as is whipped her uniform around her. Monday she would be back in the Hogwarts robes. She leant over the balcony, watching the muggle cars speed past the building that they couldn't see.
Staring out into the horizon, Alex sighed. When finally a moving object came hurtling toward her. It was Nicole's owl and it landed smoothly on Alex's shoulder.
Carefully she untied the letter, but before opening she glanced at the owl, now perched on the balcony railing. Carefully she pulled her own piece of folded parchment out of her pocket and tied to the owl's leg before she had the chance to change her mind.
Watching, as the owl became just a speck in the horizon, Alex sat on the stone bench and unfolded the letter.
Hey Alex,
Wow…I guess that means your coming back then? I mean…aaragh that came out so wrong. I mean I'm glad you're coming back, just I wish it was because you really wanted to. We've really missed you and we're getting you back so I guess i can kinda be happy about it, right?
Alex smiled to herself.
So…um, Sam wants to know if you're all coming back, as in Brian and Kimmie and everyone? Draco says hi as well. Well we can't wait to see you.
Love Nikki.
Ripping the bottom part of the parchment off the letter, Alex pulled her pen out her pocket.
To my fellow Gryffindors,
Yes I am coming back, and just so you know I do want to come back, I realised that after they already left. I think it was because I realized how much I missed you guys too. Yes Nik, you can be happy about it. So SAM Brian and Kimmie are returning with me to the strange land of Hogwarts, and Hello to you to Draco…I'll see you all later.
Love Alex
Oh and by the way NICOLE, Logan says hi and he can't wait to get to Hogwarts, oh and I've sent your owl off on an important topic secret mission that could save the world. He will be back in a few days.
As Alex reread the letter, grinning at her own strangeness, she skipped down the halls to the owlry, the excitement finally coming to her.
Friday afternoon, Sam was sitting in the empty Gryffindor common room, waiting for Nicole to meet her. Their afternoon classes had been cancelled because the teachers were busy preparing the castle, but Nicole had disappeared, and Sam couldn't be bothered looking for her, perfering to wait until she showed up in the common room. Draco had left her, choosing to play Quidditch with the other boys instead.
A large owl rapped at the window, startling Sam from her thoughts. She climbed out of her seat and opened the window. As the bird flew into the room it screeched loudly, but did not land near Sam, as she had expected, instead it flew toward the girl's dorms.
Instead of following, Sam sat back down, leaving the window open. As she was wondering who the owl was actually for a shrill scream came from the girl's dormitory r
An angry Nicole Weasley appeared on the staircase.
"Whose owl is that?" s he shouted.
No one answered and the nosey students retreated back into their rooms. Sam took a step back as the red face Weasley cam down the stairs, the owl behind her.
"Wh- What's Wrong?" Sam swallowed hard.
"That owl just bit me," Nicole replied crossly, "the letter's not even addressed not me, but it still bit me,"
"If it isn't addressed to you, then how come it flew into your dorm?" Sam asked, she carefully sat back down.
"I don't know," Nicole replied angrily, trying to shrug the animal off, "I didn't let it in, did I?" was when she saw the opened window behind Sam, "You did…"
"Maybe it's Alex's reply," Sam suggested, trying to move the blame away from herself.
"Wouldn't she have just used my owl?" Nicole pointed out, "but she didn't even need to reply,"
"You did put that question from me in there, which I still don't get why you couldn't jut ask it," Sam muttered, "are you going to take to the letter off of it?"
"What and it bite me again, yeah…right," Nicole answered and sat down on the couch next to them.
The owl landed smoothly on the table, before standing completely still in front of them. Sam moved forward and careful took the piece of parchment off the bird's leg.
She tossed it toward Nicole, "it's got your name on it," she smirked as the bird pecked softly at her finger before flying out of the open window.
Brian and Charlie watched as their luggage disappeared before their eyes, just as Kimmie managed to carry two large boxes of old music books into the room at once, with Georgie magically levitating an amp.
"I wasn't sure if you wanted these or not," Kimmie out he boxes down in front of the boys as Georgie levitated the amp toward the supervising teachers.
Brian picked up the first book. It was a sketch book, filled with pictures of them practicing, along with the odd sentence or two on the edge of the a page. The next book was filled with Logan's dodgy handwriting, page after page filled with songs written about Amelia (his ex-gf…remember I mentioned her earlier but never continued on with her story…).
"Cool," Charlie exclaimed, he showed Brian the book he was holding. It was filled with clippings and pictures about the school, going back to its beginnings.
"Wow," Georgie giggled as she joined them, "look at Dokoft there," she pointed toward a picture, which appeared to have students in it.
"I'm guessing the second box wasn't our stuff," Brian said putting the book down, "but I think we should keep all of it,"
Georgie nodded in agreement, "I can't believe she had pink hair,"
"Hey, who's that?" Kimmie asked as Brian turned the page over.
It was a whole school picture, although none of the students were really recognizable, an elderly man standing at the front of the group could clearly be seen. He had a scowl across his face, which seemed to darken the entire picture.
"Bilious Alfonzo Dumbledore," Charlie read the fine print, "hey maybe he's related to Dumbledore from Hogwarts,"
"Well, duh, Charlie," Georgie replied.
"Professor Potter," Lavender Brown's voice filled the hallway.
Harry stopped walking, and turned to face the other professor.
"Yes, Professor?" He asked.
"I just thought you might like to know, Ben Walker has woken up," She told him, and Harry turned and began to walk toward the hospital wing.
"Harry," Lavender ran to catch up with him, "There's a small problem,"
"What is it?" Harry stopped in front of the hospital wing doors.
"He's been hit with a memory charm," She told him, "He can't remember anything from the last ten years, keeps asking for someone called Elizabeth,"
"What?" Harry asked shocked, "It was him wasn't it? Does Dumbledore know?"
"Dumbledore's in there, examining him still, he thinks it was the stalker," Lavender told him in a hushed tone as a student walked past, "he's being moved to St. Mungos shortly,"
With that, Harry entered the hospital wing, finding Dumbledore sitting next to the Ben Walker's bed laughing.
"Hello," Ben Walker said brightly as Harry approached the bed.
"Ahh, Ben, this is our defence against the dark arts teacher, Professor Harry Potter," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkle, "do you remember any stories about him?"
"Harry who?" Ben asked, "So is my sister here yet?"
Harry was slightly shocked, not just at the state of Ben Walker, but that he had no idea who he was, although Harry got sick of it most of the time, Ben Walker should have known who he was, the entire Wizarding world knew who he was for god's sake.
"Ben, here's been telling me how he grew up in New York," Dumbledore turned to Harry, "the war wasn't big news there," he said in a quieter voice, "he's waiting for his sister, Elizabeth," he continued louder this time," you haven't seen her have you?"
"Who?" Harry asked dumbfounded.
"Never mind, she'll be here soon," He smiled at Ben who had taken to swirling a glass of water around in a circle.
Hermione stood in the middle of the great hall, most of the students from Fascino Quas were returning to Hogwarts later that night and the next morning, and they still had a lot of work to do. The great hall either had to be enlarged so the four house tables could be extended so they were longer, or it had to be enlarged so more tables could be added into the room. Either way the room had to be enlarged, and at the moment Hermione's head was pounding and Blaise was not helping at all, just sitting there and doing nothing.
"Blaise?" Hermione rubbed her temple and looked in his direction, he didn't move. Ron was busy talking to one of the house elves and Ginny and Jess had gone into Hogsmeade to order the furniture, Harry had disappeared earlier and no one had seen him since.
"Blaise?" Hermione said more urgently, trying to get his attention.
He still didn't move, and seemed to be staring at the Gryffindor banner dreamily.
"BLAISE," Hermione shouted at him, finally pulling him from his thoughts. Ron looked over toward them, a frown on his face.
"Erm…what?" Blaise/Neville replied.
"I need you to find a strong enough charm that will enlarge the room," Hermione sighed, "once Ron's finished talking to Dobby take him to the library,"
"Okay," Blaise/Neville answered.
Hermione sighed again, but moved across to the front of the hall. The Fascino Quas students were to be sorted at lunch time the next day, as part of the Hogwarts tradition, she knew it was going to take a while, so she arranged chairs for the students to sit on while they waited.
"Jess," Ginny said to her sister in law suddenly, "do you think Blaise has been acting a bit strange today?"
"When?" Jess asked her as they exited the shop and headed toward Hogwarts.
"Today, before," Ginny replied vaguely. They passed a new clothes shop, in the front window was a set of emerald green dress robes. Jess turned to look in the direction she was looking in.
"Wow," she said, "they would look gorgeous on you,"
Ginny smiled but shook her head, "I can't buy robes like that,"
"And Why no?" Jess continued, "don't say Harry wouldn't like them, his eyes would fall out if he saw you in that,"
"No, I wouldn't have anywhere to wear them," Ginny smiled.
"What about Hermione and Blaise's wedding?" Jess asked.
"They haven't even set a date yet," Ginny said, then snapped back into reality, "So, Blaise he seems okay to you?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?" Jess said as they began walking again.
"No reason, it's probably just the stress from everything," Ginny answered.
"Yeah," Jess replied, "so next week I'm bringing Hermione here, maybe she'll convince you those robes are perfect for you,"
THE NEXT DAY
Hermione, Harry, Ron and Blaise/Neville stood out the front of the main gates, waiting for the carriages to arrive from Hogsmeade. After about ten minutes of waiting, the first horseless, although Harry, Ron, Hermione and Blaise/Neville could all see the thestrals, came into view.
It was soon followed by another, and another, until finally, about fifty 'horseless' carriages went past them and into the Hogwarts school grounds.
"The last Carriage stopped, and the four teachers climbed aboard, to find only Professor Dokoft and Professor Dumbledore aboard.
"Professors," Hermione aid as she sat across from them, Harry and Ron either side of her, Blaise/Neville sat next to Dumbledore.
"Did it take you long to get the students over?" Ron asked the blonde headmaster.
"Not really, most of them were anxious to get here," She replied, "Albus says you've organised a big feast for the students,"
Hermione nodded, "it's customary fro new students to be sorted, so we thought a feast was in order,"
"Oh," Professor Dokoft smiled, "Alex hasn't been able to keep still since she arrived in Hogsmeade this morning, I think she's been the most excited about coming back,"
"Really?" Hermione asked surprised, as far as she knew Alex still wasn't ready to come back.
"Yes, when I saw her this morning, she looked as if she had just been given a large bag of lemon drops," Dumbledore spoke suddenly, causing the other passengers in the carriage to look at him oddly, "she looked happy," he re worded everything he just said, "which is why I think ti would be a good idea if she stayed in the Gryffindor dorms, rather than your rooms,"
Hermione agreed with im, "She might be happier there,"
"Precisely," Dumbledore continued, "but as Harry is staying with you still, I want Ron to become head of Gryffindor so he can keep an eye on her,"
Ron nodded, as the carriage came to a stop.
Dumbledore climbed out first, before helping Professor Dokoft, then Hermione out of the carriage. None of the students had left their carriages yet. Hermione smiled to herself slightly, before heading toward the closest carriage and opened the door slowly. A group of tired first years were inside, all looking a bit of unsure of what they were supposed to be doing.
"Were ate h castel now," Hermione told them softly, "everyone's meeting in the great hall," she finished before she moved to the next carriage, from the corner of her eyes she could see Ron and Harry doing the same thing, but before she could open the door, she was pulled into a tight hug.
"Alex," Hermione laughed as her daughter let go of her, she kissed her lightly on the forehead, "I've missed you so much," she hugged her again.
Alex just grinned at her, "I've missed you too, I'm sorry I didn't come back last week,"
"It's okay," Hermione told her, she looked up from her daughter to see Logan, Georgie, Brian, Charlie and Kimmie walking slowly up to them.
"Where's Dad?" Alex asked excitedly.
But before Hermione could reply, Alex had disappeared in the direction of her 'father'.
"Everyone's meeting out the front of the great hall," Hermione told the other teenagers, before moving toward a group of third years, who were not moving away from the carriage.
Nicole Weasley sat at the Gryffindor table, she had been waiting, like the rest of the school for fifteen minutes now, and the Professors were still yet to return.
Finally the doors to the great hall opened and Dumbledore and Dokoft stood in the middle of the entrance, the four professors behind them, with the students and staff do Fascino Quas behind them. As they entered the great hall, the students fell silent, and as Nicole scanned through the students, searching for Alex, she didn't notice the small girl who slipped out of the crowed and slipped into the seat across from her.
Finally the students sat in the seats at the front, and Nicole knew this was going to take awhile. As Dumbledore stood up to speak, she turned toward Draco, who was sitting across from her to ask if he had seen Alex. Only to be facing the girl, a wide grin on her face.
"Miss me?" she asked.
Nicole smiled, "of course not,"
"If anything, we enjoyed not having you here," Draco interrupted, only to receive a punch on the arm from Alex and a glare from Sam.
They fell silence as they began to listen to Dumbledore.
"Today is a great day fro the Wizarding world, Today we make history, bringing the two schools together," He paused, then with a flick of his wand, all of the students robes where changed, the purple Fascino Quas ones turning black. Nicole glanced down at her robes, they were still black, but the Hogwarts crest had now changed, the four houses combined still staged the same, but above that was a wand, giving out purple sparks, crossed over a paint brush, that had painted two silver stars "Today, we celebrate the new Hogwarts,"
The students and teachers all began to clap, a few even whistling, Before Jessica Weasley stood before the students.
"As part of the Hogwarts tradition, the students are sorted into their house by the founders hat, so as I call your name out, you will stand and the hat will be placed upon your head, once it has called out the name of the house you belong to, you are to sit with them. Once the feast has finished the prefects will direct you to the new common room," she finally finished, "Allero, Peter,"
As the boy stood, his chair disappeared, and the hat was placed upon his head.
"Ravenclaw!" it shouted, and the table beneath the blue banner erupted.
As the sorting continued, Nicole, once again, began to scan the students. She caught Charlie's eye, who was standing next to Georgie and gave him a small wave, he in turn nodded his head in the opposite direct. Nicole's eyes followed along the line of students in the direction he nodded, finally coming to Brian, Kimmie and Logan. Kimmie was smiling at something Brian was whispering into her ear, and Logan was looking down.
Finally, just she was about to look away, he looked up, and smiled.
The sorting was finally over, and the students were enjoying their feast. Surprisingly, the entire band, (Logan, Kimmie, etc.,) had all been put in Gryffindor.
Alex smiled as she watched her friends talking. Draco nudged her in the side.
"So, have you heard from Riley lately?" he asked quietly.
"No," the smiled disappeared from Alex's face, "why?"
"Just wondering," Draco replied, "oh, by the way, it's the twins birthday next weekend, I was meeting mum in Hogsmeade and was going to take them to Honeydukes, you want to come?"
"Sure," Alex forced a smile on to her face, she hadn't thought about Riley since she sent him the letter with Nicole's owl.
"Hey, Nikki," She interrupted her conversation with Georgie, "Has you owl come back yet?"
"Not yet," Nicole frowned, "who'd you send it to anyway?"
"Oh, no one important, he'll probably be back today," Alex replied.
Finally as the fest had ended, and it was now nighttime.
"Hey, will you guys be okay showing them to the common room?" Alex asked Nicole, Draco and Sam, "I just wanna hang out with my mum for awhile,"
They nodded in return and as they disappeared through the doors to the great hall, Alex bounced off toward where her parents were sitting with Ron, Jessica, Harry and Ginny.
Hermione smiled as Alex approached them, then frowned as she realised she wasn't with her friends.
"Alex, honey, don't you want to catch up with Nicole?" Hermione asked her.
"I thought I'd come see you guys first," Alex grinned, "plus I wasn't sure if I'm supposed to be staying in the dorms or not,"
"Well…" Hermione began, but Blaise/Neville cut her off.
"Your Mum's pregnant,"
Alex looked shocked.
"Blaise," Hermione said, "I thought we were going to wait, until we told her,"
"You're pregnant and you didn't even tell me?" Ginny and Jessica said at the same time.
"You're what?" Alex asked, still in shock, she sat between her parents, and Hermione squeezed her hand.
"I'm pregnant, which means you're getting a baby brother or sister," Hermione said gently, "only you're Dad wasn't supposed to tell you like that,"
Harry and Ron had moved their wives away, allowing the three of them.
"So does this mean you're getting married earlier than you planned?" Alex asked, she had been the only one who knew when they had they set the date for.
"Yes," Blaise/Neville said at the same time Hermione said "No."
Hermione simple laughed, "We're still deciding,"
"But to answer your question from before, your staying in the dorms, Uncle Ron's moving into a new room in there so he can watch you," Hermione told her, "I'll go get him if you want to go back now,"
Alex nodded, and watched as her mother headed toward her 'uncle' Ron.
"Wow, I'm going to be a sister," Alex said to Blaise, "how come you never told me sooner?"
She looked at her father.
"Ahh…you see…you're mother…. secret, "Blaise/Neville spluttered.
"Oh," Alex said, she looked into her father's eyes, they seemed different, not the bright blue they had always been, but a dull colour, almost grey. He took a swig of a flask from his pocket.
"Dad?" Alex asked.
"Mmm?" He replied, putting the flask away.
"Was Mum really mad when I didn't come back?" Alex asked him suddenly, she looked him in the eye, they were the bright blue again.
"She was fine about it," He told her.
"Oh," Alex replied, she moved across the bench slightly, away from him.
"Alex, Uncle Ron's, going up there now," Hermione came back over, she hugged her tightly, "we can talk about everything tomorrow,"
Alex nodded and let go of her mother, before she turned to hug her father. He hugged her loosely, before she ran out of the great hall to catch up with Ron.
"You two ready?" Harry and Ginny came over to them.
Hermione nodded and grabbed Blaise's hand and the four of them headed toward their rooms.
Alex was silent as she walked up to the Gryffindor common room, her 'Auntie' Jessica and 'Uncle' Ron following her.
She thought back to when her father hugged her, and her stomach tightened. Something hadn't been right, it didn't feel the same. Then she thought back to his eyes, how did they just change from grey to blue. Suddenly she felt sick again.
She stopped, causing Ron and Jessica to walk into her.
"Alex, are you okay?" Ron asked.
Alex shook her head, before sprinting off in the opposite direction. She had to get to her parents room, get her mum and the baby away from him.
"Alex," Ron's voice called after her. He grabbed out for her, pulling her to a stop.
"What's going on?" he asked breathless, as Jessica caught up tot hem.
"My mum, I have to see her," Alex told him, trying to break free, "I need to protect her,"
"Hermi-, you're mum's safe, she's with Harry and you're Dad," Ron told her.
"That's not my Dad, that's not Blaise Zabini," Alex said, her voice barely above a whisper.
A/N: oooh, I bet you're all going why the hell did she stop there…. haha…I am truly sorry that it has been like three weeks since my last update, but I've had exams (still got one to go) and I've had to revise fro exams and finish assignments and stuff so you can see how much work I've had. But then today I didn't have anything on after my home ec. Exam and I had a sudden flash of inspiration while I was sitting there watching the other ppl write furiously... so I had to finish the chapter (I wrote the first half about two weeks ago) so I hope you like…I have a feeling the next chapter is going to be a bit exciting, even for me…
Please please please review…
Luv emgurl