~Everything's Not What It Seems~

Alex and Justin are siblings sent to Hogwarts to learn about magic just like their father. There they meet new friends, fall in love, and find out that truly everything is not what it seems.

Disclaimer: J.K Rowling and Disney Channel own the right to all these character. I am only borrowing them :)


"Well good, at least you've been told your father's name." Lupin said out loud to himself. He was no longer looking at Alex, his face lost in thought. Alex coughed, unsure what to say in response.

Lupin snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Alex again. "There are a lot of things you don't know Alex. My biggest concern for you is that you hear rumors that will shock you. All I can tell you is to not believe even one of them! Only believe what you feel now!"

That's what Jerry has told them too. What was so bad that Alex and Justin didn't need to hear about it? Despite her confusion on the matter, Alex nodded. "Lupin, I know you told me there are certain things you can't tell us, and I accept that. But can you at least answer this one question?"

"I can try, what is it Alex?"

"Please, what was my mother's name?" Alex asked hopefully. She and Justin had asked this of Jerry so many times as they were growing up, but for some reason he wouldn't budge.

Lupin smiled. "I'll tell you on one condition. You repeat this to no one but Justin." Alex nodded. "Your mother's name was Arianna Silvestre. Arianna Black when she married your father. She looked just like you, only your eyes are different, your eyes are like your father's. They would both be so proud to see you here in Hogwarts like this."

Lupin stood up, smiling one last time at Alex before walking back in the direction he had come. When he disappeared, Alex broke into a grin. Arianna Silvestre. Their mother finally had a name.

~~~~~

Alex waited in her usual spot at the Gryffindor table for Justin as she watched the students that were stil at school make their way into the great hall. She waved at Max as he was getting seated with the other first years Hufflepuffs. Where was he? Alex looked at the entrance again to see Harry stomping in angrily, Hermione and Ron following behind him. Wonder what's got him so angry? Alex shook her head, again returning her focus to the entrance when she spotted Justin making his way to the great hall with a stack of books in his arms. He looked at her curiously as he noticed Alex smiling from ear to ear. When he approached the table, he dropped the stack of books on the bench before sitting down himself.

"Hello Alex" He studied her face a while, concern growing on his face as he started to imagine the kind of trouble his sister could have gotten in. "What did you do?"

Alex leaned forward. "Guess who I ran into today? Guess!"

Justin scratched the back of his head. "Who?"

"Moony!" She almost yelled out. Justin's eyes went wide as he stared at his sister speechless. She snapped her fingers in front of him to get his attention.

"But… how? When? Where? No, HOW?" Justin continued to stare at her in disbelief.

"Shhh, if you'll shut-up, I'll explain. Moony is none other than out DADA professor, Professor Lupin! While you were holed up in the library, I was talking to him and he… he told me he was at our parent's wedding." Alex smiled. "And he even told me our mother's name!" Alex watched as Justin's eyes instantly lit up. He motioned for Alex to continue "So her name was Arianna Silvestre and became Arianna Black when she married our dad."

"Arianna? Wow, that's a beautiful name! She sounds smart. Was she smart? Did he tell you anything else?" Justin looked at her hopefully.

Alex nodded. "He told me that mom was an artist, and I that I take that up from her. Also that I look just like her but I our dad's eyes! You and I have the same eyes so that means we have dad's eyes! He also said that I am just like dad, always getting into trouble. He said Mom was really smart and that you remind him a lot of her!"

"Really? I'm like mom? Wow… mom. This is so much new information. Our mom's name is Arianna. She's smart, like me and and artist, like you. I never knew the day we learned about her would come so soon!" Justin looked at Alex proudly.

"I know! I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. If mom and dad were alive it would have been Sirius and Arianna Black with their son Justin Black and daughter Alex Black. Wouldn't that have been something?" Alex smiled sadly. Her eyes traveled down to her hands in her lap, holding back the tears that she hadn't realized were threatening to spill. She felt a hand on her shoulder abs lifted her eyes to Justin's emotional ones.

"It is something. Just because they're gone, doesn't change that we are their kids."

She nodded sadly. "But we'll never be Black's. Dad has always told us that we would have to remain Russo's forever, for our safety. I just just don't get why it matters. And I know we've always been told not to look into it. That it's not safe... but we're getting older. Shouldn't we at least try to find out about what happened to our mom and dad? The full story."

Justin looked away from Alex conflictingly. "Alex, so can't deny I haven't felt the same way. But... what if we find out something we don't like… like that we've been lied to all these years about how we become orphans."

Alex looked at her brother in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Justin lowered his voice. "Before we came yo Hogwarts, Jerry warned us to stay in the shadows and ignore any rumors we hear. Why? If everyone knows us as Russo's, what danger are we in? What if everyone knows something we don't?"

Alex frowned. "Lupin said the same thing to me. I haven't heard any rumors... but then again, we've barely made any friends. What if you're right?"

"Unfortunately, we can't just go up to people and start asking them about the Black family… it would be too suspicious." Justin commented.

"Then what do we do?"

"We have find out the truth... somehow. You and I need to speak to someone who can tell us the whole truth."

Alex nodded. "You're right… but who?"

"I don't know, I just don't know! But I do know we deserve to find out the truth!" Justin looked at Alex in determination. "And I promise we will."

~~~~~

The following weeks passed in a blur for Harry. Since his return from the Weasley's, where he spent Christmas break, Harry had kept himself busy training with Professor Lupin. He wanted to be ready if there was ever another dementor attack. Though Harry had yet to master the spell, Lupin had assured him that he was getting better each day and was doing as well as his father had when he was learning the spell.

That day Lupin had decided to cancel their training session to attend to a personal matter. Harry was thankful for this because it was the day that Buckbeak's fate would be decided by the ministry. Hermione, Ron and Harry had promised Hagrid they would visit him after his meeting with Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge. As they made their way to Hagrid's hut, the three were surprised to find Hagrid standing by the water, skipping rocks.

"Hagrid! Hagrid, how'd it go?" Hermione asked as they jogged towards him.

Hagrid turned around and glanced at them before turning back around to continue skipping rocks on the lake. "First the committee explained why we were there, then they let me speak about Buckbeak and how good he is. Then Lucius Malfoy went up and said, 'Buckbeak is a dangerous creature that would kill yer the moment it looks at yer.''

"And then?" Hermione interrupts.

"Then Lucius asked for the worst." Hagrid stayed still a while, not saying a word. "Buckbeak's been sentenced to death!" Hagrid screamed. Death? Harry looked at Ron and Hermione who were both watching Hagrid with expressions oh horror. Harry could do nothing but watch Hagrid, whose cries could be heard around the lake.

~~~~~

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the remainder of the day consoling Hagrid. They'd never seen the giant so upset. Once they had finally convinced return to his hut for dinner, the three returned to Gryffindor Tower. When nighttime came, Harry found himself having a hard time falling asleep as he thought about Hagrid and Buckbeak. Unable to sleep, he decided to use his time looking at the map given to him by Fred and George. The uneventful night Harry not only cost him the map, which he now learned did not work as intended, but also resulted in a run-in past curfew with Professor Snape. Lucky for him, Professor Lupin was also up and had saved him from the wrath of Professor Snape. When he returned to bed, he did eventually fall asleep. When morning came, Harry could not get the map out of his head.

"Harry, is something wrong?" Hermione looked at him with concern. The three of them had retired to the quad after their classes, finding a spot far away from the other students.

"Yeah mate, you've been out of sorts all day." Ron added.

"Yes, actually... I wanted to tell you about something that happened last night. You know the map I got from Fred and George? The one that shows the location of anyone in the school?"

"Yes, what about it?" Hermione stared at him in confusion.

"Last night I was looking at it and saw the name Peter Pettigrew-"

"But he's dead!" Ron yelled out, interrupting him.

"Yes, he is dead. So I wanted to go take a look and ran into Professor Snape. He confiscated the map but it by lucky, Professor Lupin showed up just in time to retrieve both the map and I from Professor Snape. He took me to his classroom and warned me that I shouldn't be exploring the castle at night with the map. He lectured me on how it would be very dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands. Before he dismissed me, I told him about the map being wrong because I saw Peter Pettigrew in it. Professor Lupin looked disturbed." Harry finished as he stared at his friends expectantly.

"That's… odd. Are you sure he was disturbed?"

"I'm positive."

"Maybe you just interpreted him wrong. It was dark and you both were tired." Hermione suggested

"Maybe your right Mione, maybe I'm just thinking about this too much." Maybe the map really was wrong.

"You know what I've been thinking a lot about lately?" Ron looks at us in fear.

"Spiders making you tap dance?" Harry laughed as he thought back to Ron's momentary murmur in his sleep the previous night.

"What, no! Wait, how do you know about that?" Ron looked at Harry suspiciously. Harry only shook his head and urged him to continue. "I meant about Buckbeak. The execution is going to be soon."

"Poor Hagid, he's completely heart broken. And I can't imagine how Alex will react when she finds out." At the mention of Alex's name Harry looked at Hermione.

"What do you mean?"

"Alex is quite attached to Buckbeak. Hagrid told me she visits Buckbeak every week. Buckbeak is also pretty attached to her. I've had a peek at Alex's notebook a few times and there are tons of sketches of the hippogriff." Hermione explained.

"Maybe it's best to not tell Alex about the verdict in that case." Harry suggested.

"What verdict?"

Harry turned around to see Alex and Justin standing a few feet behind him. Alex had her hands on her hips as she stared at Harry in irritation.

"Nothing, it's nothing." He quickly said. He looked at his friends for help but they just stared at him blankly. Way to make it more obvious, Harry.

Alex shot Harry an annoyed look before turning to Hermione. "Hermione, what can't I know about?"

Justin puts a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Alex, forget about it."

Alex turned to her brother. "No way. It's obvious they don't want me to know something. I'm sick of people hiding things from me. It bullshit, I'm sick of it, and I know you are too Justin!"

Sick of what? What was Alex talking about? Harry glanced at his friends. Hermione seemed concerned while Ron looked all out frightened.

"I'll tell you Alex." Hermione stood up and walked towards Alex. "Alex, I don't know if you've noticed, but Hagrid has been looking a little down these days."

"I have noticed." Alex nodded. Hermione stared at her silently as the realization flashed on her face. "This is about Buckbeak. Do you know what happened?"

"Alex, I don't know how to tell you this… but Buckbeak... he is going to being executed today.".

"Wha-what?" Alex looked at Hermione, the horror flashing over her face as Hermione nodded sadly. Alex's eyes went to Ron and Harry for confirmation, as they settled back on at Hermione, she shook her head. "No." Abs cried before turning and sprinting away.

"Alex!" Justin called after his sister. He turned to them and frowned. "Thanks for that!" Justin shook his head in disappointed before sprinting after his sister.

As the Russo's disappeared, Harry found himself getting up to collect his things. "I think she's headed to Hagrid's, let's go!" Ron and Hermione nodded, quickly packing up their own belongings before the three of them made their way out of the quad.

~~~~~

As Harry, Ron and Hermione approached the ruins leading to Hagrid's, they heard groaning. Harry looked around until his eyes fell on the white hair. Malfoy. He was hunched over, groaning in pain while his friends stood around him, watching him with concern. Before Harry could do anything, Hermione charged past him towards Malfoy, holding her wand below his chin as she yelled profanities at him.

"Not another one!" One of Malfoy's friends groaned as he stepped up behind Malfoy. Another one?

Harry and Ron continued to look on as Hermione held her wand threateningly at a crying Malfoy. "He's not worth it, Mione." Ron called out as he and Harry approached her. Hermione held her wands at him another minute before stepping back and slowly lowering her wand.

Malfoy stared at Hermione for only a moment before he and his friends burst into ridiculed laughter. Their a amusement was short-lived as Hermione stepped back and socked Malfoy right in the nose. Malfoy fell to the floor, groaning in pain as she made her way past him. Harry and Ron stared at Malfoy in shock before running after Hermione to Hagrid's Hut.

"That was brilliant!" Ron commented excitedly.

When they finally reached the hut, they found Alex pacing the room angrily as Justin and Hagrid attempted to calm her down. Hermione quietly opened the door, allowing for the three of them to slip inside. Justin was on the couch with Hagrid, watching Alex pace back and forth and responding to her every so often. Hagrid was standing beside the couch, a helpless expression on his face. Harry could tell Alex was on the brink of a breakdown and wanted to reach out and comfort her, but stayed where he was. There is nothing you can do. Alex hates you.

Harry looked at Hagrid as he slowly made his way to the window to look outside. A grim expression came on his face as he turned back to them all. Ron nudged Harry, who walked over to Hagrid to join him beside the window. Buckbeak was sitting outside taking a nap next to a pile of pumpkins.

"Hagrid, why don't we just set him free?" He suggested.

"That's what I said!" Alex yelled as she threw her hands in the air. "He said that they'll find out that it was him. I say who gives a fuck!"

"Alex!" Justin looked at his sister with disapproval. Ron snickered from across the room.

"We will stay with you, Hagrid!" Hermione stood up with a look of determination.

"You'll do no such thing! You'll all be scuryin back to the castle! But first Ron, I have something that's yers!" Hagrid turned around and opened a tin container to reveal Scabbers, Ron's rat.

"Scabbers!" Ron ran over to Hagrid and took the rat, hugging it as Justin looked at him in disgust.

As Ron and Hermione started to bicker over Crookshanks and Scabbers, Harry stared at Alex. She was whispering something to Justin. Justin placed a hand on Alex's shoulder and shook his head.

Harry quickly looked away from Alex and towards the window when he heard the sound of a breaking pot. What the bloody hell! Hermione inspected the broken pot, lifting the rock that must have cracked it.

"Ow!" Harry's hand quickly flew to the back of his head where he felt another rock hit his head. Hagrid looked out the window to see where the rocks were coming from, his eyes going wide as he spotted something.

"It's getting dark, you all must get going!" Hagrid quickly started pushing Ron and Hermione out the door,

Justin got up and tried to pull Alex out with him but she refused to move. Shit! Harry quickly made his way over to Alex and grabbed her hands. She looked at him in surprise as he pulled her towards the door so they could follow Ron and Hermione out of the hut.

When they were finally outside, they dove behind the pile of pumpkins. Harry unknowingly held onto Alex's hand tightly as she did the same. They stayed quiet as they heard the door to Hagrid's hut close, Cornelius Fudge, Professor Dumbledore, and the executioner no longer in sight.

"Let's get out of here" Justin whispered from behind them.

They all nodded in agreement as they made their way down the path leading away from Hagrid's Hut. As the slowed down, Harry became very aware of his hand still in Alex's. He looked at their intertwined hands, a blush overcoming his face as he looked up at Alex. As soon as their eyes met, Alex pulled her hand out of Harry's before making her way over to her brother.

"They can't do this." Alex whispered.

When they were far enough away, they stopped and looked towards Hagrid's hut. They watched as the executioner made his way over to where Buckbeak was sleeping. While they could no longer see him from behind the pumpkins, the image of him lying there was still in their heads. Harry looked away as the executioner held up his scythe. His eyes went to Alex, who was still watching the scene before them in horror. As the sound of the scythe hitting something filled the silence and they could see the birds scatter in the sky, Alex shut her eyes tightly, burying her head in her brother's arms as the tears began to run down her face. Harry looked to Justin to see him watching his sister, a grim look on his face. Hermione and Ron were embracing beside him. Harry didn't dare look back at Hagrid's Hut as he wrapped an arm around Hermione, the tears streaming down his own face.


Updated!