~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 :)
4:07 PM. Alex frowned as she stared at the clock hanging over the door in her bedroom. Cedric was supposed to call her thirty-seven minutes ago. He was never late for their phone dates. If anything, Cedric was usually early. And when he wouldn't be able to make the call, he'd always call her in advance to let her know. If he forgot, he was never going to hear the end of it, she would make sure of that. She could always call him... Alex sat up on her bed to reach for her phone. She stopped when she saw her brother standing at the door, watching her in amusement.
"Hey Alex." Justin smiled.
"Hey…" Alex looked at her brother suspiciously. Justin had barely left his room this summer. The few times he talked to her was when she'd barge into his bedroom and force a conversation out of him. "Want to come in?"
Justin shook his head "No, just wanted to let you know that dad finally found his mirror and wants to talk to us tonight." Though he wasn't smiling, Alex could see the excitement in his eyes.
"Really! How'd you find out?"
"I got an owl just now. And before you ask, no, the letter didn't say anything else. Just 'Found the mirror. Talk to you tonight. With love, SB.'"
Alex smiled as her brother looked at her with joy. "I'll be ready." Justin nodded but didn't move from the doorway. "Was that it?"
He shook his head. "No. Actually, I was on my way home from Zeke's place when I ran into someone that wanted to see you."
"Who would want to see me?" Alex tried to rack her brain. No one else from Hogwarts was from America.
"If you aren't busy right now... I brought her here. She's actually on her way up now."
"She? Who..." Alex momentarily paused, seeing the look on her brother's face. "Harper."
Justin didn't give anything away, instead he turned around and walked out of the room. "Wait, Justin. You didn't-" She stopped as soon as she saw the person who appeared at the door in Justin's place. Harper. They both stared at each other silently, studying the friend they hadn't seen in months. Alex looked her friend up from head to toe. noticing that Harper had grown out her hair since she'd last seen her. Her hair was styled into two French braids, and a few pink flowers decorated the braids. She was in a strawberry-print dress that Alex recognized from one of her sketch books. Alex's eyes returned to Harper's face. She found Harper staring back at her, studying her the same way she was doing to her just a moment ago.
"Hi." Harper smiled at her awkwardly.
"Hello."
"How-" "Would-" The both said at the same time.
"You go first." Harper suggested.
"Would you like to come in?" Alex smiled awkwardly. Harper smiled, the smile reaching her eyes as she nodded and made her way to the chair by her desk. Alex patted the empty spot beside her on her bed. "Harper... you don't have to sit all the way over there."
"Right..." Harper nodded, maneuvering herself towards the bed. She seated herself on the bed facing Alex, putting her hands on her lap as she looked away in discomfort."
"So… Harper, how have you been?"
Harper looked up. "Good. I've been good. You know how it is... school and designing my awesome dresses. I've been so busy, barely had time to think."
"Right... that's great!" Alex tried to say enthusiastically. She mentally kicked herself in the head at how unconvincing she sounded.
"How about you? How was boarding school?"
"Good, very good!" Alex responded too quickly. "I got to learn a lot of new things. Got into a fair amount of trouble. You know... the normal Alex kinda stuff." She shrugged.
The two looked away from each other quickly, unsure what else to say. What now? Alex racked her brain, trying to think of something else to say. This was her best friend, how the hell did she have nothing to say? "You miss her!"
"What?"
Alex's eyes widened at the realization that she had said that out-loud. She looked at Harper in embarrassment. "I-"
"I missed you too." She smiled at Alex. "I'm so sorry Alex. I can't even believe that I said those things to you last summer! It wasn't your fault you were going away to boarding school." Alex felt the tears on her own cheeks as she saw the ones on her best friend's face.
"You don't need to apologize. I said some things I wasn't very proud of either."
Harper opened her arms to Alex, smiling wider as the tears fell down her cheeks. Alex laughed before throwing her arms around her best friend.
"I'm so sorry Harper!"
"Me too! I'm sorry too!"
Alex pulled away from their embrace, taking her best friend's hands in hers. "Harper, I know you were upset that I was leaving, but I really want to know why you reacted the way you did. I'm not mad. I know you didn't mean any of it."
Harper looked at their hands sadly. "I really didn't mean it." She looked at Alex with tear-filled eyes. "I was just worried I was going to lose you. You were going off to some cool school in Europe all year and you said there would be no access to phones... I just got scared that you'd replace me."
"Oh, Harper." Alex smiled at her friend. "You're my best friend. There is literally no one in this entire universe that could replace you. You are the only person who doesn't care nor judge me for being the mean, lazy person that I am." Alex was relieved at the laugh that escaped from Harper. "And just so you know, I did make new friends at my new school, but none of them could compare to the best friend I had waiting at home. You have best friend seniority."
"Awww, Alex. Can we promise to never fight again?" Harper squeezed her hands and looked at her hopefully. Alex nodded towards her and pulled her in for another hug.
"I promise." She squeezed her friend briefly before pulling away. She took a deep breath then looked at Harper seriously. "Harper… we need to talk."
"Sure, what is it Alex?" Harper looked at her curiously.
"Harper… I… I've had a secret that I've been keeping from you for a long, long time. Well actually, two secrets but they are related. I just think it's time I tell you the truth, since you're my best friend."
Harper looked at her with as much seriousness, nodding slowly. "You can tell me anything Alex, you know that."
"I do." Alex smiled as she got off her bed to shut the door. She took another deep breath as she turned the lock button on her door knob. When she turned back, Harper was watching her with concern.
"Is everything okay Alex? Why did you lock the door?"
"Because, I would be in a huge amount of trouble if someone in this house found out that I'm telling you all this." Alex walked back to her bed and flopped down beside Harper. "I just think it's time you knew the truth about me. All of the truth."
~~~~~
Justin returned to his room triumphantly. He was pleased with himself for doing his duty as an older brother and reuniting Alex with her best friend. Harper had been the best influence on Alex'a life. While Jerry and Theresa has been great, loving parents, they were not exactly the best 'role models.' Justin was always happy to see Harper act as an angel on Alex's shoulder, steering her in the right direction. After a few days of seeing Harper try to muster up the courage to enter the sub station, Justin decided to take matters into his own hands. After a great day out with his own friend Zeke, Justin figured he would do his job as a big brother and put things back into place in regards to his sister's friendship. Now all he could do was hope the two talk it out and restore their friendship to the way it was before. And with any luck, they'd make up and Alex would finally tell her the truth, as she was intending to do before they got shipped off to Hogwarts.
Justin smiled to himself as he took a seat at his desk. His eyes went to the chest they'd gotten from Lupin. He'd almost forgot about the letter. Justin opened the chest, taking the mirror out with one hand, and picking up the letter with his other. He would have to wait for Alex. He sighed, returning the letter to the box. He turned his focus back to the mirror. Maybe he could test it out.
"Magic Mirror for talk, let me speak to Sirius Black."
Justin stared at the mirror as his reflection began to blur and instead got replaced by the image of his father. He smiled as he looked at the man in the mirror, his hair neatly combed back and his facial hair shaved clean.
"Dad!"
"Justin, my boy! You're early!" Sirius looked at him with a smiled.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I just couldn't wait any longer so I thought I would see how this mirror looked. Maybe we can chat until Alex comes? If you're not busy that is." Justin looked at his dad hopefully.
"Of course! I was only sitting around waiting for the time to pass until I could speak to you and your sister. Where is Alex by-the-way?" He raised an eyebrow at him. Justin smiled, noting that the expression was similar to the one Alex had when she had a question.
"She's with her childhood best friend. They haven't seen each other since last summer so they are just catching up." Justin explained.
Sirius nodded thoughtfully. "Well that's good. How are you my boy?"
"I'm good. A little bummed to not be spending the summer with you, but I can't complain. Especially knowing you're alive and safe."
Sirius sighed. "I wish the same. I would have loved to have you and Alex stay with me in my family home. It's quite old but it's homey." He smiled. "Anyhow, I assume you have questions for me?"
"Yeah, tons of questions actually. I don't even know where to start." Justin said excitedly.
"We have plenty of time."
~~~~~
Max laid on the couch, staring at the ceiling as the image of the blonde-haired girl he'd met earlier that day kept flashing in his mind. Why couldn't he get Mikayla off his mind? He didn't even know the girl. Max had only met her briefly that morning, after an embarrassing fall. Second, she was Luna's cousin. While he considered Luna a good friend, especially since she was one of the few people at Hogwarts who really got him, most of his classmates found her odd. They regarded her as 'Looney Lovegood' behind her back. He still didn't entirely understand why. Maybe what he needed was advice from another girl. Alex would probably help him. Especially after seeing the book of pranking spells he got her from Diagon Alley.
Max sat up, hopping off the couch before making his way to kitchen island where he left Alex's book. He jumped back in surprise when he heard a crash against the balcony door. He stared outside, noticing the feathers stuck on the glass door.
"It must be that crazy pigeon again!" Max said excitedly to himself. He ran towards the balcony, pulling the door open to look outside. He frowned in disappointment when the bird got back in an upright position. "Damnit, you're just an owl." The owl extended its leg towards Max, showing a envelope that was attached to it by a string. Max kneeled down beside the bird.
"Man, since when do owls fly around with paper?"
"What happened? I heard a crash!" Max turned to see his dad standing at the balcony door. He inspected the balcony in concern.
"It's just a paper-carrying owl." Max shrugged. "You think people could use this to mail letters and packages. Maybe call it a mail owl!"
Jerry stared at his son silently in disbelief. He opened his mouth a few times to say something, but thought against it. "Max… you do know this is a mail owl, right? It probably has a letter for someone."
"Damnit, someone already stole my idea." Max shook his head in disappointment. "I wonder who the letter is for..."
"I don't know Max. I need to get back downstairs to help your mom with the lunch rush. Take care of this. And don't forget to feed it something as a reward." Jerry gave him a warning looking before leaving.
"But what do mail owls eat?" He looked at the owl. "You want an Oreo? I think I have one in my pocket. I was saving it for later but it's all good." Max pulled the Oreo from his pocket and extended it towards the bird. It stared at the Oreo silently for a couple seconds before widening its eyes angrily.
"Ow! Woah, out of line! Why'd you bite me!" The bird ignored the Oreo, turning and flying into the sky. Max stared after the bird in confusion. "Who gets mad at an Oreo?" He plopped the Oreo into his mouth with a shrug before standing up and making his way back into the house. He plopped himself onto the couch and opened the parchment. "Let's see who this is for."
Dear Max,
I don't know if you remember me, but this is Marietta from Hogwarts. I helped you that one day when you got lost trying to find your class. We both almost passed out as we passed the Herbology room when they were handling mandragoras. We had a few classes together included Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions. Well, I just remembered, before the year ended you told me to keep in touch, so here's me keeping in touch. Hope you are well and so is your family! Do owl me back and let me know how your summer is going.
Love,
Marietta Edgecomb
"Oh yeah, Marietta, I remember her." Max said out loud to himself. He stared at the letter, rereading the last sentence. What does it mean to owl someone back?
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