~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 :)
Alex was beyond excited for the day that lay ahead of them. After a quiet summer in Waverley Place, she was ready to reunite with her new friends. Alex didn't care so much for the event they were attending the next three days, since she still hadn't entirely grasped the game of quidditch, but was excited to be spending time with Harry, Ron, Hermione, the twins and of course, Cedric. The calls with Cedric and owls exchanged with her friends were not the same as seeing them in person, and Alex realized she really missed them.
While Alex did enjoy being back in New York, spending time with Harper and seeing Jerry and Theresa, she missed how much time Alex and Justin spent together when they were in Hogwarts. In their first year at Hogwarts, the siblings had bonded as they experienced the place where their parents had met. That summer, their relationship went back to how it was prior to Hogwarts. Justin spent most of his time holed up in his bedroom or doing his nerdy activities with Zeke. The only time he would spend with his sister was when they'd talk to their dad. These times were primarily spent listening to their father as he recalled his childhood and his time at Hogwarts. Alex had also noticed that her brother had been more distracted the past couple of days as the were preparing for their trip to the Weasley's. She suspected it had something to do with a girl and hoped to find out at Quidditch World Cup.
Alex's summer on the other hand was spent sending owls to her friends, spending time with Harper, and working at the sub station. Unbeknownst to Justin and her father, she was saving money so they could rent an apartment in England the next summer. Alex was hoping to surprise her dad and her brother with the trip at the end of the school year. She imagined a summer in England would be a great way for them to finally be together as a family. She also hoped she would be able to see her wizard friends and Cedric outside of Hogwarts.
"Alex! Justin! Max! It's time to go!" Jerry called out to the three wizards from the living room.
"I'm coming!" Alex called out before grabbing her laptop case and suitcase from beside her bed and making her way out of her bedroom. She noticed Justin leaving his own room the same time as her, a suitcase in each hand and laptop bag hanging over his shoulder.
"You sure you want to expose wizards to a laptop?" Alex asked with a smirk as they both approached the top of the stairs.
"Oh, hey! I didn't see you there. Yeah, I need my laptop. Quills are sometimes a pain and I need some access to the muggle world. How about you?" Justin looked at her laptop bag then back at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You know I can't go anywhere without my laptop... and last year you didn't allow me to take it." She frowned at him.
Justin smiled at his sister. "Well, I should let you know now that I will not be restraining you this year so have your fun little sister. After a very restricted year last year, I have decided to give you your freedom. Just... don't get into too much trouble, got it?" He said, giving his sister a warning look.
"I can definitely try not to get into too much trouble. But I can't guarantee I will. Can I ask the same of you big brother?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow at him as she looked at him.
Justin burst into laughter. "You actually think I am going to get in trouble? Be real Alex, that's not going to happen!"
"You hit Professor Snape with a spell last year." She replied flatly.
Justin stopped laughing to glare at his sister. "Fine. I promise you I will stay out of trouble. Happy?" He rolled his eyes before making his way down the stairs.
"Thanks. Just making sure you are not the reason my favorite teacher ends up hating me." She called after him as she followed her brother down the stairs.
"Alex, where is the rest of your stuff anyway? Your bag is too small to fit anything." Justin stopped as he reached the bottom step and turned to her questioningly.
"Oh yeah, I just shrunk my other bags and placed them into this smaller suitcase." She shrugged as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"As long as I don't have to carry your bags again this time, you do whatever you need to." Justin turned away from his sister and walked towards the fireplace.
"What are you doing?"
"You three are going by floo powder today." Jerry explained as he walked over to them from the kitchen. "Justin, why don't you and Alex go first?"
"Okay." Justin nodded. "Alex." He extended his elbow towards her as he grasped the handle to his two suitcases with his other hand. Alex gave Jerry and Theresa a quick hug before joining her brother at the fireplace. She watched in fascination as he took some ashes from a bowl over the fireplace and threw it into front of them. Alex blinked for only a second and suddenly they were no longer in the Russo living room. She looked around in wonder as they stood in a unfamiliar home. She looked around at the rustic furniture around the room, an air of familiarity hitting her.
"Where are we?" She asked as she looked around the room for any indication of who the home belonged to.
"Alex! My dear, it's good to see you!" Alex turned in surprised to see the ginger-haired woman making her way towards them. It took her a moment to realize it was the same woman who had helped her at King's Cross station on their first day of school. Mrs. Weasley? The woman quickly came forward and pulled her in for a hug. Alex awkwardly hugged the woman back as she looked at Justin pleadingly. When she pulled away from Alex, she turned to Justin excitedly. "And you must be Justin! Ginny's told me so much about you!" She said before pulling Justin in for a hug next. Alex couldn't help but snicker as his face flushed red.
"Mrs. Weasley, is this your home?"
"Yes, my dear! Welcome! Everyone should be down soon. We already had breakfast though. Are you two hungry?" Justin and Alex both shook their heads as she led them towards the living room. "You two sit, I will go call the others. Fred and George are just itching to see you Alex!" She smirked as she thought about her two closest friends. She was definitely itching to see them too.
"Sit, sit. They'll be a while. I'll go get some snacks from the cellar." Justin smiled appreciatively and sat down as Mrs. Weasley made her way out of the living room. Alex was about to join her brother when she heard footsteps making their way down the stairs. She looked in the direction it came from to see a flustered Harry standing at the base of the stairs. A large smile appeared on his face as soon as he saw Alex abs he quickly made his way towards her, pulling her into a hug. Alex hugged him back, realizing how much she had really missed her friend that summer.
"Happy you're here Alex." He whispered before pulling away from their embrace.
"Me too." She responded with a smile. "How have you been?"
He shrugged and sat down on the couch with her. "I've been good, just missing Hogwarts." He looked past Alex, noticing that she wasn't alone. "Oh, hello Justin!"
"Hi Harry. Oh good, you noticed me." Justin laughed as Harry's face flushed red in embarrassment. He opened his mouth to respond but they stopped as a crashing noise came from the kitchen followed by coughing.
"What was that?" Justin stood up and walked towards the kitchen
Alex and Harry glanced at each other in concern before following him. When Justin reached the kitchen, he immediately burst into laughter. Harry joined in as Alex looked over his shoulder to see what they were laughing at. Alex smiled as her eyes fell on Max. He was laying on the floor of the Weasley kitchen with soot, his luggage littered around him.
~~~~~
While Mr. Weasley argued with Fred and George about not pranking anyone at the Quidditch World Cup, Justin and the others followed after them. Alex was engrossed in a conversation with Harry and Hermione about her summer and Max was telling Ron a story about his pet frog. Justin settled for walking silently beside Ginny.
After they had found Max in the kitchen, Harry and Justin had helped Max pick up his luggage and remove the soot from his clothes. When they returned to the living room, they had found the rest of the Weasleys and Hermione had arrived. After quick 'hellos' and introductions over tea, Mr. Weasley announced it was time to go. He had everyone grab their bags for the two-day trip and they headed out. Justin found that from the time they had arrived at the Weasley home, he couldn't muster up more than a 'hi' to Ginny. Why was it so hard to speak to her in person? He had no trouble calling and texting her all that summer.
"Have you spoken to your father lately?" Justin snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Ginny beside him. She was looking at him intently with a smile.
Smile back. Answer the question. Do something! Justin nervous coughed before nodding. "Oh, uh right. Yes I have. We spoke just last night actually. We told him that we were going to the Quidditch World Cup. He's really happy to see us getting along so well with Harry. He also said he is happy we have friends in the Weasleys. His words exactly were that 'they're good people'." He smiled as he watched the blush appear on Ginny's face at the compliment.
"Cedric!" Justin looked ahead of him to see Alex was no longer with their friends as she jogged ahead. He looked past his sister to see Cedric standing a few yards ahead of them with a man he assumed to be his father. As soon as Alex reached him, the two were in an embrace. Justin looked away awkwardly, still not entirely comfortable with seeing his sister doing any sort of PDA. Instead his eyes fell on Harry, who was walking beside Hermione, a frown on his face as he stared at the couple. Justin wasn't sure if he pitied Harry or felt responsible for the way he felt. Maybe if he hadn't forbade Alex from being friends with Harry, they would have ended up together.
"Alex seems happy." Ginny whispered to Justin as she looked at Harry sympathetically. "But it's obvious that Cedric isn't the only boy that fancies your sister. If only she'd open her eyes."
"I think her eyes are open, she just has another great guy standing in front of her." Ginny looked at Justin with a raised eyebrow. "Cedric is really a great guy."
"That he is. But so is Harry." Ginny gave him a small smile before walking ahead to join the others. Justin sighed. He agreed, but they couldn't dwell on what could have happened...
"Hey Cedric!" Justin said as he extended his hand towards his friend. Cedric took his hand happily with the hand that wasn't holding Alex to him.
"Hello Justin. How have you been?"
"Great! I'm ready for the new year to start and all the new adventures that come with it. And of course the OWLs, I have been-"
"Justin, no one wants to hear about how you spent your summer studying for the OWLs" Alex interrupted. "Don't bore my boyfriend to death!" She frowned at her brother as Cedric suppressed his laughter with a cough.
"It's alright Alex, I don't mind. I actually appreciate your brother intellect. It's refreshing and the reason why I befriended him. I prefer it over the confusing words that come out of some peopleā¦" Cedric explained as he looked pointedly at Max.
"Aww, and here I thought you befriended him to get close to me." Alex winked at Cedric, causing his cheeks to flush red.
"Alright young ones, time for us to get going." Cedric's father approached them. "Oh, by the way, the name is Amos Diggory. You must be Justin, Alex's older brother I presume?" Mr. Diggory smiled at him as he extended his hand.
"Yes sir, it's a pleasure to meet you." Justin shook his hand. Introductions were made with the rest of the group before Mr Diggory instructed everyone to follow him up the hill.
Mr. Weasley walked beside Mr. Diggory, with the twins following right height them. Cedric and Alex walked together, their hands intertwined as they spoke in hushed voices. Where were they going? Justin wondered. After a few minutes of walking, they reached the top of the hill where Mr. Diggory and Mr. Weasley stopped in front of an old boot. The two looked at it admiringly before turning their attention to the others
"Why did we come all the way here for an old boot?" Alex and Harry said at the same time.
"It's not a boot. It's a port key." Fred answered, rolling his eyes.
"Grab on, all of you!" Mr. Diggory said before placing a hand on the boot. Justin did the same, looking around him in doubt as everyone joined in. He looked to his sister to see she had one hand on the boot while her other hand was around Cedric's neck. Cedric had an arm securely wrapped around Alex's waist.
"Harry, touch the boot!" Mr. Weasley called out as Mr. Diggory began to count down. Harry quickly put a hand on the the boot as Mr. Diggory counted down to zero. They slowly descended into the air and began to spin. As they sped up and descended higher and higher into the sky, Justin looked around in panic.
After a few moments of spinning and Justin fearing for his life, Mr. Diggory telecasted his hold on the boot. "Let go!"
Justin looked at the man in disbelief. Is he crazy? Why would they let go? Justin looked around him to see that Mr. Weasley and the twins had also let go as well as Cedric, and Alex. Ron, Hermione, Harry, Max, Ginny and Justin were still clutching on.
"Let go!" Mr. Diggory called out again.
Ginny gave him and encouraging smile before releasing her hold on the boot. As she flew away from them, Justin took a deep breath. Either I die here and the wizard world loses one of the smartest wizards they could have acquired, or a miracle happens and I live. We'll see. I've probably been in worse situations than this because of Alex. Justin finally released his hold on the boot, yelling at the top of his lungs the moment he let go. As he watched the other all leave the boot, they began falling to the ground immediately and the boot disappeared from site. Justin closed his eyes, readying himself for a very painful drop to his death. Not even a moment later, he felt his back hit the ground hard. He groaned as he opened his eyes, half relieved to find himself alive. He looked around him to see the twins, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Max laying on the grass around him, holding their heads and backs in pain as they started to get up. Justin looked around in concern, noticing his sister was not among them.
"Where's Alex?" He said as he looked around in panic. As his eyes went to the sky, he was relieved to see Mr. Diggory, Mr. Weasley, And Cedric gently floating to the ground, looks of amusement on their face. Justin relaxed when he noticed Cedric was holding Alex to his chest.
"Woah, let's do that again!" Max said excitedly as the others stared at him in disbelief.
Updated
