~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 :)
A smile spread across Alex's face as she scanned the bedroom again. She threw herself back onto the bed giddily as she let herself imagine how she would fill the room once she was actually there. Last time Alex was in the room of requirements, it had created an almost exact duplicate of the Gryffindor common rooms. This must have been a duplicate of where she actually desired to be. It wasn't the real thing, but for now it was the closest she was going to get, and she was okay with that. Alex scanned the room, noting that while the room wasn't her style, it was definitely the color scheme she would have selected for herself. Even the furniture was black, just as she would have liked. It was close to perfect. She wondered how he guessed the color scheme so well. She couldn't recall a time they had discussed anything related to colors. Maybe Justin mentioned it to him. She wondered if the room of requirements had only recreated her dream bedroom or her actual bedroom. Possibly the whole house? She would love to see the home their father waited to welcome them into.
She jumped off the bed, her eyes landing on the door in the middle of the room, right beside the desk. Only one way to find out. She walked towards it, her hands going for the doorknob. She let herself expect nothing on the other side of the door, better to have low expectations so not to be disappointed. She was both thrilled and surprised to find the door actually led to a hallway. Bingo! Since she was there... might as well sneak a peak at the rest of the house. Despite her current anger towards her brother, she couldn't wait to rub it in his face that she got to see the house before him, even if it wasn't the real thing. As she walked down the hallway she scanned the walls, smiling as she examined baby pictures after baby picture of her and Justin. She stopped at a table at the end of the hall, where a giant frame rested with a picture of her mother, father, baby Justin and baby Alex. It must have been one of their last family photos before their mother died. Alex stared at it, letting her hands run over the photo of her mother. A bittersweet feeling coming over her. She recalled in her most recent conversation with their father, he had mentioned that his favorite room in the house had become the living room. He had recently printed dozens of family photos, which he framed to decorate the living room. It brought back so many happy memories for him of their childhood and his time with their mother. Alex's eyes went towards the stairs as the idea of seeing the source of her father's joy excited her.
"But Remus-" Alex stopped immediately as a familiar voice came from down the hall. No way. She crept quietly towards the door, realizing she hadn't noticed the open door as she made her way down the hall moments ago. The voice became clearer as she approached the doorway.
"Remus, I can't just sit here and do noting! I have no idea what I'm going to do but I do know that I could care less of the risk. I have to know where she is!"
Alex stopped outside the door, peaking in through the small opening. She smiled as she spotted the familiar curly brown hair on the back of her father's head. It really was him.
"Justin told me that he hadn't seen her since yesterday. He assumes Albus is going to find her but I don't care! I want to make sure she is okay for myself!
He talked to Justin? What were they talking about. Alex took another step forward, slowly pushing the door open so she could better see her father. She stepped halfway into the room, her heart beating in excitement as she took in her father. Even with his back to Alex, she could tell it was him. He was leaning beside a desk, holding a phone to his ear as he looked out the window. Alex could see him brushing his hand through his hair, something she recalled her brother did often when he was frustrated. She wondered what he was frustrated about.
"I know Remus, but I don't care! I need to know that my only daughter is okay!"
His daughter? It now made sense to Alex. Her father was worried about her and was willing to risk his own safety to find her. But she couldn't allow him to risk getting caught again. Not for her.
"Dad! You can't go to Hogwarts!" She jumped into the room, stepping towards her father.
Sirius turned quickly, his eyes searching frantically until they fell on Alex. Alex smiled weakly as she stared at him. A bit of guilt ran through her as she noticed his exhausted, bloodshot eyes. He stared at her silently in disbelief.
"Umm... hi dad."
Alex saw the click in her father's head as his disbelief morphed to relief and a smile formed on his lips. "Remus, I will call you back."
Sirius put the phone down slowly, his eyes not leaving Alex's. Fearing that if he looked away for a moment, she would disappear. He took a few steps towards her, a hint of curiousness in his eyes.
"Dad? What is up with you?" Alex looked at him with a funny expression.
"It is really you." He quickly made his way over to Alex, pulling her into his embrace. Alex wrapped her arms around her father's waist as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "You're really here! You're safe! I thought… I was thinking the worst!" He pulled away from her to look at her, his hands on either side of Alex, holding her close to him. "You are well?"
"I am, especially now that I am with you." Alex smiled as she let a few tears escape her eyes. He smiled at her, wiping the tears gently with his fingers.
"Where did you go? How did this happen? How did you get here? Why didn't you tell Justin? What-"
Alex quickly covered his mouth with her hand, giggling as he stared at her in surprise. "Dad, slow down. One question at a time." She removed her hand and looked at him expectantly.
"Alex. I-" He stopped suddenly, unsure where to start.
"Dad, I'm really okay. I am in front of you and I was never in any danger. I don't even know what would make you think I was in danger in the first place. I think you forget, I'm your daughter." She smirked at him.
"But where have you been this whole night?"
That is the question. Where was she? Alex had assumed she was in the room of requirements. That would be the only thing that would explain the note. But she was here, in her dad's home, with her dad. Wasn't she? It's not like the room of requirements would create a copy of him. Right?
"Alex?"
"Oh. Sorry. Umm… I think I was in the Room of Requirements? Maybe I still am? I'm not really sure anymore to be honest. I just know I somehow ended up in what I assume is my bedroom last night. I must have fallen asleep. I woke up this morning in my bed. I'm really not entirely sure how I got there in the first place. I originally thought I was in a copy of your house and started exploring when I heard you down the hall..."
"Wait, you mean to tell me you were here all night?" Disbelief flickered on his face as he looked at her. Maybe if she wasn't so upset the previous night, she would have questioned her whereabouts. She was slightly mad at herself for not noticing sooner. She could have reunited with her father sooner.
"Alex?"
"Oh, right. Sorry." She looked at him apologetically. "And yes... I guess I have been here all night."
Sirius released a frustrated sigh. He must have been thinking the same thing as her. "I have been worried sick about you since yesterday night! Do you even know what time it is? It's late afternoon! Your brother is going mad waiting for you to be located! And who knows what search party Albus has going on back at Hogwarts. Do you even realize how seriously worried sick we have all been?"
"I'm sorry." Alex bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that now threatened to spill at seeing her father's disappointment. "I... I was just so upset. I didn't mean to upset anyone. I just wanted to get away. First Cedric and then Justin and Harry. I just didn't know what to do. They could die! And-" Alex couldn't continue as more tears came and her vision blurred.
"Oh, Alex." Sirius led her to his bed, seating her at the edge so he could kneel on the floor in front of her. He took one of her hands in his own, squeezing it gently in comfort. "Talk to me my sweet little girl."
Alex looked at her dad as she wiped her face of the tears. As she stared at her dad, she felt a sense of comfort come over her. "I'm just scared of losing them. Especially with everything my friends have told me about this tournament. What if they die?"
"Alex, do you really think that Justin and Harry would lie to you about entering the tournament? Really think about it. What reason would those two have for lying to you about something like this?" Sirius looked at her, an expectant look on his face.
"Because they want fame and glory?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, a frown forming on his lips. "Alex."
"Maybe..." She racked her brain for an excuse but nothing came. "Fine, no! You happy? Justin is too much of a wimp and Harry doesn't want any more attention on him without being 'The Boy who Lived.'" Alex looked away as a sense of embarrassment washed over her.
"Alex. I know you're scared for them, but for just one moment put yourself in their shoes. Imagine what they are going through. You know them both so well and you know neither of those two boys want to be a part of this tournament. I'm sure Justin and Harry are as frightened for themselves as you are for them. Perhaps more."
He was right and she knew it. Alex frowned as she finally looked at her father. "So what should I do?"
"Be there for them. Your brother and Harry need you now more than they need anyone else. Your strength is their strength. They'll be strong and get past this if they have their friends and family by their side."
"I guess you're right." Alex frowned. "Dammit, no. You are right. Why are parents always right?"
Sirius chuckled as he shook his head at her. "I guess it comes with the job. Merlin knows I was always wrong when I was young."
Alex rolled her eyes as she stood up off the bed. Sirius stood with her, watching his daughter curiously as she smoothed down the front of her robes.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to get myself back to school to support Harry and Justin... and Cedric too perhaps." She smiled at him.
Sirius stared at her in confusion. "Who's Ced-"
"I love how you decorated my room." Alex looked at her dad with a wide smile. Hoping her dad didn't notice her quick change in subject.
"Really? I was hoping you'd like it. I didn't get any decor or accents, just the furniture. I figured you'd want to personalize you room yourself. We can change the walls or curtains if it's not to your liking. I can-"
"Dad. I love it." She stood on her toes, placing a quick kiss on her dad's cheek. "Thank you."
Sirius smiled warmly at his daughter. "Do you want to see the rest of the house?"
She shook her head. "I do... but I'll wait for Harry and Justin to be with us. Wouldn't be very fair... I guess."
"That's very sweet of you Alex."
"Just this once... because I owe them." Alex rolled her eyes as she looped her arm through her father's. Sirius smiled at her as they walked out of the room and into the hallway.
"I hope we can do this again... once we figure out how this even occurred." Sirius said to her.
"Absolutely. I need to figure out how to get here again first. Though... I think I really desperately needed my dad and that is how I got here. Maybe I need to be on the verge of death and it'll let me come back." Alex joked. She looked at her dad to see him frowning at her. "Sorry, I promise it won't come to that."
"When I say I want you to get into as much trouble as possible, I mean mischief. Maybe a little danger. Nothing life-threatening. Try to stay out of the wrong kind of trouble." Sirius narrowed his eyes at his daughter as they stopped outside her bedroom door.
"But is there really even a right kind of trouble?" Alex raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
Sirius smiled. "You make a good point. Just... stay safe. Don't give me a reason to worry for my little girl."
"I'm not so little anymore dad." Alex laughed.
"You'll always be my little girl." Sirius said as he pulled her into his arms. "That will never change no matter how old you get."
"I love you dad." Alex said as she squeezed her father.
"I love you too Alex." He placed a light kiss on her forehead before pulling away. "Now go inside before I change my mind about letting you out of my sight."
"You won't come in with me?"
"I don't know enough about how the Room of Requirements works. For now, let's just keep me out of your room." Alex looked at bedroom door, nodding in agreement.
"I guess you're right. Wouldn't want you back at Hogwarts..." Alex said with a frown.
"Promise me you will hear out your brother and Harry."
"I promise." She smiled at him as she pulled the door open, moving halfway through the door
Sirius smiled at his daughter momentarily before a strange look appeared on his face. "Wait, Alex. You never told me who Cedric was."
"Oh... right." Alex paused, staring at him awkwardly. "Umm... he's my boyfriend. He happens to be in the tournament too."
Confusion passed over his face as he looked at Alex. "You have a boyfriend? Hold up... if he's in the TriWizard tournament, that means he's an older boy. Alex, are you dating an older boy?"
"Bye dad." Alex smiled at him as she gave him a quick wave, pulling the door closed after her. She would deal with that conversation later... maybe.
She took a deep breath as she walked across her bedroom, towards the one bare wall in the room. Guess it was time for her to face whatever was waiting for her back at Hogwarts.
Updated!
