~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 :)


"How many time have I told you that you can't ditch class at Hogwarts." Remus gave Alex a disapproving look as he stared at Alex through his two-way hand mirror.

"I ditched DADA enough times that you should expect it at this point." Alex shrugged. She was hiding away in the green houses again, knowing that there shouldn't be a class in session at that hour.

Remus shook his head. "It's a wonder how you received such high marks."

"I think it was because my godfather was the Professor." Alex smirked.

"What class are you missing right now? Please don't tell me I'll be getting another owl from Albus."

"He owls you when I miss class?"

"He owls me whenever you do something wrong. He knows it'll get to your father." Remus narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. "You gave us quite a scare when you disappeared. Sirius told me you visited him."

"So it was real!" Alex smiled excitedly. "I haven't been certain it actually happened since we haven't been able to talk to dad since we got to Hogwarts."

"Indeed, it was real. Your father is already planning for your future visits. He hopes you'll figure out how you did it the first time."

"I need to figure it out. Things are a little different this year so I've been a bit preoccupied." She sighed, thinking about her awkward encounter with Cedric. Things were very different.

"I recognize that expression. What's going on in that head of yours?"

"It's... nothing. This whole tournament thing is just really a lot. Everyone is so excited because they don't know the champions but I do and it sucks to see them in danger. I could barely watch the first challenge." Alex frowned.

"Your father said he talked with you about that. You promised to be supportive." Remus looked at her seriously.

"I am being supportive! I just still don't like it. And it's just everything is different with Justin and Harry and Cedric." Alex sighed. Until that point she realized she hadn't spoken her frustrations out loud. There was no one to tell, really. Her friends seemed to know there was something off between Alex and Cedric, but didn't know why or were not comfortable asking Alex why... not that she would tell them. Justin had been so preoccupied with studying for the OWLs and spending time with Ginny, she barely saw him. And with Cedric... things were just tense. He didn't seem ready to talk to her about Harry and Alex didn't want to push him into talking to her about it. She was surprised he even wanted her to go to the Yule Ball with her. Even though he didn't plan to spend time with her there beyond the entrance and first dance.

"Alex?"

She snapped out of her thoughts, turning her attention back the mirror where Remus was staring back at her in concern.

"You know, it usually helps to talk about it." He gave her an encouraging smile.

"I don't know if it's that simple."

"Why don't you tell me about it and I'll be the judge of that." Remus looked at Alex expectantly.

She stared at him a moment before sighing in relief. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

~~~~~

Justin sat dejectedly in the library, staring at the egg sitting in front of him while he waited for Hermione to join him for their DADA study session. It had been three weeks since the first challenge and he had yet to figure out the egg. While he had a few months to figure out the clue to the next challenge, it bothered him that he hadn't figured it out right off the bat.

"Justin."

He looked up, expecting to see Hermione alone but smiled when he noticed Ginny walking beside her.

"Hello Hermione." He stood up as Ginny made her way over to the vacant seat beside him. "Hi Ginny, I wasn't expecting you." He stepped closer to her, planting a quick kiss on her cheek as he pulled out the chair beside him.

"I was starting to wonder how you were running late." Justin turned back to Hermione as he settled back into his seat.

"Err... well I was trying to find Alex after class." Hermione looked at Justin in concern as she took her seat.

"Wasn't she in class?"

"No... she decided not to go to Potions as we were making our way to class. I feel partially responsible. If I hadn't been asking her so many questions about Adam Good-"

"The Durmstrang quidditch player? What about him?" Justin cut her off in confusion. "She doesn't even know him."

"No... but she was hoping to ask him for a favor. Ron said she was trying to get him an autograph."

"Do you think he did something to upset her." He asked in concern. He clenched his fists as he started to think about how he kept shamelessly staring at his sister at the Quidditch World Cup.

"I'm not actually sure... she didn't really tell me what happened. But... I heard a few rumors..." Hermione trailed off as she glanced in Ginny's direction.

Justin turned to Ginny. "What rumors?" He demanded.

"Well... it's just... I heard a few third year Ravenclaws talking about how they saw Alex talking to Good after the first challenge. Then she approached him in the courtyard earlier today and apparently they were talking about going to the Yule Ball."

"What!?" Justin stood up immediately. "But Alex has a boyfriend! That's a lie!"

Hermione and Ginny exchanged reluctant looks.

"What?" He demanded.

"Well it's just that... I've heard that Cedric has been spending a lot of time with Cho lately." Hermione hesitated. "Some of Cho's friends think he'll ask her to the Yule Ball."

Justin sat back down as he stared at Hermione in shock. He knew that Alex and Cedric were having issues... but his sister never said anything that would make him believe they had broken up. Why hadn't she talked to him about this?

"It could just be a rumor Justin. Alex would have said something to us if she and Cedric had broken up." Ginny placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Or maybe Alex's feelings changed." Hermione suggested, a blank expression on her face. Justin shook his head, already knowing who she was referring to.

He didn't know what was going on with his sister, but he was going to find out.

~~~~~

"And now things are weird with Cedric and me. I was going to skip the Yule Ball so he wouldn't be stuck going with me but it looks like I'm still his date. I'm not even sure if he wants me to be his date." Alex bit her lip nervously as she finished explaining what had transpired between Harry, Cedric and her since they had returned to Hogwarts. She tried to hold back the wave of emotion as the image of Cedric's hurt eyes came to memory.

"Looks like you got yourself into a bit of a problem. I always liked Diggory. He is a good boy. He did well in all his classes, especially Defense Against the Dark Arts. I believe he is interested in working for the ministry or playing quidditch after he graduates."

"Yes, he's torn on which direction to take." Alex smiled. "I told him that he'd do amazing no matter which one he does."

"Alex... you don't have feelings for Harry, do you?"

Alex frowned. "It's not that I don't have feelings for him... it's just that... I have stronger feelings for Cedric. When I think about not being with Cedric and being with Harry, I really, really don't like it. And when I think about being with Cedric and just being friends with Harry, it makes me sad but... I'm okay with it. I just think that with Harry... it's just a crush."

"You're also really young and have plenty of time to think about your feelings." Remus smiled at Alex. "You don't have to decide who you're going to spend the rest of your life with now."

"I'm not going to spend the rest of my life with Harry." Alex said quickly. "Harry's great... but... I guess I just don't imagine us together. Not anymore anyway." Alex smiled a bitter smile. "I'm pretty sure everyone was gunning for Harry and I. Dad would have been over the moon, wouldn't he?" She laughed.

"Your father wants whatever makes you happy."

"But..." Alex looked at him expectantly.

He sighed in defeat. "Fine, but don't tell your father I told you this. He and James were secretly planning your wedding behind Arianna and Lily's back. They were hoping I'd eventually get married and have a daughter that could marry Justin." Remus smiled as he shook his head at the memory. "Those two and their crazy ideas."

"Yeap... crazy." Alex sighed.

"Alex, I think you know what you need to do."

"I do?" Alex stared at him in confusion.

"Yes." Remus nodded. "You are going to talk to Cedric and tell him how you feel. You both can't avoid this conversation forever. And if he can't get past what happened with Harry, then at least he knows how you feel."

"I guess..." Alex sighed. "Can you promise me something?"

"Anything." He smiled at her.

"Don't tell my dad or Justin about what happened with Harry. I just don't want to make things awkward. Harry and I are keeping our distance for the time being but I don't think anyone has caught on about that yet. I just want things to go back to the way they were before I kissed him." Alex frowned.

"Don't you think telling Justin about it will make you feel better?" Remus looked at Alex with concern.

"It might... but Harry is one of our closest friends. I just don't want things to get awkward between them. Or with Cedric. Cedric isn't acting any different with Justin either... though with how busy Justin has been with Ginny, I doubt he'd notice anyway." Alex said bitterly.

"Alex." He stared at her with disapproval.

Alex rolled her eyes. "I'll be okay. I will take your advice and build up the courage to talk to Cedric... when I'm ready." She smiled at her godfather. "Just please don't tell them. I don't even know what to tell dad about Cedric."

"Sirius did ask me about that." Remus laughed. "So you finally told your father about your boyfriend."

"Yeah... I might have just slipped it in before I made my exit."

"Clever. Alex, don't hesitate to reach out to me if you want to talk more. About anything. You know I'm here to listen." Remus smiled back at her. "I rather look forward to our chats."

"So do I! So I had some questions about DADA. This new Professor is really weird and he looks really angry when I raise my hand to ask something. I think it's because of Max. Do you have some time for the boring stuff too?"

"For you, of course Alex."


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