~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 :)
"Where have you been?" Justin demanded as he approached the end of the Gryffindor table, where Alex was seated, chatting animatedly with Fred and George.
Alex paused, mid sentence and looked up at her brother with a frown. "Hello to you too Justin. Jeez." She rolled her eyes before turning her attention back to the twins. "So I told Lupin about it and he said the best way to get out is-"
"Alex!" Justin cut in as he dropped down on the bench beside her. "Can we talk? Maybe in private. I haven't been able to catch up with you in days."
Alex sighed in frustration before looking back at her brother again. "I'd be glad to... after dinner, but I don't really have much to update you on. I've been going to classes, going to detention... whenever I have detention... and that's about it. I talked to Lupin today... he says hi."
"When did you- you know what, forget it. Why am I hearing that you ditched Potions today?"
"Because I did. I just needed a breather and I already talked to Professor Snape about it. He's annoyed and gave me detention... but he told me I can join Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tomorrow. I have a free period and Muggle Studies during that time so I should be okay. Does that sum it up for you?" Alex gave her brother an annoyed smile.
"No, I'd like to hear more about what happened today with Adam Good." Justin looked at her seriously. Her face looked more irritated as her smile dropped.
"Adam Good? What other trouble have you been up to Alex?" Fred snickered.
"With Good, I'm sure lots of trouble." George smirked, nudging his brother.
"Nothing happened! I don't know why everyone is making a big deal out of this. I was asking him for an autograph, for Ron! Then he tried to ask me to the Yule Ball. Before I could decline, Cedric showed up. I introduced them to each other, then we left. That's all that happened." Alex crossed her arms over her chest and stood up as she stared her brother down angrily. "I'd appreciate it if you let me live my life without you questioning my actions constantly!"
"I wouldn't have to constantly questions you if there weren't rumors constantly circulating about you!" Justin stood up and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Maybe you shouldn't listen to rumors and trust your sister is handling things as she should."
"Kind of hard to do when you're you, Alex."
"Hmm, then I have an idea. Maybe you should tell your girlfriend to stop talking to you about your sister!" She said, raising her voice.
"Don't bring Ginny into this!" Justin replied through clenched teeth. His patience was growing thin as he stared back at his sister angrily.
"She brought her own self into it when she talked shit about me! I don't see you denying it was her anyway!" Alex yelled back.
Justin stared back at his wordlessly, clenching his fists. A crowd of Gryffindors had formed around them but he ignored them as he looked at his sister. He felt a hand on his shoulders, pulling him back from Alex as the whispers grew around them. He moved back, his eyes not leaving Alex.
"Alex, maybe we should take a walk..." Justin broke eye contact with Alex to look beside them. Max was standing between the two with an expression of concern. "I think you both need to cool down."
"Fine." Alex shot a sour look at Justin before marching past them. Max sent Justin an apologetic look before following after her.
"Ridiculous." Justin shook his head in irritation as his sister disappeared through the Great Hall doors.
~~~~~
"Sorry you had to get between that Max." Alex sighed as they stopped in front of the stairways leading to the Gryffindor Common Room. "I'm just so annoyed that everyone is making a big deal about me talking to Adam. Even Cedric was tense about it yesterday."
"You talked to Cedric?" Max looked at her in surprise.
Alex had almost forgotten that she had told Max about the tension between her and Cedric. He was the only one who knew besides Lupin.
"Not really. He cut in when I was talking to Adam. He and I are are going to the dance together... I guess to keep up appearances." Alex frowned.
"I thought you were going to skip the dance." Max stared at her with a blank expression.
"So did I." She sighed again. "I mean I want to go with him... it's just things are weird. I'll figure it out. Lupin suggested talking to him... I just don't know how."
"Have you told Justin?"
"No. I just wish he would leave me alone! I don't like talking about all this. I haven't told anyone besides you and Lupin. I told Fred and George that Cedric and I aren't in a good place right now but I didn't tell them why. They caught on that I didn't want to talk about it but offered to punch Cedric if he hurt me." Alex laughed. "Little do they know..."
"How are you dealing with the competition?"
Alex shrugged. "As good as I can. My dad said to be supportive. How can I be supportive when, one, I'm keeping my distance from Harry, two, Justin and I are fighting, and three, things are tense between Cedric and I?"
"That does complicate things." Max smiled awkwardly at her.
She sighed. "I think I'm going to head to bed. I have a headache and I need to wake up early to talk to Lupin again. He is going to help order my dress for the Yule Ball so it can be delivered in time." She rolled her eyes. "He was horrified when I told him I planned to show up in a simple dress I brought from home. He said it wasn't dressy enough."
"I guess I'm lucky second years are not invited." Max smiled.
"Very lucky." Alex glanced towards the stairs. "Ugh... maybe I should have let myself get sorted into Slytherin. At least they don't need to take a bunch of stairs to get to their dormitories."
"I'll see you later Alex." Max laughed.
"Bye Max." Alex waved at her brother lazily before trudging towards the stairs.
~~~~~
"Are you okay Justin?" Ginny looked at him with concern as the crowd of students dispersed, returning to their seats. Justin figured they were probably off to talk more about his sister. "Justin?"
"I'm fine." He deadpanned. Ginny flinched slightly but didn't make any effort to move away from him. "I'm sorry. It's just annoying that Alex isn't telling me what is going on with her. She and I talked almost daily last year but lately, we'll go days without seeing each other for more than a few minutes. I thought after she saw our dad, everything was okay between us."
"It might not have anything to do with you. She might just be taking her frustrations with Cedric out on you." Ginny suggested.
"But Alex said that Cedric showed up while she was talking to Adam. They couldn't have broken up. Are you sure about the rumors you heard?" He looked at his girlfriend in confusion.
"I mean they are rumors... it's just, a lot of people have noticed they haven't seen Cedric and Alex together at all since the term started."
"I haven't either to be honest." Justin admitted. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen Alex interact with Cedric at all when they were in the Champions tent before the first challenge. She seemed worried for Cedric, but the two had not spoken a word to the other the entire time she was there. "I want to ask Cedric but I don't want to upset Alex more."
"It's better to not get involved." Ginny agreed. "You and Cedric have a lot to worry about with the tournament as is."
Justin sighed. "You're right. I guess for now I'll just give Alex some space. I don't think I have the mental capacity to babysit her anyway."
"Let's eat then. They have cobbler for dessert, your favorite." Ginny smiled encouragingly.
"Sounds great." Justin smiled back.
~~~~~
"You've been hard to find."
Alex groaned internally at the familiar voice. She had found a bench in a fairly abandoned area of the castle to take a nap. The last couple of days since her fight with Justin, Alex had done her best avoid the Great Hall and Courtyards during the peak hours she knew her brother or any of her friends would likely be around. She did her best to not run into her friends or siblings anytime outside of class those few days.
"I know you're awake."
"I wasn't pretending to be asleep." She opened her eyes and looked up to see Adam leaning over her, looking at her with amusement. Alex frowned as she sat herself up. "What do you want?"
"We never finished our conversation the other day. And now the ball is tomorrow."
"And how is this any of my concern?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well I asked you, but you never gave me a response. As I recall, Diggory interrupted us." Adam rolled his eyes as he mentioned Cedric.
"Cedric is my boyfriend and I'm going to the dance with him." Alex responded flatly.
Adam smiled. "Are you?"
Alex looked at him with irritation. She opened her mouth to respond but was distracted by a hand appearing on her shoulder. "Hey Alex." She turned to see her brother standing beside her, Mikayla trailing behind him.
"Oh, hi Max. Hello Mikayla." She turned back to Adam to see his attention was now on her brother and Mikayla.
"Mikayla. You didn't tell me you knew Alex..." His eyes went to Max and he extended his hand towards her brother. "Adam Good."
"Max Russo." Max responded, shaking his hand.
Adam looked at him in surprise. "You're Alex's brother?"
"Yes, her little brother." He nodded before looking towards Alex. "Mikayla and I were headed to the owlry so she can send her parents a letter. Did you want to come with us so you can send your letter to dad."
Alex looked at him in confusion. "Letter to dad? I don't-"
"Max was just telling me how you wrote a letter to your dad but was too lazy to send it by owl. You can join us! I always enjoy company when I'm taking a long trip." Mikayla quickly cut in. She gave Alex a pointed look.
"Right... sure." She turned back to Adam. "I still need that autograph." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Come on Alex." Mikayla grabbed Alex by the arm and pulled her away. Max followed after them after glancing at an amused Adam.
"Bye Alex. Bye Mikayla." He called after them
Another new Chapter :)
