~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 :)


"Cedric said something about taking a bath, that's all I know." Justin shrugged as he and Harry made their way to the prefect bathroom in only swim trunks and robes, eggs in hand.

"What if putting it in the bath damages the egg and Cedric is just trying to get ahead?" Harry stopped and looked Justin.

"I don't think Cedric would do that. He's my friend, and Alex's boyfriend." Justin shook his head and continued to the bath. He stopped in front of it, admiring the giant bath. "I'm pretty sure we have swimming pools smaller than this in New York." He turned to to Harry who looked at him strangely. "Motels... the Russo's were a little tight when it came to money." He shrugged.

"Perhaps we should get in and see."

Justin nodded, placing his egg beside the tub so he could remove his robe. Harry did the same before the two made their way into the bath.

"This is weird." Justin commented.

"Yes, it is rather odd..." Harry nodded as he reached for his egg from the edge of the tub. "Let's try opening these, shall we."

"On three." Justin agreed as he reached for his own egg. "One."

"Two."

"Three."

The two pulled open the egg as they had in the common rooms after the first challenge. The moment they did, a bloodcurdling screech filled the room. Justin was only able to listen for a moment before quickly shutting the egg closed. Harry doing the same shortly after.

"I'd try putting it in the water if I were you..." the two boys looked up as a girl appeared in the air with glasses and dark hair, her body transparent.

"Oh... it's Myrtle."

"Umm... should she be here?" Justin whispered as he looked at Harry in concern.

"She kind of lives here..." Harry whispered back. "Myrtle, what do you mean by put it in the water?"

"Well I saw that cute older boy, what was his name..." Myrtle put her finger to her chin as she looked away in thought.

"Cedric?"

"Ah yes, that's what he said. Cedric Diggory. Oh, he was so handsome-"

"Myrtle." Harry cut her off. "Get on with it."

"You're rather impatient. Alas, I have all the time in the world... since I'm dead." Myrtle looked at the two dramatically.

"Cause that's totally not morbid."

Myrtle frowned at Justin. "And just who are you?"

"I'm Justin Russo."

"Oh!" Myrtle smiled, floating closer to the two boys. "You're the other champion from Hogwarts. Harry, Cedric and Justin. Those are the names I hear everywhere these days. Aren't you handsome? Not as handsome as Cedric, but you know, that can't be helped."

"Cedric is actually dating my little sister."

"Alex Russo, I presume. I've heard a lot about her as well." Myrtle smirked as she moved closer to Justin.

"And that is where I change the subject." Justin said as he moved away from Myrtle. "What were you saying about holding it underwater?"

"You're no fun." Myrtle pouted.

"Let us get this over with." Harry said, looking at Justin.

Justin nodded as he reached for his egg. "Together... again?"

"One."

"Two"

"Three"

Harry and Justin lowered the egg beneath the water and opened it . To their surprise it did not wail but instead a gurgling song was coming out.

"It's worked." Justin looked at Harry in disbelief.

"But what does it mean?" Harry asked.

"You'll have to put your head under too." Said Myrtle happily.

Harry and Justin looked at each other skeptically before submerging the rest of their bodies under water. As soon as he was their, he heard the song that was incomprehensible under water.

"Come seek us where our voices sound, We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching ponder this: We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour — the prospect's black, Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."

Harry returned to the surface as his air supply began to dwindle. As he shook the water out of his hair. Justin joined him.

"You heard it?" Justin asked as he combed his wet hair back with his hand.

"Yes. We cannot sing underground, meaning some sort of underwater creature."

"A mermaid?" Justin suggested.

"Merpeople. That's exactly Cedric Diggory's theory." Myrtle said excitedly.

"So we are supposed to look for these... merpeople... who took something from us that we'll miss? And we have an hour to find it or else we lose the item for good?"

"Makes sense..." Harry nodded. As Harry thought about it more, a realization passed over him. "Justin, how are we going to breath under water for an entire hour?"

Justin sighed. "Looks like we'll have some more work ahead of us to prepare for this task."

~~~~~

"How are you doing?"

Alex looked down at her lap where Cedric's head was laying, smiling up to her. The two had found a secluded corner of the library for Cedric to read a book while Alex played with his hair. It was Valentine's Day, and the couple had spent the most of their day in Hogsmeade together. The two had exchanged gifts while they had tea at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. Alex had finally showed Cedric her artistic skills by gifting him a painting of them together. Cedric had surprised Alex with an owlet that their family owls had recently hatched. Alex named her Snow.

"Alex?"

"Oh, sorry. I'm with you so I'm fine.. I'm always fine when I am with you." She smiled.

"That's... not what I meant, though I am glad to hear this. What I meant is how are you doing knowing the next challenge is approaching?" Cedric dropped his book beside him and took Alex's hand in his own, putting it up to his lips for a kiss. "I saw you panicking before the first challenge."

"Oh... that." Alex pursed her lips, contemplating how to express how she felt as lightly as possible. She promised her father and Lupin that she would try to be supportive, but it was getting to be hard. Alex was still trying to process the fact that the second challenge would require them to be underwater for an extended period of time.

"Hey." Cedric squeezed her hand as he placed another kiss on the back of it. "It's going to be okay. I'll have my lucky charm with me this time."

"Lucky charm?"

"Yes. I'd like to think you are very lucky." He smiled.

"Oh, you mean me. Um.. I mean of course you mean me."

Cedric smiled wider. "Don't worry about this challenge. I told you I have a plan. And I told Justin about how to open the egg. He should have figured something out by now as well. The only thing you have to worry about is who to cheer for during the challenge."

Alex rolled her eyes. "That's obviously going to be you. Harry and Justin don't stand a chance."

"As wonderful as that is to hear, I wouldn't count Harry and your brother out just yet. They did impressively well in the first challenge. And if it wasn't for Justin, I would have not known about the dragons until the start of that challenge."

"That is true... but they still aren't you." Alex shrugged.

"Being as that may. I want you not to worry yourself too much about the next challenge. We'll get through it as well as the first. This will all be over in no time and we'll go back to the way things were"

"Yeah, that and the fame and glory if you three make it past the last two challenges." Alex replied sarcastically.

"Alex."

"Sorry, it's a force of habit. I'm supportive, I promise." Alex forced a smile.

Cedric squeezed her hand gently, looking at her with a sad smile. "You know you can always talk to me. Even if it's to tell me about how scared you are for us. I want to hear everything. Alex, I don't want you to think that just because I have a lot in my head with this tournament, that I don't want to hear about what's going on in your head. It matters to me because you matter to me. Understood?"

Alex nodded. "Understood."

"Good. Now unless you want to talk about your feelings, I would love to hear more about the parcel your father and godfather sent you."

"Nope, no more feelings to talk about today. You will never guess what my dad sent me!"

~~~~~

"Alex!" Justin called out as his eyes fell on his sister, leading the Weasley twins out of the courtyard. The three stopped abruptly as they turned towards Justin.

"Can we help you?" Fred spoke up first, looking at Justin curiously.

"I was hoping to talk to Alex. We've barely spoken in recent weeks."

Alex folded her arms over her chest as she looked at her brother. "And you chose now to have a conversation? The second challenge is tomorrow. You should be preparing."

"That may be true, but I would still like to catch up."

"After the second challenge, I promise. Fred, George and I have somewhere to be right now. And before you ask, yes it's mischief related and no there is nothing you can do to stop me." Alex turned away quickly, waving behind her as she set off where she was headed originally. Fred looked at Justin and shrugged before following after her.

Justin sighed as he watched his sister and Fred disappear around the corner. Well that went as expected... Justin started to turn back towards the courtyard when he realized George hadn't followed after his twin and best friend.

"Is there something you needed George?"

"You know it's not you. Seeing you and Cedric and Harry compete in this, it's really getting to her but she doesn't want to show it. She's being as supportive as she can."

"It feels like it's just me..." Justin frowned.

"Not at all. I saw Alex dive under a table this morning to avoid talking to Diggory about the challenge. I'm pretty convinced she'll bring her potions book with her and pretend she has studying throughout the challenge." George smiled. "She had her eyes closed for most of the first challenge."

"I would think she'd enjoy seeing me take a walk on the dangerous side."

"You know your sister, she cares more than she shows. And she likes to be the only reason your life is in danger..." George laughed.

Justin smiled to himself as he nodded in agreement. "I guess that's true. I'll leave her be for now then. Uh, I appreciate you sticking around to tell me this George."

George shrugged in response. "Just don't mention it to anyone."

"I won't. Thanks for being a good friend for Alex. Even if you promote her mischievous behavior."

"Gotta promote her god-given talents." He smirked. "Later Justin!"

Justin shook his head as he watched George jog in the direction Alex and Fred had gone.

"I'm definitely going to be hearing about that later."


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