Chapter 16: Plans Made and Favors Asked
A few days after mulling over the letter Lexie received from her mother she decided that going "home to the estate" was not what she wanted at all and even the orphanage sounded like a better place to be since at least Mrs. Tobias didn't give her the chills.
Even her cousins sounded slightly ominous and she wasn't sure what to make of them and their "cleansing of the atrocities." Lexie didn't know a lot about Sirius' family, but based on his comments and what she knew of the Slytherins she knew that some wizards and witches were taking drastic measures regarding muggles and she wanted no part of it. After being abused herself, Lexie felt nobody should be harmed for just being who they are.
With these thoughts swirling in her head, Lexie found herself once again outside Dumbledore's office requesting a visit with the headmaster.
"Sir, I really hate to keep popping in on you, but well I might need your help. Again." She said handing over the letter.
Dumbledore scanned the letter and the only indication he showed was a slight wrinkle in his brow as he read. "I was a bit worried your mother would make things more difficult for you. Is going to the Carrow Estate something you have been entertaining?"
"Oh definitely not! I mean, I'm sure it's a lovely home but that woman creeps me out. Mother or not. I'm not sure she's someone I care to know. Ever."
"Well that settles that. Lexie you are still technically under the guardianship of Mrs. Tobias. I'll be honest though, the lines are a little blurred since Magical Law and Muggle Law aren't one entity. Your birth mother might try to obtain guardianship of you under Magical Law, but technically speaking she would not be allowed to do so unless she applied for guardianship under existing Muggle Laws. Doing so would force her to admit she abandoned you. Very tricky indeed..."
"Is that what she meant when she said she would go to the Ministry sir?"
"Ah, well the Ministry handles magic cases not muggle cases. So technically speaking she has no case there either as the Wizengamot tries to avoid getting into situations involving Muggle Law to great trouble, it's simply not done."
"Sorry, the Wizen-what?"
"Our court of law. It's all a bit complicated just like any law system. I also highly doubt Mrs. Carrow would willingly enter a Muggle court or orphanage of any kind to adopt you. Even if she did she wouldn't have a leg to stand on, especially if you expressed your aversion to being in her care as she did abandon you after all without a valid reason. And honestly the same would go in a Wizengamot courtroom. I think the best way to keep you safe is to ensure you stay with Mrs. Tobias."
"And what if she does try? To go to court that is? And what about when I go home? She said she's going to be at the station for me."
Dumbeldore's eyes sparkled "Ah yes. If I'm not mistaken you are good friends with Young Mr. Potter are you not? I hear he has a rather rare cloak he might be willing to let you borrow for the day."
Lexie giggled, Dumbledore really didn't miss a thing.
"As far as a court case, I think Alemda knows she doesn't have a chance in any courtroom Muggle or otherwise, which is why she is threatening you directly. Until then, well we will just need to be prepared. For now I see no reason we can't just ignore her. Normally I like to face my problems head on you see, but Mrs. Carrow does not actually know where you reside during the holidays that I am sure. And in this case until she proves that her bite is worse than her bark we should just let her get a taste of her own medicine and feel what's it's like to be unwanted for a change. Now it's getting a bit late. Did you have any other concerns?"
"No sir, thank you."
"My pleasure dear, now off to bed. I'm sure you need your rest for all those exams."
Lexie saluted Professor Dumbeldore before skipping out of the room.
Once she had left the room the portrait of Phineas Black asked "Do you really believe Almeda Carrow will just let her only daughter become a blood traiter? I think you may be underestimating just how far us purebloods go to preserve the bloodlines."
Dumbledore sighed "No, I do not believe she will. But I also believe that Almeda Carrow will not make a mockery of herself. She is too proud to go to the Wizegmont about this since she made a grave mistake and she knows that until Lexie is of age there is nothing she can do. Legally that is. Until then all we can do is put protections in place for Lexie and hope that we have enough time to find Lexie a safer residence."
Heliotrope Wilkins chimed in "Hmpf, purebloods. Well the Carrow estate is certainly the opposite of safe. Not even Malcolm Carrow survived that torture chamber. If the rumors are true he was killed by his own wife."
"And that is precisely the reason why I do not believe Almeda will involve the Wizegont and will wait for act. She will not put herself into the spot light again. So like so many things in life, we must wait to act and just be prepared when that time comes."
Lexie took Dumbledore's advice and put her efforts into her first year exams. She could not remember a time she was more stressed and could tell the other first years were all on edge. Poor Remus was looking like the stress was making him ill again after returning from the Hospital Wing one morning shaky, pale, and clutching a bar of chocolate to his chest and she just hoped he recovered enough to do well.
Even James and Sirius seemed to take the end of the term somewhat seriously and she even caught them pouring over their Transfiguration textbook one night. Okay, so it was just once, but considering she rarely saw their textbooks being used she knew they were at least attempting to be studious.
But like all things, the stress passed and before Lexie knew it the term was coming to an end. For the first time in her life she felt like she had done okay in her schoolwork and while her Charms practical exam may not had been perfect (the pineapple she was meant to make dance may have done less of a jig and more of a curtsey), she was confident that at least she had passed.
The night before they were to depart home, Lexie knew she had one final stressful task she needed to take care of so amid the Exploding Snap smoke from the game Remus and Sirius were playing, she cautiously pulled James to the side.
"Hey James, I have a big favor to ask. Really big."
"Not again Lexie, the last time you needed a favor it was to get revenge on Sirius and I ended up being the one to get hexed."
"No, this one is harmless I promise. It's just... can I borrow your invisibility cloak when we get off the train? And well, all summer too?"
James looked at Lexie incredulously "What?! Lexie I love you like a sister, but I don't know, that's a really big favor."
Lexie put on her best pleading face before continuing, "Ok I know, but hear me out first. So here's the thing, there's someone I need to avoid at the station. See I may have accidentally pulled a prank on some of the Slytherins and I can't have them see me. Also since I'm a muggle and not allowed to do any magic I have to take public transit home. Public transit James! You have no idea how horrible that is and there are so many creepy people who watch me. And I'll have my trunk which means I'll stick out and heaven forbid someone sees anything suspicious. Or someone steals it! And then I have to go home where I will have to hide all my belongings because my family doesn't actually know I can do magic, seriously, they think I went off to boarding school. I need something to slip under the radar! And I still haven't figured out how to get my school supplies home unnoticed. And then back to the station at the start of next term? Come on Pllleeaaaseee. It was Dumbeldore's idea I swear."
James seemed to focus on the last sentence "Dumbledore knows about my cloak?! Lexie how are we supposed to do pranks now?"
"He knew before, I swear it. It's not a big deal, he doesn't care. Promise. Please James, this is really important. Plus it's not like you would be using it much this summer anyways since your dad knows you have it."
James sighed "Okay, so I didn't really understand half of what you said, but I can clearly see you are all worried about this. You aren't going to stop bugging me until I say yes are you?"
"Nope" Lexie grinned knowing she had him.
"Fine but I swear Lexie if you lose it or anything happens to it I will never speak to you again. I don't think my father would speak to me again for that matter. Please, please be careful with it."
"I promise James really! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lexie squealed while she jumped up hugging him.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm your favorite now right? Make sure you tell that to Sirius and Remus."
"What on earth are you two on about now?" asked Sirius looking up with singed eyebrows.
"Oh just promising my devotion to James, I think he might be my favorite."
"WHAT? But when I showed you the kitchens and you promised me I was the favorite!" Sirius asked indignantly.
"Yes, and when I stayed up every night to help you practice Charms you said I was your favorite." Remus pointed out.
"How come I'm not your favorite Lexie?" Peter pouted from the floor where he was sitting.
"Urmmm, uhhh," Lexie stalled, "You're all my favorites then!"
"Lexie I don't think you understand what the word favorite means" James said shaking his head.
"Well I can't choose! That's impossible. That's like trying to decide if chocolate frogs are better than liquorice wands."
"Seriously?" asked Remus "How can you even say that's a choice? Chocolate frogs are obviously better."
The three other boys nodded their heads in agreement.
"Yeah Lex, if one of us is the liquorice wand it better not be me." Sirius said.
"Ugh, whatever. My point is that you are all the best and I'm going to miss you this summer okay!"
"Oh Merlin you aren't going to start crying are you?" James said backing away.
"Ugh boys! I don't even know why I hang out with you!" Lexie said dramatically before heading up the girl's staircase to finish packing.
"Girls are so weird" Peter said taking Lexie's chair.
"Totally" said James, Remus, and Sirius before breaking out in laughter.