Chapter 24: Electives, Trials, and Summer Plans

"I'm afraid I have some rather unpleasant news Lexie," said Dumbledore.

Lexie frowned, "Is it Alemda Carrow? Has she tried to obtain guardianship of me?"

Dumbledore smiled kindly, "No, at least not as of late. Although I do need to discuss your summer accommodations. This is regarding Celine Martin."

Lexie felt goosebumps rise on her arms and her face went pale, "You are sending me to live with Celine for the summer? Sir-"

Dumbledore immediately jumped in, "Oh no, no of course not. I'm sorry Lexie to have made it sound like that."

Lexie felt herself relax a little.

Dumbledore looked at Lexie with sympathy, "I am well aware of the atrocities that Ms. Martin put you through and intend to make sure you never have to go through anything of that nature ever again. However, Ms. Martin was brought into custody by the muggle authorities and is awaiting trial. It turns out that she victimized another child and luckily this time she was caught before she could avoid punishment."

"That's good then Professor, right?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Yes. However, her arrest may affect you. If you choose for it to do so at least. Right now, she is facing a misdemeanor and a possible charge of 10 to 12 years behind bars as there is just a single witness. If you chose to come forward with more evidence and testify against her in muggle court, the sentence could be extended. Lexie, I realize that this is a difficult situation, but I am obligated to ask if you would like to pursue this and give testimony in court."

Lexie chewed on her bottom lip, she had no intention of seeing Celine ever again. But her insides twisted when she realized that by running away from her instead of alerting authorities, she was ultimately at fault for another child going through anything remotely like what she experienced. After a minute of thinking, Lexie told herself, 'be brave'.

"I'll do it Professor."

Dumbledore smiled lightly, "I expected nothing less from a Gryffindor, it is a honorable thing to do. Unfortunately, muggle law is a bit slow and her trial date has been delayed until September 2nd. Which causes a small problem seeing as you are set to begin your third year on the 1st."

"Oh. Crap."

Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes, that is a succinct way to phrase it. This means that you would miss the first week of your third year. Now, I have full confidence the workload can easily be made up and your Professors would be notified so they can catch you up with some private lessons if you feel this is needed. However, I think it might be best if you choose your third-year electives before the summer so you can at least get a head start on things."

Lexie was familiar with the electives having heard other students talk about them, but she also had no idea of which ones she wanted to take.

Dumbledore seemed to understand her indecision, "Given your potential abilities as a seer, I might suggest at least one of them be Divination. I can't say I was ever much good or particularly fond of the subject myself, but perhaps someone with the gift may find it more useful. You can of course always drop the course should you decide to at a later point."

Lexie nodded, that seemed like a logical choice, "I think perhaps I would like to take Care of Magical Creatures as well, I am rather interested in them."

"Ah, yes, another wonderful choice. Professor Kettleburn will be thrilled to have you. I will make sure you receive the proper supplies in time for summer and will notify your professors if they have any summer work you can do to prepare."

"Professor Dumbledore?"

"Yes Lexie."

"And what am I to tell anyone who asks why I am absent at the beginning of the term?"

"Ah yes, well that's certainly up to you. I often prefer the truth, although I can understand if you do not prefer to share the details. I would simply say you had fallen ill and needed to recover. I find illness tends to make an excellent excuse for unexplained absences," he said with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

Lexie nodded.

"Now, we must have another rather unfortunate discussion about your summer accommodations. While the Carrow family has yet to file any action with the Ministry, I am concerned that does not mean they have stopped their quest to force you back into their family. I assume your request to not spend the summer at their estate still stands?"

Lexie nodded.

"Right of course. However, I fear that the orphanage with Mrs. Tobias may not be the safest choice either for you anymore. With your acceptance of course, I would like to know if you would be willing to spend the summer in the care of Robert McGonagall and his wife."

Lexie gasped, "You want me to spend the summer with Professor McGonagall!?"

Dumbledore laughed, "No, not exactly. Robert McGonagall and his wife, Isobel, are Professor McGonagall's parents. She has of course moved into a residence of her own and has not resided there since she came of age although I can't promise you will not see her at all during the summer."

"I don't know, I'm used to living with strangers but I'm not sure how I feel about living with a wizard and witch I don't even know, even if they are Professor McGonagall's parents."

"Ah, well if it helps any, Robert is actually a muggle. I thought you might find it enjoyable to have something in common but also not feel like you had to hide anything either since he is familiar at least on a very basic level with our world."

Lexie considered the offer, "Would it be possible to meet them before the summer? I mean, just to make sure before I say yes?"

"Of course, I actually anticipated this and if you would like we can meet with them next weekend here at my office. I will owl you with the details. If you do not feel comfortable after that, please let me know and I will work on an alternate arrangement."

"Yes Sir."

"Perfect, unless you have other questions, you are free to go back to the Gryffindor Tower."

"Just one other question Professor, you said you anticipated me wanting to meet them?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"Then Sir, are you sure you don't have any qualities of a seer?"

Dumbledore chuckled and said thoughtfully, "Ah, yes. Well perhaps those lessons did come in handy after all."

Lexie,

I have arranged our meeting with the McGonagall's for Sunday at 1pm. I hope you enjoy Charm Chocs, I'm quite fond of them myself.

Albus Dumbledore

Sunday, Lexie managed to break away from the boys with the excuse of needing to get some last-minute work done at the library and made her way to Dumbledore's Office. Very familiar with Dumbledore's affinity for candy related passwords, she gave the new password "Charm Choc" to the gargoyle and made her way up the staircase. She tentatively knocked on his door, "Come on in Lexie" she heard him say from the other side.

Lexie entered his office and immediately noticed the presence of a slightly stern man, although unlike Almeda Carrow had kind eyes, and a women who looked less stern, but still came across as polished and put together.

However, when they turned to look at Lexie, both smiled kindly.

"Lexie, may I introduce you to Robert and his wife Isobel."

"Hi there," Lexie said shyly.

Robert reached out to offer his hand, "It's a pleasure tae meet ye Lexie. Both Albus an' Minerva hae said wonderful things about ye."

Isobel followed with a handshake of her own and Lexie turned to Robert, "Minerva?"

Robert smiled, "Ah och aye, ye know 'er as Professor McGonagall."

"Oh! Yes," Lexie giggled.

"Please, come hae a seat," offered Isobel.

Once they were seated, Isobel turned to Lexie, "So tell us a wee about ye. What's yer favorite school subject?"

Lexie relaxed a little, "History of Magic if I had to choose just one. But I am quite fond of Potions too."

Isobel laughed, "Waw, Ah didn't realize anyain liked History of Magic. It always made me fall asleep."

Lexie giggled again, "Yes, most everyone else does. But since I grew up as a muggle I find it fascinating!"

Isobel smiled kindly, "Och aye, Ah can see what 'at might make it a wee better an' mair interestin'."

Robert asked, "Albus tells us ye grew up primarily in London? Ah used to visit wi' mah parents an' drag them to th' theatres an' orchestras. Hae ye been?"

Lexie grimaced, "Um, no, not really. There was never much money for any of that growing up."

Robert looked chagrinned, "Ah och aye, mah apologies o' course. I shood hae realized given what Albus has tauld us abit yer childhood. Perhaps this is somethin' we could dae ower th' summer if ye were inclined. Edinburgh isnae quite th' same as London, but it's closer tae us an' Usher Hall tends tae still hae a diverse offerin'."

Lexie smiled, "I would like that very much. I mean, if it's not a bother of course."

Robert laughed, "Och definitely nae. Isobel was ne'er super fond of th' orchestra and she woul' be glad tae git out of it."

Isobel laughed as well, "This is true, Ah was ne'er a great connoisseur of classical music. Although, Ah dae aft enjoy th' theatre when Robert brings me."

Lexie conversed with the McGonagall's for almost an hour and learned a little about their other two children, two sons, and where they currently lived, a small Scottish village called Caithness. They mentioned that it was composed of both muggles and wizards and witches so it suited both them.

They still lived in the same house they had raised their three children and told Lexie if she were to stay with them for the summer, she would have her pick of any of the bedrooms as they had since been converted to guest rooms. Lexie ended the meeting with a smile and told both the McGonagall's and Dumbledore that she would love to stay with them for the summer under one condition, Robert had to give her an introductory lesson in music as all her musical knowledge was from watching street performers in London.

Robert heartily agreed and Isobel promised that while she might not be a great tutor in music, she would be happy to help Lexie get a jump on any of her elective assignments. When Lexie left Dumbledore's office she was hopeful that aside from her very first visit from Dumbledore, her life was turning around. Celine was to be tried and she was now going to spend the summer not confined to an orphanage.

Lexie entered the common room whistling an upbeat tune and went to join the boys where they were seated around the fireplace.

"Library visit went well then?" asked Remus noting Lexie's cheerful demeanor.

Lexie grinned, "Delightful Remie, couldn't have gone better."

Sirius looked at Lexie suspiciously, "Okay, who did you hex?"

Lexie laughed, "Nobody Sirius, I'm just in a good mood."

"Why do I not believe you?" he retorted.

Lexie sighed, "Fine, if you really must know, I just found out that I'm spending the entire summer with some er-family friends and I just happen to be really excited about it."

"Oh," Sirius looked disappointed that she had not been up to something more devious, "Well that's cool I suppose."

"Speaking of summers, are you headed back to spend yours with your cousins again?" asked James.

Sirius scowled, "I wish, my parents decided that didn't do me any good and so back to home I go."

The group looked at Sirius with sympathy knowing full well what that entailed by now.

"Well if you-" James started before Sirius cut him off.

"Want to spend the summer at yours I can, yes I know James. But you know how it goes with the Blacks."

"Sorry mate," said James.

"Yeah, yeah, oh this pity party is over. Now, in other news, I have a brilliant idea for pranking Filch, you all in?"

And that's how the five friends wound up all serving separate detentions one week later when Filch caught them in the corridors after hours trying to enchant a suit of armor they had dressed in a women's nightgown to flirt with the cantankerous caretaker.