Chapter Three

"Alex, wake up," Seamus whispered, shaking her gently.

"Five more minutes," she mumbled, tuning on her side. Seamus sighed, she was so peaceful when she was sleeping, but both of them really needed to change into their Hogwarts robes.

"Alex," he whispered, "we only have five minutes to change into our robes." She opened her eyes and saw about 6 people smirking at her. Harry was staring out the window. They were already dressed. Seamus and she were the only ones left the change.

"Oh, crap," she mumbled, sitting up.

"I'm glad you see my point." He smiled and stood up, grabbing his robes from the storage area above their heads. She stood on her tippy-toes and tried to reach hers, but she was too short. Seamus pulled them down and handed them to her. She blushed and thanked him. She opened the compartment door and walked slowly toward the bathroom, thinking about her dream. The pale blonde prince was obviously Malfoy, but why was the lion sandy-haired like Seamus? What did Seamus have to do with anything?

She opened the bathroom door and slid inside. She then remembered Seamus' warning. They only had five minutes. She hurriedly changed and stuffed her clothes into her carryon bag. She tried to make her way back to Seamus' compartment, but the train had stopped and everyone was rushing towards the exit. Alex was shoved along with the other fourth-years and sixth-years. She then found Justin, walking right next to her. She looked at him, startled. "Where did you come from?" she asked, but then another, more important question struck her. "Where do we go?"

Justin looked at her, clearly panicked. He had lost sight of their red-headed guide. Max then came out of nowhere, as well. "What's up you guys?" he asked, chewing on a Chocolate Frog.

Alex rolled her eyes. "I guess we just go with the flow and then find Ron, or Seamus, or Harry, or---." Alex was cut off by the sight of her pale blond prince. Draco Malfoy was trying to make his way to her, but was having a bit of trouble weaving through all the first years. He finally grabbed her hand; Alex then grabbed Justin's, who grabbed Max's. He pulled the three of them off the train. Draco, who hadn't known Alex had brothers looked at her holding the hand of a tall, dark-haired boy that he had never seen before.

"Who are you?" He asked Justin and Max, who said they were Alex's brothers. Justin and Max saw his shoulders relax a little when the word 'brothers' was spoken and eyed him suspiciously. Justin then let go of Alex's hand.

"Do you mind showing us the way?" he asked. "We're supposed to be sorted with the first years, but Professor McGonagall said to find a prefect to show us the way to the castle, without taking the boats."

Draco smiled at Alex. "Well, it's your lucky day," he said, "I'm a prefect myself." Alex frowned a little, and Justin rolled his eyes.

"Um, this way to the carriages," he mumbled. He noticed that Alex now kept her distance, and it made him a little sad. Oh, well, he would find a way to get her back. Then Max spoke.

Oh, hey, we forgot to ask your name," Max said, in a dreamily way. He reminded Draco of Loony Lovegood, who always looked a little dazed.

"Draco Malfoy." Max snickered and Justin laughed outright. Draco scowled at them, and turned away. He didn't see Alex smack the both of them upside the head.

They were late arriving to the carriages and there was only one left, so they all boarded and sat silently, staring out the windows. "What were those things pulling the carriages," asked Max in a tired voice.

"Thestrals," answered Draco. "You can see them?" He was curious. Who had they all seen die. When they all nodded, he couldn't help himself. "You can only see them if you've seen death. Who did you lot see?" They looked at each other uncomfortably. Draco started to apologize but Alex quieted him.

"We had a little sister, her name was Georgia. Dad had named her that. It was crazy but it fit her. She was only five years old when she drowned in the bathtub at my friend Harpers house. We were playing hide-and-seek, you probably don't know what that is, and we were all seeking for her. She was running the bath water, and she was so little." Alex gasped. She was crying, and so were her brothers. Draco suddenly felt guilty. "We were watching her from this little window they had, trying to get her to unlock the door. And she hit her head on the faucet, and the water was over-flowing the sides and…" Alex trailed off.

"Georgie come open the door. Please Georgie. Georgie!" Crying---Justin--- breaking wood--- more crying---hugging---funeral---small casket---no---more---Georgia.

Max was finishing up the story for Draco. "Justin finally broke down the door, but it was already too late." Alex wiped her tears on her robes. Justin took out a tissue, and handed one to her. She took it, but it was never used. He wrapped his arms around her. Alex acted embarrassed, but secretly, she wouldn't mind being able to stay in Justin's arms forever.

"I'm so sorry," Draco whispered. Alex smiled faintly, glad she wore water proof make-up today. All the tears were dried just as the humongous castle came into view. The Russo children stared in awe, Draco smiled at Alex. His heart actually faltered, when she smiled back.