Fred sat with Avery in the Leaky Cauldron, watching Danny nurse another Firewhiskey as Alle scolded him lightly. He turned to the Hufflepuff suddenly, fixing her with an innocent smile.

"So, tell me, what really happened between the Ministry and Alle? You really didn't touch upon it in all of your letters. I'm dying of curiosity!" he asked her pleasantly.

"Well, it's kind of a long story," she began hesitantly, hoping that'll be enough to bore him; he hated long stories unless they were full of action.

"I think we're going to be here for some time," he told her, pointing to where his father was involved in an intense conversation with the Grangers.

"...Alright, brace yourself, Weasley. So this is how it all went down..."

~Flashback~

Avery was sat on the sofa, reading a book- a mystery in itself to the others in the house- while Alle made breakfast. Danny was still passed out on the floor beside the sofa, oblivious to the small foot that poked his face every few seconds. Humming quietly under her breath, Avery continued to read, happily under the influence of her painkillers. She felt refreshed and awake, quite the opposite of how her brother would feel in a few minutes. Alle would glance over at the pair every so often, to make sure Avery wasn't in too much pain and Danny wasn't vomiting on the floor as he usually did when he woke up. The two were peacefully coexisting, yet another pleasant mystery to the cousin. Early in the morning Danny would be extremely hungover and wouldn't appreciate Avery's disapproving looks. They would end up bickering over silly little things, but would forget about it after properly waking up. She only hoped they wouldn't revert to that when Danny smelled the food cooking in the kitchen. Avery flipped another page, her foot smacking Danny's cheek yet again, and frowned as she read on. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her nose wrinkled. Clearly what she was reading wasn't pleasant. From the floor, Danny let out a particularly loud snore, causing his sister to start, her foot kicking his forehead harder than previously. He immediately snapped awake, sitting up abruptly, and looked around wildly for danger. Avery watched him with wide eyes, unsure if he was about to snap at her. His gaze finally met hers, and the siblings stared at each other for a few tense moments. Danny's blue-green eyes challenged, while Avery's olive green ones apologized, which was a first. It was attributed to the painkillers after the fact. Only the daily mail being delivered-that pesky owl, Alle thought-jolted them from their stare-down. The scent of food instantly distracted them. The siblings, too alike for their own good, sprinted to the table-one of the few times one could ever get them to run-and looked to Alle impatiently. They wanted-no they needed-food. Their cousin sighed and rolled her eyes, but eventually she brought breakfast over to the table. Two certain children-whose names really needn't be disclosed-started loading their plates within seconds of the platters hitting the tabletop. The other waited patiently until she could serve herself as well.

"Have a pleasant night, Danny?" Avery asked sweetly of her brother. He scratched his head in contemplation for a moment, opening and closing his mouth to build anticipation.

"Actually, I really don't think you're old enough to know."

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely," Danny replied firmly. "I will not tarnish your innocence."

"Right," she drawled out. Avery played with her spoon until a day of light flashed in his eyes. Danny winces and held his head long after Avery out the utensil down. She snickered and gave him a knowing look. "You never do anything different when you go out."

Danny grumbled under his breath, upset with Avery for knowing his vices so well. His sister shook her head and looked at him disappointedly.

"You really should stop," she told him. "If not the drinking, then that ridiculous American habit."

"It relaxes me," he snapped.

"I hear breathing exercises do wonders for relaxation."

Contrary to Alle's earlier hopes, the two siblings started bickering incessantly. Their cousin sighed and resigned herself to the fight that they would never stop that particular habit.

"Miss Alle Jones!" a sharp voice exclaimed, silencing everyone in the kitchen. The three gaped at the Howler. They were absolutely flabbergasted. Alle had gotten a Howler... and from the Ministry of Magic no less. "Three days ago, at approximately 10:47am, you performed the Cushioning Charm. As you are underaged, the practice of magic outside of school is strictly forbidden. By performing the charm, you have broken one of our laws, resulting in a four month suspension from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry. Hoping you are well."

Silence fell upon the trio as they processed the information. Avery broke it first by blurting, "Bloody hell, that woman's prissy."

(LINE BREAK)

Avery crashed into the walls as she stumbled downstairs for her meds. Danny was out again that night, no surprise there, and Alle had been locked up in her room since the morning. This resulted in Avery waking up in excruciating pain, as no one had come to remind her of the time. Alle, being hidden in her room, had redus do to come out even for dinner, something which left the kitchen looking like the site of some epic duel after Danny and Avery attempted to cook. If Avery wasn't in so much pain, she'd probably worry for her and go to pester the older girl. Avery then rammed straight into a low table and flipped over the couch, landing on her cast and letting out a screech of pain and annoyance.

"Merlin, why me?"

After rolling around a bit, attempting to get up, she finally popped back to her feet. Straightening herself up, as her hair could be likened to a hippogriff's nest, she then made her way into the kitchen. Her nose wrinkled as the lingering smell from their battle against chores hit her nostrils. Avery wanted to do this as quickly as possible. She immediately set to work. Rifling through the cupboards, she took out her medicine and a cup, heading over to the icebox after. Once she as poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice, Avery swallowed the pills and proceeded upstairs, going back to her sanctuary. Sounds from Alle's room, however, stopped her in her tracks. Sobbing, Alle's sobbing, could be heard from the hall. Avery slid her feet over to the door and quietly poked her head in. Her cousin was seated at the window, face buried in her knees, with an abandoned telescop and chart beside her. Her heart clinched at the sight... it was all her fault.

"Alle?" Avery tentatively called her cousin sniffles as she froze. "Alle, are you okay?" She immediately wanted to take those words back. alle obviously wasn't! "I mean... do you want anything?"

"Go away," came Alle's muffled reply.

"Would you like tea or biscuits or pumpkin juice or... or some sweets or..."

"Not now, Avery. I just... please not now."

"A-Alle, please," Avery begged, not needing her cousin to blame her as well, even if she deserved it. "I'm so sorry! I'm so, so very sorry!"

"Sorry won't change anything." Alle turned to look out the window. "Just leave already... please."

The door slammed behind Avery as she fled the room, her cries echoing throughout the house. She ran up to the attic and cried herself to sleep, knowing her cousin hated her. It would have been a relief to know that Alle was mad, that would never last. She was wanted her to shout and scream, but this was much worse. Alle wouldn't even look at her.

Danny awoke without smelling anything cooking. He glanced at the heavy curtains and hoped it was early. Maybe then he could kid himself into believing everything was fine.

He had come home to see an overturned sofa downstairs. Writing it off as one of Avery's mishaps, he ascended to the first floor. His socks got stuck in a sticky substance. He glanced down to see a shattered glass. As he was not overly drunk, he meticulously cleared away the shards and checked on his family like a good mummy. Alle was curled up by the window, a chart beside her. Must've been stargazing. The shadows hid the drying tear tracks on her cheeks. Assured everything was good with her, he moved on to his little sister. He found her room empty, so he popped up quickly to check her "Sanctuary." He saw her sleeping in an almost painful fetal position, tucked so tightly into herself it actually gave him phantom pains. His brotherly instincts kicking in, Danny made his way over. He finally noticed the tears glistening in the moonlight. Her cheeks were flushed from crying, and she seemed to be having an upsetting dream if her whimpers and labored breathing were any indication.

"Avery," he had whispered, gently poking her cheek. "Avery, wake up."

His baby sister stayed under. He had assumed the painkillers made sure of that. So he had sat there, stroking her hair lovingly until she had relaxed some. He had worried about what caused her tears. His mind had flashed to the shattered glass in the hall. Did they have a fight?

That morning would it be fun. Alle still wouldn't make an appearance, and Avery hid her face behind a curtain of hair instead of wearing it up in a ponytail like usual. Danny could hear her sniffle every so often. Whatever was going on had to have been because the fought. They never fought. Sure, they had disagreements sometimes, but Avery never cried because of them.

"Morning," he greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning." He frowned at the weak reply. "How are you feeling?"

He stared at her with wide eyes. She was asking him how he was feeling? She was the one crying! He shook his head. That was just so like her, insisting on taking care of him.

"No headache."

"That's good. What are we doing for breakfast?"

"Should we wait for Alle?"

"She won't be coming."

"I'll just jam some toast then."

Avery shrugged and stayed immobile as Danny hurried to get food ready. He didn't want to stay I that kitchen with his sister any longer than necessary. He had a cousin to scold.

"Am I to blame?" Avery asked suddenly.

"Pardon?"

"Alle's suspension... is it my fault?"

"Of course not! You had no control over what happened! If Alle had not done what she did, you would be dead."

"Perhaps I should." Danny was ready to shake some sense into the girl. "Alle blames me... she hates me... it's all my fault."

"Alle you in there?" Danny knocked for the hundredth time on the steps of the treehouse in their backyard. "I really need to talk to you." THere was a stirring from inside of the room.

"What do you want you imp?" the girl whispered, poking her head down.

"We need to talk," the man said quietly.

"What about? You already ruined everything," she sneered.

"No we fixed it, they're letting you go to school." Her head began to disappear, but he stopped her with his words. "Please let me in," he pleaded, looking his cousin in the eye. There was a momentary pause and then there was a grunt like sound, allowing entrance for a brief second. "Thank you." The girl was already sitting back in the house. "Please just let me explain," he begged.

"Explain what? How you continuously endanger your little sister, my cousin, who we both love. You irresponsible little…." she trailed off, clearly fuming.

"I do not, I look out for her all the time. She's my little sister and I love her so much. I would never endanger her on purpose," he defended himself.

"You never do anything on purpose. You just mess around like a...like a child with no respect for others and no fear."

"Fear is an enemy."
"Maybe, but sometimes a little fear can be a good thing." The girl sighed, "Listen Danny, I love you, but you're going to have to make some changes if you want to be able to watch Avery otherwise I'm going to have to intervene. And I mean it" she said firmly.

The man sat in silence as the girl turned back to the book lying on the floor of the house.

"Do you remember that time, when we were little, when we convinced Avery that the moon was actually the head of a giant?" He asked, peering from the side of his eyes at the girl as a slight smile slid up her face.

"And the time when we went on a walk and you fell in the river and I dived in to pull you out?" The smile faded a little bit, replaced by a face of remorse and regret.

"And when you saved me after I climbed a tree and couldn't get down?" This time it was the girl's voice that chimed in.

"Oh Danny, I'm sorry," she said, leaning over to wrap her arms around him in an embrace. He sat surprised for a moment before wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm sorry too Albert."

"Prefect," the girl announced, showing her new badge to her parents.

"Oh darling we are so proud of you," they both cheered. It was rare that Alle Jones was this proud. Of course it was no surprise to her, but the warm feeling in her body came nonetheless. This would mean she would finally be able to help people, to make a difference in their lives. Also she would have to do patrol duty, but that was a minor set back. It seemed crazy considering the mishap of the summer, but she had made it nonetheless.

"May I go to Cousin Danny's house?" She inquired, crossing her fingers behind her back even though she knew it to be childish to believe in such things as luck.

"Of course dear, just be back by tomorrow," her parents grinned. They clearly don't care, she thought but left anyway.

"Way to go Albert, looks like they don't want you dead after all," Daniel smirked giving Alle a hefty pat on the back.

"Why must you be such a bully?" she asked, sticking her bottom lip out in exaggeration.

"Oh come here," he replied, pulling her into a hug, "I didn't mean to hurt poor Albert's feelings." He squeezed the girl until he nearly sucked the breath out of her.

"Ouch ouch ouch you're going to crush me you big ape." she yelled pushing him away.

"Am I walking in on something here?" A new voice asked, the young Hufflepuff glided into the room.

"No Daniel was just letting go of me," Alle said, finally breaking free of his grasp.

"Aw no I thought it was group hug time," Avery pouted.

"And that's pretty much how it went down," Avery finished with a yawn, looking out the window to see dusk setting in. "Not really that interesting."

"So Alle got in trouble with the Ministry for saving your life? That's rubbish!"

"Yeah, that's exactly what I thought! But whatever, we fixed it!"

"How did you even manage that?"

"Eh, you don't need to know the specifics." She waved her hand dismissively. "Just know that we sent a very strongly worded letter and that was the end of it."

"'Strongly worded letter?' What does that even mean?"

"...I used a lot of words that I probably shouldn't have repeated from Danny's vocabulary... I think he crossed them out though or else Alle would probably be in even more trouble."

"Wow, my little girl is growing up." Fred pretended to wipe away a tear from underneath his eye. "I've never been as proud of you as I am in this instance. Bravo, Lemaire, bravo."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." She stood up and patted his head. "I've gotta go, unfortunately, so I'll see you on the train?"

"Indeed. Bring me presents!"

"Then you need to as well."

He nodded in agreement and watched her leave with her family. It was impressive how the Lemaire siblings were able to get Alle out of trouble, but it really was curious how they managed to do it. She would need to tell him one of these days, truly she would.