Alexis, Harry, Draco, who apologized to Hermione for all the times he called her a mudblood, though it wasn't a public apology, Ron, Hermione, Cedric were in Alexis' common room, the next night after Alexis and Paige's encounter with their alternative lives or lack of life in Paige's case.
"Let me get this straight, you went to another reality where everyone was a Slytherin?" Draco asks, as he lounged on a couch, Alexis was sitting different couch with her feet in Cedric's lap,
"Yeah, that's about right, my alternative twin renounced her powers when Prue was killed, and faked her own death." Alexis explains, "Well the good news is, we don't have to worry about Cole anymore."
"Why, I don't like it," Hermione stated
"He straddled two worlds just like Paige and I did, but he wasn't invincible there. Cole's not coming back, ever." Alexis replies, "I'll miss him though, he was a good sparring partner, he thought me and Phoebe everything we know about the martial arts."
"Okay, well I have a class to get too, see ya guys later," Draco stated, then got up and left.
"So how exactly is he on our side?" Harry asked after Draco left.
"Being related to someone who can change multiples of futures can really make a difference." Alexis replied, "he's my own personal spy, but once out of this room, we're back to hating each others guts, got it."
"Got it." answers the other three.
The following weekend, Alexis, Harry seeing if Hagrid was back, which he wasn't, they saw the same creature that was pulling the carriages the first night back, but it was flying this time.
'Care for a lesson in magical creatures," Alexis suggests before heading into the forest.
Harry just shrugged and followed after her.
They came upon Luna, she turned toward them, when she heard them coming, "Hello, Harry Potter, Alexis Halliwell."
Alexis looks down and saw that Luna didn't have any shoes on, "Your feet. Aren't they cold?"
"Bit." Luna answers, "Unfortunately, all my shoes have mysteriously disappeared. I suspect Nargles are behind it."
"What are they?" Harry asks, looking at the skeleton horse creatures.
"They're called Thestrals. They're quite gentle really but people avoid them because they're a bit—" Luna answers,
"Different. But why can't the others see them?" Harry asks,
"They can only be seen by people who've seen death." Luna answers,
"So you've known someone who's died then?" Alexis asks, she thought about everyone she has seen die, Andy, and all the Innocents they couldn't save, the last one that Cedric and Harry witnessed could have given the sight of the Thestrals
"My mum. She was quite an extraordinary witch but she did like to experiment and one day one of her spells went badly wrong. I was nine." Luna explains
"I'm sorry." Harry apologized
"Yes, it was rather horrible. I do feel very sad about it sometimes. But I've still got Dad. We both believe you by the way." Luna stated but when Harry or Alexis doesn't respond she continued "That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, and you fought him and the Ministry and the Prophet are conspiring against you two, Cedric and Dumbledore."
"Thanks. It seems you're about the only ones that do." Harry states
"I don't think that's true." Luna replies, "But I suppose that's how he wants you two to feel,
"What do you mean?" Harry asks,
Alexis knelt down and stared at one of the baby Thestrals, it seemed so cute once you get back the evil looking part.
"Well, If I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you both to feel cut off from everyone else because if it's just you two alone, you're not as much of a threat."
Alexis and Harry thought about this,
the next morning at breakfast, Harry and Alexis walked over.
"Do you ever stop eating?" asks Hermione,
"What, I'm hungry?" Ron replied thought a mouthful of sausage.
"Harry, Lexi." Hermione greeted
"Can we join you?" Alexis asks
"Pardon me, professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?" Umbridge asks, the students gather outside the Great Hall and watch.
"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." Professor McGonagall answers,
"So silly of me but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom..." Umbridge states then takes a step up on the stairs "Minerva."
"Not at all," Professor McGonagall replies and does the same "Dolores.. Merely your medieval methods."
"I am sorry dear, but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and, by extension, the Minister," Umbridge whispers "himself. I am a tolerant woman but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."
"Disloyalty?" Professor McGonagall asks as she takes a step down
Umbridge turns and finds the students staring at the two of them, "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action"
the next night, Filch nailed something on the wall above the Great Hall. Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three: Dolores Jane Umbridge has been appointed to the post of Hogwarts High Inquisitor.
Alexis was getting angry at Umbridge and Fudge for not seeing sense,
one day during potions class, Umbridge came in to interview Snape in front of his class,
"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Post, is that correct?" Umbridge asked in a sickening sweet voice.
"Yes." Snape replies monotoned.
"But you were unsuccessful?" Umbridge asks
"Obviously." Snape answers,
Ron chuckled under his breathe, Alexis found her lips hard pressed as she tried to stop from giggling. Snape hit Ron on the back of his head with a book.
That after noon, a group of students watched Fred and George play with one of there new no-heat fireworks, only to have Umbridge come up and spoil the fun. More decrees were nailed up, no music during studying, when Alexis' bristled at,
even in Choir practice was dull now that they couldn't properly rehearse. One after noon, Alexis, Harry, and Cedric came around the corner.
"Cho. What's going on?" Harry asks as he saw Cho.
"It's Professor Trelawney." Cho answers,
the students gathered around the courtyard where Filch was carrying out the Professor's trucks,
Carmela orbed down, and her eyes widen, she orbed back into Hogwarts and appeared into Dumbledore's office to tell him to stop Umbridge.
"Sixteen years I've lived and taught here. Hogwarts is my home." Trelawney stated as she choked back tears, "You can't do this,"
"Actually, I can." Umbridge replies.
Carmela orbed back and went to hug Trelawney who was crying along with McGonagall.
"Something you'd like to say?" Umbridge asks McGonagall and Carmela.
"Oh, there are several things I would like to say." McGonagall replies, then shushed the crying Trelawney,
Carmela glared openly at Umbridge, "If I wasn't a pacifist and Elder; I would beat you to a bloody pulp."
The doors to the Great Hall opened, and the Headmaster came walking out.
"Professor McGonagall, Carmela, might I ask you two to escort Sybil back inside?" Dumbledore asks
Carmela nods, and waves her hand at Sybil's bags and the orb back into the divination classroom. "Sybil, dear. This way."
as they were heading back inside, Sybil touched Dumbledore's hand, "Thank you,"
"Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23 as enacted by the minister-" Umbridge began.
"You have the right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the headmaster." Dumbledore interrupts
"For now." Umbridge stated.
Dumbledore looked around at the students, before turning around, "Don't you all have studying to do?"
Harry ran off to get Dumbledore's attention and was ignored.
Alexis walked up and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, "Let's go to my common room,"
Cedric, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Alexis went to the Warren Dorm,
"That foul, evil, old Gargoyle." Hermione stated "We're not learning how to defend ourselves. We're not learning how to pass our O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s in Cedric's case."
"She's taking over the entire school." Alexis adds.
The radio was on, "Security has been and will remain the Ministry's top priority"
Harry turned up the volume on the radio,
"Furthermore, we have convincing evidence that these disappearances are the work of notorious mass murderer Sirius Black." Fudge's voice stated.
Alexis went over and turned off the radio, "if I hear one more word about my father..."
"Harry. Alexis." Sirius' voice spoke
"Sirius." Harry greeted as all five of them turned toward the fireplace where Sirius' head was there.
"Dad." Alexis greeted
"What are you doing here?" asks Harry
"Answering your letter. You said you were worried about Umbridge. What's she doing? Training you to kill half-breeds?" Sirius asks,
"Dad, I'm a half breed in the magical worlds," Alexis replies. "She's not letting us use magic at all."
"Well, I'm not surprised." Sirius states. "The latest intelligence is that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat."
"Combat?" Ron asks "What does he think we're forming some sort of wizard army?"
"What am I doing, getting the other Charmed Ones to back Dumbledore up?" Alexis asks,
"That's exactly what he thinks." Sirius answers, "That Dumbledore is assembling his own force to take on the Ministry. He's becoming more paranoid by the minute. The others wouldn't want me telling you four this, but things aren't going at all well with the Order. Fudge is blocking the truth at every turn and these disappearances are just how it started before. Voldemort is on the move."
"Well, what can we do?" Harry asks
"Someone's coming." Sirius warns, "I'm sorry I can't be of more help. But for now, at least, it looks like you're on your own." his face faded from the fire.
Thunder crashed in the distance, Hermione looked out the window.
"He really is out there, isn't he?" She asks "We've got able to defend ourselves. And if Umbridge refuses to teach us how, we need someone who will." Hermione turned around and looked at both Alexis and Harry.
The first Hogsmeade weekend arrived,
"This is mad. Who'd want to be taught by us?" Alexis asks "We're nutters, remember?"
"Look on the bright side: You two can't be any worse than old toad face." Ron replies,
"Thanks, Ron." Harry replies.
"I'm here for you, mate." Ron stated.
The five went to the Hog's Head.
"Who's suppose to be meeting us, then?" asks Alexis
"Just a couple of people." Hermione answers, she opens the door of the Hog's head, it was broken down and the bar keep and a goat inside.
"Lovely spot." Ron commented.
"Thought it would be safer off the beaten track." Hermione answers
a few seconds later, they and the couple of people which turned out to be more then twenty were sitting in an corner of room.
Hermione stood up. " Um... Hi! You all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."
"Why?" Zacharias asks, Alexis bristled.
"Why. Because You-Know-Who's back, you tosspot." Ron
Zacharias nods towardHarry, Alexis, and Cedric "So they say."
"So Dumbledore says." Hermione replies,
"So Dumbledore says because they said! The point is, where's the proof?" Zacharias asks
"Proof? You want proof, my shield is permanently disfigured with green from taking the Killing Curse for the second time in my life" Alexis snaps, "If you're not willing to listen to reason, you might as well clear out now.
Harry stood up, and whispered to Hermione, "C'mon, Hermione, let's go. They're just here because they think We're some sort of freaks."
"Harry, wait!" Hermione calls as Harry was about to leave.
"Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm?" Luna asks
"Yes. I've seen it." Hermione replies, "Alexis can too,"
"Blimey, Harry, Lexi! I didn't know you both could do that!" Dean exclaims,
"And he killed a basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office." Neville spoke up.
"It's true." Ginny agrees,
"Third year he fought off about a hundred Dementors at once." Ron states
"And last year he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh." Cedric stated.
"Wait... look, it all sounds great when you say it like that. But the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I nearly always had help..." Harry replies,
"He's just being modest." Hermione states,
"No, Hermione, I'm not." Harry snaps,
Alexis clears her throat, and stood up, "Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow, but out there, when you're a second away from being murdered or watching an Innocent die right before your eyes... you don't know what that's like."
everyone looked down once Alexis' speech was over, knowing that what she saw was true.
"You're right, Lexi, we don't. That's why we need your and Harry's help. Because if we're having any chance at beating...Voldemort." Hermione
"He's really back?" Nigel states,
Harry nods
"Voldemort will recruit demons in his army, I have faced countless demons before school, during school, and I will continue to face them after school is over. But I don't want Voldemort to be the Source of All Evil." Alexis states, "I'll be first on the list of names for our Defense Against the Dark Arts meetings,"
Everyone signed after Alexis, for Dumbledore's Army.
As they were walking though the bridge back to Hogwarts grounds,
"Right. First we've got to find a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out." Harry states,
"The Shrieking Shack?" Ginny suggests
"It's too small." Alexis answers
"The Forbidden Forest?" Hermione suggests
"Not bloody likely!" Ron replies,
"Harry, Lexi, what happens if Umbridge does find out? Ginny asks
"Who cares? I mean, it's sort of exciting, isn't it, breaking the rules." Hermione answers,
"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?" Ron asks
"Anyway, at least we know one positive thing that came from today." Cedric stated with his arm around Alexis,
"What's that?" Harry asks
"Cho couldn't take her eyes off you, could she?" Alexis teased. They entered the courtyard, when Alexis spoke up, "Right. Over the next few days, we should each come up with couple of possibilities of places we can practice."
"We've got to make sure, wherever it is, there's no chance she can find us." Harry adds
"Will do," the others agrees.
Little did they know that Umbridge was looking down at them, the next day there was a new Educational Decree on the wall: All student organizations are henceforth disbanded. Any student in noncompliance will be expelled.
Over the next few days, Neville found the Room of Requirement.
"You've done it, Neville. You found the Room of Requirement." Hermione stated, the very next day.
"The what?" Ron asks
"It's also known at the Come and Go Room." Alexis replies, "The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it. And it's always equipped for the seeker's needs."
"So say you really needed to toilet..." Ron replies,
"Charming, Ronald. But, yes, that is the general idea." Alexis states.
"It's brilliant. It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back." Harry replies.
The next school evening, Dumbledore's Army met and began their real Defense Lessons. They formed two lines, with Alexis watching from a distance,
Neville went first and used the disarming charm, and it sent his wand flying backwards causing everyone to duck.
"I'm hopeless." Neville stated.
Alexis walks up with her wand out, "No, you're not. Harry you mind if I take this?"
"Go ahead." Harry replies.
"You're just flourishing your wand to much. Try it like this. Expelliarmus." Alexis explains, then disarms the dummy.
While they were in Umbridge's class, Alexis had free period and she confided in Carmela that they were being sneaky and having these meetings, which Carmela agrees to help make lesson plans.
At the next meeting, it was Harry turn.
"Stunning is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal. It's a wizard's bread and butter, really." Harry explained. "So come on, then, Lexi. Give it your best shot."
Alexis smirked, "Alright." she flicked her wand, "Stupefy!" and Harry was sent flying backwards. "Did I forget to mention that my wand in more powerful then anyone else's because of the two cores?"
Next it was Ron and Hermione's turn. Hermione stunned Ron
Fred owned George one Sickle.
"Thank you," George states
"Shut up." Fred replies.
Ron came up to them, "I let her to that. It's good manners, isn't it?"
"Keep telling yourself that Ron," Alexis states walking over.
"It was completely intentional." Ron replies.
The next week, Educational Decree 82 came out. All students will summit to questioning about suspected illegal activities.
Everyone was being questioned, normally when it would be Alexis' turn, Carmela just had to have her to vanquish a demon that was running rampage. Which was really a lie.
Alexis tutored Neville in the disarming charm, "Now, Focus on a fixed point and try again."
"Expelliarmus" Neville casts, but nothing happens.
The next meeting was about the Floating Charms.
"Very Good, Keep your concentration." Harry stated.
One evening, Alexis, Fred, George were hiding behind a statue watching Filch eat some of the puking pistils,
and a new decree was issued,
Alexis read it, while standing next to Draco. Those wishing to join the Inquisitorial Squad for extra credit may sign up in the high inquisitor's office.
"Join it, Draco." Alexis hisses, "I want to know everything that bitch is planning."
the next few weeks covered a variety of subjects, the meetings focused on disarming and stunning.
"Working hard is important, but there's something that matters even more: believing in yourself." Harry stated as he and Alexis went around helping their fellow students.
"Think of it this way. Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now: students." Alexis adds
"if they can do it, why not us?" Harry asks
in one of sessions, Alexis was very impressed by Ginny's rather powerful use of the Reductor Curse.
The last meeting before the holidays, Alexis smiled when Neville finally was able to preform the Disarming Charm.
"Fantastic, Neville. Well done, man." Alexis cheers.
Alexis, Cedric, Hermione, Ron and Harry stood together in front of the others,
"So that's it for this lesson, now, we're not gonna be meeting again until after the holidays. So just keep practicing on your own as best you can. And well done, everyone. Great, great, work." Harry stated.
Everyone was leaving all but Alexis, as she walked toward the father end of the wall. When Fred and George stops her,
"We've been thinking, we could always slip Umbridge some Puking Pastilles or Fever Fudge. They give you massive, pus-filled boils-" George stated.
Alexis looked in between them, her mind was thinking of why she could see a large Triquetra forming on the wall behind them, "Sounds great, guys. Would you excuse me?"
After Fred and George left, a bright light appeared where the Triquetra was forming and a teenage girl came out sliding and following her were demons.
The girl raised her hands and the demons froze. She looked back at Alexis and smiled, "Some help please,"
Alexis blinked and raised her own hands and let lose a torrent of flames vanquishing the demons.
When the light faded, Alexis stood with her hands on her hips, giving a very Piper like glare, "Who are you?"
"Nymphadora, I'm from the future." the girl introduced herself, "I think I miscalculated my timing just a bit."
DarkPriestess66: Guess who this Nymphadora is, no she's not Nymphadora Tonks. She was named after her though.