Alexandra's head was spinning as she followed Claridina out of the Room of Requirement. She looked around at the blackened walls, tarnished picture frames and piles of ash that were now Hogwarts. She found it hard to be sad for the damage that was done to her school, though, when she thought of her father.
"Take my hand," Claridina said to her children, stopping suddenly.
Rolwat took his mother's left hand with no hesitation.
"Take it," Claridina said firmly, looking down at Alexandra.
Alexandra complied and took hold of her hand.
There was a loud popping noise, and Alexandra was whooshed off her feet. A second later her feet were back on the ground, but she was no longer in the castle.
"You will go home," Claridina said to her son, releasing her children's hands. "Maxim is waiting for you in the location we confirmed earlier."
Rolwat nodded and turned on his heel.
Alexandra, now steady on her feet, recognized her new surroundings as none other than the Forbidden Forest.
"You," Claridina said, placing her hands on Alexandra's shoulders. "Are not to speak of our vow to anyone. If you do, well, the same consequences that apply if you break the vow will be implemented."
Alexandra nodded. Her mind was still fuzzy with grief.
"You are to go and wait at the entrance of the forest," Claridina instructed her. "You will soon be spotted, and you are to say that you got separated from the other students that were rescued."
Alexandra nodded again.
"I will be in contact with you shortly," Claridina said. "Until then, just act natural."
And with that, Claridina disappeared with a loud crack.
Slowly, Alexandra started towards the entrance of the forest, where she could see a sliver of light.
It looked like utter chaos. There were Aurors running around, and Alexandra could see piles of bodies. The teachers were running around like mad and she even spotted the Minister of Magic himself in all of the craziness. Alexandra couldn't spot any students, though. Claridina must not have been kidding when she said that barely any had made it out of the castle. She wondered if Fred and Alanna had been among the lucky ones. She figured that Fred had a pretty good chance; Harry surely wouldn't have let his own nephew die. But then again, he didn't seem to have any worries about his cousin.
Alexandra sat down at the base of one of the trees. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. She wondered if getting revenge on Harry would help relieve this awful, empty feeling that was building up inside of her.
…
"She can't be in the castle," Neville panted, running after Harry. "One of your Aurors said they performed a charm to reveal any human presence!"
"Then where can she be?" Harry asked as him and Neville heaved themselves up through the hole in the Whomping Willow.
Neville didn't reply.
"The charm might not have been performed right," Harry said slowly. "She-She could still be in there."
He didn't want to bring up the fact that the charm wouldn't reveal the presence of any dead humans.
Neville nodded. "I'll help you look then. Start in the-"
"Potter!"
Harry and Neville spun around to see one of the Aurors jogging over to them.
"What is it?" Harry asked. "We're in a bit of a rush, so if you-"
"We found a stray student," the Auror said. "In the forest."
Harry felt hopeful for the first time all day. "Do you know the name?"
"No. She looks to be a second or third year, medium stature, long, blonde hair-"
"That's her," Harry said. "Alexandra."
"She was in the forest?" Neville frowned.
"Yes, right at the entrance."
"She must've gotten separated when you and Ron were leading everyone out," Harry said. He turned back to the Auror. "Where is she now?"
"Gideon and Flan are with her," he replied. "She seemed worked up. Can't say I blame her. Do you know her?"
"She's my cousin's daughter," Harry said quickly. "Can I see her? Just to make sure she's okay?"
"I'll take you to her now," the Auror nodded.
Harry and Neville started after him as he led them towards the forest.
"We've also just gotten news that a muggle home was destroyed in all the fighting as well," the Auror continued.
"Only one?" Harry asked.
"Just one. There was only one bloke in the house as well, and he made it out alive. I told Joyner to come and give you the name of the person just as soon as it was found out. You know, just to look into."
"Good work," Harry nodded.
"She's over there," the Auror said, pointing over to Alexandra, who had an Auror on either side of her. Harry saw that her face was tearstained and that she looked scared and confused.
"Alexandra," Harry said gently, slowly approaching the girl. "Are you okay."
Alexandra didn't respond. In fact, she didn't even look at Harry.
"She doesn't seem to be hurt," one of the other Aurors said to Harry.
"At least not physically," Neville muttered.
Harry got down to his knees. "Do you want to go back with the other students if you're okay then?"
Again, no response. Harry frowned. He looked up at the Aurors. "Has she said anything to you two?"
"Just that she was a student," one of them replied.
"Harry," the Auror named Joyner said, hurrying over to the group. "I've just gotten the name of the muggle whose home was destroyed."
"Who was it?" Harry asked, not taking his eyes off Alexandra.
"Dursley. Dudley Dursley."
"Are you positive?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Mr. Dursley is with a group of officials from Magical Law Enforcement right now retelling exactly what happened."
Finally, for the first time, Alexandra looked up at Harry.
…..
Something wasn't right. Exactly how could her father be telling anybody what happened to him if he was dead?
"Was Dudley hurt?" Harry asked.
"Shaken up a bit; had a few cuts and bruises. From what he's been describing, I'd say one of Claridina's Thestrals got a hold of him."
Claridina's Thestrals? Alexandra frowned. No…the Thestrals belonged to the Ministry.
"Are you telling me that a muggle managed to win over one of those things?" Neville asked.
"He killed it, alright," the Auror nodded. "With one of those metal wand things that muggles use in wars and stuff."
"A gun," Harry nodded. "He must've had some shot if he managed to hit something he couldn't see."
He turned back to Alexandra. "I know you're probably worried about your father-"
Her father? What was going on, her father was dead?
"-But right now we have to take you down with the other students. I promise I'll take you to see him as soon as I can."
"Where are the other students?" the other Auror asked.
"Shrieking Shack," Harry replied. "We had them evacuated the second we got here."
"Everyone made it out, I hope?"
"Everyone's accounted for other than her son," Harry nodded. "Claridina will have taken him, though."
Alexandra blinked. Weren't there supposed to have been few survivors? Claridina had told her most of the students had burned…
"Come on, Alexandra," Harry said softly, helping her up off the ground. "I'll take you to the others."
Alexandra slowly nodded. She had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach; a feeling that something was very wrong.