Author's Note: I hereby state that I only have the rights to Alex and the plot points you don't recognize.

Chapter 3 This Is Your House?

"The meeting's just started," Mrs. Weasley said.

Alex flattened herself against the wall to let all the adults get by. Lupin gave her a wave and went into the room. Soon, only Harry, Alex, and Mrs. Weasley were left.

"Oh look at you two!" she said, fussing over them like always, "Harry, do those Muggles know how to cook? You look skinnier than ever! Dinner will have to wait, I'm afraid, until the meeting's over. That should only be a few more minutes."

"What meeting, Mrs. Weasley?" Alex asked as the mother Weasley muttered about how tall and graceful Alex was getting, "Where are we?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you right now, I need to be at the meeting too. Just head up these stairs for two landings and go in the first door on the left. Ron and Hermione are in there waiting anxiously for you. Run along now!"

Alex and Harry walked up the stairs Mrs. Weasley had pointed to. As Alex went up, she saw many serious faces looking at her haughtily. The house was extremely dusty and looked like no one had lived in it for years. The house also had a lot of green and silver decorations, making the place darker and creepier.

When Alex opened the first door on the left, she heard a squeak and felt her ribs being broken by arms.

"Oh Alex!" gushed Hermione, her best friend from Hogwarts, "It's great to see you! Ron and I have so much to tell you! You must have thought we were so horrid not answering your questions, but Dumbledore told us not to! He said that our owls might get intercepted. But now, we can tell you everything without worry!"

"Can't…breathe…" Alex gasped as the room began to spin due to her lack of oxygen.

"Hermione, don't forget to give Harry your death hug!" she heard Ron say with a laugh. Alex almost didn't recognize his voice, it had gotten deeper.

Hermione let out a scream and let go of Alex, running to Harry and babbling. Alex felt her ribs for breaks and went to hug her other friend, Ron Weasley.

"Ron!" Alex said with a laugh as she had to go on the tips of her toes to reach, "Merlin, you've really shot up!"

"So have you," said Ron with a chuckle, "I just shot up more than you!"

Alex laughed and saw Hermione letting Harry go. She stopped laughing when she saw Harry's stony face. The entire atmosphere, which had been happy with reunions, had gotten cold and unfriendly.

"I bet you two were having a real good time, weren't you?" said Harry with more than a trace of hostility, "Didn't think to let Alex and I know what was going on, did you?"

"Harry, we really wanted to," said Hermione pleadingly, "But Dumbledore told us-"

"Yeah, I know!" Harry snapped, "He was afraid of owls getting intercepted. But you couldn't have written anyway, just so I could know there were other people out there besides Alex? She's the only one who took the time to write to me, asking how I was dealing with the fact the most evil wizard in the world returned!"

"Harry, mate," said Ron nervously, "Calm down a little. We're really sorry about it."

"CALM DOWN?" Harry roared, finally cracking. Alex cringed even though she wasn't the one being yelled at, "You have no idea what I've gone through, and not just this summer! How can you know what it's like to see someone die right before your eyes, to see Voldemort with an actual body and full powers? I've had to listen to the Muggle news outside the house through an open window, even gather newspapers out of dumpsters, just to get scraps of information about what's going on around here! Alex's had to tell me the Wizarding news seeing as I can't get the Prophet!"

There was silence as Harry stood there, panting with rage. Alex was frozen with shock, as were the others. Hermione looked like she was about to start sobbing at any minute while Ron stared at the space above Harry's head.

"Harry," said Alex quietly, "I know we've been through a lot, but that doesn't give you the right to shout at your friends. They've already apologized many times for what they did and are obviously upset about it."

Harry turned his angry eyes on Alex's cool, grey ones. He looked like he would start shouting at Alex too, but let out a tremendous sigh and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'm sorry guys," he said, sitting on a bed with his head in his hands, "I'm just so frustrated with everything!"

"We know, Harry," said Hermione, sitting by Harry's side, "Well, not exactly, but we can tell this is upsetting for you."

"But we're here for you," said Ron, "You don't have to fight this battle alone."

Harry smiled for the first time since Alex had seen him back at his aunt and uncle's house.

"Now Harry," said Hermione in a business-like tone, "Tell us about the dementors. We've only heard bits and pieces from whispered conversation."

"My cousin and I got attacked by dementors when we were walking home one evening," said Harry forlornly, "I used the Patronus Charm to fight them and managed to get them to back off. But when I got home, having carried Dudley the entire way which was no walk in the park, I got a letter from the Ministry saying I would be expelled. Then I got another one later that said my expulsion would be decided on the twelfth of August in a hearing."

"They can't expel you!" Alex practically shouted, "What were you supposed to do, let the dementor suck out your souls?"

"I can use that point in the hearing," said Harry dryly, "Thanks Alex."

Suddenly, there was a loud POP! Alex spun around quickly and saw two identical red-haired, freckled faces grinning at her.

"Hello everyone!" Fred and George said together.

"Quit doing that, you two!" said Ron as he picked himself off the ground. Fred and George had knocked him over when they magically appeared.

"Now what's the fuss about in here?" asked George, completely ignoring his younger brother's comment.

"Yeah, we could hear Harry's lovely voice all the wall from downstairs!" said Fred with a smile.

"And Alex's, who really does have a lovely voice," said George, who gave Alex a wink.

"Thanks boys," said Alex with a roll of her eyes, "It was nothing, just that the justice system for wizards is whacked up. So, where are we exactly anyway?"

"Oh, aren't you two great hosts?" said Fred, looking at Hermione and Ron and shaking his head, "We're at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix."

"Everyone keeps saying that like we're supposed to know where, or what, that is," said Harry.

"The Order," said Hermione quickly, like she was reciting it from an invisible textbook, "Was started by Dumbledore when You-Know-Who was powerful last time. It's like an anti-Death Eater group."

"And we're in London, in case you didn't notice on your ride over here," added Ron for good measure.

"So what are they doing now?" Alex asked, "I mean, I've been getting the paper everyday and it's not like Voldemort is making himself known to the world or anything."

"Why don't we find out?" asked George, holding up an ear with a flesh colored tube hanging from the back.

"Extendable Ears," said Fred, seeing Alex's look of interest and disgust, "It'll allow us to listen in on their conversations. Come on!"

They went to the stairway and leaned over the banister. Fred elongated the tube and lowered it towards the door. Soon, crystal clear sound came out of the ear.

"-think that we should wait to hear what Dumbledore thinks," came Mrs. Weasley's voice.

"Molly, we can't afford to wait much longer," came Lupin's voice, "One week at the most."

Scraping chairs were heard and George quickly pulled up the ear, cursing quietly.

"We only caught the end," he muttered and disappeared with a pop along with his twin.

Footsteps came up the stairs and the four others dashed into the bedroom, pretending to be in conversation. There was a knock at the door and Mrs. Weasley came in with a warm smile.

"Come on down now," she said, "I'll need some help getting the table ready."

The four followed Mrs. Weasley down the stairs. As they were walking, a side door opened and Ginny came out. She was the only girl Weasley and the youngest of the clan.

"Is the meeting over now, Mum?" she asked.

"Yes it is dear, come and help us get ready for dinner."

Ginny saw the others and smiled. She began asking Alex and Harry questions about their summer as they reached the kitchen. She stopped and groaned a little when she saw Tonks leaning against the counter with a hopeful smile.

"Oh no, not her!" Ginny whispered.

"You don't like her?" Alex asked with confusion, "I think she's rather nice."

"Oh, I do too!" said Ginny quickly, "But just not in the kitchen. She's a bit of a klutz and it really comes out when she helps Mum and me."

Alex smiled and she and Harry went to set out the plates. As she was setting them down, Alex looked at the design on the plate. It was a family shield of some kind with an emerald snake winding around the shield. She tried to read the name, but the paint was worn and it was too difficult to read.

"Merlin, I wonder who used to live here!" Alex said as she put out the utensils, "Look at this! Silver utensils, a family crest, and did you see those pictures on the walls?"

"Yes, hard to imagine I grew up here, isn't it?"

Alex spun around fast and saw her father leaning casually against the door frame. She grinned and ran to him, holding him close. She didn't see him as often as she would have liked, but when she did they made the most of it.

"Sirius, this is your house?" Harry asked, looking around while obviously trying to find something to say, "It's…nice."

Sirius let out a bark of laughter and went to shake hands with his godson. "Please," he said, "You can say it's horrible, I say it everyday!"

"It's not horrible," said Harry thoughtfully, "It just needs a lot of cleaning."

Sirius helped them set the table and they sat around talking. Alex was just laughing at something her father had said when the kitchen doors banged open and a cutting board with bred on it came flying towards them, the knife following. They all dove out of the way and Alex saw the knife land where, just seconds ago, Sirius' hand had been.

"Fred! George!" Mrs. Weasley shouted, "Just because you are officially allowed to use magic outside of school doesn't mean you have to whip your wands out for every little thing!"

The twins came out of the kitchen and grinned at the three people coming out from under the table.

"Sorry Sirius!" they said together.

"No problem boys," he said with laughter in his eyes, "Just be careful your mother doesn't eat your head off before dinner. It'll ruin her appetite."

They laughed and finished getting dinner ready. As Alex was putting out the dishes, she could feel her father watching her closely and did her best not to look worn out. She should have known that he would've noticed the change in her appearance, especially the bags and dark circles under her identical stormy grey eyes. Finally, everyone came together and tucked in to another infamous Mrs. Weasley meal.

"Molly," said Mr. Weasley, a tall man with thinning red hair, "You really have outdone yourself tonight!"

Alex had to agree. She ate as much as her stomach could hold and then some. Finally, as the desserts were cleared, Sirius turned to his daughter and godson.

"You know, I'd have thought you two would be interrogating all of us about what this place is, what we do, and those types of questions."

The entire table went silent, everyone looking at Alex and Harry. Mrs. Weasley looked horrified.

"We did," said Alex, "We asked Ron and Hermione, but they aren't in the Order so they didn't know much."

"As it should be," said Mrs. Weasley, finding her voice, "You all are too young to be involved in this kind of work.

"They should at least have the right to ask questions about what it is we're doing," said Sirius with a trace of ice in his tone, "They are, after all, part of this battle too."

"Dumbledore said to tell them only what they need to know, Sirius," said Mrs. Weasley sharply.

"Hold on just a minute!" said George angrily.

"Alex and Harry aren't even of age!" said Fred furiously, "We are and you won't tell us a single damn thing!"

"I can't decide what you may hear," said Sirius to the twins, "But with Harry and Alex, I can. And I say let them ask the questions that are burning inside of them."

"Sirius," said Mrs. Weasley, "They are not part of the Order! Dumbledore doesn't want them to know everything for a reason!"

"I don't intend to tell them everything," countered Sirius, "But I will answer any questions that they ask."

Everyone was watching Mrs. Weasley and Sirius go back and forth like a tennis match. Alex was wondering why she shouldn't know everything. This was her battle too.

"They aren't children anymore, Molly!" Sirius shouted over Mrs. Weasley's ranting.

"Yes, I know that Sirius, but they aren't adults yet either! No matter how much they look like your old school friends, they are different!"

"I know that fully well, thank you Molly," Sirius said icily.

"I sometimes wonder if that's a lie," Mrs. Weasley said, shaking her head, "You talk to them like they know all the things you did during your school years, like they were a part of it! But Sirius, they're still in school and there are adults who are responsible for their upbringing."

"Yes, and I am one of them! I may not be around as much as I want to, but then again I guess Dumbledore's to blame for that, isn't he?"

"He only tells you those things because he knows you tend to be rash in your decision-making!" Mrs. Weasley yelled, rising to her feet, "Is that the environment you want these children to grow up around?"

"Are you calling me an irresponsible father and godfather?" Sirius asked, his voice rising as he stood up too.

"Molly," said Mr. Weasley gently, "Dumbledore does want them to know what is happening-"

"I know, Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley said, rounding on her husband, "But allowing them to ask whatever they want isn't what Dumbledore meant when he said that!"

"That is true, Molly," said Lupin quietly and Mrs. Weasley looked hopeful for an ally, "But I think they should get the facts they want from us instead of rumors from…other people."

Alex watched as Mrs. Weasley breathed heavily. She turned to her father, who had resumed his seat but watching the Weasley closely.

"Fine!" said Mrs. Weasley, raising her hands in defeat, "But I think that Dumbledore must have a very good reason and he, as well as I, only have Alex and Harry's best interests at heart."

"Neither Alex nor Harry are your children," said Sirius quietly, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"They are just as good as," Mrs. Weasley said, her voice a deadly whisper, "I was there for them while you were locked up in a cell in Azkaban all those years!"

Sirius rose to his feet in anger but Alex rose too, grabbing her father's shoulder tightly. He froze where he was and sat down slowly, Alex taking his hand as she sat down too.

"Molly," said Lupin sharply, "You aren't the only one here who cares what happens to Harry and Alex. I think we should let them decide what they want. We have been too busy fighting to remember who we are fighting about."

Alex and Harry looked at one another and silently agreed.

"We would like to know what's going on," Alex said, looking only at Lupin. She couldn't bear to see Mrs. Weasley's reaction. After all, Mrs. Weasley had always felt like a mother to her. But she had to know what was going on, she couldn't be left in the dark any longer.

"Very well then," said Mrs. Weasley, her voice trembling, "Come along then Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. Up to bed you go. Hermione, you do whatever it is you want. I apparently have no control over you."

"That's not fair!" George shouted, "We're of age!"

"George is right, Molly," said Mr. Weasley, "They may still be in school, but they are old enough to make this decision for themselves."

"Oh fine then! Ron, Ginny, let's go!" Mrs. Weasley said angrily.

"Fine," said Ron, "Harry and Alex will tell me everything you say anyway, right?"

Alex could see Harry considering saying no, but Alex answered quickly before Harry could even think about doing that.

"Of course we will, Ron," she said and he smiled.

"Ginny, bed…NOW!"

Ginny put up a good fight, but was eventually led out of the room. Once her screams died away, Sirius turned to Alex and Harry, eagerly awaiting their questions.

Author's Note: And here's the third chapter! Hopefully you enjoyed it and even if you didn't, I'd still like to hear what you have to say. :) Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter and I'm glad that everyone seems to enjoy where the story is going so far. I know this chapter was supposed to be out a lot earlier and I'll explain it all when I post the next chapter...which will be quite soon. Thank you all for your patience! :)