Author's Note: Again, still own nothing except Alex and the stuff you don't recognize!
Chapter 24 Everything's Going to Change Now, Isn't It?
"GET HIM!" roared Voldemort.
But Harry was too quick. He grabbed Cedric's limp arm, shouted, "ACCIO!" and the Cup flew into his hands, Alex barely reaching him in time.
It was like being squeezed into a too small compartment. The wind wiped around her until she landed on a hard surface. Groaning, she sat up and looked around at the strange scene before her. She saw someone sitting up against one side of a dark room and herself lying against the other wall. Alex saw that her other self was stiff and had her eyes closed.
What the bloody hell...? Alex thought as she walked over to herself, reached out, and touched her hand.
It was like waking from a bad dream. Alex started and found herself sitting against a wall, gasping for air. She looked around and didn't see her other self. Not having time to dwell on how weird the entire thing was, she quickly reached for her wand but found it wasn't there. Whoever had taken her, whoever was watching over her now, had disarmed her. Instinctively, Alex held out her hand without saying a word and a ball of flames leapt up, illuminating her area of the darkened room.
"If you're going to kill me," she said angrily, "Then you're going to have to put up one hell of a fight. I don't need a wand to take you down."
"I'm not here to kill you," the figure said as they raised their head and arms, showing Alex that they had no wand as well.
Alex held her hand higher so she could see who it was. What she saw was Mad-Eye Moody, but something was wrong with him. He had chunks of hair missing from his head, his large blue eye was missing as well, leaving a gaping hole in his head, and he only had one leg.
"Professor Moody?" Alex asked, unsure if she was right.
"Well, I don't think "Professor" is the right term, seeing as I've never taught you," Moody said, stretching his legs out and Alex heard joints creaking.
"Sorry?" asked Alex, backing away now up against the wall.
"Well, you've been taught by me, but not "me" me, if you get what I'm saying."
"No, not in the slightest."
"There's an impostor at Hogwarts," Moody said, "And he's been using me to get to the students, particularly Harry Potter and Alex Ratcliff. Do you know them?"
"Harry's my friend and I'm Alex," she said carefully.
"Alex Ratcliff? Is that really you? Merlin's beard, he's got you!" Moody said in alarm, "Listen, keep quiet and maybe he won't know you're awake yet. And put that fire out for the love of Merlin!"
Alex did as she was told and they sat in silence. She had so many questions but knew Moody wouldn't want her to talk. And some of the questions she had she wasn't even sure Moody could answer. Why was she able to be with Harry during times of danger? How did Voldemort get her blood without her noticing? And how in Merlin's name did she do silent magic without her wand? Then, she heard voices up above her.
"All right Potter, sit here and I'll get you something for your arm," the impostor Moody was saying and Alex heard the scraping of a chair being pulled across the floor.
"Thank you, sir," said Harry, sounding scared and confused.
"What was it like?" the other Moody said with a little too much eagerness, "Seeing him in front of you?"
"Who, Voldemort? I don't know…terrifying. I never thought I'd ever see him other than a mist figure. Seeing him as that was enough to scare me, but now…"
Harry drifted off and Alex knew he was probably re-living the sight of Voldemort rising out of the cauldron. The thought of that made her shudder violently. There were footsteps moving around and Alex heard glass lids opening and closing. The footsteps seemed to get more hurried as they traveled.
"Were there others in the graveyard with you?"
"Yeah, they were and…Professor? I don't think I ever mentioned a graveyard. How did you know?"
Silence. Alex was holding her breath, waiting for an answer. Then the Moody above her spoke and Alex felt anything but reassured.
"I knew some would go crawling back to him, asking for forgiveness," he said calmly, "He'll say he forgives them, but he will have his revenge on all who weren't loyal to him throughout his absence. And he will give me the highest honor. I will be his most loyal servant, because I fulfilled his wishes. I will give him the girl…and you."
"What? But…where's Alex? Where are you keeping her?"
"Don't worry, Potter. You'll be joining her soon enough. In life and in death, you will go through it together."
A door banged open and Alex heard spells shouted. There was scuffling and a thud.
"Severus, check the trunk," she heard Dumbledore say, as though he was struggling to hold someone down.
There was a jingling of keys and the sounds of lids opening right above their heads. Finally, a bright light illuminated the room. Squinting, Alex saw Snape looking down at her grimly.
"They're here, Headmaster," he said over his shoulder.
Alex saw Professor Dumbledore come into view and he smiled, looking relieved.
"All right down there, Alastor?"
"I've been in worse situations before!" Moody called up.
"Alex, are you all right too?"
"Yes sir!" she said.
A ladder was produced and the two climbed out of the trunk. Once Alex was out, she ran to Harry and embraced him.
"Thank Merlin! I thought he'd gotten to you already!" said Harry with relief evident in his tone.
"Harry, I tried to help, I really did, but there was no way I could. Everything just went right through me! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" she said as she began sobbing on his shoulder. Finally, she controlled herself and looked down at Harry's arm where a cut was still bleeding a little.
She then turned and saw Dumbledore force feeding a clear potion down a man's throat. She saw a wooden leg and the blue eye on the floor and assumed it was the man impersonating Professor Moody.
"Who are you?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Barty Crouch…Junior," the man said as though he were struggling not to speak but couldn't help it.
"Why were you using the Polyjuice Potion to pose as Professor Moody?"
"I wanted to get to them!" he shrieked, pointing at Harry and Alex, "So that the Dark Lord's return could be complete, and it worked!" He began laughing evilly but stopped and seemed to pass out.
"Minerva, please take Harry, Alex, and Professor Moody to the Hospital Wing," Dumbledore said quietly.
"No, we're fine sir," said Harry earnestly, "Please, I want to know what's going on!"
"Very well," said Dumbledore, looking older than Alex had ever seen him, "But first go see Madame Pomfrey about your arm. Then, if you Minerva would be so kind, please take Harry and Alex to my office. I will be there after I send some owls."
McGonagall led the three wounded to Madame Pomfrey, who took care of them in an instant. Alex, who still had tears streaming down her face, turned to Harry's bed as she remembered something she needed to ask him.
"Harry, Cedric's body…is it…you know…with his parents?"
"Yeah, when the Cup took us back, he came with us too." said Harry tightly, as though his throat had closed up.
Professor McGonagall came back a half an hour later and told them Professor Dumbledore was ready to see them. The two Gryffindors followed their Head of House up to the Headmaster's office and entered. Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk and beckoned the two Gryffindors inside, closing the door with a flick of his wrist. Another flick conjured two comfy armchairs that he gestured for them to sit in. Alex did so and became very interested in her fingers as she waiting for someone to speak and break the silence.
"Why don't you two try and tell me what happened?" asked Dumbledore gently.
"Cedric and I had gotten to the Cup at the same time," started Harry, "Well, I saw it first but Cedric physically got there before me. I told him to take it since he was the true champion anyway but he...he insisted we take it together. The glory was going to Hogwarts either way so why not share it together? But the Cup was a portkey and it took us to a graveyard, not the outside of the maze." He stopped, looking down and Alex saw his eyes were wet.
"I came along with them," Alex continued, "During the second task, I found out that I could travel with Harry as he went through the task. I don't know how I do it. I just close my eyes and I'm there with him. I figured that since I couldn't touch anything without it going through me, it wasn't considered cheating. So I went through the maze with Harry and when the portkey sent them to the graveyard, I went with them. Wormtail was there and he had this bundle in his arms. It told him to kill Cedric and he…he did." She paused for a moment and continued, "Wormtail placed the bundle in a cauldron and tied Harry to a gravestone. He started doing this ritual, using a bone, some of Harry's blood, this cloth that was soaked in my blood, and his hand. He chopped his hand off." Alex stopped as she put a hand to her mouth and shuddered violently as she remembered the horrible scene.
"Then, Voldemort came out of the cauldron and he had a body, his own this time," Harry continued. "He called his Death Eaters and said he could see Alex, but she wasn't really there."
Dumbledore nodded, seeming to understand. Alex had no idea how he could understand what happened. She hadn't a clue why she could be there but not be able to help.
"He started talking about the night he came to our house," said Harry, "He said that the reason Alex could be there in spirit was the connection we have. He also said that he could never touch us because of our mother's love. But now that he has our blood, he can do that now."
"Then he challenged Harry to a duel," said Alex, "And their wands connected. These ghosts came out of Voldemort's wand. First Cedric, then an old man, then a woman, and Harry's parents were there too. I saw my grandparents, David Ratcliff, and my...m-my mum." Alex let out a shuddering breath and choked back tears as Harry placed a comforting hand on her arm. She gave him a watery smile before continuing, "Mr. Potter told me to be near Harry when he broke the connection. Harry did it, grabbed Cedric's arm, and summoned the Cup. I then found myself in a dark room, which I now realize was the trunk, and I saw myself sitting against the wall. When I went to touch my arm, I seemed to go back into my body. The rest you pretty much know."
Dumbledore nodded and rose to his feet, pacing the room in thought. Alex wiped her eyes on her sleeve and waited as the silence stretched on. Finally, it seemed Harry was tired of waiting because he cleared his throat.
"Sir? Please, what is going on with Alex and me?" he asked nervously, "Why can she leave her body and come with me? Why could I hear her in my thoughts while I was in danger?"
"You could actually hear me?" Alex gasped, looking over in shock.
"Yeah, it was as if you were in my mind," said Harry, "During the second task, it was more of a nagging inclination and it was the same way for the third task. But in the graveyard, I could hear you telling me to be a Gryffindor and fight Voldemort face-to-face."
Both Gryffindors turned to their Headmaster, who was looking at them with a sad smile. He returned to his seat and placed the tips of his fingers together as he observed them down his crooked nose.
"The night Voldemort came to Godric's Hollow, his plan was to kill Harry first and then Alex," the Headmaster explained softly, "From what I can gather, the spell hit Harry and it bounced off Alex before hitting Voldemort, destroying his physical body. As the spell passed between the two of you, it created a connection."
"How could it do that?" Alex whispered, eyes wide.
"I'm not entirely sure," replied Dumbledore sadly, "There are many things about that night that even I do not understand. But however it was done, a connection was made. Now you two can read each other's thoughts and emotions. You know when the other is in danger and will travel there to be with them, even if it is only so you can advise them without getting hurt yourself. But this connection is not only between the two of you; Voldemort also shares in that connection. You two know that your scars burn when Voldemort is near? The reason is because of that night and I fear that now that he has a body and shares your blood, this connection will be much stronger."
"How did Voldemort get Alex's blood?" Harry asked angrily, "It's not like Crouch could have come up, cut her arm, and taken a sample. How did we not notice someone taking her blood?"
Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, "Alex, what happened the night before the second task that made it impossible for you to be, pardon my phrasing, Harry's "object"?"
"It's fine, sir," said Alex as she thought back to that day, "Professor Moody...well, Crouch Junior actually, told me that gillyweed could help Harry stay underwater for an hour. I ran to the library to tell Harry but Professor Snape found me first. He thought I was skipping his lesson so he dragged me away and down to the dungeon. As we were dueling, there was an accident and I cut my arm badly. He dismissed me so I wrapped my arm up and I made my way up to the Hospital Wing. Along the way..."
She trailed off as her eyes went wide. It was "Moody" who had found her in the corridor. He had helped her to the Hospital Wing and had been with Madame Pomfrey as she had fallen asleep. The bloody rag...it was the rag she had used to help stop her bleeding that night!
"Crouch took my rag while I was asleep in the Hospital Wing! He was right there, he helped me get there!" cried Alex, "Remember what Wormtail said? "The blood of the other unknowingly given!" I didn't know I had given my blood to Crouch because I hadn't been awake."
Silence fell once more as everyone took in this new discovery. As Harry stretched out his leg, he let out a gasp of pain and clutched it. Dumbledore's bright blue eyes shot up and he came out of his musings.
"You two are not completely healed yet and I have kept you here far too long. Poppy must be worried sick about you. If you have no other questions, I think it is time for you to return to the Hospital Wing and finish your treatments."
Harry nodded and stood up, looking at Alex to see if she was ready too. She shook her head and didn't get up. He seemed to understand without her saying and went to the door.
"Harry?" called Dumbledore. The young man turned as the older man continued, "I shall wish to talk to you when you are fully recovered. I have one more thing to discuss with you." He paused for a moment and added, "I'm sorry you had to suffer this fate, I truly am."
"It's okay, sir," Harry said with a shrug, "There was nothing you could do. Alex, I'll be right outside, okay?"
She nodded and he left quietly. Dumbledore waited patiently for her to speak and finally, she let out a breath and spoke.
"When I woke up after I touched my body, I realized I didn't have my wand," said Alex in an almost-whisper, "I didn't hesitate or think, I just held out my hand and flames appeared. I didn't even say the spell! Professor, I know that's advanced magic so how is it that I'm fourteen-years-old and able to do that?"
"Indeed, you have always been advanced in your magical skills," Dumbledore said, thinking hard, "However, based on your situation, it is not as strange as you would think. Many times, it is in a moment of extreme stress or panic that our magic advances and rises to the occasion. You were frightened, didn't have your wand, and knew that silence was key. Therefore, you reacted based on your deep magical instincts. I know of many witches and wizards who performed great feats of magic while under stressful situations. One such wizard was drowning and managed to cause all the water in a certain lake to rise up and wash away a whole town."
"Does that mean that I have the potential to do wandless and non-verbal magic?" she asked in awe.
"My dear girl, I believe that you have the potential to be the greatest witch this world has ever seen," the Headmaster replied, eyes shining with pride, "I have never seen a student of your age have such raw power as well as such control. With the proper training, you could do anything. Just promise me that you will not let this go to your head."
Alex let out a chuckle as Dumbledore smiled. "Don't worry, sir," said Alex, "I have three great friends to keep my head from flying away on me."
"I know you do. Now, I am sure Harry is eagerly awaiting for you outside the office. Best not to keep him waiting," he said as he rose to his feet, Alex following suit. "Please tell Poppy that I will be along in a minute."
She nodded and left, finding Harry standing outside the door. He managed a tiny smile as they went down the stairs and down the corridor. Luckily the castle was empty, as all the students were forced to stay in their common rooms until further notice. Once in the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey fussed over them and forced the two of them into beds while placing vials of potions in front of them.
"Must we drink all of them?" Alex asked in shock.
"Yes, Miss Ratcliff," the matron said with a roll of her eyes, "Unless you want your injuries to go unhealed?"
Just then, McGonagall entered the sick ward with a group of people. Ron and Hermione were right behind their Head of House and they sprinted to their friends' side. Hermione went to Alex first and almost tackled her friend as she sobbed.
"Oh Alex! We didn't know what happened to you! You went all stiff and didn't talk back to us. And then we thought you were safe with Professor Moody but then he turned out to be a Death Eater in disguise. We felt so guilty! One of us should've gone with you!"
"Hermione, it's fine. I'm alive and in perfect health. Well," she added, eyeing the vials with disgust, "Maybe not perfect health, but I'm alive and well."
Hermione seemed satisfied that Alex was all right before going to Harry and embracing him. Ron sat at the end of her bed at first but then Alex grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace.
"Thank Merlin you two are all right," the redhead whispered and Alex nodded into his shoulder, a lump growing in her throat.
Looking up, Alex saw Ginny, Fred, and George were also waiting to see the two fourth years. Behind them were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as her Uncle Monty. Alex looked at her guardian and felt hot tears prick her eyes. In a flash, he was beside her and holding her in his arms.
"Oh Alex," he whispered, patting her back soothingly, "Can't you ever have a quiet, calm, normal year at this school?"
"Now what fun would that be?" Alex asked, wiping her eyes as she smiled slightly. Her guardian chuckled as he kissed the top of her head and made room for the others. Both twins pecked her on a cheek at the same time while Ginny hugged her tight and refused to let go. Mrs. Weasley shook her head as she moped her eyes while Mr. Weasley nodded to Alex and threw her a small smile.
"You all do realize that we're alive, right?" said Alex in a joking manner, "This isn't our funeral, you can stop crying now."
"Honestly Alex," Mrs. Weasley said but she was laughing with the others too.
Alex looked at Harry, who was sharing space with Ron and the twins, and he rolled his eyes playfully at her. She shrugged as she threw her arms around Hermione and Ginny, her two best girlfriends and the two best friends a girl could ask for.
Just as Madame Pomfrey came over, most likely to kick everyone out, the door burst open and Dumbledore came in with a large black mutt at his heels. Uncle Monty's eyes widened while Harry and Alex looked at each other, both with looks of shock. Hermione's grip on Alex tightened slightly and Ron looked ready to puke. It was Sirius; Alex knew that dog form anywhere.
"Poppy, I hope you don't mind another visitor for our patients," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "He has been dying to see them for some time." The matron could only groan, although smiling slightly, before nodding.
"Professor Dumbledore," said Alex, her voice high from nerves, "Please sir, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"I am, Alex. Do you not trust these people?"
Alex looked around once more. The Weasleys were practically her family anyway. She turned to Harry and saw his hesitation. But as he looked around, he sighed and nodded to her, letting her know that it was her decision and he was fine either way.
"I...I do, sir. But before we do this," she said quickly, "Please just promise not to freak out too much. And don't hate me."
Everyone nodded, although those who knew the truth did so to assure her that they didn't hate her in the slightest. With a shaky sigh, Alex looked at Orion and managed a smile.
"Okay Dad, show them what you can do."
The dog let out a happy bark and in a matter of seconds, the dog vanished. In its place was Sirius Black, standing there with eyes only on his daughter and godson. There was a moment of silence before Mrs. Weasley let out a scream of terror. Mr. Weasley took a step back while the twins looked like identical cod fish, their mouths hanging open. Ginny seemed to be hyperventilating and Uncle Monty quickly went to her side, calming her down.
"It's...It's..." stuttered Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum, we know! It's Sirius Black," said Ron impatiently, "Let them explain before you freak out."
"You see," Alex said slowly, "My mum didn't marry David Ratcliff like everyone thought she did. She married Sirius Black and only pretended to marry David. My name's not Alex Ratcliff, it's Alex Black. Sirius didn't kill anyone, he was set up by Peter Pettigrew. He isn't a murderer...he's my father."
Everyone was silent as they tried to take it all in. Dumbledore then asked for all the Weasleys, besides Ron, to come with him and he led them to the other side of the Hospital Wing to explain everything to them. When they were gone, Sirius pulled up a chair between his daughter and godson.
"Dumbledore filled me in on everything already," he said in a voice full of sorrow, "I'm so sorry that this happened. I wish I could've done something."
"It's not your fault, Sirius," said Harry with surprise, "What could you have done to stop this?"
"Harry's right, Dad. You couldn't have done anything. And besides," she said in a softer tone, "Mum said for me to tell you to keep up the good work. Sh-She's proud of us, you know."
Sirius' face went stiff and he looked away, twisting his face to try and hide the pain. Alex reached out and held her father's hand. He gave her a small watery smile and drew her close with one arm and Harry with the other. She wanted to stay there forever when the Hospital Wing door and Snape entered.
Sirius rose to his feet angrily, causing Alex and Harry to almost fall out of their beds.
"What is he doing here?" Alex's father asked furiously, standing protectively in front of Alex and Harry.
"I'd like to ask you the same question, Black," Snape sneered, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"I brought both of you here for a reason," said Dumbledore sternly, moving away from the Weasleys and between the two men, "I need you both to put aside your school grudges and help me. Voldemort has returned and he preys on those with grudges against others. To protect you both, I implore you to forgive each other or at least be civil towards the other. We need both of you on the same side for this war and the only way we can stay strong is if we trust each other."
Snape and Sirius were looking at each other with such hatred that Alex thought they were going to start dueling instead of shake hands. However, they shook hands quickly and Alex saw, unable to hide a smile, that her father wiped his hand on his robes as he walked back to Harry and her.
"Now then, I have the assurances of all these fine people behind me," said Dumbledore to Harry and Alex as he nodded to the Weasleys, "That they do not hate you two in the slightest. I believe all of this will take some getting used to so I shall leave to give you time."
With a nod and a smile, Dumbledore left the room with Snape and McGonagall. Although extremely awkward at first, the group finally started talking together. Mrs. Weasley was still a bit hesitant of Sirius but after talking for some time, she finally seemed to warm up to him. The happiness couldn't last though. Eventually Madame Pomfrey shooed everyone out of the room so that her patients could rest. Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all promised to visit as soon as they were allowed to. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley wished them both a swift recovery while Uncle Monty said he would see them on the platform.
When McGonagall came back to escort Sirius out of the castle, Alex sat up and hugged her father tightly. Harry shook his godfather's hand and Sirius clapped him on the shoulder.
"Stay safe, you two," he said hoarsely.
"I could the same about you," said Alex with a half smile.
They watched as their final guest left the wing and silence fell again between them. After a moment, Alex decided to ask the question that had plagued her mind since she had left Dumbledore's office.
"Harry?" Alex asked Harry and he looked at her, "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?"
"Yeah," said Harry, sighing and running his hand through his already messy hair, "But don't forget, we're in this together. We'll get through it, we always do."
Alex nodded and knew it was true. It had to be.
Author's Note: Wow, this is a lot longer than I planned it to be. I added a ton of stuff to this so hopefully you liked it. Since the chapter is so long, I'll keep this A/N short 'n sweet! :) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! Thank you for making me a happy author! :D