Author's Note: For the last time in this story, J.K Rowling owns it all except Alex and a few plot points. Enjoy!
Chapter 19 I'm Going Home
Alex, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were on the train going back to London. Alex was sketching each of her friends in turn, two owls in her lap. Just before she had left, Alex went to see a very happy Hagrid to get both hers and Malfoy's owl. Alex had just looked up to get a better idea of Ron's nose when she saw a grey blur outside the window. Everyone turned and saw a small owl trying to get in. Harry opened the window and the little bird dropped a letter and began zooming around the compartment. Alex picked it up and read it aloud.
"Dear Alex, Harry, and whoever else hears this letter,
I am writing to let you know that I am fine and in hiding. I can't tell you where in case this owl is intercepted. By the way Ron, this owl is yours, seeing as I'm the reason you lost your rat. I hope this makes up for everything, including the leg (sorry about that!)."
"This is mine?" Ron said, as the owl landed and curled up in Ron's arms, hooting happily, "Harry, your godfather is pretty awesome for a convicted killer."
"Hey, careful! He's also the father of Alex so be careful what you say. Now I know where Alex gets her temper…" said Harry with a playful smirk. Alex just rolled her eyes and continued reading.
"In case you haven't guessed already, it was I who gave Harry the Firebolt and Alex the diary and ring. I hope this makes up for all the birthdays and other holidays I have missed."
"Didn't I tell you boys?" said Hermione triumphantly.
"Yeah, but he wasn't trying to kill me," said Harry, smiling nonetheless.
"Can I finish please?" said Alex, "Keep in touch with me over the summer and let me know if anyone treats you badly (Harry, you know who I mean). Also, I have included something that will make next year a little better than this one. I made sure someone saw me far away from Hogwarts, so both Alex and Harry should be able to roam around Hogwarts worry and dementor free. I miss you all.
Your father/god-father/hopefully friend,
Padfoot (aka Orion)"
Alex turned the envelope upside-down and two pieces of paper fell out. They were papers giving Alex and Harry permission to go to Hogsmede next year. Alex turned to Harry and they exchanged grins.
"I better give this owl to Malfoy before we get there," said Alex, who had already changed into her Muggle clothes.
"Be careful," said Hermione.
"Yeah," said Ron, "If he gives you grief, tell him your father's a madman who'll kill his entire family!"
Alex just waved her hand, barely hiding a smile, and set out. She didn't have look very hard because she found Malfoy and his cronies terrorizing Neville. However, once Alex came into view, Malfoy lowered his wand and Neville took this chance to run for it. Malfoy turned to Crabbe and Goyle and jerked his head toward the compartment. The two large boys went in and Malfoy closed the door, running his hand through his hair.
"I brought you your owl," said Alex, frowning, "What were you doing to Neville?"
"Just talking," said Malfoy, taking the owl and stroking his head with a ghost of a smile, "I never said thanks, by the way, for everything you did for me this year. I really appreciate it, I know you don't like me very much."
"That's a huge understatement Malfoy," said Alex coolly, but thrown off. Was Malfoy showing gratitude? "But you're welcome. I guess I'll see you during the summer."
"Yeah, have a good one."
Alex returned to her compartment in a trance. What was going on around here? Why was Malfoy continually being nice to her? It just wasn't normal! Hermione gave Alex a look but Alex shook her head. She knew Hermione would just say that Malfoy was messing with her head and maybe he was, but Alex wasn't quite sure.
"Hey guys, the Quidditch World Cup is being held in England this year and my dad's usually able to get tickets," said Ron, "Would you all be willing to go?"
"Are you kidding me?" Alex cried, "Of course I would! Oh I'm so excited!"
"You know you don't have to ask me," said Harry with a huge grin, "I'm just as obsessed with Quidditch as you are and any excuse to get me away from the Dursley's house is perfect for me."
"How about you, Hermione?" asked Ron, "It'll be fun, unless two really stupid teams make it."
"Cough…Chudley Cannons…cough," Alex said aloud and ducked in time to avoid a Chocolate Frog that Ron had tried to peg at her head.
"I have no plans this summer and at least I'll be with my friends," said Hermione happily, "I may not like Quidditch as much as you all do, but I can appreciate a good game with friends."
"Awesome! I'll have my dad work on getting tickets!" cried Ron, forgetting about his attack on Alex immediately.
The train slowed down and everyone began gathering they're belongings. Once they reached Muggle London, Alex saw her uncle and Erin waving at her. Alex went to them and gave Erin the owl.
"Wow," said Erin with a laugh, "This is an unusual pet, but I love it! What should I name it?"
"Sirius," said Alex, smiling at her uncle, "I think you should name him Sirius. It is a boy after all."
Erin looked thoughtful and Alex introduced her to all her friends. Erin spent some time talking to Fred and George, who were asking her questions about her school.
"So, you actually use the Internet?" Fred asked, "Man, Dad would love to hear about that!"
"You don't use it at school?" Erin asked, not knowing about them all being wizards.
"No," said George quickly, "Our school is very old-fashioned, we use quills and ink bottles to write."
Alex turned and saw Malfoy leaving with his parents. He caught her eye, smiled, and gave a small wave. Alex waved back, but stopped at the look Mr. Malfoy gave her. He quickly pushed his son out of the station, looking angry as he talked in a whisper.
"Who was that, Alex?" Erin asked, seeing who her friend waved to.
"Someone from school I know," said Alex, "I'm not sure what to call him."
Erin nodded and soon, they said good-bye to everyone. Alex explained to Ron how to use a telephone so he could call them over the summer.
"And remember," said Alex slowly, so Ron could hear every word, "Talk…normally. The person may be thousands of miles away, but they can hear you like they could if you were a foot in front of them."
They went out to the car and Uncle Monty put Alex's trunk in the back. When they climbed in, Erin starting talking about how nice, but strange, her friends were.
"One of them didn't even know what electricity was," she said, "They said their dad collected plugs and wondered if I could give them extras."
"So Alex," said Uncle Monty, looking in the rear view mirror at the two girls in the back, "Did you have a good third year?"
"Yes," said Alex as she waved to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "Yes I did. There's never a dull moment at that school."
And from then on, Alex's life would never be the same.
Dear Readers,
I can't believe I'm finished posting the third book in the series! This is absolutely incredible to me. You know what else is also incredible to me? The support I have received for the series. Never had I ever imagined all the reviews, alerts, and favorites you all have given me. So now, here's my chance to thank you all for your dedication to my work.
Thank you to my most faithful reviewers: Lone Fairytale, Amy aka Luke, Aileen Autarkeia, Are you calling me crazy, rockerchic143, EmberRee, and madscientist128. I always look forward to you guys reviewing! Thank you as well to azuresilver, twiheartlover, mysterygirl123, Magimagus, CountDoom, WisdomEyes, cuteknight101, Ariauna, krasni, Ice-Snow Witch, Blazeflower, peygoodwin, RainbowSkittles123, and StrawberriesAndCinnamon. If I have forgotten anyone, I am extremely sorry but know that I want to thank you as well. Of course, thank you to everyone who put me in their favorites, whether it be story or author. And thank you to everyone who put me on alert as well. I can't believe all the support I've gotten from you guys and I really appreciate it. It's nice when I'm having a bad day to come on my computer and see all of your support. So a huge THANK YOU to you all!
Now one last thing before I sign off. One of my reviewers mentioned their confusion about Alex being able to talk to people in their Animagus forms sometimes while other times, she couldn't. Here is my explanation for you, in case you were confused as well:
Peter knew that Alex could talk to animals since he was Ron's rat and her friends knew about it. Therefore, he made sure he never "spoke" while she was around. Instead, he allowed his mouse-like qualities to show and just made unintelligible squeaking noises that Alex couldn't decipher as words. However, the threat of Sirius coming after him allowed Peter to slip up and start "speaking" so Alex could understand him. As for Sirius, at first he was too weak to talk and when he realized it was his daughter, he knew she could understand animals. That is why he never "spoke" around her.
Hopefully that helps clarify things. I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you all again and I'm going to try and post the next book on Monday.
With love,
silvermoony77