3 Chapter 2: James and Trix Lestrange
Alexis and Harry, however, were not grinning when they stopped several streets way from Privet Drive. It was a cold night, strange for the first of August, and both Gryffindors were exhausted after carrying Harry's trunk full of his school books, robes, and other belongings.
The realization of what they had just done came down on them like a cruel wave of despair. They had both broken the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. Alexis knew for a fact her uncle, who was a retired Auror (the Wizard form of a policeman) and a very strict one when it came to the Ministry's Laws, was not going to help them. She knew Hermione and Ron would help them, lawbreakers or not, but they were both out of the country: Hermione in France, and Ron visiting his favorite brother, Bill, with the rest of his family in Egypt after his father won the Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. Draco would help, at least he would help Alexis anyway, but his family was also in France.
That left Cedric but Alexis had no way of contacting him...
"So now what?" said Harry. He had taken a seat on his trunk and was nervously running his hand through his hair.
Alexis shrugged and sat next to him.
"I don't know."
She really didn't. All she could think about was how depressingly cold it was around them. She shivered and instinctively, Harry threw his arm around her shoulder. Alexis did the same and the two sat silently, sharing their body heat as they tried to think of a plan.
"We'll have to go to Gringotts," said Harry. "I have tons of money in my vault. We just need to get some of it, maybe just a few handfuls, and then we can hide out somewhere until the Ministry stops looking for us."
Alexis snorted bitterly, "The Ministry doesn't stop looking for people, Harry."
There was a long pause. Undoubtedly, both friends were thinking about Alexis's late guardian, Tom McPherson, who had saved Alexis before she was even a day old and raised her in the States. He had been careful protecting her but when the first slip happened, Alexis receiving her Hogwarts letter, even after ten and a half years, the Ministry had acted on it instantly. That's why McPherson was dead and Alexis lived with his uncle and her now legal guardian Alastor Moody. Not that Moody was a bad guy, in fact Alexis adore the crazy, paranoid bloke especially after he helped her with her memory tattoo, he just wasn't McPherson.
"We could try, though," said Alexis. "I mean, the goblins don't give a dam about what the Ministry thinks as long as they make a profit and we don't steal from them, anyways. We just wear your Invisibility Cloak, sneak in, grab your gold, and get out. It could work, Prongs."
Harry grinned but then let out a groan.
"But what do we do about my trunk?" he grumbled. "It's too heavy for us to carry all the way to London unless..."
Harry didn't have to finish his sentence nor did Alexis need her Legilimency abilities to know what her was thinking. They could bewitch the trunk to make it feather-light. After all, they already knew they were going to be expelled so a little more magic couldn't hurt. While they were at it she might as well apparate them to London...
Alexis nodded her head and immediately Harry began digging through his trunk in search of his Invisibility Cloak and wand. He, however, had only just grabbed his wand when Alexis grabbed his arm.
"Someone or something is watching us," she whispered. She nudged her head in the direction of a dark, black alleyway.
Neither of them saw anything but they could feel something watching them as they stared into the darkness,
"Lumos," Harry muttered, and a light appeared at the end of his wand. He held it high over both their heads, and the walls of the alleyway brightened significantly. In their awe and horror, they saw the hulking outline of something very big, with wide, gleaming eyes.
"Hex," whispered Harry.
"I see it, Harry," Alexis whispered back.
The two stepped backwards, cautiously. Harry whipped his arm towards the street in order to protect Alexis as the figure began to move forward but suddenly there was a deafening BANG, and the duo threw up their hands to shield their eyes against a sudden blinding light.
For the third time in Alexis's life, the first being against their possessed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher their first year and the second when she herself was possessed by the Diary of Tom Riddle (aka Lord Voldemort), Harry Potter saved her life, and just in time too. He tackled her onto the pavement just as a gigantic pair of wheels and headlights screeched to a halt exactly where the two of them had just been standing. They belonged to a triple-decker, violently purple bus, which had appeared out of thin air. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The Knight Bus.
"Thanks," whispered Alexis. Harry nodded and was just about to help her up when a conductor in a purple uniform leapt out of the bus and began to speak loudly to the night.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve-"
The conductor stopped abruptly. He had just caught sight of Alexis and Harry, who was still spiraled on the ground. He grinned wickedly as Alexis and Harry scrambled to their feet. Close up, they saw that Stan Shunpike was only a few years older than they were, eighteen or nineteen at most, with large, protruding ears and quite a few pimples.
"What were you two doin' down there?" said Stan, dropping his professional manner, a knowing look falling on his face.
Alexis wanted to groan in annoyance.
"Fell over," said Harry.
"I'll say," sniggered Stan.
Alexis was going to glare at him but remembered what Harry and her had seen before the Knight Bus appeared. She turned around quickly to stare at the alleyway between the garage and fence. The Knight Bus's headlamps were flooding it with light, and it was empty.
"'Choo lookin' at?" said Stan.
"There was something back there," said Alexis, pointing uncertainly into the gap. "It was a big, black, thing withe giant, yellow eyes. Like a wolf or a bear..."
She looked around at Stan, whose mouth was slightly open. With a feeling of unease, Alexis saw Stan's eyes move to the scar on Harry's forehead.
"So this bus," she said quickly, hoping to distract Stan, "did you say it goes anywhere?"
"Yep," said Stan proudly, "anywhere you like, 'long it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater. 'Ere," he said, looking suspicious again, "you did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out your wand 'and, dincha?"
"Yes," said Harry quickly. "Listen, how much would it be to get us both to London?"
"Eleven Sickles each," said Stan, "but for firteen you get 'ot chocolate, and for fifteen you get an 'ot-water bottle an' a toofbrush in the color of your choice."
Harry began rummaging through for his money. Stan turned to Alexis.
"Woss your name?" he said.
"Trix," said Alexis. It had been the first name that had come to her and she had no idea why. "He's my brother, James."
"Got a last name?" Stan persisted.
"Lestrange," Alexis once more answered with the first name that came to her only this time Stan's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Was'a Lestrange doin' on da Knight Bus?"
"Just take our money," snapped Harry. Like Alexis, he had grown annoyed with Stan's constant questioning.
Thankfully, he did not continue and instead helped Harry lift the trunk up the steps of the bus while Alexis carried Hegwig's (Harry's owl) cage.
There were no seats on the bus: instead, half a dozen brass bedsteads stood beside the curtained windows. Candles were burning in brackets beside each bed, illuminating the wood-paneled walls. A tiny wizard in a nightcap at the rear of the bus muttered, "Not now, thanks, I'm pickling some slugs" and rolled over in his sleep.
"You two 'ave this one," Stan whispered, shoving Harry's trunk under the bed right behind the driver, who was sitting in an armchair in front of the steering wheel. "This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This is Trix and James Lestrange, Ern."
Ernie Prang, an elderly wizard wearing very thick glasses, took a double take at Alexis and Harry before nodding his head.
"Take 'er away, Ern," said Stan, sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's.
There was another tremendous BANG, and the next thing Alexis knew she found herself thrown onto her back on the bed next to Harry by the mere speed of the Knight Bus. Struggling slightly, the two sat up and looked out the dark window behind them. They realized that they were now bowling along a completely different street. Stan was watching their stunned faces with great enjoyment.
"This is where we was before you's flagged us down," he said. "Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?"
"Ar," said Ernie.
"How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?" said Harry.
'Really, Prongs?' thought Alexis, making sure Harry heard her. 'You're a wizard, what do you think?'
But before Harry could reply Stan spoke.
"Them! Don' listen properly, do they? Don' look properly either. Never notice nuffink, they don'."
"Best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan," said Ern. "We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute."
Stan passed Alexis and Harry's bed and disappeared up a narrow wooden staircase. The duo was still looking out of the window, feeling increasingly nervous. Ernie didn't seem to have mastered the use of a steering wheel. The Knight Bus kept mounting the pavement, but it didn't hit anything; lines of lampposts, mailboxes, and trash cans jumped out of its way as it approached and back into position once it had passed.
Stan came back downstairs, followed by a faintly green witch wrapped in a traveling cloak.
"'Ere you go, Madam Marsh," said Stan happily as Ern stamped on the brake and the beds slid a foot or so toward the front of the bus. Madam Marsh clamped a handkerchief to her mouth and tottered down the steps. Stan threw her bag out after her and rammed the doors shut; there was another loud BANG, and they were thundering down a narrow country lane, trees leaping out of the way.
'How do you think the Dursleys are doing with Aunt Bitch?' Alexis said in Harry's mind.
Harry rolled his eyes, evidently not ready to talk about the subject yet, but he did nonetheless.
'I hope she's still stuck to the ceiling,' he thought coldly and Alexis snorted, earning her an attempted eyebrow raise from Stan. She was rather surprised Harry hadn't reprimanded her for calling his 'Aunt' a bitch but she had a feeling he wasn't going to be defending that woman anytime soon.
Stan had unfolded a copy of the Daily Prophet and was now reading with his tongue between his teeth. A large photograph of a sunken-faced man with long, matted hair was screaming silently on the front page. He looked strangely familiar.
"That man!" Harry said, forgetting his troubles for a moment. "He was on the Muggle news!"
Stanley turned to the front page and chuckled.
"Sirius Black," he said, nodding. "'Course 'e was on the Muggle news, James. Are you sure your Lestranges?"
He gave a superior sort of chuckle at the blank look on Harry's face, removed the front page, and handed it to Harry. Alexis looked at it with interest.
BLACK STILL AT LARGE
Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.
"We are doing all we can to recapture Black," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, "and we beg the magical community to remain calm."
Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis.
"Well, really, I had to, don't you know," said an irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it - who'd believe him if he did?"
While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.
Alexis stared at the photo of Sirius Black for a long time. He was a waxy white, with hair as black as her and Harry's. The only part of his sunken face that seemed alive were his shadowed eyes that seemed on the brink of insanity.
"Scary-lookin' fing, inee?" said Stan.
"He murdered thirteen people?" said Harry, handing the page back to Stan, "with one curse?"
"Yep," said Stan, "in front of witnesses an' all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?"
"Ar," said Ern darkly.
"Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-'Oo," he said.
"What, Voldemort?" said Alexis, without thinking.
Even Stan's pimples went white; Ern jerked the steering wheel so hard that a whole farmhouse had to jump aside to avoid the bus.
'Nice, Padfoot,' thought Harry. Alexis fought back the urge to roll her eyes.
"You outta your tree?" yelped Stan. "'Choo say 'is name for?"
"Sorry," said Alexis halfheartedly. "I forgot -"
"Forgot!" said Stan weakly. "Blimey, my 'eart's goin' that fast... You Lestranges..."
"So - so Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who?" said Harry.
"Yeah," said Stan, still rubbing his chest. "Yeah, that's right. Very close to You-Know-'Oo, they say...anyway, when little 'Arry Potter got the better of You-Know-'Oo" - Harry nervously looked at Alexis - "all You-Know-'Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they, Ern? Most of 'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-'Oo gone, and they came quiet. But not Sirius Black. I 'eard he thought 'e'd be second-in-command once You-Know-'Oo 'ad taken over.
"Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand and 'e blasted 'alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. 'Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?" Stan continued in a dramatic whisper.
"What?" said Alexis and Harry in unison.
"Laughed," said Stan. "Jus' stood there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, 'e went wiv em quiet as anyfink, still laughing 'is 'ead off. 'Cos 'e's mad, inee, Ern? Inee mad?"
"If he weren't when he went to Azkaban, he will be now," said Ern in his slow voice. "I'd blow meself up before I set foot in that place. Serves him right, mind you...after what he did..."
"They 'ad a job coverin' it up, din' they, Ern?" Stan said. "'Ole street blown up an' all them Muggles dead. What was it they said 'ad 'appened, Ern?"
"Gas explosion," grunted Ernie.
"An' now 'e's out," said Stan, examining the newspaper picture of Black's gaunt face again. "Never been a breakout from Azkaban before, 'as there, Ern? Beats me 'ow 'e did it. Frightenin', eh? Mind, I don't fancy 'is chances against them Azkaban guards, eh, Ern?"
Ernie suddenly shivered. "Talk about summat else, Stan, there's a good lad. Them Azkaban guards give me the collywobbles."
Stan put the paper away reluctantly, and Alexis and Harry shared a look. They couldn't help imagining what Stan might be telling his passengers in a few nights' time about them.
"'Ear about that 'Arry Potter? Blew up 'is aunt! An' some girl is with 'im. McPherson I think. She was in da paper with 'im last year, 'hem and Lockhart an' some blonde boy..."
'Do you think we'll end up there, in Azkaban I mean?' asked Harry.
Alexis shook her head no and took her best friend's hand.
'They'd have to catch us first, and that's not going to happen,' she reassured. Harry squeezed her hand and smiled. The two had faith in their plan or at least they were going to pretend they did to keep up their friend's morale.
They watched as the bus dropped off a dozen or so wizard and witches, all of which looked happy to leave.
Finally, it was just Alexis and Harry left.
"Right then," said Stan, clapping his hands, "whereabouts in London?"
The two friends exchanged looks.
"Diagon Alley," said Harry.
"Righto," said Stan. "'Old tight, then."
BANG.
They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Alexis and Harry sat up and watched buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Bus's way. The sky was getting a little lighter.
'We lay low for a couple of hours before going to Gringotts,' said Alexis and Harry nodded ever so slightly - Stan had been giving him weird looks every time he did so he was trying to be more discreet about it.
'Then what?' thought Harry.
'Then we get some money and run for it,' replied Alexis. 'Wherever you want to go. It really won't matter to me.'
Ern slammed on the brakes and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small and shabby-looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley.
Alexis and Harry said thanks to Ern and quickly scrambled down the steps, Stan helping them with Harry's trunk.
"Well," started Harry.
"Bye!" finished Alexis with a quick wave.
But Stan wasn't paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the bus, he was goggling at the shadowy entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.
"There you two are," said a voice.
Harry didn't complain when Alexis swore loudly, in fact, he said something very similar under his breath. Standing behind them, a hand on each of their shoulder, was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself.
Stan shouted, "Blimey! Ern, come 'ere! Come 'ere!"
Fudge, a portly little man in a long, pinstriped cloak, looked cold and exhausted, but for the first time Alexis had ever seen him he looked pleased to see her - most likely happy he was the one to turn her in to the authorities.
"Shall we go in," he said more as a statement then a question. He motioned for Stan to carry Harry's trunk inside as he led Alexis and Harry inside the Leaky Cauldron.
'This could not have gone any farther then how we planned,' complained Harry.
He was wrong.
Standing next to the bar landlord, Tom, was a tall, scarred covered man with a metal leg, a magical blue eye, and a missing chunk of his nose.
"Hi, Al," said Alexis, with a small wave at her uncle. Alastor Moody did not look amused.
"You've got him, Minister!" said Tom. "Will you be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?"
"Perhaps a pot of tea," said Fudge, who still hadn't let go of Alexis or Harry.
There was a loud scraping and puffing from behind them, and Stan and Ern appeared, carrying Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage and looking around excitedly.
"'Ow come you di'n't tell us 'oo you two knew the Minister, eh,?" said Stan, beaming at the duo, while Ernie's owlish face peered interestedly over Stan's shoulder. "Who would believe it? Lestranges, frien's with da Minister!"
"And a private parlor, please, Tom," said Fudge pointedly.
"'Bye," Harry said miserably to Stan and Ern as Tom beckoned Fudge toward the passage that led from the bar. Alexis waved halfheartedly.
"Bye, Trix! Bye, James!" called Stan.
Fudge marched Alexis and Harry along the narrow passage after Tom's lantern, Moody right on his heels, and then into a small parlor. Already waiting for them was none other then Carter Swine, his grey eyes narrowing in on Alexis as if she was a diseased dog he was supposed to put down.
"Sit down," said Fudge, indicating the chairs by the fire.
Hesitantly, Alexis and Harry decided to share a seat inside of separate. They looked up at Fudge with two different looks: Harry's fear and Alexis's spite. Ironically, the first question he asked wasn't what either of them had expected.
"Trix and James Lestranges?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"They were the first name that came to me," said Alexis, shrugging her shoulders. Fudge and Swine shared a look before Swine shook his head no.
"Alastor," said Fudge, turning his head towards Moody, "perhaps you should take your niece-"
"I'm not leaving Harry with any of you," snapped Alexis. "He didn't mean to do it. The bitch was insulting his parents! I tried to help calm him down but she went too far, she deserved-"
"You took him out of his safe house because you thought you were going to be punished for a little thing like that?" said Fudge surprised.
"What do you mean, 'safe house'?" said Alexis.
"And what do you mean 'little thing like that'?" asked Harry, equally as suspicious as Alexis. "Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house! The Ministry of Magic said I'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there!"
"Circumstances change, Harry...We have to take into account...in the present climate...Surely you don't want to be expelled?" said Fudge, awkwardly.
Harry shook his head violently.
"No, but-"
"You already skipped one question," growled Alexis, "you can't skip two."
"Watch it, girl," hissed Swine, as usual, in the Minister's defense.
"Or what?" she hissed back.
"Right," said Fudge. He looked at Moody once more. "I think now would be a great time to take your niece-"
"I already told you I'm not going anywhere," said Alexis. "You haven't arrested Harry or me so technically both of us can go."
"Don't temp me," mumbled Swine.
This time, Moody snorted. Why ever in Merlin's name he did was a mystery to everyone but Alexis. Moody had used that exact threat on her earlier that summer thinking it would scare some respect into her. He was very eager to see how Alexis would react to the threat now that he wasn't on the receiving end of it.
Unfortunately, just this once, Fudge was smart enough to intervene.
"Very well, you may stay if you remain quiet," he said rather hastily.
Alexis had already opened her mouth to put Swine in his place but quickly closed for Harry's sake. She nodded in an almost polite manner towards the Minister telling him to continue.
"Your aunt and uncle are prepared to take you back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays," said Fudge, undoubtably dumber then Alexis thought. Harry always spent his holidays at Hogwarts. Merlin knows he would spend summer break there too if it was allowed.
"So all that remains," said Fudge, "is to decide where you're going to spend the last few weeks of your vacation."
Alexis shot a hopeful look at Moody only to have it shot down with a glare. She looked at Harry, who had been waiting patiently for her to answer the unspoken question they were both wondering. Reluctantly, Alexis shook her had no, but for some reason Harry wasn't as put off about not being welcomed at Mad-Eye Moody's home. If he was half as crazy as Alexis said he was, Harry was sure that it was better he didn't spend a few weeks with him.
"I suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron," said Fudge, standing up. "Now, stay here, Harry, while I go and see if Tom's got your room set up." He turned to Moody. "Alastor, if you would kindly take your niece-"
"I said I'm not leaving Harry," snapped Alexis. "I'll pay for my own room if I have to but I'm not just going to leave my best friend here when you aren't telling us what's going on."
"Hex is right," said Harry. "I'm not very comfortable with this whole thing and I'd rather she stayed."
Fudge looked at Moody with pleading eyes but was greatly disappointed with what he got.
"I'm afraid, once the lass has her mind set, she won't back down, Minister," said Moody with a chuckle. "I'm not going to force her to leave, not if Harry wants her here as well. Besides, the two of them together would make-"
"My job a bloody nightmare," muttered Fudge. Swine looked taken aback by the Minister's language but said nothing. "Very well, Alexis may stay."
"I'm so glad I needed your permission," grumbled Alexis, earning her an elbow from Harry. "I mean, thank you Fudge, sir."
Fudge narrowed his eyes at her before looking back at Harry.
"Room eleven, Harry," said Fudge. "I think you'll be very comfortable. just one thing, and I'm sure you'll understand...I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And you're to be back here before dark each night. Sure you'll understand. Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me."
"Okay," said Harry slowly, "but why?"
"Don't want to lose you again, do we?" said Fudge with a hearty laugh. "No, no...best we know where you are...I mean..."
Alexis and Harry exchanged questionable looks. Fudge cleared his throat loudly and moved towards the door.
"Well, I'll be off, plenty to do, you know..."
"Have you had any luck with Black yet?" Alexis asked.
Fudge's finger slipped on the silver doorknob leading out of the room. For a brief moment Alexis saw genuine fear on his face with a hint of anger, no doubt directed towards her.
"What's that? Oh, you've heard - well, no, not yet, but it's only a matter of time. We'll catch him, him and anyone helping him," his eyes narrowed on Alexis ever so slightly. "The Azkaban guards have never yet failed...and they are angrier than I've ever seen them."
Fudge shuddered slightly.
"So, I'll say good-bye."
Opening the door, he waved and Harry, waving back, had a sudden idea.
"Er - Minister? Can I ask you something?"
"Certainly," said Fudge with a smile.
"Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but my aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form. D'you think you could -?"
Fudge was looking uncomfortable.
"Ah," he said. "No, no, I'm very sorry, Harry, but as I'm not your parent or guardian -"
"But you're the Minister of Magic," said Alexis. "If you gave him permission..."
"No, I'm sorry, Harry, but rules are rules," said Fudge flatly.
"Perhaps you'll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's best if you don't...yes...well, I'll be off. Enjoy your stay, Harry. Alexis."
And with a last smile and shake of Harry's hand, Fudge left the room, Swine right on his heels.
"Who can you stand that guy?" asked Alexis the moment the door closed behind them. "He's such a- gah!"
Moody snorted again, reminding the duo of his presence.
"Keep an eye on each other, alright," he ordered rather then request.
"Yes, sir," said Harry.
"Whatever you say, Uncle Al," teased Alexis. She threw an arm over Harry's shoulder. "I'll keep him out of trouble."
Mumbling something under his breath that made Harry blush and Alexis snicker, Moody disappeared out of the room. Moments later, Tom appeared. He beckoned them to follow him and they did. They followed Tom up a handsome wooden staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it, which Tom unlocked and opened for them.
Inside were two comfortable-looking, twin beds, some highly polished oak furniture, a cheerfully crackling fire and, perched on top of the wardrobe -
"Hedwig!" Harry gasped. Alexis grinned at the snowy owl clicked her beak before fluttered down onto Harry's arm.
"Very smart owl you've got there," chuckled Tom. "Arrived about five minutes after you did. If there's anything you two need don't hesitate to ask."
With a bow, he closed the door and left. There was a small pause before Harry spoke.
"Um, Hex?"
"Yes Harry?" said Alexis, flopping on the bed closest to the door.
"You know more about the Ministry then me but that wasn't normal was it?" asked Harry, sitting on the second bed.
"No," Alexis said, "not even close to normal. Then again, you are the Boy Who Lived. Even being friends with the child of a Dark Lord supporter doesn't dwindle your rep."
Harry rolled his eyes and threw a pillow at his best friend. The two were just about to fall asleep when another question came to Harry.
"Padfoot?"
"Yes, Prongs?" yawned Alexis.
"Why did you chose those names, James and Trix Lestrange?"
Alexis shrugged under her blanket.
"It's weird. I could hear someone saying them in the back of my head, Trix and James, over and over but no one was there and your brain was as empty as a upside down cauldron."
She didn't have to open her eyes to know Harry was glaring at her. Alexis smiled into her pillow.
"And Lestrange?" Harry asked, a yawn of his own escaping.
"I've been hearing it a lot," said Alexis. "The sorting hat, Firenze, Draco's family... I've just had it stuck in my head since first year."
"Maybe you are a Lestrange," teased Harry, dragging out the strange in the name.
"Funny," mumbled Alexis, "next you're going to say I'm related to Black too..."
The two friends fell asleep, the first beam of daylight streaming through their window.
Thank you Luna the HP fan for the review last Chapter! Don't worry about her identity being blown. I have plans for that next book *laughs evil until chokes and has to talk with a weird voice*
I have also just discovered that some people find it unethical to have two teenagers (well, one teenager and a 12 and 3/4 year old) share a room even if they have separate beds if they are of the opposite gender. With that I have one thing to say THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE SEX YOU BIMBOS honestly... Some of you people...
anyway, please review and, oh yeah, review
DCF