~Everything's Not What It Seems~
Alex and Justin are siblings sent to Hogwarts to learn about magic just like their father. There they meet new friends, fall in love, and find out that truly everything is not what it seems.
Disclaimer: J.K Rowling and Disney Channel own the right to all these character. I am only borrowing them :)
"Alex hasn't spoken a word to me since I've arrived." Harry said as he, Hermione and Ron lounged around on the beds in his room. The trio were enjoying their last day of summer break before they headed back to Hogwarts the next day. Harry had been debating about bringing this complaint to his friends, unsure whether it was just in his head.
"She's mostly kept to herself since she arrived." Hermione replied, lifting her eyes from the book in her lap to look at Harry. She slowly closed the book and moved it beside her before throwing her legs over the side of the bed. "She really only talks to Fred and George, and that's only because they share a room."
"She went missing a few days ago too." Ron added as Hermione shot him a disapproving look. "What? Was that a secret?"
"What do you mean she disappeared?" Harry asked, looking between his two friends. He can't imagine Sirius or Remus letting Alex out of their sight after they found out from Justin and Harry that Voldemort planned to kill her.
"Not sure how she managed it, but she apparated out of headquarters and got herself to Diagon Alley. She was missing for nearly four hours before Remus found her wandering down Diagon Alley and brought her back to headquarters! The whole ordeal was completely mental."
"Do you know where she went?" Harry asked in concern. What kind of trouble could Alex have gotten into in four hours? While they were all friends, Harry knew Alex better than Ron and Hermione. She didn't doubt that she got into something while by herself.
Ron frowned at this. "Not an inkling. Sirius and Remus never asked her. Just said it was fine since she was back safe."
"Fred tried asking her. She said it was none of his business." Hermione added. "George hasn't bothered."
"George knows when to let it go with Alex. Man knows her too well." Ron explained looking at Hermione. "Fred has a death wish."
"You think she told him? Or would tell him?" Harry asked eagerly. They were all very aware of how close Alex was with the twins, but she tended to open up to George more. The revelation about her relationship to Sirius and Dumbledore being a prime example. It made Harry envy George at times.
"It's possible." Hermione replied.
Ron looked between the two, a hesitant look on his face. Hermione quickly caught on, shooting him a glare. "What is it, Ronald? You clearly have something on your mind!"
"I was talking to Fred earlier... Alex sort of came up in the conversation. I may know why Alex isn't speaking to Harry."
"Why's that?" Harry asked.
"Uh... well, Alex sort of got it in her head that Harry and Justin are responsible... for Cedric's death."
"But that's absurd!" Hermione said in disbelief. She stood up from her spot suddenly.
Ron put his hands up in surrender as Hermione towered over him, the disbelief apparent on her face. "Don't shoot the messenger. Apparently she blew up about it a few days ago to Sirius and Remus. Fred, George, mum, dad, Tonks, and Professor Snape were all witness to it."
"That must have been what the commotion was about when we arrived at headquarters. Mrs. Weasley wasn't pleased with your bothers." Hermione said to herself, a thoughtful look on her face.
"When is she ever." Ron rolled his eyes before turning back to Harry. "Are you going to speak to her on it?"
Harry shook his head. "If there was something to speak about I would. Doesn't sound like Sirius or Remus plan to act on it so best I not either."
"That sounds best." Hermione agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Bye dad." Alex whispered to the animagus form of Sirius as she crouched beside him, her arms wrapped tightly around his body. They were standing at the entrance of platform nine and three-quarters, Alex being the last to say her goodbyes. The others had already left for the platform, leaving her with her dad, Remus, and Tonks. With Max-Eye Moody lingering somewhere nearby.
"Try not to get into too much trouble, Alex." Remus said, a look of amusement on his face as he looked down at Alex.
"I'll try." She responded, standing up to give her godfather a farewell hug. "I know you want some space, but can you call us when you get settled? It would ease our minds." He whispered as he held onto her tightly.
"I'll think about it." She replied as she pulled away. She turned to Tonks with a smile, ignoring the frown on her godfather's lips. "Thanks for everything this summer." She said to her. Tonks gave her a genuine smile before pulling her in for a tight side hug.
"If you ever need to talk to someone with a somewhat feminine touch, I'm always here." Tonks offered as they pulled apart.
Alex let out a laugh. "You hardly exhume a feminine touch, but I appreciate it. I'll keep you in mind." She said to her, truly appreciative for the offer.
"Why, thank you." Tonks winked.
"Better get on, you wouldn't want to miss the Hogwarts Express." Remus said, motioning behind her.
"Not sure I agree with that." Alex rolled her eyes as she turned and faced the wall.
She had been dreading going back to Hogwarts but the idea of being holed up in her room in her godfather or the Black home made Hogwarts seems slightly less dreadful. With her luggage already shrunk and placed in her crossbody bag, she was as good as ready to go back. She glanced back at Remus, Tonks and her dad one last time before shutting her eyes and charging towards the brick wall.
When Alex opened her eyes again, she found herself in the middle of a crowded platform nine and three-quarters. There were kids in robes all around her, greeting friends, bidding their families farewell, or boarding the train. As her eyes scanned the area, she found Fred and George were nowhere in sight. She frowned as she started to make her way towards the train, deciding she'd locate an abandoned cabin and scare off anyone who tried to join her. As she boarded the train, she started walking down the hall, disappointment hitting her as she walked past multiple cabins and found them already occupied. Great... she was stuck socializing. Mostly likely being offered sympathies. As she made her way past a few more cabins, she stopped in her tracks, spotting the golden trio ahead of her. They were standing in the doorway of a cabin, chatting with Neville. She turned quickly, hoping they don't spot her, but was disappointed when she heard her name being called.
"Alex!" Ron called out to her from down the hall. "Alex, over here!" Her shoulders dropped in defeat as she slowly turned in their direction. She walked over to them, her eyes avoiding Harry's despite knowing he was staring right at her.
"Alex, we have space in our cabin if you would like to join us." Hermione offered, giving her friend a small smile.
"I think I'm okay-"
"Do you already have somewhere to sit?" Ron asked, cutting her off. Damnit, Ron.
She was tempted to snap back that it wasn't his business where she was sitting, but held back the words, biting her tongue. Maybe she could lie and say she was sitting with Max and Mikayla, but she wasn't sure if Justin was on the train and sitting with them. She was positive by now they were all aware of her opinion on Harry and Justin.
"Russo." Alex froze when she heard Draco's voice behind her. For the love of god! The last thing she wanted was for anyone to know about her friendship with Draco... but she considered if it was worse than being stuck with the trio.
She looked at the golden trio, seeing the confusion in their eyes as they stared past her. Alex didn't move a muscle as she felt Draco's arm drape over her shoulders, ever so casually. Her automatic response was to push his arm off of her, but for some reason she didn't do this as she watched the anger flare in Harry's eyes by the contact. Well that answered her previous question to herself.
"I have a private cabin you can join." Draco said, his voice very noticeable let filled with amusement. She watched Harry open his mouth to respond but Alex beat him to it.
"I'd love to join you, Malfoy." She replied, looking at Harry as his expression morphed to one of shock. Probably didn't expect that, did you chosen one?
She glanced over at Hermione and Ron, seeing the mirrored disbelief in their eyes, before turning to Draco with a smile. "Lead the way, friend." She said as they both turned and Draco led her down the hallways, his arm still around her.
"Alex-" Hermione started to protest. Alex waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder. A few cabins down in the next train, and Draco finally stopped in front of a cabin door. He pulled it open, and as promised, found a mostly empty cabin with some luggage stored away. She gave Draco a pointed look as they entered the space, implying he remove his arm from her shoulder.
"I'm not sure whether to punch you again or thank you." She said as she pulled the door to the cabin closed.
"I'd prefer the second." Draco replied with an eye roll. He walked around her and moved to grab something from his luggage. "You know, I still haven't entirely forgiven you for the first time."
"You tried to get Buckbeak killed!" She yelled angrily.
"That oversized bird tried to kill me." Malfoy replied, his voice sounding bored. He pulled a book out of his luggage and zipped it closed before dropping onto a seat
"Hardly." She said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not having this conversation with you! I'll just end up punching you in the face again."
"Suit yourself." He shrugged. Draco opened the book in his hand and started to read it, ignoring Alex entirely. Alex sighed. dropping her bag on the floor before taking the seat opposite him.
"Where are your friends, anyway?" She asked, motioning around the cabin. "And why is no one else here with you?"
Malfoy shrugged, an indifferent expression on his face. "Crabbe and Goyle are usually late and settle for the first Slytherin-occupied cabin they find. No idea where Blaise or Pansy are. Likely snogging in some corner."
"Justin is going to blow a gasket when his friend tell him about this." Alex said as she released a defeated sigh. She threw her head back against the couch but slightly tilted her head in his direction to look at him. "He really doesn't like you."
"I didn't realize they were only his friends?" Draco asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
"As of now, I don't know where my friendship stands with those three." She shrugged. "Especially Harry. I'm not sure we can ever be friends again." She gave Draco a warning look. "I'm only tolerating you because it was nice talking to you the other day in Diagon Alley. If I hear you call anyone a mudblood again, I'll resort to more than punching you in the face."
"Duly noted." Draco replied in amusement. Alex shot him a warning glare. They were both silent for a bit, Draco returning his attention to the book on his lap.
Alex broke the silence as a question popped into her head. "So... how much trouble were you in for disappearing the other day?"
"My father barred me from leaving the manor until I left for Hogwarts. Mother was all... disappointed glances." Draco rolled his eyes.
"I feel it. I just got the disappointed glances... but might as well have locked me up. I haven't gone anywhere since that day." Alex complained as she thought back to Remus and her dad's attempt to get her to spend time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She found every excuse in the book not to, including using her two best friends as a shield.
"As if you were leaving your room at all this summer." Draco said mockingly as he gave her a pointed look. Her comment reminded her of how much she'd opened up to him in the three hours they were hiding in the alley. Who would have thought Draco was such a good listener?
"I can't believe I'm going back to Hogwarts without him." Alex said out-loud, surprising both her and Draco. How did he always seem to creep into her mind when she least suspected it. "Sorry. Too personal." She said quickly as Draco looked at her with a frown.
"I think you and I went past personal with all the confessions we made a few days prior." Draco pointed out, earning himself a glare. He isn't wrong though...
"Well I'm as terrible company now as I was that day, so don't expect much from me." She warned him as she closed her eyes. "I'm gonna take a nap."
"Suit yourself." He replied.
When Draco didn't say anything else for the next few minutes, Alex opened one eye to look at him. She found him no longer invested in his book, instead mirroring her, attempting to take a nap in his own seat. He had his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes stayed closed. Odd as it was, Alex was strangely comforted by Draco's presence. He let her stew in her misery and never attempted to make her feel better about her situation. It was refreshing to say the least. It made her think that maybe, just maybe, there was a possibility of friendship in their future... at least if he stopped being a jerk.
~~~~~~~~~~
"You missed dinner." Hermione said to Alex as she watched Alex enter their dormitory.
Alex had hidden herself away in the greenhouse until the last possible moment in hopes of avoiding Hermione's judging stare. She was disappointed to find that her efforts were useless, since none of the fifth year Gryffindors were in their shared dormitory anyway. Damn the 'first day of term' excitement.
"I wasn't really hungry." She shrugged as she stepped around her bed to locate her luggage.
"Do you care to explain what you were doing with Draco Malfoy?" Hermione asked, a slight edge to her voice. A reaction she didn't blame her for.
"He offered me a place to sit on the train." She replied as she turned away and opened her suitcase. She turned her focus to finding a pair of pajamas to change into when she heard footsteps approaching her from behind. She sighed as Hermione came to stand beside her suitcase. Alex looked up at her friend, seeing the disappointment on her face. "What do you want, Hermione?"
"Draco is bad news and you know it."
"And why exactly is he bad news if you don't mind me asking?" She stood up so she was standing directly in front of Hermione and folded her arm over her chest, looking at her friend defiantly. This wasn't a fight she wanted to have with Hermione. She knew Hermione had every reason to hate Draco. And to hate Alex for not hating Draco.
"His father is a death eater who supports Voldemort! If that's not a sufficient reason to stay away, I don't know what is!" Hermione replied, her face flushing red. Alex had never seen Hermione so angry.
Alex rolled her eyes. "What's that got to do with Malfoy? He wasn't even alive when this all happened. Who's to say things aren't as fucked up for him as they are for Harry, Justin and I."
"Alex, you know those aren't the only reasons! Malfoy is an awful, vile human being!" Hermione's voice had finally reached the height of its volume as she stared back at Alex, her expression now mixed between anger and frustration. Anything Alex said wouldn't make Hermione hate her any less, because it would make Hermione hate Draco any less. She'd told Alex about the awful things Draco had said to Hermione over the years... the worst offenses being during their second year.
"He promised to tone it down, so I've chosen to give him the benefit of the doubt... for now." She replied. Why the hell was she still defending Draco freaking Malfoy?
"And you believed him?!?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"I have no reason not to." She shrugged in response. She started to turn away but Hermione grabbed onto her shoulder and turned her back.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Alex." Hermione said, her eyes staring straight into Alex's with seriousness. When Alex didn't respond, she shook her head and made her way towards the door. So do I...
~~~~~~~~~~
"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" Justin greeted the golden trio as they made their way down the corridor outside the courtyard. He took a hold of Ginny's hand and pulled her with him towards their friends.
"Oh, hello Justin." Harry greeted him.
"Hey Harry." Justin let go of Ginny's hand and hugged Harry first. With everything they'd gone through together the past two years, Justin was most glad to see Harry.
"Hi Justin. How'd your summer go?" Hermione asked as he turned to give her a hug.
"Quite well, Hermione. Thank you for asking. How about your summer?"
"Quite productive. Read a lot." She responded with a pleased smile.
"When we didn't hear from you, we thought perhaps you weren't coming back." Ron joked as he stepped up next to give Justin a hug. Hermione shot him a glare but Justin only laughed in response.
"We were fully aware you were coming back. I hope your travels with the headmaster went well." Hermione corrected him as she looked at Justin with a smile.
"As a matter of fact it did." He looked around them before stepping a bit closer to his friends and lowering his voice. "We got more recruits willing to come over from America. Only a few people, but we'll take whatever we can."
"That's good." Harry nodded.
"I heard they finally filled you in on the Order." Justin added, looking at Harry. "We have our work cut out for us, don't we?"
"That we do... especially with some people switching sides." Ron said, mostly to himself. Justin almost ignored his words until he caught the disapproving looks aimed at him from Hermione and Harry.
"Uh... what did I miss?" He looked at the trio with a raised eyebrow. When none of them said anything, he looked beside him at his girlfriend, who only shrugged in as much confusion. "Guys." He said looking at the three again.
"It's nothing, really." Hermione said in a nervous voice. A voice Hermione often used when she was trying to lie. Justin looked at Harry suspiciously, but he didn't attempt to explain either, instead offering him a shrug.
"Ron." He looked at the redhead last, who now was avoiding Hermione's death glare. "What were you referring to?"
"Uh... well..." Ron glanced nervously between Hermione and Harry before looking at Justin.
"Just tell him." Harry said in defeat.
"It's actually about Alex..."
Updated!