~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 :)
"Incoming." Fred warned Alex before motioning to their right. The three were seated on a bench in the quad, Alex trying to listen to her best friends as they enthusiastically discussed their new invention. She was forcing herself to keep her stare away from the corner of the courtyard, where she'd often meet Cedric. Alex turned her head slightly, frowning when she spotted her brother, charging towards them with rage in his eyes. She noticed Ginny and the golden trio a few yards behind him, looking on from a distance. Spineless traitors.
"Alex! Why am I hearing that you shared a cabin with Draco Malfoy on the Hogwarts Express?!?" Justin sputtered as he stopped in front of them.
"You did what?!" George exclaimed in surprise, turning to look at her. Alex just looked at him in indifference before turning back to her brother.
"And?"
"Alex, Draco Malfoy has been nothing but a jerk to our friends since we got to Hogwarts! Not to mention, he came after you when you pulled that prank on him! He belittles Hermione every chance he gets for having muggle parents. Do you want me to go on?"
"No, I don't." Alex replied, rolling her eyes.
"Then I'm sure you won't be spending any more time with Draco Malfoy going forward." Justin nodded to her before turning around to start walking away. Alex knew it was stupid, but the irrational side of her didn't want her brother to have the last word.
"And if I do?" He stopped in his tracks, turning back to look at Alex in disbelief. Alex crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her brother defiantly. "Then what?"
He opened his mouth a few times to speak, but closed them each time as a frustrated expression passed over his face. "You'd be losing your friends... and your brother." He finally replied.
"Okay, then." Alex nodded towards him. It wasn't like she wanted to be around Justin or Harry anyway. Not after last year.
"Just to get this clear, you will not be spending any more time with Draco Malfoy?"
"Incorrect. However, I do accept your terms. As a matter of fact, I will be spending even more time with Malfoy. I don't need friends like them." She paused, looking over at the Golden Trio across the courtyard before her eyes settled back on her brother. "Nor do I need you."
"I can't believe you, Alex." Justin shook his head in disappointment before turning and walking away. Alex watched him meet the others on the other side of the courtyard. He said something to them angrily before charging away. The four glanced back at Alex doubtfully before following Justin into the corridor. She released a relieved breath when they were no longer in sight, turning her attention back to Fred and George. "Wait... where are you guys going?" She asked in confusion as she watched the twins stand gather their bags.
"Sorry Alex, even we draw the line with Malfoy." George responded, shaking his head.
"Find us when you come to your senses." Fred added, as he stood up and slung his back over his shoulder. Alex watched the two walked off in the direction of the others.
Fine, I don't need anyone anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Ordinary. Wizarding. Level. Examinations. O-W-L's." Professor Umbridge read out as she walked to the front of the class with her wand pointed on the chalk board, transcribing the words. "More commonly know as, OWLs."
She stood in the front of the class, clasping her hands in front of her as she looked around, a almost sinister look on her face, hidden behind her fake smile. Harry knew he didn't like this woman from the moment he laid eyes in her at his hearing.
"Study hard, and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe." She flicked her wand as numerous books moved from the front of the class to the students, distributing themselves onto each desk. "Your previous instruction in this course has been disturbingly uneven." Harry looked down at the text as one dropped on his desk in front of him. Dark Arts Defense. Basics for Beginners. "From now you, you'll be following a carefully structured, ministry-approved course for defensive magic."
Harry opened the book, looking through a few pages as he noted the text was mostly history lessons. He skipped further to the last few chapters and saw most of the same. Where were the defensive spells? He looked up in confusion just as he spotted Hermione holding her hand up.
"Yes?" Professor Umbridge pointed in her direction.
"There is nothing in here about using defensive spells."
"Using spells?" The Professor released a forced giggle as she approached Hermione. "I don't understand why you would need to use any spells in my classroom."
"We're not going to use any magic?" Ron asked in disbelief beside Harry.
"You'll be learning about magic in a secure, risk-free way." The professor explained, her expression confident.
"What use is that?" Harry interjected, no longer able to keep quiet. He'd never heard anything more absurd. "If we are being attacked, it's not going to be risk-free."
"Student will raise their hands when they speak in my classroom!" She said sternly, turning away from the class.
Harry glanced at Ron, his friend giving him a wary look. This is insane. Completely insane. He looked back at their Professor, who was facing them again, looking at the class with a serious expression. Harry could have sworn she was shaking.
"It is the view of the ministry that theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get your through your examinations, which after all, is what school is about."
"But how's theory going to prepare us for what's out there?" Harry demanded, resisting the urge to stand up and slam his book on his desk. This woman was absolutely insane. No magic? In a defense against the dark arts class?
"There is nothing out there, dear." She replied in a mocking tone. "Who do you think would attack children like yourself?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Lord Voldemort!" Harry replied angrily as the class went drop-pin silent. He looked around him to see many of his classmates had either dropped their heads in indifference or were looking at Harry with disturbed expressions on their face. This only further reminded Harry of how the topic of Voldemort's return had divided reactions.
Professor Umbridge stared back at Harry silently for a few moments, a disturbed expression on her face. Harry watched her take a few deep breaths before turning back to the class. She started walking down the isle of desks, looking at the students with an assuring grin . "Now let me make this quite plain. You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large again. This. Is. A. Lie." She spelled out as she stopped in front of Harry.
"It was not a lie-" Harry started to argue but was cut off by a loud bang towards the back of the class. The rest of the class turned their attention to the back of classroom where Alex was standing, her book on the floor of the isle beside beside her.
"If you seem to have all the answers, explain how my boyfriend died then. Who killed him?" Alex looked at Professor Umbridge with a furious expression on her face. Harry noted that Draco was seated beside her, urging her to sit down.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident." Their professor replied as she looked at Alex in fake sympathy.
"No it wasn't! It was murder! Voldemort killed him!" She yelled back.
"That's enough!" The Professor yelled, staring back at Alex in anger. "I'd recommend you seat yourself now Ms. Russo. And, I would like you to see me in my office first thing tomorrow morning. She turned and looked at Harry with a tight smile. "You as well, Mr. Potter, later today."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Come in, Ms. Russo." Alex heard Professor Umbridge call out on the other side of the door.
She pushed the door open, unable to hold back the frown on her face as she entered the room. The walls were decorated with columns of plates, a kitten moving in each one. Who woulda thought she was a cat lady. She continued to scan the room, noting the addition of ugly pink furniture and curtains. It looked nothing like the office she spent hours getting to know her godfather in.
"Please take a seat." She heard the professor say, motioning for her to sit in a vacant chair and table in front of her desk. She stared at Alex with a forced smile. "You're going to be doing some lines for me today, Ms. Russo."
"Aren't you going to wait for Harry?" She asked as she took the seat, noticing a blank piece of parchment paper was waiting for her on the desk.
"Mr. Potter already served his detention yesterday." She replied, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. One that made Alex suspicious of what transpired of said detention... and made her question what she was in for. "Since your reasons for punishment are not the same, I thought it proper that you serve your punishments separately."
"Fine with me." Alex shrugged as she started to reach for her bag. She couldn't believe her luck that her detention was something as stupid as writing lines on a piece of paper. Elementary school level punishment, if you asked me.
"Actually..." Professor Umbridge interjecting, interrupting Alex from reaching into her bag. "You won't be needing your own quill. You'll be using a rather special one of mine." She explained, standing up from her seat. She walked over to Alex and placed a plain quill with a long brown feather in from of her. Alex picked it up before suspiciously... waiting for her to explain why she was using her dumb quill. No explanation came of course. "You are going to write, 'I must not challenge authority.'"
Alex gave Professor Umbridge an unimpressed glance. Out of all the ridiculous things. This woman really was batshit crazy. "Are you going to give me some ink or something?"
"Not necessary." She replied with a tight smile. "Now go on. You'll know when you've done enough."
Alex rolled her eyes before turning her attention to the parchment before her. She started to write the line, somewhat impressed that the quill indeed didn't need any ink. Why didn't they always have these kind of quills? As she finished the first line and started to move to the next one, Alex started to feel a sharp, carving pain on her other hand. She looked at the back of her hand, which she noticed was starting to turn a bright red color. The pain spread as she started to make out words being carved into her skin. I must not challenge authority.
Alex looked at the Professor in disbelief, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. Professor Umbridge stood proudly, as if waiting for a reaction from Alex. She refused to cry in front of this woman. Don't give her the satisfaction. She turned her attention back to the parchment, continuing to write the words down as the carving pain continued on the back of her hand. Each iteration of words only intensified the pain, hurting her more each time it craved into her skin. Alex bit down on her lip as she continued down the parchment. The minutes felt like hours as she waited for the torture to end. Alex counted ten lines before she was stopped.
"I think that's enough... for today." Professor Umbridge said with a pleased smile. "You are excused." Alex quickly dropped the quill, not waiting for her to say anything else as she grabbed her bag and charged towards the exit. As soon as she was out of the office, Alex released the sob she had been holding back. She barely noticed her surroundings as she ran out of the DADA classroom and in the direction of her hiding place.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, Justin." Justin looked up and smiled at hearing his younger brother's voice. He had yet to run into Max since coming to Hogwarts that year. He was in the great hall having breakfast with Ron, Hermione and the twins, and coincidently had just been thinking about his brother. His smile dropped when he saw the worried looks on both him and Mikayla's face.
"Hey, what's wrong guys?" He asked the pair.
"Have you seen Alex?" Max asked as he dropped into the vacant seat beside Justin. Mikayla sat beside Max, leaning into him so she could listen in.
"No. She and I aren't exactly speaking. What did she do now?" He asked as Max glanced at Mikayla in concern. Justin could only imagine what his sister was up to. He'd already heard from Ron and Hermione about Alex's outburst in DADA the previous day.
Mikayla was the first to speak. "I'm not sure that she did anything. Actually... we were just on our way to the Hufflepuff common room when we saw Alex run past us. She'd come out of the DADA classroom, nearly in tears. I noticed she was holding her hand to her chest so we weren't sure if she hurt herself or something..."
"We tried catching up but she was too fast." Max added. "Before we could think to go after her, she was gone... I kind of hoped she was with you guys so I could check that she was okay."
"You think this has something to do with Cedric?" Fred asked. Justin turned to see their friends had all tuned into the conversation, all of them having concerned looks on their face.
"I don't think so." Hermione replied furiously. "Harry had come out of detention with Professor Umbridge after classes yesterday. We were in the common room when I noticed something was wrong with his hand. His hand- it- it was carved with the words 'I must not tell lies.'"
"Wait- you don't actually think that- that she'd do that to Alex? Do you?" Justin asked in shock. He couldn't fathom how any teacher would hurt a student. And despite the disagreement between him and his sister, the idea of anyone hurting her enraged him.
"I wouldn't put it past her!" Hermione spat. "That woman is vile! I think she used an enchanted quill! But Harry refused to tell Ron and I anything."
"I'm going to go find Alex." George said immediately as he stood up and started to collect his belongings. Fred started to do the same but George didn't wait for his twin to finish packing up as he immediately headed for the exit.
"We'll let you know if we find her." Fred sighed as he threw his school bag over his shoulder.
"Thanks." Justin nodded before Fred headed in the direction his brother just went.
"If this is what's actually happening, maybe we should tell dad?" Max suggested to Justin. "Or Alex's godfather? We have to tell an adult!"
"Not sure there is much they can do but you're right, maybe I can try and get in touch with Remus. I haven't been able to get time alone with Dumbledore since we got back but maybe Remus will have a better chance."
"I've already informed Professor McGonagall about what happened to Harry." Hermione added, looking to Ron with a guilty expression on her face. "I know Harry wanted us to let it go, but I just couldn't. And I am glad I didn't, considering now she's done the same to Alex.
"I wouldn't either, Hermione." Justin assured her, very much appreciative of her diligence. "I may be mad at Alex, but under no circumstance would I let go that a Professor hurt her." Justin turned to Max. "I don't think Alex would speak to me even if I went to her. Can you and Mikayla just check if she's okay? I think Fred and George will need help finding her."
"We'd be glad to." Mikayla responded for Max. Max just nodded as he stood up.
"We'll keep you updated." He said before letting Mikayla loop her arm through his to lead him away.
Justin ran a hand through his hair, releasing a shaky breath. "It just doesn't get better for Alex. First she lost Cedric, spent the whole summer holed up. Now all of a sudden she's best friends with Draco Malfoy of all people and getting inhumane punishments from our crazy new defense against the dark arts Professor. What's next?"
"I'm worried about her." Hermione said, looking at Justin seriously. "She's pushing everyone away and I'm concerned when she breaks, she'll be all alone."
"I know, me too." Justin sighed. He'd been thinking about this ever since his fight with Alex a few days ago. Who would she confide in if she'd pushing everyone away? "I'll try to get in touch with Remus tonight. I think he and Tonks are still at headquarters so I might be able to talk to my dad too. They aren't going to take this well..."
"I wouldn't bloody blame them." Ron said with a frown. "Harry isn't doing too well either..." He added. "He mostly keeps to himself as of late."
"Speaking of Harry, where is he?" Justin asked, realizing he'd never asked of this when his friends joined him for breakfast. He was expecting all three of them.
Ron shrugged. "Last I saw him, he was headed to the owlry. Haven't heard from him since. We expected him to join us for breakfast."
"He's been a bit distant as well..." Hermione added, a disturbed expression on her face. She looked at Ron with a frown as he resumed eating. "Do you ever stop eating?"
"What? I'm hungry." Ron replied, his mouth full of food.
"Can I join you?" The three looked up in surprise to find Harry standing over them, a reluctant look on his face.
"Of course, Harry." Hermione replied immediately, scooting over so Harry could take as seat.
As Harry moved to sit down with them, they all heard a commotion outside the great hall. Harry stopped and started to make his way in that direction, Hermione, Ron and Justin following him.
When they arrived outside the great hall, they found a crowd watching as Professor McGonagall conversed, rather loudly, on their way up the steps.
"I'm nearly requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." Professor McGonagall said as she stepped up beside Professor Umbridge.
"So silly of me, but it sounds to me like you are questioning my authority in my own classroom. Minerva." Professor Umbridge replied as she took a step up the stairs.
"Not at all, Dolores. Just your medieval methods of punishing students." Professor McGonagall followed.
"I'm sorry dear, but to question my practices, is to question the Ministry. And by extension, the Minister of Magic, himself. I am a tolerant woman, but one thing I will not stand is disloyalty."
Professor McGonagall shook her head as she took a step back down the steps. "Disloyalty?"
Professor Umbridge turned away from her and looked at the crowd of students, a faux expression of concern on her face. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."