Alexandra Weasley

50

Alexandra couldn't really focus well enough on her legilimency over the next couple of weeks. Hermione had forgiven her and placed an overwhelming amount of trust in her. She tried to keep some distance from Hermione, which was easy given the amount of insane study sessions Hermione was putting Ron and Harry through. She was on her way to transfiguration when she bumped into Cedric.
"How likely am I to be cursed if I stay in your general vicinity?"

"Oh, great. It's you." She answered dryly.

"How are you?"

"Why?"

"You've been moody lately. Maybe I'm just worried."

"Shouldn't you be studying for the upcoming exams?"

"Haven't seen you hanging out much with Hermione either."

"Maybe she's gotten the hint. When will you?"

"I wouldn't count on it."

"Why are you here?"

"Actually, I've been sent by your brothers again."

"Of course you were."

"But also I wondered if you would play a little one on one quidditch. I know you hate the game, but you're really good out there. Practicing against you would be good for our team. I mean, those manoeuvres you managed on the school brooms? And that protection charm you cast- that was brilliant. I've never seen anything like it."

"What protection charm?" She asked.

"The one you cast that prevented me from being able to cast a spell on you."

"Right." She said. She looked at him strangely. "I have to go." She rushed away from him, in the opposite direction of her class.

Alexandra managed to go down to the dungeons right before class started and pulled Hermione away from where the rest of her class had lined up outside Snape's class.
"I can't be late to potions. Snape will kill me. I'm not you, Alex." She said.

"I need your help. It's important." Alexandra replied and Hermione softened. "I'll tell him it was my fault later. Besides, Gryffindor's already lost too many points to even qualify for the house cup. He won't really do anything."

"Fine, what is it? And I would like to state for the record, that I am truanting for you so you can never say I don't break rules for you."

"I won't." Alexandra led her up to the third floor corridor.

"Fluffy again?"

"We need privacy." Hermione huffed but disappeared into the room.

"What's wrong?"

"I need you to hex me."

"What?"

"Or cast any spell, really, that would affect me."

"You've lost your mind." Hermione blinked up at her friend.

"No, it's just... Cedric said something about my having cast a protection spell that day I had my flying exam. One that meant I was immune to his spells, but I didn't."

"You think you might have gotten extra powers from the unicorn."

"Maybe. So will you cast a spell?"

"I suppose a body bind wouldn't really harm you."

"No!" She said, a little too quickly. "I mean, a body bind. That's a third year spell."

"I decided to take a page out of your book and start reading up." Alexandra allowed herself a small smile.

"What about a disarming spell?"

"Are you sure? The body bind is-"

"Yes I'm sure. Disarming spell. Please?"

"Fine." Hermione pulled out her wand and so did Alexandra. "Expelliarmus!" Alexandra cringed slightly, but stood back up when nothing happened.

"It didn't work."

"Maybe I did it wrong."

"Really Hermione? Do you honestly believe that?"

"Why don't we try another spell?"

"Do the knockback jinx."

"Oh, do you remember the look on Flitwick's face when he found out Quirrel had already taught us the charm in DADA?"

"Quirrel has no idea what he's doing. I don't even know why Dumbledore hired him."

"I mean, he has taught us some important stuff." Alexandra scoffed but kept her thoughts to herself.

"Come on, try the knockback jinx." Hermione nodded, raising her wand.

"Flipendo." Alexandra braced herself again but she remained untouched. "Oh, my! This is incredible." Alexandra leaned against the wall, looking more upset than awed. "You don't look excited."

"Do you think I'd have to tell the ministry? People have to register as animagi when they turn. It's probably something they should know, right?"

"Oh, you're afraid." Hermione looked at her friend. It was no secret that Alexandra was haunted by something.

"I don't want anyone to know about this. But I can't hide it forever, can I?" Alexandra sounded impossibly small.

"Listen to me. You have nothing to be afraid of, anymore. No one can hurt you." Hermione tried to comfort her friend.

"I'm not afraid of getting hurt. If no one can stop me- he's going to want me back. He's going to turn me evil again. Hermione, I don't want to be evil. I don't want to be unstoppable. You have to help me."

"Who's going to want you back?" Hermione asked as Alexandra crumbled to the ground. She looked up and met Hermione's eyes.

"Voldemort."