a n c h o r

s e v e n t e e n

Alexandra woke up rather early, and decided to continue her training. She felt a little better after resting, so she used the newfound energy to practice spells with Draco's wand. She was genuinely surprised when his wand was as easy to use as her own.

"Everte Statum!" Alexandra yelled, watching as a large log flew across the lawn.

"Ebony and Hawthorn produce two rather different wands," Ollivander stated, slowly walking out towards the yard. "I'm surprised both are so comfortable in your hand."

"What do you mean?" Alexandra asked curiously.

"Well, Ebony is happiest in the hand of one with the courage to be themselves. One who will hold fast to their beliefs, and will not be swayed lightly from their purpose," he smiled, taking a seat in a lawn chair nearby. "Hawthorn is quite the opposite. Hawthorn is happiest in the hand of one who is conflicted, or who is in a state of great disturbance or uncertainty."

"Those are rather different," Alexandra stated bluntly, attempting to ignore the old man as she continued casting spells towards inanimate objects. His presence, however, was quite distracting. "Are you going to continue telling me about wands, or may I return to setting these pinecones on fire in peace?"

"Very well," he sighed, standing up and slowly returning into the house.

"That's Malfoy's wand, yeah?" Ginny asked, replacing the old man. Alexandra sighed, running her hand through her hair before nodding. "You can really tell a lot about a person by their wand."

"I don't need a description of his wand to know who he is, let alone to know who I am. Who is he to tell me I'm disturbed and conflicted?" Alexandra asked angrily, crossing her arms.

"Are you going to tell me you're not?" Ginny asked, mirroring her. "You have every right to be. You're allowed to be courageous and uncertain at the same time, you know."

"I've got to know what I'm doing if I'm going to change the fate of this war, Ginny. I refuse to let innocent people die because I'm uncertain. I don't have time to hesitate," Alexandra argued, beginning to cry as she once again imagined her friends and family dying the hands of the man she once foolishly thought she could love. "Eight months of my life were wasted in that cellar, and I can't let that hurt me anymore than it already has."

"I wish I could understand what you went through, Alex. Every day you were gone I wished I was in your place," Ginny stated, beginning to cry as well. "All I know now is that I can't let you carry on alone. I couldn't be there for you then, but Merlin knows I'll be here for you now and every moment on."

Alexandra embraced her friend, holding her tightly and never wanting to let go.

"This is my sister, Ginny," Ron smiled, helping Alexandra bring her bags to her new room.

"I've finally got a sister!" Ginny grinned, running to embrace the girl. Molly had already insisted Alexandra moved into the Burrow, not liking the idea of a child living without a family. She was definitely taking a risk financially, but her and Arthur believed it would be worth it in the end.

"Don't mind her. She found out I was supposed to be a girl, and has been fantasizing about having a sister ever since," Ron groaned, throwing the bags on the ground.

"I've always wanted a sibling," Alexandra smiled.

"Careful what you wish for. Now you're stuck with seven," Ron told her, leaving the room to drop off his own bags.

"Oh, this is going to be wonderful. We can stay up all night doing each other's hair, and talking about boys, and- oh! I heard you're friends with Harry Potter! You have to tell me all about him!"

"I haven't exactly known him long, but I'm sure you'll meet him soon enough," Alexandra laughed.

"You really think so?" Ginny asked hopefully. Alexandra nodded. "I'm so excited that you're here, Alexandra. May I call you Alex? It's much easier."

"Sure," Alexandra laughed again, shocked by how talkative the girl was. When Ron mentioned her, he said she was the quiet one.

"Well, Alex, I think we're going to be the best of friends."

"Oi! Stop your crying and come eat some breakfast!" Fred yelled out a window, causing the two girls to pull apart and wipe their eyes.

"I thought you were a morning person!" Alexandra yelled up to him.

"The working life has changed him. Quite unfortunate, if you ask me," George answered. "Threw a shoe at me just last week for chewing too loud. Can you believe that?"

"I can," both girls said, laughing when George frowned and shut the window.

"I'm planning on spending the day training, if anyone would like to join me," Alexandra, offered, sitting with Fred, George and Ginny at the table.

"That new wand treating you well?" Fred asked, stuffing his face with eggs. Alexandra nodded. "Hermione still using yours?"

"Yeah. She pulled it out of my hand the night of the wedding, so it answers to her rather nicely. Thought she could use it since hers is broken," Alexandra explained, waiting until she was done taking to eat her food, unlike Fred. Both twins had a habit of talking with their mouths full. She's known this since the moment they met.

"Do you think you would be here today if he hadn't bothered you at the welcome feast all those years ago?" George wondered.

"I think so," Alexandra shrugged. "I reckon I still would have met Ron. After all, he was the one who mentioned me to your parents."

"Well, I wasn't planning on having you move in with me for another ten years or so. Excuse me for wanting to take things slow," Fred joked, causing everybody to laugh.

The four of them enjoyed breakfast together, spending the rest of the day brushing up on old spells and learning new ones. It was a good thing they did, seeing as a small gold coin would soon land in Ginny's hand and the event Alexandra feared most would finally begin.

"Harry's at Hogwarts."

—————————

Quick Note:

First: It's happening!! Get excited.

I just wanted to thank all of you for sticking by my and this story, especially those who are constantly commenting and voting (I see you.)
Don't worry, there are a lot more chapters in the works and on the way! I'll try not to keep you waiting too long. I always aim to please, but I'm a busy bee so bear with me.

Anyway, let me know what you want to see happen! I'm always interested to hear what you guys think should happen with Alexandra and her friends. Again, I always take suggestions into consideration when I'm writing. Fred's fate could possibly be in your hands. (Or I could have decided already, but you never know.)

Lots of love <3