a new challenger has arrived | alexis drabbles

[Wingu]

7TH YEAR!ALEXIS
PARKER HOME

“What are you up to, Lexi?” A familiar voice appeared over her shoulder, only heard because the music the girl had been listening to had dipped into a lull. Pulling off the seemingly oversized headphones, she swivelled in the chair with legs still crossed and looked up at her father. He was the only one who used that nickname for Alexis, being the only one she permitted, and it still managed to put a small smile on her face. Whenever she heard anyone else using it however, that was a different matter. Usually it was James in a mocking manner when they passed each other in the corridors of Hogwarts, but in her own home she was safe from such idiots.

“Just playing games,” she replied, one eye on the screen as the chess board she had been building was now animatedly fighting against another players army. She’d seen magical chess on multiple occasions being played in the Ravenclaw dormitories, but somehow it just didn’t catch her attention as much as the digitised muggle version of ‘chess’ had. Trying to keep up with the new changes in the meta game was difficult, as she could only play during the holidays, but a couple of games got her caught up quickly enough.

“Funnily enough, I could guess that,” her father chuckled, one hand reaching for his quiv sitting in the back pocket of his jeans as it gave a quick vibrate. “However, Olivia’s family is on her way and you’re still sat in… pyjamas?”

“I lost track of time,” she said honestly; the game was very addictive and easy to start a new match. “Is she in the floo now?”

“Five minutes,” he replied, tapping a response. “Should I say you’ll be fashionably late?”
“Thanks dad. Robes or jeans?”
“Jeans are fine, Lexi.”

It was hard not to press the play button one last time after the match she had been playing ended, especially since she had been that close to getting first place, but taking the headphones off alerted her to the fact that company had arrived, and had been there for a while. The brunette sighed, standing up with a large stretch that she hadn’t realised she’d needed, getting out of whatever she had been wearing and into something more suitable. The only things she made sure to pay attention to was if her shirt was on the right way and that her jeans were comfortable; sitting amongst company in stiff jeans was a mistake she made too often to admit to, and this was going to be one long visit.

Olivia’s family were well-meaning, but there was a distinct difference between visits with just Olivia and her child, and Olivia and her husband. Alexis had forgotten to ask what configuration of guests were coming over, and couldn’t work it out from the clothing choice her father had advised nor his demeanour. Whilst he was nowhere near as guarded as she could sometimes be, he was on par with her for putting up appearances. Alexis took quiet steps down the stairs, listening out for the different voices in the conversation taking place to gauge how she should enter.

“Are Samantha and Alexis out? I thought you knew we were on our way?” Another familiar voice spoke, but not the one she had anticipated. This one didn’t bring a soft smile to her lips, but instead froze her mid-step. Why was Grandfather here?
“Apologies, father,” she heard her father grovel - was he on the floor? She hated when he had to do that - as she backed up a step. “I was under the impression it was just going to be Olivia and Toby, so when I learned you were also joining us I asked Samantha to pick up some more groceries. Alexis should be on her way down any moment.”
“I shall grant you that grace,” the chilling voice huffed, and the squeak of her father’s favourite armchair echoed through the stillness of the house, followed by a slight groan. Grandfather had just sat down, she deduced. Still had that weak knee he refused to get seen to, even though it would have been easily soothed by either muggle or magical medicine. Stubborn in all aspects of his life.

“Apologies for my late arrival,” Alexis greeted the room with a short bow, much to her chagrin. She didn’t want to see her father getting up from one knee. She didn’t want to see the quick flash of disgust her grandfather displayed on impulse from hearing her voice. She didn’t want to be here. “I had something of urgency I needed to finish.” Not a lie.
“Good evening, Alexis,” he spoke, not turning to look at her. “It’s good to see you after so long.”
“You as well, Grandfather.” Definitely a lie, but clearly on both their ends. She quickly shot her father an accusing look, to which he quickly responded with an apologetic raise of his eyebrows. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“As sharp as ever,” her grandfather replied before her father could get a scolding word in edgeways. To his dismay, both his father and her daughter were very good at playing the civil-yet-threatening conversation game. “I have been visiting my grandchildren over their short holiday period and realised I had not paid you a visit yet. When I heard that Olivia was coming to visit with Tobias, I decided it would be more beneficial to greet you both.”
“I see,” Alexis curtly responded, taking a seat on the sofa next to Olivia, who was holding the four month old in a cradling embrace. Two birds with one stone essentially, and especially since she couldn’t exactly see the elderly man have much to discuss with a child that could barely hold their own head up. Why was he here? What impartial wisdom could he be bestow upon them both? For enjoying the prospect of trying to figure things out, Alexis didn’t want to understand how her grandfathers brain worked. She didn’t really like thinking about him in the first place.

Time passed slowly; Alexis’ mother soon returned with some extra groceries for the new guest, and stayed standing near the entrance of the kitchen. Her excuses for doing so were ‘not enough space to sit down’ and ‘must keep an eye on the food’, but she dipped in and out of the kitchen more times than strictly necessary. Alexis wanted to check up on her, make sure she was holding up okay, but under the gaze of her father and grandfather kept her from moving far from the small child that had, at some point, ended up on her own lap. Conversation was brief, using the most minimal of words to get any points across, and Alexis barely said anything other than “Yes, Grandfather,” or “No, Grandfather.” It wasn’t worth it. Nothing was worth formulating a response as she normally would. Just say whatever was most appropriate, and let others do the talking.

Once her mother called out that dinner was ready, she noticed that her grandfather wasn’t moving towards the kitchen, but instead the fireplace.
“Aren’t you joining us for food, Father?” Olivia asked, in the middle of taking back Toby from a still sitting Alexis. She daren’t stand with such a fragile being in her possession.
“I’m afraid not,” he grumbled, almost disappointed that she had to ask such a question. That was big, considering that she was an actual favourite of his. “However, I do ask that you give me some parting words to Alexis and Tobias only.” Ask, of course, was only to give the illusion of choice.
“Very well,” Olivia and Elliot started to reply together, but her father stopped as soon as he realised they would overlap. He spoke the words again once she had finished, both of them bowing and taking their leave to the kitchen. Alexis held onto the confused child, willing them not to cry as he saw their mother depart, and looked up at the elder. She didn’t know what kind of expression to give him, and was also unsure of the one he was giving the two of them.

The sliding door seemed unnecessarily loud as it separated the two parties, but the elder waited until conversation started up in the next room before speaking. He could have just used Quietus on us.
“I do not expect Tobias to remember this, but for you I have high expectations,” he began, putting his hand into the ceramic bowl her mother made to hold the family floo powder. “Your existence as a Fowley is only in half of your blood, not even in name, but even I must honor whatever muddied bit is in there.” He paused, and Alexis wondered if he was expecting her to respond with a grand gesture of apology for this fact. She didn’t, and he continued.

“I am on my way to break an unbreakable vow.”

Alexis almost dropped Toby, and had to hold tighter to stop herself from an outburst of confused outrage. The boy was understandably upset by this, but she soothed him quickly in order to stop his cries. What? Why was she being told this? Did her father know already?

“This is for the greater good of the Fowley name, and even though you do not hold any such status to uphold it yourself, it is important that you remember this. No one else will.”

What does he mean no-one else will remember this? What kind of vow was this? Why was she being told this?


“Your Grandmother will be known as the new Matriarch of the family, and due to her own ill health it will pass on to the next family that is deemed the most worthy. Of course, your father will not be in the equation, but you must still know that things are changing. But most importantly, you must remember me.”

Silence enveloped the room again as he finished. Was that a tear in his eye? Clearly due to not being able to see Toby grow up to be an amazing pure-blood wizard that all Fowleys were destined to become, and not because he was sad to see the back of the Parker family.

“Why are you telling us this?” Alexis finally managed to break through the hard lump in her throat, rocking the baby in her arms to try and ease her own anxieties rather than sooth him.
“I cannot speak of this to my next generation, so I must impart it to yours.” His last words before the floo powder hitting the previously dry wood in the middle of the fireplace roared into an illuminous green fire. The destination he spoke didn’t penetrate Alexis’ ears, as she was still in a state of confusion. What was that all about? Why did even the thought of trying to tell her father or his sister this information cause her mouth to tighten? Was it literally that impossible to tell the generation above her any of this information?

The cries of Toby soon brought her round to consciousness once again, noticing that Olivia was taking the small child from her and her father was shaking her shoulder.
“Lexi, are you okay? What did my father say to you?” His voice was full of emotion again, worry and anger mixing together in a thick paternal tone.
“He-” she started, but the lump returned and her mouth tightened. The work of a spell. Had her grandfather uttered it before he left, or was that just somehow part of the unbreakable vow? Alexis sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she struggled to think of some way to get around it and at least tell some sort of truth. She was known for taking her time, so there was no pressure from anyone in the room.

“He was just saying goodbye.”

1983 words // So this took a turn and i don't know how or why but we are where we are

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