Harry Potter & the Stone of Dreams

Okay! This is more or less a drabble I had written as a side story for one of the sequels. But I am modifying it a bit to fit it in as side story for this one, as it explains a bit more about Alex Russo's character. She is a brat yes, and yes, like all teens going through young relationships, she is finding her way. But she also has a very strong moral center and a "saving people" complex, and she's grown to become an assertive young woman who finally knows what and who she wants in this fic.

Mason was a douche to Alex in canon. And so was Justin most of the time - in large part due to the family wizard competition to determine which sibling would get to keep their powers. Surely one can see how that might exacerbate sibling rivalries. I would also like to point out that being around Harry and Hermione bring out the best in Alex, while being around her family brings out her worst. Which is pretty damn normal for most people when it comes right down to it... ;)      

Also, if it wasn't already perfectly clear, in my fic is the first time that Alex has ever been drunk. 

This short takes place after the conclusion of the events in NY, but before returning to the UK.

Alex had clutched Harry's arm tightly and scowled at Professor Crumbs throughout the entire evening, saying nothing to the Professor every time he tried to praise her for finding the Stone of Dreams and saving Wizard World (again).

"So why don't you like Professor Crumbs Alex?" Harry asked after the meeting. "He seems alright to me... Reminds me of Dumbledore a bit. Maybe a bit cryptic - but his heart's in the right place, isn't it?"

Alex's face creased into a frown. Hermione peered at her inquisitively.

"Maybe..." Alex began, "I don't know! I mean, sure, he's a 'good guy,' but he's a twisted old asshole who gets off on mind-fucking everyone." She finished with a snarl.

Harry started. He had never seen Alex look so enraged, or heard her say 'fuck' before. Alex's eyes filled with hurt, angry tears.

"That old fucker tricked me into breaking the Secrecy laws!" Alex spat, "I only did it to SAVE everyone, and he fucking knew it! Sure, my idea was stupid, but I was only 16. I actually believed that most normals would feel bad about the government rounding up and locking up wizards and would want to help us. It was all some sort of stupid bullshit test..."

Harry's face darkened. As manipulative as he had been, not even Dumbledore would have stooped so low. Hermione listened attentively, and Alex continued,

"I was SO scared at first. The FBI - the fake FBI - arrested us and took us to some kind of underground facility to interrogate us. When they actually interrogated me, they seemed kinda lame though, easy to mess with. But still... I thought they were going to experiment on us. Then we escaped, but a lot of wizards - including that asshole Crumbs, I thought - were still captured." Alex heaved a sob, the memory as overwhelming as if it had been yesterday.

"So... so I called the media to tell people that the government was locking up wizards to experiment on. And that's when HE showed up and blamed ME for trying to expose wizardry to the world. I had to go to court and everything. Almost lost my powers... "

Hermione gasped in horror. Harry looked dumbfounded.

"...and the worst thing is. I actually felt guilty about it for a long time." Continued Alex, her face streaked with tears. "Like I had done something wrong. But a long time later... after I won the Wizard of the Year award, I was just so angry at everyone."

"Justin sabotaged the award ceremony because he was jealous of me. Then the Beast Tamer jerk - I told you about him - was hitting on me hard, creeping me out, and I didn't know what to do. Mason showed up and said he wanted to apologise, but then he threw another jealous tantrum and had a fight with the Beast Tamer... they trashed the place." Alex sniffed.

"Anyway, after that I was just so mad at everyone and I stopped feeling guilty... I was trying to SAVE everyone!" Alex said with a pained, almost pleading expression.

"And that's why I hate Crumbs... and creepy old wizards with long white beards. I'm NEVER going to let some nasty old man push me around or fuck with me EVER again." Alex concluded vehemently.