A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT! THANKS TO MY AMAZING AND WONDERFUL BETA ELENA RAIN! YAY! IT'S FIXED! Lol enjoy this, perfectly spaced chapter.
Alex froze and went deathly pale. How would she survive Christmas with Ginny, how would she survive without seeing her mom and dad again? How would she survive this Christmas at all?
"No, I'm not going anywhere near your house!" Alex yelled.
She quickly got up and started to run away.
"Alex, wait!" Justin yelled.
"I'll go." Harry said running after her.
He found her sitting on a bench. He went over and sat down next to her. "Alex, it's ok. Hermione and I will both be there with you, along with Ron and his family, plus Justin. Ginny won't act out in front of them."
"It's not just, Ginny, Harry! I want my mom and dad!" Alex cried out. "I hate being away from them! Molly and Arthur aren't my mom and dad! Jerry and Theresa are my mom and dad and I miss them and I want them back! I even miss Max! I said horrible things to them before I left and I need them to know I still love them!"
"Oh Alex, they know that. They know you love them."
"I WANT THEM FOR CHRISTMAS! IT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR THIS YEARS! IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK! IT'S NOT FAIR!" Alex screamed with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Harry pulled her into a hug and let her cry into his chest. He did what he could comfort her, but he mentally smiled. He had been thinking about what to get Alex for Christmas and now he knew.
Justin and Hermione walked over and few minutes later.
"Is she ok?" Justin asked worriedly.
Harry nodded. "Missing home." Was all he had to say.
Justin nodded. "Alex, I'm sorry. We can't go home for Christmas. We have to spend it with the Wesley's."
"NO!" Alex screamed. "I WANT TO GO HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!"
She got up and ran off again. Justin sighed. "She was so happy."
"I can make her that way again, I have an idea for a Christmas present but I need your help." Harry said.
"Name it, I'll do anything to make her smile again."
Harry smiled and told Justin his head and what he needed to do to help.
"That's perfect! Alex is going to love it!" Justin smiled.
"I hope so." Harry sighed.
"Trust me, she will."
They both smiled and got to work on the present. There was so much to do and so little time to get it done.
Time flew by after that Justin and Harry worked like mad men to get Alex's present ready in time and soon everyone was on the train on their way back home. Alex was shaking.
"Relax, Alex, Justin and I won't let Ginny hurt you." Harry said.
"Does she know we got together?" Alex asked.
"No…"
Alex went white and looked like she was going to be sick. She buried her face into his chest.
"Shhhh, you're going to be fine. Trust me." Harry whispered softly into her ear.
"I do, it's Ginny I don't trust."
"She won't do anything with witnesses around. Especially her family." Ron said. "Plus underage Wizards can't use magic outside of school so, you're safe."
"Yeah, because Ginny is one to follow all the rules." Justin muttered sarcastically.
"Look, neither of you have to worry, Ginny is going to behave." Hermione said.
"She better or I won't hesitate to use some New York magic on her." Justin warned.
"Easy, Justin, you know everything is going to be fine, remember." Harry said giving him a look.
Justin nodded. "Right, he's right, Alex. Everything is going to be fine."
Alex looked between the two boys. "What's going on?"
"Nothing, why?" Harry answered.
"You two are acting very…strange." Alex noted.
"They're boys, Alex, boys are strange." Hermione told her.
"Yeah, I guess." Alex sighed and laid her head on Harry's lap. Harry stroked her hair and rubbed her back. Justin smiled. Ever since they got together Alex had been leaning more on Harry than him, a part of him missed being the one she leaned on but the other stronger part of him was happy to see her trusting and letting people in again.
"Is someone feeling jealous?" Hermione teased moving to sit next to him.
Justin chuckled. "I guess I know how a father feels. It almost makes me sad that Alex doesn't need me anymore."
Hermione shook her head. "Justin, Alex is always going to need you. You're her big brother and she will always need you. She just doesn't need you by her side every second of the day to keep away the bad people. She's more independent and stronger than she was when you first got here, but, Justin, trust me when I say, she will always need you."
Justin smiled as he watched Harry stroke Alex's hair lovingly. "Yeah, I know. Thanks."
They shared a kiss on the lips and Hermione snuggled into his side. Ron had Katie snuggled into his side, who had also fallen asleep.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron all looked to each other with a smile. They had never expected their lives to change so suddenly again after the war, but this time…it was a good change.
They train came to a stop and nobody moved. They were all so content and comfortable none of them wanted to move.
"Can we just stay here and let the train take us back to Hogwarts?" Alex asked snuggling further into his chest. "I know some people stayed behind."
"I stayed behind for Christmas one year, it wasn't too much fun." Harry said. "You'll have a lot more fun here I promise."
Alex just shrugged and sat up.
"Come on, let's go. I'm sure your Mr. and Mrs. Wesley are waiting." Hermione said.
Everyone stood up and walked out of the bus. Alex was dragging her feet walking as slow as possible toward them.
"Is everything ready?" Harry whispered to Justin.
"Yes, the present will be here tomorrow morning."
"Great and they know not to say anything if she calls them?"
Justin nodded.
"Great."
Harry ran to catch up with Alex and lifted her by the waist spinning her around causing her to squeal and laugh. Justin chuckled. He couldn't wait for her to see her surprise.
Molly and Arthur were waiting for them.
"Hey, Alex, how was Hogwarts? Did you have fun?" Arthur asked.
"Well, let's see, your daughter tried to kill me, scarred my hand for life, and teased me and mocked me the entire time she was there, so no it wasn't fun. It was a nightmare." Alex snapped.
"Alex, he was just trying to make conversation and get to know you better." Molly said.
Alex sighed and looked to the floor. Harry wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her into him. She buried her face into his shoulder. He kissed her forehead. "Mrs. Wesley, Alex is just feeling a bit homesick but also scared of seeing Ginny after what she did. She didn't to sound so rude or disrespectful."
"We understand, Dears, but Arthur is your new father, Honey, you should get to know each other."
Alex's head snapped up and she glared and pointed to Arthur. "That man will NEVER be my father! Jerry Russo is my ONLY father! I will not have another father be taken from me!"
"I won't be taken away from you, Honey." Arthur said gently. "I understand your fear after what your real father went through but Voldamort is dead. He can't hurt us anymore."
"NO! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! I REMEMBER! I REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPEN! EVERYTHING YOU TOOK AWAY FROM ME I REMEMBER! I KILLED MY REAL FATHER! HE DIED BECAUSE OF ME! IT'S MY FAULT! EVERYONE I LOVE GETS HURT OR KILLED AND I WILL NOT LET ANOTHER FATHER INTO MY LIFE JUST SO HE CAN BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME! YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER AND YOU NEVER WILL BE!"
"Ally Bear…."
"NO!" Alex screamed on top of her lungs as she was hit with a flashback.
Flashback
Alex was laying on her bed with her father, Robert tickling her sides and blowing raspberries on her stomach as she laughed and squirmed.
"Who's my little Ally Bear, who is my little Ally Bear?" her father cooed playing.
"Mehehehehehehehhe!" little Alex giggled insanely.
Her father stopped and let her catch her breath.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Ally Bear."
"Only you get to call me that, right? Nobody else can, not even Mommy or Jay-Jay."
"It's not a rule but if that's how you want it to be your mommy and Justin will respect that."
Alex nodded. "I only want you to call me that. Ok Daddy?"
"Ok Ally Bear."Robert started to give his daughter more raspberries making her laugh and squirm again. Suddenly he stopped.
"Daddy what's wrong?" Alex asked.
"Did you hear something?" Robert asked.
Alex giggled shaking her head. "No, what is it? Is it the tickle monster again, Daddy?"
"No, Ally Bear, listen I need you to wait in here. Don't come out until I come get you."
Alex nodded giggling still, thinking it was a game. Robert left the room.
A little later a clocked figure walked into the room.
"Who you?" Alex asked.
"I'm here to take you and your brother to a special fun place that only kids are allowed to go to. No, mommies or daddies."
Alex shook her head. "I'm not posed to talk to strangers."
"I'm not a stranger, I know you very well, Alexandra Russo, or would you rather I call you, Ally Bear?"
"Only Mommy, Daddy, and Jay-jay know that name."
"See, so I must be trustworthy."
Alex shrugged. "I have to ask, Daddy, first."
End flashback
"NO!" Alex screamed once more shaking her head quickly becoming hysterical causing all the Muggles to stop and stare. "NO! YOU CAN'T KNOW THAT! NOBODY KNOWS THAT! ONLY FAMILY AND VOLDAMORT KNEW THAT! YOU CAN'T KNOW THAT!"
"Alex, we used to be a family, I know it was your father's special nick name for you. We all used to be one big happy family. Don't you remember?"
"IF YOU'RE FAMILY WHY DIDN'T YOU COME SAVE US! WHY DID YOU SAVE HIM!" Alex screamed with tears streaming down her cheeks. "WHY DID YOU LEAVE A LITTLE GIRL TO FED FOR HERSELF AGAINST THE MOST POWERFUL AND EVIL WIZARD IN THE WORLD! YOUR NOT MY FAMILY AND YOU NEVER WILL BE MY FAMILY AND YOU CERTAINLY WILL NEVER BE MY FATHER! NEVER, EVER, EVER, CALL ME ALLY BEAR AGAIN! NOBODY CALLS ME THAT!"
"Alex, like it or not, we are your family. I'm your step father and Molly here is your real birth-mother."
"I DON'T CARE! JUST STOP IT!"
"Stop!" Justin yelled. "You're only making it worse."
"We should really deal with this back at the house." Molly said. "We're making a scene."
"NO! I'M NOT GOING HOME WITH YOU!" Alex screamed.
She turned around and started to chase the train which was leaving the station.
"NO! COME BACK! WAIT FOR ME! STOP!"
Harry and Justin ran after her but Harry got to her first and wrapped his arms around his waist holding her back. "NO!" she screamed.
"Shhhh, it's all right, Baby, it's all right. Shhhh, shhh." Harry cooed softly.
Alex spun around and cried into his chest. Harry looked to Justin worriedly. This wasn't how they had planned her first day back, and they hadn't even reached the house yet.
"We need to get back." Hermione said softly walking over. "Is she all right?"
Justin shook his head. "I don't think she'll ever be all right. Our father's death is going to haunt her for the rest of her life."
"She will be, the memory is always the hardest part. But she'll get through it." Harry told them.
"Is she calming down?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded. "I think she wore herself out and fell asleep. Her breathing evened out and she's very limb in my arms."
"Are you ok to carry her?" Justin asked.
Harry chuckled. "I'm fine, unless you'd rather do it."
"No, no, it's ok….sorry, I don't normally see that side of her so when I do it scares me."
"It's ok, it scares me too. But she'll be ok."
Harry lifted her legs and carried her bridal style back to the car. Everyone just hoped things got better when they got home.
By the time Alex had woken up again they were home. Alex stayed in Harry's arms as they walked inside. The house was decorated all nice and pretty for Christmas. There was sparking light and a tree with ornaments and more sparkling multi-colored lights. It was beautiful.
"Welcome Home." Molly said with a smile. "The presents have already been set under the tree and also been magical proofed so nobody can use magic and see what's in them."
Ron and Katie went right over to the tree and started to look at all the gifts.
"We're going to start on dinner." Molly said as she and Arthur left the room.
"Let's go upstairs and unpack." Hermione said gently.
The rest of them nodded and headed up the stairs. When they got to the top the stopped.
"Well, well, well, look who it is." Ginny said.
Alex flinched into Harry's arms. He tightened his hold on her to comfort her. It was the first encounter Alex and Ginny would have since she tortured her and almost killed her. Everyone was worried how things would go, especially because Alex was shaken up enough from the train station, now facing Ginny again could make everything a whole lot worse. Would Alex ever really find happiness again?
A/N yay for depressing chapter :P Don't worry things are going to get better…maybe what do you think will happen in the next chapter? Leave me your thoughts in a review.
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