Arc II: part IV

Alexa's body was lighter than a feather as she hovered high above the clouds. She could feel the cool breeze caressing her face before she had to squint her eyes when a gust of wind hit her face. Alexa kept flying above a dense, impenetrable forest; she could not see an end to as far as her sight could travel. Only an expense of threes that progressively lost their light to the dim of dusk.

Alexa felt her body slowly get heavier, gradually moving towards the ground and start fearing to crush only she softly landed on the grass, at the heart of the forest. The place she landed in was by no mean familiar to her eyes as she had never ventured so far. The night had now fallen, and darkness took over the place, so Alexa started strolling forward. She couldn't remember how she ended up flying, nor why the girl felt so peaceful and free from any hesitation as she walked barefoot on the wet grass.

Suddenly, Alexa's eyes met a silvery light a little further that seemed to be waiting for her. As she approached, she gradually could distinguish an animal form until she got close enough to identify a dog's shape. A shiny silver dog, identical to the Sirius' german Shepard form, barked at her when she reached him before running away, going deep into the forest. Alexa followed him, running after him, slipping on the grass as the trees drifted on her way, clearing a path for her until there were no trees anymore on her way.

Alexa emerged from the forest, walking on a stone-paved floor that now replaced the grass and mud. She now was standing on top of a hill that had been dug out to make various successive rows forming a hemicycle, facing a platform on which an old black stone-made arcade stood, where a tattered old thin black curtain floated. The stands were full of people who had their eyes fixed on the Archway. As she looked at the people, Alexa noticed how oddly they were dressed, some following medieval standards, some the renaissance and a few even wearing armours. The place was quite similar to the antic Greek theatre from the peplum movies she loved to watch with her dad, until falling asleep, her head resting on her father's lap, and never reaching the movie's end.

Her gaze was attracted to a glowing light at the bottom of the sands. The dog, she thought having lost during their race earlier, was waiting for her and kept barking at her until she finally decided to meet him down the steps, where he started hopping around, barking around the Archway.

The closer Alexa got closer to the Archway, the more her heart began to bounce in her chest, the heavier she felt her body grow heavier, and her blood froze. Once arrived, the dog came to greet her and stood on his hind legs before landing his front paws on her shoulders, looking at her straight in the eyes before jumping back down to run towards the Archway.

A fear she had never felt before invaded her as she saw the dog running towards the veil. Alexa made to sprint to stop him; only she froze still when a deafening noise made her instinctively raise her head to look at the sky. A red bolt had slashed the starry sky, the people who sat on the rows had now disappeared, and there was no sign of any dog around anymore...Only a lone man, in his thirties, with black hair, wearing a black suit, leaning a shoulder against the Archway's frame, looking at Alexa. She could feel a particular benevolence emanating from him as if his arrival had chased away the gloom the Archway expanded on the area.

"What...What is place?" Alexa asked.

"I wish I knew..." The man said, smiling at her, walking towards her." Some say it's a doorway to the afterlife. I say it's only a door because we never wholly leave."

"Oh...And who are you?" Alexa asked. "And what am I doing here?"

"What makes you think it's a real place?" The man asked.

"You mean...I'm dreaming all this?" Alexa asked.

"You are obviously dreaming this. It doesn't mean all is your imagination did as all these elements exist somewhere around the world. I find it interesting how your mind assembles them so Optimizely when you never actually seen them" The man said, looking around him. "So, I guess you'll have your part to play in it, or at least you're a piece of it…."

"Play my part in what? And who are you?" Alexa asked.

The man laughed before clearing his throat. "Today? I am nobody! Or better...I'll say, I'm what life will make of me..." Then, resting a hand on her head while the silver dog reappeared, sitting next to him, the man said some words after, but she couldn't hear as they got covered by a much louder voice, coming from far away.

Alexa slowly opened her eyes and felt her cheek pressed against a hard, itchy surface while she drooled from the corner of her mouth. She looked at a strange picture, odd, twister as dark silhouettes danced around. The voice echoed in her head, lower, coming closer and closer. Alexa was ready to do whatever it took to shut it down. Suddenly a noise sounded close to her face and startled her.

"MISS ACKER!"

Alexa straightened up on her chair, blushing at the sight of the professor's Schrader angry face; after the transfiguration's professor crushed a book on her desk. Her eyes wandered about her, and she discovered that the dark silhouettes belonged to her classmates, whispering and laughing at her. Finally, Mr Schrader's face softened, and he silenced the classroom before talking to Alexa.

"Miss Acker, do you find my classes boring?" He asked.

"No... I'm sorry, I didn't even realize" Alexa tried to explain, only he had carried on his lecture to the class.

Alexa ignored the looks and lowered her head on her book instead. She didn't remember falling asleep, nor did the dream feel like a dream, as all seemed so authentic. Finally, the bell sounded, and Professor Schrader dismissed them. As Alexa made to leave the classroom, he waived at her.

"Acker, one moment, please." He said.

Alexa approached the professor's desk, from where he glanced severely at her.

"Professor, I apologize for falling asleep. I have no excuse." Alexa said.

He reached to a paper and handed it to her. She recognized the essay she had returned a week ago, unmarked.

"I didn't have to read more than five lines to understand you waited the last minute to botch it..." Professor Schrader said.

"I...I'm sorry, I had..." Alexa mumbled.

"...Which I find quite strange considering your attitude and other assignments you have returned. I expected to receive better work from you the way you used me to since the school year started. And now, you fall asleep during my class. So here comes the question, is everything fine at home?" Schrader asked.

"Yes, of course!" Alexa said. "It's just that...It was a Lil bit difficult to adjust to this new life, far from home..." Alexa said.

"You're from Hambourg, right?" Schader asked.

"Yes...Why?" Alexa asked.

"Nothing...I also noticed how you never pair with the other students in my classes, and Professor Suhl says it is the same in potions." Schrader asked.

"Oh...I just prefer to work at my own pace." Alexa said.

"Well, that's not how school works...Next time, I'll pair you with someone. You'll notice I didn't mark your essay, so I suggest you do it again and apply yourself this time. You can go now." Schrader said, dismissing her, waving a hand before collecting the wool balls placed on each table.

Alexa went straight to the washroom and dropped her bag on the floor before splashing some water on her face, looking at her reflection in the mirror, thinking about the man she saw in her dream and the few words he said. She closed her eyes, trying to remember more of it, only she heard footsteps along some familiar voices approaching. She rushed inside a cabin the exact moment the door opened to let three other girls.

"I already told you all I know, Yuna! The last time I saw her was Friday afternoon." Janna said, sounding annoyed.

"But...Are you sure she didn't call you over the weekend?" Yuna asked.

"Nope!" Janna said, "Look...She's probably fucking some guy somewhere. So, you're worrying for nothing."

"If that were the case, she wouldn't shut up about it!" Yuna said." How about you, Rea?" Yuna asked.

"Nothing... As I said, my parents and I were supposed to go to their home on Saturday. You girls know how our dads are friends and all. Only Saturday morning, her mom showed up to our place crying. As usual, they argued on Friday morning, so when she didn't come back home after school, she just assumed she was pouting at my place or yours. So then, Our dads and my brother spent the whole weekend looking for her...Her mother even went to ask that gnome! And she was furious when she came back home." Rea said.

"What?! Why did she go see her? Don't tell me she told on us!" Yuna asked

"Kind of...From what I understood, she freaked out when Mrs Neumann told her she was Kaia's mom..." Réa said.

"Well, that bitch better keep her mouth shut, or I swear, I'll shave her head and eyebrows!" Janna said.

"First, you'll have to get rid of that dog that follows her everywhere...Like a dog," Yuna said, laughing.

"It's only a matter of time before she finds him hung on a tree," Janna said before bursting into laughter.

"Animal cruelty makes you laugh?" Réa asked.

"No, my love...But picturing a certain person I won't name, upside down while her head spins in the toilet bowl do make me laugh!" Janna said.

"What are you talking about?" Yuna asked.

"Take a look at your feet..." Janna said.

That's when Alexa face paled. In her rush to hide, she has forgotten to pick up her bag. And the singing voice of Yuna didn't make it any better while she knocked softly at her cabin's door.

"Alexita...Will you come out, or should I come to get you?" Yuna asked softly.

Alexa considered every possible solution that wouldn't include sending her head spin in the toilet boil. But, unfortunately, this time, Sirius wasn't there to help her. Although she heard about wizards and witches who could disappear from one place to instantly appear in another, fay away...No, that was impossible, even using magic. She started panicking when Sirius' voice echoed in her head.

"You'll always find someone to pick on you."

Sirius was right; enough was enough...She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then as she heard Yuna whisper "Alohomora", Alexa rushed out of the cabin, impacting violently against Yuna, who was projected against the mirror. She took advantage of the other two girls confusion to pick up her bag and ran away from the washroom, jostling two third-years who looked curiously at her. Fortunately, the bus had already arrived; she jumped inside and sat on her usual seat, cleaning the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. Looking from the bus window, she saw Yuna, face red, burst out of the school, closely followed by Rea and Janna, looking for her.

Alexa squeezed herself in her seat, and a few seconds after the bus started. It was only then she relaxed. She rested her head against the window, giggling as she remembered Yuna crashing against the mirror and the faces the other two girls made when she slalomed between their legs to escape. Finally, being tiny could be helpful sometimes!

As the bus drove, she yawned and stretched her legs, thinking about what awaited her next, as later she had to meet with Sirius for her first lesson. Alexa wondered what would he teach her and wherever she would be good enough.

Deep in her thought, she didn't notice the bus had already arrived at the village and drove in the main street, close to the alley he picked them up every morning. She saw Kai's mother sticking posters with her daughter's picture on shop windows and could only be sad for her, even if she hated Kaia. If only Kaia could also understand that Alexa also had a mother and dad who cares about her and don't want her to be hurt...Anyway, she wanted the best for Kaia and would soon be back home safe and sound; all she asked was to be left in peace.

Once she arrived home, Alexy barely had the time to leave her bag in her room before obeying Sirius's barking and following him outside. As Padfoot, Sirius led their walk for about twenty minutes before they finally arrived in cleared space in the forest, where he transformed back to his human form.

"This would be perfect! I came this morning to inspect the place!" Sirius said, his hand on his hips, looking around satisfied.

"Wouldn't it be better if we hide between the trees instead of open space? What if someone sees you and recognizes you?" Alexa asked.

"Not a chance...Look," He said before pointing his wand at the sky, "Muffliato...Salvio hexia...Repello muggletum...Protego totalum..." Expanding vibrations, she felt tickling her cheeks before he levitated towards him, a tree trunk lying a little further to sit on it.

"What were those spells?" Alexa asked, looking at the sky.

"They meant to keep us headed from all senses and repel muggles and also hide our magic signature," Sirius said. "Your academy must have placed wards to stay hidden from muggles too...Probably also from unwanted guests, like dementors."

"The academy is hidden? Is it possible to hide an entire building?" Alexa asked, her wide.

"Sure it is! I felt it when I went there with you the first day remember? So next time, pay attention; you'll feel a little breeze when you'll pass next to… What's a "Tankstelle"?" Sirius asked.

"A gas station" Alexa said.

"A what?" Sirius asked.

"It's where you have to stop to fill your car's tank so it could work" Alexa replied.

"Alright…Anyways, that might be where the academy's grounds start." Sirius said.

"Now that you say it, I wondered why nobody from the village found the school, because people around here are quite fond of hiking...There isn't anything else interesting to do around here, to be honest." Alexa said, shrugging.

"Not even a quidditch pitch..." Sirius said.

"What's quidditch?" Alexa asked.

"Only the best game in the world, the sport of wizard!" Sirius answered.

"Never heard of it...How do you play it?" Alexa asked.

"It would be too long to explain, and we're not here for that...But, it's a game involving flying brooms and different kinds of balls." Sirius said.

"Do you play?" Alexa asked.

"Er...No, not really...James was the best at school, though, as to me, I was more a gambler than a player." Sirius said.

"Oh, I see...You suck on a broom, don't you?" Alexa asked, smiling at him.

"I'M VERY GOOD ON A BROOM!... Even if I like motorbikes more, anyway, I would like to remind you that we're alone, invisible, in a forest. So, be careful if you don't want me to bury you alive." Sirius said.

"Ok...I'm not good at sport either. So, let's go back to wards." Alexa said.

"Yeah... Originally, wards were invented by wizards to hide important places from muggles and their enemies' eyes. For example, every stone in Hogwarts was charmed by Rowena Ravenclaw. If a muggle looks at the castle, he would only see a ruin. Godric Gryffindor placed one so that humans could not apparate inside and Salazar Slytherin another ward to protect the castle and its residents from dark magic and evil forces. Durmstrang is impossible to find without being invited to. Although a secret charm is placed on students and teachers that allows them to access it, as soon as you graduate or stop working there, the spell is lifted, and you wouldn't be able to find it again unless you're invited." Sirius said

"I see...We don't study that at the academy. " Alexa said.

"Neither they do at Hogwarts...At least not the practical side, as it's a high level of magic for most wizards and witches. Anyway, you're only a first-year student..." Sirius said.

"Sure...So, today's lesson?" Alexa said.

"Well...Between two naps, I have thought about a little training program that should be easy to follow for you. I have selected some spells that we will gradually see" Sirius said, handing her a paper he took out of his pocket.

1) The Disarming spell: Expelliarmus.

The full body-bind curse: Petrificus totalus.

The First level shield charm: Protego.

the Knockback Jinx: Fipendo

The Stunning spell: Stupefy.

The reductor curse: Reducto.

2) The summoning charm: Accio.

The impediment jinx: Impedimenta.

A General counterspell: Finite Incantatem.

And the last and most difficult one, the Patronus charm: Expecto Patronus.

"Each of these has more advanced versions, so if you manage to master these, you'll have quite an arsenal at hand, and you'll also get better control and understanding about your magic works," Sirius said.

Alexa read carefully the list, recognized two spells Janna had cast at her, Then said to Sirius." Sounds great. but there is a problem?"

"What problem? Already looking for excuses! It's like if there was not a single drop of dignity in..." Sirius said.

"I AM NOT ALLOWED TO USE MAGIC OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY!" Alexa shouted at him.

"So what? It's the same in Great Britain and all over the world..." Sirius said.

"Sirius...Some of us aspire to other things than going to prison, escape and travel kilometres to scare little girls." Alexa said calmly to Sirius, who burst out laughing.

"They won't send you to prison for that...They'll just owl your mother and tell her you a delinquent, and she is going to be like..." Sirius said before imitating Mrs Acker's voice. " Sweetie, take a big glass of milk and come sit next to me; we need to talk about your behaviour." before dodging a rock, Alexa threw at him.

"Don't make fun of my mom! Me, as much as you want but not my parents!" Alexa said coldly.

"Ok...ok...Sorry, you can take your revenge insulting my mom if you want..." Sirius said.

"I wouldn't dare," Alexa said.

"If only you knew her...Especially you." Sirius said, looking away. "I guess you already know how much you're lucky, Alexa...That's why you want to be better."

"Yes...I do..." Alexa said.

"Then, let's get to work. Don't worry about the ministry; they can only detect improper use of magic if you use it at home, wherein only a witch is registered in your case. So if you use magic elsewhere, like here, they would detect it but can't prove it's you...They wouldn't care anyway, only if there were muggle witnesses... So, your good." Sirius said.

"So it only to dissuade us?" Alexa asked.

"Yes...But still, be careful when you're at home as they can also detect unwanted magic." Sirius said, taking out his wand.

"Ok...What do we start with?" Alexa asked.

"The disarmament spell! Easy to learn! If you take your opponent wand from him, it would more or less be a checkmate. Unless he can use wandless magic, then you'll probably be screwed because it would also mean he's very powerful...Anyway, if your spell is strong enough, you can disarm various opponents at the same time or project your target backwards." Sirius said.

"Perfect! How do I do it?" Alexa asked.

"All you need to do is aim at me and do a windmill with your wrist and say "EXPELLIARMUS!". Make sure you press the "PE" so it works. Try it!" Sirius said.

Alexa nodded, took a deep breath, then followed Sirius instructions and shouted, "EXPELLIARMUS". Only nothing happened as Sirius wand was still in his hand.

"It didn't work! TELL ME WHY, INSTEAD OF LAUGHING!" Alexa shouted at Sirius, who was laughing loudly, pointing a finger at her.

He finally calmed down, and met Alexa's dark glance, whipped a tear from his eye and said."What did you do wrong? Do you mean that wide, ridiculous move you made with BOTH arms? Or do you refer to how you shouted "PELIARPUS" instead of "EXPELLIARMUS" ?" Holding back from laughing another time.

Alexa slammed the palm of her hand against her forehead and said with a defeated voice ", I'm ridiculous."

"You think? More seriously, your just a novice, and we are here so you could progress, not to get everything right on the first try," Sirius said, patting her head. " We're going to start step by step...First, you're going to work on your wrist move, that's all. Then your pronunciation, that's your biggest problem… When you have all figured out, we will combine the two first steps." Sirius said.

As she thought, it wasn't going easy, at least Sirius was understanding. "How long do you think going through the entire list will take?" Alexa asked.

"As long as it should! Alexa, magic isn't something we rush...In your case, perhaps you should start thinking like a witch and not like a muggle." Sirius said.

"What do you mean?" Alexa asked.

"Magic isn't about waving your wand and shouting an incantation...It's something subtle that you should study, feel the magic run through your body and put some real will into your actions. Do never doubt! Until you are 100% sure the spell will work even before casting it. One day, you won't even need to pronounce the incantation." Sirius said.

Alexa looked at him before nodding and turned to practice her wrist move.

"Very good! keep working; I'll tell you when it's time to stop." Sirius said.

"No! I decide when it's time to stop!" She said, making him smile.

"I meant when it would be time to go home before your mother comes back from work...But, if you need the entire night to learn how to move your wrist..." Sirius said, shrugging.

"If only I could transform into a lioness or a crocodile...I would eat you alive and make it painfully!" Alexa spat. "What are you anyway? A man who turns into a dog? Or a dog who turns into a human?"

"Merlin...We've been here for less than fifteen minutes, and you have already given me a headache...I'm a man who can turn into a dog, an advanced transfiguration ability that is, for now, impossible to explain to a simple-minded like you...But, I notice how you don't chicken in front of me now..."

"And I didn't chicken today neither at school!" Alexa said, smiling.

"Really?... You'll tell me about it later; get to work now," Sirius ordered, waving his hand casually before turning back into his German Shepard form, putting an end to their conversation.

Alexa stuck out her tongue at him before carrying on practicing her wrist move. No matter how long it would take, she wasn't going to stop until she reached her goal.