The 7th year was not quite as hard as the 6th year for Alexia, at
least not at first. For one thing every time Snape or Malfoy made some
derogatory comment about her, Sirius, James, Lily, Remus or Dory always
came to he rescue. One day however they were not nearby when Malfoy
started his torture.
"What you're not gone yet Cambridge? Geez…your army isn't here so I thought you would be. Must be fun having so many people protect you. You must really like it when Sirius does his thing. He probably just does it because you're a defenseless little muggle who should have frozen to death when…EWWWW!" Lucius stopped when he realized he had puss all over his face. "What…what is this?" he said disgusted.
"Well defenseless little muggley me created a zit on your face and made it grow until it burst." Alexia said with a smirk.
"You! I'll get you!" he screamed as he went to go see Madame Pomfrey.
"What's up with him?" Remus asked.
"I think he has some acne." Alexia replied laughing.
"Malfoy's don't get acne." Sirius said, "He said that last week."
"Well somehow he ended up with a big ole zit and then it went pop!" Alexia replied giggling.
"You did that?" Lily asked as she started to giggle too.
"Sure did." Alexia said
"Miss Cambridge, I need you to come with me now." Professor McGonagall said as she came up behind them.
"Professor he was teasing her it wasn't her fault." Sirius started
"Mr. Black I have no idea what you are talking about, all I know is that the Headmaster would like to see Miss Cambridge now." She replied
Alexia followed McGonagall to Dumbledore's office and saw him standing there waiting for her, it seemed. He had a somber look on his face, as if he had some news he didn't want to tell her.
"Minerva can you wait outside?" he asked McGonagall.
"Of course headmaster." She said as she stepped out.
"What's wrong? I know something's wrong." Alexia said as she sat down.
"Your father would like it if you could stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas holiday."
"Why? Mom always wants me home for them. It's when we catch up and…"
"Alexia, this is not easy for me to tell you the reasoning behind this request, but you must know."
Alexia looked at him, a questioning look was on her face, what was wrong. There had to be. Why else would she have to stay?
"Alexia, I just got word, that your mother…your mother was killed by Lord Voldemort."
"No." Alexia said almost in a whisper as she began to sob.
"I am so very sorry, I know you were extremely close to her."
"I should go home." Alexia said, "Finish school next year or something…"
"Your father wants you to stay here, finish your education now. He said not to worry about him. Please I think you should respect his wishes, even if I do not agree with them fully."
"I can't."
"You must, please Alexia, I know you are hurting and confused right now, perhaps you should go to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey could take care of you and…"
"No. Sir if you don't mind I would like to tell my friends or be with them…or something."
"Of course Alexia."
"She entered her defense against the Dark Arts class late and just sat there. She didn't take notes; she didn't even really listen to what was going on. She just sat there numb from the shock.
It was at dinnertime when she finally saw everyone. They came over after they had eaten and they wanted to know what had happened in Dumbledore's office
"So, how much detention did you get?" James asked
Alexia brushed the tears away that had just formed and looked up from her food that was half eaten. "My mom was killed by…" she stopped abruptly as the emotions overwhelmed her and she started sobbing
"Your mom is dead? You're shittin me!" Sirius said, "Wait you're serious."
"Of course she is you twit!" Dory replied swatting him
"Alexia, are you okay?" Lily asked
"No." Alexia replied between sobs "That stupid dark lord retard killed my mommy."
None of them knew what to do. There was an uncomfortable pause between all of them.
"You let it all out." Remus said as he patted her back.
She continued to cry as it felt as though her heart was about to break. She thought she would never be happy again.
"Alexia," Sirius said pulling her into a hug, "You just wait, he'll get his. I promise you!"
"We promise you." James chimed in.
The months of the year went by and finally Alexia graduated from Hogwarts. She was hoping to possibly teach there in a year or so, possibly muggle studies if she was lucky.
Her home life was not better than Hogwarts, in fact it was 10 times worse. Her father constantly berated her for little things she did wrong. He spent most of his time away from the house either doing work or drinking.
Finally Alexia had enough. Her father was complaining because Smoky hadn't come back from delivering a note to Dory and he needed to use the owl to send something himself.
"Damn it dad get whatever it is out of your ass!" Alexia yelled.
"Excuse me young lady you do not talk to your father like that!" he roared
"Then treat me like a daughter for a change...or better yet a person." Alexia retorted.
"Why should I? It's your fault it's like this!"
"My fault? What the hell did I do?"
"You were born, some moron knew your mother wanted a child and left you here. Damn it I wish that never happened. I knew it was a bad idea taking you in and now look. Marion is gone! All because of you!"
"You blame me for Mom's death?"
"Yes you sorry excuse for a witch, god I regret the day we agreed to adopt you."
"Sorry excuse for a witch? I aced my courses. I did my best! God I was the best out of all the 7th years? What else do you want from me?"
"I wish you were never born. You can't do that can you? Or even better I wish I was fighting with your mother instead of you."
This was too much for Alexia so she ran to her room and went to cry. However she saw a figure in her room standing by the window.
"Hey Alexia!" Sirius said with a smile
"Wha? How in the world?"
"I passed my apparating test!"
"So you decided to apparate into my room? My dad is not gonna like this."
"Well, I kinda visited James, Lily, Dory, Remus, and now you."
"Sure I'm last." Alexia muttered
"So aren't you happy to see me?"
"Yes Sirius you have just made my day, just seeing your face brings joy into my heart." She said sarcastically
"What's up your butt?"
"I have other things on my mind."
"Like what?"
My dad hates me, he wishes I wasn't born."
"WHAT?!"
"You just missed the most wonderful conversation about it too. It was great. Francis Cambridge doing what he does best, blaming me for all the problems in the world. No wonder I had no self esteem when I came to Hogwarts."
Sirius didn't know what to think, except that maybe Alexia needed some cheering up. "How about a trip to Diagon Alley?" He suggested.
"I dunno, he might not let me go."
"Well you could not tell him."
"I think not Sirius, you have yet to see him mad."
"How about you ask, and if he says no I'll kidnap you. Dory, Lily, James and Remus are all waiting come on it will be fun. Unless you'd rather stay here and be depressed all day."
"Fine." She huffed, "Dad I'm going out."
She heard Francis grunt some sort of reply; it was a positive sounding grunt so she left with Sirius. The rest of the day was spent just hanging around Diagon Alley. The teens caught up with each other, all of them very sympathetic to Alexia's new dilemma. When it was time to go home Dory pulled her aside and whispered, "If you need to talk to anyone please send me an owl."
Alexia nodded and then apparated to her home. Her dad of course was not home so she took full advantage of it. The day out almost made her forget how horrible her home life was now, almost. It was just like Sirius to come and rescue her when she was in trouble. "God why is it that I am so damn dependent on him?" she thought as she flopped on the bed, "He doesn't like me as anything but a friend. I should just get over him." She stared out the window at the sun that was beginning to set, "It's hard to forget him though, every time I see him it's like the first time we met."
She closed her eyes and began to dream about the day that she had just had, the good parts of the day that is, she left the awful encounter with her father out. Then she started another dream, in this one she told Sirius her true feelings and in response he said "I feel that way too." In her sleep she felt a smile come across her face and she fell into an even deeper sleep, one that was filled with dreams of her and Sirius, dreams that she could only pray would come true.
"What you're not gone yet Cambridge? Geez…your army isn't here so I thought you would be. Must be fun having so many people protect you. You must really like it when Sirius does his thing. He probably just does it because you're a defenseless little muggle who should have frozen to death when…EWWWW!" Lucius stopped when he realized he had puss all over his face. "What…what is this?" he said disgusted.
"Well defenseless little muggley me created a zit on your face and made it grow until it burst." Alexia said with a smirk.
"You! I'll get you!" he screamed as he went to go see Madame Pomfrey.
"What's up with him?" Remus asked.
"I think he has some acne." Alexia replied laughing.
"Malfoy's don't get acne." Sirius said, "He said that last week."
"Well somehow he ended up with a big ole zit and then it went pop!" Alexia replied giggling.
"You did that?" Lily asked as she started to giggle too.
"Sure did." Alexia said
"Miss Cambridge, I need you to come with me now." Professor McGonagall said as she came up behind them.
"Professor he was teasing her it wasn't her fault." Sirius started
"Mr. Black I have no idea what you are talking about, all I know is that the Headmaster would like to see Miss Cambridge now." She replied
Alexia followed McGonagall to Dumbledore's office and saw him standing there waiting for her, it seemed. He had a somber look on his face, as if he had some news he didn't want to tell her.
"Minerva can you wait outside?" he asked McGonagall.
"Of course headmaster." She said as she stepped out.
"What's wrong? I know something's wrong." Alexia said as she sat down.
"Your father would like it if you could stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas holiday."
"Why? Mom always wants me home for them. It's when we catch up and…"
"Alexia, this is not easy for me to tell you the reasoning behind this request, but you must know."
Alexia looked at him, a questioning look was on her face, what was wrong. There had to be. Why else would she have to stay?
"Alexia, I just got word, that your mother…your mother was killed by Lord Voldemort."
"No." Alexia said almost in a whisper as she began to sob.
"I am so very sorry, I know you were extremely close to her."
"I should go home." Alexia said, "Finish school next year or something…"
"Your father wants you to stay here, finish your education now. He said not to worry about him. Please I think you should respect his wishes, even if I do not agree with them fully."
"I can't."
"You must, please Alexia, I know you are hurting and confused right now, perhaps you should go to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey could take care of you and…"
"No. Sir if you don't mind I would like to tell my friends or be with them…or something."
"Of course Alexia."
"She entered her defense against the Dark Arts class late and just sat there. She didn't take notes; she didn't even really listen to what was going on. She just sat there numb from the shock.
It was at dinnertime when she finally saw everyone. They came over after they had eaten and they wanted to know what had happened in Dumbledore's office
"So, how much detention did you get?" James asked
Alexia brushed the tears away that had just formed and looked up from her food that was half eaten. "My mom was killed by…" she stopped abruptly as the emotions overwhelmed her and she started sobbing
"Your mom is dead? You're shittin me!" Sirius said, "Wait you're serious."
"Of course she is you twit!" Dory replied swatting him
"Alexia, are you okay?" Lily asked
"No." Alexia replied between sobs "That stupid dark lord retard killed my mommy."
None of them knew what to do. There was an uncomfortable pause between all of them.
"You let it all out." Remus said as he patted her back.
She continued to cry as it felt as though her heart was about to break. She thought she would never be happy again.
"Alexia," Sirius said pulling her into a hug, "You just wait, he'll get his. I promise you!"
"We promise you." James chimed in.
The months of the year went by and finally Alexia graduated from Hogwarts. She was hoping to possibly teach there in a year or so, possibly muggle studies if she was lucky.
Her home life was not better than Hogwarts, in fact it was 10 times worse. Her father constantly berated her for little things she did wrong. He spent most of his time away from the house either doing work or drinking.
Finally Alexia had enough. Her father was complaining because Smoky hadn't come back from delivering a note to Dory and he needed to use the owl to send something himself.
"Damn it dad get whatever it is out of your ass!" Alexia yelled.
"Excuse me young lady you do not talk to your father like that!" he roared
"Then treat me like a daughter for a change...or better yet a person." Alexia retorted.
"Why should I? It's your fault it's like this!"
"My fault? What the hell did I do?"
"You were born, some moron knew your mother wanted a child and left you here. Damn it I wish that never happened. I knew it was a bad idea taking you in and now look. Marion is gone! All because of you!"
"You blame me for Mom's death?"
"Yes you sorry excuse for a witch, god I regret the day we agreed to adopt you."
"Sorry excuse for a witch? I aced my courses. I did my best! God I was the best out of all the 7th years? What else do you want from me?"
"I wish you were never born. You can't do that can you? Or even better I wish I was fighting with your mother instead of you."
This was too much for Alexia so she ran to her room and went to cry. However she saw a figure in her room standing by the window.
"Hey Alexia!" Sirius said with a smile
"Wha? How in the world?"
"I passed my apparating test!"
"So you decided to apparate into my room? My dad is not gonna like this."
"Well, I kinda visited James, Lily, Dory, Remus, and now you."
"Sure I'm last." Alexia muttered
"So aren't you happy to see me?"
"Yes Sirius you have just made my day, just seeing your face brings joy into my heart." She said sarcastically
"What's up your butt?"
"I have other things on my mind."
"Like what?"
My dad hates me, he wishes I wasn't born."
"WHAT?!"
"You just missed the most wonderful conversation about it too. It was great. Francis Cambridge doing what he does best, blaming me for all the problems in the world. No wonder I had no self esteem when I came to Hogwarts."
Sirius didn't know what to think, except that maybe Alexia needed some cheering up. "How about a trip to Diagon Alley?" He suggested.
"I dunno, he might not let me go."
"Well you could not tell him."
"I think not Sirius, you have yet to see him mad."
"How about you ask, and if he says no I'll kidnap you. Dory, Lily, James and Remus are all waiting come on it will be fun. Unless you'd rather stay here and be depressed all day."
"Fine." She huffed, "Dad I'm going out."
She heard Francis grunt some sort of reply; it was a positive sounding grunt so she left with Sirius. The rest of the day was spent just hanging around Diagon Alley. The teens caught up with each other, all of them very sympathetic to Alexia's new dilemma. When it was time to go home Dory pulled her aside and whispered, "If you need to talk to anyone please send me an owl."
Alexia nodded and then apparated to her home. Her dad of course was not home so she took full advantage of it. The day out almost made her forget how horrible her home life was now, almost. It was just like Sirius to come and rescue her when she was in trouble. "God why is it that I am so damn dependent on him?" she thought as she flopped on the bed, "He doesn't like me as anything but a friend. I should just get over him." She stared out the window at the sun that was beginning to set, "It's hard to forget him though, every time I see him it's like the first time we met."
She closed her eyes and began to dream about the day that she had just had, the good parts of the day that is, she left the awful encounter with her father out. Then she started another dream, in this one she told Sirius her true feelings and in response he said "I feel that way too." In her sleep she felt a smile come across her face and she fell into an even deeper sleep, one that was filled with dreams of her and Sirius, dreams that she could only pray would come true.