Lexi made her way down the now darkening street that was Diagon Alley, her cloak billowing out behind her. A cool breeze blew was blowing her hair into her face but that was the least of her worries. The street was totally deserted, which was completely out of the ordinary for the normally busy alley.

All the more reason to quicken my pace thought Lexi.

It wasn't that she was scared. Cautious would be a better word for it. She certainly didn't want to bump into Lucius Malfoy again. Even though she was perfectly capable of protecting herself, Lucius was never one to pick a fight unless he was positively certain he could win. There was also the fact that most of the wizarding community still didn't trust her after what had happened, regardless of everything she had done for them over the years. If she were to be seen alone people may suspect she was up to something.

Lexi was fully aware that most people felt she deserved Azkaban and would gladly side with Lucius Malfoy if he were to press charges against her again. But like so many things in her life that was something that she had no control over.

The breeze began to pick up, and Lexi started to walk faster in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. Her head was pounding, a now familiar ailment that she had grown accustom to over the summer holidays. Memories of long ago came flooding back to her when she quite suddenly bumped into something.

Instinctively her hand went for her wand as she steadied herself.

"Mrs. Black is that you?" a strangely familiar voice asked through the night.

"Who are you?" Lexi asked cautiously.

"I would have thought you would have recognized the voice of you old headmaster."

"Lumos," said Lexi. In the dim of the wand light she could make out the form of Albus Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore," Lexi said with a sigh of relief. "I was just on my way to Hogwarts to see you."

"Really and why is that Lexi?" Dumbledore asked in a concerned voice.

Lexi looked around the alley. It was completely deserted, but Lexi new better than to assume that they were alone. Anyone could be watching them.

"If you don't mind Professor," Lexi said casually, "I don't think that this is the best place to discuss it. If we could go to your office…"

"Right, of course," said Dumbledore. Within the next minute he had apparated to Hogsmeade presumably.

Lexi hadn't planned on apparating seeing as she had been in bed for a good part of the summer and wasn't sure how capable she was but this was as good a time as ever to attempt it.

*        *          *              *            

With a small pop Lexi was standing next to the Headmaster in the village of Hogsmeade.

"Right this way Ms. Black," said Dumbledore as her ushered Lexi through the gates of Hogwarts.

As they made their way up the sloping lawn to the castle Lexi found herself being transported back into her childhood in a sense. The castle itself held so many memories of yesterday, both the good and the bad.

FLASHBACK

"Remus be quiet, we'll get caught," hissed Sirius.

"It wasn't me, it was Peter," Remus shot back at him through the dark.

"Ouch Peter get off my foot," said James.

"Sorry," said Peter. "Sirius is anyone coming."

"Would you all just shut up!" said Lexi.

The Marauders immediately quieted down. Lexi slowly moved forward through the dark corridor. After checking to see if the coast was clear she motioned for the others to follow her.

"Sirius enlighten me," she asked quietly. "How in the world do you forget to bring the map?!"

"Uh… well love… that's a complicated subject…" Sirius stammered.

"SHHH!" said James urgently.

Just at that moment Professor Ormand, head of Slytherin House walked by. Luckily he didn't notice the five Gryffindors hiding in the corner. As he rounded the corner all of them let out the breath that they had been holding.

"Alright let's go," said James.

The next morning the Slytherins'  had woken up to a common room decorated in Gryffindor colors of red and gold, not to mention a  banner of the lion that had been hung over the fireplace that was enchanted to roar as people passed it. It was all done in honor of Gryffindor's victory of Slytherin in the Quidditch match the day before.

END FLASHBACK

"Reminicing Ms. Black?" asked Dumbledore when he noticed the glazed look in Lexi's eyes.

"Oh yes," Lexi said smiling slightly.

When they reached the Headmaster's office Dumbledore motioned for Lexi to sit down.

"So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?" asked Dumbledore as he too sat down behind his desk.

"Professor I think that I have a reason to believe that Lucius Malfoy may be following me," said Lexi. "I think he is planning on once again pressing charges against me."

Dumbledore nodded.

"I also think that he may be rallying up the deatheaters that were not sentenced to Azkaban," Lexi continued. "I believe that he is determined to be the next dark lord. But these are only my suspicions."

After a long silence Dumbledore spoke.

"Your suspicions about Lucius wanting to take up where Voldemort left off are not in the least bit misplaced. As you know I have been keeping a close eye on Mr. Malfoy over the years, but he is very good at hiding what he doesn't want people to find. As to whether or not he is following you in the hope of pressing charges once again, I cannot deny the fact that he wants you in Azkaban more than anything."

Lexi nodded in agreement.

"I would suggest that you be very careful Ms. Black," said Dumbledore seriously. "If Lucius does attempt an attack we cannot afford to loose you."

"Of course Professor," said Lexi.

"On a lighter note," said Dumbledore smiling, "I believe that I will have the pleasure of meeting your youngest daughter this year."

"Cadence," Lexi said smiling. "Good luck with her. She's the worst combination of Sirius and me."

"I'll be on my guard then."

"I would strongly advise that," said Lexi smiling.

And with that she left Dumbledore's office and mad her way through the school back to Hogsmeade in order to apparate back to her home.