As I have promised, Here's another chapter. Now be nice to me and review!!!!!
Chapter Eight
Anticipation was awful, as everyone waited to see what Snape would do next. A week went slowly by without any move from the potions master. But the anticipation of the prank wasn't the only thing bothering Alex. She had noticed that something had been bothering Lia lately and being the good friend that she was, she headed up to Lia's classroom during her afternoon free period. Alex had just reached the classroom and stood in the doorway as Lia was ending the class.
"And remember your homework is a roll of parchment comparing wizard money to muggle money." Lia said. The students filed past Alex as she waited in the doorway.
"Only one roll, Lia? I think you're going soft." Alex teased sidestepping the students as they raced from the room.
"No. You've just been working under Severus too long." Lia grinned. Alex laughed and took a seat on top of one of the desks.
"Don't you have class?" Lia asked.
"Nope. Free period." Alex stated swinging her legs back and forth.
"I feel honored then, that you escaped the dungeons to come see me." Lia smiled. "Now what is it that you want?" She knew that the younger girl was up to something.
"I want to know what's wrong." Alex stated bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Lia asked slightly confused.
"There's something bothering you so I am here to lend a sympathetic ear. Now start talking." Alex grinned.
"There's nothing wrong." Lia said unconvincingly. Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Despite what Professor Snape thinks, I am not an idiot. I can tell something's bothering you." Alex stated.
"It's pointless to talk about. Its nothing important." Lia said.
"Sure. And I'm supposed to believe that one." Alex said rolling her eyes.
"Fine. Are you sure you wanna hear the story? It's pretty long." Lia asked leaning back in her chair.
"I'm all ears." Alex grinned, happy to get her way for once.
"Well it's just that this time of year is pretty bad for me. You should probably know that Harry Potter is my nephew, but he doesn't know and I am not allowed to tell him." Lia began.
"Wow. Yeah I can definitely see the resemblance between you two. I'm surprised I didn't notice it before, though. He looks more like you then your daughter, Ayla, does." Alex commented. (Authors note: Lia is Ayla Black's mother. I mentioned Ayla in previous chapters)
"That's because Ayla takes after her father." Lia said.
"Do I know him?" Alex asked, idly wondering if it was one of the professors at the school.
"No. His name is Sirius Black. He is my husband." Lia said.
"Your husband? Then where is he?" Alex asked slightly shocked.
"He's in hiding right now." Lia explained carefully.
"Hiding? From what?" Alex asked confused.
"Pretty much from the whole wizarding community. He's a wanted man," Lia said rather lightly.
"Hold up a sec! Wanted? What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"You mean you don't know? Wow, Sirius is going to be disappointed that he's not famous in America." Lia laughed.
"I'm confused." Alex frowned.
"Sirius was put into Azkaban for twelve years. The officials claim that he killed thirteen people with a single curse. But he was innocent. This rat of a man, Peter, framed him. This bastard is also the reason why my brother and best friend aren't alive." Lia said.
"Harry's mother and father?" Alex asked, as she started to put the information together in her head.
"Yes, Peter told Voldemort where they were in hiding. In a matter of two days I lost pretty much everything that mattered to me. And now after all these years, it still hurts." Lia said. Alex jumped up and gave her a hug.
"But you're not alone. You have me and other friends and your daughter and Harry." Alex said, slightly rambling in efforts to brighten up her friend.
"Thank you. It's good to be reminded of that sometimes. It did help talking about it." Lia smiled gratefully.
"Hey no problem. It's what I'm here for." Alex smiled. She just happened to look down at her wristwatch.
"Aw shit! I'm twenty minutes late for class! And I'm supposed to teach today." Alex swore.
"You better go. Severus is probably already furious, knowing him." Lia chuckled.
"Oh what can he do? Glare at me to death?" Alex laughed.
"You'd be surprised." Lia grinned and Alex waved as she bolted out the door. She ran through the halls, anticipating the lecture she was going to get from Snape. Throwing open the classroom door, Alex stopped inside trying to catch her breath. The room was silent as all eyes were on her. Snape sat at his desk with a rather calm and cool look on his face.
"You're late Miss. Harper." Snape stated, his eyes boring into hers.
"Sorry. Lost track of time." Alex stated, conjuring up a glass of water and taking a sip. Her throat had suddenly gone dry for some reason. Probably because of the running that she had just done.
"Well let's hope that you still have enough time to conduct the lesson." Snape sneered. Alex rolled her eyes and set the glass down.
"I have plenty of time. All right 5th years. Today you are going to learn how to make a potion that will allow you to breathe a non-burning fire." Alex said.
"Non-burning? What's the point in that then?" Malfoy shouted out.
"I can certainly tell you, Mr. Malfoy, that this is more then a simple parlor trick. If you use this when facing an enemy, it can be used as great distraction." Alex stated. Malfoy looked slightly impressed and continued to keep his mouth shut.
"All right then. Bring your cauldron to a low simmer." She instructed. The students did as they were told and Alex continued shouting out instructions and keeping an eye on Neville's potion, to make sure that he wasn't doing anything wrong. Alex reached over and grabbed her water, taking a sip just as Hermione yelled out
"No!" After swallowing the drink, Alex asked what was wrong but to everyone's ears but hers, it came out
"Stahw gnorw?" (What's wrong?) The students burst out laughing.
"Professor Snape slipped something into your drink." Hermione stated. "I think it was a dyslexia potion." Alex's eyes widened in anger and she whirled around and faced Snape, who was smirking at her.
"Uoy elbareffusni dratsab! Uoy era gnihton tub a deliops dlich." (You insufferable bastard! You are nothing but a spoiled child.) Alex yelled.
"I have no clue what you are rambling about, Miss. Harper. Maybe if you tried speaking slower." Snape said amusement clear on his face. Alex glowered at him and proceeded to stomp out the door, flicking him off behind her back. Snape ignored the offensive retort and proceeded to take twenty points from Gryffindor for Hermione not minding her own business.
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Next Chapter: Alex has a talk with Poppy
