A/N Here is my next chapter. Big thanks to Kezya, my beta :) THANK YOU!

Chapter 5: The other side

A few weeks later...

Lexie went to sleep very late that night. She had to clean all the floors in her house.

But now she felt happy. She was dreaming about the most charming guy in Hogwarts, Sirius, of course. She was about to kiss him when somebody stepped into her room.

"Wake up, you lazy girl!" yelled her stepmother, causing her to open her eyes.

She muttered something unintelligible and turned away. Francesca rolled her eyes. She looked around. Lexie's room was the smallest. Blue walls, blue capet, small wooden desk, wardrobe. But she noticed something strange. It was a moving picture.

"I haven't seen it yet."

There were two people on it. Lexie and a tall, black-haired boy. They were both smiling and the boy held his arm around Lexie's waist.

"Umm, maybe he's her boyfriend..."

She turned the picture around and found a message written on the back.

I'm sending you this picture to make you remember me, as I too haven't forgotten about you. James took it during our trip to Hogsmeade. Have a nice summer.

Sirius

Francesca smiled and put the picture on the desk. Then she sat on the bed.

'She is so much like her father,' she thought, stroking Lexie's hair. 'But Frank said that she looks like her mother. Well, Emily must have been pretty then... Oh dear, I can't act this way. I have to be hard. She has to know that I'm the boss!' She shook her head and patted Lexie's shoulder.

"Wake up!" she yelled into her ear, causing her to sit up.

"But mother, it's only 7 o'clock," said Lexie looking at her watch.

"I know that! You have to make breakfast for us!"

"Breakfast?! Make it yourself!"

"I can't. I've got no time. We have guests today. I have to organise a party."

"So... Susan can make breakfast!" said Lexie, thinking of their maid.

"I fired her yesterday..."

"What have you done?" yelled Lexie standing up. "She's been our maid since my birth. She was my nanny, friend... my second mother. How dare you?"

"Don't talk to me this way, Alexandra! This is also my house. I can do what I want! And now I'm your second mother! So go and make breakfast. And when you're up with it you'll do the washing up, cook dinner, and then you'll change in your best clothes. Remember that our guests'll arrive at 6 PM!" said Francesca, storming out of Lexie's room.

"Fine then. Another great day in my life..."

A few hours later...

"It's bloody heavy," muttered Lexie while carrying a basket full of dirty clothes. "And stinks like old shoes."

She put all the clothes into the washing machine.

"Ok, I'm done with the laundry," she said enthusiastically. "What time is it? 17.30? I have to change!"

Lexie put on her best clothes. Black skirt, white shirt. She let her long hair fall onto her shoulders. Then she put on something special... A silver chain with a small heart on it. It had belonged to her mother but her father had given it to Lexie after Emily's death. This gift was the most beautiful thing she had ever had.

Lexie looked into the mirror and smiled.

Then she heard her stepmother:

"Hurry up, Alexandra. Come here. I want to talk to you."

Lexie took one last look into the mirror and walked downstairs.

Francesca looked at her stepdaughter and smiled.

"I'm impressed. You look quite good."

"Thank you, mother," said Lexie, taken aback at her kindness. "What do you want to talk about?"

"We have guests tonight, they're my good friends. Darren Jones, his wife Alice and two children: Amber and William. Amber is 16 and William is 13."

"I understand."

"All I ask you is to behave yourself. Be polite, please. And don't worry about the children. Alyssa'll take care of them so you can go to your room shortly after the dinner."

"I will," said Lexie politely. "I promise."

Francesca nodded and was about to leave when suddenly she turned around.

"Yes, mother? Is something troubling you?"

"One thing... They don't know that you and your father... that you both are..."

"Wizards?"

"Oh, wizards, yes... I told them that you attend a boarding school in South England, ok?"

"But mother... I don't want to lie..."

"You have to. You want to spend the last two weeks of the summer at Anne's place, don't you?"

"Yes, but I don't understand..."

"Behave yourself. Then I'll let you go," said Francesca with an evil grin.

"DING DONG," the bell rang and Francesca rushed to the door.

Lexie looked at her stepsister. Alyssa simply frowned and instructed Lexie to stand next to her.

Then five figures stepped into the room. A tall black-haired man, a nice brunette, their children and Francesca.

"That's Alyssa," she said, pointing at her daughter. "And that's Alexandra. She's Frank's daughther from the first marriage."

"Nice to meet you," said the girls in unison.

"Good afternoon, ladies," said Mr. Jones. "I'm Darren Jones, that's my wife Alice and my children Amber and William."

"Nice to meet you..." said the girl and Lexie smiled, "... Alyssa." Amber smirked.

Lexie just clenched her fists. Amber and Alyssa... They were the same.

Francesca didn't seem to notice the raising tension.

"Let's go to the dining room, shall we?"

The Joneses nodded and followed her.

Alyssa laughed, "I think I'll like Amber... Do you know why?"

Lexie shook her head.

"Because she doesn't like you."

"Girls, come here," exclaimed Mr. Jones. "We're starving," he added cheerfully.

LATER...

The meal was delicious and Lexie was proud of herself. Beefsteak, salad, potatoes, big cake and ice-cream as a dessert. But in spite of that the dinner was, in Lexie's opinion, the worst in her life. Amber was talking only toAlyssa, while William was throwing potatoes at Lexie. His parents were too busy talking with Francesca to notice.

When dinner was over Lexie stood up.

"Is something wrong, my dear?" asked Francesca trying too look concerned and, in Lexie's eyes, failing.

"Yes, mother, I'm not feeling too well. Can I go to my room?"

"Of course, honey. Go straight to your bed."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Amber, William. Good night."

"Rest well," said Mrs. Jones.

Lexie nodded and exited the room. She leant against the wall and sighed with relief.

'I'm glad it's over.'

Lexie was about to go upstairs when she heard Francesca's voice.

"You know, she is a little bit freaky."

"Like her father," added Alice.

"No..." said Francesca.

"My dear Francesca, I'm not blind. You're ruining your life because of him."

"Maybe he is a little bit... different."

"He is a freak, my dear."

"Yes, you're right..."

Lexie was angry... more than angry... furious...

That woman was offending her father and Francesca wasn't defending him.

'She is his wife, for God's sake!' she thought but she heard someone approaching, so she dove into the darkness.

"Thank you for a great dinner, Francesca," said Mr. Jones "Children! We're leaving."

"The pleasure is mine," smiled Francesca.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

When Lexie heard the door lock, she jumped out of the shadow.

"I heard everything, MOTHER," she yelled at Francesca, who was speechless.

"How dared you talk about my father this way? He isn't a freak! He is a normal man!"

"But..."

"Shut up! Why are you doing those things to him? WHY? He loves you! He really does!"

"Lexie, calm down, I..."

"I said shut up! When he is at home, you're predending to be the perfect wife. Gentle, caring... But when he's gone, you're just offending him. And you treat me like a servant! I hate you! I HATE YOU! I..."

Suddenly Francesca slapped Lexie across the face.

"And what do you think you're doing? Do you think that I have no feelings? I love him, but his absence is driving me mad! You don't even know how I suffer. I see other couples hugging, kissing... And the only way to make myself feel better is to make somebody else suffer. I can't hurt my own daughter, so I chose to hurt you. I'm sorry for that. I'm feeling so guilty. And now you hate me. I'm sorry that I'm not your mother. I know you miss her, but I can't replace her. I can't..."

Francesca looked down at her stepdaughter. Lexie was holding her hand to the still burning mark, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Have I hit you?"

Lexie just nodded, shocked.

"I'm sorry. Oh Lexie, I'm sorry," said the woman, wrapping her arms around the girl but Lexie pushed her away.

"Dont't touch me!"

"I'm sorry, so sorry" whispered Francesca and run away, leaving Lexie in shock.

A/N Do you like it? Please review ;)