Chapter Fourteen

Sandie held out her ice cream. At the age of seven, she was very fussy. Her Mother, a beautiful woman nearing her late twenties, gave all her attention to Clover, the baby of the family, even though Clover was only ten months younger than Sandie.

Her Father stood next to her Mother, and Sandie could sense him smiling.

"Mummy," Clover wailed, sticking her arms in the air. She dropped the ice cream, and Mother laughed.

"Aren't you the most adorable girl in the world?" she giggled. Sandie felt a pang of jealousy.

Mother never treated her like that. What was so special about Clover? What did Clover have that she didn't?

"Mawmy," Sandie whined. Mother glared at her.

"It's 'Mummy', you stupid girl. Mummy!"

"Mawmy!" Sandie howled. Tears zigzagged down her cheeks, and dripped off her chin. Sandie was a very sensitive little girl; she cried whenever someone was angry with her.

Mother walked over to her, and sat down opposite her.

"Sandie," she growled. Sandie gulped.

Whenever Mother didn't refer to her as 'Sandie Grace', she knew she was in trouble. She licked her ice cream possessively, while hugging her doll tightly.

The doll's name was Grace. It was her favourite doll by far – her Father got it in America, when Sandie was only five. Sandie was not seen with out Grace, and that was how she got her nickname 'Sandie Grace'.

Sandie loved Grace's hair. Her hair was coal-black. It was smooth and soft, and because Sandie looked after Grace so well, Sandie could run her fingers through Grace's hair with out coming to any knots. Her eyes were startling green; a green so bright it reminded Sandie of sparkling emeralds.

"Sandie Grace," Mother corrected herself, and a relieved smile spread over Sandie's face. She wasn't in trouble. Phew.

"Pass me the ice cream. Clover needs to have it."

Sandie gave her Mother a wide-eyed stare. She licked it again, as if sizing Mother up. A muscle twitched in Mother's jaw, and Sandie knew Mother was trying hard to control her temper.

"Sandie, just give me the flipping ice cream."

Sandie scrabbled up, her own temper flaring. "It's mine, mine!"

Mother gave her a crooked smile. She got up, also. "Sandie, I'll ask you one more time: give me the ice cream."

Sandie's eyes found her Father's. He didn't look away, but his warm eyes told Sandie just to obey Mother.

Sandie's eyes jumped to Mother's, her throat burning. Nor Father or Clover defended her. She was defenceless, ready to get burnt by treading wrongly in her Mother's warpath.

Mother grabbed Grace, and smirked, when the ice cream fell to the floor.

"Give me Grace!" Sandie bellowed.

"Well then, you should've given me the ice cream."

Sandie blinked back from her childhood memory as the coffin, which had Clover in, lowered down to the ground. They were standing in the Cross' graveyard, which had made Pertida's eyes turn round with awe.

She hadn't thought of Grace until then; because Sandie had never got Grace back. She assumed Mother must've thrown it out, or it was still hidden.

"We've come here today," started off the priest. "For the death of Clover Cross. A: daughter, a sister, a friend. It is known that the deceased leave us forever, but that is not so. Their soul is still with us; ready to move on, to make a new, different person.

"She will be here forever in our hearts, not gone entirely. She will be in peace, and no one will disturb that peace. Let us give her the thanks she deserves, for giving and sharing her life. Rest in peace Clover Cross."

The priest closed his speech by giving Mother a curt nod.

Like Grace; Clover was buried with confusion, secrets and mystery.

000

Hermione climbed into her bed, sleepiness getting to her. They did not attend the mourning party, as Sandie pleaded them to leave as soon as the funeral had ended.

She wondered what had happened to Sandie Cross. In the future; Dumbledore, Harry, Sirius, and Remus never mentioned her. Did anything bad happen to her? Or was she perfectly all right, but just happened to lose contact over the years?

000

Sirius stared at the ceiling from his bed. He had calmed down, but was now plotting his revenge for Hart.

Then the perfect idea struck him.

Oh Pertida Hart, how much you would regret since the day you compared me to Malfoy, he thought.

Sirius grinned in the darkness.

A/n: I know it was a short chappie, but I hope the next one will be longer and better ;)

Muahhh, I love it that I know something and you all don't ;)

Feel free to give me any tips/praise/ideas. Thanks to all you guys to hit my target- 300, before the fifteenth (this) chapter came out.

Thanks to:

Kates Master: lol, well, I hope this quick update has cheered you more! The Gryffindor Drummer: thanks Hogwartsgirl52: hopefully, it explained in this chapter. And about the Sirius thing…well, I'm not gonna tell you…(as I even hadn't figured it out) enchantedlight: thanks for the review Skadesake: thanks Padfoot's Sidekick: lol, well I think so :) Holla-BOO: hehe, well, I just left you with another cliffie! (me thinks) Serendipity-England-1922: Well, you just have to read the next chappie, because I'm not gonna tell ya! HannahCimsGwendolyn: Spiffy….cringe worthy word…. Prettigurl7: thanks yuiop: will do StringBean458: lol…I luv explanations… swirlywhirlynutcase: hopefully next chappie would be longer, and since you mention 'romance'…well, you just have to wait and see! Childoftheorient: me thinks they're heartless, too. Here, it explained about why Sandie hated her Mum so. ForgottenIceTea: I put up with your last review because it was only once. But yet again you basically flamed this—don't you remember it's me who's writing it? I get to decide what to do, whether I make it too 'soapy' for your taste. Thank you and goodbye. CrystalShard: he is, isn't he? Padfootsvampirehuntress: yeah, I know it's a weird name, but I like it ;) little mimi: oops…how well…thanks. amrawo: thanks ghilliekitten: hopefully, this chappie explains about it JTBJAB: here it is LunaLovegoss: lol, thanks