Seven Years Later...
Chapter 5 Part 1
"Broken Solider"
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker

Disclaimer: You know the drill; we own parts of the posse, so HUZZAH! Misses EckoStalker I, Deep Shadows, Own Artimis Callabella, Aaron Billord, Hailey Garnet, Apollo Callabella, Athena Callabella, and Damien Callabella along with Miranda Callabella, and Andres Callabella. EckoStalker owns, Alexis Whyte (Not enough people if you ask me, but Alexis is a handful). We own together, The Manor (I drew it, she did designs), the plot, and anything else we wish to add. You jive.

Anything that is not of our mind is from the brilliance of Ms. J.K. Rowling. In addition, Mourn-Today, A good friend of ours, owns the duo Erica Barton and Vicky Adkins. Thank you.

Author's Note: EckoStalker and I are apart right now, me being out of state, unable to converse face to face so some things might conflict. When things are figured out, we will get it fixed. This is the area where you start seeing some more of the plot. This should make you cry, unless of course Severus Snape is reading this, in that case, lighten up dude! Anyways, this should affect all of you avid Artimis and Alexis lovers. There is a lot that will happen in the next three chapters so pay a lot of attention. Toodles, READ AND REVIEW, or I will sic Ecko's little blue cat-creatures on you!

Artimis sat downstairs in the kitchen in the early morning, savoring as much of the morning as she could. Severus had apologized to everyone, a very difficult thing for him to do, Alexis had hid and licked her wounds, with the unusual help of Ron, and Artimis and Draco had made up from their fighting. Everything had resumed some semblance of normality.

She smiled, knowing that for once in her life she was happy and blissful. She stood up from the stool, and stirred the pot of oatmeal she was making for breakfast.

Dressed in a light green silk pajama set, she was comfortable and excited, cause she had the day off today and so did most of the house, save for poor Aaron, who was, and always had been, a workaholic. She whisked about the kitchen, cooking things for her family to eat. Artimis had always wanted a family of her own, for as long as she could remember, meaning a couple of kids and a loving husband. However, Draco was content with the way things were for the moment and she had to allow him that. He was the only one who could ever keep her from doing exactly what she wanted, when she wanted, and how she wanted it. He was her rock and her stronghold, much like Alexis, except Alexis was the one who kept Artimis going. She laughed aloud as her cat, Perseus, purred at her feet. She looked down at her cat lovingly as he looked up at her with inquisitive eyes. The cat had been a present from Alexis when Sable, her old cat, had died. She went back to stirring the oatmeal as the feline meowed at her.

"Silly cat. I can't feed you and the house at the same time." She cooed to it as Perseus looked at her, his green cat-eyes shining with animal curiosity. Artimis wiped her hands on her apron and picked the cat up.

"I love you. You may be a guy and whiny, but I love you." Artimis purred happily.

(Could you back off the super cheerful feelings for a while, I cannot sleep with a cheerleader in my head.) Alexis's mind resonated to Artimis, a sleepy tone to the sound.

Har har. I will try. Go back to sleep. Artimis replied with as much forced sterileness as possible.

(All right...) Alexis replied and Artimis felt her doze contentedly.

Artimis put Perseus down and washed her hands, preparing to go back to the food, when she thought she heard a faint knock at the front door. Recalling that Remus was home and he was the only one who would have knocked, Artimis disregarded it as her imagination. The second loud knock jolted her attention from her morning chore. She grabbed her nearby wand, tapped gently on Tabby's cabinet door and stated, "Watch the food please."

Artimis briskly charged out of the kitchen to the entrance hall, wand drawn defensively. She knew that this place was untraceable and that she and Alexis were the only Secret Keepers besides Dumbledore. She moved to the foyer quietly, ready for anything, and opened the door. She was shocked as two small children lunged at her and hugged her tightly around the waist.

"Auntie!" Her niece and nephew chanted happily. Behind them stood Parvati, her sister-in-law, holding up a deeply leaning Apollo.

"Come in. Come in." Artimis moved aside worriedly, picking up her small relatives, one in each arm.

"He fought them, daddy did. Grandpa too. Grandpa made us leave. Mummy took us here." Her four-year-old nephew, Damien stated. Artimis put the kids down in the living room and called out to Alexis rapidly.

Get down here. The kids are here. Artimis urged shakily.

(Alrighty then... be right there.) Alexis replied with a voice of caution and wonder.

"Artimis..." Apollo moaned as Parvati Callabella helped him lie on the couch. Artimis rushed to his side as any good sister would, worry tracing lines on her face. She cried slightly as she looked at the strain of pain in his eyes.

"Brother, what is it?" Artimis cooed lowly, holding his large hand gently in hers.

"Father... He... He… They... It is gone Artimis. Gone." He moaned sadly, as tears fell on his manly face and down his cheeks.

"What is? Where is Dad? What happened?" Artimis questioned semi-frantically.

"Dad… they were trying to destroy the house… wouldn't leave… said mother dwelled there. They..." His voice wavered off, and the look he gave her scared her to the core.

"He's dead Artimis… They killed him... Blew up the house… Nothing I could do. Nothing…" Apollo trailed off as Alexis rushed into the room haphazardly. The children, who had been watching this intimate scene between their father and their aunt, turned to her and tackled her playfully. Artimis felt her world crashing around her, her life falling to a pile of rubble. She sat on the floor heavily, her legs collapsing under her from the shock of this blow.

Dead... Nooo... Artimis thought to herself in utter disbelief. Alexis looked at her, feeling Artimis's anguish, and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Artimis shakily got to her feet, moving as if having been dealt a serious blow. She stumbled past Alexis in a terrified stupor, not knowing what to do next as she left the room. She wanted to scream, to cry, to yell, to go berserk, to be calm, all the extremes she could think of was what she felt like doing. The screaming came first. She collapsed in the foyer, tears overpowering her as a blood-curdling scream emitted from her, "NO!"

Her fists were clenched, her jaw tightened to hold back more cries and she knelt there in the middle of the foyer, focused on controlling all the emotions running through her. Revenge, she wanted Revenge, she wanted everyone who had been there to perish unmercifully under her hand. She felt like crushing someone, breaking them into the same shapeless formless being she had become inside. She heard footsteps on the stairs, felt the stares of all those who lived in the house. She knelt there, a broken solider, her weak spot having been located and destroyed. She felt soft hands on her shoulders and she leapt up, ready to fight, ready to destroy. She backed off as she looked into Alexis's emerald eyes full of love and understanding, and Alexis wrapped her in a hug, holding her close as Artimis let it sink in that the man who raised her, who made her the proud, brilliant woman she was, no longer walked the earth. Artimis felt stronger arms than Alexis's around her and looked up to see a very pained Apollo. She clung to him, holding the last strain of her original family close.

"...What happened...?"

"...Why is Apollo here..."

"...What should we do...?"

"Leave them be." Severus stated over the noise and Artimis looked up towards him mournfully, locking eyes with him. He nodded in understanding as Remus shooed everyone to the living room, where Parvati and the children were. Artimis heard everything, but did not want any of it to be real. This had to be a dream. It had to be... Artimis moaned to herself as Alexis helped her and Apollo to the living room. It was not an easy task for Alexis, but her brave heart and love for Artimis must have given her the strength she needed. Artimis sat down on the couch, her mind clouded, her voice sore, her eyes blurry from crying and she saw several sets of confused eyes looking at her. Two of the sets belonged to her nephew, Damien, and her niece Athena. She stretched out her arms to them and they dove into her lap happily, as if they knew not why their beloved aunt was crying. She hugged them tightly, crying in to their soft hair. She felt Alexis's shaking hand on her shoulder and she felt Apollo leaning on her other shoulder, his head buried in her skin, and she could feel him crying.

This has to be a dream, please let it be a dream... Artimis mentally screamed as Parvati lowly explained to the rest of the household what had worked Artimis up so much. Artimis did not want to hear it; she just clung to her niece, her nephew having moved to sit with 'Uncle' Remus, and sat there in a somber stupor, leaning heavily on the moral support Alexis was offering. How can one day change so drastically in a matter of minutes...? Artimis pondered, a mental wall keeping Alexis from feeling the deep depression Artimis was feeling and fighting. Artimis did not want to believe it, denial was her heart's only defense. Revenge was its only remedy. She knew in her heart that she was faced with a long road, but cared little for the journey.

Alexis awoke quite comfortably in her own bed, wondering how in the blazes she had gotten there. The last thing she had really remembered was the beaten form of Snape at her feet. And at that thought, she smiled evilly, content that he had gotten his after all the shit he made her go through the day before, even though he had apologized thoroughly. But that didn't matter.

She glanced around, remaining still under the light blanket that covered her, and searched the room with inquisitive green eyes. She started in surprise at a figure slumped lowly in a chair in front of her. It was Ron Weasley, sleeping peacefully in one of her heavily cushioned stone chairs situated to where it faced her bed. He had a look of complete happiness and contentment on his features as he snored softly.

Alexis giggled quietly, blushing ever so slightly. So, that's how I got here...

She kind of knew that Ron had a slight crush on her, but refrained from letting on. But, unbeknownst to all, even Artimis, Alexis might have been attracted to the tall and handsome red-head for some time as well. Well, maybe a little surer than might. But there was always the issue of Alexis's bad luck. After the crush she had in her school days, she was very reluctant to try anything in the relationship area anytime soon. But then again... Alexis had known Ron for quite a long while...

Pushing these warm thoughts out of her sleepy mind, she encountered waves of cheerfulness and happiness emanating sickeningly from whom she knew to be Artimis. It was way too early for this magnitude of giddiness.

(Could you back off the super cheerful feelings for a while, I cannot sleep with a cheerleader in my head.) Alexis's mind resonated to Artimis, a sleepy tone to her mind.

Har har. I will try. Go back to sleep. Artimis replied with as much forced sterileness as possible.

(All right...) Alexis grumbled, not willing to argue. So, she contentedly leaned back into her pillow, gazing at Ron distractedly, almost dozing off as she smiled tenderly.

Suddenly, those happy-go-lucky feelings Artimis couldn't help but share were severed so abruptly that Alexis gasped. She sat up in bed, confused. Ron shifted, and in the process, slipped out of the chair, falling to the stone floor with a thud. He jumped up in surprise, half asleep. Alexis laughed, watching him curiously. He spun around to face her, his face turning the characteristic bright red that usually showed when he encountered Alexis. Alexis shook her head laughingly. Ron smiled sheepishly and fumbled nervously, stammering, "Well, um... you're awake... that's, good..."

"Yeah... good, um..." Alexis stammered back, at a loss for words. They looked at each other awkwardly, unable to speak their thoughts and feelings for fear of denial from the other. But there was no need to as Artimis broke into Alexis's mind once again, her voice full of concern and worry.

Get down here. The kids are here. Artimis urged shakily.

(Alrighty then... be right there.) Alexis replied with a voice of caution and wonder.

She spoke to Ron confidently and seriously, "Come on, something's wrong downstairs."

He became serious and nodded, following Alexis out her door quickly and downstairs.

Alexis spun around the corner, skidding on bare feet across the smooth floor. She briefly noticed Apollo Callabella sprawled on the couch with Artimis and Parvati nearby before two small, solidly built bodies rammed her, sending her slam onto the floor as she was smothered with hugs and squeezes from her 'adopted' niece and nephew. She managed to grab hold of them, and rose wobbly to her feet, seeing Artimis now on her knees beside the couch, a look of pure fear and sadness clouding her face. Alexis was taken aback.

Artimis stumbled past her to the foyer almost drunkenly, and Alexis turned to Parvati for an explanation.

"What's wrong?" she asked in shocked confusion. Parvati looked ready to burst into tears as she explained. Alexis almost collapsed in shock. She weakly set the kids down, where they immediately ran and bowled into Remus who had appeared in the doorway. Alexis swallowed painfully, swaying, and then leaned against the wall.

Another death... another father gone... how many more will I lose before it is over?

Alexis thought hopelessly, referring to her own deceased parents. Without Artimis, Alexis would probably be in St. Mungo's hospital, fighting for sanity. Artimis had given her a family, her own family, and Andres Callabella had been as much of a father to her as Remus had been. They were all she had.

Fighting off the rising swell of sadness and anger she felt that was ready to consume her, Alexis pushed herself up off the wall, shoving away helping hands. She had to be strong for Artimis, for the rest of her family as well. She knew all too well Artimis wouldn't be able to handle the stress as the Mistress of the Household for a few days, so Alexis knew it was time to take up her authority and support. She quickly made her way into the foyer as Apollo painfully followed.

She viewed Artimis slumped dejectedly in the middle of the room, tears cascading from her face and sobs wracking her body. Alexis vaguely felt her own face drenched in salty tears. As she touched Artimis, her stricken friend jumped up, anger and defense blazing in her blue eyes. Alexis fell back a step, going on the defense, but understanding her predicament. Artimis calmed when she realized who it was, and slumped tiredly into Alexis's firm embrace. Alexis held her tightly as Apollo joined, leaning heavily on the two of them, his manly visage shattered as he wept like a child.

Alexis stood straight, trying hard to support them as she led them back into the living room. Her knees almost gave out, but she wouldn't let the others help her. It was her job as a friend and half sister to provide the physical and emotional support they had lost. She was going to prove herself as strong in the face of things, even at the contradiction of her sparkling tears falling freely.

She helped them onto the couch, and then leaned against it tiredly; trembling and placing a tender hand on Artimis's shoulder as Athena and Damien confusedly embraced their stricken aunt in their innocent, curing, and childish comfort. Alexis closed her eyes, shaking with the effort to remain calm and together.

The rest of the Manor's occupants remained respectfully silent, a gloomy pall hanging over the group as they gathered in the foyer.

Remus Lupin felt a tug of deep sorrow and loss high in his chest and throat. Artimis's father had been a good friend and ally in their travels and missions together for the Order. Callabella knew the price of his rebellion against the Dark Lord, but remained strong to the very end. Remus too knew the price, and would remain as steadfast and loyal as Callabella had been; using his death as a symbol of honor that Remus was eager to match. He remained silent as he watched his adopted daughter Alexis comfort her best friend, sadness tainting his usually cheerful and reserve gaze.

So much they have gone through... and so much more to go, I fear...

Remus turned away momentarily, tensing with his struggle to remain silent. No one needed to see him break down. He would be needed by Alexis and Artimis, as much as Artimis needed Alexis at this moment. Even though Alexis would be loath to admit her need. Pride and courage had always been high on Alexis's list of morals. He loved and prided her all the more for it. He knew Artimis would try her hardest to keep face after the initial shock of this event, but it would be a very difficult thing for her. Lupin smiled grimly at how knowledgeable he was of these girls' reactions.

He straightened after a moment, and turned back to the room and its occupants. He realized Apollo needed tending to, and Parvati and the children in need of a meal and rest. He stepped forward, but Alexis beat him to it. She stood tall, well, as tall as to be expected, and gazed around the room at everyone in turn, a look of authority in her eyes. There was something else there too, but it eluded Remus as to what. It was unnerving.

Alexis spoke demandingly, voice wavering slightly, "Alright. Hailey, you are the designated nurse of the household, so get Remus to help you patch up Apollo. I wouldn't recommend moving him yet, so Harry, set up a place here in the foyer. Severus, contact Dumbledore and check out the Callabella's house, check for... anything. Hermione, the kids need food. You got run of the kitchen. Fred, George, the Minis will be wanting information, go take care of them before they get to the Callabella's Manor, Parvati'll fill you in." Alexis halted to extract the children from Artimis's tight grip, then ushered them forward with Hermione to the kitchen. She continued, eyes blazing strangely. "Ron, if you would please set up my room, Parvati and the kids will be staying there for now, seeing as there are no rooms empty at the present time.We'll need extra food and the essentials for them. Which means shopping. Your job Aaron. " Parvati went as if to say something, but Alexis held up her hand in silence. "I insist. I'll find another place... Well, get moving!" She hollered when no one moved for a moment.

Then they scattered, all pretty much shocked at Alexis's sudden control and stern-ness. Even Severus refrained from commenting as he went to the fireplace to contact Dumbledore. Not one person argued, most actually glad for something to take their minds off the situation. Alexis stared at the waiting Crabbe and Goyle for a moment, them gazing back dully. Alexis ordered. "You two... go help Severus at the house." They ambled off quickly.

Alexis sighed, slumping tiredly against the couch besides Artimis. Artimis had zoned out during all this, and remained tense and trembling in her seat. Remus started forward worriedly towards Alexis, who looked ready to collapse. Alexis saw him coming and straightened with difficulty, glaring at him. "I don't need help. Apollo does. I... I need to go. Draco..." She looked at him expectedly, and he started forward to Artimis. Then Alexis bolted out the room. Remus sighed, turning to aid Hailey with the stricken young man.

Alexis ran, bursting into her workout room, and slamming the door behind her; looking as if she had been running for her life. She locked the door, then turned and slid slowly to the floor, eyes closed and leaking hot tears. After a long moment, she heaved herself up, stumbling to her stereo and sticking in any random heavy metal CD, hoping the intense pounding and music would beat down the conflicting thoughts and responsibilities echoing in her mind. Alexis stared at the punching bag in front of her, and then stepped back, not bothering to put on her boxing gloves, and started slamming the bag with every ounce of her strength. She grit her teeth and hammered it relentlessly, taking out all her pain on the exercising instrument. Even as the tough, coarse canvas scratched against the tender skin along her knuckles and fists, tearing the skin and bruising her hand, she continued beating it, thin trickles of blood painting her pale hands. Alexis ignored everything, losing herself in the sharp pains radiating from her fists and the dull pounding of her head as the music carried away all her sense.
Draco walked towards Artimis, anger in his heart and blazing in his eyes. He knew his father had done this, knew that his father had hurt the only woman he had ever truly loved.

I'll make you pay for the hurt you've caused her... Mark my words father, you will not survive this year... Draco thought as he wiped away his lover's tears as she clung to him, needy-like. He felt the pain radiating from her, the agony that she must have been feeling. She uncharacteristically whimpered, causing him to hold her close and coo supportively in her ear. Yes, father, you will die for the heart that you just broke...

Artimis clung to Draco, her mind racing, soaring to unknown territories of her mind. He held her and she knew he felt her pain, something she could not at this moment bear alone. She pushed away from him, jumping up from the couch and rushing out of the room. She ran with all her might, diving into the workout room, vaguely registering where she ran. She rushed into the Magic Ward room, closing the door and sealing it behind her. She froze with her hands on the door, her eyes catching the gleam of her ring. Her father had given it to her after her mother died; it was her mother's wedding ring.

She took it off, tearing up as she read the inscription he had put inside for her. 'From mother to daughter, the love continues'. She grasped the ring in her hand, squeezing it so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She screamed, screamed with all her might. No words came from her, she just let loose incoherent screams of agony. Her heart tore in two, her mind flooded. She didn't notice the darkening of the room, nor the rush of cold air. She let loose all her emotions, knowing that nothing came into the Magic Room and NOTHING went out. That was just what she wanted, solitude and release.

Somewhere in her mind, she could feel Alexis in pain, but did not care. She knew that the pain was being inflicted by Alexis, that being Alexis's way of ridding herself of it. The ring in her hand dug into her skin, causing a tiny rivulet of deep, red blood to run from her tightly closed palm. The pain was bliss, making her channel in on that and forget about why she truly screamed. She screamed until she could no longer emit a sound, her throat sore and her breath rasping.

She opened the door to the room and went upstairs silently, heading towards the library. She hated the silence of the moment, the lack of noise making every move seem as if an eternity passed. She needed music, noise, anything and everything to rid her mind of the knowledge it possessed. She turned on the second story landing instead of the third and headed to her room, slamming the door and blaring her music till she fell to sleep in her bed to the loud melody of Linkin Park.

Severus spoke mournfully to Dumbledore, and then headed to Callabella Manor. The grand building that had once stood there majestically was now a hollow shell of its self. Severus sighed as he walked into the empty parlor that had been grandly furnished this morning. Walking up the stairs with caution, he instructed Crabbe and Goyle to look about the living room and kitchen area for anything. Snape headed for the master bedroom, having been in this house several times prior. He walked in the room, the smell of smoke and fire assaulting his nostrils. The bed was burned to a pile of dust. He turned away and as he did a glint of metal caught his eye from the wall. He walked towards it, pulling the shining metal box from its unearthed hiding place in the wall. Opening it carefully he glanced inside and quickly closed it shut, tucking it in the folds of his cloaks. He moved to Artimis's room, the room her niece and nephew had been staying in. The room was demolished, torn to shreds as if a beast of some sort had been search for something. He grunted and then heard the yells of Crabbe from downstairs.

Hoping that they may have some good news, something to cheer Artimis and to put aside the fear of what was soon to come, he rushed downstairs. He slowed at the bottom stair. I do not hope, nor do I run about on a flimsy whim of his survivors. I am Severus Snape, I do not care... He repeated to himself as she slowly stalked towards the room. Caring could be the death of him, and he knew it.

"What do you want Vinc-" Severus stopped, glimpsing on the mangled, face down body of Andres Callabella. Crabbe was white with fear and Severus scoffed at him.

"Get a sheet for Pete's sake. It's not kind to look upon the dead." He spoke lowly as Goyle handed him a sheet. Severus kneeled down and covered Andres, suppressing all emotion.

"Let's go. Dumbledore and other Order members will be here shortly." Severus spoke demandingly.

"Severus?" Goyle spoke.

"What is it?" Severus nearly growled.

"I found something that Artimis would want, should I go get it?" He questioned, a tremor of fear in his voice.

"Yes, what is it." Snape questioned, his attention now on Greggory Goyle.

"A family picture, I think it has her mother in it." He spoke as he walked over to the living room.

On the mantle, untouched, was a picture of a seven year old Artimis, sitting next to her eleven year old sister, Diana. Nine year old Apollo Callabella knelt behind his sisters, while his father had his arm around Miranda Callabella, who was smiling as she looked towards the camera. Goyle grabbed it carefully in his hands, but the frame slipped and the glass broke, the noise shattering the gloomy silence.

"You dunderhead." Severus growled, pulling his wand and fixing the glass. He picked it up gentle and walked out the front door. Crabbe stood there, his face white with fear. Severus looked at him and frowned.

"Let's get back to the Manor." He spoke and Goyle put his hand on his watch and whispered a password.

"Here, touch my watch sir. It's a portkey. Crabbe you too." Goyle spoke and they did so. Goyle spoke another word and they were in a crammed four foot by four foot room.

"Blasted Goyle, where are we?" Severus spoke in annoyance.

"The Manor Sir." Goyle spoke as he touched a brick. The wall moved and opened up to the lounge of Manor Dela Loyalty.

"Interesting." Severus spoke as he went off in search of Artimis.

Alexis slammed the punching bag, the canvas creating a dull thwack only she could hear.

Again... the punch harder, the noise thicker, but almost completely drowned out by the stereo. Then again, and twice more in rapid succession. Her fists were now numb to all feeling, as she wished her thoughts were. Vision blurred by stinging tears, she slammed harder, muscles tensed, her breath coming in short, harsh gasps. But she wouldn't, couldn't, rest. Not now, not yet. The red flecked canvas bag swung hypnotically as Alexis took out all her anger and sorrow upon it, punching and swinging relentlessly for well over fifteen minutes. And all the while, her chest heaved with choking sobs and short breath, her throat constricted as if someone had hold of her.

Her bleak universe was filled only with the jerking of the bag and the dull thuds as her bloodied fists pummeled it.

Why him? What did he do? So much pain... why must we bear it? A curse maybe... why else must all my loved ones be hurt and broken? Andres, Artimis, Apollo, Mum... all torn apart...

Racing through her head were these wisps of thought laced with anger, sorrow, guilt, pain.So caught up with these and close to the breaking point, she failed to here the unlocking of her workout room door. A silouhette darkened the doorway, and a pair of deep, amber eyes followed her moves intently, the person's ears smarting from the barrage of deafening music.

Alexis stumbled after a particularly hard punch, almost falling to her knees as the current events took toll on her strained body. She stubbornly stood back and continued punching, but the hits weakened one by one, and her steps faltered more.

No, I'm NOT weak... have to be strong, keep going...

Her eyes blazed strangely, only her will keeping her body going. Salty tears fell freely from the striking green eyes boring into the punching bag, their gaze locked upon it like a mortal enemy.

Powerful or not, he will pay for hurting my friends... every last one of them...

Remus Lupin swallowed his sorrow at Alexis's state as he watched her from the Gymnastic's Room doorway. There was nothing more he could do for Apollo, nor Artimis after her dash to some unknown refuge. He had thought it best to check up on Alexis, even if she didn't approve of it. And it was good he did, seeing as she wasn't taking it as well as she had put out earlier. He noticed her labored breathing, her injured hands, and her failing control. It was time to step in.

He stepped forward quickly and smoothly, coming up behind her, and Alexis failed to notice as she continued punching. He gently laid a hand on her shoulder, and she spun around angrily, eyes clouded from reason. He grabbed a hold of her other shoulder as well, attempting to settle her. She yanked backwards, refusing to stop. She wasn't finished, she had to push herself farther. Remus tightened his grip as she struggled frantically, her voice lost in nauseating wave of emotion. He kept his grip as her fighting weakened. In a last desperate and involuntary act, she swung out to hit him weakly, but Lupin reflexively shot out his hand, catching her fist in a tight grip. She gasped slightly, wincing as she finally fell to her knees, Lupin lowering with her. Her head hung dejectedly and her shoulders drooped as she trembled, breathing raggedly. Tears also in his eyes, Remus quickly let go of her fist, pulling her into a soft embrace, Alexis burying her head into his cloaks.

He then deftly silenced the vibrating stereo, the sudden silence pressing in thickly. Lupin closed his eyes as he rocked her gently. He whispered near her head, "It couldn't be prevented... It wasn't your fault... You can't go beating yourself up over it, it won't help you or anyone else... isn't that what you want? To help?... ssshhh...it'll be alright..."

Footsteps sounded, and a red-haired head popped in. Ron watched the pair with uncertainy, his gaze resting longingly and sorrowfully on Alexis. He sighed deeply, then quietly backed out, softly closing the door behind him. He went away unnoticed.

Alexis quickly calmed, her breath evening as she leaned against him tiredly and listening to his soothing words. He pulled back slightly, gently taking one of her bruised and beaten hands in his and caressing it softly, sadness glinting in his eyes. Her pulled out a cloth from a pocket and carefully proceeded to wipe the blood from her torn knuckles, Alexis watching in a dazed kind of trance. Remus also summoned a few gauzy strips of cloth, beginning to tenderly wrap them around her fists. And just when he thought things had settled down a notch, Alexis jolted straight back .

A roar of saddened rage echoed painfully loud in Alexis's mind, and a reel of confusing images and flashes flickered in her vision. Artimis speeding out of the foyer, Artimis's room, a rising darkness, Severus's Snape surprised-looking features, and Artimis gliding towards him in fury.

And Alexis knew this time Artimis wasn't feigning. She pulled away from Lupin, who gazed at her in deep confusion. Forgetting her weariness, she spun away and whisked out the gymnastics room, following her ears to the source of the scream of rage and pain as fast as humanly possible.