Seven Years Later...
Chapter 26 Part 2
"...Then shall the Secrets of the Mothers be revealed."
The second part of the revelation chapter... maybe Alexis really is a seer... (hint: The titles were apart of her prophesy...)
Alexis sat still in her chair, listening to Severus pass on the events that had taken place in his own younger days with Miranda. She would never have expected that Severus had been that way with anyone, and with Miranda of all people. She listened intently, still surprised beyond reckoning. It was then Severus had decided to bring Alexis's mother into the picture.
"Well, Miranda and I grew very, fond of each other over time. We were quite involved with each other, until Vanessa opened her damned mouth." Severus snarled and both Remus and Alexis glared at him. What the hell did her Mum do to this bozo that caused his being a hardass? And what right did he think he had cursing her mother out!
But before Alexis could protest, Remus beat her to the punch. "Her damned mouth? I'm gonna rip your damned head off if you say that again." Remus snarled at him, receiving a glare from Severus as Alexis stared at Remus with surprise, hearing the venom in his words, wondering why he was this touchy about Vanessa.
"Well, let's be honest here Remus, if she hadn't had her damned vision that I was gonna kill Miranda in a act of passion, then Miranda and I would have gone on to live happily ever after. But nooo, Vanessa is a seer, she knows All she can't be Wrong. It didn't matter that I loved Miranda, no, all that mattered is that Vanessa said that and Vanessa is All Mighty." Severus yelled sarcastically at Remus and Remus drew back from him, looking angered and surprised at the same time. Alexis had to do a double take, running over in her mind what Severus had just said.
"A seer? You mean like that 'into the beyond' crap? That would mean I was one too, wouldn't I? But I'm not..." Alexis protested in unbelief. Was this yet another secret every wizarding adult she had ever known, that had gone to Hogwarts, kept from her?
"Yes you are." Artimis replied, locking eyes with Alexis and passing on the images of Alexis's prediction at the end of the final battle. Alexis's eyes widened and her breath just about stopped as she exclaimed, sitting straight in shock. "Whoa... YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?" Alexis yelled as she turned and looked at Remus with anger, who winced. He better, he knew all this, was her adopted father, and he still had never told her!
"Alexis, calm down. Severus hasn't finished his story." Artimis spoke with menace. Alexis looked to her with the same disbelieving stare, exclaiming almost frantically. "Calm down! I'M A FREAKING SEER, AND YOU WANT ME TO CALM DOWN?" Alexis screeched, surprised at Artimis's apparent disinterest, watching as Artimis held her head, wincing a bit.
"Lexy, if you don't shut up I'm gonna knock you out." Artimis told her and Alexis glared at her and then her glare moved to Severus, knowing he had known this as well. Ooohhh, they will regret never telling me this shit... Alexis hissed to herself mentally, too shocked to reply to Artimis's threat.
Alexis sat in her seat, shocked speechless, listening to how Vanessa had apparently 'ruined' Severus's life, or so he thought. She glared at Remus now and then, who carefully avoided her gaze. When Severus admitted he had been with Miranda behind Andres back, Alexis's eyes widened with surprise. Damn, this guy has even less morals than I ever thought... she thought to herself, shaking her head in disbelief, making her wonder exactly what Remus was going to try and explain to Alexis about his acquaintance with her own mother.
She saw Artimis standing, looking angered and menacing. Alexis stood as well, rushing up and pulling Artimis back to her seat, knowing that killing Severus at the moment wasn't a good idea, it might hurt the baby. Artimis sat, still fuming, and Alexis spoke quietly. "Ok, enough trauma with Severus. Remus, why don't you tell me what the hell went on between me and my mum and how come you never told me."
Alexis looked to Remus sternly, and Remus sat straighter, staring back. Alexis sat on the edge of her seat, watching him intently.
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Remus studied Alexis as he gathered his thoughts together on what he was actually going to say to her. He stopped a moment, mentally remarking how much Alexis reminded him of Vanessa in many different ways, feeling the familiar tug of sorrow and loneliness he felt whenever he did think about Vanessa, which was more often than he admitted. But, he had done good concealing it from all, even himself, one thing of which he was proud of. Well, it was time to spill.
"Alexis, I am sorry I never told you. But, I had no choice. Neither did Severus. Vanessa made us swear we would never tell you what she was while you were in school, and I always kept my promises to her. Well, until now..."
He trailed off, shaking his head. Alexis watched him carefully.
"Why didn't she want you to tell me?"
Remus looked back up, explaining slowly. "Vanessa had always been weirded out by her power, and became terrified of them when they helped destroy Miranda and Severus's love life... her and Miranda were the best of friends, Vanessa never wanted to hurt her friends. Much like you." He said softly, Alexis meeting his gaze with curiosity as Remus continued.
"She was afraid that if you were to have the Seer ability, you would be just as fearful, might even predict something that could hurt you yourself. She felt the only way to prevent this was to keep the fact that she was a Seer from you, hoping you wouldn't realize your ability and be afraid. Which in turn meant she had to keep the fact that she was a witch from you, or you would go digging into your ancestry. Something you would most likely do." He smiled smally as he explained, Alexis looking between him and Severus with slight surprise.
She looked a tad less angry, but only a tad as she spoke. "Okay. So it was her choice. Well, she's been dead for a good while now. And I've been out of school for a good while as well. I'm a woman now; I think it would've been safe to tell me. Instead of leaving me in the dark about who the hell I was and how I got these damn abilities and powers or whatever." Alexis scolded, Remus and Severus looking at the floor, Remus wincing slightly at mention of Vanessa's death. Artimis watched the two men sternly, listening intently as she sat in her chair.
Remus knew he should've told her as soon as she graduated from Hogwarts, but could never bring himself to say anything to Alexis, thinking she'd be better of just not knowing. Bad idea.
Alexis let it sink in for a moment, then spoke. "Well, that explains that somewhat better. But how do you explain this picture? Or these clothes? If I'm not mistaken, these pants are the same ones you wore in this picture." She sounded slightly disgusted.
Remus smiled, recalling tucked away memories. "Hmm... Waking up with Vanessa, I never knew what would be missing next." He spoke quietly, and Alexis's eyes widened.
"Huh! Waking up wi... oh my gosh, I do not want to know... but, I do... then again, I don't... but I want to..." Alexis argued hopelessly with herself.
Artimis sighed, yelling at her. "Well make up you're mind! I want to know... that's my vote..."
Alexis sighed, looking back up at Remus. "Fine... go on."
Remus nodded, remembering back to how it all started with Vanessa. "Well, I think I kind of always had a crush on Vanessa. She did too, she told me later, but wasn't ready for a steady relationship with anyone. She wasn't what you would call shy with the male population, she had her, numerous, flings. I admit, I wasn't shy either with the female population, but I always had my eye out for an opportunity with Vanessa."
He recalled sheepishly, Alexis listening with a slight look of disbelief on her features. Remus smirked and continued.
"Well, we flirted a lot, and I was going to make a move a lot earlier than I originally had planned, but had a problem. Sirius kind of had a crush on her the same time I did. Don't think he ever really got over it... all about how he saw her first... yeah right..." Remus grumbled, Artimis snickering slightly as Alexis shook her head.
"Well, me and Vanessa had gotten in some kind of argument one time, think over Sirius and James messing with Miranda or something, and well... I had to shut her up somehow. So I yanked her to me... and, kissed her. It surprised me as much as her, and I went to apologize and stuff, but she just grabbed me and kissed me back. Yeah... it was an interesting little argument..." Remus explained, Alexis shaking her head at him as Artimis smirked.
"Well... one thing led to another, and I ended up asking her out on the roof of Gryffindor Tower on the new moon."
"Did she know you were a werewolf?" Alexis asked quizzically.
"Not at the time. It took me a while to tell her, and then again, I never did. She followed me on the full moon one month, too curious for her own good..."
"Yep, you're definitely her daughter." Artimis snickered, and Alexis glared, turning back to listen to Remus.
"She followed me into the woods a bit, and got a nasty surprise. Sirius and James had to get her away, after I had jumped at her."
"You didn't bite her did you!" Alexis asked, eyes wide. Remus shook his head.
"No, she got away in time. But I thought she would hate me after that, and I was heartbroken, thinking she would never want to see me again. Turns out, she actually thought it was awesome. Also told us about the Shrieking Shack and that we should use that on the full moon." Remus explained admiringly, a vacant look in his eyes as he thought about Vanessa.
He shook his head, turning back to his story. "Both me and Vanessa never thought we were going to last as long as we did. Thinking we'd be together for a month tops. Month came and went, and we were pretty happy together, so we kept dating. Pretty soon she was all I could think about, never put a thought to us breaking up. Think she felt the same way, cause she stopped flirting with the other guys, actually almost kicking Sirius's ass because he wouldn't leave her alone. Kinda clued me in on thinking she felt the same way about me." Remus paused, his small smile suddenly vanishing, Alexis watching him carefully, intrigued by all of this.
"But then... we had an argument. Surprisingly over the same thing you and Miranda were fighting about Sev. I... didn't think I believed in her whole vision thing about Miranda dying because of Severus. Didn't really agree with her interfering with Severus and Miranda's relationship over her supposed 'vision'. One of my biggest mistakes. That woman could never let an argument go, not even for one night." He said angrily. Mostly at himself.
"That night happened to be the full moon. And once again, she followed me. She forgot it was the full moon, and she still wanted to argue. I tried to warn her, but it was too late. I... attacked her. I thought I would've recognized her enough in werewolf form by then to not go after her, she thought so too... but, I was angry..." Remus looked at the floor, face red as he swallowed painfully.
"What happened? Did you stop, or did she get away?" Alexis asked quietly, needing to know despite his obvious reluctance.
Remus looked up at her, explaining once again. "No, neither. During our relationship, I had been too blinded by Vanessa, that I didn't notice that someone else also had a crush on her the whole time we were together besides Sirius. He kinda got over her. I didn't care though. She was with me. That's all I cared about. Well, this guy had followed Vanessa when she decided to come after me the night of the argument. Turned out to be MacNair."
Alexis's eyes widened in surprise, and Remus continued. "I have to admit, if it hadn't been for him, I might've killed Vanessa. He showed up, saved her. Was her Knight in shining fucking armor..." Remus said with growing resentment, trying to keep control as his amber eyes blazed oddly. He looked up, eyes reddened as he continued.
"She never really forgave me for that night. Nor the argument. She ended up hooking up with MacNair. I, on the other hand, stayed single. Was still too in love with Vanessa still to look at any other chick in that light. Still was, and am, to this day." He said quietly.
Alexis sighed, shaking her head as all that slowly sunk into her mind. But, Remus wasn't finished. He studied Alexis carefully as she looked at the floor with the shock of it all, then added quietly. "There's one more thing though. You don't even know about Severus."
Severus looked at him in confusion as Remus smiled slightly, a flicker of tenderness on his features as he recalled. "Me and Vanessa actually kept in contact after we graduated from Hogwarts. Found out when she had... gotten married. Not in contact like you did though, Severus. I have at least some morals."
Severus glared, and Remus looked at Alexis. "You have to make me a promise Alexis before I tell you anything."
Artimis looked at Alexis warily as she commented. "I don't think you are in any position to be making any deals Remus..."
"Oh yes I am. If she doesn't, I will take this information to my grave. And that's that." Remus said matter of factly, and Alexis looked at Remus warily, nodding slowly.
"You have to promise me that you will not beat yourself up over this. You will not take the blame for any of this. Understood?"
Alexis thought about it for a minute, and then nodded once again.
"Okay. It was your third year at Hogwarts, when I first came to teach, that Vanessa actually came to the school to talk to me."
Alexis's eyes widened and she went to say something, but Remus held up his hand to quiet her. "She came to tell me not to let you know anything of her. That was her first thing, but then we got to talking more. I realized how much I was still in love with her. But couldn't say anything to her. I found out that you were her daughter. That was our first meeting that year."
"You mean there were more?" Alexis asked in disbelief.
Remus nodded, explaining. "It was about our third or fourth meeting, when we talked about more personal things. I found out that she hadn't been married to MacNair when she became pregnant with you. She never really intended to marry him. She didn't love him that much. But she was determined that her daughter would not be born and grow up without a real father, so it was more a convenience marriage than anything."
"WHAT! A convenience marriage!" Alexis exclaimed, looking shocked beyond reckoning. Remus nodded, smirking slightly, almost looking smug at that thought.
"Yeah. And after he had left to be one of Voldemort's minions, she divorced him with Dumbledore's help. So MacNair would never be able to take you away from her, legally that is. Surprised the hell out of me too." Remus spoke softly, watching Alexis carefully. She didn't move as she watched him with wide, unblinking eyes.
He decided to just keep going and get it over with. "We talked some more, and... She told me that she still had feelings for me, strong ones... and that maybe by the end of your third year, it would be time to explain you about who she really was and how I was involved with her. We were even planning... on getting back together at the end of that year."
Alexis almost fell out of her chair upon hearing that, but Artimis grabbed her arm and steadied her as Remus kept talking softly. "But, things didn't turn out that way. We all know what went on at the end of that year. When I found out that she was... gone, I knew I had to take care of you. I didn't trust anyone else with you... Till this day, I still think you should've been mine. You were supposed to be my daughter... not that asshole MacNair's..." Remus growled quietly, mostly to himself, clenching his fists. Alexis shook her head as she stared at Remus, trying to focus on just breathing at the moment.
Everyone was quiet for a long moment, everyone lost in the thoughts and memories that had been revealed that day. Artimis swallowed, shaking her head as she spoke in a quiet, wavering voice.
"I am in need of food. Then, I am going to sleep. I do not want to see either of you for a while. Remus, I'm not as angry with you as with Severus, but both of you would be wise to stay out of my way. Understood?"
Severus and Remus kept their heads lowered, both nodding slightly, looking like two schoolboys. Artimis nodded, standing slowly and steadying herself with her hand on her chair.
"Good. I am leaving now. Alexis, come on." Artimis spoke, looking down at Alexis.
Alexis sat stiffly in her chair, eyes wide and unfocused as she breathed shallowly, oblivious to all. Artimis touched her shoulder gently, calling. "Alexis. Why don't you go lay down?..."
Alexis jumped slightly, looking up at her. She took a minute to remember where she was, and then nodded slowly. She stood carefully, but stumbled on weak knees, almost falling. Remus had quickly risen to his feet, grabbing her arm and steadying her with a concerned look. Alexis looked up at him and pulled away, letting Artimis lightly take her arm.
Both women stared hard at the men, Remus looking away sheepishly, Severus looking at the floor. Artimis shook her head, then slowly left, pulling Alexis gently with her, leaving the two men behind in the quiet dusty room.
Artimis lead Alexis carefully to her room once out of the storage rooms, opening the Tower doors for Alexis. Alexis stood in the doorway on wobbly legs for a minute, staring ahead with a dazed look. Artimis left her and made her way to the stairs, Alexis watching to make sure she got there. Artimis reached the first steps, stumbling, but catching herself on the railing. Artimis paused, and then slowly disappeared downstairs.
Alexis turned to her room, hesitantly entering and gently closing and locking the doors behind her. She looked at her bed with a lost look, and then stumbled to it. She crawled onto it, settling into the far most corner as thoughts and events swirled painfully in her mind. She pulled one light blanket over her, curling into a tight ball in the corner, then immediately passed out.
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Artimis stumbled down to her floor, her mind overloaded with information she wished she had been told years ago.
So they didn't have a fairytale romance... They weren't each other's only love... My parents... They both... lied to me... what else is a lie then?... She thought in anger and confusion as she slowly walked to her room. She walked in the doors, feeling weak from all the stress and rage running through her. Draco was sitting in one of the chairs by the fireplace and as soon as she walked in he was up and at her side.
"What happened? Are you ok? " Draco asked as he put an arm under her elbow and steadied her clumsy walking, leading her to the bed.
"I'm just tired, and hungry, but I'm too tired to go downstairs." She mumbled, unwilling to tell Draco about the things she had just been told. He sat her on the bed and smiled at her, brushing her hair from her forehead and kissing it softly.
"How does a BLT sound?" He asked and Artimis was so thankful for him at the moment, not knowing what she would do in the next few seconds.
"Sounds good, but could we scrape the LT in the BLT?" She asked and he smirked, placing the back of his hand to her cheek.
"No problem. Are you sure you're alright? You look like you are sick." He asked her and she nodded, feeling a little color coming back to her face.
"It's just more pregnancy stuff. It takes a lot out of me." She lied and he nodded, walking out of the room, leaving Artimis alone to her thoughts again. She leaned back against her headboard and put her head in her hands, letting the tears she had been holding in. She sobbed there for a moment and then she heard the door open. She looked up to see Draco holding a plate of food and a tall glass of frosty orange juice. She smiled at him, wiping away the tears and he frowned as he crawled up into the bed with her, sitting next to her. He handed her the plate and she took it thankfully.
"Sweetheart, why were you crying?" He asked softly as she picked her bacon sandwich and took a small bite. She thought quickly of what to say to him.
"I just, I don't know. I just felt like crying." She told him and he nodded, wrapping an arm around her back she finished her sandwich and he took the plate, setting it on the bedside table.
"Draco?" She asked lowly, turning to look at him.
"What?" He asked and she looked him in the eyes.
"Would you cheat on me, I mean now that we are married and have said that we are faithful to only each other, would you cheat on me if you felt you love someone else more?" She asked him lowly and he looked at her with surprise.
"What?...No, honey... why would you ask that? Are you worried I'm cheating on you, is that why you are crying?" He asked in a near panic, pulling her to him. She tucked her head on his shoulder and cried as he kissed her head.
"No, when I said till death do us part, I meant it." He whispered and she smiled as she yawned mid cry.
"And you already said you were tired. Why don't you sleep and I'll be right here." He spoke as he laid her down on the bed, letting her go gently and Artimis smiled as he kissed her lips gently.
"I don't know what is going on, but I love you." He told her as he snuggled behind her, lying down. She smiled as she buried her head in her pillow and dozed off to a fitful sleep, trying to figure out how she had never seen through the lies.
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Artimis was sleeping fitfully, a thought racing through her head.
You could be his daughter... Your whole life, your name, it could be a lie... She heard her own voice echo through her brain as she tried to push the thoughts away. She tired to get everything off her mind, most especially Severus and his story. She tossed and turned, trying to stop the onslaught of thoughts that attacked her. Then a thought of her own pushed above the others.
You are a Potion's master... There is a lab right downstairs... She thought as she set up straight in her bed.
"That settles it." She spoke as she got out of bed, realizing that Draco must have changed her into her nightclothes. She looked at the clock and saw that it was a little after one in the morning. She walked toward the door leading out of their room, intent on settling this once and for all. She walked to the door next to hers and didn't even bother to knock, walking in the room quietly as possible. She saw a form sleeping in the bed and quickly turned on the lights.
"Get up." She declared and Severus rolled over and looked at her warily, rubbing his eyes and sitting up with a resolved look in his eyes.
"You are not going to fight me, you are going to get up and follow me. Am I clear?" She told him and he looked at her and stood, nodding. He pulled his robe on, that he had obviously sent one of the house elves to go get from his house and she looked at him sternly.
"Do not make a noise." She hissed and she turned off the lights, grabbing his wrist and pulling him out of the room. She moved quickly and surprisingly he followed an almost equal pace. She walked down the stairs carefully, her hand on the railing, steadying her in the darkness in which she could vaguely see in. She reached the bottom stair, Severus's footfalls a whisper to her own. She was crossing the foyer when something caught her foot and she felt herself careening for the stone floor. She put her one hand out to catch herself and surprisingly she felt Severus hoist her up before she hit the floor. She looked down at the floor, faintly seeing a body on the floor. She knelt down and saw a shade of red hair and drew her wand, whispering 'lumos'. The light whisked from her wand and she saw Ron sleeping on the floor in the middle of the foyer.
"I don't have time for this." She mumbled as she extinguished the light and trudged past the sleeping Ron to the stairs to the dungeon floor. She dragged Severus behind her as she went down them at a quickened speed, determined to lay the monster within her mind to rest with the only way she knew how, proof. She walked to her Lab and whispered her password lowly, seeing a light shine form down the hall, meaning Hermione was working late again. She opened the door and shoved Severus in; surprised that he had not fought her one bit the whole way down.
She turned on the lamps in her lab, the light glaring brightly into her night adjusted eyes. She blinked and then pointed to her desk, looking at Severus sternly.
"Sit." She told him and he walked over there and she was shocked at this.
"What, no argument, no telling me I can't boss you around. You just do what I say and shut up? What is your problem?" She asked him as she walked over to her cabinet.
"My problem? Nothing, I am just wondering if I get to pick my poison or if you're just going to make something up?" He replied sarcastically and she turned around to look at him oddly.
"What? Poison?" She questioned and he rolled his eyes.
"Yes, poison. Unless of course you plan on torture first?" He replied and she rubbed her forehead.
He is such a moron... If I wanted to kill him, he would be dead... Or worse, in Azkaban... She thought she smirked.
"You really think I'm going to kill you, don't you?" She asked him, walking toward him, an unavoidable smirk on her face.
"Aren't you, why else would you drag me down here in the middle of the night?" He questioned and she laughed at him, walking past him to her cabinet. She just decided to ignore him till she needed him. She pulled down a few vials, looking at dates on them and grunting as she put them back. She stood up tall on her toes and reached in the back of the cabinet, pulling out the vial she wanted.
"Good lord, I really do need to start looking at these a bit more often." She told herself as she walked over to her station and pulling out a dish. She poured a bit of the liquid into the dish and snorted, looking to Severus.
"Come here, and no, I'm not going to poison you." She spoke, looking back at dish. He walked up besides her, looking over her shoulder curiously as she gabbed his hand quickly and grabbed a nearby dagger, drawing the blade quickly over his palm, holding it over the dish.
"God damnit, did you have to do that? You could have asked?" He yelped as she let his hand go and he back away a bit from her.
"I could have, but I didn't want to, now if you want to, you can go back to bed." She told him as she poured a bit more of the potion in a second dish. She wiped the dagger off, closing her eyes as she drew the other side of the blade across her own palm, letting it bleed a bit into the dish before she pulled it back to her chest.
"So you are doing what I thought you were doing?" He spoke lightly and she turned at him and glared slightly.
"If you mean I'm testing my parentage, then yes, I have to know." She snarled as she walked over to her desk and wrapping her hand, mentally counting the seconds the potion needed to sit before she could do the next step. She walked back over to her workstation and pulled out a bowl, setting it between the two dishes.
Please, don't let them mix easily... She thought, knowing that if her blood mixed with his after it had been sitting in this potion, it would mean that they shared a blood link, meaning he could be her father. She was determined that the was not, so she had to find out. She pulled out another potion and poured it into the bowl. She pointed her wand at the dish with her blood and changed it color to a more blue color so she could make sure she was accurate. She picked up the two dishes and poured them in to the bowl, holding her breath, hoping in anger and fear that the damned potion didn't turn purple. She watched for moment and sighed in relief as she saw the to blood stay separate in the bowl, making two layers.
"Well?" She heard him ask and she turned around, smiling, feeling a weight lifted off of her chest.
"Well, Andres Callabella is my father, and I think I'm gonna pass out." She told him as she leaned on the counter, pouring the whole concoction into her work sink. She sighed once more and then began heading for the door.
"Come on." She told Severus and he followed her, an undecipherable look on his face. She closed the door behind her and she began walking up the stairs, heading to her room.
"Artimis, I'm sorry." Severus whispered from in front of her and she stopped mid-step.
"Whoa, did you just say you are sorry? For what?" She asked and he turned around to look at her.
"That you found out the way you did. I know for a fact that your mother would not have wanted me to tell you in such a fashion." He spoke lowly and Artimis sighed.
"I forgive you, but I'm still pissed off. So get outta my way." She told him as she pushed past him, that high of satisfaction being wiped away in an instant. She went up to her room and crawled into bed with Draco.
"Took you a long time to go to the bathroom." He mumbled and she smirked as she snuggled close to him, kissing him softly as she fell asleep happily in the knowledge that she was truly a Callabella.
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Ron walked upstairs towards the third floor, wondering what Alexis and Artimis were doing, spending so much time in the storage rooms. Remus and Severus were up there too, so Ron was a little curious.
As he reached the second story, he saw Artimis closing the door behind her quickly. Alexis should've been right behind her... either that or she's up in her room. He thought to himself, feeling almost a bit nervous. Alexis had just recently found out she was a pureblood, which came as a shock to her. She might've found other things in her storage room that could've jolted her just as much.
He reached the third floor, seeing the Storage room's door open, and seeing the Tower door closed. He walked up to them and turned the handle, thinking she was in there. He pulled on the doors, but they wouldn't budge. He stopped, looking at the doors in confusion. He turned the handle once more, yanking on it. It still wouldn't open. He knew the only way the doors could've been locked was from the inside.
"Alexis? Are you in there? You okay?" Ron called through the closed doors a little worriedly. He knocked loudly on the door, but received no reply from within.
"Lexy, honey, open the doors. Are you alright?" Ron shouted again, listening intent. Still no answer. He pulled on the doors frantically, growing concerned. He knew she was in there, but why wouldn't she answer?
"Please let me in Alexis..." He called urgently, putting his foot on one side of the door, yanking on the handle with both hands. No luck. He heard footsteps behind him, and looked over his shoulder towards the Storage rooms, seeing Remus and Severus trudging out, looking down at the floor almost guiltily. Ron turned back to the stubborn doors, twisting the locked handles a bit angrily. He heard Remus speak softly. "Um, I don't think you want to go in there right now..."
Ron stopped what he was doing, hearing the tone of guilt in his voice. He turned slowly, eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion as he looked Remus over for a minute.
"What did you do to her?" Ron asked softly. He knew he must've been crossing some boundaries talking to Remus like that, but when Alexis's well being came into play, he didn't care whom he was talking to.
Remus's eyes widened in surprise as he straightened, staring at Ron with slight disbelief. Severus looked between them, shaking his head as he backed up a few steps and mumbled quietly. "I'm not getting into this..."
Remus gave Ron a stern glare, as if to say 'Who-do-you-think-you-are'. Ron kept eye contact, gazing back equally stern, knowing that Remus had to have done something concerning Alexis.
"Remus, this is a good time to put your tail between your legs and run away." Severus mumbled quietly, watching Remus. Remus turned and glared at him, Severus just shaking his head, starting to walk away. Remus looked Ron up and down once more, and then followed Severus downstairs, grumbling to himself, as Ron stared after them in bewilderment.
Ron sighed, then turned and proceeded to pound on the doors to Alexis's room, intent on getting in and making sure she was alright. He jumped upon hearing a loud voice.
"Ron! What's with all the damn noise! Go to bed!" Hailey's voice shouted, and Ron turned and stared at her oddly, never having heard her yell before. She stood in her doorway, dressed in pajamas, looking half asleep. Aaron walked out of his room a moment later, stumbling in a half sleep.
"Wh... What's going on? Ron?" Aaron mumbled sleepily.
"Her doors are locked, and she won't open them. I dunno what's going on..." Ron explained quickly, turning back to the door and knocking loudly once again.
"Well, go sleep on the couch then! I would like to sleep, thank you." Hailey scolded, him, turning back into her room. Aaron watched her go, and then looked to Ron yanking on the handles.
"That's why I don't have a girlfriend. I don't have to worry about getting kicked out..." Aaron spoke sleepily, walking back into his room as well. Ron stepped away from the Tower doors, sighing. He was getting nowhere with this. He gave the doors one last concerned look, then slowly trudged back to the stairs, wondering what was going on with Alexis.
He made his way to the Foyer, but didn't feel like sleeping just yet. He started pacing in front of the stairs, wondering what Remus and Severus were doing in the storage rooms in the first place. They were in there the same time Artimis and Alexis were, but why?
Ron continued pacing, worried. Remus made it sound like Alexis was angry... but I don't think Remus would actually do anything to her... She was looking for her mother's things... did Remus say something about her mother that could've riled her?
That was the only reason Ron thought could've angered her enough to lock herself in her room. And not even let him in. He yawned, guessing he was more tired than he admitted. He stopped, debating whether to go sleep in the Living room or wait up for Alexis. He shrugged, taking a seat on the floor in front of the steps.
I'll just rest here for a minute... I'll go up and see if she's alright in a little bit if she doesn't come down here for food or something... not too tired yet...
Ron thought drowsily, leaning back against the bottom step and staring off into the darkness, waiting to hear footsteps. He yawned widely, eyes drooping tiredly. He shook his head roughly, determined to stay awake. He slouched against the stair, thinking to himself. Well, no harm in getting a little comfortable... He leaned back against the stair, staring up at the ceiling. After a moment though, his eyes closed tiredly, and his worried mind calmed as he drifted off into deep sleep, oblivious to all.
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Artimis awoke in the morning, feeling so much better and she was so excited she decided to cook breakfast, well, what part of breakfast she could. She got up, leaving Draco sleeping soundly in their bed as she dressed quickly in some loose pants and a big shirt. She practically skipped downstairs in the twilight of the morning, making sure she missed Ron's sleeping form as she headed into the kitchen.
"Good morning, I didn't think you'd be up." Hermione spoke as she and Hailey were just starting breakfast.
"I wanna help cook, Well at least something." She spoke chipperly and they both smiled at her and looked around.
"Well, how about the pancakes and waffles, do you think you are up to them?" Hailey asked and Artimis smiled, bouncing over to the counter and beginning to mix the pancakes.
"Why is she so happy?" Hermione whispered and Hailey smirked, shaking her head.
"It's a good pregnant day I guess." Hailey replied and Artimis snickered as she continued making breakfast. The three girls finished breakfast just in time and Hailey and Hermione went to go get everyone up while Artimis bounced around the dining room, setting the table with joy. She watched as everyone filed in, looking at Artimis like she was on drugs and she just smiled at them, even Severus, who sat down roughly in his chair. Alexis and Ron were the last ones to walk in, Alexis looking like she had been dragged behind a wagon a couple of times. Artimis smiled at her and Alexis sighed, rolling her eyes.
"What the hell are you in a good mood for, or did I just have a really, really weird dream last night?" Alexis snorted, glaring at Severus and Remus and Artimis sighed.
"I'm in a good mood because I'm a Callabella." Artimis stated happily and Alexis looked at her like she was nuts for a moment before it dawned on Alexis in her eyes and she looked to Severus and then back to Artimis. Artimis snickered as Alexis sighed and sat down, acting like she had had good news from that as well.
Why are you so relieved? Artimis asked Alexis mentally.
(Because that...) Alexis pointed to Severus and then continued. (...Is not my uncle... or any other relation to me... Its bad enough I'm Malfoy's sister in law...) Alexis mentally complained and Artimis giggled as she went to her chair. The rest of breakfast was quiet, except the fact that Artimis would start humming every now and then.
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Alexis awoke in her bed, feeling stiff from her curled position all night and feeling almost just as tired as she had been when she fell asleep. She tried not to think on any of the events that had taken place the night before; at first hoping they were all just a bad dream. But they were as clear to her as if she had just heard it all.
She sat up, stretching painfully as she looked around her room; yawning and finding it empty besides her. She was starting to find it weird when she didn't wake up to Ron beside her.
She trudged to her bathroom, finding out that she was still in the clothes from the night before. She hoped a shower would help cure her off her stiffness and wake her up a bit. She turned on the hot water, sitting in the shower and hoping the jets of water would wash away all the thoughts running through her mind.
She finished her shower and got dressed, guessing that breakfast should've been made by then. She exited her Tower, finding that she had locked the doors last night. Probably the reason Ron wasn't in bed. Then again, she didn't feel like talking to anyone last night.
She trudged wearily downstairs, seriously debating if she should've just stayed in bed this morning, not really up to facing Remus and Severus this morning. As she reached the last flight of steps, she looked down upon Ron lying sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs, fast asleep and snoring gently. She shook her head in confusion, walking down to him softly as she smirked.
She stopped above his head, smiling down at his peaceful features. She gently nudged him with her bare foot, hoping to wake him gently. Ron started with surprise, scrambling to a sitting position as he looked around in an unfocused daze.
"Who... what, It wasn't my fault... oh... good morning!" Ron mumbled, looking up and seeing Alexis staring down at him in confusion. He smiled up at her, and she smirked slightly. He saw her wearied and slightly stressed expression and frowned slightly, getting to his feet.
"Are you okay? I couldn't get into your room last night, you wouldn't answer either..." Ron asked quietly. Alexis looked at the floor as she replied.
"Sorry I worried you, forgot I locked the doors when I fell asleep. I really didn't want to talk to anyone last night... I was having a... bad night." She finished quietly, not wanting to say anything about last night's conversations.
Ron touched her cheek gently, and she looked up at him as he asked curiously. "Why were you having a bad night?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Alexis said shortly. Ron sighed, nodding as he pulled her to him, hugging her tenderly. He spoke quietly as she leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes.
"Will you ever talk to me about it?"
"... Eventually. But not today. I don't want to think about it right now." She replied in a muffled voice, hugging him tightly. He nodded, hugging her tightly back, then pushing her back a bit and kissing her, easing her mind a little more. He pulled away and smiled, and she sighed, looking up at him with slight adoration.
Together they walked into the Dining room for breakfast, Alexis frowning upon seeing Severus sitting quietly in his seat. He's not dead yet?... hmm...
She followed Ron to her seat, raising an eyebrow at Artimis as she grinned at her. He's still alive, and she seems happy about it... I bet he drugged her...
"What the hell are you in a good mood for, or did I just have a really, really weird dream last night?" Alexis snorted at her, knowing she herself was far from being joyful, giving Remus and Severus a glare, seeing them both carefully avoid her gaze as she sat down in her chair.
"I'm in a good mood because I'm a Callabella." Artimis declared proudly. Alexis stared at her. Well, no shit Sherlock... oh, wait... when Severus said... dude!
Alexis thought, remembering why Artimis had doubted her parentage in the first place. She looked at Severus; surprised he had agreed to let Artimis test him and herself. Alexis felt a tinge of relief, one small issue on her pile of troubles being lifted.
Why are you so relieved? Artimis asked Alexis mentally, and she smirked.
(Because that...) Alexis pointed to Severus in slight disgust, and then continued. (...Is not my uncle... or any other relation to me... Its bad enough I'm Malfoy's sister in law...) Alexis mentally complained, seeing Severus gaze at her in slight confusion. Alexis glared, and Severus quickly looked away, Alexis smirking. She heard Artimis giggle, then turned to fill her plate, intending to ignore Remus and Severus for the duration of the meal until she was eased enough to even look at them normally.