A/N: So…heres another chappie! Yay! It jumps around a lot through their years. I tried to give warning and junk but yeah…just follow it. I hope yall like it.I just felt like things needed explaining. Anywho….just read it and please review folks!

Chapter 19: The look into the past—part 2

Fifth year

"I can't believe you're a prefect!" James said with discuss as he looked at one of his best friends, who now stood before him. "Remus Lupin—prefect. I bet that's fun to say."

"I know I'll enjoy it," Sirius teased Remus. "Prefect…" he muttered under his breath and laughed. "At least we'll get away with more stuff this year…especially with you. It'll be great." Peter laughed with the others but Remus said nothing.

"Oh no you won't Sirius," Lily said as she marched into their compartment on the train. James gasped at the sight of her.

"You're not…you can't be…please say it's not true…" James said when he saw the badge on her chest.

"I'd say it but then I'd be lying. What's the matter Potter? Upset that you won't be able to pull anything over on me?" she smiled sarcastically.

"Upset's a strong word…it's more like disappointment mixed with a bit of jealousy."

"Jealousy? Jealously of what? Surely you didn't want to be a prefect."

"I don't know if I'd say that. I'm not jealous of you—more of Remus. Imagine it, Evans, what fun it would be if I were a prefect. We'd get to walk side by side every night…just the two of us. I bet you wouldn't be able to keep your hands off of me by the second night." James smiled and touched her face.

She swatted his hand away and laughed. "You are full of yourself aren't you? Keep dreaming James, you need something to fill up the space where your brain forgot to grow." She turned to leave. "Don't forget we have to go the prefect carriage Remus. And Alexia wanted you three to know, that for some reason, she's going to sit with you during the ride." With that she turned and walked away.

The four of them were laughing when Alexia made her way to their carriage. "What's so funny?" She huffed as she sat her bags down by the door. Remus and Sirius rushed over to help her. "Well, what is it?"

"Nothing really. Just laughing at how bad Evans wants me," James smiled.

"Wants you?" she scoffed. "I think you have some wires crossed somewhere. I always thought it was you who had the wanting, not her." James didn't say anything as they sat down.

"Speaking of wanting, Alex, Remus…" Sirius shot her a look that she caught and ignored, "is a prefect."

"Yes, I know. Lily sent me an owl a few weeks ago and told me all about it. But I'm not surprised, if anyone deserves it he does," she looked away from his gaze and toward Sirius and James. "Maybe I am a bit surprised." Alexia looked back toward Remus who was still staring at her intently. She smiled a weak smile and a snicker (or three) came from beside her.

"Shouldn't you be going to the prefect carriage Remus?" Peter asked him. Remus nodded and walked out the door. Alexia looked at the three troublemakers who sat feet from her with smiles on their faces. She didn't want to know what they were thinking. She didn't want to know at all.

(sc)

(A/n: Next part is an insert of Snape's Worst Memory from OotP pages 641-649…if you wanna read more…anyway, it'll make sense when u read it. Carry on…)

James' face was spilling with blood when Alexia entered the scene. A gasp came from her but as she took another step, she saw Severus Snape was suspended upside down in air with his gray underpants showing—it didn't take a genius to figure out what was happening. Her eyes scanned the crowd that was stuck in a ferocious laughter and landed on Sirius, James and Peter. She looked to her left and saw Remus under the oak tree, book in hand, trying to pretend that he didn't see what was going on. But as he saw her eyes on him, the pretending was replaced with shame that he didn't try to stop his friend. She was about to step up when a familiar voice rang out above the laughter.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly.

"Take the curse off him, then!"

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the countercurse. Alexia, despite her anger, mused to herself. He really had fallen for Lily. "There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet again, "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus."

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."

"Apologize to Evans!" James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him.

"I don't want you to make him apologize, "Lily shouted, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is…"

"What?" yelped James. "I would NEVER call you a—you-know-what!"

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just gotten off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can—I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."

Alexia sighed as Lily stormed off. "Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey EVANS!" But she didn't look back.

"What is with her?" said James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him.

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited mate," said Sirius.

"Right," said James, who looked furious now, "right—" He looked at Snape and in another flash of light, Snape was once again hanging upside down in the air. "Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" i

James and Sirius pointed their wands toward Snape. "James!" Alexia shouted as she ran toward them. "Don't do this." James looked at her. Remus had found his way to his feet when he saw her approach them. "Don't James."

"And why shouldn't I? This bloody git deserves it." She could see the fury in his eyes as he looked at Snape.

"That may be true, but you're not the one to do it. He's not worth it James," she pleaded. He looked on at her as if he understood but pointed took a step toward Severus. "James think about this. You and Sirius…if you do this it'll get you nowhere but expelled."

"It's a fair price to pay. He called her a—"

"I heard him. I know what he called her. Think about her James," Alexia whispered to him. "You know she wouldn't like this at all. You can't behave like this if you want her to give you a chance. She doesn't respond to violence—you know that as well as I do. If you ever want a chance with Lily Evans I'm telling you to walk away from this right now."

James stared at Alexia. His gaze moved to Snape then to his best friend, waiting gallantly to do whatever he asked. James nodded his head toward Sirius and Snape fell to the ground.

"James? James what are you—" Sirius started. James shot him a look.

"Let's just go Sirius," James looked at Snape again. "I better never hear you call her that for as long as I live. I swear to Merlin, Severus Snape, next time you won't walk away from this." Then he walked toward the lake, Sirius and Peter close behind.

"Wow, that was good. I must say that I am shocked you got him to stop," Remus said as he caught up with her. She stopped walking and looked at him. "What?"

"What? I am shocked at you Remus Lupin! I can't believe you sat there and let that happen!" Alexia yelled at him. "You! Of all people!"

"What did you want me to do?"

"Anything. Anything but nothing!" She started to walk away but he wouldn't let her get two steps.

"Oh right. Right, I forgot. Everyone is supposed to know what to do all the time like you huh?" Remus shot at her.

"I'm sorry!" she turned around, finally getting a few feet in front of him. "I'm sorry for thinking that a shred of decency is not too much to ask for. I'm sorry for thinking that you were perhaps the voice of reason in your group and that you wouldn't sit back and do nothing! I'm sorry for assuming that for once you would be the person I've thought you to be since I met you in first year. I'm sorry—"

She took a step toward him but stopped. "Alex? Alexia what is it?" Remus moved toward her.

"I don't really…I don't feel well." Alexia went to move again but she fell into Remus' arms.

"Alex? Alexia?" Remus touched her face. She was burning up. Remus knew he had to get her to the hospital wing. Just then, James, Sirius and Peter were making their way back toward the building, all of them obviously in better spirits. "James! James come quick!" Remus pointed a wand at Alexia. "Rennervate," he whispered but she didn't stir.

The three ran up to Remus and saw Alexia in his arms. "What's going on Remus?" James asked.

"I don't know. We were talking and she just passed out. She's burning up. You have to help me get her to Madam Pomfrey." James and Remus picked Alexia up off the ground. "Sirius, get the doors for us. Peter, go inform Dumbledore and Lily what's happened." Peter zoomed after looking fearfully at James. The three carried Alexia all the way to the hospital wing.

(sc)

Alexia woke up to Dumbledore and McGonagall's faces looking down at her. "If what Madame Pomfrey says is right, added to my knowledge of this—then it's unavoidable."

"Ah, good to see you waking up, Alexandria. Poppy, could you bring Miss Hannon some chocolate?" Dumbledore asked smiling. "Now dear, Mr. Lupin has told me what happened—all of what happened. How long before you fainted did you feel ill?"

"I'm not really sure. I don't know a specific time…a few days maybe."

"Days? You should have come here before then…" Madam Pomfrey started.

"I-I didn't…"

"Alex! You're awake!" Sirius yelled as he walked in the door. "Hey everyone, Alexia's awake!"

The door to the hospital wing opened and Lily, James, Peter and Sirius made their way inside. Alexia looked at them all and smiled. He's not here. Why is he not here? "How are you feeling?" Lily asked.

"I'm fine," Alexia smiled. Dumbledore gave them all a few minutes with her before ushering them out. Once they were alone, he told her what he thought was wrong.

"You're not sick."

"I'm not?"

"No. Alexandria, you are something much more, something that won't go away as easily as a cold, something that many wizards and witches would kill to have. You, my girl, are an animagus," Dumbledore told her with a twinkling eye.

"An animagus? Really?"

"Yes. And that's why you are sick. You're body is preparing you. To help it along, you are going to need proper training and to be registered. Minerva has volunteered to help you prepare for the change."

"What animal am I?"

"That we won't know until you actually change and it could take months before that would happen. But we have the whole year, since you never leave us. Everything will be fine, I assure you. Now, you get some rest Alexandria. I will owl your brothers, if you wish and let them know what's going on," Dumbledore smiled.

"That would be great please. Can I ask you a question before you go?"

"Technically this would be a second question," he smiled, "go ahead. I will try to answer it."

"Did Remus…he didn't…you don't know why he's not here?" she mumbled, half embarrassed that she had even asked. Dumbledore looked down at her lovingly and smiled.

"Alexandria, sometimes things aren't as they seem. He's not upset with you if that's why you ask. I assure you that Mr. Lupin will be here sometime before you leave," Dumbledore said. Alexia smiled at him. He always knew what to say, even when she didn't know what he was meaning. "You get some rest," he said as he walked out the door.

Alexia fell asleep dreaming of the news she just heard. In her dream, Remus was there and he had something really important to tell her. Something that could change the way she felt about him, or so he told her in her dream. She was following him somewhere and it was dark. He ran and she tried to catch up. "Alex? Alex?" he sounded far away. She ran to keep up.

"Remus, where are we going?"

"Alex…Alex…" She couldn't see him now. "Alexia." Alexia sat up in the bed. "Hey, you," Remus said as she looked at him, "I didn't know when you were going to wake up. Did you have a nightmare? You were moving all over the place."

"I had a dream. You were in it." Alexia blurted. "I mean…you said you had something to tell me, something that could make me not want to…be your friend. We were walking in the dark to some old house…it was strange."

"Oh," Remus gulped and hid his fear with a smile, "that does sound odd. That's why it was just a dream, eh?" She smiled back him and nodded. But that made him think about what would happen when she found out the truth...if he could tell her. Stop it man! She doesn't have any feelings for you at all. Why are you even here? "Are you feeling better?"

"A little, yes. Thanks for everything you did today," she looked away from his captivating gaze. Both of that sat there for a second. "Sorry about…" they both started at the same time. "Well, great minds do think alike," Alexia smiled. "Remus, I'm really sorry. I was so out of line. I had no right to say those things to you. No right at all. You are a wonderful friend to me and you are a great person. I know you try hard to keep them all in line—even though everyone, including me, sometimes forget that it's not your job to do. And I—"

"I'm sorry too, Alex. I was rude to you. I really don't think that about you. I think you're amazing…always have been. I just hope that I don't disappoint you…as a friend. I'm really sorry," they stared at each other. Remus touched the piece of her strawberry hair that had fallen out of its ponytail and put it behind her ear. "Wow," he smiled, "you have brown in your eyes with the blue. I never…I never noticed that. They look like honey, especially when you smile like you are."

She was blushing. She could feel it. How does he do that to me? He leaned in close to her, like he was going to kiss her. She could feel his breath coming toward her. She closed her eyes.

"So, Professor Dumbledore—" Lily stopped as soon as she entered the doorway. Alexia and Remus jumped back into their seats. Lily didn't know what to do. Neither did Alexia. "Hi Remus," Lily smiled.

"Good evening," Remus looked at his watch. "I'd better be going. Have a good night you two." Remus looked back at Alexia as he exited the room. Her eyes followed him all the way out.

(sc—lets skip ahead a bit!)

"This is brilliant Prongs. Just brilliant," Sirius exclaimed.

"I think so too. It's called the Marauder's Map. With it we'll never be discovered," James smiled.

The four of them sat there and learned all about the map and what it could do. Remus thought it was genius. Peter just smiled and nodded. Sirius just beamed at the idea of getting away with something all the time.

(sc)

It wasn't Christmas yet when the most unexpected thing in the world happened. "Hey meet me in the library in an hour. " Lily asked as she passed her, "And why aren't you wearing your Hogwarts robes? You'd better change before McGonagall catches you." Lily said as disappeared around the corner.

Alexia made her way to her room to change her clothes. Sirius and Peter stopped her on her way back down through the common room. "What are you up to tonight after the Christmas dinner? We have something to show you. Can you meet us?"

Alexia nodded her head and started to say something but Peter interrupted her. "You can't tell Lily though…" Then he walked away.

"Ah, ignore him. I don't know what the little bugger's got in that nasty head of his. But you might want to chill on telling Lily, I don't know if James wants her to know. But I'll talk to you about it at dinner," Sirius said joining Peter and leaving the room.

Alexia made it to the hallway when James grabbed her. "Shh! Sorry, it's me. Didn't mean to scare you. I know Sirius said he's already talked to you about it but maybe you could hint around to Lily and get her to come. If not, it's no big deal, but if you could…"

Alexia stared at him as he babbled on about getting Lily to show up to something. "Alexia? Are you listening to me?" He looked at her. "Alex!" She refocused her attention to him. "Maybe I'll talk to you about this later."

James walked down the hall and looked over his shoulder to see Alexia moving away from him. "Hey James," Alexia said to him. He jumped around.

"Alex? How did you—you were just—I was just…hi. Just a question: How did you get in front of me? We were just talking over there two seconds ago."

"No we weren't. This is the first time I've seen you all afternoon James." He looked at her and ran his hand through his hair.

"Oh…well…I need to go—somewhere." He left her standing there.

(sc)

Alexia was eating her dinner with Remus when Lily slammed her books and her tray on the table. "You know, you could tell a person that you're not going to meet her in library so she won't wait there for you all evening."

"What are you talking about?"

"You were supposed to meet me in the library. Why didn't you come?"

"What? When did you tell me this?"

"After lunch," she scoffed, "when I saw you in the hallway in Muggle clothes. I told you to meet me. And why were you dressed like that anyway?"

"I've been in this all day, Lily. And you never told me anything about meeting you in the library today," Alexia stated.

"Well, I don't know. I told you about it. It was either you or your twin," Lily laughed. Remus joined her. Sirius and James, and Peter of course, were behind them.

"What's so funny? What'd we miss?" Sirius asked.

"What do you mean my twin, Lily?" Alexia asked as the guys sat down, suddenly quiet.

"It's just an expression. Are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you."

"No, no. It's fine. I'm fine. I just need to talk to—I think I'm going to go to lie down for a while. Excuse me." Alexia tossed her tray and went to Dumbledore's office.

"Well, what can I do for you Alexandria?" Dumbledore smiled when she walked in.

"Today's been a weird day. You know what today is right?" she asked him. He nodded. "People kept telling me they talked to me or saw me but they didn't. I didn't see them or talk to them. Lily said I was walking around in Muggle clothes earlier. Then at dinner, she said she was either talking to me or to my twin…I just wondered if there was any chance…"

"You know we've never stopped looking for Anastasia. We've still never found her. I know today is the day she went missing and it's possible that maybe you are just thinking of her too much."

"But if she were really here?"

"That would be miraculous. Thank you for informing me. I will alert the other teachers and we will all keep an eye out for another you. When you see one of us, we will ask you a question and if you answer it, we will know it is you."

"That sounds like a good idea. What's the question?"

Dumbledore stroked his beard. "Who is the one—who's your best friend? The answer to that would be Miss Evans?"

"Yes. Thank you Professor." She turned toward the door.

"Alexandria," Dumbledore said standing up, "everything will be alright, I assure you." She smiled and nodded before leaving the room.

(sc)

"We all need to talk," Alexia said as she entered the room. "Let's go outside." James, Peter, Sirius, Remus and Lily followed her with their eyes until they couldn't see her. Then they jumped up and went with her out the door.

"And I've lived here, with Dumbledore and the others ever since. They kept searching for Anya but they never found her. If that was her here today, it would make a lot of sense. Because I promise, I didn't talk to any of you," Alexia explained.

"I'm glad you told us. Now we can make sure we know who we're talking to," Sirius said.

"Yes, it's a good thing," Remus smiled.

"Yeah. It's just not information that you share with everyone you meet you know? I know I can trust you guys though." Alexia smiled at Remus, who was suddenly eager to leave.

That night was a long night. Alexia had to get out. She had to be alone and away from it all. She found the best way to do it, was to change. Around eleven, Alexia became a tiger and prowled the grounds to release some energy.

"What is that?" James asked Sirius, pointing to the fast moving name on Hogwarts grounds.

"Looks like it says Alexandria Hannon. Why's she out here so late?" Sirius asked himself and James and Peter.

"We'll worry about that later. We need to get to Remus. Come on boys, change already." James laughed as they transformed into their animagus'.

(sc)

The dog made a soft whining noise as the tiger ran into it. "Sirius…are you alright?" James asked turning back into a person. Sirius simply pointed up at the big tiger.

"Oy!" James said. He stood up on his feet. "We won't hurt you kitty…"

"This isn't good. Where's Peter?" Sirius asked. They looked at each other then at the tiger. "Poor chap. He was a good 'un."

"You don't think that tiger…nah. No, it couldn't have," James looked at Sirius. "Could it?" The tiger was still in their view but some small creature caught its attention. Sirius and James ducked under a tree in the shadows.

"How far away is Remus? Get out the map…" Sirius stammered, not taking his eyes off the tiger, which was playing with the small whatever-it-was.

"Looks like he's still laying there. Wait, Peter is with him. And this map says…it says that tiger is Alex!" James said. Sirius pushed it under his nose and took a look.

"Blimey! It can't be…" James and Sirius looked back at the tiger just in time to see a huge werewolf staring it down. "OY!" James yelled. "We've gotta stop him! That's Alex!"

Within a flash, James and Sirius were standing between Alex the tiger and Remus, the werewolf. The extremely tense situation was interrupted when Remus turned and ran off with James and Peter. Sirius looked at Alex and turned back into himself. She studied his face and the tiger disappeared. Now in front of Sirius, stood Alexia.

"Sirius…" Alexia gasped. "You're an—"

"Yes we are. But no one knows."

"We? All four of you?" Alexia looked at him.

Sirius sighed. "It's a long story Alexia and—"

"I've got time."

"And it's not one I can tell you. I'm sorry but it's not my story to tell. I hope you will remember that this is not your story either," Sirius said as he walked away in the direction the others had gone. Alexia watched him until she could see him no longer. Then, she stood there until her body became too heavy for her legs to hold and her eyes kept seeing moments of darkness.

(sc)

"Hey, can we talk?" Remus asked Alexia a few days later. She was sitting in the library reading over a book for Potions class.

"Uh…yeah," Alexia said.

When they got outside, it was the time of day when the sun was kissing the treetops. Alexia looked over the lake as they walked in silence. "What's going on Remus? Everyone's been really weird since the other night."

"That's why I need to talk to you. I need to tell you everything." And he did. He told her about being bitten at a young age and about his friends becoming animagus' so they could keep him company. "What about you? When did you find out?"

Alexia looked at him, not expecting him to ask that. "Oh, that's what was wrong with me when I got sick. My body was preparing for the changes it was about to undergo."

They didn't say anything to each other as the sky started to turn pink around them. "Why didn't you tell me?" Alexia asked. Remus looked at her.

"I guess it's the way you explained it. It's just not something you go announcing to the world. They don't really look up to you for being different."

"Yeah…"she looked back at him. They looked at each other and he leaned in to kiss her. She closed her eyes, waiting for his touch. But the only touch that came was a soft kiss on her forehead and a loud laughing from behind. Both of their eyes darted around. Sirius and James had come to get them for dinner. And that was the end of the moment.

So…Stuff happens that's not of any real interest for a while. Some flirting and crazy nighttime animagus adventures and yada yada…and it had been a while with no interruptions.

But even though the seas are calm, doesn't mean there isn't a storm on the way.

A/N: Well, that's all for that one! One more in the past which will come to you sometime in Feb. (hopefully) and then two more and this story is finished! Woot woot. Thanks for reading. Please review. I'd like t hit 50 b4 this story is finished!

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