Disclaimer: Guess what! Guess what! I own NOTHING! laughs maniacally, loses control

A/N: This is it folks! It's the end of the story. Thanks to all my reviewers and readers! I hope you like it!

Chapter 22—The Final Game of Cat and Mouse

"You're my godmother? You're really my godmother…" Harry tossed the idea around in this head.

"I am," Alexia smiled softly.

"I have more questions than before…can I ask them?" Alexia looked at Lupin and Dumbledore, who had entered the room somewhere toward the end of her story. She nodded as they sat down. "What happened? I mean, obviously Anya was working for Voldemort all along right? And where did you go for that whole time you were gone?"

"To him…I was with Voldemort."

"Why? Why did he want you and your sister?"

Alexia tossed a look toward Dumbledore and he picked up on her plea right away. "It was an ongoing feud. Stanley Hannon went to Hogwarts with Tom Riddle. They were always rivals. Petty things, like Severus and your father. That's how it started at first then they escalated into bigger things. The truth is that Tom had loved Rebecca, Alexandria's mother, for years. Once he lost her, they say he went crazy—though I'm not sure that he was sane before it happened."

"And he wanted the girls as his own?" Hermione asked, completely engulfed in the things that had just happened.

"Not exactly." Lupin replied.

"It's a long story…" Alexia sighed. "To sum it all up quickly…Dumbledore already said that Tom Riddle was in love with my mum. She was married to my dad and already had my brothers. She was on her way to—somewhere, I don't really remember—anyway, she was pulled into a store by a man. She said that he needed help and she was going to do that. Well, it turned out to be Tom Riddle, once she got in there he forced himself on her. Nine months later…Anya and I were born."

The teens were silent. "You're Voldemort's daughter?" Harry asked.

"He thought so. That's why we were being protected. My mum's biggest fear was him getting to us. And that day on the train, he did. He was after both of us but he only got away with Anya," Alexia explained. "It's never been proven whether or not he's our birth father. So, it's still possible that he's not..."

"That's so horrible," Hermione whispered.

"So that's why he wanted you?" Harry asked.

"It is. At the time Anya appeared to get information and deliver it to him. I guess when he realized that I was raised here, he thought I could provide him more information. That's why he got me to come to him. I don't remember how I got there or how he made me forget the time. I don't know what I told him either."

"He could really be your dad?" Ron asked, trying to catch up.

"Yeah."

"We really don't think he is though," Lupin piped in. "Not that it would matter. Just because you come from evil, doesn't mean that you are evil." She looked at him as he spoke.

Harry sat in silence. "I can't believe this. Did my parents know that you might have been his daughter?"

"Yes, they all knew. And they accepted me anyway. Your mother always saw people in their purest essence—not that she was blind to who they really were…she just always saw the good in people."

"Why did he give her a chance to live…when he killed my parents?" Harry looked at her with searching eyes.

"I don't know."

"How long did you chase Anya?" Ginny asked.

"That's what been doing since Lily and James died. I was doing that until I received an owl asking to help Harry. I had to come. It's funny, I was like a cat chasing a mouse across the world. And then the mouse became the cat and followed me here. I do feel responsible for bringing her back into your life, Harry."

"It was probably going to happen anyway. Why did no one ever mention you? Sirius…Lupin…Dumbledore…no one ever said anything about me having a godmother."

"It wasn't safe. If you would have known about me and we would've been in contact she would have found you sooner," Alexia said. "I wrote though. I wrote to Dumbledore as often as I could and I always mentioned you."

Harry nodded his head. "So…all along you believed in Sirius right?"

Alexia looked a little taken back by his comment. "Yes. I did. I knew he would never do that to your parents. And I was only a little surprised about Peter—he was always a tad off."

"Your brother…did he go to Azkaban?" Hermione asked.

"He did. He died there too. I'll always believe that it was a setup."

"I think that's enough for now," Dumbledore spoke up. Everyone looked at him. "It's been a long day and I think we should all get some sleep. There's been a lot discussed here. We could all get out the library."

(sc) TWO DAYS LATER

"OY! All of you still sleeping?" Tonks asked as she barged into Hermione and Ginny's room. "I guess that would be a yes," she laughed as they all groaned at the loud noise. "Wake up! Wake up! It's a beautiful day mates!"

"Tonks…" Ginny began until she looked at her. "Your hair is yellow and green!"

"It is. I think it brings out my eyes," she laughed. "I'll be waiting downstairs."

(sc)

"I'm glad that you told Harry everything. It'll be good for him and for you." Lupin said. Laughter burst into the Great Hall as Tonks entered with Harry, Hermione, Ginny and a sleepy Ron. "Tonks, hi!" Lupin exclaimed as she sat down at the table.

"Hey there Remus. And you must be Alexia," she smiled. "They've been telling me all about Harry's newfound godmother. I'm Nymphora Tonks…everyone calls me Tonks."

"I am. It's nice to meet you Tonks," Alexia laughed. They all sat down and ate some breakfast.

(sc)

"What did you need to talk to me about?" Lupin asked. Alexia looked at him. She held out her open hand to him. "Wha—Why…that's yours." He said as he looked down at the ring he had given her when they were engaged.

"No, it's not mine. It's yours. I've been holding onto it for too long. It's not fair to you, its not fair to me to keep it."

"But I bought it for you."

"That was a long time ago, Remus. Things have changed. We've changed. We're not the same people. I don't want to keep it anymore. It doesn't feel right." Alexia explained calmly.

"I don't understand why you won't keep it."

"You will later though. I'm no good for you Remus. Everytime we're together—"

"That's not—"

"Everytime Remus, things happen. They have ever since we were in Hogwarts. It's like she feels us together, she feels me being happy, and then she attacks. The first time we were together she did it, when we got engaged she did it, the last time she did it…I don't want her targeting you—or anyone else. It's not fair for you to be in that kind of danger. Its not fair for you to ask me to put you in it! I can't keep the ring."

"That was a long time ago. I'm still here."

"But you almost died, Remus! You almost died! And it was my fault…because you were with me! Please…don't you understand? We'll never be together, no matter how much both of us want it!" Alexia's eyes welled with tears. "Take the ring." She said holding out her hand again. "Take it!"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to kiss him. She pulled away from him just as fast. "I love you, Alex. Isn't that enough? If I'm not worried, you shouldn't be either."

"I can't! I can't be with you. If I lost you—I've lost so many people, Remus. I can't add you to the list, not when I had the power to stop it! I won't. And I won't let her add Harry to the list either. As long as I'm here, she won't touch him," Alexia exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please Remus…I need you, I love you too much to lose you." She pushed her hand toward him again.

He took the ring out of her hand and pulled her in for a hug. "You won't lose me, Alex. Don't worry."

(sc) A COUPLE DAYS LATER—a little past midnight

"Watch out Harry!" Ginny yelled. Harry ducked as a green spark zoomed by his head.

He glanced around. Ron was on his right, Hermione to his left and Ginny just joined him by his side.

"Do you see Lupin or Alexia?" Harry asked his friends as they approached him. Everyone looked around but no one saw them.

"Where could they have gone?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know…did you see her?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Yeah…I think I did," Harry whispered.

"Harry," Dumbledore called as he approached the group. "All of you, come with me." They looked at each other and ran after Dumbledore, who moved fast past them.

(sc)

"Anya, this stops now!"

"It will never stop, Alexia. Not as long as that Potter boy lives," Anya stated. "Our father will not be defeated by that child!"

"He's not our father! Our father, dear sister, was Stanley Hannon. And he killed our father. He used you to kill our brothers…surely, you won't kill an innocent teenager!" Alexia yelled at Anya, who was running around her through the trees in the Forbidden Forest.

"innocent is not exactly the word that I would use to describe him. He's powerful, you know that. Father won't be brought down by a teen!" Anya exclaimed.

"Anya…you don't understand. He's toying with you! It's not real. He's lied to you all these years to get you to do his bidding. Don't keep falling for it." Alexia pleaded with her sister. Anya suddenly stopped and a black cat came before Alexia's feet. The cat disappeared as Anya appeared, her black hair flowing and her blue eyes like ice under the moon light.

"He's been nothing but grand to me. You're the one who's doing someone else's bidding." Anya got closer to Alexia's face. "Tell me, how is that boyfriend of yours? I'll never forget…"

"Just shut up. We're not talking about him. We're talking—"

"I'm tired of hearing you talk!" Anya yelled. "People do too much of that. We both know why I'm here. And I want to get on with it!" Alexia looked at her sister. "So what will it be…I am supposed to tell you that this is the last time you're being offered an out."

"I'll never join him."

"Well, he thought you'd say that. I guess I get to kill you now, then." Anya said as she threw a spell toward her sister.

"You need to work on your aim."

"That was just a warm-up." Anya smiled. She and Alexia jumped around the forest, tossing and missing spells at each other. Alexia had just hit Anya when Peter, the rat, came running beside them. Then the werewolf ran after him. Alexia screamed as she hit the ground. She cringed in pain as Anya jumped on top of her.

"Tell me, do you want this to be over fast?" Anya looked in Alexia's eyes as she writhed on the ground. "Hmm…you know, you kind look like Ryan right now. He was just like that. Such a fool to trust me. You were a fool, too. I think you still are."

Alexia knocked Anya off her and she stood to her feet. "Oh, you ready to go again?" Anya teased. "Let's go then…sister dearest." Alexia threw the first spell and Anya stumbled. Then another and another. Anya fell to the ground. Alexia stood over her, wand pointed to her head.

"Oh…" Anya said breathlessly, "you can't do it. You'll never be able to kill me. But please, go ahead and try. You're as weak as your brothers. Not to mention the infamous Potters…she was always a weakling, struggling with her feelings. You've been just as bad. 'I love you but we can't be together…I can't lose you…no one understands what it's like to lose her entire family like poor, poor me.' You'll never kill me; I'm all you have left." Anya snickered as she looked up at Alexia.

"You're wrong about three things. 1. The Potter's were not weak, they were the bravest people—braver than you or Voldemort will ever be. 2. Our brothers loved you. You betrayed them, just like your beloved "father" will with you when you've served your purpose. And 3, you are not my family. I have people you forget about. You never were my family, so killing you is easy." Alexia continued her gaze on her sister.

"You could've been great," Anya said harshly.

"Greatness is only meant for a few, I'm not one of them. Neither are you. Goodbye, sister dearest," Alexia said as she hit her with a final spell. Anya's head fell. The game was over.

(sc)

"Do you really have to go?" Harry asked Alexia.

"I do. I'm sorry. I'd love to stay. It's just not safe for you, especially since Anya's dead. I'll write you as soon as I can." Alexia said as she hugged him. "I hate making you lose someone else. But it's for the best. You've got people here who will take care of you, so I'm not worried."

Lupin and Dumbledore followed Alexia to the main door. Lupin hugged Alexia. "Thank you for understanding." Alexia smiled.

"I always will. No matter what, I'm here for you. You know that," Lupin replied softly.

"I know," she said. He kissed he cheek and she smiled.

"Alexandria," Dumbledore replied, "remember that this it not goodbye, it is merely a new beginning. I know that this has been hard for you, but I'm proud of how you have handled it."

"I learned from the best." She smiled at the only man who she remembered as a father.

He chuckled. "I am sad to have to lose you as fast I got you back. You will be safe there." She hugged him. "Here," he handed her a piece of parchment, "they are expecting you. I will owl you when another place has been found."

"Thank you." Dumbledore nodded his head and left her.

"Will you be flying today?" Lupin asked as he handed her a broom.

"I think I will. But I may walk on all fours once I get father away," Alexia smiled. Lupin looked surprised. "I'm not afraid to be me. I can be a tiger and a good witch."

"I'm glad to see you've learned something afterall," Lupin replied.

"I figured if you learned it, then I could too." He smiled. "I left something for Harry…make sure he gets it?"

"I will," he nodded. "So, this is really goodbye then."

"Nah, it's just an 'I'll see you later.'" She smiled at him as they exchanged another hug. He looked at her and kissed her passionately and tenderly, for the last time. She smiled, turned and left Hogwarts and Remus Lupin once again.

(sc)

Harry tossed himself on his bed. He always had to lose someone. He turned over on his back and saw a blue notebook lying on his nightstand. He grabbed it and looked it over. The leather was a little worn but he opened it carefully. Inside was a note.

"For my best friend, thanks for all the memories! Love, Lily."

Underneath of that was written another note. "To my godson, something to remember that people love you. Alexia."

Harry turned the next page. It was a picture of his young mum with a young Alexia. The next page was the same, a little older. Then one of five friends in their graduation robes. Then another of his mother and Alexia at his parent's wedding. Then one of his parents, Alexia, Remus and Sirius at the wedding. Then one of his parents holding him as a baby. The last three pictures were of the Weasley family, Hermione and Hagrid with Dumbledore.

Harry closed the pages and put it safely in his trunk.

"Harry," Ron asked enthusiastically, "are you up for a trip to Hogsmede? Lupin wants to take us all. Dumbledore thinks it's good to get out. We can go see Fred and George at their new shop, plus a trip to Three Broomsticks and some candy? Are you up for it?"

"Always," Harry smiled as he put on his shoes and left with Ron. Harry didn't know what his sixth year had in store for them or if he'd ever see his godmother again, but it didn't matter right now. All that mattered right now, was being with people who loved him.

A/n: Thanks again to all who read this story and reviewed! Thanks for the patience! I hope you liked it! Let me know!