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Chapter Eight
A Memorial & Chats
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Monday morning breakfast was interrupted with a flurry of owls flying about the students and staff. Every student as the Tituba table and Albus Dumbledore received letters. Alex opened his letter with trepidation; he knew it was a letter from his mother's lawyer.
Alex,
I want you to know how sorry I am about your mother's death. She was an amazing woman who loved life, but most of all you. She and Headmaster Ollerton talked with me one time about the possibility of an attack on the school. She wanted you to be safe and as you know the headmaster set up portkeys to take you to Hogwarts. Her wish was that you attend the school and enjoy your life.
There is going to be a memorial service held for the staff and students that died that fateful day. It is to be held Wednesday at 3 o'clock. I am sending a letter to Headmaster Dumbledore informing him of the service and letting him know a portkey has been approved for your attendance.
Afterwards, I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes. Your mother's will needs to be read to you. There are some matters that need to be discussed. Please bring one of your teachers to this meeting. Hopefully they can help guide you on the appropriate course of action.
I will see you when you arrive.
Sincerely,
James Macanally
Attorney
Alex closed his eyes tightly and tried not to let his emotions show too much. He looked around at the rest of his house knowing they got similar letters.
Headmaster Dumbledore was sitting up at the Head Table talking quietly to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. He stood up and clapped his hands twice. The hall went quiet while he spoke, "The first lesson of the day has been cancelled. You will be expected to empty the hall after you eat and will be in attendance of your next class. Will the Tituba students please remain behind? Thank you."
Hermione caught Alex's attention, and mouthed, "What's wrong?"
Alex mouthed back, "Tell you later." She nodded her head as she got up and left with the rest of the students.
The Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape approached the table. "I have decided that those of you who wish to attend the service will be allowed to attend. Professor Snape and Professor Hagrid will accompany you to America. I expect you all to be on your best behavior. Please be in front of the school at 2:45. If any of you have questions or need to discuss anything, please feel free to ask myself or any other professor." He nodded his head and started to walk away from the table.
Alex stood up and spoke, "Professor Snape, could I have a word?"
Severus nodded his head and turned around. Understanding Professor Snape's nod he followed him out of the Great Hall.
They walked down to Professor Snape's office. Once inside, Professor Snape motioned for Alex to sit. "What can I help you with?"
Looking down at the letter in his hands he started, "After the service I have to meet with my mother's lawyer. He's going to read her will and he said I should bring a professor to the meeting. I was wondering if you would come with me to the meeting."
Severus sat listening to the young man in front of him. He knew that letter had shaken him up; all of the students looked a bit unsettled. Severus knew his answer, "Of course I will come with you."
"Thank you, sir." Alex was relieved his professor said yes. Over the past few weeks he had become comfortable around his overbearing professor. Alex appreciated his dry humor and snarky attitude.
"Do you need to discuss anything else?" Severus asked curiously.
"Uh, no sir, I don't think so." He got up and started to leave. "See you in class professor."
Severus nodded his head and watched his student walk out the door.
XXX
Alex found Hermione in the library where they always sat. He plopped down in the chair beside Hermione laying his head on his crossed arms. "Do you want to tell me about it?" Hermione asked as she closed her book and looked down at him.
He just handed her the letter. She read the letter and set it down. She wrapped her arms around his chest and rested her head on his. "How do you feel about it?"
"I-I don't know. I guess…..sad, mostly. At least now I finally have some closure," he murmured.
"What was that about meeting with your lawyer?"
"I'm not really sure other than reading her will. Professor Snape is going to go with me," he informed her.
Hermione was trying to get him in a better mood by teasing him. "Professor Snape? Potions Master of Hogwart's?"
Alex started to chuckle, "Yes, Professor Severus Snape might actually have a heart. Although, it's yet to be determined how big said heart may be. Further observation will be necessary for any conclusions."
She smiled and kissed his head, knowing he was feeling slightly better. He slowly sat up and she untangled herself from him. Alex picked up the letter and put it in his bag. Hermione watched him as he stood up and he held his hand out for her. She took his hand and stood up, but he pulled her to him and kissed her. "Thank you," he mumbled against her lips.
"For what?" she said looking into his dark eyes.
"For making me feel better." He was smiling, she loved when he smiled. This smile was brilliant; it reached his eyes making them twinkle. His twinkling eyes reminded her of the Headmaster's eyes. "Your welcome, come on we have to go to Charms." With that she led him out of the library.
XXX
At dinner, Hermione finally got time to talk more with Harry, Ron, and Ginny. They had all been wondering what happened with all the Tituba's that morning at breakfast. "They all got letters from their families or family lawyers that there was going to be a memorial service for those that died in the attack. It's going to be Wednesday at three in New York."
"That's a horrible way to start the morning," Ron put bluntly.
Ginny punched him in the arm saying, "Ron you are such an emotionless git!"
Shaking her head Hermione continued, "I felt so bad for Alex. He just seemed so sad when he came and told me."
Harry had just sat there the whole time not saying anything. It was just another reminder of what Voldemort had done. "I wish someone would just kill that bastard already," Harry said angrily. "I mean why hasn't the Daily Prophet printed his return? It makes absolutely no sense at all!"
"Harry, you know Fudge is an idiot and that he has the Prophet in the palm of his hands. He doesn't want to be held responsible for Voldemort coming back into power during his term in office," Ginny stated.
"Don't worry Harry, he will be defeated someday," Ron tried to reassure him.
"Yeah, I hope so." Harry replied.
XXX
Wednesday, at a quarter to three all the Tituba students were waiting outside with Professor Hagrid and Professor Snape. Hagrid held the portkey, a pool cue, out for everyone to grab a hold of. At exactly 3 o'clock the portkey activated and they disappeared.
They landed in a small cemetery a few yards from the memorial tent. The students who had family members already at the service ran to them, hugging them and crying with them. Alex stood there watching them wishing he had his mother with him. He stuck his hands in his pockets and walked to the service tent with his head bent down. Severus watched Alex as he walked away from them. "Poor kid, los'n his mum li' that." Hagrid said teary eyed. Severus continued to watch the boy as he nodded his head at Hagrid's comment.
The service was an hour long. It was beautiful and what they all needed to have closure. Most of the students were hugging and kissing their parents goodbye as they were about to portkey back to Hogwarts with Hagrid. Alex and Severus had met up with James to ride to his office. Alex rode in the car with his face against the window gazing at the scenery.
Once they arrived at the office, Alex and Severus sat down in the chairs in front of James' desk. "I know you really don't want to do this right now Alex, but we must."
Sighing Alex nodded his head, "Let's just get this over with."
As James was reading the will Alex found out a few things. Everything that belonged to his mother was now his. The house in upstate New York, the flat in the city, the bank accounts, and a deposit box in the bank down from their flat was now his. She arranged that James would take care of the finances until Alex was old enough to take it all over. She had also expressed her wishes that he continue his education at Hogwart's and try to be as happy as he could be. The will also explained that there was a key to a safe deposit box that would give Alex all the information he had so desperately wanted all his life.
At that, Alex closed his eyes tightly. My father. His mother had always kept the identity of his father a secret from him, telling him he had died before he was born. This caused many arguments between them but they always made up afterwards. He knew if he took that key right now it would remain on his mind until he had the chance to open the security box and find what he was looking for.
"Mr. Barneo." He was interrupted as his professor tried to snap him out of his stupor.
"Uh, yeah, sorry. What was that?" he asked confused.
James spoke again, "I wanted to know if you wanted the key to the security box now or later?"
Chewing his lip for a minute as he thought, he replied, "Keep it for now. I'll pick it up when I come back."
"Alright, that's fine. Now, there is one more thing we need to discuss. You are in need of a guardian until you turn eighteen. Your mother did not indicate anyone who would care for you if she passed so I guess I will just leave that up to you."
Shocked he asked, "Are you serious? I don't have anyone to take care of me! I lost everyone I loved that day and then I was sent to England and thrown into a school I had never heard of before, with people I had never met!"
"I know this is sudden, and I will give you until the end of the school year to find someone to act as your guardian." James knew this was a lot for the boy to take in and he didn't want to overwhelm him too much.
"I, uh, um, I guess that will be fine." He said nervously as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Don't rush it Alex. I'm sure you will find someone capable of putting up with you," he said jokingly.
Laughing slightly Alex agreed, "Yeah, I guess that's going to be slightly difficult."
"Well whenever you find that person let me know." James was now shuffling papers around and trying to find a pen.
"Professor Snape, if you would kindly sign this paper saying you were a witness to the reading of the will I would appreciate it. Alex you will need to sign it as well."
They both, signed the paper, wished James a good day, and took a portkey back to Hogwarts. The walk back to the castle was a silent affair. Severus didn't want to upset the boy by asking him anything about the day but at the same time wanted to reassure him that he had shown great maturity through it all. Severus was surprised that he was proud of the boy. The only other person he had ever been proud of lately was Draco, and that was because he was starting to be his own person and not a replica of his father.
Once they arrived inside the castle Alex turned to his professor. "Thank you for coming with me. I really appreciate it."
Putting a hand on Alex's shoulder Severus replied, "It was no problem at all. Remember, you can always come to me."
Smiling slightly Alex nodded his head and in a half whisper replied, "I know."
"Get some rest; it's been a long day for you." Severus said in a soft tone.
"Yes sir, see you tomorrow." With that they went their separate ways each thinking about the day's events.
