Enjoy this early upload! Two in one week? Yup. And there will be one on Monday as well. I'm feeling nice and want to give back to you guys by putting up a new chapter.

Flashbacks


How It Should've Been

Chapter 15: Holidays, Memories and A Trip to The Underworld

The days until Christmas had the family in tension. Harry could feel the unspoken disagreement going on between Sirius and Alex, a disagreement neither of them seemed willing to confront. As the days passed on things did get better between the two to a point where they were capable of being in the same room, without muttering snide comments about the other and talking civilly. Though Harry suspected that the only reason that was possible in the first place was because he forced it on them. He wasn't blind to what the problem was between them, it had always been a problem. The lack of truth and the excess of secrets. It wasn't as if it was a foreign problem to the family.

Harry had experienced the argument before and he always had his own opinions on it. Opinions he often times expressed. The secrets and omissions at times did get bothersome when he wanted to know something but the overall concept of them he understood and supported, while his father, well his father did not. In the past Harry had taken Alex's side of it, and thinking about it, he probably always would. Her view point was closer to Harry's own than his fathers was.

So, when Christmas Day came around, the three were sitting in the living room with a Christmas tree in the corner to the left of the fireplace and Harry decided to settle the matter. Alex and Sirius on separate couches that were across from one another. Harry stood.

"I know you two have your disagreements, and your different opinions about secrets and lies, but we are a family. So, we have to accept and trust each other when we do something, even if it's not something we like." Harry watched them both as he spoke, as they listened. At the end of his speech they shared a look. "So, let's put it behind us and hug it out!" Harry ordered, they both smiled slightly at his antics and stood from either of the couches before moving around the coffee table and doing as Harry ordered, hugging it out.

Pulling away they both turned to look at him with the same expression on their faces, one that read 'All better now?' Harry nodded in acceptance as he went over to them and pulled both of them into a family hug. They weren't perfect by any means nor was the argument one that wouldn't come up again but for now it was behind them, but just barely.

After the opening of presents, Minerva arrived via the floo to spend some time with the family that she was always close with. Even when they lived in another country, she and Sirius had kept up correspondence and spent some time on the holidays visiting. She viewed him and James as sons and Lily as a daughter, so when James and Lily passed she made a renewed effort to stay in Sirius' life and in turn Harry's. Then over time she began to even view Alex as family. She was thrilled when Sirius told her they were coming back to Britain, even if she wasn't happy about the reasons and their lack of choice but she tried to make everything as easy as possible. Making arrangements for Harry to attend Hogwarts as Ryder. Then actually at school having to pretend he was just a student and not practically family.

She had tried to help him as much as possible, warning him about being friends with Hermione as if anyone was to find out his secret it would be her. But Harry claimed everything would be fine. She watched as the months passed and the duo became closer friends, as close as they could be with Harry lying about his identity and past. He trusted her, and Minerva just hoped that it wouldn't come back to bite him. But she resigned and supported his choices. And today she was just going to enjoy the time and relish in the chance to act like family for the first time in a while.


It was the day after Christmas, Boxing Day and Alex was walking down the streets of New York towards the agreed café. It had outside tables, and spotting him, she entered the gate and moved to the table he was at and sat across from him.

"You know when I gave you my number I wasn't sure you'd actually use it." Hunter remarked as she sat across from him. He had a cup of what smelled like hot chocolate in front of him that was steaming even in the cold weather.

"Neither was I, but as you said, there aren't too many of us so it's best to stick together and be friends." Alex admitted, before raising her hand to signal over one of the milling servers and ordered a coco as well.

"But how did you know I was a good guy?" Hunter questioned smiling. Alex tilted her head back and forth as if thinking.

"Well you taught Luna. And that doesn't seem like an enemy move. Not to mention, it takes a special kind of patience." Alex grinned as she took a sip of the just delivered cup.

"Okay." He laughed. "You got me there."

"So, why'd you want to meet in New York? I thought Britain was your home." Alex wondered looking back up at him.

"Well." He paused to take a sip and lick his lips, "Britain is my home but New York is kind of a big hotspot for this world, and I've stayed out of it for a while, seemed like it was time to really join the world. So, I decided to get an apartment in the New York Haven." Hunter explained.

"Yeah? When do you move in?" Alex questioned as Hunters smile turned into a grin.

"Right now." He said with a grin, Alex raised an eyebrow in question. "You're helping me." He elaborated not losing his grin.

"I am?" Both eyebrows were raised as she questioned incredulously. Hunter nodded exaggeratedly before taking the last sip of his drink and standing moving and throwing it away before beckoning for her to do the same. Sighing, Alex stood grabbed her cup, took another sip before tossing it and giving Hunter a glare and following after him.

Minutes later they entered the Haven and Alex followed Hunter to the elevator where he pushed the button for his new floor. Arriving at the floor, Hunter showed Alex to the apartment and upon seeing it she walked right back out.

"There has to be dozens of boxes in there!" She complained turning straight back around at the sight. Hunter turned and followed her down the hall.

"Come on! I think you're exaggerating! There's ten at the most." He laughed as he followed.

"Ten my ass, try at least twenty." She exclaimed wildly. "That would take forever!"

"Yes, it would, without your help. With it, it'll take just short of forever." He joked and he moved to walk backwards in front of her as she continued down the wall. "Please?" He pleaded pouting. She stopped.

"I hate you." She muttered before turning back around.

"Where are you going?" He questioned with a grin that could be heard in his voice.

"To unbox an obscene amount of boxes." She grumbled as he ran to catch up with her and walk next to her. "You know Boxing Day doesn't mean actual boxes." She remarked as they neared his box filled apartment.

"Actually, it does." He commented with a smile. She looked at him for a minute trying to see if he was being serious.

"Screw you." She mumbled at last as they entered the apartment and set to work on the 'dozens' of boxes.

"How the hell do you have so many boxes? Oh, wait better question! Why the hell are you not using magic?" Alex exclaimed as she set a box down and turned to look at Lily who was looking in a box. She looked up.

"This is a muggle neighborhood." She answered as if it explained everything.

"Why not just featherlight the damn things or shrink them beforehand then?" Alex questioned as she moved a box into the kitchen.

"Because it's still a risk. Just because you enjoy risks and living on the edge of danger doesn't mean I do." Lily teased as she entered the kitchen and started putting things in the cabinets. "Besides, it's fun to do things this way, gives a feeling of accomplishment."

"We have very different definitions of fun." Alex grumbled. "And just so you know, what you call risks and edge of danger, yeah I call that living without restrictions." She corrected.

"Oh, you're right, I'm sorry I totally meant that. Because almost giving me a heart attack when you disappear in flames isn't dangerous." Lily remarked sarcastically. Alex grinned and followed her into the kitchen.

"Well that's a risk to you." She pointed at Lily. "Not me. So perfectly safe. Plus, it's my job."

"Your job is to give me a heart attack? What type of job is that?" Lily looked at her incredulously.

"My job as your little sister." She grinned in response.

"I hate you." Lily mutter under her breathe but just loud enough that Alex heard it.

"No, you don't, you love me. You'd miss my antics if I was gone." She assured her before leaving and going back outside to bring another box in. Lily smiled, while she would never admit it, Alex was right. She would miss her antics. It was part of their relationship, who they were. That's how they always knew they were okay and showed the love, though they would never admit that to each other.

Alex smiled fondly at the memory as she put things into the cabinet. It wound up being the other way around, she missed Lily's antics and teasing. It was who they were, a part of them. A part had been deprived of her the past fifteen years and would be forever even if over the years she did develop that kind of relationship with Sirius, it would never be exactly the same.

Over the past few months, Alex had found herself thinking more about Lily than she had in past years. Maybe it was because it had been fifteen years and the time was up? Yet Lily hadn't returned when her memories should've. Alex had spoken to Hades about it and all he said on the matter was she fulfilled her side of the deal and so had he. His tightlippedness definitely didn't miss Alex's attention but chalked it up to the fact the thing they were talking about was an under the table deal that probably shouldn't have been made.

"So where in the building do you live?" Hunter questioned suddenly from the living room of the apartment breaking Alex out of her thoughts.

Shaking her head, she called back, "Top, I'm one of the pseudo-owners." She revealed.

"So where in this building do you live?" Lily questioned as they walked down the streets of New York towards the Haven.

"Tippyity top. Group of us live up there as the pseudo-owners." Alex explained walking side by side with Lily with her hands with her jacket pockets. Lily nodded in acceptance but a confused look came over her face.

"Wait, pseudo-owners?" Lily questioned confused looking at Alex as they walked.

"Well the buildings owned by the Olympians technically but you know all the paperwork and crap is easier if people that everyone knew were real looked to own it." Alex explained answering her question.

Alex was once again broken out of the memory to see Hunter staring at her with concern in his eyes. "You okay?" He asked with furrowed eyebrows and worry seeping into his voice. Alex nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She assured him, pausing. "Actually, I have to go." She walked past him and out of the kitchen towards the door. He turned confused and his eyes followed her.

"Wait, what? Why?" He tilted his head confused as he took a few steps.

"I need to do something!" She called already out the door shutting it behind her.


"HADES!" Alex shouted as she entered his throne room in the underworld. He stood from his where he was talking to one of the furies. "Tell me what happened." Alex demanded walking across the room ending five feet in front of him. Hades raised an eyebrow.

"With?" He drawled.

"With Lily." She ground out not in a happy mood.

"Ah, I've already told you we both fulfilled our agree-" He started.

"Does she get her memory back?" Alex interrupted.

"Yes." He answered shortly.

"Then why hasn't she returned?" Alex practically snarled out.

"I do not know. I believe the deal was she be reborn the same and then fifteen years later she'd regain her memories. I held up that agreement. But I did not agree to keep a watch on her." Hades shrugged.

"Is she still in the place she was reborn?" Alex questioned loudly. Hades looked to think about it before he shook his head.

"No. She was gone before the time came." He revealed. "Apparently my informant says that the house she was staying in hasn't been touched in months and she left rather abruptly not taking anything. Found it odd." Alex's eyes widened at this revelation before she turned on her heel and quickly left the throne room. "Much like that I presume." He commented to himself as she had already left.

Alex arrived back home an hour later and immediately went to her wing of the house and locked the section off from the rest of the house drawing the attention of both Sirius and Harry. It stayed like that until the day before Harry was set to go back to Hogwarts, which was a week later, when she knocked on Harry's open bedroom door. Harry and Luna were sitting on the floor in front of bed with books surrounding them. Her knock drew both of their attention before they shared a look but neither moved.

"Luna, think I could have a minute?" Alex wondered standing in the doorway hands in her jackets pockets. Luna nodded quickly before standing and leaving the room brushing past Alex in the doorway. Removing her hands from her pocket, Alex moved out of the doorway and closed the door behind her. Harry picked himself up off of the floor and onto the black clothed bench that was at the foot of the bed.

"Is this about the past week?" Harry questioned as she approached slowly.

"Past week?" She asked wondering what part of the week he was asking about. The part about the section lock or the fact that he barely saw her the past week.

"You know your entire section being on shutdown? Is this about whatever caused that?" He elaborated. Alex had to give him credit for that, he was observant, sometimes too observant.

"Kind of." Alex admitted. "Actually, it is. And I did that because I wanted a chance to decide if I wanted to tell you or not without any questioning about it. Hell, it took me a week to decide and some help from a friend. As you know, I tend to keep you and Sirius in the dark about most of the things that I do or that happen." She paused and Harry nodded watching her as she walked around the room.

"You're finally going to tell me about the crisis?" Harry suggested curiously. Alex shook her head not looking at him.

"No um, it's well. Remember how about four years ago you found out everything and I told you why I always left and the deal?" She questioned him. Harry nodded slowly wondering where this was going. "I told you that some things are best left unsaid and that's why I didn't tell you about the deal."

"Are-are you going to tell me about it?" Harry asked shocked, looking up at her. She nodded hesitantly.

"The deal was with Hades and I made it right after your mother died." Harry's eyes widened. "I asked Hades for this favor because I thought her dying was partly my fault. See I was supposed to be there that night but I wasn't, I was doing a favor for a friend and got caught up." Alex revealed leaving Harry stunned. "So, I told Hades that if he would make sure Lily went straight through to rebirth and when she was reborn she would have the same appearance and memories." She paused looking at Harry. He didn't say a word just looking at her, taking it as a cue to continue, "He said that he would if I did something for him. Hence, being his Chaser, I was valuable. And said the catch would be I would be a Chaser for fifteen years and at that time, on the day she was reborn fifteen years later, Lily would regain her memories. He was adamant about the fifteen years part." Alex took a deep breath and looked at Harry waiting for it to sink in and for him to respond.

It took a few minutes but Harry shook his head and stood and started pacing. "But it's been fifteen years." He stopped and stared at Alex. She nodded.

"I know and I thought she would come back but she hasn't and that day the section shutdown started, I went to speak to him. He said, he kept his side of the deal, she regained her memories but didn't know where she was or why she didn't come back. Only what his informant told him, which was that before the time came she vanished abruptly, not taking any of her things, just gone one day." Alex admitted. Harry licked his lips and sniffed.

"That's why you told me. Isn't it? Otherwise you wouldn't have told me until she either showed up or you could find her. Because that's how it always goes." Harry snapped bitterly. Alex closed her eyes and nodded shortly. Harry ran his hand through his hair pulling a few times as he leaned against the wall and slid down it onto the ground with his knees up and his elbows resting on them.

Knowing she was probably the last person he wanted to talk to, Alex left the room and went out to where Luna was standing outside the door. Alex sighed and looked at her.

"You heard?" She stated more than questioned, Luna nodded. Luna began to walk to the door to open it and enter the room when she turned back to face Alex.

"I don't blame you, you know? I understand it. If I could've made a deal to bring back my mum, I would, in a heartbeat. I know Harry won't blame you either, he'll just wish you told him sooner." Luna looked at her. Alex nodded shortly before turning and walking down the hall as Luna stared after her before she entered Harry's room, closing the door behind her and sat next to him on the floor. He didn't react.

"She didn't do it to hurt you." Luna said quietly, and when Harry didn't respond she continued, "I know you're more upset about the fact that she didn't tell you all these years than you are that she did it."

"She keeps everything from me, from my dad." Harry muttered sourly throwing his head against the wall behind them that they had their backs to. Luna nodded.

"She has her reasons." She assured him as she moved her head into the same position as his looking at the wall opposite them.

"How can you defend her?" Harry demanded, head snapping to look at Luna.

"Because before my mom died, she kept secrets too. It was to protect me really, from the truth. I found out after the fact, that I wasn't really a Lovegood, that I'm a partial because I'm not. That my magic comes from Hecate and it's just masked to be like witches." She revealed as shock passed over Harry's face. She never told him. "She does it to protect you. Because the things that happen in that world, that people have to do? It's not always good, my mom tried to shield me from it, much like how Alex does with you and Sirius. She's right, that some things are best left unspoken." Harry nodded in thought before leaning his head back against the wall and they just sat there in silence for a long time.


So, this chapter wasn't a whole lotta action at all. But upon some heavy thinking, Alex did reveal a very well-guarded secret, which I honestly hadn't even meant to do that yet but I kinda just wrote it and went with it and it fit. Next chapter we should see some more along with a short time skip. Hope you enjoyed. Thank you for all of the support on this story, it is very much appreciated! See ya next chapter! -DS

Please do me a solid and share your thoughts and reactions, it really helps me out and knowing what you guys really think about the story is important to me.