Arc II: part V

January 15th, 1983.

Alexa shouted 'STUPEFY!' as she aimed her wand at a soda can a few meters away. A jet of red light shot from her wand, hitting the can and knocking it down onto the snow. Her success sparked a round of cheers from those behind her, exclaiming, 'Great job! One shot! One hit!'"

Alexa turned around, beaming with excitement. She raised her fist before aiming her wand at the picnic basket next to him and shouted, "Accio chocolate!" However, her aim was off, and the chocolate bar flew out of the basket and crashed onto her forehead instead of her hand. This mishap caused her only spectator to burst into laughter.

"I guess something went wrong this time, am I right?" he quipped.

Alexa winced, massaging her forehead before picking up the chocolate bar from the ground. She mischievously smiled at him before quickly ripping its wrapper and biting into it, chewing loudly.

"Hey, we're supposed to share that!" the man said, rushing toward her. He struggled to advance in the snow, as his boots kept sinking in it.

After a few failed attempts, he finally managed to reach her and pinned her to the ground, trying to grab the chocolate from her hands. But to his surprise, she fought back with all her might, wriggling and squirming, making him laugh despite his efforts. Eventually, he gave up, exhausted, and flopped onto the snow next to her, pouting like a child.

Alexa couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight of him sulking, and stuffed the chocolate in his mouth, before snuggling up to him, resting her head on his chest. He stroked the soft curls of her hair, "That was amazing! Did you really learn all of that in just four months?" he exclaimed.

"Yes, I did! But not everything was taught at the Academy. I come here every afternoon to practice after school," Alexa explained.

"I'm so proud of you, but also relieved," He said.

"Relieved? From what?" Alexa asked curiously.

"You'll understand when you become a mother one day. Your mother and I always knew you were a special and gifted child," said, pulling Alexa closer to him. "You know, all the times you came back from school crying and locking yourself in your room..."

"That's all in the past now. You and Mom always made me happy, and that's all that matters," Alexa interrupted.

"We're always here to support you, sweetie," her father said.

"You always found the words to cheer you up.", Alexa said, shrugging.

"To be honest, we started to run out of words. So, when that wizard from the Ministry of Magic came knocking at our door, it was the second-best moment of my life after the day you were born. Your mom and I were so happy you finally had some answers, and that you wouldn't have to hide anymore. We learned that there were millions of people like you around the world," her father said.

"I don't care if there are millions. All that matters to me is you and Mom," Alexa said, snuggling closer to her father.

"And your happiness is all that matters to us too. However, even if only God knows how much we love you, there are things we will never understand. Magic is fascinating, but it's part of your world, a world where you should make your place," her father said.

"I know. Discovering the existence of Magic appeased me because I always thought I was weird or some kind of freak. Now that I know that, I'll be happy to remain in the muggle world with you and Mom", Alexa said.

"Do you like the Academy? Mom says you hardly talk about it," her father asked gently. "Have you made any friends?"

Alexa remained silent, pondering her reply. Before discovering her witch powers, she believed that her isolation and lack of friends were due to some personal flaw. However, now that she was attending the Academy and surrounded by others with magical abilities, she had hoped for a change. Unfortunately, come September, she found herself in the same lonely position.

That was until she met Sirius. He had helped her gain confidence and taught her to defend herself. She even managed to petrify Yuna twice and stupefy Rea once, causing them to back off, as Sirius had predicted. Although she still spent her lunch breaks alone, at least she found some solace in her newfound abilities. Meanwhile, Padfoot preferred to relax at home and watch absently the snowfall outside.

"Alexa?" her father asked.

"Sorry, not really. I'm friendly with a few people I work with during classes, but that's as far as it goes," Alexa replied.

"Why don't we throw a party at home during the Christmas holidays? Your mom and I will help organize everything and stay in our rooms. We promise not to embarrass you!" her father suggested.

"Why would I be friends with someone who doesn't like my parents?" Alexa asked, getting a kiss on the head from her father. "To be honest, it was complicated in the beginning. I felt lonely and afraid I had made a bad decision. But, I found something I like, and now everything is fine, and you are here!"

"I felt like dying in Hamburg. I couldn't stand being so far from you and your mom. I thought I was turning crazy. Don't tell your mom, but once, in October, I didn't realize I was on the highway heading south on my way back from work. It took me two hours to get back home. I can't wait for my transfer to be approved!" her father confessed.

"We miss you too, Dad! Mom is great, but I like it better when the three of us are together," Alexa said.

"It's only temporary...Sooner or later, they'll have to tear down that wall, and everything will be much easier," Mr Acker said.

"Why hasn't it been done yet? The war ended more than three decades ago!" Alexa exclaimed.

"Unfortunately, war never really ends; it only moves to another part of the world or keeps burning differently," Mr. Acker replied.

"But why?" Alexa asked.

"It depends. Sometimes, people take advantage of it for themselves. Nowadays, the world is stuck between two giants, each wanting to impose its vision onto the world. But I also think that people just like to beat each other up," Mr Acker said.

"Well, people better calm down! Otherwise, I..." Alexa started to say before her father suggested.

"Go to Berlin with your wand and fire spells at every soda can you find?" Mr. Acker joked, tickling her.

"NO...STOP!" Alexa begged him, laughing and biting his arm through his coat.

"Ok! I surrender!" Mr. Acker said, laughing.

"Truce then," Alexa said, laying back next to him. "I don't want to throw a party, Dad. All I want is to spend as much time with you guys before you leave again."

"Are you trying to make your dad cry?" Mr. Acker teased.

"Don't! Otherwise, I'll cry too, and we came here to have fun!" Alexa replied, jumping on her feet and looking around her for a new target. "I'm going to show other spells; look, this one is for..." She was interrupted by a loud bark coming from a little further, where Sirius had just appeared.

"I guess it will have to wait for tomorrow; your mom wants us back home," Mr. Acker said, looking at the German Shepard.

"Yeah..." Alexa said, helping her father up before passing an arm around his waist and heading back silently to the village, following Sirius, until her father broke their silence.

"That dog is very interesting," Mr Acker remarked.

"It's a German Shepard after all," Alexa replied.

"Yes, but I have the impression he understands everything I say. Last night I thought he opened his mouth to answer me," Mr Acker said.

"Mom thinks the same," Alexa said. "But it's only because you don't know him yet; when you get to know him, you'll find out how dumb he is." This earned a growl from Sirius.

"Earlier this morning, I threw a ball for him to fetch, but he didn't budge. Instead, he sat and gave me a look as if I had done something silly," Mr. Acker recounted.

"He's just a dog, but who knows, maybe there's some magic in him," Alexa suggested.

"You think he could be a magic dog?" Mr. Acker asked curiously.

"It's not impossible. After all, there are many magical beasts that were once thought to be only myths, like unicorns and dragons!" Alexa exclaimed.

"Dragons?!" Mr. Acker's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, although not the kind you see in The Hobbit. Real dragons are untamable and incredibly dangerous," Alexa clarified.

"What about hobbits? Do they exist?" Mr. Acker inquired.

"No, unfortunately, hobbits are purely fictional. However, elves do exist, but they're not like the ones we see in movies," Alexa replied.

"I wish I could ride a dragon! We have plenty of space in the garden, so it wouldn't be a problem," Mr. Acker daydreamed.

"Dad, dragons are way too dangerous and unpredictable!" Alexa laughed.

"Okay, maybe it's just a dream. But if you ever do see one, make sure to take a picture for me," Mr. Acker requested.

"You got it!" Alexa agreed.

"If it's a baby dragon, you should steal it! Then, hide it in your room, and don't tell your mother until I can negotiate its adoption," Mr. Acker joked.

"Dad, no way!" Alexa protested, shaking her head.


Upon their return from an exhausting walk through the snow, they were happy to find Mrs. Acker seated next to the living room's window, clutching a steaming mug in her hands. As soon as she caught a glimpse of them, she greeted them with an enthusiastic wave and promptly hustled to the entrance to open the door, eagerly pulling them inside. As they shrugged off their coats and settled in, Alexa couldn't help but notice Padfoot take an unusual route and climb the stairs, rather than his usual routine of making a beeline for the living room and snuggling up near the crackling fireplace.

"Where did you two disappear to after lunch?" Mrs. Acker inquired, her arms encircling her husband's neck.

"We took a walk in the forest to catch up on what we've been up to since the last time we met," Alexa responded.

"Since lunch? That's quite a long time," her mother replied, arching an eyebrow at her husband. "Benjamin! You're aware that she's not authorized to perform any magic outside of the Academy, right?"

"She didn't use any magic, I assure you! We simply chatted away and lost track of time," Benjamin interjected, planting a kiss on his wife's lips.

"Hey, keep it PG! You got an innocent, little girl around," Alexa interjected, flapping her arms.

"Well then, don't just stand there! Head upstairs, clean up, and join us for dinner! Go!" Mrs. Acker ordered, motioning towards the staircase before kissing her husband.

With a grin, Alexa looked at her parents, Benjamin and Lea, who had met each other at a young age. Her mother always liked to tease her father, recounting the tale of how he had proposed to her in the back of a police van after being arrested during a protest. Despite their unconventional proposal, the couple had gotten married while they were still freshmen, and only two years later, Alexa was born. Once inside her bedroom, Alexa shut the door behind her. Sirius, who had taken on his human form, sat on her bed with a somber expression etched on his face.

"Is there something wrong?" Alexa asked, a tinge of anxiety coloring her words.

"I'm fine," Sirius snapped back sharply.

"Well, your face seems to disagree with that," Alexa retorted, sensing that something was amiss.

Sirius glared at her. "Why shouldn't everything be okay? Your father is finally here, I haven't been captured or killed, and your bullies have backed off. What else could I possibly need?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of you," Alexa apologized. Until this point, she had grown accustomed to seeing Sirius wear a smile from the moment she woke up until she closed her eyes at night. He would stand guard beside her bed, watching over her as she slept. However, over the past four months, she had begun to view him more like an older brother than just a friend.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong," Sirius reassured her, his gaze shifting to the window. "I'm just feeling frustrated."

Alexa's gaze remained fixed on Sirius, who appeared to be crestfallen rather than furious. From the day he had unveiled his true self to her in the kitchen, Alexa had refrained from inquiring about his history, feeling as though she may have overstepped a boundary or perhaps because she was still somewhat timid. Thus, she simply complied with his lessons and chuckled at his jests, just as he did with hers. Nonetheless, having spent ample time with him, she could now detect the facade that she was used to put on when she was in the presence of her parents.

Alexa sat down next to Sirius, placing a hand on his shoulder. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to talk about it. I promise that opening up will make you feel better."

Sirius continued staring out the window but nodded slowly. "I've been thinking a lot about my life," he said quietly. "About what led me to prison and how I escaped. And then, everything that happened in France... it's a lot to process."

"I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you," Alexa replied sympathetically. "I wanted to ask you about it before, but I didn't want to make you feel forced to talk."

Sirius let out a deep sigh. "Thank you. I wasn't ready to talk about it before. I thought it would be easier to pretend that nothing had happened. But with your help, I've been slowly rebuilding my magic over the past four months. Now, with Christmas and New Year's approaching, I can't help but wonder... what if I'm forced to stay hidden as a dog for the rest of my life?"

Alexa shook her head firmly. "No, that's not going to happen. I believe that the truth will come out eventually. Bad people can win at first, but they always make a mistake in the end. You have to stay strong, and you can count on me."

Sirius looked at her skeptically. "But what if Peter Pettigrew didn't escape, but killed himself in that explosion? He was the only one who knew the truth. Without his confession, there's no way I can prove my innocence. And after what happened in France, my case has probably gotten worse. People distrusted me even when I was still in school."

"Why would they?" Alexa asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"My family is one of the so-called twenty-eight sacred families," Sirius explained, his voice heavy with frustration. "Nott, a completely misguided man, wrote a book where he listed what he considered pure-blood families and houses of Great Britain. Even though my relatives never publicly endorsed Voldemort's movement, it was clear they agreed with his ideology. In fact, my own little brother and two cousins were Death Eaters. My parents even wanted me to join while I was still in school."

"That must have been tough," Alexa sympathized.

"I didn't give it much importance back then," Sirius said, his expression twisted in disgust. "But I decided to join the other side, where only a few people trusted me - James, Lily, and Hagrid. I don't blame the others for being wary of me, given my family's history."

"James and Lily were your best friends, right?" Alexa asked, changing the subject.

Sirius smiled at the mention of his friends. "More like family than just friends. The family I chose."

"I see," Alexa said, nodding.

"You remind me of Lily sometimes, you know?" Sirius continued, his face softening.

Alexa looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yes," Sirius confirmed. "Like you, she was a muggle-born, a talented witch, and uncommonly kind."

"I feel honored to be compared to her," Alexa said, smiling.

"I wish I could have met her," Alexa said wistfully.

"Perhaps it's possible," Sirius mused.

"I thought she was dead," Alexa exclaimed.

"Yes, she is. But Harry is still alive, and I swear, Alexa, you can see Lily looking back at you through his eyes. I'm certain they're both still alive within him," Sirius explained.

"Where is Harry now?" Alexa inquired.

"He's been placed with her aunt and uncle. I know Petunia has been awful to Lily in the past, but she must have been devastated to hear about Lily's death, as they never had the opportunity to make up. I'm sure she will take good care of her nephew and be a good mother to him," Sirius replied.

"He must be happy, and it's only a matter of time before you guys reunite. Then you'll bring him on vacation here! I would love to meet him! He's your godson, right?" Alexa asked.

"He's more like a nephew than a son. Care to know what's killing me? It's not that the whole world believes I'm guilty. It's that I might not see him grow up and that he will grow up believing I killed his parents, my brother, and sister, while the real culprit is already being praised as a hero!" Sirius lamented. "That he will bring flowers to his grave and honor his memory."

"He won't do that!" Alexa asserted. "Because I'll find a way to tell him! I'll find a way to bring him to the truth!"

"Thank you, but I rather you stay out of trouble. However, although I'm embarrassed considering all you're already risking helping me, perhaps there is something simple you can do," Sirius said.

"I will do it!" Alexa declared.

"I still haven't told you," Sirius said hesitantly.

"I don't care! I know it's right, so my mind is made up" Alexa affirmed.

"That's brave. So, listen...If I ever get killed, don't interrupt me," Sirius warned, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Or if I get sent back to Azkaban. When you finish school and become of age, please keep an eye on him. By the time Harry will be of age to start Hogwarts, you'd be old enough. I'd never ask you to put yourself in danger, but one day, he'll need someone to advise him. Someone without any hidden agendas, like Dumbledore or the Ministry of Magic. Someone who will have his best interests at heart, because my guts tell me Harry will face a great deal of challenges, and he will need a friend," Sirius requested.

"I promise I will! And I won't wait until I'm seventeen! I'll start sending him letters when he's older, and if I'm ever in England, I'll go visit him!" Alexa promised. "But promise me you won't do anything reckless!"

"Reckless is my middle name. Actually, it's Orion, but it's the same," Sirius joked.

"That's not funny," Alexa scolded, punching Sirius's arm.

Just then, they heard Alexa's mother call from downstairs. "ALEXA! Come down, your dad has already started!"

Alexa called back to her mother before turning to Sirius. "By the way, why did you come looking for us in the forest? I thought you hated leaving the fireplace."

"I had to get out of here," Sirius replied.

"Why?" Alexa asked.

"Your mom tried to make me take a bath," Sirius said.

"Well, she's not wrong. You do stink," Alexa teased, darting out of the room as Sirius threw a pillow after her.


Earlier that day:

"Seriously, we've been standing here for half an hour like idiots," Janna complained, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"She's so annoying. Why does she always make us wait outside and freeze?" Rea grumbled, taking the joint from Janna and gazing off toward the trees.

Janna huddled on a massive rock, clutching her arms tightly around her chest in an effort to stave off the cold. Despite feeling irritated by Yuna's behavior earlier, she would rather spend the night in the woods than endure her parents' incessant bickering. Although the weather forecast had predicted a storm, several large azure patches still separated some of the black clouds, slowly making their way towards them and spreading a light greyish curtain from west to east. Janna gazed at the trees alongside Rea, both of them silent, as the forest seemed to observe them, silent and thirsty.

Her eyes returned to Rea. Despite complaining about Yuna's tardiness, Janna enjoyed spending time alone with Rea and often found excuses to do so. She could find no flaws in Rea and her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her sharp cheekbones, deep brown eyes, and the shape of her lips...she was breathtakingly beautiful. Janna continued to stare at her, lost in thought, before glancing away when she met Yuna's gaze as the other girl offered her the joint.

"Yuna's completely obsessed with her," Rea said, her voice hushed. "The moment she heard her voice, she rushed to the woods."

"I didn't hear anything," Janna replied, coughing from the joint they had been smoking.

"That's why I say she's obsessed with her," Rea said, leaning back against the tree trunk. "Anyway, if she got her, what do you think she would be doing to her right now?"

"I don't know, and I don't care," Janna said, her anger clear in her tone. "After Kaia's mom talked to mine after she bailed, my parents have been such a pain in the ass about Alexa. Adding to that, Schrader wrote them, telling them I fight in the Academy. So I'm done with that midget; Yuna can bury her if she wants." She inhaled the smoke too fast and started to loudly cough.

Rea stood up and sat next to her, patting Janna's back. "Be careful; otherwise you'll hurt your throat."

"Thanks," Janna said, breathing again.

"I know. My parents did the same with me. At first, it was fun; now it's just boring. Only Yuna won't drop it. Especially now that the goblin fights back...Yuna hates her even more now, I wonder why? Why did we even pick on her at first again?" Rea said.

"Do you really think she hates her?" Janna asked.

"You don't want to shove the head of someone you like in the toilet," Rea said, matter-of-factly.

"I know, but...The way she's always talking about her as if she was the only girl in that Academy," Janna said.

"Wait! Do you mean Yuna would have...a crush...on a GIRL?!" Rea asked, wincing in disgust.

Janna didn't immediately answer, instead, she stared at her knees, twisting her beanie between her hands, before finally raising her head to look at Rea straight in her eyes. "Would...Would that be such a bad thing?" Janna asked, glancing furtively at Rea's lips.

"Whatever...Do you think we should go look for her?" Rea asked, looking towards the trees, her hands on her hips.

"No way! She's the one who ditched us!" Janna said, before raising her head to look at the sky. "It's getting cloudy and I'm freezing."

"Yeah...You're right, let's go back home!" Rea said, throwing the joint on the snow. "My parents won't be back before 11 pm; they land me some money to order if you feel like..."

Janna stood up, hoping to see Yuna appear at any moment before she joined Rea, and they both walked back to the village.

Yuna's heart pounded like a drum as she sprinted through the silent, snow-draped forest. Her feet were numb, her body ached, and blood trickled down her face from a deep gash on her forehead. Yet, she kept running, driven by a primal fear that urged her to escape.

With every step, she could sense a shadowy presence stalking her from the darkness and her spells were no match. As it drew closer with each passing second, she heard its ragged breaths and felt the heat of its foul breath on her neck.

Yuna's eyes widened as she caught sight of a dim light in the distance, signaling a last hope of escape. But before she could take another step, something cold and unyielding gripped her ankle, sending her sprawling onto the ground. She screamed, thrashing wildly, but the thing only dragged her closer, into the suffocating blackness.

As Yuna clawed desperately at the snow, trying to crawl away, she realized with a mounting sense of dread that there was no escape. Her screams suddenly became no louder than choked whispers as the sudden wind lifted the snow, burying her wand underneath it.