Arc II: part VIII

Since receiving the morning phone call that informed them of her father's disappearance, Alexa and her mother had spent most of the day in the kitchen, just a few feet away from the phone, remaining vigilant. Some of her mother's colleagues had come to visit, offering their support, and even Leupolz, the Academy's Headmaster, had personally visited to express his sympathy and excuse Alexa from classes for the entire week.

It had been three long months since Sirius vanished from the edge of Alexa's bedroom window, without a trace or any communication. She had given up hope of his return. Initially, she had worried that he had been captured, but if that were the case, the news would undoubtedly have reached the Academy. Since their last meeting, Alexa had subscribed to most of the German wizarding community newspapers, and his capture would have made headlines. Gradually, she began to fear that something more serious had befallen Sirius, until she finally accepted the fact that he had made the choice to leave and distance himself, leaving her behind.

Or so she thought, until she turned on the television that morning and saw Sirius' face on the screen, right before a journalist appeared at their door. The day dragged on slowly, filled with guilt and fear over her father's whereabouts and Sirius' potential involvement. They had received minimal information, which only fueled her anger and frustration.

"Mom... Let's go to the living room. It's getting cold in here," Alexa softly suggested to her mother.

Mrs. Acker nodded and replied, "Sure... Go start a fire. I'll prepare something for us to eat. But please, don't turn on the TV."

Alexa kissed her mother and made her way to the living room. She approached the fireplace, crouched down, and placed some logs inside. Suddenly, she heard her mother scream, causing Alexa to startle. She grabbed a poker and rushed to the kitchen, where she stopped herself from striking the person lying unconscious on the kitchen table. It was Sirius, his chest bleeding, while her mother stood against the wall, keeping her distance from him and using a chair as a barrier.

Alexa knelt beside her mother on the kitchen floor, shaking her shoulders. "Mom! Stay calm! I'll explain later, but please, help him first!"

Terrified, her mother slowly turned to face her and pushed Alexa away before standing up. She cautiously approached Sirius and examined his bleeding chest on the kitchen table. Then, she pointed to a drawer on her right and said, "The scissors... Hand me the scissors."

Alexa hurriedly opened the drawer, retrieved the large scissors, and stood by her mother's side as Mrs. Acker cut through Sirius's sweatshirt. "Don't just stand there! Fetch my first aid kit! It's in the wardrobe, next to my boots!"

Nodding, Alexa did her best to reach her mother's room, despite the burning pain on her right side. She returned to the kitchen, breathless, and found her mother leaning casually against the fridge, calmly observing the still-unconscious Sirius.

"It's nothing... Just a superficial wound," Mrs. Acker reassured her, taking the kit from Alexa's hands.

Alexa approached the table and gazed at Sirius. A thin red line traced from his right shoulder to his left hip.

"Don't touch it!" Her mother scolded her. "It's not a serious wound, but it could become infected," she added as she cleaned it with alcohol. "He won't need stitches, only bandages... Help me carry him up to the guest's room."

Alexa nodded and took a seat on the nearest chair, silently observing her mother as she calmly cleaned Sirius's wound and gently pressed the cotton swabs against his skin. After about ten minutes, she assisted her mother in getting Sirius seated at the table and wrapping bandages around his torso. Then, they struggled to lift him and carried him to the bed in the guest's room. Once they had placed him on the bed, her mother gestured for Alexa to follow her to the hallway, where they locked Sirius's room before going downstairs to the living room.

"Is that the man we saw on TV this morning?" Mrs. Acker asked coldly.

"It's a long story, Mom..." Alexa answered, avoiding her gaze.

"Look at me," Mrs. Acker said, lifting her daughter's chin with a finger. "I want to know everything, and don't you dare lie this time."

Her mother's face remained impassive at that moment. Alexa suspected she would eventually have to tell her mother, but she never could have imagined it would unfold like this. Resigned, she took a deep breath and began to speak, recounting everything that had happened since her first day at the Academy—her experiences with bullying, how she met Sirius, her training in the forest, her strange dreams, and the uncomfortable meeting she had in the headmaster's office, along with everything that followed. Her mother listened silently, refraining from interrupting, although her eyes widened at certain moments. When Alexa finished speaking, her mother stared at her silently before moving toward the fireplace and adding more logs. Then, she headed toward the stairs without a single glance back at her, leaving Alexa feeling unsettled.

"Mom... Please, say something," Alexa pleaded.

"I'll sleep in your room tonight. You stay here; there are extra blankets in the cupboard and leftovers from lunch if you're hungry. Good night," Mrs. Acker replied coldly before climbing the stairs without looking back at her daughter.


Sirius slowly opened his eyes, greeted by a blurry figure hovering over him. He blinked, and as his vision cleared, he recognized Alexa's face peering at him intently.

"Good... You're still alive," she remarked, taking a seat in her chair. Sirius mustered the strength to sit up, propping himself against the pillow. His fingertips brushed against the sizable bandage wrapped around his chest as he inquired, "How long have I been asleep?"

"Fourteen hours," Alexa replied, her focus on a yogurt she was consuming. "By the way, why are you speaking German now?"

"It's a long story... Your father is fine, though," Sirius sighed.

"I know, he called this morning. And I've been granted a week off from school, so I have all the time in the world to hear why you left me behind," Alexa said.

"I didn't abandon you!" Sirius protested.

"Yes, you did," Alexa insisted.

"I merely delayed my return and refrained from contacting you for your own well-being!" Sirius exclaimed.

"So, for my own good, you let me believe you were gone forever and possibly used me?" Alexa questioned.

"I told you! It's complicated!" Sirius retorted. "Seriously? Used you? Do you recall why I left in the first place? You know what? I'll tell you everything!" Sirius grew increasingly agitated as he took control of the conversation, spending the next ten minutes recounting every detail of his actions over the past three months.

Alexa listened silently, her eyes widening and her cheeks flushing as he mentioned his moments with Emma. Her fear was evident when he described the events of the previous day and their aftermath. After he finished speaking, she stared at him in silence for a long minute, her expression stoic. Then, without warning, she flung her yogurt at his face.

"REALLY?" Sirius exclaimed, wiping the mess from his face.

"ASSHOLE... I'VE SPENT WEEKS IMAGINING THE WORST WHILE YOU'VE BEEN BUSY SMOKING WEED, FUCKING AROUND, AND DOING FUCKING YOGA?!" Alexa shouted in anger.

"IS THAT ALL YOU HEARD? WHAT ABOUT WHEN I MENTIONED BEING AFRAID YOU WERE BEING WATCHED AND WANTING TO KEEP YOU OUT OF HARM'S WAY? OR WHEN I CONFESSED TO TORTURING A MAN TO SAVE YOUR FATHER WHEN I COULD BE HIDING IN NEW ZEALAND RIGHT NOW?" Sirius retorted.

"BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING FOR..." Alexa began to shout but abruptly stopped, clutching her side as she sat back down in her chair.

"Are you alright?" Sirius inquired, concerned.

"I... I'm just out of breath," Alexa said, her voice strained.

"Alright... Show me," Sirius replied, tossing aside his blankets and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No!"

"Alexa, pull up your shirt, or I'll make you," Sirius threatened.

"Sirius... Take a moment to consider what you just said to a twelve-year-old girl," Alexa responded.

"Very amusing... Just do it," Sirius insisted, glaring at her.

Alexa sighed and turned sideways, pulling up her sweater enough for him to see. "See? I'm fine!"

Sirius examined her for a brief moment before pointing his wand at her side and murmuring a few spells. Seconds later, Alexa let out a sound of relief and stretched.

"Wow... I can finally raise my arm completely! Thanks!" Alexa exclaimed.

"Whoever attempted to heal that did a terrible job," Sirius remarked.

"Are you a doctor now?" Alexa inquired.

"No, but I had to tend to a foolish werewolf who got hit by a deer a few times," Sirius replied.

"What?" Alexa asked, puzzled.

"Never mind... How did you break your ribs?" Sirius questioned.

"I fell in the forest and collided with a tree," Alexa explained, pulling down her sweater.

"Okay... I'll need the name and address of that tree," Sirius quipped.

"Oh, come on..." Alexa said, rolling her eyes.

"You'd better tell me the truth, or I'll have to get creative and fabricate a story with a dreadful ending for perhaps an innocent person... Alexa, my mind has been divided for a long time. I'm tired, angry, and frustrated. Consider this a warning: it's not a good time. Tell me the truth, now!" Sirius warned.

"Fine, I'll tell you... By the way, you're crazy! It happened the day after you left. I was summoned to the headmaster's office, where an Auror was investigating the disappearances of those insignificant girls nobody cares about, along with two others... Anyway, I genuinely didn't know anything about it, so I denied any involvement. The Auror became angry, but Leupolz was kind. Then, on my way back to class, those mean girls dragged me to the restrooms, and one of them attacked me. Now I'm fine, end of story," Alexa revealed.

"And since then?" Sirius probed.

"Nothing," Alexa said, her voice nonchalant. "We ignore each other, so everything is fine."

Sirius gazed at her briefly before rising from his seat and slipping on his shirt. Alexa couldn't help but inquire, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to deal with them," Sirius replied with determination.

"Okay," Alexa responded evenly, her tone unwavering. "I won't stop you. However, once you're done, don't ever come back here again. You can't vanish for months and return to play the hero. This morning, Mom barely glanced at me before rushing off to work. She yelled at Dad over the phone when he called. Apparently, he's been deceiving her about his true occupation since long before I was even born. But here's the thing—she hasn't uttered a single word about your presence here. So maybe, instead of further complicating an already messy situation, you should have the decency to stay and face her when she returns."

Sirius's voice carried surprise. "She didn't tell him?"

"No, she didn't," Alexa confirmed. Her tone held a mixture of disappointment and concern. "By the way, how did you get that injury? Mom brushed it off as nothing, but there was still a significant amount of blood on your chest."

"I must have splinched," Sirius admitted. "It happens when you lose focus during an apparition. But I believe it's mostly because I attempted to break through a ward."


When Mrs. Acker returned that night, she paid no attention to Sirius or Alexa. She remained silent, allowing time to pass and doubt to linger for two weeks, during which the atmosphere in the house grew somber. She didn't ask Sirius to leave the house but simultaneously ignored all his attempts to initiate a conversation. The situation had become frustrating for Sirius, but for Alexa, it was nothing short of hellish.

Each morning, Mrs. Acker would leave her breakfast prepared on the table and depart early for work, even though Alexa made several attempts to break the ice. They had been very close since Alexa's birth, and she knew how disappointed her mother was in her. However, all of her efforts to reconnect were thwarted by the invisible wall of ice that now stood between them.

Sirius had quickly recovered from the initial shock and knew that it would soon be time for him to leave. However, he couldn't simply depart without resolving the mess he had created. He couldn't bear the thought of what story Hans might concoct after Sirius left with Emma and Walter. He already had enough guilt on his conscience for tearing a family apart. He found the person he was seeking in the living room, seated in an armchair in front of the fireplace. Clearing his throat, Sirius approached her.

"Mrs. Acker... I would like to have a word with you if you wouldn't mind," Sirius said gently.

Mrs. Acker raised her head briefly towards him before averting her gaze. Undeterred, Sirius walked over to her, dragging a chair from the kitchen and settling down beside her.

"I believe I have treated you more than fairly, so if you could do me a favor in return and keep your distance..." Mrs. Acker remarked.

"I'm afraid I must impose a little more on your kindness, I'm afraid. I won't leave before you do," Sirius responded.

"I'm afraid... what an interesting phrase. Is this how things work in your world? Take, twist, break, and 'I'm afraid,' a little wave of your wand, and everything goes back to normal?" Mrs. Acker retorted.

"I wish it were that simple, but it's not. In fact, I've been hiding in the muggle world long enough to start believing that wands only complicate matters... Anyway, let me get straight to the point. Do you know what my mother said to me before I ran away from my parents' house?" Sirius asked.

"Have fun?" Mrs. Acker inquired.

"She didn't try to stop me or shed a tear or even remain silent... Instead, she chased me to the square and shouted, 'I curse the day you were born; I should have stabbed you in your cradle,'" Sirius recounted.

"What kind of mother could say that to her own child?!" Mrs. Acker asked, finally looking directly at him.

"Mine," Sirius replied with a smirk. He added, "Then, in the middle of the night, I went to my best friend's house..."

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Acker interjected.

"My best friend's mother took me in as her own... Don't get me wrong; I loved them, I loved James. I always will. But I couldn't help feeling jealous of how his parents looked at him. I wished mine looked at me like that... But whether we like it or not, we only have one mother, and in my case, it's too late. What you're doing to your daughter is worse than what my mother did to me," Sirius declared before Mrs. Acker's palm connected with his face in a violent slap.

"How dare you..." Mrs. Acker exclaimed, her eyes filled with outrage.

"At least my mother took a moment to express her true feelings towards me..." Sirius said before she slapped him once again. "Could you allow me to finish? Or perhaps aim for the other cheek?" he asked as she lowered her hand. "Alexa is upstairs; she spends her days alternating between crying and staring at the wall. She can barely sleep..."

"She's not the only one," Mrs. Acker remarked.

"But she's the only child, and children make mistakes or at least underestimate the consequences of their actions because they lack the experience of their elders," Sirius explained. "So, please, talk to your daughter while you still have the chance, because you can trust me on this, there is always someone with dark intentions lurking around, seeking out vulnerable souls."

"Are you referring to yourself?" Mrs. Acker inquired.

"Would I be sitting here, warning you, if that were the case?" Sirius responded.

"No... you wouldn't," she admitted, then sighed. "They lied to me, both of them! My entire life is a lie. I feel foolish!"

"You are not foolish! And they did it because they love you," Sirius assured her.

"I won't discuss my husband because it's none of your business, but... she went through hell because of what those monsters did to her... I wish I could take matters into my own hands and eliminate them myself. All this time, she was tormented at school, and then she would come home, smiling, fabricating lies even better to keep me in the dark. And then, as if it wasn't enough... she took advantage of my ignorance to shelter you! You could have been a real killer, or worse, and you lived here for months... Since the day she was born, I made sure she felt loved and knew she could come to me for anything," Mrs. Acker explained, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sadness.

"I understand," Sirius acknowledged.

"No, you don't. You're not a father! You don't know what it feels like to see your child suffer, and you don't know the shock of discovering that she didn't trust you enough to confide in you, instead deeming you useless," Mrs. Acker said, wiping away a tear from her eye.

"Very well... Now go upstairs and tell her the same things you just told me," Sirius suggested softly, pointing his finger towards the ceiling. "She loves you, more than she loves herself, and she kept everything to herself to protect you. But please, if you take a moment to think like a child rather than an adult, you'll understand that her only fault is wanting to be strong for you. She knows you'd move mountains for her, and she wanted to do the same for you," Sirius explained.

"I'm her mother; it's my responsibility to protect her, not the other way around," Mrs. Acker stated.

"Love has its reasons that reason cannot comprehend," Sirius replied. "The wizarding world is challenging, ruthless... and Alexa had every reason to turn me over to the Ministry of Magic; I know witches who would have killed me. Yet, she chose to help and only see the good in people... I've said what I needed to say; now the decision is yours."

Mrs. Acker gazed into the fire for a long moment before standing up and turning to look down at him. "Black, you'll have to stay for at least another two weeks... My husband was supposed to come here a week ago, but I asked him to stay away for the time being. I think it's time we all have a conversation... including you."


Curled up on her bed, Alexa was oblivious to her mother's presence until she felt her snuggling up to her, enveloping her in a warm embrace before placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. Startled, Alexa sprang towards her mother, wrapping her arms tightly around her, fearful that she might change her mind and leave. They remained in silence, holding each other close until Alexa finally rested her head on her mother's chest.

"Mom, I'm sorry for lying to you and Dad," Alexa murmured.

"I have already forgiven you, sweetie... But you hurt me. The way you kept me in the dark while you endured all of that... And even when I had my doubts, I never pushed you to tell me more. I let you down," Mrs. Acker expressed.

"No! You didn't! You've always made me happy! Mom... It's my fault; I wanted to handle everything on my own and got overwhelmed. You know I trust you! I just wanted to prove myself and not be a helpless child," Alexa explained.

"Alexa... There is no shame in seeking help! Stubbornness would only make things worse... But you're still young and learning. You see, although I was thrilled when we discovered you were a witch, a part of me was also filled with sadness and fear," Mrs. Acker revealed.

"Fear? What were you afraid of?" Alexa inquired.

"I was afraid that it would create distance between us... That you would gradually immerse yourself in your own world and forget about us," her mother confessed.

"MOM!" Alexa exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. "How could you even think that?! We will always be together! I'll fight to ensure it stays that way!"

"You'll understand when you become a mother yourself. It's peculiar... We want our children to soar on their own wings, but at the same time, we dread the day they do," Mrs. Acker shared.

"You and Dad are my home, witch or not," Alexa reassured.

"And you are our entire world," her mother affirmed, gently planting a kiss on Alexa's head.

"And... I'm only twelve; I'll be around for a long time... I promise I'll still be here when I'm forty," Alexa said, managing to elicit the first laugh from her mother in weeks.

"Oh, honey... As soon as you turn eighteen, I'm kicking you out," Mrs. Acker teased, hugging her daughter tightly. "I won't spend my old days doing your laundry."

"I'm a witch, Mom... I could just magically appear in the house, drop my laundry basket, raid the fridge, and disappear!" Alexa responded playfully.

"I missed you... You and your sense of humor," her mother expressed.

"I got that from you!" Alexa exclaimed, sporting a smile.

"Of course, you did! How do you think I won your dad over?" Mrs. Acker playfully remarked.

"Because you're gorgeous, brilliant, and sweet?" Alexa answered.

"Thank you, sweetie," her mother replied, touched.

"I wish I were as pretty as you," Alexa confessed softly.

"Are you joking?! Look at you! I won't change a single thing in you!" Mrs. Acker said.

"Thank you, mom!" Alexa said.

"Well, if you find me so beautiful, know that your father says you look just like me at the same age, only you have his eyes." Mrs. Acker said.

"Really?" Alexa asked.

"Yes! Just like me, but cuter as you're much smaller, you're like a mini-me, micro-momy, dwarf..." Mrs. Acker said.

"HEY!" Alexa cried, making her mom laugh.

"Listen, I want to talk about Sirius." Mrs. Acker said.

"Don't worry, Mom, he's going to leave soon, and he is working on a plan to prove his innocence," Alexa said.

"Is he going to turn himself to the...Magic police?" Mrs Acker asked.

"No... Apparently, a friend of his is tailing him... That's why he came back like. He is planning to trap him and force him to watch his memories." Alexa said.

"Em... That's..." Mrs said.

"Yes, completely stupid and it could go terribly wrong...But Sirius is dumb, and there is nothing you can do about it." Alexa said, angry.

"Anyway, it's not what I wanted to talk to you about," Mrs Acker said.

"Oh, what then?" Alexa asked.

"Well...I just want to make sure... You're twelve and..." Mrs. Acker said carefully.

"OH NO! NO!NO! NO! MOM! EWK! GROSS!" Alexa said, her eyes wide.

"Honey, I'm your mom, he has been living here for the entire school year, and I didn't notice so..." Mrs Acker said.

"No, Mom! I swear! He has done nothing to me except be a good friend! And I'm not interested in boys anyway! We made a deal, that's all, shelter for training... But, I admit, we spent lots of time together and became very close, he's like...My best friend or a big brother," Alexa said.

"I believe you...And I'm grateful you had someone to help you, and I can see you've become more confident," Mrs Acker said. "So, he's your best friend now...I thought it was me," She added, wiping a fake tear from her eye.

"It's not what I meant! He's my non-related best friend; you're higher in the hierarchy. You're my Ultra best friend, like Dad!" Alexa said.

"I think I can't leave with that, but I won't turn down a promotion." Mrs. Acker said.

"I love you, Mom," Alexa said softly, her words filled with warmth and affection.

"I love you too, sweetie," Mrs. Acker replied, her voice gentle and tender. "I'm glad we finally had this conversation, but I implore you, please don't keep me in the dark again. Whatever the problem may be, come to us."

"I promise, Mom! I'll never deceive you again," Alexa assured her earnestly.

"So... Pinky swear?" Mrs. Acker suggested, playfully tickling Alexa's nose with her pinky finger.

"Mom, I'm not a baby..." Alexa protested though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Come on, do it!" Her mother insisted, a hint of mischief in her eyes. Reluctantly, Alexa relented and locked her tiny finger with her mom's, swearing their pact.

"Perfect! But let me warn you, a mother-daughter pinky swear is sacred, like ancient magic! You can't break it!" Mrs. Acker declared with a twinkle in her eye.

"I'll keep that in mind," Alexa replied, chuckling softly.

"Now that we've had this heart-to-heart, how about we leave this room and head downstairs?" Mrs. Acker suggested. "I don't trust that man alone in my kitchen; I'm convinced he's the reason my muffins keep mysteriously disappearing..."

"Yes, he does steal them!" Alexa exclaimed; her voice filled with playful exasperation.

"To bring them to you," Mrs. Acker added, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

Alexa nodded in agreement, a knowing look passing between them.

Leaving the comfort of the bed, they made their way toward the door. Just as they were about to exit, Mrs. Acker paused and turned to Alexa with a gentle inquiry. "Since we've opened up and made our pinky swear... Earlier, you mentioned that you're 'not interested in boys.' Did you mean to say that you might be more interested in girls?"

"Oh, no! I do like boys... Honestly, I've never really thought about it... What I meant was, 'I'm not ready to have a boyfriend,'" Alexa clarified.

"Well, I want you to know that your dad and I don't mind, as long as you're happy... and respected," Mrs. Acker reassured her, her voice filled with unwavering support.

"Thank you, Mom!" Alexa said gratefully, rising on her toes to plant a gentle kiss on her mother's cheek.

"But take your time... Your dad doesn't want to hear about it before you're at least forty-five, but I'm negotiating for twenty..." Mrs. Acker playfully added, causing them both to share a heartfelt laugh.


Sirius sat in the kitchen, greedily devouring the muffins that Mrs. Acker had forgotten to hide before retiring upstairs after their conversation. The delightful taste of warm chocolate melting on his tongue was abruptly interrupted when he swallowed improperly and started coughing. He glanced up to find Mrs. Acker standing in the kitchen doorway, her eyebrow raised, accompanied by Alexa.

"Pathetic thief!" Alexa spat, casting a mean glare in his direction.

Sirius quickly grabbed a glass of water and took a sip, catching his breath. As he did, his gaze met Alexa's hand, which held her mother's. "It's good to see you together," he remarked, offering a smile.

Alexa's mother approached him and embraced him warmly. "Thank you for what you did for my daughter," she expressed gratefully.

"It was my duty, and she actually helped me more than I helped her," Sirius replied, wiping the remnants of chocolate from his mouth.

"Please, call me Lea. I suppose you're practically family now. Feel free to use the guest room as your own," Lea kindly offered.

"The guest room?" Sirius inquired, perplexed. "There's a guest room here?"

"Yes, the room we had prepared for you when you returned. Don't you remember?" Lea asked.

"No, I don't... Otherwise, I wouldn't have spent weeks sleeping on the floor," Sirius replied, casting a dark glance at Alexa.

"See how rude he is, Mom? So ungrateful!" Alexa interjected, sneering at him. "Sorry, Sirius, would you prefer we build you a doghouse in the garden? Or maybe you'd rather go back to prison?"

Sirius let out a sigh before turning back to Lea. "Your daughter can be quite annoying, Lea," he admitted.

"I agree, she can be at times. But it's the one thing with magic that she didn't inherit from her father and me," Lea replied, gazing affectionately at her daughter.

"Hey, Mom! Aren't you supposed to be on my team? Remember our sacred mother-daughter pinky swear?" Alexa interjected.

"That was for lying, so technically, I'm honoring my part of the agreement," Mrs. Acker clarified.

"You did a pinky swear? How old are you? Five?" Sirius teased Alexa, his smile widening.

"Shut up!" Alexa snapped at him; her voice filled with irritation.