Song of the Gemini

"You were once
my one companion;
you were all that mattered.
You were once
a friend and father
then my world was shattered."

- "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"

From the musical Phantom of the Opera, Lyrics: Charles Hart

Chapter 3

Liz looked to see who was knocking at her door and discovered it was Frank Sinatra wearing a poncho and sombrero, selling tamales. With a smile, she flung open the door. "How have you been, Lexy?" It had been two days since the letter arrived and she hadn't heard anything.

Allexia walked into Liz's lavish penthouse with a bag slung over her shoulder. "I'm okay now. I just needed some time to think about everything."

"So what did you decide?"

"My portkey leaves in an hour. I'm going Hogwarts."

"That's wonderful! Say hello to my old head of house, Professor Flitwick, if he's still there. I was a Ravenclaw."

"I will. Adam is going to be staying at my place until I come back so you don't have to worry about feeding Ebony."

Liz grinned evilly. "Maybe I'll come over and feed Adam something then."

"You're dirty, Liz!" They both laughed.

"I learned from the best," came Liz's retort.

"Well I've got a few errands to run before I go, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."

The women hugged each other for a long time. Allexia used Liz's fireplace to floo to the Marketplace and after taking enough money out of her vault to last at least two weeks, she headed for the Office of Magical Transportation. She was one of five people going to King's Cross, Platform 9 ¾. Precisely on time, she felt the tug from behind her belly button, and seconds later she was standing on the train platform courtesy of a tennis racket.

"Hogwart's Express to Hogsmeade, now boarding!"

Allexia gathered up her nerves and climbed aboard the famous train. She found an empty cabin and made herself at home. She stared lamely out the window trying not to think about the fact that she would be facing her father in a few hours. Once the train left the station she took the time to admire the passing scenery, this was her first visit to the UK after all. She was about to doze off when the door opened and a haggard looking wizard stepped in.

"Sorry to bother you. I was hoping to find a bit of peace and quiet, but everywhere else is full of chatty people. Do you mind if I join you?" he asked.

"I don't mind at all," Allexia replied, motioning to the empty seats.

"Thanks," he sat down across from her and ran his hands through his grayish-brown hair. "My name is Remus."

She smiled politely. "I'm Alexandria." He looked like he hadn't had a good night sleep in a week. His robes were frayed in places and his boots, scuffed and torn.

"American?" She nodded. "Where are you from?"

"Los Angeles. This is my first time out here." Allexia thought that he would look quite handsome all cleaned up.

Even though he had wanted peace and quiet, they spent the next half hour in pleasant, meaningless conversation, neither delving into personal details. It suited the both of them. Running out of things to say about the landscape or weather, the man fell asleep. Allexia followed suit, but only after grabbing a glass of wine off the trolley. The sun began and it would probably be dinnertime when she got to Hogwarts. She hadn't informed her father of her arrival, opting instead to surprise him. The man was gone when she awoke as the train pulled to a stop.

Hogsmeade seemed a nice enough place. It reminded her of some of the small wizarding towns in Massachusetts. Living in Los Angeles so long made her feel out of place in the quaint little village. She could see the lights of the castle in the distance and set off straight for them.

* * * *

Dumbledore hadn't eaten much since he sent off the letter. Minerva watched him under hooded eyes as he played with his food. Hagrid was telling everyone what new words Grawp had learned and how much he was growing, much to everyone's concern. Albus noticed the woman next to him glancing at his untouched plate and decided he must eat something or else she'd be berating him later. Why hasn't she answered my letter? He told her would respect any decision she made, but the lack of any response was killing him inside. He focused on Hagrid's enthusiastic account of being thrown up against a tree by his little brother. Anything to take his mind off his daughter.

* * * *

She looked up at the castle in wonder. Just like in a fairytale. She wasn't prepared for the sheer size of the school. Allexia stood in front of the entrance doors, deliberating whether to knock or just let herself in. She decided to just walk in. The entrance hall was lined with torches casting eerie shadows on the walls. She had no idea where to go from here.

"May I help you?"

The voice caused her to jump. She hadn't heard anyone approach and when she turned around she knew why. A ghost hovered in the air in front of her. She swallowed hard.

"I'm looking for Albus Dumbledore. Do you know where I might find him?"

"The staff is having dinner in the Great Hall. I can show you the way, if you wish." She nodded. "Follow me, then. I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington."

Allexia couldn't help but smile. "I am Alexandria Price."

"A pleasure, Miss Price."

She noticed the paintings on the wall watching her every move. Some were jumping from frame to frame, following her progress. Suits of armor turned their helmets in her direction as she passed. It was really starting to creep her out.

"You are from America?" asked Sir Nicholas.

"Yes, I live in Los Angeles, California. This is my first time to Hogwarts."

"What do you think of it?"

She sent sidelong glance towards a painting on her right and smiled. "It's very interesting."

"Almost there, Miss Price. I'll take you to the teacher's entrance."

Her heart started beating faster and butterflies were moving in swarms inside her stomach. Did she really want to do this in front of the staff? Maybe she should wait for him outside his office or something. No, you wanted to surprise him, remember? The ghost stopped outside a door.

"Right through here, my lady." Allexia began to panic again.

"I don't want to interrupt their dinner. Perhaps I'll just wait outside."

"Nonsense, no one will mind. Would you like me to announce you?"

"No, that's not necessary. Thank you, Sir Nicholas."

He left her staring at the door, sucking in big gulps of air. She looked down at her clothes; black pants, navy blue blouse, and her ever-present leather duster. She had decided to go for a more business-type look. Opening the door a little, she glimpsed inside the Great Hall, trying to spy her father. From her position he was obscured from view. All the teachers wore robes, making Allexia feel decidedly underdressed. Most of her clothes were muggle. She had one set of robes that she wore once three years ago. Now or never. Mumbling a prayer to the gods, she pushed the door open the rest of the way.

* * * * * *

It was really quite amusing to watch Severus' face twitch when Sybill was trying to talk to him, thought Dumbledore. She was telling him that the position of Venus in Sagittarius meant that romance was in his near future. That woman really didn't know when to quit with the potions master. Shaking his head, he went back to his custard.

No one had noticed her standing in the doorway. Slowly and quietly she began to walk towards the table. He came into view three steps in. His ridiculously purple hat was the first thing she noticed. His white beard sparkled against his darker robes and he seemed much thinner now. The years are catching up to him, she thought fleetingly. She hadn't realized she'd stopped moving to just gaze at her father. She knew that many of the frown lines on his face were caused by her absence.

Feeling someone watching him, he turned his head and jumped out of his seat when he caught sight of familiar blue eyes. His abrupt movement startled the staff, and then they saw Allexia. No one said anything. Father and daughter simply stood staring at the other. Allexia couldn't move. She knew that everyone was watching them, but she was too nervous to move any farther. Dumbledore gained a little composure and moved unsteadily towards her until they were only one step apart. He could see the apprehension in her eyes; they were reflected in his own no doubt. She couldn't say any of the things she thought of on the train. It seemed so easy when she was talking to an empty chair. Allexia swallowed to lubricate her dry throat.

"Surprise," she whispered.

"Indeed." The headmaster was at a loss for words.

"I, uh, got your letter." Oh that was good! "Obviously," she added. "Can we talk somewhere a little more private?"

He had forgotten completely about the staff. "Of course." He turned to his colleagues. "If you will excuse me?" He led her out the door, avoiding the looks of confusion and curiosity on everyone's face. "We can speak in my chambers."

The walk to his office was awkward. Allexia focused on her surroundings to take her mind off her discomfort. The silence drove her insane, so she opted for meaningless small talk.

"I had no idea Hogwarts was this big."

He was relieved when she broke the silence and her voice didn't have the same edge as when he last heard it. "It is very easy to get lost. How did you manage to find the Great Hall?"

"I met Sir Nicholas at the entrance and he showed me where to find you."

Dumbledore uttered the password ("Everlasting gobstopper") to the gargoyle and she couldn't help giggling. Willy Wonka was one of his favorite movies. They passed through his office and into a door disguised as a bookcase. Allexia looked around her father's living room with envy. It was bigger than her apartment.

"Please sit down," he said. "Would like something to drink? Tea?"

"Hot chocolate, please."

He smiled warmly and soon two mugs of hot chocolate sat in front of them on the table. He also conjured up some cookies. Once again the silence reigned, neither of them knowing where to start or how. Allexia found herself playing with her braid, seemingly fascinated by the carpet. You didn't come all the way to Hogwarts to have hot chocolate, she thought. Say something!

"I had everything figured out on the train. I knew exactly what I was going to say to you and how I was going to say it, but I am completely lost now."

He set down his mug. "I guess that's why I wrote you a letter, though even that was hard. I must admit that I am surprised you are being this civil towards me."

She chanced a look at him. "I did some serious thinking since I read it two days ago. I was horrible to you when we last spoke, I realize that now, and it would do no good to offer an encore performance." She stood up and moved to get a closer look at the pictures on the mantle. "Your letter was perfectly timed, by the way. I had decided to reevaluate my life and my friend and I made a deal with each other to heal the breach in our family relationships. It took me this long to come to terms with what you did. Part of me will never forgive you, but I understand the reasons behind it. I don't hate you. I never did."

She returned to the sofa and tentatively her hand sought his. Both were overcome with emotion at the sensation of physical contact after all the years. Albus shifted to face her and took her other hand.

"I have missed you tremendously, Allexia. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you or regret my actions. Is it too late to start over?"

Every barrier she had built up in the last fourteen years crumbled at the raw desperation she saw in those blue eyes. She threw her arms around him, choking back a sob. His arms welcomed her and held her tightly, not willing to take the chance she might vanish like a dream. Allexia held nothing back. This was what she had been missing the most. She hadn't cried this much since the day she was told her mother was dead. He wept too, but whispered comforting words into her ear. Her body finally ceased its shaking and reluctantly he released her.

"I love you, little one." She always hated being called that, but now it was the most wonderful thing she had ever heard.

She hugged him again and whispered, "I love you too, Daddy."

Hours later, Dumbledore watched the sleeping girl, no woman, in his arms. She was exhausted. He studied her face, youthful in slumber, but with a few lines around the eyes. Not surprising, he thought. Allexia had spent the last two hours telling him all about her life up to this point. About finding her mother's murderer, taking any job for the right price, having a string of short lived romances, and finally about her wakeup call. He couldn't imagine going through all that. Their lifestyles were so different, but they made a promise to get to know and accept one another no matter what. Holding his daughter in his arms after so long began to fill the void that existed in his heart when she walked out of his life. Kissing her softly on the forehead, he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

* * * * * *

Minerva entered the bedroom by way of a secret passage that connected her room to his. She hadn't seen Albus since he left dinner with that woman. It wasn't like him to keep her in the dark. Looking to the bed, she saw that it hadn't been touched. He must still be awake, she thought. Making her way from the bedroom to the living room, she could hear his light snores. Minerva found him sleeping on the sofa, arms wrapped protectively around the woman. Another witch might have been quite put out to find their significant other holding a younger woman, a smile still evident on his face. Minerva wondered at her non-existent temper, but the picture before her seemed right somehow. They seemed physical opposites of each other, his white hair and pale skin against her black hair and dark tan. The woman had an exotic, Asian look to her, but she saw some similarities in their noses and ears. Who is she?

Unfinished hot chocolate and cookies sat forgotten on the table. She cleaned it up with her wand and levitated a blanket onto them. In the morning he would have a lot of explaining to do, but for now, she was simply happy to see such a peaceful expression on his face.