After the Christmas holidays, Lexi returned to Hogwarts with little happiness in her heart. Her only happy thought was seeing Harry after the break. As she walked up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, she ran into Christina Ortiz, a fellow sixth year Gryffindor. Rumor had it she and George Weasley were a couple. "Hi Christina," Lexi said as she passed her. "Oh, hi Lexi," Christina responded. "How was your holiday?" she asked Lexi as she enchanted her trunk to fly along side her up the stairs. "Bad," Lexi replied as she followed suit and enchanted her own trunk. "That's too bad. I spent Christmas with Geo�" Christina began. "George Weasley," Lexi finished for her. "Yeah," Christina replied, blushing slightly. The two girls continued their assent in silence. Once all of Lexi's things were put away, she headed to the common room in search of Harry. To her disappointment he wasn't there. "Lexi," a voice called from by the fireplace. "Hermione!" Lexi said, walking over to her friend. "Harry and Ron are at quidditch practice," Hermione told Lexi, seeing her disappointed look. "Thanks," Lexi replied. "How was your Christmas?" Hermione continued. "Can I tell you later?" Lexi asked, unsure if she really wanted to recount her vacation. "Sure," Hermione said. At dinner that night, Lexi told Harry, Ron and Hermione about Snape's surprise visit and what he had said. "He just doesn't give up does he," Hermione whispered. "Can we not talk about it anymore?" Lexi asked, a sudden look of exhaustion waving over her face. "Sure, ok" her friends said in unison.
After dinner, Lexi, Harry, Ron and Hermione were heading up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower to start their homework when Tiana came up to them. "You better keep that thing away from my dad or I'll�" she began, obviously talking to Lexi. "Or you'll what?" came a deep voice from the shadows. At this, Tiana and the four Gryffindors turned to see who had been speaking. Professor Snape emerged from the shadows with a frown on his face. "Tiana, remember what I told you," he said. "But dad�that thing attacked you!" Tiana whined. "He's a panther!" Lexi shouted. "And his name is Zachary." The two girls glared menacingly at one another. "Come on Lexi, let's go," Harry said taking hold of Lexi's wrist and pulling her along. Snape did the same to Tiana. "Tiana�when I tell you something please listen," Snape began. "That thing could have killed you!" Tiana answered, her whine becoming more like a sob. "But he didn't," her father told her. "Now stop crying. You are to leave Lexi Walker alone," Snape continued. "If I find out you have been causing trouble for her I would have no problem taking points from Slytherin," Snape finished. Tiana wiped her eyes and hugged her dad. "I just don't want to lose you," she said, her voice muffled by Snape's robes. "Go on now, get to your homework," Snape said patting his daughter on the back.
"Albus, do you have any idea how ludicrous sending me to her house was?" Snape asked Dumbledore a few days later. "Severus, it was no mistake," Dumbledore responded calmly. "And did you know she has a pet panther?" Professor Snape asked, his pale skin taking on a reddish tint. "Oh yes. Zachary I believe is his name," Dumbledore said. "Yes, well that panther attempted to eat me," Snape said in disgust. "You look no worse for wear Severus," Albus said jokingly. "I've tried twice and it is of no use Albus," Snape continued. "I will not try again. She has to want to listen. I can't make her," he finished. "Well of course you could make her listen but then you'd be breaking the law," Dumbledore replied, still with a playful smile on his face. "Albus this is serious!" Snape said loudly. "Severus, I am placing this in your hands," Albus said getting up from his desk and walking over to Fawkes, his pet phoenix. "Fine," Snape said and he left.
Over the next few months, Snape tried to be nice to Lexi and gain even an ounce of her trust. "I don't know what he is doing but it's creeping me out," Lexi whispered to Hermione during a herbology lesson in early May. "I think he wants you to like him," Hermione whispered back. "He knows I hate him. So why would he even bother," Lexi said back. Hermione just shrugged. At night, Lexi began to think bout her life and how it would have been different if Snape had chosen not to kill her father. She wouldn't have this deep-rooted fear of him and life wouldn't have turned out so bad. Then again, she might not have dated Harry. Part of what made them a great couple was their shared experiences.
These nightly contemplations kept Lexi up late into the early hours of the morning. One night, when her mind was particularly cluttered, she got out of bed and snuck off to the library. She entered the restricted section and began browsing the hundreds of shelves. Suddenly, in the dim light of her lantern she saw a book that caught her interest. The book was titled Answers: Everything you want to know. She slid it off of the shelf and began searching through the index. "Fear�fear�fear�" Lexi muttered to herself running her finger down each row. "Ah hah page 104," she said as she found the page she was looking for. She sat down at one of the tables and opened the book to page 104. The article was very short. It had a question and then the answer below. It read: Question- how do I rid myself of deep-rooted fears? Answer- in order to get rid of the fear you must confront it head on and then conquer it by forcing it to go away forever. Lexi shuddered slightly as she read the answer. Just then she heard a noise from outside the library. 'Flitch!' Lexi thought. She hurriedly put away the book, grabbed her lantern and left the library. Within minutes she was back in Gryffindor Tower. She sprinted up the steps to the girl's dormitory and climbed into bed. Suddenly, her mind was very clear and she knew what she had to do. She just wasn't sure she could do it. She forced herself to sleep. She would need it.
As May came to a close, Lexi planned what she had to do. She still wasn't sure if she could go through with it but she knew in her heart that if she didn't, she would regret it for the rest of her life. She didn't share her plans with anyone, not even Harry. She knew he would try to stop her and she couldn't deal with that. Lexi looked upon June with a glint of fear and anticipation in her eye.