Finally the day came for Lexi to execute her plan, June 18th. It was the final quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Lexi sat in the crowd cheering for Harry, Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor team. Harry was having trouble catching the snitch today, which Lexi was grateful for. She knew he would catch it. He was much better than Malfoy and everyone knew it, including Malfoy. It was just a matter of time. Lexi only hoped Harry could hold out long enough for her plan to work. She waited until Gryffindor scored another goal before she left.
She slipped out of the stands and headed back to the castle. When the front doors were in sight she heard footsteps behind her. She looked back and sure enough, Professor Snape was closing in behind her. Lexi ran a little faster and slammed the front doors shut behind her. She sprinted down the hall and into the nearest classroom. Snape was close behind her. 'Good. It's working,' Lexi thought to herself. Just then, Professor Snape ran in. "Miss Walker, where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked, trying to catch his breath. "Why does it matter to you?" Lexi asked, buying herself some time. "Usually, when a student runs out unexpectedly, there is a reason," Snape said, breathing easier now. Lexi walked over and shut the door. "Miss Walker what do you think you are doing?" Snape asked, disguising his panic with annoyance.
Lexi turned around, her wand pointed at Snape's heart. "I'm going to make this fair Professor," Lexi said. "I'll let you get your wand out before I do anything." "Are you crazy!" Snape shouted. "You will be expelled for this and thrown into Azkaban." "No I won't," Lexi said maliciously. "No one will know what happened." Snape drew out his wand preparing for the worst, which he knew was coming. Noise could be heard outside. From the shouts, Gryffindor had won 350 points to 60. 'Good, Harry won,' Lexi thought. She snapped out of her thoughts and prepared to conquer her fear. Footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway. Lexi raised her wand and bellowed "Avada Kadavra!" Snape lunged out of the way of the spell just in time. The spell ricocheted off the black board and hit Lexi squarely in the chest. Since some of the force of the spell had been lost when it ricocheted off the board, Lexi stumbled backward slightly. She let out a scream and fell face-first onto the ground. Her body hit the floor with a 'thud'. Professor Snape stood up and looked at the girl lying at his feet. He moved back so that he wasn't physically touching her.
Epilogue
The funeral was held three days after it happened. The service was small but those closest to Lexi were present. After the funeral, Lexi's body was laid to rest in the cemetery just outside of Hogsmeade. Her gravestone read: Alexandra McKenzy Walker September 23, 1980-June 18, 1996. May God's child rest in peace.
It was a cool, breezy July afternoon as Harry knelt down and placed fresh flowers on Lexi's grave. He sat down on the newly planted grass and cried. 'It wasn't supposed to happen like this,' he thought to himself as the tears streamed down his face. Harry could still remember the scene he and Professor McGonagall had walked in on. Lexi lay motionless on the floor, wand gripped loosely in her hand and Professor Snape just staring at her. His face was stricken with grief. McGonagall took Lexi's wand out of her cold hand and tested it for it's most recent spell. It had been the Avada Kadavra curse. Lexi had committed suicide. As Snape later explained, she had been trying to use the spell on him. For some strange reason, Harry believed Snape.
Footsteps brought Harry out of his revere. He looked up and saw Professor Snape walking towards him, something in his hand. Harry got up and moved aside so Snape could reach the grave. Snape knelt down and placed flowers beside Harry's. Then he produced a slender object wrapped in silk and laid it in front of the flowers. "It's all my fault," Snape murmured. "No it's not Professor," Harry said quietly, not wanting to startle the man. "Potter, if it hadn't been for me, her father would still be alive and if it hadn't been for me, she would still be alive," Severus said tears running down his face. He wiped at them so Harry wouldn't see. "Please don't blame yourself. It was an accident," Harry said. "I had to choose the option that would save my own neck," Snape spat in anger. Harry didn't know what to do. "Well, I will see you in September Professor," Harry said turning to leave. "Potter�" Snape said. "Yes Professor?" Harry turned back around. "Will you make sure that no one takes this," he said pointing to the silk-wrapped object. "Sure," Harry replied. Snape got up and left.
Harry leaned over and looked at the object Snape had left. At first he thought there was a design in the silk. Then he realized it was writing. It said: to slay something so pure is to live but a half-life. To witness it is to be cursed forever. Snape had written this in what looked to be red ink but after a moment's scrutiny Harry realized it was blood! He had to honor Snape's request and so he put a sticking spell so forceful that even the strongest wizard could not undo it. Harry walked away from the grave, feeling a pain in his stomach and a heaviness in his heart.