The Snake and the Eagle

Chapter 1 - The Job Interview

The new school year was about to start in a week's time. The faculty was ready to begin, and there was only one thing left to do - find a substitute Charms teacher. To tell the truth, Dumbledore had already made up his mind, but he wanted to make people believe there were some candidates to submit for the usual preliminary job interview, which was to take place in the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade. Its barkeeper was Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus's odd brother. The place was a little shabby if compared with the smart Three Broomsticks Pub, but it had a secret, warded room upstairs that was an ideal place for a discreet conversation.

The Headmaster, and Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were the first to arrive. "Hello, Albus! Minerva, Filius!" Aberforth greeted them. "What can I bring you, my friends?" he asked, while they found seats at a table in the middle of the warded room.

"A cold lemon tea, a small Gillywater, and a soda with cherry syrup and ice and umbrella, please," Albus ordered, "and we're waiting for two guests," he added. Minerva was rather unnerved by the wait. She was also upset with Albus because he had chosen a candidate without anyone's advice and even worse, without consulting her.

"Well, Albus?" she asked, raising a questioning brow. "You've only told us that she was a former student and the daughter of two of Moody's best friends. Don't you think you should have given us a little bit more information?"

"You're perfectly right, Minerva," Albus said with a kind smile, "I'm sorry to have kept things secret from all of you, but I've had my reasons for doing so. Her name is Alexandra Falconbridge and she was a Ravenclaw."

"Falconbridge you said? Not Duncan and Miranda Falconbridge's daughter?" Minerva asked astonished.

"Yes, she is. Do you remember her?"

"I do, indeed!" Professor Flitwick shouted with excitement, "Yes, I remember her. She was of the students you remember for actually being good at being students ... quiet tempered, and kind. Of course I would remember Alexandra."

"Oh, yes! She was something like a Hermione Granger, but much less obsessed with books and exams," Minerva added. "I wonder what she did after graduation. She passed all her N.E.W.T.s with good marks."

"She's an Auror. Actually, she's working as an instructor for junior recruits in a summer-training camp."

"And I suppose that's why you chose the day of Severus' visit to Diagon Alley for today's meeting?" Professor McGonagall conjectured, glaring suspiciously at the headmaster.

"Yes and no, Minerva, " Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"You might not remember this, but her parents were murdered by a group of unidentified Death Eaters in front of her very eyes when she was only six, and she was raised by her grandparents. Therefore, if she learns that Severus is still one of them, in spite of the fact that he's now fighting for our cause as a double agent, she would never be able to trust him. It would be to our advantage if we could persuade them to work together, however. The truth is, the less Severus and Alexandra know of each other's past the better."

"Sorry, Albus. Why should they ever work together?" Minerva asked suspiciously. She knew him well enough to recognize when he had some odd plan going on his head.

"Severus and Alexandra are both gifted and brilliant wizards. I feel that, together, they could organise the Order of the Phoenix's front against Voldemort more efficiently," he mildly justified his plan.

"We'll see ..." she doubtfully said and she returned her attention to her glass.

***

A few minutes later, the door of the warded room opened with a loud creak, and Moody and a pretty young woman entered.

"Good morning, everyone, " Moody greeted them. The woman with him smiled, recognizing at once her former professors.

"Hello, Moody! Welcome, Alexandra. Please, take a seat," Albus said, pointing at two empty chairs.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Headmaster," she said.

"It's Albus, my dear. You are a faculty now," he warmly corrected her.

"You've hardly changed since your school days," Minerva observed, shaking hands.

"Neither have you, Professor," she replied.

"You're looking well, my dear," tiny Professor Flitwick said merrily.

"Hello, Professor! I couldn't believe it when Alastor told me I was coming back to Hogwarts. It's an honour for me to have been chosen to take your post!" she said, holding both her old Head of House's hands in hers, and blushing lightly.

Alexandra was a young woman in her thirties, tall and slim. She had cerulean eyes, and wavy, dark, chestnut waist-length hair, gathered in a long pony tail. A tiny mole graced her right cheek near the corner of her mouth. She was wearing a summer robe of turquoise linen, with a matching pointed hat, and a pair of soft hide boots on her feet. She had hardly changed at all since school, just filled out a bit in all the right places.

Moody and Alexandra ordered some drinks as well, as they began discussing what had brought them to the meeting. Dumbledore was the first to speak.

"As you already know, Alexandra, you've been chosen to fill in for Professor Flitwick while he's away conducting important research. I hope that after training junior Aurors it will not be a hard task to teach a handful of adolescents?" he said playfully.

"Not at all!" she said amused.

"You may come to the castle as soon as your summer camp is over. School starts on the first of September, and you'll have your own rooms next to your office. I have only one request to make of you. No one else except the five of us in this room are to know that you are an Auror. Is that clear? "

"Yes, Albus," she answered, without asking Dumbledore the reason for all the secrecy. She felt a little embarrassed addressing the Headmaster's first name.

"If you have any problems you may rely on Minerva and I, and Alastor as well. You'll be glad to know he has kindly accepted to stay with us as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Is there anything you wish to ask ?"

"I have only a small favour to ask you. I'm used to riding early in the morning. Would it be too much of a hassle if I were to bring my horse along with me?" she inquired timidly.

"Your horse will be welcome as well. I'll inform Hagrid about our new guest so that he can prepare a shelter for it on the grounds. He will be pleased to have another animal around to care for," Dumbledore reassured her.

"Now that everything is settled, I'll show you the first term class schedule I have prepared for you," Flitwick kindly said, handing her a sheet of parchment.

"Oh, thank you, Professor. It will be of great help! I'll have a look at it before I come to Hogwarts. It's been very kind of you," she said, folding the sheet and placing it in her pocket. "I'm sorry, but I must go now. I'll send you my falcon to inform you of my arrival," she promised as she rose to leave.

"I beg your pardon. Did you say a falcon?" Minerva asked astonished, as wizards usually used owls.

"Yes, a falcon. They are very quick, a little stubborn, but very faithful. Grandfather likes breeding them for use as couriers," she explained proudly.

"See you soon, then," Albus said, ushering Alexandra to the door.