Song of the Gemini

"I lay, look in my hands

Searching these lines

I've not the answer

I'm crying and I don't know

Watching the sky

I search an answer

I'm free, free to be

I'm not another liar

I just want to be myself... myself"

-Lacuna Coil, "Falling Again"

(From the album, In a Reverie)

Chapter 5

The Order's meeting was set for ten o'clock that night in the cellar of the Three Broomsticks. With Sirius gone it didn't feel right using his house, so the meeting place was constantly changing. They no longer had a headquarters, but they made due just fine. Dumbledore had spent the afternoon filling his daughter in on what was going on with Voldemort and all about the Order of the Phoenix. He told her she didn't have to join, but he wanted the group to be aware of her existence, mainly to help protect her in case Voldemort discovered her. Allexia told her father she wanted to join.

"I don't know what help I'll be in America, but I would like to try."

"That's very brave of you, dear. I think your skills could be useful to the Order." He didn't want to think that in two weeks she would be returning to LA, but he had an idea of how to keep her at Hogwarts a bit longer, if she agreed that is.

Madam Rosmerta passed drinks around the room at five minutes to ten. The only member unaccounted for was Dumbledore himself, as he was always the last to arrive. The cellar was filled with witches and wizards of varying ages and styles. The room wouldn't hold enough chairs to accommodate everyone, so many stood against the walls. Dumbledore opened the door slowly, the occupants taking their cue for silence. Rosmerta was ready with hot chocolate in hand. He thanked her quietly and walked to the middle of the room.

"Thank you, friends, for coming. I especially wish to thank Madam Rosmerta for the use of her cellar and for providing the refreshments."

"Hear, hear!" cried Fred and George Weasley, lifting their butter beers in salute.

Dumbledore continued. "There is something I wish to address before we officially begin. Remus, could you please let the young woman waiting outside the door in?"

Whispers began immediately amongst the group. Mad-Eye Moody watched the door suspiciously, his wand at the ready. Remus opened the door and glanced up the stairs, recognizing the witch as the same one from the train.

"Alexandria?"

"Remus!" Allexia was surprised to see the wizard she met yesterday greeting her at the door. She could see the questions swimming in his eyes.

"I believe you're expected." He motioned for her to come in. Taking a deep breath, she slowly descended the stairs and entered the room. Allexia felt the magic protecting the door as she passed over the threshold. Her father stood smiling, but motionless, in the middle of the room, surrounded by at least forty other witches and wizards. She recognized some as Hogwart's staff, but most were alien to her. Allexia took her father's outstretched hand and came to rest beside him. Minerva gave her an encouraging smile.

"Some of you have already been introduced to this woman, but not truly. The name she is commonly known by is Alexandria Price, but her real name is Allexia...Allexia Dumbledore and she is my only child."

The atmosphere in the room changed in an instant. No one really said anything; they just gawked at her or each other. Some were looking between Allexia and Minerva trying to find a resemblance, wondering if perhaps the deputy headmistress was her mother. Allexia found the situation somewhat amusing.

"Since her birth, the fact that she is my daughter has been kept secret from the wizarding world," said the headmaster. "I do not want to go into the details, at this time. I am telling all of you this because she may need our protection if certain parties were to learn of her relation to me. I need not tell you that this must remain within the Order. To the outside world, she is simply a visiting friend. Furthermore, Allexia wishes to join us."

Mad-Eye rose from his chair and hobbled to the center of the cellar. His magical eye looked her over as he circled around her. Allexia felt like she was being inspected for purchase. He came back around to face her, making her feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

"Why do you wish to join us?" he asked gruffly.

Good question, she thought. Why do I want to join? Her father hadn't even asked her that question and now she was being interrogated by Colombo! She saw that everyone was anticipating her response, while her father was conveniently looking away. Dammit, say something!

"To be honest, I only found out about you guys this afternoon, so I'm still a bit fuzzy on what exactly the Order does. I do know that it's a helluva lot more than what your Ministry was or is willing to do from what I've read in the Daily Prophet. I may be an American, but I have a subscription. I guess the main reason I want to join is my father." Dumbledore turned and looked her in the eyes. "I wish to help him, and all of you, rid the world of that evil wizard and his influence. I think that I may have some skills that would be useful, besides I'm sure you could use all the extra help you can get."

Moody, not yet satisfied, spoke again. "This group depends on trust, missy, how can we be sure you won't betray us?"

"For Merlin's sake, Alastor, you don't even trust me! She's Albus' daughter and his faith in her should be enough for us all," shouted Minerva, tired of Moody's paranoia. There were a few murmurs of agreement. Allexia smiled at her, appreciating the intervention.

"Listen, Alastor, was it? I am not in league with the Dark Lord. I was born and raised in America, my only knowledge of him comes from newspapers and what little my father has told me. I understand your concerns about trust. I hardly trust anyone except myself."

Dumbledore moved toward Moody. "Alastor, your caution is duly noted, but I believe we should leave it for the vote to decide."

"If I may, Headmaster?" came a deep, rich voice from a back corner. Allexia looked in his direction and met eyes with the dark professor she had watched at breakfast. Her gut instinct told her to be wary of this one. She shivered unexpectedly when he spoke again.

"Miss Price, just what are these skills that you feel would benefit the Order?"

"I had three years of auror training with the Magical Protection Agency. I was Dueling Champion my sixth and seventh years at Salem. I am also well practiced in muggle hand-to-hand combat and firearms. But, most importantly, I have contacts all over the world, muggle and wizard, on both sides of the law."

"Impressive, but we have plenty of aurors, what makes you so special?" Allexia saw the sarcasm dripping off his comments. If these people aren't going to be satisfied until they know exactly what I am, then so be it!

"I never said I was an auror. I dropped out prior to graduating for reasons that I would rather not go into."

"So what do you do, then?"

Her father gave her a look before focusing on someone else. She had a feeling he didn't want all his supporters to know that his daughter was basically a criminal. This was something they needed to get past though, so she answered the man's question.

"I was a bounty hunter for many years, but recently there seems to me a lesser need for us. What started out as a thirst for justice soon became a thirst for cash. It consumed most of my time; so holding down a 'day job' was out of the question. I was in debt up to my ears, so I became a sort of free agent, taking jobs from practically anybody. Recovery of stolen possessions; finding people who wanted to stay hidden; kidnapping; if the price is right, I'll do just about anything except sex or murder. My employers are mainly criminals, more muggles than wizards." She became painfully aware that everyone, but her father, was staring at her in shock. "I know that I'm not what you'd expect for being the daughter of one of the greatest wizards of our time, but give me the chance to show you that I'm more than just a hired gun."

"All those in favor of her joining, speak now." Most of the witches and wizards in the room said, 'aye'. "All those opposed?"

No one said a word. Allexia noticed that the professor in black said neither ye nor nay. She released the breath she wasn't aware she had been holding. Feeling both exposed and comforted, she smiled. Perhaps I should have tried group therapy long ago, she thought. Her father spoke again, "Now, shall we move on with our meeting?"

They stayed in the cellar for another hour, speaking of various missions and possible strategies. Allexia was just closing her eyes, when she heard Remus reading an article from the Daily Prophet. Something he said caught her attention.

"His wife of six years, Margaret Jacobson nee Brooke, was found facedown in their bedroom. The only visible marks were deep cuts on the palms of her hands..."

Brooke? Doesn't Liz have a sister? Allexia searched her mind for the answer. Liz very rarely talked about her family. Maggie! Liz said she used to put frogs under her sister, Maggie's, bedcovers. She'd have to ask Minerva later.

"I remember both Margaret and Derek from their time at Hogwarts," came the very woman's voice, "Margaret was always trying to keep her younger sister, Elizabeth, out of trouble." She looked pointedly at Allexia, while speaking wistfully of happier times.

Oh, Liz. Allexia wanted desperately to be back in LA with her best friend. You shouldn't find out about something like this from a newspaper. Or a police report, she thought bitterly. She glanced at her watch. It was just after 3 in the afternoon in LA; Liz wouldn't find the paper until 6, at least. The meeting was just starting to wrap up, half had already apparated away. Some came up to her and introduced themselves properly, including a wizard named Mundungus Fletcher, who stated that he was happy to have another member involved in questionable activities in the Order. After assuring Mundungus that she would look into cauldron exportation, Allexia slipped out without notice, or so she thought. Severus Snape watched her leave quietly and followed her a few seconds later.

A cool breeze caught her by surprise as she made her way outside. She noticed a pair of aurors patrolling nearby and melded easily into the shadows. Allexia pulled out her cell phone once she was on the other side of the pub. She thought that by some off chance, Liz might be home already. Snape saw her go around the building, but lost her when he went to investigate. It was only when he heard her voice that he knew where she was standing.

"Liz? Can you hear me? It's Lexy." Snape squinted into the darkness, looking for whom she was addressing, but saw no one. Allexia moved into a patch of moonlight.

"Can you hear me, now?"

"Yeah, must be all that magical energy messing up the signal. So, what's up? How did it go?" Allexia thought that Liz sounded normal enough, but there was an undertone that said she was hiding something.

"It went well, I think. Dad and I still have lots of issues to get over, but, in time, I think we'll work things out. How are things with you?" she asked.

"Oh, everything's right as rain here! Paid Adam a visit last night. You've been holding out on me, Lex." Something was definitely wrong. Liz never used expressions like "right as rain." She'd discuss Adam another time.

"Liar. How are you really?" Liz sounded like she was going to protest, but sighed heavily instead.

"Have you seen today's Daily Prophet?" Allexia's heart sank. She had never heard Liz sound so sad.

"Yeah, that was one of the reasons I called your cell phone, instead of owling you. Are you okay?" That was a stupid question and she knew it, but she had no idea what else to say.

"I'm just numb, you know? My sister and I hadn't spoken in years. I didn't even know she had kids!" She could hear Liz getting choked up and tears formed in her own eyes. "I think I'm going to go see my parents. I want to try and patch things up before they...you know. I should be with my family at a time like this."

"That's probably best. Let me know how it goes, okay? Maybe you can visit Hogwarts? Professor Flitwick remembers you quite fondly."

Liz's voice returned to somewhat normal. "I think I'd like that. You're not mad about me and Adam, are you?"

"I have no claims on Adam, Elizabeth Brooke, and you know it! Feel free! Just answer me this; you didn't fuck on my brand new satin sheets did you?" Snape, finally deducing that she was using some sort of telephone, listened to Allexia's side of the conversation. He sneered at her last remark. Kiss your father with that mouth?

"Of course not, silly! We didn't make it that far. You've got a very sturdy kitchen table, Lexy."

"What? I eat there, thank you very much! Call me when you get here, alright?"

"I will, love. Thanks for calling. Bye!"

"Love ya, bye!" Note to self, clean kitchen table when you get home. She put the phone back in her cloak, turned around, and spotted a figure leaning against the building. She pretended that she didn't see them. Moving to look back behind her, she took out her wand. Keeping it concealed in her robes, she muttered a spell causing a trash bin to fall over. Snape looked toward the noise for a second then looked back at Allexia, except she was no longer there. He sensed movement behind him and felt the tip of a wand against his back then a hand close around his upper arm.

"Fancy meeting you out here. Did my father send you or did you follow me by your own choice?"

"I followed you. When the newest member of the Order sneaks out without speaking to anyone, it looks suspicious. Like you, I hardly trust anyone."

"Least we agree on something." She pressed up against his back, her wand digging into his body. He could feel her breath behind his ear. She was nearly as tall as he. "Next time you decide to follow me, try not to make it so obvious." Her tongue made contact with the fleshy part of his lobe for a half second, making him flinch. She had disappeared into the shadows, by the time he turned around, wondering what had just happened.

Later that night, Allexia found herself relaxing in a hot bath, though the tub was not as extravagant as her father's. Her rooms were situated near Madame Hooch. Allexia promised her she would go flying around the quidditch pitch with her before she left. Allexia hadn't been on a broomstick in ages, but agreed nonetheless. She stared at the candles surrounding the bathtub, thinking over the night's events. She really had no idea why she licked the professor's ear. It was not something she normally did, even to her lovers. Maybe it was the heat his body gave off or his musky smell that drove her to do it. She certainly blamed that voice of his. It was enough to drive even nuns wild. Stop it, she mentally scolded, you're here to make up with your father not to get laid!

Her father and Minerva had already returned to the castle by the time she went back in to look for them. If it wasn't for the lateness of the hour, she would go and talk to him, but it would have to wait till morning. She was bothered that he wouldn't look her in the face. Climbing into the huge four-post bed, she hoped that Liz was all right. Allexia fell asleep wondering why Liz's sister was singled out and what had happened to the twin boys.