Alice

Chapter 6 - My Aim is True

Severus Snape slowly dragged himself back into consciousness. As he became aware of himself and his surroundings, he realized he was not alone in bed, there was something breathing near his ear. He slowly opened an eye and saw that Madox was asleep on the bed next to him. He opened the other eye and slowly sat up. His head felt full of cobwebs, but he knew that if he took something to clear it, he would start down a well-worn path that he had been down before. Not again. Never.

He got up, trying not to disturb Madox, and went into the lounge. He looked down at his two couches and the sleeping figures of Alice and Remus. He gently shook Alice awake. She sat up and looked around her, slightly confused.

"Hmm. What time is it?"

"Seven."

She looked up at Snape; he still looked very pale and slightly shaken.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been hit by an Unforgivable curse."

Alice looked at him, hesitating slightly before she spoke to him again. "Dumbledore thought that maybe I should teach your classes today." Alice wasn't sure how he would react to the thought of Alice teaching his classes. However, Snape surprised her by nodding his acquiescence. He looked over to the other couch where Remus was beginning to stir. He was woken completely by an urgent knocking at the door. Snape walked over to the door and answered it. He turned grey when he saw who it was.

"Draco, what are you doing here?"

"Can I come in, Sir?" Snape stood aside and let him in, closing the door behind him and leaning on it for support. Draco looked at Remus and Alice, obviously puzzled by their presence in Snape's quarters.

"Um, Professors, someone has been in the common room. They've written some stuff on the wall and done some other stuff in there. I think you should come and see it."

Snape was staring at Draco with a blank expression on his face, so Alice took charge. "Professor Snape isn't well, I'll come with you."

"Okay, perhaps Professor Lupin can get Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall."

Alice and Remus looked at each other with raised eyebrows, both of them wondering what could have happened that would necessitate a Slytherin requesting the headmaster's presence in their common room. Alice and Remus followed Draco out of Snape's quarters and went off in opposite directions, Remus to get Dumbledore and Alice following Draco down the corridor to the common room.

At the damp stretch of stone wall that led to the common room, Draco said the password, "Runespoor." The concealed stone door slid open and Alice stepped into the Slytherin common room for the first time in six years. She was looking around when Draco tugged on her sleeve and pointed to the fireplace.

"There." Alice noticed that his voice was shaking.

Alice gasped as she saw what Draco was pointing at. Written above the fireplace, in what appeared to be blood, were the words:

"Sons and Daughters of Death Eaters Rise Up."

At the base of the fireplace, lying in a pool of its own blood, was an obviously dead cat. There was a note next to the cat, Alice stooped down and read it.

Alice looked at the cat and wondered what the poor creature had done to deserve its death. She turned to Draco. "Go to the Prefects, tell them to get everyone ready for the first classes this morning and then take them all up to the Great Hall. I'll be along after I've spoken to Dumbledore."

Draco nodded and ran off. Alice took her robe off and laid it across the body of the cat. She looked around the rest of the dungeon but there was no other graffiti or any other signs of a disturbance. A large group of girls soon emerged into the common room and looked at Alice and the message before they were ushered out of the common room by two concerned Prefects. As they left, Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore and Lupin entered followed by Sirius Black. Alice didn't say anything; she just grimly pointed at the wall. Remus swore under his breath.

"That's not the worst of it." Alice picked her robe up and showed them the body of the cat and the note. Professor McGonagall sat down in a chair by the fire very suddenly.

"Oh dear, oh my. It's Crookshanks." She looked up at the professors with her eyes full of tears. At this moment the Slytherin boys emerged from their corridor and seeing Dumbledore hurried off to the Great Hall.

"Are you sure it's Crookshanks Minerva?"

"Yes, quite sure." Her voice started breaking as she spoke.

"I see." Dumbledore turned to Sirius, "Sirius, can you please go up to the Gryffindor common room and inform Miss Granger. I think she might take it best coming from you. You might want to take her to see Poppy after that."

"Of course, Headmaster." Sirius sounded more subdued than normal. He turned and left the room. Dumbledore turned to Alice, "considering Severus is still unwell, can you go and talk to the Slytherins. As a Slytherin you'll know how to handle them."

"Of course." Alice left the common room and decided to go and see Snape before she went up to the Great Hall to talk to the Slytherins.

She found Snape lying on a couch with his eyes shut and a cold compress on his forehead. He didn't open his eyes when Alice walked in.

"What happened?"

"Someone grafittied the common room."

"What did it say?"

"Sons and daughters of Death Eaters rise up."

Snape opened his eyes and looked at Alice.

"That wasn't all - a dead cat, a pet of another student I think, was found. There was a note with the cat, extolling the students to hit mudbloods where they hurt."

"Does Dumbledore know?"

"Yes. He, Remus and Professor McGonagall are in there now. I'm on my way up to the Great Hall to talk to the Slytherins to see what I can find out. Before I go, what classes am I teaching?" Alice looked at Snape. His black eyes were dead, there didn't appear to be any life in them at all. If possible, he looked paler than he did when Alice had come back.

"Double Potions with the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fifth years this morning. Get them to brew a sleeping potion. OWLS revision. After lunch you have advanced potions. Get them to make the Comatus antidote."

"No problem. Um, can I borrow a robe? I used mine to..." Alice pointed toward the Slytherin common room.

"Sure, in the cupboard."

Alice walked into Snape's bedroom and noticed a pile of discarded clothes on his bed. What if Snape had done it, been forced to as some kind of loyalty test? Alice contemplated stealing his robe to see if there were traces of blood on it, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead she went to Snape's wardrobe and grabbed a clean robe. It was a bit too big, but Alice didn't have time to go up to her rooms for one of her own. She scurried guiltily from the bedroom.

"Well, I'll see you later. Come on Madox, I haven't forgotten you. Breakfast."

Snape groaned. He had his eyes shut tightly and only just managed to raise his hand enough to wave Alice out of the room.

*** *** ***

Alice entered the Great Hall, slightly out of breath and found all the Slytherins huddled together whispering amongst themselves. Alice steeled herself to talk to them. She knew some, if not most, would want to take the writing on the wall to heart. She just hoped that not too many would. That was the last thing the school needed right now; student vigilantes enacting their own kind of justice on mudbloods and muggle borns. Bands of Death Eaters in training roaming the halls...

Alice walked over to the head of the table. It fell silent as the students turned to regard her. She sighed wondering what to say, it would be like walking a tightrope.

"Good morning. I am here in place of Professor Snape who is unwell." A few students turned to each other and started to whisper again. Alice held up her hands for silence. "Can I have some silence please. Now what happened in the common room this morning is very distressing. I have a couple of things to say on the subject. Firstly, I will be in the potions classroom at lunchtime, so if you know anything, or you were the last one, or ones, to bed this morning can you please come and see me. All information given will be done so in the strictest of confidence. Secondly, the rest of the school will no doubt be informed shortly. If you feel you are being vilified please don't take the matter into your own hands. See a professor or come and see me and the issue will be dealt with in a formal manner, via the loss of house points or detentions. Right now we need to show the rest of the school that the house of Slytherin is above reproach. Now, for those of you who didn't see what was done to your common room this morning I will tell you because I don't think you should be shielded from the truth, nor should you believe what I am sure will be exaggerated rumors and lies from the other houses. On the wall was a message which said 'Sons and Daughters of Death Eaters rise up.' "

Alice surveyed the faces of the students, some blanched whilst a number of others looked smug, leaving Alice with no doubt who were the sons and daughters of Death Eaters. Alice continued.

"At the foot of the fireplace was a dead cat, a pet of another student. There was a note extolling you to hit the mudbloods where they hurt; that Hogwarts is for purebloods only. It isn't. There would be no Hogwarts if that rule were applied." Alice noticed that this statement had raised a few eyebrows. "Finally, can I ask you not to go back to your common room until lunch. Now, are there any questions?"

Alice looked around at the students. Most of them were looking at the empty plates in front of them, a few shook their heads. "Okay then, well as I said, I'll be in the potions classroom if you have any information. I'll be taking Professor Snape's classes today."

Alice turned and walked up to the teachers' table and joined Professor Sprout, who had silently crept into the Hall. Alice sat down wearily and was glad to see coffee and food was waiting for her. At times like this Alice hated being a member of Slytherin house. The force of reputation alone turned some students to the dark arts, irrespective of their family backgrounds. It was a breeding ground and cesspit for maliciousness and hate. At times like this, the house turned in on itself with the students distrusting themselves more than the students of other houses. Alice felt sure that some students would be close to declaring war on others, using this morning's events as an excuse. She didn't know how Snape would manage them in his current state.

Alice was so deep in thought that it took her a while to realize that Remus had sat down next to her and was talking to her.

"Alice, Alice."

"Yeah, hi. I'm sorry, I was just thinking." Alice picked some bacon up and fed it to Madox. "Does Dumbledore have any ideas yet?"

"No, he wants to wait until Severus is more cognitive. See if he saw any of the students at the thing last night." Remus was whispering, his head bent in close to Alice's.

"You don't think it was Severus, do you? Some kind of sick loyalty test?"

Remus looked at Alice, obviously he hadn't thought of that. He sat back in his chair. "I hope not."

The rest of breakfast passed in silence. On her way out of the hall, Alice ran into Hagrid.

"Hagrid!"

"Oh, hello, Professor." The big man bent down a stroked Madox.

"Hagrid, I don't suppose you could look after him today? I'm covering Potions and a I don't think a Potions classroom is the best place for a fox."

"Be a pleasure. Fang and I'll love the company."

"Thanks, Hagrid."

Alice bent down a gave Madox a hug. The little fox licked Alice's cheek and happily trotted after Hagrid. Alice watched them go and headed down to the dungeons.

A group of students was waiting outside the classroom when Alice arrived. She muttered the password and let them in. The students filed silently in and took their seats, looking at Alice strangely. When they had settled Alice began.

"I'm Professor Kyteler. Professor Snape is unwell so I'll be taking your class today. I believe you are revising for your OWL's. Professor Snape would like you all to make a sleeping potion. You will test it at the end of the class. Any questions?"

The students shook their heads and got down to work. Trust the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws to be perfect little swots Alice mused. She got down to work herself and started to brew a reviving draft for her sleeping students. Soon, all that could be heard from the classroom was the quiet hum of students working. Every now and then Alice looked up but the students seemed to know what they were doing. She finished the reviving draft and walked amongst the students checking the color and consistency of their potions.

"Professor?" Alice stopped at a table.

"Yes, what is it?"

"It's just that, well, there are some rumors that some Slytherin seventh years have become Death Eaters."

Alice fixed the students with a steely glare. This was what she had been dreading would happen. Wild rumors.

"You should not listen to rumors. An incident of a disturbing nature occurred in the Slytherin common room this morning that is still being investigated. If you could all stop for a moment. Don't worry, your potions will be okay, and besides I think this is more important."

The students gathered around Alice, gazing at her with a mixture of wonder and curiosity. Obviously Professor Snape had never spoken to them like this before.

"Firstly, someone graffitied the Slytherin common room with the words 'Sons and daughters of Death Eaters rise up.' We don't know who, at this stage, but as I said we are investigating. So please discount any rumors you hear and try not to antagonize the Slytherins too much, we're not all bad you know." Alice smiled at the students. She paused for a moment before continuing, thinking about the wording of what she had to say next.

"We are living in very dangerous times. Do not be fooled into thinking that because you are in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw you are immune to recruitment by Death Eaters. You may be surprised to know that students of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff have become dark wizards and witches. Perhaps you can all learn something from this. I want you to write me a scroll - or two - on dark wizards from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. You may work in groups and hand the paper into me on Monday. This is not going to be assessed, but I want you to do it for yourselves. You need to be aware that you are in just as much danger from the dark side as Slytherin." Alice looked around at the subdued students. She decided they had probably had enough of potions today. "Okay, that's enough for today, throw your potions in the sink and clean up and you can have an early minute or forty-five okay?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Thanks, Professor."

The students quickly and quietly packed up and scurried out. Alice watched them go. She leaned against Snape's desk. She had forty-five minutes before lunch, a good time to go and see Snape.

She wandered down the hall to Snape's quarters and knocked gently on the door. He answered it looking slightly better and let her in.

"You look better."

"Thank you. Not sure that I feel it. Why aren't you in class?" Snape looked concerned that something else had gone wrong.

"Oh, thought I'd leave the students with the keys to your private stores." Alice laughed at the look of sheer horror on Snape's face. "You either laugh or cry. I choose laughter. No I gave them a lecture on how dark wizards can come from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw just as easily as Slytherin. I've set them a paper on it."

"Good. Come and sit down."

Alice sat down on the sofa.

"So how did it go this morning?"

"Okay, I told them I would be in the Potions classroom at lunch if they know anything."

"Mmm." Snape looked pensive and started to pace the room. "A few might talk to you, but don't hold your breath."

"I won't. Severus, did you see any students at the ceremony last night?"

"That's what I've been doing all morning, trying to remember if I did. I don't think so, but there were one or two recruits who seemed younger. I couldn't see their faces for the hoods and masks. If I were closer to Lucius Malfoy I'd ask him, but at the moment I think he'd be too suspicious."

Alice nodded. She looked up at the still pacing Snape and wondered. Could he have done it and not known he had, or did he not want to admit to himself that he might have. Alice decided to find out.

"It wasn't you, was it?" Alice mumbled quietly.

"Excuse me, Professor?" Alice looked at Snape, his face a mask of barely suppressed anger. "Do you honestly think I would murder a student's pet and openly encourage Death Eater activity amongst my students? Professor Kyteler, I thought you would know me better than to ask me that. It angers me to think that after all I have told you, you still distrust me and think of me as a cold-hearted killer. Get out of my sight Professor, you sicken me."

Snape grabbed Alice by the shoulders and dragged her up from the couch. Alice looked at Snape in shock, she couldn't believe she had been so stupid and insensitive.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think." Alice stammered.

"You never do, now get out." Snape's voice practically froze the blood in Alice's veins. She turned and stumbled out of his quarters and ran up to the potions classroom.

How could she have been so idiotic? Alice paced around the classroom, kicking desk legs out of frustration. She needed to do something to show Snape how sorry she was, but she didn't know what. It slowly dawned on Alice what she had lost in accusing Snape and not being patient and talking the idea through with Remus. "Stupid, stupid girl."

A knock at the door brought Alice back to the present.

"Professor?"

"Draco. Hi, what's up?"

"You said if anyone knew anything to tell you. Well, I might be able to help."

"Okay, sit down." Alice eyed Draco suspiciously. He was a Malfoy after all, not one of Alice's favorite families at the moment. "So what is it?"

"Well, firstly I was in the common room at about one this morning and I didn't see anything unusual. No-one else was about."

"Uh-huh. I'm going to presume you were up getting a glass of water at one. Continue." Alice folded her arms across her chest, still looking at Draco suspiciously.

"I've owled Dad. I know there was a Death Eater induction last night so he'll know if any students got their Dark Marks."

Alice nearly fell off her chair; Draco just admitted what everyone in the wizarding world suspected - his father was a Death Eater, and one of the inner sanctum by the sounds of it. Alice's face must have appeared shocked because Draco realized what he had just said.

"Um, I assumed you knew about my Dad. What with your Dad and mine being so close, I just assumed he was a Death Eater too, that you knew all about mine. I thought we were in the same boat." Draco looked concerned that he just done something incredibly stupid and he wasn't the only one to feel that way at the moment.

"My Dad is getting his soon." Alice said quietly. "So yes, Draco, we are, or soon will be, in the same boat."

"Well, I haven't got my Dark Mark before you ask, not sure that I want to." Draco looked disgusted at the thought. "But Dad doesn't know that. He thinks I am very keen to go into the service of Voldemort. Carry on the family tradition. Anyway, I've told him what happened and how the whole school knows. I suggested he let me deal with the problem."

"Good. Do you have any suspicions?"

"Yeah, one. Louise Mulciber; she's a seventh year. Her Dad was a Death Eater and she has talked of nothing else since he was killed by aurors. Trust me, I keep hearing the same speech every time she comes over to our house." Draco rolled his eyes and took a deep breath before going on. " Well, she's pretty thick. Apparently she's been getting some tutoring from Hermione Granger in some subjects."

The color drained from Alice's face.

"It was her cat that was found wasn't it? That's what makes me suspect her."

"Yeah, it was Hermione's cat. Thanks, Draco. Can you come and find me when you get an owl from your father?"

"Sure." Draco got up and left.

Alice put her head in her hands. "What have I done?" Obviously it wasn't Snape. Not if Draco hadn't noticed anything astray at one. Snape took the potion just after midnight...

Alice realized that lunch must have finished because students were starting to trickle into the dungeon. Harry and Ron came in looking thunderous, but on seeing Alice, Ron's expression softened slightly. He smiled at her, "hi Professor."

"Hi Ron, Harry. How's your friend Hermione?"

"Not good. Madam Pomfrey has her sedated."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Alice smiled fondly at the two boys. They smiled back and shuffled over to their desk. Alice looked around the class and saw that most of the students appeared to be there. She was about to start teaching when Professor Snape swept into the classroom.

"Thank you for taking over, Professor Kyteler, but I think my students would be better off with a teacher who can teach don't you?"

Alice blushed, she wasn't sure what to say, but decided that arguing with Snape in front of the students wouldn't do her any good so she picked her things up and silently stalked from the classroom. She heard a few students trying to stifle laughs as she went.

As she walked through the Entrance Hall to go and get Madox, she ran into Professor Dumbledore.

"Ahh, Professor Kyteler, trusting the advanced Potions class to their own devices?"

"No, Headmaster. Professor Snape felt he was well enough to take them."

"I see." Dumbledore looked grave.

"Actually I'm glad I ran into you. I have a couple of things I wanted to tell you."

"Of course, come and sit down."

She and Dumbledore went and sat on the stairs to the main part of the castle.

"So what do you want to tell me, Alice?"

"It's about Professor Snape. I asked him if he had been responsible for the thing this morning. I shouldn't have because I think I knew he wasn't, but now I have betrayed him."

"Alice, don't be too upset. It's a question I fleetingly asked myself. Severus was under a lot of stress last night and I don't think he knew what he was doing when he got back to the school. I hear he tried to take two hundred points from Gryffindor, which would be a record for Severus." Alice looked at Dumbledore wondering how he knew about Remus' Halloween party - or lack of party. "Anyway, I think we should both apologize to Severus for doubting him. He enjoys working with you Alice. I think he likes having a friend around all the time. Which I'm not." Dumbledore said quietly. "Now, what was the other matter?"

"I spoke with Draco Malfoy at lunch. He is suspicious of Louise Mulciber. He's owling his father to see if she was inducted last night."

Dumbledore sighed, "Likely, very likely. I was wondering whom we would lose to Voldemort this year. Well this will place us in a very difficult position. If Lucius thinks Draco is passing us information I hate to think what he would do to the boy. I think it best if I talk to Miss Mulciber before Draco gets his reply."

Dumbledore stood up.

"Well, Alice, I think it would be best if we met at five in my office. I have a few things to attend to first and then we can decide on a course of action. Until then, you have an afternoon off, enjoy it as best you can." Dumbledore smiled at Alice and walked off toward the Great Hall.

Alice sat on the steps for a minute before deciding to go for a walk to try to clear her head.