Alice

Trial By Death Eater (8)

After Alice had picked Madox up from Hagrid and given the gamekeeper the book he had requested, she went to visit Remus. She needed to talk to him, and she was also hoping to see Sirius - she needed to find a disagreeable Gryffindor to berate and she couldn't think of a better candidate. She knocked on Remus' door and walked in, dropped her bags on the floor, and announced herself.

"I'm home and I've brought ice-cream."

Alice looked around. She could see Remus was asleep on his bed and an unfamiliar black dog lay dozing on the couch. Alice tip toed over to Remus, and was just reaching a hand out to wake him when he opened his eyes and grabbed her wrist. She jumped back with a scream, then let out a sigh of relief when Remus started to laugh. He sat up and looked at Alice with a bemused expression on his face.

"Well, if you go sneaking into people's bedrooms what do you expect? How was London?"

Alice sat down on the edge of the bed. "I met Lucius Malfoy," she said slowly, her voice quivering.

"How?" Remus' eyes were full of concern. Alice took a deep breath. "I think we need the ice-cream."

Remus smacked his lips. "What flavor?"

"Chocolate, lemon and pistachio gelati. And honey comb for you, Madox." Madox's ears pricked up and his tongue lolled out of his mouth as he started to dance on the spot in anticipation. Alice got up, walked over to her bags and began rummaging around for the ice cream whilst Remus conjured up spoons and bowls.

"Sirius not around?" Alice asked. The dog that had been silently observing her from the couch suddenly transfigured into Sirius Black and answered her himself. "I'm here. Almost sounds like you´ve missed me."

Alice mentally hit herself on the head for forgetting that he was an animangus and snorted at him. Remus walked over and stood between the two of them before they could start any verbal or physical assault on one another.

"Would you both lay off each other, at least for today?" he said rather testily. Alice nodded as she set the ice cream down for Madox, who dove nose first into the container.

"That fox is spoilt" muttered Sirius, then turning to Alice he echoed Remus. "So how was London?" He bit back the sarcastic comment he was going to make in deference to his friend.

Alice scooped up a large helping of gelati and sat down on the couch.

"Oh, it was peachy. I spent most of Friday night beside myself with revoltion and this morning wasn't much better. And before you make a snide comment, Sirius, it had nothing to do with Snape. I went out last night to the Leaky Cauldron and Lucius Malfoy turned up with my father and Snape." Alice looked up at Remus and he came and sat down next to her, taking her hand.

"Start at the beginning."

"Well, I went to the Leaky Cauldron and met up with Seb and the Weasley twins, who hero worship the two of you by the way." Alice looked at Remus, who was blushing slightly and at Sirius, who looked very smug. "Anyway, we had consumed a fair bit of vodka and were retelling old school tales, when the three of them walked in. Dad came over and introduced Lucius and..." Alice shivered. Remus squeezed her hand harder and even Sirius looked mildly concerned.

"What Alice? What did he do?"

"Well..." she paused, collecting her thoughts before she continued, " he sat down and-- the best way I can describe it is to say, he poured himself over me. He is horrid, so cold. He was stroking my leg and openly leering at me. And Dad just stood there - doing nothing." Alice was almost hyperventilating; she took a couple of deep breaths and then continued. "He asked me out to dinner, I said I couldn't, and then he suggested that maybe he could come to the school and take me out. And all the time he's sitting there emitting a vile odor and I'm feeling more and more ill. Eventually I couldn't take it any longer and I fled out the back and was sick."

Remus put an arm around Alice and hugged her. "And that was it?"

"Yeah, I fled home. Snape came back eventually, I questioned him, but he didn't know what Dad and Lucius had been doing in London. I thought maybe he'd set it up after our earlier altercation."

"Wouldn't put it past him," Sirius muttered under his breath.

"Sirius," Remus looked sternly at him, "behave."

"You know, talking about it now it sounds so stupid," Alice said taking another mouthful of gelati.

"It's not stupid. Lucius Malfoy does have a reputation, beyond that of an all round, nasty Death Eater. But you're back at Hogwarts now, nothing will happen. Not even Lucius would risk Dumbledore's wrath by coming to the school and spiriting away one of the professors."

"Mmm." Alice stared at Madox absent mindedly, watching the fox clean his whiskers of the vestiges of ice cream. She wasn't entirely convinced that Lucius wouldn't try anything; it would be out of character if he didn't. And unlike Remus, she didn't think he would let Dumbledore intimidate him too much if he really had his heart set on doing something. They sat in silence for a while until Sirius' curiosity got the better of him.

"So what was this altercation you had with Sevie? I take it it was bad since you're calling him Snape again."

"Um, nothing much really. Just Slytherin stuff."

Remus buried his head in his hands and groaned. "Tell me you didn't do what I think you did?"

"I...well, I couldn't not. I had to know."

"Alice!"

"It wasn't him."

"Gee, you think?"

Alice looked slightly stunned at Remus' sarcastic tone.

"I've apologized and he has accepted it - finally. But we won't be working together for a while, not until he feels he can trust me again. Can't say that I blame him, really."

"No." Remus looked at Alice, the disappointment he felt about her actions evident on his face.

"I take it you accused Snape of the incident in the Slytherin common room?" Sirius casually asked. Alice nodded. They all fell into silence again. Alice stared at her feet, feeling about one centimeter tall. She could cope with Snape's disappointment, although that had taken some time, but Remus´? Sirius stood up and started walking around the room, deep in thought. He glanced at Alice occasionally and shook his head

"I'm sorry. I need to learn to think before I open my mouth," Alice mumbled.

Before Remus could make any reply, Sirius interrupted him.

"Funny you should say that, it was just what I was thinking. You know, one of the first things I learnt when I was training to be an Auror was the invaluableness of using your mind and thinking things through BEFORE making a decision!! I take it from your actions since you arrived at Hogwarts that wasn't a subject covered in your training."

Alice stared at Sirius open mouthed. "How dare you lecture me, you mangy dog!"

"Alice!" Remus put a hand on Alice's arm to restrain her from jumping on Sirius. "None of us are too old to learn or take advice from others, so listen to Sirius. He has a point."

"I will not listen to Sirius. Even if hell froze over I still wouldn't listen to him." Alice glared at the two of them. She was really angry, partly because Sirius had a point. She hadn't been using her brain too well lately, but she was damned if she was going to admit it. She decided that she had had enough of people for one day.

"I am not going to sit here and be lectured to by a flea bitten mongrel who occasionally passes himself off as a human. I'm leaving, I have an owl to send."

Alice collected her things and Madox and left Remus, who was firmly holding onto Sirius. His friend was muttering some very unflattering comments about Alice under his breath.

After she left, Remus turned to Sirius. "You could be a little more gentle with her."

"Why? The girl needs toughening up, not to mention being reminded to think occasionally. Much as I dislike Snape, I'd prefer to fight with him than against him. But if Alice keeps haring around making dumb assertions and accusations about him, who knows what he'll do."

"He seems to have survived your acquaintance with him, although it was touch and go there for a while."

"We're not talking about me. No - Alice needs tough love if she is to survive what Dumbledore has in mind for her. And tough love is something she isn't going to get from you," Sirius said sternly.

Remus paled slightly. "You have a point, I guess."

Sirius considered his friend for a moment, then put a hand on his shoulder. "You're in love with her, aren´t you?" he asked gently.

Remus went and sat on the couch, thinking about Sirius' question. He'd been attracted to Alice from the moment he'd first seen her. It was her eyes, and the way she looked at him from under her lashes. And he liked spending time with her. He even found her impetuousness appealing; it made him feel younger, which was a blessing as he normally felt about 110. But was he in love with her?

"She's attractive but...I don't know. I don't think so."

"But you could fall in love with her, if she gave you reason to?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know... If she gave you a come on."

Remus laughed. "Sirius, you're blushing."

"I'm just concerned that you could fall in love with her and get your heart broken. That's all."

"You don't think she could love me?"

Sirius looked at his friend, remembering back to when they were at school - the last time, to Sirius' knowledge, that Remus had fallen in love. It had nearly killed him. The girl in question hadn´t been a big fan of werewolves. But at the end of the day, Narcissa had gotten what she deserved.

"I don't know Re, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. I have a feeling Alice has plenty of boyfriends but no real love. Just try not to get hurt by her. She isn't worth it."

"Ouch."

Sirius shrugged in reply. A sudden thought formed in Remus' mind.

"Are you attracted to her?"

Sirius thought about the question for a second, then shook his head. "She's good to look at, but she is a Slytherin."

"´My only love sprung from my only hate´..."

"Oh don't go giving me that Shakespeare crap...no, there's something about Alice that I love to hate. And I wouldn't give that up for anything." Sirius grinned broadly at Remus.

Remus grinned back. "Arguing can be great foreplay."

"What would you know about that?" Sirius pretended to be shocked. Remus just smiled at Sirius, determined to maintain a dignified silence. "Come on, spill."

"Nope." Remus shook his head.

"Remus Lupin...well, it is the quiet ones or so they say."

They both laughed, although Sirius a little less heartily than his friend. He made a mental note that Remus had yet again avoided directly answering his questions about Alice.

*** *** ***

After dinner the next Tuesday, Dumbledore came to talk to Alice.

"Professor Kyteler, I was wondering if I could have a quick word with you in my office?"

"Sure."

Alice followed Dumbledore out of the Hall and up to his office. They both sat down in the overstuffed chairs by the fire.

"So how are you getting on? Resolved your differences with Severus?"

"I'm okay. As for Professor Snape, we're cordial toward one another. Working at rebuilding trust." Alice paused for a minute before going on. "May I ask, did you deliberately send Professor Snape and I to London to get us talking to each other again?"

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Well that was part of my intention. Although I hoped Severus would have accepted your apology more readily than he did. I don't think he realizes quite how much you...but perhaps not. No. Forget I spoke dear girl." Dumbledore's voice trailed off as he realized what he had been about to say, and it struck him that perhaps Alice wasn't aware of her importance to Severus. He had seen how much Severus enjoyed having Alice around to talk to and work with, how much he relished having a partner. He wished Severus had as much time and patience for the rest of the staff and most of the students. He wondered, too, how long Severus was going to be pig headed about Alice's faux pas. Dumbledore sighed and he turned his attention back to Alice; he stroked his beard and his expression grew rather serious. "I understand from Severus that you met Lucius Malfoy in London."

Alice, feeling slightly confused, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "Yes, not the most pleasant of men."

"No, but I don't want you to be too concerned with him turning up here trying to spirit you away."

Alice looked at Dumbledore. She had a feeling that she had missed something. Remus had said the same thing. Whatever it was, she was sure it wasn't good.

"The reason for this little chat-- apart from seeing how you are - is to tell you that a Ministry official will be here tomorrow to question Louise Mulciber. I think their presence here is just for show; Fudge seems to think that Louise is just venting. Both her parents died in Azkaban."

"Oh." Alice felt a twinge of pity for the girl.

"Mmm, not nice, but there you have it. Poor girl has been farmed out to relatives and to the Goyle family during holidays. Hardly conducive to a harmonious, well balanced upbringing. Anyway, the official will want to see you in the boardroom at two. You aren't teaching then?"

"No."

"Good, good. Well, I'll let you go. I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to the ramblings of an old man."

Alice got up and smiled, said goodnight, and made her way down to the potions dungeon to do some experimenting.

*** *** ***

At two the next afternoon, Alice waited patiently outside the boardroom for her turn to talk to the Ministry official. She didn't have to wait long before the door opened and she was called in. The boardroom was a dark forbidding place, the wood paneling on the walls seeming to absorb what little light was in the room. The walls were hung with portraits of the four founders, all of whom were currently eyeing the room with much gravity as if they were taking the proceedings very seriously. The room was dominated by a round table, which bore the school coat of arms carved into it´s face. At the far end of the table sat Dumbledore, Snape, and the Ministry official. A little way around to the left sat a defiant looking Louise Mulciber. She had a haughty, self-confident air, and seemed to consider the proceedings as a bit of a joke, not to be taken seriously. Alice sat down opposite Dumbledore, Snape, and the official.

"Professor Alice Kyteler?"

"Yes."

The official smiled thinly and Alice studied him. He had a thin face, with a hardness to his eyes that Alice found more than a little unsettling. In front of him was a roll of parchment with a few notes on it. Alice waited patiently whilst he wrote something down. He looked up.

"Right. My name is McNair and I am here today on behalf of the Ministry of Magic to investigate the alleged graffiti incident that occurred last week."

Alice looked at him closely. His name sounded very familiar, although she couldn't think where she had heard it before or in what context.

"Professor, I understand that Draco Malfoy discovered the graffiti and the cat and then informed you of it, correct?" McNair looked up at Alice from his parchment.

"Yes Mr. McNair."

"Why you?"

"Um." Alice looked at Snape wondering what she should say, but he stared back impassively. "Well, I was in Professor Snape's quarters, as he was unwell and I and another colleague were attending to him."

"Professor Remus Lupin, I understand?" McNair said after consulting his notes.

"Yes."

"And does Professor Snape often require nursemaids?"

Alice looked at Snape to see his reaction, but apart from a thinning of his lips, his face remained impassive, giving nothing away.

"No."

McNair nodded his head. "Hmm, so why did he on his occasion?"

Alice considered what she should say. Blurting out that he had been under the Cruciatus curse a couple of hours prior to the incident didn't seem like an appropriate response, nor a very sensible one. Alice decided that she had no option but to lie about Snape's condition.

"I think it was something he ate," she mumbled, thankful that the room was reasonably dark so that McNair couldn't see her blush.

"So you nursed him from when, Professor?"

"About midnight."

"Really?" McNair looked at Alice with raised eyebrows. "Does Professor Snape often call on you in your quarters in the middle of the night?"

"No." Alice looked from Snape to Dumbledore wondering where these questions were leading. "I wasn't in my quarters, I was in Remus´ - I mean, Professor Lupin's quarters."

McNair raised his eyebrows and looked at Dumbledore before resuming. "Right. And what symptoms did Professor Snape present?"

"He was a little shaky and seemed unsure of himself."

"Really? Go on." McNair leaned forward suddenly very interested in what Alice had to say.

"He looked as if he had just met a Dementor."

"And you ascribe this to food poisoning?"

"Yes."

"You are a trained Auror, are you not?"

"Yes."

"And you still think it was something Professor Snape ate?" McNair didn't sound at all convinced about Alice's prognosis.

"Yes," she said defiantly. McNair leaned back in his chair and looked at Alice. His eyes narrowed as if he were trying to read her mind.

" Would you describe Professor Snape as having been in full possession of his faculties?"

Alice swallowed and again looked at Snape. Nothing! His face betrayed nothing!

"Well, I suppose not. No."

"Hmm, no." McNair wrote something on the parchment. Alice looked over at Louise who continued to look smug.

"Are you in possession of any of the passwords to the common rooms?"

"Only Slytherin."

"I see. Would the heads of the various houses have all the passwords?"

Suddenly the penny dropped. McNair was trying to pin the blame on Snape. How odd, Alice thought.

"That's a question for the Headmaster."

McNair looked at Alice, a smile playing upon his thin lips. "Do you think it possible that Professor Snape could have obtained the password of the Gryffindor common room?"

"No!" Alice almost shouted her reply. She was beginning to feel very annoyed.

"I am just exploring all the possibilities, Professor Kyteler. No need to yell..."

"Professor Snape didn't do it," Alice said forcefully.

"Thank you for your opinion Professor, but I will be the judge of what happened and who, if anyone, is responsible."

Alice looked at Dumbledore for guidance, but he merely shook his head sadly.

"Now, if you could tell me what happened when Draco Malfoy told you about the graffiti."

"I went with him to the common room, whilst Remus went to get the Headmaster."

"And did Draco tell you anything important? Anything that led to the accusations against Miss Mulciber?"

Alice mentally cautioned herself against saying anything that could get Draco into trouble. Rather than blatantly lie this time, she would just omit to tell McNair about their later conversation.

"Only that he had been in the common room around one and hadn't seen anything unusual."

McNair wrote something down and then looked up at Alice. "Thank you for your time Professor. That will be all."

Alice was a little taken aback. That was all he wanted to know? Curious. She stood up, casting another look at Snape who still retained his impassive countenance, then left. She wanted to talk to Remus, but he had taken the seventh years into the Forbidden Forest on a field trip and wasn't going to be back until after five.

She wandered back up to the staff room. Thankfully no one else was around, so she had the luxury of being alone with her thoughts. She pulled one of the big over-stuffed chairs before the fire and curled up in it. McNair, McNair... Where had she heard that name before? She remembered hearing her father mention the name once, a long time ago, but she couldn't remember in what context. And then there was his enthusiasm in trying to blame Snape, which made no sense to her at all. Neither did the fact that he obviously didn't think the matter terribly important if Louise had indeed been behind it.

"Alice." Snape interrupted her thoughts. She looked up, surprised to see him standing by the fire. She hadn't heard him come into the room.

"How are you?" she asked.

"About as well as can be expected. I just came by to thank you for lying for me. You shouldn't have done it, but I appreciate it."

"No problem," Alice said quietly, looking into his eyes. They were blacker than normal, a sign Alice now knew indicated that Snape was under a lot of stress.

"Who was that official? How do I know his name?"

Snape sighed. "He is a Death Eater. McNair is one of Voldemort's highest placed spies." Snape shivered slightly.

"So it's all a con job?"

Snape nodded. "McNair was cleared years ago of any wrong doing during Voldemort's last reign of terror. He has worked his way up the ranks of the Ministry and he now has quite a lot of legitimacy within some circles. Whatever he tells that fool Fudge, Fudge will accept as gospel."

"Is Fudge under Imperious?"

"No, he doesn't need to be. The wool has been pulled so far down over his eyes by Lucius and company that it will never be necessary."

Alice sat and thought for a while.

"Should I tell Dad?"

"He already knows." Snape pulled up a footstool close to Alice and sat down.

"Why did he try to blame you?"

"Seems to be some sort of contagious disease." Snape gave Alice a look that would have turned her to stone if there hadn't been a slight smile at the corner of his lips. "No, I think he was testing me. He knew full well where I had been prior to midnight, so he was testing my loyalty. Trying to see if I would crack under pressure, and blame Louise rather than have the blame pinned on myself. See if I really was working for Voldemort under cover at Hogwarts"

"Did she get a Dark Mark?"

"I don't know. McNair claims to have tested her and seen no evidence of it. Unfortunately, Dumbledore will have to accept his word for the time being. I have to find out from Lucius some how."

"So what will happen now?"

"Dumbledore will suspend Louise and the Ministry will continue to be fooled into thinking that Harry Potter vanquished Voldemort and that he is no longer a threat. They are blind idiots, most of them."

Alice and Snape sat by the fire in silence. Eventually Snape stood up, and looking down at Alice, reached a hand out and brushed a lock of hair from her face. Then his hand brushed her cheek and rested there. Alice unconsciously slid her finger along his hand; his touch was so light. She looked up to see the expression on his face: it was almost gentle and caring. Snape opened his mouth to say something, but they were interrupted by Professor Flitwick coming into the room. They jumped away from each other, the moment broken.

"Well, I'll be going," Snape announced brusquely and he swept out of the staff room. Alice watched him go. She put a hand to her cheek, wondering what the hell had just happened. It was all sweet and sour - or sour and sweet - with him. Alice sat motionless for some time, staring at the fire, watching the flames. She felt as if Snape had just lit something inside her, but she put it down to the fact that she hadn't had a man touch her like that in a long time. Hell, if Sirius had just brushed her cheek she would have been getting a little flustered. Perhaps she could owl Fred Weasley, but then Seb would find out and she wasn't sure he'd be too happy about it. Oh well, there was always a cold shower. "Bloody hormones, mind you Snape's hands." Alice thought to herself. Her mind misted over as her thoughts drifted back to Snape and those hands. She closed her eyes and had a pleasantly disturbing dream about both.........

*** *** ***

Snape swept into the dungeon and slammed the door shut after him. Damn and blast it all! That bloody girl was getting under his skin and it had been growing worse since Friday night. And now, in a moment of weakness, he'd reached out to her, shown her a glimpse of his vulnerability. He would not do it again. Emotions, sentimental emotions, had no place in his life right now. No place in his life period! But her skin had felt so smooth under his touch, and the way she had looked at him... He sat down behind his desk and started to repeat his favorite mantra. He was too old, too shop soiled for her. And besides, he had probably just imagined her response.

He was brought out of his reverie by a knock at the door, and for a hopeful second he thought it might be Alice, but he dismissed that thought quickly.

"Come."

Remus walked in, looking worried. "Severus, do you have a minute?"

"Mmm." Snape motioned for Remus to sit.

"I'm worried about Alice."

"What about her?" Snape said impassively, trying to feign indifference.

"Well, she told me about meeting Lucius Malfoy. I've been thinking about it ever since and I decided I should come to you, as you know Lucius better than any one else here." Remus looked across at Snape, concern etched upon his face. "I know about some of the things he used to do, probably still does, and I'm worried that Alice could be his next victim."

Snape drummed his fingers on his desk and eyed Remus speculatively.

"You must be very fond of Alice."

Remus sighed. "Yes I am," he said quietly.

"Well I don't think Lucius can get to her here, and besides, she's Declan Kyteler's daughter. I don't think Lucius would want to rock that boat, but you never know." Snape sat back and thought for a minute.

"He won't do anything within Dumbledore's grasp - he isn't that stupid. We just need to make sure Alice doesn't leave the school grounds on some impulsive whim. Keep me informed of her activities. If she suddenly disappears, hopefully one of us won't be too far behind."

"Thanks Severus." Remus looked relieved. "I'll leave you to your work." He got up and left.

Snape watched him leave. "That's interesting", he thought, "Remus Lupin and Alice." Snape wondered what Alice thought of Remus. He knew they were good friends, but was she in love with him? The thought was as good as a cold shower, for it made him realize that he would never have a chance with her. No, no more moments of weakness, so far as Alice was concerned. She was off limits. If she wasn't before, she really was now.

*** *** ***

On Friday morning during breakfast, Alice received an owl from her father with an invitation to spend the weekend at Malfoy Manor. She dropped the parchment onto her plate like it was a hot potato.

Remus looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Problem?"

"Dad wants me to go to Malfoy Manor with him this weekend."

"Shit."

Alice looked at Remus. "What do I do?"

"I don't know. Listen, don't owl him back just yet. Let me think about it."

Remus looked over at Snape who was studiously staring at the bottom of his teacup. Remus doubted he was reading his tea leaves; it was more likely a defense mechanism to stop people talking to him.

"I'll come and see you later."

Remus got up, walked over to Snape, and whispered something in his ear. Snape stood up and the two of them left the Great Hall together. Alice watched them go with more than a bit of curiosity.