Hello, another story yes yes, of course, these ideas just keep coming.
I do not own Harry Potter.
Takes place in the 3rd year. Does not follow the story of the books or movies though, Potters are alive.
Full Summery: Severus Snape falls ill to an unknown illness. Even with the help of St. Mungo, and other well-experienced potion master's Dumbledore finds no success in curing his colleague. Except for possibly one more person, enter Alice Rose, having been to Hogwarts for only a few years before being expelled she lives her life in the muggle world as any regular muggle does. She had decided to put her magical life behind her and move on. A life of a poor college student taking care of their sick parent. Dumbledore approaches her as a last resort, now Alice has to decide, to return to the world that threw her out, or to stay and really leave it all once and for all.
Hey guys, I've decided to do a bit of editing of this before updating anymore, I realized there were some confusing things going on and thought I should clean it up a bit more before continuing.
A Knack for Potion Making
Chapter 1: The Last Resort
"It has been two months Albus" Professor McGonagall spoke, with concern and worry in her eyes. "With still no signs of Severus recovering" Albus Dumbledore stood, they were in a little-curtained room in the hospital wing. Staring down at his colleague with sad eyes of his own. Severus lay in bed, his breathing barely noticeable, and sleeping. His dark hair fell around his head, scattered. He almost looked at rest if it wasn't for the sudden pain he felt when he was awake that left him barely about to talk "We don't even know if this will kill him or not" She continued, her big eyes staring up at the headmaster.
"Perhaps I may have another idea," the old man said as he stroked at his long white beard, his eyes never leaving the potion master that lay silent like death. He pulled away and Minerva followed him curiously back to his office. He went around his desk pulling out his drawer and she watched him take out a folder. "Minerva" He spoke again and her eyes met up with his. "Do you remember this student?" He opened the folder to reveal a pale girl with rosy cheeks, her chocolate brown hair was long, rich and thick on her head. Her bangs were short and to the side, her lips hyperpigmented and she had piercing blue eyes. Alice Rose was written in bold words at the top, next to her name was a red stamp of expulsion.
"Yes, isn't she that Ravenclaw girl that delved far into the dark arts part of potions? She nearly killed a student" Minerva said disapproving. Dumbledore shook his head as he said the next few words.
"No, she didn't nearly kill a student, that student did it to get her in trouble" Her face dropped.
"Nevermind that," She brushed it off, "what's the point of bringing this up now? It's been 8 years, far too late to make amends."
"Do you remember her marks in potions?"
"She..." the woman began looking away as if to remember, her hands folded in front of her "was remarkable, as I recall Slughorn saying, a prodigy," She said looking back up at Albus, her voice confused as why this all matter, why he was asking this now "perhaps even outshining Severus..." Her voice went quiet as she put two and two together. Professor McGonagall was not a dumb woman after all, but that didn't stop her expression from turning from confusion to shock "You don't plan to" she paused. "...Albus?" When he didn't reply she spoke again, walking closer to his desk. "She didn't even get to the fourth year how can you possibly expect-"
"A prodigy, you say?" his eyes twinkled down at the picture of the girl.
It was the middle of March, the cold weather finally was warming down a bit to only below the freezing point. Alice only wore some jeans that were ripped at the knees, and a hoodie with plain old sneakers. All in black or grey. She was glad winter was finally passing. No more frost bites and cold nights without a heater anymore. She sat in class, as the teacher handed back their lab reports for Microbiology. When it landed in front of her she felt the slight nervousness leave her when she saw the grade and check marks beside each paragraph. However, she couldn't feel completely happy.
"Full marks! Nice" Kenny, a large boy leaned in from behind her seat. He was part of her lab report group. They had a group of three. They had bribed her with money to do it all alone and score highly on it. It was the first time she had agreed to anything like this and she couldn't help but feel cheated. They certainly didn't deserve the full marks, but it was too late to regret it now. She was the one who agreed to it after all. The professor talked about the lab report a bit, the common mistakes and what to look out for next time before dismissing everyone.
"Hey, Ally, wanna join us for some karaoke? Everyone's going" projects were due, as well as tests coming up, she couldn't afford to go, she had to stay focused. She didn't want the money for college to go to waste.
"Sorry, I can't, lots of work to do" besides, she had to go to work. The faces of annoyance and disappointment weren't concealed as she packed her things and left. When she reached outside of the campus she realized she had forgotten her notebook, retracing her steps she was about to enter class when she heard.
"What an ungrateful girl" her shoulder sunk.
"Why do you bother inviting her Jess, she's so stuck up," a guy said to the girl who tried to invite her.
"Yeah, just because she's scoring the highest in her grade doesn't mean she can't hang out with us"
"Bet she thinks we're all idiots" sounds of agreement went around after that comment.
"Fucking hate her guts"
"You know what I heard?"
"What?"
"She'll do anything for money" Gasps went around.
"Even fuckin-" She opened the door and looked them in the eye, she walked past them grabbed her notebook from under the table and turned to leave, right when she reached the door someone snatched her arm, and she turned to face them.
"Hey is it true?" One of the boys said raising his brows. His other friends laughed while the girls coward away. "I know you heard what we said"
"Brian stop it..." One of the girls said.
"Shut up, I'm just asking" The poor girl stepped back at his tone. He turned back to Alice. "Well? How much are you?" Alice looked from the boy to the girl he had yelled at.
"Let go of my hand," She said lowly.
"OOOOOh, or what?" He was calling her bluff, turning to the other boys to laugh. Alice brought up her free hand and shoved at his chest so hard at the same time pulling at her captured hand, freeing it from the boys grasp. Gasps went around as Brian stumbled back hitting a table behind him. Surprised.
"You wanna go!?" anger clouded his vision as his face reddened in embarrassment as some of the girls tried to hide their laughs. He marched up to her and went for a punch and she ducked down, giving another push at his chest when she stood back up. He let out a frustrated cry and yelled: "Get her!" He commanded his male friends that were watching and Alice took this chance to bolt, three boys chasing after her. She reached her bike and hopped on, quickly peddling hard, and the three boys found three bikes being used, shoved the owners off and chased after her. She went through the busy streets, glancing behind her every once in a while. She turned and twisted out of obstacles like potholes and people. She almost slammed into a pole but took a quick turn. Luckily for her, one of the boys did not see it coming and hit it hard. She winced at the sound of bone on metal. She took another turn.
"Excuse me sorry!" She called as she almost hit someone. It wasn't long till she got to her grocery store work and she actually slowed down near the entrance.
"Hey!" One of the boys called as they got off the bike. "Come back you, you fucking whor-"
"Excuse me" Chris the store janitor walked up to him. He was an old man, tall and very brutally honest. "Have you no decency? Talking to a girl like that? Should be ashamed of yourselves, where are your parents huh? What school do you go to, terrorizing the streets" They scurried off, Chris turned to Alice.
"Thanks, Chris, I owe you one-"
"Oh don't think you're off the hook, I was having a wonderful break smoking till you brought zoo animals with you" She winced. "Now go, you're late" She nodded and rushed inside.
"Hey, Alice-"
"Hey" She rushed by her friend Hana up the back stairs to change. The uniform was simple, black pants, black shoes, with a black hat and a blacker apron. The only thing that wasn't black, was the white button-up shirt. She rushed out just tying her apron on, rushing to the cash register to begin working. Taking on a waiting customer.
"The new schedule is out," Hana said as she pretended to clean around her.
"Yeah?" The sound of beeping of items being scanned kept coming up.
"They're cutting hours again"
"Seriously?" Alice had to pause for a second sighing before she bagged the customer's things and handed it to them. The customer gave them a disapproval look, clearly not liking the lack of attention and left. "I might have to look for another job then"
"No, please" Hana almost pleaded. "You're the only normal person here, and you actually work. Jen is so fucking lazy I swear." Alice let herself smile, it was people like Hana that made her remember she was a Witch, by calling her normal. She was anything but normal to them. Jen was an older short lady, that has her hair dyed every month along with the weirdest of makeup style. Jen often complained about her uneventful life and stood around mostly.
"I need more hours though Hana"
"Just talk to Angela okay? Maybe she'll keep your hours" Hana was given a look by one of the supervisors and left Alice to do her work.
"Sir, you're a pound too short," Alice said as she waited.
"Come on lady" the customer was an older man, tall with a jacket on. "Who cares" he shrugged.
"Sorry sir, I can't" Angry, the man grabbed his bottle of soda and slammed it down.
"Fuck you! I'll go buy my stuff elsewhere!" She didn't even flinch or show any other facial expression. She watched him leave and let out a breath, before walking over to Hana to talk a bit more. Today just keeps getting worse.
"I'm sorry Alice but that isn't fair for everyone else" Angela said writing some stuff down on a sheet of paper. It was the end of her shift, and she was upstairs, already changed and ready to go. Her manager Angela was in her office.
"Please just a few more weeks, I just need -" Alice pleaded.
"No, and that's final" The phone rang and she picked it up. "Hello, Angela speaking" Alice clenched her fist and left. On the bus ride to the hospital from her second job, she rested her head on the window gazing outside with hollow eyes. Her father passed away when she was only 13, that was the same year she was expelled from Hogwarts school. He was diagnosed with lung cancer from his smoking. She knew he was getting sick, and she tried to urge him to go to the doctor but he kept pushing it off. Every summer she came back he seemed to have gotten worse and worse, coughing up tar every morning, he wasn't able to taste mom's cooking very well, and he just looked grey overall. He kept denying the possibility until it was too late.
During the time in school she had tried to find a cure on her own. She thought, if there was a potion, maybe she could make it and take it home with her that summer. As it turned out she went too far into the illegal side of potion making and was expelled. She was so close though, so close to finding a cure. Not only was she shocked at being kicked out from all magical schools, but to come back and find out her father was gone forever. She was devastated. She remembered the funeral like it was yesterday. Her mom dressed in all black, crying as the priest spoke, a picture of her dad in front of them surrounded by flowers. She had been numb, staring blankly at his picture, her mother's sobs in the background, the priest's words like it were from a far away distance. She just couldn't believe that he was gone. Eventually, it hit her, after coming home and waking up the next day without her father at the breakfast table talking up a storm. She had broken down at the sudden silence and emptiness in her chest.
She remembered cursing Hogwarts many times, blaming it for not letting her find the cure fast enough, blaming it for causing this misfortune to fall upon her. Everything bad that happened after that she blamed Hogwarts. The gangs she joined her bad grades, her bitterness. And yet, she knew deep down Hogwarts had nothing to do with it, and she had finally stop blaming it. Till this day she couldn't help but wonder what her life would be had she still went to that school. Only to push it away from her mind. There was no point in day dreaming of fiction. It only made her heart ache. Now her mother has also fallen ill, after years of depression, she too has cancer. She had spent a year in the hospital trying to get better.
She took out a little booklet and began to write.
"1024.8 pounds a week, times by four, 4099.2 pounds a month" She mumbled to herself. "Mom's costs for chemotherapy is around 2000...rent 500 for staying in the hospital, 700 for rent...100 from that lab report...food, phone, school..." she added a few more money to the list of little jobs she did around the neighborhood. She was still short. She ruffled her hair angrily and slammed her head back on the seat. She sighed, she might have to drop out of school. She got off the at the hospital with a bag of medicine, cheap flowers and went inside. The receptionist had gotten herself familiar with Alice and now they only greeted each other as she found her mother's room. She knocked before going inside, her mother shifted her head over to her daughter. Her mother's chocolate brown hair like hers was now hardly on her head anymore. A soft smile broke on her mother's face as she saw her.
"Hello Mother, how are you feeling?" She put down the bag of medicine the doctor asked for on the bedside. She went to change the vase of dying flowers with the new ones before taking a seat by her mother's bed. She did this every night. The room never changed one bed, a small window, white walls, and blue curtains. Her mother looked back outside the window next to her bed. The lights from the city twinkled below them.
"Hello dear, the usual" she replied softly, a soft sigh escaping her.
"Any progress?"
"No" her mother looked down at her weak hands. Her mother, much like herself had grown thin, but her mother had a sickly look to herself. Her veins on her arms popped in an unnatural way, she looked fragile and brittle.
"How's school?" Alice's hid her grim face at the remembrance of school, and smiled instead, hoping her mother wouldn't catch the fakeness of it.
"Fine, got full marks on my lab report today"
"That's lovely dear, how are your friends?" Alice wanted to laugh pathetically at that. Her mother assumed she had friends, and she had played along. The only thing close to friends she had made after her father passed away were gang members and even that she didn't have anymore.
"They're great" she lied hanging her head to hide her expression. Her mother's cold hand suddenly touched hers, and she looked up at her. For years her mother had retracted to herself, neglected Alice, and left her. She couldn't remember the last time her mother touched her like this.
"You know sweetie, I've been thinking, maybe you shouldn't come visiting every day" Her mother's eyes stared cautiously at Alice as if trying to say something through them that Alice wasn't understanding. She furrowed her brows in confusion at her mother's words. "You're only 21, you slave away at work, you should treat yourself, spend some time with friends, go out"
"But mom-"
"I'll be fine alone, I've been alone since your father passed away" suddenly her mother's face frowned at her. "You've been doing those elixirs again haven't you?" she said disappointingly.
"They're called potions," she said avoiding her mother's eyes, pulling her hand away to her chest. "but hardly, I don't have the right ingredients anyways..." she looked back at her mother "But mom they have all kinds of books I'm sure there is a cure for-"
"Enough," she said sharply "we agreed never to speak of that again" Alice hung her head. "I don't have much time Alice, I don't want you slaving away here for me"
"What are you talking about?" she looked up, "you still have a few more years, I just have one more year to go and I'll graduate and find a job, then we can complete your chemo sessions and you'll be fine, you'll-"
"I can tell the doctors are tired of me Alice, they want me out of here" Alice stood up angrily.
"So what?! It's their job to take care of you-" Alice stood up agitated. Her mother took hold of her hand again, cutting her off.
"I've accepted it," There was an emptiness in her mother's eyes, a lifelessness "it's okay, I've decided to be with your dad again. I miss him Alice" She stared down at her mother, who looked away, she felt cold and limb. She felt like she wanted to scream but something was caught in her throat, making it hard to swallow. She felt the back of her eyes sting up and her vision blurry. "I'm sorry-" Before she knew Alice had turned and burst out the door, her mother called after her but it was too late. She was already down the hall, getting yelled at by some nurses and workers but she didn't care, she didn't hear them. All she heard was her mother's words ringing in her ears, all she could see was her lonesome future. Her heart felt tight in her chest, and she couldn't decide if she should feel sorry for herself or disgusted for being so selfish. For not wanting to be alone, for stopping her mother from being happy. Was it wrong of her? Was she such a horrible daughter? Person? To live a life of solitude? With no friends or family? Tears in big drops slide down her cheeks as she rushed outside the hospital, hopping on her bike to go home.
She wished she could turn back time, she would have never gone to Hogwarts so she could spend time with her dad more, so she could maybe have more time to stop him from smoking. She should have tried harder, she should have done something different, it was her fault, it was- when she arrived at her apartment she found all her things in boxes and bags outside the apartment. Men were taking her things and throwing it out.
"Hey, what are you doing those are my stuff!" she yelled at one, following them. The landlord suddenly came up the stairs.
"ah, just the person, it's been months and you haven't paid the rent yet, I've been generous enough for delaying but I really can't have you anymore," the landlord said firmly.
"I just need one more month-"
"You said that the last four months" she growled at Alice. "Find somewhere else" with that she was kicked out. She clenched her jaw and kicked a trash can before grabbing whatever was left of her stuff they threw out with her and walked away. She found herself walking down the streets alone with bags in her hands, walking wherever her feet took her, and she ended up in front of Hana's apartment. She knocked on the door. It was late, on a Friday night. She told herself Hana might not even be home, she was a party animal after all, and just as she was about to turn away, her vision blurry up again she heard movement behind the door.
"Who the fuck-" Hana gaped as she stared at Alice, her tan hand went over her mouth.
"Hey Hana...can I crash for a couple of..." The tears were coming again and Hana instantly hugged her, taking her inside. Alice told her everything that happened, from what happened at the hospital to what the landlord lady had done, and Hana cursed every word she knew at the landlord.
"I'm going to have to drop college..." Alice concluded. "so I could take more jobs, help my mom, then I could go back to school once she's fine. I know she... She wants to join dad but... I need her Hana, she's the only..." her voice began to crack. "I'm don't want to be alone..."
The following day Alice applied to withdraw from college completely, she felt empty inside, having emptied out her heart and tears all night. As she left the college she took the chance to go around applying for job offers before calling it a day. She looked up to see an old man standing, staring at her from across the street. He was tall, and despite his old age, he stood up tall, and strong, dressed in odd attire. She frowned, she knew the man, something about him looked familiar. Rubbing her eyes again, a car went by and he was no longer there. She stood there for a moment. She couldn't have possibly seen Professor Dumbledore. Why would he be here? She shook her head, with everything that was going on she was beginning to hallucinate no doubt. She had hardly had any wink of sleep last night. Without thinking about it any further she walked on. Hana had given her a spare key to go in when she was at work. She dropped her bag and bent down to untie her shoes.
"Hello Alice" she shot up, her eyes wide at the voice. "I didn't mean to scare you" Professor Dumbledore stood tall and bright in front of her. In a grey long robe, he looked the same as ever. Magic did that for you. He looked just as great and wise as he did the first time she saw him when she was eleven years old. She remembered looking up at him was awe, and admiration "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"W-what are you doing here?" she stuttered, "sir" she added. He looked around the plain apartment in interest.
"You know I've always wanted to try muggle candy," he said as he picked one out from a bowl and popped it in his mouth. "Sour" he commented.
"Sir, with all due respect I doubt you came here to try muggle candy" his eyes softened, they had a glint of sadness in them.
"How are you Alice?" she used to like those blue eyes, the way he was always calm and collected, silly and fun, and yet somehow wise and powerful. She had respected him.
"Fine" she grunted out yanking her shoes off and walking away from him.
"Will you come back to Hogwarts?" she froze at the doorway to the bathroom, her eyes widened again, not believing her ears. She turned to him, unsure if she heard right. "I am in need of your assistance with something"
"M-Me? I hardly have any further magically experience than the third year" she said bitterly. "Don't you remember? I was expelled, by you" she spat the last part. Yes, she had admired him and looked up to him once. She had considered him fair and caring, loved how his blue eyes twinkled when he was up to something. Now those same eyes she hated, because they always knew more than she did, always was a step again, always were logical and manipulative and it was always hard to say no to them. "Even after I explained, even-"
"If it weren't for me you may have ended up somewhere far worse then expulsion," he said softly. She knew he was right, the things she was trying, the potions she was tempering with were far too dangerous, anyone would have thought she was out to kill, but still, she wouldn't mess up, not in potion making, she was too careful, too thorough.
"It's too late, I'm sure you could find far more experienced wizards or witches to aid you, professor, now excuse me-" she said turning away.
"I need a potions teacher to cover, you will be paid of course, as much as a regular potions teacher would." she turned again to him, and immediately she tried to hide her interest. Money was what she needed most right now.
"Why me? Aren't there anyone else? I hardly finished third-year potions-"
"Come now Alice, do you think I wasn't aware of the potions you were making on your own?" he said raising his brows, a soft smile on his lips. She mentally cursed at feeling like her child self again looking up at the man with such awe. "At first year you already were making a seventh-year potion for fun"
"But to teach-"
"Something that may take time to get used to -"
"What happened to your previous potion teacher?" this is when the man's blue eyes saddened again.
"I'm afraid I cannot say here... I will further explain if you will come" she gulped. Hogwarts. She never was able to forget the stories that the castle had. The smell, the atmosphere of magic. The feel of a wand and the excitement of brewing a potion. To go would mean to give in all the years she fought to forget. To move on. To go would mean going against the promise she made with her mother. If she went now would she be able to forget it when she finished her job there? Would she want to leave?
But, what choice did she have?
"Can I ask for an advanced payment?"
"Of course, if it is needed." she had already left school, she's lost a home and it was just her mother and her now. Against the world.
"Okay, I...I'll do it, but can I bring my bike?"
Well, that's chapter one. Let me know what you guys think? I know it's kinda short
