I stared at Harry for a moment. "You don't mean that." I said. He hesitated, but only for a second.
"Actually Alice, I do." Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Harry turned his back to me. I wheedled Harry around. Balled my right hand in a fist and punched him square in the face, breaking his glasses. Ron tried to join the fight, but a swift uppercut to his nose stopped him. It took Fred, George and Sirius to pull me off of Harry.
"Filthy Slytherin." Ron muttered.
"WHAT was that Weasley?" I said turning to him again, trying to break free of my captors.
"Alice, Alice just calm down." Sirius was whispering in my ear trying to calm me down. I whipped my head in Remus' general direction.
"I want to go home. Now. And NOT with him." I spat meaning Harry. Remus stuck out his hand. I took it and Sirius let go of me. Fred and George were a little more reluctant, but finally did so with some reassurance from Arthur. Remus pulled me into a tight hug and we disapperated from Diagon Alley. As soon as I knew we were out the sight of everyone else, I practically collapsed into Remus' arms sobbing. We stopped spinning and apperated, I thought at home. I sobbed into Remus' shoulder staining his shirt with my tears. He held me there for a few more moments trying to sooth me by petting my hair, but when he couldn't calm me, he finally pulled away.
"Alison stop." I didn't stop crying, but I did look up at him. "Allison, look at the sky." I looked up, hiding just beyond the setting sun was a full moon waiting to come out. I panicked taking several steps away from Remus. I searched around for cover, I'd never be able to outrun him when he phased, but maybe I could make it somewhere safe before…Suddenly I realized we were outside the gates of Hogwarts. I breathed a sigh of relief at least someone would be able to help me if…"I don't have much time. I've sent a message to Dumbledore. He's expecting you. Go straight to his office do you hear me?" Remus said, shaking me at the shoulders. It always made me nervous being this close to him on full moon nights. I nodded my head. Hell pulled out his wand, unlocked the Hogwarts gate, and urged me forward. "Remember acid pops." When the gates closed behind me, I watching him slowly disappear into the forbidden forest.
I did exactly as Remus said, walked through the big wooden castle doors, and straight to Professor Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore's office was guarded by a giant gold eagle. "Acid Pops." I said, the eagle jumped aside and allowed me to climb the stone steps to Dumbledore's office. I knocked on his door.
"Enter." Came a voice from the other side. "Ah yes, Miss Potter it seems your birthday falls on a rather inconvenient night this year no?" He laughed to himself. "Lemon drop?" He said offering me a piece of candy. I took it and unwrapped it before popping the strange candy in my mouth. "We are waiting on someone else, I'm afraid it may be a while, he has not been keen on responding to me lately." Oh no not him too! I honestly did not think I could handle having another fight with Severus right now. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. "Ah, and since we may be waiting a while, perhaps you would like to take a nap?" Dumbledore asked.
"I would love a nap!" I said as I stood up to head toward the Slytherin dormitories.
"Now, now, there's no reason to go all the way to the dungeons Alice, You are welcome to sleep on the couch in my sitting room. Dumbledore indicated a rather large velvet couch that had already been decorated with my pillow, and comforter from home.
"Thank you Professor." I said as I slumped over to the couch. Almost as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out. What felt like only moments later, a familiar potion master's firm hand shook me awake. Seeing Severus for the first time in weeks made me forget all of the things I was mad at him for. I tossed my arms over his neck, and kissed him on the cheek. He smelled of the chilly night air, and a mix of herbal potion ingredients. I rested my head on his shoulder as he hugged me back.
"I missed you so much." I whispered into his long greasy hair.
"I missed you too Alice-Lilly." He then straightened up, and helped me off of the couch. "Come along, we have quite a bit to discuss." I sighed. I knew you'd say that. We walked back to Professor Dumbledore's formal office.
"Well Miss Potter please start at the beginning of this whole mess." I explained to Professor Dumbledore about Draco, and the unbreakable vow. Then I explained about telling Severus, and him taking off. Last I ended with today's events.
"You hit your brother?" I couldn't tell if Severus was proud or appalled.
"I was angry. I know it was wrong, but it's wrong for him to ask me to choose between my brother and best friend. Professor Dumbledore, I can't stopped being friends with Draco, I made a vow to always protect him, but I don't want to lose Harry." Dumbledore pondered all of this.
"Severus, I understand you are upset that Alice and Remus went behind your back to make the vow, but I think their intentions were good, and by binding Draco to this promise they have ensured that your family secrets stay secret. You should not have taken off like that. However Alice you're problems are no so easily solved. I knew from the moment Harry and Draco showed dislike toward each other, that you would forever be stuck in the middle of it. It reminds me of another young girl I once knew. This young girl was about your age when she started to develop this same issue. You see this young girl had a best friend who had grown up on the same street as her, though she was muggle born and he was half-blood. They were both accepted to Hogwarts, but when sorting came around the Muggle born girl was sorted into Gryffindor and her best friend was sorted into Slytherin. Of course they were still best friends but the girl soon started to make friends with students in her own house. You know I'm sure about the age old rivalry between Slytherins and Gryffindors." He paused.
"Well these two students hated each other perhaps more than Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryfindor themselves, but this young witch with her golden heart would try her whole life to set aside their differences. They finally did, but unfortunately it was too late for the three friends to enjoy it, because two of them died, leaving the third alone. Only when the two died was the third able to see past their own hatred." Dumbledore smiled.
"That's so sad." I said. I thought about the story, replaying it in my head, then realization hit me like a freight train. "It was you!" I said to Severus. "The Slytherin in the story, was you wasn't it." Severus could only nod.
"Yes, this story is about Severus, your mother, and father. When Remus told me what happened today I could only remember back them. I believe, and this is only speculation, I believe Severus was angry with you making the unbreakable vow with Draco, because it reminded him of himself and Lily so long ago. Severus I called you here because she needs you. Alice is going to need all the help she can balance Harry and Draco. I see so much of you in Draco, and so much of James in Harry, as I know you do. Please help her."
"Are you suggesting that she do as Lilly and I did, and hide our friendship so as to convenience the others?"
"If that is what you think is best." Was all Dumbledore said. "Now I should like to retire to bed, I would like you both to stay in the castle, as least tonight."
"Of Coarse headmaster." We grabbed my pillow and blanket and headed to Severus's chambers in the dungeon. "You may stay in my bed; it's much too soft for me anyhow. I'll sleep on the couch." Severus when we reached his chambers.
"Sev, why did you hate my dad?" I asked.
"He took away more than my best friend Allison. He…" the word he hung in the air for a moment or too. "It was a long time ago, nothing worth bringing up now. Bedroom is that way." He said pointing to a stone door behind his desk. I pushed hard on the door and it swung open. I was about to pass through the other side when Severus called to me. "Alice- Lily, I will always be here for you. The worst part of losing someone is feeling like you have no one to turn to. I just want you to know I will always be here for you, even when others turn their backs to you." I smiled.
"Love you too." I whispered as I shut the door.
