Hey guys sorry for not posting for like 2 weeks, I've been busy, tired and uninspired but I finally got myself together and managed to write the chapter so yay for me! I predict there is only about two of three chapters left to this story and then I have a new story (I'll write about it later) and What It Mean's to Be a Socialite to continue with. So I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 25 – The Flaw in the Lie
Alex awoke the next morning heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast, the hall was almost empty.
"Russo!" Alecto called from the opposite side of the hall, Alex stopped in her tracks turning to look back through the golden doors, of where she had just came. "Come with me!" Alecto ordered.
"I was-" Alex began but Alecto interrupted her.
"Now!" she demanded giving Alex a stern looked, Alex sighed heading back towards the golden doors towards Alecto.
"What is it?" Alex asked morosely walking beside Alecto.
"Firstly what information did you gather from Longbottom and Lovegood?" Alecto asked, her eyes gleaming. Alex walked silently along side her for a moment thinking of something to say.
"No useful information," Alex replied casually not meeting Alecto's cold gaze. "I tried my best, but nothing." She continued. Alecto stopped suddenly, Alex turned to Alecto who was smiling.
"Well Longbottom isn't going to be causing trouble much longer." Alecto said grinning, Alex nodded.
"Why's that?" Alex asked carefully trying to just sound curious but her heart was hammering, whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good news. Hogwarts wasn't as it had been before, anyone that caused trouble was reported to the Carrow's, Alex supposed they had, had enough of all the trouble making and had a plan to prevent it.
"We're going to take his poor old Grandmother hostage to keep him in-line" Alecto announced proudly. "They're sending Dawlish over there now, that should keep him from causing anymore trouble." Alecto stated still grinning. Alex stood staring at Alecto for a few moments before smiling at her.
"Sounds like you have it all planned out." Alex said turning to make her way up the staircase, she was going to have to find Neville and warn him.
"Where are you going?" Alecto asked following just behind Alex up the staircase. Alex hesitated for a moment jogging up the stairs to get further away from Alecto.
"I've forgotten my book for Potions class this morning" Alex called back, heading into the Gryffindor common room and not looking back. "NEVILLE!" Alex called loudly running up towards the boys' dormitory. "NEVILLE" she called again more frantically but she could find him nowhere. She let out a sigh of frustration heading back down towards the common room and out of the portrait hole, she supposed Neville would find out sooner or later anyway.
"How nice of you to join us Miss. Russo" Professor Slughorn said delightedly, Alex didn't even acknowledge that he had spoken taking her seat beside Draco who was watching her intently. Alex ignored Draco as best she could, but he was making it increasingly difficult for her. Whispering to her and lightly nudging her to attract her attention.
"Alex, please hear me out." Draco begged pulling lightly on the sleeve of her black robes.
"Leave me alone!" Alex hissed menacingly pushing Draco away and accidentally knocking over her cauldron, causing its content to spill all over the floor and table. The liquefied mixture of salamander tails, crushed dung beetles and lace wing flies began to burn the surfaces it had spilled on. Steam rising. "Ugh! Look what you made me do!" Alex exclaimed furiously, rounding on Draco her eyes narrowed on him giving him a death stare.
"Now, now Miss. Russo…" Slughorn said timidly, approaching the two students as if afraid Alex would round on him too. "As long as nobody was hurt everything is okay." He smiled weakly at Alex hoping to calm her. With a wave of his wand Slughorn had cleared the mess Alex had made, leaving burn marks where it had spilt. Alex looked at Slughorn unsure; he gave her a small, reassuring smile. "It's perfectly okay Miss. Russo, accidents do happen." Alex gave a small nod in response shooting Draco a quick glare.
"I want a different seating arrangement please, Professor." Alex stated in an irritable voice, glowering at Draco as she spoke. "Some people I simply cannot work with." She continued this time without looking at Draco, who looked deeply hurt at her harsh words. Slughorn hesitated for a moment.
"Oh-um-uh, why don't you take a seat at the front of the classroom then Miss. Russo?" He suggested, gesturing toward the seat and empty cauldron sitting in front of him. After double potions Alex slowly packed away her things until she was the only student in the classroom. "Glad to see you back again Miss. Russo." Slughorn said after Draco had left, Alex looked up at Slughorn and simply nodded. "I can assume that something happened between you and Mr. Malfoy over the period of you being away…" Slughorn spoke quietly as Alex packed away her ingredients.
"He's…he's just so ugh, I hate him!" Alex spat violently shoving a bag of salamander tails to the bottom of her bag as she spoke. Slughorn said nothing for a few moments looking sorrowfully at Alex.
"I'm sure it's not my place to say this Miss. Russo, but sometimes we hate the ones we love." He said without making eye-contact with Alex as he spoke. "If I may…where were you after the Christmas holidays?" he asked curiously changing the topic to make the situation less awkward. "After all you missed a lot of Potions work that you may need to catch up on." Slughorn continued lightly, Alex laughed slightly looking at Slughorn and shaking her head.
"I think Professor, that you heard rumours that I was with Harry Potter during the time I was away." Alex said coolly straightening up and heading towards the door. Slughorn's face fell slightly having been found out. "The rumour is true, Sir." Alex admitted turning to face Slughorn and giving him a small smile. "But they left me…" Alex added, her smile fading, she looked down at the floor. "I'll…I'll catch up with the work in my free time." Alex assured him she was about to exit the door before returning briefly. "Sir, I am sorry about ruining your floor…and table." Slughorn let a light chuckle.
"Not to worry Miss. Russo, now run along." He said smiling to himself. Alex made her way to Dark Arts class, she was late but there was no sense of urgency in her step. Casually she walked towards the third floor, thinking to herself when the sound of banging caught her attention. Absentmindedly she was drawn to the mysterious banging which was coming from inside a closed door. Alex tried the handle, the door didn't budge.
"I should have known." Alex muttered to herself. Unable to open the door manually, she pulled out her wand, checking either side of the corridor for any sign of Amycus or Alecto. The banging continued furiously for a few more minutes. "Is someone in there?" Alex called, the banging ceased for a few short seconds when another larger bang accompanied by a muffled 'ouch' caused Alex to jump backwards in surprise. "I'm going to take that as a yes…" Alex called, to which there was no reply. Alex tapped her wand on the door handle muttering the incantation. "Alohomora." The lock didn't click as she had expected it to, gritting her teeth she sighed to herself. There was another loud bang accompanied by yet another whimper of pain, whoever was trapped inside was trying to manually force their way out, but to no prevail. "Can I ask who's in there and would you like some help?" Alex called through the lock.
"That depends who you are!" Neville's voice called back from behind the solid oak door. Alex smiled to herself, luck was on her side today she thought to herself.
"Neville, it's me, Alex." She responded, there was a long pause before Neville finally replied.
"I don't need your help!" He spat bitterly. Alex frowned on the other side of the door.
"Really? Because I think you're in a bit of a predicament right now." Alex replied still wearing a frown as she spoke, she had completely forgotten that she was supposed to be in Dark Arts at that very moment. "Is there anything dangerous or harmful in there with you?" Alex asked curiously.
"There's a Boggart in here and it's trying to get out." Neville replied quietly, Alex strained to hear him. "And some Imps that keep trying to attack me!" Neville called.
"Neville, have you got your wand?"
"No! The Carrows confiscated my wand when they took me from the Great Hall this morning." Neville replied. "They're going after Gran."
"I know, I was looking for you to try and warn you." Alex told him tugging with all the force she could on the door handle, but it was hopeless, she could think of no spell that could open the locked door. "Neville, stand back, I'm doing to blow down the door!" Alex called. "Reducto!" The door was blasted off its hinges and fell to the, hard stone floor with a deafening crash that seemed to echo through the entire third floor. A billowing cloud of dust erupted, making it impossible to see, Alex stepped forward, coughing and spluttering, the cloud slowly cleared and Alex noticed Neville curled up in the corner. Alex helped Neville to his feet. "I want you to take my wand." Alex told him, shoving her red wand into his hand.
"What?" Neville asked, looking up at Alex with a confused expression.
"Take my wand and run!" Alex hissed frantically, she could hear the sound of footsteps and it would only be a matter of time before Amycus or Alecto showed up to investigate. Neville sprinted from the wreckage, his footsteps echoing down the corridor, Alex ran after him. "Give me back my wand!" Alex bellowed, barging past Alecto who was wearing a stunned look on her face. Alex followed Neville until he reached the room of requirement both were panting and sweating as they reached the seventh floor. "Look after my wand." Alex panted, Neville nodded without saying another word disappearing into the room of requirement. Alex gulped in air leaning herself against the cold stone wall, which was somewhat refreshing, she allowed herself to slip down the wall to the floor to rest, all of her energy had gone. She groaned at the sight of Amycus, followed by his very weary tired looking sister.
"Did you catch him?" Amycus panted, wiping sweat from his brow, Alex shook her head slowly, still unable to talk, she simply didn't have the energy or breath to do so.
Amycus, Alecto and Alex slowly made their way down to the third floor, where a crowd had gathered at the scene, a wave of whispers erupted at the sight of Alex being led by The Carrows. Alex caught Luna's eye as she passed giving her a conspicuous thumbs up. The Carrows spent a few minutes investigating the scene where Neville had escaped, muttering to one another. It fell silent at the sight of Snape, who rarely was seen wandering the corridors unless there was any real need.
"What…happened here?" He asked slowly, his eyes sweeping over the dust covered floor and the fallen door.
"Longbottom escaped, headmaster." Alecto informed him quickly. "Once he heard the news about Dawlish and his Grandmother he lost it, so we locked him in the room…he blasted down the door." Alecto explained. "Then he took Russo's wand and escaped through the room of requirement sir." Alex gritted her teeth, she had not expected Snape to be involved in the matter. Snape's eyes surveyed the corridor finally halting on Alex. She gulped, she may have been smart enough to fool the Carrows by any means, but it was questionable if she was cunning enough to fool Snape. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was scanning her.
"Miss. Russo…if you could…follow me." He said in a low voice, he turned his back on her, expecting her to follow and she did. "All of you, get back to your lessons!" Snape spat. Alex trudged behind him slowly, assuring to keep just enough distance between them; she also heard the break out of whispers from the surrounding students making their way back to their lessons as she left.
There was not a single word exchanged between Alex and Snape on their journey to the Headmaster's office on the first floor. Alex wondered what Snape wanted from her, if Snape knew that it couldn't have been Neville, if he knew that she had helped him escape. He said nothing as he swept through the circular office, which looked exactly the same as it had done with Dumbledore had used it. She watched as his black cloak billowed behind him as he walked, leaning over the desk, his black empty eyes fixed on her. "Sit down." He commanded in a slow voice, pointing towards the chair placed just in front of his desk. Alex obliged taking at seat before him, gulping as he leered over her. "Miss. Russo, how exactly did Neville Longbottom escape?" Snape asked, looking deep into Alex's brown eyes as he spoke as if he was reading her. Alex thought for a moment, her mind was racing.
"Weren't you listening when Alecto told you?" Alex asked confidently, staring back into Snape's cold, empty black eyes.
"Yes I did Miss. Russo, but I'm asking your account…after all you are an eye witness." Snape replied, sneering at her. "So how, Miss. Russo, did Neville Longbottom escape?" Snape inquired.
"As Alecto said sir, he blasted down the door." Alex replied bluntly.
"Do you take me for a fool, Russo?" Snape sneered, glaring at Alex. "Because I am not either of those incompetent half-wits, you so easily manipulate and lie to." Snape went on belittling Alex as he spoke. "Neville Longbottom's wand was confiscated earlier this morning." Snape informed Alex, picking up Neville's wand that sat on the desk in front of her. Alex swallowed hard at the sight of it, having to think up another lie. "So tell me Miss. Russo how Mr. Longbottom could have possibly blasted down a door when equipped with no wand?" Snape asked, a small smile curving on his face. "Another key flaw in your story Miss. Russo is that the door that had been blasted off its hinges had indeed been done so…but from the outside, not inside." Snape pointed out triumphantly. "This means you…Miss. Russo were the one that allowed Neville Longbottom to escape." Snape concluded. Alex sat speechless, she knew that she couldn't have fooled Snape, gritting her teeth she thought to herself. "So…I would like the truth Miss. Russo, why did you allow Longbottom to escape?" Snape interrogated her. Alex let out a deep sigh before she spoke.
"I was on my way to The Dark Arts, when I heard banging coming from the door." Alex told Snape honestly. "Out of curiosity, I wanted to know, who or what was behind the door, you know what they say…it was curiosity that killed the cat." Alex laughed, although Snape's expression remained stone like and unmoving.
"Go on…" He urged.
"I had no knowledge that Neville was behind the door." Alex lied this time. Snape said nothing simply staring at her so Alex pressed on with her story. "I asked who was in there but nobody answered, the banging simply got louder. It was beginning to annoy me so I decided to blast down the door." Alex finished, with a small smile. She wasn't sure if Snape would believe her story or even if it sounded believable in itself. There was a few moments of silence between the two of them until Snape finally spoke.
"Why lie in the first place, Miss. Russo?" Snape inquired curiously, raising his eyebrow at her. Alex shrugged.
"I didn't want to get into trouble for blasting down the door and wrecking school property." Alex responded casually. Snape stared into Alex's eyes for a while and Alex stared back at him narrowing her eyes slightly. Snape finally broke the stare, standing up straight.
"Am I being punished?" Alex asked quickly.
"You will be standing guard outside of the room of requirement, nobody goes in and nobody comes out, is that clear?" Snape told Alex sternly, Alex nodded her head slowly. "If you do happen to see Longbottom, inform him that he has been expelled and not to return or he will have me to answer to." Snape continued coldly, handing Alex, Neville's wand. She frowned looking at Snape confused. "He took your wand, did he not?" Snape stated. Alex nodded slowly, before quickly getting up from her chair and leaving as quickly as possible.
Alex remained watch outside the room of requirement over the weeks that passed, but this task did no hinder the DA's plans to help Harry and rebel against Snape and his regime in any way. This in fact helped them. Alex would stand guard, able to keep Alecto and Amycus away from the room of requirement so they could not suspect any suspicious activity while information could be exchanged between Alex and the DA with ease. The DA members usually stayed hidden in the room of requirement, hardly ever emerging unless messages had to be given to Alex or there was any dyer need. None of them any longer attended their lessons since Neville had left and were never seen at breakfast, lunch or dinner in the Great Hall. But it was not the last Alex had seen of Neville, from what she had heard a secret passageway had been built out of the castle which Snape, the Death Eaters and Dementors remained unaware of. Alex had not been informed where the passage lead to, under their security; in case Alex did double cross them and Alex understood this.
Over the past few weeks, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Justin had been trying to come up with plans of how to find the next Horcrux. They knew that somehow they would have to break into Bellatrix's vault and the only way to do that was through the help of Griphook. It seemed that Griphook was not willing to help the foursome without payment, it had been arranged that the goblin would take them to Bellatrix's vault to find the Horcrux in exchange for Gryffindor's sword. Harry had no other choice but to agree to his offer as there was no other way of them getting into Gringotts alone. Lupin had recently informed Harry that his son, Teddy Lupin had been born and that he wanted Harry to be the Godfather. Harry had felt honoured that Remus and Tonks had asked him to be their sons Godfather. Bill had also warned Harry that he could not double cross Griphook and that the goblin was very intelligent. Finally it had all been decided on May first they would break into Gringotts with the goblin Griphook and take the Horcrux from Bellatrix's vault. Hermione would take polyjuice potion to take the form of Bellatrix when asking for the key to her vault, while both Justin and Ron had come up with disguises in case either of them were noticed as being one of Harry Potter's friends and supporters and Harry and Griphook would stay hidden beneath Harry's invisibility cloak to stay concealed from view.
So nearing the end, sadly...I've spent over a year on this trilogy so it will be weird not writing it any more BUT I really, really, really want you guys to know how much I appreciate your reviews I seriously could not ask for better readers who can take the time to read and review it is just, well...I am truly thankful and it's really hard to express in words but seriously thank you so much!