"It's your lucky day, kids. Class dismissed." The last class of the afternoon blinked at Alex incredulously. "Really, you're dismissed. Go on, get out of here," she grinned. She waited until the footsteps had faded away, then drew out her wand and headed for the storage closet. Now that I've seen his apartment, well, part of it, anyway, I ought to be able to plot it. Alex held the wand loosely in front of her like a dowsing rod. Come on, come on... The wand quivered and pointed toward the back wall of the closet. Stepping around boxes of potions components, she allowed it to pull her up to the wall. The tip of the wand lodged between two blocks of stone and stopped.
"Alohomora," she murmured, half-hoping that the stones would slide back. Nothing budged. No one said this would be easy. Alex pocketed the wand and ran her fingers over the stones, feeling for a hidden catch or lever. Patiently, she worked her way along, sliding into the narrow space between the wall and the last heavily-laden set of shelves. Her questing fingers suddenly encountered ...nothing. She jerked her hand back, drawing her wand once more. "Lumos." Alex frowned, puzzled. There was nothing but solid stone. Cautiously, she ran her hand along the wall and again met empty air. She waved her hand, tentatively at first, then boldly, putting her whole arm into the empty space. Weird. Holding the wand aloft, she stepped forward. A narrow corridor opened before her, running parallel to the closet wall she'd just explored. She took several steps along it. Turning back revealed the secret: the back wall of the closet had a narrow archway cut into it. The stones of the secret passage beyond matched up perfectly with those of the closet wall, blending in seamlessly in the dim light. From the outside the opening was virtually invisible. Alex chuckled. Hidden in plain sight. Tricky. She witch made her way down the corridor. Funny, he doesn't seem to have any wards up...
-----
...from now on.
24. I will leave Professor Snape alone and mind my own bloody business from now on.
25. I will leave Professor Snape alone and mind my own bloody business from now on.
26. I will leave Professor Snape alone and mind my own bloody
Alex blinked at the neat lines of writing filling half the blackboard. What the... She looked down at the piece of chalk in her hand. Damn, he's good. Returning to the hidden passage, she quickly cast a spell. "Nonentity," she murmured, then slipped through the ward. She advanced with more caution this time, shuddering as the corridor widened to reveal three small, iron-barred cells, complete with chains and manacles hanging from the walls. Sheesh. Detention was a lot harsher in the old days. A door, oak, iron-banded, stood at the end of the corridor. She briefly considered casting alohomora, then settled for knocking.
"Come in." The voice was sullen, resigned. Alex grinned and conjured a tray. She opened the door. She took in the darkened room with a glance; bare stone walls, book cases loaded with books and scrolls, shelves with assorted vials and containers. Heh. Less-than-legal potions ingredients, I'll bet. Snape was slumped on a sofa drawn up near the fireplace. "I brought you an after-school snack. Ooh, look, cookies and a nice big glass of cold milk."
He gave the food a brief, horrified glance and hastily shut his eyes. "By all the merciful gods, Miss Rose, if you've come to kill me, just do it and get it over with."
She quickly banished the tray, stifling the reflexive urge to apologize. Bastard. Serves you right. "You look like shit," she told him cheerfully. He really did look awful. His face was white and the front of his robe was stained with vomit and slug slime. "Do you always sit around in the dark ?" The glow from the hearth provided the only light. Alex lit a couple of candles. Not too bad, actually, she decided, looking over the room. The stone floor was thickly covered with Persian rugs. The overstuffed leather sofa looked worn but comfortable. She sat down gingerly on the opposite end from Snape. "Eew, you stink. Sheesh. Scourgify." The spell took care of the worst of the mess on his robes.
"Eh, better leave that. Just in case," he cautioned as she moved to dispose of a bucket he'd apparently been using to be sick into.
"Gods, you're still puking ?" Wow. That is some curse, she thought, not sure whether to be appalled or proud.
Snape glanced at a clock on the mantel. "No slugs for the past... half-hour. I'm beginning to think I may live." He didn't sound particularly pleased at the prospect. "You were limping, just now," he said guardedly.
"Yeah. Your leg-locker curse has a mean kick to it."
"Oh."
He looked surprised for just a second, almost pleased. Alex considered her momentary pride in her own curse and decided to let it go. "You really are a bastard, you know. Were you ever going to own up to using a Memory Charm on me ?"
"I wasn't planning to," he admitted. "I was counting on your never finding out."
"Gods, you are so arrogant -"
"Overly optimistic," he corrected her.
"You're pathetic, is what you are."
"Yes. Yes I am."
"I really don't see why I should forgive you."
"What I did was unforgivable," he agreed.
Alex narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "If I did forgive you, it'd be better than you deserve," she said slowly.
"Far better." His eyes glittered, jet black in the dim light.
"You're just agreeing with everything I say," she accused.
"Yes."
Alex tried to glare at him but gave it up. She slid over and hugged him. "Cut it out, already. Sheesh."
"Easy..." he winced. Alex shifted her weight off of his stomach. She leaned her head against his chest, sighing contentedly as he put his arms around her. They sat quietly for a while, Severus stroking her hair. "No more curses, agreed ?"
"Okay. As long as you're honest with me from now on. Completely honest. Got that ?"
He snorted. "You weren't exactly completely honest with me, either...Miss Corwin."
She sat up and looked at him. "I've gone by my mother's maiden name for years. I even had it legally changed. There was no dishonesty involved."
"You changed your name to Alex ?" He raised an eyebrow. "What on earth was it before ?"
"Alexandria," she muttered. "And don't even think about it. I've always hated it." Alex settled herself more comfortably on the couch, somewhat surprised when he didn't argue with her.
"I didn't intend to hurt you, this afternoon," he said softly, "I was just trying to get you to stop breaking things and listen."
"Well I did mean to hurt you. I was pissed off."
Snape chuckled. "I noticed, Alexandria."
"Watch it, Sev."
"Don't call me that. I loathe nicknames."
"Aw, come on, Sev. How about Sevvy ?"
"Cut it out, or I'll kiss you."
"Eew. Not tonight, slug breath."
