The Adventures of The Misfit Professors
Chapter 13 Part 3
"The Week From Hell: The Final Days"
By: Deep Shadows and Eckostalker
Friday Morning... Sometime too early for us to calculate...
Severus awoke quitely, immediatly recognizing where he was before he even opened his eyes. He heard Poppy scuffling around to his left and could feel a presence to his right. He slowed his breathing, trying to make it seem as if he were still asleep long enough to devise a away to get out of the infirmary. He knew after an allergic reaction after that she would want to keep him for half the day and he classes to teach today. He thought to himslef formulating a plan.
If I can get past her to the doors, I can outrun her, or better yet, sneak past her with out her even noticing... Severus thought and he opened up his eyes, peering around without moving his head. He could see Remus once again sleeping at his bed side, something that bothered him, but that uncomfort could wait to be thought of later. Severus moved quietly, placing his bare fett on the stone floor. He cursed Pomfrey for removing his socks as well, casue the floor was freezing. He moved smoothly around the sleeping Remus, who was drooling on himself, something Severus would harrass him about later. He began to tiptoe toward the door, moving as softly as his sore muscles would allow him to. Suddenly Remus looked up and smiled, but before Severus could silence him he spoke.
"So, your up I see." He spoke and Severus mummbled a string of curses at him as Pomfrey was heard bustling over. He immedaily galred at Remus and took off running for the door, stumbling abit but moving out the doors at great speed. He could hear he calling his name, but his mind was on making his legs get him to his room. He tunred a corner and bolwed right into someone hge recognized as Alexis and he caught her before she fell to the ground.
"What are you trying to do kil-" She asked and he covered her mouth, moving her to the shadowy alcove int he hallway just as Pomfrey rushed by, calling his name. He breathed a sigh of releif and covered Alexis's mouth, grimacing as he felt her lick his hand.
"You licked me." He snalred and she shook he head.
"Thats what you ge-t for putting your hand on my mouth, dork. That was so gross. And what are you trying to do anyways, kill me?" Alexis asked him and Severus remembered all the pranks he knew Alexis was pulling on him.
"No, I think I should be asking that question." He snarled at her and she backed away fromhim, looking at yhim oddly.
"Huh? I'm not trying to kill you, dork." Alexis replie dand Severus' anger boiled. The whole reason Severus had to ruin away from Poppy in the first place in becasue Alexis put him in the hosiptal wing. He just decided tolether have a piece of his mind.
"Right Alexis, I'm sure. Becasue you wouldn't think A lethifold is dangerous. And you know you that I am afraid of dogs, but that wouldn't make you sic any on me. And of course, that chandelier fell all on it's own. And the horse carriage was all an accident too, And it wasn't one of your auror buddies who let it loose on me. Oh, and the big one, Garlic won't KILL ME!" Severus hollered, not caring it Pomfrey heard him at this point of not.
Alexis cocked her head in confusion, speaking slowly. "Dogs? You're afraid of dogs? And we have chandeliers? What horse carriage? And if garlic didn't do that to you, what did?! What the hell are you yelling about?!" Alexis asked him and Severus rolled his eyes, glaring at her.
"Sure Alexis, play stupid, your are good at that. But one of this days, your stupid pranks are gonna kill me, and then you'll have to deal with the guilt and consequences." Severus told her, infuriated that she was blantantly denying that she had anything to do with any of this.
"The only one playing stupid here is you Severus. I haven't played a prank on you in a while. And besides, my pranks are never life threatening." She stated lowly, looking like she was about to cry. Severus could see that and knew his anger would not last through a cryfest.
"Whatever Whyte, but the next time you pull a prank on me, it's gonna be payback, big time. You have no idea who you are messing with. I guess you didn't learn your lesson four years ago." Severus growled, turning on his heel and storming off, hearing Alexis hollering after him.
"Fine! Next time you die, I won't cry over you!"
He heard her and hesitated in a confused step, but continued his fury-filled march away from her. He stormed to his room, dressing in fury and then he stormed to his classroom. He slammed the door, even though it was still breakfast time and no students were there to witness his fury. He went to his desk and pulled out the drawer, wanting a quill. He opened the drawer and suddenly he was staring face to face with his worst fear. His chest froze and he quickly drew his wand and yelled a spell.
"Riddikulous!" His voiced echoed and what he knew to be a boggart, changed to a form he found humorous. He contained it and moved it to a closet in his classroom, not wanting to deal with it.
He hated the bloody things, he hated how they made him look his fear in the eyes. He slammed the closet door and then a thought hit him.
"That's one more prank. I wonder what Alexis's greatest fear is?" He thought as he walked back to his desk, devising a plan.
Alexis watched Severus stomp away, tears brimming in her eyes. She shook her head as she turned and walked on towards the infirmary. She had been heading there in the first place to see how he and Remus were doing. Well, he could forget about getting any condolences, the little jerk.
"Me, trying to kill him? What the hell is he thinking?! I've never pulled a prank on him with the intentions of killing him!" Alexis mourned to herself, wiping away tears as she turned down the hallway towards the infirmary. She met Remus coming out of it, and he stopped her with a look of confusion.
"You alright?" He asked soothingly, and Alexis nodded, quickly drying her face.
"Yeah. Severus is just being an ass. Was going to ask if you two needed breakfast or something, but I guess not. Do you still want breakfast?"Alexis asked quickly, hoping to change subjects.
Remus smiled a bit, shaking his head. "No. I'm fine. You should eat though."
Alexis was silent, then quickly spoke. "Oh no, I... already ate. Had a... a... salad. Yeah, don't worry about me."
Remus nodded in satisfaction. "That's good. You see? Vegetables are not that bad."
Alexis smiled sheepishly, replying. "Yeah, sure."
"Best be going to prepare for classes. Pomfrey's coming back soon, so you might want to skedaddle before she catches you. See you later!" Remus called happily, walking away down the hall.
Alexis sighed with relief, leaning against the wall. "That was close..." She mumbled. She hated lying to her father, but she didn't want him worrying about her any moe than he did. She might not've eaten a salad, but she did have some chocolate this morning... that was good... wasn't it?
Best not let Pomfrey catch me... she'll want to check up and see how the baby's doing... Alexis thought, quickly heading away from the infirmary. She turned down the hallway she was just in, instead heading back to her quarters.
"Alexis." A voice echoed down the hall, and Alexis froze in step, eyes wide. I know that voice... and it was Alexis. Not Whyte. Not Weasley. Uh oh...
Alexis looked around, seeing Severus standing in the Potion's classroom doorway. He had his head lowered slightly, eyes roaming everywhere but to her. Alexis cocked her head in confusion, speaking cautiously. "Severus?"
"Yes. Um... can you come here for a moment?" Severus asked lowly, feet shuffling a bit. Alexis clearly recognized the signs of nervousness, and it was actually kind of funny. She slowly walked towards him, watching him with confusion. He sighed, turning into his doorway and gesturing her to follow him in.
She did so, and he walked to his desk, sitting behind it and rubbing his temples slowly, sighing to himself. Alexis stood in front of the desk, wondering what was going on with him. He had just accused her of trying to assassinate him, and know he wanted to see her? Something weird was going on...
"Alexis... I um... well... I need to... apologize." He spoke the last quietly, looking up at her slowly. Alexis's eyes widened slightly as she spoke. "Apologize to me? You?"
Severus sighed, nodding his head. "Yes. I... have not been having a good week. And I had no intentions of snapping at you like that. I... I'm... sorry."
Alexis shook her head roughly, then stared at him with a raised eyebrow. I would find this very suspicious if he wasn't so nervous about it... now it's just weird... at least he knows he was wrong... hehehehe...
Severus looked back down at his desk, folding hs hands in front of him in a preoccupied fashion. "And um... I, need your help with something." He said the last quickly, and it took Alexis a minute to register it. Then she narrowed her eyes and hissed.
"I knew there was a catch!"
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded slowly. "Yes... I mean. Sorry. But that wasn't my intention when I apologized."
Alexis nodded slowly, smirking at his antics. It was funny seeing him nervous about her.
"Well, I need something out of my closet."
Alexis stared at him oddly, cocking her head. "Your closet? What, you have a phobia with them now or something?"
Severus glared slightly, but quickly hid it and spoke resignedly." Not precisely. I've been really... jumpy, lately. I keep dropping things. And this bottle is very expensive, I can't afford to drop it and risk spoiling it's contents. Would... would you retrieve it for me?"
Alexis studied him carefully for amoment, but he kept her gaze, looking at her expectantly. She sighed, shaking her head slowly.
"Okay Sev. I'll get this bottle for you. What does it look like?"
Severus's eyebrow rasied slightly, and then he quickly spoke. "Oh, yes. It's in a good sized purple flask. The light in the closet went out a while ago, but the bottle should be on the third shelf... thank you." He added, and Alexis shook her head, smirking slightly as she walked towards the classroom from his office, mumbling. "You're welcome Severus."
She chuckled slightly to herself, walking across the classrom towards the closed closet. Well, guess he's feeling a bit better... that or Pomfrey got him to take medication before he ran off this morning...
Alexis thought, nonchalantly turning the handle on the closet door and opening it curiously. She was immediately overcome by a bone chillingly coldness, and she backed up a small step nervously, gazing into the pitch blackness of the closet that seemed to spread out from it's depths into the room. She gazed at the closet nervously, trying to let her eyes adjust. She gasped slightly, seeing that the darkness emanating from the closet was in fact wisping black flames. Cold, black flames.
She froze in place when a small laugh came from it's depths, a laugh that spoke solely of maliciousness and ill intent. Alexis trembled slightly, unable to move as a figure stepped out from the blackness of the closet, a cold gaze locked on her own wide green eyes.
Alexis took in the person's appearence, it's small stature, it's smoothly rounded features... and it's dazzling ivory hair that hung choppily about it's face. Alexis stumbled back one step, her breath caught painfully in her throat as blood red eyes bore into her, eyes that burned with insane bloodlust and evil.
Alexis couldn't hold back the terrified scream that suddenly emanated from her throat, and the figure laughed once more before the horror of what Alexis saw overwhelmed her, a blackness coming up to swallow Alexis as her mind became swamped with unmanageable fear. Then, she knew no more.
Severus stood at the door, hoping that Alexis would walk down this hallway. He heard her footsteps and smirked for a moment, standing the doorway of his classroom as she walked by. Now, to play the part of a nervoulsly proud male who is about to admit he was wrong and is embarrassed about it... Severus thought as he looked at her, calling out her name. He saw her freeze and he purposely dind't look at her when she turned to look at him, lowering his head to look at the floor.
"Severus?" She spoke his name cautiously and he knew she was suspiciuos. I would be too, but she'll get over it... Though she should be suspicious... Severus thought as he spoke, making himself stumble for words as he faked being nervous.
"Yes. Um... can you come here for a moment?" Severus spoke lowly, shuffling his feet a bit. He heard her walking toward him and his trap. He sighed in relief, which was actually true for the moment, for she took the bait. He tunred into the classroom, gesturing for her to follow him and he walked to his desk. He felt kind of like a spider, luring it's prey to it's death, except he wasn't going to kill Alexis, just give her a dose of her own medicine. He sat at his desk, rubbing his temples, sighing as Alexis walked forward and stood in front of his desk. He could tell by her silence that she was thinking, seeing as that was the only time she was silent. He took this moment to being his ploy.
"Alexis... I um... well... I need to... apologize." He forced himself to say, even though he really didn't mean it. He was still furious, but he made it sound convincing, even lowering his voice at the last word as he looked up at her, making himself look sorrowful. He saw her eyes widen as she stated. "Apologize to me? You?" She asked in disbelief, as he expected and he elaborated on his tale as she sighed, nodding his head.
"Yes. I... have not been having a good week. And I had no intentions of snapping at you like that. I... I'm... sorry." He spoke quietly, keeping eye contact with her, but a mind block as well. He watched as she shook her head roughly as she stared at him with a rasied eyebrow. He knew she was questioning the validity of his statements and he hoped his acting was enough. He looked back down, folding his hands on his desk, preparing to execute the next phase.
"And um... I, need your help with something." He stated rapidly and knew Alexis had to pause to catch it. He heard her hiss at him.
"I knew there was a catch!"
I didn't think about her taking it like that... improvise... Severus thought as he pinched the bridge of his nose, nodding slightly as he spoke.
"Yes... I mean. Sorry. But that wasn't my intention when I apologized." He covered and saw her nodding at him, smirking at him. Yeah, we'll see who's smirking after this... Severus thought as he contiuned.
"Well, I need something out of my closet." He said lowly and she cocked her head at him, staring at him oddly.
"Your closet? What, you have a phobia with them now or something?" She asked and he grimaced in rememberance of his two day capture and inprisonment in his own closet. Come to think of it, that was Alexis's fault too... Severus thought as he glared slighty, but he then hid it quickly. It would not do to make a mistake now.
" Not precisely. I've been really... jumpy, lately. I keep dropping things. And this bottle is very expensive, I can't afford to drop it and risk spoiling it's contents. Would... would you retrieve it for me?" He asked with resignantion as she studied him, locking eyes with him and he kept her gaze, looking at her with expectation. Then after a moment, she sighed shaking her head at him.
"Okay Sev. I'll get this bottle for you. What does it look like?" She asked him and he raised an eyebrow at her. What no making me beg?... What does this bottlelook like?... Severus thought as he spoke quickly to her, describing as bottle he had broken just yesterday.
"Oh, yes. It's in a good sized purple flask. The light in the closet went out a while ago, but the bottle should be on the third shelf... thank you." He added in quickly, not forgetting that Alexis would expect and near demand gratitude. Alexis smirked slightly as she shook her head, turning to walk toward the closet, mumbling.
"You're welcome, Severus." She chuckled slightly to herself, walking across the classroom towards the closed closet. Severus watched her in anticipation as she turned the corner to face the closet. He couldn't see her anymore as he heard her open the closet. He saw that part of the room get a bit darker and then he heard an evil, vindictive laughter. Laughter that sent chills down his spine. He waited to see Alexis running away screaming bloody murder, but instead she let out an ear peircing, bloodcurdling scream that made him jump, and he saw her fall to the floor through his office door.
Suddenly he knew that he had done something really stupid. He quickly pushed back from his desk, scrambling to his feet and running out his office door with nervous confusion. He didn't get two steps out the door though when he came to a skidding halt, staring with an open mouth and widened eyes at the form the boggart had taken. It was... Alexis.
She's scared of herself? Severus though for a moment, but his breath caught in his throat as the small, white haired figure turned towards him. Blood red eyes locked on him, holding him in place, and an evil smirk forming on her face that held so many intentions of plotting and scheming. And not the prank kind of scheming. She stood tall, well, not tall, jut proud and sure of herself, a stance that showed power and demanded respect. Black robes adorned her body, and what unnerved him also were the black flames that writhed about her feet. Flames that sent him to shivering instead of sweating.
She laughed again, and he shuddered, that laugh not too different from a former Dark Lord's that he had known. It's her evil self... He thought, looking down at the unconcious real Alexis, sprawled on the floor and her complexion as pale as death.
He had no time to move though as the boggart shifted and contorted, the chilling black flames receding and the scary visage of the evil Alexis blurred together, taking on a form that struck a chord of sorrow in his chest. It was now his turn to face his fears. Before him stood a tall woman, black hair cascading down her back as she looked at him with utter disdain, even hatred. It was Miranda, and he had to gather his thoughts quickly, thining of how to make this humorus. She was looking at him like she did the night he broke her heart, like he had failed her. He took a deep breath and pointed his wand at the boggart shouting.
"Riddikulous!" He yelled and the form of Miranda turned from looking at him in disdain to having fallen on her butt. He sent the boggart back to the closet and then looked down at Alexis, her form lying prone on the floor, her skin very pale. He knelt by her side and checked her wrist for a pulse. It was there, and it slow and steady. Her breathing was shallow and Severus sat back on his heels, rubbing his forehead. Suddenly the potion's room door slammed open, making Severus jump and yell.
"Holy shit!"
Artimis was lying in bed sleeping contently for once. She was dreaming of her and Draco sitting in the lounge of Manor Dela Loyalty, just talking. She missed him so much, but in her dream, that feeling of loss and helplessness was gone, becasue he was with her. Abruptly the dream was gone and Artimis was staring at one of the things she feared the most. She was looking at Alexis, Alexis in her evil form. Artimis had the distinct feeling this was not a dream. She sat up in bed, sweating and still the image was in her mind, through the mind-link. Artimis screamed loudly.
"NO!" She echoed and she braced for what she knew she had to do. Alexis had gone evil, Artimis had to keep her promise. She leapt up out of bed, grabbing her sword, which happened to be by her bed, and she drew her wand. She sensed where Alexis was, but could no longer feel her in her mind, another sign of Alexis's turning to her dark side. Artimis took off out of her room, following her instincts as she latched her sword on her back. She turned toward the Potion's classroom and she feared the worst for Severus. If Alexis had truly gone evil, then Severus was dead, strewn about the classroom in a grand display of carnage. She slammed opened the do, hardening her heart and her face, preparing to kill her best friend in the world on her word. She froze at what she saw as Severus leapt up, yelling. "Holy Shit!"
Alexis wasn't standing over his slain body, cackling in evilness. She was out cold on the floor, lying on her back and Severus was now standing on his feet looking at Artims like she was a ghost. Artimis dashed over to Alexis's side, looking at her. She didn't have any of the signs of being evil, Artimis checking her eyes to see that they were indeed green. Then she turned on Severus faster than he knew what hit him. She grabbed him by the throat, slamming him into the wall with one hand, the other hand pointing her wand at his throat.
"What did you do to her?" She hissed with danger. She knew he had to have done something to her to make Artimis see a vision of that. What he had done, she wasn't sure, but he had done it. He squirmed, obviously trying to breath and she loosened her grip only so that he could speak.
"Boggart..." He spoke and Artimis growled at him, slamming him into the wall again.
"How did she get around a boggart SEVERUS?" She asked him, daring him to lie to her. Artimis knew that Alexis avoided those things like the plague and knew that Alexis left any room that even had a suspected boggart in it. Seveus looked guilty as he spoke strainedly.
"I tricked her..." He began and Artimis threw him across the room, letting go of him.
"You did WHAT? You arrogant, self-center bastard! You made me think I was going to have to slay my best friend. What would possess you to trick her into facing a Boggart? Are you that dense?" Artimis hollered, looking at Severus as he sat on the ground, rubbing his throat. She saw him look like he was going to yell back and Artimis looked at him in the fashion of 'how mad do you want me to be' and he looked at her dejectedly, not saying anything. Suddenly Remus burst into the room, rushing to Alexis's side.
"I heard her scream. What did he do to her?" Remus asked, lifting Alexis into his lap protectively, as he looked at Artimis.
"This moron tricked her into facing a Boggart." Artimis stated, pointing to Severus. Artimis saw Remus give him a murderous look as he picked Alexis up and carried her off. Artimis glared at Severus, who had picked himself gingerly up off of the floor.
"Severus, how could you do that to her? She is pregnant for god's sake! I don't need this crap. I am going to see Draco tonight. How am I supposed to trust you to be around her while I am gone if you pull this shit? Oh, I could kill you right now." Artimis barked at him, shaking her haed in anger. She had a pain in her stomach and she grabbed her abdomen, galring at him as she recognized it as her child kicking her hard. Severus looked at her with worry and took a step forward and Artimis glared at him. She kicked him in the shin hard and stormed out of the room, angry at him. She stormed to her room, throwing her sword to the floor as she collapsed on her couch, holding her stomach as she thought about how much she wanted Draco to comfort her at this moment. She missed him so much. She cried as she hugged herself in her dark quarters.
Alexis swallowed painfully, her head throbbing horribly. She shuddered slightly, trying to think of why she was sleeping in the first place. Suddenly, it struck her like a ton of very heavy bricks. Her eyes shot open wide and she sat bolt upright in the bed she had been placed in, gaze darting around fearfully. Her head swam painfully, but she had to make sure what she had seen wasn't real. She trembled violently, and she then felt arms wrap around her, and she went limp in the warm embrace, breath coming short and laborisly.
"Sshh... it's okay... everything's okay now..." A man's voice whispered soothingly, and Alexis buried her head in Remus's chest. She swallowed again, hugging him tightly and then grimacing as her stomach did a flip flop. She pulled away from Remus momentarily, leaning over the edge of her bed, fighting back being sick. Her queasiness passed after a moment, and she leaned back with a sigh, looking at Remus, who watched her with concern.
She looked around, recognizing the infirmary. She frowned, wondering why she had been brought there. She hadn't been hurt... she expected to have woken up in someone's room. She looked at Remus, asking with a sore voice. That scream had hurt.
"Why am I in here?"
Remus sighed, shaking his head as he sat back on the edge of her bed, frowning slightly at her. He sighed as he spoke. "Well for one, you lied to me."
Alexis looked at him with confusion for a moment, and he continued. "For two, I was taking you to my quarters when you got sick. On me. Three times. That's how I knew when you lied too. You didn't have salad this morning."
Alexis caught on, grimacing a bit, realizing why he was in different clothes now.
"And third, I wanted to make sure what Severus did didn't hurt you. I figured this was the best place to go after all that." Remus finished solemnly.
Alexis narrowed her eyes. So it WAS Severus's doing... oohh, I don't like him... Alexis thought angrily, then Remus asked her sternly.
"Why did you lie to me Alexis?"
Alexis lowered her eyes, feeling guilty now. She sighed, speaking quietly. "I didn't want you to worry any more than you have been. I have been eating... a little. But I knew you wouldn't buy that, so I just told you that I had been. It made you happy, and you didn't seem so stressed out." She explained, and he shook his head.
"That's why you got sick. No eating, and the shock of the whole event. Alexis, this is why I have to worry about you. It's my job, and you don't seem to worry too much. I just wish you would see how this is hurting you. And the baby." Remus spoke sternly, shaking his head.
Alexis looked away, hating the 'fatherly stare', as she always called it. Maybe I should try to eat vegetables... Alexis thought sorrowfully, laying back against the pillow on the infirmary bed. Then her thoughts to Severus and his own cruel prank. She shuddered in remembrance, closing her eyes as she tried to breath steadily.
"Don't worry, I doubt he'll ever do anything like that again." Remus growled, understanding her expression and smoothing her hair on her head. Alexis smiled at him with gratefulness, wondering how she would have ever gotten around some things without him.
Suddenly she heard famliar booted feet entering the infirmary, and her eyes widened with nervousness. Rmus saw her expression, turning and looking towards the doors, a scowl clouding his usual calm features as Severus Snape walked towards the two.
Severus felt like an idiot, a prime idiot. He paced his classroom, trying to figure out to make what he did right. Yes, Alexis had tried to kill him, but he knew better than to let that color his judgement. He should have been the bigger person, he should not have tricked Alexis like that.
"Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!" Severus grumbled to himself. Then he looked at a set of notes on his desk that he had been working on in secret for a few weeks. He had known Alexis was not eating and knew he stubornness would not give in, even for the sake of her unborn child. And he also knew that he would be asked to assist in 'feeding times' once again, and once was enough. He glanced over the notes, they were tinkerings of ideas of transfiguring vegetables into meat, and also changing the chemicals in the vegetables to make them taste like meat. He hadn't really gotten a chance to work on them, with his constant visits to Madam Pomfrey and his near death experiences.
"That's it! I'll gether to help me make her something she can eat. Then I will feel less guiltly, and she will be less irritable." Severus rationalized. He walked out of his classroom and headed straight to the infirmary. He entered it, seeing Alexis and Remus at one area. He walked over and Remus gave him a scowl that made him wonder if this was such a good idea, but he had made up his mind and that was that.
"Remus, I was wondering if I might have a word with Alexis... alone." Severus spoke, keeping his voice even and calm. Remus on the other hand, wasn't taking the same effort.
"You must be crazy if you think I am going to leave you alone with her. After what you did, you are lucky that I don't kill you... You could have hurt my daughter and my grandchild you moron." Remus declared angriy andd Severus rubbed his forehead with a sigh.
"I do not intend to hurt her, as I did not intend to do so earlier. Would it help to pursue you to leave us be for a moment if you dwelled on the fact that were I to try to hurt her, Pomfrey is in the room and would skin me alive, literally." Severus spoke and Remus went to yell something but stopped, looking to the medi-witch who was watching Severus with a glare.
"I will be right outside the door Alexis. If you need me, just call." Remus spoke and he walked out of the room, giving Severus on last warning glare. He sighed and sat down next to Alexis in the chair and she looked at him warily.
"Alexis, I am so sorry." Severus spoke, this time meaning it. She looked at him with indifference.
"Yeah, sure, got another stupid trick you want to pull on me?" She snarled at him and he sighed, looking at the floor.
"I am sorry, I didn't think that you would react to it that way. After all that has happened this week, I wanted revenge, revenge on anybody." Severus stated and Alexis rolled her eyes.
"Oh no, here comes another fake sob story, wonder what he has up his sleeve now." Alexis mocked him, but he had expected it.
"Wether or not you believe me, I want to make it up to you. I have been studying a way to make it so you could eat vegetables, but they would taste like meat and look like meat. I will need your help, but I think I can do it." Severus spoke and Alexis glared at him.
"Oh no. No more help from me for you. I don't trust you anymore." Alexis told him and he grimaced. He didn't think that this would make Alexis no longer trust him. He never thought he could do anything that would make Alexis not trust him.
"Fine. Would it help if I asked Remus to come as well, or Artimis?" Severus spoke hopefully, trying to see how he could get her to at least think about forgiving him. Alexis rubbed her chin in thought and then she looked at him with curiousity.
"Remus. Cause if you tried a stupid stunt like that again, he would protect me. And Artimis doesn't need the stress." Alexis spoke without remorse, and Severus nodded resignedly, hearing the disgrace in her voice.
"Remus!" Alexis called and he rushed through the door and was glaring at Severus.
"What Alexis?" He asked and she smirked, feeling very very protected no doubt.
"We're going to go do to the dungeons and I am going to help Severus make something, but I don't trust him, so I want you to come too." Alexis told him and Remus nodded quickly.
"Understandable. But shouldn't you eat first?" Remus asked and Severus interjected.
"That is what we are working on. I am in the process of devising a way to make vegetables more edible for her." Severus stated and Remus looked at him like the scum on the bottom of his shoe. Severus shrugged and got up, beginning to walk toward the door, he heard Alexis and Remus follow him and they headed to his classroom. They walked in silence and they entered the classroom, Artimis sitting in there, sniffling a bit as she graded papers, eating chocolate. Severus looked at her, seeing the puffy red eyes and he knew that she was doing busy work to keep her mind off of Draco. She looked up, glared, and then went back to her work.
Severus walked over to his work station and sat, Alexis following suit. Severus looked at his notes and began pulling things on his list out, not saying anything to Alexis or Remus. He began measuring things and then looked at Remus with a sly smirk.
"You can help as well. You are far better at Transfigurations than I and they will need to be transfigured after I change them." Severus spoke and Remus looked at him with curiousity.
"Transfigure them into what? Transfigure what?" Remus asked and Severus shook his head, holding up some celery.
"Transfigure this into a porkchop." Severus spoke and Remus cocked his head at him, rolling his eyes. Severus went back to mixing what he needed to mix. After he changed the chemicals of the food, he handed it to Remus, who after a few tries, sucessfully made an ungreen pork chop.
"Alexis, try it." Severus told her and she looked at him warily.
"After I just watched you change it? It's a vegetable." She stated with slight disgust and he rolled his eyes at her.
"Yes, try it." He asked and Alexis furrowed her eyebrows at it.
"It's a vegetable, but it doesn't look like it. And it doesn't smell like it, but it is. I gotta try it." She stated with finality and Severus watched her as she took a bite out of it and chewed it a bit. She smirked and swallowed, frowning a bit in thought.
"It has a leafy tang to it, but it tasted like meat!" She spoke happily and Remus looked at her as if expecting her to get sick. Severus made a note about increasing something to make the tang go away. Alexis wolfed down the rest of the 'porkchop' when he turned away.
"Thank you Severus." Alexis spoke and Severus nodded his head at he wrote quickly.
"You are welcome. I will work on a way to develop this so that we can do this with all vegetables." He spoke and Alexis shook her head at him with disbelief.
"You mean you are going to basically cook for me?" Alexis asked and Severus looked at her, seeing her surprise.
"Yes, as a way of apoligizing. I will make food that you will actually be able to eat without getting sick. It will relieve everyone else if they know you are eating, and it will erase some of my guilt if I know I am helping you." Severus spoke and Alexis looked at him with more shock.
"Oh, ok." She spoke quietly and Severus nodded, mxing something else and changing another piece of celery chemically. Then he drew his own wand and tried to transfigure it. It took him six times, but it was finally a porkchop.
"Ugh... I hated Transfiguration then and I hate it now. Here Alexis, seeing as you seem hungry. And tell me if it still has that 'tang'." He spoke, handing it too Alexis and she smiled smally at him and took a bite of it. She smiled at him again and shook her head.
"It, it tastes like a porkchop! And I am not getting sick! Thank you Severus." Alexis yelped and Severus nodded, making another note.
"Thank you Severus." Remus spoke and Severus looked at him, nodding to him. After that Alexis left with Remus and Severus looked at Artimis, who had her head down on the desk. They had forgotten that she was in the room and he walked over and touched her shoulder. He lifted her head quickly and mumbled.
"I'm awake, I am." She stated and he sighed.
"Artimis, go to bed." He told her and she looked at the clock and leapt up.
"Oh my god, I am supposed to be with Draco." She stated frantically and he grabbed her shoulders, looking her in the eyes.
"Artimis, listen to me. You aren't sleeping properly. Do you think Draco would want you to be killing yourself slowly by not sleeping? Go to bed." He told her and she shook her head pulling away from him.
"I have to be by him. He needs me. I need him." She stated and with that she ran off. Severus sighed and then walked out of the room, locking the door as he headed to his quarters. He opened the door and closed it, kicking off his shoes as he walked to his semi-kitchen area. He opened the fridge and pulled out a tall bottle of vodka. He sat down with a shot glass and began to drink himself into oblivion.
"If somebody is gonna kill me, might as well do it tonight." He thought with resignation as he drank another shot, his thoughts swimming.
Time: Like, an hour later Location: ... do I need to say it again?
"Please tell me he's dead. Just two words. 'He's dead'. That's all it takes, and all of you will be happily promoted." Jason spoke with resignation, looking up as his Lieutenant General once again made his appearance in Jason's office.
"Sorry to disappoint you... again... but no sir. But I think it would somewhat releive you to hear that he has been temporarily incapacitated today." Jordan spoke, avoiding his General's angered glare.
"This is getting really pathetic... Well, tell me. I want to hear of some sort of progression." Jason grumbled, rubbing his temples as Jordan nodded.
"Well, Severus Snape got himself into a position where he literally 'got his ass beat'. Sir." Jordan spoke calmly, and Jason raised an eyebrow with interest.
"Oh? How so? What trap of ours did he finally fall into today?" He asked curiously.
Jordan shifted a bit, speaking with a bit of increduality. "Actually sir, we had nothing to do with it."
Jason merely stared with uncomprehension. Jordan took it as a sign to quickly continue.
"According to our sources, he had foolishly... tricked... Professor Weasley, putting her in a weakened state. This must've angered a few, and well, Professor Malfoy was one of those few. She personally gave Severus a well deserved beating. As far as we know, he hasn't been seen outside his quarters and the Potion's classroom since."
Jordan explained, purposely leaving out the details of Snape's trick on Alexis, knowing that if Jason had found out, he probably would've sent half his army out against the hated Potion's Master. Jason leaned back in his chair, a look of wonderment on his features.
"I have five, combat-ready, men after Severus Snape, and a pregnant woman gets closer to killing him than we ever have!? What s wrong with this picture!? I hope they know that they have only three more days to complete this mission. I don't think they will enjoy the consequences if they fail." He spoke ominously, and Jordan nodded in understanding.
"I talked with the group sir and from what they have planned next, I personally believe we won't have to worry much longer about him." He smirked, and Jason cocked his head.
"Go on..."
"Well sir, Severus will be going to Hoggesmeade tomorrow, for some gods-know reason, but he won't be coming back. We're done with these subtle, undercover ploys. We're staging an all out frontal assault. He won't last through the day. I guarantee it. On my rank, sir." Jordan spoke confidentally, smiling. Jason looked impressed.
"On your rank? That's a risky promise. Tell me, I'm very interested now." Jason asked, leaning forward over his desk. Jordan smiled and stepped closer, preparing to relay the plan.
It was then a lanky young man burst into the room, breathing heavily and exclaiming. 'General Kinsler sir! You have to here this sir!"
Jason looked up angrily, growling. "This better be important..."
"It is sir. We have just been informed sir of something new sir. You really need to consider this sir!" He spoke breathlessly, and Jason sighed. It was the 'Sir-kid' again...
"Well, telll me damnit!"
"Sorry sir. He have just been informed of something concerning Snape and Professor Weasley sir! He's apparently helping her sir, and it's not like helping her do homework sir." He spoke, shaking his head, and Jason was getting tired of his beating aroud the bush comments.
"Just tell me what the hell is going on soldier."He growled, and he caught Jordan snickering slightly, though ignored him.
"Sorry sir. Well, apparently sir, Weasley cannot eat certain foods, and the foods she is allowed to eat, she despises sir. Snape has taken the time and the effort to concoting a plan sir, that can aid her in this, and is pretty much her personal chef now sir! Without him doing this sir, she would have most certainly starved herself! Sir." He spoke incredulously, and Jason gawked at him.
Helping her?! Her CHEF?! What the hell, why is he helping her? Wait, if he's helping her... and we're trying to kill him... uh oh... Jason thought, then immediately turned to Jordan, yelling almost frantically.
"Why the hell are you just standing there?! Go stop them! Severus Snape is not to die, understood?! What the hell were you thinking?!" Jason roared, and Jordan jumped, scrambling back towards the door as he stammered.
"S, sorry sir! I'll retreive then right away sir..."
"You better! If he dies, you're all fired!" Jason yelled after him angrily. He plopped back in his chair, breathing deeply and massaging his temples. The 'Sir-kid' was still standing there, looking lost. Jason glared and then growled.
"Are you still here? Leave!"
He jumped and bolted, actually forgetting to add in a 'yes sir' in his frightened scramble. Jason was glad, becasue if he had heard another 'sir', he most likely would've killed the kid. He grumbled to himself tiredly, leaning back in his chair. "My god, what are these soldiers coming to these days? Don't know when to stop do they..."