Alice had been called in on a particularly windy and cold day to the dungeons to help the sixth years with a particularly tricky potion. Truvius was to be there also, along with his Uncle Severus. They had decided that with a potion of this difficulty, it was best to have all the help they could manage.
Alice was wearing a long black woolen cloak with large silver buttons down the front with her hair pulled in a loose bun at the top back of her head. She had tied a black ribbon with silver edges around the bun. Her steps were long and hurried. She was late.
"Miss Dumbledore, wonderful to see you here, finally," Truvius said as she entered the dungeon used for potions. "I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten lost." Alice smiled as all of the sixth years turned around to look at her. She began to remember why she hated Truvius so much back during their days together at Hogwarts.
"Now now," Severus Snape said, "Lets have our attentions back to the front. We have assistants with us today because this is difficult. I hope to see your skills at potions have improved since last time the class met. I assume you've all read the chapters of the books I assigned?" Professor Snape glanced at a chubby boy with blond hair, who seemed to be turning a bright shade of pink. "Yes, Mister Hazelyuth, I mean you." The boy sunk his head lower. Alice decided it was time to step in.
"Professor Snape, perhaps Truvius and I should introduce ourselves to the class before we begin." The blond boy looked relieved that the attention had been taken away from him.
"Indeed," said Professor Snape as he turned to address the class. "Of course, you all know my nephew Truvius Snape. Here in the doorway we have the lovely, if not occasionally late, Miss Dumbledore. I'm sure they will be most useful to you as you undertake this project. Both are quite knowledgeable in the subtle science of potions. I would use them to my advantage if I were you." He walked back behind his desk and pulled out a large cauldron. "Miss Dumbledore, Truvius will get the lesson started. I need to have a word with you outside." Alice turned around and walked out of the door.
***
"I'm really sorry," she said, "I won't be late again." Severus smiled.
"No, thats not what I wanted to see you for. You're a teacher now, you can be late. Its wonderful really." He smiled at her. His hands began to move about her neck line, as if they were searching for something. "You're wearing the necklace, aren't you Alice?"
"Yes," she said as she pulled the cord from under her robes. It was glowing blue. She looked closely at the orb and noticed something inside of it. "Uncle Severus... What is this inside of the necklace?" She held the pendant up to her eyes, hoping to catch a better look at whatever was inside.
"Ah, thats what makes it work. You see, the magic is not the ball itself. Its located inside of the ball. Really very clever. I came up with it myself." He smiled. "I'll explain it to you later. I'm sure we're needed inside of the classroom right about now." He was right. As they walked into the classroom a series of loud explosions could be heard followed by Truvius shouting something about putting in the nightshade too early. Alice took off her cloak and turned to the students, hoping not to see this day become a complete disaster.
It seemed like an eternity before Alice could go back to her room and rest on her feather bed. She had just settled in when she felt somebody else was in the room. She held her hand to her necklace, but felt nothing. She sighed and let her head sink deeply into her pillow.
It had been a hard day. A hole was burnt into her favorite robes, a boy had stepped on her foot at least 4 times during the course of one class, she had to perform many spells to cure minor injuries, and her wand had been knicked by a cauldron. She was glad, above all else, that the day was over. Her eyes slowly closed only to open to find a head hovering above hers.
"TRUVIUS!" she shouted, "You almost scared me to death!" She was breathing hard.
"Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were awake. I needed to apologize for what I said today at the beginning of class." He began to fumble through his robes. "And... I got you a gift too. I mean, if you'll accept it."
Alice had to stop herself from commenting on how much he looked like his uncle at that very moment. The resemblance was uncanny. As she watched his eyes follow hers she became very aware of how she must look at that moment. She moved to straighten her hair, but Truvius caught her hand. He pulled back very quickly, as if he didn't mean to touch her at all.
"I'm - I'm - I'm very sorry," he said. "This is all a mistake. I'm sorry." He turned to leave but Alice had already gotten out of her bed and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"You're just like your uncle," she said looking into his deep black eyes. "I know what he's thinking and I know what you're thinking too. Come and sit down," she said as she led him to the edge of her bed. "Now, I want you to tell me what you came here to say. And don't try to lie, I can tell." She had her grandfather's demeanor about her. Her actions were comforting yet forceful. Her blue eyes sparked in the light of the setting sun.
Truvius sat and looked at his feet. His hands shook under the sleeves of his robes. Alice very gently brushed her hand across his forehead to move the hair from over his eyes. She could feel him shudder from her touch. "I have something for you," Truvius finally said, as he pulled a package wrapped in a paper with flying dragons on it. The dragons wings flapped as Alice took the present in her hands and carefully examined it. There was a large red bow on the top of the box and a small tag that read, in green ink: 'To Alice, Much love, Truvius'.
Alice smiled as she gently tugged at the ribbon. She opened the box and rummaged through the golden tissue paper that filled the box. When her fingers found the contents of the package, she carefully pulled it out to look at. In her hand sat a tiny photograph in a tiny frame of both Alice and Truvius as small children. They obviously weren't pleased at being together, as their faces winced at the other one. Below the picture was an inscription that read: Hogwarts Students Most Likely To Succeed : Truvius Snape and Alice Dumbledore : 1988. Alice smiled.
"Turn it over," Truvius said meekly. Alice did as he told and a new picture appeared. This photograph was recent, with a smiling Truvius and Alice sitting side by side. There was also an inscription below this photograph. "With love always for my dearest Alice, Truvius Snape". Alice was stunned. She turned to Truvius and looked him square in the eyes.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked Truvius as she took his hands in hers. "Now is the time when you kiss me."