"Mom?"

Alex stared at her mother, frozen in place. Even though she looked exactly like her mother, Alex knew that the woman wasn't her mother. But…what if it was?

"Mommy is that you?"

The woman smiled, but said nothing. Instead, she began walking away from Alex, down the corridor. Alex knew that she should have gone to get Dumbledore but she just…couldn't. She followed her mother at a distance and by the time she realized where they were headed, she knew that the woman was definitely NOT her mom.

******

"If your father were alive, he'd be proud of you boy. You have no idea of the wonders that await you on the other side."

Draco feigned a grim smile and looked up into the eyes of Professor Snape. 'If only he knew what was in store for him,' he thought to himself. He allowed himself a glance to the floor behind Snape where Eliza lay, bound in enchanted ropes. To Draco's surprise, she hadn't cried…only writhed on the floor against her restraints. Draco smirked and Eliza looked up at him with a look that went beyond the bounds of hatred.

Draco's attention turned from Eliza to the door to the dungeon. It had opened, ushering in "Mrs. Miller" followed closely by Alex. When Alex saw Snape, Draco, and Eliza, she realized what exactly was going on. She ran toward Draco with her fist outstretched but he was to quick. In one swoop both of her wrists were collected into his hands.

"You bastard! I trusted you. How could you?"

Draco rolled his eyes and made a face.

"Quite easily actually. But enough questions. I want you to meet my mother."

Alex shook her head. Only until the woman who had once been an exact replica of her mother changed into a much shorter and uglier woman did Alex understand. At the look of terror on Alex's face, Narcissa Malfoy let out a throaty chuckle.

"I don't believe we've met dear. Draco never introduced me to any of his little girlfriends. Shame Draco. I'm Narcissa but you can call me Mrs. Malfoy."

"Lay off bitch! Where's my mother?"

Having seen enough of the little "soap opera" Snape intervened.

"Your mother died long ago child. The woman that you lived with until you arrived at Hogwarts was one of us. A spy, if you will."

Alex's head was spinning. Her mom wasn't her mom? What did that make her? One of us? What the hell?

"Shit," exclaimed Alex as she dropped gracelessly to the floor in front of Draco's feet.

******

"I'm worried about Eliza you guys. She should have been back by now. It's been half an hour."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione, were sitting in the Gryffindor common room trying to enjoy a game of Exploding Snap. Unfortunately, their minds were focused on Eliza and Alex and what was going on between the two of them. Hermione dropped into a chair.

"They could be talking to Dumbledore. Alex did have a lot of questions. Eliza might have gone back with her for support. But…that seems a little far fetched doesn't it?"

Ron nodded.

"I think that Alex went mental or something. I think that Eliza's in danger."

As the trio continued on in their conversation, they didn't realize that there was someone listening to them in the shadows. They assumed that everyone else in the common room was too busy with their homework and social lives to worry about their private conversations. They were very wrong indeed. Harry, who had been relatively quiet since they had come back from Dumbledore's finally decided to speak.

"I think we should go to Dumbledore. If' Alex isn't there then we know that something is up."

Hermione stood up, nodding eagerly.

"Let's go."

As the three friends slipped out of the common room, they didn't even notice that someone was following them, clothed in the shadows.

******

As Draco's hand slid slowly down her cheek Alex stirred. It took her a moment to realize where she was and when she did, she was mad.

"Well, isn't this lovely?"

She tried backing up, away from Draco, but to her dismay, she was held in place by some sort of spell, only able to move her arm and mouth; which was a weapon unto its own. Alex looked over to Eliza who was standing a few feet away from her, bound by the same spell.

"Sorry I got you into this mess Liza, believe me, when I do get free; I'm kicking Draco's ass. And then, I'm going to whoop his mama's."

Eliza couldn't help but laugh at Alex's comment. She had said it with a straight face and in a flat tone; the look on Draco's face was priceless. Though Eliza was amused, Alex's smart mouth didn't fare well with Snape.

"Now Now, Alexa. Watch your mouth. The full moon will be out soon and then we can start."

Alex snorted. Was everyone in this damn school as stupid as they seemed?

"Um yeah, for those of us who are little slow, my name's Alex. You know, Alexa without the a."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Alex felt a harsh slap across her face.

"I believe Severus told you to shut your mouth."

Once Alex's vision had returned to normal, she found herself looking into the eyes of one repulsive woman. Her nose was small and pointed and she had almost no upper lip. Alex laughed loudly, causing Eliza to break down in peals of laughter. The two girls really didn't know what they were laughing at; nothing about their situation was funny, it just lightened the tension a bit. Against her better judgment, Alex decided to once again run off at the mouth.

"Draco I don't know where you got you looks from cause your mother is one ugly broad."

Alex's response came in the form of another slap. Eliza cried out, angered because she could not come to the aid of her friend.  Alex slowly opened her eyes. Now in front of her was Draco and Narcissa, both of them sneering. Alex licked her lips slowly.

"You really shouldn't have done that."

******

"I knew I shouldn't have let her go. My senses told me not to. I fear I'm getting old."

At Dumbledore's comment Ron snickered, only to be elbowed in the ribs by Hermione.

"Oww," cried Ron, rubbing his side. Hermione just gave him a disapproving look and turned back to the headmaster.

"Why don't you use the Mauderer's Map? Don't' you remember when you confiscated it from Harry and Ron for pestering the kitchen help late on night? You do have it don't you?"

At Hermione's suggestion, Dumbledore's face lit up.

"Ah yes! I have it here."

He pulled open one of his desk drawers and pulled out a tattered piece of parchment. After activating it, spreading it over top his desk and studying in for a moment he looked up. When he spoke, his voice was full of the utmost urgency.

"Mr. Weasley if you would please go and get Professor McGonagall. And do hurry."

As Ron left the room Harry leaned forward in his seat.

"What is it professor?"

Dumbledore looked up and gestured to the map, saying nothing, his face blank.

As Harry and Hermione leaned in to get a good look at the map, Hermione gasped. In the dungeon there were six dots. Each dot was the representation of a person; Alexa Williams, Eliza Dishque, Severus Snape, Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and…Dean Thomas.

******

Alex cried out in pain as the knife slid slowly down her cheek. Draco looked at her and smiled slowly trading his blade in for a goblet as he began to catch the blood that was running down her cheek.

"Don't worry love, we're almost there."

~BAPFORLIFE

What do you all think?