Chapter Eighteen

Dumbledore's Secret

"Have you gone completely mad?"

Alicia and Andrew shrunk back and looked sheepish, while Zoë and Zack rolled their eyes.

"Do you want to ruin absolutely everything? How in the world do you expect me to cover this up if it blows up in our face?" Aurelius continued, looking positively furious. "You know, I can perhaps understand why these four did what they did, after all, they're just children. But you, Alex, should have known better." Andrew and Alicia tried to keep a straight face as Zack imitated Aurelius' movement behind his back.

"I'm only staying for an hour, and then Alicia will take me back," Alex reassured him. "I won't be here long enough for anyone to get into any trouble."

"And what if we're held up? What if for some reason Alicia doesn't have access to her paper? What if we find ourselves somewhere public and can't get away? And how are you going to explain to Uncle Sirius and Aunt Anna how you got here?"

"Mom gave up asking us how we got around years ago, you know that," Zack smirked. "She assumes that since Zoë and I can pop in and out that we're finding a way to take you guys too."

"And what about Mr. Weasley?"

"He didn't just drop you off?" Alex asked, suddenly alarmed.

"He found out where we were going and decided they were going to stay for dinner this year, and they brought Jamie and Cedric too! You have got to leave before anyone else knows you're here," Aurelius insisted.

Just then there was a quick knock in the door and Sirius peeked in.

"Are you kids coming or not? Can't expect to have Arthur hold us a spot forev… when did you get here, Alex?" Sirius asked, frowning at his niece.

"Just a few minutes ago," Alex said. "Can I come too?" Sirius' eyes darted over to Zoë and Zack who shrugged noncommittally.

"Why do I have a feeling that you are going to get me into a lot of trouble, young lady?" Sirius said, taking out his wand and changing her Hogwarts robes to a long, plain coat.

"Thank you, Uncle Sirius!" Alex grinned brightly, ignoring Aurelius who was standing with his arms folded nearby, shaking his head.

"This is a mistake," Aurelius muttered as they were leaving.

"Why must you take everything so seriously, Rel?" Zoë asked.

"Someone in this family has to!" Aurelius retorted.

"Yes, just what we need, another serious Snape," Sirius said with a smirk as they started down the hall.

Alex couldn't help but get excited as they got into the glass elevator, her face plastered to the glass as she felt the moment in her feet and belly and ears. The rest of them paid the experience little mind, and Alex felt a little jealous of her siblings. She missed the adventures they had had exploring paintings, going to different places and countries with her leading the way, the understanding of all languages at her disposal. She wondered how they were managing now without her, or if they noticed a difference at all. No, that wasn't fair, she thought. After all, they were including her now.

At last they got off and stepped into the lobby, following Sirius through the crowd while Alex shook her head in attempt to clear her ears, soon becoming distracted by all the people. At last Sirius called out to someone and walked over to Anna and Lunette Vallid, standing by the door.

"There you are! What took you so long?" Anna asked. "We're going to be late."

"Nonsense, it takes fifteen minutes for the parade to get down this far," Sirius said. "I hope you don't mind, but I picked up another stray."

"How did she get here?" Anna asked suspiciously. Sirius and all the kids shrugged at once. Vallid looked over at Alex thoughtfully, but Alex knew better to look directly at her, thought protected or not. Instead she concentrated on the busy street outside. "Well we can't exactly let her run loose in New York alone, and there's no time to take her back now."

"Exactly what I was thinking," Sirius agreed.

"Someone does know you're here, right, Alex?" Anna asked.

"Yes," Alex said, glad she didn't specify an adult.

"Good. Let's get going then," Anna said.

It wasn't two seconds after leaving the building that Alex found herself looking straight up in complete awe of the skyscrapers around her. But just as she was beginning to get dizzy, a whole bunch of loud beeps and shouts brought her attention to the ground. Cars, buses, taxis and trucks were bumper to bumper along the streets, shouting words that some of which she hadn't even heard before.

"It's the same thing every year," Vallid snorted. "You'd think they'd learn by now what streets are closed down for the parade and stay away from the area, or at least take the subway."

"Subway?" Alex asked.

"It's the New York underground," Andrew explained. "I don't suppose we have time to take one now?"

"We're only a city block away," Vallid coaxed them. "At a brisk walk, we'll still be pressing to get to the parade on time. On we go."

Alex stared in shop windows that featured everything from books to jewelry and all sorts of odd Muggle clothes with little fabric and large numbers. An old theatre with boarded up windows and partially blotted movie sheets proclaimed prominently above the booth that 'No Minors' were 'Allowed', but before Alex had a chance to find out what that was all about she found Sirius grabbing her hand, and in turn Aurelius took hers as they began to wade through the parade crowd.

She had never seen so many people in all of her life. So many, in fact, she felt quite breathless, bumping through the crowd, while none of the people they were wading through seemed all that put out to be bumped against. And how many of them were Muggles? Most of them? All of them? Alex didn't even dare contemplate that for too long. Suddenly, she heard her name called. At first she thought she was mistaken, but then she saw the cheerful face of Arthur Weasley, calling them over to the curb. It was quite crowded too, but as they came nearer quite a few of them excused themselves, smiling at Vallid warmly and slipping into the crowd while leaving plenty of room for the new arrivals.

"There you are, Alex! I am so glad to see you. I wasn't so sure that you'd make it!" Arthur said excitedly. "Have you ever seen anything like this?"

"No, I haven't!" Alex grinned, allowing herself to be pulled over to him so he could point out all the interesting nonmagical things in the area.

"Like a child at Christmas," Molly said rolling her eyes, thanking Sirius gratefully as he took Cedric from her arms. Little Cedric, all of two, sucked his thumb and leaned against him, threatening to fall back asleep before the parade started. Five-year old Jamie was too busy trying to talk her Grandpa into buying her yet another balloon to add to her growing number of seven, disappointed by the fact that he was distracted by the new arrivals. Vallid took charge by striking up a conversation with the girl, and Jamie spent several minutes explaining to her all the specific details of each of the balloons she had acquired so far.

"People really get paid to sit and save other peoples seats for them?" Alex said in awe to what Mr. Weasley was telling her.

"Yes, isn't that marvelous? I suppose they had to do something since they don't have Elves, and I don't suppose it'd be bad working only one day a year."

"Depends on how much you'd get paid, I think," Aurelius said dryly, kneeling down to help Jamie untangle her balloons.

"Oh! And I got something for you that I know you'll appreciate!" he told Alex, taking out a rectangle of shiny paper with wax paper backing. "It's called a bumper sticker! Muggles put these on their cars to message each other!"

"Wow," Alex said, admiring her 'Go Yankees' bumper sticker. "Where's Yankees?"

"These kids need to get out more," Anna sighed. "What time is it?"

"Ten fifteen now," Sirius said, "Should be able to hear the band soon."

"Ten fifteen?" Alex said suddenly, straightening up, "That's…" she began counting on her fingers.

"Three fifteen, you idiot," Aurelius muttered, handing Jamie back her balloons.

"Alicia, don't you need to go to the lavatory before the parade starts?" Alex asked desperately.

"No," Alicia said, staring at her a moment before finally getting why she was nodding at her. "Oh! Yes! I do! Aunt Anna, I need to go to the restroom!"

"Right now?" Anna said with a frown.

"Why didn't you go back at the hotel?" Sirius said.

"It's all right, I can take her," Alex volunteered, moving to stand by her.

"Oh, no you won't, not alone in this town," Anna said sharply. "Come on, I'll go with you." Alicia and Alex looked at one another hesitantly. "Well come on, if you don't hurry we're going to miss the beginning," she said, leading them into a crowded burger bar, buying a coke before asking for a large key from the attendant and opening a locked door in the back marked, 'Customers Only.'

Alicia looked into the open door quite skeptically. It was quite small, dingy, and not altogether clean. But her loyalty for her sister strengthened her nerve and she went in, Alex moving to follow.

"I'm sure she can manage without you, she's eight, not three," Anna said, pulling her to the side. "Now are you going to tell me what this is all about?"

"What is what all about, Aunt Anna?" Alex asked nervously. The door bumped into her and Alicia came back out.

"That was fast," Anna said.

"Just had to wash my hands," Alicia said. "All done." Anna looked between them a moment then threw up her hands, handing the key back to the clerk before leading them back out. The sound of a band was quite loud now, and Alex cursed lightly, realizing now that the parade was starting she was going to be hard pressed for finding a way to get back before her class started. People who had been sitting on the curb a moment before were all standing now to see the leading edge… all except Aurelius, who was sitting with his hands pressed against his face, shaking his head.

"Here we are! Just in time!" Anna said as they squeezed their way through to their spot.

"Yes, very good timing indeed," Dumbledore agreed from where he was standing beside Vallid, holding a bag. "Care for some popcorn, Alex?" he asked, holding his bag out.

Alex stared at him in surprise and fear, realizing now exactly why Aurelius was so unhappy. Even Alicia standing behind her was shaking like a leaf, staring at her sister for a hint to what they should do next. Andrew, however, was merely watching the band pass by, attempting to hold Jamie up so she could see.

"There is no reason to be concerned, Alex, you haven't missed anything yet, and you won't miss anything," Dumbledore said in a rather odd tone, looking at her over his glasses. "But for now, I suggest you relax and have some popcorn. It won't bite," he added, waiting patiently until she got up the nerve to take a piece, thanking him before she went to stand with the others.

"I'm dead. I'm seriously dead now," Alex said when she actually came close enough they could hear her over the band.

"You're right. That is if I don't kill you first," Aurelius hissed at her. "You've uncovered us all, you know."

"Stop bickering, they'll hear us," Andrew asked as the last of the band passed them. "It's not as bad as you both think it is."

"Oh? Can you name something that would have been worse?" Aurelius challenged him.

"It could have been Mum," Andrew said.

"Well, yes, that would have been worse," Aurelius admitted reluctantly. But just then Alicia began jumping up and down excitedly behind them.

"Oh, look! Look! Alex, look at the balloon!" Alicia said.

In one moment, as Alex turned to look up to where Alicia was pointing, Alex altogether forgot about school, her problems, and everything. It was, without a doubt, the biggest moose she had ever seen. It didn't really even seriously look like a moose past the antlers, although she was quite sure that was what it was. It was nonsensical in the most nonsensical of ways, and yet how they could have made such a thing without magic…how long it must have taken… the idea completely overwhelmed her. From balloons down to the strings and their owners, to the details of the floats behind them and the little disguised tractors and remote wires pulling them mesmerized her, oblivious to everything else until a sleigh with very un-lifelike reindeer passed them with the semblance of Father Christmas in tow.

She was still thinking about it as they gathered near to stay together, putting a finger around a very large candy cane that Sirius was holding out to everyone. Within a moment they were gone, the rush of the crowd swooping in and completely ignoring their disappearance.

After Dumbledore announced that he and Alex would definitely accept the invitation to stay at the Black's home for their afternoon dinner, he went over to talk to Anna and Audacious, who were working quite busy in the kitchen while Anna's grandmother passed out drinks to the guests.

"No Rigatona or Viviane this year?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Aunt Tony's trying to get settled in her new house," Anna said.

"I'm bringing a plate over to cheer her up," Audi said. "As for Viviane, I can't remember the last time she came to a family function."

"I think the last time I saw her was Uncle Dave's funeral a year ago, and even then she seemed distracted," Anna said. "Do you think she may know something about what's going on?"

"Viviane does make a point not to get involved unless it suits her own purpose," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "Considering Ciardoth's nature, it would seem likely that she would, however."

"If she wants to stick her nose in, I have a feeling we'll all know about it before too long," Audi said, shaking a piece of celery at him.

"Of that I have no doubt," Dumbledore smiled.

"By the way, Professor," Audi said hesitantly, leaning in a bit closer with a serious expression on her face. "I think there's something you ought to know about that Snape boy."

"Oh? Which one are you referring to?" Dumbledore asked with interest.

"Aurelius. When he was younger, he was always fuzzy to me. I'd talk to him, and I couldn't make out what he was thinking," Audi said in a low voice. "But now, Albus, I can not read that boy at all. Nothing, it's like I'm looking at a blank wall and not a person. It scares me."

"I understand, Audi, but I don't think you have anything to worry about," Dumbledore reassured her gently.

"Can you read him?" she asked point blank.

"No," Dumbledore admitted. Audi shook her head.

"Well at least we know his mother can read him, right?" Audi said. It took only one glance from Dumbledore to tell Audi the truth and send her gnawing on her celery.

Patting her hand, Dumbledore got up and went over to where the children were sitting by the television, while Zack tried and failed miserably at explaining American football to the Snape children.

"They are completely hopeless, Professor!" Zacchius said in exasperation. "Look at them, they're not even listening!"

It was quite true; Zoë had broken out her fashion dolls and she and Alicia were playing with them on the rug, Andrew was busy making faces at Cedric to make him laugh, and Alex and Aurelius took turns glaring at each other from opposite couches while Aurelius glanced thoughtfully at a very large civil case journal.

"I do believe you are right, Zacchius, but then Snapes were never very well known for listening when they've made their minds up about something, whether they're in the right or not," Dumbledore said. All four of them look up at him at that, and he smiled.

"That's the understatement of the year," Zack declared, sitting down.

"I thought perhaps if Zoë and Zack do not mind, that you four might like to come with me outside on the porch and out of the heat for a bit, so we can have a little chat."

"Is this anything like the chat you had with us last year?" asked Zoë.

"Very similar," Dumbledore nodded.

"Let's go see what Dad's doing," Zack suggested quickly. Gathering up her dolls, Zoë followed behind, looking over at Alicia sympathetically.

Surrendering to the inevitable, the four headed outside, none of them looking too happy. They all found seats on the swing and rail while Dumbledore took to the chair, taking out a white cloth to clean his glasses.

"So, which one of us would care to make the first confession?" he asked calmly, returning his glasses to his nose.

"I believe I should, Professor," Andrew said, his siblings looking at him in surprise. "I don't think we can get very far in this conversation until I do."

"Andrew!" Aurelius snapped warningly. "Haven't we made enough mistakes today?"

"Yes, and that's why I have to tell you this, Rel. You see, Professor Dumbledore has known all of our abilities for quite some time now because I told him," Andrew said.

"You what! Why you little traitor!" Aurelius said standing up again.

"Enough! I will not have that word spoken about any member of your family!" Dumbledore said in such a stern tone that even Aurelius took notice, sitting back down with a frown. "The only person that anyone can truly betray, Aurelius, is themselves, and that sort of betrayal is deep and needs no title to label it. I don't believe any of you betrayed yourselves or each other by your actions. In fact, the four have you have been so close for so long, I was rather surprised it took you so long to attempt to… rescue your sister."

"Is Alex going to be in much trouble for that?" Alicia asked anxiously. "After all, it was really me who brought her to New York."

"We are getting off the subject," Dumbledore said gently. "Let's see… it all started two years ago, not long after Alicia began to truly control her extraordinary talent with the paints and you four made your pact to keep her ability hidden, and in turn decided that you had to keep your other abilities secret for fear that it would reveal hers. It was, after all, summer, and you were quite sure your parents wouldn't approve of this newfound power you had to travel where you liked, speak to whom you liked, even go in places that otherwise you wouldn't be allowed to go. And, perhaps most importantly, you had a way to keep a secret enough to confound the truest Truth Seeker, or at least your mother," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes. "That being your brother Aurelius, who has the simply uncanny ability to not only completely protect his thoughts from others, but those directly connected to him as well.

"Well, that summer was the summer of the Brittle wedding, as you know. What an uncomfortable wedding that was for all of us, with the Malfoys and their entourage mixing with Snapes and Brittles and quite a number of others that don't particularly care for each other. In fact, things had gone so far that I needed to take a walk. That was the day I discovered Andrew."

"I didn't think anyone could discover Andrew," Alex said. "He can be soundless, scentless… he doesn't even leave a shadow. Practically undetectable."

"Yes, that is true, his talent is quite rare and quite powerful, but practically undetectable and completely undetectable are two different things. It was then that I realized that I perhaps should have been paying closer attention to you four than I thought was necessary before then, especially after I convinced Andrew to tell me what the rest of you could do. I knew that you would never trust an adult for fear that Alicia may have the tools of her talent taken from her," Dumbledore said as Alicia clutched the bag she carried with her to her chest, "because an adult would fear the danger it would put you in, and do what they could to keep you from it. They are very understandable fears, both your fear as children, and their fear as adults, because they have learned in very unpleasant ways just how dangerous this world we live in can be. And then I found myself caught in the middle; entrusted with this secret and yet filled with my own fear that improperly used, your talents may lead you to great disaster. But I also had a much greater fear; and that was the fear of you being in the position not to use them at all, and that I felt was not one to be ignored. Therefore, Andrew and I made an agreement that I would give him one of my secrets, and in exchange, he would provide me with information about what you were up to so that I could be certain you were never put into any dangerous situations on your expeditions that couldn't be easily remedied."

"I told you those snowsuits couldn't have been left by Eskimos when we were in Antarctica!" Aurelius said suddenly, bopping Alicia on the arm. "We were in the wrong blasted hemisphere for that!"

"Now I understand how come you seem to know so much about what's been going on at the Broom Closet," Alex said. "Every time you visit, you seem to bring up stuff we didn't think you knew about."

"Do you remember the time we went through that picture of the Sahara Desert and forgot to bring water?" Alicia grinned. "It took forever to convince Aurelius the oasis that appeared in front of us wasn't a mirage."

"An oasis doesn't normally come with several abandoned coolers full of ice, juice and beach umbrellas either," Aurelius retorted. All four of them broke out laughing then, feeling a great deal better about the situation than they had been a moment before.

"So what's going to happen now, Professor?" Alex said after they'd all calmed back down. "I mean, are you going to tell Mum and Father?"

"You forget, Alex, that I too have a secret shared in this group now and risk exposure as much as any of you. Not that you shouldn't tell a friend some of it if needed," Dumbledore added to Alex with a nod. "In fact, although you may not realize it, I have several other secrets that are actually protected by the one I gave indirectly. Aurelius is protecting them as well, even though he did not realize it, because of my past agreement to Andrew. You do have the right, of course, to release me from that Pact at any time, Aurelius." Aurelius mused over that for a moment.

"I think it'd be a mutual advantage for us to leave you in," he decided. "That is, if we have your word that you'll not mention it to our parents."

"You have my word that I will only mention it if it becomes necessary to keep one of you or one of your parents from direct harm," Dumbledore said calmly. "To be quite honest, I am hoping to hold out until you four decide to tell them yourselves."

"Are you kidding? We'll be grounded until we're our parents' ages if we do that," Alex said.

"And also, I would like to ask that you forgive Andrew for making this deal with me," Dumbledore said. "After all, if he hadn't, you wouldn't have gotten those nice snow suits or umbrellas."

"We've always thought we were so smart and grown up getting away with all of this," Alex said, slightly embarrassed. "I suppose we did need a bit of babysitting with all the mess-ups we got into."

"And speaking of mess-ups, perhaps we should go in and have dinner so we can then go home and try to fix your little 'mess-up,' Alex. You know, although I understand you wanting to get away, you should have curbed your temptation until Christmas. With a murderer still on the loose, your parents are quite worried about your safety, not to mention that students are not permitted to leave the premises without being accompanied by staff or family for any reason," Dumbledore pointed out, looking serious again.

"But you're here, Professor, so that means she is accompanied," Andrew said.

"All she did was go into a painting, so it's not even like she really left the castle," Alicia suggested with a smile.

"She knew better and they knew better. I think you ought to hang them all out to dry," Aurelius said. Alex stuck her tongue out at Rel, ending the conversation.

It was very late at Hogwarts when they arrived, but Dumbledore didn't seem the least bit concerned. Alex however was quite worried indeed, not only about her parents but also for her friend. The warbling greeting of Fawkes met them as they came in, and Alex was so distracted by the brilliant Phoenix that at first she didn't see the small hourglass that Dumbledore removed from his neck.

"Lovely evening, isn't it?" Dumbledore said, taking a step or two towards a stairway near the back, glancing up at the moonlight. "Used to be on a night like this, I could stand here by this stair and see the glimmer of the moonlight off the observatory. Can't any more for some reason," he mused. "I think though, all it needs is a good polishing. What do you think?"

"Er, yes I guess so," Alex said slowly, wondering if this was going where she thought it was going.

"Splendid. Then I was wondering if I could count on you to be here Saturday to see what you can make of it? Oh, don't worry, I'll make sure I tell your parents where you are, so they won't be worried that you are breaking any rules or anything," he assured her graciously.

"Yes, Professor," Alex said resignedly.

"Thank you very much, I was hoping you would help me out," Dumbledore smiled. "Now, for your trouble, I think I will help you out a bit too," he said, putting the hourglass around her neck. "And once you get done with your classes, I suggest you retire early, you'll have had a very long day. Oh, and would you please put this hourglass in my top right hand drawer by the candy dish before you leave this room?" he asked, turning the hourglass back. As she slowly disappeared, Dumbledore walked over to his desk and sat down. Opening the drawer, he took out the Time-Turner lying there and put it back around his neck and under his beard, reaching for the pile of papers that had accumulated for him during his absence.