Chapter Nineteen

Two hours later Alex sat on the floor in the center of her bedroom, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and feeling extraordinarily serene. The room around her looked as though she'd been dueling with a rabid dragon, and Zephyr was perched on top of her overturned desk looking terribly reproachful for a bird. Occasionally, he hooted softly as if to ask her if she was feeling better. For Alex, the past two hours had been a blur, an explosion of pent-up fury and pain. The humiliation she had felt at being ordered out of Malfoy manor, clutching her blouse to her chest had been the last straw; had caused a tiny fissure right down the center of her reason. And, sitting in the midst of chaos, noting her extreme calm, Alex knew that something had come close to snapping, had bent as far as it could go, but remained intact. The strain, though, had caused irreparable damage.

She'd felt this way before, this freeing sense of calm had enveloped her on one previous occasion, right before she took her father's wand from his still-warm corpse. But, now she knew it for what it was, and denied it's persistent urges. Unlike her father's murderer, this Death Eater would not be dealt with easily. She'd need to think things through, assemble a plan and act quickly.

Malfoy would be coming back for her soon.

She knew what her first step would have to be and wasn't looking forward to it. She loathed the idea and had been trying to talk herself out of it for the past ten minutes. She'd used every conceivable argument, but none of them held. Only one person had the information she needed, and she knew how to get it out of him. Tossing a handful of floo powder into the fire, she stuck her head in the flames. "Severus Snape's bedroom," she spoke carefully. Here goes nothing.

Ah, there he was, sleeping soundly in that big soft bed. The urge to leap out screaming and scare the hemlock out of him just for a much-needed laugh was intense, but she wasn't crazy. Severus was certain to have nasty wards set in place for unwelcome intruders. She sighed inwardly. Paranoia ruined so many great practical jokes. She opted for a tactic that seemed almost as fun.

Drawing in a huge breath, she shouted, "Severus Snape, wake up!"

Absolutely priceless reaction. He was out of the bed, fully alert, wand extended as the last word died on her lips, and Alex was laughing merrily before she could stop herself. The potions master did not seem to share her amusement, and there was a lethal gleam in his eye as he stalked to fire. Alex couldn't help but notice his disheveled hair falling freely into his face, and black trousers hanging loosely from narrow hips. Damn shame he wanted nothing to do with her.

Before he could free the scathing remark that was forming in his mouth, she spoke. "Severus, release whatever horrendous wards you have around this hearth. I'm coming over."

"It's the middle of the night, Miss Borgin. What the hell do you want?"

"To give you something I know you want," she purred seductively.

Black eyes glittered dangerously. "I'm in no mood to play, Madam."

Fine. "Severus, I realize that for some unfathomable reason you're angry with me, but this is an emergency." Seeing that his stern expression hadn't wavered in the slightest, she shifted her tactic a bit. "I'm not asking you to rescue me, Severus. I want to talk to you about an even trade; two very rare items of mine for a little information, that's all."

Severus glanced up, apparently at a timepiece in the room. "It's three a.m."

"I know," she replied softly. "And, I'm out of time." The stern facade softened for just a moment, and Alex pounced on the opportunity. "Please, Sev."

Perhaps it was the involuntary crack in her voice as she whispered this last plea, but Snape's will to have nothing more to do with his former lover's inevitable downfall suddenly seemed less than vital to him. And, it was enough. With a few muttered words, the hearth was open and Alex stepped through. Instinctively, she moved forward, arms raised slightly as if to embrace him, but at the widening of his eyes, she stopped short and released a pained sigh.

"Severus," she began, searching for the words that would wipe that cold look from his face and send him melting into her arms. But, she found none. Push it aside, girl, she thought. There's work to be done. Instead, she drew from her robes a small bottle of deep red liquid, the ancient vampire blood she'd bought from Simon, and held it out for his inspection.

Wordlessly, he took it from her outstretched hands, brows knitted together in that characteristic look of curiosity that betrayed his brilliance. Holding the vial up to the firelight, his eyes widened in surprise, and Alex smiled inwardly. He was interested in the first item.

"Do you even know what this is, Miss Borgin?"

"Of course I do."

"How?"

"It's my job. I may not be formally schooled in magic, but I know magical treasure when I see it."

"This is indeed a treasure. You spoke of a trade?"

Alex released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. This was it. "I need some information, Severus."

"Specifically?"

She moistened her lips, mouth already dry from nervousness. "Specifically, I need to know everything you know about Malfoy manor, Lucius, and Draco; their interests, their weaknesses, their daily habits. It's important that I know when they are customarily together. Do they eat dinner together, for instance? I need every detail you can dredge up."

Severus handed the bottle back to it's owner. "When was it that you took leave of your senses, Miss Borgin?" he asked lightly, brows arched almost playfully.

"Severus, my grip on reality is as firm as it's ever been. I need this information. Are you not willing to trade it for the blood?" She spoke in her best businesswoman's voice, coldly pleasant, and strictly professional.

"No, Miss Borgin, I am not."

Damn. She hated playing her trump card so early in the game. But---

"How about for the blood and this?" She held out a familiar-looking scroll, sealed in emerald green wax, and he stared not at the scroll but at Alex, as if comprehending something for the first time.

"What?"

He hesitated a moment before answering her, not willing to admit that he suspected she had tricked Albus Dumbledore from day one, and had said nothing in the hope that he might still have a chance to obtain the instructions for the apparation potion. And, unless he was very much mistaken, this was it. She was prepared to just hand it over---for information that could get them both killed. Quite the quandary.

"Is this---what I think it is?"

"Yes, it is." Confused by his hesitation, she pulled it back and slid it into a pocket. Maybe Severus was more loyal to Dumbledore's ideals than she thought. That wouldn't bode well for her.

Severus was staring now in rapt fascination at the pocket in which she had secreted the scroll. "Is that the only copy you made?"

"No."

"I want all the copies. Like Albus, I prefer to not have that fall into the wrong hands."

"You misunderstand. This is the original. The copy was what Albus destroyed. I only had time to make one."

He held out a pale hand, palm up. "May I?"

She hesitated but a moment. The time she had recently spent with Lucius had made her uncharacteristically paranoid. Severus was not a pillar of virtue, but neither was he a thief---like she was. The scroll was handed over and Severus opened it slowly, scanning it's contents with a learned eye. "This is the original. The author was---," a stunned expression crossed his handsome face. "Hmmm---who would have known?"

"Who was it?" Alex's curiosity had been piqued by that look.

"No one you would know," he said briskly, tucking the scroll into a drawer on an ornate, desktop chest. "Shall we seal the bargain with the information you need?"

Alex broke into a grin. "It's a deal, then?"

He held out his hand again. "The blood, please."

"Damn. You remembered," she complained, reaching into a pocket to extract the first item.

Severus took a seat at his desk and drew up a chair opposite him for Alex. "Shall I dictate while you copy this down?"

"That would be fine."

"Write quickly. I've lost enough sleep already," he stated flatly. Then added, "What are you planning to do with this information, Miss Borgin?"

"Something supremely stupid."

"Whatever it is, it will fail. As I believe I have stated, you don't know him as I do."

"I learned all I needed to know tonight."

"What did you learn?"

She started to speak, but was immediately unable to breathe. Quickly, she pushed the words from her mind. Tough spell. She couldn't even tell Severus, who knew what Malfoy was.

"I can't really get into that, Severus."

"Oh, really?"

She smiled apologetically. "My lips are sealed."

For a moment, he looked ready to snap at her, then the truth seemed to occur to him. Apparently, he wasn't unfamiliar with the curse. "I see. Lucius never was a man to take chances. He clearly doesn't trust you."

"He shouldn't. Speaking of which, let's begin, shall we? Tell me everything you know."

It was a long speech, even Severus' clipped, cold version. But, in the end, Alex had two scrolls of parchment full of information on the aristocratic Death Eater, his home, and his son. "Is there anything else you can think of?"

"Miss Borgin, that's more than the man knows of himself." A thin black eyebrow raised to punctuate his next statement. "I suppose, as an ending note, I could tell you that he's looking for a maid. With his house-elf gone and his former maid sacked for stealing a few weeks past, he is beside himself for honest help at the manor. Rumors being what they are, few will work for him, even for the exorbitant sums he pays." His mouth bent itself into a charming half smile. "I suppose you could apply for the position. Do you cook?"

He meant it as a scathing joke, but Alex's eyes focused farther and farther away as he spoke, seeing something about which he could only speculate. He could almost hear the pages turning in her head, she was researching something in there. "I was joking, Miss Borgin."

"Yeah," she responded from miles away. "Of course you were." She seemed to bring herself back to the room slowly and gave him a piercing stare. "Did his house-elf die?"

"Dobby? No. He was given clothes. Lucius was tricked into doing so, actually, by a student of mine who has a soft spot for pests. Malfoy manor has been searching for reliable help since that day."

Her mind was still spinning, he could tell. It was deeply unnerving. "Do you think this student will know where the house-elf is?"

"Alex, is this line of questioning really necessary?"

"Yes, Severus. Now, how do I find out where that elf has gone?"

"He's here," Severus answered curtly.

"Call him." She added as an afterthought, "Please."

"You must be joking."

"Of course I'm not joking. I'm in too much danger to joke around."

"Fine. Anything to get you out of here."

"Get me out of here?" The quill snapped as she slammed it onto the desk. "I am so sick of this! What is wrong with you?! What the hell have I done to you for you to suddenly despise me?"

Severus turned his head away, casting his profile into sharp relief against the light of the fire. "This is an ineffective topic of conversation , Miss Borgin."

"Miss Borgin, Miss Borgin," Alex mimicked. "That's no way to talk to a woman whose body you once brought to climax so many times she passed out in your bed."

"Ancient history," he mumbled.

"Last week, Severus! What happened? We were good for each other."

"We were nothing to one another, but convenient company," he retorted. "I care no more for you than you did for me."

"Then, by your own definition, you cared for me at least a little." Hesitantly, she placed a hand on top of his. "As I did you. It wasn't just sex for me, Severus. I should have told you." At his skeptical glare, she gave an exasperated sigh and sat back. "Alright, at first it was, and who can blame me? You're an intriguing, handsome man. But, there's more there. A lot more than most people notice, I bet. I didn't even realize it until you pushed me away, but I do care about you, and I wanted so much to see if there could be an 'us'."

His eyes, which had been staring blankly at the wall, snapped to attention, looking at once furious and terrified. "Oh, not like that, Severus. Marriage is a dead issue for both of us, I think, but I found myself wanting to spend time with you outside our respective bedrooms. I was really looking forward to learning magic from you, having dinner with you, seeing if you liked my lasagna, going to the bookstore together; stupid, trivial stuff."

"Rather like this drivel you're spouting presently," he stated dryly.

Alex's heart flinched away from the verbal slap. No one had ever had as much capability to hurt her as he did. Lucius had caused her physical pain and more than a little humiliation, but this potions master could slice her to ribbons with a whisper. His words were a more effective weapon than Malfoy's wand. Compared to Severus Snape, dealing with Lucius was child's play.

"Yeah, Sev, kind of like this drivel," she answered flatly. "Can you get the elf, please? I promise I'll leave you the hell alone after I talk to him."

For a moment, the slightest shadow of remorse passed over his face as he noted her pained expression, but it was gone in an instant, leaving Alex wondering if she'd actually seen it. Wishful thinking, girl, she thought as Dobby the house elf was summoned.

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Rycca: Pretty always counts, even with twisted little beasties like Lucius, but I can see where you're coming from. Poor little Sevvie-poo. My heart goes out to him. Don't give up, though. Maybe things will work out. Yes, I must thank you for adding 'couillon' to my vocabulary. My life is one step closer to being complete now that I have new swear word. :-) I'll keep writing. No worries. It's the strongest addiction I've ever known. I can't seem to stay away from the keyboard.

arwen 78: Poor Alex! Wait! Give her a chance before you resort to violence! The girl has more survival instinct than morality, so her actions are bound to seem a bit odd at times. She's also way out of her league and fairly thrown off because of it. She worries me sometimes, too. If she and Malfoy are ever free from interruption, I'm going to die from the stress. Keep reading. Your reviews are a joy.

slate-one: Ok. Get your Webster's and turn to the definition of 'short.' Please note the difference between that and your review. Seriously, Slate-One, the opening of your review caused the only real laugh I've had in what has been a hellish day, so thank you! Now, a bit of advice: take a deep breath, let it out, do that four more times. Now repeat after me, "The story is far from over. I will not go off the deep end again." Better? Ok. Let's move on. As to your points: "Hem hem": I must stubbornly refute your first point. That was not a cliffhanger! I finished the whole bloomin' scene! It was as long as two of my normal chapters. (Crosses arms in what she hopes is a Sev-like manner) I fail to see the cliff or anyone hanging from it, darn it! Yes. I have your hint. I'll tuck it away someplace safe, I promise. Remember that Alex had never heard of a Death Eater until a few weeks ago. She has fallen into this blindly with no clue as to what these people are capable of. Until recently, she's looked at her whole life as a risky game, and sees no reason to treat this any differently. As to your remarks about what You would do, I'll just delicately remind you that you're not Alex and move on. For someone who claims to love my story, you seem awfully unhappy with it, and that bothers me. I hope that you don't continue to take such offense at what I have written, because Alex is what she is. Period. And, why do you think that keeping a scar would make a woman a "tramp?" That's kind of a twisted perspective, makes you sound like you need therapy. Hope you don't take any offense at my honesty.