Chapter Six
The One Left Behind
It was Corey Willowby who volunteered to take the Snapes shopping in Diagon Alley when Anna was called to the States a few weeks later. He had lain out three potion kits before Essie had even gotten them to the shop, so that when they arrived they could quickly grab them and go right into the fireplace with hands full of floo powder. Alicia had gone along as well, but as each day passed with no new word of their mother and time for returning to school grew closer, she had become more and more miserable.
Andrew had almost felt a bit guilty to open his letter when it came. He didn't want to leave his sister behind any more than the others did, even though they had all known that the day would come. He and the others had done their best to cheer her up, all promising to write to her every day and reminding her that they were really only a painting away. But Alicia merely frowned and didn't say anything. She was even more somber now that they were actually shopping for school, stepping in Madame Malkin's shop with a complete lack of enthusiasm.
"One Stoddard jacket, coming right up!" the seamstress said cheerfully to Alicia while her assistant was busy measuring Andrew. "And new socks and ties for the other sister, Ravenclaw, yes?"
"And this one needs the hems adjusted," Corey added, nodding to where Aurelius was holding his robes.
"Oh, goodness, for a moment there I thought you were the first year! Your brother is so tall. I thought he was older," she said apologetically, measuring him herself while Aurelius brooded.
"I remember that feeling. I was pretty short too for a while," Corey said. "I bet you shoot up like a feisty weed in a year or two, though."
"I am not short," Aurelius said defensively. "Andrew is just a Maypole."
"A half an inch, I think," the seamstress decided, making Aurelius brood all the more. Andrew in the meantime was having his hands filled up with robes, shirts and everything else, and Corey took out some coins. "No charge for the hem, dear, it only took a moment." Aurelius glowered behind the seamstress' back.
"Shall we get books next?" Alex asked, having noticed Mandria and her parents going into Flourish and Blotts.
"I was thinking we should get Andrew's wand next, but I suppose you two can run along first. Just stay together and don't leave the shop. Dad would kill me if he thought I left you alone even for an instant," Corey said.
"That sounds like a good enough reason to go to me," Aurelius said snidely, holding his hand out for his book list then followed Alex to the bookstore.
"I was rather hoping I could have one of your wands," Andrew commented as they crossed the Alley. "It would be rather neat to have people compliment me on my wand and I could tell them that my brother made it."
"I only do custom wands, really. Alchemy is my true business," Corey admitted, "but if you ever need a wand made once you've gotten used to one and know what you like, I'd be happy to make you one."
"Oh, I want one too!" Alicia said. "From what I've seen so far, wands seem to lack something in color. Black, brown, grey, white. That's about it, really."
"Alicia, if you had your way, you'd be coming out of there with a pink wand with green spots wouldn't you?" Corey teased.
"Oh, no, purple goes much better with pink," Alicia decided.
Inside Flourish and Blotts, Alex noticed Mandria in the crowd and ran over to her, immediately finding herself getting hugged, not only by Mandria but her parents as well.
"We're terribly sorry to hear about your mother, Alexandria. I hope it turns out well," Sebastian Shea said.
"Thank you," Alexandria said awkwardly.
"Here, let me help you. I have already found most of mine," Mandria offered, pulling Alex away from her parents. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"No," Alex admitted, "But it's not so much of a shock now as it was. Rel and Alicia are taking it the hardest," she said, glancing over at where Aurelius was talking to George Stockton. "Not that you would ever get him to admit it."
"What electives did you take this year?" Mandria asked, anxious to change the subject.
"Muggle Studies and Divination. You?" Alex asked.
"Creatures and Divination. I should have known you would take Muggle Studies, the way you write about that Ben fellow in your letters," Mandria said.
"What do you mean the way I write about him? He's just a friend. He's just been very supportive this summer. The entire neighborhood has been, really," Alex said, accepting some of the books Mandria was pulling out. "I just w… I mean… well, Father hasn't been around as much as I'd like."
"I know. I've heard Mum and Dad say that he's had to spend most of the summer juggling between Hogwarts and the Ministry investigation," Mandria said in a low voice.
"You know it's strange. All of my life I've lived with weekend parents and never thought much about it," Alex said. "All of the sudden, it just doesn't seem like enough."
"Well, you'll be back to school soon and you'll be able to see your father all the time," Mandria said.
"I'll be able to see Professor Snape all the time," Alex corrected. "But how can I possibly go back to school knowing that Mum isn't going to be there? Who's going to teach Potions while she's gone... assuming she ever comes back?"
"Don't talk like that, Alex, of course she'll be back," Mandria reassured her.
"It's been two months now, Mandria," Alex sighed. "If we haven't found her yet, I'm not sure she can be found."
"Don't give up yet," Mandria said quietly. "She's got a lot of friends, you know, and I don't think Harry and the other Aurors are ready to quit either. Come on, let's try and find that Muggle book of yours."
Alex sighed again and glanced back to where her brother was standing, then she did a double-take when she realized they were talking to someone else. For Lucius Malfoy had come up beside the boys as they were talking, listening a moment before drawing nearer.
"It's insane, really. I never know where I'm going to be sleeping on any given night. We've been tossed from one adult to the next whenever we inconvenience them, and Father barely acknowledges us except on weekends," Aurelius told Stock, who shook his head. "We don't dare ask about Mum any more without him biting our heads off, and our aunt changes the subject every time."
"You see? It's as I've been telling you for over a year now. Never put your faith in your parents. The only person you can count on is yourself, you know," Stock said.
"Well, my brother and sisters have always been there for me, even if we don't always get along," Aurelius said. "But I am sick of being shuffled around by everyone like we don't matter at all." Lucius Malfoy coughed loudly, and the two boys looked up, startled to see him standing nearby.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Stockton," he said, nodding politely. "And how is your case going with your parents? In appeals again?"
"The court doesn't think I have enough reason to divorce my parents. Apparently, the fact that they're leeching me dry isn't enough," Stock said irritably. "And now my parents are trying to counter sue my counselor accusing him of leeching me! Imagine!" Stock said with exasperation. Lucius tsked and shook his head.
"What will they think of next? But I'm afraid it is something you are going to deal with the rest of your life, Mr. Stockton. There will always be greedy little hands attempting to take money from the people that have it in any way that they can. And how are you, Mr. Snape? Any word about your mother?"
"No," Aurelius said warily. Lucius nodded gently.
"Well, I didn't think there would be," Lucius said. "But for your sake, I thought I'd ask."
"And why don't you think there would have been?" Aurelius challenged.
"Well, it's really no secret that your father and mother have quarreled quite a bit over the last few years. In fact, I've heard that many parents have mentioned it to the school board. Pity that she would leave you four like that just because they weren't getting along, but it's not uncommon for someone to just pack up and do just that, is it? Tell me, Aurelius, did you get along with your mother?"
"It's not like that," Aurelius snapped. "They found her ring and wand, after all. If she left on her own, she wouldn't have left her wand."
"A wand can be traced when it's used, Aurelius. It wouldn't be difficult for her to get another if she chose to start a new life, would it?" Lucius pointed out.
"Aurelius!" Alex came up behind her brother, tugging on his shoulder. "Come away from there. Don't talk to him."
"Miss Snape. Haven't had any more run-ins with rogue Bludgers I hope?" Lucius asked calmly.
"Only the one that hit the day Mum disappeared," Alex said curtly. "You wouldn't know anything about that one, would you?"
"Why don't you ask your father that question?" Lucius suggested, his eyes flicking over to Aurelius. "If he ever bothers to visit, that is. I will talk to you some other time, Mr. Stockton. Good luck on your case," he added, stepping towards the door.
"What a perfect beast!" Alex declared, watching as Lucius walked towards the door. He paused then as if frozen, looking at someone outside of Alex's vision and had a quick exchange of words with someone before Alicia and Andrew came through the doorway, Corey following after them with a look of extreme irritation on his face. Alicia ran up to Aurelius and Alex, nodding shyly to Stock before turning to her sister.
"We just saw Lucius Malfoy!" Alicia exclaimed.
"Yes, so did we," Alex nodded, glancing at Aurelius. "What was he talking to you two about?" Corey and Andrew walked up, glancing between them.
"Stock's court case, mostly," Aurelius said absently. "Trivialities."
"Aurelius, I don't think your father would be too happy to hear that you were even speaking 'trivialities' to Mr. Malfoy," Corey said. "Don't you have enough sense to stay away from him?"
"I am not afraid of Lucius Malfoy," Aurelius said. "Besides, he came over to talk to Stock."
"This isn't about whether you're afraid of him or not. Next time, walk away," Corey said.
"What makes you think you have the right to tell me who I can and can't talk to?" Aurelius challenged him.
"Because I'm the person you have to go home with," Corey said in a firm but low voice. "And I know what Dad would think of this and he would not be happy."
"Just because you're his favorite son all the sudden you think you have the right to speak for him?"
"Aurelius, I'm not going there," Corey said.
"Why, because you know it's true?"
"Alex, would you help Andrew with his books? Alicia, go get your drawing paper." Corey said. "Aurelius, it's time to drop it and finish getting your books. I'm not going to let you be responsible for embarrassing the family with a public tantrum."
"Oh, it'd take talent embarrassing this 'family' considering it doesn't exist anymore. Mum is gone, Father doesn't want to have anything to do with us, and Aunt Anna keeps taking off abroad and leaving us with you, the Muggleborn that Mum felt sorry for, or even worse with Essie, who wasn't even worth Mum bothering with!"
"Aurelius, go get the rest of your books. Now," Corey said with a forced smile, turning to help Alicia. Aurelius stood and stared at him furiously before he finally went to find his Charms book, leaving Stock standing there, wondering what had just happened.
Back at the Broom Closet, Anna had returned and was waiting when they got home, greeting them warmly. Aurelius stomped off to his room, not acknowledging her and not speaking to anyone else.
"Trouble?" she inquired.
"Not really, I don't think. Typical Aurelius stuff… well… typical for how he's been recently, anyhow," Corey added, getting a knowing nod from Anna.
"So what kind of wand did you get, Andrew?" She asked.
"Eleven and a half inch maple rabbit's foot wand," he said, showing her the box.
"Sounds lucky," Anna said. "Except for the rabbit, of course."
"I'm going to write Father and tell him. That is, if you think he'd want me to?" Andrew wondered.
"Of course he would. I'll send it with Dodger when I send mine after supper," she said.
"Anna, can I invite Ben over? I want to show him my new school book," Alex asked.
"I can walk her over there, Anna," Corey volunteered.
"Oh, all right, but be back by half an hour," Anna said, turning her attention back to the post. But as the rest of the children went their separate ways, Alicia lingered. She shifted back and forth on her feet before finally getting a cup and sitting at the bar, watching her Aunt so closely that finally Anna put what she was reading down. "Hello, Alicia. Did you have a good day?"
"Aunt Anna, do you suppose… I mean… Aunt Anna, I don't want to go to Stoddard this year. Can I go back with you and go to school with Zoë and Zacchius?" Alicia asked. Anna sighed, folding her hands.
"Alicia, you know as well as I do that your father would never allow you to go to school so far away," Anna said, "especially with… well, everything, I'm sure he wants you close to home."
"Isn't there some sort of test I can study for and take so I can pass out of my last year, so I can go to Hogwarts this year?" Alicia asked.
"Don't you have any friends at Stoddard that you're looking forward to seeing?" Anna asked.
"No," Alicia said. "Well, I mean, I do have friends, but I don't want to talk to them. Every time we go anywhere, everyone just stares, or they say 'sorry' and then leave. I can't talk to any of them, they wouldn't understand. And Jamie and them, well, they're too young to understand. Please don't make me go to Stoddard this year. Can't you try and talk Father into letting me go to Hogwarts early?"
"Alicia, it's not that simple," Anna sighed, "although in some ways, I wish it were. But you know, once you get into school and back in routine, it won't be so bad. And then before you know it, it'll be your turn to go to Hogwarts."
"I don't want to be left alone," Alicia said stubbornly. "I won't be alone!" she said, turning and pushing open the bookcase, running up the stairs. Anna watched it close with a long sigh then took out another piece of paper, scribbling a note to her husband.
It had been very hard for all four children leaving Alicia at the Weasley's on the morning of the train. Hugs were passed around more than once and a few tears were shed from Alex and Alicia, both boys looking unusually somber.
"We'll write to you every day just like we promised," Alex told her. "Maybe even visit you now and again when nobody's looking."
"And we'll get you something special for the holidays. Alex gets to go to Hogsmeade this year with the school," Andrew pointed out.
"Yes, I'll send you lots of candy," Alex agreed.
"Guys, are you about ready?" Anna asked, peering in the door of the house where she and Molly were talking. "I'm sorry, but the train does leave at exactly eleven," she reminded them.
Alex, Aurelius, and Andrew went slowly out the door, glancing back at Alicia before getting into the car. Alicia stood there until the last car door slammed and then ran upstairs, Molly and Anna looking at each other knowingly.
"She's going to do it, I think," Molly said.
"Yes, I think so too," Anna agreed. "I guess I had better get going."
"This house isn't going to be the same this fall without them," Molly sighed. Anna grinned at her.
"Don't you have enough in the way of grandkids to contend with?" Anna teased.
"Nonsense, there are never too many," Molly chuckled, waving to her as she got in the car.
Molly didn't bother to go check on Alicia. There would have been no point, for Alicia wasn't there.
At the train station, the three Snapes were soon getting their things together onto carts and over to the platform where an even bigger chaos loomed, as students of all years and their parents hurried to get everything inside the baggage cars before time ran out. Many of the parents stopped to look at them with sad faces when they shuffled their kids onto the train, making sentimental comments as they did so. If there had been more than ten minutes to get their affairs in order, Aurelius might have made a snide comment or two about it. But as it was, Anna herself was rushing them through the process until finally they got inside just as the whistle blew to let everyone know it was about to leave the station.
"I can sit with you, can't I?" Andrew asked when they started peering in compartments.
"No, I think it'd be more fun to let you dangle out the window," Aurelius smirked.
"Of course you can sit with us! Look, I think I just saw Rose peek out of that back compartment," Alex said. "Come on!"
It had been Rose, but Alex noticed that a curious change had come over her over the summer. Her face, which had always been cheerfully round, had thinned a bit and had begun looking less childish; her naturally curly wheaten hair was now pulled up into a haphazard knot and her figure didn't seem as awkward as it used to be. Mandria, however, looked the same as she always had except for being a bit taller, with fine golden hair pulled into a braid and thin glasses. The two girls greeted them warmly as the three of them squeezed into the opposite seat.
"So, how are you three doing? I suppose there hasn't been any change?" Mandria asked quietly.
"No," Andrew said. "But we're managing. How are you both?"
"All right," Mandria said.
"Really well! I can't wait to see the Elf Willow again, I hope he and his pot didn't cause too much trouble over the summer," Rose said.
"I'm sure Father would have written you if it had," Alex said.
"So what house you want to be in, Andrew?" Mandria asked him.
"Oh, I don't know. It doesn't really matter to me," Andrew said.
"Nonsense, he's going to be a Ravenclaw. He's got a very methodical mind," Alex said.
"Well maybe," Andrew said, glancing at Aurelius. "But I hear that Slytherin is closer to the kitchens."
"Proximity to the kitchens is no way to chose a house, trust me," Mandria said. Rose chuckled lightly.
"You haven't seen my brother eat," Alex said dryly. Just then there was a noise and Alex and Aurelius looked around to see Aurelius' snake peeking out of his pack, slithering out the door so quickly that Mandria's owl began flapping wildly in her cage and Mandria herself had jumped onto the seat. "Where on earth is Achilles going?"
"I don't know but you'd better catch him before he makes trouble on the train," Rose suggested. A squeal from the hall let Aurelius know that he would have to move fast, leaping to his feet and out the door, nearly bumping into a first year girl clinging to the wall to keep away from the creature as it headed down the hall.
"Hey! A snake!" A large student that Aurelius had never seen before commented as he stuck his head out of a compartment. "I didn't know we were allowed to have snakes!"
"Aurelius is special, teacher's son and all that," Conner said from across the hall after Aurelius had passed.
"Conner, drop it. Leave the kid alone," Stewart Gaffney said, pulling him back. "They've got enough pressure without your mouth, don't you think?"
"He's one of the Snapes?" the large student said, pushing his wild curly brown hair out of his face before stepping into the hall after him. "Here, let me help."
"No, go away! I'll talk to him," Aurelius said, waving the other boy away. "Achilles, where are you going?" he hissed.
The other student looked at him with intense curiosity, wondering about the strange sounds he had just heard. But Aurelius was too busy trying to follow his familiar to notice the scrutiny. Achilles slipped under a lavatory door. Aurelius and the other student braced themselves for a scream, but it never came. "Achilles?" Aurelius hissed again.
"Perhaps knocking would be a good idea, yes?" the boy suggested.
"Can't you go help someone somewhere else?" Aurelius snapped. But the boy easily reached over Aurelius' head and knocked on the door gently.
"Alo? Anyone there, êtes vous l`a?" he asked.
Slowly the door opened and a young girl stepped out, carrying the snake in her hand.
"Alicia!" Aurelius said with surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought we left you at the Weasley's!"
"I won't be left alone," Alicia said stubbornly, looking curiously at the other boy. "Friend of yours?"
"Don't know him. But you shouldn't be here."
"Halbert. Halbert Hagrid," the boy said, "you see, my father knows…"
"Great, fine, pleasure. Excuse us," Aurelius said, grabbing his sister by the arm and dragging her down the corridor. Halbert furrowed his brow a moment before he sighed, heading back to his compartment. Aurelius quickly shoved her inside, closing the door as Alex and Andrew called out her name, giving her hugs.
"What are you doing here? You're going to be in so much trouble!" Alex scolded her.
"I don't care. You can't leave me alone with Mum gone, you just can't! I just… I just don't think I can take it," Alicia said. "Please, can't you let me stay in your dorm room or something?"
"Alicia, you know perfectly well that Father would never allow that," Aurelius sighed.
"But I've thought it all out. All we have to do is get his watch, and he'll never have to know where I am, and I can stay under the bed at night, and come out during the day when everyone's at class. Or maybe I can stay in the forest."
"No. Alicia, trust me, you don't want to be caught in that forest at night, ever," Aurelius said. "You're just going to have to take a painting back to the Weasley's."
"I'm not going back," Alicia said stubbornly.
"But Alicia, everyone's going to be so worried about you," Andrew said gently. "They'll be afraid someone took you like they did Mum."
"This is different. I'm doing this because I want to be lost. She didn't," Alicia said.
"We don't know that for sure," Aurelius said with a shrug. Alex frowned at him warningly. "She could have just left too."
"No, she lost her memory. Pyther said so, remember?" said Alicia.
"He said it was a theory. Nothing's proven yet. Maybe we just can't find her because she doesn't want found."
"Oh, shut up, Aurelius," Alex snapped. "I don't care what sort of lies you've convinced yourself, we've a more serious problem here! What are we going to do about Alicia?"
"I'm not going back," Alicia said again.
There was a quick knock on the door then and a familiar head looked in with a thin smile on his face.
"Did someone say my name a moment ago?"
"Uncle Sirius!" Alex said, the other three still agape. "When did you get here?"
"Actually, I got on at the station. Girls, do you mind if I chat with these four a moment?"
"Sure," Mandria said. Rose nodded and the two stepped out, glancing at one another wondering just how much trouble the Snapes were in this time. Sirius closed the door and took a seat.
"Sit down, Alicia."
"I'm not going back," Alicia said, arms folded.
"I know, sit down," he said gently. "Anna had a feeling you might pull something like this and gave me a heads up about it. That's why I am on the train. And you know what, you're right too. You shouldn't have to go to school alone with everything that's going on."
"Do you mean it?" Alicia said with surprise. "Then I can go to Hogwarts?"
"No," Sirius said. "But how would you feel about going to school with Zoë and Zack?"
"Really? But I thought Father wouldn't let me go to school in the States!"
"No, he won't," Sirius said. "But Anna and I had a long… discussion… with each other and with your cousins, and we're thinking about enrolling Zoë and Zack into Stoddard for a while. Now, I can't guarantee how much the two of us are going to be around the mansion if you stay with us. Chances are there are still going to be fill-in adults here and there if we do this," he said seriously. "As long as your mother is missing, a lot of us have obligations to try and do what we can to get her back or to make things easier on those who are looking. And with Anna's job being the way it is, and as much as I wish she'd just drop it sometimes, she can't just leave it… not yet. Personally, I think it'd be better if you stayed with the Weasley's, but we're going to leave it up to you." Alicia glanced between her three siblings a moment before settling her gaze back on her uncle.
"I want to stay with Zoë and Zacchius," Alicia said.
"That's where you really want to be?" Sirius asked seriously. Alicia nodded. "All right, Alicia. You win. If there's one thing I know after watching you for the last ten years, it's that nobody can keep you anywhere you don't want to be."
Alicia suddenly teared up again and hugged him, a brief look of grief crossing Sirius' own face, vanishing as quick as it came as he hugged her back.
"Everything's going to be all right. You're Snapes, you can get through anything," Sirius said. Alicia glanced over at the other three, who were smiling at her; even Aurelius had a slight curl to his lip.
"You are going to write to me?" Alicia asked.
"Every day," Alex swore.
"I'll write you tonight after I get Sorted! I'm sure I'll have plenty to tell you," Andrew promised.
"Who else can we count on, if not each other?" Aurelius agreed.
"Well, since we're all here, how about we buy out the trolley before I leave?" Sirius suggested.
"Bribery will get you everywhere," Andrew said cheerfully.
"Hope that doesn't mean we have another Slytherin in the works," Sirius chuckled, Aurelius squinting at him slightly in return.