AR/DM: still no reviews, but I think that may be because I accidentally checked the box that says not to accept anonymous reviews. Sry about that for everyone who it inconvenienced. Well, anyway, on with the story. Btw, this is gonna b a short chapter because I 4got to put it in the last one. Read, review, and enjoy.
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I stared at Dumbledore in shock, "She knows?" I gasped.
He nodded gravely.
"You're quite certain of this?" Severus asked.
"Quite," agreed Dumbledore, "She came to see me yesterday and told me the news."
"But how do you think she found out?" asked Sprout fearfully.
"I have no doubt that she was told by Voldemort," said Dumbledore, confirming all our worst fears.
"But how?" I asked.
Dumbledore turned to me, "That remains a mystery, Minerva. Alice didn't mention it and I didn't address the issue. Besides, I do not think that Alice would have told me willingly seeing as how she was so reluctant to mention who told her in the first place."
"We should have seen this as an issue before hand," Severus said in outrage, "This is exactly was I feared would happen. Now, not only do we have Black to worry about, but we also have a student who knows her father is the Dark Lord!"
"Alice is not an issue," said Dumbledore calmly, "She has informed me that she will no longer speak nor listen to Voldemort."
"What makes you so sure that she will keep her word?" Severus demanded, "Forgive me, professor, but I would think that you, of all people, would know how persuasive and cunning Voldemort is. Surely he could trick this girl into speaking with him again."
"I have to agree with Severus on this one," added Flitwick, "Alice is a solid investment as a spy, even at her age. This could be a very dangerous situation."
"What do you propose we do with her then?" I demanded, "Transfer her? Hogwarts is the safest place for her to be. Expel her? Voldemort will no doubt find her somehow and turn her into an enemy. Alice is very good at magic and could be very dangerous if she learned the things Voldemort will no doubt teach her."
"What would you have us do then?" Sprout asked.
I sighed, "We should watch her and make sure she does nothing to harm the other students."
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled at my proposal while we waited for the other teachers to consider it.
"Sounds good to me if it works," said Sprout.
"I believe it will work," agreed Flitwick.
"Very well," added Severus after a moment.
The other teachers left the room to work on things that needed to be done. Just as I was about to leave, Dumbledore said my name.
"Minerva, I would like to thank you for your idea," he told me, "I truly didn't know what we were going to do."
I nodded at Dumbledore kindly. This kind of truth was a sign of Dumbledore and my friendship. "You're welcome, Albus," I said and smiled at him. Then I too went back to my room.
* * * * *
I tried very hard to keep my word to Dumbledore. I really did. But, after two weeks, I began to miss the late night talks with my father. I didn't care if he was Voldemort. I still loved him. So, one night, after everyone else was asleep, I opened my trunk and pulled out my diary.
[Father, I'm sorry that I haven't written. I was scared, that's all. Scared of you.]
[Alice, you disappoint me. Why should you be scared of me? I'm your father.]
[You're not just my father, though. You're also Voldemort, the enemy of my best friends.]
[Fair enough. But I wouldn't never hurt you or ask you to do anything that would hurt them. Alice, you must trust me.]
I sighed, [Of course, Father. I do trust you.]
[Very good. How has your day been?]
Now everything was back to normal. Father was acting like I'd never stopped talking to him and as if I didn't know who he was.
[It was fine, I suppose. Professor McGonagall...]
* * * * *
* * * * *
I stared at Dumbledore in shock, "She knows?" I gasped.
He nodded gravely.
"You're quite certain of this?" Severus asked.
"Quite," agreed Dumbledore, "She came to see me yesterday and told me the news."
"But how do you think she found out?" asked Sprout fearfully.
"I have no doubt that she was told by Voldemort," said Dumbledore, confirming all our worst fears.
"But how?" I asked.
Dumbledore turned to me, "That remains a mystery, Minerva. Alice didn't mention it and I didn't address the issue. Besides, I do not think that Alice would have told me willingly seeing as how she was so reluctant to mention who told her in the first place."
"We should have seen this as an issue before hand," Severus said in outrage, "This is exactly was I feared would happen. Now, not only do we have Black to worry about, but we also have a student who knows her father is the Dark Lord!"
"Alice is not an issue," said Dumbledore calmly, "She has informed me that she will no longer speak nor listen to Voldemort."
"What makes you so sure that she will keep her word?" Severus demanded, "Forgive me, professor, but I would think that you, of all people, would know how persuasive and cunning Voldemort is. Surely he could trick this girl into speaking with him again."
"I have to agree with Severus on this one," added Flitwick, "Alice is a solid investment as a spy, even at her age. This could be a very dangerous situation."
"What do you propose we do with her then?" I demanded, "Transfer her? Hogwarts is the safest place for her to be. Expel her? Voldemort will no doubt find her somehow and turn her into an enemy. Alice is very good at magic and could be very dangerous if she learned the things Voldemort will no doubt teach her."
"What would you have us do then?" Sprout asked.
I sighed, "We should watch her and make sure she does nothing to harm the other students."
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled at my proposal while we waited for the other teachers to consider it.
"Sounds good to me if it works," said Sprout.
"I believe it will work," agreed Flitwick.
"Very well," added Severus after a moment.
The other teachers left the room to work on things that needed to be done. Just as I was about to leave, Dumbledore said my name.
"Minerva, I would like to thank you for your idea," he told me, "I truly didn't know what we were going to do."
I nodded at Dumbledore kindly. This kind of truth was a sign of Dumbledore and my friendship. "You're welcome, Albus," I said and smiled at him. Then I too went back to my room.
* * * * *
I tried very hard to keep my word to Dumbledore. I really did. But, after two weeks, I began to miss the late night talks with my father. I didn't care if he was Voldemort. I still loved him. So, one night, after everyone else was asleep, I opened my trunk and pulled out my diary.
[Father, I'm sorry that I haven't written. I was scared, that's all. Scared of you.]
[Alice, you disappoint me. Why should you be scared of me? I'm your father.]
[You're not just my father, though. You're also Voldemort, the enemy of my best friends.]
[Fair enough. But I wouldn't never hurt you or ask you to do anything that would hurt them. Alice, you must trust me.]
I sighed, [Of course, Father. I do trust you.]
[Very good. How has your day been?]
Now everything was back to normal. Father was acting like I'd never stopped talking to him and as if I didn't know who he was.
[It was fine, I suppose. Professor McGonagall...]
* * * * *