Alex lingered at the head table Friday evening after dinner. Flitwick and Sprout had their heads together nearby, conversing in hushed tones. She smiled fondly at the couple. Albus Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were sipping tea and chatting at the center of the long table. As Snape rose from his solitary seat at the far end of the platform, McGonagall challenged him. "Care to speculate on the outcome of the match tomorrow, Severus ?" she queried.
He strode over and pulled out the seat next to her, smiling his coyote smile. "Slytherin will be victorious, of course, Minerva."
Alex approached the group. The headmaster inclined his head to her, indicating a seat. "So, Miss Rose, this will be your first quidditch match at Hogwarts," he remarked as Snape and McGonagall exchanged taunts. Apparently there was a long-standing rivalry between their two houses.
"Um, you know, sir, I hadn't really planned to attend. I'm not really interested in sports..." he voice trailed off as all eyes turned to her. "What, is it a requirement ?" she asked, embarrassed.
"No, no, if you aren't interested -" began Dumbledore kindly. Professor Snape cut him off.
"Of course it's a requirement. Slytherin versus Gryffindor is the most important match of the season," he snapped, earning reproachful looks from Professors Sprout, head of Hufflepuff, and Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw. "You will be joining me in the Slytherin box to cheer our team to its inevitable victory," he commanded Alex pompously, giving McGonagall a smirk as she frowned at him.
"Miss Rose is not a member of Slytherin House," McGonagall reminded Snape tartly. "She might prefer to sit in the Gryffindor box with Pomona, Poppy, and me." Professor Sprout waved from the far end of the table at the mention of her name. "What do you say, Alex ?" prompted McGonagall. "We're going to have a girl's night out, celebrate Gryffindor's victory with dinner at the Three Broomsticks afterward." She shot a triumphant look Snape's way.
"I'd love to, Minerva," Alex said sincerely. Whoa, wouldn't I love to see those three let their hair down. "But Severus has already invited me to dinner with him." She stifled a giggle as all eyes turned to Snape. He looked as though he could cheerfully wring her neck. "Well, those essays on the thirteen uses of ragweed pollen won't grade themselves, will they ?" she said brightly as she abandoned him to his colleagues' curious stares. "See you at the match tomorrow, Severus."
-----
Saturday was clear and crisp, a beautiful bright autumn day. Thank Merlin, for once it's not pouring buckets, thought Alex as she made her way down the lawns to the quidditch field. She was dressed in Muggle clothing – jeans and a heavy wool sweater. The sweater was normally blue, but she had charmed it green for the occasion. She grinned as she noticed Snape, in robes of Slytherin green, pacing impatiently near the entrance. He swooped over and ushered her through the crowd at the gate.
Two tables were set up, Gryffindors and Slytherins selling pennants and corsages. "Buy a corsage for Miss Rose, Professor Snape," cried a girl boldly. He glowered at her. "It's only five sickles," she said, apparently unfazed by the patented Snape glare.
"Very well, Miss Parkinson." He flung a galleon on the table. "Keep the change." He snatched the corsage from the girl's hands and thrust it roughly at Alex.
Once again, Snape scores dismal marks in charm and social skills. "You'll have to help me pin it on," she said innocently, handing the corsage back to him. It was nearly the size of a soup bowl, a huge green chrysanthemum with a rosette of silver ribbon, the stem stabbed through with a long, wicked-looking pin. Snape looked pained. He leaned down, awkwardly positioning the ungainly corsage over her left breast. Squinting, he pulled the fabric of her sweater away from her chest and stabbed the pin through it. The heavy flower drooped unattractively. Snape's lip curled. Impatiently, he jerked the pin out. "Careful, careful," Alex cautioned. I really don't want a pin through the boob. They may be small, but they're all I've got. The Parkinson kid tittered, her hand over her mouth.
With a withering glare at Alex and the girl in turn, Snape repositioned the corsage, impatiently flinging the pin at Miss Parkinson, who squeaked. He drew out his wand. Alex winced. "Fibula," he snapped. Obediently, the corsage stayed put on her chest. The two mages entered the stadium. Alex looked longingly at the grandstands, a mere twenty or thirty feet above the ground. The house boxes towered above them. Fortunately, the stairs were enclosed. She gritted her teeth and made her way up them.
They emerged on a platform high above the stadium. The view of the castle and grounds must be magnificent from up here, Alex thought, resolutely ignoring it. She kept her eyes on the descending bleachers in front of her, willing her feet to carry her down them to her seat. Her feet refused to obey. Snape seemed to sense her fear. He placed a hand on the small of her back, gently guiding her to their seats in the front row. Alex sank onto the hard wooden seat gratefully. She studiously examined the toes of her shoes while her heartbeat slowed to a reasonable rate. Snape's voice seemed to come from a great distance. '-my colleague, Miss Alex Rose,' he was saying. With an effort, Alex pulled herself together. A wizard in an impeccably tailored black woolen cloak was bending over her. His gleaming platinum blond hair was topped by a karakul hat. He's a looker. Alex extended her hand and smiled graciously, racking her brain. What did Snape just say his name was ?
"Lucius Malfoy," supplied the blond wizard smoothly. "Alex. What an...unusual name. Of the American Roses ?"
"Why, yes," she replied, cranking her smile up a notch. And if you're not just as dark as them, buddy, I'll eat this corsage.
"Ah, of course," he purred. "A very old and respected name. Originally from Essex, your family, were they not ?"
"Yes, from Chelmsford. They emigrated to the colonies as a result of the...unpleasantness in the sixteen hundreds."
"Some families are better at evading unpleasantness than others," sneered the potions master. Next to the ruggedly handsome and fashionable Lucius Malfoy, Snape looked scruffy and awkward. Alex recalled faculty gossip about the Malfoys. Twice accused of being a Death Eater, Lucius had gotten off both times by claiming to be under the influence of the Imperious Curse. Conversation ceased as the two quidditch teams took the field to riotous cheering from the crowd. Alex recognized Malfoy's son Draco and young Daley-Bender on the Slytherin team. She applauded politely along with Malfoy and Snape as the team rode their brooms past the Slytherin box.
The match began. Alex attempted to follow along. She winced each time a bludger came close to a player. Snape and Malfoy cheered as the Slytherin players scored goals. Alex followed their lead, cheering when they did. She really couldn't watch the game. Each time a player swooped or dove, her heart pounded in her throat and she shut her eyes. Sheesh. What the hell kind of game is this ? They're just kids. How can they put themselves in such danger, and think it's fun ? The game dragged on. The score was close – first Gryffindor in the lead, then Slytherin. Alex remembered that quidditch games continued until the golden snitch was found. The game could go on all night. She briefly considered throwing herself from the high box. With my luck, I'd live. Gods, will this never end ? She no longer even tried to keep up the pretense of enjoying the game, but huddled in her seat, silently praying for the match to be over.
Thunderous cheering erupted from the stands. Oh please, this is the end, right ? It's got to be the end. She hardly dared to hope; the crowd had cheered wildly before. She heard Snape and Malfoy congratulating one another. Slytherin must have won. It's over. Snape's hand rested gently on her shoulder. Alex stood and allowed him to lead her from the box. "Good game, huh ?" she said brightly, once the railing was under her hand and they were finally, blessedly, descending the stairs. Her voice sounded shaky, even to her own ears.
"You're terrified," Severus Snape remarked over his shoulder. "I really thought you were going to dive straight out of the box, at the end."
He doesn't sound as though he would've been sorry if I did. "I have a fear of heights. Plenty of people do, you know. It's no big deal," Alex insisted. Now that they were approaching the ground, she was starting to feel normal again.
The potions master snorted. He stopped and turned around. Standing two steps above him, Alex found that their eyes were on the same level. She clung to the rail. "It affects your ability to cope with daily life," he insisted. "You can barely negotiate the castle stairs. Look at you now. You're a wreck."
"I have a little trouble. I manage," she replied defensively. "I don't see that it's any of your business."
"You are under a healer's care ? Taking medication ? I just cannot believe that any competent mediwizard would fail to treat this obvious phobia of yours."
"Oh, they've all tried," Alex laughed weakly. "They all suggest various therapies. Only problem is, it always involves doing what I'm most afraid of."
"Of course. The only way to conquer your fear is to face it."
"I'd really rather avoid it, thanks. Can we go now ?"
"How did you ever make it through flying lessons ?" Snape asked sarcastically, ignoring the last of the crowd pushing past them.
"Um. I only had one lesson," Alex admitted, avoiding his eyes. "It...went badly," she said softly.
"Surely learning to fly a broom is a requirement in American schools, just as it is in Britain ?"
You're just full of questions today, aren't you ? "I, um. Well. Um. I really didn't want to, so Daddy got me out of it," she blurted. Alex looked at Snape reluctantly. His expression was incredulous.
"You really were a spoiled little brat, weren't you ?" His lip curled in his customary sneer.
Alex grinned, unapologetic. "Yeah, I was. Daddy's little princess."
Snape shook his head. "Your father didn't do you any favors." His dark eyes glinted. "You're going to learn to ride a broom, Miss Rose. First lesson...now."