"Magazines ? Sure, I'll take one." Alex selected a dog-eared copy of Witch Weekly and set it on the bedside table. "Thank you, Miss Parkinson." The brunette simpered at her. Alex couldn't resist. "You're so solicitous," she told her in a saccharine-sweet tone. "You'd make a wonderful nurse, Pansy." Alex hid a smirk as the sixth-year Slytherin flounced out, jerking the curtain closed behind her. What a way to spend a weekend. I don't get paid enough to put up with this.

Alex listened for a moment; the Hogwarts infirmary was quiet save for faint snores coming from a bed nearby. She leaned over the side of the bed and retrieved her laptop. May as well get a little work done. Idly, she pulled an emerald pendant from the neckline of her unattractive hospital gown. The gem shone in the lamplight, a brilliant shade of grass green. At least Severus is having a good time. Well, probably not a good time, she corrected herself with a rueful grin, but he's not in any danger.

Alex had been looking forward to the weekend when Severus had burst her bubble with news of an invitation to a dinner party at the Malfoys'. "Ooh, I get to schmooze with the royal family of the pure-blood set ?"

"No." At her frown, he'd explained. "I haven't merited an invitation to Malfoy Manor in quite some time. I have no illusions as to why I've been invited now. Lucius has taken an interest in you. He may even see you as a potential recruit."

She'd shrugged carelessly. "I don't see the problem. I was born and raised to play politics. It's mother's milk to me; I can handle dinner with the Malfoys."

"You don't know Lucius." Alex had opened her mouth to argue. "How's your Occlumency ?" Snape had asked, cutting her off.

"Not bad. I'm a bit rusty, maybe." His black eyes had bored into hers. "Okay, probably." A sigh. "Nowhere near on par with yours," she'd finally admitted. He'd smirked. Arrogant bastard, she'd thought automatically.

"I'll tell the Malfoys how deeply you regret having to miss their soiree. Shame that you're going to fall ill Friday evening." He'd glowered at her, suddenly serious. "And it will have to be convincing, Alex. Have no doubt that one or more of Draco's little friends will be checking in on you."

She'd rolled her eyes. "Great. How does projectile vomiting sound ?"

"Absolutely disgusting."

-----

It was well past midnight when Alex heard stealthy footsteps and the muttered words to a spell. She tensed, drawing her wand and setting the computer aside. When Severus Snape pulled the curtain open she relaxed her guard. "How was the party ?"

He closed the curtain and crossed the narrow space to sit on the edge of the bed. "Narcissa was a bit put out. Your absence utterly destroyed her careful seating arrangement," he grinned. She smiled wanly. "What's wrong ?"

"Ungh, the Longbottom kid." She rolled her eyes toward the far end of the infirmary. "He's a wreck. Some of his friends from Gryffindor stopped by this evening, and he wouldn't even talk to them."

"I received an owl yesterday from St. Mungo's," Severus said, seemingly changing the subject. "I wanted to discuss it with you, but you were, um... a bit busy at the time."

"I take it that it wasn't good news."

Snape stood and paced across the narrow enclosure. He cast a ward against eavesdropping, then paced some more. Alex waited with growing anxiety. "Neville's mother is a patient at St. Mungo's," he blurted at last. "Both of his parents are. Alice and Frank Longbottom have been in the long-term residential ward for the past fourteen years."

"The poor kid," Alex said. "What's wrong with them ?" Snape told her, his face hardening into its familiar sneer of self-contempt as he related the tale. "That wasn't your fault. You were already working for Dumbledore when the Longbottoms were attacked," she tried to remind him. He snorted.

"Alice Longbottom's healer considered her an excellent candidate for the clinical trials," he continued, "and once she began taking the Clarity potion, she did make progress. Remarkable progress. She was beginning to reclaim some of her memories. She remembered working for the Ministry, recognized that Frank was her husband. Two weeks ago she began asking when she could go home. She wanted to see her baby."

"Her baby," Alex breathed, thinking of the shy, good-natured teenager. "Dear gods..."

"The healers wanted to proceed with caution," Snape told her. "No visitors, no discussion of current events... but on Thursday, a visitor left a copy of the Daily Prophet. Alice found it. She took it to her room and read it, apparently. She attempted suicide." Alex gasped. "Her husband had just enough presence of mind to alert a nurse," Snape said curtly. "They got to her in time."

"And Neville knows what happened ?" Oh, that's bright, Alex, she chided herself. No wonder the poor kid's such a mess.

Severus shrugged. "He wasn't permitted to visit his parents over the holidays. Under the circumstances, his grandmother felt it best to keep the boy informed."

"Would you come here ?" She patted the mattress beside her. "Come on, I'm getting dizzy watching you pace. If you don't watch it, I might have to start puking again," she threatened. He sighed theatrically and gave in, sitting down beside her. Alex wrapped her arms around him. "You can't bear the blame for every crime committed by every Death Eater," she told him.

"I don't."

"Uh-huh, sure you don't." He started to argue. She stopped him with a kiss. "So Alice Longbottom was an auror," she said once she'd silenced his protests. "She must have been one tough witch."

"The Longbottoms were two of the Ministry's best," Severus agreed.

"So there's hope for her," Alex said confidently. "Right ?" He grunted, unconvinced. She held him tight. "There's always hope."