Alex didn't get a chance to argue any further with Severus. As she was getting dressed for their dinner date, she felt a stab of pain at the base of her skull. It was the first time the Dark Mark had been activated while she was awake. She knelt in front of the fire, intending to contact Snape. As she reached for the floo powder, Albus Dumbledore's head appeared on the grate, surrounded by green flames. "Remus Lupin is on his way. Could you meet us in my office in twenty minutes or so ?" He smiled reassuringly. "Thank you, Alex."
She sighed and changed into comfortable clothes, wincing as the pain from the Dark Mark came and went. Finally it faded. Severus must be on his way. Alex checked the emerald pendant twice on her way to Dumbledore's office; it was darker, but not alarmingly so. It always turns darker when he's summoned. He'll be okay, she tried to tell herself. Remus Lupin was waiting for her with the pensieve. There was a couch in one corner of the office that Alex couldn't remember having seen there before. Dumbledore was absent, as were most of the inhabitants of the portraits around the walls. Those that remained appeared to be sound asleep in their frames. Heh. Trying to make me feel more comfortable, I'll bet, Alex thought. "Are you getting as tired of this as I am ?" she asked Lupin.
He smiled his gentle smile. "With your help, maybe we can strike a blow for the Order."
She grinned back at him as she took her place on the couch. "I'll damn well try," she replied. As Lupin murmured his incantation, she sank easily, almost eagerly, into the trance. Closing her eyes, Alex found herself standing in yet another graveyard. Cedar trees cast long shadows as the sun sank low in the sky, tinting the scene with a warm golden glow totally at odds with the sinister purpose she knew the hooded figures were gathering for.
Voldemort began with a speech, this one less long-winded than usual. The Death Eater known as Wormtail was called forward, easily recognizable with his gleaming metal hand. He fawned on the Dark Lord, his body visibly trembling - with eagerness, thought Alex, or fear ? Voldemort told the circle of disciples of a long-forgotten artifact that would give the Death Eaters access to lost magical powers. Wormtail was apparently going to be in charge of acquiring the magical item. Voldemort gave him detailed instructions, most uttered in a whisper that Alex couldn't catch. The Death Eater bowed several times, nodding vigorously, then resumed his place in the circle.
With his cold, high-pitched laugh, Voldemort began his customary rant about Harry Potter, reveling in the boy's grief and anger over McGonagall's murder. Alex felt disgust bordering on nausea. Sick, petty bastard. He's nothing but a bully. She shivered as she dutifully transferred the mental image into the pensieve. Poor kid. He's already lost his parents, his godfather... The fact that McGonagall was really alive and using her animagus form to spy for the Order was no comfort. Because of his link with Voldemort, Potter couldn't be told the truth.
Alex tensed as Severus was called forward. Damn. Well, it's not as though I didn't know it was coming. Independent thought faded as Snape came face to face with the Dark Lord and Alex was irresistibly drawn deeper into the trance. She was forced to meet those evil red eyes as Severus Snape knelt on the grass in front of Voldemort.
The Dark Lord was pleased with him for adding to Potter's suffering, but the praises soon ended. "I need you to kill again, my servant. I want to know that all of Potter's friends are dead. Everyone he cares about !" The mad laughter rang out again, breaking the peaceful twilight. "You will kill them, one by one," he crooned, "and drive the boy mad with grief. Oh, how I will savor it."
"No," said Snape bluntly. "I'm already a suspect in McGonagall's death. I might manage to kill once more, maybe twice, before being caught." He spoke coldly, almost casually, of committing serial murder. "I won't be able to keep tabs on Potter for you if I'm locked up in Azkaban," he pointed out reasonably.
"You dare to defy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ?" Bellatrix Lestrange shrilled. The Dark witch flew at Snape, drawing her wand. "You do not tell our Dark Lord what you will or will not do. You obey, without question ! Crucio !"
"Protego !" Still kneeling, Snape deflected the curse, then proceeded to ignore her. "I do not defy you, my Lord," he addressed Voldemort calmly. "I only seek to serve you well. The day will come when I will lure Harry Potter away from Dumbledore's protection." His voice was silky, persuasive. "You know that day will come, my Lord. I will deliver the boy into your hands."
"He lies, my Lord," Bellatrix cried. "He lacks the nerve to do your bidding." The tall witch clung to Voldemort's sleeve, fawning on him. "He fears Azkaban. Remember how he denied you to save himself from being imprisoned, my Lord !"
Snape finally turned his attention to Lestrange. "The Dark Lord knows I serve him as fearlessly as any of his servants. And more successfully than some," he sneered at her.
Lestrange's face, already pale, went deathly white at Snape's insult. "Are you truly so successful, Severus," she hissed. "I wonder. No one saw McGonagall die. If her grave were opened, what would we find ?"
"Over a hundred mourners saw her corpse," Snape replied carelessly. "That should be sufficient evidence. No one told me to kill her publicly."
"Enough." Voldemort's eyes blazed crimson. "You bicker over who serves me best ? You must all serve me, or die !" He leaned down to glare into Snape's eyes. The burning orbs filled Alex's vision. "Did you carry out my orders, my son ? Did you kill her ?"
"Yes, my Lord," Snape gritted. The eyes bored into his. Alex let out a low sob. With every beat of her heart pain lanced through her skull.
The interrogation went on. "Did she suffer ? Did she scream ?" Voldemort asked avidly.
"Yes... my Lord." Alex didn't know how he could even find the strength to answer, let alone lie to the Dark Lord. Her head felt as though it would split in two.
Finally Voldemort turned his attention away from Snape. The vision flickered and blurred for several long moments. "My servant is loyal," Alex heard the Dark Lord tell Bellatrix Lestrange coldly. "You waste my time with your accusations."
Alex felt a grim kind of satisfaction as Severus focused on Lestrange. The tall witch was writhing in pain as she took her turn under Voldemort's gaze. Bitch. Serves her right. She was vaguely aware of the safety of Dumbledore's office, her own body slumped on the couch, sweat-drenched and trembling after her shared ordeal with Snape.
As though from a great distance, she heard Remus' voice. "Alex, are you okay ? Do you want to take a break ?"
"I'm fine," she managed to reply. She transferred her latest thoughts into the pensieve, her muscles protesting with every movement. Severus Snape staggered to his feet and returned to his place in the circle. Voldemort paid no more attention to him. Thank all the merciful gods, Alex thought as the meeting finally broke up.
The Death Eaters dispersed, many disapparating, but others, like Snape, walking slowly away from the circle. Suddenly there was a silent flash of red light through the trees. Severus crouched behind a tombstone as a dark-robed figure thirty feet away dropped to the ground, stupefied. Snape waved his wand and disapparated. Alex saw darkness, then a moment later, the lights of Hogwarts castle.
"He's safe," she breathed, slowly opening her eyes and dragging herself into a sitting position on the couch. "I don't know what was going on at the end," she said, looking quizzically at Lupin.
"Albus was here too, you know. Once you went under, he watched through the pensieve," Remus explained. "It was light enough at the beginning, and we could see enough details to plot the location," he told her with an air of triumph. "Dumbledore had the Order ready within half an hour – they moved into position to surprise the Death Eaters as they left the meeting."
"That's great." Alex felt as though she ought to be more enthusiastic, but she really couldn't summon up the energy. She just wanted to lie back down on the couch and sleep.
Remus looked at her with concern. "Maybe you should rest here for a while."
"That's okay. I can manage." Alex got to her feet, then swayed as a wave of weakness hit her. Lupin caught her arm and steadied her. "Just help me into the fireplace, would you ? Thanks, Remus."
He handed her the can of floo powder and watched as she disappeared. "Goodnight, Alex. Take care."
-----
The next morning Dumbledore was absent from the head table, but Severus Snape was in his usual place. Looking like five miles of bad road, thought Alex sympathetically. Heh, I'd look at least as bad if not for vanity. She'd used Cosmetic Charms before leaving her apartment. I wonder if any more Death Eaters were captured ? And where's Dumbledore ? She knew better than to try and question Snape in the great hall.
She caught up with the potions master between classes. "We can't talk now," he cut her off before she could say a word.
"Sheesh, Severus," she teased, "I was just going to ask if we could reschedule our dinner date."