Storm Clouds Always Roll In On A Wednesday
Chapter Three: In Which Tea Reveals Answers
While Alex slipped into a dreamless sleep, Cassandra Hudahn was having tea in Europe with her esteemed colleague Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Honestly Albus, I don't know what to do. I just don't know what to do." Cassandra took a sip of her tea. Ah, European tea, how she missed Britain. Since her husband died, she had moved back to the U.S. but that didn't mean she hadn't grown fond of the 'Mother Country' and it's wonderful ways.
"I mean- it's like the Alex I once knew isn't there anymore. I mean, you can still tell that it's Alex, but not the right one." Cassandra frowned and furrowed her eyebrows before taking another sip of her tea. Albus took another cracker off the platter and sat back to listen contentedly to an old friend's ramblings.
"I've tried so hard Albus. I've given her space, I've let her know that I'm willing to listen, I've tried everything I can possibly think of to help her, but she just won't let me in. Every time I think I'm close to breaking through that impossible shell she's encased herself in she pushes me away and put up even MORE shields. She won't talk to anybody Albus. She just stays up in her room all day. I'm not sure how she survives, Merlin knows that I never found a trace that she's eating. Seline and Cleo are doing all they can but it's not like they can leave the school. And all the letters they've sent to Alex are answered with, 'I'm fine. Keeping Busy. Love the books. Hope to see you at the end of summer.' What can she possibly be DOING up there that sustains her?? I mean it Albus. I'm at my wit's end."
Cassandra sighed and gently placed her empty teacup and saucer on the table as if they might break. Albus leaned back in his seat and looked carefully at Cassandra through his half moon spectacles. She looked tired and worn, like a piece of cloth stretched too tight. Her face was full of lines and wrinkles that he was sure weren't there the last time they had had tea. He ran his hands though his beard in thought before speaking.
"Cassnadra, other than the trouble with your granddaughter, how are other matters in your life?" Cassandra looked up from where she had been staring into the empty teacup.
"Other matters…?" She repeated blankly. Albus would have found the almost confused look on her face entertaining if it wasn't for the pressing matters on hand.
"Yes, Cassandra. Other matters." He pressed. "Your job at the AGOM, dealing with the press, settling the affairs of your late son and daughter-in-law, other matters." He watched her closely.
"Oh…well I, that is to say…" she paused with a bemused look on her face. She shook her head and placed a hand on her face, leaning into it.
"To be frank? They're taking up all my time. At first, I was worried that they were taking too much of my time away from Alex. I thought that I wasn't there enough for her when she might have needed me, but I was wrong. When I took some time off, all it did was cause things to pile up and give me a bigger headache. I can stay on top of it, don't worry about that, but I'm more worried that I just don't the flexibility of a younger me. I can take care of my job at the AGOM, the press, the meetings, the political arena, but I'm getting stretched Albus. And I don't think I can handle child rearing on top of it. Especially a moody and unpredictable one like Alex is right now." She gave a short chuckle. "Oh my, I didn't just admit that did I?" She chuckled harder and Albus quirked one of his bushy eyebrows and joined her.
"Yes, yes my dear, I believe you did. The great Cassandra Hudahn has just admitted she can't do everything." Albus popped a lemon drop into his mouth before offering the tin to the still laughing Cassandra who declined.
"I believe Cassandra, that you stated your problem in one very simple phrase." Cassandra looked at Albus with both eyebrows raised. Problem? She had a problem? Never! Still… she waited to hear the rest of what Albus had to say.
"You are stretched, Cassandra. And you are being stretched far too thin." Cassandra went to interrupt but Albus held up one hand. "I know that you pride yourself on being a woman who can handle anything Cassandra, but right now you have one too many things to handle at the same time and not enough hands. Now is not the time to be working yourself to the point of exhaustion Cassandra." Cassandra looked at him defeated.
"What else can I do Albus? Everything I'm doing I have to do myself. It's not like I can hand over my granddaughter to someone and say, 'Here! Raise her! I'll check up on you now and again, just be sure to work those issues out of her first!' Ha! The very idea is laughable Albus!" Cassandra paused and looked at the Headmaster of Hogwarts harder. His eyes were twinkling.
Damn!!
His eyes were twinkling? Cassandra leaned forward and stared harder into his eyes. Yup. Twinkling.
"Albus…" she said slowly. "What are you thinking?" Albus popped another lemon drop into his mouth. His eyes were definitely twinkling.
"Me my dear? Nothing at all. You've already thought of it." He gave a kindly smile and popped another lemon drop into his mouth. "Quite surprised actually, I didn't actually think you would catch on so quickly. But now that you mention it, it's a lovely idea." Cassandra's eye widened.
"Albus! Are you MAD?! I can't just ship my granddaughter off to some stranger! They have laws against that sort of thing!" Albus folded his hands across his enormous beard.
"Quite right Cassandra. Can't be sending her to a stranger. I was thinking more along the lines of her legal guardian." He started twiddling his thumbs. Twice in one evening Cassandra Hudahn had been struck speechless.
"But…" she started weakly. "What good would that do? She would hate me…" she trailed off. He was right.. Cassandra looked at Albus horrified. Cassandra knew he was right, but she still didn't like the thought "My own flesh and blood? I couldn't do that Albus. I won't do that. She, she would think it was a betrayal. She needs someone close to her right now Albus, someone who knows her and can talk with her. Her legal guardian can't give her that." Albus gave a small sigh. This was going to be difficult.
"Cassandra, what Alex needs right now is distance. The problem you're having is that you're too close. She feels like she needs to separate herself from her parent's death. The best way to do that is to give her a new start. You won't be gone, you'll always be available to her, she will just live with someone else. I do believe that both Alex and her legal guardian can benefit from this." Cassandra tried another tactic.
"But… Remus Lupin? Albus, surely you don't mean Remus Lupin. Alex wouldn't benefit from that. Neither would Remus." Albus looked Cassandra in the eyes. Those deep, penetrating, twinkling blue eyes. They could see into you, those eyes, and they would know everything.
"I believe you're wrong Cassandra. Remus would benefit greatly from having Alex. He needs something to anchor his life. Especially with this war going on." Cassandra leaned forward out of her chair.
"Albus, I've known Remus since before he was a werewolf. His mother and I were very close- practically sisters! And I wouldn't force this on him. You know the werewolf regulations, he wouldn't be allowed legal rights to Alex anyways." Albus rubbed the side of his nose with one finger.
"Only by European regulations. In the States he would still be allowed custody, wouldn't he?" He feigned innocence.
"Well, yes- but that's not the point!" Cassandra banged both hands palm down on the table in front of her. Now Albus leaned forward and almost whispered.
"The what is the point Cassandra? If you hold on to Alex you're going to cause more damage than good. You know this." His twinkling blue eyes were no longer twinkling- they were filled with regret.
"Let go Cassandra. If you love her, you must, let, go." Albus gently took one of Cassandra's hands into his own. Cassandra stared at the hand holding her own before looking into Albus' eyes. I've come to hate looking into his eyes. They always show the horrible truth you don't want to know. She remembered the last time they had had a conversation like this. When her husband had died. She turned away from the painful memories. She closed her eyes and bowed her head in defeat.
She gently pulled her hand away from Albus' and in a voice so low Albus had to strain to hear it, said,
"Alex goes to her Legal Guardian…tomorrow." Slowly, Cassandra drank the last of the dregs at the bottom of her teacup and stood up.
"It was a nice visit while it lasted Albus, I think I'll go home now, I have much to do." She gave a tired smile and added, "We ought to get together for tea again soon, be sure to owl me for the next meeting." Then she got up, walked through the portrait door, and down the gargoyle steps. She retraced her steps all the way to Hogsmeade and to Madame Rosmerta's pub. She went in the back and used the fireplace to floo back to Hudahn House.
As she stepped though the fireplace in her study she snapped her fingers and with a small -pop- Gabby was at her side.
"What is Gabby doing for the Missus?" Her violet eyes seemed like orbs as she looked up at Cassandra.
"Get me a small glass of Brandy, Gabby. I have to write a letter to be delivered tonight." Gabby gave a grin that spread from one side of her face to the other.
"Right away Missus, Gabby is bringing it straight!" and with a small -pop- she was gone. Cassandra looked at where Gabby had been. A beginning to a long night, she thought and went to her desk to begin her letter.
Remus,
(AN:: I'd like to say thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far- alfalfa0012, Spanky And Pie, lizzie5555555, and Lil' Bode. You guys ROCK!! I really appreciate your reviews and I'm sooooooo glad you guys have liked my story so far!! Keep on reading, the next chapter will be about Draco and Alex!! Stay Tuned!!
