Disclaimer: Ms. Rowling is willing to share her characters with us but so far she has not given me Snape or Draco :( so I still own nothing.
Chapter 4 Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Well
you're the real tough cookie with the long history
Of breaking
little hearts, like the one in me
That's O.K., lets see how you
do it
Put up your dukes, lets get down to it!
Hit Me With Your
Best Shot!
Why Don't You Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Hit Me
With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!
You come on with a "come on",
you don't fight fair
But that's O.K., see if I care!
Knock
me down, it's all in vain
I'll get right back on my feet
again!
Pat Benatar "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"
Alicia thought for a moment, "You have either already hired or are about to hire Remus Lupin as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. Professor Lupin is a Lycanthrope. His condition is controlled by the Wolfsbane Potion. He will be the third Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher in as many years. The first was Professor Quirrell who had been possessed by He Who Must Not Be Named. Professor Quirrell died while attempting to obtain the Philosopher's Stone from Harry Potter. Gilderoy Lockhart was the next professor. He lost his memory when a Memory Charm backfired. Potter and Weasley had discovered the location of the Chamber of Secrets and that the monster was a Basilisk. They persuaded Lockhart to join them in rescuing Ginny Weasley who had been taken into the chamber by the memory of Tom Riddle's sixteen-year-old self. Potter rescued Ginny Weasley and defeated the Basilisk and Tom Riddle's memory."
Alicia had been looking at Dumbledore during this recitation. Turning to Professor Snape, "Is that what you had in mind?"
Snape was losing the struggle to maintain his usual icy façade and Professor McGonagall's mouth was opening and closing. Rather like a fish out of water.
Professor Dumbledore looked at the stunned duo, "I believe we are going to have to accept what Alicia is telling us. However, I do not believe it would be wise for this to become general knowledge. To everyone else she will have to be Alexis Draluck. We can explain any changes in personality, abilities, and memories as the lingering effects of the Sleeping Death Curse. St. Mungos has asked that we evaluate Alexis and see that she receives any magical therapy she might need to bring her back to her full powers."
Dumbledore continued after allowing Snape and Professor McGonagall to absorb this. To Alicia, "Since some magic seems to have transferred to Alicia, I am going to ask that Minerva and Severus evaluate the amount transferred and set up classes for you." To the professors, "I am also going to ask that neither of you question Alicia about her knowledge of the future."
At this Snape started up in protest, "But Headmaster, this could be valuable information."
"It could also be dangerous information. Too much knowledge of the future could change how we respond and we could end up destroying ourselves." Now he addressed Alicia, "I know this is going to be hard on you, however, you must not try to change anything. Things must progress in a normal manner. If you notice that events are not happening as they are supposed to you must let me know so that we can evaluate the impact that you are having on the present."
Dumbledore took some parchment from his desk, "Now the Draluck family attorney, Letta Gates, has requested a meeting with Alexis as soon as possible. She needs to discharge her obligations in regards to the Draluck Estate."
Looking at Alicia, "The Draluck's are a very old and rich wizarding family. As the last of her family Alexis has inherited a sizable fortune."
Alicia looked very uncomfortable with this information, "But it is not my money. Are there no other relatives any where?"
"No. Alexis is the absolute last in the family. The money was going to be used to provide care for her body for eternity. If you do not accept the money then it will go to the Ministry of Magic to be used however they see fit."
Thinking about how awful the Ministry of Magic will be to Harry and Dumbledore Alicia did not want the money going there. No telling for what it might be used.
"I still feel funny about accepting it."
"You will need some way to pay for the supplies and things you will need. Since you have no known marketable wizarding skills you will not be able to obtain a job. Take the money," was Snape's practical opinion.
Professor McGonagall was nodding her head in agreement. "No telling what those scalawags at the Ministry would do with the money. You definitely need it more than they do."
"Severus, you were planning a trip to Diagon Alley to pick up supplies for the school year?"
Snape gave a cautious nod, wary of where this conversation was going.
"Then you can escort Alexis," special emphasis on the name, "to meet with the attorney, and to pick up some of the things she will need. I will send them a note to expect you on Friday. That will give you and Minerva a chance to evaluate Alexis' magical abilities. Minerva, if you have a moment there are a few things I need to discuss with you."
As Snape got up to leave, "Oh, Severus, would you show Alexis the Main Hall, staff room and then to her room? She has been given The Lilac Room on the fourth floor."
Snape gave Alexis a look that would have melted steel, "If you would follow me?"
Snape swept from the room and as soon as the spiraling staircase reached the bottom he was striding down the corridor. Alexis hurried to keep up with him finding that she had to take two steps for his every one long stride. He started down the staircase and then had to stop when it began moving. This allowed Alexis a chance to catch her breath.
"How tall are you?" she gasped out looking way up at him.
"What did you just ask me?" Snape sneered.
"How tall are you?" Alexis asked not discouraged in the least by the sneer on Snape's face. In fact she was enjoying needling him.
"Six feet even."
Alexis looked stunned, "You can't be only 6 feet tall, I'm 5'10" in my socks and I don't even come up to your shoulder."
Snape looked down on the petite woman and smirked, "Apparently American Muggles use a different measurement to represent feet and inches. I assure you that I am 6 feet tall. And I would say 5'5" would be a generous estimate of your height. Or should I say Alexis' height."
All of a sudden it struck her for the first time that she really was in a different body. When the stairs finally stopped moving she looked up at Snape with pleading eyes, "Can we find a mirror please?"
"Can you not wait to admire yourself until you get to your rooms?" was the impatient reply.
"But I have no idea what I look like," was the pitiful response.
Snape gave her a long look that she could not read and then finally said, "The Lilac Room is down this corridor we will go there first and then I will show you the Main Hall and the Staff room."
"Thank you."
Snape snorted disdainfully but did not say anything.
With his black robes billowing out behind him like giant bat wings he continued striding at breakneck speed down the halls. Again Alexis had to almost run to keep up with him. Finally he stopped in front of a painting of a young girl in a lilac dress in a style popular about three hundred years ago. "You have the ability to change the password. For now it is 'Welcome.'"
The Lilac Girl nodded and the painting swung open revealing several steps up.
Alexis and Snape entered the room, which contained a huge four-poster bed whose curtains were invitingly open. The candles in the sconces on the wall had burst into flame when they entered the room. There was an armoire that matched the bed against one wall and two comfy looking armchairs in front of the fireplace. A window let in more light.
"The bathroom is through that door; you will find a mirror in there," Snape snapped.
Alexis headed toward the door he had indicated not quite sure what to expect. Taking a deep breath she opened the door and stepped into the bathroom. With single-minded concentration she made for the mirror over the sink. Screwing up her courage she looked into the mirror and saw brilliant blue eyes looking back at her surrounded by long, thick lashes. High cheekbones, a small nose that just escaped being snub were matched with a slightly full cupid bows mouth that centered above a firm chin. All of this was surrounded by a cascade of honey blonde hair that framed the pretty face nicely. It was a very young face though. Looking younger than the twenty she knew it was.
"Not too bad, but definitely different then what I am used to. I just wish there was a full length mirror," Alexis said to herself.
Alexis started in surprise as the mirror on the wall obligingly elongated pushing the sink to one side to become a full-length mirror. Looking over her shoulder to make sure Snape was still in the bedroom she opened her robe and slipped it off. Curious to see what witches wore under their robes and to see what she her new body looked like. A knee length skirt and knit jumper were the slightly mundane discovery under the robe. That was all that was mundane though. The honey blonde hair fell to her waist. Wow, nice tits! Nice legs. Body not too skinny but not fat either. Now for the million-dollar question, what does my butt look like?
Turning to try to get a look at her rear Alexis found that Snape was now standing in the bathroom doorway enjoying the show. Deciding to try to brazen it out she asked, "Does this skirt make my butt look fat?"
Snape started for a moment and then smirked. Making a twirling motion with his finger indicating that she should turn back around, Alexis obliged feeling her face redden as she sensed his eyes making a leisurely tour of her figure. It almost felt as if he were touching her, skimming long fingers down her body, lingering in sensitive areas. Now her face was not the only part of her that felt heated. Finally completing the turn she quirked an eyebrow at him in silent question.
"No," was the short reply.
"Now if you are finished I do have more important things to do," Snape said returning to his usual snarkiness. He was trying to hide his unexpected reaction to the byplay. Boy am I glad for robes. They hide a multitude of sins. Shifting slightly he tried to ease the sudden tightness of his trousers.
Alexis grabbed her robe and slipped it back on with a quick nod.
Leaving her room, Alexis tried to take careful note of the corridors and passageways they were traveling but Snape was again setting an impossible pace.
After traveling for a good fifteen minutes they reached the entrance hall. Pointing to a pair of double doors, Snape snapped, "The Great Hall."
Turning abruptly he headed down yet another corridor.
Ten minutes later he stopped in front of a door flanked by two stone gargoyles. Opening it quickly, "Staff room," and then closing it just as quickly. "We take our meals here during the summer holiday. Breakfast is at seven, lunch at noon, and dinner at six. Now if that will be all I must return to my work. If you will just return to your rooms until dinner." Finally looking at her, "You can find your rooms?" Snape sneered.
"Nope. I have as much chance of finding my room as a Gryffindor has a chance at earning house points in Potions Class," was Alexis' cheerful reply.
Snape stared in disbelief and then gave a sharp snort of laughter. "Surely you have a better chance than that?"
"Well, it is not outside the realm of possibility that I could eventually find my room," Alexis said with a wicked look in her eyes. "However, I would like to impose upon your 'good nature' a little longer and ask if you would show me the way to the library?"
"I was unaware that I have a 'good nature'. But the library is down this corridor on your right. Even you cannot miss it."
"Thank you for your assistance," Alexis smiled and as Snape turned once more to leave, "Oh, and Professor."
"Yes?" Snape turned impatiently.
"I'm sure you will be able to whip up a potion to take care of your little problem."
Little problem! At least average. Not to brag but, maybe even slightly bigger than average, but certainly not little. Snape realized that Alexis could not be referring to his earlier reaction to her figure. "Exactly what problem do you mean?"
"The fact that someone thought you good natured of course," and with that she turned and headed toward the library.
