Disclaimer: Ms. Rowling still has not given me Snape or Draco, but she continues to be a truly wonderful person and loan them to all of us. So I still own nothing.

Chapter 6 Rich Girl

You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far
'Cause you know it don't matter anyway
You can rely on the old man's money
You can rely on the old man's money

Hall and Oates "Rich Girl"

The meeting with the attorney left Alexis stunned. Professor Dumbledore had tried to prepare her, but she still could not believe the extent of the Draluck family holdings. Even if she spent with great abandon it would be years before she even touched the money that was in the vaults. The attorney had explained that accounts had been set up for her use at all of the major shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. They had assigned an accountant, Fescul Le'Sonde, to her from the family team to handle her personal finances.

Alexis left the attorney's office with a stack of parchment detailing her assets, the auditing procedures that were in place to keep everyone honest and a rather heavy moneybag for her incidentals. When she needed more she was to owl Mr. Le'Sonde and he would deliver it to her.

Snape found her standing in front of the attorney's office looking dazed and confused. Taking the sheaf of parchment from her hand he led her to a small restaurant down a side street and took her to a private booth in the back. When the waiter came with the menus Snape ordered a large pot of tea. Handing Alexis a menu, "We might as well eat here since we are going to miss dinner at Hogwarts."

Alexis took the menu and stared at it without seeing a single item listed on it.

Snape finally took the menu from her, "Why don't I order for both of us?"

Alexis nodded absently still trying to absorb everything she had been told.

When the waiter came back with the tea Snape ordered, "We will have the Beef Tenderloin Medallion with Mirepoix Sauce and a bottle of your Cepage Cabernet."

Pouring Alexis a cup of tea he added two lumps of sugar and then handed it to her.

"Drink it," Snape ordered without looking up from the papers he was examining. He was surprised by the extent of the Draluck estate and impressed with all the safeguards in place to prevent embezzlement and theft. "You are a very wealthy woman now. What do you plan to do with it?"

Alexis blinked at him for a moment, "Do with it? I really don't know. I'll want to look into donating to charities…"

Snape pulled out one of the pieces of parchment, "Here is a list of the charities you already donate to, and very generous donations at that."

Alexis looked at the long list of names and the amounts beside them. A heading at the top showed that fifteen percent of the gross profits from all companies were set aside for charitable donations.

"What should I do with it?" Alexis questioned.

"Do what I do with my inheritance," Snape advised. "Use what you need and ignore the rest."

At her disbelieving stare Snape impatiently hissed, "This inheritance is a freedom. It was not meant to be a heavy burden. The Draluck's have very carefully arranged this so that most of the real work involved is delegated. Your only responsibility is to monitor that everyone else is following orders. You do not even have to spend the money. You can leave it there to multiply."

Alexis realized that Snape was giving her very good advice. She would take a monthly allowance to cover her expenses and ignore the rest. Feeling as if a ten-ton weight had been lifted from her, she smiled a Snape, "Thank you."

"Now with your new wealth, I will allow you to pay for dinner," Snape smirked.

"It will be my pleasure," Alexis took a sip of her tea; relaxed and finally looked around at the first wizarding restaurant she had ever been in. At first glance it looked exactly like its Muggle counterparts. That was until she noticed the trays floating behind the wait staff instead of being carried by them.

"I suppose it will be too late to do any shopping by the time we have finished eating," Alexis said wistfully.

"What makes you say that?"

"You have already wasted a fair portion of your day playing baby sitter to me. I realize you want to get back to your important work as soon as possible."

"Since my day has already been wasted, you may as well finish by wasting my evening," Snape smirked.

Looking at him closely, Alexis could see, way in the back of his eyes, a faint, barely perceptible twink (not big enough to be a full twinkle) letting her know he was attempting to tease her.

"Thank you for your gracious offer to escort me to the shops," Alexis said snottily lifting her nose so she could look down it.

Snape snorted. Alexis was a good deal shorter than he, even sitting, so the effect was not all she could wish for. Instead of looking disdainful she merely looked nearsighted.

When Alexis went to pay for dinner, she would not listen to Snape's protest that he had not been serious about her paying, she found that this was one of the establishments where an account had already been set up for her. Signing the bill and leaving a generous tip, she flashed Snape a grin of triumph that she was getting her way.

Snape noticed the waiter was looking at him with a good bit of envy. Not only was he having dinner with a beautiful witch, but she was insisting on paying for it. Snape decided to enjoy himself and smirked at the waiter.

Taking Alexis' arm to escort her out of the restaurant, Snape noticed that the waiter was not the only one wishing he was in Snape's shoes. Snape was enjoying the unusual experience of being envied when he heard an all too familiar voice.

"Severus, I certainly did not expect to see you here, and with such a charming companion," Lucius Malfoy drawled. "Aren't you going to introduce us?" The Malfoy's were seated at a prominent table where they could see and be seen.

Lucius was a coldly handsome man and his wife was a woman whose beauty was marred by the cold look of disdain that twisted her features. With her first look at Draco, Alexis couldn't help but think that he did bear an unfortunate resemblance to a white ferret with his sharp features and pale blonde hair.

"Alexis Draluck, allow me to introduce Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy and their son Draco. Lucius, Narcissa, this is Alexis Draluck."

Lucius' eyes narrowed at the name Draluck. Getting to his feet he extended his hand, "Are you perhaps related to Persephone Draluck?"

Accepting his hand, Alexis firmly controlled the urge to shudder when Lucius raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Taking her hand back, she used the movement to disguise her move closer to Snape, "Persephone was my grandmother."

"You must join us for an aperitif." Lucius now had confirmation that the rumors were true. Alexis Draluck, last heir to the vast Draluck fortune had somehow woken from The Sleeping Death Curse. Since The Sleeping Death Curse had kept her from aging, physically she was a few years older than Draco; but when that much money was involved, years could be overlooked. At the thought of combining the Malfoy fortune with the Draluck fortune, Lucius had to shift to cover his body's response. Narcissa would not be sleeping alone tonight; in fact she would not be sleeping much at all tonight.

Before Snape could respond Alexis was at her most gracious, "That is very kind of you and we really appreciate the offer. However, we must decline; if we do not hurry we will be late for an appointment." Looking at Snape she caressed his arm familiarly, "We really must leave, darling."

Looking back at Lucius with a politely false smile, "Perhaps we can get together another time?"

"Perhaps," Lucius' look was calculating as he tried to determine the relationship between the Potions master and the heiress. He would hate to lose the opportunity, but he knew better than to cross Snape if a claim had already been placed on her. "I will owl Severus to let him know when we will be free."

"It was a pleasure meeting you," Alexis had slipped her hand into Snape's and was turning towards the door.

"Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, enjoy your evening,"

"Enjoy yours, Severus," Lucius responded in a sly voice.

As soon as they turned the corner and were out of sight of the restaurant, Snape pulled Alexis into a shadowy doorway. Before he could say anything, Alexis had burrowed into his arms and was shivering uncontrollably. "Please just hold me for a moment," she begged.

Snape cautiously put his arms around her. To his surprise her shivering eased as soon as she felt his arms enfold her. He could not believe how right it felt to hold her. Her body seemed made to fit against his.

Snape felt Alexis shift and started to drop his arms when he heard her say, "No, please not yet, just a minute more," so he tightened his arms. Snape discovered that while intellectually he knew that Alexis was seeking comfort in his embrace, physically his body was only aware that he was holding a warm, soft body of the female persuasion. He was going to have to release her soon or embarrass them both. He was mentally listing the ingredients for a potion that temporarily caused impotence to distract his body from the feel and scent of Alexis. Finally, she lifted her head and pulled back enough to give him the space he desperately needed. Her arms were loosely clasped around his waist and she was able to tip her head up and give him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry about all of that."

"Just exactly what was all of that?" Snape lifted a hand to push a strand of hair behind her ear.

"He was looking at me like I was the last piece of chocolate and he had been on a three week fast. I'm sorry if he's a friend of yours, I don't want to offend you."

"He is not a friend of mine but merely an acquaintance," Snape reassured her.

"I don't know if I can fully explain it," Alexis confessed.

"Try," Snape kept one arm around her waist and encouraged her to walk down the street. There was no telling when the Malfoy's might exit the restaurant and now that Alexis seemed more composed they should leave the area.

"I looked at him and felt the evilness rolling off of him. Before he knew who I was the only reason I merited his notice was because I was with you. When he found out that I am the Draluck Heiress it excited him. He was trying to figure out a way to use me because he craves power and money is power."

"You are very perceptive. Why did you lead him to believe that there was an intimate relationship between us?" Snape queried.

"Because I could see it in his eyes that he… it's not that he respects you or fears you… but it is some strange combination of the two. If he thinks I belong to you he will not risk crossing you. I'm sorry if this puts you in an awkward position. Next time you see him you can always tell him you grew tired of me," Alexis tried a timid smile at the frowning Potions master.

Snape snorted, "I doubt he would believe that. I'm afraid your shopping is going to have to wait. We had best get back to Hogwarts."

"Of course," Alexis acquiesced.

They headed to The Leaky Cauldron to use the Floo network. Neither commented on the fact that Snape kept his arm around her during the walk back.