Disclaimer: Nothing do I still own.
AN: Dedicated to Midnight Lily my first reviewer. Thanks!
Chapter 8 Should I Do It?
Should
I do it
should I fall? Should I do it after all oh?
Is it
crazy
is it right? I really wanna love him tonight.
Should I do
it
should I play? Can I help it anyway?
When I feel him hold me
tight
I'm gonna turn on like a light.
Pointer Sisters "Should I do It"
Alexis hadn't even tried to study after that kiss. She stayed up thinking about it, reliving it, and trying to decide what to do about it. Snape was not the easiest man to know or to be friends with. Although as she thought back over the past month she was aware that he treated her differently than he treated everyone else. Yes, he was just as likely to sneer and snipe at her as anyone else. But he also treated her with courtesy and allowed her to see below his irascible exterior. That thought led her to the realization that she treated him differently. Everyone seemed to treat Snape with a distant respect. Even Dumbledore allowed Snape his walls.
Alexis ignored his walls, trampled his defenses, and cracked his façade with gleeful abandon. She treated him with the same warmth, courtesy, caring and humor as she did everyone else. Well if she were totally honest with herself, she treated him with a greater degree of warmth and caring. She hadn't shared a kiss like that with Professor Flitwick after all. And if she continued to be honest, she had been attracted to him from the moment he first sneered at her.
Alexis finally decided to see where they went from here and not worry about it or over analyze it. To let things develop at their own pace. She couldn't help but think as she slipped into sleep; if he can kiss like that I hope the pace is full steam ahead.
Alexis got up early the next morning to try and sneak some of the studying in that she had put off last night. She had just got settled with her books when there was a knock on her door. Snape was much earlier than usual. I guess it is full steam ahead, Alexis thought with a pleased smirk.
She was startled when there was a second knock. Last week she had worked it out with the Lilac Girl to go ahead and open for Snape in the morning after he had waited in the hall for ten minutes. She had been in the shower and hadn't heard the knock. If she was in the bathroom, The Lilac Girl would visit the seaside painting in the bathroom to let her know Snape had arrived.
"Enter," she called and watched as the portrait swung open to reveal Dumbledore's smiling face.
"Headmaster, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Alexis smiled back at him.
"My dear, I was hoping that you would join me for breakfast this morning in my office. I want to discuss your future at Hogwarts." At her slightly worried look, Dumbledore went on the reassure her, "I believe I have a plan that will suit."
Alexis was torn, of course she could not refuse the Headmaster, but she knew Snape would be there to take her to breakfast.
Dumbledore seemed to sense her quandary and his eyes twinkled as he offered, "If you need to leave a message for someone I am sure the Lilac Girl would be happy to pass it on."
Alexis laughed; she should have known that nothing got by Dumbledore.
When the portrait had closed behind them Alexis looked at the Lilac Girl, "Would you please let Professor Snape know that I am having breakfast with the Headmaster this morning?"
When the Lilac Girl had indicated her agreement, Alexis and Dumbledore headed to his office.
There was a cozy table with two comfortable chairs drawn up and a full breakfast already laid out for them. Dumbledore poured Alexis some pumpkin juice, "All the professors are telling me things about your progress. I do feel that you can still benefit greatly from the training you can obtain at Hogwarts."
Alexis smiled at his diplomacy. "I realize that there is much more I need to know in order not to be a danger to myself and others. Also, I would like to stay close to Hogwarts so that we both can monitor the effect my presence may have on events."
"I am glad you agree. I wasn't sure exactly how to present you to the students. You are too mature to feel comfortable taking lessons with the students. Many will already be aware of the Alexis Draluck story, but we wanted a way to explain your continued presence without making you look like a complete invalid. Minerva and I discussed this and decided the best way to handle this is to present you as a Teaching Assistant. Assisting the Professors will give you an excuse to sit in the classes. It will also send the message that you are well on your way to a complete recovery. Now the salary we are able to offer you is minimal."
"Headmaster, the last thing I need is more money. In fact I should be paying you," Alexis protested.
"Not at all my dear, we have to follow the procedures for this to work, Teaching Assistants get paid."
"Then how about I work for room, board and extra lessons?" Alexis proposed.
"That is an excellent plan," Dumbledore approved. "Now let's eat."
They had started on their breakfast when Alexis broached a subject she had been thinking about ever since she discovered exactly how much money was at her disposal.
"Headmaster, if the Draluck estate wanted to set up, say a scholarship for deserving witches or wizards to help defray the cost of books, robes, school supplies, what would have to be done?"
Dumbledore gave her a look, "Did you have any ideas about what requirements must be met to qualify for this scholarship?"
"Actually I had some definite ideas. I was thinking only red-haired witches or wizards whose fathers have an extensive Muggle plug collection need apply."
"I can think of five students that would qualify for such a scholarship," Dumbledore replied eyes twinkling.
"What a coincidence, I was thinking that I would offer a total of five scholarships," Alexis responded.
"It is a very nice thought, but the scholarships must be very minimal. Too much could change the course of the future."
Alexis nodded her understanding, "They are very nice people in the books and they treat Harry like another son." Alexis felt free to discuss this with Dumbledore since it was just the two of them.
Dumbledore nodded, "They are the very best of people and would take Harry in to raise him with Ron."
"But they cannot because of the protections you have in place for Harry."
Dumbledore smiled, "How much were you thinking about for each scholarship?"
"I will write a letter to my accountant authorizing him to release $1,000 galleons to you. You can then determine how much for each scholarship and use the rest as you see fit; maybe an emergency fund for students in need. I also would like to remain completely anonymous, please keep this strictly between the two of us."
Dumbledore agreed to the requests, "What shall we call the scholarships?"
"How about, The Muggle Plug Scholarship, given to the children of people who have displayed an ongoing desire to learn more about Muggles and to improve Muggle Wizard relations."
Dumbledore was laughing before Alexis had finished.
Alexis enjoyed the rest of her visit with Dumbledore. They were sitting and chatting when there was a knock on the door. Professor McGonagall entered at Dumbledore's call, "Albus, you have an urgent owl from the ministry."
Albus took the letter with a quiet, "Thank you," and excused himself to read it. Alexis started to leave but Dumbledore waved her back to her seat.
"This is serious. Cornelius Fudge will be here shortly. It seems Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban and the ministry believes that he is going to be looking for Harry Potter." Dumbledore was watching Alexis over the tops of his half-moon glasses. She gave him a small nod to let him know that this was exactly as it happened in the books.
"Alexis, would you be so kind as to inform the teachers we will have an emergency staff meeting at 11:00? I should be finished with Cornelius Fudge by then. You may tell them what it is regarding," Dumbledore correctly interpreted her questioning look. "Minerva, if you would stay and meet with Minister Fudge and me."
Alexis got up and left the office as Dumbledore was ringing for a house elf to clear.
Entering the staff room she found that most people had not finished breakfast yet. When Snape looked up, Alexis smiled at him; however, her smile faltered at the icy expression on his face.
Not knowing what to make of his reaction Alexis informed everyone of the emergency staff meeting. When she informed them of Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban, the room exploded with questions and exclamations of disbelief.
Alexis finally finished answering questions and found that Snape was just leaving the staff room. Snape headed down to the dungeons not noticing that Alexis was following him. He was lost in his thoughts. He had showed up at his usual time to escort Alexis to breakfast to find that she had already left. The Lilac Girl had informed him that Alexis had left early to go the Headmaster's office. Could he have been mistaken about her response to the kiss last night? Had she gone to Dumbledore to complain?
Snape began to get angry. Let her complain. He would tell Dumbledore that she had fully participated in the kiss. He had not imagined her response. So what if she was now having second thoughts or regrets about kissing him, the greasy git of a Potions Master. He knew what the students said about him behind his back.
Reaching his office Snape flung the door open and stalked over to his desk. He was now so agitated that he couldn't even sit down.
Alexis found him pacing back in forth in front of his desk muttering to himself. "If she thinks… I know what I… Dumbledore will believe me...!"
"Professor?"
"WHAT?" Snape snarled and turned on the person who was foolish enough to disturb him.
Alexis just looked at him as she walked further into his office.
"What do you want? I have a very busy day scheduled and now I have to attend an emergency staff meeting at 11:00. I don't have time to waste." Snape picked up some papers on his desk and started shuffling through them.
"So who tinkled on your toast this morning?" Alexis had decided if he was regretting kissing her that he was going to have to come out and tell her. She was not going to make it easy on him by running away at his display of temper.
"I beg your pardon?" Snape's voice was cold enough to freeze steam.
"I asked you who tinkled on your toast this morning," Alexis enunciated each word carefully. She was now standing directly in front of him.
Snape was now looking at her with careful consideration. She was not acting like someone with regrets.
"Where were you at breakfast this morning?" Snape decided to see if she would admit to having run to Dumbledore.
"I left you a message with the Lilac Girl. Didn't she give it to you?" Alexis was puzzled by his demeanor. She could not understand what had happened to make him so angry.
"Just answer the question," Snape snapped.
"I'll answer your question as soon as you answer mine," Alexis was staring at him trying to find out what in the world had happened in the time between him leaving her last night and now.
"I didn't eat toast this morning so to answer your question no one tinkled on my toast," Snape sneered impatiently.
"Dumbledore stopped by my room this morning and invited me to breakfast. He wanted to discuss how I am doing in my classes and my staying here at Hogwarts," Alexis was still studying his face or she might not have noticed the flicker of relief in his eyes.
She did not run to Dumbledore. She hadn't had regrets. She was going to stay at Hogwarts. Snape thought with relief. Oh Great Ghosts, she must be having second thoughts now.
Deciding to brazen it out, "Would you like a cup of tea?" he offered.
"That would be nice," Alexis accepted with a slight smile, lulling him into a false sense of security. "But what I would really like is an explanation for your behavior."
Blast, Snape thought as he busied himself with the teakettle. "My behavior; I'm not sure what you mean?" Trying to change the subject, "You are staying at Hogwarts?"
Deciding to let him off the hook for now, "Yes. Dumbledore offered me the position of Teacher's Assistant. It will allow me to continue lessons and even give me some class time without the embarrassment of being the oldest first year in recorded history."
Snape smiled as he added two sugars to a mug of tea and handed it to her. "Did he tell you which Professor you will be assisting?" He couldn't help but think about how nice it would be to have her in his class everyday. It might even make teaching the dunderheads barely tolerable.
Taking the seat he held for her she explained, "We really didn't go into that. But I got the impression I will be a floater and work with several of the Professors."
Snape made a mental note to make sure he got the majority of her time as he relaxed into the chair across from her.
"Now are you ready to tell me what got your knickers in a knot?" Alexis was a firm believer in the surprise attack.
"I beg your pardon?" Snape had to call upon all of his skills to hide his surprise. She should be a Slytherin, he thought not for the first time.
"I'm not stupid. I know you were angry about something and I am not going to leave you alone until you tell me what made you so angry," Alexis settled back into her chair with a determined look on her face.
Deciding to see if she would buy this line, "You know my history with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin?" At her nod, "Lupin will be here in a few weeks and with Black escaping from his just punishment, well… I cannot believe that it is just a coincidence."
Alexis was not convinced that this was the only reason he was so upset. "And that is all that is bothering you?" Trying to give him an opening to let her know if he had any regrets.
"What else could it possibly be?" Snape saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe he would be able to slip out of this mess without having to think of a more believable explanation or an outright lie.
"If you are sure then?" At his nod, she placed her mug on his desk, "Thank you for the tea. I'll let you get started on your work. I'll see you at the meeting." Snape stood and escorted Alexis as she exited his office.
