Chapter Two
It was early evening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the entire school was assembled into the Great Hall for their dinner feast. School hadn't been in session for a full month yet and Snape's wrath was already coming down on the students.
As he picked at his food, Snape couldn't help but remember the preceding year, when he first laid eyes on Alex Harper. She was the first woman he had ever come across that actually laughed at him. Snape had not been pleased, since this was done in front of the entire student body. He became even more displeased when she easily became the favorite among the students. Alex Harper was nothing but an annoying nuisance that never seemed to go away. And when she finally did, it only caused him to become even more irritable. The truth was he had fallen in love with her and he didn't pretend to deny it on the inside. But hell if you could get him to acknowledge that in public!
Snape couldn't help but remember the chaotic summer that had just passed. He had fully managed to get back into Voldemort's inner circle and had resumed all spying duties that he had performed in the past for Dumbledore. Let's just say, it had not been an easy task. There were many nights where Snape had come back to Hogwarts bruised and beaten due to Voldemort's hissy fits. Especially after the Order had sabotaged one of his 'grand' schemes to kill Potter. Snape assumed that the boy had been a cat in a past life. He seemed to have more then nine lives.
The Great Hall door slammed open, bringing Snape out of his thoughts. Looking up from his plate, a group of seven witches and wizards were making their way up the aisle. Looking closer, Snape realized that the young woman leading the group was none other then Alex Harper.
Alex couldn't believe she was back here, after silently vowing to never come within ten feet of this place again! But she didn't really have a choice in the situation. Once Johnson had read the letter about the mission he blatantly stated that it was her team that was going and that was the end of it. They had gotten into a heated argument where Johnson revealed that he knew all about Snape, having seen the picture of him she kept in her desk drawer. Lia had sent it to her a couple month before, after taking it with a muggle camera. The Muggle Studies class had been learning about muggle photography and Lia had seized an opportunity to snap a picture of him. Of course he was scowling in the picture but it was him none the less. And somewhere in the argument, Alex had lost and was sent with her team to England the very next day.
A feeling of dread intensified with each step through the Great Hall. Since their entry, everyone sat in dead silence and the only thing that could be heard was the seven sets of footsteps. From the corner of her eye, she could see Snape watching her with a look of shock across his face. But it didn't last long as it was quickly masked with a look of nonchalance. Well, at least she knew that he recognized her. Alex had to admit that she looked a bit different from when she was here last. She was wearing leather pants and a tank top under a thin robe; all of it was in black. In fact, the whole crew was wearing black. It was sort of cliché but it had an intimidating affect and it served its purpose since inside, Alex was a bundle of nerves.
Dumbledore stood from his seat as Alex stopped in front of faculty table.
"I must say I am impressed Alex. I did not anticipate such a quick response." He said, his eye twinkling down at her.
"We recognized the urgency of the situation and have responded accordingly. As many do not seem to believe, the United States is completely aware of the circumstances that have been occurring and offer our services as have been requested." Alex spoke formally. Dumbledore nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"I believe that you and your team are tired from such a long journey. We have rooms prepared for all of you. Alex, I do believe you remember the way to your old quarters. The rest of you will be escorted." He said as a couple house elves appeared in the side doorway. Alex gave a brief nod, and turned to leave, catching Snape's eye momentarily. Before she could exit with the rest of her group, Lia had crushed her into a bone-breaking hug.
"Why the bloody hell didn't you tell me?" the older girl exclaimed, as she released Alex for air.
"There wasn't any time and I thought it better as a surprise." Alex admitted. Lia frowned at her but didn't press the issue. What she had really meant was why Alex didn't tell her that she was working against Voldemort. She had led them all to believe that she had some small desk job in the ministry. Well, wasn't this a shocker?!
"We'll talk later, okay?" Alex said softly, giving her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"You better believe it! I'll see you later tonight." Lia said, giving Alex another hug before she disappeared out the door.
Alex made her way slowly through the hallways leading to her old room. She could still feel her heart beating loudly in her chest. He had stared at her the entire time. It took every ounce of willpower to not look over at him. It took every ounce of physical and emotional strength not to breakdown out there. On the outside, she seemed cool and collected. She was obviously the one in charge. But on the inside, she was a mess of emotions.
Alex reached her room and was surprised to find it exactly the way she had left it. It was kind of refreshing, making her feel like she had come home. Of course there was that problem of being right near the dungeons. But she would deal with that problem later. All she wanted at that moment was a long hot shower before Dumbledore would be summoning her and her team for a late night meeting.
Next: A late night meeting, introductions, and a confrontation.
Please review!!!
It was early evening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the entire school was assembled into the Great Hall for their dinner feast. School hadn't been in session for a full month yet and Snape's wrath was already coming down on the students.
As he picked at his food, Snape couldn't help but remember the preceding year, when he first laid eyes on Alex Harper. She was the first woman he had ever come across that actually laughed at him. Snape had not been pleased, since this was done in front of the entire student body. He became even more displeased when she easily became the favorite among the students. Alex Harper was nothing but an annoying nuisance that never seemed to go away. And when she finally did, it only caused him to become even more irritable. The truth was he had fallen in love with her and he didn't pretend to deny it on the inside. But hell if you could get him to acknowledge that in public!
Snape couldn't help but remember the chaotic summer that had just passed. He had fully managed to get back into Voldemort's inner circle and had resumed all spying duties that he had performed in the past for Dumbledore. Let's just say, it had not been an easy task. There were many nights where Snape had come back to Hogwarts bruised and beaten due to Voldemort's hissy fits. Especially after the Order had sabotaged one of his 'grand' schemes to kill Potter. Snape assumed that the boy had been a cat in a past life. He seemed to have more then nine lives.
The Great Hall door slammed open, bringing Snape out of his thoughts. Looking up from his plate, a group of seven witches and wizards were making their way up the aisle. Looking closer, Snape realized that the young woman leading the group was none other then Alex Harper.
Alex couldn't believe she was back here, after silently vowing to never come within ten feet of this place again! But she didn't really have a choice in the situation. Once Johnson had read the letter about the mission he blatantly stated that it was her team that was going and that was the end of it. They had gotten into a heated argument where Johnson revealed that he knew all about Snape, having seen the picture of him she kept in her desk drawer. Lia had sent it to her a couple month before, after taking it with a muggle camera. The Muggle Studies class had been learning about muggle photography and Lia had seized an opportunity to snap a picture of him. Of course he was scowling in the picture but it was him none the less. And somewhere in the argument, Alex had lost and was sent with her team to England the very next day.
A feeling of dread intensified with each step through the Great Hall. Since their entry, everyone sat in dead silence and the only thing that could be heard was the seven sets of footsteps. From the corner of her eye, she could see Snape watching her with a look of shock across his face. But it didn't last long as it was quickly masked with a look of nonchalance. Well, at least she knew that he recognized her. Alex had to admit that she looked a bit different from when she was here last. She was wearing leather pants and a tank top under a thin robe; all of it was in black. In fact, the whole crew was wearing black. It was sort of cliché but it had an intimidating affect and it served its purpose since inside, Alex was a bundle of nerves.
Dumbledore stood from his seat as Alex stopped in front of faculty table.
"I must say I am impressed Alex. I did not anticipate such a quick response." He said, his eye twinkling down at her.
"We recognized the urgency of the situation and have responded accordingly. As many do not seem to believe, the United States is completely aware of the circumstances that have been occurring and offer our services as have been requested." Alex spoke formally. Dumbledore nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"I believe that you and your team are tired from such a long journey. We have rooms prepared for all of you. Alex, I do believe you remember the way to your old quarters. The rest of you will be escorted." He said as a couple house elves appeared in the side doorway. Alex gave a brief nod, and turned to leave, catching Snape's eye momentarily. Before she could exit with the rest of her group, Lia had crushed her into a bone-breaking hug.
"Why the bloody hell didn't you tell me?" the older girl exclaimed, as she released Alex for air.
"There wasn't any time and I thought it better as a surprise." Alex admitted. Lia frowned at her but didn't press the issue. What she had really meant was why Alex didn't tell her that she was working against Voldemort. She had led them all to believe that she had some small desk job in the ministry. Well, wasn't this a shocker?!
"We'll talk later, okay?" Alex said softly, giving her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"You better believe it! I'll see you later tonight." Lia said, giving Alex another hug before she disappeared out the door.
Alex made her way slowly through the hallways leading to her old room. She could still feel her heart beating loudly in her chest. He had stared at her the entire time. It took every ounce of willpower to not look over at him. It took every ounce of physical and emotional strength not to breakdown out there. On the outside, she seemed cool and collected. She was obviously the one in charge. But on the inside, she was a mess of emotions.
Alex reached her room and was surprised to find it exactly the way she had left it. It was kind of refreshing, making her feel like she had come home. Of course there was that problem of being right near the dungeons. But she would deal with that problem later. All she wanted at that moment was a long hot shower before Dumbledore would be summoning her and her team for a late night meeting.
Next: A late night meeting, introductions, and a confrontation.
Please review!!!