Chapter 5

"I know you think it's unfair that you can't go on a mission, but Lia, you are going to be having a baby!" Alex said to her friend. The two of them were walking around the school grounds, finally getting the chance to catch up.

"I know that but I feel so useless. I should be helping to contribute to both of my children's future. Not just sitting around the castle doing nothing." Lia complained, her hand protectively covering her belly. She hadn't really started showing yet but it would come sooner then anyone would think.

"But you won't be just sitting around. You will be teaching. These students need a teacher. Soon, they will not be able to ignore what is going on in the real world." Alex frowned. What she said was true, since many of the students still refused to acknowledge that Voldemort had come into power and a war was soon on its way.

"I know but I can't help but still feel left out." Lia sighed. She was used to going on missions and fighting back somehow. Alex studied her for a moment.

"You know what, I'll talk to Dumbledore. I may be able to persuade him into letting you help. No promises though, ok?"

"You're the best! I'll love you forever!" Lia said, throwing her arms around the younger girl.

"Remember, no promises!" Alex laughed. In truth, she had an idea for a mission that did not require leaving Hogwarts grounds. If only she could pull a few strings, she might be able to pull it off.

"All right. No promises. Anyway, I need to get back to my office and grade the rest of the papers to be handed back tomorrow. I swear some of these kids don't understand the marvel of muggle technology!" Lia said, shaking her head.

"I'll see you later this evening then." Alex smiled and continued walking as Lia headed back inside the school. She made her way over to the Quidditch pitch where the Gryffindor's team was practicing for an upcoming match. She wasn't sitting alone long when Snape appeared as if out of nowhere.

"You know, you really need to stop this sneaking habit of yours. It's really irritating." Alex commented, keeping her eyes on the students flying through the air.

"Why are you here?" Snape asked after a few minutes of silence.

"In England or here at the quidditch field?" she replied, playing dumb.

"You know exactly what I mean, Alexandra. Why are you not teaching some American brats somewhere?" he asked. Snape knew that that was her plan after college and he knew she had been offered some well paying teaching positions in some of the best American Wizarding academies.

"I don't know. I was about to take a job as potions mistress at the American Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Massachusetts, when the ministry contacted me about the job working undercover. I felt like I could make a bigger difference working with the ministry rather then at the school. At least until the war is over." Alex admitted. On some days she regretted not taking the teaching job, but on others she knew she was making some sort of difference. And hopefully this war would be over with soon so she could go back home.

"And here I thought I had succeeded in scaring you away from teaching." Snape said smirking over at her.

"No, in fact I think because of you I wanted to be a teacher more then before. I wanted to prove to students that potions can be fun, instead of excruciatingly dull like how you make it." She retorted, standing up from her seat.

"Potion's is a complex subject which none of these dim-witted children could even begin to comprehend. I'm even surprised that someone like you has even been able to grasp even just the basic concept of what goes into potion-making." Snape retorted, his dark eyes boring down on her.

"You know, sometimes this just gets old." Alex sighed, running a hand through her hair. She was sick of fighting with him. "If you don't mind, I have something to speak to Dumbledore about." She walked away before he could even reply.

It wasn't that Snape hated Alex, quite opposite actually. He enjoyed bickering with her. He loved to get her riled up, which was probably why their prank war had lasted as long as it did the previous year. Was it only a year that he had met her? It seemed so much longer. So much had happened during the time.

Snape made his way back down to the dungeons, wondering why he couldn't just have a normal conversation with her. If he really thought about it, he would realize that he hadn't had a normal conversation with someone in a long time. He either fought with people or was busy playing the part of the spy. Dumbledore was the only one who even made an effort to talk to him, but Snape still kept to himself. Why didn't he just let her in?

He entered his office and immediately realized that he was not alone in the room.

"What are you doing in here?" Snape glared hard at his visitor, not making any attempt to hide his hatred for the man.

"Well that's not nice, now is it? You're a teacher, aren't you supposed to have an open door policy?" Scott smirked up from his seat behind Snape's desk.

"With my students...yes. But I have no need to speak with you so remove yourself from my office before I do." He stated crossing his arms in front of himself.

"Oh but I have something to speak of with you. The dark lord sends a message for you, Severus Snape." Scott grinned, kicking his legs up on the desk. Snape's eyes narrowed.

"I have no idea of what you are talking about."

"You can drop the charade, Sev. I can call you Sev, can't I?" he asked but continued before Snape could reply. "I know you're a death eater. One of the high and mighty ones in fact. The inner circle and all that. Well guess what? So am I. The dark lord was pleased when I told him I had been sent to Hogwarts with Alex's group. I had to work hard to convince the American ministry that I was working against Voldemort. Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn't hard to do at all." Scott laughed to himself.

"Yes well as interesting as this all is, I have work to do. So get to the point." Snape stated, a calm mask settling over his features, although he was dying to hex the man to oblivion.

"Yes well, the dark Lord wanted me to let you know that you have been doing a good job, yadda yadda yadda. And that we are to make some type of effort to work together. He feels that I can be of some help to you here since the old man can be somewhat demanding." Snape nodded slightly.

"And what if I prefer to work alone?"

"He assured me that if you didn't comply, he would find ways to convince you."

"I see." Snape stated. He was going to have to talk to Dumbledore about this. He wondered if Alex suspected Scott of being a death eater and how much information he had already told Voldemort.

"Well is that it then?" Snape asked, hoping that he would leave.

"No actually. You are to stay away from Alex." Scott stated his voice growing firm.

"Is that Voldemort's orders?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.

"No. They're mine. And I mean it. I don't want to see you near her, Snape. Alexandra is mine."

"And what makes you think that I want anything to do with her?" he asked, slightly amused by the threats.

"I'm not stupid. I've been watching the both of you and I know she is in love with you. Thankfully, she is not acting on anything and seems to be in denial about the entire thing."

"If she is in love with me, then what makes you think she will be yours?" Snape asked. Scott stood up to face him, although he stood a few feet shorter then him.

"Alex just needs some convincing. She's a smart girl. She'll come to her senses. Just stay away from her and we'll get along fine." Scott said and then exited the office, the door slamming shut behind him. Snape couldn't help but shake his head. It was time to go see the headmaster.

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Next chapter: Alex finds out about Scott and reveals some other information