Chapter 14
"What's going on?" She demanded. Rappy let out a pitiful squeak and ran back to the kitchen.
"Nothing Mother, Alex just took a little tumble and caught herself on the basement door." Snape replied convincingly.
"Oh… are you alright dear?" Athena asked with suspicious eyes.
"Fine, just a little clumsy this morning." Alex said, acting as though she was trying to regain her posture after 'falling'.
"You all ready Aunt Alex?" Harry asked, coming down the steps. He came to the silent trio at the bottom of the stairwell. "Did I miss something?"
"No Harry, Alex just had a spill." Severus quickly interjected.
"Uh… Harry and I were just going to go for a walk. Any one care to come?" Alex asked, looking pointedly at Severus.
"I have a project in the works up stairs, but I'll walk you out." Sev replied, following Harry and Alex outside. Athena just walked off towards the kitchen as soon as the front door shut with a sharp click.
"I told you something wasn't right Severus!" Alex began.
"Alex…"
"I said she was acting weird, and what about the basement…"
"Alex…"
"And the engagement. I asked her about the wedding robes and she said 'what would you want those for' what mother forgets about her son's engagement?"
"Alexandria!" Severus finally got out.
"What?"
"Maybe we should discuss this in private?" He suggested, bringing her attention to Harry who stood near them with a quizzical look on his face and his mouth slightly a gape.
"Oh…" Alex began to calm down. "… sorry Harry. Look will you just keep an eye on her while we're gone? I'm telling you some things off."
"And I'm not fighting you on that. I'll figure something out, all right? So please calm yourself."
"Okay." She nodded, slightly embarrassed by the intensity at which she was just functioning. They exchanged a quick kiss then Alex and Harry left for a walk.
"Severus, what really happened while I was gone?" Athena asked coming out of the sitting room as soon as she heard the front door shut.
"Exactly what I told you mother. Alex stumbled and grabbed hold to the basement door for support. What is your sudden fixation with the basement? You haven't even been down there for years."
"I don't want anyone down there poking about in family things."
"You forget that Alex will soon be part of this family. I was under the impression that she already was, foolish me." Severus snapped then walked coolly up the stairs. Alex was right, something was terribly wrong.
Athena stood at the bottom of the stairs watching Severus walk away. "We shall see if the wedding occurs… yes we shall see." She smiled to herself.
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