Disclaimer: Standard ones apply. Not making money from this, not my characters.

Chapter 24 Time Passes On

Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view.

Murphy's Law

The day for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament had arrived. Snape was enjoying the look of sick despair on Potter's face. "Serves him right for entering the blasted tournament," Alexis heard him mutter into his morning coffee.

Catching the look Alexis gave him, Snape got a tad defensive. "If he did not feel that rules are for other lesser mortals, he would not have found himself in this situation. Everyone was warned about how dangerous the tasks are going to be," Snape finished his coffee and got up to head to his first class.

Passing Potter he was unable to resist, "Mr. Potter." Harry looked up warily. "I just wanted to wish you luck," Snape smirked coldly at Harry's look of astonishment, "you are going to need it," and Snape swept away in a swirl of black.

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Alexis and Snape settled into the stands. Snape was still smirking over Potter's predicament. Catching Alexis' disapproving look, "It's not as if he can get seriously hurt, there are numerous safeguards."

Alexis was holding Aleser and Snape had Nathair. Darla was sitting next to Alexis and her eyes were trained on Charlie Weasley. Darien was sitting next to Snape. He was still in a bit of a snit regarding the whole boyfriend/girlfriend debacle. But he had taken the sentiment to heart and had gotten permission to form a potions club. So far he was the only member, but he did have high hopes of encouraging some of the students to join.

Alexis was jiggling Aleser on her knee as they announced what the first task would be, "Are you sure this is safe?" she whispered to Snape.

Snape looking imperturbable as usual, "Alexis, there are dragon keepers, anti-flame wards and spells and I am here to protect you and the children."

Alexis smothered a grin at his words, "Yes, dear."

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Letting out a breath of air she hadn't been aware of holding, Alexis leaned up against Snape. Even though she had known what was coming, actually seeing the four champions facing the dragons had been nerve racking. She had only had to elbow Snape once: when he had snickered when Harry got nicked by the Hungarian Horntail's tail. The task was finally over and all scores were in. Snape and Alexis took the boys back to their quarters.

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Darla excused herself to go see if Charlie would be free later not noticing that Darien was following her. He felt that now was a good chance to get back at her for the magazines. Darla found Charlie sending an owl to his mom to let her know how Harry had done in the challenge.

Charlie pulled Darla into his arms and was getting ready to give her a kiss when he noticed Darien staring at them, clearing his throat, "Hello, Darien, good to see you again."

"Were you going to kiss my sister?" Darien asked.

Charlie flushed red but before he could answer Darla had, "Yes, any other questions?"

"Well, since you asked," Darien deadpanned. "Since the parents aren't here I feel that it is my responsibility as your brother to protect your honor," turning to more fully face Charlie, "Mr. Weasley, exactly what are you intentions toward my sister?"

Charlie blinked rapidly; he had played the protective brother but had never been on the receiving end before.

Darla again interrupted, "This is none of your concern, now go away."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that," Darien shook his head in mock regret. "I've been told that you are considered an attractive girl, although I really don't see it, your arse is huge and your nose takes up most of your face, but other blokes have assured me that you are shaggable. As your brother it is my duty to make sure you aren't. Shagged that is," he clarified seriously.

Darla broke free from Charlie and stalked up to Darien, "Look, twerp, I am your elder sister, so I don't require your protection or assistance. Now scram."

"I know that you are well able to take care of yourself. In fact I have experienced some of your more dirty hexes," Darien scowled in remembrance. "Maybe Charlie is the one I should be protecting; she has a wicked jock-itch hex, man," this last to Charlie. "And watch out for her Prince Charming charm."

Charlie found his voice, "What is that?"

Darla was glaring daggers at Darien, who figured that since she was wearing girly shoes he could outrun her, "That is where you kiss her and you turn into a frog, the reverse of the old fairytales."

Charlie looked at Darla, "I only used it on guys who pushed the whole issue of a goodnight kiss. It wore off in five minutes and gave me enough time to get into the house."

"Brilliant," Charlie enthused. "Can you teach it to my sister Ginny?"

Darla smiled, "Be happy to teach her," behind her back she made a rude hand gesture to her brother.

"See, that brings up the whole issue of protecting your honor," Darien interrupted. "I don't think you want to protect it from Charlie, so as your brother it is my right to prevent you from smudging the family name by behaving inappropriately."

Charlie was now holding Darla's arm to keep her from going after Darien. "Did you just call me a slut?" she growled.

With a skill born from years of practice, Darien judged that it was time for a strategic retreat before Darla remembered her wand. "Not at all, I was just remembering how you were telling me that you found Charlie irresistible and very sexy," Darien had been cautiously backing up as he spoke to better position himself to run for it.

Darla was now a very pretty shade of bright red and was tugging on her arm trying to reach the source of her aggravation.

Charlie grinned at Darien's back, "You better make a run for it as I'm not sure how much longer I can hold her back," he hollered to the quickly disappearing young man.

"Gaahhh!" Darla exclaimed as she buried her face in her free hand. Charlie pulled her to face him, "So you think I'm irresistible and sexy?" Darla kept her head turned away.

Charlie tugged her until she was once more in his arms, "Well that is a good thing because I think you are irresistible and very sexy too."

Darla peeked at him from between her fingers. The look on his face had her dropping her hand and leaning in for his kiss. Maybe she would only hex Darien instead of permanently maiming him.

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Snape had one eye on the clock as he played with the boys. If Darla didn't show up soon, he was going to go looking for her. Alexis was trying to control a grin as she looked at Snape sitting on the floor with Aleser and Nathair, his idea of playing with them consisted of him holding up flashcards that he had made up of basic potion ingredients. There was a drawing of the ingredient and he was telling the boys what each one was, "Bezoar, bezoar." Snape held up the next card, "Mandrake, mandrake."

"How many of those cards do you have?" Alexis asked him from where she was curled up on the sofa.

"Three hundred and forty-three," Snape replied. "I just made them up for the basic potion ingredients. When they have these memorized I will create some for basic potions and then have them match the cards to the potions. That way they will at least know what ingredients to use for what potions. I don't think they should start brewing potions until they are at least five. Although if they are particularly advanced, which I am sure they will be, I may start them at four."

"As long as you chop the ingredients for them," Alexis smiled at Snape.

"Of course, I won't teach them to use knives until they are at least seven," Snape said indignantly.

Alexis nodded and went back to her book. As long as he didn't push them too hard, she didn't see where this would harm them. And they were staring at the cards so who knew what they may retain.

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Alexis smiled and rose to give Narcissa a coolly correct air kiss on the check, "I was so glad when I got your invitation to meet you for lunch."

Narcissa returned the air kiss and the two witches seated themselves at the small table. They were back at The Cat and Mouse Tearoom.

"I wanted you to be among the first to know," Narcissa said with a thin smile. "Lucius and are expecting."

"Congratulations, Narcissa," Alexis smiled at her warmly. "I hope you will allow me to host a little celebration for you? Just the girls, give us all an excuse to get together."

Narcissa quickly hide her look of surprise, "I couldn't put you out."

"But I insist, after all you have done for me and Severus this is the very least I can do. It will give me an excuse to take the dust covers off of Draluck Manor," Alexis looked up as the waiter came to take their order.

After they had ordered, Narcissa replied, "I will have to check with Lucius and see what our plans are."

"Of course, I was thinking some time over the Christmas holidays, if that would be convenient," Alexis offered. "If you will just let me know when it would be convenient and if you would prefer a luncheon or a dinner and if you have a guest list?"

Narcissa nodded slowly.

"I am going to be unforgivably nosey," Alexis said with an unrepentant smile, "but did you find out what you are having or did you want to be surprised?"

"A little girl," Narcissa answered allowing herself a small smile.

"Wonderful," Alexis pretended it was news to her.

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"No absolutely not," Snape said firmly.

"Why not?" Alexis asked aggravated. "Amber and I agreed to trade gowns after I had the babies. I want to wear the gown she wore to our reception."

"There is no way you are wearing that scrap of cloth excuse for a gown to the Yule Ball," Snape was coldly furious at the thought. "I have enough trouble keeping the hormonal teens at this school in control. It would look bad on my employment record if I had to hex any of the students who had the bad taste to leer at you or drool on you."

"Then I will just have to go shopping for new robes," Alexis stated with a frown of aggravation.

"That will be acceptable," Snape smirked. "But, this time I will accompany you and I will assist you in choosing robes."

Alexis gave him a hard look, "I have been buying clothes for myself for a fairly long time now. I don't believe I require your assistance."

"Yes, you have and you have been doing an admirable job of it; however, since you have never bought dress robes as faculty for a school ball, I thought you might appreciate my many years of experience," Snape said trying for diplomacy.

"I'm not going to win this argument?" Alexis asked huffily.

"Were we arguing?" Snape asked with only a small smirk.

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Madame Coutrea had smiled widely when she saw Alexis returned to her pre-pregnancy figure. The smile had melted from her face when Snape had made his wishes known for a demure gown suitable for a matriarch.

Alexis had shot him a dirty look, "Madame, I believe we are going to have to reach a compromise between dowdy and daring. Although I might need something for holiday parties so don't put away your sketch pad yet."

Madame smiled smugly at Snape before flipping to a couple of drawings of gowns that had Alexis in raptures and Snape in apoplexy, "That is entirely too much skin and too little gown."

Alexis sighed, "Perhaps for the holiday parties, but I need something for the Yule Ball at Hogwarts: something that won't have the young ladies trying to hex me."

Madame Coutrea nodded, "Perhaps this?" The gown had a heart shaped neckline and was fitted to the waist where it flared from the hips to the floor. The sleeves were long and came to a point on the back of the hand.

Snape nodded reluctantly, "Perhaps if you raise the neckline about four inches."

"Leave the neckline alone," Alexis ordered. "Can you have it made up in Slytherin green with silver accents."

Madame nodded and when Snape wasn't looking, showed Alexis the drawing for the back of the gown. Basically there was no back to the gown; it was open from the neck to the waist. Alexis looked at it longingly and then shook her head slightly to Madame Coutrea's disappointment. Drawing her finger along the back of the gown she indicated to only leave it open from the neck to the middle of her back. That way if she danced with someone, their hands' would not be touching her bare back.

"I'll have it ready for you in a week," Madame told her sighing at the thought of having to cover one of her few clients that could and would carry off some of her more daring designs.

"How about you make me up a selection of gowns? That way I will be prepared for anything the holiday season may bring," Alexis grinned.

Madame nodded eagerly at the thought of being given free reign.

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Snape was less than pleased when he saw the back of the ball gown, but he did realize that it could have been worse. Helping Alexis into her wrap he led her down to the Great Hall.

"You do look beautiful tonight," Snape muttered to her.

"Thank you, you look very sexy tonight yourself," Alexis whispered against his neck. Snape adjusted his robes and escorted her into the room.

"I just wish this farce were over already," he groused. "It is just another excuse for precious perfect Potter to get attention."

Alexis hugged his arm, "I know, dear. He does it just to aggravate you."

"Are you mocking me?" Snape inquired coolly.

"Now would I do that?" Alexis responded just as coolly.

"Yes you would and you would enjoy every minute of it," he responded with a bare hint of a smirk.

"Than why did you ask if you already knew the answer?" Alexis' smirked up at Snape.

They were interrupted by the champions entering the Great Hall. Snape gave a snort of disdain at seeing Harry escorting Parvati Patil, "Of course he would end up with one of the more popular girls of his year."

Alexis just hugged his arm again while they waited for the champions to take their seats. Snape escorted her to a table and Alexis heard him huff as Hagrid joined them.

"'ello, Pr'fssr and Mrs. Snape, 'appy Christmas to ye," Hagrid was beaming all over his jovial face and wearing his horrible hairy suit.

Alexis reached way up and tugged Hagrid's face down to hers, "Happy Christmas, Hagrid," and she kissed his cheek causing him to blush a fiery red and causing Madame Maxine to glare her way.

"Ahh you hadna' outta done that Mrs. Snape," Hagrid flushed looking up at the head table.

"Nonsense, Hagrid, if she cannot see that I am a happily married woman greeting a good friend, than she doesn't deserve you." Alexis leaned close and whispered, "Plus a little, mind you, just a little jealousy never hurt anyone."

Hagrid grinned at her and Snape huffed again before pointedly holding a chair out for her, "Thank you, Severus," Alexis ran a hand down the side of his face before settling herself into the chair.

Snape ate in stony silence while Alexis chatted with the rest of their table. Professors Flitwick, Sinastra, Engvall and Moody made up the rest of the group.

Wilhelmina Engvall, the Muggle studies professor, was giddy with the excitement of the Ball, "Yes, Muggle schools have these balls all the time. Any excuse for a ball, that is the Muggle way," she tittered. "They have Homecoming balls, Fall balls, Christmas balls, they even celebrate a famous Muggle female by the name of Sadie Hawkins by having a ball in her honor. And then at the end of the school year they have the biggest ball of all, but for some reason they call it a Prom," she said looking delighted at this idiosyncrasy of Muggles.

"They have a ball to celebrate going home?" Filius asked.

"Yes," Wilhelmina smiled at him.

"What did the Muggle Sadie Hawkins do to get a ball in her honor?" Professor Sinastra wanted to know.

"Uhmm," Engvall hesitated, "she was an American and she ran a race and won it."

"Must have been some race for her to have a whole ball named after her," Sinastra said with a hint of admiration in her voice. "What was the prize for winning the race?"

Alexis was trying to disguise her laughter as a coughing fit, when she caught her breath, "Yes, Wilhelmina, what did she win?"

Wilhelmina was looking lost, a look that was often seen on her face. "I can't quite remember what the prize was," she finally admitted.

Snape was glancing at his wife wondering what was wrong with her, "Do you know what she won?" he said so only she could hear. At her nod, "Well?"

"A husband," she whispered back to him.

Snape blinked slowly several times before shaking his head and muttering "Muggles!"

Apparently Hagrid had exceptionally good hearing or Alexis' voice hadn't been as soft as she thought, "'lexis, did I hear ye say the Hawkins girl won herself a husband?"

Alexis looked around at the sudden silence; Sinastra had stopped with her fork half way to her mouth and was staring at Professor Engvall as though waiting for an explosion. Alexis felt a nudge and a kick under the table as Filius broke in, "I believe what she said, Hagrid, was that Professor Engvall had told her the prize was a husband. Wasn't that right dear?"

Alexis was going to hex whoever kept kicking her under the table, as soon as she figured out who it was. "Yes, Filius, the other day Wilhelmina was explaining about Muggle balls and she told me the story of Sadie Hawkins," Alexis' smile was hard enough to cut diamonds.

The tension seemed to flow from that table as Professor Engvall smiled benignly at the group, "I remember that now, Alexis, you are correct, a husband was the prize for the winner of the race."

Alexis relaxed slightly as the kicks stopped, "Wilhelmina, the story was so fascinating, how it all started from a comic strip in the thirties in America."

"Yes, I agree completely, but I really wouldn't want to bore the rest of the table by discussing it any further," the Muggle studies professor demurred.

Hagrid stared at her as if she had sprouted another head; he had never before heard her decline to talk about anything. Before he could comment, Alexis laid a hand on his arm, "How are the Blast-Ended Skrewts doing?"

While Hagrid was in the middle of his ramble, Professor Engvall interrupted, "What exactly are these bleat screw things?"

Hagrid attempted to explain what his new pets were to the befuddled woman. After a ten minute explanation she stared at him and then asked, "But why do you call them bleats if they don't bleat? And where does the screw part come in?"

Dinner had finished and they all rose as Hagrid continued to try to describe the skrewts. Dumbledore waved his wand and moved the tables to clear the center of the floor. Alexis watched interestedly as The Weird Sisters took the stage that Dumbledore had conjured up. She was vaguely disappointed; they looked very like their Muggle counterparts.

Snape was making vague noises of disgust as the Champions led their partners onto the floor to open the dancing. Alexis kept jabbing him in the side with her elbow to try to get him to stop. Finally he slipped her arm through his and pressed it against his side so that she had no room to poke him.

As the dance floor started to fill Alexis stared at Snape expectantly. With a long suffering look, he asked, "Would you care to dance?"

With a smile she led him onto the dance floor. As soon as they were lost in the crowd, "What was all that with Wilhelmina? And were you the one kicking me under the table?"

"I did not kick you," Snape lied with a straight face. "Engvall is a tad sensitive," Snape sneered, "if she feels that someone is intruding on her area of expertise she sulks and pouts for weeks. She is also not one to suffer in silence. Her wails could be heard all over the castle. One of the Muggleborn students went to her after a class one time and corrected something she had lectured on. The silly woman burst into tears and barricaded herself in her rooms for two days straight. She also poured out her tale of woe and angst to her twelve sisters and four brothers. Eight of the sisters and two of the brothers showed up to demand that the student be expelled. The remaining ones sent Howlers to the impertinent child telling her that next time she should owl one of them and that they would handle informing their sweet delicate flower of a sister of her misinformation."

"You have got to be kidding?" Alexis was trying hard not to laugh.

"Not in the slightest," Snape assured her. "She is very limited in her intellect."

"That is very diplomatic of you," Alexis complimented him.

Snape hissed, "I am not trying to be diplomatic, the woman is an idiot but the headmaster refuses to dismiss her. He just twinkles when someone lodges a legitimate complaint about her," Snape sneered.

"So basically she is fire-proof," Alexis said tongue in cheek.

Snape glanced down at her as he steered her across the dance floor, "That is an eloquent way of phrasing it."

"So if you could find a cauldron as fire-proof as she is, Neville wouldn't have to worry about any more of his exploding?" Alexis teased.

Snape nodded, "Yes, if we could transform that to a cauldron, we would make history."

"Tell me about some of the legitimate complaints?" Alexis invited.

"When I first started here, Muggle studies was taught by a Muggleborn witch and the class was considered by most of the students to be challenging. There were fieldtrips and she brought in Muggle items and actually explained what they were and how they worked, their significance to Muggles and their history," Snape explained. "But she retired and Albus hired Wilhelmina Engvall. While the budget remained the same, the fieldtrips stopped after she lost several of her students," at Alexis' look of horror, "but we did manage to find them. She had forgotten to make sure everyone was together when they took the Knight Bus. Luckily the students just waited for someone to retrieve them."

"That could happen to anyone," Alexis defended dubiously.

"Four times?" Snape asked, "in the same year?"

Alexis again was finding it hard not to laugh, "What else?"

"The headmaster had someone come in and show her how to work a Muggle pulley system so that she could lecture on it to her classes." Alexis nodded. "They stayed the whole day explaining and showing her how to do it. The next day when she went to teach her class and demonstrate how to use the pulley, the students had to save her from hanging herself."

Alexis was fighting the laughter so hard that tiny tears were forming at the corners of her eyes.

"That put a stop to her demonstrating Muggle artifacts. Although, once again her budget wasn't adjusted," Snape sneered. "She attends conferences that are supposed to teach her how to broaden her curriculum: however, all she comes back with is souvenirs. She tries to say that they are Muggle articles. I have a theory that people's intelligence is like a cauldron. Some have larger cauldrons than others so they can handle more knowledge. Now when you have someone with a smaller cauldron and you try to pour more knowledge in, some of the knowledge that they already have slops over the side and is lost forever."

"What size cauldron would you say Wilhelmina is?"

"A thimble."

The waltz ended on that note. Snape escorted Alexis to one of the tables and prepared to spend the rest of the evening glaring at all of the students.

As they arrived back at the table they found Wilhelmina Engvall holding court with some overly innocent appearing students.

Jeffrey Foxx asked, "Professor Engvall, so sorry to interrupt but we've been discussing your latest lesson earlier today."

Ronald White continued earnestly, "I'm not quite sure I totally understand why Muggles use rubber tyres."

Professor Engvall was giddy with excitement at the interest her students were giving her, "Why, it is so they can ride around on non-magical carts called automooboobles."

Mr. Foxx looking politely puzzled, "Yes, that I understand, but can you tell me what the significance is when they have only one of the four tyres flat?"

Wilhelmina replied in her best teacher's voice, "Ah, well, you have to understand that vulcanologists have always said tyres react better to roads when they are firmly connected to it. The significance of this event means that the other three tyres have suddenly swelled up. You see, most Muggles prefer to keep tyres from swelling by taking the tyres off and leaving their automooboobles resting on cinder blocks in front of their homes."

Alexis could tell that the two were up to no good and was watching them closely. Mr. White nodded in understanding, "Thank you, that explains it." Holding out a button to his professor, "We wanted to thank you for your excellent insight, professor. Here's your sign."

Alexis tried to read the button but couldn't make it out from where she was sitting. Professor Engvall let out a squeal of pleasure and immediately pinned it to her dress. Alexis narrowed her eyes as she read the button, 'World's Best Muggle Studies Professor.' But as she watched the words faded to be replaced with "This Is A Warning: I'm Stupid."

Alexis almost choked on her drink as she saw the button fade back to its original message. Snape looked over at her in concern and Alexis inclined her head toward where Wilhelmina was admiring her new ornament. Snape sneered as he read the message and then as Wilhelmina looked up to answer a question from Filius, Snape sneer turned to a smirk when the message changed.

"Do something," Alexis whispered urgently to him.

"Mr. White, Mr. Foxx, come here," Snape ordered coldly to the two students who had thought they were going to get a clean getaway. They stood shuffling their feet in front of Snape wondering what horror he was going to visit upon them. "Ten points from Ravenclaw for insulting a teacher," the two nodded relieved to be getting off so lightly. "And fifty points," they blanched at the amount, "to Ravenclaw for finding a way to warn the general public."

Snape waved the astounded boys off and looked at his wife, "What? That wasn't what you meant?"

AN: For those of you who may not be familiar with it Wilhelmina Engvall is a nod to Bill Engvall the comedian who coined "Here's Your Sign." The tires blowing up are a take on one of his routines.

GraceRichie: Thanks for reviewing. I generally love ALL your chapters.

JennSmith: I have two younger sisters and years of memories to draw on!

Melissa: Thank you for reading and for the heads up.