Disclaimer: Don't own it, unfortunately…..

Thanks to my two beta's: Kaydon and MakalaniAstral

Thanks for the review Ashley, you rock!

To everyone else: review, please. :)

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Chapter Four

The Test

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Alex woke up exhausted from last night. He had to wake up early to start on his school work, since he would have no time that night to work, due to Snape's "test." He could barely keep his eyes open during breakfast and classes weren't much better. The classes he had with Hermione were the best because she made sure he was awake. History of Magic was boring and Hermione didn't bother to keep him up when he fell asleep with his head on his arms. After classes Alex and Hermione were walking down the stairs and out of the castle. She was concerned about him asking, "Why are you so tired? It's only the second day of classes?"

"I had a late night last night. You know detention with Professor Snape." He waved it off as if he'd had fifty detentions with the man instead of one. "Plus, I haven't been sleeping well since I got here. I guess it just finally caught up to me."

By now they were sitting on a stone bench over looking the lake. "Do you want to talk about it? It might help to get it out." Hermione said concerned.

He took a deep breath looking over the lake not really seeing it. "My mother was the Arithmancy professor. She was amazing. I miss her so much already. I-I saw her killed by one of those Death Eaters. I didn't even try to help her. I just stood there and watched it happen." He looked down at the ground and whispered, "I could have saved her but I didn't."

Hermione gently took his hand, "It's not your fault. She died fighting for the school and for you."

"I just feel so lost," was his meek reply.

"What about your father? Where is he?"

"He died before I was born."

Hermione put her arm around his shoulder and pulled him to her. He laid his head on her shoulder and pulled him to her. He laid his head on her shoulder and started to cry. After a few minutes of crying he tensed up realizing what had just happened. He felt pretty stupid crying like that on her shoulder. More than that, he was embarrassed. Wiping his eyes he quickly stood up. "I-I'm sorry. I have to go." He grabbed his bag and left quickly leaving Hermione sitting on the bench wondering what happened.

As he walked away he replayed it all over again in his mind. I can't believe I just did that! How stupid! She doesn't seem to support Voldemort, but, how do I know for certain? Ugh! I can't believe I opened myself up like that! I don't really know her. He continued these thoughts all the way to Herbology.

Hermione sat in Astronomy thinking about what happened with Alex before class. Why did he leave so suddenly? After a while she came to the conclusion that he was probably embarrassed. She decided that after dinner she would try and talk to him again or at least ask him to work on their Arithmancy project.

After dinner Alex walked by Hermione. She stopped him and said, "I'm going to start research for the Arithmacy project tonight. Do you want to join me?" Hermione asked hopefully.

Alex grimaced, "I can, but only for an hour. I have to meet Professor Snape at eight. He wants to "test" my potions skills. He's trying to prove I know nothing. I can't wait to prove him wrong."

"Good luck, mate. Snape can be a right bastard when he's wrong." Ron chimed in.

"I'm sure you will do fine." Hermione reassured.

"Yeah, I'm not worried. I'm good at potions."

"How can you not be worried about being tested by Snape?" Harry asked

"What is he going to do if I don't do well? Rub it in my face?" he scoffed, "He most certainly can't fail me; it's not a real test."

"Well at least you've got a good attitude." Ron said. "It might not last long."

Alex shrugged and turned to Hermione. "You want to head to the library now?"

"Sure."

After an hour of research, Alex left Hermione to head down to the dungeons. While he was walking he felt as if someone was coming up behind him. He pulled his wand out and spun around. Staring down the tip of his wand was Draco Malfoy.

"Hello Draco." Alex turned back around and continued walking.

Draco walked up beside him. "What are you doing in the dungeons?"

"I have to meet Professor Snape."

"Oh." They walked in silence for a few minutes. It looked like Draco was about to say something a few times, so Alex kept quiet.

They reached Professor Snape's classroom when Alex stopped and looked at Draco. "Look I don't have much use for enemies and I'm not exactly sure why you tried to sabotage my potion but I'll let it go. If you feel like starting over, that's fine." He held out his hand to Draco. Shocked, Draco could only put his hand forward and shake Alex's offered hand. "See ya tomorrow Draco." With that he knocked on the door and walked in leaving behind a still shocked Draco.

XXX

Severus looked up as Alex walked in. He caught a glimpse of his shocked Godson as the door closed. Severus decided not to comment so he just pointed to the front desk where there was parchment and a quill. "I'm going to test you like you will be tested in June. There are two parts; written and practical. You can start on the written part now. You have an hour and a half…..starting now."

Alex made his way to the desk, removed his cloak, and sat down. He almost laughed at the first question. It asked about Amortentia. What is Amortentia? In particular discuss the appropriate brewing techniques, how it is supposed to look when properly brewed, and its effects. Alex breezed through the exam in fifty minutes, giving him plenty of time to look back over it. Satisfied, he brought his exam to the professor's desk and set it down.

Severus looked up as he saw the test paper being laid on his desk. He raised an eyebrow saying, "Done already?"

"Yes sir."

"Very well." He stood up and walked over to another desk with two cauldrons and different ingredients. "I want you to brew two potions: the Mandrake Restorative Draft and Veritaserum."

"Yes sir."

To save time Alex decided to do both potions at once. He knew how to do the Mandrake Restorative Draft without blinking; but he knew he needed to concentrate really hard on the Veritaserum because he had only brewed it once; and that was with help.

Severus watched him brew after had finished grading. He was surprised when Alex turning in the written part in sixty minutes. He thought he had made it difficult enough to make him work the whole ninety minutes. Looking over the exam, Severus was hard pressed to find mistakes. All of his essays were well written and all of the questions were answered completely, never wandering from what was necessary. Knit picking was the only way he could take points. In the end he could only take five points off, even though he knew the essay was a 100, easily.

Gazing up he saw Alex brewing both potions at once. Severus knew it was very difficult to brew two potions at once, especially when these potions were completely different and had different ingredients. Getting up he walked over to the desk where Alex was working. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, watching Alex finish up.

Alex was a bit unnerved when Professor Snape stood in front of his desk. He knew he was being scrutinized and focused completely in what he was doing. Now is not the time to choke! He told himself. The Mandrake Restorative Draught was finished first and he carefully bottled it. He then added the last ingredient to the Veritaserum and let it simmer. While it was simmering for five minutes, he started cleaning his work station, only leaving out the necessary instruments needed for bottling the potion. Labeling each vial and applying an anti-breaking charm on them, he handed them carefully to Professor Snape. Nodding his head Severus looked at Alex and said, "Follow me."

On the way out Severus grabbed his exam paper from his desk and led Alex toward his office. Gesturing with his hand he pointed at the chair in front of his desk. Exhausted, and wanting nothing more than to crawl into his bed, Alex sat down heavily, hoping this wouldn't take long.

Severus knew he needed help brewing potions for Poppy. He also knew the boy before him had skill and knowledge that most students never had. Albus would be thrilled when Severus told him he had an assistant. Swallowing his pride he knew what he had to do.

"The written part of the exam was nearly perfect." Severus said as he handed Alex his exam. Alex looked over the exam clearly seeing all the "little" mistakes that he had made. He would have argued for some of those points but he was too tired and it didn't really matter anyways.

"Your potions look good as well. I am shocked that you did so well. Most of those questions were university level and Veritaserum is not easily brewed. Tell me, where did you learn so much about potions?"

"I've always been good at it. My mom says I get it from my father. Being so good at potions was the main thing that got me into school in the first place. I was on an accelerated lesson plan in potions and I was ahead of my classmates for most of my time at school."

"Your mother said you got your potions ability from your father. Who was he?"

Alex looked down at his hands. "I don't know sir. My mother said he died before I was born, so I never asked much about him. She always seemed so sad when I asked about him."

"Hmm. Well that's not too important. I would like to make an offer to you though. Throughout the year I am constantly required to brew potions for Madam Pomfrey, it gets a little overwhelming at times and I find myself in need of assistance. I'm proposing you become my assistant in brewing these potions."

Alex wasn't expecting that at all. Severus almost smiled at the boy's bewildered look. "Of course you don't need to give me an answer now. You can have time to think it over."

Blinking a few times, to come back to reality, Alex replied, "No sir, I don't need time to think about it. I accept. I could always use practice on my potions. When would you need my help?"

Thinking for a moment Snape suggested, "I think every Wednesday and maybe some Sunday afternoons would be best."

"That sounds reasonable." Alex replied rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"Do be punctual. Sunday at two we will begin brewing."

Standing up and stretching his back, Alex thanked his professor. "Yes sir. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Severus didn't reply but nodded at the boy.

"Goodnight sir," he said as he left his professor's office.

XXX

Saturday evening Alex was sitting in the library reading a book on transfiguration. Allie joined him. "Alex, I think Hermione likes you," Allie said casually.

Alex was slightly startled at her abruptness, but he was used to it. "Really?" he replied trying to sound casual.

"Yes, I've seen the way she watches you," she said quietly.

Furrowing his brows he questioned, "She watches me?"

"It's kind of obvious. You don't seem too keen on the idea though."

"No, well, I mean, it's complicated….." he began nervously.

"What are you worried about?" she asked curiously.

"Well, what if she supports Voldemort?"

"Oh Alex honestly! She's friends with Harry Potter! Do you really think that?"

"No but…." He trailed off.

She leaned back in her chair and said, "No buts Alex. Do you like her?"

"Uh, I guess," he said not meeting her eyes.

"It's a yes or no question," Allie said bluntly.

"Yes, of course."

"Well then spend tomorrow with her," she said simply.

"I have home-"

"You do not!" she interrupted, "I know you better than that. You always have your work done by Sunday so you can relax."

"Fine. Why are you pushing me? Did Hermione ask you to talk to me?" He was curious as to why she was talking to him about this.

She got up and started packing her bag up. "No, she didn't ask me to talk to you. I can tell you like her and she likes you. I'm just being a good friend and making sure you don't screw something good up."

"Thanks for the confidence boost Allie," he said laughing.