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

Mak rocks, plain and simple.

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Chapter Nine

Quidditch & A Realization

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Harry went to visit Remus the day before his Quidditch match. They had talked a few times, mostly about Sirius and school. He was still having dreams about the long hallway and closed doors and hoped that talking with Remus would help him make sense of them.

He knocked on his professor's door and a few minutes later Remus opened the door. "Harry! It's good to see you, come in." Harry smiled and walked into the office. The first thing he noticed was a big black dog lying on a rug in front of the fire, sleeping heavily. Harry and Remus walked towards the dog. "Sirius?" Harry whispered.

The dog's ears twitched as he heard his name. He rolled over, saw his Godson, transformed, and gave him a big bear hug. "Harry! How have you been, kiddo?"

"I'm fine. Why didn't you tell me you were here?" Harry asked, slightly hurt no one told him.

"I just got in. The trip was long and I was exhausted. I got here and passed out before I could even transform back. I was planning on finding you before your match tomorrow to wish you luck. I'm going to be here for a day or two." They were all sitting comfortably after Sirius explained the situation to Harry.

Harry felt a little better after Sirius's explanation, slowly relaxing into the comfortable couch. "I'm glad you're here. I hope no one found where you were."

Rolling his eyes at the mention of his house, Sirius replied, "No, it's still safe and secure. I just needed to get out and Dumbledore said it was fine as long as no one in the school saw me."

Nodding his head in understanding Harry said, "Yeah, we don't want another incident like that in third year."

Sirius and Remus laughed at Harry's statement. After a few minutes of a good laugh Sirius spoke up. "Now, tell me what's been going on with you."

"Not too much, just classes and Quidditch." Harry tried to sound like there was nothing wrong, but he didn't know if it had worked.

Remus could sense Harry wasn't telling them something. "Harry, what's on your mind?"

Nervously rubbing his hands on his legs he began to tell them about his dreams. "Well, I've been having these strange dreams where I'm walking down a long hall and I end up in a circular room with tons of doors. I usually wake up after that." Harry didn't want to tell them he was having these dreams because he didn't want to them to think he couldn't handle them.

"How often do you have these dreams?" Remus asked.

"Not too often," Harry lied easily.

"Well let us know if you continue to have them." Sirius said, seemingly not too concerned about them.

"Yes, write down exactly what happened so we can help you with them." Remus was a little more concerned but didn't want to worry Harry more than he already was.

Harry hoped they were just dreams and nothing important. "So you don't think I should worry about them?"

"Just keep us posted on if you're still having them. I'm not sure if we should worry, but you don't seem to be having them often enough to make a big deal about them." Remus replied. He was going to speak to Albus as soon as he could.

The rest of Harry's visit went by fast, with them discussing tomorrows Quidditch match. Fifteen minutes before curfew Harry said goodbye to Sirius and Remus and headed back up to Gryffindor tower.

XXX

Alex stepped onto the Quidditch pitch ready to play. The crowd was cheering, waiting for the game to start. He mounted his broom and took to the air.

The game started with a blow of the whistle from Madam Hooch. Angelina Johnson grabbed the quaffle first and shot toward the goal posts. Her shot was easily caught by Michael. The game went back and forth with no one scoring for the first ten minutes. Finally, Alyse got the ball and had a clear shot at the goal. The ball went right by Ron and sailed through the center hoop.

Harry and Alex were still searching for the snitch when Katie scored a goal, tying the game. Ten more minutes passed with no sign of the snitch and no more additional points to either team.

Just as Gryffindor was making a run for the goal, the two seekers saw the snitch near the goal posts. They sped into the game dodging bludgers and players. Harry and Alex went around the goal posts, on opposite sides, and chased the snitch. They zigzagged back across the pitch trying to catch it as it zipped in front of them, just out of reach.

Alex got as close to his broom as he could trying to get some more speed. He pushed a little harder and swerved in front of Harry. Harry tried to get around Alex but he kept getting blocked. They were getting closer to the snitch when the two bludgers came at them. They barrel rolled out of the way and the bludgers quickly passed them. Alex and Harry were side by side, but, Alex had a hands length advantage. He reached a little further, feeling the snitch's feathers beneath his fingers.

Lee Jordan announced Alex's catch, giving Tituba house the 160 to 20 win. Alex landed beside Harry and reached his right hand out to him. "Good game, Harry."

Harry shook Alex's hand knowing her had won fair and square. "You too, congratulations." Once they had finished shaking hands the rest of Alex's team landed and cheered, celebrating their win. Hermione eventually made her way down the pitch as Alex and his teammates were heading to the locker rooms. Hermione wrapped her arms around her waist. "Congratulations Alex." She smiled and then kissed him.

"Thanks," he said once the finished their kiss. "Wait for me here while I change. I'll be right back."

"Alright." Hermione waited fifteen minutes before Alex and Michael walked out.

"I'll see you two later, I'm going to meet up with Padma," Michael said over his shoulder as he was walking away.

"See you later." Alex replied. He took Hermione's hand and they started walking towards the castle.

They were talking about the game when they saw Professor Lupin and the Headmaster talking by the Whomping Willow. The two seemed to be having a serious conversation. Alex wanted to go and hear what they were saying but Hermione dragged him into the castle telling him it wasn't their business.

XXX

Remus had finally caught up with Albus after the Quidditch match. He told the headmaster about Harry's dreams.

"That is very interesting." Albus said rubbing his chin. His mind was going a mile a minute thinking about what he was just told.

"Do you think it's serious?" Remus asked, starting to get concerned.

"Let me think about this. I will let you know when I find something." Albus put his hand on his young professor's shoulder. "It may not be too serious, but, let me know if Mr. Potter continues to have these dreams."

"Of course."

XXX

Wednesday after dinner Alex and Draco were hanging out by the lake talking about Quidditch and girls.

"So Draco, who are you chasing after this week," Alex joked.

Draco was very serious when it came to girls. "This sixth year Ravenclaw; she's got great legs! And what a kisser…." He trailed off.

Alex started laughing at the dazed look on his friend's face. Draco asked, "So what about the mudblood? Can she kiss?" His eyes widened once he realized what he said.

Alex grabbed the front of Draco's robes and said in a deadly voice. "If you ever call Hermione that again I will hex you into the next life."

Draco gulped nervously as his friend threatened him. "S-sorry Alex."

"Don't let it happen again Draco." Alex released his hold and he continued walking. "I won't let anyone talk about Hermione that way, even you."

"Damn Alex, you just reminded me of Snape when he's angry." Draco was surprised that he saw the same fire in his friend's eyes that he had seen in his Godfather's.

"Sorry, I just don't like people talking bad about the people I love." Alex said.

"Love?" Draco questioned.

Alex stopped and looked at his friend with an odd expression on his face. "Yeah, I guess I do love Hermione."

"Wow. I don't think I could ever love just one girl."

Alex laughed. "Yeah, you need constant excitement. I don't think you will ever settle with one girl."

"There are too many fish in the sea to pick just one," Draco replied happily.

"Right."

After a while they started talking about Voldemort. Draco told Alex about his father being a Death Eater and that he was practically raised as one. Alex tried not to let his anger show. He was starting to get even angrier that his friend could be a supporter of the man who ordered the attack on his school.

Draco could sense Alex's anger and quickly set things straight. "Look, my father may be a Death Eater, but I'm not. I've seen and heard enough to not want that life."

"Good, because I can't stand Death Eaters, or anyone who supports them." Alex said with anger.

"Isn't that kind of hypocritical?" Draco questioned.

"What do you mean? They raided my school, killed my friends, and my mother." Alex was tense and had his fingers clenched into fists by his side.

"Well, Professor Snape is a Death Eater and you work with him all the time." Draco said like it was old news.

"What? Are you sure he's one of them?" Alex couldn't believe it. The one person he looked up to since he arrived was a Death Eater. He felt betrayed, but, worst of all pissed off.

"Yes," Draco thought he was kidding, "You mean to tell me you didn't know." It was Draco's turn to be shocked. Everyone knew he was a Death Eater.

"That bastard!" Alex yelled and then stalked up to the castle leaving a bewildered Draco standing by the lake.

XXX

Alex was furious. He wasn't sure if he as angrier at himself or his professor. How could he never tell me! He knew my mother was killed because of them. Alex stopped in his tracks. Was he there! He was gritting his teeth as he marched towards the dungeons, to face his professor.

He pulled the potions room door open and stalked in. "Where you there the day my school was attacked?" he asked angrily.

Severus, for his part, remained calm. He was a bit shocked when his assistant stormed in demanding answers. "No," he answered honestly. He had been making potions for the Dark Lord that day and was spared from participating in the raid.

"So, you are a Death Eater. Does the headmaster know he hired one? What are you doing? Giving him informa-," he was stopped suddenly when his professor grabbed him by the robes, lifted him up, and slammed him against the wall.

"Do not presume to know anything about me," Severus said dangerously. He was not going to take any of this Death Eater crap, especially from a fifteen year old boy.

"I know enough," he said through gritted teeth. He pushed off the wall with his right foot and shoved his professor in the chest, effectively escaping. He ran out of the room as fast as he could before Severus could say a word.

He ran all the way up to the Great Hall. He leaned against the wall trying to catch his breath. There were tears in his eyes from the encounter with his Potions professor. His head hurt from when he was slammed into the wall. But that was not what hurt the most; it was knowing he was deceived, by someone he knew and had come to look up to.

As he was sliding down the wall, Hermione found him. When she saw the state he was in, she rushed towards him, kneeling in front of him. "Alex! What's wrong?"

"Her-Hermione," he said still trying to catch his breath, "Did….you know….Snape….was a….Death Eater?"

She furrowed her brow and looked at him quizzically, "Yes," she replied slowly.

Alex's eyes widened as he looked at her in horror. "What? You knew he was a Death Eater. And you don't care?"

"Alex you don't understand," she looked around making sure no one was around before continuing, "He's a spy."

"A spy?" Alex was confused now. He never even thought that his professor could be a spy.

"Yes, a spy for Dumbledore. There is a secret organization called the Order of the Phoenix. He works for them spying against Voldemort." She hoped this information would calm him down.

"Are you sure?" Alex pressed his hands to his head trying to sort it all out.

"Yes. If you don't believe me why don't you go ask the headmaster?" Hermione stood and offered her hand to him. He took her hand, stood up, and walked towards the headmaster's office.