TW: DEATH
30th May 1993
The dungeons were damp as always, maybe it was the events of the year, but Alex could clearly see outlines of cobwebs she'd have sworn weren't there before. The fire was enchanted green, as always, but it was of little solace in the freezing room.
You'd think it was the peak of winter.
A shiver ran down her spine as she walked down the flights of stairs, the décor was too eerily similar to that of the chamber. Slytherin things, probably.
Alex felt something warm run down her arms, and looking down, she noticed she'd pierced through the skin, scratching incessantly. Blood was slowly pouring down her arms and she hastily wiped it away. It would no doubt distract her from her original purpose of visit. Luckily it hadn't stained the white robes noticeably.
She stood outside the potions classroom and knocked hesitantly.
"Enter," drawled a silky voice.
She entered slowly, peeking around the empty classroom and stepping in, shutting the door behind her.
"What do you need?" said the Potions Professor, not once looking up from the essays he was marking.
"What are the essays on?" she stalled, walking towards the large desk at the head of the room.
"The properties of Porcupine quills. I hope that when you serve your O.W.L.S you shall not be half as stupid as the dunderheads I am forced to tolerate."
She looked at the marked pile, the essays were practically drenched in red ink. She couldn't yet see even one 'Outstanding'. Before the Professor got too annoyed, she decided to announce her purpose of visit.
"I have a question to ask," she started, sitting on a chair. "It's important, so I'd appreciate it answered in detail."
"Very well then, go on."
"Why did Dumbledore separate us after the Dark Lord's initial death? Harry and I?"
The quill stopped scratching.
"Since you know who made that decision, shouldn't you be asking the Headmaster?"
"Answer my question and I'll answer yours." She took a sharp breath in, it couldn't be that bad. "...Severus?"
"You were going to learn one way or the other," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "You remember what Dumbledore told you last year?"
She nodded slowly, what did that have to do with this?
He considered his next words carefully, "You are aware of what a prophecy is?" A prophecy is when-"
"Is there a prophecy about me?"
He gave her a stern look, one that served as a warning when she was younger. "Do not interrupt me. And somewhat, it involves your insufferable brat of a brother as well."
When she was sure he wouldn't continue, she pressed. "Why would a prophecy mean we needed to be kept apart? Surely it didn't say that 'Famous Dark-Lord facing infants need to be kept apart, or else the World will collapse?"
The Slytherin raised a sarcastic eyebrow.
She felt her face flush, "Surely not?"
He pushed the stack of parchment and stood up.
Instinctively, she did too.
"There is a prophecy involving you and your brother. And more importantly, the Dark Lord. You are however, partially correct; if the prophecy is fulfilled, it will very well collapse the world we know."
Her eyes widened comically. "What does it say?"
He paced around the room deep in thought.
"Do you remember it? Who else knows? Does it end well? Or 'collapse' in a bad way? I mean collapse usually has negative connotations-"
"Quiet!" he snapped, "At this rate, I'll need a Pain Potion and an entire bottle of Firewhiskey."
Alex shut her mouth, but followed him around the room soundlessly as he rearranged the Potions ingredients that hung on the walls.
After a while, he spoke, barely audible. "Prophecies are extremely uncommon Alexandra. All prophecies must be recorded by the Ministry and will always be fulfilled. No exceptions. Not even for... celebrities such as yourself."
Despite the biting tone, she knew he didn't mean it maliciously. It was merely a fact. If he'd meant it maliciously, he would've stood heads above her, glaring down his beak-like nose.
"It cannot possibly be that bad."
He leveled her with a steely look.
"Forever the optimist?" he laughed lowly.
Despite being phrased as a question, it was clearly a statement.
"I mean, the Dark Lord's tried to kill me three times, twice in the past two years." she shrugged her shoulders, "Surviving's natural, really."
He stepped closer to her, drawing himself up to his full height, where he towered over the 12-year-old. "Don't let it get to your head, Alexandra, arrogance is deadly."
She squirmed underneath the icy look. "Then tell me the prophecy and I will proceed to reevaluate my... current winning streak."
He took in a sharp breath, before repeating monotonously.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives..."
"What does that mean? Neither can live while the other survives?"
"Is it not painfully obvious? Either you, Potter or the Dark Lord will be pronounced dead by the end of the war. Perhaps more than one, perhaps all."
He said it in such a careless way that she wondered if he was under a calming draught.
"For your information, I am not drugged Alexandra."
She chewed the inside of her cheek, "So there will be death?"
"More than you can imagine."
That didn't answer her question.
"Now, you must be wondering what that has to do with raising Harry and you separately. The answer is simple; the environmental differences you have suffered are intended to turn the both of you into different individuals. Obviously, not entirely separate, but enough to have a broader spectrum of thinking, thus, raising the chances of at least one of you surviving. Raising Potter with Muggles and keeping you inside the Magical world was, I believe, intentional. I don't know exactly what the Headmaster was thinking but I believe it would play to the notion of unity. If Potter was clueless about magic, you would help guide him through, forming a powerful familial bond. Think of it like a calculated risk or experiment, if you will."
A wider range of thinking? Experiment?
He turned to look at her, "Of course, everything I am telling you is in confidence. I trust you shall not repeat this to a third party."
"Oh." she tilted her head, "So we're an experiment? On Dumbledore's behalf?" she said bluntly, looking him straight in the eye. "And now that I am aware of this experiment, what says it is not to change the outcome of the war. Does Dumbledore know I know?"
"Of sorts. You seems rather slow today, have you slept?"
"Of sorts."
"Of sorts?" he repeated, arching a quizzical brow.
"I had a dream," she admitted, "It kept me up."
"Dream or nightmare?" he pressed.
"Nightmare, I suppose."
He let out a hum of understanding, gliding across to the Potion cupboard.
"You used to have nightmares almost every night when you were younger. Very creative ones. They rendered you mute."
She didn't remember that, "Mute?"
"Hm, yes. Mute, as in unable to speak?" he shook his head as he filed through the potions, "I'm surprised you don't remember, there was a rumour I'd cut your tongue out. In fact, you didn't speak a word till you were about five. After that, it was impossible to get you to shut up."
"Of course, you'd think it a family trait," she snarked, the back of her neck burning. As she finished her brilliant response, she turned around to find Professor Snape behind her. He had the uncanny ability to sneak up on nearly everyone.
"Dreamless sleep potion." she said dumbly.
"Very good," he rolled his eyes, "It seems you have paid some attention last year." He held the vial out. "Three servings total. No more. Two tablespoons at most, that'll afford you around 15 hours of magical sleep, whether you sleep after that is up to you. It is just the bare minimum."
He paused.
"You know the side effects of overuse?"
"Addiction. Or it might put you into a state of unconsciousness as deep as a coma."
"Very good. Now-"
The door slammed open, revealing a distressed Professor McGonagall.
"It's the Creevey boy, Severus, hurry."
She pocketed the bottle and followed discreetly.
Alex stood beside the open curtains as Colin thrashed on the bed.
Apparently, he'd had a reaction with the mandrake potion. An unforeseen allergic reaction.
Madam Pomfrey had cast a spell monitoring his vitals as his little body flailed uncontrollably.
"How could this have happened?" the Mediwitch let out a string of curses, "Allergic reactions are extremely rare amongst wizards. He did not seem to have any prior problems with the mandrakes."
She casted a statis charm that failed, rebounding back.
Professor Sprout shook her head, "I didn't know, First-years aren't allowed inside the greenhouse, the boy's not had a single interaction with mandrakes before."
Alex struggled to see what was happening on the narrow bed, between the crowd of adults.
"It's too late to brew another potion," said the Potions professor coolly. "The best hope he has is that we can extract the potions in time."
"How do you know that?" growled Madam Pomfrey, as she flitted around the bed, casting multiple spells. Slowly, the spells started to glow red, never a good sign. "Would a bezoar suffice?"
"Bezoars treat poisons, not allergic responses."
McGonagall let out a curse as Colin's unnatural jerking slowed. "Creevey's a muggleborn, he has a younger brother due for Hogwarts in two years time."
Professor Snape scoffed, "Good luck convincing the family to send their son to a school that resulted in the death of their firstborn."
That was when the Headmaster decided to make an appearance. He spared Alexandra a look before walking towards the crowded bed. Calmly.
Colin had stopped moving, his elbow bent awkwardly.
"Shite," whispered Madam Pomfrey as she wiped the sweat off her face.
"Death is but a distant rumor to the young," said Professor Dumbledore, gently shutting Colin's eyes.
Alex let out a loud gasp from where she was hiding, directing the adults' attention away from the dead boy.
"Alexandra?" exclaimed Professor McGonagall, "What- How-"
Professor Dumbledore looked at her with his piercing blue eyes.
"Dead- Colin- I-"
Despite not being too fond of the boy, Alex felt her heart ache for the boy who'd never be able to click another photo. Colin was only eleven. Too little. His camera was larger than his entire head.
She started trembling as the Professors tried to shield the boy from sight. Feeling bile rise up in her throat, she didn't know if she wanted to scream or run.
In the midst of her hysteria, she failed to notice the wand aimed at her.
"Stupefy."
As she slipped into unconsciousness, she didn't know whether she regretted how she treated the boy or how she'd never get to apologise.
Both.
"This has been an incredibly traumatic experience for the girl surely-"
"While I agree Minerva, it would serve in everyone's best interests to make sure she doesn't remember this."
"Albus, that's entirely unethical, I cannot allow you to do this."
"Minerva, you must know that while I hold you in the highest of regards, I do not need your explicit permission, as Headmaster-"
"So you abuse your power?"
Alexandra let out a strategic yawn, hand searching for her wand.
Just in case the headmaster tried to pull through with his insane idea, however futile her best efforts might be, she had to try.
As she reached for her wand on the nightstand, she instead found scales.
"...Good morning..." hissed Rex, nipping at her wrist. As he climbed onto her, she felt him offer her a piece of wood. Her wand.
"Ah, good morning." greeted Dumbledore, jovially, as if he hadn't been planning to erase her memories mere moments before.
She nodded her head slowly in response, sitting up. The lack of light streaming in through the windows told her it was night.
"You've been asleep for over thirty-six hours." remarked Professor McGonagall. "You must've had quite the shock," she bit out resentfully looking at Professor Dumbledore.
He must've cast the stunning spell then.
"I suppose I've had an eventful couple of days," murmured Alex, as the snake wrapped around her shoulders.
"Well, of course." said the Transfiguration professor, "Would you like to be excused from lessons tomorrow? I could ask Madam Pomfrey to check if you're fully recovered, perhaps a calming draught."
"No calming draughts," said Alexandra firmly, keeping Ginny in mind. "I'd actually like to return to lessons as soon as possible, if I've been asleep for over thirty-six hours that must mean it's a... Monday. I shall be fine to attend lessons tomorrow morning."
She felt her pockets for the dreamless sleep potion. It was there, a bulge in her discreet pockets.
She had a feeling it might be necessary.
As she climbed out of the medical bed, she turned towards the Professors. "What are you going to do about Colin?"
Professor McGonagall tensed visibly, "That is none of your concern-"
"We shall, of course, alert his parents." Professor Dumbledore raised a silencing wrinkled arm and knelt down to eye-level. "I dare say they will be extremely upset."
"Is he-"
"Truly dead?" Dumbledore shook his head wisely, "Only physically. His young memory will preserve his short, but spirited life."
"But he's dead?"
"There are many ways to die, Alexandra." he paused, stoking his white beard, "Worst of all, unloved."
She nodded her head, it seemed that tonight the Professor was in the mood for his usual metaphorical phrasings. As she turned to walk out the door-
"You must remember Alexandra, what's happened to Colin is to remain strictly confidential. In order to not dampen his memory."
She nodded as Rex hissed viciously. The headmaster dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
The reptile gently wrapped its cold body around her as she ran into the rain, without a single glance behind.
After all;
It does not do to dwell on memories and forget to live.
The rest of her days were mostly uneventful. Except for exams, those were very traumatizing. After Ginny had been taken to the chamber, no one had anticipated school continuing, especially for exams.
Every exam was executed at the original date. Except for Defense against the Dark arts. For obvious reasons.
"I dare say we've had enough practice," mumbled Ron when the announcement was made.
Speaking of which, Harry was now back! No worse than before, except he too shared the same nightmares Alex did. Of course, he didn't go to Professor Snape for help.
And Alex was too selfish to share her secrets relief in the form of a potion.
Everything had returned to normal. Well, not everyone.
Colin was dead. There was no doubt about that. The headmaster had announced it somberly, about three days after the petrified students were let out of the Hospital wing.
"Today, we have lost a beloved student and friend." stated the Headmaster, surprisingly cold. "Today we share our grievances at the lost of the young first-year: Colin Creevey."
Hogwarts had never been more silent. Dumbledore hadn't decided to enclose the nature of his death.
It was probably too ill-fitting a death for someone so spirited.
Or perhaps his parents had wanted some privacy.
Or perhaps Dumbledore didn't want the students to worry unnecessarily.
Whatever his reasons, no one questioned it and for once the Hogwarts rumour mill had nothing to print.
For as quiet as Hogwarts was, Rex was clearly enjoying himself.
A life full of fresh, easy to win food? A life with a amiable human companion?
Admittedly, it was strange. After all, humans were known to be cruel to his kind. And he'd never met one that spoke with him.
Not to say that it didn't have it's problems, of course not! A snake's life was never meant to be easy. Most of the students flinched when they saw him, they must've thought him to be related with that huge monstrosity down there.
Some even tried to kill him! All those humans shrieking and running in a stampede, but perhaps it was his fault for leaving the girl and foraging for food alone.
Well, not all the students hated him. Some were scared! There was this one female, young, as were most in this place, what was it the girl had called it? A school. Yes, one to train the young.
Nevermind, there was this one female, who would run away the minute she saw him. The vibrations from lower body were normal when she was around the girl, and that was often, but the moment he would make himself noticeable behind the books or whatever he had chosen to rest behind, she would freeze!
Or run. But mostly freeze, and emit loud noises. Which meant Rex would hide behind the books, he wasn't scared, of course not, just wary.
After the first couple of times, the girl, his one, had made the smart choice to keep them apart.
And oh! The girl had another friend, one with so much fur on her head, one that kept trying to poke at him! How rude.
She had explained that it was only natural curiosity, but how on earth does that explain the useless prodding, she could've just asked!
Perhaps, that's why the girl had summoned him, one must have at least one sane companion.
"You're not coming with me?"
"Not this year," Alex chewed her lip, "I promised Harry I'd stay-"
But Draco was already walking down the row of compartments.
She stepped back into her train compartment, with her friends all laughing chaotically as Rex smacked all the chess pieces of the table.
"...sssad?"
Harry frowned looking between her and the snake.
Alex shook her head as she put her wand away in her trunk.
"Thinking."