Chapter 8

Fear Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Alana stood behind a close door, afraid to knock but too caught up in the comments to walk away. She had come down stairs to get a glass of water, but something had made her linger outside the kitchen. She couldn't make up the voices more than if they were male or female, but no particular person could be distinguished.

"He has to tell her! It's her right to know the truth!"

"But it's his right to tell her when he finds it convenient"

"Knowing the man it'll probably the day after…NEVER!"

"Nevertheless, it is not our place"

"Pretty soon she'll start asking questions, she knows I was a friend of her mother. I don't want to have to lie to her" That was definitely Sirius.

"You have to respect that this is not your decision and stick to the plan…"

"Besides, rushing this will directly set in motion Voldemort's plan, and I really don't think that's something we want…"

"And what if You Know Who doesn't find out she knows?"

"That would endanger not only Alana but also…" In that moment Kreacher started screaming.

"Mistress doesn't like when children are out of bed at this hour!" Alana would have cursed the little devil into oblivion if Mrs. Weasley hadn't opened the door.

"Alana! What are you doing up? You have two more days of bed rest still!"

"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley but I wanted a glass of water…"

"Go upstairs; I'll get it to you in a second"

"But, I'm already here it's only logical that I…"

"Let her come in Molly" Dumbledore who was standing beside the back window spoke. Mrs. Weasley hurried to get the water while Alana sat down beside Sirius.

"How are you feeling child?"

"Better Pro… I mean Albus, thank you" She realized their last conversation hadn't gone so well and she lowered her sight. Curiosity was killing her; she was trying to make sense of the bit of conversation she had just overheard and the only conclusion she could reach was that they were talking about her father. She wanted to ask but decided not to, she didn't want them to think she was eavesdropping, which she actually was. After drinking her glass of water as slowly as possible she got up to return to the prison she called bed. In that second the chimney burst into hot green flames and Professor Snape came out of it.

"Won't wash your hair with this lovely rain won't cha snake?" He paid no attention to Mad-Eye's comment and looked straight towards Alana.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" She looked up at him and met his eyes. There it was again, that feeling of a little child caught up doing something they shouldn't by their parents. She nodded and wished everybody good night and headed for the door. Dumbledore eyed Severus who return the look and motion a "What?" gesture. The old man pointed to the girl with his head and Snape sighted.

"Alana…" The girl immediately turned in her heels and looked at him, expectantly. "Poppy has told me to tell you that if you're feeling better you can return to your potion lessons tomorrow, as long as you don't spend too much time standing and promise to eat properly and not push yourself too hard" A smile appeared on her face and she jumped a little.

"Yes! That would be awesome! What time…?"

"I will pick you up tomorrow at eleven o'clock, the potions I want you to work on take a long time to brew" She ran towards him and hugged him.

"Thank you! This is so cool! You rock Professor!" She untangled her hands and ran back to her bed.

"I…"He was at lost for words.

"Come on Sevy… use your words…" Sirius chuckled.

"I better get going…" With that he turned around and left the house to disappear into the rain.

"The poor block doesn't even know what hit him!" Kingsley laughed while many of the members of the Order were astonished.

"Did you see his face?" Tonks was trying really hard to contain her laughter.

"It must be hard for Severus… I think this is the first time someone's hugged him in a decade"

"Are you all done with your jokes?" They turned around to find out that Snape had returned, unheard by everybody else.

"That poor girl won't be able to sneak a boy to her room peacefully unless you start wearing a bell around your neck…"

"That's enough Mad-Eye!" This time Dumbledore was the one speaking.

"I will let you return to whatever you were saying about me in a second but before you must know that the Death Eaters are considering attacking the train on September 1st, figure out what to do" With that he left, this time for real.

The rain poured over him, a couple feet from the house and he was already soaking wet. The thought of the girl's arms around him haunted him. What was he going to do? How could he bring himself to tell her the truth? How could he bare the fact that yet again he was the cause of the doom of the people that had showed him the smallest signs of love? His mother, Lily, and now this poor girl who hadn't done anything to deserve what was coming her way…

He apparated back into his house and dried himself. He ran his hands through his upper body, where his daughter's arms had been placed just a few moments ago for the first time, reminding him just how much he missed the touch of another person, the warm that only came from someone's arms around him. He couldn't help but think of Lily, but did his best to chase those thoughts out of his mind.

"Severus…" He turned around, "there's been a change of plans"