Disclaimers: Own nothing but the plot, Hadrian Snape, Alexandra & Evangeline Black, Isabelle Lupin, and Juniper Snape & a few others. None of the obvious other characters are mine ie the ones from Anne Rice and JK Rowlings books. I make no profit and once again, I own nothing of A.R. or J.K.R.
Warnings: Angst, mild violence, language.
Les Innocents
Chapter four: Mischief and Punishment
Alexandra Black sat in the living room the very same day, reading her Ancient Runes text as was her custom. This was a joke in the group that she channeled Professor Green, her teacher, in the summer. It was all in good fun though so she paid no mind. The runes of the old worlds fascinated her and sometime, as was her nature, she would sit for hours staring at one rune that had caught her fancy. Alex thought with a laugh about the first time Snape had come in to see her like that. He had shaken her and when she did not stir from her stupor he had taken the 'drastic' measure of dumping ice cold water on her…..this much to his anger had no effect what so ever….or so he thought…Alex woke but did not change her position in her amusement at his efforts to bring her back to earth. When he realized what she was doing he left in a huff.
Honestly Alex didn't think it was her fault. She was a creature with deep, fast thought, so could get caught up in the moment often. To her friends this was a bother sometimes. Like in the missions they did for their family she would sometimes stop to stare at a painting that had 'large detail' as she said. She couldn't help it. It was instinct. And she opened her arms to it. It was bad when it came to fights though, because she could be so enraptured by the adrenaline that she could seriously hurt someone. It had happened before. She had sworn it wouldn't happen again. Luckily they didn't die…(Oh, creepy..) they lived on to make the teens into the people they were to them…family.
Suddenly a noise from the right of Alex made her alert, and she quickly drew her wand and spun around, dropping to her knees on the floor for incase a spell went her way.
"It's okay Alex, it's me Harry. I just want to talk." Indeed it was.
"How do I know you are?" Suspicion lacing her voice thickly.
"Ask me something only Harry Potter knows." Reasonable enough.
"What did I tell you in first year, in Moaning Myrtles bathroom when I was highly annoyed at school, Madame Pomfrey, and other first years in general and you said you understood how I felt?"
"You said: 'How could you possibly understand what it's like to wake up feeling as though you've run a marathon only to pelted by hundreds of Bludgers and like you're living in a crazy, manic-depressives body and have no control over your thoughts or behavior or emotions?' then you glared at me."
"Okay I believe you."
"Good."
"So what did you want to talk about Harry?" Alex inquired. "I just wanted to know if you know about the library down the hall. I asked Remus and he said there's nothing there…so…" He trailed. "You think you're going round the twist?" Alex, finding this highly amusing decided to tease him a bit. "Err…yeah" He laughed nervously. Alex burst out in a fit of giggles she so often couldn't stop herself if she fond something amusing in a situation. "Alex! Please tell me I'm, sane." Harry wined, not finding the idea that he was nuts funny in the slightest.
"Naw, you're sane Harry. The library is only visible to Black family or heirs. Remus and Snape and basically every other member of the order cannot see it. Because the new lord or lady of Black decides who can see it. No order member can see it or who is in it. Not even whether someone is in it. So Mad-eye cannot tell it's there or anyone's there." Alex explained. "Wow….what's it like in there? What subjects are covered?" asked Harry. "I actually don't know I only got a brief look because dad didn't want others to know it was there. But I know memories from the past are stored there. There are school courses there too; this would be the higher levels of training. Marauding books are also available to us all." She said in a causal way.
"Well let's get the others and see what in there. We can go explore the rooms that others cannot see! It'll be fun Alex!" Harry pleaded with her happily. "I'll kick myself for this later but okay, we can go have a look around. Gather the others." Admitting defeat Alex watched as Harry whooped for joy before rushing out to gather the clan.
"What are we doing again?" Neville, ever nervous in new environments, asked them. "We're looking around the house for rooms others cannot see unless the Head of House allows them to." Harry said for what seemed the hundredth time. Teddy's hand hit Harry over the back of the head hard.
"OW! Hey!"
"Genius! How are we supposed to see it, if no one but the head can?"
"Alex is the Head of Black now because she's the oldest living Black who will ever set foot in this house. Now, is anyone else going to hit Harry?" Evangeline growled, deadly when she was as annoyed as she was. Being ever smart, Teddy apologized to Harry and fell silent. They walked in silence toward a door at the end of a passageway. Opening the door they saw with mixed excitement a whole room of coffins.
"Sector B, you there?" Eve dialed on the magical walkie talkie.
"Loud and clear. This is Sector B, operative Draco Malfoy."
"This is Sector A online, Evangeline Black. I got a missed attempt to contact us from you, please deliver your message."
"We found a new room but it is no ordinary room. You should come see. We're calling in back-up from all sectors."
"This is Sector D. The Wrackspurt is on the move. Repeat; the Wrackspurt is on the move. Sector A and C combination evacuate the third floor. The Wrackspurt is making his way up your direction. Sector D over and out."
"Sector B send out the Mistress of Distraction; operation; distract wrackspurt long enough for us to evacuate. Sectors A and C over and out."
"This is sector D coming in to warn all sectors of the imposing threat of Order members on the third floor."
"Sector D thanks for the warning."
"Goodluck Sector B. I- . Sector B? This is Sector A, you there? Hello?"
"Potter, the living room, now…"
Blip
"Uh oh…"
"What were you kids doing? We told you not to leave your rooms! And what do you do? You leave them!" The teens hung their heads in shame, feeling guilty from Remus's lecture. "I'm not usually one for this but who started this nonsense?" Remus said tiredly. Harry opened his mouth to say it was him but Alex cut him off. "It was me professor. I know I shouldn't have. But I was curious and I couldn't stay in that room. There were too many memories…" She strung Remus along. His face softened instantly. "I understand. Sirius' room has many memories...But you were told to stay put. Severus will decide your punishment for disobeying a direct order." Remus looked sad as he said it. Alex looked down at her hands, folded neatly in her lap, and allowed her bottom lip to tremble lightly for Remus to see. "I know Moony. I deserve it. I should have listened. But it hurt to be in that room…" She said in a pitiful voice looking up at him with large, innocent, slightly wet, grey eyes. Her full red lips curved down in innocent, sincere sadness. Remus visibly melted in her hand at the little girl in need of protection face. "I'll see if I can sway Severus to give you a light punishment. Like cooking for the rest of the week." Remus softened on her. Standing he left the room to get Snape who had been called away to the kitchen for Order business. Once Remus was gone and out of earshot the group burst out laughing. "Sis on you Alex!" Harry gasped out. "Poor Moony. Now he really thinks you're innocent!" Harry proceeded to snicker humorously. "That's dangerous. He won't know what hits him when the time comes that Alex gives up on innocence." Draco snickered.
"Maybe that's her plan! Take over the world while they eat out of her hand! Eh, itsy bitsy baby girl Alex?" Eve teased Alex in great humor. "Hmm...You know, that wasn't my plan originally, but thanks for the idea!" She proclaimed honestly. The rest paled at this remark. "We're gonna die!" meeped Harry. "I'm too beautiful to die!" Draco agreed. "Why is it that I'm always accused of committing crimes even though we all know I'm innocent?" Alex said indignantly. Scoffs of disbelief echoed around the room as they looked at her with doubtful faces. "Hurumph." She said crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest and sinking into the sofa.
"So!" It was Snape standing in the doorway. "You honestly think I will go easy on you for going astray?" He sneered. "Um, well, yes I did sort of think..." Alex said in a quiet voice, not looking him in the eyes. "You were sorely mistaken Black. Come with me." He grabbed Alex by the arm and pulled her to her feet. Dragging her out as she tried to free herself of his strong grip. He took her out into the passageway marching to the basement with her. Coming into the kitchen Remus sat talking to the order when he saw Alex's eyes full of tears from pain Snapes grip was causing. "Severus! Let Alex go! You're hurting her." He tried to stop Snape and remove his hand. "She is going to punishment for leading her friends astray in her escapade." Was the response this received. "Moony, stop him it hurts!" Alex howled piteously. "Severus! Release her!" Remus commanded upon hearing her howl.
Finally he released her and glowered at her as Remus hugged her comfortingly while she looked over his shoulder at Snape an innocent look on her face. Looking at Severus the order saw he was melting for her. "Sev, apologize for hurting her. Alex apologize for breaking one of Professor Snapes rules." Remus conducted their possible fight. "I'm sorry Professor. It won't happen again. I promise." Alex said in a small, quiet, misty voice with her one hand up by her mouth gently touching it in a childish way as she looked up at him. "I apologise as well miss Black. I should not have grabbed you so roughly.
Come here I have a potion to ebb the pain" He said calmly back to her. He held it out to her an encouraging look on his face. "Thank you sir." Said Alex accepting the potion. "What will be my punishment?" She asked once the potion was down. "You will go to your room and you will stay there and study until Remus or I come to get you." Told Snape.
Nodding in okay Alex said. "Okay I'll go now. Umm, but, what will happen to my friends. They didn't do anything. I convinced them..." Trailing off for effect she waited for the response. "They will be left to their own devices, in their rooms where they should have been." Remus said placating Alex. Noding Alex turned and made her way upstairs followed by Snape. Getting to the passageway they split ways, Alex going upstairs and Snape going to tell the others their punishments.
Later that night
Alex and Les Innocents trudged up to the attic having told Remus and Snape they would be up there for the night together for studies. Instead of studying they sealed the door from the entry of anyone not listed as a member. Then they walked to the far walk where a tall dark door stood. Going through this they came to a circular room filled with coffins. Saying goodnight they went to their respective coffins and climbed in. Alex lay in her ebony coffin thinking about the days events as she stared at the satin lined lid. 'So far a good day. Asides for "punishment" it was fun looking around in new rooms.' Satisfied by the days events Alex called it quits and surrendered to an easy sleep for the first time since the previous week, when she last slept in her coffin.
Harry's POV:
I couldn't sleep again. I wandered the old dilapidated headquarters of the Order and finally went to the kitchen to get a drink. Getting into the kitchen I poured a glass of milk lit a candle and sat at the table contemplating the various colors the candle changed. A voice stirred me from my thoughts. "Ought you to be in bed?" Remus stood at the doorway with Snape both in sleepwear watching me closely. "Couldn't sleep." I replied. "That is no reason-" Snape began with a sneer. "I'm an insomniac I can't sleep without potions." I cut him off rudely. His mouth formed a perfect 'o' shape, he hadn't known.
"You okay? You look upset." Remus said scrutinizing my face. "I am upset! And with reasons." I snapped. "What about you? You look like you've seen a ghost." I retorted looking from one to the other. "If we tell you what's on our minds you'll tell us what's on yours?" Asked Remus calmly. I considered and finally conceded. "Well what's wrong for us is that your "pack" has been causing trouble for us while you weren't here. They think it's fun to get under our skin." Said Remus. "We have no idea how to handle you kids. I have no idea what we're doing wrong either." He finished sadly.
"Well I could tell you what you're doing wrong if you want." I offered seeing them both lean forward expectantly I continued. "You're cruel. You push us too hard for information we don't want to give. That's why we were better behaved with Sirius; he let us come to him with things when we wanted to talk. And he always made time for us when we needed him. That's part of the problem." I stopped here to see their faces. Remus looked thoughtful while Snape had a slightly guilty look on his face. "The rest is divided between you. Remus is under negative feelings with the others because he abandoned his pack even though he swore that pack comes first. Alex was most deeply scared by you for that. Snape you have always hated us. You never gave any one of us the chance to explain ourselves to you so you wouldn't see us as other people. Basically the others don't trust you. They're afraid too because now Sirius is gone and we have no parental figure to turn to." I concluded. "You say 'the others' does that mean you trust us?" asked Remus softly. I looked away from him in fear he would see my confusion. "I don't know. I have been hurt too much by the both of you." I said slowly. "I know. And we're sorry. Forgive us?" Remus asked. Slowly I smiled at them. "Yes." Remus grinned like a cheshire cat and said "Thank you! Now What's bothering you?" becoming concerned immediatly.
"Well I am just upset at Sirius' death and trying to juggle the whole saviour thing. I am also trying to stay alive at the same time as finish school."
"And?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's something else."
"I made 'friends' with someone I shouldn't have."
"We know."
"HOW!"
"We read the letter remember?"
"Oh...Was it...Bad?"
Remus smiled in amusment. "Not really." I sighed in relief. "Although I do want to talk with you about some matters!"
"AH! No! Please spare me the humiliation!" Remus laughed and said "Go to bed you silly thing you!" I laughed in response. "Okay okay. You don't want my company anymore!" I dramatised. "Potter. Here drink this when you get to bed it will help you sleep." "Thanks!" I said in shock that Snape had een civil to me. "And here. Thank you for talking with us." I looked down and saw he was holding out my letter! I took it and thanked him profusly.
