Disclaimer: Own nothing, just enjoying a jaunt around J.K. Rowling's world.
A/N: I promise some Alice/Draco interaction soon!
Alice's aunt and uncle lived in a sprawling suburb just outside of London, very near the place where Alice grew up. Walking down the street of dimly lit porches and long driveways brought back warm memories of childhood.
Before Alice could even knock on the front door, Aunt Marla swung it open and enveloped her in a big hug.
"Oh, we are so glad to see you dear! Have you eaten? You're looking a bit gaunt!" The cheery, slightly overweight woman gushed.
Alice knew this meant her aunt had gone through the trouble of making a large dinner, the smell of which hit her nose the moment she passed through the door.
"There she is, our Oxford princess!" Uncle George mused from the living room. In many ways, the couple was just as proud of her as her own father had been. Without any children of their own, and with their other niece and nephew overseas, Alice presence in London was a treat.
"Well what are you waitin' for George, let's go eat!" Aunt Marla nagged, since he had already sat back down in his favorite armchair.
The table was filled with plates of fresh vegetables and broiled rosemary chicken. Her aunt had also baked a hearty loaf of whole grain bread that morning. As usual, everything was delicious, probably even more so because Alice was starving; the day's events had made her forget to eat lunch altogether.
After dinner, the trio sat in the living area near a cozy stone fireplace. Aunt Marla had poured each of them a glass of port wine. Alice hoped the red liquid would help her sleep.
"So!" Aunt Marla spoke with an expression of excitement, "How is that young man, oh, what was his name Rupert, Roger…?"
"Robert." Alice corrected. "I wouldn't know. I haven't talked to him since I saw him snogging my best friend last summer." Alice's sarcasm dripped heavily as she thought of the young engineer who she spent the better part of two years with; she took a large sip of wine after the thought.
"Oh, he was still a boy then," Aunt Marla responded, frowning at the thought of his actions.
"Apparently," Alice said, leaving the topic at that. She remembers telling her aunt this before and figured it was just her way of engaging in a conversion of any recent love interest. Unfortunately, that was the last thing on Alice's mind.
"It's all for the better dear. With your beauty you will find a nice London gentleman in no time."
Alice declined to comment on Aunt Marla's gendered perspective of match making, instead she smiled and took another sip of wine.
Hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction, Uncle George asked, "So, my lady, I heard your book will be published soon?"
"Yes, but I've had a bit of a falling out with my publisher. It's been pushed back," She said, telling only part of the truth.
"Pity," George responded, "Perhaps it'll be out when we return from our holiday?"
George had recently retired and the couple had been saving up for decades to do some real traveling.
"Have you decided on your destination?" Alice asked, knowing they were still running scenarios the last time they met.
"Oh yes," Aunt Marla chimed, "We will be spending two months in the south of France. I've always wanted to see Paris in the springtime." Aunt Marla's eyes glazed over, she was a hopeless romantic and although you wouldn't know from Uncle George's ruff exterior, he was too.
The conversation continued for about an hour, and once Alice had finished another half glass of wine she decided to retire to the guest room, which her aunt reminded her was always open. The fluffy bed had a soft colorful quilt comforter that matched the home's French country décor perfectly. She climbed in, immediately feeling her body sink in its cushion.
Her mind, however, was not ready to relax. Not many things scared Alice, except for losing her intellect. She had watched her mother's sanity slip away and she feared that she may someday meet the same fate. She was unsure of the powers of those in the world she discovered and what they wanted from her. Would they also erase her memory? The weight of these ideas as well as the activities of the day had lulled Alice into a deep sleep.
Tuesday morning at the Ministry of Magic was again buzzing with the hustle and bustle of workers. Draco had arrived slightly later than normal, due to reading the young woman's book into the late hours of the night. He had found it strangely fascinating to say the least, as it expounded both muggle and wizard perspectives on events throughout the prior century. He had never read a book written by a muggle, nor did he ever take Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, considering such classes pointless and a waste of a wizard's education. But after a few chapters he was aware of his ignorance of this other world and he felt slightly embarrassed intellectually.
Entering the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, he sensed an odd tension in the air. Making his way to his desk he passed by two witches holding copies of that morning's Daily Prophet, pointing and commenting in a hushed whisper. Seeing a stack of newspapers nearby, he grabbed one and upon unfolding he was greeted by the headline, "Ministry Mishandles Muggle Relations: Muggle Unruliness Bigger Problem than We Think." The article detailed the current muggle book case, alluding to the department's ineptitude of keeping the wizarding world secret. On the front page was also a picture of Alice McNally and a commentary written by her to The Daily Prophet. The editor had entitled it, "The Muggle Manifesto: The Voice of the Ministry's Malady."
Susie McClellan, the head office assistant, had been walking through the aisle, stopping beside Draco's desk to say her morning pleasantries. "I see you found the article?" She chimed, in her usual cheery fashion.
"She wrote to The Daily Prophet? The muggle woman, I mean." Draco asked still stunned by the information explosion occurring on the newspaper's front page.
"Apparently. She knows a lot more than we thought. They're gonna have to bring her in for questioning." Susie was referring to the Special Cases Unit.
Without saying another word, Susie turned on her heels and went her way. Just then a violet purple airplane landed on Draco's desk.
Draco,
I'm sure you read the paper this morning. Accordingly, my unit will have to move faster on this case than previously anticipated. Our unit's potioneer is currently away on important business and we need someone to perform various tests on the suspect. I would like to instate you on this case for the time being, if you are able to halt your current research.
It would be appreciated.
Blaise Zabini
Head of Special Cases Unit
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Draco only momentarily considered the task before accepting. He figured this case wouldn't take longer than a week and after that he would be back to his currently dull research. He quickly owled Professor Slughorn telling him of his hiatus, adding reassurances that his research would resume after the case was settled. With that, he collected his things and reported to the Special Cases Unit, expecting a similar commotion to have occurred there thanks to the morning's newspaper.
Draco arrived just in time for the briefing. Blaise greeted him and introduced him to the group by his acting title as case potioneer. Draco, along with the other five members of the unit listened as Blaise provided them with the current information they had on McNally.
"Alice McNally is still not known to have any relations in the wizarding world. Her father lives in the United States with a wife and two children. She also has an aunt and uncle from her father's side who live in London. Her mother is 19 years deceased; died of an overdose of clinical drugs which were prescribed for mental instability. Three of her known grandparents are deceased, the fourth, a grandfather on her mother's side, is unnamed. She is single and has few other relationships in London; having only moved here one month prior. She resided in London until age 7, in America until age 22, and then Oxford and now London. Her current location is East Walston Street, London, at her aunt and uncle's residence. She will be collected once she leaves."
As Blaise finished, Draco realized he wasn't use to hearing about the familial details of a stranger or perhaps he felt uncomfortable knowing all this about a girl whose book he spent the night with.
"Draco," Blaise motioned for Draco to follow him into his side office. Once there he continued, "We need you to follow up on her ancestry, specifically her unnamed grandfather." Draco nodded, but was a bit surprised.
Blaise continued, as if thinking out loud, "I'm going to assess her mental stability as well, seeing how her mother was mentally unstable. If we can declare her insane then the case is closed."
Draco's eyes narrowed, "I highly doubt that she's insane."
"Perhaps not, but it's still something we need to rule out. Hopefully I can make her speak about any relations she has within the wizarding world. It is unlikely that she knew of all this on her own." The department was not allowed to use legilimency until absolutely necessary and it was preferable, especially by the Muggle Liaison Office, to use softer measures when dealing with muggles; though they had very little rights with their laws.
Draco accepted his task but still didn't completely understanding its reasoning. He would spend the next few hours in the department's laboratory preparing testing brews. For some reason, it made him feel dirty.