A/N: Lots of love to my reviewers! Hope you continue to enjoy.
Dressed in a fancy black cocktail dress that had a ruffled top and bow cinched waist and with her hair pulled back in a sleek high ponytail, Alice sat reading a new book in an armchair in the Malfoy's drawing room waiting for Narcissa to finish getting ready. She would be traveling by Floo Network with her and Mr. Malfoy to Cairo for the presentation of Draco's Gold Medal for Ground-Breaking Contribution at that year's International Alchemical Conference. Draco had been attending the conference since it started on Monday morning, sitting through various panels and networking with other potioneers from around the world. Friday night would be the awards ceremony and on Saturday, Narcissa would be holding a gala in his honor at Malfoy Manor.
It had been a quiet week for Alice with Draco gone, though the Science and Technology conference that she went to in Edinburgh was a success in terms of networking with other academics. She met a professor who knew her mother when she first taught at the University College London, and she encouraged her to apply for one of her department's lecturer positions that had recently opened up for the fall. Since she would be working only part-time at Hogwarts, it would allow time to teach another class or two closer to her city flat. That week she sent the school her curriculum vitae and cover letter, optimistic that she could have the best of both worlds, work-wise.
Draco was unreachable by mobile, but that didn't stop him from sending owl posts to Alice back in London. Luckily she was home when she heard the taps on her window. The letters were written in his meticulous cursive which she heavily admired and envied because her own handwriting had become more like chicken scratch since she used a computer to type everything. She supposed using a quill gave anyone's writing a more calligraphic feel, but hers was a mess. Using a blue ball point pen and a sheet of crisp notebook paper, she took her time when writing him back to make it neat and hopefully more legible, making the owl sit and wait in her kitchen while doing so. She realized the poor bird must have been exhausted from the flight, so she gave it some chopped up raw meat to tide it over. Draco sent her a letter each evening and he did something surprising with each one. When she opened the first folded note, she found a small seed, which she placed in the palm of her hand to inspect. She wondered how it got in there until it started to transform into a long stem red rose. It was a type of magic she'd never seen before; it was fantastical, beautiful, and she had no idea how he did it. With each letter, another seed and by the end of the week she had filled a small vase with four amazing flowers, two of which she had never seen because they were most likely wizarding world varieties. All she knew was she couldn't wait until Friday evening when she would see him again.
It was a busy Friday for Alice, who had to wake up early for another apparating lesson at the Ministry of Magic. It was more of the same from Mr. Twycross, reverberating the three D's while they tried to apparate into the center of their metal hoops. One student had a splinching incident, much to Alice's horror. He apparated but left his right hand outside the hoop and from the looks of it, he was in incredible pain, literally in tears as they rushed him to the medical ward. Mr. Twycross acted as if it was a common mistake to make when you lack complete deliberation. For Alice, however, part of her wanted to quit right then, hoping to forego any possible dismemberment. The only thing that kept her from running out the door was reminding herself how important it was to accomplish this task for her teaching job. Unfortunately, she had not apparated by the end of the day's lesson.
Since the award ceremony was that evening, she used one of the Ministry's fireplaces to floo to Malfoy Manor instead of returning back to her flat. She packed an extra bag to take with her that morning with her dress, makeup and heels in it. Of course, this extra bag made the watchwizard suspicious and he made sure to probity probe it over twice before letting her through the golden gates. Once at the Malfoy's, she removed her dress to find that she underestimated how wrinkled it would become and asked Narcissa if there was something she could use to iron it out. Even though the Malfoy's always utilized a house elf to do their house work, Narcissa thought Alice should learn some practical domestic magic and she spent the entire afternoon teaching her spells that could be used to steam her dress, wash dishes, make a broom sweep and have a quill dictate notes. For both of them it was a bonding experience, Narcissa with the daughter she never had and Alice with a mother figure she missed growing up.
Later that afternoon, Alice hurried to get ready for the award ceremony, not wanting to be the one that made the Malfoy's wait. Luckily, Narcissa was notorious for taking time to prepare herself. Thus, she used the extra time to read one of the new books she bought during her lunch break that day in Diagon Alley; she felt adventurous enough to leave the Ministry's grounds. What prompted her to enter the bookstore was seeing her book featured in the store window. Barnabus Cuffe, editor of the Daily Prophet, had kept his promise and released the second press of her book, Hinting at Magic: 20th Century Conspiracies and Possible Explanations, under his publishing company. She had written a short introduction to accompany it and the book jacket was changed to include a moving photo of her and a slightly new biographical note. When she entered the cluttered shop, she was accosted by the eccentric owner who seemed overjoyed to have her there, so much so that he attempted to set up a book signing event with her. Alice thought such things were presumptuous and declined repeatedly. Despite this uncomfortable occurrence, she was able to search the dusty stacks and ended up buying two books from him. One called Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles, which she was told was a Muggle Studies textbook at Hogwarts. She wondered if she'd be surprised or appalled by its contents. It was written in 1987 so with two more decades past she knew it was going to be rather outdated. The second book was entitled, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts; the subject had become increasingly of interest to her since the potential dangerous situation in the drawing room with Mr. Malfoy and his so-called business partner. Draco had told her quite a lot about the history of Voldemort, but she was more of a textual learner and she knew a book could help her keep her facts straight.
Lucius Malfoy swung open the drawing room side door and quickly paraded into the room, dressed in his best robes and holding his walking stick like a royal scepter. "Well at least you're ready," he said annoyed, seeing Alice sitting there reading a book but his wife nowhere to be found.
"She'll be down soon, I suspect," Alice said casually, not moving her eyes from the page she was on, which explained in more detail the Dark Mark and Death Eater initiation.
Curious and feeling like aggravating Alice who looked too at ease sitting there, Lucius used his walking stick to push the book from its propped position in front of her face, "What are we reading now?" he asked chauvinistically. The page had a picture of the Dark Mark on it.
"History," Alice replied, not amused that he invaded her space.
"Of the Dark Arts I see, a new interest perhaps?" Lucius replied, suspicious if her interest was sparked by her knowledge of his dark dealings.
Alice resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Sure, add it to about fifty others."
Lucius knew she made a valid point.
Alice added, "I haven't said anything if you're wondering."
"Oh, I know," he said confidently, making Alice curious how he was so sure. She hoped his supposed awareness of this wasn't by magical means.
Before she could ask, however, Narcissa entered the room, dressed in an equally impressive dress whose color and material complimented Lucius's robes. She also wore a small, but elaborate head piece that balanced the rest of the outfit. "We should be off," she said as she rushed to the fireplace while putting her gloves on, acting like she wasn't the one being waited for.
"Lucius, you first, to make sure Alice hears the correct intonation," she motioned to him with her hand to hurry over.
Once Lucius left, Alice quickly told Narcissa, "You look très chic!" In a way, their elite wizard attire reminded her of royalty.
"So do you dear, is that a new hang bag?" she asked of Alice's small black clutch.
"Yes, finally found one that fits my wand," Alice smiled.
"Perfect," Narcissa mused, "Now off you go."
There was a Floo Connection for conference attendees that directed them into the lobby of the grand presentation hall. As Alice exited the fireplace, her gaze immediate went upward to an enchanted nightscape ceiling, supported by massive Egyptian-style columns. The lobby was filled with other attendees, all dressed in flowing wizard's robes that reflected their home country, reminiscent of variations in muggle fashion across cultures. Many seemed to be moving into the auditorium to be seated for the award ceremony.
Narcissa arrived a moment later, exiting the fireplace with her head held high and fixing her posture. "I suppose we should find our seats," she said, taking Lucius's arm. Alice immediately noted the Malfoy's ability to change into their public personas and she attempted to follow suit as she walked by Narcissa's side. There were seats near the front reserved for them, along with other family members of award recipients. A conference of esteemed alchemists was a new venue for the Malfoy family, though certainly no different than other elite events they use to frequent. Many attendees noticed their entrance, but it was the addition of Alice that stirred the conversation, particularly since many in the room knew her grandfather by more than just reputation. That night, Draco would be receiving the same award her grandfather received when he was young, a fact unknown to Alice at that time.
Right before the ceremony started, several witches and wizards went to sit in chairs that were lined up on stage. One of them was Draco; he was dressed in black wizard robes reminiscent of his father's attire and Alice thought he looked quite amazing. It was a look on him she wasn't use to, since he normally wore his suit or other more simple business wear. He definitely looked like a wizard tonight. He caught eyes with Alice from the stage and they gave each other a warm smile, communicating non-verbally the reassurance and love they felt for each other. The ceremony started with a keynote speaker who discussed the academy's history and its role in the wizarding world. He was followed by a middle-aged witch who was wearing a large pointed witch's hat; a fashion Alice noted was worn by several more in the room. She was again embarrassingly reminded of her cheap Halloween costume at nine years old, the remnant photographs of which she'd hope would never be revealed to the Malfoys. The witch began by giving an overview of that year's research and afterwards she called to the podium speakers who received special recognition awards. Alice was amused by the variety of potions research that was conducted, even though for her it was akin to being at an organic chemistry conference where the topics were well beyond her comprehension. She had no idea what Vertiaserum or Amortentia was. After several more speakers, the academy's president approached the podium to present their top award, the Gold Medal for Groundbreaking-Contribution.
The old, white-haired wizard spoke steadily, "Every so often potions research does more than simply find an alternative sleeping tonic or aesthetic enhancing concoction, it is used to cure magical ailments and change the lives of those affected by dark magic. Our main award goes to a young gentleman whose recombination of dark potions has created the "Alice Elixir" that has saved over fifty oft-forgotten patients worldwide who came in contact with objects cursed by the Malaisien Spell…"
Alice must have turned bright red, had Draco really named his discovered potion after her?
"His methods, although controversial for their utilization of dark formulas, presents a new avenue for alchemical research where we must redraw the barrier of light and dark, and perhaps usher in a new era where such a line is not so clear cut. This year's recipient has been taught by some of the greatest potions masters our realm has seen, Horace Slughorn and the late Severus Snape, and he will be following in their footsteps as the new potions professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this fall. I am honored and proud to present this year's Gold Medal for Groundbreaking-Contribution to Draco Malfoy."
Draco approached the podium to the applause of the audience, being presented the medal in a small black velvet box and having it magically float and attach itself to the front of his robe. He shook hands with the president, displaying his gratitude for his kind words, and then he composed himself for his speech.
"Thank you to the academy for this great honor. I had not known that so many had been treated, that perhaps is the greater honor. When I was told that I would be receiving this award I remembered what attracted me to potions, it was the idea that you can bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses, even put a stopper in death; words I vividly remember spoken by Severus Snape during my first lesson in his class. It was not until much later that I discovered a higher purpose in concocting brews, to undo the damage that had been done by them and other forms of dark magic. For nearly two decades, objects cursed by the Malaisen Spell have fallen into the hands of countless individuals, causing them to see visions and hear voices that aren't there. These victims end up being hospitalized for their own safety as well as others. As we all know, many alchemists have attempted to find a potion that would counteract these mal effects but with no success. Over a year ago I began my research and it led me to the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, where I utilized past investigations into failed potions and added that to my own knowledge of dark potions. It is controversial or perhaps it seemed implausible to use the Dark Arts for a force of good, but I hope the Alice Elixir has proven that this new avenue has great potential to find solutions to curses that continue to elude this academy. This accomplishment is not completely my own and I would like to thank Professor Horace Slughorn for his guidance, for giving me a chance when I had used up so many of them. And to my parents for their continued support, without them I honestly would not be here today. Lastly, to this potion's namesake, aptly named because like her, it has the potential to free the minds of those affected by the Dark Arts. Thank you Alice for showing me compassion and teaching me the true meaning of open-mindedness. This is for you."
Narcissa looked warmly at Alice while Draco was saying his praise of her, she felt tremendously proud her son and grateful that Alice brought so much to his life. Alice was touched that he publicly announced these emotions and her eyes welled up slightly; she was also still in shock that he named his potion after her. The ceremony closed with applause and everyone rose from their seats ready to enter the banquet hall where they were serving champagne and appetizers. The Malfoys and Alice were intent on going to greet Draco in the front of the auditorium, though they would need to go against the crowd to do so. Draco was receiving handshakes from various alchemists, including the president of the academy when they approached.
"Excuse me a second," Draco said politely to the president and the two other wizards he was talking to after he noticed Alice and his parents approaching. Alice quickly embraced him, whispering in his ear, "I'm speechless Draco, and so very proud of you." Draco responded by holding her tighter, making Alice feel like everyone in the room had disappeared and it was only them. Having been apart all week, their hug lasted longer than perhaps appropriate, but those nearby only looked on with admiration of their affection.
Once they stepped apart, Narcissa kissed Draco on the cheek, "You've made us so proud Draco."
"Thank you mother. Father," Draco said, as Lucius offered his son his hand.
"An honor to the house of Malfoy," Lucius said, giving him a firm handshake. He was just a proud as his wife and perhaps even more so.
The president of the academy approached the family to introduce himself, "Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, it's a pleasure. Your son has done a great service not only to alchemy, but to the wizarding world as well," he said while shaking their hands, "And I see the potion's namesake is in attendance. It's nice to meet the granddaughter of such an esteemed wizard."
"Thank you sir," Alice said politely, "I was unaware of the potion's name until tonight."
"A surprise I'm sure," he said jovially, "Aptly named nonetheless."
As they made their way into the grand banquet hall, Draco was accosted by several more well-wishers, including Professor Slughorn whose first glass of champagne had already been emptied. Alice noted that bottles of champagne were floating unsupported through the crowd, filling empty glasses when requested. It was a bizarre sight to see and she tried not to stare for too long, especially when one was pouring her a glass. Narcissa and Lucius left Alice and Draco momentarily to greet some old acquaintances they spotted, giving them some time alone to talk.
Alice said to him quietly, "You were so impressive up there, but you surprised me."
Knowing it had to do with the potion's name, "Well, the potioneer is given the privilege of naming his discovery. It was working on this potion that brought you into my life and it's you that has made my work helping others even more relevant to me."
Alice felt incredibly humbled by this, "I didn't know, but I'm so glad if I have. And it looks like I owe this potion just as much for making sure you were at the Ministry researching during my case." She smiled as she thought back, "I can't imagine not having met you, especially since getting through one week without you was difficult."
"I missed you too," Draco said, brushing the side of her cheek with his hand.
Several more glasses of champagne were poured throughout the room and Alice was introduced to several more members of the wizarding community who came to pay their respects to Draco and his accomplishment. One wizard in particular, however, made an unexpected appearance.
"Young Mr. Malfoy," the familiar accent immediately made Alice feel unsettled, he was indeed the same dark wizard she previously encountered in the Malfoy's drawing room a week ago. "Congratulations, not only on your award, but also on your new position at Hogwarts."
"Thank you sir. I don't believe you've met Alice McNally," Draco said politely.
"I haven't," he replied before Alice could say anything otherwise, offering her his hand. Alice gave him a scathing look, but went along with it.
Draco added, "This is Ivar Skramstad, Potions Professor at the Durmstrang Institute."
Alice nodded a non-verbal greeting as she unwillingly offered her hand; her mind was connecting some dots from past information she was given, "Durmstrang Institute, where they teach the Dark Arts to students, they didn't accept muggle-borns there, and he's a professor?" All of this was interesting and unexpected.
Ivar turned his attention to Draco, "If you didn't know, the Triwizard Tournament is being reinstated this year and to commence at Hogwarts."
"I was aware, though I didn't think they would lift the moratorium after such fierce disagreement over the added restrictions." The death of Cedric Diggory caused many to cast the tournament as an unnecessary hazard. It took the headmasters of the three schools several years to agree on new regulations which sought to better ensure student safety. They decided to start it up again at Hogwarts to usher in a new era for the tournament, while closing out the old.
"Yes, wouldn't want another Hogwarts student to be killed," he joked, "I will be accompanying our headmaster and look forward to having that time discuss your research in detail…It was a pleasure to meet you Miss McNally." With that he left their presence, his dark robes swaying behind him.
"The tournament is going to be held this year?" Alice asked confused, she remembered reading about the Triwizard Tournament in Hogwarts: A History, but was unaware of its current status.
"Yes, and they decided on holding it at Hogwarts again, surprisingly. I was actually going to discuss this with you when I got back, since it's another unusual experience awaiting you this year," Draco replied.
"Anything to make me more confused about what's going on," Alice said dismissively, then she added, "As long as I don't have to teach Durmstrang students."
"They may sit in on a class or two for the experience, but perhaps McGonagall will spare you," he said not too reassuringly.
"No one said this year was going to be easy," Alice tried to sound optimistic, though in her mind she was still questioning what Ivar Skramstad could possibly be up to and what Mr. Malfoy's involvement with him was exactly.
As the evening wore down, many wizards left to return home via the Floo Network Connection and the Malfoys were ready to do the same. Draco had already sent his bags home and they were waiting for him in his bedroom. Alice had used Draco's room earlier to get changed in, so most of her things were up there as well. They left Narcissa and Lucius in the drawing room and headed upstairs.
Once the bedroom door was closed, Alice finally said what she had been thinking all night, "You look so incredibly handsome in those robes."
Draco blushed, "I was going to tell you how amazing you look in that dress."
Their kiss was even more magnetic, as they exercised their deep feelings of longing from a week apart. Draco lifted Alice in his embrace and took her over to his bed. It would be awhile before Draco even considered apparating Alice back to her place.