A/N: Plan to reread some of book seven before venturing there, or may need to see the film before getting it right. But I will try my best to update soon!
Another week passed and the TriWizard Tournament was winding down. However, this week was declared a curriculum integration week and Alice would be hosting Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students in several of her Muggle Studies classes. The course had just started its globalization and muggle media section, which Alice thought should be of interest to those who knew nothing of muggle communication networks. At first, the Durmstrang students were quiet, preferring to stare blankly at her PowerPoint slides and videos. They were even resistant to speak during smaller group sessions. She wondered if they hadn't heard of muggle technology before or were politely refraining from imposing their views in unfamiliar territory. That was until during the open discussion section of the class when one young man asked the point of studying muggles, suggesting that it would be akin to having a class on cattle. He was quickly and surprisingly rebuked by a Slytherin student, who boldly declared that it was their responsibility to understand who we share this world with and if he had any understanding, declaring outright that he didn't, then he would not refer to muggles as animals. Alice had never felt so proud of being a teacher before and she quickly awarded Slytherin House points on behalf of the young lady who spoke out. It was a brief high before the low of encountering Ivar Kramstad later that afternoon in the teacher's room. He was particularly angry after hearing that one of his students was humiliated in her class.
It happened during the afternoon break time when many, if not most of the faculty were there having a cup of tea and reading that morning's Daily Prophet. Alice quickly defended her open discussion, bearing in mind that other professors were also weary of her methods, saying that no viewpoint produced in her class could go unchallenged by others and perhaps, and she said this in the most scathing tone she could produce, his school should teach his students to provide evidence before making sweeping claims. Of course, what started out as an attack on her teaching methods soon became personal when Kramstad accused Alice of being unfit to teach wizards and witches, since it was obvious she knew nothing about them or their society.
Before the conversation escalated further, Headmistress McGonagall stepped in and led Kramstad away, trying to reiterate the value of having his students meet alternate viewpoints. Alice knew she perhaps started the impoliteness with her remarks, but considering the man she was way past common courtesies. While Draco had never seen Alice get so heated before, he attributed her slight outburst to stress, with no knowledge of her former run-in and major distrust of the Durmstrang professor.
"Hey," he said to her quietly as her fingers massaged her scalp to relieve the built up tension, "Why don't you leave your grading till tomorrow. You need a break."
Alice knew he was right. That week she had started Occlumency lessons with him, revealing several past memories she would have preferred to keep to herself. One was her mother's death; Draco watched as the young child shook the lifeless body of her mother and sat next to her in silent confusion before being found by her father hours later. It was a memory embedded deep in the recesses of her mind; one that she would have preferred not to relive or to share. Draco apologized profusely, but Alice couldn't speak right away, as if by reliving it again, it traumatized her speech ability.
Placing a hand on her back, Draco added encouragingly, "I'll come over later with dinner. Just try to get some rest."
Feeling touched by his concern, she willingly did as he said, thinking a nap would do her good. Her sleep schedule was still off and she worried that she might be contracting a cold. Returning via Floo Network and then apparating to her flat, she changed into her lounge wear and crawled into bed. It wasn't until laying there that she realized how tired her body felt. Melting into the mattress, her mind drifted into the other realm.
Dream 8:
The holidays were over and the students had returned a few weeks ago to Hogwarts. Now rumors of Alice's ancestry were eclipsed by rumors of her relationship with Draco Malfoy. The incident at Slughorn's Christmas Party where she called Draco her date spread like wildfire through the school, though she found it hard to believe anyone would actually think they were dating. She hadn't spoken to him at all since returning from holiday, except for occasionally passing him in the hallways. He was looking thinner and paler than before and despite her concerned glances, he completely ignored her. She also hardly saw him in the dining hall at the usual times and she wondered if he was even taking time to eat.
Besides her concern for the Slytherin, student worries were taking over her life as she continuously studied for the O.W.L.S. and her muggle university entrance exams. She couldn't remember the last time her mind wasn't mulling over something educational or a day where she wasn't in the library looking something up. Luckily, she had stopped worrying about running into Pansy Parkinson, who had perhaps finally given up on trying to rekindle her relationship with Draco. At least there were rumors of her snogging other Slytherins in the halls.
The dream started with Alice walking alone in an upstairs corridor, hoping to find a quiet place to practice her muggle reading comprehension when she spotted Draco walking to the next hallway. She quietly followed him but when turning the corner he vanished. Remembering what her Draco told her, the Room of Requirement appears to those who need it. Thus, Alice assumed he had found his way into the secret chamber. Deciding to wait for his return, she sat herself down on the stone floor and leaned her back against the wall. After finishing about fifteen minutes worth of passage reading, she noticed the wall in front of her was slowly revealing a doorway. She quickly stood up, expecting Draco to emerge at any minute, but he didn't. Apprehensive but curious as to why the Room of Requirement would reveal itself to her, she slowly walked through its opening. The large space looked like a repository of antiques, which were piled high atop each other. The junkyard seemed to flow far back into the room's ongoing recesses. She worried about getting lost in the maze of things and never finding her way out. Tiptoeing cautiously, hoping not to startle Draco once she found him, she heard something, it was faint, but it sounded as if someone was crying. "Could it be?" She thought as she walked towards the sound.
"Is someone else in here?" she called out, not wanting him to think she intentionally followed him.
"Who's there?" he replied quickly and sternly. He shuffled to his feet since he was seated on the floor.
"Draco, is that you?" Alice asked as she came upon him; noticing his eyes showed the remnants of tears.
"Why are you here?" he asked callously, his eyes narrowed and he looked on her with suspicion.
"I don't know," Alice replied casually, "I saw the door open and I walked through. Are you okay?" She turned the focus back on him, boldly walking closer to him.
"Again, what's it to you?" His eyes glanced briefly at the Vanishing Cabinet nearby, the doors of which were open.
Alice followed his eyes and also saw the device, but she tried not to linger on it for fear of him getting suspicious. But then she didn't know how to word what she wanted to say, "Every time I see you…Am I suppose to not care when it's so obvious you're hurting?"
"You shouldn't care," he said disdainfully.
"I do," Alice replied quickly, not letting what seemed like his disgust by her concern distract her. "You don't have to tell me anything, but if you want to talk. I wouldn't make any judgments."
He slid back down to the floor where he was prior to her arrival. Alice went and sat next to him, waiting for him to speak.
"You wouldn't understand," he said quietly.
"Maybe I would," she said softly.
There were several moments of silence between them, but Alice waited patiently.
"I don't expect to be at Hogwarts next year," he stated bluntly, looking blankly in front of him.
"You've made other plans?" Alice asked cautiously.
"I have a job I need to do," again his tone was blank.
"One worth foregoing the last year of your education?" Alice asked surprised.
"There's no choice whether I want to do it or not," he said slightly heated, "It has to be done."
Alice said solemnly, "It must be important then."
"It is," he replied, "That's why I'm not myself this year."
"I often thought you were never yourself," Alice replied.
"What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed at her.
Alice looked at him searchingly, "You play the part of a bully, but you're equally mistreated by other students. I think, like me, you just want to be accepted."
"I'm not like you," he stated slightly perturbed by the insinuation.
Alice accepted his rebuke to her statement, "Who do you want to be like then?"
The question seemed to make Draco think for a moment; perhaps Harry Potter crossed his mind. "I just want more control in my life."
"Your job," Alice asked slowly, "If you're successful at it, will you be free to do what you want?"
"Maybe, I might earn some respect," he considered.
"Respect from others is one thing, but will you respect yourself?" Alice didn't know if this question was too forward.
He glanced at her momentarily before averting his eyes back to the space ahead of him. "See you don't understand," he scoffed perturbed by her ignorance. "I don't have a choice in what I have to do," he reiterated to her.
"You can't choose not to do it?" Alice questioned.
He shook his head, stating briefly, "Then I'm dead." The weight of this truth made his eyes weary as he looked down to the floor.
Alice placed a hand on his shoulder, saying quietly, "I understand better now." It was hard for her not to hold him, as she would in her reality.
"I shouldn't tell you this," he spoke after several moments, "I can't trust you."
Alice removed her hand, "Who can we trust in these times?" she said sadly, "But I know nothing except that the stress of this situation is hurting you. I wish I could help."
"No you don't," he replied to her slightly angered, "You shouldn't. You have to stay out of this, otherwise," perhaps his mind started thinking forward in time. "It's not safe for your kind."
Alice knew what he meant by your kind, he was referring to muggle-borns, "I know. Maybe we both won't be at Hogwarts next year."
He glanced at her again, and Alice smiled at him consolingly. His eyes seemed to question her sincerity. He got up from the floor, seemingly done with the conversation.
Alice also rose, fixing her robe slightly, "Before you leave, I want to apologize for the rumors," she was referring to the topic of them dating, "You've probably taken some flak for it."
Draco nodded in agreement, "I have."
"Sorry," she said sincerely.
He gave her one more searching glance before leaving through the maze of objects. Alice waited a little longer before following him, deciding to take another look at the Vanishing Cabinet as she stood there. Hearing the room's exit close, she walked over to its hinged doors, pulling them open to look inside. There, lying dead, was a little white bird. She wondered if this was an unsuccessful attempt at sending life through the passage. Taking out her wand, she turned the small creature into a stone, and placed it inside a large curio cabinet nearby. She understood now why he was crying, all his work and yet he remained unsuccessful. He was losing hope.
Picking up her bag from the floor, Alice began walking back from where she came, hoping to find her way. But before she could get lost, the dream shifted and she found herself walking amongst other students in the corridor that led to the Great Hall. Up ahead she heard someone call out, "Katie, welcome back!" It was Katie Bell; she must have been released from St. Mungo's and cleared to return to school. She and a group of girls went into the Great Hall but Alice didn't follow them and walked further off to other side of the door. She needed time to think of this day's significance before encountering any situation. But before she could remember, she saw Draco also enter the Great Hall. But yet Alice couldn't remember; her thoughts were confusing her. It was not long before she he emerged, his quickening steps carrying him in the opposite direction. She went to follow him, only to see Harry Potter was already doing the same. Then the account hit her, their fight would occur that day and Draco would be badly injured.
Following discretely behind them, Alice felt conflicted. She shouldn't interfere with this situation, even if she wanted to save Draco from harm, but then why was she encountering it in her dreamscape? She saw Harry continue to turn the corners ahead of her and she could feel her nerves on end and her breathing become unsteady. Then a thought hit her and she turned in another direction, her footsteps quickened into a run before she made it to Snape's office door. She knocked several times, realizing she had no alternate plan if he wasn't there, but the door slowly swung opened and Snape looked at her suspiciously.
"Draco's in trouble," she said in one breath, leading him quickly to the girl's bathroom where she knew the incident occurred.
Alice stopped before the entrance as Snape went in front of her. She hesitated before following; hearing the sounds of spraying water within. She felt apprehensive about seeing the one she loved on the verge of death, even if this was another reality.
Harry was standing there bewildered as Snape brushed by him to stand at the side of the convulsing body of Draco. Alice caught her breath as she saw an immense amount of blood drain from the deep wounds in his chest and face, making the pool of water that swirled around him crimson in color. He seemed to be choking on his own blood. Snape glared at Potter before briefly turning his attention to Alice, who tried to keep the tears from escaping her eyes. She hardly ever cried, but the scene played hard on her emotions; he was in pain and she wanted to rush to his side but couldn't. Snape took out his wand and began chanting incantations and Draco's blood slowly seeped back into his wounds. His convulsion calmed and he was left shivering before becoming unconscious.
Snape quickly berated Harry, giving him detention for the foreseeable future. Not wanting to leave, Alice quietly gathered Draco's wand and his wool vest, which had been soaked with water. She quickly wrung it out in the nearby sink. She followed Snape with these items as he lifted Draco to take him to the hospital wing. Many students had come to see what the commotion was about and Alice did her best to avoid eye contact with them as she left the bathroom. It wasn't until they turned down the corridor of the infirmary that Snape spoke to her, "Don't let your emotions give you away."
Alice tried to hold her head higher, knowing she could momentarily be the twenty-six year old, "Yes, I know," though she didn't know how to turn off her feelings. She then said to him graciously, "Thank you. It was supposed to happen this way, though without my involvement."
As they entered the infirmary, Madame Pomfrey quickly raced to Snape's side, leading him to one of the beds to place the boy's body on. The nurse casted a spell which instantly dried his clothing and warmed his body, and then she left to look for the right potion to help speed his recovery. Alice quietly hung the damp vest she collected off his bed's rot iron footboard and then she placed his wand on the small table nearby. Before leaving his side, she glanced down at him, becoming aware of her alternate self's feelings, making it hard to leave. At that moment, Draco's eyes fluttered open and he looked at her momentarily before closing them again. Alice convinced herself that he'd be okay and she backed away from his bed and headed for the door.
The dreamscape changed and Alice was entering her grandfather's office, she couldn't help but feel that this may be the last time she would see him alive. The office was quiet as she stepped in, but then she heard her grandfather say cheerfully, "Remember what you said Alice, when we first met."
Alice smiled thinking back on the memory that wasn't quite her own, "Your letter couldn't have been more vague."
He chuckled, "I always admired your tendency to tell it like it is." He walked from the shadows to the steps nearby, slowly lowering his old body down on them. Alice followed and sat next to him.
"It's gotten me into trouble too often, I'm afraid," she said solemnly.
"I have no doubt as you grow older, you'll learn the importance of listening," he replied encouragingly. "You don't have to agree with what you hear, but always listen to other's opinions. That is how you grow, not only in here," he pointed to his head, "But also in here," he then pointed to his heart.
Alice loved his ability to put more meaning into simple advice. She then asked something she was curious about, "When you found out about me, were you worried?"
He looked at her with one arched eyebrow, "I was surprised…but worried for myself to become a grandfather? No. You have given me more joy than a man at my age should need. But worried for you? That's something else. I want you to succeed, to be happy, to find love," he paused momentarily, "I worry about not being there when you need me, I worry about your safety in the coming year, but I'm comforted by your intelligence and, even if you're not a Gryffindor, I know you hold a certain amount of bravery inside you."
Alice smiled, "I definitely get most of that from you grandpa."
Dumbledore placed an arm around her, "Stay true to yourself Alice, and you'll succeed. Trust me."
The dream then shifted and Alice found herself in the library with a stack of books nearby; she was cramming for the pending O.W.L.S. The dim lighting meant it must have been nighttime, and she confirmed this suspicion by glancing at a nearby window to see only darkness on the other side of the textured glass. It was late and the library was entirely deserted. Closing the Potions textbook in front of her, she grabbed her bag and headed for the exit. Thinking back to the conversation she had with her grandfather that morning, she felt saddened but strangely comforted. In a way, encountering this alternate reality gave her more time to spend with him, as well as new memories of their time together. It made her family connection more real than it had ever been.
The hallways were also dim as she walked through them and her footsteps echoed around her. She made it to the stairs but became unsure of which direction to go in. It was another moment where the dreamscape was not immediately providing her clues. Alice didn't know whether her grandfather would meet his death that night or if she would encounter something else. She decided to check if Draco was still in the hospital wing, because if he was then perhaps it wasn't what she first suspected. As she entered the third floor's main corridor, she spotted a tall dark figure leaving at the other end. An uncomfortable knot began forming in her stomach and she felt slightly sick. After walking past several students snogging, she entered the hospital wing to find Draco's bed deserted. Her heartbeat quickened, "Tonight's the night," she thought and though apprehensive, she forced herself to move towards the tower, pondering her involvement along the way. She didn't know if this would put her in danger or if it was vital to changing her fate; nothing was clear anymore.
Alice crept through the hallways, keeping near the sidewalls. She knew there soon would be Death Eaters in Hogwarts and a forthcoming battle when the members of the Order arrived. She quickly checked that her wand was in her robe's pocket, realizing this was perhaps the first time she thought she might need it. As she got closer, she heard some commotion at the far end of the hallway behind her and she quickened her steps to round the corner up ahead. The entrance to the tower's stairway was nearby, but before she reached it, she heard a woman cackling and what sounded like shots being fired from the corridor she had just left. Fear froze her momentarily and she expected someone to round the corner after her at any second. Gathering her senses, she ran for the tower's entrance, but the door was locked. Completely forgetting her first grade charms, she continued to pull on the handle, hoping to force her way in. This proved futile and a moment later she felt a hand grab her wrist, dragging her off to the side.
It was Draco, "You need to leave," he said with mixed emotion, pulling her quickly in the opposite direction of the approaching Death Eaters.
"What's happening?" Alice asked, despite knowing pieces of the plot all too well.
Still holding her wrist with his hand, Draco grabbed something from his jacket pocket and placed it her hand, closing her fingers around it. "Go, it's not safe here," he yelled before releasing her. Fear was all too apparent in his eyes before he turned from her and headed back to the tower's door.
Alice quickly looked at what he gave her; it was the photograph of her mother and her that she thought she lost at the beginning of the school year. Draco was nearby when Pansy tripped her, making her lose hold of the book it was in. He must have found it and kept it in his possession all this time. Tears welled in Alice's eyes, and she looked at him one last time, and even though his back was turned she said, "Thank you."
Sounds of the battle enabled her to move again, but not before encountering Professor Snape heading in the opposite direction. Alice stopped and gave him a brief nod that acknowledged the weight of his task ahead. He paused and gave her the same acknowledgement before continuing his path. Despite feeling safe in the proximity of Ravenclaw's dormitory entrance, Alice felt her body shudder and she slid to the floor. She knew her grandfather was in his final moments. She looked again at the photograph she had not yet released from her hand. Her mother seemed to smile at her encouragingly and she could hear her voice, "Always approach your fears Alice, once you do that, you quickly find out there's nothing to fear." As a child, her mother had her investigate all her fears: the monster in the closet proved unfounded once opening the doors at night and her fear of spiders disappeared after learning more about them at the local zoo. Even death lost its worry for her once she accepted her mother was gone. After a few moments of reflection, Alice picked herself off the floor and headed to the front courtyard. There she found her grandfather's body lying on the lawn. Despite the ominous Dark Mark swirling in the black clouds above her, she walked over to him unafraid, kneeling herself beside him. She gently closed his eyes and brought his one outstretched hand to his chest, holding it momentarily. Alice then kissed his forehead lightly as a way to say goodbye before she returned to the castle. She knew she wouldn't be at the funeral; her father would most likely make her return home immediately after hearing the news. "It had to happen," she thought to herself, as a mean of consolation. Now, the question was what would happen to her next.
"Alice?" Draco spoke softly, pushing a strand of hair from her face. He was seated next to her on her bed in her small London flat, having just apparated in. She had been napping for several hours.
Alice stirred slightly before opening her eyes to see him staring down at her. She stared back at him before the image became blurry and tears began falling down her cheeks. Confused but concerned, Draco quickly reached for her and pulled her close, letting her cry into his chest. It was rare occurrence, and he couldn't remember ever seeing her cry like this before. He didn't speak and just held her.
After a few moments, Alice spoke through her tears, "He's dead."
Draco knew that meant Dumbledore; that she was at the end of his sixth year.
As the tears stopped, she moved away from him, in order to look at his face, "The emotions are so real. I didn't expect to feel integrated with them like I was this time."
"What happened?" Draco said searchingly.
"Everything you said was going to except…" she paused thinking back, "You gave me back my photograph." It was the moment that held the most significance.
"Your photograph?" Draco asked confused.
"I was able to reach out to you. I entered the Room of Requirement; it just let me in like it knew I needed to be there. And I found you broken down. I never thought I'd see you like that…You confided in me, not what your mission was but that you had no choice in what you had to do, that your life depended on it. Then I saw the aftermath of your fight with Potter…I never want to see you in pain again," she cupped a hand to his face.
"Alice," Draco looked at her concerned; he could tell this dream was more emotionally taxing than others before it. "It's okay," he said consolingly, then remembering how close he was to death. "You weren't harmed?"
"No," Alice shook her head, "I was there at the Astronomy Tower's entrance when the battle started, after the Death Eaters entered Hogwarts. But you pulled me aside and told me to leave. And you gave me the photograph I lost at the beginning of the year, the one of my mother and I that I keep in her book." She paused and then added, "You saved me."
Draco was shocked; it seemed uncharacteristic of him at that time. "Do you think it's enough to satisfy the two reality's discrepancies?"
Alice looked away, saddened by the thought, "No, it's not. I have to survive the next year when my connection to Albus Dumbledore is revealed. I'll be at Hogwarts again."