A/N: Just a quick note - Alice is a year younger than Draco so she is going into her sixth year (hence the O.W.L.s the year prior.)
Alice had to pull herself together if she was to finish her dreamscapes successfully. She knew the next year her secret would be revealed and it would place her face to face with Death Eaters. What would become of her then, she didn't know.
It was late afternoon on Saturday and Alice and Narcissa were having a cup of tea in the green room at Malfoy Manor. They had just returned from hours of wedding gown shopping in London. After several stores worth of pulling all manners of gowns over her head and standing on pedestals in front of 180 degree mirrors, she found what all pending brides term "the one." Upon looking in the mirror, both her and Narcissa knew that it was indeed "the one," as none before had fit her style so impeccably. Feeling accomplished and also exhausted, Alice smelled the aroma of her hot earl grey tea that filled the fine china tea cup she held as she listened to the sounds of water crashing into the fountain nearby as a form of therapy. Despite being the winter months, the green room maintained its warmth and sunshine, which Narcissa assured her was pure magical house décor.
"…I noticed something's been bothering you dear," Narcissa said concerned after sipping some tea, "I asked Draco, but he said it was not his place to say. I do hope everything's alright."
As Narcissa asked this question, Lucius entered the green room. Alice knew she wasn't completely herself, even if it was easy to explain away by saying it was due to her heavy workload. But she realized that if she was unsuccessful changing her alternate past in these dreams, the tragedy she was trying to avoid could fall into her own realm. Narcissa and Lucius deserved to know.
"I apologize for not telling you sooner. It's complicated," Alice started, prompting Lucius to stare at her suspiciously. "Please, Mr. Malfoy, sit down." She motioned for him to take a sit next to Narcissa, who placed a hand on his arm after he sat. It immediately made Narcissa concerned.
Alice continued, "When I started my teaching position at Hogwarts, I began having dreams. In them I was a student there during the same time as Draco. It felt so real and comprehensible but I thought it was just my brain being overworked, because what I initially dreamt about, I encountered during the day teaching. I went through the sorting hat ceremony after I witnessed it; I found myself in the Potions classroom after I visited Draco the first time. But it became less clear when I started encountering students and professors who I had no recollection of actually being at the school at that time but who were in fact there," she paused remembering, "Draco insisted I talk to Professor Trelawney and Professor Vector, to discuss what these dreams meant. Supposedly, before my grandfather decided to repress my magical gene and change the course of my future, he had already witnessed the ending of this alternate reality and thus sought to avoid it. I assume it was my death. However, this alternate past of mine still exists and it's trying to reconcile with my current life. If I'm not successful in altering that past in my dreamscape, the ending could follow me here. I could die."
Strain furrowed in Narcissa's brow as she contemplated what this meant, while Lucius looked surprised by this occurrence. Narcissa asked, "So you enter this world in your dreams and live that life?"
"Yes, the dream fluctuates through time. So far, I've cascaded through five years at Hogwarts seeing only key moments from those years," Alice replied.
"How do you know what to change?" Narcissa asked.
"I was told I would be given clues as in the pieces that were rewound for me. It's my relationship with Draco," Alice paused, "But I think what will be pivotal is how I handle the following school year, when the Death Eaters take over the school."
"You're already at the war?" Narcissa said surprised.
"Being the granddaughter of Dumbledore doesn't bide well," Lucius added.
"No, it doesn't," Alice agreed, "But right now my documents say I'm muggle-born. Even then Dumbledore was afraid of familial affiliation. But with the Ministry's commission, I would no doubt be imprisoned. But according to my grandfather who I've had many discussions with in my dreams, my birth documents have been charmed to alter when the timing is right. I have a feeling I will be allowed to study at Hogwarts that year, but I don't know what that means for my safety or if Voldemort would care of my existence."
"To do this alone," Narcissa started, "It's dreadful."
"I've confided in Severus Snape, he knows of my mission and I'm hoping since he'll be Hogwart's headmaster, perhaps…"
Lucius interrupted, "Snape, well at least we know now that he was loyal to your grandfather."
Alice nodded, "I also have Draco, I wouldn't say we've become friends, but he helped me out of a situation which may have been the tragedy I was avoiding."
"Oh Alice, we had no idea," Narcissa consoled, "And here we are today thinking of nothing but the joy of your wedding when you're going through so much."
"I should have told you sooner," Alice replied ashamed, "I didn't think the emotions of these dreams would affect me as they are. I'm not a witch in any respectable sense, I've never been in a battle, and now I'm being forced to do things I don't think I'm ready for."
During this time Draco entered the room, hearing the words she spoke and realizing how hopeless she felt.
Her pathetic appeal made Lucius sneer at her and he said sternly, "If you intend to become a respectable member of this family, then you become ready. You make survival your number priority, you learn to cast spells without hesitation, and you don't give up if all seems hopeless. I won't have my son marrying someone who's afraid."
Alice held her head high, feeling like she was being shouted at by a drill sergeant. Draco immediately knew this was his father's way of showing he cared, as strange as it seemed.
Lucius continued, "I do hope Draco is teaching you Occlumency, you'll need it."
Draco joined the conversation, sitting in the chair next to Alice, "We've been working on it."
"What spells do you know, for fighting?" Lucius then asked.
Alice hesitated, "Disarming, blocking…" She hadn't focused on actual fighting.
"You'll need more than that if you're to survive the battle of Hogwarts," he then said sternly to Draco, "Haven't you taught her anything?"
Narcissa interrupted, "I think he has dear, Alice has only been using magic for half a year."
"But he's grown soft, obviously," Lucius replied disdainfully, "If you won't teach her how the Dark Arts then perhaps I should."
Draco was shocked that his father would even offer, as was Alice.
Alice spoke, turning her attention to Draco, "I think he's right, if this war was how you said it was, then I'll need to know more than defense."
Narcissa added, "We can all teach you something. It's been awhile but even I have some effective spells in my arsenal."
Alice truly felt the support of her soon-to-be family. The war had left them harsh memories and to know that Alice was going to experience the same period of history, albeit in her dreams, made each of them slightly weary. Even Lucius felt a strange obligation to assist her, for he couldn't imagine the state of his son's well-being if he were to lose this girl he too obviously loved. Both Lucius and Narcissa would teach her spells along with Draco, given her a worthy arsenal in case she needed it. It would be another week before she started to dream again…
Dream 9:
Alice found herself lounging on Laguna Beach, her bare toes were digging into the warm sand, a wide brim hat covered her face from the sun, and the sound of the waves crashing ashore in front of her soothed her ears. The summer was coming to an end and her father had rented a beach house for them to enjoy for the last two weeks she had off. She was leisurely flipping through a fashion magazine trying to ease her brain after taking the SATs for her first time that morning. Though she was going to take the dreaded test again the following summer, prior to university application deadlines, she hoped this first round would give her a rough idea of what she needed to work on during the year. Well, at least that was the plan prior to recent developments in the British wizarding world.
As predicted, her father withdrew her from Hogwarts immediately after hearing of her grandfather's murder, making her miss the funeral. Fearing, but perhaps not quite understanding the dangers brewing in wizarding world, her father then sought to place Alice in a muggle high school. While at Hogwarts, she had successfully completed her home schooling levels and was eligible to start her junior year. Except Alice knew that unlike in the past, attendance at Hogwarts would be mandatory so the Ministry, now controlled by the Death Eaters, could weed out the muggle-born students. She also knew that on August 1st, they initiated the Muggle-Born Registration Commission, forcing all muggle-borns to report their ancestry. As she sat there seemingly carefree and sun-kissed, muggle-borns from all over the country were being convicted of "stealing" magic and being sent off to Azkaban. If Alice did not show up on September 1st with her fellow classmates, snatchers would be dispatched to find her, putting not only herself, but her whole family in danger. Despite living out of the country, their home was well documented and the risks of running outweighed that of facing the inquiry.
When the notice of Hogwarts mandatory attendance arrived at Alice's home two weeks ago, she had a difficult time explaining to her father why she had to follow it. She did not tell him about the commission or how, if revealed, her familial connection with Dumbledore could put her in mortal danger. Her father only knew the country was unstable and that if the school's headmaster could be murdered on school grounds, then that was no place for his daughter.
"Alice," A woman's voice called from behind her, "Dinner's almost ready."
She turned to see Jane waving her over from the steps of the beach house. She was incredibly pregnant, her belly rounding out from her white tunic; reminding Alice that if she ran she would also risk the lives of unborn brother and sister. Alice had to trust her grandfather's judgment and enter the lion's den with her head held high.
The scene changed and Alice found herself seated on the Hogwarts Express, having had a short stay at Uncle George and Aunt Marla's home before heading to King's Cross Station. The significance of the previous scene at the beach now weighed heavily on her mind. Alice wondered whether in the alternate life that her grandfather foresaw, she hide only to be caught or killed by the snatchers. Or perhaps it was her family that was harmed. If she avoided that tragedy was she simply walking into another? She pondered this as the train slowly etched its way towards Hogsmeade Village, noting the staidness of her fellow classmates who perhaps could sense how different this year would be. Alice waited for what she assumed would happen next.
On route, the train simply came to a stop. Ministry workers, who were most likely Death Eaters, had come to round up the muggle-born students, not even allowing them to see Hogwarts before being taken away. Alice quietly stood up, placed her feet in her flats, collected her bag and walked towards the front of her compartment.
An overly pleasant voice then sounded through the train as if there were speakers hanging on the ceilings: "This is the Ministry of Magic, several students will be making a short trip to the Ministry to be interviewed about their family history. Will the following students please report to compartment four…"
As the names began to be called, it was obvious they were taking only muggle-borns. She wondered if they didn't acknowledge this in their announcement in order to fool the new students from knowing any better. Alice's name was called, along with Hermione Granger's, who was obviously not there. As Alice passed through Slytherin's compartment, she was jeered at. "Bye bye mudblood," one student said as she passed by. Seated alone was Draco, whose expression, though dulled from recent experiences, expressed surprise at seeing Alice, perhaps thinking she would be on the run this year as most muggle-borns were. Alice's eyes briefly met his as she walked by, and she gave him a slight smile, recognizing his past effort to keep her from harm as well as the kind gesture of giving her back her treasured photo. Behind this glance, which went from surprise to forced blankness, Alice could sense the tension of his current life. Most likely going to Hogwarts was preferable to staying at the Manor which had become Voldemort's headquarters.
As she reached compartment four, having come from the back of the train, Alice stood alongside mostly new students; young children who had not even been sorted into their houses yet. They were probably oblivious to what would happen next. Alice towered above them as she walked through and the Ministry worker stared her down as she got closer to him. She flashed her identification, proudly showing her California driver's license which she got that summer. "McNally," Alice said to the dangerous looking man in black robes, "Let's get this over with." He sneered at her boldness, but ignored her all the same. The students were escorted through the side doors to a Ministry car, which, although looking like a standard size van, was magically modified to provide a bus sized space for them to be seated. The Ministry workers then handed each student a questionnaire, which required them to fill in their family tree. The first years looked at each other confused, unaware that their blood ties would gain them a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Alice quietly filled in the spaces provided, completing her father's side first. She paused briefly before writing "Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore" in the space provided for her grandfather on her mother's side. She reminded herself that she was doing what her grandfather told her, "Hide the truth until it specifically asked of you, until your freedom depends on it." After finishing the form, she handed the paper to the head worker who took it without bothering to look at the words she had written down. He then asked her for her wand, specifying falsely that it would be returned once the interview was concluded. It was a little after this that the car arrived at the Ministry.
The students were immediately escorted from the back entrance to the dungeons to be "interviewed," but in reality they were being tried in the courtrooms for the crime of "stealing" magic. Immediately Alice felt the atmosphere change, it became cold and dismal. Demeantors were stationed to guard them as they would wait for their trial behind bars. The first years shrieked in terror, having never seen such dark creatures, even in their wildest imaginations. Alice, although prepared for their presence, could not help but feel the terror they protruded around them. She grabbed a young girl who had frozen in her tracks, pulling her by the arm. "You can't stop, you must keep going," Alice said sternly, hoping to save her from the Demeantor's Kiss that would be upon those who resisted. Soon Alice became unsure if her feeling of sadness was from the Demeantors or from the young students around her who were confused, frightened, and crying. They would wait in the cold for several hours before being called one-by-one into the courtroom. Alice could tell them nothing and she felt guilty for her inability to provide them any comfort. She could only meditate in her own space, trying desperately to clear her mind of the fear the Demeantor's brought.
"McNally," the guard called from the outside corridor. Breaking her meditation, Alice breathed in deeply, hoping she was prepared for another trial but she felt as uncertain as she did the first time. With her head held high, she walked the long corridor to the circular courtroom, finding her way to the center chair. She had a flashback of standing there the last time; however, the Demeantors seemed to take the place of the press. In front her, surrounded by several Ministry workers, no doubt some of them Death Eaters, was Dolores Umbridge, who conducted herself in her usual prim and proper manner. Upon Alice's ascension to the center podium, Umbridge was handed the questionnaire she recently filled out. The woman glanced at it in a perfunctory fashion, her nose upheld and a snobbish smile on her face. It reminded Alice of some of Narcissa's friends who she reluctantly met after getting engaged. After two seconds, Umbridge's eyebrow raised and she stifled her laugh.
Placing the paper down, Umbridge asked condescendingly, "You do realize Miss McNally, that there are serious repercussions for forging your family history."
Alice held her head high, "I didn't forge it. That is my family history."
Umbridge looked at Alice as if concerned for her sanity, "You seem to think that Albus Dumbledore is your grandfather."
Several of the workers nearby began laughing, thinking this girl made an extremely poor attempt at faking her blood ties. But Alice smiled at the mention of his name in relation to hers, "You can verify with the documents the Ministry has on file."
Umbridge was mildly perturbed at being called on to do extra work in her already incredibly busy schedule, but something about Alice's certainty made her think it necessary. She looked at a nearby worker and flicked her head, as if saying to retrieve the said documents. Next to Umbridge stood an imposing figure who didn't laugh with the mention of Dumbledore's name, instead he looked at Alice suspiciously.
"If you are lying, Miss McNally," Umbridge started, her overly polite tone breaking slightly, "It will be treated as a crime of a high degree."
"I understand," Alice replied politely, she maintained confident that her documents would vindicate her.
Moments later the Ministry office worker returned with Alice's file, which was created when she was child, prior to her invitation to attend Hogwarts. Still holding her nose high, Umbridge opened the folder and skimmed its contents. As she turned page by page, Alice looked on hopeful when Umbridge's haughty expression turned to one of unease.
"How can this be?" She whispered quietly as she placed down the file; it was quickly swooped up by the man sitting next to her, who did the same go-through.
After finding Dumbledore's Phoenix symbol emblazoned throughout her file, he declared, "This is the original document, but it was charmed for years by Dumbledore himself."
"I can see that!" Umbridge said angrily, hating to be spoken over.
Alice spoke as politely as she could, "I'd like to return to Hogwarts now, to continue my studies."
"That's for us to decide," Umbridge yelled at her.
"Yes, of course, but with attendance being mandatory this year…" Alice started but was interrupted by the man who held his suspicions.
"Perhaps we should ask Hogwart's headmaster if she should return," he suggested.
Placing this in the hands of Snape would make things easier for Umbridge, who would have preferred going through Voldemort's right hand man instead of the Dark Lord himself. Alice also couldn't have been more supportive of the suggestion and hope she'd concede to it.
Umbridge stated, "Fine, contact Headmaster Snape, he'll know what to do." Then she looked at the Demeantors circling nearby, "Take her back to the dungeons."
Alice was escorted away, the Demeantors encasing her on each side. She felt trapped, as if drowning in a cold, dismal abyss. She would spend another hour behind bars before being released, watching as the rest of the students were led one-by-one to the courtroom never to return. When it was time, she was taken by the Demeantors to a long corridor where on the opposite end stood Snape, who waited alongside Umbridge. As she was left to walk on her own, Alice could feel the warmth slowly return to her veins and the sanity to her mind. She overheard Snape talking, "It's wise to keep her at the school until the Dark Lord decides otherwise."
Umbridge stated haughtily, "Good, she's your problem then."
Standing before them, Alice brazenly said to Umbridge, "I'd like my wand back now."
Umbridge flicked her head at a nearby assistant who handed it to Alice. It was the first time after being reunited with it that she felt the attachment it had to her.
Umbridge left them without another word while Alice followed Snape out an unmarked exit. Snape held out his arm, which Alice recognized was for disapparating.
"I can apparate myself," Alice said assuredly.
But Snape rejected, "Not without an Apparition License."
Alice realized her mistake, forgetting they could probably trace such things, "Good point." She took his arm and they quickly apparated to outside Hogwarts gates. It was late at night but Alice wouldn't have known it; time seemed to stand still in the presence of the Demeantors.
Alice asked as they walked, "Does Voldemort know?"
"Don't say his name," Snape said sternly, "It can be traced."
After another faux pas, Alice knew she needed to be more careful.
Then Snape continued, "Your existence is known and I suggested since you pose no real threat, that you continue your studies here, but that is not a promise of anything." Snape said pointedly, knowing Voldemort's desires could change on a whim, "And what pray-tell are your intentions?"
"To make it through the year, I don't plan on joining any rebellions," Alice said.
"Wise, you will be watched more than others," Snape cautioned as they entered the gates, finding the front courtyard dismal and eerie.
Being leaving her at the main entrance, Snape reminded her, "You are to report for your O.W.L.s at 8 am sharp, otherwise you won't be joining any classes either." With Dumbledore's death at the end of her fifth year, the O.W.L.s were postponed until she returned from break.
Alice nodded before he left, she hadn't forgotten. "Professor Snape," she called to him as his back was turned, "I appreciate that you're helping me on top of everything else that has been asked of you."
He paused, acknowledging her gratitude which seemed to be rarity in his life.
The scene shifted and Alice found herself turning in her O.W.L.s test to Professor Flitwick; feeling a weight suddenly lift off her shoulders after the papers left her fingertips. It was a full day of tests and she had little to no contact with students outside her House or grade. Instead of conducting the testing in the Great Hall, as was customary, heads of House handled the tests for their former fifth years separately. Her fellow housemates were surprised to see her that morning, or at least surprised knowing that the rumors circulating in the prior year of her not being muggle-born were true. They asked what became of the others and she told them, though most had already suspected what happened. So far knowledge of her ancestry was unknown to the school and she wondered how long it would stay that way.
After exiting the testing room, Alice hesitated whether she should just give into her exhaustion and go to bed, having had only four or five hours of sleep before rising that morning. But the sounds coming from her empty stomach prompted her to go the Great Hall. Walking down the center aisle she noted the stares and hushed whispers from her fellow students and she assumed they were just as surprised as her housemates to see her back. It wasn't until she sat down that she found that evening's Daily Prophet sprawled out on the table in front of her. An article aptly titled, Dubious Dumbledore Hides His Heir at Hogwarts, was on the front page. It was of course written by Rita Skeeter, following on the heels on her ongoing saga defaming the old headmaster. That July she had unleashed all his secrets in her unauthorized biography, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore; but this was one secret she had missed completely.
Alice quickly scanned the article looking for her name, but it was not overtly mentioned. However, all clues did lead to her: "Presumed muggle-born female student going into her sixth year at Hogwarts." There were no others in the school that fit that description. Skeeter might as well have mentioned her by name. The speculations for why she was hidden were too obviously drawn from Skeeter's infatuation with Dumbledore's sordid past; she was probably intent on having the article act as another advertisement for her book. She suggested he'd be embarrassed by having mated with a muggle; that perhaps his pro-muggle efforts were a façade over his true agenda. Not having read the Daily Prophet all summer, Alice could already gage how much anti-muggle propaganda had infiltrated the press. She felt the same disdain for Skeeter as she did the last time she came under her quill.
Unsure of how to face this on such little sleep and an empty stomach, Alice folded the newspaper, tucking it in her robe; she then grabbed an apple from the basket in front of her before taking her leave, hoping to find solitude in her bed. As she was leaving, a group of Slytherins entered the Great Hall; Draco was at the head of them. With the current situation, him and his fellow pure-blood coterie would be accorded special privileges. Even more than before, they acted like they owned the school.
Crabbe, who was usually more reserved to let others bully, called out, "Look its Dumbledore's bastard. And here we always thought you were a filthy mudblood."
"I'm not sure what's worse," Goyle added, which started a round of laughter. Draco looked on coolly, his hand in robe pockets and his emotion hidden under a blank demeanor.
Alice approached the two boys and glared at them inquisitively, saying nothing, but she knew she made them feel as if she was scanning their intellect. It instantly made them feel uncomfortable.
"You got something to say?" Goyle said to her angrily.
Alice smiled at him and said calmly, "To you? No." She knew overtly ruffling feathers on the first day of school would not be wise and she was simply too tired to care. She took a bite of her apple and turned to pass the group.
"There's no protection for you now," Crabbe said as she went past.
"Thanks for the public service announcement," Alice said smugly as she kept walking, waving her hand in mid-air as she walked.
Crabbe started to go after her, but Draco put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "She's not worth it."
Alice heard his voice; he had again quietly protected her. This oddly made her feel better about the days to come.
The dream shifted and Alice found herself seated in Professor Flitwick's office, as the half-goblin wizard was going through her O.W.L. scores with her.
"As usual Alice, perfect scores on everything. I can now see your family connection. To think, none of us knew," said Professor Flitwick intrigued.
"He thought it was safer that way, at least initially," Alice replied, grateful for the compliment and to hear that her scores didn't suffer from the ordeal beforehand.
"Well," Flitwick began unsure, "This year might be a bit of a test for all of us. The Carrows are at Hogwarts, they're Death Eaters and unfortunately, you will have classes with both of them. Amycus will be teaching the Dark Arts and Alecto, Muggle Studies. They may not take kindly to having you in their class, but I cannot alter your schedule or allot you special privileges."
"I understand professor," Alice knew this information already.
"Alice, I can't help but ask," Professor Flitwick began to ask concerned, "Why didn't you run?"
Alice looked down at the desk in front of her, "I couldn't put my family in danger. And my grandfather said I'd be okay here."
The scene changed and Alice was seated at a desk in the all too familiar Muggle Studies classroom. In the front of the class stood Alecto Carrow, a round faced, stocky woman who looked incredibly unpleasant in demeanor. On the slide projector screen were images of piled up corpses, which Alice recognized to be photographs from WWII concentration camps. While Alecto should be utilizing such graphic images to teach historical circumstances and hopefully preach tolerance, instead she was advocating the mass genocide of muggles, saying that the natural order, which for her was hierarchy of magical people over muggles, would bring these images back to reality. Although out of character for a student who always spoke her mind, Alice remained silent for the entire class. She knew better than to speak out against the Death Eaters, even though she detested the ideology and brainwashing methods being imposed. It was despicable when put face-to-face with it, especially when she was working against the mild prejudiced that remained a decade from this point.
After an hour of gross misinterpretations of muggle history, class was dismissed. But Alecto asked Alice to remain; Luna looked at Alice nervoulys before she left.
Once all students exited the classroom, Alecto stated, ending with a short laugh, "So you're the spawn of Dumbledore."
Alice said nothing, wondering what she could want.
"I think just because of that you've earned yourself detention. My gift to your dear old grandfather," she smirked evilly.
Alice nodded and then asked politely, "When and where am I expected to report?"
"The Dark Arts classroom, seventh period," she replied, seventh period meaning after the days classes had ended.
"Yes professor," Alice replied, before leaving the room feeling pathetic for her compliance.
Upon entering the corridor she was joined by Luna, who waited there for her.
"Alice, what happened?" Luna asked worried.
"Detention, for no other reason than being me," she said blankly.
"Oh my, I heard this morning from Neville that he also has detention for speaking out in her class," Luna said solemnly, clasping her hands in front of her mouth.
"Precisely why I didn't say anything," Alice replied, then realizing the time, "Hey, we better hurry or we'll be late." The two girls began walking briskly to not miss McGonagall's Divination course.
The dream again changed and Alice was walking to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom to serve her detention. She had not yet met Alecto's brother, Amycus, since his class fell on another day of the week, but she knew both brother and sister would be behind those doors waiting to perform their sadistic forms of punishment. Alice tried to deny that she was afraid; from what she understood there would be physical punishment involved. She had no clue what her threshold for pain was, but she was determined to remain as stolid as possible through it.
She was joined in the hallway by Neville Longbottom, who was heading in the same direction.
"Hi Alice," he said to her.
"Hey Neville, I heard from Luna you also have detention," Alice said as they kept walking.
"That's right. I disagreed. You?" He sounded proud of standing up against them.
"I'm from the wrong family," Alice replied slightly amused.
"So all this time…" Neville started.
"It was hidden for my safety. As you can see, now that it's known it's not doing me any favors. But without it, I'd be in Azkaban or on the run. I can only hope the Carrows are the worst of who I have to deal with," Alice said solemnly.
"We could use you help Alice, the lot of us from the D.A.," Neville asked, with Harry gone it seemed he had taken charge.
Alice stopped to look at him, "There'll be a time when I can help, but right now I have to be careful. If my resistance is even hinted at, You-Know-Who might take an interest in me."
Neville gauged the seriousness in her eyes, "I understand. Yours is a much more dangerous position to be in."
Alice then said encouragingly, "Keep at it though, Hogwarts needs you."
Outside the door stood two younger students, one from Hufflepuff and another from Gryffindor who had also gotten detention for speaking out during their classes. They were hesitant to enter so Neville and Alice went in before them. Opening the door, they saw the Carrows surrounded by three seventh year Slytherin students: Crabbe, Goyle, and Draco. Draco looked unpleased as he stood there with his arms crossed, while Crabbe and Goyle had sadistic smiles on their faces.
Alecto alerted the group when their victims entered, "So here we are," she said amused at the spectacle of them marching to the front desks to sit down.
"You know why you're here, all of you, except one…" she looked at Alice briefly, "…spoke out of turn and you'll be punished accordingly."
Alice looked at Draco briefly but he averted his eyes, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
"Jasper Jacobs, is that correct?" Amycus looked disdainfully at the boy seated near Neville. The third year Hufflepuff nodded wearily. "To your feat."
He stood up slowly, looking back and forth from Amycus to Alecto, wondering what was to come.
"Goyle, you first," Amycus said, as Goyle got out his wand with a smirk on his face.
Alice knew what was coming; they were allowing them to perform the Cruciatus Curse on other students, as practice and as punishment.
The young Hufflepuff stood their confused as Goyle raised his wand and chanted, "Crucio!" He was instantly flung back into his chair, wincing and shrieking in pain.
Neville stood up abruptly, yelling "You can't do this!" He went towards Goyle but Alecto quickly hit him violently hard across the face, enough to draw blood from his nose. He stumbled back, holding his ground as Crabbe pulled out his wand on him. Meanwhile, the second year Gryffindor behind Alice began crying, afraid of what would happen to her. Alice just sat there impassive, looking at Amycus and Alecto with her head held high, refusing to give into her emotions. She tried to clear her mind.
"Sit down Mr. Longbottom," Alecto demanded but Neville refused to sit and reached for his wand.
Crabbe interjected, crying "Crucio!" on Neville, knocking him to his knees, the pain too great for him to stand.
Amycus then grew an interest in Alice, who sat their indifferent to the whole situation. He walked over to her and grabbed her tie, pulling and choking her to her feet. "Why would Dumbledore hide you?" He asked, his hand now grasping her neck tighter making it difficult for her to breathe. He stared into her eyes and Alice knew he was trying to read her mind, but she wouldn't let him.
After a few moments, he began laughing, "Someone taught you Occlumency? Very good, very good indeed." He released her, pushing her back. She maintained her balance, and her hands went to fix her collar.
"What? This one, an Occlumens? They don't teach that at Hogwarts," Alecto said intrigued. "Granddad must have worked overtime. Let's see if she can maintain her mind after a little torture. Draco, your turn."
Draco had watched the entire event from the side of the room. Alecto moved behind Alice and grabbed her by the hair to keep her from moving. Draco walked over and Alice's eyes were intent on his but he wouldn't look at her. But after he removed his wand, his eyes caught hers. He saw the same concern for him that she always displayed, a concern that only she had given him.
"Go ahead Draco, you should be able to handle this," Alecto prodded, knowing his failure to produce the Killing Curse on Dumbledore.
Draco's eyes narrowed at Alecto, "Don't tell me what to do," he said annoyed at her belittling, putting his wand back in his robe. He then marched towards the classroom door, slamming it hard behind him.
"Just like his father," Amycus sneered after him. "Oh well," he turned his attention back on Alice, "Crucio!" he cast the curse on her.
Alice felt the spell hit her in the stomach, making her grasp her abdomen which felt like it was on fire. Even though her knees buckled, she didn't fall, as Alecto still had hold of her hair. The pain was enough to make her feel like she could faint, but she didn't, instead it continued surging through her limbs. For moments the pain blocked her senses; she felt like she was drowning and her insides were screaming. Then she heard the young girl behind her sobbing hysterically, bringing her back to her grim reality.
"Let's try again. Legilimens!" Amycus this time tried using his wand to cast the spell, but soon found himself twice unsuccessful.
Alecto interjected, "Perhaps we should leave that to Snape," knowing he was a more skilled Legilimens than either of them.
Though angered by this, he accepted his sister's advice. Alecto tugged on Alice's hair, speaking a warning in her ear, "We'll be watching you. One false move and we'll gladly turn you over to the Dark Lord. He isn't as kind as us." She then released her hair and Alice moved her feet to the door, not looking back as she went.
After exiting the room, she walked to the second floor girl's lavatory. She needed to be alone to regain her sanity. She went over to a mirror and unbuttoned her collar, completely undoing her tie as well. Her neck was full of red marks and felt extremely tender. As she tried to run her fingers through her hair to straighten it, several loose strands fell onto the sink in front of her. Looking back in the mirror, she saw a figure standing several steps behind. She turned quickly to see Draco with his wand pointed at her.
She looked at him wearily, feeling somewhat lifeless after the ordeal. He came closer, not lowering his wand.
"You were spying on me last year, weren't you? For Dumbledore," he asked angrily, his suspicions shouldn't have surprised her but they did.
"No, he told me nothing," she defended herself, "He never wanted me involved with any of this."
"Then what? You did it on your own accord, hoping to stop me," he continued accusing.
"I wanted to help you," Alice said concerned, her water blocked eyes looking into his, "I care about you."
Draco again felt the strange feeling of having someone besides his mother concerned for him, but he was taken aback by the use of present tense. "Care about me? Why would you care about someone who was ordered to kill your grandfather?"
Alice inwardly smiled at his acknowledgement of her words, "Yours and your family's lives were in danger. You had no choice. And you didn't kill him; instead you saved my life that night."
Draco thought back to the Astronomy Tower, going over his actions in his mind as he looked away from her.
"I owe you for that," Alice said to him graciously, hoping his eyes would meet hers again.
"I'm a Death Eater, I shouldn't be helping you," he said annoyed, suddenly realizing his actions were unbecoming of his status.
"Then why are you?" she asked, stepping closer until the tip of his wand hit her heart. "Why didn't you curse me when you were given the chance? Why aren't you doing it now?"
He finally looked her in the eyes, seemingly confused by his desires. Alice brought her hand to his and slowly moved it and the wand it clutched to the side. Draco's breathing deepened as she inched closer, feeling her hand softly cup his face, it forced him to look at her. Alice lingered for a moment, feeling her breathing mimic his. As she leaned in, he met her halfway, kissing her on the lips. It lasted only seconds before they parted, but before he could say anything Alice embraced him, holding him as she knew she needed to. He placed his arms around her and they stayed there for over a minute, feeling a strange security in each other's arms.
After parting, Alice led Draco by hand over to the side, and they sat down next to each other, their backs against the tiled wall.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth about my ancestry when you asked," Alice said solemnly, "I hope from now on I can be more honest with you."
He looked at her surprised, "You apologize to someone who'd bully you for fun?"
Alice said calmingly, "That was you then, not now."
Draco seemed to be going over everything in his head, wondering if being there with her was right, but he didn't leave. "Why did you return to Hogwarts?"
"I couldn't put my family in danger by running," she said. "After today I don't know if it was the right decision."
"The Carrows won't let you walk through this year easily, nor will Snape," he said cautioning her.
"I know," her one hand felt her neck; it still pulsed from being squeezed. "My grandfather told me to stay my course which has always been my academics. I don't plan on changing that this year."
Draco asked curiously, "You're not afraid, of what the Dark Lord might do to you?"
"Of course I am," she quickly replied, "But if I pose no real threat…" She took a deep breath, feeling hopeless in the face of such evil, "I just want to survive this, as you do."
He suddenly felt their commonality in this situation, his hand slowly moved on top of hers on the floor where it laid. "I'll help when I can," he said not looking at her.
Alice smiled at his touch and his words; she looked over to him, "As long as it doesn't put you in danger. If they knew we're…" she paused unsure what they were.
"We're what?" Draco looked at her, meeting the confusion in her eyes.
"That we're together," she said querying his response.
He seemed to think this over as he looked on her face. "We shouldn't be," he said abruptly, removing his hand from hers, as if realizing he made a mistake. He then rose to his feet, saying after, "I can't be with you, you're not…"
"I'm not what is expected of you," Alice interjected.
He seemed troubled by this acknowledgement as he stood there with his back to her. The pure-blood ideology of his parents failed to make sense to him anymore.
Alice also rose to her feet to stand behind him, hoping he wouldn't leave, "I thought you hated expectations."
"I do," he responded standing there motionless, still unsure of his feelings, "It's not that easy."
"Nothing is," Alice said calmly.
He turned around, looking torn, "I'm a Death Eater, you're…" He failed to produce the words.
"I'm someone who cares about you," Alice wished she could mend him. "If you don't feel the same way…"
"I don't know what I feel," he said troubled, "I have no time to feel."
Alice realized how fragile his state of mind must be; with Voldemort at his home, ordering him to do things against his will, mocking and threatening his parents sadistically. She then said quietly, "I understand, I'll be there for you either way." She decided to leave him to his thoughts rather than being seen as applying any pressure to his decision.
She moved to pass by him but he caught her arm, "Alice," she turned meeting him face-to-face, "I care about you too."
Alice's breath caught at that moment and she drifted into his eyes, he moved his hand to her back and pulled her close to him.
After holding her for a few moments, he whispered in her ear, "If they knew we're together…"
"We won't tell anyone," she assured him quietly, breathing in his familiar scent as she held him. "We can meet here every few nights. We'll be discrete."
He felt calmed by her words, "I have to go," he said solemnly, still holding her, "I'm expected to eat dinner with the group, if I'm not there…"
"It's okay," Alice pulled away from him, hoping to reassure him with her smile.
He leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips, a perfect way to end their meeting and the dream.
Alice awoke in her bed feeling lightheaded, she reached for her neck, feeling pain circling around it. She quickly raced to the bathroom mirror, flipping the light switch on. As her eyes adjusted, she saw red markings on her neck, the same as she saw in her dream. What was happening? Were her dreams and reality merging? She knew she needed to see Professor Trelawney as soon as possible.