Alice took some mild painkillers and tied a scarf around her neck before leaving to go to Hogwarts, making sure to cover up the bruises that had appeared from her dream. She hoped Professor Trelawney would be in her office that morning so she could provide some clues as to what was happening.
"…Professor Trelawney," she called after knocking on her door twice; it instantly opened for her and she walked into velvet lined room. Trelawney was munching on a bowl of muesli at her desk, while reading an extra thick book that looked like an illuminated manuscript.
"Oh, good morning Alice," she said pleasantly looking at her through her coke bottle glasses, her mouth still munching on oats.
"Good morning Professor Trelawney, do you have some time to talk?" Alice asked politely, seriously hoping she did.
"Oh course, but you must call me Sybill from now on. And if you'd like a bowl, feel free," she said offering Alice some muesli.
Alice nodded at her request but refused the muesli by saying, "No thank you."
"How are the dreams progressing? I heard recently from Draco that you are encroaching upon the war," she asked curiously.
"That's why I'm here," Alice started, "In my last dream, I was choked by a Death Eater called Amycus Carrow," Alice paused noticing Trelawney's nose furl at the name. "When I woke I…" she unraveled her scarf, reveling the bruises on her neck.
Trelawney's eyes went wide and she dropped her spoon in her bowl, it clunked loudly and splashed milk on the book beside it, "You're getting close!"
"Close to what?" Alice asked apprehensively.
"Close to merging the two realities," she responded, "Your dreamscape hit on something similar to your experience here, but in return, what you in experience in that realm could follow you. This is where it becomes dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Alice repeated her words; something about Trelawney's tone made her nervous.
"If you die in your dreamscape, you won't wake up," she said without negative emotion.
Alice thought aloud, "That's how the tragedy I am trying to avoid will befall me."
"Yes," Trelawney then said cheerfully, "But the good news is you're very close to being done."
This was of little consolation to Alice who realized being done could mean one of two things: either she sets the alternate reality on a similar course as her current life, or each comes to a horrible end.
Munching on another scoop of muesli, Trelawney then added, remembering, "The Carrows, yes, I do suggest staying out of their detention."
"I'll keep that in mind," Alice replied before taking her leave. She wondered how she would tell Draco what happened.
She hesitated before knocking on his office door, her scarf still tied around her neck hiding the bruises that were forming. She hated worrying him, but he would be more upset if he found out well after the fact. She knocked knowing he wouldn't expect her at that time.
The door opened magically; Draco was seated at his desk writing. He looked up at her, but then his eyes froze, "Alice? What happened?" He already knew something was wrong.
After going through her dream, she untied her scarf, "…Then I woke up."
He was shocked, "I can't just sit by and let this happen," he said frustrated, feeling useless in the face of her adversity.
"You aren't, at least your other self isn't. We found a similar connection. You're questioning your pure-blood ideology. I just have to bring us to this point," Alice said hopeful in her plans.
"Alice, even when you make it through the Battle of Hogwarts, my parents would never allow their son to be with a half-blood, especially not then. It took them years to come to grips with their failures, years to accept that my views diverged from theirs," he stated concerned.
Despite knowing how right he was, she still cried, "I have to try or I could never wake up."
Realizing it was not his place to doubt her and feeling awful for doing so, he thought about where he placed his hope, "You're right, you've already done things I never thought were possible. You peeled away the layers of my façade, you saw me at my most vulnerable, and you were able to comfort me when no one else could. You may not believe it, I know you're skeptical about such things, but we're soul mates. We're meant to be Alice, in this realm and that one."
Alice thought about what he said, she never believed in fate, then again, she never believed in magic either, "Otherwise it's hopeless, isn't it?"
It was Friday night and Alice found herself at Malfoy Manor, practicing the Dark Arts in the grand dining hall due to the weather outside being cold and blistery. The winter had hit quite abruptly and Alice longed for those Los Angeles winters in the sun. Upon her arrival, Narcissa requested Loister, the family's house elf, to fetch everyone hot tea and she quickly set ablaze the room's three fireplaces to warm up the long, hallow nave. The dining table was also removed to allow for enough space when dueling.
Alice was slightly nervous; practicing magic with Draco was comfortable, he didn't judge her abilities and respected her limitations. However, Lucius was not quite as polite. His expectations for Alice were beyond her ability level and he was prepared to push her whether she liked it or not. When she began learning with the family less than a week ago, Lucius was keen on belittling her. Alice assumed he was trying to provoke anger, so as to make her counter curses more effective. She, however, found it difficult to get heated over mock verbal abuse, especially if she was to respond by causing harm through force. She quickly learned how passive aggressive her demeanor was, shaped by years of academic civility no doubt, but it didn't bode well for battling. Going there tonight, however, she knew she had to change her tune if she was going to be successful in her dreams. Part of her wanted to be more like the younger Alice, who seemed less reserved when taking on authority.
"The amateur is back for more degradation I see," Lucius chimed belittlingly at Alice when he entered from the side doors.
"Lucius," Narcissa rolled her eyes, "You're not helping the situation by doing that."
"Doing what?" He asked feigning complete ignorance.
Narcissa simply stared him down after that and Alice tried not to laugh at the couple who always mildly butted heads. Draco entered a few seconds later, having come in late from a meeting with McGonagall. He gave Alice a kiss on the cheek and asked how her last class of the day went. She said they just finished their discussion of the internet during which several students questioned why the magical world still bothered with owls.
Lucius looked perturbed by this, "So now we have pro-muggle rhetoric in our schools, whatever happened to objective teaching?"
Alice smiled, "I do teach it that way, pros and cons are part of the curriculum, and students are entitled to their opinions. This time they all seemed to be for the muggle invention."
Lucius looked at her skeptically, while Narcissa added as she walked to a side table, "I'm sure Alice is an excellent teacher." She was being followed by the puny house elf that was holding a tray of tea for all four of them. "Now let's all have some tea before we get started. It's absolutely frigid outside."
"I've always hated the winter," Alice remarked on Narcissa's comment. "It almost made me decide against going to Oxford."
"Why did you return to Britain?" Lucius asked curiously.
"Well, when I applied I thought of it as an opportunity to study at the same school as my mother. When I got in, even though I had other choices, it felt right," she said not giving a concrete answer.
"She's meant to be here," Draco added assuredly.
"You're more willing to believe that than I am," Alice replied.
"Fate is a possibility Alice," Narcissa added quickly. "Especially with your current circumstance. Dumbledore was a smart man; I trust he knew you could handle this path."
"Why wouldn't he just have prepared me in that realm to survive? Instead of splitting the two only to be changed later," Alice queried, though she suspected she'd never have a satisfactory answer.
"Maybe it was the only way it could be changed," Narcissa replied, noting her confusion.
"If anything, at least you're becoming a proper witch. No more muggle ineptitudes keeping you from learning," Lucius said taking a sip of tea.
Though his remark was meant to ridicule Alice's previous nonchalant stance on learning magic, she couldn't disagree with the truth behind it. She realized the other day that she wasn't only accruing the memories of her alternate life, but also knowledge from it. Draco mentioned a potion he was concocting with his fourth year students and Alice knew the ingredients off-hand. It was quite startling for both of them since she never bothered to learn any potions. The same was true of other subjects she neglected to learn. This was a more welcomed occurrence than the bruises she received by being choked by Amycus Carrow. And of course, with more magical knowledge it did help in her ability to duel.
"I doubt any of us would be where Alice is in half a year," Draco said, trying to take the edge off his father's comments.
Alice disagreed, "It's only because I have a photographic memory, so it's a quick reference mechanism even though dueling relies more on intuition, so stopping and thinking doesn't always benefit me."
"That's why we're practicing," Draco said, setting down his cup of tea. "Did you work anymore on conjuring a Patronus?"
"I tried, but I'm having a hard time staying with one happy memory. I'm not sure what would be the most powerful…" Draco knew there would be Demeantors involved in the Battle of Hogwarts, and if Alice could successfully produce a Patronus, then she would be able to resist their devastating Kiss. It was something she needed to know, but it required her own emotional base to start from. Alice continued somewhat hesitantly, "…I realized after my last dream that I'm going to need to know how to do the Unforgiveable Curses."
"But they're illegal to practice," Draco reminded her.
"Maybe illegal to practice but not to learn," Lucius said intrigued; it was a subject he was still quite interested in. "There are ways around Ministry laws, Draco, you know that. Alice just needs the correct incantation, the proper wand movements, and the coaching to mean what she casts. For these spells, you must want to cause harm to your victim otherwise they won't work."
Draco added his concern to his father's optimistic argument, "Dark magic is different Alice, it can corrupt practitioners."
"But what if you use them in self-defense?" She asked, naively thinking it'd be similar to owning a hand gun.
"It's not so simple, not when stunning spells are just as effective," Draco replied.
"I highly doubt she'll become addicted," Lucius interrupted dryly.
"For once Lucius has a point," Narcissa added, even she thought Draco was being overprotective. "I actually believe the Cruciatus Curse would be most useful in her situation."
Alice looked at Draco hopeful that he would concede to it, whether or not he'd be the one to teach her. He had rather stick to defense and stunning spells. "Alright, we'll spend time going over it. We have books that show the proper wand movements as well," he said referring to the family's collection on the Dark Arts in the library.
That evening Alice successfully conjured a shield charm, but failed again on producing a Patronus. She was also becoming faster at blocking spells and casting ones non-verbally. Her stunning curse had become quicker and more powerful, where she could knock her defendant over with it. She did so to Lucius, who had goaded her into doing it, calling her unworthy to take the name of Malfoy. He was rather delighted at her heightened ability. Draco mentioned that it was possible to knock someone unconscious with this spell, though Alice was far from accomplishing that. The Cruciatus Curse was taught without a demonstration, though Alice witnessed its terrible strength when Amycus cast it on her in her prior dream. She was unsure if she could do it, since it required the mental discipline she found difficult. She had to want to cause her victim harm; she had to convince herself, with all her attack curses, that it was beyond just wanting to cause pain, but that to do so was necessary for her survival. It was this war mentality that she had to adopt to be successful.
That night, she was exhausted from the week and from practicing that she fell asleep in Draco's arms as soon as she hit the bed. There was no thought that she would be dreaming that night.
Dream 10:
"Miss McNally," a dark voice called from the front of the room, which Alice recognized as Amycus Carrow. It was her first Dark Arts class, originally being Defense Against the Dark Arts before the Death Eaters took over the school. "Stand up."
Alice stood up promptly, knowing her obedience was more important than her pride.
Amycus began pacing in front of the room, "Now most of you have little understanding of the Dark Arts, having had an improper education until this point. Looking over the previous course's files you haven't even learned to cast non-verbal spells yet, which is unfortunate in itself." He peered now and again at the class disdainfully, "It might displease you to know that one student in your grade has been privileged in her learning."
Some students briefly glanced at Alice, while she wondered what Amycus was getting at. Was he trying to put her classmate's against her? He then started walking towards her, stopping before her aisle. "I'm curious, Miss McNally, what did your grandfather teach you?"
In retrospect, Dumbledore taught her nothing beyond her grade level, though she often snuck upper class textbooks from his office without his knowledge. Any Dark Arts she now knew were courtesy of the Malfoy family in her reality. "I only know a few spells," Alice said slightly hesitant.
Amycus then grabbed her arm and pulled her to the front of the classroom, "A demonstration perhaps," he said after releasing her.
"What should I demonstrate?" Alice asked as all her recent lessons began racing through her head. Her voice sounded hollow, and she refused to look at Amycus or her fellow classmates.
"The Cruciatus Curse," he said intrigued.
Trying to remain unfazed, Alice asked the next logical question, "And what should I demonstrate it on?"
A sadistic smile crossed his face, "Not what, who?"
Alice looked at Amycus surprised, and she could see how much he enjoyed playing these games. He continued, "Now I tediously went through all your O.W.L. scores, seeing who came out on top," he glanced at Alice, "And who came out on bottom." His eyes fell on one of five Hufflepuffs in the class, a rail thin boy named Kristopher Kipp.
"Stand up, Mr. Kipp," he said displeased. "Today you get to try and prove yourself to me. If you can successfully block Miss McNally's curse, you can stay in my class. If not, I'll deem your score unworthy." He then turned his attention back to Alice, "Now Miss McNally, considering your ancestry, this task might be beyond someone like you, not for its skill range, but because of its moral lack. But if you refuse to try your best, I'll have to assume your rebelling against me and we both know where that would lead."
Alice detested his smarmy attitude, but he was playing his game quite well. He knew exactly what would make her comply and she suspected having her attack her fellow classmate was part of an alternate plan to make her just as detestable as the Slytherins in the school.
Kristopher walked to the center aisle; his face was polished with anger. He had obviously not appreciated being deemed lowest in the class or to be pitted against their grade's most disliked student.
"Take out your wands," Amycus called as if it was a battle cry.
Alice knew what she had to do, though she was unsure if she could. It would have been difficult if Kristopher didn't try to curse her first. Before Alice had even taking a breath after retrieving her wand, Kristopher cried, "Stupefy!" Luckily Alice ears picked up on it and she intuitively blocked it, counter cursing him with the Cruciatus Curse. He wasn't prepared and it threw him back, sending him to the floor in pain. Some students jumped from the chairs; another Hufflepuff who was probably Kristopher's girlfriend ran to his side. Luna placed her hands over her mouth, concerned for her friend's forced actions. Other students, however, looked at Alice scornfully, as if she betrayed their trust.
Wiping all emotion from her face, Alice asked the professor, "Will there be anything else?"
Amycus smirked at her, perhaps not expecting her to cast the spell so easily. He had thought she would refuse, seeing such Dark Magic as unbecoming of Dumbledore's granddaughter. "You can sit," he said sounding pleased.
She walked down the aisle past where Kristopher was being helped up by fellow students, dodging angry stares as she went. "Mr. Kipp, perhaps you'd fair better in an extracurricular activity this year. Remove yourself from my class," Amycus yelled condescendingly, enjoying his chance to further belittle the boy.
Alice sat back down in her chair, feeling ashamed again for her obedience. She had to believe that her mission to stay out of harm's way was not by gaining herself a quick ticket to see Voldemort. She just hoped she wouldn't lose herself in the process.
After the lesson ended, Alice was confronted by several classmates in the outside corridor. She noticed the Slytherin students continued past them, uninterested in her actions.
"What was that Alice?" A Hufflepuff asked angrily in her face, "Dumbledore wouldn't let such things happen, yet you participate in it willingly?"
She tried to ignore him by walking out of his path, but she was quickly surrounded by others.
"She doesn't care, you saw her, she didn't even look at Kris when he was on the floor!" One girl shouted.
"You can't just curse someone like that and not care, it's inhuman," A Gryffindor added, "To think the D.A. thought of recruiting you…"
Alice felt cornered and yelled, "Enough!" she undid her tie and collar, displaying the bruises circling neck to them; surprising them. "They aren't playing around. If you disobey, you'll find detention a lot less pleasant than what happened to Kris."
This silenced them momentarily, until Ginny Weasley said with her arms crossed, "You're a coward."
She looked at her in the eyes; Alice accepted this rebuke saying calmly, "I can live with that," which was the closest she could get to telling the truth. "I'll do what I have to do. Now get out of my way," she pushed the Hufflepuff who first stopped her, leaving them behind.
She heard Luna speaking, "You don't think You-Know-Who wouldn't be interested in Dumbledore's heir. We should remember than unlike most of us, she has more reasons to fear."
Alice smiled at Luna's kind remarks and she hoped it'd quell further questions towards what looked like her total obedience.
The scene changed and Alice was heading to the headmaster's office. It was the second week of school and Alice was given detention with Professor Snape, courtesy of Amycus Carrow. Most likely he wanted Snape to check in on her abilities as an Occlumens. She felt eerily uncomfortable walking into her grandfather's old office, since most of it had remained the same. Snape had respectfully unaltered Dumbledore's setup, though it felt darker with the windows closed and less candles than usual.
Alice looked around solemnly; wishing she would hear her grandfather's laugh one more time. She knew he made peace before he departed this world, having lived a full life, but Alice would have wanted to spend more time with him.
"You can sit down," Snape said from behind his desk where he was completing paperwork.
Alice realized her melancholy nature and snapped out of it, finding her way to the chair. "You must know," she said after sitting, "The Carrows are inflicting torture on the students they deem worthy of detention."
Snape looked up at her with one eyebrow raised, "I suspected as much."
"And they're using other students to cast the curses, as practice," Alice informed him.
Snape nodded, but Alice was unsure if he already knew. After he finished writing another sentence with his quill, he said, "I was told that you've accomplished Occlumency."
"Yes, after some difficulty," she said humbly.
"And your knowledge of the Dark Arts?" He must have also heard about her demonstration in class from Amycus.
"Limited, in case it's necessary to do more than defend myself, but it was hastily learned. There seems to be less time between dreams now," Alice replied.
"And has there been a merging on one into the other?" he asked, knowing more about this topic than she realized.
"Yes," Alice sat up slightly more in her chair, "Just recently I woke with residual scars and the knowledge of my education at Hogwarts is being retained."
Snape nodded, "You'll find memories will become less distinct between the two as you near completion."
Alice looked at him skeptically, she wondered what he meant by less discrete but he passed explanation into a new topic. "The Carrows are under the impression that you might contain information on the whereabouts of Harry Potter. Information which, if obtained, would be very valuable in positioning themselves with the Dark Lord."
Alice's stomach dropped; it was a logical suspicion to make. "I should have suspected as much," she said, trying to hide her uneasiness.
"I can vouch for your innocence, however, if you let your guard down or find yourself in the audience of You-Know-Who, I would learn how to manipulate your thoughts appropriately," he added.
"You mean compartmentalize my mind; have them see what I want them to see?" Alice asked, unsure what he meant.
"Precisely," Snape concurred. "It takes mental and emotional discipline, will power that most wizards do not have."
"That doesn't bode well for me," Alice replied unoptimistic.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Your mind is already able to indulge in two realities; this may not be out of reach," he replied.
Alice thought there may not be enough time in her reality to learn this, but in this reality, time went by slower. She had to ask, "Would you be willing to teach me?"
He looked at her searchingly, considering his options. Her ability to change her thoughts when called upon was necessary for his safety as well. "I conceded to Dumbledore to do everything in my power to keep you safe, if this task is necessary, so be it."
The scene changed again and Alice found herself entering the second floor lavatory; she immediately heard a girl moaning as she stepped in. She soon realized it was the ghost who haunted the space.
"Hi Myrtle," she said politely.
"Oh hello Alice," the apparition appeared on top of the one stall; Myrtle then flew upward and landed next to her, asking overly interested, "Will you be meeting your man tonight? I do so enjoy a love story."
"I am," Alice smiled at the pale girl.
"If you die, can I have him?" She asked unabashedly.
Alice looked at her a bit shocked, "Well, I guess I wouldn't mind."
She started giggling obnoxiously before scurrying off. Alice sat against the back wall, pulling out several accumulated Daily Prophets and her Dark Arts textbook from her bag. She had about a half an hour until Draco would arrive; they had spaced their times so to not appear going into the bathroom together. They knew they had to be cautious. Alice quickly flipped through the printed papers, knowing it was probably a waste of time trying to receive real news from this source. The defamation of muggles and muggle-borns seemed to garner the most space amongst the pages. She soon put it down in favor of her Dark Arts textbook; a subject she knew occupied too much of her time right now. She already missed her muggle textbooks which, due to the tense circumstance, were not on her reading list this year.
Draco entered to find her seated comfortably, her legs outstretched and her flats placed next to her. They smiled at each other in a comforting fashion, and Alice felt her stomach flutter at his appearance.
"Studying?" He asked, taking a seat next to her.
"Yeah, it's a new subject for me," she showed him the Dark Arts cover.
"They're teaching it rather blatantly, aren't they? I heard about what happened in your class. I was surprised that you knew the Cruciatus Curse," he said.
Alice tried to correct him, "I've only studied it in a book; that was the first time I cast it."
"You're an impressive witch Alice," he said unashamed. "You know a lot beyond your level."
"It's nothing," Alice disagreed, feeling dishonest accepting what he said.
"It's true, I wouldn't have thought you'd know Occlumency either."
"It was necessary prior to this mess, to help hide my true identity," she knew he'd suspect she meant her relation to Dumbledore. "But the main reason the Carrows have an interest in me is because they think I have information on the whereabouts of Potter."
"Do you?" He asked wondering.
"No, my grandfather told me nothing," she wondered if he believed her, "But I won't let them wander my mind to find that out."
"Maybe you should, otherwise their suspicions will continue. If Snape decides, you could be sent to him," he was referring to Voldemort, "You don't know what he's like Alice, he's taken over my home. My parents are…" he couldn't finish his sentence.
Alice took his hand, touching him for the first time since their last embrace. He closed his eyes, as if her touch calmed him, "Your parents are brave, as you are," she said consolingly, still clasping his one hand with both of hers. She then said quietly, "Before I could even show them that I know nothing, I need to learn how to compartmentalize my mind, otherwise they'll find out about us."
Draco realized she was right, "You're already a step ahead."
"I have to be, there's too much at stake," she said concerned.
Moving closer to him, Alice rested her head on his shoulder and he placed an arm around her back. The contrast of his warmth and the cold tile instantly became apparent.
After moments of silence, Draco asked, "It's your mother, isn't it? In the photograph?"
Alice knew what picture he was referring to; it was in his possession for several months, "Yes."
"Tell me about her," he asked quietly, as if wanting to hear of another life outside this current tragic world.
Alice told him the happy memories she remembered, leaving out the tragic end to her story. It felt good to share that life with him and he listened quietly, still holding her hand as she spoke. Their meetings would be like this, a sharing of their good times to outdo the bad that surrounded them. This made it more difficult to leave each other's company afterwards, knowing they had to enter a harsh reality where neither of them could truly be themselves.
"Be careful," Draco said before Alice left.
"You too," her reply ended with a soft kiss that encompassed the love and gratitude they felt for each other.
As Alice left, the dream shifted and she found herself seated at a long table in the Great Hall, writing a paper while eating a piece of plain toast. It was an essay for Muggle Studies and she found it ironic how easy it was to critique humanity, especially with the cruelness and violence found throughout its history. It would be the same for the wizarding history though. Despite knowing her grade would falter for it, Alice refused to hype Death Eater ideology in her paper. She was confident grades given by the Carrows this year would not affect her future studies. Alternatively, not having time to continue her muggle high school curriculum worried her, and she had a feeling she'd be held back a year.
While sitting there, Alice's glass of pumpkin juice suddenly fell over, saturating her parchment in orange-colored juice, with some cascading down onto her skirt. Looking around while taking her wand out to perform an evaporating spell, she saw Pansy Parkinson and several Slytherin girls laughing at her. This wasn't the first time this term that Alice fell victim to their pranks; reminding her why she didn't spend more time than necessary in the Great Hall. Annoyed but resolute to ignore, Alice quickly cleaned up the mess. She was relieved after casting the evaporating spell to see that her essay was spared from stains. She decided to pack up and leave for the library. As she was about to put the parchment she wrote in her bag, it burst into flames, disintegrating into dust on the table in front of her. That was it, she was past ignoring.
She marched over to Pansy and her friends; anger was apparent in her eyes, her hand still clutched her wand. The Slytherins at the table watched on as Alice approached.
"You just cost me time," she said angrily to Pansy, who stood up to meet her.
"You think you're going to do something about it?" she asked tauntingly, much to the amusement of her friends.
Alice's eyes narrowed, "I could."
"And end up in detention? You have no options muggle-lover," Pansy said condescendingly.
"There is an option," Alice's hand momentarily gripped her wand tighter; she was still pissed that she would have to rewrite an entire paper for a class she despised.
Pansy looked slightly surprised at this motion, thinking Alice was calling her to duel. Then she said cockily to her friends, "You, take on a seventh year? This should be amusing." She walked around the table with her hands on her hips, smirking. "Alice is pleading for me to embarrass her, should I comply?"
This grew interest from several of the students in the hall and a circle quickly formed around them, curious to watch what would happen between the two.
"You're embarrassing yourself Pansy. You feed off tormenting those you perceive as below you when in reality it's you who is less deserving of respect," Alice said steadily as she stood before her.
"How dare you insult me you filthy blood traitor!" Pansy's venom was apparent and she quickly hurled the Cruciatus Curse at Alice who blocked it. Pansy grew furious that her spell didn't get through and she hurled several more curses, but Alice continued to block them, restraining herself from counter-cursing her, "You refuse to fight after you call me out?" Pansy yelled at her.
"I'm not interested in fighting," Alice corrected her. "My option was for this to stop."
"You're a coward and I hope you die like your grandfather did," she said scathingly, aiming her wand another time.
Alice motioned quickly disarming Pansy and making her wand fly into the opposite wall, as if she used it to play darts. This made Pansy's face drop, she had not expected to be outdone by someone younger. Alice said nothing and turned to leave, but she was boxed in by Crabbe and Goyle, who looked as unpleased as Pansy did.
"Get out of my way," she yelled them, but they didn't move. Goyle grabbed her wrist violently, immobilizing the wand it held, while Crabbe readied his wand to curse her. Before he could, however, his wand was knocked out of his hand by an unknown practitioner. Crabbe looked around apprehensively while Alice sought her chance to escape by kneeing Goyle in groin; the pain caused him to release her wrist immediately.
Alice quickly left the audience in the Great Hall and after rounding several corridors, she found herself walking next to Draco.
"You need to be more reserved," he said to Alice slightly troubled.
"It was you?" Alice smiled at him, ignoring his comment, "Thank you."
"I'm serious. You could still receive detention for what happened. And if I wasn't there, Crabbe would have hurt you. He's not afraid to use the Cruciatus Curse to its full extent," the concern in his voice became more apparent to her.
Alice looked at him ashamed for her actions, she should have just left instead of getting involved, "I know; I just can't stand their bullying and not being able to do anything about it." She had been reticent all term.
Draco took her hand and led her off to a side nook, "You have to lay low Alice," he said quietly, pulling her into an embrace. "You have to keep yourself at Hogwarts, away from him." She nuzzled her face into his shoulder and breathed in his familiar scent, feeling incredibly safe in his arms.
It was getting closer to winter break and Draco was becoming more anxious about returning home, knowing he would be forced to participate in Death Eater activities. Alice wasn't leaving school grounds for fear of involving her family if anything were to happen to her over break. So much had occurred that term; the D.A. was becoming more covert in their operations, holding more meetings and even breaking into Snape's office in an attempt to steal Godric Gryffindor's sword. True to his word, Snape upheld his end of the bargain to protect students by sending those who misbehaved to the Forbidden Forest for detention with Hagrid when he could. Though this didn't completely stop the Carrows from enacting their own forms of punishment and their special detentions continued. Alice received several lessons from Snape on how to lie with her mind to an entering Legilimens. She was unsure if she could do it successfully when it really mattered, however. Luckily her relationship with Draco was solid and they often talked about their future, away from all this.
"I had a dream the other night," Draco said, his voice still hushed as he held her, "That we were older, sitting together looking out on a lake in the middle of nowhere. It was incredibly peaceful. You wore an emerald ring I gave you, a family heirloom…" His voice trailed off, as he recalled the entirety of the vision.
Alice thought of the lake that they recently went to in her reality, was it the same one in his dream she wondered; she looked at him, his eyes displaying slight uncertainty of his future desires. "If only we could make dreams reality," she said softly.
They then heard footsteps in the corridor, breaking the moment they swiftly released each other. Alice mouthed silently to Draco, "I'll leave first," giving him a quick kiss before taking her leave. It was often like this, covertly hiding the warmth of their relationship and posing as cold strangers when passing each other on their way to class. In any other situation it would have provided more excitement, but the stress of their harsh reality left them longing for more solidity and a continuation of the comfort they provided each other.
As Alice left him, the dream shifted and Alice found herself alone on Christmas morning, lounging on a sofa in the Ravenclaw common room. She was reading a new book on Darwinian evolution by Richard Dawkins called Climbing Mount Improbable, which was one of the gifts her father sent from back home. Reading a muggle book was a much needed respite from her magical studies. She wore a new outfit that Jane sent her, a black skirt and tights, and ruffled blouse. It came with several long cardigans and an abundance of wool tights. The note enclosed said, "Since we can't go shopping together this year, I went for you! Thanks for the excuse to get out of the house." She had already tried everything on, extremely grateful that Jane knew her tastes and her size so well. Despite the thoughtful gifts, it was still bittersweet not being home this year. Her brother and sister had just been born a month ago and she wasn't sure if she'd ever have a chance to see them. She felt, however, staying on the school grounds was wiser. In case something happened to her, her family was far away from it.
Feeling too alone for such a day, she decided to take her reading to the Great Hall, to eat brunch with the few students who were left. A majority of the students had taken the opportunity to go home to their families, especially with all the turmoil going on in wizarding Britain. Alice sensed everyone's need for the comfort of home.
On her way there, she encountered Professor Snape, who immediately began walking beside her.
"Unfortunately, you'll be making a trip today," he said, not needing to provide more information.
Alice's stomach dropped, she knew he meant she would be taken to see Voldemort.
"Now?" she asked, trying to stay calm.
"Yes, follow me," he replied, taking her to the front entrance where Amycus and Alecto Carrow stood waiting.
Alecto smirked as Alice appeared, "Today we find out if you're hiding something," she said devilishly.
Alice didn't look at the woman who reveled in producing fear; instead she clasped her muggle book in front of her and began thinking through her situation. She felt as if she's been embarking on the same journey species did as they evolved; climbing the same mountain of improbability in her magical learning; though she didn't have billions of years to do it. Would she make it to the top today or falter down with the task in front of her?
They disapparated to the front door of Malfoy Manor. Alecto clasped Alice's arm unnecessarily hard, since she wouldn't try to escape.
The door was opened by Narcissa Malfoy, who looked paler and weaker than Alice knew her, despite her youth. She looked at Alice with little interest, having expected Snape to be by today with a student.
"Do come in," she said, the emotion in her voice was drained of its usual sweet politeness; though the perfunctory tone of her class remained.
Alice was led through the foyer; an overly familiar entry point for her and it certainly hadn't changed years on. Although in the drawing room, she noticed the addition of a long table, which no doubt accommodated Death Eaters during the meetings they held there.
Lucius Malfoy stood at the far end near the fireplace, staring emptily into the flames, swirling the glass of tonic in his hand. Even he looked weary, for they weren't even allotted Christmas Day as a lull from the Dark Lord's madness.
"When will he return?" Snape asked Lucius, commanding his attention, since his eyes had not moved from the fire.
"Soon," Lucius replied, not moving his head.
Snape's eyes narrowed on him, before he returned his attention to Alecto who had continued to hold on to Alice as her prisoner. "You can release her, she's not going anywhere," he said scathingly, finding her rough grasp unnecessary in the current situation.
Alecto complied and Alice straightened herself out, giving the stocky professor a brief look of malcontent for the throbbing she now felt from her claw.
Narcissa handed the professors drinks, which they took without hesitation. All of them probably needed to take the edge off before again being in the presence of the Dark Lord.
Alice stood slightly away from the group, looking at the familiar items in the room as if she was seeing them again for the first time. She tried to focus her mind, but part of her couldn't believe this was happening.
Lucius finally made his way over to the group, giving Alice a brief glance before asking, "So this is the student Dumbledore was hiding?"
"Right under everyone's nose," Amycus replied amused. "Listed as muggle-born right up to this school year."
Alecto added, "Dumbledore was probably embarrassed by past indiscretions." This made her brother laugh but it produced no more than a sneer from Lucius and Snape.
Alice ignored the comments, as she edged her way to the wall to lean on. Feigning disinterest in their conversation, she opened her book and began reading. She figured anything was better than standing there looking awkward.
Narcissa noticed the girl's nonchalant attitude, saying slightly concerned, "Does she know why she's here?"
"She suspects as much," Snape said stoically.
"That attitude's typical of her," Amycus said.
"We'll just see how she does in the Dark Lord's presence, as calm and collected, I doubt it," Alecto added before downing the rest of her tonic.
A moment later, Voldemort entered with Bellatrix Lestrange at his side. Alice briefly glanced their way, realizing that the woman was Draco's deceased aunt.
"Oh, we have Christmas company," Bellatrix called out, overly amused at the audience she found.
Alice continued to clear her mind, knowing this was the moment she had been preparing for. She closed her book and stood up straight; she had no intention of showing the Dark Lord disrespect.
"Amycus and Alecto, my esteemed teachers," Voldemort greeted charismatically, "And Severus, it's nice to see those I place my trust in teaching the next generation of the new order." He then turned his attention to the other presence in the room, "So this is what's left of Albus Dumbledore?" He glared at her curiously.
Alice looked at him, his serpent-like appearance was expected, though he seemed much more frightening than in the few photographs that she saw. She courteously bowed to him, which surprised him.
"Well, at least Dumbledore taught her manners. Come over here," he said to her and Alice obliged by walking towards him.
"Obedience, such a rarity in youth these days," he said overly amused. He took in Alice's appearance as she stopped in front of him and after a moment he said, "Yes, the eyes, I can now see the resemblance." He suddenly seemed displeased to look at her.
"The rest is muggle," Bellatrix spit condescendingly.
"That's precisely what makes it so interesting. The strongest supporter of muggle rights would shamefully hide his illegitimate muggle-bred grandchild at Hogwarts. Ironic, isn't it?" Voldemort said to the group, as Alice looked at him without emotion.
Snape interrupted, "If I may speak my Lord," and Voldemort nodded at him in allowance, "I suspect it was precautionary, though it obviously backfired."
"Yes, it did backfire. If she stayed muggle-born she'd be in Azkaban with the others," he smirked proudly at his accomplishment. "He couldn't allow that, could he?" He then asked Snape, "You already deemed that she knows nothing?" He paced two steps from them, and Alice noticed his movements were serpent-like.
"Yes my Lord, she has no information worth reporting," Snape said looking at Alice.
"So he says," Amycus said out of turn, forcing all to look in his direction. "Forgive me my Lord, but it's unusual for a sixth year to be accomplished at Occlumency, as well as some forms of Dark magic."
Alice's eyes narrowed on Amycus. So that was his angle, she thought; trying to incriminate her for his own purpose of undermining Snape.
"Granddad giving private lessons, is he?" Bellatrix said intrigued while peering at Alice, taking a strand of her long hair. "What are you hiding?" she asked while tugging on it slightly, and Alice looked at her uncertain; she was unstable, Alice could tell by the look in her eyes.
"That's enough Bellatrix," Voldemort said to her, stepping back over in Alice's direction. "Perhaps we can just ask the girl. Alice, isn't it?"
Given leave to speak, Alice said politely, "Yes, Alice McNally."
"Is she a good student Severus?" He asked curiously.
"Top of her grade," Snape said dryly.
"Of course," Voldemort laughed, "So why is it Alice? Why do you know things that other sixth years do not?"
"I read ahead," she replied briefly.
Hoping Voldemort would overlook her terseness, Snape added, "She has what one would call a photographic memory. Dumbledore allowed her to study beyond her level."
"Quite a mind," Voldemort said curiously. "But it's obvious she didn't learn Occlumency from a textbook."
"No, I was taught," Alice answered, not saying by whom.
"And the Dark Arts?" He asked.
"My own curiosity," Alice replied with a slight smile.
Voldemort approved of such an answer, he then looked back at Snape, querying, "You've been able to fully search her mind?"
"Yes, under her allowance," Snape said dryly, "Unless she learned how to manipulate her thoughts, which is highly unlikely, there's nothing in her past of interest."
Voldemort considered this statement, then said, "I'll be the final judge of that." He pulled a wand from his black robe. Before entering her mind, he said, "I wouldn't resist if I were you."
Alice looked quickly at Snape whose eyes betrayed his obvious concern, not only for Alice, but for himself, for if she failed to manipulate her thoughts and lock away the truths she held, he would also be undermined. Alice remembered what she learned and allowed him into her boxed world.
There Voldemort found her relationship with Dumbledore, one of academic and life coach, keeping her on a path of academic success. Alice was in her grandfather's office, "I know something's wrong, yet you continue to tell me nothing, but you confide in Potter?" A hint of jealousy was in her voice. Dumbledore replied adamantly, "Don't concern yourself with these worries. You focus on one thing and one thing only, your studies. That is your path. I won't have you involved in someone else's."
Voldemort cycled around her mind finding Alice with her muggle father the summer before this term, having just received the letter of notice stating that all students were required to return to Hogwarts. Her father said to her concerned, "You could finish your schooling here without them knowing; wouldn't Dumbledore have wanted you safe?" Alice replied, "But attendance is mandatory, even if it's not safe there, I'd ruin my education by disobeying. I haven't even taken my O.W.L.s yet. I started this wizarding curriculum and I just want to finish it."
He dug deeper trying to find any contact she had with Potter. Alice was in The Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade, sitting across from Harry, Hermione and Ron. Hermione spoke, "We saw your abilities last year, you know things we haven't been taught yet, and with Harry and you teaching us defense we can…" Alice interrupted her, "I apologize, but I can't get involved with your plan." Hermione questioned, "Why can't you? We thought you of all students would want to undermine Umbridge and all she stands for." Alice replied, "There's personal reasons. I respect what you're trying to do and hope you're successful, but I just can't be a part of it…"
Voldemort then saw the face of her mother, laughing as she swung Alice as a child on a swing; the scene changed to Alice running her fingers down an aisle of books in a large library, and then it morphed into her studying mathematics in a nook in one of Hogwarts corridors, she had diagrams sprawled out before her. There was nothing he could find leading him back to Potter, and nothing more of her relationship with Dumbledore that went outside the norm, so he stopped looking.
Alice felt overwhelmed by the invasion, his hold was stronger than she imagined and her brain almost cracked from the pressure. She felt slightly lightheaded after the experience, like she had been running a mental marathon for hours.
Amycus and Alecto looked at Voldemort in the hope that he was successful in finding information, but soon realized he looked displeased that another attempt to know what Potter was up to failed. Voldemort still looked at Alice curiously as the tense silence continued.
"You were right Severus, Dumbledore kept her out of the loop where Potter was concerned. But tell me Alice, when did you find yourself in this house's library?" Voldemort asked suspiciously.
Alice looked at him confused, "What?"
"Perhaps I'm mistaken, or you have a bigger secret hidden in that astute mind of yours," he said intrigued.
At that moment, Draco entered the drawing room, gaining the attention of Voldemort immediately, "Ah Draco, we have one of your classmates here. I don't think she needs an introduction though. I can only assume you know each other quite well."
Alice couldn't look at him for fear of giving away her emotions, her mind was racing. Did she let a memory from her alternate life slip in; when she was in the Malfoy's library for the first time?
"So when did you bring Alice to the Manor? I doubt your parents knew," Voldemort said devilishly, knowing this would shame the Malfoys even more.
"You did what?" Lucius yelled angrily.
Draco was horribly confused by these accusations, "I did no such thing."
"I don't doubt what I saw! Alice was here before, in this house's very library," Voldemort paced around slightly, angered by being lied to, "What are you hiding?" He pointed his wand at her threateningly.
"Wait," Draco cried out, "Once, I took her here once over summer holiday."
"Tisk tisk, associating with muggle-borns. Your parents should be proud," Voldemort said derisively.
"It was a mistake," Draco added quickly, "One not to be repeated."
"Draco knows better now," Bellatrix coaxed, trying to defend her nephew, "He would not betray you my Lord."
Narcissa looked at her husband bewildered and worried by the outcome of the accusations. Lucius was equally confused, though angered if the accusation were true.
Voldemort sneered at the boy, "Prove it. Prove it was a mistake by torturing her."
Alice's heart skipped a beat; so this is what it came to, she thought. He had no choice but to comply. Not allowing himself to display any of the emotions he undoubtedly felt, Draco walked over towards her, taking his wand out. Alice looked at him once, hoping to convey in that brief moment that it was okay what he was going to do. That she would forgive him. As he cast the first curse, Alice hit the floor in pain, closing her eyes to the world as tears escaped her lids. She cried for him, not for herself. She could barely hear anything as the pain surged through her body, but she could just make out Voldemort's hissing voice, "Again," he told Draco. Alice wanted to be at that lake sitting next to him, staring out on a lush, deserted landscape; just the two of them with no worries. She thought of this as her insides burned. What hurt more was the thought that she failed her mission; that she may never wake up again. As another curse was cast, she floated in unconsciousness.
Alice awoke gasping for air; within seconds she was cradled in the arms of the one she loved.
"Alice, you're alright, you're here now," Draco held her close; reassuring her in the darkness that she was safe.
Though the pain had stopped, her mind was still unraveling all that had happened. It took her several minutes before she could speak again and Draco just held her silently in the dark, hoping she would come back to her senses, though he never felt more afraid in his life.