Author's Note: If I owned Harry Potter, I would be a lot more famous than I am now.

Chapter 8 The Plot Thickens

"You're a Parselmouth!" cried Ron as the door closed.

"A what?" asked Harry, looking annoyed.

"A Parselmouth, it means you can talk to snakes. Why didn't you tell us?" asked Ron.

"I've only done it once before," said Harry defensively, "At the zoo, a boa constrictor told me he never saw his homeland, so I accidentally set it on my cousin Dudley."

"He told you…?" said Hermione, drifting off.

"Yeah, but who cares? I bet a lot of people can speak Parsel-whatever," said Harry.

"No Harry, a lot of people can't, that's why this is so strange," said Hermione, her voice back to normal. "Do you know why the Slytherin house has the emblem of a snake on it?"

Harry shook his head, but Alex remembered with a sudden jolt. She had read Hogwarts: A History back before her first year, but she remembered.

"Because Salazar Slytherin," she said quietly, "Was a Parselmouth."

There was silence as they let the news sink in. Hermione looked at Alex with a questioning look.

"Alex, Harry said something to you in Parseltongue and you nodded. Could you understand him?" she asked nervously.

"Yes, but I can talk to all animals, not just snakes," she answered quietly and a little reluctantly.

"Why are we the last to know everything?" yelled Ron.

"I-I didn't want you all to think I was weird," whispered Alex, "I know not many other people can talk to all animals…I didn't want to be called 'The Weird Animal Girl', or something like that."

"Alex," said Hermione, coming over to her and giving her a hug, "After all we've been through together and you'd still think that? I actually think it's awesome you can talk to all animals."

Alex looked around at Harry, Ron, and Hermione and was happy to have such great friends.

…...

Harry wanted to go and find Justin straight away the next morning, but Hermione told him not too.

"You'll see him in Herbology, remember? And besides," she added, "He'll probably want to avoid you after what happened."

"For the hundredth time," said Harry angrily, "I wasn't egging the snake on!"

"Well, we know that," said Alex, "But after all that's happened, not many people are willing to be trusting."

To Harry's great disappointment, Herbology was cancelled due to the cold weather. Alex had almost forgotten it was the end of November, the year was going by so quickly. Harry was pacing in front of the fire, while Ron and Hermione played Wizard chess and Alex read the book from the Restricted Section. Finally, Alex put her book down and stretched.

"Come on Harry," she said, standing up, "Let's go find Justin and talk some sense into him."

So Alex and Harry went to the Great Hall, but no Hufflepuffs were in there so they tried the library. Alex was pretending to be looking through the books when she heard voices.

"I told Justin to hide out in the common room," said the voice. "We don't want another Muggle-born being attacked."

Alex peered through the books and saw Ernie Macmillan talking to a group of Hufflepuffs. She waved over to Harry and motioned for him to listen.

"I still can't believe Harry's the heir of Slytherin," said a girl with two blonde plaits named Hannah Abbot, "He always seemed nice."

"Hannah, you saw what happened at the Dueling Club," said Ernie, "He was talking to that snake like an old friend!"

"But we couldn't understand what he was saying, maybe-"

"I could tell from the way he sounded he was telling the snake to attack Justin. Potter's a madman, did you hear all that hoorah about him and the Sorcerer's Stone last year? He probably made it all up so we'd think he's the best, and now he's going to turn his back on all of us."

Alex had enough of this. She stepped out from behind the bookshelf and cleared her throat loudly. Ernie turned around and frowned.

"What are you doing here? Stop eavesdropping on our conversations!" he said loudly.

"I wasn't eavesdropping. You're the idiot who's talking about someone in the middle of a public place! If you're going to talk about Harry that way, be sure people aren't around to listen," said Alex, her eyes beginning to glow like they always did when she was angry. Most people took this as a warning to back off, but not Ernie.

"If anyone should know how crazy Potter is, it should be you."

"Did he really go and get the Sorcerer's Stone?" piped up Hannah eagerly.

"Yes he did, and I was there too, so I should know," said Alex, "It seems to me that Hannah's the only one here with some common sense. In case you all have forgotten in you eagerness to accuse someone, Harry has a Muggle-born friend. Why would he want all the Muggle-borns in the school gone if he's already friends with one?"

"He only did that so we wouldn't accuse him," said Ernie matter-of-factly.

"Oh, so now you think Harry's been planning this since he first walked through these doors?" cried Alex, her eyes full of rage, "Then how do you explain the fact he's a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin?"

"He asked the hat to put him there."

"You have an answer for everything, don't you Macmillan?" yelled Alex, "You all are too blind by fear and a need to blame any innocent person to think things through! You know, I wish I could play back what you're saying because the whole lot of you sound so stupid! Use you brains for Merlin's sake!"

Alex turned on her heel and left the library, ignoring the screeches of Madame Pince for silence. She was so angry, she didn't even know where she was going. Finally, she looked up and saw she was down in the dungeons.

How did I get here? she thought.

She had just turned to go back when she heard a door open and a cold voice called her name.

"Ah Miss Radcliff, just the girl I wanted to see."

Alex turned and saw Snape looking at her. He gestured for her to enter his office and she followed him in, thinking fast. So, he had finally decided to confront her about the firework. He couldn't prove a thing, she had made sure not to leave any trail. She sat down in the chair opposite Snape's desk and waited for him to speak.

"That was an amazing performance you put on at the Dueling Club," said Snape. Alex stayed silent, not knowing if that was a compliment or not. "Quite amazing, really," he repeated, sneering, "Managing to cast a spell without opening your mouth, do tell me how you did it."

"I just do, sir," Alex said, "Before I can say the spell, it comes out of my wand."

"Hmm," said Snape, twirling his wand between his fingers, "Interesting."

Alex didn't like the searching look he gave her. She reached into her pocket and gripped her wand. She had just tightened her grip when Snape raised his wand at her. Alex pulled her wand out and the rest seemed to happen in slow motion. As the jet of white light came toward her, Alex flicked her wand upward and the spell bounced off an invisible shield. It came back, hit Snape squarely in the chest, and he flew back into the opposite wall.

Alex gasped as Snape slid down the wall, his eyes dazed. He shook his head and looked menacingly at her.

"Come with me, Ratcliff," he said.

Alex was shaking slightly from the experience. Was she going to get in trouble for hitting a teacher?

He attacked me first though, she thought wildly, I was just defending myself.

Alex followed Snape up many flights of stairs. They reached two gargoyles and they stopped.

"Lemon drop," muttered Snape quietly, obviously not happy about the password he had to say.

The gargoyles jumped out of the way and Alex saw a moving, spiral staircase. She followed the Potions master as the stairs spiraled upward. Finally, they stopped in front of a large door with a lion knocker. Snape used the knocker and the door opened of its own accord. Sitting at the desk was Professor Dumbledore.

Alex felt her stomach drop, she should have seen this coming. Snape had been trying to get her expelled ever since he first found out about her. He had purposely tried to get her into trouble so he could have a reason to expel her.

"Good evening Professor Snape, Miss Ratcliff," said the Headmaster calmly.

"Professor Dumbledore, let me-" started Alex.

"Headmaster, I was right," cut in Snape.

"About…" Dumbledore said, drifting off.

Snape nodded, Alex looking from the old man behind the desk to her least favorite teacher with confusion. Dumbledore turned his clear blue eyes on Alex, studying her. Alex felt nervous under the Headmaster's stare and looked away.

"Show me, I wish to see this for myself first," Dumbledore said.

Snape nodded once more and Dumbledore stood up, lifting his desk with his wand. Snape drew his wand and Alex raised hers. She had it in her hand since the confrontation in the dungeon. He started sending spells at her, Alex dodging them.

"What are you doing?" she cried as a jet of blue light narrowly missed her ear.

"Defend yourself!" shouted Snape, "Stop dodging like a coward, I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave?"

Alex cart wheeled over the next round of spells, anger boiling inside her. She wasn't going to let Dumbledore see her attack a teacher, she didn't want to get expelled. As she pulled out of a flip, a spell hit her in the foot. Alex fell to the ground, her foot was numb. Snape walked over to her and raised his wand at her face.

"At least your mother would have tried to defend herself," he said, so only Alex could hear.

Alex let out a cry of rage and a jet of red light hit Snape in the stomach. Once again he went flying into the wall. Alex felt warmth return to her foot and she stood up. Snape lay crumpled on the ground, not moving. She stared at the scene, a look of horror on her face. She had done it now, she had let her temper get the better of her. She had attacked a teacher in front of the Headmaster himself, there was no way she could talk her way out of this. Dumbledore walked over to the fallen Snape and muttered a few words. Snape sat up, rubbing the back of his head.

"I told you Headmaster," he said, sounding pleased with himself.

"Yes, yes you did Severus," said Dumbledore tiredly.

Alex stood rooted to the spot. Dumbledore moved his desk back to its original spot and conjured up two extra chairs.

"Please sit Miss Ratcliff, we have much to discuss," Dumbledore said, gesturing to the chair.

Alex sat down and bowed her head. This was it, she was never going to be able to come back. What would her friends say? Then, she thought with a sagging heart, what would her uncle say? She felt her eyes well up with tears, but hid them well. She didn't want Snape to have the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and in came Professor McGonagall and Harry. Harry looked pale and frightened as his eyes darted around the room and fell on Alex. He seemed to relax slightly at the sight of her.

"Harry!" cried Alex, running over to him, "Come sit down, you look like you going to be sick any second."

She guided Harry over to her seat and made him sit down. The professors were over on the other side of the room, whispering amongst themselves.

"What's the matter?" asked Alex.

"Another attack…Nearly Headless Nick and…Justin," said Harry, a dazed look on his face.

"Oh no!" said Alex, "Wait…they don't think you did it, do they?"

Harry nodded and Alex stepped back, thinking. Just then, the office door banged open and Hagrid came in, holding a dead roster.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, please listen," said Hagrid, panting as though he just ran a mile, "Harry couldn't have attacked tha' student, I saw him jus' before the attack, I swear on me life."

"Hagrid, I-"

"It's true Professor," said Alex, "Harry was with me the entire time before, we went to the library to look for Justin. Harry wanted to tell him he wasn't egging the snake on at the Dueling Club."

"Miss Ratcliff, let me-"

"Professor Dumbledore, sir, yeh got ta believe me, Harry would never attack another student."

"HAGRID!" said Dumbledore, raising his voice as Alex opened her mouth to speak, "I do not think it was Harry who attacked the other students."

"Really?" said Harry, looking at the Headmaster.

Dumbledore nodded and Hagrid looked embarrassed. "Oh, well then, um, I'll just be waiting outside then," he said backing out of the room.

"Severus, Minerva, Alex, could I have a few minutes alone with Harry, please?" asked Dumbledore.

Alex gave Harry a thumb's up and was led out onto the staircase by Professor McGonagall. She smiled at Hagrid, who winked down at her.

"What'cha doin' here, Alex?" he asked quietly.

"Haven't the faintest idea," whispered Alex, "I thought I was going to be expelled for attacking a teacher, but I don't know."

The door opened and Harry stepped out, looking as though a hundred pound weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He smiled at Alex as he and Professor McGonagall went down the spiral staircase. Hagrid went into the office and Alex was left with Snape. She leaned up against the wall and put her hands in her robe pockets, not looking at the man next to her. She could hear the deep murmurs that must have been Hagrid's voice, and a softer and calmer voice that was Dumbledore's. Finally, after fifteen minutes of talking, Alex heard the heavy thuds of Hagrid's shoes and the door opened. He smiled encouragingly at Alex and went down the stairs. Alex walked into the office and sat across from Dumbledore, her heart thumping in her chest.

"Well now, thank you for waiting patiently," said Dumbledore, cheerfully. Alex didn't look up from her hands in her lap, so he continued, "Alex, do you know why you are here?"

"No sir. I thought I did, but not anymore," she said quietly.

"I thought as much, you look like you are on your way to the guillotine," he said chuckling, "You are here because you have a very special ability."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked, looking up for the first time.

"When Professor Snape told me of what happened at the Dueling Club, I wanted to see it for myself. I could not believe my eyes, never had I seen a student so young have such power. Tell me Alex, when you cast a spell, what is the first thing you do?"

"Uh, I think of the spell I want to cast. Then it just kinda comes out of my wand, I don't really know how I do it," Alex said lamely.

"I want to try some things, just humor an old man," said the Headmaster.

Alex nodded and pulled out her wand. She sat there for a few minutes, wondering what was going to happen. Suddenly, a jet of light came out of Dumbledore's wand and Alex raised hers, deflecting the curse with ease. This happened a few more times, each with a different amount of time in between. Finally, Dumbledore put his wand away and sat down, putting his fingers together in a thoughtful manner. Alex was burning with questions, but waited for the Headmaster to speak.

"You have amazing reflexes," he finally said.

"Sir, what is this all about?" burst out Alex, "What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," said Dumbledore, a little shocked, "I guess I should explain myself, forgive me.

"Most wizards and witches are not able to do spells without actually speaking until they are adults, even most adults have trouble. For you to be so young and doing it so easily is quite impressive. Also, generally non-verbal spells tend to be weaker than when spoken aloud. You have shown, however, that you can not speak a spell and make a fully grown man fly across the room."

Dumbledore smiled and Alex grinned. Out of the corner of her eye, Snape looked livid, so she stopped grinning. Dumbledore saw this and continued.

"Alex, how would you like to have someone more advanced in magic teach you how to control you powers? Having this great magical ability takes a lot of physical and mental training and you need someone who can help you."

"Oh, I don't know," said Alex, thinking. "Who would be teaching me?"

"Either Professors Snape, Lockhart, or myself," replied Dumbledore.

Alex didn't like the sound of that. There was a two out of three chance she would end up with a teacher she did not like, though if she had to chose between Lockhart and Snape, Lockhart won hands down.

"Can I have time to think about this?" she asked.

"Yes, of course," said Dumbledore standing up, "Just let Professor Snape or I know when you have come to a decision. I trust you know your way back to the Gryffindor common room from here? Severus, before you leave, I need to have a word."

Alex said good-bye to Dumbledore and Snape and went down the staircase to the Gryffindor common room.

Author's Note: So a lot about Alex's powers was revealed in this chapter. What did you think of it? All of this comes back throughout the series so I'd love to know what your first impression of it was.

Sadly there are only four more chapter left in this story. However, the good news is that the third book is next and a lot of questions will be answered…as well as adding a few more of course! ;)

I feel bad I haven't thanked my reviewers recently so I'd like to do so now. Without your constant support, none of this would be possible. The same goes for those of you who have me on alert or in your favorites. Thank you all very much and I truly appreciate it. If you haven't reviewed before, I'd love to hear from you. Please don't be shy! :D