Chapter Forty-Three

Live and Let Spy

It was always difficult to get back into a routine after the Christmas holiday. It involved unpacking, setting aside completed homework, and looking over schedules, followed by a trip to the common room for some hot spiced apple juice. Quintin and Jeremy sat down at the research corner where Oscar and Pete were, finishing one of their holiday assignments.

"Hey, Jeremy! Did the Dashing Doppler really show up at your house?" Oscar whispered loudly.

"Yeah," Jeremy said, sitting across from Quintin with his drink. "But it wasn't all that exciting, really, he mainly wanted to know about the Snape family's Christmas traditions. Apparently he was trying to work out some gifts or something."

"Yes, Alex and the four of us, Jay, Rus, Seren and I all got presents," Quintin confirmed.

"Does that mean Alex really is dating him like the papers are saying?" Oscar asked with interest.

"I think so, but I don't know if it's anything serious," Quintin admitted. "I mean, she likes him enough to mention it to Rus, but she hadn't really made up her mind about him yet."

"Well he is a known criminal, after all," Oscar said.

"Maybe, but considering his talents for espionage, I would have guessed that Alexandria would want to recruit him as an Agent," Jeremy said. "Back home, it's not unheard of for the government to come in and offer a deal to criminals with specific skills they need to join the WIAB. On top of that, I don't think he's all that bad of a guy. I think it's a matter of him not knowing what the rules are in the country and breaking them on accident."

"I can believe that he broke the Secrecy Act on accident, but breaking into the Ministry? You can't call that an accident," Pete protested.

"Yeah, but like I said, that's one of those sorts of skills that governments like to give amnesty for," Jeremy said.

"Why don't you write and ask, Jeremy, since he talks to you," Oscar suggested.

"I'm not allowed to talk to him anymore. The WIAB had to get involved twice; once because of the Dashing Doppler and once because one of Bagman's minions found me because he wanted to know what the Doppler was doing in Pittsburgh. So my parents told me that I was not allowed to do anymore interviews outside of the castle while I'm at Hogwarts. In fact, they think that the one thing I should be investigating is other possible career choices," Jeremy explained.

"It's not like it's their choice, is it?" Pete said.

"Well, no, but it's better to humor them when they're the ones that line my pockets," Jeremy said. Then he snapped his fingers. "I've got it! I'll start my own business. If I'm making my own money, I can do what I want."

"This'll be good," Quintin said dryly.

"Maybe I can think of something to sell at the Snow Festival this year," Jeremy thought brightly.

"I don't think you'll have the time. Look at how grey the skies are, Jeremy," Quintin said.

"They're always grey this time of year," Pete said.

"True, but when Jay and I were walking back from Sagittari's this morning, it definitely smelled like it does before it snows," Quintin said.

"I'll go check the newspaper," Oscar offered, going over to a different table to fetch it. His brother Ozzy came back over with him, along with Duncan, Pippa, and Pamina.

"So what's the verdict?" Quintin asked.

"Heavy frost this week, but no snow expected until next Monday," Oscar reported. All of the students in hearing distance murmured at that.

"There we are, then! We've got a bit less than two weeks, and since that's the case, I think it's more important that you help run the festival booths, don't you?" Quintin suggested.

"Sure, fine. Hey, how about a hot dog stand? I bet Dad will let me borrow the hot dog roller since Whitebridge has already had their First Fall," Jeremy suggested.

"What's a hot dog roller?" Oscar asked.

"It's a sort of hot plate with rollers that helps the sausages to cook evenly," Quintin explained. "And you make a lot of them at once."

"That sounds like fun. Hey, does the Order of the Owls let outsiders help too?" Oscar asked.

"Sometimes, yes. Did you want to help?" Jeremy asked.

"Yeah! That sounds like fun!" Oscar said.

"What about you, Ozzy?" Jeremy asked, seeing his brother sitting next to them watching.

"Not me! I'd rather eat," Ozzy said.

"He's your brother, all right," Pete snorted, and everyone at the table laughed in agreement.


The first week back flew by very quickly. By the next week, the students had caught up with each other's activities and were ready to take on the second half of their term. Mondays were one of the days she spent the first half of her day in the Items Room, and the second half in the Potions Lab, which often meant having lunch in her office while she switched subjects. Jennifer had just gotten to her office to inspect her lunch tray when there was a flutter at the window. She looked up with surprise.

"Oh hello, Wilder. What are you doing here?" Jennifer asked, and he held out a note in his talon. "Oh, a letter, I see," she said, opening it as he watched expectantly. Jennifer sighed. "She's still really quite upset, isn't she?" Wilder hooted long and low in agreement. "Well, I am sorry, but I promised myself that I wasn't going to get involved in this matter. I really don't want to be in the middle," she said firmly, but then softened. "Still, we really ought to tell Severus about it, just in case he wants to talk to her about the stand-off. You know, it's perfectly natural to have these types of breakdowns at first. Severus and I went through quite a few of them in our earlier years together," Jennifer went on, getting out some note paper of her own. "I'm going to write to Severus with the bits he needs to know and you can deliver it, but I wouldn't be surprised if he chooses not to stand aside as well. Still, let's give him the opportunity in case he does want to mettle," Jennifer decided, scribbling out the note and folding it with her seal. Then she checked her watch. "There we are! He's in his study," she told the owl, handing it back and watching as he flew away again.


Alexandria heard that familiar knock on the Portkey door.

"Come in," she said with a sigh.

Severus stepped inside and saw that Alex was brooding by the window, looking out at the snow.

"Oh, we're in Hogsmeade. If I had known, I would have walked," Severus decided.

"It's one of the few locations that I don't have to constantly change," Alexandria grumbled, looking down the street from a hidden floor above Corey's shop. "Besides, the snow is kind of relaxing considering how stressful work has been lately."

"Yes, I know, I've been helping at the Auror department since Dragon level security means that Harry needs to double up, and I've heard plenty of people complaining in the corridors," Severus replied.

"We're getting complaints from all sides of the political spectrum. None of them understand why it's necessary," Alexandria said, shaking her head irritably.

"Did you ever get the final report on what was taken before the increase in security?" Severus asked.

"Yes, and what was taken was a statement in and of itself. They took things like personnel files, property deeds, and some sealed court records... anything they could grab that would give the Ministry headaches if we let the public know they were taken," Alexandria said, walking to the kitchen to put the kettle on.

"In other words, you haven't told anyone," Severus replied.

"You would know if we had, because they would likely be all over the newspapers by now," Alexandria said.

"True, but by attempting to hide it, you are playing right into Bagman's hands," Severus warned, stepping over to the kitchen bar. "He and his mouthpieces have been doing everything they can to convince the Solidarity party that the Ministry needs more transparency. By not telling the public, you are essentially making it easier for him to make that argument."

"Yes, that's what Grandfather said," Alexandria replied, putting the tea and some cups on the table. "Draco wasn't so sure it was a good idea to say anything, and frankly neither do I. It would quiet most of the complaints about the increase in Ministry security, but since we don't have any direct proof that it was Bagmen's men, we wouldn't be able to say anything about that part."

"Which means that the public will probably assume it's the Dashing Doppler, is that it?" Severus concluded.

"Personally, I think the Magician deserves what he gets after the trouble he's caused. But I don't deserve it, and you know perfectly well that if he's implicated, they will start bringing up those rumors in the paper, and then I'll get blamed for giving him temporary immunity," Alex said irritably.

"Does your attitude mean that the Doppler has something to do with this after all?" Severus inquired.

"It's all his fault, actually. He's the one who leaked the plan for blood magic security to Bagman when he took it upon himself to seek Ludo out to talk 'man to man' with him. He got it into his head that he needed to protect me and went blundering off on his own to face him without even bothering to tell me where he was going or what he was attempting to do!" Alex snapped angrily, nearly spilling the sugar bowl when she put it down.

"I know the feeling well," Severus assured her, stirring his tea. "I take it that the two of you had quite a row over it."

"It was more than a row, I broke up with him," Alex snapped. Her father didn't react to her declaration. In fact, he wasn't the slightest bit surprised. "I can't afford to be with someone that I can't trust completely, and I certainly can't trust him if he's going to go off and doing irrational things, not to mention betraying the Ministry in the process!"

"Did he give you a reason?" Severus inquired.

"He said he made a deal with Bagman to keep our relationship out of the papers. Any more than that, I don't know, because things got a bit heated after that. I told him just how much trouble he caused and then chucked him out of the Quibble Club and informed him I never wanted to see him again," Alexandria said.

"I see," Severus said, sipping his tea.

"It's not as if I didn't have reason! He gave Bagman top secret information, which he knew he wasn't supposed to tell to anyone, and that he could go to jail for. I have every right to be angry. He was the one in the wrong, not me," Alexandria added defensively.

"Yes," Severus agreed. "To be fair, however, it would appear that his plan worked, since I haven't seen a single rumor in the paper for at least two weeks.."

"Of course not! That's when we broke up!" Alexandria pointed out.

"Are you really sure that's the only reason it stopped?" he inquired. Alexandria sighed testily.

"Even if he did convince Bagman to stop mentioning it, it doesn't change the fact that leaking that information was illegal," Alexandria said firmly. "He was still wrong."

"Yes," Severus agreed calmly.

"And being the Minister of Mysteries, I just can't afford to be with someone that I can't trust completely, and what he did that day proved I can't trust him. Not only because of my job, but because it'd put us both in terrible danger if I couldn't count on him to do what he's told. Does that make sense?"

"Yes," Severus replied again.

"Then all I want to know is... how come I feel guilty despite being the one who was right?" Alexandria asked despairingly.

"Perhaps you went a bit overboard in your reaction to the situation," Severus suggested calmly.

"Maybe just a bit," Alexandria admitted. "But it doesn't matter. because I'm done with him anyway. I can't trust him!"

"You can trust him to follow his instincts. You can trust him to go out of his way to do what he thinks is best. And you can trust him to do what he feels he has to do, regardless of personal consequences," Severus replied. "But as someone who has been married decades to someone hard-wired to follow her instincts, I should warn you that attempting to stop them, fight them, or tether them in any way is a lost cause. Ironically enough, they're much more open to rational thinking when you don't try to..."

"You don't understand," Alexandria snapped. Severus gazed at her with a tired, taciturn expression. "He could have been killed trying a stunt like that! And not only did he put himself in danger, he put everyone else in danger as well! If only he had come to me with what he wanted to do..."

"You would have attempted to stop him," Severus interrupted knowingly.

"Of course I would have, considering he shouldn't have gone at all!" Alex said irritably.

"Which is precisely why he didn't tell you in the first place," Severus attempted to explain.

"And that's exactly why I can't ever trust him," Alexandria concluded.

"Alexandria, it is quite plain to me that the reason he doesn't trust you is that you do not trust him to make his own decisions," Severus explained. "You cannot be an equal partner to someone you are attempting to stifle. It doesn't work. You must choke back your terror and learn to trust more, listen more, and find a way to adapt. Do not think for a moment that you can simply carry on with your current life as if nothing has changed. That will only lead you to misery."

"I'm sure that'd be great advice if we were staying together, but I don't have to worry about any of that because I broke up with him and I have no intention of getting back together again," Alexandria told him firmly.

Severus sighed with exasperation and got up.

"I can see that your mother's idea of staying out of this was the wiser choice," Severus decided. "Perhaps once you've finally hit the pavement, you'll be ready to speak to me again."

"I'm not falling off a building or train wrecking or anything else, Dad," Alexandria said resolutely.

"Do you mind if I leave by the front door? I am going to go down the street and have tea with Albus. I believe I owe him an apology or two," he explained. "Good luck, Alexandria. Try not to give yourself too many regrets."

"I won't," Alexandria said firmly.

Severus waited until he was outside the door before he finally shook his head, climbing down the stairs into the shop.