Chapter Forty-Eight
Suspicions and Assumptions
When Alexandria showed up in the Mysteries office wearing her obnoxiously large 'Constituent Guest' badge on her shirt, Severus was quite intent when hearing her request to add Arthur as a consultant.
"I have no objections to adding him, especially when I know from Jennifer that he has all of the paperwork to operate in the United States. He has even been a guest speaker in their Industrial Design classes," Severus replied. "I wasn't certain whether or not I actually had hiring privileges while in the position temporarily. In fact, I wouldn't mind hiring a few more, considering I have learned that the number of Agents you employ still hasn't recovered from the time of the spy war."
"You're right, they haven't. I've been focusing on efficiency rather than adding more Agents," Alexandria replied.
"Oh yes, I understand. I did the exact same thing at Hogwarts for years, until it became evident that the faculty could no longer keep up with the surge of students, despite being at their most efficient. As an outsider, it is evident that you have more work than you have agents, and your to do list has only grown larger."
"Well, part of that was trying to get permission from Mum to hire family members again," Alexandria pointed out. "Do you know what I went through just to get her permission to rehire Corey?"
"Yes, I am well aware," Severus replied. "Does that mean that I have your permission to hire while I am here?"
"Sure, feel free. If I can trust anyone to do their due diligence picking Agents, it's you," Alex replied.
"Then I will see about restoring some key positions, and I will do everything I can to make certain things keep moving in a positive direction in your absence," he told her.
"Thanks," Alexandria said awkwardly, and then inhaled. "It might be a while," she added apologetically.
"I am aware of that," Severus said unconcernedly. "Take all the time you need, we'll manage. The work will get done even if you're not in this chair to do it."
"I... don't know how to process that," Alexandria admitted, folding her arms. "I mean... if I'm not the Minister of Mysteries, I don't know who I am or what my worth is."
"That is precisely the reason why your grandfather was right in ordering you to take a medical leave," Severus replied. "If anything, it was quite overdue. You probably should have gone on sabbatical not long after Ben died."
"I disagree with you there, Father. My job helped get me through it," Alexandria replied.
"Perhaps initially," Severus replied. "It served as the only consistency in your life. It helped you grasp that the world could carry on and that you personally could carry on after that tragedy. But I believe that there was probably a point after you had begun to process your grief that you should have put the job aside long enough to find yourself again. Perhaps you could have stayed long enough to reconnect with your family so that you could have learned to grieve together as well. But it is much easier to judge out decisions than it is to make them, as you well know. And we all managed to endure those years despite its challenges, just as we will endure now," he reassured her. "Take as long as you need to recover yourself, Alexandria. Lord knows how long it took me to find myself after severing my identity from my job. I shall not be surprised at all in the least if it takes some time. Just remember that you have a very large support network if you need assistance."
"Support net, you mean," Alexandria said dryly.
"That as well," Severus agreed. "By the way, Jay has been inquiring about how you are doing. Once you feel you are up to it, you might consider spending time with him, during one of the Hogsmeade trips perhaps."
"Easy enough since the flat is there now. In fact, I'm just about to return to it. Could you have Mum send me the dates?" Alexandria said.
"Certainly," Severus replied. "By the way, Alexandria, do you recall that last day before I returned to Hogwarts after my sabbatical when you took the time to explain to me that I was still married to your mother?"
"Yes," Alexandria replied.
"I believe I still owed you that favor. Consider this my way of returning it," Severus replied.
"Thanks," Alexandria said with a smile. "You alright here, Austere?"
"Yes," Austere hissed. "He has mice in his pocket."
"For now. He does go through them, but it's the only way I can get him to cooperate," Severus replied.
"I guess I'll head home then," Alexandria said.
"Yes, take care of yourself," Severus replied then got back to work. Alex glanced around the office glumly, feeling quite strange leaving as she worked her way to the right Portkey pad.
She stepped into a cold living room and glanced out to see it was snowing lightly, but the roads were wet rather than icy. Quickly she got the fire started, and then went over to the kitchen bar to see several papers with notes attached, causing her to groan. On the top was a folded note, which she picked up first.
"Do not read these until you're ready for them. I'm sure you can guess what they're about. Let me know if you need anything, Corey," Alexandria read out loud. "P.S. Dinner is at Lucky's house tonight. Man, they are persistent!" she said, then realized she was talking to herself. Glancing at the sealed owl window, Alexandria went over and cranked it open. Perhaps if Wilder came to deliver something at Hogsmeade, he'd notice and come in, she mused, wondering if her mother even knew which kind of kibble to get.
She put the tea kettle on and fell onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling. She had lived alone in that flat for years now. Why was being alone bothering her all the sudden, she wondered.
Alex didn't remember when she fell asleep. When she woke up again, the same questions were in her head without any solutions. Her thoughts went back to how cold the Magician had been when they had their altercation in the hall... or was he just being defensive? After all, she had been shouting at him... she was always shouting at him. If she was being shouted at all the time, she was sure she'd be less than friendly as well. Of course, he should never have made a deal with Bagman like that, but she probably could have handled it better. Now that she didn't have access to her army of spies, how was she going to figure out just where he came from? What culture was he apart of made him so certain that she was now his family whether she wanted to be or not?
She got up, finding the silence in the apartment oppressive and deafening. Grabbing her cloak, she made her way downstairs, quickly realizing that Corey wasn't there. She passed through the shop without comment and walked towards the library. She was so focused on her task, in fact, that she hadn't noticed Jack Cade standing outside of the Dragonwing Deli until she felt eyes on her. She stopped and did a double-take.
"Good afternoon, Minist... rather, should I say... do you prefer to go by Mrs. or Ms. Clemmons?" Mr. Jack inquired.
Alexandria coughed lightly to giver herself an excuse to pause. She had never been given reason to think about it.
"Ms. Clemmons," she replied at last. "What are you doing here, Mr. Jack?"
"Waiting for a lunch order for myself and two other bus drivers, it was my turn to pick them up," Mr. Jack said, ignoring her wary gaze. "So how is your leave of absence going?"
"How do you know about that?" Alexandria asked, squinting. Mr. Jack raised an eyebrow at her.
"Haven't been reading the Daily Prophet lately, Ms. Clemmons?" he inquired.
"No, I really haven't had time to since I've been on leave... but I plan to get caught up now!" she swore.
"Probably a good idea," he agreed. "And how is your boyfriend... what is his name again?" he inquired.
"The Magician," Alexandria replied briskly. "But I haven't had any time for that either. In fact, I'd best be on my way. Have a good lunch!"
"Thank you," Mr. Jack said, watching curiously as she went into the library before going to check on his order.
Ludo and Deacon Aldus were in the middle of a chess game when Mr. Jack came in that evening.
"So she spent all afternoon at the Hogsmeade Library," Ludo mused. "What was she researching?"
"I couldn't go in without raising suspicion, but I noticed that she had borrowed the library's detailed atlas of wizard communities and had settled next to the aisle on international wizard politics and societies," Mr. Jack reported.
"That as just as baffling as her stepping away right now. Why is she doing any sort of research at a village library? She had an entire department of Agents dedicated to research any question she has under the sun at a moment's whim," Ludo mulled over. "It must be something that she doesn't want to involve the department in... perhaps something controversial enough that she doesn't want to take the heat for it. And just when was the last time she went over to the Chance's house for dinner?"
"Not since the family got together to help her sister move in," Mr. Jack replied.
"That's what I thought. The generation gap shows in which siblings they visit. Alexandria often spends time with Alicia, Aurelius, and Andrew, but very little time with Lucky and Leu, who often seek each other's company rather than their other siblings. It is very out of character for Alexandria to be at the Chance house short of a holiday or a family crisis. Perhaps she requires Lucky's talents on whatever is keeping her away from the Ministry," Ludo mused.
"The Ministry informed me that she's on a medical leave of absence. I spoke with Draco myself after the commerce committee meeting to confirm it," Aldus offered.
"I find that highly suspect, considering she seems to be healthy enough to be doing intense research. She has also not made any public appointments with her personal physician, nor has she even seen Doctor Conner since her last annual visit, and she isn't even due for that for another month. Yes, I know, she has an entire hospital of doctors that render services incognito, and there's that centaur at Hogwarts to consider. But if she is taking a medical leave, she would still need a public doctor to sign off on it for matter of public record," Ludo pointed out, sliding his bishop across the board. "This is a matter of her wanting to look into something that is a personal vendetta of hers... something that she wants to give her undivided attention to. Something that for some reason she didn't feel she could do properly at the Ministry of Mysteries. Perhaps it is a case that would take so much of her attention away from other business that she had her father step in so that the Ministry wouldn't be neglected," he suggested. "Certainly that is something I would have done myself, if there were no agents available that I felt comfortable in handling a case."
"There is a reason that's bit more basic which would explain a medical leave without her looking unhealthy," Mr. Jack suggested. "Perhaps she's pregnant and having a hard time managing early symptoms." Ludo shook his head and waved it away.
"I know my adversary well enough to know that she would never suffer another child to be born to her when she knows that there is no way she can properly care for one," Ludo said.
"It could have been accidental," Mr. Jack pointed out.
"She is too careful for that to have occurred," Ludo replied firmly. "And since when have you known any Snape to become pregnant without the rest of their brood broadcasting it over a megaphone? If that were the explanation, we would have already heard about it by now," he decided, moving up his knight.
Deacon, who had been hoping that Ludo's distraction would give him an edge over the game, furrowed his brows at the chessboard.
"I'll admit that you have a point," Mr. Jack said with a chuckle. "Especially when there have been so many recent announcements to back up that statement."
"I agree that she doesn't seem to be ill, although not all diseases are obvious," Deacon said. "Perhaps it is merely a matter of stress, and this 'leave of absence' is simply an excuse for her to take a well earned holiday. Damned if I ever remember taking longer than a few days for herself in all the years she's been at that job. When she took a week off after her husband died, she seemed anxious to get back. I could see Ministers Craw and Malfoy force the issue if they thought she needed a break and she was unwilling to take it."
"That hypothesis would explain why she would be researching in a public library instead of doing research at Hogwarts or the Ministry," Mr. Jack offered. "She may be doing it because both her co-workers and her family would be critical of her doing research when she is supposed to be relaxing." Ludo thought it over for a minute.
"Checkmate," Ludo said distractedly. Deacon had to do a double-take, pointing at the different moves as if attempting to figure out where he had made a mistake.
"I concur that your hypothesis is plausible, Deacon, but since both hypotheses are plausible, it is imperative that we respond as if it is the worse case scenario," Ludo said. "What about her claim that she's too busy for the Magician? Is he still running errands in Hogsmeade?"
"I haven't seen him in several days," Mr. Jack said.
"That is because he's been in London, working at the Ministry," Deacon replied. Ludo looked up with interest as they reset the chessboard. "Minister Craw hired him as a security consultant."
"Damn the man! He is too good at what he does," Ludo complained. "Did Peter's office get moved as well?"
"Yes, all of the outer rooms have been moved closer to the courtrooms and main Council Chamber. As I understand it, there were few complaints since in many ways they're more convenient, and more internal boxes were added to make it easier for interdepartmental communication without adding more Ministry couriers," Deacon explained.
"Can you get me the new layout?" Ludo asked.
"Quite easily," Deacon agreed. "I can probably have it done by tomorrow evening."
"Any special instructions for me?" Mr. Jack inquired.
"Maintain surveillance in Hogsmeade, and make a note any time you see either Alexandria or the Magician, detailing their movements. Try to find out what she's researching, but don't hesitate to call in resources if you require them, especially if it prevents your position from becoming compromised," Ludo replied.
"Understood," Mr. Jack said, then stepped back out of the room.
Jennifer positively hated getting up early, and being nudged awake was even worse. Fortunately, by the time she had shuffled to the Headmaster's Study, Severus had her coffee ready for her.
"Good morning," he greeted, despite knowing her response would be less than cordial.
"Why do you wake up so early when you don't have to go to work as early as I do?" Jennifer snapped at him.
"Because if I didn't, you wouldn't get up in time," Severus replied calmly.
"You wouldn't let me sleep in, would you, Rogue?" Jennifer asked her secretary painting. The Rogue Painting blinked and then scowled.
"I am not answering that. I would lose either way," the Rogue signed. Jennifer made a face.
"He has a point," Severus agreed. "Besides, I need to speak with you about something I learned this morning. It appears that Ludo Bagman is very interested in the circumstances behind Alexandria's leave of absence."
"That's not really a surprise, is it?" Jennifer said critically, sipping her coffee.
"Apparently, he is not taking this leave of absence at face value, since Alexandria has been spending time researching in the library. He doesn't believe there are any health concerns that is evident in her behavior," Severus explained.
"Oh, honestly! Not that I want him knowing the details behind what happened, but there are an awful lot of reasons to take a medical leave that wouldn't be easily discerned just by watching a person. I also don't see anything out of behavior about Alexandria researching in a library. She's always loved books, and it doesn't surprise me that she'd retreat to one the moment she had a chance," Jennifer replied.
"While I agree with you, he is rather convinced that she is up to something, and that she may have left merely to distance herself from the Ministry while she dug into a particularly sensitive case," Severus replied. Jennifer rolled her eyes at that. "Yes, well, one of the problems of being in the spy game is that there always comes a time when we accidentally out-think ourselves, and that is what has happened here. The simplest answer never seems to be plausible enough, especially when you are dealing with someone who has outwitted you in the past. The last thing you want is to let it happen again, and I believe that is why he's reached such a conclusion. But don't worry, Jennifer, I am keeping an eye on things. I just thought you ought to be aware of it."
"Are you going to make Alexandria aware of it as well?" Jennifer asked.
"No, that might change her behavior and accidentally reveal that I know more about what's going on in the Inner Circle than I should know," Severus admitted. "But with the family safety net in place, she has many resources available to her any time she needs it."
"She'd have a great deal more protection if she'd come to terms with the Magician," Jennifer said with a sigh.
"Oh yes, I know, but you did tell me that we shouldn't interfere," Severus reminded her.
"I had no intention of interfering. I just wish they'd get on with it," Jennifer admitted with frustration.
"It won't be long now," Severus replied comfortingly.
"How can you be so sure?" Jennifer asked.
"I suppose because I've been spending a lot of time with the Magician over the last few days. Despite the fact that he has little intention of making up with Alexandria any time soon, he is beginning to make changes in his life to make room for her," Severus explained. "He has already reached the pavement, and I believe Alexandria has as well. She simply needs time so that she can reach that conclusion for herself."
