Chapter Eighteen

Alison

The relationship between the teachers Snape and Undead continued as secretly as it had begun. The two would usually meet after dinner and spend the whole night together, waking up in sheets smelling of sex. Jane was relatively experienced, she knew how to please, and Severus compensated with zeal. He wasn't clumsy, but he clearly lacked practice. Nevertheless, he had a great desire to catch up.

At first, Jane thought Snape was an unrepentant brute with whom she would be fed up after a few times. But she wasn't right. In fact, her new lover had turned out to be sensitive and considerate, and perhaps that was why he had developed his gruff demeanour – as a defensive reaction. Moreover, she had begun to fall in love, and with that came her fear of losing him one way or another. And when news reached them that the Minister of Magic had been replaced with one loyal to the Dark Lord, they all began to fear for the future. Jane would wake up screaming from the dreams she was having and Severus would be hugging and comforting her for a long time afterwards.

'Let's get out of here,' he had told her once as he held her in his arms. 'We'll go live somewhere far away and this story won't concern us anymore.'

Jane just shook her head. 'We cannot. You know the Dark Lord is growing in power and soon there will be no place to hide from him. Besides, I still have to repay him for something.'

'I know, for Susan,' he said as he continued to hug her.

Jane looked startled at him. 'How did you know?'

'You're screaming in your sleep. You're calling your mother,' he said, omitting the rest – the memory of her death in his head. 'However, I have nothing more to add to this fight. I'm fed up with it. I have given sixteen years of my life to one faction and the other.'

'You just want to leave,' Jane nodded and her hair moved on her bare chest. 'However, I feel I must stay here. I'll be a worthless parasite if I'm not here until the end.'

'I understand. So we stay.'

'Severus, it would be easier for me if I didn't have to worry about you, too.'

'Woman, don't pretend to be a hero. I need you alive. And as long as I have the opportunity to stay here and protect you, I'm not going anywhere.'

Jane was both relieved and anxious. She was used to being alone in this fight, and now she had to think about the well-being of one more person. Also, she was somewhat childishly annoyed that he was better at it than her. She wanted to catch up with him, to outrival him… But she realized she wouldn't be able to catch up to sixteen years of lead. She just had to prove herself worthy of him.

The two had decided to sit some distance apart at the Order of the Phoenix gatherings so as not to arouse suspicion. Ever since the news of the minister's change spread, more and more people enrolled in the Order. One day, right at the beginning of the meeting, Professor Dumbledore introduced several new members. Among them was a tall woman with straight dark hair and hands wrapped in white gloves. Jane dropped her parchment in surprise and Severus immediately looked over to her to see what was going on. She gave him a series of images – she and another little girl playing together, then her family tree, where a little branch branched off about two generations before Jane. Because the woman was Jane's second cousin, Alison Undead.

Professor Dumbledore said that Alison was going to do intelligence and Jane frowned a bit. To get this job, she had to work for several months at the school before they trusted her. But then Alison would be on some sort of team with other members of the Order, which put Jane above her – she still reported directly to the headmaster.

Alison didn't recognize Jane right away. It wasn't until she was seated in the chair directly opposite hers that the newcomer's eyes widened in surprise, noticing her cousin. The two exchanged brief messages, from which Jane learned that Alison had been indeed on an expedition somewhere in Asia when the owl with the bad news reached her, and she decided to join the Order immediately – she had heard about it before from her mother Jane, who had been briefly inducted into the first Order, as well as by her aunt Susan – her cousin Jane's mother.

Snape, who had been following the conversation between the cousins, looked at Jane as soon as it finished, but she only indicated that she would talk to him about it later.

The meeting discussed the possibility of an imminent open war with the Lord's followers, but everyone thought the Death Eaters would hardly dare attack them.

After that, Jane, Severus, as well as Alison, fell behind the others. Jane led them to one of the rooms that she, Dora, Remus and Sirius had been using as a bedroom and without saying a word cast a spell to seal the room as well as soundproof it.

Only then did the two exchange hugs.

'Alison! You finally came!'

'I'd have come sooner if I'd known things had gotten so bad. And you! You're alive and well when I thought… Oh, Jane!' Alison hugged her little cousin tighter. 'What about Aunt Charlotte?'

'She's fine. She just hid, with a little help from me.'

'I won't believe it until I see her with my own eyes!'

'Don't worry, I'll take you there.'

Jane took a step back and continued, 'Alison, I'd like to introduce Severus Snape to you. He's with me, but we're keeping it a secret. Severus, this is my cousin Alison.'

'Nice to meet you.' Snape shook her hand.

'I think I've heard of you, Mr. Snape.' Alison scowled at him. 'Weren't you the youth James and his gang bullied at school?'

Snape just pursed his lips and said nothing.

'Severus has been a professor at Hogwarts for sixteen years,' Jane hurried to say.

'Yeah, I think it's time to put the past where it belongs,' Alison said thoughtfully. 'Nice to meet you, Professor Snape. What about you, Jane, what are you up to now? Something musical?'

'I teach at the school. Defence Against the Dark Arts.'

'Well well well!' Alison whistled. 'So I'll have to call you Professor Jane now?'

'I chose another title – associate professor. Durmstrang has it,' she hurried to add. 'Because I'm only a substitute teacher. Tell me, where are you staying? Can we help you with luggage or something?'

'I'm in Hogsmeade, at your headmaster's brother's pub. He told me I would be safest there.'

'Let's go then, we'll walk you there and then we'll go back to school.'

Jane broke the spells placed in the room and the three of them started to leave. However, a frowning Sirius Black was waiting for them at the door.

'Another secret council in my house and I'm not even invited?' he muttered and looked alternately at Jane and Severus, who reflexively reached for his wand.

'Sorry, Sirius,' Jane said ashamedly. 'We had family matters to discuss. Meet my cousin Alison.'

'Alison Undead, it's my pleasure,' she nodded and held out her right hand, which was still gloved.

'Sirius Black.' He squeezed her hand.

Alison's eyes widened.

'Oh, so you're that Sirius Black. Professor Dumbledore has put a lot of trust in you by hiding you and helping you…'

'Alison!' Jane was scandalized. Alison was using her Legilimency so obviously. 'At least cover yourself up.'

'My, you're so secretive here. There are no such things with my colleagues.'

'Well, you'll have to get used to it. It is important for safety.'

'Hmm,' was all Alison said. She examined thoroughly Sirius, who pretended she wasn't doing anything. He obviously thought she was studying his appearance. She then moved on to Snape. However, after failing to get anything out at all, she looked at Jane in astonishment, who just smiled back at her.

'Well, let's go,' Jane prompted.

'Why are you in such a hurry, aren't you going to stay for drinks?' Sirius said and looked at Alison.

Jane answered instead, 'Some other time.'

'Well, you're welcome anytime. I'll be at home.'

The three of them bid him goodbye and left for Hogsmeade.

'Jane, why did you tell your cousin about us?' Snape asked once they were safely in his room.

'I want you to trust each other. She and my Aunt are my closest relatives. But Aunt, as you know, is hiding. Don't be mad at me, please. You know gossip will start eventually.'

'Fine, I won't be mad at you,' Snape sighed, 'there isn't much I could do. But now I must ask Professor Dumbledore when to report to the Dark Lord about her. After all, she is another Legilimens, although not particularly oriented.'

'She'll figure everything out in no time.'

'I sincerely hope so, for her sake as well as yours.'

'Severus, sometimes I wonder if my line will continue after me and Alison. Or the family curses will overtake us before we can bear children.'

Snape was silent for a while from surprise. He had thought there was only one curse.

'I'm no clairvoyant, but tell me about those curses anyway,' he said at last.

'One of them is that we Undead women usually lose our men. My mother suffered from it, and my grandmother; my aunt didn't get married at all. Alison's father died on an expedition. You noticed the other on me – my nose bleeds and I faint from the simplest spells. My aunt said she could cast a spell without particularly trying to do so. I still don't understand the connection between the two. I wish I knew more, but that's about it.'

'Didn't you research it in the library?' he wondered.

'If you only knew how many books I've read. And they were all full of horrors. Eye loss, spine bending, stuff like that. I feel like there is something my mother knew but couldn't tell me. I think the answer is hidden somewhere in Hogwarts specifically in the rooms in Ravenclaw Tower. In a small book or notebook, girls often keep a diary at school. When I have time I will look for it. Maybe next holiday or in the summer. I don't want to turn everything upside down right now.'

'I'll help you. Just say when and we'll turn the whole castle upside down if needed.'

Jane just walked up to him and hugged him, resting her head on his chest.

After a few days, Jane decided to take Alison to their aunt. She also offered Severus to accompany them, but he refused categorically, 'No, Jane, I don't want to hurt your aunt. The only way I can't betray anything to the Dark Lord is if I don't know anything.'

'Severus, I know you'll keep the secret better than I could,' Jane tried to convince him. 'Please come.'

Snape, however, was adamant.

Finally, Jane gave up and left for Hogsmeade to get Alison.

The weather in Yorkshire was sunny but cool. The two walked hurriedly, huddled in their cloaks in an attempt to avoid the wind.

Soon they reached the tile, Jane bent down and tapped it with her wand. Aunt Charlotte's cottage began to materialize from the ground. Jane pushed open the gate and the two stepped onto the slushy path that led to the house.

'What spell are you using?' Alison asked. 'It doesn't look like Fidelius to me.'

'It's Operius,' Jane answered her, trying to avoid the puddles. 'Do you know the words?'

'I think not.'

Jane whispered them in her ear. 'You are the second person to learn the spell. Aunt's friends knock on the tile and she opens the cottage for them. It's relatively safer, but not by much.'

By this time Aunt Charlotte had come out of the door and was walking towards them.

'Jane, I'm so glad to see you! And that looks like Alison!' The old woman rummaged through the pockets of her mantle, took out glasses from one and hurriedly put them on. 'Alison, you're home!'

'Aunt Charlotte!' Alison shouted and ran to her.

Jane just smiled as her cousin threw herself on her aunt's neck, and continued walking through the stray branches and snow along the path. When she reached the door of the cottage, Alison was still hanging around their aunt's neck.

'How about we go inside?' Jane suggested after looking at them somewhat bored.

'Yes, of course,' replied Alison, and opened the door vigorously.

A fireplace was burning in the living room. The three sat down in the armchairs in front of it. While Aunt Charlotte fussed over the kettle, Jane examined her cousin's hands, still covered with the white gloves.

'Alison, why don't you remove them?' Jane pointed at the gloves.

'Because my skin has gone sore,' she replied, removing her right glove for proof.

Its surface was as rough as a dragon skin gauntlet, and her palm was all cracked and divided into numerous grooves.

'What did you do to your hands?' Jane gasped.

'I work in the field, you know? And I don't like using work gloves, they restrict my movements.'

Aunt Charlotte brought the tea set and began to pour the tea.

'Alice, what's that on your hand?' she asked, setting the teapot down on the table next to them.

'Nothing, Aunt,' Alison said, hiding her hand behind her back.

'Alice, show me your hand!' ordered the aunt sternly.

Alison hesitated a bit, clearly debating whether or not to persist, but eventually made up her mind and slowly extended her hand forward.

Jane felt both funny and sad for her cousin. She knew what was coming next.

'What did you do to your hands?' Aunt Charlotte began. 'You roll in the dust all day and don't use any protection! What if there are sharp objects infected with dragon tetanus and whatnot?'

The tirade went on for another minute or so while the aunt rummaged through the cupboards. Finally, she returned, holding a small jar in her hand.

'Auntie, I don't want to apply these balms!' Alison protested. 'My hands will heal on their own.'

'They'll get better faster when you lubricate them,' insisted the aunt. 'I won't let you walk around town like that!'

The two argued for some more time until Alison finally gave in.

'Oh good! I'll do it,' she said, taking off her other glove as well. Then, under the supervision of her aunt and following her directions, she applied a thick layer of balm to both sides of her hands.

At that time Jane took the broom and said she was going to sweep the path. After a while, she came back for the shovel and noticed that Alison and Aunt Charlotte were whispering something to each other in front of the fireplace.

Jane returned in the yard and continued to shovel the snow from the path. The broom and shovel worked flawlessly as she directed them with her wand.

She really wanted to introduce Severus to her aunt, but he was right. She had to keep Aunt Charlotte as far away from herself as possible, and from him as well.

When she reentered the house, her relatives were already drinking tea and eating homebaked biscuits. The two cousins stayed a little longer with their aunt, and when it began to get dark, they started to go home.