Chapter 1: Alex Arrives

Alex arrived at Hogwarts a week before the start of the fall term. She had been in London for several days visiting the Ministry of Magic. Of course, she thought, the day I have to drive to Scotland, it’s pouring and I can’t put the top down. Glad those idiots in the London office gave me a convertible.

Ordinarily, witches didn’t drive cars, but Alexandra Lennox was no ordinary witch. Because of her work as an Auror, Alex had learned to function with ease in the non-magic world. One of the things she loved most about Muggle existence was driving, even in a blinding rainstorm.

Alex was looking forward to seeing Hogwarts again, although it seemed like an eternity had passed since she left school fifteen years earlier. Her brother, Michael, and her sister, Christina, were also Hogwarts alumni, but they had been well ahead of her in school. The three of them, in fact, were the only Americans to have attended Hogwarts since colonial times, and they had received their share of negative attention while they were there. How many times had Hagrid consoled her by saying, "Dumbledore‘ll accept anyone at Hogwarts, s’long as they’ve got the talent." For the most part, though, Alex had very fond memories of her days at school and had been back to see Dumbledore several times while on assignment in Europe. As she squinted through the driving rain, she mulled over the conversation she had had with her brother a week ago.

"Lex, you’re coming out of retirement. I’m sending you to Hogwarts for the school year," he said, handing her a memo. "Dumbledore’s in the middle of dealing with a new situation."

"I know. Christina heard from Remus Lupin," she replied, registering the serious look on her brother's handsome face.

"Now that Voldemort has returned, we need to keep a handle on what’s going on and do whatever we can to help. I refuse to stand by and let it happen again." Michael had set his jaw determinedly. As if I need any convincing, she thought.

"How are you going to get me in there without making Fudge nervous? I hear he’s in deep denial." Alex asked.

"Fudge thinks you’re going to observe teaching methods and give Dumbledore some ideas on modernizing the administrative end of running the school. I want you there for obvious reasons. From what I heard, Voldemort infiltrated the school this past year. I’ve been in touch with Alastor Moody and he’s still suffering from the effects of being locked in a trunk for ten months. It’s all in the memo."

"I suppose you want me to change my appearance a little to look more like Gran when she was in school? You never know if I’ll run into Voldemort." Michael frowned slightly and she could tell he was worried already.

"Right. I want to you to have Gran’s locket, too. I have no idea what part of Tom Riddle is left but it might come in handy. I also want you to give one of the copies of the locket to Harry." He looked at her with some reservations. She knew he wouldn’t want her to go looking for contact with Voldemort on her own.

"Michael, Remus told Christina about Pettigrew too. Isn’t there something we can do to convince Fudge that he’s good for the Potters’ murders and the murders of all those people? Coming from us, he might actually listen," Alex said, almost wondering aloud.

Michael shrugged. "I'm not so sure, but I have a couple of ideas, one of which may involve you. For now, help Dumbledore keep the school safe and watch out for Harry. Read the memo carefully. It contains all the intelligence we’ve collected on the movements of the Death Eaters. It seems that they're concentrating on recruiting the next generation. Feel out the students and see what you come up with."

"The school term starts soon, doesn’t it?" She glanced at his desk calendar. She hadn't thought about the year in terms of a school schedule in a very long time.

"Yeah. You should leave by the end of the week. That will give you enough time to register with the appropriate Ministry departments and get to the school. I want you to take as much electronic equipment as you can get from the Ministry. They shouldn't give you too much trouble over it. You might tell them you can give the students extra Muggle Studies lectures or something like that."

"Sounds good, " she said, nodding.

Michael came around to the front of his desk and took his younger sister by the hand. I’ll always be twelve to him, she thought. He looked her in the eye and said, "Lex, I don’t want you to go looking for Voldemort or Peter yourself. And well. . . I don't know how to ask this, but-"

"Listen, Michael, I'm a big girl. I can handle it. Besides, I've got nothing to lose, right?" She knew what he was getting at and she knew that she would have to have contact with Severus Snape.

"Well, now that makes me feel better!" He smiled a wry smile. "I know you can take it. That isn't the point. I just don't want you to-"

"Don’t worry about me, Michael. I'm there to do a job, not to shake up my old running buddy."

He laughed. "Maybe I should be worrying about him!"

* * *

Professor Dumbledore stood in his office filling Professor Severus Snape in on Alexandra's impending arrival. Snape gave Dumbledore a puzzled look. "Alexandra Lennox, coming here?" he asked, giving Dumbledore a piercing, almost angry look.

"Yes, Severus. She’s arriving today; quite soon in fact. She’s been in London for a few days taking care of some business at the Ministry. She’s driving here now." Dumbledore had an odd look on his face, as if he was forcing himself not to smile.

"Driving?" he exclaimed in a surprised tone. "Do you mean that she is driving a car?"

"Yes. She is rather fond of cars as I recall," said Dumbledore.

Snape shook his head., "Would you mind telling me, Headmaster," he said with an unpleasant sneer, "why the sister of the head of the Federal Bureau of Magic in America wants to come here? Is this her brother’s way of insinuating himself into our business? The Americans certainly didn’t care to involve themselves before."

"I wouldn’t quite put it in those terms, Severus," said Dumbledore patiently. "Michael Lennox was not in control of things at the height of Voldemort’s power. You know that, since your time here at Hogwarts overlapped somewhat. Now that he is head of the FBM, he has been keeping an eye on things and has given me useful information from time to time. He recently made an offer of assistance, and I will not turn it down."

"She is some sort of Auror, isn’t she?" Snape looked down at his hands, doing his best to avoid Dumbledore's gaze.

"She is an officer in the Security and Law Enforcement Division, but she has been inactive for the last two years. Michael tells me that she’s been working at the Canadian Institute for Werewolf Research with her sister, Christina, who was in your class I believe. The Ministry thinks that Alexandra’s coming here to observe our teaching methods, given the state of their school system. I am sure you understand that I cannot tell you everything she will be doing here."

Snape scowled. Hogwarts, although connected to his past, was a secure and isolated place, where he felt free to live his embittered existence in peace. Year after year he had known what to expect. It was bad enough that Potter had arrived five years ago to stir up old feelings in him. He did not welcome this new complication.

Dumbledore, who always seemed to know what he was thinking, gave him a small smile and said, "I believe you knew her when she was a student here."

"I do recall a pesky little girl chasing after James Potter and his band of show-offs," Snape replied in a low growl.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with amusement, making Severus wish he had a Forgetfulness Potion to throw in the older man's teacup. "Well then, since you are a contemporary of sorts, I will expect you to make her feel welcome."

Snape made a face and changed the subject. "I'm afraid I won't be available to make Miss Lennox feel welcome today, I have a…meeting to attend."

* * *

Alex saw the road to the castle and looked carefully around to see if there were any Muggles nearby. To the Muggle eye it would look as if her car disappeared as she took the turn into the grounds of the ruin of a castle. There was no one around, so she turned in, went through the wrought iron gates, drove around the lake, and pulled up to the great oak front doors.

Alex ran up the front stairs and knocked loudly. Mr. Filch answered immediately. "Miss Lennox, you’ll catch your death. Come in."

"Thanks, Argus. It’s great to see you again." She looked behind him and saw Mrs. Norris, his old emaciated cat. "There’s Mrs. Norris. I didn’t forget you," Alex said, pulling a treat out of her pocket and giving it to the cat. Filch took her coat and umbrella. For some reason, Filch had always liked Alex. He had turned a blind eye to her escapades while she was in school; something he never did for anyone else.

"Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you. Follow me." Filch led her up several floors and down a corridor to the stone gargoyle. He gave the password, "Apple pie." Alex smiled at the password. No doubt Dumbledore used it in her honor. They entered and got on the moving staircase to Dumbledore’s office. The door opened just as they reached the top.

"Alexandra, it is wonderful to see you again," Dumbledore held out his hand, which she shook vigorously and then gave him a hug anyway.

"Professor Dumbledore, I’m so glad to see you," she said with a warm smile.

"Miss Lennox," Mr. Filch said, "I’ll see to your things."

"Oh, thank you, Argus," she said, handing him her keys and turning back to Dumbledore.

"Come in and sit down," he said. Standing in Dumbledore’s office was a tall slender man with shoulder length black hair. He was rather pale and looked upset. It was Severus Snape. Hey, and I haven't thrown up or been turned into anything yet! Severus had been at Hogwarts when she started, although he was nearly five years older than she was. Thanks to him, she had had her first taste of surveillance as a new student. She followed Snape around pretty successfully while he spied on James Potter and his friends. By the time he left school, she knew him quite well. Oh, babe, she thought, that hair has got to go, but the rest of you seems to be doing okay.

Snape stared at her with penetrating black eyes full of disapproval. She just smiled back.

"Severus, I believe you remember Alexandra Lennox."

"Yes, Miss Lennox," he said nodding at her and turning to Dumbledore, "I’ll see you tomorrow night then, Headmaster."

"Good-bye, Severus." Dumbledore gave him a worried look as Snape swept past her without a second glance in her direction.

"He’s a little intense these days," Alexandra said, raising an eyebrow.

"Professor Snape is given to being rather serious. I’m sure you understand."

Of course, Dumbledore must know that Michael has told me about Snape’s covert activities she thought.

"Alexandra, let me show you to your quarters. After you’ve settled in a bit, I’ll give you a tour and show you to your office." The headmaster took her arm and led her out of the office.

"Great. Did all of my things arrive?"

"Yes. It’s quite to your credit that Fudge allowed you to bring all those enchanted electrical devices."

"You know, Professor, a little creative groveling goes a long way," Alex said with a smile. "I also had Arthur Weasley in my corner."

"Ah, yes. Well, come with me and we’ll get you settled."

Professor Dumbledore took Alex to a corridor near Gryffindor tower. Her quarters were next to those of Minerva McGonagall, who was out for the day.

"Here we are. I hope it’s to your liking," said Dumbledore opening the door of her rooms. She stepped into a charming and cozy sitting room with a sofa and two chairs arranged around a table. The fire in the fireplace was crackling merrily. There was also a bedroom with a large four-poster with red velvet hangings. The private bath was on the other side. Her bags were already in the bedroom. A large vase of Stargazer lilies sat on a table near the window. She walked around the room, going toward the window to look out at the grounds beyond the castle. It all looked so familiar to her that she was delighted.

"I love it," she cried. "I’m usually stuck in Muggle hotels. This is great."

"Come see me when you have had a bit of time to relax. We can have tea together."

"Before you go, Professor, how is Harry?" she asked anxiously. The previous year had to have taken a great toll on him.

"He’s with the Weasleys right now and doing well."

"I hope he remembers me. I tried to see him as often as I could over the years. It was difficult dealing with those relatives of his."

"Don’t worry. He’ll be happy to know you at last. I’ll see you in a bit, my dear," said Dumbledore as he closed the door.

When she had unpacked enough to find suitable clothes, Alex took a shower and changed. She reviewed the events of the past three days in her mind. Fudge is such a loser, she thought. Not one word to me about any of the things that happened at Hogwarts or about Voldemort’s return. Does he think we don’t have any intelligence in Britain? Still, I should be happy. I got every concession I asked for.

Her mind wandered to Arthur Weasley and the pictures of his family she had seen in his office. What a great guy. Why can’t I meet someone like that? She looked in the mirror as she brushed her hair and thought, You did once, remember? She stopped for a moment, fighting the sadness that was threatening to take over, then she put on her bracelets and her locket. Her mind wandered to Snape. I wonder what his deal is? Surely he’s let go of Lily by now.

Alex thought back to the first time she had met Severus, right before she started school. Christina had just sent her through the barrier and onto platform nine and three- quarters at King's Cross station. Alex ran right into Severus. He was a tall, thin, sallow-faced teenage boy who looked like he didn’t like to wash his hair. She did think he had pretty eyes.

"Watch it, little girl," he growled at her, just a moment before Christina came through.

"Hello, Severus," said Christina, when she saw Snape. "This is my sister Alexandra. Don’t pick on her or my brother will come back and settle the score."

"Let him. She ran into me. Tell her to watch where she’s going," he said.

"Hey, you got something to say, you say it to me, wet-head." Alex looked at him, her eyes flashing. Christina pulled her away.

"Come on, Lexy. You don’t want to get in trouble before you even get to school."

Later, they met again on the train, as she wandered through the cars trying to find someone interesting to talk to.

"You seem to be everywhere, little girl," he said to her somewhat maliciously.

"I know who you are. My brother told me all about you," she said defiantly.

"Really, what did he say?"

"That you act really bad, you know a lot of Dark stuff, and that you’re really smart." She noticed that he seemed pleased to hear that. He smiled a thin-lipped smile.

"You’d better get back to your sister," he said to her.

"Forget it. She and her boyfriend, Remus, are sitting together making eyes at each other. They’re so damned sweet, they make me sick"

His mouth curled into a sarcastic grin. "You’d better not let the teachers hear you talk like that, little girl."

"I do have a name, you know, Severus Snape."

"All right, Alexandra Lennox. There’s a whole group of first-years two cars up. Go up there."

"Thanks. Call me Lexy," she said, shaking his hand.

"Good-bye, Lexy," he said. He didn’t seem so bad, she thought.

Alex shook her head back to the present. He doesn’t seem too bad now, either, she thought. She

looked at her reflection and said aloud, "Girl, you have got to get out more. When Severus Snape starts looking good to you, it’s time for a change!"

"I should say so!" exclaimed the mirror. Alex looked at her surprised reflection and laughed.

"Oh, I missed this place!" she said and left to find Professor Dumbledore again.