The train stopped at Hogwarts a mere twenty or thirty minutes later. All those aboard had changed into their robes and were ready to head to the feast. The students got off the train in an orderly fashion. It was pouring the rain. Hagrid was there to great them as he always was. Severus and Alaina were the last to get off. Remus came off right before them.
"I should think we'd better get to the castle quickly!" he called to them.
Alaina nodded. "Good idea." She took Severus's hand and they all three headed for a carriage. They got in before they were too drowned by the rain. "I'm going to have to change into some dry clothes before I go into the Great Hall."
"Me too I'm afraid," Severus said. He wrung out the ends of his robes and shook off a little. "I'm soaked through."
Alaina rubbed her face down her hands. "Me too."
Remus cleared his throat. He felt awkward being in such close proximity to Severus. He could feel the waves of hate coming from his body. Still there was something he was curious about that he just had to ask. "So, how long have you been that close to Harry, Severus?"
Severus looked up at Remus, his eyebrow shooting up immediately. "I beg your pardon?"
"On the train. Harry hugged you. I realized then that the two of you must have become very close."
"We have. Not that it's any of your business, Lupin."
Remus smiled. "I know it's not. I was merely curious. You and Alaina seem close as well."
"We are," Alaina revealed, smiling proudly. "We've been dating for a long time now."
"Really? Who would have thought?"
Severus glared at him. He wondered what that was supposed to mean, but he held his tongue. He didn't want to fight. Not in front of Alaina. They rode the rest of the way to the castle in silence.
Once inside the three of them went their separate ways. Luckily the luggage was already inside. Alaina changed out of her wet clothes and into dry ones very quickly. Severus too. They met in the lobby area and went toward the Great Hall together. Severus stopped just before they reached the entrance. He grabbed her hand. She smiled at him and nodded. The two of them went into the Great Hall holding hands.
At first no one noticed, but then the whispers started. Severus and Alaina passed Harry, Ron, and Hermione and they were all smiling at them. They seemed genuninely happy that it was finally out in the open for everyone to see. Severus guided Alaina up to the staff table and they took their seats right beside of each other. Dumbledore smiled and nodded in their direction. He was thinking only one thing: it's about time.
The choir sung a song or two before Dumbledore gave the okay for students and staff to go ahead and eat. Only when everyone had finished did he get up and start the announcements. The wings of the owl on his podium spread and silence fell over the room.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's voice boomed throughout the room. "This year is going to be different from all others because of one sobering fact that Ministry of Magic wishes me not to tell you. But I think to hold the information from you would be unfair to all of you. Each and every one of you deserve to know what's really going on. Voldemort has returned. I know some of you won't believe me, but it's true. He's back and his best weapon is each and every one of you. Don't let evil into your hearts. With that said, I think it's best if I move on to the announcements."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at each other as Dumbledore went over the rules like he did every year. The students around them were whispering fiercely. Harry could hardly make out what they were saying, but he definitely heard his name mentioned and Voldemort's in the same sentence. His stomach did a flip flop. This was definitely going to be an interesting year. First Voldemort returns and now he may have a prisoner from Azkaban that's trying to kill him as well. He would be lucky if he survived the rest of the year. He glanced down the table. A few of his classmates were throwing daggers at him with their eyes. Harry gulped. He had no idea what he had done wrong, but it was something. They all looked either scared or mad and their emotions were directed at him.
"I wonder what's going on that I don't know," Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione.
Ron shrugged. "I don't know, but people are looking at you funny, Harry."
"Even I noticed," Hermione said softly.
"I just hope it's nothing that they're going to hold against me." Harry turned his attention back to Dumbledore. He had said something about Azkaban.
"Whilst I have been assured that their presence here will not disrupt our day to day lives, I must ask you to exercise caution. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving should you wonder outside the boundaries. Be careful. Now off to bed you go. Pip, pip."
Harry's eyes widened. "The Dementors are going to be here?"
"Yeah, that's right. You have reason to worry, dont you, Potter?" Malfoy spot. He was walking down the aisle. "Is it true you actually fainted?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yes. What of it?"
Malfoy imitated Harry fainting. "You're weak, Potter."
Hermione stood. "He's stronger than you."
He glared at her, taking a step forward.
Harry was on his feet as fast as lightning and stepped in front of her protectively. "Don't even think about it." Malfoy smirked and he went on about his business. Harry turned around to face Hermione. "You alright?"
She smiled shyly. "Never better."
"What do you suppose that was about?" Alaina asked Severus. They were still sitting at the staff table.
He shrugged. "No idea, but Harry obviously can protect himself and his friends."
She grinned. "Yes, he can."
The loud clearing of someone's throat got Alaina's and Severus's attention right away. It was Dumbledore. Severus told Alaina to stay put and he walked over to the Headmaster.
"Severus, I want you and Alaina to meet me in my office. There are some things we need to discuss. Important things concerning Mr. Potter and myself."
"Of course, sir."
"I'll meet you there in ten minutes."
Severus walked back over to Alaina.
"What was that about?" she asked.
"Dumbledore wants to meet with us and I have a feeling it is not good news."
~ * ~
It didn't take long for Severus and Alaina to get to Dumbledore's office. True to his word, he came in not far behind them.
"Please have a seat," he invited.
Alaina sat down and silently urged Severus to do the same. Even thought he would have been more comfortable standing, he obliged her anyway.
"Now," Albus said clasping his hands together in front of him. "I have some things to tell you. I informed the rest of the staff yesterday, but I wanted to speak to the pair of you alone. Those who read the newspapers already knew. First of all, congratulations on coming out of the closet so to speak." He smiled at the both of them. They returned the gesture.
"Thank you," Severus said.
He nodded. "Now let us get down to the other reason," Albus continued. He pulled out a few copies of The Daily Prophet and put them in front of his two visitors. "After several meetings with the Minister of Magic, he had decided that both Harry and myself are mad. Voldemort, according to him, has not returned."
Alaina stared down at the newspaper in front of her. FUDGE: ALL IS WELL flashed before her eyes and anger rose up inside of her as the next headline made an appearance right after that one: POTTER OR PLOTTER? THE TRUTH BEHIND HIS LIES. She glanced at Severus. He was looking down at the paper too and she could see that he too was upset.
"This is ridiculous!" Alaina exclaimed. "What? Does he have to be facing Voldemort himself before he'll believe that he's returned?"
"I suppose," Dumbledore told her. "I'm really unsure. He's fearful of the possibility. Everyone is."
"That's no excuse," she argued.
He sighed. "I feel the same."
Severus pressed his lips together. "I could prove it to him, Albus. One look at the Dark Mark and he could no longer deny it."
"I'm afraid we've already tried that. We had Lucius brought in from Azkaban to do just that. He saw the mark was thriving and Fudge still refuses to believe it's true."
Severus's eyes widened in disbelief. "Then he's the one who's mad. He's going to get people murdered just because he can't face the truth."
"Exactly what I told him," Albus admitted. "He remains adamant about the whole thing, which brings me to the next order of business. I'm afraid if the Ministry won't help me, we'll have to take Voldemort on alone. And when I say we I mean the members of the Order of the Phoenix. I've been contacting some of the former members, which is why Lupin is here this year. I anticipate that we'll need the extra security. And I wanted to ask you if you will join me."
"Of course," Alaina said. She didn't even have to think about it. "I'm in."
"Great. Severus?"
Severus looked him straight in the ey. "After what he did to me? You can bet I'm in."
Dumbledore smiled. "I was hoping to get both of you on board. I'm not sure how the students will react to Harry, but I assure you that the staff is behind him one hundred percent."
Alaina smiled. That was a comforting thought. She stood. "I think, if the meeting is over, I'm going to turn in for the night."
"It is."
Severus stood as well. He gently took her by the shoulders and pressed his lips against hers. Alaina was completely surprised. It was the first time he had kissed her in front of anyone but Harry and that was only because he had walked in on them.
"Goodnight, love," he said when they parted.
She smiled lovingly at him. "Goodnight." She left him standing there with Dumbledore as she walked out of the office.
"I"m glad to see you happy, Severus," Albus confessed. "It suits you."
"Thank you." He sighed. He was happy, but there were other things on his mind too. "I could convince the Minister, Albus," he said. "I was tortured by Voldemort just a few months ago. I saw him with my very own eyes."
"I know. I tried that too, Severus. He refused to believe me. He dismissed the fact that you saw Voldemort, saying that you couldn't be sure of anyone's identity under durress from torture."
"That's proposterous. I know who I saw."
"I know you do. That's why we, and the other members of the Order, will have to take matters into our own hands."
Severus sighed. He was afraid that would lead to losses. As a matter of fact, there was no doubt in his mind that it would. Everything changed and he feared that there would be nowhere that was safe anymore. Not even Hogwarts.