Big Big World

Chapter 9 Settling in, or not?

Alison looked around her and asked herself for the umpteenth time in an hour, "How the heck did I get into this bloody mess?" She sighed deeply, and went on to start unpacking. There was not much use of her to sit and sigh for the rest of the day, aside from possibly getting that irritating snake all worked up, which brought her such a delighted mood.

She got up from the four-posted bed, which she found a bit extravagant to her taste, and walked into her sitting room. She picked her computer bag up, and put it on the big oak desk positioned in front of the only window in the sitting room. It was then she noticed, or rather remembered that Bianca had told her before that electronic equipments didn't work in Hogwarts, and she proceeded to move the bag underneath the desk instead.

"Seems like I have to go back to the good old accounts book for now," she said to herself and started unpacking the other suitcase. She opened it and lay it next to the few overstuffed sofas, and laid the things out. To her relief, Hermione had packed all her accounts and address books; she put them on the desk. Clothes were unpacked and put in the closet in the bedroom.

The last item that she got out of the suitcase was not something she seriously wanted to see at the moment, and she doubted why and how Hermione found and packed it. It was a silver photo frame carved with a Celtic patterned boarder with a photo of Alison and Bianca in it, taken on their twenty-first birthday in a London restaurant.

Bianca. Now, what should I tell her? Or rather, should I contact her at all? Alison shook her head and knew no good would come once Bianca knew something was wrong. Let's just hope she'll never know.

Since she had finished unpacking, and there was still some time left before dinner, she sat in front of her new desk and worked on the accounts and orders that she needed to make, and also drafted a letter to Stephanie saying that she 'had to' look after her shop, no whining. There was still a bit of time left after she finished all these, she got some clothes from her bedroom and went to take a quick shower.

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Snape was pacing outside Alison's door, swearing under her breath. He had waited for 15 minutes, knocked at the door for numerous times, and still no one answered. "Stupid woman! What is she doing?"

The portrait, which was a medieval knight in full armor, said to Snape, "The lady has a name, Professor. You shouldn't have called her names."

Snape turned around and pointed his wand at the portrait. "I can call her whatever name I want to the longer I am stuck out here. You have two choices. You either let me in now, or I can come up with a thousand ways to vaporize you to get in."

The portrait swung open showing the entrance, which almost knocked right into Snape. He walked inside, and heard the draining of water from the bathroom. That's why she didn't answer the door, he thought. He looked around and noticed that she had obviously finished unpacking already, and the accounts books and a few pieces of paper on the desk caught his attention. He walked over and picked up the (piece of) paper, realizing that it was actually a letter.

Stephanie Seddon! You are in big trouble this time! How many times have I told you NOT to get me any of your crazy stuff again?! Last time was an Egyptian jewelry that almost got me killed because of some bloody occult or something like that, and the time before last, you got Archer's experiment sample by mistake, and almost got me sued by the chemist company Archer worked in. I tell you, you better pray that I am not going to kill you this time. Because of that *present* you sent me, I have to be away for an indefinitely period of time. So YOU and Eammon are going to look after my shop. Don't whine at me. I don't give a damn if you like Eammon or not, just get hold of him and take care of my shop. I'll keep in contact the best I can. Your unlucky and furious friend, Allison.

Snape couldn't help but smile at the letter. She was a fiery little thing wasn't she? From the outside, she looked all calm and graceful, but in reality, looks were misleading. As a spy, he should have known it all along. He was putting the letter down when suddenly, he felt someone was walking towards him from behind and a sharp styler dagger pointing at his throat. He acted automatically and grabbed the hand and twisted it which brought the person in front of him, trapping between him and the desk. To his utter surprise, it was Allison.

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Allison was putting on the corset that supported her long suffered injured back when she heard the sound of a door opened and closed. Who the heck was here? Shit! She hoped she was not in danger already. She put on her clothes quickly and got out of the bathroom silently. Taking out a dagger that was sheathed into the sole of her boot, and charged at the stranger in front of her desk quickly and silently. Before her dagger even touched his skin, he grabbed her hand and twisted it, and in motion pulled her around and trapped her between this stranger and her desk. When she looked up, it was Snape.

"For God's sake! Snape! What the heck are you doing in my room?!" Allison shook herself loose from Snape, and Snape backed away a few steps. She put the dagger back into her boot and turned around to hide her work and the letter away before turning back around and shouting at Snape, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

Snape was trying to control his temper, to not to sneer at her, but couldn't help it with receiving such a response from her. "For your information, I am here because I am allocated as your guardian and I am to escort you to the Great Hall for dinner," Snape replied with distaste, "and could you please restrain yourself from lashing out at everyone? This is Hogwarts, not some combat camp."

"Oi, you are not the one being given a huge code red, of course you could so relax!" Allison just glared at him in a way that could have make anyone run for cover and sneered, "Could we have a move on please then?" She stormed out of the room without waiting for Snape.

Chapter 10 Are you asking me?

Hermione kept watching the doors, shifting nervously in her seat. Even Ron and Harry noticed her jumpiness, keeping in mind how insensitive those two could be. Finally, curiosity killed the cat, Harry asked Hermione, pointing at the direction of the Great Hall doors, "Hermione, are you waiting for... someone?"

Hermione looked back at Harry and Ron, who were both giving her curious and worried looks. "Yes... No... Oh, nothing!" replied Hermione, frustrated, "I'll tell you guys later."

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Alison was semi-running behind Snape to catch up with his speed, while she twitched at her collar irritatingly. It was just too damn tight around the collar. It was not her fault that she hadn't had any robes! She was grateful that Snape had grudgingly transfigured some for her the colour of green and silver, but did he have to make so tight at the collar? She ran into Snape's back when he suddenly stopped in front of a pair of double-doors. "Oi!" she exclaimed, rubbing her nose lightly.

Snape swirled around, his characteristic robes bellowed around him. "We are here, Miss Lowe. And what are twitching your collar for?" Snape eyed her annoyingly, as she had crashed into his back, and now she was pulling at her collar.

"It's too tight. I can't breathe properly," answered Alison, while glaring at Snape.

'Stupid insufferable woman', thought Snape, and he pulled his wand out and charmed it a bit looser. "Now, Miss Lowe, before we go in, I have to warn you, DON'T say anything to anyone until we reach the staff table. Got it?"

Alison was just too tired to ask why, and nodded. Strangely like a gentleman, Snape opened the door for her and she walked into the Great Hall that Bianca had told her about ages ago. She looked up at the charmed ceiling for a few seconds before going down to the staff table. She had promised not to say anything, but she didn't promise not to *signal* Hermione. When she walked down the Hall, she already notice where Hermione was, and she clasped her hands lightly together behind her back, which was a signal that they used when absolute silence was asked for. As observant as Hermione was, she immediately took in the meaning, and pretended to look at Alison like a total stranger. This little episode didn't escape Snape's eyes, which he groaned to himself 'another prat'. He knew that she would pull a stunt like this, but gladly, not an overly obvious one.

She reached the staff table with Snape just a few steps behind her, while Dumbledore asked her to sit between Snape and Poppy. Once they were seated, and helped themselves to some refreshment, Dumbledore stood up and asked for everybody's attention, "Can I have everyone's attention please?" All the students looked up from their food or whatever they were doing, and waited for Dumbledore to continue. Dumbledore gestured Allison to stand up, and continued, "This is Miss Allison Lowe. She will be staying in Hogwarts for a special research programme for her qualifications with Professor Snape's help. Though she is not a member of staff nor student, I expect you to give her the same kind of respect for your professors," Dumbledore looked at everyone in the hall seriously, "Please, resume."

Allison sat back down on her chair, while she looked at Dumbledore thinking, 'Why did he have to tell everyone about Snape and me?'

Like Allison, Snape was also wondering why Dumbledore had to stress the special research project would be under his *supervision*. It did not bore well with him, least of all his Slytherins.

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If someone told Hermione this morning that she would be in a twilight zone for the rest of her life, it would not get any weirder as this. Of all the professors available, why did it have to be Snape? She could hear the curious whisperings at the Slytherin of who Allison was to have Snape be her supervisior, and most of all that she was wearing the Slytherin colour of green and silver! Hermione shook her head and decided that she had to talk to Dumbledore, see if she could talk to Allison tonight, and also what she could and could not tell Harry and Ron.

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Allison was so relieved that dinner was over and she was back in her room. She had never portrayed dinner as such a dreading business, but with thousands pairs of eyes looking back, no one would like to have dinner under such circumstances. She was relaxing in the overstuffed armchair with a cup of Japanese green tea, there was a knock at the door. She answered it , and asked the portrait down to let them in, and in-walked Dumbledore, with Hermione trailing behind her.

"Evening, Allison. I hope you have settled in?" Dumbledore asked, while ushering Hermione in and closed the door behind him. Allison gestured them to get seated and poured them all some tea.

"Yes, thank you Headmaster," replied Allison, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Call me Albus, my dear." Dumbledore put down the cup on the coffee table, and handed her the wooden box, which she took and put it on her lap, "I'd like to give this back to you, and brief you and Hermione on some things that you have to be careful of the coming days."

Hermione and Allison both nodded and waited for Dumbledore to continue, "Firstly Miss Granger, you can tell Mr Potter and Mr Weasley that you and Allison are friends, and she was asked to come and translate some ancient texts for us. That's all you can let them know." Hermione nodded, while Dumbledore turned to Allison and said, "I am sure that you are puzzled why I publicly announced that Severus is your supervisor, but it has its advantages. Of all the professors, Severus is the only one who is good at ancient languages like Classical Latin and Gaelic, I have to make it public so it would not seem odd for his frequent appearances around you if the occasion would occur. And most of all, the Sorting Hat did sort Severus as your guardian."

Allison nodded and found it reasonable, even though she did not like the idea of having Snape's help. Dumbledore continued, "Also, because you can't do magic, I have decided to add a door here, which could bring you to whatever place you wanted to go." He stood up from the sofa, and walked towards the portrait down, and pointed his wand out. With a low murmuring, a door appeared next to the portrait door. Dumbledore turned around again and said, "Just think where you wanted to go, then open the door and walked through it. It would take you to your desired destination in the school." He handed Allison a necklace with a key-like pendent. "If you need the door to appear outside this room to take you somewhere else, just knock the pendent lightly on the wall and the door will appear. Any questions?"

Allison shook her head and put the necklace on, "Thank you Albus."

"It's time for an old man of my age to go to bed," said Dumbledore, "Miss Granger, since it was still in holiday, you can stay in here for tonight with Allison. I'll inform Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley."

Hermione thanked Dumbledore and watched him walked through that charmed door. That left Allison and Hermione in the room. The silence in the room was so long that both Allison and Hermione suddenly burst out in laughter. It was some time after they finally stopped, and made themselves comfortable with lying on the floor near to the fireplace.

"I am sorry that I haven't told you the whole truth, Allison."

On her back, Allison waved her hand a bit, "Never mind. I haven't told you that my twin sister is a witch either. It's alright."

"So, Bianca is a witch, huh? Did she get into trouble with the Ministry much then? She's so..." Hermione was thinking how to describe her.

"Impulsive? Violent?" Bianca laughed at Hermione's embarrassed expression, "She did. That's one reason why we moved to the States then. The Ministry of Magic there is not as strict as here." Those were the days, and the topic on Bianca really wasn't what she wanted to talk about. To her relief, Hermione had changed the topic.

"I know it sounds childish, but how come the Sorting Hat sorted Snape as you guardian? And the robes? They are silver and Green," Hermione asked and turned to lie on her stomach, resting her head on her elbows.

Allison sighed, "Well, Bianca was sorted into Slytherin." Nodded at Hermione's shocked face, she continued, "So the hat decided that I should be in Slytherin too because of Bianca and a few other reasons. It originally said McGonagall would be good for me as my guardian, but she might not be about to keep up to the speed of my thoughs and ideas... so it decided that it should be Snape." Allison grimaced, "Bloody help it is. He also strangled me with the robes he transfigured for me."

Hermione always giggled but held it back successfully, "I can buy some for you from Hogsmeade tomorrow. What colours do you want?"

"Some black and some blue. That should be enough."

They moved to talk about how they were going to work on the Book, exams, the school, the professors... and finally both fell into a dreamless sleep on the floor.

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Way at the back of the library, hidden behind rows and rows of bookshelves were two tables, with two girls studying and making notes. The only difference was that one was pile up with books, and one was only a few notebooks and dictionaries of different languages. Occasionally, a few words exchanged between the two girls, but they are mostly engrossed in what they were reading and working on.

This was the scene that Snape stumbled upon when he was on his way to the Restricted Section. It was a mystery to him that they still hadn't attracted any speculations for being so close to each other, and it had been a week already. Allison might not be Slytherin, but with Snape as supervisor and living in the dungeons, it branded her as Slytherin. Snape shook his head and proceed to the Restricted Section.

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Hermione left Allison in the library, who was still revising her Classical Latin. She was an expert in languages, but Classical Latin wasn't one you could use in daily life, she needed a bit of revision before she went ahead with the translations. She just needed a bit more time to prepare herself. She was still trying to get to grips of what she had gotten herself into. She might not be a witch, but she was not ignorant of what had happened in the first war with Voldemort. It was one of the many reasons why her parents decided to move to America before it became a full-blown war. Last time it separated her parents, this time it might cost her own life.

She put all the dictionaries back on the shelf and went to the Great Hall for dinner.

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Somewhere not far away from Hogwarts, a skeletal-like character was sitting on a rock, hissing at the death eaters crouching in front of him. Hurling curses at them, he asked, "Tell me again what you have got about her."

Lucius still crouched down, trying to block the pain from the cruciatus curses, "She was from a Welsh wizarding family, and arrived in Hogwarts a week ago, according to Severus. I can't find any record of her from the Ministry at all, my Lord. I am still digging around about her, I am sure I will be able to come up with something. And with Severus in Hogwarts, we will be able to crack her identity soon."

Voldemort turned towards Snape and hurled another series of curses at him, snarled, "Oh yes, Severus. She was placed under you supervision and you don't even know her background. Tsk, tsk. Have you lost your touch?"

"My Lord..." Snape replied through painful spasms of muscle, "She is placed under my supervision, but she had the nerve to befriend none other than that Gryffindor know-it-all, I don't have any opportunity."

"All excuses!" It only made Voldemort angrier and throwing more curses at him, "I want results! Answers! You all better be sure that you have had found something before the next summons!"

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Poppy was patching Severus up, when Dumbledore swept in with Allison after they heard what happened.

"How is he, Poppy?" Dumbledore asked her, watching her facial expression.

Poppy sighed and drew the curtains up around the bed, "He was so near this time, Albus. You must stop him from going anymore meetings! He can't take anymore of this, seriously."

"I am not dead yet, woman," Snape snapped clearly but weakly, sat up and pulled the curtains apart and attempted to stand, but sat back down instead, weak in the knees.

"Severus." It was not a statement but an order, "It is not worth it. Allison needs your guidance."

Allison looked at Dumbledore strangely, but when she saw the state Snape was in, she bit her tongue and remained silence. Snape finally noticed that Allison was there, and asked, slight indignified, "Albus, what is she doing here?"

"I am here for my check-up, Professor. Good evening," Allison just walked to the other end where Poppy's office was and closed the door behind her.

Poppy checked over Snape once more before leaving Albus and Snape alone. Albus asked Snape straight away, "They knew she is here?"

"Lucius said he could only find out she is Welsh, and that's all. Of course Voldemort is not happy about it," Snape nodded solmnly, "Threatened more if no more answers next time."

The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was gone for a moment, "Oh dear. They were faster than I thought they would be. Have Allison started on translating yet? We have no time to loose."

"No, I believe she hasn't started on that yet. She had been in the library all week with Miss Granger together."

Dumbledore nodded, and replied, "Yes. We'll also need to talk to her about your next meeting too. Ah, there she is."

Allison came out from Poppy's office and walked towards the two of them, "I am all clear, Albus. Something wrong?"

I think it would be better if we move to my office for the rest. We could use a drink, especially Severus."

To Be Continued...