Shadow and Light {Severus Snape x OC}

Chapter 3

Summary:

My name is Alice Mc.Garden i was an Auror and I met the Minister of Magic once.

Chapter 3

The Sorting Ceremony finished and the students, well-fed, had all gone to their dormitories. The newcomers discovered, with wide, fascinated eyes, the school's first specialties, such as its unpredictable staircases and the animated portraits. For the older students, it was merely a return to their second home, as Harry Potter and his friends made their way to the common room to chat with their excited classmates about their summer holidays.

The energetic conversations by the fireplace echoed through the school, warming the hallways that had sorely lacked life after being empty for so long.

Further away, leaning on the railing of a balcony, Alice was lost in the chaos of her mind. Many topics were gnawing at her thoughts, making it difficult to concentrate on just one problem. Some would say she should take her time and address each issue as she felt better, but she seemed to think otherwise. Everything felt urgent, and these simple "vacations," which had primarily served as her physical rehabilitation, hadn't helped her put her life back in order. She even wondered if she still had a place in it.

With her gaze lost over the landscape, she leaned more heavily on the railing. Until she had to accept that she was clearly exhausted and needed to sit down before collapsing to the ground. She set her sights on a nearby stone bench and sighed loudly, a breath filled more with annoyance than anything else.

"Is everything alright, Miss Mc.Garden?" a voice in the alcove asked.

"Headmaster..." Alice greeted, somewhat embarrassed.

"Good evening, Alice..." Minerva replied, her expression compassionate.

"Minerva... I'm sure I'll be fine... I imagine..." She smiled at them.

One didn't need to be an Occlumens or a mentalist to realize that her smile was insincere. But Dumbledore and Minerva accepted it; age had taught them that certain smiles exist solely for the sake of peace.

"I would like to discuss a certain matter with you, Miss, if you permit me..." Dumbledore began.

"I'm listening... I'm not sure I'll have the right answers to all your questions, though... I think I'm a bit behind on current events... Haha..." She chuckled softly.

Minerva wore a concerned expression at the young woman's self-deprecating humor, reminding her of another acquaintance, though whether it was truly humorous was debatable. Dumbledore remained impassive and stepped a little closer.

"This is a delicate subject, and I must admit I didn't expect to have to bring it up... It concerns Harry Potter..."

"Harry Potter? A delicate subject? That's an understatement... That child is a story all on his own..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat; he did not seem amused by the young woman's diversion.

"You know very well where I'm going with this, Alice..."

"Hmm..."

"We've tried to propose dates... Meetings... But you've consistently refused them... This can't go on forever..."

"We don't wish to force your hand, Alice... But..." Minerva McGonagall started.

"But you're doing just that," she replied sharply. "I don't feel that my opinion has truly been considered from the start. I've already told you what I had to say on the subject."

"We're simply trying to help you..."

"By forcing a relationship that's heading straight for a wall?" she retorted.