Alexandra Weasley

16

Alexandra found herself looking forward to her DADA lessons as time went on. Snape pushed her to do as well as possible, and rarely demanded written homework. He focused on teaching her Occlumency.

"Occlumency is very powerful magic, Miss Weasley."

"I know, I know. Most can only dream of attempting it. You give me the same speech every lesson, professor."

"I only intend to impress upon you the gravity of what I am teaching you. Are you ready?" Alexandra took a deep breath.

"Full force?"

"Yes. Now remember, I don't expect you to be able to block me completely. I am an accomplished legilimens, but with the speed you seem to absorb class materials, I'm sure you could soon learn to completely block me."

"I'm ready." Alexandra sighed, once she'd imagined her memories into little compartments, closing her eyes.

"Legilimens!" He said. Alexandra stood firm as she felt him try to enter her mind. She managed to keep him out for a few minutes before a memory of Quirrell before he came to Hogwarts came to mind. She frantically shoved him back in a box and expelled Snape from her mind. The force of her defense against Snape pushed him back a few feet as she opened her eyes, gasping. "What was that?"

"I manage to block my mind from you. That's what you've been teaching me, correct?"

"Miss Weasley- don't pretend. We both know what I saw."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Professor Quirrell. The intense fear you feel around him. Professor Dumbledore informed me you had issues with him, but he never specified."

"Don't tell Dumbledore."

"I won't tell him, if you talk to me."

"You already know."

"Tell me."

"He's not a good person. Not like you."

"What makes you say that?"

"How did you show Dumbledore you weren't a bad person anymore?"

"How do you know I was a death eater?"

"He made me learn every death eater by name and face. Severus Snape. Double Agent- pretending to work for Dumbledore but feeding Voldemort information. I suppose that wasn't true. You must've always been on Dumbledore's side."

"What makes you say that?"

"I can see you're good. I can sense it." She sighed. "Can you teach me to be good like you?"

"You're already good."

"Not really." She stopped. "Professor, please don't tell the headmaster. He's going to want to know everything, and I'm not ready. Besides, he'll go after Ron, Harry and Hermione."

"Who?" Alexandra shook her head, refusing to talk. Some part of her wanted to tell an adult, she hated keeping secrets. She'd never really been one to have anything to hide. Maybe things would've been better if she told an adult. But if she told they'd probably lock her up or even send her to Azkaban. "Alexandra, you can always talk to me. First and foremost, I am your professor. I am here not to judge you, but to help you."

"Don't you judge everyone in your potions class?" She said, trying to lighten the situation.

"Alexandra."

"That sounds weird." She said. He frowned at her. "You calling me Alexandra. You never call me, or anyone, by their first name."

"Well, yes."

"My name's Alex. I don't like my full name."

"Why not?"

"Bad memories." She shrugged. "Am I going to learn legilimency next?"

"This lesson we'll focus on strengthening your occlumency shields. You managed to hold your own with me, but you did slip up once. Your pushing me out was extraordinary, but we must work on it. On Thursday, we'll start on a patronus charm."

"Or we could learn legilimency. It would make getting back at the twins easier."

"Getting back at?"

"My brothers act as though I'm still a small child."

"You are a small child."

"Not compared to them. I'm months younger than them. Not years. I don't want to be treated like a baby."

"And what is it you plan on doing to them?"

"Sir, believe me, I would tell you, but you're a professor and you'd be obligated to pass on your concerns with the headmaster. It's your job."

"And what makes you think I won't tell him you're already up to something."

"Oh, he already knows I'm up to something concerning the twins, and without any proof, there's not much anyone can do."

"I am not obligated to tell the headmaster anything you deem personal."

"Unless it affects other students. It would be bad form for a teacher to step back and allow two students to be... well I can promise it'll be something spectacular. You can enjoy the show."

"Alexandra." He said, his tone soft.

"Yes, professor?"

"You can tell me anything."

"All due respect, professor, I can't. There are some things I can never tell anyone, but that's on me. Now can we do more occlumency?"

"Okay." He sighed but readied his stance. "Ready?"

"Yes." He pointed his wand at her.

"Legilimens!" He said. She closed her eyes, making sure to lock all the little feelings and thoughts into boxes, reinforcing them with heavy locks. She could feel Snape's influence in her mind, trying to open them. She kept strong until he gave up. "Well done. I believe you know how to block legilimency now. Most people who would try to get in your mind would probably use wandless magic, which as you've seen is less forceful and strong that it'd be with a wand."

"Yes, professor."

"That is the end of today's lesson. I think you should be able to learn how to cast a patronus next."

"Professor, can I make use of the potions lab after classes. I want to try different potions."

"Are you trying to graduate early?"

"Of course not. Potions technically isn't doing magic, and I used to brew some elixirs with my mother, or Bill when he had to practice for class."

"I'll give you more challenging examples during class, and see exactly where your intelligence level is at for the class, okay?"

"Deal." She grinned, picking up her bag. "Oh, and please don't call me Alexandra again. It's Alex."

"I will keep that in mind, Miss Weasley." He nodded.