Hospital Wing

[Draco Malfoy]

Self explanatory.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex walked into the clinic area, pleased to see that it appeared empty. He needed a moment away, to collect his thoughts and take a deep breath in solitude. This was how he typically spent his free time. Looking for a place to just...calm himself.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto walked from the back, wearing the healers hat she'd taken from Pomfrey. "Ahh! Pet's pet, how are you?" the woman practically sang as she picked up one of the charts that was on a desk. "Are you feeling ill?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex's eyes widened slightly and he tensed the instant he heard her voice. Glancing over, he fought to compose himself, the same chill passing through him in reaction to her entrance. Beneath that healer's hat, her appearance was even more sinister. He continued to relax his breathing, fighting to maintain a calm countenance. This was just his luck. The irony of it was a little unnerving. It had been a bad idea to come here alone.

And she needed a response. She didn't like to feel ignored. Was he ill? Yes, he admitted that he was beginning to feel a little sick to his stomach. After a moment of consideration, he slowly offered a nod. "Yes, professor. A little."

[Alecto Carrow]

"Well, Pet's Pet, what seems to be the problem?" Alecto asked heading to stand next to his bed, her gaze curious and assessing.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex looked up at the woman, meeting her eyes and inhaling deeply. There wasn't really a point in being anything but honest with her about this. "All the common symptoms of anxiety."

[Alecto Carrow]

She gave a small frown "Aww… are you anxious Poppet? Do you know the cause?"

Alecto looked at him innocently, her actual reaction to his presence and words remained to be seen.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex nodded, hesitant and guarded as always while within her presence. She was very quick to react as well as exceedingly sharp. Nothing got past her, it seemed. "Yes," he measured his words, bracing for her reaction. Again, she looked far too unassuming for the situation at hand. "Being around you makes me a feel little anxious."

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto blinked, perhaps a bit too innocently, "So… is it my understanding then, Pet's pet, that you are only feeling anxious because you've seen me? And being anxious is the only thing wrong with you? Therefore you are telling me- to my face mind you- that I, in essence, make you sick?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Not exactly," Alex responded gently, treading carefully. He didn't want to argue with the woman. "The sickness is solely due to the symptoms of the anxiety itself. A knot in my stomach, shortness of breath, chills down my spine. It's merely an involuntary reaction to your presence." Yes, if he could reside in the same room with her without experiencing this reaction he felt he'd be far better off. It was never the anger he felt towards her at the forefront of his mind, not even the resentment at witnessing her torture his friend. It was fear, first and foremost. Fear of the unknown. He could never seem to predict anything she did or take any prior precautions against her. It was so very unsettling.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Which is exactly what I said though more prettily worded," Alecto responded tilting her head. "The sickness is the effect of the anxiety that you're experience, and I am the cause of the anxiety- which means I am the cause of the sickness- ergo, I make you sick."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex lowered his eyes briefly and sighed. This was a useless attempt. She'd twist any words to suit her vendetta. "Yes, I suppose it was essentially what you said." He returned his gaze to hers, "would you rather I not feel that way around you?" Though he supposed it didn't really matter. How she wanted people to feel was entirely at her whim. It changed.

[Alecto Carrow]

A brow rose in curiosity "And just how, dear Pet's pet, do you plan to change how you feel around me if I say yes."

To be honest his anxiety amused her. But she still wanted to know his answer.

[Alexander Chevalier]

"I don't know," Alex admitted. "It might not even be possible. I was mostly just clarifying." He tilted his head, "perhaps there's a chance I might become more...accustomed to being around you though." He didn't plan on extensively residing within her presence, but he was fairly certain that it was the only way to overcome the distress she inflicted over him.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto laughed softly "Ah, so you want to spend more time with me? I can do that for you, though you'll need a name, Pet's pet is too much… hmm… let me see, I am getting you confused with Pet. Is your Father the one who was vocal on his viewpoints?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

The woman certainly remembered the strangest details. Alex swallowed and nodded, not entirely sure what he had just gotten himself into. "Yes, that's right."

[Alecto Carrow]

"You know you never did say, what are *your* viewpoints?" Alecto asked suddenly her gaze on him.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex held his gaze within hers, willing himself against looking away. There it was. One of the questions he had been trying to avoid. He was backed into that corner again. "Mine are currently undecided. I can see the reasoning behind each viewpoint."

[Alecto Carrow]

"Ahh, another Neutral… you do know you can't be neutral or undecided during a WAR, you must pick a side… what side do you pick young Neutral?" Alecto asked raising a brow, and lightly dusting unseen lint from his shoulder.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex involuntarily tensed again when she touched his shoulder but continued to maintain his outward composure. Inside, however, his mind was preoccupied with considering a few different replies. What could he say? He couldn't straight out lie any more than he could completely oppose her. "Whichever side needs me most," he replied, somewhat honestly. "In the end."

[Alecto Carrow]

"Hmm… I don't like that answer. Decide now," Alecto declared. "You can't pick a side after the war, then you're a traitor to both and a coward to boot. I won't allow you to be a coward, Neutral."

[Alexander Chevalier]

That sort of struck home. Being called a coward. His father was a coward, only voicing his opinions and never actually doing anything to enforce them. He didn't want to be anything like that. Still, he couldn't allow himself to break his carefully concealed façade with this woman.

"If I were to decide on yours," Alex stated in a conversational tone, fighting to keep his voice controlled. "I'd be coaxed into doing things I'd rather not. I sort of uphold the saying that one should always choose the side that doesn't force a decision. Basically," he felt a bit of determination, levelly meeting her gaze. This was it. No more dancing around the inevitable. It strengthened him a little, actually voicing this aloud to her. "I find that your side doesn't need my assistance whatsoever."

[Alecto Carrow]

A cat-like smile graced her features "Why Neutral, are you declaring your allegiance to the other side?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex sighed deeply, watching that smile cross her face and bracing himself for the inevitable. There was no going back now. "Yes, I'm afraid so." And afraid was definitely the most fitting word to use. Afraid of her reaction, of whatever punishment might follow, and of the entire dismal situation they had all been subject to. "However," he continued then, voice somehow remaining level. "For argument's sake, would you have even believed me if I claimed allegiance to your cause?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"Of course not, though I would have given you credit for being intelligent- you see i have yet, since my arrival, to meet an intelligent Ravenclaw. I am thinking that they no longer exist," the woman remarked dryly, before moving away. "Okay, so we've both picked our sides in this war, so… let's get on with it."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex closed his eyes before standing and looking to her. He kept his mind focused on the moment. He didn't want to consider the extent of his anxiety or the apprehension therein. "I suppose," he offered, somewhat to himself, "that I'm just tired of having to pretend."

He focused on the color of her eyes, still so cold and critical, analyzing him and calling out his intelligence once again. It had been so tempting to just lie to her, but he considered that she might've forced him into proving that lie, perhaps even going so far as to have him torture one of his own colleagues. No, this was the better option. For everyone directly involved. It was the bigger picture he had to consider. He was more loyal than he had ever been to his side.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto rose a brow "I'm not asking you to pretend." The woman pulled her wand "But this is war- and you have chosen your side…and it is the opposite of mine. So what do two opposite sides do in a war, Mr. Ravenclaw?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

"I know," Alex nodded to the woman. Of course she wasn't. She wasn't really asking for anything specific. She was full of insinuations. He then smirked humorlessly and placed a hand into his own pocket, where his own wand rested. "They fight." He then managed enough composure to tilt his head before continuing, "or negotiate, though that seems to be only a distant fantasy these days."

It was true that neither side seemed intent to try and works thing out. How could they? One side was somewhat insane and driven by a deeply rooted resentment while the other had pushed them into this predicament because they had chosen to turn a blind eye. As in the case with the Ministry. He had absolutely no respect for the government of this place. Dumbledore had been the only one who had the right idea about things.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Then… lets us began with our respective roles," Alecto said inclining her head. "Though, on the upside at least you're already in the infirmary."

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Well," Alex responded, glancing to the hat she continued to wear, "I'm not sure how much healing I'll receive from the same individual who inflicted the wounds in the first place." He pulled out his wand, "but, I suppose it always helps to try and focus on the positive."