Disclaimer: You know the drill, guys. I own nothing. 'Cept Caleb, i guess.

Sorry thatI haven't updated in forever, but I'm in the middle of prelims. Should be revising just now. For those of you anxiously awaiting another chapter of WM, I can only apologise - I will be continuing with that, but at the moment, I'm a little stuck. Luv Lolly xxx

Alex and Caleb stayed in the bar until almost one before heading outside. Alex had learned that Caleb was a nineteen-year-old English guy who was taking a year out before going to uni to do a course in Languages. He was on holiday with his twenty-two year-old sister, while his parents travelled around the Caribbean on a second honeymoon. They had talked for hours on end, not noticing the time ticking away.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Caleb asked curiously. Alex intrigued him, a young man who seemed reluctant to talk much about himself, but who was so bright and fun to be with. Yet there was something about Alex that seemed to murmur 'danger'. An intoxicating feeling that Caleb couldn't get enough of.

"No idea - pretty much depends on Severus, I guess. I'll probably see you about at some point, though. I can't see Severus and I getting along for an entire day."

"Well I'm in room 237 if you want to get away from him. The door's always open."

"Thanks." Alex smiled. Caleb melted at the sight of the beautiful smile, finally doing what he had waited all night to do - pressing his lips to Alex's.

"Goodnight." He whispered, leaving a completely thunderstruck Alex staring after him, his fingers pressed lightly to his tingling lips.

Severus, who was in the middle of a fire-call to Dumbledore, stared in shock as the two young men kissed softly.

"Severus? Are you all right? You look pale."

"I'm fine." Severus returned, raising an eyebrow as Alex walked in, a small smile playing on his face.

"Hey Professor Dumbledore, Severus." he said, drifting towards the bathroom. Moments later, the shower could be heard running.

"He looks happy." Dumbledore commented lightly.

"That boy is a complete mystery. One minute he's yelling at me, the next minute he's defending me to his new 'friend'."

"New friend?"

"Caleb something-or-other. They seem to be getting on...very well."

"What about you two, Severus?"

"I don't know what to say, Albus. He's changed. He's not who I thought he was, but I don't know a thing about this new person - to be perfectly honest, it was easier despising him for his father's faults."

"Easy doesn't necessarily mean right." Albus cautioned.

"I know. I just...don't know what to think. He...he's hiding a lot of what he's feeling - not so transparent any more."

"No. He's grown up too fast. He's not a child anymore, Severus. We cannot treat him as such."

"I understand. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going to bed - it is almost three in the morning."

"Very well, goodnight Severus. Pleasant dreams."

"I don't dream." Severus muttered at he closed the temporary fireplace and vanished it.

"Remember - clear your mind before going to sleep, Alex." He called.

"Uh huh." Alex replied, over the hum of the shower.

Five minutes later, when Alex stepped out of the shower, he assumed that Severus was asleep. However, the older man was wide awake, and he screwed his eyes shut as the towel was discarded by the younger man. Despite his morals, he couldn't help but sneak a look at him. Alex was lean but had filled out a bit, his muscles were well-defined. He was perfect - flawless. Alex pulled on a pair of boxers before sitting down on his own double bed. His light smile was gone, replaced a pensieve, thoughtful look.

"It's been a very odd day." He murmured, brushing his fingers across his lips. He slipped between the sheets of the bed, his brown eyes staring at the ceiling as he sought to clear his mind.

Alex was already awake when Severus awoke the next morning, moving around quietly so as not to wake him. Severus remained still for a moment, clearing his mind of the dream he had just woken from. He cleared his throat loudly after a few minutes of just the sound of the kettle boiling, making a cup of coffee. The teenager jumped in surprise.

"Are you trying to kill me?" He demanded, his eyes narrowing.

"No, but if I were, I wouldn't choose shock - there are much more satisfying ways to kill a person. Especially you."

"Charming. You won't be wanting a cup of tea or coffee then?"

"Tea, please. One sugar and milk."

"Hmm - you didn't happen to bring any poison with you?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but of course."

"Can I have some?" Alex grinned innocently.

"Don't be ridiculous - you'd probably end up poisoning yourself." He replied dryly.

"Worth a try."

After drinking their tea and coffee, Alex and Severus began deciding what they were going to do for the rest of the day. First though, they unanimously voted for breakfast.

"Shall we go to the International House of Pancakes, or McDonalds?"

"The pancake place." Alex answered.

"Figures." Severus muttered. "Very well, the International House of Pancakes it is then."

Half an hour later, Alex and Severus were sitting in a booth in the IHOP, tucking into their breakfasts. Severus had reluctantly agreed that he was enjoying the food, and that he was glad that Alex had chosen to come here.

"So why don't we go shopping today? There's no shortage of shops, is there?"

"You want to go shopping." Severus repeated slowly.

"Yeah - don't look at me like that. It could be worse - I could be dragging you to a theme park, or a water park."

"Fine. Very well. Shopping it is." Severus agreed, looking as if the words left a horrible taste in his mouth.

After a quick journey back to the hotel, Alex and Severus took the I-Ride trolley bus to Point Orlando. Immediately, Alex wanted to go into FAO Schwartz, the huge toystore at the entrance to Point Orlando.

"No." Severus refused flatly, following Alex's gaze.

"Please? I've never been in a toy shop before. Please, please, please?" Alex said, pouting.

"You've never been into a toy shop? Not once?" Severus asked, stunned.

"Never." Alex said solemnly

"Oh fine - but we're not staying all day, ok?"

"Ok." Alex agreed brightly, grinning widely. He had won. He would finally get to look in a toy shop.

Severus pretty much ignored the boy after that - after all, it wouldn't do for Joseph to get too comfortable with the Potions Master. Alex didn't seem to mind very much as he raced around the shops, reminding Severus of a whirling dervish - the boy didn't seem to need to pause for even a breath. It was rather remarkable. Severus pondered over this for a moment before Alex was off again. His massive spending spree seemed to prove Severus right in his assumption that Alex was indeed a spoilt brat.

"I'm done. Your turn." Alex announced.

"What are you talking about, brat?" Severus snapped, Missing the hurt look in Alex's eyes.

"It's your turn to choose what we do now - you did what I wanted, now it's my turn to do what you want to do."

"Back to the hotel it is, then." Severus said dispassionately.

So back to the hotel they went. Alex spent fifteen minutes sorting out his purchases and putting them away. All the time, he ignored Severus. As soon as he was done, he grabbed his sketch book and pencils and walked out.

"I'll be back for dinner." Was all he said.

Only ten minutes after he had left, Severus' peace was interrupted by a knock at the door. He opened it to find Caleb on the other side.

"What do you want?" He growled angrily.

"I was looking for Alex - is he here?"

"No - the little brat has disappeared again. I thought you would be the first person he came to see."

"I haven't seen him anywhere - he's not in the pool, by the pool, in the shop, in the foyer, in the bar or anywhere, apparently."

"What are you saying?"

"I can't find Alex anywhere!"

"Damn brat. Incapable of having a single day without theatrics." Severus growled. He followed Caleb out of the door, swearing that if Alex was playing hide and seek, he would personally throttle both boys.

After half an hour of searching the entire hotel grounds, Severus - though he would die before admitting it - was getting worried. They were just about to start asking people if they had seen him when he saw something that he overlooked previously. A small, well-hidden alcove in the wall. Sure enough, Alex was in there, sketching furiously. Beside him, there was a soft toy - a shaggy, black dog that looked almost like...oh.

"Alex, we've been looking for you." Severus said, in the most neutral voice he could muster.

"Well I'm fine. You can go back to whatever it was you were doing." Alex replied, not looking up or even pausing.

"You boyfriend and I have been searching for you everywhere for over half an hour. And all you say is 'you can go back to what you were doing'?" Severus snapped.

"I never asked you to go looking for me. I never asked to be brought here. I never asked for you to be dragged away from your precious dungeon." Alex said, still focussing his attention on the sketch.

"I don't care what you did and didn't ask for, you arrogant little brat. You should know better than anyone that it is dangerous to go off on your own. Now, believe it or not, this is my holiday too, so if you insist on going off on your own to sulk, you will at least have the common courtesy to tell me where you are going, do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal, Sir." Alex said. He lowered his sketchbook and Severus saw for the first time what had had the boy so engrossed - staring back at Severus from the paper was Sirius Black, falling backwards into the veil.