Are you mad?! She nearly hissed. Alexandra wanted nothing more than to shriek at the indignity of the ask, of the crime he was requesting she commit. There were many times over the course of her life where she had debated the use of the unforgiveable curses (namely crucio and its ability to inflict immediate pain on someone) but never once had she come near actually casting it. (Not only did she not come near casting any of the unforgiveables, she wouldn't have even known how to cast them!)

The only reason she remained by his side instead of screeching like a banshee with her demands and questions was how serious Philip seemed. There were countless changes in him from the events of this last year — some subtle and some most definitely not — but he was rarely stern or demanding like this. So, rather than cause a scene, Alexandra took a steeling breath, met his stare with a glare of her own, and demanded in a low whisper, "why?

---