Mary had always been thankful for Alice; having joined the Order with only basic duelling skills; under Alice’s wing she knew how to use her height to her strength, being able to get out of sticky situations quickly. But Mulciber’s reappearance had shaken her to her core, and Mary knew she needed a place to practice - Ministry be damned. Alice was the only person Mary trusted with this.
At Alice’s words, Mary feigned hurt; clasping her hands over her chest. “Oh your words, they do hurt,” She replied cheekily. “But I promise you it’s worth it. Just look at it with open eyes.” She opened the small door leading behind the counter, making her way to the back room; where Mary’s potions kit was precariously set up with multiple potions in the works, surveying them for a few moments before turning to the big door at the other end of the room. “So I was cleaning up here the other night,” Mary started, moving towards the door. “and low and behold, I find this mysterious looking door looking all lonely and just wanting to be opened,” Mary swung the door open as she spoke, flicking her wand to light the way down the stairs, her excitement growing with each step.
The basement had no miraculous features that stood out, but it was secluded and away from view, which was perfect. “… and this is what i find. A completely empty, albeit a little stale room that happens to be private, and really… I don’t think anyone knows it’s here, to be honest.”
Taking Mary’s hand with one of her own and then cupping the younger witch’s cheek with the other, Alice said, “Dear Mary, Forgive me.” The faux-serious look Alice put on didn’t entirely hide the mischievous twinkle in her eye. She liked Mary. She liked all of her fellow order members, but there was a special kinship with Mary. For all that they came from very different backgrounds, Mary, a muggleborn from a loving home, and Alice, a pureblood from a family that never really wanted her, had very similar personalities. And senses of humor, that part was especially important. “Mary, my love, my eyes are always open.”
As Alice followed Mary into the back of the shop, her mind skipped right past the rows of potioneering paraphernalia, which shielded no one from view and held no surprises, and straight to the door at the other end of the room. That was new, Alice was quite sure even before Mary pointed it out. She’d been in the backroom of this apothecary before, and she’d never noticed a mysterious door before, just boxes of supplies and shelves of backlogged products.
“Okay, consider me officially intrigued.” Alice followed closely on Mary’s heels as they descended into the basement. The very large, very empty basement. Alice’s face split into a wide grin as she walked around the room. “Wow.” Alice looked over the room like she would for a case. There were no signs of furniture that had been recently moved out and the air was rather stale. Everything told her Mary was right, this room hadn’t been used for a while. Back at the base of the stairs, Alice slung an arm around Mary’s shoulder. “This is quite the find, Miss. MacDonald. I’m definitely impressed.”