And here's number 6!
It's about time, I know. I actually had this finished ages ago but I haven't had time to proofread the 57 chapters till now.
So, the second last one! One more to go! I've actually done most of the last one so should have it finished by Christmas at the latest! I hope… A nice Christmas Present for my readers. Hopefully…
Also, spoiler! If you haven't actually read the books, I don't recommend reading this one before that, I mean sure there are the movies which give you the important parts, but books have more detail, we all know. I have taken some of the information in the last book and put it in here, as it fit Alicia and her brain. I am sorry, but it worked.
If you're sad they're almost over, don't fret! I have another I have began! I just lost five chapter so redoing those annoyingly and that's my priority at the moment. It is not another sister fic, it's different! I'm not repeating, promise
Anyway, please enjoy. Fred and ALicia are fun to write so hope you find them fun to read as well. Sorta sad Fred's finished school as we can't have as many scenes but, it makes them much more special.
Anyhow, I wish you all well, I'll say Merry Christmas incase I don't get the next one finished before it and have a Happy New Year everyone!
Chapter 1:
"Alicia, you're running off, again." Alex said looking annoyed. She and Portia were standing in Alicia's bedroom doorway as the girl moved around and collected several objects. There was a trunk open at the end of the bed in which several books were neatly stacked within. The desk was covered in a small pile of newspapers and another pile of letters. Also on top of it was a bird cage, empty currently, with the window to the room wide open. Several robes joined the books in the trunk and Alicia grabbed her wand from her bedside table, sticking it into her pocket.
"You've hardly been home for two weeks yet." Portia sighed
"Didn't you spend the last five years at school with him, why do you need to—"
"Clearly you two have never had the desire to spend time with someone." Alicia cut Alex off. "Besides, he's finished school which means I need to make up for four months, as I wont see him until Christmas at least, and after that…" Alicia sighed "With everything that's happening I need to make a most of it."
"You mean cause of Voldy-thing." Alex asked and Alicia chuckled. Considering how hardly any wizard or witch could bare to say the name out of fear, it was weird to hear Alex almost mock it.
"Yes, he hates that Harry and I survived his attacks so often and he wants to kill Harry before Harry can do it back…" Alicia paused before she shook her head "So there's a chance he'll go after the people we care about. Also, we might not survive." Portia and Alex shared a fearful look.
"So shouldn't you not be going out at all?" Portia asked "I mean aren't you safe here?"
"I'm going on the Knight bus, full of wizards, to the Leaky Cauldron, still full of Wizards and then into a Wizard alley. I think I'll be alright."
"But aren't you underage, and not able to even use magic?" Alex wondered.
"I can in life threatening situations."
"Would it count if you put yourself into one?" Portia rose an eyebrow.
Alicia, since Alex and Portia had discovered that she was a witch the previous summer, had told the two the overall basics of her world. She had not, however, mentioned that perhaps the two would have to have their memories modified in the future, in order to protect them. If Voldemort came looking for her…
Alicia sighed.
"Guys, I'm sure I can survive. I have so far."
"You've been lucky." Portia believed
"Why can't he just come and get you again?" Alex wondered. Fred had already apparated to the orphanage a few times in order to spend time with Alicia, whisking her off to some place in the country.
"He runs a shop guys, it's lucky George gives him as much time off as he does." Alicia believed "I also have to make an effort as well."
"Yeah, but I think considering your life's in a bit more danger…"
"Everyone's life is in danger, and anyway, Harry's in more danger than I am." Alicia sighed
"But wont what's-his-name use you to get to Harry?" Alex rose an eyebrow.
"He could. But how's he to know what I'm doing?" Alicia asked
"You want to take that risk?"
"I'm quite okay with that." Alicia nodded as she stood up and walked towards the two, them moving aside to let her out.
Alex shut the door behind them, and the two followed Alicia down the stairs, still nagging her.
"Are you even allowed to leave?" Alex questioned
"I'm almost sixteen, I think I can look after myself." Alicia rolled her eyes
"Will Ms Bane even let you?"
"Who's to say she even knows?" Alicia asked and the two girls shared a surprised look.
"Alicia!"
"Look, I'm only going for the day, it's fine." Alicia assured as she put her hand on the door. "If I'm not back, just go tell Harry, and tell him to tell Dumbledore I'm a love-sick idiot." she shrugged grinning before the girls watched her close the door behind her.
"She is an idiot." Portia believed
"I wonder what it's like though, to risk your life to see someone." Alex mumbled, tilting her head slightly.
"You realise she might not come home. I thought she was supposed to be the smart one!" Portia complained
"Maybe the fact that she's survived so far makes her over confident?" Alex shrugged
"Well, considering what she's lost so far, it's more like she doesn't care. What about Harry!?" Portia threw her arms up and then stalked off through the orphanage.
Alicia sat on the violent purple bus as it weaved in, out and around streets, cars, and objects on the side paths. The Knight Bus had a rather unique ability to make objects such as lampposts, fire hydrants, telephone and letter boxes, jump out of it's way rather than crash into it. It could squash itself together to fit through tight spaces and sped along so fast that everyone blurred outside the window.
Alicia sat in one of the many empty chairs, clinging on a little to the arm rests, as the bus sped around. She was slightly worried about the truth behind Portia and Alex's words, but she couldn't spend her time worrying and never leaving Surrey.
London came into sight very quickly and soon the Knight bus came to a screeching halt outside a dingy looking pub. It was so that unless you knew it was there, you were likely not to even notice it.
Alicia stood, having managed to keep her chair from falling over in the force of the bus' stop, and moved to exit the bus, thanking the conductor and moving to the pub door.
As she entered the very familiar pub, Alicia was surprised. Every time Alicia had been in the Leaky Cauldron it had been bursting with Witches and Wizards, even a few hags and warlocks. Now there was a total of two people inside.
Alicia frowned slightly, people must have chosen to stay at home. One of the many pieces of advice posted by the Ministry in the Prophet for protection was to stay home. She felt bad for Tom, the Inn Keeper, after all, most couldn't get into Diagon Alley without coming through the Leaky Cauldron first.
Alicia proceeded through the Inn and to the small courtyard out the back, where she tapped the third brick with her wand and the Archway began to open. Alicia looked at it surprised. Diagon Alley had changed as well. Usually it was filled with cheerful Witches and Wizards, children pressing their faces in on certain windows. Now however, the colourful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Most of these somber purple posters carried blown-up versions of the security advice on the Ministry pamphlets that had been sent out over the summer, but others bore moving black-and-white photographs of Death Eaters known to be on the loose. Bellatrix Lestrange was sneering from the front of the nearest apothecary. Along with this, a number of shabby-looking stalls had sprung up along the street. The nearest one, under a striped, stained awning, had a cardboard sign pinned to its front:
AMULETS
Effective Against Werewolves, Dementors, and Inferi.
Alicia ignored the man as he called for her and moved through the Alley way. She suddenly felt a bit vulnerable. The place wasn't full like usual and if she was picked off, it seemed it'd be too easy. She moved quickly, but not obviously, down the cobbled stone street towards where the twins shop was. She didn't bother with her Hogwarts supplies, she didn't have her list yet and would have to come for those later in the summer anyway.
Alicia moved down the gloomy streets in search for number ninety-three but she stopped short in shock before she'd even reached number ninety. Fred had been taking her out and away from London, to places like the beach, parks, muggle movies had interested him just for something to do which he'd enjoyed very much as well. This was Alicia's first chance to see his and George's shop. And it hit the eye like a firework display. Casual passersby were looking back over their shoulders at the windows, and a few rather stunned-looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed. The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced, and shrieked. The right-hand window was covered with a gigantic poster, purple like those of the Ministry, but emblazoned with flashing yellow letters:
WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT
YOU-KNOW-WHO?
YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT
U-NO-POO—
THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!
She snorted ever so slightly, covering her mouth, before she moved excitedly towards the doorway.
The shop was absolutely packed, and probably the only one within the entire Alleyway. If she had wanted to be near the shelves, she'd have had a very difficult start.
The Snackboxes were pilled up to the ceiling, being the sweets the twins had perfected last year before ditching out of their final year at Hogwarts, having tested them on themselves and Alicia during the Summer and then on First Years in the first term.
Along with this were bins full of trick wands, the cheapest merely turning into rubber chickens or pairs of briefs when waved, the most expensive beating the unwary user around the head and neck, and boxes of quills, which came in Self-Inking, Spell-Checking, and Smart-Answer varieties.
Alicia moved through the shop grinning, passing the counter were a tiny little wooden man slowly ascending the steps to a real set of gallows, both perched on a box that read: reusable hangman — spell it or he'll swing! Next to the counter was a rather large display reading Patented Daydream Charms. The information was on the back of a box bearing a highly coloured picture of a handsome youth and a swooning girl who were standing on the deck of a pirate ship. Alicia glanced down at it and read the information: 'One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side effects include vacant expression and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens.'
Alicia grinned before she looked up and around the shop. She glanced over heads before she noticed one of the brilliant redheads that owned the place. She moved through all the people and when she was close enough she reached up and placed her hands over his eyes.
George paused.
"Am I supposed to be guessing?" he asked and she grinned without speaking. "Is that a yes?" George questioned and Alicia started to laugh before she was caught around the middle and suddenly hoisted up off her feet.
"You know George I think we have a tress passer." he caught her legs behind the knees and Alicia struggled slightly.
"It's a shop you can't have trespassers!" Alicia snapped as Fred laughed and George turned around.
"We can if they're miscreants." George joined in.
Alicia blinked.
"I think you need to call the owner, because two of them are imposing every day!" the twins laughed before Fred kissed her cheek.
"Made it alright then?" he asked.
"Well it'd have been nice if you'd warned me about Diagon Alley being so sad. I expected it to be, maybe not happy, but at least full. Figured I wasn't likely to be picked off if that was the case." George sighed
"Well, unfortunately people are scared to go out now aren't they."
"Yes, Alex and Portia didn't want me leaving." Alicia admitted and Fred finally put her down
"What about Harry?" George asked and Alicia rolled her lips and glanced beside her.
"You didn't tell him?" they chorused
"Well, no…" she confessed
"What does he think you're doing?"
"Well…"
"You didn't tell anything did you." Fred rose an eyebrow
"No." she dropped her headed "He'd freak out!" Alicia admitted as the twins shook their heads. "I mean I could have said you were coming to spend the day with me," she said pointedly to Fred "But then he'd expect to see us at some point." George and Fred placed hands on her shoulders with mock disappointment.
"Alicia," they began
"Oh shut up." she snapped at them "I'll be fine." she promised before looking around the shop again "So, give me a tour?" she asked.
Fred took her hand and moved her around the entire shop pointing at what was selling best and explained a few new ideas.
"You know, with everything that's going on with the Death Eaters, it looked like people are trying to sell protection objects, a few small shacks are set up in the main Alley." Alicia explained "Have you thought about adding any of those in? Sounds like a boomer of a seller." she asked and Fred grinned
"As a matter of fact, we added in some Shield Hats."
"You mean like your Headless Hats?" she asked and he nodded
"It was a bit of a laugh really, a shield hat for when someone jinxes you, and it just bounces back, but it seems be very popular."
"Why did you choose hats? Wouldn't cloaks have been better? More secure for those wearing them and they cover more area, as they're bigger you could easily charge more too." Alicia said and Fred pulled her into a one armed hug, kissing her temple.
"What was that for?"
"Being a genius." he shrugged
"But I'm always a genius." she grinned and Fred returned it before he kissed her lips in return.
"Hey George!" the twin was talking to a young witch with short blonde hair.
"Ooh, who's she?" Alicia asked interestingly
"Oh that's Verity, we had to employ someone to help. Come I'll introduce you." Fred pulled her over as George had looked up when his name was called.
"Verity, this is—"
"Alicia Potter!" she ogled Alicia over before taking her outstretched hand and shaking it. "Of course you're all over the Prophet! Is it true your brother's the chosen one or is that just rumours?"
"It's a little complicated." Alicia admitted, smiling as Fred and George shared a look.
"George, Alicia had an idea that we make Shield Cloaks with the hats, more protection and we can charge a little more."
"Excellent! This is why you're our consultant." George grinned
"Well, I do know a bit about magic." Alicia shrugged "You really should get into the defensive side of things, perhaps distractions as well."
"Distractions?" Verity asked
"Well, say you're in a pickle and you need just a quick distraction in order to either run, or be heroic, which ever, it'd be very handy." Alicia sighed "Take it from someone who's been in more than I can count." she mumbled and the twins chuckled
"We are currently in the environment for such." Verity nodded. Alicia smiled. She noticed something else near by and Fred watched as she eyed the array of violently pink products near the window.
"Ahh, our WonderWitch products." George grinned
"You've created love potions?" Alicia asked shocked as she picked one up
"As well as some beauty ones as well, trying to attract all types of people after all." Fred added
"How effective have you gotten them?"
"Oh they work, twenty-four hours for each dose, the ratios depend on the weight of the boy and the attractiveness of the girl." George smirked at his twin. "Thinking of having some?"
"You saying I'm not attractive enough to catch a guy without one?" Alicia asked, an eyebrow raised. George shied back slightly and Fred ran his fingers through her hair.
"More than enough. I'm not selling them to my girlfriend anyway." Fred assured.
"I think I'm entitled to buy what ever I want thanks." she said "No I was more curious for Harry's sake. What with the Prophet believing him and deciding he's the chosen one and all, who knows what girls'll do now." Alicia picked up a bottle "Can I uncork one?" Fred and George shared a look and with a glance around her Alicia had done so, taken a whiff and recorked it within a manner of seconds.
"You wanted to smell it?" George asked laughing slightly
"Now I'll know what it smells like if it ends up in any substances near me." Alicia mumbled
"Keep an eye on Ginny too will you." Fred said
"Ginny doesn't need any potions any more than I do." Alicia believed
"That's right, too busy dating Michael Conner."
"Actually she's dating Dean Thomas." Alicia shrugged before she moved over to another shelf.
"What?" both boys asked sharing a look. "When did that happen?"
"Long story, ask her about it. Ron's not nearly as happy with either of them, I think he'd have been better if she'd stuck to crushing on Harry." Alicia shrugged "I'm not sure how anyone else feels, or if they're aware."
"Dad wont mind, I wonder how mum'd react though." George thought.
"Speaking of Dad, did Ron tell you Alicia?" Fred asked and she looked at him confused
"Tell me what?"
"Guess not." George smiled before he turned to help a customer who'd tapped him.
"Dad got promoted!" Fred grinned
"To what?!" Alicia asked shocked, grinning.
"Head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. Mum's been gushing about how he's got ten people working for him." Fred explained
"That's brilliant! I guess with all the bad fake protection things something like that's needed isn't it?"
"Well apparently that's what our new Minister thinks." George added and Alicia nodded
"So, would you like to have some lunch?" Fred asked.
"Are you allowed to leave?" Alicia asked chuckling as she looked around
"He can have half an hour." George decided and Fred rolled his eyes.
"I promise I wont keep him too long. By the way, I hope George is getting paid more from all the extra time he's putting in." George sent his brother a smirk and Fred sighed before he took Alicia's hand to pull her from the shop.
"Don't give him idea's like that."
"Well it's true." Alicia chuckled.