I knew we had to leave the country when we were forced to sneak out of the Leaky Cauldron.
Granted, in highsight there were other signs as well warning up to that point, but that was the tipping point when I knew it was too dangerous to stay and pretend nothing was happening. The war was over by that point, Voldy dead and only Death Eaters to round up and sentence. But the magical world had Harry and Hermoine to finish that job for them. Even Ron would have been more help then me. It was all I could do to find a place to stay the night that didn't mind teething toddlers and nosey reporters.
So when I snuck out the back entrence, I knew it was time to head to America. Then, when I got there, I had to gather up enough of that courage that Gryffendor was so know for and call Emily. Finally, after three weeks in the "new country" I gathered that courage and enough money to use a pay phone on the outskirts of a small town.
"Hello?" Emily's voice sounded scratchy and my courage flew away from me. "Who is this?"
"Did I wake you? Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry, Em. I'll call back later. No, I just won't call back. I'm sorry for bothering you. Forget I called. Sorry!" I rambled, pulling Teddy closer under my jacket as he grunted softly in his sleep. "Sorry!"
"No, wait!" I paused as Emily shouted, sounding much more awake. "Ali? Is that you? Where are you? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it's me. Um, I don't know exactly where I am. Give me a second." I peered through a 24-hour gas station and saw that a map of Washington hung on the wall, a city circled with a red Sharpie clearly visable. "I'm in America, Washington state to be exact. I think this town is called Forks, maybe? It's really small, but I'm outside of this sports supply store. What kind of small town has a sports supply store? Sorry, I'm rambling, aren't I? I should really hang up."
"Ali, don't hang up! I'm having someone come and pick you up. I live on a reservation outside of Forks. They'll bring you to me." There was a pause before Emily spoke in a small voice. "Ali, how are you?"
"Fi-." She cut me off.
"Don't you dare say fine! Both you and Harry said that too much. It drove Hermoine and me crazy! How are you really?"
I laughed weakly. "You know that point when your falling? When you feel terror, excitement, and anticipation all at once? That's what I'm feeling. I'm kind of dreading the landing." There was a sad laugh on the other end. Teddy burrowed his head deeper into my shoulder as a car pulled up infront of the shop, the headlights blinding. "I have to go, Em. I think your ride for me may be here. Talk to you soon." I hung up the phone, my hand reaching in my sweater sleeve for my wand just in case Emily hadn't sent them.
A guy got out and yelled from his car. "Are you Ali? Emily sent me to get you. She said to tell you that The-boy-who-refues-to-die, the-girl-who-refues-to-be-stumped, the-boy-who-refues-to-get-fat-despite-all-he-eats, and the-girl-who-refues-to-forget are all going to save the world again." I laughed at that and walked forward to the car. As I neared it he held out a hand. "I'm Embry by the way." I smiled.
"I'm Ali and this guy is Teddy." When I said this his eyes widened as if he hadn't seen the baby until I introduced him.
"Do you have any bags? We have room." He offered but I shook my head. I had all of Teddy's things in my messanger bag I had picked up from a church drive and all my other stuff I had to leave in England until I could have the DA ship it to me. The DA had helped build again once the war was over, joining with the Order during certain missions. Embry started up the car, speeding down the road until we passed a sign that welcomed drivers to La Push. "So, is Teddy your son?" I laughed and shook my head again.
"No, Teddy's my brother. Well, adoptive brother. His father took me in when I was younger since he knew my Da. When he got married, he let me be in the wedding then when Teddy was born named me godmother and sister. I think it was his dad at least, I was traveling at the time so I don't know for certain." I paused, realizing I was rambling yet again. "So, where's Emily's house?"
"Down this driveway." He said, mostly focusing on driving. I hid a smirk. It was probably one of the first times he drove. We went over a pot hole and the car dipped. Teddy wrapped a fist around a bundle of my sweater and rubbed his face against my shoulder sleepily. I kissed his head and hugged him closer.
We pulled in front of a house that looked like something out of a holiday card. It was two stories with a wrap around porch. A bench swing hung by the door. Embry honked the car horn and a woman came out. She was looked tall, but I was short so everyone seemed tall. A round face framed by black hair looked worried. It took me a second to see the scars running down her cheek. She practially ran to the car and was followed by a shorter guy that looked like a younger Embry. "Ali!" Emily jerked the door to the car open and pulled me out, strangling me into a hug. She released me after a few seconds when I twisted away. I instantly felt bad when I saw her hurt expression.
"Have you met Teddy?" I gestured to the toddler in my arms. Emily stared at him then gaped between me and him. At the raised eyebrow I shook my head slightly and mouthed 'later'. She nodded and slipped her arms under Teddy's.
She lifted him up and cooed. "Aw, hello gorgeous! How are you, prince?" She gave him a kiss and made a face at him as he opened his eyes. He blinked sleepily at her, grinning as he grabbed a strand of her hair in his fist. He giggled as she made another face. "Aw, your adorable! Come on, Ali, lets get you inside. No offense, but you stink. This is Quil by the way. Do you have any bags?" I shook my head and she nodded, then ushered me into the house. "When was the last time you ate? You seem to skinny." I laughed at her, trying to get Teddy back but failing when she pulled him away.
"I'm fine. I had half a bowl of soup last night for dinner." I told her she tutted dissaprovingly and pushed me through the doorway of the house and down a hall.
"That does not make you fine. Now, take a shower and I'll bring Teddy some new clothes. I'm fairly certain that we wear the same size still so there's extra clothes in the cabnet for you and one of Sam's friends gave us some baby clothes to donate for Teddy. It's not charity, so don't even start!" Emily said. She slammed the door to the bathroom sut behind her and I turned to look at Teddy. He giggled from where he had been placed in the sink and I smiled back at him.
"Come on, Cub. Time to get you clean." I turned the water on and got in, undressing Teddy so he could wash too. After a quick rinse to get any dirt off, I got dressed and let new water collect at the bottom. I sat down outside the tub with Teddy facing me. He splashed me and I splashed back for a few minutes, then started talking to get mind away from playing. "Want to hear a story, Cub?"
"How about you tell about the first time we became friends?" I turned to see Emily standing in the doorway. She held up a nappie with trucks on it and sat down on the closed toliet. I smiled at her, and began to wash Teddy's back as I started the story.
"Once upon a time there were five friends. Lady Emily, Lady Ali, Lady Hermoine, Lord Ron, and Lord Harry. Now these friends were very close, but like all great adventureurs had to have an event to make it like so. Well, this adcenture happened on a Halloween night when they were first years in the kingdom of Hogwarts. Lady Ali and Lady Emily were leaving a room when they happened to hear Lady Hermoine run past Lord Ron and Lord Harry, crying. When asked, Lord Ron told that he had said someting mean about Lady Hermoine that caused her to cry. Well, the ladies went to talk to her, but were unaware that a troll was loose in the kingdom. Lord Ron and Lord Harry went to warn the girls, but locked them in with the troll instead. What could happen next but they figured what they had done and came barging in to rescue, only to see Lady Ali tackle the thing while the other two ladies threw plumbing at it. After some quick team work, all were saved and all five were the best of friends again!" I finished the story and the bath at the same time and looked up to see Teddy dozing slightly in the water.
"Looks like you tired him out." Emily said, handing me a towel. I laughed.
"That adventure tired me out. Can we stay the night?" I asked. Emily rolled her eyes at me.
"No, I invited you here only to get you nice and sleepy and send you off again." She said sarcasticly. I blushed. "I would offer you food, but you seem so tired. Talk and food will wait." I nodded and she yawned. "There is a guest room in the back, you can crash there." She went to leave but then turned around and looked back. "You're really here, Ali. You're a survivor like the rest of us now."