Finally finished number five. I'll admit, took me a while. Sorry about that.
Chapter 1:
One week. It'd been one week and already the tension was building. Papers scattered the desk, nasty hits hidden within the paragraphs standing out of the page. Bits had been cut out and scrunched up, pieces of information being sort within the pages.
Alicia was pacing across her room. She continued to glance at the papers on her desk. Memories plagued her mind as images continued to flash across it. Vivid images, flashing lights and pain, lots of pain, both physical and mental.
Alicia was waiting. Waiting for news, anything that said the end would be coming, anything that said darkness was making it's move. Anything that said Voldemort was on the move.
But there was nothing. Nothing other than the Daily Prophet stabbing at Harry Potter, making him look like he was an attention seeking loony. And it had only been a week. Surprisingly though, there had been nothing about her, though, maybe it wasn't surprising. If Fudge was going to use his position as Minister of Magic to keep Voldemort's return quiet, maybe he'd use it to keep the fact Alicia Potter actually survived a secret as well.
Alicia flopped down onto her bed. Her friends had noticed her edginess, she watched the news every night, collected the paper every morning, not to mention the daily prophet she had delivered to her window. And yet nothing had happened.
Alicia knew Dumbledore had set his plans in motion to counter act this as best he could, she assumed Hagrid had been sent to the giants, probably being in less danger and less of a threat. Dumbledore couldn't do anything about the dementors while the ministry was against him but that didn't mean he'd sit back and wait. Dumbledore would be recruiting people, after all he sent Sirius off to fetch the 'old crowd'. Alicia knew better than anything there was a group of people gathering somewhere to do something. She wasn't stupid enough to be left behind. She also seemed to be the only one waiting for a notice that she'd be taken down to help. She believed her ability to process information and piece it together could be somewhat useful, if they'd let her help.
She already knew that Voldemort had plans to recruit giants, gain the dementors' trust, break his supporters from Azkaban. He would not sit down doing nothing. However, he had kept his uprising a secret perhaps he'd rather use that to his advantage. If that was the case he wouldn't be drawing any attention to himself.
Alicia slumped. If that was the case there wouldn't be any hints at all, even within the muggle news. In order to find any news, she'd have to be within the wizard world for that, or connected to people with more insight. Like with Sirius, Lupin, the Weasleys and Dumbledore, wherever they were they'd know what was happening. They'd be doing something to stop it.
"They better not leave me out of it." Alicia grumbled as she stared at her celling.
She paused as she made a decision.
Alicia quickly sat at her desk and found a few pieces of parchment, moving away the newspapers and letters she'd received. She grabbed her quill and ink and stopped to think. What she wrote had to be taken serious, get her message across and be direct.
I know you are organising and preparing to fight back. I know you've gathered a group of people together. I know you're working to recruit the giants before Voldemort and that that's where Hagrid's gone, hopefully with Madam Maxime. I know Voldemort's lying low in order to keep the ministry from knowing of his return, or at least I'm guessing that's what it is. And I know you'll have the Weasley's helping out as well as Sirius,
Alicia paused, Sirius probably couldn't do very much, even if he was an animagus, after all Wormtail probably would have spilled that information to Voldemort.
Even if he can't do very much because his cover as a black dog has been blown by Wormtail, I'm assuming, Lupin will know and all the other names you listed at the end of the year.
I know you're not going to sit around doing nothing for the summer and I hope you are not planning on leaving me in the dark, even if it has only been a week. I don't want to but I will find out for myself if I do not hear of anything from anyone. I cannot sit here in silence. I do not need time to get over what happened, I do not need to sit within my own thoughts, that's exactly what I don't need. And Harry is the same. And I know Harry has protection at home, Voldemort had said you put every means of protection for him there, and that is probably why you wanted him home again.
Maybe Dumbledore had done the same to Alicia…?
Alicia put her quill down and reread the letter. She bit her lip before retaking her quill in hand.
You know me. And you know I'm not kidding about this. Don't sit me on the sidelines.
Alicia quickly put her quill down, and blew softly on the parchment to dry the ink. As soon as that was done she folded it up and walked over to the owl cage in the corner. Inside was a black owl with green eyes and a few white spots down it's back, the eyes matched Alicia's perfectly and she clicked her beak when Alicia approached her.
"I need you to take this." Alicia scribbled a name down on the front. "Take it straight to Dumbledore and make sure you get a reply of some sort." she ordered. The owl clicked it's beak, nibbled on her finger affectionately and then soared out through the window Alicia had opened for her.
"He better take me seriously, one week and no word at all does not seem natural." Alicia grumbled as she began to pace again. She understood that maybe Dumbledore didn't want letters intercepted and that he was busy, but he probably had made contact with Lupin, and Sirius and the Weasleys, why couldn't he contact her as well?
Alicia groaned and slumped onto the floor. At that moment the door opened. Alicia turned her head to see two girls standing there, upside down, in the doorway. Alicia lay wide-eyed at them as their eyes glanced at the odd things sitting around her room; a broomstick, several parchments, books with pictures of odd creatures, potion ingredients and a cauldron, her wand sitting on her bedside table with a picture Harry had decided to give her. He had a photo album full of pictures of their parents, in which Alicia now had one of, involving their Godfather Sirius as well. The problem was, the picture moved like a video in a frame. Alicia hit her forehead
"H-Hey…" Portia muttered "We heard you… groan…?"
"What on earth…?" Alex questioned
"You're supposed to knock." Alicia grumbled slumping on the ground.
"What is all this?" Portia questioned
"School stuff." Alicia said in an audible whisper
"What kind of school…" Alex had moved over to the desk and had picked up a vile of armadillo oil which needed replenishing.
"Uh… I'm sorry, but, is this picture… moving?" Portia was leaning down looking at the frame.
"The headline just changed!" Alex had picked up one of the Daily Prophet papers. Both girls stared wide-eyed at one another before turning to Alicia who'd buried her face in her hands and hadn't moved. She'd been so wrapped up in her own thoughts she'd practically forgotten that other people lived in the building. This was kind of hard seeing as she lived in an orphanage and there were screaming children running around everywhere.
"Alicia!" Both girls called when she said nothing. Alicia only groaned, turned over and crawled towards her door before closing it and leaning against it.
"What the hell is all this stuff?" Alex demanded
"It's school stuff!"
"That answers nothing." Portia confessed
"I'm not allowed to tell you." Alicia said crossing her arms
"You've been saying that for four years." Portia rolled her eyes
"Because it's true! You're not allowed to know."
"Why not?" Alex was getting frustrated now, her eyebrows screwed up in the middle.
"Because you're not a part of that world." Alicia burst and the girls shared a confused look
"'World'? What do you live in a parallel dimension or something?" Alex asked
"Or something." Alicia muttered. She stood up and took the paper from Alex's hand. "If I tell you I will probably get in trouble."
"From who?" Portia asked and Alicia just sighed and picked up the other papers and potion ingredients, moving them to her trunk that stood open against the wall. She closed the trunk on them and placed the frame picture down on her table.
"What is that?" Alex pointed at the wand on the bedside table.
"A stick." Alicia said simply as she sat down on her bed
"No way, it's too clean and polished and… engraved." Alex disagreed looking at it. She leaned forwards.
"Don't touch it please." Alicia said
"Thought it was just a stick?" Portia asked
"Doesn't mean I want you touching it." The two girls raised an eyebrow at one another.
"You can't keep lying to us Alicia."
"I don't have a choice." she admitted
"There's always a choice."
"Well this is sort of a law so…"
"A law that keeps your life a secret?" Alex asked
"A secret from those who aren't like us." Alicia said simply
"What are you an alien now?" Portia questioned
"No."
"Then what do you mean 'not like us'?" Alex questioned and Alicia groaned, slumping on her bed. At that point Noel soared through the window and to her cage, landing neatly inside it. She hooted at the three girl and Alicia sat up, she walked over to the bird and noticed her letter was gone, but there was not one in place of it. Noel had no reply.
"You've got to be kidding me." she ground her teeth angrily but grabbed a treat for the animal and handed it to her, Noel nipped Alicia's finger greatly before she drank some water to wash down the treat.
"Does it have anything to do with an owl flying during the day?" Alex questioned "Or the fact that you have an owl at all?"
"And a broom?" Portia added.
"You know what it looks like Portia?" Alex began turning to her friend who looked at her questionably "Like she's obsessed with witches." Alicia froze with her back to the two.
"Alicia's never been into that stuff." Portia waved the thought away
"What are you talking about? She used to love those kinds of books." Alex shrugged
"I'm not obsessed with witches." Alicia assured. She just happened to be one and be fascinated by the books they wrote.
"You own a broom and an owl," Portia said as Alex went to the trunk. She tried to open it but it refused to give.
"What's with this thing?" Alex complained as she made sure all the locks were undone.
"I suggest you give up, it's useless." Dumbledore had given Alicia the trunk with a special spell on it that only allowed Alicia to open it. She still hadn't figured out which spell it was but she didn't mind, if kept the older boys who enjoyed tormenting her out of her things.
"What do you mean? It has to be able to open or it's useless." Alex was still yanking on the lid.
"Mhmm, keep trying then." Alicia had moved to her desk and had sat back down at it, grabbing three more pieces of parchment and staring at the wall before her thinking.
"What are you doing?" Portia asked as Alex continued to struggle.
"Writing a few letters." Alicia answered simply
"What's wrong with normal paper?" Portia questioned looking at the parchment, "Or email?"
"They don't have email." Well Hermione might do but it'd be her parents'. "And if they do I don't know them."
"Call them?"
"One doesn't know how to use one… properly." Ron had tried calling Harry two years ago at the Dursleys, he'd shouted down the phone and it went terribly wrong for Harry afterwards.
"What — do you mean? It's like — one of the — basic — necessities — of — life!" Alex said she she continued with her current mission of opening the trunk. "What is with this thing!" she kicked it angrily before continuing. Portia rolled her eyes.
"They're not like everyone else. They don't need phones."
"How do they communicate?" Portia questioned
"Can't you both just accept the fact that I can't tell you?" Alicia sighed "And Alex will you stop. It wont open for you." she turned to face the girl who was trying to get her fingers between the lid and the rest of the trunk.
"What do you mean 'for me'?" Alex asked absentmindedly, not giving up. Alicia rolled her eyes.
"Look, you're gone every year all year other than the summer, we hardly see you, you don't write all that much anymore, we hardly seem to know you and even during summer you spend all your time with Harry. You started at that school and suddenly you're a completely different person." Portia explained "Can you blame us for trying to keep our friend?"
"You haven't lost me."
"You're so distant now I don't even know whether to believe that or not." Portia said harshly. Alicia sighed and looked away from the two. Alex had stopped and was watching them. She was usually the one who snapped, Portia seemed the more level headed one.
"Don't you think after sticking by you for so long, we of all people, deserve some sort of explanation?" Portia asked
Alicia only frowned and twiddled her thumbs. She then turned up to Portia beside her.
"Look, there are two different kinds of people in this world. One hidden society living amongst the rest who refuse to have their presence known. There's a government within the government, and so forth. It's family orientated and only certain families learn about it or are born into it. This probably sounds absolutely stupid and maddening to you but that's the simplest way to put it. And as you're not a part of it you're not allowed to know."
"And you're a part of this other kind of person?" Portia asked disbelievingly
"So you are an alien?" Alex said looking angry
"No!" Alicia said again "I'm not an alien. I'm human thanks."
"But Ms Bane knows about it."
"She's my caretaker, how else am I going to be able to attend a school of people like me?" Alicia demanded
"And we're you're family!" Alex snapped standing up straight from the trunk, walking over it and over to the other two. "We've known you your whole life, grown up together, played together, lived together. You said family's allowed, why not us?" Alex questioned "You own a fricken broom, an owl, moving pictures, strange books, newspapers where the headline changes! And you're saying you belong to a secret society of people the world doesn't know about!"
"You can't not tell us!" Alex snapped.
The three stared at one another before there was a knock on the door. Alicia knew who it was before it opened and Harry stood there. He saw the three and looked confused.
"Should I come back later?" he asked slowly.
"And you!" Alex snapped making him look surprised "You're no better! You're in on all of this! I could almost blame you for it all! Ever since she met you this had been happening!" Harry had his hands up in surrender as he looked at Alicia who had her arms crossed and was glaring at her shoes.
"What?" Harry asked. Portia walked forwards pulled Harry into the room and closed the door
"You two are hiding something!" she said simply. "Not only has Alicia locked herself in her room more than usual the past few days but this is the first time I've seen you here since. Which isn't normal given the last three summers. Now," she placed her hands on her hips and looked at Harry
"What is going on with you both? What are you both hiding?!"
Harry looked at Alicia who gave him the 'yeah, this is what I'm dealing with' look.
"Don't communicate with just a look!" Alex said and both looked at her. "Yeah I saw that. You two do it all the time."
"What? We just work." Alicia defended
"That's cause you're so alike." the two girls chorused
"Which I'm sure has to do with everything else going on!" Alex said frustratedly.
Harry turned to Alicia.
"You could tell them that one fact." he shrugged
"Are you kidding!" Alicia whispered "That'd require like… every piece of information to explain! I could get in serious trouble! I could get expelled!" she said
"How are they going to find out?"
"Seriously?" Alicia asked annoyed. She wouldn't be surprised if both the Ministry and Dumbledore had people tailing them, the Ministry to keep them quite and wait for them to slip even a little bit and Dumbledore to keep them safe.
"What are you two mumbling about?" Portia questioned
"I'll tell them." Harry shrugged
"Dude!" Alicia said shocked "You'll get into more trouble than me!"
"Has there been any news on you?" Harry asked and Alicia pursed her lips, true it seemed the Ministry was trying not to bring any attention to her, even in the Daily Prophet. Alicia looked from Harry to the two girls staring at her confused, their eyes darting to Harry ever few seconds.
"You just gonna stare or fill us in on you're secret conversation?" Portia asked annoyed
Alicia sighed.
"Well… Harry, kinda happens…" she paused "To be my…"
"Alicia's my sister." Harry put out with a roll of his eyes. Portia and Alex looked at them both dumbfounded. "And the two of us went through something not very pleasant recently." Harry confessed, the emotion draining from his face.
Alicia appreciated the fact that Harry managed to put his grief and anguish aside to deal with this for her. She knew he was, inside, no better off than she was.
The girls looked at them pitifully.
"Oh now look what you've done." Alicia grumbled pointing to them "Pity." she spat the word.
"You two are siblings?" Alex asked pointing
"Twins." Alicia nodded
"Explains why they look so alike…" Portia muttered to Alex
"Hang on though, but Harry has a family?" Alex remembered
"I'd rather live here." Alicia assured
"Me too." Harry grumbled
"We were separated for our own protection." Alicia shrugged "We found out after our first year at school."
"So why are you still here?" Portia asked her
"Didn't you hear me? I'd rather live here." Alicia said "I've told you what the Dursleys are like. Besides, they… don't really know about me." she looked at Harry
"I tried to ask, but so far, they change the topic when you're mentioned." he admitted
"Well… they know now." Alicia muttered
"Why didn't they know about you?" Portia questioned
"They thought I died." Alicia shrugged and the girls looked at them shocked.
"Not the first people." Harry mumbled, clearly wishing he'd been a secret like her. Alicia nudged him.
"What do you mean?" Alex wondered
"It's a long story." Alicia waved it away.
"To do with everything else?" Portia asked, her arms crossed
"Uh huh." Alicia sighed before standing up. "Look I could do with a walk."
"Oh no." Alex moved to standing in front of the door "That's just you avoiding the problem."
"Yes it is. Because I went through a lot in the last month and I don't need my best friends interrogating me on top of it all." Alicia said strongly and Alex, surprised by Alicia's tone, moved and allowed the girl to leave. Harry followed with a wave.
"You know it's not their fault." Harry mumbled as they walked down the street.
"I know but I can't deal with it. Imagine explaining all this, and about us, and how the world might end." Alicia sighed dramatically as Harry rolled his eyes. Clearly this wasn't helping his mood, which Alicia could now see seeping through the mask he'd plastered. The pain and anguish, the terror, the nightmares, the fear, the suspense of waiting for something to happen.
They slumped in their park, the one they spent the majority of their summers in, Alicia sitting on the cool grass and Harry on one of the swings Dudley and his gang hadn't managed to break yet.
Alicia had seen Dudley once or twice in the last week. He no longer looked like the whale he'd been last summer. Granted the last time Alicia had seen him he'd been choking on a foot long tongue thanks to the Weasley Twins' Ton-Tongue Toffees.
"By the way, what happened to Dudley?" Alicia questioned lazily, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the sun. "That diet didn't really work did it?"
"He found a new hobby." Harry admitted as the swing squeaked when he moved it slightly.
"Other than chasing you?"
"He's too scared of us now." Harry said and Alicia could hear the slight humour.
"What's his hobby then?"
"Boxing."
Alicia groaned. Of all the things.
"He's the inter school champion or something." Harry admitted
"So now he's going to be a boxer and beat people up as a profession as well as on the streets." Aunt Petunia was under the impression her 'diddy-kins' was as angel. Dudley lied to his parents and spent most nights out smoking and beating people. Not having tea at what ever friends house he lied about being at. Alicia had only been home a week and had noticed it all already.
"Are you really worried the ministry will be able to pick up on things like you telling a few muggles?" Harry wondered
"Probably. They'll do anything to get at you, I shouldn't be much different. The only advantage I seem to have is that they seem to want to keep me out of the spotlight. The daily prophet was bound to find out about me from the Hogwarts parents after all."
"If they did it'd probably be on the cover."
"Unless Fudge is keeping it quite." Alicia grumbled "If ever there was a time I wanted Rita skeeter to write. This is a giant scoop, it'd totally be the truth, maybe a few insults or sad saps here and there but…" Alicia muttered
"Maybe she'd even write about Voldemort."
"Sure she'd write about your hallucinations and how it's a lie too, and not because of Fudge." Alicia grumbled.
"Do you think anything will happen?" Harry wondered staring up at the blue sky.
"No." Alicia admitted "I think Voldemort's going to lie low. Get his bearings and plot from the shadows, make sure everything's thought out and going to work to his advantage before he strikes. After all, the fact that the world doesn't know he's back is to his advantage." Alicia sighed "His only disadvantage is that Dumbledore knows, and everyone knows that's who he's most afraid of."
"Then why hasn't he done anything?" Harry asked
"It's only been a week Harry, and we saw Dumbledore that day, he moved straight into action." Alicia reminded him
"Then why haven't we heard anything?"
Alicia stayed silent and frowned. She had her theory, she assumed Dumbledore wanted to give them space, that telling them things will get them worked up and maybe go looking for trouble. Harry was best protected when in Little Whinging, with the Dursley's no matter how bad they were. Dumbledore needed Harry to stay there, did that mean he'd say nothing? That was just cruel.
"Mrs Weasley said she thought Dumbledore would allow us to visit soon." she muttered
"How soon is soon?" Harry asked
"This isn't the first time we've been here for the summer Harry." she said
"This isn't a normal summer Alicia." She had no argument to that.
"We need to act like it is. Keep our noses clean and play it smart." she muttered as her eyes glanced around the park. She had the feeling she was being watched, maybe Dumbledore hadn't left them alone, as Voldemort was after Harry it did seem a stupid thing to do. Did he have someone tailing them after all? It wouldn't surprise her really.
The two spent the rest of the day out before Harry had to return to Privet Drive and Alicia to the Orphanage for dinner. She sat in silence and Portia and Alex shot her a few looks before she retuned to her room after a nice hot shower.
She sat back at her desk before the three still blank pieces of parchment. She retook her quill in hand and loaded it with ink.
I have a feeling no one's going to tell me anything, or Harry. I know Dumbledore's up to something and on the move. Swear to me you'll promise me if he contacts you or anything happens! Don't keep me in the dark on this.
She copied this onto the three parchments before adding something to one.
Ron, I know Dumbledore's enlisted your parents help and that you'll be heavily involved somehow, even if you know very little cause they wont tell you. Please, don't make me find out what's happening on my own, because we all know how that'll end. I can't stand waiting around for two months.
With that she folded them up and addressed the first to Ron, the next to Hermione and the last to Sirius. She then grabbed another parchment.
Do not ignore me. As long as I have Harry I will leave and find someone who can answer me, willingly or not. I still have non-magical ways of transportation.
This last letter she addressed again to Dumbledore. She then walked over to Noel and poked her awake. The owl wasn't particularly happy.
"I need you again." she whispered to the owl as she held up the letters. "I need you to take these to Ron, Hermione and Sirius. The last is for Dumbledore again. Hoot at him a lot for an answer." she smirked slightly as she tied the letters to Noel again. She then gave her bird a treat and the owl left the room again. Alicia wasn't going to give up, no matter how stubborn everyone was, she could be a hell of a lot worse.
Alicia turned back to her desk before the swoosh of more wings sounded and an howl landed in Alicia's windowsill. Alicia moved over to it and removed the letter upon it, her name written in ink on the front of the parchment.
Hey Alicia,
How are you doing? I'm hoping you're alright.
I know it's only been a week but I wanted to check in and see how you were. Especially after what happened.
It seems you were right about the Minister not believing you, the Daily Prophet's said nothing. My mother's a bit skeptical but it's hard to argue with the facts Dumbledore gave us, and with…
There was a pause and Alicia took a deep breath.
Anyway, how have your holidays been so far?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Anthony.
Alicia smiled. She had promised the boy she'd write over the summer if possible and was glad that, despite what the ministry was doing, he was still happy to contact her. She didn't think many would be very happy with her or Harry after what the Prophet was doing, covering everything up and snapping at Dumbledore and Harry.
Alicia put the letter down and began to answer it. She sealed it and tied it to the new owl's leg, who stood waiting patiently and then took off when she was finished.
Writing to Anthony felt like a bit of a weird normality she didn't expect, but perhaps it was the cool down she needed as she waited for the replied from her friends, godfather and headmaster. After all, she wasn't going to give in in asking what was going on. No matter what.