As Long As You're Mine

Chapter 1: Kept In The Dark

Alicia smiled to herself as she sang along to one of her favourite Muggle songs on the radio, and whisked her pancake mixture.

She had some time off as her next shift at the hospital didn't start until noon, so she had the flat to herself as Angelina was at work at the Ministry.

Suddenly there was a loud crack behind her. Alicia jumped violently and spun round, dropping the bowl of pancake batter on the floor, smashing it and spilling its contents everywhere.

"Merlin Charlie, don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Alicia exclaimed, pulling out her wand from her boot and cleaning up the mess with a flick of her wand. "Can't you ring the doorbell like a normal person?"

"Sorry," he grinned apologetically, coming over and kissing her. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"So what's so urgent you had to scare the living daylight out of me?" Alicia asked, stowing her wand and turning to face him, leaning back on the counter.

"It's about your uncle."

"What is it?" Alicia asked interestedly. "Have you got news of him? I thought that there'd been nothing since Ginny's disastrous party last year?"

"I'm afraid it's not good news, love," Charlie said, his blue eyes troubled. "We actually did have news of him, a few months ago."

"And you didn't tell me? Why not?" Alicia exclaimed, frowning. "You know how much I hate being kept in the dark!"

"Well…" Charlie hesitated, knowing exactly what a quick temper she had, and not wanting to spark it. "We didn't really think it was a good idea, since it's not exactly easy news to give."

"What is it? What's wrong? Has something happened to him?" Alicia asked worriedly.

"No, no it's not like that," Charlie said slowly. "I think you should sit down."

He led her over to the sofa, ignoring her protests.

"So you remember a few months ago when there was the ordeal at the Ministry?" Charlie began uncomfortably.

"Of course," said Alicia. "How could I forget?" Her face paled as she remembered the terror she had gone through that night, waiting for news.

"Well, your uncle was there too, at the Ministry I mean," Charlie said carefully. He paused, watching her face. "He was a Death Eater."

"What?" Alicia exclaimed in shock.

"It seems that he was a traitor."

"But he can't be," Alicia whispered, shaking her head. "He just can't be."

"I understand you're shocked. It's a lot to take in, I know," Charlie said, taking her hand reassuringly. He hesitated for a moment, then said: "What's your mother's maiden name?"

Alicia frowned. "Avery. My mother's name was Lisa Avery. Why?"

Charlie nodded grimly. "Avery. Another one of the Death Eaters Harry named that he had seen in the graveyard. We didn't register it till now. I'm sorry you're having to go through this, love. I know it's not easy."

"Why are you telling me this now?" Alicia said quietly. She looked up at him. "There's something else, isn't there?"

Charlie hesitated. Then he nodded.

"Yesterday morning Hestia Jones was attacked in her home by a group of Death Eaters," Charlie said solemnly. "She's alright," he hastened to add when he saw Alicia's face. "She's recovering in St. Mungo's right now."

"I didn't see her," Alicia frowned. "When was she brought in?"

"She was brought into one of the more…er…covert wards," Charlie said. "We don't tend to advertise the works of the Order."

Alicia nodded, biting her lip anxiously.

"Hestia told us that they attacked her because they wanted information from the Order about your uncle. Apparently You-Know-Who believes that the Order have captured your uncle and are keeping him hostage."

"You're not, are y-" began Alicia, her eyes widening in shock.

"Of course not," interrupted Charlie. "No, but that's not the point. You-Know-Who has reason to believe we are, therefore something must have happened to your uncle. Why does You-Know-Who not know where he is?"

Alicia nodded slowly.

"It's almost worse that we don't have him," Charlie said, looking anxious.

"Why?"

"Well, You-Know-Who is convinced that we have him and he won't stop until we give him up. Which means that he won't stop sending his followers after Order members until your uncle returns."

"But where is he?"

"That," said Charlie, "is precisely what we want to know."

"Right," nodded Alicia, getting up and beginning to pace in front of him. "What's the plan?"

"The plan is for our people to find him before You-Know-Who does," Charlie said. "We believe that your uncle has run away from You-Know-Who and hopefully, if we can find him first, we can get important information or, even better, help from him. You-Know-Who will have people looking for him too of course. He keeps all bases covered. He won't risk losing one of his best Death Eaters."

"I see," said Alicia.

"Unfortunately this whole affair has yet another disadvantage," continued Charlie, beginning to look more worried.

"What?" frowned Alicia.

"It means…that you are in danger again. It's very likely that You-Know-Who will try to capture you to use as leverage. Therefore, you need to have 24-hour protection."

"Come on, Charlie!" exclaimed Alicia, exasperated. "You can't be serious! Don't you think that's a little dramatic? They're hardly going to waltz right into St. Mungo's and snatch me away!" she laughed.

Charlie didn't laugh. "You'd be surprised. If you're not going to take your own safety seriously, do you really expect me to allow you to look after yourself?"

"Come on, you can't really be suggesting that-"

"That is exactly what I am suggesting. There'll be an Order member with you at all times," Charlie said.

Alicia made a noise of extreme annoyance. "I will not walk around St. Mungo's with a bodyguard trailing after me," she said firmly.

"Don't be silly, love," Charlie scoffed. "They'll blend in. You won't even see them."

"This isn't some stupid film, Charlie," Alicia snapped, rattled.

"I know. That's exactly what it isn't. This is real. It makes it even more dangerous," Charlie said, running his hand through his hair, as he always did when he was worried.

"But-"

"This conversation is over," Charlie said firmly, getting up. "Here, I'll make you some pancakes to make up for ruining yours."

"But I-"

"Don't, Alicia," Charlie interrupted her protests steadfastly. "Nothing you say is going to change anything."

Alicia shut her mouth and flung herself down on the sofa in frustration. "I feel like a child."

"You're not helping yourself by acting like one," Charlie reminded her, from the kitchen.

Alicia scowled deeply and folded her arms in displeasure. But she soon softened up when Charlie presented her with an enormous pile of pancakes, their smell so mouth-wateringly tempting that she had to stop sulking.

A/N. I'm back! Yes, I know, it's taken me FAR too long to get my act together on this one (what with exams, work, holidays and life just generally getting in the way) but I'm pleased to say that I have the whole draft written at last. That means that updates should hopefully be fairly regular :)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the first instalment of Alicia's latest adventures!