Chapter 2:

Alicia sat at her desk within her room, she had the Daily Prophet in her hands and was reading through the current articles that had been published within it. Of course she had already removed a few articles from previous Prophets which sat on her desk, one contained an article about her and Harry, rumours of the Prophecy the Death Eaters had been trying to steal had escaped, including that Harry may be the only one who can defeat Voldemort. Of course this was true, but no one it seemed, beside Alicia, Harry and Dumbledore, were yet aware of this positively.

Another article announced that Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, had been sacked from office, after his appalling parade of cover ups last year about Voldemort having returned, and taking it out on Dumbledore and Harry, and had been replaced by the former head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Rufus Scrimgeour. Dumbledore had also been reinstated as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, after being kicked off the previous summer.

A purple leaflet also lay with the papers, in which read:

— issued on behalf of —

The Ministry of Magic

PROTECTING YOUR HOME AND FAMILY AGAINST DARK FORCES

The Wizarding community is currently under threat from an organisation calling itself the Death Eaters. Observing the following simple security guidelines will help protect you, your family, and your home from attack.

You are advised not to leave the house alone.

Particular care should be taken during the hours of darkness. Wherever possible, arrange to complete journeys before night has fallen.

Review the security arrangements around your house,

making sure that all family members are aware of emergency measures such as Shield and Disillusionment Charms, and, in the case of underage family members, Side-Along-Apparition.

Agree on security questions with close friends and family so as to detect Death Eaters masquerading as others by use of the Polyjuice Potion (see page 2).

Should you feel that a family member, colleague, friend, or neighbour is acting in a strange manner, contact the Magi- cal Law Enforcement Squad at once. They may have been put under the Imperius Curse (see page 4).

Should the Dark Mark appear over any dwelling place or other building, DO NOT ENTER, but contact the Auror office immediately.

Unconfirmed sightings suggest that the Death Eaters may now be using Inferi (see page 10). Any sighting of an Inferius, or encounter with same, should be reported to the Ministry IMMEDIATELY.

Alicia of course had already broken number one many times, which included walking to Privet Drive to see Harry, as she believed it better she walked to his house than he walk to her's. She had however made up for her breaking number one, by always employing number two. She was never out at night.

Alicia was reading the Prophets, mostly because, she had no homework she could do instead. As she'd just finished her O.W.L year, she had to wait for her results in order to see what subjects she could continue. After all, if she didn't get Outstanding in Potions, or Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration, she couldn't continue them. Not that she was worried. The only subject she'd expect to be lower than the others was History of Magic, as she'd collapsed half way through due to Voldemort invading her and Harry's brain with a fake vision.

A clatter sounded, followed by a flutter and Alicia looked up surprised as an owl suddenly landed on her desk beside her, just stroking her cheek with it's feathered wing as it landed. It was an owl that she did not recognise but the letter attached to it's leg had her name inscribed on it.

"Well hello…" she wasn't sure where the owl had come from, if Hermione had sent her one, it would have been in reply and with Noel, who was in fact out on a delivery to the girl as they spoke, Ron however had an owl and if it didn't come with Pigwigdeon, it'd come with the Weasley family owl Errol. Harry had no need to send her letters as he was down the road and Sirius…

Alicia paused.

Sirius couldn't send her anything from where he was.

Alicia pushed the idea aside and she removed the letter. The owl however didn't take off, but waited for her. She glanced at it as she opened the letter to find the very familiar slanted handwriting upon it.

Dear Alicia,

If it is convenient to you, I shall call at Surrey Orphanage this coming Friday at ten forty-five P.M. to escort you to number four, Privet Drive, were we will collect Harry and then move off to the Burrow, where you have been invited to spend the remainder of your school holidays.

If you are agreeable, I should also be glad of both of your assistances in a matter to which I hope to attend on the way to the Burrow. I shall explain this more fully when I see you both.

Kindly send your answer by return of this owl. Hoping to see you this Friday,

I am, yours most sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Alicia didn't need to think or consult with Harry to know his answer, after all, they had a link that worked over great distances. Though Alicia knew Harry well enough to know that leaving the Dursley's after being with them for a mere two weeks, was not something he'd pass up.

The raven-haired girl grabbed a piece of parchment and her quill, dipped it in ink, and responded politely before she folded it up, addressed it to her headmaster and tied it to the owl's leg, who turned and flew off out the always open window.

Alicia then got up, letter in hand and opened the door to move down the stairs excitedly, and into Ms Bane's office, where the women sat behind her desk.

"Ms Bane." the women looked up as Alicia knocked and said her name.

"What is it this time, Alicia?" she sighed. Alicia wasn't surprised by this response, after all, she had been constantly leaving the Orphanage at different times each Summer for school. Her third year she'd ran away weeks earlier to stay at the Leaky Cauldron with Harry, her fourth year they'd left early to attend the Quidditch world cup and her fifth she'd been pulled away a mere week after being home.

Alicia moved forwards and handed her caretaker the letter and she peered at it. She sighed.

"Leaving early again?"

"If I'm honest, it's probably better for all of you if I'm not here." Alicia admitted and Ms Bane sighed. Alicia had explained to the Caretaker everything she could bare too, just in case. With Voldemort back, who's to say he wouldn't send someone here after her the second he could? Again she had however left out the ability of memory modification, if they didn't remember her, they were in much less danger. Alicia had a strong suspicion that Dumbledore might do such a thing to them all anyway, and Alicia thought it would be better if they never knew she existed. If Voldemort or his followers came looking for her… She didn't know what she'd do if she put these children in danger just by having lived here.

"Well, as long as he's coming to get you, I see no need to worry. Not that I can stop you, given you've been leaving this place despite the circumstances." Ms Bane gave Alicia a fierce look that made her remove her gaze.

Alicia said nothing and Ms Bane moved on.

"You will be back for the Summer though?"

"Yes, and I think that'll be one of the last times, see in our world you come of age at seventeen, so I'll be on to my next journey after that." Alicia admitted. Considering I live that long, of course.

"Well that is interesting news." Alicia nodded

"I guess we'll see you at the end of the year then." Alicia grinned, took the letter back and turned for the door.

"Oh and Alicia, I'd refrain from long trips to London thank you." Alicia nodded guiltily and left without a word.

"Portia, Alex!" Alicia found the two outside enjoying the sunshine and after taking her seat, she explained to them also how she was leaving early again.

"Again! Last year we hardly saw you too."

"We've had extensive chats this year considering how little I've been able too since I was eleven." Alicia reminded them "I mean, I'm not supposed to be anyway, I've broken so many laws explaining to you what I have…" Alicia mumbled sighing and the two shared a look.

"Well… it's gotta be hard in a… Muggle, orphanage." Portia said, she still wasn't fond of the word but moved past her dislike regardless.

"I don't know if that'll help much anymore, last year they'd have gladly arrested me for it had they known, this year I'm not sure, but they're definitely running out of excuses in not punishing me I'm sure."

"Well, we promise not to tell as to not get you in trouble." Alex grinned "Of course it's easy if you're not even here." she grumbled.

"I'll be back, don't worry, but mine and Harry's protection is of the utmost importance to be frank, and if we're not here, no one should bother you guys." The two grumbled annoyed but didn't argue.

"You going to tell Harry?" Alex asked

"Well he should already know, but yes, that's my next stop." Alicia grinned

"Say hi for us." Portia decided "And, ask if he's alright."

"I wont, he wont like that." Alicia believed as she got to her feet. The two sighed and shared a look, Alicia had told the two about the end of her last year, and both had comforted her. It had made talking about Sirius a little easier, though she was dealing with him being gone rather well for the mean time.

"Well at least write to us." Portia sighed

"And let us know your results!" Alex beamed excitedly, Alicia had let them know all about the importance of O.W.L exams, the results of which should be coming in a few weeks time.

"I will." Alicia grinned.

The girl made her usual trek from the Orphanage, through Surrey, to Privet Drive and down to number four, where she entered the house without even a knock and proceeded up the stairs. Aunt Petunia, as usual, rushed to the door and upon seeing her, disappeared back into the kitchen without a word. The women had not spoken to Alicia at all the last two weeks, she'd done her best to ignore her presence despite when she bursted into the house. In fact none of the Dursley's had spoken to either of the twins. Alicia assumed it was because of a group of wizards from the Order of the Phoenix, consisting of Mad-Eye Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks and Mr Weasley, who had threatened them to be nice to the twins.

"Harry!" Alicia opened the boy's bedroom door, arriving in time to see an owl flying off out the window. "You got one too then." she grinned as he turned to her. "About Dumbledore?" he nodded and smiled back at her.

"Can you believe we're leaving already?" he asked and Alicia paused

"Well, I left very early last year, so yes. I can actually." she grinned. Harry said nothing and Alicia watched him curiously as he moved over to his trunk and begun to clean it out. Alicia knew very well of the debris at the bottom of the trunk. If they were leaving he'd possibly need to clean out the mess to repack for their sixth year at Hogwarts. Alicia glanced at Harry before she looked around the room with a raised eyebrow.

The room was strewn with various possessions and a good smattering of rubbish. Owl feathers, apple cores, and sweet wrappers littered the floor, a number of spellbooks lay higgledy-piggledy among the tangled robes on his bed, and a mess of newspapers sat in a puddle of light on his desk. They seemed to be similar articles to what Alicia had in her room.

"You couldn't have cleaned up after yourself?" she asked. Harry merely shrugged, not turning to her, and Alicia realised he'd stopped in taking things out, or putting things into the trunk.

"What?"

"Well…" Harry mumbled but he stopped. What if Dumbledore doesn't come…?

"Oh, he'll be here, he said he wants our help remember." Alicia rolled her eyes

"What if he get's stopped?"

"This is Dumbledore we're talking about…" Alicia reminded him.

Harry however moved away from the trunk regardless.

"What are you going to do when he turns up on Friday and you're not packed, you going to waste time doing so? That'll delay you leaving."

Harry said nothing.

Such a baby. Alicia grumbled as she began to pack his trunk for him.

Am not. he returned and Alicia rolled her eyes. "I just don't want to have to pack, and then be disappointed when he doesn't show, and have to unpack.

"If you're worried of unpacking, I'll unpack it for you. If you're not leaving neither am I after all. But you might as well put most of these things away."

"And what do we plan to do for the next few days?"

"We'll find something. I'd rather we did, they'll probably drag I suspect." Alicia sighed

"Well you seem to have found time to pass the last few weeks. I went to the Orphanage the other day and you weren't even there." Harry admitted

"Yes, I went out."

"How could you leave? You could be killed!" he snapped at her

"Well maybe the idea of you possibly dying in the next who knows how soon, has made me a little more rebellious." she said, an uncaring tone to her voice. Harry stared at her and she didn't even turn to him or pause in her current task.

"Alicia you can't go being reckless like that!"

"I wasn't that reckless." Alicia rolled her eyes "I wasn't anywhere I couldn't be seen or watched by many people."

"That's the point!"

"It's not the point. It's smart. Witnesses!"

"You think Voldemort cares about that. There could be Death Eaters everywhere! You realise you're the last person he can use to get to me!"

"Harry, there are more people than that, you have many you care about and Voldemort could take anyone to hold over you. I know you and letting someone die for you is not something you will ever let happen if you can help it." Alicia said, frowning slightly at the end of her sentence. After all, they'd already lost some people for that very reason.

Harry said nothing and Alicia knew he was thinking the exact same thing.

"And I'm always with you anyway." she added.

"Not lately." he grumbled

"Are you upset by that?" she asked raising an eyebrow. "You know you can't spend every day all day with me forever right?" she smirked and Harry looked at her irritated.

"Just stating a fact. Now stop being a baby, and let's pack your trunk." She said fiercely, waving her hand for him to join her. Harry, not wishing to disobey and face her irritation, moved forwards and grab some of the many books he had, in order to load the trunk up with them.

Alicia smiled triumphantly and helped him by folding the robes he had.

"You know these are two small for you, I think you're gonna need some more." she said eyeing them and Harry.

"Yes mum."