Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the original character and the plot.

Chapter 2: Lesson

Alice walked briskly up the steps to the tired old building at the end of Knockturn Alley. She climbed the stairs at the back of the building past various rooms full of wizards trading, selling, and gambling dark items. The sounds of Alice's shoes were muffled by the layers of grime that coated the floor. She climbed higher and higher until she emerged through a door at the very top of the building.

"You are not safe, Alianora." Her teacher had spoken from the corner of the room.

She despised that name. She had shed that name the day she had escaped. Now, she had a new life and a new name. Even so, her teacher insisted on calling her by the name her father had given her.

"There are rumors," He continued. "That Lucius Malfoy has been killed for lying to the Dark Lord."

"Lucius Malfoy was a fool. He has most likely lied about a lot of things." Said Alice. Her teacher turned to look at her, his time-worn features full of concern.

"You know as well as I that he will come for you. When, I cannot say for certain. But you must be careful. It may be time for you to move somewhere He will not find you."

"I can't. I've just found another job."

Her teacher sighed heavily. "It is your choice, however I hope you will consider leaving. But for now, let us get on with your lesson."

Her teacher began by making her perform numerous advanced spells she had recently learned. Alice had practiced each one for hours, so she made no mistakes. Next came what she truly needed these lessons for; dueling. They did not bow or begin on the count of three. The wizards Alice expected to be up against one day would not bother with niceties. Alice had barely finished the last advanced spell she had learned in the previous lesson when she saw a jet of blue light come at her from the corner of her eye. She stepped back just in time and it missed her by a fraction of an inch. She allowed herself no time to think as she spun quickly and focused her thoughts on the first spell that came to mind. A purple streak shot towards her teacher, but he disapparated from where she had aimed her spell. She heard a pop directly behind her and barely registered the tip of a wand between her shoulder blades before she doubled over in pain. It felt as if an animal was trying to claw its way from inside her stomach.

"You are slow today. What is weighing on your mind?" The clawing pain in her stomach increased and Alice bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. Her knees buckled and she fell to her knees, clutching her stomach. The teacher used this momentary lapse in concentration as an opportunity to slip past the defenses in her mind.

"Legilimens." Images flashed before Alice's eyes and she forgot about the pain in her stomach. They flashed faster and faster until her teacher found the one he was looking for. It was as if a film had begun in her head. She had begun to watch the exact dream she had had the previous night. Alice was standing on the edge of a cliff. All that stretched out ahead of her was the never-ending night sky and all that was below her was darkness. In her bare feet, she stepped a bit closer to the edge and peered over as far as she could. She wanted dearly to let herself fall and be swallowed by the mysterious beauty of the darkness. It pulled at her, urging her to take just one more step. Her mind screamed at her to step back into the world behind her, the world she had run to in the first place. The pull of the darkness was so gentle, so loving, so tempting, but she finally took a step back from the edge. No sooner had her foot touched the ground than the pull of the darkness became like an icy grip. It held her tightly and the more she pulled away, the stronger the pull became. Her feet began to slide unwillingly closer and closer to the edge. Her feet left the edge but she caught the edge with her arms, desperately clawing at the dirt and rock, trying to scream but not a sound came from her. She was losing the fight. Alice couldn't take it anymore. She used all her concentration forced her teacher from her mind.

The room came suddenly into focus. The pain in Alice's stomach had disappeared and there was only her teacher looking gravely down upon her. She stood slowly and met his gaze, working to keep any emotion from showing on her face.

"I believe I told you explicitly to tell me of any dreams or premonitions. I thought you realized the importance of dreams such as the one we witnessed. I was mistaken." Alice's heart wrenched at his words. She had never hidden anything from him before, but she was afraid of what that dream meant, so she hid it. She did not look into his eyes. With the pain gone, she remembered to use her occlumency and blocked her teacher from reentering her mind.

"It is time to end our lessons. You are to leave and move far away from this place, where neither your father nor his followers will find you." He said while walking towards the window with his back to Alice.

"I'm not leaving." Alice said at once. She turned to face him, but he did not turn.

"You will leave." He said firmly without raising his voice in the slightest, but emanating a sense of authority. "You will leave and go somewhere far from harm. Goodbye, Alianora."

Alice placed the money for her final lesson on the table beside the door. "Goodbye." She left without looking back and shut the door behind her.

Harry's alarm clock buzzed irritatingly at four o'clock the next morning. He reached over and shut it off before it woke up the Dursleys. Harry gathered his trunk, his broom, and Hedwig's cage and left the house as quickly and quietly as possible. He waited impatiently on the front porch of his Uncle's house for his escort to arrive. Harry didn't like the idea of an escort, but the Order insisted upon it and would not listen to his protests. At exactly 4:06, Mr. Weasley, Mad-Eye Moody, and Tonks apparated with three loud 'pops' in front of him.

"Put your cloak on, boy! Where's your head!" Apparently Moody thought of this as a way of greeting. Mr. Weasley shook Harry's hand and Tonks simply rolled her eyes at Moody, her hair bright orange today. Harry thought for a moment that more people were coming, but they were either hiding or his guard was to consist of three people, only two of which are aurors. His heart plummeted as the realization of how small the Order had become. He didn't mention it, though as they climbed onto their brooms and took off, Privet Drive shrinking away into the distance forever.

Harry sped through the air with the others and all sounds of the streets below were lost to the sound of the wind and of rustling cloaks. He suddenly felt guilty. Not only was he taking some of the few remaining Order members to escort him to safety, but he was not going to be staying in the protection of the Weasleys. Nor did he plan on returning to school. He planned on staying with the Weasleys for the week remaining before his and Ron's apparition test. Harry was afraid that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would not approve. In that case, he would have to sneak away, which is a possibility he was not looking forward to. He was completely immersed in his thoughts that he didn't realize they already at the Burrow and was pleasantly surprised when they landed on the lawn between the various wandering chickens.

"This is it?" Bellatrix stared up at the shabby apartment building where they had been told they could complete their task. "She left the care of the Malfoys, one of the richest and purest families in existence, for this?" Snape stalked past her irritably, entering the building without pausing to look at it. He heard Bella's footsteps behind him. She mumbled something about it looking like his house, but he pretended not to hear her. He climbed the narrow staircase and down the hallway towards a shabby apartment at the end of the hall. Bellatrix hurried along behind him. They reached the end of the hallway and knocked on the door.