Author's Note: Still not J.K Rowling. If I was, I would be rich and famous. Sadly, I am none of those things.

Chapter 1 Tangos and Tickets

Alex let out a shout and awoke, clutching tightly to the scar on her right arm. It felt as though someone had taken a hot branding iron and put it to her arm. For several minutes, Alex sat there until the pain died away. The girl stood up shakily, crept across the hall quietly so as not to wake her guardian, and went to the bathroom.

Alex Ratcliff was a tall, skinny, almost-fourteen-year-old girl. Although she didn't acknowledge it, she was very pretty, with her long, thick black hair, tan skin, and stormy grey eyes. She was told by all that she looked exactly like her mother, except for her eyes. Nobody ever told her where she got them from.

But last year, Alex learned the truth. Her mother, Alana, hadn't been married to David Ratcliff, but to Sirius Black, a man convicted of murdering at least thirteen people with a single curse. Alex knew better than to believe that story. Sirius was framed by his old school friend, Peter Pettigrew, a man who used his animagus skills to live as a rat for the last twelve years. She and her friends had heard the story while in the Shrieking Shack the end of last year.

Just when Alex thought she was going to have a father, it was almost snatched from her grasp. Sirius had been captured by the dementors and would have had his soul sucked out if not for the quick thinking of Dumbledore and Hermione's Time Turner. Harry and Hermione traveled back in time to rescue her father and Alex hadn't seen him since. They had been sending letters to each other frequently, but he could never tell her where in the world he was, in case someone intercepted the owl.

Sighing, Alex splashed some cold water on her face and went back to her room. Closing the door silently, she turned on the light, waking her midnight black owl, Monty.

"Oi," said Monty, looking at her with squinting eyes, "I just got back from a hunt, can't an owl get some rest around here?"

"Sorry buddy," said Alex as she sat down at her desk and pulled over a blank piece of parchment, trying to recall her dream.

She had been standing in a dusty room…Wormtail was there, Pettigrew's school nickname…and she remembered the cold voice that she only heard laughing when a dementor got too close to her. It was the voice of Voldemort. Shivering, she wondered why she would dream about him. They had mentioned Harry and herself, they were needed to complete something. Whatever that was, she wanted no part in it. Anything with Voldemort was bound to be evil.

How was she to explain this to her father without him worrying? If he thought she was in danger, he might leave the safety of wherever he was and come to find her. She couldn't have him captured, not when everybody thought he was a killer. Finally, she dipped her quill in the ink bottle and began writing.

Dear Dad,

How are things with you? I got your last letter and I've never laughed so hard in my life! I can't believe the things you did at school! You would definitely give my friend Ron's brothers a run for their money.

I had the strangest dream last night. Wormtail was there with Voldemort and they were talking about Harry and I, something about needing us for something to be completed. Crazy, huh? I bet the Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, would have fun trying to figure that dream out.

Say hi to Buckbeak for me and I hope to hear from you really soon!

Your daughter,

Alex

She read through it a few times, checking to make sure she didn't sound scared about the dream. Finally, she addressed the envelope "Dad" and opened Monty's cage.

"Time to fly," Alex whispered and tied the letter to her owl's leg, "Give this to Dad, and make sure you're not followed. Tell me how he's doing when you come back."

Monty nodded and took off, Alex watching until he disappeared into the light grey of the rising sun. Yawning, Alex turned off her light and climbed into bed, falling fast asleep.

…...

Alex's eyes fluttered open and she stretched. Looking at her alarm clock, she almost fell out of bed. It was one in the afternoon, her dance class had ended an hour ago! She had slept through her alarm! In a state of panic, Alex ran around her room, changing into regular clothes and rushing down the stairs to find her uncle reading the Daily Prophet, a popular wizard newspaper.

"Morning Alex!" her uncle said cheerfully as Alex dashed to the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of milk, "What's the rush?"

"I missed my dance lesson," said Alex as she got a bowl and cereal, "I must've slept through the alarm, I have to go down there and ask what I've missed."

"There was no alarm to sleep through," Uncle Monty said calmly.

Alex turned to Uncle Monty and stared. He was a medium sized man with thinning dark brown auburn hair and a smile that could brighten up any room. He had been her guardian since Alex's grandparents mysteriously died when she was five.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard you last night, no matter how quietly you tried to be," her uncle said, setting down his paper and looking at her with concern, "You gave a shout and I waited to see if you were awake or not."

"It was a dream," said Alex, mindlessly clutching her scar, "Just a regular nightmare, that's all."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" her uncle asked, looking at her carefully.

"It…It was about Voldemort," said Alex, sitting down, "He and Pettigrew were talking, saying that they needed Harry and I for something. But it was just a dream, all in my head."

"Did it seem like a normal dream?" her uncle asked.

"Well…no, not really," admitted Alex, "It seemed so real, like I was actually there with them. And when Wormtail, Pettigrew by the way, turned Voldemort away from the fire, my scar burned. That's how I woke up, the pain was so bad."

"I see," said Uncle Monty, thinking about what his adopted niece had told him, "I don't know what to tell you Alex, but I'd keep an eye on your scar. If it hurts like that ever again, watch your back."

Alex nodded and said she was going down to the studio to see what she missed. She kissed her uncle's cheek and left. As she walked, she tried to not think about the dream so she hummed a tune as she went. Finally, she reached the studio and found her teacher, Miss Stacy. She told Miss Stacy that she had overslept by accident and the older lady said it was fine.

"Just don't let it happen again," she said, "We're getting closer to the show at the end of July and we need all the practices we can get. Listen Alex, I was wondering if you'd be interested in taking a different class this year for the show."

"What kind of class?" Alex asked with interest.

"Tango, we have a boy here, just about your age I think, and his dance partner broke her ankle last night. He's looking for another one and I suggested you. What do you say?"

"I've never done that before," said Alex, but her eyes were glowing with excitement, "But if he doesn't mind that, I'd love to do it!"

"Great," Miss Stacy said with a relieved grin, "He's actually across the street at the theater if you want to meet him and get started."

Alex nodded and left the studio, heading to the theater. It was the old-fashioned kind, the ones with the black overhang that had the names of the movies in white letters. It was now used for any of the village's theater productions and town meetings. Alex opened the doors of the theater and saw the place was empty.

"Hello?" she called, moving down the row and up to the stage. She got up and looked around, still not seeing anyone.

"Are you Alex?"

She spun around and saw a boy who came up to her shoulder. He had blonde hair with light brown eyes and was looking her up and down. This look made Alex very uncomfortable and she took a step back.

"Yeah, I am. Miss Stacy sent me over here. Are you the one who needs a dance partner?"

"Yes, my name's Rodger. Have you ever tangoed before?"

"I can honestly say I never had," Alex said with a shrug, "But I'm willing to learn."

"Let's get started then."

They spent the afternoon going over steps. It was very different from what Alex was used to. Not only did she have to worry about her steps, but those of her partner so that she didn't trample over his feet (which she did a few times in the beginning). Finally, they stopped for the day.

"Same time tomorrow?" Alex asked as she left.

"Yes, but the next time, bring heels you can dance in and a flowing skirt," Rodger said, "I'll also have a fan for you too."

"I have to do all that in heels and a skirt, with a fan?" Alex asked, "This is not going to turn out good."

"By the end of July, you'll have it down," said Rodger and he left.

Alex reached her house and went inside. The place was eerily quiet and Alex nervously entered the kitchen, finding it deserted. There was a note on the table saying that her uncle had left for an emergency at work and wasn't sure when he'd be back. Alex sighed and started getting dinner ready. Her uncle had been working late a lot often.

Uncle Monty worked for the Magical Games and Sports of the Ministry of Magic. Until Alex got her letter, she was led to believe her guardian worked for a bank. Sure her uncle would work late some nights, but this had been happening almost the entire summer. She assumed it had to do with the upcoming Quidditch World Cup. It was being held in Britain this year so the Department of Magical Games and Sports was working hard to make it a great event. Alex just wished her guardian didn't have to work so often.

Alex finished her meal of pork chops and mashed potatoes and went to her room. Monty was sitting on her desk with a letter in front of him.

"Your dad looks great," the bird said happily, "He's much healthier looking than last time."

Alex opened the letter and sat on her bed to read it aloud:

"Dearest Alex,

I am well and enjoying the weather here. I wish you were here with me, there are so many animals you could talk to. About this dream, have you had any like these before? Harry wrote to me as well and he seemed to have the same one you did. The question is how is it that you both have dreams about Voldemort and Wormtail? Is this somehow connected? I'll see you soon Alex, Buckbeak says hello back, and tell your uncle he should be receiving my part in a day or two.

All my love,

Your father"

Alex wondered about whether or not she should call Harry when she heard the door unlock from downstairs and ran to the steps. Her uncle was wearing his work robes and looked up quickly when he heard her coming.

"Hello Alex," he said, putting his hands behind his back, "Have you written to your father lately?"

"I just got a letter from him," said Alex, coming down the steps, "I told him about my dream, he said Harry had one very similar to mine. Oh, he told me to tell you that you should be receiving his part in a day or two. I don't know if that's significant but I'm just the messenger."

"Thank you Alex," her uncle said with a smile and he went to eat his dinner.

Alex went back upstairs and got ready for bed. As she climbed into her bed, she pulled out two small books. One was her diary, which she recorded in everyday without fail, and the other was her mother's old school diary. Alex had gotten it as a Christmas present from her father, before she knew the truth. As Alex read about her mother's last day as a third year, her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

…...

Alex was walking home from a very intense tango lesson with Rodger. She was sore in places she didn't even know existed, but inside she was happy. At the end of the practice, Rodger asked if she wanted to see a movie with him tomorrow night. This was her first date ever with a guy and she had said yes, as long as Erin and her "boyfriend" came along too. Erin had told Alex of a guy she met in her school that she really liked, but he just wanted to be friends. They did stuff together, like go see movies, but they weren't technically dating. Anyway, Alex didn't want to go out with a guy by herself yet. She was afraid she would say something stupid.

When Alex walked in, she saw her uncle standing at the kitchen door with a huge smile, similar to the one he had when Alex found out she was a witch.

"I know that look, Uncle Monty," Alex said with an arched eyebrow, "Is there some other secret that you haven't told me for the past thirteen years that I should know about?"

"No, nothing like that. What do you think about getting one of your birthday gifts early this year?" her uncle asked.

"All right," said Alex slowly and she entered the room.

There was an envelope at her place and she opened it. The card had a wizard's hat on the front that was patched up pretty bad and Alex was reminded of the Sorting Hat. But when she opened the card, a pair of tickets fell onto the table and she picked them up to read it.

"These are box seats to the World Cup," said Alex and she turned to her uncle, a smile breaking onto her face, "Are you serious?"

"Actually, I am."

Alex spun around and gasped. Laughing, she ran to her father, who was standing a dark corner of the kitchen, unseen when Alex entered.

"Dad!" Alex cried, hugging her father tightly, "What are you doing here?"

"You didn't expect me to miss my daughter's birthday after all the ones I did before, did you?" Sirius Black asked with a grin, "Your uncle and I each pitched in to buy tickets to the Cup."

Alex was too shocked to speak; this was too much. She was going to the most anticipated games of Quidditch ever and her father was here again. All Alex could do was hug her father and her uncle and thank them again and again.

"I have to tell my friends!" said Alex.

"They know, or will know in a month," said Uncle Monty, "Arthur Weasley managed to get the seats right next to ours for free because he helped the son of Ludo Bagman get out of some trouble a few years ago. Bagman's the man who's running this so of course he was able to get Arthur tickets. All your friends will be there."

That evening, the three spent the time talking about Quidditch until Alex was sent to bed by her father. He turned into a dog and slept in his old spot at the end of the bed. Alex went to sleep with a smile on her face.

Author's Note: I'm baaaaack! Did you miss me? ;) Welcome to the fourth book in the Alex Ratcliff/Black saga. I promise that there will be lots of fun in store for you all, as well as some mystery and adventure.

Just to let you know now, I will be out of town until April 25. It is my spring break so I will be away somewhere awesome. You wanna know where? Drum roll please…The Harry Potter Theme Park! I know, I'm so excited, if you couldn't tell. :D So, since I will be away, I will not be able to update until I get back. However, I will try to do a double update for you all if I am coherent enough to remember. Tonight is my prom so it'll be late when I get back. Yeah, kind of a busy week. :P

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this and will continue to the rest of the way. If you have any comments/questions/concerns/random thoughts, feel free to write them out in a review or PM. I will promise to answer you as soon as I come back.