As Long As You're Mine

A/N. Hello all you lovely readers! I'm sorry for the delay on this chapter - my laptop stopped working for a few days but it's up and running again so here's Number 4. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Katie

Several months passed, and Harry and the others returned to Hogwarts. Alicia was sad to go and see them off at the train station, as it reminded her that she would never again climb onto that great red train bound for Hogwarts.

Life continued as normal for a while; busy shifts at St. Mungo's, continued disappearances being reported in the paper, Order work…

She missed Charlie badly, and worried about him a great deal, for news of him was limited, as his letters were short, scant of news and rare. She tried to occupy herself with her work and forget about how much she missed him.

Then, midway through October, Alicia received some shocking news.

She was just doing her rounds one stormy morning, when she overheard two Healers talking rapidly and worriedly about something.

"She's been cursed….by a necklace or something. Luckily, she barely touched it at all, but the curse has spread quickly – I think we're going to need a specialist Healer to deal with it," one was saying, a tall, thin, bald man.

"Alright, I'll call in Healer Anderson. And what did you say the name of the patient was?" the other said. The second was a shorter man, plumper and with a round owlish face.

"Katie Bell," the tall man replied, and the owlish man scribbled the name down hastily on his clipboard.

Alicia, in shock, pushed the tray of food she was holding into her patient's hands and hurried after the two Healers.

"What was that you were just saying? About Katie Bell?" she asked breathlessly. The two Healers turned.

"Ah hello Miss Spinnet. I'm afraid that information cannot be disclosed at the present mome-"

"Well you'd better disclose it!" interrupted Alicia, looking quite fierce.

The tall thin man quailed at her expression and looked to the other man for support.

"She's one of my best friends," Alicia said, looking desperately from one to the other.

The plumper man sighed. "Room 213. But she's not seeing visitors yet. Her condition is still critical."

Alicia thanked the Healers and sped off towards the lift. As she did so, she sent a Patronus to Oliver, the twins and Angelina. Her heart pounded fearfully. Her mind was focused on only one thing. She had to see Katie.

It was a terrible sight to see her. Her face was deathly pale and she lay comatose on the hospital bed, completely motionless, so still and lifeless she could almost have been dead.

Alicia watched anxiously as the Healers bustled around her, trying all kinds of spells, each seeming more fruitless than the next.

She couldn't quite believe it. How had this happened? She didn't understand – the Healers had said she'd been carrying a cursed necklace. But how on earth had she come into possession of a cursed necklace? It didn't make sense.

Angelina had arrived within ten minutes, but the Healers had not allowed her in. They had only allowed Alicia in because she worked at St. Mungo's. Alicia took Angelina downstairs for coffee and to wait for the boys.

They sat in silence in the lobby, Alicia twisting the hem of her lime green robes. She could taste the tangy metallic taste of blood in her mouth and realised she had been biting her lip so hard she had drawn blood.

Neither of them spoke for a long time; no one knew what to say. At last, Oliver came rushing in, breathless, still clad in his muddy Puddlemere Quidditch robes. His face was frantic and fearful.

"Where is she? What's happening? Where is she? I need to see her!" His voice was desperate, pleading. It was all Alicia could do to calm him down.

"Oliver, please, listen to me," she said, soothingly, putting her hands on his shoulders and turning him to face her. "There's nothing you can do. The Healers are doing all they can. There's nothing you can do."

Oliver's shoulders slumped and he sat down, his head in his hands. Alicia and Angelina exchanged glances.

Moments later, Fred and George came rushing in, demanding to know where Katie was and what had happened. Alicia told them everything she knew, and they all waited in silence, together, a terrible fear in all of their hearts.

It was nearly four in the morning before an elderly Healer came down to the almost deserted reception and spoke to them.

"You should go home, all of you," he said kindly. "We're doing everything we can. Only time will tell."

Alicia nodded, biting her lip to hold back the tears. Fred and George hugged the two girls, patted Oliver on the shoulder reassuringly, then left.

Angelina disapparated back to the flat to get some food for them, whilst Alicia took Oliver home.

"She's going to be ok, you know, Alicia," Oliver said quietly, seeming much calmer now, as Alicia pulled off his shoes and put the covers over him. His face was almost childlike in the darkness but his expression was one of determination. "She's strong, my Katie. She'll get through this."

Alicia nodded. "You get some sleep, Oliver. I'll let you know as soon as I know anything."

"Thank you, Al," Oliver said softly, his eyes closed.

"Not a problem," Alicia said, leaning forward to kiss him gently on the forehead. "Goodnight, Oliver."

And for then, life went on. Alicia continued working at St. Mungo's, visiting Katie whenever she had a break, to sit beside her bed and talk to her, implore her to get better, for all their sakes.

The newspapers were getting worse. Every day, more murders and suspicious disappearances were reported, and Alicia was beginning to get increasingly worried at the lack of news from Charlie.

The most comfort she could take was that she knew that Harry was safe, at Hogwarts. So she was surprised when she received a letter from him.

She was sitting in the canteen at St. Mungo's on one of her short breaks, sipping some coffee and flicking through a Muggle magazine, when suddenly there was a tap on the glass window. She got up to open it. Sitting outside on the window ledge was a beautiful snowy owl.

Alicia frowned. "Hello Hedwig," she said, as the owl nipped her finger affectionately and extended her leg for Alicia to remove the scroll from it. She did so, and Hedwig looked up expectantly at her, blinking her doleful amber eyes.

"I haven't got any treats, I'm afraid," Alicia said apologetically. The owl, as though she had understood her, ruffled her wings and gave Alicia a disapproving look.

Alicia unfurled the roll of parchment.

Dear Alicia, it read

I'm sorry to bother you, as I'm sure you're busy, but I didn't know who else to talk to. I've spoken to Mr Weasley and several other members of the Order, including McGonagall, and none of them believe me.

It's about what happened to Katie. How is she doing? There's been no news here, though we've been pestering McGonagall every day.

Anyway I was there when it happened, with Ron and Hermione. Katie's friend Leanne told McGonagall that Katie went into the bathroom at the Three Broomsticks, and when she came out, she was carrying a package. Apparently, Katie was acting rather strangely and insisting that she needed to deliver the package to somebody. Naturally, Leanne was worried and tried to take the package from her but as she did so, the package tore and Katie brushed the edge of the necklace with her hand.

Now I know this may sound far-fetched to you, but I'm almost positive of it: somebody gave Katie the package, and I'm almost certain it was Malfoy. He's been acting oddly ever since we got back, and before that too. I slipped away when we were in Hogsmeade over the summer and I saw Malfoy in Borgin and Burke's. He wanted Borgin to help him fix something and he also wanted Borgin to keep something else for him. He made it sound like it was the same kind of thing that needed fixing. Like a pair.

The others don't believe me, but that's what it looked like. And we were in Madam Malkin's, and we saw Malfoy jump a mile when Madam Malkin tried to touch his left arm. I think he's been branded with the Dark Mark. I know he's young, but you have to admit, it all adds up.

I'm almost certain he had something to do with Katie and the cursed necklace. McGonagall says he wasn't at Hogsmeade that day because he was in detention with her, but he must have had an accomplice or something. I know it's something to do with him.

I don't want to ask you to do anything dangerous, but is there any way you could do some scouting around? You know, searching Malfoy Manor yourself, see if there's anything there that the Aurors missed. I wouldn't ask you, but I don't know who else to turn to.

Harry xxx

Alicia frowned as she read the letter. She re-read it several times, then put it down on the table, thinking hard.

It did seem far-fetched, but then again, Harry had been right in the past, wouldn't it be wise to trust his instinct this time too?

Well she could hardly do anything now; she was busy with work and the Order every day. It would have to wait until Christmas break.

A/N. There we are, Number 4! Hope you enjoyed it! As long as my computer behaves itself, Chapter 5 will be up in a few days' time. Mini Spoiler: a new character will be coming into the story in the next chapter! I wonder if you'll like them or not…. ;)

So anyway, all that's left to say is: leave me a review and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! Enjoy the last moments of 2011!