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Enjoy my children...


Chapter 4

The last month of the summer went by exceedingly fast for Moody and agonizingly slow for Alice. Alice spent the most of the time in her room, which Moody had fixed up with a few good repairing spells (though Alice's favorite sheets couldn't be saved), reading her school books. When she did come out it was only for food and her nose was still buried in a book. How she didn't run into walls would have been a mystery to Moody if it wasn't for the fact he used to make her walk around the house blindfolded when she was younger to see if she could survive in a blackout without a wand.

"How many eggs?" said Moody as Alice cautiously entered the kitchen.

"Three," she replied, her voice barely reaching his ears through the large leather copy of Magical Drafts and Potions.

When he placed her plate in front of her he was surprised to see her put her book down and look at him.

"Mad-Eye, I've been thinking," she started and Moody snorted.

"Merlin help me," he grumbled. He was all too aware of his green hair daughter glaring at him even without his magical eye.

"Anyway," Alice said. "I was just wondering what you were going to do while I was off at Hogwarts with Maddy."

The mere mention of its name seemed to lead to a thumping noise coming from the stairs followed by a custard colored fur ball rolling into the kitchen. It stopped at the foot of Alice's chair and looked up at its master with pleading, electric blue eyes, earning it a piece of bacon.

Grunting, Moody returned his attention to his daughter.

"Don't feed the demon bacon, Allie," he said.

Alice smiled.

"But Maddy likes the bacon, right Maddy?" said Alice and the Puffskein made a noise similar to a bark. "See? He's just like you."

"That demon is nothing like me," grumbled Moody. Maddy made a snort in agreement.

"Of course he is!" argued Alice. "Well, he's not as old, or paranoid, or-"

"Scarred?" offered Moody.

"Scars only mean you've lived an exciting life," replied Alice matter-of-factly. "Anyways, I was going to say grumpy. But you're both fun, protective, and family."

Moody rolled his eyes and Alice giggled, the soft, tender, family moment gone as quickly as it had come. They ate breakfast in silence before Moody spoke again.

"Tomorrow we are going to meet Arthur and his boys at King's Cross," he said and Alice nodded her head. "Have you packed your trunk?" Another nod. "All your, books, robes, telescope, cauldron?"

"Yes sir," said Alice smiling. She looked down at the book in her hand. "Well, besides this one, but I'm reading it right now. I'll put it up before I go to bed."

"Uh huh," said Moody. He knew full well that she would fall asleep reading it like she had the last few days. He wouldn't be surprised if she had memorized the entire thing by the time she got to Hogwarts. "Have you read anything else this summer?"

"Duh," said Alice.

Moody glared.

"I read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them all last week," Alice corrected. "I read the other ones too, they're just not as interesting as the last two. I can't wait until potion class!"

Moody failed at suppressing his laughter. Alice lifted her eyebrow at him, her hair turning a bright orange only briefly, before returning to her book, occasionally petting Maddy as she read.

When tomorrow arrived, Alice woke up very early only to be disappointed to find Moody already awake. She had to put her copy of Magical Drafts and Potions in her trunk, Moody had been right about her falling asleep reading it, before helping Moody - watching really - make breakfast. When it was finally time to go, Moody took great pleasure in turning Maddy into a green plush pillow.

"Just tap the demon with your wand and he'll turn back," said Moody after they apparated to a dark alley next to King's Cross. The two walked slowly towards the platform, Moody pushing a trolley with Alice's trunk on it while Alice carried her Maddy-pillow.

"Do Arthur's sons look like him?" said Alice to Moody. They had been waiting outside the platform for several minutes and she was getting antsy while, what seemed for the first time ever, Moody looked patient. He of course knew the Weasleys were always late and would have been wary if they had shown up on time.

"What do you think?" said Moody. He gave a quick point to his left, never taking his real eye off his daughter.

Alice looked up in the direction Moody had pointed and failed to suppress her smile. A swarm of red heads, nine in total, were moving quickly towards them. Arthur was in the front of the swarm next to a woman Alice safely guessed was his wife, Molly. Holding onto both of Molly's hands were two children, an eight year old looking boy who seemed to see more hand-me-downs then anyone else in the family, and a little girl who's eyes grew as big as saucers when she saw Alice. Following behind them was a pair of twins in identical clothing and devious expressions. The only way Alice could tell them apart was the fact that one had beadier eyes and the other slumped his right shoulder a bit. Lastly, there were three older boys pushing trolleys in the back, two of which having owls while the youngest had a caged rat.

"Alastor, sorry we're late," said Arthur sheepishly. "We'a, well..."

"If you had been on time I would have been suspicious," grumbled Moody, all hints of him being a father gone. "These the three going to Hogwarts?"

He tilted his staff towards the three tallest Weasley boys.

"Ah, yes," said Arthur. He moved behind the three boys. "This one here is my eldest, Bill."

The tallest boy smiled and waved politely. He had the longest hair out of the seven children and seemed to blend in the best with the Muggle community except for a shiny silver badge he had pinned on his chest that said Head Boy.

Arthur moved over to the second tallest boy and said, "This is my second eldest, Charlie."

Charlie grinned before tipping an invisible hat. Ironically, his hair was the shortest out of all the Weasleys and it spiked at the front. His blue eyes had a look of mayhem to them but on his chest was a silver badge similar to his older brother's only it had a large purple P on it for Prefect.

The next son, and the one Arthur introduced as Percy, was eying his older brothers' badges enviously through his glasses and didn't notice his father say his name. He was very tall but also very thin and unlike the rest of his siblings he tried to carry himself in a respectable manner that only made him look ridiculous.

"Boys, this is Alice," said Arthur. "Alastor wants you three to keep an eye out for her while she's at Hogwarts."

"Oi! Aren't you going to introduce us too, dad?" said one of the twins, in a fake voice of offense.

"Yeah, we're your sons too," said the other. The two youngest just looked at Alice gaping.

"No time," said Arthur. "Your brothers have ten minutes to get on the train. Shall we?"

Alice and Moody allowed the Weasleys to pass through the barrier between platform nine and ten first, disappearing before their eyes through the stone wall.

"You might want to hurry before you miss the train, kiddo," said Moody as Molly pulled the last of the Weasley children through the barrier.

"Are you not coming to wave me goodbye?" asked Alice.

Moody shook his head.

"If people see me there they'll immediately know who you are," he said. "Don't want to make it impossible for you to make friends that know you for you and not your scar."

Alice nodded reluctantly, knowing her father was right. She was about to take her trolley when an idea popped in her head.

"Mad-Eye, there's some string in your hair."

"What?" Moody ran his hand very cautiously through his hair. "No there isn't."

"Yes there is," said Alice. "Let me get it."

Moody took a knee so Alice could get the string but instead was surprised when she gave him a hug.

"Just kidding," she said kissing his cheek. "Love you, dad."

Moody shook his head as he watched his daughter run off through the barrier. Just like her mother, she had a way at catching him off his guard.

Alice grinned at the sight before her. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven-o-clock. Alice's grin grew bigger at the sign with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. She had made it.

"There you are, Alice," said Arthur. He turned to his two oldest sons who were just exiting the train. "Charlie, Bill, help her with her trunk."

"Yes, sir," said Bill smiling.

"Anything for a damsel in distress," teased Charlie with a wink.

Alice giggled as she followed the two boys onto the train. They led her to an empty compartment with their trunks in it.

"You don't mind sitting with us, do you?" asked Bill as he helped his brother tuck the trunk under one of the rows of seats. "Percy is off talking to friends and we don't know where he is but you're welcome to sit with us."

"Just know we'll have to leave shortly before we get to Hogwarts," said Charlie, already sure Alice would say yes to sitting with them. "We have a Prefect meeting."

"Okay," said Alice with a genuine smile. She really liked the Weasley family so far.

"Excellent," said Charlie with a smile of his own. "We have to say goodbye to everyone real fast but we'll be back."

"Yes, try not to wreck anything while we're away," teased Bill and Alice stuck out her tongue at him.

"Definitely Gryffindor, that one," said Charlie, laughing before closing the compartment door.

Alice smiled before taking out her wand and tapping her pillow. Immediately, Maddy changed back to his usual fur ball form. He began to hum in content while Alice petted him, waiting for Bill and Charlie's return. She looked up when the compartment door began to open but was surprised to see a boy with ink black hair and tan skin standing in the doorway. He was the bipolar opposite of a Weasley in looks and, judging by the Slytherin robes he wore, in personality. He was holding a book, which surprised Alice who didn't think the boy looked like he read a great deal that was titled Quidditch Through the Ages.

"Who are you?" he snapped rudely. His eyes then fell on Maddy. "And what is that?"

Maddy growled and made a lunging motion only to be caught by Alice.

"This is Maddy," said Alice, defensively. "He's a Puffskein."

"Partially fanged I take it," said the boy, a look of disgust on his face. "Why is it green?"

"He doesn't like you," said Alice bluntly. "I don't either."

"Humph."

The boy turned around and left when the whistle sounded. Shortly afterwards, Bill and Charlie reentered the compartment. Charlie's eyes lit up at the sight of Maddy.

"Wow, a Puffskein!" he exclaimed rushing over to pet it.

Maddy bit his right hand which he stuck in his mouth to stop the bleeding before reaching for it with his left hand.

"Charlie, don't," said Bill grabbing his childish brother's arm. "It just bit you."

"But Bill," whined Charlie.

"Stop, you're acting like a child, Charles," said Bill.

Alice grinned at the sight of the fifth year pouting at his brother. Maddy must have found it amusing too, because he turned a brighter yellow before licking Charlie's wounded hand.

"See, it likes me," said Charlie, grinning ear to ear.

Bill sighed before sitting across from Alice and his younger brother.

"So you're really the Girl Who Lived?" he asked, causally.

Alice nodded.

"And you've got the - you know..."

He pointed at Alice's forehead.

Alice pulled back her bangs to show the lightning bolt scar. Bill and Charlie stared briefly before looking away.

"It must suck having that," said Charlie, his eyes fixated on Maddy while he petted him. "I mean, every time someone sees it they see the Girl Who Lived and not you."

Alice, surprised by the redhead's words, stared at him. Moody had told her all about when her mother died protecting her and how she had gotten her scar but she never understood why it was such a big deal. Evidently, neither did Charlie or Bill, or at least they didn't care when it came to her as a friend.

"What Charlie means is be careful who you befriend," said Bill, a smile on his face. "And stay away from Slytherins."

Alice laughed.

"Mad-Eye gave me similar advice," she said still laughing.

Just then, Percy Weasley came strolling into the compartment.

"Sorry I'm late," he said as if the three of them had been waiting on him. "I was trying to find Oliver to discuss our dorm arrangements. We can't have him covering the room with Quidditch decorations again this year."

He took a seat next to Bill and looked at Alice.

"So is Alastor Moody really your father?" he asked earning him a slap on the back of the head.

"Ignore our little brother if he ask any questions you're uncomfortable with," said Bill.

Percy, still rubbing the back of his head where Bill had hit him, said, "I'm not the only one who's curious you know. The Girl Who Lived goes missing right after He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is destroyed and all that's left is a note saying she's with her father. People are going to ask questions."

Bill reeled his hand back for another slap but Alice beat him to it.

"Yeah, Mad-Eye is my dad," said Alice, "and do you really have to call him that? His name is Voldemort."

The three Weasleys all looked at her with pale expressions, Percy's being the worst.

"You can't just-" Percy started.

"Yes she can," said Charlie, regaining his composure. "We all can, we've just been raised to be to afraid to. Watch, Voldemort."

Percy paled again and Bill looked at his brother as if he was mad.

"What?" said Charlie, shrugging his shoulders.

Bill rolled his eyes and then under his breath whispered into Percy's ear, "Voldemort."

Alice couldn't help but to laugh as the second year ran out of the compartment mumbling that he had to talk Oliver, Bill and Charlie laughed along with her.

They spent the next two hours or so laughing and getting to know each other. Alice learned that Bill was a seventh year and had recently been offered a job in Africa working for Gringotts as a curse breaker, something only Bill and Charlie knew because their parents, more specifically their mother, wouldn't allow him to go. She also learned that Charlie was the Gryffindor Quidditch Seeker and was an extreme animal lover who planned on studying dragons after Hogwarts. They both seemed to have a good relationship with the Hogwarts' gamekeeper, Hagrid, who they both swore was half giant.

"Speaking of Gringotts," said Bill after Charlie finished telling Alice about his first Quidditch game. "Did you hear about the break-in? Someone tried to rob a high security vault."

"They're bloody mad, or were mad," said Alice. Moody had told her all about the goblins' security in their bank. Dragons, curses, and miles upon miles of tunnels some leading to nowhere just to keep people out. The likelihood of someone surviving a break-in was slim - not that you'd want to survive if the goblins caught you.

"That's the thing, they weren't caught whoever did it. Must have been a very powerful dark wizard though," said Bill scratching his chin. "Thing is, they didn't take anything, that's what's so odd about it."

"People think it has to do with old Voldie," said Charlie. Immediately after deciding the name was safe to say, the boy had turned it into something comical. "Always do with things like this."

Alice turned this news over in her mind. Moody had been called into Gringotts during the summer, ironically the day after he had visited it to get her money for school supplies, but she knew better then to suspect Moody. Even if it did irritate the goblins, he wouldn't have broken in the bank just for the fun of it which means they called him in to investigate and Moody was only ever called in when it was something that had to do with very dark magic.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" said a smiling, dimpled woman standing in the corridor.

Alice jumped to her feet while the boys mumbled something about sandwiches. She had a very bad sweet-tooth and Moody had given her plenty of money to fill it. She bought as much as she could carry of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange wizard candies before stumbling back in the compartment.

Bill and Charlie stared at her as Alice poured it all onto the empty seat next to Bill.

"Hungry little one," teased Charlie.

"Couldn't help it," said Alice with a grin. "Too many choices. Want some?"

At first the Weasley boys refused to take any of Alice's candy but when she started pelting them with Chocolate Frogs they gave in and helped her pig out.

It had gotten rather dark outside when the compartment door opened for the umpteenth time this trip. Two boys around Bill's age already dress in their Gryffindor school robes, though Alice doubted the way they were wearing them was within the school dress code, entered. The first had long, wavy, brown hair and dark green eyes while the second had black spiked hair with pale skin. They both looked at Bill, who currently looked pale after eating a vomit flavored bean, and laughed lightly.

"Go looking for the Head Boy and find him ill because of some bean, aye Duke?" said the first boy.

"Figures," said the second one called Duke, still chuckling.

"Hey boys," said Charlie, grinning. "What'dya want?"

"Like we said," said the first one. "We were looking for Willie over here. Head Boy is supposed to be holding a meeting in a few minutes with all the Prefects."

"Then why are you here, Myron?" said Bill, an eyebrow raised. "You're not a prefect and neither is Duke."

"I take offense to that, sir!" exclaimed Myron sarcastically. "I could have been a prefect if I had applied myself, hell, I could have been Head Boy if it wasn't for the fact-"

"You didn't want to?" hinted Charlie, telling Alice this was a usual conversation.

"Funny, Charlie," said Myron then his eyes fell on Alice. He lifted a curious brow. "Who's the girl, boys? Not your sister, obviously, no red hair."

"Oh, this is Alice," said Bill, standing up and stretching. "Alice this is Myron Wagtail and his sister Kirley Duke."

"Aye!" said Duke, evidently insulted by being called a girl.

Alice giggled.

"You'd two would make weird sisters," she said. The two boys exchanged looks that told Alice an idea had come to them simultaneously. "Should that look worry me?"

"Nah," said Charlie. "It just means they've got an evil idea, or genius idea if you ask them. Don't worry, me and Bill see it a lot. Hey, you change in here while we watch the corridor, okay?"

Alice nodded and Bill, Charlie, Myron, and Duke went into the corridor. When she finished changing into her school robes, Bill told her Myron and Duke were going to keep her company while Charlie and him went to the Prefect meeting at the front of the train. Once they were gone, Duke broke into questions.

"So Alice," he said keeping his distance from Maddy who had already tried to bite him, "what house do you think you're going to be in?"

"I don't know," said Alice with a shrug. "Everyone says I'll be a Gryffindor and it sounds like the best house but I'm not sure which one I belong in."

"Well, what house were your parents in?" asked Myron. He had decided Duke could suffer sitting on the floor, not that Duke cared, and laid down on the entire bench across from Alice.

"My mom was Gryffindor but I don't know what house my dad was in," said Alice.

"What do you mean, don't know?" said Duke, chewing on a Licorice Wand. "He not tell you?"

"Nope."

Both boys raised an eyebrow. Finally Myron spoke.

"Why?"

"He thinks that if people know what house he was in it will give away his weaknesses so only him and Albus know," said Alice. She was petting Maddy for what felt like hours before either boy spoke again, though speaking might not be the right term.

"No bloody way!" exclaimed Duke. He was grinning as if Christmas had come early and Myron had a similar look.

"Your Moody's kid, aren't you?" said Myron in a quieter voice. Evidently he wasn't too stupid because he could tell Alice was uncomfortable with his friend's outburst.

"Yep."

Myron started laughing and Duke joined in. Their laughter so contagious Alice joined in too.

"You'll be Gryffindor for sure then," said Myron once his laughter subsided. "Slytherins would have been braggin' 'bout who they were and a Ravenclaw would have come up with some elaborate an' unnecessarily long story to pretend you's wasn't you. Don't ask me what a Hufflepuff would have done, they just wouldn't have been as, well, they wouldn't have dealt with the situation the same way."

"You really think so?" asked Alice.

"Yeah!" said Duke, his voice still louder then necessary. "If you don't believe us, wait until the Sorting Hat tells you."

"Wait, I'm sorted by a hat?" said Alice as the train slowed.

"Yeah, McGonagall drops it on your head and it reads your thoughts and stuff," said Duke, standing up. "Learns everything about you before sorting you where you belong. Took it three seconds to sort me."

Duke was grinning at his last comment and didn't notice Alice's eye grow as big as saucers. Myron had but he thought it was out of surprise when the voice filled the train saying: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Myron and Duke waved goodbye before disappearing down the corridor, leaving Alice to panic alone. She reluctantly placed Maddy in his cage before she started pacing. She had no idea there was going to be a mind-reading hat involved in her sorting.

"What am I going to do?" she mumbled to herself as she exited the train with the rest of the Hogwarts students. She was pulled away from her thoughts when a big, booming voice filled the air.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

Alice looked to her left and spotted a man twice the size of any of the seventh years. He had thick, bushy, dark brown hair that tangled into his identical bush beard and eyebrows but a warm smile hidden behind all that hair. Instantly, Alice knew this was Hagrid the kind half giant Charlie and Bill were friends with.

"C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Carefully, Alice followed Hagrid and the other first years down a steep, narrow path. It was so dark, even Alice had trouble watching her step and nearly fell twice.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

Alice let her mouth hang open at the sight in front of her. The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. It was the most magnificent thing Alice had ever seen.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Alice climbed into a boat with two boys before a blonde, curly hair girl joined them.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!"

The fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. Alice walked up a flight of stone steps with the others and joined the crowd of first years that stood around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here?"

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. Alice held her breath and waited.


Special thanks to Beau2809! I love your reviews because you always catch whatever I miss. So to answer your questions:

1. Alice can't have Hedwig, well she can I just don't want her to, because even though she's following the story of HP she is not Harry. She needed a pet like her *cough Maddy cough* and Hogwarts already has owls, and so does Moody, so she didn't need one. And as for the 'isn't it just owls, cats, and toads', did you forget a certain nine toed rat? :P

2. The question on the bed was answered in the chapter.

3. My beta, (my thirteen year old sister with a grammar obsession) missed the mess up on the name. I have another HP fanfic about a girl called Alexis and she reads them both so she and I both missed it. Our bad, hope you didn't get too confused. I'm going to fix it (or have it already depends on when you read this note)

4. Alice very rarely calls Moody dad and usually calls him Mad-Eye to get his attention. When she does call him dad it's going to be during touching, cute, it's-so-adorable-I'm-going-to-throw-up-rainbows moments. When she was young of course she called him papa but she grew out of it (I mean, I called my dad that until I was like six before I thought it was weird).

5. Well if calling someone butt is Americanism I'm terrified to know what Canadianism is (you're a bum, aye). Please don't flame me for that, I got permission from my Canadian bud. ANYWAY *insert apology for horrible jokes here* I have no idea what the Scottish, because Moody's Scottish, insult that would be equal to an eleven year old American girl's insult. Sorry.

6. I'll try to quit with the random questions too, thanks for the advice!

Also, thank you Calliope29 for your review and I'm glad you're excited to see what happens next (I am too).

Nanettez, thanks for the review and like I side earlier, I fixed that but thanks for telling me.

emeralds01 I'm glad you read the short drabble! I'm sure the outline is a lot funnier then the real story but I'm making every scene you read end up in the Alice L Moody series so you secretly know what's coming (a blessing and a curse). You also probably already know who Tony is too ;-)

Thanks for reading every one, and if you can tell me who Myron's gang is before the day is over I will post another chapter. "Because I am a merciful lord" ;-P

Please REVIEW!