Chapter 9:

The time had flown at the Burrow, and a week had almost passed when their cover was blown completely and wholly. That was to say, Ginny had finally realised something was up.

It had begun when Ginny became suspicious of them on their first day at the Burrow. The fact that everyone there treated Sarah and Alanna like they had already met only made it worse. And somehow she remembered Sarah saying, on her very first day at Hogwarts, that she was a terrible flyer. Sarah had caught on to Quidditch entirely too quickly for a terrible flyer, and that only made Ginny more suspicious of the duo.

All of this and more led her to approach her brother the day before they were due to pick up Hermione at Diagon Alley. "Ron." She began hesitantly.

He looked up from the game of Wizard's Chess, where his queen was beating Harry's over the head with a pike. "Yeah?"

She cleared her throat. "Can I have a word with you… In private?" She shot an apologetic look at Harry.

Ron shrugged and stood. "Make it quick. I'm in the middle of a game." And followed her into the corridor.

She looked around surreptitiously before speaking in a whisper. "I think there's something strange about Sarah and Professor Trebond. Remember, Fred and George acted like they'd already met, and so have mum and dad, and she said she was a bad flyer, but she was really good and-"

Ron cut her off, scoffing loudly. "Come on, Gin! Get real, bloody hell…" He shook his head, his face turning red with a blush. He hurried back into the living room, back to Harry and his game of Wizard's Chess.

She stared after him, before letting out a 'hmpf!' of indignation. Sarah trotted down the stairs before noticing the young red head standing there, looking angry. "Ginny, what's the matter?"

The red head threw up her hands and stormed up the stairs, ignoring Sarah's query. Sarah blinked in surprise before walking into the living room. "What's wrong with Ginny?" She asked Ron and Harry, who were talking quietly, their game of chess forgotten.

Ron shot up like a bolt when he heard her. "Bloody hell, Sarah! Don't sneak up on us like that! We have a problem; Ginny's suspicious of you two. She just told me she thought there was something weird about you…"

Sarah sighed. "It was just a matter of time… Is there any parchment nearby? If she's suspicious then I need to get permission from Dumbledore to spill the beans…"

Ron directed her to the pile of parchment that sat on a stool next to the chess board, and she climbed the stairs to the room she shared with Alanna and Ginny, surreptitiously ignoring the other girl's stare as she retrieved a quill from her knapsack. She made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen, sitting down at the table after a quick greeting to Alanna and Molly Weasley, who were talking over cups of tea.

"What are you doing?" Alanna asked.

Sarah grimaced. "Ginny's getting suspicious. I'm writing to Professor Dumbledore, to get permission to tell her everything. She just confronted Ron about how weird I am." Alanna's mouth twitched upwards, the only sign of her amusement. Sarah narrowed her eyes. "It's not funny. What happens if someone dangerous finds out? It could force Voldemort into a confrontation, and that'll be dangerous for everyone."

A small gasp from the doorway gave away Ginny's presence, followed shortly by thumping as the girl ran up the stairs. There was a bang that signalled a slammed door, and Sarah groaned before looking towards Alanna. "We really need to make sure doors are closed before we start talking about sensitive topics, don't we? I'll go speak to her…"

Alanna shook her head. "She probably thinks you're some sort of Death Eater or something. Molly should go."

The older Weasley nodded. "I'll get her down here and you can explain everything to her."

Sarah sighed and sat back in her chair. "Alright then… I never realised how hard this undercover stuff was…"

Molly left the room, and Sarah went to retrieve Harry and Ron. Fred, George and Arthur were all at work, and when Molly returned with Ginny in tow she noticed the other four people sitting there, around the kitchen table, looking serious.

She took no notice of her brother or long time crush, instead glaring accusingly at Sarah and Alanna. "Who are you? What are you doing at Hogwarts?"

Sarah grimaced. "I'm at Hogwarts to protect Harry from Voldemort, and eventually help him defeat Voldemort. I'm… um… not from around here." She finished, hoping the red head would let sleeping dogs lie. There was no luck to be had for Sarah, however.

"What? What do you mean, you aren't from around here? You're from Australia, we already know that… is your name even Sarah?" Ginny asked, and edge to her voice.

"Yes my name is Sarah." Sarah sighed in exasperation. "And yes I'm from Australia. The thing is… not this Australia. I'm from another dimension." She steeled herself for the disbelief.

"Huh?" Ginny's face creased in confusion, accusation drained from her eyes to be replaced with doubt. "What do you mean?"

Sarah sighed. "There are other realities out there, one of which is my original home dimension. A very boring place, I must say. Another one is Alanna's home dimension, where I learnt everything I know of magic and defence. Who knows how many other dimensions there are out there?"

Ginny processed the information without so much as a blink, then rounded on her brother, mother and Harry. "You all knew, didn't you? And Fred and George and Dad, they all knew too… Who else? Hermione? The Professors?"

Ron held up his hands in self defence. "Hermione overheard Sarah talking on the first day… If it wasn't for that then we probably never would have found out." Her glare didn't lessen.

"How did you come to be here?" She asked.

Sarah cleared her throat, looking to Molly for support. When she received none she sighed. "Well… you've heard of the gods, right? Well, they aren't myths. They're real. They sent me to Tortall- that's Alanna's home- to do a mission. When I finished that I had about a month's rest before they sent us here. We arrived two months before the semester started, and I went into training to catch up with the sixth years."

Alanna cleared her throat and stood. "Perhaps it would be better if we introduced ourselves properly…" She bowed. "I am Sir Alanna of Trebond, Olau and Pirates' Swoop."

Sarah smirked. "She's forgetting a few things. She's Lady Knight Alanna of Trebond, Olau and Pirates' Swoop, the Lioness and King's Champion, former Shaman of the Bloody Hawk Tribe, a very pronounced Bazhir tribe." She ignored Alanna's glare, stood, and bowed low towards Ginny. "And I am Lady Knight Sarah of Greenstone, and Adept of the Mithran Way."

Alanna grinned evilly. "She's also the Messenger for the God and Shang in training."

Ginny's eyes widened as she stared. Alanna snickered and Sarah groaned. "Now you've done it. You've broken her." She said as Ginny continued to stare. Sarah sighed. "I better tell Dumbledore we need to spill the beans. Now that you know, Ginny, you can't tell anyone, okay?"

The youngest red head in the room nodded seriously. "My lips are sealed… Wow, so you're going to beat Voldemort? That's… Wow…"

Sarah shook her head, a wry grin on her face. "I'm going for a walk. I expect you to act normally when I get back, okay?" She placed a hand under the other girl's chin, moving her head up and down in a nod. "Good."

Sarah tucked her hands into her pockets after retrieving her coat from the coat rack at the door, and ducked her head against the cold. A slight drift had started that morning, but Sarah paid it no heed, even when her nose went numb. She squinted against a cold wind that started blowing. Maybe it's not the best time for a walk…Never the less she persisted, making her way to the top of her favourite hill; the one she had watched the sunrise from every morning that week.

There was a loud crack behind her, and Sarah sighed. "About time one of you showed up." She muttered before turning around. She noticed a tall, ivory woman who's skin almost blended with the snow. Bowing low, she let a quick smile grace her face. "Great Mother, as always, it is an honour to see you."

Her eerie voice sent chills down Sarah's spine more than the cold weather. "And it is a pleasure to see you, Messenger."

Sarah shook her head. "Sarah, please. I'm so sick of that title."

A half grin graced the Goddess' face. Sarah turned her face towards the wind, allowing it to sweep stray hairs out of her face. After a few moments she asked in a murmur, "So what brings you here? A progress check, or is it something more important?"

"A progress check, nothing more. I see you've integrated yourself quite skilfully. The Lioness is doing well?"

Sarah glanced at the Goddess. "Why don't you ask her yourself? I'm sure she'd appreciate the visit from someone from the 'old country'."

She saw a smile on the Great Mother Goddess' face. "I will, when I am through with you. Perhaps a visit will help your youngest friend with her faith in your cause."

Sarah laughed, but her expression sobered when she heard the next thing the Goddess had to say. "How are you, my daughter?"

Sarah coughed into her hand. "Great. Never better. Why do you ask?"

There was a touch of reproach to her voice when the Mother replied. "Are you sure? There is no weakness in showing emotion. Your friends wish to help, yet you push them away at every turn. You will admit you are in pain, when pressed hard enough, but you do not let them help heal your pain."

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "I don't need any advice. I'm not here to heal old wounds, I'm here to deal with a problem of yours."

The Great Mother's chuckle echoed in her ears. "But can you do both, when you are distracted so by the old wounds? What will happen if, perchance, Voldemort brings Dementors upon you in battle? Surely, the fight will be lost if your wounds are not healed."

Sarah clenched her teeth. "If he brings Dementors upon me in battle I'll figure out a way to defeat them without the Patronus Charm. That's the only thing from this dimension that affects them. Maybe my Gift will do a better job. Who knows!" She spun to face away from the immortal.

"My dear, have you ever wondered how the first Messenger for the Gods died? You see, the pattern has always been the same. A Messenger is taken from your dimension to the reigning power in Alanna's dimension, for training. Then they are sent to wherever they are needed most. In the case of your predecessor, he was trained in Scanra, and also brought here. Before he could be properly introduced to this world, however, he was attacked."

Sarah shrugged. She tried to sound disinterested, but she had a sneaking suspicion as to where the conversation was going. "So?"

"He was attacked by Dementors. He tried to attack them with the Gift, in which he was more powerful than yourself, I must add. It had no effect. None whatsoever. The only attack that is successful in deterring a Dementor is the Patronus Charm. Now, Sarah, do you understand why you must allow your friends to heal your wounds?"

Sarah glared venomously at the Great Mother Goddess. "And just how do I do that? Open up, cry in their arms? Not going to happen."

The Goddess laid a hand on her shoulder; it sent both chills and a tremor of fire down her arm and through her body. "All you need to do is allow them to help you make happy memories. Did you enjoy learning to play Quidditch? Did you allow yourself to enjoy it?"

Sarah looked away, before answering, "Yeah, I guess… but not a day goes by that I don't worry about what tomorrow will bring. Another attack, Dementors, Death Eaters, or maybe Voldemort this time? I guess… it's just that I don't share everyone else's confidence in my abilities."

The Mother smiled knowingly. "My dear, you suffer from a low opinion of yourself. As a matter of fact, I am also here to deliver a warning to you… My sister, Shakith, has foreseen that people are getting closer to the truth. You are held under closer scrutiny at the Ministry than you anticipated. If you are not careful, your secret will soon be revealed, and that will make your mission that much harder."

Sarah winced. "Great… I've already blown my cover twice… There's not a snowflake's chance in hell that I'll be able to keep it a secret much longer, if they're already onto me."

The Great Mother shook her head, humour evident on her face. "Do not sell yourself short, my daughter. Our time grows short; I will visit with the Lioness for a time, and then leave you to your devices. Good luck; our blessings are with you."

PAGE BREAK!!!

Sarah waited a few moments, giving the Goddess enough time to visit with Alanna without intrusion, and took the slight hill down to the Burrow at a trot. When she entered the cozy kitchen she noticed several very white faces, and a thoughtful looking Alanna.

"Had your visit, have you?" She asked, almost nonchalantly.

Alanna nodded. "Yes… I don't like the fact someone is growing closer to our little secret; not one bit. That Fudge character seemed very duplicitous…"

Sarah laughed. "Since when do you use words like duplicitous?" She asked, earning a glare from Alanna. She turned to the other people in the kitchen. "So… any and all doubts completely gone? No one thinks I'm a Death Eater toying with Harry?"

The others all looked shocked, but Ginny flushed with embarrassment. "Sarah, I'm-"

Sarah shook her head. "Don't worry about it. You just haven't had time to get used to the idea. Harry's lucky to have you- and everyone else- to watch his back so closely. Of course, Madeye's probably enough of a guard for anyone…"

She trailed off at the sound of a pot boiling over. Molly Weasley recovered some of her colour; enough to say, "That'll be the potatoes. Dinner's almost ready. Ron, set the table. Your brothers and father should be home soon."

Sarah sat next to Alanna and murmured just loud enough for the other knight to hear, "She made quite the impression, did she?"

Alanna snickered and nodded. "Take a look at Ron, he hasn't moved since she arrived. I think he may have fainted."

Sarah snickered and shook her head. "You gotta hand it to the Gods, they sure know how to make an impression. Imagine, being brought up thinking they were myths, and having one pop in for a spot of tea…" The image brought laughter to her lips, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and look at her. She held up her hands defensively. "Sorry, I was just thinking about the entrance she must have made. I imagine it was quite amusing." She shut her mouth when they all turned to glare at her, holding her hands up in defence.

Fred and George chose that opportune moment to sweep through the door, brief cases in their hands. "Hello family dearest!"

"We had a wonderful day-" Fred added.

"At the store today-" George continued.

"And have brought treats home to celebrate." Fred finished with an evil grin.

Sarah shook her head. "Not touching it with a ten foot pole, whatever it is. I like my skin colour, hair colour, fingernail length and bowel movements the way they are, thankyou very much."

They looked hopefully around the table, looking for volunteers. When they received negative looks from everyone seated there they sighed loudly. "Really, we had hoped you hadn't spoiled Sarah against us. Now who will we test our latest inventions against?"

Sarah gaped. "Wow Fred, that must've been the longest sentence I've ever heard you form. Anyway, your stories at Grimmauld place about what you've done to Ron made me wary about tasting anything you give me."

Fred gasped and George turned pale. At least she thought she had the names right. "Sarah! You've just-"

"Ginny's here-"

"Blown your cover!"

Sarah laughed. "She's a smart one, your sister. She figured that something was up. Then she listened at the door until I said something incriminating… she knows the whole story now."

The twins clutched their chests, feigning heart attacks. "You scared us for a minute!"

The conversation continued, and when Arthur Weasley returned home they informed him of his daughter's new knowledge. He was proud of her investigative skills, and the rest of the evening was spent in light hearted banter, and before they knew it Molly was ushering all the students up to bed, Sarah included.

She fell into bed for a deep, dreamless sleep, awaking in the morning to find the sun poring through the window casting a golden glow upon the room.

PAGE BREAK!!!

Sarah trotted down the stairs, pulling her hair up as she walked. She sat down to the table just as Alanna emerged from outside, a distasteful look on her face. Sarah smirked. "Too cold?" She asked innocently.

Alanna narrowed her eyes before nodding. She gestured with her chin to the bundle in her arms. "I had to retrieve Pig when he flew into the window. You have a letter from Dumbledore."

Sarah ripped open the envelope and unfolded the letter, scanning in quickly before tossing it to the knight, a rueful grin on her face. The letter had detailed a suggestion to tell the youngest Weasley about Sarah's actual position at Hogwarts. When Alanna read the letter she burst out laughing. Molly, who was bustling into the kitchen at the time, frowned in confusion until the other red head tossed her the letter.

Molly Weasley shook her head when she read the letter, and hustled around the kitchen, preparing a breakfast of oatmeal, sausages, bacon and eggs. The boys, seemingly roused by the smells wafting upstairs, tottered down the stairs, still half asleep. Ginny followed closely, still in her pyjamas, prompting Sarah to cough lightly. "Um…. If you don't all get ready soon, we're going to be late picking Hermione up."

Ron took a look at the clock, his sleepy gaze widening in surprise when he noticed the time. "Blimey, she's right!" He raced upstairs to get dressed, followed closely by Harry and Ginny. Fred and George, who were needed at work, were dressed and sitting at the table. When the boys came down the stairs a second time they growled.

"Come on Ronnikins! We're hungry!" Fred said.

Ron glared and sat down at the table. "Ginny's not here yet, cut me a break!"

George smirked. "But we like her, Ronnikins."

Sarah shook her head and ignored the ensuing bickering, which Molly tried to police.

When breakfast had finished, they all stood and gathered cloaks from the cloak rack. Molly led them to the fireplace and held out a pot containing floo powder. Sarah took a handful and threw it into the flame. "Diagon Alley!"

She leapt into the flame, and then out of the way as Alanna came tumbling out of the receiving fireplace, followed by the Weasleys and finally Harry. Fred and George brushed off their jackets before giving the group a jaunty wave and saying, "Well it's off to work with us!" In unison.

Sarah turned to Molly. "So, where are we meeting Hermione?"

"Flourish and Blotts." At the answer Sarah groaned.

"Does she ever quit?" She asked, to which both Ron and Harry shook their heads.

Sarah sighed, exasperated, and gestured for the Weasleys to lead the way. When they found that Hermione didn't wait outside the store for them, it was Sarah's bright idea to look inside for the witch. They found her in the Ancient Runes section of the store, engrossed in a volume almost as thick as her head. Sarah was charged with luring the girl out of the store; Harry and Ron found it too damaging to their reputations to be seen in the store for too long.

When Sarah pulled Hermione forcibly into the main section of the store they overheard a voice dripping with malice. "Well, Weasley, here for the second hand book sale? Hoping to get next year's books cheap are you?"

Sarah closed her eyes and sighed. "Why don't I ever get a break?" When she opened her eyes Hermione was glaring angrily and starting forward, towards the source of the voice. Sarah grimaced and held the girl back. She took a peak around the bookcase and swore. "Great, the older one's out there. Hold on, let me handle this."

Sarah strode out from behind the bookcase and grinned brightly. "Malfoy! Just the person I wanted to see; run into any brick walls lately?" There was a snicker; Sarah thought it might have been from Harry or Ron.

Malfoy tried to look angry, but only managed a fearful wince. Sarah turned her attention to the older blonde who rested his hand on an expensive looking cane. She extended her hand towards him. "Hi, my name's Sarah, I believe we've already met? What happened to your leg… it wasn't hurt, was it?" When he merely looked at her hand with disdain she grabbed his other one and clasped it in her own, pumping it up and down firmly. She turned to the people gathered behind her and by way of explanation said, "You have to teach these savages some manners, they just don't understand what to do otherwi-"

Sarah was interrupted as a hand crashed upon her jaw. She staggered slightly, grabbing the tender bone and massaging it. She smirked at the older Malfoy, looking smug. "Learn that from your son, did you? Careful, you might catch mudblood germs."

He sneered. "You forget your place. Your time will come, sooner than you think." With that he spun on his heel and turned, leading the younger boy outside with him while Sarah massaged her jaw.

Hermione appeared at her side in an instant. "Are you alright? Did he hit you hard?"

Sarah nodded but her grin never faltered. "He hit me hard, but I guarantee that it'll be hurting him more. He hit with his knuckles; I'd be surprised if he didn't break some in the process. What do I always teach you lot?"

Hermione joined her in grinning. "Never target the face."

Alanna's exasperated sigh interrupted them. "You should have broken his legs; then he'd need an expensive cane like that to walk."

Harry was the only one who appeared troubled. "What did he mean, your time would come, sooner than you think?"

Sarah shrugged. "Probably an empty threat. If it's not, well I'll have to deal with Malfoy Senior the way I deal with Malfoy Junior- painfully." With that the group left for the floo network, prepared to return home with Hermione as the group's ranks were completed.