A figure dressed entirely in black walked along a busy street undisturbed against the flow of people. She wore a tight black tank top, black leather skirt, stylish black boots, black trench coat, and she gazed at the world through light blue, piercing eyes. She also wore a black belt around her waist, off of which hung a slim pocket on her left side. Her soft hair was every shade of red and gold imaginable, and it fell just below her shoulders, framing her pale face. She was beautiful in her mystery, yet no one paid her the slightest notice. Stranger still, she did not seem to notice or even care that she was an extremely rare occurrence on a London street.
A cool breeze from an alleyway to her left blew across the girl's face. She reached for what was contained in the long, slim pocket and unsheathed a perfectly cylindrical piece of thin wood. She silently made her way through the crowd and looked down the alley. She arrived just in time to see a flash of flame, which left behind a stunning scarlet bird with golden tail feathers.
"Fawkes," said the dark clad figure. She walked down the alley to meet her old friend.
You have been missed, Alice, the phoenix told her. Alice had finally begun to understand Fawkes' communication in the past century. It was too similar to Parseltongue for her liking, but she would have gone crazy if it had not been for this one friend who, like her, was cursed with immortality.
"I feel ridiculous dressed like this around you," said Alice. She looked down at herself in embarrassment; she bounced back and forth between both worlds sporadically, but she usually made certain that the Wizarding world did not see her in her Muggle apparel.
You look fine, replied Fawkes. Your presence is requested at Hogwarts.
"Hogwarts?" exclaimed Alice. She had not returned to Hogwarts since her great uncle's death, and she had worked hard to keep her identity a secret.
It's about Harry, Fawkes informed her gently.
Alice softened; "I should have known Dumbledore would figure me out sooner or later," she said. Although she had never joined the Order of the Phoenix, she had offered her anonymous assistance from the sidelines.
Albus is dead, Fawkes told her, and Alice dropped her wand in shock.
"He's what?" she exclaimed.
Fawkes cocked his beautiful head to one side, as if to ask, Will you come?
"Yes, of course I will," replied Alice. "I shall be there tomorrow."
Fawkes nodded and disappeared in the same way he had come. Alice turned on the spot and Disapparated within a flame.
Alice arrived at Hogwarts the next day. She wandered around the castle sightseeing for a bit before she made her way toward the statue of a Gargoyle that marked the entrance to the Headmaster's office. She marveled at the changes that had occurred; some brought joy, a few brought sorrows, and far more brought sheer amusement.
"May I help you?" asked a strict looking witch in emerald robes standing at the foot of the normally hidden staircase to the headmaster's office. She wore her gray hair in a tight bun, and her spectacles gleamed in the torchlight. Her demeanor was strict, but her eyes had a sense of calm dignity about them.
"You must be Professor McGonagall," said Alice politely. Despite being almost nine hundred fifty years older than the woman, Alice spoke with the humility of the age she looked, which at this time was about twenty years old. She offered her right hand to shake; she made certain that her sleeve slid up just enough to reveal the rose encircling her wrist.
Professor McGonagall's eyes bulged slightly, and a small gasp escaped her. "Oh my, you must be- do come in" she stuttered, gesturing for Alice to come up to the office.
Just then, a black haired, green-eyed boy of almost seventeen turned the corner, walking briskly down the hallway. A tall, red haired, freckle faced boy and a bushy haired girl followed him. Alice took a double take; the black haired boy looked exactly like Julian, but this boy must have inherited Alice's eyes since his glasses were almost half an inch thick. The red haired boy was obviously a descendant of Sam and Sylvia, but the girl looked unfamiliar. They had their heads close together in quiet discussion as though planning something important. "Hello, Professor," said the girl as they neared.
"Oh good, Potter, I was about to send for you," said Professor McGonagall to the dark haired boy. Harry looked up and stopped suddenly as soon as he saw Alice. "Come in, all of you."
Harry stared at Alice quizzically as though he was experiencing massive déja vu. Alice chuckled and smiled knowingly. "Harry Potter, I take it?" she asked lightly with a small smirk. Harry nodded. "I think I have a lot to tell you," she said.
Fin
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