"A goal without a plan is just a wish." ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Chapter 36- Making Plans

As November passed, Helen, Tobias, and Jasper all worked hard to keep on their diets. Jasper worked the hardest out of the three of them. I was proud of him.

"Soon I want to try working on self-control," he said, late one night while the four of us sat outside. I was laying in his lap, and he sat contently, running a hand through my hair.

"I think that's a good idea," I said, catching his eye. "But I can't take you with me to go Christmas shopping."

Jasper shook his head.

"No. I'll go with Helen and Tobias."

I nodded.

"We could always go as a group," Helen suggested. "He can stay with us while you two get each other's gifts."

I nodded.

"We can do that."

"I meant something like going to see a movie or something like that."

"What do you want to go see?" I asked.

"I think The Fallen Idol comes out tomorrow night."

"We can go see a late showing of that," Jasper said. "It's a thriller isn't it?"

Helen and Tobias nodded.

As the three of them spoke about what they had read about it in the newspaper, I started thinking of home. Was Harry and George okay? What was happening in the world that I had been away from?

I closed my eyes and focused on the weather for tomorrow. It was supposed to rain throughout the day.

"Alice, what is it?" Jasper murmured, pulling me into his arms.

"What do you say about spending tomorrow afternoon in Wizarding New York?" I asked the three of them. "It's supposed to rain tomorrow."

"I'd like to see it," Helen said. "But I'm assuming they don't take Muggle money?"

I shook my head.

"I do have some Dragots you can use. You do have to be careful though. American witches and wizards are very cautious of Muggles. Here, they'll call them No-Majs. I think you guys should be okay seeing as we're vampires."

Helen and Tobias nodded.

"I think that sounds great."

A little while later, Helen and Tobias stood up.
"We'll be back in a little while," Helen said.

I nodded and closed my eyes.

"You miss them," Jasper said softly a few minutes later. It wasn't a question, and I didn't have to think to figure out what he was talking about. "It's why you're sad."

I sighed.

"Of course I miss them, Jazz. They're my family."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You know you can."
"Do you regret leaving?" he asked quietly.

"No," I said, watching his face. "I did what I had to do. I had to keep them safe. If I never left, I would have never met you. I just wish I could have them and you."

Jasper sighed, and hugged me to him.

"I know, and maybe one day you can. For now, you have me."

I smiled up at him, and kissed his cheek.

"For now, you're all I need," I murmured.

He smiled against my cheek, and began humming the same unfamiliar tune that he had hummed to me time and time again over the last year.

"What song is that?" I asked, turning my head slightly, to where my face pressed against his. "You hum it so often."

"Yet every time I do, it calms you."

I shook my head.

"Not the song. It's your voice. You as a whole calms me."

Jasper's smile widened.

"It's an old song my mother used to play for me on her violin. It's called Nearer, My God to Thee."

"She played violin? "

Jasper nodded.

"She was amazing."

"I've wanted to play violin…." I murmured, trailing off.

"Maybe one day you can."

I smiled and kissed his cheek before raising to my feet.

"Let's go inside."

He followed me into the living room, where Helen and Tobias sat.

"So much for coming back out, huh?"

"We figured the two of you could use some time alone."

I chuckled, and curled up next to Jasper on the couch.

"So what time should we be ready by?" Jasper asked, looking down at me.

"Noon," I said, quickly. "It'll give me time to cover this." I gestured to my arm, "as well as figure out how much money I have to take out."

"Is having that at this time as big of a deal as it is in your time?"

I thought about it.

"I suppose it's not as bad as wearing the Deathly Hallows at this time."

"Why?"

"It's the sign of Gellert Grindelwald. Grindelwald's downfall was only three years ago."

Jasper looked down at me, watching carefully.

"Voldemort won't be a threat in America. You'll be safe when that time comes," I whispered. "Just don't go to Britain. Please."

As my worry started increasing, Jasper pulled me tightly into his arms.

"Shhh," he soothed, running a hand up and down my back. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

He started humming quietly, and I could feel myself relax.

"I'll be back in a little while," I murmured, rising to my feet. "I am going to go find out what I am going to where today, and cover up this."

As Jasper went to stand, I shook my head.

"You don't have to come with me," I murmured. "I'm going to be okay."

Jasper sank back down onto the couch, and I quickly darted to the room Jasper and I were staying.

As I lowered myself in the bag, I could hear Jasper, Helen, and Tobias speaking quietly.

"I'm worried about her," Jasper said. He sounded almost stressed. This caused me to pause between the stairs and the platform.

"She's acting as well as you can expect her too," Tobias said. "Think about it, Jasper, she watched her parents die, she was forced to kill and torture people. She never had time to process it before Helen and I came along and changed her."

"Also take into account that her memory is much more clearer than ours. She sees her memories like it's a movie," Helen said. "I can see it in her eyes. She's trying to hold it together for you."

"I don't want her to do that!" Jasper exclaimed.

"We know that," Tobias said. "If I'm speaking honestly, I don't know how long it's going to be before she'll be completely okay. She is going to have to live through it all over again."

"But this time she has you."

Jasper didn't respond right away.

"Do you suppose it is possible for vampires to have Shell Shock?"

"Traditionally, no. I think the venom would have covered that," Helen said. "But for Alice….I think it's possible."

I sighed, and made my way down the rest of the stairs. Jasper was right to worry. I know I wasn't the easiest to live with. But Jasper would stay with me, wouldn't he?

Jasper came down almost half an hour later. I was changing my clothes, and he looked at me before giving a small smile.

"Hey, Darlin'," Jasper said, extending his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me to him. "How're you feeling?"

I shrugged, and buried my face in his chest.

"I don't know what came over me."

"It's not your fault," he said soothingly. "We all plan to respect your wishes, and none of us will be in or around Britain during that time."

I nodded.

"Thank you, Jazz."

"Of course."

"Jazz?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you angry with me?"

Jasper frowned.

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because I'm upset all the time. You worry about me."

"That doesn't make me mad at you, sweetheart. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do. I want to help you, I just don't know how."

"Stay," I murmured, closing my eyes.

"I'll always stay. I'll tell you as many times as you need to hear it."

I smiled.
"Thank you, Jasper."

He kissed my forehead, before stepping back.

"So how are you covering this? Spell or makeup?"

I looked at it carefully.

"I think a spell maybe more helpful."

He held my arm as I hovered my hand over it. Slowly the mark began to fade, and it simply looked like my arm had before I was branded.

Jasper stared at my arm.

"What?" I asked, pulling his face to mine.

"I've never seen you without it."

"It was a different time," I murmured as he traced where the mark was only seconds ago. "A time much like now. I was happy."

Jasper smiled, and I looked up meeting his eyes.

When it was time for us to leave, I was in a better mood than I had been.

As we made our way to the entrance, Helen and Tobias slowed to a walk.

Jasper and I fell back to their side.

"So we think we've figured out when we're leaving," Helen said, watching me. "To go get you, I mean."

"Have you?" I asked, giving a small smile.

Tobias nodded.

"The night of New Year's Day."

I nodded.

"Sounds like a good plan," I said.

"I know it's not a whole lot of time," Helen started.

I shook my head.

"We've covered almost everything, and by next week we'll have all the money as well as all the presents you guys give to me."

"Are you going to be okay?" Helen asked me quietly.

I looked up at Jasper, who took my hand, and squeezed it tightly.

"I have Jazz. I'll be more than okay."

Jasper smiled, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"Good," Helen said.

"The two of you can stay in the house as long as you need to."

I nodded.

"Thank you. That's very kind of you, but I feel like we've already overstayed our welcome."
"No!" Helen exclaimed automatically. "Of course you haven't."

I shrugged.

"Even if you don't think so, we probably won't stay long after you leave."

"When you find the Cullens, make sure you write to us."

"I will," I smiled.

"Good."

Just up ahead was the entrance.

"Here we are," I murmured. "Follow me."

The pub was crowded, and Jasper immediately tensed up. It was of course his first time around humans since the slip.

"You're okay, Jazz," I soothed, rubbing circles into his hand.

"I know," he said quietly, stepping closer to me.

I approached the counter.

"Good afternoon. We're looking to get to the city."

The man nodded.

"Of course. Follow me."

He led us straight to the back, and turned.

"Tap the bricks to form a door, and you'll get through."

"Thank you," I said.

He nodded once and returned to the front.

I pulled my wand from my holster and tapped the bricks.

"It's that simple to get there?" Helen asked too quiet for the human ear.

I nodded.

"In Diagon Alley, we tap up and over from a trash can. Most just Apparate or Floo there, but seeing as I have neither I have to work with what I have."

I sounded more bitter than I intended to.

"Maybe when we find the Cullens we can see about getting you a Floo system, hmm?" Jasper said, squeezing my hand.

"Maybe."

I turned to Helen and Tobias as we stepped through the entrance.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful. I'm just used to Apparating places."

"We understand," Tobias said. "The adjustment to the change may be difficult."

I smiled, and stepped to the side.

"Helen and Tobias, I'd like to welcome you to my world."

They looked around the street, as did Jasper and I. It reminded me so much of Diagon Alley. Of my home."

"We'll have to go to Gringotts," I said to Jasper. "Make sure we have enough money."

Jasper nodded, and looked around.

"Do you know where it is?"

"I'm sure I could find it," I said, placing my wand on my hand. "Take me to Gringotts."

Just like that my wand whirled in my hand, finding the way to the bank.

I turned and looked at Jasper smugly, before following the direction of my wand.

"Here we are," I smiled, looking up to the large building. I paused and turned to Helen and Tobias. "Now, when we get in here, there is bound to be things you've never seen before. Goblins run the bank, and they aren't known to be entirely trusting of humans. Especially witches and wizards. I know that in Salem, the Goblins were nicer than the ones in Diagon Alley, but still. Touch nothing and stay behind me."

They nodded, and Jasper took my hand as we all started to climb the giant staircase.

I approached one of the Goblins, and waited patiently.

"Yes?" the Goblin asked, peering down at me.

"I'd like to convert some money," I said, holding up a little over a hundred dollars in cash, along with my coin pouch for him to put the money in.

"The money of No-Majs," he said lowly, glancing at Helen and Tobias behind me.

I stayed quiet, glancing up at Jasper.

Some time had passed before he passed the pouch back down to me.

"Thank you," I said, softly.

The goblin nodded at me.

"Enjoy your day, Miss."

"You too."

I turned and moved quickly to the door.

Helen, Jasper, and Tobias followed quickly.

"Do you not like goblins?" Tobias asked as soon as we stepped out the door.

I shook my head.

"It's not that I don't like them, they just," I paused to find the right words. "I'd just rather not stay around them longer than I need to."

I shook my head, and turned up to Jasper.

"What do you guys want to see first?"

"I could use some new books when you get the chance," Jasper said.

I laughed, and nodded.

"Of course, sweetheart. And you two?"

They both looked at each other and shrugged.

"We want to see everything."

I smiled and nodded.

"Right. Well, we'll start off at one end, and work our way down."

The three of them agreed, and we started moving to the first store.

"So have the two of you figured out where you're going to go once you leave us?" Helen asked, and we made our way through the Apocrathy.

"We have a few ideas. We're thinking maybe Chicago, or maybe somewhere in Ohio."

"Anything special there?"

I shrugged.

"Just have good feeling about them."

Jasper came up behind us, and wrapped his arm around my waist.
"I find it best to listen to her good feelings," Jasper said in my ear.

I smiled, and shook my head.

"Yet you always doubt me."

He laughed, and picked up the seeds in my hand.

"More seeds? You haven't planted the other ones yet."

"Well it doesn't help to have them," I said, lightly smacking his leg.

Jasper laughed and kissed my cheek.

"Tobias is getting impatient," Jasper muttered to Helen and I.

"Tell him he can wait," I said. "I'm almost done."

Jasper chuckled and nodded.

"Can do."

His arm dropped and he returned to where Tobias was across the store.

"I suppose being surrounded by plants isn't the most interesting part of my world," I said, moving towards the checkout counter. "Maybe I'll take you guys to go see the pets of my world. Just don't attack them."

I laughed, as I set everything down.

Once we left, I guided the three across the street to the pet store. Owls, snakes, cats and more could be seen from the window.

"There was another one, in Muggle New York," I told them outside the store. "A lot of stores are out on the Muggle side, but that one specialized in exotic magic creatures."

"What happened to it?" Jasper asked, as I stepped inside the store.

"MACUSA shut it down."

"MACUSA?" Helen questioned.

"Magical Congress of the United States of America. It's the government for American wizards."

"Like your Ministry?"

I nodded.

I turned to face a worker, watching us carefully.

"Is there something I can help you with, Miss?" the worker said.

I shook my head, and flashed him a smile.

"No thank you," I said cheerfully. "But thank you anyways."

The worker blinked at me a couple times, causing Jasper and Tobias to snicker behind me.

"N-n-no problem."

He quickly ducked into a back room, but not before I saw him blushing.

I grinned as I looked down at the cat pressing against my leg. It was black with a white stripe running down it's head up to it's tail.

I bent down, and ran a hand down it's back.

"Hello, beautiful," I murmured as it purred softly.

I looked up and the three of them were watching me carefully.

"Maybe the Cullens will let me get a Kneazle."

Jasper laughed and shook his head.

"I like cats," I said, standing up straight. "I almost got one after Remus and I split, but I decided against it. I would never have the time to take care of it."

Jasper looked around the store.

"With the exception of the owls, it looks like an overall normal pet store."

I nodded.

"We're not much different from the Muggles."

I paused before looking up to Helen.

"When you go to find James," I started, looking up at him. "Will he try to hurt you guys?"

Helen shook her head.

"I don't think so."

"But what if he does?"

Jasper quickly wrapped his arm around me.

"They're going to be okay, Darlin'."

"How about this, leave us an address when you leave the house. The second we get back, we'll send you a postcard. Deal?"

I nodded, and leaned back in Jasper's arms.

"Come on," Jasper said. "Let's go get some air."

I let him pull me out of the shop, and to a set of nearby tables. Helen and Tobias followed quickly.

It didn't take long before we were back up and moving through the city.

"Here's a bookstore," I said to Jasper, pointing to a small little shop.

We ducked inside, and Jasper's face immediately lit up.

"Get whatever you want. I'll buy it for you," I said, kissing his cheek.

He pulled me through the store, asking my opinion on the books he hadn't read.

"I wouldn't recommend that," I said, as he went to pull A Vampire's Monologue off the shelf.

"Why not?" he asked, looking down at me.
"Well the book itself is incredibly boring. It's true intent was to make victims easier to be bitten. I think it would even put a vampire to sleep."

Jasper chuckled and pushed the book back onto the shelf.

"How about this?"

He pulled down a copy of The Monster Book of Monsters. I laughed.

"I forgot about that book. I must still have a copy of it at my house. It's actually a funny book. It's kind of like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

Jasper moved to open it, and I took it from him.

"Is it something you want?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Then wait until we get home to open it."

"Why is it bound shut?" Tobias asked me quietly as Jasper continued to move through the store.

"You'll see," I whispered back.

Jasper got a few other books. One of them he got was The Dream Oracle. Despite not being able to sleep, he wanted to see what dreams meant, or where supposed to mean. He also got two books on Ancient Runes, and made me promise to teach him about them.

"So where to next?" I asked them, as we walked down the street.

They thought about it, looking around the street.

"Is there anything you need?" Jasper asked me, as I looked around the street.

"A new cauldron," I murmured. "I've had the one I have now since I started Hogwarts."

So we ended up in the potions store, and I bought a self-stirring cauldron and a pewter cauldron. I found Helen and Tobias looking at one of the gold cauldrons.

"They're nothing special," I told them quietly. "I won one once in a potion brewing competition, and I gave it to Severus after a week."

Helen laughed, and we returned to the street.

I paused at a newstand and grabbed a copy of the paper.

We made it back to the house by four that afternoon.

Helen and Tobias made a mark on their calendar to leave on New Year's Day. I caught up on the news going on in my world, and for the first time I realized the date.

"It's almost Bill's birthday," I told Jasper. I paused and then looked at him. "Well of course he won't be born for another twenty-one years, but of course his birthday is in a week."

"When was his mother and father born?" Jasper asked.

"Arthur won't be born until February 6 next year. Molly was born October 30th of this year."

"So have you figured out when you're going to leave?" Tobias said.

I thought about it.

"We'll probably leave the next night."

Helen nodded.

"So I guess that sets our plans," she said.

I nodded.

"I suppose so."

Despite all of us knowing that this was coming, it still didn't feel real. After all the planning, and me teaching them, it felt like there was still something missing.

Jasper squeezed my hand, and I turned to look at him.

"How're you feeling?" I asked him. "You were around a lot of people today."

"I'm okay," he said.

"And you still want to go to the movies tonight?"

He nodded.

"Okay then," Tobias said, clapping his hands. "Let's get ready then."

Hey guys! Like I've said a dozen times before, I'm working on getting the chapters longer. For the most part, I think this chapter is about the same length as old ones.

So with this being said, I hoped you enjoyed the chapters, and thank you all for your support.

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