"Look, I'm here to help your husband understand his car. I can see that my being here is a surprise. But that isn't my fault…."

An owl flaps in, but it isn't Errol.

"I see you keep your weapon pointed at me, but I haven't drawn mine on you. Your people say things about mine. We say much the same about yours."

Molly reads the note.

"Molly - Apologies for the late notice. Grace didn't realize that owls don't travel as fast as phone calls (a handy muggle device under the right circumstances) and didn't mention until this morning that you will have a visitor. Her name is Alex Raven. Adam asked Grace to call a mutual friend about somebody that might help Arthur understand the car. It turned out to be her. You can trust her. She is slow to anger except when confronted by injustice…very protective of her friends. If she feels justified, she can be very dangerous. Sincerely Jeanette PS - Every year at about this time, she slips away from her Watcher for unknown purposes. This may be part of reason she is willing to visit you."

Molly looks up from reading the note and sees Alex showing Ginny her sword. She tucks the note into the pocket of her apron.

"It is a Russian Kindjal design. I had the blade lengthened and mounted in this carved handle. It is a single edged blade, but one sharp edge is all I need. It is light, and fast. Would you like to try it?"

Ginny nods eagerly. Molly is nervous.

Alex steps around behind Ginny and places the grip into her hand and guides Ginny's right hand with her own.

"It is lighter than I thought it would be." Ginny exclaims.

"It feels that way because it has great balance."

Alex glances up and sees Molly's concerned look. "I think your mother would say that was enough Cindy Loo Who." Ginny reluctantly relinquishes the blade. Molly flinches as the blade whirls over Ginny's head as Alex tucks it back into her jacket with one quick fluid move.

"Have you eaten?" Molly asks. Alex shakes her head. Molly moves to the kitchen.

"Declaro!" The illusion is removed as a way of expressing trust. Alex is startled and turns toward Molly and gets a view out of the window as she does so. She sees the yard is different. She walks outside and sees everything near the house, except her bike, is different. Her head slowly rocks back as she looks up to see the top of a very tall, but odd, home that hadn't been there when she arrived. Her jaw drops in wonderment…and more than a bit of concern for its structural integrity.

Returning inside, Alex asks "Did you…?"

"I released you from the illusion so you can see our home as it really exists on the outside."

Alex nods slowly.

"Our son, Ron, wrote us and said that spells and curses work differently on Old Ones…some work the same, some work less, some don't work at all."

"Old Ones?"

"Your people dear."

Alex nods. It makes sense.

"Who is Cindy…Loo…Who? And why did you call me that?" Ginny asks.

"Just a fictional character you remind me of."

"Why?"

"Her innocence and trust reached a cynical heart…" Alex has a thought that Ginny may read too much into it and clarifies. "Not that I came here to steal your roast beast." Ginny goes from feeling complimented to confused. Alex need not have worried; Ginny knows nothing of the Grinch.

Ginny asks "How do you learn to be what you are? We go to a school. I should be going next year."

"We learn from others like us, but only after we've had our first death." Molly turns quickly to listen. Alex continues "Many are reluctant to teach."

"Why?" Ginny asks.

"Because…in the end, there can only be one." Alex Raven takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "To take on a student means training someone that you may need to fight to the death."

"That's horrid." Ginny exclaims.

"We are all both predator and prey. We are nearly always alone."

Alex is suddenly alarmed.

Adam is leisurely finishing his lunch alone in a Great Room empty except for a few studying students and a cluster of Slytherins eyeing him with suspicion. Professor McGonagall taps him on the shoulder. He turns to see Minerva, Harry, and Neville.

Professor McGonagall draws herself up to her full height. "Mr. Longbottom has been trained in where to find the required plant and how to recognize it. Mr. Potter is an excellent flyer and his skills will be needed to recover the plant since it grows high up in the trees."

Adam looks concerned. Miranda continues. "I will not subject the older students being attacked or…seduced to her ways…or other things. From what you and Professor Sprout have said she is unlikely to be an immediate danger to younger children. But if anything happens to any of our students…"

Adam glances toward the Slytherin students and puts up a hand. "Is there someplace unoccupied?"

After a long climb they arrive at the observation level of the astronomy tower. Adam looks over the edge as is impressed with the drop.

"Boys, I truly appreciate what you're offering to do. If you go to her forest there are things you must know. First, Alexa getting sick is not your fault. You bear no responsibility for that happening, or for what Cassandra thinks of me, or for what Cassandra may decide to do to Alexa because of me. Second, Cassandra will find you. I'd rather she not know that Alexa is my friend. But do not lie to her. You don't have to volunteer it, but if she asks, answer her truthfully. Third, as I understand it, wizards do not venture into her domain often…" Adam looks to the professor. McGonagall nods and he continues. "… but she has met your kind and will know what you are. Don't try to hide it. She will sense your power and seek to bend you toward her ways in the hope that you will return when mature. Don't argue, just take it under advisement. Be polite." The professor glares at him. "Fourth, she is a muggle. But she does have some magical powers." The professor's jaw drops. "It is said she can take the shape of a wolf, but I believe that is a slight of hand. But, she can use her voice to hypnotize. Whether this last thing qualifies as magic by your standards, I don't know. But if you do as I said, she will have no reason to use it on you."

"Do you understand?"

The boys nod.

"You are to take no risks." He emphasizes.

The boys nod.

"Mr. Longbottom…should anyone question your courage…they will have a quarrel with me. Even if you decide not to go."

Neville turns scarlet.

"Mr. Potter, once more I find myself in your debt."

The boys leave, but Professor McGonagall blocks Adam's path. They watch the boys go beyond earshot. "I noticed that, despite his special skills, you gave Mr. Longbottom a choice, but not Mr. Potter…"

"Neville has more to prove to himself. Harry is driven. I would not want him to think I have any doubts, because I have none."

"You would not question Mr. Longbottom's courage if he decides not to go?"

"No."

Adam begins to step around the professor but she blocks him again. "Why?"

"Because sometimes it takes as much courage to say 'no' as 'yes'. It takes courage to act as you decide, not how others want. I think he knows the consequences of not going."

"And what are they?"

"I'll go…and the odds are, at least one will die."

Minerva allows him to leave and stands alone looking at the view ignoring the cold wind.

Alex is suddenly alarmed and turns grim. She moves to the window and peers out cautiously. Molly and Ginny become agitated watching Alex. "What is she doing here?" Alex says to herself as a Land Rover pulls in to the end of the driveway and turns around.

Alex draws her sword and steps through the door into the garden. A woman with dark shoulder length hair and grey-green eyes gets out. Her face is intense and determined. Molly thinks she that the look of a predator.

"Hunting?" Alex challenges.

The woman exits the vehicle sword in hand. "There are witches here."

"They are friends of mine." Alex moves quickly to dominate a patch of open ground among the shrubs.

"So be it." The woman growls as she moves to enter the open section of the garden, but Alex does not give ground. This is no wizard's duel. This is going to be a street fight between two experienced combatants who will not give any quarter. "It has always taken two Carvetii to kill one Iceni."

Molly commands Ginny. "Hide." Ginny starts to go as Molly steps outside. Ginny peers out a window. Molly knows anything about the ways of Old Ones and she wouldn't care if she did. She will not tolerate a fight in her garden or anywhere near Ginny.

As the women begin to engage Molly yells "Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus!" Sending a disarming charms at each woman. The swords fly out of their hands skittering along the ground to the driveway. The two women are knocked flat to the ground.

To Molly's shock, both women start to laugh. The new arrival catches her breath. "Your 'friend' hits hard!"

They stagger to their feet as Molly watches them ready to cast more spells. "She does. But then, she's protecting her daughter." The women clasp hands and walk off to retrieve their swords, laughing.

As they return, Molly continues to watch them with her wand leveled. The swords are returned to their hidden places under their coats. As they get close, Alex puts her arm around the woman's shoulders and says "This is my teacher, Ceirdwyn." Nodding to Molly, she says "This is Molly Weasley, and…" she points at the door "…her daughter, Ginny."

Ceirdwyn extends her hand. "Pleased to meet you." Molly is shocked by the strength of her grip.

Adam trudges down a hallway on his way back to the Gryffindor common room. Nick glides along next to him. "I'll go and do what I can, but away from this place muggles can't see or hear me. I'm willing, but I just don't think it will work."

Suddenly Adam stops. Nick glides beyond him a bit before noticing. Adam says "Let's try something."

Adam moves quickly toward the main entrance with a confused Nick in tow. They go to where Adam's truck is parked. Nick watches in wonder as Adam gets in. "Get in." Nick glides through the door and stands through the passenger seat giving Adam a slight chuckle.

Adam starts the engine, Nick sails straight up through the top. Adam slowly shakes his head as Nick slowly descends. Adam turns on the CD player. Marc Cohen's "Walking in Memphis" resumes play in the middle.

"Now Muriel plays piano
"Every Friday at the Hollywood
"And they brought me down to see her
"And they asked me if I would
"Do a little number
"And I sang with all my might
"She said
"Tell me are you a Christian child?"
"And I said "Ma'am, I am tonight!"

Nick sails into the back only to be confronted by the rear speakers and returns. "How?" Nick asks.

"Electronics. Interfere with it."

Nick cautiously reaches into the dash where Adam is pointing. The music falters a little, then more and more. Adam smiles. Nick returns it.

"You will do the same thing with the monitors down the hall to distract the nurses…" Nick looks worried. "…they will think that patient is dying…" Nick's head droops. "What?" Adam asks.

"Some muggles can see us…the dying…and I don't want to kill…"

"Okay. Important safety point…don't interfere with the machines keeping the patient alive, just the sensors."

"How will I know?"

Adam thinks. "You'll do it from their central station. There are only indicators there."

Ceirdwyn and Alex peer from a window and neither is happy. They watch two women in a Triumph TR6 pick their way along the rough driveway. "Do you know her?" Alex asks.

Ceirdwyn shakes her head. "Just the one."

Molly quickly locks the door.

A stylishly dressed woman with short platinum hair quickly picks the lock and enters.

"What is that French whore doing here?" snarls Ceirdwyn.

"The woman snarls right back "I'm not French."

"Count your silverware. Lock up your sons…" Alex mutters to Molly. "That is Amanda."

"I love you too Alex." Amanda responds with a fake smile.

The second woman waits outside. Amanda goes and gets her. "It is alright. Duncan said it would be safe here."

The second woman appears to Molly to be a girl about the same age as her twin boyss, but she knows that Old Ones don't age so appearance is irrelevant. She watches the new arrivals with her wand in hand, but not leveled at them. The second woman looks around and sees the pot being scrubbed and her eyes roll back and she topples backwards, hitting the floor hard. Amanda shakes her head. Molly moves to help.

"She'll be fine." Amanda says. Amanda nudges the prone girl with her foot. "Get up" embarrassed, she says under her breath while smiling at the others.

"Yeah. Her head is still attached." Alex observes with a grin. "Still." Amanda shoots her a look which drips icicles.

Molly helps the girl to the couch. "How old is this one?"

"She's eighteen." Amanda explains.

"Eighteen…hundred?" Molly asks.

"Just plain eighteen." Amanda clarifies. Molly's mothering instincts kick into gear. She lifts the girl onto the couch and covers her with a comforter.

Amanda makes a face of disapproval. Ceirdwyn is amused.

"This is Michelle Webster. Killed in a car wreck because she got in a snit when her parents didn't give her her own way…recovered in the morgue, nearly got killed by her first teacher, and witnessed her first quickening all within a few days. Bit of a shock really. Witchcraft was a bit more than she could take. She needs to toughen up." Amanda explains as she tosses off the comforter and pulls her to her feet. "Stand up." She scolds.

"I see the junior circuit has shown up." Ceirdwyn says much to Alex' amusement.

"Witches are real?" Michelle stammers. The three immortals nod.

"What else is real?" Michelle's eyes dart about, settling on the innocent looking Ginny.

Alex giggles "More than you'll want to know about right now."

Michelle jumps when there is a thump at the window. Errol has returned. Molly reads the note saying her husband can't leave work early. Molly adds her own note. "You'd better. I'm hip deep in Old Ones here. The first two are talking about taking that car of yours apart…and I've half a mind to let them." An exhausted Errol flaps back toward London.