Leaving It All Behind

by SamanthaBlackWhitlock

In her past life, Alice Cullen was known as Mary Alice Black, daughter of Sirius Black. What was Alice's life like after the war, and what led her to Jasper Whitlock and the Cullen family? *Reupload* *Full summary inside* Rated T for language

104. Jasper's Lessons

"Kill yourself in training so you don't die fighting."~ Alistair Overeem

---

Chapter 104- Jasper's Lessons

The party came to a close about two and a half hours after it had started. Bella, Edward, and I stood at the door thanking everyone for coming. As if it was the last time they were ever going to see me, everyone seemed to give me good luck.

It would seem that word got around fast about my life expectancy, so the rest of the family had gotten at least one sympathetic "I'm sorry" at some point through the night.

Bella stayed behind to help clean up. We worked around Fred who was sleeping on the couch, closed in by pillows.

"Don't worry," Harry told Bella as Edward went to take her home. "I'm sure Alice and Jasper has a plan. I believe that everyone will be okay."
"Thanks, Harry," Bella mumbled.

I reached up and patted her head.

"It's going to be okay," I told her. "Harry's right. We've got a plan."

I winked at her as Jasper sent out a burst of calm energy.

As soon as Bella left the house, I removed the oxygen tank and took a deep breath.

"Finally," I sighed in relief.

"Are we going with you tonight?" George asked.

I frowned. I hadn't really thought about it.

"I suppose you could if you want to. But what about Fred?"

"We can bring him with us."

"I do have a tent I can set up. You guys should probably go up and get some sleep now though. We'll be going straight to the Burrow from the field. I'll come get you an hour before we have to leave."

The boys nodded.

"Jasper and I will probably be in there in a few minutes to change clothes," I told George.

"No problem," George grinned. "Just keep the noise down."

George winked and quickly ran up the stairs as I jumped forward to swipe at him. Emmett's booming laugh echoed through the room. I glared at him as I rushed to make sure he hadn't woken up Fred. He had, and Fred was starting to cry, but before he could do so, I sat next to him.

"What does that mean?" Jasper asked, frowning as I pulled Fred into my lap and began rocking him back to sleep.

"George has the same sense of human as Emmett," I sighed.

Jasper raised his eyebrows in surprise as the meaning behind George's words clicked.

"Is that why you thought they'd get along so well?"

I nodded.

"Fred was the same way. And I see a lot of that Fred in this Fred," I said, tapping Fred's nose. "He's going to grow up to be just like them."

"Is that a bad thing?"

I shook my head.

"Definitely not. It means that I get them both for a while longer."

I smiled and leaned back, closing my eyes.

Once Fred fell back asleep, I gently laid him down and covered him back up.

I turned to Emmett.

"Wake him up again, and it'll be your funeral."

Emmett threw his hands up, and grinned.

Jasper guided me up the stairs and we quietly moved from the door to the closet.

"Jeans would probably be best to wear," Jasper said resting his chin on my shoulder. "Jeans and a t-shirt."

I nodded and pulled out an outfit for Jasper's approval.

"That'll work," he said. "And you'll have your wand, right?"

I nodded.

"Always."

"Good. We'll have to practice several people coming at you at one time."

"I don't know if that's a good idea," I said.

"Why not?" he murmured.

"Because in a panic I might say the wrong spell and injure one of you."

Jasper shook his head and smiled against my neck.

"You won't hurt me. I promise."

"You can't guarantee that."

"I can," he said. "Harry and George will be on standby to stop you, and so will everybody else."

It had been years since I was considered a newborn, but I still worried about my control. I still struggled with the idea of somebody lunging at me. Even though I had spent half a century with the Cullens, I didn't trust any of them as much as I trusted Jasper.

"I promise," Jasper said sending a wave of calm to me. "You won't hurt anybody. Not tonight."

I nodded and twisted in his arms, laying my head against his chest.

"Do you think having the wolves will make a difference?"

"Definitely. There's a good chance that they won't know the wolves exist. Victoria knows, but that doesn't mean that she told Riley about them. And they definitely don't know about you."

"Tomorrow, after we take Harry and George home, we need to go to New York."

"Why?"

"I need permission to try to use the Killing Curse. Magic will always find a way to destroy the target. It may not work, but it's a possibility."

Jasper nodded.

"If you think it will work."
"I think I can get Kingsley behind it."

"Can you send him a Patronus?"

I nodded.

"I'm sure he'd be in the office by now...maybe I should wait until we're on the field. He'll definitely be in there by then."

Jasper and I changed and headed back downstairs. There was still another hour before Harry and George had to be up, and Fred was sleeping soundly.

Jasper filled Carlisle in on my idea, who agreed.

"Do you think it'll be a good idea?" Jasper murmured in my ear.

I nodded.

"The Cruciatus Curse might come in handy too...but the issue with that is you have to mean it in order for it to work. You have to want it, and I haven't wanted it since the war. Even then, I don't know if I actually wanted it."

"If the president of MACUSA approves the use of the Unforgivables, you'll have to practice that," Jasper said.

"I wouldn't want to use it on any of you though," I said, shaking my head.

"Ali, please," Jasper said, taking my face in his hands. "You have to practice. You haven't used an Unforgivable in how long?"

"Over half a century," I whispered. "But I can't practice the killing curse...I can't bring you back from that."

"So we won't practice that," Carlisle said. "But Jasper's right. You have to practice it. I'd be willing to help."

"It's worse than Jane's gift," I told him.

"I've experienced that," he said with a sour look. "It's hard to imagine it being worse than Jane's gift."

"Well we won't have to worry about that until tomorrow night's training," Jasper said. "We have to see Kingsley and the president of MACUSA."

I sighed and closed my eyes.

I hated the idea of being in another war. For the most part, life had been peaceful with Jasper and the Cullens. I was happy that Edward had found Bella, but the girl was a danger magnet. I hoped that it would change when she became a vampire.

"Alice," Jasper murmured shaking my shoulder. "Come on, babe. We got to go wake up Harry and George. We'll have to go earlier than the others to set up the tent and get Fred situated."

I opened my eyes to Jasper's face. His eyes were dark.

"You'll have to hunt before the battle," I told him touching under his eyes.

"We all will," Carlisle said. "It'll make us stronger."

Jasper looked as if he were going to say something but didn't. Instead he pulled me up from the couch and guided me towards the stairs.
"I'll get Harry, you get George," he told me.

I nodded and made my way up the stairs to mine and Jasper's bedroom.

George was already awake and dressed. He was standing by the bookshelf looking at the titles.

"The Civil War," George murmured before turning to me. "Wasn't that the one Jasper fought in?"

I nodded and pulled a book from the shelf, flipping through the pages until I landed on a page with Jasper's picture.

"He's a good soldier. That's why Maria chose him. That's why he's going to be able to teach all of us everything we need to know. If you want to borrow it, I'm sure he won't mind."

"I think I might," George said.

I poked my head out of the door.

"Hey, Jazz?" I asked.

"What?" he asked as he came down the hallway.

"Can George borrow one of your books?"

"Sure," Jasper shrugged. "It's not like we're never going to see him again."

I smiled and handed the book to George.

"I think you'll like it," I told him. "It's not any goblin rebellion, but it's interesting."

"Why'd they fight?"

I shrugged.

"I'm not entirely sure," I said. "Jasper says it depends on who you ask. A big issue in it was the ethics of slavery, but Jasper says he fought because Texas was his home. Jasper says a lot of what happened in those books are wrong. He says winners tell the story based on the way they saw it. He corrected it in the margins."

"Thanks Jasper," George said, offerening a smile. Jasper was standing in the doorway and when I looked at him, he came and wrapped his arms around me.

"Did I get the reason right?" I asked.

Jasper nodded.

"Exactly. Come on, Darlin'. Harry's done getting ready and we should go to set up the tent. The others will be meeting us there in about half an hour or so."

I nodded.

"We've got the new tent, right?"

"It's in your bag."

"Does Fred have a jacket with him?" I asked turning to George.

George shook his head.

"I wasn't expecting us to be in the cold."

I paused and thought for a second before running into the closet and grabbing one of Jasper's jackets.

"I'll fix it when we get home," I told Jasper before pulling out my wand. "Reducio."

The jacket shrunk to Fred's current size and I tossed it to George.

"Here. This should help. He may not need it, but it's better to bring it just in case."

Jasper looked between George, Harry, and I. Harry had his bag in his hand, and George's was at the door. I had told them to bring them just in case we didn't have time to come to the house.

"Ready to go?"

I nodded.

"We just have to get Fred."

The four of us headed downstairs. George grabbed Fred while I grabbed my bag.

"They've never been to the field," I told Jasper. "So we'll all have to Apparate their together."

Jasper groaned.

"Can't we just describe it to them?"

"We could, but even then, they could make a mistake and end up somewhere other than where they need to be."

Jasper groaned as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Don't worry," I grinned as Harry and George looped their arms around mine. "It'll be quick."

I thought of the field where Jasper wanted to conduct the training sessions.

After a second, I felt the squeeze of the tube, and then we were in the field.

"How does he sleep through that?" Jasper asked, watching the sleeping boy.

"It comes second nature to him," I said. "He's probably Side-Along Apparaited over a hundred times by now."

I sat my bag down on the ground before opening it up.

"Accio tent!"

The tent shot up into my hand. I sat it on the ground at one end of the field before lifting it up with my wand. I picked up a rock from the edge of the field and sat it in the living room. When I waved my wand this time, a crib formed.

"Everything should be set in place," I told George. "While we're waiting on the others, I'm going to try one last time to turn Riley against Victoria."

Instead of laying on one of the beds in the tent, I laid in the center of the field watching the stars, focusing on somewhere far from here.

Riley was back in the dark room where he seemed to spend so much time.

"Riley," I said, sitting on the ground next to him. "Come on. You don't want to do this."

"I have to do this," he growled. "Why won't you leave me alone?"

"I can't."

"I wish you would."

"And I wish you would consider what you're doing, but you're not."

"I have considered it," Riley said. "I have to do this. For her."

"You asked her about James. What did she say?"

"He was the friend that died. The one who told her about the Yellow-eyes' mind tricks."

I shook my head.

"That wasn't James."

"Why would she lie?"
"Riley, listen to me. Victoria was once a part of a coven. It was her, her mate James, and their friend Laurent. James was a hunter. He hunted the human that you'll find with the Yellow-eyes. And long ago, he hunted one of the Yellow-eyes. So they killed him. Now Victoria wants revenge."

"I thought you said you were my subconsciousness," he growled.

"I said you could think of me like that. I never said that's what I was."

"Go away!" he yelled.

"Not until you listen to me!" I yelled back. "Riley, you are going to die if you go to war with the Yellow-eyes! You and that army you've created! If the Yellow-eyes don't kill you, then the Volturi will! They are the kings of vampires, and they are particular about their rules. What you're doing is illegal!"

Riley groaned.

"I trust her and she says it's going to be okay!"
"So you're actually going to do it?"

"I have to."

"Fine. But it's your funeral. You better hope your army lasts."

I pulled myself from the dark room and tried to bring myself back to the field.

When I made it back there, I opened my eyes and looked to the stars.

"What is she doing?" Bella asked Edward in a low voice.
"She was trying to turn Riley against Victoria," Jasper said.

"Was?" Bella questioned.

"She's back now."

"So why is she still laying there?"

"The stars," I called, loud enough for her to hear.

"Alice loves the stars," Edward said. "I'm sure I told you that before."

"Ali?" Jasper said at a normal volume.
"Hmm?"

"The wolves will be here soon. Are you ready?"

"One more minute," I told him.

He darted to my side and sat down next to me.

"Lay down with me," I sat patting his knee.

He shifted himself down and took my hand.

"See that pattern right there?" I asked tracing along the stars with my free hand.

"I do."

"That's Lupus."

"What's the story behind that one?"

"There isn't one," I grinned. "It doesn't have a story. It just exists in the sky with the others."

Jasper laughed and kissed my head.

"Should I ever die," I murmured, laying my head on his shoulder, "look for me in the stars. You'll find me there."

Jasper looked down at me.
"You're really worried about this, aren't you?"

I shook my head.

"I trust that you'll guide us to where we won't make a mistake. We'll get through it."
"But?"

"But it seems like there will always be something that's going to take one of us away from each other."

"You can't think like that," Jasper said. "I made a vow to you fifty-six years ago. I made a vow that we would be together until the end of the world, and for an eternity after that. And I believe that we will."

I looked over to him and smiled.

"When did you become the optimist?"

"When you came into my life."

Jasper kissed my nose before pulling me up.

"Come on," he said. "They'll be here soon."

He jumped to his feet before he pulled me off the ground to mine.

I watched for the close future, waiting for it to disappear. Jasper stood next to me stretching.

"Is she okay?" Bella asked. "She was happy just a second ago, and now she's not."

"The werewolves are on their way, so she can't see anything that will happen now. It makes her uncomfortable to be blind."

I looked up at him from where Jasper and I stood and stuck my tongue out at him before turning back to Jasper.

"Stretch with me," Jasper grinned as the others began talking behind us.

I shook my head.

"There's no time. They're almost here."

I smiled and pulled him closer to the others than what we had been.

"Brace yourselves," Edward said as Jasper and I stood between Harry and George. "They've been holding out on us."
"What do you mean?" I asked, looking around Harry at Edward.

"Shh," he said, holding a hand out at me.

As I looked out in the direction that Edward was looking in, I saw ten large wolves looming in the trees.

"Damn," Emmett said in a low voice. "Alice, have you ever seen anything like that?"

It reminded me of being back in the war. Fenrir Greyback's pack was twice as big, and twice as deadly. As I watched the wolves in the trees, I thought I saw Fenrir Greyback grinning at me.

I squeezed Jasper's hand.

"Yes," I said in a quiet voice. "During the war."

"Alice?" Harry murmured. "What's wrong? I can't see anything."

"The pack," I told him, jerking my head to the trees. "They've grown. When we left Forks, there were a few. Four maybe five? Now there are ten."

"It's okay," Jasper said. "They aren't going to hurt you."

"Look," I whispered to Harry, pointing to the spot in the trees where the wolves were starting to come closer.

Carlisle stepped forward as I gripped Jasper's hand tightly.

"Welcome," Carlisle said.

"Thank you," Edward said, mimicking Sam. "We will watch and listen, but no more. That is the most we can ask of our self-control."

"That is more than enough," Carlisle answered.

"My son Jasper has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."

"They are different from you?"

"They are all very new — only months old to this life. Children, in a way. They will have no skill or strategy, only brute strength. Tonight their numbers stand at twenty. Ten for us, ten for you — it shouldn't be difficult. The numbers may go down. The new ones fight amongst themselves."

"We are willing to take more than our share, if necessary," Edward said as a rumble went through the wolf pack.

"We'll see how it plays out."

"Do you know when and how they'll arrive?"

"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they approach, Alice will help us intercept their path."

"Thank you for the information. We will watch."

It was quiet for a moment as Jasper went to move forward. I still gripped his hand.

"Alice, they aren't the same as the wolves you're used to," Edward said watching the two of us. "They won't hurt you. It's my understanding that Sam likes you."

Alice, Sam called loud enough for me to pick it up. I turned my head to the large black wolf. He is right. I don't know what you've seen, but we will not hurt you, or your humans. You don't have to be afraid of us.

I looked at Jasper as a wave of calm spread through the field.

I let go of Jasper's hand and let my own hand fall to my side. George stepped closer and took my hand.

Jasper turned his back away from the wolves, making sure I could keep my eyes focused on his face.

"Carlisle's right. They'll fight like children. The two most important things you'll need to remember are, first, don't let them get their arms around you and, second, don't go for the obvious kill. That's all they'll be prepared for. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively. Emmett?"

"This is where it gets interesting," I told Harry and George as we sat on the ground.

"Okay, Emmett first. He's the best example of a newborn attack."

"I'll try not to break anything."

Jasper grinned.

"What I meant is that Emmett relies on his strength. He's very straightforward about the attack. The newborns won't be trying anything subtle, either. Just go for the easy kill, Emmett."

Jasper took a couple steps closer to the wolves and turned to me and grinned.

"Okay, Emmett," Jasper said with a slight smirk, "try to catch me."

Jasper took off with Emmett following closely behind him. The two of them flew through the field. Each time, Emmett just barely missed Jasper as he jumped, spun, and dodged away from Emmett's hands.

Suddenly Jasper flipped behind Emmett and tackled him to the ground. His teeth were just above Emmett's neck.

"Damn it," Emmett grumbled. "Again!"
"But it's my turn!" Edward protested.

"In a minute," Jasper grinned, stepping away from Emmett. He turned to me and waved me forward with a finger. "I want to show Bella and George something. Al?"

I jumped to my feet and made my way to Jasper.

"I know you both worry about her. I want to show you why that's not necessary."

"With or without magic?" I asked.
"Without this time."

I nodded and took off the holster and ran it back to George.

"Guard it with your life," I said, seriously before grinning and running back to Jasper.

I turned away from Jasper, and closed my eyes.

"Remember what I taught you?" he asked.

I nodded.

"If I blast you into another tree, I'm sorry."

The others laughed.

I could hear Jasper's footsteps slowly coming closer to me. Then I saw him make the decision to lunge at me. I moved to the right. When I saw him decide to lunge again, I opened my eyes and the chase truly began. The two of us danced through the field with Jasper chasing behind me. Jasper caught me, placing his hands on my shoulders before he leaned forward to kiss me.

I pulled away from him and ducked underneath his arm before jumping into a tree.

Jasper looked around the field for me and I began to laugh before dropping out of the tree onto his back.

"Gotcha," I murmured before kissing his neck.

"You truly are one frightening little monster," Jasper laughed. "My frightening little monster."

I pulled his face to mine and kissed him one more time.

As I did so, the wolves gave a wary grumble.

"It's good for them to learn some respect. My turn!"

Edward jumped up and Harry and George followed me to Bella.

"Cool, huh?" I asked as I sat in between Bella and George.

"Very," Bella said as she watched Edward and Jasper.

I leaned over to her.

"I've got my eye on you, Bella," I said in a low voice. "I'll warn him if your plans get any more defined. It doesn't help anything for you to put yourself in danger. Do you think either of them would give up if you died? They'd still fight, we all would. You can't change anything, so just be good, okay? I'm watching."

I turned to the tent where I could hear Fred starting to rustle.

"I'll go get him," I told George jumping to my feet.

I picked Fred up from the crib and moved back outside.

I rocked back and forth as I watched Edward and Jasper closely.

Fred cooed as Jasper stopped running and came into view. He reached for him and turned to me questioningly.

"No, baby," I told him. "Uncle Jasper has to focus. He's got to teach us how to fight."

Fred pointed past Jasper and turned back to me.

"Al, dog!" he said.

"You see the dogs?" I asked.

"Go!" he told me.

"I didn't know he could talk," Bella said.

I nodded.

"He doesn't talk very often. But he sees the wolves. He likes dogs."

"Maybe the wolves won't mind," Jasper said.

I looked up at Sam who was watching me carefully. He could hear us.

You can bring the child. We won't hurt him.

I turned to George.

"Sam says we can bring him to them."

"Al, dog!" Fred cheered again.

"Hold on, baby," I murmured.

"You can take him," George said. "I'll stay here with Bella."

I nodded and jumped to my feet.

I walked around the perimeter of the field.

Fred babbled the whole way to the wolves.

"Thank you, Sam," I said when I finally made it to them.

Of course, Sam said.

"Do you see the doggy?" I asked Fred who was beaming.

"Dog!" he cheered.

"This is Sam," I said.

"Pet?" he asked me.

"He wants to pet you," I told Sam. "Would that be okay?"

Sam bowed his head towards Fred's outstretched hand.

"Be easy," I told Fred, leaning him closer to Sam.

You're more trusting of us then your husband, Sam said.
"Yes," I said. "I remember the wolves back in England during the war. They were more dangerous than all of you combined."

And that's why you're afraid of us? Jacob asked.

I shook my head.

"I'm not afraid of you. When I was changed, not everything healed. Sometimes, the past and the present blur together. I hadn't expected your pack to be so big, and for a moment I found myself in the middle of the war."

I'm sorry, Sam said. If we had a way to warn you—

"No worries," I told him.

How do you get it to go away? Jacob asked. The memories of the war.

"Jasper helps," I told him turning to look at Jasper over my shoulder. "He went through two wars himself. He has to remind me that I'm here. With him. Not there."

Fred snuggled himself into my collarbone as I talked.

"Thank you for letting Fred come and see you."
Of course, Sam said, bowing his head slightly.

I stepped back from the wolves before heading back to our side.

"Alice?" Jasper called.

"Hmm?"

"I want to see something. Can you come back?"

I nodded and handed Fred to George.

I stepped back out in front of Jasper.

"I want to see if you fight better in this form, or in your Animagus form."

"I've never fought in my Animagus form."
"But if you can fight in your Animagus form, would you? It'd be another surprise to the newborns if you shift between the two."

"I've never tried, but I can."

"Please?" he asked, placing his hands on my shoulders.

I nodded and pulled myself into my Animagus form. As I did so, the wolves stared in curiosity.

Jasper turned to Edward.

"Can you translate what she's saying?"

Edward nodded and stepped up from Bella.

"Alice?" Jasper called. I turned my large head to him.

I don't know how to do this, Jazz, I thought as Edward said it out loud.

"Just trust your instincts. Try to take me down, but don't let me get my arms around you."

I watched him carefully, but I didn't move.

"Ali, don't be afraid," Jasper said. "It's going to be okay. If it doesn't work, we won't use it."

I nodded before taking a couple steps away from him.

"Ready?"

Ready.

I charged at Jasper at full speed. About a foot ahead of him, I jumped in the air and hurtled down towards him. Jasper had anticipated what I was going to do before I had even decided on it myself. He was able to jump at me at the same time and worked himself around me, pulling me to the ground.

I howled in disappointment.

"Come on," he said. "Try to fight me off."

I couldn't do it. I tried with everything in me, but couldn't.

"She doesn't think she can do it," Edward called to Jasper as I struggled against him.

Jasper sighed and rolled off of me.

I shifted back, and sat up.

"I tried, Jasper. I really did try."

"I know, baby," he murmured, kissing my forehead. "It just didn't work out."

He helped me to my feet and waved the others forward.

"I'm going to put you all into pairs now, and we'll see how we do there for about half an hour and then we'll stop for the night so we can get Bella, Harry, and George home."

I was paired with Edward, Esme with Rosalie, and Emmett with Carlisle. Jasper walked between the pairs and offered feedback.
Edward worked as best as he could to use the wolves being there to his advantage. He made sure I couldn't see his decisions, so in turn I blocked my mind from him.

It was a close fight. Where I had been taught by Jasper before, I had a slight advantage over Edward, which Edward didn't find fair.

"These newborns don't stand a chance," Edward said. "Not when you've been training with him for the last half a century."

I shook my head.

"I was so scared of doing anything that would hurt him after I threw him into a tree."

Edward left to go sit with Bella and Jasper took his place.

After another fifteen minutes, Jasper called time.

Jasper turned to face the wolves, wrapping a tight arm around my waist.

"We'll be doing this tomorrow. Please feel welcome to observe again."

"Yes," Edward answered in Sam's voice. "We'll be here." Edward paused and turned to the rest of us. "The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents — so they don't make mistakes later. If we could hold very still, it will make it easier for them."

"Certainly," Carlisle said to Sam. "Whatever you need."

Alice, Sam called. I turned my head to him. You're husband doesn't trust you alone near us, but if you two stand too close, your scents will blend. Can you step away from him?

I nodded and turned back to Jasper.

"Jazz," I murmured in his ear. "They need us to step a bit apart. Sam is afraid that our scents will blend together."

Jasper gave me a worried look.

"They won't hurt me," I told him. "Sam promised."

I stepped a bit back from Jasper as the wolves made their way to us.

Jasper didn't keep his eyes off of me as the wolves passed moved through us.

When Sam got to me, he paused and sat next to me.

I can hear you when you're in your Animagus form, he told me. It might be easier to communicate that way. Do you mind?

I shook my head and quickly shifted sitting next to Sam as Jasper watched closely.

"If your husband would like you to fight in this form, we can teach you," Sam said.

"Sam!" Paul said. "Don't forget that she's still a vampire!"

"I wasn't always," I said, turning to him as he passed Jasper. "I was a human once, with a family. If you had met me, you would've liked me."

"No I wouldn't have," he frowned.

"Paul, that's enough," Sam said. "Alice is a good person."

"Person," Paul scoffed.

I shook my head and turned back to Sam.

"Thank you, Sam, but as it would seem, your wolves would rather not have anything to do with me. And Jasper doesn't have a preference. It was just an idea that didn't work. Animagi weren't meant to fight. They were meant to protect the witch or wizard."

Before Sam or any of the other wolves said anything, I shifted back and moved closer to Jasper, but still stood far enough away that the remaining wolves could smell me.

When the last wolf made it past me, Sam came to me and nudged my shoulder.

Can you wait here for a moment? he asked me.

I nodded and watched as the wolves started making their way to the woods.

Jacob Black made his way to Edward and Bella, and Jasper pulled me to George and Harry.

"I know I said we weren't going back to the house, but I didn't know it would end this early. Do you guys want to go back to the house and sleep for a little while?" I asked as I waited for Sam.

George shook his head.

"Angelina is expecting me back in a few hours."

I nodded.
"I'm going to go ahead and send a Patronus to Kingsley," I said. "The sooner I can meet with him the better."

I pulled my wand from the holster and waved it. Jacob and Bella both turned to look at the Patronus.

"Find Kingsley Shaklebolt, at the Ministry of Magic in London. Deliver this message: Kingsley, it's Alice. I need to meet with you and it's urgent. I'll be there in three hours max. Go. Hurry!"

The dog ran towards the trees that Sam and Paul were walking out of. Paul ducked out of the way as the Patronus ran straight at him before disappearing.

"One moment," I told Harry and George. "Sam wants to speak with me."

"Alice," Jasper said catching my hand. "The other one, he's angry."

"Come with me," I murmured pulling on his hand.

Jasper followed closely behind me. George passed Fred to Rosalie, and he and Harry followed behind us too.

"Alice," Sam said with a small smile. "Jasper. And you must be Harry and George."

Harry extended his hand to shake Sam's hand, and George did the same.

"What can we do for you, Sam?" I asked.

"First, I want to thank your husband for allowing us to watch over his teachings. He is a very good teacher, and I look forward to the next session."

"Of course," Jasper said, before hiding his face in my hair.

"Now the real reason I wanted to talk to you is I didn't like the way that Paul treated you. I don't want you or your family to have a bad opinion of us."

I shook my head.
"It's okay, really," I smiled.

"Alice sees the good in everybody," George said.

"No matter," Sam said. "The elders and I have agreed that it is better to have Alice as an ally rather than an enemy."

"Most people would," Harry said.

"The Volturi says she's the most powerful vampire," Jasper said.

"The Volturi," Sam said repeating the name. "Jacob told us about them. He says that Bella says they're the most powerful vampires."

Jasper shook his head.

"Alice is the only one of her kind."

"Her kind?"

"She is a vampire, but the witch in her overpowers that."

"But she's still a vampire?"

"Yes," Jasper said.

"But Wizardkind will always overpower it," George said. "Magic is the most powerful thing. Even you can do magic."

"How?" Sam asked.

"I'll explain that tonight," I told him with a smile. "But for now, I have a meeting I have to go to."

"Meeting?" Paul asked. "At a time like this?"

"You know how there are rules in your pack?" I asked.

Paul nodded.

"Well there are rules in my world, and I'm going to get permission to break a major rule for this fight, and in order to do that I have to meet with the Minister of Magic, and the President of the Magical Congress of the United States."

"Why both?" Paul demanded.

"Later, Paul," Sam said. "She's got to go now."

"I promise, Sam, I will explain everything to you later."

Sam nodded.

"Good luck to you."

I nodded and ducked away from them, Apparating back across the field to grab the tent and Fred.

"We'll be back before the next training session," I told Carlisle as he walked me back to the center where Jasper, Harry, and George were sitting. "I'm going to meet with Kingsley, and see if he'll come with me to MACUSA. We'll meet you back in the field if we're not back by midnight. I'll be bringing some things from my world back with us that can help."

Carlisle nodded.

"Be safe."

"Always."

Jasper wrapped his arms around my waist and George and Harry held onto my arms, hugging Fred closer to me. The field disappeared, and we reappeared in the living room of the Burrow.

"Alice!" Molly grinned, jumping to her feet. "Jasper!"

She threw her arms around us and hugged tightly.

"Hey, Molly!" I grinned. "How are you?"

"I've missed seeing your face."

"Mum, she was just here on Friday," Ginny frowned as she pulled Harry into a tight hug.

"That's a big step from her being here every day last year."

"Don't worry, Mum, she'll be around more often now that she's signed the papers."

Molly grinned and hugged me again.

"Arthur and I are so proud of you, Alice. You've come so far from the girl we met twenty-five years ago."

"Has it been only twenty-five years?" I asked, looking between the two. "It feels like longer."

"That's because for you it's been a lifetime," Molly said, pressing a hand to my cheek.

I stayed at the house for close to an hour before Jasper and I headed out to London. Harry and George had said that they would explain everything so I could get to my meeting.

Kingsley was waiting for me in the Atrium of the Ministry. He was looking up at the plaque that read the names of the fallen in the war.

"It's hard to believe that there was a time when everyone thought you were dead," Kingsley said as I came up next to him. "I remember when you were a little girl, and I remember hearing the news of your passing. I cried for hours. And now your back."

He turned to me and smiled.

"How are you, Kingsley?" I asked as he pulled me into a hug.

"I'm doing well now that you're here. Should we take this to my office?" I nodded and Jasper and I followed Kingsley through the ministry to his office.

"So, Alice," he said, sitting on the corner of his desk as Jasper and I sat in the chairs in front of his desk. "What's wrong?"

"I need you to come with me to MACUSA," I said. "Do you remember Victoria? The one from my story?"

When Kingsley gave me a nod I continued.

"She's back, but this time she's built and army and she's going to take us out. We have enough to out number them, and Jasper is training us, but that wouldn't matter if we can't match their strength."

"So what are you asking of me?"

"I need your permission to use the Unforgivable Curses."

"Alice, I—"

"Please," I begged. "I don't have much time. The Killing Curse can destroy Inferi, and they're dead, and the Cruciatus Curse is worse than the pain of the transformation!"

"Alice, I don't want you to slip back into a dark place," Kingsley said. "You spent two years being forced to use the Unforgivables."

"I'll work with her," Jasper said. "We can get her to where she needs to be by Friday."

"Friday?" Kingsley asked.

"That's when they'll come."

"How are you going to outnumber them?"

I bit my bottom lip.

"You can't tell Aro."

"I wasn't planning on telling Aro anything. What happens between you and I will stay between you and I. We've already discussed that."

I nodded.

"We're going to work with the wolf pack from La Push. Bella's friend and his pack."

"And working with werewolves are illegal?"
"Not illegal," Jasper said, "but frowned upon."

Kingsley nodded.

"Okay, Alice. I'll go with you. I'll send a Patronus to the president of MACUSA to let him know we'll be there in about two hours. That'll give her time to settle into her office."
"What do we do in the meantime?" Jasper asked.

"We'll go to Diagon Alley," I said. "We'll meet you here in two hours."

Kingsley nodded.

"I'll see you then. Feel free to use the Floo Network."

I nodded and pulled Jasper to the fire place.

"Go to Fred and George's shop. I'll be right behind you."

Jasper nodded and picked up a little bit of Floo Powder. Once the green flames took him, I turned to Kingsley.

"Kingsley, there's a chance I may not make it through this battle," I told him quietly. "Jasper is confident we will, but I'm not as confident as Jasper...If I don't make it—"

Kingsley pulled me into a tight hug.

"We're going to convince him," he said. "He thinks highly of you. He knows your working to keep this world and the Muggle world safe. It won't be hard and you'll make it."

"But if I don't, I need you to take care of them for me. All of them."

Kingsley nodded.

"Of course."

I stepped into the fireplace.

"Two hours," I told him as I threw the powder down.

Jasper was downstairs walking around the store when I came in. Ron was working the counter.

"Hey, Alice," Ron grinned. "I wondered where you were when I saw Jasper come down the stairs."

"I had to meet with Kingsley, and I have to go meet with MACUSA in two hours."

Ron frowned.

"Is everything okay?"
"It's too much to explain now. Harry and George will explain everything."

"Okay," he said trailing off slightly. "Are you here to help out?"

I shook my head.

"I have a few things I need to get while I'm here. George and I agreed I'd start next week, and Jasper will start next weekend."

"I'll see you then," Ron smiled.

"See you," I said, returning the smile before getting Jasper and heading into the street.

"Are those the only illegal curses?" Jasper asked.

I shrugged.

"Different territories have different laws, but those are the three major ones."

"Are you thinking of using any others?"

"I've thought of a few," I said. "But there will be steep consequences."

"With the government?"

I shook my head.

"There's one spell that Gellert Grindelwald used back during his rise to power. Protego Diabolica. It kills everybody but the caster's allies. But the issue with it is that the spell knows what the caster doesn't. You know how Edward doubts me?"
"Yes," Jasper said with a slight frown.

"The spell will see him as unloyal to me and it will kill him. Him, the wolves, everyone who has ever doubted me who is in the field."

"Maybe that isn't such a good idea then," Jasper said.

"Well I can control the spell. Make the fire bigger or smaller. Maybe it can take out a wave, but not all of them."

Jasper nodded.

"We will try it if you're confident in yourself."

"We'd have to be very careful about who comes near me," I said. "Even the slightest doubt, even if it was fifty years ago, would kill them instantly." I paused and looked at him. "Even you."

Jasper sighed.

"Maybe in the beginning…" he trailed off.

"It's not safe for anyone to be around me when I use it," I told him. "Which means that you can't be hovering."

He watched me as we turned into a protective magic store.

"Why are we here?"

"I'm looking to see if there is something that I can get that will keep you safe during certain spells."

"Like Protego Diabolica?"

I nodded.

"It's called the Eye of Horus. Curse Breakers where it, and it will protect the wearer from every curse except for the Cruciatus Curse and the Killing Curse."

"Do you think you can find them here?"

I nodded as I moved through the store."

"How many do you need?" Jasper asked.

"One for each of the wolves, and one for all of you, so about sixteen."

"What about you?"

"I won't need one. I'm the one wielding the magic so it won't hurt me."

As I looked around the store, Jasper followed behind me closely.

"Here they are," I murmured. "I can get one and make replicas of them."

"Will that work?"

I nodded.

"It should. It'll probably be more protective."

"How so?"

"Each witch or wizard's magic has their own signature, much like each person. By making replicas with my own magic, it will help to protect the wearer against my magic in particular as opposed to all magic. So I'll buy one, make sixteen copies, and then wear the original myself."

"How do you put out Protego Diabolica?"

"The caster can put it out. However when Grindelwald used it in the Lestrange Mausoleum, Newt and Tina, Newt's older brother, Theseus, Yusef Kama, and Nicholas Flamel stuck their wands in the ground and used a General Counter-Spell with combined power to contain it."

"The Lestrange Mausoleum?" Jasper asked with a frown.

"Haven't I told you this story?" I asked Jasper with a frown as big as his.

"I can't say that I remember it."

I nodded as I guided him to the checkout counter.

"Let's finish here."

Jasper nodded and took my hand.

We checked out and once we were done, we headed back to the shop.

"Ron, Jasper and I are going to be upstairs working through some details for some business we have. The stuff that the others will be telling you about. I'll be back down before we leave though. There are some things around the store that I can use to help us."

Ron nodded.

"The bonus of working here. Free supplies."

I nodded and winked before Jasper and I headed upstairs.

I closed the door behind me and motioned to the chairs.

"Sit and I'll explain everything."

Jasper said and watched me with the same eager eyes that he had whenever I told him a story about my world's history.

"If you go to the Père-Lachaise cemetery, or Cimetière di Père-Lachaise, in Paris, it is there that you will find the Lestrange Mausoleum. I've been there once, with Bellatrix. She was prepared to die for Voldemort, and she was going to ensure that she and her husband would be buried there."

"Was she?"

I nodded.

"Narcissa invited me to the burial, but I didn't go. In order to understand Grindelwald's point of view, I have to tell you more about his causes. During the Muggle World Wars, my kind declared neutrality. Told the leaders of the world that we would not be fighting with them. But some didn't listen. They went against the orders of the magical government, and fought alongside the Muggles."

"On which side?"

"Both sides. But the fighting of witches and wizards traumatized Muggles to a breaking point, and it was then that Anti-Muggle laws began to increase. My world was afraid that we'd be discovered by your world. That's when it became illegal in the United States for Magickind to marry Muggles."

"Is that law still there?"

"It was when we got married," I admitted. "It was repealed in 1965."

"So why didn't they come for you?"

"Because you were a vampire. It wasn't against the law for us to marry. It was just frowned upon. Now it was because of the fear of being discovered that pureblood-supremacists decided that Muggles were inferior to us and we should rise against them and put them in their 'rightful place'."

Jasper snickered at the air quotes.

"Now Grindelwald supported this idea, and there was a time when Dumbledore did too. So in 1927, after what happened in New York City, Grindelwald held a rally in the Lestrange Mausoleum. He told his followers about a vision he saw of the future."

"Was he a seer?"

I nodded.

"A damn good one too. He saw another World War. One with Wizardkind in concentration camps. When the battalion of Aurors showed up, Grindelwald noticed them, and he turned into a girl who was killed by an Auror into a martyr. It was then that he casted Protego Diabolica."

I leaned back against my chair.

"I don't think he would have casted the fire if Thesus Scamander hadn't commanded the Aurors to arrest Grindelwald. But he did pay the ultimate sacrifice for it."
"What was that?"

"His fiancee. Leta Lestrange. See she was hiding, and she came out when Grindelwald started to torture the Scamander brothers. Grindelwald offered for her to join him. When she did, she told them that she loved them. The spell saw this as a betrayal, and it killed her."

"Does it take a sacrifice to use Protego Diabolica?"

I shook my head.

"No, no, no. Of course not. If it did, I wouldn't be using it. Leta Lestrange sacrificed herself to save her fiance and her best friend. She was more noble than I."

I smiled as Jasper shook his head.

"I don't think so."

"I do."

Jasper grinned and kissed my cheek.

"You want to know a secret?" I asked Jasper.

"What's that?"

"The war Grindelwald saw, didn't have Wizardkind in camps. It was a vision of the Second World War. With Hitler's Holocaust. He saw the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The threat of another war scared my kind, and that's why so many people joined Grindelwald's cause. Muggle war is scarier than Wizardkind's war."

"What makes you say that?"

"You have bombs."

"You have wands that can make explosions a thousand times more deadly than our bombs and they worry you?"

"Magic doesn't have radioactive effects," I said, wrinkling my nose.

"I can't argue with that," Jasper said.

"Remus told me about the atomic bombs when I was younger," I said. "I didn't know much about Muggle history but that was one thing I did know about. It terrified me, and I hated going into the Muggle world."

"How aware were you of the events in the Muggle world?"

"Wizardkind as a whole or me personally?"

"Both."

"Me personally, I'd say it was half and half. Before you, I knew what the World Wars were, but not a lot of the details. I'd say as a whole, Wizardkind is very aware of what's going on in the Muggle world. We were scared of how another war would impact us. But you notice when things are out of place in your world. We notice things too."

I pulled his arm to me and looked at his watch.
"We need to get back to the Ministry soon," I told him. "Kingsley will be expecting us. First we have to go downstairs and get some things to help us."

Jasper nodded and stood up, stretching his arms high above his head.

"Come on," he said, wrapping and arm around me and pulling me from the room.

We made our way downstairs, and Jasper went through the store picking objects that he believed would help us. The supply consisted mostly of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. Jasper felt that it would be the most helpful since it could conceal us.

"Is there anything you can do to simulate this?" Jasper asked.

I nodded.
"Smokescreen Charm. We use it in dueling. Fumos Duo would be the closest to it."
"We need to learn how to fight through it," Jasper said as I marked on the inventory what we took.

"I can do anything you need me to do," I said. "Don't worry."

"I'm not worried," Jasper said as we headed back up the stairs. "It's hard to be worried when I know that you're going to be there."
"You have too much faith in me," I frowned.

"No," Jasper said, shaking his head. "You don't give yourself enough credit. I've been teaching you how to fight for the last half a century. You've been using magic and fighting with it for longer than that. Your biggest downfall will be if you spend time on the battlefield worrying about who you hurt."

"If I hurt one of the wolves—"

"Sam and I briefly discussed it," Jasper said. "He understands that it's a risk fighting so closely to magic. He will make sure that the others understand it as well."

"And if I hurt one of you?"

"We can be put together again," he smiled.

"You can't if you get hurt with a Killing Curse."

"We'll get everyone together," Jasper said. "We'll make sure that everyone understands all the risks of fighting near magic. It's going to be okay, Alice."

I sighed and pushed open the door.

"Go straight to Kingsley's office," I said. "I'll be right behind you."

Jasper nodded and ducked into the fireplace.

The green fire took him before I blinked.

I glanced around the room, and ducked into the fireplace myself.

"Kinglsey Shacklebolt's office."

When I came out of the fireplace, Kingsley was showing Jasper a small framed picture.

"What's that?" I asked, peeking around Jasper's shoulder.

The picture was of Kingsley and I at a meeting for the Order of the Phoenix. We were laughing at an unheard joke.

"I don't remember that picture being taken," I said.

"It was about two days before your father died," he told me. "I don't remember the joke, but it was something that Sirius had said. Remus had taken the picture. He later told me that he wanted to remind you of happier times after the two of you broke up, but I asked him if I could have this picture." he paused and looked between Jasper and I. "Alice was always one of my favorites to be around. When she had originally started her training as an Auror she worked under me."

"How long were you in training? I know you've told me before but I can never remember."

"A couple weeks over the summer. I didn't last long in the Auror training. I had passed the test, but it was hard to work as an Auror when I spent the nights looking after a prisoner of Azkaban. So I left. I went back to Hogwarts when school started back and worked as an assistant to Severus, but I left at night. That was the year of the Triwizard Tournament…" I trailed off and looked at Kingsley. "How is Amos Diggory, Kingsley?"

"He hasn't been doing well," Kingsley said. "I saw him just last week. He's convinced that Cedric isn't actually dead. That he faked his death like you did. We thought he was doing better, but after you came back…" Kingsley trailed off before meeting my eye. "It isn't your fault, but I think one day, if you can manage, you should go try to see him. I think it would help."

"What can I do that would help him?"

"Your Netherworld," Kingsley said with a small smile. "If you can see Cedric."

"I'll try," I said.

"We have to go," Kingsley said. "Christopheris waiting for us."

I nodded and extended my hand to Kingsley as Jasper wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.

"Apparate near the Woolworth Building," Kingsley said. "You won't be able to Apparate into it."

I nodded and closed my eyes as the Ministry of Magic disappeared.

New York City was as busy as I thought it would be, but nobody seemed to notice Kingsley, Jasper, and I appear out of seemingly nowhere.

"Will he be able to get in?" I asked Kingley, nodding towards Jasper.

"Has he ever been in before?"

I shook my head.
"Typically MACUSA will write to me. I don't usually have to go in. He's been to the Wizarding side of New York but not MACUSA."

Kingsley looked at Jasper carefully.

"I'm sure we could get him in, but I don't know if they'll let him come back with us."

"I'm sorry," I told Jasper. "I didn't even think about it."

"Why won't they let me back?"
"Vampire or not, you're still a Muggle," Kingsley said.
"It's okay," Jasper smiled. "I'll wait if I have to. This is important."

"Lead the way," I told Kingsley as I took Jasper's hand.

Kingsley walked confidently through the street of New York. He didn't miss a beat as people glanced at him, gawking at his robes. I grinned turned to Jasper.

"What are they feeling?" I murmured to him.

"They're all confused."

I laughed, which caused a few more heads to turn and look at the unlikely trio.
"What is it?" Kingsley asked.

"The Muggles," I grinned. "They're confused by us."

Kingsley held the door open and looked down at his robes.

"I guess I didn't wear blending attire."

I shrugged.
"Everyone in the Muggle world has their quirks. For all they know we could have been at a convention."

Kingsley grinned.

"Always the optimist."

As we entered MACUSA, Kingsley's face turned more serious. He fell back onto my other side and leaned closer to me.

"I'm sure you'll be able to convince him, but you have to try to convince him that this could be a threat to our world as well as the Muggle world."

I nodded.

"I can do that because it won't be a lie. If Victoria remembers, it wouldn't be hard for her to find a way in here. She'll remember me from Britain, and she'll go there."

Kingsley led us through the building quietly. We approached the office, and Kingsley pointed to a set of chairs.

"Jasper, wait there," he said. "We shouldn't be too long, but I'm sure they're not going to let you past here."

Jasper nodded and kissed my forehead.

"Good luck, Ali."

"I don't need luck," I grinned. "It'll all go fine."

Jasper smiled and looked to Kingsley.

"Thank you for doing this."

Kingsley nodded.

"Of course. For Alice, I'd do anything."

I smiled and waved as Jasper sat in one of the chairs.

Kingsley didn't knock as he entered the room with the giant oak doors. There was a large desk setup, and a man, not much older than I looked to be, was sitting behind it, scratching on a piece of parchment.

"Christopher," Kingsley said with a welcoming smile.

"Kingsley, it's good to see you again."

Kingsley extended his hand to the man, and he took it.

"And this must be Alice," Christopher continued. "Alice Whitlock is it? That's how you've addressed yourself in letters."

I nodded.

"Yes, that is correct," I smiled. "It's nice to meet you, sir."

"So formal," he grinned looking at Kingsley. "I've heard many things about your friend here, but it's my understanding from my predecessors that she's caused some trouble since she came here in 1948."

"That wasn't my intention, sir," I said as Kingsley guided me to the chairs in front of the desk. "I know I didn't go about things the normal way, but my circumstances were...different."

"I know that," he said. "Well, I know that now anyways. The way Kingsley talks about you, he says you've saved our world on more than one occasion."

"I wouldn't put it like that," I said. "I'm sure I've hurt it more than helped it."

"How so?"

Kingsley watched me, curious to know the answer.

"I haven't exactly kept up with the Statute of Secrecy," I murmured, shifting in my seat.

"However, all the ones that you've told have been vampires. They classify as magical creatures, and therefore we can't hold that against you."

"I married a Muggle while Rappaport's Law was in effect."

"Yes, but that goes back to the vampire thing. Speaking of the Muggle, is he here with you?"

"He's in the waiting area," Kingsley answered. "We weren't sure if you'd allow him back here."

"I'd like to meet him," Christopher said. "Could we maybe bring him in here?"

"I'll go get him while Alice starts to tell you about why we've come."

Christopher nodded and leaned back in his chair.

"Of course. Alice?"
"You have to understand, sir," I said, shifting in my seat. "I haven't come with an easy request, but it could make a difference in my family's life."

"Difference meaning?"
"Life or death, sir," I said.

Christopher raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"It helps if you understand the situation," I said. "But in order for it to make sense, you have to understand why I came here, and how I became a vampire."

He didn't talk, and I took that as a sign for me to continue.

"You see, during the war in Britain, I worked undercover as a Death Eater," I paused to roll up my sleeve. "Albus Dumbledore asked me to do so, and I did. I grew quickly through the ranks, and he valued my skills."
"You skills as a seer?"
"That and her skills as a wizard," Kingsley said. Jasper followed in tow, and quickly made his way to me.

"Mr. Whitlock," Chrisptopher smiled, extending his hand. "I'm Christopher Steward, President of the Magical Congress of the United States."

"Jasper Whitlock," Jasper greeted.

"Alice was just telling Christopher about why we've come."

"Please continue," Christopher said to me.

I nodded.

"One night, my loyalty was questioned, and I had to prove myself. He picked a Muggle family, and I had to kill them. That night, my scent was picked up by a vampire. A tracker, and a very good one at that."

"Tracker?"

"It's exactly what it sounds like, sir," Jasper said. "A tracker is a vampire who can sense it's targets location, and can predict their next moves."

"This tracker was a very skilled one, and I became his next target. I had Disapparated from that spot, so it took him awhile to find me again, but he was going to lure my family to him to get to me. My creators, Helen and Tobias, they had come to the future from 1950. They said that I had found them and told them my story, and they would change me and bring me back to 1948 where I would meet Jasper. Tobias could change memories, add new ones and delete existing ones. He would change James's memory, as well as James's companion, Victoria and they would remember nothing about the Wizarding World."

I paused and looked to Jasper.

"When I came here," I said, "I lived a very quiet life. As quiet as I could manage. Jasper and I spent two years searching for the Cullens, the Muggles that we live with now. Once we got there, we got married, and we lived peacefully. Last year, our brother, Edward, met his girlfriend, Bella. She's human, you see. We were playing baseball, and I had been seeing visions of three strangers. They heard us playing, and they came to join us. It was James, Victoria, and a vampire named Laurent. James recognized my scent, and he was going to start his hunt again, but then he smelled Bella. He hunted her, and we hunted him. Jasper, our brother, Emmett, and I, killed James."

"So the problem was solved?"

"Not exactly," I murmured.

"A vampire is not forgiving when their mate is killed. They will seek revenge."

"We couldn't catch up to Victoria. She blames Bella for James dying, and as a result she's been hunting Bella. She's created an army of newborn vampires, and they're coming for us."

"I see," Christopher said. "But what can I do to help you?"

"When James died, he remembered everything. Who I really am, our world. Victoria could do the same, and if she does, our world is in danger. We need to take down the army at all costs, and one of the things that we will be utilizing is magic."

"Nothing like Alice exists," Kingsley said. "These newborns won't expect her, and it will make it easier to keep our world safe."

"But in order to do that," I said slowly, "I need your permission to use open warfare against the newborns."

"You mean the Unforgivables?"

I nodded.

Christopher looked between Kingsley, Jasper, and I.

"This is a difficult request," Christopher said.

"I wouldn't ask if it weren't important," Kingsley said. "Alice is a good person, and she'd never use them if she had another way."

Christopher looked between the three of us again.

"You've already given her your approval?"

Kingsley nodded.

"Yes. I'd trust Alice with my life."

Christopher leaned back in his chair.

"Well, being a British wizard, I gather that Alice would rather have your approval than ours. However, I do respect that you came here to ask in person, despite having Kingsley's approval. I know that things have been rocky between you and MACUSA, Alice, and I would like to change that."

"But?" Kingsley pressed.
"There is no but. I will allow it. When will they start being used?"

"Tonight," Jasper said, "at least the Cruciatus Curse will be. She'll need to practice using it in combat."

"The Killing Curse won't be used until Friday."

"And the Imperius Curse?"

"Tonight," I said. "There is a chance I won't need it, however it could be useful to me."
"Is there any other spell we should know about?"
"I'll be using Protego Diabolica," I said. "However, that's not illegal."

"No, it isn't," he said. "Tell me, Alice, what if this doesn't work?"

"Chances are if it doesn't work, then I will die. We know that it's a risk, but it's the only way."

"Then good luck to you," Christopher said. "We expect you to come back and update us on how this goes."

"Of course."

He stood up and extended his hand again.

"It was a pleasure meeting you. I expect that you have a lot to prepare for."

I nodded.
"Thank you, sir."

"Of course," he smiled. "I hope to see you very soon. Good luck saving our world yet again."

He winked and shook Kingsley and Jasper's hands before guiding us to the door.

"Did you have anything to do with his decision?" I murmured to Jasper.

He shook his head.

"That was all you, Darlin'."

I grinned and took Jasper hands as the three of us headed back to the streets of New York.

After Jasper and I got Kingsley back to his office at the Ministry, we decided to go back to the Burrow. We still had time before we had to be back in Forks, and Carlisle wasn't expecting me to leave without talking to them.

While we were at the Burrow, Edward called Jasper, asking a question about Jacob's scent being able to cover Bella's. He needed Jasper to come test it, which cut our visit short.

"Be safe," Molly said.

"I'm always safe," I grinned. "This time I got some luck on my side."

"Come back when you've won," George said. "I want to hear all the details."

I grinned.
"Of course."

I took Jasper's hand and we Disapparated back to the field.

Jacob Black was already there, standing with Bella and Edward.

"Alice!" Edward said, hurrying to us. "I'm sorry you had to cut your visit short, but I Jacob had the idea, and Bella's scent is too strong for me or for you. But I figured that if Jasper tried it—"

"Don't worry about it, Edward," I said. "They understand."

As Jasper, Edward, and I got closer to Jacob and Bella, Jacob picked up Bella.

"Okay, Jacob," Edward called.

Jacob took took running through the woods. Edward went after them in another direction, and Jasper and I took off in the same direction that Bella and Jacob had went.

As we sprinted through the trees, all I could smell was Jacob. I wrinkled my nose, which made Jasper laugh.

As we came to a stop next to Edward, Edward looked between the two of us.

"Well?" Bella asked.

"As long as you don't touch anything, Bella, I can't imagine someone sticking their nose close enough to that trail to catch your scent," Jasper said, grimacing. "It was almost completely obscured."

"A definite success," I agreed, wrinkling my nose again.

"And it gave me an idea."

What if we got Bella to leave a false trail here?

"Which will work," I added, confident in Jasper's idea. I can already see things starting to clear up. I added to Edward.

"Clever," Edward agreed.

"How do you stand that?" Jacob muttered to Bella.

Edward turned to explain it to Bella.

"We're — well, you're — going to leave a false trail to the clearing, Bella. The newborns are hunting, your scent will excite them, and they'll come exactly the way we want them to without being careful about it. Alice can already see that this will work. When they catch our scent, they'll split up and try to come at us from two sides. Half will go through the forest, where her vision suddenly disappears."

"Yes!" Jacob hissed.

Edward smiled at Jacob who grinned back.

Edward turned suddenly glaring at the two of us.

"Not a chance," Edward said in disgust.

"I know, I know," Jasper said quickly. "I didn't even consider it, not really."

I leaned onto Jasper's foot.

"You weren't loud enough for me to hear," I glared.

"If Bella was actually there in the clearing," Jasper explained to me, "it would drive them insane. They wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything but her. It would make picking them off truly easy. . . ." Jasper backed up a little bit, pulling me with him. "Of course it's too dangerous for her. It was just an errant thought."

"No," Edward said, glaring at Jasper.

"You're right," Jasper said. He took my hand, and began to pull me back to the field. "Best two out of three?"

I grinned.
"Sure. I could use the practice."

"No magic," he said.

"Not a problem."

Jasper won. I tried with everything I had in me, but he had caught me as my visions began to go away from his decisions and onto Bella's.

I could see Bella deciding to be in the clearing during the battle, but she wasn't there. She was in the woods trying to find us. She'd call for us every once in a while. In one outcome, she made it to the field. In the frenzy in front of me, I mistook her for a newborn, and through a Killing Curse in her direction. She crumpled to the ground immediately. Not even the venom could save her now.

I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed Edward's number.

"What is it, Alice?" he answered after the second ring.

"Bella," I breathed. "She's made a decision. She's going to come into the field during the fight. It's crystal clear now. She won't be able to find us, and she'll get lost in the woods."

"I sort of guessed as much," Edward said. "She was talking in her sleep."

"The outcomes…They aren't good. There is one outcome where she does make it into the field, but I mistake her for a newborn and hit her with a killing curse.."

"I'll take care of it," he promised.

"Thank you," I breathed. "Oh, and the numbers dropped again. I only see nineteen now."

"Thank you, Alice."

"I'm sorry," Jasper said, pulling me into his lap.

"Why are you sorry?" I asked, pushing his hair out of his eyes.

"Because she heard me tell you the idea and now she's stuck on it."

I shook my head.

"Edward made a good point. You look at the world from the view of a soldier. You look at every possible route, and decide from there whether it's the best route to take. When it's not, you eliminate that option, and you find something else."

"Is that bad?"

I shook my head.

"I do the same thing. I have since I was a child. I always stayed prepared for what would happen if Voldemort were to rise to power again. I tried to be as prepared as I could, but even then it wasn't enough. I lost my family, my friends. And at that time, I lost the love of my life. You want to know something?"

"What's that?"

"It feels the same as it did during the end of the war. Always on edge, preparing for a fight."

"It does feel like a war doesn't it," he mused.

"But who are we at war against? Victoria? The Denalis? The Volturi, maybe?"

"I don't think we're at war with the Denalis," Jasper said.

"And the other two?"

"Victoria is likely. But the Volturi, what's the motive?"

"Power."

Jasper shook his head.

"I hate to admit it, but that's logical."

I laughed humorlessly.

"At least we've got each other."

"Always," he grinned, kissing my collarbone.

Jasper and I sat quietly for a few moments. The shrill ringing of my phone disrupted the peace.

"Hello?" I asked, answering the phone without looking at the number.

"Alice," Edward said. "Could you come babysit Bella for a bit? I need to speak with Jasper."

I frowned, looking back at Jasper.

"Sure. I'll be right there. Let me get my oxygen tank. Charlie will be home before you get back."

"I'll see you then."

I closed the phone and turned to Jasper.

"Edward wants to talk to you."

"About?"

I held up a finger and looked ahead.

"He's going to sit out of the fight," I frowned, turning back to Jasper.

"Come on," he said, frowning. "I'll walk you to the door."

Jasper rolled off the bed, pulling me with him.

"Where are you going?" Carlisle asked as I put on the oxygen tank.

"Bella's," I frowned. "Edward wants to sit out the fight."

"Why?" Rosalie demanded.

"Bella asked him too."

Rosalie sighed and Emmett grinned.

"More for us," he said to Jasper.

"I've got to go," I said, shaking my head. "Edward's waiting for me. He'll be here soon."

I attached the oxygen tank before heading out the back door. I ran through the woods to the back door of Bella's house. I waved my hand over the door knob, unlocking the door and slipping inside.

I leaned against the doorway of the kitchen, setting the oxygen tank on the ground next to me.

"You're going to miss all of the fun," I grumbled as he looked at me.

"Hello, Alice," he greeted. He tilted Bella's face up to his to kiss her and smiled. "I'll be back later tonight. I'll go work this out with the others, rearrange things."

"Okay."

"There's not much to arrange," I jumped in, as he stepped towards me. "I already told them. Emmett is pleased."

Edward sighed. "Of course he is."

He walked out the door, and I turned to glare at Bella.

"I'm sorry," Bella apologized. "Do you think this will make it more dangerous for you?"

I snorted. "You worry too much, Bella. You're going to go prematurely gray."

"Why are you upset, then?"

"Edward is such a grouch when he doesn't get his way. I'm just anticipating living with him for the next few months, hell, I may go stay in Britain until he gets over it. However, I suppose, if it keeps you sane, it's worth it. But I wish you could control the pessimism, Bella. It's so unnecessary."

"Would you let Jasper go without you?" Bella demanded.

I grimaced. "That's different."

"Sure it is," Bella said in a cold voice.

"Bella, if you know what's good for you, you'd mind that tongue," I glared. "Next time, I make take it from you."

Bella's eyes widened.

"I just don't understand how it's different."
"You wouldn't understand." I looked at her carefully. "Go clean yourself up. Charlie will be home in fifteen minutes, and if you look this ragged he's not going to want to let you out again."

Bella moved quickly through the house, changing her clothes, fixing her hair, and making a quick dinner. Charlie was coming in the door as she was setting it on the table.

"Howdy, Alice!" Charlie said. "How are you, hon?"

"I'm fine" I grinned. "Thank you, Charlie."

"I see you finally made it out of bed, sleepyhead," he said to Bella, before instantly turning back to me. "Everyone's talking about that party your parents threw last night. I'll bet you've got one heck of a clean-up job ahead of you."

"It was worth it," I said. "It was a great party. My brothers came in from London."

"I saw them at the graduation. Speaking of brothers, where's Edward?" Charlie asked, a little grudgingly. "Is he helping clean up?"

I gave a heavy sigh as I adjusted the cannula of the oxygen tank. "No. He's off planning the weekend with Emmett and Carlisle."

"Hiking again?"

"Yes. They're all going, except me. We always go backpacking at the end of the school year, sort of a celebration, but this year I didn't get cleared by the doctor, and not one of them will stay behind with me. Not even Jasper! I'm abandoned."

"Alice, honey, why don't you come stay with us," Charlie offered. "I hate to think of you all alone in that big house."

I glanced at Bella and stepped on her foot.

"Ow!" Bella said, louder than I'm sure she had meant to.

Charlie turned to her. "What?"

As his back was turned from me, I made a face at Bella.

"Stubbed my toe."

"Oh." Charlie paused and turned back to me. "So, how 'bout it?"

"Er, Dad, you know, we don't really have the best accommodations here. I don't think it's the safest idea for Alice to sleep on my floor. . . ."

Charlie pursed his lips. I gave another heavy sigh.

"Maybe Bella should stay up there with you," he suggested. "Just until your folks get back."

"Oh, would you, Bella?" I grinned. "You don't mind staying with me, right? We could go shopping!"

"Sure," Bella agreed. "Shopping. Okay."

"When are they leaving?" Charlie asked.

"Tomorrow."

"When do you want me?" Bella asked.
"After dinner, I guess. You don't have anything going on Saturday, do you? I want to get out of town to shop, and it will be an all-day thing."

"Not Seattle," Charlie interjected, his eyebrows pulling together.

"Of course not," I agreed at once. "Carlisle and Esme would kill me. I was thinking Olympia, maybe. . . ."

"You'll like that, Bella." Charlie was cheerful with relief. "Go get your fill of the city."

"Yeah, Dad. It'll be great."

Charlie grinned.

"It's settled then," Charlie said.

"Thank you, Charlie."

"No problem, Alice," he smiled. "Any news on the tank? When do you get it off?"

"I don't," I sighed. "I'm not getting any better."

"Oh, that's horrible," Charlie said, the grin left his face like it was never there to start with. "I heard talk around town today that you don't have much longer left. A year at most?"

I nodded.

"We just got the news last week."

"Bella, you never said anything!" Charlie said in a voice that was almost angry.

"She didn't know," I said quickly. "I made Edward keep quiet. I wanted it to be announced on my terms."

Charlie was at a loss for words. If he had heard it, that meant that the plan was working, and I had a year to get everything in place for us in England.

"What has Jasper said?" Charlie said. "You would think after news like that, they would want to stay with you!"

I shook my head.

"They can't stop living their life just because I'm gone, Charlie. I want them to move on from my passing. As for Jasper, he's expressed interest to go to England with Harry and George."

"What about him moving on romantically?"

I sighed.

"I'll tell you the same thing that I tell everyone else. The only thing I've ever wanted for Jasper is for him to be happy. Even if that's not with me. So if he finds somebody, I'd want him to go for it. Maybe one day he'd tell them about me, but if not that's fine too. What I know for certain is that Jasper is my best friend and the love of my life. It was always going to be him. That's the hardest part. Leaving everyone behind."

Charlie accepted this and let it drop.

I gave Bella a small wink, and took a long drink of the cup of ice water that was in front of me.

"I think it's an honorable thing that Jasper's doing," Charlie said in a quiet voice.

"What's that?" I asked.
"Giving you a good life while you're here. Can I ask you a question?"

"What's that?"

"Are you going to marry him?"

I nodded.

"He knows it's the last thing I want to do before I go. It'll be a small ceremony. Just us, Carlisle, and Esme."

"Not even your brothers from England?"

I shook my head.

"I love my brothers, and I'll be seeing a lot of them before the end, but they understand why I want it to be just Esme and Carlisle."

Charlie smiled before falling quiet again, his eyes falling on the oxygen tank.

It's a shame, he thought. I glanced at him as I took another drink of the water. Losing someone so young and they can't find out what can save her…poor Jasper, and Esme, and Carlisle…I wonder how Bella's going to react when she does go.

"What is it?" Bella whispered to me in a quiet voice.

"I can hear him," I murmured in her ear so quiet that Charlie couldn't hear me. "He's wondering how you're going to respond to me being gone."

"I don't know how to do it, Alice. Be at your funeral…what'll be in the coffin?"

"I'll make a body."

I winked at her and leaned back against the chair before pushing the empty cup away from me.

"Alice, you should really eat something," Charlie said.

I shook my head.

"I haven't been able to keep a lot of solids down. Jasper will make me a smoothie or some soup when I get home."

Charlie looked to Bella, before looking back to me and nodding.

"If you change your mind, I'm sure Bella can find something for you."

"Thank you, Charlie."

Edward and Jasper came not much later. I had curled up on the couch, pretending to doze off.

"Ali," Jasper murmured in my ear, shaking my shoulder as if he were waking me up. "Come on, love, it's time to go."

"Jasper," I mumbled happily.

"Come on, Al," he murmured, helping me sit up.

"I hear you guys are going away this weekend," Charlie said. "Backpacking, Alice said it was."

"Yes," Edward said. "We leave first thing in the morning."

"Will Alice be okay there alone?"

"Esme has made her food to last until we get back, and made enough for Bella to eat while she's there. She'll probably be sleeping most of the day," Jasper said. "She hasn't been feeling well with all the excitement."

Charlie nodded.

"Well if she needs Bella to come earlier, all she has to do is call."

Jasper nodded.

"Thank you, Charlie," Jasper said, as he picked up the oxygen tank. "You'll have to excuse me. I'm going to take her to the car so she can sleep while Edward says goodnight."

"Good night, Alice," Charlie said. "I hope you feel better."

I didn't speak. I leaned against Jasper's shoulder and gave a small wave.

"Good night, Charlie," Jasper said, nodding at him as Charlie hurried towards the door to let us out.

As soon as Jasper and I were safely hidden away inside the Volvo, he watched me carefully.

"Tonight we're going to work on practicing the spells during fights," Jasper said. "Would wandless work better, or would your wand work better?"

"Wand," I said.

"We're going to go to the clearing before the others," Jasper said. "We're going to go home to drop off the oxygen tank, but then we're going to go to the field. Sam called me and said he wasn't going to send all of the wolves, and he still wants to talk to you to know how he can help you with the spells."

"I'll Apparate us to the field," I nodded.

"Good."

As I glanced towards the window, I noticed that Charlie was standing on the porch watching us carefully.

"He's sad," Jasper said glancing down at me. "Do you know why?"

"Talk around town is I don't have much longer left."

"It worked?" Jasper asked.

I nodded.

"It did. So sometime in the next year, I'm going to leave Forks, and go back to London."

"How am I going to get there?"
"I'll be in the trees during the funeral," I said. "Harry and George will be with you in the crowd, and then we'll meet back at the house."

Jasper chuckled.

"You're going to watch your own funeral?"

"It won't be the first time I've done it. And we need Jason to get a fake marriage certificate," I said. "Charlie was asking about us getting married before I died. I told him it'd just be us, Carlisle, and Esme."

"And you don't want to get remarried?"

"I do, but I want to do it sometime in the years after we leave Forks. A wedding in the Wizarding world."

Jasper nodded.

"I can do that. How different is it from in the Muggle world?"
"It's not very different. Instead of rice, we make stars, and that's done by the wizard overlooking the ceremony."

"Who would that be?"

"I'm thinking Kingsley," I grinned.

"And the Cullens? Will they be there?"

"They could come if they want And Hel—" I broke off. "Never mind."

Edward came out a short time later, moving quickly to the car.

"Maybe when all of this is over you can talk to them again. Work things out. You've been friends for far too long to throw it all away."

"I didn't throw it away, Jazz," I whispered. "In their minds, I chose the wolves before them. In my mind, they chose the Denalis over me, and I understand that, but they were my first friends in this world."

"I didn't mean it like that," Jasper said.

Edward pulled out onto the road and started heading back towards the house.

"Your plan is working, Alice," Edward said. "Charlie is really upset about the idea of you dying. He's thinking about reaching out to Jasper."

"To me?" Jasper said in surprise. "Why?"

"The way he thought about it is he knows what it's like to lose his best friend, and Alice called you her best friend and the love of her life. He wants to be there if you need him."

Jasper looked at me in surprise.

"Best friend?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Best friend. The Weasley kids are like my brothers and sister. Besides, a person can have more than one best friend."

Jasper smiled and kissed the top of my head.

"What time do you have to meet the wolves?" Edward asked, glancing at us in the rearview mirror.

"Alice is going to take us to the field as soon as we get back to the house," Jasper said. "She's going to go in to get her bag and drop off the oxygen tank, and then we'll be leaving."

Edward nodded.

"Bella and I will be coming in awhile. I'm going to try and get her to sleep some."

"I have the tent in my bag," I said. "I can set it up if you'd like."

Edward shook his head.

"She won't let me out of her sight."

"But you're still going to help me when I need it right?"

Edward nodded.
"Tonight's mostly focused on magic, isn't it?"

Jasper nodded this time.

"Carlisle and Rosalie has volunteered for Alice to use the Cruciatus Curse on them."

"Rosalie did?" I asked surprised.

"She volunteered after I told them we got the clearance."

"Everyone is kind of curious what it feels like," Edward said. "You said it was worse than Jane, and worse than the transformation itself."

"The issue with the spell is you have to mean it. It's hard to mean it when it's family."

"But you've been able to do it before?"

I nodded.

"I didn't say it was impossible. I said it was hard."

"Imagine their someone else," Jasper said. "Pretend that Carlisle is Voldemort and Rosalie is Maria. Both would be a threat to me, right?"

I nodded.

"I can do that."

"I know you can, sweetheart."

The drive to the house seemed like seconds. Edward let Jasper and I out, and then he drove the Volvo into the garage before taking off for Bella's house.

Jasper and I moved quickly through the house, gathering by bag and ensuring I had my wand fastened tightly to my arm. After that, we Apparated into the field where Sam, Paul, Jacob, Quil, and Embry were waiting. All five were human, and sitting in the middle of the field. When I landed in front of them, all but Jacob and Sam scurried back from us.

"Alice," Sam greeted, jumping to his feet. "How did it go with the President and the Minister?"

"It went well," I smiled. "I got approval to use the Unforgivables. I didn't think it would take much convincing for Kingsley. He's the Minister. We're old friends. The president didn't take much convincing either. Apparently Kingsley has been talking about me. Told him I save the world."

Paul snorted and Sam glared at him.

"No, it's okay," I said, shaking my head with a grin. "I don't believe it much myself. It's not like I took down Grindelwald."

I laughed as the wolves gave me a confused look.

"Grindelwald?"

"Dark wizard from the early twentieth century," Jasper explained. "Where as Voldemort, the wizard Alice helped to take down, was focused in Europe, Grindelwald was trying to take over the world."

"Your grandparents might remember it," I said. "The Muggles in New York were Obliviated, but that's all. It made newspapers I'm sure."

"When was it?"

"The war itself or the attack on New York?"

"Both," Paul said.
"The Global Wizarding War took place from the 1920s until 1945. The attack on New York City was in December of 1927."

"I remember my dad saying that his father talked about strange things in New York," Sam said. "But nobody ever knew the cause."

"Wizards," I smiled. "Now if I'm not mistaken, Paul had questions for me and we have an hour before the others come."

"You said we can even do magic," Sam said. "How?"

"Sometimes," I said, sitting on the ground in front of the five wolves, "magic is so powerful that Muggles can do it. It won't help you in this fight, but it will help you in your life. It's in the way that you feel about your fiance, Sam. And in the way that you feel about Bella, Jacob."

"I don't understand," Quil frowned.

"Love," I said. "Love is one of the strongest kinds of magic. So much so, there is a section in the Department of Mysteries dedicated to it."

"Love isn't magic," Paul snorted.

"But it is," I said. "It was love that saved my brother when Voldemort came for him. It was the loss of love that caused Victoria to come for Bella."

"So your kind knows the cause for love?" Sam asked.

I shook my head.

"No. Love one of the strongest kinds of magic, but it is also the most mysterious. I know how to create false love. In my world, we have Love Potions. I've created a few myself for mine and George's store."
"What happens if somebody were to give somebody else a Love Potion?" Jacob asked.

I sighed.

"It won't make them actually love you. I know what you're thinking Jacob. It won't make her choose you."

"It might," Jacob said.

I shook my head.

"It would wear off eventually. You would have to give it to her repeatedly. It'd be worse if you had kids."

"How so?"

"Voldemort was conceived from a love potion. She fell in love with a Muggle man, but he didn't love her. So she made him. They got married, and she got pregnant. Tom woke up from the love potion and he ran at the first chance he got. Voldemort was made from false love, and therefore he could never know love. That's what turned him dark."

"Is it different?" Embry asked. "Love for Wizardkind versus love for us?"

I shook my head.

"No but it changes when you add magical beings into the mix. I remember a thought passing through Bella's head. Something about imprinting, I believe it was called?"

"Yes," Sam said slowly, watching Jacob with narrow eyes.

"Well for you, that is stronger love than for a regular Muggle. For us vampires, we have mates. A vampire is not known to be forgiving when you kill their mate."

"You had to get permission from both the Ministry of Magic and from the Magical Congress of the United States," Paul said. "Why?"

"See that one is more complicated," I said. "As you know, I'm not from America. I'm from England. I got my wand in London, and while I don't have the Trace on my wand anymore, they would be notified if I were to use an Unforgivable. Even with the permission of MACUSA, I could lose my wand and be sent to Azkaban. Now when I came to America, I had to get a wand permit. MACUSA at the time was very strict about the Statute of Secrecy. They created what was called Rappaport's Law. Witches and Wizards weren't allowed to be friends with or marry Muggles, and in order to have a wand, you had to have the permit. That permit will be removed when I move back to England in the next year or so, and when I come back to America, I'll have to get a new one. That permit will notify them if I use an Unforgivable. They wouldn't have the authority to snap my wand, but they could send me back to England for my crimes. Even with the permission of the Ministry, they could still deport me. Does that make sense?"

Paul nodded.

"So a Muggle is anybody who can't do magic, correct?" Jacob asked.
I nodded.

"That is correct."

"So didn't you two break the law when the two of you got married?"
I shook my head.

"Not exactly. Jasper is a Muggle but he is considered to be a magical creature, therefore no laws were broken."

"So say it was you and me that got married," Sam said. "Would it be against the rules then?"

I shook my head.

"No. But if say George were to marry Bella at the time Jasper and I got married, that would be breaking the law."

The wolves were all quiet for a moment before Sam spoke up.

"Are we in any danger with the spells that you plan on casting during this fight?"

"That depends," I said. "There are things that you can do to protect yourselves, and there are things that I will do to try to help you."

"Go ahead," Sam urged when I paused.

I pulled my bag to me and pulled out the Eye of Horus.

"This is the Eye of Horus," I said. "It is used to protect the wearer from curses, hexes, jinxes, stuff like that. The only limit is the Killing Curse. I'm going to make one for each of you, and one for the others on my side."

"And you?"

"I won't need one. This will protect you from most things, but there is one I'm not sure about, and it's too dangerous to test."

"What is that?"

"There is a protection spell, it's called Protego Diabolica. It creates a protective ring of fire around the caster. If a person trying to enter the ring is an ally, they'll be fine, but if the magic detects disloyalty, then the fire will kill you." I paused and looked between the five wolves. "It becomes an issue with us because I know that we aren't friends. We've civil, but you don't trust me. I don't know what it'll do to you."

"I consider us to be friends," Sam said. "I trust you. I will work with the others."

"If we're lucky, the Eye of Horus will work," Jasper said. "But we never know."

Sam nodded.

"Is there anything else we can do to help?"

"If you see me point my wand at somebody, stay out of the way. I can't bring you back if I hit you with a killing curse."

The wolves nodded again.

I spent the time until the others began showing up answering questions. Sam and Paul left, leaving Quil, Embry, and Jacob, who ran into the trees to shift into their wolf forms.

Emmett had challenged Jasper to a few rounds while we were waiting for Edward and Bella. I waved Rosalie and Carlisle over as I sat in the grass again.

"I want to give the two of you an idea of what you're getting yourself into," I said. "I'm going to put up sound barriers around the field so nobody can hear you. It's going to hurt, and chances are you're going to scream. I won't make it last long, but be careful. You'll have to take long breaks in between me casting the spell or it will drive you mad. Understand?"

Rosalie and Carlisle nodded.

"Good. Now, I have some things that will help everyone during the battle, but it won't save you from a Killing Curse. If you see me point my wand at somebody, it'd be best to jump out of the way."

Carlisle nodded as I pulled out the Eye of Horus.

"I'm going to turn these into necklaces for everybody. I'll have them ready tomorrow, and pass them out before the battle."

"Thank you, Alice," Carlisle said as he stepped back, making his way to Esme, who was watching us carefully.

"You can still change your mind, you know," I told Rosalie, noticing how nervous she was getting.

She shook her head.

"I want to know what it's like."
"It's definitely not pleasant," I said. "But it's okay to be scared."

"Were you afraid when it was casted on you?"

I shook my head.

"I can't say that I was. I was afraid of other things, but me being tortured was the least of my fears. I was strong enough. I could take it."

"What scared you?"

"The biggest thing that I remember thinking about was what if he decided to kill me. I knew Harry could do it without me, but…" I trailed off and glanced at Edward and Bella who were entering the field.

"Where are the rest of the wolves?" Bella asked Edward,

"They don't all need to be here. One would do the job, but Sam didn't trust us enough to just send Jacob, though Jacob was willing. Quil and Embry are his usual . . . I guess you could call them his wingmen. Sam trusts Alice, but he doesn't want her to have to choose between their alliance and her family."

"Jacob trusts you."

Edward nodded.

"He trusts us not to try to kill him. That's about it, though."

"Are you participating tonight?" I

"I'll help Jasper when he needs it. He wants to try some unequal groupings, teach them how to deal with multiple attackers. He's also having a huge focus on Alice's magic, and he wants to see how far he can go with that. There will come a point where we're all going after Alice."

"Alice won't hurt any of you will she?"

As Bella spoke, a wave of confidence rolled through the field. It was hard to feel anything but. Jasper returned his attention to Emmett, and I continued to listen to Edward and Bella.

"Not intentionally," he murmured. "But Jasper has explained to us that sometimes she won't realize that what she's doing hurts. And then in the case of Rosalie and Carlisle, they'll be going under the Cruciatus Curse."

"The one she did on Aro?"

Edward nodded and met my eyes.
"Why would she do that to them?"

"She hasn't had to repeatedly cast that spell in over fifty years. She's out of practice of it. A darker side of Alice will come out during the fight."

"The Death Eater side?"

"Alice was never truly a Death Eater. But Jasper thinks of it as her 'war side'."

"He doesn't think of Alice as just a soldier does he?"

Edward shook his head.

"Definitely not. He sees Alice in a different light than the rest of us. We all do, really. Alice entered this life so her family could live. She went through hell in her human life. He thinks she's a warrior."

Edward winked at me as I turned to smile at Jasper.

Jacob jumped to his feet and made his way to Edward and Bella. As he made his way to them, Jasper stopped and suddenly came to me, pulling me to my feet.

"Are you comfortable with starting with the Cruciatus Curse?"

I nodded.

"I'm okay with that if Carlisle and Rosalie are."

Jasper nodded and leaned into my ear.

"Your best weapon is the element of surprise," Jasper said. "For them to not know when it's coming will make it like the real fight."

"I don't want to take them by surprise if they're not comfortable with that."

"I'll talk to them," Jasper said. "But I need for this simulation to be as close to the real thing for you."

I nodded.

"They have to give the okay first. And I want everyone to see what Protego Diabolica looks like so they know what to expect."

Jasper nodded.

"We'll do that to start."

I nodded as Jasper cleared his throat.

"Rosalie and Carlisle, I need to talk to you both real quickly and then we'll get started," he said, stepping away from me.

Rosalie and Carlisle followed Jasper. They spoke in low voices, but they spoke loud enough for me to be able to hear them agreeing to Jasper's idea. While they talked, I moved around the field, setting up sound barriers at certain limits and putting up a protection shield so nobody could see us.

The three rejoined the circle at the same time that I did. Jasper smiled.
"Alice wants you to know what to expect when she casts Protego Diabolica, so she's going to cast it here. Ali?"

Jasper stepped back, and I stepped forward.

"I need everyone to go to the ends of the field," I called, loud enough for the wolves, and for Bella to hear me. Everyone moved quickly, Edward nudging Bella back further from me, pulling her to him like she was going to slip away if he didn't.

I pulled my wand from my holster, winking at Jasper.

"During the battle, I'll say it loud enough for you guys to know what to expect. I'll keep the fire small, but I want to show you what you'll see there. Don't touch it, and don't make any sudden movements." I pointed my wand straight out in front of me and spun in a quick circle. "Protego Diabolica!"

The black fire roared through the field in a wide circle surrounding me.

"It won't hurt you if you're an ally," I called over the roar of the fire. "Jasper for example, would be able to pass through with no problems. However, if say Carlisle were to doubt me in battle, it wouldn't let him through. Jasper?"

Jasper nodded and walked towards the flames. I watched carefully as he passed through the fire, making his way towards me. When he reached me, he grinned and wrapped an arm around my waist.

I waved my wand again, and the flames disappeared.

"If you are not loyal to me," I said, looking through the crowd, "I don't care. Even if I don't care, the spell will know, even if I don't. If you fake it, the spell will know, and it will destroy you. I know it will be hard for the wolves to trust me, but you have to try. It'll destroy you otherwise."

"Would it work on Muggles?" Jasper murmured in my ear.

"Yes," I said back. "If say Bella were to be in the field, and she wasn't a true friend, it would kill her."

Edward's eyes widened and he pulled Bella back.

It won't hurt her now, I thought to him, As soon as the spell goes out, everyone is safe.

Edward nodded as everyone made their way back to where they had been before.

Jacob and Bella sat in the grass as Edward made his way to the rest of us.

"You've amazed the wolves," Edward murmured to me in a low voice. "They're showing it to the rest of the pack."

"What did Bella think of it?"
"She was afraid when you called Jasper in. She thought it was going to kill him."
I shook my head.

"He's never really doubted me," I smiled.

Jasper grinned and kissed my temple.

"Come on," he murmured. "Carlisle's first."

Jasper guided me and Carlisle to the immediate center of the field. He stepped back, and waved the others to stand back.

"Just do what feels natural, Alice," Jasper said.

I looked at Carlisle with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry. I want you to know that now. I am so, so sorry."

Carlisle gave a smile and shook his head.

"It's going to be okay, Alice. Edward was right. You're out of practice with the spell."

I put my wand back in the holster and kept an eye on Carlisle.

"Go!" Jasper said.

Carlisle ran towards me at full speed. As he got closer, I dodged his hit. He would go to strike me, and I would catch his hand or dodge it all together. He lunged for my waist, and I leapt out of the way. I took off down the field, Carlisle hot on my heels.

I pulled out my wand as I ran, rounding on Carlisle.

"Crucio!" I cried, pointing the wand at his chest.

Carlisle's eyes widened as the spell hit him. His knees buckled and he fell to the ground. His screams echoed through the trees as he writhed on the ground.

I jerked my wand back, and Carlisle stopped moving. He breathed heavily, as I knelt down next to him.

"It's okay," I soothed. "Give it a moment, and the pain will go away."

Carlisle's breathing started to calm after a moment, and he struggled to sit up.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes," he breathed.

I turned to Jasper.
"He's going to need a few minutes to recover. The first one is always the worst."

Jasper nodded as I helped Carlisle to his feet, and guided him close to where Bella and Jacob were sitting. Esme followed behind us.

"Carlisle, I need to see something," I murmured to him.

He nodded and I focused inside his mind, going back to his memory of the Cruciatus curse.

"I might be out of practice," I told Jasper as I started walking back to him, "but it's definitely stronger than when I was a Muggle."

I looked to Rosalie.

"Last chance to back out."

Rosalie shook her head.

"I'll be okay."

For once, Emmett wasn't smiling.
"Then Rosalie, you're up," Jasper said.

For Rosalie, everything started out the same. After a time, I pulled out my wand, rounded on her, and hit her with the curse.

Her screams weren't as loud as Carlisle, and I could see that it was because she had her jaw tightly clenched.

As Rosalie recovered, Esme, Edward, and Emmett all came at me at one time. Emmett was thrown back into a three, Edward was put into a Full Body Bind, and Esme was frozen in place.

"Very good!" Jasper cheered. "You're doing great! It will take them by surprise when you use wandless magic, and they'll never know it's coming if it'd nonverbal."

"The only one I plan on actually saying is for Protego Diabolica."

"You know, I've been thinking about that," Edward said. "What if you start in the field with that? You saw them splitting up and coming in from all sides, so if you guys stand in the center, the wolves facing one direction, and you guys facing another, then you can cast it around all of you. The first few newborns will be taken by surprise."

"Jazz?"

Jasper thought about it.

"It's not a bad idea," Jasper said. "Would you be up to it?"

I nodded.

"I can do that."

"We can have them think that they're outnumbered us," Jasper said. "We'll all be in the center of the circle, and the wolves can hide."

"That'd definitely be easier than risking them to the fire," I said, glancing at Quil and Embry who were listening closely to our conversation.

"How will we hide them?" Esme asked.

"The newborns will be coming in from the north," I said. "Bella's scent will guide them here, and they can come in the clearing from the South."

Jasper nodded.

"And those who start out in the fire won't be at risk?"

I shook my head.

"It'll surround all of us, so it will be all of our allies at that point. Not just mine."

Jasper nodded.

"Will we be able to move through the fire freely?" Rosalie asked.

I shook my head.

"Only the one who actually cast the spell can."

"Then it sounds like we have a plan," Jasper grinned. "Let's get back to work."

---

Hey guys! I am so so sorry for the long wait, but I hope it was worth it! On the Google Docs, on the basic font (Arial, 11) the chapter came up to forty pages as of the last line of the chapter itself. I hope everyone had a great holiday season, and a great start to you 2020. This was a long chapter, so if you find any mistakes here, or in any other chapter, please bring my attention to them in a review or feel free to PM me.

So I want to clarify that some of the information given may not be completely correct. First thing, the President of MACUSA. The most recent president that is listed is Samuel G. Quahog. On his bio on the Harry Potter Fandom Wiki, it is believed that he was born as late as 1997 or earlier, but I don't want to risk the idea of having a president that may not be at least twenty-three, so I created a character of my own. The next thing is on the information of Protego Diabolica. I wrote that while using the scene of the Paris Rally from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Crimes of Grindelwald, and with the help of the Harry Potter Fandom Wiki. Not much is known about the spell because that is the only time it has appeared, and J.K Rowling hasn't put out any other information.

So I hope that you enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see you in the next one (which hopefully won't take too long to upload!)

Follow, favorite, and review! :)(: