"Time heals all wounds of the past. Apology, forgiveness, and acceptance does lighten the scars." Rhoendyl Rcruz


Chapter 111- Apology

Things seemed to move quickly from there. Jasper and I made his lesson plans for the three classes he would be taking that same night. He was more excited than I had seen him in some time.

We left in the late hours of Sunday night to make it to the Burrow before George left. Jasper was more excited than I was. He had told Edward he was excited for his first experience as a regular citizen of the Wizarding World. George, Jasper, and I used the Floo System to get to the store from the Burrow.

As the three of us moved around the store, Jasper told George about him shadowing Professor Powell in the next couple weeks.

"So he won't be coming on that day?" George asked me.

I shook my head.

"I'll drop him off before I come in. Then I'll come and go back to get him when the day is done."

George nodded.

"That sounds fine to me. Most days during the school year, we can get by with just the two of us. During the summer is when we really need him.."

I nodded.

"We'll definitely have him here in the summers."

"We probably won't have much business today," George said. "We have some orders that need to be shipped out.."

"I still have some finance things I need to work out," I told George. "When do you do inventory?"

"Every two weeks."

"When was the last one?"

"Two weeks ago," George said. "I was going to talk to you about doing that today."

I nodded.

"Sure. I'll do it."

George smiled and reached over the counter.

"Here's the books for it."

"Who did the organization?" I asked with a slight wrinkle in my nose.

"Hermione did," he said. "You can change it if you need to."

I nodded.

"Are you sure that it would be okay?"

"She doesn't work here," George shrugged. "She just helped me with some organization after the war. My favorite organizer was gone after all."

George smiled at me as I turned my attention to the books in front of me.

"This is definitely going to have to be reorganized," I said. "It might take me some time though."

"Take the time you need," George said. "Jasper and I should be able to hold the store down until you're done."

I collected all the books on finances and inventory and moved to sit behind the counter.

"Is Ron not coming?" I asked.

"Not today. I figured that we should have enough with you and Jasper here."
"What about Verity?"

"She hasn't worked here for a long time," George frowned. "Since before the war was over."

"I swore I saw her last time I was here," I frowned.

George shook his head.

"She came in to talk to me."

The first day wasn't hard. It didn't get busy although George assured me that it would change when the school year was over. I spent my time organizing the books and doing inventory. After I got back from the Black house, I'd be brewing more potions that we needed around the store while George worked on fireworks. Jasper and I would meet George at the store tomorrow at the same time.

When we got back home, I had to head straight to La Push.

Sam and Billy were waiting for me outside of the house.

"Alice," Sam greeted. "How was work?"

"There wasn't much work," I shrugged. "I was reorganizing the books and Jasper and George managed without me. How's Jacob?"
"He's glad the potions are almost over," Billy said as they guided me back into the house. "You remember where to go?"

"Yes, sir."

I knocked on Jacob's door before stepping in.

"Good afternoon," I smiled as he looked up from the book.

"Hey, Pixie," he said.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm ready for these potions to be done," he said.
"That's what your father told me."

"When can I phase again?"
"Let's check on your bones and see how they're healing and then I can give you a definitive answer."

I moved to start unwrapping the bandages that Jacob had around him.

"How did you drink those potions everyday?" he asked. "They're terrible."

"Ah, they aren't so bad," I said. "And I didn't have them everyday. Just when I needed them."

"Didn't you have trouble sleeping after the war? I swore that's what Bella told me."

"Yes," I said. "But I didn't use potions."

"What'd you do to sleep?"

"Firewhisky was my choice of drink," I shrugged.

"Firewhisky," he murmured. "Alcohol?"

I nodded.

"Ogden's Old Firewhisky."

"You were an alcoholic?"

I frowned as I checked the bruising around his ribs.
"I don't think I'd go as far as calling myself an alcoholic," I said. "I don't think I was drinking long enough for that. It was two weeks. Then I was changed."

"How much did you drink in a day?"

"Never more than two drinks in a day."

"Does your husband know that?"

I nodded.

"He's asked me about it before, yes."

I pulled out my wand and started tapping down his body.

"I've never heard of Firewhisky," he told me as I pointed my wand to the door and brought up the image of his bones.

"It's a wizard drink," I told him. "Once you're of age, I'll send you a bottle. It's twenty-one here, right?"

"Are they still going to let you talk to us?"

"Who?"

"The Cullens. Bella."

"They won't have much say after next year," I said. "Jasper and I are leaving the Cullens."

"When was this decided?"

"Wednesday. I do have to be careful though. The town will think I'm dead. But if I'm mailing something I can use an owl, or address it from Mary Black." I paused before turning back to him. "Your bones are looking good. They are definitely doing much better than when I was here on Friday, so I'm going to take off the numbing charm. It might be sore from where I was pressing on it, but it isn't going to be as bad as it was Friday."

I tapped my wand on his sides and he flinched slightly.

"Bella told me about that. Your energy bursts and all that. How are you going to pull off a death? Bury a coffin of rocks?"

I shook my head.

"No, I'm going to make a replica of my body."

"You can do that?"

"It's how I faked my death after I was turned."

"Your name," he commented. "Mary Alice Black."

"What about it?"

"Think we're related?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"Maybe," I said. "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black has mated with Muggles on a few occasions."

"There was an Alice in my family," he said. "Daughter of Joanna Black and Lape Huautah."

"Funny," I said with a small smile. "That was my mother's name. Johanna."

"So you think it's possible?"

"I think anything is possible, but I don't think we're closely related." I said. "Alright. I'm done."

"When can I phase?"

"I'll tell you what," I said. "Your bones definitely are healing the way that they should be. So how about I talk to Carlisle and on Friday after I close up the store for the day, I will come back here and we'll see how you do when you phase."

Jacob nodded.

"You'll come straight here from work?"

"Well Jasper will be with me if I come straight from work."

"We can ask Sam if that'd be okay."

"I talk to him when I leave."

Jacob smiled and watched me.

"Are you not leaving yet?"

I shrugged.

"I'm in no rush to get home."

"Don't you have a wedding to plan?"

"I worked on it some today at the store."

"Do you think they're going to go through with it?"

"They don't have a choice now," I said. "If they don't, the Volturi will kill us all. Either that, or they'll make me erase her memory and you'll lose her that way."
"Can you make new memories? Where she loves me?"

I shook my head.

"She would have never fallen in love with you if we hadn't left."

"You could make her," he said.

"I'm going to tell you a story, Jacob, and I need you to listen closely."

I told him the story of Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle Senior. About the love potion and the child that was conceived under it and about what happened when Tom Riddle Sr. found out about the love potion.

"All magic comes with a price," I told Jacob slowly.

"So I'll pay it."

"It doesn't work like that," I told him. "Any child you and Bella conceive will be just like Voldemort."

"You said that him being an orphan had part to do with him being who he is. Our child wouldn't be. We would love it."

"You would love it, Jacob," I said. "Not Bella. The child may have you, but that doesn't mean it won't grow up to be like Voldemort."

"And you don't know that I will," Jacob pleaded.

"It's too late," I whispered.

Jacob watched me with sad eyes.

"You don't want them to get married," he said.

"I'm planning their wedding, aren't I?"

"That doesn't mean anything. Do you think you would have stayed with the Cullens if Edward hadn't met Bella?"

"If Edward hadn't met Bella," I said slowly, "the tracker would have still come. He would have restarted the hunt for me instead of her. I would have gone to him and died to save Jasper's life."

"So if Bella hadn't met Edward—"

"There is a good chance that I'd be dead. I know you can't see it, but good things did come out of this, Jacob."

I stood up and headed for the door.

"I'll talk to Sam and to Carlisle," I said. "If all goes according to plan, I'll see you on Friday."

I quickly left the room to be met with the wolves.

"Sam," I said with a small smile. "Could I talk to you?"

Sam nodded, and he guided me through the pack to the door.

"Is everything okay?" he asked me. "Is Jake okay?"

"Physically, yes. He is doing much better than I had thought, and I'm going to talk to Carlisle about him doing a supervised phase on Friday. I'll come and watch over him and see how it affects his bones."

"Why are you asking my permission? You know you're more than welcome here."

"Yes I know," I said with a small smile, "however my husband is not, and if I come straight from my store like Jacob has requested, he'd have to come with me."
"So you're not asking for permission for you—"

"I'm asking for Jasper."

Sam thought about it for a moment.

"I suppose it would be okay," Sam said. "But he has to stay with you at all times."
"Of course," I said.

"Is there something else?" he asked me as I went quiet but didn't move.

"Jacob," I said quietly, making sure the others weren't listening in. "Edward will be sending Jacob an invitation to the wedding. I fear that it will bring out the worst qualities in him. He's going to run."

"I thought you could see him," Sam frowned.

"I have other ways of seeing hidden things," I said.

I looked up to the cool grey sky.

"The sky?" Sam murmured.

"I was taught by a centaur named Firenze to read the stars," I said. "He taught me to uncover the things I can't see. I see Jacob going down a dark path, but I can't see why. I'm thinking the invitation will set it off."

"So the stars have a definitive answer?"

I shook my head.

"Nothing about the future is definitive. But if the time comes, where Jacob leaves, you have to let him go. He'll come home, but he needs time. I wasn't sure if I could bring it up to you, but after today's conversation I think it's necessary."

"What happened?"

"He wants me to take Bella's memories of us, and then make her fall in love with him."

"You did tell him no,right?" Sam frowned.

"Of course I did, Sam. This wedding is the only thing that will keep us alive."

Sam nodded.

"Of course."

"I have to go," I said. "I have to do some fitting for Bella. Jasper and I will come by on Friday. If that goes well, then he'll be fine to phase when he choses."

Sam nodded.

"Of course. I'll see you on Friday."

I nodded and turned, Disapparating back to the Cullen's house.

"How is Jacob?" Bella asked, as I sat on the floor at Jasper's feet.

"He's good," I said. "He should be able to shift as early as Friday."

"Good," Bella said, turning her attention back to the invitation templates I had Jasper show to her for her to decide on one. "This one."

She handed me one of the invitation templates before handing the rest to Edward.

I nodded.

"I'll go put in the order," I said. I used Jasper's knees to push myself up and head to my computer.

Alice? Edward thought, can you order an extra one? For Jacob?

Already on it, I thought back. But Edward, this is going to set him over the edge.

Maybe it won't.

I placed the order and returned to Jasper's side.

"Ali?" Jasper asked, "are you alright?"

I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder before closing my eyes.

"The invitations will be ready for me to pick up tomorrow," I said. "I'll send them all out tomorrow."

"Thanks, Alice."
I nodded.

"Tell Charlie that tomorrow night I'm coming to take measurements for his tux."

Bella nodded.

"Anything else?"

"We need to do the first fitting for your dress," I said. "We'll do that tomorrow too."

"Is the energy burst coming?" Jasper asked.

"It feels more like the decline," I said. "I think the burst was on the day of the battle but since I was moving more, I didn't notice."

"We'll talk to George tomorrow," Jasper said.

"I can't miss," I told him. "Not when I've just started."

"George will understand, Alice," Jasper said. "But you have to take care of yourself."

I sighed.

"I'd better do everything that I can tomorrow," I told Jasper. "I don't have a lot longer before I crash."

Jasper and I decided that when I did crash, he would stay in England so that Jasper could still get back and forth to work. He was still training, and I didn't want to jeopardize that. I, on the other hand, would go back to Forks to work with Bella and Edward on wedding planning. This was as good a time as any.

Carlisle called Sam, and told him that he was stopping by tonight to see how Jacob's bones were to see about him phasing before Friday and to see if there was any way we could get Jacob to come here.

The next day seemed to go by quickly. After we got back from the store, Jasper and I Apparated to the house and he drove me to get the invitations, and then to Bella's house. Edward tagged along.

I had Bella,Edward, and Jasper working on invitations in the living room while I worked with Charlie.
"You feeling alright, hon?" Charlie asked me as I scratched down measurements. "Hmm?"

"You don't look like you're feeling well," he said.

"She's been sick the last couple nights," Jasper murmured. "We went to the doctors today, and they say it isn't looking good."

Charlie watched me carefully for a moment.

"You shouldn't stress yourself out over this wedding," Charlie said.

"I'm not stressed," I said, making my voice slightly raspy. "Aside from my own, this is the only wedding that I'm going to see. Rosalie and Emmett won't have theirs until after I'm gone."

"When do you think you'll do that?" Charlie asked, watching Jasper. "Tie the knot."

"Beginning of July," Jasper said. "It'll just be us, Carlisle, and Esme.

"And you're ready?"

Jasper nodded.

"I've never been more sure of something in my life."

I smiled before turning back to my work.

"Alice, there's extra invitations," Bella said. "Three."

"One is a sample," I said. "The other two are for keepsakes. Give them to Jasper to put in my bag.

Thank you, Edward said.

Of course. Just don't gloat when you write to him.

"Okay, Charlie," I said using the table to help me stand. Jasper quickly rushed over to help me stand.

"Am I done?" Charlie asked as I sat my notebook on the arm of the couch.

"Almost," I said. "We just have to do your arms and shoulders."

As I finished the last new measurements I needed, Jasper, Edward, and Bella finished the invitation addresses.

Charlie glanced over at them and frowned.

"Are these people from your family, Edward?" Charlie asked. He tapped Molly's name.

"Actually, they're members of Alice's biological family. Her aunt, uncle, and cousins in England. Then of course there's Alice brothers. When Alice went home to find them when we left last fall, I went to stay with them and Alice and Jasper for a month or so."

"And these?" his finger scanned through the Denalis.

"Carlisle's cousins from Alaska."

He nodded as he scanned through the list.

"What happens after the wedding," Charlie asked Edward. "Have you guys started looking at places?"

"Well actually, Dad, I'll be moving in with them," Bella said.

Charlie frowned and glanced at me.

"Is that a good idea, Bells? It might not be good to overcrowd the house. Especially if Alice gets sick."

"Alice doesn't have a lot of time left," Edward said, "and Carlisle, Esme, and I talked and I decided I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could."
Charlie's eyes softened.

"Of course."

"Don't worry, Charlie," I smiled. "I'll be okay."

Charlie gave a weak smile.

Jasper and I left close to nine. Edward walked out with us as if he was leaving with us, but once the Volvo had gotten towards the end of the street, he jumped out and headed for Bella's room.

When Jasper and I got to the house, Jacob was waiting for us when we got to the house.

"Hey, Pixie," Jacob grinned. "Dr. Fang said he was okay with us trying today before your energy crashed completely."

I nodded and waved him to follow me.

"Come on then," I said. "Let's see what we can do about that. You'll have to excuse the tank," I said as I walked up the stairs. Jasper carried the tank, walking close to me. "I do have an appearance to keep up."

As soon as we stepped into the house, I placed the oxygen tank next to the door, dropped my bag next to it, and guided Jacob through the house.

"You're here awfully late," I told him as we stepped into the back yard. "Are you not tired?"

"It's hard to be tired after those potions," Jacob said. "Best sleep I've had since I first phased."

I smiled as I kept walking through the house. Jasper followed closely behind.

"I told my Dad about that drink. Firewhisky? He says he'd like to try it someday."

I nodded.

"I'll buy him a bottle tomorrow when I go to work."

"You're still working?"

"Tomorrow is my last day for about a week or so. Jasper will be staying in England and helping George, then I'll be going back the day Jasper teaches his lesson at Hogwarts."

"Congratulations," Jacob said, with a small nod to Jasper. "What are you teaching? A defence class?"

"No, Muggle Studies."

"What is that?" Jacob asked me, frowning.

"Exactly has it sounds. It's when Wizardkind learns how Muggles, such as Jasper and yourself, go about daily life."

"Isn't it the same? Minus spells and potions?"

I shook my head.

"We didn't have phones, computers, or electricity. We studied potions instead of science, and arithmancy instead of math."

"So where do you learn that?"

"In the first ten years of our lives, our parents teach us what you learn over the course of twelve school years. Some send their kids to Muggle schools, others homeschool them. Remus homeschooled me. I started the year Dad was arrested until I turned eleven."

"It sounds like quite a life" Jacob said.

"It was," I agreed. "I'm ready to go back to it and for Jasper to see it."

I stopped in the center of the back yard. Jasper hovered closely in case things went south.

"Okay," I told him. "Don't worry about your clothes, I can mend them easily."

Jacob nodded as he pushed his shaggy hair out of his eyes.

"Do I just phase?"

"Wait a moment," I said, taking my wand from the holster. "I'm going to watch the bones as you shift."

I tapped around his body and cast the projection next to him.

"Now," I told him.

Jacob began to shake. As each second passed the shaking got worse and after another moment the russet brown wolf appeared.

"Your bones are fine," I said. "The potion really helped them. Shifting should be fine, just be careful when you do it. I don't think it's going to affect anything, but it is still healing."

Jacob grinned.

I made the projection disappear before mending the strips of shredded clothes.

I gave them to Jacob who took them quickly, trotting into the trees. A few moments later, he returned, fully clothed and grinning.

"Feel any pain?"

"None at all," he said.

I smiled.
"Good. Then you should be alright. I'll drop by tomorrow on my way home with the Firewhisky for your father. Tell him I'll be there around the same time I was Monday, and tell Sam I'll be bringing a bottle for him."

Jacob nodded and turned for the woods. After a moment, I heard the howl of a wolf, and further out I heard more. The pack was aware of Jacob's return.

My energy dropped quickly after that. I made it through my last day of work, and I made it to mine and Jasper's house. After I dropped him off, I headed to La Push, dropped off the bottles of firewhisky and headed home.

"I sent off the invitations this morning like you asked," Edward murmured to me when I sat down next to him on the couch. Bella was sitting on the floor at his feet flipping through my binder of plans.

"Thank you," I sighed, as I closed my eyes.

"Alice, these plans look great," Bella said after a few moments.

"Anything you want changed?"

"No," Bella said. I pictured her shaking her head. "It's all perfect."

"Good," I said.

I wasn't sleeping, but I became very still. I didn't talk or move or breathe. I just existed.

"Is she okay?" Bella whispered.

"Yes," Edward said. "She's tired, but she doesn't want to sleep. She rarely does it without Jasper here."

"Where is he?"

"In England. Alice wouldn't give him time off to stay with her."

Edward laughed and leaned over.

"Do you want me to help you get to bed?"

I shook my head.

"I'm fine right here."

"Hey, Alice?" Carlisle asked. His voice was coming from behind me.

"Hmm?" I asked, opening my eyes and watching him.

"I was wondering if I might be able to look at your chromosomes?"

I frowned.

"Why would you want to do that?"

"Carlisle's been doing an experiment," Edward whispered in my ear. "He's trying to figure out how similar each of us are to humans. He wants to understand where we each come from. Humans have twenty-three pairs, vampires have twenty-five pairs, and Jacob has twenty-four. I say Jacob instead of werewolves because you're unsure that he is one."

I nodded.

"I'm sure I could get into Azkaban and get a sample from Fenrir Greyback and we can find out."

"Would you be willing to offer a sample on behalf of Wizardkind?"

I nodded.

"Sure. What would I have to do?"

"Nothing," Carlisle said. "Just open your mouth, and I'm going to take a DNA sample."

Carlisle moved quickly. I opened one eye to peek at what he was doing.

"When will you know?"

"Here in a few hours. Did you say you could get a sample from Fenrir?"

"I said I could try. I'll write to Kingsley. Emmett, can you go get Paris?"

I slowly got up off the couch and moved to my computer desk. I pulled a piece of parchment paper, and ink and quill, and an envelope out of the drawer.

I returned to the living room. Emmett came back in moments later with Paris on his shoulder. I clicked my tongue and Paris came flying to me.

"You'll have to give me a moment, Paris," I told the bird quietly. "I'm not as fast as I normally am."

He chirped and nuzzled his head against my cheek.

"It's going to go to Kingsley," I told him. "It's got to be quick, understand?"

Paris chirped at me again as if to say he understood.

I smiled as I wrote the letter. Bella and Edward spoke in low voices behind me.

As I finished up the letter and tied it to Paris's leg, I handed him the treat that Rosalie had brought me from the room.

"Be quick, Paris. Bring me his response as soon as you have it."

Carlisle opened the window and Paris flew straight out of it.

I pushed myself back onto the couch and closed my eyes.

"You should have a response by morning," I told Carlisle. "If he does give me permission, I'll bring you with me so you can get the sample."

"Thank you, Alice," Carlisle said.

His footsteps disappeared up the stairs.

"Is Jasper supposed to call you?" Edward murmured to me.

I shook my head.

"I'm supposed to call him after I've slept for a bit. I've never done this on my own… he worries."

"So what happens when you leave?" Edward asked in a small voice. "If he's at Hogwarts teaching and you can't have him with you?"

"I'll still be in the castle," I said. "We'll be there during the school year. Madame Pomfrey, or whoever is at the castle at the time, will help. And he'll stay with me in between classes."

"You've got it all figured out, don't you?" Edward asked with a small smile.

I nodded.

"I've been through almost every scenario in my head. As I think of a new one, I ask Jasper and he and I come up with a plan."

"You only announced it a week ago," Rosalie frowned.

"Yes," I agreed. "However, Jasper and I have a lot of time on our hands. The store isn't busy right now. It won't be until the school year ends. That's probably when we'll have Ron working more."

"When does Jasper teach?"

"The twenty-sixth," I said. "I should be better by then, yeah?"

"You won't be if you don't sleep," Edward said. "Where's the key to the cabinet?"

I took the key from around my neck and passed it to Edward.

"Just a vial," I murmured. "That's all I'll need."
"Shouldn't we take her to her room?" Bella asked.

Edward shook his head.

"No. She doesn't take up much room, and we should be here with her in case something goes wrong."

"Goes wrong?"

"I'll explain when I come back."

Edward moved quickly through the room before he came back downstairs with the potion, a pillow, and mine and Jasper's blanket. He also brought one of Jasper's hoodies.

"Jasper told me this helps," Edward said, as I put it on.

"It does."

"What did Edward mean?" Bella asked. "When he said something could go wrong?"

"The Netherworld," I said, sucking in a breath, "is a place that we don't know much about. Nobody knows how it works. Me and my family are figuring it out as we go. The issue is, it seems that anybody can come into the Netherworld as long as they have a connection to me."

"Why is that a problem?"

"Because Voldemort, James, Laurent, and Victoria can come in too."

Bella's eyes widened.

"Then why would you go to sleep?"

"So I can get better. It won't hurt me, unless I force myself to leave before my soul is ready to return."

"So they can't kill you?"

I shook my head.

"You can't kill something that is already dead."

"That's enough, Alice," Edward said, passing me the vial. "It's time to sleep."

I felt like a child being scolded by their parents for not being asleep.

Edward laughed as I drank the potion.

Everything seemed to go dark quickly. I could hear Edward and Bella talking quietly as I drifted to sleep.

"So what happens if Voldemort does come for Alice? What do we do?"

"We don't do anything," Rosalie said. "Alice has made it very clear that we can't help her in the Netherworld. Only Alice can help Alice."

"Is it that you can't or she won't let you?"

"We can't," Edward said. "We can't get there. Alice is the first person in the history of both of our worlds to be able to get to the Netherworld. Dumbledore said it takes an extremely powerful witch or wizard to get there."
"And that's Alice?"

"That's Alice."

As they spoke, I fell into the Netherworld. As I was falling I could feel there was something wrong. I was sure I knew what it was before I fell.

When the picture of the Netherworld appeared, I knew instantly where I was although I had never been here myself. I remembered it from Harry's memories. The Little Hangleton cemetery.

I looked around the place watching carefully around me. Tom had brought me here, and I was sure he was going to pick up where he had left off. I fought to remember what Dumbledore had told me.

He had said that Tom was going to come back for me one day. When that day came, I had to fight him. I couldn't leave before my soul was ready. I had meant what I said last time; I wasn't afraid of Tom. But I knew now that he could hurt me. I tried to remind myself that he couldn't kill me. Afterall, you couldn't kill something that was already dead. However, in this place, it seemed like anything was possible. Even the death of a vampire So I would fight just enough. And then I would leave before he could kill me, even if my soul wasn't ready.

As I made this decision, I was grabbed from behind. A hand grabbed me by the throat and my head crashed into the tombstone behind me.

I groaned as I tried to open my eyes.

"I told you," Tom growled into my ear. "You would never be rid of me."

"What are you going to do, Tom? Beat me again?"

"You ran last time, Mary," Tom said with a twisted grin. It was the first thing I saw when my eyes opened. "Maybe you're more afraid than you think you are."

"No, Tom," I laughed. "I'm not."

"Maybe I can make it so you are. You've forgotten the power I have here. I can hurt you here. I take no joy in hurting you. As I said, you were my favorite. But I will do what I have to in order to make sure you remember your place. Even though I'm dead, you still belong to me. That will never change."

He squeezed tighter on my throat.
"Do what you have to do to make yourself feel powerful again," I grunted. "I can take it."

"You said that last time," he reminded me. "You said it, and you still failed."

"This time, I'll take it," I said. "Until the brink of death."

The wicked smile that filled his face widened more than I had thought possible. Then the same as last time, he struck anywhere he could reach. It was especially worse in the ribs.

He had more force than he had last time. It hurt more now. He had adapted to fighting without magic, just like I had done over half a century ago. I felt it in my ribs and neck and face. It all hurt. But I knew that I had to hang on for as long as I could.

I contemplated telling him what he wanted to hear. Maybe then he would stop. But that could also invite him to keep coming here. I don't know if I'd ever sleep again if I had to suffer the same beating every time I did. I still had the Resurrection Stone, and I could see my family with that. But it was still different from this place where it was just us.

I wondered if James, Laurent, and Victoria could reach me here. The others had said that they didn't see any vampires where they were. Only Wizardkind. But that didn't mean that they weren't there.

Voldemort pulled me up by the hair and held me against the tombstone.

"Why won't you fight back?"

"Because it wouldn't do me any good," I said. "If I stand up to you, the beating is worse. If I don't, it's tolerable."

"Maybe you're learning your place after all."

"Not my place. Self preservation. How to make it out here alive. To my husband."

Tom sighed as he dropped me to the ground. He sat down next to me.

"So this was all pointless?"

"Yes," I said. "I know my place in the world. Under you isn't it. You were right. I will always be branded to you, and that will never change. But I wear it as a reminder. Of who I was and what I did for my family."

"How did you do it?" Tom asked. "I spent years trying to reach this place and could never make it."

"If I give you the honest answer," I said, sucking in a deep breath. "You'll beat the hell out of me for a third time, and I'm trying to avoid that."

Tom shook his head.

"I won't. I swear."

"Fine. The honest answer is that you were never powerful enough," I said. "You were powerful, sure. But not when it came to actual ability. You were powerful because you scared people. Killed people. All for what, Tom? Because you were angry at your father?"

"You don't know anything about that," he said in a low voice.

"I do," I said. "Dumbledore went to Azkaban to find Morfin, right after I became a Death Eater. Morfin couldn't remember you, but you didn't completely erase the memory. It existed in his mind, it was just suppressed by the new memory. Dumbledore got the memory. He showed it to Harry and I saw it in Dumbeldore's memory before he died. I know everything about you, Tom. More than any of the others knew. Even Severus."

Tom chuckled.

"That I believe. You're the most powerful witch I've ever met. Stronger than Merlin himself."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"I would. You and I could have done great things together, Mary. We could have taken over the world. Why did you never want to?"
"I wanted to be remembered for good," I said.

"When you said I could never know love—"

"I meant it. You were conceived under a love potion. If your mother had survived, there might have been a chance for you."

Tom watched me carefully.

"You really do know me better than the others."

I nodded.

"I do. But there is one thing I don't understand."
"Which is?"
"You were raised by Muggles. Up until you came to Hogwarts. You yourself are a half-blood. So why would you think that being anything less than a pureblood makes you less than?"

"I don't know," Tom whispered.

"I've been honest with you and now I want you to be honest with me," I said, sucking in a deep breath.

"With what?"

"Peter Pettigrew. He sold me out. He told you about me, didn't he?"

"Yes," Voldemort said. "He told me of a girl, niece of Regulus Black, who used to be one of my most trusted followers. He said that you had powers that he had never seen. Visions of the future, and the ability to see every outcome of every decision that could be made. He said you could do magic without a wand, even after you got yours. You could brew exceptional potions from a young age. There were so many things he told me about you, Mary. I knew from that moment that I had to try everything I could to get you on my side. He said that's why he never looked for me. He was watching you so that way when it was time for me to come back, he'd be able to give me all the information he had gathered on you. And when he found me in Albania, he did. It was then that I realized only you could help me defeat Potter...I guess I hoped that after Sirius put Harry over you at all times, your loyalty would turn to me solely because you were angry with him...but it didn't."

"I wasn't angry at Harry," I said. "I was angry at my father."

"I see that now."

I felt the pull tugging me from the Netherworld.

"I have to go now, Tom. I'd appreciate it if you don't come back."

I was gone before he could say anything else. My body was sore, and I wasn't sure whether the bruises were there or not.

When I opened my eyes, everybody was where they had been when I went to sleep.

"Sleep well?" Edward asked, watching me.

"Depends," I said, as I struggled to sit up. "Do I have any bruises?"

Edward shook his head.

"No. Should you?"

"Tom came back," I said. "Beat the hell out of me."

I chuckled as the others gasped.

"Why didn't you come back?" Esme gasped in horror.

I shrugged.

"Dumbledore said it was the only way for my soul to heal. Fight back."

"Are you going to tell Jasper?"

"As soon as I call him."

"Before you do that," Carlisle said slowly, "there is somebody else you should call first. Your phone rang while you were asleep. I didn't answer it, but I did see the number."

"I need to call Jasper," I murmured. "I said I'd call as soon as I woke up."

"I've already spoken to Jasper," Carlisle said. "He agrees. You should return this call first."

Carlisle passed me the phone. The number was already dialing. I knew the number. It had only been out of my phone for a little over a week, but I was sure it was wrong. It had to be.

Helen's harsh words rang in my head.

"We didn't have to go and save your family. And what did we get in return? Not a damn thing."

"Alice," Tobias breathed when the phone was answered. "Thank you so much for returning our call."

"What do you want?" I asked in a quiet voice. "I thought you didn't want to speak to me anymore."

"Alice, we are so sorry for what happened the other day," Tobias said. He was rushing what he was saying like I was going to hang up the phone if he didn't get it out quick enough. "We regretted it the instant that it happened, but we knew that the hurt would make you fight harder, and we wanted to make sure that you gave it your all."

"It's how you feel," I said. "I'm sorry I can't repay you guys for what you did for me. I tried and—"

"Alice, listen," Helen said. I didn't even know she was there before then. "Please listen. We didn't mean what we said that day. We don't want to be repaid. We just wanted to help Irina."

"I know," I said. "But I can't help you. I won't go against the treaty."
"We're not asking you too," Tobias said. "It was wrong of us to ask you to begin with."

I paused.

"We're sorry to do this with your energy going down," Helen said, "but we couldn't wait any longer."

"How do you know about that?"

"Alice, you sound horrible," Tobias said with a small chuckle.
"And when you didn't answer we called Jasper."

"So you're doing this because Jasper told you we were leaving the Cullens?"

"You're what?" Helen gasped.
"You didn't know?"

"No, we didn't," Tobias said. "When? Why?"

"We're leaving in May. As for the why…" I trailed off and looked at Bella. "We just think that we're better on our own."
"Jasper didn't tell us that," Tobias said, "but we've had our doubts about being here in Denali. We've contemplated going back to New York. Especially after the fight we had with you."

"I don't want to be the reason that you part ways with Tanya," I said as I closed my eyes and snuggled into Jasper's hoodie. "If you leave, leave because you want to."

"We've been thinking about it longer than this past week, Alice," Helen said. "Maybe we could come to England with you and Jasper and find a house in England."

"There's an idea," I laughed.

"So does this mean we're forgiven?"

"Yes, you're forgiven," I said. "How can I stay mad at you two?"

"Oh, Alice," Helen cried. "You don't know how happy we are to hear that."

"I owe you everything," I told them. "I can't stay mad at you forever."

Helen, Tobias, and I talked for an hour. Maybe a little bit more.

"How bad was it?" Tobias asked me at one point. "Jasper said you shattered your phone."

"I did," I grinned. "I was upset and threw it at the window. Scared the hell out of everyone."

"That's an understatement," Bella grumbled.

Edward nudged her as I chuckled.

"It all worked out in the end," I continued. "Things are okay again."

We hung up not long after that. The moment we hung up, I dialed Jasper's number and waited. It didn't take him long to answer.

"Alice?" he asked. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"They apologized," I said, grinning. "Everything is okay between us."

"Oh, Ali, you don't know how happy I am to hear that."
"They called you."
"Yes. They called you first and when you didn't answer they called me. I explained to them that you were in the middle of an energy decline, and you were most likely sleeping."

"I was," I said.

"How did you sleep?"

"Tom came back," I said.

"What?" Jasper asked in a sharp voice. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"He tried the same thing as last time, but he gave up when he realized that it didn't affect me. I asked him not to come back."

"Do you think he'll listen?"
I shook my head.

"Most likely not, no. He knows that I know things about him that he doesn't know. He'll probably come back to search for an answer that only I can give him. He's given me information in exchange."

"Information?" Jasper asked. "Alice what information would you need from him?"

"Remember what Dumbeldore said?" I asked. "About how I got on his radar?"

"Pettigrew told him about you."

"Yes," I said. "He told me that Regulus Black's niece was the most powerful witch he had seen. He had been watching me from the moment Remus first brought me to the Weasleys. It wasn't coincidence that Percy and I found a rat during that first full moon…he'd been watching me for a long time. Waiting until it was time…that's why Voldemort kept him alive, you know. He knew the most about me. From birth to the time I was seventeen."

"So you know why Voldemort was so determined to have you now."

I nodded.

"It changes everything."

"So if he comes back?"

"He might not. But if he does…then maybe I can find out why. Why was power everything? Why did he have to kill Harry? Why are Muggle-borns less than? If he comes back, then we can understand."

"It'd be good information for the Auror department, Jasper," Harry said.

"So you're okay with this?" Jasper asked.

"Alice has the opportunity of a lifetime," Harry said. "She can do what none of us can. She can find out the things that we can't. She's the only one I know who can do this. She's the strongest person I know. She'll be okay Jasper."

I grinned as I closed my eyes.
"Jazz?"
"Yes?"

"I'm going to be okay. You know that don't you?"

"Of course I know that," he said. "I just can't stand the idea of anybody hurting you."

I shook my head.
"That won't happen."

Jasper sighed.

"I know," he said.

"Hey, Jazz?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Can you stay on the phone with me? Until I go to sleep?"

"Do you have your mirror nearby?" Jasper asked.

"It's upstairs."

"I'll go get it," Edward smiled, patting my leg.

"Edward's gone to get it," I told Jasper.

Edward was quick, and Jasper was already in the mirror when he handed it to me. I hung up the phone and took the potion.

As I drifted off to sleep, Jasper hummed the song from our wedding, and once again, I felt safe.


Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

I am so sorry it took so long to get this up, but recently I've moved into a new apartment! With the move things have been crazy, and I've just gotten the internet set up today.

I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. My city is on lockdown, and as of a few days ago, my school's campus shut down for the rest of the year. Right now things are up in the air about what will happen, but I'm sure it will all work out in the end. The good thing is I have more time to write.

So I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and the chapters to come. Stay safe, stay clean, wash your hands, and stay home!

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