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 *Please refer to author's note at the end of chapter 123 for any concerns

131. Strictly Business

"The way we spend our time defines who we are." ~ Jonathan Estrin

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Chapter 131 - Strictly Business

"Edward!" Bella's happy voice rang through the house, "I did it! Jasper took the cuff off and I did it!"
"You did," Edward smiled. "You were unbelievable. All that worrying over being a newborn, and then you skip it altogether."

"I'm not even sure she's really a vampire, let alone a newborn," Emmett called from his spot on the couch. "She's too tame."

Bella snarled, and Jasper's attention seemed to refocus on her.

"Ooo, scary," Emmett taunted.

Things were quiet as Renesmee, who had fallen asleep, woke up. She looked around in a dazed and confused manner.

"Charlie will be back tomorrow," Bella told the child.

"Excellent," Emmett said. He and Rosalie laughed as Edward reached out his hands to take Renesmee from Bella.

"Not brilliant, Emmett," Edward said as Bella reluctantly handed him the child. Jasper watched this interaction closely, keeping the feeling of peace spreading through every corner of the house.

"What do you mean?" Emmett demanded, leaning against the staircase.

"It's a little dense, don't you think, to antagonize the strongest vampire in the house?"

Emmett snorted.

"Please!"

"Bella," Edward murmured to Bella, "do you remember a few months ago, I asked you to do me a favor once you were immortal?"

I focused on Bella's mind as she flipped between dull memories. Conversations she and Edward had before they were married.

"How strong willI be?" Bella had asked Edward.

"Stronger than I am."

"Stronger than Emmett?"

Yes," Edward with a large grin. "Do me a favor and challenge him to an arm-wrestling match. It would be a good experience for him."

I laughed as Bella remembered this. Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie turned to face me.

"Oh, that's bloody brilliant that is," I grinned. "I want to see that before I go to practice."

"What?" Emmett asked, looking between us.

"Really?" Bella asked Edward.

"Trust me," he said.

"Emmett, how do you feel about a little bet?"

"Awesome. Bring it."

Bella was quiet for a moment as she studied Emmett.

"Unless you're too afraid… ?" Emmett suggested.

"You. Me. Arm-wrestling. Dining room table. Now."

Emmett's grin stretched across his face and I quickly jumped to my feet

"Er, Bella, I think Esme is fairly fond of that table. It's an antique. Even with charms it's very fragile."

"Thanks," Esme mouthed.

I nodded and turned back to Bella and Emmett.

"No problem," Emmett said with a gleaming smile. "Right this way, Bella."

He led her outside, and the rest of us followed behind. As I walked I disconnected myself from the oxygen tank, leaving it right next to the back door.

We all watched as Emmett guided Bella to a large boulder that sat next to the river. Bella sat her elbow on the stone and she looked up at Emmett.

"Okay, Emmett. I win, and you cannot say one more word about my sex life to anyone, not even Rose. No allusions, no innuendos—no nothing."

"Deal. I win, and it's going to get a lot worse."

Bella stopped for a moment.

"You gonna back down so easy, little sister?" Emmett taunted. "Not much wild about you, is there? I bet that cottage doesn't have a scratch." He laughed. "Did Edward tell you how many houses Rose and I smashed? Even Alice and Jasper took down their fair share of beds."

I hid my face in Jasper's arm as Jacob raised his eyebrows at me.

"One, two—"

"Three," they said together.

Nothing happened as Emmett pressed against Bella's arm. She didn't even move an inch.

After a few seconds Bella pressed against Emmett's arm and he lost an inch.

Emmett snarled and Bella pressed again.

"Just remember," she said before smashing his hand into the stone with a loud crack, "just keep your mouth shut."

The rock shuddered and split in half, landing on Emmett's foot. Emmett kicked the rock, and out of habit I threw my hands up to slow down the rock before it could hit the tree across the river.

"Rematch tomorrow," Emmett growled.

"It's not going to wear off that fast," Bella said. "Maybe you ought to give it a month."

Emmett growled, flashing his teeth. "Tomorrow."

"Hey, whatever makes you happy, big brother."

He punched the rock before he stalked back towards the house.

"Well I think that's our cue," I murmured to Jasper. "I'd better go inside and get my stuff."

"I'll go. Just your wand and the stone?"

I nodded and Jasper kissed my cheek before he disappeared inside. He was gone for five seconds, and when he returned we left almost immediately.

The field was eerily quiet. The energy there didn't feel chaotic and rushed anymore. It felt peaceful. It was nice.

"Flip it three times, right?" Jasper asked, opening the box that held the stone.

"Right."

In the next several seconds, I watched as Severus appeared. It was just him this time.

"You did amazing," Severus said as I casted the spell that would solidify him. "Today we're not going to learn anything new, just practice the stuff we've already learned."

"I can do that," I smiled. "Easy work."

"I figured it'd be a good way to start building back up again."

We worked on the manipulation of elements. I had cleared up the rain, making the sun appear. I didn't localize it to the field. I later learned that the bright, warm sun had spread all over Forks and La Push.

"I'm sure that'll bring a nice change," Severus said. "If you keep it sunny long enough then maybe you can see the stars tonight."

"I hope so," I smiled, looking up at the sky.

We continued the idea of spell creation too. We were struggling with creating a spell that I would need. When the sun went down, practice ended. Jasper and I said our goodbyes to Severus and made our way back to the house.

"You know you're kinda like a superhero," Jasper said, pointing up to the sky.

"What makes you say that?"

"Some of the things Severus and Dumbledore believe that you can do and some of the things you can already do…it just seems like it's straight out of a comic book."

"Like what?" I asked as we came up the stairs leading to the back door.

"Like astral projection for example."
"That's a superhero trait?"

"Sure. Doctor Strange could, Professor X."

"I didn't even think you knew that much about superheroes," I frowned, opening the door.

"Don't forget about the Ancient One," Jacob said. He was digging through the fridge for food.

"You like comics?"

"Sure," Jacob grinned.

"Where do Muggles get the idea of superpowers?" I said, looking between the two. "Are they like legends?"

"No," Jasper laughed. "They're just things that Muggles think would be cool. Flying, turning back time. Things like that."
"Then others were created to make people feel safe. Superman was created during Hitler's rise to power. Gave people a sense of hope," Jacob said. "You know, Pixie, you do kind of remind me of a superhero."

"Really?" I frowned, unconvinced.

"Really. Do you know who Scarlet Witch is?"

I shook my head.

"I don't really know about comics."

"Her name is Wanda Maximoff. She was a product of chaos magic."

"Chaos magic?"

"Yeah it's supposed to be this magic that is so powerful that it's not supposed to exist," Jacob said, setting his sandwich down. "Kind of like your ability to bring the newly dead back to life. Scarlet Witch could warp reality to be whatever she wanted, she could manipulate the thoughts of others. She's awesome."

I looked at Jacob in wonder. I so often forgot that he was still just a kid. I never took him for the type to read superhero comics, but what teenage Muggle boy didn't? I remembered hearing Mike Newton and Eric Yorkie talk about comics over the years, but I always remembered Jacob Black as being a grownup, or something of the sorts.

"It'd be really cool if you could do that stuff," Jacob continued. "You think your kid would like comics? I've got some old ones he can have—"
"Wait," I murmured more to myself than to Jacob and Jasper. "I've heard that before."
"Do you read comics?"
"No," I murmured. "I've heard it somewhere else."

I waved my hand over the counter and the case filled with Dumbledore's journals appeared, I hauled the case to the table.

"What are those?" Jacob asked, sitting down across from me.

"They're journals that Dumbledore kept. This one—" I paused to take out the journal, "—is a journal that details everything that Dumbledore believed that I could do. He hid it away so that Voldemort couldn't find it and use it against me."

I flipped through the pages and when I found the set I was looking for, I grinned.

"Right here! Dumbledore said, 'It was once believed that Merlin could make people see what he wanted them to see. It took no effort at all to convince a person that what he was showing them was reality. I don't doubt that Alice will hold a power similar to this. I believe that it will be something more powerful, and to anybody but Alice, it would be hard to tell if it is this ability or if she is warping reality itself. I also believe that Alice will hold a power that is similar to that of the Imperius Curse. I remember right after her mother died, I was at the Black-Nott residence, and I had asked a question. Sirius gave an untruthful answer, and Alice furrowed her brow and demanded that he tell the truth. Sirius later described it as feeling as if he had no choice."

"What's the Imperius Curse?"

"In my world, there are three illegal spells. They're called the Unforgivable Spells. The Cruciatus Curse, the Killing Curse, and the Imperius Curse. It will put the caster in complete control of their victim. Any trace of free will is gone."

"So if the Imperius Curse is illegal, then wouldn't that make that gift illegal?"

"They can't do much if it's not in my control."
"But is it really out of your control?" Jasper asked. "I mean you're consciously doing it."
"But it's not a spell."

I watched Jasper who remained quiet for a moment.

"The Imperius Curse is dark," Jasper said slowly. "Would that make this...gift dark?"

"I guess it kind of depends how it's used," I said. "But if the Volturi came, then it could get them to turn away."

Jasper watched me carefully for a minute before he pulled the notebook to him.

"Dumbledore doesn't seem to think that it's a dark thing," he murmured. "But he does fear the wrong person finding out about it."

"How did he come to these ideas?" Jacob asked.

"Dumbledore was a brilliant wizard. One of the best my world has ever seen."

"Better than you?"
"Definitely," I said. "But Dumbledore claims that I am better than him. He watched me from a young age. Said I'd do great things. I wonder…"

"What?" Jacob asked when I didn't elaborate any further.

"Ali?"

"Jazz, do you remember back before the wedding when Harry and I started that project?"

"The one about Voldemort? Sure."

"Harry and I talked about contacting Grindelwald."

"Isn't he dead?" Jasper frowned.

"Yes, but when has it ever been a problem? Me contacting the dead."

"So why haven't you?"

"Because I wanted to talk to you about it."

"Why bring it up now?"

"Grindelwald had a prophecy about Voldemort...Dumbledore once told me that Grindelwald had a knack for those with power. Knowing who would and who wouldn't."

"And you wonder if there was a prophecy about you?"

I nodded.

"Grindelwald was a brilliant seer. If he would know anything about this," I gestured at the notebooks, "it would be him. And I'm willing to bet that Dumbledore went back to see his first love, and who better to tell everything to than to the one you love."

"Wait," Jacob said leaning forward, "Dumbledore and this Grindelwald were—"

"Gay. Yes. It's not so controversial in my world."

"Huh," Jacob said, leaning back against his seat. "And this is just common knowledge?"

"There were rumors. I asked Dumbledore about them and he confirmed them."

"And he told you? Just like that?"

"Dumbledore has known me for a long time," I shrugged.

Jacob watched me for a moment.

"So this Grindelwald. What do you think he would know about you?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "But I'm certain he knows something."

"Is there a way that you can get him to the Netherworld?"

"Maybe," I murmured. "I'm sure that Dumbledore can get him there."

"Do you think he's with them?"

"I don't think so," I said, "but who knows."

"With them?" Jacob question.

"In the afterlife. Whatever exists beyond this place."

"I thought you didn't believe in God."

"I don't. Not in that god anyways. But my family tells me bits and pieces about where they've ended up. Wherever it is, they're all together."

I was quiet for a minute then I looked at Jasper.

"I guess I'd better go get my files, huh?"

"I'll go get them. You stay here."

"Thank you," I grinned, kissing his cheek before he disappeared.

"Files?" Jacob questioned.

I nodded.

"Now that Angelina and George are expecting, I have to rework how much we take out of the store funds. On top of that I have to figure out how much the testers are being paid."

"Wait, we're being paid?" Jacob grinned. "Awesome!"

"You didn't know?"
"No!"

"You're more than welcome to stay if you'd like," I said as Jasper reappeared.

"Sure, I could use the company. Bella and Edward took Nessie home for the night not long before you came in."

Jacob, Jasper, and I carried a conversation while I worked. Jasper and I looked over the money in my vault and we agreed that I could pull another two thousand Galleons out of my account.

"As long as you're sure it's not going to be hard on us," Jasper said.

I shook my head.
"We'll make it back in no time. George is certain that the expansion is going to be a huge hit."

"Would you say that you two make pretty good money?"

"The store does well, but Jasper will definitely be doing well at the school."

"So this won't hurt you none?" Jasper said.

"No. Actually, I think I could sell some potions and make it back rather quickly."

"How much does a potion sell for?"
"Depends on the quality and who you're selling to. Madam Pomfrey, the matron at Hogwarts, she's not very good at brewing potions. If I sell to her, in bulk, I might be able to make what I'm spending back and then some. I'll have to owl her."

"Do you want me to go get you some parchment?"

"And my quil and ink?" I grinned.

Jasper disappeared and Jacob grinned.
"You've got him wrapped around your finger, Pixie."

"I'd like to think he likes doing it," I murmured.

"Oh don't get me wrong, Alice, I don't doubt that he does. He looks like he's willing to walk to the ends of the Earth for you."

"I'm sure he would," I said.

"Of course I would," Jasper grinned, kissing my cheek as he sat everything down.

"I'll do that in a moment," I said. "There's just a few more things I need to check."

They sat quietly as I flipped through the books.

"At most we can give testers about eighty-five Galleons," I murmured to Jasper, tapping the number I had circled.

"I don't remember the exact exchange rate, but I feel like that's going to end up being a lot of money."

"Well consider that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is a multi-million dollar company. There isn't another joke shop in that part of Europe, then of course Viktor Krum and Oliver Wood have endorsed the store and my return brought a lot of attention to it."
"So you're a monopoly of joke stores?" Jacob asked.

"I guess if you want to call it that."

"So Muggle wise," Jasper said, "how much is that?"

"About four hundred each. I mean we're putting them in rather uncomfortable conditions. Hopefully we won't have a repeat of the boils incident," I grinned.

"Boils incident?" Jacob questioned.

"Back when Fred, George, and I were testing the original Skiving Snackbox recipes, Fred, George, and I were doing the testing. When we were doing the Fever Fudge recipe, I wound up in hospital with a very high fever and when we altered it, Fred and George ended up with boils in very unpleasant places."

Jacob groaned.
"Will that happen?"

"If it does I will have plenty of antidotes to fix your problems. Tomorrow, or rather later tonight, George and I will be making the sweets and I will also be making various potions that will solve just about any side effect."

After I put away my files, I pulled the parchment and quill and ink pot to me. Just as he had with my files, Jacob watched me closely.

"How long before you could write with that?"

"What a quill? I've always written with one. Since I was a little girl. My mother taught me to write before she died."
"Wouldn't it be easier to write with a pen? Or a pencil even?"
"Sure, but we don't have them in my world. The closest thing we have is a self-inking quill. But even then, that won't run out of ink."

"You don't have pencils?" Jacob gasped.

"We don't have electricity and you're surprised by us not having pencils?"

"You don't have electricity?"

I shook my head.

"We have candles. At Hogwarts, in the Great Hall, there are thousands of candles."

"So where did you go to the bathroom?"

"We had plumbing," I laughed. "We just didn't have refrigerators or microwaves or cars."

"So how'd you keep food cold?"
"A charmed cupboard."

"And cooking?"

"Gas stoves and ovens."

"What about grills?"

"Didn't have them. I mean we roasted things on a fire."

"So what did you do if you got bored then?"

"Read, play Quidditch, play chess."

"Maybe we could see a game of Quidditch," Jasper murmured. "Will you guys have enough players?"

"Well let's see," I murmured. "Me, Harry, Ginny, Ron, George, Angelina—if she comes—"
"Wait, if Angelina is pregnant, can she play?"

"Probably best that she didn't," I said. "Okay, so Harry, Ginny, Ron, George, Charlie, Bill and I. So we could do two teams, one Seeker, one Chaser, and one Keeper…maybe the team that doesn't have me could have an extra Chaser to keep the numbers even."
"Could Teddy play?"
I shook my head.

"He doesn't know how to fly. We'll even it up by adding one more Chaser to the other team. Assuming they agree."

"I'm sure they will. Just wait, Jacob, I think you'd like that."

We talked more about the Weasleys and Quidditch in the time leading up to Jasper and I leaving. Before we left, I shrank Jasper's motorcycle down and put it in my bag and I grabbed shoes to go with my dress. I also moved all the potions for the expansion into my bag, as well as my cauldron and any and all potion supplies I had.

"What are you going to eat?" Rosalie asked.

"I won't. George and Dominic Maestro will."

"And you're just going to awkwardly sit there?"
"I'll be doing most of the talking," I said, flashing a grin.

"Or," Jasper said, holding up the black leather cuff, "you could wear this and eat with them."

"Brilliant," I grinned.

"Well good luck!" Esme grinned. "Not that you'll need it, and don't forget the list!"
"I won't," I said. "I'll work on it as soon as I get to the Burrow. I'll also have an exact number of who all is coming."

"Will they be following you back?"
"No, I'm going to set up a Portkey that will get here later tonight. It'll be tomorrow for them."

"Alright then, we'll see you later."

"Bye."

I dropped Jasper off at the Burrow before I headed for Gringotts. I pulled the money out of my account, and set up a nameless vault that would have a name added after the new baby was born. I also brought out the money I would need for testers, pulling a little extra in case Carlisle, Edward, or Seth changed their minds. The Gringotts Goblins were very pleased to be getting rid of some of the Muggle money in the bank. Before heading back to the Burrow, I exchanged the British Pounds to American dollars for the ones at home.

When I made it back to the Burrow, everyone, including Charlie and Percy, was there, eating breakfast. Everyone had until Tuesday off.

"Good!" I grinned, sitting down in the empty place next to Teddy. "We can get the final numbers in everything."

"Jasper's told us that Carlisle is going to let all of us stay," Charlie said.

"Yes," I grinned. "Esme needs a list of groceries that she'll get when Jasper and I get back."

The ending number was nineteen. Percy had agreed to be a tester, and it would be just him. Then Molly and Arthur were coming, as well as Bill, Fleur, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Ginny, George, Angelina, and all the kids.

"I really meant what I said yesterday," Angelina said. "I want us to start again and be friends."

"Does this mean I can hold Freddie?" I grinned, nudging George who sat on my other side.

"Of course you can," George laughed. "Anytime you want."

I smiled at Fred who sat across the table.

"Will I be staying too, Mama?" Teddy asked, "or will I have to go home?"
"Of course you're staying," I grinned. "You'll get to meet Seth too, and he's really excited to meet you!"

"Really?"

"Really. He and Jacob are going to help me and Uncle George with the testing."

"Are you going to be able to fit all of us?" Angelina asked.

I nodded.

"Yes. If I expand the top floor, then I can put all the kids in there."

"Then I can set up a bed in my office," Jasper proposed.

"And one in Carlisle's. Don't worry. We'll find a place for everyone."

"George says that the Cullens have a nice place," Angelina said.

I nodded.

"They paid a lot of money for us to be concealed."

"Will they still have money when you're gone?"

"Yes. They've got their business, and I've written down stock market trends for the next couple of years. They'll be fine."
"Stock market?" Arthur frowned.

"I don't know how to explain it," I murmured. "I've never really understood what to do. Edward and Carlisle ask me which stocks it is best to invest in, and I tell them."

Do you ever feel like they're taking advantage of your visions? Harry asked.

I waved my hand back and forth.

"Sometimes. But at the same time, I feel like I owe it to them. They took Jasper and I in. I don't guess it matters now though. We'll be back here in a few months and we probably won't talk to them for a long time."

"So what happens if they run out of money?"

I shrugged.

"I doubt they'll run completely out of money. Carlisle makes decent money as a doctor. Then of course I gave them money when I closed down my vault in America."

"Is it enough to last them?"
"If they use it right, it could last them a lifetime. Maybe two."

"So you think they'll be okay?"
"I do. I think they survived long enough before we got there, they'll do fine when we're gone."

Jasper and I looked at each other carefully.

Don't be worried, Alice. They will be fine without us. And we'll be okay. We'll be here, raising our boy.

I nodded and smiled at Teddy who was eating his eggs.

After breakfast was finished, we started making a list of everything we would need food wise for their stay. After that, Jasper helped out with the kids while George and I started up the final plans for the expansion including the names, prices, and the design.

"I think we've got the basics," I said, putting down my notepad.

"And I think we're ready to get started. You've got the recipes finalized, right?"
"Right," I said, before shuffling through the stacks of paper that sat on the coffee table. "Here."

I passed them to him and he looked them all over carefully.

"How are we going to make our own chocolate."

"Glad you asked," I grinned, pulling out another stack of papers. "Back when you mentioned wanting to do chocolate, I started doing research. There are certain places where cocoa grows wildly. I can Apparate there, take some beans, bring them back here and you and I can grow them."

"I thought cocoa needed really hot environments to grow," Jasper frowned.

"It does. Which is why I was talking to you about putting in a magical greenhouse."

"How long will it take you?"

"Fifteen minutes tops."

"Okay, you go do that, and I'll start making these butter mints."

"Fantastic!"

I pulled my bag up off the ground and dug around, looking for an empty bag.

"Here we are. I'll be back in a bit."

The Burrow was gone, and I put all my focus into getting the cocoa beans. I grabbed ten. Five to use for testing, and five to plant. It took around fifteen minutes since I was looking for the ripest ones.

As soon as I was back, I headed to the kitchen where George had started to make the butter mints.

"Okay, I'll get started on this chocolate then," I said. "I've got to roast the beans, so while I wait on that should I start on the—"
"Lokums. I have no clue where to start on those and judging from the recipe those are going to take the longest."

George and I spent the better half of the day flying around the kitchen. Jasper took orders and went to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch since we had almost every area of the kitchen cooking something.

We finished up by five o'clock, and at that point we separated to go get ready for our dinner. George went back to his house while I used his old bedroom to get dressed and do my hair, which I changed to the shoulder length hair I've had. I stared at myself in the mirror for a long time.

"You look great," Jasper said from the doorway. I looked up at him in the mirror.

"You think so?"
"I know so."

"I wish you could be there," I sighed.
"I know," he smiled. "I wish I could be there. But I'll be here, bonding with Teddy."

"I'll resize your motorcycle here in a moment."

Jasper nodded, and wrapped an arm around my waist.

"You're going to do great," he murmured against my forehead. "All you've got to do is sign some paperwork, eat some food, drink some wine, do a money exchange, then you're good to go."

"You don't have an issue with that?" I asked, watching him carefully.

"Of course not. What's a business deal without drinks?"

I laughed.

"I probably won't be back before Teddy leaves," I said. "So you'll tell him that I love him before he leaves right? And hug him extra tight?"

"Of course, Darlin'."

"Good," I murmured. "Very good."

I felt a wave of confidence flood through me.

"Come on. George is waiting for you downstairs. Molly wants a picture."

I frowned.

"Why?"
"Big events need to be memorialized. Come on, my love."

I followed Jasper down the stairs back to the living room where George was already waiting.

"Look at you two!" Angelina squealed. "You guys look amazing!"

"Thanks, Angie," George grinned, kissing her cheek.

"I just want a few pictures, and then you two can be on your way."
We took about five different pictures. One with just me and George, then one with me, Angelina, Jasper, and George. There was George, Angelina, Jasper, and I with the kids, then individual ones with Jasper, Teddy, and I, and George Angelina and Fred.

"Alright, Mum, we've really got to go."

"Good luck! I want to hear everything!"
"I'll tell you all about it when I swing by to get Jasper," I promised as she kissed my cheek.

Teddy hugged me tightly.

"I'll see you tomorrow, my love," I murmured in his hair. "Bright and early. Listen to your Papa, and don't give Harry and Ginny any trouble."
"Alright, Mama," Teddy laughed.

"He'll be fine, Alice," Jasper said, slipping the cuff onto my wrist. "I'll see you later."

As soon as the cuff went on, I felt everything shift. Jasper's cool breath hit my face and I blinked a few times.

"Right then. Later."

"What's wrong, Ali?" Jasper teased. "Cat got your tongue?"
"Damn you," I growled, pulling away from him.

"I love you," he grinned, pulling me back to him.

He gave me one small kiss and smiled.

"I'm still going to buy you that ring."

"Sure, sure," I grumbled as I headed towards the fireplace.

"I love you," Jasper said, still grinning.
"I love you too. I'll see you when we get back."

George and I took the Floo system to the Hog's Head Inn and after a few quick words with Aberforth, we headed to the restaurant.

Dominic Maestro came in right after we did. We were all seated at a small table in the back.

"Mrs. Whitlock, I'm awfully sorry that you can't eat with us," Dominic said, watching me carefully.

I shook my head.

"Don't you worry, we've gotten that taken care of."

I held up my arm to show him the cuff.

"A few weeks ago, I created this cuff. It was created to help me conserve my magic, and in doing so it creates a humanizing effect. My husband thought it might be appropriate to use it so that I could eat alongside you and George tonight."
"Smart man."
"A very smart man," George said. "Starting in October, he'll be helping up at the school, shadowing as a Muggle Studies teacher."

"You must be very proud of him, Mrs. Whitlock."

"Definitely," I grinned.

The waitress came up then and smiled at us.

"Good evening! My name is Aerwyna, and I'll be your waitress this evening. Can I start you off with drinks?"

"Do you drink wine?" Dominic asked, watching me carefully.

I nodded and glanced at the drink menu for a moment.

"Can I have a glass of the Elderflower wine please?"
"Same for me," George said.

"I'll have a glass of the Swott Malt Whisky please."

"I'll be right back," she smiled.

The three of us were quiet for a moment as we looked at the menu.

Four courses including dessert! Are you going to be up to four courses, Al? George asked.

I nodded once at him.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Dominic didn't seem to notice the exchange between us.

"I think I'll be getting the calamari to start. What about you two?"

"I think the baked brie and roasted garlic sounds good. Georgie?"

"I'll get the bruschetta," George said.

The waitress returned then with our drinks and pulled a notepad and quill from her pocket.
"Are we ready to order or do you need another moment."

"I think we're ready," Dominic said. "I'll start with the calamari for my appetizer, then the lobster bisque."
"And for your entree?"
"I think I'll do the suckling pig."

"Fantastic. And you, miss?"

"Right, I'll do the baked brie and roasted garlic for my appetizer, then a caesar salad, and for my entree, I think I'll do the steak and risotto."

"And you, sir?"
"I'll do the bruschetta, then the caesar salad as well, then I'll do the duck breast."

"I'll be right back with your appetizers."

"Thank you," I smiled.

"So should we get down to business then?" Dominic asked.

"I think that'd be great," George said.

"Great! Well I've brought you each a copy of your paperwork that you need to fill out, and then of course there will be a copy for each of your files."

He reached into a bag at his side and pulled out stacks of paperwork, passing them out to George and I.

"I've marked where you both must sign."

George and I looked at each other and then we both started looking through the paperwork. We had both read through it, and began to sign and date the papers when the waitress came back with our appetizers. George and I signed while we ate, and when we finished, we passed the papers to Dominic.

"I've got your down payment here," I told him, reaching into my bag to pull out the coin pouch I'd been storing the down payment in. "We decided on a three thousand and five hundred Galleon downpayment, and the rest will be paid to you, in full, when we move into the building."

"Smart girl," he grinned. "The shop will officially close on the first of the month. Come get the keys from me the day after."
"That works perfectly," I smiled. "My husband starts at the castle on the first of the month."

"Fantastic," Dominic said, sitting back against his seat.

The rest of dinner went just as smoothly as the beginning part had. The business part seemed to wrap up rather quickly, and after, we filled up on drinks and food.

"Well then, Mrs. Whitlock, Mr. Weasley, I'll see you next month to finish business with you."

"Fantastic," I grinned as he shook George's hand.

We watched as Dominic walked back to his shop and I turned to George and grinned, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Oh, Georgie!" I grinned. "Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this with you."

"Of course. I couldn't have done it without you, Ali."

I smiled and pressed a hand against his cheek.

"You've done amazing," I grinned. "Without me, you've done great things. Freddie is so proud of you."

George pulled me into another hug, squeezing me once before letting me go.

"Come on. Angie and Jasper are waiting to hear how it went."

George and I headed back to the Hog's Head Inn, and much like prior to dinner, we talked to Aberforth before using the Floo System to get back to the Burrow. When we made it there, Angelina was curled up on the couch, and Jasper was rocking Fred in a chair.

"Hey," I grinned, leaning over Jasper's shoulder to look at the sleeping child. "How long have you guys been waiting?"
"Angelina fell asleep about an hour ago," Jasper said. "She got a little sick after dinner."

"And Teddy?"

"He told me to tell you that he loves you."

"And he'll come with Harry tomorrow?"

"Mhm. Arthur is waiting outside for you. He's got an old tire that they're going to use for the Portkey. He's already cleared it with the Ministry, and Kingsley said to set it up for them."
"How long has he been out there?" George asked.

"Only about five minutes. Your mom is in the kitchen. She wants to hear all about it."

"I'll be right back, love," I murmured, kissing his cheek.

"Don't rush. We're fine here, Freddie and I."

I hurried outside where Arthur was studying an old tire closely.

"Alice!" he grinned, "how did it go?"
"We pick up the keys on October second," I grinned.

"That's great. When will you guys open up shop?"

"Christmas."

"You think you can get it done that fast?"

"If I did it by myself we could probably open sooner, but George is in no rush."

"Is there a reason why?"

"Well we're still talking about everything. We're thinking about reaching out to Minerva and seeing if she can add another Hogsmeade day and we can do the grand opening and the release of the Skiving Snackbox expansion on that day."

"Right then, well, do you want to set up the Portkey then? I'm sure you and Jasper have to go home and get things set up there."

"Yes," I said. "Did you have a specific time that you're all meeting here?"

"We were all going to meet up at around six o'clock here."

"Okay, then I'll set it for seven o'clock. You'll land in the backyard. When you get there, just come in the backdoor."
"What time will it be there?"
"Eleven at night. We'll have Kreacher out there waiting for you. He'll guide you all in, and I'll make you something to eat."

"Alice you don't—"
"It's no trouble," I said. "The trouble would be us not using that kitchen."

Arthur and I finished setting up the Portkey, and after we finished we headed back inside. Angelina was awake now, but Jasper still had Fred, who was still sleeping peacefully. Once we were back inside, Jasper took off the cuff, and held tightly onto my arm to make sure I didn't fall.

"Okay, the Portkey leaves at seven o'clock exactly so make sure that you get here, and are ready to go by then," I told George and Angelina after I made sure that I was okay. "I'm going to take the sweets home and finish them off tonight so they'll be ready to go tomorrow."

"Jasper told everybody to bring brooms," Angelina said. "Are we bringing Quidditch stuff?"

"I figured it was time to show the Muggles a good game," I grinned.

"Harry's going to bring the Quidditch set you guys got in Diagon Alley," Jasper said, as he passed Fred to Angelina.

Angelina, George, and Fred left not long after that. Jasper and I packed up everything in the kitchen, said goodnight to Molly and Arthur, then we too headed back to America.

Charlie was on the way when we got back, so as soon as I got home, the oxygen tank went on. I gave the list of groceries to Esme, which had the final number of people circled at the bottom.
"After Charlie leaves tonight, I was wondering if I could expand the living room a bit," I said, walking with her to the garage. "We'll need a place for the kids and that's the biggest room in the house."

"Sure," Esme said. "It won't affect the size outside, will it?"

"Not at all. It's just like my closet. It's expanded, but it doesn't affect the outside. It's the same charm that is on my bag."

"Then feel free. It'll give us more room anyways. Maybe we can put it on another couch. Wait until Charlie leaves though."

I nodded.

"And tomorrow and Sunday, Bella is going to go to him, right?"
"Actually according to Bella, Billy Black is dragging him to go fishing both days. Jacob talked to him about the testing, and Billy figured it'd be easier to keep him out of your hair all together."

"Fantastic," I grinned. "Here's the list from them. Jasper gave you Teddy's list, didn't he?"

Esme nodded.

"And Kreacher requested some fruit."

I nodded.

"I'll pay you back for it all."

"Not necessary."

"Are you sure? It wouldn't be any trouble. I have some extra money since Carlisle, Seth, and Edward didn't want to be paid for the testing and—"
"I've got this, Alice. I'm just glad to be able to help."

I smiled.

"Thank you."
"Of course."

Our heads perked up as wheels turned up the driveway.

"I guess that's Charlie," I said. "I'll be down in a bit. I'm going to use Jasper's office to finish off the sweets for tomorrow."

"Take your time."

As soon as I was tucked away in Jasper's office, I called for Kreacher, sending him to our house in England.

"I'll call for you as soon as I finish here."

"Yes, Little Miss," Kreacher said.

He Disapparated away as Charlie came in the door.

"Where's Alice?" he asked as he entered the living room where everybody else was.

"Sleeping," Jasper murmured. "She's not feeling very well. But I'm sure she'll be down in a while."

I finished an hour and a half after Charlie got there. Half of the candies were filled with the first round of potions and antidotes, and the second half would be altered tomorrow, after the first test.

When I came down the stairs, after pausing at the top to change my hair, Jasper immediately jumped up to help me. He lugged the oxygen tank to the chair, and he sat at my feet afterwards.

"How are you feeling, Alice?" Charlie asked.

He was holding Renesmee who looked at me curiously. Charlie sat nestled between Bella and Jacob, and Renesmee held tightly onto Jacob's pinkie.

"Very tired," I answered after a long pause of silence.

Jasper and I were talking, Edward said, looking up at me, maybe you should use one of the Skiving Snackbox treats.

One like…?

The Puking Pastille maybe? Jasper told Charlie you got sick in the night.

So maybe that and the Fever Fudge?

Edward nodded once and stood up, disappearing up the stairs.

"Jasper says you're sick?" Charlie continued.

I nodded.

"Fever started in the night. Been off and on since then."

"What are the doctors saying? There's no chance you caught what Bella had, right?"

"Right. Just a cold, really. I should be fine here in a few days."

Edward returned downstairs, and flicked the wrappers at me. I caught them with a quick, single movement.

Are you going to be okay? Jasper asked.

"Perfectly fine," I whispered back.

Have you gotten rid of your dinner?

"Not yet. This gives me the perfect chance."

I ran one hand through his hair, and ate the Fever Fudge with the other hand.

Can you give it like an hour? Bella asked.

"Sure," I whispered. "I'm not in any rush to throw up."

Bella covered her mouth with her hand to cover the smile that was forming.

The fever came very quickly, much like it had last time. An hour and a half passed before I took the Puking Pastille. Edward had left a bucket at my side to prepare, and Jacob and Jasper hurried me to the bathroom where Jasper fed me the purple antidote.

"That's disgusting, but absolutely amazing," Jacob grinned.

"It's convenient," I said. "I hadn't thrown up my dinner yet and that's the only way to get rid of it."

"I thought you and George made a potion for vampires to eat," Jacob frowned.

"No, we talked about a potion. We're in contact with our old Transfiguration teacher—" I paused to rinse my mouth out. "—and we're trying to figure out how to get the contents to just disappear."

"So when we do testing tomorrow, will we be throwing up?"

"Not unless it's a side effect of the sweets. We'll do a briefing before we start, there will be a waiver for you all to sign. Trust me, you'll have the opportunity to back out."

"But from the sounds of things, the expansion is less severe as the original," Jasper said.

"They're more like…side effects," I said. "Make the originals more believable. But they have their own components too."

"So what's going to happen when you're teaching and Alice is selling candies that are getting students out of class?"

"Jasper will know," I laughed. "He'll be there through development and all. And then when I start teaching, I'll know because I made them."

"You're going to be a teacher?"

"I'll be teaching Potions."

"Didn't Severus teach Potions?"
"Yes."

We returned to the living room, and Charlie eyed me cautiously.

Jasper pulled me onto his lap in the chair and pulled a blanket over top of me.

How are you feeling? Jasper thought.

"I feel fine," I murmured back against his shoulder.

It wasn't a lie. This time didn't feel quite so bad, and maybe that was because I was laying against Jasper, which kept the fever lower. His skin felt ice cold, yet there was something comforting about it.

"Tell me if you don't."
I nodded.

Charlie stayed until the early evening, much like he had the previous day. He went to La Push, where Sue Clearwater was making dinner again, but this time Seth didn't follow. Seth had told Sue that he was helping me with some business, but that she couldn't tell Charlie.

I waited for the wheels to turn out of the driveway before I hopped off of Jasper's lap and pulled the oxygen tank off.

"Okay," I said, clapping my hands together. "Kreacher!"

Kreacher snapped back.

"Yes, Little Miss?"
"You can come back now. I have nothing for you to do right now, but that may change."

"Yes, Little Miss."

Kreacher disappeared, and I was certain that he disappeared to his den.

"Okay, so they are leaving at seven tomorrow morning, so they'll be here at eleven o'clock tonight. So first things first, who is willing to give up their rooms?"

Edward gave up the room that he said he no longer needed, and Carlisle and Esme offered up their rooms, as well as Carlisle's office. Rosalie and Emmett offered up their room, and Jasper and I were offering up ours, as well as Jasper's unused office.

I sat down at the table, and I split up the rooms. I had Teddy, James, and Fred in the living room while the other kids were set with their parents through various rooms in the house. Seth and Jacob would also be in the living room.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" I asked, looking at the two of them. "I can stick Charlie and Percy together and you guys can take the other room."
"All else fails, they can come stay at the cottage," Bella offered.

I turned to the two of them, who nodded.

"That works for me," Jacob said.
"I'll stay here," Seth said.

"Great," I grinned. "We have it all worked out. It's going to be a great time. Harry is bringing Quidditch stuff and they're all bringing their brooms, so you'll get to see a Quidditch game…or something close enough to one."

"It's not going to be one exactly?"

"Well if we can talk Percy or Fleur into playing we can have Beaters."

"Who's more likely?"
"Percy."

"I don't think Percy was at the Burrow when I went," Jacob said.

"No, but he was at the wedding. Don't worry, I'll reintroduce everybody."

"I wonder if Charlie will have another model dragon for you," Jasper said. "He didn't give you one while you were up there."

"I don't know," I murmured. "I haven't seen…Well no matter, I'd better get started."

I made the living room a meter bigger on each wall. It wasn't so much space that it would be noticeable if Charlie had come in, but the change was definitely noticeable.

"You could probably add another couch in here," I murmured. "If you'd like, I could copy this one so they'd be the exact same."

"That'd be great, Alice. Thank you."

I pulled my wand from the holster, and tapped the couch with it before pointing to the empty wall. The others watched as the couch materialized.

"Will it feel the same?" Esme asked as Emmett pulled the couch where Esme had directed him.

"It should," I said. "It's an exact copy."

"Where did it come from, and when will it disappear?" Jasper asked.

"Disappear?" I questioned, turning to look at him.

"Doesn't Transfiguration state that if you conjure something it won't last?"

"Yes, but I didn't conjure it. That wasn't Transfiguration. That was a charm. It'll last until I make it disappear. Or until it is broken. Whichever comes first."

Jasper frowned.

"How do you know the difference?"

"I'll explain it in a little while," I laughed. "It can be pretty confusing."

I finished setting things up close to seven. I moved the couch from Edward's bedroom to Carlisle's office, and I copied that to put in Jasper's office.

"I thought you were going to put all the kids together," Jasper murmured, looking at the list.

"Well Ron and Hermione feel better when Rose is with them, and when we had the girls in the attic during the wedding, Fleur got nervous that they were going to get into something, so I put Bill and Fleur up there with them. Teddy'll want to be with us, I'm sure, and then James isn't going to leave your side, but I'm giving George and Angelina, and Harry and Ginny, the opportunity to have Fred and Albus with them."

"Since you and Angelina are all buddy buddy now do you think she'll let Fred stay with you?" Rosalie asked.

"Maybe," I said. "But the others don't know that Angelina is pregnant yet, and you lot aren't going to be the one to tell them."

"Don't worry, Alice, everyone will keep it a secret."

"Good," I smiled. "I really want them to have a good time while they're here. So can we all agree to put the fighting on hold?"

"Of course," Edward said.

Renesmee reached her hands out to me before she pressed her hand against Jacob's cheek.

"She wants Alice," Jacob said in surprise.

Edward and Bella looked at me and I sighed and held my hands out.

When Renesmee was sitting in my arms, her hand immediately reached to my face.

I will meet Teddy today?

"If your Mummy and Daddy hasn't taken you home yet."

You will introduce me to everyone, right?

"Yes, but remember what I said. You mustn't bite any of them."

Daddy says that they're very important people to you.

"Yes," I said. "They were my family when I was human. Before I knew your Mummy, your Daddy, or even Jasper."

They are your parents?

"No, young one. My parents died long ago. But these people, they're like my parents, and brothers, and sisters."

Will they like me?

"I don't have an answer to that," I said. "They might, but they might not."

Will it depend on you?

"No. They have a mind of their own. They will decide it on their own."

And you? When will you like me?

"You needn't worry about that now."

The child squealed in frustration.

When? she demanded.

"I don't know," I said. "But if you continue to squeal like that, I won't answer any more of your questions."

Renesmee's lip puffed as if she were about to cry, but she didn't. Bella, Rosalie, and Jacob all watched me with panic in their eyes.

"She didn't hurt her," Edward reassured. "She just didn't give her the answer she wanted."

"What does she want to know?" Bella demanded.

"She wants to know when I will like her. I don't know the answer to that question, so I can't answer it."

Renesmee impatiently patted my face to reclaim my attention.

Teach me how to do what you did to the room earlier. I want to know too.

"It's not something that can be taught," I said. "I was born a witch. I can not make you one."

Renesmee huffed and showed me Jacob holding her.

"Jacob," I said, passing her back. "She wants you. I'll be back in a few minutes. I need a break."

I disappeared up the stairs with Jasper hot on my heels.

"Are you okay?" he asked when I closed the door behind him.

"The child…I still have a bad feeling about it. I feel that it will bring darkness…"

"But?"
"But I don't know that the darkness will come now."

"You feel bad about your feelings towards her."

"Yes," I said. "Is it wrong for me to hate a child?"
"Not if the child is a danger, and you believe that she is."

"She wants me to like her," I sighed. "But how do I like something that I know will bring the end of us?"

"I wish I had an answer for you, love," he said, pulling me into a tight hug. "Unfortunately I don't. But I know that you'll do the right thing."

"What is the right thing, Jazz?"

"I don't know. But I know that you will know."

"What about you?" I asked, looking up at him.

"What about me?"

"Do you like the child?"

"No," Jasper said. "I read the legends, and I heard what Severus said, and what Firenze predicted, and what you predicted…I don't think it's safe, and when we leave—"

I heard his unfinished thought as it passed in his head.

"We should break ties with them," I sighed. "I'm beginning to think you're right about that."

Jasper gave me a weak smile.

"Are you sure you'll be okay with that?"

I sighed.

"I always thought that if we left them, we'd have a similar relationship to the one that they have with the Denalis. Now I'm not so sure about that…I look at them and I just don't feel the way that I did."

"They don't feel like family anymore," he said.

"No. They haven't for some time. Since the birthday party…"

"Is that my fault?" Jasper asked. His eyes were sad. His voice was too.

"No, my love," I murmured, pulling his face to mine. "It's nobody's fault. Sometimes people just go their separate ways. I think even if that hadn't happened, we still would be leaving."

Jasper smiled, and kissed the tip of my nose.

"How are you feeling?"
"Better," I smiled. "The fever should be gone in a bit."

"Do you think George is going to know?"
I laughed.

"Maybe. I'd like to think that Georgie knows his work."

"Are you excited to see Fred?"

I nodded.

"And Teddy. This is the first time since we've adopted him that he's actually got to stay with us for longer than a few hours."

"I know," Jasper grinned. "I think he's really excited about it too."

"Really?"
"Really. He wants to see your Porsche in it's full size. He finds it interesting."

"That doesn't surprise me," I laughed. "Muggle transportation is interesting."

"Did you learn about it in Muggle Studies?"

"Actually," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I never technically took Muggle Studies. It was one of the classes I did on my own and got credit for. Everyone just kind of assumed I took it."

"You never took a Muggle Studies class?" Jasper said.

"Nope. Took it all on my own. Bought the textbooks, did the assignments, but never attended a class."

"What'd you take instead?"

"Well in my third year I took Care of Magical Creatures and Divination and Arithmancy, then in fourth year I dropped Arithmancy and picked up Ancient Runes. Then in fifth year I dropped Care of Magical Creatures, and in my sixth year I picked up Alchemy."

Jasper laughed.

"So you're helping me plan a class that you've never taken?"
"Well Hermione took it if that helps. Besides, technically if you look at my records, I took the class."

"I'm sure if I look at your records you took every class."

"Not every class. I didn't take Muggle Art, Muggle Music, Music, Ghoul Studies, or Xylomancy."
"But everything else?"

I sighed.

"I guess technically every other class is on my records."
"What was the hardest class to do on your own?"
"Art."
"Art?" Jasper laughed.

" I wasn't very good, but they taught you how to make the paint that's used on the Headmaster's paintings."

"Is it a different paint?"
"Well it can link paintings, and while it's being painted the Headmaster can tell it's secrets to the painting. Dumbledore told his painting all his secrets, including the ones about me. He told the painting that when the time was right, it would tell me everything that I needed to know."

"But you're not very good at painting?" he questioned.

"Well it's not so much that I wasn't good at it as I never had time to really give it my best effort. And mixing the paint to get it exactly right…" I sighed. "Fred was better at it than I was."

"Fred took art?"

I nodded.

"For a term."

"He dropped it?"
"Yes. He was very good at it though. Actually, I might have some of his paintings at the house. I'll have to look next time we're there."

"When will that be?"
"Well I figured I would start going after you started at Hogwarts. Start getting things cleaned up and in order. I've got to go through all that stuff in the basement."

"Maybe one day this week we'll go," Jasper said. "Go clean up a bit, get rid of all the old furniture."

"Probably better off getting new things, huh?" I said, watching him closely. "I don't reckon that it's sturdy. It's barely been used in the last eight years."

"And you've had them for how long?"

"Ten years at least."

Jasper nodded.

"Well we said we were going to do some work on the house anyways," Jasper pointed out. "Why don't we go back downstairs, make a list of everything that we need, and then we'll go to the house sometime this week to get started."

"What will we do with Teddy?"
"Take him with us or take him to the Burrow."

"I still don't think it's a good idea to leave him here by himself," I said, shaking my head.

"Neither do I," Jasper agreed. "Don't worry, we'll work it out."

He grabbed a notepad and a pencil from the desk before he and I headed back down the stairs.

You okay? Jacob asked, eyeing me carefully.

I nodded, and Jasper and I headed for the dining room table.

We spent the time between returning downstairs until the other arrived, working on the renovation plan for the house. When the others turned up, I hurried outside to greet them.

Teddy hurried to Jasper and I, flinging his arms around us.

"Hey there, Teddy," I grinned. "Did you have fun with Papa last night?"

"Loads," Teddy said. "Papa says that when I'm old enough, he'll teach me how to drive it!"
"He did, did he?" I asked, looking up at Jasper.

"Don't worry, Al," Jasper grinned, "not a moment before he turns sixteen."

"Right then, well why don't we get inside? I'm sure that you're all starved. I had Kreacher start breakfast about half an hour ago, so it should be just about ready."

Angelina eyed the door warily.

"What's wrong?" I asked, nudging her arm.

"I don't doubt they know about our issues," she said, "they won't cause any issues will they?"

I laughed and shook my head.

"Definitely not. They know the reasons behind it, and they know that we've made up. Besides," I added, lowering my voice, "they haven't got much room to talk, have they?"

I winked at Angelina, and gently pulled her into the house.

Will Fred be safe? Angelina thought to me.

"Perfectly. I won't let anything happen to him."

He can't be left alone with the Cullens, she said watching me carefully. I don't trust them. He can be with you and with Jasper, but not them.

"That's fine. If that's what makes you comfortable."

We all trickled into the house where the others were waiting.

"Well I guess introductions are to be made," I said. "Angelina, this is Carlisle, Esme, Bella, Edward, Renesmee, Jacob, Seth, Rosalie, and Emmett. Everyone, this is Angelina, George's wife."
"That's Seth?" Teddy said in wonder.

"He's been very eager to meet you," I told Seth.

Seth grinned and stepped forward.

"Hi there, Teddy! Your mom has told me so much about you!"

Everyone seemed to eye Renesmee cautiously as they all ate breakfast. They ate in the newly spaced out living room. Fred sat contently on my lap, while James sat on Jasper's. Teddy sat in between us talking to Seth who was also eating.

"So I talked to Percy," George said, "and he said that he'd play as long as he's a Keeper."

"I think we can work that out," I said. "Charlie, Beater or Seeker?"

"Beater," he grinned.

"So I guess that makes Harry and I Seekers, you and Charlie Beaters, Ginny and Bill as Chasers, and Ron and Percy as Keepers."

"Sounds good," George nodded.

"How are you going to sort out teams?" Edward asked, watching us.

"I call Alice!" George, Charlie, Ginny, Ron, and Bill called at once.

"How about we do things the Muggle way, and draw names out of a hat?" I suggested. "It's fair."

"Alright," George agreed. "Jasper, you got a cowboy hat somewhere?"

Jasper laughed and jumped to his feet.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Jasper disappeared up the stairs, and while he was gone I grabbed the notepad and pencil from the table.

"Mama, what's a cowboy?" Teddy whispered to me as I began to write our names down on torn up pieces of paper.

"A cowboy is somebody in Muggle movies that shows up and saves the town from the bad guy."

"Why does George say Papa is a cowboy?"
"Because when Papa was human he lived in Texas, and Texas is where a lot of the cowboy movies took place."

"I've seen him during the war," George said. "In that book I borrowed. He definitely looks the part."

"Papa was in a war?" Teddy asked in surprise.

I was surprised that Teddy hadn't heard the conversation at breakfast Thursday morning. Or maybe he had heard it, and forgot. Either way, he heard it this time, and this time he was interested.

"Yes," I said slowly. "But I think maybe that's something that Papa should talk to you about."

Sorry, Al, George said. I didn't know that he didn't know.

I shook my head.

"It's fine. I just don't know how to explain it to him."

Jasper returned then, and passed the hat to me.

George let the cat out of the bag, huh? Jasper asked as I shook the names in the hat.

"Yeah," I whispered too low for the others to hear. "I don't know what you want him to know, so I figured that might be something that you should talk to him about."

What do I tell him?

"What do you mean?"

Do I tell him that I fought on the wrong side of the war or do I glorify it?

"Well I guess that's up to you," I murmured. "I plan on telling him about my time with the Death Eaters before he finds out from somebody at school."

He doesn't already know?

"He suspects it," I murmured, running a hand through Teddy's hair. "But it's never been confirmed."

How about we sit him down sometime this week and we talk to him about it? I feel like he should know and then have a say about whether or not he wants us to be his parents.

I felt the worry radiating off of Jasper.

"Maybe we shouldn't wait," I murmured to Jasper. "This is going to worry you and you aren't going to be able to enjoy yourself. We'll talk to him before the Quidditch game."

Jasper nodded, and Teddy looked between us.

"Okay, ready to find out the teams?" I asked. "Jazz, if you would."

Jasper reached over and pulled four names from the hat.

"Team one is Harry, Bill, George, and Percy. That leaves Alice, Ginny, Charlie, and Ron on team two."

Ginny and I high fived and Ron and Charlie high fived too.

"Looks like we've got the best team," I grinned.

"Oh please," George scoffed. "We all know that I'm the best Beater in this family."

"Charlie works with dragons for a living," Ron said, "I'm positive that he's going to be better."

"And I work with Alice for a living. Merlin knows the weak can't do that."

I gasped and lightly hit his arm.

"I'll be putting in my resignation letter if that's how you feel."

"Oh please," he grinned, "you know you'll be at work bright and early Tuesday morning."

"Unfortunately you're right," I sighed. "I've got a mouth to feed."

I rustled Teddy's hair.

"So is Quidditch happening in the morning?" Bella asked.

"Well we have lights so we were just going to play after we eat," Harry said.

"But before that, Jasper and I want to take a few minutes to talk to Teddy," I said. "Alone."

Harry frowned.

"I'll explain it later."

When Teddy finished eating, I passed Fred back to George and Jasper passed James to Harry.

"We'll be back in a few minutes," I assured them.

Jasper and I guided Teddy to our room, and the three of us sat down on the bed.

"Teddy, Papa and I wanted to talk to you about something," I said. "I think you're old enough now to understand it, and I think you're old enough to make the decision about whether or not you want us to still be your Mama and Papa after we talk to you."

Teddy frowned but I could see that he was carefully listening.

"Jazz, why don't you start?"

"Teddy, you have to understand that when I was human, it was a different time," Jasper said slowly. "My situation wasn't the same as your Mama's. Mine wasn't for survival."

"You mean the war you fought in?"

Jasper nodded and he pulled a book off of his nightstand. He flipped the page to himself in his uniform.

"I fought in the American Civil War. At that time America was broken, and my home, Texas, broke away and joined other states in what was called the Confederacy."

"Why was the country broken?" Teddy asked.

"Well you know how Mama has Kreacher?"

Teddy nodded and Jasper hesitated.

"You see, Teddy, back in those times, Muggles owned other Muggles. We owned them in the same way that Wizards have house-elves."

Teddy was quiet for a moment.

"What determined who was owned?"

"It was based on the color of their skin. White Muggles owned black Muggles."

"Did they like being there?" Teddy asked. "Like Kreacher does?"

"No," Jasper said. "They were taken from their homes and they weren't allowed to leave. The people in the North wanted them to be free, but the people in the South wanted to keep their slaves."

"Which side did you fight for, Papa?"

Shame spread through the room.

"I fought for the South. You see, Teddy, I didn't know at the time that slavery was wrong. I grew up around it and I didn't know that they didn't want to be there. My own papa told me that if there was a war, I'd have to fight for my home. I didn't understand why it was wrong until later. Before I met your Mama."

"Did you have slaves, Papa?"

"No, Teddy," Jasper said. "My Ma didn't believe it was right. I fought on the wrong side of the war, Teddy. I know that now, and if I could change things I would."

"Papa, why did they choose people based on the color of their skin?"

"You know how some wizards believe that we're better than Muggles?" I asked.

Teddy nodded.

"Some Muggles felt that way about other Muggles because of the color of their skin. They believed that because they were different they were less than."

"And you felt that way?" Teddy asked Jasper.

"In the beginning," Jasper admitted sheepishly.

"Do you not still?"

"No, Teddy. When I met your Mama, and I saw how she interacted with the world, and I followed in her footsteps."

"So do you like Angelina? And Kingsley?"

"Yes," Jasper said. "I like them very much. Like I said, I changed."

Teddy watched Jasper carefully for a minute.

"So why wouldn't I want you to be my Papa? You're different now."

Jasper grinned and pulled Teddy into his lap, hugging him tightly.

"Now, Teddy," I said slowly, "I've also done bad things in my life. Like Papa said, I did them for survival, but that doesn't mean I don't regret them."

"You mean the things you did when you had to pretend to be a Death Eater?"

I paused and looked at him, astonished.

"You know?"

"Yes. I asked Grandma about the mark on your arm after the first day we met. She didn't tell me, but I heard her and Harry talk about it. I didn't tell them that I heard it, but Harry told Grandma that I would understand that you did it because you had to and not that you wanted to."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Harry said that what you had to do upset you."

"Oh, you smart boy. You've known all along and you still thought of me as your mother."

Teddy nodded.

"I still want you guys to be my parents," he said.

Jasper and I grinned.

"Good, because we still want to be your parents. Now come on. We've got a Quidditch game to set up for."

We decided to go to the field where I did my practices at. I went ahead of the others to take down the charms and set everything up. They arrived close to ten minutes after I had everything set up. Jasper had my broom in hand.

"Hermione is going to referee," Harry said. "Best chance of keeping things even."

"Please," George grumbled, "will things ever be even with Alice?"
"Oh come on, George, you know I'm in better control of my visions. I'm going to simply block them out."

"Anyways, if she's playing Seeker, she's going to be too busy looking for the Snitch to try to cheat," Charlie pointed out.

"Exactly," I grinned.

The game went on into the early hours of the next morning. The sun could be seen at the bottom of the trees, and the Golden Snitch glistened in the light. I had almost closed my fingers around it when I had to roll on my broom to avoid getting hit with the Bludger that came speeding towards me. As I rolled, Harry had gotten the Snitch.

"Good game," Harry said when we all hit the ground.

"It was close," I said as I wrangled the Bludger into the case. "I would have gotten it if George hadn't nearly hit me."

"Sorry, Ali, but it's the spirit of the game."

"Well I want a rematch before the weekend is over," Ron grumbled.

"Okay, we'll do one on Sunday," I said. "For now, I think Kreacher has lunch ready, then you guys should probably take a nap, then we'll get started on the testing."

Edward led everybody back to the house. I stayed behind to add some additional charms that would keep us from having to take everything down, then I hurried to catch up.

After everybody, including Jacob and Seth, ate lunch, everybody was dispersed into their respective rooms so they could sleep for a bit before the tests. Teddy curled up on one of the couches with Jasper, who also had James attached at his hip. Fred was with me, and Victoire and Dominique slept on the other side of the couch that Jasper was sitting on. Jacob and Seth, despite not sleeping, were wide awake.

"How long can a game of Quidditch last?" Seth asked excitedly.

"Days. Months even."

"What's the longest a game has gone on?"

"Six months I'm pretty sure."

"How does that work?" Jacob asked. "Do the players get to eat and sleep?"

"Of course. They bring in substitute players.

"How long has the longest game between you guys been?"

"Oh, I'd say this one is the longest game we've had."

Seth asked a bunch of questions about Quidditch, and I happily answered all of them. It was a little past noon when everybody began to treacle back down the stairs and the questions came to an end.

George and I broke off to Jasper's office where we had the candies still waiting. We broke the testers up into four different groups with three people to a group, except for one group that had only two.

"We might want to warn them that it's not going to be all together pleasant," I said. "None of them really know what to expect."

"I think the chocolate group is going to be the most surprised," George said. "Why don't one of us go in with that group? I'm sure it'd be less intimidating with one of us trying it too."

"I'll go," I nodded. "Make the groups a little bit more even as well."

"Great. Then I think we're ready to get started then."

George and I took down the trays of sweets, and we had buckets at the table with the chocolate.

"Okay," George said after we got everything set up, "we're ready to get started here. On each of your tables there are waivers, and you'll have to sign those and get them back to us before you actually start testing. So there are four stations, and each station will have three testers. Alice is going to read off the stations, and once we get you set up we'll give you a little overview on what to expect. Alice?"

"We're going to come over to each station individually, so don't touch anything before one of us comes to you. At station one, Percy, Charlie, and Edward. Station two, Ginny, Ron, and Seth. Three, Jacob and Emmett, and four, Harry, Carlisle, and Bill."

"I get one and two, and you get three and four?" George asked me.

I nodded and the two of us high fived before we separated.

"Okay, Jacob and Emmett, I'm going to come to you shortly," I said, stopping at their table. "I'm going to actually be testing this with you, so give me just a few minutes to go oversee Harry, Carlisle, and Bill's tests. Sign your waivers while you wait."

They both gave me a thumbs up, and I moved on.

"Okay you three," I grinned, setting my clipboard down on the table, collecting the signed papers, "what we have you trying out is our Chilling Butter Mints. Now we've planned on this being more of a side effect type sweet. So the chills that you would get in a common cold, flu, that sort of thing, yet amplified. The blue ones are meant to start the chills, then we'll wait five minutes and take the red one which is meant to reverse the effects and return you to normal. On we go then."

Harry and Bill were a lot less hesitant to try the candy than Carlisle was.

"Carlisle, you don't have to do this if you don't want to," I reassured him.

"No, no," he said, picking up the mint. "I want to."

A glance in his mind told me that he was telling the truth. He was simply making notes to himself about everything that I had said.

I watched the three carefully over the course of five minutes. The chills came slowly and then all at once. I made notes of everything, including the visible breath that the three of them developed.

"Alright, and now a red one if you will."

The three of them each ate a red mint, and almost immediately the shaking stopped. Harry and Bill exhaled, and a bit of smoke came out.

"How are we feeling?" I asked, grinning.

"Brilliant," Harry said.

"Well I think for a first trial, this went very well," I said. "I don't think there's much we'll have to change with that. Stay here, warm up, and if you three could fill these out, I'd appreciate it."

I handed them the trial forms that George and I had written up to make sure that everything had gone according to plan.

"Hey there, Pixie," Jacob said. "Things go well?"

"Very well," I grinned. "Better than well. I got it right on the first go. So let's see if this is the same. Where their Chilling Butter Mints was a side effect candy, ours is more of a condition candy. So the temporary name for these are Coughing Chocolates. We're trying to come up with a better name for them."
"So is it self explanatory? You eat the chocolate and get a cough?"
"Sort of. The idea here is that you cough up blood. That'd be enough to get you sent to the Hospital Wing, then on the way there you eat the antidote, and you have anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half out of class."

"Just not Jasper's class?" Emmett questioned.

"Exactly," Jasper said from behind me.

"Come to watch?" I asked.

He nodded.

"George said you were trying this one too."

"I am. Hopefully things will go as well as the last one."

"Well good luck to you, love."

"Okay, Emmett, Jacob, if you will."

I handed them each a piece of chocolate, and grabbed one for myself.

I popped the chocolate in my mouth. It tasted almost normal to me. A few minutes passed and the three of us began coughing. The cough started out very dry, and then I felt the liquid. It didn't taste like blood, but when I spit into the white bucket, the red liquid looked close enough to it to where somebody probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I passed the antidote out to Jacob and Emmett before taking one for myself. The antidote worked, but it took some time. Longer than I would have liked. I noted that on my clipboard.

"Well?" Jacob asked, moments later when the blood had cleared up. "Did it go the way you wanted?"

"The sweet, yes. The antidote, no. We'll have to tweak that."

"Will that be hard?"

"Not particularly. After you go wash your mouths out, I need you to fill these out."

I sat their papers on the desk and went to go wash my own mouth out.

"Testing doesn't seem to take very long," Jasper commented.

I shook my head and spit the water out.

"No. It's analyzing results that take the longest. Making sure there are no lasting side effects. It's easier with everybody here. Then of course while he's here we're going to start working on making the wrappers and that sort of thing."

"When are you hoping to launch?"
"Christmas hopefully. That's when we're planning on doing the grand opening."

"Hopefully?"

"Could we talk about this later? I don't want them to worry and I want to talk to George first."

Jasper nodded and together we headed back to the living room.

"I'll go check with George and see how much longer he's got."

"Thank you," I grinned.

I collected the papers on my end, and five minutes later, George was done with his stations with paperwork in hand.

"Ready to go figure it out and start tweaking?"

I nodded and George and I took off back to Jasper's office.

"I think," I said, closing the door behind me, "that was very good for a first test."

"So do I," George said, sitting in one of the chairs.

"I guess we'd better go over these sheets then and then we've got some other business to discuss."

George and I looked over the results of the first tests and discussed alterations for nearly two hours. In the first two stations, things went well for the most part, but the Exanthem Lokums caused the rashes to continue to grow more and more severe.

"If that's the biggest problem then I think we're doing great," I had told George.

When we finished making a plan of the things we were going to tweak, George took a big breath.

"So what business did we need to discuss?" he asked, leaning back in the chair.

"The opening and the launch."

"Right. We're aiming for Christmas, right?"

"Right. But I'm wondering if we could delay it."

"Delay it? Why?"

"I've just got a really bad feeling about Christmas. I don't know what it is, but I gather the feeling that I'm not going to be here for Christmas."

"You think you're gonna—"

"No! I don't mean that I won't be here. I just meant that I gather the feeling that I'm going to be unavailable. I can't explain it though."

"One of the gut feelings?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Have you talked to Jasper about this?"

"I told him I wanted to talk to you first. See what we could do about the opening and the launch and then I'd talk to him."

"Okay," George said slowly. "We could aim for Easter. You'll be home then, and at that point the darkness is off of your shoulders."

I laughed.

"Sounds great."

"So can Jasper hear us now or do you still need to talk to him?"

"I put a Silencing Charm on the door," I said. "I still need to talk to him."

"Are you going to do that today?"

"Probably. But I'm going to wait until after Teddy goes to sleep."

"Speaking of Teddy, how is tomorrow going to work?"

"Harry's going to take him home then I'm going to go get him."

"Sounds like a lot of work," George said.

"Yeah, but it's meant to be a surprise. He and Teddy are going to take a Portkey out later tonight then I'm going to Apparate there a little later. Give Andromeda some time with him before Jasper and I take him for another week."

"So tweaking. When are we starting that?"

"We should probably start it here in a bit," I said. "I can go to St. Mungo's and see if they can help me keep the rash from escalating."

"I'll work on the Chocolate antidote."

"I don't think much work will need to be done for that. I think if the potion is a little stronger than things should work out better."

George nodded.

"You'd better go tell Jasper and Teddy that you're leaving."

"I'll go get you my cauldron real quick."

I went to my room to grab the cauldron and potion ingredients before returning downstairs where George had gone.

"Here's everything," I told him, setting the cauldron down on the table. "Get started on that and I'll work on the rash potion when I get back."

"Back?" Jasper questioned.

I turned and grinned at him.

"I was just about to talk to you about that."

I nodded my head to the corner.

"Where are you going?" Jasper asked when we met up in the corner.

"St. Mungo's. I figured that they could help me figure out what went wrong with the Exanthem Lokums. The rash seems to get progressively worse until the antidote is administered. I was hoping it'd be like the Fever Fudge where we can stop it to a point."

"The Fever Fudge lasts a while though," Jasper said.

"Not always. There is an antidote to it. I've just never taken it. I just wait for the fever to disappear."

"How long will you be gone?"

"Not very long. Or at least I hope not. I don't think I should be gone for more than an hour. Maybe two."

"I think I'm going to stay here with Teddy," Jasper said.

"That sounds good. I'm going to see if Carlisle wants to come."

Carlisle was already on his feet and heading towards me.

"I think that's a yes," Jasper laughed.

"I think so too."

"St. Mungo's is the hospital, right?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes," I said. "We'll go in just a moment. Let me go talk to Teddy."

Teddy was sitting in the corner with Harry when I made it to him. I grinned and sat down in front of them.

"Hi there," I said. "Are you having a good time?"

Teddy nodded.

"I've been spending a lot of time with Papa."

I smiled.

"That's good. Listen, I've got to go to St. Mungo's for a little bit, but I'll be back soon."

"Is Papa staying?" he asked, his voice sounding cautious.

"Yes. He'll be here the whole time."

"And you'll be back soon?"
"I promise."

Teddy hugged me tightly, and when he did I felt pride and love spread through the room.

"I think you Papa is enjoying the atmosphere," I murmured to Teddy.

"Is that Papa doing that?"

"Yes. It's his gift."

I kissed Teddy's cheek, and stood up. Teddy walked with me to Jasper who was grinning.

"Pride and love, huh?" I grinned.

"It's the strongest feeling in the room," he said. "But when I looked over and I saw the two of you, I felt this overwhelming sense of pride in our family."

I laughed and kissed his cheek.

"I'll be back soon," I said.

Before Carlisle and I Disapperated away, I made sure to grab a lokum and the antidote. Carlisle held on to my hand tightly, and when we landed inside of St. Mungo's he grabbed his stomach.

"Feeling a little sick?" I asked.

"A little. Does that ever get easier?"

"In time. Side-Along Apparition isn't pleasant, but when it's you doing the Apparating it isn't so bad."

Carlisle followed me to the desk all while looking around in wonder.

"What can I do for you?" the Welcome Witch said. It was the same witch that had been here when Arthur was recovering after Nagini bit him. She was more cheery than the last time I had seen her.

"Hi there. I was wondering if Madam Morgan was still here?"

The woman nodded.

"Yes. She's no longer on the same floor that she was on. She's up on the Janus Thickey Ward now. Between you and I, the Longbottoms have been causing a small stir-up. Their son couldn't make it to visit today, and it's caused some problems."

"Janus Thickey Ward…that's the fourth floor, right?"

"Right. You're welcome to go up there if you'd like. I don't think that she'd mind seeing you, Mrs. Whitlock."

I smiled and nodded.

"Thank you."

I nodded my head at Carlisle, and guided him to the stairs.

"You know these Longbottoms?" Carlisle asked as we walked.

"Yes. They're permanent residents here."

"The name sounds familiar."

"Do you remember Neville Longbottom?"

"Right, the other boy who the Prophecy could have been about."

"Yes. They're his parents. Frank and Alice."

"Why are they here?"

"Not long before my mother died, Voldemort was trying to get information about the boy in the Prophecy. At that time, the exact person was still unknown, and when they decided it would be Harry, Voldemort thought Frank and Alice would have information. Bellatrix, her husband, her brother-in-law, and Barty Crouch Jr. kidnapped them and tortured them. They didn't stop and Frank and Alice went insane."

"Alice," Carlisle repeated.

"Mum liked her name, and Alice was exceptionally kind to her when she got pregnant."

"So you were named after her?"

"Yes."

We made it to the stairs then and Carlisle fell quiet. He studied the board that directed people to the floors for a moment, and then we started the climb up the stairs. When we finally made it to the fourth floor, I felt myself sigh in relief. I wasn't sure when things got awkward with Carlisle, but I was glad to be surrounded by others.

Upon making it to the Janus Thickey Ward, the first person I saw was Gilderoy Lockhart. He watched me curiously and I couldn't help but watch him too. After a moment, he rushed to me, blocking my path.

"Hello there," he said, flashing his white teeth at me. "I expect you'd like my autograph?"

"I'm sorry, Professor Lockhart, but I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Professor," he murmured. "Some kids called me Professor years ago. Said I taught them everything they know! Did I teach you too?"

"Yes," I said, offering a small smile. "But by that point I was almost finished with my time at Hogwarts. Those children were my brother and his friends."

"You were there too!" he said, pointing at me. "You were leading them!"

"Yes, I was here," I said. "But Professor, I really must go."

I slipped past him to the end of the ward where Madam Morgan was sitting in between the beds of Alice and Frank Longbottom. They looked the same as I remembered, but they had gotten a little older. So had Madam Morgan.

"Hello, Madam," I said in a small voice. "I don't know if you remember me, but—"

"Alice Black!" she grinned. "Of course I remember you, girl. I had heard of your return, and I've been wondering when we'd see you here."

She paused and eyed Carlisle carefully.

"This man isn't your husband," she said, sounding matter of fact.

"No," I said. "This is Carlisle, one of my coven mates. He's a Muggle Healer."

"How absolutely fascinating that must be!" she grinned.

"I think he's got the same opinion about this," I said, pulling the chair from the other side of Frank's bed to sit in front of her. "Listen, I was hoping you could help me out. George and I are expanding our Skiving Snackboxes—"

"Oh, yes," Madam Morgan grinned, cherrily. "I had read in the Prophet that you had gone into business with Mr. Weasley. I remember when the business was just starting and young Alice here wound up on my wing for extraordinarily high fevers. I helped them fix the recipe to keep it safe."

"Yes," I said, "and George and I were hoping you'd help us again."

I pulled the recipe out of my bag as well as the lokum and antidote.

"I know that this is your ward now, but George and I were making this new sweet, and we've found that the rash grows very severe very quickly. The antidote works, but it takes longer than we'd like to. We were wondering if there was a way that we could stop the rash in the same way that we stopped the fever from escalating."

"Could I see?" she asked.

I nodded and pulled the lokum out of the bag before eating it. The rash started on my neck. I could feel it there. Then it spread to my arms and hands, and I could feel it on my torso and legs.

"Oh dear," Madam Morgan said after a moment. "I see what you mean."

She pulled my arm to her and brushed her fingers gently across the now blistering rash. After another moment, I took the antidote, and the rashes slowly cleared up.

"Can I see your recipe?"

I passed the paper to her and waited quietly. After a moment, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked up to meet the eyes of Alice Longbottom who watched me carefully. After a moment she held her hand out to me, and tugged on my sleeve to try and get me to turn my hand.

I held my hand out to her, and she dropped a wrapper in my hand. It was for Droobles Chewing Gum.

"Thank you, Alice," I smiled at her.

"Jo," she grinned, pressing a hand to my face.

I had never heard her speak. From the way I understood things, I didn't think she could speak.

"Jo," Madam Morgan murmured. "I've never heard her say that."

I watched Alice for a moment, and in her mind I could see her struggling to remember Mama's face. I reached inside my bag and pulled out a picture of the original Order of the Phoenix. I passed it to her and pointed to Mum.

"Jo?" I questioned.

"Jo," she repeated, stroking the picture.

"Does she understand?" Carlisle whispered to Madam Morgan.

"We were never really sure. She mutters to Frank, and their son comes to see her and he talks. She seems to listen but I was never really sure."

"She understands," I murmured, watching Alice.

Alice looked back up to me and she smiled.

"Jo?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "She's gone now."

Alice frowned. She got off the bed and went to Frank's side. He was sitting up now and he was watching me.

She jabbed her finger at the picture and then at me.

"Jo, gone," she said quietly.

Frank turned and looked at me, watching me quietly. I looked at the table between their beds and I looked at the picture of Alice, Frank, and Neville.

Alice brought the picture back to me, and I waved a hand over it, creating a copy.

"Here," I said, passing the copy to Alice. "You keep that."

She smiled proudly and she set the picture up next to the one of her, Frank, and Madam Morgan worked, I watched Alice's mind closely.

Alice could remember things before the attack. In her memories, I saw my mother, my father, Lily, James, and Remus. I saw the memories they had together while they were in school. I even saw flashes of my mother pregnant, and me as a baby. She remembered her own pregnancy, and Neville's face was the most clear memory she had. The rest were clouded, and out of focus, but they were there. Things were dark for a while, but then Alice remembered the brightness of the ward. She remembered Frank being there with her, and she remembered the sense of loss that she had for her son. Then as Neville grew up and continued to visit her on the ward, these memories were clouded too, but much like before, Neville's face was the most clear thing to her.

An hour had passed before Madam Morgan had finished. She wrote notes on the paper, and on the back of it, she wrote down ingredients for a blocker.

"Try that," she said. "The blocker is similar to what we used on the last one. If that doesn't work, come back, and we'll figure something out."

"And if it does work?" I questioned, sensing there was more.

"Come back anyways. It would seem that you've done Alice and Frank some good."

I turned back to the two, and found that they were both watching me too. They were smiling.

"I think I'll write to Neville," I murmured more to myself than to the others. "Thank you for your help Madam Morgan."
"Of course. I hope to see you soon, Alice. Maybe next time you visit you should bring that husband of yours. I'd love to meet him."

"Of course."

I stood up and returned the chair to the other side of Frank's bed.

"Carlisle, are you ready?"

Carlisle didn't answer. I turned to find Lockhart standing with his arm around him. Carlisle tried to politely move Lockhart off of him.

"Professor," I greeted, as Carlisle got Lockhart's off from around his shoulders. "We were just leaving."

"Leaving!" Lockhart exclaimed. "But you've just gotten here!"

"Yes, but I have to get back home. My son is waiting for me."

Lockhart hurried to his bed, and then hurried back with a small stack of signed pictures.

"You can give them to your friends," he grinned.

"Thank you, Professor. Carlisle?"

Carlisle followed me off the ward, and waited as I relocked the door behind me.

"So that's a memory loss ward?" Carlisle asked.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "It's a ward for those with permanent spell damage."

"Jo," he said after a moment. "Is that your mother?"

"Yes," I said. "Alice and Frank were friends with my parents. They were already here by the time Mum died"

"That picture you gave her. What was it?"
"The original Order of the Phoenix."

"Do you know what she remembers? Alice I mean. Could she survive on her own?"

"She couldn't survive on her own, but she does remember more than I expected her to."

"Does she remember—" he broke off and I looked at him.

"The attack? No. It goes black for a while. I guess that's the time that they were taken and tortured. But she remembers Neville. His face is the clearest thing that she remembers. Come on then. I need to go to Diagon Alley and grab a few things for this blocker."

Carlisle followed me out to the street, pausing with me when I dropped some money into the donation bin at the front. He looked around in wonder when we made it into the department store, and he continued to look around until we left.

"It's not a very long walk," I told Carlisle, glancing up at the cloudy sky. "Only about five minutes."

"The Wizarding World was right below our noses," Carlisle said, glancing up at the department store that held the hospital.

"Yes. We're very good at hiding."

"But why do you hide? Couldn't your kind and the Muggles make peace?"

"We used to," I said. "Back in the ancient times. Maybe Amun remembers."

"He's never said—"

"Of course he wouldn't say," I interrupted, as Carlisle and I quickly walked down the street. "There was an agreement between the magical government and the Volturi. Aro wouldn't have let him say anything."

"But you were surprised when Aro knew of Wizardkind."

"Yes. I gather now that he too might remember the old times. Before Wizardkind went into hiding."

"How long ago?"

"Like I said. Ancient times."

"How long has the hospital been there? When I was a boy, it was an abandoned Catholic church when I was a boy."

I watched him for a moment.

"What year was it then?"

"1649."

"St. Mungo's was founded not long before you were born. 1620."

"My father went into the church once. He claimed to have seen people go in and never come out again."

"Yes. Back then you had to talk to the cross to get in. When the world changed, the hospital had to change with it. You didn't see because I Apparated straight into the hospital, but to get in, you have two ways. One, you can go through the window, or two, you could talk to an inanimate dummy in the store."

We made it to the Leaky Cauldron then, and I didn't stop to chat as I hurried Carlisle through the barrier.

I had managed to get in and back out just before the Apothecary closed, and from there we Apparated straight back to the Cullen house.

"Madam Morgan was actually very helpful," I said, showing George the paper. "She said that it's similar to the blocker that we used on the Fever Fudges, but altered slightly."

"What'd you stop to get?" George asked, motioning to the bag as I set up a second cauldron.

"Stuff for the blocker. Bitter root, bursting mushrooms, dragonfly thorax, and some more lavender."

"I bet it'll be time for a restock of ingredients soon," George said, motioning his head to the containers of ingredients that sat on a table.

"I'll make note of everything and go in the morning," I murmured. "Where's Teddy and Jasper?"

"Jasper took him on a walk."
"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. Teddy was feeling a little restless is all."
"Restless?"

"He's bored," George said. "He's a young boy."

"We should teach him to fly," I said as I set up the other cauldron. "Help him get out some of that energy."
"Jasper and I were talking about that. Jasper also wants to teach him to play chess."

"Maybe I'll start those flying lessons this week," I murmured. "Get a training broom while I'm in Diagon Alley."

"Can he start learning to fly this early?" Rosalie asked. "He's just a boy."

"Alice was a bit younger than he is now when I started teaching her to fly," Bill said. "You were six when we started, weren't you?"

"Yeah, it was around that time," I said, not looking up from the bitter root that I was in the middle of crushing. "Teddy is plenty old enough. I think if Andromeda could fly she'd have already started teaching him."

"Andromeda can't fly?" Carlisle questioned, watching me.

"Well she can fly, she's just not very good at it," Harry said.

Jasper and Teddy returned close to fifteen minutes after I had gotten home. I was simmering the blocker, slicing the dragonfly thorax while I waited.

"How was it?" Jasper asked, watching me closely.

"Good. Very good. Madam Morgan is on the Janus Thickey Ward now, but she was still able to help."
Harry's head popped up and he watched me.

"Did you see—"
"Neville's parents? Yes. According to the Welcome Witch they were causing quite the stir because Neville couldn't make it in."

"What'd you think?"

"I think that they miss their son. Neville once told me that he wasn't certain that they know who he is. They know. Alice does anyway. In her memories, Neville is the clearest thing. I think if they started a stir, it's because they miss their boy."

"Do you know why he couldn't make it?" Bella asked.

"Teaching obligations likely got in the way," I said.

Teddy tugged on my sleeve.
"Mama," he whispered in my ear, "when Papa starts teaching, will he not have time for us?"

"Of course he will," I murmured back. "He's always going to make time for us. You don't have to worry about anything."

Edward made dinner for everybody while I finished up the altered potions. I would be adding them to the other batch of sweets later in the night after everyone had gone to bed, and periodically through the night I would check in on the others to make sure there were no lasting effects.

When the night came, and Bella, Edward, Jacob, and Renesmee returned to the cottage, everyone dispersed into their rooms for the night. James remained clinging to Jasper, and Fred and Teddy curled up on either side of me.

"Mama, can you tell me a story?" Teddy asked. He laid as close to me as he could with his head in my lap.

"What story do you want to hear?"

"Do you have Tales of Beedle the Bard?"

"I have them memorized," I told him. "Which story do you want to hear?"

"The Tale of the Three Brothers. It's my favorite story."

"Mine too," Jasper and I said together.

"I've never heard of that story," Seth murmured from the floor in front of me.

"It's a fairy tale from my world. Listen. You might like it."

I told the story from memory. Fred and James listened too, but Seth listened more closely than any of them. By the end of the story, he was the only one awake, and he was still watching me.

"They're real, aren't they?" Seth whispered, careful to not wake up any of the children. "You have the stone, don't you?"

"Yes. It was a gift from Harry. He's got the cloak."

"And the wand?"

"Gone. Harry became the Master of Death during the war. He used the Elder Wand once to fix his wand which had been broken while he was traveling, then he put it back in Dumbledore's tomb."

"Back in Dumbledore's tomb?"

"Yes. Dumbldore won the wand from Gellert Grindelwald."

"And Harry won it from Dumbledore?"

"No. Harry won it from Draco Malfoy when Harry disarmed him at Malfoy Manor."

"But didn't Severus kill Dumbledore?" Rosalie asked from the spot where she and Emmett were playing chess.

"Yes. But Draco won it when he disarmed Dumbledore that night on the Astronomy Tower. Before Severus got there."

"I don't understand," Seth said.

"It's a different story," I murmured as I stroked Teddy's hair. "A story for later. It's one I can show you better than I can tell you."

"Show?"

"Yes. I have a Pensieve. It's a magical item where you can rewatch your memories, thoughts. Anything up here." I tapped my temple. "I'll show you when the house is less crowded and when you've slept."

It wasn't much longer before Seth went to sleep as well.

Teddy slept until just after one that night when Harry came to wake him to take him home. He became incredibly upset when he learned that he was leaving.

"Mama, I want to stay!" he cried as I pulled him into the kitchen. "Why does everybody else get to stay but me?"

"Grandma misses you, my love," I murmured, pulling him into my lap, and rocking him back and forth. "She's got a surprise for you that you'll get a little after noon, but you can't get that if you're still here."

"I don't want it," he mumbled into my shoulder. "I want to stay here with you and Papa."

"Will it help if I come with you?" I murmured. "Grandma wants to see you."

"You said I would come and stay with you. When?" he demanded.

"Soon," I murmured, looking up to Jasper who came in the room. "Very soon."

"What's the surprise?" he asked, pulling back to look at me.

"It's not a surprise if I tell you," I smiled. "But I promise you that you'll love it."

He studied my face for a moment and sighed before he threw his arms around my neck.

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too," I smiled. "Go hug your Papa, and I'll go with you and Harry, okay?"

Teddy nodded glumly and he went to hug Jasper.

Maybe keeping it a surprise wasn't the best idea after all, Jasper though to me as Teddy hugged him.

"He'll be fine," I said too quickly for Teddy to hear. "It's hard for him. He has to leave while everybody else stays."

Do you want me to come too?

"Do you want to come?"

He nodded.

"Okay. I'm going to go get Harry."

"How is he?" Harry asked when I came back out into the living room. George was sitting down their now, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

"Jasper and I are going to come with you," I said. "That's the only way he'll go is if we come with him."

Harry nodded.
"I've never seen him like that."

"He doesn't think it's fair. We're his parents but he sees us the least."
"I understand it," Harry said.

"But we think it'd be a good surprise for him."

"I definitely think that it'll be a better surprise when he finds out he's coming back."

I nodded.

"Well we'd better go or we're going to miss our Portkey."

The four of us came outside, each grabbed a part of an old tire, then we were gone.

---

Hey guys! So the next chapter will contain an overview of the results of the testing and the week that Teddy stays with Alice and Jasper. I had every intention of adding it to this chapter, but then it ended up being forty pages long and I figured I needed to go ahead and put a plug in it. So instead, I'll add it to the next chapter in an overview type of thing. It's definitely going to be a bit before I get that chapter up though. In order to keep up with my writing schedule, I have four chapters for The Potter Twins that I need to write since I did two back to back chapters of LIAB.

Another thing I wanted to talk about is the conversation that was had with Teddy regarding Alice and Jasper's past. I read this article regarding when you should talk about racism with a child, and it recommended that it's a conversation that should be had by the time a child is ten. I've noticed that children appear to be a lot more mature in the Wizarding world, so I figured that it'd probably be a good conversation for them to have prior to Teddy moving in with them because of Jasper's past. That conversation had nothing to do with Jasper trending on Twitter this morning (2/20/21), it was strictly coincidental, but I figured it brought up an important conversation that needed to be had. In no way do I condone racism, and while I can not speak for cannon Jasper, I can say that my version of Jasper is not racist.

One final note is I want to give the restaurants that I used to pick the dinner meals during the business dinner credit. I used a combination of the menus of the following restaurants: Yono's in Albany NY, La Papillon in Lancaster CA, and Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, CA. So any food I mentioned during the business dinner came from one of those three restaurants.

I think that's all for this chapter, but I hope to see you in the next one.

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