ALICE POTTER THE CHESHIRE CAT

by MamaOgre

SUMMERY: The summer before fourth year Alice Potter receives a strange collar with magical properties...putting it on Alice gains a friendly Ally, freedom from Dumbledore and the Dursleys, Dobby as a free house elf friend and the strength to get through her toughest year at Hogwarts yet...one that involves The Triwizard tournament.

4. Two sponsors and a muggleborn

ALICE POTTER CHESHIRE CAT

CHAPTER FOUR

July 31st 1994

Albus Dumbledore headmaster, chief warlock and international representative sat in his office at Hogwarts stewing over the fact that so much had gone wrong in such a small amount of time. Today was the fourteenth birthday of Alice Potter, The pawn Dumbledore had set up on the path to die a Martyr who had broken free and gone rouge. How she'd broken the blood wards on Privet drive and left without leaving so much as a tangible magical trace Dumbledore didn't quite know for sure, but finding out that Petunia Dursley had assigned away all rights to the girl over a week ago and allowing her emancipation to go ahead along with the goblins of Gringotts barring him from attempting all control over the girls finances and guardianship had been amongst the most frustrating things he'd ever experienced. Even being struck by Mrs Figg after he suggested she had something to do of it added to his growing paranoia.

Albus Dumbledore had never been as white as the popular opinion of him painted him to be, but he wasn't as inclined to the dark arts as Tom Riddle had been, he knew enough to take over the wizarding globe if he wanted to. But no Albus Dumbledore was content in ruling Britain and keeping the magic population as dumb as possible...he wanted to be remembered as the most powerful wizard since merlin to come out of the UK. His temper rose enough for a glass to break on Dumbledore's table. Albus sighed whipped out his wand and fixed the glass, returning it to the table where it once was. The only thorn in Dumbledore's side in the past a hundred years had been the Potter family. Every Lord and Heir had been some form of powerful person either being a master in a magical skill set, powerful in the Wizgenmort or extremely charismatic and popular. Alice had been born with a powerful magical core one Dumbledore bound the instant she was dropped off at the Dursleys. As such he wanted to keep her downtrodden until she had use as the person of Voldemort's ire and could die...but how to do it

Ideas and plans whirled through his head and none seamed workable until his eyes laid on the letters about the Triwizard Tournament...She wouldn't know about it, part of the plan was still viable and he could trap her by claiming delusions and gain guardianship by ministerial force...elements came together in his mind as a Ministry owl came swooping in. taking the letter from the owl Dumbledore threw it on his desk

'Those fools can wait an hour' Dumbledore thought as he popped in a sherbet lemon ignoring the letter for fleshing out his plan 'I have a pawn to deal with'

Standing in the corner disillusioned under house elf magic stood dobby...every move Dumbledore made about his Mistress Alice had to be reported back to Bloodfang

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July 31st 1994

"Did you learn anything from second year?" Hermione asked shrilly staring at Alice with worried concern

The two girls were sitting in the hotel room Alice had booked until September 1st, waiting for Mrs Granger to come back up form her massage. Both Alice and Hermione had benefited from Spa Professionals and had massages, scrubs and child friendly treatments...It took a bit longer for Mrs Granger who was also being treated to the make up package as well by Alice who wanted to thank the woman for her parental concern. Alice couldn't believe the fact that Hermione fixated on a specific piece of information rather than the whole.

"Yes" came Alice's rather blunt reply as she stretched "Don't worry I got the goblins to give us a once over...the goblin healer Axeclaw stated that if I hadn't put it on my core would have been forever damaged plus its tuned to my magic via blood and only one or two other people in the world could put it on"

"Wait really?" Hermione asked the rare bit of information stalling her worrisome nature "Who else could wear the collar?"

"An Australian kid called Toby Collins...he's like five or something and the other is Luna Lovegood she'll be a third year Ravenclaw this coming school year"

"I've heard of Luna" Hermione said calming down "Rather smart and a bit of a loner, we occasionally share a table in the library...I hear she gets bullied for being unusual, talks about seeing strange creatures a lot"

"Well I'll be changing that by the start of the school year, I'm writing a letter and requesting a meeting" Alice said finishing her stretching

"That sounds decent of you" Hermione said calmly before smiling "What are you doing?"

"Stretching of course" Alice replied in an obvious tone "Don't you want to see what magic I can do now?"

"I thought we couldn't do magic outside of Hogwarts due to being minors?" Hermione replied in surprise

"What did I tell you not five minutes ago" Alice said with a slightly raised voice reminding Hermione that she was now an emancipated minor "plus I've noticed this type of magic doesn't trigger the countrywide wards..."

Hermione watched with her mouth open and half a question in her head as Alice began to fade leaving an abnormally wide smile behind for a brief moment before vanishing entirely and reappearing across the room. Alice then tumbled back across the room showing she'd become rather flexible.

"Now...er" Alice began trying to catch Her breath "this bit is...well can be a little disconcerting I'm warning you now"

"Really?, is it damaging?" Hermione asked worry colouring her eyes again "Should I get my mother,...?"

"No its all good its just..." Alice began before throwing caution to the wind "...The hell with it, just look"

Alice dropped the illusion and showed Hermione her real self cat ears, tail and all. Hermione stared at her gobsmacked. Alice twirled looking a little nervous as she waited for Hermione to speak.

"It...It changed you?" Hermione finally sputtered finding her voice after a moment "What...Why?...How?"

"When I put the Collar on the first thing the Cheshire cat ...he's the spirit who lives in it" Alice replied slowly so she didn't aggravate Hermione further "Told me my core was horribly bound and was going to remove them because they were causing damage...when he did my core reacted wildly and he...had to fuse with it so I wouldn't die"

"That's terrible" Hermione almost sobbed "Was that why you went on holiday you'd been hurt?"

"Part of it yes...I needed to rest and to use my magic in a neutral environment" Alice said relaxing a bit more "The island I went to was more than enough"

"How come I didn't see you like this at the airport?" Hermione asked interested

"I can hold an illusion for a good two hours now" Alice replied a grin forming on her lips "Cheshire helps when I can't hold it much longer and I've been working on this"

Alice got to her feet again, relaxed held up her arms and pulled. Hermione's eyes widened as Alice's Eyes changed back to normal and her ears, tail and claws retracted into her skin.

"Wow" was all Hermione could say as she jumped off the bed and walked around her making Alice smile and feel awkward at the same time

"Yeah I know" Alice said "I can hold them in for hours but not all day, It's what I did earlier in the spa"

"Fair enough" Hermione said pulling Alice with her as she sat back down "Who else knows?"

"Bloodfang the banker to my accounts as well as Mr Weasley and Madam Bones... that's if they're my sponsors" Alice replied smiling "and I already told you about that meeting in two days"

"Fair enough" Hermione announced as Mrs Granger came through the door "Hi mum, you look good"

"Thank you sweetheart "Mrs Granger said with a smile and a twirl in her dress "Now how come you two aren't ready yet the shows in two hours and we still need to go eat"

Both Alice and Hermione scurried around the room to get dressed after all it was rare for them to see a west end show together without their wizarding friends.

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August 1st 1994

'It seams that writing letters is becoming a serious hobby dearie' Cheshire purred happily as Alice tapped her pen against the legal pad on her lap

'merely writing to a relative Chess' Alice replied 'and to an acquaintance who really should be a friend'

'Ah so Little Luna Lovegood finally gets a thought and It's tied up with Neville Longbottom' Cheshire chuckled

'Of course' Alice said purring slightly herself 'Since I'm writing both of them letters after all'

'Fair enough, don't mind me I'll be sleeping back here, after all the show we put on for Hermione yesterday was rather draining' Cheshire purred sounding a little put out

'Well don't let me keep you from your beauty sleep then Chess' Alice huffed harmlessly knowing full well Cheshire didn't mean it in the slightest

Pondering a moment as she looked out the window, the lion king was a good show both Hermione and her mother loved it just as much as she did. After dropping Alice back off at her hotel Hermione and her mother left to go home. Turning back to the pad Alice couldn't think of what to write until a thought about what Hermione had said about the girl formed the whole letter for her

Dear Luna Lovegood,

We've never spoken before nor have I needed to write a letter to you until now. I'm Alice Potter, you've no doubt have heard the usual about me and I'm sorry for it...I am writing to you however because I've found out recently we're related and I wanted to meet with you before the new school year started as a chance to bond and to tell you a few things I've found out...lets just say I wanted to clear the Wakspurts before they attacked again, I have some information you really need to hear. I'm available up to the QWC and afterwards. If your going please tell me then we can meet there if not then I'll be in Diagon Alley on the 15th of August getting school supplies with Hermione Granger and the Weasleys.

Yours sincerely

Alice Potter

P.S: If you cant join us at the QWC or on the 15th of August, please tell me then we can arrange a day and time to suit you.

Nodding to herself after checking for any errors and looking to see if it read as it sounded in her head, Alice turned to the letter to Neville...this one was easier to write

Hey Neville,

It's Alice and I'm sorry I haven't been much of a friend to you these past three years and I'm truly sorry for it. I hope we can become proper friends during the new school year. How has your summer been so far and are you going to the QWC?, If your not going could we meet up and get school supplies together?, I'll be going with Hermione Granger and the Weasleys as usual on the 15th of August and I hope you can join us

yours,

Alice Potter

P.S: What do you reckon the chances are that Ireland wins but Bulgarians seeker gets the snitch?, I have the strangest feeling that happens.

Alice smiled as she re-read Neville's letter checking for errors, sealing both letters in envelopes with their names scrawled across the front

"Hey Hegwig?" Alice called waking up her white owl with a head scratch "Up for sending a few letters?"

Hegwig hooted happily as Alice tied the letters to her legs

"Ones for Luna Lovegood and the other is for Neville Longbottom" Alice told her taking the owl to the open window as she continuously stroked her head "You don't have to stay for replies...so you can go hunt afterwards if you want"

Hegwig hooted again and nipped her fingers before taking flight out of the open window, Alice smiled at her avian friends zest for life before throwing herself on the bed and going to sleep.

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August 2nd 1994

Alice had never felt as nervous sitting in an office as she did right at that moment. Then again it was never the final legal nail in the process which was changing her life. Bloodfang sat across the table form her as they patiently waited for the remaining two people of this meeting. Alice flinched slightly when a knock on the door happened breaking the silence of the office.

"Enter" Bloodfang called out and the door opened at once revealing Griphook, Mr Weasley and a woman Alice assumed was Madam Bones.

"Madam bones and Mr Weasley to see you Banker Bloodfang" Griphook announced leading both magical's into the room

"Ah Thank you Griphook" Bloodfang said calmly as Alice rose and gave Mr Weasley a hug "And you may stay I'll have need of you, please sit down Madam Bones and Mr Weasley, we have a lot to do"

"Thank you for meeting with us as well Banker Bloodfang" Madam Bones replied sitting down after shaking Alice's hand "Although I don't see why It seams Alice's emancipation seams open and shut"

"It's almost there Madam Bones but as you're aware the younger a teenager is when emancipated the more likely in need of a sponsor they are" Bloodfang replied honestly "and Since Lady Alice here is in charge of several houses we agreed that Co-sponsors were the best option"

"Are you saying that Madam Bones and I are amongst the choices for Alice" Mr Weasley asked sounding as nervous as Alice felt

"Amongst Mr Weasley you two were the only choices" Bloodfang replied with a smile offering both Mr Weasley and Madam Bones the contracts "Alice was rather insistent"

Both adults shared a look before looking over the parchment contracts. Madam Bones looked unsure whilst Mr Weasley seamed iching for a quill.

"Mr Weasley you are one of the best adults I know and you give good advice" Alice said a little too quickly "And Madam Bones whilst we don't really know each other I know you're a good head of the auror department and Susan bones raves about how a decent person you are...those are qualities in sponsors I'd happily have"

"I'll happily do it where do I sign?" Mr Weasley replied looking to Bloodfang who wordlessly handed over a quill

"I'll do it too" Madam bones said after a while "On the promise that you tell me where your staying the rest of this holiday and what's happening with the QWC...You're a national treasure Miss Potter and id rather not be accused of mistreating you"

Alice smiled brightly as Mr Weasley passed the quill over telling Madam Bones Alice would be with him for the QWC

"I'll happily show you which hotel I'm staying in Madam Bones" Alice replied happily "I'll take you there after this meeting if you and Mr Weasley wish to join me for lunch?"

"Certainly Alice I ll be happy to" Mr Weasley said with a grin passing the contract to Bloodfang "and you can call me Arthur"

"I'll be there too" Madam Bones added on handing the quill and contract over "as long as you call me Amelia"

"There's one more thing I have to tell you though" Alice said stalling slightly by looking over to Bloodfang

"Go ahead Lady Alice" he prompted kindly making Alice smile and turning back to the other adults.

Alice sighed, closed her eyes and pushed her magic outwards.

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AUTHORS NOTE:

THANK YOU FOR READING CHAPTER FOUR OF ALICE POTTER CHESHIRE CAT

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ALL POLITE, RESONABLY CONSTRUCTED AND RESPECTFUL CONTENT WILL BE RESPONDED TO AND WELCOMED.

ALL FLAMERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO WRITE RESPECTFULLY WILL BE DELETED AND BLOCKED.

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MNAY THANKS TO THESE REVIEWERS:

ULTIMA-OWNER

Of course...Spa's are awesome and it's something Alice (and all the Harry's: female and male) need once in a while

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XIU

Here's another Chapter for you to read

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FOXCHILD1

Here's more for you to enjoy

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MIKARI NOVA

Thank you for finding the story enjoyable so far I hope this adds to it

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ARCHERON GODDESS

I hope you hold on, It's gonna be a bumpy ride

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HNH058513

I hope the showing of what Alice has learned already helps with what I explained in my reply.

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CHAPTER FIVE IS BEING WRITTEN AS WE SPEAK...