A/N: I have always tried avoid being one of those authors who threatens in order to get feedback. But this story has been up for a few days at least and there is only one person who has even reviewed it. As I know for a fact that most people review what they read, I can only surmise that no one is reading this story, in which case I will no longer be posting it. I will however continue to check for feedback. If a few people began to creep out of the woodwork then I will gladly begin posting it again. Until such time I will only post Four Houses and whatever else I end up working on.

Chapter 3: Welcome Home

            They walked into the entry hall of Hogwarts just at dinner time. Alathea's stomach rumbled loudly causing her father to smirk slightly. He let a lazy eye wander over her choice of clothes. "Perhaps something a bit more discreet?" He suggested as he studied the sleeveless, formfitting sundress.

            He pulled out his wand, but Alathea stopped him. "I want to try Daddy." She begged with all the excitement and eagerness of the little girl with black ringlets and rosy cheeks that he remembered. He nodded and lowered his wand. Pride crept silently over his face as Alathea grasped her wand properly and pointed it at herself. "Mutous Vestio!" The fabric stretched and contorted, ending finally in a midnight blue gown with long bell sleeves and a heart shaped neckline. The bodice was still form fitting, but the skirt flared out at her hips and touched the floor covering her sandaled feet.

            "Very well done Alathea." Her father praised her. She beamed proudly, before entering the Great Hall on her father's arm. The students stopped and stared as she walked up the isle between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Dumbledore offered her a smile and a wink. But when she looked over at the Gryffindor table, her heart skipped a beat. He had the same green eyes and his father's messy black hair. She knew. Alathea tried to pull away, to go over to him, but her father held tight. "Not now Thea." He whispered.

            He tried to ignore the tears that sprang to her eyes but he couldn't, so he tightened his grip on her comfortingly. "I'll have Minerva bring him to Albus's office tonight, but remember, he doesn't remember you as well as you remember him." She nodded, and although there were still a few tears in her dark eyes, there was also a smile tugging at her lips.

            Dinner flew by quickly for Alathea and soon she was bouncing excitedly in her godfather's office, waiting. She stared at the wall and suddenly she was remembering….

            She was sitting on the floor at her papi's feet and rolling a ball to her little brother. He rolled it back and giggled. Mommy looked up from the letter she was writing as Alathea shook her head. "No, no…roll it to me." She instructed the baby before pushing the ball back in his direction.

            There was a flash of green light and her Papi stood up. Mommy looked up sharply at Papi watching the window. Alathea climbed up into a chair and looked out the window. Five men in black robes were stalking toward the house, behind them was an older wizard; he wore a black robe too, but his hood was down and she could see the angry scowl on his face. "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off…"

            Papi picked her up and took her to the coat closet, over his shoulder, she could see mommy carrying baby Harry upstairs. He gave her the teddy bear Daddy had bought for her when she was born. "Thea, listen to me. I'm going to hide you. You stay in here until the bad wizard is gone. Then go get Harry, he'll be hiding in mommy and my bedroom. Then you need to go find Daddy, okay?" She sniffled but nodded. He whispered unfamiliar wands and then he shut the door to the closet.

            She heard the door slam open and she winced but she didn't cry. Things broke, and then there was a thud as something hit the floor. Someone was walking on the steps, and then she heard her mommy's voice from upstairs. "Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

            A cold scary voice answered her, and she begged for a few more minutes. Then another thud. And thunder. Then Harry started crying.

            "Alathea...Alathea?" She jumped as she woke from her nightmare. Tears had made silent tracks down her cheeks. Her father stood over her, a worried frown on his face. "Little one, are you alright?" Instead of answering she launched herself into his arms.

            And that was when Harry entered.