Harry Potter and the Daughter of the Dark Lord

by bellalestrange2003

It's Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. Harry, desperate to get back to Ron and Hermione after what seems like a very long summer, finds out something the Order has been trying to keep secret--Voldemort has a daughter...

2. Petreska Cotronus and the Nightmare Oil

Part Two:

Petreska Cotronus
and the
Nightmare Oil

"Harry, Harry!" Colin Creevy yelled making his way down the house table.

"Hi Colin," Harry greeted eating a piece of bacon. It was breakfast time in the Great Hall and Harry was half asleep from staying up late eating the cake with Alice.

"Harry, when are Quidditch tryouts?" Colin asked.

Harry stared blankly at Colin. Quidditch tryouts?? he repeated in his mind. Then it hit him. He had forgotten that he was Quidditch Captain.

"Uh.. um.. Saturday, 1:00. I'll post it up in the Common Room," Harry said.

"I'm going to try out," said a voice behind Harry. Harry looked around to see Ginny.

"Ginny, you're not good at Chaser, I've seen you play," Ron spoke up snobbishly.

"Who said I wanted to be Chaser? I'm going to be Beater," Ginny said smiling. Ron's mouth dropped.

"You can't be Beater!" Ron almost yelled in annoyance.

"Who says I can't? Just because most Beaters are boys... Well I want to be a Beater," Ginny informed crossing her arms.

"Uh... Ginny... don't you think you're a bit... uh..." Harry said trying to find the right words.

"Small? Harry I'm 15 years old!" Ginny said, her face turning red in anger.

"Yes, well, not small, just... weak," Harry said. Ron laughed. Ginny's eyes narrowed.

"I didn't say I was Miss Universe. All you have to do is bat a Bludger. It's not that hard you know. Doesn't require lots of strength," Ginny explained.

Harry looked at Hermione who was deep in her book.

"Yes it does Ginny! You're NOT going to be Beater and I'm going to make sure of that," Ron said.

Ginny stuck her tongue out at Ron and then stormed back to her seat.

Suddenly, owls swooped down on the Great Hall. Hedwig landed on Harry's pancakes.

Harry took the note tied to Hedwig's leg and read it quickly.

Harry

Do you, Ron, and Hermione want to visit me for tea this afternoon? You can come down at 5:00, send Hedwig with a note.

Hagrid

But before Harry could even start to write a reply, Alice screamed.

Harry looked over at her and was completely shocked. In her hand was a red envelope, none other than a Howler.

Alice was too horrified to open it.

"Who's it from Alice?" Ron whispered as everyone in the Great Hall turned to see what was the matter.

"My... my dad," Alice gulped.

"You'd better open it quick Alice or else..." Ron started but the envelope already opened itself and starting talking.

"GRYFFINDOR!!!!???" came the cold, harsh voice of Voldemort. It was magnified about a hundred times though. Harry looked at Dumbledore who seemed red with anger.

"HOW DARE YOU CHOOSE GRYFFINDOR!? YOU ARE THE HEIRESS OF SLYTHERIN YOU STUPID GIRL! HOW DARE YOU DEFY WHAT YOU ARE? RUNNING OFF TO HOGWARTS WITH DUMBLEDORE, RUNNING AROUND THE STUPID SCHOOL WITH POTTER! DO YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY? WELL YOU KNOW WHAT IS FUNNY? I'M GOING TO COME GET YOU WHENEVER I CAN, ALICE, AND WHEN I DO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN FOR EVEN MORE THAN A GROUNDING. YOU CAN BET YOUR LIFE ON IT."

The letter burst into flame and then fell into ashes. Harry looked around the room. Everyone was in complete shock. Some were scared. One Hufflepuff girl started to cry. Dumbledore was in complete rage.

Harry looked at Alice. She looked like she was glued on the spot. Everyone was staring at her, expecting her to say or do something. Suddenly Dumbledore appeared at her side and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and got up and walked out of the Great Hall.

"You too Harry," Dumbledore said as he passed Harry's chair. Harry got up and followed Dumbledore and Alice out into the Entrance Hall.

**** Dumbledore started to lead the way to his office. Alice was staring straight ahead of her, still shook up.

"You alright?" Harry asked.

Alice didn't answer, but kept staring ahead of her.

They reached the statue in front of Dumbledore's office.

"Petreska Cotronus," he said. Harry looked at Dumbledore and was surprised to see that he was smiling.

They stepped on the spiral staircase and waited impatiently as it slowly started to turn. Finally they reached the door to Dumbledore's office and they stepped in.

"Have a seat you two," Dumbledore offered, waving a hand suggestively at two chairs in front of his desk.

Alice immediately took a seat and put her face in her hands. Harry took a seat also but he was sitting as if ready to stand up again at any moment.

"Let me see that orb Harry," Dumbledore said. Harry thought for a moment and realized he meant the Green Orb he got from Dobby last night.

"How did you..." Harry started but Dumbledore waved an impatient hand.

"What I know would surprise even you Harry," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Now if you don't mind... The Orb?"

Harry reached into his robes and took out the Orb and placed it in Dumbledore's hand.

"Ah yes. Tonks told me about this Orb," Dumbledore said inspecting it the marble sized ball.

"What does it do, Professor?" Harry asked curiously admiring the strange object.

"It's not what it does, Harry, it's what it doesn't do," Dumbledore said, turning his gaze from the Orb to Harry.

Harry stared at Dumbledore confused.

"What doesn't it do?" Harry said, going along with the Headmaster's game.

"It doesn't allow anything dark to harm it's owner. Unfortunately this Orb doesn't belong to anyone in Hogwarts," Dumbledore said allowing the Orb to hover around his hand.

"Isn't it Tonks' Orb?" Harry asked.

"No, it's Alice's Grandmother's Orb," Dumbledore said. Alice looked up.

"My Grandma's?" Alice repeated slowly.

"Yes. Your Grandmother is the maker of this Orb Alice. So rightfully it is yours. Very interesting indeed," Dumbledore said. He handed Alice the Orb and she stared at it confused.

"My mother said that..." Alice began. Dumbledore again interrupted.

"That your Grandmother left nothing to her except the tapestry," Dumbledore provided. "She gave this to her other daughter, your aunt, Thorn."

"How come she never told my mother?" Alice asked angrily.

"She thought that your mother would get angry with her for something she couldn't control," Dumbledore explained. "Now when Thorn died, she left this to someone. Would you care to guess who?" Dumbledore asked.

Alice thought for a moment.

"Ri..." Alice said slowly.

"Exactly," Dumbledore said. "Ri was going to give this to you when she was put into Azkaban, but it ended up with Tonks. Tonks has had it ever since, but since it was never given to her, it's useless. And even if she had, the Orb only works on direct descendant of the maker."

Harry was completely lost. Thorn... Ri? Who were these people?

"So... it's mine? What am I supposed to do with it?" she wondered.

"Keep it in your possession. I feel that you'll find out the rest of this story by Tonks. You may go back to classes now," Dumbledore said.

"Wait... why was I here then?" Harry asked confused.

"Oh yes... of course. Harry, I want you to keep constant watch over Alice," Dumbledore instructed.

"I don't need a babysitter !" Alice cried.

"You'll find out why he needs to be with you a little later. Be patient Alice," Dumbledore said calmly.

Harry and Alice looked at each other. Alice shrugged and put the Orb in her pockets and then followed Harry back to the spiral staircase.

"Oh and the next time you two visit the kitchens, be sure to give the house elves my compliments on the feast," Dumbledore called after them.

****

They started walking to Divination. They were quiet for the first five minutes.

"Er... Harry?" Alice said quietly looking at him softly. Harry's body tingled as he looked at her. Even though she had Voldemort's eyes they were wide and blue, a light blue that made her eyes glitter.

"Yeah?"

"Why do u think Dumbledore wanted you to look over me?" she asked.

"No idea," he said. He tried not to look at her.

The finally got to the North Tower and started to climb up the ladder that appeared in front of them.

They came in the class and automatically Alice started to cough violently.

"What... is this...smell??" she coughed.

"Harry! Alice! What took you so long? What did Dumbledore want to talk about?" Ron asked Alice and Harry as they sat next to them and Neville.

"I'll tell you later," Harry replied.

Welcome to Divination 6th years, I see we have a new student," said a misty voice behind a huge armchair that was facing the wall. Alice gasped. The chair turned around. A woman who was very skinny and was wearing glasses, which were too big for her face, was in that chair. Ahh, you must be Alice Riddle, yes I can see," said Proffesor Trelawny.

"You're a Seer right?" Alice asked suspiciously.

"Why yes I am," said Trelawny in her misty voice.

"Ok then what is my future," Alice asked in a know-it-all voice.

"The Seer cannot see on command, but I do see something," Trelawny said darkly.

"Oh yeah, what is it?" snorted Alice.

"You will die an early death."

Alice's eyes narrowed, which made her look like Voldemort in a way, but instead of being scared she snorted again. Neville whimpered and Ron's eyebrows raised.

****

"Die an early death?" Alice mimicked. She rolled her eyes as they made their way down the ladder. "Rubbish!"

"You should take what Trelawny says seriously, Alice ," Lavender Brown warned.

"Don't worry Alice, I was supposed to die in my third year," Harry said trying to cheer Alice up. He could tell that Alice was a bit shook up still from the Voldemort Howler.

"What do we have next?" Alice asked trying to change the subject.

"Charms, and then Transfiguration," Ron said consulting his timetable.

"Oh right, I have to send a letter to Hagrid," Harry suddenly remembered as they walked down a long corridor to the Charms room.

"You're going to Hagrid's?" Ron asked.

"Yes, he wants me to bring you and Hermione," Harry informed.

"So what exactly did Dumbledore say?" Ron asked curiously after awhile of silence.

"That I have to watch Alice, and that Alice is not supposed to let the Green Orb out of sight," Harry mumbled.

"Green Orb?" Ron said.

"Yes, it's this little ball thing here," Alice said reaching into her pockets and producing the hovering ball.

"Wow! I've heard of those! Where'd you get it?" Ron asked amazed.

"Dobby," Alice said showing off the Orb. She twiddled it through her thumbs and let it hover just above her pinky finger, putting on a show for Ron.

"Wow!" Ron breathed.

"Yes so about Hagrid's. Are you coming Ron?" Harry asked, trying to get back Ron's attention from Alice.

"Oh yes of course," Ron mumbled, staring at the Orb.

"Who's Hagrid?" Alice asked putting the Orb back safely in her pockets.

"A friend," Harry said. He didn't want to speak to Alice. Every time he did he had a strange twinge in his stomach that he was starting to dislike.

"Can I come too?" Alice asked sweetly.

"Well... you don't really know him..." Ron started uncomfortably.

"Harry's not supposed to let me out of his sight ," Alice reminded grinning.

"Fine, you can come," Harry gave in staring straight ahead of him.

"Oh good!" Alice chirped happily.

"I can't wait until Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron said as they opened the door to the Charms room and sat down.

"Why?" Harry asked taking a seat in-between Ron and Hermione.

"Because, we're going to learn the Cruciatus curse!" Ron said merrily.

Neville turned around angrily, opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it and turned back to Professor Flitwick.

Harry turned to look at Hermione, he wasn't seeing very much of her and he was surprised at what he saw.

There were bags under her eyes, and her hair was more frizzy than usual. Harry's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Harry asked lightly.

Hermione looked over at Harry and nodded.

"You sure?" Harry asked again.

"Yes Harry!" Hermione said angrily.

"Well, if you want to, you can come with us to meet Hagrid," Harry offered gently.

"Yes, fine, whatever!" she said in disinterest.

****

"Some one woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Ron whispered to Alice and Harry.

"You should actually see her when she does wake up," snorted Alice.

They all stared at Hermione. Her nose was in her book, which she turned every half minute.

"You know, she has been acting odd," said Harry suspiciously.

****

"Well if we're going to go meet Hagrid then are we going to go now?" said Alice after dinner.

The all started to walk to Hagrid's. Alice and Ron were in a conversation about dragons because her uncle also worked in Romania, but she lost touch which him, like most of her family. Harry was walking next to Ron, every so often looking back at Hermione, who was walking behind them with a frown on her face, trying to put her bushy brown hair behind her ears every couple seconds.

Ron knocked on the door.

"Hello?" said Hagrid. He opened the door.

The walked in and sat down at the table.

"How are you Hagrid?" asked Hermione earnestly as they sat down.

"Good good, how have you been? Oh and who is this?" he said suddenly noticing Alice.

"Er... Alice Riddle," said Alice quietly.

Hagrid looked at her then blinked.

"I knew yeh father, got me expelled that one did," sighed Hagrid.

"You... you knew my dad?" said Alice nervously.

"Yup, blamed me fer killin' a girl with a spider I was raisin' in the castle, ruddy coward," snorted Hagrid.

"So how have you all been this summer?" he asked them.

"Fine," they said in a chorus.

"Hagrid, how's your little brother?" asked Hermione.

"Loads better!" said Hagrid, "He can speak pretty good. He doesn' hit me when he sees me, either!"

"Wow," said Harry.

It was true. Hagrid didn't have any scratches or bruises at all.

"Well yeh better get goin' now, 'bye," said Hagrid shooing them out.

They walked back to the Common Room.

"He seems nice, what was he talking about his little brother? How was he hurting him?" Alice asked curiously.

"Well Hagrid's half giant. His mother was a Giantess, and his brother is a giant. Grawp kept hurting Hagrid, from the looks of it, he is loads better mannered," Harry explained.

****

Harry woke up the next day from a knock on the dormitory door. He glanced over at his clock. 7:00...

He heard Seamus get up and go to the door. He heard a creak, and then decided to see who it was himself. He pulled the curtains of his four- poster aside and looked at the door.

"Harry? Hurry up! Let's go down to breakfast!" Alice said poking her head through the door.

"It doesn't start for a half hour!" Harry reminded angrily.

"I want to get there early," Alice said crossing her arms. "It's better when you get there early you know. Know one's in there! No one watches you when you take your seat! I would go myself but... Dumbledore said you have to be with me," Alice practically screamed, looking off to the side.

"I'm pretty sure you can walk down the Great Hall yourself without me," Harry replied.

"For god sakes Harry! Just go!" came Ron's voice in the next four-poster.

Harry got up slowly and then glared at Alice. I'm not her servant boy! Just because princess Alice wants to go and sit down for a half hour, doesn't mean I have too... "I have to dress," Harry said through gritted teeth at Alice. Alice blushed and then closed the door giggling. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled out a pair of Robes from his suitcase. He dressed as slowly as possible and then finally went down to the common room.

"About time," Alice said smiling.

Harry wanted to yell at her, scream at her, and tear out her hair in anger, but when she smiled, he just put his hands in his pockets and nodded towards the portrait hole.

They made their way quickly and quietly to the Great Hall and when they finally reached it, they saw that it wasn't empty after all.

At the staff table sat Tonks, Snape and McGonagall who were all very deep in discussion. They looked up when they saw Harry and Alice enter the hall.

Oh great... they still think Alice and I are together! Harry quickly sat down and Alice sat opposite him. She stared around the Great Hall and up at the ceiling which was cloudless and blue.

Harry knew why Alice wanted to get there early, and he couldn't blame her and he wanted to smack himself for being so rude and cranky.

She didn't like the fact that people stared at her, pointed at her, and whispered about her every time she was in a corridor, or entered a room. Harry knew what that felt like and felt really sorry for her.

The Great Hall started to fill up slowly and soon plates appeared in front of them filled with food. Alice ate quietly and finished before Harry. Soon Ron, Hermione and Neville all entered the Great Hall and sat beside them.

"I'm going to be in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Alice announced, getting up from the table.

"I'll go too," Harry volunteered. He knew that he had to go also, Dumbledore's orders, and Dumbledore had looked up when Alice stood up.

Hermione said something that sounded like an "okay", but was still staring intensely at her book. Ron and Neville looked at each other and shrugged.

"Right Harry," Ron said eating some more bacon.

"Thanks Harry," Alice said as they walked to the Classroom.

"For what?" Harry asked confused.

"For putting up with me. I know I've been selfish... but... I just don't like it when people stare at me. They immediately think that because I have a dad, I will go and join him whenever I feel like it, or tell him when I overhear one of their whispered conversations about how I'm evil and deceiving Dumbledore!" Alice said angrily.

"It's alright. People thought I was a crazy, attention seeking, hero driven kid last year. And the year before that, they thought I put my name in the Goblet of Fire on purpose. So I know how it feels to be whispered at," Harry explained.

Alice showed a faint smile and then started playing with her hands. They walked into the classroom and sat down, waiting for their teacher and classmates to join them.

****

"The Cruciatus curse," Tonks began, pacing around the room flicking her wand into her hand occasionally. "In my opinion the worst of the three. What it does... It puts the victim in a desire to just die than rather feel the pain..."

Neville gulped and put his head on his hands.

"Does anyone know what it feels like? Harry... I know you've been through it a couple of times..." Tonks suggested. All the eyes of the class turned to look at Harry who froze to the spot.

"It feels..." Harry started looking for the right words. "It feels like a thousand, hot knives stabbing into your body," Harry said quietly.

"Sorry Harry, couldn't hear you," Tonks said, cupping her hand to her ear.

"I said," Harry said a bit louder and angrier. "That it feels like a thousand, hot knives stabbing into you all over your body."

"That's a good way to describe it," Tonks said awkwardly. "Well today... you'll be doing the Cruciatus curse... Just a little hint of it. Here are your spiders," Tonks said pulling out another bag of spiders. She walked around the classroom, putting spiders on all of the desks, and then went back up to her desk and began watching everyone.

"The key to this curse. Extreme hate, loathing... desire to make the victim feel the pain that you have. You won't be very good at this curse if you love everyone and everything..." Tonks explained. "Alright, so I want you all to look at your spider and start thinking of a sad or hurtful memory... even someone you hate, try imagining that face on the spider. This is a curse that was designed in hate, so you need to feel hate to use it."

Harry blinked at his spider. Then what he had been dreading to think about came into his mind. I have to think about Sirius... it's the only way , a voice inside said. NO! I will not think about Sirius , said another defiantly.

But Harry agreed with the first voice and looked at the spider, imagining Bellatrix's face on his spider. You killed my godfather... you killed your own cousin! Now you're going to pay!

"Now say Crucio," Tonks said in a hushed voice, watching as everyone thought of a hurtful memory.

" CRUCIO! " Harry screamed a bit louder than he intended. The spider in front of him immediately started shaking and convulsing. Why couldn't I do that when I faced the REAL Bellatrix? Harry thought glumly. Then he realized his spider was still shaking... it looked ready to burst.

"How do I make it stop??" Harry asked hurriedly.

"Take pity, make yourself want to stop it," Tonks explained.

But Harry couldn't stop it, he wanted Bellatrix to feel more pain. He wanted her to die just like his godfather.

Stop, stop! said a voice in his head. Never! She's got to feel the pain. She's got to learn... Harry's eyes widened. He couldn't stop it. The spider started shaking even more, and Harry just stared at it horrified.

"Avada Kedavra," Tonks whispered at Harry's spider.

Harry looked up at her, then quickly looked away in shame. He had lost control...

He shook his head and then stared around the classroom. Neville hadn't even touched his spider, apparently to afraid to do the curse. He looked on the verge of tears. Harry looked at Ron who had a sickly evil look on his face.

"Die, die! Stupid spider!" Ron said gleefully watching his spider twist and wrench and convulse on his desk.

Hermione was having trouble with her spider. "Professor... my spider's broken," Hermione said.

"You're spider's not broken Hermione. You're just not thinking of a bad enough experience," Tonks informed.

"Yes I am! I'm thinking of my worst experience," Hermione said defiantly.

"What is it?" Tonks asked.

Hermione hesitated and looked around the classroom and then finally said quietly, "A dream I've been having."

"Ah, of course. Dreams don't count Hermione, it has to be a real experience, real hate, real desire to put the spider in pure pain," Tonks explained.

Harry then looked over at Alice. She seemed to look like Neville. She couldn't do the curse.

"What's the matter Alice? I would think that you'd be able to do the curse good," Tonks said coming over to Alice.

"I won't do it... I'm not going to harm an innocent creature just because something bad happened to me," Alice said shaking her head.

"But it's going to be on the exam," Tonks said lightly.

"WHAT!? THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Hermione screamed in fear.

"Are you sure you don't want to?" Tonks asked ignoring Hermione's outcry.

"Yes," Alice said pushing the spider away from her.

"Me too! Professor Tonks! Me neither, I don't want to do it!" Neville said urgently waving his hand in the air trying to get Tonks' attention.

"Yes, of course Neville," Tonks said putting Alice's spider in the bag and going over to Neville.

Alice looked at Harry.

"I saw your spider..." Alice said and smiled faintly.

"Yea... guess I wanted to do it more than I imagined," Harry shrugged.

"Ron, leave the spider alone now!" Alice said looking over at Ron.

"No..." Ron said, a maniacal look in his eyes. He still had the spider under the Cruciatus curse and was loving it more than candy.

"Accio Spider," Alice said pointing her wand at Ron's spider. Ron looked over at Alice and his eyes narrowed.

"Give me my spider back!" He growled.

"No!" Alice said covering the spider in her hands.

"Give it back!" Ron repeated angrily.

"Make me," Alice said just as angrily. Ron thought for a moment and then decided to act on it.

"Stupe..."

"Ron! Just what do you think you are doing?" Tonks yelled angrily snatching Ron's wand away from him.

"She stole my spider Professor!" Ron explained stubbornly.

"He was going crazy! You saw him Nymph... I mean Professor! He was putting the poor spider under that curse for 5 minutes straight!" Alice tattled still clutching the spider.

"It's a spider... it deserves to die!" Ron said angrily.

"Nothing deserves to die!" Alice retorted.

"That's enough you two. 2 points from Gryffindor for this stupid behavior. Ron, you don't curse people in this class unless under instructions from me. And Alice, you don't get into other people's businesses, now give me that spider," Tonks said.

****

"Hey Harry, do you want to go onto the Quidditch pitch to practice?" Ron asked at dinner.

"Sure! I need to test my Firebolt... see if it's still good," Harry agreed happily, eating a pork chop.

"Harry... you can't go," Alice said, staring at Ron smugly.

"Oh... oh right..." Harry said sighing. Why is she so into me being around her? Just to make me mad I bet...

"Oh come on Harry! She'll be alright in the Common Room by herself. She doesn't need you with her 24/7," Ron whined. He didn't even look at Harry, but he looked at Alice. He still hadn't forgiven her for what happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Dumbledore's orders, Ron, unless you want to go against the Headmaster's wishes. I'll inform him immediately that someone has been disloyal..." Alice said grinning.

Ron opened his mouth to say something but Hermione stopped him.

"Both of you just be quiet!" Hermione said looking at her book. "You three can go onto the Quidditch pitch," she suggested.

"I will not go if she comes," Ron said stubbornly.

"Oh, Ron, I never knew that you were such a baby! The big bad Awice is going to go onto the Qwidditch pitch with Harry and I... boo hoo " Hermione mimicked in a baby voice. Ron's ears turned red, and Harry wasn't sure if it was in embarrassment or anger.

"Fine..." Ron gave in through gritted teeth.

"Excellent," Alice grinned.

****

Ron and Harry began walking to the Common Room to get their broomsticks and Alice walked in front of them, trying to avoid Ron.

"Come on Harry, let's ditch her!" Ron urged as Alice rounded a corner.

"I can't Ron. Dumbledore's orders," Harry reminded for the millionth time.

"Come on! She can live without you for an hour! We'll grab our broomsticks and then ditch her at the South Tower and then just fly to the Quidditch pitch!" Ron said cleverly.

"I don't know Ron... Dumbledore looked really serious when he said I should stay around her," Harry said nervously.

"Yes... well... Dumbledore didn't say every minute of the day! She sleeps without you, ya know!" Ron pleaded.

"Alright, if it'll shut you up!" Harry gave in. They walked silently the rest of the way to the Common Room.

"We'll just get our broomsticks," Ron said, scratching his head.

"Fine," Alice said rolling her eyes.

"Um, you might want to change Alice. It's a bit cold out there," Harry suggested.

"No, it looks really hot out actually..." Alice said staring over at the window to the crystal blue sky.

"Oh no! Trust me, it's supposed to be really windy. Weather here is just so unreliable," Ron explained. Alice looked at him coldly.

"Alright then," Alice said turning on her heel. Harry and Ron raced upstairs and quickly grabbed their broomsticks and ran back down the stairs. They scrambled through the portrait hole and turned sharply down the corridor.

"Almost... there..." Ron panted as they reached the spiral staircase to the South Tower. They ran quickly up the steps and then emerged outside.

"I don't know about this Ron..." Harry said. He had a bad feeling that disobeying Dumbledore was going to have a bad consequence.

"Nonsense Harry! Alice will be fine! She's a big girl. Now race you to the pitch!" Ron said mounting his broomstick.

Harry smiled and pushed away his guilty conscience as he mounted his broomstick and kicked off towards the Quidditch pitch. He easily won the race with his Firebolt and waited at the pitch for Ron.

They began racing around the pitch, practicing dives and moves and discussed strategies on their brooms for an hour until Neville appeared breathless on the pitch calling them down.

"What's he saying?" Ron asked trying to hear what Neville was saying.

"Let's go down and see," Harry suggested and he broke into a spectacular dive towards Neville and pulled out quickly.

"What is it Neville?" Harry asked, he didn't like the horrific look on his face.

"Harry... Alice... attacked... 'Mione," Neville said breathlessly.

"What? Hermione?" Ron asked landing beside them.

"Yes... come... with... me," Neville said tugging on Harry's robes. But Harry grabbed his broomstick and sped at the speed of light towards the castle, landing on the steps. He opened the front doors and saw a crowd circled in the Entrance Hall.

He didn't need to push his way through, everyone made way for him as he walked to the center of the circle. He emerged in the small opening and what he saw horrified him.

Hermione was laying on the ground, out cold, her book clutched in her hands. There was Alice, screaming and spitting and pulling at her head.

"Alice! What happened?" Harry screamed at her. Alice immediately stopped her fit and had a blank look on her face.

"Harry?" she asked confused. She looked at the floor and her hand came to her mouth. "Hermione!" she screamed going onto her knees. "Wha... I don't understand..." Alice said trying to shake her awake.

"What's going on here?" came a booming voice. Dumbledore emerged from the crowd, Snape and McGonagall at his heels.

"Alice attacked Hermione headmaster!" came a cold voice. Harry looked around to see Malfoy strutting into the opening. "I saw it all! She started screaming at Hermione and then she took out her wand and did the Cruciatus curse on her. But something went wrong and Hermione didn't come out of the Cruciatus curse and she just passed out," Malfoy explained.

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing and he stared at Alice in shock and horror.

"She's evil!" came Lavender Brown's voice from the crowd.

"I didn't do it!" Alice screamed. "It wasn't me!"

"We all saw it Alice," Pavarti said. "Dumbledore you should expel her!"

There was an uproar in agreement and Alice froze to the spot. "I didn't..." she tried to scream but was overpowered by a chant erupting from the crowd.

"Alice is a monster, send her to her father!" they chanted.

"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore yelled and everyone went silent.

Alice shook her head and backed away from Hermione and then looked at her wand and then to Harry. She shook her head again and then ran off crying down the hall.

Dumbledore fought the urge to go after her but then looked at Harry.

"You weren't supposed to leave her Harry," Dumbledore said in disappointment.

Harry felt extremely guilty.

"Go and find her, then bring her to my office. I have some explaining to do..." Dumbledore said turning. He made his way out of the crowd and saw Madam Pomfrey bustling into the crowd.

He looked at Hermione.

Ron suddenly came into the crowd with Neville and he was out of breathe. He looked at Harry then to Hermione and then at everyone in the crowd.

"What happened?" Ron asked, his eyes wide.

"Alice," Harry said, then he turned and ran after her. Ron ran also, a foot behind Harry. Harry followed the muffled cries and opened a tapestry, where there was a secret room. He stepped in and saw Alice there, her hands in her hair sobbing uncontrollably.

"YOU!" Ron roared stepping into the room behind Harry.

Alice looked up and then stopped crying. She stood up shaking and then tried to look at the floor.

"YOU DID THAT TO HERMIONE!" Ron said. "I SHOULD'VE KNOWN YOU WERE EVIL!"

"Calm down Ron," Harry warned, then he turned to Alice.

"What happened Alice?" Harry asked calmly.

Alice looked at the tapestry door and then back at Harry.

"I didn't attack her Harry," she said firmly.

"RUBBISH! EVERYONE SAW YOU!" Ron yelled and Harry put his hand up to silence him.

"Then who did?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. All I remember was coming down the stairs to the Common Room and finding it empty and then I didn't know where you were so I thought you'd be in the Entrance Hall going to the Quidditch pitch with Ron. I met Hermione and she started talking about how she was having this weird nightmare thing from taking something called Nightmare Oil, and then I don't know what happened. It went blurry. This voice inside me said "she's lying to you," and then I took out my wand and then the voice said "kill her," and so I tried to but then another voice said, "don't kill her," and so I was confused and then next thing I know I'm doing the Cruciatus curse and then the voices started arguing in my head and they started yelling at me. One was yelling at me to run, hide, get out of there, and the other said to stay and that everything would be okay and I didn't know what to think! And then all of a sudden they stopped and then I saw you there Harry and then I saw Hermione on the ground and..." she sobbed. She burst into tears and fell to the floor.

"STOP MAKING UP STORIES YOU EVIL WITCH! NOTHING INNOCENT SHOULD BE TORTURED HEY? WHY'D YOU REALLY DO THAT TO HERMIONE!" Ron yelled. Alice just started crying harder and Ron flung himself next to Alice and started shaking her. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT!" he screamed.

"RON STOP IT!" Harry said pulling Ron away from Alice.

"SHE HURT HERMIONE HARRY!" Ron said bewildered.

"She didn't mean to," Harry started. He didn't know why he believed Alice but he just did.

"YOU BELIEVE HER? SHE HURT OUR BEST FRIEND AND YOU BELIEVE HER?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Yes," Harry said quietly.

Ron looked from Alice to Harry and then back to Alice. "I see what's going on..." he said, his eyes narrowing. "You're both in on this together..."

"Ron that's ridiculous," Harry tried to reason. Ron backed away and started walking backwards out of the tapestry.

"You'd better hope that Hermione's alright," Ron threatened and left.

"Harry, I didn't..." Alice repeated.

"I know..." Harry said taking a seat next to Alice. There was a moment of silence and then Alice suddenly spoke.

"This isn't the first time..." Alice said looking at Harry.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked confused.

"Never mind."

"No tell me."

"You won't understand..."

"Then explain!"

Alice hesitated and then seemed to crack open. "I killed my Aunt Harry! I killed her! Thorn! I killed her! My mom knew too..." Alice screamed.

Harry didn't know what to say. "Why?" he finally asked.

"I didn't mean to though! I didn't. I was 10 and the voices started again and the voice that tells me to kill made me kill my cat when it scratched me and then my Aunt Thorn put me under the Cruciatus curse as a punishment because she was babysitting that day. The voice told me to kill her and I did. I killed without my wand Harry... I don't know how I did it... My mom knew I did it too and she said I couldn't go to Hogwarts because I would kill there too..." Alice explained. She started crying again.

"Let's go see Dumbledore," Harry said immediately.

"He knows Harry!" Alice said grabbing his robes to pull him back down to the ground.

"How do you know?" Harry asked.

"Because I told him," Alice mumbled.

"Okay, well I'll go get him," Harry said, trying to stand up again.

"NO!" Alice screamed pulling him back down again. "Don't leave me again. When you're with me... the... the voices are gone! I haven't gone that long without hearing the voices," Alice said nervously.

"Then let's go see Dumbledore. He probably knows what's going on," Harry said.

"Can... can we just... you know... sit here for a minute?" Alice asked blushing.

Harry looked at Alice. She had a tear stained face, and her crystal blue eyes had turned dark. She looked on the verge of tears again. He nodded.

After a moment of silence, Alice started crying again.

"I didn't mean to Harry! And now the whole school thinks that I attacked Hermione. I would never attack anyone or anything," Alice tried to explain. She cried even harder and Harry found himself very uncomfortable. He had an urge to hug her, to tell her that it would be all right... to kiss her... But he held back, maybe she didn't want to be hugged, maybe she wanted to be by herself. But before he could do anything she threw her arms around his neck and started crying on his shoulder.

They didn't need to talk... they just sat there. Harry lost count of time and just held Alice, stroking her hair and comforting her. Alice eventually stopped crying but didn't pull away from Harry and he was glad. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to sit there with Alice for the rest of his life. He wanted this moment to last forever.

****

"Well well well."

Harry burst back to life and looked around the small room. Where am I? he asked himself. Then he saw Alice sleeping on his chest.

"Have a nice nap, Potter?" said a voice from the door. Harry knew that voice all too well and groaned. He looked up and saw his worst nightmare standing in front of him. Snape.

"The Headmaster wishes that you see him," Snape said ignoring Harry's mumbles of hate.

"Tell Dumbledore I'll be there shortly," Harry said putting on a fake smile. Snape gave Harry the look of purest loathing and turned towards the tapestry door.

"Alice... Alice wake up," Harry said shaking Alice. Alice's eyes snapped awake and she sat up immediately. "Alice, we have to go see Dumbledore," Harry informed. He got up and stretched and then helped Alice to her feet.

"Okay," Alice agreed and they pushed aside the tapestry and out into the corridor. They walked silently to Dumbledore's office. Harry didn't want to look at Alice... he didn't want to hear her say thanks or anything like that. He just wanted to find out what was going on. What were these voices Alice was hearing?

They reached the statue and Harry thought for a moment, trying to remember what Dumbledore had said the other morning. "Petreska Cotronus?" Harry said uncertainly and he must've guessed right because the spiral staircase came into view and they stepped onto it and waited for it to reach the office door. They knocked and waited for a reply.

"Come in," came Dumbledore's voice.

Harry and Alice stepped into the office nervously.

"What's going on Dumbledore?" Harry demanded immediately.

Dumbledore didn't look happy or angry, but more worried.

"Sit down you two. I need to explain something that requires full attention," Dumbledore said. Harry slowly sat down and Alice sat down next to him.

"What's going on with Alice? Why can she hear voices?" Harry asked angrily.

Dumbledore sighed. "I'd like to ask you, Harry, to save your questions until I'm finished telling you a story," Dumbledore instructed.

Harry gave Dumbledore a suspicious look, but closed his mouth anyway.

"In the Ancient times of the wizarding world, there lived two twin witches. One named Benita, and one named Desdemona. Benita was good and kind and like her sister, very powerful in magic. Her sister was mean and cruel and only wished for one thing: to rule the world. They both had daughters, and both hated each other immensely and were almost exactly the same, other than the fact that they had different intentions. Desdemona wanted to rule the world, but she couldn't because Benita was just as powerful and would stop her, so Desdemona created a powerful evil curse to kill her sister. The curse was called Hevolto Torlentaro. Benita knew this was coming though and she made her own curse... Petreska Cotronus. The two curses collided and they both died. They were only 16 and they died."

"So what does that have to do with Alice?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Everything Harry! Benita and Desdemona's curse both made them live on through their descendants. Only people who are descendants of the sisters can do the curses... Alice is a direct descendant of both. Her father's mother was a direct descendant of Desdemona and her mother was a direct descendant of Benita. The two live inside her, they control her. It's a constant battle between evil and good inside her," Dumbledore explained slowly.

"So why whenever I'm around her, the voices stop?" Harry asked.

"Harry, your mother put the Petreska Cotronus curse on you before she died. The Petreska Cotronus stops evil from touching you, which is what Benita needed for Desdemona was pure evil. Hevolto Torlentaro harms good... the two curses are extremely ancient and powerful," Dumbledore said.

"But you just said only descendants of the sisters can do the curse. My mother was muggleborn," Harry said slowly. He didn't get any of this.

"She was muggleborn yes, but her great grandmother, your great, great, grandmother, was a descendant of Benita so your mother could do the curse. It's only women who can do the curse," Dumbledore explained.

"Since you have the curse in you, Alice can't be controlled by Benita or Desdemona. We don't exactly know why, but we know that it works, and you cannot go off again like that. You MUST stay with Alice. Under no circumstances should you leave her!" Dumbledore said.

"Is that why Voldemort couldn't touch me?" Harry asked suddenly. "Because the curse doesn't allow evil to harm me?"

"Yes. The Petreska Cotronus is pure good flowing through a person, stopping anything evil from harming anything. But since Voldemort has your blood in him, the curse no longer works and now he is protected from evil, which is weird because he IS evil," Dumbledore said.

"But why me?" Alice cried suddenly.

"Because, Alice. You are a descendant of BOTH! You come from evil and good. What better body to choose than one that is evil and good? Exactly what Benita and Desdemona are. When the curse backfired, they were bound eternally, so they couldn't possess a body that was just good or just evil, they needed both. You are the first one to have it in your blood," Dumbledore said gravely.

Alice seemed confused but nodded anyway. "So, the voices I hear, they're Benita and Desdemona?" Alice asked uncertainly.

"Yes. And Voldemort knows this. He wants to use you as a weapon, make you use the curses on him, make him even more powerful than ever. Invincible." Dumbledore warned.

"So let me get this straight. The Petreska Cotronus is a curse that prevents evil from harming good, and the Hevolto Torlentaro is a curse that harms good? So if I have the Petreska Cotronus in me and so does Voldemort... does that mean that Alice has to use the Hevolto Torlentaro on him to make him invincible?" Harry asked slowly.

"Yes... See because the two curses will clash together and the result won't be death like the sisters, but immortality," Dumbledore said.

"But I would think that he would just return back to normal," Alice said.

"That's a possibility since both curses would could easily wipe each other out. But that's a risk Voldemort's going to take," Dumbledore said. "Return to normal, or immortality, either way the curses won't kill him because of the balance in each other."

Harry was completely confused. If Voldemort got hold of Alice, he would make her use the Hevolto Torlentaro on him to make him immortal, but it might backfire and just return him to normal because they were both equal curses, and when used against each other the powers would balance out and vanish. Or they would join together and Voldemort would be invincible.

"But Voldemort can't hurt the good! I won't let him!" Alice said stubbornly.

"The only thing we can do is wait," Dumbledore sighed.

Alice nodded and looked at the floor.

"You may go back to your dorms now. It's past midnight and you are probably hoping to get some rest," Dumbledore suggested.

Harry got up and Alice did the same. They both said goodnight to Dumbledore and made their way back to the Gryffindor House.

"Harry..." Alice said nervously, halfway down a corridor.

"Yea?" Harry prompted.

"Do you... not want to be around me?" she asked apprehensively.

"I do, why?" Harry wondered.

"Well, you just seemed eager to get rid of me today," Alice explained.

"No. I like being around you," Harry admitted blushing slightly.

"Me too," she said. She took Harry's hand in hers and they walked, hand in hand to the Gryffindor House.

****

Harry walked up to the Quidditch pitch, Alice right beside him, his Firebolt over his shoulder. It was right after lunch on Saturday and about a half hour before tryouts were to begin, but there was already a small crowd of people waiting for him. He looked over the crowd quickly and saw no sign of Ron, so decided to wait for him.

Things with him and Ron weren't doing so well after the attack on Hermione and Harry was left with Alice every day. They went to see Hermione in the hospital wing every day and saw no signs of recovery, but they weren't giving up hope.

When he arrived in front of the circle of people he heard whispers and groans about Alice. He had had it with the constant whispering about Alice in the halls and that Harry was still with Alice and all the nasty rumors floating around Hogwarts.

"If any of you have a problem with Alice being here... leave now because she will be accompanying me at every Quidditch practice. Go on... leave now. No one wants to go?" Harry said calmly. No one left the group but they did roll their eyes and give nasty looks to Alice.

"We still have to wait for Ron to get here, so if you want to impress me, do it now," Harry ordered. They didn't need telling twice. All of them mounted their broomsticks and raced around the Quidditch pitch doing dives and rolls in the air and some were even playing with the Quaffle.

Harry looked down at the castle and saw two people emerge. Two red heads... it was Ron and Ginny. He waited impatiently as they strode up to him.

"Let's hurry up and get these tryouts over with okay?" Ron said grumpily.

"Right. COME DOWN!!" Harry called to the people in the air. They all landed right next to him.

"We have 5 positions to fill and 15 people... 16 including Ginny... Alright here's how it's going to work. People who want to try out for Beaters, go off to the right. People who want to try out for Chasers, to your left," Harry instructed. He loved the power of being boss and it suited him well, he thought.

4 people were left trying out for Beaters, while the other 12 were trying out for Chasers.

Harry looked at the 4 and he rolled his eyes. "Ginny, go over to that side," Harry said pointing his thumb to the Chaser side.

"No," said Ginny simply.

"You try out for Chaser, or nothing," Harry said and Ron nodded his head in agreement.

"That's so unfair!" Ginny whined in protest but Harry just pointed at the Chaser side and Ginny walked as slow as possible to the others.

"Dean, Seamus and...?" Harry asked. There was a tall boy who was in the 7th year standing in-between Dean and Seamus.

"Reggie Throne," said the boy.

"Okay, you three, up in the air," Harry instructed. He pointed at Ron to let the Bludger out and Harry mounted his broomstick and met them in the air.

"Ron's going to let out the Bludger, which has been bewitched by Madam Hooch to come after me. You will take turns batting it away and you'll be evaluated on strength, eye co-ordination, speed, and how far the Bludger goes. Ready?" Harry said swiftly.

"Yes," they said loudly. Harry looked down at Ron and gave the thumbs up. Ron opened the case of balls and unleashed the Bludger. It zoomed right at Harry.

"Seamus!" Harry yelled. Seamus came rushing in front of Harry and with a swing of the small club, the Bludger was sent whizzing towards the other end of the pitch. Harry was very impressed. "Dean you're up next," Harry said as the Bludger turned around and started after Harry again.

Dean took the club from Seamus and then met the Bludger halfway, and he swung the club and hit the Bludger, getting it through one of the three hoops.

That'd be good if there was a keeper there, Harry thought. "Right Reggie!" Harry called. Reggie sped up to the Bludger and instead of whacking it he moved aside giving the Bludger a clear way to Harry. Harry sped up on his Firebolt and landed on the ground. Dean and Seamus right behind him. Dean tackled the Bludger and put it in the case slowly.

"Seamus, Dean, I can tell you right now that you're on the Quidditch team," Harry said. He shot a nasty look at Reggie and then made his way to the Chasers.

"You'll go up in groups of 3. You have to get the Quaffle in the hoops with Ron as Keeper. If you do that, you're automatically going to be into the Quidditch team," Harry explained. Ron mounted his broomstick and took his place as Keeper up in the air.

Harry sent them up in the air, making mental notes of their names and how they mounted. The first group to go up was Ginny, Lavender, and a 4th year boy named Alan.

Ginny was first up and she got the Quaffle in just barely. Lavender went next, and was blocked by Ron, though Harry considered her to be still good. The boy named Alan didn't even get close to the three hoops when he dropped the Quaffle.

The tryouts went well into the afternoon and by the time it was supper, Harry had only two more positions filled.

He motioned Ron to come down.

"Ginny and Colin were the only ones to get the Quaffle in," Harry said. "We need one more."

Ron thought for a moment and then shrugged. "Maybe we should give them another go?"

"Nah, let them go into supper. I'll stay here and decide," Harry said.

Ron went over to the group. They all grumbled and started making their way to the castle.

"So who's on the team?" Alice asked cheerfully as Harry watched them go.

"Seamus and Dean are Beaters... Ginny and Colin are the Chasers," Harry said.

"Don't you need one more?" Alice asked curiously.

"Yes. I'm trying to decide right now," Harry said consulting his list of Chasers.

"Well let me try out!" Alice suggested. She looked around and grabbed a school broom.

"It's worth a try," Harry sighed.

Alice mounted the broomstick and Harry frowned in disgust.

"Use mine, those broomsticks are ancient," he said trading broomsticks with Alice. They both flew up into the air and Harry took the spot as Keepers.

Alice twirled the Quaffle in her hand. "So I have to get it in those hoops?" Alice asked.

"Yes," Harry said. He yawned.

"Alright," Alice approved. She turned on the broomstick to the other side of the pitch.

"What are you doing?" Harry called. "You're supposed to get them into these hoops."

"I know!" Alice called. She stopped turned around and then, holding the Quaffle tightly, began to make her way to Harry and the hoops. But instead of just putting on a burst of speed and putting the Quaffle in the hoops she made fake dives and made sharp lefts and rights, as if dodging other players, she was even upside down on one point. Then she threw the Quaffle above Harry's head who tried to block it but it went into the top most hoop.

"Wow," Harry said amazed.

"First time," Alice smiled.

"You're in," Harry said immediately. He flew back down to the ground and they began to walk up the pitch together.

"You'll need to get a broomstick," Harry advised.

"Maybe I'll get a Firebolt too," Alice smiled.

"You have enough?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"Yes. My mom was actually quite rich," she explained.

"Harry, Harry!" Colin yelled excitedly. Harry was surprised to see Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Ron and Colin all waiting for him on the front steps. "Was that Alice up there? She was AMAZING! She's on the team right?"

"Yes," Harry said. Alice beamed proudly.

"WHAT?!" Ron yelled angrily.

"Ron did you not see her? She was fantastic!" Harry said putting his arm around Alice.

"You're not supposed to let anyone on the team without telling ME first!" Ron said crossly.

"Fine. Alice is on the team ok?" Harry said sarcastically.

"NO!" Ron yelled stubbornly.

"Ron! She was the best out of all of us! Are we supposed to have LAVENDER on the team instead of her? Do you want to win the Quidditch cup this year?" Ginny asked trying to get some sense into Ron's head.

Ron shook his head. He stormed up the steps into the castle, mumbling about friendship.

"Never mind him Harry," Ginny said shaking her head in shame.

"You were GREAT Alice!" Dean said happily patting her on the back.

"Yea! We may win the Quidditch cup this year!" Seamus said excitedly.

"You really think so? That was my first time up in the air," Alice bragged.

"Really? Only your first?" Ginny asked amazed.

They walked up to the castle together, ready for some supper. Harry could tell Alice was extremely happy and he was happy to see that. Everyone was always whispering and saying rude things about her, and for once, they were complimenting her. Harry knew that meant a lot to Alice.

****

Harry and Alice went to the Gryffindor Common Room to find Ron sitting on an armchair staring at the ceiling.

"What do you want?" muttered Ron as they walked into the room.

"Why do you hate Alice so much?" Harry asked even though he knew the answer.

"Hmm, let's think. I wonder why Hermione is in the hospital wing," said Ron sarcastically. "Maybe because-"

"You made me leave Alice which made her lose control," Harry finished for him angrily. "Do you know how bad she felt when she saw Hermione lying on the floor, not moving. Dumbledore wanted me to stay with her and that's what happens if I don't!"

"She's just like her father," snarled Ron and shot Alice a nasty look. Tears were rolling down her face.

"How can you say that!" she yelled at him. "Do you think I like him being my father? All I know about him is that he is a power crazy, murdering, git! Oh yeah I really want him as a father!"

Ron stared at her for a moment. "Ok then, why did you attack Hermione? What did she do to you?" he demanded nastily.

"I didn't," she said as her eyes narrowed, which made her look like Voldemort.

Harry explained about the curses and the sisters and what they did to her.

"So, you're telling me, when she's away from you then she starts attacking people?" he asked awkwardly.

"I guess," Harry shrugged. "Not all the time."

"Then why doesn't she when she sleeps?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Because my mind is resting and it's hard to take over. When I sleep, Benita and Desdemona sleep also. It's just harder to do it when you are occupied or sleeping," she explained. "Do you still hate me?" she asked quietly.

"No, it's just hard to understand. Everything always has to be so complicated!" he said annoyed.

****

Alice, Harry and Ron all made their way to the Hospital Wing to see if Hermione had gotten better.

"Yes... but she has just woken up so I'll give you 5 minutes," Madam Pomfrey said letting them in.

Ron ran straight over to Hermione's bed, grinning happily. Alice made her way over slowly, her head hung in shame.

"Don't worry about it Alice. Dumbledore came to visit me earlier and explained everything," Hermione smiled.

"Oh Hermione!" Alice said throwing herself at Hermione and crying in her shoulder.

Hermione looked at Harry and Ron and they both shrugged.

"So, are you going to explain to us what's been going on with you?" Ron asked taking a seat and pulling it nearer to Hermione's bed.

Hermione sighed as Alice pulled away curiously.

"Alright," Hermione began slowly. "On the summer holidays, at the Black house, while we were cleaning, I came across this small vile. It was full of this clear liquid. Now you got to understand that I wanted to know what this thing was so I took out the book 9000 Magical Liquids and Their Uses . I thought it was called this potion called Yongerber, a potion that makes you smarter," Hermione said.

"But you're already really smart..." Ron interrupted but Hermione shot him a nasty look.

"Anyway... I drank all of the vile. But then I had these weird, strange dreams. Each time I went to sleep, something awful would happen. I'd see people and things die, I would watch as people drown or got murdered... watched as people got tortured. Narrowly escape giant monsters, and I kept telling myself they were just dreams until I researched further into the book and found that the liquid was actually called Jeranweir, or more commonly known as Nightmare Oil," Hermione explained. "It said that Nightmare Oil reveals the secrets of the people around you, and I thought to myself, who would want to kill these people? And of course, I thought they were just dreams, until I actually got bitten by one of the stupid monsters." She lifted up the arm in her robe and revealed a particularly nasty gash on her arm. "They're real dreams, and I don't know how to make them stop. Better yet, find out which one of us has the secret desire to kill. Naturally I thought it was you Alice, until you used the Cruciatus curse on me, which backfired. I saw your secrets, I saw you... kill someone, but that was all. You didn't want to kill, I could feel that in you."

"I killed my Aunt yes, but that wasn't my fault. Desdemona made me," Alice pointed out.

"Yes. I've been trying to find out the antidote to the potion, but there's NOTHING... It says in the book the only way to stop the dreams is to destroy the one whose desires they are."

Harry and Ron were completely silent.

"Malfoy," Alice said suddenly.

"What?" Hermione asked turning to look at her.

"Malfoy. It's obviously him," she said.

"What makes you think it's Malfoy Harry asked.

"Because, who else could it be? Ginny? Neville? Luna?" Alice snorted. "He's always had that desire to kill, he got it from his no good father."

"So you're saying we have to kill Malfoy based on the fact that no one else can think about killing?" Hermione asked, her eyebrows raised.

"No, we can easily find out what he's thinking in that brain of his," Alice said playfully.

"How? We can't just ask him!" Ron explained bitterly.

"Yes we can. Don't you see?" Alice said standing up. She looked at the blank looks on all their faces. "Oh come on it's so obvious! The Veritaserum!"

****

Hermione got out of the Hospital the next day, and since it was Sunday, they spent the whole afternoon in the Library, speaking in hushed voices about the Veritaserum.

"How are we supposed to give it to him? He very well won't take anything any of us offered him," Hermione said. Harry noticed that she was trying to find a flaw in Alice's plan but Alice didn't seem bothered by it.

"Of course we won't go up to him and offer him the drink. We'll say something like it's some super-drink while he's eavesdropping like he always does. Reverse Psychology," Alice explained.

"But he's going to know what it looks like. We're all doing the potion in class," Hermione said biting her lip.

"I'll screw up ours! It's only yours and Harry's that count! You're probably the only ones in the class that will make it right," Alice complimented. Hermione blushed slightly and then looked down at her book.

"THAT'S IT!" Ron exclaimed angrily, throwing his book at the center of the table. "I've had enough! There is no cure for Hermione!"

Hermione looked at him and her eyes looked about to water.

"But we haven't checked all the books yet," Hermione said quietly.

"Hermione, over the past 6 years at this library, we've read every single book. There's no others," Ron tried to say lightly.

"There must be another way than killing!" Hermione said haughtily.

"But there isn't! Hermione, let's just devote all of our brain power to the Veritaserum okay?" Ron tried to persuade.

"What about the Restricted Section? Maybe we can get a pass from Tonks..." Hermione said thoughtfully.

"If you want to go and do it," Harry said, leaning back on his chair. "I'm not going in that section ever again."

"Well... ALICE! Tonks is your cousin right?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"Yes, we've been over that Hermione. Did I knock out your long term memory?" Alice said worried.

"No no. Since she's your cousin, you can easily persuade her to give us all passes to the Restricted Section to do some research on the Unforgivable curses," Hermione explained.

"I don't know. Tonks doesn't like to be manipulated," Alice said slowly.

"Oh come on!" Hermione pleaded. "Do you want to kill someone or do you want to find an answer in those restricted books?"

Alice hesitated and looked at Harry for help. Harry shook his head and Alice gulped.

"Fine... but if it doesn't work then we'll spend all of our time deceiving Malfoy alright?" Alice asked.

"Of course!" Hermione said jumping from the table.

"Where are you going Hermione?" Ron called after her.

"To find Tonks!" she called back.

"Let her go Ron," Alice said as Ron started to get up after her. She took out the Green Orb and began playing with it.

"I don't think you should be playing with it all the time, Alice," Harry said uneasily.

"Why not? It's not going to hurt me," Alice said letting the Orb float through her fingers.

"Well... I just don't think you should be playing with that in broad daylight," Harry said. He had a bad feeling about the Orb and he didn't know why, and when Alice showed it off like that, it made him even more uneasy.

"Riddle, what's that?" came a cold drawing voice. Someone's arm snatched the Orb out of Alice's fingers.

"Malfoy!" Alice growled standing up.

"What is it? Are you playing that Muggle game Marbles?" Malfoy asked sharply. "I bet that Mudblood Granger taught you how."

"Give it back, Malfoy!" Alice said angrily. She made a wild leap for the Orb but Malfoy switched hands with the Orb just in time.

He looked at it interestedly.

"I think I'll keep it," he said finally.

"No you won't Malfoy. Give it back!" Alice screamed in pure rage now. Harry and Ron both got to their feet and were now either side of Alice, just as Crabbe and Goyle were either side of Malfoy.

"Why do you want it so bad. It's not MAGICAL is it?" Malfoy teased holding his hand out in front of him to stop another wild attack from Alice.

"Actually, you can have it," Alice said all of a sudden shrugging. Harry was going to scream "what" but Alice squeezed his arm. Malfoy looked up at her suspiciously.

"Why?" he asked suddenly.

"Well, it's actually and extra-credit project for Professor Tonks. See, that thing right there is made of charmed Dragon Dung, and it's actually a device used to ward off attackers, because of the smell. Since I'm the maker of it, whoever holds it other than me will be sprayed with a rather bad smelling poison," Alice said.

Malfoy looked at the seriousness in Alice's face and then threw the Orb back at her.

"Riddle," he said turning on his heel.

"Malfoy," Alice grinned happily, putting the Orb back in her pocket.

****

Hermione's plan with Tonks failed. Tonks was suspicious when Hermione asked for a pass to the Restricted Section, and Hermione wasn't the best liar. Hermione decided to drop the plan and devoted her time in-between classes to watching Malfoy's daily routine. It wasn't until something unexpected happened at Hogwarts that Hermione's spying suddenly stopped.

Dumbledore stood up at breakfast one morning near the end of September and he was smiling like he had just been declared Minister for Magic.

"I have a special announcement. We have a new student coming in from Durmstrang and I'd like everyone to meet her. Please welcome Addyline Avery," Dumbledore said loudly and clearly. Everyone fell silent.

A girl with long, dark brown hair and bright blue eyes stepped beside Dumbledore. She was extremely pretty, but there was something harsh in those eyes, something Harry couldn't quite put his finger on. She looked tan, like she had been out in the sun for a couple of days straight.

"She'll be joining Slytherin," Dumbledore announced when no one clapped.

Finally the Slytherin table roared their approval. Addyline gave everyone a sharp look and then walked down towards the Slytherin table where she was bombarded by the rest of the sixth years.

"Avery... Avery..." Ron muttered. "Hey Harry. Wasn't Avery a Death Eater?"

"Yes..." Harry said slowly eyeing the Slytherin table with total disgust. Malfoy was greeting Addyline like they were old friends and they both got up from the table and walked out.

"I remember her," Alice muttered darkly from beside Harry.

"What?" Harry asked. He didn't think he had heard Alice right.

"Addyline Avery," Alice said slowly.

"What about her?" Hermione said from across the table. She was holding a very thick book and had just realized that there was a new student at Hogwarts.

"When Voldemort sent Death Eaters to my house, Avery brought his stupid daughter with him," Alice growled.

"I think she's pretty," Ron said suddenly staring after Addyline and Malfoy.

Hermione rounded on Ron. "You WHAT?" she asked crossly.

"Think she's pret-" Ron started but Hermione got up from the table and stormed out of the Great Hall. Ron suddenly realized what he said and then got up after her. "Hermione! Wait up!" he called.

"Do you think there's something going on with Hermione and Ron?" Alice asked suspiciously.

"No," Harry assured.

"Well... it just seems like they've been seeing a lot of each other..." Alice started.

"Trust me Alice. If there was something going on between Ron and Hermione, they'd tell me," Harry said.

****

Alice and Harry walked to potions. On the way there they saw Malfoy leaning against the wall, talking to Addyline in a trying-to-sound-mature voice.

As Harry and Alice walked by Addyline, she shot a look at Alice.

"Hey Riddle, how's your daddy these days?" Addyline asked cooly as Alice walked by. Malfoy laughed. Alice stopped dead.

"Hey Avery, how's your dad lately? I heard he gets the Cruciatus curse a lot. Not doing his job properly now is he?" Alice snapped back at her.

Addyline looked in full rage. She went to put her hand in her pocket, but Malfoy grabbed her wrist.

Alice looked at Malfoy then Addyline, then started to walk to the dungeons where they had potions. Harry ran after her.

When they went in the classroom, they found Ron and Hermione waiting for them. Ron was slumped in his chair while Hermione was facing the opposite way of Ron.

Harry took his seat next to Hermione and Alice took her seat at the front of the class with Malfoy.

About 5 minutes later the classroom was full and, with a slam of the door, Snape barged into the classroom looking thoroughly annoyed.

"Now you should have your homework on the affect that will happen if you do the Veritaserum wrong," said Snape coldly. "We will continue on with the Veritaserum. They are just the way you left them on Friday," Snape said sharply. "Instructions," he said hitting his wand on the board, "On the board, you may begin."

Addyline went up to Snape and said something. Snape nodded and then said, "Malfoy, Riddle. Miss Avery will be working with you on your Veritaserum."

Avery smirked at Alice, which made Alice's eyes narrow dangerously.

"Ok add 3 Moonstones and stir 7 times clockwise and 5 times counter- clockwise," Hermione muttered to herself as she added the Moonstones.

Harry was watching Addyline. There was something about her...

****

The rest of September went by quickly. Harry, Ron and Alice would say goodbye to Hermione three times a week and would set off towards the Quidditch pitch to practice. As usual, their first match would be against Slytherin at the beginning of November.

Harry was surprised to see such a good team. Ginny, Colin and Alice were great Chasers, and despite what Alice was like, she wasn't a ball hog. Harry was soon reminded of the Quidditch cup and the Irish Chasers.

Dean and Seamus were excellent Beaters also. Almost as good as Fred and George, Harry thought, and with a bit more practice, they would be much better. Ron was getting better at the Keeper position, but it was difficult for him to block all of Alice's Quaffles.

The Veritaserum was to be finished in mid-October, where Hermione was having difficulties in planning how to give it to him.

"You can only save it for about two weeks and then it loses it's magic," Hermione exclaimed as Harry, Ron and Alice came back after Quidditch practice one day.

"Calm down Hermione," Alice said annoyed. She plopped down into a chair and sighed tiredly.

"Hey. Hogsmeade weekend!" Ron said excitedly pointing at a message posted on the board. "It's for the third weekend of October. We can give him the potion then."

"While Crabbe, Goyle and Avery are surrounding him? I don't think so," Hermione frowned.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Alice said indignantly. "I want to kill Malfoy! The sooner it gets over with..." she trailed off, clenching her fists.

"I don't want you all turning into killers!" Hermione cried. "We have to destroy them. I think it means we have to destroy the thoughts."

"How're we going to destroy thoughts?" Alice challenged.

"Way ahead of you!" Hermione said gleefully pulling out a rolled up piece of parchment. "There's this curse called the Filus Coutrez. It makes the victims mind relaxed enough to input information. The victim, in this case, Malfoy, will process the information and believe anything we say to him. All we have to do is tell him he doesn't want to kill. But..." she trailed off. Her grin faded and she was now frowning.

"But what?" Harry asked.

"But, it's got to be done by someone close and trusted," Hermione said biting her lip.

There was some silence until Alice mumbled, "Avery."

****

"How're we ever going to get Avery to do the spell for us?" Harry asked confused.

"Under the Imperius curse," Hermione supplied.

"But Hermione, that's illeg-" Ron started, but Hermione interrupted.

"Alice you can do the Imperius curse, since you're the best at it. Then after we've made Avery do the Filus Coutrez on Malfoy and made her tell Malfoy not to kill, we'll do a simple Memory Adjustment charm," Hermione said proudly.

Harry looked at her astonished. "You've certainly put a lot of thought into this," he mumbled.

"Let me get this straight," Ron said slowly, his eyes wide as Pigwidgeon's. "We're going to give Malfoy the Veritaserum illegally and if we find out he does want to kill someone or something, we're going to put Avery under the Imperius curse... illegally , and make her curse Malfoy into not wanting to kill... ILLEGALLY. And when that's all done, we're going to erase their memory... illegally? "

"Exactly," Hermione said grinning.

Ron looked at her for a second and then shrugged. "Fine with me."

Alice was smiling evilly.

"Finally... I get to put Avery under that Imperius curse," she whispered. Harry looked at her uncomfortably. He didn't like the way she was staring at the ground and the way her eyes were squinted.

****

The next day they had their Care of Magical Creatures class with the Slytherins. When Hagrid didn't show up by middle of the class, the class decided to talk.

Malfoy and Avery were sitting on the grass holding hands.

"Look at Pansy," Hermione giggled. Harry looked up and saw Pansy Parkison. She wasn't looking particularly puggish today, but was rather angry.

"DRACO!" she screamed angrily. Malfoy jumped up and saw Pansy.

"Uh... 'Lo there Pansy..." he said nervously.

"Draco, who is this?" Avery demanded throwing Pansy a dirty look.

"Um... Addyline... this is... uh... Pansy Parkison..." Malfoy said. His face was now beat red and he was scratching his head so furiously it was a wonder to Harry how his hair stayed slick back.

"Draco... are you... are you... GOING with her?" Pansy asked hurt.

Malfoy opened his mouth to speak but Avery spoke for him. "Yes. We are. Not like it's any of your business anyway," she said cruelly.

"But... just last week he was going with me," Pansy stuttered looking as though she had been slapped.

"Well! That is hard to believe, since you're so ugly. Draco... have you ever been with this monstrosity?" Avery asked sweetly turning to Malfoy. Malfoy looked extremely terrified, and he shook his head slowly. "See? I think you're type is more along the lines of Crabbe and Goyle."

Pansy looked positively full of rage and took a step forward. Avery took out her wand though and pointed it straight at Pansy.

"Careful Pansy , I'm pretty good with this wand you see. I'm not afraid to hurt you with it," Avery said sweetly.

Harry looked over at Alice but she was already getting up and storming over to Avery.

"Avery!" she screamed pulling out her own wand. Harry jumped up and ran after Alice... he didn't like this side of her.

"What is it Riddle?" Avery said coldly, turning her eyes to Alice.

"You want to threaten someone? Threaten me," Alice said cooly.

"Oh I've been waiting for this a long time..." Avery said standing up.

Alice's lips curled into an evil smile.

"Accio pants!" Alice said. Harry didn't want to see what happened next, but to his great dislike he did. Avery's pants were whipped off suddenly and she was thrown backwards by the force of it.

"RIDDLE!" Avery screamed in rage, standing up and covering herself in her robes. "Cruci-"

"Expelliarmus!" cried Alice. Avery's wand went flying into the air. "Wingardium Leviosa," Alice cried again and the wand started to hit Avery over the head again and again.

Avery was now beat red with anger. She grabbed her wand. "Now you're asking for it Riddle," she threatened. "Stupe-"

"Impedimentia," Alice screamed at Avery. Avery was knocked back several feet. She tried to get up but, she was bound by invisible ropes. "Oh, Avery... tsk tsk tsk... I thought you would be better at dueling, I guess I was wrong," Alice said looking down at Avery.

"Riddle, you wait! You'll get what's coming to you. If not from me but from your dad," she said giving Alice a look of deepest loathing.

"Silenco!" Alice screamed at Avery in anger. "Really Avery, are you a Seer now? Congratulations!" she said sarcastically. "Serpensortia," she said and a long black snake shot out of her wand and started to slither up to Avery. Avery tried with all her might to move but was still bound by the invisible ropes to the ground, and even though she had no voice she was mouthing the words "stop it". "What's that Avery? Couldn't here you. Oh... you don't like snakes do you? Oh dear... what was I thinking then?" she said. "Go to Avery. Slither over her body, show her..." Alice said in a totally different voice.

Harry looked up at her. She was speaking Parsletounge.

Harry watched as the snake began to make it's way up to Avery and slithered over her body, hissing at her.

"Avery, I thought you liked your house mascot," Alice teased.

"Stop it!" Malfoy screamed jumping in to save his girlfriend.

"Rictusempa!" Alice screamed at Malfoy. Malfoy doubled over and was soon on the ground panting as if he lost his breathe. "Stay out of this Malfoy," Alice warned. She turned back to Avery. The Impedimentia curse was wearing off and she was beginning to move again. "Petrificus Totalus," Alice said to Avery. Avery went rigid as a board.

"Mobilicorpus," Alice said and Avery's rigid body soared into the air and with Alice's guidance landed right on top of Malfoy.

"What's goin' on 'ere?" came a booming voice. Everyone looked over to see Hagrid coming out of the Forbidden Forest. "Alice what are yeh doin'?" he asked out of breathe.

"Giving Avery what she deserves, Hagrid," Alice said cruelly.

"Go on now! Fix her," Hagrid ordered. Alice raised her wand slowly and through clenched teeth mumbled, "Finite Incantatem."

Avery soon was able to move and her voice was back to normal.

"I'll get you for that, Riddle," Avery said as Hagrid started to teach the class.

"Diffindo," Alice mumbled smiling. Avery's robes soon had a long cut in the back. "Here's your pants," Alice said returning the pants to Avery who quickly put them on. Avery soon shrieked as a long snake came out of them. Harry couldn't help but laugh. He never knew Alice was so good at dueling.

****

"I am pleased to inform you that your Veritaserum should be done by the end of this moon. All you need to do for this class is add the rest of your Kappa Ears, the instructions are on the board. You may begin," Snape instructed.

"Ooh, I'm so excited," Hermione said shrilly as Snape sat down at his desk. "We're almost done!"

"Calm down Hermione. Before you wet yourself," Ron teased as Neville tried to weigh the right amount of Kappa Ears.

"Oh shut up Ron," Hermione retorted. She began to weigh Kappa Ears herself and then she began cutting off the useless bits of it. Snape had said that some parts of Kappa ears should not be added to the Veritaserum or else it would be completely useless.

Harry looked up at Alice's table.

"Riddle! Look what you did!" Avery screamed.

"Oh shut up Avery!" Alice sighed throwing a handful of Frog Liver at Addyline.

"Professor Snape! Professor Snape!" Avery said waving her arm frantically in the air.

"What is it?" Snape asked coldly.

"Riddle just threw our batch of Frog Liver at me," Avery tattled wiping Frog Liver from her hair.

"Scourgify," Snape said rolling his eyes. Every drop of Frog Liver was wiped clean from Avery. "Riddle!" he said rounding on Alice. Alice was still looking menacingly at Avery.

"What?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"5 points from Gryffindor," Snape said. Alice turned to look at Snape and opened her mouth to speak. "AND a detention."

Alice narrowed her eyes and shut her mouth.

Snape then turned back to Avery. "15 points from Slytherin for aggravating an attack," he said harshly.

"But Professor! I didn't do any-" Avery whined.

"50 points," Snape said. "Anything more you'd like to add?"

Avery opened her mouth again but Malfoy squeezed her wrist.

"Riddle, go work with Thomas and Finnigan," Snape ordered. Alice turned on her heel gladly and went over to Dean and Seamus' cauldron.

The bell that signaled the end of class rung through Hogwarts, and Harry helped Hermione push their cauldron to the side of the class.

"Just think Harry. In two weeks the potion will be done and we can give it to Malfoy," Hermione said in a singsong voice.

"Oh please let me give it to him," Alice said rubbing her fists.

"What's gotten into you Alice?" Harry asked nervously.

"Nothing. It's just I HATE Malfoy and Avery. Think their fathers are the greatest people in the world, and they think they are also, just because they're the kids of Death Eaters. They shouldn't be proud of that. Yet they strut around the school as if they own the place," Alice said angrily.

"Well, just don't take it out on us," Harry warned.

"Oh don't worry," Alice said. Her frown had turned into a big smile and the sweetness that was once Alice, had returned. "You guys are my best friends. I can't be mad at any of you." She put her arms around Hermione and Harry and Hermione put her arm around Ron to include him in their chain. They marched as one to the Great Hall for lunch.

****

"Look at that!" Hermione said excitedly. It was later that evening and they were all working on their History of Magic homework. Hermione was pointing back at the Bulletin Board and another piece of parchment was attached to it.

Harry looked at it and read it aloud.

"Halloween Dance on October 31st" Harry read. "That's all? Nothing else?" Harry asked, but no one was listening. Alice had suddenly squealed excitedly.

"Oh I need to get Dress Robes! Maybe I'll pick up a pair at Hogsmeade," she said thoughtfully. Hermione nodded her head.

"I know, I also need a new pair. The one I wore in 4th year are to small, plus, I'm thinking of getting something like a metallic purple..."

"Oh my gosh that would look excellent on you Hermione! And then we can do your hair in ringlets!" Alice said excitedly.

"And you should get something pink, or red, to bring out your strawberry blonde hair," Hermione said.

Ron looked over at Harry and raised his eyebrows. "Girls," he said.

"Come to think of it, I think I've outgrown my old Dress Robes also," Harry said. Immediately Hermione and Alice rounded on him.

"You should stick with something green Harry. Those robes were magnificent and they brought out your eyes," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Something black also, it would match your hair," Alice started.

"How about black with green trimmings?" Hermione suggested and Alice squealed excitedly again.

Harry rolled his eyes at Ron. Ron was starting to do impressions of Hermione and Alice.

"Oh my gosh Alice, you look beautiful! No no no, Hermione, you look beautiful!" he said in a rather un-naturally high voice.

Hermione and Alice gave Ron a dirty look but then started talking again.

A horrible thought crossed Harry's mind. What if this turned out to be like the Yule Ball? He wouldn't have a date... he'd be the only one without a date. Unless... Harry looked around the Common Room and saw Reggie Throne strutting up to them. Harry looked around desperately and his eyes landed on Alice.

"ALICE!" he said suddenly making her jump.

"What?" Alice asked concerned.

"Will you go to the dance with me?" Harry said in a rushed voice, eyeing Reggie suspiciously.

Alice looked taken aback, but then blushed. "Okay," she said. Harry sighed in relief and watched as Reggie Throne stopped in front of another 7th year girl. He had worried for nothing. Well, at least I have a date , he thought shrugging.

"Who're you going with Ron?" Harry asked a while later in their dormitory.

Ron suddenly went scarlet and tried to hide his face. "Um... don't really know yet, Harry," he admitted.

"Why don't you go with Hermione," Harry suggested, trying to see what Ron's reaction would be. Ron's face, if possible, went even more scarlet.

He mumbled something that Harry couldn't hear and then said goodnight and closed the curtains on his four-poster.

****

The next morning, Ron was acting very weird. He got dressed really quickly and went down into the Common Room.

"What's up with him?" Dean snorted.

Harry shrugged.

He went down the stairs to wait for Alice and sat in the chair right next to Ron, who's head was in his hands.

"So..." Harry said after a long pause. "You going ask Hermione?"

Ron shot up.

"Er... sure I guess."

Finally after waiting for about 5 minutes, Alice and Hermione came down into the Common Room. They all began to walk down to the Great Hall.

"Er, 'Mione can I talk to you for a bit?" Ron muttered.

"Oh, er, sure," Hermione said awkwardly.

They walked out of the Great Hall.

"Bet you anything that he's going to ask her to the dance," Alice said grinning.

"Yea," laughed Harry.

After a while it was time to go to class. Harry and Alice walked out of the Great Hall into the Entrance Hall where they heard a chorus of laughter.

"Muggle-lover and Mudblood! Going to the dance together! Oh this is just too great!" laughed Malfoy, tears coming down his face.

"Malfoy Malfoy Malfoy. What a horrible mistake you have just made," sighed Alice as she walked in front of Ron. "You think you could actually get away with saying that in front of me?"

Malfoy's head turned towards Alice, his eyes narrowed.

"Alice stay out of this," whispered Ron.

"No, Ron! I've been waiting for an excuse to attack Malfoy, and here is a perfect one," she snarled.

"I mean, look! If she ever went to kiss him, she couldn't because he's way to tall!" Malfoy laughed.

There was red and green flashes. From the looks of it, Ron had stunned Malfoy and Alice transfigured him into a white ferret.

The loud chorus of laughter stopped. Everything went quiet except the sound of a loud bell signaling the start of classes.

The crowd of Slytherins went away, all of them except Addyline Avery.

"You'll pay for that one Riddle," she spat as she moved closer to Alice. "Cru-!"

Before she could finish the Cruciatus Curse, something odd happened. Alice passed out.

Avery looked from Alice to Harry then to Ron before she ran off to class, looking somewhat scared.

Harry slid down to his knees and knelt over Alice.

"Get Dumbledore quick! Tell him Alice and I will be in the Hospital wing," he told Ron and Hermione urgently, not taking his eyes off of Alice

They nodded and ran off.

Harry took his right arm under her back and his left arm under her knees. He picked her up and started off to the hospital wing.

****

"Tsk tsk tsk. Are you sure no one cursed her?"

"Yes. Avery tried to, but she hadn't even finished saying it before Alice passed out."

"Hmm, well. It looks like she's been stunned, but her eyes would be opened." Madam Pomfrey clicked disapprovingly and instructed Harry to lay her on one of the beds.

Dumbledore soon walked calmly into the wing, Ron and Hermione right at his heels. He looked at Alice and then to Harry.

"Did you leave her?" he asked sharply.

Harry looked up at Dumbledore and then he shook his head angrily. "I was right beside her Professor." Dumbledore nodded and turned back to Madam Pomfrey.

"Poppy," he said crisply. Madam Pomfrey bustled back in holding a goblet full of a smoking liquid.

"Here Headmaster. Luckily you warned me in advance. Send my thanks to Severus," she said handing the goblet to Dumbledore. He nodded and Madam Pomfrey turned away.

Dumbledore leaned forward, and prepared to give Alice the potion but Harry leapt in front of him. "What is that?" he ordered.

"Disstressment Potion," he said. Harry looked into Dumbledore's eyes, to see them flicker, but they only twinkled as usual and Harry gave in and watched as Dumbledore put a couple drops into Alice's mouth. Alice soon stirred and then opened her eyes.

"Hello," Dumbledore said happily.

"What? Why... why am I here?" Alice asked looking around the wing.

"You fainted," Hermione spoke up from behind Dumbledore.

"To be more precise, your mind spun out of control," Dumbledore said.

"WHY?" Harry asked harshly. He didn't like the way that Dumbledore seemed so calm and collected. Alice could've been in serious trouble and she had given Harry a scare.

"Stress. I have no doubt that you four are up to something. When Addyline tried to perform the Cruciatus curse on Alice, she collapsed. Her mind was prepared for defense, but she knew that she was going to be to late. Benita and Desdemona knew this too, and shut down the mind to block off the attack," Dumbledore explained. "I knew it would happen sooner or later, so I asked Severus to make the Disstressment Potion for this occasion."

"How did you know about the fight," Ron asked suspiciously.

"My dear boy. You shouldn't ask such questions to a Headmaster. What kind of Headmaster would I be if I didn't know what went on in my school? Especially fights and duels," Dumbledore said. He pulled out a package of Sugar Quills and gave one to each of them. He left, his eyes twinkling magnificently behind his half moon spectacles.

"Well... at least the Veritaserum will be done next week," Hermione said in hope of cheering them all up.

****

"I can't believe it's done! It's done! It's right here, in my hands," Hermione said excitedly.

She held up a small tube of the clear liquid.

"Oh shush Hermione!" Alice said rolling her eyes.

"Can you believe it? We pulled it off! We finished the potion and we just have to get it to Malfoy!" Hermione said, ignoring Alice.

It was midnight in the Common Room and Hermione had finished the Veritaserum earlier that day and would not stop talking about it.

"Hermione, it's old news! Just close your mouth! We've got to decide how to give this to Malfoy," Ron snapped. Hermione closed her mouth and then passed the small bottle to Ron.

"I say we give him the whole bottle. That unworthy..." Alice began for the millionth time.

She had been saying nasty stuff about Avery and Malfoy ever since the day she collapsed in the Great Hall. Malfoy was sent to Professor McGonagall where she had quite a time turning him back into his regular old self. 30 points had been taken from Gryffindor, 10 from Slytherin. But Snape seemed to think that wasn't enough and took 5 more from Gryffindor and another 40 from Slytherin.

Harry had wondered why Snape wasn't his usual, Gryffindor-hater, self. He was still trying to get Harry in much trouble, but it seemed that whenever Alice did something wrong, she got off with it.

"I say we do it cold turkey!" Alice said after her rambles.

"What do you mean 'Cold Turkey'?" Hermione asked confused.

"Instead of sneaking around under Invisibility Cloaks, we just attack him in the halls and force the potion down his throat," Alice said maliciously.

"We can't, what if he tells someone," Hermione said biting her lip.

"Hermione. You do know the Memory Adjustment Charm don't you?" Ron asked irritably.

"Oh, right. Of course," Hermione said shaking her mind to get it to work again.

"It's to late. Let's go to bed," Ron groaned slumping down further in his chair.

"No. We have to find out how to give it to Malfoy. I want to do it tomorrow," Hermione said stubbornly.

"Why can't we do it-" Ron said but the portrait had just swung open and 5 large persons came into the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron pocketed the Veritaserum immediately.

Snape looked at them all and his eyes narrowed.

"Midnight meetings now?" Snape said coldly.

"What are you four doing up at this hour?" McGonagall asked sharply.

"Uh... doing... homework?" Harry suggested. He looked around but there was no books, quills, ink, or parchment in sight.

"Unless it's an oral assignment, I think they are lying," Snape said. Dumbledore looked at them suspiciously.

"Go to bed you four," he said nodding to the doors on the right and left of the common room.

"What? No punishment?" Snape asked incredulously.

"We have no proof that they're doing anything wrong, Severus," Dumbledore sighed.

Ron and Harry went up to the boy's dormitories and flopped on their bed knowing that the next day, they'd have to give the Veritaserum to Malfoy.

****

"I still say we should attack him," Alice said chewing on some bacon.

"Fine Alice. If you're so eager in attacking him then you can do it," Hermione said. Alice grinned happily as if it were Christmas day and she had received a very large pony.

"Excellent! Harry, you'll come with me won't you?" she added staring across the table at Harry.

Ron grinned also and nudged Harry under the table. Harry quickly gave him a mean look and then turned back to Alice. "Of course. I don't want to miss the chance of seeing Malfoy attacked."

"Well then, we'll do it after Potions," she instructed as they made their way to Transfiguration. "There's this chamber a little ways down from where Snape's classroom is. It's where the Slytherins hang out before they have to go to their next class. We'll just wait until Malfoy is by himself and BAM!" she said loudly.

"Alice, are you sure you're not evil?" Harry asked jokingly. Alice smiled innocently.

"No. I'm pure angel," she informed sticking her nose in the air.

Transfiguration and History of Magic went by quickly and they were soon at lunch. Alice was eyeing Malfoy at the Slytherin table. Harry looked also and saw that he had his arm around Addyline.

"They make a perfect couple don't they?" Alice sighed taking a sip of her soup. "They're both stupid Slytherins, both children of wretched Death Eaters, and both extremely ugly and repulsive."

Ron sniggered making Malfoy look up from the table.

"Hystemo" Alice said evilly, pointing her wand at Avery from across the room. All of a sudden Avery jumped up from the table scratching at a spot at her back. She shrieked making everyone look at her. She began scratching wildly at her back and made unsuccessful attempts in scratching a very high part on her back. She fell to the floor and tried scratching her back with it, still shrieking.

Alice began laughing and then so did everyone else, taking her lead. Dumbledore muttered something under his breathe at the Staff Table and Avery stopped scratching. She stood up and looked around angrily.

"RIDDLE!" she screamed in full rage.

"What is it Avery? I'm sorry, I have not itch-cream if that's what you wanted," Alice smirked.

Avery's eyes glinted angrily and Harry didn't think he'd seen her this mad.

"Crucio!" she screamed and Alice wasn't prepared. She was blasted back and she began to scream horribly on the ground. Everyone in the Great Hall was looking at either Alice or Avery and Dumbledore had now gotten to his feet, but Harry felt something he hadn't felt in awhile. Pure hatred. He whipped out his own wand, and picturing Bellatrix's face on Avery's he shouted the same curse.

It was ecstasy. He felt so powerful. He could hear the shrieks and cries and could see Avery rocking on the ground. There was only one thing on his mind, to hurt Avery. But suddenly he stopped. He didn't want to stop but something stopped him. Next thing he knew he was on the ground bound by invisible ropes, right next to Alice, who seemed to have come out of the Cruciatus curse also.

Dumbledore was above him and he was looking angrier than ever. "NO ONE SHALL USE THE UNFORGIVABLE CURSES IN THIS SCHOOL!" he yelled. "I should expel you and Miss Avery right now!" he threatened and Harry was bursting with anger.

"100 points from each house and a weeks worth of detentions," he shouted at Harry and Avery.

"Thanks Harry," Alice said afterwards as everyone left the Great Hall. She leaned forwards and kissed him on the cheek and then sped up to the dungeons.

****

Potions, if possible, was worse than ever. Snape was staring at Avery and Harry with disgust on every inch of his face.

"Hogwarts students? Doing Unforgivable Curses? I never expected it from goody Potter, here. But Avery, I would just assume you know the curse so well because your father has no doubt already taught you how to perform illegal curses on innocent people," Snape said coldly. Avery was about to open her mouth but she thought twice and just glared at Snape. "I would take more points from each of your houses, but, unfortunately, there are none left."

The rest of the class was miserable. Snape had sent them to make a very difficult antidote to a very powerful potion, and when the class was done, only Hermione and Ron's antidote was correct.

Alice was practically bouncing on her feet when the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Malfoy, Avery, Crabbe, and Goyle all made their way to the room down the corridor while Alice and Harry stood behind a large statue of wolf.

"They should be out any moment, do you have the Veritaserum?" Harry whispered after about five minutes. Alice nodded and showed him the vile from her robes.

Soon the Slytherins came out of the room, Malfoy right at the front.

"Damn, he's getting away!" Alice whispered.

"Diffindo," Harry whispered. Malfoy's bag had suddenly burst open from a long gash.

"Oh no!" Malfoy said annoyed. Crabbe and Goyle started to help him but Malfoy wasn't making any progress with them helping. "Just go! I'll catch up," Malfoy ordered to them. Crabbe and Goyle shrugged and then began to walk Avery to class.

"Now," Alice said starting to jump up.

"No!" Harry hissed, pulling on her robes, making her come back to the ground. "Wait until they're out of sight," he said. Alice waited impatiently as Crabbe, Goyle, Avery and a couple other Slytherin 6 years, disappeared around a corner.

Alice suddenly leapt out from behind the statue and jumped on Malfoy, knocking him to the ground. Harry jumped out too and dragged Malfoy into the classroom.

"Colloportus," Harry said, pointing his wand at the door. Alice removed her hand from Malfoy's mouth to retrieve the vile from her robes and Harry helped her pin him down.

"Riddle! Potter! What are you- What's that? WHAT IS IT?" Malfoy asked horrified as Alice waved the vile in front of his face.

"A little drink Malfoy. Now now, calm down," she said playfully entering a couple drops into Malfoy's mouth. She soon had emptied the whole bottle and waited expectantly at Malfoy.

His sneering face was soon gone and replaced by a somewhat normal one.

"Malfoy... are you a pestering little dweeb who loves his mommy?" Alice teased.

"No," Malfoy replied dreamily.

"Stop it Alice. Let's just hurry and ask him before someone notices he's gone," Harry said hurriedly.

"Fine, Harry," Alice agreed with an air of disappointment. "Malfoy, do you have any desire, any at all, to kill?"

"Yes," Malfoy replied calmly.

Alice looked at Harry who nodded.

"Who do you want to kill?" Alice asked.

"Potter," Malfoy answered simply. Alice rolled her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "And my father."

Alice looked taken aback for a few moments. "Nobody else? Not Alice Riddle?" she prompted.

"There's nothing wrong with Alice," Malfoy said almost defiantly. "She was always kind to me when we were kids, when we would play."

"But... she... never played with you," Alice said confused.

"My father erased her memory of anything to do with us. Her mother asked us to do it. After she killed her Aunt, her mother wouldn't let her go to Hogwarts, and thought that if she forgot about me, then she wouldn't care about not going," Malfoy explained.

"NO!" Alice said stubbornly.

"Malfoy, why do you want to kill your father?" Harry asked, changing the subject quickly.

"Because he's a fool. He's on terms with a man who could kill him and his family any moment," Malfoy answered.

"Same with you. You want to kill him," Alice spat angrily.

"Wanting and doing are entirely different things," Malfoy informed.

"Oh shut up!" Alice said nastily, ready to lunge at him.

"Calm down Alice," Harry said.

"Best friends?" Alice repeated furiously. "I would never be friends with scum like you!"

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes, and continued with Malfoy.

"Harry Potter," Harry said and he saw Malfoy's fist clench. "Why do you want to kill him?"

"No good, attention seeking, Quidditch playing air head who everyone adores. Potter the famous boy who defeated Voldemort by luck . Potter who became Hogwarts Champion just because he wanted more attention," Malfoy said coldly.

"Jealous are you?" Alice said coming back in the conversation.

"Jealous, yes," Malfoy said rather calmly. "Not of his fame, but of his powers."

"Yes it might be hard knowing you're no where close to what he is," Alice yelled.

"Alice! Let's go!" Harry said lifting her away from Malfoy. He steered her to the door but she stopped and pointed her wand at Malfoy.

"Obliviate," she muttered.

"Alohomora," Harry said to the door and it swung open. "Alice, you're shaking," Harry said quietly.

"He had no right!" Alice said angrily.

"Well it's true and there's nothing you can do about it!" Harry said, rather more harshly than he intended.

Harry grabbed Alice's hand. "Let's go see Dobby okay?" he suggested.

"Fine," she agreed, her teeth still clenched.

They made their way to the kitchens, giving Alice some time to calm down and she was actually happy when she saw Dobby.

"Dobby is glad to see Harry Potter and Alice Riddle again," he said in the same squeaky voice.

"Hello Dobby!" Alice smiled kindly giving him a quick hug.

"Yes, hello Dobby," Harry said grinning. He was in a better mood when Alice was.

"Dobby is asking Harry Potter and Alice Riddle if they would be liking something from the kitchens?" Dobby asked, blushing when Alice let him go.

Alice thought for a moment. "Yes. Can you make two plates of dinner for me and Harry? We won't be eating in the Great Hall today," Alice said. Harry was about to ask what she meant, but she gave him a 'shut-up' look and Harry went along with whatever Alice was planning. Dobby nodded and scampered out of sight.

Harry shot Alice a suspicious look but she twiddled her thumbs and pretended to be interested in her shoes.

"You do know we're supposed to be in Charms?" Harry asked after five minutes.

"Whatever. We'll just say that you came down with one of them hour flu's," she said.

"Why me?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because, then I can take care of you like a little baby," Alice said sweetly.

"I'm not a baby," Harry said hotly.

"Of course not," Alice said grinning widely.

"Besides, I'M supposed to take care of you," Harry said crossing his arms.

"Why? Because you're the man ?" Alice teased sarcastically.

Harry chose to ignore her, and soon Dobby came back with two plates of food. They left quickly and Harry was about to go up the Marble staircase and up to the Common

Room, when Alice pulled him along. They were soon inside the secret room behind the tapestry.

Alice soon magicked some candles so that the dark room had light, then she sat down, cross-legged on the stone floor and motioned Harry to sit down too.

"Why are we eating dinner here?" Harry asked curiously as he sat down next to Alice.

"To celebrate," Alice said simply, eating some Shepard's pie.

"Right," Harry said, digging into his own plate. When they were both full of food, they leaned back on the stonewall.

"Want to head back to the Common Room?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.

Alice shook her head. "Thanks for cursing Avery, Harry," she said suddenly.

Harry turned away and started looking at the candles, avoiding Alice's eyes. He wanted to kiss her, but he wasn't sure if he should, or even could, make himself do it.

"Yea, she deserves it," Harry said nervously now turning back to Alice. The candlelight flickered over Alice's face making it, if possible, even more beautiful in Harry's eyes.

Alice looked over at him and smiled.

Harry began to lean in for a kiss. You're almost there , he told himself.

"THERE YOU ARE! HERMIONE I FOUND THEM!" shouted a voice from the door. Harry spun around wildly and saw Ron opening the tapestry door.

He jumped back and his hand flew to his hair.

"What do you want , Ron?" Alice asked irritably.

"We've been looking all over for you two! Dinner's about to start," Ron informed. Hermione entered the tapestry door behind him.

"We've already ate dinner, thank you," Harry said sharply. Couldn't Ron have waited 5 more minutes? Harry asked himself. He was angry that he hadn't got to kiss Alice properly.

"Did you give Malfoy the Veritaserum?" Hermione excitedly, ignoring the sharp looks from both Harry and Alice.

"Yes," Alice sighed. She and Harry stood up.

"Well..." Hermione prompted, obviously unable to contain her curiosity.

"He wants to kill Harry," Alice said.

"Well I could've told you that one. We didn't need the Veritaserum," Ron laughed.

"... And his father," Alice finished, dropping her eyes to the floor.

"What? Why?" Hermione asked surprised.

"Personal Reasons," Alice said crossly. Harry suspected that Alice remembered what Malfoy said about them being best friends.

"Well, at least we know it's Malfoy now and we can get Avery this weekend at Hogsmeade," Hermione said cheerfully. She must've known that Alice needed cheering up because at these words Alice smiled.

"Oh I can't wait," she said as they walked out of the portrait.

****

Harry, Ron, Alice, and Hermione were all anticipating the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend with great enthusiasm. And despite Harry's midnight detentions, he was feeling happier than normal.

He had his Quidditch practices to keep him happy three times a week, and the teachers were giving abnormally low amounts of homework compared to their last year.

"But Professor, our NEWTs are coming up..." Hermione said to Professor Flitwick one day after he had assigned them to practice Duplicating Charms.

"Shush Hermione!" Ron hissed angrily from Harry's other side.

"Well sorry Ron," Hermione said sarcastically. "It's clear that I'm the only one who cares about passing NEWTs."

"Hermione, they're over a year away!" Ron said rolling his eyes impatiently.

Hermione glared at him. "That doesn't take away the fact that they're coming up and that we should study for them. If anything, we should have 4 times as much homework as we're getting now," she said indignantly.

But Harry didn't care for reviewing 6 years of magic. His mind was elsewhere... on Alice.

He had only ever felt this way about Cho Chang, and she had turned out to be someone entirely different. He occasionally passed Cho in the halls but he hadn't stop to look at her once. She had made it very clear that she didn't like him any more. She had now dated every 7th year boy from Ravenclaw and was working her way down the chain to the 5th year boys.

But now he didn't care about Cho, he did, in fact, care about Alice. She was different than most Gryffindor girls... Hermione, Lavender and Pavarti, to be in fact. She was sweet and pretty, but seemed to have a split personality around her enemies. Oddly, Harry had grown accustom to this side of her, and liked her even better. She didn't seem to mind that everywhere she went, there were whispers that followed, and there were infinite rumors around Hogwarts.

The Gryffindors, who had usually gotten on well with Harry, were suddenly mad at him for getting so many points deducted from the house. To Harry, the plus side was that none of the other houses had over 100 points anyway and Slytherin still had none, so it was a minor setback for the House Championship.

Harry's detentions, as horrible as they were, gave him time to think about things, mostly of ways to get Avery by herself on their upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. He and Avery were made to clean the hospital wing, by hand, and clean the suits of armor. Harry had thought this would be easy, but it seemed as if the suits of armor were actually trash cans to the Hogwarts Students and each were filled with disgusting amounts of magical waste.

"Ergh!" Avery said in disgust, pulling her hand out of the helmet and revealing a thick, green, fluid that had settled itself there.

Harry hid a smile and passed her the bucket of soap.

Finally, as it seemed it would never come, it was the day of the Hogsmeade trip. Harry grabbed his moneybag in his trunk and then descended the spiral staircase into the Common Room to meet up with Hermione and Alice.

Alice was bouncing with excitement all around the Common Room, frightening a group of third year girls when she accidentally tripped and knocked one over.

"HARRY!" she shouted spotting Harry from across the room.

Ron came down the spiral staircase and into the Common Room yawning.

"Where's 'Mione?" he asked sleepily.

"Getting read," Alice said half glancing at the door that lead to the girl's dormitories.

"For Hogsmeade?" Ron asked skeptically.

"She gets ready every day Ron," Alice said impatiently. "You wouldn't believe how bushy her hair is when she doesn't spend an hour combing it."

Harry didn't know that Hermione had really cared about her appearance, and judging on the incredulous look on Ron's face, he guessed that Ron hadn't known that either.

Soon Hermione came down the stairs.

"Let's go then, shall we?" she asked nodding towards the portrait hole.

They all made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast and Alice couldn't help but smile widely when she passed Avery and Malfoy in the Entrance Hall.

"Can we do it now?" Alice asked impatiently as everyone began to eat their porridge rather slowly in her opinion.

"No, Alice," Hermione said in exasperation.

Alice looked extremely disappointed but didn't complain and ate her porridge also.

"First we're going to get some dress robes... THEN we can get Avery," Hermione said as they lined up in the Entrance Hall as Professor McGonagall began reading off students names on a very large list.

"But..." Alice started, looking slightly putout.

"It's the only way Alice," Ron explained.

"Fine, but we'd better hurry up in getting those robes," Alice insisted in a child-like manner.

They made their way down the sloping lawn towards the gates and into the town of Hogsmeade. Alice's stubbornness soon vanished as she looked around the town in great interest.

"Wow," she breathed, and Harry remembered that Alice hadn't been in any magical town at all.

"Do you want to look around a bit before we get Avery?" Harry asked, and Alice nodded and led the way into the nearest shop. Fortunately it was Honeydukes and Ron and Harry immediately started to pick out all sorts of crazy candy, including some brand-new tester candies that were called "Salsa Beetles".

But soon they were in a robe shop and this was Hermione and Alice's time to shine. They picked out at least a dozen robes for Harry to try on, each black or green or both.

One, to Harry's great dislike, was black with green stripes, and Ron had smiled and said it looked great on him.

"Oh shut up," Harry said throwing Ron a nasty look. He soon settled on a black one with green trimmings, as they had suggested.

"We'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks," Hermione said, shunting them out of the store.

Harry and Ron, not wanting to stay and watch Alice and Hermione's voice get any higher, shrugged and made their way to the Three Broomsticks and ordered four Butterbeers.

They found a quiet table at the back and waited for Hermione and Alice to get there.

"Hello Harry!" Ginny greeted sliding next to Harry. Harry looked at her and saw Luna Lovegood standing right beside her and he watched her as she took a seat next to Ron.

"Hello," he said passing Ginny and Luna Hermione and Alice's Butterbeers.

Luna gave a faint nod and started sipping on her Butterbeer. Harry looked over at the door, which had just opened, and saw Hermione and Alice come in with parcels. They walked over to their table and sat down, grinning.

"Shall we go then?" Hermione said after a couple of minutes.

"Go where?" Ginny asked immediately.

"None of your business Ginny," Ron said seriously and he, Harry, Alice and Hermione all stood up.

Ginny looked at her brother for a second and then crossed her arms. "I want to come," she said.

"You don't even know what we're doing," Ron said raising an eyebrow. "Besides, you're too y-"

"I'M NOT YOUNG! I'M A YEAR YOUNGER THAN YOU!" Ginny practically shouted, causing many heads to turn in the shop.

"Yes, and that's a year younger than you have to be to come with us," Ron said. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron.

"Let's just go now okay?" she asked them and they all nodded and left Ginny and Luna sitting at the table by themselves.

"You were just a tad rude in there," Alice said glaring at Ron.

"I don't want her coming along," Ron said stubbornly.

"He's a little too protective of Ginny," Harry whispered to Alice and she nodded.

"Well, it's not like he can protect her forever," Alice said giving Ron another look.

"Oh, believe me. He'll try," Harry smiled.

They searched Hogsmeade and soon found Malfoy, Avery, Crabbe and Goyle all in Zonko's.

"How're we supposed to get Avery by herself?" Hermione asked in a panicked voice.

"Hermione, you and Ron distract Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Then me and Harry will do the rest," Alice instructed, straightening up and storming into Zonko's looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

Harry followed her, leading Ron and Hermione behind him looking confused.

Harry followed Alice to the back of the store and watched as Avery and Malfoy began to test some of the products.

"Oh, Dungbombs!" Avery squealed. "Put some of these in Riddle's hair..."

Harry held Alice back as she tried to lunge for Avery's back and watched as Ron and Hermione stood facing Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Avery.

"Hey look! It's Mudblood and her poor boyfriend. What were you thinking, Weasley? Bringing Granger in a shop when you have no money... you got all her hopes up," Malfoy laughed. "So how's your Muggle-loving father getting along with the idea of you dating Granger? I bet he's ecstatic! Already planning out your wedding, he is."

"How's your father in Azkaban? I hear he's never coming out," Ron said glaring at Malfoy, every inch of his face red. "And yours Avery... how's he doing working alongside a git like Voldemort? I'm surprised he's not dead yet... Fool."

Avery opened her mouth to speak but Alice muttered "Imperio" and Avery went completely blank.

"You're right Ron," Avery mumbled. "My father is a fool. An ugly fool!"

Malfoy looked at Avery in shock.

"Addyline!" he said confused.

"And your father Draco," Avery said turning to look at Malfoy. "He's even more stupid and ugly. It's a wonder how he got in Voldemort's good books."

Harry looked over at Alice and wasn't surprised to see she was smiling.

"Crabbe, Goyle!" Avery snapped. "Meet us at the Three Broomsticks. Me and Draco have something to discuss."

Crabbe and Goyle looked over at each other but then followed Avery's orders and walked out of Zonko's.

"Come with me Malfoy," Avery snapped, turning on her heel and out into the Hogsmeade road.

Ron and Hermione walked over to Alice and Harry after they had left Zonko's.

"Let's follow them," Ron said, reading the look on Alice's face.

They got up and followed Malfoy and Avery, Alice laughing every time she made Avery suddenly hit herself.

"Addyline..." Malfoy said nervously.

"Shutup Draco, we're almost there," Avery said harshly. They reached the end of the road and found themselves by themselves. Alice made Avery take out her wand and mutter "Filus Coutrez".

Draco went blank and was looking at Avery with a faraway look in his eyes.

"You don't want to kill," Alice made Avery say and Malfoy nodded. "You also hate me," Alice added. Malfoy nodded again.

"Alice! You can't make Malfoy hate Avery! Everyone will know something's up!" Hermione cried.

"You also think that Crabbe looks good in a dress," Avery said. Alice smiled wider and then made Avery pick her nose.

"Sorry, just had to," Alice said. She made Avery say the counter curse and then watched as Malfoy looked horrified at Avery. He turned around and saw the four of them.

Alice had obviously lifted the Imperius curse because Avery looked at them all too.

"What-" Malfoy started but Hermione and Alice had lifted their wands.

"Obliviate!" they screamed at both of them. Then Alice grabbed Harry's robes and made them run all the way back up to the village and back to Hogwarts.