Chapter 12: Fairy Tales

All three girls instinctively reached for their wands when they realised what was approaching them; it was a Death Eater - at Hogwarts! Hermione looked scared but in control, they had fought in worse situations and won, hadn't they? Neither Hermione nor Ginny expected Ali's reaction though; she looked completely defiant and stared at the cloaked figure opposite them. Her eyes alight with passion and a silent determination; she looked more formidable than any 5th year student had the right to.

The Death Eater looked around as if expecting an ambush while drawing their own wand.

"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted Hermione; while her opponent muttered

"Protego" and a shimmering shield appeared in front of them blocking Hermione's curse,

"Stupefy!" shouted the Death Eater hitting Hermione who was caught off guard,

"Impedimenta!" cried Ginny, causing the Death Eater to fall backwards,

"Avada Ked-" the falling assailant cried

"Neocroi!" a flash of violet light shot from Ali's wand and hit the cloaked figure square in the chest; they lay on the ground unconscious.

Ginny rushed over to where Hermione was lying while Ali went to check on the fallen enemy. "Incarerous" she muttered, binding their arms and legs.

"Hermione are you okay?" Ginny was helping Hermione up from the ground,

"Yes, I'm fine," said Hermione attempting to stand, but ending up on the couch, "though maybe I'd better stay here for a bit" she added with a sheepish grin.

Ali came and sat beside her new friends, "Are you both okay?"

"Yeah" replied Ginny, "Are you?"

"Uh huh" said Ali quietly

"You handled yourself pretty well then," remarked Hermione, "have you had a lot of experience in this type of situation?"

"Well, um.." Started Ali, staring at the floor

"Sirius?!" exclaimed Ginny looking over towards the portrait hole once again a half-smile appearing on her face, Ali looked at Hermione and Ginny, who seemed awfully pleased to see a large black dog that looked suspiciously like the grim. Ali got the fright of her life when the dog began to grow and turn into a man; and not just any man, it was Sirius Black - the escaped murderer, Ali drew her wand and leapt to her feet.

"Ali! No!" cried Hermione,

"Don't you know who that is?" asked Ali determined not to let her eyes leave him,

"Yes we do," replied Ginny, "and we also know that he's innocent"

"What?" said Ali, eyeing them all suspiciously; she didn't dare believe it was true.

"Yes," added Hermione, "It was Peter Pettigrew that killed all those people"

"But.he's dead!" declared Ali, confused

"No." said Sirius darkly; "In fact I left him outside with Dumbledore"

"What?" screamed Hermione leaping to her feet and pulling out her wand again

"Captured" added Sirius, a slight smile appearing on his face, despite the pain he was in.

"Okay.could you start from the beginning?" said Ginny looking a little confused,

Sirius attention was then drawn to the Death Eater on the floor, which had begun to come around,

"Neocroi" Ali muttered looking over towards the body that fell lifeless once again.

"How, how did you do that?" gasped Sirius

"It's a simple spell really" said Ali modestly

"No!" continued Sirius, "Without a wand?"

"Oh. Em." Ali paled and looked panicked; luckily she was saved by the astonished shouts of Harry and Ron who had just appeared at the bottom of the dormitory stairs.

"Sirius!" exclaimed Harry

"What the bloody hell is going on?" demanded Ron, looking round at the scene in amazement,

"Well, you see." began Hermione

"Wait," said Sirius, "we need to see Dumbledore. Now"

The group exchanged concerned glances, and then moved towards the portrait hole,

Sirius looked at Ali questioningly, when she made to go along,

"What?" she said, "You don't expect me just to go to bed after all this?" her eyes flashing dangerously, Sirius looked round at the others for back up.

"I think she should come along," said Hermione timidly, "She did save us from that Death Eater" Sirius looked for a moment as though he was going to disagree, then thought better of it and simply nodded in reply.

"Locomotor Death Eater" said Hermione as they set off towards Dumbledore's office. The journey was made in relative silence, everyone had questions to ask, but no one wanted to be the first to speak up. Sirius watched Ali questioningly the whole way.

Dumbledore had anticipated their arrival and was waiting outside his office for them all. "Sirius?" he began, "If I could speak to you for a few minutes first?" he looked round to the others, "Wait here for a short while and we will call you in soon, okay?"

"Yes," agreed Harry, resignedly

Sirius followed Dumbledore into his office and sat down, thankful to be off his feet.

"Perhaps," began Dumbledore, his mysterious eyes twinkling, "You should start by explaining how I came to have a new pet" he glanced over towards the box containing Pettigrew.

"Well," started Sirius, "It began on Sunday, I was at Headquarters, and Remus had just arrived back from King's Cross, and we had merely exchanged greetings when Pettigrew appeared from nowhere behind us. Remus disarmed him, and threw me the wand, while Pettigrew curled up pathetically on the floor." Sirius practically spat the words out. "It was Remus' idea to capture him, so we boxed him. Just as we finished that Tonks, and Charlie, came barging in saying the place was surrounded; so we had to get out. We decided on Portkeys, and I took one to Limerigg; far enough away to avert suspicion, close enough for me to get here. I travelled through the Forbidden Forest as Padfoot; though it took me longer than expected, as I can't remember the forest as well as I thought. The rest; you know."

"You don't know what happened with the Death Eater in Griffindor Tower then?" inquired Dumbledore, deep in thought,

"No, by the time I got there, the girls had knocked them out, and tied them up."

"We had best get them in here then, unless you have any questions?"

"Well yes, I do, as a matter of fact" said Sirius, "What are we going to do about Headquarters? Will we need a new place?"

"It would appear so." Replied Dumbledore, evasive as always, "I'm looking into it."

"Right," said Sirius, irritated not to have gotten a more informative answer, but he knew Dumbledore well enough not to press the issue. "Now, one more thing, that girl.Ali, I think it is.I recognise her from somewhere.and Dumbledore.she can perform wandless magic!"

"Indeed." Replied Dumbledore, eyes twinkling with an almost mischievous glance "I rather thought you would have put the two together before now"

"What?" said Sirius, thoroughly confused.

"Do you know anyone else who can perform wandless magic?"

"No" replied Sirius, "Oh wait, I do." a pained expression crossed his face, "Caighlynne"

"Yes, Caighlynne Danson, are you familiar with why Caighlynne had that particular talent?"

"Yes," replied Sirius, "She was a fairy"

"Quite right," replied Dumbledore smiling, "The young lady outside is her niece."

"And she's a fairy too?" asked Sirius, comprehending dawning on his face

"Half- fairy, but her abilities are strong nonetheless."

"Doesn't she need a fairy around to train from?" asked Sirius, remembering Caighlynne, a good friend from his school years, and how she had to meet with the Ancient Runes Professor - who was also a fairy - several nights a week.

"Not really - she has quite a handle on her talents for one so young, but her aunt is always on hand."

Sirius involuntarily took a deep breath, "Caighlynne is here?"

"Yes," said Dumbledore, his mouth curling into a smile, "She teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Outside Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Ali were sitting in the corridor, waiting for some answers. Harry was staring at the Death Eater's limp body lying on the floor; they were there because of him, yet again his friends had been in danger because of him, it was so unfair. He walked over to the body, and pulled back the mask, gasping as he did so. He had not expected this; the body in front of him was Bellatrix Lestrange. She looked peaceful there; unconscious, Harry felt a sudden lurch of hatred. He could feel the rage bubbling just beneath his skin; here was the one that had taken Sirius from him, the one that had been happy when she thought Sirius was dead. The bitch that had tormented innocent people on the streets, the one that had driven Neville's parents to insanity; There she was; right in front of him. Looking so peaceful, Harry snorted; she had no right to be peaceful. None at all. Just watching her made him feel sick, how could she cause so much pain, and not be institutionalised by the guilt?

Before he was aware of what he was doing he threw his foot at her, putting all his strength into the kick, there was a sickening crack as it met with her ribs; Harry grinned, a sick twisted grin, and he kicked her again. This was what she deserved, pain, anguish, like she had caused so many others. He would show her how to enjoy pain, now he was on the ground beside her, and he threw his fist into her jaw; yet another sickening crack echoed through the corridor. This time Harry didn't smile; he stopped. It was as though he could see things from outside himself; he saw the twisted grin on his face; and it made his skin crawl, what was he doing? He was just as bad as her, just as bad as Voldemort; he was no better than the very people that had ruined his life.

Feeling repulsed, he threw himself away from the body and sat, curled up, staring at the floor. What had come over him?

He risked a glance over at his friends; and they sat staring at him, their faces full of shock, concern, and even wonder. Again he felt the urge to vomit; it was bad enough he had done that, but his best friends, the people he cared about most in the world, had seen the whole thing.

Harry had never been so relieved to see Dumbledore as he was then, when they were gestured into his office.

"I think," began Dumbledore, once everyone was inside, "that we should find out what happened in Griffindor tower tonight before we discuss anything else. Miss Granger?"

"Well," began Hermione, taking a deep breath, "Me and Ali, and Ginny were sitting up talking after the party, when Ali started to stare at something behind me - at the portrait hole. Me and Ginny turned around at once, and there was a Death Eater there drawing their wand. The three of us got to our feet drawing our own wands and I tried to hex them, but they put up a shield just in time, and I got hit with a stunner - Ginny retaliated with another curse - I don't remember which, and I could see them fall, but as she was going down she started to shout the killing curse. Ali interfered with a curse I've never heard before, and then Sirius appeared."

Harry and Ron were looking at all three girls in amazement - all this had happened while they were asleep?

"Did anyone happen to see who the Death Eater was or should I check?" asked Sirius

A pained expression flickered across Harry's face, "It was her Sirius."

The same pained expression was now mirrored in Sirius' face, as he paled considerably. "Lestrange?" he choked, "-again?"

Harry merely nodded in return, not trusting his voice to hold out.

Sirius looked over at the lifeless body in the corner and shuddered involuntarily. He quickly turned back to Dumbledore.

"Sirius." began Ginny, suddenly looking up, "You know what happened with us now, but why are you here?"

"Well, I, um." he looked to Dumbledore for help; he didn't know how much he could say in front of Ali.

"Sirius, it's fine. Both Ali and her aunt joined the order this week."

"WHAT?!" exclaimed Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny as one

"But!" spluttered Harry, "she's even younger than I am!"

"This is so unfair," muttered Ron,

"I cannot fully explain the reasons for this. Unless Ali is ready for them to be revealed," answered Dumbledore, looking over towards Ali, as everyone in the room did the same.

Ali looked at the floor for a few seconds - should she tell them or not? She looked up resignedly "They would have found out eventually - you may as well tell them"

Dumbledore looked mildly surprised by her decision, but quickly hid it and proceeded to explain to the four very confused teens.

"Alyssandra is a fairy. And amongst fairies she is considered an adult; her powers have fully matured." He paused, noting their reaction - which in most cases was shock.

"There are such things as fairies?" asked Harry in disbelief.

"I thought they died out centuries ago!" exclaimed Ron,

"Not quite - granted there aren't many of us left, but there are a considerable amount." Then she added sombrely "You may soon be right though."

"What do you mean?" asked Hermione, who not surprisingly had looked the least shocked at the revelation.

"Well, you know how I told you my parents died?"

The group around her nodded in agreement.

"Well Voldemort wants to get fairies on his side - because they can become invisible to the human eye, and because of their ability to see when people are lying - he knows there are spies among his ranks and he wants rid of them. Some fairies have quite a lot of power as well. When my mother refused to join him he killed her, and my father - he was a wizard. My aunt saved me before he got me too." Ali was almost in tears by this time - and Harry surprising everyone, including himself, went over to her and hugged her.

"It's okay," he whispered to her "You're safe here - and you still have your aunt" he paused as if unsure whether to continue or not "and you have me."

She looked up at him, her violet eyes shining from the tears, and she smiled. "Thank-you" she whispered back.

That smile filled Harry with a kind of euphoria he had never felt before, and he could feel the redness creep onto his cheeks - but he didn't care. Ginny and Hermione exchanged approving smiles, whereas Ron looked rather uncomfortable. Sirius caught Harry's eye and grinned at him, Harry smiled back - things were definitely looking up.

Everyone was silent for a few moments, Harry still holding Ali. When at last Ginny spoke up "So are you gonna tell us what happened?" she demanded, looking over to Sirius

"Oh, yes, of course" said Sirius rather flustered, "Well on Sunday - when Remus returned from Kings Cross, we had literally only said hello to each other when Pettigrew appeared behind us - he started to say Avada Kedavra but Moony cut him off with an Expelliarmus - and threw the wand to me. We trapped him in a box and were debating what to do with him when Tonks and Charlie came in saying we were surrounded - we escaped by Portkey. I took one to a village not too far from the other side of the Forbidden Forest and made my way here as Padfoot. I got here just after the teachers defeated the Death Eaters."

"Death Eaters?" exclaimed Harry "You mean there were more?"

"At least twenty" replied Dumbledore "I assume they were intended as a distraction, which they succeeded as. I think we're very lucky you three girls were still awake - or tonight could have been catastrophic."

Everyone exchanged concerned glances. This was a lot to take in in one night.

"What are you going to do about headquarters?" asked Hermione, "surely you'll need a new place?"

Just then a thought struck Harry "Sirius? Where are you going to stay?"

"I uh.I hadn't thought about that actually" muttered Sirius, his face falling

"Well, I had" replied Dumbledore," and I think you should stay here. I'm going to be getting some Aurors stationed anyway; we can't have a repeat of tonight. And now that we have Pettigrew your name can be cleared and you'll be free. When that happens I would like you to be in charge of defending the castle. Would you be interested?"

Sirius looked flabbergasted "Of course!" he replied, "But what about just now? When no-one knows I'm innocent?"

"There are plenty of rooms in the castle to accommodate you, if would like to stay that is?"

Harry looked at Sirius hopefully; 'please say yes, please say yes' he thought

Sirius looked positively delighted "Of course!" he replied

Harry broke into a grin "It'll be great with you here Sirius!" he enthused, "Did you know I'm Quidditch Captain - you can come and see our games!"

"Yeah, we're all on the team now - except Hermione, but you could keep her company in the stands!" continued Ginny

"You make it sound as though I have no friends!" cried Hermione, indignantly

"Of course you do, they're just all on the team" Ron joked.

"Humph" Hermione snorted and folded her arms,

"Now perhaps the students should be getting to bed?" interjected Dumbledore, reluctant to get in the middle of an argument, "and we'll find you somewhere to live for a few days, hmm Sirius?"

The children got to their feet reluctantly,

"Come along" said Dumbledore, "you'll see each other tomorrow. It is a Saturday after all."

This reminder cheered them all up and they set off towards the dorms. "Night Sirius!" called Harry waving goodnight to him.

"Night!" replied Sirius cheerily

Ron paused to talk to Harry, after leaving Dumbledore's office, but Hermione and Ginny dragged him off. Harry looked over at Ali nervously, what was he supposed to say to her?

Ali solved that problem for him though. "Hey, Harry." She said, smiling over to him, "Did you mean what you said in there?"

"Uh, yeah" he said awkwardly,

"Thanks" she replied, and she wrapped herself around him - hugging him "that means a lot to me."

"Well.uh.you're welcome, I guess," replied Harry awkwardly, she grinned at him, her eyes light and shimmery, and they walked back to the common room in an amiable silence.

"Well, night then," said Harry as he reached the dormitory stairs.

"Wait a sec" she interjected "Could I ask you a few questions?"

"Um, yeah sure" replied Harry, turning to face her, "what did you want to ask?"

"Well for one, how do you know Sirius Black?"

"Oh, I forgot that you didn't know about him, he's my godfather!"

"Oh" she said looking embarrassed, "how did you know he was innocent?"

Harry decided the best way to explain would be to tell her all about his third year at Hogwarts; and so he did. Which led them onto the topics of his other school years and the adventures he had been on; he even told her about the end of last year, and the Department of Mysteries. He couldn't understand why he poured it all out to her, but he did. And she understood, she never once judged him, or frowned upon his actions. Sitting there, talking to her, it felt right somehow. Harry then realised he'd been talking for at least an hour, and Ali was beginning to fall asleep.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go on like that." He said sheepishly

"No, I like hearing you talk" she replied blushing slightly

"Maybe next time you should do the talking" he replied, "I don't know much about you at all, and I just told you my life story."

"There's going to be a next-time?" she asked gingerly

"Well, I dunno," stammered Harry, now blushing furiously "If you want there to be."

"Oh I do" she replied, a smile playing on her lips, as she reached over and kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Night Harry" she whispered as she moved away to the girls dorm.

Harry stayed where he was for quite some time, staring after her and smiling. Thinking about her, she had kissed him, and she wanted to talk to him again. Yes - today had been one of the best of his life, even if there was a Death Eater attack!

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Well there you have it - you finally know what happened! - Wasn't really that exciting was it? He he, anyway I hope you like this, and as always read and review!! I almost have 50 reviews.please, please let me get that many!! I will love you all forever and be eternally in your debt. Okay - maybe at slight overstatement but I will return the favour! More soon, love Believe.

Replies:-

Hplova4eva - You're the best - thanks for sticking with the story - I hope you'll see it through to the end with me!

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