Disclaimer: The characters belong to someone else. I'm sure you know whom.

A/N: No, you're not hallucinating! This is a real update! Hoo-bloody-ray!

Thankies for the reviews 'n' stuff! I know I've been such a lazy ass recently. I don't really have an excuse either. I've had plenty of time to write but I just haven't had the motivation. Everything is sweet now.

The start of this chapter is set after the Quidditch game against Hufflepuff is cancelled. Hermione and Penelope have been petrified and McGonagall has just made her announcement in the common room.

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Chapter 24

The common room was in uproar. Lee had just suggested that all the Slytherins be 'chucked out'. Silently, Alicia reasoned that no Slytherins had been attacked because they were all purebloods but she wasn't going to point that out to Lee while he was in his current mood.

Oliver was doing even worse.

"They can't cancel Quidditch!"

"They can and they have, dear. There's nothing we can do," Katie sighed morosely.

"Why cancel Quidditch? It's not like the monster is going to attack in the middle of a game!" Oliver continued to rant, oblivious to the dozen or so students begging him to calm down.

Finally Angelina acted. She reached across Katie and grabbed Oliver's ear and twisted. "Listen here, Oliver, they cancelled Quidditch and there's nothing we can do about it now. You shouldn't even be worried about Quidditch anyway. What if they close the school? We'll be sent to Beauxbatons or maybe even Durmstrang. Would you like that?"

"No," he said meekly.

"I thought not. Now pull yourself together," Angelina ordered and released his red ear.

Alicia was only half listening to the conversations around her. Everyone was worried. The majority of them didn't have any real need to be frightened of the monster. It wasn't after them.

Across the room a small group of first and second year students were huddled close together. Alicia recognised them all as being either Muggle-born or half-blood. They'd taken to staying together at all times. Personally, Alicia didn't think this was a very effective plan. Herded together like that they were an even easier target.

The conversations were only putting her on edge so she went to go talk to the frightened huddle. After a quick reassuring chat with them she headed upstairs. Walking past the first year's room she heard the distinct and unmistakable sound of someone crying.

She knocked softly. "Hello?"

"Leave me alone," was the sobbing reply.

"Ginny?"

Without waiting for an answer Alicia entered the room. Ginny was curled up on one of the beds. Her red hair was strewn all over her pale face and a small book was beside her. It was only relatively small and thin and it looked fairly old and tatty. Alicia knew Ginny had picked up many of her books second-hand so she thought nothing of it.

Ginny sniffled and brushed her hair from her face. "Alicia?"

"Are you all right, Gin?"

"Is it true they might close the school down?"

"There's a possibility, I guess. I wouldn't worry if I were you; Dumbledore will sort it all out. Whoever's responsible will be caught and sent to Azkaban for life."

This only served to make Ginny cry more violently. Alicia swept the book aside and sat next to the distraught girl. She'd never seen anyone so upset before. The terrified sobs scared her more than the monster did.

"It'll be all right, Ginny," she said as she rubbed her back soothingly. "The Mandrakes are nearly matured! Hermione will be revived soon."

Alicia stayed with her for a while longer until, totally exhausted from all the crying, she fell into a fitful sleep. She took a moment to examine the old book. But it was blank and extremely boring so she placed it on the table beside Ginny's bed and tiptoed from the room.

Loud conversation still drifted up the stairs and Alicia didn't feel like facing anyone so she went to her own room and collapsed on her bed. Things were getting out of hand. If they closed Hogwarts it would all be over and they'd be sent to one of the other European schools.

Alicia definitely didn't want to go to Durmstrang with its reputation for Dark Arts emphasis, nor did she particularly fancy going to Beauxbatons. Jasmine had told her all about it at Christmas and it sounded much too haughty and refined. Celebrities and famous Quidditch players sent their children there. Even the Minister of Magic sent his daughter there to be schooled.

She blinked away the tears that threatened to fall as she thought of leaving Hogwarts, the place that was her second home. Before she broke down there was a knock on the door. It was probably George or Angelina or Katie wondering where she'd been.

"Come in!" she called to her visitor.

It wasn't Angelina or Katie or even George.

"Lee? Fred?"

"All right, Leesh?"

"I'm fine," she answered hesitantly, eyeing them suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Can't a guy be worried about his friend?" Lee entered, pretending to be offended by her assumption he was looking to cause trouble.

"You were worried about me?"

"Yeah, we feel kinda guilty about scaring you that time," Fred said.

Alicia sat up and watched them curiously. The two of them had been acting odd around her for a while. Right now she wasn't in the mood for a stupid prank so she ordered them to leave.

"Aaw, Leeshy. We're just trying to be friendly."

"Since when have you ever tried to be friendly with me?"

"It's our new years resolution," Lee said brightly.

"It's April," Alicia pointed out, as she snatched a fairy trinket away from Fred. "Stop touching my stuff and leave me alone."

"We know something you don't know," Fred chanted.

"I don't care. Get out."

"Fine." Lee shrugged and headed out with Fred. Half way out the door he called back airily, "I guess you don't want to know who fancies you."

"That's right, I don't - hang on! Get back in here!" she ordered.

Grinning like Cheshire cats, they both turned and tilted their heads mockingly. "But you told us to get out."

"It's a girl's prerogative to change her mind. Now get in here." She yanked them both back into the room and slammed the door.

Lee smirked in that adorable way of his. "We thought that might get your attention."

"What's this about someone fancying me?"

"We just have classified information that a certain Gryffindor bloke has eyes for you." Fred shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing to get excited about, really."

Alicia gaped. He had to be kidding! Nothing to get excited about? No one ever fancied her! It was always Angelina or Katie. It had to be a trick. She narrowed her eyes. "You're taking the piss."

"Are not!" Lee said indignantly.

"This is something we'd never do to you," Fred added. Alicia snorted. "Teasing you and scaring the hell out of you is one thing but we'd never screw with stuff like this."

Alicia saw something very odd in his eye. Something that looked distinctly out of place, like a cricket player in a rugby scrum. It took a moment for her to realise it was sincerity.

"All right, so you're telling the truth. Who is he then?"

"Can't tell you."

"Lee!"

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, love. We promised we wouldn't say anything to you."

Alicia pouted. How dare they get her hopes up like that!? Sudden recognition hit her and she gave a small squeal.

Oliver!

Her heart began to pound. It had to be! No other guy even bothered to look sideways at her. Oliver Wood fancied her, Alicia Spinnet! One of the hottest guys in school.

"You feeling all right?" Fred peered at her.

"Oh, yes, quite all right," Alicia replied breathlessly, realising she'd gone pale for a moment. Now her cheeks coloured treacherously. She had to bite back a giggle as the boys exchanged a furtive glance. "The mystery guy plays on the Gryffindor Quidditch team doesn't he?"

Fred kept his poker face on but Lee's eyes widened dramatically. It was all the confirmation she needed. "Don't worry, I won't tell him you let it slip."

"But-"

"I know who it is. I've had my suspicions for a while now but you've just confirmed it for me. Thanks."

"But-"

"Goodbye, boys. That was a most informative visit."

She ushered the stunned pair from the room. "But-" Lee started again. Alicia closed the door in his face.

"Uh oh," Fred mumbled over and over again as they descended the stairs and slipped through the rowdy common room and back up to their (thankfully) deserted room.

"Do you think she really knows?" Lee asked anxiously.

"Dunno," Fred admitted. "There aren't many guys to choose from on the team."

"Maybe she thinks its Oliver. Or even Harry."

"Let's hope so. George is gonna kill us, man." He ran his hands through his fiery red hair and looked around for inspiration.

"It was your idea! He should kill you!" Lee pointed at his friend.

"You gave it away with those stupid eyes of yours! Besides, I'm his twin brother. He'll kill you!"

They were silent for several minutes. Lee sighed and dropped onto his bed. "Who are we kidding? He'll kill us both."

"Maybe Alicia's bluffing. You know, waiting for us cave in," Fred said thoughtfully.

Lee sat up in interest. He'd seen the odd look on her face. "Yeah, maybe you're right. But what do we do?"

"Play it cool for now."

"But what if she knows that we know?"

"Then we know that she knows that we know."

Lee frowned. "Huh?"

"Then again.she might know that we know that she knows that we know."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know!" Fred threw up his arms in frustration. "I have a migraine."

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After much thought Alicia decided to play it coy. Fawning all over Oliver like a disillusioned groupie would only scare him away. Cool and subtle was the trick. Getting him to make the first move should be easy enough.

"How are you feeling, captain?" she asked kindly.

It was three days before exams and Oliver had been trying to study in the common room but he'd given up. It was just too hard to concentrate on schoolwork at the moment.

"Fine," he answered her automatically.

"Fine? You've been walking around here like a lost puppy dog, Oliver."

"What am I supposed to do?" he demanded.

Alicia winced. Yeah, get him angry. That'll help.

"We would have won the Cup, you know."

"That's not much of a comfort, Alicia."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too. I don't mean to take it out on you." He gave her an apologetic half smile.

No time like the present. "Oliver, do you think I could talk to you?"

"Go ahead."

"I was thinking somewhere a little more private," she said uneasily.

"Private?"

"Yes," Alicia said as she looked around the crowded common room. Why did he have to make it so damn difficult?!

"Sure, I don't think anyone is up in my room at the moment."

She nodded. Legs shaking, she stood and followed Oliver to the stairs. They were halfway up when the portrait opened and a long stream of Gryffindor students entered. They paused on the staircase and looked down. George, Fred and Lee were the last ones to come in.

"What's going on?" someone yelled.

"No idea. We were in detention with Flitwick when an announcement came over," Fred answered.

"All students were ordered back to their house dormitories and the teachers are all in the staff room," Dean Thomas added.

Oliver looked down at Alicia. "You don't think."

She groaned. "Not another attack."

Slowly, almost reluctantly, they came back downstairs to join their distressed housemates. Alicia and Oliver joined the others in the corner for a hushed conversation.

"Maybe they caught the monster."

"Nah." George shook his head. "McGonagall sounded really worried. It must be another attack."

None of them said anything but they all agreed. Unconsciously everyone started looking around for his or her friends.

The portrait opened again and McGonagall entered. Every eye turned to her. She was obviously very worried about something and her normally calm voice shook uncontrollably.

"I'm very sorry to say this is the end of Hogwarts. You have all been asked to pack your belongings immediately. The Hogwarts Express will come to take you all home first thing tomorrow morning."

The students gasped as one. Alicia felt very nauseous all of a sudden. Surely things couldn't get any worse.

They did.

"You must understand that a student has been taken into the Chamber by the monster. We have no choice but to close the school."

"But who, Professor? Who was taken into the Chamber?"

"Ginny. Ginny Weasley."

For the rest of her life, Alicia would never forget the look on George's face. Fear gripped her heart like a vice. She couldn't imagine how it was for him.

"I'm afraid there isn't much we can do," McGonagall said with teary eyes. She gave the Weasleys a last sympathetic look then stumbled out.

No one spoke. The unnatural silence echoed through the Tower as the reality of the situation hit everyone. Ginny was lost.

"Fred?" Angelina said urgently.

He turned to her but his eyes were unseeing. "Ginny?"

"Come and sit down," Alicia said gently, grabbing George's arm and directing him to an armchair. A second year girl jumped up and George sat down heavily. Alicia sat on the arm and put her hand on his shoulder.

"How could this happen?" he asked dazedly.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Angelina said unconvincingly.

The portrait opened again and everyone turned hopefully. It was only Ron and Harry.

"Ron-"

"We know," Harry said.

They joined Fred and George and everyone gave them some space. "I'll just be over there if you need anything." Alicia gave George's hand one last reassuring pat then joined Angelina, Katie, Lee and Oliver.

"This is awful," Katie said. She shivered, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Lee put a comforting arm around her. "It'll be all right."

"It doesn't even make sense. Ginny is pure-blood as far back as you want to go," Alicia said.

The common room had started to empty gradually as students went upstairs to start packing. Some younger students were lingering, not sure what to do. After a few softly spoken words from Alicia and Angelina, they headed upstairs too.

"We might as well go start as well," Angelina sighed.

"Mind if I come with you girls?" Oliver asked. "I have a feeling Percy wants to be alone."

"Sure. You wanna come too, Lee?"

"If you wouldn't mind, of course."

"Company might do us good," Katie said as she forced a watery smiled.

The five of them trudged upstairs and into their dorm. The girls began to gather their belongings together while Lee and Oliver sat on their beds.

"What do you think will happen to us all?" Lee asked finally.

Alicia looked up from folding her robes. "They'll have to split the student body. Half will go to Beauxbatons and half to Durmstrang. We won't fit otherwise."

"I bet we end up at Durmstrang with the Slytherins." Angelina shuddered at the thought and decided she would not go to Durmstrang under any circumstance.

"At least we'll be together," Katie said.

"I hate not being able to do anything," Oliver said passionately.

Alicia slammed her trunk shut then turned to him. "We may not be able to help Ginny but we can keep order while the prefects are at their emergency meeting. I'm going to go make sure everyone is all right. Want to come, Olly?"

He shrugged and said, "It's better than just sitting around doing nothing." He followed her out of the room.

In the hall they met the female prefect who had been left behind to make sure everyone was packing. She was looking extremely harassed and was glad for the help. Alicia and Oliver were sent down to the first year girls' room.

The two of them were in there for over an hour. The girls were in shock and weren't really in any mood to pack. With a little coaxing from the older students they got it done. Ginny's belongings were left untouched. Alicia figured it would be better for a family member to take care of it.

The girls had a lot of questions and Alicia and Oliver tried to answer as many of them as they could. A prefect finally came to relieve them and the girls hugged them both goodbye, much to Oliver's surprise.

"Feel a little better?" she asked him as they headed back to her room.

"I do actually," he admitted. "It's just a pity it took something like this to happen before I got to know some of the younger students."

"I knew there was more to you than Quidditch."

His reply was cut off by Angelina thundering towards them. "Thank Merlin! I can't wait around any longer. I have to check on Fred. Come with me, Leesh."

Before she could answer she was being pulled down the stairs. The common room was about half full now but the boys were nowhere to be seen. "They must be in their room now."

Angelina pulled her up the other staircase and knocked on their door. It was thrown open almost immediately. Fred's hopeful face surveyed them and fell again.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Angelina cooed.

"I thought you might have been - never mind," he trailed off then stepped back to let them in.

"Where's George?" Alicia asked when she didn't see him in the room.

"In the shower. Has there been any news?"

"No. Sorry."

"Mum and dad should be here soon. Percy said they were going to Apparate into Hogsmeade."

"How's Ron holding up?" Alicia asked.

"He's taking it harder than any of us, I think. He was closer to Ginny. I wish I'd taken the time to-" his voice broke and he turned away.

Seeing that he was embarrassed, Alicia rubbed her own eyes with the sleeve of her shirt and went to sit on George's bed while Angelina comforted him. George emerged from the bathroom five minutes later. His damp hair was unbrushed and he wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Alicia?" He stopped when he saw her on his bed. He soon recovered from the shock and said, "What are you doing here? Has something happened?"

"No, still nothing. Angelina and I just came to make sure you're both fine."

He gave a small smile that almost broke Alicia's heart. "I've been better."

"Oh, George!" She leapt off the bed to hug him. For a second he very nearly pushed her away. Slowly, he excepted the offered comfort and buried his face in her hair. She held him there for several minutes before he broke away looking a little ashamed.

"I'll help you pack," Angelina offered.

"I'm just gonna go check on Ron. Be back in a moment." Alicia ducked out of the room and George suddenly felt very alone.

"Thanks for coming," Fred whispered as Angelina helped him gather up his textbooks.

She kissed the top of his head "What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't come?"

"I appreciate it anyway."

"Do you think we'll be able to go see mum and dad?" George wondered aloud.

"I doubt it."

Alicia returned looking very confused. "Is he all right?" Fred asked, worried by the look on her face.

"He and Harry aren't in their room."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. They aren't in their room. Neville, Dean and Seamus said they haven't been up at all."

"Where the bloody hell could they be then?"

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A/N: I hope that chapter was all right. Please review! I'll try to get the next chapter out soon!