Disclaimer: I make no claim to the characters. All belongs to the wonderful J.K who has finally announced a release date for OotP.

A/N: I tried to get this chapter out a little quicker. I tried. Really I did! But I lost motivation half way through. Here it is finally.

Dedicated to all those people who lost their homes in the Canberra bush fires.

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Chapter 25

It was around two o'clock in the morning. The girls were all lying in bed trying to sleep but it was proving to be easier said than done. They were all feeling horrible about Ginny. But they felt just as bad about the prospect of leaving Hogwarts in a matter of hours.

Suddenly there was a loud bang in the dark and they all shrieked and sat up. Someone had thrown open their door with such force that it hit the wall. A dark figure was silhouetted in the doorway. Katie screamed and Alicia whimpered and pulled her covers up to her chin. Their first thought was of course that the Heir of Slytherin was on the rampage.

"Lumos!" Angelina, quite a lot calmer than the other two, lit her wand and directed the beam of light at the intruder.

"LEE!"

"Of course it's me!" He skipped into the room and it was quite obvious that he was more than a little hyper. Katie called him something less than flattering but he ignored her and jumped up onto her bed.

"Time to wake up, Katie-baby!" he said between bounces. Katie threw her hands over her head and groaned.

Alicia and Angelina exchanged a glance. "Are you bloody mental? It's two in the morning!"

"I'm a aware of that," he saidd loudly. Angelina shook her head and went to light some candles.

"All right, what's going on, Lee?"

"Ginny's alive and they aren't closing the school!"

"WHAT!" the three girls demanded.

"It's true! Mr. Weasley just came to take the twins and Percy to see Ginny in the hospital wing! The monster's dead!"

"You could have just said that in the first place." Katie glared up at him. "Minus the bouncing," she added.

Lee leapt off her bed and kissed her so quickly on the lips that she didn't even have time to react. He moved to Alicia's bed but she shoved a pillow in his face.

"Wait a minute - how on earth did Ginny kill the monster?" Angelina frowned. She had a point. Ginny was only a little girl and Gryffindor bravery can only get you so far.

"She didn't. Harry did."

"Harry?!"

"So that's where they went last night!"

"The poor dear!" Katie said, looking stricken. "Imagine being almost killed two years in a row."

"Lucky his parents left him a fortune then. He'll need it to pay his psychiatry bills," Angelina said.

"I'm more worried about what Oliver will say when he finds out he almost lost his star Seeker again," Alicia said. She found herself smiling for the first time in hours.

"Come on! We're having a feast to celebrate!" Lee announced gleefully.

"Just let us get dressed at least."

"No time!"

So the four of them headed down to the common room in their pyjamas. Half the house was already up and more were emerging all the time. Wild stories were flying around about how Harry had snatched Ginny from the clutches of the evil beast and killed it with his bare hands.

Whether it actually happened like that or not didn't make a different. Harry was a hero. Again.

Downstairs the Great Hall was abuzz with excitement. Alicia sat between Oliver and Angelina and listened intently as Ron retold the story cheerfully. She couldn't help but interrupt half way through when she realised something unsettling.

"Did you say You-Know-Who was in an old diary that Ginny had?"

Harry nodded. Alicia went pale and slapped her hand to her forehead.

"What's wrong?" Angelina asked through a mouthful of ice cream.

"Ginny was crying before and I went in to see her and - Oh, Lord - I touched Riddle's diary!"

"Don't worry. As long as you didn't write anything in the diary he couldn't have got to you," Harry said reassuringly.

"I know, but still." She peered down at her hands as if she expected them to turn green and fall off.

"Fred!" Angelina suddenly jumped up, kicking Alicia in the process and knocking her out of her stupor.

The twins had returned with Percy and the newly unpetrified people trailing behind. Alicia noticed Percy kept throwing looks back at Penelope a lot.

"Ginny's fine!" Fred announced happily as he embraced Angelina. George swept Alicia into his arms and she giggled in delight.

***************

The rest of the term went perfectly. Of course without any exams for Dark Arts lessons it was almost like their holiday started early. But just like a holiday it was over in the blink of an eye and they were back at home in no time.

Alicia's summer was really no better than the last. Everyone was fighting. Jasmine was still angry with her parents and she only referred to Alicia's dad as David now. Of course that really hurt him since he raised the girl and loved her as his own. He in turn got angry with Alicia's mother because she wouldn't tell him why Jasmine couldn't go to Hogwarts. And Erica was on holiday in Paris so Alicia was pretty much alone.

She spent a lot of time in her room but that didn't help because her parent's room was right next to hers and she could hear them arguing.

"Why can't Jasmine go to Hogwarts?" David demanded.

"She's my daughter so I make the decisions!"

"Her father is at Hogwarts, isn't he?"

"Just drop it!"

"Why else would you not want her to go then? It's one of the teachers isn't it?"

"I don't have to answer any questions!"

Her father's voice dropped so low that Alicia could no longer hear him so she pressed her ear up against the wall. "-Or maybe that Snape fellow? Is it him?"

Now she wished she hadn't heard at all. Her mother didn't reply and Alicia squeezed her eyes shut. A door slammed and the wall shook.

Alicia lurched back to her bed. She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling for a long time. Snape? It didn't make sense! How could pretty, sweet Jasmine be his daughter? And further more, how could her mother even think about-?

She put her hands over her eyes. Better not to go there. Dangerous territory.

But.Snape? Her mother probably had gone to school with him at some point though she was older. She had been a Gryffindor though. Surely she wouldn't have interacted with a Slytherin. Though, stranger things had happened.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation," Alicia mumbled to the ceiling. Just because she hadn't said anything when Snape was mentioned didn't automatically mean he was the one.

But she didn't say no either.

Jasmine didn't even look like Snape! Her hair was dark brown (not greasy) and her eyes were a pale blue colour. Her nose was straight and she had a bright, cheerful smile.

Deep down, Alicia knew her half sister's appearance wasn't conclusive evidence. Children didn't always take on their parents' hair or eye colour. Often it was a mixture.

But that brought her back to square one.

"All this speculation is making my head hurt," she groaned and rolled off her bed.

The house was dead quiet as she headed down stairs. That had been very rare as of late and she wondered if everyone had made up. Her father was sitting at the kitchen table by himself reading the Muggle paper. "Where is everyone?" she asked him.

"Your mother has gone to stay with your grandmother for a while. She took Jasmine," he answered without looking up.

Alicia decided to leave her father to his moping and went to watch some television. She'd only just flicked it on when people started popping out of the fireplace. First Ginny and Ron then Fred and George. She coughed as she inhaled some soot.

"Sorry about that." George waved his wand and the soot flew back into the fireplace.

"It's all right. What are you all doing here?"

"You don't sound excited to see us," Fred said, pretending to look hurt.

"Actually, your timing couldn't be better. I could do with a distraction," Alicia said gratefully.

"Where's Jasmine?" Ginny asked.

"Not here. She's gone with mum to stay with my grandmother. Mum and dad were fighting so it's probably better they take some time to calm down. Erica's not back from Paris till next week."

"You're welcome to come stay at our house," George offered, crossing his fingers behind his back.

"Thanks for the offer but I don't think I should leave my dad at the moment. Mum will be home as soon as she gets sick of my grandparents anyway. That shouldn't take too long," she replied.

"I thought I heard voices in here." They turned to see David Spinnet standing in the doorway. They all said hello rather guiltily. "Yes, nice to see you, Weasleys. I'm sorry that Jasmine isn't here, Ginny."

"It's all right. I'm sure I'll see her later."

"Of course. Well, if you'll excuse me, I have papers to mark for my class."

He went upstairs and Alicia turned back to the four red heads. "So Ginny came to see Jas and you thought you'd escort her?"

"The three of them follow me everywhere. It's getting bloody annoying, really."

The boys blushed and fidgeted. "We came to see you as well," George insisted.

"Ron, too?" she asked doubtfully.

"I was bored," he said sheepishly.

"Haven't you heard from Harry?"

"I used one of those stupid Muggle things to call him last week."

"A telephone?"

"Yeah. But it didn't work. I don't think I was yelling loud enough," Ron scratched his head in puzzlement.

"You were yelling?" Alicia asked, trying not to giggle.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Of course I was. How else is he supposed to hear me?"

"Of course. How stupid of me," she said mockingly. "What about Hermione?"

Ron turned red at the mention of her name and the twins laughed. Ginny just sighed.

"What happened?" Alicia looked from one boy to the other.

"I got a letter from her," Ron answered softly.

"And what was it signed?" Fred prompted.

"Love from Hermione," he mumbled.

"Oh, how cute!"

"It is not cute!"

George slapped him on the back. "C'mon, Ronniekins, we're only kidding."

"If we're going to stay then I'm watching the telebision." He stomped away and took an armchair in front of the TV to watch Neighbours.

"How have you been?" George asked as he and Fred followed Alicia into the kitchen.

"Fine, apart from all the fighting. What about you?" she asked curiously.

"All right," he said casually as Fred began to rummage through the cupboards in search of food. "I thought we could spend some more time together this holiday to make up for last summer."

"That would be excellent." She smiled and he grinned right back.

Fred watched them out of the corner of his eye.

***************

Unfortunately, fate had other things in mind for George. He hardly got to spend anytime with Alicia because he went to Egypt with his family after they won the Galleon draw. Luckily Alicia didn't spend any time with Oliver this summer and George was able to rest easy.

Alicia's mother returned the same day Erica did and the family was reunited. Most of the time was spent in uneasy silence that Alicia found more unnerving than the constant arguing. She was able to escape next door to see Luke most of the time and she even spent a few nights at Angelina's house.

Erica had decided it was time she moved out so Alicia went house hunting with her a few times. It was quite depressing to see that the only half-decent place she could afford was a tiny one bedroom flat.

"It'll do till I can save enough money for a real place," Erica told her parents.

"Don't sign anything till I've had a look at it," David said firmly.

"Fine. I'll take you to see it tomorrow. Want to come mum?"

Natalie gave her husband a look and shook her head. "I'll take Jas and Leesh into Diagon Alley."

Alicia forced a smile. That would be a fun expedition.

She was woken early the next morning and the three of them left at nine. While their mother went to get their books Alicia dragged Jasmine to Quality Quidditch Supplies. Jasmine didn't like Quidditch much. In fact, Alicia was the only one in her family who did like it.

Jasmine looked on in boredom as Alicia examined the new Firebolt from every possible angle. She stepped back to admire it from afar when she ran into a familiar boy.

"Harry!"

"Oh, hi, Alicia," he greeted her. "Looking at the Firebolt, too?"

"Yeah. It's exquisite. Do you know how much it costs?"

"I'm too afraid to ask," he admitted.

"Alicia! Can we go now?" Jasmine demanded. She came over and spotted Harry. She stopped and stared. Harry stared straight back.

"Jasmine this is Harry Potter. Harry this is my little sister Jasmine. She's the same age as Ginny."

"Nice to meet you," he said politely.

"Same here." Jasmine continued to stare curiously, causing him to blush slightly. "I heard about how you saved Ginny. That was very brave."

Harry shrugged uncomfortably. "It was no big deal."

"Come on, Jas, leave the boy alone." Alicia dragged her away. "I'll see you at school, Harry!" she called over her shoulder.

He gave a bewildered wave to the girls then headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. Jasmine began to giggle as they waited outside Flourish and Blotts. "He's funny. Kinda cute, too. I can see why Ginny likes him."

"Don't you even think about it," Alicia warned.

"Don't worry, sis. Harry Potter isn't my type. As far as I'm concerned Ginny can have him," Jasmine said casually.

Alicia breathed a sigh of relief. Another member of the Harry Potter fan club was something the world didn't need. Ginny, Colin and Moaning Myrtle were quite enough to deal with.

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A/N: Short and uninteresting chapter but I just wanted to give you some more stuff about Alicia's family. Especially the whole mystery about Jasmine's father. I'm not going to reveal who it is till the sequel but I have left some clues throughout the story so sharp readers may already have figured it out.

Next chapter is going to be a full on one. It will feature the Dementors of course and a little surprise for Alicia. And we can all look forward to the little shower incident between Oliver and Alicia within the next few chapters.

Now to the lovely reviewers:

Oliverwoodschic- I'm glad you love it and I really tried to get this out as soon as possible.

Meredith- A cricketer would never survive a rugby scrum. Cricket is the most boring sport in the world! You know it's true Meeny! Yes, imaginations are truly wonderful things.

MaryC- Wow! I didn't know I warranted a happy dance! Harry gets enough attention as far as I'm concerned so I prefer to write from the POV of minor characters. It's more fun as far as I'm concerned.

Laverne de Montmorency- I hated to interrupt Alicia and Oliver as well but unfortunately it had to be done. But don't worry there'll be plenty of A/O coming up. I'm looking forward to the next chapter!

Ashlee- It almost made you cry? I didn't think it was that powerful but it was pretty sad to see them not their usual chirpy selves.

Mystical- Yeah, I know, I can't do angst. I guess that's cause I'm a happy person! No angst here! I usually come up with the chapter titles as I upload so it's a spur of the moment thing.

Star2717- The best one in quite a while? Thanks! I'm trying to get back on track and I think it's starting to come along better. I hope you update your story soon! I really like it!

Eriador- I don't think anyone has ever told me they want to write like me. I wish I was Alicia too.well, I am Alicia.but you know what I mean. I tried to hurry!

Bertiebottsgeorge- I reviewed your story! I didn't realise you had updated!

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!