Chapter 10

Ron frowned, but left the common room. Harry looked to Alex as she sat down.

"Harry, you're scaring me. What's going on? Where's Kagato? And shouldn't we do something to wake Cat?"

Harry shuddered a little, then started pacing in front of her.

"I'd rather let Professor Dumbledore help her. Alex...what's the last thing that you remember?"

Alex thought for a moment, then she shrugged.

"Last thing I remember was being in the hospital. Why?"

He frowned and stopped pacing. Harry knelt down in front of her and took her hand but avoided her eyes.

"Alex...Kagato is dead. It happened last night. We...we went to the forest to look for you and Cat. I...I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

Harry finally looked up at Alex. All the colour had drained from her face. She shut her eyes and shook her head.

"No. This isn't happening. It's not happening."

She stood up quite suddenly, turning her back to him, causing Harry to keel over backwards. He noticed that Alex was shaking all over as he got to his feet. Trembling, he grasped her shoulder gently.

"It did happen. You and Cat have been missing for almost two months now. It's Christmas day. Everyone has been looking for the both of you. We've been terrified that Voldemort was using you. Alex...please say something."

She turned around, tears spilling silently down her cheeks. Harry let go of her shoulder. Alex's voice shook as she spoke.

"I...I don't know what to say Harry. I...I just don't know what to say."

Alex hung her head, trying to wipe away the tears. She didn't want him to see her cry.

"H-how did it happen?"

Harry swallowed hard. He really didn't want to answer her, but knew that he must.

"We went out to the forest last night. He thought he might be able to talk to a few of the werewolves that live in there. See if they knew anything. We never made it past the tree line. He made me run for it before they attacked though. They were waiting for us...and they ripped him to shreds. He saved my life Alex."

Alex stood there looking at him, trembling even more.

"Alex? I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen."

Harry dropped to the floor, his face in his hands. It was a moment before he realized that Alex had kneeled down next to him. She was patting his back and speaking softly.

"Shh, it's ok Harry. It's not your fault, it's mine. If I had only told him about my..."

She trailed off and Harry looked up at her.

"Only told him what?"

She shook her head and turned away.

"Nothing. Don't...don't worry about it Harry. It doesn't matter now anyway."

Harry placed his arm around her and lifted her chin with his finger so that she was looking at him.

"Alex, please...what should you have told him?"

It was Alex's turn to swallow hard. She wasn't supposed to tell anyone what she could do, but this was Harry. She could trust him...couldn't she?

"I...I'm a Seer. It runs in my family. My mum and Gran were both very good at it. I...I just get things randomly though, Gran never taught me how to use it...and...and I've been having a nightmare since the day I got here. About werewolves fighting and killing one of their own. I...I just didn't think...I hoped it wasn't him."

Not knowing what to do and feeling slightly stunned at what she had told him, Harry pulled her in close and held her tight. He was now patting her back and leaning on her forehead with his own.

"Alex, if it's not my fault, then it's most certainly not yours either. Some things are...are just meant to happen."

Alex shook her head, holding onto him tightly. She was fighting back tears. She didn't want to fall apart in front of him. She shut her eyes tightly.

"I know, but still, I should have told him...should have told someone...anyone...and now I'll never see him again."

Again, Harry lifted her chin and looked at her. She seemed so vulnerable, fragile. Not at all how he was used to seeing her. Even when she had been unconscious, she still seemed strong to him. A pink tinge spread to his cheeks as he cleared his throat.

"If it helps, all he could think about was you. That's all any of us could think about...finding you and Cat."

Alex blushed and the effect on Harry was noticeable. He brushed the hair from her face as Hermione came down the stairs. She stopped on the last step and gasped slightly. Alex and Harry looked up at her, then to the portrait. It stood open, Professor Dumbledore was looking down at them. Ron was standing behind him, frowning; his ears started to turn red.