Chapter 4

They arrived in a rather isolated area. There was a medium sized cottage surrounded by fields and forest. Alex walked forward towards the cottage.

"This is so isolated," Rose said, looking around.

"There are rumors that this place is evil," Alex said. "I checked around and found nothing. Besides, I rather like it that nobody else is around; nobody around to annoy me."

Hermione chuckled and shook her head.

"You always liked being alone, but I think this takes it to the next level," Ron said, also glancing around. "Still, it is a nice place."

"Come on," Alex said.

They went into the cottage. It seemed bigger on the inside than on the outside. It was clean and tidy, but a comfortable environment.

"Make yourselves at home," Alex said, going into another room.

"This is nice," Ginny said. "I half expected all black."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Hugo jumped onto the couch. Rose and Mark joined him. Rose shivered a little.

"It's a little cold," she said, clutching her jacket closer to herself.

"It is pretty chilly," Eric agreed.

They heard a meow and a black cat leapt onto the couch.

"Ooh! A cat! It's so pretty!" Hugo exclaimed.

Hugo beckoned the cat to come over to him. The cat glanced at him and hissed, settling on top of the couch's backrest.

"Aww," Hugo pouted.

Mark reached up to pet the cat, but the cat hissed again, batting at his hand with sharp claws.

"Careful, Mark," Eric said. "Don't pet the cat if it doesn't want to be pet."

Mark pouted as well.

"Meanie," he muttered.

The cat calmed down and licked its paws.

"Is it just me or does that cat look an awful lot like Hedwig?" Ron asked, studying the cat.

"Who's Hedwig?" Rose asked.

"Harry's cat," Hermione said. "Alex gave Hedwig to his brother as a gift. She was a beautiful cat, black and golden eyes. She was awfully attached to Alex and Harry both. She hated my cat Crookshanks."

"That's because Crookshanks was really ugly," Ron said.

"Oh, would you stop it already? Crookshanks was a perfectly good-looking cat. And besides, he was half Kneazle," Hermione exclaimed.

"Golden eyes? This cat has blue eyes," Rose said.

"Blue eyes? Well then, it isn't Hedwig," Ron said. "Plus, it's been fifteen years. Hedwig can't have lived that long."

"You know, now that I think about it, Hedwig didn't like us either," Eric said. "This cat acts sort of like her."

The cat meowed and settled its head on its paws, blinking the pretty blue orbs closed.

"Do you guys want anything to drink?" Alex asked, coming into the room.

"Who are you?!" Mark exclaimed.

The three children were tense from alarm. Alex had dropped his disguise and changed into more comfortable clothes. His black hair hung over his ice blue eyes. His skin was paler than before.

"Mark, Rose, Hugo, this is Alex's true appearance," Hermione explained.

"W-why does he wear a disguise?" Hugo asked. "Is he a bad person?"

"I merely do not like people seeing my true appearance these days," Alex said. "You could say it is...a personal reason."

The black cat looked up and meowed. It leapt down from the couch and walked over to Alex, purring as it rubbed against Alex's legs. Alex held out his arms and the cat happily jumped into his arms. Alex petted the cat's head and its purring grew louder.

"Beautiful cat, reminds us of Hedwig," Hermione said.

"Yes...she looks very similar to Hedwig...also reminds me a little about Harry," Alex said. "This is Shadow. She doesn't really like strangers at first, but if you give her a couple hours to get used to you, she'll let you pet her. I'll make some tea for everyone."

Alex walked to the kitchen, setting Shadow back on the top of the couch's backrest. The four adults sat down as well. Rose shivered and Ron tugged her over, rubbing her arms to warm her up. A few moments later, Alex came back and set mugs of tea in front of everyone. He noticed Rose's shivering and sighed.

"It's all right if you light a fire," he said.

Alex pulled out his wand and pointed at the fireplace, lighting it wordlessly. Rose shifted closer to the warmth and sighed in relief. Mark and Hugo held their hands out to the bright orange flames. Ginny sipped her tea.

"Nice," she said.

Alex conjured a chair for himself and sat down.

"You look nicer like this, Alex," Hugo said. "I mean, you looked nice before, but you look better now. How come you don't like people seeing you in your true self?"

Alex huffed in amusement.

"I'm not sure your parents would approve if I told you," he said.

"No fair," Rose complained.

"Rose, there is a very good reason Alex has to disguise himself," Hermione said. "Also why he lives all the way out here."

"Why?" Rose asked.

"Please tell us," Hugo exclaimed with large pleading eyes.

Hermione opened her mouth to say no, but Alex interrupted her.

"It has to do with the war fifteen years ago," he said quietly.

Everyone turned to him.

"Alex, you don't need to say anything," Ginny said.

"They'll find out themselves if they're motivated enough," Alex said. "It's best if it comes from us first."

Alex looked at the three kids.

"I am running from the Ministry of Magic," he said. "If they found out about me being here, I'd be arrested and sent to Azkaban."

"You're a criminal?" Rose squeaked in fear.

"Don't worry, he won't hurt you or anyone," Hermione quickly assured her daughter.

"I made a few mistakes during the war, and now I must live on the run for the rest of my life," Alex said. "Don't worry, it isn't anything too important. You have nothing to fear from me. I owe your parents, especially Hermione, for saving my life."

"Are-are you sure?" Hugo asked timidly.

"Yes," Alex said. "All I want now is to live a nice peaceful life, but I can't do that without a disguise."

Shadow meowed and leapt off the couch, walking into the other room.

Beneath the cottage, Harry hummed softly as he brewed a potion. He was brewing the Calming Draught. He enjoyed brewing potions; it calmed him. Harry chuckled in amusement at that. He could hear the faint conversation upstairs and his smile widened slightly.

A black cat padded into the lab, meowing. Harry looked at the cat.

"Hedwig, bored already?" he asked.

Hedwig meowed in reply. Harry picked her up, dispelling the spell disguising her eyes. The blue eyes vanished, revealing the golden eyes hidden underneath the spell.

"That's better," Harry muttered. "You look much better with gold eyes than blue."

Hedwig purred as Harry stroked her pelt. He finished the potion and bottled it up. Then he went over to his bookshelf, Hedwig still in his arms. Harry pulled out a book and put it on the table after banishing his potions equipment. He set Hedwig on the table and opened the book. Hedwig sat down, peering down at the pages. She looked up at Harry and tilted her head. Harry scratched her chin gently.

"Exactly, Hedwig," he muttered. "It is almost time to put this plan into motion. We just need a couple more things before it can be implemented."

Hedwig meowed in question. Harry chuckled when she looked at the door of the lab and then back at him.

"No, Alex is to know nothing of this," Harry said. "This is something we must do by ourselves and we can't involve Alex; it'll only put him in danger. He is already living on the run; let's not make it worse."

Hedwig meowed, dipping her head in acceptance.

"Smart girl," Harry muttered.

Harry peered back at the book, his sickly green eyes taking in the contents of the pages and memorizing it immediately.

"Soon Hedwig, soon...everything will be all right, I promise..."