October 17, 1978

A little over two months had passed since Althea had encountered Madeline Rousseau, and she was pleased that Madeline and her Muggle lover had fled the country, much to the ire of the other purebloods in the area. Unlike in Britain, where everything concerning Voldemort was much more blatant, here everything else was much subtler. There were less attacks on Muggles and when there were attacks they were subtle and carried out under the darkness of night, with no one the wiser until the morning when things were revealed. As far as attacks on Muggle-borns and half-bloods went, things were quiet something that both made Althea relax and tense. Over the past month, she had been sending reports to Dumbledore, telling him of everything going on and waiting for further instructions but he had yet to answer any of her letters.

Autumn had set in with a chill, and a light frost covered the ground as Althea stepped out of her hotel and into the streets of Paris. Unlike before, the streets weren't bustling with activity. They were still busy, there was no doubt about it, but most of the inhabitants outside were not Muggles but rather pureblood witches and wizards. There were still Muggles and Muggle-borns here and there but their appearances were becoming more rare. It was pathetic that Voldemort's reach was even extending to France, and Althea wondered how Dumbledore planned on stopping it. A jet of red light shot into the street and one of the purebloods crumpled to the ground, her eyes glazed as she stared in front of her. A Stunning spell, Althea realized.

Then it was chaos.

Bangs assaulted her ears as she ducked into an alley, drawing her own wand. The flashes of light and sounds of screams disoriented her and Althea took a deep steadying breath before leaping into the fray. She wasn't sure what was going on or what was happening but she couldn't sit by and do nothing. If nothing else she could get the Muggles and Muggle-borns to safety. As her eyes darted around the frantic crowd and the battling wizards, she could see that people were already doing her job for her. In fact, the only ones that seemed to be being attacked were the purebloods. The wall by Althea's head started to crumble, and she quickly flicked her wand, causing the wall to repair itself. A jet of green light headed toward her and Althea dove out of the way.

Rocks bit into her skin and she rolled onto her side briefly winded, before springing back to her feet. A large pureblood witch to her right let out a scream, before crumpling to the ground and Althea's face paled when she heard the distinct sound of snapping bones. Her hand began to shake, and she quickly sent a spell toward the person who had injured the witch. Only the purebloods were being attacked, so she knew it had to be witches or wizards that were Pro-Muggle. They had good intentions, she suspected but this wasn't the right way to go about it. This would only make things worse.

The ground in front of her exploded and heat and rubble enveloped her. Stones cut into her cheeks and through her clothes, drawing blood and Althea hissed. Then she heard the cracks of people Disapparating and Althea was left alone with the attackers.

"What the bloody hell," Althea growled glaring at the wizards and witches that were grouping back together and staring at her, distrust and anger in their eyes. "I get that you must be Pro-Muggle, but attacking purebloods isn't the answer!"

"You know nothing about zis world," A man with a heavy French accent growled. "You understand nothing."

"I understand more than you think."

"Is that so?" A light feminine voice asked softly. "How, pray tell would you know what is happening?"

"Because the same prejudice is happening in Britain, but we're more subtle about trying to solve the problem and we don't try to make more," Althea snapped. "What did you hope this would accomplish? It will only turn more purebloods toward You-Know-Who. So great job!"

"Our apologies," the same feminine voice said. "But you do not live here. Things are much different here than in Britain. You do not fully understand what we are going through."

"That doesn't matter. This isn't truly going to help, your cause though," Althea pointed out trying to reign in her temper. "This was perhaps the stupidest thing that you could have done."

"It will bring attention to our cause which is all that we want," the woman said. "We are desperate and do not deserve your judgment."

"Celine," a higher-pitched, voice reprimanded the woman who had spoken. The voice then addressed Althea, "Our apologies. The oppression toward Muggles, Muggle-borns and half-bloods may be worse in Britain than in here, but that does not me it isn't happening and unlike Britain we do not have anyone trying to stop it. We are growing desperate and when people are desperate we do crazy, illogical things. I will apologize for our actions but I cannot say that I fully regret them."

Althea sighed, "I'm only saying that this isn't helping your cause. I understand desperation but I cannot understand or condone your actions."

"That is fine, we weren't expecting you to," Celine cut in.

The higher voice sighed and then said, "My name is Aurelie, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance although I wish it was under better circumstances." The owner of the voice, a tiny minute figure standing at about five feet stepped forward, and Althea was stunned by her icy blue eyes as she lowered the hood of her silver cloak. The girl had a sort of ethereal beauty to her, and a flush rose to Althea's cheeks. "Perhaps you would like to come with us, and we can talk in a much quieter place? Away from prying eyes."

"I sense that I do not have a choice."

Aurelie smiled, "You are correct."

Althea sighed, anger rising and settling in her chest but she didn't argue or fight even though all of her instincts were screaming at her to. Instead she ignored the voices telling her to fight and get away, and stepped toward Aurelie taking her arm so they could Apparate. Side-apparition was a weird thing, Althea thought as the streets of Paris disappeared from her eyesight and her insides felt like she was being crushed and then just as suddenly as it had happened it was done. Althea blinked, slowly absorbing her surroundings.

They were surrounded by tall towering trees, and in the distance, there was a clearing in which lay a meadow. Somewhere behind her, Althea could hear a babbling brook and in the trees, she could recognize the calls of birds. There was little light being let into the forest, but even with the shadows it didn't have an eerie feel. Instead, it was calming and soothing. Aurelie tugged on Althea's wrist, drawing her attention away from her surroundings and to the people with her.

"Welcome to our home," Aurelie murmured, leading Althea into the clearing.

Althea gaped a little as she beheld their home. The meadow stretched far and wide, and the farther she looked the more houses that she could see. A little stream ran through the meadow before taking a sharp left and diverting into the forest. The houses were wooden and rustic looking, but that only made it appear more enchanting and like something out of a fantasy number.

"This grove is something that we will protect with our lives," Aurelie told Althea. "That is why we attacked them because if they get too cocky, they will eventually encroach on our lives and we cannot have that happen. This is the one safe haven for Muggles and Muggle-borns, like Celine."

"While that is understandable, you've only drawn their attention. It would have been better if you had remained hidden in the shadows, unknown to everyone. Now they will be digging into where the Muggles and Muggle-borns are going," Althea told them firmly. "You made a mistake doing what you did. You should have remained anonymous."

It was annoying how obstinate they were being, and how intent they seemed on not recognizing the faults that they had made. Behind her, Althea heard several noises of dissent but she dismissed them focusing her attention entirely on Aurelie.

"We shall agree to disagree then," Aurelie returned mildly.

"Of course. Now if that is all, I must be going." And before any of them could argue or try to stop her, Althea spun on her heel and Disapparated.

Althea appeared into her hotel room. After getting her bearings, Althea headed over to the desk grabbing a piece of parchment. She dipped her pen in an inkwell and set about, writing a letter for Dumbledore about the people that she had just met. Now more than ever she knew that she couldn't go home. She still had a lot to discover, and a lot more to do to help out the Order.