Chapter 4:

There was a great roar from the motorbike as Alicia went soaring upwards, she'd been on the back of a Thestral before and didn't even slide in her seat as they took off. Hermione and Kingsley passed them on the other thestral and Fred and Alicia held a look as they passed one another as well.

They climbed up through the sky as Alicia looked at the ground behind watching Privet Drive vanish before she turned back to the sky.

And then, out of nowhere, out of nothing, they were surrounded. At least thirty hooded figures, suspended in midair, formed a vast circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen, oblivious —

Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell and the motorbike rolled over.

Alicia's wand was in her hand and and several green jets of light that shot at her were deflected and one even hit another Death Eater.

Alicia had her one arm around Bill tightly, her knees were already sore from gripping to the Thestral with them, while her other hand sent spells off and away from her at the black hooded figures she could see. She heard the motorbike zoom and it shot out through the circle of Death Eaters. That broke them and four shot off after Harry. Bill had the Thestral ducking and swirling and they broke the circle as well. Kingsley and Hermione were gone, Mad-Eye and Mundungus were a little ways from them and half a dozen Death Eaters were following the two. Before Alicia could send off any more hexes she felt like something punched her in the gut. She felt like vomiting as she was filled with such a terrible feeling.

She spun instantly and her eyes widened to that of sources.

He was there. Voldemort was flying behind her like smoke on the wind, without a broomstick or thestral to hold him, his snake-like face gleaming out of the blackness, his white fingers raising his wand.

"Bill!" she called his attention and Bill saw him as Voldemort was after Mad-Eye. Voldemort thought Harry would be with the strongest, the most experienced, and Mad-Eye had probably known that. Mundungus cried out in fear, he was struggling on the broom stick. Mad-Eye tried to stop him and his wand went flying out of his hand while he was distracted. Mundungus disapparated right off the back of the broom. Voldemort had his wand raised and his curse of green light went flying straight at Mad-Eye.

"NO!" Alicia screamed before it hit him square in the face. Bill cried out as well as Alastor Moody, the famous Auror, fell backward off his broom and disappeared downwards into the night.

"We have to get him!" Alicia cried "We can't leave him!"

"Alicia, we can't!" Bill nudged the Thestral forwards again and Alicia, her eyes burning with tears, turned angrily to the Death Eater's chasing them.

The girl had enough wide area spells up her sleeve that dodging them was impossible with her non-verbal spells. She rose her wand angrily and several of the Death Eaters were sent blasting off through the sky and off their brooms away from them, disappearing into the night.

Alicia didn't stop her spells until every last one was blasted off far away from them.

There was silence as Alicia turned back, both arms around Bill.

"Mundungus, that coward!" Alicia cried "Couldn't even help Mad-Eye! Just a few spells!"

"He panicked Alicia." Bill said

"How'd they know we were being moved!" she demanded "Maybe if there'd been a few Death Eaters and more arrived later but there way too many! They knew, Bill." she said "Someone tipped them off." she glanced back behind them in fear. "Everyone else…"

"Don't worry Alicia." he said

"I can't help it, for you Fleur's safe at home, she's the one worrying, but Harry's out there and so's Fred." she said frowning, worried.

And then she hissed and her hand retracted to grasp at her neck. She cried out and Bill looked at her worried.

"Alicia!" her neck was searing with pain, but she didn't understand why. She looked at her hand but there was no blood.

It took her a fraction of a second to realise it was her scar that was burning, and there was only one reason for that.

"He found Harry!" she said quickly "Voldemort found him!" Bill pushed the Thestral further and Alicia clung to him and closed her eyes.

There were green lights everywhere, Harry's scar was burning on his forehead, Harry seemed to be spinning everywhere, the bike was crash landing.

A hooded figure on a broomstick was feet from him, he saw it raise its arm —

"NO!"

With a shout of fury Hagrid launched himself off the bike at the Death Eater; Harry saw both Hagrid and the Death Eater falling out of sight, their combined weight too much for the broomstick —

Barely gripping the plummeting bike with his knees, Harry heard Voldemort scream, "Mine!"

Voldemort could not be seen by Harry, the swirling of the bike and the pain in his head prevented his sight from working properly, the words beginning next however were clear.

"Avada—"

No! Alicia shrieked. She didn't know what happened next but Harry's hand was drawn to upwards and there was a spurt of golden fire, a crack and a scream of fury. The remaining Death Eater yelled; Voldemort screamed, "No!"

Harry suddenly hit a button and as Alicia had seen the bike do, more flames shot into the air, hurtling straight toward the ground.

"Hagrid!" Harry called, holding on to the bike for dear life. "Hagrid — Accio Hagrid!"

The motorbike sped up, sucked toward the earth. Face level with the handlebars, Harry could see nothing but distant lights growing nearer and nearer: He was going to crash and there was nothing he could do about it. Behind him came another scream, "Your wand, Selwyn, give me your wand!"

He felt Voldemort before he saw him. Looking sideways, he stared into the red eyes, Voldemort preparing to curse him once more —

And then Voldemort vanished. Harry looked down and saw Hagrid spread-eagled on the ground below him. He pulled hard at the handlebars to avoid hitting him, groped for the brake, but with an earsplitting, ground-trembling crash, he smashed into a muddy pond.

Alicia gasped and looked around.

Everything was calm, everything was quiet. The thestral flapped its wings and they rose and fell with every up and down they made.

"Harry made it to the safe house." Alicia said over the wind

"How do you know?" Bill asked astonished

"Harry and I have a connection. I can see and hear what he does, like delving into his mind." Alicia said "He and Hagrid crashed… Voldemort found him. He almost killed him."

"He's alive?" Bill asked. Alicia nodded, and yet she was crying.

She could only imagine Mad-eye, sprawled on the ground somewhere, perhaps some Death Eaters had gone after him… if Fenrir Greyback had been amongst them all then…

Alicia hid her face in Bill's back.

Harry was safe, Hagrid was— Mad-Eye was dead, Mundungus was gone… what about everyone else? She imagined Fred, disguised as Harry, clinging to his dad's back on a broom, Death Eaters on their tail.

Voldemort had gone after Mad-Eye first, thinking him the strongest and best protection. He knew Mundungus wasn't Harry when he disaparatad. Who would be the next target?

Alicia felt cold. If she was to chose, she'd choose Kingsley! Hermione! Alicia shook her head, she didn't want to think about it, Hermione was with Kingsley. Hermione would be safe… and anyway, Voldemort was after Harry, he might have not even gone to Kingsley

But how did Voldemort know which Harry was the right one? Alicia didn't understand, Voldemort always valued power and he'd never believe Harry to be with Hagrid in a unprotected side car. He thought Auror and power, and he thought broom — Mad-Eye first. So what drew him to Harry? What did Harry do? Was it the connection of their soul?

No, if that had been the case, Voldemort would have known from the beginning.

"Bill, how far are we?"

"We're flying straight for The Burrow Alicia." Bill said

"We're not taking a portkey?"

"No, you and me are heading straight there." he said and Alicia nodded. At least when they touched down, that would be it, she'd be with everyone and she'd know, she'd know if Fred was alright. If Hermione and Ron were safe, she wondered…

"Will everyone else arrive before us?"

"Most likely as everyone else had portkeys." Bill responded.

She could imagine it, everyone standing around waiting for the two of them, Mad-Eye and Mundungus. She wondered if they'd all just be worried, or would there be a few jokes. She hoped the twins would liven the mood with their jokes… but then maybe Fred would be too worried about her to do so. For the first time she wished it wasn't just Harry she had a connection with. Could he tell she was alright as she could him? Would he tell everyone she and Bill were safe, would he see what she had seen and tell them of Moody?

"Will we be far behind?" Alicia asked

"No, Thestrals are rather fast."

"And great with directions." Alicia nodded.

She finally rose her head from Bill's back and looked around. She wondered how far they were, the ground was still covered in tiny lights that glittered more like stars.

It wasn't long later that they began to fall.

"Almost there Alicia." Bill assured and she nodded.

It came into sight as they dropped, the wonderful house of The Burrow, towering high with it's many stories and bedrooms. As they dropped Alicia could see many people standing in the yard, clearly waiting. It seemed they were all around two, perhaps two had only just gotten back before them.

Alicia felt as they went through a barrier and it washed over them, she glanced back at it before looking at the ground. She heard a cry before the Thestral touched down to the ground and she and Bill both slipped from it's back.

Alicia looked around. Standing in the yard was Harry, Ginny, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ron, Hermione, Tonks, Lupin, Hagrid and Fleur. The Weasley twins were missing but seeing as Fred had been with Mr Weasley and George with Lupin, who were outside now, she assumed… she prayed, they were alright, or at least alive.

"Bill! Thank God, thank God —"

Mrs. Weasley ran forward, and before Alicia could say anything Harry had her in a death grip.

"Harry, need to breath." she muttered before he released her slightly and looked at her. She noticed her black hair was over her shoulder and assumed she was back to her normal self, she hadn't even noticed the changes or the feeling of the polyjuice potion wearing off.

"Are you alright!?" Alicia said looking at him "I saw — Voldemort, crash landing, Hagrid!" her voice became frantic as she looked up at him.

"We're alright." Harry said nodding to her, calming her down. He was looking at her as if looking for wounds she had.

"Are you alright?"

"Not a scratch." she assured as she looked around. Hermione came up and enveloped her before Ginny followed suit. Ron pulled her into a one armed hug and she smiled at them all before turning back to Harry.

"Fred?" she demanded. Harry smirked slightly.

"He's fine, he's inside with George."

Alicia ran straight for the house, ignoring Bill's next statement as he told everyone about Mad-Eye.

Alicia moved through the kitchen and into the living room. Fred was by the couch and he looked up as he saw her before getting to his feet. He pulled her off her feet as he wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face in his shoulder as she held him back. Both were just solidifying that they were both here, together.

"You were starting to worry me when you took so long."

"Bill and I didn't have a portkey, we had to travel it all on the Thestral." Alicia said and she looked at the couch were she saw George's orange hair.

"George?" Alicia moved from Fred and he looked up at her as her hands moved to her mouth. There was a gaping hole on George's head where his ear should have been. It seemed he'd been cleaned up already for if it hadn't been for the hole he'd have looked fine, though a little pale.

"George," she moved to kneeled beside him and Fred did too "Oh dear, are you alright?" she whispered

"I'm feeling pretty Holy actually." Alicia snorted and Fred was laughing.

"That's terrible." Alicia decided as everyone else came into the house. They were all downcast and miserable and Alicia's laughter died before she lowered her gaze and hung her head. Fred looked at her sudden change confused before he noticed everyone else.

"What's wrong?" said Fred, scanning their faces as they entered. "What's happened? Who's — ?"

"Mad-Eye," said Mr. Weasley. "Dead."

The twins' grins turned to grimaces of shock.

"Voldemort got him." Alicia whispered "He fell off his broom. Mungungus disappeared the second he saw Voldemort." she scowled slightly "It was before we hardly even got anywhere, the second the circle broke almost." she looked at Fred and he held her closer.

Nobody seemed to know what to do. Tonks was crying silently into a handkerchief: She had been close to Mad-Eye, his favourite and his protégée at the Ministry of Magic. Hagrid, who had sat down on the floor in the corner where he had most space, was dabbing at his eyes with his tablecloth-sized handkerchief.

Bill walked over to the sideboard and pulled out a bottle of firewhisky and some glasses.

"Here," he said, and with a wave of his wand he sent thirteen full glasses soaring through the room to each of them, holding the fourteenth aloft. "Mad-Eye."

"Mad-Eye," they all said, and drank.

"Mad-Eye," echoed Hagrid, a little late, with a hiccup.

The firewhisky as usual seared at Alicia's toes and moved to warm every inch of her.

"So Mundungus disappeared?" said Lupin, who had drained his own glass in one.

The atmosphere changed at once. Everybody looked tense, watching Lupin, both wanting him to go on and slightly afraid of what they might hear.

"I know what you're thinking," said Bill, "and I wondered that too, on the way back here, because they seemed to be expecting us, didn't they? But Mundungus can't have betrayed us. They didn't know there would be seven Harrys, that confused them the moment we appeared, and in case you've forgotten, it was Mundungus who suggested that little bit of skullduggery. Why wouldn't he have told them the essential point? I think Dung panicked, it's as simple as that. He didn't want to come in the first place, but Mad-Eye made him, and You-Know-Who went straight for them. It was enough to make anyone panic."

"Mungundus didn't last a second, he was there longer than he wanted to be because Mad-Eye stopped him, it distracted him from Voldemort." Alicia said

"You-Know-Who acted exactly as Mad-Eye expected him to," sniffed Tonks. "Mad-Eye said he'd expect the real Harry to be with the toughest, most skilled Aurors. He chased Mad-Eye first, and when Mundungus gave them away he switched to Kingsley…"

"And then he went after Harry…" Alicia said turning to him "How did he know?"

"Harry used a disarming charm." Lupin answered and Alicia groaned

"Of course you did." she mumbled.

"Yes, and zat eez all very good," snapped Fleur, "but still eet does not explain 'ow zey knew we were moving 'Arry tonight, does eet? Somebody must 'ave been careless. Somebody let slip ze date to an outsider. It is ze only explanation for zem knowing ze date but not ze 'ole plan."

She glared around at them all, tear tracks still etched on her beautiful face, silently daring any of them to contradict her. Nobody did. The only sound to break the silence was that of Hagrid hiccuping from behind his handkerchief.

"If anyone had intended to betray Harry, we wouldn't be here now." Alicia said and everyone looked at her. "If any of us had intended to cause all this, then Harry wouldn't be here right now, because they'd have known which was him." she said and she looked at Harry who nodded.

"If somebody made a mistake," Harry went on, "and let something slip, I know they didn't mean to do it. It's not their fault," he repeated, again a little louder than he would usually have spoken. "We've got to trust each other. I trust all of you, I don't think anyone in this room would ever sell me to Voldemort."

"If we start fighting amongst ourselves then we're done for." Alicia agreed

"Well said, Potter twins," said Fred unexpectedly, nudging Alicia, she gave him a look with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, 'ear, 'ear," said George, with half a glance at Fred, the corner of whose mouth twitched as Alicia rolled her eyes but smiled.

Lupin was wearing an odd expression as he looked at Harry. It was close to pitying.

"You think I'm a fool?" demanded Harry.

"No, I think you're like James," said Lupin, "who would have regarded it as the height of dishonour to mistrust his friends."

Peter Pettigrew flashed through Alicia's mind and her expression contorted. Lupin said nothing more, setting down his glass upon a side table, and addressed Bill, "There's work to do. I can ask Kingsley whether —"

"No," said Bill at once, "I'll do it, I'll come."

"Where are you going?" said Tonks and Fleur together.

"Mad-Eye's body," said Lupin. "We need to recover it."

"Can't it—?" began Mrs. Weasley with an appealing look at Bill.

"Wait?" said Bill. "Not unless you'd rather the Death Eaters took it?"

Nobody spoke. Lupin and Bill said good-bye and left.

The rest of them now dropped into chairs, all except for Harry, who remained standing.

"I've got to go too," said Harry.

Ten pairs of startled eyes looked at him and Alicia dropped her head.

Of course, here we go,

"Don't be silly, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't stay here."

He rubbed his forehead, Alicia knew his scar was prickling, her's was too. She hadn't felt it at all last year, but then, she hadn't seen Voldemort in all that time either.

"You're all in danger while I'm here. I don't want —"

"Leave? Don't be so silly!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"Will you shut up." Alicia said to him

"Alicia—" he began

"We can't go anywhere, we've got three days left till we can use magic without Ministry officials popping up." she reminded him. "You're staying put." she said strongly.

"The whole point of tonight was to get you here safely, and thank goodness it worked. And Fleur's agreed to get married here rather than in France, we've arranged everything so that we can all stay together and look after you —" Mrs Weasley said

"If Voldemort finds out I'm here —"

"But why should he?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"There are a dozen places you might be now, Harry," said Mr. Weasley. "He's got no way of knowing which safe house you're in."

"Honestly, this'd be the first place I'd look." Alicia murmured, but that was because they'd spent so many summers here already."

"It's not me I'm worried for!" said Harry.

"We know that," said Mr. Weasley quietly, "but it would make our efforts tonight seem rather pointless if you left."

"Yer not goin' anywhere," growled Hagrid. "Blimey, Harry, after all we wen' through ter get you here?"

"Yeah, what about my bleeding ear?" said George, hoisting himself up on his cushions.

"I know that —"

"Mad-Eye wouldn't want —"

"I KNOW!" Harry bellowed.

"Don't get angry at them, you're the one being stupid." Alicia said. "You're not going to save anyone by being reckless." Harry looked at her before he turned away.

There was a long and awkward silence which was broken at last by Mrs. Weasley.

"Where's Hedwig, Harry?" she said coaxingly. "We can put her up with Pigwidgeon and Noel, give her something to eat."

"She got here alright?" Alicia asked and Mrs Weasley nodded.

Alicia nodded, letting out a sigh of relief before she suddenly felt pain, not in her head, in her chest.

She looked up at Harry and the question sounded in her head again.

Where's Hedwig? Harry turned to her and her eyes welled with tears.

The white owl, that beautiful creature…

"No…" she murmured and Fred looked at her as as she got up and Harry accepted her hug.

"Wait till it gets out yeh did it again, Harry," said Hagrid. "Escaped him, fought him off when he was right on top of yeh!"

"It wasn't me," said Harry flatly. "It was my wand. My wand acted of its own accord."

After a few moments, Hermione said gently, "But that's impossible, Harry. You mean that you did magic without meaning to; you reacted instinctively."

"No," said Harry. "The bike was falling, I couldn't have told you where Voldemort was, but my wand spun in my hand and found him and shot a spell at him, and it wasn't even a spell I recognised. I've never made gold flames appear before."

"Often," said Mr. Weasley, "when you're in a pressured situation you can produce magic you never dreamed of. Small children often find, before they're trained —"

"It wasn't like that," said Harry through gritted teeth. Alicia could feel him getting unnecessarily angry and put a hand on his arm. He looked at her.

"You'll find it's because of Voldemort." Alicia said and everyone looked at her "I felt it pull on your hand when it moved. You might find that after yours and his wands clashed together so often that your phoenix wand recognises Voldemort."

"But that's impossible." Hermione said

"I don't think it is. You need to remember Harry and Voldemort's wand have a connection, there's no telling how they'd act around one another. Wands can think for themselves remember, as Ollivander always said 'the wand chooses the wizard'."

No one spoke as an answer and Harry looked at Alicia gratefully. She smiled before her hand retracted to her neck. Harry suppressed a moan as their scars seared with pain. He grabbed her hand and, with a mutter about needing some fresh air, he pulled her outside.

"It hasn't hurt like this in ages?"

"But then Voldemort blocked you out." Alicia reminded him, "Maybe in his anger of having failed to kill you again, he's not putting that forth." Alicia winced as they crossed the dark yard, the great skeletal thestral looked up, rustled its enormous batlike wings, then resumed its grazing. Harry stopped at the gate into the garden, staring out at its overgrown plants and Alicia watched him.

"Dumbledore would've believed me." he said

"Bet you he'd also be able to give you one of his famous guesses that was spot on correct." Alicia agreed and Harry smiled slightly.

Alicia felt the pain in her neck peak and Harry clutched his forehead, Alicia grabbing him incase he fell. She watched him as his eyes were closed and she felt something push at her.

"Harry, push it out." she said but he was too busy listening to distant screams that were far away.

"Harry!" she shook him and he opened his eyes. He was clutching Alicia's arm much too tightly but she ignored that. Hermione and Ron were moving towards them.

"Harry, come back in the house," Hermione whispered. "You aren't still thinking of leaving?"

"Yeah, you've got to stay, mate," said Ron, thumping Harry on the back.

"Are you all right?" Hermione asked, close enough now to look into Harry's face. "You look awful!"

"Well," said Harry shakily, "I probably look better than Ollivander…"

"What happened to him?" Alicia asked

"You didn't see?" he asked her and she shook her head.

"He has Ollivander, he was told he could defeat me if he used another's wand but it didn't work and he's angry." Harry said

"Voldemort hadn't used his wand?" Alicia asked and Harry shook his head. So Harry's wand hadn't reacted to Voldemort's wand, to it's brother, it had reacted to Voldemort himself? How did that happen?

While Alicia looked quizzical, Ron looked appalled, but Hermione downright terrified.

"But it was supposed to have stopped! Your scar — it wasn't supposed to do this anymore! You mustn't let that connection open up again — Dumbledore wanted you to close your mind!"

"Hermione, Harry never did anything, Voldemort kept Harry out last year." Alicia said

"But Harry can't let it open up!" Hermione said desperately.

Harry said nothing and Hermione gripped his arm.

"Harry, he's taking over the Ministry and the newspapers and half the Wizarding world! Don't let him inside your head too!"

Harry looked at Alicia.

If you let him in, he could find you. she said.