Chapter Ten- The Marauder's Map

When Alice opened her eyes she was in the hospital wing yet again. Her friends and teammates were surrounding her bed. Jasper was sitting down on the bed beside her. Her brother was holding something in his arms. "Harry, what are you holding?"

"The remains of your broom, Ali. After you fell it flew into the Whomping Willow."

"What about the match? We didn't lose did we?"

"Diggory got the Snitch just after you fell. He didn't realize what happened until he looked around. He wanted a rematch, but they won fair and square."

"When he saw you on the ground, he wanted to call it off."

Madam Pomfrey came out of her office to send Alice's friends and teammates back to Gryffindor tower. She wanted Alice to stay for the rest of the weekend. She didn't complain, but refused the let Madam Pomfrey throw away the remains of her broom. Alice knew that her broom was beyond repair. She felt that her broom was one of her best friends.

She had a stream of visitors all bent on cheering her up. Ginny Weasley sent Alice a get-well card. Hagrid sent a bouquet of cabbage flowers. The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning this time accompanied by Wood. He told her that he didn't blame her in the slightest. Jasper only left her bedside at night. He knew what was truly troubling her. Hermione, Ron, and Harry only knew half of what was troubling her.

Alice had only told Jasper about the Grim. The others she didn't want to worry them. Ron she knew would panic, Harry would just be worried, and Hermione would scoff. Alice knew it wasn't truly the Grim, but just a large black dog. She had fallen nearly fifty feet just the day before. She was still lying in a hospital bed in the hospital wing. Jasper was sitting by her side sending waves of calm every now and then.

Finally on Monday she returned to the hustle and bustle of the school. She was glad to have something else to think about other than her broken broomstick. She was glad to have someone to talk to about her ordeal. She and Jasper headed to Defense Against the Dark Arts where she'd be able to talk to Professor Lupin. She knew that Professor Snape wouldn't be teaching again, although she knew that Hermione had possible figured out Professor Lupin's secret. Ron wanted to skip the class if Professor Snape was teaching the class again.

After class Alice stayed behind to talk to Professor Lupin. When the rest of the class besides Jasper left, Professor Lupin asked, "What can I do for you, Alice?"

"Why do you think the dementors affect me so?"

"There are horrors in your past that the others can barely imagine."

"Remus, is there a way that I can defend myself against them?"

He thought for a moment. "There is a way, but it is very complicated spell. The spell is called the Patronus charm. I can teach you, but it will have to wait until after the holidays. I'm sorry to hear about your broomstick."

"Remus, I can hear Voldemort murdering my mom." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Why did they have to come to the match?"

"They were hungry, and I've never seen Dumbledore that angry."

"Remus please be careful during the full moon. I'll see you next term, Remus."

The chilly rain continued as they entered December. The good news was that Ravenclaw creamed Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match. However, Wood was training his team harder than ever even in the chilly rain. The dementors were being kept at bay. Alice guessed that it was Dumbledore's anger keeping them off of the grounds. She didn't have to worry about hearing her mother's voice again for hopefully a while.

A couple of weeks before term ended the sky finally lightened leaving the grounds very muddy. The grounds were also covered in a glittering frost. Inside the castle was covered in Christmas cheer. Professor's Flitwick, Lupin, McGonagall, and Vector all decorated their classrooms with beautiful shimmering lights. Everyone was chattering about his or her plans for Christmas break. Both Ron and Hermione decided to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Jasper knew that Alice was going to stay, so he's going to as well. Harry on the other hand was going to stay again mostly because he had to.

Saturday morning Alice and Jasper left for Hogsmeade. They were slightly ahead of Hermione and Ron. All four of them decided to go to Honeydukes first. While they were looking around they heard a sound behind them. It was Harry. Afterwards all five of them headed to The Three Broomsticks to get something to eat. Alice knew exactly how her brother got here. He got here with the help of the Marauder's map. That she knew that Fred and George gave Harry.

A group of people came into The Three Broomsticks gearing up to talk about what they believed what happened the night that Harry and Alice's parents died. Although, Alice did know the truth about what happened the night her mother gave her life for her. She tuned all of the voices at the table behind the tree. A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. "Ali what are you thinking about?"

"The truth about what happened twelve years ago on Halloween. I just can't tell you what, Jazz."

On the way back Jasper and Alice ran into Aria Meyer also on her back to the castle. She was walking rapidly as if she was afraid of something. She had a terrified expression on her face. "Aria, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Alice when you get back to the Gryffindor tower I need to tell you something."

"Okay see you there, Aria." Aria hurried out of sight.

"Ali, what was that about?"

"Aria's definitely scared of something, and she's worried about me, so she needs to tell me."

Please Review. What does Aria need to tell Alice? Alice receives the Firebolt in coming up next. There is a poll on my profile, so please look at it. I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight, but I do own the characters that I have come up with.