Chapter 9

Elisabeth took a deep breath and then spoke.

"I died in my dream, Alicia, because you killed me."

-------------

For the first time in her life, Alicia was speechless. Her best friend's last words hit her in the face.

Alicia wasn't stupid; she knew she had many flaws.

She knew she was mean and cruel sometimes.

But never, ever, had Alicia thought about killing someone.

To take someone else's life away was the worst crime Alicia could think of.

She was still a very young girl.

Yet, deep inside her, Alicia knew she was able to do it.

She was able to kill someone.

That was how Alicia found the most horrid way to manipulate people.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Minerva McGonagall was sitting in the teacher's private room, surrounded by a couple of teachers. Mrs. Klokworm, the new librarian, had called for a meeting. She was in a very agitated mood.

"Please, McGonagall said once MrsKlokworm had calmed down, tell us what it is that is so important."

Mrs.Klokworm cleared her throat loudly and spoke.

"Books have gone missing."

McGonagall raised her eyebrows.

"Books?"

"Yes, books! Mrs.Klokworm cried, but not just any books! I have only noticed it yesterday but...-"

"Forgive me for interrupting, a very old teacher said suddenly, but aren't the books in the library supposed to beborrowed by the students? Isn't it natural that books disappear from time to time?"

Mrs.Klokworm crossed her arms angrily.

"Don't you think I know that? But as far as I know, the students need to ask my permission before they take books from the restricted section!"

There was silence in the room. McGonagall was the first one to speak again.

"The restricted section? How can a student go into the restricted section and steel some books without you noticing?"

"That is the mystery, Mrs. Klokworm said half whispering, I have put a lot of spells on the restricted section so that nosey kids can't take any book! But one of the students has been able to take a dozen of books!"

"What can we do about it? McGonagall asked, after all it's your job to supervise the children in the library!"

"I'm just saying we should be careful. There's a very clever student out there, a student that has a weird fascination for all the books about the Dark Arts."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Look, I'm really sorry about that nightmare."

Alicia and Elisabeth were eating breakfast at the Slytherin table and they were just discussing Elisabeth's dream.

"It's all right," Elisabeth said, her face paler than usual.

"Hey, that reminds me, Alicia cried spilling chocolate milk everywhere, I have to write to my parents."

"What for?"

Alicia smiled.

"I have to ask them if I can spend the holydays at your house."

Elisabeth was quiet. She was longing to get away from Alicia for the holydays. She was tired of her friend, of searching about the Dark Lord, of waking up in the middle of the night and everything else.

"Are you sure your parents will allow you to come to my house?" Elisabeth asked at last.

She was crossing her fingers under the table, hoping the Potters were going to say no to their daughter.

Alicia sighed.

"I don't know. I don't get along well with my dad at the moment."

For a second Elisabeth was ashamed of herself. Here she was, wishing she was able to get rid of her friend, whilst Alicia was clearly miserable.

But Alicia didn't look sad. She had a mischievous grin on her angelic face.

"Even if they don't allow me, I will still come to your house, don't worry, Elisa dear!"

Elisabeth had the sudden urge to jinx her friend but she controlled herself and instead concentrated on something else.

"Since when do you call me 'Elisa'?"

Alicia laughed.

"Why? Does it bother you?"

"A bit, Elisabeth shrugged, it's just that only my parents call me that way. How would you feel if I start calling you 'Ali'?"

"I wouldn't like it," Alicia answered shortly then turned up to look at the ceiling.

Thousands of owls had entered the great hall.

Ever since the argument she had had with her father, Alicia had hoped she was going to get an apology from Harry.

But there was no letter for her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

McGonagall had just eaten her breakfast and was in a very good mood when Mr. Collins came to see her.

"Minerva, please, he said, can we talk? I need to tell you something important."

"Very well. Let's go somewhere quiet."

McGonagall and Mr. Collins made their way to an empty classroom.

"It's the little Potter girl that is bothering me," Mr. Collins said.

"Alicia Potter? What has she done?"

"She has not come to my class yesterday, and when I asked her why she did not answer me."

McGonagall sighed.

"She has not been the only one in this school to have skipped a class, Mr. Collins."

"Yes, Mr. Collins said, but that's not all. Strange things happen in my first year class and I suspect her to be behind all those odd things."

McGonagall sighed even more impatiently. It annoyed the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher.

"Mr. Collins, she said, with all my respect, I think you are jumping to conclusion much too quickly. After all you haven't got any proof that she's doing these strange things you mentioned!"

"I see, Mr. Collins said his voice shaking with rage, you are protecting Alicia because she is Harry Potter's daughter."

"I am not. And I'm very surprised you dislike Alicia Potter so much. The other teachers often talk about her: they say she works very well."

"She's clever, Mr. Collins nodded, I agree, but she's not perfect. Aren't you wondering who stole the books from the restricted section? Well, it was Alicia Potter! And this time I have proof that it is her!"

McGonagall's mouth fell open as Mr. Collins showed her what he had been holding in his left hand.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Elisabeth!"

Elisabeth jumped. She had been reading a book called The Last Horcruxe. Alicia had told her it was an interesting book. And she was right.

But now it seemed that Elisabeth wasn't going to be able to read in peace.

"What?" she snapped at her friend.

The two girls were in their dorm. Alicia was looking under the bed and then under the pillows. She threw her books aside and Elisabeth's school homework. The dorm looked like a total mess.

"Where's my watch?" Alicia cried.

Elisabeth laughed.

"You're getting so angry because you can't find your watch?" She asked.

"Yes!"

"That's pathetic."

Elisabeth immediately regretted saying this. Alicia walked over to her, her wand held high. She looked very mad.

"Watch who you're calling pathetic!" she roared, her wand still pointed at Elisabeth's face.

"Sorry …" Elisabeth said quickly.

Alicia said nothing. She pocketed her wand and continued her search. At last, she gave up and sat on her bed. She heaved a big sigh.

"I really need to find that watch, Elisabeth. It wasn't just any muggle watch. My grandfather had it specially made for me. My name is printed on it."

Elisabeth smiled weekly. She had spent enough time with Alicia to understand that her friend needed to feel special and unique.

She sat down beside Alicia and put her arm around her shoulders.

Alicia appreciated the gesture.

She had never had a friend in her life before and now, even if they had many fights, Alicia was starting to like Elisabeth.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ginny was cooking lunch for her husband in their kitchen. She hummed pleasantly the way she did everyday.

But this day was going to be different.

Ginny knew that her life was going to change completely once again.

"Mmh, it smells good in here." Harry said from the kitchen door.

Ginny smiled at him. She still didn't know how to tell her husband the big news. But she knew she had to do it now, she had waited far too long.

And Harry was going to notice soon.

"These muggle spaghettis are delicious, aren't they?" Ginny said.

They sat down at the table. Harry had nearly finished his plate. Ginny, however, hadn't even touched hers. She was trying to find a way to make her special announcement.

"Harry, we need to talk."

Bewildert, Harry looked up from his plate and saw his wife's anxious face. He took her hand under the table. Ginny immediately felt much braver.

"Aren't you worried about Ali?" She asked all of a sudden.

Harry hadn't expected this. He shrugged.

"I don't know. She seemed so different the last time I saw her. I don't think she's in any danger right now. We'll talk to her about the Slytherins in the next holydays."

"Yes, but aren't you worried that she's unhappy at Hogwarts?"

Harry frowned.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"We both know that she has problems socializing, Ginny said, she has never had any friends!"

"She never had any friends, that is right, but that doesn't mean she can't have one now. She found all the kids in our neighbourhood much too immature, that's all."

Ginny sighed.

"Look at Hermione's and Ron's kids! They don't have problems with the other children! But maybe that's because they are a big family."

Harry shook his head.

"Alicia is different, he said, let's just accept that, shall we?"

"But maybe the company of another child at home will help her," Ginny cried desperately.

Harry stared at the tears in his wife's eyes.

"What are you trying to tell me, Ginny?" he asked at last, squeezing Ginny's hand.

Ginny began to sob as the tears rolled down her freckled face.

"Harry, I'm pregnant …"

Author's note: Ah yes! I managed one last chapter before I go.

Hope you liked it!

Please review and tell me your reaction about Ginny's pregnancy!