Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters, plots, or settings. Have I really been reduced to the point where my disclaimers aren't even funny?

Chapter Six

Alaina found her memories of the days after the Tri-Wizard tournament to be quite scattered. She remembered certain bits such being dismissed from classes for a few days, the jeering of Slytherins, and Harry meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Diggory. They did not blame either of them for his death, however, and thanked them for bringing back his body. Harry had tried to give them his winnings, but they wouldn't have it.

She and Harry had returned to Gryffindor tower the following evening. Hermione and Ron revealed that Dumbledore had spoken to the school to not badger them.

"So are we going to your house this summer?" Harry brought up while playing Wizard Chess with Ron. Hermione looked up from her book and Alaina turned away from the heated Chess tournament to look at Ron.

"Well, Dumbledore wants you to go back to the Dursleys. And he wants you," Ron turned to Alaina, "To go to your grandfather again."

"Why?" She asked as she walked around to an armchair. She put her feet up on the coffee table earning her a rotton glare from a prefect.

"Dunno… I suppose he's got his reasons. Dumbledore has a reason for everything he does, doesn't he?"

They sat thinking, and the chimes of the clock were the only sounds heard for a moment.

"Shall we go see Hagrid?" Hermione spoke up. Yesterday, they had decided that because they had free periods from Defense Against the Dark Arts that they should go see Hagrid on Thursdays.

"Who's that?" Called Hagrid when they knocked on the door. He opened it and Fang came bounding out nearly knocking Ron off of his feet, "Oh, Harry!"

"Good ter see yeh four, good ter see yeh," he ushered them inside has he hastily began clearing the table of two bucket-sized mugs.

"Bin havin' a cup o' tea with Olympe," Hagrid explained, "She's jus' left."

"Who?" Demanded Ron.

"Madame Maxime, o' course!"

They were silent for a little and sat eating Hagrid's rock cakes.

"Knew he was goin' to come back," said Hagrid suddenly, and the four of them looked up, shocked. "Known it fer years, Harry. Knew he was out there bidin' his time. It hadter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. Dumbledore's got a plan. Good man, Dumbledore. 'S long as we've got him, I'm not worried."

Hagrid raised his eyebrows at their disbelieving expressions.

"No good sittin' and worryin'," he said, "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me what yeh two did," His chest swelled as he looked at Harry and Alaina.

It was with a heavy heart that Alaina packed her trunk. She wanted anything, but to return to her mother's father. She sighed as she walked down the steps of her dormitory and met up with her best friends. When entering the Great Hall, the place was not decorated with the winning house's colors, but was decorated with black as a mark of respect to Cedric.

Dumbledore began to speak. He made a toast to Cedric, but what he spoke of next mortified her. He began speaking of Voldemort and his return. He mentioned Harry and herself. As heads turned to search the Hall for her, all she wanted to do was shrink into nothingness. She did not hear the rest of the speech, however, for she had fainted out of shock and embarrassment.

The train ride back left Alaina more depressed than ever before. She was honestly scared. What would happen if Voldemort found out that she was still alive? Would he come after her grandfather or her.

Hermione brought out a jar with a beetle in it.

"Well at least we won't have to worry about Rita Skeeter anymore."

"Is that-?" Alaina gasped as her thoughts zoomed away from her.

"Yep!" Hermione beamed, "She's an unregistered animagus!"

"That explains a lot!" Harry exclaimed. He thought back to the beetle in Hermione's hair, and Malfoy whispering into his hands.

"I promised to let her go when we get back to London," Hermione explained.

The door of the compartment slid open and the smirking face of Draco Malfoy stood there.

"Very clever, Granger," he said. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him and they all looked more arrogant and menacing than ever. It looked as though someone had exploded a box of fireworks within the compartment. Harry looked down at the floor and saw the effect of spells that flew at Malfoy from every direction. Fred and George appeared and put their wands away. They entered the compartment and sat down examining their work.

"Who used the Furnunculus curse?" Asked George. Harry rose his hand, "Odd, I used Jelly-Legs. Looks as though he's sprouted little tentacles all over his face." He said as he looked at Crabbe. He stood up and heaved the boys out of sight.

"Good thinking," Fred said, "They don't add much to the décor."

The rest of the train ride passed with a few games of exploding snap. When the train halted Hermione and Ron were the first ones into the hallway. Alaina was almost out of the door when she heard Harry speaking to the twins. She smiled when she realized what he had done. Back on the platform, they said their good-byes and Harry and Alaina hugged last.

"It'll be alright, Harry," she tried to ensure him, "Write to me?" She looked up at him. He was at least a head taller than her.

"Only if you reply," he smiled at her. They hugged again and together went through the barrier. Standing near Platform Ten was Harry's Uncle Vernon and her Grandfather conversing about the weather.

As Hagrid had said, whata would come would come… and they would have to meet it when it did.

OoOoO

End of book four! Hooray! So umm… yeah…

Harry: That's it?

Hermione: It's not very long is it?"

Me: Oh! Well excuse me for not meeting your high expectations. Well I never!

Ron: Oh, great now you've got her agitated.

Neville: This one wasn't even funny just like the last one.

Me: OH I SEE! NOT LONG ENOUGH OR FUNNY ENOUGH! *Throws Hair-dryer*

Ron: Where did she get that?