I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Extended Family

Chapter 105 – Simmering and Strengthening

Takes place after chapter 110 of Family.

Alicia looked around the tiny flat.

She was alone. A scant few days after her graduation from Hogwarts, she stood in utter silence. The flat was very small. She stifled a snort. Her room at the Spinnet estate was bigger than the entirety of the flat. Not only was it bigger, it had more furniture and things, it was more open and opulent.

However, this flat was solely hers.

She turned when she heard knocking. A quick look through the peephole made her relax and she opened the door. "I thought you were leaving for an international game trip."

Oliver smiled and held up a bouquet and vase. "I'll be leaving in an hour but wanted to drop by with this first."

Alicia's smile was smaller but just as sincere. "Well, since you brought something, come in."

Oliver walked in and looked around. "It's nice," he said genuinely. "Small but cozy. It'll be a good…lair? Is that how you described it last time?"

Alicia giggled. "Yes, this will be my lair." She took the flowers and vase from him and put it on the small table beside her bed. "More forget-me-nots?"

"I'll be gone for a bit and don't want you to forget."

"I haven't been able to in all the years I've known you."

He smiled and buffed his nails on his shirt. "I make a good impression."

"Like a Bludger to flesh," Alicia said dryly.

"Something like that," he chuckled.

She looked at him. "Are you going to try and convince me to move in with you sooner?"

He shook his head. "No. While I'd love to have you with me, I get why you're not doing that right now."

She released a breath. "Thank you," she said quietly. She melted in his arms when he wrapped them around her. "Thank you for listening."

"Despite me not looking like it, I always listen to you."

"You do not. You hear, not listen," she said back, smiling into his chest.

"There's the difference," he said with a soft smile. He sobered a little. "You want to talk about it?"

She sighed again and gently pushed her way free. "What is there to talk about? Father refuses to involve himself in the minutiae. Mother still says I am betraying the family. Tyler is jealous and is harboring a grudge. And my aunts and uncles on either side have their own opinions."

"I'm sorry," Oliver said sorrowfully.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "However, for once, you are not the source of my discontent."

"Thank goodness," he said with a gusty sigh, making her giggle once more. "Well, I'll send you messages a plenty while I'm on the international tour and Mum wanted me to tell you she expects you to visit her weekly if not every few days. She also knows where you are and won't hesitate to come fetch you."

"No she won't," Alicia said with a warm smile.

"Promise me you'll reach out to someone if you need help," he said, looking at her with warm caring eyes.

"I will," she promised softly.

"There's plenty of people to help," he continued. "Mum, me, the rest of the team. Once a team, always a team."

Alicia smiled. "Yes, that is very true." She looked at her watch. "You better go. I won't be the reason you are lax in your duties."

"I'd never blame you. I'll see you in a few days when we go help the twins. Love you." After a deep and sweet kiss, he left.

She was alone once more but felt slightly less so.

-0-

Cassandra Castor was a powerful woman. She walked with a confidence that was crafted from years of experience and sheer will. Dark blue eyes looked at everything with a calculating and analytical gaze, as if dissecting things in real time, seeing things as parts of a whole.

Alicia hoped to one day be like that, when she was not trying not to fidget under an intimidating look.

After a tour of her main laboratory and facility, Castor led Alicia to a small room. The walls were lined with cabinets and shelves, packed full of ingredients and materials and potions equipment. It was slightly chilly, the multiple small fires doing nothing to drive the coolness away. The stone floor and walls gleamed in the fire and lamplight. The wooden surfaces were worn but well maintained.

"Right then," Castor said in a no-nonsense voice. "This will be your lab for the duration of your apprenticeship."

"I have an entire room to myself?" Alicia asked, surprised.

"You're my only new apprentice," Castor replied. "The next closest ones are several years ahead of you." She gave Alicia that dissecting look again, as if trying to determine her worth. "So you will have your own space. You will need it." A slim auburn eyebrow rose.

Alicia nodded in understanding.

"Good." Castor set a large stack of parchment on the desk. "Go ahead then. I will see you in a while to check on you." She swept out of the lab.

Alicia gulped, feeling shaken from the introduction as well as anxious from the enormity of the task before her. She had been aware that it had been some time since Castor had taken a new apprentice, but she did not know just how long. She had picked Castor from the other Potions Masters and Mistresses in the United Kingdom because Castor was the best. The witch was internationally recognized, an accomplished level mistress, and anyone remotely related to the potions world knew of her.

She knew she would be challenged by working with Castor. She also knew that if she survived, she would have so many opportunities, far more than working with most of the others.

If she survived.

Alicia knew she would need the opportunities given her situation.

She took a deep breath and nodded resolutely, reaching for the first piece of parchment.

-0-

Alicia turned and almost dropped the vials she was holding. Castor was standing there in the room, watching her with an interested expression. So lost in her work, Alicia had not heard her enter and suddenly seeing her Mistress standing there startled her. "I'm sorry," she said weakly. "I didn't hear you enter."

"Clearly," Castor said. She looked at the row of vials sitting on a side desk and at the diminished pile of parchment that Alicia had been working her way through. Her expression brightened when she noticed something floating beside Alicia. "A floating desk?"

"Yes, a gift from my baby brother."

"I wasn't aware you had any younger siblings."

Alicia colored a little. "Not a blood sibling, but one I consider to be. I care for him very much."

Castor gave her another considering look. "Have you eaten lunch yet?"

"No?" Alicia said, wrongfooted.

"Finish your current work and go get lunch. Take an hour. I'll know if you don't. If you like Muggle places, there's plenty two streets over. Diagon is about a seven-minute walk or you can take the Floo to the Leaky Cauldron." Without another word, she left.

For a brief moment, Alicia debated ignoring the not-quite suggestion. She did though, finishing the current potions and took a walk to Diagon. When she returned, right before the hour had passed, she saw that the finished vials were removed and her stack of parchment had grown back to what it was before she had started. She sighed and got back to work.

-0-

Alicia groaned, hoping that the knocking on the door would stop. It did not however and raised her head, glaring at it. "My best friend is busy at training camp, my other best friend is coming another day, the tits are working in Diagon, my little brother is in France, and my boyfriend is in Italy. I know you're not my blood family so go away!"

"You're going to make me eat dinner alone?" a merry voice asked.

Alicia gasped and rolled off the couch, scrambling to the door. She flung it open and looked at Danielle. "I'm so sorry!"

Danielle laughed brightly and gently hugged Alicia while moving into the flat. "Don't be dear. You're tired and I've shown up unannounced." She opened a bag that she carried and started setting containers on the small kitchen table. "I hope you're hungry. I got so used to making food for everyone, whenever Oliver or any of my boys aren't around, there's plenty."

Alicia smiled as her stomach complained audibly. "I'm hungry, thank you so much." She summoned some silverware and plates and soon she was eating eagerly of Danielle's good cooking.

"How's your mastery work?" Danielle asked.

"Exhausting but good," Alicia said. "I still don't know if Mistress likes me or not."

"Still?" Danielle's eyes radiated warmth and concern.

"I know it's only been a few weeks or so but I still have no clue. She always looks at me without saying something. She hasn't said good or ill about my brewing for most things. She has not held back on educating me at all, which I am thankful." Alicia shrugged and chewed slowly. "I've started working with her other apprentices and she has taken me out on a survey trip to a local potions group however."

"That's good. If she had any actual problems with you, I'm sure she would have said something by now." Danielle topped off their glasses with wine.

"I hope so," Alicia sighed. "Were you really going to eat dinner alone?"

Danielle smiled. "No, that was me guilting you. I know I can simply go to any of the boys' homes for dinner, especially if I bring any. But Oliver is away as you know and his brothers are very busy with their own things. Alex is doing some extra work to get more vacation time so I thought it was time for me to come bother you."

Alicia smiled. "You never bother me."

"I'll have to try harder then," Danielle teased. Her merry features dissolved a little. "Still no word from your parents then?"

"No," Alicia said shortly. "And I care not if they have any words."

Danielle patted her hand. "Well I'm proud of you enough for two. Between me and Alex, we're proud enough for four."

Alicia fought back a sniffle. "Thank you," she said softly.

-0-

The tiny flat felt cold and oppressive to her.

It had been a dreadful day. She had spent the morning trying to figure out what happened with a materials and ingredients delivery, and it had taken her hours to find out where the errant shipment went. Then a week's worth of work went up in smoke and sludge when two reagents were misnamed and misapplied to the brewing potions, ruining so much time and effort.

Castor had been in a rage and everyone felt the pleasure of her displeasure.

It was late at night and Alicia had finally gotten back home. Her robes stained and smelling strongly of burnt hair. She was hungry, upset, and when she opened the door of her flat, terribly alone.

A rustling made her pause and she flicked her wand up, trying to force her mind to think of a spell. A pair of familiar amber eyes made her relax, as well as the sound of familiar hooting. "Oh, Hedwig, is that you?"

Hedwig nodded, cheeping at her. It was a bit miffed, understandable when someone pointed a wand at you, but it was also soothing. She peered intelligently at Alicia.

The witch crossed the floor of her flat and looked at the package on the table. "Isn't Harry still in France?"

Hedwig nodded before butting her head against Alicia's hand, cheeping once more.

Alicia tore open the wrapping on the package. As soon as the top came off she took a deep breath, enjoying the rich scents of butter and bread and meat. She smiled down at the simple looking sandwich that sat in the box, the large slice of cheese nestled against it, at the chocolate pastry that was wrapped alongside. She noticed a small card in the wrapping and picked it up.

Hi Alicia!

We had lunch today at this little café and the food was so good. I remembered you telling Hermione about your trip the last time and how you really liked this sandwich and pastry. When I saw it, I just had to get it for you.

I also saw a really neat potions book that Fleur said was brand new, just published. It came with a little sample case thing so it's included too. Fleur and Colette and Aimee sent along the bottle of wine with it. They said it's really good. I wouldn't know sadly. According to them, I am a barbarian when it comes to wine and I am a child because I like butterbeer more.

Hedwig was getting a little bored and wanted to fly so she delivered the package while I'm still in France. She's such a good owl. Don't let her steal the-

Alicia started laughing through her tears. There was a tiny hole ripped out of the card, one with jagged edges and Hedwig looked at it with wide-eyed insincere surprise, as if she had no idea what happened there.

I hope you're doing okay. I'll let you know when I get back so we can have lunch together and you can teach me some new potions things.

Miss you!

Love,

Harry.

Alicia bit into the sandwich hungrily, ignoring the tears trickling down her cheeks. She smiled at Hedwig. "Some bacon then? And would you like to spend the night?"

Hedwig bobbed her head eagerly and hooted warmly.

-0-

"You asked for me?" Alicia said nervously.

Castor looked up at her. "I did, have a seat." She waited for Alicia to sit across from her. "I received something interesting in regards to you."

Alicia tried to quell her frantically beating heart. "O-Oh?"

"Yes. From your father. He's asking about your progress in your mastery work." Castor's eyebrows rose when she saw the flash of anger on Alicia's face. "I take it that you had no idea he would do that?"

"No," Alicia said through gritted teeth. "It is a surprise."

"To me as well." Castor steepled her fingers and looked at Alicia. "I normally do not ask about my apprentice's personal lives unless they offer it first. However, this was rather intriguing to me."

Alicia said nothing, still seething from the indignity and embarrassment. Castor's next question caught her off guard.

"Alicia, are you happy here?"

Alicia blinked, startled. "Yes, Mistress."

"Are you sure? Do be honest. You don't look terribly happy."

"I am…fulfilled by the program," Alicia said slowly. Castor's smile and laugh startled her yet again.

"Fulfilled? That's a new one. I'm glad to be fulfilling you," Castor chuckled. "I am being serious however. I've been a bit worried that you're not enjoying yourself. You always look a bit overworked and stiff. Though I admit, that is partially my fault."

Castor noticed Alicia's look of astonishment. "You haven't felt like I've been overworking you on purpose?"

"No, Mistress," Alicia said truthfully. "I know your program is competitive and difficult, I knew that before I applied. I figured that the amount of work I do is on par and is expected." She stared at Castor. "Is there a reason that you felt compelled to overwork me? Have I been found lacking?"

"Not at all," Castor said easily. "Your quality of work is very good, very high, surprisingly and unsurprisingly. Surprisingly given that you had Snape as an instructor and you weren't in Slytherin. Unsurprisingly given your family name."

She leaned forward. "Which leads us back to the letter and my surprise. And I will come out and say it: part of me pushing you has been to judge you because you are a Spinnet. You know that I refused your brother a few years ago, right?" She smiled at Alicia's hesitant nod. "Did he tell you why?"

"Yes but I have learned to take what he says with a rather large grain of salt and a drop of veristaserum," Alicia said acidly, flushing when she realized what she said.

Castor laughed heartily. "Ah, I've been waiting for this from you. The side of you that you kept hidden away. I refused a post for Tyler because I found him wanting. He had the knowledge but he lacked the character I wanted to work with. He was rude without reason, arrogant without cause. Not to mention his mother is someone I heartily dislike."

She pinked a little. "No offense."

"Absolutely none taken," Alicia said sincerely.

Castor laughed again. "And I do respect your father and what the Spinnets do for Potions overall. That being said, he is also somewhat lacking in my eyes. So when I saw your application and looked through your records, I was interested. I'll admit that I truly thought you would be a typical Spinnet, just like the rest of your family."

She leaned back in her seat. "Color me surprised that you have the knowledge and the skills, and while you have a healthy view of yourself, you don't let it get to your head. You're proud without being too much so. You work hard. You're dedicated. I appreciate that. I like that."

"Thank you," Alicia said softly.

"I stayed on you because I was expecting for you to snap or complain and you haven't, at least not to me. I have heard some choice words from you tangentially from others though." Her eyes danced.

"If this is about me calling the representative from the Fellows Company a gaudy parrot that only knows the names of things due to repetition and not actual intelligence, I had good reason to," Alicia said weakly.

"Oh if I found out that he brought over the wrong crates because he only took a cursory look and saw green and assumed they were right, I'd agree with you. I did agree with you when his boss messaged me later about controlling my apprentices." She waved a hand without care. "I asked them if you were wrong and they didn't really reply."

Castor grinned. "And what about calling Higgins as blunt as a Bludger and three times as dense?"

"He ruined my Strengthening Solution by trying to dilute it!" Alicia said indignantly. "We had plenty of lesser strength ones, use one of those! What's the point of having ones already premixed for desired ratios and trying to use all my valuable two-times strength! And he still got it wrong!"

Castor roared with laughter. "You're not wrong. There's a reason why I don't have Higgins do any of the slower potions and ones that need longer maturation. He has no patience for it. He's so good at the other stuff, I still have him around."

She looked fondly at Alicia. "I would love to see more of this side of you. I hope you can be comfortable enough to act so in front of me."

"I'll try," Alicia said, starting to relax for the first time since the meeting's beginning.

"If it hasn't been made clear, I like you," Castor said seriously. "You're an excellent worker. You have a desire to learn and to improve. I apologize for my earlier misconceptions and hope that we can continue to work together and develop a fine mistress/apprentice relationship."

"I would like that very much," Alicia said happily. "And I am enjoying your program. You are just the right amount of challenging and interesting and you are very respectful."

"Splendid." Castor smiled once more. "Plus there's another reason I wanted you to relax a bit. There's another reason that I accepted your application. I'm a bit of a Quidditch nut and loved that you played for so many years. And am I right to say I think you have friends still playing?"

"My boyfriend plays for Puddlemere and my best friend plays for Tutshill," Alicia said proudly. "My baby brother is going for the League when he leaves school and my other best friend is going to be a sports healer with a focus on Quidditch."

"Excellent! Now I have to stay on your good side so I can get tickets and stories."

"I'll be happy to share," Alicia said. She smiled wryly. "Never thought I would be thankful for Quidditch for anything, but here we are." Her smile died slightly. "How…how are you going to respond to my father?"

"Do you want me to?" Castor asked gently.

"I do not want your professionalism to suffer on my account," she replied quietly.

Castor smiled softly. "Don't worry too much about that. I'll just reply with how I usually reply to those sorts of things." She winked at Alicia. "A very professionally written, 'None of your business,". With room for expletives of course."

"Perfect," Alicia said with a smile.

-0-

"Having second thoughts?"

Alicia looked up at Oliver. "Dating you? Often." She smiled pertly at his laugh. "Moving in with you? None, surprisingly. I always wondered why you had such a large flat for yourself."

"Space to grow," Oliver said. "Meaning, space for you of course."

She blushed prettily. "So certain that we would get to that point?"

"Of course," he said confidently.

"Very arrogant of you," she smiled.

"I can be," he agreed with a laugh. He hugged her tightly. "Good job. You did what you wanted. Lasted the whole time on your own."

"Thank you," she whispered. She shook her head after a moment. "Not completely on my own."

"No, but you still did great." He frowned slightly. "I still don't think you have a thing to prove to them."

She patted him on the cheek. "I know and even now, they would never acknowledge what I have done to prove anything to them. Perhaps I just needed to prove it to myself."

"I can understand that." He finished shrinking her things and tucked them carefully into a pouch. "Ready to go home?"

She slipped her hand into his, twining her fingers with his. "Yes. I am."

-0-0-0-

Arnie1701 - She's already an accomplished huntress, she has nothing to prove.

odonnellzoo99 - She sure grew confident quick didn't she? And of course Daphne put her foot down over it.

MauricioPS - Please do not tell me what to write. Thank you.

poka - Dragonfish could exist, maybe.

alix33 - Tracy's hilariously inappropriate.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Lukas had to be mentioned at least. It's funny how Tracy was the most nervous to having the most fun out of Harry and Oliver.

Urgwaew - Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you are doing well. My best to you.