Edelweiss

Chapter Five: Stalking

Check out the A/N please

When Harry finally made it to the common room, he was surrounded by congratulations and pats on the back. It was nearing midnight when he was finally left in peace, and he stood to go up to his dorm.

"Harry?" Aludra's voice caught his attention, and he turned to see her watching him with a frighteningly vulnerable expression not a foot away from him. How had he not noticed her?

"Yeah? What's wrong?" he asked, and for a moment he was afraid that something had happened to his parents. He had only just seen them after the game, there's no way something could have happened. Right? Or maybe–!

Harry's back stiffened as Aludra wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his hair. At first he thought it was just some sort of prank, that she would shove ice down the back of his shirt or maybe down his pants. Then he heard how her breaths were uneven and shaky and how her shoulders were quivering.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured brokenly, "I've been horrible to you all your life, and I never tell you how much I would hurt if you were dead."

"Um…it's okay," Harry said awkwardly. Aludra shook her head furiously.

"No, it's not!" she said firmly, her voice think with emotion as she pulled away and looked him dead in the eyes, "It's most definitely not okay! I've been so terrible to you, I've hurt you so many times, and it took a stupid Quidditch match to make me realize that you're going to constantly be in danger! You don't need me constantly harassing you on top of that!"

"Look, Ally," Harry finally managed to say, "You not harassing me would be like Ron not eating. It would be like Hermione not bugging us about our grades. It'd be weird."

"I know, but–"

"No buts. You are going to harass me, and you are going to enjoy it!" Harry said in a no-nonsense tone, using all his strength to push Aludra arms length away and keeping his hands firmly on her shoulders, "You will get up in the morning, and your first thought will be 'I wonder what I can do to make Harry's life a living hell'. You will come up with a brilliant plan, and then you will go through with it." Aludra laughed shakily, sniffing slightly.

"You sure?" she asked with a weak smile. Harry pretended to think for a moment.

"Well, you can lie off just a little bit," he said with a relieved smile. He had just managed to avoid a complete breakdown. He deserved a pat on the back, "but only a bit!" Aludra laughed.

"Deal," she agreed, lifting her hand slightly. They shared a firm handshake before they pulled apart. Aludra turned to head to her dorm, before suddenly pivoting back towards him and pointing at him in a half-playful, half-serious gesture.

"If you tell anyone about this," she warned, leaving the threat hanging as she turned back around and hurrying up the steps. Harry shook his head with a curious smile, before following her lead and retiring for the night.

-

It was a week into December and five weeks after the Quidditch match that Aludra realized that something was up. And that something involved Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She didn't always condone spying on people (hah, yeah right) but in this situation she felt she had no choice.

"I'm serious, guys!" She whispered to the twins as they stalked an unsuspecting Quirrel through the snow coated grounds. The lakes ice top glistened in the light, and several students had taken to skating over the top.

"Well, there's your problem," Fred said with a grin before he bent down and began forming a nice solid snow ball, "Hey, you're good at disillusionment charms, right?" Aludra didn't comment and simply taped their heads with the tip of her wand, leaving her disguise for last. She felt a chill move down her spine at the egg yolk feeling, but quickly kept up their conversation.

"Something is up with Harry! This could be a major problem!"

"I'll tell you about a major problem," George cut in, waving his wand and sending Fred's snowball flying towards Quirrel's turban. It connected in a flurry of snow, and Quirrel was quick to keep his turban from falling off and pooling at his feet. He twisted around quickly and scanned his surroundings, but when he saw nothing he turned back and began walking at a quicker pace. The three quickly followed.

"That Malfoy brat," Fred finished after they managed to stifle their laughter, "he just oozes trouble. Heard Ron ranting about it in the common room. He's been making snide comments to Harry about his choice to stay here over Christmas."

"And there's what I'm talking about!" Aludra snapped, quickly covering her mouth as Quirrel turned and warily eyed the grounds again, "Harry completely adores the whole family. There is no way he'd choose to stay here over spending time with them! They're up to something, I swear on my life!" She heard George sigh, and not for the first time thought it odd that she could hear them, but not see them.

"Look, the whole family is staying here for Christmas," he said, placing an invisible hand on what he hoped was her shoulder, "since mum and dad are off to Romania to visit Charlie. Look, we'll keep an eye on them just for you."

"Thanks, that means so much," she said sarcastically, "I was planning on just staying behind and watching them myself."

"Nope, you're going to go home," Fred said in a sure voice, "You miss your family." George hummed in agreement and began to form another snowball, waving his wand and sending it flying towards the professor. Quirrel yelped as it connected with his neck, and Fred cursed.

"If it was just a bit higher," George murmured angrily, "Anyway, you go home. Spend time with your family. We'll stalk your cousin for you, alright?" Aludra seemed to deflate and she sighed, nodding her head before realizing that they couldn't see her.

"Fine," she murmured. She coughed as she felt two hands simultaneously slam against her back in a slightly too hard slap.

"Brilliant!" The twins chorused. Aludra pushed her worries back in her mind and locked them away, determined to spend the week before break with her best friends.

The day before she left for winter hols, she donned her best disillusionment charm right after her morning classes and began to follow her baby cousin step for step. When she started the day and told the twins of her plans, they just shook their heads and let her do as she wished, knowing if she didn't do something now she would spend all vacation worrying about it. She even put a muffling charm on her shoes so they wouldn't be able to hear her heels as they clicked against the ground.

She found the trio walking into the Great Hall with Hagrid, who set up the last of the trees. They were talking about the library and winter holidays.

"The library?" Hagrid asked as they walked out of the hall. Aludra kept back an annoyed sigh – as soon as she finds them, they start going somewhere else! "Just before the Holidays? Bit keen, aren't yah?"

"Oh, we're not working," Harry said casually, "every since you mentioned Nicholas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is." Flamel, Aludra hummed softly, her eyebrow arching, she'd heard that somewhere.

"You what!?" Hagrid cried in surprise, "Listen here – I've told yeh – drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dogs' guardin'."

"We just want to know who Nicholas Flamel is, that's all," Hermione explained innocently.

"Unless you'd like to tell us and save us the trouble?" Harry added, "We must've been through a hundred books already and we can't find him anywhere – just give us a hint – I know I've read his name somewhere."

"I'm sayin' nothin'," Hagrid said flatly. Aludra's interest was thoroughly peeked now. She knew she had a few questions for her dad when she got home tomorrow.

"We'll just have to find out for ourselves," Ron said with a shrug, as if this news didn't sway them in the least, and Aludra found herself following them towards the library as a disgruntled Hagrid stood his ground, watching them warily. Aludra followed Harry towards the restricted section while Hermione and Ron began to pull books off the shelves from a list Hermione had pull together – or at least, Aludra assumed it was Hermione. The boy's weren't organized enough for that.

"What are you looking for, boy?" Madame Pince snapped, startling the two and leaving Aludra with her hand over her mouth as she held back the squeak that would, without a doubt, give her spot away.

"Nothing," Harry said lamely. Aludra held back a laugh as Madame Pince waved her feather duster at him.

"You'd better get out, then," she snapped, "Go on – out!"

Aludra waited with Harry in the corridor, bored out of her mind until the other two finally emerged, each looking put out and shaking their heads. They headed off to lunch, and Aludra prepared to leave when something Hermione said caught her attention.

"You will keep looking while I'm away, won't you?" she asked, "And send me an owl if you find anything."

"And you can ask your parents if they know who Flamel is," Ron said, as if it were the best idea ever, "It'd be safe to ask them."

"Very safe, as they're both dentists," Hermione said dryly. Aludra held back a giggle before she darted away from them and into a corridor, where she removed her charm.

"Sneaking around, are we, Black?" Snape's drawl came from behind her and made her jump in surprise. She turned and smiled politely at him, which didn't seem to faze him in the least. If anything, it made him looked even more aggravated.

"Just looking after Harry, sir." She said semi-truthfully, "I was just heading off to lunch."

"Of course you were," Snape said, obviously not believing her, "I will have you know that if a single prank goes off today, I will be the first to inform your parents about you stalking tendencies."

"Of course, Professor Snape, sir," she agreed. She was about to head off to lunch when she turned quickly, startling the Professor slightly, "Sir, I'd like to thank you."

"What are you-,"

"For the Quidditch match. You saved Harry's life," Aludra continued. She ignored his surprised expression and offered a genuine smile, "If it weren't for you Harry could have died." She began walking away then and didn't look back to see that he looked completely befuddled, trying to accept that Sirius Black's daughter would thank him. A student passed by and took one look at him, before he burst out laughing.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw!" Snape snapped, before turning away and stalking off towards the dungeons.

-

"Daddy!" Aludra squealed as she spotted Sirius in the crowd of parents. She drug her chest behind her with ease and launched herself into his arms the moment she was close enough. Her breath left her as he hugged her tightly, popping her back in the process, "Where's everyone else?"

"They're at the house," he explained as he set her back on the ground and grabbed her bag, "Ryan and Noah decided to go outside without their jackets, so they're currently laying around at home trying not to puke."

"Oh. Well, that makes sense," she reasoned with a shrug. They ran through the barrier and headed towards the car. Aludra felt a grin break across her face as she spotted his motorcycle, "Does mum know you took the bike?"

"No, and she isn't going to find out," Sirius explained. Aludra laughed and he shrunk down and feather-weighted her trunk, sticking it in his pocket. She grabbed his spare helmet and stuck it on her head, a part of her realizing that her hair would be a mess when she got home. She hopped on to the bike with a wide grin.

"Wait till you see what she can do," Sirius said, slipping in the key and revving the engine. Aludra tightened her grip around his middle with a manic grin as he backed up slowly. Then, before she could really comprehend what was going on, the bike shot forward like a bullet. Aludra whooped in excitement and locked her fingers together, watching as the landscape blurred past her. She thought it wouldn't get any better, but then they made it to a desolate part of town.

"Hold on tight," Sirius instructed. There was a loud roaring sound, and then the bike lifted up off the ground. Aludra screamed.

"Oh my GOD!"

They were flying.

The motorcycle was flying.

"Mum is going to kill you!" she screamed, tightening her grip till her knuckles were white. Sirius just laughed with wide, excited eyes and made sure they got to the cover of the clouds. Aludra's skin stung as the wind beat at her skin, but the excitement and adrenaline rush made it worth the pain. Sirius made sure to lower the bike as they got closer to the house and to simply drive in, knowing that if Adelaide caught him flying the bike with their daughter in the middle of winter there would be hell to pay.

"Go in and I'll park the bike," Sirius instructed, "Keep quiet, though. It's our little secret."

"Right," Aludra agreed as he handed her the shrunk down trunk. She hurried up the sidewalk and into the house to be immediately greeted by her mum with a large, back-popping hug.

"I'm so glad your home!" Adelaide said, tears building up in her eyes, "I hope you don't mind, but James and Lily are spending Christmas with us since Harry decided to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas."

"Of course I don't mind," Aludra said with a roll of her eyes as they pulled away, "They're my favorite aunt and uncle after all."

"They're your only aunt and uncle," Adelaide said dryly. Aludra grinned.

"Exactly." Adelaide laughed and gave her daughter one more hug before waving her wand and unshrinking her trunk.

"Get that up to your room and start unpacking," she instructed, "I'm working on dinner now. All your favorites." Aludra smiled happily at her mum and hurried to her room, the only downstairs room, with her things. Adelaide watched before turning to the door, where Sirius was leaning against the doorframe with a smile.

"She seems happier," he said, closing the door and wrapping Adelaide in a warm hug, "Ever since the Quidditch match, anyway." Adelaide hummed her agreement and they stood there for a long moment until the sound of footsteps scurrying downstairs caused them to move apart. Ryan and Noah quickly made their appearance with wide smiles and pink noses.

"Ally's back!" Noah said happily, his smile so wide it looked like his cheeks would crack. Ryan opened his mouth to agree, but was interrupted by a violent sneeze, followed by three more sneezes and a groan.

"I thought I told you to rest," Adelaide said, turning and placing her hands firmly on her hips. Noah kept smiling.

"But Ally's back," he reasoned. Adelaide shook her head with a sigh.

"Go sit on the couch and don't get up until I say you can," she instructed. The two shared victorious smiles before scurrying to the couch and lifting themselves up, grabbing the blankets strewn across the back and curling up until it would be next to impossible to use their arms to reach for anything. Sirius and Adelaide shared amused looks before joining them on the couch. Aludra came back in minutes later and joined them on the couch with a wide smile.

"So, how's Hogwarts been?" Adelaide asked as she intertwined her fingers with Sirius. Aludra shrugged.

"Not too much," she said, before she bit down on her lip, "If I ask you a question will you promise not to get mad?" Sirius and Adelaide both shared cautious looks.

"Of course," Adelaide said after a moments hesitation. Aludra bit down on her lip before deciding it might just be best to come out with it.

"Who's Nicholas Flamel?" she asked. She knew she should have kept her mouth shut the moment she saw her parents reaction, and she bit down on her lip so hard it drew blood.

"How do you know about him?" Adelaide asked, her voice deathly quiet. Aludra was quick to justify her question.

"Well, after the Quidditch match I decided to keep a close eye on him, and then when I heard he was staying at Hogwarts for Christmas I started following him around. Then, I heard him talking to Hagrid and asking about a guy named Nicholas Flamel; apparently their spending the holidays looking for information on him in Hogwarts library. I know I've heard it before, and I was just wondering so I could have some sort of idea about what they're doing." She managed to say this with a minimal amount of breaths, and tears building in her eyes. Her parents still seemed tense, but they didn't look angry at her.

"We should talk to James and Lily about this," Adelaide said quickly, "Maybe it's a coincidence?"

"That's a big coincidence," Sirius said slowly, "but I'll check with them. Who knows where he learned it from, though."

"Another thing," Aludra said slowly, glancing at Ryan and Noah who were passed out, "About the Quidditch match. I saw Quirrel and Professor Snape both murmuring under their breath. Quirrell looked really intense while Snape looked kind of panicked, which led me to believe that Quirrel was jinxing the broom while Professor Snape was trying to save him."

"Why didn't you tell us this sooner?" Sirius asked. Aludra bristled.

"I tried! Right after it happened! I was over there because I knew I had to stop Quirrel somehow, but Hermione bumped into him because she only saw Snape murmuring under his breath. I immediately went to tell you about it, but you brushed me off!"

"I'm sorry," Sirius apologized, "We were preoccupied, and I didn't think it would be that important."

"Its okay," Aludra murmured, sniffing and holding back tears. Sirius sighed and waved her over. Aludra shook her head stubbornly. He waved his hand again, and she sighed and walked over, taking a seat in his lap while he gave her a hug.

"You okay?" He asked after a minute. Aludra nodded.

"I'm going to take a nap," she murmured, before yawning. Sirius released her and she gave her parents quick kisses on the cheek and ruffled Noah and Ryan's hair, "Can you wake me up for dinner?"

"Of course," Adelaide agreed, and when Aludra headed back to her room she looked at Sirius with a grave expression.

"We need to talk to James."

-

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all things concerning belong to J.K. Rowling. I own Adelaide Black, Annalisa Bertucci, Aludra Hope Black, Ryan Sirius Black, and Noah Antares Black.

A/N: Well…I'm surprised I managed to write at all. My mother just had a miscarriage, and we were getting really really excited over it…so…yeah.

I posted Calendula, which is a side story to the Flower Series all about Annalisa and how she got to where she is. I'm working furiously on that, because Annalisa's character is easier for me to write. I find the angrier and more emotional a character is the easier it is for me to write it. If someone is too light hearted, much like Adelaide, it's more difficult for me.

So, check out Calendula, but keep in mind that IT IS RATED M. Really, REALLY M. Its got sex, infidelity, snogging, self-harm, violence…yeah. Be warned.

Song of the Chapter: "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. Really, it's a guilty pleasure. I can't believe I like it. Eep!

Yours truly,
B.E.N.