hey guys

i hope you all had an awesome thanksgiving and ate lots of turkey

i was quite thankful to my beta for handing me back this chapter yesterday

she really is the best

i hope you all like this

i already started the next chapter and am looking forward to getting all of the words inside my mind to the computer

enjoy!

-airali

Alex's P.O.V

My heart beat in time with the chatter of my teeth as Harry and I stood in the cave, both completely soaked and observing, as Dumbledore examined every inch of the cave. I was completely grateful when Dumbledore seemed to remember Harry and me, and got us dry.

"Professor?" I began tentatively, "What exactly are you looking at? I mean for obvious reasons, it's a wall but-"

"Don't be fooled by appearances Alex." He pressed his fingertips to the wall and felt it the way a blind person would feel Braille text. "You have to know that Voldemort would never make the entrance to something as important as his soul so plainly seen—no, he's much smarter than that."

"So there's a hidden entrance somewhere in here?" Harry asked.

"Most definitely. Oh yes, there's magic all over the cave…" he walked around the whole cave touching some places here and there. "And it is here." His hand rested on a rock wall on the left side of the cave. I didn't question how he knew it. The tone in his voice told me that he was right.

Harry and I watched attentively as he stood back, pointing his wand at the wall. A brilliant white light appeared, marking an arch on the stone. Just as we began to think he'd actually opened it, the light went out and the arch disappeared. So what were we supposed to do? Dance and praise it?

Dumbledore lowered his wand and resumed the close inspection of the stone wall. Both Harry and I were silent for fear of breaking his concentration.

"Oh, surely not." He murmured so soft I barely caught it. "So crude..."

"What is it, Professor?" Harry spoke from beside me.

"I rather think," As he spoke he drew out a small silver knife from inside his robes, "That we are required to make payment to pass."

He explained his reasoning behind the theory. How much more sadistic could Voldemort get?

I winced as I saw Dumbledore swiftly run the knife down his arm, making blood splatter in the process. It hit the wall and the outlined arch reappeared. This time it opened.

I never noticed when Dumbledore healed his arm. I was too focused on observing what was inside the opening. I had no idea on what to expect from the place except danger. My heart seemed to register it too, for the beats sounded slightly uneven to my ears. I could see nothing but complete darkness.

Dumbledore walked in and Harry and I quickly followed while lighting our wands to see what awaited us inside.

I hadn't known what to expect but I didn't expect to see this. We were in some sort of…cavern I was not sure if it was too dark to see the ceiling or id it was simply too high to see. We stood at the edge of a pitch black lake that seemed too calm to be inviting, too cold. On the center of the lake was some sort of minute island. It was illuminated with a slight green glow all around it. Besides our wands, it was the only source of light in the vast darkness. I felt like I could cut it with a knife from how dense it seemed to be.

Dumbledore walked and warned us not to touch the water. Inside me some instinct warned me, telling me they were dangerous waters, highly dangerous considering the wizard that put them here. It seemed like every small sound we took was a thousand times magnified in the quiet darkness and it put me on edge. We walked but I didn't know what we were searching for. I highly doubted that the horcrux was just there on the ground.

My gaze turned up to the small island.

Is it here? I questioned myself, not expecting Harry to hear. But he did and he voiced my thought to Dumbledore who assured us that it was.

I was desperate to leave this place, though not empty handed.

"I think" I spoke and my own nervous voice echoing momentarily scared me, "it's there"

They turned and looked to where I was pointing.

"But how do we get there?" Dumbledore mused.

I didn't think Harry's summoning charm was going to work, and it didn't. I was fast beginning to learn how much of a challenge Voldemort was and soon I understood just a bit more of how his mind seemed to work. My heart sped up when I saw the waters reaction to the summoning charm, more like the thing in the water's reaction. Jumping back in fright I hit my head on the back wall a bit too hard.

So how the fuck were we supposed to get that horcrux? Surely not swimming….I tried to not imagine the many creatures that could be invading the water right now, probably observing us. I dint question Dumbledore when he asked us to step back, that he thought he found the place. I didn't understand him but I would soon find out anyway.

I had no idea of what he meant when he said that magic leaves traces, all I knew was that he had found a boat and now we had to cram inside of it with me sitting on Harry's lap.

Something moved in the water and it made me gasp in terror. I gripped Harry's arm and pressed myself closer to his chest. There was an arm sinking into the water. I had no doubt of what I saw.

"There's-there's" my voice trembled "people, in the water" my heart pounded in my ears, almost making me deaf to anything else. I was sick and I wanted to vomit. It was marble white, like Edwards skin color…

Harry gasped and I followed his sight. A complete dead body floated inches under the surface. I immediately tore my eyes from the awful sight. Dumbledore's calm reassurances and explanations did nothing to make feel even close how he seemed to feel. I admit I was scared, and Harry was too, but I did not regret coming along. Who knew; maybe later on we would face much worse things. I trusted we would get out of here alive with Dumbledore, yet my thoughts went to Edward and the way he had looked the last time I saw him. I covered my face with my hands—trying to get rid of the bad memories.

After what seemed like ages, the boat came to a stop and Dumbledore helped me out of it. Harry followed out carefully. It was a small island—maybe as big as my own room. The greenish light that seemed to emanate from the whole island only came from a stone basin.

Approaching the basin, I saw it was filled with some sort of green looking liquid. Whatever it was, it was not safe. So the fear that overtook me when Dumbledore said he had to drink it was completely understandable.
Dumbledore's electric blue eyes met with Harry's and mine from across the basin.

"You remember the condition on which I brought you both here with me?"

Realizing what he was about to say, I began shaking my head.

"No. No we-we can't—wh-what—"

"I warned you, didn't I—that this might be dangerous?"

"Yes but—" I looked as Harry began to protest.

"Well then, you have my orders," He began shaking back his sleeves ready to begin drinking.

"Why can't I drink it instead?" Harry asked. I didn't like that idea any more than the previous one. I would rather take it, but I could conform to sharing it with Harry.

Harry dropped it when he saw that Dumbledore would not allow such thing. And then his piercing blue eyes met my dull black ones—searching for reassurance that I would follow his orders. I looked down at the potion, unable to hold his powerful gaze.

"Alexandra, look at me." I couldn't ignore his request and I attempted once more to look into his searching eyes.

"You must promise that should I stop drinking this potion, you will help to keep me drinking."

I realized as he said this that I was shaking. I wanted to say no, but then he would most likely make me leave.

"This is important Alex." He said softly.

I could not speak, so I nodded and I felt moisture run down one of my cheeks.

I didn't listen to what he said next. I simply looked down at the basin and watched how, with every time that the cup sunk into the potion, there became less and less liquid in the basin.

What if he dies? What if this…thing kills him? Harry and I would be responsible for his death. I didn't think I could cope with the death of another loved one.

"Alex! Alex!" I flinched when I heard Harry's panicked voice shout at me. Then I registered the shouts reverberating throughout the cavern. My head turned on instinct towards Dumbledore, who had sunk to his knees and was sobbing. For how long did I zone out?

Never had I seen Dumbledore, a man that was always calm and composed—a man from which reassurance always seemed to emanate, so frightened and broken.

In my panic I didn't catch what Dumbledore was mumbling. But I did hear Harry trying to reassure him and trying to make him drink.

I uselessly watched until Dumbledore completely fell and began crying and screaming like a child for it to stop. I rushed to his side placing his head on my lap.

"Calm down Professor!" I cried. "It's all right…" I turned to Harry who was already rising to fill the next cup.

"KILL ME!"

Harry came down to my side to try and give him more.

"Stop it!" This time it was me screaming. "Leave him alone!"

I tried slapping away the cup, but Harry held on to it tightly.

"We promised!" He bellowed at me.

"You're going to kill him!" Again, he tried to bring the cup to Dumbledore's sobbing lips and I tried to make him drop it. And then I felt something strike my cheek, leaving it stinging and hot. I looked in shock at Harry, who didn't give me a single glance, as he took advantage of my shock to give Dumbledore the potion. Rivers of tears ran down my cheeks as I gingerly touched my fingertips to the spot where my brother had struck me.

"Alex!" I hadn't noticed when Harry stood up again to refill the cup, and I didn't notice when Dumbledore began rolling off of my lap and towards the lake. Without standing up, I threw myself towards his body to keep it from going into the water.

I held him in place and shook him when I realized he wasn't awake anymore.

"Pro-professor!" I shouted. "No, no, no! You can't be—no!"

Harry's expression was horrified and he tried to make him wake up.

My heart took a fresh breath when Dumbledore's eyes flickered open and he asked for water.

"Harry will get you some water, Professor." I assured him. I watched as Harry attempted to fill the cup with water.

"What's going on Harry?"

"The water..." He explained. "It's disappearing."

"What do you mean it's disappearing?"

"It just disappears out of the cup!"

I glanced down at the silent black lake. Now I understood how those things could begin to attack us.

"Water!" He screamed again. Harry glanced at me and I shakily nodded.

"Be careful." I whispered.

Harry went to the very edge of the rock and dove the cup into the water. My loud gasp rang in the cavern as I saw that when Harry's hand came back into view a white hand was gripping his forearm.

Bodies emerged from everywhere in the water. And Harry was being pulled into the water.

"Harry!" I uselessly screamed. If I went after him then Dumbledore could fall. If I didn't…

I took a firm hold of my wand—inferi where rounding up around Dumbledore and I.

"Stupefy!" The inferi I was pointing to fell back, but the others advanced. I couldn't fight them off—there were too many. I shrieked when, behind me, I felt an icy hand take a hold of me. The inferi's fingers curled around my arm painfully.

I felt Dumbledore's head leave my lap and I wasn't sure whether it was because he had gotten up, or because he had been pulled away from me. At the moment I was too preoccupied with the inferi that were grabbing at me, to notice anything else. They pulled and scratched at me and I futilely attempted to get them off of me by shouting different hexes.

Crimson flames lightened the cave and my attackers released me. I looked at Dumbledore. He was standing with his wand pointed upwards and expelling the flames from the tip. Without a second thought, I scrambled to the water where Harry had disappeared and jumped into it. For a moment the icy water paralyzed me, but I was quickly able to regain my senses and looked—for it was deeper than I thought. The lower I went the more inferi I saw—all cowering from the light the fire was bringing. And I saw Harry there in the arms of an inferi. He could barely struggle anymore. It was darker down here and the inferi were rounding up on me. I grabbed Harry by his shirt and began going up, kicking the inferi that tried to hold on to Harry.

Cold hands gripped and squeezed at my throat. I struggled to get the body away from me. The fire neared me and the inferi quickly fled along with the one trying to pull Harry. Quickly, I reached the surface and made it to the edge of the rocks.

Looking at Harry, I pressed on his stomach and he spluttered water from his mouth.

"Come on!" I said, quickly pulling him to his feet and hurrying over to Dumbledore who had already taken the locket. We all squeezed into the boat once more. The ring of fire that Dumbledore had created followed us to keep the inferi from coming close to us.

Harry in his shaken state looked at me, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah…" I busied myself by warily eyeing the water. I felt his fingers at my neck from where that thing had grabbed me. I winced; its nails had dug into my skin and made me bleed.

We reached to other side and I quickly and carefully got out of the boat and helped both Harry and Dumbledore out. He was very weak and when he was out of the boat, he dropped his hand and the flames came to an end. No inferi came after us and the boat disappeared under the water.

Both Harry and I helped guide Dumbledore back towards the entrance. I did not feel well when Dumbledore congratulated us for doing well. I didn't think we'd done any good.

Harry rubbed his bloodied arm across the wall and once again the entrance opened to us. Together Harry and I guided him back into the cold water.

"It's all right sir," Harry and I tried to reassure him. "We'll be back soon."

"I'm not worried." Said Dumbledore in his weak voice, "I've got the both of you."

I'd be worried if I was in his place. Nonetheless we made it out of the cave safe and then, both placing as much concentration as our mind allowed it, we made it back to Hogsmeade safe; All of us in one piece.

Panic came back when Dumbledore sunk to his knees. I was positive we had been successful with the apparition so it wasn't because of that. Harry began talking of going up to Hogwarts to go get Snape and I happened to look up at the sky.

No…

With a shaky hand I gripped at Harry's shoulder.

"Harry it's the dark mark!" I whispered and pointed up at the sky. I felt Harry's own horror add up to my own and overwhelm me.

"We need to—"

A door nearby opened, effectively cutting me off.

"Albus what happened?" I recognized Madame Rosmerta's voice.

"Rosmerta, when did that appear?" Dumbledore ignored Madame Rosmerta's question as he gripped Harry's shoulder to try and get up. Quickly, I tried to help him up.

"Must have been minutes ago, it wasn't there when—"

"We need to get up to the castle as soon as possible." Dumbledore said in a slightly stronger voice.

Madame Rosmerta gave us some of her old brooms. Harry and I were just about to get on them when Dumbledore stopped us.

"Alex, go with Harry on the same broom. Harry, cover the both of yourselves with the invisibility cloak."

And quickly Harry and I did as we were told.

While on the air, Harry and I carefully watched out for Dumbledore should he fall off his broom, but he seemed steady enough.

I tried to keep my thoughts away from anything related to the dark mark staining the night sky. But such attempts resulted impossible.

What was going on in there? But more importantly who had been…killed?

We neared the castle and I heard Dumbledore speak words of which I could not understand. But as soon as we crossed the castle I understood he was undoing his enchantments that protected the castle. We dismounted the brooms in the astronomy tower; the mark was directly above it. However, there was no sign of a struggle in here. Nothing at all….

"Professor what's going on?" I asked. Did something even happen? My gut told me that something had happened or was about to happen.

"Go get Snape." Dumbledore said. "Tell him what happened. Do not speak to anyone or stop. Do not remove your cloak—hurry."

"But sir—"

"You both swore to obey me—go!"

I was close to Harry's own feet as he hurried over to the door when we heard footsteps running up to where we were. Dumbledore motioned for us to step back and as we did so the door burst open.

"Expelliarmus!"

Draco Malfoy had entered the room and disarmed Dumbledore who stood right by the window. I tried to move to disarm him, but I realized that I couldn't—I couldn't move a single muscle, but it wasn't out of fear or shock or any of the sorts. This was all of Dumbledore's doing for Harry was incapable of moving as well.

Dumbledore, was very pale was still, but very calm about the whole situation. Which was more than I can say for myself or Harry.

Harry…Harry had been right. Malfoy had been up to something and nobody had believed him…If I'd helped him out to try and find something that would discover Malfoy then maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be happening. But what the hell was Malfoy's purpose? Surely it wasn't to kill Dumbledore. He would never be capable of doing such thing…could he?

Of course he could. He almost killed Katie, he poisoned Ron, and I still question if he could be capable of murder?

Harry we have to do something!

But what? Neither of us can move!

A desperate cry was stuck in my throat as I was unable to open my mouth to let it out.

Some sort of hope flickered inside me when I heard that the Order was here battling the death eaters that Malfoy had somehow managed to smuggle in. Having a slightly better ear than Harry, I could distantly hear the commotion that seemed to be happening close by. As the conversation between Malfoy and Dumbledore progressed I listened closely and observed how Dumbledore's strength seemed to slightly leave him.

"Someone's dead." That's what Malfoy had said, "One of your people."

My stomach became sick and I felt faint. Yet, my knees wouldn't give out although they wanted to—badly. My heart hammered against my chest so hard, it felt like I was close to having a heart attack.

Shouts grew louder and the sound of spells breaking things could be heard. Whichever group it was, they were getting closer to us.

Please Malfoy, please don't do this. Please.

I was ready to get down on my knees and beg if that's what it took—anything that would let Malfoy see the error of his ways.

And then I saw just how scared of Voldemort Malfoy really was. I saw what propelled him to do this and for the first time since I had met him, I felt sympathy towards Draco Malfoy. And I subconsciously swore to myself that if he took Dumbledore's help and turned his path on the right course, I'd forget any rivalry between him and me. I was ready to forgive and ask for forgiveness in return.

But when then a swarm of death eaters entered the room, I saw that it was clearly not meant to be. And any sympathy that I had held for him in that one moment was replaced by the familiar feeling of ultimate hate.

And Snape…Snape, he was behind it all! We told Dumbledore and he said he trusted Snape! He trusted him! He fucking trusted him and Snape took advantage of that!

"Avada Kedavra!" His voice was cold, merciless—it held everything that Snape was.

No!

No!

And Dumbledore—he disappeared out the window.

They began leaving—all of them hurrying out of the room. I never noticed when the spell that left me paralyzed, left my body. I simply collapsed to the floor. The whole room was spinning. The cloak slipped from around me.

"He's not dead…" I mumbled to myself. At the same time that Harry tried to cover me. It was too late the last death eater leaving the room saw me curled on the floor. I looked into his victorious eyes and his wand raised, ready to strike at me.

"Petrificul Totalus!" Harry had cast aside the cloak and pointed his and directly at the death eater who instantly froze and fell to the floor stiff as a board.

Harry looked at me for a moment before running after the rest. It was my wakeup call and I shakily got up and picked up my wand. I ran after them as fast as my legs could carry me. Given the state of disbelief and anger I was in, it was no wonder that I would have fallen down the stairs. Yet, the adrenaline running through my veins made me get up before I barely even reached the bottom of the stairs and continue running. I dodged people and curses as I passed—my eyes trained only on my brothers back.

"Alex!" I didn't look back as someone shouted after me.

People began coming out of their dormitories all of them doing nothing but slow me down as I had to aggressively push them out of my path.

Soon we reached the entrance of the castle and I sped up. The cold air hit my face and made my body temperature rise. I spotted Hagrid in the distance trying to stop the death eaters.

Harry collapsed and I jumped over his body. I looked back and saw two death eaters hot on my heels.

Ducking from a jet of red light I blindly pointed back with my wand.

"Stupefy!" I heard the one of them fall and then I heard Harry hex the other death eater.

Get up! I shouted at him.

Snape and Malfoy were getting closer and closer to the gates…

A sudden red jet passed me and barely missed Snape. Snape turned to face us and I continued to run while Harry kept Snape busy.

I raised my wand as I ran and pointed it at Malfoy's back.

"Mobilicorpus!"I bellowed. Malfoy shouted as his feet left the ground and I sharply turned my wand to the side using it as if it were a remote control to control Malfoy movements. Turning my wand to the left an invisible forced picked him up and smashed him against a nearby tree. A crack was heard indicating that something was broken. I turned my wand downwards and he went face front to the ground.

I lifted the spell and ran at him. He was barely conscious when I climbed on top of him and began pummeling his face with my bare fist. Blood ran down the broken nose and his mouth bled. He picked enough strength and threw me back, taking me by the neck while I threw kicks. I kicked him deep in the gut and he released me, letting me fall to the floor painfully. I was just about to get another go at him when a sharp force hit me on the middle of my back and everything began dimming. The golden light of fire illuminated my gaze for just a moment and then I was gone.

It only felt like it had been minutes I had been asleep before I was brought back. I was still on the grass so that must have meant that not much time had passed. I felt someone lightly smack my cheek.

"Alex! Alex, can you hear me?" I heard Harry's voice call my name worriedly.

"Harry!" I whispered, "Harry, he's dead! He dead, Harry. He's dead, he's dead…" Tears ran down my grimy face and I began moving my stiff body.

"Wha' she sayin' Harry?" I recognized Hagrid's gruff voice speaking very close to me. "Who's dead?"

"Dumbledore." I mumbled a bit louder and stronger.

"Wha'?" I opened my eyes and saw Hagrid shaking his head incredulously. "No, don' say that Alex. How could tha' have happened?"

"Snape killed him."

"We saw it." Harry added.

"No, no. You musta have gotten it all wrong is all."

He really didn't believe us.

"But—" I began again, but Harry hushed me and instead helped me to my feet. Hagrid would understand in time. Harry supported most of my weight as I was rather shaken by everything that had just happened.

"Maybe I should carry yeh?" Hagrid said noticing my weak stance.

"I'm fine…" I whispered it was all I could manage.

We all walked in silence back up to the castle. Harry noted that people were beginning to look around.

What're they all lookin at?" I looked up to see what Hagrid spoke about. People were gathering right below the astronomy tower, looking down at something on the floor. My breathing picked up speed and I let go of Harry. Instead, I staggered forward toward the crowd of people.

"Alex!" Harry weakly called and I ignored him.

"Move…" I mumbled, pushing people aside. I came down to my knees right in front of Albus Dumbledore's broken, lifeless body.

Flashes of a similar scene two years ago flashed through my mind. Except this time I didn't grip the lifeless body or scream. I just looked at the man before me, and silently wept for yet another great loss. His eyes were closed and for that I was thankful. I watched as Harry's hand arranged the Professor's spectacles in the right position. Seconds later I felt a slight nudge at my arm. I wiped off the snot that was beginning to run down my nose and looked down at what Harry was holding for me to see.

He had opened the locket and inside it was a small note folded multiple times to get it to fit in the locket. I looked up at him, then he unfolded it and we began to read.

All of our work…for nothing…

The disbelief must have been very evident in my expression, while Harry looked uninterested. I saw his eyes fill with tears and he grasped Dumbledore's hand tightly. Both Harry and I refused to leave Dumbledore, but Ginny was easily able to pry Harry off of the body.

"C'mere, Alex." Hagrid's hand began tugging at my waist. I whimpered and tried to slap them away, but he easily picked me up. I held on to Dumbledore's hand until Hagrid gently pulled it away. He cradled me in his massive arms and carried me away as I sobbed hopelessly and hid my face from the world. I realized we were in the hospital wing when he placed me on a soft bed. I shut my eyes tightly as I heard people come near me asking Harry what happened to me.

"Nothing." He said quietly. I curled in on myself and let out loud sobs that made my whole body shake. A quiet conversation went on and I didn't listen.

"Harry, why is she crying?" Said a voice after a while.

Silence, and then, "Dumbledore's dead."

An unbelieving silence filled the room and I even I quieted down my cries, reducing them to quiet sobs.

Harry recounted how he died and I felt warm comforting arms around me, softly stroking my hair. It was a familiar touch, yet it was different. But I gave in to it and curled my body into the woman's embrace, hiding my face in the crook of her neck and softly letting out the tears.

A phoenix sang somewhere in the distance—a woeful sound that reached deep within my soul and seemed to crumple it as if it were nothing more than paper. I don't know for how long it sang but we all listened until it was gone. I still hadn't moved my face from the woman's neck.

I raised my face to wipe off the snot that was threatening to run down my nose when I met the soft caramel colored eyes of Esme Cullen. That set me off into more waterworks. Soon, I felt more arms around me and I knew that most of the family was here.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered. They didn't answer but just sat at the bed giving me the most support they could.

I raised my head and looked at my surroundings. The first thing my eyes met was rich butterscotch colored eyes that bared every single emotion running through the owner's soul. I quickly averted my eyesight somewhere else. I couldn't look into the eyes of the one I had hurt so much. Even if he didn't hate me or have any ill feelings towards me, I had enough hatred towards me for the both of us.

And though my heart accelerated in a way that only happened when he was near me, I ignored the feeling. Instead my eyes settled on the two bodies resting on separate beds next to mine. One of them was Neville.

"Is he alright?" I asked weakly.

"They'll all be fine." Lupin assured me. And then my sight landed on a man I did not recognize for his face was disfigured in such a grotesque way. My breath became caught in my throat when I saw the red hair.

"Bill?" I whispered. I got up from the bed and became dizzy. I wobbled and felt hands steadying me. From the corner of my eyes I had caught Edward make a certain movement, as if to catch me, from the across the room. The distance between him and I was unsettling.

So close yet still so far away.

I made my way to his bed and realized that it was him.

"What happened?" I looked to Lupin for an answer.

"He was attacked by Greyback." I couldn't look into his sorrowful eyes, so instead I focused on Bill's ruined face that was asleep.

"But…but I saw him- and- and it's not full moon. What's going to happen?"

"He won't be a true werewolf, but there will be some side effects."

I released a shocked breath and flinched when the doors opened loudly. In came a dirty McGonagall, signs of her involvement in the struggle where evident on her.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way." McGonagall announced. And then she asked for Harry and me to retell the events. Harry talked while I sat in the edge of the bed keeping my eyes firmly in the floor. His eyes burned holes into me; I could feel them never leaving me.

If Edward was here, then it was quite obvious he didn't hate me and he still cared for me. It didn't matter, because it was impossible, now more than ever to have any form of relationship with him. I didn't even try to entertain the thought. Yet, through all the grief I was experiencing, I felt some sort of happiness at knowing that he still loved me to some extent.

"I'd love to know what Snape told him to convince him." I heard Tonks say.

"I know." The words were out of my mouth before I knew it. Everyone was quiet and they looked at me. "Snape was the one that told Voldemort the information that made him go after my family. When he killed my parents he told Dumbledore that he hadn't known what he was doing and that he was extremely sorry."

"And he believed that, even after he knew that Snape had hated James?" Lupin's voice was incredulous.

"And he didn't think my mother was worth a damn either." Harry said, his fists were clenched. "Because she was a muggleborn…mudblood he called her."

They continued talking and Harry told them how the death eaters had managed to come into the school grounds.

After a while the doors opened once more and I jumped. The night's events had made me paranoid and nervous. I was a wreck and everyone could see it. They weren't far off themselves. The Weasleys and Fleur entered—all going straight to Bill. I took a glance at Fleur's frozen expression and saw that Edward's gaze was looking at the same thing. He noticed my stare and looked at me. He pursed his lips and looked at Fleur sympathetically.

I held my breath when he moved closer towards me and I shrunk away when I felt his hand snake around my waist pulling me in. Everyone tried to keep their eyes away from us. Edward simply picked me up and set me on his lap—making it seem as if everything was just fine between us. But he and I knew that our situation was beyond being fine.

He wasn't breathing and he was tense. Yet he still pressed his lips to my hair and I allowed his embrace to comfort me as much as it could. I felt too drained to resist what I wanted.

I watched and listened as Fleur indignantly demanded to know why Mrs. Weasley thought that Bill would not get married to her. Once again I was jealous of Fleur, for she had what I couldn't have. But I supposed happiness wasn't meant for everyone.

We all watched as both women finally seemed to accept each other and cried in each other's arms. And then Tonks spoke up.

"You see!" We were all shocked to see her glaring at Lupin. "She still wants to marry him even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!"

What?

"It's different." Lupin was stiff, "Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely—"

"But I don't care either, I don't care!" She grabbed the front of his robes and shook him roughly. She loved him! It explained her depression and any questions we'd had about her.

Lupin stared hard at the floor. "And I've told you a million timed that I am too old for you, too poor…too dangerous…"

"Edward's too old for Alex—two hundred years older and you don't see him making a fuss about it! Edward is a constant danger to her and they have worked around it. You're only dangerous once a month; Edward is a constant threat to her life every second their together, but they fight for their relationship! Look at them! The poor man isn't even breathing right now!"

Edward tightened his hold on me and I didn't say anything. It may seem like things were getting better between us, but that was far from the truth. Yet I didn't say this out loud, not if it meant that there was a possibility of Lupin accepting her.

Lupin looked up at us and I heard Edward speak. How I had missed that voice!

"I have often felt like you have regarding my relationship with Alex. I know everything that you are feeling right now, but if you love her you'll work around it like I have and you'll want to make her the happiest woman on this earth. Trust me."

I silently nodded at him. They deserved to be together and Lupin had gone through too much to not deserve to be with the one he loves.

"This isn't the moment to discuss this," He said hastily, "Dumbledore's dead…"

"Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world." McGonagall spoke curtly. And just as the words left her mouth Edward's hand found mine and he intertwined them. I pursed my lips and hesitantly pulled away my hand—an action the only the Cullen's caught.

Hagrid entered and informed McGonagall that the body had been moved. His face was puffy and red from crying so much.

She told him to call for all of the heads of the houses.

"Before I meet with them," She turned to Harry and I, "I would like to have a word with the both of you."

Harry and I both nodded and he helped me to my feet. Without a glance toward Edward, I left the hospital wing, silently following the professor and my brother to the Headmaster's office.

I could have gone and stayed at the hospital wing after talking to McGonagall. And I could have asked him to stay with me. He would have done it. That's just how wrapped around my little finger I had him.

But I didn't.

The ceremony had just ended and I stood from where I was sitting and headed to the lake. The merpeople had just disappeared under it. Harry was talking to Ginny and Ron was consoling Hermione.

And I was alone. More alone, even, than when I'd lost Cedric.

Because the time had come for Harry and I to finally be on our own. From now on it was just him and I with no protection from anyone.

I felt a presence behind me. I recognized who it was. I'd been aware of his eyes one me throughout the entire ceremony and I knew a talk awaited us. One that would be much calmer than our last.

"Why can't you be like her?" I nodded over toward Ginny who was talking to Harry and seeming to take the departure rather well.

"I've lost too much in the past to lose you too."

"I've lost…probably more than you too, Edward and I'm not willing to lose you either." I swallowed hard and looked at his vulnerable expression. It made me wonder if he was doing it on purpose or if he wasn't aware of his expression. "Now, with what just happened, it's only a matter of time before Voldemort takes over everything. Even Hogwarts…things are going to get crazy. They'll be looking for Harry and me everywhere. The Weasleys, their already in deep trouble simply for having been our friends. Their house will have so much more security put on it and they'll have to watch for their every move. I don't want to imagine what I'll be putting you and your family through."

"They don't know us." He moved to take my hands into his. "Come back home with me Alex. Nothing's going to happen to you over there, I'll be—"

"No, Edward. I'm not trying to run away and hide like a coward. Nor do I want anyone protecting me from anything. People have done that in the past and every single one of them is dead. I do not want this to be your funeral."

"Nor do I want it to be yours. So we've reached a moot point haven't we?" His hand came to rest on my cheek and the contact that I'd craved for months made me shutter in delight.

"The only place I'm going to is Privet Drive. Afterwards, Harry and I will leave in search of…anything we can to get rid of him, once and for all."

"I can't let you do that." He shook his head, his eyes hard.

"I'm not asking for your permission." His tone disturbed me and I worked to keep my calm. "I'm merely informing you, although I really don't have to explain myself to you." I began moving away and his hand took me by the arm.

"How can all of this end, if I'm hiding away and turning my back on the world? I don't plan on sending Harry on his own you know."

"It doesn't have to be either of you, Alex. He can only hurt people for so much time until someone puts a stop to it." My eyes watered with emotion at his desperate attempts to keep me. He understood that as much as I loved him he still had no control over me and under the circumstances we were in I would not be stopped for anyone, even him.

"Tell me, if there was someone out there that had destroyed your family, killed you're friends and was putting the life of the one you love in danger, would you want to kill them?" His stare was long and hard. "Don't lie, you know you would. I know you would. You would be exactly the same as me if you were under the same circumstances. You would want exactly what I want right now."

"You're right. I would want exactly the same thing. In fact I do want the same things you want. I want him dead too."

"You, why?"

"Because he has hurt you. He has hurt you in ways that can't be healed. And yes like you say, he presents a threat to my family and friends…so let me go with you."

"No!" My eyes were wide with defiance and terror at what he had just said. "You're not going anywhere with me."

I do believe we bore the same expression in that moment—both of us overtaken with stubbornness.

"Why not?"

"You have no business in any of this."

"He's threatening you, he wants to kill you. As far as I'm concerned, that is my business."

"Well you are sadly mistaken. This is between Harry, Voldemort and I. you will not be anywhere near me when the time to face him comes."

My voice was dangerously low and my hands were gripping his with such strength that my knuckles were white. Of course the amount of effort that I was putting was probably unnoticed by him.

"Hermione and Ron are going."

"It's different with them."

"How so? I would love to hear that explanation." And as If I wasn't beginning to lose my temper, he took a seat on the grass, and made me feel mocked.

"I don't have to explain myself to you! There's nothing between you and I!"

"Only eternal devotion, yes, that does not sound like much to me."

All negative feelings were momentarily washed away. Two major thoughts sprung into my mind and they were filled of, for a moment, this woeful scenario with a wonderful illusion.

First, Edward knew I didn't hate him and that I still loved him wholeheartedly. And second, there was no doubt anymore that he didn't love me any less than the day I had so unceremoniously left him.

"Bella's not here." I quietly said. If I wanted to change the topic of conversation, why did I have focus it on the last person I wanted to think about?

"Things with Bella will not work. I am not willing to force myself into a useless relationship with her. I have no business with her."

"What about your marriage with her?"

"Yes, I'm arranging papers for a divorce. I can't go further with my pretences. I hope, that you won't ever have to feign love to someone whom you no longer hold any emotion to. It's the most horrible feeling on earth."

"I don't plan on ever going through that."

An uncomfortable silence fell between us and even though he wasn't speaking, I could hear his question being shouted at me.

"You're not coming Edward." I sunk to the ground in front of him and looked him directly in the eye.

"Tell me, Alex, what in the world am I supposed to do if you just leave and I have no idea whether you're dead or alive? These past months I was more or less dead and I was well aware of where you were and that you were secure. Please don't put me through any more torture."

"I…I can't…"

"Why can't you?" He pleaded. I was on my feet again and he followed my movements.

"I can't take someone who won't allow me to fend for myself. I love you Edward, but you make me feel as if I were less than you. I feel useless and…" I stopped and looked down at the grass.

I felt his hand under my chin, making me look up. His tender eyes made my own brim with more tears as he brought his hypnotizing gaze closer to me and pressed his forehead to mine. And I cried.

I had missed his touch so much.

"You've had to look after yourself for so long. Let me protect you for once. It has never been my intention to hurt you in such way. " He whispered.

I shook my head. "I know your intentions were good, but there are some things you can't protect me from. Like this."

"Why does it have to be you and Harry? Tell me that."

"Because only we know how to end it all. Only we know him almost as well as Dumbledore knew him."

The warmth on my forehead left and I looked at him. He was more calm and composed.

"There's no changing your mind is there?"

I pursed my lips in a grim line and slowly shook my head.

A slight grin appeared there in his face. "Not even for me?"

Another slow shake of my head.

"And if I were to get on my knees and beg?"

"Then prepare to be ultimately humiliated, because I will walk away."

He looked down and ran a hand through his hair.

"Why the sudden relaxedness?" I asked.

With an incredulous laugh he looked up at the sky.

"Do I seem relaxed to you? I'm far from relaxed."

"I expected shouts and you trying to snatch me to Forks right this instant." I confessed.

"Oh I won't do that…yet." His smile was as honest as his tone.

"What?"

"Well, you have to go back to your aunt and uncle's. I can't simply take you to Forks right now. And besides, there is still time for me to act. You might have forgotten, but I do believe that there is a wedding to which you and Harry, as well as my family and I, are invited."

And indeed I had forgotten. And he knew I'd forgotten.

"So therefore, I know that I will see you at least once more before I'm required to act."

"You know, I do love a challenge."

"Another thing we have in common."

His hand caressed my cheek softly and his other hand was placed behind my neck brining me into him. His mouth was so close to mine I could practically feel them touch against mine. My lips trembled with need.

"I love you." He whispered.

I wanted to respond to his words in the same way.

"You know you're not getting anything out of this right?" I ended up saying.

"I'll always take what I can get."

In my moment of coherence, I placed my hand in one if his cheeks and turned my head to the side. I softly kissed his cheek and pulled away. He looked slightly taken aback.

"Then take only that; it's all I can give you right now."

"And later?" I wished I could be as hopeful as he looked.

"I'd rather not consider any other future that doesn't hold Voldemort."

I turned around and quickly wiped off the tears on my cheeks and walked towards Harry and the rest.

"Hey." They all welcomed me into their conversation.

"I seemed to have forgotten we had a wedding to attend to this summer." I linked my arm with Harry's and looked up at him. I hadn't been the only one that had forgotten it seemed.

"Yeah…" He mumbled.

"Hard to think that amongst all the chaos that's about to come, there's still going to be something as joyful as a wedding huh?"

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Hermione's mouth and she nodded.

And then a sudden thought came to me: I hoped that neither of the three was thinking about horcruxes, for Edward would surely catch it.

I chanced a glance at Edward, who was now with his family, looking like he was forcing himself to talk. I wish I could hear what he was thinking right now.

And I couldn't even warn Harry about not thinking about them, for Edward would hear me, whether it was verbally or mentally. He would hear me in Harry's mind.

The only thing I could do was try to make them think about something different.

"I don't think they'll be happy about having us go back earlier than were supposed to."

Ron chuckled. "They'll go bonkers when they see the both of you."

"Just one more time," Harry said, taking a seat by the edge of the lake.

"Besides, I think Dudley grew out of the habit of hitting us."

Harry smiled. Dudley had barely directed a word towards us since he was attacked by those Dementors.

Conversation under the circumstances we were in was hard. We all wanted more than to be quiet and let our thoughts wander.

I looked back towards the white tomb and felt my heart constrict painfully.

"I'm going to miss him so much." I whispered. No one answered, but they silently agreed.

"Are your things packed?" Harry asked after a while.

"Everyone's things are packed, Harry. The train should be arriving soon I think."

How's Ginny?

She'll be fine; she's a tough girl.

I know, made things all the more easier huh?

And Edward?

He's a determined fellow he is.

So are you. And if he's as stubborn as you then he might be a problem…

He can hear you.

I know, he can hear you too.

I'll throw him off one way or another. Don't worry.

But I do.

Then don't.

I sighed and looked in to the lake. Cedric and I had spent countless weekends here. For a moment, I wished I knew where his parents had buried him. Would I feel him close to me if I were to stand at his grave? And how would I feel about that?

And then I shook my head. I was hurt enough as it was without me reopening an old cut.

I turned and then did a double take when I saw Ron angrily looking towards something, except his angry expression seemed comical. I followed his trail of sight and saw he was glaring at Percy, who was quietly talking to the minister.

I snickered at him and Ron shot me an ugly look.

"Shut up." He mumbled. I laughed quietly and shook my head.

Through all of our quiet time, I was well aware of Edwards's eyes on me.

I felt a hand creep onto my shoulder and I flinched, catching Harry, Hermione, and Ron's attention. We all turned to look at whoever was behind us. Professor McGonagall looked at us through raw red eyes.

"The carriages are here." She said. "Your things are already waiting down at the station."

We all simultaneously stood.

"Goodbye Professor." I said and I tentatively inched towards her. I hugged her briefly and she returned the hug. Professor McGonagall had never been so sentimental, I think.

"Good luck Potter." She said.

She understood, and she knew we wouldn't come back. It's simply one of those feelings people had sometimes.

We walked to the gates of the castle where the carriages with the Thestrals were. Once inside, I turned and put my knees on the seat and looked at the castle through the window. I remembered the first time I saw it. We had been on the boats that time. I remember thinking it was all a very impossible dream. Someone inside the carriage was looking at me, I could feel it. Whether it was Hermione, Harry, or Ron I didn't know.

And then once on the train, I looked to out the window and was met with Edward standing right outside it. I stood up and opened the window.

"I'm tempted to pull you out of there right now," He admitted. "But I know my plan would never work."

"No, it wouldn't." I agreed.

"Take care of yourself, until I'm there to do it for you."

"You need to learn to accept that I'm not a damsel in distress Edward Cullen."

"I know that, but sometimes I wonder if you have any regard for your own safety."

The train began coming to life.

"Being me you can never be safe, no matter how much I try. I told you I was nothing but trouble."

"I suppose that's true. That's why I exist, to help and protect you."

"Get it through your thick head, Cullen," My humor was not very well at the moment, so I may have sounded a bit sharp, "You can't ever keep me safe, no matter how much you try."

I could see Emmett snicker at Edward and give me the thumbs up. I shook my head and grinned in spite of myself. The bus began moving and I waved at Edward as it began leaving. Edward stood there watching; he simply raised his hand for a moment then let it drop. I stole one last glance at the great castle that had for so long been my only true home. My time there was up.

I had no home anymore.

Of course, we soon realized that leaving Privet Drive would be harder than we thought. And we also didn't think of the danger the Dursleys would be in. We needed the Order's help.

Edwards P.O.V

"What do you mean complications, Frank?"

She was right; she really wasn't safe from anything.

"Listen Edward, getting them out of Privet Drive is much harder than it looks. This is a chance for you-know-who to attack them while their unprotected. Their cornered because you can bet that he will have people there, waiting for them to attempt to get out before their birthday. So already, leaving before time is a big no. Now, if they wait till their birthday—"

"I know, I know!" I said through clenched teeth. Voldemort would be waiting at the doorstep to take them on their birthday.

"Isn't there some other way?"

"The Floo network will be monitored, so they can be intercepted and that's too dangerous. They can't apparate because they are still underage. They're cornered."

I shook my head and paced, muttering blasphemies under my breath.

"Stop pulling at your hair, Edward. I don't think Alex would like you bald."

I growled at Emmett. Did he not understand the seriousness of this? Of course he did! But the big oaf just had to try and make everything funny even when it wasn't.

"But they have to get them out Frankie." Esme spoke. "One way or another, we can't just allow them to be taken away."

"We know that Esme, and believe me, the order is wracking their brains to come up with an effective plan to get them out."

"How unprotected would they be if they flew out?" Carlisle asked.

"Very unprotected—"

"Yes, I would expect him to have death eaters out there in the air right now." I muttered.

"Can't you disguise them?"

"It won't stop them from an attack. They can't be disguised because they know who we are, so if they see two random people they don't know, then their obviously going to go for them. So the plan dies there."

"Confuse them." I spoke.

"How…?"

Just then, the door to the Weasley home opened and the whole Order came into the already crowded kitchen. My family and I stood and gave our seats to the rest as we had no need for them.

They had all come to discuss the same: how to get the Potters out of their uncle's house without them being hurt.

There had to be a way to get them out of there. But I understood now, that it would be impossible to get her out of there unscathed.

"I see Frank has explained the circumstances." Mad eye barked as he took a seat.

"There has to be a way." I muttered and pulled at my hair again. Esme's firm hand fell on top of mine and made me release the locks of bronze. "What was your original plan?"

"We told Harry and Alex that Mad Eye would be coming to take them for side along apparition." I nodded at Arthur. I was well aware that they had gone to the Dursleys to speak to the whole lot.

"Yes, but damned Thicknesse has now made it impossible." Mad Eye hit the table in anger with his fist. "They'll be arrested if they try any source of escape requiring magic. The only option left is flying."

"Let's not forget about their aunt and uncle." Bill said, shoving his hand into his pockets.

"What about them?" I demanded.

"Any protection their home has will be broken when Harry and Alex leave—because it will never be 'home' again." He emphasized the word home. Of course neither of the two had ever considered that place home. I could imagine the relief they must be feeling about leaving that house once and for all. "So the moment they leave, the Dursleys will be unprotected as well and I wouldn't put it past you- know-who to take them. They would be great bait to attract Alex and Harry."

"Yes," Arthur acceded. "They might not like them, but they will not stand aside for them to get murdered—no matter what resentments there may be between them."

He was right. Alex and Harry weren't bad people. They wouldn't allow harm upon the family.

"So they must be taken away as well."

This is more complicated than it seemed. Jasper thought. I looked at him and nodded.

"So then that means," Lupin continued, "That the timing of their departure has to be simultaneous so that by the time the spell is broken, they will all be either safe or on their way to safety."

"Let's get one thing straight." Emmett spoke raising his hands. His thunderous voice made everyone quiet down. I really was grateful that the whole family was equally taken into account by the whole order, so that they allowed us to give ideas and opinions about such situations. "When is all of this going to happen? The way I see it, the only way to do it is before their birthday. And if that's the case, then there's the advantage of Voldemort," A couple of them flinched at the name, "Not knowing on which day exactly their going to be taken."

"Establish a false trail." Rosalie spoke up. "Make them think they will be leaving on one day and take them out on a different day."

Everyone was quiet. Thinking about how they could work this out.

If the ministry really has been infiltrated then surely a death eater will tell you- know- who about anything regarding the Potters.

"That's perfect!" I turned to Frank. "Yes, make them believe it will be on another day to fool Voldemort." Frankie nodded, liking the idea.

"Care to explain Cullen?" Moody growled, annoyed.

"You all think that the ministry has been infiltrated by death eater's right?" Understanding seemed to dawn on him, through the scarred face I could see a victorious smile creeping up.

"Leak a false date to the ministry and make them think that's the day that they will be taken. A death eater will surely inform Voldemort about this."

Everyone agreed, seeing sense in the plan.

"Still we can't completely rely on that to work." Mad Eye said, his eye spinning madly. "Because I am ready to bet my remaining eye that you- know- who will still have some scum on the lookout days before the supposed date."

"Yes, but it means that there might be less death eaters and that Voldemort won't be there in person." Alice piped in. "So, already that is a huge advantage."

"Yes, yes I see."

"So if that's established, I think that getting the Dursleys out of there won't be very complicated. No one will really be keeping an eye on them. We could send one of us for their protection and have them taken to safe place where we can apparate them to a safe location."

"Yes, that would make sense."

"We can figure out the details for that later."

"How about Polyjuice potion?" The man named Mundungus Fletcher spoke up. I wasn't as associated with him as I was with the rest, but although he wasn't the best of people he brought in valuable information now and then.

We all looked at him. He must have spent a great amount of time devising the plan in his head. For it seemed very complex and likely to work.

"That's excellent." I muttered and gestured for him to explain to the rest.

"Well I've been thinking we could send twelve people to get them. Seven of them can be decoys."

"Wait," I spoke up. Hermione and Ron had crept down the stairs and were pressing their ears to the door to the kitchen. I strode over to the door and opened it. They looked up looking guilty and embarrassed.

"Ronald!" Molly spoke up.

"It's alright, Molly." I said, offering my hand to Hermione to help her stand up. She blushed and accepted the help. "I think they should be in on this. They are their best friends after all."

Thank you, thank you, thank you Edward!

"You're welcome." I beamed at her.

They both settled by a counter. The rest didn't argue about their involvement and went back to the matter at hand.

"Proceed." I spoke to Mundungus. Who nodded with his grimy head.

"Five people could act as decoys. Using the Polyjuice potion we could disguise them as the Potters."

"As both Harry and Alex?"

"We could disguise Alex as Harry too. They won't know if Alex is in the group at all. Because after all, I'm sure you- know- who is already aware that Alex had been staying somewhere else in her fifth year."

Had it really been that long?

"They won't allow that." Hermione spoke up. "They'll never allow any of us putting ourselves into such danger for them."

"The choice isn't theirs. It's just how it's going to be and that's it!" Moody growled. His eye began dancing wildly again.

"Expect an argument from them." Ron muttered. Nobody but my family and I heard it and we all smiled at that. That would surely be the case.

"As I was saying," Mundungus continued, not happy about being interrupted again. "Ye can get each of the Potters with another one of yer as protection; you'll fly in pairs to a safe location. I would suggest ye to all head to different safe houses—all of 'em 'eavily protected. Then ye all can use one of them portkeys to come back here."

All of us, finally content with the idea, spent the rest of the day going into the details of the plan. They would be moved in a month—the amount of time it took to concoct the potion.

"So, let's see…am I right in thinking we all are going to volunteer?" Moody called.

Two days later, they decided which house would act as the locations and who would be going to get the Dursleys, Harry and Alex.

My anxiousness would not be relieved until Alex was safely back with the Weasleys. My whole family tried to calm me down for some time, even Bella, who was no longer speaking to me. Although, I really wasn't concerned about our lack of words towards each other. But whenever I did come across her, which was surprisingly not very often, I was reminded of the papers that had to be arranged for a divorce. Carlisle and Jasper were helping to come up with a renewed wedding certificate with the current date. After that everything else should go smoothly.

The month passed incredibly slowly, but Saturday thankfully arrived before I went mad. That day, we arrived to the Weasleys home very early in the morning. The Order arrived at around the same time. Mad Eye was carrying two rucksacks that he said were full of clothes that would fit all of them once they were turned.

Just before they left, I approached Bill quietly. "Bill?"

He turned to me and smiled. "I'll do my best to bring her unharmed, Edward." He clapped a hand to my back. "But you know I can't guarantee bringing her here without a single scratch."

"I just hope everything goes smoothly."

He nodded and mounted his broom.

I stayed back and watched as the lot began taking off in broom, Thestral, and in Hagrid's case, an enchanted motorcycle.

I wished with all my heart that I could go with them right now, but at least I would be able to see her when she arrived. I would take what I could get.

Molly, Fleur, Ginny, Frankie, my family and I had stayed behind to wait for them to come back.

"Please let them be alright..." Molly whispered. Esme wrapped her in a hug.

"We have to trust they will all be fine."

Her fright was to be expected. Half her family was in grave danger at the moment.

"Come on, let's all go inside." Carlisle spoke calmly, trying to bring some peace. "It should be a while before they all return."

I looked pointedly at Jasper, who got the message and began settling calm around all of us.

"Aren't you coming?" Alice asked.

"Don't you know the answer to that?" I said, failing to offer a smile.

"Not here I don't; too much magic for me to see anything." Her frustration would have been comical in any other situation.

"Go in, I'll be out here. I need some alone time."

A long time passed and night would be settling soon. I heard Ginny coming out to the yard.

"Worried huh?" She sat on the grass, bringing her knees to her chest.

"You don't know how much."

"I do. I think they'll be fine, all of them. You have no idea on how smart Alex is; she'll be able to take care of herself."

I saw a memory of Ginny's—it had happened not so long ago. The night of Dumbledore's death. Just as Ginny dodged a jet of light she saw Alex running down a flight of stairs. Her agility amazed me as she tripped and went down the stairs. Before she reached the last step, she was up again and running. Pushing through people and dodging steps. I would have thought she was able to see the future or read minds since she dodged at the precise moments, almost as if she knew they were coming, like a second instinct.

"She's quite aggressive in times such as those." She smiled at the memory. I had to laugh at the next memory.

A great dragon was roaring before her. She tried to run from it but the dragon's tail met her and knocked her back like a doll. I could see her angry face as she raised her wand and shouted something, red jets of light shot from her wand and got the dragon right in the eye, efficiently blinding him. As if it wasn't enough, she picked up a rock and chucked it at the dragons head before she ran off.

"She really did that?"

"Yes, I think everyone laughed when they saw that. No one could believe she still paused to throw an insignificant rock at the dragon when all the other champions seemed utterly terrified when they faced their dragon. All we saw from her was defiance."

I shook my head, it sounded like something Alex would do.

"Give her some credit Edward. She's stronger than you make her out to be."

"I know that…" I sighed and began pacing in front of her. "But I can't help trying to protect her. To a vampire that has found their intended, Ginny, it's a natural instinct for them t o try and protect their mate. Ask any of my family and they won't deny it."

"I guess I can understand that." And in her mind she did understand it. She was more mature than she seemed. "But you have to understand that right now, under the circumstances their both at, protecting them isn't possible. They have to do this by themselves. They'll accept help, like in Ron and Hermione's case, but they are through with being protected. Right now, it's only because they have no other option, they either go with the plan established or they will be forced to follow it. So you better kick aside that instinct of yours because she is a very independent person."

"I know that."

Before she could say anything else a bright blue light began appearing some distance from us.

"Mum!" Ginny shouted. Everyone came out as soon as they heard her.

The light grew strong and then a rusty oil can appeared, spinning fast and then it fell to the floor. No one had come along.

"That should have been Tonks and Ron…" Molly whispered. Tears were welling into her eyes. Esme softly patted her back and we all looked at each other nervously.

"Their timing must have been bad." Rosalie explained softly.

Minutes later there was another blue light and we all looked up only to be further worried when a lonely old sneaker appeared. It should have been Arthurs and Fred's portkey.

Had it not been for Mrs. Weasleys quiet sobs, there would have complete silence. The worried thoughts of so many people were making me go mad.

And then a third blue light appeared just as the sun was setting. Two bodies were spinning fast before they hit the floor roughly.

"Alex…" A breathless whisper was all I could manage when I saw her mop of unruly red hair.

And as I strode to her, I remembered that her hair had been mousy brown the last time I saw her.

I stopped right in front of her as she straightened up. I knew something was awfully wrong the moment she looked up at me.

"You're not Alex."