I'm leaving for London in the morning so I won't be able to update for a while. But I hope that you'll enjoy this chapter as I'm gone and hopefully it won't take too long for me to write the next one when I get home. :)

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Chapter 19

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"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you like this. But I was wondering if there was something I could ask you?" They were walking down the lawns towards the Quidditch pitch for today's game; Slytherin vs. Gryffindor.

"I'm always interested to hear what you might have to ask Alice", professor Slughorn said and smiled at her.

"Well, I was wondering about wands... and the making of them", Alice said, she made sure no one was close enough to overhear their conversation.

"I'm no expert in the area, but ask away and I'll see what I know."

"You see I came across something rare a few days ago and I read that its use is often in wands. So I was wondering; would it be possible for me to create a wand out of this material?" Alice looked at the old man; he seemed troubled in some way.

"Making wands is a very hard and long process, I myself would leave it to those who are experts but I suppose that it wouldn't be impossible to make one yourself", he finally said, but still with the same worried expression.

"So, let's say I would hand this material over to a wand-maker, he would actually be able to make me a wand out of it?"

"Nothing can I can be sure of Alice, I don't know that much about wands. But I would say that is your best chance", he said and smiled at her.

"Thank you sir", Alice said and turned to find Daphne whom she knew was walking just a few feet behind her.

"You're not still obsessing over those Thestral hairs, are you?" Daphne said as soon as Alice by her side.

"I was just asking him about Wandlore", Alice said, trying to play innocent.

"Well, I hope you did not bring any of those books to the game. Blaise really wants to impress you", Daphne said giving Alice a smile and a gentle nudge on the shoulder. "He's good."

"I don't doubt it", Alice said, trying to defend herself. She was still wondering why Draco called in sick. She'd seen him at breakfast that very morning; yes, he'd been sitting by himself but he hadn't really looked sick. "And no, I haven't brought any of the books. I'm not going to read a single book this entire weekend!" Daphne looked proud as they entered the Quidditch pitch and started walking up all the stairs to the Slytherin cheering squad.

The game didn't end well. Gryffindor won; 190 to zero. Daphne and Alice met up with a rather annoyed Blaise outside the Slytherin locker room; he wasn't just annoyed at the results. But at himself and at the team as well.

"Don't mind, Blaise, you did great", Alice tried to cheer him up.

"Great? I didn't score one single goal!" It was unusual for him to let his emotions out like this.

"Well, you looked good anyways", Alice said, she felt a bit damped by the sour mood that lingered in the air. Blaise leaned in to her, took her hand and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you", he said and gave her a warm smile. Something was definitely off with him today. A group of cheering Gryffindor passed them, which made it all even worse. Why'd they have to win? Harper had been so close to catch the snitch.

"This is so dull", Alice said with a sigh. "I don't feel like moping down in the common room with the rest of them."

"Neither do I", Blaise and Daphne said as one. The three of them cracked up in a bright smile and laughed at the irony.

"How do you feel about taking a road trip?" Alice said enlightened of the new mood.

"A what now?" Blaise asked.

"Where to? We can't even go to Hogsmeade anymore", Daphne said. They both stopped and looked at Alice. She started pulling in her hair, making in it to a braid.

"What?" She said, looking innocent. "A girl has her ways", she said with a satisfied smile. They stayed walking towards the castle again.

"I just need to do one thing before we leave", Alice said as they walked downstairs to the dungeons. Although it was October, the weather felt nice and warm. Which meant that the dungeons also felt warm, warmer than usual that will say. They entered the common room that was full of disappointed and grumpy students. Alice gaze searched the room; she couldn't find what she was looking for.

"One moment", Alice said and walked over to Crabbe and Goyle that stood alone, looking rather confused and lost in the crowd.

"Hi Alice", Crabbe said and tried to give her a gentle smile; instead his face just went twisted and it gave him a sort of sad expression.

"Hi boys", she said and smiled back. "Have you seen Draco?" The exchanged looks as if they were having a silent fight.

"I'd think he would want us to..." Crabbe started, but Goyle silenced him by putting his large fist over Crabbe's mouth.

"He said no one!" Goyle insisted. Crabbe gave him the look and Goyle removed his hand.

"He's in the boy's loo on the third floor. Told us to not wait for him and he hasn't come back yet", Crabbe said and again attempted to smile towards Alice.

"Thank you", she said and gave them her cutes smile before leaving across the room and out to the corridor again, having Daphne and Blaise follow her.

"What was that about?" Daphne asked.

"Oh, nothing", Alice said; she didn't want Draco's named mentioned unless absolutely necessary. "I just need to go to the loo", Alice said and started walking upstairs.

"You know there's one at this level as well!" Daphne tried to stop her from going upstairs. "Don't make me go upstairs", Daphne groaned.

"I don't like the one on this floor, you now that Daphne", Alice said and continued walking up the stair. "It's alright, you can wait here." Daphne sat down on one of the steps whilst Blaise followed her. Alice made a right turn and in to the corridor on the third floor to the boy's lavatory.

"Alice isn't this the boy's…?" he didn't get to say more before Alice had entered the room. She closed the door carefully behind her.

"Draco?" she said in a low tone. Her voice echoed in the bare room.

"Who's there?" His voice felt cold, chilling. Whoever he thought it was; he was threatening that person. She walked in to the room, looking around. They almost bumped in to each other around the corner to one of the booths.

"Oh", he simple said and took a step away from her. "Isn't this?"

"Yes I know", Alice interrupted him. "I came looking for you", she said and looked up on him. He just looked at her, with a glimpse of remorse in his eyes but no other visible expression.

"I'm going home. Just over the day, I think you should join", she said quickly. For a moment he almost lightened up, but then he returned to his emotionless expression.

"No", he said and walked passed her.

"Why not? I think it would do you some good", Alice tried. He turned around to face her.

"What do you know what's good for me or not. I said no!" He snapped.

"Well I'm sorry for trying to make you feel better", she snapped back at him.

"It's not like you just can some in here and tell me what to do! I'm old enough to make my own choices."

"I just asked you to come home with me over the day, it's no big deal!"

"Get it in to you head will you, I don't want to go anywhere with you and Blaise", he spattered.

"Is this what this is about?" Alice said. "Me and Blaise?" He didn't say anything. "I would have done anything for you and you just pushed on the floor, stomping your way over me!" They stood quiet for a moment. Alice took one step towards him. "Please, come home with me."

"You're not my mother; don't tell me what to do!" Alice stared blankly at him.

"No, I'm not", she said in her normal tone again. "I just thought you might would want to see her." This time it was Alice that walked passed Draco, bumping in to his shoulder and making him take a step back to regain balance. It probably hurt more in Alice than it'd done in him, she thought as she rubbed her shoulder and walked out of the room. Blaise immediately walked up by her side and put an arm around her.

"You're alright?" he asked.

"Did you hear?" He stopped her and made her look him in the eyes.

"Well, you did yell at each other for a while", he said and stroked her cheek. Alice tried to avoid his gaze, she felt ashamed, mostly that she couldn't tell him what she was going to do. "I know that he means something to you. Don't deny it just to save my feelings. I can take it", he said and bent down to kiss her on the lips. Alice felt the connection between them grew stronger in just that moment. She didn't need to hide from him; he was right. Neither did she need do hide from Daphne. They were both her friends and hopefully they cared as much for her as she did for them. Alice pulled out of the kiss and looked down on the floor for a second. She heard footsteps and by the time she looked up all she could see was the back of a very blond head. He'd seen, it was probably the first time he'd seen her and Blaise together too. Did the bent down head depend on something else or because of her?

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Alice walked up the very familiar road, surrounded by hedges that led up to the castle she called home.

"Where are we?" Daphne asked and looked around at the magnificent garden. Alice took out her wand, waved and they passed the Iron Gate as if it was smoke.

"Malfoy Manor", she said, simple as that. "I hope to meet my father here; I need to speak to him." Alice looked up and saw the face of a pale woman disappear from one of the windows. What was she still doing here? Didn't she have somewhere else to be? The doors opened before they'd even stepped at the first step in the staircase.

"What are you doing here?" Narcissa ran down the stair to the chocked teenagers. "You haven't been expelled, have you?"

"No, calm down. I just fancied paying you a visit", Alice said and hugged her substitute mother.

"Are you alright? Doing fine in school?" Narcissa asked and smiled at Alice.

"She's brilliant. Better than all other I recon", Daphne said and took one step forward.

"Daphne", Narcissa smiled at her as well.

"Mrs. Malfoy", Daphne said and smiled in the same, polite way.

"And this is Blaise Zabini, my boyfriend", Alice said and made Blaise step forward as well.

"Nice to meet you again Mrs. Malfoy", Blaise said and shook her hand.

"Please come in, we were just about to have some early dinner", Narcissa said and pushed them in to the house.

"The dining room is just trough those doors", Narcissa said before grabbing hold of Alice. "We'll be right in."

"While we're alone there's something I need you to do for me", Alice said, she tried not to sound too pushing. "I need to speak to my father. After dinner perhaps. Do you know how I might get in touch with him?"

"Bella will take care of it", Narcissa said without hesitate. "How's he doing?" She said in a whisper.

"I don't know", said Alice and sat down supplied in one of the armchairs. "He keeps pushing me away, I feel like he doesn't want me around anymore." Narcissa seemed chocked; she sat down beside Alice and stared blankly.

"I would have hoped", she finally said. "The two of you would have found each other. Now that you would get some space, some time alone."

"I'm not sure if I know what you mean", Alice said, Narcissa's words confused her.

"Never mind, Alice. Let us join the others", she said and smiled. The smile wasn't like the warm ones she used to give; this one was cold, almost dead. Alice followed her to the dining room and sat down next to Blaise.

"Bella, I was wondering if you might would want to call my father here", Alice said and started taking of the food.

"Right away?" Bellatrix asked and dropped both her fork and knife with a rattling when they hit the plate.

"Yes", Alice said, meting her gaze. Bellatrix stood up and left the room, leaving an awkward silence after her.

"So Blaise, have you spoken to your mother recently?" Narcissa asked, as if she tried to make the situation normal again. "I had dinner with her about a month ago."

"Well, last I heard, she and her new boyfriend was traveling", Blaise said. Alice looked up just in time to see her father open the door and enter the big room.

"Father!" Alice said in delight and stood up, walked over to him and gave him a hug. "These are my friends", Alice said and turned to the table. Daphne's face had gone white, while Blaise was sitting just as before.

"Daphne Greengrass", Alice said and showed her hand towards Daphne. "And my boyfriend Blaise Zabini", she said and walked over to him. Voldemort looked at both of them with disgrace for a moment before he smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir", Blaise said, stood up and shook Voldemort's hand. Voldemort seemed pleased with Blaise's behavior and Alice could tell he'd decided to approve him. Alice walked over to Voldemort again.

"I need to speak to you in private", she said in a whisper, so that only he could hear.

"We will not be disturbed", he said as the left the room. Alice decided to jump right in to it. Hopefully he wouldn't laugh.

"I want to make a wand", she said in one breath. "I need a wand-maker to help me."

"Where do you need me in this? I believe you are capable of finding one yourself", he said and walked over to the window.

"Of course", Alice said and walked up next to him. "But, it's hard for me to find one whilst I'm in school."

"Don't worry Alice", he put an arm around her shoulders and started leading her out of the room. "It so happens that I have one", he said with a smirk and led her down to the dungeons.

"Mr. Ollivander", Voldemort said with a high voice.

"I'm on my way sir", she heard a faint voice speak in the distance. Voldemort opened the door and they stepped in to the dark, cold cellar. Alice saw the old man she'd met in the summer. He looked about fifty years older, he was dirty and the sparks in his eyes were missing.

"This is my daughter, you will do as she say", Voldemort said. Alice looked up at him; she'd never heard him sound that demanding. It frightened her a bit.

"As you wish, my lord", Mr. Ollivander said and bowed deeply before him.

"I have things I need to attend to, I trust you will make it from here." He put a hand on her shoulder before he left the two of them alone. Alice made sure her father had really left before she turned to Mr. Ollivander again.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ollivander, are you alright?" Alice took out her wand, waved with it and a chair came out of nothing, placing itself behind Mr. Ollivander.

"If I told you yes, you would still know I wasn't", he sad and sat down on the chair. True enough, Alice thought and she moved on to the real subject.

"I want to make a wand", she said at once. He looked up at her in chock.

"What's wrong with the one you have?" he asked.

"Nothing really. It's just that I came across something rare and I've read it's possible to make powerful wands of it", Alice said.

"Making a wand is a long and difficult process, Alice", Mr. Ollivander said. He looked at her in a way she couldn't really make out. "What is this rare thing you are speaking of?"

"Thestral hairs", Alice said and picked them out from her inner pocket. "Can you make the wand for me?" He took the hairs out of her hand and looked at them carefully.

"I suppose I could", he said, still with his eyes fixed at the six pieced of hair in his hands.

"Is there any way to guarantee that the wand will belong to me?"

"Yes, if you pick the piece of wood and the core. The core is already done obviously", he said. He looked up at her again. "You're wondering what kind of wood would be best for this wand", he said, as if he had read her mind. "Why not just use yew as in the one you've got?" Alice nodded and tried to smile at the poor man.

"Will you keep the hairs for me? I'll go find a piece of yew as soon as I can", Alice said. They said farewells and Alice hurried up the stairs and in to the sitting room, Blaise and Daphne sat in the sofa by the fireplace.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Daphne said as soon as Alice entered the room.

"Tell you what?" Daphne stood up and took a few steps towards Alice.

"That you're father is the Dark Lord. Bit of a chock for me, don't you think?"

"What was I supposed to say? 'Hi, my name is Alice and my father is the Dark Lord'?" Alice said between her teats. "Real good first impression that one, don't you think?"

"Well, maybe not like that. But you could have told me later on, we're supposed to be friends Alice!" Daphne said in despair.

"It shouldn't matter who my parents are if we are friends Daph!"

"Alice has a point", Blaise said and stood up as well. "He's nothing more than her father really", he continued. "Why should it make any difference?"