Okay, chapter 21. I hope you haven't gotten bored with me already; we still have a long way to go before the end!

I do think you will recognize some parts of this chapter; which is good. Otherwise you might would want to go to the books and look over some things ;) Enjoy, and as always review! :D

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Chapter 21

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One long day before school was out for this term. Alice still hadn't found a way to talk to Daphne yet. She squeezed her eyes shut to block out the newfound light in the room. The twins and the other black haired girl Claire had already gone to breakfast; which made Alice wonder who it might be that came in at this hour. At all, to be honest. She felt how the person stopped by the side of the bed.

"Alice, wake up", Daphne said and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. Alice opened her eyes and sat up.

"Daph?" She said and made room on the bed for her to sit. "Daphne, I'm so sorry. I didn't want..."

"It doesn't matter", Daphne said and smiled before she sat down on the bed beside Alice. "I've done some thinking and you were right. It should matter. I'm friends with you; not with him." The two girlfriends hugged each other.

"I've missed you so much", Alice said in relieve. Daphne took out a green wrapped box and handed it over to Alice.

"I know Christmas isn't in five days; but I'm leaving over the holidays and I wanted to give you this before", Daphne said and looked down on her hands.

"I've got something for you as well", Alice said and leaned over Daphne towards her nightstand. She pulled out the top drawer and took out a small, black box. "Open it", Alice encouraged Daphne as soon as she had it in her hands. Daphne did as she said and opened the box; it contained a thin, silver bracelet.

"I've got one as well", Alice said and held out her hand. "That one used to be mothers and since I see you as my family I wanted you to have it."

"Oh thank you Alice, it's beautiful", Daphne said and hugged her again, this time even tighter. "Now I feel like my gift is crap!" They both laughed.

"Don't worry", Alice said and smiled. "When do you get back?"

"I'll be back the day after Boxing day", Daphne said. They said goodbye and hugged each other once more before Daphne had to leave. Her parents were picking her up in Hogsmeade in twenty minutes.

It was cold; sure, Alice was used to the cold but the chill was creeping up her body and didn't want to go away. She headed to the first floor and professor Binns class; History of Magic. She'd planned on missing it but since she was up already there was no excuse for not being there. It was good though; she wouldn't need to concentrate and no one would care if she was doing something else. Something she shouldn't be doing. As she walked through the castle she started thinking about Christmas; last Christmas she'd spent with her mother. Like she'd done every Christmas, in her whole life. She felt sad, but most of all she felt lonely. Daphne had left, Blaise was leaving tomorrow and her father had denied her request to come home over the holidays. More than anything she missed her mother. Was she alright? In heaven? Had she forgiven Alice for her failure? It was all her fault. They could have been together as always in a few days, if she... If she hadn't failed her. Alice turned from her path and headed upstairs; towards professor Dumbledore's office. She needed comfort and she knew he would give it to her. It was something about him, it was almost as if she wished someone like him would have been her father. Not The Dark Lord, righteous ruler of the world, misunderstood by most. No, it something was off about that.

"Chocolate Honey", she said, and the stone figure stepped aside. Alice hurried to step on the spinning stairs, the door was already open.

"Professor Dumbledore?" She said and stepped in to the room. The room was empty. She walked over to the desk, trying to find professor Dumbledore somewhere. Then she noticed the ring on the table. She wasn't going to steal it, just look at it for a moment. She picked it up, the pictures she saw last time came back to her, but not in the same, strong way it had first time. They just made them self noticed in her mind. The ring was burning in her hand; she turned it over and over in her hand while she examined it.

"Sweetheart, can you hear me?" Alice froze, either she'd gone mad or she'd just heard her mother's voice. She looked up, nothing was there. Maybe it just was her mind playing her a prank. "Alice, turn around." She did as the voice told her. It's not like anything was going to be there anyway.

"Merlin's beard!" Alice almost fell over, the desk caught her in the last moment. "Mum?"

"Watch your mouth young girl!" Her mother said in a strict voice before she smiled. "Do you like it here?" she asked and took a step towards Alice. Alice nodded; her mouth was dry and she couldn't find the words.

"How about Draco? Is he being nice to you?"

"W-we don't sp-speak much anymore", Alice stuttered. They stood silent, just watching each other. "Mama I'm so sorry", Alice fell down on her knees, crying. "I tried, it didn't work. Maybe I can't do it."

"No Alice..." Anna sat down beside her, put a hand on her shoulder for comfort. "I met death", Anna said. Alice sat up and looked at her mother. "Death told that he felt cheated, cheated because humans aren't supposed to bring back the dead. In order to take me back he would take a price; your life for mine. I couldn't do it. You're my child, love. How could I take your life for my own?"

"Is this a dream?" Alice asked.

"No Alice, this is real. Alice, I have to warn you before I go. Death fears you and he's not going to be kind. Promise me Alice; promise me you'll keep yourself safe!" Alice looked up and her mother was gone. The door in to the office closed. Professor Dumbledore stepped up and looked at her in concern. Alice brushed off her knees, wiped her face and stood up with a smile.

"Professor Dumbledore", she said.

"Alice, and to what do I owe you the pleasure, take a seat", Dumbledore said showing her to sit on the chair in front of his desk. "How are you?" He asked after both of them had taken their seats.

"Fine, sir, thank you", she said with a forces smile.

"Many of my teachers are worried about you", he said with a gentle smile. "They're afraid something is wrong. You've missed a lot of your classes lately"

"Why? What have they said?" Alice felt a bit betrayed, did they really have to go and tell as soon as something was slightly out of place now, did they?

"Has something happened?" It was hard to resist Dumbledore's piercing blue eyes. "With your father, perhaps?" Alice didn't respond. She couldn't talk about that with him.

"Let's talk about your father", Dumbledore said when Alice didn't speak.

"What about him?"

"Is he treating you alright?"

"Fine, I guess", Alice said with a shrug of her shoulders. The look Dumbledore gave Alice frightened her; he knew something he wasn't supposed to know.

"It shouldn't be a guess", Dumbledore said, leaning forward in his chair.

"You have no idea what you are talking about", Alice said. "He treats me better than anyone else!" Silence followed. Dumbledore stared intense on Alice, who was afraid to look at him and focused her gaze on the paintings behind him.

"You're the one making the choice, you know..." Professor Dumbledore said.

"What choice?"

"Of whom it is that you want to be, of course." Some of the painting seemed to still be asleep, some of them opened their eyes for a second and then went back to sleep and some of them just sat there, bored as ever.

"I know you struggle using your wand." She leaned forward in the chair, as if she was afraid that someone else might hear, casting an extra glare towards some of the paintings.

"I learned everything I know without using a wand, and now that I've got one..." She paused, took her eyes away from professor Dumbledore and inhaled deeply. "It's so powerful even I'm scared", she said, forcing herself to look at him again. His expression hadn't changed. She felt awkward and needed for the conversation to continue.

"What am I supposed to do with that power?" She asked. Professor Dumbledore smiled.

"Exactly what you want", he said. "But!" His sudden outburst made her jump in her seat. "Only what you want, not what anyone else tells you to."

"Thank you for the advice professor Dumbledore", she said, got up and went for the door.

"Alice?" She stopped and looked over her shoulder. If she could choose, she'd choose his words, always. "Be careful", he said. She didn't respond, she just walked through the door and closed it behind her. No, she didn't have a choice. She was born in to this, in to this part, to this side. He was after all her father.

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Blaise and Alice were walking hand in hand up to professor Slughorn's Christmas party. Alice hadn't actually been invited; Blaise had received a letter which Alice hadn't. But as it stood on the invitation cards, they were meant to bring someone. It still was a bit early, but as they got closer to professor Slughorn's office they could hear the rumble of conversation, music and laughter.

"I'm sorry I have to leave tomorrow. Are you sure it will be alright spending Christmas alone here?" Blaise said and looked down on her.

"It's fine really. Besides, I'm not going to be alone. I'm sure there's someone I can be with", Alice said and smiled at him. The door stood open so Alice and Blaise walked right in to the crowd. Professor Slughorn showed up out of nowhere and greeted them with a smile.

"Blaise, Alice! How good to see you!" Alice caught a glimpse of remorse in professor Slughorn's eyes. Something was bothering him and from the looks of it, it was her. A photograph came forth to them, professor Slughorn pulled both of them to stand beside him and they forced a smile upon their lips before the flash went off and the man disappeared again. The Carrow twins were already here; so were Hermione Granger with Cormac McLaggen, Ginny Weasley with Dean Thomas and Melina Bobbin with her date. Then there was a crowd of people Alice didn't recognize at all. Some of them seemed to be Hogwarts students and others were altogether too old. A short man with glasses passed them with a long, pale, hungry-looking man following. Right after that Alice saw Harry Potter in the crowd. She pulled Blaise away to one of the corners, fetching two drinks from a plate a house elf was carrying on the way.

"What's up with you?" Blaise asked in a rather annoyed tone. Alice pressed on of the glasses in his hand before she swept the other glass in one sip.

"Harry Potter just arrived", she said and took the other glass from Blaise's hand, doing the same thing. "Isn't there alcohol in these?"

"You're going to get wasted because Harry Potter arrived?" Blaise said and stopped her from taking another glass.

"No it's just. He can't see me because then he would know. He would recognize me too well... And he gets me thinking of father and I really don't want to think about him right now. I just want to be with you and have a good time", she said way too fast for anyone to really understand what she was speaking about.

"Don't mind him, love", Blaise said, stopping her from taking a drink once more. "We're here for us. Not for him – he's just a jerk we don't have to mind."

"You're right. I'm sorry", Alice said, she relaxed a bit.

"We can stay on the other side of the room from him the whole night", Blaise said. They smiled before Blaise bent down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. The sound of a high hawking got their attention and both of them looked up on professor Snape's face.

"Sorry to interrupt", he said, though he didn't seem sorry at all. "A word, Miss Gaunt", he continued and looked at them with one of his eyebrows lifted. Blaise looked one last time at Alice before he left them alone in the corner.

"What's up Severus?" Alice said with a smile. Professor Snape remained with his cold, neutral expression.

"Its professor Snape when we are within Hogwarts grounds", he said, stiff as ever. "I've spoken to your father. He wanted me to tell you that he will be picking you up in Hogsmeade nine-thirty at Boxing Day."

"Really?" Alice said with a smile. "Did he tell you what we were going to do?"

"No", professor Snape said. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." With that he left her alone again. Blaise came up beside her out of nowhere with a plate and some food on it.

"What did he say?" Blaise asked and held out the plate towards her.

"Father's picking me up at Boxing Day", Alice said, still with a smile on her lips before she took a piece of food from his plate. All the rumble and noise died away, Alice couldn't see what was happening over all the heads. She pulled Blaise with her to go see what was going on.

"… Lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation." Draco pulled himself free of Filchs grip, looking furious.

"All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gate crash, happy?"

"That doesn't make sense", Alice whispered to Blaise who just shrugged with his shoulders. "If he wanted to go wouldn't he just have asked?"

"Asked who?" Blaise asked.

"I don't know, you maybe? It wouldn't have been so hard for you to get him in here, now would it?" Alice said, Blaise agreed with a nod. Professor Snape took a grip around Draco's arm and led him out from the party.

"I have to go to the loo", Alice said and gave Blaise her glass. She made haste and paved between the groups of people towards the exit. As she got out in the corridor she noticed how stuffy it'd been inside the room. She inhaled the fresh air deeply before she started walking down the corridor. Her footsteps echoed through the cold corridor. Someone else was in the corridor as well. She noticed the clothes and the dark hair; Harry Potter. He took something out from his pocket, a cloak of some kind. As he tossed it over his shoulders he disappeared. But Alice didn't have time to reflect over it much more than that. She took of her shoes and walked down the corridor; you couldn't hear her soft socks on the hard stone floor. Harry Potter's footsteps could be heard now and then and Alice made sure to stay out of the way of him as much as she could. The corridor was about to end and the footsteps had ended as well. She didn't dare go close to the door, in case there's were Potter had chosen to hide. Instead she sneaked in to the classroom beside. She pressed her ear to the wall that separated the two rooms.

"… If you are expelled…"

"I didn't have anything to do with it, all right!"

"I hope you are telling the truth, because it was both clumsy and foolish. Already you are suspected of having a hand in it."

"Who suspects me?" said Malfoy angrily. "For the last time, I didn't do it, okay? That Bell girl must've had an enemy no one knows about… don't look at me like that! I know what you're doing, I'm not stupid, but it won't work… I can stop you!"

There was a pause and then Snape said quietly, "Ah . . . Aunt Bellatrix has been teaching you Occlumency, I see. What thoughts are you trying to conceal from your master, Draco?"

"I'm not trying to conceal anything from him, I just don't want you butting in!" It wasn't like Draco to speak like this to anyone, was it? He always showed respect for those who deserved it; such as Snape.

"So that is why you have been avoiding me this term. You have feared my interference. You realize that, had anybody else failed to come to my office when I had told them repeatedly to be there, Draco…"

"So put me in detention! Report me to Dumbledore!" jeered Malfoy. There was another pause. Then Snape said, "You know perfectly well that I do not wish to do either of those things."

"You'd better stop telling me to come to your office then!"

"Listen to me," said Snape, "… mother I would protect… the Unbreakable Vow." Alice didn't quite catch what it was Snape said through the tick stone wall, he'd lowered his voice so much Alice only caught parts of the sentence.

"Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me and I'm doing it, I've got a plan and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!"

"What is your plan?"

"It's none of your business!"

"If you tell me what you are trying to do, I can assist you ..."

"I have all the assistance I need, thanks, I'm not alone!"

"You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup, these are elementary mistakes…"

"I would've had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn't put them in detention!"

"Keep your voice down!" spat Snape, for Draco's voice had risen excitedly. "If your friends Crabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing at pres…"

"What does it matter?" Draco asked. "Defense Against the Dark Arts… it's all just a joke, isn't it, an act. Like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts…"

"It is an act that is crucial to success, Draco!" said Snape. "Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act? Now listen to me! You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if you are placing your reliance in assistants like Crabbe and Goyle…"

"They're not the only ones; I've got other people on my side, better people!"

"Then why not confide in me, and I can…"

"I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!" There was another pause, then Snape said coldly, "You are speaking like a child. I quite understand that your fathers capture and imprisonment has upset you, but…" Snape had stopped talking; Alice wondered what had happened. Then she heard the door open and footsteps in the corridor that slowly faded away. Draco, she needed to speak to Draco. But not tonight, tomorrow perhaps; if he wasn't leaving. The party was the only thing she needed to focus on right now. To get back to the party, have a great time and leave all worries and concerns to later.