As soon as her feet connected with the forest floor, her legs crumbled and she fell to her knees. Her heart was still beating wildly and her breathing was short and rash.
She looked around frantically to insure that nobody had somehow followed her here, but her blurred vision made it very difficult to thoroughly search the area.
Hogwarts had been the first thing she had thought of in such a rush, and as it was impossible to apparate into Hogwarts directly, she could only assume by the towering trees that surrounded her that she was currently somewhere deep in the depths of the Forbidden Forest.
She closed her eyes, trying to figure out whether she would be able to cope with any more apparition, and the sudden wave of nausea that hit her answered her question.
There was no way she was apparating anywhere.
So what now?
With no wand, and the weakness of her body, she had very little doubt that she was in an extremely vulnerable state.
And He's back.
The thought both sickened her and terrified her. It was impossible! He was supposed to have disappeared when Lily and James...
No, don't think of that now.
Looking up from the ground in desperation she began to panic, she was as likely to be saved from here as she had been in her prison cell. In other words she was screwed.
'Bloody hell' she grumbled, massaging her temples as if trying to persuade her brain to work.
Apparently, the action worked as her eyes lit up with surprise.
'Of course' she whispered to herself, now gazing around the forest in wonder rather than fear 'surely...' her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes once again.
She breathed in deeply, trying to calm her beating heart and steady her nerves.
She was in the Forbidden Forest, a place that had once been her sanctuary so many, many, years ago.
Sodales, where are you?
Her mind formed the words, caressing them gently and sending them outwards through the leaves of the tree tops and the surface of the forest ground.
She imagined the Unicorn, she pictured him stumbling towards her minutes after his birth and she remembered the comfort she found in him as he grew older.
She remembered the look of wonder on Regulus' face as he stroked the beautiful creature and the tender moment between herself and Sirius as they shared the experience of his birth.
She knew the moment her call had reached him, she felt a tremble run through her body that was completely different to that of weakness. It was excitement and happiness and for the first time since she had escaped she felt free.
A sound so foreign to her ears that she barely recognised what it was burbled from her throat.
A small giggle, so childlike and ridiculous in the depths of such a dark forest that it made her laugh harder.
Soon she was laughing wildly, her lungs gulping in the fresh summer air, and when she heard the sound of him approaching through the trees she extended her arms towards him in welcome.
Her eyes widened with amazement as he came into view, his shining silver coat the epitome of magic, standing far taller than she remembered he took on a regal beauty.
'Sodales' she breathed, as he trotted over to her and bent down to place his nose in her embrace.
His coat was so soft her fingers lavished the luxery of its sensation against her palms.
He whinnied quietly, a sad edge to the tone and she completely understood what he wished to say.
Where have you been? I've missed you.
'I've missed you too' she whispered, surprised at the emotions that choked in her throat 'I need your help' she told him more firmly.
He withdrew his face from her hold and looked deeply into her eyes, signalling that he would do anything.
She smiled softly at him 'Take me to the gates?' she whispered tiredly.
Immediately he knelt before her and she forced her exhausted frame to scramble onto his back, resting her head on his silky mane, and allowed him to carry her to safety.
Briefly she acknowledged how amazing it was that after all these years her bond with the creature had never wavered.
She had dozed off on the journey back, and was alerted of their arrival by a snort from Sodales, grimacing she lifted her head from his mane and lowered herself onto the ground.
The pain in her head was worsening and she had to fight with her bodies urge to lie down on the ground and sleep for eternity.
She had one more thing to do before she could rest, and letting out a tiny whimper of pain she forced her mind to focus once more.
This would take more effort, she did not have the same connection with Fawkes that she had with Sodales. She reached out for the Unicorn and allowed him to support some of her weight as she pushed her mind forward, extending it out towards the castle.
Fawkes, bring Dumbledore to the entrance. Please.
She pictured the red Phoenix, she imagined the office she had sat in so many times, and the sparkling blue eyes of the Headmaster.
Hurry.
She added, as her knees crumbled beneath her and she fell to the ground.
A few minutes later the sound of the gates opening forced her to lift her head, she could just about see the blurred image of a long white beard and she curved her lips into a faint smile.
'Hello Professor' she greeted wearily, her voice sounding strangely distant.
'Alina?'
Alina had never heard surprise in Dumbledore's tone before and she forced her eyes to stay open as she stared back at her old headmaster.
He quickly conjured a stretcher and gently placed her on it.
'I'll see you soon' she whispered quietly to the Unicorn who had become quite distressed as he realised she was to be taken away.
'Well I never thought I'd be back here again' she spoke lightly, glancing around at the Medical Wing, alerting Dumbledore that she was awake again.
'We thought it more appropriate than St Mungo's, I feel it would be more sensible to keep your return as low key as possible' he replied calmly, his blue eyes studying her thoughtfully
'Poppy wished to put you in a magically induced coma, she believes that you could use the rest.'
'But you don't agree?'
'Oh I agree completely' he told her lightly ' but it seems there are other factors that must be taken into account, for instance the matter of where you have returned from and if you are in any immediate danger –'
Alina sat up bolt right as the nights events flooded back to her and she widened her eyes in alarm.
'He's back! Voldemort! Voldemort's returned!' she rushed out fearfully.
Instead of the horrified reaction she had expected, Dumbledore merely smiled sadly and nodded in response.
'Yes, I am aware of the fact...however it seems the rest of the Wizarding World is intent on as Muggles say 'burying their heads in the sand''
'So...so nothing's being done?' Alina frowned.
'Now I did not say that, the Ministry are making it frightfully difficult, but things are being done' he spoke seriously 'however, now is not the time to discuss this, nor is it the time for you to enlighten me on your own tale, we must get you to Headquaters.'
'Headquaters?' she questioned 'you mean...'
Dumbledore nodded.
'Not the same premise as last time, but it is used to the same effect, yes' he told her 'now, do you feel well enough to travel by apparition?'
'Of course I do!' she jumped up from the bed, and attempted to ignore the wave of dizziness that hit her, upon seeing the look she received from the man before her however she shrugged.
'Maybe side-long?' he suggested casually and she nodded sheepishly.
'Now Alina, we are going to 12 Grimmauld Place, please keep the address firmly at the front of your mind' he told her as her reached out and firmly grasped her arm.
It took a lot of will power not to flinch away from his touch, remembering the last person who had held her wrist, and instead she nodded sharply.
She felt the familiar sickening lurch and after a second of claustrophobic hell, she felt her feet firmly land on the ground.
She clenched to Dumbledore's wrist for a moment to steady herself before relaxing and gazing around her surroundings.
A strong smell of damp invaded her nostrils and she grimaced as the smell reminded her of her first cell back in the De'Valle mansion. They were in a long hallway, lit by gas-lamps, the wallpaper was peeling away from the walls and a dusty chandelier that hung above them was shaped as a serpent.
The sight made her shudder.
A sudden thought entered her mind.
'Albus –'she started, but was cut off as Dumbledore placed a finger to his lips.
'You must speak quietly in here Alina' he told her softly.
'It's about – It's about S-Sirius' she whispered, her voice catching at his name 'it – it wasn't him...he didn't...'
'I know Alina, all of us here, we know' he replied, and she let out a sigh of relief.
'Does anyone else know I'm back?' she asked nervously, biting her dry lips.
'Not yet' he replied 'which is why I must ask you to remain out here whilst I inform them all, it would be easier for all concerned to have...a warning' he continued.
Her throat suddenly painfully dry Alina nodded silently, her stomach clenched with a mixture of fear and nerves.
Too scared to ask who 'all concerned' included, she wrung her hands together tightly and clenched her teeth.
'I shall be back in a moment Alina' he told her gently, clearly noting her discomfort and once again she nodded.
He paused for a second and stared deeply at her, before turning and disappearing behind a door at the end of the hallway.
Leaving her alone.
Harry Potter had grown bored of the bickering between Ron and Hermione and had decided to seek out Sirius, he knew there was a meeting taking place but as they normally were finished by now he assumed it would be over soon.
He quietly made his way down the staircase, not quite fancying disturbing the currently silent Mrs Black, but paused in his tracks as his eyes caught an unfamiliar person standing at the end of the hallway.
He stayed perfectly still and stared at the woman; she had not noticed him.
Her long blonde hair was matted and knotted, with what appeared to be leaves caught up in it, she was wearing a set of Hogwarts robes, despite the fact that she was clearly far too old to attend Hogwarts, which seemed to hang off of her skinny frame.
He took a step closer, and flinched at the creak that emitted from the wooden staircase alerting her to his presence.
She jumped violently and spun around to stare at him, her startlingly blue eyes narrowed and body tense with preparation for a fight.
Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he got a full look at her face; she was beautiful.
Her cheek bones were far too prominent, and she had dark bags that framed her haunted eyes, but despite it all her beauty was still clear.
What had happened to this woman?
Her narrowed eyes suddenly widened, and she stumbled backwards, her arms reaching out for anything to support herself.
Immediately Harry ran down the remaining steps towards her in an attempt to help, but she threw her arms outwards warning him to keep away.
'NO!' she shouted 'Y-You c-can't be! You're dead! You died!' she shouted, her breathing growing hysterical and tears forming in her terrified eyes.
'FILTHY MUDBLOODS, VERMIN IN THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK! DAUGHTER OF A MUGGLE AND TEMPTRESS OF MEN!-'
Harry barely heard the words of Mrs Black, instead he froze in utter shock as he realised what had frightened the woman so badly.
'No you don't understand, I'm not –'Harry began, but the crashing of the door at the end of the hallway interrupted his words.
'ALLI? ALLI?'
The sound of Sirius' yells cut Harry off and he turned to see his Godfather struggling to escape from the grip of Remus.
'Sirius...PADFOOT! Calm down, you'll scare her!' Remus was attempting to shout into his friends' ear but it clearly wasn't working. With an animalistic growl ripping from his chest, Sirius threw Remus off of him and ran past the other members of the Order, none of whom seemed brave enough to try and stop him, before coming to a stop beside Harry.
Sirius didn't even acknowledge Harry's presence, he merely stared speechlessly at the woman in the corner of the hall way, his breath suddenly hitched and his eyes wide and filled with an emotion that Harry couldn't quite place.
'Alli -?' he breathed, his voice soft, as if he barely dared to utter the name.
'Sirius, J-James!' she gasped, her thin arm pointing shakily at Harry.
Before Harry even saw it was going to happen, Sirius darted forward and caught the woman in his arms, gently stroking her hair out of her eyes and looking down at her in distress.
'Take her to the bedroom Sirius, she's exhausted.'
Sirius nodded at the instruction, still staring down at the woman in his arms as if it were impossible to tear his eyes away from her face.
As he reached the bottom of the staircase, he paused but did not turn around.
'I told you she was still alive. I knew it.'
A/M: Okay so I know this isn't the best for chapters, but I have to leave for the airport this afternoon and have yet to pack coz i've been too busy writing this - woops! But I hope it was okay for you!
Thank you for all your reviews so far, and I really would appreciate it sooo much if I could come back to lots more!
It will make me so much more motivated to update quickly when I get back!
Thanks x