A/N: A short chapter before we get to the battle and very close to the end of this story! Hope you enjoy it. :)

It took a whole day for Alice's motor skills to return to normal. The Cruciatus Curse had left her appendages numb and her speech slightly impaired, which made it even more difficult to explain to Draco exactly what happened.

She felt incredibly ashamed of her mistake, allowing a small piece of her alternate life leak to Voldemort when he invaded her mind. The memory was when she entered the Malfoy's library the first time; she ran her fingers down a row of book she never knew existed. It was a powerful memory from her first week in the magical world, one that still stood out to her when she realized all the knowledge she had missed in her life. Voldemort instantly knew it was their library and immediately assumed that Draco had taken her there, accusing him of poor taste in female acquaintances. It would no doubt shame his parents, providing more fodder to belittle them. This admission was also a betrayal of Draco's trust, for he had to lie about bringing her there to protect them both. If she did manage to see him again, she didn't know how to explain what Voldemort saw in her mind. If she told him the truth, he wouldn't trust her or perhaps even believe her.

Draco brought her a hot cup of tea and another blanket, "Alice, look at it positively, Voldemort doesn't know about your alternate life, he suspects that you hold no information on Potter. What you were able to do with your thoughts, under that circumstance, that's extreme difficult, even for the most advance wizards." He tried to encourage her with his words.

"It…" Alice swallowed, finding her tongue still slightly numb, "It would have been perfect but I betrayed..."

"Voldemort doesn't know that and he's the one you have to be concerned about," Draco interrupted her; he knew she worried more about their relationship than anything else. "You could tell him the truth."

"Then everything I said prior would have been a lie," she said concerned.

"But from the perspective of the Alice you are in that life, perhaps not," Draco acknowledged the different point of views that could be taken. Alice's perspective in this reality was that she was manipulating her alternate life to change its path. From the other perspective, that Alice was given extraordinary knowledge of the need to change her future and of a relationship she could have if she was open to discovering it. "…You're only given bits of that reality to change, the majority of the time you have nothing to do with its course. That life is not a lie and the emotions felt aren't lies either."

Alice sat there motionless as she pondered this admission; he was right in the sense that she only changed key moments in that alternate reality, slowly tweaking its course on a slightly different path. She may have pushed that Alice to comfort Draco in his time of need, but she never forced him to fall in love with her. And even so, he fell in love with that Alice, regardless of her knowledge of another life. While these thoughts comforted her, she still didn't know where she'd be the next time she entered her dreams; though she suspected she'd be locked away in the manor's dungeons.

"…Maybe you won't be locked away," Draco said addressing these concerns, "Snape may encourage your return to Hogwarts, especially since it was established quite clearly that you pose no threat."

"Not to mention I'm a shameful reminder of my grandfather's indiscretion, or at least that's what the press is making it out to be," Alice said solemnly.

"All will be vindicated in the end Al, you have to keep hope," he brushed her hair out of her face and placed the blanket around her, trying to encourage her to relax.

That weekend Alice took it easy to recover from the experience; however, she found herself struggling with insomnia. She couldn't settle her mind to fall asleep for long, fearing where she'd wake up and what she would be expected to do the next time she dreamt. She barely made it through her classes on Monday, and on Tuesday, luckily her lecture involved watching a film so it didn't require her full energy. Tuesday night, however, she had no choice but to rest for her body wouldn't allow it anymore.

Dream 11:

Alice's eyes fluttered open and she saw a high vaulted ceiling above her. She could feel the starched linen beneath her and instantly knew she was lying on an overstuffed cot in Hogwarts hospital wing. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing she was at Hogwarts and not in the Malfoy's dungeons.

"Thank Merlin!" Madame Pomfrey cried overjoyed at seeing her stir from the side of the room. A moment later, she hustled over to her with a cup in her hand. "Here, drink this."

Alice slowly sat up in the cot, she felt weak that even the cup she now held was overly heavy. She looked curiously at the orange liquid inside.

"It's just pumpkin juice, you need to get your sugars up. You've been out of it for almost two weeks, nothing could wake you," she said with heightened concern.

Alice's eyes went wide at the mention of two weeks. She wondered if her avoidance of sleep in her reality helped prolong her coma.

After taking a sip of the sweet liquid, she asked, "Wha…What day is it?"

"It's the first day of school, but you'll be staying here until you get your energy up," she replied in a mothering tone.

"But…" Alice started to protest, it was so like her to be concerned about missing a day of classes.

"You've already been given leave by Headmaster Snape. Your health is more important, now finish your pumpkin juice and I'll bring you some food," Madame Pomfrey hurried off, leaving Alice to contemplate her situation.

She felt awful, like she did when she had the flu the previous season. Looking next to her, she noticed the muggle book her father gave her from Christmas was sitting there, along with a muggle fashion and science magazine. She wondered if her father had been there. Soon after she heard a loud popping noise coming from outside the door's entrance.

In hurried her father, dressed in his top business suit, "Dad?" Alice cried to him, she was shocked to see him in Hogwarts.

"Oh Alice, thank goodness," he came over to her bed side, kissed her on the cheek and sat down next to her, "I was so worried and they insisted you stay here. I would have taken you straight to the best doctors…"

"It's okay Dad, I'm okay," Alice reassured him, "But you shouldn't be here." Her heart beat quicker thinking how dangerous it was for a muggle to be in Death Eater territory.

Madame Pomfrey had returned with a tray of food and after hearing Alice's comment she interrupted, "Alice, it's school policy to notify the parents on the onset of any calamity. Your father was to be transported here by Portkey as soon as you woke up."

Her dad then added amused by the magical transportation, "I was actually on my way to a business meeting when this pocket watch they gave me ticked loudly in my bag. I touched it and poof! Sometimes I'm blow away by all this Alice." He squeezed her one hand in a loving gesture.

Alice smiled at her father's cheeriness, but she couldn't help but be more concerned about him, "I know dad, but you need to go to your meeting, I'm fine."

"You are not fine Alice," his voice suddenly grew stern, as a father who could no longer ignore that things going on at this school were not right, "You've been in a coma for two weeks! I may have let you return in the beginning of the year, but I cannot let you continue. Not after this."

"Dad, I don't have a choice," Alice said firmly.

"That's right you don't, I'm your father and I say you're going home," he replied adamantly.

Snape entered the medical wing overhearing this argument, "I'm afraid Mr. McNally, your daughter is required to stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the term."

"That's outrageous," he said slightly enraged, he stood up from her bedside to confront him.

"Dad," Alice tried to turn his attention back to her, but he seemed intent on giving Snape his two cents.

"Obviously you can't keep the students safe in this country or world or whatever it is. First, her grandfather was murdered, on these grounds no less, then she ends up in a coma, what am I suppose to do as a father? Do you have children? Do you know what it's like to fear for their existence?" His berating left Alice extremely embarrassed, especially as Snape looked on detached from it all.

"Dad, stop okay," Alice pleaded behind him. "I have to finish my education, you know this. I'm fine now and I'll be home for summer holiday before you know it."

Her father looked at her confused and noticeably upset, "I just can't believe you'll be safe here Alice."

"If I can reassure you, Mr. McNally," Snape seemed completely unfazed by the previous tirade, "What happened to your daughter will not find itself repeating. Hogwarts is the safest place in Britain for her."

"Please dad," Alice again pleaded, feeling a bit like a child for doing so.

After several awkward moments, he reluctantly conceded, "Fine, but one more incident and your home Alice."

"Okay," Alice knew it wouldn't be as easy to convince him a third time.

Madame Pomfrey then instructed Alice to eat and get more rest which her father took as a sign that visiting hours were over. Giving her a hug, he took his leave via the pocket watch Portkey back to attend his scheduled meeting.

After he left and when Madame Pomfrey exited the area, Alice said to Snape, who lingered nearby, "I thought I'd be locked away."

"Despite your slight discrepancy, the Dark Lord suspects nothing. He'll allow you to continue your studies as long as you don't incite trouble."

Alice was relieved to hear this, though surprised, "That's more generous than I expected."

"Let's just say you're a reminder of Dumbledore's past that is unacceptable to his ideology," he added.

"Symbolic retribution," Alice thought aloud, thinking she would probably be used for this further down the line.

Snape nodded and then added briskly before taking his leave, "You can have today off from classes, but your attendance is expected tomorrow."

Alice was left alone, her plate of food sat nearby, and the magazines and book from her father longed to be read, but at that moment she could do nothing but think of how she would confront Draco.

As the day wore on and the evening approached, Madame Pomfrey, before retiring to her room, insisted that Alice get some sleep. She was the only person in the hospital wing, seeing how school only just started. It was eerily quiet and dark, and for many reasons she felt vulnerable. Unfortunately, she had no excuse to stay awake, having now read everything that was available to her. But not a moment after she closed her eyes, she felt a hand cover her mouth, making her jump up. Her eyes soon made out his face, and he had his index finger pushed against his lips telling her to be quiet as he removed his hand.

"Draco," Alice whispered, embracing him and he reciprocated, holding her tightly.

He then took out his wand and cast a Muffliato charm so they could talk without waking up Madame Pomfrey. After it was cast, they sat there in momentary silence, unsure how to begin the conversation.

"I'm so sorry," Alice started, "For what happened."

Draco looked at her confused by her words, "I'm the one who's sorry. I hurt you. I thought you wouldn't wake up."

Alice realized how terrified he must have been by these thoughts, "I'm okay. It was my fault for what he saw in my mind."

Draco looked at her curiously, "I don't understand it Alice. Why would he see you in the manor's library? I've never taken you there."

"There's something I haven't told you but that affects everything I do," Alice started her explanation, looking at his uncertainty worriedly, "When my grandfather discovered my existence, he had a vision of my future at Hogwarts that ended in tragedy. He decided to split my future, sending me on a separate path in the hopes that it would later help influence how this one ended. In that separate reality, he chose to repress my magical gene so I would be a muggle with no knowledge of the magical world. But as expected, the two realities began colliding. A book I wrote about the possibility of magic got me in trouble with the Ministry and I was pulled into that world, my ancestry was discovered, and the charm that repressed my gene was released, and I began learning magic. I also met you…"

Draco interrupted her, "You met me?"

"Yes, the you in that reality. It's eight years from this point. And we're engaged to be married," Alice said slowly, worrying about his reaction.

"That's not possible," he muttered confused.

"It is in that reality, but in this one, from what my grandfather saw, I don't think I make it past this year alive. His hope was that by giving me knowledge from that world, I can overcome death in this one. What the Dark Lord saw was me in your family's library, but in another realm."

Draco's face was plastered with distress, "How long have you known?"

"For several years. I couldn't tell you, there was too much at stake. I couldn't risk altering anyone else's fate, only my own," Alice began fearing the worse.

"Is that why you helped me? Why you persisted to try and comfort me?" he asked slightly upset.

"I can't deny that the feelings from that reality haven't affected me, but even so, I'd find myself in your presence and knew that our relationship was meant to span across realms. You make this life worth living for," Alice said, her eyes pleading for his acceptance.

Draco remained silent, thinking over everything she had said, though he was unsure whether he should feel betrayed by her admission. He then asked, "What happens if you're unsuccessful."

"If I die in this reality, the same will happen in the other," Alice said solemnly, "This is my chance to change them both." Her eyes welled slightly as she looked at his confusion. She thought it was hopeless.

Draco started to remember, "The dream I had, of us on the lake, you were older and your hair was darker. The ring…"

Alice continued his sentence, "It has a round diamond caddied by two square emeralds."

This was the exact ring he saw, "Did I see our future or that reality?"

"Maybe it's both," Alice said hopeful, but as he remained silent in thought, Alice grew more worried, "I'm so sorry Draco, I betrayed your trust…"

He quickly lifted his finger to her lips, instantly quieting her apology. He shook his head and looked at her searchingly, "You just showed me a future that I want. You don't have to go through this alone."

The dread Alice felt suddenly broke away from her, and she knew their relationship was unshaken; he understood and would be there to help make that future into their reality.

The dream shifted and Alice found herself in the Great Hall with her fellow sixth year students, only a few days into term. As soon as she saw the metal hoop in front of her and heard the familiar and annoying drone of Wilkie Twycross saying "Destination, determination and deliberation," she knew she was in her first apparating lesson. There was strange sense of déjà vu, having worked through all this before. She looked around at her fellow classmates, seeing in their strained faces the over-exertion of thinking they were putting into the task, though many had given up and resorted to bored staring into empty space. "Destination, determination, deliberation, the three D's," Professor Twycross chimed again, and Alice already felt the same headache coming on as she use to get during those several Saturdays taking these exact lessons at the Ministry. She didn't think she could handle going through them again, especially if she had to pretend to be a novice at it.

"Professor Twycross!" Alice called him over, raising her hand to alert him of her presence. He slowly crept his way over.

"Yes, Miss…" He asked for her name.

"McNally, Alice McNally," Alicereplied, thinking he probably wouldn't remember it later.

"Yes, Miss McNally," he squeaked, peering through his glasses at her, "What is the problem?"

"I'd like to take the test now," Alice said confidently, she didn't care if other students grew more suspicious or spiteful of her. They already believed her grandfather taught her magic well beyond her level.

"Now?" Wilkie Twycross said surprised, showing that his voice could fluctuate from his usual monotone, "But you haven't even finished the first lesson yet, or done any apparating."

"I just want one try and if I pass, can I be done with these lessons for the term?" Alice asked calmly.

He continued to peer at her wide-eyed while her fellow classmates, who had nothing else holding their attention, had formed a circle around them.

"Overconfident as usual," a Slytherin student spat from the onlookers, breaking Mr. Twycross from his speechlessness.

"Alright, I will give you a chance, but be prepared for splinching which often occurs to those who hastily rush into apparating," he conceded, thinking he could turn this incident into a lesson. Alice was all too aware to avoid such trauma. He then pulled a small yellow paper from his pocket which magically transformed into proper sized quill and clipboard; it was the test taking checklist and official Ministry paperwork that Alice remembered from the first time she took this test.

Professor Twycross then said professionally, "First you will apparate into the metal hoop, then disapparate to the front of the hall, then again inside the metal hoop. Please begin."

Without much thought, having become proficient at apparition from traveling to and from Malfoy Manor all term, Alice did as she was told, much to the surprised of her fellow classmates. She knew this display was rather ostentatious, but at that time all she cared about was getting out of those horrible lessons.

"You have proven me quite wrong Miss…," he had forgotten her name.

"McNally, Alice," she told him; he had forgotten her name in her previous lessons too.

"Miss Alice McNally," he spoke as he was writing her name down on the official paperwork, "I don't know how you did it but you have passed."

"Thank you sir," Alice said politely, and she went to the far wall to fetch her bag before leaving.

"Have fun," Alice smirked arrogantly at a group of Slytherins standing nearby as she passed them, noticing the jealous anger in their eyes. She shouldn't have done that, she thought as she left the room, but leaving her peers behind felt good.

The dream shifted and Alice found herself walking through the crowded corridors of Hogwarts, after finishing her first period Potions class. This term, which was already months in, felt even more miserable than last as several of her classmates had not returned from winter holiday. Luna, in particular, was a notable absence and of course, Alice depressingly knew of her dreaded whereabouts in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. Without Luna, there were few other students in the school who she could confide in. Even when she first returned to her house's dormitory from the hospital wing, there was little greeting from her fellow Ravenclaws who continued to distrust her. From her past secrets and her infamous use of the Cruciatus Curse on a fellow classmate, they saw her as no better than the Slytherins who acted like they owned the school. Alice felt more alone than ever.

Up ahead in the corridor she saw Filch, cleaning up graffiti that had been charmed to continually reappear on the wall every fortnight. It read, "Dumbledore's Army Still Recruiting." Despite the many absent students, a brave few were still carrying out their resistance to the Death Eaters, and some had even gone into hiding in the Room of Requirement. More joined their ranks after becoming victims of the Carrow's sadistic detentions. Beyond student anguish, Alice could also see the demeanors of her professors take a downturn, despite their attempt to uphold student morale. She couldn't imagine the arguments bypassed in the teacher's room, since the Carrows and Snape had complete control of the school. It would only be a matter of months until the Battle of Hogwarts, and Alice felt like she needed a lifetime more of learning before she'd be prepared for it.

Draco had to maintain his loyalties to his fellow Slytherins, though he was slowly losing hold of the respect he once had. His only claim to any power in the group was his Death Eater membership; the Dark Mark brandished on his forearm had the power to garner fear from those without it. Alice understood his need to stay this way, especially when his parents were under the thumb of Voldemort. During one of their secret meetings, she hesitantly asked whether he was punished for falsely admitting to taking her to the Manor, after Voldemort saw the scene of Alice in their grand library. He said it didn't bode well for their standing; that it added another notch on the Dark Lord's list of embarrassments to shame them with. His father berated him afterwards for the improperness of the acquaintance and for bringing a girl, especially one presumed to be muggle-born, into their home secretly. While his mother, the overly concerned Narcissa that Alice knew her to be, was more worried for what Voldemort made Draco do, especially since it left Alice unconscious. Narcissa had refused to take the Dark Mark herself, and despite her husband's acceptance of it, she never fully conceded to Draco's initiation. Narcissa of course remained solid in her support of her husband and son, doing Voldemort's bidding for all their sakes. But she feared what the situation was doing to Draco, knowing that the Dark Arts can twist a person's soul. Watching him use the Cruciatus Curse on a fellow classmate, and one which he may have had a prior friendship with, concerned her greatly. Draco said when he apologized for his past indiscretion, his mother told him to be careful, not only for himself, but also for the friends he wasn't supposed to have. Not once did she say she was disappointed in him. This of course gave Alice hope that life past the Battle of Hogwarts could morph into what she had in her other reality; that Narcissa would care more about her son's wellness, mental and physical, than what was considered proper for their pure-blood status.

As Alice continued walking to her Transfiguration lesson, she saw Draco up ahead in the hallway with fellow Slytherins surrounding him. She gave him and the group a momentary glance since it was difficult to ignore his presence. As always, Draco's demeanor remained cool and collected, despite a brief acknowledgment of her existence. As she passed the group, Blaise purposely knocked into her shoulder, causing her to stumble backwards. The group laughed as they continued walking, their pompous behavior practically floating them to their next class. Alice knew this is the way it had to be; they would pose as strangers on opposite teams in the hallways, while being devoted confidants in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom or in the deep recesses of the school's corridors. Alice hoped they'd be successful in keeping their relationship a secret, since associating on such a personal level with Dumbledore's granddaughter, the greatest prior adversary of the Dark Lord, would accrue a costly punishment, perhaps even jeopardize his life. For a Death Eater, there was no excuse for a member not to follow the tenets of the new order's ideology.

On the academic side of things, Alice was incredibly board with her studies. She had an excess of time on her hands now which always use to be taken up by her muggle high school curriculum. Since she preferred to stay out of the Ravenclaw common room, she spent most of her time in the school's library, trying to learn more spells, albeit if only by reading about their execution. She didn't know if this would do her any good in the future.

When she reached the hallway where the Transfiguration classroom was located, she found Alecto Carrow pulling a first year Hufflepuff by the arm. Already the young girl had tears in her eyes, knowing what punishment would come. Alice stared at Alecto, giving her a small hint of disdain in her blue pupils, despite always trying to remain neutral in their doings.

Alecto noticed this and she paused in front of Alice, jerking the young student as she stopped, saying sternly, "Just for that look McNally, I expect you at detention this afternoon. You're obviously in need of it."

Alice could say nothing as she continued to her class, she detested the Carrows and felt disgusted for doing nothing to offset their abuse. As the school day ended, she reluctantly went to the Muggle Studies classroom for detention. Again, she wasn't the only student there, and many, from the looks of their scars and bruises, had been repeat attendees.

"Perfect," Alecto said amused as Alice entered the classroom. "Why don't you come up front Miss McNally."

Alice did as she was told, noticing the trembling first year Hufflepuff nearby. As she was mentally preparing for the pain soon to be inflicted on her, Alecto instructed her to do the unthinkable. "You will be casting the Cruciatus Curse today."

Alice's eyes went wide; this was beyond cursing Kristopher Kipp in a classroom duel. The first year Hufflepuff now began gulping back tears. Alice looked at Alecto concerned, "I can't do that," she said slowly, the first time being true to herself.

"What did you say?" Alecto asked in rising intonation, "Are you defying me?"

Alice looked away, saying nothing.

"If you refuse," Alecto started with a mischievous bent in her tone, "I will at this very moment post a letter to a fellow Death Eater that contains the address of your muggle father. It will also have instructions to kill all the muggles who live there."

Alice's heart stopped beating for second; this was beyond what she expected as coercion. She knew Alecto would do what she threatened; Death Eaters were killing muggles for sport and being requested to knock off another muggle family would be akin to a day at the golf course. For the next half an hour, Alice cast the Cruciatus Curse on four of her fellow classmates, including the first year Hufflepuff whose eyes flowed tears in front of her.

After it was done, Alecto looked at her impressed, "For being Dumbledore's runt, you handle the Dark Arts rather well. Other students outside the House of Slytherin have trouble casting this curse, but you, you like making them hurt. I can tell. Perhaps you should rethink your loyalties."

Alice looked at her disinterested in such blandishments, "I take no sides," she said blankly, though remaining neutral to everything going on was becoming more difficult.

"That's the pathetic muggle in you talking," Alecto replied before allowing her to leave.

Outside the detention hall Alice felt ill; she wished she could run to her grandfather's office and ask for advice, as she always did when she had a pressing problem, but that was no longer an option.

The dream then shifted and Alice found herself in front of her grandfather's tomb, a polished white slab under which he was finally laid to rest. It was early Saturday morning and the mist from the lake surrounded her, enclosing her in a white cloud. She could only make out the front of the tombstone.

Alice knew why she was there, she needed to talk to him; and despite feeling awkward speaking to the stillness of the morning gloom, the experience became cathartic. "I know I haven't visited you before grandfather, I guess I always preferred to overlook death, but now, when facing it, it changes my perspective on things…You put me on this path telling me to not get involved in the war, but by doing so I have to deny that anything is wrong with this world. When the battle comes, am I supposed to just leave, to turn my back on everyone? You wouldn't do that and if I do, what kind of person does that make me? Can I fight and survive this war with dignity?" Suddenly the mist began to fade, as if the sun was purposely showering it rays down, evaporating it instantly. Alice looked up and saw a red phoenix soaring through the air, singing as it flew. It was Fawkes, Dumbledore's trusted phoenix. She hoped this was sign that she would make the right decision.