Alexandra saw her father standing for her at the platform as her train rolled into the station. As soon as the train stopped and the doors slid open, Alexandra leapt off and ran towards him.

"Dad, I've missed you," Alexandra said, hugging Dudley.

"I've missed you too, Alexandra," he replied, picking up her bag. "Come on; I've got the meter running."

Alexandra had only been gone for two weeks, far shorter than the time she spent at Hogwarts away from her father, yet she felt as if she hadn't seen him in years.

"I've got your favorite lunch prepared at home," Dudley said as the two got into the car.

"Thanks; I'm starved."

Dudley smiled as he started the car. They drove in silence for a short while, and then Dudley asked, "How was it?"

Alexandra shrugged. "Alright, I suppose."

Dudley nodded. "And…how was…she?"

Alexandra thought about this for a moment. "I didn't see her too much, to be truthful," she finally replied. "She-She had a lot of work to do."

"Typical," Dudley mumbled under his breath.

Alexandra thought about telling Dudley that her mother wanted to see her again during the winter holiday, but decided to hold off on that for now.

"By the way," Dudley said as they pulled into their driveway. "Harry called last night; they're going to Diagon Alley next week and invited us to come to get your school stuff."

"Alright, that sounds good," Alexandra said. "Um, dad? Is all right if I go lie down for a bit? I'm a little tired from the train ride."

"Sure; I'll put your lunch in the fridge for lunch."

"Thanks."

Alexandra headed into the house and back to her room, where she collapsed onto her bed, mentally and physically exhausted.

…..

"We picked up two more wizards who claimed to have seen Claridina in Bristol," an Aurror said, poking his head into Harry and Ron's office.

"Put them in an interview room and I'll send someone down in a moment," Harry told him.

"Probably going to be another big waste of time," Ron commented as the Aurror turned to leave. "Just like the other twenty who claimed to have seen her."

"Yes, well, we've got to look into everything," Harry sighed.

"Mind if I head home, mate?" Ron asked. "Promised Rosie and Hugo I'd take them into Hogsmeade for dinner."

"Sure, go ahead. On your way out, though, grab someone to go interview those blokes they just brought in."

"Will do. See you tomorrow then."

As Ron left, Harry picked up another file and began to read it over when the door opened once more, and Luna stepped in.

"Oh, hey, Luna, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, throwing down the file.

"I had to come interview a worker from the Department of Mysteries for an article for the Quibbler," she explained. "Thought I would stop by and say hello. You seem like you're busy."

"Just working to try to find Claridina Wretermoust," Harry sighed.

"Oh, I do hope you catch her soon, Harry, she seems awful. Did you know that even nargles avoid her? They can sense the aura of people, and they don't like those with Darkness around them."

"Er, that's very interesting," Harry said. "But I don't think that-"

"Harry!" Kingsley yelled, running into the office. "You need to get down to Hogsmeade. Now!"

"Why? What's going on?" Harry frowned, standing up.

"Huge explosion; at least a half-dozen dead; Claridina was spotted, but she got away!"

…..

"Must've happened right before I was about to come over," Ron said as him and Harry sifted through the rumble of Hogsmeade.

"Guess you just missed it then; consider yourself lucky," Harry said.

"Too bad everyone else wasn't as lucky," Ron sighed as yet another body was carried out, bringing the grand total up to ten.

"The village is completely cleared out," Hermione said, walking over to Ron and Harry. "I've stationed members of the Hit Squad at every shop."

"Good," Harry nodded. "But I don't think they'll be coming back anytime soon."

"Are we sure it was Claridina?"

"Out of the five surviving eye witnesses, every single one of them claimed to have seen her here seconds before the explosion," Harry replied. "Unfortunately, that's the only detail that we've managed to get straight. Some say there were four witches with her, others say it was three wizards. Some say they saw her cast a spell with her wand, others swore she had nothing in her hands…"

"Well, we'll make sure they're interviewed properly," Ron said. "Blimey, I can't believe this happened."

"Half of Hogsmeade; destroyed," Harry sighed. "Plus all those people…"

"Another body!" called an Aurror, dragging the lifeless form of a boy no older than nine years old from a pile of buildings.

Hermione stifled a sob, and Ron put an arm around her as Harry approached him.

"Get him to the hospital," Harry said softly. "There's been a woman running around here asking where her son was…I reckon we've just found him."

The Aurror nodded, and gently lifted the boy up and carried him off.

"Potter, Weasley, Granger," said the voice of Professor McGonagall, who was running over. "What happened? I've just-Oh my word…"

"Claridina was here," Harry said.

"I-I-how-did you catch her?"

"Disapperated before anybody could even register what happened," Ron mumbled. "Death tolls up to eleven."

"Professor," Hermione said. "We'll have to ask you to cancel the Hogsmeade trips for the students…until we catch her."

"Of course," McGonagall nodded.

"Harry," Kingsley said, walking over. "Can I have a word?"

Harry nodded and followed the Minister, leaving the other with McGonagall.

"Harry," Kingsley said heavily. "I-I don't think we have much of a choice at this point…we need to get the Dementors out here."

Harry stiffened. "I know."

"As soon as Wretermoust is caught, they'll be shipped right off to Azkaban," Kingsley assured him. "They'll need to be set up all around here, Diagon Alley, Hogwarts…"

"I'll tell McGonagall," Harry sighed. "But she won't be happy."

"I'm not thrilled either," Kingsley said. "I thought Fudge was mad setting up all those Dementors back when we were trying to catch Sirius…but well, now that I'm in his shoes…"

Harry didn't respond; he continued to stare at the large mess that still remained. He watched as yet another body was pulled out from a fallen shop…after nearly nineteen years of peace, he could almost feel his lightning bolt scar burning again.