Alexandra awoke to rain for the third morning in a row. She sleepily got herself out of bed, slipped on her dressing gown and dragged her feet into the kitchen.

"Morning," she yawned, seeing her father sitting at the table with a stack of toast.

"Morning," he replied. "There's donuts in the fridge if you'd like."

"Toast is fine," she said.

"Alexandra," Dudley sighed. "We need to talk."

Alexandra frowned. "About what?"

"I know it was awhile ago," Dudley sighed. "But we need to talk more about that visit with your mum."

Alexandra stiffened. "Why?"

"Well, we've never really discussed the idea of you, er, possibly seeing her again."

"I don't want to," she said quickly. "Really dad, I don't."

"Right," Dudley nodded. "Well, see, the thing is sweetie…she's been writing to me again."

"What's she been saying?"

"The same thing she said last time, more or less," he sighed. "That she has a right to see you; she'll bring in her lawyers…"

Alexandra's heart sank. Was she really going to have to go through this again?

"But," Dudley continued. "She said she wanted to talk to you about it this time."

"To-to me?"

"Yes," he nodded. "She left a number for you to contact her. Said to call it after Christmas."

"After Christmas?" Alexandra repeated. So that's what this was about. Claridina didn't want to see her again; she only wanted to make sure Alexandra took the necklace at Christmas like she was told.

"Just tell her that you don't want to stay with her, if that's what you really want," Dudley said. "You don't need to be afraid of her."

"I know," she said.

"Bit of a murky day out, isn't it?" Dudley smiled. "What do you say you and I have a day in? I've rented a few movies and I'll stir us up some hot cocoa?"

"Yeah," Alexandra nodded. "I'd like that."

….

"Think we've finally gotten the last of muggles memories erased," Hermione said to Harry as he walked around the destroyed playground. "We've set up enchantments all around this area so that if any muggles approach it, they'll suddenly remember very urgent appointments; sort of the same protection they put around the Quidditch World Cup every year."

"Great," Harry nodded, looking around. "Did Ron tell you? That little girl that got sent to St. Mungo's…she-"

"I heard," Hermione said sadly.

"She was only six," Harry said.

Hermione put a comforting arm around him. "Why are you here, Harry? You've been coming back every day since it happened."

"It's so pointless," Harry said. "Why attack muggle children? What threat do they pose to Claridina?"

"She's evil, Harry," Hermione said softly. "She kills because she enjoys it."

"We found out there was supposed to be a lot more of her followers," Harry said, looking away.

"Yes, I know," she nodded. "But when the first few out here saw the Auror's they sent word back to them not to come."

"They planned to kill all the children," Harry continued. "And then move onto the streets."

"It's a good thing the Auror's were there, then," Hermione nodded.

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "We found all that out from her one follower who didn't get away."

"Gabel Trollhouse?"

"According to him, Claridina didn't plan this," Harry said. "Her followers did. All she told them was that they could go have a bit of fun. Fun, Hermione. This was fun for them."

"It's disgusting," she agreed. Then she sighed. "And I guess that means you're right; this wasn't the plan Claridina was working on."

"Whatever she's working on must be bigger than this," Harry said darkly.

"Have you had a chance to talk to Malfoy? Maybe he's heard-"

"He can only contact me when Claridina can't overhear him," Harry said. "Which isn't too often; she has him working right under her nose."

"Harry," Hermione said shakily. "Do-do you sometimes think that maybe Claridina will be-"

"-worse than Voldemort?" Harry finished for her. "I reckon that she's trying to be."

Hermione closed her eyes. "It's scarier now…I-I think I know how Mrs. Weasley and my parents and everyone must've felt back when were seventeen; they weren't as scared for themselves as they were for their kids and their families."

Harry nodded. "I know."

The two sat in silence for a moment. "When's your patrol shift start?" Hermione asked.

"Half-an-hour," he replied. "Until midnight."

"Be safe out there," she said. She looked at her watch. "Ron's shift's nearly over; I'm going to get home to meet him."

"Bye," Harry said.

"Harry, please, you have to stop coming here," Hermione told him. "You're torturing yourself. Go back to the Ministry and have a cup of coffee with Teddy why don't you?"

"I will in a minute," Harry said. "Go on; go see Ron."

"Alright," Hermione nodded. "I'll see you at Christmas tomorrow."

"You too," Harry said.

With a loud pop, she apperated away, leaving Harry alone in the park.

Harry looked around at the crumpled jungle gym, the fallen trees and overturned sandboxes. As much as he wanted to look at anything else; be anywhere else, he couldn't bring himself to leave. He simply sat there, trying to comprehend what it was that could make a person this heartless.