The world was slanted and spinning before we made a solid landing in front of the Weasley's house.
"let's go find the boys." Hermione said heading into the house.
"I bet they're in Ron's room, probably testing some of the twin's stuff." I whispered as the walk passed Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.
"Alice dear!" She called as we passed by.
"Yes Mrs. Weasley?" I asked turning towards her.
"Remus is here, in the sitting room. He says he's forgotten that you've got somewhere to be." I shrugged at Hermione who looked as confused as I felt.
"Did he say where?" I asked.
"Well no, but I imagine it's somewhere important go and pack your things I'll tell him you've arrived." Anxious to know what had brought Remus all the way here, I collected my things and said a quick good-bye to Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley's. With my bag over my shoulder I stepped into the sitting room. A stranger sense of relief washed off Remus' face as he caught sight of me. His face then twisted into a forced calmness.
"Allison. I'm sorry to cut your visit with your friends short, but we've got some business we've got to attend to at home."
"It's alright Remus I understand. Besides I'll get to see them all in a few weeks, when we go to Hogwarts." I answered.
"Ready for home then?" He nodded towards the fireplace. I scooped up a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.
"What are you waiting for?" I asked before calling out for home and tossing some powder down. My feet touched down in Remus' fireplace, I stepped out quickly and brushed myself of. Remus joined me within minutes.
"Sorry I had to be so vague Alice, but we've got to get you home, Severus is back and he was incredibly upset when he'd discovered you'd left."
"Typical Severus Snape." I said rolling my eyes. "Consider me gone." I headed out the door, and raced across the property lines to Severus' house. I took a deep breath and timidly turned the nob. The air in the kitchen was stale; Severus was bent over the table clutching a bottle of something. I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Sev, I'm home. Remus said you were looking for me."
"Allison. Come here." He whispered. I took the few steps towards the table while Severus enveloped me in a hug. Severus started shaking, I looked up to realize he was crying.
"Severus what's wrong? Why are you crying?" I asked him whipping some of his tears away with my sleeve. Severus stood and began collecting four or five empty bottles I hadn't noticed on the floor.
"When Professor Dumbledore first called me away I honestly wasn't expecting to be gone as long as I was. Then I learned about the plans for the World Cup, I thought that you'd be safe with Remus. Once I finally returned home and he told me you were with the Weasleys…I…"
"You panicked." I said completing his thought. Together Severus and I cleared up the mess in the kitchen. When we were finished, he insisted I recount every detail of the events of the World Cup.
"Alice I have to report this information to Albus. Are you alright to be alone for a few hours?" We had both just gotten home, I still hadn't fully processed the events of the world cup and now they were fresh in my mind. But I knew what the right thing to say was it was selfish of me to ask him to stay.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It's really late anyway. It's probably morning by now…really what I need is some rest. I'll hardly notice you're gone. Could you do me a small favor though?" asked placing a hand on his arm.
"Anything Alice-Lily"
"Can you wake me up when you get home? I sleep better when I know you're here."
"I think I can manage that. Allison, I promise I'll be back before you know it." Smiling I kissed him on the check.
"Thank you. Goodnight Severus, see you soon." As he whispered "Goodnight" I turned and made my way up to my bedroom.
It was dark, a snake was winding its way down a path. The path leads to a small house in a small village. I've never been here before and I didn't recognize the village either. In the kitchen an old man starts tea. He's either a muggle or a squib because he is making tea without magic. Through the window we can see another house, with a light shining through. This old man must be some sort of a caretaker, he grabs his keys and we walk towards the second house. We walk upstairs in search of the light, all the while the old man mumbles something about meddlesome kids. For the first time at the base of a set of stairs, I hear a familiar voice and it was not a voice I considered friendly.
"Move me closer to the fire Wormtail." My heart pounds out of my chest at the sound of Voldemort's voice. Knowing that Peter Pettigrew has joined him is no comfort either. Still the old man continues forward, and so do I.
"I did not mean to insult you my Lord, I had only meant that perhaps is we could do it without the children…"
"NO! The Children are everything! It cannot be done without them." From a crack in the door, the old caretaker and I can see the shadows of three figures. I do not recognize the voice of the third man when he speaks.
"I will not disappoint you my lord." The same snake from before winds herself through the caretakers feet, into the next room. The tone of the three men change as Voldemort and the snake engage in a conversation in Parseltongue. They are too far away for me to understand but I catch words like "muggle" and "Death". My heart pounds faster as if it intends to give us away.
"Nagini tells me that the Muggle caretaker is standing just outside the door!" Voldemort declared to his two followers. Step aside Wormtale so I can give our guest a proper greeting. AVADA KEDAVRA!" There is a blinding flash of green before I wake in a cold sweat. I wipe the sweat away from my brow only to discover I'm also crying. I looked around for a clock, Severus had probably only been gone for a few minutes but I was too freaked out to go back to sleep. I could have went to Remus' house but he was probably sleeping and if I was being honest I was too spooked to go outside alone. So like a little kid I grabbed a stuffed animal off my bed, went downstairs and curled up in Severus' bed. I hoped his familiar scent would be enough to give me some hours of peaceful sleep.