A/N: I have changed the story just a little… instead of being two years after the final battle it's four years and Warrington graduated two years before the start of the final battle. So anyone who has read the two chapters previously (before this update 29/01/2012 might want to reread). Promise not to do anymore rewrites :-)
Also a Big ThankYou for the Reviews and Story Alerts! :-)
Chapter 3
Warrington knocked on the door to Alicia's apartment and waited patiently. After a few moments the door opened with bed rumpled Angelina.
"Warrington?" She said half asleep. Warrington wore an amused expression at Angelina who looked like she had just rolled out bed her hair was a mess dressed in pair of pyjamas with 'Little Miss Naughty' printed on them.
"Yes, may I come in?" Warrington asked as he held his tongue in commenting about the woman's choice of sleep apparel.
"It's 6am what are you doing here?" Angelina asked as she rubbed her face trying to wake up.
"Breakfast with Alicia" Warrington stated.
"She didn't say anything"
"It's a surprise" he told Angelina.
"Definitely will be" Angelina commented waving Warrington in.
"Thank you" Warrington said, as he walked into the apartment he followed Angelina into the main living area. He pulled out a tiny box and his wand and enlarged it back to its original size while Angelina went to make coffee.
"What's the box?" Angelina asked as she watched him open the lid.
"Alicia's prescription, She asked me to acquire the potions from my personal Healer" Warrington informed Angelina who was looking at the box.
"Why would she let you get her potions?" Angelina asked him, Warrington kept a neutral expression even though he was annoyed at Angelina not mind her own business. He was amazed that Angelina hadn't already figured out Alicia's secret of not seeing healers on a regular basis and buying her potions legitimately. Gryffindors so trusting and yet so oblivious… he thought to himself.
"Because I offered to acquire it for her as a favour" Warrington said.
"A Slytherin doing a Gryffindor a favour?" Angelina asked sceptically.
"You ask a lot of questions before offering a guest a seat and a beverage" Warrington told Angelina in an unimpressed tone. It made Angelina stiffened slightly at his tone and opened her mouth to reply when Warrington cut her off. "Now you should give Alicia her potion and announce I am here. Unless you would prefer me to go wake her?" Warrington asked as he raised an eyebrow and smirked at Angelina.
Angelina's lips formed a thin lined as she looked peeved at him. She snatched the vial from his hand and stormed off in the direction of Alicia's room. Warrington closed the box and moved to one of the arm chairs in the lounge room and made himself comfortable.
Alicia woke up with a nasty start when Angelina turned on the lights in her bedroom. Alicia groaned and covered her eyes from the painful glare of the lighting.
"Good Morning!" Angelina said in an overly cheery voice.
"I think that's a matter of opinion" Alicia groaned she pulled her blanket over her head to block out the lights as her whole being was in pain. She was nauseous, her head was pounding, and her body ached from her overexertions and her seizures from yesterday. The only bonus to the current moment was Alicia wasn't having a seizure yet. Give it time… Alicia thought grimly as she felt the bed dip as Angelina sat down.
"It's 6am and there is a surprise in the living room" Angelina cooed as she tugged on the blanket trying to pull it down off Alicia's face.
"I don't want to know" Alicia groaned as she struggled to keep the covers over her. She wondered what had gotten Angelina's knickers in such a twist as Angelina usually left her in peace for the better part of the morning.
"Yes you do because apparently Warrington is taking you out for breakfast. Surprise!" Angelina drawled sarcastically. Alicia pulled down the blanket and squinted at Angelina to see if she could tell if Angelina was lying to her.
"Warrington is here?" Alicia asked.
"Yes and he told me to give you this" Angelina said she held out a vial of deep lime potion.
"What's that?" Alicia asked looking at the vial.
"Your potion though it's a different colour what's up with that? and why is Warrington getting your script filled?" Angelina asked in her light angry tone as she handed Alicia the vial of potion.
Alicia ignored how her body trembled from the exertion of just sitting up. She took the vial from Angelina inspecting it. "Oh McCallums Potion. This is top shelf. Warrington gave you this?" Alicia asked.
"Yes and why did you ask him to pick up your prescription? when you won't even let me go with you to the Healers or even pick your script when you look like the walking dead" Angelina asked huffily.
"Hey dial it down I have a cranking headache… and answer to your question I didn't ask him to fill my script" Alicia said as she uncorked the vial and down the contents, she gagged on the taste and picked up the glass of water she kept by her bed and washed the bad taste out of her mouth shuddering at the after taste.
"Dial it down… maybe you should take your own advice" Angelina said folding her arms. Alicia blinked a few times as her headache lessened and after a few moments she felt the tension loosen in her body. She gave a sigh of relief and smiled, she didn't feel 100% but at least she wasn't having a seizure.
"What do you mean?" Alicia asked.
"Never mind. You have to get ready for breakfast date as Warrington is sitting in our living room waiting for you and I want to go back to bed" Angelina said she could tell Alicia's mind was entirely elsewhere. She just wondered where.
30 minutes later, Alicia came out of her room dressed in black tights and a white sweater dress with a cowl neckline and long sleeves. It hugged her every curve of her slim lithe body making Warrington glad he decided to get up at an ungodly hour and come over.
Her long hair hung loose around her shoulders. She smiled warmly at Warrington he noticed as she got closer that she had dark circles under her eyes and she looked slightly peaked. He stood up from his seat and kissed her on the cheek gently knowing she wouldn't make a scene with Angelina as a witness.
"Good Morning" He said smiling down at her.
"A bit early to be making those kinds of judgement calls don't you think?" Alicia asked him feigning innocence. He chuckled and turned to Angelina who was glaring at them over a cup of freshly poured coffee.
"Not for where I plan to take you" he told her, he moved to the bench where he had put the box of potions and picked it up handing it to Alicia.
"My potions?" She asked he saw the twitch of annoyance in her expression probably because she thought he was outing her secret.
"Yes, remember you asked me to pull some strings to get you the freshest batch of McCallums?" he asked.
"I was joking" Alicia said carefully as she could feel Angelina's contained ire.
"You're still welcome. Breakfast?" Warrington asked clearly amused as he held out his arm to her.
"Sure" Alicia replied as she picked up her keys.
"Have fun" Angelina said in an overly sugary tone. Alicia knew she would be in for a good rant from Angelina later.
"I take it Johnson is not a morning person"
"Actually she's usually better but then she had a late one last night" Alicia commented as she took up a seat a spare table outside of a small café in Diagon alley. Alicia placed her keys on the table and fiddled with them while she gave a yawn.
Warrington sat opposite her, wondering why Alicia hadn't cast a glamour spell to cover up her obvious signs of fatigue and general malaise.
"Welcome to Café Delights, Miss Spinnet! You are here early would you like your usual? Are your bosses joining you today?" The Waiter asked, Warrington noted the young man's obvious perusal of Alicia and the flirtatious tone he used. There was also the annoyance of not being noticed.
"No they won't be joining me today I'm here for leisure not business" Alicia said, it seemed to make Greg look even happier.
"Really?" Greg asked there was a hint a hope in the young man's tone.
"Yes, so I will have my usual order and I also get a cup of ginger tea?" She said smiling warmly at Greg the Waiter.
"Of course, you still want the pot of Gyokuro tea correct?" Greg asked her.
"Yes and what will you have Cassius?" Alicia asked looking at Warrington. He couldn't help but smirk as Greg finally noticed him sitting across from Alicia. The young man's smile faltered.
"Sir what can I get you?" Greg asked, Warrington sat forward in his chair and rested a hand on Alicia's hand that was on the table playing with her keys. He did it just to see the young man squirm.
"I'll have poached eggs with smoked Salmon and Hollandaise sauce, crumpets and Irish Breakfast tea, no milk" Warrington said as he stroked small circles on Alicia's palm with his thumb. He watched as Greg looked disappointed but nodded none the less taking the order and trying to remain professional.
"Ok enjoy your meal and if you need anything just tap your wand on the table for service" Greg said and with that he walked away.
"You're a regular?" Warrington asked once Greg was gone he didn't take release Alicia's hand.
"If you call coming in three times a week with Fred and George constitutes as a regular sure." Alicia said she took her hand out of his and sat back in her chair and slouched comfortably. "They like to hold their staff meetings over meals" she explained with a wave of her hand.
"It's a good place for it" Warrington said as he made himself comfortable. Café Delights was the only café on Diagon Alley where a person could order whatever they wanted in relation to food. The waiter would take the orders and then the food and beverages would appear on the table when ready to be consumed. Then all a witch or wizard had to do was tap the table with their wand for service. Otherwise the patrons weren't constantly interrupted or hovered over by the waiters.
"Yes, the food is great and the service is good" Alicia said.
"I was told this place was very popular"
"At 8am onwards definitely" Alicia said with an amused yet exhausted expression.
"Something has been bothering me since we left the apartment" Warrington said changing the topic even though he shared her amusement.
"What?" Alicia asked a cup of tea appeared on the table smelling strongly of Ginger. Alicia picked it up with shaky hands and took a long sip of the hot brew feeling her sinuses clear and her nausea she was still feeling abate slightly.
"Where do you keep your wand?" Warrington asked her, noting the tremors in her hand as she held her cup with both hands but not making a comment.
"I bet you ask all the boys that" Alicia said in a sarcastic tone as she shakily placed the cup on the table.
"I mean your lovely outfit hugs you very nicely and you aren't wearing a holster on your thigh" Warrington said ignoring her comment.
"Well I would think having a friend who suffers from what I do you would know that I am unable to perform magic as my magic is unstable" Alicia said eyeing him carefully. Warrington tried not to react to what she was saying.
He remembered Montague telling him last night that overexposure to Cruciatus Curse led to seizures due to damage to the neurotransmitters in the brain something about not secreting enough serotonin. That there was also nerve damage which led to intense pain and sometimes loss of sensation in the body. He did not remember Montague mentioning a lack of being able to perform magic and his spell damaged friend was able to perform spells and what not even in his condition. He quickly surmised Alicia was either more spell damaged than his friend. He decided it was best to pretend he already knew and ask Montague later.
"Of course, I would have thought years of habit you would keep your wand on you" Warrington said.
"No point in carrying round a wand I can't use" Alicia said with a shrug.
"I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to function" Warrington said
"Oh does this mean you are backing out on our deal because I'm for all intents and purposes a squib?" Alicia asked, their breakfasts appeared on the table in front of them.
"No because that has no bearing on our association and you are not a squib. One is born a squib not made one. You are merely 'spell damaged' I have no doubt with the proper medical attention your health will improve and your ability to use magic will return." Warrington said he eyed her side of the table curiously.
"See something you like?" Alicia asked as she picked up her chopsticks.
"What are you eating?" he asked,
"It's a Japanese Breakfast. Rice, grilled salmon, poached egg, miso soup, pickled vegetables, salad and nori which is kelp. All very healthy and good for the body or so Shikai tells me" Alicia said after she finished pointing to the contents in small bowls and plates in front of her. She drained the last of her ginger tea before pouring herself a cup of Gyokuro Green tea.
"It looks like a hearty meal"
"You want to have some?" Alicia asked,
"Maybe next time" Warrington said.
"Suit yourself, though if we are doing breakfast again might I suggest 8am instead of 6am?" Alicia asked as she began eating her food.
"Not an early riser either?" Warrington teased.
"I usually get up about 6:30am but considering my late night and not being 100% healthy I tend to need more rest than the average girl" Alicia said she sipped on the miso soup smiling as it hit the spot.
"Of course I was making sure you had your potions before the seizures set in" Warrington said as he felt like he should explain himself to her. He squashed the uncomfortable feeling as he had never felt the need to explain himself to anyone.
"I appreciate it" Alicia said with a smile. Warrington watched her behaviour closely as she was not acting as she had the previous night. She was being friendly and it made him suspicious.
"I was thinking we could go shopping today after breakfast. We will be attending many charity events."
"Such as?" Alicia asked.
"Well there is the one we will be attending in nine days time. It is for the expansion of Hogwarts, it's a night with the London Symphony Orchestra"
"Expansion?" Alicia asked, she realised it had been awhile since she actually read the Daily Profit. At least a few months she calculated.
"Yes, the Wizarding population is booming or will be as such the school needs to accommodate the rising population" Warrington commented dryly.
"Well I guess you'll be watching your friends settle down and pop out kids in the near future?" Alicia teased.
"Perhaps I'll be having my own family"
"Oh am I the bait of some honey trap of yours?" Alicia asked as if it just dawned her why he was doing all this.
"Excuse me?" Warrington said he had nearly taken a sip of his tea which he was sure he would have choked on if she had asked her question two seconds later.
"You know there's a 'lady' who you like but she's not interested so if you show up with another woman… you think she'll take notice and try for you. The whole you want what you can't have thing" Alicia said with a sly smile as she ate some rice with her chopsticks.
"Believe what you want but I don't have to play games to get women" Warrington said as he poured himself a cup of tea.
"Says the man blackmailing the woman opposite him" Alicia said pointedly.
"It's an arrangement that suits us both. Anyway you seem to be enjoying yourself. I would even say you are happy to be in my presence this morning"
"Well I gave it a lot of thought and came to the conclusion that being angry, miserable or any other negative emotion would be exhausting and it's what you want"
"Are you being sarcastic? I can't tell"
"Honest truth you Slytherin feed off the misery of others and I decided you're not going to get that pleasure even if you're holding my secret over me"
"The quickest surrender of a Gryffindor" Warrington said amused.
"Well we are going to be together for two years I figure I'd also like to be happy" Alicia paused and took a sip of her tea. "And did I mention Negative emotions are very exhausting?" She asked after her sip of tea.
"You did" Warrington said smirking.
Breakfast continued in the same manner. Warrington was enjoying himself in Alicia's company. Even though she was clearly suffering from exhaustion and her spell damage she was holding up relaxed conversation. He made no comments of her hands shaking or when she paused to take a break from eating when it was obvious she was nauseous.
The McCallum's should have made her feel better but he kept quiet adding it to the list of questions he would ask Montague later. It was handy that Montague was a Healer by trade.
Once Breakfast was finished, Warrington and Alicia strolled down Diagon Alley talking getting to know one another waiting for the shops to open. Warrington deliberately strolled at a slower pace to kind to Alicia, he wanted her to conserve her energy which had lifted after her meal and the Green tea. But he also had a feeling it wouldn't last as she mentioned she had an appointment with Shikai at 11am.
"Twilfit and Tattings" Alicia commented as they came to a stop out the front of the shop.
"Yes, there are a few fundraisers to attend in the next few weeks" Warrington told her.
"Joy" she replied dryly.
"You should be impressed by philanthropic ventures"
"Upper class people standing around patting themselves on the back for giving chump change to the lower class"
"Spoken like a true pauper" Warrington said as he knocked on the door. Alicia gave a shrug not insulted by his comment at all. They waited a moment before the door was opened by a young girl in a black witches robes opened the door.
"Lord Warrington, Miss Spinnet please come in. Mr Vozzo is waiting for you" She said in a small polite voice.
"Lord?" Alicia asked in a low voice trying to contain her mirth.
"I inherited it thanks to my Father's recent demise" Warrington said somewhat coolly as he let Alicia step inside the shop first.
"Of course" Alicia said losing her amusement in his title.
"Lord Warrington, what a pleasure to see you. Your Mother and Grandmother are regular visitors to my modest business" Mr Vozzo said as he bowed to Warrington. MrVozzo was a tall Italian man in his late 60's dressed in a well tailored wizard's robes. He turned to Alicia and gave her a once over with his eyes before smiling.
"Miss Spinnet will require a new wardrobe with all the trimmings as we have many social events that require our attendance. Spare no expense" Warrington said. At the last sentence Mr Vozzo's eyes lit up and he smiled. They stood in the small shop it was filled with many bolts of lavish fabrics of many colours, types and patterns imaginable to man. The left of the shop upon entering there were three mirrors making a half circle around an elevated platform. Behind the platform were a few arm chairs and table with style books lying on them.
"Of course, of course now I assume from your attire Miss Spinnet you tend toward the your generation's tastes of leaning toward Muggle Fashion" Mr Vozzo commented, Alicia raised an eyebrow at him wondering if he was insulting her.
"Though considering the upper echelons of society disapprove of such fashion I have been able to find a middle ground that I'm sure you will approve of" Mr Vozzo said he clapped his hands and smiled excitedly.