Chapter 4

Two agonizing hours later, Alicia and Warrington stepped out of Twilfit and Tattings. Warrington looked pleased with himself as he had thoroughly enjoyed Alicia's obvious dislike of shopping. It was that and the fact that even though Alicia chose majority of her wardrobe, Warrington had the final decision. He had also taken the liberty of ordering her items that she didn't believe she required.

Luckily she didn't have to try on any of the dresses as Mr Vozzo casted a illusion charm over the main mirrors in his shop he casted the style of dress and she stood on the podium playing Barbie as her reflection looked backed at her dressed in whatever creation they were deciding on. The mirror supplied shoes, hairstyle and makeup so Alicia would know exactly what she would look like.

She had been reticent at first because she feared the mirror wouldn't hide every imperfection. Not that Alicia had many imperfections or hang ups about her body well except she felt she was too skinny and she looked haggard most of the time thanks to her spell damage. But Warrington could see that already. No, what she wanted to keep hidden were her scars. She hadn't seen him exhibit pity towards her and she didn't want him to either. Luckily the Mirrors hid her secrets well and even made her look healthy like the mirrors were mocking her with images of how she could be. It had killed her somewhat happy mood especially when the men made her stay in front of the mirror the whole time.

"Men you say woman are ridiculous and yet when I argue no woman needs that many dresses. You say 'You're right, perhaps a couple more are needed' that is ridiculous!" Alicia said venting her frustration as she had held her tongue in the shop not wanting to insult Mr Vozzo.

"Can't have you wearing the same dress twice it would be a social faux par." Warrington said with a smile as they walked away from the shop.

"Oh I know I now have a dress for every occasion and for day of the month, cloaks, witch's robes and the shoes. Did you not see my apartment?" Alicia asked him.

"I will cast an Extension charm on your Wardrobe after lunch" Warrington said as he fell into step beside her. He even placed a hand on the small of her back as they moved past a small family.

"You're too kind but it will have to be tomorrow before the packages arrive" Alicia said as Warrington moved back to her side. He pulled her arm up and wrapped it around his so they could walk arm in arm down the street.

"Why not today?" he asked.

"Because I have my treatment and then I have to go to work until late and I plan on sleeping for more than 5 hours" Alicia told him as she tried not to lean on him. She was glad her treatment with Master Shikai was soon as she wasn't sure how long she would be able to stand. She had appreciated him not treating her like an invalid as she knew he only held her arm as a pretence to him 'courting' her.

"We will still have lunch. You need to eat" Warrington said.

"Fine, but you are not taking me lingerie shopping" Alicia told him as she knew where they were heading.

"Why not?" Warrington asked in a mock disappointed voice.

"Because there are some things I like to keep sacred" Alicia told him.

"Of course perhaps tomorrow when I come over to extend your wardrobe you can model what you have for me and then I can decide for myself" Warrington said. Alicia rolled her eyes at him.

"In your dreams buddy" Alicia said chuckling she pushed up her sleeve and looked at the time. "I should head to Shikai's" she commented.

"Of course" Warrington said.

"You're not coming with me" Alicia stated.

"Of course I am. If I am to pay for these treatments you receive I want to see my money at work" Warrington said.

Alicia was surprised at Warrington's behaviour. He was charming, humorous an actual pleasure to be around considering the situation. She had to keep reminding herself that he was doing all of the things he was doing for his own gain and she was his current plaything.

It was hard to resist his company as she found his apathy for her spell damage refreshing. She couldn't see any pity in his eyes and he hadn't even made noise about the fact she looked like death warmed over or her hands that her hands had trembled when she picked up things. She knew he hadn't missed it and if she had been with the Weasley's or Angelina or Katie they'd be picking things up for her and holding her arm making sure she didn't fall over as they walked to their destination or they'd cancel their plans and make her go home to lie down.

Being mothered was a pet peeve of Alicia's. She knew her limitations but her friends even with their best intentions seemed to forget she knew this. So at least once a week they'd be on her case about if she was eating enough or getting enough sleep. She shouldn't work so hard the list went on. So to actually have Warrington not pester her in that fashion made time spent with him like a holiday. The bad part was she had only had dinner and breakfast with the man and she was already in deep and now she was equating him to a holiday.

They reached Master Shikai's shop, Warrington knocked on the door and waited. Master Shikai opened the door and waved them into his shop.

"Lord Warrington, Miss Spinnet I did not think you two would come together" Shikai said with a smile, Warrington noted the overpowering scent of burning incense sticks.

"Lord Warrington wished to observe one of my treatments" Alicia said looking unimpressed.

"Of course, come, come" Shikai said waving them to follow him. They followed him into a backroom which was completely empty except for a massage table.

"All I ask is that you remain silent and perfectly still while observing the treatment no matter what happens" Shikai said as he motioned for Warrington to stand in one corner of the room and then turned to Alicia who laid down face down on the massage table. Warrington nodded and leaned against the wall making himself comfortable as he had no idea how long the 'Treatment' would be.

Master Shikai rolled up his sleeves and began to press into Alicia's back. Shikai's fingers looked like they pressed deep into the sides of Alicia's spine. It did not look relaxing as the man worked his way up along her spine and then back down before Shikai told her to roll over. Warrington seemed quite unimpressed with the treatment as it comprised of what looked like an uncomfortable massage so far. Alicia repositioned herself so she was lying face up.

Shikai then started murmuring some kind of incantation as he passed his hands over her body. His hands were about 2 inches away from touching her. Warrington felt the temperature in the room drop a couple of degrees as the energy of the room change. The lights in the room started to flicker as Shikai continued murmuring and waving his hand over Alicia's body in a combing pattern like he was brushing the energy out of her. It continued for another 20 minutes, Alicia's eyes remained closed the entire time he noted however her lips started to turn a shade of blue.

Warrington felt as though all the warmth had been sucked out of the room even the lights had gone out. His first thoughts were to Alicia who remained perfectly still unlike he who was shivering even under his heavy cloak. He wanted to tell the man to stop but then remembered he had said he would nothing to interfere. He wondered what the hell Master Shikai was doing to her. He had asked Shikai yesterday what Alicia was seeing him for and how long she had been seeking his services he mentioned nothing like this.

After 10 minutes, the lights came back on and the room slowly started to return back to a comfortable temperature. Shikai became silent and finished his last gestures ending in a pray pose for a few seconds. Warrington looked to Alicia the colour had returned to her lips.

Shikai gently placed a hand on her arm and Alicia blinked a couple of times before she sat up. She smiled to Shikai and then looked at Warrington. If he hadn't witnessed it himself he could have sworn a glamour had been casted on her. But whatever Shikai had done it worked wonders on her as she looked visibly healthier, her skin was glowing and the dark circles under her eyes were gone.

"You certainly benefit from Master Shikai's treatments" Warrington commented as they shared a lunch at a Japanese Restaurant in Diagon Alley. He had made the choice given that Alicia seemed to benefit from the cuisine for Breakfast. He didn't want to think too hard about why he was going out his way to accommodate her needs before his.

"Yeah he told me that McCallum's has a nasty side of effect building up toxins and negative energy in the body that disturbs the balance of my spirit. He also said my Spirit is disturbed" Alicia pulled a face like she didn't agree with the statement. "I honestly don't believe in that spirit stuff but he threw in a free treatment and I figured why not try it out. The only time I feel like old self before the war and what not buggered me up" Alicia said as she ate a piece of salmon sashimi. I can't believe I just told him that… she thought.

"You should go more often" Warrington told her.

"You're going to be broke by the time two years is up. None of this is cheap and really I'm sure it's all my head that it works" Alicia said. He raised an eyebrow at her it wasn't the first time she had tried to curb his spending. He would have thought she'd try to gouge him for as many galleons as she could.

"I can tell you standing in the room, none of what happened was in your head and you benefit from it. I insist you go at least twice a week if not more the Warrington Coffers will not even feel it" Warrington assured her.

"Why are you doing this?" Alicia asked him.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You should be… I don't know more conniving and make me suffer more or demand I be your sex slave or something. You're being very un-Slytherin."

"Perhaps I should take the 'sex slave' idea into consideration"

"Oh and you're back to being a snake"

"I was kidding, now just because I will do whatever is possible to achieve my end goals does not mean I have to mean or cruel about it."

"I guess not. It's just that you're an ass-"

"A lovable ass who has control of your future life expectancy and quality of life"

"How can I forget?"

"You're are quite lucky you didn't run into someone more unsavoury than myself. Say Marcus Flint now he'd probably turn you into his sex slave"

"I think I'd rather be destitute and exiled by my friends for lying for the past four years than let Marcus Flint maul me. I don't even want to know how many shots I need after that" Alicia said shivering in disgust.

"Ahh so you would be my sex slave then? I knew I mishandled our negotiation perhaps I should find another one of your deep dark secrets and renegotiate" Warrington teased, Alicia blushed and rolled her eyes.

"Good Luck" Alicia told him.

"I highly doubt you only have one dark secret"

"Like I'm going to admit anything to you"

"Good point" Warrington said looking at her like she were an interesting puzzle.

"Tell me about this charity event we are going to in 9 days" Alicia said changing the topic.

"Fortnight Thursday, 'A night with the London Symphony' it is being held at the Malfoy Manor" Warrington said, He noted how Alicia paled slightly at the words 'Malfoy Manor'.

"Something the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's fine." Alicia said a little too quickly.

"Black tie event, I will leave what you wear up to you. Though I did like the dark green floor length gown" Warrington said.

"See what mood I'm in." Alicia said, her stomach turned at the mention of the Malfoy Manor. Not that she had any previous meetings with the Malfoy Family she had no qualms with them. With exception of Draco Malfoy at school and well he was just like every other rich pure blood kid. Entitled and petulant when they didn't get their way.

She did remember the Manor's dungeons where she had been tortured. Not that she would admit such a thing to Warrington. It had been common knowledge that the Manor had been Voldermort's headquarters during the war and many Death Eaters resided there mainly the upper echelon Death Eaters and a transit place for prisoners of war. They were held there and tortured until they gave up everything they knew and then depending on the individual were either killed or passed around in the lower echelon for fun or so Alicia was told.

Antonin Dolohov had taken a special interest in Alicia from when she had first been dragged into the dungeons. She shook her head not wanting to think on the memories.

"Indeed, I figure by then it will be common news we are-" Warrington started.

"Courting one another?" Alicia asked cutting him off chuckling at the choice of words.

"I am courting you, we are in a courtship the transition before engagement and marriage" Warrington clarified for her. Some social customs never changed in the wizarding world and courtship was still considered common practise along with arranged marriages in the upper class of the Wizarding Society.

"Oh so your plan is to leave me on the Alter?" Alicia joked.

"I would never be so cliché and it would go against my plans" Warrington her as he wore a secretive smile, it only made Alicia slightly nervous and wondering what else he had planned for her.

"He's the son of a Death Eater!" Fred exclaimed.

"I know" Alicia answered casually.

"He's also a Slytherin" George said folding his arms looking equally as unimpressed as his twin brother. There was something amusing about two identical people mirroring one another.

"I know" Alicia said sitting back in her chair behind her desk in the potions laboratory in the Weasley Wizardly Wheezes shop. She had only walked in to start her afternoon shift to have the boys descend on her. It probably didn't help that Warrington had escorted her to the door of the shop. Verity had opened the door for her letting her in but it wasn't before Warrington gave her a kiss on the cheek and saying it loud enough for Fred and George who stood behind Verity that he had had enjoyed last night's dinner and their morning together. His suggestive tone and manner had insinuated that they had been together the whole time.

He then gave a smug smirk and said he'd see her tomorrow before nodding to the guys and Verity and walking off. As soon as the door had closed the questions began and they didn't stop as she headed to the laboratory.

"Then why are you dating him? he's everything we despise." Fred said gesturing to himself, George and Verity.

"Maybe you two but I'm with Alicia on this. That guy is wow! And anyway you don't have to like someone if the sex is off the charts and they are two consensual adults. So really who cares?" Verity asked

"What?" George asked shocked their young shop assistant was stating such bold statements.

"You heard me. That man was smoking hot! I wouldn't mind waking up next to him and by the glow coming off her it had to be off the charts" Verity said with an evil grin.

"I didn't –" Alicia started

"Yeah yeah no amount of denial is going help you" Verity said cutting Alicia off who had red cheeks as the thought of Warrington in bed had crossed her mind. The glow Verity was clearly misinterpreting was not from sex but from her treatment. Not that Alicia could say as much to defend her honour.

"You have that glow on and off at least twice a month for years. Oh you sneaky girl! You and he have been in a secret relationship for four years haven't you? This totally explains why you sneak off every month. How you don't date at all or even give a sideways glance at another guy cause you've been having Cassius Warrington on the sly" Verity said wriggling her eyebrows suggestively. Verity smiled as though she had just discovered the secret of the century.

Alicia was stunned by the thought processes of the young witch and looked at Fred and George both shared a look of dawning discovery.

"Four years" George said.

"It makes sense why she gets so jammed up about us taking up a couple of her mornings then she'd disappear and then she reappears in a better mood." Fred said accepting the ludicrous theory of Verity's. She hadn't realised how much the twins had been taking notice of her habits. It helped her understand them wanting to believe she was having a secret affair for four years.

"You guys have been following me?" Alicia asked.

"Well we tried a couple of times but you are very sneaky it makes sense if you learned from a Slytherin" George said pulling a face.

"So now he's back in town he wants to go public aye?" Fred asked.

"Yeah why did you keep it a secret?" George asked. Alicia felt a headache coming on as she wasn't sure if she should correct their incorrect assumptions or play along. The twins looked at her waiting for an answer.

"Because" Alicia stuttered slightly she was really racking her brain for something. "I liked him since Hogwarts and we didn't hook up until after I was released from St Mungos and tensions were running high about Slytherins reintegrating back into the Wizarding community even when they were on our side. Anyway I can't imagine any of you approving and we just had an on and off thing, it's only become serious since he came back to Britain." She lied somewhat smoothly as she decided to play along.

"You're right we would have forbidden it. He's the son a Death Eater! You fought against them and after what they did to you. He's the enemy" Fred said folding his arms.

"He is not my enemy, he wasn't here for the war and he is not his father. He didn't return because he felt no desire to fight a war he didn't believe in." Alicia argued.

"That's rich, as he benefited from the war" George scoffed.

"How so?" Alicia asked.

"He inherited his father's fortune and everything with it" George replied.

"Yeah he also inherited the bad reputation with it which he doesn't deserve as he hasn't tortured, maimed or murdered anyone. And don't even think about pulling crap about how he should have fought in the war either because I can name a few witches and wizards who fled Britain to avoid the fighting and when the war was over we welcomed them back with no accusations of them being turncoats or nothing" Alicia said folding her arms, she inwardly couldn't believe she was defending Warrington from her friends when he was blackmailing her into holding up a farce of them being a couple.

"Alicia has a point" Verity said.

"I still don't understand how you kept it a secret for four years. We would have heard you out. We're you're friends. Do Katie and Ange know?" George asked.

"No, I'd prefer to keep that way. I'm sorry I lied and I kept it a secret but I was protecting myself. I don't expect you to understand or accept our relationship but I hope you can at least try to respect my decisions at the time and now"

"As long as he makes you happy and we don't have to share beers with the man or pretend we like him I don't really care" Fred said, Alicia's jaw dropped as George nodded in agreement at the statement. All their arguing was nothing, it made her want to hit them for wasting her time.

"You two vex me sometimes" Alicia said shaking her head at them.

"Only sometimes?" George asked innocently.

"Anyway could it be our secret, the whole Warrington relationship thing. I really don't want to deal Angelina's wrath and she is already ticked off he woke her up at 6am knocking on our door" Alicia asked hoping they would keep quiet for her.

"I dunno …" The twins drawled in unison a bad habit of theirs.

"If you don't I will tell Angelina the real reason you missed your third year anniversary" Alicia said smugly as Fred blanched.

"You promised" Fred said.

"Now we are equally in each other's confidences as you now have ammunition against me" Alicia assured him.

"It would be mutual destruction" Fred said.

"Lucky I don't have any secrets" George said smugly.

"Oh really?" Alicia asked raising her eyebrows at him as she sat back in her chair smiling evilly.