Chapter 5

The next day,

Alicia tied her hair up into a bun on top of her head before she slowly sunk into her bathtub. She deserved a long hot bath after burning the candle at both ends for the last couple of days, she was exhausted and her muscles ached nothing new to her. So she was decided a long soak for an hour or so before she had to meet up with Warrington for lunch was in order.

She sighed as the bath salts and the hot water went to work relaxing her muscles. The water and bubbles came to her shoulders, she laid her head back and relished the heat and closed her eyes.

She was in heaven for about 10 minutes when she felt like someone was watching her. She knew that Katie was home but she usually just started talking not paying any mind to if Alicia wanted peace and quiet.

She reluctantly opened her eyes only to be greeted her favourite pair of lacy green knickers making an appearance hanging off a finger that was attached to Warrington who leaned his head into the room. She started splashing some water as it was not the sight she had expected.

"Now this is a colour I wouldn't think you'd actually choose to wear" He said twirling the knickers on his finger.

"How the hell did you get in? and what are you doing with my knickers?" Alicia exclaimed as she pulled her knees up even though it wasn't necessary considering she still had bubbles covering.

"We said I'd extend your wardrobe today and you'd model your lingerie for me. Did you forget?" Warrington asked innocently. He was dressed in a grey dress shirt with a black tie and black suit pants looking incredibly handsome as per usual. She was wondering if it came naturally to him or if he did it on purpose she shook the thoughts away as he was still standing there holding her knickers like a prize he had won.

"I remembered you would extend my wardrobe but not the rummaging through my stuff. Now how am I supposed to feel knowing you have rifled through my belongings?" Alicia asked annoyed and flustered.

"Hot and bothered" He told her, he let his eyes roam over her in the bath appreciatively. She shot him a dark look.

"Drop the knickers and get out of my bathroom" She told him.

"Oh someone needs to relax. Would you like me to wash your back? Or perhaps join you? I personally don't watching you bathe" Warrington drawled still holding her underwear.

"Warrington Please close the door-" Alicia started he stepped in and closed the door smiling a mischievous smile. "I meant you close the door and wait in my bedroom!" She clarified increasingly getting flustered.

"Oh my apologies" He said with a sheepish grin enjoying her reactions. "I'll be out there whenever you are ready" He said as he stepped out closing the door behind him.

"Don't touch anything!" She shouted so he could hear her through the door. "Pervert" She mumbled as she pulled herself out of the bath whimpering at her time being shortened and her muscles protesting the movement she grabbed her faded red terry towel robe and wrapped around herself not wanting to leave Warrington in her room for too long.

She pulled open the door to find him lying on her bed making himself at home, she noted his suit jacket hanging on a coat hanger on the door knob to her wardrobe, it looked nothing else in the room had been disturbed not that there was much to disturb to begin with. She only had a small dresser a double bed and a wardrobe which had a few of dresses and other casual clothing and one business suit hanging in there.

"Ok who let you in?" She asked.

"Bell, she let me in when I said we had a lunch date. She likes that we are dating said something about a crush you had on me in school" He said with a smile as he interlaced his hands and placed them behind his head. The bed didn't really accommodate his height as he feet hung over the edge.

"She did not"

"That was not a denial Alicia. Did you have a schoolgirl crush on me?"

"Did you extended my wardrobe?" Alicia asked changing the topic she knew if he answered no he wouldn't believe her anyway.

"Of course"

"Well then get out so I can get changed" Alicia told him.

"But I'm comfy and I came for a show" He told her with a mock pout.

"Awwh today's show is cancelled. Get out" Alicia said she pulled the door open and folded her arms waiting for him to leave after a few moments he reluctantly got up and moved to stand in front of her. Alicia raised her chin so their eyes could meet.

"Tell me in these fantasies you have of me…" He drawled in a low voice to her, he propped a hand on the door frame next to her head leaning his face close to hers.

"Am I on top, behind you or on my back" he asked as he traced a finger across her collarbone that wasn't covered by her robe. Her heart started to race as her body heated up at the contact.

"Like I'd tell you" she said as a delicious shiver ran through her, she licked her lips unconsciously. She took a deep inhale to calm her already racing heart only regretting it as his intoxicating masculine scent made her mind and body go into overdrive.

"Oh a mystery I like mysteries" he taunted as he continued to trace her décolletage and up her neck with his fingers slowly.

"That's good" Alicia drawled in a breathy voice.

"What can I do to get you tell me?" He breathed as kept his lips mere millimetres away from hers. He looked her straight in the eyes watching them darken with desire and lust. He could feel her quivering for him in need. He wasn't immune himself but he wanted her to make the first move.

"Let me get changed alone" Alicia told him with a coy smile, Warrington smiled as he pulled his hand that had been touching her away from her.

"Then I guess you'll be needing these?" he asked as he held up her green knickers. It seemed to break her concentration on him as she snatched them out of his hand. He smirked as she turned away allowing him the opening to smack her on the ass.

She blushed as she glared at him as she closed the door making him chuckle. He turned to Katie who was in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea watching the exchange.

"How long have you two been dating?" Katie asked.

"Not long" Warrington said.

"Makes sense" Katie said with a cryptic smile and with that she walked away leaving Warrington to wonder what she meant.

7 days later,

"We haven't" Alicia said as she and Katie returned to their table at the leaky Cauldron with two pitchers of Butter beers and glasses. Quidditch Practice had reached its pseudo weekend being Tuesday and Wednesday. The coaches believed if their players didn't have Saturday and Sunday off then there would be less bad press for drunken antics and bad behaviour. They usually removed the teams into intensive training closer to the season but it was still months away before that.

Either way the girls had headed to the Leaky Cauldron for some beers and to catch up with the boys as well. Even though Katie pouted that she wanted stay home and have a girls night in. She was outvoted as Angelina and Alicia weren't exactly on the best of terms since Warrington came into the picture.

"No wonder you could cut the sexual tension with a knife it was so thick in the air. I can only imagine it's even worse since you two haven't done the deed" Katie said with a smile.

Alicia had been giving Katie all the 'juicy' details of her love life upon Angelina's insistence as Alicia's 'drought' apparently had broken. They took the seats at the table. George, Lee and Angelina who had been talking amongst themselves turned their attention to Katie and Alicia's conversation. While Fred, Lee and Oliver seemed to be off in their own conversation knowing Oliver it had to something about Quidditch as the man lived and breathed the sport.

"What's this about deeds?" George asked as he broke the conversation he, Angelina and Lee were having.

"Warrington's failure to get into Alicia's knickers." Katie said with an evil chuckle.

"He's being a gentleman" Alicia said defending Warrington. It was still an odd concept for her to wrap her head around.

Alicia had spent at a good portion of her time in Warrington's presence for week or so since their first meeting. If she was honest with herself their arrangement was working to their mutual benefit as Warrington had predicted.

Though he was frustrating her with his teasing she was sure he was going to kiss her and then he would pull away. She had only been in one brief relationship with a guy from Ravenclaw which was in her seventh year and in her experience with the guy, he had initiated all their intimate contact. After him there had been no one else, except for her one date to the Yule ball with a guy from Durmstrang. The rest of her perceived sexual experiences were rumours and just that. She was embarrassed by her lack of experience as she really knew nothing and she didn't want to make it worse by making a fool of herself or fumbling.

"Well I said shag him not date him" Angelina said with a bit of venom in her tone. Alicia tried not to let it get to her that Angelina was not being supportive of Alicia's choice to date Warrington even if it was all just an illusion friends were supposed to have each other's back. Like she really needed to be on the outs with Angelina when tomorrow night she had to get dolled up and got to Malfoy Manor pretending to be fine surrounded by Ex-Death Eaters. At least Katie had offered to help her get ready and cast her glamours and concealment spells Alicia would need and for moral support.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with Alicia dating Warrington" Lee said with a nonchalant shrug. It surprised everyone at the table except for Alicia as she knew Lee didn't feed into the house rivalry as much as did as a teenager.

"Seriously?" Angelina asked Lee.

"Yeah, I ran into him the other day at the Ministry. He was pretty civil seems he's matured from the wanker he used to be" Lee said in a contemplative tone. Alicia choked on her drink and began to cough and laugh at Lee's comment.

"But he's still in Slytherin" Angelina said, Alicia rolled her eyes that argument point was getting old fast. Angelina had taken up every opportunity to dissuade Alicia from dating Warrington. She believed it wasn't in Alicia's best interests long term and she would just end up being hurt. Fred and George decided after their initial opinions were taken into account they didn't care with the attitude it was Alicia's life and her choice.

She actually appreciated it even if it didn't stop them from teasing her mercilessly about having a 'lover' and putting on the big brother role when Warrington escorted her to work.

"What's your point? McLaggen was a Gryffindor and he is the biggest sleazebag who turned out to be a rapist. What house we were sorted into really has no bearing on whether a person is good or bad" Alicia said slightly frustrated, she poured out half a glass of butter beer before Angelina stopped her seeing Alicia's hands tremble slightly.

"Here let me pour" Angelina said taking the glass and pitcher from Alicia. It annoyed Alicia that Angelina took over and she wasn't allowed to pour a glass of beer just because of one tiny tremor. Especially since it was the first time in months Alicia had somewhat steady hands thanks to her increased visits to Master Shikai and the potions courtesy of Warrington.

"McLaggen was an anomaly" Katie said as she poured out her pitcher passing filled glasses around her side of the big table.

"Really? Then maybe Warrington is the anomaly of Slytherin" Alicia said taking the glass Angelina finished pouring and taking a large gulp of the drink to soothe her irritation at her friends putting in their two cents about her faux 'love life' and how she seemed to repeating the same conversation over and over with Angelina.

"Geez so defensive, leesh" George said with a smile.

"It's because she's sexually frustrated and he's making her wait when she does have five years of pent up frustration" Katie said.

"Thanks Katie" Alicia groaned putting her head on the table they were not going to give her a break. She also felt as though she was slowly being buried in more lies as the days went by. It was coming to the point where she was lying more to her friends than she was to Warrington.

"You're welcome, it's not difficult to get laid you know. Trust me all you have to do is ask. Right George?" Katie asked.

"Yep" George said. "Alicia, if you want…" he drawled.

"No, I'm fine" Alicia told him lifted her head sighing as she actually wished she were in Warrington's presence since she wouldn't have to be defending herself of him. She had told Warrington of Verity's theory that the twins now believed to be truth, Warrington had laughed at first but then felt it was inspired much to Alicia's dour look about it. She really didn't like explaining to him how the twins thought it plausible because then it brought up more questions about why she had remained single for the last five years.

She had answered honestly for most part she told him she didn't like dating. Men asked too many questions and in a relationship you were supposed to share your life and be honest with your partner. She couldn't do nor would she risk it as she a spell damaged woman who bought her potions illegally. Alicia left out the true reasons which were that she didn't want to burden a good man with damaged goods. She put on a good front but under it all veneer of her smart arse attitude she was just a broken and scarred soul. Well that and she really didn't want him knowing her lack of experience she would not give him more ammunition.

"What I don't get is why would he date you?" Angelina said Alicia, George and Katie all looked her as if she had grown a second head.

"What's wrong with Alicia?" George asked Angelina.

"Yeah Ange what's wrong with me?" Alicia asked darkly, sitting back in her chair folding her arms. She had asked the question in such a tone and volume she had garnered everyone's attention at the table.

"Don't get me wrong. You're my best friend and I love you. You're intelligent, sarcastic, and beautiful and I can see how that appeals to him. But you are half blood-" Angelina started.

"Actually I'm one-eighth muggle. If we want to be precise" Alicia said cutting Angelina off.

"Yeah well Slytherins are Purists and you aren't even in his social circles" Angelina said stated simple facts it didn't make them hurt any less as Alicia pursed her lips feeling herself get upset and angry. First her friends were saying he wasn't good but now she wasn't good enough for him.

"I was before the war but you're right I'm petit bourgeois* and I know I'm spell damaged and I work for the twins and was considered a 'Blood traitor' along with every other assumed pureblood witch and wizard in the war who fought on the side of the light. I'm also not a hero like the Golden trio or even famous. Trust me I'm intimately aware of all my deficiencies. Would you like me to save you the time and write a list?" Alicia asked snidely.

"Alicia" Angelina said looking at her with pity same with everyone else at the table was now giving Alicia. It made her even angrier how they looked at her like she was a sad and unloved puppy.

"What? You're right, I agree with you. I don't know why he's sniffing around me since he could do better than me. Considering how defective I am right Ange?" Alicia continued.

"That wasn't what I was getting at and you are not defective" Angelina said in saddened tone. Alicia drained her glass of butter beer placed it on the table.

"Whatever, you know what guys I'm not up for beers tonight. I'll catch you all next time" Alicia said getting up from her chair.

"No, don't go! Please I'm sorry. Stay" Angelina pleaded.

"Yeah don't go, we'll change the topic. Come on I haven't seen you in a fortnight and the night is young" Lee said with a smile. Alicia felt undecided a big part of her wanted to up and leave her friends. She knew her relationship with Warrington was a farce but she was tired of defending herself. She felt like she was always trying to fit in with them and now she felt more like she was their charity case that they didn't want to share with Warrington. She truly missed the days where she felt like she belonged.

"Fine, I'll get another pitcher" Alicia said reluctantly as shrugged her jacket off. The group looked happy that she was staying. They were her friends of more than 14 years, she didn't have it in her to stay angry at them as they were entitled to their opinions even if she didn't like them.

"I'll buy" Lee said getting up from his seat he grabbed the two empty pitchers and grabbed her hand dragging her to the bar.

When they reached the bar, Lee placed the empty pitchers and ordered refills and paid for them before turning to Alicia.

"You really like Warrington don't you?" Lee asked her as they leaned against the bar waiting for their order to be filled.

"Maybe" Alicia answered

"You know we all care about you. It's just that some old habits and perceptions from the war are hard to break" Lee said diplomatically. He had gone on the run with George and Fred hosting 'Potterwatch' an illegal Wizarding radio broadcast sending and receiving messages for the Order and its allies keeping everyone up to date on those who had died or been captured during the War. After the war he became a Quidditch commentator, something that earned him the best seats in the quidditch games and VIP passes for his friends and family not to mention a nice fat pay check. He spent majority of his time between games and off season studying at Wizarding College to become a legal mediator. He only had one year of interning with a mediating firm to fulfil the requirements before earning his credentials.

"Don't you ever get tired of holding old grudges?" Alicia asked.

"Nope I sleep pretty well but then I have no grudges against Warrington or most of the Slytherins at school. They were just fighting for what they were told to believe. It doesn't make it right but most of them seemed genuinely remorseful for their part" Lee said with a shrug, Lee saw things for how they were and didn't try to dig into the deeper issues when it wasn't necessary. It was a trait they both shared which was why they could amicably discuss about any taboo topic without getting into arguments about who is right or wrong or having a hurt party. Lee also was the hardest person to offend or anger which was probably why he would excel at his career. A moment of silence lapsed between the two.

"Look cut Ange some slack. She isn't as pragmatic or apathetic as either of us" Lee said Alicia chuckled.

"So true but does she have to be so petulant?" Alicia asked.

"It's called being Headstrong" Lee informed her.

"Same, different. I don't know why she can't at least pretend she's ok with it"

"Ange and the rest of us we were affected by your capture. Ange is affected the most because she was supposed to have been your partner and lookout."

"She got distracted and I forgave her four years ago. I feel like I keep having the same conversations over and over." Alicia said frustrated.

"I know, it's just that it's not easy seeing you in less than spectacular condition. It is not like George and his missing ear. His ear is gone but your health is like a yo-yo though you are looking better than the last time I saw you" Lee said.

"Been a good week" Alicia told him.

"Hopefully you'll figure a way of making it more permanent." Lee said.

"We'll see"

"I digress, Ange sees your damage and how it affects your quality of life. It's not like George, he is just missing an ear and that's it he goes on with his day while you…" Lee drawled he didn't have to finish his sentence it was true her whole life had changed drastically.

"Yeah I know. It's a shame I didn't have any body parts severed" Alicia commented. Lee looked at her oddly "You have to admit the funeral for George's ear was entertaining" Alicia said smiling.

"True. At least he has run out of 'ear' jokes" Lee said as he chuckled.

TBC!

*Petit bourgeois- Lower middle class … even though she is paid a lot by the Weasley twins, she would still be considered lower middle class in my opinion (which doesn't make me the authority) because she doesn't have the further education and proper credentials of a Potions Master. Thus she is just a labourer for the shop but a really awesome one :-)