Chapter 29

"Warrington, Spinnet welcome to our home" Draco said warmly. It was incredibly unnerving when people Alicia went to school with who came from Slytherin house were nice to her after years of them being assholes. They had arrived just outside the main ballroom of Draco and Astoria's home. It was a lavishly decorated Mansion and the Ballroom was just as impressive. It looked like Draco and Astoria had not spared a galleon in the presentation as it all bespoke of old world charms and money.

Draco and Astoria even took up the old custom of standing out the entrance welcoming their guests into the Ballroom.

"Alicia, you look lovely this evening." Astoria said in a gracious manner as she stood beside Draco in a very demure gown, it paled in comparison to Alicia's silver dress. Alicia knew it had to annoy Astoria as she loved being the centre of attention.

"Thank you, you look gorgeous yourself" Alicia said in a genuine manner as she was sure Astoria could wear a hessian bag and still look fabulous. It was a Slytherin thing, like they had some secret etiquette school in the dungeons that taught them to dress a certain way and act the way that they did.

"Thank you and Cassius, it's always a pleasure" Astoria said to Warrington, she gave him a warm smile.

"Indeed it is" Warrington remarked.

"We're so glad you could make it to our little soiree. Please enjoy the evening we'll talk later" Draco said as he directed them to the room.

Alicia held onto Warrington's arm as he escorted her into the Ballroom, it was a large room filled with people of all houses and classes of society dressed in their finest.

"It's a really good mix of houses in here" Alicia remarked as it felt more like what she would imagine a Hogwarts Reunion would look like. She could already spot out the major political players in the Ministry, the golden trio were there and to Alicia's surprise many other familiar faces she would never imagine Astoria and Draco would ever rub shoulders with.

"Malfoy wants to be the Minister of Magic one day" Warrington said in her ear.

"Good luck to him" Alicia scoffed.

"Yes, indeed" Warrington said in an amused tone.

"So are you sure about this dress?" She asked, she was really double checking that she didn't look 'pregnant'. She was used to being a stick figure she had forgotten what it felt like to have curves.

"You look beautiful" He assured her.

"But you can't tell?" she asked.

"the dress isn't that fitted and if they suspect, well then let them. I do not care" he said as he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. She smiled and was about to say something but was cut off by Montague who rushed up to them.

"Warrington, Spinnet" Montague said in a rushed greeting, Alicia smiled as Katie moved to her side and smiled.

"Montague, Bell" Warrington said in greeting, he was about to make a comment about Katie's red gown when Montague cut him off.

"It's about time you two stopped shagging and showed up. You won't believe who is here on Weasley's arm" Montague said to him, his lips curled up in disgust.

"Which Weasley are you referring to? There are many of them" Warrington remarked ignoring Montague's comment about he and Alicia shagging.

"Bell, what's his name. The redheaded one" Montague asked, Alicia looked to Katie who wore an amused smile.

"The red one really narrows it down" Alicia said dryly before she chuckled with Katie, it was incredibly rare for Montague to be in such a perturbed manner.

"Charlie" Katie supplied before Montague could make a snide comment. He had tracked her down and demanded she tell him where Warrington was, she had never seen him with his knickers in such a twist.

"Charlie's here?" Alicia asked Katie, she had seen a couple of redheads around and assumed Fred and Ron were here but not Charlie. He was rarely in the UK and she could not imagine him coming to an event like this.

"Yeah nearly the whole Weasley clan is here" Katie told her. The information surprised Alicia as it was well known the Malfoys hated the Weasleys. Obviously Draco's want for a political position outweighed his hatred of the Weasleys

"Probably here for the food" Montague muttered as he downed his drink.

"That's what I'm here for" Alicia said with a smile as she wasn't sure she liked the hard tone in his voice. His usually jovial manner and light jokes now had a definite bite to them.

"Of course you would. A daring wardrobe choice tonight don't you feel it's a little showy?" Montague asked his eyes lowered to her abdomen. Alicia had been about to say something when Katie smacked him upside the head.

"Geez Montague, don't be a little bitch just because Charlie snagged a woman you want" Katie said, she snagged a glass of champagne from a waiter passing by and took a sip while Montague paled and looked like he was going to be ill.

"I think I just threw up a little in my mouth" Montague said.

"Who is it?" Alicia asked curiously as she had never known Montague to reject a woman.

"I can't say" Montague said stubbornly, he looked at Warrington and tilted his head to their left and Warrington searched the faces to see who had his friend in a twist.

"Oh for Merlin's sake why not?" Alicia asked frustrated.

"Because it's his sister" Warrington said as he spotted Clara Montague to their left a few people away talking with Kingsley and Charlie Weasley. He hadn't seen her in over a decade but knew it was the person in the world that would make Montague turn sour and the one person he could not acknowledge because of their societial rules.

"You have a sister?" Alicia asked Montague in disbelief. She had always thought Montague was an only child.

"Poor woman" Katie drawled before she took another sip of her champagne.

"Why didn't you just say it was your sister and why do we not know that you had one?" Alicia asked.

"She was disowned, it's common practice in our circles not to acknowledge disowned family members" Warrington explained to her as Montague was not allowed to talk directly about his sister.

"By our circles he means the Slytherin house" Montague added as if it was necessary to clarify.

"You acknowledged her" Katie pointed out to Warrington.

"He's breaking tradition by slumming it with you-ow" Montague said as Katie stamped his foot hard with her stiletto heel.

"Katie!" Alicia exclaimed as she couldn't believe Katie had attacked Montague with so many witnesses.

"He deserved it" Katie said to Alicia.

"I second that" Warrington said.

"So what's the deal? You going to be bitch to everyone because she's here? and speaking of where is she? And does she have a name?" Katie asked, she started scanning the faces in the room.

"Oh good point" Alicia said as she joined the search.

"I can't say. Warrington what the hell was Draco smoking when he invited that?" Montague said as Warrington surreptitiously pointed Clara out to Alicia and Katie so they would stop being so obvious in their search.

"Her" Alicia corrected as she saw the woman with Charlie, laughing about something with the group. She had the same dark brown eyes and dirty blonde hair as Montague but hers was longer to just below her bust and hung in soft waves framing her face nicely. She had almond shaped eyes, cupid lips and straight edged nose. She wore a white cotton silk loose v-neck top and a tan long skirt with turquoise jewellery. She was beautiful which really didn't surprise Alicia as Montague was a very good looking man naturally his sister would be a knock out.

"Wow, she is hot" Katie commented speaking the words Alicia was thinking.

"Keep your pants zipped Bell" Montague told her.

"I'm wearing a dress" Katie told him in a smart ass manner. Montague gave her an agitated look.

"I need a drink" Montague said throwing his hands up in the air. "I'm going to the bar" he added before he walked away.

"Is he going to be ok?" Alicia asked Warrington.

"Should be, I'll keep an eye on him just in case" Warrington said to her. He knew Montague's past and understood why the man became unhinged around his sister. But he wasn't going to share with Katie and Alicia as it wasn't his story to share.

"So why was she disowned and why are we only finding out about it now?" Katie asked. Warrington smiled at her amused that she had no tact in just leaving it alone.

"Because it was before your time in Hogwarts and it's none of your business" Warrington told them.

"Oh we have been told" Katie said in a teasing manner to Alicia.

"Indeed we have" Alicia said to Katie.

"Warrington"

Warrington and Alicia turned to the voice that called his name. It was Terence Higgs, he had changed since his quidditch days, he was 5ft 9 and lanky, his thin nature made his face angular and in Alicia's opinion made him unattractive. Finally she had found a Slytherin who didn't look like he had stepped off a magazine cover.

"Higgs, been a while. What have you been up to?" Warrington asked with a smile as he offered the man his hand. Higgs smiled and shook his hand.

"This and that, been on the continent. So what's this I hear about you and a certain Gryffindor?" Higgs said, he gestured his finger between Alicia and Warrington and Warrington placed his hand possesively on Alicia's lower back.

"You remember Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell" Warrrington said as he reintroduced the women to Higgs.

"Yes, I do. You two clean up well" Higgs said admiring the view as Katie drained a glass of champagne. Alicia frowned at how fast her friend was doing the champagne and made a mental note to talk to her later to see if she was ok.

"Alicia is my fiance" Warrington said to Higgs.

"What?!" Katie exclaimed.

"He asked me tonight" Alicia said to Katie.

"Congratulations! Let me see the ring!" Katie demanded. Alicia offered her left hand to Katie so she could see the ring.

"Yes, congratulations" Higgs said in a less than enthused manner but it was out of indifference than anything else.

"Wow, it's beautiful" Katie said to Alicia.

"It's an Heirloom from my Grandfather's family" Alicia said,

"Nice, when's the wedding?" Katie asked.

"Not sure, soon" Alicia said she looked to Warrington for back up.

"You'd have to talk to my Mother, I'm sure she and Alicia's grandfather have already set out a date and a location" Warrington said to Katie.

"What about the honeymoon?" Higgs asked in an amused manner.

"It's going to be a surprise" Warrington said. He already knew that he wanted to be in Ireland and relax for a few days without his mother and Cillian coming over all the time. While it didn't sound overly romantic or fantastic as a tropical holiday or going to Paris; it would suit them. Also in Warrington's opinion Alicia wasn't ready to travel long distances or playing tourist. They both needed to relax and a holiday away could wait until Alicia was past her morning sickness that way she could enjoy it.

"I think that will be my favourite part" Alicia said with a smile. Higgs and Warrington laughed while Katie made a face.

"Ew. Warrington I'm stealing your woman to tell our group of her biggest mistake yet. We need to have an intervention. Got a problem with that?" she asked with a mocking smile.

"None whatsoever" He said, he leaned over and gave Alicia a brief kiss. "I'll save you later"

"I'll be waiting" Alicia said in good humour before Katie dragged her away.

Some time later, Alicia stood near the bar waiting for the waiter to bring her a cup of tea. Warrington was a few people away talking business with Flint and her usual group of friends were all mingling around the room. She was grateful for the reprieve as the twins were giving her hell about her engagement to Warrington.

Not that she didn't expect it but she'd hope they give her a 24 hour window where they congratulated her and not make some joke about how their children would turn out or how George was still free. Angelina had looked like she had sucked on a sour lemon at the news but then their relationship wasn't exactly copacetic anymore. Lee was the most calm of them all but then she knew he would be the most 'normal' reaction of her group.

So now she stood near the bar waiting. It was amazing her how long it was taking for a simple cup of tea to be made. She was beginning to wonder if they were bleeding the water from a rock as it was taking so long.

"Alicia" someone said from behind her, Alicia turned and smiled as she looked to Bill.

"Bill, wow it's been a long time" Alicia said as she looked to him with a bright smile. He wore a muggle tux like Warrington's and looked good, his hair was just below his chin with a long side fringe to partially cover the scars on the left side of his face where Fenrir Greyback had attacked him.

"You look amazing, George told me that you were cursed and it has been lifted" he said with a smile on his lips. Alicia felt he had the kindest, and most handsome smile as it made the receiver feel like they were on equal setting with him no matter their circumstances.

"Yes, it has. I'm still healing but my magic is coming back" Alicia told him. They were connected through her friendship with the twins and a two week internship at Gringott's that she never finished.

"That's excellent, and Congratulations" Bill said.

"If I had a knut for every time someone said that to me tonight. It's so good to see you, it's been a long time" She said to him.

"Yeah it has and I heard about the engagement. You and Warrington are definitely cutting it close" Bill said with a grin.

"Excuse me?" Alicia asked a little confused as she thought his congratulations was about her engagement..

"The nose knows" he said tapping to his nose. It dawned on her that he could smell her pregnancy. A smile spread across her lips.

"Ah you know sometimes I forget you have those heightened senses" Alicia said, she had tried her hand at an internship at Gringotts. Of course she didn't last more than a few days before the goblins found her lack of magical abilities and good health an inconvenience. It was the first and last time she tried her hand at trying to live in the Wizarding world trying to push past her own limits before taking up her current position the twins offered. If it weren't for them she had no idea where she'd be. The Weasleys were truly the best people she knew as they always tried to help everyone.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me but tell me you're not marrying him for that reason" Bill said making a face.

They weren't exactly close friends but they shared common ground as she was friends with the twins and they both had been survivors of the war who bore visible scars, both pitied and/or shunned by certain circles of society because they had been 'damaged' and no longer really considered entirely normal like everyone else. The only difference was that Bill's curse enhanced his senses, made him stronger while her curse weakened her completely. Either way they got along amicably and she never felt like a charity case around him and he never treated her as anything less than he would someone else. It was one of things she admired about him the most.

"No, I marrying him because he is a great shag" Alicia joked casually. Bill gave a smile at her crude joke before looking at her with a more serious manner.

"Just don't rush into a marriage, it isn't easy for people like us to be in relationships with people like Fleur and Warrington. No matter how hard we try we will always be seen as subpar" Bill told her.

"I understand what you're saying" Alicia said, and she truly did because while she knew the curse had been lifted from her, it didn't necessarily mean she was cured. She worried about what long term effects of being cursed did to her body and her magic. She knew she would recover but it wasn't going to happen in a snap of her fingers. She also knew to take Bill's advice as he rarely offered it which meant when he did, it meant something. This subject was one he had more experience in as well.

"I'm not saying don't get married, by all means do it but be completely sure that it's something you two want and not because of societal pressures" Bill advised, she nodded and wondered if everything was alright with his marriage but didn't ask. They weren't close enough as friends for her to stick her nose into his business.

"Of course, you know my Grandfather shares your opinion but he has already set up a new home for me in Ireland and has set up this fantasy that I'll take over his bar" Alicia said, Bill laughed as she rolled her eyes.

Warrington's eyes drifted to where Alicia stood talking with Bill Weasley. The two were laughing about something and Alicia smiled and touched his arm. She looked so utterly relaxed in Bill's company. He squashed a slight stab of jealousy as he hadn't seen Alicia so free with another person, not even her friends. She was always guarded with them.

He excused himself from the conversation he had been partaking in and walked over to them as he felt the need to stake his claim.

"Alicia, Bill" Warrington said as he sidled up to them. Alicia looked him a twinkle in her eyes and a bright smile. She moved to his side and he felt comforted

"Cassius" Bill said warmly, they of course had past dealing as Warrington Industries accounts were held at Gringotts. Bill held out his hand and Warrington shook it in greeting.

"You call him by his first name" Alicia said surprised as she hadn't heard anyone call Warrington by his first name besides herself and Warrington's mother.

"It's his name. Alicia and I were talking about you" Bill said in an amused manner, Warrington looked to Alicia.

"Of course you were, I hope it was all good" Warrington said teasingly as he placed a possessive hand on Alicia's hip.

"Yes, I don't speak poorly of people in public places. I save that for behind closed doors" Alicia replied. A waiter appeared by them with a tray and Alicia smiled as the man handed her the cup of tea she had ordered. She thanked him taking the tea cup by the saucer before turning to the men.

"So how do you two know one another?" Warrington asked.

"Alicia interned at Gringotts in my department a couple of years back. A real shame that her 'spell damaged' state held her back, she had the smarts but Goblins aren't very understanding creatures. Though now that she has her magic back. I'm sure she could become the best in the banking business"

"I doubt that but thank you for the compliment" Alicia said as she could tell the tea was scorching hot.

"Self deprecating as always. A little training and you'll be great. Tell me when are you going to get your status changed back now that you're no longer 'spell damaged'?" Bill asked.

"When I'm fully recovered" Alicia said.

"You look and feel well enough to me" Bill said lightly teasing Alicia.

"What exactly have you two been doing?" Warrington asked Alicia elbowed him in the ribs and he gave a groan. He smiled none the less.

"Bill has a few extra senses due to his brush with death" Alicia said, she brushed her fingers across her own face as she inferred Bill's encounter with Fenrir. She was one of the few people Bill didn't mind referring to his scars.

"Of course, I had forgotten you inherited some extra traits" Warrington said.

"That's a polite way of putting it" Bill said wryly as he smiled to Alicia for a moment before looking to Warrington again. "Tell me how did you manage to tie her down?"

"Through coercion and blackmail" Warrington replied.

"Sounds about right for a Slytherin" Bill quipped.

"Yes, she wasn't charmed by my bank account or my good looks so you work with what you have" Warrington said with a shrug.

"So very true" Bill said in good humour.

Alicia shook her head and picked up the tea cup as she was sure it was ready to drink when she felt happened immediately: Alicia felt as though a hook just behind her navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward. The room and Warrington disappeared as she seeming fell into darkness. Wind howled around her as she knew it was a portkey after a few seconds her feet slammed into the ground and she lost balance and fell onto the ground.

The cup rolled away in the darkness and Alicia heard the sound of something moving. Seconds later she felt vines circle her forearms, wrists and lower legs. She was yanked off ground and into the air.