Chapter 5:

"No!" Mrs Weasley said sternly. "You're too young. I will not have any of you involved." Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Alicia and the twins were sitting at breakfast. The twins had demanded Mrs Weasley tell them information of what the Order was working on, as well as be allowed within the meetings.

It'd been a week since Alicia had been with the Weasley's and Sirius. While everyone else had been cleaning the house, trying to make it liveable as they removed the mould and creatures living within the house, Alicia had been trying to communicate with Harry. Almost five letters had been intercepted, Mrs Weasley had turned up in Alicia's room with two to scold her about going against Dumbledore. Mrs Weasley hadn't spoken to Alicia much since the first day and everyone could tell she wasn't impressed with Alicia's actions or attitude but that didn't stop Alicia's stubbornness. She'd put up with it all, starting with making the same remark to Mrs Weasley as she had to Sirius about her beliefs of letting Harry know. She assumed the other three letters had also been intercepted since and words between the two were minimal. The only good thing was that Mrs Weasley had given up on keeping Alicia from her alone time. She believed these attempts to contact Harry were Alicia's only attempts, after all, how else could she contact him? There were no muggle communications in the house, as Sirius' family had been seriously anti-muggle during their lives.

It seems Alicia's letters to Anthony however were not interrupted, or Mrs Weasley saw a different name on the front and didn't bother, after all, Alicia was smart enough not to tell Anthony about the order and what was going on. He didn't need to know that kind of information.

"Come on mum! We want to help!" Ron exclaimed as they tried to convince Mrs Weasley to tell them something.

"You're much too young."

"We're of age!" the twins chorused

"And Alicia at least has been through everything!" Ginny piped up. "She helped Harry with everything." Alicia sat eating her breakfast. Mrs Weasley didn't know that the six of them had indeed been listening to a few of the meetings the Order had. Fred and George's extendable ears were brilliant in that respect.

"Personally I'm completely insulted." Alicia admitted "You think we're such babies that we can't even handle information." Mrs Weasley wasn't the only one to look surprised. "Just because you tell us things doesn't mean that we're going to be out there risking our necks." She put her cutlery down as she emptied her plate. "Personally, we're more vulnerable being kicked to the sidelines. After all, Knowledge is power right?" everyone watched her as she got up and left the room, a habit she had when making her point so she didn't need to then listen to the outburst her words created.

Naturally the twins tried to use this but Mrs Weasley was as stubborn as she had been all week. After all, this wasn't the first time this conversation arose.

Although Alicia had acted this way with Mrs Weasley, she'd been trying every angle to get Sirius to open up to her. She'd very nearly almost been successful, until Mrs Weasley had walked in and blown a gasket over the situation. Since then she's been keeping an eye on the innocent convict.

Alicia moved back to her room. She slumped onto her bed and sighed.

"Today, today I'll do it. No distractions." she walked over to her door which thankfully had a lock on it. Sure there were many people in this house who could unlock it but it would at least give her an extra minute or two. Alicia turned only to be hooted at by Noel, who was sitting on the desk with a letter around her leg. Alicia smiled and moved over to her to remove Anthony's letter. As Grimmauld Place was hidden in every way possible, Anthony's owl couldn't find it, so Noel had been running the deliveries when she wasn't being intercepted by Mrs Weasley.

Alicia,

I'm glad Noel came, after all, our owl can't find were Dumbledore's taken you. I guess that's the point though?

I'm surprised you finished all your homework, I thought that was a Ravenclaw thing.

My father's decided to take us on a trip to Germany for a few weeks in a few days so I'm not sure if Noel will be up to flying that far. I wouldn't push that far. I'll send you an owl before I leave and when I get home though.

Hope you're alright and I'll talk to you soon.

Anthony.

Alicia smiled with a nod before she grabbed a piece of parchment to write a reply.

Anthony,

Wow! Germany! What's the wizarding community like other there? You must tell me all about it!

Noel's flown quite a ways before, but you're right, Germany might be a little bit far…

I look forward to your return! I'm guessing it'll be just before we go back to Hogwarts wont it? Have lots of fun!

Alicia.

Alicia folded up the letter and attached it to Noel's leg before she gave the owl a treat. Noel took off when Alicia opened the window with a soft hoot.

Right, now, to concentrate. she nodded as she walked over to her bed. However no sooner had she sat down was there the usual pop and the twins sat on either side of her.

"You've got to be kidding me." Alicia ground her teeth irritated and stood up to look at their beaming faces. "What do you want?" they looked taken aback by her tone but recomposed themselves.

"They're having another meeting tonight." Fred said

"Mum let it slip while she was yelling at us just now."

"Great, have you got your ears ready?"

"Yeah it's all good. Hopefully we can hear something useful."

"Listening to them following Death Eaters and recruiting members is guessable." Alicia nodded in agreement. "Is that all?"

"Well we were wondering if you could try something for us?"

"Only if you fix it if it goes wrong." Alicia ordered and the two shared a look.

"We'll try." Fred held out a hand that had a sweet in it. One end was purple, the other orange.

"Eat the orange end." Alicia looked at it with a raised eyebrow.

"What's this one do?"

"Nose-bleed. Hopefully." George said.

"Right well if your mum asks you two were duelling and one of them hit me."

"That'll go down well."

"What ever." Alicia took a bite and swallowed. Within the minute her nose stung slightly and started to bleed.

"It worked!" George cheered and he and Fred shared a high-five. Alicia plugged her nose and put the other end in her mouth, she had blood over her top lip and Fred handed her some tissues. They waited for the purple end to take effect but it didn't.

"You're purple end needs work." Alicia said as she held the now bloody tissue to her nose. "One of you got your wands?" she asked and Fred pulled his out. Alicia pointed it at her nose

"Finite!" She removed the tissue but the blood didn't stop.

"Reparo!" still the blood didn't stop.

Alicia sighed in frustration and gave Fred his wand back before moving for the door which she unlocked and moved down the stairs. Unfortunately she was stopped by Kreacher, the house elf. He was a very weird elf, at least Alicia hadn't met any like him so far.

"More scum entered my Mistress's house, how ashamed she'd be with Kreacher for allowing them in. The sister to Harry Potter, he who stopped the Dark Lord. How they both escape Kreacher wonders…" Kreacher often spoke his thoughts out loud, clearly having been within the house alone for too long and convinced those around him couldn't hear his mutters.

"Sorry Kreacher," Alicia said and stepped aside. The elf stopped muttering to himself and looked at her surprised. She had stepped out of his way. Alicia was one of the only ones within the house who was somewhat polite to the elf. He was rude in his own way and although Alicia usually retaliated she had decided to ignore Kreacher's mumbles and just apologise for getting within his way, at least that way he moved on and didn't bother her.

Mrs Weasley was in hysterics when Alicia walked into the kitchen with her nose bleeding. The twins had followed her down and walked in as she was blaming them for having a stupid duelling club between them both. Mrs Weasley yelled hoarse until Alicia asked her to fix her nose and pointed out her bacon was burning. She was making lunch to the giant household's occupants.

"Sorry Dear." Mrs Weasley waved her wand and the blood stopped before she turned to her cooking food.

"Guess we still need to perfect the purple side." George sighed as he and Fred followed Alicia out.

"Why can't you just use the cure for what ever you put in the orange side?" Alicia asked "In fact why don't you make things that actually have a cure?"

"Because then it wouldn't get people out of class." Fred said simply

"Yes it would, teacher send the kids to madam Pomfrey, not deal with it themselves." Alicia pointed out.

"Where are you going?" George questioned as Alicia reached the second landing

"Back to my room?" Alicia said simply

"Why are you always hiding in your room?" Fred wondered

"I'm trying to do something, and you're constant intrusion isn't helping."

"You offered to help." Fred reminded her

"Not the point." Alicia mumbled as she moved to her door.

Alicia moved over to her desk, deciding that someone else would probably barge in again and decided to finish some more of her homework. She had finished most of it while waiting for news in Surrey but still had little touches that needed completing.

After about half an hour, she was finished. She put her quill down and stretched before relaxing into her chair. She could hear Mrs Weasley, her children and Hermione above her in another bedroom, cleaning it out.

Alicia closed her eyes and was contempt with listening to Mrs Weasley tell the twins off as usual, she could hear distantly, Buckbeak scratching at the floorboards in Sirius' mother's room. Lupin was home today and down in the kitchen somewhere, sounds that were too far away to hear from her room.

Alicia wondered what Harry was doing. She knew when she'd left Uncle Vernon had been suspicious as to why Harry wanted to listen to the news, had he forbidden Harry from listening now? If so, what was Harry doing to avoid getting shouted at? Alicia knew Harry would rather avoid it. And how was he now getting newspapers? She knew the Dursleys wouldn't let him touch theirs, Vernon liked his paper. And was Harry reading the Daily Prophet? Alicia assumed he was looking for signs of Voldemort, whether he'd look further when nothing appeared on the front page however was a different matter. If he didn't he wouldn't know that the Ministry was making him look like an attention seeking little boy.

She knew he'd be more than angry. She wondered if Portia and Alex had given him her message? Or were they unable to see him? Would Ms Bane be that thorough? Dumbledore certainly would. And if he hadn't seen them, then what had they told him? Where did Harry think Alicia was? Or what was wrong?

Alicia sighed. She could imagine Harry, lying on his bed in the dark nights alone, staring at the celling as he waited for some sort of sign of some news, waiting for Hermione and Ron to tell him something, waiting for Alicia to contact him, or Sirius to admit they were doing something. Maybe even waiting to get a letter from Dumbledore. The question was more of how long would Harry go before giving up on them all? He'd be furious with them when he found out everything. He'd be furious that they'd been together for practically the entire summer and hadn't told him anything. He'll be even more furious with Alicia, but she was trying. She'd spent the last week trying. It didn't help that she kept getting interrupted, no one seemed to understand she wanted to be alone other than Ron and Hermione. Ron only bugged her when someone told him too, though reluctantly and Hermione only bugged her for homework queries, most of which she'd finished now.

She could just imagine the look on Harry's face when he found out about all this. She would be chewed out the most if she couldn't contact him before hand. He might already be breaking things within his room, maybe there are punches in his chest of draws, or his books and papers have crinkles from where he'd clung to them too hard.

Alicia could picture herself in the room, telling him how she was just as frustrated and that she assumed no body decided to include them. If she was still in Surrey that is. So far, she'd gotten nothing while being here, leaving Harry was causing Alicia to become more and more guilty for doing so, something that would only go away if she could contact him.

I'm stupid. I shouldn't have come.

You didn't have a choice.

I want to be frustrated and angry with Harry rather than be cooped up here knowing nothing. Despite the fact she hated the Dursley's she'd rather be with Harry in his room.

And then she was.

Alicia looked around surprised. She was standing in Harry's room at Little Whinging. It was currently empty, but she moved to the window and saw the Dursley's backyard, she'd learnt how to get into that garden without being spotted. In their third summer Alicia had snuck into Harry's room on their birthday. Speaking of which she'd have her's without him for the first time since they'd met. The first one since they'd turned eleven. She also needed to figure out what to get him…

Alicia moved to Harry's door and opened it, she understood Harry might not be here, he hated it.

But then how would you be there? You're connections with him.

And here he is protected above all other… she thought.

Moving down to the kitchen Alicia saw Aunt Petunia humming around as she made what looked like dinner. It wasn't that late was it?

From the sound of the house it seemed like no one else was home. Dudley was probably out beating someone up, Uncle Vernon would be at work and Harry would be avoiding the house most likely.

Alicia jumped up and down on the spot. If she'd fallen asleep at Grimmauld Place someone would wake her for dinner at least and if she was just sort of… zoned out then someone would bring her attention back to her mind. She didn't know how long she'd be here for.

Alicia quickly moved back up the stairs to Harry's room. She had to give some sign she'd been here. She moved to his desk were she saw a few daily Prophets and letters from Ron, Hermione and Sirius.

Seriously, I know I'm not keeping it all a secret like them but as if none of my letters have gotten through! she thought frustrated. She reached forwards, wanting to move all the papers and find some parchment, but the last time she'd tried to pick things up, she hadn't been able to touch them.

You've been able to touch Harry since… the logical voice in her mind said.

Alicia took a deep breath and reached for the papers. Her transparent fingers made some sort of contact and with a deep breath she moved them. The papers slid across the desk, however with quite a bit of effort on Alicia's part. She reached for a quill and her fingers went straight through them. Alicia grit her teeth, the frustration building fast as she tried to pick up the quill. Alicia bashed the table with her fist at the aggravation. She could move papers, though it was more work than it should be, why couldn't she just pick up a quill!?

She looked around the room, she had to do something! He had to know she was trying, that she hadn't abandoned him. She could wait as long as possible as he could hear her, but what if she didn't get the chance?

Think! Where would he go?

That's a stupid question. said the voice.

"Worth a shot." Alicia breathed. She moved through the door and down the stairs before coming to a halt at the front door, she raised her hand and it went through the wood before she moved straight out and began to run down Privet Drive.

Alicia reached the playground in which she and Harry had spent the majority of their holidays. Everything was yellow, dry, the sky clear of clouds and the sun beating down. She couldn't feel it but she guessed the heat was way above normal standards.

Alicia looked around and she spotted the unruly black hair sitting on the only unbroken swing.

"Harry!" she called and the boy looked up and then looked around confused. Alicia kneeled before him as he turned around in confusion. Alicia chuckled and Harry looked before him again.

"Yeah it's me." she said and she poked his arm a few times.

"Alicia!" he muttered

"Hi." she waved despite him not being able to see him. "Would've been here sooner but I appeared in your room which sort of was empty. I tried to leave you a message but I couldn't touch the bloody quill." she grumbled.

"What? But where… I mean…?"

"It's a long story. What's Ms Bane told you?" she wondered

"Everything. You're sick, you've gone on an excursion, you're busy…" Harry mumbled "Majority of it was you'd caught the flu and couldn't be seen."

"I thought they'd come up with a better lie than that." Alicia muttered

"What've you been doing? I thought for a while you were ignoring me like Hermione and Ron." Harry grumbled

"I'm not ignoring you. I'm the only one who's been bothering to try and include you!" Alicia admitted irritated. She crossed her arms on Harry's knees and rested her chin on her arm annoyed.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, a week ago Dumbledore came and saw me." Alicia admitted "He told me very little Voldemort wise but he had a few Aurors come and pick me up."

"What?!"

"Remember I sent him a howler, apparently he took me seriously… at least I think that's the reason. Who knows he might have a different one."

"Where did you go? What did he say? What's happening? Why haven't you sent me an owl!"

"I've sent you like five! Mrs Weasley's been stopping Noel and taking them."

"Mrs Weasley?"

"Hermione, Sirius, the Weasley's, they're all with me." Alicia confessed "And none of them want to tell you anything."

"Why?"

"Dumbledore for some stupid reason doesn't want you to know. But he's not thinking straight, of all the people who deserve to know you are definitely top on that list! So I've been trying to control this ghost thing in order to tell you because I knew Mrs Weasley would stop my letters."

"Tell me what? What are they doing? What's Voldemort up to? Why hasn't there been any news?"

"Harry you saw Fudge at the end of the tournament." Alicia sighed "He's steering the truth and Voldemort is clearly using that to his advantage and laying low. Unfortunately I do not know any details because Mrs Weasley thinks I'm six and wont let any of us in the meetings. We're trying our hardest to listen in but…" Alicia shook her head.

"Important info." she decided "Dumbledore has recruited people, death eaters are being followed. I'm not at the orphanage, I left a week ago. Mrs Weasley wont tell us anything. Dumbledore doesn't want you to know. Oh! Dumbledore has people following you!" she said quickly.

"What?" Harry questioned

"You're being followed by wizards! Dumbledore wont leave you alone and unprotected." Alicia looked around the playground "We're probably being watched now which is weird because you're talking to yourself seemingly." Alicia smirked and Harry rolled his eyes.

"But who are they?" Harry asked

"I'm not allowed in the meetings but I think you have Mundungus Fletcher definitely following you, he takes turns with, I'm not sure who." Alicia confessed

"I can't believe you didn't tell me you were leaving." Harry said and Alicia saw the anger building.

She snorted.

"I tried!" she snapped standing up and Harry looked around as Alicia's weight left his knees. "Dumbledore turned up, spoke to me, got me to pack my trunk, talked to Ms Bane and then left telling me there would be people picking me up. And when I went to leave Ms Bane wouldn't let me. Which I knew would happen! So I told Portia and Alex to get you a message, after all they found out about me being a witch — "

"What?"

"— but I guess Ms Bane stopped them from talking to you or you'd know I wasn't at the orphanage." Alicia sighed "I've spent the last week trying to get this ghost thing working in order to talk to you. No one can stop that kind of communication and it's the only one I had left after Noel. But Mrs Weasley was suspicious and was keeping me from my alone time so I couldn't concentrate, despite the fact that I wouldn't help her out around the house like everyone else. She gave up because she's not very happy with me at the moment."

"Why not?" Harry interrupted.

"I've been arguing with her about being told what the Order is up to. I've been working on Sirius more than anything else, after all technically he's my guardian not Mrs Weasley and I've been accusing her of treating me like a six year old…" Alicia took a deep breath. "I've been trying to get information in order to tell you about it. It's the only reason I left, other than the fact that I didn't have a choice, but if I stayed in Surrey we'd both be frustrated and clueless but if I left I could fill us both in, but they wont tell me anything!" she ground her teeth irritated and stopped her pacing which she'd subconsciously began.

"Harry, I'm really really sorry for leaving, and not being able to tell you anything, I have been trying. I have."

"More than Ron and Hermione at least." Harry nodded but the anger was still there.

"I know you're angry, I'm furious! I've spent a week trying to persuade everyone, I haven't seen Dumbledore since I left Surrey but, everyone believes what he's doing is for the best! Sirius is the only one who agrees you need to know the facts, and that you and I should be included in the Orders information sessions but he can't go against Dumbledore and no one else is agreeing with him." Alicia rambled

"Alicia, it's okay. At least you're trying, besides you're here now."

"Only for now. I'm not sure if I've zoned out or if I fell asleep but someone will wake me for dinner, or for the meeting that's happening tonight. The six of us have been trying to listen in on them and get some information but I don't know what's happening first, the meeting or dinner. So far the meetings have come first but it might be different this time. I don't know how much longer I've actually got." She looked at Harry "I promise I'll try and come back again and tell you anything we find out, I'm not really sure how I ended up coming this time." she smirked "I'm just glad I found you here. You could have been anywhere in Little Whinging."

"Well if you come at night then I'll definitely be at the Dursleys."

"I'll try. My concentration times keep getting interrupted." she grumbled.

"So where are you?" Harry asked "The Burrow?"

"Not even close." Alicia admitted "The place has the Fidelus Charm on it so I can't tell you where or the address, you know how the spell works." Alicia muttered. Harry grumbled under his breath and Alicia didn't blame him.

"So I can't even run away from this place cause I have no idea where to go."

"Pretty much." Alicia muttered

"Alicia!" Alicia looked up around her, someone else had said her name.

"Uh oh,"

"What?"

"Someone's calling me…" she muttered

"What?" Harry repeated.

"Alicia wake up!"

"I think I have to go now."

"No Alicia…"

"I'll be back as soon as I can, hopefully with something I can actually tell you about Voldemort. Be careful Harry."

Surrey vanished and Alicia sat up with a jolt as she looked around to see Ginny, the twins, Ron and Hermione around her. Hermione had been shaking her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Ginny asked

"Yeah. Yeah I just… fell asleep." Hermione and Ron looked at one another and then at Alicia suspiciously.

"Is it time for dinner or…?" Alicia asked

"The meeting's started." George grinned as he held up the flesh coloured strings that were the extendable ears.

"Awesome." Alicia grinned and George distributed the strings among them before they were each filed out of the room and onto the landing. The six of them laid on the landing outside Alicia's open door and waited as they listened.

"You're on guard Duty tonight Arthur." Mrs Weasley's voice sounded.

"How is it Tonks?"

"Dark. Boring." there was a yawn "The usual."

"And the Death Eaters?" Lupin's voice sounded

"I haven't been noticed out of place yet." Tonks admitted

"They seem to be keeping clean and going about their normal duties." Kingsley added

"He's trying to make a full proof plan. Using the Ministry's unwillingness to acknowledge him to his advantage. Unfortunately for us his patients is our down fall." Snape's hissing voice interrupted.

"Yes but is he close to getting it?" Sirius asked, clearly irritating.

"Not as of yet. After all he cannot obtain it without getting it himself in person."

"Or, he'd use his manipulative tactics on— "

"What's that?" Mrs Weasley's voice cut in. All of them looked down the landing and saw one of the flesh coloured strings was just under the door.

"Thinks she saw it?" Alicia asked slowly

"Knowing our luck?" Ron muttered. The Six of them shared a look before pulling the strings up towards the landing as the door opened. Mrs Weasley clearly saw them all as they ducked out of sight and the twins took the Extendable Ears before all they heard was Mrs Weasley's shrill yelling voice and her footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Not two seconds later the shouts, screams and yells of Mrs Black's portrait began. Alicia had had the pleasure of personally meeting Mrs Black within her first two days here. She screamed whenever the doorbell sounded, which no matter how many times Mrs Weasley warned them, the Order continued to use.

"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, begone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my fathers —"

"WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ALL DOING!?" Mrs Weasley was stomping up the stairs ignoring Mrs Black's screams, in fact Mrs Weasley seemed to be out screaming her as the twins grabbed all the strings and disapparated while Alicia, Hermione, Ron and Ginny ducked into her room as quickly and quietly as possible.

"FRED! GOERGE! YOU COME OUT HERE THIS INSTANT AND TELL ME WHAT THOSE STRINGS ARE! IF THEY'RE MORE OF THOSE INVENTIONS—" Mrs Weasley seemed too angry to get all her words out as she moved to the twins' room. Ron was closest to Alicia's now closed door as he listened. The twins appeared within the room with them and Exploding Snap was set up quicker than Alicia had known possible.

Mrs Weasley burst into the room just as the cards all spontaneously exploded.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING!?" Mrs Weasley roared

"We're playing snap?" Ginny said

"DO NOT PLAY DUMB WITH ME YOUNG LADY!" Mrs Weasley's eyes were turned on the twins. "I saw those… those string things. What are they and what where you doing!?" she demanded. The twins looked at one another clearly thinking of an excuse.

Alicia however stood up and everyone saw the hard cold look on her face, maybe even to match Mrs Weasley's. Ron and Hermione shared a very nervous look.

"What the hell do you think they were!?" Alicia demanded "We were listening to your meeting!" she admitted. Mrs Weasley looked at Alicia shocked "And this isn't the first one. Seeing as you think we are so dumb, so stupid, so incapable of being able to obtain knowledge." Now it was Alicia's turn to get so angry she couldn't get all her words out. "We are all within this house! We are all involved! And yet you keep us locked up here, acting as though nothing is wrong, as though we are five! We are more than cable of understanding the stand everyone is out there risking in order to keep the happiness and peace we have with one another! We want to help keep what we have, our friendships, our families, the people we care about!" Mrs Weasley's face was so shocked she couldn't seem to get a word out.

"You want to sit us on the sidelines than be prepared to accept the consequences when we find out exactly what's been happening because I refuse to sit to the side like some stupid precious china doll!" she snapped and Mrs Weasley flinched back. "I will not be left out because I am one of the reasons you even know Voldemort is back. I am one of those who's already had her parents stripped from her because of Voldemort and I will not sit around helpless as I wait for everything else I care about be taken away as well!"

Alicia fumed as she stopped and Mrs Weasley stared at her, everyone did. Mrs Black's screams from down stairs had stopped and the entire house was in dead silence. Mrs Weasley and Alicia just stared at each other. Everyone could see the fire behind Alicia's eyes as she stared determined.

Mrs Weasley's only response was to turn and leave the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Don't you think you took it a bit far?" Hermione whispered "She's only looking out for you."

"I feel like a bird trapped in a cage Hermione." Alicia admitted "She wont listen to me otherwise." Alicia followed Mrs Weasley out of the room and headed for were Buckbeak was staying in Sirius' mother's room.

She settled herself down beside the big bird after it bowed back to her and stroked it's feather tentatively.

"Well that was surely something." Sirius said as he entered the room. Alicia didn't even turn around.

"You've rather upset Molly." he confessed

"Maybe she'll understand how undermined and upset I feel then." Alicia mumbled "She's clearly worried for her family how does she think I feel? I know I can help and yet no one is letting me!" she turned to look at Sirius, tears biting at her eyes. "And even you wont tell me anything!"

"Because Harry needs to know as well."

"So tell me so I can tell him!" Alicia demanded "I know most of it already anyway!" Sirius sat on the floor beside Alicia. Alicia just absentmindedly stroked Buckbeak.

"Alicia she's only got your best interest at heart…"

"Not my best interests Sirius, my safety. I'm almost fifteen, like it's my birthday in two days." she confessed "I faced trolls and killer plants and a giant as chest board in my first year when I was only eleven. I helped fight a basilisk and a memory of Riddle when I was twelve. I think I can handle information as to what Voldemort's up to this time. After all," she frowned and lowered her gaze "It's partly my fault he's back. I helped let Wormtal get away, I didn't listen to my instincts which told me not to trust Moody and therefore practically let him turn the cup into a portkey…" she mumbled.

"So that's why you want to know… you feel responsible. You couldn't have stopped this."

"It's one of the reasons." Alicia said strongly "Voldemort also happened to kill my parents, Pettigrew kept you locked up for twelve years, I went eleven years without knowing I had a brother. If it wasn't for Voldemort I'd be living a life better than… anyones." she said "I'd be living it right. Witch since birth and known about it, spoiled on my birthdays, riding a play broom when I was three, had my mother plat my hair, my dad worry about his little girl, my non-related uncle," she gestured to Sirius "There everyday playing a magic trick or something for me every time he turned up." tears were rolling down her face now. "Harry and I fighting over toys, chasing one another around the house with mum and dad's wands as I know we'd end up doing. Mum being proud when I conquered magic before even starting at Hogwarts. The happiness and excitement when Harry and I got out letters. The proud looks on their faces when I got the top marks of my year and when I wanted to try out more subjects than wise, mum would warn me to really think about it first and not to just do it because Hermione asked me to…" she sobbed and Sirius placed his arms around her and held her to his chest.

"I want to stop others from not getting what I couldn't have. Stop it from being taken from them. I want to protect those who are close to me, I don't want to lose anyone again and… and now… Harry's not with me and that makes me feel guilty. I'm being pushed to the side like a worthless child. I feel so useless, locked in this house and unable to even provide my understanding. I know I can I be useful but…" Sirius stroked her hair

"I understand feeling useless." he admitted "And I understand the helplessness of being unable to do anything. I agree with telling Harry, he needs to know, but you can't feel guilty, it wasn't your decision."

"I have to live by it." she muttered. She sniffed and pulled away from Sirius, wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath to stop her sobs.

"Please Sirius, tell me something. Anything." she said "If Mrs Weasley doesn't want her children to know that's her choice but,"

Sirius smiled at her.

"What are you all guarding that Voldemort wants?" Sirius looked at her strongly "Yes we were listening. Something Voldemort wants, you're guarding it, he can't obtain it without doing so himself or using…" she recounted. Sirius sighed.

"What could be so important to risk going to get it?" she wondered as she thought. Where could Voldemort be at risk the most, if it was some random space he could just jinx whoever saw him? It wouldn't be at Hogwarts, or at least Voldemort wouldn't be stupid enough to infiltrate Hogwarts so soon after last year. Only last place he'd be hesitant to get into but had people on the inside to help would be…

"Voldemort isn't thinking of entering the Ministry himself for this thing is he…?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"He is?" Alicia asked surprised. "What could be so important?" The only reason worth risking that would be something very powerful… or something to give him the advantage… Voldemort was all about power but Dumbledore was still ahead of him… maybe he was after more power? But what could the Ministry have that could help with that.

Anything. It's the Ministry.

Unhelpful.

"Alicia, give it a rest."

"I'm going to figure this out Sirius. And I bet I'll know everything before even you lot do." Alicia got up and left the room as Sirius sighed.