Chapter 47:
The next quidditch match approached and Alicia moved out onto the pitch with the new team feeling rather negative about the outcome but vowed to just play as hard as she could.
It was a short match, lasting only twenty-two minutes of agony. Ginny caught the snitch from under Summbery's nose, the Hufflepuff seeker, however Ron let in many more goals than Alicia could shoot, Kirke fell off his broom when Zacharias zoomed past with the Quaffle and Sloper missed a bludger and hit Angelina in the mouth instead. Fortunately they lost by only ten goals thanks to Ginny's catch, two hundred and forty versus two hundred and thirty.
The Gryffindor common room atmosphere afterwards was like a dismal funeral. Alicia slumped down into a chair with a butterbeer and sighed heavily. Ginny sat with her as well before they were joined by Harry.
"Good catch," he told her.
"I was lucky," she shrugged. "It wasn't a very fast Snitch and Summerby's got a cold, he sneezed and closed his eyes at exactly the wrong moment. Anyway, once you're back on the team —"
"Ginny, I've got a lifelong ban."
"You're banned as long as Umbridge is in the school," Ginny corrected him. "There's a difference. Anyway, once you're back, I think I'll try out for Chaser. Angelina is leaving next year and I prefer goal-scoring to Seeking anyway."
"Well I could always swap with you and we'll see how that works out." Alicia offered. Harry however had looked over to Ron who was sitting in the corner, hunched over, a butterbeer in his clutches as he stared at his knees.
"Angelina still won't let him resign," Ginny said, as she noticed his gaze. "She says she knows he's got it in him."
It was great Angelina had faith in Ron, but after he left the pitch to another coming chorus of "Weasley Is Our King" Alicia felt it might be nicer to let him leave the team.
Fred and George wandered over, Fred sitting beside Alicia and placing an arm around her shoulders.
"I haven't got the heart to take the mickey out of him, even," said Fred, looking over at Ron's crumpled figure. "Mind you… when he missed the fourteenth…"
He made wild motions with his arms as though doing an upright doggy-paddle.
"Well, I'll save it for parties, eh?"
"Well he doesn't need to feel worse." Alicia believed.
"You played well though." Fred told her
"Well," she flicked her hair with mock pride. They chuckled as she smiled.
Ron crept up to bed eventually and Harry followed a little while later. Alicia had stuck into her homework with Hermione as Fred and George played exploding snap. Eventually the two left and the girls were left to themselves.
"So," Hermione began. Alicia sighed and looked at her expectantly. "Fred?"
"You're such a girl sometimes." Alicia replied
"What? I noticed you come and leave with him today. Also you've both seemed rather cute lately." She said. Alicia shrugged.
"We'll see, they're finishing Hogwarts this year so who knows what'll happen." She confessed
"You'll still see them." Hermione said
"That I don't doubt." Alicia assured smiling.
"Well, do you like him?"
"I've always liked the twins Hermione, but maybe there's something a little different." she decided to divulge and Hermione smiled.
It seemed that was enough to please her for she didn't ask for more.
The four moved down to the Great Hall and entered it for breakfast exactly as the post was arriving. Hermione was not the only person eagerly awaiting her Daily Prophet: Nearly everyone was eager for more news about the escaped Death Eaters, who, despite many reported sightings, had still not been caught. She gave the delivery owl a Knut and unfolded the newspaper eagerly while Harry helped himself to orange juice.
Alicia pulled some scrambled eggs towards her before an owl landed in front of her. She looked at it surprised as the same happened to Harry. Only Sirius sent them letters and he wouldn't dare to do so what with Umbridge intercepting them. So who the mystery letter came from she didn't know.
Harry seemed to think the same for he questioned the owl that landed before him.
"Who're you after?" he asked it, languidly removing his orange juice from underneath its beak and leaning forward to see the recipient's name and address:
Harry Potter
Great Hall
Hogwarts School.
Another owl landed before the two twins followed by five more owls. Alicia looked at them all as Harry frowned before she noticed an owl with two parcels, long and cylindrical.
"What's going on?" Ron asked in amazement, as the whole of Gryffindor table leaned forward to watch as another seven owls landed amongst the first ones, screeching, hooting, and flapping their wings.
Alicia reached through the owls to one and picked it up, it had two cylindrical parcels on both it's legs.
"Harry!" said Hermione breathlessly, looking at the owl Alicia had. "I think I know what this means — open that one first!" and she pointed at the owl.
Alicia and Harry both released the packages and the owl took off as they removed the brown paper. Out rolled a tightly furled copy of March's edition of The Quibbler. They unrolled it to see both of their own faces grinning, Harry sheepishly and Alicia brilliantly, at them from the front cover. In large red letters across his picture were the words:
ALICIA AND HARRY POTTER SPEAK OUT AT LAST:
THE TRUTH ABOUT HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED AND THE NIGHT WE SAW HIM RETURN
"It's good, isn't it?" said Luna, who had drifted over to the Gryffindor table and now squeezed herself onto the bench between Fred and Ron. "It came out yesterday, I asked Dad to send you a free copy. I expect all these," she waved a hand at the assembled owls still scrabbling around on the table in front of Harry and Alicia, "are letters from readers."
"That's what I thought," said Hermione eagerly, "Harry, d'you mind if we — ?"
"Help yourself," said Harry, feeling slightly bemused.
"We'll read them faster together." Alicia believed
Ron and Hermione both started ripping open envelopes.
"This one's from a bloke who thinks you're off your rocker," said Ron, glancing down his letter. "Ah well…"
"This woman recommends you try a good course of Shock Spells at St. Mungo's," said Hermione, looking disappointed and crumpling up a second.
"This one looks okay, though," said Harry slowly, scanning a long letter from a witch in Paisley. "Hey, she says she believes me!"
"This one's in two minds," said Fred, who had joined in the letter-opening with enthusiasm. "Says you don't come across as a mad person, but he really doesn't want to believe You-Know-Who's back so he doesn't know what to think now… Blimey, what a waste of parchment…"
"Not really, he's gotten his fear out to someone, which can help." Alicia said as she opened a letter herself. "How dare you claim to be Alicia Potter…" she read before scrunching it up and tossing it. She reached for another. "'I knew there was a chance that if Harry survived you would have as well!' That's better." she smiled.
" 'Why did you bother to hide your identity as Alicia Potter?' " Fred read.
"Even I don't know but at least she believes me." Alicia responded.
"Here's another one you've convinced, Harry!" said Hermione excitedly. " 'Having read your side of the story I am forced to the conclusion that the Daily Prophet has treated you very unfairly… Little though I want to think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned, I am forced to accept that you are telling the truth…' Oh this is wonderful!"
"Another one who thinks you're barking," said Ron, throwing a crumpled letter over his shoulder, "but this one says you've got her converted, and she now thinks you're a real hero — she's put in a photograph too — wow —"
"Your story makes much more sense with the recent disappearances and the breakout in Azkaban." Alicia read "Hell yeah it does—"
"What is going on here?" said a falsely sweet, girlish voice.
They looked up, Harry with his hands full of envelopes. Professor Umbridge was standing behind Fred, Alicia and Luna, her bulging toad's eyes scanning the mess of owls and letters on the table in front of the twins. Behind her he saw many of the students watching them avidly.
"Why have you got all these letters, Mr. Potter?" she asked slowly.
"Is that a crime now?" said Fred loudly. "Getting mail?"
"Be careful, Mr. Weasley, or I shall have to put you in detention," said Umbridge. "Well, Mr. Potter?"
Harry hesitated and the twins shared a look, but he did not see how he could keep what he had done quiet; it was surely only a matter of time before a copy of The Quibbler came to Umbridge's attention.
"People have written to us because we gave an interview," said Harry. "About what happened to us last June."
"An interview?" repeated Umbridge, her voice thinner and higher than ever. "What do you mean?"
"I mean a reporter asked me questions and I answered them," said Harry. "Here —"
And he threw the copy of The Quibbler at her. She caught it and stared down at the cover. Her pale, doughy face turned an ugly, patchy violet.
"When did you do this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Last Hogsmeade weekend," said Harry.
She looked up at him and Alicia, her eyes darting between them, incandescent with rage, the magazine shaking in her stubby fingers.
"There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you, Mr. Potter," she whispered. "Or you Miss Evans." Alicia sighed and then took a breath in to try and calm her. She should have known something like this would have happened. Fred rubbed her back.
"How you dare… how you could…" She took a deep breath. "I have tried again and again to teach you not to tell lies. The message, apparently, has still not sunk in. Fifty points from Gryffindor and another week's worth of detentions for you both."
She stalked away, clutching The Quibbler to her chest, the eyes of many students following her.
"Well, that doesn't come as a surprise." Alicia sighed as Hermione stared after her.
"She's so…" she began before breathing harshly.
"Can your hand even take much more?" Fred asked Alicia
"Harry's had it more than me. I think problem now is a week with Umbridge, how we going to do Snape too and Angelina's going to kill me for missing training." Alicia stared after the women before she grinned. "Still she was so angry and shocked. What a better way to get under her skin!" they chuckled around her.
By mid-morning enormous signs had been put up all over the school, not just on House notice boards, but in the corridors and classrooms too.
— BY ORDER OF —
The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
Any student found in possession of the magazine The Quibbler will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-seven.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
HIGH INQUISITOR
Every time Hermione caught sight of one of these signs she beamed with pleasure. Alicia could understand why, by banning The Quibbler Umbridge had guaranteed that every student would be interested in why there was such a ban and go looking for answers. There was not a better way to spread the news that Alicia and Harry Potter had opened up about their terrible experience.
"What exactly are you so happy about?" Harry asked Hermione, apparently not understanding this.
"Oh Harry, don't you see?" Hermione breathed. "If she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person in this school will read your interview, it was banning it!"
And it seemed that Hermione was quite right. By the end of that day, though no corner of The Quibbler had been seen anywhere in the school, the whole place seemed to be quoting the interview at each other; Alicia over heard the whispers about it as they queued up outside classes, discussing it over lunch and in the back of lessons, while Hermione even reported that every occupant of the cubicles in the girls' toilets had been talking about it when she nipped in there before Ancient Runes.
"And then they spotted me, and obviously they know I know you, so they were bombarding me with questions," Hermione told Harry, her eyes shining, "and Harry, I think they believe you, I really do, I think you've finally got them convinced!"
Meanwhile Professor Umbridge was stalking the school, stopping students at random and demanding that they turn out their books and pockets. It was obvious she was looking for copies of The Quibbler, but the students were several steps ahead of her. The pages carrying Alicia and Harry's interview had been bewitched to resemble extracts from textbooks if anyone but themselves read it, or else wiped magically blank until they wanted to peruse it again. Soon it seemed that every single person in the school had read it.
The teachers were, of course, forbidden from mentioning the interview by Educational Decree Number Twenty-six, but they found ways to express their feelings about it all the same. Professor Sprout awarded Gryffindor twenty points when Harry passed her a watering can; Professor Vector didn't give Alicia any homework in Arithmancy; a beaming Professor Flitwick pressed a box of squeaking sugar mice on him at the end of Charms, said "Shh!" and hurried away; Professor McGonagall awarded Alicia house points when she passed her in the corridor just for having her Transfiguration book in her hands; and Professor Trelawney apparently broke into hysterical sobs during Divination and announced to the startled class, and a very disapproving Umbridge, that Harry was not going to suffer an early death after all, but would live to a ripe old age, become Minister of Magic, and have twelve children.
The most surprising response to the interview was Cho, who caught up with Harry as he was hurrying along to Transfiguration the next day. Before he knew what had happened her hand was in his and she was breathing in his ear, "I'm really, really sorry. That interview was so brave… it made me cry."
She even kissed his cheek before running off. As they walked into Transfiguration Seamus walked up to the twins from his place in the cue.
"I just wanted to say," he mumbled, squinting at Harry's left knee, "I believe you. And I've sent a copy of that magazine to me mam."
If anything more was needed to complete Harry's happiness, it was Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle's reactions. He saw them with their heads together later that afternoon in the library, together with a weedy-looking boy Hermione whispered was called Theodore Nott. They looked around at Harry as he browsed the shelves for the book he needed on Partial Vanishment, and Goyle cracked his knuckles threateningly and Malfoy whispered something undoubtedly malevolent to Crabbe. Alicia waved to them with a grin, their reactions were in response to the two listing each of their parents as Death Eaters.
"And the best bit is," whispered Hermione gleefully as they left the library, "they can't contradict you, because they can't admit they've read the article!"
"They'd also have to admit they believe us." Alicia added
To cap it all, Luna told him over dinner that no copy of The Quibbler had ever sold out faster.
"Dad's reprinting!" she told Harry, her eyes popping excitedly. "He can't believe it, he says people seem even more interested in this than the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks!"
"Durr," Alicia had whispered under her breath as the girl had moved away.
The twins were the heroes of the Gryffindor common room that night; daringly, Fred and George had put an Enlargement Charm on the front cover of The Quibbler and hung it on the wall, so that Alicia and Harry's giant heads gazed down upon the proceedings, occasionally saying things like "The Ministry are morons" and "Eat dung, Umbridge" in booming voices. Hermione did not find this very amusing; she said it interfered with her concentration, and ended up going to bed early out of irritation. Harry had to admit that the poster was not quite as funny after an hour or two, especially when the talking spell had started to wear off, so that it merely shouted disconnected words like "Dung" and "Umbridge" at more and more frequent intervals in a progressively higher voice.
Alicia however found it hella funny until she blocked it out.
"Brings out all your beauty." Fred complimented to her
"Not that it's hard." Alicia shrugged and he and George both nodded in agreement before the three laughed.
Most of the Gryffindors wanted the two to repeat the interview and story over and over again, despite them likely having the copies themselves. Alicia could feel the prickle in her neck as Harry did in his forehead and he decided, to disappointed moans from the many people who were sitting around him, that he too needed an early night.
Alicia watched him go and the crowd turned to her. She held her hands up.
"As much as reliving my traumatic experiences thrill me, I do have some homework to do. And thanks to that interview I have more detentions with Umbridge so I can't let it get out of hand." she admitted and turned to the stack she had beside her. They mumbled as they walked away and the Twins told the mumbling group off for complaining.
"I'm surprised you can retell it so many times." George said
"I'm surprised you can listen to it so many times." Alicia returned as she pulled her transfiguration homework forwards. She scratched at her neck and Fred reached up to move her hair to look at the spot.
"What?" she asked
"Well you touch that spot a lot, I was wondering why." he mumbled and he removed Alicia's hand. He eyed the wonky cross shaped scar on her neck.
"I didn't know you had that." he murmured
"Most don't. And it's easily hidden by my hair."
"Where'd you get it?" George asked as he got up from his seat to peered closer.
"Where do you think?" Alicia asked with a raised eyebrow. The two boys looked at her before they gapped.
"That's from him?!" they chorused, causing many people to turn and look at them.
Alicia nodded. "I did get some of the backlash from the curse, that's why Harry and I are connected I think. Though Dumbledore hasn't elaborated." she explained
"You didn't put that in the interview!" Fred said and Alicia looked at him blinking.
"I actually forgot about it. And because people don't know it's there Rita didn't ask."
"We need to tell people!" George thought
"That'll be hard to throw off!"
"It could just be any scar though." Alicia said as Fred brushed his fingers through her black hair. "What's to say it's special like Harry's?"
"How about the fact that it prickles whenever his does?" George offered
"Yeah but that's just my word." Alicia sighed "It's not really proof." she brushed her scar again.
"So is it like Harry's?" Fred wondered
"Well, it's somehow connected to Harry's. When ever his starts to hurt or prickle mine does the same. Like now." Alicia mumbled
"It's hurting?"
"it's just prickling. You get used to it. But usually when that happens Harry has some sort of vision of Voldemort." she said lowering her voice. The twins looked surprised before they all glanced towards the dormitories.
"You mean he could be having one right now?" Fred asked and Alicia nodded.
"His scar prickles and he starts to feel sick."
"What if it's important?" George wondered. Alicia shrugged
"When he gets them as dreams I only get the same if I'm asleep too." she admitted "But I haven't had one for a while…" though Alicia didn't know if that was because of their Occlumency lessons. Alicia and Harry had been trying to practice without Snape as he didn't make it easy for Harry and as they'd done that Alicia had been practicing Legilimency, to help Harry learn to block it more, as well as using their connection to just delve into his thoughts and memories. Alicia didn't know if she'd managed to stop entering Harry's head but she was aware that he had not succeeded very well, as Snape continuously told him, and didn't seem to be able to keep her out.
"Well come on!" Fred and George suddenly got up and Fred dragged Alicia with them to the boys staircase.
"Fred!" Alicia complained as many watched them, a few laughing.
They moved into the fifth years boy's dormitory to find Ron bent over a bundle of hangings on the floor.
"Well…" Alicia mumbled surprised.
Ron finally wrenched the hangings apart to reveal Harry from inside them. He looked up at Ron staring shocked and slightly white faced before looking at Alicia and the twins.
"What are you doing?" Ron demanded of her
"The twins dragged me in."
"Alicia said Harry might have been having another vision." Fred admitted
"Well I really was talking about my scar." Alicia mumbled as she rubbed her's. "He must be angry the pain suddenly flared up." She walked over and helped Harry up to his feet.
"Has someone been attacked again?" asked Ron. He had one arm out of his robes, having clearly been getting ready for bed. "Is it Dad? Is it that snake?"
"No — everyone's fine —" gasped Harry as Alicia felt the burn in her neck. "Well… Avery isn't… He's in trouble… He gave him the wrong information… He's really angry…"
Harry groaned as he sank, shaking onto his bed, rubbing his scar. Alicia sat beside him and rubbed his back as the twins moved over.
"But Rookwood's going to help him now… He's on the right track again…"
"What are you talking about?" said Ron, sounding scared. "D'you mean… did you just see You-Know-Who?"
"I was You-Know-Who," said Harry, and he stretched out his hands in the darkness, almost as though he was checking they were his, and not Voldemort's deathly pale spider like fingers. "He was with Rookwood, he's one of the Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban, remember? Rookwood's just told him Bode couldn't have done it…"
"Who's Bode?" George asked
"He was a guy we met in St Mungo's, he was strangled by Devil's snare there. He got the plant from someone anonymous at Christmas." Alicia explained
"How do you know that?" Fred asked
"We saw him being given the plant and heard about his death in the Daily Prophet." Alicia said "What did Rookwood do?" Alicia asked
"What did Bode do?" Ron also asked.
"Remove something… He said Bode would have known he couldn't have done it… Bode was under the Imperius Curse… I think he said Malfoy's dad put it on him…"
"No surprise there." The twins chorused.
"Bode was bewitched to remove something?" Ron said. "But — Harry, that's got to be —"
"The weapon," Harry finished the sentence for him. "I know."
"Excellent. So what is it?" Fred asked
"I don't know." Harry shook his head before the Dormitory door opened and Dean and Seamus came in.
"Come on," Alicia mumbled to the two boys after glancing at the new arrivals. She to to her feet to move towards the door, patting Harry's shoulder as she did.
"We don't need to leave." the twins believed. Alicia looked at them before sighing sadly.
"Guess I'll go all by my lonesome self then." she sighed dramatically.
The twins rolled their eyes before each hooked an arm through her's and escorted her from the room.
"I swear, she's got them wrapped around her finger." Ron said to Harry in a mumble.