Dinner that night was a fairly enjoyable affair by Alicia’s accounting. Tom the innkeeper put three of the tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses. As for Alicia? She ate surely enough, but still she seemed a little preoccupied. Thoughts of Black kept coming back to her over and over again. ‘I’m a Raven.’ she thought to herself, ‘Isn’t it my duty as a Raven to hunt down these sort of people? I feel like I’m neglecting my duties by ignoring this Black fellow. Still---’ “How’re we getting to King’s Cross tomorrow, Dad?” Fred asked, rousing Alicia out of her deep thoughts and back to the conversations going on around her. They were presently eating chocolate pudding, which was quite good as a matter of fact. At Fred’s questioning everyone looked up at Mr. Weasley, who seemed to turn abit red around the ears at the attention. “The Ministry’s providing a couple of cars,” he said simply, but that only seemed to fuel everyone’s curiosity. “Why?” Percy asked. “It’s because of you, Perce.” George replied with an almost too good to be believed serious expression on his face. “And there’ll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them---” “---for Humongous Bighead,” said Fred, concluding George’s “witty” remark. Everyone it seemed, except for Percy (of course) and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their puddings. Oh, Alicia didn’t do it either but moreso from the fact that she found Fred/George to be rather dry witted for her taste. “Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?” Percy asked again, in a rather dignified voice. “Well, as we haven’t got one anymore, and as I work there, they’re doing me a favor---” His voice seemed rather casual, but his thoughts said differently. All of a sudden it was as if he was thinking up of everything possible to occupy his mind with. The uppermost “level” of thoughts suddenly became rather cluttered with needless (and a few personal) thoughts. Alicia quickly decided not to peer anymore at his top thoughts since some of those thoughts were rather private memories of him and Mrs. Weasley -- nuff said’. “Anyway it’s a good thing, too,” Mrs. Weasley remarked briskly, “Do you realize how much luggage you’ve all got between you? A nice sight you’d be on the Muggle Underground--- You are all packed, aren’t you?” “Ron hasn’t put all his new things in his trunk yet,” said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. “He’s dumped them on my bed.” “And I have to go give Ron and Hermione the books I got them.” Alicia added. “You’d better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won’t have much time in the morning,” Mrs. Weasley called down the table at Ron, who was now scowling rather fiercely at Percy. As dinner broke up Alicia went to gather the books and give them out. As everyone made their way one by one upstairs to their rooms, Alicia felt a slight chill run down her spine. She stopped, and thought for a second, “-- nothing --” Sure enough as she did a quick “touchy-feely” of all things around her with a brief sweep of her powers she found nothing out of the ordinary. Everything was where it should have been, yet still she felt as if something dreadful passed near her mind’s eye. Something in the distance, yet close all the same. Nothing. One more check and once again she came up blank. “Must be nerves.” It was, however, just as she was putting Ron and Hermione’s books together to deliver, that’s when she heard the ruckus coming from Ron/Percy’s room. As she walked towards the door she passed Harry (heading downstairs) as she entered. “What’s all the ruckus about.” “My Head Boy badge is gone!” Percy growled, looking quite frustrated as he stormed about the room looking for his “precious” badge in such a dreadful state. Alicia could only shrug in a slight bit of sympathy to Ron’s plight (who was also looking though not as enthusiastically) as she tossed his books onto his bed and motioned to them, “Your books I got you. It’s all there---” (almost immediately Percy looked under the books as if the badge had suddenly taken refuge beneath them, before turning his attention back to other parts of the room that he already searched a few times over) “---oh-kay. I’ll be going now.” “Did you see Fred & George?” Ron suddenly asked, his mind no doubt thinking the same thing that just crossed Alicia’s mind, “I’m betting there’s a good reason why I should have seen them, right?” “Hum.” Ron grunted, looking about for the badge a little bit more, if only to satisfy his dominating older brother. “I have to pack my stuff.” “Help me find my badge!” Percy shouted, which triggered a yelling match between the two. Dazed and confused, Alicia barely had the chance to retreat out the door as the two went at it. She delivered Hermione’s books (blushing abit as she realized she caught Hermione in her pajamas getting ready for bed), and quickly headed back to her room. Once inside the room she collapsed on the bed and sighed miserably. “I’m never going to make it through this school year.” With that she drifted off to sleep, her blankets pulled up abit as she whimpered abit (still not quite over her “run-in” with Hermione in her jammies’). As she slept she dreamed --- ---- She was standing on one of the towers of Hogwarts, looking out towards the lake near the school. She could sense she was waiting for something to happen, yet she didn’t know what. She felt as if she wasn’t alone -- someone was behind her. It was a female presence, that much she knew -- and moreso she felt comfortable in her being this close to her. Unbidden, two female arms wrapped around her waist, and drew her close. She felt her breath against the back of her neck, and was in heaven. It must be -- could only be her -- she then drew in breath and began to whisper… ---- Alicia woke up with a start, staring right at Percy who was looking at her with an anxiousness over her bed. With a tired grunt she rolled over face down on the bed. “G’way. I’m too sober to even think of shagging you.” However he did not go, he simply rolled Alicia over and asked her to fix something. “Go spade and neuter your own kin.” she grumbled, “I’m not a vet.” “It’s my picture --” he showed a rather blank picture with the top of a familiar head poking from the picture frame. “-- Ron spilled tea on it and --” With a tired rasping grunt Alicia snatches the picture away, and rolls back onto her face to cover her work. With a few seconds worth of magic she fixes the picture and hands it back. “Loser.” “We have to go, it’s breakfast time and then we’re heading to the train station.” Two bleary eyes stared up from the bed at him, “Penelope encourages your need to look at naked women other than herself often?” “No.” he answered honestly. “Then get out of my face so I can actually get up.” Five minutes later she was dressed in her school uniform robes and downstairs for breakfast. The copy of the Daily Prophet was there, and once again it was fixated on the manhunt for Sirius. Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she made as a young girl, the three being rather giggly. Alicia simply ate silently and looked about the table, still only half awake after being roused from such an interesting dream. She didn’t even get to see who was behind her -- and she knew in her heart that she wanted to know who it was -- had to know, to be more precise. But, for now, thoughts of that had to be shelved since the day’s events were ahead of her and her dream -- just like the girl in said dream -- were behind her. The process of lugging down their luggage to the cars to take the trip to the station, and waiting for said cars to arrive, did nothing to improve her lackluster mood. Once again coming face to face with the large furball that was Hermione’s cat didn’t do much to improve her already dismal attitude. “It’s all right, Crookshanks,” Hermione cooed in such a soft way, “I’ll let you out on the train.” “Oh no you don’t!” Ron snapped, trying to grab Alicia’s arm to pull her into the debate, “Tell her she can’t do it! What about poor Scabbers!! Doesn’t she have any consideration for him!!” (pointing at his chest as he spoke, the large lump in his pocket no doubt Scabbers.) At that moment, before the conversation could degrade further, the cars finally arrived. They were huge old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a wizard wearing a very snappy velvety emerald colored suit. “Like getting taxi service from the Wizard of Oz.” Alicia remarked, loading her stuff into one of the vehicle’s trunks. Alicia got into a car with Harry, Hermione and Ron, and the trip went smoothly. Too smoothly. In fact it was rather uneventful. Maybe it was Alicia’s mood but nobody seemed willing to talk about much past the mild conversations about the new school year, Quidditch, and who was going to do well in the Quidditch World Cup tournament. Alicia had her favorites, like everyone else, and rooted for England to win -- mostly because she had a bit of a fascination for the team’s female Seeker who she had seen images of (in both full dress and a few naughty images from her appearance in a popular erotic publication). As they neared the station, Alicia began to feel the stronger and stronger presence of Cho Chang. She was already there, no doubt, and her aura stood out the most since Alicia has been seeking it out for weeks now. She was so focused she barely noticed their arrival at King’s Cross, and how quickly the drivers found them trolleys for their baggage and were on their way quickly. Her thoughts were focused. In fact she was so focused she went through the barrier between platforms nine and ten without even waiting for instructions, coming onto the platform for 9 ¾ looking rather vacant as she scanned the area for Cho. She knew that Cho would sit with friends from Ravenclaw, but she just wanted to glance at her once before boarding. Someone taps Alicia on the shoulder, bringing her about to face -- Olivier Wood. Quite annoyed that it wasn’t Cho, Alicia turned to continue scanning the platform. “You already missed her. She’s onboard.” Alicia gritted her teeth, and narrowed her eyes. It was as if he knew EXACTLY what she was up to, and no doubt he did… the smug bastard. Alicia huffed her breath and pushed her cart towards the train, “Don’t be getting all uppity with me, Wood.” she grumbled irritably. “Have you looked over some of the plans I sent you…” “Yes, yes, I have. We can talk about it at school, or do you plan to torment me all the way to Hogwarts with your…” “I just want to be ready for the year, that’s all. After all it’s my -- I mean --” Alicia knew where he was going. “I know. I know. Give me a break. We’ll get it this year. Now get on board and let’s just get there with some of my sanity intact before you beat Quidditch into my skull.” With that Olivier left her be. Once he was gone she had her stuff stowed onto the train and made her way to her usual place on the train. However, before she could get into the train she was tapped on the shoulder by a familiar face. “Mind if we chat abit?” Following the dark haired asian woman’s motion, she followed the 7th Judgement to one of the pillars as they talked. “Maniac obsessive behavior does not suit you.” Alicia snipped. “You know about Sirius Black, right?” she asked. “What’s with everyone’s obsession with Black? Next you’ll be wondering if I remembered that the thing that killed those guys was a Galerian that seems to be stalking me.” Keiko facefaults, but quickly recovers, “Uh -- yeah. See you got that down pat.” “So…” Alicia asked, “…is there a change in plans? Do I hunt Black or not?” At that Keiko turned grim, “Don’t worry. Black will find you.” and at that she leaves. ----- Alicia shared a compartment with her Quidditch partners on the trips to Hogwarts. Of course, the first time she took the ride she rode with Harry but after she got to know a few people herself she looked forward to riding with them. Angelina and Katie seemed to be abit more off than usual. They just sat next to Alicia grinning like crazy, and she didn’t know why. Of course it didn’t take long for them to say why, but just looking at their wide grins even for a few minutes made the revelation that much better as long as they stopped looking so darn smug! “We did it!” Katie pronounced proudly, smiling right into Alicia’s face as if she was supposed to know what that was supposed to mean. “We did it, we ARE doing it, and we’ll be the first!” Angelica jumped in. All of this was quite exciting to the two, but Alicia was in the dark. “Ok.” she replied deadpan style. “For an instant now, pretend I have no idea what you’re talking about … because I don’t … and tell me again what you did … if possible.” The two exchanged grins, and then said in unison “We’re going to become an item!” Silence. Long silence. Alicia didn’t know what to make of it… because she still didn’t know what they were driving at. “Try that again. That last shot went over the top of the train.” Katie nudged Angelica, “We’re coming out!” “… is this your haphazard way of telling me that last year’s Halloween screw up actually fostered some feeling in those one track minds of yours? If not I’m completely clueless…” The two nodded their heads furiously. Wouldn’t you know it. One simple screw up turns into love… how strange is that. When they were trying to find out about whether or not bad old Malfoy was the “Heir of Slytherin” they were going to use a potion (Polyjuice potion) to impersonate Malfoy’s henchgoons. Alicia, however, wanted to use a strong lust potion to get them into a rather nasty “position” and kill two dragons with one lance, so to speak. The trio shot her plan down, and she ditched her potion laced cupcakes in her room since nobody would let her use them. When the two took Hermione to Madame Pomfrey she went back to the dorm only to find that somebody had already eaten her laced cupcakes and were passed out on one of the beds tangled together panting and gasping. One thing led to another, and when they left at the end of the year they were already talking about a possible relationship. That was sometime ago, this is now. “Got any good advice?” Katie asked, “I wanted to go to Hogsmeade and pick up a naughty little toy or two but Angelica said we should take it slow and work through our relationship both emotionally and sexually before we go into heavy sex play.” “Smart girl.” Alicia agreed, “Stick to oral and fingers for now.” And, at that, Alicia rolled over in her seat and tried to fall asleep. Angelica put a stop to that 30 minutes into the ride. “…no I don’t want to do a threesome… (and lord knows how wasted I must be to even think of turning that kind of offer down)… so go ‘way.” Alicia grumbled irritably. “Actually we just heard about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” she told Alicia. Alicia wearily opened her eyes, and looked at the two, “You can’t be lesbians if you thump him. That‘s an unspoken rule or something. No shut up and --” “No, no, I mean we heard he’s nearby! Next compartment over as a matter of fact!” With a tired sigh, Alicia pulls herself back into a half awake state and stares at the two, “And this would be so important because of -- what.” “He looks rather -- off.” Katie remarked with a suspicious look on her face. This didn‘t interest Alicia in the slightest. “Snape‘s rather off and I don‘t see you whining about him, so what‘s the big deal of working at Hogwarts and being a “little off“ anyway.” “He’s wearing a very shabby set of robes, looks rather under the weather, and though he’s rather young he acts like he’s an old man since he’s collapsed in that room as if he was…” “Don’t say it.” Alicia warned, regarding the two with a severe glance. “He probably traveled a long way to catch this train and it wore him out. Nothing overtly suspicious about that is there?” “But… he hasn’t moved since we started this trip and I don’t remember seeing him board this train at King’s Cross either!” Angelica complained, bringing Alicia’s severe gaze unto her next. “For god’s sake give it a rest.” she grumbled, “Change the channel, this topic is boring.” Silence reigned for a few minutes, which allowed Alicia to grab a few minutes shuteye. However the silence did only last for a few minutes. “How you think he got out?” Katie asked, eyes staring upwards at the ceiling, “No one really knows how he got out of Azkaban, you know. No one’s ever done it before, and he was one of their top security prisoners too!” “So you didn’t watch last night’s episode of “Sex and the Witch” did you.” Alicia remarked blandly, trying one more time to derail the topic to something she actually felt like talking about. Suddenly a strange feeling overcame her. She stiffened abit as she turned her head slightly, eyes widening. “Alicia? What’s up? Alicia?” A soothing “thought” was brushing against the edge of her mind’s eye. The feeling was from the next room over, where Potter and -- this Professor Lupin were, and was focused on the only mind she never felt before… this having to have been Lupin‘s mind since he was new to her. He was sleeping, she could sense that much, and the thoughts at the top of his mind was so tranquil -- to the point of being relentlessly tranquil. Odd. It was as if he simply HAD to be at peace, forging through force of will this “quiet place” in his mind that he used to bring himself to peace. Then again “bring” seemed inappropriate. More like forced. Now mind you that in itself was not unusual, but the way he made this “world” through sheer force of will was something else entirely. Almost unnatural even. However in any case Alicia finally decided to ignore his “thoughts” and leave him be. Just as well since Hermione and Ron’s thoughts were now cluttering the space in the next compartment, the topic being quite obvious to the point that she didn‘t need to even bother peeking. Hermione’s cat was looking at Scabbers again as a form of nourishment. Not good. By 1PM Alicia was more than glad that the trolley with food came about because she had her fill of playing referee to Hermione/Ron in the next room over, and finally just shut them out of her mind so she could relax. The first thing Angelica asked was about Professor Lupin, to which the attendant handing out the food simply replied “He’s alright, just sleeping.” This of course brought forth a debate that it was some sort of spell or sleeping sickness, which Alicia shot down with a “Oh for goddess’ sake why don’t you two just eat each other out if it’d keep you “quiet” (relatively speaking) for the rest of the damn trip!” That ended the topic concerning Professor Lupin rather quickly. However it didn’t end the talking in the room. Five minutes later Oliver Wood popped in to talk Quidditch, only to be chased out five more minutes later by a rather pissy Alicia who only wanted to eat her meal in peace and quiet. She didn’t mind him talking the game. She DID mind him shoving his diagrams and plans into her lap disrupting her attempts to eat a meal in peace and quiet. Malfoy tried to drop in. Mind you he “tried”, but the instant the door opened Alicia mistook him for Wood and screamed death threats at the door… which shut quickly sending a rather disturbed Malfoy and his now shaking and shivering cohorts into Potter’s area. An hour later the topic of Hogsmeade came up. “Do you two plan to talk me to death, or is this a scheme to deprive me of rest.” Alicia griped, finally waking up for good. “Ok. Ok. I’m up. So what…” “Do you know much about Hogsmeade?” Angelica asked. “Not really.” True. Alicia had in fact heard nothing about Hogsmeade. “I heard it’s the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain --” Katie remarked, suddenly catching Alicia’s disapproving gaze. “I mean non-Mug-- non-magical human…” “What age did you lose your humanity again?” Alicia sneered. “You know I disapprove of this Muggle nonsense. Last I checked you had as much red blood and human DNA as a normal non-magically inclined human being so give me a break with this Muggle nonsense willya!” And, to accentuate her point, she drops her head back and stares listlessly at the ceiling. “So what else is there in Hogsmeade besides normal-phobics.” “…Honeydukes?” The word alone brought a warming little smile over Alicia’s face. “Uh--” (Katie stumbled, uncertain why Alicia started grinning) “-- it’s a sweetshop and it’s got a whole bunch of great stuff in it… lots of treats like… like… why are you doing that?” Alicia, not realizing she was being spoken to, sighed. “Sweet.” “Alicia? Alicia…” (tap tap) “…Alicia…” Quickly she snaps out of her deep thoughts and sits upright quickly. “Nothing. Nothing. So score me some goodies when you go, huh? I’m treating.” Confusion reigned. “What do you mean by that?” Angelica asked, “Aren’t you coming?” “Can’t. I couldn’t get my form signed so I’m just out of luck.” For some inexplicable reason a look of total fear and shock came over the two. “What. What.” Alicia demanded, “You two look like I just admitted to having an affair with Snape! What is it!” “WHATTYA MEAN YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO COME!! BUT -- WHO’LL BUY MY FIRST STRAP--” (Angelica shuts Katie’s mouth before she screams out every sorrid detail of her sexual life in the tight confines of the train) “I’m sure you’ll do fine without me.” Alicia assured her. “Girl’s gotta pick the… (ahem)… tool that is right for her anyway. You’ll do fine without me.” Slowly, but surely, it began to rain. But even with it raining that didn’t help Alicia to sleep. Mostly because the two wanted to ask her 101 questions about their relationship, but not all at once. She was woken up again, and again, and again, and again with every sort of imaginable question until finally she demanded they write it all down in the form of a quiz that she PROMISED she’ll fill out AFTER she settled in at Hogwarts. It darkened outside, and yet the two didn’t stop waking Alicia up. Finally she gave up trying to rest and decided to just stay up until bedtime that night. “Unless you two plan to talk me to death this year.” Alicia grumbled, pulling a sip from a soda she brought to keep her up “just in case” something like this happened. Suddenly the train started to slow down. “Well we’re here now so let’s get going! I’m st--” Alicia thrust her hand up, stopping Angelica in mid sentence. “No way. It’s too soon. We’re not there yet.” “So why are we stopping?” The train was slowing, but Alicia’s mind was already drowning that out as she reached out to feel the whole lay of the land about her. Everybody was understandably confused, and it showed in their thoughts. In fact the entire train had become a “pool” of confusion and conjecture as to the reason behind the stoppage. Even though the wind and the rain grew louder in noise, that didn’t stop everyone from conversing over what was going on. They simply spoke louder. However, for Alicia, it was their thoughts that “spoke” the loudest. Fear, confusion, conjecture and speculation, a whole range of thoughts and feelings. The train lurched finally to a halt, as luggage came loose from racks to come banging down with thumps and bangs which sent tendrils of fear and shock through those closest to the noise. That’s when the new thoughts came into range. Silent. Nearly empty if not for the driving obsessive “thought” that drove them. Two thoughts in actuality. One was hunger, but the other screamed louder and overdrove even the need to feed. “FIND SIRIUS BLACK!!” That thought screamed in a hollow raspy tone outside, from more than one “target”. “FIND SIRIUS BLACK!!” The feeling of hunger was there, but that urge overrode even that. An obsessive urge. “FIND SIRIUS BLACK!!” She knew they were here, and she was compelled to go to them. Telling her companions to stay put, she quietly moved out of the compartment and walked down the corridor towards the source of the thought. She didn’t have to go far though… they were coming towards her. So she stopped, and stood her ground, waiting. The voices about her became concerned, and panicked. Fear and confusion was so thick it acted like a sea of “emotions” which flooded the whole train. Just as well since as long as she kept her own emotions “subdued” she was effectively “invisible” in this sea of high level emotions. For the longest time nothing. But then, finally, the first Dementor scrapped it’s way towards her. That’s when she realized they were coming at her from behind as well. Cursing herself for missing the other batch coming through the front she held the first she saw in her gaze, not wavering as she waited for it. The other Dementors were all searching the train, no doubt for Black since their thoughts were dead set on that one task. That’s when the feeling of intense cold hit. Coming from the Dementors, it was the “aura” of dark despair they were soaked in. She felt this when she visited Azkaban that one time and was prepared for it. Before, when she went to Azkaban, she only had willpower and some of her old energy to fall back on. But now that she had her full measure of energy again she used it. Digging in deep she drew forth her aura which powered herself up. And, while not visible to the naked eye, it shone like a bright beacon against the darkness surrounding the Dementors. The creatures hesitated before her, then simply asked her in her head for Sirius Black. “Not here.” she replied honestly. “You’re just plain out of…” Somebody screamed. A horrific, terrible terrifying scream. Pleading. Pure terror. Then it happened again. Distant. Hollow. Almost as if she was feeling emotions second hand instead of from the source. But she couldn’t-- that’s when she realized one of the screams was coming from the Dementor in front of her. She focused on it, causing it to drift back from her abit… as if it felt her probing it and didn’t like having it’s own “medicine” fed back to it. Seconds passed. Then everything became clear. Alicia’s aura dimmed, and darkness reigned once again. Before everything went white as she lashed out. ----- “Harry! Harry! Are you all right?” (slap slap --) “Would you stop that? I said wake him, not beat him silly!” Harry, groggy and wasted, slowly woke from his stupor. Lanterns were above him, providing illumination as people looked over him. The train was moving, obviously, since it was shaking, and the lights had come back on. He was on the floor as Ron, Hermione and Alicia looked over him. Alicia seemed abit haggard but fine as she tended to him. Behind them he could see Neville and Professor Lupin watching them. “You OK? You look abit green.” Surely enough he felt abit green too. A feeling of sickness overwhelming him. When Alicia helped him with his glasses he felt a cold sweat on his face. Slowly Ron and Hermione heaved him up and back into his seat. “You OK?” Ron asked with concern. “Yeah, I guess.” said Harry, his gaze turning towards the now empty doorway. The Dementor that visited their cabin was long gone. “What happened? Where’s that -- that thing? Who screamed?” “No one screamed,” said Ron, but Alicia suddenly interrupted saying “So it was from you.” Everyone turned towards her for an explanation, but she simply shrugged their gazes off and went back to her cabin without uttering another word. Before she could leave, however, Professor Lupin shoved a large block of chocolate into her hand and told her to share it with her companions in her compartment. Nodding her head, she went back and did exactly that. Still. What happened… ----- It tried to shield it’s thoughts of it’s last meal from her, but failed. Enroute to this spot it ran into a couple. A young male and an older woman. It fed from them and left them a heap on the ground, holding each other desperately trying to stave off the cold as they held onto their love as the last bit of warmth left after… Her light dimmed, and her eyes burned red. Hate and anger filled her and her aura burst into bright rage as she lashed out without a second thought. Nothing destructive or dangerous. But in her condition she was instinct and rage alone. With a single motion she “dismantled” it from the inside out and turned it to dust, leaving it’s psionic “scream” as it died horribly. The scream silenced the entire train’s emotional ocean. It’s depth and pain so strong it could be felt by all about her, even if they didn‘t understand what they were feeling. But it also stopped the Dementors in their tracks and turned their gaze onto her all together. That’s when things went weird. Instead of attacking they simply marshaled to her side… and bowed. They all turned their hollow gaze to her and -- waited. For a few seconds she had nothing to say but soon she began “barking” out orders. Reprimanding them and sending them back to Hogwarts to form a defensive barrier. In truth she felt that they had wasted their time. Spreading their number across such a large distance in an attempt to find Black left too many gaps and holes on the “road” to Hogwarts, and for one as cunning as Black must have been it would have been child’s play to go around the Dementors spaced out in such a way. They had to remass, and take defensive position about Hogwarts to insure Black didn’t get any closer. They dropped the ball in her opinion, pure and simple, and somebody had to pick it up. She didn’t know much of what happened, but she knew one thing. They stopped screaming in their “minds” “FIND SIRIUS BLACK!!” and now were focused on something else… her. It was as if she had, by accident, killed their “Alpha” and she was now the “Alpha”. “How many years do you get for killing something already dead…” she whispered. Neither Angelica nor Katie felt like prodding her for an explanation This lingering thought would go with her all the way to the stop, and onto the carriages for the ride over to Hogwarts. In fact she was so focused on the Dementors that, when she got out, she barely bothered with Malfoy. Barely. A drawling, quite delighted with himself voice came out of nowhere. “You FAINTED, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You---” Alicia grabbed his arm, twisted it hard, and silenced him. “Shut up.” And, with that, she threw him aside and stormed Hogwarts without another word. ----- Lupin was right behind her as she walked. “Is something wrong? You seem rather off.” “I get cranky around feeding time.” she snapped off at him without bothering to stop. She walked, stormed more likely, all the way into the cavernous entrance hall and up the marble staircase towards the Great Hall. However, before she could reach the doors she heard an old familiar voice call out to her, “Having a bad night, are we?” Alicia didn’t need to turn to know who was addressing her. “No arrogant superiority complex, Professor Snape? It seems I’m not the only one whose having a bad night.” Snape didn’t remark, or even try to shoot back, he merely motioned for her to follow him which she did. As they reached his office he seemed abit concerned. “I heard there was trouble on board the train tonight.” “So you say.” Suddenly Snape pulled chocolate from his robes and thrusts it at her. “Sorry, mum warned me against taking candy from strangers… and you’re “stranger” than anyone else I ever met here.” “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.” he remarked, urging her to take the chocolate until she finally did, taking a big hunk off in one bite. “So enlighten me, then.” “Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that Potter was taken ill on the train. Two minutes later I receive an owl stating that all the Dementors were suddenly on the move, no longer seeking out Black but racing here… any reason why?” “I told them to marshal here.” Alicia answered truthfully, Snape‘s face twisting into complete shock at this announcement before he regained his composure to return to his normal dreary appearance. “They were wasting their time spread so far apart. They need to focus a tight defensive parameter around the “target” before Black gets too close and axes Potter.” “I didn’t know you cared so much about Potter.” Snape hissed, his temper rising. “Too bad I can’t say the same about your lack of care about Potter.” she countered. A few tense seconds passed before Snape spoke again, “Professor Dumbledore is not pleased at all with their presence here.” “I don’t blame him. They’re not a particularly positive element to have near a school like this. Anyway the only reason Potter fainted is because the Dementors dredged up bad memories…” (stops to ponder what she felt) “…probably a memory of the death of his mum. More than enough to take a lot out of even the strongest of males….” (stops, chewing on her chocolate abit before speaking again) “…speaking of strong, I heard you’re once again passed up for the Defense opening. That isn’t going to make you anymore vindictive than usual, now will it?” Snape motions for Alicia to follow him back to the Great Hall without another word. ----- By the time Alicia and Snape rejoined everyone, separately of course to not give off an impression they were friendly (in a sense) with each other, the sorting of that year’s new students was over. But it wasn’t over yet, as Professor Dumbledore stood up to address all in the room. “Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!” Dumbledore said with great pride, beaming with energy as he spoke. “I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…” ‘No surprise what that topic is going to be.’ Alicia thought to herself. “As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host…” (a sense of reluctance and bitterness etches into his voice, only to fade as he continues) “…to some of the dementors of Azkaban Prison, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.” He paused, and Alicia knew he was doing a poor job hiding his hate of the Dementors. “They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds. And while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises -- or even Invisibility Cloaks.” he added, obviously being in the know about Harry invisibility cloak. “It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors.” he concluded. Percy seemed quite charged up by this part of the speech, puffing his chest up in a show of ego. “On a happier note,” Dumbledore went on to say, “I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Approval of Mr. Lupin seemed lukewarm at best… but all he needed was a few days to get to know the students better before the big payout. And, considering how shabby Lupin looked, it was little wonder why he got such a lukewarm reply. Snape, fuming in his chair, turned his gaze towards Lupin and sneered an expression best known with contempt and loathing than enthusiastic approval. Dumbledore continued. “As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs.” ‘Bull.’ Alicia thought to herself, smirking abit as she remembered the circumstances of his “retirement”. Seems one day he brought in that special magical creature that moved the Earth for him. A female shape shifting werewolf… though he didn’t know it was the kind that became human at will. Sufficient to say it only took one incident of catching the two in the woods “mating” to get him thrown off the staff. In fact she still had the moving photos she took of their wedding since he invited her last year, after she got to know him since she spent abit of time hiding out at his place just to avoid seeing her own classmates when suspicions fell on her as a possible “Heir of Slytherin” (herself and Harry were the ones singled out as candidates for various reasons). So wrapped up in these memories she was that she almost missed the announcement. Almost. The applause Hagrid got as new teacher for Care of Magical Creatures outdistanced the lukewarm reply that Lupin received. For his part he seemed quite taken back by the applause, blushing furiously under the intense “approval” everyone was showing. “We’ve should’ve known!” Ron yelled over the applause, pounding the table in an enthusiastic show of support. “Who else would have assigned us a biting book?” Ron, apparently, had looked at someone else’s book on the trip and it bit him. Alicia ended up having to settle down 5 dozen more books on the trip, mostly to keep the panicked yelps and pain “emotions” out of the air so she could have a moment’s rest… or at least TRY to rest between the endless inquiries by Katie and Angelica. The feast started soon after. Alicia went up during the feast to speak to Hagrid. Nobody seemed to mind, and the usually bossy Snape was in fact rather silent when she approached, as if waiting to speak to her. She didn’t disappoint. To Hagrid she said “Well done, Hagrid. You’re moving up in the world.” “I had a little help from me friends.” he said humbly, “Great man, Dumbledore…” Alicia turned her thoughts to Snape. “He doesn’t know, does he? Dumbledore I mean.” “What are you thinking?” Snape responded in thought, trying not to distract Alicia too much from her “conversation” between him and Hagrid. “He said some of the Dementors were here…” Suddenly Hagrid burst into tears and Alicia found herself being shooed away by McGonagall. As she turned to leave, however, she thought one last thing to Snape. “They’re all here. Every last Dementor within 1000 miles… they’re here.” To Be Continued…
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