Alicia refused to attend any of her classes as a sign of mourning for the loss of her family and announced that once Emily returned, she would attend them again. She spent most of her days in Firenze’s classroom, trying to find Emily. Jamie would stay with her during the night and Draco would join them at lunch.

“You know, she’s going crazy in there,” Jamie said after a week of nothing but blackness. Draco looked up from his cauldron to find Jamie staring into the depth of the potion with a smudge of ash on his cheek. “I can tell.”

“What are you going to do about it then? We’re all going a little crazy over what’s happening,” Draco said, returning to stirring the orange colored liquid in front of him.

“I’ll write a letter to Emily,” Jamie said, still staring into the cauldron.

“You know that won’t work- she won’t answer me or Remus when we try to contact her,” Draco said, shaking his head. He was keeping in touch with Remus by letters but they still hadn’t had any contact from Emily.

“I’ll try it... If that doesn’t work then I’ll see how mum and dad are going,” Jamie said, sighing slightly. Sean had come into the school to see Jamie the day after Emily had vanished, to tell him that he and Sophie were putting out her description to all the shops in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Draco shrugged and concentrated on their assignment.

At lunch, Draco went to Classroom Eleven and found Alicia sprawled out on her back, her hair making a light blue fan above her head.

“Nothing?” he asked, dropping beside her and handing her a plate of sandwiches.

“Nothing,” Alicia repeated, resting her plate on her stomach so that she didn’t have to sit up. “It’s as if she’s trying to forget us by pushing us away- locking down her mind... I miss her so much...I shouldn’t have said those things,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she dropped a sandwich back onto the plate, moved it away, and rolled onto her side, propping her head up with her arm.

“You were angry and upset- I understand that, Alicia... So does Emily, when she wants to see past it,” Draco said, smiling at her slightly. He had become good friends with her because of Emily. Alicia felt like a sister to him now because of her.

“If it wasn’t for her, Draco, you’d probably be paralyzed from the neck down by now... You know that, right?” Alicia laughed, commenting on his thoughts. Draco joined in with her laughter.

“I know... Did I ever officially apologize for what I did to you at the Yule Ball?” he said and she grimaced.

“Yeah... Don’t bring it up again- I lost Emily that year too because of my big mouth,” Alicia said, shaking her head to get rid of the memory. “Where’s Jamie anyway?” she asked, frowning as she realized he hadn’t come in with Draco.

“He’s sending America out with a letter for Emily...” he said quietly and Alicia looked at him. “I told him it wouldn’t work before you say anything,” he added quickly and she laughed again for a minute before cutting off quickly, breathing sharply as her hair turned scarlet and her eyes an emerald green.

“A letter! Why didn’t I think of that?” Draco stared at her in confusion as she jumped to her feet and started pacing.

“I did just say that letter won’t work, didn’t I? She doesn’t reply to them- she’s probably not even reading them,” he said and she shook her head.

“No,” Alicia said, sounding frustrated. “If I send her a letter then I can focus on that, not her! I’d be able to find her! The problem is, it may not work- I’d only see it being delivered... But I could focus on finding the words! That would work! She’d have to remember us when she’s reading it- see our faces in her head!” She ran to the door, grabbed the handle and then paused. “I can do this,” she whispered before pulling it open and dashing out the door, Draco a step behind her.

They ran straight up to the Gryffindor Common Room, where Alicia said the password and ran inside. Without thinking, Draco followed her. As they entered the Common Room, it fell silent as they stared at the two newcomers.

“Damn- I’m not supposed to be here,” Draco muttered as he felt the glares burn into his skin.

“Ignore them,” Alicia whispered out the corner of her mouth. “What? Haven’t seen two people before? Get over it- he’s with me,” she spat and then headed towards the boys’ dorm. “Draco!” she called over her shoulder and he hurried to follow her. Alicia opened the boys’ dormitory door to find Harry, Jamie, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron sitting on their beds. “Afternoon, guys... Care if we join you?” she said as she walked in. Draco hesitated at the door but then followed her into the room.

“Alicia!” Ginny said happily, running to hug her. “Draco! You’re in Gryffindor Tower?” she said, sounding shocked and confused as she hugged him too.

“My fault- I forgot he was in Slytherin... Oh well, who cares about breaking a few rules? Jamie, have you sent that letter yet?” she said, plopping herself down next to him on his bed. Draco moved towards Neville’s empty one and sat on the edge.

“No, why?” he asked, frowning at her. His eyes took in the hair and eye color and his face relaxed. “You’ve had an idea.”

“Yes- if I add my own words to that letter, I can focus on trying to find them as she’s reading them. I’ll pick her up and then go and get her-”

“No!" several voices said at once. She frowned as they all stared at her as if she were mad.

“What?” she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Jamie.

“Remember that letter? They’re watching the damn school, Alicia! You can’t go out of bounds alone- I won’t let you,” he said sharply.

“I can take care of myself, Jamie,” Alicia retorted, her voice just as sharp. “Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I need help- in the words of a Muggle song by Jessie J: I can do it like a brother, do it like a dude,” Alicia snapped and Jamie cracked a smile.

“You know that’s not what I meant... But if you want to quote song lines, doesn’t the same song say, you think I can’t get hurt like you?” Alicia frowned, knowing that he had beaten her.

“Fine... You and Draco can come with me,” she said and Harry shook his head.

“That’s not a great idea either, is it? That letter was about the three of you, so being out of bounds together just makes it easier for them- take someone else or send someone else.”

“You’re just as wanted as me or Emily, Harry! I’m not letting anyone else go- they could get hurt,” Alicia answered back and Harry shrugged.

“We’ll take the risk,” Ron said as he looked over at her. “You find her, I’ll come with you to get her.” He saw Jamie’s face and smiled. “You think I’ll let her get herself into trouble?”

“Knowing you, yes,” Ginny said and Harry laughed.

“You’re not going either, Ginny,” Alicia said, sounding bored. Ginny pulled a face at her. “They know that you’re related to Jamie so they’ll try to use you as bait... And can I just say that I’m not stupid- I wasn’t planning on skipping out through the front gates.”

“How were you going to leave then?” Draco asked and she smiled at Harry, who grinned.

“The secret passageways that lead from the school to Hogsmeade- that way you can make sure we get there safely by using the map,” Alicia said and Draco nodded. Emily had taught him the hidden tunnels last year. “So, hand over that letter then,” Alicia said, sensing a victory.

Alicia made Jamie and Draco skip the last lesson of the day to send the letter. She met them outside the Charms classroom and practically pulled them away. They remained silent as they headed towards the Owlery. Alicia called America down and let her sit on her shoulder as she reread the letter.

Emily,
I know you don’t want us to annoy you all the time like this, but we’re worried about you- and when I say we’re, I include Remus, Tonks, and my entire family. We just need to know that you’re okay... You don’t have to tell us where you are. I guess that Draco told you about the letter we got a week ago? It was from the Death Eaters... It was to let them threaten us- and to tell Alicia that they got to Alice, Edward, and Jasper... Ems, they’re watching us and they know that you’re missing... I think that they don’t know where you are otherwise they’d tried something by now...
Please let me know if you’re okay...
I love you,
Jamie

Emily,
I know you’re not my biggest fan right now, and I understand that I brought it upon myself... I’m sorry that I said those things to you at the Burrow- I wish I could take them back... You are and always will be my sister, Emily, and nothing can change that.
We’re missing you up here in the castle, Ems... Especially me... I forgot that Draco was in Slytherin today and burst into the Common Room with him behind me- you would have laughed yourself silly if you’d seen the looks he was getting! I lost twenty House Points for that one but I’m not really bothered... And guess what? Snape’s Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! I know, I’m shocked too. That teacher Harry saw over the summer is the new Potions master! I got it wrong! Apparently, he knows Harry’s parents from when they went to Hogwarts... He’s been telling me funny stories about Sean and Sophie.
I can’t really tell you about any of the lessons as I haven’t been going to them... I’ve been shut up in Firenze’s room, refusing to leave until you come back. It’s idiotic, I know, but I don’t care...
I hope you’re okay and that you forgive me...
I love you,
Alicia

She sealed the scroll and tied it to America’s leg.

“Right, this is for Emily, but I don’t exactly know where she is... Bluejeans does though,” Alicia said, nodding towards Emily’s snowy owl. “Is that going to be a problem?” Her own snowy owl hooted once and she smiled. “That’s my girl...” she walked to the glassless window and America took off, bobbing in the wind. “Guys... Look at that,” she said, her eyes watching something on the hills in the distance. Jamie and Draco joined her and looked in the same direction.

“They are watching us, then,” Jamie stated as he watched the four Death Eaters on the top of one of the hills, watching the guards around the perimeter walls.

“The problem is, will they attack the guards?” Draco said, his thoughts jumping to Tonks.

“No- they’re to watch for us and nothing else,” Alicia replied, turning away from the window with a disgusted look on her face. “It’s a waiting game now,” she said as they left the tower. None of them saw America circle the Shrieking Shack in the semi darkness.

TAG!