Because Every Phoenix Needs a Flame

Chapter 1: The Incident

Waking in the rubble, Alice opened her eyes, everything hurt. What had happened? One moment she was duelling the man she was trying to arrest. A smuggler of Dragon fangs and then she was on the floor, surrounded by wizards and witches in dark robes and silver masks. It was supposed to be something simple, just a smuggler, he wasn't a follower of You-Know-Who. But when they arrived there, they found the warehouse was being used as a dark wizard's hideout.

Alice looked up, and the ceiling of the building had crumbled down and fallen over her and... Oh, for Salazar's sake, where was her partner. She tried to sit up, but the pain was agonizing. She reached one hand to her middle as she fell into her back once again.

Her Auror Robes were wet. Raising her hand back to her face she could see the blood, her blood. Alice bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying, in fear, in shame, in pain. She was an Auror, she would not make a fool of herself.

"Howe! Declan!" She called for her partner, but there was no response. Please don't let him be dead. Please. When Alice calmed herself she realized that she needed to call for help. Where was her wand? Please let it be intact, please.

She summoned it wandlessly, just like they taught them in the first year of Auror training and just a second later it was on her hand. And her phoenix appeared. "Frank. Warehouse, 3 kilometres away from the east entrance of Godric Hollow. Bring healers." The silvery figure disappeared, and Alice closed her eyes. She was tired, she just needed to rest for a minute. She would be okay.

Alice opened her eyes again when she heard someone Walking over glass, not just someone. Her husband. He was rushing in her direction, dodging, and jumping over the bigger pieces of rubble until he reached her.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered once his characteristic smell of honey and pine touched her nostrils. She just wanted to wrap her arms around him, but everything hurt.

"Shhh, Shhh, Shhh, love. Don't try to speak. Save your energy." He said, kissing her forehead. "Where's my healer!? I need a healer here!" He yelled to the group of people by the entrance of the building.

"Am I in such awful shape that you even overcome your fear of healers?" She teased, touching his wrist.

"For one time in our life, Wondergirl, just do what I say and save your energy." He pleaded. His eyes were on her during the time that took the Auror-Healers to approach, their claret robes with lime green stripes.

"I was never very good at doing what I was told." She confessed, as she diligently swallowed the vial that the Kenna Vance placed on her lips.

"Oh, I remember." He had tears in his eyes. Her foolish Gryffindor Husband was working so hard to not let them fall.

"Come closer. I want to tell you something," Alice whispered. When he was close enough, Alice kissed him. She needed the distraction. The pain had subdued but the discomfort and the sensation that something was wrong with her body had increased.

"I don't know if this is the time, dearest." He gulped, soft lips brushing hers with every word.

"Healer Vance doesn't mind... just let me..." She whispered and her lips travelled along his cheek until they fell right under his left eye. And the touch made his tears release, Alice licked each of the salty drops as they fell on her lips. "That's it... let them fall... I'm here."

"I can't, Lissie. I need to be the strong one." He whispered, and his hold on her cheek tightened. "You will be okay..."

"Neighbours say we're trouble..." Alice murmured, her hazel eyes very wide for a moment.