Albus' Daughter Alice.

My body is actually too cold to sleep.

There it was. The truth was there all along. The stuttering fool had made everyone else the fool as he clearly held the face of Voldemort on the back of his head. The mere sight of it made her stomach squeeze and contract but still she watched from a distance. Harry was fine but quickly he wasn't as he found himself bound in the constricting cords of control. She didn't even realise that she had done it until it was too late. There she stood out in the open with Voldemort capable of seeing her and she had just lost them the upper hand. "Who are you?" His weak voice demanded an answer as he looked into her eyes furiously. "Someone who is stronger than you. I have a body and nose and hair." His voice broke into a harsh demand as he directed commands to the man who he had taken claim to. This time however, gave the boy a chance to escape and that he did but it was too late as a spell came flying at her. She had missed it but not by much. Rock broke and crumbled behind her and her eyes widened realising that it could have been her. The pair fought until her wand went flying from her hand and she had lost. The next thing she heard was a killing curse directed for her but she jumped from the line of fire. With no words she cast a spell that she never really even remembered learning but the man flew back down the stairs. Harry walked down after him but Alice felt the blood from a large wound run down her and she was too tired to move much more. She was spent and gone as the lights began fading around her. All her mind could remember was a flying figure of Voldemort flying directly at her but he lifted away as her body fell to the floor. "Filthy..." she couldn't hear the end as it all became too much.

Flashes of Ron and Hermione ran through her mind as well as sweet Harry. The whole ordeal and all the mistakes that they had made as they expected Snape to be there not Quirinus Quirrell. His purple scarf kept repeating itself in her mind as flashes of the man sat in class and also sat in the hall with that secret all along. He was a dirty traitor and she became one of his victims as she believed the stuttering fool and the act that he had created. Suddenly the image of Ron risking his life became the dominating image as well as the rubble that was created by the choices that he made. Hermione flashed as she willingly let Harry and Alice go ahead whilst she was the one that truly deserved to go but also didn't as she would have been attacked just the same. Miriam, Noah, Oscar and the twins all swirled in her mind as she wanted to pull one more prank with them and make one more diabolical mistake like they did every year.

Pain began shooting through her mind and head as the images faded and instead voices claimed her. Voldemort and his crazed voice consumed her every thought just as the images had. This time there was no longing just a desire to never hear it again as his voice left her demented. She was pulled from this by violent screaming that was so close to her that it was almost, no it was her. She felt her hands cradle her head as heart shattering screams echoed through the halls and drilled into the minds of those around them. Strong arms wrapped around her upper body in an attempt to sooth but it didn't work as she found no end to the scream. As his snake like voice kept going she couldn't fully gain consciousness. After what felt like forever but in reality was probably only half an hour the screams died down and she fell into a coma like sleep all over again. The process began again as the flashes of images consumed her. After screaming for the tenth time she slipped into the tormented sleep but life decided that instead of images or voices her vision was black as her entire life flashed before her eyes in a matter of moments. The strong arms were there but she noticed that the person hugging her changed almost every time. Some were more gentle whilst some were holding on for dear life. Like she was their only saving grace.

Light entered her vision and so did almost the entire teaching team and a few students that she recognised. "Mum!" She didn't know why she said this as she launched herself at Minerva but she didn't care as the hug was returned with desperation. "Mamma! His voice wont go away. Make it go away!" Her voice was coarse and her throat raw from the five hours worth of pure screaming that she had done. Albus had watched from just out of eyesight as his daughter clung on for dear life. "Mamma. He keeps speaking." Her tears had thoroughly soaked the green material beneath and all of the professors watched on with both pride in their hearts but also misery at her suffering. Still even after she had woken up his voice made it into her mind and caused her distress. "What is he saying baby girl?" Her voice came across as calm but her face betrayed her. "He keeps telling me that I am filthy and he keeps using the k-killing curse." Soft hands lifted from her back and began stroking her hair down but not loosening her grip. "Mamma. Am I crazy? Crazy because I can hear voices." She asked with the tears almost audible. "No Alice. You're not." She lightly rocked the girl till she slipped into a sleep again. It didn't take long for the screams to return as she pulled herself from the warming hug and began rocking on the bed with her head in her hands. Albus stepped in and placed a hand on her back as he held back the tears.

Harry, Ron and Hermione watched and listened as the girl they came to consider a friend lost her sanity to the loveless voice. Harry came to his feet and brought himself to her right side and began whispering loving words into her ear, even with the screams she seemed to hear them but the rocking couldn't be stopped. "Albus, can we do anything?" Molly asked but he informed them that all that was needed was time and not being alone for a while. Harry kept whispering and all the staff watched as she stopped her rocking and instead began sleeping a soundless slumber. Her body formed a ball and both her hands were placed under her head like a princess. A content smile passed all of their lips but still they held their breath waiting for the screams and shouts for help.

"Albus, we can all take it in turns to keep her with us. I know that the ministry will require your attention." Rolanda proposed and he agreed thankfully as he knew that the girl would need someone there. "When school starts up she can remain with us still if her nightly episodes continue." Surprisingly Pomona proposed this and all but one concurred. "I do not believe it to be appropriate for her to sleep with the male staff." A dark voice spoke but Albus shot him down. "Do not speak for the whole gender because you do not feel comfortable with it yourself. Besides, despite your 'mean man' nickname she finds your aura very comforting. The last time she was scared of you when she was knee height." He grunted and knew that at one point he would have to watch over her. "I appreciate you all for offering to remain the summer, even if you promised it before Harry made his journey." Albus didn't take his hand from her back as he soothingly rubbed her back. "Albus, she has been out of it for a few days. She needs to rest properly and I don't know when that will be." Poppy admitted with a directness in her tone. "Very well, I shall see to it that she rests. Tonight and tomorrow I shall remain with her but after that Fudge would have me escorted there himself if I do not leave." They all nodded and agreed with his statement.