Maledictus

Ch.22 - Owlery

Alice opened it eagerly, hoping to God it was Henry.
And it was.

It had a picture of him behind bars, with cuts all over him.
And of course his name was signed at the bottom.

If this was truly Henry, he was hurt and in danger.
She needed to ask Draco, even if it caused her more pain, she didn't care, she needed to know that he was going to be okay.

She hurried over to Fred and George, as much as she hated him, she needed to ask someone.

"Mr. Weasley?" she asked timidly.

"Yes?" they answered in unison.

"Can you help me with something?"

They looked at each other, wondering whether to help or not.

"On one condition" said Fred.

"Forget it" she said, walking away before, George took her by the wrist.

"I am not going to try on of your bloody sweets Mr. Weasly!" she said through gritted teeth and kicked them both in the shins.

"Fine!" said George, stopping her from leaving.

"What's up?" asked Fred, kneeling down.

"I need you to write a letter for me" she said, handing him some parchment.

"What will I write?" he asked, as George dipped his bright red and gold quill into the black liquid ink.

"Can you write why in huge capital letters?"

George nodded, writing it down as big as possible.

"Anything else?"

"No thank you Mr. Weasley. You've been an amazing help!" she exclaimed, snatching the paper and scribbling her name down.

They were a little baffled.
He only wrote one word.
Couldn't she do that?

"Actually, can you help me send it?"

Fred jumped up and smiled.

"I'll go!"

Alice smiled and followed him, upstairs, downstairs, walking through long corridors until they could hear the beloved hooting from the happy owls from the owlery.

Alice tied her note to an owls leg and asked him to find Henry and come back with an answer.

Alice hugged Fred, letting go of the letter from Henry, she forgot she was holding.

Fred bent down to pick it up, noticing what it read.

"What's this?"

"Its nothing" she replied stiffly, taking the letter off him. "Promise me you won't tell anyone you saw this letter"

"Why?"

"Promise me" she warned.

"Fine I promise!" he said, putting his hands up in defence. "But why, why is there a boy being tortured in the letter?"

"If you must know, it's from a friend. We are making a comic strip together, and this is for the end" she lied, but she lied very well.
However Fred still wasn't sure.

"Why can't I tell?"

"Its a surprise for the school, Snape asked us to do it for the daily prophet" she lied again, but it was becoming easier as she began to enjoy it.

"I can't wait to see it!" he exclaimed.

Alice just hoped he'd forget about it, and won't mention it to anyone.

"When is it out?" he urged.

"Not sure" she replied simply. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find my brother"

"We can't stay out any longer! McGonagall will murder us!" he exclaimed.

"Fine, then can you show me the way back to the common room?"she asked kindly, staring out the window.

"Gladly!"

Once they reached the common room,  Alice (with the help of the twins) sat on the windowsill, looking at the stars.

She could feel that her brother was in danger, but he would get out of it.
He would be okay, if she believed he would.
That's what Alice lived on, she lived on hope.
That's what kept her sane.

She hasn't realised that everyone had gone to bed.
She could finally relax.
She didn't have to hide, she could run around.
And what people didn't realise was that, she did want help, but she wasn't allowed it.
She knew she would be punished, but she had a feeling her brother would be punished too.

As soon as she was able to read and write, she was going to leave Hogwarts and find her brother, even if it cost her her life.

Why?
Because time was running out.
Sooner than later, she will turn into the Black Mamba, never to turn human again.