Not-So-Newcomer

Sequel to "The Newcomer"

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"All these years and still it feels like that horrible time just ended yesterday. The memories, the anxiety and paranoia. I still feel it. While I eat, while I shower, while I'm trying and failing to sleep. The war ended, obviously that's great, but that doesn't stop the waves of grief left in the aftermath." Ali says, lowly.

"They wouldn't have wanted us to dwell on it, Ali."

"Dwell? I don't mean to dwell, but everyone else did the opposite! Everyone that could, anyway. They were so relieved the Dark Lord was dead they didn't give the dead a second thought! Not to mention the ones that were left crippled and left forgotten at St.Mungos, or the irreparably traumatized that we're left in the care of their families, unless of course their families were left dead or too poor to help them."

"I hate to see you like this. Panicked. Dark circles under your eyes. Angry, all the time, at seemingly everyone. Why can't you just try to be the old Alexandra? The sexy, snappy, witty, clever girl that put everyone in their place?"

She chuckles dryly...