Chapter 20 (Updated)

To say the least, when Alicia and Scorpius returned to Hogwarts half the population were gushing over the cover of the Witch Weekly Teens. They had become teen idols in such a short time. According to Astoria the launch of the magazine and the sales of the advertised clothing line was through the roof. It was beyond successful. Alicia had already been hired to be a teen model for the magazine. She was thrilled and terrified.

Thrilled because of the money she would be receiving after every gig. She could finally earn enough for her education and materials. Terrified because of the attention she was getting. She was not used to it at all. Also, Ron wasn't too thrilled about seeing his godchild on magazine covers. He even wanted to resign from Auror work and apply as a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to keep an eye on her. Harry had to calm him down to avoid any trouble for the Headmistress.

"It's not the end of the world, Ron." Harry calmed his best friend down.

"Bloody hell, Harry! Of course, it is. She's a little girl. She can't be displayed like that." Ron argued picturing a little Alicia running towards him with a small sparrow on her hand. The little thing had been injured and Alicia had found it stuck on one of the bushes.

"You know, out of all of us, you're the one who's particularly against this. Ginny and I gave her permission. If anything happens, she can quit whenever she wants." Harry joined him on the couch. Ron was silent. His argument was unfounded and he knew that. He just didn't want the sweet girl being exploited.

"I was hesitant at first." Harry sighed and leaned on the backrest on the couch with his arm spread out on the backrest. "I wanted to keep her out of the spotlight. We did our best but there's no stopping it now. She's Hermione's daughter so it's natural that people admire her. Come to think of it, I have never seen her so happy before. Maybe it's only natural. She doesn't want us to worry so she keeps everything to herself. She's trying to get through all of this on her own. Sometimes I wish she would reach out. I know she's still hurting but for some reason, in our last floo call, she was so happy. She was smiling all the way through as she told me about her adventures with the Malfoys. Even with us, I'd never seen her aura glow like that." Harry was trying to stop the tears. It felt like he had failed Hermione but the image of Alicia's smiling face kept him from crying.

"She's growing up isn't she?" Ron sighed his elbow resting on this lap and his hand clasped together.

"Too fast, if you ask me."

"Can we even tell her the truth?"

"I don't know, Ron."

--

It was a weekend back in Hogwarts. While some of the students were at Hogsmead Alicia had a scheduled photo shoot inside Hogwarts.

"I never knew you liked these things." Destiny pointed out as she flashed the new issue of Witch Weekly Teens in their dorm room.

"I didn't give it much thought before," Alicia answered as she continued to edit the remaining paragraph on her homework for Study of Ancient Runes.

"You and Scorpius look so good together. There's no surprise if he asked you out." Patricia pointed at their photo where Alicia and Scorpius were dancing.

Destiny laughed at Patricia's notion. "They're more like siblings. Have you seen them interact?"

"I suppose so." Patricia agreed, recalling how the two blondes were constantly teasing each other. There is a bond but romance was out of the question. "Although, Claudia isn't too happy about seeing them together. I heard she was pissed off when she found out that Alicia was with the Malfoys for Christmas and her anger was through the roof when she saw the magazine."

"Has she harassed you, Alicia?" Destiny asked.

"The opposite actually. She's recently been quite friendly." Alicia answered. "I know it's fake."

Alicia was about to say something else when her cat jumped on her desk and placed her paw on Alicia's right hand. The cat meowed and stared at her.

"What is it?" Alicia asked, placing the quill in the ink bottle and petting her furry friend. The cat meowed and jumped off the desk to her nightstand where her alarm clock was. 3:15 PM. "I have fifteen minutes to change and get to the tower." She said to herself. She quickly tidied her desk and grabbed a clothes bag from her trunk. She retreated to the bathroom leaving the two girls to continue their chat. When she out wearing a cozy knitted dress over a pastel pink trench coat and cream brown thigh-high boots. It wasn't something you would see that she would wear every day and the two girls certainly took notice.

"Wow." They both said in unison.

"Do you have a date?" Patricia asked.

"No," Alicia answered with a giggle.

"Then why the outfit?" Destiny asked admiring how the color suited Alicia's beautiful blonde hair.

Alicia was contemplating whether to tell them about it or make up an excuse but knowing Destiny she would know the instant the new issue came out. Destiny was the person you wouldn't want to lie to after all because her temper was something else.

"I have a shoot in a few minutes." She admitted and both girls gasped and stared at her. Alicia quickly covered her ears anticipating a high pitch squeal coming from her friends and they did. "It's a secret!" Alicia immediately shushed them.

"You're the first people to see this. It's going to be in February's edition. Please don't tell." She informed them. Destiny and Patricia nodded their heads and swore not to tell a soul well except for their other roommate who was visiting Hogsmead.

"Could we watch you?" Patricia asked.

"I'm not sure. I'll ask first."

"Alright. Good luck."

With that Alicia grabbed a long cloak that covered her whole outfit. After securing the strings she turned back around. "I'll be going then. Remember, not a soul."

"Promise!" Both girls raised their pinkies.

--

She was running late. She suddenly felt light when she was walking down the corridors. It prompted her to slow down and take a seat on the stone benches near the Viaduct Courtyard doors. She had been experiencing this before but it wasn't always. Rather, she would suddenly feel it and it would disappear after a while. She would simply shake it off because of her sudden movements.