Across the world in dreary England, a young wizard gains his majority among his dark brotherhood...His namesake...His destiny...Yet, he shivers all the while in uncertainty. Another very different young wizard lies in wait, allowing the numbness to override him until duty calls. Meanwhile, back in that far flung continent across the world, a dark, conflicted wizard lies in the shadows, stalking a melancholy beauty who has no perception of her own existence.

The girl from the photograph, Kalista Karakinos, is completely unaware that a corrupted and melancholy wizard lurks outside her window. Severus Snape fights a strong urge to go against all of his best interests, tossing his life and precarious existence to the wind for lustful desires. Draco Malfoy awakens to darkness, and finds himself more comfortable with it than he expected. Harry Potter and his friends receive their test scores and prepare for their annual trip to Diagon Alley, completely unaware of the darkness that swirls in all around them.

Another annual trip to Diagon Alley looms before the returning students, with the Hogwarts Express close on its' heels. Hermione Granger finds herself tossing and turning in her lonely cot, with her own irritation keeping her company as usual. She ponders her place among her friends and can't help feeling excluded. Over at the Malfoy Manor, Draco gives an exultant smile as he ponders his own, new place in the world. Little does he know that his new found stability will soon be wrought asunder by flowing curls and glittering eyes.

The students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are eager for their new term to begin, as are the new transfers who have come to learn among them. Kalista finds herself bored with Diagon Alley, although she finds a small, bright reprieve in the form of the Weasley twins' joke shop. On the contrary, Severus finds that he is not at all ready for the term to begin. His thoughts are more than a bit preoccupied by the girl he had been sent to scout out, the entire reason for the transfer program. Much like his one-time protegee, Draco Malfoy, who can not get young Kalista out of his head

The new term begins at Hogwarts amidst a flurry of rushed planning. The new transfers have provided an unwanted addition to Severus' heavy workload, although he knows the program is necessary to his assignment. He resides to pass most of the responsibility on to the school's prefects. This slightly irritates Hermione, but part of her hopes to make a new friend. Harry struggles to progress the spark of attraction that arose between him and Kalista, but she sturggles to hold her own attraction in check. Kalista meets Severus Snape for the first time, finding herself stricken by his intense gaze.

Tensions begin to rise among the Hogwarts students as whispers of Voldemort circulate within rumors about the transfers. Harry finds himself turning his wand against one of his mates in an effort to stem the tide of distrust, his loyalty to Dumbledore ever steadfast. One of the new transfers reflects upon his arrival and contemplates his next move in order to achieve his ultimate goal.