A/N: Hello readers. I have a few business-keeping items to attend to before the story. First, Snakes Coiled has been on hiatus for over two years now, as I'm sure you've noticed. I do sincerely apologize for this. It's been a rough/hectic past couple of years (graduating college and starting up graduate school takes a lot more energy than anyone tells you). I hate when authors just abandon their stories, leaving their characters forever in the lurch, the plot partially unraveled. I never had any intention of forever leaving this story behind. In fact, I've thought about it quite a lot. So I'm here to say I've returned.

Second, I've decided to edit all of the chapters because I've noticed far too many errors and it bothers me. These will be minor changes so you don't need to reread anything unless you want to.

Finally, all information for this story is taken from the HP Lexicon.

Prologue: Destiny Outlined

Aella Burke, daughter to Caractacus Burke, was born with a long list of achievements simply associated by name and blood. Tiny as a child, much like her father, she held a deep determination. Glory could be found in her twinkling eyes. She had a little greed and more than enough treasure to explore.

She would pitter-patter aimlessly around her father's shop, placing her tiny palms upon dark stained wooden cupboards. Mystical objects, more often than not cursed, were placed high out of her reach. Her father's co-owner, Borgin, would frequently express annoyance with all of the excessive precautions. Her father seemed to care little.

She grew up in a world of dark arts and trade and she knew nothing else.

Her beginnings held the definition for her life with a concrete hand. As childhood passed, she grew to realize that magic was joyful and proved useful when she wanted to punish another for behaving in ways she deemed incorrect. She became territorial of people and certain things she loved. Scolded often for trying to slip cursed items into the pockets of rude customers, she faced constant banishment from the store. Each punishment never lasted long but they left the young girl fuming.

One day, a week before she was to leave for the first time on the Hogwarts Express, she sat in Borgin and Burke's, her petite frame sitting atop a stool behind the front counter. Her tiny legs swayed back and forth. She was cocking her head to the side, her large grey eyes studying the witches and wizards passing the store. Her brown hair was a voluminous mesh of shades and she ran her thin fingers through it, attempting to neaten it just a bit more.

Her father leaned on the counter in front of her. "Aella," He began slowly. "Your mother would be so proud of you." She nodded her head, knowing that her mother was a sore topic for them both. She had died the previous year unexpectedly. Aella had never received what she considered proper information on her mother's death. She knew her father had. "You're going to Hogwarts and you'll be the most brilliant little witch."

"Papa," She said with a whine. "I'd much rather stay here with you. I could clean the shop or—"

"Aella, you have powers and you must make them perfect. When you're finished you can come and work for me until you go on to bigger and better things." He turned and looked at her, his thatch of hair falling into his eyes momentarily. "You had better not be nervous. There's nothing to worry about."

Aella could feel her lips quivering. "But papa!" She wrenched her hands together. "What if I'm not in Slytherin? What if they put me in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff?" She said with distaste. "What if I end up in Gryffindor?" She spat angrily.

Her father laughed. "It won't happen. Don't worry. Your destiny is written in stone." He said positively. She nodded her head, used to hearing those words. Her mother used to croon the same thing with absolute delight.

"My little Aella, you'll be glorious one day. Your destiny is written in stone."

Aella Burke wished she could believe this with her whole heart. Sometimes she felt like she would never live up to what everyone expected of her. She wasn't so sure she could master all the forms of magic necessary to be something great. She was even less sure she could become a talented trader.

Destiny in stone. Aella was sure it was. What it said, well, that was a completely different matter.