Wizards fire blazed an inferno around my body, the excruciating pain was unbearable as the trails of fire seeped into my skin. Screaming my dying aunt's name as the blue fire crept up from my torso around my neck. Only the Locomotor Mortis curse kept me on my feet.

I jerked awake ringing for a nurse, my body temperature much higher than it had been for several weeks. The St. Mungos nurse who had been looking after me for months now poured a most revolting potion into my mouth, thick and bitter it felt like tar going down my throat. I coughed hard and tears sprang to my eyes.

A great start to my release day. After seven months in hospital and coming back from the brink of death I was left with no living relatives and no home to return to. I had lived with my aunt for as long as I could remember and now that she was gone, I had no one left. Feelings of loneliness tried to break through and I struggled to hold them back. Everything would be okay, it had to be.

I stood on my blackened legs, which like everywhere from my neck down would take many more months to fully heal even with daily potions, and slowly changed into my muggle clothes. My jumper hung like a tent around me and i had to use a belt to keep my trousers in place, after all these months I felt like I had wasted away into nothing.

Until Professor Dumbledore visited my bedside three months after the fight, I had felt like I was nothing. I had missed most of the second Term of my second year at Hogwarts and knew I would not be allowed to return. On the first day of April this changed. Albus Dumbledore sat beside my burnt body and told me that he would do whatever it takes to help me to continue with my studies at Hogwarts. I read books and studied for my exams every day until I could no longer. A week before i was due to travel to Hogwarts for the end of year exams, I received an owl from Professor Snape, head of my house, that final year exams were cancelled and I would be starting my third year at Hogwarts with all the other students in September.

I wasn't popular at school and I didn't stand out much either except on the qudditch pitch. I had been playing beater during the time I was in second year for the house team. I already knew i wouldn't be allowed to play in matches in my third year, i doubted it would stop me practising though. The Slytherins all liked me, always loyal to their own. I had no doubts in my mind that Slytherin was my family.

Kingsley Shacklebolt entered my private room. I turned at the noise as the nurse rushed in behind him, an arm full of paperwork.

"Here to transport you to Hogwarts Miss Canagan. May i say you look almost well!" His smile filled the room and made the nurse signing the release forms blush. His robe's were bright and exotic and made me half smile at him in return. I had met Kingsley once before, the minister for magic had sent him to give his consolations after the accident. I'd had a lot of potions and could only remember that he seemed friendly.

"Are you ready? You travelled by side along apparition before?"

I nodded.

I picked up my small blue shoulder bag, magically expanded and lightweight. It had been a gift from my aunt when I first started school. I looked around the empty room I had spent so long in and thanked the nurse for her care. Sometimes I was still surprised to be alive. The moment I took hold of Kingsley's awaiting arm my feet stumbled on the cobbles of Hogsmeade. I winced and his hold on my arm tightened, the sick feeling in my stomach already starting to disappear.

I looked up to the horizon and took a deep breath of country air. Hogwarts loomed over us, casting a shadow on the grounds in front, the evening sun silhouetting the castle. I was home.

Arriving at the school gates i was met by the large scale of Hagrid. Freshly released from Azkaban he looked a little worse for wear. I was somewhat bitter about staying with a giant for the rest of the summer, it wouldn't be received well when I went back to school but anything would be better than two more months at St. Mungos.

"Hullo Kingsley, Good te see ya Rue" He looked down to the two of us.

I said nothing, distaste showing on my features. Hagrid chose to ignore my expression.

"I heard the good news Hagrid. Congratulations, you will make an excellent care of magical creatures teacher! I couldn't think of anyone better for the job." Kingsley turned back towards Hogsmeade and disappeared from view. On the walk to the gates he had told me about an important meeting he must attend right away at the Three Broomsticks.

As we walked silently to his hut, a mass of grey fur ran headlong towards me. I almost took a step backwards until I saw the green glint of the big cat's eyes.

"WOLF!" I yelled in glee, the cat racing to a stop before me, ready to be petted and hugged to make up for lost time. I stroked the excited cat and looked up towards Hagrid.

"Thank you for looking after her for me." The residual hate I felt for the giant began to dissaperate, my beautiful Norwegian Tabby was healthy and happy as ever.

I quickly settled in to the small room which had been added to the back of Hagrid's hut. I placed the book's Dumbledore had given me to study from onto the shelf and tied my green and silver house scarf around the hooks by the doorway. The bare brick walls reminded me fondly of the slytherin dormitories. I guess I would get used to the giant oaf eventually.

The first month of summer passed quickly, helping Hagrid with his magical creatures and reassuring him that he would make a good teacher. I quickly took to cooking to avoid Hagrid's rock solid scones, and began to look a little more like my old self again. As a welcome gift Hagrid had produced a second hand Cleansweep and I was delighted. Almost all my things had been lost from before the accident, broom included. I began to practise daily being very unsteady at first, I soon recovered some lost confidence.

On the first day of August, an tawny owl landed beside me. I had been on the vegetable patch sprinkling flesh eating slug repellent around Hagrid's summer cabbages. Taking the letter clasped in its beak, I petted the owls head. I recognised it to belong to the Malfoys. A grin spread across my face.

A/N - Please review and let me know if I should continue! X