In the Beginning. . .

The evening was present, the rain pelting down hard on the roof. Screams from a young woman could be heard coming from the parlor of the Malfoy mansion in Switzerland. Through the storm that late night in November, a knock could be faintly heard on the door. A drenched man carrying merely a small wand entered the home.

"Is she for me?" The man asked.

"Yes, lord, we give our daughter to you."

"I always knew you would. Thats just like my daughter."

Putting a perminant mark on the new child's arm, the strange man smiled wryly.

"She shall rise up."

That was the way it started, so many years ago. The one that was forgotten that evening, another young girl who was about to turn one, sat in a small cradle near the birth. As the mark was inscribed on her new neice's arm, she herself felt a twinge of pain on her arm. It was the birth of the third Death Eater's daughter, and this one, just like the others, would some day make her mark on the wizarding society, but not for another predicted 15 years. In the time between the birth and the confirmation, these two little children had no knowledge of the other, one living in the far off jungles of Africa, fleeing from this terrible lord, and the other, in a gigantic mansion on the Swiss countryside. Though these two children were kin to the greatest lord of the day, they would both grow to be quite different in their quite different homes. One would see her mother pass on, but the father as well, later on to a terrible broom accident. Cause to be unknown. The new little Malfoy girl would be raised very openly about what she was and what she was to believe. Through her childhood, she would grow to like the idea of being so powerful, but before it was all in place, set in the stones, the perfect Death Eater's daughter's dreams were shattered, and all in one evening.

It is here, that the tales begin.

Amber Malfoy approached the train, saying goodbye to her best friend, who was two and a half years older than she was.

"G'bye Lydia! I'll see you in a few years when I can come to school too!" She said as her father pulled her away from the train. Little Ammie, as the adults called her, was only 8 years old, almost nine, but so desparately longed to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her father kept reminding her that It would have to wait, but little Amber just couldnt be held back any longer.

In another place, at the same time, there was a question being asked. Carefully watching over Amber from a distance throughout the next year, a professor approached Dumbledore about the new little child.

"We have a young one, sir." The scout said to the older man, very lanky, with the long, twisted old gray beard.

"Yes, I too have noticed her. What do you suppose we do?" The Headmaster replied to the scout. "You know that they must be eleven to be invited."

"She's rather intelligent. The little girl can already do most of the magic that we teach in the first block of schooling. I believe that its her father's doing, but in the fall, you'd be crazy not to admit her."

This was yet another offer that Dumbledore could not pass up. He pondered over the situation as the months rolled past. She was either going to have to wait until she was 11, and almost 12 in two months to be admited, making her the oldest in that year, or she would have to be admitted at age 9, turning 10, and making her quite young, but still, quite smart.

The year rolled by and it came time for the Headmaster to designate the letters to the students. "Descision time, Professors," He said announcing it to everyone. "Anyone in particular that you would like to have recieve a letter?"

Professor Snape spoke up. "I have two."

"Aah, and? Proceed."

"Shayna Riddle and Amber Malfoy."

A hush fell over the table. Surely they wouldnt admit the two main targets of the dark lord? Especially into this year?

"Please, explain, Professor." Dumbledore asked.

"Shayna, as you know, is ready to recieve her letter. She's been under protection for quite too long and it is high time she learn who she is. I've been helping her out somewhat over time, and I promise you, that after viewing her own mother's murder, this child wants nothing to do with the Dark Arts of any kind."

"As for the other?" A young female professor asked.

"Yes, Amber Malfoy. Interesting choice? She may only be nine years old, but soon enough she will be ten, and I know that she is capable of preforming the tasks of a first year. Nobody has to know how young she is."

"Are you familiar with the way she was raised?" The same professor asked.

"Very. Death Eater to the bone. I am very close with the Malfoy family, Lucius and Giovanni, her father, were my closest friends as a boy. Mind you, I do not hold a special favoritisim for the Malfoy children, but her cousin, Draco, will be coming up in the next year. He's the same age as she is. We might be able to pull the Malfoy children from the dark visions they have recieved through their childhood. Ive also overheard that Amber is a born seeker."

"I will consider them both." And the Professor went on. Other names were subject to discussion, followed by a long list of muggle children who had been under investigation by the wizard protection agency. The teachers were able to compile a list of twenty students who would fit well at Hogwarts. Among those names were Shayna Riddle, and quite a few others. Amber Malfoy, however, did not appear on the list.

Dumbledore adjourned the meeting, exiting his office. As the professors retired to their sleeping chambers, a small bit of magic slipped the list up to the owls, and they were gone. It was two weeks early, but the magic happened, and it could not be stopped. The next morning, Dumbledore awoke to find that his list was gone and so were his best owls, so they went about with their business, preparing the school. Nobody thought too much about it, except, they had no idea what that small magic had done. It wouldnt be found out for another month, when the students would arrive.

Back at the Malfoy mansion in Switzerland, a famous quidditch player and his only daughter were awoken by the sound of a hooting owl at Amber's window.

The small child let the owl in, dazed by its splendor.

"Can I have that, birdy?" She asked in a child-like manor. Amber carefully took the bird on her hand as she untied the little letter.

"Father! We got an owl!" She exclaimed. "Will you read it for me?"

"Sure thing, my little treckle tart." Giovanni Malfoy unrolled the letter, reading it through once to himself, and then forcing himself to re read it.

"Whats it say, pop?"

"Uh, There must be some type of mistake. You are Amber Malfoy, right, darling?"

"Silly daddy! Read me my letter!"

"Its a letter from Hogwarts. You'll attend classes there this fall."

"Yippee!" Little Ammie yelled, running up to her room. "Ive got to start packing!"

Her father just sat, bewildered at what he had just read. His one and only little girl was traveling off to Britain to attend the most highly-credited wizarding school of their day.

That month seemed to fly by for old Giovanni, but as for Little Ammie, each hour inched away, slowly, until finally they were all gone. It was time to depart.

She kissed her father goodbye as he handed her the trunk full of her belongings. Loading the train, a tear came to his eye, and his daughter sped off before his eyes.

Amber sat down in a compartment with only two other little girls, and a little boy. Silence filled the room for a good time, when a springy, red-headed girl entered the room and broke that silence.

"Hey there little Ammie!" The girl said.

"Why, hello Lydia!"

"Hey. Just really quick, I wanted to tell you to make sure you become a Gryffindor. Its the best." And she was off.

Confusing, Amber thought, that Gryffindor was the best, and yet, her father had specifically said to her before she left Switzerland, "Go on, my little treckle tart, and make daddy proud by becoming a Slytherin!" Oh well, she thought, i'll go wherever I go.

"Hey, you guys, whats your names?" Amber asked the little kids across from her. The ride had just gotten too quiet.

"Melissa." said the little girl with all her text books under her arms, followed by a "Robert" out of the little boy, and an "Ashley" who just happened to be wearing the same designer robes that Amber had on.

"Nice to meet you all." and the train slowed. first years were called, and before they knew it, the sorting ceremony had began.

Standing as still as possible, the little first years nervously looked on towards the hat. Amber stood, dreading her sorting moment.

Of course her moment came, and, as all of the readers most likely know, there isnt a Malfoy who gets away without being sorted into Slytherin, so I will now proceed onward with the rest of my story.

Amber and her new friends walked up the sinuous corridor until they finally approached their rooms. Entering cautiously, each girl found their own trunk at the foot of a gorgeous four-poster bed with deep, green, down comforters, along with a book, "Helpful Hints for the First-Year First-year."

"A little redundant, isnt it?" one student asked.

The weeks went on, and it was soon time for the first flying lesson.

Madame Hooch escorted the little 1sts out onto the quidditch field. "Has anyone ever flown?" she asked. Many hands shot up. "Can I have a demonstrator, please?" Slowly, all of the risen hands were removed except for two.

"Yes, how about you, over there?" She said, pointing towards a lanky little girl.

"Sure thing, ma'am," She said, reaching for an old school broom. She got on, and soared high into the air.

"That'll do, dear. Thank you!" Madame Hooch called to her. The girl slowly flew back to earth, trying to enjoy her time. "Do you play quidditch, dear?" Madame asked, curiously.

"I did, ma'am."

"Position?"

"Chaser, ma'am. I'm living with muggles now though."

"Aah, good. Any other quidditch players?"

Slowly raising her hand, Amber looked nervously at all of the other children.

"Speak up dear, what position?"

"Seeker."

"Hmm. You the little Malfoy girl?"

"Yes."

"I see. You dont look like a Malfoy."

"Do you think that I didnt already know that?" Amber asked, questioningly and sarcastically. Madame Hooch looked at her in amazement. No first year had ever smarted back to her like that.

"Well, no, I suppose that you do know that now, dont you. Class, its time to get going inside."

There was something about that first flying lesson that cut it short. There was something about Amber that dug down deep into Madame Hooch's skin and festered. She was becoming a rather popular student to dislike.

The students departed the field and ran to catch up with some friends to talk before dinner started. The children scattered on up to commons rooms to talk about the flying lessons, new classes, and play a round of gobstones. Amber, however, trapsed back up to her dormitory. It had been harder to make friends than she had originally thought. Moments after she entered the room, another sad-stricken face entered and sat down next to her on her bed.

"Whats wrong?" Amber asked.

"Nothing at all." It was the lanky girl from the flying lessons.

"There must be something wrong. You look really sad."

"I'm not."

"Are you sad because you live with muggles? I would be."

The girl laughed. "I miss being in a community with people like me, but its hard to explain why I dont really want to come back to all of this. I love going to school, but during the summer, the best place for me to be is in America."

"Well, the best place for me is in Switzerland with my daddy."

"Thats neat. What do you do in Switzerland?"

"Play quidditch. Its a really small non-muggle community, like, maybe ten to twelve families, but I like it there."

"So your name's Amber, right?" The girl asked.

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Im only in all your classes, and you know how many times a day they say your name. They also sigh a lot."

Now Amber was laughing. "Well, i guess I still dont know your name, but maybe thats good for you. We wouldnt want those teachers saying "Oh, those two little Slytherin girls... sigh."

"Yeah, thatd be pretty funny. My name is Shayna Riddle. Its nice to meet you."

"Yeah, you dont know how much perfect timing your coming up here had. I was just thinking about how bad it had been that I hadnt made any friends, and i'm the most loud-mouthed, pushy person I know. You'd think i'd've met some kids, but no. You're the first."

"Want to go down to dinner?"

"Sure! Lets go." And a friendship between the two girls started from that moment on. They made friends with a few of the other kids in their year named Kirbin and Mindy, along with a few of the boys, named Spencer, Trev, and Mark.

From the time of the birth to the time of power restoration, there was a tremendous decline in Death Eater loyalty. The Dark lord lost his power and was forced to flee far away. When he and his remaining close circle heard that his youngest daughter, and his youngest grand daughter were accepted into Hogwarts in the same year, there was hope for a new rise of power. The plans fell into place, and Voldemort's supporters began to slowly grow. It was a very slow process, but by the time these girls were in their 5th year, his power would be rising back up to the max and the Dark Arts would be rekindled. It was just a matter of time, for now.

Four Years Later

"Come on, lets go! We dont have time for this! Get up, as in, NOW!" The whole house could probibly hear Amber Malfoy yelling that morning. It was the first day of quidditch practice, and, with it being her fifth year and the oldest, most experienced player, Amber was the Slytherin quidditch captain.

"But I've gotta eat!"

"Kirbin! We can eat later! We have a game two months from today against the Hufflepuffs! You want to get beat by something with that stupid of a name who havent even started practicing?"

"Not really." Kirbin replied, trying to keep Amber from biting her head off.

"Well then, lets go! Shayna! You too!"

It was going to be a bright and early morning every day for the rest of the season. Nor rain or shine, quidditch would practice.

The players took to the field for their first practice. It was time for the great captain-player talk. The first and most memorable of the year.

"--Now, I want you all to know, that Slytherins dont like to lose! We are here today because none of the other teams have even started practicing, and if we start now, being the given most dominant team anyway, we'll beat them by more points than if we'd started practicing at the same time--"

"I guess she just assumes we are going to win every game, huh." A new member, 2nd year and beater, Jordan asked.

"We did last year," Shayna responded with a smile.

"--So, like I was saying, my father, being Giovanni Malfoy, who most of you know, is the seeker for the Switzerland team, has funded these for us," Amber beamed, presenting each member with a brand-new, Supernova 5000.

"Oh my goodness! Amber!" Trev exclaimed, as he gingerly took the broom from her hands. "Did you know that each one of these babies costs more than my whole house and everything in it?"

She blushed. "Yeah, they were kind of expensive, but daddy got a bonus last Friday."

Right as the team was about to try out the new brooms, Dumbledore and Madame Hooch, who still held a grudge against Amber, entered the field.

"Amber, may I speak with you for a moment?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes sir. What is it?" Amber replied, stepping away from the group.

"Well I'll give you the small news first. The new brooms may be good enough for a major league team, but, they are not junior quidditch regulation length. If you'd like to check it out, Madame Hooch has the J.Q.R. Hand book with her."

"How do you expect me to tell my team that? These brooms are the nicest thing that they've ever been given, and then to take them back? Are you trying to shatter worlds here, sir?"

"I'm quite sorry, my dear, but what the rule book says, goes. Now, the other news," And he paused. "Amber, your father has been in a flying accident. His broom malfunctioned, and he fell nearly 300 feet. He is currently in the intensive care unit at the Basal General Hospital, so if you'd like for me to take you there, I can."

"I need to get back to my quidditch practice, sir. Thank you, and I will get back to you on that."

Amber turned and walked back to the field. With the sound of a whistle, the team approached her.

"Ok guys, heres whats going on. Bad news first?"

"Yeah." Kirbin and Mindy said.

"Amber, wait--" Shayna stopped her.

"Uh huh?"

"I've got an idea, before you say anything about the brooms."

"How'd you know?"

"I read quidditch weekly. Anyway, They arent wide enough on the tips, and they are, what, 4 inches or so too short?"

"And, what are you suggesting we do about that?"

"Magic. How about we just make the bristles more full, and we can worry about the length thing later."

"It'll slow us down and they will turn out to be just as useful as a Nimbus."

"Not if they are there but dont weigh anything. Its going to work, i'm sure of it."

"Alright, everyone," Amber said, "Take your brooms to Shayna, and she's going to fix them so that we can play. Now, I might have to leave for a while because my father was in a terrible broom malfunction accident, and hes in the hospital."

"Oh, Ammie! I'm so sorry!" Kirbin said.

"Yeah, that sure is a tragedy," Mindy agreed.

"Well then, now that everything's said, lets get to practicing!" and the team flew off. They practiced vigorously all Saturday without even a hint of a break, while Shayna worked on their brooms. Being the smart student she was, it wouldnt take her long to come up with a way to get around the rules.

Dusk began to fall on the practice, and it was nearly dinner time. Amber blew her whistle. "Alright everyone, good practice. I'll be seeing you bright and early tomorrow morning. Anybody who neglects to show up, keep in mind all those little first years that could replace you, and let that be your motivation. Until then!"

The team headed back up to the castle for dinner. Amber and Shayna stayed back to get the field ready for tomorrow.

"So what happened with your dad, Amber?"

"I'm not sure. He wasnt flying a Supernova 5000, but I think it was the same make, just a different model. He's never had broom problems before."

"I hope it will all work out for you. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Thanks. Now, how bout you and I get on up to that great hall and get us some food?"

"Sounds good to me." And they were off.

Amber and Professor Dumbledore decided to make a hospital run the following weekend. Her father's condition had only declined, and everyone was worried that this may be the last time for her to see him alive. The 15-year old girl entered the hospital room hesitantly. What would he look like? Was he in the condition to see her? Amber approached his bed, holding his hand.

"Daddy, you cant leave me now."

The weak man turned his eyes up to look at her. His words were short and strung together. "I'm hurt."

"I know but we can make it through this."

"Amber," and he paused, "Listen good. You are strong, and have a good life ahead of you. I want you to graduate and make me proud." There was another pause, "When you play quidditch, I want you to play it for me, with determination. I will always be there for you in spirit."

"No! Dad! You are going to live!" Tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry sugar, but theres nothing I can do. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, and Its my time to be taken. I'm going to a better world now, and I want you to know-" and he took a breath. "I love you. I always have, and I always will." Amber Malfoy's father breathed in his last breath, leaving her all alone, no mother, no father, just her.

A nurse ran into the room. "We've got a flat line here! Get me some doctors! Now!"

Crying, Dumbledore wrapped his arms around the poor girl. "Your father was a great man."

"Yeah," she said wiping the tears away. "I'm gonna miss him so much."

The fall semester of the year passed by, and soon it was winter. Slytherin had only played one of their quidditch games, verses the Hufflepuffs, and dominated 210-70. Storms had settled in on the school, and a blizzard fell outside the castle walls. It had been snowing, nonstop, for one whole week. The school began to get restless, trying to find things for the students to do. Many had began a wizard dueling club, while quidditch members took to seeking out old, abandoned class rooms with enough space to fly. Amber Malfoy and her Slytherins took to the basement of the school, which was very dark and murky. It also didnt have a very wide ceiling. One afternoon while practicing, a quaffle flew up towards the ceiling, and Shayna, when she flew to knock it through their makeshift goal posts, hit her head on the ceiling. She was in the infirmary for an afternoon, and as a result, the Slytherins lost the use of the basement and were forced to stop practicing.

One rather cold morning while all the girls were asleep, Amber awoke and took a trip down to the Slytherin commons area. There were book cases lining the walls, a large, stone fireplace, and many little tables. There just wasnt a good room for playing in.

"Amber! What are you doing? Its only 4:45 on a Sunday morning!"

She turned to see her friend Spencer on the steps near the boys hall.

"I'm finding a place to practice quidditch!"

"In here? You must be crazy!"

"No, this will never work. Hold on, i'll be back later on."

The corridors were always fairly cold in the mornings, and Amber was barefoot, still in her sleeping robes. Upon arrival of wherever she was going, she turned and was met face to face with a little Gryffindor boy, Harry Potter.

"What are you doing out here, Potter?" She asked him.

"None of your business. What are you doing here?"

"Same."

"Well then go on your way," He said to her.

"I am where I want to be."

"At the great hall at 5:00 in the morning?"

"Yes. Now, you go on your way."

He laughed. "This is where I want to be too."

At that moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and Cho Chang walked out.

"Hey there, Potter." She said.

He smiled rather large. "Hi Cho, whatcha doing?"

"Finding a new place to practice my quidditch."

"What? You cant practice in there! Thats where we practice!" Amber said, almost screaming.

Cho was a very nitwitted type of person. She thought she could parade around the school doing whatever she liked to whomever she liked, and it usually did not benefit the Slytherins. Cho was a stuck-up, flat-nosed little prep, and Amber was not going to let her shove her over.

"You practice in there too, Amber?" Potter asked her.

"What?! Since when is there a 'too' in there?"

"My team practices here."

The door to the Great Hall was once again opened. Cedric Diggory walked out. "Hey guys, Amber, Cho, whats all the commotion about?"

"Now just what are you doing in there?" Cho asked him, hands on her hips and lips pouted out.

"Finding a place for team to practice quidditch."

Amber had taken enough of this so far. "Look here, all of you. Tomorrow morning, whoever gets their team here first gets the Great Hall, and the others are going to have to find a new place to practice. Sound fair?"

"Sure." Potter agreed.

"Start looking, Malfoy, cause you certainly arent getting our Great Hall." Cho said.

"May the best man, er... person, win!" Diggory threw in, and we all departed.

Through out the next day, the players threw passing looks at the Great Hall as if it was a gold mine. In the middle of the day, Amber had to go and see Snape.

"Yes Amber, what is it?"

" I have a request to make."

"Yes?"

"Can my quidditch team sleep in the Great Hall tonight if we help the house elves clean up?"

"And why is this?" Snape asked, curious.

"Oh gosh, you see, this morning, Potter, Cho, Cedric and I all ran into eachother at the Great Hall, cause you see, we all need a new place to practice, right? Well, and then we started this bet where the first team there gets to use the Great Hall for as long as there is snow on the ground outside. Its the most perfect place in the entire castle, and we really need to win all of our games this season."

"Did you ever think to ask me if I knew of a better place to practice?"

"No. I thought that the Great Hall would do just fine."

"No, there is better. Come with me."

The student and the teacher walked from the classroom all the way up three staircases, one that disappears, and down a very long corridor covered with old, retired paintings. A small table with ghosts sitting at it playing cards was kept at the very end of the hall.

"Mr. Lavoisier, I need your help," Snape said speaking to one of the ghosts with a losing hand of cards.

"We need to get into the 'Green Room', if you know what I mean."

"Really, what for?"

"This wonderful young lady and her team need a place to practice their quidditch games. It would be perfect, dont you agree?"

"Yes indeed, but why does she need my help?"

"The tower that it is up, the door has been locked from the inside for quite some time. They havent used that hall in so long."

Amber was starting to wonder. Looking around the hall, there were tattered curtains lining the windows, canvases of the paintings ripped on the corners, tarnished frames, but no dust collected anywhere. This was a part of the school that she had never seen before. These were also some new ghosts to her. What was this mysterious "Green Room" That would be suitable for playing quidditch in?

"Amber, are you coming?" Snape had to knock her out of her daydream.

"Oh, yes sir. Are we going now?"

"Yes, we are. Right this way."

The ghost lead them up a tower, Amber recognized it as the tall one in the back of the school that she thought she had been in many times, but decided against it.

"Sir, where are we?"

"Amber, this is the living tower. I'll explain more once we get to your new quidditch room."

The stairs were beginning to get smaller, and then, between one and another, everything turned from stone to wood. They had entered the top of the tower, and plants grew rapidly. Moss covered some of the trees, and it almost felt as if they were outside.

"See? This is the living tower. It often switches positions inside the castle. All you have to look for is a particularly damp area during the day, and most likely, you will be right under, or near, this tower."

"Where is the Green Room? Certainly there isnt a room all the way up here suitable for quidditch practice?" She glanced around the narrow hall. "Its quite a small tower."

"Ah, my dear, that is where you are incorrect," Mr. Lavoisier said to her. "We used to practice up here all the time in my day, and now, its just a room. Here, I'll be right back."

He walked through moss that must have been covering the walls, and then walked back through, pushing part of the wall open for us as a door.

"Have at it, kid. Maybe my friends and I will come watch you practice sometime," and Mr. Lavoisier went back down to his card game.

"Professor, I really appreciate all of this, but I honestly dont think that there will be enough room. This tower cant possibly be that--"

"What do you think?"

Professor Snape held the door open for her and let her walk in. The room was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. The sun shone brightly, butterflies nipped at the flowers growing around the goal posts that lined the far sides of the field that stood in the middle.

"Where did this come from?"

"Amber, there are some things about this castle that have been here forever, just waiting to be used. Here, this is a key," He said, handing her a little frog emblem, "Place it against this wooden spot, right here," He said, showing her where to place it, "And it will open this door for you. It may also help you find the Living tower, but i'm not sure. Let those other teams battle over the Great Hall, and you will always have this room up here. Just, dont let them find it, because its not my room, so if they do, you will be forced to share."

"Oh Professor, thank you so much for all that youve done for me. I greatly appreciate this."

"Just win our house some points, and that'll be all the thanks I need."

"We wont let you down, sir."

"Oh, just one more thing, Amber."

"Yes?"

"Be careful while you are in there. Every now and then, it storms. You'll kind of have a feeling when the storms will be coming, just when they do, dont go in there. Leave it alone during those times."

"Yes sir. Thank you."

And Snape departed back down the staircase.

Amber stood at the top of the stairs for a long time, just admiring the whole Living Tower and Green Room. Why wasnt it regularly used anymore? There was definately more to all of this than the eye could see, and she wanted to find out more about it.