"You want me to let your children into this school? A school that is known for wizards, and wizards alone?" Professor Dumbledore looked dumbfounded at the young woman standing in the corner next to a tall young man. Looking at Lilly, the one whose request seemed the most ludicrous he shook his head. "It's out of the question Lilly. You know this."
Shadow's mother stood from her seat, her face was flushed with annoyance and anger, "You dare tell me, Lilly Ambrosine, that my child may not come to your school? I am a blood witch; my family is blood witches, and my daughter is a blood witch. Yet you deny her. Why because of her fathers tainted blood?
"Her fathers blood does have a say in this, yes. I cannot bring a threat into the school. If he comes looking for her then all students will be in danger, that is a risk we cannot take."
Shadow bit her lip nervously before looking back up at her best friend Josh. Nodding lightly, he urged her forward, pushing her gently with only two fingers on the middle of her back.
Stepping closer to were both sets of parents sat she cleared her throat and whispered softly, "May I speak headmaster, I promise I won't waste your time, just please may I speak?" Watching him, she waited patiently for him to nod his head.
"Headmaster, hearing your concern honestly, to me, is ridiculous. My father, as everyone seems to put it, knows nothing of my existence. He barely even knew my mother. They had a fling at school, he started to kill people, and she left. I cannot become someone, when I do not even really relate to them." Her voice seemed a bit louder and it had an edge of anger rippling through it.
She knew her father; she knew what things he had done, what horrible and reckless things he had done. But she herself was nothing like him. Her eyes were a light green color instead of his blue looking eyes, her hair was crimson red instead of his brown hair. And, she was not a murderer. All she needed was the chance to prove to him that she was nothing like him. Also, unlike him, she had a heart.
The headmaster gave her a slight glance before nodding. "You do not understand. Due to the fact we have people here, people that know and hate your father, Hogwarts would be unsafe for you. It could also become unsafe for anyone that defends you."
"No one will know her relation to her father. She does not have his name; she doesn't look anything like him. She is not her father. As long as she can keep her idiotic life story to herself, she will be fine." Biting her lip she felt her mothers harsh gaze on her, but she knew better then to look into the eyes of her mother.
Albus shot her mother a warning glance before speaking again, "I still do not think this is a good idea, in fact I think it's a horrible idea."
Shadow shook her head. "But sir, me and my friend stand before you asking to be on your side. Too fight with you. I am as much a wizard as any other. It runs in my blood, even if you're only looking at my father's side. And another thing I would like to mention, due to the species and bloodline we are in, me and Josh would be more then helpful during this war. Do you not think so?"
Josh looked at him and smiled weakly before saying in a confident voice, "We are really the only ones that know him best. She being able to see through his blood thanks to an amazing gift she was given at birth, and me being a, 'faithful' servant to his household. We will protect this school. We are the only ones that can. Sir, we are your best bet, no one else is going to be able to offer you what we can offer you, and this school."
Albus looked at only her; his expression showed that of only being puzzled, trying to process everything they said. "That might be so Ms. Ambrosine and Mr. Lions but I have to make sure my students are safe.
Looking at Josh he added with more politeness then he had with her, "And, dear boy, the fact you were his servant does not help your case. It only makes me not trust you even more. He taught you and took care of your needs. That is not a very good thing to have on your recommendation to my school."
Josh shook his head. "He made me watch him as he killed my mother and my brothers. I had to watch my family die, and more. Ever single muggle pureblood to refuse his over I watched them all go through punishments that Voldemort put them through. You know nothing about the horror I have seen."
Josh looked at Shadow to calm himself down then took Shadow's hand. "If you still don't trust us then we will both agree to do the unbreakable vow. We have done it for her mother, we will be more then welcome to have one with you."
He searched Josh's eyes before Shadow's and nodded. "Fine, you will start with the 6th years. I expect that you will both be on your guard. And the first slip up…" Looking directly at Shadow his voice got rough and somewhat harsh, "You will be sent home."
Her mother huffed in a deep breath before looking over at Shadow, smiling, she turned and walked away, dismissing her as if this was the last time she had to deal with her again. "Goodbye mother."
Her mother scoffed and walked past her. Looking at her stepdad she looked for any sign that he would miss her. He smiled softly and took her hand. Squeezing it lightly he let go then walked past her.
She watched as Josh's mom came towards them. "You take care of her Josh. Don't let anyone mess with her." He nodded and put an arm around Shadow. "I will mom. Just keep dad out of trouble." His mother and father laughed halfheartedly before kissing them both on the foreheads and walking out of the room.
Shadow turned to the sound of a sigh. "Shadow, there is one thing that we must discus."
Her body tensed ready for the conversation she knew would happen sooner rather then later. "Is this about my mother, or my real father?"
Looking down at the desk in front of him he sat down and looked up at her. "A little of both. As of now, your mother has decided this will be your home. Meaning, holidays are spent here, even summer."
She nodded; it was no shock to her that this would happen. Her mother always did want a way out of taking care of her. "If you don't mind sir, she has a home with my family."
She didn't turn to look at Josh, all she did was let out a soft sigh of thanks and kept looking at the man that stood in front of her. For someone that was known to love this school, and each soul in it, he seemed cold. Uncaring.
Turning her thoughts away from this she took a step forward and sat don in the oversized chair. "Now, would you like to talk about my father? Or would you rather my friend leave us be first?"
Albus took a second to stare at her before shaking his head. "No, he might as well stay since we need to sort the two of you into houses. I am going to guess you would like to stay together?"
She nodded and sat up. "That's not the subject Albus. You might as well ask questions now. Before I decide that you are not worth my time for this."
She listened for any indication that he was upset. Of course, she found none. Pouting disappointedly at the new failure in discovery, she folded her arms in front of her and waited to talk.
Folding his hands on the table Albus leaned forward. "Just so we are clear, if at any moment I think you, or your friend will betray this school… no matter how important either of you are to this school, you will be kicked out."
She scoffed before he had the chance to say anything else. "I remind you sir, if at any time I am to betray you, I will die. I have done the unbreakable vow with my mother. Not only to not betray you, but the vow that I will never step in her presence again."
He looked at her horror struck. No mother had ever forced a child into an unbreakable vow, or at least not one like this. "You said you did the unbreakable vow, but I thought you were kidding. I though it was you rebelling.."
"Is there anything else you would like to know sir? If not I suggest we get this over with. You're starting to waste my time. I do have classes tomorrow." She knew it was rude to cut him off, but she had no desire to keep speaking of her mother again.
"Do you have any of your fathers… special qualities?"
"I have two. One I can do on my own free will, and then one I cannot. I can see into your mind, read every flaw and mistake in your mind. See anything I want. That is the one thing I cannot control."
The headmaster nodded. "Continue."
"The one thing I can do… the only specialty that I can control. I can control things, make them do as I wish, if I wish it. I could make a man fall in love with me, just smiling. Anything I want. As long as I think it into your mind, you will believe it. Those are the only things my parents gave me."
Albus stood and turned away. "You will not be allowed to use these powers. Just remember that."
Shadow nodded. "May we be sorted now?"
He shook his head. "Now, I will take you to the head boy and head girl tower, those will be your living quarters due to your species. But I must ask, who wants to be placed were."
Shadow looked up at Albus. "Slytherin. We will, both be the head of that house."
He turned and looked at her searching her face to see if she was joking, but she was not. Turning away he shrugged and decided to tell her the truth. "I can't allow that. He can be the head boy, but you cannot be the head girl of that certain house. Draco wouldn't exactly like having to take orders form you."
Shadow growled and shook her head. "Draco?" Her mind went back to a time when she was younger, a time before Draco got caught up in his father's drama, her fathers drama. Draco was the only other person other then Josh that knew her father.
Josh put a hand on her arm to calm her. "Fine, I will be the head girl of Gryffindor."
"Then it is settled. I will send your things to your rooms. Goodnight."
The both smiled and said in perfect unison, "Teleport." In an instant they were both gone. When they appeared they were in there own dorm house.
Thinking for a second Shadow sighed softly and sat in the chair that faced the fireplace. Taking a stand behind her chair, Josh smoothed out her hair with his hand and frowned when her body tensed. "You trusted me in there, yet now you shy away from me?"
Shadow shrugged his hand away from her. "Are friendship is still rocky, I don't want you near me right now."
He leaned down and lightly touched his lips to her ear. "Just remember, are past is exactly that, the past. Don't make this harder then it already is. Your linked to me Shadow, that won't change."
Standing up slowly, she turned to face him shaking her head, "because of your curse I was almost not allowed to be here. This school is were everyone in my family has attended. I already had the problem of my own curse, plus my fathers dirty blood, now your curse haunts me as well."
He took a step back and shoved his hands into the waistband of his jeans, "You followed me, I didn't ask for you to follow me."
"You didn't warn me either. If you would have told me to stay behind, then I would have never had as much problem."
Looking down at the ground. "You don't want to play this game, I will win. Just remember that. If you want to blame someone, I would find better reasons, because believe me, I am loosing patience."
She watched as he lifted his head. His eyes went from a dark brown color to coal black. Taking a step backward, Shadow bit her lip. "You need to go to sleep Josh, we have things to do in the morning."
He shook his lead lightly and the dark black color faded into its regular color. "Your right, I'll see you in the morning." Turning away he walked to the staircase that lead to head boys room. "Shadow…?"
Shadow gripped the side of the chair. "What Josh?"
"Please… don't get caught up with being a student. We are not here for you to abandon all your duties Shadow, if we don't stay focused… then are mission will fail."
Her mind drifted once again to a blond boy that most called a ferret, shaking her head, she looked towards Josh's direction and nodded. "I will stick to the task at hand."
Seeming satisfied he walked the rest of the distance up the stairs leaving her to her thoughts.
Pushing her hair away from her face she took in a deep breath and looked into the fire. The sound of it crackling and popping made her more at ease. It made her feel somewhat secure.
She pulled out a wand and used an old spell to snuff out the fire. Turning to her own staircase she looked across at another tower. She could see the distinct form of a boy with blond hair.
Turning away from what he knew was a love scene she made her way up the stairs. Once upon entering her room she felt the chillness of the night creep into her body and settle into her soul.
A shiver made its way through her as she moved her way to the bed. The only thing on her mind was sleep; she had no time to even think about what was ahead of her.
Laying down she let her body be welcomed into the mattress and the covers instantly making the chill seep away. The thought of seeing her old friend up close sent her back into a fit of chills, but it also left her with a secret promise. Pushing away all thoughts of him, she let her body fall into a deep sleep.
