AN: I have to warn you that this story is a but rough. I like the idea and am playing around with it, but I thought I should get up what I have so far for others to enjoy (: The beginning is kind of a crash course on why Gwen is at Hogwarts, but it gets better from there, so bear with me. Reviews please! (:

Gwen sat uncomfortably at the staff table at Dumbledore gave his opening speech. She stood out in the line of darkly dressed teachers, in the dimly lit hall. Her skin and hair shone with a kind of ethereal glow, and even with the many glamour charms that maintained her more human like appearance, she found it hard to believe that no one would notice her difference. She was a bit nervous when Albus had asked her to stay with the teachers and students at Hogwarts, in an effort to keep her safe. She was the living Augata Dabria, a creature of legend, and she knew that somehow her destiny was entwined in the upcoming fight against darkness. When the time would come for her to be needed, she would know, but for now she had agreed that the safest place for her was within Hogwarts' walls. There had been rumors that the Dark Lord was looking for the legendary guardian, rumors that he was now sure that one existed and was near. Gwen, who had been living in the mountains for nearly half a century, had to trust Dumbledore that the best place for her was here. It was he who had sought her out and explained to her that this was the time when she would be needed the most. Despite her nearly two hundred years, Gwen was feeling nervous and under prepared for the years that lay ahead. She was a little frightened of what the other staff members would think of her; she had avoided most human contact for years. All in all, she was feeling very, very uncomfortable.

The teacher on her right was an older woman, with a severe look to her. Her mouth was a thin line, and she was staring at the students as though waiting for them to disobey. Gwen breathed deeply and blinked, hoping that all the teachers weren't as severe. Turning to her left, however, she caught the eye of a middle aged man with an unhappy grimace on his lined face. She began to smile as she noticed he had been looking at her, but the smile fell from her face as he turned his head quickly, his grimace of disgust disappearing behind his curtains of black hair. Gwen settled back into her chair and sighed. The excitement she had been feeling earlier was disappearing faster than the feast on the four tables in front of them.

Over the next few days, as students and staff were getting settled, Gwen was introduced to both the severe woman and the black haired man, as well as many more the of teachers there. Minerva McGonagall looked her up and down, and nodded as though in approval. Then she put out her hand and her curt "Welcome to Hogwarts," left Gwen with a feeling similar to being sick to her stomach. The man who had looked at her so unhappily earlier in the week, Severus Snape, offered no hand however. He merely raised his eyebrows, looked at her briefly and said, slowly, "So this is what the excitement it all about." And continued reading his paper in the staff room.

"Very friendly, your staff, aren't they?" Gwen commented dryly after her introduction to Snape. Dumbledore chuckled to himself as he walked her to her quarters.

" Give them some time. It's not everyday they see a brand new face, or such a young and pretty one at that!" He gave her a wink, and she half-smiled. She walked into her rooms and was about to shut the door when she called after Dumbledore.

"Albus! You haven't…told any of them, have you?"

Dumbledore turned towards her, with a look of pity.

"No..no..my dear, not as of yet."

Gwen nodded to him, and closed her door quietly.

Gwen's rooms were smaller and more cozy than most of the other staff's quarters, and she only had one small window in her front room. She liked to keep it open, and the fresh August air kept her papers stirring slightly. She walked from the door, sighing and brushed a strand of silver hair from her eyes, tucking it behind her ear. She ducked into the tiny washroom and splashed her face with cold water. She dried off and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were very blue, contrasting with her nearly white skin and hair. Her skin was almost translucent; she looked very fragile. She tried to produce a severe expression, knotting her eyebrows together and frowning. She pulled her plaited hair tightly into a knot. It really didn't suit her, and she sighed again, letting the long braid fall once more down her back. She rubbed half heartedly at the dark circles under her eyes and strayed over to her bed for a nap. She didn't think she could stand anymore of this day.

A few more days went by, Gwen struggling to keep up with the lessons that she had prepared for herself weeks ago. And another problem was beginning to surface. Gwen's wings, hidden magically inside her body, were getting stiff and sore, the magic that kept them contained straining to hold them in. She had not flown since the beginning of school, and she was constantly rubbing at her shoulders, trying to relieve the pain and knots that were her wings pounding to be set free.

After one evening of intense discomfort, Gwen decided to sneak across to an old unused courtyard that night, and fly. The moon was not full, and she had had an eye on that part of the castle for days and found that nearly no one ventured there. She left her rooms at a little past midnight, walking silently in the shadows until she reached the yard. She wore a special dress she had made to let her wings free, and she slipped off her gray robe and lept into the air. The air rushing across her face felt so good, and she flew until nearly dawn, careful not to be seen. When she was finished, she landed and snuck quickly back to her bed.

She taught her classes the next morning tiredly, but nearly everyone commented on her bright smile and rosy cheeks. Professor Flitwick went so far as to ask if she had fallen in love, to which she responded with a light laugh, earning her a scowl from a reading Snape in the corner.

But Gwen found herself not caring what the staff members thought; she was positive her plan for flying was perfect, and she felt immensely more confident about the upcoming year.

It was a few weeks later, and Gwen had been out to the courtyard several times, when she found herself ventureing out under a full moon. She knew she must be more careful that she would be seen, but the exhilaration of flying was more than she could resist.

Gwen tiptoed down the corridors to the courtyard, holding her wand before her to light her path. She needed to stretch her wings, and it was a crisp, clear night. She smiled in anticipation as she reached the small courtyard, dotted with trees and old statues. She was absolutely sure by now that this courtyard was one of the ones not used anymore, and so she felt more confident. She took a deep breath, smelling the night air and smiled.

"Nox."

She drifted quickly over to a corner of the yard, letting the moonlight illuminate her path. Slipping off her dressing gown, and smoothing down her flying dress, she stepped into the middle of the yard. She extended her wings, gracefully, feeling them unfold magically from her back. She looked up into the sky and smiled. As she began to leap into the air, a brief movement in the corner of her vision made her hesitate. Looking around and seeing no one, she extended her wings once more and leaped into the air.

The feeling of flying was exhilarating at best, and Gwen's spirits were lifted immeasurably, as they were each night she went out. She explored the grounds of the castle for a little while (careful not to fly to near the dormitory windows) by the light of the full moon, and then began her spiraling descent towards the courtyard once more.

As she descended, however, she noticed that in the middle of the courtyard was a large dark object, and as looked at it curiously as she sank lower. She was just near enough to the ground to realize that she had to land when she found herself looking into the cold, hard eyes of Professor Snape.

She stumbled to the ground, shocked to see him, horrified that he had seen her flying.

He looked at her angrily for a moment, and then swept away, across the courtyard.

"Wait..I…"

He stopped just before entering the hall, and turned slowly to meet her, eyes glinting in the moonlit night.

"Professor Snape…please…"

But he swept around and his footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Gwen hurried towards her crumpled gray dressing gown and slipped it on hurriedly, a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She breathed the night air in deeply before hurrying after Snape, towards Dumbledore's office, where she knew he was headed.