AN: While I could continue written stories after re-reading I realized they were filled with flaws and mistakes, yet I did not want to go back and write each one so I started a new continuing story after many years :)

A bit about the main character I started the stories when Harry first ran from home in the Third book when Sirius was introduced. I created a few new characters to tie into the story Helga and Greta Dumbledore and Claire Black to name a few. Well hope you enjoy :)

Claire Black awoke as if catching herself from falling ever since the battle at the Ministry of Magic she could dream of nothing but falling behind the veil.

Her father's face still fresh in her mind as he fell after Bellatrix's curse, the sinister evil that she was cackling at her triumph. She could hear all the voices too some she could hear others barely audible. Since starting Sixth year at Hogwarts she was very much aware of her new talent the grave yard at home and the one at Hogsmeade the voices of the dead were more than willing to talk to her.

She walked down into the common room staring out at the black depths that was the lake she contemplated how she would deal with this almost inconvenience. Harry's own troubles were greater than hers but she wanted to be there for him, the best she could. It was hard when they seemed to have switched roles in life; she had become the orphan, and was now wanted by Voldemort as well for whatever reason she could not explain.

Looking at her reflection she realized three years does a lot and a lot had happened she felt more grown up and the responsibility of another life made her more aware of her actions, feeling less aggressive and more calm she loved staring out at that lake no matter the time of the day it gave her the right blank canvas to clear her mind and thoughts.

"Talking to a ghost might help…" Came a familiar voice behind her Draco her useless second cousin walked in and leaned against a table rocking it slightly under his weight.

"I thank you for your concern but you need not bother, I have no use to continue using this talent I've developed no thanks to your aunt." Claire said moving past him.

"You'd be better off joining us Diggory is now acting of his own free will, he too has realized that there is no going back when the dark lord asks a favour of you…" he said a look of worry passing over his eyes.

"Please don't talk about Cedric to me I'd rather not hear it, I don't know if I can believe anything out of your mouth one minute he is dead the next he is fully serving Voldemort… I don't care and I don't care about him." She said passing through the door to the dormitory as Pansy awoke yawning and stretching.

"Black you do have weird sleeping habits you know…" she said.

"Sorry Pansy I am just a light sleeper." Claire said dressing and then walking back out she went looking for the three people she loved most and could always count on her good friends.

Harry was the only one she found and had been reading over his potions book, Claire sat across from him looking at the book scribbled with notes and he looked up when she sat down.

"Potions… I thought you did poorly on your O.W.L?" Claire said. She was in Advanced Potions and had no problem preforming all the elixirs that Slughorn put before them.

"Yes but Slughorn insisted that I join the class and besides the person who had this text book before me is a potions genius." He said.

"May I?" Claire asked holding her hand out for the book.

Harry reluctantly handed it over and she looked it over, The Half-Blood Prince was scrawled on the inside cover and she flipped through the book looking at the writing it looked familiar.

"Can I have that back please…? " Harry said.

Sliding it back across the table Claire made to say something but was stopped as Ron and Hermione arrived.

"That book need to be given back I've told you several times Harry…" Hermione said.

Harry just brushed her off and continued reading.

Claire looked at Hermione sympathetically and then Ron piped up, "You could help us out you know that book is a bit of a cheat."

"Look I got handed this book I am going to use it end of story…" Harry said.

"Who is excited for Hogsmeade, I sure am…" Claire said changing the subject and hoping to relieve some tension.

"Claire I want to go elsewhere…" Hermione said.

Understanding she stood and walked off with Hermione, "It must be aggravating him being obsessed with that book."

"It bothers me because it is not honest he doesn't seem to get that." Hermione said.

"You are right I…" Claire stopped she heard a voice sharp and clear from behind her and she turned to look.

"Claire are you alright…?" Hermione asked.

"I thought I heard someone…" she said.

"Well there are a few people around, perhaps…" Hermione started but Claire had started to walk and then run.

"Hermione hurry come on someone is in trouble." She said and they ran.

For Claire the scream was loud almost deafening like someone in danger, when they rounded a corner she looked and saw no one.

"Claire what is it… what did you hear?" Hermione asked and she hit her forehead.

"So stupid…" Claire said and Hermione rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Claire but what was that?" Hermione asked.

"Ever since I fell through that veil and died, I've heard the dead they are surrounding me and I don't know how to quiet them." Claire said, "I hoped Dumbledore could help but I can never seem to get a moment to talk to him, I hope to talk to Snape about it he is the closest to him it seems."

"There is no way of telling if this recent change in me has anything to do with Voldemort, but perhaps he can shed light on it." Claire said.

"I hope so you should see him soon, we all know hearing voices is never a good thing." Hermione said.

They parted at the doors and Claire continued her day, she peeked into Defense Against the Dark Arts at the end of the day and saw Snape's office door open. Climbing the small staircase she saw the door open a crack and knocked peeking in slightly.

"Professor it's me Claire." She announced and was surprised to find the office empty looking around it was much different from the last time she was here when the fake Moody worked there.

A moving photo on the shelf caught her eye and she picked it up off the shelf her mother, Snape, and Lilly looked up at her she looked at Snape and he smiled… never in her time knowing him had she ever seen a smile. She figured he had nothing to smile about anymore, her mother was so beautiful she was grinning big and she looked beside her and she was there a ghost next to her she looked around and she materialized.

"Momma…" Claire felt tears sting her eyes and she coughed and smiled.

"I decided to come here and be one of the many ghosts of Hogwarts, you need me I am lonely in the afterlife… while I know I can never leave here I can be here for you and one day Regulus when he comes to the school." Helga said.

"You must have been good friends with Snape?" she said placing the photo back.

Helga moved to see the photo, "He was such a misunderstood kind person, I wonder if he is still that way." She said, "Severus is very good at closing himself off to any sort of kindness, shortly after this he stopped talking to us without warning."

Claire heard voices in the classroom and Helga looked at her daughter, "Ask him about what has happened to you please I very much would like to know if he has any idea."

Snape appeared at the office door looking between the ghost of Helga Dumbledore and Claire Black.

"Well to what do I owe this honour Miss. Black." He said.

Next Chapter to come soon :)