The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.

~Ernest Hemingway


Chapter 1. Breaking Point

There was hushed whispers all around the Great Hall; this was odd for Study Hall considering Snape was set to watch over the students and handing out detentions to everyone who even uttered a word. Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were among the first given a detention but they continued to speak about the new law.

This law was a marriage law concerning half-breeds such as witches and wizards that had any type of magical creature in their lineage. Most everyone at Hogwarts had nothing to worry about except for one.

Lena had just turned seventeen and was being forced to marry.

A werewolf attacked her father before Lena was born and her mother rather than running away and taking Lena's brothers with her; she chose to stay married to him saying, "The boys need their father." That was the end to the thought of either of them running.

A year later Lena was born.

While Lena did not exhibit any signs of being a full-fledged werewolf she did have wolfish tendencies, her instinct was that of a wolf. Her senses were elevated and she was stronger than a normal human was, but she never transformed during the full moon or felt any type of uncomfortableness around the full moon.

There were several times of rage where Lena's magic grew along with her anger and there was a large burst, and in these times Lena had transformed into a solid black wolf. Her mother said it was a defense mechanism. Lena thought it was the wolf inside her awakening for a fight.

Lena had control over herself though.

Her control did not change the fact that she was affected by the law, and she would soon have to be married.

Lena stared blankly at her piece of parchment. Study Hall had just ended and everyone was getting up to leave when Professor Snape approached her. "Miss Lewis, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office." Professor Snape said in low tone.

Lena said nothing but nodded her head and followed his lead.

They stopped in front of a gargoyle statue to which Snape said. "Honeysuckle." The statue moved and stairs appeared.

Lena had not been called to meet the Headmaster since she was eleven and even then, he had visited her family's home in order to personally deliver her acceptance letter. He assured her family that no one would know of her father's condition and she would get a fair education.

She followed her Head of House up the stairs and into the large office. Lena caught scent of her mother's perfume and her father's cologne and scanned the office quickly, her line of eyesight rested on a Phoenix who was busy preening under the attention of her mother.

"Miss. Lewis, it is good to see you." Albus Dumbledore said his blue eyes twinkled under his half-moon spectacles.

Lena nodded and walked further into the office.

Her mother stood and hugged her tightly. "Faremo capire che la mia bambina." She said in quick Italian.

Lena looked to her mother and replied. "So che la mamma ho paura di ciò che può accadere. dov'è papà?"

"Right here love." Her father said as he approached his wife and daughter.

Ian Lewis was a tall, muscular and broad. His thick hair was so black it almost seemed blue and layed on his shoulders; when it wasn't tied back. His dark brown eyes seemed to be able to see into someone's soul at least that is what his wife said. His face was chiseled with a number of scars that ran across his pale skin.

Bianca Lewis nee Aberto was a tall woman with an hourglass figure. She had long ice blonde hair and icy blue eyes, her lips were pouty and her face sculpted beautifully, her face was round in shape with high prominent cheekbones. Her beauty was enhanced by the fact that she was one of the sharpest and bests lawyers one could get out of Diagon Alley.

"What are we going to do?" Lena questioned as she sat down in from of Dumbledore's desk. Her mother took a seat opposite of her daughter while her father stood behind her mother's seat.

"I have someone in mind, he's a good man. He's had a hard time with his lancropathy, never able to find a stable job, but he will do right by your daughter." Albus said kindly.

"Is he a member of your Order of the Phoenix?" Bianca asked her eyes met Dumbledore's and she arched an eyebrow in challenge.

The Aberto family and Dumbledore had a long complicated history that began with the rise of Grindwald. Dumbledore did in fact defeat him but with Grindwald's defeat, Dumbledore shot to political fame. The Aberto family played the politics game behind closed Aberto family were a powerful family and could rule the political world but they were not interested in the forefront of politics, they only participated when problems arose. Even then it had to be something dire.

"Yes, he is." Dumbledore said. Bianca began cursing in Italian.

"I don't want my daughter to be thrown into your war. That man you're suggesting may be a good man but my daughter will not be a part of you're war. She will not be you're weapon." Bianca said in a harsh whisper. Ian touched his wife's shoulder in order to soothe her.

"Mrs. Lewis, I do not wish to use your daughter for anything, if she wishes to help then so be it but Remus Lupin is a good man, he is affected by this law too."

"Remus Lupin?" Lena questioned. Her face was set neutral but her voice held a surprised tone.

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, I was planning to bring him in as a Professor, next year. He is a kind and good man. I'm sure the two of you would get along swimmingly." Professor Dumbledore said. Lena doubted it, she was very skeptical about a lot of things the new law and potential mates included.

"How old is this man exactly?" Ian questioned. His deep baritone voice never wavered and his eyes locked onto Dumbledore's in challenge.

"He is; I believe thirty-three." Dumbledore said.

Ian growled and shook his head. Bianca stood up sharply and began to curse once again. Lena looked down and clasped her hands together.

"How long do I have?" Lena questioned. Her mother stopped cursing and her father who had his eyes closed in anger opened them.

Dumbledore sighed and answered her question. "You have a month to find a suitable partner before the Ministry finds one for you and two months to get married." He said not unkindly.

Lena knew what this meant, she had to marry Lupin or risk the ministry's selecting a partner for her. Lena's parents were beginning to argue with Dumbledore. And with the mixture of voices and the rise in volume, Lena had enough and knew what she had to do.

"Okay." Lena said. Her parents stooped and held their breath while Dumbledore looked at her in surprise.

Lena had a reputation, she was a Slytherin who preferred her own company or the company of her younger cousin to the company of others. She was cold to others and refused to have anything to do with school events. The patrons at Hogwarts called her cold and they were right, she never smiled or showed any type of affection for anyone.

Dumbledore believed that it would be hard to get Lena to agree to anything. "Okay?" He asked.

Lena looked Dumbledore square in the eye. "I agree to at least meet this Remus Lupin. It wouldn't hurt to meet him, besides I have no time to spare or any other options."

Bianca sucked in a breath. "Sei sicuro che il mio angelo?"

Lena looked at her mother and their identical blue eyes met. "Yes, Mama I am sure."

Ian looked a mixture of angry and uncomfortable. "He makes one move out of line I'll kill him. Let this Remus Lupin know that Dumbledore."

Dumbledore slowly nodded because he saw the seriousness on Ian's face.

"Don't worry your daughter will be taken care of. I'll let Mr. Lupin know...your promise." Dumbledore said. Dismissing Lena and her parents. Dumbledore walked out of his office to allow the family to say their goodbye's while he set out to speak to one Remus Lupin.

The family waited until Dumbledore was gone and they heard the door close to say their goodbyes.

"Will you be alright my angel?" Bianca asked taking Lena into her arms. Lena gave a nod and hugged her mother back. Ian said nothing as he hugged his daughter tightly and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you angel." Ian said into his daughter's curly hair.

"I love you two, too." Lena said as her parents walked to Dumbledore's floo.

Lena walked down the grey stone steps lost in thought. She was going to be married in three months' time, to a man she didn't know. She was going to have to be someone's wife. Lena held her face tightly and breathed in a deep breath to hold back the terror she felt.

Her heart began to race and she felt hot tears fall down her porcelain cheeks. Lena sat down on one of the steps and allowed herself thirty seconds and not a second over to cry. After her allotted thirty seconds she scourgifyed her face and straightened out her raven colored curls. She stood straight and sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Lena put on her brave face which was a mask of emotionless beauty and opened her eyes.'If anything; I will not allow myself to break.' Lena told herself and finished her walk down the stone steps and down the empty corridors to the infamous 'snake pit'.


A/N: This just came to me one day. Hope you like it, any questions let me know. Some updates will come sooner than others. Each chapter will begin with a quote. I am also open to a beta's so if anyone wants to beta that would be awesome.

Translations for Italian (Google Translate):

I will make sure you'll be okay my girl

I know you will Mom (Mum) where is dad

Are you sure my angel