Ok so I decided to update again, even though I didn't really get a response for the last chapter. I know it's starting off a bit slow but I promise it gets exciting!


Ch 2 Reckless

I woke up before the other girls. I didn't sleep that much. The nightmares tended to force me up at least 4 times a night, sweating and screaming. I'd learned very quickly to use silencing charms around my bed.

This morning was no different. It was still dark when I got up. Autumn had definitely started. I had a long shower and put my uniform on, taking an abhorrent amount of time to brush and dry my long hair. I slapped some foundation and eyeliner on and looked at myself in the bathroom full length.

I'd finally managed to put back on some of the weight I'd lost last year. I was still rather slender, but at least I couldn't see my ribs anymore. In the Pureblood community I was thought of as ivory-skinned, aristocratic, regal looking, but I just thought I looked pale and haughty. I guess I could be considered beautiful. But I was no Evans. And I certainly wasn't curvy and bouncy like Quinn.

I heard the others finally stirring. The sun had risen by now and it looked like it was going to be a nice day despite the sting of the cold air.

"Morning, Loren." Evans yawned from her bed when I opened the bathroom door. Prewett rushed in, smiling at me as she shut the door.

"Morning." I nodded.

"Hey, Paxton. We didn't see you at the feast." MacDonald, still huddled up under her blankets, said.

"Oh, yeah I was feeling a bit sick so came up early." I replied, shifting from foot to foot.

"That sucks. Hope you're feeling better." Evans said sympathetically.

"I'm ok now. Probably just motion sickness."

"See you at breakfast?" Evans asked.

I smiled and made my escape.

It was quiet in the Great Hall. Not that many students were ready yet. I grabbed my timetable of McGonagall and glanced through it absent-mindedly.

It was pretty good this year. I'd heard from last year's 6th years that the class schedule lightened up for your NEWT years. I had hour gaps on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and a huge two hour gap on Fridays. I supposed most people would another gap somewhere in there. I'd chosen to take Alchemy on top of my 6 NEWT subjects: DADA, Transfiguration, Potions, Astronomy, Arithmancy and Herbology.

Alchemy was right up my alley. All about the manipulation of magic. Creating potions, spells. Figuring out why magic worked the way it did and how.

I really enjoyed my long breakfasts. Usually I'd do some extra study over my usual bowl of Wheaties, but today I just read. I loved reading muggle classics. Most Pureblood families would be horrified at the thought of their daughter enjoying anything made by muggles, but mine had always been different. And we were always slightly alienated for that. Still invited to functions, made small talk with. But always made to feel like we were slightly less than others. Or like we were committing some foul act.

I pushed these thoughts from my mind. This topic of thought was very close to bringing back reasons surrounding last summer. I picked my bowl up and drained the milk.

When I set it down, I realized he was looking at me again. I could see him in my peripheral vision. Potter was gesticulating wildly about something Pettigrew was finding hilarious. I chuckled when he accidentally knocked a plate of yogurt off the table and Lupin subtly sighed and swished his wand to clean it up. But Black wasn't paying attention to any of this. His gaze was on me again.

To be fair, this time when we made eye contact he had the grace to divert his eyes quickly. Like he was embarrassed. But I knew I was wrong on that account. Sirius Black didn't get embarrassed.

He looked better this year than last. Healthier and less moody, somehow. The Paxtons and the Blacks had never gotten along. The family most concerned with pure blood and ancestry compared to one of the least concerned. We saw each other at dances and dinners, but never spoke. They would merely shoot disgusted glances our way throughout the night.

But, of course, my mother knew everything that was going on in every Pureblood family. So, naturally, we were all aware of the abuse Black suffered at home for disagreeing with his family's views. And, though I never spoke to him, I always looked for him at the start of year feast to see how pale, thin and pained he looked this year. Always silently hoping he wouldn't be.

I had Defence first. After the awkward staring encounter, I wasn't feeling so comfortable at the table anymore and decided to slowly head over to the room. I assumed we had a new professor this year, though I'd missed the announcements. We always did. It was almost a joke how terrible the job security was for our past five professors.

I was right. As I entered the room, which was a little to dark and unnerving for my taste, I saw a lean, middle-aged balding man peering into one of the many cages placed around the room.

I slipped into one of the seats at the back and looked around the strange room. There were all sorts of creatures in tanks and cages. All incredibly rare and hard to find. I recognized Chimaeras, a Mooncalf, Porlocks and, most dangerous of all, a Lethifold. The Lethifold was in tank with thick glass walls that had been bioformed to resemble the tropics.

And a unicorn calf. Blindingly gold, curled up in the corner of a back cage. My jaw dropped when I spotted it. Unicorn calves weren't just rare, they were near impossible to find. And they should never, ever be taken from their mothers until they lost their gold colour. And never placed in captivity. Their lifespans shortened by about 80%.

I opened my mouth to ask the professor what the hell he thought he was doing, but quickly shut it again noticing how full the class now was. Most students were pointing at different creatures in awe, having only ever seen them in books.

"Attention, class." The tall, lean man clapped his hands and flicked his wand. The words:

Professor Lindbergh

6th Year Defence Against the Dark Arts

Appeared on the board behind him. The raucous quietened.

"Welcome to your first NEWT year. Throughout the next two years you will begin to cover the more complex types of Dark Magic. This year we will cover irreversible curses. This will build on your 4th year spell, charm and hex knowledge. This will lead up to learning about the Unforgivable curses, including an excursion to the Ministry of Magic where you will witness these curses and be given an abridged tour of the brand new Department of Mysteries. This is new part of the course, only offered to—"

Lindbergh drawled on about the outline of the coursework this year, but I wasn't listening. I was so focused on the unicorn calf I only heard half of what he was saying. It was pacing back and forth in its cage. Upon first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but with a closer look it was obvious the creature was shaking with terror. This was so wrong.

"Professor." I heard a girl ask.

"Yes, Miss…" Lindbergh asked, annoyed that his lecture had been interrupted.

"Evans, sir. What are all these rare creatures doing in the classroom?" She asked, inquisitively. Her fiery red hair was scraped back into a side pony and she looked far neater and more put together than I could ever manage.

"Ah, I'm glad you asked. I'm doing some very important research for the ministry on rare and dangerous creatures. Albus allowed me to keep my research here in exchange for a year's service as a professor." He smiled, obviously loving bragging about his 'important' work.

"Are they safe?" Katie Gregory, from Hufflepuff, asked worriedly.

"All the creatures are contained correctly and the especially dangerous ones are under protective enchantments." He replied.

"How did you get the unicorn? I thought it was impossible to find the babies?" Another Hufflepuff girl asked in awe.

"This calf is from the Forbidden Forest actually. Unicorn calves can be captured though it is difficult and they are impossible to transport, hence why I chose the forest surrounding Hogwarts. Now enough questions, there is much content to get through this year." He turned back to face the board with a self-important swish of his robes.

I felt a burning hatred begin to form inside myself. I hated arrogance almost as much as I hated cruelty. And this jackass had both in spades.

I didn't listen to the entirety of the class, in a hot mess over whether I should speak up about the calf. I wasn't an idiot. I knew he would shut me down instantly if I said anything in class. But I had to do something. I could not let this poor animal be treated like this.

I bit my lip as a crazy idea stirred in my head. It was so outrageous and impulsive. But, if I executed it right… maybe I could save it's life. What did I have to lose?

That night, I waited for the girls to fall asleep, listening for their slowed breath and gentle snores over the heavy rain that had started that evening. I slipped out of bed, already dressed to go in sweat pants, wellies and a waterproof jacket.

My heart was racing as I tiptoed through the halls. I reached the kitchens and paused, hearing footsteps. Quickly I flattened myself against the wall. No one came. I assumed it must have been my imagination and tried to slow my breathing.

Eventually I reached the defence classroom. Double checking to make sure no one was around I slowly turned the handle.

"And just what do you think you are doing?" I heard a male voice say.

I leapt out of my skin and let out what sounded like it was somewhere between a yelp and a groan.

"Hah! Got you!" The same voice laughed.

I collapsed against the wall as I realized it was Potter. Potter with his messy haired, round glasses, charming smile and twinkling eyes. Accompanied by Black, of course. Black with his long dark hair, cold gray eyes and aristocratic features similar to my own. The two couldn't be more different.

"What the fuck are you doing? Trying to give me a heart attack?" I breathed, my heart finally slowing down.

"We followed you from the kitchen." Potter grinned and offered me a hand up. "We wanted to know what you were up to at 1am on a stormy Tuesday morning."

"Nothing." I mumbled and accepted his hand.

Potter narrowed his hazel eyes and broke into another grin, "Liar! You're blushing!"

"I don't blush." I spat.

I caught the ghost of a smile on Black's face. He still hadn't said anything. It was quite unnerving, actually.

"Come on, tell us! We might be able to help you." Potter nudged my arm.

This time I did blush. It sounded so stupid and childish.

"Well… I was actually going to save the unicorn. You know, bring it back to the forest." I mumbled, embarrassed.

Potter's jaw dropped. He looked at Black, but Black was looking at me. AGAIN! Honestly, what was with this boy? It was getting really off-putting! His eyebrows crinkled like he was searching for something. I bit my lip, unsure what to say.

"I know it's kind of dumb, but I couldn't let it die in there. You're not supposed to—"

"Take them from their mothers until they lose their gold hue." Black finished with a nod.

Potter's jaw was still hanging so low I could've fit a Bludger in there.

"It made me mad, seeing it like that." I shrugged.

"Loren Paxton. You are incredible." Potter said with flourish.

Oh Merlin, this was mortifying.

"Well, that settles it! We are absolutely going to help your worthy cause and we know just how to do it too!" Potter looked at Black, seemingly for confirmation.

Black was still for a moment, contemplating something and then shrugged. James beamed, as if having gotten permission for something and then whipped out a thin, delicate cloak from his pocket.

"Um… no offence, but it's pouring buckets out there. Not sure how much use a cloak that looks like it would rip if you brushed your fingers over it will be." I said drily.

"Ah, my love, but this is not just any cloak! This one has been around for generations." Potter was still beaming like the bloody Cheshire cat from Alice and Wonderland.

"Ok, so it's a really old cloak." I shrugged, still not seeing the point.

And then, before my very eyes, Potter tossed the cloak over his head and vanished completely from my sight.


R and R! :)