A/N: Welcome to the second chapter of this little story of mine. There will be some OOC, but again this is my story, and if I want Dumbledore to dress up in a pink bunny suit, then I will have him dress in a pink bunny suit. That is not to say that I own the characters, except for Kitiara, and Tania StarSworn. I make no money off of this, and I will cheerfully lend my characters to you, if you ask me first. To err is human, to forgive is not my policy. Well on with the fic!

Chapter 2

The next morning dawned bright and beautiful. Kitiara was woken by her new kitten deciding her face was the perfect place to sleep. Kit wasn't as sure and dumped him on the bedspread. When her mother joined her after breakfast, they did a swift pack of the things that had been bought the previous day before going downstairs to meet with Professor McGonagal. She smiled firmly at the two as she walked in.

"Well it is nice to see the two of you up and ready. Now, Kitiara, we'll see you into the care of another of your professors at Kings' Cross Station, and he'll make sure you get to Hogwarts safe and sound. I'll take your mother on to St. Mungo's. A week before classes start, she can come and the two of you could spend it in Hogsmeade, the village nearby." The three women smiled at each other in agreement. "Well, take some floo powder and call out Platform 9 ¾ very clearly and we'll be off."

The journey was a wild one, and when they exited the fireplace, they were on the platform, in front of a tall and imposing man. Severus Snape looked at the new student and was caught by her eyes. He'd never seen such innocent joy before and yet there was an ancient knowledge hidden behind the naïve front. When she smiled at him, he gave a hesitant smile back and was shocked, no more than McGonagal, when the girl threw her arms around him and declared

"MOM! Why did you not tell me that being tall dark and cute was a requisite for British guys?! And this one's gonna be my teacher? I wanna keep him, can I mom? Please?"

"Kit, I don't think you can keep him, but he might be more amendable to being your friend?"

"Oh, all right. So stud muffin, wanna be my friend? Even if you don't, I will be yours. Friend that is."

The transfiguration teacher hid a smirk when the dour potions Master, blushed and looked confused as he stammered his acceptance. With a farewell, Kit and her mother parted grinning like they knew something the other two didn't know; and weren't about to enlighten them. When they were gone, Severus led his new friend, into a compartment and spent the journey discussing the difference between Wiccan potions and Wizarding potions.

When they arrived at the castle, Severus had found, to his dismay, that he'd spilled the beans on his life. And was in awe when this spitfire of a girl had hugged him and said

"Everyone makes mistakes. You woke up in time and now you are trying to redeem yourself. I admire a man who can admit he was wrong." Severus had been sure that she would've drawn away from him and her acceptance and forgiveness had done a lot to lighten the pain he felt in his heart. As they walked into the great hall, many of the teachers wore flabbergasted looks of disbelief at Severus, the man known to smile at others' misfortunes, laughing at something the new student had said. Dumbledore smiled into his beard and stood, waving them to two seats at the table.

"Welcome, ms. StarSworn, to Hogwarts. I am professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of this fine school. I've decided, that we'll let you learn what you've missed, and at the start of the school year, you will be sorted along with the first years. Is that acceptable?" Kitiara bowed and smiled.

"Hai, Dumbledore- Sensei. I only wish to explain that if in our classes, I seem to be in a daze, then it is just that I'm in a learning trance. I soak in whatever is taught me and assimilate it all in my sleep. I can then produce everything that I was taught at a later date. Practical, I can do almost right away. From what Sev told me, your magic and the magick I was raised to do are similar in that one has to have a good grip of ones' mind and a vivid imagination; however there are some things I can do that he doesn't know of many who can do them. Wandless, Battle, Healing and Nature magick. I am well versed in these and can teach them, if you wish. I understand that Harry Potter is supposed to fight old Moldeyfart," she ignored the gasps and muffled snickers at her nickname for the dark lord, "and would benefit from learning what I have to teach."

"And you would be willing to teach him?" Albus asked curiously. Kit nodded

"Hai, I would teach him, and anyone who wishes to learn. I would also like to reserve the right to turn away any I don't think would be able to accept the type of magicks that I would teach. Like wise, to ask certain people to join." Dumbledore looked thoughtful and contemplated what the young woman had asked. Her voice had been entirely serious and determined, and looking at her he could see that she wasn't lying about the fact that she could teach the various magicks she had learned. He waved a hand and lunch appeared on the table. The teachers and Kit began to pile food onto their plates and waited for the headmaster to speak. Finally the old wizard looked up and smiled.

"I give you my permission. In fact we have something similar in place, created by Harry Potter, called D.A., were they practice the hexes and curses we teach. Just try not to injure anyone in Battle Magick?"

"Not to worry, sir. We could probably collaborate what I know and what they know. It will be on weekends and afternoons mainly, but a few night time forays would be beneficial…"

"Make up a schedule and a list of whatever they need, and give them to me. We'll hammer out the details later. For now, eat up."

The weeks passed by quickly, and the teachers were amazed at how quickly she picked up the techniques of wand magic, and were astonished at the way she treated them. There was respect, yes, but she also dared to tease them and acted as if they were either friends or family. The only one she made any effort to avoid was the Divinations teacher and that was explained by her annoyance with one who had the power but focused it on 'New Agery' garbage. The other thing that stunned them was that she began to play pranks on Severus. And he retaliated. Soon, the other teachers got accustomed to hearing one giggling and then seeing the other one storm past looking ridiculous and muttering dire threats of vengeance. It was hilarious and soon, the other teachers began to award points to the one who had pulled the latest prank. It also became normal to see the two sitting by the lake, or in the library and talking or arguing some point or another.

In her rooms, Kit had two altars set up. One was to the Greek God of Mischief, Strife and one was to the Goddess Hecate. And she made daily devotions to both while asking for blessings from the rest of the Greek pantheon. It was agreed that whatever house Kit ended up in, the two altars would accompany her. Severus began to leave offerings on Strife's Altar and Minerva, who'd taken a shine to the teen,( especially after her comments on divination ) left offerings on Hecates'.

Things settled, and soon it was a week from the day school was supposed to start. Kit had gotten permission to use a hidden garden for the outdoorsy part of her lessons and the room of requirement for the rest, and was hammering out a schedule with Dumbledore when Severus was summoned to dance attendance on the Dark Lord. Kit waited outside for him and for her mother. Tania arrived and when told why her daughter was outside went to see Poppy, feeling that she was going to be needed.

She was right.

Kit burst into the medical wing with a floating Severus behind her. Gently setting him down on a cot, the three witches got to work. It was bad. She explained in an icy voice what he'd told her before passing out. He'd been unmasked as a double agent and had been tortured. The reason that he was left alive was so that he could be tormented every day by Voldemort sending him pain through the dark mark. Kit began to snarl at the damage, then pushed her mother and Poppy back and began to Heal her friend, taking the majority of his injuries into herself. It was hard, to keep her mind focused on what she was doing and not on the pain. When she felt that she'd taken what she could safely carry, she stopped and let Poppy and her mother take over. Then staggered out. Minerva caught her and Kit hissed in pain, then looked up and gasped

"Minne? I need.. to heal.. myself. Take me..into the...forest?"

"The forest? But it's night time and dangerous.."
"Please! It has the energies I need to heal."

"But what about Poppy? Couldn't she.."
"Her hands and my mothers' are full with Sev. I, he must never know that I helped heal him. Promise you won't say anything."

"I'll take you into the forest. And I won't say anything to Severus." She helped the injured girl out and into the Forbidden Forest. They walked until they came to a glade with a stream, and in the soft earth, Kit buried herself, leaving only her face visible. McGonagall sat on a boulder and watched entranced as a light glow surrounded the Wiccan. Fairies and pixies and brownies came running or flying to sit around her. Naiads splashed out of the stream and gently poured water over her lips. And then a unicorn, came walking into the glade and with a sideways look at the older woman, bent and touched the earth over her body with it's horn. Kit sighed and slept.

AN/ Heyla, Rosario-chan here again. I hope you're enjoying this story. If so review. Please? With sugar on top?