It was days later and I had made a small note of the fact that while Snape did not treat Harry like a normal child, he did at least ignore him and not pick on him. I was slightly pleased. I had yet to say a word to my brother, and it was harder now because Jareth seemed to always be around him, and I was wary of facing Jareth after my previous comment to him. I also made sure that I was always near other snakes whenever I walked around the castle. I didn't want to come across him on my own. At the same time, I knew what would happen if Draco, one of my only friends, was caught alone with him.

However, this morning I had forgotten one of my afternoon classes books in the dorm, so I would have to go and get it. I told Draco at lunch and he offered to come with me to get it, all snake-lings had been warned the danger of wandering alone in the hallways, but I knew I would have to face my fears eventually. Instead of responding I shrugged my shoulders and left the great hall.

After getting my book from the dorm I began to walk quickly to my next class, transfiguration. I had a few minutes before it started but I didn't want to be late. A chill, however raced down my spine when I turned a corner to the transfiguration hallway. Instinctively I froze in my place and glanced around.

"Well, look at Ziona all alone and on her own." the voice chilled me, and my heart began to race, tripping over itself in fear as I turned to face Jareth. His cold gray eyes stared stonily at me with glitters of malice. I tried to take a deep breath but the air shuddered within me. I could feel my legs already shaking.

"Leave me alone." I tried to sound confident, but here in the solitude of the empty hallway my voice came out barely above a whisper. He began to approach me and I hastily stepped back, until my back collided with the cool stone walls of the castle. Still he approached slowly, like a predator.

"What was that?" he asked, his voice light, full of false caring. I flinched backed from it. My hands were splayed against the walls, and I forgot about my magic. My eyes widened as I tried to look for any escape route. Instead, he blocked me against the wall.

"I saw that you found a friend here. Does he know you belong to me?" his voice had gone dark and I flinched back from it and him. I shut my eyes and turned my face away. If I was quiet, whatever he decided to do would hurt less because I didn't resist. I felt small, like a rabbit cornered by a wolf.

"Jareth, what are you doing?" a familiar voice asked from down the hall. In my fear I couldn't place it.

"Not a word." Jareth growled lowly in me ear before he backed up. "Just talking to an old friend, Harry." Harry, as in my brother? I opened my eyes and their he was with Hermione and Ron. I could feel my eyes pleading with him not to listen, but I turned away and ran the few feet left to class. My heart was still racing like a jackrabbit. Inside I sat down next to Draco.

"Are you okay?" he asked me in a hushed whisper as the four followed into the class. I nodded my head minutely.

"Yeah, I just ran into an artist." I muttered before the lesson began. I only half payed attention to Professor McGonagal. Instead, I drew in my journal a rather realistic picture of a mother dragon protecting her clutch while slowly roasting Jareth on a spit. It brought a slight smile to my face. In little caption bubbles I had an egg thinking 'whats that?' and the mother replying 'just deserts'. Draco glanced over my shoulder and smirked at my artwork. I knew I was pleased with it. It was, after all, a cute play on words. When the assignment was given out, it was to turn a plush apple into a pin cushion. I did it easily within one try, then went back to my artwork. I flipped a page of my journal and began to draw a startlingly lifelike cobra, standing with its hood flared and fangs bared.

With a sigh I realized I was bored and so I pulled out a book on animagus transformations and their meanings. I had already read all the other books that the library had on animagi and decided that I would try it out, though I would know what each animal meant before I learned what I was. That way I would not be unhappy with whatever I turned into. This book, fortunately went in depth on all the meanings, including the ones for the rarest of forms, which would leave me with no surprises. I smiled as I read of the different meanings that each animal had, and found that the founders of Hogwarts had chosen their insignias well. By the time the double transfiguration was over I had finished the book. I figured that I would work on it tonight, as I had already turned in my research and ideas on both all purpose healing potions and characteristic subduing to Snape. When the professor finally dismissed us for dinner Draco and I both walked out ahead of the group. We paused when I heard my name called from behind. I turned to face the person who had called me to find myself facing Harry.

"Z, I don't know what Jareth said to you, but I did tell him to leave you alone. Are you all right?" the boy seemed caring, and his aura was golden, rather like Draco's, as were those of his two companions. I glanced at Draco, then faced the three lions.

"Would you like to join us for dinner in the kitchens? We normally go there for dinner anyway." I offered my brother. He glanced at his friends and then back at me.

"I think that I would like that, yes." he said. His two friends shrugged their shoulders and followed as we led them to the kitchen. With a smile I tickled the pear and the portrait opened to reveal the kitchen, filled with house-elves. They smiled and welcomed us, before placing the usual pumpkin juice and fruit salads and roast beef before us along with some pudding.

"Jareth wont leave me alone, Harry. He never has,and he never will. But I thank you for trying. No one ever has except Draco." Draco had done so a week ago, and had earned himself a nasty cut along his stomach that I had healed for him. Neither of us had been anywhere with Jareth if we could help it since until today. Harry nodded at me and a look of understanding flowed in his eyes. We both knew what I had meant by my statement.

After that we all ate through dinner, Ron and Draco sharing jokes and making us laugh until I thought I myself was going to have pumpkin juice running from my nose. Hermione and I chatted about classes and homework and what was easy. I told her about my idea for the all purpose healing potions and she thought it was a splendid idea. By the time dinner was over, the five of us had formed a fast friendship. Even Draco and Harry were getting along great. When we separated to go to our respective dorms, we decided that we would meet together in the great hall for our shared study hall the following days.

In the dorms I worked on my animagus form and was able to transform my feet. They turned into hooves with a soft light mocha brown fur covering them until they met my human body parts. I smiled softly as I went to bed, happy with the many accomplishments of the day.