Chapter 3

Giaaaaa…

Wake up, my princess…

"Hmm…" I hummed, rolling over and snuggling deeper into my pillow.

Gia…you must find it…

The warmth of Nova's small body tucked under my side disappeared and she yowled softly, pawing at my foot.

"Cut…out…Nova…" I mumbled, trying my hardest to return to the sweet, blissful unawareness of deep sleep. I could feel no warmth of the sun through the window and the rest of the dorm was dead silent, except for Lavender's incessant snoring.

Giaaaaa…

"Five more…minutes…mom…"

My eyes popped open and I bolted upright, startling Nova so much so that she hissed and nearly fell through the curtains off the side of the bed. Waving my hand, the curtains silently slid open and my eyes darted rapidly around the room – looking…searching…

"I'd know that voice anywhere but…it's impossible," I whispered, holding Nova close as she cuddled into my lap, purring deeply.

Looking down, my seven-point pendant necklace was glowing again, something it hadn't done since the night I left my home in Spain and traveled to Britain on Nova's back. The entire surface glowed and once again, slowly began to pulse and throb – it even vibrated against my chest until I picked it up and eyed it closely. The pulsing sped up and, just as it had nine months ago, the glow shrunk until it was centered on one point; the pendant lifted from my hands and moved around until it seemed to find what it was looking for. Nova looked on curiously but kept her distance from the thing and when I hesitated, the necklace seemed to give an insistent tug forward.

"Tempus!" I whispered, watching as red numbers appeared in the air before me.

4:44 AM

The necklace tugged again, harder this time.

Looking around the room again, I listened carefully – four steady heartbeats, one loud snore, and three soft, even bodies breathing… everyone was still sound asleep. Throwing my legs over the side of my bed, I silently summoned the boots that had come with the battle-suit my father had left me on my birthday – they were created for stealth and silence. Holstering my wand to my right thigh, I crept as silently as possible to the dorm door and stopped – it would no doubt creak as I opened it. Seemingly reading my mind, Nova jumped into my arms and curled in tight as black wisps gathered around me, blocking my vision.

One minute I was inside the fourth year girl's dorm…and the next, I was just outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, in a dark corner off to the side. Casting a disillusionment charm over Nova and me, I followed the silent directions of the necklace, watching as it moved from side to side through the air. To my confusion and surprise, we never left the seventh floor but after making several rounds and passing the Fat Lady for the fifth time, I wondered if the damn thing was broken or confused.

Ignoring its incessant tugging, I moved over to a wide, open window that bathed the entire section of the corridor in soft moonlight. Stepping before the opening, the instant rush of power that raged through my body was almost staggering as the iridescent glow washed over me. A distinct tingle began at my fingertips and toes, and quickly spread until I felt the strong hum of magic and pure energy flowing. Slowly, I flexed my rigid, constant control over my primal energies and allowed the senses of my ancestors to enlighten me and help guide to me wherever I was supposed to be. Having grown up under the watchful eye of my mother, blessed with the Sight and gifts of the goddesses, I knew better than most how to read signs – I knew that everything happened for a reason.

My hair curled as an invisible wind began to stir, entirely magical in its nature. My fingernails grew long and sharp, changing from their normal, manicured appearance to obsidian black claws. The corridor around me glowed under the golden glow of my eyes as I turned away from the window, and my senses stretched far beyond what was normal. I could almost see the incredibly intricate and interwoven web of magic that spread throughout every inch, nook, and cranny of the castle, all in my mind's eye. As I breathed deeply, centuries' old scents…emotions…magical signatures come and gone came to me. There were several particularly strong and noticeable strands of magic that branched off into the castle's depths, and I knew that they belonged to the strongest magical presences in these walls.

Kneeling down, I almost smiled as I noticed Nova rigidly standing guard over me, her alert amber eyes darting to every corner and shadow up and down the corridor as I did what I needed to do. The necklace had long since begun pulsing erratically again and was almost blinding in light and I placed my bare palms on the hard, stone floor. My heart thundered in my ears and I reached out with my magic, merging with the powers imbued within the pendant. Seconds passed…

And then I had taken off at a blurred sprint, caution be damned, with Nova following right on my heels. My heart soared and exploded with pure love, my pulse positively raced – I would know that magical signature better than my own. As I ran, I naturally fell on all fours and nearly destroyed the stone floors with the force of my strides.

But I was so close – YES, so close!

My sprint took me to the farthest end of the seventh floor and around a corner that I was certain had not been there before. I was further than anyone had gone in recent years, judging from the lack of active magic in the area and the presence of layered dust everywhere. But her scent – her magic…it was strongest here. I had turned onto a short hallway that ended at a dead end but the necklace pulsed stronger and brighter than ever before. Cancelling the disillusionment charm over Nova and myself, I paced the hall repeated, tapping random stones in the wall and even casting revealing charms, but nothing appeared before me.

Finally, I walked the full length of the short hall and reached out a hand to touch the smooth stone –

"What the –" I gasped as my hand disappeared through the wall up to my wrist and came in contact with what felt like a painted canvas.

Feeling around, I could tell that it was an incredibly large portrait and the innate magic let me know that it was similar to the magic imbued within the Fat Lady. There was something here. On impulse, I raised my left hand and made a fist, pressing the face of my signet ring against the canvas – in an instant, I came face to face with the portrait's inhabitant.

She was…beyond beautiful – supernaturally so. Her pearl-white hair flowed mysteriously and swayed with such a fluid ease, any Veela would be envious. Her pale blue skin had the appearance of moving water, but it was her eyes – they were familiar.

They were my mother's eyes.

But this creature was certainly not my mother.

She seemed to be sitting in jade-green grass at the edge of a pond; the backdrop was of a beautiful and clearly enchanted forest, and a waterfall crashed silently from nearby, feeding into the pond and sending ripples across its surface. The rich, natural colors took my breath away and I had to stop myself from reaching out to see if I could simply step into this beautiful scene. The most eye-catching feature of all, however, was undoubtedly the two large, multi-colored faery wings that protruded from the girl's back and shimmered a different palette each time she shifted her petite body.

When our eyes met, I felt as though my soul had been bared before her to peruse at her leisure, and I found that I didn't enjoy feeling so vulnerable. My senses faded back to normal and the thrum of magic dimmed and retreated into my core, and Nova flanked my right, now a moderately-sized black panther. She growled low and eyed the portrait closely, raising her head defiantly as the faery leveled its gaze on my familiar.

"It has been quite some time since my portrait has been discovered, young Lycan," the faery spoke, her voice the most beautiful and alluring sound I had ever heard in my life. She smiled suddenly, two small fangs peeking out from under her lips. "You are very powerful – I can feel it, even now that you look like a mortal girl – but I'd expect nothing less from her daughter."

My eyes snapped to hers. "Do you mean Ava Grey? Did you know my mother?" I asked quickly, almost desperately.

At the sound of my mother's name, the girl's eyes brightened dramatically, almost glowing through the canvas. "Yes, of course!" she exclaimed, briefly lifting off the grass as her wings fluttered excitedly. "Only a true heir could be led to this place, let alone reveal its hidden location. Hundreds of mortals and magicals have tried over the centuries, but only those of the original bloodline may find me."

Understanding finally dawned and stories from my mother's school years flooded my mind. "So this – this is the East Tower?" I whispered reverently, my fingers grazing the shining golden frame that held the faery. "This is where…my mom lived when she was a student here. She told so many stories about this place – about the things she and her friends got into here but, but I never thought I'd get the chance…"

"It is your birthright!" the faery said fiercely, seeming almost angry at the thought of an heir being denied this secret pleasure. "Your ancestors sacrificed a lot so that their heirs may have a place of ultimate privacy and protection. Now," she said grandly, "step forward and enter your new home, heir."

A shiny, golden door handle appeared along the left side of the frame. I grasped it and then paused.

"What's your name?" I asked tentatively.

"Isavéla," she replied, grinning amusedly.

"Giavana, but my friends call me Gia," I said before yanking open the portrait and quickly slipping into the darkness beyond it, Nova immediately slinking in beside me. The sound of her great, powerful paws padding on the ground soothed me and I reached out and patted her silky head.

Inhaling deeply, the most beautiful and wonderful scent filled my nose – my mother's scent was all over the place. Holding my hands in a ball in front of me, I focused and watched as a ball of light grew between my palms and floated up into the air. Wizard's light – the most basic and simple form of controlled magic that most wizard-born children learn. Creating a few more spheres of light and sending them out, I was surprised that there were no spider webs, mold, or other signs of disuse. In fact, the black marble steps seemed to have been polished recently, and I peered down at my distorted reflection as we climbed them.

The staircase wound up in a spiral, and at the top of about twenty steps was a plain black door with the Grey family crest upon it. I paused before the crest and peered closely at it, taking in the woman's head with two faces, one white and the other black, surrounded by a circle of ancient symbols – the two faces of the Sun and Moon goddesses. There was no doorknob or handle, but as I reached out and placed my fingers against the smooth surface, it swung open without a sound.

The moment I stepped into the room, a fire in an enormous fireplace off to the right sprang to life, bringing light and a wave of warmth throughout the place. The common room was a giant circle; the first thing I noticed was that the entire left half of the room was made of glass. It was a long, high, curved window overlooking a section of the Black Lake that was partially hidden by the high cliff that Hogwarts was perched upon. The next thing I noticed was that the ceiling had the same enchantment as the Great Hall and currently looked like the starry, night sky, complete with a glowing moon hanging overhead.

The common room was decorated with mostly glass and soft grey and white furniture; couches, armchairs, and even two large chaise lounges were spread out, along with a few glass tables, a wall with a full bookshelf, and an expensive rug that covered a majority of the grey marble floor. Directly across from the entrance was a grand staircase that led up to the second level; a white marble banister encircled the walkway that circled the entire common room, all the way back around to the entrance. On either side of the double doors were other closed doors that I assumed led to dorms; there had to have been at least twenty rooms, ten on each side, with the double doors making it twenty-one all together.

As I watched Nova travel around the room, sniffing here and there, a sudden yawn nearly cracked my jaw.

"Tempus!"

6:02 AM

"Damn…" I muttered, knowing I only had about an hour if I wanted to get a nap in before breakfast. "I suppose I can look around more after class."

Whistling, Nova bounded towards me from the where she'd been looking out over the lake at the window, and followed me up the staircase. Stopping outside the double doors, I finally noticed the golden door handles had been in the shape of letters – A and G.

"For Ava Grey…" I guessed quietly, before grasping each one. The moment I touched the handles, however, the letter A morphed into another G. I smiled. "For Gia Grey – ha, that's me."

Nova gave an amused sort of huff and finally, I pushed open the double doors and was immediately blown away by the interior.

Unashamed, I had always grown up in an extremely lavish and expensive lifestyle – between the fortunes of the Grey and Wilde families, money had never been a problem for us. We'd lived in the nicest homes and vacationed in the most beautiful places in the world, but this bedroom was easily one of the most beautiful.

It was decorated in a similar fashion as the common room. Directly across from the bedroom doors was a king-sized bed surrounded by a tent-like black lace canopy that was pulled open and tied to two of the four posts. Above the bed, the entire stretch of wall was dominated by a window that extended down to either corner. To the right of the bed, a white chaise lounge was pushed into the corner, easily big enough to comfortably fit at least two people. On my right side, there were two more sets of grand double doubles.

One led to an absolutely monstrous walk-in closet, complete with a large vanity and built-in racks, shelves, and drawers. The other set of double doors led to a bathroom that actually brought a smile to my lips. Every surface – the floors, walls, ceiling, and even the inside of the pool-sized bathtub – was made of shiny obsidian marble. A skylight directly above the tub allowed moonlight to fill its depth, almost tempting me into a hot bubble bath right then. There was another vanity next to a pair of his and hers sinks, and beside that, a large shower stall with sliding glass doors. In the corner, a rack of fluffy black towels and an enchanted laundry hamper waited.

I fought with myself – did I want to take a long, hot bath right then or a quick shower in a few hours. Eventually, my sleepiness won out and I reluctantly left the bathroom and returned to my new bedroom.

"You big baby," I muttered teasingly, eyeing Nova's panther form curled up on the thick, fluffy black rug that covered a large portion of the floor surrounding the bed. She glared up at me with yellow eyes and then rested her head on her great paws, her long tail swishing aimlessly behind her.

Kicking off my boots, I waved my hand and all of my things from Gryffindor Tower appeared in a pile. Quickly setting an alarm for seven-thirty, I smiled and leapt onto the bed, immediately sinking into the impossibly soft mattress. The sheets and pillow cases were black satin and felt cool to the touch; the blanket on top was white satin with black swirls across the surface, it was thick but also cool against my skin.

I was asleep in seconds.

Thick, sweet nectar filled my mouth, easily the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, and I swallowed it greedily. A gaping, empty hunger roared inside of me.

More – MORE!

My fangs fully extended, my claws viciously grasped at whatever was releasing such beautiful juice. There was nothing to compare to – for nothing on this mortal earth could possibly have my entire body screaming at me to consume more – MORE! A deep growl wracked my chest and I bit down harder, furiously shaking my head from side to side as the spongy object ran dry.

Rage. Hunger.

They tore through me and my head flew back, a sinister howl ripped through my throat and echoed off the walls. The moment such a bloodthirsty and terrifying sound rebounded back to my eyes, the red, lusty haze cleared and I opened my eyes.

"Pft pft!" I coughed, spitting out what seemed to be brown bird feathers.

My stomach heaved.

Flexing my fingers, I shakily uncurled them from around a distorted and twisted form. My heart thundered inside of my head and a deep unsettling realization dawn within me – as if burned, I dropped the now bloodless, torn, and broken body of an owl.

My head snapped over as Nova's mournful yowl caught my attention. She'd jumped to her feet and stood deadly still, staring at me cautiously.

More! More blood – more….MEAT! MORE! That sadistic hunger roared at the back of my mind.

My entire body was shaking, I felt overly hot and sticky, my eyes glued to the corpse. I crawled backwards away from the dead owl so frantically that I tipped backwards right off of the edge of the bed and crashed onto the hard floor, the rug doing little to cushion the blow. No matter how hard I tried, I could not push down the bloodlust raging through my body – my eyes were glowing, more scarlet than amber now.

Gripping the comforter, I pulled myself up on shaky legs and nearly tipped over, trying and failing to calm my whirling thoughts.

"How did – even…get a hold of an owl…in the first place?" I muttered, clutching my head as the room spun.

In…and out… In…and out…

Several deep breaths later, and Nova apparently felt secure enough to approach me, nudging my hand with her sleek head. Taking comfort from her close proximity and powerful body, I scratched behind her ears and reluctantly jerked my eyes back towards the grotesque figure on the bed, finally noticing the letter in its twisted beak.

"Sweet Merlin, I've killed someone's post owl," I said faintly, leaning onto Nova for support and feeling her body grow even larger to accommodate the weight.

Still trembling, I broke from Nova and crept forward as if the dead creature would burst into a nightmarish rage and attack me for killing it in cold blood.

But of course it didn't. It couldn't – it was dead – I had killed it.

Gently, I pried the bloody envelope from the body and immediately recognized the Gringotts bank crest along the seal.

"Shit, Gnarlkin is going to…" my words trailed off as my attention wandered to the blood that had rubbed off onto my fingers.

My vision went black.

"Bloody – Nova, why the hell did you bite me?" I shouted, rubbing my bum where she'd nipped me. It was hard for her to understand me; however, as my fingers were in my mouth and I'd apparently been desperately sucking the blood from them.

I nearly dropped the letter, ignoring Nova's look of concern, which was already odd enough on the face of a giant panther.

"What's happening to me?" I whispered, still feeling a bit green.

Yes, I'd always had an unnatural hunger for rare meat and I ate more than two grown men, but this…hunger had never controlled me in such a way as it had moments ago.

And I'd certainly never eaten a live animal before.

"I'm not a newly-turned Lycan; I shouldn't have this bloodlust overpowering me…" I muttered, absently patting Nova's head as she nuzzled it against me, allowing me to calm down and clear my head.

Gnarlkin, goblin Lord and House of Grey account overseer, only wrote me about once a month to assess the state of my accounts, but only at the end of every month. It didn't make sense that he'd send me a letter today, especially since I'd recently spoken with him in person only a couple weeks ago. None of these thoughts eased my mind, nor did the fact that the letter was hastily scrawled, rather than Gnarlkin's impeccable handwriting.

Lady Grey,

It has come to my immediate attention that on the night of September 1st, 1994, an unknown presence attempted to forcefully enter your new residence, in the residential district known as Eturn Ally. You will be pleased to know that the wards we constructed held true and managed to repel the intruder, but we would recommend coming in to discuss further measures. If you have any questions or concerns, my door is always open.

Gnarlkin

The letter dropped to the floor and Nova yowled softly, lowering her head worriedly. I raked my fingers through my thick hair and took a deep breath, holding in the scream that I desperately wanted to release. No one even knew that I had bought a house in the residential district – not a single soul other than the real estate company and the goblins that I'd had ward the place. That was supposed to be secret and someone had already tried to break in.

"This can't be a coincidence… but…" cold fear gripped my heart as dark red hair and hard, chiseled face flashed in my mind, "Father…"

Who else would've been able to find my home so quickly, if not for a man that commanded professional spies? I knew that I shouldn't have gotten used to the silence and the distance, but I thought that I would have more time. If he could find my new house, chances were that he knew I was at Hogwarts.

"That son of a…" I growled, annoyed and thoroughly wound up.

With a vicious snarl, I stormed into my bathroom and waved my hand, wandlessly starting the shower before stripping out of my pajamas. I had already lost so much time between searching for the Tower and now this business with the owl and Gnarlkin's letter. I would have to hurry if I wanted to make it down to the Great Hall with enough time for breakfast.

"What a wonderful start to my first day of class," I muttered sarcastically, stepping into the shower and sliding the glass door shut.

As soon as the scalding hot water cascaded down my body, I felt myself relax. I leaned my head back against the black marble wall as the steam rose around me, heating up my cold body. My mind was still racing but I couldn't give this new information all of my attention, not just yet. I had to start off on the right foot in my lessons, and now was not the time to let anything distract me.

My mother and her parents had all been top students at Hogwarts; prefects – Head Boy and Girls. I would not be the family disappointment.

Fingering the seven-point pendant, I brought it up to my lips and kissed the surface once, feeling a slight tingle of magic. Showering quickly, I used the time to slip behind my mental barriers and clear my mind, working through the anxiety and pushing the sleepiness to the back of my mind for now. I used a spell to dry instead of air-drying and hurriedly wrapped myself in one of those delightfully fluffy towels, rushing back into the bedroom.

I froze – immediately noticing the absence of the dead owl and the blood and feathers. The envelope and letter were cleaned of blood and set neatly on the bedside table. Glancing over at Nova, she seemed to shrug her shoulders.

"Must've been an elf," I said to myself, before throwing open the doors to my walk-in. I whistled appreciatively – all of my things in my trunk had been properly put away in the right places. "Those elves work fast."

Dressing quickly, I used a spell that tied my blood red hair back into a long braid, tied off with an ivory ribbon; I left a few soft curls to frame my face. Slinging my school bag over my shoulder, I patted Nova's head on the way to the door.

"Don't get into too much trouble, Nova – and do try not to scare anybody half to death, okay?" I said, laughing at her innocent expression.

It wasn't until I had exited through Isavéla's portrait and bid her goodbye that I realized I felt the wiggling knots of nervousness in my gut. Turning the corner out into the main corridor, I went through a mental checklist to make sure that I had everything I'd need for the day. I was nearing the more active corridors of the seventh floor and paused…listening to ensure the coast was clear before I slipped into the corridor that led towards the main staircase.

Once on the moving stairs, I was quickly surrounded by hundreds of other students on their way down to breakfast and I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I couldn't be too far behind schedule. Rather than push the loud chatter back into a dull buzz, I embraced it and allowed it to distract me from my own nerves.

"Gift and a curse…" I muttered to myself, shaking my head as I picked up on more than a few conversations that were being had about me.

There were more male voices – usually talking to other guys…wondering if I was easy – in awe at my beauty and grace – and of course, the verbal sexualizing of my body. There were also plenty of female voices, quietly voicing their own speculations…their envy and appreciation…their curiosity. In the midst of it all – and worst of all – was the story of my mother's very gruesome and tragic death. They gossiped about the mysteries surrounding my family… about the standing and power the House of Grey commanded… the well-known wealth that we held.

Before I even made it to the first floor they'd built up some sort of superhuman image of me.

I paused and hesitated outside of the Great Hall, taking a moment to collect myself.

"Your cat's a bloody menace," was Lavender Brown's grumpy greeting, shattering my thoughts as she swept past me into the Great Hall.

"Oh don't mind her, Lav's not a morning person," said Parvati Patil, smiling and shaking her head at her best friend's antics. "Nice to official meet you, I'm Parvati."

We shook hands. "Gia, nice to meet you, and Lavender too. Tell her I'm sorry about Nova, she's most certainly a menace and very proud of the fact," I said, rolling my eyes. "She acts tough but she's just a little pussy."

Behind me, I heard the sound of one person choking and gasping, and another person outright laughing. Turning my head, Hermione was coughing and red-faced, while a rather beautiful girl of some Asian descent smiled broadly. From the red and gold tie, I assumed that this was Elizabeth Moon, the other fourth year Gryffindor.

"Finally, a roommate with a sense of humor," Elizabeth said, smirking ever so slightly. Her grin widened at Parvati's "I heard that!" as she headed into the Hall.

"Elizabeth Moon, welcome to Gryffindor."

"Gia Grey, thank you very much," I said, shaking her hand.

I couldn't help but stare.

Her light pecan-brown skin was incredibly smooth and soft-looking; her slanted eyes were dark and alluring, framed by thick lashes; and thick, straight black hair came down to her waist. There was something very intriguing about this girl…Elizabeth and I couldn't tear my eyes away as I watched her breeze into the Great Hall. She moved with such an easy grace I found myself envious, remembering the many years and punishments it had taken my trainers to instill that kind of fluidity in me. We were about the same size, same small stature and toned frame – she was clearly in great physical shape, but it was her magic and energy that kept my interest. She was calm and gentle in her movements, but something about her felt innately dangerous. I didn't sense any maliciousness or threat from her, but I wouldn't put it past her to wipe the floor with a witch or two if she had to.

Though the Hall was filling quickly, the Gryffindor Table was still about half-empty when we walked in. The noise and chatter seem to lull for a full second as we arrived and then returned full force; doing my best to ignore this, I trailed after Hermione down to the center, the same places where we'd sat the night before. A full breakfast spread appeared up and down the table, and it was all I could do not to simply throw my face into the nearest platter of sizzling bacon.

I said nothing as I set about piling my plate high with as much meat as I could possible reach, not even thanking Neville as he numbly handed me a platter of pork sausages, never mind the fact that I already had two different kinds on my plate already – it was more of a meat platter at that point, rather than a breakfast. Squeezing potatoes, eggs, toast, and pancakes around the edges, I filled two goblets – one with coffee and the other with plain water, before digging in.

There was a noticeable silence at the Gryffindor Table as they watched on in shock and amazement, fascinated as I completely decimated the food before me.

"Umm…Gia –"

"What?" I snarled, softening as Neville flinched and turned away.

Swallowing another mouthful of sausage, I washed it down with the water and wiped my mouth. "That's rude you know!" I snapped, scaring the remaining spectators into dutifully eyeing their own plates, peering at me in their peripheral. Sighing deeply, I finally turned to Neville and patted his hand, causing his face to pink.

"I'm sorry Neville… I'm just… under a lot of stress right now and I had long night," I said softly, smiling apologetically.

"Don't – don't worry about it, G-Gia," Neville stammered, hesitating before moving the hand I had touched to finish his breakfast.

Hermione had begun to hum to herself, content with allowing me to get a grip on myself, and I couldn't help but ease into the soft sounds.

"It is way too early to be that happy, Hermione," I joked finally, shaking my head as I stirred my coffee and took a reviving sip, shivering as it warmed my stomach from within.

"I'm just excited to jump into our classes. I'm hoping we learn some really interesting this year," she gushed, pulling a thick book from her bag and propping it up against a heavy milk jug. She glanced over at me, her warm brown eyes so open and caring. "And don't worry about anything, okay? We've all been through the first day jitters, but you'll do just fine."

I could've kissed the girl right then, but instead, returned to eating.

As small as I was, my favorite house-elf, Prim, had always joked that I'd eat us all into poverty. Thinking about Prim made me think about the home I had left behind…and then brought my mind back around to the news Gnarlkin had brought to my attention earlier. The reminder of the gruesome murder of his owl sent me back to dutifully and viciously tearing into my pancakes until my plate was clean, and both goblets had been drained and refilled twice. When I felt as though I had satisfied my hunger enough to ignore the faint lingering in my stomach, I apologized again to my companions sitting on either side of me.

Perhaps sensing the darkening of my mood again, Hermione remained with her head in her book, absently eating her own admittedly health-conscious breakfast. The silence was broken only as Professor McGonagall strode by, handing out schedules.

"Nice to see that some of my House are prepared for class," McGonagall said approvingly, her nose lifting as she scanned the rest of the still slowly-filling table.

"Good morning Professor," Hermione and I chimed respectfully. Her expression softened.

"Good morning ladies. I'm expecting great things from you, Miss Grey," she said suddenly, "Your mother was a fine witch and I'll accept nothing less from her daughter."

"Yes, ma'am," I replied seriously. I had every intention of making my mother proud in any way that I could.

"Miss Granger, do continue to make our House proud," she said, before she touched the girl's shoulder and quickly moved along as Hermione positively beamed.

"What have we got Monday mornings?" I asked, and then drank deeply from my huge mug as Hermione consulted the schedules.

"Herbology, with the Hufflepuffs."

At the mention of the badger's House, I glanced over my shoulder and scanned the Hufflepuff table until my eyes rested on a tall, broad-shouldered boy with wavy brown hair. He was facing the Gryffindor Table and must've felt my eyes on him because he paused in his clearly amusing conversation and met my gaze. A brilliant smile lit up his face as he recognized me and my spirit soared. Cedric Diggory raised a hand to wave and nearly the entire Hufflepuff table had turned to crane their necks and see whom he was greeting. As I raised my own hand to return the wave, a new burst of excited whispers swept the Hall.

Huffing, I turned back to our table as Hermione's two best friends came stumbling sleepily down the table and plopped down across from us, robes wrinkled and hairs still flying every which way.

"Morning Mione," both boys greeted fondly.

"Good morning Gia," Harry added, before immediately joining Ron in piling everything within reach onto their plates.

"Good morning boys. What's after Herbology?"

As Hermione studied the schedule, Ron grunted out what was supposed to be a greeting, but his mouth was so thick with half-chewed food that it was the most he could manage. "After Herbology, we've got a break and then Care of Magical Creatures…" she made a pained expression.

"What's wrong with Care of Magical Creatures?" Harry asked around a mouthful of toast. I raised an eyebrow and he flushed, washing down the lump with a gulp of pumpkin juice. "We love having class with Hagrid."

"Except the part where we're almost burned, frozen, bitten, scratched, clawed, maimed, or eaten by one of his little pets," Ron added, finally coming up for air from his food.

"Excuse me?" I snapped, mildly alarmed.

"He did say 'almost'," said Harry, laughing even harder at my expression. "Well, no one's been injured too badly yet."

"I suppose Malfoy's run in with Buckbeak last year didn't count?" Ron seemed to grin darkly at the memory.

Wait…

Malfoy?

"Speaking of Malfoy," Hermione interrupted, "Hagrid's class is with the Slytherins."

Harry and Ron groaned.

Ah shit…

I took a deep breath.

Slytherins… Malfoy – that meant Draco…

And Draco meant trouble…

"Who thought it would be a good idea to put us with those…snakes, within range of dangerous, magical creatures?" Ron growled, stabbing his pancake as if it had personally offended him.

"They're begging for an accident to happen," Harry added, nodding darkly.

"Oh come on," I said, only a little less shakily than I felt, "They can't all be that bad, right?"

Hermione laughed humorlessly. Harry and Neville looked at me as though I'd grown a second head.

"I thought you'd be all for house unity, Hermione?" Ron asked around a mouthful of his ravaged pancakes.

Hermione glared at her plate. "I am…but I'm not going to sit through another year of being harassed by them either. One more 'mudblood' out of Malfoy and he's going to get a lot worse than bloody nose," she seemed to smile at the memory.

"No way," I choked, looking from Hermione to the boys and back again. "You – Hermione Granger – punched Lucius Malfoy's kid in the nose?"

"It was bloody brilliant," said Ron fervently.

"And well-deserved," Harry added.

"When?" I gasped, suddenly feeling rather hot. "And why?"

The trio shared a long look, one borne through years of solid friendship and clearly, misadventure. "That's a long story for another time," Harry said finally.

I decided to respect it and dropped the subject.

"Double Divination this afternoon," Harry groaned suddenly, scanning over his own schedule. Ron grunted, clearly annoyed.

"I don't know why you didn't drop the class last year when I did," lectured Hermione, "Then you wouldn't have to sit through a different bogus prediction of your tragic death each class."

"Wait – what?" I coughed, having nearly snorted coffee through my nose. "The professor does what?"

Harry groaned, and he and Ron launched into a full detailed account of Professor Trelawney's class. In the end, I realized that even with the gifts bestowed upon my mother's bloodline, I had dodged a bullet by avoiding that class.

"Hermione's right, though. Unless you have Seer's blood, which I highly doubt because true Seers are very rare, you wouldn't get anything out of that class," an explanation that should've been given to any student considering taking Divination. "Divination can't be taught. Either you have the gift or you don't – and since I'm assuming that you don't, I would suggest dropping or swapping the class."

"Swap it for what? Muggle Studies?" Harry scowled. "I grew up with muggles – I think I already know enough about them, thanks."

"Wait – you didn't grow up…here? In this world?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

I suppose that would explain his lack of arrogance or the air of a pureblood elitist, if he was raised away from the spotlight. I had heard that there was a lot of mystery surrounding Harry's childhood following the war, but I never could've guessed that this was why. Harry seemed distinctly uncomfortable at the mention of his family, and judging from the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces, it was clearly quite personal.

"How about you talk to McGonagall about dropping the class?" I redirected the conversation; Merlin knows there were stories about my family that I'd rather not tell.

"But that'll leave him with two empty class periods!" Hermione gasped, quite appalled at the thought of wasted learning time.

"You could do what I did and submit a request for a self-study period," I shrugged, cleaning the last of my plate. "It still counts as a class and grade, and I can study whatever subject I'd like as long as I can demonstrate and prove that I've actually been studying something relevant – trust me, she'll check."

This information was met with raised eyebrows.

"I – I never knew that was an option," Hermione said quietly.

"I didn't either, at first – it's not mentioned in the most recent copies of A History, Hogwarts –"

"Oh not you too!" Ron groaned, very maturely sticking his tongue out at Hermione's smug face. "Hermione's always going on and on about that bloody book."

"You'd be surprised by how much relevant information is in that bloody book – as you called it," I said simply, shrugging my shoulders. "But as I was saying, I didn't know self-study was an option either, not until I got my letter and saw what electives were available. I'd corresponded with the headmaster and though he informed me that self-study was usually restricted to sixth and seventh years who were preparing for a specific career, he eventually approved my request."

"What do you study, then?" Harry asked as Ron and Hermione fell into what sounded like a long-standing argument on something or the other.

"I use the time to continue my training," I said vaguely. Harry's expression silently asked for elaboration. "Without going into too much details, my family's traditions means that each child is individually trained as soon as they begin walking and showing signs of magic."

"Trained in what, though?" he prompted, hardly glancing over at his two friends.

"Different things, depending on where the child's natural abilities lie, but I try to stay diverse – physical training, hand to hand, weapons training, and of course, working on controlling my own magic," I explained further.

"Wow," Harry whistled, "All of that sounds so cool. I suppose I probably could use all the training I could get, what with –" he cut himself off and looked down.

"Voldemort?" I whispered, watching as his eyes shot to mine. There was surprise there, and even a fair bit of suspicion. "Oh come off it, I'm not completely dim, nor am I blind. I was at the World Cup too – I just didn't stay once the drama started."

"You were better off, trust me," Harry huffed, "But you're right. I can't continue on the way that I have. I think I'll talk to McGonagall later."

There was a sudden rustling noise above us, and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows carrying the morning mail. Instinctively, I looked up, but there was no sign of my black owl, Ario, among the mass of brown and gray. The owls circled the tables, looking for the people to whom their letters and packages were addressed.

A large tawny owl soared down to Neville and deposited a parcel into his lap. Neville seemed like the type that almost always forgot to pack something. On the other side of the Hall, the topic of our earlier conversation, Draco Malfoy, had an eagle owl land on his shoulder, carrying what looked like a supply of sweets and cakes from home.

The sight of Draco's too familiar head of silver-blond hair, along with the forceful reminder of my mishap earlier that morning, and suddenly I was feeling very overwhelmed.

Gripping my bag, I stood up abruptly, startling the four seated around me. "I – err – need some air. I'll – I'll see you guys outside for class."

Without waiting for a response, I speed-walked with as much dignity as possible, sweeping through the doors and nearly breaking into a run once I'd reached the entrance hall.

"Gia – Giavana!"

My blood froze.

Pausing, I dreaded turning around and coming face to face with my oldest and most complicated childhood friend. But sure enough, as I forced myself to slowly turn back towards the way I'd come, Draco came hurrying down the stone steps to me. Without words, he pulled me into a tight hug.

To say that I was surprised and confused was an understatement.

Before I could fully register the embrace, he pulled back and grasped my forearms, staring me directly in the eye – golden amber to cold grey.

"Gia…" he said, and I trembled at the raw desperation in his voice, "I – I almost bowled over last night when – when I saw you walk in with the first years. I haven't seen – You never told me –" his words seemed to fail him, and it was all I could do to simply keep my suddenly heavy body upright.

"Please… I know you have no reason to – to stand her and listen to what I have to say… especially with – with how we left things the last time I saw you…"

I could've done without the reminder of our dramatic and heartbreaking good-bye a few years ago.

"…but I don't know what else to do."

I was completely beyond words. My head felt fuzzy and my heart pounded so harshly in my chest, I was sure that Draco could hear it as loudly as I could. When I couldn't form words, Draco sighed, the pads of his thumbs stroking the skin on my arms.

"Look…it's far too much to explain right now," we both flinched as the bell rang, signaling the end of breakfast, "but – just meet me in here twenty minutes after dinner ends – tonight."

He glanced over his shoulder as the sounds of the students leaving the Great Hall reached us.

"Please Gia, you're my – my last hope. If you don't show up…I'll know that you want nothing to do with me ever again."

"Malfoy, what the hell are you doing? Let go of her!" Ron shouted from the top of the staircase.

He, along with Harry and Hermione, all had their wands out and were glaring daggers at the blonde boy. He looked back at me once more before dropping my arms, that familiar icy demeanor went back up full force. Draco turned back towards the stairs and swept past the trio with nothing more than a look of disgust and an upturned nose, as if they were beneath him.

"Gia – Gia, are you okay?" Harry asked quickly, running down the stairs and standing in front of me. "What did Malfoy do to you? You're all pale – and you're shaking.

I stared at the strangely unfamiliar black-haired boy in front of me, wondering what had caused such distress on his face, but then my eyes rolled up and my world went black.

"...that blonde ponce!"

"…shut up, Ronald!"

"...swear by Merlin, if you two wake her up!"

"The three of you will cease this noise or I'll throw you out!"

Attempting to open my eyes and tear a new one into all involved for causing this massive headache, I was nearly blinded by bright white light. Groaning, I clenched my eyes shut and rolled over, pressing my face into a stiff pillow that smelled like a Healer's office. The four voices that had been arguing over my head fell silent at once, but I felt five, not four, pairs of eyes on me. Turning my head slightly and inhaling deeply, I recognized four of the scents: Harry, Hermione, Ron…and Dumbledore. The fifth scent, which I assumed belonged to the stern woman that had threatened to kick the trio out, was completely foreign to me.

"I've dimmed the lights miss, now could you please turn over so that I may run some diagnostic spells over you?" the woman's voice asked, more calmly and patient this time.

Slowly, I rolled onto my back and upon noticing the less intense light overhead, I peeked open my eyes and pushed myself into sitting position, leaning back on the mountain of pillows behind me.

White.

White walls.

White ceiling.

White linen on the beds.

The smell of healing potions and disinfectant was much more pronounced now that I didn't have my nose pressed into a pillow, and I deduced that I must be in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. Looking around, Harry sat in a chair on the left side of my bed. Dumbledore was perched on the edge of the bed behind Harry, and to my right, Hermione and Ron had taken up position in two chairs beside me. The woman, who was now obviously the matron of the Wing, stood beside my pillow. I tensed as the witch pointed her wand at me, but allowed her to mutter standard Healer spells over me, causing various parts of my body to glow different colors. Some were familiar – like the gold that matched my eyes but one was completely unknown to me – the swirling black – and apparently to the matron as well, judging by the creasing of her forehead.

"I am Madam Pomfrey, dear," the woman said when she'd finished, "the resident Healer here at Hogwarts. Now, do you mind answering a few questions so that I can determine if your head injury has damaged your memory?"

"Head – injury?" I gasped out, my hands automatically coming up to my head, only to come in contact with a white bandage wrapped around it. "How –?"

"You mean you don't remember what happened?" Hermione asked, concern clear in her cinnamon eyes.

"No, would someone please feel free to clue me in," I said impatiently.

Waking up in the Hospital Wing with a head injury that I didn't even remember acquiring wasn't exactly going a long way in making me a happy camper.

"Please answer Madam Pomfrey's questions first, my dear, and then you shall have your explanation," said Dumbledore calmly, his eyes twinkling as bright as ever.

As I met his gaze, a mental alarm sounded and I nearly snarled at the unknown threat. Making the connection, I broke eye contact with the old man and turned back to Madam Pomfrey, my face not betraying the outrage that flooded through me.

"Fine," I bit out.

"What is your full name?" Madam Pomfrey asked calmly, holding a clipboard with her quill poised over it.

"Giavana Aria Grey," a short answer.

"Date of birth?"

"December 21st, 1979."

Only someone with my sensitive hearing would've picked up on the skipped heartbeat in the chest of Dumbledore as I announced my birthday. The wizard was ancient – it was very possible that he knew the significance of the winter solstice, even if it wasn't as wildly celebrated in Britain.

"Name of both parents?"

I paused.

"Ava Annalise Grey, nee Wilde…Ángel Emilio Grey."

Curiously, at the mention of my father's name, Dumbledore's heart positively raced. But there was no way that even the great Albus Dumbledore knew of my father and his businesses.

"Alright very good, you're memory seems to be fine if you can remember those basic details," Madam Pomfrey decided.

"Now, can someone please tell me how I ended up in here with a head injury?" I said quickly, looking around at the trio.

"Well…" Harry began uneasily.

"We saw Malfoy do something to you, and when he left, you passed out and hit your head on one of the steps. Blood everywhere," said Ron bluntly.

Hermione cuffed Ron on the back of the head, and both she and Harry gave him such venomous looks he didn't even protest. "Sorry," he muttered.

"Please excuse Ron, Gia," Hermione said gently, shooting Ron another annoyed look. "What he means to say is that, when the owls arrived this morning to deliver the post, you hurried out of the Great Hall, telling us that you needed air. Do you remember that?"

Concentrating on digging through my own mental barriers, the image Hermione described became clear, but also brought back the events of early this morning as well. I had to remember to send Gnarlkin an apology letter. But in response to Hermione, I nodded slowly, my head still pounding.

"We were worried about you," Harry continued, "but we wanted to give you space, you know? You said you were really stressed and we didn't want to further overwhelm you. But when the bell rang at the end of breakfast, we found you in the entrance hall and…"

"I'm not saying Malfoy did anything," Hermione said quickly, her eyes flicking to Dumbledore and back to me, "but…it did look suspicious, Gia. He was holding your arms, and you looked really pale. When he let go and left, Harry walked up to you and asked you if you were alright. You had this rather confused look on your face, and then – then your eyes rolled up into your head and you passed out." She took a deep breath, and I knew she was shaken. I could smell the residue of horror and shock on her. "Oh Gia…you did hit your head on the ground. None of us expected you to pass out, so we didn't react fast enough to catch you. It was horrible. There was – was so much – blood…" she broke off and hurried to wipe the tears glistening in her eyes.

I said nothing as I tried to remember all of this.

Owls…

Draco…

Fainting…

Blood…

Finally, the full weight of the memory dropped into my head rather painfully. I gasped and clutched my head, curling forward. All five people abruptly took steps toward me, and I felt my fangs slip out in defense. "Stop!" I growled, clamping my eyes shut before the glow could begin. "Everybody back up and give me a minute."

I heard their compliance, and now all five of their heartbeats were quickening, the sound doing nothing to help push down the sudden thirst that ravaged my throat. After several silent minutes, I felt a small body drop into my lap and recognized Nova's kitten form as she nuzzled her head into my hands. With her presence, I was able to force down the bloodlust enough to retract my fangs and keep my eyes from blinding those around me. When I felt as though I had myself under control, I straightened up again and ignored the varying expressions on their faces.

"She was already waiting at the door by the time we'd brought you up," Harry said quietly, staring curiously at my familiar. "Almost refused to let anyone near you until Madam Pomfrey insisted that she had to check over you."

The older woman huffed, glaring at the cat, who met her gaze coldly, her small tail flicking back and forth. "Cut it out," I muttered, nudging Nova's small form.

"How long have I been out of it?" I asked suddenly.

"You missed the entire day Gia, it's the middle of dinner now," said Hermione tentatively.

"What?" I exclaimed. "I missed my first lessons? I'm already behind – oh, now I'll have to catch up! I –"

"Miss Grey, please calm yourself," Dumbledore said calmly, the barest hint of authority in his tone. "I have already spoken with Professors Sprout and Hagrid, and both have agreed to excuse you, with no effect on your grade at all."

In…and out…

I'd had only been in the castle for two days and I was already falling apart. What did that mean for the rest of the year?

"Thank you professor," I said, gratefully. Then, I looked around at the trio. "You three missed dinner to come sit with me?"

"Well yeah…" Harry said, as if it should've been obvious. "We had to attend class, but we've been up here during every break and even had lunch up here, in case you woke up."

To say that I was touched…

My stomach suddenly roared, and my cheeks flushed. At that moment, Dumbledore rose from his perch. "I shall send one of the castle elves with dinner," he said decisively, walking around my bed towards the door. "If Madam Pomfrey permits it, Miss Grey, I would like you to meet me in my office when you are finished."

Confused and wary, I nodded. "Yes sir, and thank you again, sir."

"Think nothing of it, my dear. Feel better." And with that, he swept out of the Hospital Wing and closed the doors behind him.

"After dinner, you may go meet the Headmaster, and you may return to your dormitory. You do show signs of high levels of stress, dear, so take it easy from now on," advised Madam Pomfrey as she carefully removed the bandage from around my head and felt around to make sure I was completely healed. "I would, however, like you to report here tomorrow morning before breakfast so that I can check you over – just to be sure. Head wounds are tricky beasts."

"Yes ma'am."

As Madam Pomfrey disappeared into her office, an unfamiliar house-elf popped onto my bed, carrying a large tray with four plates filled with steaming food, and four goblets filled with pumpkin juice.

"Thank you," I said softly, smiling at the little elf. She blushed and bowed low, before popping away.

As we each grabbed a plate and goblet, I looked around. "So, what else have I missed today, besides lessons?"

The loaded glance exchanged between the trio told me that I'd missed quite a bit.

"Well?" I prompted after a minute of silence, absently feeding Nova a bit of beef from my plate.

About seven minutes and a long story later, I was left to ponder this new development in my contradicting thoughts over Draco. It sounded like Lucius Malfoy's behavior, not the arrogant but sweet boy I'd grown up with. I kept in mind that, despite what the trio told me, Draco had come to me with a desperate plea for help.

"And you say Moody turned him into a ferret?" I pushed, trying to picture it.

Draco's pride was one of his biggest faults, and I knew that he must've been humiliated. My heart sank for the boy, and as dinner ended, I remembered that I was supposed to meet him in the entrance hall. Hopefully, the meeting with the headmaster wouldn't take long.

"Do any of you know where Dumbledore's office is?" I asked as I slid off the bed and into my low boots. I wrapped my cloak tightly around me as a chill crept up my body.

"Yeah, we'll walk you," Harry offered, looking to Hermione and Ron for confirmation. When the two of them nodded, we headed toward the door.

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey!" I called towards the door to her office, before the four of us left and headed towards the main staircase, Nova bounding happily beside me. As we journeyed up to Dumbledore's office, Harry, Ron, and Hermione described both classes, including Draco's behavior during Care of Magical Creatures.

"Here we are," Harry said, as we stopped in front of a stone gargoyle on the third floor. "Though he'll only move aside if you've got the right password."

Rolling my eyes, I stepped toward the gargoyle and peered at its unmoving eyes. "Err – Giavana Grey, here by request of the Headmaster?"

A pause…and then the gargoyle leapt to the side, revealing a spiraling staircase.

"Wow, I didn't know I could just announce myself, would've saved a load of bloody time..." Harry grumbled, before shaking his head. "Do you want us to wait for you?"

"No," I said quickly, backtracking at Harry's taken aback expression, "I mean, I don't know how long this'll take and I wouldn't want you caught out after curfew. Go on to bed."

"Only if you're sure…" Hermione said slowly.

"I'll be fine, go on," I said, playfully shooing them along. "Besides, I've got Nova to protect me."

Said kitten snapped to attention, purring under the adoring eyes of my companion.

The three of them bid me goodnight before turning and heading in the direction of the Gryffindor Tower. As I stepped onto the first step, the staircase jerked to life and began its slow ascent upwards.

A short ride later and I was brought to stop outside of a simple wooden door. . As I raised my hand to knock, I heard Dumbledore's voice tell me to come in. Figuring that he had monitoring wards put up to alert him to visitors, I placed my hand on the doorknob, turned it, and stepped into the Headmaster's office for the first time.

It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of rich colors and odd little noises. A number of unfamiliar silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were pretending to snooze in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tainted wizard's hat – the Sorting Hat.

"…cunning is always there when you need it…"

Its words during my Sorting reverberated in my head, but my attention was captured by the magnificent bird standing on a polished wooden perch. The feathers on its body were crimson and its golden tail was as long as a peacock's. Its claws and beak were gleaming gold and its eyes were black. Its scarlet body feathers glowed faintly in the dimmed lighting of Dumbledore's office and as I stepped further inside, it made eye contact with me. Mesmerized, I slowly walked forward even as Nova yowled cautiously from my right flank. The moment I'd stepped within five feet of the bird, gentle warmth washed over my cold skin, filling me from the inside out.

On impulse, I cautiously reached out and stroked its surprisingly warm feathers that felt softer than the finest silk. As soon as my skin touched its feathers, the most euphoric peacefulness overcame me and soon, all of my worries that had plagued me these past few days faded away and I felt as though my very soul had been uplifted.

"I must say I'm astounded Miss Grey," a voice from behind said calmly.

Reluctantly, I dragged my eyes away from the beautiful bird to look at the tall figure seated at the enormous desk – Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Is this really a phoenix, sir?" I said, amazement coloring my voice.

"Yes indeed he is, Miss Grey. Fawkes has been my familiar for many, many years now. And it's very rare for him to allow a stranger to come close to him, let alone pet him as you have. It usually shows that that person is pure of heart," said Dumbledore fondly, his eyes twinkling bright as ever.

"Wow," I breathed. "I know they're incredibly rare and powerful, but to have one choose you as its companion is simply amazing. He's a beautiful creature, sir, truly."

Fawkes seemed to appreciate my compliments and trilled softly, renewing that euphoric peacefulness that I had felt only minutes ago. Stroking his feathers a few seconds more, I reluctantly stepped away from him, sighing sadly as I no longer felt the peacefulness and warmth.

"Please my dear, take a seat. Lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered, holding out a small crystal bowl filled with round, yellow candies. Slightly amused and wary, I politely declined and took the offered seat, allowing Nova to leap into her customary spot in my lap.

"May I ask why you wanted to meet with me, sir?" I said immediately, no point in beating around the bush.

"Yes, a few points of interest that I would like to discuss with you, Miss Grey." He said calmly, his hands neatly folded and resting on top of his desk. "First, it has come to my attention that you did not sleep in your House dormitory last night after the feast."

Ah, so this was an interrogation. Wonderful.

Pulling up my mental barriers full force, I leaned back in my seat and gracefully crossed one leg over the other, careful not to send Nova to the floor. "You are correct sir, I did not," I said calmly, deliberately being vague.

Dumbledore's eyebrow twitched – perhaps he had expected me to start confessing immediately.

Not a chance, old man.

"Would you care to explain where you were then, Miss Grey? You should know that it is against the rules here to be outside of your common room after curfew."

"Professor," I said, shifting gears, "how well do you know the history of this fine castle?"

Outwardly, Dumbledore showed no sign that he was caught off guard by my seemingly random question, but I felt the change in his pulse. "I know the history of Hogwarts quite thoroughly, Miss Grey. I have been Headmaster for a very long time, and Transfiguration professor before that."

"Very well, do you know the story of how this castle came to be built?" I continued.

"Miss Grey, I assure you I am well aware of the story of the Founders. Where is this line of questioning leading to?" Dumbledore asked, his grandfatherly mask never wavering.

"Then you must know that my ancestor, Calius Grey, not only went to battle with his own personal army at the request of the Founders, but also helped fund the construction of this very castle after helping them secure a clear victory against dark forces. Calius Grey asked for only one thing in return for his manpower and his gold, do you know what that request was?" I asked, resisting the urge to grin like the cat that got the canary.

"A hidden place within the castle that would house only his descendants during their time at Hogwarts." Dumbledore answered easily. "But hundreds of highly skilled witches and wizards have scoured this entire castle, searching for such a place and it has never been found."

Hmm…perhaps I didn't need to put up wards after all.

"Professor, just because something can't be found, doesn't mean it isn't there. But, to put your mind at ease, I am, in fact, residing in that place and will continue to do so as long as I am a Hogwarts student. It is, after all, my right by birth." I said, my lip twitching as I repeated Isavéla's passionate words back to him. "You said you had several points of interest sir, may I ask what the others are?"

"It is getting late my dear, and you should be resting. However, I would like to ask you one last question before I bid you adieu," Dumbledore said simply.

"Very well, sir."

"I have also become aware that you have taken over as Head and Lady of House Grey," he began, and I started, playing it off as Nova rolled around in my lap, finding a comfortable spot. "If it isn't too personal, might I ask what became of your father?"

Whatever I had been expecting him to ask, it certainly wasn't about my father.

"Due to unavoidable circumstances, it was decided that I would take over my mother's dormant family line," I said vaguely but firmly, cutting off the invitation for further questioning.

Clearly unsatisfied but able to expertly hide the face, Dumbledore relaxed and leaned back into his high-backed chair. "Very well, Miss Grey. Do head straight to your…residence and get some rest, and goodnight to you," his eyes twinkling once more.

"Goodnight to you as well, sir. Nova, up."

Immediately, my familiar leapt from my lap and, after eyeing Dumbledore through narrowed yellow eyes, she led the way to the door. Dropping into a quick, respectful curtsy, I bowed my head to the headmaster and quickly left his office. Once on the main staircase, I pulled out my wand and muttered several spells.

"That wrinkly old son of a bitch!" I growled, as my spells revealed that Dumbledore had somehow put tracking spells on me. "Fine, two can play at that game." With a dark grin, I conjured a cat and transferred the tracking spells onto it, before compelling it to head straight to the Gryffindor Tower. Checking myself over one more time, I checked the time and cursed.

It had already been almost forty minutes since dinner ended.

Gathering my surroundings, I hurried back down the stairs on silent feet with Nova on my heels, slipping into the shadows as I stepped out into the corridor. The trip down to the entrance hall was a quick and quiet one, and it was only as I tiptoed the open doors to the Great Hall that I paused. It was quite a difference to see the Great Hall at night, illuminated not by thousands of candles, but by moonlight. It was almost mesmerizing, to see the grand space bathed under the moon but I shook off the thought and nearly ran to the entrance hall. Pausing at the top of the staircase, I looked around but saw nothing.

"Damn…" I sighed, clenching my fist as Draco was nowhere in sight.

Even with the disastrous way we'd left off after my mother's funeral, I had to know what had caused this drastic change in Draco's personality and behavior. This had probably been my last chance. Inhaling deeply, his scent was strong here and I figured that he must've left only moments ago.

"He probably thinks I hate him…" I muttered, mentally berating myself for allowing my control over things to slip so quickly.

"I did...until I saw you show up a few moments ago," a quiet whisper reached me, and Draco stepped out from behind a suit of armor. "I thought…you weren't going to show up."

His silver-blonde hair nearly glowed in the darkness of the entrance hall, and he was still dressed in his school uniform. Hands in his pockets, he walked closer to me, and as we met at the base of the stairs, I could more clearly the wide range of emotions in his eyes.

It still amazed me how much he'd physically changed in only a few years and it took longer than I would've liked to stop staring and drinking in his features.

"Of course I was going to show up, Draco. I had to find out why you're suddenly acting like your father's evil twin," I said quietly, unaccusingly.

Shame written all over his face, Draco looked down.

"You don't understand, Gia." He whispered, not looking at me.

Slowly, I closed the distance between us and gently lifted his chin until he was forced to look me in the eye. "Then help me understand Dray, because this isn't the friend that I used to know."

Draco pulled his face out of my hand, and his eyes flared angrily. "That little boy is gone, Giavana, and he's never coming back. He can't…" his voice softened again and he shook his head. "Not after…"

I heard Draco take a deep shuddering breath, and suddenly pulled the taller boy to me, wrapping my arms firmly around his waist. He stiffened. "After what, Dray? You know you can tell me anything."

Slowly, very slowly, he brought his arms up and held onto me as if he was a drowning man, and I was his lifejacket. "You remember how father was when we were kids…" he began, and I shuddered remembering some of Malfoy Sr.'s worst moments. "Well, after you disappeared, he got worse. A lot worse. Hell couldn't even begin to describe what it was like being trapped in the manor with him, and even Mother could no longer protect me."

I held him tighter as his body began trembling. "The things he said and did to us…I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, Gia. I felt so weak and helpless… He did…horrible – terrifying things to us – put us under the C-Cruciatus Curse until I could hardly breathe. He made mother watch – bound her to a chair just to listen to us both scream for each other."

I couldn't contain my horror, and now, both of our heartbeats thundered in my ears. "Draco…"

"Merlin…" his eyes were far away as I leaned back and looked at him fully. "She was screaming so loud. I – I was supposed to have a little sister, Gia. But – after the torture –"

His voice broke but I didn't need to hear the words to put two and two together.

"I wanted to protect her – I tried, but it only got worse. No matter what… I could never measure up to be the heir he always wanted me to be," said Draco bitterly. "I was never cold enough – strong enough. I had questioned his superiority complex too many times, and he lectured me on all the ways muggles and muggleborns were beneath us as he beat us…"

"I –" I started before cutting myself off, allowing him to continue though I dreaded hearing the rest.

"It got worse once I came to Hogwarts. I tried so hard to be the best at everything, but I just never could. Granger was always top student in academics, Potter constantly bested me in Quidditch, I couldn't do anything right and Father made sure to punish me for it." Draco took another shuddering breath. "After the World Cup incident, when we'd returned home, he was drunk and so angry. I didn't know what had angered him, but he came and found me in my room, pissed out of his mind. Gia…" his voice sounded like that of a small, broken child and I held him as tightly as I could without hurting him.

"It was the worst he'd ever…"

Hot, wet tears leaked into my hair as Draco's body shook.

"Shh…it's okay Draco…" I said soothingly, rubbing his back as the tears came faster. "You don't have to say anything else."

It was well beyond curfew by then, and we were standing out in the openness of the entrance hall. And wandering ghost or patrolling professor could see us if they passed by. I would not leave Draco alone in his current condition – I couldn't bring myself to if I tried.

Decision made, I wrapped Draco, Nova, and myself in wispy shadows and we disappeared into the darkness.