Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, The honor of that goes to series creator J.K. Rowling, and not this little fan girl. I don't even own a few of the other characters, they belong to my friend Myles Darkwood.

Author: xXx Mirage xXx

Rating: M

Warning: For this chapter all you have to worry about is just some really sad scenes, and hinted possible suicide and character death. However for the warnings for the full fic see chapter one.

Summery: [See Chapter 1]

A/N: And finally here is chapter 4. This chapter has been waiting a while to come out for a while along with chapter 5 however lack of internet, an unfaithful beta, part time jobs, surgery and over all lack of time has been putting it off. I originally wanted to come out with a chapter a week for this fic but after the need of the long absence I think instead it will end up being updated once a month [internet access pending] while I'm working on my comic book project. This project won't be put on Hiatus or left to get dusty on a shelf, it's just taking it's time in getting up. [Especially the next chapter as it traverses over several years if all goes well]

Here's hoping I still have one or two readers out there.

Enjoy.


Ember of a Flame :: Rewritten

Chapter 4 :: Keep Me Breathing

Little bird, little bird,

Where will you go?

Lost to your own lies

Just let hang your head low.

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Dinner was a very interesting affair to say the least. All throughout the day Krystal had been asking when her parents would be coming to join them, or pick her up so she could go home. Dart of course was at a loss of what to tell her, as he himself was blind to the knowledge that the Potters were dead, his mother and father having kept the Daily Prophet out of the boy's reach. Lukas had done his best to distract the girl over the course of the day. Both for her comfort as well as for his own. Yet even he was at a loss of how to answer the questions the girl posed upon him. He didn't have the heart to tell her any more than the school's headmaster had. They had headed Madam Pomfrey's directions that morning, giving the girl a large breakfast as well as bringing her in for a 'just in case' check up with the matron of the school. Krystal was perfectly fine, despite not having a full good night's sleep under her belt. By the time that dinner had rolled around the young ginger was growing ever more antsy as her questions continued to go unanswered.

Albus knew that he had to steel himself against the tears he knew were to come. After the water works incident so early that morning, he knew that more were sure to come once she heard the truth. The family ate together inside the headmaster's apartments. It was a simple meal, nothing fanciful like the meals in the Great Hall were. Just a few sandwiches, mashed potatoes as well as some carrots and pumpkin juice. Krystal was happy with it all the same.

It wasn't until the four of them had finished their meal that Krystal brought the question back up. "Dumbly… When are my Mum and Dad and Harry all going to come to get me?" She spoke with the tip of her desert spoon sitting upon her lower lip as she was finishing a bite of her pudding. The question was innocent as always, yet it was one the two adults didn't wish to answer.

With a heavy sigh, Albus rose from his seat, his own meal already finished. "Krystal… How about you finish up your dessert and meet me in my office, we have quite a bit to talk about…." He suggested with a heavy heart. He couldn't put it of any longer. "Lukas… you come along as well…" The girl just nodded and finished eating her chocolate pudding quickly. She hurried to meet with Albus in his office once the pudding bowl in front of her was magically banished by the castle's house elves. The school's aged headmaster was already sitting in the chair behind his desk. His hand beckoned the girl to come around to sit on his lap which she did. Lukas solemnly followed the two into the room, transfiguring a seat next to the headmaster's own.

The young girl had no idea what to make of the situation. Albus and Lukas both had a strange expression on their faces. Like someone had just died. Krystal only knew that look from when Albus had to tell her mother and father that someone had been 'lost' during a mission. Just during that year previous she found out that it meant that someone died, when she started asking why it was that her 'auntie' Dorcas never came to visit or to baby-sit when her mother and father had to go on a mission any longer. She had been close to Dorcas Meadowes. She had always been kind to Krystal when she came over to look after her brother and herself. Seeing the looks on both Albus and Lukas' faces was so confusing, it wasn't as if anything had happened to her parents or Harry, no, they were far too strong. They kept Harry and her safe. Nothing could ever happen to them in the child's eyes. They were invincible.

"Krystal…" Albus started out quietly, "Do you remember the other day… when that… 'Bad man' attacked your house… and you ran away?" Of course she remembers, Albus mentally kicked himself, but he wanted to start out slow. The only real information he had on the previous eve were the after reports, as well as the horrid dream that Krystal had recounted to them that morn. With a nod given by the girl in question Albus continued. "Something… bad happened after you left. That bad man… he was the leader of the group that was after your brother." To this a small gasp was heard. Albus looked into the big wide green orbs that were now staring at him in fear. He could only guess what was rushing through the small girls mind. Nonetheless he pressed forward. "That man… He killed your mother and father… Only you and Harry survived." the shining blue eyes had dulled as the headmaster spoke. There was no gentle way around this topic. "Your brother… was taken to live with your Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon… Until last night… We had thought we had lost you as well."

For a long moment Krystal remained quiet. Her eyes locked on Albus', as if looking for some sort of sign that it was all just a joke. That within seconds her mother and father would come in and tell her it was alright. She could see though, that this wasn't a joke. She wanted to lie to herself; she wanted to make it all go away. She could see though, that it was real. It was very real.

An aged hand reached out in a comforting gesture, only to be slapped away as Krystal slipped from Albus' lap. This just couldn't be happening… was all the girl thought. Her heart rate speed up, as did her breathing. Her arms reached around her middle as her eyes stared blankly off. Krystal was trembling horridly, "No…" could be heard along with a few incoherent lines of mumbling. Tears began to stain down her cheeks as she began to hyperventilate. As Albus reached his hand out to her a second time a scream answered him. "Don't touch me!" came from the small girl as she struggled to calm herself. She took a few steps backward away from the aged wizard. "They can't be gone… no…" she muttered over and over. Her breaths becoming shorter, and shallower.

Lukas saw the signs of his niece falling into a panic attack. Krystal had never had a panic attack before, however he'd seen others who have, he knew the signs. The shortness of breath, the trembling, the glazed look in her eyes of being disconnected from reality, they were all there. At least the outwardly noticeable ones. Thinking quickly he pulled the girl onto his lap, out of Albus' reach. He cradled her gently. "Deep breath's Kry." Albus looked to Lukas at a loss of what to do. Lukas however understood the situation. Albus had told Krystal something that caused her such pain that she couldn't be near him; she wouldn't allow his comfort until she calmed. All of her panic, her blame was directed at the aged mage, as he was the one who told her the news. Lukas had only been next to her, so she would trust him; he had caused her no pain.

Leaving Krystal in this situation was nothing more than bad for her health, Lukas knew this, and so stood with the girl in his arms. She needed some fresh air, and the chance to calm down. She wouldn't be able to do that with Albus in the room with her. "Kry…" he spoke in a soft gentle voice, "why don't you and I go step out for some fresh air alright?" His tone was full of warmth and comfort. "It'll help you out, love." he didn't even wait for a reply before he headed towards the stairway that led out of the headmaster's office. Without even a goodbye in Albus' direction he left with his niece in tow. A soft click could be heard as the door closed, signaling that they were gone.

Albus wasn't offended in the least that Lukas left without any sign of goodbye. To the dark haired man, his little girl came first, especially at a time like this. A panic attack just wasn't healthy for a five year old to have. Albus knew that Krystal would be safe with Lukas. Leaning back in his chair he heaved a sigh, an aged hand ran through silver hair as he lifted the hat from his head. "D'artagnan, feel free to come out my boy." He spoke quietly, knowing far better than to assume that his son wasn't listening at the door during such an important talk. His boy always had a sixth sense about such things. Albus wished he didn't.

Quietly the seven year old shuffled into the room. Tears were rimming his eyes. "Are… are Lily and James really gone?" he whispered. Dart had gotten to know the two parents like his own, like a second home. It was hard for even him to imagine them gone. Unlike Krystal, D'artagnan was used to hearing of death. He read it all over the papers of the Daily Prophet, and he knew full well of the war being waged outside of the safety of the castle's walls.

A solemn nod was all that Albus needed to give him as he gestured for the boy to come over to him. Dart immediately ran to his father's arms. He cuddled into them, as the two embraced. A question then passed his boys lips. It was so quiet that even Albus almost hadn't caught it. "Dad… Why do all of the good people have to die…?" then after a moment's pause a second question, "Why do our families have to be the one's broken?"

At first, Albus didn't know how to even begin to respond to his boy. He didn't want to lie or sugar coat things. He knew that Dart would just read between the lines as it was. "Dart… It's because the bad guys simply don't play fair."

"Then why do we?" Albus had to agree with the boy, but someone had to play fair didn't they? "What… what is wrong with this world? … Dad… I don't like this… Any of this…"

Stroking his son's back Albus replied simply "I wish I knew, son, I wish I knew…" The aged mage may have seen more of the world than most would like to admit, but even he wasn't a god. He couldn't fix things, he couldn't figure out how people worked.

The two were quiet for a long time, both lost to thought, tears dried and breaths grew even. It wasn't until D'artagnan spoke again that the silence was broken. "What if… what if it's us? What if it's humans? What if we're the problem Dad? … What then…? How do we fix what we are? How can we fix someone else if we're the one's who are broken?" More thoughts that Albus couldn't answer. The room stilled again. Albus simply continued to rub his son's back. His soft blue eyes were resting upon the mop of black hair that was his son. His thoughts were upon how cynical he was for such a young boy. D'artagnan was more perceptive than most his age. He saw the way things were in the world without blinders on. "Dad…" his son spoke breaking the silence once more. "… I want to be an Auror."

Blinking a few times at the sudden change of topic, Albus simply replied, "And why is that my boy?"

"I want to help."

"Help with what, son?" His tone remained steady, while he himself was confused.

"If I can do something positive and help people… then maybe I can prevent someone from hurting someone else. Maybe I can help fix what's wrong…. Maybe I can stop this kind of thing from happening… and at any rate… I don't want to be a part of the problem… I want to help… I don't want someone else to end up like Krystal! I don't want our people dying!" The boy gave pause as he rethought his last statement and shook his head "No… I don't want to be an auror… I will be an auror… I will do something to help." The determination that was in his son's eyes as blue met blue was unmistakable; it was like a cool fire was burning in the boy's hearth. It was a fire that would not be put out.

"That is a very admirable dream Dart…" He gave the boy a reassuring smile. "I know that you can do it." He would support his boy with any decision he made for his life. Hearing his son's dream reminded him just how naïve the boy still was. He was happy to hear that he still had some of that naivety left in him. It showed his innocence. It showed that he wasn't yet devoured by the cynic that lay within as well.

"I'm going to help people dad… Just like you…" the flame that was within D'artagnan's eyes never wavered. "But…. I don't like politics." To that statement Albus just smiled laughter lighting up within his eyes as he ruffled his son's hair. The boy still had much to learn.

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The evening air was cool on Krystal's face as she and Lukas looked out over the castle grounds from the balcony of the Astronomy tower. Lukas' soft words and comfort had pulled Krystal out of her panic, leading into heavy sobs. It took nearly an hour before the girl calmed down to her present state. She wasn't talking, just sitting near the edge on Lukas' lap. His right arm was around her stomach securely, while he left held a cool wet cloth to her forehead to keep her calm and cool, after having gotten so worked up. Her eyes remained half closed as she just stared off to the distance. Her thoughts never lingered long on one thing or another, rather they just continued drifting, never fully touching ground. Her body lay lax in the strong arms of her uncle. The two continued to sit there, until long after the sun had set. The darkness that surrounded the castle made each individual star vibrant in the night sky. Nothing blocked them out here, a vague thought of weather or not Krystal could count them all crossed the girls mind before floating away once more as she took a deep breath, fully closing her eyes. She just continued to breathe deep, until she was fast asleep.

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"Dad… why doesn't Auntie Dorcas come to visit Harry and me anymore?" the question was a simple one. Krystal hadn't seen Dorcas in weeks, she never came to visit, or baby-sit Harry and herself. Did she not like the two of them anymore? For the past few weeks it was either Remus or Sirius who would come to watch over them. Even the occasional visit from Lukas. However there was no Dorcas. "Does she not like us anymore?"

A mess of black hair shook his head. "No Krystal… I know that Dorcas loved you and your brother very much… She just had to go away for a while…"

"What do you mean she had to go away?" large green eyes blinked in confusion. "Like on a trip? Did Dorcas go on vacation!" With a sigh James pulled his daughter on to his lap.

"No Hun… She didn't go on a vacation…" the smile on the girl's face began to fall. This was the first time she had ever been confronted by the reality of death. "Auntie Dorcas was… taken away by the bad guys that are after your brother…" This had the small child even more confused. Was Dorcas away? Or was she taken away? "Sometimes bad things like that happen when people are fighting… some people get taken away… and we can never get them back."

"That's silly Daddy! If someone took someone else away, all you have to do is take them back!" the small four year old didn't understand what her father was trying to tell her.

Strong hands held Krystal close to an equally strong chest. "Kry… Dorcas… was killed… she can't come back… Death isn't someone you can walk away from…"

The name of Death brought reality to Krystal. She had heard her father read the Tales of Beatle the Bard many times, especially the tale of the three brothers. She knew who death was. He was someone who took people away and never gave them back. "So…. Auntie…. Is never coming back….?" she asked shakily, afraid of what the answer was.

"No Krystal… she can't come back…" And then she cried. Krystal cried and cried for the loss of her friend, as well as her sudo-aunt. James did his best to calm the small girl. Rubbing her back and rocking her slowly. After some time she managed to settle into soft sniffles. That was when James spoke up again. "Krystal… Would you like to go say goodbye to Dorcas?" it was a weak gesture, but the worried father thought it would help his child. Krystal only gave a small nod. She understood what he meant; James meant to go speak to her grave. Just as they did every month when they visited her grandmother and grandfather on James' side of the family to say 'hi'. Krystal made sure to bring a flower crown when they went to see Dorcas. Just like she made whenever the little girl had gathered enough flowers from her mother's small garden. Dorcas had been the one to show her how to make the crowns, and so Krystal thought it was best to leave her with one when they went to say goodbye.

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A warm feeling greeted Krystal when she awoke. She was being held by someone, there was something cool against her forehead, and as she looked up through bleary eyes, she could see all of the stars that were in the night sky. She almost called out 'daddy?' to the person behind her, only to stop when she thought of what Albus had told her. Her parents had gone away. Just as 'Auntie' Dorcas had. "Uncle Luke?" she asked instead, her voice quite horse from all of her crying.

"Yep... I'm here." he replied giving the small body on his arms a small squeeze of reassurance.

Smiling weakly at the gesture the small girl looked up at the sky. "I like it here… I can see all the stars…" her voice was quiet; Lukas barely managed to hear the small girl, but nodded none the less to her comment. He wasn't going to talk unless she wanted him to. This was her time to calm down. She'd talk when she was ready. Right now she just needed time, and space to sort things through. He'd just stay by her side to help her through it. Silence was broken again when Krystal finally spoke, breaking the two's concentration upon the stars. "Uncle Luke…. What happens now?" The small ginger looked up to Lukas ocean blue eyes. Tear stains lingered on the girls cheeks; she had started crying again quietly.

Lukas looked deep in thought for a moment before he answered, "Kry… Would you like it if I stuck around for a while? A few days or so?" It was only a suggestion, but until Albus and he found a place for the girl to stay, she would need familiar people at her side to get her through the pain, to support her through what happened.

Krystal nodded as she cuddled into the arms of her uncle. Gently curling into the warmth he provided in the cold night air. Lukas simply held her closer. He hadn't thought of the chill in the air. He actually didn't mind it. Yet seeing his little girl shiver made him remember the chill. Shifting slightly he performed a stronger warming charm on her clothing. The ones that had been put on her costume by her mother had long since worn off, leaving her feeling both cold inside and out.

The silence once again enveloped them. It wasn't until Luke noticed that Krystal had fallen back asleep on his lap that he moved. It was time to get the girl to bed.

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By the time that Luke had returned with Krystal, Albus himself had just put his son to bed. Silver hair just tilted towards his son's room when given a look of 'where should I put her?' from his friend. Cradling his niece as he walked to the room, he gently slipped her into bed beside Dart, who reluctantly complied with the girl trying to snuggle into his side. Krystal's ginger mop of hair nuzzled as far as it could into the shoulder of the reluctant boy next to her until the two settled, both breathing deeply in their slumber, only a few light snores escaping from the young boy's lips, which Luke brushed of as nothing more then his breathing patterns being interrupted by the girl who wormed her way into his arms. A small smile brushed Luke's lips as he watched them for but a moment.

Albus was waiting for him in the living room of his apartments, tea already warmed up on the table for him. Gratefully Luke took up his own and sipped it. Gazing into the fire he grew lost in thought. They had to find a place for the girl to stay. She couldn't stay with him, which was already obvious. Lukas was an unfit guardian as it was. He secretly hoped that Remus would take her in. With Sirius locked away until the upcoming trial, the werewolf was at the top of his list of those he thought could care for his niece at the present. Then the Longbottom's, followed by the Weasly's. He thought back to the shaking little girl he had been holding not more than a few minutes ago. He wondered what it would be that she would want, and a thought struck him, making the blue eyed man wonder why he had never thought of it before. "Albus… Why doesn't she stay here? "

A stunned look was the first thing Lukas received at the idea. Then a look of thought crossed Albus' face. Krystal would be able to feel safe, and reassured that she was around those who could support and protect her. The young Potter and his own son were close, weather or not Dart would agree with that sentiment. It could work… If only for a while. It was a large castle to worry about two children in. Dart was mature for his age, and could handle being in the castle, Krystal he wasn't so sure about. He didn't want to force them to be together all the time, but if she was left to her own devices, there could be trouble. Especially around the Slytherin's, he knew the girl was biased to Gryffindor thanks to her father. It was however better than some of their other options that was certain beyond anything else. As of their other options, Remus was the only one to know of Krystal's birth. An aged hand went to the bridge of his nose. It would be difficult but it would be doable. The girl could say with him.

Giving Lukas a nod, as well as a weary smile, the mage straightened himself on the settee. "I believe that would work out for the best of all involved…" he spoke taking a more diplomatic tone to his voice. One he usually saved for speaking with other professors, Ministry Officials, and students alike.

Lukas caught the tone his friend took. "Al… if you think it would be too much trouble we could find a different solution… you know that…" More than anyone, Lukas knew the amount of things Albus had on his plate daily. If his friend couldn't handle it, there was no reason that they couldn't do something else.

"It isn't that I'm worried about Luke…" shaking his head he continued. "I'm worried about how she will adjust. To all of this… You saw her earlier. It won't get any better. She's only five years old! She shouldn't have had her parents taken from her at such a young age! The same thing goes for Harry. Thank Merlin that the lad is to young to miss them just yet." He sighed. The war may have ended the night the Potter's died; however the aftermath was far from over. There were pieces to be picked up, all across wizarding England. Krystal wasn't the only one to loose family. Many did, and now that the celebrations were over, it was a time to grieve for the loss.

Understanding flashed in Luke's eyes. "Yeah… But I suppose it would be the same wherever she went. Better it be here where she knows people than elsewhere where she would be alone." To Albus' nod he continued. "And besides… I told her that I would stick around for a few days to help and keep her company." Hearing that Albus was immediately grateful to his friend. He leaned back against the back of the settee and sighed. That was one matter settled.

"I suppose tomorrow then I'll set to work on making room for her…" The aged mage began to ponder aloud. Luke gave a nod in agreement. If she was going to stay then they should begin getting things prepared. It wasn't as though the small girl could go running about without clean clothing for another day. It just wouldn't do. "Lukas… would you go to Godric's Hollow… maybe there is something left of her things." He knew that the Potter's had been living meagerly this past year, but he hoped that there was something left in the home of the girl's that was still intact. To another nod from the man Albus continued. "I'll speak with the faculty about it in the morning… and make an announcement to the students to look out for her… They already are used to Dart, so I don't think that it will be much of a problem…" he continued on going over plans to have the girl begin living at the school.

By the time he and Luke finished talking they decided that Albus would empty out his study to make room for the girl. Instead he would move all of his books out to his main office, as there was enough shelving space to handle the books as well as his many silver gadgets. Anything that didn't fit, or was too dangerous for a student's eyes, could be placed in his own quarters. The study was also right across the hall from D'artagnan's room, as well as close to his own. It would do just perfectly with a bit of touching up. He even considered requesting Minerva to help him with the preparations for the girl. Luke even supported this idea as Minerva would be able to bring a much needed feminine touch to the room.

Taking the couch for the night Lukas settled down with a book after the two wizards said their goodnights. Tomorrow would be a long day for the both of them.

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Early the next morn the two wizards set to work. Albus tackling speaking with the faculty, most of whom were perfectly fine with the situation. Lukas, meanwhile, worked on rummaging through the remains of the Potter home. There was almost nothing that was salvageable. Just a few scattered toys here and there, a few odd bits of clothing, a baby blanket, a scattered number of photo albums, and one small flute. It looked as though the small wooden flute had been enchanted at one point to play itself, but since the deaths of those who had enchanted it, the flute was rendered nothing more than a simple instrument.

The children slept late, almost on into the afternoon if it hadn't been for Albus coming to wake them up after breakfast. Albus had transfigured a pair of Dart's robes to fit Krystal, yet the girl refused to change out of her costume. After ten minutes of trying to coax and convince the girl he gave up and he simply performed a nice cleaning charm on what she wore to freshen them up. He was determined that she would take a nice long bath when she returned that night, and that Krystal agreed to.

The small group had a light brunch with tea before Dart set out to give Krystal a tour of the castle, at his father's suggestion. The small girl simply remained quiet, holding tight to the boy's hand. It was the very first time that Dart had ever seen Krystal so quiet. She was normally very loud and spontaneous. Yet, now here she was not making even as much as a peep. She hadn't even spoken to his father when he was trying to get her to change earlier; she had simply continued to shake her head, not giving him a real answer as to why she didn't wish to change. It worried him. It worried him enough to try and do something to make her smile. To make her laugh, to make her giggle. But books didn't excite the small girl as they did Dart. She wouldn't be impressed by the large library… Well she would be impressed by the books flying to their shelves as well as by the sheer size of the library but she wouldn't be excited to go looking through its collection.

As he brought her past the Great Hall there was nothing, the ever changing stairwells did nothing, the trophy cases were a bad idea as well, as all it managed to do was get her to tear up when she saw her father's quiddich trophy, the one that had his chaser and captain title written upon it. He tried taking her to the Gryffindor common room only to find that the password had changed recently, and he didn't know the new one. They went inside with the help of one of the older students, only to find that the small girl still didn't seem to be cheered up by this. They walked passed portrait after portrait, and it seemed as though nothing would cheer the girl up, until the black haired boy noticed how Krystal would immediately look outside the moment they passed a window. It struck him how she could rarely she went outdoors at Godric's Hollow. Her parents were in hiding, and her brother was a target. It explained why she was always so excited when he came over for a visit, as it meant she had company to play with. This also explained why she was always so happy to go out. A smile broke out across the pale boy's face as he gave the girl's hand a squeeze.

"Krystal… Would you like to go play outside?" he asked gently, the hallway they were in was empty, so it was fine for them to speak softly. Looking away from the window, green eyes met blue for just a moment before looking back outside. Krystal, to Dart's surprise shook her head. He sighed inwardly, wondering if anything could be done.

"Tower…" it was almost too quiet to hear. "The one with the telescopes…" was added a moment later to clarify which of the many castle towers she could have been referring too. "Can we… go there?"

Caught off guard by that sudden request all Dart could do was nod dumbly. If it could cheer her up, he would do it. He showed her up the many stairways, twists turns, a hidden passage way or two. They encountered a few students who were going back and forth between their classes, but none of them paid any mind to the small children. Krystal began dragging her hand along the wall as they finally reached the spiral stairway up to the tower. It was a slow walk, but she was enjoying walking with her hand exploring the touch and texture of each individual stone they passed.

Unlike the previous eve Krystal saw no stars above her. Rather she was able to enjoy the view of the castles grounds and surroundings. The lake was alive and active with the merepeople playing about with the giant squid and other sea creatures. Feint movement could also be seen from the Forbidden Forest. Students were meandering about the grounds enjoying their breaks from classes.

Green eyes only skimmed the movement below before returning up to the bright blue skyline. The day was warm, considering the time of year, the sun was beating down upon the faces of those outside and not a cloud was in the sky. Dart tried pointing out what was going down below, speaking of all the wondrous creatures he had been told were living in the grounds and lake by his father and the grounds keeper Hagrid. Krystal however paid no mind as she grew closer to the banister, seemingly infatuated by the sky. Moving ever closer to the edge she didn't notice until she felt a firm hand on her wrist just what it was she was doing. Krystal had moved from where she and Dart stood to standing atop the railing itself, all just so that she could be closer to the sky above her. One more step and she would have gone over the edge, if it hadn't been for Dart taking hold of her sleeve.

"Careful Kry!" he spoke in a frightened voice. He had been told many times by his mother how dangerous the tower was. Well it wasn't dangerous as long as you stayed away from the edge and were careful, but since when was Krystal ever careful? The girl was so very reckless, but never before had she endangered her life so blatantly. It was almost unreal.

The girl turned her head and smiled at the boy next to her. "Dart…I'm fine… don't worry about me." She looked back to the sky and smiled. "It's nice up here…" Her voice was still soft and timid as she spoke.

Dart could tell she wasn't being truthful, she wasn't 'fine.' Was this what denial was? She was saying she was fine but he could see as plain as day she was not… she was acting so strange compared to the girl he knew. "Just… don't let go of my hand… Kay? As long as your careful… I won't tell dad that your doing something so dangerous…" To this Krystal gave a small nod of compliance.

At the very least the girl kept her word and made no more movements, she just stood there staring at the sky. The sound of birds flying freely through the sky was all that could be noticeably heard and to them Krystal spoke, "Wouldn't it be nice… to be a bird…" Dart looked at her in confusion, only to nod in order to see how she continued her speech. "You could just fly away from everything if you wanted to…"

"What about brooms?" Dart suggested, "You could fly with one of them couldn't you?"

"But it's not the same… birds have wings, people don't…" Other than that she had no other way to convey what it was she meant. The freedom of a bird was different than the flight of a broom. "I want to fly on my own…. Not because a broom is holding me up…" With that said the talk of flight was over going on to other subjects which brought Krystal out of the shell she had withdrawn into. Dart brought up how much better mythology was in comparison to fairytales, but Krystal became firmly stubborn to the fact that fairytales won without a contest if only because most muggle fairytales had happy endings unlike the myths that Dart read. She wanted things to end happy, when everyone was okay, the monster was beaten up and they all lived happily ever after. Dart argued but it was to no avail under the little girl's logic and sheer stubbornness.

"Dart… If you were the a color what one would you be?" The topic had long since changed to just what ever little thoughts popped into the young children's heads. Looking confused at being asked what kind of color he would be he frowned. He wasn't sure how to answer so shrugged. "I think you'd be blue… not just any blue… but a dark blue like the night sky!" She giggled and smiled from the sky to him then back again. "it was so big and vast and pretty! Just like you." Dart had no idea how she came up with such an idea but didn't mind it overall… well minus the pretty comment he didn't mind. That part he wasn't very fond of.

Rather than saying he was upset at the thought of being called 'pretty' Dartagnan decided to throw the girl's question back at her. "Well what kind of blue are you?" it wasn't exactly the same question but he thought it was a good one. If he was a dark blue then what kind was she?

After a moment of deep thought Krystal shrugged as well. She had never thought of it either so wasn't sure. Her favorite color was purple as far as she was concerned but she wouldn't describe herself as a purple person. Maybe Dart was onto something by asking what kind of blue she would be…. Was she a blue person? If so what kind of blue…? "Well if you know so much then what kind am I?" She said in a haughty tone to challenge the other.

To that Dart just gave her a half smile. "You'd be a light blue. The kind you see lighting up the sky on a sunny day. The days that there aren't any clouds." a sheepish smile grew on Krystal's lips, the first that Dart had seen since the previous eve when she spoke with his father. "Yeah… Because you're usually always smiling and stuff. You look on the bright side of things… and even when you fall over… you always get back up again… Like the other night. When we ran into those people giving out apples for Halloween… Siri was getting all frustrated" after clearing his voice Dart attempted to imitate the wavy haired auror '''You don't give kids apples on Halloween they should get candy!' then you said that we just had to wait and see what we got at the next house. And we did get candy then!"

Quickly the little redheaded girl had a sheepish smile on her face from ear to ear. She didn't ever think of how she acted, but to hear that from Dart touched her heart. A light blush had crossed her cheeks as well. "Thank you…" she spoke quietly.

Dart had a light dusting of pink on his cheeks as well. It was embarrassing to talk like this. He never talked that much. Yet… in trying to do something to make Krystal smile he found himself talking quite a bit. It was strange. What was even stranger though was that she was thanking him for it. He rarely spoke to her, usually she let him be and just dragged him into whatever she wanted to play, but allowed him to remain silent. Now… now he was talking. He almost didn't want to stop as long as it helped her get her mind on happier things. He simply nodded to the thanks with a small noise, 'ngh…'

They remained like that sitting in silence for quite sometime neither speaking, yet it was a comfortable quiet. The small red-head was the one to break the silence once more. "Let's play a game…" her voice was still soft but not unable to be heard in the silence of the tower. Dart simply listened giving a small nod that he would be inclined to play whatever the girl beside him wished. "Let's play…." Krystal's brow furrowed in thought as her eyes scanned the grounds below. "Let's play… Last one to the lake is a bloated flobberworm!" She giggled as she slipped back down from standing on the railing.

"But… you don't know the way…" Dart protested only to see the red head disappear down the stair case.

The echo of the girls response was all that could be heard from the stair way. "Well then I suppose that just makes it more exciting!"

A sigh filled the air as D'artagnan raced after the small girl who had already taken a head start. Without any guidance he'd get their before the red head, but he couldn't have her getting lost either. His mother would be quite cross with him if anything happened to the girl. She wouldn't get in trouble because she wouldn't know any better, but he did. He knew how confusing the castle could be, while Krystal had never once been inside of it's walls. He actually began to worry for her at that thought. Swallowing on he tried to follow the girl around the corridors before he lost her completely. He may have been older, but she was faster than he ever would be. With a sigh he resigned himself to asking one of the paintings to look out for her while he went towards the first floor.

Giggling filled the halls as the young girl sprinted through hall after hall, the changing stair ways that she had ignored previously now were enthralling; the moving portraits took her aback. Anything and everything now had her amazed. It was thanks to just having a moment to just clear her mind that let her cheer up as she had, to stop thinking about anything sad to place all of those dark and smothering thoughts in a bubble and let them drift away on the breeze. It was thanks to Dart that she was able to have that moment. A moment to just breath. A moment to smile.


A/N: For those of you confused by Dart and Krystal's conversation at the end and how random it is. Please note that was inspired from a notable song that means a great deal to me personally. The one pertaining to this conversation is Pony [It's Okay] by Erin McCarley worked it's magic as I wrote this particular chapter. And if one catches on to the meanings behind this song one might be able to have some type of clue as to what may happen later in this story, as the song gives some great references, subtle but still there. The closest that any other song has come to reflecting this piece.

The only other thing that should be noted is that my friend Myles pointed out that because of the way I type Krystal's nickname of 'Kry' my readers may misinterpret how to pronounce it. And though I have the utmost faith in my reader's common sense, I feel as though clarification is in order. Kry is pronounced similarly to Crea or rather Kree [Kuh-ree]. There ya go.

Until the next chapter,

~Mira