Disclaimer: I only own Chelly, Ebony, Luis, and Jason Stark (he's in this chapter a little)...I'd like to own Cedric though

Note: Thank you soooo much for the reviews, Rock Royalty, highly appreciated!

FIRST DAY

With lead feet, Chelly dragged herself up the stairs towards the popery and smokey area that served as Trelawny's classroom. It almost felt like a punishment. She had hated that class during her years there and now suddenly it was decided that she get help and knowledge on her foresight from Trelawny. It was like Luis getting help in the Dark Arts from Snape…except she didn't fear Trelawny, she was just bored to tears. Detention with Umbridge was more exciting than this. And it was so unfair she had to get up early just to go through this. She even had to rush through breakfast, only getting a bowl of cereal and two pieces of toast. She snuck a granola bar into her purse with an apple for later. She'd even asked her friends to go with her. But Ebony gave her a smug smile and said she didn't want to intrude. Oliver had mimicked the same grin and said she needed to do this on her own to get the full experience. With a glare she had left them snickering behind her as she made her way to the tower that was a fifteen minute walk from the Hall.

Thirty minutes later, she let out a deep sigh, adjusting her purse on her shoulder and knocked on the door. She heard hurried footsteps and a table screech with a muffled "ow" as she must have knocked into the table on her way to the door before it was flung open.

"Come in, dear girl. Come in," Trelawny ushered her into the inscence smelling room that made her eyes water. She waved a hand in front of her face and stifled a cough. "Sit, sit," Trelawny tugged Chelly over to the circular table that served as her desk and all but shoved her into a chair nearly toppling her over.

Chelly set her purse next to her and folded her arms on the table. Trelawny sat across from her near the crystal ball. "I was terribly excited when Professor Dumbledore asked me to help you with your new gift," she reached across and grabbed Chelly's hand and she had to lean across the table to make sure her arm wasn't ripped off. "I knew from the moment you stepped into my class that there was something different about you. Do you know what it was?"

"That I was the only one who took your class semi seriously and actually passed?"

"No, no, no, it was that you reminded me of…well me," she smiled, her bug eyes wide behind her thick glasses.

Chelly's eyes widened and she looked Trelawny over with her frizzy untamable hair, ratty oversized clothing and thick glasses. She let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, I don't think that was it."

"But you are just like me," she smiled widely.

She had a hard time forcing the smile on her face and keeping the look of absolute dread at bay. "I reaaallyy don't think so."

"Oh, but I do. You have a gift of foresight, you can see things that are yet to happen, child."

Chelly felt her mood suddenly darken and moved her arm back to her side. "I can't stop any of it though."

"That's part of the curse to your blessing," Trelawny explained in a quieter tone, unlike her helium delirium usual voice, "You can't change everything you see…some things are just meant to happen, no matter how unfortunate they may be or how devastating the outcome…when did you first start getting the visions?"

"Umm," she thought back to it, tapping her nails on the table. "During my sixth year, I think. I started seeing things when I touched people or objects."

"Do you remember your first vision?"

"No…I don't remember a lot of my visions nowadays. After I get them they get foggier and foggier until I don't remember ever seeing them."

"You need to use your Pensive more. That way they'll always be there."

Chelly nodded and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll keep that in mind. It's just when I get them I'm not around it."

"I'm sure I can come up with something for that. Can you remember any of your visions?"

Chelly pulled on a loose strong on her sweater sleeve and took a deep breath. "I saw Sirius Black die in the Ministry Battle before it happened…I remember seeing something when I touched Fred Weasley's arm, but I don't remember what. I had another vision a few days ago with Ebony but I can't remember that at all anymore…the same thing with Snape earlier in the spring."

Trelawny patted her arm, "I will get you something to help with that. That way you can store your visions without your Pensive."

"That would work…so is that all for today?" Chelly asked hopefully. It could be an early out since it was her first day doing this after all.

Trelawny slid the Crystal Ball over to her and she stared at it with a frown.

"Not quite yet, child. Let's practice some foreseeing exercises, shall we?" she grinned broadly. "Now, what do you see?"

Chelly looked at the swirling mist and saw nothing but time slowly trickling by as she hung her head with a sigh, "I see it's going to be a long day."

Ebony sat back in her chair closest to the window at the far left side of the classroom. Her usual seat before Umbridge taught the class that she occupied in front of Snape's new desk. Where Chelly usually sat to help was Oliver in her place. He didn't have class with Hooch until later on in the day and considering it was Luis's first day of Defense Against the Dark Arts, he didn't want to miss it. It was too bad Chelly was going to miss out.

Both of them sat grinning as the seventh years came in, eyes darting around the room for Professor Snape, some in dread some in wonder. Luis's face was the most fear drawn of them all. He looked like he was going to faint. He gave Ebony a nervous wave and she returned it more relaxed. He took a seat three desks away from her, adjusting his robe and setting his book on the desk.

"How do you think this is goin' to go?" Oliver leaned over and whispered to her.

"I'd say pretty damn well…for our amusement," she snickered.

The door to the back of the class banged open and Snape came storming in. Luis had jumped at the sound of the door Ebony noted and she doubted it would be the last time he jumped in his seat before the class was over. Snape pointed his wand at each window and the shutters banged shut. They heard light gasps around the room and, again, Luis flinched with each loud bang, his hands gripping the book in front of him in a death lock.

Ebony's only regret to sitting in with her father was missing Harry's potion class. Part of her missed that room. Not that she wasn't happy for her father getting this job at long last. But a big part of her felt at home in that class with the smell of Caterweed and Bogsworth. It was where she always fit in. She could get used to this though potions would always be the subject she was best at.

"Open your books to page eighty-seven and start reading," Snape directed. He glanced over at Ebony and Oliver and raised an eyebrow at Oliver as he moved over to them to speak quieter. "Where is Ms. Murillo?"

"Trelawny meeting, sir," Oliver explained and held his composure with ease. Ebony gave him credit, he had grown a back bone over the years of engaging with Snape. Where before he would pale and shrink in his seat, he sat still and faced it head on. He didn't know as she did, but that's exactly what Snape was looking for: fearlessness. It was why her father got a long so well with Chelly, she was fearless when it came to him and so was George, which was the only reason he respected her decision to date the Weasley and now Oliver was finally boarding that train…if only they could get Luis to do the same.

"I nearly forgot about that…I thought she seemed grumpier than usual this morning…I just thought it was due to the early morning ritual of waking up before noon…which I see my daughter was able to achieve," he bantered.

Ebony smiled, "Is that jealousy I hear?"

"Hardly," he snorted. "You and Murillo would do well to take after Wood, he's at least able to get up before eight am everyday and practice his Quidditch blocking out in the field. You two should try the same, I don't care if it's for an early breakfast as long as you're up. "

"We don't sleep until almost four or five in the morning?" she countered.

"Wood, what time do you sleep?"

"Around three."

Snape gave her a see-what-I-mean look. "Point proven." He patted Oliver on the shoulder and turned around to address the class.

That caused Oliver to have a wide eyed expression and he turned his head to Ebony. "Did…did he just compliment me?"

"I believe so," she nodded and folded her arms over her chest.

Oliver stared at his shoulder where Snape had patted him and turned back to her again. "Why?"

"Because you've finally learned not to fear him and that's what he was waiting for."

He nodded his head. "Harry doesn't fear him though and he hates Harry."

"Only because Harry looks like his father…it's a long story," she told him.

Oliver shrugged knowing better than to press a point.

"Besides," she added. "My father's still a bit bitter about Harry getting into potions after all…I hope he's doing okay with Slughorn."

"I thought Harry couldn't take potions because of his grade," Oliver frowned slightly.

"That was when my father taught the class. You had to have an O. Slughorn requires an E. So Harry found out he was able to take the class and signed up for it with Ron so he can be an Auror."

"Good for him, aye. He'll be a good one. It's something he's always wanted to do."

"You're an Auror you know," she reminded him.

He shrugged. "Well, yea, but it's not something I'll do the rest of my life. I'm going into Quidditch still. I imagine Chelly told you I'm in the minors with Ireland's team."

"She mentioned it."

"That's what I plan to do for the rest of my life," he said with certainty. "What about you?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I haven't really thought about it."

"How have you not thought about it?"

"I just haven't. I've been doing this since I graduated; being an Auror and helping my father…and other things. The Auror money is good enough for me."

"So you want to do that the rest of your life?"

"I don't know. I've got so many other things to deal with right now that what I do later is not on my mind."

He nodded his head. "That's completely understandable."

Both their attention was drawn back to the class as Snape was focusing his demeanor on unlucky Luis. "Mr. Lagunas," Snape called on the seventh year. Luis again jumped in his seat, eyes wide as he let out a squeak of a noise.

"Yes, sir."

"Can you tell me he difference between a ghoul and a ghost since it seems you finished the reading material so soon?"

Luis's eyes widened. "Umm…uhh…a ghost…like Casper?"

Snape rolled his eyes. "Like Casper, what an insightful comparison. Please, do go on."

"Well…a ghost is –is a memory of what a person was and they aren't violent. While a ghoul is…is violent."

Snape seemed unimpressed. "I'm stunned…is that all you have, Mr. Lagunas?"

Luis nodded his head no longer able to speak.

"How disappointing? Seems all your talent lies in potions but not in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's amazing you survived the Ministry at all."

Luis sunk deeper into his chair, almost sliding under the desk. Ebony stifled a giggle.

"Chelly's gonna be upset she missed out on this," Oliver said.

"She sure is."

She and Oliver were the first two at the lunch table with a beaten looking Luis. He kept his forehead against the table the minute they sat down, from shame or embarrassment Ebony couldn't be sure.

"So class sure was fun today," Ebony said. "One day down nine more months to go."

Luis whimpered from across the table.

"What's wrong with him?" Ron asked as he sat in his usual seat.

"He just had Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ebony filled them in as the three sat down.

"Was it that bad?" Hermione questioned.

"Snape teaches it, so of course it was a nightmare to him. No help either that he was sort of singled out," Oliver informed her.

"Sort of," Luis's voice came muffled from the table. He lifted his head. "Sort of?"

"Okay, definitely singled out," Oliver corrected.

"And humiliated," Luis groaned and put his face in his hands, resting his elbows on the table. "Nine more aggravating months of this."

"Quit your whining," Chelly said as she sat down next to Oliver. "I'd rather sit in there all day than with Trelawny again."

"That fun?" Harry asked from across her.

"Dreadful's more like it," Chelly mumbled and grabbed a plate. "I spent the last two hours staring into a crystal ball and hearing how much I'm like her and inhaling all that smokey flower fragrance. It was nauseating."

"'id you learn anythin' useful?" asked Ron behind a mouthful of sandwich

"Not really," she grumbled and ate a potato chip. "Just how I need to find a way to store my visions when I get them so I don't forget them. She tried to get me to see things in the ball but all I saw was smoke in it. So unless it's a very foggy day in London I saw nothing."

"What about you, Harry? How was potions?" Ebony asked him.

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione for a moment before looking at Ebony. "It was good. I got the best score in class today."

Ebony and Chelly both frowned. "How did you manage that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Just lucky I guess."

"You're never lucky," Ebony reminded him and tapped her nails on the table. "What was the assignment?"

"Make a cauldron of Draught of the Living Dead."

Chelly paled and shook her head remembering when she had switched cauldrons with Luis last year during her make-up class and had unknowingly tried his out. Luis chuckled and she kicked him under the table. He was quick to stop laughing.

"And you passed? No offense, Harry, but you're not that great at potions," she reminded him.

"Maybe it's just because I have a new teacher," he said.

She considered it seeing as how her father was usually hard on him. But she doubted that was it. The way he had glanced at Hermione and Ron told her a different story. She'd find out eventually. She had other things to deal with. Like Quidditch tryouts next week that she had to oversee for Slytherin. It was the last thing she wanted to do but she was the oldest graduate of Slytherin on sight that wasn't a teacher, so she and Stark were assigned to it seeing as how he was only a sub, an "office aides" of sorts, and Dumbledore along with her father saw it as a great way for him to keep an eye on her as well as Harry, not to mention Chelly and her temper since Chelly was it for Ravenclaw and Oliver for Gryffindor helping Harry. It was a promise for a fun week.

After lunch was over Ebony and Chelly caught up with Hermione on her off period. "How's it going, Herm?" Chelly asked as she plopped down on the couch across from her.

She rolled her eyes at the nickname, "Just fine."

"How are classes this year?"

"A bit tougher than last year that's for sure. Transfiguration especially. How on earth did you pass that class, not to mention get an O?"

Chelly shrugged and swiped her hair out of her face. "It was just natural for me."

"We have to do it silently now too."

"I remember that," Chelly nodded. "It's tough in some classes. Charms was a bitch."

"Potions was too," Ebony said finding her in to talk to Hermione. "Speaking of which, how exactly did class go today?"

Hermione paused in mid page turn, "It went well."

"Did Harry honestly do the best?"

"Yes, no big deal though. It was one potion he succeeded in. Slughorn seems to like him because of his mother. That must have something to do with it."

Ebony didn't press her any further. "I'm guessing so." She reached over and grabbed Chelly's arm. "We better get."

"Huh? Why?" she asked as she was removed from the seat.

"We have things to do."

"Ok," she said and followed Ebony out of the Common room and down the stairs. "Can I ask why we had to leave so fast?"

"I was out of questions for her and like you can ever sit and be nice to her for more than five minutes at a time."

"I can too."

"Uh huh. In a minute you'd have been jabbing her about Lavender Brown smiling and giving Ron sweet looks all day."

"No I -"

Ebony looked over her shoulder at Chelly with a point blank look and she nodded her head. "Ok, you're right. I would have. But what was with the interrogation?"

"They're lying for Harry about something."

"What?"

"I don't know, Chell, that's why I said something."

"Well, if I get anything from a vision or something I'll let you know," she promised her.

"Until then," she sighed as they came to a stop outside near the quad, "keep a lookout and let Oliver know. It's the first day and Harry's already up to something…and that's never a good thing."

QUIDDITCH TRY OUT



It was finally the day for Quidditch try outs. The weeks had gone by rather quickly, at least for those not in class and for Chelly once she was free of Trelawny's eye watering class room. Apparently the work load was getting heavier since even Hermione was having a hard time keeping up which meant bad news for Ron ad Harry. Though Harry was still exceeding in Potions to Ebony's adamant surprise.

Chelly yawned as she waited for Ebony to finish getting ready. She was falling behind since she had to help out with the Slytherin tryouts therefore Chelly couldn't blame her. She sighed and sat down on the couch fixing her Ravenclaw scarf about her neck. She heard a door open to her right and knew it wasn't Ebony's which only left one person. "Hey Snape."

"Ms. Murillo, good to see you awake on a Saturday. Especially at this hour," he said and sat in his usual chair.

"It's Quidditch try outs. I'm in charge of overseeing Ravenclaw," she told him.

"So I already know," he sipped at his coffee. "Do you plan on recruiting teammates that can actually make it to finals this year and not fall into third place?"

She gritted her teeth. "My team is going to kick Slytherin's and Gryffindor's asses."

"Shocking," he said unaffected. "And this isn't going to disturb your relationship with Mr. Wood?"

She snorted. "Are you kidding? As many times as I knocked him off his broom during a match, he can't complain about my team kicking his ass."

"What a loving relationship to have such quarreling."

"It's the base of our love," she smiled meaningfully. "I predict it'll be a good year for Quidditch."

"Speaking of predicting," Snape repeated as he was reminded of something. Chelly watched as he reached into the inner pocket of his robe and drew an item out.

"Here," he leaned over and shoved an object in her hand. Chelly looked down at it. It was a crystal vial with a black cork in it, apparently empty, and a chain was fitted through it.

"Uhh…what is it?"

"A Reflection Keeper," he told her. "Professor Trelawny mentioned you were having a hard time putting your visions in your Pensive because by the time you were able to the visions were faded from your mind. This will keep them for you. It's used the same way as your Pensive. You use your wand to extract the visions and put them in the vial. The vial will hold them until you can pour them into your Pensive. It will hold five visions at a time, but not more. And do try not to forget your Keeper. It's why I had a chain put on it, so you could wear it around your neck since it's not so big it will stop you from working…or get in the way of you eating."

"What if I break it?" she asked, ignoring his last comment.

"That's why it's shatter proof. I took every precaution when it came to you."

She glared at him. "Gee, thanks."

Ebony came out of her room then looking grim about having to help Malfoy of all people with Quidditch tryouts.

"You ready?" Chelly asked her.

"Does it matter if I say no?"

"No."

"Then let's go."

Down on the field Oliver was helping Harry sort out the crowd of students. Half were from other houses, mainly Hufflepuffs that Oliver ordered away. Most were sitting in the stands and watching them…and most were female including Romilda who kept smiling and giggling with her little group of friends.

"This is gonna be a tough day," Oliver sighed. "I've never seen Quidditch try outs turn up this bad before."

"By bad do you mean a lot of people?" Harry asked, already getting a headache from the amount of chaos it was bringing about.

"No, I mean bad as in no talent," Oliver said honestly with a sad shake of his head. He briefly wondered if Chelly and Ebony were getting anything better talent wise. Hufflepuff was at the other end of the stadium and faux hoops were put up along the other side of the area for Slytherin and Ravenclaw.

"We've had no luck in any of our groups," Harry said irritated.

"Including your fan girls," Wood gestured at the group on the stands.

"Yeah, I don't think they're here for just me, Oliver."

"What makes you say that?"

Harry gestured blankly behind Oliver who turned to look at the stands where someone had used their wand to draw a heart and Oliver's name in the air. "Oh…" he said with wide eyes. "Uh…that's…nice." He cleared his throat. "So who's next?"

Harry called up the next group and was glad to have a few faces he recognized like Katie Bell and Ginny. They're match was good as well. Katie, as expected, did great and to Harry's surprise Ginny scored seventeen goals and out flew everyone.

"I think you found your Chasers," Oliver said with a smile.

"I'd hope so," a voice said and he turned to see Chelly walking towards him with a smile, Ebony next to her and Stark following just behind. He glanced briefly at the stands where the heart and his name still sparkled from Romilda and her friends and smiled at Chelly quickly.

"Hey, sweetie," he grabbed her shoulders and hugged her making sure her back stayed the stadium. "How did it go?"

"Bleh," she shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. "This is a bad year for tryouts. Everyone is a complete idiot."

"Same here for the most part. We've had two hours of whining and tantrums and a very nice crash in which a kid lost seven teeth."

"Is that all? Not too bad," Chelly said. Oliver watched as Ebony glanced at the stands and did a double take at the sign in the air. She patted Stark's arm and pointed and he tilted his sunglasses down as if his shades were jinxed. Ebony glanced wide eyed at Oliver who ever so slightly shook his head at her and drew a hand across his throat to signal her to be quiet. Stark grinned cat like and readjusted his glasses. Chelly noticed however. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he chuckled nervously and cleared his throat. "Just strained from all the yelling. How was your practice, Eb?"

"I didn't have to help. Malfoy refused my help and who am I to argue," she smiled innocently.

"It's your nature to argue," Chelly reminded her.

"No it's not," she argued.

"Point proven," Stark snorted.

"He didn't want your help either?" Oliver asked the Professor.

He shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. He was one of the only Professor's who never wore robes, just wore dark jeans and long sleeves shirts. Today's was dark green. "No, I may be Slytherin, but as he put it so charmingly I'm a 'washed out sickening excuse for a Slytherin who dishonors the name'."

"That was nice of him," said Harry.

"Actually it was considering how malicious he can be but he's sixteen and if he dared to try anything he'd find out how much of a Slytherin I am," he shrugged his shoulders harmlessly. "So no worries."

"Uh huh. So who do you have so far?" Chelly asked Oliver, changing the subject as Stark and Ebony glanced up at the stands again.

Oliver looked at his clipboard. "Umm…for Chasers we have Katie Bell, Demelza Robins who's really good at dodging Bludgers and Ginny Weasley."

"No kidding?" Ebony said with surprise.

"She's good…Ron's actually trying out for Keeper."

"Oh this I gotta see," Chelly said and looked up to watch Mclaggen's broom go off in the wrong direction as he tried to block a goal.

Oliver glanced around and noticed the missing person. "Where's Luis?"

"Studying," Ebony answered. "My dad loaded him with homework. He has four parchments due on Monday and that's just for that class. He still has to worry about Transfiguration and Charms."

"Ouch," he winced in sympathy.

"Now it's Ron's turn," Chelly snickered.

"Good luck!" they heard just as Ron pushed off from the ground.

"That must be his little girlfriend," Chelly smiled and turned around. Before Oliver could stop her she was turned to see the stands where she expected to see it was Hermione who shouted Ron's name but found it to be Lavender Brown. But that's not what she was focusing in on. It was the sparkling red sign with the heart and Oliver's name floating in the air now punctuated by XO's. Her eyes widened and she felt her face go red as her fists clenched.

"Chelly, don't do anything drastic," Stark warned her.

"I'm just gonna hurt them," she said and stepped forward.

Ebony and Oliver stood n her way. "You can't go hitting students. It's against the rules."

She held her hands out in front of her where the lines stood out on her scarred skin. "I'm not one to follow the rules. You need more proof?"

"Chell, don't go getting in trouble."

"Bitches gotta die," she growled and walked past them.

Oliver put an arm around her waist and pulled her back to him. "Come on now, love. You know I don't care for them. Only for you."

"Aweee," she smiled suddenly and gave him a kiss. She broke away, arms drapped around his neck. "That's so sweet, babe. And I only care for you…which is why they have to die."

She broke away from him and heading up the stands taking the steps two at a time until she came to their row. Down below Ebony, Stark, and Oliver watched.

"This is gonna go badly isn't it?" he sighed and folded his arms over his chest.

"For them," Ebony snickered. "Chelly's Slytherin side is breaking loose…she's like a bat out of hell when this happens."

Stark nodded, watching over the tops of his sunglasses. "I've seen her temper…those poor girl's won't know what hit them…literally."

Chelly smiled sweetly at the girls in the row. "Nice sign…very sparkly."

"We know," the blonde one rolled her eyes.

"Couldn't help but notice you fancied my boyfriend."

"You're his girlfriend?" the dark haired one, Romilda, asked and looked her up and down. "We were wondering how good you are at spells?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because we were wondering how you spelled him to be with you," she giggled with her two little friends.

Chelly grinned and rolled up her sleeves drawing out her wand, oh yeah, if she wasn't upset before she was pissed now, "Well, you three are in luck because I'm in a demonstrating mood." She drew a Decoy Detonator out of her pocket and pressed it. It flashed and the girl's blinked but Chelly knew all around them no one could see what she was doing, except for maybe Ebony and Stark who would clear their vision and Oliver's to see. "Aquamenti," a wave of water swept over the three girls and they started shrieking as they were soaked. They got up to run away but Chelly was quicker. "Locomoter Mortis," the three suddenly fell in a heap as their legs wouldn't work. "Pimpilcus," she giggled with another spell and was delighted to see fresh pimples break out across their once perfect skin in random spots. Romilda got one on the tip of her nose. She pointed at Romilda. "Hipicer."

The dark haired girl started to hiccup every few minutes and Chelly smiled knowing it would last a least a month at random. "Now you three are going to leave my boyfriend alone."

"You are, hic, in so much, hic, trouble," Romilda said breaking in hiccups at each pause of words still finding a hard time getting up from the leg lock.

Chelly drew a purple vial from her pocket and smiled in a sing song. "I don't think so."

She broke the vial on the ground and three girls involuntarily inhaled it, blinking in their confusion. Chelly tucked her wand away and strolled down the stairs whistling as she went. Oliver, Stark, and Ebony were waiting for her having seen it all. "What'd I miss?"

"Was that necessary?" Oliver asked her.

She blinked innocently. "What?"

"What you just did?"

"What did I do?" she glanced at Ebony with the innocent look. "I have no idea what he's talking about. Do you Stark?"

He lifted his eyebrows and acted confused, "Huh? What? I missed that."

"I was asking them what they were talking about?"

"Talking about what?" he asked, watching the Quidditch try out's again.

"See? Stark doesn't know? So what are you saying?" she asked Ebony.

"You've been hanging around me and my father way too long," she shook her head but smiled in approval.

Oliver gave up and gestured back. "Ron is the new keeper looks like."

"Give me another go," McLaggen demanded.

"No," Harry told him. "You had your go. You saved four. Ron saved five, Ron is Keeper. He won it fair and square. Get out of my way."

McLaggen took a step closer to Harry and Oliver made it his point to step in the way of the smaller boy. "There a problem, McLaggen?"

The younger boy shook his head. "No, sir. Just wanted another go. But Potter wouldn't let me."

"You had your turn. I saw you perform. You did well but Weasley did better. It was fair game and you didn't make the cut. Harry calls the shots and I believe he asked you to leave."

McLaggen nodded and shot Harry a look before turning and walking away, cursing the air.

"You flew well," Ebony congratulated Ron.

Hermione seemed to come out of nowhere and threw her arms around the Weasley in an embrace causing Chelly to lift her eyebrows in amusement especially when she saw the upset look on Lavender's face. "You did brilliantly, Ron!"

"I thought I was going to miss that fourth shot. It was tricky. Did you see the way Demelza put a spin on it?"

"Yes, yes, you did great," Hermione beamed as they started walking down the path.

"Listen to your girlfriend, Ron. You did awesome," Chelly patted him on the back and he glared at her but said nothing on it.

"I did better than McLaggen. Did you see him lumbering off after Oliver booted him? And how he went in the wrong direction on the fifth? Looked like he'd been Confounded…"

Both Harry and Ebony saw Hermione blush and look away. "I knew it," Ebony mumbled.

"I suspected it," Harry nodded in agreement.

"So I hear you have detention tonight," Ebony said. She and Harry hadn't really spoken since the opening dinner a few weeks back. They'd actually both gone out of their way to ignore each other unless it was in a group discussion. Even then she was suspicious of his behavior.

"I'm sure you would know about it," he said with a bit of sharpness in his tone.

Ebony wanted to say more but they had reached Hagrid's hut and Harry quickly stepped his pace up to meet Buckbeak who was tethered in the front. He bowed low and the Hippogriff returned the gesture and let Harry pet him. Chelly was quick to touch the big bird while Oliver hung back with the other four, including Stark who was sticking to his job of watching out for Ebony and Harry.

"Oi," they heard Hagrid call and the door flung open. "Get away from him! He'll have yer fingers…oh…it's the six of yeh…"

"Hey Hagrid, how's it-" Chelly started to say and Hagrid turned around and shut his door behind him, "going?" She glanced at Harry. "I think he's a bit mad at you guys for not taking his class."

"Oh dear," Hermione said looking upset.

Harry walked over to the door and started knocking. "Come on, Hagrid, open up."

The door flung open again and Hagrid glared at them all. "Well? What's this? Feelin' sorry for me? Reckon I'm lonely or somthin'?"

"No," Hermione spoke and stepped up. "We wanted to see you."

"We've missed you," Ron added on.

"Missed me have yeh?" Hagrid snorted. "Yeah, right."

Chelly raised her hand. "In my defense, I'm not in school so I couldn't take your class or I totally would have."

Hermione sent her a glare before speaking to Hagrid. "We really wanted to take Care of Magical Creatures, you know," Harry snorted and she then glared at him, "but we couldn't fit it into our schedules."

"Sure," Hagrid said sarcastically. There was a squelching noise and Ron and Oliver both jumped back at the same time as a large foot long looking maggot fell out of a barrel near the door where they stood.

"What is that?" Chelly asked trying to sound more interested than revolted.

"Giant grubs," said Hagrid.

"And they turn into…?" Harry asked.

"Nothin'. I got them to feed Aragog." Hagrid suddenly burst into tears.

"Hagrid," Hermione said and put her hand on his arm. "What is it?"

"It's him," he gulped and mopped at his face with his other sleeve. "It's Aragog…I think he's dyin'…he got ill over the summer an' he's not gettin' better. I don't know what I'll do if he…if he…we've been together so long."

Hermione patted his arm not knowing what to say. Chelly wasn't sure either. She wasn't a fan of giant spiders but he was Hagrid's friend. Stark just felt out of place. He didn't know Hagrid as well as the others, probably as much as Ebony knew him since she seemed to hang back more too.

"Is there something we can do?" Chelly asked, ignoring Ron's frantic head shaking.

"I don't think there is, Chelly," he sniffled. "See his relatives are getting' uneasy. I don't think it'd be safe. But thanks for offerin' it means a lot. You lot better be goin'. Dinner should be starting at the castle soon, and I know you don't like missing meals, Chelly."

"You know me well," she grinned.

"I'll see ya'll around. Don't be afraid to visit now," Hagrid said and shut the door behind them.

"Thank God," Harry sighed once they were on the path up to the castle. "I'm starving."

"Jesus, Harry," Ebony said in shock at his dismissal on Hagrid. "Do you not care at all that your friend is upset?"

"I care, just not over a giant spider," he shrugged.

"And that spider is his friend. He cared for him and loved him like family."

Harry stared at her, blue eyes blazing with ice and an anger she hadn't seen in him before. "And what would you know about family?"

Ebony felt it like a physical punch and everyone grew quieter as they walked and Stark seemed to tense ready to jump in if necessary, but like hell she'd let Harry get the best of her. She was a Snape after all. "More about it than you since I have one."

She saw his eyes widen from the words and he shook his head, saying nothing more as he hurried ahead. Ebony stopped walking and Chelly looked back and forth to where Harry had sped up towards the castle with Ron and Hermione in tow, glancing back at them. Chelly, Oliver, and Stark stayed with her.

"What was that about?" Oliver asked, still staring off at the others making their way to the castle.

"Pretty snippy of you," Stark said with a low whistle. "But very much like your father if I may add…question is, why is Harry so upset with you and moody himself?"

Ebony shook her head, feeling partially horrible for what she had said, the other part felt redeemed with the words. He needed to know he couldn't walk over her like that, that she was still part of his family whether he wanted to be or not and she was going to figure out the root of this. "I don't know…yet."

She started walking towards the castle.

"So I take it we're eating at the teacher's table tonight?" Chelly asked.

Ebony nodded in a quieter voice. "That might be a good idea unless you want me killing Harry and pleasing the Dark Lord after all."

Chelly pursued her lips and nodded her head as they entered the Great Hall. The four walked past the Gryffindor table and Luis frowned from his seat at Ravenclaw next to Luna, glancing at them and back at the other table where Ron and Hermione watched them walk past with sad expression while Harry's seemed angrier.

Ebony sat down next to her father and Stark sat on the other side of Snape in his usual seat while Chelly took the seat on her left with Oliver next to her. Her father looked genuinely surprised. "What's this? You're sitting here? With me for once?"

"Yes," she answered easily and started pulling food onto her plate.

"Did something happen at practice with your friends?"

"Let's just say it's getting ugly and lines are being drawn," Chelly told him, already putting a second piece of chicken on her plate.

He raised his eyebrows and looked at Ebony. "Why are you sitting here?"

She knew the answer to that from her argument with Harry and smiled at her father. "I wanted to sit with my family tonight."

Snape gave her a brief smile and she knew the words meant something to him. He glanced over at Stark who let out a deep breath as he gathered food on his plate.

"Did something happen?" he asked the younger Professor.

"Nothing of physical danger, let's put it that way," he said and took a drink from his cup.

Snape's eyes moved to the Gryffindor table where he saw the angry Harry stabbing at his plate, green eyes fiery, he looked back at Stark who didn't meet eye contact. "I take it things went wrong with Potter."

He nodded. "Yeah…Ebony's only danger is losing certain friendships…which is the only pain she's going through because she's dedicated to you," he made eye contact then. "She chooses you over Harry…"

Snape seemed shocked by that, having thought Ebony would always protect and choose Harry's side as she had so many times…but something was happening with her friends enough to push her to stand up for him. He looked at his daughter, her head was hung down as she ate solemnly. He could see this was the hardest thing she had to do, choosing his side in whatever the manner was, protecting him…when all he ever did was put her life is jeopardy and lie to her more and more…it was a double edge sword, betraying her trust and hurting her with lies she knew nothing of when she knew mostly everything…but nothing at all in the greater scheme of things with secret meeting s with Dumbledore. He swallowed the lump in his throat and touched Ebony's shoulder, she turned her head in his direction.

"You're always welcome to sit with me…no matter what," he told her.

She smiled weakly and went back to eating and didn't find it the least bit odd that while one bond grew stronger others started to unravel. But being who she was, she wasn't about to lose her bond with her friend. At the same time she knew, if it came down to choosing between Harry and her father, she'd do exactly what Stark suspected, she'd choose her father in a heartbeat, no matter how much she cared for Harry.