Chapter Six.

Halloween surprises.

The next couple of days were very hard for Dee, after all she was only 11. In such a stretched atmosphere came Halloween and with it came trouble. In the morning Deirdre made a narrow escape from Snape. She hid in Raid's personal chambers, he gave her the password for exactly that reason. She sighed and turned around. What she saw however made her turn back in an instant. She saw Harris Raid coming out of a shower, only in a towel. He chuckled: "Oh, come on, it's not like I'm naked." She slowly turned back: "Sorry, but what if you were?" He thought for a moment: "Point taken. So, what brings you here? Apart from the irresistible desire to see me?" Dee narrowed her eyes: "Very funny. I was hiding from Snape." Then came a knock on the door and Snape's voice reached them: "Can I come in, professor Raid?" Deirdre scanned the room and dove under the bed.

"Severus, what can I do for you?" Dee heard the potions master sigh: "I wanted to talk about Deirdre." Raid furrowed his brows and made a very curious voice: "What about her?" Snape rolled his eyes: "She's avoiding me." There was a snort, before Raid replied: "I'm sorry, Severus, but everyone, who's not a Slitherin avoids you and it's entirely your fault. If you do yourself a favor and recall the way you treat her, maybe you'll understand." Dee mentally cheered and found it really hard to stay quiet, while Snape explained himself: "Raid, it's none of your business. Well… there is a possibility that she's my daughter." Harris raised an eyebrow: "She's not." Dee heard anger in Snape's voice: "How would you know? I was with Lily in the right time." Raid saw Deirdre come out: "Ask her yourself." Severus wheeled around: "Deirdre." She ignored him: "I am not your daughter and even if I was, I would never acknowledge you. You knew it was possible, yet you never bothered to check before. Now I just don't need you anymore."

Severus was hurt she felt it. He was grasping for straws: "How can you be sure?" Dee shrugged: "My father was a high level demon, you're human. It's as simple as that. What other confirmations do you need, professor?" Snape left the room sooner than it was humanly possible. Raid looked at the door for a moment: "You know, I think that Harry may be his child. He looks too much like James, it can be a spell." Dee leaned against the door: "I doubt he'll give up that easily. Something is bound to happen. Come on, we have a feast to attend."

They entered the Great Hall together, which didn't escape Solveig. As soon as Deirdre sat down she asked: "Already in love?" Dee blinked: "No! Where is Herm?" Solveig rolled her eyes: "Crying in the bathroom. Weasley junior and Potter upset her a lot." Both sighed. Dee studied the professors' table: "Where is Quirrel?" Solveig looked up as well: "Who cares?" The two exchanged a look and continued eating, when suddenly the doors burst open and Quirrel ran in: "TROLL!! TROLL IN THE DUNGEONS!!"

Everyone screamed, except a few people, who were mature enough not to do so, although Solveig and Dee were worried. Dumbledore spoke and it became silent at once: "No panic! Prefects will lead the students to their dormitories, teachers will follow me to the dungeons." Dee was almost at the entrance when she remembered: "Sol! We have to find Hermione, she doesn't know about the troll!"

They raced through the empty corridors on top speed until they saw Myrtle's bathroom, from where soft crying could be heard. Solveig frowned: "Can you smell it?" Dee nodded: "I can handle the troll, you worry about getting Hermione out of there." Solveig was skeptical about the statement, but she didn't argue. The duo came into the bathroom and saw three people hiding from a troll. Dee cursed under her breath: "Damn it, saint Harry Potter." She gave control to Trans and shouted: "Over here, you big oaf!" It got the troll's attention to herself. It moved to her, while Solveig quietly helped the idiots out of their corner. Trans, still in Deirdre's body evaded the troll's club with ease. When she was alone with the beast she morphed and attacked, killing it in an instant. She washed her hands and walked out, where she was met by Solveig, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Raid, McGonagall, Quirrel and Snape. They stared at the girl. She frowned: "What? Do I have a tail or something?" Snape marched into the room silently and came out in shock a moment later: "It's dead. Killed by claws, or a sword." Raid smiled: "Well, now I know that I taught her well. 30 points to ms Gemini Potter for victory over a mountain troll and 10 points to ms Parker for helping her friends and perfect stealth skills."

Hermione, Ron and Harry were together in the library, when Solveig, Liam and Deirdre found them: "Well, well, well… Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley in the library… what a rare sight." Solveig was full of irony as usual. Liam smirked: "Poisonous as usual, but true none the less. What brings you here?" Harry blushed: "We are searching for information on…" Hermione snorted: "On Nicholas Flamel." Solveig frowned: "You mean you don't know?" Ron stared: "Do you?" Dee rolled her eyes: "Obviously. Nicholas Flamel is the only known and living creator of the Philosopher's stone. I hope you know what that is…" Hermione paled: "This is bad…" Liam frowned: "You really are scared… What the hell do you know that we don't?"

Half an hour later the six of them were in deep thought. Dee, Solveig & Liam were sure that it was Quirrel, while Harry, Ron & Hermione were for Snape. It was a dead end. However they knew that as long as Dumbledore was in the school the stone would be safe. Yet the feeling of dread was almost visible.

That evening Dee was waiting for Raid in his room, when Dumbledore came in. He was anxious, as he shouldn't be there. Dee became invisible and watched the headmaster. Luckily for her the old man had a tendency to talking to himself: "Now, where could it be? I have to know all about him. He is too close to Deirdre. I can't allow it to continue, I have to find something to influence him." Deirdre lost control and Trans became visible: "You forgot something here, headmaster?" Dumbledore jumped up in surprise. He stared at the taiki youkai: "Who are you?" Trans shook her head: "I asked first, but never mind, I heard you talking. I am Trans Gemini. The rest is none of your business. Other questions, any reasons why I shouldn't mention this to commander Raid?" Dumbledore gulped: "Please, don't tell him!" Trans arched an eyebrow: "And why not? You wanted to blackmail him, that's illegal, I have every right to tell him. And I will, unless you tell me the truth, headmaster. Why do you want to keep Raid and Deirdre apart?"

Albus paled even further: "She… is important in my plan… She's Harry's sister, I can influence him through her…" Trans smiled: "Well, that wasn't hard. Thank you, headmaster Dumbledore."

Trans paced the room. She was officially pissed off. She couldn't understand the old codger. He seemed to be just a meddling old fool, but turned out to be a manipulative old bastard. The taiki youkai sighed and lay down. She was still waiting for Raid. The nitcshean felt very familiar, as if she knew him, but for some reason couldn't remember. She was almost asleep, when the door opened again. Trans heard voices.

- That's stupid, Albus. People can't have elfish ears.

- Severus, I know what I saw. A young female with elfish ears, golden eyes and silver hair and stripes on her cheekbones and a crescent on her forehead.

- Ah, Albus, you're seeing things. Such being don't exist. Let's concentrate on the task at hand. I don't like Deirdre hanging around him as well. So I'll help you.

The youkai sighed – some people never learn: "Back again?" The two men stared at her and Albus grinned like a maniac: "See? I told you." The potions master bit his lip, he recalled seeing a similar being a long time ago.

It happened when he was at school. She always hang out with Black, Potter and Lupin. Her name was Delilah Desiderata, she was human. It was on that wretched day when he went after the werewolf, she and Potter saved his life. He saw her transform, only she had an orange crescent.

Trans recognized that look, he met a youkai once. She narrowed: "So, you knew Delilah. Lucky. So then, you'll understand that I'm telling you the truth, try parting Raid and Deirdre and I'll brake your necks. Now get the hell out of here."

It did the made the desired effect. Both professors lost their calm and fled as if the devil was on their heels.