Destyne looked around the still-quiet great hall again, enjoying his thirtieth slice of bacon. It was still early enough that most students weren't up, and even most of the teachers hadn't gone up to their high table yet. "You know…" he said to no one, "This strip of meat is amazing. I definitely need to find out what this is and never stop eating it." A few of the other Ravenclaws that had made sure to sit down at the furthest end of the table from him glanced down at him talking to himself as if he might suddenly jump up and try to force feed them bacon too.

Kendra, meanwhile, was running as fast as she could down the corridors of the school. She ignored a ghost's startled instructions to slow down as she blew right through them, only slowing as she neared the large doors of the grand hall. It took her a moment to push the huge doors open, but she spotted Destyne almost immediately. He was the only person talking to themself, and the huge gap around him helped. She stifled a giggle and slowly crept up behind him, doing her best to keep her ragged breathing down. Ignoring the looks she was getting from every nearby student, She softly tapped his shoulder, her grinning face inches away from him.

Destyne jumped, turning to face Kendra, several piece of bacon held up like a weapon. He stared at her for a few moments before relaxing. "Oh, hello Kendra. Sit down and try these meat strips!"

She started to giggle at his defense, then hearing him call bacon meat strips she couldn't take it and dissolved into laughter. "I've had bacon before, Des!" She sat down next to him piling pancakes onto a plate until she barely had to lean to smell them. "Im guessing you haven't tried pancakes either, though. You should try them as well." She drizzled some syrup onto the pancake stack.

"I haven't, no. I've never seen most of the stuff on the table. Where's the mush?" Destyne looked around, seeming confused. "They said at the hospital that's what everyone ate for breakfast."

"Mush? They give you any choice you want! Like, everything!" She gobbled down and fork full. "Pancakes, bacon, canadian bacon, ummm, eggs!" Her waving fork came dangerous close to the teetering pancakes. "You probably can name it- well maybe not you, but that's besides the point- they have it."

"So, wait… you mean you don't eat mush every morning?!" Destyne examined his bacon closely. "And that this stuff is normal? ...If the aurors don't come get me straight from the school, can I just go home with you…"

"Nope, I eat cereal, or eggs, or whatever Miss Cornell made us that day." She paused, considering the question. "I'd have to see if mom would allow it, but if she says yes you can come over when ever!"

Destyne shook his head. "I was kidding, it's not a good idea. Thank you, though. So, what's the plan for today?" He pushed the piece of paper he'd been reading over to Kendra. "I think that's our schedule but… couldn't they include a map?! It took me forever just to find this hall."

"Well it does look like a schedule, and yeah it would be nice to give us a map. Maybe i can ask Ace or someone for directions," She scanned the numbers of the classrooms and times, muttering to herself around continuous mouthfulls of pancake. "Looks we have till like 9, so we have time to wander to find our first class at least, right?"

"Well, seeing as it's almost 7, I'd think we have lots of time." More students were starting to filter into the great hall, but they kept leaving Destyne a lot of space. "But you haven't even eaten yet!"

"I've been eating as we speak" as she pointed to the almost haft empty plate of pancakes she started.

"What?" Destyne stared at the plate, not having been paying attention. "When? We were speaking the whole time." He shook his head, not sure of what to think. "Hang on, there is one cure for confusion." He took several more strips of bacon and ate them at the same time. "There. whatever was confusing is now basked in meat strips. So then, which class do we have first?"

"Charms from the looks of it- that's professor Flitwick," She read off the schedule as she stuffed another fork full of pancakes into her mouth. "History of magic is next, ugh. Then we have transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, then we have lunch, and then a double Portions."

"Defense against the dark arts?" Destyne looked confused. "What's that? I always heard about charms, but can dark arts be something we need protection from? I always heard the other healers saying that was what Healer Alduth uses."

"Dark arts are what Voldmort used, so I guess we do. I mean, they have a killing spell in the arts." She states.

"Killing spell…" Destyne had gone slightly quiet, before glancing up, his eyes red. "Please, like that baby spell needs protecting from." He said, his voice low and raspy, like an old muggle going through their third pack that day.

Kendra looked quite confused, "But the Avada Kedavra spell is pretty strong, and we aren't allowed to know the forbidden spells. I mean, that's why they're 'forbidden'!"

"Doesn't mean some of us don't." Destyne winked at Kendra, then shivered slightly, his eyes returning to their normal blue. He blinked in confusion. "umm… Anyways, they said I can't cast charms back at the hospital."

Kendra blinked, trying to push past the sudden shift and catch back up to the conversation, "You can't? Why? I've cast jinxes on my evil sister before." She giggled, hiding her mouth behind her last forkful of pancakes.

"What?! But they stressed over and over that even Hogwarts students can't do magic outside school! That's why they said I couldn't- I wouldn't even be allowed into Hogwarts because they wouldn't trust me there."

"I've used more magic out-side of school than anything so far. Why do you think I know so many spells already. Well, Ace lending me his school books doesn't help either I guess."

"Oh!" Destyne looked around the hall, then suddenly started laughing. The few students sitting within a couple of yards of Kendra and Destyne moved further away, but he didn't' seem to notice. "Kendra, my whole world is falling apart, and I've never been happier."

"Huh? what do you mean? The world isnt falling apart?" She blinked at her suddenly manic friend.

"It is to me. Everything I've ever been told is turning out to be wrong, there's someone who doesn't look at me in terror whenever I open my mouth, and I'm actually at Hogwarts!" He leaned back, gazing happily up at the ceiling. "Hey, look! Owls!"

As soon as he spoke owls the chattering of the other wizards and the witches, as well as the voices of the owls combined together, echoing louder and louder for kendra. She hunched over slightly, wincing at the noise. "Des, it's getting too loud for me."

Destyne looked back down from the swirl of hooting owls. "Huh? It's just a bit of hooting." he said, raising his voice over the other students' increase in volume to be heard over the owls' wings.

"It's more then that Des. It's the voices- I can hear them." She curled up on herself further, trying to cover her eyes.

Destyne started to move, the confused look still on his face when he suddenly doubled over, trembling. Without a word he stood up straight again, his eyes bright violet, and scooped Kendra up into his arms, almost running from the hall carrying her. As he stepped out the door, he shifted his weight, his shoulder slamming through Crux's shoulder in a move that knocked him sprawling to the floor. Without pausing to apologize, Destyne kept moving, until Kendra and he were safely out on the grounds, inside of a small hedge maze for the students to enjoy.

"Des where are we?" She ask as the voices of the owls and students disappeared. She flushed brightly, realizing that she was still in his arms, "Um…. you can put me down please."

He tilted his head, trying to catch his breath before finally opening his eyes again, still a light purple. "You are all right now, Salomon." he panted, his voice again more feminine than normal. "It will all be all right." He seemed to suddenly realize how he was holding her, because he kneeled and laid her down on the grass instead, blushing.

"Yeah I'm good," She looks at him questioningly seeing that he used her last name, "what's with the last name thing?"

"Just an old formality…" Destyne leaned back, sighing, and looking up out of the maze at the sky. "I knew I needed to get you away from the noise before it became overwhelming… the owls always arrive at the same time every day, barring a storm. Be prepared for it, and leave early next time. Also, do you know how to get back out of here?"

"Alright thank you, are you um Lilah by any chance?" She looked around, frowning. "And the only way I know is by using fire and making my own path."

Destyne looked up surprised. "The least of my manifestations, yes. I hadn't gone so far as to assume he had spoken to you about his voices."

"He said something about you a little because I inquired about it on the train."

"Ah… I can only assume our meeting left you curious. Allow me to explain fully then, as only I can. There are six of us residing in Destyne's mind. We are unique, powerful witches and wizards from times and places long gone, whose spirits live on. We chose Destyne as our host, to bring the power needed to save the world back to it again. It is rare that a receptive mind comes along, and we took our chance when we saw it."

"Save the world? Isn't it at peace though? And that means there's five others I haven't gotten to meet yet." The discover of how odd her new friend was seemed to have excited Kendra rather than frighten her. "So, you're all different, that's cool. And because Des was special you all joined his mind- because it's rare. Weird, but cool I guess."

"It isn't time yet to explain what is wrong with the world, any more than it is time to tell you about yourself." Lilah smiled softly. "Although, I must say, you do look quite a bit like your great, great grandmother… almost identical, really." She lightly stroked Kendra's jaw in a tender, almost sensual gesture, before closing her eyes and leaning back. The body gave a slight tremble, and the blue eyes of Destyne were back, glancing around in confusion.

Kendra looked at him in disbelief as Lilah returned to the mind before she could ask about her family and what Lilah knew about her great whatever grandmother. But destyne returned too soon, with his eyes the confused look she was getting used to.

"Umm… I know it must feel like I ask a lot, but where are we?" Destyne glanced around, slightly worried. "And why is there shrubbery everywhere?"

"Um I believe this is the maze garden on the grounds, But Lilah and I got lost in here, sooooo... We have no clue how to get out yet." Kendra said looking around, hoping for a way to magically present itself.

"Oh… what was all that about noise?" Destyne stood up gingerly, and held out a hand for Kendra. "Come on, we can talk and walk… otherwise we'll be late for class."

"Which noise there's still a few birds around here," She took his hand to walk and talk. "Any idea where we're going?"

"None whatsoever, I'm just going in a direction and we'll see where we end up. So, yeah… I'm sorry for blanking there… I forgot all about you hearing animals. What were they all saying?"

"They were mostly trying to find their owner where they need to deliver their messages. Overall focused on their job, but still noisy. Liah said that we should just get food and head out before the owls arrive from now on." She nodded at the thought. "Oh! I think have and idea to get out of here!"

"No, you're both going the wrong way." A quiet voice said from behind them. Destyne jumped, pushing Kendra behind him, spinning to face what turned out to be Professor Bosch.

"Oh, hello Professor Bosch. Why are you in the maze, sir?" She looked at him suspiciously, whispering to Des so he couldn't hear. "Professor Creepy, ten o'clock,"

"I followed you both after your rather… abrupt exit from the hall. Young man, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take 5 points from Ravenclaw for your actions towards your fellow students. Now, you need to be on your way to class before I make that a detention for this… situation. Take this, and off to class with you. I'll send miss Salomon after you shortly, once I have made sure she is all right." He held out a small yoyo to Destyne, who eyed it curiously. The moment he took it from the professor's hands, he vanished, as if pulled away into another dimension.

"What situation?" Kendra asked, confused as destyne vanished before her eyes. It took her a moment to process what must have happened. "Why do you have a port key on you, and why do you need to talk to me and not destyne?" Her hand drifted slowly towards her wand. She still didn't trust this teacher in the slightest. Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated, trying to find either a way out, or have a spell ready at the top of her head.

"Now young lady, I simply need to make sure you are all right after that shock. And it's always helpful to carry portkeys for when one doesn't feel like walking back to the castle. Now, how are you feeling? Did you hit anything on doors on the way out? What about your heart rate?" Without waiting for an answer, he crouched down, and pressed his ear to her chest, carefully counting off her heartbeat.

"I'm fine professor," she said, glaring as she listened for any voice she could hear, even if it was a flinch, as soon as he got close to her she jumps back from him. "I'm fine It was just too much excitement for me." She didn't want to explain her seemingly ridiculous ability to hear animals' voices.

"Now calm down, Miss Salomon. You've clearly suffered a bit of a shock from the incident, I can tell. Here." He pulled a small vial with a light mauve liquid rolling about inside. "Take this, it'll calm your nerves and steady your breathing so that we can get you back to classes before you're late. I'll give you another portkey so you can find your way out, since the maze is always changing."

Kendra frowned at the little bottle for a few moments, thinking. He wouldn't give her anything too dangerous, even if he was creepy. She nodded slightly, and downed small potion in one go. "Alright, I drank it. Can I go to class now? I don't wanna be late on my first day."

Instantly, she felt a strong feeling of relaxed contentment sweep over her, taking away all of the tension from the incident with the owls. "See? I'm just trying to help you out." Bosch said, resting his hand caringly across her shoulders. "All right, here you go. This portkey will bring you back to the castle. Just take it and-" He was cut off by growling from further up the path. "What the-"

Slightly up the path, at a bend in the maze, O'ha was crouched low to the ground, growling at Bosch. "Hello little fox. Just a moment, Kendra I'll handle this…" Before he could draw his wand, O'ha took off across the ground like a streak of lightning, her claws raking across Bosch's legs just beneath his robes. As he jumped away shouting in pain she glanced back at Kendra.

"Straight ahead, left at the first fork you come to, right at the second and you're out."

Kendra nodded her thanks and scurried off in the directions O'ha had given. As she ran she whistled softly to call any birds, just in case she forgot the directions. Within a few short minutes she managed to free herself from the maze and back towards the safety of the castle entrance.

Destyne met her at the door, looking completely confused. "Hey, are you ok? What'd the professor want?" he suddenly hugged her, seemingly just glad to see her ok. "That was terrifying!"

"Yeah, I'm okay I think, thanks to O'ha I believe," She grumbles, "you also went through a Port Key,"

"I've heard of them, but… that was unpleasant." Destyne stroked his stomach, grimacing. "It felt like it was going to pull my belly button inside out!" He shivered slightly, then glanced back into the castle. "Everyone was finishing up eating as I got back here.. we should get to that charms class you were talking about." He lead the way back into the main hall, still looking back at Kendra. "Any clue what floor it's on? I wish they gave us a map or something…"

"Hey, twerps!" The bigger boy that had been with Crux when Destyne had run into him was standing in the nearly empty hall, glaring. "You ran over my brother, after you already dissed him. You two are lookin' to mess with my family, and that's not somethin' you wanna do."

"Well, sir what-ever-your-family-name-is, we don't need to obey every stupid word that comes out of your bloody mouth." Kendra snapped back.

"Yeah, ok. Keep tellin' yourself that while ya can, my dad runs the whole show at the ministry where it matters. Just stay away from my brother if you wanna rush away with your little boyfriend. Knock him again and I'll make sure ya never get found."

"The ministry doesn't scare me. You're a little boy in a big world. You may think we're small fry, but even we can change your world upside down." She giggles, holding back a spell that had just popped into her head.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you have to believe. Just go back to kissing that little creep and get out of my face."

Kendra turned in a swift pivot and kissed Destyne on the lips deeply, without hesitation. it took a few moments before she let go of destyne. She flushed deep red confused on why the hell she did that. "What was that all about?" She asked, more to herself than anything.

Destyne looked equally confused, but the bully was long gone from the length of the kiss. "I have no idea.." he said, blushing just as deeply. "But it was strange. Come on, Kendra. We have a class to go to."

"Yeah, let's um... never mention that again, deal? Let's get to class and focus. We're here to learn." She speed walked down the hall, desperately looking at room numbers. "Why didn't they give us a map!?"


A/N: As always, we do not own Harry Potter. We do own our IP characters of Destyne, Kendra, and Alder though. Hope you enjoyed!