"When 'hey come faw you, i'll bea' 'he shi' ou' ov 'hem, guv!"

"Barnes, I appreciate it, but I need you to stand down. Besides this is only information I got from Peeves."

"Will, 'elp me 'alk 'im ou' ov 'his. We're no' jus' friends, we're.."

"That's enough Barnes. You did screw up pretty badly, Van. I thought that they had already dished out your punishment?" pondered Will out loud.

"Yeah! Don't they have you on detention till the end of the school year?!" debated Joy.

Van sat back into the meeting room chair. When he had arrived back in the dungeon he had hoped to see the Baron. However, most unusually, he was nowhere to be found. It was stupid to tell Joy about this rumor, he was now stuck with the three of them in the middle of the night discussion something that Peeves said. 'That little arseface', he thought to himself. Information from Peeves was never true or false, but with exams on fast approach, there was little to do about the situation, if there was one. With his arm under the table, wand in had, pointed to the bowl in the center of the table. "Incendio" he whispered. A ball of fire flared up in the middle of the table causing both Will and Barnes to fall out of their chairs, Joy muffling her scream.

"ENOUGH OF THIS CONSTANT WORRYING! We don't have enough of the details to figure out what is up with my situation. However, we have other important issues right now. Exams are in two week and a half weeks. We must make sure our HOUSE is UNITED in being successful at the end of this year. Also, we need to do something special for our seventh years who are closing out on Hogwarts."

Van stood and leaned on the table and continued,

"We can worry about me later, for now our brothers and sisters come first. Barnes, I want you to work with the Malfoy boy on making a stronger connection with the first years. Will, you and your brother take care of the second and third years. Joy and I, will work fourth and higher. Any resources you need, figure it out by this tomorrow eve and I'll ask Snape for such things. I'm damn tired, spent all morning planting saplings, was pissed off by Peeves and now I retire. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT."

Without another word he walked straight out, down the tunnel, into his room and even more quickly into sleep.

The downside of being a Slytherin is very simple. None of the other Houses get alone with you. Sure there might be one or two friends out there, but as a whole, Slytherin is hated. That is why as a Slytherin your classmates are family. Together we work hard to rival the other Houses, in sport, in practice and most importantly in knowledge. No Slytherin has been held back a year in over a century and there was no way they'd let Ravenclaw get all the glory.

Starting the following morning , the four of them met with Marcus and had all their house mates informed of help and study availability times in the common room. Although OWLS are mostly just for the fifth years, Van and Joy invited all interested to join in. It was going to be a long few weeks.

And it was.

Van swore that he and Filch had planted at least an extra mile worth of trees to the Dark Forest. He did'nt mind the muggle tools so much anymore, but found a higher appreciation of magical use. Or perhaps he was just too overworked to notice the labor. Slytherin was completely ready for exams, every single one. Not that it was a secret or something, but he had also enjoyed tutoring the young Hufflepuff that he occasionally met in the library. Van would make a good teacher and he knew it, however the pursuit of knowledge loomed like a nearby adventure just waiting for him to reach out. The rumor Peeves had toyed him with was no longer on his mind, nor was he worried. Exams were now here, in the middle of June. Everything had gone perfectly, it was just a normal school year. Even with Harry Potter, a simple first year, there was nothing Van deemed important involving him. Smiling ear to ear he left the dungeon and started down to breakfast.

"Smiling before the exams have even started, you must be pretty sure of yourself."

Van turned on a heel to meet the voice around the corner.

"Good morn', Edan. I am, actually. Not only do I feel perfectly for the exams, but tonight is my last detention!" he smiled.

Edans' face turned stern,

"Listen, can we go somewhere private. I have a serious question for you."

"Uh sure, but first can I go grab a mug of.." but before he could finish, from behind her back she pulled a full mug of hot coffee.

Sure, she's a Gryffindor, but truly a good friend, indeed!

Stepping into an empty classroom, Van sat at a desk as she closed the door.

"So, what's the matter, Edan?"

"As you and everyone else know, Harry Potter is in my House. And believe me he's great, it's been a really fun year with him around."

"Well damn! If only he had joined Slytherin."

"You wish. Anyway, there is no easy way to ask this, but…. Is Prof Snape doing anything shady?" she confessed.

Judging by her face she seemed kinda ashamed.

"Hmmm. What do you mean?"

"Look, Harry thinks Snape has it out for him."

Van laughed. It was a miracle that coffee didn't spill from his nose.

"If there is anyone that Snape has it out for it's me. The last few weeks, Joy and I had him in the dungeon during his free time helping the seventh years for exams. If he were planning something like that, it would have been done by now."

Edan sighed a sigh of relief.

"However," started Van in a whisper, "Don't ask me about my sources, but if anyone around here is dangerous, it might be Prof Quirrell."

Edan sat beside him, "What do you mean, Quirrell?"

"From a message I received at the beginning of the year, Quirrell came back from Albania a changed man, it's only speculation, but that change may be due to some kind of possession."

"What like a ghost or something."

"I don't know, I've been watching him all year, but i've seen nothing. That's all I know, sorry I can't be more help."

"You've done a lot. Thanks and good luck with exams."

Edan waved and left the classroom. Van stayed back, looking out the window with coffee to his lips, recounting the conversation.

"Professor" said Van with hand raised, "I've finished my exam, may turn it in and have the rest of the period off?"

Exams were a breeze, no hiccups or nothing. The faces on his house mates at lunch provided him with everything he needed to know. They were going to sweep the exams, another perfect year. At the end of his last period, Van headed down to Filch's office.

"Good afternoon, Sir."

"Ah, a bit early for our last detention, isn't it, Mr Rookwood?"

"It is" responded Van as he settled into a chair, "I just have a request."

"Well spit it out, what's the request?"

"Even after tonight, you'll still be planting many more trees. To save you some time leading into the end of the year, may I use magic tonight to get all of the work done?"

Filch couldn't use magic, Van knowing this hoped the caretaker would allow this motion. Not only so that he could take it easy after having done his exams, but Filch too could take the night off letting Van complete the list for the next week in one night. Filch liked this idea, and so it was to be.

And so, at a quarter past nine, Van headed out to the Dark Forest. Having spent so many nights in and around it, it wasn't as scary as he had originally thought. With a wave of his wand, tree sprouts flew from the nearby cart and planted themselves in large rows. By ten thirty, the cart was empty and a hundred trees had taken their first growth in new soil. Filch smiled as he walked up, a rarity in of itself.

"Well done, Mr Rookwood. This will make my workload quite easily heading into the summer. I have but one last item for you to handle then I free you of service."

"Of course, Mr Filch, what do you need?"

Pointing over his shoulder "Up over yonder is a large willow tree that needs trimming. Just don't get to close or it will attach you. After you have done this you can send yourself in."

The two talked for a minute more, then Van headed towards the tree. He had seen the willow before, but never this close.

PAIN.

UNLIKE ANY FELT BEFORE.

PAIN.

Thru the roof of his mouth and head. 'Could the tree have hit me' he thought. But no, it stood unmoving. Again the pain surged, he screamed and writhed.

Then everything went black.

Upon waking, it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the well lit room he had found himself in. Looking around it became quite obvious, 'how did I end up in the infirmary?' he thought. He sat upright to get a better look around. Across the room, he jumps at the sight, the motionless body of Harry Potter.

*CREEEAK*

Snapping his head quickly toward the door, he's relieved at the visitor.

"Good morning, Van Rookwood." revealed Snape.

"Is he dead?" asked Van pointing toward Potter.

"No."

"What happened to him" inquired Van further.

"The better question I want to know, is what happened to you?"

He recounted everything he could remember, Snape occasionally asked a question or two. However after ten minutes or so of talking neither one could say any more.

"On another note, Van, I must congratulate you. Perfect marks again on the exams."

"That's a relief," stated Van "I was concerned I might not have a future at Hogwarts."

"Why the 'ell would you think that?!"

"Well you see, Sir, Peeves said the Baron told him I was getting kicked out of Hogwarts."

Snape laughed, but quieted down as Harry rustled in his bed across the chamber. Snape looked up at the clock.

"With the exam results in hand, I suppose we get a move on things. You seem alright, so i about a hour meet me in the potions classroom. Unless you'd rather stay here and get pampered by Miss Pomfrey when she gets back?"

"No Sir," noted Van, swinging his legs onto the floor.

At one in the afternoon, Van knocked on the door of the Potions classroom and entered.

Surprisingly not Snape, but the Bloody Baron and Prof Dumbledore stared back at him.

"Uh, Prof Snape told me to be at one…"

"And you are most certainly on time, Mr Rookwood. Please come in." stated Dumbledore

Nervously, he entered and took a seat by the Baron. A moment of silence passes and Snape joined them in the room. Dumbledore Started.

"Like many students, you've had a very interesting year. However by the shadow of a history not of you but of your name and a few misleading choices have made things more difficult for you to enjoy your life here."

Snape leaned in, "We would like to extend an offer to escape Hogwarts for a year to explore your options and perhaps go where no one will know you by your name."

"Sorry," said Van "but I don't think I follow. Am I being expelled or suspended for a year?"

"Quite the contrary, Mr Rookwood, you'd be participating in a student exchange program. We won't force you to go, but time is limited to make your decision."

"I don't need any time, an opportunity to visit and learn something new. I'll go, it would be an honor to."

"Very well, we'll begin the proper preparations for your exchange next year." sung Dumbledore as he left his seat.

"Before I forget, Sirs, but where will I be heading?"

"Durmstrang."