(A/N: Okay, we're doing this chapter from Rebel's point of view, after this chapter we will be returning to the regular point of view)

-

"Hey Rebel, I found an empty compartment," Conner said smiling at me, but he saw the look on my face and gave a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, she'll be here."

I felt uneasy, perhaps she would find some excuse to ditch me again. After all, outside of the few times she had eaten lunch with the Pack, I haven't spent anytime with her. I even considered asking her if she would help me with transfiguration, but she already knows I am doing fine academically and would tell me to practice on my own. I sighed and dropped my bag on the floor next to Conner's. He gave me a strange look, "I don't think you aren't worrying. She'll be here. Where else would she sit?"

"She'd probably find an empty compartment." I said sitting on the bench seat leaning against the wall behind me. By some miracle I was able to resist curling up with my feet on the seat to comfort myself, but I didn't want Ivory to see me like that if she showed up. As if on cue, the compartment door slid open and there was a sigh of relief.

"Hey guys, nice to see you, especially after that nightmare." Ivory said indicating the crowd of people in the hallway. She closed the door and set her bag down gingerly, all the while oblivious that I was watching her. Her hair was down again, and I was thankful. Every time I saw her with her hair up it reminded me that he was the one that put it up. I sighed inwardly, the only good thing about her hair being up was that it wasn't in her eyes and getting her annoyed. It was always so much nicer when she was happy.

"So how have you been Ivory?" Conner asked when he realized I wasn't going to ask. At least he gave me the chance to ask.

"Not bad, I guess. Just a bit hectic with homework, and the fact that I completely fail when it comes to Defense." Ivory said, remembering just how many times she had tried the simple spells to be used against dark creatures and failed to the point where Ginny had suggested remedial lessons.

"Perhaps Rebel could help you, he's really good Defense." Conner suggested, I would have glared at him if Ivory hadn't looked at me at that exact moment.

"You're good at Defense? That class is generally one that Gryffindors excel at, probably because when the school was first put in session, Godric himself taught Defense and Transfiguration. Figures that you would be good at Defense. I'd ask for your help, but I kind of already have a tutor." Ivory said, as always knowing more information than most would about… well, just about anything.

"It's fine, I'm not really spectacular at it anyway." I said, trying to make her feel better about her own skills.

"Only the best in our year." Conner scoffed, then asked Ivory, "How do you know what Godric taught?"

"A friend lent me a book written by Ravenclaw about the construction of Hogwarts and detailed seven years after it's creation." Ivory said, obviously having enjoyed the book. "Each of them had two subjects that they excelled in above others, and that's what they taught, Godric had Defense and transfiguration, Helga had herbology and care of magical creatures, Rowena had history and charms, and Salazar had potions and this class that was especially for curses and darker spells that was just called the Snake. However, that classes was taken away once the ministry put in guidelines, since it was practically a Dark Arts class."

"You're a Slytherin, but you're best subjects are a Gryffindor and Ravenclaw class. How does that work?" I asked, doing anything to make the conversation go on, I love Ivory's voice.

Ivory smiled, which was a truly beautiful sight, "Everyone has some traits from the other houses, so while I may be best categorized as a Slytherin, I have the courage of a Gryffindor and the studious intentions of a Ravenclaw."

"Why were you put into Slytherin then?" I asked and then watched a pained look flicker across her face and then it got replaced with a fake smile.

"Slytherins are clever and ambitious." She said softly, "I ran away from home and was clever enough to stay alive, and my ambition is to prove myself to everyone."

"You don't need to prove yourself to me, I already think you're a brilliant witch." I said, not realizing I was saying the first thing that came to mind without thinking of what I was actually saying. I cast a glance at Conner who had this whole 'feeling brave, aren't we?' look on his face.

I felt her rub her hand through my hair playfully, "I know I don't have to prove myself to you, Rebel. You're like a little brother to me, even though you're older."

I looked up at her and she had this brilliant smile on her face, and it wasn't a fake smile. Even though I hated being just a little brother in her eyes, if it made her happy, that's what I would be for her. Although, in my future I always hoped that we would be something closer to boyfriend and girlfriend than a brother and sister. Until that dream comes, I will protect her.

Tempus Praeter

Christmas morning we got ready to leave Malfoy Manor, which I had always associated with a prison. The entire place was cold and empty, with four people living in it(grandma and grandpa died a few years ago, grandpa died first and Dad refuses to admit that grandma killed herself afterwards). I was surprised however when we were told that instead of going over to the Potters, we were going to the Burrow. I was secretly happy, the Burrow was almost as warm as the Potters, but it was easier to sneak underage magic. In fact, that's where I first saw Ivory use magic, she had been talking to air and then pointed to a dead flower in the yard and transfigured into a bird. Unfortunately it was still dead and Ivory decided to show her mom. Then Smoky saw it and decided to barbecue it… and it all went down hill from there.

Unfortunately, their ability to sneak underage magic hadn't changed.

As the my family approached the Burrow the kids seemed to be having a snowball fight out back as most of the adults either stayed inside or worked on building a giant snowman(by giant snowman, I'm estimating it to be about twenty feet tall when they're done). Angel, Conner, and Eyra walked around the front of the house, covered from head to foot in snow. Eyra was the one that was able to speak first, the other two were shivering to loudly to be able to say anything, "I think the snow ball fight has gotten out of control, they've started using magic."

"By 'they' you mean?" Wolf said asking who exactly was using magic.

"Well, it's really just Kris and Ivory, Smoky seems to be hiding." Eyra answered, looking unsure of herself.

"Ivory started a duel?" Vaughn stated, and then went to grab her coat, but Angel screamed no and everyone froze surprised that quiet little Angel would ever scream.

Angel cast her eyes down, "Kris started the fight, Ivory was just fighting back. Smoky hid because it was either hide or be caught in the crossfire. I've never seen Kris so mad…"

Learning that it was Kris initiating the fight changed everything, while Vaughn had found recently that she could call off Ivory, Wolf had always been the best one to deal with Kris. Sable followed after hesitating, Smoky had always hated getting caught in Ivory and Kris' sibling rivalry and it was best to have a family member with him when he came out of whatever hiding place he had taken refuge in. I went with a few others just to watch what was going on out of curiosity and concern. When we got out there, sure enough, the two siblings were throwing spells at each other. Without hesitating Wolf conjured a shield between the two of them, Ivory immediately dropped her wand, but Kris kept his securely in his hand. This just proved who started the fight, if you have reason enough to fight, you don't give up easily.

Wolf was not amused by Kris' antics, "Did you not learn anything from dueling club? What do you do when an instructor interrupts your duel when it gets out of hand like this?"

There was hesitation on Kris' part, but he slowly set his wand down in the snow and straightened himself, as was required by the Hogwarts dueling club. He didn't even try arguing that since they weren't in the dueling club the rule technically didn't apply. Wolf was already mad at him, even Kris can figure out that tempting him was a bad idea.

Wolf seemed to relax when this happened, probably because since the attacker still hand his wand drawn it could mean having to interfere with his own magic. He sighed, "Ivory, go ahead and pick up your wand."

"Why does she get her wand and I don't?" Kris demanded.

Wolf didn't look at all threatened by Kris, "Because she didn't start the duel, even if she did provoke you. Now, why exactly did you decide that it would be better to duel than have a harmless snow ball fight?"

Now that the fight was over Kris seemed to think that his own reason was childish, but knew he wasn't going to get away without saying anything, "I started a duel because Ivory wouldn't stop showing off."

Wolf looked at Ivory who was holding snow to skin beneath a hole singed in her coat. I wanted to go heal the small burn that Kris had made, but Ivory wasn't complaining and it wasn't smart to get involved in Potter family affairs, especially when there was an argument. He looked back at Kris, "And just how do you define 'showing off' in this scenario?"

"She was…" Kris started and then searched for words, "Transfigured some of the wood from the wood pile into these weird little creatures to help her side in the snowball fight."

After Wolf looked at Ivory, she answered the question that was on his mind, "It was in retaliation for Smoky using his pyrokenesis to harden the center of the snowballs and using magic to steer the snowballs. I have the bruises to prove it. I didn't expect Kris to go off on me like that."

"He went off like that because he's a jealous git," Smoky said emerging from an almost non-existant hiding place, "He's jealous because she's better than him at transfiguration and charms. It's been pissing him off all quarter."

"Kris?" Wolf asked, he wanted him to confirm that his jealousy was the cause.

"It's not because she's better at transfiguration than me," Kris said, "It's because three years ago I was the one everyone thought would be extraordinary at magic, and now that she's at Hogwarts she has everyone's attention and is taking advanced classes. It's like she doesn't even have to try. She's a show off."

I saw Ivory kind of shirk away, my ambition is to prove myself to everyone. She hadn't considered that it could have come off as showing off. Before Wolf could even say anything, she softly said, "Sorry, I didn't think that it would cause such a problem. I won't use magic for the rest of break and will try not to show off at school."

Kris' jaw dropped, he obviously wasn't expecting that kind of answer, and Wolf just stared at her for a moment, "Why exactly are you backing off this easily? It's unlike you."

Ivory gave one of her small, fake smiles, "It depends on the subject. I know how it feels to be ignored, I lived through years of it. It's something I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy." Ivory didn't wait for further conversation to continue, she began walking back to the Burrow, and thankfully didn't argue when I fell into step with her.

"Are you okay?" I asked tentatively.

"Yeah, I've learned not to care what Kris says, and I can deal with not showing off over break. I'm fine." She answered easily.

"That's good, but I was actually talking about your arm…" I trailed off as I realized she had forgotten all about her injury. Her face scrunched a bit as she looked down at her still bleeding arm before pulling up her sleeve to get a better look. She bit her lip to hide a grimace as the semi-dry blood moved with difficulty. It was quite a bit deeper than I had expected, with burnt skin around the wound suggesting some sort of incendio spell had caused the injury. They had stopped walking and Ivory slowly held her arm out to me and me, being the stupidest person in the world for about thirty seconds, just stared at it, unsure what she was requesting.

"I heard you're pretty good with healing spells, could you heal this for me?" She asked, though her under tone suggested that she didn't want her parent's help(they were notorious for screwing up healing spells, often making the injury much worse than it had been in the first place) and didn't want to insult them by going to Hermione or Molly.

"S-sure…" I said trying to still my shaking hand as I pulled out my wand. I gently held her arm and held the tip of my wand close to her perfect skin, blemished only by that ugly burn, "Episkey,"

She winced as the spell hit, but made no other reaction as the wound was reduced to nothing more than a slight discoloration that resembled a bruise. As Madam Pomfrey had shown me a couple months ago when I had showed skill in healing, I ran my fingers over the healed area to make sure it had actually healed and not just added a layer of skin. It was healing perfectly, but I really didn't want to let go. I doubted that she would notice if I held her arm a couple seconds longer.

Of course, Ivory had always been one to prove that whatever I thought was wrong.

"Uh, Reb, I think you can let go now." Ivory suggested giving me a rare smile as I let go abruptly, "Thanks."

She was probably expecting me to say 'you're welcome', or perhaps, 'it was no problem, any time'. Instead, the words that came out were, "Where'd you get that necklace?"

I am such an idiot when I'm talking to her.

Ivory held up her necklace, and even her eyes were smiling as a light blush crept across her cheeks. The necklace was a silver ankh that's shape was similar to a dagger, with gossamer lines that added detail, and in the center, a tear-shaped emerald. Ivory looked very happy with it, "I got it this morning as a present."

My chest tightened, but I ignored it, "From who?"

"Vincinte. It more than makes up for the crappy present Cyrene gave me, a box of fudge flies." Ivory answered pulling a face, it's well known that she hates fudge, and hates flies even more(however, she does like chocolate frogs cockroach clusters).

I smiled, I don't know if she could tell it was fake, but I hope not. She was happy, that was all that mattered. I took a deep breath and somehow made it through the day, though it seemed like it would never end. The only highlight being when she opened my present, a book that gave hints for those troubled by defense against the dark arts, and she ran her singers through my hair roughly. Then I realized she only did it because she saw me as a little brother. Everyone had been surprised four years ago when the habit developed, and even more surprised that I had never once complained. It was then that everyone(except for the only one that mattered) realized that I was in love with Ivory.

Father had told me what was meant to be was meant to be, and that first crushes almost never became spouses. Mother had sympathized with the unrequited love and told me to stay strong, and maybe, just maybe, she'll come to realize that I love her. All Lyra had done was tease him mercilessly. Jerk.

That Christmas however, I decided that I wouldn't sit and be idle. If she only saw me as a little brother, I would grow up, I would prove to her that I deserved to be seen as more. All I can hope is that it's enough to make her see me as a boyfriend.

-

(A/N: I am really sorry about the wait, I've got about a hundred things going on at once. After finals I should have a bit more time to write… however I am planning to have two other writing projects going on, one on fictionpress, and one, maybe two, here. Be looking on my profile page for a new fic, and it's going to be a bit different than my usual style. I'm very curious to know what people thought about this chapter. Also, if you want to read what all I have posted on fictionpress(not much at this point) My username is Gem Wrenrut over there. If you have the time or inclination, please review!)