*Note from the author: Huzza! Done editing my work form years ago… it's a good feeling! I had to change some things in this chapter about Liath for plot device… my story needs it…badly. But now I have a bit of a plot going, so thank you for reading and enjoy!

The night passed silently and the week passed quietly. Nothing of any crucial significance happened that is worth mentioning. Al told Rose and Will of his little trip with James and for the rest of the week Al kept his eyes on the siblings. They never did anything out of the ordinary. However, Al did learn what their personalities were like from keeping a close eye and ear on them. Iontach wasn't mean or brutal like Al suspected, he only spoke when spoken to and what he said was said frankly, but not impolitely. Liath only spoke in jesters to her brother. Her face was constantly hid behind a mass of long, dark hair which twisted down to he waist. Iontach always had a serious countenance: a permanent "V" between his eyebrow and a sharp nose.

"Honestly Al, you have to stop starring at them so. It's impolite and a bit unhealthy, considering that thats all you do," Rose scolded, stressing each adverb.

"Well, she does have a point Al," Will stated shyly.

"Yes I know, i know," Al sighed, but continues to stare across the great hall to the Slytherin table, "but they are children of werewolfs…"

"By Jove Al! Your doing it again!" Rose hissed through her teeth.

"Awe sorry, but I can't stop feeling that they're not here for the learning only," Al said, finally adverting his eyes.

"I know you think that they're here to spy on us, but…" Will started to say

But, Al cut him off and asked, "Well, it is possible."

"You could be right, but its unfair to accuse them just yet," Rose said while leaning into the table.

"How do you propose..." Al inquired.

"I have detention with our favorite Slytherin in an hour. Surely he would know something about them."

"Sounds brilliant Rose," Al said rolling his eyes, "Just go up and ask Scorpius ' Why hello, can you tell me about anything unusual the Graybacks do please?'".

"Actually, that is what I am going to do," Rose spit back," honestly Albus, people with big egos like to blab. In fact , I think I'll talk to him right now," Rose said angrily and got up.

"NO, wait!" Al called to his cousin, but Rose was already halfway across the room.

"Oh no! She's talking to him now!" Will sighed and covered his face with his hand.

"Well, it's her funeral," Al said frustrated.

Al waited for something to happen. He began to worry that Scorpius might blow her head up, or turn her skin color to purple with pink polka-dots (Burt's latest symptom from the Scorp). However, something far, far worse happened. In fact, so horrible and inscrutable that it defied all laws of nature, physics, arithmetic, music theory, science, astrology, aeronautics, and the art of eating with chopsticks. It was magic. A most malicious kind of magic. Scorpius Malfoy willing let Rose sit next to him.

You might as well hit Will and Al with a freight train, or take them up on a 100 ft high-dive and force them to do a belly flop. Will's jaw dropped and his tung out like a giraffe's. Al's cup of tea crashed to the floor, sending fibers of sharp porcelain whizzing across the stone. A picosecond later Al fell off the bench and didn't even grunt when his back slammed smack dap on the stone floor, causing many confused stares form neighbors. Al came to his senses only when he realized that a fat black owl was perched on his nose.

"Ah... Witherpuddle! That kinda hurts."

Witherpuddle gave a happy hoot and proudly stuck out a leg in front of Al's eye. Tied to it with a maroon ribbon was a letter. Al tried to sit up, but groaned when he felt a sharp pain travel down his neck.

"Hey Will? can you help me up?" Al asked.

Will gave no response, but just sat there like a slug moving his mouth up and down disbelievingly. Al gave and just laid on the cold floor, starring up at the somewhat overcast sky/ celling, until a melodic voice from somewhere kindly said, "Need a hand?"

The speaker didn't wait for a response and two strong hands bent down and lifted Al up like a rag doll.

"You okay?" he asked.

Al was stunned, it was Iontach.

"Um" was all Al managed to sputter out, but Iontach didn't mind.

"You might want to go to the hospital wing. You have some glass lodged in your neck."

"Ouch," Al whispered in an unbelievable trance.

"Er, seems like your friend isn't going to help. Um, my sister, Liath, can escort you to the hospital wing if you want. I would take you myself, but I have to go somewhere so ...um, yeah."

Al nodded his head slowly.

"Well, see you round. I think the Grtffindors and Slytherins have quite a few classes together."

Again Al just nodded.

Ionthach walked away and Liath slowly walked to were Al and Will were.

She gave them a curious look as if asking "Are you guys okay?"

"Um" Al choked.

She gave a small grimace, her pale hand flying up to the nape of her neck and pointed at it. Her eyes drifted to the door of the great hall and then back to Al and Will. Suddenly, she gently took hold of Will's and Al's wrists and pulled them down the halls. After a time of considerable silence she pointed to the top of Al's head with an inquiring look in her eyes.

"Huh?" Al grunted.

Her eyes peered to the top of Al's head. Al felt something tug his hair and give a happy hoot.

"Ow, um thats my brothers owl, Witherpuddle."

She seemed to chuckle softly to herself, without any noise escaping, and nodded her head, Al felt his ears go red and asked "What's so funny?"

She gave smile, took out a scrap of paper from her pocket and scribbled on it: Apart from having and owl on top of your head, I think that's the first intelligible thing you've said.

"Well, you haven't exactly said much either…" Al smiled back.

Her face went deadly sad. She lift her long fingers to her lips and opened and closed her mouth, trying to talk without any noise escaping, as if trying to say mute. Al blushed.

She quickly turned her face away and quickened her pace. Al was beginning to feel rather lightheaded and there was an unending pain in his shoulder. A moment later they arrived at the hospital wing and Liath wrote a brief explanation of their situation, the nurse handed her a bottle and she was off. The nurse quickly bustled over Al and cast a few spells upon him to heal.

"Drink this," the nurse commanded , pushing a cup of bubbling orange stuff into Al's hands, then she went to fix Will up from his shock.

Witherpuddle have a sharp impatient hoot and wiggled his leg with the letter on it several times.

"Ah, sorry Withers," Al sighed and carefully took the letter off his leg, "go get some rest now" Al whispered gently to the exhausted owl.

Then he read the letter as follows:

My dear boy,

Mum and I are so happy that you were placed in the house you wanted. We would have loved you none the less if you were in Slytherin though. As for the reason of everyones curiosity for you; I want you to go to Professor McGonigal and tell her that your father says it's time. James has already been through my memories and had faithfully kept it a secret from you and Lily. Do the same- don't tell Lily yet. As for my reason from keeping my stories from you, we wanted you to grow up normally.

Love,

Dad

Al put the letter in his pocket and quietly whispered to himself "It's time?"

Very puzzled Al starred out of the grand hospital window and watched Witherpuddle, a black dot against the horizon, disappear into the owlry.

The setting sun cast an orange glow across the slopping hills and cliffs, set the lake on a golden fire for a brief moment. Then All was covered by a black shadow. A shadow that crept up and destroyed the light of the moment before.

"But was it the light of the moon or the shadow of the sun?" Al wondered and whispered, "it's time."