A/N:

g: Thank you for caring about Theo! and for reading, I always love criticism or comments! Let me see if I can explain... Regarding Theo: of course he's different: since the last book he's buried his father, tried to act on his feelings only to be introduced to the fact that the girl he cares for is way more 'out there' than he predicted, and of course as a pureblood he's ever aware that she's a halfblood, if that. And now, she's often in the company of a boy who is taller, and stronger, more confident, probably smarter, and Theodore Ignatius Nott is experiencing his version of jealousy. To top it off his competition for Lian's attention is also his worst nightmare?!

Not to mention he's coming to the slow realization that he doesn't know Lian Kowalski AT ALL…

In Dungeon's he could still control his environment. This is a whole new playground and he's been off his game since he took that first step in New York. Every mistake he's made up to this point have been his terrible attempts to make things go back to the way they'd been. The way things can never be again.

As for Lian's feelings, she has carefully guarded her heart since she was a little girl. She loves people, and she believes in them, but she refuses to let herself fall in love. Adam is her best friend from before. Theo is her ally-a quick way to get someone new to trust her when he had no reason to. There is ample potential for her to love either of them, but she doesn't care about romance, because she's on a time limit with a higher goal in mind. Were it not for this, it's entirely possible that she'd have started dating Adam back at Ilvermorny. She cares for and trusts him, and since last year's events she also cares for and trusts Theo. Rather than having the cliché choosing struggle, she'd rather they make nice and get along so she can focus on her real problems.

But also, she spent years at Ilvermorny defending Adam and his brothers from prejudiced people, not that they really needed it but if you've read up til now, you know that's what she's like, what she does. So when Theo, trying to be protective but coming off aggressive and rude, tell her that her best friend his dangerous simply because he exists…it pisses her off.

Sorry, went on a bit of a rampage. But it's important to remember you met Lian at her halfway point. You're in Theo's shoes; coming to that slow realization you don't know her at all...

Thanks for reading I hope you will continue to follow this story and enjoy what happens, if you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask! :)

Chapter 10

Apologies and Keepers

"What did you do?"

I frowned at the question, particularly its accusatory tone. "Why do you assume it was my fault?"

"Because Kowalski's an extremely tolerant person. The other day I caught her talking to Crabbe and Goyle like they could think for themselves. You're the one with communication issues, so again," Draco raised his eyebrows pointedly as I began to protest, "What. Did. You. Do?"

Aware that I was talking to the boy who'd actively helped Professor Snape get Professor Lupin fired back in the day, I said, "I told her she had to stop hanging around Quince," Draco laughed derisively, "because he's a werewolf."

Draco stopped laughing at once. "WHAT?"

"Apparently the staff already knows, and she's known basically since they met, and she still claims he's not dangerous, and got angry when I tried to tell her otherwise."

He nodded, his eyes still alight with panic. "And then she told you to stuff it and that's why she's avoiding you."

I sighed heavily. "She wants me to prove I understand what werewolves 'go through' or something…which you know I can't do."

He grimaced in sympathy. "Sorry mate. There's other girls though-"

"What are you talking about?" I said, confused.

"Well you don't think you're wrong, and she knows she's not wrong, so I guess that's that." He shrugged. "Good thing you've been set up with Daphne since we were all toddlers. She's petrified of werewolves, too."

"My parents are dead, whatever they arranged no longer holds sway with me," I retorted. I'd forgotten he knew about any of that-Daphne and I liked to pretend the 'arrangement' had never happened, and we were very happy in our denial. A little too happy, if she was exchanging love letters with Jason King. I wondered if she was aware of his blood status, or lack thereof; not that I was one to talk. I, the last son of a sacred 28 family, falling for the daughter of a squib, granddaughter of a muggle.

"Right, but if anything she's a good back up plan," Draco said bracingly.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."

"Do you plan on making things right with Kowalski and Quince?"

"What does he have to do with anything?" I asked moodily. "I'd sooner push him in the black lake."

He rolled his eyes. "What if I told you that we'd been found out? That we actually have no intentions of following the Dark Lord, and he'd spare my life if I killed you for him?"

A little shocked at how easily the idea spilled from his lips, I said, "You wouldn't dare."

"But I'd be forgiven if I killed you. My mother would be safe from his wrath and any other repercussions. You don't have anyone, anyway." Draco raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. "You'd be okay with that, wouldn't you?"

"Of course not, I'd kill you first," I answered furrowing my brow. "What are you on about?"

"Theodore, you'd never betray me and I you-which is probably the kind of boat Kowalski and Quince share, understand?" I sat there, stunned that Draco Lucius Malfoy had outsmarted me. Sure, he was clever, but I'd never been on the receiving end of his wits. What's more, he wasn't finished: "So, you try to insert yourself between such friends, and of course you are ejected. I know why you hate werewolves mate, but keep this up and Kowalski's going to start hating you."

"Why, though?" I asked, desperate for one last chance that I could be right and for once she could be in the wrong. I was getting tired of apologizing to her all the time. "And how do you have such a level head about all this?" I demanded. "My friend Draco used to hate werewolves nearly as much as myself. What's changed?"

He grabbed the book from off his bedside table and tossed it at me. After a miserable catch, which involved my hands, arms and part of my stomach, I saw the title, Lupus est Natus, et Veneficus.

"It means The born wolf and the wizard," Draco explained. "The wording is a bit thick, given the time it was written, but it describes an encounter Merlin had with a werewolf who wasn't bitten, rather born with the curse."

"So even Merlin called it a curse?" I said quickly, but he was already shaking his head. "Now what?"

"He was conducting a study on muggleborns-" I gasped because I'd never heard him use that term before but he ignored me "-and chose to compare their situation to werewolves who were born like that. Even in Merlin's time, werewolves had to hide away and were seen as the dirt and grime of the magical world. The people who were infected via bite, a few had sympathy for but anyone who was bred was scorned, neglected and in some places, hunted. Then he changed his tune and compares born werewolves to purebloods."

"Huh?"

"I know, but listen: born werewolves and purebloods were taught to believe (in their own, respective circles) that they were better just because they happened to be born a certain way; something they themselves had no choice, or control over. If purebloods had been taught from the time we could hear that we were scum, we'd probably believe it."

I was quiet for a little while, trying to decipher what he was getting at before replying. "But, I don't hate werewolves because of what I was taught, I hate them for what they've done."

Draco nodded in understanding. "Yes but I think what Kowalski wants you to understand is that Quince hasn't hurt you or anyone, and you assuming that he's dangerous and deadly and wants to hurt everyone he knows is false. She's a bit preachy like that."

"A bit?" I repeated skeptically.

"You're the one who fancies her," he retorted, a triumphant smirk on his face. "So, what are you going to do?"

We checked the popular spots in Hogsmeade first; well I checked, Draco swaggered along in my wake grinning at my predicament. We met up with Blaise and Pansy in Honeydukes, and found Daphne dragging Astoria out of Zonko's. ("It's not proper for a young lady to be buying dungbombs!") It was only after a surreptitious glance into Madam Puddifoots that Blaise decided to mention he'd seen the enormous Hufflepuff duck into the Three Broomsticks awhile back. Glowering at him through my fringe, which had been sprinkled with an unnecessary amount of glitter thanks to the Madam's decoration over the door, I marched down the main thoroughfare to the pub, intent on charging on inside until Daphne, really the only decent female friend I had present, took pity on me and brushed most of the glitter out of my hair. ("There's a difference between humbled and humiliated.")

The pub was fit to burst with students, teachers and villagers alike. I couldn't even see Madam Rosmerta through the crowd of bodies, but for once I was grateful for the Canadian's unnatural height. He wasn't sitting down, he had rested his hands on the back of Lian's chair as she sat with her elbows on the table, talking seriously with Harry Potter, his friends, and several others from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Many were standing, it seemed only a very few had been able to find a chair, but through the tumultuous roar of general merriment and constant movement between the bar and the tables, they could have been easily ignored. I suppose that had been the point. If only they'd hosted the initial DA meeting in here last year, no one would've ever known about-Oh.

Slipping through the crowd like a shadow, I was able to come close enough to hear what Harry was saying to his assembled 'troops'.

"…just asked Professor McGonagall, and she said that circumstances were going to be different for this year."

"Well of course," the Hufflepuff with a face not unlike Draco's usual sneer said pompously. I think his name was Smith. "We don't have to hide our activities from a psychotic toad from the Ministry."

Several people laughed and murmured in agreement. Harry smiled wanly. "True, but unfortunately we'll need the permission to conduct a study group this large from the professor teaching the subject we're studying."

A younger Gryffindor boy, might have been a Creevy, said, "Professor Lupin won't mind!"

"But Snape would say no just to spite us," Weasley added sourly. "I bet you anything."

"He might not," Lian piped up. "You just have to get the right person to ask him." Harry gave her a very hopeful look, at which point she shook her head. "Well, not me. He doesn't hate me but I am probably the most impertinent Slytherin he's ever met."

So painfully true.

"Are they talking about that club Umbridge broke up last year?" Draco muttered beside me, and I nodded. I didn't see his face, but I did see him move past me to stand at the table, myself and the rest of the Slytherins in tow. The occupants surrounding the table, the people sitting down, all of them with the exception of Lian and Quince glared, frowned, or looked scared at this sudden interruption and invasion. Draco spoke clearly, his gaze locked on Harry Potter. "I can get Professor Snape's permission for you…on one condition."

"Hermione's not doing your homework for you!" Weasley snapped, a lanky arm rising in front of Granger as if to defend her or hold her back; it was difficult to tell at this distance.

Draco sent him a patronizing glance but waited for Harry to speak. A year ago he'd have baited Ron Weasley until the maroon-faced fool took a swing or did something equally damming to get him in trouble.

Harry was frowning, trying to keep the hate out of his eyes but to his credit, it was at least six years of hate. You couldn't get rid of that in a few seconds. Glancing at Quince, I knew that more than anyone.

"What is it?" Harry asked at long last, able to keep the bite out of his voice, but not the edge off his tone.

Draco cocked his head back, and I knew without checking that he had the smuggest expression on his face. "You have to let us, and any other Slytherins into this study group."

Many of the old DA members shouted their rejection of the very idea. Hermione, Harry and Ron looked stunned, for their part; Lian was gazing up at Draco with pride.

"There's no way that's gonna happen!" Finnegan, the boy who was always blowing things up, cried from where he stood behind Ron.

"And why not?" Lian challenged, but her voice was steady as she looked at the Gryffindor. "You'd rather ditch the entire concept altogether instead of breaking a social stereotype?"

"What would they want to learn defense against dark magic for anyway?" A Ravenclaw boy, pretty sure his name was Corner, demanded. "Half of them were raised to-"

"To what, Michael?" Daphne asked. The Ravenclaw looked shocked that she'd addressed him by his first name. "If you're all of the belief that my first word was a dark curse, let me assure you it was actually 'moon'. Astoria's was 'yucky' but that was more of a-"

"Daph!" Astoria hissed, pinching her arm.

Some of the protestors had deflated at their exchange. Sensing this, Blaise declared, "My mother's never supported You-Know-Who. She's always taught me against his vision. Just because we share a house doesn't mean we share a mind."

Harry winced at that, but I couldn't be sure why. More of the old DA members were nodding at his words. A few more laughed, but many remained unconvinced. I cleared my throat, "The dark arts have ruined my life forever. A Death Eater executed my mother after she got sick," I glanced at Quince and Lian, wondering if she knew what I meant by 'sick'. "And another Death Eater killed my father last June. I don't plan to roll over and die like my parents, I want to be able to protect myself, and my friends."

Draco extended his hand to Harry. "Do we have a deal?"

Harry gave him a searching look, but unlike Lian, he did not possess the skill to read minds. "What about you? What do you get out of this?"

My oldest friend shrugged, simply stating, "I'm just tired of making friends with the wrong sort of people. No offense," he added to me, and the other four standing behind us.

There was a tense moment, and I predicted Harry would refuse. After the years of abuse our houses had thrown at one another, I wouldn't exactly blame him. The Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One, looked to his friends first. Hermione shrugged, and Ron shook his head slightly. He then did about the smartest thing he could've done in that moment of indecision and looked to the American in the room. She didn't nod or shake her head, she didn't make any gesture other than a smile.

I wondered then and I wonder to this day if she put a thought or word of reassurance in his mind. She never admitted to doing so, but I can't otherwise understand why Harry took Draco's hand that next heartbeat and shook it firmly. "Deal."

Minutes later as we walked up the street, Lian threw an arm around Draco's ribs and squeezed the air out of his lungs. "I have never been so happy to know you! Underneath all the sneers and sarcasm there's an intelligent person: who knew!?" then she made the rounds to the Greengrass sisters, Pansy, Blaise (who had been the only one other than Astoria to hug back) before she turned to face me. And she hesitated.

I raised my arms halfway, before dropping them down to my sides. "I'm sorry for the way I acted before."

Pursing her lips she asked, "Which part?"

I was very aware of everyone listening though they pretended to be very interested in the sign that read Sold Out over a sale on salamanders in the nearby apothecary. At least Quince had the brass to look at us. Maybe that was a bad thing, but at least it proved my theory that he had no shame. In a flash of brilliance I turned to the werewolf and said, "I wanted to say I'm sorry for how I've behaved toward you, and for calling you a monster. That was wrong of me."

He grinned (dare I say) wolfishly. "Dude, I don't care if you call me names. I get called worse in my own home."

Lian nodded in affirmation. "He really does. From his own Alpha, no less."

Quince blinked. "Wait, how do you know that?"

She smiled knowingly. "Fuhgeddaboudit."

I cleared my throat to remind them I was there. "The point is, I've been feeling out of step since June and haven't felt like myself. And I think part of that stress came lashing out in the worst way and…" I trailed off, feeling entirely embarrassed and wanting nothing more than to sink into the cobbled street never to be seen again.

At least until Lian patted my shoulder. I felt a gushing relief flood through my veins and suddenly I didn't care that five of my oldest friends were standing with their backs turned and their ears perked curiously. I didn't care that one of Lian's oldest friends, who also happened to be a werewolf, was standing a few inches closer to her than I was. All that mattered was that she'd forgiven-wait, she had forgiven me right?

I looked a question at her and she nodded reassuringly. She really did know me, then. If she'd hugged me like the others I might've gone into a state of shock.

"Now then," she turned briskly to the five not-so-subtle eavesdroppers. "Draco, how do you plan to convince Professor Snape to agree to the DA?"

He turned as though in surprise that she was addressing him, and they led the group back up the street as though nothing had happened. "I was thinking of asking, but to be entirely honest the name has to go."

"What's wrong with Dumbledore's Army?"

"It served its purpose in defying Umbridge, but with us as a new addition then I think it should be given a new name."

Blaise snorted. "I don't think Potter will go for 'Draco's Army'."

He shrugged defensively. "Why? What's wrong with it?"

"They could call it 'Death Defenders'," Pansy suggested. "Kind of a stick it to the Death Eaters type of thing."

"That's a terrible name," Daphne disagreed, shaking her head. "Why would anybody feel the need to defend Death?"

"Why would a Headmaster need an Army? These people clearly don't use logic. We're just in time to save them from their own foolishness," Pansy said loftily, and Lian never explained to her why she'd started to laugh.

As we walked back up to the castle, I glanced down at Lian's hand more than once and felt an urge to take it, like I'd done on impulse right before the battle in the bowels of the Ministry. As the group walked close to the Whomping Willow, I looked towards the tree for only a second, but a second was all it took.

See, I'd been practicing, training myself to clear my mind before bed, when I awoke, before or after I did homework-just little ways and random times to try and strengthen my pitifully open mind. As I looked towards the tree, I thought for a single second that it was night time, that the grounds were covered with snow, and for three heartbeats I could've sworn I heard someone crying for help.

But then the moment had passed and I was staring at a tree in the middle of fall, while my friends continued their march up to the castle. Only Quince had paused when I had…probably because he'd gone to intercept my taking Lian's hand. "You okay Skinny?"

I shook my head. "I think so…wait, what did you call me?"

He grinned at me again. "Skinny. Skinny Brit-you never actually introduced yourself to me so that's what I call you."

"My name is Theodore Nott." I said frowning.

"No I know what your name is, I've known since Karaoke night, but Skinny fits you better."

"I don't like it."

He clapped me on the back, nearly knocking me to all fours. "Yeah it'll grow on ya. Come on."

Feeling somewhat like a sheep I let him herd me towards the castle after Lian and the rest.

At the end of a particularly chilly practice, Draco called them over into a huddle for a few last-minute announcements. He was holding a piece of parchment in the hand that wasn't nursing his collarbone-an injury for which none of the team would take the blame.

"There's been a change to the match this weekend," he said clearly, effectively silencing Blaise and Goyle's argument over who stood on whose foot. "Gryffindor's beaters clobbered each other during practice and they can't find replacements in time, so we're up against Hufflepuff instead."

Urquhart and Astoria pounded the air with their fists. "Too easy!"

"Don't be so sure," said Blaise dryly. "Smith's a brutal captain, and he made an entirely new line-up this year. Their try-outs was the stuff of nightmares, you could hear the second years crying from the library." He crossed his arms. "From what I understand, they didn't even fill all the positions the first time around."

Astoria frowned at him, lowering her hands to her side. "Buzzkill."

Lian glanced at the parchment Draco was holding. "What else does it say?"

"It's the team line-up," he said slowly. "And I'm questioning Smith's choices."

"Why?"

"The chasers are Smith, Applebee and Cadwallader; seeker is Summerby, and the beaters are two seventh years called O'Flaherty and Rickett…" he trailed off. Astoria looked thoughtful while he listed off names.

"I think Applebee's in my year. I think. She might be a year older."

Blaise moved to peer over Draco's shoulder at the parchment and groaned softly.

"What? What is it?" Urquhart asked.

"The Keeper," Blaise said through gritted teeth.

"What about them?"

"Put it this way," said Draco. "Depending on the way he rides his broom, he could block all three goals without moving."

Lian bit her tongue to keep from saying something she'd regret later. "Great." Curse his competitive genes!

The morning of the quidditch match dawned bright and beaming, not that the Slytherins knew until they crept out of the dungeons to join the living. The Quidditch team entered and joined their table in the hall amidst howls and cheers from their supporters clad in green. Pansy and Daphne had awoken early to paint the faces of anyone that wanted it. They'd gotten Lian before she'd awoken, so she now sported black and silver eyeliner which wasn't too bad, but she thought the dark green lip stain was crossing a few lines.

When the Hufflepuff Quidditch team arrived and nearly everyone else in the hall erupted into applause, Lian tried to not take it personally. She looked for Adam amidst the yellow chaos but wasn't terribly surprised when she couldn't find him. Tonight was going to be a big night for him, after all. If he was smart, he'd be sleeping in this morning. Lupin seemed to be-he was absent from the staff table, though his seat was not empty. Taking his place, and unnoticed by the excitable crowd, was Sirius Black. He was chatting pleasantly with McGonagall and Hagrid, talking animatedly with his hands. For the briefest of moments, he glanced towards the Slytherin table and locked eyes with Lian. She felt completely frozen as she stared into his silver eyes, but then the moment had passed and he'd looked away.

He'd probably come for the Quidditch match, and nobody told him Gryffindor wasn't playing. Well technically he'd come for Lupin, Lian thought pragmatically. But that won't be until moonrise.

"Hey," Theo captured her attention from where he sat across the table. "Good luck."

She smiled confidently. "Thanks."

"Come on," Draco called to the team. He led them out of the hall to a chorus of boos from the other three houses. The whole house, decorated with their black, silver and green war paint glared back intimidatingly, but otherwise did not retaliate. The effect was worth it, Lian thought as she took note of the looks of fear that crossed the majority of faces.

They changed in silence, no banter or criticism passing their lips: it was game time.

Standing on the field they awaited the opposing team, and also the crowd as the stands began to fill out. It was the first game of the season, so most of the school was bound to show up. Finally, the seven players clad in yellow marched out onto the field, and among them was a strapping, six foot seven, wild haired, golden eyed loup-garou.

While Madam Hooch listed off the rules and the teams stared each other down, Adam grinned across at her, and she spotted fangs where his canines were supposed to be. Focusing her ability she thought, Are you crazy? into his head.

He flicked his tongue over the offending teeth and thought, It's possible.

Draco and Zacharias shook hands, or rather, tried to break each other's knuckles. Afterwards they mounted their brooms and took up their positions in the air. On the whistle, Lian shot forward and claimed the quaffle before Smith could. Cradling the ball between her ankles she pulled a spiral dive to avoid him and Applebee, before passing it off to Blaise who took off around the edge of the pitch to dodge a bludger from Rickett.

That's around the time Lian registered the commentator, who had a rather dreamy and vague voice that could only belong to one person. "This is looking to be an exciting game, even though the Gryffindor's came down with a case of Flutterby Phalange." said Luna Lovegood over the megaphone. Lian gave the commentators box a look and saw Professor McGonagall looking nervous about this decision. "Here come Blitz Sanguini up to the new Keeper from Hufflepuff. He's really tall, I wonder how his broom keeps him airborne. . ." the crowd below was laughing, both at Luna's slaughtering of Blaise's name, and her diagnosis of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Lian sped up the field to get a better look at Blaise's shot. He feinted left and aimed right, the quaffle sailed beautifully through the air when Adam's hand appeared out of nowhere and caught it. He threw it to one of his teammates immediately, and Lian swerved to give pursuit, meanwhile her brain was still registering what she'd just seen. He'd caught the quaffle single-handedly. . .

We're doomed. A part of her whispered. He's big, quick and he's got a supernatural advantage. We're oh so doomed.

". . .now that big Hufflepuff player's got the quaffle, I can't remember his name, it's something like Bibble - no, Buggins-"

"It's Cadwallader!" said Professor Mcgonagall loudly from beside Luna. The crowd laughed. Lian raced up the field and soared alongside Cadwallader, knowing perfectly well that he'd drop the quaffle if she punched it from out of his arm-but she'd tried that last year against Ravenclaw and she'd earned a foul. Goyle smacked a bludger at Cadwallader, who ducked but dropped the quaffle where Urquhart, who was flying below, was able to seize it. In unison, she and her fellow chaser shot into the air and climbed several feet before flipping back and zooming up the pitch again. Lian flew guard for Urquhart, which meant that if either Rickett or O'Flaherty tried to hit the chaser in possession, she'd take the attack to keep the other chaser free to score.

WHOOSH! Sure enough, a bludger from O'Flaherty came careening through the air toward Urquhart. Lian swerved to take the hit, and it crashed into her right arm, before it zoomed away again. The crowd shouted below, and she knew that several of them had to be shocked that she would willingly take a direct hit, but to be honest she didn't feel a thing. She glanced at her metal arm to make sure it wasn't dented or horribly disfigured, before turning to watch Urquhart make the first goal. Adam had drifted off to one side to watch her, see if she was alright.

. . .which gave her a terrible idea.

"I don't think the bludger actually hit her, you know there's a man who invented a broom that has a shield charm upon it-which sounds like a good idea initially but then nobody could mount the broom because they kept bouncing off of the charm. . ." Luna was telling the crowd, while McGonagall leaned over to announce the score.

"Ten-zero, to Slytherin!"

"You alright?" Draco called as they flew alongside each other briefly. "That hit had to break something."

Lian flashed her silver wrist at him. "I'm fine."

Grinning, he shot away in pursuit of the Snitch. Lian caught up to Smith and blocked him from making a goal against Astoria. Blaise swooped in and stole the quaffle, becoming Rickett's next target. Lian dived, attempting to make it in time, but Crabbe beat her to the punch, literally, and whacked the bludger toward Adam.

"Nice shot!" she called to him as she flew past, catching the quaffle as Blaise performed a Reverse Pass, where he tossed the quaffle over his shoulder at her. She had Smith, Cadwallader and Applebee shooting towards her, so she took off in a Woollongong Shimmy. Reaching the goal posts relatively unhindered, she charged directly towards Adam, whose golden eyes grew larger the closer she came.

"I think Lian's forgotten how to play Quidditch, she's headed straight for the Keeper, showing no intent of throwing or passing the ball. Maybe they're about to do something American-though I think someone said Adam was from Canada. I wonder which sport is more popular in wizarding Canada, because the muggles play this mad game on ice called-oh!" Luna gasped along with the rest of the crowd at what happened next.

Within inches of a collision, Lian stopped her brooms momentum abruptly, while the end rose up and flipped her forward, until she was hanging by her right hand from her broomstick alongside the Hufflepuff Keeper. The quaffle was no longer in her possession, as she'd thrown it into the middle goalpost midway through the flipping process. Once this registered with the onlookers and the team members, the Slytherin supporters went wild.

"ARE YOU INSANE!?" Adam roared at her. He watched as she hauled herself back onto her broom, smirking in satisfaction. "Don't look so pleased, there's no way that'll work again!"

"No," Lian agreed with a nod. "But there are other things I'm willing to try." She took off into the air, leaving him a bit on edge. Serve him right for playing in his condition. If he'd been playing in normal circumstances, his wolf side wouldn't be so overly concerned about her safety, which was causing him to be distracted where she was concerned.

The game lasted another half hour, the chasers wrestling over the quaffle for any and every opportunity to score a point. Astoria saved most of them, except for a few well aimed shots from Smith; while Adam saved every shot that Lian wasn't involved with-a pattern that the whole pitch picked up on rather quickly. Luna alternated between actually commenting on the players, to different things she'd noticed about today, including but not limited to the weather. McGonagall kept them up to date with the score though, and Hufflepuff led by a small margin.

"Sixty; fifty, to Hufflepuff!" was the most recent announcement when finally, it happened. With a sudden swerve of his broom, Malfoy seemed to punch the air, before withdrawing something small and gold from his left sleeve.

"Oh, is it over already?" Luna asked into the megaphone, as the whole of the green clad supporters erupted. Lian fell into formation with her team, as they made a victory lap over the stands before heading in for a landing. Already, several of their supporters had run out onto the field to meet them. Lian spotted Daphne brandishing a banner emblazoned with the phrase, My sister's a Keeper! Daphne tackled her younger sister in a fierce hug, dropping the ladylike exterior for a precious moment. Many people clapped her on the back, someone called her invincible, Pansy and Millie both gave her a bone crushing hug.

"I thought you were dead, many times in the last hour I was convinced you'd died!" Daphne yelled to Lian from where she stood suffocating Astoria.

"It'd take a lot more than a bludger to take her down," said Theo, who had been a victim to Pansy's war paint path. Lian laughed at the sight of him with scales all over his cheeks. "She was flying faster than sight in some parts-Hufflepuff never stood a chance."

"We're celebrating in the common room!" someone, probably Pansy, cried for all to hear. "Come on, let's go!"

Lying in wait for her just outside of the locker room, not Theo or even Adam, but Sirius Black. Not having seen him up close in his human form since…well since the last time she'd had two flesh arms, Lian gave him an odd grimace. "Hello."

He smiled in a way that made her arm hairs stand on end. "You're an excellent flier. Of course if you'd played against Gryffindor today you'd have lost, but," he shrugged. "That's neither here nor there. I wonder if I could steal you away from your victory for a quick word?"

Astounding. He'd complimented, belittled and invited her in the same breath. Lian had half a mind to tell him off but her curiosity was stronger than her indignation. "I'll give you five minutes." And so she followed him away from the pitch. He walked like someone who had been taught manners, but no longer cared to display them. It was interesting to look at, Lian thought privately, with his hands clasped behind his back, head held high in pride but his shoulders slouched and he dragged his feet as he moved. She also imagined that whoever had taught him proper manners wouldn't care much for his butterbeer belly.

Not that she was one to judge; but while she'd never taken and etiquette class in her life, she'd always been taught to walk with conviction, as if she had a destination in mind, even if it wasn't true. The last thing a kid should do was walk around a big city like New York and appear to be lost.

She waited for him to speak first, even if he waited until they were standing in the shadow of the Forbidden forest before doing so. "I'm curious, what model broom do you use?"

Lian blinked. "I call it Sky Shatter." she answered simply, but didn't believe he'd led her all this way alone to exchange broom tips.

He raised his eyebrows, his expression thoughtful. "Never heard of that series before. Is it strictly sold in America?"

She shook her head. "It's not sold anywhere. I made it."

"You-?" he stopped still, eyes wide as he felt torn between disbelief and awe. She might've lowered her mental defenses the closer they walked to the dark forest. "How? When?"

Sensing there was a test in here somewhere, or maybe he just really wanted to know, she launched her explanation. "In shop class back in my third year. We were supposed to learn about how the manufacturers strip down broomsticks to inspect for mistakes, curses or some form of foul play. Halfway through the project I read a book on broom making and how they determine how fast a broom can ride, the stability required to keep the rider from being thrown off mid-flight, and the special effects a certain kind of wood can harness and release while in use. I practiced on a cleaning broom in my spare time and by the time I was done it was hardly recognizable. I mean, I had to surrender it to a professional study, to make sure it wasn't dangerous and fulfilled all the requirements for a legal broom model, but after that I was able to brand it and keep it for my own. I'm not allowed to sell until I graduate, and even then I'm supposed to get an apprenticeship somewhere, but all this to say, you can't have my broom."

Sirius Black pointed vaguely towards the empty pitch. "You made that…from a cleaning broom?"

Lian shook her head. "No, I only practiced with a cleaning broom. What you saw me use was carved and spelled by my own hand."

He scrutinized her for half a minute before saying, "Are you sure you're a Slytherin? Because you sound like a Ravenclaw I used to know."

"You mean like a hundred years ago when you rode to school on horseback?" she asked cheekily.

Black was rather offended by that. "It's been less than twenty years, for your information! A hundred…how old do you think I am?!"

She bit back a smile. "Not as old as you could be but not as young as you want to believe."

He considered wringing her neck, she saw it written all over his face, eyes and mind. Then he tossed back his head and barked out a laugh. "If you'd gone to school the same time as me, I'd have either adored you or hated you."

"Well I go to school with your Godson, so which is it?"

"Somewhere in the middle," he shook his head. "Listen, about the last full moon…" I knew it. "Your Animagus form is quite unique. Fact is, I don't think I've ever seen anyone with a magical beast as their counterpart…"

"Clearly you've never met a Native American or someone who studied at Uagadou." Lian crossed her arms and leaned her shoulder against the nearest tree trunk. "They know their stuff."

"Is that a fact?" Black replied absently. He didn't care that she could turn into a wampus, no he was curious for some other reason. His thoughts and memories churned before her, and it would be so easy to dive in but she was hesitant. She didn't want to risk going too deep into his mind; what if she got stuck in his prison memories? She shivered but he didn't notice. "Could I see your arm?"

Lian's more impish side was tempted to show him her right arm but she held up her left, rolling up the sleeve of her hoodie so he could get the full picture. The steel glinted dully in the sunlight as she flexed the fingers and wiggled the thumb at him, rolled the wrist and whatnot so he could comprehend the prosthetic limb in all its glory. He looked a question at her and she gave permission, so seconds later he was holding her arm, feeling its bare weight and shaking his head in wonder. She stayed quiet for a little while, before finally asking, "Are you curious about my animagus form or why I protected you back in the Ministry?"

Sirius Black winced at the mention of that pleasant experience. "Both. You're so young, far too young to have to face down that evil woman."

Lian felt a smile tugging at her lips as she said, "In America we'd call her an evil bitch." Sirius laughed.

"Honestly, though. By rights I should've died or been mortally wounded, or you could have suffered a worse fate than this," he shook her steel arm to emphasize his point. "I have been reflecting on it for months and I can't imagine why you'd bother to save, protect or defend a withered man who came to this school over a hundred years ago on horseback."

She shrugged in response to his eyes intently latching onto hers. "I could tell you it was instinct, but I doubt you'd believe me."

"You've an instinct to protect almost complete strangers?" he asked skeptically.

"From evil bitches, yeah." She watched him struggle quietly before finally saying, "Look, I've got a victory party to go to in the dungeons, which is surprisingly not the strangest sentence to exit my mouth. Whatever you really want to ask me, just say it or let me go back."

Black released a long exhale and ran a hand through his long hair. "If I'm wrong, then this won't make any sense…"

"Let's assume you're right, then."

"…Do you know…that is to say, have you ever met anyone by the name of Roman?" asked Sirius Black.

In several flashes she saw him walking towards her in the Alchemy wing at Ilvermorny. Saw him looming over her by the glowing lake. Felt him pull her back before a blast of fire consumed the space she was about to cross. Watched him standing on the edge of the roof with Gunner. Fished her out of a crowd of No-Majs and some very pissed off Scourers. Standing at her desk as she tackled him from behind.

Lian squinted and tilted her head in confusion. "Who?"

Black had kept a close eye on her expression and seemed dissatisfied with her reaction. "He's a tall bloke with dark hair, proud silver eyes and wears a load of black. He goes by the name Roman: ever met someone like that in all your life?"

The lie came as quickly, and as smoothly as the false reaction. Lian shrugged and shook her head, "Not that I can recall… Is he important?"

The wizard bit his tongue, trying to hide his disappointment. "He used to be. And I suppose it was a long shot to begin with…you can return to the castle. Thank you for speaking with me, Kowalski."

"Call me Lian," she replied simply, before turning her back on him and walking away. Call me Liar.