I am so sorry that I haven't updated. I really am, I've just been really busy with school and activities...yeah, that's pretty much it, school and activities. That being said, I won't be updating for a while. How long is a while, you ask? Well...I don't exactly know. But it will be a while. In the meantime, if you are a Percy Jackson fan, you could read my friend Motomo's story, which is called Return of the Labyrinth (the title has changed). It is getting pretty intense, so now would be a really opportune time to start reading it...or any time, really...

This chapter isn't action-packed, but it sets up action-packed events for future chapters. Again, I'm sorry I've been absent from fanfiction and will be absent from fanfiction for such an extended period of time. As soon as I can update, I will. Make sure to review, because Motomo is really the only one that's been involved with that. At all. Seriously guys, it would be really motivating if you just left a quick comment.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

-Seshat 3

The sun had barely tainted the sky pink when Ron's response came. Kassia had been awake for only a few minutes, after Shard had whined to be taken out. Shard had been running around the pond and yapping at her reflection in the crystalline water. Kassia had been reading one of the fourth-year books that she had found in her trunk (she had ordered them in the middle of the school year for review). She sighed, feeling bored with the familiar material. She had accomplished fifth year spells, no problem, so a fourth year book was just downright dull.

Suddenly, the Weasley's owl landed in front of her and pecked her hand until she looked up from her book. It dropped the letter in front of her feet and flew away.

It read:

Kas,

Sounds good. We'll arrive in your fireplace at around noon next Tuesday, your time. Sorry it couldn't be sooner; some cousins of mine are visiting during the week. And about the dog...my mum is all right with you bringing one, so long as you clean up after it. But you best keep it away from Fred. He's dead afraid of them. We're shopping for school before term starts, so we'll be sure to stop at Gringotts whenever you need and head to Diagon Alley. Let me know if you can make it.

-Ron

Kassia whistled gently for Shard, who came bounding up to her, covered in mud and soaked through with pond water, but wagging her tail adorably. Before the puppy could track dirt all over the house, Kassia scooped her up in her arms and held her away from her body. Kassia immediately carried Shard to the bathtub, which she filled with warm water. She didn't have any dog shampoo, so she she had to make do with a washrag and warm water.

Shard hated the bath; she tried to escape the tub unsuccessfully throughout the ordeal. When she had been toweled off, she barreled off indignantly through the hallways, yipping madly.

For the rest of the afternoon, Kassia worked on her spellcasting. She had been able to levitate and summon and manipulate objects for ages, and she had no one to practice charms or jinxes on. So she researched some more advanced and much darker things.

Transfiguration was always tricky because of its lack of defiance; it wasn't always a matter of "working" or "not working". There was always lots of gray area in between.

She'd been particularly fascinated with the idea of animagi (people who were able to transform into animals at will), and had thought of becoming one for a while. She'd even done extensive research on the Sorce (the wizarding web) and found information about the procedure; it was long, meticulous, and painful, essentially. And all anmagi had to register with the ministry, whom she was fast losing her patience with. She would not become one now, but she would absolutely consider becoming an animagus in the near future; after all, the magic wasn't that difficult. It would just take time.

Remembering, suddenly, the publicly-accessible textbooks available through the Ministry's website, she decided to look further into some intriguing topics that she had stumbled across. She ran her mouse over the various titles, trying to pick just one that she was interested in. Many of these titles, she found, related to Dark Arts. She didn't have access to any of the really deranged ones (bummer) but she was still able to expose herself to some of the nasty things that wizards could do to each other. Torture curses and serums and spells that mangled you, objects riddled with so many incantations that to touch one was to risk your life...these were just a few of the topics covered in them. And her father had known about all of them.

Hours later, when it became too dark and Kassia had to turn on electrical lighting (courtesy of the solar panels on the roof) the fireplace began to spark and sputter. Kassia pulled her wand out of her robe pocket, flinging her wet, newly-washed hair out of her face. She stood up from her crude workstation, where she had been examining a strange fungus that had grown on a package of forgotten strawberries in the fridge (it was really more for her amusement than for an actual purpose).

Out of the fireplace stepped..."Ardoin?" Kassia asked over her wolf pup's little yips and snarls. She lowered her wand. Shard had made her way over to the tall man and begun sniffing around his ankles. Once satisfied, she made her way over to her master. Kassia picked up her puppy and began smoothing the wolf's fur.

Ardoin nodded grimly and spoke with his heavy French accent. "Hello, miss. It has been a while since we last spoke. My sympathies about your parents. They were good people. But," he continued, brushing a stray bit of ash off of his navy blue robes, "you must be taken somewhere else now. You cannot live independently under the age of seventeen."

Kassia frowned and shook her head curtly, sticking her wand in her robe pocket. She rubbed the collar of the robe nervously."Thank you for the offer, but as I said in my letter-"

The skin around Ardoin's eyes crinkled as he fought to bight back a smile. "Yes, the Ministry officials found your letter quite...how do you say...amusing." He immediately lost his smile when he caught sight of Kassia's frightening glare. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "But you will have to come with me so we can arrange your housing in the foster-"

Again, Kassia shook her head. "I've managed here just fine, thank you, and I'm really not in need of any-"

Now Ardoin cut Kassia off. "Miss, you obviously haven't been informed...your parents never had a will, and the state of your primary residence, California, has withheld your parent's fortune from you. You are penniless." He paused for a moment. "Well, until you are eighteen."

Kassia nodded patiently. "Yes, but in the wizard world...well, I had plenty of Galleons in my Gringotts account."

Ardoin sighed. "Kassia, it is not up to me to decide wizarding law. You really must come with me. The Wizengamot must decide what is to be done with you."

Kassia pressed her fingers to her temples. "All right, Ardoin. I'll go with you," she sighed, shifting her gaze up to meet his. "But if I disagree with anything that they decide, I'm leaving. To be honest, I've wasted enough time with the incompetent wizarding government."

Ardoin smiled again, genuinely. "You are an...interesting girl Kassia." After a few moments of silence, he added, "I hope that one day you find your true last name."

Kassia gazed at the sleeping puppy in her arms. "Consider it done."

The Ministry building was a beautiful place. She had never been there before; when she and Dumbledore had negotiated her allowed magic use outside of school, the Ministry had come to her. She hadn't liked the officials one bit. They were incredibly pompous, and large-headed, and really not all that bright. They obviously got their power from their wealth; Kassia could tell by the height of their heads and the gold flecks in their robes. It had taken forever to get it through their thick skulls how her being able to use magic outside of the Hogwarts campus would be used to help people.

They entered the Ministry through the Visitors Entrance (which was, to Kassia's surprise, was through a telephone booth in downtown London). Ardoin entered a long series of numbers, and spoke a few words into the phone, and, suddenly, two visitor's badges popped out of the place where the coin slot should have been. Then, they descended into the Ministry of Magic.

The black marble walls were decorated ornately with golden crown moldings and carvings depicting scenes of famous witches and wizards. At the center of the grand entrance hall (that seemed to be what it was) stood a beautiful golden fountain of an older warlock and a young witch with their wands extended. Jets of water streamed from the tips of their wands, and below them a ring was assembled of various elves (including a smaller, wrinkled-looking creature that Ardoin identified as a House Elf), centaurs, and other fae. Kassia felt a pang of recognition when she saw the depictions of theses creatures; they looked uncannily like her friends from underground.

Multiple wings led off of the room from which they had entered; one led to a long line of elevators, and another to a long row of fireplaces, from which a random assortment of witches and wizards were entering and emerging.

Kassia found herself being tugged on the arm by Ardoin seconds after she had taken in all of this; she must have been gawking. He led her toward the elevator corridor and pointed out the one on the far left, with the least amount of traffic. Ardoin debriefed her on her current situation; she would have very little say in her fate, and her presence there was merely a formality, really. This didn't come as a surprise to her.

They finally exited the elevator on the bottom floor (it was pointless to call it a basement as the entire building was underground) which had a slightly musty smell. Kassia noticed that it was only one corridor long. A single hallway stretched for as far as she could see. Lining the walls, which were covered in the same black tile as upstairs (but now it looked menacing) were doors, which, as Ardoin had informed her, led to courtrooms. Hers was the third door on the left.

Suddenly, Kassia felt very small. Her breathing became slightly more difficult, and she had to use the side wall to steady her swimming vision. It felt as if a rug had been pulled out form underneath her feet. When she walked out of the courtroom, her fate would be decided, her whole life would be completely and totally changed, she would live in a home where children with no families and whom nobody wanted were sent until seventeen, or given away to a family who might not even accept her...what would she do what would she...

Slowly, she began to regain her breath. Everything was going to be fine. A clear mind. Deep breaths. She could get through this. Would. Would because she was who she was; a genius.

She straightened and drew herself taller. Her black formal pants and blouse made her feel empowered. She arranged her facial features as best she could; her mother had always called her her her little Flame, bright but constantly shifting in the wind, face always molding, adapting, changing. Her mother had been the same, as you could read her emotions as if she had shouted her feelings blatantly to you. Kassia could not think of her mother now, could not be her daughter. She had to perform as if none of this bothered her. She had to be an adult.

Deep breaths.

Kassia straightened and pulled her sweaty palm away from the wall. Ardoin was gazing at her with a concerned expression, his dirty blonde eyebrows making the space between them crinkle. Kassia smiled up at him as confidently as she could (although it probably appeared more like a grimace).

"I'm sorry, Ardoin," she said. "It's been pretty overwhelming...I just...needed a moment."

Ardoin nodded at this, running his finders through his neatly-parted, swept-to-the-side hair. "If you say so, mademoiselle...anyway, your hearing will begin five minutes. Because I am your social service provider and wizard representative in the wizarding world, I will be allowed in." He licked his lips nervously and, Kassia noticed, his French accent became so pronounced his words were nearly indistinguishable.

"Why are you nervous, Ardoin?" she asked. Now it was her turn to appear concerned.

Ardoin sighed. "Often, Kassia, children like yourself, orphans," he began, giving her an apologetic glance when she cringed at the last word, "well, they are...taken advantage of. And there is only so much that I can do yo help you. That is one thing in this government that I do not agree with, the way that orphans are treated. People in this world, the world of witches and wizards, are extremely susceptible to dangerous things...potions and spells gone wrong, that kind of incident. What does the government do with the orphaned children whose parents never made a will? They bring them to the courts, assign them to a family wanting a child and, since the child can own nothing until they are seventeen, they keep the child's parent's possessions until the child turns seventeen and tax them heavily until the children are able to retrieve them." He paused. "It upsets me, because it almost seems...seems like..."

"Like the government is turning these incidents into a business," Kassia finished for him solemnly.

Ardoin nodded. "But it is important to remember, mademoiselle, to respect the Wizengemot, charm them, figuratively, of course, if you must, but do not speak out of turn. No matter how disrespectful these people are, it is important to remember that they hold all of the power."

Kassia nodded she checked the delicate silver watch on her wrist. "Time for the hearing-" she began, until a pinched-looking lady stepped into the hallway.

"Kassia?" She asked in a nasal voice, "It is time for the hearing dear. And of course, you're welcome in, too mister..."

"Ardoin," Ardoin finished, shaking the lady's hand, "Kassia's representative."

They followed Ms. Chary (Kassia had read her name tag) into a large, dimly-lit courtroom with wood paneling and simple, cobweb-covered chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The chandeliers cast a flickering glow over the room because, Kassia noticed, they were lit with real candles. The floor was dull, grey marble.

In the center of the room, in front of the Wizengamot representatives and the spectator's seats (these were empty) was a chair. The chair was made of wood and looked hard-backed and uncomfortable. And chains were wrapped around it in a beautiful, terrifying pattern of metal. Kassia stopped dead at the sight of it, her gaze fixed. She would not be tied up; she'd had enough of that for a lifetime during her visit to Fowl's manor...

Ms. Cary chuckled. "It's okay, sweetie, we only make the naughty criminals sit in the chair. Here, I'll get you a comfy chair. Would you like that?"

Kassia, barely containing he self control after having been called "sweetie", nodded tersely. After Ms. Cary had returned with a chair, and Ardoin had taken his seat in the spectator's benches, the hearing began.

It was bone-dry, as dull as one of Mr. Bone's History of Magic lectures, and there was nowhere to sleep. Kassia sighed throughout the whole thing as the members of the Wizengemot debated her fate. When they told her to speak, she stood, gladly, and did so.

"Ladies and gentleman, I honestly and genuinely understand your concern for me, being parent-less and, for the moment, penniless in the Muggle world. However, I can assure that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Allow me to also remind you that, earlier this year, you granted me permission to begin using magic outside of Hogwarts. I was deeply honored that you trusted me so much, and I would be honored if you, again, were able to see that I am decidedly mature enough to be independent. Thank you."

Finally, a decision was reached. The head of the Wizengemot stepped forward after the group had convened to announce the verdict.

"As in the Muggle world, children are not permitted to be unsupervised until they come of age, we, the Wizengemot Tribunal, consisting of only our necessary members, have decided that in the case of Miss Kassia, formerly known as Banks, will be brought to Saint Mungo's Hospital Foster Center, and will remain there until the age of seventeen or until she has reached the end of her wizard training or if she is adopted by a family, wizard or Muggle. In addition, as her parents had no will, the inheritances that will be passed down to her, that is, the family fortune, will be suspended until she is of age, by the state of California. However, she will have the ability to retrieve select items beginning today. She will have access to her Gringott's account. Miss, you may take your leave."

Kassia rose slowly, nodded to the Wizengemot, and strode out the door.

Relief flooded through her; it could have been much, much worse.

Ardoin followed her out of the room with a piece of parchment in his hand. He did not speak until they were back in the cabin.

"You were very fortunate," he said simply. "It was definitely a good thing that your fortune was controlled by the Muggle government. And they are letting you take..." he trailed off, opening the folded-up piece of paper in his hand, "all of these. I will leave and return with containers for your move." With that, he turned sharply on his heel. The fire whisked him away.

Kassia never considered running away. She would leave too much behind; her projects, her friends (this was new to her), her schooling. So she began to go through the list and bring things from around the cabin.

Many of the items on the list were at her primary California residence, but she was able to collect many things, and a few things for her life at the foster home. She spent a lot of time roaming the halls, memorizing the paint of the walls, the smells of the old cabin, the incense that her mother had insisted on burning. Memories rushed through her, running across her vision like a picture show, of this house, of her other one, of her life before her parents had gone...

Her father, before he was a wealthy business man, dressed simply and smiling, young-looking, listening to her read Alice and Wonderland, her favorite childhood story, underneath her tree.

Her mother, treating a wounded kitten that they had found on the side of the highway not far from her home in California, her careful, paint-stained hands wrapping its injured paw.

Her father making his "big pitch" to the world, his Public Defibrillator. It turned him into a millionaire in months.

Her parents mingling with other wealthy people, and her six-year-old self babbling knowingly about the inner workings of the defibrillator, shocking the party guests.

Her mother fighting with her father about never being home.

Her parents finally making up, her father agreeing to sell the company...soon.

And how her parent's faces had aged over the course of only a few years...

"Kassia!" Ardoin called to her. She lifted her head from the couch, rubbing the sand out of her eyes. The sun had been up for ages; it was now nearly noon. She was expected at St. Mungo's at six o'clock this evening, but they had much to take care of before then. Most of the cabin had been cleared out. Now, Kassia realized, she would have to face another challenge; the building where her parents had been murdered.

Ardoin had moved most of the things that wouldn't be necessary at that foster home into a storage vault at Gringotts. Now, he stood by the fireplace, looking impatient and beckoning for her to follow.

Her old home looked exactly as it had in her dream (except for, thankfully, the strange glow and the ominous wind). Her parents had always loved light and solitude and Victorian architecture, much like herself. So this had been their dream home.

Kassia bit her lip and forced herself to move as swiftly as possible though it, not even gazing at the spectacular views outside the numerous windows, not really looking at any of her mother's paintings, which had been celebrated throughout the art community. And she avoided the room in which they had died at all costs.

Ardoin, as in the cabin, covered furniture with blankets and moved some of the bigger boxes of things into rooms in which they could be stored.

Finally, as the sun had begun to set, it was done. Kassia did not bother to memorize this house; there was nothing left here that didn't remind her of her parent's death. She pushed this place to the furthest corner of her mind and promised herself that she would do whatever was possible to never have to return here again.

She turned eagerly away from the sight of her past life, ready to push past it. Finally, they left, and arrived in Kassia's new life.

St. Mungo's was actually a very nice place; the caretakers were pretty friendly,actually, and none of children seemed depressed.

The building itself was very nice; cottage-like, in a way. And homey. The roses in the gardens added a lovely floral aroma, and Kassia found herself warming up to the place very quickly.

A middle-aged man with streaky grey hair greeted them at the front gate. Ardoin muttered a goodbye and Disapparated. She was a few minutes late (exactly thirty-two) but the man did not chastise her for it. He led her through hallways decorated with children's artwork, with wood molding and carvings of various flora and fauna, until they reached a small, bright kitchen.

Kassia was greeted first by the smells of wonderfully savory cooking, then by a spry-looking old couple (Victoria and Louis were there names) that, apparently, ran the kitchens. Behind them, through a doorway left ajar, Kassia could make out creatures working in the kitchens. She recognized them immediately; they were house-elves, slaves, essentially, and she had to bite back a rude remark. She was pretty firmly against slave labor.

She was seated in a group of girls that looked around her age. She was very amused to find that girls and boys sat at different tables, even though they were allowed to sit together if they really wanted.

Kassia started up a conversation with the blonde girl sitting to her right. The girl was incredibly shy, and practically jumped out of her chair when Kassia said hello. Her name was Haidee. She had shifty grey-blue eyes and was constantly doing something, whether it be tapping her fingers on the table or sweeping her hair back into a pony tail or tugging on her pendant necklace. When Kassia asked about it, Haidee replied simply, "From my parents," with a light German lilt. Kassia did not bring up the subject further.

After they had finished dinner, Kassia and Haidee walked back to their room together (Kassia had requested Haidee as her roommate). No one, Kassia noticed, had offered her any sort of greeting. She wasn't offended, she just found it odd.

When they were settling down for bed (just like Hogwarts, she got her own four-poster), Kassia took out her wand and waved it a few times, muttering spells and incantations, sending Shard little balls of light to chase. Haidee watched her fixedly, seeming mesmerized by her magic.

Kassia smiled and put away her wand. "So," Kassia began, swinging her knees over the side of her bed, "which magic academy do you go to?"

At this, Haidee bit her lip. "I don't go to one," she whispered softly, "I'm a Squib."

Kassia frowned, and then her eyes widened. She began to speak rapidly. "I'm very sorry, really, I had no idea...I didn't mean to-"

She was taken aback when Haidee smiled. "Thank you. For not...you know..."

Kassia shook her head. "I don't...what..."

Haidee sighed. "The other girls, well...they have something against Squibs. Actually, the whole wizard world does. We are non-magical. Not equal."

Kassia shook her head. "I don't believe that. From what I've heard, you're very clever and...I just...I don't think that that's right..."

Haidee smiled again. "Thank you, again." She paused for a moment. "So, does this mean we're friends?"

Now it was Kassia's turn to smile. "Of course it does."

So, what did you think? What do you think of this Haidee character? I honestly don't know if she's going or staying...but if you have an opinion on it, leave a review or PM me or whatever, and I will take your opinion into consideration. Are you writing a fanfic that you would like me to read? Well then, again, send me a PM or review.

Motomo: Hey, it's okay, I don't expect you to post a review on every single chapter. :) But thanks for posting one. And thanks for your continued support, I cannot thank you enough!

And to all of my follow/favorite-ers, thank you, gracias, merci! :)

Farewell for now, everybody! :(