Chapter Eleven

"Don't worry, it can't be too bad. Our parents agreed, after all." Etain whispered through gritted teeth.

"That doesn't reassure me." Pansy said dryly.

"Fine then. Draco and my parents agreed." She rolled her eyes.

"Today we will be swapping cultures, so to speak, in order to better understand those of mixed, Muggle or Wizarding heritage." Dumbledore announced.

"You mean we have to be like Purebloods?" A Gryffindor shouted out.

"Oh, lah die dah. I'm the Malfoy heir, worship at my feet!" Weasley put on a high pitched voice.

"Does this mean I have to go and find a hovel and trough?" Malfoy drawled. The Slytherins burst out laughing.

"It might be good for you to see how the other half lives, Draco!" Pansy exclaimed. "Might make you more compassionate!" Dumbledore ignored the chatter.

"To this end some parents have volunteered to talk about their respective cultures-" A red-haired, pump, middle-aged witch bustled through the doors.

"Weasley." Draco said flatly.

"Well, I suppose a Weasley should be here to represent since they've populated most of Gryffi-" Etain started acerbically and then moaned in horror as her mother walked in, in a daze staring at the ceiling.

"I can't believe Dumbledore's letting such trash into the school." Draco sniffed haughtily at the very obviously Muggle woman. Her wide blue eyes were staring at everything and she looked very frail, Etain hissed through her teeth, she couldn't believe her father had let this happen. She stalked over to her mother and led her to the front of the hall, feeling the Slytherins confused looks on her back.

"What are you doing here?" She whispered, half-concerned and half-angry. Her mother really didn't look well, she was thin and pale and her hands shook.

"I wanted to see some magic." She lifted her hand and waved it through the air, watching it with a vacant expression.

"What did dad say about that?" Etain asked, her mother giggled and whispered conspiratorially.

"He doesn't know. A nice lady with an accent came and picked me up, she seems very lonely. Everyone here does." She frowned slightly. "You're not are you?"

"I'm surrounded by friends mum, of course not." Etain insisted irritably.

"Am I embarrassing you? That's good, I like embarrassing you. I remember a parent's evening in Primary school… Oh she's very pretty, not lonely at all. Do you know her?" Etain's mother lifted he hand vaguely and gestured to a tall blonde in a shimmering robe gliding towards the front. Etain's eyes met Draco's, he'd gone slightly pink, she turned away from him furiously.

"That's Narcissa Malfoy, mum. Do you remember? I told you about Draco."

"I can't remember much anymore I'm afraid." She sighed.

"Miss Grey." Narcissa nodded to her as she walked past.

"Miss Grey, go back to your seat." Snape hissed quietly as Dumbledore stood up to talk again.

"I can't." Etain told him, hanging on to her mother.

"Why-" He started.

"You seem familiar, do I know you?" Etain's mother interrupted, Snape stared at her.

"I took your daughter shopping in Diagon Alley, Mrs. Grey."

"Call me Rebecca." She insisted.

"Of course." He said, bewildered.

"Do you know what I saw the other day?" Rebecca Grey remarked to the air. "Your father making me a cup of tea, I was sure the apocalypse had come but it hadn't. Why was that?" Etain looked at her strangely.

"I don't know mum."

"Allow me to introduce, Mrs. Weasley, Mrs. Malfoy and Mrs. Grey, who have all kindly volunteered to tell us about their lives and cultures."

"Hello." Narcissa and Molly Weasley said at the same time, both grimaced slightly.

"Is that a projection?" Rebecca asked her daughter, pointing at a ghost. Etain briefly explained what it was.

"How amazing."

"What's a projection?" Molly asked curiously.

"A picture made of light, in the technological sense anyway."

"Like an illusion then." Narcissa summarised haughtily. Molly glared but Rebecca smiled.

"You're happy, am I?"

"What?" Narcissa looked at her like she was insane.

"Mother… likes riddles." Etain explained awkwardly. "What can you put in a bucket that makes in lighter? A hole. Ha ha."

Narcissa glanced at her sharply and then something like compassion flitted across her face. Molly Weasley clucked and obliviously announced.

"Would you like to hear a Wizarding riddle my father told me?

What has a dual nature?

Upon which its life is run

A type that never features

Any day but one

Yet always to the public

It doesn't count among

Do you know the answer?" Molly asked merrily.

"A werewolf." A Gryffindor fifth year called out.

"That's right." She nodded. "Mrs. Malfoy, do you know any?" Her voice turned slightly cold.

"No." Narcissa answered shortly.

"A shame. So what subjects would you like to talk about, Mrs. Grey?" Molly smiled at her warmly, deliberately ignoring Narcissa.

"Grey. My favourite colour is black, as is my darlings'…" She blinked. "Why not communication, Etain tells me you have very strange methods of communication."

Narcissa frowned at her, Rebecca Grey didn't look older than her; what on earth had happened to make her mind go so strange?

"My maiden name was Black." She commented, disturbed.

"I knew a Black once." She commented dreamily and snapped out of it, talking about telegrams and Morse code.

Most people would have quickly lost interest in the subject if it weren't for Mrs. Grey's odd deliverance.

"…telephones, unfortunately, I like your clothes, where did you get them? Depend on…"

She finished by saying, "I got the impression that most communication in the Wizarding World isn't instantaneous, is that right?" She directed her question to Mrs. Malfoy and Weasley, they both started to talk at once.

"Some-"

"Owls-"

Narcissa narrowed her eyes and carried on.

"It mainly depends on the standard used. Birds are bought with varying degrees of reliability and-" She sneered slightly. "-expense. Floo calls are much like… telephone calls in some respects, although again, the standards of such communication rely on the maintenance and size of the chimneys, which is why, generally, it is used with frequency." She glanced at Mrs. Weasley again. "Although perhaps I should only speak for myself and the people I associate with, after all, some people cannot afford the expenses of Floo powder, although they are much less than that of birds, good ones in any case." She raked her eyes down Mrs. Weasley's plain and shabby dress, haughty look still in place. Mrs. Weasley had been growing gradually redder as Narcissa had continued to speak and the Gryffindors had broken out in angry muttering.

"How dare you speak about my family like that!" She exploded. Narcissa raised an eyebrow calmly.

"I have not said a word about your family, Mrs. Weasley, come, you are being unreasonable."

"Unreasonable! You shallow, snobbish, conceited-"

Narcissa yawed delicately.

"I am afraid, Madam, you are growing impolite, I was not brought up to stand for such things."

"No! You were brought up to lounge around in your mansion! Growing fat while your House-elves and husband work, do you have a brain in that pretty head of yours, or does your husband find it threatening? The pea-brained, peacock!"

Narcissa's eyes flashed, but she replied softly and pleasantly.

"The peacock that was promoted at every turn whilst your tinkers in squalor? How does that feel? Having a husband so incompetent he can't even succeed in a job a decent Wizard wouldn't even apply for."

Molly pulled out her wand with Narcissa quickly copying. Snape started forward, Dumbledore started to rise, the faculty started to file out from behind their seats, but most of the hall was to dumbstruck to move. Although Etain was quick to pull her mother out of the way and duck behind a table when curses started to fly.

It was quickly apparent that Narcissa was the more experienced of the two, and Mrs. Weasley's reactions were duller and her movements slower, the Gryffindors jumped to their feet and started to help her, which of course obliged the Slytherins.

"Ah, shit." Etain muttered as she saw what was happening, ah well, family loyalty took precedence, she crawled forwards under the table and turned to look around. Then swore again, her mother had disappeared. She dived out, carefully looking around and found her mother wandering between the tables with a dazed look on her face, with it still on her face as she was hit with a curse. She ran towards her mother on the floor and levitated her away fast, dodging some spells. Mrs. Grey was hit once more from the same direction, Etain glanced up and snarled.

Etain left her mother in the Hospital Wing with Madam Pomphrey and hurried back to the hall only to be met by sheepish Slytherins being escorted out by Professor Snape, followed by the Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Gryffindors.

"The 'fun' day has been cancelled for obvious reasons, mother and Mrs. Weasley were arrested and won't father be pleased about that, and we're all about to get slaughtered by Snape." Draco informed her quite calmly, waiting for the exclamations. None came, Etain glared at him, and went to get details from Pansy.

"What did I do?" He called after her, frowning. She just made a rude hand gesture over her shoulder. Draco turned to Blaise helplessly, he shrugged.

"Don't look at me, mate, why don't you talk to Goyle?"

"Nah, Goyle doesn't spend much time around her."

"Theo?"

"Maybe. What about Pansy?"

Blaise looked pointedly at where Pansy, Etain and Hermione were huddled together, shooting them occasional glares.

"Ah. Theo then."

"Good choice." Blaise clapped him on the shoulder and continued down to the Common Room.

"I have never seen such an imbecilic display from members of this house! I can't believe I have been driven to this but, one hundred points from Slytherin!"

Flint's jaw practically hit the floor.

"But Sir-"

"No buts! Do you really think that right under the Headmaster and the rest of the faculty's noses was the correct place to carry out an outright battle with the Gryffindors?" Snape's temple started to throb.

"The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws joined in too!" Flint whined.

"Flint, you sound like a two year-old, pull yourself together!" Snape snapped. "Slytherin is now banned from extra-curricular clubs including Quidditch for the rest of the month."

"What clubs?" Hermione almost wailed, the other Slytherins started, she and Flint had been the only ones who weren't too wary of an angry Snape to talk.

He ignored her outburst.

"The Headmaster has changed the 'fun' day he had planned, we now have the rest of the day to clean the Owlery, without magic."

That started a chorus of, 'That's not fair!' and 'What are the Gryffindors doing?!'

"The Hufflepuffs are doing some menial work in the Greenhouses, the Ravenclaws are dusting the Library, Madam Pince is also watching them. The Gryffindors are repairing the Hall with Filch."

"With magic?" Hermione demanded indignantly, Etain admired her courage, she was considering crawling into a huge hole and Snape hadn't even spoken to her.

"Yes, with magic." Snape rolled his eyes as if that were obvious.

"Etain shouldn't have to do anything, she didn't participate." Draco argued, in an effort to appease her. She was about ready to smack him, what did he suggest she do? Sit on a throne watching everyone and cracking a whip?

"Where was she anyway?" Greengrass demanded in an unpleasant tone. "A proper Slytherin would have stood by her House rather than crawling away on all fours!" Some of her friends nodded, Etain almost screamed with frustration.

"I was taking my mother to the Hospital Wing, as you know, Bitch, you were the one who put her there! You cursed her twice! A Muggle, you freaking coward!" She was almost blind with fury.

"That was your mother?" Draco asked confusedly.

Etain shut her eyes.

"Wasn't it kind of obvious?" She snapped.

"Oh." Draco blushed slightly as he realised why she was angry with him.

"Yes. Oh." She glared.

"Well how was I supposed to know?" Draco demanded.

"Uh, how about the fact everyone called her 'Mrs. Grey', or maybe the resemblance, or maybe that I got up to help her?"

"I wasn't listening." He shrugged. "Well, until it got interesting."

"Greengrass." Dean commented out of the blue. "Give me your wand."

"Why?" She asked belligerently.

"Now." Dean commanded.

"Yes." Snape agreed. "Your wand, Miss Greengrass."

"I don't have to." Greengrass asserted but she looked doubtful.

"What do you have to hide?" Dean asked pointedly.

"Nothing." She said quickly.

"Well then." Dean held out her hand.

"What if you attack me." Greengrass said mistrustfully, Dean's eyes widened innocently.

"Is there a reason to?"

"What if-if we're attacked by someone else? How could I defend myself?" She pointed out desperately.

"I hardly think your first year knowledge would be enough to defeat anyone who managed to get through the Wards." Dean answered derisively.

"Anyone can get lucky." She snarled but handed her wand over nevertheless.

"Priori Incantum." Snape muttered.

A piece of parchment appeared in the air and slowly started to smoke and burn.

"Badly powered burning hex." Flint observed interestedly. "Painful but it doesn't cause lasting harm."

That disappeared. There was a flash of light before it dissolved.

"Again, low-powered stunning hex. Works only on the incompetent, well, and Muggles and can cause illness for a short period of time. You know: Nausea, sicknes, etc. etc."

"Any form of harmful magic against a Muggle is disgusting." Etain hissed.

"I was in a fight, I didn't use them against your Mother." Greengrass sneered, making 'mother' sound like a bad word.

"Prove it." Etain snarled, and then almost kicked herself for having said such a stupid thing.

"I don't need to." Greengrass said haughtily.

"I saw you."

"Prove it." She answered smugly, flicking her hair back.

"Fine, ask Madam Pomphrey what's wrong with her then."

"Finish this argument later." Snape snapped, growing bored. "Everyone up to the Owlery." He waited for everyone to leave and then called Etain back. "You have a free day, don't do anything stupid."

Narcissa didn't react to the insults Molly Weasley threw at her as they sat in the Auror cell, she was too busy planning what she was going to say to Lucius. Thank Merlin she'd learnt Wandless magic, she didn't want to embarrass him any more than she had already. She fixed her hair and make-up, straightening her robes and removing the creases, he'd be mortified regardless... She sighed, hopeless. The very thing she'd been trying to avoid, becoming a mindless doll, and what was she doing? Fixing her make-up in a prison cell! Appearance is important, she told herself, firmly, Lucius would do the same. She had a brief mental image of Lucius applying make-up. Sort of. Just one thing, all she was asking! Just one thing without Lucius holding her hand and she'd be satisfied. She took a deep breath and tried to reassure herself.

Planning Balls- Something she'd been trained for since birth.

Writing Articles- Lucius checked them before they went near a publisher.

She got stuck.

Owls and Newts? She hadn't cheated obviously, although she distinctly recalled him helping her study...

Oh Salazar, the Weasley woman was right! Admitting defeat to a Weasley! She had no brain of her own! She-

"Uh, Mrs. Malfoy." Only then did she realise that she'd been hitting her head with the palm of her hand, Mrs. Weasley was looking at her confusedly.

"What?" She snapped, that got Molly ranting again, Narcissa was glad of the respite. She couldn't have dealt with it if the horrid woman sympathised, she still had some pride.

"Mrs. Malfoy, your husband is here."

I wonder how much he bribed the guard? I'm supposed to stay in here the rest of the day, I wonder if that will come under 'Business Expeditures' or 'Shopping', maybe I should provide for incarceration for next month's budget.

She started to giggle, I'm having a mental breakdown. She couldn't bring herself to be worried, after all Lucius would- Oh dear. She giggled again, she laughed even harder when she realised Lucius had been standing at the bars watching her with a bemused expression as she dissolved into fits of mirth, her laughter stopped abruptly when she realised Mrs. Weasley had also been watching. She stood and glided to the door, waiting patiently for it to open and then threw herself at Lucius and started to giggle again. He patted her hair awkwardly.

"I have realised something." Narcissa announced, hiccupping. "You don't mind editing my essays, buying me a mental ward, helping me study and getting me out of prison because you love me." He looked at her incredulously

"It took you thirteen years and an hour of introspection to realise that? Not to mention a rather worrying display."

He noticed their audience and almost blushed.

"Come along, Ci-Narcissa." He commanded curtly and swept out with her trailing behind him.

There was a pause as both the guard and Mrs. Weasley processed what they'd just seen. It took until Arthur picked her up.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy have hearts!" She gasped out in shock.

"That's the theory." Arthur responded grimly.

When an Auror had burst into his office that morning and said something about Narcissa being in trouble, my mind immediately conjured up thousands of images I had dwelt on in my less rational moments. From one of her illegal Potions exploding in her face to an enchanted tea kettle going on a rampage and squashing her. Not once did I imagine my impeccably well-mannered, calm and reasonable wife getting arrested. It wouldn't happen unless she had been provoked unpardonably. Which is why I was slightly less surprised when I was told a Weasley was in the cell as well. I took her wand from the young Auror at the door and walked in to where Cissa was supposedly imprisoned, still not quite believing what was happening. I bribed the guard what was probably an absurd amount, considering his eagerness to help afterwards but it hardly registered because his wife was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth, cackling with laughter and yet still managing to look dignified. I was rather disappointed when she stopped laughing and couldn't help but think I needed to get her arrested more often.

Etain rapped on the gargoyle politely, waited a few moments and rapped again. The gargoyle jumped to the side and Etain ascended the stairs, feeling rather sulky. The door to Dumbledore's office swung open before she touched it.

"Miss Grey, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dumbledore smiled at her from his desk. Yet again suppressing her irritation at his manners, Etain gestured vaguely to the shelf behind him.

"I'm here to talk to the Sorting Hat." Etain would treasure Dumbledore's dumbfounded expression for the rest of her life.

"And what business do you have with Alistair?" He asked when he'd composed himself.

How to answer that? A bunch of Hufflepuffs promised I would visit while I was setting off explosions in your school? Satisfying, but probably not the best idea in the long run.

"I wanted to ask him about my Sorting." Fairly normal, she supposed.

"Regrets, Miss Grey?" Dumbledore asked with that twinkle in his eyes that made Etain want to gouge them out.

"Not at all, Sir." She replied, smiling so hard her teeth ground.

"Then why?" God, teachers were sonosy about student interest in the Dark Arts. Although, why on earth the school used the hat at all if it were so Dark-

"I read somewhere that knowing yourself better is paramount to real power and knowledge." She answered vaguely. There, proper Slytherin motivation.

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Hurry up, Albus. I'm bored."The Sorting hat's voice boomed from the shelf in another room. Etain almost jumped out of her skin but at least it seemed to convince Dumbledore she meant no harm. He waved her through.

She walked into a small room at the back of the office and paused. Like the office, the room was full of curiously shaped silver objects, although they were a lot smaller. She immediately found the ratty hat, sitting on top of a tall shelf, next to a sword.

"Go on then, lift me down."It demanded impatiently. She hooked a chair from a nearby table with her foot, pulled down the hat, sat, and placed it on her lap.

"Well? Put me on your head then, girl, all this talking is tiring me out." Seeing her suspicious glance, it huffed. "Slytherins! I won't hurt you, refuse to sort anyone, or probably anything else you've bloody dreamed up. I just want to talk a bit."

"And this talking, it's confidential, right?"

"Sure Kid, it's confidential." She shrugged and picked it up, sliding it on to her head where it promptly fell over her eyes.

Much better.

Were you modelled on Godric Gryffindor's head? She snapped, it laughed.

Would you prefer to see hundreds of people staring at you or nothing?She thought for a moment.

Depends if they're armed. It laughed again.

Salazar would have liked you, girl. It paused. Well, if he didn't kill you first.

Freaking weirdo.

Nah, Sally wasn't really convinced that Purebloods were better, he just thought that Muggleborns were stealing from a collective pool of magic and by doing so were causing Squibs. Also, their parents kept calling the Inquisition.

Were there no Squibs before Muggleborns turned up?

None that I know of. Sally was especially bitter because his son was a Squib and his daughter got tortured by the Inquisition. It explained cheerfully.

Ouch. She winced.

It was when she was quite young so she didn't know enough magic to defend herself. It continued.

Fine, I take it back, he wasn't that weird. Then something clicked in her brain. Sally?

Yeah, Sally, Helgs, Weny and Goddy.

Do you know how weird it is for the idol of the Slytherin house to be named Sally?

Well, he wasn't called it to his face by anyone other than the other founders. I personally think it's wrong for them to be so idolised, they came up with less than half today's spells and Potions.

They were only four people and besides, maybe if they didn't come up with half it's have to be at least forty percent.

Exactly, they were only four people, anyway, the founders aren't the most interesting thing about Hogwarts these days. We've got a piece of history on the third floor. Well, when I say history, I really mean Alchemy but anyway-

THE PHILOSOPHERS STONE IS ON THE THIRD FLOOR!? Etain almost fell of the chair.

Of course, didn't you know?

No! Why on earth would Dumbledore put it on the Third Floor and then announce it was out of bounds and that anyone who went there might die if it were actually there- It's a scapegoat isn't it? For Quirell. Her eyes started to dart about. Quirell wants to live forever so he wants the stone, Dumbledore hired him to keep an eye on him and set up the whole Philosophers Stone thing to catch him. Snape threatened him so he'd hurry up, make mistakes and not draw out the search for the stone into another school year. But... It's too easy, Quirell would realise.

What makes you think it's easy? The Sorting Hat asked, amused.

Why would Dumbledore waste energy if it's a fake?

What makes you think it's a fake? It asked, chuckling.

Surely they wouldn't be so stupid! She gasped. It didn't reply. Well, what are the fortifications then?

Hagrid, Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirell, Snape.

They stand around their all day and their doubles take us for class? If that were true I wouldn't be worried, Snape can handle Quirell any day of the week.

I'm not telling you anymore, you figure it out.

Fine. I will. She huffed. And made to get up.

See you next week. The hat called cheerfully.

"Did you find what you wanted, Miss Grey?" Dumbledore asked politely.

"Sort of."

Oh Merlin, Father has the worst timing! Draco'd glanced up from where he was scrubbing the floor and seen his father's hawk swooping towards the window carrying a package. Snape saw it a moment later and went over to the window, Draco thought fast, he'd be dead if Snape realised what it was. He saw something move on the ground. Perfect.

Quickly as possible he scooped up the mouse and, when no-one was looking, sidled up to Greengrass and dropped it down her robe.

"AAAHHHHH!" She started to dance around, screaming for all she was worth; Snape immediately stalked back and tried to get her to tell him what was wrong. Draco snuck over to the window and took the package from the hawk, slipping it inside his robe. The mouse crawled up Greengrass' robe until it sat on her neck. She started to scream and cry, getting completely hysterical which meant no-one could get close enough to swat it off. Then, just as it was about to crawl onto her face, Greengrass performed some accidental magic.

The thing exploded, its guts flying everywhere. Greengrass fainted, as did her friend who'd stood next to her, blood spattered over Draco's face. He went green.

Etain had better appreciate this.

Etain was sat in an armchair in the Hospital Wing beside her mother correcting her Potions essay when Draco poked his head in the door.

"Mouse...exploded...Greengrass...Potion." He gasped breathlessly and handed her a package. She opened it curiously and glanced back up.

"Don't make any plans for tomorrow Draco."

"No." He agreed sarcastically. "What else do I want to do with my Saturday but carry out your insane plots?"

Etain and Draco pushed into the classroom Adrian, Tamara and Sophie were selling tickets for their long awaited second show. The first had succeeded in getting McGonagall to wear her hair down and change the colour of her robes for about a week. That was until she found the hairpins and ordered new green robes when she realised the ones they'd been replaced with were non-Transfigurable. She hadn't got rid of her new, boots, though.

This week (due to a teensy bit of fixing), it was Quirell's turn.

"In case you're ever asked." Etain whispered into Sophie's ear. "Your show now requires a meeting with the teacher beforehand to plan. You're coming with us. Tell Tamara and Adrian to give us some hair and clothes and disappear for an hour or so."

"Yes Ma'am." Sophie scowled.

"Sorry, but this is important."

They shoved their way out of the room again and ducked into the classroom across the hall. About ten minutes later the ticket room cleared and Adrian, Tamara and Sophie stalked in with two bundles of clothes. Etain grinned and ducked behind a desk to get changed, Draco did the same.

Etain took out two vials of Polyjuice Potion and un-sealed them. Draco took out some scissors and approached Tamara. Who shrieked and stupefied him.

"What did you do that for?" Etain demanded as she rushed to stop his head cracking against the floor.

"Did you see those things? They were bloody garden shears!"

"Ennervate." Adrian muttered.

"What was that for?" Draco demanded woozily. Tamara glared at him and pulled out three of her hairs.

"That's plenty." She snapped. Adrian chuckled and pulled some of his own hairs out and they put them in their respective vials- Etain's turning lavender and Draco's turning blue.

Etain rolled back the sleeve of her shirt and picked it up carefully. She quickly swallowed it all and almost threw it back up. Grimacing, she managed to keep it down, Draco smirked and pinched his nose before gulping it down, it seemed to help a little.

Tamara, Sophie and Adrian knocked on Professor Quirell's door.

"H-hel-lo?" Adrian, or rather someone who looked like him, just managed to stop himself from rolling his eyes, really, this was their mastermind? He didn't pay any attention to the conversation, knowing that Adrian was very quiet with strangers, he took the opportunity to case the ro- uh, check out Quirell's nose for fashion. Or was that ear? No, eye, ear was for music and nose was for... something. Cooking, perhaps. Not that there was really any need to cook with House-Elves around, did Adrian have House-Elves? Was he even Pureblood? Wait, yes, his last name was Bones, that's alright then-

"Dr-ian?" Tamara looked at him in worry. He shrugged. They moved into Quirell's quarters... and almost gagged. It smelt awful. What with the smell of Quirell's garlic and the... what was that smell? It smelt all musty and stale but the window was open slightly- the curtains were rippling. Oh well. Sophie started to move forward so Adrian and Tamara followed and started to ransack the wardrobe. Getting bored after half a minute of Sophie's fashion critique, Adrian glanced up.

Hello. Nothing particularly odd had caught his attention but when he looked at a letter signed with a stylised QQ, he couldn't help but remember a pair of eyes on the scrap of cloth.

"-purple is completely wrong for your skin tone, rich colours will wash-"

Tamara gasped slightly, Adrian looked at Quirell again and then back at Tamara.

Well, looks are deceiving, he should know that better than anyone.

Tamara's brown eyes widened as they noticed the back of Adrian's carefully styled hair start to turn platinum blonde, Adrian didn't, he just saw Tamara's brown eyes start to turn suspiciously green.

Tamara casually touched Sophie's shoulder, she turned slightly and almost gasped as she saw Tamara's dark hair get slightly wavy and lighten almost imperceptibly.

"Sorry, Sir, we have a detention with Snape and I completely forgot!" Sophie gasped. "We were supposed to be there at 8:00 and now it 8:02! He'll kill us!"

Tamara collapsed. There was silence as Quirell gaped at her, his estimation of Snape's intimidation techniques rising several notches.

Quirell then seemed to recollect the fact he was a teacher, and the only adult in the room, so he levitated her up and out of his room.

"I-I'll t-take her t-to the H-hospit-tal W-wing."

Adrian, noticeably blonder than before and around half an inch shorter followed, and then he got a bright idea.

"Sir! We'll go and tell some of her other friends!" And so saying rushed off.

"Peeves!" He called when he caught sight of the Poltergeist. "Can you go and cause a disturbance outside the Hospital Wing?"

"For what?"

"Immunity from the Bloody Baron for a week!" Technically the Bloody Baron was still a Slytherin, he always helped out a fellow snake in need.

"Done!" Peeves crowed.

There was a huge crash just as Sophie, Quirell and an unconscious body that was getting smaller by the minute, got near the Hospital Wing. Quirell looked torn.

"I'll take her, Sir!" Sophie insisted, relieved, and levitated the body onto a bed just as it regained its natural appearance.

"Etain!" Draco shouted as he ran in, almost tripping over his trouser legs.

Etain opened her eyes and was immediately accosted by a bustling Medi-Witch who shoved a foul-tasting Potion down her throat.

"Why am I here?"

"You're missing dinner." Pansy informed her.

"Two days in a row?" Etain frowned. "How long was I out?"

"Only ten minutes." Draco told her awkwardly.

"Do you remember what time Potter hexed you yesterday?" Hermione asked, with a crease between her eyebrows.

"Around eight." Etain said slowly, then her eyes widened.

Sorry for the REALLY long wait. I had writers block, or rather, I knew what I was going to write but I didn't really know how I was supposed to string it all together. I changed the last chapter very slightly because some people agreed that the conversation was a bit too cryptic.

LyssaOneiroi