A/N: Welcome to the second story arc! Finally, The Philosopher's Stone is finished, and the story is able to start chugging down the tracks at a steady pace. We're going to start getting a lot more reveals in the coming chapters, and I am so pumped for when that time comes. But for now, let's get some development for Via, shall we?

Chapter 13 – Destiny Forces Action

(Via's P.O.V; Before Meeting Voldemort)

I toss and turn once, twice, thrice. No matter what position I'm in, I can never get comfortable in bed. I just think too much. And have so much energy existing in my blood that I can never seem to get it to come to a resting point. It's always go go go for me. I just wish I had an off-switch. I wonder how Ginny does it. When she was over it only took her around five minutes before she hit the hay. I might as well make myself busy.

I climb out of bed, frozen feet hitting the floor, and tiptoe over to my desk. I pull out my journal and begin doodling out a drawing. For the next ten minutes, all I can hear is the scratch of the pencil on the paper. I drop the pencil and glance at the drawing. I glance at what I have drawn, and I quickly rip it out and hold it over the candle, freshly lit, and let it burn. To hell with that, I think to myself. I'm never going back there again. Not to that cunt. I jump out of the chair, catching it before it could hit the ground. V, you've got to be careful. Don't need your family to wonder what the hell you're doing.

I pace around the room, trying to get my thoughts to finally calm down and to shut up for five seconds. I can't seem to get any progress, because all I can worry about is how I can get away from the woman who caused me so much pain. I mean, I'm safe, right? I'm with the Potters, far away from that mansion and from Camelot. How could she get here? Isn't this place under the Fidelius? To my left, I hear a creak, like a window opening. I whip towards the sound, but the window is closed, and no one is outside. Yeah, V, it's under the Fidelius Charm. Why are you so scared? Mr Potter wouldn't be as dumb as to reveal the location of two of his places of living to that rat. My heart begins racing, and I quickly make up my mind. I'll just go to Harry's room.

Surely Harry wouldn't mind if I sneak into his room, right? I mean, what all could a boy such as himself be hiding. I mean, he wouldn't, right? Surely he isn't… Never mind. Not thinking about that now. Harry's too good and too innocent for that. Besides, Via, haven't you been doing this for the past month? Shut up, voice. No one asked you.

I sneak out of my room at the dead of night, wandering over to his room, stepping on the balms of my feet and sticking to the walls, knowing just how creaky these floors are. I would say I'd be surprised that no one has noticed it, but then again this house is always busy and loud. Things like that just aren't noticed. All the more reason why I'm a freak of nature for being able to hear it over all the noise.

Stopping in front of Harry's door, I will the knob to turn every so slowly that it won't creak. The door stars to open, ever so slowly, just enough so that it doesn't make a noise against the squeaky hinges. Once it is open enough to allow my figure to squeeze through the door, I do so, and once again will the door to close. Now, alone in the dark, away from the possibility of being detected, I cast Lumos, letting the light shine and envelop the room in a blueish light. I cast a shadow over the cracks of the door, blocking out light that may be seen from the hall by a wandering Moony.

I walk around his room, picking up things from his desk, and staring at them. The first one I pick up is a bracelet Ginny had wanted to give to him but had forgotten. So she had given it to me, entrusting it with the belief I would send it to him in the mail. But I had known my half-brother, not only from what Mr and Mrs Potter had told me but also in the few days I had with him, that he would lose it. And I had a premonition that it would be broken towards the end of the year, so I "forgot" to send him the bracelet.

The second I pick up is a picture that had been sent by Hagrid to the Potters, one of which you have Harry laughing with his friends, some girl with a bush for hair clinging onto him with her eyes. The second is where he is in Hagrid's cabin, picking an occamys out from its nest.

Another you see him flying on a broom, a look so serious that had made Mr Potter fall back onto his ass laughing so hard when he first saw it. When I asked why he had fallen, he said that that was the same look he had at that age when he was at the Quidditch classes at the beginning of the year. And then later, that same look would keep popping up whenever he was in a heated game. In another picture, Harry is seen glaring down Snape, who is also glaring at him. I chuckle to myself, knowing that intensity very well.

I continue skimming his desk's surface, when I find a gold-lined, silver feather, with a purple tinge. I know that that wasn't there before. I glance around and, after finding no ways to be watched, I lift it into the air in order to examine it. You'd think Aventance wouldn't want to be leaving his feathers lying around. I know Harry isn't ready to reveal it to the world, so why would his familiar possibly ruin that?

I feel something latch onto my waist, and I almost scream. Looking down, I see nothing. I shrug it off. Weird stuff always happens to me. Probably just another one of those invisible creatures that like to be mischievous. I look back to the shining feather, and I feel myself begin to be pulled downward, like an anchor was attached to my hips and I was tossed overboard into a frigid ocean. I look down, and I see a void developing around myself, and nothing more. I pull and I pull, but the anchor has been latched on tight. No matter how much yanking on this invisible leash I do, and I am rooted in place and am destined to fall into the pit of darkness. I feel consciousness slip from my grasp. I become engulfed by the void.

(Harry's & Via's P.O.V; End of Last Chapter)

"Lanienis Perpetuum!" He slashes his wand across my torso, criss-crossing the lines repeatedly, back and forth across my chest.

I feel my blood quickly begin to rush out of the wounds. I gasp, and fall to the floor, grabbing at the wide open gashes across my chest to stop the blood flow. I feel myself begin to already lose consciousness as the blood keeps pouring out like a place called Niagara Falls. The blood – MY blood – begins seeping into the stone beneath me, and I collapse to the floor. "Please. Help." I gasp for breath, the pain unbearable. "You can have the stone. Just make the pain stop." I sob, grasping for life. With a shaky hand, I pull the Philosopher's stone out of my pocket with my left hand and hold it up to Quirrell. "Have your bloody stone... Just make the pain stop... please..."

He smirks and begins to strut up to me. Voldemort begins speaking once again. "Not so powerful now, eh Potter? Here I was thinking you would be a threat, and yet you went down without so much as a fight." Quirrell is extending his arm towards me to take the stone. Like hell he will. With my right hand, I grab onto his arm. My ring reveals itself, and a bright, pure white light sprouts into existence.

The stone in my hand shatters, and all I can hear is pure agony from Quirrell as he bursts into flames. A black smoke leaves his body and flies through my chest. Quirrell turns to ash, and the last thing I hear as I pass out are his screams mixed with my own. As my last moments of consciousness slip away from me, all I can think of his how I am going to die down here, all along, unable to call for help. I try to cry, but my throat is full of blood, and I begin to choke on it. I guess this is it then. And I lose consciousness.

(Via's P.O.V; Back in Her Own Body)

I gasp, feeling my consciousness raise up and smack me like a train. I fall back onto the ground and continue fumbling to grasp a hold on to breath. I lose concentration, and the Lumos spell I cast turns into nought but an empty spot, darkness spilling in to replace where it was. No matter what I do, I can't seem to grab onto anything. All I can think of is Harry choking on his own blood. And that spell. Lanienis Perpetuum? I've never heard of such a thing. Not even my mother mentioned it. I finally gulp down air. That was a mistake. I run to the lavatory and proceed to puke out yesterday's many meals.

Have you ever just had that moment where you are awkwardly trying to clean yourself off, trying not to get sick again at the sight and smell of your own throw-up, but you know that you can't leave yourself in this state because you are going to desperately need a shower in the future? Yeah, that's what I'm going through as I am washing my face with a cloth to get the residue off. I summon the air freshener from the side-table near the toilet and desperately spray it in an effort to eliminate the smell. Then I also created some flowers and a vase and left them on the counter near the hand basin.

I stumble back into Harry's room and plop down into his chair. Harry is dead? No. No. That's impossible. Harry couldn't be dead. That must be a farce. A nightmare while I was awake. That happens to others, right?

"No, Via. That wasn't a nightmare. And Harry isn't dead. Yet. Unless we do something drastic, and soon." I flail my arms and fall back onto the floor. I tilt my head back and see Aventance sitting atop Harry's dresser.

"Aventance, I don't understand. You said that this hasn't happened yet? He hasn't been hurt. But he will?" I pick myself up off the floor as well as the chair, my attention still on the phoenix.

"That would be correct, Via. Harry is in grave danger. It is up to you to try to save him. I have another task that I must accomplish at the time when this event will occur. I must travel to St. Mungo's to fetch a medic while Harry faces Voldemort alone. I need you to collect him and return him to Dumbledore's office before we arrive."

"Wait, we can't prevent him from being hurt? I thought that was what you would have been getting to!" I cross my arms over my chest. I don't care if I'm acting like a brat. Harry doesn't deserve to deal with that alone.

"I'm sorry, child. I ask you to believe me when I say that I care deeply for that boy. I awaited his return for many a century. I will not give up on him. I'm already interfering enough. The future has been written for Harry in the cosmos. He has to be hurt tonight. It is to fulfil his destiny."

"I don't care about destiny! Do you think I would let this happen without trying to act?!"

"You could always return to your mother."

"Bugger off, you flappy piece of chicken… I will not go back to mother. That woman is nothing to me. She birthed me, that is all." I brush my hand over my eye. I feel the wetness residing on my hand.

"I am sorry, Via. I don't like destiny either. The council has determined what he is to go through, what he is to accomplish. They never said we couldn't change it on our own. Unless this is just apart of their plan, and our rebellion is just playing into their writings."

"What do I do, Aventance? Do you know what would be the best course of action?"

"Ask your parents. Chances are they will not allow you to go, or won't believe you. Keep trying. If they show no potential in coming around, then it is up to you to floo to Harry's chambers in the Emrys common room. Use the location identifier 'Hogwarts; Harry's Chambers.' I removed the magical block that was affecting the room. You will be able to appear there. Then you need to hurry to the third floor. That floor has an abandoned room. Enter and follow the corresponding rooms to the room with the mirror. You should find Harry there."

Aventance pauses. With a quiet shrill, a vial with a vibrant pink potion resting dormant. "Make him drink this. It is a draught of life. It will revitalize the drinker, restoring his health and resetting his countdown."

I take the vial into my hands, handling it with great care afraid to break it. "Aventance, what did you mean by 'resetting his countdown'?"

"That spell, the one you heard, is a dark curse. It rips through the victim, shredding muscle and tissue as if they are paper. It can be healed, but the only ones who know the proper incantation are at St. Mungo's. It is kept out of public knowledge for the risks it would present to the wizarding world. For one, it requires a blood sacrifice for the incantation to be successful. It is a bit of dark magic intertwined with healing. Any exposure to frequent use would leave us with a greater amount of wizards going off into the deep end, turning bad."

"Is that the only way we can heal him?"

"Unfortunately. The dark wizards who created such a curse were thorough in their endeavours to create a powerful spell. They found a way to prevent normal healing magic to work against the wounds. It is why the incantation is the only one that will work. It's the sacrifice of blood, the embrace of dark magic, in the spell that heals the victim. But the dark wizards didn't stop there. Should someone find a way to heal the damage, they ensured that the pain would be everlasting. The scars won't eventually pull themselves together. They will forever remain. With the scars, they left dark magic to forever taint the victim of the curse."

"So Harry won't ever be the same again, will he? This is the event that will forever change the course of his life… He has to be alone?"

Instead of responding, Aventance simply nodded at me.

"Life isn't fair!" A lamp behind me explodes into a mist of glass particles. "I promise I will save him. I swear it upon my life that I will see to it that Harry survives this prophecy."

In the reflection of Aventance's eyes, I see a faint white sparks surround me. He quickly whips his head around towards the door, slightly tilting his head. He turns back around to me.

"I must go. Good luck." In a flash of purple, the phoenix disappears into nothing.

A knock sounds at the door. It opens a crack, Mum's silhouette revealed by the light behind her.

"Via? What are you doing in Harry's room?" She pushes open the door fully, showing a groggy stag behind her.

"I couldn't sleep. I felt like I could at least come in here and try to understand Harry. I miss him, a lot. More than I could begin to explain." I lower my head to the floor, hoping to avoid eye contact.

"We heard yelling and something breaking. Is everything okay?" A thud sounds behind her. I lift my head slightly and look past her. Dad has passed out and collapsed onto the floor.

"Yeah, everything is good. I think something startled me. I'm sorry." I force my body to relax.

"Alright. Come here honey, it's okay. I know you didn't mean it. It happens to young wizards all the time, even older ones sometimes." She pulls me into a hug, running her hand through my hair. I return the hug slowly. "How about we all go to bed? We can finish talking in the morning. Right now, I need to get the deer back to my room. Can I tell you something?" She gives me one of those patented smiles from her youth I heard so much about. I guess that is one aspect that hasn't changed.

I look up at her and nod. Probably going to be a life lesson. "Um, I guess so? Why not? What do you want to say?"

"Despite how annoying he and his friends are at times, and there are plenty of times they are," she chuckles to herself, probably caught up in a memory, before continuing. "I can't help but find myself coming to love him more and more. I guess it's apart of that Potter charm, to manage to be cute while arguing loudly about whether pumpkin pasties are really pumpkin." She smiles over at Dad drooling on the wooden floor while he sleeps, his tongue brushing the wood. She leads me towards the door with her hand on my back. "Go on to your room. I can drag your father to our room easily enough." She blows me a kiss before bending down to try to get a hold of Dad's arms.

I walk around her and the stag and walk back to my room. Guess I'll have to start planning tomorrow. I open and quickly shut my door. Falling to the floor, I rest up against the door and take a deep breath. It was in that position, back pressed against the door, that I fell asleep forced to recount my worst memories.

Walking has always calmed me. Being in nature, surrounded by life, just unravels my soul, releasing all of my pent up stress like a spool of yarn, unwinding layer after layer until you reach the centre. An empty void where my hopes for a future once bloomed to life in great volumes, now dwindled into ashes.

I find I can be myself. I can allow myself to feel, allow myself to be the person I am inside. I find myself wishing to find it in myself to trust freely. Yet I'm always pulled back. An anchor, dragging me down into the oceans I made from my pain. I can only name off one person I could think that would be someone I could rely on. Even then, it's still rocky. I'm not ready to stand on that cliff edge.

I push past a low-hanging branch of spruce, continuing my mindless adventure through our woods. I listen to the snap of a branch underfoot, the birds singing their early morning song. I breathe inward, feeling the crisp, chilled air rush down my airways and fill my lungs. A squirrel chirps above me as I pass. Some would call it different that someone could enjoy the feeling of being small, but I find it humbling. To pass underneath these giants, standing tall and proud, day after day, weathering every storm and bracing against the world, it makes me feel like there is more to life than just people. I mean, I guess that's just how I am. Born to a high-and-mighty bitch. So full of herself. So perky and perfect and better than everyone in every way. To feel like an ant, beneath all these others, it makes me feel so much better. Is that so weird? To enjoy the feeling of insignificance, to know that there are greater things than me?

I shake my head in exasperation. Enough dwelling. You have to think, V. What would they say? Rather, what can I say to make them believe me? I mean, they should care that their son would be in danger. Why wouldn't they? They love him. Even the risk of him being hurt should be enough to cause them to act. They wouldn't leave him, even if it is just a risk, not after Voldemort. No good parent would. Unless they managed to trick themselves into thinking that he is gone. I have to give them credit, if I was there when Harry made Voldemort explode, I would probably believe him gone too. Yet the vision I saw proved otherwise. He is still out there. Biding his time, waiting to strike at the most opportune time, just like the snake he is.

I guess I'll just make it up on the spot. What harm could it cause? I mean, he did say I could do it on my own should they not agree. Plus, I would enjoy taking an early trip to Hogwarts. I take another step, jumping across some stones lying in a cute little formation, and hear a crack behind me. I whip around and see a tiny sliver of white disappear into a mist. Alright V, it's time to head back. Just not that way. Taking a detour, I take the long way back to the house.

I enter the kitchen, following the sound of Mum and Dad's voice. I see them talking about going off somewhere over the summer, now that our family has grown again. Something about France comes up, and I see them start to playfully argue amongst each other, Mum giving Dad a light but tough shove, causing him to topple over. She flings an arm out and grabs onto the collar of his shirt, pulling him back upright. He laughs and plants a kiss onto her lips. They pull apart, Mum smirking while looking at Dad with the same look I witnessed last night.

I cough to get their attention. "Hey Mum, Dad, I was hoping to talk to you?" I shuffle my feet against the linoleum, waiting for them to respond. I put my hand behind my back, holding my own hands.

"Oh good, we were hoping that we could talk to you too, pumpkin. Your Mum informed me of what happened. I mean, of the full story. I did hear the shatter of glass. Funny thing, my panic transforming into the stag. Promise I didn't mean to do that. I just sort of happens now." Dad extends his hand towards me, smiling while looking at me in appreciation. There was a bit of tenderness in the smile, as well as goofiness. I returned the smile and put my hand in his. He pulled me close and gave me a heart-warming hug. He kissed the top of my head and pulled back, holding me at arm's length. "I'm so proud of you. But I'm also concerned. I don't like hearing that you are having trouble sleeping. Can't have my little girl not getting the rest she needs."

"I know Dad. I don't like it either. I guess I'm just anxious. I know the end of the year is coming up. I'm just worried about what it will be like to actually live with Harry for a while. I mean, during Christmas break we only had a couple of weeks to live together. Now, we will have all summer. And, after that, if we get the same house then I will be living with him all year. So, just nervous is all." I chuckle nervously, hoping that will blow over well enough.

"Good, good. I'm glad to know that it's only nervousness. Nothing serious. Was that all sweetie?" Mum smiles, her eyes warm and inviting me to feel welcome to talk.

"Uh, there is something else." Oh no. I shouldn't have procrastinated. How am I going to mention that a purple bird bound to Harry showed me a vision of Harry dying without letting them know about Aventance? Good job, V. Real nice. You should be proud of yourself, you walking disaster of a human.

They both look at me, waiting for me to begin. Time to bullshite my way through this one. "So. I kind of had this vision. It revealed an image of Harry being attacked by a professor at school. I believe his name is Quirrell? Anyway, he used some type of spell, one I've never heard of until then. It was some slashing spell. It cut up Harry, it was terrible. I could see all the blood. He was crying, begging for help. And all Quirrell wanted was some stone. Harry fought back, and I think he killed Quirrell. I'm worried about him. I think we should go check the school tonight."

"Via, don't you think it could have just been a bad dream? I mean, I know you haven't been sleeping well. Maybe you're just getting concerned for nothing. Hogwarts is the safest place in the world!" Dad remains quiet, while Mum tries to rationalize what I am saying.

"No, it isn't. I know about the murder there, that happened when Tom Riddle was a student there. Hagrid was expelled for it."

"That happened a long time ago. Hogwarts is different now, Via."

"No. Hogwarts hasn't changed. It is still unsafe. Harry could die if we don't help!"

"What makes you so certain that this is real?" Dad speaks up for the first time, asking a simple question.

"So, there is a lot to explain, some of which I can't provide, as it isn't my right to reveal it. But something happened. I know it is true because I have seen it for myself, and Harry also told me the truth. Something big is happening in this world. I'm not quite sure of what it is, but it is happening. I ask that you trust me in giving you this admission, and I ask that you trust Harry despite him keeping certain information from you two. Harry will die tonight if we don't act."

"Via, are you certain?" They both ask simultaneously.

I nod. "Voldemort is back. He has infiltrated the school. Before you act, because I know you will want to act as soon as possible, we cannot commit to anything yet."

They share a long, silent look. Something passes over them, causing them to look back. "We'll see." They both get up and head out of the room, leaving me standing alone in our kitchen. I sigh and trudge up to my room. Gently closing my door, I shove a chair underneath the handle to keep it locked in place.

I change out of my shirt, switching for a tank-top. I put on a pair of sweats in place of my jeans, and I sit down on the floor. I put my hands into the correct position needed, my very bones trembling at the memories. I close my eyes, suck in a deep breath, and begin the spell.

I feel a void envelop me, the shadow realm pulling me inwards. Resist the pull. A simple task. I can do that. I focus my magic up into my hands, forcing all power to be directed into the conduits that I have formed. A bead of sweat falls off of my forehead, a droplet of tension given form. I take in another deep breath and focus my attention to create an anchor. 'The anchor is the most important part of the magic'. I take control of my magic, searching about to find a well of power to connect myself to the giant mass of magic that exists and spreads to the very core of the Earth.

I find a point of escape, and with a tendril of magic, I latch onto it, anchoring me to this world. 'Form the gate'. I feel more sweat cascade down from my scalp. I've never made it past this part. With my drenched top sticking to the skin on my back, I dig out with the magic and find where the pull is coming from. Directly behind me. As it has been every time I have tried in this house. I pour magic into the crevice between these two worlds. I feel it widen and feel the pull of this hidden realm strengthen greatly. Not enough for me to enter. I feed it more and more of my magic, feeling my body weaken with the amount of magic I am losing. Soon. I can make it. Just need some more. I dig into my reserves and start to syphon more magic.

I feel the gate behind me open more, a thin icy grip reaching out and wrapping around my throat. I stifle a scream, afraid of worrying my new family, causing them to panic. Think me a freak. I swallow, shivering with the cold. 'Don't forget your basics.' If only it were that easy. A feeling of fear creeps into the back of my mind. No. Not now. That life is behind me. Besides, if Mr and Mrs Potter discovered what I was doing, they wouldn't understand. This is something I need to learn to control. An icy tendril wraps itself around my waste. I panic, losing my grip on the syphon, causing the gate to close again.

I sit panting, quaking from the feeling of fear, and the unwanted grip. I pull my legs up to my chest, tears overflowing from my eyes. That is how I stay for the next half-hour, bawling my eyes out trying to get a grip on reality. I feel hopeless, miserable, haunted by the life I had to live.

I can't ever seem to pass it. That part. Why is that something that has to happen? I'm not there. Why can't I do it? I'm away from that place. Away from her. It's like I can't escape her, even though I am so far away that it shouldn't matter. She somehow always manages to find a way to ruin my life. No matter how hard I try, I can't escape. Nothing will let me get a chance to run my own life.

Trembling, I stand on wobbly legs and change out of my top and replace it with my shirt I was wearing before. I remove the chair wedged beneath the handle and return it to the desk, before crawling into bed and burying myself in blankets. I stuff my face into my pillows, attempting to relax.

I hear my family calling me down to eat lunch. But I do not move. I hear Uncle Moony knocking on the door, asking if I would like some tea. I shoo him away. I hear Uncle Padfoot asking Mum if I'm okay. I don't bother to react. I hear the knob begin to turn, Dad considering opening and coming to check on me, but then decide against it allowing the knob to return to its original position. I do not bother to respond. I isolate myself, creating this open box in which I keep desperately shoving my emotions into, despite the open hole at the bottom.

I wake up much later in the day, realizing I passed out when I didn't intend to. I desperately fling off the blankets, switch into my other pants I wore earlier today. I open the door and dash downstairs into the living room. I accidentally collide with someone. I quickly push myself off. "I'm so so sorry, I promise I didn't mean to!" I realize too late the panic I let slip. I swallow and compose myself.

Uncle Padfoot releases a guffaw as he ruffles my hair. "It's okay little lamb, no need to apologize. I was actually just coming up to check on ya, see if you were doing alright. You had me and the rest of your family really worried about you. You kind of disappeared on us." He grins from ear to ear while pulling me into a tight hug, lifting me above the ground. "I'm glad to see you up and about!"

"Yeah, I'm better now. Just had to go and meditate. Focus on me, as you do. It's always something I need to do every once in a while. So, is supper still on its way, or did I miss it?"

Just then the door to the kitchen opens swiftly, and just a fast as the door opened, Mum has swooped me into a hug. "Via, I'm so happy you're okay!" I hear her sniffle behind me, with what I'm guessing is tears openly flowing. "We were so distraught, thinking something bad had happened. Via, you had me so worried…"

I catch my breath. A mother that was actually concerned. My eyes turn damp, a rush of emotion overcoming these gates I had put in place long ago when dealing with adults. Before I know what I am doing, I fling my arms around her and begin to sob, my body shaking with each sudden burst of tears.

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay sweetie. Mommy's here. It's okay. Just let it all out, okay? You're safe. Nothing can harm you here." She rubs my back, causing more tears to come spilling out. I shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't allow myself to grow attached. She could just be like my mother. But for some reason, some stupid reason, I feel like I can trust her. Like she won't be like her. Yet I don't know that for certain, and it scares me. Yet I can't help my actions.

I feel another pair of arms wrap around me, and another, and another. My family. They are all here. I stop sobbing, but I can feel more tears still cascading down my cheeks. It feels almost peaceful. I fall back on the ground, with the rest following me. I lay my head against Mum, and I begin to feel like I know the truth. I look up out the window and glance at the deep night sky, few stars breaking through the heavy overcast.

"Shit! Uh, I have to go!" I break free from everyone, dashing over to the fireplace. I turn around and face the others. "I'm going to Hogwarts. Anyone going to join me?"

Uncle Moony is the first to speak. "Hang on, what is going on? Did I miss something while was out getting groceries?"

"I'm going to spare you the long story, and keep it simple. Harry is going to die tonight if I don't do anything."

Padfoot jumps up off the ground. "Prongslet is in danger? Not on my watch! I'm coming with you Via!" He runs over and stands by me.

"Anyone else?" I speak kind of quickly, words smushed together.

"We'll stay here and wait for you to return." My parents say together, Dad wrapping his arms around Mum. Moony comes over and holds her hand, and shares a look with Dad.

"No. If you are going to wait, then wait at St. Mungo's. They are the sole group that can save him."

They nod. "Alright, we'll head into the city. Be safe sweetie." Dad gives a slight squeeze to Mum's shoulder.

I turn around and grab a handful of floo powder. I walk into the fireplace, holding the powder above the ashes. "Hogwarts; Harry's Chambers!" I toss everything down, green flames shooting upwards and engulfing me in a warm, comfortable heat. I feel the pull, and soon I am zipping through the network, passing fireplace after fireplace until I pop out of one into a purple and white room.

Uncle Padfoot comes walking out after me. "How was your first time taking the passage on your own? Still trying to get the hang of it?"

"I'm sure you weren't any better than me, Padfoot. Or do I say Clumsyfoot?"

"Alright, you caught me. I was pretty terrible." He gives me a playful shove. "Let's go save your brother. I'll turn into Padfoot. Maybe we can get through easier."

"Third floor. Abandoned room, if I remember correctly."

"Let's go then." I start to head out the door and turn around to see a black, shaggy dog padding after me. I close Harry's door quietly, walking through the common room I could possibly be sorted into. I could come to like this place. It looks really comfortable. Not to mention possibly one of the most elegant places I have ever set foot into. Whoever the interior designer was, I have to admit that they have got design down to a science. I exit through their secret entrance, which once again I find to be very interesting, and begin my descent down the tower.

After following Padfoot for a period of time, we eventually come to a halt at the Grand Staircase. A stair finally comes to our arch and we begin climbing down. I rely on Padfoot for most of the navigation, witnessing him follow the stairs down as if he never left after these many years since his graduation.

A number of stairs later, we come to a room that looks like it has long since been abandoned. "Are you sure this is the third floor? I thought there would be more protection..."

Uncle Padfoot nods his head at me. I walk down the dark, damp, empty wall, the only noise coming from the click of nails against wood as Sirius walks across. I come across a door that has a simple rusted lock over the top of it. Padfoot morphs back into his human state. "Alohomora." The lock lifts and the door swings open with a sudden powerful gust.

Sprawled on the ground is a girl with brown, bushy hair, a grey sweatshirt and a black circle skirt. I walk over, picking her up in my arms to listen for a heartbeat. There it was, faint but strong, pumping blood through her body. There also occupying her system, almost hidden to the untrained eye, was some poison, one I wasn't able to recognize, despite my own forced education about the subject. I could sense it creeping its way to her heart, slowly infecting each portion of her body until it would shut down her systems entirely.

"Padfoot, quick, I need you to take this girl to the nurse. Or better yet, up to Dumbledore's office. He will also need to be expecting Harry and myself. It'll save us some energy." I look down at her face, quiet and serene despite the poison coursing through her body. A flash enters my mind, a picture of Harry and some girl among his other friends. I recognize her as the one in the photograph. I have to admit, she is cute. I pass her over to my uncle, who gently takes her from my arms and departs the room, scrambling against time to make it to the headmaster's office.

I notice the sleeping three-headed dog on the other side of the room. It cracks open an eye, it's blue iris staring directly at my own eyes. Slowly blinking, it whines before closing its eyes. Only then do I notice the paws it has draped across its own snout. I suck in a breath before approaching the dog, who I can only assume must be afraid of something. After walking towards the dog, hand extended and gaze averted, I gently put my hand on its snout. I feel the scared dog push against my hand, as if it was trying to get closer to me, like there was a huge gap still and it hadn't even begun to touch the palm of my sweaty hands.

I place my other hand on the side of its snout, slowly rubbing the dog in an effort to calm it and let it know that everything was going to be okay. I feel another head brush up against my rear. I turn a little to scratch it as well. "You're going to be okay girl. I'm going to solve this. I know I can. But I can't do anything if you don't let me pass." With a strain of my magic, I reach out and blanket the animal with a soothing touch, cold air and soft grass being the main feelings I could think of. I get a broad sense of what it is feeling, and some broad, general facts about her. Apparently, the dog's name is Fluffy, only just a puppy still despite her size. I feel her fear slip away, the girl had caused the dog to panic at her pain she felt. There was something going on beneath me. Something that caused the dog to shrink down and curl up into a ball. I notice the happiness swell up throughout her body, like a freshly blooming flower after the weather has changed into one of warmth and fresh.

I feel the dog calm beneath my wide reach. Before I notice its approach, the third head is licking my face and panting heavily from its relief. I scratch its head as well, before taking a step back. All three heads stare at me now, directly at my soul as if it were something that could be seen by the regular eye. As I turn away from its many eyes, I could swear I see Fluffy smile and nod at me.

I take some more steps backwards when the floor drops out from under me and I'm left free-falling. In the distance, unless my ears are deceiving me, I can almost hear her thanking me. I smile a knowing smile as I come tumbling down onto a soft cushion.

I begin to sit up, but feel myself pulled back to the ground. I make another attempt to move, this time unable to even begin to sit up or push myself off the ground. I try to move my arm, but cannot even budge it. I close my eyes and focus on what I feel. A vine has wrapped itself around my arm. Both, in fact. Another has also wrapped around my legs. I feel myself begin to panic, the feeling all too familiar and the furthest thing from being welcome. Only once one begins to wrap around my waist do I feel the fear and the panic swell, my body involuntarily beginning to thrash against my restraints.

Tighter and tighter they pull, what started as one has turned into five, and the more my body tries to escape more vines begin twisting themselves over me. My vision begins to swim, image after image of pain and suffering passing through. I gasp, my vision blackening for a second, only to come back to me.

In place of the vines that had been creeping up, slowly entrapping me, now lay chains. Digging into my flesh, too young to be exposed to the cold, damp air of a dungeon. Ragged breath escapes my throat, raspy from whatever was given to me unbeknownst to me. I yank my head up, only to be caught with a crack, the back of my skull bouncing off the concrete beneath me as the band strapped across my head drags me back down, with more force than I had put in. The back of my head turns damp, then my neck, as I continue to bleed. I chance to look around the room with my limited vision, to see if there was an escape from this madness I had missed. All there was was the iron cell door, magically enchanted to resist any forms of magic.

I try to scream, yelling for someone to come help me, knowing that no one will ever come. I try pulling at the chains again, but I can't budge. I fall back onto the stone table, my breath coming in short bursts as I struggle to maintain my absolute and terrible fear. I hear keys rattle in the door. The door cracks open, a beam of light highlighting a corner of the room, where tools lie in wait for use against me. The door opens painstakingly slowly, light crawling through the dungeon. Bathed in light, I see a silhouette of a woman.

I quickly tighten my eyes closed, cracking them open to see myself back in the room with the plant. I notice I can't breathe. A vine has wrapped itself around my mouth. I glance down to see vines has covered every inch of my body, no space left empty. All my thrashing caused the vines to spread much more rapidly then they would have otherwise. "Lumos Solem!" I attempt to shout, my voice muffled. The plant begins to retreat, freeing me from my imprisonment and my nightmare. I fall onto the ground beneath the plant, panting heavily and violently shivering as I adjust back to reality.

Anger consumes me for a moment. At that moment, I didn't care about safety. I didn't care if it alerted others. "Confringo!" A blast of fire rockets out from a wand I borrowed from Moony, which I'm still not sure he noticed. Upon contact with the roots, an explosion sounds off and fire begins to spread, destroying the plant.

I turn around and sprint down the long hallway. I come across the next room, seemingly empty with the exception of the great bundle of keys stuck in the door. The only moving thing in the room is an ancient key, a wing broken. I cast Accio, summoning it into my hand. I dash over to the door, aware of the keys buzzing as they attempt to free themselves from their entrapment. I shove the key into the rusty lock, the door swinging open. I close the door and begin to walk away. Before I am aware of my own actions I am walking back over and casting a spell onto the door. I hear a loud clang of metal on stone, followed by sudden buzzing, reverberating about the chamber I had just departed.

I stride away from that room and enter the next in the line to get to Harry. I notice a chest set, untouched except for three pieces that are noticeably missing from the board. I continue to glance around the room, noticing a very easily accessible path off to the side of the board. I come to a crawl as I pass the side, fully expecting some type of trap to be lying in wait. Absolutely nothing happens. It seems like whoever made this either wasn't expecting anyone to walk the very obvious area, or they thought that others would find it to be too easy and would try the board. So either very smart or very dumb.

Passing through the next chamber, I find a sleeping troll. Which, might I add, reeks like decomposing flesh. Via, let's make a note to yourself to bring some of that air freshener from earlier to Hogwarts when you come here officially next year. I'm sure that will save myself some valuable breathing next time around. Scurrying to the next room, I notice five potions on a table. I walk over and read the cards placed before the bottles and the card directly in the front centre. Apparently, it was supposed to be a riddle, but Harry had solved it. Or that girl did. Either way, they made my job easier.

Rushing into the next room, I find fire lining the entrance. With a quick cast of Aqua Eructo, the flames are doused. Before my eyes, I see exactly what the vision had shown me. Harry, lying on the floor, a pool of his own blood surrounding him. Ashes and dust lay all around him and on him. It's like the room has turned into a vacuum, empty of all noise. I feel something come up, but this time I decide that it is going to stay inside of my guts this time. Quickly closing the distance between us, I kneel down in the blood and pull out the flask Aventance had given to me. I pop the cap, part Harry's lips so that the potion can enter his system, and pour every last drop into his mouth. I carefully lift his head up so that the potion will flow down. Already, I see a faint pink light begin to shine from his mouth, and soon I notice his breathing becomes more stable, and his pulse quickens.

Not taking a moment more to waste, I pick him up and carry him out of the room, happy to leave this room behind forever. I take no time to look back as I speed out of the room, and the following rooms. I pass everything, no last glances as I glide through the rooms. I end up at the final room, where the now wilted plant was, and notice that I had done right by making myself a convenient path towards the trap door. I slowly climb, not taking any glances down at my feet to look at the demon plant. "Ascendio." I lift out of the hole, landing back up gently with Fluffy. Without looking back to see if the dog was okay, I dart out of the room.

I feel myself begin to panic. I am only just now realizing that I have no idea where to go. I blindly pick a path and stick to it, desperately searching for that right direction or a sign that would just point me in the right direction. I skid around a corner, only to find myself face to face with an occamys. "Little guy, I need to get going! My brother here is going to die if I don't do anything to help!"

It squawks at me, shifting its head to the side. It squawks again, turning away and slithering down the fall a little before squawking again. I may just be insane, but I'm just going to trust my gut and follow the little dude. It takes me down a couple of corridors I begin to recognize from before. My pace begins to pick up, confidence building with each step. Harry groans in my arms, agony taking him once more. Now my pace doubles as desperation to save him controls my movements.

More halls pass and I feel the paintings stare at me as I scurry through. I give them no second thought, my mind focused on following the occamys. We enter into the broad expanse that is the Grand Stairwell. Shite. It will take too long to climb. I shake off my worries and begin my rapid ascent. No way am I going to give up. Harry cannot die today. My legs begin to shake with the exertion of taking more and more steps. I ignore the burning and keep climbing upwards.

Next time I see Harry I'm going to tell him to lose some weight. He is not the easiest kid to carry. My legs feel like they are about to give, but still, I keep going. My arms strain. I stop and readjust my hold on Harry before continuing. More climbing, more pain, yet I keep going. I won't give up. Never will I give up.

I have only come just come to realize how many steps there are when you just look at some stairs. There is a lot more than would be expected. I continue to stumble upwards, my legs wobbling. I trip and begin to fall onto the ground. Before I can recognize what has happened, I find myself and Harry riding on the back of the occamys, who had grown significantly in a short moment. The little dude quickly moves across the stairs silently, its huge body passing smoothly as if riding the air. Paintings pass in a blur, the different floors seeming to take no more than a second to pass.

In as little to no time I find myself sliding down its side still cradling Harry in my arms right in front of a gargoyle statue. I notice the eyes pass over Harry and without a word it jumps to the side revealing the door to Dumbledore's office. I give a brief nod before disappearing through the door and up the staircase.

I rapidly ascend, my heart pounding with each thud of my foot hitting the chilled stone floor. I come to a door already wide open, revealing Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, Padfoot and some healer from St Mungo's standing at the fireplace, an unconscious Hermione resting on a love-seat. I don't pause, quickly making my way to the fireplace, the adults quickly following.

The healer approaches me before I can make any further movements. "Excuse me, Miss. I understand that you are in a hurry here to save this young man, but it would be safer for me to take him to St. Mungo's. We have a system in place for our Floo hub that will make it so that employees are sent to the back, whereas visitors such as yourself will be put in the waiting room. I swear it to you, no further harm shall come to him under my care." The man extends his arms expectantly.

I begin to move Harry into his arms when I get a sharp sting in the back of my mind. I quickly raise my mental shields to protect from legilimency, only it wasn't legilimency. I look up into the man's eyes and see a brief flash of annoyance and anger. I move Harry back up against my body. "I don't know… I don't want to risk Harry's health, but I don't see why he wouldn't be able to stay with me." I murmur more to myself than to him.

Think Via. What is it about this man that is off? What was he lying about? I go back to what he had said initially. "Ma'am, I need to see the boy." He says, annoyance prevalent in his voice. He mentioned different networks. That's not true. I remember because I used it once, and doctors came out the same way I did. Even those that were emergency cases. Magic extended, I allow it to flow over to Hermione. I feel that the poison I had sensed earlier is still resting in her system.

"Did you heal the girl over on the seat?"

"I have, but I don't see why that matters. Now, I need to see the boy if I'm going to save him."

"You're lying. The poison is still in her system. You're also lying about the Floo system. It doesn't have a special emergency fireplace. Everyone still comes in the same way. Who exactly are you?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about, little lady. The girl is healed, and there is an emergency entrance."

"Oh really? Then when did you get the emergency entrance?"

"Two months ago."

"That is another lie. I went to St. Mungo's last month, and everyone came out the same way. I clearly remember going in for a case of strep throat, and while I was waiting, some person that appeared to be severely burned came in rushed by a pair of doctors, yelling for everyone to clear the way, that this was an emergency. And so that everyone else can see that you are lying about Harry's friend, let me demonstrate exactly what I mean." I walk over to Hermione while drawing Uncle Moony's wand.

With a quick swish of the wand over her body, a slow stream of poison exits from her mouth. "Anyone got a vial? Need somewhere to get rid of this." I hear a shuffling of robes behind me. Professor Dumbledore stops beside me, passing me a vial. I slowly move the free-hanging poison into the vial, and cork it so that none shall escape. I turn around and shake the poison at the man. "This right here is a poison. Unless of course you have an explanation for what this really is. And also have an explanation for why it was still in her system, after you said that you had healed her."

McGonagall raises her wand at the man. I walk past over to the fireplace. I quickly adjust Harry so that I won't drop him when getting the powder. From behind me, I hear a light shuffle, the drawing of a wand. I quickly shift to the left, letting the Reducto spell that was cast crash into a statue. "Stupefy!" McGonagall casts a spell, and I hear a thud as the man drops to the floor. I grab a handful of the floo powder/ I toss it down, announcing St Mungo's and pass through, calmly walking through into the lobby. "Someone! I need help! My friend is in desperate need of help!" Many doctors swarm me, taking Harry away and dashing into the emergency section.

I go and sit down in one of those highly uncomfortable chairs. It's going to be a long night.

A/N: I know, I know. This one took forever. I'm greatly sorry about that. For the past month, I have been working non-stop on this piece, trying my hardest to type out a chapter I was proud of. And I would say that this is certainly a chapter I am happy with. I wanted to make Via have her own character, with a past and motivations of her own. Something I always want for any female character is to be a main character, not just a love interest. I may not be the best at writing, but I know that I have the passion to make characters to the best of my abilities. Plus I want all of you to be able to read the story and come away feeling happy with what you read. I hope you can forgive me for taking so long, but I wanted this one to be of good quality. More along the way at some point. Next time will mainly be Harry's perspective. I'm going to get started right away, at the time of writing this note.