I looked in the mirror, analyzing my bruise. It was almost completely gone with the exception of this nasty yellow-ish red line that split my neck in two. To think that I am about to secretly meet with the same person who gave threatened my life. I must be insane.

I'm sorry. I owe it to you. He was arrogant and such an arse. I mean, such an arse. It was like he didn't even to try to be manipulative. It was like second nature!

I was hunched over the stolen book all night, looking over the Malfoy family. It was amazing how well that the family had actually done for themselves. Dating all of the way back to King William I, the family dabbled in both wizarding and muggle affairs, acquiring a large amount of money and influence along the way. Each Malfoy member's ego growing bigger each generation, so it seemed. All of these pureblood ties seemed a little ridiculous the more and more I studied. It was almost impossible to keep the pureblood going without mixing within similar family lines. The Malfoys did become involved, like most purebloods, with some half-breeds, but I bet if you asked them, they would deny contact. With crooked blood come lies and deceit. This is exactly what my father was trying to rid of. Ugh! What was I doing?! I wrapped up my neck with my scarf and headed down the stairwell to go to class.

Draco was sitting far in the corner of potions class when I entered. The world seemed to stop, and not in a good way. Every student, even Harry, Ron, and Hermione, stopped and 'nonchalantly' looked in my general direction. What is going on? I felt my face to make sure it still felt and looked somewhat normal. My hair was down to hide my singed piece of hair, but that's not what they could possibly be looking at. I sat down in my seat and stared at my book. PURE was still burned into the front cover. I traced it with my fingers, feeling the rough, loose threads. I looked over at Draco, who looked a mess. Head in hands, staring down at nothing. He wasn't his usual egotistical self today. Crabbe and Goyle were not hanging on his every word. Pansy wasn't practically on his lap. For once, he looked lonely.

I should go over there and see what's going on.

You are fucking nuts. That's Draco Malfoy you nit!

Ya, I was definitely losing it. Best to ask tonight and not draw attention. The Astronomy Tower... what a weird choice. Wait. Tonight. That was super vague! When was tonight? Good lord he was going to make me wait for him. Damn it!

I looked back over to him and gave him a confused, but stern, look. I was angry but needed answers! He caught my eye before Slughorn burst into the room holding a vile of steaming liquid. Everyone's attention honed in on the vile.

"The Draught of Peace. A potion that many want to acquire but can never conjure. If made correctly, all of your fears and worries will simply, evaporate," and just like that the smoke cleared to review a bright turquoise and opalescent mixture. It was beautiful and mesmerizing. I needed this potion with all of the shit going on in my life.

I quickly grabbed my cauldron and materials. I cracked open my book and got to work. The instructions were very specific. But, what was to say that all potions are not super specific.

I glanced over at Harry and Ron. They had partnered up and were doing everything wrong. That beaten up book Harry insisted on using could barely be legible with all the scribbles over it. And with Ron always being so clumsy, it was a joke to have those two together. I always preferred to work alone. That way I would always be the one to blame if I messed something up. Pointless to get in an argument with someone when you could just do everything yourself.

I took another quick scope at everyone's project. Hermione seemed stressed, per usual. Crabbe and Goyle had a yellow sticky substance on them. How are they even still enrolled here? Draco probably. I looked his way. His head drooped lazily over his book with a finger twirling over his cauldron. The ladle moved in circles in rhythm to his finger. How was that possible? Could I do that? I stared at my ladle intently. Nothing happen. I twirled my finger around on top of the cauldron. Nothing happened. WTF?

I glanced back over to see him moving his hand in compliance to the fire, controlling the flame below the potion. I sat in my chair and glared at my fire. Nothing. Damnit! The fire started to dance with a bluish hue. My heart quickened and I concentrated that feeling on the fire. Suddenly a little singed piece of paper landed on my lap. I quickly picked it up and blew out the corners, reading:

Don't play with fire.

8pm tonight. Don't be late.

I smiled to myself and touched the paper to the flame, letting it burn.

Harry and Ron ended making a perfect potion. I am still dumbfounded how that happened. Maybe they happened to get a little liquid luck before class? Who knew.

I finished my classes for the day and headed to dinner to meet Luna. She had a pack of beans, secured tightly in a cage.

"Luna, what on Earth are you doing?'

"They're Gorgons Jumping Beans! I finally caught the last one about an hour ago. These little buggers are very feisty." I could see them all shaking in the little cage. There would be a story behind this later, but for now, I needed food.

I stuffed down ham, turkey, bits of Shepard's pie, when a couple of Ravenclaw girls stopped by my seat. I had recognized them in the common room, but they had to have been a year or two below me. One bent down and whispered, "I'm sorry about what happened. Let me know if I can help. We Ravenclaw ladies need to stick together."

I looked at them confused as they both walked away. What a strange occurrence. I looked over to Luna. She looked down as the table.

"Haven't you heard Lyra? There really is no need to wear your scarf anymore. Everyone knows."

"What?!" I replied, mouth agape. Luna sat there and fidgeted with her food. I grabbed her arm and made her look at me. "How did this happen Luna?"

"I... you can figure it out Lyra. Who does everyone talk to?"

"Harry" I whispered to under my breath. That must have been what everyone was looking at during potions.

Draco.

I glanced over at the Slytherin table, not spotting the bright platinum hair. If people knew, surely he was feeling a brute force. He could get expelled for this. Fuck. And he still wants to meet with me tonight. Was he going to try something? Don't be late his note read. Shit. He wouldn't dare. That upper hand I had just left. My heart started to race. Then my mind raced around the night prior. The way he looked at me. The way he touched my hair. He had never been so gentle. It was possible. I put another spoonful of mashed potatoes in my mouth, numbing the thought with food.

That night I climbed the astronomy tower steps, huddling within my cloak. I should've brought a jacket. December was creeping closer and tonight the first snowfall was descending. I wrapped my scarf around me tighter, pulling it up and over my nose.

Draco was crouched over the telescope dressed to the nines. With his knee length pea coat and house scarf elegantly tucked, he seemed almost statue-esk, the moonlight hitting his silver snake pendant on his jacket just right. I was jealous of his fur-lined cap as my hair whipped my face from the chilling wind.

I didn't have to even say a word and he noticed my presence. "Come over here and look at this" he motioned towards the giant telescope. I slowly approached, having him step back to leave room. I placed my eye to the opening and was immediately welcomed with a group of the brightest stars I had ever seen.

"That is our sister galaxy, Andromeda. Beautiful isn't she? From a distance she looks like one giant ball of gas but when you look closely you see billions of stars that make up this creation." I stepped away from the telescope and looked up into the night sky to relocate the mass. It was barely visible.

"That is amazing," and it truly was amazing. The stars were almost hypnotizing.

"Goes to show you how something so small can be so complex when you take a closer look." I looked over at him. He had a softness in his eyes. The silver was still visible under a thin layer of grey. There was a dead silence in the air before I spoke.

"You're going to be expelled aren't you?"

His mood flipped and he glared at me. "You would like that wouldn't you." The obvious answer was yes, I would have liked that. After all of the things that he has done to me and my friends, it was only fair. But somehow, secretly, I didn't want him to go. I needed him.

"But no, I am not getting expelled from Hogwarts." I looked at him quizzically. "I have my ways Lyra. But that's not the reason for tonight's visit, is it?' I shook my head.

"I have so many questions." I started.

"And I have so many answers. You will learn. You may not think so, but having pure blood running through your veins is a huge advantage, especially with the rising of the Dark Lord. It may be your saving grace." It was true. Even under the protection of Dumbledore and all of the amazing wizards, there still was an eerie sense of death that lurked over the wizarding community. Better for me to learn this skills now in case I needed to use them.

"You're power is triggered by any intense emotion so it is key that you tune in with yourself. This can derive from anything; hate, frustration, sadness...love. It can be anything from levitation to searing torture, some of which you have seemed to master." I narrowed my eyes at the unnecessary comment.

"I wouldn't call it mastering if I had no idea what I was doing Malfoy," I snapped back. He really needed to get over this arm grudge.

"Regardless, are you able to think back at all of your... outbursts... and pinpoint a certain feeling? This will help us get started."

I thought back to the first time I realized I had such a strength, back in Snape's classroom. I was clearly frustrated with not being able to perform the task at hand. Then Draco's arm. Well, that was out of anger. And so was Neville's incident. God, I still felt bad about that one.

"Well, mostly frustration and anger I suppose. Every time something happened I could feel my blood boiling, like it was on fire. Maybe that triggered something?"

"That's a start." He responded. "Once you start using your skills more and more, you will be able to hone in on your emotion, intensifying or weakening it, depending on what you want to accomplish." He turned to a pile of crates lined again the wall. His hand shifted towards them and slowly one started to levitate. And just like that, with a slash of his hand, it flew against the wall and shattered into pieces. He looked at me and grinned. He motioned me to stand where he was and steadied me with his hands. He stepped behind me and whispered in my ear, "Focus on one crate. Think of something that angers you. Try to take control." He stepped back and waited.

I stared intently on a crate. Think angry thoughts. That was quite hard to do on spot. I thought of Voldemort and how he was terrorizing the world. Nothing.

"Well?" He was impatient. That wasn't helpful.

"I am trying!" I continued to stare down the crate. I tried to think of the last Quidditch game and Cho. My mind kept getting distracted. Nothing.

"I can't. This is hard to do on the spot!"

Draco shook his head. "Come on Carrow. I know where you come from. You can do this. In fact, with your family history I am surprised you are not a Slytherin. With your mind and potential, you'd make a great addition." I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult. He did not know me at all did he? I clearly belonged in Ravenclaw. "But I guess it wouldn't be that much of a disappointment. I mean, your family name has already been tarnished by your father. There was much potential in him, from what I have heard. Until he decided to disgrace the name and work with half-breeds."

I continued to stare at the crate. My father is not a disgrace. He was a great wizard. Fuck Malfoy. I could see a thin stream of smoke rising from a crate. Draco continued, "But maybe your aunt and uncle will be the redeeming factor. They are fitting in nicely with the Dark Lord."

Damn did this boy know how to get under my skin. I wanted to choke him out so badly. Make him feel what I did.

Suddenly the crate burst into flames. We both stopped and looked at the sudden explosion.

"Good. Now channel it. Focus." My eyes set intently on the crate consumed in flames. Draco continued to antagonize me. "Just think, once you master this skill, I can put in a good word for you." The crate flew in his direction, crashing into the wall beside me. He had to duck to avoid the hurl of flaming wooden splinters.

"Is that what this is? You want to 'train' me to become like you? To join the dark forces?!"

"No, Lyra, I..."

I was infuriated. "My family is not like yours. They're saviors, not destroyers. Not the least bit manipulative or conniving. We are good and honest people!"

"Like mine? What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean." He stared at me angrily before closing his eyes. He drew in and exhaled a deep breath. "I was trying to help! It's not like that." he pleaded desperately for me to understand. I glared at him for a long moment before he spoke up, "Maybe we should stop for the night. You're shivering." I didn't know if I was actually cold or just shaking with anger. He started to unbutton his jacket. My eyes were glued to his fingers as he delicately undid each button. He shook off his coat and handed it to me. I crossed my arms and refused it. I didn't need his sympathy. A gust of wind shot through the tower and hit me directly in the face, sending chills down my spine, giving me goosebumps.

"You are so stubborn." He threw the coat around my shoulders and crouched down next to me. "Look. I am well aware of your situation, which is why I have offered some help. At this point, I know more about you in relation to this than you do. You've got to trust me Carrow."

"Trust you? You realize how ridiculous of a request that is right? You're bloody mad if you think I'll trust you. And don't call me by my family name. It's clear you have no respect for it." I spat out.

He stood up. "I know your weaknesses. Why do you think I said all of those things? It worked didn't it?" He was right. I hated it but he was right. It still didn't excuse the fact that he completely insulted my family.

"Just leave my family out of it ok?" He stood there silently, shaking off the cold. "Ok?!"

He was reluctant but finally agreed. The wind was completely unbearable now as my nose and fingers started to go numb. I pulled his jacket tighter around me, taking in the unforgotten smell of sandalwood.

"And next time you'll bring a coat." He smiled at me.