Chapter Thirteen: Over the Railing

All my photographs were scattered on the kitchen table to place in the binder I had gotten with plastic pages when everyone started to arrive. Roni and I had cleaned up and made sure no evidence was left to suggest earlier even happened. However now that I had told her, I felt calmer, better. Not that I wasn't still hanging by a thread before I would start getting emotional again.

Though even with all the clearing of the evidence, my eyes still looked puffy and red.

Roni was trying to help me get everything in order. I caught Mira out of the corner of my eye carrying a bag of groceries. She made to put them away quietly, looking thoughtful.

"Weren't there ten of Anicetus?" Roni asked as we gathered the ones of him sleeping. "Excluding the test strip?"

"I gave the tenth to Hermione," I answered with a shrug before placing them all into a plastic sheet and into the binder.

"I didn't get one," she whined.

"You never asked," I replied with a bored stare directed at her. "But I'll make you one later."

"Better," she mumbled, pouting.

"Veronica, stop pouting," I grumbled before looking down at the glass of red wine that Remus had set so he could look through the pictures himself.

"I'm not pouting," she grumbled before handing me another stack of photos to put away.

"Thanks," I sighed before shying away as Sirius reached to ruffle my hair. "Please don't touch me for a few minutes."

"Don't Sirius," Remus followed a second later, his tone firm and had a bit of a biting warning.

Finishing the sorting and filing of the photos, I went to put my binder away upstairs in my room on my desk. Going over to my bed, I crawled underneath the covers, covering my head as the tears started to run down my face. Gods, I was pathetic.

Being around those who knew you were close to breaking and just wanted to comfort you was really hard. I felt guilty for not letting them do so, but it'd just set me off again. Not that it hadn't already.

I felt someone sit on my bed and pull the cover down. Mira laid down on her side and wrapped her arms about me, pulling me securely against her. I broke down again.

"You're all right, baby," she whispered, trying to soothe me. "Ssssh, calm down."

For nearly an hour we both laid there as I tried to calm down, but broke again. By the time I was completely exhausted, now understanding why girls needed a good cry every so often, I was damn near asleep. Mira smiled at me.

"Feeling better, you drama queen?" she asked with a teasing tone.

I chuckled tiredly, "Yes. Much."

"Are you willing to come down for dinner?" she asked, pushing my hair out of my face.

"I think I'm too tired to move," I admitted before yawning as she sat up.

"You're to eat a large breakfast," she told me seriously before smiling, ruffling my hair, and suddenly disappearing from my room.

I slowly sat up. I needed to wash my face. For some unexplainable reason, dried tears were the most annoying thing to have on one's face. Hurrying through a shower, I dried and pulled on the clean pair of jeans sans the boxers and headed back to bed, burrowing myself under the covers. I heard footsteps and the bed dipped.

"I realize that coyotes like burrows, but this is sort of an odd one, don't you think?" I heard Anicetus ask, his voice lightly teasing.

I pulled the cover up off my head and looked up at him with a small smile, "No, it's not."

He went to lay on his side and pull me to him. "Are you feeling better?"

"Sort of," I admitted with a shy tone, completely embarrassed in a way.

"Do you need anything?" he asked.

"Not really," I murmured. "Just an actual burrow."

He burst into laughter before leaning in to kiss me. "We'll see to that later. Right now, you need food."

"No," I argued lightly. "Too lazy to move."

"That's the beauty of having a stubborn werewolf as a mate," he chuckled, scooping me up into his arms and rising to his feet as I let out a series of whines and pleads, "we just don't care if you're too lazy."

"You are evil, I tell you," I grumbled as he carried me over to my desk and sat me down. I paused, looking up at him and then at the plate of food in front of me.

"I don't think you're up to being surrounded so I decided to instead bring you food," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Your skills of observation continue to impress," I noted with a frown at the food, contemplating if it would be healthy of me in my current mental state to devour anything.

I pushed the plate away, suddenly feeling nauseous at the thought of putting anything in my stomach. Anicetus crouched beside the chair and wrapped his arms loosely about my waist. I leaned my forehead against his.

"You're still too thin," he stated in a low voice of worry.

"I'm fine the way I am," I countered, shrugging.

I tried not to notice how thin I was as a point. If noticed, I remembered all the times of being starved. Only Mira and Amar were really aware of just how bad it was and how it still affected me. Lately, Mira had taken to hovering around the dinner table while I was eating. She was trying not to be obvious and failing miserably. I knew Sirius had caught on to her actions and was giving her a thoughtful look before focusing on me.

And, yes, my eating habits had been severely bad recently. I hadn't been feeling altogether well which made me eat less. Which led me to be unhealthy yet again.

However the strange thing about it all was that my magic did help keep me alive. Despite everything, it held me together. Though Amar did note that it isn't altogether healthy to rely on my magic to keep me alive all the time.

Mentally shaking myself out of my thoughts, I looked at the plate with narrowed eyes. There were breaded clams, some shrimp, and black beans with spinach to the side. All of these items on the high iron listing. Can we say somebody tattled to the werewolf?

"Who told you I had a low iron count?" I asked without thinking, a dark frown directed at him.

Amar had been coming down on me about my recent eating habits all of which lacked proper iron. I think he's just trying to drive me mad. Honestly, low iron count?

Then again, when I was little and having severe problems, Mira had taken me to a doctor secretly when I had told her one of the nurses at my school told my Aunt that I should be checked for anything such as deficiencies. The doctor, who was actually apart of the Dalca Clan I later found out, had told Mira that I may have iron deficiency due to some of the symptoms I was having beside the initial malnutrition.

From then on it turned into a fight about whether it was true if I had that or not. I refused to think anything was wrong with me. It was the first disagreement I ever had with the Singhs.

I still hadn't come to believing the idea of it.

His brows shot up, "Beg your pardon?"

I backpedaled mentally, panicking as the expression of surprise appeared on his face, "I mean, who made up the plate?"

"Amar," he answered and pulled me back down into the chair when I was getting ready to make quick exit. "What do you mean low iron count?"

"Nevermin--"

"I'm not going to forget about something that sounded very important," he growled, grabbing my chin to make me look him in the eyes. "Exactly what does that mean?"

"It means that I'm not altogether healthy if I don't eat a large amount of iron," I stated slowly. I shrugged it off dismissively. "I've had the problem since I was little. I mean, you're not altogether healthy when you're being denied a proper nutrition. My magic sustains me in such cases. Besides, I don't think the doctor that Mira took me to was altogether right about the whole thing."

"And I'm guessing from the spinach on the plate that that is why you intake great quantities of it?" he asked.

Yeah, even if I didn't believe in this deficiency didn't mean I wasn't going to be safer than sorry.

"The soybeans help, too," I admitted as I remembered the bag that I carried around with me everywhere.

I've convinced Tom at the pub to help me out when I had stayed at the Leaky Cauldron before third year. He allowed me to go to the muggle world despite what he had been told, covering for my disappearance. He realized how finicky I really was when it came to food and allowed me to keep my secret to myself. That's how I would end up with soybeans to carry around during the summer and a couple weeks into the school year.

"Well it explains why Mira forces you to eat certain things," he chuckled.

"Please don't make a deal about it," I begged suddenly, knowing him too well. "I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about. It really isn't. I've adjusted to it. It's not as bad as it seems."

"Oh?" he asked, his brow raised incredulously. "What are the symptoms of this deficiency?"

"Depression, irritability, sleepiness, being cold a lot, poor appetite," I replied matter-of-factly. "Nothing big so don't worry about it. Besides, I seriously don't think there's anything wrong with me. It was a bad couple of months when she finally decided to take me to a doctor when the Dursleys didn't when the school nurse advised it."

He rolled his eyes. "You really don't think I'm not going to worry."

"I was aiming for a miracle," I admitted sheepishly.

"I don't think you've had a really bad time of any of those symptoms until lately," he noted. His eyes narrowed. "Eat now."

"You know, I don't bark on comman--"

"This isn't a democracy," he growled. "This is me telling you to eat something."

"Hitler," I grumbled before turning to the plate, snatching a spinach leaf and putting it into my mouth, and chewed before swallowing. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic," he chuckled before kissing my temple. "I can't help but worry about you, little coyote. You're so small and human. I don't want you to be hurt."

"Hate to break this to you, Mr. Abandonato, but without pain, there's no passion, no life," I murmured.

"That's pretty wise, even for you," he laughed.

"I'm a philosophical idiot," I muttered as I continued munching on the spinach.

"You're confused is all," he murmured with a smile.

"That's psychologically normal for those in their adolescence," I stated matter-of-factly. "We all go through the identity crisis."

"Honestly, do you really need to rely on a textbook just to reassure you that what you're going through is normal?" he asked with a twisted smile. "I hate to break it to you, but nobody is normal."

"Gee, you're a tremendous reassurance," I grumbled. "Not that you aren't usually, but the whole approach on your part was pretentious."

He rolled his eyes, "You were born a critic."

"Better than being a fairy of a werewolf," I pointed out with a grin.

"I honestly don't know how you expect to live a long life with that sarcasm of yours," he muttered, shaking his head in amusement.

"I have a great amount of luck," I pointed out with a weak smile before shivering as a cold chill struck. "Look, I can take care of myself. I've been doing so for a long time. It's not that I don't appreciate the help, I just rather you don't fuss over me anymore. It's not necessary. I'm perfectly fine." He gave me a look that seem rather pointed. "And you said I was human, and I am. I want you to trust me. I'll live and I won't break."

"You and trouble are synonymous," he stated matter-of-factly. "Therefore I worry."

I growled with sudden anger, "I'm not a child."

"Yes, you are," he replied carefully.

I felt myself burn with sudden rage. Oh, yes, rage was better to handle than misery. Even better than to handle in face of insecurity.

However I noted that I was about to get really nasty in my temper. Remus and Sirius both agreed that I had my mother's temper. Aim to be blunt and to hurt.

"And what am I then?" I snarled, trying to rise to my feet, but he wouldn't let me. "Am I to be your fucking Lolita?" He looked at me with a frown. "If I'm a child, then you must be a pedophile. A bad, bad wolf."

"I'm going to ignore what you just called me because I know you're trying to get a rise out of me," he stated with a low voice that made me tense. "But let me straighten you out, Surendra. I am not a pedophile. I don't consider you a Lolita, whatever that may be." He shook his head and smiled, putting me completely off guard. He placed his hand at the back of my neck and pulled me forward until our foreheads touched. "You've been through a lot, I know. I've seen you in action and it excites me as much as it scares me. I don't want you hurt though. You're still a pup. No matter what, you're still young. I don't mean to offend, but that's what you are despite everything." He bumped his nose with mine and in doing so, deflated my surge of anger. "Now eat before you annoy me."

"What's the point?" I muttered, feeling rather oddly depressed and rather guilty.

"Well you need foo--"

"I didn't mean it like that," I snapped. I looked at him. "Why don't you get angry?"

"What's the point?" he asked with a smile. "Would you rather that I yell at you instead?"

"Yes," I laughed suddenly, brightening immediately. "I would love that. Shout, yell, scream, break things. Pace back and forth, growling or snarling, whichever. It would be fantastic."

He smirked. "Eat. Now."

"But why don't you ever get angry?" I asked in confusion.

"I know you're just trying to hurt me with your words," he answered, brushing hair out of my face. "You're upset and as they say, misery loves company." He paused, smiling. "I know you're trying to put on a mask of bravado. You don't want to feel vunerable as you do currently. So in making me angry, you can fight with me for some silly reason to save face." He chuckled. "But you forget. I was once your age and remember what it's like. Albeit my grandfather would have beat me quite senseless for the utter disrespect."

"He beat you?" I asked in a bare whisper, wide eyes.

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that," he laughed, caressing my face. "He made sure that I respected his authority and position as patriach. Remember, not only was he my grandfather, but he was also my Alpha. He had to discipline me. I was a mere pup after all."

"I don't understand," I murmured.

"Nobody likes to hear others tell them they're a child, Suren," he explained with a smile. "My grandfather likes to point it out on a regular basis to me that I am still young and not nearly as jaded as he. Though I assume he says such things in tease. Mind you, I reacted badly the first time in my own youth. He did discipline me."

"He disciplined?" I asked, feeling rather lost. I thought... "Didn't you say he beat you?"

He started laughing. "My poor coyote. You must be really tired if you're this slow." I scowled. "Werewolves are different than humans. We can take the harsher punishments and understand them. You don't have the same instincts as we do. We always fight for dominance. We're rougher than mere humans."

"Like what happened between Uncle Remy and you?" I asked. I really must be tired not to follow this.

"Yes, exactly," he replied with a broad smile. "Remus interferred with my pursuits. I cannot allow that."

"Cannot or will not?" I asked with surprise.

"You're right," he added after a moment of thought. "I will not allow anything to stand in my way of having you. You're mine."

I looked blankly at him. "I think I should be disturbed of this constant claiming of yours. And what do you mean by having me? You say it like you want to slaughter me or something."

He leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. His hand slid to the back of my neck and he pulled me closer. Bumping noses slightly, he held my gaze before kissing me. He pulled back and gave me a look of something completely animal. Possessive and hungry. Something that should have sent me running for the hills, but right at the moment I was feeling like the little bird that the cat had been staring at for hours on end before getting ready to pounce on said bird.

"Trust me, when I slaughter you, you'll be ripe for the picking," Anicetus chuckled in a low husky voice.

"Those were two phrases I never wanted to hear in succession," I breathed. "And that was the worst innuendo I've ever heard before."

"You'll probably will hear more like that," he admitted sheepishly. "I can't help but make very cheesy statements like that." He rolled his eyes and kissed my cheek. "Eat."

And so I ate as I thought about what he said.

"I like to point out that it is officially too blasted hot today," Roni announced as we casually strolled into the house with Blue-Hair and Rene following behind the two of us.

"Why, then, are you all drenched?" Anicetus asked as he sat down with Amar at the table.

"Harry started it," Roni pointed in accusation.

"You all followed suit," I replied with unsuccessful suppressed laughter.

"What did you do?" Amar asked with a visible grin.

"I--"

"He decided to turn on the cold shower and jump in with all his clothes on," Rene replied with hilarity.

"You joined me not two seconds later," I laughed.

"Hey, I thought it was a great idea," he replied, ruffling my hair. I noted Anicetus jaw clench.

"Sure, uh huh," I stated with sarcasm while rolling my eyes and shoving his arm away. "And then James joined in thinking we should have a threesome."

"It turned into a foursome when Roni joined us," Blue-Hair laughed.

"Then the fifth chased us out of the shower and out of the house," Roni added.

"My mother hasn't a very good sense of humor," Rene admitted with laughter.

"It didn't help that you and Blue-Hair had me sandwiched between the two of you suggesting crude activities," I growled, scowling at the two taller boys. "And there was Roni, giggling madly as she listened."

"We were only teasing," he laughed, ruffling my hair, making sure that all it in the front landed in my eyes. I really needed to cut it soon.

"That may be, but it was rather unpleasant, thank you very much," I stated with a pointed look before shooing them away.

I followed them upstairs, trying to ignore the look Anicetus gave me. At the moment, we were preparing to make a letter for Hermione. It was her birthday in a couple of days and Roni had already gotten the letters from some of the guys who hung out with Hermione on a regular basis at parties.

And she said nobody cared about her birthday. Insert evil smiley face.

I was laughing. Sirius, not even aware of the prank I had played on him, trounced around with a mustaches and strip of beard painted onto his face with shoe polish not two hours ago while he had been napping. Remus, on the other hand, had received green hair and bright pink skin and gotten rid of it sometime ago and now was laughing just as hard when he saw my godfather, completely unaware, joining a game of poker with Amar and Anicetus.

"What's so funny?" Sirius asked, suddenly frowning at me.

"I-I--" I snickered, trying to say something, but unable to do so instead I waved my hand dismissively.

"Have you looked in the mirror in the last couple of hours?" Anicetus asked casually, not looking up from his cards.

"No," Sirius replied in confusion. "Why?"

"It's the reason why Remus and Suren are laughing," Amar answered with a grin, his eyes glittering with mischief.

"What did you do?" he asked, looking pointedly at me.

I all but pointed at Remus. The werewolf shouted, "OI! This wasn't my doing!"

I started laughing, "I would never prank my own godfather."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Do not lie to me, Pronglet. What did you do?"

"N-nothing," I laughed, looking up at him wickedly.

"Excuse me," he said before rising up and leaving the room to go to the bathroom.

I made to count, "One. Two. Three. Fou--"

"Harry James Potter!"

"At least he isn't a girl like I intended to do again," I mused, shrugging.

I woke up and blinked sleepily as I met autumn gold eyes watching me. Smiling sleepily, I snuggled closer and kissed his throat before closing my eyes. Then I jumped up, accidentally bumping my head into his chin and making both of us give shouts of pain.

"What on earth was that for?" he asked, sitting up and rubbing his chin as he watched me scurry out of his bed and start searching for my bag.

"I have work in an hour," I replied, crouching down and pulling out my work uniform from it.

"Actually two," he chuckled.

"Oh," was all I said when I realized he was right when I looked at a clock. I paused before deciding to get back into bed. I crawled all the way back up to him and kissed him. "M'sorry."

He rolled, putting me beneath him as we kissed. He nibbled on my lower lip before pulling back and smiling down at me. I loved that smile. He settled himself down on top of me, his weight crushing, but comforting.

"How does a werewolf live with no windows in his personal quarters?" I asked suddenly. "Doesn't it feel like a huge cage?"

"You tend to forget about things like that over the years," he chuckled, his face turned to the side of mine. "You don't like it?"

"It feels like being suck in a cupboard at times," I murmured. "But it smells like you so it's safe, but still suffocating. I don't know. I've gotten use to windows over time."

"Don't think about it," he replied. "Just try to sleep, little coyote."

When I next woke, not even realizing that I had fallen asleep, I didn't open my eyes, but instead pawed around for the werewolf that I was currently referring to as my personal heater. Pausing when I felt the bed dip, I opened my eyes to see a blurry Anicetus.

"Looking for something?" he asked with amusement.

"My heater," I replied with a smile.

"Is that all I am to you?" he asked in mock indignation.

I didn't even think before I replied, "You're a fantastic pillow."

"I see," he murmured before brightening. "I'll take what I can get."

"The fact that you're content to be a pillow worries me," I laughed.

"The fact that you're making fun of me shows that you truly care," he chuckled.

"You're delusional," I pointed out with a frown.

"I love being delusional," he chuckled before giving me a peck on the lips. "You have only twenty minutes before you have to leave, Suren-baby."

"Shite," I cursed, jumping off the bed.

He caught me about the waist and hauled me toward the little bathroom he had. "Go take a quick shower, luv. I'll get your bag."

"Do not join me," I warned, knowing to say so as soon as possible before he got any wicked ideas in his head.

I took the quickest shower known to my existent thought and hurried through dressing. Before I could rush out, he yanked me back to him and kissed me. Then he shooed me, laughing as I dodged gracefully through the crowd and out the door.

When I entered the building, Mira was pointing and directing. She paused and looked at me. Her eyes and smile said it all.

I hurried into the kitchen.

Entering the castle quietly, I paused, looking around before completing my step. At the moment, I had a glamour on that made my eyes ice blue and my hair dark purple. Mind you, I had been playing around with looks for awhile now. I had just gotten off work and had been planning to use the macro lenses that Amar let me borrow when a raven had delivered a sadistic message from Snape.

Whether the bird was told to start biting my ear off or not, I didn't care. I was already in a bit of a bad mood. It was Friday, my week's workload was completely finished, I had to inform Anicetus of the contract between Roni's family and my own before I lost my nerve, and I needed to get with Roger this weekend to go through my training with wizarding inks. Mind you, sleeping over at Anicetus's wasn't smart on any level, but, then again, I was using it as a way to manipulate the situation into my favor due to the breaking of my news.

Yes, it wasn't realistic, but it was to my current nervous state.

When I had to change out of my work clothes, I changed into the loose pair of dark blue jeans and a Ramones black band T-shirt, I had been attacked by the crazy raven just as I headed out of the building. It had set me off so royally. I had almost thought to roast the poor devil bird. Instead, I came to Hogwarts to deal with the bastard of the potion-making a.k.a. the Resident Dungeon Master.

Yes, I am aware of the geek that is I.

Opening the door, I leaned against the frame, waiting to catch the man's attention. It was the beginning of class and he was barking orders. It was something I sort of missed. Remus never barked orders. In fact, he never barked.

Which is weird because aren't dogs supposed to…

That's neither here nor now, I grumbled mentally before mentally rolling my eyes as well.

"Mr. Singh, if you'd please come in," Snape sneered when he looked up at me after sitting behind his desk.

I walked into the Potion's classroom, ignoring the startled glances from those of the fourth year students. Stalking up to the desk where Snape sat, I stopped in front of it. He looked up at me with a raised brow.

"I do hope whatever you have to say is important," I growled, ignoring the whispers going through the room. "I haven't the temperament to tolerate anyone else's crap today let alone yours--" I sighed heavily. "--Even if your sarcastic comments bring me loads of amusement."

"I'm glad to be of service," he replied in sarcasm, looking at me with a dry expression.

"As you should be," I stated with a slight smile, giving him my full attention. "Now do please proceed with your explanation of why I've been called here to your classroom. I'm just dying to hear what you of all bigoted pricks have to say."

He glowered at me for a moment before sighing heavily and tossed me the pen that I had given him during the summer. I examined it carefully, mentally calculating, noting, and planning through the situation. This took all of seven seconds.

"It didn't work?" I asked casually.

He blinked in reply.

"Well then that means that vocal recordings do not open the chamber," I stated with a thoughtful expression. "I think I'll have to be there in that moment, opening it with actual vocalization." I shot him an amused glance. "And here I thought you were holding out on me. Good to know it was otherwise. I'd hate to have to break your nose again even though I didn't actually mean to do so to begin with."

"Indeed," he replied dryly, his tone filled with annoyance.

"I'm guessing we'll be working together then," I muttered, pulling out my planner, flipping through it to today's date. "When are you free?--I'll see if I'm free as well."

"And why wouldn't you be free exactly?" he asked, thoroughly amused by the circumstances if that gleam in his eyes was anything to go by.

"Dad and Uncle Remy doubled my workload, muggle and wizarding, since the last full moon considering that they've planned for me to take an early graduation test and that OWLs examination," I explained casually. "More like tripled my workload." I took a brief moment to breathe deeply in irritation before brightening. "Then I've got work with Mira's catering company; I think we're booked solid till after New Years and my schedule has already been made." I turned to look at Hermione who returned my smile. "I forgot to bring your already forged schedule. It didn't cross my mind though. I'll send it to you tonight." I turned back to Snape after receiving a nod and an even brighter smile. "Also Roger has got me working on some objectives to receive a tattoo and piercing license so I can work in that tattoo shop he owns. He's been mentoring me for awhile, but we haven't had much of a chance during the summer to work together since everything's been one thing after another. He wants me to get the license before my birthday." I shrugged. "I might even look for another job. I heard there's an opening at the local automotive shop for secretarially filing and management. Should be interesting to look into."

He blinked. Then blinked again. Then again. He gave me a blank stare.

"Merlin, Potter, when do you get time to sleep?" Malfoy asked from behind me with a dumbfounded voice. There were murmurs of the same question.

"I've already penned in sleeping hours," I reported jokingly, waving the planner to where it was visible.

"Are you feeling well, Suren?" Hermione asked in Arabic. She had picked up a few phrases since the beginning of the summer. However her pronunciation was rather lacking finesse.

"Miss Granger, ten points from Gryffindor," Snape snapped making her duck her head and purse her lips.

I chuckled, "I'm fine, lioness. The shippers were giving me a bad time earlier and the older girls were all harassing me." I looked back at my planner. "I'm free Saturdays and Sundays in the morning up to two in the afternoon. Is that perfect for you?"

"I believe that would suit," he replied dryly.

"Then you'll be penned in," I congratulated with sarcasm as I jotted down the notes in the planner before placing it back in my bag. I started to take out my camera and load it with film. "Are we finished so I can get back to the real world?"

"And what makes you think you are not already in the real world?" he asked with a blank stare.

"I've come to the conclusion that all of you are figments of my imagination and that I am slowly succumbing to this crazed delusion that my mind is having on me," I replied with a cheeky smile. "And that when I leave here to go back to what I believe to be the real world, you'll all fade to nothingness and I shall be free momentarily of such a vastly detailed delusion only to ensconce myself once more when you all come calling." I gave him a thoughtful frown. "I believe myself to be completely mental."

"I see no argument in that respect," he replied dryly.

"Is that all you can say?" I asked with a smile. "I throw myself on the line and you don't even take the hook to belittle me? Geez, Uncle Sev, you're losing your touch."

I heard the classroom door open and then Dumbledore ask, "Mr. Potter, can I have a moment of your time?"

I turned to look at Snape and mouthed while looking completely annoyed: Fucking son of a bastard's a bloodhound!

Snape quirked his eyebrow and looked at me with glittering black eyes. He was so amused that he couldn't even hide the smug look that appeared on his face. No doubt Dumbledore had the same mental look as well.

"I have a question," I stated suddenly, looking at Snape with a thoughtful frown.

"I do hope it is purely academic, Mr. Singh," Snape sneered.

"Why, yes, it is," I replied sarcastically. I deadpanned, "How much Belladonna does it take to kill an old geezer exactly?"

"Excuse me?" he asked, completely shocked it would seem as he looked blankly at me.

"I meant it theoretically, of course," I followed quickly, shooting him a smile. "Don't get any wrong ideas."

"Get out of my classroom now, Mr. Singh," he snapped, rising to his feet.

"Geez, it was just a question," I grumbled before turning and heading towards the exit. "Some people just don't have a sense of humor."

Not that I meant that question in humor. In fact, I was serious. Maybe if I killed Dumbledore, I'd save us all a lot of trouble.

Hey, now there's a thought!

Albeit my karma couldn't really be all that great if I did manage to kill him, could it?

I paused before I reached the door and looked at the old man blankly. "You wanted a moment, right?"

"Only just," he answered with a smile grandfathers use with their grandsons.

"Oh, if that's all," I chuckled, looking at him with a smile. "Drop dead."

I stalked past him as the room fell silent. Heading toward the Entrance Hall, I started to pick up speed, not feeling safe in this territory. Hogwarts may be my home, but no home is really safe, is it?

I hurried off the school property before disappearing by port key to outside Gringotts. Hurrying back into the muggle world, I started to relax. Safe in the muggle world where no little wizards and witches would bother me. If only that were really the case.

It had been a quiet couple of weeks. Nothing out of the ordinary. It had been enlightening.

I still hadn't told Anicetus which didn't help. The meeting was next week. He was so going to strangle me.

Snape and I worked together rather well when it came to getting the basilisk all cut up and ready to jar. I began to milk Isa of her venom, storing it in vials for usage later. Ani and I had no serious arguments which was well enough. Sirius, Remus, and I pranked one another constantly. Mira and I had formed a truce and instead pranked the other two.

Everything was perfectly normal as it should be. Nothing to be fussed about. It made me relax despite my want of not wanting to.

And now that time had came when the big test was to be taken to see if I would be able to graduate early or not. A week before Halloween. I had to have become more subdued as the days went by. So much so that Roni had started to spend hours with Rene and Blue-Hair when I was being a bit of a downer. Not that I blamed her.

I threw myself into the English and math like a mad person. Ignoring everyone else. Hoping against hope that a nervous breakdown would not come to pass before or after the test.

Hermione had owled telling me that Dumbledore was allowing her to take the test. She had her parents sign her up for it and everything. They were very excited, to say the least. In fact, Mira and them decided that we would be having dinner together that evening when Hermione and I finished the test in celebration. I found it enthusiastic on their parts.

Anicetus agreed when I explained the whole thing to him. However I'm sure he was agreeing only to get me to shut up. He did have that glint in his eye that usually meant that he just didn't get why I didn't grasp the idea of such simple things when he apparently could.

It was that time of day when I was going to go retrieve Hermione. Having finally told Anicetus a firm no that he was not coming with even if I had to tie him up, I left. Now heading through the gates of Hogwarts, I regretted it slightly. I was nervous and that made me more jumpy. Werewolf senses were far better to have around. Not that anything could happen, right?

I ignored it for lack of a better preoccupation. For once, I wasn't going to be paranoid. I refused to be paranoid. No paranoia here. Nope.

Deciding to hasten, I tugged on the hem of my (well it actually was Anicetus's) large shirt of faded navy. My dark blue jeans were paint-flecked due to helping Roni paint her room a week ago. Mind you, it turned into a fight when I took the brush and wiped it down the front of her face when she sat down and closed her eyes, feeling tired. She had caught a minor cold at the time. I was awaiting my turn to catch it because, let's face it, if she got sick, I was bound to follow suit.

When I caught the whole of the school gathered outside, I paused. Curious despite my desperate attempt to quell it, I began to walk forward again, smirking when Hermione got told off by a thin-lipped McGonagall when she fell out of line to wave at me. Ginny followed suit, laughing.

I dodged past Dumbledore, ducking my head and shoving my hands into my leather jacket's pockets. My mouth quirked into a grin when I met McGonagall's gaze.

"Hello, Professor," I greeted with a smile that brightened as I noted Hermione bouncing around like a little girl that had too much sugar.

"Hello, Mr. Singh," she greeted with a small lift of her lips. "I believe you're here to retrieve Miss Granger for the test you are both taking, correct?"

"Yes, I am," I chuckled. "Is it all right if we leave now? I don't want to intrude, but I have to be getting to a meeting with Roger in half an hour." I licked my lips before raising my upper lip in a grin. "And Hermione's not going to be sitting still as well as she should. Better get her out of here before she embarrasses herself."

"I would advise you to retract your fangs, Mr. Singh," McGonagall replied off-handedly as she stared at my mouth. "Were you practicing your Animagus form?"

"Uh, yeah," I answered sheepishly.

"Oh, and what are you?" she asked, curious.

"Indian Cobra," I answered instantly, not even acting odd or anything.

I had practiced answering this a dozen times before with Remus. He told me never to say what I really was no matter who asked. To answer was now second nature.

"Interesting even for you, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore inserted, standing beside me. "Isn't the Indian Cobra quite poisonous?"

"It's one of the Big Four in India," I admitted.

"And you bit that man called Anicetus's wrist with these fangs without injecting venom?" he asked, his eyes glittering.

"Sadly for all those would-be watchers, I decided not to develop venom sacs when doing that particular deed," I growled, my eyes narrowing as I felt a probe at the forefront of my mind. "Now if you'll excuse me, I want to get Hermione and her things and leave."

"Excellent idea, Mr. Singh," McGonagall suddenly chirped before rushing both Hermione and I toward the castle.

"McGonagall seemed glad to be rid of me before the storm hit the beach," I laughed as I followed Hermione up the stairs.

"Watching you and Dumbledore in a duel wouldn't have been appropriate for our guests to see," Hermione giggled. "However I'd be selling tickets to see that."

"I'm glad you'll profit in my endeavor to make him rue the day he ever messed with me," I chuckled as we entered the tower quickly.

"Okay, you'll have to give me a few minutes," she giggled as she went to the girl's staircase and paused to look at me. "I have to change out of these robes. They're becoming quite a nuisance."

"Dually noted," I chuckled before watching her disappear upstairs.

When she reappeared, she was dressed in a low cut silk cami of black, black jeans with her black boots, her wrist adorned with a leather band that had a silver button, and her cloak. She had a duffle bag over her shoulder. She wore a black knitted hat that she had pushed all of her hair up under. She smiled when she noticed me admiring her.

"You are one hellacious fox, Mione," I chuckled, winking at her with a smirk.

"Why thank you," she replied, grinning. "I do ever so love compliments." She then looked at my shirt. "Is that--?"

"Yes," I admitted sheepishly. "I was with him before I came to get you."

"With him, with him?" she asked with a sudden frown.

"Geez, we're not having sex," I stated with a gesture of surrendering. "Why does everyone think we're sleeping together?"

"Because you both share a bed," she pointed out with a grin. "It's warranted that we think the way we do."

"Anicetus would so love it if we were like that," I muttered unhappily. I shot her a sudden grin. "I don't think he'd let me out of the room for very long if he had any choice."

"It's a guy thing," she told me seriously.

"And a dog thing," I pointed out with as much seriousness as her.

"You know, it'd be funny if you were able to spend time with him while it was the full moon," she stated off-handedly, smiling with aloof.

"How so?"

"Oh, you know, he'd probably start humping your leg," she giggled before racing out of the tower with me chasing after with a howl of mock irritation.

I had caught up to her on the third floor, laughing, "That is so not funny."

"But you're laughing!" she giggled as I pulled her to me.

Suddenly, I pushed Hermione to the ground as a knife went sailing through the air. We looked up to see an average size, dark hawkish featured man watching us with Siberian blue eyes. He returned our stares with a sinister one of his own, a lip pulled up in a sneer that showed lethal fangs. Getting to our feet, I pulled out my knife with a scowl.

Honestly, did I have not an ounce of good luck somewhere in my arsenal?

I growled, gripping my Indian Bich'hwa tightly. "Who do you belong to?"

"Orlov," he hissed, eyeing Hermione. "Our Lord is interested in the new potential of your Lord's."

"Her adoption into the Dalca Clan and the Singh family is nigh," I growled, eyeing him warily as we circled one another. "Leave her alone."

"She has not officially been adopted yet," he pointed out with a snarling grin. "She's free game."

"Do not dare touch my sister," I snarled, pausing at the railing of the stairs, pushing Hermione further behind me. "You have nothing to offer her."

"We have a lot more to offer to her than your Clan," he hissed.

"Yes, and that's why you're the backwash of the vampire community," I sneered, feeling Hermione slip free my militant stiletto at my back.

The vampire dove and knocked me out of the way, going for Hermione, pinning her to the railing. I landed and took a tumble down the stairs, feeling every bump increase tenfold in pain. I heard a shriek of pain and then another yell. I dragged myself up and hurried up the stairs to see Hermione on her knees, my knife appeared to be in the heart of the vampire who had to have died instantly. Her throat was bitten and looking quite torn. The blood flowed freely from the bite.

She looked up with wide eyes and started crawling over to me. "Are you all right?"

"I dislike vampires," I replied as I crouched down beside her, pulling her to me. "Keep pressure to your neck." She nodded, eyes still wide and glassy as she applied pressure to her neck with her cloak. "I'll make sure he's dead."

I straightened to my feet, stepping over to the vampire carefully and nudged him with my foot. He was dead. I swooped down and I pulled out my stiletto, wiping it on a clean patch of the dead vampire's clothing before putting it back on my person. I used my wandless magic to call my Indian Bich-hwa back to me as I dropped it before tumbling down the stairs.

Hermione's strangled shriek of warning sounded in the hall again and I went down, a body on top of my own. I let out a yell as I struggled to escape from the attack. He knocked my Indian Bich-hwa out of my hand and held my other arm down. A kick to his ribs and a blast of magic sent him sailing into the nearby wall.

I straightened to my feet and wobbled, holding the railing. Hermione shrieked my name. My eyes widened dramatically as I felt a body collide with mine and we both went over the railing.

Notes:

To BOOMrobotdog: It would be a sin as a valley gal not to spell gnarly correctly. It's like treason for my kind. And Anicetus's full name literally means: Unconquerable Wolf Forsaken. I always choose names usually for their meaning. I'm picky in that respect. And the friendship between Cedric and Harry... They've played Quidditch against each other. They've probably thrown playful insults back and forth in my mind. To me, Cedric was not being cynical, but playful and a little flippant. And who says that polyjuiced Crouch isn't there? /winks/

And thanks to Moonlit-dew, we have a theme song for the chapter twelve. T.A.T.U.'s "Show Me Love". Thanks for the recommendation, sweetie. It really seems to sum it up.

Well I will be posting a side note of Hermione's birthday surprise... This chapter is a bit off, but it wasn't for the lack of trying on my part to make it better. I hope you like it though.

LEAVE COMMENTS! Please?