A/N So you all saw that special AN? Good, so we can by-pass any dawdling but a minor few?

Just a couple things…. Can I get a tie-breaker on a three way please? That's where the poll is sitting right now.

Also I went back and edited some minor details due to some prompting and plot ideas from a certain pushy sister.

I have to confess that I am also one of the people who will flip through the 200 plus pages. I will usually start with the last one and just go; though it has been a while since I perused…

And I have realized with all the time skipping I will have to make up with some things later on like the Twins and such, get back to the dragon maybe throw in a flock…. Clan…. Gaggle…. Herd? WTH do you call a group pf dragons? Well there will be more.

So enough about all that, let's try this chapter out shall we?

Allons-Y!

Chapter 19

Cadence looked out the window as the scenery flashed by and waited, with only mild irritation, for Draco to return from his meeting with the Head Girl and Prefects.

The reason for his irritation?

That would have to be the young man sitting in front of him. Well more as far from him as possible while still being near enough to try to be intimidating.

He flicked his emerald gaze back over the young man before sighing again, the young man seemed to be switching between bravado and fear making the area positively smell, and for once it did not please him rather it was giving him a large headache. Really he hoped Draco did not start to argue with Hermione they both could be so thick headed sometimes; and it would make the wait longer and even more insufferable than it had to be.

A light tapping started from the other side as the boy started to bounce his foot, his hands twisting as he watched him with his blue eyes.

Using his fingertips he rubbed small circles on his temple trying to ignore the steady tapping and the sound of rustling clothes as the young man fidgeted. He began to go over the list of items he had packed in his trunk to distract him, remembering that he would need to talk to Sev.., Snape about making more of the potion.

"So you're some evil creature sent here by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named right?" The false bravado only shook slightly as he leaned forward, an almost nasty sneer stretching across his pale freckled face. "I should let you know that I will not let that happen, and I will stop you and the Ferret from your duty."

Taking a deep breath he stopped the soothing motions on his temples as he stared plainly at the young man. "First the only duties we have are to go to class and do our work. Second, and even if I felt intimidated by you for a second, which I do not, I do not think you could stop us from" He waved his hand in a vague circle "whatever it is you imagine my cousin and I doing. But you are welcome to try."

He started to hear the voice of the one he had officially decided was to blame for his pain, coming from down the hall so he continued with a scowl. "And last but certainly not least, the name is Voldemort. Vol-De-Mort. And he is no longer an issue. Tell me, when was the last time you actually heard of him doing anything? Been a while hasn't it?"

The door slid open as the young man replied. "He has been quiet before and I wouldn't have put it past him to jump into bed with you lot, that is the only reason you are here. That or you lot took over and are planning to take out Dumbledore."

"Ronald! What are you doing?"

Turning his green gaze on his other one time friend he held up a hand and pointed a finger making her gaze to snap to him as he brought it to his lips. "SHHH, you." He turned back to Ron. "Now listen, I only came here because of one thing- To finish my education at my father's school. I do not want to 'take out' the Headmaster, he is doing a fine job of it himself, and my family and I are not planning on taking over. Think about it for a second why would we start with a school of insignificant children if that was our goal?"

Ron's face started to turn a deep shade of red as he puffed out his chest. "The headmaster is the greatest hero of our time!"

Cadence sat back as he saw Draco cringe before sitting next to him, a wide smirk spreading across his face as he tried not to let the anger he felt towards that man boil over. "Oh really… so why was Voldemort able to return? Surely your great hero should have been able to stop him? And why was he not the person to give you a peace in the first place?

Ron Scoffed as he folded his arms. "You mean Potter? He definitely could have done more than that sniveling coward."

Ignoring the twinge he felt he scoffed. "So why didn't he?"

"Because there was a pr…"

"Ronald!" The red head looked at the witch before looking back at Cadence, who had burst into laughter.

"Because of some stupid prophecy? One that may or may not have been spoken by a fraud? One that relied on an infant with, I stress, No magical talent what-so-ever to save the entire wizarding race?" Cadence kept laughing the angrier he got. He could see from the corner of his eyes as Draco paled somewhat as he suddenly scowled, his gaze hard as he looked at his startled ex-friends. "How utterly pathetic of them to actually believe such nonsense and sacrifice a one year old child and his family to save their cowardly hides."

He took a deep breath and ignored the pounding in his head as Hermione's perfume nearly choked him. He never remembered it being that pungent.

"And on the subject of trying to play the big hero against the big, bad, terrible creature; save your breath, zip it shut and while you're at it- leave." He made a shooing motion with his hands. " I am tired of having to deal with people who assume they know everything about me and an entire culture based on the words of a few."

When Ron's mouth began to open again and his face started to turn a significantly brilliant shade of red, he glared at him making it click shut. Draco placed a hand on his arm before he stood, giving him a look. "Do you remember that Hippogriff I told you about in my third year?"

Cadence gave Draco a long look wondering for a minute why he was bringing that up. It didn't really help his case.

"You mean the one you tried to have killed?" Hermione glared at the blonde as she folded her arms.

Draco rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his seat ignoring her in favor of invisible lint on his sleeve. "I think what you should focus on is the fact that despite not knowing anything about a potentially dangerous creature you defended it." He closed his eyes and mock sighed before looking towards the ceiling. "While I will agree that I did not follow proper etiquette when approaching that creature you took to the books like a starving child to try to save it, when you yourself had never approached it. You took it upon yourself to defend something that had all these stigmas for no reason other than because it was right."

"We defended Buckbeak because you wanted it killed!" Ron stood in confusion and anger, going to withdraw his wand.

"Really, because everything I did when I was 13 was so mature and well thought out and I literally had no room to grow in the last 4 years." Draco rolled his eyes as Cadence watched the act.

Draco had just defended him in the most Slytherin way and while he can tell the information flew right over Ron's head, Hermione looked conflicted; her eyes bouncing between the two of them.

It was all giving him a headache- The stench of it all.

Looking down he let out a deep sigh. "While this is not entertaining I still wish to have relative quiet and I believe I already asked you to leave."

Weasley opened his mouth again before Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not worth it."

Sneering he turned away leaving the other two in the car alone.

Once the door clicked shut and the smell finally diminished he laid his head against the backrest letting out a breath.

"Cadence?"

Raising a brow he turned his head slightly to look at Draco who smirked.

"That went well right?"

Cadence shook his head as he straightened. It was difficult being on the train after only a month, especially when emotions ran rampant- Everything smelled and not all of it good. He felt the shifting of his familiar beneath his collar as she tried to get comfortable again. "Draco how many potions do I have left?"

He gave him a curious look. "You should have enough to last you the rest of today and tomorrow, but after that Snape could just make you more right? Do you need one now?"

Cadence took a deep breath as he shook his head. Maybe he would make it a point to go to the chamber tonight and ask his fathers what was with his head. He hated to bother everyone on the first night. And just the thought of seeing Severus again made him smile. "I should be fine."

Draco scoffed and changed into his robes a slight smell reaching his nose. It had been a couple weeks back that he had been able to tell that certain people smelled different. Like the Malfoys all had this fresh air flowery smell, though he never told them that. Or his family they smelled of the ocean.

"If you say so scar head."

Cadence chuckled. "You are going to have to come up with a new nickname you know?"

"How about Fangey?"

Cadence growled as he pulled on his open school robe over his pressed clothes. He had decided to opt out of the uniform and instead went with a pair of Black slacks and Light grey button up shirt with a black vest. Neutral and yet it looked great with his pale features, black hair, and made his green eyes striking.

Okay so he would not admit he was trying to garner attention. It made him look aristocratic and dark, yet mature and clean. And if all that happened to get the attention of the dour Potions Professor who was he to complain.

He smirked as Draco went on listing nick names that made 'fun' of his condition. "How about Nosferatu?"

Rolling his eyes he sighed. "No Draco."

"I sort of liked that one." He hummed as he sat back down. "What if I just call you Slytherin?"

He smirked. "Now that would drive Dumbledore crazy."

There was a knock on the door before it slid open and then closed after the two people entered. Sharing a look with Draco Cadence smirked as Luna sat in the chair next to him giving him a bright smile leaving Neville to stand awkwardly.

Cadence took a moment to commit her scent to memory, A tangy fruit smell that almost reminded him of the hard Candies his Aunt would give his Cousin.

"Draco isn't Harry here? Did something happen?"

Cadence felt a flash of guilt as he looked up at his friend. In the rush to get everything ready he had completely forgot to let Neville know of all the changes.

"Sit Neville you might make our friends nervous." Luna opened her copy of the quibbler and turned it upside down as she answered absentmindedly. "Plus I believe we are about to be told a very interesting story." Pushing her glasses up on her nose she glanced at cadence. "I wonder if you would allow father to write about it?"

Cadence shook his head as he rolled his eyes skyward. "Why I am even surprised anymore." He chuckled lowly as he watched Neville eye him as he sat next to Draco; His earthy smell, like freshly tilled earth, calmed some of his fraying nerves from the earlier conversation. It truly amazed him how far the both had come from the first years that tormented each other. "Right now the personal stuff would not but maybe some of the background or history."

She smiled at him as she nodded, the cherries on her ears swinging. "Father has always wanted to write articles about the Lamias."

He nodded as he glanced back towards Neville and sighed before smirking. He watched as the hazel eyes snapped to his mouth where he imagined a canine was in plain view, maybe both. "I apologize that I have not kept in touch with you Neville." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I was not my intention to surprise you this way."

He watched the confusion that blossomed on his face as he thought about those words. "After the night Korai went and got you things have been really busy. That's no excuse but I mean…"

Neville's jaw dropped as his eyes traveled down his body and then up again. "Har.."

Draco lunged across the bench and slapped a hand on his mouth before the words finished. Looking around the room like a madman he leaned up closer to Neville's ear, Neville who had frozen at the sudden movement and kept flicking his eyes between them. "SHHH. That name is Taboo. Do you know what happened the last time someone said it? The person was transported to the roof of the manor with no way down. And they say he was accosted by a vengeful sprite" He shifted his eyes again in a dramatic show of feigned fear as Cadence rolled his eyes. "He could be anywhere…"

Malfoy yelped as Cadence cast a silent stinging hex, springing away from the confused Neville as he rubbed his thigh.

"Hey what's the big idea?"

Luna chuckled next to him as he folded his arms and smirked internally as the git glared at her warily before he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Neville was scared.

The scent of perspiration and the slight rising in the light drumming that would indicate his rapidly beating heart had started as soon as he had looked at him. Obviously Neville knew exactly what he was and Draco's attempt to be 'funny' had in no way alleviated that. He took a deep breath through his nose like his sister had constantly told him and looked back up.

"Yes Neville however, as Luna said I have a much longer story for you." He glared at the blonde who smirked at him. "That does not include vengeful sprites."

And hopefully when Neville calmed so would his head.

And maybe….maybe he would not have to explain his story again so soon.

/Break/

Cadence once again found himself holding his head as he was forced to endure the mindless jittering and chattering of the First years waiting to be sorted. What had convinced him again that this was a good idea? That standing in a hall full of frightened and excited 11 year olds was what he wanted.

He growled to himself and sighed when the groups nearby him leapt back.

Seriously had none of these children seen a 17 year old before? So Scary.

"Mr. Slytherin, Are you going to join the others in the hall?"

Opening his eyes as he unfolded his arms, he met the gaze of his old head of house as he realized that he was indeed alone. Finally. Letting out a breath he made it look like he was trying to calm down.

Which was much closer to the truth then he would like to admit.

"I am sorry Professor. I seemed to have gotten caught in thought." He smiled widely as he processed her neutral expression and aura. It surprised him that she didn't immediately hate him. "I just never thought I would be able to actually be here. It has been a bit more overwhelming than I had first thought. But I assure you, it will not happen again."

She looked him over before giving him a sharp nod.

The woman was made of steel.

He made a grimace at her back as he followed her. Smoothing his expression as he entered the hall behind her, the lights blinding him temporarily.

It seemed the candles around the hall had purposefully been made to be brighter to make him uncomfortable. Straightening his back, Cadence stood in the back of the crowd as they were being sorted and resisted the urge to cross his arms at the looks being shot his way. He began to let his gaze travel, He first met the amused smile of Draco that almost made him march over there and slap him upside the head.

Almost.

However he had to resist the urge to glance at the high table for several different reason really. If he seemed too familiar with either Snape or Remus Dumbledore may watch them more closely then he otherwise would. Then the goat himself. He did not want to give the man a chance to 'peek'. Despite what others thought they knew of the mind magic's, if you looked into one enough they do become familiar. And Dumbledore had been looking into his for years.

He put his hands in his pockets as he waited for the normal 'Welcome' sorting speech to end, get this over with so he could visit his fathers.

"… We also have a new student joining us this year, He is a creature so me mindful of your actions." Cadence immediately felt the heat drain from the room as he looked at the head table. There were angry murmurs from around the hall from other he knew had creature blood but also those who disagreed with him being here. Several of the teachers though were giving shocked looks towards the headmaster, who pretended to be ignorant of the gall it took to make such a statement. "I would like you all to welcome Cadence Mal Foi."

As he approached the stool and a seemingly friendlier McGonagall, he shrugged his shoulders and raised a brow. "While I am sure it is due to age that you overlooked this but I will ask that while I am attending Hogwarts you call me by the name I was enrolled with, Sir." As he turned to sit on the stool, he gave a polite bow. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Cadence Slytherin- Mal Foi. I look forward to actually attending my family's school and sharing the experience with you."

Sitting he gave a polite nod to Minerva who was in the process of wiping amusement from her face as she placed the hat on his head.

"I see you finally came to your senses young Slytherin."

Cadence shrugged his shoulders. "It took a while but I am sure you can understand given the circumstances."

"Yes, but now you are faced with the same choice."

"Choice you mean Slytherin or Gryffindor?"

He felt the hat shake about on his head. "No, if you will remember I told you back in your first year that you would do well in ANY house. No, you misunderstand as a founder's offspring you are allowed to choose the house you will reside in. It has been that way since the beginning as they magic in the school is immediately connected to them through blood."

"Wait you are telling me the only reason I was in Gryffindor is because it was the house I chose? You were giving me a clue without actually telling me?"

Cadence laughed out as he resisted the urge to wring the hat by squeezing his knees. "I guess if I had not been so much of a sheep I may have noticed it sooner. So a choice?"

"Yes, what shall I tell them?"

"None."

"Pardon?"

"I won't choose a house. As you said I am keyed into the school itself right? I refuse to be in any house. I will select my own classes with the groups I choose and will not have my time here dictated by the headmaster."

"Hmmm, well that is an interesting choice but I feel your home may agree with you."

"I do not understand..."

"Hogwarts has always been sentient from the moment the four founders poured their blood, sweat and magic into the stones. It is why you cannot be placed by normal means. You are recognized by both her and myself that we all share the same magics. You along with any others of the Founders blood can control them so you cannot be forced to conform to the guidelines like others."

"You mean I can control the magic of Hogwarts? Why is that possible?"

"It is so Hogwarts would always have an owner. As a son of the only living owner left you share the same responsibilities he does. To care for us."

While Cadence thought over the words and their implications, the fabric on his brow stretched open.

"Hogwarts Son shall not be sorted into a house. A key has been delivered to his trunk for his rooms."

As the smirking hat was removed from his head he felt the headache worsen.

A/N Okay, well …. No excuses. Here is the new chapter. It has taken me forever to write to be honest. I have opened it so much in the last couple months it was the first link in my most recent. And I know it may not be the best late update. But I hope it gets better with the next few. TTFN.