September 1995

Snow sat on the train leaning against the window. She never was alone. Ever. One of her family was by her side, if it was a Weasley or Potter. She had never felt more loved. She had never felt more weak.
Ginny was next to her now, holding her hand as they waited for the trolly to come around.
"When do you have to see Madame Pomfrey?" Ginny asked her.
"Tomorrow morning." Snow told her. "Eight o'clock."
"During breakfast?" Ginny asked. "I'll bring you something to eat during our first class."
"Thank you." Snow said.
"A sandwich." Ginny said. "Sausage with orange marmalade on toast."
"Perfect." Snow said. "That should keep me awake."
"We're going to take care of you. And make Snape's life hell. And dance in the rain. I haven't done it before and it sounds like loads of fun." Ginny said. "Maybe get a boyfriend so I understand why you and my brother are so sickening."
"No more pining over Harry?"
"Never. I'm done waiting for those dumb green eyes to land on me." Ginny said.
"Good." Snow said. "Because a lot of people have crushes on you, Ginny Weasley."
"Like who?"
"Try anyone who has laid eyes on you." Snow said. "You're gorgeous."
Ginny laughed. "Did Snape damage your brain as well?"
"Never. I always knew you were the most beautiful thing on this world." Snow told her, leaning her head on Ginny's shoulder.
"Really? And you're not upset about that?" Ginny teased.
"Not at all." Snow said. "I mean, Fred thinks I'm the most beautiful thing on earth, so that's all I need."
"Again, sickening."
"At least we're happy."
"I guess that's true."
"Trolly's here." Snow said, giving Ginny some coins. "Get us something full of sugar, okay?"
"Okay."

XXX

"What are those things pulling the carriages?" Harry asked them, causing Snow to look up and see the skeleton-like black creatures. She gasped.
"What?" Hermione asked. "There's nothing pulling the carriages. They're pulling themselves just like always."
Snow pulled back. "I see them too." She said, her back bumping into Neville who was walking behind her. "I see them. What do they look like to you?"
"They're black." Harry said. "They have wings—"
"And they look like a skeleton." Snow looked at her cousin. "Harry? Why can only we see them."
"I can see them too." Said a girl with silver-gold hair, sitting alone in the carriage. "Only those who can see death can see them."
"Hey, Luna." Ginny and Snow said, though Snow could feel her heart beating in her chest and her breaths were coming in short gasps.
"See death?" Ron questioned.
"Seen someone die." Luna told them before looking at Harry. "You're just as sane as I am."
"Snow?" Fred asked, noticing how pale she was and how panicked she looked.
"I haven't seen anyone die." She said between panicked breaths. "I haven't seen anyone die."
"How peculiar." Luna said, thoughtfully. "They're called thestrals. They're completely harmless. There's nothing to be scared off."
"I don't think she's scared." George said, watching the blonde.
"She's having a panic attack." Hermione said.
"I haven't seen anyone die." She said again. "I haven't seen anyone die."
"You guys go ahead." Fred said "We'll get the next one."
"I'll stay." George said.
"Me too." Ginny said.
Snow shook her head.
"Ginny go with Luna, since you know her." Fred said. "It'll be okay."
Ginny paused, looking at Snow. "Okay."
Fred guided Snow to an empty carriage. "Hey, George, make sure no one but us tries to get on this."
"You got it." George said.
Fred picked snow up to get her on the carriage before sitting across from her. "Look at me." He told her. "Snow, look at me."
Snow slowly brought her eyes to his.
"Breathe in." He said. "Come on snow, take a deep breath."
Snow took in a shaky breath.
"That's it. Slowly breathe out now." He coached.
She did as he asked, still shaking. Slowly she stopped shaking and breathing hard.
"What happened to me?" Snow whispered as the carriage started moving with just Fred and George with her. "I need to know."
"We'll find out." Fred promised her. "We'll always find out."

XXX

"You're healing." Madame Pomfrey told her. "Slowly, but you're healing." She pulled up a chair to the bedside. "What exactly happened?"
"I was talking to my cousin through projection and I was woken up before my time." Snow said, not know how much she knew about the Order.
"That's some advanced magic." Madame Pomfrey told her. "I'm going to have to talk to your head of house about this."
"But what about my healing?"
"Come here every Monday after your last class." Madame Pomfrey told her. "I will examine you, and we will see how you progress. I'll give you a pass so you can get out of classes if you feel bad, but come straight here. I want to keep an eye on you as you sleep and see if anything changes."
Snow nodded. "Okay."
"Were you seen by any other healers?"
"Well, by someone trained as a healer." Snow said. "Remus Lupin."
Madame Pomfrey nodded. "He's a good boy."
Snow smiled. "Yeah, he is."
"I was rather sad when he had to go." Madame Pomfrey told her. "He was always a good one."
Snow nodded, looking down a moment. "I have a question."
"And that is?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"Why can I see thestrals?"
Madame Pomfrey looked at her a moment. "Have you seen anyone die?"
Snow shook her head. "No. I've never seen anyone die."
She frowned. "I'll tell you what, I'll ask some questions and tell you if I can find out anything, okay?"
Snow nodded. "Okay."
"Now, I'm going to go get you a note that you can hand in whenever you feel like you need it, and just come here after you use it." Madame Pomfrey said. "If you need to use it today, don't worry about it."
Snow nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll remember that."
"And I promise I'll look into why you can see the thestrals. Don't worry about it. Worry about your classes, everything else will be fine."
Snow nodded slowly, looking down at her hands.

XXX

"I'm okay, I promise." Snow whispered to Ginny in their first class, Transfiguration. They still had two minutes before class started, and they were talking too quietly for anyone to overhear. "I have a note to get out of class if I start feeling bad. I just have to go to the hospital wing."
"And we both know you won't be alone there for long." Ginny said. "You have too many friends here."
"Too much family you mean." Snow smiled.
"Yeah, that too." She smiled. "Are you scared? You can tell me if you are. I always tell you when I am."
Snow paused before nodding slowly. "I am scared. More than scared. I'm absolutely terrified. I can see Thestrals, Gin. I don't know why and I should not be able to. All I know is I can."
"But you're fine." Ginny said. "I can see it."
"I was fine until Severus Snape woke me up out of my trance." Snow said. "Now I am weak physically."
"And your magic?"
Snow looked around, making sure that no one was watching them before picking up a quill. she closed her eyes and turned it into a gold necklace and then back into a quill. "I shouldn't be able to do that."
"Then how are you doing that?"
"I just imagine it. I can feel it in my hand turn into what I imagine and then it happens." Snow told her. "I don't know how."
"Maybe you should owl Remus."
"Uncle Remmy?" Snow paused. "Maybe. But what can anyone do? It's not like they can stop my magic from developing."
"But how do you feel? How does it make you feel?"
"Like I'm half here and half not." Snow said.
"Who else have you told?"
Snow paused before shaking her head and shrugging. "Not a soul. Only you."
"Best friend benefits." Ginny said softly. "I don't know what I can do for you, Snow. I wish I did."
"Just being here is enough." Snow said. "That's all I need.

XXX

Snow and Ginny walked out of Defense against the dark arts with a blank look on their faces, almost like they were in shock. Eyes wide and faces still. Hands grasped between them, as if they were the only things keeping the other up.
"What is this?" Snow asked. "Are we dreaming?"
"Nope. This is real." Ginny said as they made their way to lunch slowly. "We're not going to learn anything this year."
"And it's the year Voldemort's returned." Snow said. "We're going to die."
"Don't be dramatic. We're not even old enough to use magic outside Hogwarts."
"We're going to die in three years, then." Snow replied.
"Much cheerier." Ginny said, sarcasm seeping into her voice. "We should warn everyone who hasn't been in her class yet." She paused. "And we have potions after lunch."
"Cheery." Snow said. "I think I want to hurt him."
"How?"
"How I can hurt anyone. How I helped you." Snow looked at her friend. "I'm going to invade his dreams."
"Seems like the right way." Ginny said. "Use what almost killed you to hurt him. But how?"
"At first I'm just going to watch his dreams and see what they tell me." Snow told her. "Use what I find. You can learn a lot from people's dreams."
"Hurt him with everything you can." Ginny said. "I'm sure the others will supply what they know. Your father might know something." She thought for a second. "Your mother should know more."
"But they wouldn't want me to do it." Snow said. "The less people to know the better."
"Are you going to tell Fred?"
"Of course." Snow said. "I'll tell everyone who won't stop me. I'll probably tell Harry just so he knows that we can do something about him being an ass for his entire life."
Ginny laughed. "He deserves whatever you do to him."
"I think so." Snow said as they arrived to the Great Hall, where everyone else already was, they hurried over to where the rest of the Weasley's and Harry were sitting. "So, Umbridge is a bitch and that is all I learned from that class." She sat next to Fred, who kissed the side of her head.
"No, she doesn't want us to use magic. We learned that too." Ginny said.
"This year is going to be fantastic." Fred said. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, but it is only the first day." Snow said. "Nothing hard happens today."
"What do you have after lunch?"
"Potions." Snow said. "My favorite class."
"It's everyone's favorite class." Ron muttered sarcastically.
"Whatever. Can we not talk about it?" Snow asked. "I'd rather warn everyone about Umbridge."
"What did she do?" Harry asked.
"She's doing exactly what Hermione said." Ginny said.
"The ministry is interfering at Hogwarts." Snow continued. "We're supposed to learn the theory, not the practical magic."
"We didn't even take out our wands." Ginny groaned.
"Meaning you fifth years and your OWLs and you seventh years with you're NEWTs are going to have to work harder than usual to pass those tests." Snow said. "Good luck."
"I can feel the love from here, Snow." Ron said. "At least the twins don't have to worry about it. You guys are starting your own business, right?"
"Oh yeah." Fred said.
"We don't want someone else to hire us as much as they don't want to hire us." George continued.
"No one can handle our genius." Fred went on.
"We're gifted." George finished.
Snow rolled her eyes to look at Ginny. "They won't make it through the year."
"And that means mum is going to kill them both." Ginny shook her head sadly.
"Best say goodbye to them, then." Snow said. "Leaving without a goodbye is never nice."

XXX

Ginny and Snow walked to class together. Everyone else wanted to tag along, but Snow wanted to do this on her own. She wanted to show that she was strong on her own. She didn't need anyone. But, she did. She was anxious and she could feel her heart beating so fast, and she knew her body couldn't handle so much stress.
She still held her head high, and took her place in the front of the class, almost daring him to do something.
Yet, within the first five minutes of class, she realized that he couldn't touch her. He didn't call on her at all. He didn't take points from her. He didn't even call on her when she didn't raise her hand—which she never did. She was untouchable. Someone must have done something, and her mind went to her family. Loralei, Sirius, Remus, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, one of them must have done something. He couldn't touch her.
Still, when she got out of that class, she stumbled in the hall on the way to Care of Magical Creatures, and Ginny caught her.
"You don't look so good, Snow." Ginny told her.
"Um, I think I've hit my limit for today." Snow said, her hand reaching for the wall. "Go to class and tell Hagrid that I'm in the Hospital Wing."
"I'll get to class late. He'll let me slide." Ginny said. "Come on. It's not too far."
"Thanks, Gin." Snow smiled weakly. "I don't like this."
"I know you don't." Ginny said. "Now come on. I got you."

XXX

Fred and George had a free period an hour after Snow got to the Hospital Wing, and the moment they found out they nearly ran there. Of course, it wasn't a very loud thing to happen. It was handled quietly. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all found out when they ran into Ginny and told the twins when they ran into them between classes. A game of telephone between the family. A game of telephone that brought the twins to Snow, who was sleeping. She slept in a ball with her cloak over her as a blanket. Fred pulled up a chair to sit with her while George went to Madame Pomfrey.
"What's wrong with her?" He asked.
"I can't talk about it with anyone but her and her immediate family." She told him. "I'm sorry, it's the rules."
"But we are her family."
"Not legally." She said. "I'm sorry." She moved to walk away, but he stepped in front of her again. "She's been like this for over a month."
"I know. I'm doing all I can do." She said. "But I need to find the cause of the problem before I can fix it. Until then, she's going to have to take it easy."
"How long will that take?"
"I don't know." She told him. "If I could find it today I would be happy. I never like seeing the students chronically ill, and I'm afraid Miss Vale is just that."
"There is something you're not telling us, though."
"I don't know anything for sure. Miss Vale and her mother with be the first people to know. I am sure one of them will tell you."

XXX

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked as she lounged on the couch in the common room, taking up space she would not have been able to if she was well. It was after dinner, and Snow had finished the homework Ginny had collected for her. Everything was ready to go, and no one could fail her for missing class; it was all done properly. No one could punish her for being ill.
"Same old, same old." Snow said. "I made it through all but one class today. I have to say, it's my new record. I should be able to get through all of them by October and then everyone can stop walking on eggshells."
"I"m sorry you're like this." Harry said.
"Why are you sorry?" Snow asked. "Snape's the one that pulled me out too soon."
"But you did it to tell me what you knew." Harry said.
"What happened to angry Harry?" Snow asked. "I thought you were pissed at the world."
"Yeah, well. When someone's just as in the dark as I am, I can't be too mad. Especially when they try to tell me and get hurt doing it."
"You know what would be great for you to do for me, though?" Snow said.
"What?"
"If I can't go to Hogsmeade for our first weekend, I would love some chocolate from Honeydukes." Snow said.
"I can do that." Harry said.
"Dark and Milk would be great." Snow said. "Oh, and you know those chocoballs, they're amazing."
"Of course they are." Harry said.
"Yeah." Snow said, sitting up and pulling Harry down to sit next to her. "So, how is the girl."
"What girl?"
Snow gave him a look. "I know about the girl Harry. You've liked her at least since last year. The Ravenclaw."
"You didn't even bother to know her name?" Harry asked.
"Well, I didn't know if it would last this long, and I do have other things on my mind." Snow said. "But I know girls. I can help."
"You're fourteen." Harry said.
"And have been in a great relationship for almost a year, and I am a girl and know how girls like to be treated."
"And how do they like to be treated."
"With respect mostly." Snow said. "That's always a good start."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I think even I know that."
"And you didn't exactly go with a girl you liked to the Yule Ball, so neither of you had that great of a time."
"And if I remember right, you went with someone from Durmstrang."
"And I ended up with the right guy in the end." Snow said. "However your girl ended up with Cedric Diggory until he died."
"Yeah, I was there." Harry said.
"But she was probably in love with him, so if you're going to make a move, and I am guessing that you will, tread carefully. I can't even imagine what it's like to lose someone you love. I hope I never have to."
"Well, in this climate…"
"I know." Snow said. "But I can believe for a little longer that we're all going to live."

XXX

It took until nearly October when Madame Pomfrey had an answer for Snow. Snow didn't even know she was going to get one until her mother walked through the door of the hospital wing as Snow was being examined again by Madame Pomfrey for any differences in condition.
"Mum?" Snow said, confused. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to see how my daughter was doing. I've heard she's been missing class due to illness." Loralei said. "I know I should've kept you closer while you're sick."
"She's also here because I thought she should be told what I have found in person as well as you." Madame Pomfrey said.
"What is it?" Snow asked, just wanting an answer.
"You died." Madame Pomfrey said. "When you astral projected and were brought back to your body you barely made it back in time."
"So, am I going to be getting better?" Snow asked.
"I don't know. I have never dealt with a case like this." Madame Pomfrey said. "Which is why I've been asking so many questions."
"Like about my magic." Snow said.
"And it's surprising that you are doing magic well beyond your years." Madame Pomfrey told them. "It's untouched territory and there are no specialists in this field. You are very singular, Snow."
"Is there anything we can do?"
"Protect her. Don't let anyone that doesn't need to know know." Madame Pompfrey said. "She's half Potter, half Black and a quarter Veela, I mean, it's not like we weren't expecting amazing things from her, but I don't know what will happen if the wrong kind of people find out." She looked at Loralei then, as if trying to convey another meaning.
"You mean Death Eaters or the Ministry?" Snow asked
Loralei lowered her voice. "Both at the moment." She put an arm around her daughter and pulled her close as she pressed her lips to her temple. "You might as well tell the boys, I guess Ginny already knows?"
Snow nodded.
"It's going to be okay." Loralei said. "Just keep doing things as normal." She looked at Madame Pomfrey. "I need to speak with Dumbledore after this. I will be coming here once a week to help Snow stretch her powers. If I cannot make it Remus Lupin or Katie Greene will."
"You don't think I'm going to be able to control it." Snow said, knowing her mother too well.
"I don't want to risk it." Loralei said. "If you're going to be the most powerful witch in the world, I want you to do it right."
"I know that too." Snow said, running a hand through her hair as she sighed. "I died." She looked at Madame Pomfrey. "That's why I can see thestrals."
Madame Pomfrey nodded. "Yes."
"I literally saw death even if I don't remember it." Snow said. "I don't remember anything but darkness."
"It's going to be okay." Loralei said, her voice sounding sure.
Snow didn't know that. In the time she had to process there was only one thing she knew. She was going to cause hell.

XXX

Snow was walking through the hallway to other people's dreams until she found the door she was looking for. Severus Snape. It was harder to enter his, but it didn't stop her for long. It was like the door was just a bit stuck as she opened it. With enough force, it swung open. Snow was surprised with what she saw. She saw her mother and her best friend, Lily Potter laying by the black lake. Her mother must have been around her age. They both must have been around her age. Her mother looked so young, Snow couldn't help but move towards her, making sure to control the dream enough to make herself invisible to Snape, who had to be skulking around somewhere.
Snow sat next to her mother, watching her face. She looked so much like her mother, only with fairer skin. It was odd for her to see her mother like this. No grey in her hair, no wrinkles around her eyes. Her body was thinner here, Snow could only guess that her body never was the same after Loralei had her. Snow had seen pictures of her mother, but they never did her mother justice…not like this. Nor did they do Lily Potter justice.
Lily potter had darker hair than in the pictures. The most gorgeous auburn she had ever laid eyes on. She had no freckles, but clear, porcelain skin and a heart shaped face. Her uniform sleeves were It was true that Harry had his mother's eyes, but he also had her smile. As the girls in front of her giggled and talked about what had happened over their summers. From what Snow could gather, they had perfect lives.
But she had to leave her mother, who she wished she could touch. She had to find Snape. See what he was doing. It did not take too long. He was a bit away, watching them from afar. He was a stalker in his youth then? Snow could use this to her advantage. But there was only one question in her mind. Which one did he want? Her aunt or her mother? Either way, he didn't get what he wanted.
But she could save that for later. What she wanted now as to turn this dream into a nightmare. Snow changed the scene, making her go into a coffin and him standing above her. She made sure she looked like a corpse. All pale and purple and dead. She sat up as she looked at him.
"You killed me." She said, her voice like gravel. "You killed a child."
Snape's face looked as cold as usual, but Snow could feel the panic in the air.
Slowly, Snow stood, making several of herself appear around him.
"You killed me." They said together. "You killed me. You killed me. YOU KILLED ME." They screamed, all going at him and scratching him, hitting him with cold hands, trying to hurt him in any way they could.
And yet, when Snow woke herself out of the dream, she was the one that was crying.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY THAT THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG. I actually finished this a couple days ago, but I needed to edit and I've been working a lot. I'm a lifeguard and that means I work anywhere from 5 to 11 hours a day. Usually I work around 9 or 10 hours but it's so tiring I come home, eat, shower, then crash. But I am done with the first 300 words of the next chapter! I honestly want to update more just like you guys do, but everything is so insane and I need the money for college in the fall. I really do miss writing.

Blue Luver5000: Thank you so much! She is getting better, but you'll have to wait and see what happens next! Thank you for your review!

C.B. Weasley: And I was happy to see your review! Thank you so much! Thank you for your review!

SlythendorGirl: Yep. Pretty cool right? You know I can't tell you if I'm following that storyline or not! But I'm also going to tell you I know exactly what I am going to have happen there and I've known what I'm going to do there since I was writing I Hate That I Love You. So keep that in mind :P Thank you so much! I hope this was worth the wait! Thank you for your review!

Her-My-O-Knee: Thank you so much! Isn't Model UN great? If I have the chance to do it again I'm going to. It's so cool that your school hosts one! Thank you so much! I hope you read this one with the same excitement! Thank you so much for your review!

Please review!

Kat