To See Inside the Mask, To Understand

He said, "Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Hermione

Hermione and Ginny had met up with Luna that night after lights out. There were many things to talk of, some that Hermoine and Ginny didn't necessarily want to speak with Harry and Ron about.

Rumors of the attack on Draco had shaken the school, and Hermione ran from the Common room when Harry told her what he did. But, overall, Draco had been recovering well and was on his way to a sound recovery. Harry had just finished telling of his trip with the Headmaster for the fifth time and the two girls crept off to seek refuge and a neutral ear of a friendly house. The girls met Luna Lovegood under the cloak of darkness and decided on the kitchen as to where they would talk. House elves always loved and protected the company of those who were kind and respectful, and teachers rarely checked the entirety of the cooking area when on patrols.

Sneaking past a Slytherin headboy and a Ravenclaw Prefect unnoticed, Hermione kept her eyes scanning around her as they crow hopped their way into the safety of the school's pantry.

"Shh.." Luna hushed and raised a finger to her ear as they stepped through the door and were alerted by muffled voices but still chose to venture deeper. The sound of multiple voices came over the tall cupboards and cooking equipment and Luna turned to face the two girls.

"There are others about," Luna whispered in an airy, mischievous way with a smile the shape of a half moon on her lips and twinkles in her eyes. Hermione followed her through the equipment.

"To each their own." One voice continued a conversation. "But I really can't believe you don't have an issue with it." The voice that belonged to Kayne came into clarity the closer they approached as did the sound of multiple pairs of feet and clinking of dishware from opposite sides. peeking through equipment and shelves, Hermione saw that Kayne, with a plate of snacks, was sitting on the counter with her legs hanging off the side and her heels tapping against the cabinet

The voice that belonged to Kayne and came into clarity the closer they approached as did the sound of multiple pairs of feet and clinking of dishware from opposite sides. Peeking through equipment and shelves, Hermione saw that Kayne, with a plate of snacks, was sitting on the counter right in front of them with her legs hanging off the side and her heels tapping against the cabinet. She was looking off to the side at, who Hermione guessed, she was talking to.

"I don't have an "issue" with it, because it lacks any importance." That voice that answered, where she must have been looking, belonged to Snape. "Just as well," He picked up, "I'm the least desired party to become involved. And that would be agreed upon by multiple opinions, mind you." The slick voice stopped the group in their tracks and had them quickly looking around and slipping into the shadows of the last barrier between them and the party in the kitchen. Together, the girls peaked out and watched those who spoke in the light.

"Well, Severus." Madam Hooch's voice came from nowhere as the women, dawned in proper nightwear and robes stepped into view, holding her own cup of tea, "As a teacher, it is your "issue", Severus, because it's stemming from your house.

"Next person to call it an issue is getting hexed." Severus informed angrily as he stepped into view. "After all, it's not an issue. It's children's play." He finished with a grumble as he leaned against the opposite counter side that faced the group and placed his back to the spying girls.

"Childsplay!" Hooch snapped, "Severus! Marcus Flint, Crabbe and Goyle hung three students upside down by their heels over the astronomy tower wall!"

"And then placed them back down on the solid ground." Suddenly his posture shifted drastically and he was off the counter. "I'm honestly surprised." He addressed the other treachers directly. "Where was such sympathy when James shattered my hand with a hammer?!" His hand flicked in the air as the flying instructor looked away and the room silenced.

"It's just childsplay, right? Rol. on. da." He snapped, saying her name in syllables… "Until it gets to the point of my house drugging, kid knapping, and torturing another student, I refuse to see the logic in creating a protection that I was never given. By any of you."

His words sliced and scared as Hermione watched Snape turn harshly and start to leave from the room. A he swept away without looking at Hooch again but was stopped when Kayne stuck her hand out and caught her fingers into the night black robes. She pulled back, preventing him from leaving.

"Let me go." He snapped giving a harsh tug.

"Stop." Kanye's voice was quiet as her eyes stared blankly out in front of her.

"Pardon?" Severus stepped upright and inches from Kayne's knees.

"Look," She motioned at the downcast teachers. "You made your point and it's affected them… You're right.. and Professor Hooch knows she doesn't have room to talk anymore. So, just stay."

It was a tense moment for the entire room where Severus looked both Kayne and Rolanda over before stepping back and taking a new spot, a spot on the counter as he had before, but now against the same counter that Kayne was on. As he had taken his first step away, Kayne released his robes and watched him cross his arms.

"I'm sorry." Madam Hooch said quietly after a moment.

"Granted." Professor Snape gruffed leaning all his weight against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankle.

"Can I ask you a question, Severus?" Professor McGonagall spoke for the first time. Hermione heard her re-positioning her stance, changing the tone and mood of the room after a moment to think.

"You can ask." He said under his breath.

"Do you know anything about the Quidditch pitch?"

"Pardon?" Snape was quick and left no room for uncomfortable silence or hint towards any knowledge, and Ginny and Hermione exchanged looks of confusion as Luna shuffled off some inquisitive house elves.

"This morning.. I was alerted that the pitch had sustained great damage. When I went to see it for myself, the grass was not fully grown and was very patchy. Dry... Burned looking. The sand pits were hard and stone like.. Rolanda had informed me that the pitch was not the condition she had left it in last night."

"Why are you asking me?" His voice came from his inner throat and his eyes flashed warnings Minerva was not affected by.

"Hagrid said he saw lights." Rolanda quietly added.

Hermione watched as Kayne stared at the plate on her lap and as Severus stared angrily at Madam Hooch.

CRASH!

Luna had knocked a bowl from the shelf and the loud noise silenced the group of faculty. Looking behind them, the girls looked down to see the once empty exit now blocked by a superior looking Vex, who watched them with head held high and ears locked forward at them.

"Please, Vex." Hermione pleaded to the dog who after moment of sharp staring took a slow step backwards before jumping to the side and vanishing soundlessly into the shadows.

Turning back around, the sound of a jingling chain caught the attention of the adults as a light footed looking Vex trotted into the light from the far side of the Darkened kitchen. He swept under Kaynes legs before bothering her fingers with nips and licks.

"What's wrong with him?" Severus asked with an upturned lip.

"I think he has to go out."

Vex stepped away and did excited circles before pointing his nose to the space where Hermione, Ginny and Luna stood creeping.

Kayne bid the teachers good night, and agreed to meet with Snape at some point tomorrow. She followed her dog into the shadows and smiled, making eye contact with each of them with a Slytherin smile fully intact as she moved past by them, not giving a hint to the others that they were there.

Snape stood and watched where Kayne disappeared for a moment, before looking away and back to the other teachers before bidding a solemn good night and slipping off to the outer shadows, taking a different path than Kayne had.

Kayne

It was between classes a few afternoons later when Kayne finally got to speak with Hermione. Hogwarts had been keeping her busy, and she had started quietly tutoring Draco the nights he would show. Others, less social nights, were dedicated to training and very quickly, Kayne felt like she were a student again. That particular night, when she went toe to toe with Lucius and Severus, she watched herself go further then she thought she could. Training was one thing, but when matched against those she knew were murders, the situation became an entirely different event all together. A point had been reached where Kayne now near thirsted for the power that she had felt when she reached the magic plateau she had. Lucius hadn't shown even an utter whisper of his name since that night, and Narcissa and Draco denied any claim of knowing what she was talking about when she vaguely asked about it.

Placing her dog at heel behind her, Kayne slipped into the familiar Gryffindor group as they traveled the halls that afternoon, and picked up a conversation.

"Hows Ron?" Kayne asked Hermione and the surrounding group after quick pleasantries were made quickly.

"Good." She responded looking between the suddenly sullen looking Fred and George.

"And Uh…. how's Harry?" She asked awkwardly when no other conversation was attempted.

Kayne had been sitting with the staff the last Quidditch game Harry had gotten hurt. A seat bench higher and diagonal to Severus to be exact. With Mcgonagall at her side. She always liked listen to the two teachers commentary as their houses battled it out on broomsticks, and one stand up was always the safest as not to be caught in the cross fire. Like Severus did, and with the rest of the crowd, Kayne froze up when Harry was cracked over the head by the bludger Mcladden had hit in almost purposeful ways. She remembered the harsh conversation after the game with Hooch as she hid around the corner listening.

"He's…. fine." Hermione rolled her eyes and gave a sigh.

"Did you ever play?" George spoke up as their steps pulled off to the side of the traveling students at an intersection of hallways, and looked at his watch quickly.

"Not for a team no, more just for fun and travel with my friends."

"We should set something up sometime." Fred muttered to George which received a small travel of laughter from the game based group.

"Sounds great."

Fred and George said quick goodbyes and started off in the direction of their next class, leaving Hermione and Ginny and Kayne in the small circle.

"How's everything on your side?" Ginny asked venturing into dangerous grounds.

"Seasons are turning and so are the snakes, so no need to even go in on of that." She sighed.

"Then why do you hang out with them?" Ginny stated more then asked.

Kayne bit her lip and breathed out. There was tension in the air, and unspoken tension was something that irritated her greatly.

Turning to Hermione, "We should talk sometime soon."

"Same place?" The girl asked.

"I'll let you know when."

Hermione gave a genuine smile and quickly Ginny followed suit. They were still trusting of her, but, as Kayne could understand, were becoming cautious.