The years of peace have ended and Alya has been personally affected by the changes.

I smoothed my blue school robes down. They were certainly more comfortable than my Hogwarts robes had been. The blue silk was incredibly soft and luxurious, but I would trade it all for one owl from home. I had given up hearing from Draco, I had not heard from him since I entered this hellish exile, but someone from my family. Ginny at least. And certainly from the Vipers.

They were very good at sneaking letters to me. But it had been almost two weeks with nothing. I had heard all about that horrid woman Umbridge who had taken over the school. And somehow got my Draco caught up in her foolishness. But then I suspected Mr. Malfoy had ordered him to play nice and do well.

It would soon be the summer holiday and I was determined to go home. I could scarcely believe that what was once a punishment, to be removed from my school and sent home now became the one thing I desperately wanted.

I sighed as I waited for Madame Bisset the astronomy professor to arrive. It was late and my eyes immediately went to the stars searching out Draco and Alya, so close and yet so far away in the night sky. I think that was why astronomy had become my favorite subject, because it helped me feel closer to Draco.

I still remember being dragged to this place against my will. I shouted at Professor McGonagall as she led me to my doom. "You promised, PROMISED that I would not be taken away because of my abilities!"

I had broken away from her and grabbed a hold of Professor Snape's robes. "Please, please Professor, I am begging you, don't send me away!" I buried my face against his chest and wept.

For just a moment I felt his hand stroke my hair before he grasped me firmly by the shoulders and stared down at me, as implacable as ever. "You will be assigned a tutor to continue your legilimency and occlumency lessons. I expect you to make progress."

That was it then, if Professor Snape could not save me from this fate then it could not be avoided. I dropped my head.

My father had led me from the room. I swore to him that I would never forgive him for this. That he would not even let me say good bye to Draco. They had been very clear about that.

I knew they were stopping his letters from reaching me. There was no way he had abandoned me. I knew he still loved me, and I him. And so I looked at our stars and wondered if he were doing the same.

"Steel looking for your young man, yes?" I recognized the voice behind me. Camille. She had surprisingly become my lifeline here. I don't think I could have survived without her!

Our friendship had started out with her apologizing for her behavior "You vere zee on'y von who ever believed I deserved to be valued vor myself." She had said, and we became close. She was my dorm mate, even though I had refused to be sorted in to any of their stupid houses. I HAVE a house, I am a Slytherin and they were NOT taking that from me! Not on top of everything else they had taken. At least my financial advisors were still watching my investments.

"Yes," I said linking my arm through hers "do you think he is watching the same stars?"

"You ask zeese every time, and every time I tell you yes of course." She laughed and hugged me. She always spoke to me in English and I to her in French, which I was glad McGonagall had forced me to take, although I now suspected she knew all along I would be sent here.

My tutor in legilimency and occlumency was none other than Madame Maxine, the headmistress herself. I studied hard, when I returned, and I was determined to do so, I wanted Professor Snape to be proud.

I had managed to learn that my grandmother was in complete agreement with my being sent to this school.

It wasn't that the school was horrible. Or that the students or professors were unpleasant. Quite the opposite. It was all very lovely. If I had not been sent here against my will, or if I had been sent with my friends, with Draco, I could have been quite happy here.

But I wasn't. It wasn't home. And I had been forced to stay here through the holidays. And my friends had to sneak me letters.

I would be turning 15 in a few weeks but I was being treated like a child! In just two years I would be an adult, but no one seemed to remember that. I did not want to miss Draco's birthday, I had already missed the last one. I could not even send him an owl.

Not this year. They could not make me stay here for the summer! There had been talk of my staying with Charlie over the summer, but he was being sent on assignment away from Romania and not allowed to take anyone with him. Bill had already moved back home from Egypt so that was out. They might make me stay with Sirius, that would be OK. I adored Sirius.

We waited for Madame Bisset together, and soon other students joined us. It was not like her to be late. I was surprised when she did appear that she had Madame Maxine with her. My stomach clenched. I could tell by the way they were only watching me that they had come to deliver news. And from the expression on their faces it was not good news.

Mademoiselle Weasley, would you please attend me." Madame Maxine held out her hand. I looked fearfully at Camille who squeezed my arm before taking Madame Maxine's hand and being led off towards her offices.

"Please sit." She motioned towards one of the very comportable fainting couches in the room.

"Madame Maxine," I said carefully sitting "you are beginning to frighten me.

She looked at me with such compassion that I was even more frightened. "I am afraid this will be quite the shock."

She handed me two newspapers. The first announced the death of Sirius Black, now cleared of all charges. I started to cry, I knew I should be trying to master my feelings, but I couldn't do it.

The next was a headline with Draco and Mrs. Malfoy leaving the Ministry "FALLEN FROM GRACE MALFOY'S WIFE AND SON LEAVE TRIAL" and that same page "AZKABAN'S LATEST RESIDENT".

No, it couldn't be. Lucius Malfoy had been involved in the attack on Sirius? At the Ministry? How? Why? And now the Ministry was declaring the Dark Lord's return? And Harry had been attacked by him?

I looked in horror at Madame Maxine. "I must go home! I… Draco needs me!"

"I am very sorry Mademoiselle Weasley, your parents 'ave decided you vill remain 'ere." She actually looked sorry too. That was not a good sign.

"I… see… may I return to my rooms now, I need to… process this." I would not cry again. Now was the time for action not tears and I needed to make certain she could not see my plans. I projected the intent to cry quietly in my dorm seeking comfort from Camille.

"Ov course. I vill 'ave Mademoiselle Avalon zent to your rooms." She walked me to the doors. I took the newspapers with me.

As soon as I reached my rooms I began throwing everything I owned in to my bag with the undetectable extension charm cast on it. I would have to thank Hermione for teaching me that!

Camille came in and saw what I was doing. She picked up the papers and after reading them she went to her own trunk and pulled out a beautiful ermine cloak. "You vill need thees." She said "You must take zee broom and it vill get chilly."

I was so glad we had become friends! I would have to get Gizmo to England. After a moment's thought I knew who I would write to. Quickly penning my letter I handed it to Camille "Please send this off with Gizmo."

I pulled out my trunk and unwrapped my gift from the Spudmore Bro.s for my birthday last year. My very own Firebolt. It would take me where I needed to go.

I hugged Camille. "I am so very glad we became friends. I would not have survived this year without you."

She hugged me back quite tightly "Ov course you vould, you are zo resilient! I vill mees you very much my friend."

After saying my good byes I watched her climb towards the owlery. I climbed to the top of the castle. We were not supposed to go to the roof, but I was not known as the best (OK, only) investigator at Hogwarts for nothing. I knew how to get where I wanted to go.

I was very frightened. I had never gone far on my broom alone, and never without Draco or one of the team with me.

I secured the bag to me and was just about to set off when I heard footsteps running up. I started to hide when I recognized Camille's voice "Alya, are you steel 'ere?"

I stepped out and she thrust a bag in my hands. "Food for zee treep!" I hugged her once more and tucked the food in to my bag.

With a final wave I set off for home.

I would have to fly by night so that no muggles would see me, I knew it would take a few days to get home this way, but I had no choice.

Draco needed me. I would not abandon him no matter what my parents wanted!

He would be there for me no matter what if the roles were reversed!