Estella didn't stay in Gryffindor except for a couple days the last week of May. Hermione was panicking over exams, falling asleep in the library, and the like; she reminded Estella of the exhaustion the journal had caused her first year. Estella decided to leave Hermione to her studies, and retired to the dungeons every night, studying with the five other Slytherin girls.

The exams weren't difficult, but Estella had to think very carefully about several of her Transfiguration answers. She still had some trouble with getting the actual spells, instead of just using magic to change things without an incantation. She did all right in Charms, and she aced her DADA exam. Estella did, however, think that she might have failed her Astronomy test. Brianna laughed when Estella told her that she'd forgotten to label one of the main stars, and might have mixed up the planets' locations. The twins were more concerned about History of Magic.

Estella yawned through her exam, jotting down some answers as she wondered what was in store for her Potions exam. She sighed as she wrote down the last answer for History of Magic, then turned her paper over, put her head down on the desk, and went to sleep until the end of class. Needless to say, Professor Binns did not think that was appropriate.

Megan and Corin were more friendly to her now that they'd all been at the house together, and both of them seemed more comfortable with her. Estella was glad that Megan and her cousins were Parselmouths and knew how to advise her about the bitemates. She couldn't wait until she was able to bond with the other basilisks, but she was slightly scared, too.

Estella turned her attention back to her exam, putting her quill and ink away, readying to head back to the Common Room. Some of the Gryffindor boys were groaning about how they were certain they'd failed their exam, and she snorted, shaking her head. "I'm going to fail Potions," she told them, grinning.

"Really?" Stanley and Colin asked together, and the first boy added, "If you fail, we'll know it's hopeless. You're one of the smartest students in our year!"

"But...it's Potions," Ginny nodded wisely. "And Snape. It's an exam, and he doesn't like me anyway—"

"He doesn't like anyone," Ben said with a shrug. "Join the party. Come on: it's the last exam. We can pass all the others, fail Potions, and get away with it still." Laughing, Ginny and the boys headed down to the dungeons, the other Gryffindors straggling behind them.

Once they were in the dungeons, they were set at separate cauldrons, and told to brew the potion that was on the board. Ginny bit her lip and began as quickly as she was allowed, knowing there wouldn't be enough time to finish if she didn't hurry. She thought it was rather strange that her class would have to brew Babbling Beverage when Gryffindors were known to yap without any help. Almost laughing at the thought, Ginny opened her potions book to the correct page and began her work.

When the class period was over, they left the dungeons, walking up toward the Great Hall for lunch. "Still think you failed?" Stanley asked her.

"Don't know," she replied. "There's no telling until I'm held back a year."

"Oh, yeah right," Ben told her. "Whatever you say; we know better. The others in our year can't compare to you very well."

Blushing, Ginny shrugged, sitting between Stanley and Ben at the Gryffindor table. "Thanks," she said in a small voice, before turning and seeing a bunch of seventh years come into the Hall.

Percy came over to Ginny. "Just finished Defense!" he said, high-fiving Ginny with both hands and sighing in relief. "It was amazing! Got Potions after lunch. How about you?"

"Just finished Potions," Ginny reported with a smile. "I think I did all right. Good going, Perce."

"Do you have any exams left, or are you finished?" he asked her.

"I'm through with them," she answered, grinning. "Thank goodness. I think I messed up in Transfig, but the rest should be all right—well, and I kind of messed up in Astronomy too."

The Head Boy smiled. "Oh well. You should have passed everything: you're smart enough," he told her. "I hope you did your best, though. I've got to eat before Potions, Ginny. I'll talk to you later." And Percy was off to find a seat along the Gryffindor House table.

Ginny went up to Gryffindor Tower when she was finished eating, finding Hermione talking to Harry and Ron in low tones. "Um, is something going on?" she asked them.

"N—no," Harry said.

"He liesss," Icythan hissed softly. "The Serpent-killer liesss."

Harry looked alarmed. "Ginny, how does he know that?"

Ron and Hermione looked confused. "How does who know what?"

Ginny sat down in a chair opposite the three, Icythan slithering onto her lap. "He knows that Harry wasn't telling the truth when he said 'nothing' was going on," she answered. "Serpents like Icythan can discern subtle differences in magic and tell what they mean."

"I forgot you had him," grumbled Ron. "So much for that."

"What isss Serpent-killer doing?" Icythan asked, amused at the dark-haired boy's discomfort.

"I sssaid not to call me that," Harry said in annoyance.

Hermione and Ron gasped at Harry: "Don't speak to it!"

Icythan looked directly at the two, raising his head from his mistress's lap. "I am not an 'it'!"

"He doesn't like to be called 'it,'" Ginny said calmly. "So what's going on, you three?"

"Um, Professor Trelawney went into a trance during Harry's Divination exam," Hermione sighed. "But I'm not sure it was real!"

"Hermione, I know that we all agree Divination is garbage," Harry said to her, "but I think this was real. She didn't even remember it had happened!"

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "What did she say? That the world will end tomorrow?"

The three shook their heads, and Harry answered, "She said Voldemort is returning soon."

"Harry!" shouted Ron and Hermione together. "Don't say his name!"

"She said the Dark Lord is returning?" Ginny asked, then could have kicked herself at the look on the faces of the two.

"Ginny, only his followers call him that!" hissed Ron. "You shouldn't say that!"

"No, Ron, those that respect him refer to him that way," Ginny answered. "Of course I'm not Dark, or anything like that, but I hate saying long sentences when I could simply refer to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as 'The Dark Lord.' It saves time and words."

Harry nodded. "I don't know what she meant, though."

Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. "I told you, Harry, that if you really thought it was important, you would go to Dumbledore about it. Obviously, it's not that important if you don't want to tell Dumbledore."

Harry just shook his head, looking down, and Ginny said, "The Dark Lord will be returning. He only disappeared for some time because of the Accident. Most everyone who believes that, also believes that he will be returning quite soon."

"So you think it's important?" Harry asked her.

"I think that, however true her trance was," Ginny replied, "that the Dark Lord will not be staying away forever. He will return, and we must be ready—well, at least those who are of age must be ready." She rolled her eyes, got up, and headed out of the Common Room.

Merlin, she thought to herself. Everyone knows the Dark Lord is coming back. I hope it's not my fault: I can't control my dreams. Although nobody should have told the old quack about my dream. I bet her trance was real.

Ginny bit her lip nervously, becoming Estella and heading down to the dungeons. She joined her Slytherin friends, who were all excited about the end of exams party that they were going to have that night.

The party was in full swing before supper: most of Slytherin House did not attend supper because they ate in the Common Room at the party. Games of Quit and Truth and Dare started up, and Estella joined Truth or Dare, grinning and laughing with the rest of the Slytherins playing.

"Truth or Dare, Parkington?" Draco sneered at her.

"Dare," she answered flatly, returning his smirk.

"Very good," he said. "Lauren: call it."

Lauren turned back to him. "Who? Oh. Parkington. Um...I dare you to...set someone's robe on fire."

Draco looked at his cousin, astonished, just as Estella pointed her wand at Pansy and hissed (P), "Incendio!"

Pansy's shriek drew attention from all over, and one of the girls near Pansy put out the flames quickly. Draco glared at Lauren. "Are you crazy?" he asked her angrily.

Alvin slipped his arm around Lauren's waist, and the two walked away after the blonde girl shrugged apologetically. Pansy was glaring at Estella in fury, and Estella shrugged. "I was dared."

"You burned me!" she shrieked.

"The fire burned you, actually," Estella answered. "I was dared to set someone's robe on fire. If you need Madam Pomfrey—" she ducked a Curse from her angry cousin.

Draco tried to distract Pansy, who was glaring at her cousin, checking the burn on her left arm. "Lauren dared her, Pansy," he said. "I think Lauren's gone a little fuzzy during her exams."

Pansy glared at Draco and Estella. "I can't imagine any of what you and Lauren were thinking!" she snapped at them, then stormed out of the Common Room.

"That was not a bright idea, Parkington," Megan told her, and the other girl sighed.

"It was a Dare! I'd rather not be Imperiused, if it's all the same to you," Estella retorted. "Who knows what would have happened?"

"We wanted to Imperio you," Karnt complained. "But we wouldn't have chosen the Parkinson as the victim. She doesn't take things like that very well."

Estella laughed at the Lestrange twins, then shrugged. "Sorry. I wanted to make sure I didn't really hurt anyone. Pansy's bark is usually worse than her bite. Although I'm not sure she'll be content to just bark after she's healed."

Draco just shook his head. "Megan: Truth or Dare?"

The game went on, but Estella merely watched, taking her supper up to her room and eating alone there, instead of in the Common Room with her friends. She set her dishes aside after a few minutes, and went to sleep, tired out from her exams.

The blonde girl sat up suddenly, awakened from a sound sleep. Her boyfriend's arms fell from around her, and she breathed worriedly, "He's trapped."

The boy stirred, and she reached over, shaking him. "Alvin, wake up! We've got to go now!"

"Wha—no, stop!" he protested.

"Wake up!" she ordered him. "Enervate!"

"Lauren!" he moaned, rubbing his eyes. "It's the middle of the night. Why are we out here?" Alvin glanced around at the empty classroom.

She sighed, straightening her robes. "We fell asleep sharing magic," she answered, getting to her feet. "Come on."

Alvin sighed and got to his feet. "What's going on?"

Lauren bit her lip. "Something's wrong," she said. "We've got to go: someone's trapped—"

"How do you know?" he asked, confused. "We were just asleep!"

"I—I just know," she answered firmly. "Either come with me, or go back to the Common Room." He sighed and followed her as she hurried from the room and toward the main part of the castle, further away from the dungeons.

"Wait!" he said suddenly after several minutes, and the two darted to a window, looking out into the grounds. "What's up there?" Alvin pointed to one of the towers, seeing something up near one of the windows.

She caught her breath. "That's that hippogriff that Draco was trying to get executed," she answered. "It was marked for death tonight, but it's free!"

As the two watched, they saw someone climb out the window and get onto the creature. They realised there was more than one person already on it! They stopped on the Astronomy Tower, and Lauren gasped. "That's the Golden Trio: I'm sure of it!"

"What are they doing?" Alvin asked, then stared at the lone figure on the hippogriff flying away from the school. "Lauren, that's got to be—"

"Sirius Black!" Lauren gasped. "We've got to tell Professor Snape!"

"But—!" protested Alvin, confused, hurrying after the girl. "What are we going to tell him? Why did they let Black get away? If it was him, they'll be—"

"I don't understand," Lauren breathed as she broke into a run through the dungeons, heading toward Snape's office. "But perhaps he will. He should know, anyway, and he is our Head of House. He's always wanted a reason to have Potter and his friends expelled."

The two ended their run at Snape's office door, glancing at each other nervously. Alvin sighed at her and knocked loudly on the door. Moments later, the door opened and Snape glared out at them. "What," he snarled, "is so important that you would risk interrupting your Head of House in the middle of the night?"

"Professor," Lauren said urgently, "we just saw the Golden Trio send Sirius Black off with the hippogriff that was due for execution this week. The Trio was headed down the Astronomy Tower when we saw them."

"Get back to your Common Room," Snape ordered the two prefects, his eyes blazing with anger. "Do not be seen." He disappeared back into his office, then came back out, dressed and wand at the ready. "I'm not used to repeating myself," he snarled at them, and the two prefects hurried down the corridor toward their Common Room as Snape headed in the opposite direction.

When Lauren and Alvin arrived in the Slytherin Common Room, they found several students gathered near the fireplace, shivering. Lauren looked around and asked softly, "What's going on here?"

Some looked up, and Draco answered, looking more pale than usual, "It felt like dementors, Lauren. We all woke up feeling that there were dementors nearby. But they aren't here."

"They must have been overhead, then," Theo answered, shivering slightly. "Around the lake, or something."

"It was a while ago," Brianna said, her cloak wrapped snugly around her. "I put Samantha under a Sleeping Spell, and only Riker and Guage woke besides me. Estella and Megan are still asleep."

"We'll check the dormitories," Lauren said, motioning Alvin toward the boys' dorm. "Warming spells, if needed. And, perhaps we should send someone down to the kitchens for chocolate."

Draco muttered something and a house-elf appeared in front of him, the other Slytherins raising their eyebrows at each other. "Get us chocolate," he ordered the elf, and it was gone and back before anyone could say anything. "Here," he muttered, and the others helped pass the chocolate around.

The three Lestranges were sitting together on the floor by the fire, the twins' eyes full of terror. Meris bit his lip. "What do you think they were there for? Do you think they caught Black?"

"Don't know," said several others. "It's too cold and too dark to think."

"Expecto Patronum," came a soft voice, and a Patronus joined the three Lestranges near the fireplace. The Slytherins in the Common Room looked up to see Megan and Estella coming down the staircase, Lauren following them.

Estella walked over to the Lestrange cousins and Brianna asked, "What woke you?" Icythan peeked out of his mistress's sleeve, and Brianna said, "Oh."

"He was talking about the Patronus that was watching over Samantha," Estella almost whispered, kneeling by the twins. "Karntaan? Rohan?" The two small boys were holding on to each other, and she sighed softly, saying, "I'm going to do a special Warming Spell, all right?" Neither of them reacted to her words, and she did the blue spell that Professor Lupin had taught her on both of them.

"Stel?" Meris asked, looking up at her carefully.

"Are you all right?" she asked him as the twins both shuddered. Estella slipped her arms around Karnt and Rohan's shoulders, rubbing them reassuringly.

Meris nodded. "The boys woke me up: they seemed to be having nightmares, but I realized that it felt more like the dementors on the train. I woke them and brought them down here, but...they were only like that." The older Lestrange looked at his younger cousins, who both had their eyes closed and were leaning against Estella. "Only worse," he added.

Draco looked over at the three Lestranges thoughtfully, then handed Meris the chocolate. "Where's Pansy, Lauren? Is she still asleep?"

Lauren shook her head slightly. "She never came back from the Hospital Wing." The blonde boy sighed, and his cousin came over to sit by him. "Are you all right?" she asked him softly.

"Yeah," he muttered back. "Do you know what happened?"

"Black got away," she told him quietly. "Alvin and I saw it: the Golden Trio helped him."

"That's why the dementors?" Draco asked sharply. "They were after the prisoner? Why would Potter—he's so stupid!"

Lauren sighed. "I think they were after Black: I mean, it makes sense. If Sirius was running around the grounds, the dementors would have been following him. I don't understand why he climbed out a tower window, though."

He frowned at her. "Did you report that?"

"Yes, and Snape went to take care of the Trio," Lauren answered. "He sent us back to the Common Room and told us not to get caught. I guess things are happening tonight." She got up and began to check on those that were in the Common Room, distributing chocolate and Summoning cloaks for those that didn't have them.

"Accio Cloak," Meris said, twice, and helped Estella slip the cloaks around the twins' shoulders.

Estella moved to help others, but Rohan's grip tightened on her, and she stopped moving, looking at him. His eyes were open, but they were unseeing, and she gulped, slipping both arms around him as Meris took care of the other twin. She did a Warming Charm on his cloak, then leaned against the couch, the small boy's head against her chest. Meris had his arm around Karnt's shoulders and placed the Warming Charm on the other boy's cloak. The Parkington and the three Lestranges sat there for over half an hour before they fell asleep, Estella's Patronus watching over them.

Meris and Estella woke when Snape walked into the Common Room and cast a blanket spell over the room that warmed everything up. "Professor," Lauren said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Were there dementors around the lake last night? We felt the effects of it—"

Snape nodded curtly. "Are there any who need the Hospital—whose Patronus is that?"

The Patronus promptly disappeared, and Estella looked up, still holding on to Rohan. "It's mine, Professor," she told him. "The twins were in bad shape last night." She looked down at the boy who was still asleep, then glanced over at Meris, who was talking to Karnt to wake him up.

"All Slytherins must attend lunch today," Snape said firmly. "It has been discovered that your Defense teacher is a werewolf: there will be...changes."

A lot of the students in the room gasped, including Meris, and Karnt stirred softly. Meris shifted his position, and Karnt stretched slightly, opening his eyes to see his Head of House looking at him. "Hello?" he said uncertainly. "I didn't do something stupid, did I?"

Draco smirked. "You did pose rather awkwardly for the family photo Lauren took last night."

Estella glared up at him. "You did not photograph the four of us sleeping on the floor."

"Sure they did," yawned Theo, sitting up in one of the chairs as Snape walked by him, leaving the Common Room. "Draco, the Charlestons, and the Sages joined you, and Lauren took the photo."

"Wait...who slept on the floor?" Karnt said, confused, and sat up.

"We did," Estella rolled her eyes. "You, your brother, Meris, and I. Do you really have a picture, Lauren?" The girl nodded. "I'll bet it's a weird picture, isn't it? The Charlestons probably look like they lost their marbles, the Sages probably look like they're about to conquer the world, and Malfoy, of course, looks perfectly fabulous." Shouts of laughter greeted this statement, and Estella added, "But Parkington and the Lestranges most likely look stoned. Am I right, Lauren?"

Giggling, she handed over the picture she'd just placed onto a clean piece of paper. "See for yourself."

She lifted her right hand and took the picture, Karnt and Meris leaning in to look at it. "Yes," Meris agreed. "Stoned."

"Wasted," chuckled Karntaan. "Jase would be so proud."

"Who?" Draco questioned, eyebrow raised.

"Jason, our little brother, or our friend," Karnt answered.

Lauren nodded. "He's an Avery. About three years younger than the twins, I think."

The Lestrange shrugged. "He was raised as our little brother. And I think he's already bigger than us. That's really annoying."

"I thought Rohan was the one who didn't like short jokes," Megan said curiously.

"I'm not Rohan and that wasn't a short joke," Karnt sighed, rolling his eyes at her. "Parkington, maybe you should see if you can wake up Ro. He's kind of...really asleep."

For the boy had snuggled closer to her, enjoying the warmth she provided as he slept. Estella blushed, both cheeks turning red as several students laughed at her expense. She shifted her position, brushing Rohan's black hair away from his face and calling his name softly. Touching the side of his face gently, she saw his eyes move beneath the closed lids and bit her lip. "Ro?" she asked.

The boy stirred slightly, but hid his face in her sleeve, shivering as his breathing became slightly ragged. "No!" he moaned, then began muttering in his half-waking state.

"Rohan," she said to him gently, then performed the blue spell on him again.

The Lestrange boy became still, just as Draco said, "There's a spastic in every set of—ooh!"

Karntaan had jumped up and punched Draco in the stomach as hard as he could, glaring at him. "Don't you dare speak of Rohan that way," he said coldly. "Just wait. Wait til you've had a run-in with the law, or an extended stay with dementors. You won't find sympathy, Malfoy: you don't deserve it."

Lauren hurried to her cousin, healing his pain and helping him to sit down beside her, away from the Lestranges. Estella was now attempting to wake Ro the rest of the way so that he could go down to lunch with the rest of the Slytherins. Karntaan came over to them, Meris scooting over to watch.

Karnt looked down at his twin, then grasped his left shoulder and shook him gently, speaking softly in French. Meris smiled a little, but Estella was clueless to what was being said, and merely held the Lestrange boy until his body jerked suddenly and his eyes opened. "Ro?" Estella asked.

"Where am I?" asked Rohan, trying to sit up immediately. "What's wrong with Malfoy?"

"Your brother Muggle-punched him," said one of the older boys, laughing a little.

"Score!" Rohan chuckled, stretching and scooting away. "Ah, Parkington, I didn't just sleep all over you, did I?"

"Unless you moved a lot when I was sleeping too, no," she replied. "But the four of us..."

"Were kind of cuddly," Meris laughed, and Karnt joined in, Rohan looking uncomfortable. "There were dementors around the lake last night, so a lot of the Slytherins slept in the Common Room."

Rohan sighed. "And we had a bad reaction, so Parkington decided we needed a hug—"

Alvin snorted. "An all-night hug," he said, bringing more laughter from the other Slytherins.

The second Lestrange twin finally cracked a smile, and Estella said, "Actually, I just kind of felt that you needed reassurance. You wouldn't respond when I spoke to you, even after the specialized warming spell. So I just settled down between you, and the four of us fell asleep."

Shaking his head, Rohan scooted away from Estella before getting to his feet. "I'm hungry," he said. "Not much of anything else, though."

"Guess what?" Blaise said, coming down the stairs with several other students that appeared to have lost sleep. "Lupin's leaving really soon. He's catching a cab out of Hogsmeade right after lunch."

"Why?" came the question from several new Slytherins that had entered the Common Room.

"Because he's a werewolf," Draco smirked. "Better spread the news."

"Better learn how to fist-fight," retorted Karnt. "C'mon, Ro. Let's go get lunch. You too, Meris."

The third Lestrange got up, and Rohan turned to look at Estella. "Coming, Parkington?"

Estella looked up at him, then said, "Yeah, sure." She turned to Lauren. "May I keep this picture?" Lauren nodded, and Estella grinned. "Thanks!" She hurried out of the room with the three Lestrange cousins.

The four walked into the Great Hall together, finding the atmosphere tense. The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables were very quiet, and Gryffindor seemed to pulsate with anger. The Slytherin House table was mostly empty, but quickly filled up as Slytherin students came into the Hall just at the right intervals so that the door wouldn't shut between each student.

The four paused at the Entrance before Meris and Estella moved as one, heading toward the Slytherin House table. The twins flanked them, all walking quickly until they sat down near the middle of their House table. Karnt glanced at Estella. "Do you have any idea what's going on?" he asked.

"No," Estella answered. "But I'm guessing something happened with Sirius Black last night. I don't really know what's going on."

"How do you think we could find out?" the boys asked her.

"Why do you think I know how to find out everything?" she asked them back. "I don't know everything, and it's probably better that I don't. I don't exactly live with a family that supports Death Eater activity, or betrayal, or anything like that."

"But if the youngest Weasel helped—" Meris began.

"He couldn't have," came an older voice, and the four Slytherins looked up to see Percy Weasley looking down at them. "Ron's in the Hospital Wing with a broken leg. Estella: Potter, Ron, and Granger are all claiming that Sirius Black is innocent. They helped him escape last night—at least, that's what Snape is saying. Snape is furious."

Estella and the Lestranges looked up toward the Head table, then back at Percy. "He does look a little...upset," Karnt agreed, "but he's pretty smug that he blew Lupin's cover, I think."

Percy looked awkwardly at the four, then said, "Did you all know?"

The Lestranges said no, but Estella nodded, biting her lip. "I realised it in class," she told the Head Boy. "I didn't tell anyone, though. Snape let it slip, though, and so the Slytherins have been spreading it."

"Why are you telling him that?" hissed Rohan, elbowing her sharply.

"Because he's Percy Weasley and I know him," Estella answered, rolling her eyes. "He's graduating this year, anyway. And because Ron and Harry will be telling everyone that will listen the same thing. Percy can be trusted—more so than most Gryffindors."

"I was down to visit Ron earlier," Percy said to Estella. "Parkinson was telling Malfoy what she'd seen last night. And Madam Pomfrey wants to see you."

"Me?" Estella said in astonishment. "Why me? I'm not sick, or—"

Percy sighed. "Estella. You have thought about your electives, have you not?" She nodded, and he continued, "Madam Pomfrey wishes you to meet her in the Hospital Wing at one thirty. McGonagall will be there to discuss your...next school year."

Estella smiled, nodding in sudden understanding. "Thanks!" she said brightly as Draco entered the Hall with Lauren, both talking in hushed tones. Percy nodded and left for the Gryffindor table as Draco and Lauren sat down opposite them at the Slytherin table.

The dark-haired girl didn't look at them, but ate quietly, savouring her strong, hot tea. Meris glanced sideways at her. "Why does she want to discuss your electives in the Hospital Wing?" he asked her quietly. "Is she that worried about you?"

"No," Estella chuckled, grinning as she replied, "I might be taking a special class eventually, but I don't know if third year will be an advanced enough year to begin it. I'll have to see, and then I can tell you about it."

"Don't forget," Meris warned her, and she smiled.

"I won't," she promised. "Now I've got to go. I'm supposed to be there in twenty minutes and it takes me ten minutes if I don't run." She caught Draco's eye as she stood, laughing, and walked away from the table, happy with herself.

She arrived in the Hospital Wing with nearly fifteen minutes to spare and smirked to herself inside. Estella had disappeared into the cover of Ginny Weasley, who was now reporting for her meeting with her Head of House, and Madam Pomfrey. Glancing around the Hospital Wing, Ginny saw Ron sleeping in one of the beds, Pansy on the other side of the Hospital Wing eating lunch by herself.

Ginny slipped over to Pansy, not thinking of herself as herself, and said, "Are you all right?"

"Go away, Weasley!" Pansy snapped angrily, turning her face away from the redhead.

"Sorry," Ginny said quietly, annoyed with herself for forgetting she was only Ginny Weasley at the moment, not Estella Parkington.

"Ms. Weasley!" came McGonagall's stern voice, and Ginny turned to see her Head of House standing before the matron's office door. "Join us in the office."

Taking a deep breath, Ginny crossed the ward and entered the office. The two older witches were seated there, taking after-lunch tea together. "Ms. Weasley," said the matron, nodding at her. "Have a seat, dear."

Ginny sat down, her left hand on her lap caressing her wand, which she held in her right hand. McGonagall glanced at the redhead over her glasses, then asked, "What was the last spell you did with that wand, Ms. Weasley?"

"The—" began Ginny, then stopped, realizing it wasn't the Patronus. "A specialised warming spell for dementor victims," she replied truthfully.

"Which was necessary why?" demanded McGonagall in astonishment.

"Professor: there were dementors out by the lake last night," Ginny said. "I stayed the night in the dungeons, and a lot of the Slytherins were effected by the dementors' proximity. Several of us spent the night in the Common Room instead of our dorm rooms, and I used that spell on a couple of boys that were effected the worst."

The two women looked shocked, and Ginny smiled sheepishly as McGonagall asked sharply, "Why did you spend the night down there?"

Ginny's lips tightened. "Because my Gryffindor dorm mates don't wish me to stay with them."

"I don't know why you're worried about how she'd treat Slytherins," Madam Pomfrey told Professor McGonagall. "She certainly gets along with them all right if she's helping them overcome the effects of a dementor."

"Dementors," Ginny emphasized the plural.

"Your wand," McGonagall said, holding out her left hand. Ginny glared at her, then handed it over, rubbing her arms uncomfortably. "Priori Incantatem!" said the witch, and began to watch as different shapes came out of Ginny's wand. "A Patronus! Is this Fox Patronus yours, Ms. Weasley?"

The redhead nodded. "Professor Lupin taught me to do it," she said. "I asked him to help me and he did. I wanted to know in order to help my friends."

Professor McGonagall seemed impressed. "He didn't say you had asked him," she told Ginny.

"I think he knew that I'd rather not everyone knew," said Ginny, looking at the two women. "Did you ask me here just to check my wand? What are you looking for? I'm sure I could incriminate myself."

"You sound like the twins," the matron told her. "They're always to blame for someone arriving here in the Hospital Wing."

Professor McGonagall smiled almost fondly. "Ah, yes," she mused, then responded, "Have you thought about your electives for next year?"

Smiling, Ginny nodded. "I'd like to do Ancient Runes and Arithmancy for my electives," she replied. "I already have groundwork in Magical Creatures, and I don't intend to do any direct work with Muggles. I'd rather not set foot in the Divination Tower, either."

"Why would you choose those two?" Madam Pomfrey queried. "They are the most difficult electives, of course."

"I'd like to understand magic more deeply," she answered. "To understand what makes it do what it does, and how it effects what we do as wizards and witches."

"I find nothing wrong with that," Professor McGonagall agreed. "But I do wonder: what do you wish to do when you are out of school?"

"I—I'd like to be a Healer, I think," Ginny replied softly, looking up at the two shyly. "I want to do something good in the world."

The two nodded, and Professor McGonagall told Ginny, "I don't think any of your classes will conflict next year, but we do have something for you to think about over the summer."

Ginny nodded once and asked, "What is it?"

Madam Pomfrey picked up a piece of parchment and gave it to Ginny. "This is the Healer's Oath, Ginevra. You will have to swear to keep this oath before you will be allowed to become an apprentice here. The Headmaster, your Head of House, and I believe you should have the summer to think this over: you will have to sign this paper and turn it in to us before you will be allowed to begin."

"Read it carefully," Professor McGonagall told her student. "Don't make a hasty decision. Being a Healer is not easy—neither is becoming one—and Madam Pomfrey is one of the best Healers in Britain!"

"So to whom would I give the parchment?" Ginny asked, turning the parchment over as she looked at it, then back up at the two women. "And as soon as I return next year?"

"If you sign the paper, it will become two papers," Madam Pomfrey told her. "Then you will take one to your Head of House, and bring the other to me."

"When you get off the train next year, you may come directly to my office," Professor McGonagall ordered her. "I will be explaining Hogwarts to the First Years as always, and will be by my office soon afterward. I should have your class schedule, and will give it to you then."

Madam Pomfrey nodded slightly, finishing her tea. "When you have your schedule—if you have signed the paper—bring it to me, and I will be able to tell you when you can be on duty here with me. Now. I have things to do. If you two wish to talk, you are welcome. Good day, Ms. Weasley." She stood and left the office.

Professor McGonagall looked over at Ginny. "Do think carefully about it," she told the girl again. "You'll regret a hasty decision. If you need another opinion, ask for one. I think you can handle it, but you will be watched to make sure you keep the Healer's Oath."

"Yes, Professor," Ginny answered respectfully.

"You may leave," Professor McGonagall said, rising from her chair and opening the door. Ginny left the room, the parchment clutched firmly in her hand.

Percy told Ginny to sit with him on the train on the way back to King's Cross. She decided that it was probably best that she sit with Percy, even though she really wanted to sit with her friends, and the Lestranges. She sat across from him quietly until she tired of reading the end of her book and looked up.

"Something on your mind?" he asked her.

"I—I've decided to take Ancient Runes and Arithmancy next year," Ginny replied, taking out her parchment and handing it to him. "And there's this." She bit her lip, watching him look over the words.

"Did you ask for an apprenticeship?" Percy asked in surprise.

Ginny nodded. "I think I've been accepted, but I have to read this Healer's Oath, sign it, and swear it before I'm allowed to serve at Hogwarts."

Percy set the parchment down and gave her a double high-five. "Wonderful, Ginny!" he praised her proudly. "This is great!"

She blushed a little and murmured, "I don't really want Mum and Dad to know yet. I'd like to have some training before I announce that I'm learning."

"So they won't ask you advice, or won't criticise?" Percy teased.

"Ha!" said Ginny, and they laughed together as the witch with the food and treat cart came into their compartment.

"Pick what you want," Percy told her. "My treat."

Ginny smiled a little and picked out a couple sandwiches, and Percy handed over the coins. The witch said goodbye to them, and left the compartment. "Thanks," she told her brother.

He smiled at her. "I'm proud of you," he told her softly. "Keep up the good work, and don't worry about what the others say. It's not just prats that are made into prefects and put in high places like that."

She nodded, then Transfigured part of her sandwich into raw meat, increasing the quantity before Transfiguring it into live rodents for her bitemates. Percy gasped in shock, drawing his feet up onto the seat. "How many of them have you got?" he asked her.

"Seventeen," she replied promptly. "I got them all from Egypt: they're all Icythan's bitemates."

"Aaand you're taking all of them to the Burrow?" Percy asked uncomfortably.

"Yes," she answered matter of factly. "I am responsible for them, and I have to keep all of them with me."

He looked at them nervously. "How did you get all of them to school?"

Ginny looked down at her bitemates. "Apparated them into the Chamber during the summer," she answered. "I didn't know what was going on because Mum had messed with my memories again, but Icythan guided me through it all, and I moved his bitemates to the Chamber."

"You can apparate?" Percy said in astonishment.

"Oh." Ginny bit her lip. "Yes. Percy, put your feet on the floor. The bitemates will not bite you unless I order them to, which I won't." He obeyed her, and she continued, "I can do a lot of things I'm not supposed to be able to yet, but that shouldn't surprise you."

"No?" the compartment door opened and the twins came in, sitting down beside Ginny and Percy, opposite each other. "We figured out your punishment for your betrayal," said Fred.

Ginny smiled slightly. "What's that?"

They scowled at her. "We won't protect you from Mum—"

"No matter how much she rants—"

"Or how much you want us to help—"

"During the whole summer," finished Fred. "You're on your own."

The seventeen bitemates returned to Ginny, and she leaned forward, accepting them back onto her body. "Okay."

The twins stared. "Ginny—!"

"Seventeen," Ginny answered. "I got them in Egypt, and they're Icythan's bitemates. I got them all to the Chamber through apparition, which you heard the one time I woke you in the middle of the night when we were staying at Bill's flat."

"And you're keeping them where?" George asked incredulously.

"Under your beds," Ginny answered. "Just to make sure you don't plan any pranks to go along with your un-protectionist attitude."

Fred snorted. "You expect a snake—" they hissed, and Fred corrected, "A serpent. You expect a serpent to keep us under control?"

Ginny stroked Odessa, who was still on her left forearm. "They are all venomous, and can kill with their bite if I order them to. I can also order them to bite to Stun." Tishri hissed something else, and Ginny smiled, not about to relay that to the twins.

"They can understand English," Percy told the twins. "Right, Gin?"

"Yes," Ginny answered. "You can speak to them, and they will know what you say, but they won't be able to reply exactly unless I translate."

The twins scoffed. "You may think that our not standing up for you won't be a big deal, but you don't understand how much we've stood between you and Mum before."

Ginny frowned. "If this is like my ending my pax with Ron, then this is going to be a killer summer."

"Probably," Percy agreed, and the twins jumped up.

"We warned you, Ginny," they said. "See you at the station." Fred and George left the compartment and Ginny sat back, sighing a little.

"Ginny, it is going to be a lot more difficult," Percy told her. "You can hide in my room sometimes if you need to during the day. Also, you need to ward your room or your bed, or even both every night in case your nightmares come back. That's the last thing we need."

She sighed, continuing to stroke her bitemates. After a moment, she asked, "Percy, may I lie down?"

He motioned her to go ahead, and she came over to his bench, lying down all curled up, her head on his lap. "Thanks," she said softly, and he gently brushed her hair back before conjuring a blanket and spreading it over her.

"Rest well," he told her. "I'll wake you when the train begins to slow down."

"Thanks," she murmured, then drifted off to sleep, resting on her brother's lap.