Welcome to Year Two of TAHBE.

This is probably the last book where the plot is still (mostly) intact.

Amusingly enough, I was originally torn between making this story a humor piece, or a mystery/horror piece,

and I eventually decided by Y1,P3.

As always, reviews are always appreciated.

Through a Half-Breed's Eyes

Well, this summer was certainly eventful.

Quick summary:

Dad's somehow managed to sneak his way onto the 'dark creature disposal' squad, and due to his credentials, he's now a senior member. That should give me a decent safety net, should everything go to hell.

Anyway

We ended up hunting down some small cult in Russia. Nothing major, just some idiots with too much free time, and not enough control. They were pretty close to actually managing to summon something, but we managed to sabotage their operation quite well.

And the spells I was working on got a little bit of improvement and advice as well: I can say for a fact that my steam spell is now combat-ready.

As for the glitter charm, Dad couldn't stop laughing at me: apparently it is both 'so, indescribably me', as well as 'potentially the most debilitating non-harmful curse he's ever seen'.

And then he helped me make it harder to dispel. And spread to clothing.

So yes, now it's able to be cast as a curse.

I think I'll keep that particular variant close to my vest, however.

One second, I recognise that magical signature.

Man, Ginny's angry about something. Oh well. Maybe she'll calm down by the time we arrive.

Anyway, giant doom-snake considered, we've all agreed that last year was worth my time, and I ended up coming back for another year. Hopefully, whatever horrifying thing comes to confront the students this year will stick around long enough for me to get a good shot at it, before Potter manages to do his thing and destroy it.

I really don't like it when people steal my kills.

Regardless, I've got a couple of antivenoms in my pack now, for various poisons, along with a couple of mandrake draughts. Not like I'll personally need it, but if someone close to me gets hit by something similar, at least I'll be able to do something about it.

My

Well

My friends?

Yes. Friends.

I don't want anything to happen to my friends. I can survive that sort of thing, but they can't.

So it only makes sense I carry the antidote: if something happens to me, they're likely already dead

Dead.

I like being with these two.

I never really had any normal friends my age: I had to train in secret, often not even on this plane. I

My real skin's grey. And that's the least concerning thing about my real shape.

It took me four years to master hiding myself as a human. And I couldn't start that training before I turned six.

I've had no friends.

These two might not

Well, Ginny might not know what I am, and I'm pretty certain Luna does, but I could probably be reading her incorrectly.

They might not have any action towards me, but it does mean a lot to me.

At some point I really should tell them. Not now, not for a couple of years.

But eventually.

So yeah, back to school-based concerns: I've got my good robes with me now.

Yes, it technically is a gown. Yes, it technically is what I'd wear to a fancy occasion. However, it's also the sturdiest thing I own. Black dragonhide, overlaying a dyed weave of fear demon cloaks, Acromantula silk, and imbued with enough magic to act as a class-two magic deflector.

Besides, as long as I don't wear the gloves, headgear, and boots with it, it really does look like a regular dress.

I'll need to hide those.

I

Fuck.

Well, if this is what Dumbledore meant, when he said he was bringing in for the Defense Professor this year, I'm going to be very disappointed.

Fear demons.

There are fear demons, that just attacked a train full of students.

I mean, I doubt there's any casualties, but seriously.

One of them even managed to get into my cabin, but I managed to convince it to leave with sufficiently applied magic.

And uhh

Well, if I had any hope of being left alone, now that is definitely not happening.

Right, no context yet.

I got on the train, much to my displeasure, made my way to an empty compartment, and sat down. Occasionally, a student or two poked their heads into my compartment, but I managed to ward them off with nothing but a sufficiently-well-done glare.

'course, Luna was one of the ones who poked her head in, and I can't exactly turn her away.

Ginny came in later, like I said earlier.

So, about a minute ago, I get a familiar feeling, followed immediately by a stronger, much more identifiable feeling of hitting the outer boundary of a demon's influence aura.

Ginny and Luna are hit about two seconds later, going white and sober, respectively.

Three seconds later, in pops a demon. It sees me, takes three steps in, and I can practically see Ginny frothing, and Luna's staring at it with absolute horror and despair.

One way or another, the damn thing was leaving.

I reacted instinctively: wandless Flamelash, medium power, overhand motion.

I've always found the spell to be quite pretty: the overlapping, chain-shaped flames crack through shields like they aren't even there, are controllable heat wise, and thus are probably my best non-lethal option. Not to mention, that, unlike most other flame spells, this one's actually partially physical.

Unfortunately, regardless of intent, it doesn't really look like any 'acceptable' spell.

Lash met the lesser demon, and knocked its ass back out of the door, where it glared at me for a couple of seconds. I glared back, and might've let a bit of my aura

(haha, it matches my name. My parents are hilarious.)

slip through, which might've been enough to scare it off.

Either that, or it had a schedule to keep, because it left.

I am so glad I had an alibi.

Ginny and Luna are now both proud members of the 'Knows Aurelia's father is a senior Dark Creature Hunter' club. I blamed the spell on training from Daddy, which while technically correct, technically incriminates my family for teaching a minor Dark Magic. However, I doubt either of them is going to report me for saving them.

Although I'm not really happy with the way that Luna responded: notably, her words were 'Makes sense'.

Oh hey, a teacher just showed up.

Apparently chocolate is the antidote to the demon's auras. He offered me one, but Ginny slapped it out of my hand, and informed the teacher of my 'intolerance'.

Seriously, that girl will never let me have any fun.

Interestingly enough, I don't recognise this teacher: he looks and smells like something that crawled out of a rummage sale. His signature's a mess: charms, dark magic, and heavy transformation, but it seems deep-rooted. Not regular, that's for sure.

He introduced himself as Professor Lupin, gave me a strange look for not needing chocolate, and then proceeded to head to the next cabin.

I can only assume that the chocolate lady we bought our sweets from last year is doing the same thing on the other side of the train.

Demons.

Are they completely insane?

I mean, yes, I'm technically calling the kettle black here, but I've got EVERYTHING to lose if I misbehave. These things are not only barely-sentient lumps of malice that know very little besides hunger, but also are in a society which is more-or-less in a society without a readily available method of permanently killing them.

If they snap and attack people, they'd be able to kill at least a dozen, and even then, they'd only be able to be driven off, unless the government here has a LOT more shelved firepower than we've identified.

The train ride is FINALLY coming to a close.

Ginny's sticking rather close to me, and I don't really blame her: until she gets to safety, she's clinging to the closest, most powerful mage available, and her beloved isn't exactly nearby to reassure her.

God, I'm going to have to sabotage whatever potions she'll try to slip him, aren't I.

I paid a little bit more attention at the fest this time: Maybe there was something last year about the snake last year that I missed.

Anyway, the largest man I've ever seen is now an instructor for 'Care of Magical Creatures', Lockhart's off doing more research and can't continue teaching, and he's been replaced by the Lupin guy. Which immediately makes him suspicious. Dumbledore said I'd be able to relate to him.

That means he's either a cultist, a shapeshifter, or a demon.

Speaking of demons, the demons are apparently here to stay, because some idiot decided to post soul eating abominations outside of a magical primary school.

Whichever idiot is responsible

Well, I'm amazed that they've made it as long as they have without choking on their own drool.

Or survived, considering how many times they were likely dropped upon their heads as a baby.

Perhaps they were used as a crash dummy, or a target for debilitating, mind-affecting curses?

I refuse to admit that there potentially could be someone naturally stupid enough to consider this course of action a good idea.

Anyway, demons are here until they catch some criminal. Which is the exact goddamn wrong thing to do. Demons are good at hunting. Not guarding.

Anyway, we ate dinner, headed up to our rooms, and I took up my usual spot on my bed.

Ginny's back to normal now, and we're back up in the dorm. I had to get her to promise not to tell anyone about that specific spell: I cited it being borderline dark magic that I picked up, when my father was hunting some rogue demons. I completely neglected to mention the fact he, as a (mostly) full-blooded human, is more or less entirely incapable of casting said spell.

In fact, I don't think either of my Mothers are able to pull it off either. It's pretty much my spell; Dad doesn't have the bloodline to pull it off, and neither Mother is capable of channelling enough magic to really get it going. There might be a curse that's similar, but I don't think Wizards have quite the control to make a solid fire spell.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand: gossip!

Ginny remains my best source of wizard gossip, further exemplified by the deluge of disjointed information she dumped on me as soon as I asked.

The gist of it is pretty simple, despite the ten minutes it took for Ginny to explain.

One: There's a Dark Wizard by the name of Sirius Black on the run from demons, the government, his family, and Dumbledore. I already knew he was at large and was on the run, but I was completely unaware that he had attracted as large of a crowd as he has.

Two: He hasn't been caught.

Therefore, we're dealing with a crazy bastard who's cunning or powerful enough to escape not only a swarm of demons, who don't tire, but also the most powerful wizard I've ever seen.

Jury's still out on the government though. Whichever moron is busy hammering nails with his forehead when he's not stamping paperwork could slow down or entirely prevent them from doing much of anything.

Three: He knows Harry Potter, because of course he does.

Ginny's a bit terrified that Black is planning on hurting Potter, but I managed to reassure her that Potter's probably able to kick his ass. I didn't really bring up what I concluded from what she said, since that'd make her more afraid, not less.

I also mentioned that if he hurt Potter, I'd hold him down while she stabbed him.

Black, that is. Not Potter.

That calmed her down a little bit.

I couldn't help but ask if every weird thing that happens at Hogwarts can be traced to Potter, somehow.

I got a resounding silence, followed by a hazy 'Yes'. It had a bit of a questioning tone, but it's good enough for me.

This is less than ideal: Potter, who I'm less than keen on being involved with, is a walking disaster area, which is where I want to be. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly in a position where I can take full advantage.

I need to come up with a solution.

Final thought for tonight: I wonder what sort of creature Black's going to attack Potter with. A vampire? Gorgon? Nah not another snake.

Demons? I doubt it.

Werewolf? Fat chance.

Maybe an Umbra or something. That'd match his name. Maybe a Clown Umbra? Oh well.