A/N: I know that this chapter has been a really long time coming and I'm so sorry!! But I'm finally done work for the summer now and will hopefully be able to upload a couple of new chapters in the next few days before school begins. Please don't forget to review okay? Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter. The only characters I own are those that you don't recognize from the original HP series.

Chapter 10: Blaise's Warning

Elle couldn't remember a time where she felt as anxious and nervous as she did right now. Here she was sitting in Dumbledore's office with her hands clasped tightly on her lap and her eyes on the floor. She could feel the intense anxiety in the atmosphere as several professors paced back and forth around her. They were all waiting for Dumbledore.

Elle thought back to the incident in Snape's class earlier that afternoon. She remembered how students had gasped when she had whispered Neville's name and how Snape had looked almost as petrified as she had felt. And, the next thing she knew, she had been sent to the headmaster's office with Snape close at her heels.

Elle had only snapped out of her thoughts when she heard someone clear their throat. She looked up only to find that her eyes met Dumbledore's.

"So," he began in a strangely calming way, "I've been told that you have claimed to see Neville…in a vision of sorts?"

Elle swallowed hard. She wasn't quite sure if Dumbledore's tone meant that he believed her or not. "With all due respect, sir," she began, "I don't claim to have seen him…I know I saw him."

Dumbledore looked at her thoughtfully for a few moments before giving her a reassuring look. He turned to face the rest of the room's occupants. "Professors," he began almost gravely, "We have a situation on our hands. Since Neville's disappearance, I have feared for the safety of our other students as well. And it seems that I was right to have that fear." He then turned to Snape, "Severus, is there no new developments on Neville's whereabouts?"

Snape looked at Dumbledore with unreadable black eyes, "No, headmaster, but I will keep trying. I think I have some new leads."

Dumbledore nodded slightly, "Keep working on it Severus. Let me know of any new developments. Any at all."

Snape nodded curtly and walked quickly from the room.

"Albus," Professor McGonnagall inquired, "what does this all mean. Why would He Who Must Not Be Named go after Longbottom. It's Potter he's always been after. Is this just another way for him to try and get to Potter? What does this mean for the rest of the students?"

Dumbledore looked at her thoughtfully as if giving her question some thought. He looked around at the others standing in the room and noticed that all eyes were upon him awaiting an answer. However, he also noticed that one pair of eyes were not focused on him but instead upon the floor. He took a few steps towards Elle before he spoke, "Minerva," he addressed the answer to her but his eyes were still focused on the young girl, "I believe that the past is not always to be repeated. That there are always exceptions to the rule and that Voldemort has finally realized that."

Elle could feel his gaze upon her and was almost frightened to look up. But she forced out a breath and looked into Dumbledore's wise features.

"I also believe that the students of Hogwarts are all in danger if he isn't stopped immediately. He has found a new way to try and accomplish what he has been trying to do for the past eighteen years. But there is hope - a single person holds the key to destroy him. It's only a matter of whether or not they are able to realize that they are the one who holds it."

Minerva looked from Elle to Dumbledore and back again. She was completely flabbergasted that he actually thought that she was the one. She had seen her work in class and she lacked much to be the one that the prophecy spoke of. And yet they all had high hopes for this young girl. But it still seemed a silly idea. "But Albus, this girl-"

"Is the one that the prophecy says will save us." Dumbledore finished for her.

Elle felt her face flush a deep red. She was still sure that they had the wrong girl for the job and the looks on the other professors' faces proved that they were somewhat hesitant as well.

Minerva pursed her lips together to keep her from saying how she really felt because she didn't want to hurt the young girl. She could tell that even she didn't believe him. "Well, yes, I suppose she could be the one." Her voice was unconvincing, however.

"We must all be careful. With any luck, Voldemort does not yet know that she is the one of prophecy. As long as he doesn't know - I think we still hold the upper hand." Dumbledore looked around at all the professors before speaking again, "I will expect you all to inform your houses of what is going on. Let them know that no one is to go off alone at anytime in the day and if someone sees anything peculiar then they are to immediately inform a professor. Is this all understood?"

The professors all nodded and one by one started to leave the room. Elle got up as well but as she was about to follow after the professors, Dumbledore's voice caught her.

"Elle," he spoke and waited until she had turned to face him. He let silence hang between them for a very brief moment before continuing, "You will have to find your strength in where your heart lies before you will be able to become who you were destined to be."

Elle heard his words but didn't really understand them. "Headmaster…?"

Dumbledore cut her off before she was able to finish her thought, "Follow where your heart and spirit lead you. Only then will you be able to understand what you are confused about now." And with a small smile and a twinkle of the eye, he headed back towards his desk.

The large door began to shut in front of Elle, and she wasn't quick enough to get a word in. She looked at the door wishing that she understood what he had meant. 'The man always talks in riddles. Why won't he just tell me what he means?' she thought silently to herself as she descended the spiral staircase.

She continued walking with her head down thinking about what had just happened as she continued up to the Gryffindor tower. But her thoughts were immediately caught short when she bumped into something in front of her.

"Do watch where you're going, mudblood," came the snide remark as she snapped her head up at the voice. Her look was met by a scowl on the face of a Slytherin. Blaise Zabini to be exact.

Elle had learned that Slytherins, (or 99.9% of them), deserved no apology at any time. And so remembering this fact, she tried to go around him instead of ending up with a confrontation that would probably lead to her getting the wand whipping. (She did well to remember that Blaise had had magical training possibly all his life, while she had just had the past few months).

Blaise ended up stepping in front of her to block her path. She tried again but he still did the same. A wide smirk had appeared on his face.

"Out of my way Zabini!" Elle demanded in an uncharacteristic tone for her.

"Or what?" Blaise countered cockily. "You'll blast me into oblivion?" His smirk widened.

Elle's eyes narrowed in annoyance. She may not have been very good at magic but she had a decent left hook if provoked long enough. "What do you want?" The bitterness of her voice showed her great dislike for the Slytherin.

For every step that Blaise took towards her, she took a step back. She didn't want him too close. But even that thought failed as she soon found her back against the cold stone wall.

Blaise brought his face right up to her own and his warm breath against her cheek made her feel extremely uneasy.

Feeling her anxiety, Blaise let a smile escape his lips and brought his hand up to her cheek. "It's such a pit that something as pretty as you had to be born in the muggle world."

Elle slapped his hand away in a quick movement and said, "Somehow I don't think you came here to work your charms on me, so I'll ask you one more time - what do you want?" She had said the last part slow, an insult of sorts to Blaise's intelligence.

Blaise caught the gist and an uncontrollable surge of anger rose in him. He grabbed roughly onto her wrists and held them with a strength that made her wince. "I warn you now mudblood, don't get me angry."

Elle could feel his breath on her face. She tried to keep a level face but felt the fear rise up in her throat. "Then tell me what you want," her voice came out quiet and a little timid.

Blaise knew that he held authority over her at the moment and he wanted her to be scared. "I just wanted you to know that you don't belong here." His voice was snide as he pulled her roughly into his chest. His voice then became very dark and it chilled Elle right to the bone. "He knows that you're here. He knows that you are of no match for him as well. He laughs at your attempts to fit in." Blaise paused as the words sank into Elle's mind.

"Why are you telling me this?" her eyes were wide and her voice was a whisper.

"Because I want you to be frightened, as you well should be. You should fear for your life. In fact, you better start thinking about the people you will be leaving behind - for you will never return to the muggle world." He grinned before adding, "well not alive anyways." He let out a small laugh.

Elle could feel herself begin to tremble just a little under his grasp. Blaise noticed too.

He lowered his head to her neck and breathed in her scent. A barely audible moan escaped his lips as he whispered into her ear, "Like I said before - what a waste…"

Elle closed her eyes as a sudden fear froze her entire body. She couldn't find the will power to push him away. But just then she felt him jerk away from her and she looked up.

"What the hell are you doing, Zabini?" It was Draco's angry voice.

Blaise challenged him with an even glare, "I should ask the same of you. Couldn't you see I was in the middle of something?"

Draco rose above Zabini as his eyes challenged him, "Leave her alone."

Blaise was almost taken aback. He looked at Draco in question, before realizing something. He stepped towards him ignoring the challenging look in his eyes. "Are you going soft? For a mud blood no less?"

Draco stayed silent. It was true, he had developed a soft spot for her. But even if he were to deny it, Blaise would know it was true. He had a way of knowing these things. The Slytherin was as cunning as he was deceitful.

Blaise shook his head in disgust. "You were the last person I'd expect this from Malfoy. You of all people know the consequences of such actions." Blaise stepped towards Malfoy and said the words quietly so that Elle couldn't hear them. "You better choose your fate fast Malfoy. Our Lord's plan has already been set in motion. You do not want to be on the losing side." Blaise threw a look back at Elle and then looked back to Draco. "Choose wisely, my friend." And with one last warning glare at him, he started off into the direction of the dungeons.

Draco was left looking after him with his mind swirling of anger, fear, and anticipation. Blaise was right. He had worked so hard to get where he was in the Dark Lord's good graces (so it would seem) that he would have to be damned if he let Elle ruin it for him.

But just then he felt a light touch on his arm. He looked down and found that his gaze came to rest on Elle. She gave him a smile and a look of sincerity in her eyes.

And for the first time in his life, Draco's heart melted at the sight of any smile.