Sinia did not really know what emotion she should put down at the moment. Obviously,  he was feeling one, she just didn't know what. Or maybe she truly was, for the moment, unfeeling. She smiled quietly. Heartlessness was a trait that Keayalnea, the Zenith of SphynxFyre and a close friend of hers, had never taught her to use. She envied it. Her weak point was Sirius, and she was not foolish enough not to know it- it had long been a topic of discussion within the Fyre. She'd been Saved, tied to Sirius's keeping just as she'd been tied to Keayalnea before. She tried to comprehend the weight on the shoulders of the White- Blooded Sorceress, being responsible for the actions of every Sorcerer and Sorceress in existence. But Kea's personality thrived under challenge, and Sinia knew that, were the woman to find herself in love, she'd slaughter the man before admitting it. Sinia grudgingly agreed with her views of how the saved were a weak point in SphynxFyre's resolve, but there were no longer enough Sorcery- born in the world for it to continue without them. And no one dared argue with the Zenith, for what she spoke was the simple truth, and her actions were all for the sake of her people. Still, looking out the window, Sinia wondered if life could be any different. She and Sirius had only truly been together in the dark- not even James had known of their relationship for a long while, and neither of them exactly paraded around the school with the information. Most of those that did had not known how far it went, or how involved it was. She'd never said anything about anything he'd ever done, whether she approved it or not. She sighed once more, frustrated. Sirius was the weak point in her entire character, it was the threat of ruination in Keayalnea's exquisitely detailed plans. It was a plan that was subject only to human error, as most are, highly flexible, and several more years in the researching and implementing. She was to be placed in the center of it, and Sinia knew that the piercing glares Kea sent her way when no one was looking were threats, threats on her own weakness. Kea knew many things Sinia didn't, but she could not be in the center of it. Her Blood was wrong. And Voldemort had made clear his choice. Old magic, old magic, but something didn't click quite fully in her head and, try as she might to hold it, the thought was gone in a heartbeat. She could drink herself out of this depression, to live through inebriation the way Tiyrn had after the first Order crumbled. But she had something to live for? ... possibly. Yesterday had been exhausting, today was the first day of classes, and would be no better. She had a strong suspicion that Dumbledore had plans for her. She wouldn't be surprised if Fudge had different ones. She shook her head quietly as she pulled the covers off of her naked body and stood, preparing for the day in the cold, uninspiring predawn. Sirius had left moments ago,  determined not to be caught, and she had mentally watched his retreat into the forest occur without incident. It was her gift, her version of Divination, her personal 'Inner Eye'- to be able to focus on the actions of any single or group of individuals outside of her eyesight at the present moment. She couldn't see the future, nor the past. But she could see the now, and that had always been her use with the marauders.

I'm going to spend my entire day floating in the obvious, her mental chiding forced her to re- take stock. She was standing naked in her bedroom, it was not even seven in the morning, she had not showered and the stone floor was sending chills through her toes. She looked at the clock on the wall, waiting for the second hand to pass the twelve, and as it did, the mantra began... the one thing that had ever proven true of her.

"Blackwings flies fast

Blackwings sees far

Blackwings is flawless

Yet still bears the scar

And what use will you have

And what things will you see

When you cannot discern

The sky from the sea

The path before you is narrow

Too low and  you'll drown

Too high and  you're blinded

You can't hear the sound

You must face before you

And ignore the light

Set stock in what's before you

Never live for the night."

She smiled at her alarm, then walked over to the dresser, for the first time feeling that something would go right while the sun was still up.

***

Dumbledore was shocked, slightly afraid. But it was early in the breakfast hour, and none of the students were paying attention to the wings that slid dangerously close to their bodies before gracefully pulling out of the way. It was a life and death game of reflexes, and as Sinia walked to the head table staring directly in his eyes, he knew it was meant to be. She was dressed in the semi- standard uniform of the Sorceresses- a simple, well cut blouse with several buttons undone, though Sinia chose to show off her stomach more than her cleavage, and a pair of tight fitting slacks with a pair of boots. She walked up to the head table, unflinching, unrepentant, and pointedly ignoring the stares from certain sections of the table.

"You sent for me, sirrah?"

"Yes, Sinia," he spoke calmly, motioning her closer yet. She came to the other side of the table, and, leaning on her knees, crossed her arms in the space between the grits and bacon, and rested her chin on her wrists. "You know of my words about the dementors yesterday. I will be... otherwise predisposed this year, so I can't watch over the school grounds at any and every given moment. I know this is quite a bit to ask of you, but," he breathed deeply, looking her in the eyes, "I need you to hold them off. They will obey you, I think, far more than they would me, and-"

"I'm a Sorceress, you're a wizard," she finished his sentence in a flat tone.

"Yes."

"Don't rely on me, but I shall. Are they already here?"

"And taxing me."

"I'll begin right away." She stood. "This will decrease my efficiency on our agreement."

"Blackwings," he smiled slightly, "this may be the most important part."