Chapter Six

Liz's POV~

I look through the window of the first year Slytherin boys' room. All are sleeping soundly and wouldn't be up for at least two more hours. I look down at the now pink wooden basket in my hands. Inside are small bright flowers of the same color. Turning everything inanimate pink, Magical Rosadas are the best Valentine's gift.

I concentrate on the lock on the other side of the window. Pushing some of my magical energy out to the window, I turn the hook inside. Perfect. I open the window letting the snow and wind blow into the room. My glove changing from black to dark pink, I toss the flowers onto the floor of the room; the rug and floor taking on the color of the small flowers. So far so good.

"Playful wind from all around pick these flowers from the ground.

It's time to play a little prank on this room so dark and dank.

It's Valentine's; the goal is clear. Let's give this room a little cheer." I whisper a call in a language long forgotten, even by the Magical folk of these times. I had been taught by the best starting with an old friend who would have laughed if I'd forgotten the old tongue of faeries and elves. 'Merlin probably is laughing anyway,' I think, watching the black, silver, and green room transform into something from Barbie's playhouse. The tapestries, beds, even their pajamas are pink as the wind flows the flowers through the curtains of the beds. 'The winds love pranks almost as much as I do.'

* * * * *

"What are you doing up so early?" I hear Serenity's voice ask behind me. It had been over an hour since I had left the boys' room, flowers and all, and had come down to the common room by the fire.

"Just waiting," I answer, looking up from the fire to my only friend in Slytherin. She already had her uniform on. "What no pink or red or even white? I thought you of all people would be wearing something for Valentine's Day."

"I am. See?" She turns around so I can see two braids that reminded me of the muggle movie Pipi Longstocking, one had pink laced through it and the other had red. The colors contrasted horribly with her midnight hair and silver tips.

"Those aren't you're colors," I smile as she turns back around.

"I know, but I had to wear something," she pauses as if a thought had just come to her. "Waiting?"

As if on cue, screams of horror and curses float down to the common room. One of the many yelling, "Liz! Silverwing!"

"What'd you do?" Serenity asks, looking in the direction of the boys' dormitory.

"No time to explain everything," I say, as I pull out a wizarding camera I had bought yesterday. "Just be ready to run."

At that moment, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle along with the other first year boys come running into the common room. I can hear Serenity stifle a giggle. Perfect. Not only were all of them wearing multiple shades pink, but also their hair was colored well!

"That worked better than I thought," I mummer as I take a picture of the red faced pink Slytherins in front of me.

"Happy Valentine's Day!" Serenity yells while pulling the back of my robe.

"Hey that was my line," I whisper back to her taking another picture of the now charging Slytherins.

"I want some part if I'm getting blamed for this too!" Serenity hisses back, opening the portal out of the common room.

"We have to head to my room...through the Great Hall," I whisper, as we start running down the corridor.

"Though the-? Oh," Serenity stops herself, getting the idea. There wasn't going to be many students in the Hall, but there would be enough to get the event heard by everyone in the school before breakfast.

I can hear Draco and the others following right behind us as we entered the Hall. At quick glance I notice about ten to twenty Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws eating and one or two Gryffindors, including the twins? Perfect, a Valentine's gift to Serenity, even if it's one noticed moment by the twins. Good enough. I grab a pouch out of my jean pocket. I untie it and look at my precious marbles. I pore them behind Serenity and me. The sound of thuds and shocked exclamations reach my satisfied ears. I turn around to see the boys piled against each other. "Accio marbles," I whisper holding out my pouch and watching as they quickly flew into it. I pull out my camera and take another picture.

"Hey Fred, George!" I call to the Gryffindor table. I hold up my camera high as Draco and the others begin to get up. "And to any Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw, if you want any of these pictures, you know where to go, or you can come to my friend."

"And does your friend have a name?" Fred or George, I can never tell, asks.

"Serenity, Serenity Silverwing," Serenity yells back, as we start to run again. Draco's energy increasing a hundred fold as he hears I'm selling my pictures. I turn around and start running backwards as I take picture after picture of him and the others...until I smack against a wall.

"Ouch," I muttered rubbing the back of my head and hearing Serenity call back. "Go on."

"Hand over the camera," Draco demands in a low hiss.

"Yeah right," I smirk and apparate to my room, knowing Serenity would be there soon.

* * * * *

"How many pictures did you get?" Serenity asks, as she walks through my wall. That needed a little getting used to. I'd never had anyone but ghosts come through walls. Seeing a mortal do it was almost unnerving.

"Ten or so," I answer, looking at my scrapbook of blackmail. It had hundreds of pages already full with pictures of millions of Slytherins and a few cocky Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. Hufflepuffs, for the record, have never gotten on my bad side.

Serenity glides a hand over each picture of Draco and his friends. "And you sell these?"

"Copies," I correct. "Best way to make some money. Dumbledore's the only Headmaster in a century to even pay me for the help I do around here. I'm almost like a house elf."

"How much are they worth?" Serenity asked. "I want one of each. First customer of your new sale."

"They cost from nine Knuts to a Sickle, and I don't make my good friends pay for copies," I say, looking down at the book. "With the exception of Fred and George who sell the stuff they get from me."

"How come you never told me?" Serenity asked.

"How come you never told me you could speak to hawks? We all have our little things. I thought I'd told you before. But hey, if you want to help sell some pictures, I know of two Gryffindors who will be behind the greenhouses fifteen minutes before lunch..."

* * * * *

"Liz, my office, now," Snape mutters back to me, as his 1st Year Gryffindor/Slytherin class ends.

"Yes, professor," I roll my eyes and head over towards the darker section of the dungeon, receiving pats on the back and small applause from passing Gryffindors along with glares and threats full of very painful promises from Slytherins. Serenity was definitely sorted into the wrong house.

I only had to wait a minute before Snape came into the grotesque office. The floating eyeballs and tongues in jars really weren't doing anything for me. I smile sweetly at Snape. "What's the problem, Professor?"

"You are, Liz; a Slytherin who turns on their best. Have you no pride in your own house?"

"Am I allowed a negative answer to that?"

"I don't know why I even bother. Why were you even sorted into this house?"

"Believe me, you don't want to know that answ-"

"Shut up! I'm sick of your pranks and games. This is a school, not a circus. I know very well this was all your idea. I hear Silverwing's name, but it's doubtful to me that she'd know about the Rosadas of the Faerie Kingdom."

"For once you're right," I mutter, receiving a glare from Snape.

"In fact, I've come to the conclusion that you're a bad influence. I think Dumbledore would agree. Don't you? Especially if he heard of all the disturbances in school."

"Oh please, you can't prove anything. I'm not scared of you Snape, and I don't need to hear your lectures! You can't even control your own house!" I yell, heading towards the door.

"I'm starting at the source right now. Your amount of detentions this year is shocking-"

"So are Serenity's Hospital Wing records," I shot back, anger growing.

"You're no help with that. You hurt your friend more than anyone. I can't keep tabs on every student, Liz. You're digging your own friend's grave."

"I don't have to hear this from you. You don't seem to understand what goes on in this house though you're right in the middle of it. Do your job, Snape. For once do your job and let go," with that I apparate out. Though I'd never show it, what Snape said was true. I was no help, but would Serenity be better off without me?

* * * * *

"You're joking, right?" George asks. I shake my head, smiling.

"No, that's fifteen Sickles, and nineteen Knuts. Take it or leave it."

"That's far more than the pictures before!"

"Hey, if you had to deal with Snape and Draco breathing down your neck, you'd realize the value of those pictures are far more than what I'm asking. Besides, you spend twice as much every time you go into Hogsmeade."

"But-but-"

"Hold on," Fred cuts in, as he grabs his brother back a few feet. They would discuss and balance candy against the pictures and in the end, agree. But it made them look professional.

About to drop the price a few Knuts, I see Serenity come around the Greenhouse. She seemed to be favoring her right leg a little Oh no. Snape's voice comes back into my mind. You hurt your friend more than anyone...digging your own friend's grave.

"So how's business?" Serenity's voice breaks my train of thought. I look up and smile, but there's no fooling Serenity. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing just wiping away the negative vibes from Snape's lecture." It isn't a complete lie. Skepticism is clear on Serenity's face, but Fred saves me from more questions. "Fourteen Sickles and any item you want from the Stash."

"Deal," I sigh, giving in. "The Stash" was a bunch of junk with a few sweets and other items that the two "found" or bought. I have no use for any of it. The only thing I wanted was that map they stole from Filch some time back.

I give the two practically all of my copies and help two more Gryffindors with Serenity before trouble comes in the shape of angry Slytherins.

"Liz," Draco hissed through clenched teeth. He was wearing non-stained clothes, but the hat he wore still didn't hide his flamingo pink hair.

Everyone scatters at the appearance of the group except for Serenity and myself - though I notice Serenity place a hand on her upper right thigh. I step in front of Serenity. "Run," I mutter under my breath.

"No way, I'm staying," comes the stubborn response.

"Is there something wrong, Malfoy?" I ask casually, stepping back slightly. Serenity can't run well and I can't leave her. We have to fight. Wonderful, I argue with myself. How are we going to get out of this one? Unarmed. There's not even a large stick around, and in this small form, I can't fly up carrying Serenity or take down both Crabbe and Goyle. I'm not making Serenity use her wand. One against… one, two, three, four...seven wands! Not happening. Oh well, there's only one option and it's going to send me straight to Fudge. Damn.

I look up to see an open window of an empty classroom above us. I concentrate my power and stretch out my hand in front of me; my palm facing Draco. I let the power burst out of my hand. I can see the ground ripple as it reaches Draco and the others who get thrown back by the power. It isn't much, but enough to get me in a lot of trouble. I'm not down yet. I look back up at the window and use more of my power to push Serenity up in the air. The shock on her face is priceless, but she adapts fast and I push her up and through the window above us. I float myself up, hearing the curses below us.

Racing out of the classroom, we head out to lunch that had started ten minutes ago. It isn't the safest place, but at least the only danger there with the whole school present is a food fight.

"That was amazing," I hear Serenity say as we make our way to the Great Hall. "But didn't you say that you weren't allowed-"

"Yeah, but who knows, maybe they won't notice it," I answer before she even finishes, but not very hopeful.

"Why'd you do it, then?"

"I didn't think you'd want to get punishment twice today," I mutter but loud enough that Serenity hears it.

"I can take care of myself."

"Right, and how'd you get that?" I ask pointing in the direction of her leg. She looked down.

"I- long story."

"That ends with Malfoy," I snapped more to myself for starting the whole thing. Serenity glares at me.

"I'm not glass. I don't need a protector."

"I didn't mean-" I'm cut off as I enter the Great Hall and am stopped by a large brown owl with a letter attached to his leg.

I take it and look down at the familiar purple handwriting on the envelope.

Liz

"They're getting faster," I mutter, looking down at the card that most likely didn't wish me a Happy Valentine's Day. Knowing already what it said, I open it anyway and mumble the memorized message that read:

Big trouble. My office. Now.

"I swear, he has no life," I say as the letter burns in my hand, having been read. I'm sure Lucius is there too. I think, looking at Serenity. "It looks like I've been called to a meeting with Pudge. I'm sorry, I must go to hear him try to kick me out for the two thousandth time since he was elected. For the record, I didn't vote for him."

"I thought you aren't allowed to vote."

"That's besides the point," I smile, looking down at the ashes in my hand. "I'm sorry Serenity. Just be careful, okay?"

"I'll be fine," Serenity rolls her eyes. "But when you come back you're teaching me that trick with those magic waves."

"Sure," I say, as I apparate out of the Great Hall and directly to Fudge's office. I find myself right in front of Fudge's desk and have the pleasure of hearing the Minister yelp in surprise.

"I told you not to do that!" Fudge exclaims.

"Oh I'm sorry, Fudge. I guess I just forgot."

"Just like you forgot that you aren't allowed you use that kind of magic, especially around the school," Fudge glares. "We don't need your kind infecting our children. If I catch you again-"

"You'll what? Sit me in the corner of the room and think about what I've done?"

"That's no way to speak to the Minister of Magic," a voice says calmly before me.

"Lucius, what a surprise. Well, I'm honored you two think tabbing any magic I do is a time killer, but I have lunch to get to," I say, sitting down on the corner of Fudge's desk.

"Actually I just walked in. What did you do this time?"

"Why don't you ask your son?" Lucius' eyes widen a little at my response, but he quickly checks himself and his face returns to a neutral expression.

"Liz," Fudge goes on. "If we detect your Elden spells near the school again, you will be banished from the Hogwarts grounds. I won't tolerate you bringing those ways around."

"I promise not to do it again, Minister," I mock bow and apparate out. I wish I can argue, but in the view of the old magic was the same around the wizarding world. Most were scared of the unknowns around the magic, but the governments were another story. They were dependent on magical tools and tracking wand magic was easy.

My way made people more powerful, depending on themselves. In America, I can sense the power from wizards and witches that most consider squibs. Elemental and Spiritual Magic. Serenity has the power; no doubt her grandfather plays a big part in that.

I land on my bed and look out the window to the parts of the school in my view. We built this place with the help of my magic. I think, looking around the grounds. What would Alora and Rowena say if they lived in this time that has forgotten those ways?

*~*~*~*~

Disclaimer~ Serenity, her family, her ability to talk to hawks and Alora are Ani-Kami's. Liz and the Rosadas are mine. Everyone else goes to the talented JKR!