A/N This chapter will prove interesting. This one opens up about three weeks after Hannah's death was discovered.

Chapter 5 A House Elf's Request.

Amy was hanging in her room with the other girls one night.

"Anyone find it strange that no one has gone through Hannah's stuff?" Tonya wondered.

"There is no rush when you think about it. She doesn't have any family really. That just leaves us and we aren't in any rush," Amy said.

The next morning Amy and the others headed for breakfast. A note was at Amy's place.

Am I that predictable that people feel safe leaving notes on my plate.

Amy,

Tonight at ten o'clock go to the Big picture of a fruit basket and tickle the pear.

A friend.

Gotta be from Marcus I haven't had much time for him.

Amy managed to make it through class that day and at the appointed time she was at the painting. When it opened up, she found Dobby.

"Dobby, what are you doing here?"

"Good Amy Potter came," Dobby said. "We weren't sure you would come."

"We as in who?" Amy wondered.

"We as in Dobby and I," another House Elf said. "If you could come with us Amy Potter."

"Please just Amy is fine."

"Dobby has told me how noble your family is Amy. It is for that reason we wanted to meet with you," his companion said as they walked through the Hogwarts Kitchens.

"I hope you don't mind that I'm totally lost," Amy said.

"This little thing is why we had you come here tonight," Dobby's companion said.

It was a fairly young house elf.

"My close friend is Dornia and this little one is Dionia," Dobby said.

"How old is Dionia?" Amy wondered.

"She is old enough," Dornia said.

"Old enough as in what?"

"Old enough to begin service with a family of her own. Dobby and I brought her up from birth, but it's time she had a family of her own to serve," Dornia said.

"Why am I here then?" Amy wondered.

"We were hoping you might want to take her on as your servant. Amy, I'd rather my daughter was in the service of your family then stuck with someone like my former masters prior to your father arranging for my freedom."

"I'll do my best Dobby but I can't make any promises," Amy said. Besides I want to discuss this with someone first.

Amy then excused herself and started to head for Gryffindor Tower. Soon, she was on the seventh floor but she didn't go all the way to the Fat Lady, she stopped at a section of wall.

"Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs," She spoke which caused the section of wall to move aside. A figure sitting with his back to the secret door turned around.

"Amy, what are you doing up?" Harry wondered.

"I had a late night rendezvous," Amy said.

"Marcus?" Harry asked.

"Actually no, Dobby and another house elf named Dornia in the kitchens of all places. They don't look bad." Amy said.

"How many times have you been sneaking food from the kitchens?" Harry wondered.

"None, this was my first time down there. Dad, Dobby had a request for me, well the family as a whole really. He and Dornia have a daughter Dionia who is old enough to start serving a family. Thing is he wants us to be Dionia's employers. I left without making any real promises until I spoke with you. I didn't feel like making a firm decision without at least your input and possibly moms."

"Did he or Dornia give a reason why they were asking you?"

"He'd rather Dionia was in our service then someone like the ones you arranged for his freedom from," Amy said.

"He apparently doesn't know that Malfoys aren't like they used to be. It is rare for Dobby to ask us for anything. For him to ask us for a favour as big and important as this one means it must be that vital. Especially since House Elves don't lead an easy life. I remember fourth year Hermione really became an advocate for House Elf Rights."

"Why did she take a leave of absence this year?"

"Family reasons, as in starting one."

"I bet she would be a good mother. Hopefully she will have better luck then mom has had."

"I know," Harry said. "Have you even gone home since school started."

"Not really," Amy said. "Did Abigale put in for a waiver at all?"

"I spoke to her after class one day and she figured on staying on campus since she doesn't feel as if Hogsmeade is home. Therefore, she decided against a waiver. Right now your list is basically just you, Emily, and Shiki."

"Maybe this weekend," Amy said. "I'm surprised you didn't go home yourself tonight."

"I figured I'd remain here tonight but most nights I do go home."

"I probably should be getting back to my dorm."

At that Amy took her leave of her father and finished her trek to the Portrait hole.

"Out for a late night stroll?" the portrait asked.

"Had things to do," Amy responded. "Grindylow."

Amy then started to head for the stairs only Melanie snagged her.

"Out late huh Amy," Melanie observed.

"Well you know, things get busy sometimes. I just lost track of the time."

Amy then slipped from Melanie's grip and headed upstairs. Shiki was awake.

"Where did you sneak off to?"

"The kitchens then I was talking to a professor."

"One thing is for sure Amy this school is certainly different then the one in Tokyo."

"In what way?"

"For one thing the Tokyo School of Magic is more exclusive. They only accept students from wizarding families. Half bloods and Muggle borns have other schools they can attend."

"Hogwarts will accept anyone so long as they have magic in their blood. After all Hannah was Muggle Born."

"Go to bed you two," someone complained.

When Amy woke up the next morning, which happened to be Saturday, Hedwig was waiting for her.

"Amy meet me in my room for breakfast at 7:30 you can bring one guest."

Shiki came from the shower right then.

"Why is your dads owl here?" She wondered.

"Breakfast invitation in his quarters for me and a guest."

"I've never been in his quarters, heck I've never been to your house."

"His room is near here."

"What time do we need to be there?"

"The invitation said 7:30."

At 7:28 Amy was giving the password to the door. Waiting inside was a familiar red haired woman.

"Nice outfit mom," Amy chuckled since Ginny was still in her bathrobe.

"I came via Floo Powder about ten minutes ago. Who is your friend.

"I'm, Shikkyaku Suta-Raito but most people just call me Shiki. I'm one of the Exchange students from the Tokyo School."

"How many students are here from there?" Ginny wondered.

"Eight one boy and one girl in each house."

"The way Percy and his equivalent in Japan set it up, eight students from there come here this year and year after next eight of our students spend a year there," Harry said as he came out in Maroon robes almost like Quidditch robes.

"It will make things interesting with the way students are sorted. In Japan it is based on your name but here your mind and your heart seems to be what matters," Shiki said. "I have noticed some similarities between our two schools. They each have four houses. In Japan the Houses are kita, higashi, minami, and nishi. Back in Tokyo, I live in kita as does Kai the other student from my school to end up in Gryffindor. Hebi is in minami as is Gin the other student put in Slytherin. In Tokyo Hichi and Shishou are in higashi and here they are in Ravenclaw. Same with Sakura and Shunou in Tokyo they are both in nishi but here they are in Hufflepuff."

"Maybe just maybe if I ended up attending the Tokyo School at some point I would end up in kita," Amy guessed. "After all the qualities between the two houses seem similar. Thankfully I won't have to deal with that stuck up Snake in the Grass when that happens."

"Could be," Shiki said.

"Snake in the grass?" Harry said one eyebrow raised slightly.

"Hebi," Shiki said. "In Japanese Hebi's name would translate to Snake in the Grass."

"Dad, why did you invite me. It obviously wasn't to discuss similarities and differences between Hogwarts and Tokyo?" Amy wondered.

"Actually I figured as a family we would discuss your conversation with Dobby and Dornia last night," Harry said.

A Good portion of the morning was spent on the conversation. When it was done Harry and Ginny accompanied Amy down to the Kitchen.

"Professor Harry Potter, it's been a while since you came to visit Dobby down here."

"You can probably guess why we are here Dobby."

"That Dobby can. Thee Potter's are most likely here about Dionia."

"That we are. We spent most of the morning on the decision but we decided to go along with it. For one thing I could use the help around the house all the time due to the twins," Ginny said.

"Looks like you just got the services of Dionia," the young house elf said in a quiet sort of voice.

"Dionia, we probably should be going so we can get you acquainted with everything," Ginny said.

"No problem, Dionia understand. Bye mom, bye dad."

"See you Dionia," Dobby said tears almost evident in his eyes. Seems even House Elf parents get sad when the little one leaves the nest.

Shiki was waiting in the Common Room when Amy got back.

"How did everything go in the kitchen?"

"It went well, I'm going upstairs to grab a few things then go into Hogsmeade for the rest of the day and return tomorrow night."

"Amy, is there anyway you could work it so I could join you sometime? After all I'll only be here for this year."

"Already taken care of. When I put in for a waiver this year I included your name on my list."

"Who else is on your list?"

"Originally, you, Emily, and Abigale but my dad flinched and wouldn't let me put Abigale on it when as far as the school goes she is living in Hogsmeade since she is living with us. Yet she still feels she is living in London," Amy said.

"Well, I might go home this summer see if my dad knows I'm actually attending Hogwarts," Abigale said.

"You aren't from a magical household?" Shiki wondered.

"Not exactly, I'm sort of a half blood. My mom is a witch but she lives in the Muggle world," Abigale said.

Shortly after that Amy and Shiki headed for the village.

"Amy, the backpack you packed where did you get it? Seems like every one in our room has one."

"Last year the Ministry had my dad bring a bunch of students to London on a field trip and the no more then twenty consisted of all the first year Gryffindors along with Sarah Demenkus, a friend of mine before Hogwarts who is in Ravenclaw. In preparation for our trip an old family friend Remus Lupin bought everyone who was going a backpack to put our stuff in. I generally pack it for trips home or to The Burrow."

"What is The Burrow?"

"It's near Ottery St. Catchpole, England. The Burrow is the home base for our branch of the Weasley Family," Amy said.

As they were nearing the gates to Hogwarts Amy saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked up to find Marcus heading their way. To make matters worse Hebi was with him.

"Amy, heading into town?" Marcus wondered.

"For the first time since the year began, yes. We should be back tomorrow night."

"By we I bet she means you and her huh Shiki?" Hebi commented.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I am going to accompany her."

"At least you were, but now you aren't now," Hebi said.

"Look Hebi, just because we aren't back in Tokyo doesn't mean you own me. I can go wherever I wish while I'm up here. If at the end of the year, I decide to simply stay here in England then it would be my right. I never was and never will be your girl."

"Oh but you will be Shiki, after all my family gave you so much after the accident two years ago. If it wasn't for my family you wouldn't even be at Tokyo but some lesser known school of magic," Hebi screamed at her.

"Ok, what's going on here?!" Hagrid bellowed as he came walking up.

"Nothing Professor." Hebi said fear evident as Hagrid's Huge form came close.

"We'll see about that, starting with 30 points from Slytherin," Hagrid said. "Amy, you, Shiki, and Marcus can head off and do what you were intending to do, I'll take this snake to McGonagall."

"What was up with that?" Marcus wondered as he walked with the girls into Hogsmeade.

"It's personal." Shiki said basically letting Amy and Marcus know she didn't want to talk about it.

"Shiki, if Hebi is doing something to you then someone should know." Marcus said.

"I'm rather not talk about it, ok." Shiki said.

"Not OK," Marcus told her.

"It's not something I want the whole school to know," Shiki told them.

"Shiki, you can trust us with anything," Amy told her friend.

"The Kusas were old friends of my family. Real old, in fact the friendship goes back to before my birth. My parents were killed in an accident near Okinawa when I was ten. It was their wish that My younger siblings and I live with our respective yashinaioya. In my case that meant Hebi's mother since she was my daibo. It was my daibo's protection that kept Hebi at bay. He looked at my young frightened form as his servant girl. He felt I had to be where he could see me and protect me. He would make sure I had no friends I could spend time with. If he had his way I would have been in minami and Slytherin with him. Yet I am my own person yet he feels me incapable of my own decisions," Shiki told them.

"Sounds like he needs to be humiliated a little. What did he mean by his comment how without his family you would be at a lesser known school of magic?" Marcus wondered.

"Because I'm only three quarters Magical. My mom was a full witch but my dad was a half blood. My daibo worked it so I could attend school with other pure blooded wizards, instead of getting sent to a school for those who aren't fully pure," Shiki said as they neared town.

"Whoa, this is a nice place!" Shiki exclaimed.

"That it is," Amy said. "I'll show you around later I want to swing by the house first."

They then headed for Merlin Ave. Dionia was doing some light cleaning when they arrived.

"Hi Amy Potter," she called out.

"Hi Dionia," Amy said. She then found Ginny working hard in the living room.

"Hi gang," Ginny said.

"You writing a book for something Mrs. Potter?"

"Yes I am, I'm writing a book on Charms and Enchantments. I started writing textbooks my sixth year at Hogwarts."

"Interesting, what prompted you to write one back then?" Shiki wondered.

"Term project on different kinds of potions as make-up for a potions class I was unable to take due to my condition that year," Ginny said.

"What condition was that?" Shiki wondered.

"My pregnancy with Amy," Ginny replied.

"Oh," Shiki said. "You have a real nice family Mrs. Potter."

"Thank you Shiki. You of course only know a small portion of the family. My family and I every year have a big get together at the family home. All my brothers and I and our respective kids get together and celebrate."

"Must be nice to have a big family," Shiki said.

"Sometimes it is," Ginny said.

"I'm not sure what my group is doing for Christmas," Shiki said.

"I'm sure something will get figured out," Ginny said.

"Your probably right Mrs. Potter.

They spent the whole weekend at the house with Shiki quickly figuring most of the commercial part of Hogsmeade out. Sunday fairly early everyone headed back to the School. As they were heading for the castle they saw a large dog heading toward Hagrid's.

"Fang must be loose or something," Marcus commented.

"That wasn't Fang," Amy said as she headed for the gamekeepers cottage. When she got there she saw a very familiar person sitting there drinking tea.

"Hello Amy," the person said.

"Hello Sirius," Amy replied. "What brings you to Hogwarts?"

"Just a social call," Sirius said. "Where were you hiding this weekend?"

"Home." Amy said.

"Oh," Sirius said. "It's rumoured that Hecate might be back in the area so you all better keep your eyes peeled especially without Hannah."

"I have a feeling I'll be fine. She won't use the killing curse on me that's for sure," Amy said.

"That's not to say she might not try Amy," Hagrid said. "You might want to keep trips home at a minimum."

"So far I have been, this was my first time going home this term," Amy informed him.

"Good to know Amy," Sirius said. "Hagrid probably has a point though. When are you free tomorrow from classes?"

"I'm booked pretty solid . My dad and Transfiguration in the morning then lunch, after that I have Charms, Potions, History of Magic, dinner and after that Quidditch Practice. I don't have a free period until Wednesday," Amy informed him.

"OK I'll talk to your father and McGonagall tonight. I'll owl you tomorrow at Breakfast," Sirius said.

"OK Sirius," Amy said as Sirius changed into Padfoot. After that they headed for the castle. The next morning Amy was sitting down at breakfast when a familiar owl flew up to her.

"Hi Edgar. Yeah I know, I miss her as well," Amy said as she removed the note.

"Amy,
You, Shiki, Abby, and Marcus should meet me in the Entrance Hall at 3:00. Enclosed are passes to get you out of your 2:30 class. We will be working through any class you have at 4:00

Sirius."

Amy looked at the passes and went over to the Slytherin table to give Marcus his.

At 2:30 Amy and Shiki walked with the rest of the second years into the Potions Dungeon. Instead of taking their seats they walked up to the Front where Professor Snape was writing some stuff on the board.

"What do you two want?"

"We just need you to sign our passes," Amy said.

"Why would that stupid idiot Black want to see you during my class."

"I have no idea," Amy said.

"Well Have fun," Snape said.

At 3, everyone met up in the Entrance Hall. The first thing Marcus did was to plant a quick kiss on Amy's lips. Just then Padfoot walked in and growled a little. He then hinted them outside.

"Something up Lassie is Timmy in Trouble," Abby joked being familiar with the Muggle TV Show.

"Looks like the reason we are here has arrived," Amy informed everyone. They then followed Sirius to a small field at the far end of the grounds.

"OK Sirius what's going on?"

"Just some private lessons in Wizarding Self Defense," Sirius said.

"You mean like Dueling sir?" Marcus wondered.

"A little bit but we will be going beyond that," Sirius said. "We will be meeting as a group once a week. What classes did you have to get out of today."

"Potions and History."

"Charms and Defense."

"Double Divination."

"Miss Dursley, I will try to get you credit as far as Defense goes."

"OK Sir," Abby said.

They worked hard at one point Amy used Wingardium Leviosa on herself to keep out of Shiki's way.

"Not bad, but your technique was a little unorthodox on that one spell," Sirius said. "If it had been me, I'd have used it on my opponent. Ok, class dismissed next meeting is Saturday at 3 pm right here."