Author's Note: The magic Akemi uses is inspired the type of Charter Magic used in the book Sabriel by Garth Nix.

"Sleep hath it's own world- And a wild realm of wild reality- and dreams in their development have breath, and tears, and tortures and a touch a joy."

-- Lord Byron

"Do you remember your lessons?"

She nodded slowly and lifted her hand, one finger posed in the air as she strained to remember. Behind her the dark figure loomed benignly. She hesitated for a moment then looked back at him and murmured, almost on the verge of tears. "I forgot."

"Don't cry, little one." The figure said, coming towards her and lifting into his arms. Strong arms that she felt safe in. She snuggled against his chest and felt the rhythm of his heartbeat: also strong and powerful. She lifted her hand and played with his dark hair. He used to say she had his hair.

"Give me your finger." He coaxed and she obeyed. He took it in his hand, delicate pale hands, and made the symbol of the curse in the air. It was like she had written on the air with a light. The symbol glowed bright white before she sent to towards the intended target. She watched as the man screamed out in pain before collapsing to the floor. She smiled and looked up at the man.

"Very good, darling." Her guardian cooed. "Very good."

Akemi awoke with a start, scaring Fiona who was sleeping in the bed next to her. Fiona sat and stared into the darkness. "Kemi?"

"Sorry Fiona." She whispered. "I just had a nightmare."

"Another one?" The girl asked in the darkness. "I still have that sleeping draught, if you want it."

"No, they never work for me. I just need a drink." She slipped out of her bed and pulled her robe over her. Fiona offered to go but Akemi refused. "It is only a short walk besides I need the practice." Fiona laughed and watched her go.

Akemi already knew the path towards the kitchen but that was not the practice she needed. As she stepped into the abandoned halls, she glanced both ways to ensure no one was there. She had always made sure no one saw her in these midnight lessons. When she was certain, she lifted her finger and began to write on the air. She wrote a symbol and it glowed white before disappearing. She wrote another symbol and another until she ran through all the icons she knew.

Gideon had called it Instinctual Magic, Chandra called it Ancient Magic and each book she found it in called it by another name. The type of wandless magic took entire lives to learn and had seldom been mastered. It was said to drive the learner insane. So dangerous was this magic that it was illegal in almost every nation. But there was nothing in the books about why or how she had somehow known it. For as long as she could remember she had had at least a rudimentary knowledge of this forbidden magic but at Hecate she had continued to train herself in it.

Her reasons were unknown to everyone, including herself. For some reason she felt this magic was connected to her past. There was something about the nameless magic that appealed to her. She felt a kinship to it as if she and this magic had belonged to another time altogether, another life she didn't remember. Perhaps it even held the key to her true identity. Maybe somewhere in the symbols and skills needed to execute the magic was the secret that had plagued her since she had first awaken in that bed at Hecate: her real name.

She reached out and wrote the last symbol in the air. It gleamed, shone bright then exploded in a white rain around her. She spread out her hands and tried to catch the rain knowing she wouldn't. That didn't matter, half the fun of this game was knowing you couldn't catch the rain. That game done, she continued on her way towards warm milk and dreamless nights.

But she was so inside her musings that she missed a step on the staircase leading from the Ravenclaw House to the kitchen. She slipped and tried to grab the railing but missed it and down she tumbled…

"Rain! Rain! Sevie." Little Alchemy shouted as she jumped up and down around him. Severus looked down and tried not to smile. He looked up at Drucilla who merely shrugged.

They were outside the Coven House, enjoying the summer night while the children played soccer with their Sires and nurses. Alistair was chasing Garridan down the yard. Garridan took a shot on goal. Declan dived but missed. Garridan scored and the children exploded in laughter.

It was one of the few times, Severus had seen the Coven children enjoyed childhood. He turned his full attention to Alchemy. To his little angel. He raised his hand and drew the symbol in the air. The icon gleamed before exploding into white rain that fell over Alchemy. She giggled and reached up to catch one of the falling lights.

"The fun is not to catch them." Severus said, lifting her up into his arms. She threw her arms around his neck and held on tight. Severus leaned down and buried his nose in her little neck. He kissed her gently, making sure none of the Sires saw him.

She was his secret. His treasure, not theirs. She belonged to him. She was Melanie's last gift to him, and his greatest treasure. He would keep her, guard her and hide her if needed. Anything to keep her safe. He turned back and watched the Coven Sires. He'd do anything to protect her but were they the right protection?

Snape woke up and wiped something from his eyes. He cursed his cowardice again and regretted for the billionth time today ever agreeing to let her go. He tried to assure himself wherever she was, she was happy and safe and alive. Wasn't that enough? He slipped out of his bed and walked towards the kitchens.

He had been greedy when he had decided to keep the child. He should have let the child die with her mother. The child was never his to begin with. A child of rape and death, she had been born into darkness and should have been returned to that darkness when she was first brought screaming into the world. But no, he had been greedy and he had stupid. He had kept the child and named her.

And the name he had given her was his. He really wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Then something stirred within him, something was awakened that hadn't been disturbed since Lord Voldemort had been in power. The dark magic that stirred and called to him like a siren's song.

He felt the magic stir, the nameless magic that Voldemort had mastered over his journeys to discover immortality. The magic was Voldemort's weapon of choice and had been taught to the Dark Lord's heirs. Voldemort had always called it Aett magic and Severus had learned it but never mastered it. Magic like that corrupted the soul and fate had spared Severus that sin. And so when he felt it stir in Hogwarts School, he feared the worst. Only powerful Dark Wizards could perform Aett Magic.

He ran towards where he felt it. He was at halfway up the stairs that led to Ravenclaw House when he saw someone tumbling towards him. Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her, pulling the girl away from danger. He gripped her tightly in his arms.

Akemi yelped as she felt someone grab her from her fall. In a way, she was thankful. She was certain she was about to break something had she continued on her plummet towards the unforgiving floor. She was, however, a little concern when she found her face buried in the chest of her savior. If they had seen her practice illegal magic… Whoever he was, she was certain he was a teacher and she could only hope it wasn't…

"Miss Akemi, kindly explain why you are out of bed?" Snape said in a dangerous voice.

In the three weeks she had been at Hogwarts, Akemi had quickly alienated Snape and established him as her enemy. She spoke her mind and Snape disliked her gall. So far most her evenings had been spent helping Filch and Hagrid for Snape's detentions.

But she had been extra careful the past few weeks to make sure she would be able to catch the Ravenclaw-Slytherin game. Not it seemed she'd be helping Hagrid then to the owls during that game. "Professor…I was just getting something to drink. I had a nightmare." She hadn't meant to let that slip.

Snape smiled cruelly. "Well, perhaps if you were tucked in with a teddy bear, you'd feel better." He looked up and seemed distracted by something. He was looking for something. Slowly, he turned his deep eyes back to her where she noticed they were not black but dark brown. Like hers… "Are you alright?"

"I think so." She said, a little warily. She was amazed. Snape just been nice to her and it was a little unnerving. Then the sound of his heartbeat got her attention and a feeling of security came over her. It scared her. "Sir? Can you let me go?"

Snape seem to realize that she was still in his arms and he released her. "You shouldn't be out this late, Professor Flitwick should hear of this."

"Oh no, sir please. I really want to stay in his House."

"You should have thought about that earlier."

"Hello, Severus, Miss Akemi." The voice was Dumbledore's emerging from the crossway. He looked at Akemi and Snape each in turn. "Midnight tutoring session?"

"I needed a drink." She mumbled, cutting Snape off. She hoped Dumbledore would save her from Snape's wrath. "But I fell and he saved me."

"Well, it appears he's your hero then.

Snape stiffened. "She was out of bed, I was about to give her detention."

"I see no need in that. Akemi go back to bed." He glanced at her and added. "I'll have someone send up warm milk, agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Goodnight Miss Akemi." He continued, motioning Snape to follow. His hunt abandoned, Snape followed him out sight but not before calling out. "By the way, your Potion was unacceptable. It will be redone tomorrow until it is satisfactory."

Akemi gritted her teeth. Professor Snape had this unusual talent of challenging her pride but when she fought back she always ended with detention. Sometimes, however, she thought it was well worth it. He needed to be told off, and one day she'd hope for that happy power. She practically ran back to the Ravenclaw Common Room. The Hogwarts House Elf that delivered her milk found her asleep on the couch, and a Dark Mark gleaming from her shoulder blade. It was the House Elf's turn to turn tail and run, all the way to Dumbledore's office to report on his findings.

Albus Dumbledore leaned back and considered it all. The Elf had just missed Snape's nighttime briefing warning him of the resurgence of Dark Magic with Hogwarts walls. Dumbledore rubbed his chin and decided it Fenrir should be alerted to Akemi's new ability. Gideon and Vladimir would want to know about this.

Unbeknownst to Dumbledore, Snape wasn't the only former Death Eater that had sensed Voldemort's form of dark magic. It had awakened another member of the Coven, darker and stronger then the fourteen year old child whose past was a mystery.