Suddenly, Des' hand reached up to clutch at her chest, her face contorting in pain.

Harry leaned forward, "What's wrong?"

Desiree's hair swirled around her as she turned to see Voldemort approach. Looking back at Harry, she commanded, "Run," before standing up to stop the approaching figure.

With a movement of his wand, Des was swung in the air, only to crash into the side of the house and fall to the ground unconscious.

Harry reached for his wand, but Voldemort didn't attack. Instead, he spoke, "Harry Potter, we meet again."

"Voldemort," was Harry's only reply.

His nemesis idly examined Ron and Hermione, still asleep on the ground. "I see that you encountered my prize. The trophy created when Wormtail implanted the snake into Desiree. I'm quite proud of her," slightly turning his head in Des's direction, "What do you think of my masterpiece? I do so value your opinion."

Potter hazarded a quick glance at Desiree before returning his attention to his enemy. "Why her?"

"Oh, didn't you know?" Voldemort feigned surprise, "I suppose that old fool Dumbledore thought it best to keep it a secret, especially from you, given your history, that is."

"What are you getting at?"

Voldemort leaned closer, "I didn't randomly pick Desiree. I wanted it to be her from the beginning."

"Stop!" Desiree shouted just behind the Dark Lord, and he obliged her by turning around.

"Awake already? I thought that you would be out for a little longer. It seems that the serpent is a beneficial addition."

"Harry," Des called, "check on the others."

Voldemort asked, incredulously, "Are we to have a duel then, my dear?"

Desiree glared back at him, pupils elongating to thin slits, and the color was a crimson tinted green. It was hard to tell who was in control, for everyone, even Des.

In the background, Hermione had opened her eyes and Harry had immediately gone to her.

"What's happening?" she whispered.

Harry answered, "I think that Desiree is about to fight Voldemort. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, but what about Desiree?"

He watched the fight for a moment before responding, "I think she can take care of herself."

Not one single curse had affected Desiree. She had held them all off, but had neglected to respond with a taste of her own powers.

"Where are the Fosters?" she asked, hand still up from her last defensive posture.

"Why do you ask?" Wormtail's master countered.

"Where are they?" Des didn't wait an instant for an answer, "They're dead. You killed them! We had a deal! A deal that you have broken!"

Desiree couldn't seem to reign in her fury, and her emotional state was upsetting the delicate balance she had with the serpent residing within her. Rolling her head to the side, her eyes flashed pure red. Forcing her lids closed, Des tried to regain control. Her eyes continually shifted from pure red to a green tinted shade. Never fully returning to her natural green color.

Voldemort took advantage and screamed out the Crucio Curse. Without thinking, Des reflected the curse, sending it directly at Harry. Potter crumbled to the ground; a green-eyed Desiree didn't waste a second in flying to his side.

"I'm so sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to..." Des never got to finish. She heard a curse being shouted behind her, but before she could turn to protect herself, she was whooshed away on a broom, in the arms of a certain Slytherin Quidditch captain.

William circled above the others, and after examining his cargo asked, "All right there, Des?"

Throwing her arms around the Slytherin, she answered, "I'm okay now. Thank you, but we have to get back to Ron, Hermione, and Harry. Drop me off near Voldemort; you go to the others."

William hovered another moment, squeezing the Gryfindor to him. He quickly kissed her before following her orders, letting her jump off his broom a few feet from the Dark Lord. Once he reached the other Gryfindors, Harry was already recovering from his curse, with the help of the now fully conscious Ron and Hermione.

A short distance away, Voldemort and his trophy were facing each other again. And after reflecting another curse towards the house, Desiree's eyes were crimson, with only a hint of green.

"You broke our deal, Voldemort," Desiree called out, "and now you will pay for the lives of my parents." Both hands raised, her eyes lost all green as bright light radiated from her fingertips. However, the light suddenly stopped as she cried out in pain, collapsing to the dirt.

Her hand instinctively fisted at her chest. Deep down, she knew that Voldemort wouldn't attack, not yet; so she allowed herself a second to open her robes and look down at the flesh where her heart resided.

A tear of blood escaped her snake eyes after seeing the last of the green tail disappear into her heart. The fight was over.

Grinning, Voldemort simply stated, "It's done. There's nothing to worry about anymore. The snake will take care of you, and give you whatever you want."

Her head slowly rose, "Can it give me peace? Can it give me back the Fosters? Can it give me back my mother who was hunted down and killed because of you?"

Silence was the only response she received. That wasn't good enough for her, so she prepared to attack.

Her hands flew up in front of her, shooting balls of light and sparks in the direction of the Dark Lord. In turn, sending Voldemort crashing into the shrubbery behind him.

Desiree's eyes changed back to green an instant before she decided not to try to look for Voldemort. She knew he would be gone, along with Wormtail, and there were more important things to worry about. Like her friends who had tried to rescue her.

"Are you all okay? Ron, Hermione, I feel horrible. And Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to reflect the curse onto you," Des apologized once she rejoined the four others, all sitting in the grass.

Harry winced before nodding his head, saying how he knew she would never hurt him intentionally. Ron and Hermione glanced at each other before smiling in agreement. William, however, jumped up and threw his arms around Des, swirling her around.

After he set her down, she hugged him, whispering, "I'm so sorry about what I said. I do care about you, and I did miss you."

"I know," he answered before kissing her.

"In fact, I think I'm in love with you," Des continued.

Laughing, William picked up Desiree and swung her around again in his joy.

"I'm assuming that we won't be able to find Voldemort," Hermione said, motioning in the direction of the bushes their enemy had disappeared in.

"No, he's gone," Des answered, "but I know he'll be back."

"He always comes back," Harry muttered under his breath.

Hermione spoke in her usual logical manner, "We need to get back to Hogwarts then."

Each sat down on their broom, with Desiree on William's with him, and they headed back to Hogwarts.



"That was very foolish of you to go after Desiree alone," Dumbledore looked over his glasses at the five students sitting across from him in his office, "but I'm sure that Miss Foster appreciates your help, as do I."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry responded for the others.

"You may all go, but Miss Foster, I would like to speak to you alone for a moment."

The four other students vacated the Headmaster's office, leaving Desiree and Dumbledore alone.

"Yes, Professor?"

He began, "I think you know what I'm going to say."

"I suppose I do."

"And..."

"It's all right, Professor. I'm fine now. I just hope that I've earned everyone's trust finally. About the snake, it reached my heart, so I know that it isn't going anywhere, but I think I can manage with it around."

Dumbledore moved around his desk to stand beside Des with one hand on her shoulder, "I'm proud of you, and the Fosters would be too."

"I miss them terribly."

"I know you do, but you have your memories of them and their love for you. Hopefully, that will be enough in the days to come."

Desiree silently nodded for a moment before whispering, "Thank you, Professor."



"Desiree, you never told me why you thought Voldemort wouldn't lie to you," Harry prompted. He, Desiree, Ron, Hermione, and William were standing outside Dumbledore's office. The other four had waited for Des while she had her moment alone with the Headmaster.

Her eyes shifted to each of her friends, "My mother, Elsa, was a Gryfindor. While she was a first year at Hogwarts, she fell in love with a seventh year Slytherin named Tom. They got married after she graduated and had me. I am the daughter of Tom Riddle, who most people know as Voldemort."

Shock didn't even begin to describe the expressions on her friends' faces. Feeling the awkward silence, she finished, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I assume you can understand my reluctance. After Harry defeated my father, Voldemort, my mother was hunted down and killed. They were going to kill me too when Dumbledore stopped them and took me away. I was given to the Fosters to grow up until Voldemort regained human form. Then Dumbledore sent for me because he wanted me close by, so he could protect me. He knew that my father would be looking for me, and he was right."

Hermione spoke up, "That explains why you were so weird around Harry, and why the professors and paintings acted scared around you."

Des nodded, studying her friends.

Sensing that Des was worried, Hermione said, "None of us blame you for your father. We know that you aren't like him, you fought him tonight to try and save us. Still friends?"

Releasing a breath she hadn't known she was holding, Des answered, "Of course!" She hugged Hermione, then Ron and Harry couldn't help but join in. William kept his distance for a moment, awaiting his own embrace from Desiree, and he got it soon enough.



The four Gryfindors were at their table, surrounded by the other members of their house, for dinner.

Ron had to tell Neville and Dean Thomas of his latest adventure with Harry and Hermione, involving Desiree and William Montague. Harry and Hermione listened to see how much of the story was strictly true, and how much was 'improved'.

No one even noticed Desiree clutching her chest in agony. Somehow, Des finally realized what she had to do, and like that, the pain was gone. Her eyes slowly opened as she looked up at her friends. She quietly examined each one, before glancing over to the Slytherin table to slightly smile at William. Des stood up and moved toward the doors.

Across the dining hall, William murmured under his breath, "She's leaving." He jumped up and ran after her, along with her three best friends in the Gryfindor house and the Headmaster, all of whom noticed her retreat.

Hard on her heels, William dashed down the numerous steps to the front doors of the castle. However, Des was already at the doors. She turned to look up at him and offer him one last smile before disappearing outside.

The Slytherin Quidditch captain was in the moonlight an instant later, with Desiree nowhere to be found.

"Where did she go?" Harry asked as he and his two best friends joined the Slytherin.

"I don't know," William answered, spinning around in a desperate attempt to spot her. Coming out of the castle doors was Dumbledore. William didn't hesitate to ask the professor, "What happened to her? I was right behind her, and suddenly, she disappeared!"

Dumbledore's eyes scanned the area quickly before replying, "She's gone somewhere she can best watch over and protect her friends, and be safe herself. A place where no one can punish her for the sins of her father. Where she can finally find peace and happiness. She knew that she couldn't stay here, and she accepted that fate. Now you must accept it."

"But where did she go, Professor?" Hermione questioned.

The Headmaster smiled, "You will know when you're older. When you understand. Now, come along back inside to finish your dinners."

Dumbledore ushered the Gryfindors back in, leaving the Slytherin in the darkness.

William's eyes continued to search for Desiree, slowly realizing that he would never find her. Knowing he would never see her again, he still whispered, "I love you, Desiree."

One last glimpse of his surroundings was cut short when a cloud blocked out the moonlight. Turning, he headed back inside, softly repeating, "I love you."