I Do Not Own Harry Potter.

Eva had gotten a lot of information out of Millicent Bullstrode. She was surprised how thin-skinned the girl really was. She'd had her singing like a bird about all of Pansy's plans. She now had someone who could testify that Pansy had planned to hurt Ginny. She went to breakfast feeling rather good. She didn't have to put up with Pansy's demands anymore and she was about to deal the annoying Slytherin the biggest blow she'd ever gotten.

Eva sat down next to Draco and served herself from the platters in front of her. They were having a pleasant conversation when the morning post came. Eva was surprised when she saw Horatio soaring towards her. The snowy owl landed right in front of her and received quite a few compliments from the first years across the table. Eva stroked and fed her friend and then watched him fly out.

Draco had already opened his package and was enjoying the biscuits his Mum had sent him. He turned and smiled at Eva. "I think she made these herself," he said around a mouthful of biscuit.

Eva chuckled and opened her package. It was from her Auntie Nary; a box of biscuits just like Draco's. There was also a letter that Eva did not get a chance to open.

There was a scream from across the room and Eva looked up to see Gryffindors scrambling away from Hermione, Ron and Harry. They seemed to be covered in something. Judging from the looks on the faces of the nearby Gryffindors, it was not a nice smelling substance. Professor McGonagall quickly went over and Scourgified the three students and went to pick up the envelope that had contained the goo. It disintegrated right in her hands.

Eva looked down the table to where she knew Pansy was sitting. The girl just looked at Eva and smiled. It was not a friendly smile and it irked Eva that she was not able to accuse Pansy because she had no proof. She did have a gut feeling and, for Eva, that was as good as proof. She'd never been wrong before and Pansy definitely had it out for Hermione.

Eva was about to leave her seat to ask for an appointment with Professor Dumbledore, when another owl came to her place at the table. It was not one she recognized, and she figured that it was a school owl. The letter it carried was bulky and rather oddly shaped. Eva untied it carefully and examined it thoroughly. Draco was looking over her shoulder at the letter.

"Does it say who sent it?" he asked.

"No, it doesn't have anything but my name. It's getting warm, though."

Eva flipped it over to look at the back again, when a burst of heat came through the parchment. She tossed it between both her hands, trying not to let it fall on the table.

"Eva, look out!" cried Draco.

It was too late, though. The letter had burst and sent liquid flying straight at Eva's face. She screamed in pain as a burning, stinging sensation covered her face. She put her hands up and continued screaming. She knew her face had been assaulted with a Skin-Burning Brew; her Grandfather had taught her how to brew it and she knew the effects of the poison well.

Professor Snape and Madame Pomfrey moved swiftly from the Head Table to her place at the Slytherin Table. Eva refused to remove her hands from her face, knowing that her skin had probably been burned through and much of it may have been hanging off. She heard her father ask her to remove her hands and Draco plead that she let them help her, but in the forefront of her hearing was Pansy Parkinson's laugh. She could hear the cackle all the way from the head of the table. The sound infuriated her more than anything had ever done.

The anger she had felt at being forced to be nice to this piece of filth came back and made itself known. She sensed Madame Pomfrey, Professor Snape and Draco back away from her and she felt a slight breeze blow against her robes. She stood and began a walk towards the front of the table. She did not uncover her face until she knew she was in front of Pansy. The girl was still laughing.

"What's the matter, Nocturino? Did someone send you a nasty letter?" she cooed.

Eva removed her hands from her face. She wanted to see the look of terror on the face of Pansy as she realized just who she was dealing with. Eva had not healed herself, yet. Pansy's look of utter disgust when she saw Eva's dangling skin and blood covering her face and her panicked expression when, slowly, Eva's face went back to normal.

Pansy was so shocked at what she saw that she never noticed the fist that came crashing down on her nose. Then the world went black.

Eva lunged towards Pansy after she had landed the punch on her nose, but Draco had come behind her and grabbed her around the waist before she could get too far. He held her back as Professor Snape and Madame Pomfrey tended to Pansy. He calmed her down and eventually let her go.

Professor Dumbledore walked over to her. "Miss Nocturino, I believe a meeting in my office is necessary." He walked towards the door and she followed.

When they reached his office, he sat behind his desk and steepled his fingers in front of him. "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"

"Yes, sir." Eva took a seat in front of the older wizard's desk and began her story. She told him all about Pansy hexing Hermione in the corridor and what she'd told Pansy about hurting her friends. Eva was detailed in Pansy's misdeeds since she began at Hogwarts. She then told him about her theory concerning Ginny.

"I will look into the situation with Miss Weasley, rest assured, but I cannot condone your actions in the Great Hall moments ago."

"But she sent me a Skin-Burning Brew!"

"How do you know that?"

"Because I have brewed the potion myself and she was laughing."

"Miss Nocturino, while I must agree that Pansy Parkinson is not the nicest person in the world, I cannot condemn her because you think she's guilty of these things."

"But I don't think that she did them. I know she did them. She's had it out for me since she found out that Draco and I were pretty much engaged. She hates me; she's the only one who has a reason to harm me."

Dumbledore softened his gaze at Eva. "Miss Nocturino, I am not arguing with what you have just said. I'm just trying to let you know that I can do nothing about Pansy until you have proof that she is doing these things. If you have a witness, then that would be another matter."

Eva smiled at the man. He was really great when he wasn't speaking in riddles. "I will get your witness." She thought of something else. "If you do find that Ginny was victim to the Immemorata Charm, what would you do?"

"We would have to trace it to the person who performed it. Whoever did it would be considered for expulsion."

Eva nodded and left the office. She was heading towards her class when her father stopped her. He didn't seem very happy.

"Just what did you think you were doing?!" Severus cried. He took her by the arm and practically dragged her to his office. He shoved her inside and locked the door with an Imperturbable Charm. Eva was rubbing her arm where he had grabbed her so forcefully. "Well?"

"I was defending myself," she answered.

"By Muggle means?"

"Would you rather I hex her into the next millennium?"

"Honestly, Eva! I thought you were more mature than this."

"Mature! You want me to be mature when someone tries to BURN MY FACE OFF!"

"Do not raise your voice to me!"

"Are you taking her side?" Eva asked incredulously.

"You have no proof that she sent that letter," said Severus.

"I cannot believe this!" exclaimed Eva. "Who the fuck would send me a letter with Skin-Burning Brew?!"

"Do not swear!"

Eva gritted her teeth together and pulled at the roots of her hair. "AARRGGHH!" she finally shouted. She was breathing raggedly now and tears of frustration were falling from her face to the floor.

"Eva," said Severus moving towards her.

Before he could get close, Eva moved around him and ran out of the room. She made a mad dash for the East Tower staircase. She reached her room and shouted the password at the portrait. She went straight to her wardrobe and began pulling out clothes. She piled them on the bed and found her suitcase. Shoving all the clothes she could into it she tried to fasten it, but it wouldn't close.

"I don't even need these," she told herself. She looked for Harry's t-shirt and a few other things she really didn't want to leave behind and put them aside. She dumped her books out of her pack and put the items in there. She grabbed her broom and headed towards the door. She got as far as the sofa when she realized she was leaving without saying goodbye to her friends.

She took out a piece of parchment and sat down at her desk. She thought for a minute before beginning:

My Dearest Friends,

I know that my departure comes as a shock to you all. Please, do not think that I am leaving because I do not wish to be with you. I would not be leaving if the situation had not forced me to. I want you all to know that I love you very much and will think of you always.

Draco, I want to thank you for being the constant throughout my life and for being there for this great transition that I have had to make here at Hogwarts. The greatest gifts you have given me were not bought, but freely given from your heart. Your love and friendship will be something I carry with me everywhere I go.

Neville, I thank you for being the first person to extend the hand of friendship to me, even though we were not in the same House. You have shown me that the wizarding world still has hope of overcoming all its old prejudices.

Ron, thank you so much for being you. I don't know how many times I have felt melancholy and one minute in your presence was enough to dispel any sad thought. You are truly a wonderful person.

Hermione, there are few words in the languages of the world that can express how much I appreciate your friendship. You are the first girlfriend that I have ever had and I thank you for showing me what it would have been like to have a sister.

Harry, my dear, darling Harry, I can only say two things to you that can express what I feel. The first is the truth: I love you. I love you with all my heart and mind. I think about you day and night and I will wait for the day when I can show you just how deep my love runs. The second is about how I think of both of us. A Muggle once said; 'A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.' I believe that this is something both of us do everyday, for different reasons, but we do it nonetheless. You can do anything, Harry. I believe in you.

I love you all and will think of you. Think of me, too. Your owls will find me if you want to write. Love Always, Severa Raven Nocturino

Okay, I don't have all the reviews in front of me right now (I'm at work). I would like, however, to thank all those who have been reviewing the story consistently. You guys know who you are! I promise I will go through the reviews again and email you all the answers to your questions (if you had any) and annoy you with mentions of the sequel. :o)
Just so you know, I have written the extra chapter and it is being edited by my beta-reader as I type. Hopefully, it will be done by the time I get to where it fits in the line-up of chapters. Keep your fingers crossed! Until then, happy reading! Mattie :o)