It was after dinner, one that had been decidedly stressful. Draco had sat at his own table, as usual. But it was impossible for him to act normal around his old friends, because of the Shards. So he just stayed quiet and gave them evil glares if they bothered him. Halfway through the meal the first embassy arrived at the Slytherin table. For the first time in a thousand years, someone from one of the other houses voluntarily sat at the Slytherin table. It was Monica. And she wasn't alone. Rhia and Rose joined her. To his utmost surprise, the three young women sat down on either side and across from Draco. Rhia was on his left, Rose on his right, and Monica across from him. The fact that all three were attractive was the only thing that saved them. That and the fact that if any of the other Slytherins so much as looked askance at them, Draco sent them such a frigid look that they were virtually unmolested.

At least as far as most people could tell. The tension at the high table was through the roof. Snape looked so furious, he couldn't speak, McGonagall looked decidedly prim about the mouth and poor Professor Flitwick was so nervous, he fell off his stack of books five times. Monica was one of his Ravenclaws after all. The meal progressed, though there was a thick silence over Slytherin table. Except for the three young women with gold and scarlet and blue ties. They chatted, seemingly oblivious to the stares of every other student in the Hall. If one or two ambitious and rude Slytherin's came away from the table that night with scorched hands, no one said anything about it.

The thing Draco noticed most was not the number of times one of the many Flint brothers winced. It was the way Monica was looking at him. She only took her violet eyes off his face once, and that was to raise her eyebrow at Goyle, who had just spilled his sixth glass of pumpkin juice after she smiled. She hadn't looked at him like he was some sort of bug to be scraped off the bottom of her shoe, or greedily, as if he was the wallet they wanted access to and they'd do anything to get into it. She just looked interested. In what he had to say. Which wasn't much because he couldn't afford to be too nice. When the meal ended he had given the three girls a nod, manners required it after all, and left the hall, completely ignoring the all attempts to engage him in conversation.

He wandered around the school for a while, puzzling over what had happened at dinner, and what had happened before it. He was a part of something. He didn't want to screw that up. He'd never really been a part of something before. The Quidditch team yeah but… he hated to admit it even to himself… his father had bought him a place on it. He had practiced after that, whenever he could. His father hadn't bought his place in this though. He wasn't quite sure why he had been chosen for this group of do-gooders. Especially since it was actually quite likely that his father…

There was a noise behind him and Draco paused. Somehow he's ended up on the third floor again. He heard voices and slipped through the first unlocked door he came to…

And found himself nose to nose with… "Monica? What are you doing here?"

" Draco… I got lost and then I heard people coming and… I guess I panicked."

"Oh well I can show you where the Ravenclaw"

"Shhhhh… Who's that talking?" Monica whispered.

They cracked the door open together in time to see Professor Snape come around the corner, followed by a black cloaked woman. She was speaking. "I don't understand why we always have to meet here. Do you have any idea what a pain it is to get to this hall unseen?"

"Yes I do… but that is not the point. I have something for you." Snape answered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a parchment that had been folded many times. She took it and tucked it into her own robes. "Was the last one helpful?"

"That has not been decided yet Severus. Perhaps you should wait until you have several of these little missives before we do this again. I don't have time to meet you late at night in a dark corridor every other day." With that she disappeared back into the shadows. Snape stood for a moment staring at the place she'd been.

Monica let the door shut with an unfortunately audible click. She whirled around to face Draco again in the dim light, her eyes wide with panic. "Quick, kiss me." Draco could only stare at her. "Kiss me you fool!" She whispered fiercely. Then she grabbed his face and pulled it down to hers.

Her lips were warm and soft. Draco was just getting over his shock when the door was jerked open and a furious Snape was glaring at them. They jerked apart. "What are you two doing in a… broom closet… ten minutes after curfew?" Draco looked over at Monica. They both looked back at Snape. Monica cleared her throat.

"I… I got lost Professor and before Draco found me I"

He raised a black eyebrow at her, "ended up in the broom closet?"

"Actually Sir," Draco said, drawing the fire from her, "That was my fault. I took a wrong turn, and we both ended up in the broom closet." He gave his head of house a smug smile. "I was just about to escort her to her dormitory."

Snape smiled proudly at his favorite pupil. "See that you do. Soon."

"I will Sir, thank you." Draco said, that smug smile still in place. Snape then went in one direction, and taking Monica's arm, Draco went in another. As soon as they had rounded a few corners away from the professor, he turned Monica to face him. "Why'd you do that?"

"What? Kiss you?" Her mouth quirked up at the corner as she answered, "I figured, correctly, that we would get into less trouble when caught kissing, than we would if caught eavesdropping." She gave him the full blast of her brilliant smile now. "And because I wanted to."

Draco stared at her. "You don't know me… We just met today."

She kept smiling. "I know. Isn't it exciting?" She looked around them. "So how do we get to the Ravenclaw Tower?"

He absently motioned towards the corridor on their right. "Down that hall, Portrait of the Grey Lady I think."

"Great." She looked back at him. He was still looking at her, his blue eyes focused, trying to figure her out. "Goodnight Draco." She started to step away. He put a hand on her shoulder. She paused and gave him a questioning look. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed softly.

"What was that for?" She asked when he pulled away.

It was his turn to smile, albeit a bit wolfishly. "Because I wanted to." He took a step back. "Goodnight Monica," With a firm nod of his head, he turned and walked back down the hall.

"Well," Monica said to the empty hall. "Isn't that interesting?" She turned and went to her dorm.

~~~

Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor Common Room, sat the Guardians from that House, all of them silent. The other students had already gone up to their beds. Ginny was looking a bit weary and Neville couldn't stop yawning. Ron was holding Fianna on his lap and staring at her. Hermione was gazing sleepily into the fire with Nildur nestled in her hair. Fred was sprawled on one of the armchairs with Solida curled on his chest. George was sitting tailor fashion on the floor at Rose's feet where she sat in another armchair. Harry and Rhia sat side by side on the only piece of furniture anywhere near the others, the couch.

Rose yawned hugely, and Vestan stuck his paw in her open mouth. He pulled it out, just in time. She gave him a disgruntled look. "Little furball, that makes the yawn very dissatisfying you know," she told him. He trilled at her. "You're right. I think it's time for all of us to get to bed. No use in discussing the events of the day any longer. Especially since the others aren't here to offer their opinions." She looked around, her gold and blue gaze, shimmering over them all. She used George's shoulder as a grip to pull herself out of the armchair. When he grinned up at her she smiled her thanks.

"Good idea," Ginny muttered. She stood from her place in one of the chairs, patted Andra, who was sitting on Neville's shoulder beside her, scooped up Erian from the back of her chair and started for the stairs. "G'night all."

A moment later Neville followed, Andra now asleep in his arms. Fred watched him go with a speculative gleam in his eye. George stood and asked Rose, "Could you light that candle for us to take up?" She raised a questioning brow at him. "You know, your way."

"I suppose…" Rose flicked her fingers at the candle in question and a spark of flame flew to light it.

"Brilliant. Thanks." Fred flashed a grin at her and picked up the candle. He started for the stairs.

"Yeah, thanks." George said, and the smile he gave Rose was subtly different from his brother's. Scooping up Lunia from her spot in front of the fire, he followed Fred.

"Don't stay up too late you guys," Rose admonished as she shoved aside the tapestry in front of her door.

As it fell back into place, Hermione looked at Harry Ron and Rhia. "I don't think that I can even think straight right now, so more speculation would be a waste of time."

"Hermione, confused? Color me stunned," Ron remarked. He grunted when she kicked him in the shin. She turned on her heel and started up the stairs. "You're right 'Mione." He glanced at Harry. "Coming mate?"

"I think I'll stay down here for a little while longer," Harry answered, his gaze still fixed on the fire. Ron flicked his eyes to the girl next to Harry and nodded, though Harry didn't see it, then continued up the stairs.

Rhia was staring into the fire as well, her face relaxed, her hands resting in her lap. Kali'na was laying between the two of them on the couch, asleep. Still staring into the fire, Harry asked softly, "Does it hurt?"

And because she knew that he would suspect she was lying, as he had all day, said, "It only aches a bit. Nothing I can't handle."

He turned to her, "You wouldn't have to handle it if I hadn't…"

Rhia sighed and turned her clear gray eyes to meet his guilt-stricken green ones. "We've already covered that Harry. You didn't know about the lightning rods or even about your power. For all we know, my hand on your scar was the catalyst that forced it to manifest just then."

"Let me see it," he whispered. Sighing, she offered her white wrapped hand to him. Carefully, he undid his handkerchief and looked down at her hand. The burn was still an angry red, but it had faded just a bit. He cradled the injured hand in one of his own and with the other, gently traced the edges with a fingertip. The air in the room seemed to thicken as he met her gray gaze again. "I'm sorry for your pain."

His words seemed to echo in her head. "I know,' she whispered. Deep within her, something clicked into place, and the hand he held trembled. She pulled it from him slowly. Her tone was firm as she said, "Goodnight Harry." Staring at her, saying nothing, he stood. Kali'na opened one eye and looked at him, faintly annoyed. She leapt to his shoulder and waited.

"Goodnight Rhia," Harry said finally. With only one backwards glance, he climbed the stairs. Ron was already asleep, Fianna on his pillow and Starlight sitting at his feet, staring at the doorway. For the first time since the start of term, amazingly less than a week ago, Shadow was not waiting for him. Yawning, he prepared for bed, reminding himself that she was Rose's cat, not his. Just the same when he later felt her familiar weight as she jumped onto the bed in the dark and heard her purr, he smiled. "Goodnight Shadow." She purred louder and settled on his chest.

He knew it was a flashback dream, one that he had no control over, and one that had tormented him repeatedly over the summer. Still he tried to stop Voldemort from saying those dreadful words… "Kill the spare." But he watched, helpless once again as Cedric was killed, and felt again the pain of Wormtail's knife as his arm was cut for his blood, again he felt the terror as Voldemort climbed out of the cauldron, and the pain… the horrible pain…

[I] "Blessed Hell! Star please…. Let me wake him… He's in pain… Just this once let me wake him… I can't bear it… It hurts… Blessed Hell it hurts…"

"The kit. Put the kit on his head, like before…"

"It's not working… Please just let me wake him up…"

"Not like this…" [/I]

Harry woke up, safe in his bed, Kali'na trilling worriedly on his head, and Shadow staring into his eyes. He was covered in sweat, and his scar was burning. He started taking deep breaths to calm himself. They weren't working. He could feel his heart pound, and Kali'na covered his scar with her paws. The pain lessened and he was grateful. Shadow started to purr, doing her best to calm him as well.

"Blessed Hell…" he said to the cat. "It had been nearly a week and a half since…" He sighed. He'd sweated through his pajamas, so he gently pushed Shadow to his side so he could get up and change. She never stopped purring. He was careful to balance Kali'na on his head as sat up, knowing that she was the only reason he wasn't screaming in pain from his scar. He reached for his wand and whispered, "Lumos." The tip lit and he searched for clean pajamas. As he took off his sweaty shirt, Shadow stopped purring. He glanced at her as he wadded up the shirt and tossed it at the hamper in the corner with his initials on it. She was staring at him in the faint light from his wand. He blushed. He couldn't help it. She blinked at him, but otherwise didn't move a single muscle. He couldn't even see her breathe. He grinned at himself. "This is ridiculous. She's a cat for Merlin's sake." Just the same, he put out his wand before he changed his pajama pants.

In the dark now, he managed to get his fresh pants on and the sweaty ones in the hamper before climbing back into bed. As he pulled a light blanket over himself he heard Shadow start purring again. He yawned, realized his heart was no longer pounding, nor was his scar burning, and smiled. On the far edges of sleep, he heard voices again.

[I] "Well, that was certainly interesting."

"Be quiet Star, you'll wake him."

"All that wretched yard-work that those beastly relatives forced him to do over the summer seems to have paid off hasn't it?"

"Hmmm…"

"And he hasn't even started Quidditch training yet."

"Hmmm…"

"What? No other remarks from you?"

"My paw hurts. Now will you please be quiet?"

"Oh… I see… This is your job my dear. You shouldn't feel guilty."

"But I do… Now more than ever…"

"So it's true then."

"What is?"

"Never mind. I need to think. He's stirring again."[/I]

Then there was nothing but the purring of Shadow… and the blessed oblivion of sleep.

***

Harry and Ron were at the Gryffindor table this morning for breakfast, with the Emmortals and Hermione with them. Ana and the Weasley twins were at the Hufflepuff table. Rose, Rhia and Monica were once again at the Slytherin table with Draco. Harry squashed a slightly jealous thought, a thought he had no right to have. Still, he pointed out to himself the fact that this time, it was Monica and Rose beside Draco. Rhia was sitting across from him, facing Harry. Even from across the Great Hall he could see her weariness. When she reached for her glass with the bandaged hand he winced, and found those gray eyes looking directly into his own. She frowned, and he tried to relax. A slight tingle went across his scar. And he remembered. Then he worried. The last time he'd heard voices…

Frowning, Harry tore his eyes from Rhia to look at Ron. He nudged his foot under the table. Ron looked back at him, caught the look in his eye and blinked. He glanced over at Hermione, but she had already caught his tension. She frowned down at her porridge. In her hair Nildur whirred and Fianna warbled an answer. Harry felt Kali'na shift her balance slightly on his head. He stood and said to the others, "I forgot some of my Potions supplies back in the tower. Be back in a bit." He left the Great Hall, trying his very best not to look as hurried as he felt. He devoutly hoped that both Hermione and Ron had understood his look, and that no one else had.

He reached the Fat Lady a few moments later. "Merlin's Earwax," he muttered before climbing through the still opening hole. The Common Room was empty of students, but he still checked every corner. He had just finished when Ron and Hermione climbed into the room.

"All right Harry. What's up?" Ron asked.

"I'm hearing voices again." Harry said simply.

Ron gaped at him as Hermione whispered, "There's something hunting students again?" She paled. The last time this had happened, she had ended up petrified.

"No…it's not like that…" Harry answered thoughtfully. "I usually hear them at night, just before I fall asleep… or after I dream."

"And what do they say?" Ron asked.

Harry frowned. "The first time was after the dream of Atlantis. They spoke about something hurting… and one of them having work to do in the morning. Last night it was different. I heard them on the tails of that bloody flashback dream… and they were talking about waking me up because it hurt. Then I woke up. Finally, just as I was falling asleep again, they talked about…" His green eyes widened. "No… that couldn't be… Could it?"

"What?" Ron asked. Hermione had her thinking expression on and said nothing.

Harry blushed. "They were talking about how the work I did for the Dursleys had paid off."

"Paid off? How?" Hermione asked.

"Whoever or whatever they are, they can see me. I changed my pajamas after I woke up." Harry said, still blushing.

Hermione lifted her eyebrows, and then her brown eyes swept over him appraisingly. "So I gather that these voices are female?" she asked. Harry nodded. Hermione made a humming noise, but said nothing more.

Ron was frowning at her. Harry spoke up again, "One of them, the same one that wanted to wake me earlier because something hurt once again complained of pain. The other accused her of guilt and reminded her that she was doing her job. Then they both stopped again, and I slept."

"Why didn't you tell us this earlier this morning?" Ron asked.

"Because I didn't remember it until breakfast." Harry answered. [I] And after Rhia looked at me[/I] He pushed the thought away as unrelated. "Now you know, and we can try to figure this out together."

"Shouldn't we tell the other Guardians?" Ron asked. "I mean if something is going on, they should know."

"Not just yet," Hermione said. "I want to think about this a bit more… and see if it happens again. It's happened twice already and nothing bad has happened." She grinned at Harry. "For all we know, Harry may have truly gone around the bend this time."

Harry grinned back, a bit crookedly. "Why thanks Hermione. I appreciate your support," he said sarcastically.

"You are very welcome Harry, Now you had better go get something for Potions to make your excuse plausible." Hermione answered him. Harry nodded and went up to his dorm. Leaving Ron and Hermione alone in the Common Room.

"What the blazes was that?" Ron asked her hotly.

"What was what?" She asked back innocently.

"Don't answer my question with a question," he snapped. "What was that look I saw?"

"What look?" Hermione asked, genuinely confused now. Ron narrowed his eyes at her, before he could say anything else, Fianna trilled from his shoulder and Nildur trilled back from her hair. Hermione's eyes widened. "Ron I"

She didn't finish for the simple reason that she couldn't. He had effectively cut off her remark with a kiss. When he backed off a step, it was to meet her stunned gaze with his own. After a moment, he regained his composure enough to nod at her and take another step back. "That's better," he said. Then he turned on his heel and left the Common Room.

Hermione was pleasantly floating above Cloud Nine when what he said finally registered. Then she came crashing down, shaking with fury. Somewhere, her rage-fogged brain filed away the information that this time, the Shards didn't zing her or anyone else. But she was too focused on finding Ron, and possibly ripping his face off, to really notice.

Harry came down the stairs to find Hermione standing there, glaring at the Portrait hole, with her hands clenched into fists, and Ron nowhere to be found. He was about to beat a fast retreat back to his dorm when she whirled on him. Her eyes were narrow, furious slits. Nildur was perched on her shoulder, his fur fluffed out to make him twice his normal size, making her hair look even bushier than usual. Luckily for Harry, he was smart enough not to remark on that. "What happened?" he asked tentatively.

"Your FRIEND is a jerk, that's what!" she yelled. She scooped up her book-bag and headed to the door. "I'm going on to Potions." She called back to him.

Harry looked at Kali'na. She looked back at him as if to say, 'Don't ask me. I was with you the whole time.' He returned to the Great Hall. Ron was sitting with his brothers now, talking Quidditch. Harry walked over. "Ron, we need to talk on the way to class. Come on. See ya fellas." He grabbed a bagel and headed out of into the corridor again.

Ron joined him a moment later. "What's up Harry?"

They were headed to the dungeons. "What did you do to Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron flushed and mumbled something. "What?"

"I kissed her." Ron said again.

Harry's eyebrows shot up and he stared at his friend. "Apparently you didn't do a very good job of it, because she's absolutely livid."

Ron flinched. "I know."

"Well?" Harry asked. "Tell me what happened so I don't make your mistake." He laughed as Ron punched him in the arm. "Come on pal, what happened?"

~

Ron stared at the floor. Fianna grumbled. He said really fast, "I sort of kissed her because of the way she looked at you."

"What? Me?" Harry asked incredulous. "What look?"

Ron cleared his throat. "The one right before she asked if the voices were female."

Harry thought back and still came up with nothing. "I don't remember."

"It was stupid. I yelled at her about it, then I kissed her, said 'That's better,' and walked out of the room."

"Well," Harry said, "We know one thing is for sure."

"What's that?" Ron asked.

"She can't kill you because you're a guardian." Harry said.

"Thanks for the support Harry." Ron said, glaring at him.

"You did it, not me." Harry pointed out.

"Yeah I know." Ron muttered.

"Brace yourself," Harry said. "We're going in." They walked into the Potions classroom.