Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters or places.

A/N: I am proud to present, this, my fourth chapter. :) I am so impressed by me, I usually don't have the concentration to write a story this long. :) And I still have counts on fingers One, two, three, more chapters before I run out of ideas. Those chapters will be out soon. I'll try really, really hard to get one more chapter out before August ends cause then I start school and my updates will be very long apart.

Read, Review, Enjoy!

Matters of Blood

Aliena sat in a chair near to the fire and watched the brilliant orange and red flames move upon the log as if dancing; swaying from side to side and flickering to the rhythm of an unheard of beat. Sparks flew up the chimney and an occasional pop resounded thought the empty chamber. She was alone, everyone else went to dinner. She told her friends she wasn't hungry, and despite their looks of disbelief, they did not argue.

Aliena was happy for the moment of solitude and quiet, a time to think and to just relax. Usually she would relax when these rare moments came around, but now all she could think about was what that slime ball had said. Snape's words kept repeating in her head like a broken record and would not stop and allow the wounds to mend. Each time they brought on the thought of her heritage, and whether or not she really did fit in. Though she never mentioned it out loud, she questioned if she did belong here, ever since she received her letter to Hogwarts and found out that she was a witch. And it was hard at home too, her family didn't understand what she was going though, she had no one to talk to about her magical problems and she hated carrying this burden of a secret from her friends.

The portrait to the common room swung open allowing through a small flood of Gryffindor coming back from dinner. Most of them went up to their dormitories, ready to retire with their stomachs full and their eyes heavy. The Marauders, Lily and Kahlan were part of the group and seeing Aliena, made their way over to where she was. Sitting on the arm of her friend's chair, Lily handed Aliena what looked like some biscuits, wrapped up in napkins no doubt snatched from the table.

"If you get hungry." She said with a shrug. Aliena took the food with a gracious smile and set it down next to the chair, not sure if she would eat it later.

None of them were tired yet, so Kahlan suggested a game of Exploding Snaps; everyone joined in, even Aliena. She smiled and joked during the game and laughed along with everyone when the cards would explode in someone's face. It especially grew interesting when James got mad after Peter dealt him a losing hand. James transfigured Peter into a parakeet, who flew around the room, confused, running into windows and flying into people's hair, squawking up a storm, causing a hysterical uproar.

Time flew by quickly and before they knew it the clock was chiming eleven. Stifling a yawn, Peter, (now back in human form.), was the first to head to bed, followed later by Kahlan and Lily. James and Sirius stayed up for another thirty minutes before going, leaving Remus and Aliena alone.

Aliena watched the dying embers of the fire. She still had many things going through her head and knew she would not be able to sleep much tonight. Sighing, she put her head in her hands.

Remus was sitting on the couch and showed no signs of going to bed yet. He looked at where Aliena was curled up in the chair. She had been putting on a good act of playing strong, and fooling most, but he knew that what Snape said still hurt her; Lily and Kahlan noticed her behavior, also.

"Aliena," he called to her. She raised her head to look at him and he could see look of inner conflict on her face in the flicking light. "Don't let it get to you." he said, knowing what was going through her head.

"Let what get to me?" She asked, playing innocent. Remus gave her a knowing look and she dropped the act immediately. "It's nothing, just..." her words trailed off. Remus looked at her encouragingly, aware that she was hesitant to touch upon the subject, but finally she gave in.

"I've just been wondering if Snape was right about me not belonging here."

Remus looked at her with wide eyes and disbelief. He never would think Aliena to be someone who would let what that idiot say get to her. "Of course he isn't right, Ali! Why would you think that?"

Aliena dropped her eyes and began to fiddle with fingers. "My entire family is Muggle, but I'm a witch."

"Your point?" he asked, not seeing where she was going with this.

Aliena got up from her chair and went over to sit next to Remus on the couch.

"I don't know," she said, throwing up her hands as she sank deeply into the cushion. "It just feels like I shouldn't be here because my family is Muggle. But I shouldn't be there because I'm a witch." Remus nodded, comforting her a little bit and she managed to give him a weak smile, but she still was upset and confused about this matter.

"You're a witch Ali, no matter who your family is," Remus said and put a hand on her shoulder, "You belong here."

"But what about my parents? Do I just leave them behind?"

Remus shook his head, dropping his arm and turning his body more towards her. "No, of course you don't. That's the thing about being Muggle born; you get the best of both worlds, because you belong to both."

Aliena smiled finally seeing what Remus was saying and was instantly cheered up. "Yeah, I like to see a Pureblood learn to drive a car or go to the movies."

"But you can still a slime ball, greasy haired git into a toad anytime you want to." Remus said laughing making Aliena laugh also. She sighed happily and sunk back into the cushions. Her mind was now cleared having finally gotten all those things straightened out. It was all pretty simple to, now that she thought about it. Why she couldn't work it out before, she didn't know, but was glad Remus set her on the right track.

"I hate it though," she said, stating another matter on her mind. "When those Pureblooded people, like Snape, dislike you because you're not like they are."

"I know how you feel." Said Remus without thinking, he immediately scolded himself. Aliena looked at him curiously before rising to her feet. Now that her mind was clear, she was beginning to feel tired.

"How would you know," she asked as she helped him to his feet. "You're a Pureblood."

Remus didn't say anything further and quickly changed the subject. "I guess I'll turn in. 'Night, then." He said to her.

"Goodnight." Replied Aliena. Before he could turn to leave, she quickly put her arms around him in a hug. "And thanks, for everything." She said into his ear.

Remus was surprised by this, but hugged her back nonetheless, "No problem."

Aliena released him and turned up towards the girls' dormitory. After going through the fifth year designated door, she changed into her nightclothes as quickly and quietly as possible so not to disturb her sleeping roommate. She climbed between her sleep and within minutes, was asleep.

------------------------------------------

Ok, what did you think? Let me know, please. I would like to thank all my reviewers so far. THANK YOU!

Next chapter will take place during Christmas vacation and Aliena goes home for the holidays.

Oh, and if you like this story and Lord of the Rings or Charmed, check out my other writings that are in my profile. They're just in the beginning too, but they're getting there. Review those too, please.

Till next time,

Hedwig518 :)