After hours, I retreated to the quidditch pitch where my cousin was to meet me. I had my Nimbus 2008 in hand, faster than the Firebolt ever was, in case of need to flee. I was wearing my black hooded cloak so I would not be seen, even though I knew invisibility spells that worked better.

I saw another cloaked figure walking towards me. Retreating further into the shadows, I called upon Shiyra to see who it was. I watched as she flew low over its head. It didn't jump or anything, as if it had been expecting it. Shiyra flew back and perched on my outstretched arm. "It's the blond human that you wrote to Ashlyn," she hooted.

"His name is Draco, Shiyra."

"You know I detest the names given to these humans by other humans. They never suit these beings. You would think they would at least use a proper name! To think that humans believe they have a higher brain capacity than animals! Pish Posh!"

I smiled at how upfront she was. Shiyra really was something, and very opinionated, for a bird. She really was right about the brain capacity, I was never really fond of humans. Most of my friendships were with wild animals. My father was the exception to that. "You call me by my name, Shiyra."

"Yes, but your mother gave you that name. You understand. Your mother is not human. She named you by what she saw you as. She names others by what she sees in their souls. I will give that blond human a name sooner or later, if no one else does. Everyone has an inborn name, Ashlyn. They only need to find it within themselves."

I gave my owl companion a genuine smile that no one else ever saw. It had always been for her alone. She was the only one who understood me. Shiyra was like my best friend and substitute mother. "Alright," I let a mischievous grin show, "Shall we frighten Draco now?"

"It's not like I would be able to stop you, you pesky pixie," she responded with a tint of humor and mirth showing in her voice as she ruffled her feathers, pretending to detest the idea.

"You would be right on that count, love." She gave an exasperated hoot, mixed with owlish laughter.

I walked silently up behind Draco. Just when I was about to tap him on the shoulder, he whipped around and spoke, clicking his tongue in pretend disappointment. "Ashlyn, Ashlyn, Ashlyn. You would think you would know better now that you cannot surprise me. I know you too well, cousin. I heard you conversing in owltongue with Shiyra."

I sighed sarcastically, pretending to be disappointed, "It's my mother's fault, Draco dearest."
Shiyra spoke, "How about sharp ears?" I laughed and Draco just looked utterly confused, he didn't know owltongue, which made me laugh more.

He ignored me and finally spoke when I was much calmer. "Shall we get down to business? You did not state a purpose for meeting with me."

"I am on a mission from our Lord. I am right to believe that Potter detests you?"

"Yes, and I him."

I nodded in understanding. "I will need you to seem as if you have never known me then. Our Lord would not be pleased if his plans were wrecked."

"May I know what the Dark Lord wishes of you?"

"Very sorry, cousin, I may not say. Only our Lord and I are privy to it."

"Why are talking like that? It's just plain strange."

"I need not a reason. I may talk as I wish." I tried hard not to smirk.

"Fine, one question?"

"Alright."

"How did you manage to convince Dumbledore you were a seventh year? You finished Wizarding School two years ago."

"I look young. I just have to try and not be my pesky self," now I smirked.

"What are you going to do about your hair and eyes? That's all that rally hints to your pixie side."

"I really don't know, haven't thought much about it. I can use spells, glamours, or whatever. Granger knows about it already, I swear, that girl is going to be a problem. She's too smart for her own good. She better not get in my way or I'll have to take drastic measures."

"Not that anyone would care about losing the mudblood."

"Hmm... Yes, but her friends would and that would slow my progress. There is too much at risk. He did not give me a deadline, but I fear our Lord will get impatient soon with want. All I want is to make sure you pretend to never have met me."

"I will, you have my word as a Malfoy and follower of the Dark Lord."

"Good. I will contact you through Shiyra shall I feel the need to meet again."

"Okay, when we meet again, I shall treat you like a greasy Gryffindor."

I beamed at him, "Fabulous, goodnight you slimy evil greasy git. We'll be cousins to the end and no one shall know."

The door had just shut behind me when I heard a voice calling me. I fought the instinct to run and attack and turned towards the couches to see Hermione. This was not good at all, what would she think? She was Head Girl. She could get me in tons of trouble. It must have been a bloody lunatic who gave a mudblood a position of authority. At first sight, Dumbledore did not look far from that description.

"Oh, um... hi Hermione."

She smiled at me! That evil twit, what would she do to cause me strife now? "Can I talk to you, Ashlyn?"

What and blackmail me or assign me a detention or two for being out after hours? Turn me in to McGonagall? Dam teacher's pet. "Sure."

"Great, please, have a seat."

I looked her over carefully as if fangs were about to sprout from her mouth any minute now. "I promise not to bite," she said jokingly as if she were reading my mind.

I sat down across from her in a large overstuffed crimson chair, god I hate crimson, "Look, I know I was out-"

"Hold on!" she winked at me, "I did not see a thing. You were in your bed all night as far as McGonagall and I know. No Harry, Ron, and I have done worse things over the years. Ever need a midnight snack? Just as Harry."

I was shocked. Granger breaks the rules and is practically telling me to do the same? This is amazing! Now I can have midnight meets with my Lord and she'll think I'm snacking! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I will be able to give updates more often than I expected.

"Really? Oh, so what did you want to talk about then?"

"Well, what you didn't want to tell everyone else to know about. Can we?"

I really hadn't expected this tonight. At least I have my story. I stood up and her mouth flopped open as if to apologize. She froze though, when I made a few complicated hand gestures and said a few words in the fey language and flopped back down. fey is a broad name for magical creatures such as pixies, faeries, and the like. Now no one but us would understand our conversation. "Go on," I told her, "What do you want to or already know?" I smiled at her, happy that only I was privy to my thoughts, dam mudblood.

"Well, I know that you are half pixie, obviously you mother is your pixie parental. I found that half blood pixies gain their wings on their eighteenth birthday. If their parent teaches them, they can talk to wildlife. Half blood pixies have to spread their wings at least once every two weeks. They usually have to find a human mate by the age of twenty- eight. They can commit their love to only one person, which means they have only one chance. Their hair is usually the same color as their parent, which differs with the element of nymph or pixie. Their eyes change color with their moods."

I was awe-struck! She had covered almost everything except the temperament of pixies and I wondered for a second if she had just forgotten to mention it or if she believed it did not apply to half bloods. It certainly applied to me, not that she would ever learn that from me. "You forgot that we only sleep about four hours a night and when we have nightmares our wings manifest and flutter loudly, safety mechanism." I said to her, "Wow, Hermione I'm impressed with how much you learned in a few hours. I hope that if anyone sees what I am as quick as you they don't mention it to anyone." I might have to do something if they do, I thought. I didn't want to resort to that.

She blushed, "It wasn't all that hard really."

"If only it was," I sighed. "What do you think Harry and Ron would think? They would probably go research me and find think, from the books, that I'm not trustworthy. You found that in the books, I'm guessing, and just didn't mention it. Am I right?"

The bushy haired girl gave me a slight grin, "Yea, we don't really know you all that well yet, though. We cannot judge you when we just met you. It will probably take the boys a while to find out. You should be able to earn their trust by then, Ashlyn."

"And your trust Hermione? If you don't trust me, do you think they will trust me?"

"Again, we just met you. I'm not going to hold your heritage against you."

"Alright, shall we get to know each other then?" I said with a friendly smile.

She glanced at her watch and giggled, "On second thought, we should probably go to bed. It's nearly one in the morning. We have our first classes tomorrow, don't want to be late."

I smiled in understanding and stood. I removed the spell with a few more words and she also stood. "We can talk more about this some other time, you go ahead and sleep. What time are classes?"

"Breakfast is at eight, Classes start at nine. Are you going to bed?"

"I'll be up in a bit, Hermione. Good night."

She smiled at me, "Good night, Ashlyn. Don't worry about the boys. They're thickheaded, it will take them a while to figure everything out without my help." This caused me to laugh.

"You probably can't say that for the rest of the school though, and who's to say they wont tell them?"

"Either way. Don't worry about it. There has been worse in this school, even werewolves. Hell, the sixth years here found out that Harry is a parselmouth in our second year. This school has gone through much worse than having a half fey in it. Don't worry yourself. Go to bed, get some rest."

"I suppose you're right. Harry's a parselmouth?"

She outright laughed, looking very bright, "Yea, that's a story for another time. Are you coming?"

I sneered and answered, "I suppose I must sleep at least a few hours. Our room has a window, right?"

She looked confused for a second, "Yes, it's right next to your bed. Why?"

"I'm going to call Shiyra, my owl, and say goodnight."

Hmmm... Well, if you like it, tell me why you like it, please. If you don't, tell me how I can make it better please. I will never become a better writer without your help.

Okay, I guess this was just background information on pixies and a forming the plot a bit more.

Have any ideas for the next chap? Send them in a review! Have any comments for the writer? Send them in a review! Want an email sent to you when I update? Leave your address in a review and I will send you an email!

Thank you for taking your time to read this!

Esgalhothwen