Harry walked silently down the stone hallways, past the kitchen, and out one of the several "back doors" of the castle. He hadn't visited Hagrid since arriving, and Ron and Hermione had too much homework to come along. He knocked loudly on the door, pulled off the cloak before Hagrid opened the door.
"Oy, 'arry!" Good ter see ya." The half-giant embraced Harry, nearly breaking a few bones in the process, then offered him a cup of tea.
"How's Gwamp?" asked Harry after both were seated at the table.
"He's learnin, but it's takin so long," said Hagrid, half dejected. "Just can't seem to be patient. I won't bring him to Dumbledore until he learns his manners."
Harry nodded, glad he hadn't asked any of his friends to look in on the giant recently.
An hour passed before Harry asked the question he had been waiting to ask for weeks.
"Hagrid, what do you know about Piper Dumbledore?"
"Who? Oh." Hagrid nearly choked on his tea, placed the cup back on the table and wiped hi mouth before answering. "What's to know? She's Dumbledore's niece and she's staying with him for awhile. She's real nice, 'arry. You ought to get to know her."
"I never see her. No one does." Harry sighed. "She went swimming in the lake today and..."
"Did she, now," said Hagrid, laughing softly. "I told her to watch that merman. She never listens, that one."
Harry's jaw dropped slightly. "She's done this before?"
"She's good mates with some of the merfolk, ye see," said Hagrid, sipping his tea. "I don't know how she did it, but they all speak highly of her."
"How'd she stay underwater that long?" asked Harry. "She didn't have a gollyweed like I did, and she didn't transform into anything or use a spell to make a bubble around her. She..."
"Calm down, 'arry," said Hagrid, laughing. "Slow down, even. Piper has her ways, and that's all there is to it."
"Her ways?" repeated harry, confused.. "What does that mean?"
"Just that she knows how to get where she wants to go."
Harry walked slowly back towards the castle. Hagrid hadn't told him much about Piper- only emphasizing that she 'has her ways.' He wondered what sort of magic she was pulling- could it be dark magic?
He dismissed the thought. She was Dumbledore's niece, for crying out loud.
But then, Harry thought, how is she so young? Albus Dumbledore only had one brother that he knew of, and that brother was much older and if Harry remembered correctly, dead. He'd have to ask Hermione about it in the morning.
A shadow moved to his left, and Harry froze beneath his cloak, watching. He tried to breath normally as a figure stepped from around the corner, illuminated by the moonlight. Harry could see that it was a female, with long hair braided to one side and resting over her shoulder. Harry stepped slowly towards the castle walls as the figure neared him, finally flattening himself against the wall. He watched as Piper Dumbledore stepped cautiously through the night.
She was twirling a basketball on her finger as she walked. She wore long, loose pants and a tight tank top, with some sort of jacket tied around her waist. Harry wondered why she didn't seem effected by the cold night air, but then saw that her skin glistened in the moonlight- she was covered with sweat.
Piper stepped closer to him, but stopped suddenly and gasped, taking the ball in two hands. She looked directly at Harry, seeing right through the invisibility cloak he wore.
"You," she whispered.
Harry fought back panic, deciding to remove the cloak. He did so, and stared at her, sheepishly.
"Nice evening," he said, mentally slapping himself afterward.
Piper did not speak. She took a hesitant step back, then took off on the run towards the front of the school. Harry followed, wondering where she was going. The front doors were locked and patrolled at night. His cloak forgotten, he ran after her.
He saw her running several yards in front of him and quickened his pace to catch her. Piper was sprinting right at the doors, never slowing her pace. Harry began to worry that she was going to try and run through the doors when...
A pink light came from what appeared to be a wand in her hand, directly at her feet. Suddenly, she was propelled straight into the air, where she did a simple somersault before disappearing onto the roof of the castle.
Harry stood in disbelief, staring at the roof. Piper's head appeared over the edge, disappeared as suddenly. He regained himself when he heard footsteps from inside, quickly sprinted back to his invisibility cloak and into the castle.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked into potions the next day with Piper's escape hot on their lips. Hermione was beside herself wondering what spells the girl could be using, and Ron was simply jealous that Harry had seen her in a tank top. ("Do you think of nothing else, Ron?" asked Hermione. To this Ron didn't reply.)
Harry and Ron sat together, began copying the instructions off the board as Snape walked in. If it were possible, he looked more greasy and annoyed than usual. He hurried to the front of the room and began giving instructions quicker than anyone could record.
Half way through, a light knock came on the dungeon door. He stopped in mid-sentence, stared at the door as if trying to see through it. "Enter," he said, flatly.
The door slowly opened to reveal Dumbledore's niece, struggling to push open the heavy door. Snape stood up somewhat straighter at seeing the girl, and his voice softened as he spoke.
"Yes, Piper?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Severus...I mean," her hand went to cover her mouth as she realized her mistake, "I mean, Professor."
"Well, come come, what it is?" asked Snape, though there was no anger or irritation in his voice.
"I need a few special ingredients I thought you could help me with." She walked to the front of the room and handed Snape a list. He looked it over, then looked down at her.
"What are you up to, Piper?"
The girl locked her fingers together behind her back, swaying innocently and smiling. "Please, Professor?"
Snape released a small smile, then turned a stone cold face to the class. "I will return in less than five minutes. Mr. Malfoy, if anyone so much as thinks about causing trouble, you have my permission to take points." He took the list and stalked to his office.
Piper avoided looking at the students, instead turned her eyes to the board. She read over the list, reached for a piece of chalk, and corrected several spelling errors. She then added a few items, then replaced the chalk. She turned to face the class.
"These should help to balance out the components in case of an overdose, and you will overdose." She looked over the verbal instructions Snape had left on his podium. "Hmm, ignore the step about chopping the doffie leaves, they'll be ok in one piece."
Snape returned with a small bag, which he handed to Piper. "Off you go, then."
"Thank you, Professor." She turned and walked casually out of the dungeon. Snape's eyes returned to his podium, and he began reading again.
"Should we listen to her?" asked Ron as he sorted out a few pieces of doffie leaves. "These are murder to chop."
Harry shrugged, looked at Hermione. She seemed astounded at the added items, thumbing quickly through her text book. She looked up, unable to offer an explanation.
Neville was the only member of the class to follow Piper's instructions, meaning his was the only potion to not explode and leave it's creators a few shades of green. Professor Snape looked over his notes in astonishment, then took five points from Griffindor.
"But he got it right," insisted Hermione.
"No doubt with outside help," said Snape, making a note. "Longbottom could no more put a potion together than walk through a wall."
The Gryfindor's walked begrudgingly to the great hall, Hermione fuming over Piper's intervention.
"How did she know that? She's the same year as us, for Pete's sake!" She scanned over her notes, adding, "The leave's shouldn't have made a difference."
"Oh lay off, Hermione," said Ron, taking his seat. "It was the stuff she said would balance the potion out that kept Neville's from exploding." He rubbed his forehead, removing a patch of black ash. "You're just mad that you didn't think of it first."
To this Hermione didn't respond.
Harry stiffened a laugh, taking his seat next to Ron. He felt a tug on his robes, turned to see Malfoy standing behind him.
"Figured it out yet, Potter?"
Harry's hand instinctively went to his wand, turned to face the pale-haired teen. "What are you on about, Malfoy?"
"What? Mr. Hero who goes out of his way to know everything about everything hasn't discovered some great secret about our little guest?" He laughed. "Either your even more pathetic than I imagined or you've lost your touch."
"If you have a point, make it and move on," said Hermione, impatiently.
"What do you know about Piper Dumbledore?" His voice was curious yet accusing.
"Why do you care?" Ron half stood as he spoke. "Got yourself a crush, have you?"
"Not a chance, Weasle," said Malfoy, his eyes never leaving Harry's. "It's simple, civil conversation."
"Even if I did know anything about her," started Harry, his fingers gripping his wand, "I wouldn't share it with the likes of you."
Malfoy's calm smile faded, replaced by anger. "Fine, Potter, be stubborn. I won't tell you what I know either."
"What could you possibly know that would interest us?" asked Ron.
Malfoy again neglected to look at Ron, instead focusing on Harry. "I know enough to keep my mouth shut." He shrugged. "Forget it, then." He took a few steps up the aisle, then turned and added, "But I'd watch my back if I were you, Potter. The Dark Lord isn't the only one looking for you." He left with Crabbe and Goyle at his heels.
Harry turned to his friends. Hermione let out a breath she had been holding. "Rubbish," she mumbled.
"I don't know, Hermione," said Ron, looking back after Malfoy. "He does have connections when it comes to You-Kno..."
"Say it," said Harry.
"Oh, all right, Vol...Vol...mor...oh, sorry, mate." Ron sighed. "I'm working on it."
Harry shrugged. "You have a good point, though. But what would Piper have against me?"
"She's related to Dumbledore- she should be a big supporter of you," reasoned Hermione, motioning towards the head table. Piper was standing next to Dumbledore's chair, whispering in the old man's ear. The Headmaster was smiling and laughing as she spoke, the patted her arm affectionately. She kissed his cheek, then hurried down the central aisle to the doors. She glanced momentarily at Harry, but didn't slow as she passed him. Harry watched her go, fighting the urge to follow her.