Chapter two: And when you find your true calling, do not hesitate, but set upon it like a pack of hungry wolves

The next morning Draco didnt see Lydia until the last class of the day.

She swept into the potions class at the same time as the rest of them, brushing a hand over her hair, which was untidy, and had a piece of a branch stuck in it. Snape checked his calendar, and nodded, looking at Lydia. She nodded back, the sat down at a desk.

Draco sat behind her with Crabbe and Goyle. "Where were you today?" He asked. She didnt answer.

Snape began the roll call, and paused at Harry's name.

"Ah, yes, Harry Potter. Our new-celebrity."

Draco snickered behind his hand. He could already tell he was going to like this teacher.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making." Snape began.

All the class sat in silent attention, except Lydia, who pulled the branch piece out of her hair.

"As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I dont expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with it's shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses..."

Draco stole a look at Lydia, but her eyes were closed peacefully, and she looked as though she was enjoying every word.

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death-if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Lydia gave a small laugh at the last sentence. Snape ignored her.

"Potter!" Snape said suddenly. All the class looked at him, most with sneering expressions,

Lydia simply with a curious version of her usual bored look.

"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Hermione's hand shot into the air, Lydia refocused her attention to Hermione,

shifting her palm to the side of her cheek, slouching slightly. She yawned.

"I dont know, sir." Harry said, trying to tread carefully. Snape seemed intent on embarrasing his intelligence.

"Tut, tut-fame clearly isn't everything."

Lydia closed her eyes.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Hermione stretched up to her full height without standing, raising her arm a few more inches in the air.

Draco began shaking with silent laughter. This was really quite fun, seeing Harry suffer embarrasment.

"I dont know, sir." Harry tried again.

Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"

Lydia wondered wether Harry was a special case, or if she was.

Snape had never been mean to her, but of course no one dared to do that, not even the teachers.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Snape's voice betrayed he was reaching the end of his questionairre.

Lydia glanced once more at Hermione, who had stood up and was at full height from anticipation.

"I dont know." Harry said quietly. Indignation was clearly rising in him, but he kept it subdued.

If he could place those emotions towards the dark arts, Lydia mused, he could indeed be very powerful, with a will like that.

"I think Hermione does, though, why don't you ask her?"

So calm. Another great quality of concealment.

A few people laughed. Lydia began to think back on the time she and her mother had given the Draught of Living Death to the neighbor's noisy dog. So involved was she with the memory of the neighbor's screaming, fearful yelling, that she didnt notice Snape had finished until Draco came and sat by her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm just remembering the time Mummy and I gave the neighbor's noisy dog a draught of living death."

"You did? Cool. Who made it?"

"I did."

Draco grinned. "I thought you'd be good at potions. Just a little idea,

seeing how you looked so happy listening to Snape talk about it up there."

"Yes, Potions are one of my specialties. Professor Snape said I should look into owning an apothecary when I grow up."

She began crushing snake fangs, and weighed a handful of nettles on a small scale.

"I take it you are my partner for the lesson, then? Here," She dumped a few horned slugs into his hand.

"Stew these nicely and slowly, blowing every so often to prevent burning.

It is important to make a good impression upon this teacher. He remembers you for your first meeting."

Draco did as instructed, attracting Snape's attention.

He was telling everyone to look at the perfect way Draco had stewed his slugs when clouds of acid green smoke drifted overhead, and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Lydia dropped the nettles and held her hands to her ears, climbing up on her stool as the potion swept across the floor. Neville had melted Seamus' cauldron, and started contracting boils where the potion had touched him.

"Idiot Boy!" Snape snarled, clearing away the mess with a flick of his wand.

"I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"

Draco noticed Lydia sweeping silently past and into the hallway.

She came back in a few moments later, eyes weary, and finished the potion to perfection during the rest of the period.

She took a sniff, and swallowed a bit of it.

For one horrible moment Draco feared she was going to die, but she reopened her eyes, seemingly completely refreshed.

They walked out of the dungeon, and Snape seemed to be looking at Lydia with something very akin to pity.

Back in the common room, Lydia reclined in a large green couch, and Draco decided to ask her his questions.

"Why did you run out of Potions?"

She opened one eye,and studied him for a moment before closing it.

"I am very sensitive to smells. It is very hard for me when a potion is done wrong, the scent can be very offensive."

Draco accepted this. "What is it that you are so good at that the Slytherins keep talking about?"

She paused for a moment, before responding.

"It could be my potion skills, my smooth broomstick flight, the fact that nothing scares me,

or even the ability to conceal all my emotions behind a polite veil.

But most likely it is my natural talent for the Cruciatus curse, and others as well, I am sure."

That was the longest speech he had gotten out of her yet. He asked his final question.

"How many of the people here fear and respect you?"

"The Bloody Baron and I are good friends, the teachers all know who's in charge,

Snape respects me, as do Professors McGonagall, Sinistra, and Dumbledore.

The students both respect and fear me, the Slytherins see me as a leader, Peeves has not the sense of the

other ghosts to respect me, and all I see being a danger is if Harry Potter does not respect me.

But a well aimed Cruciatus curse can work wonders.

At Thursday's breakfast, Draco recieved a package of sweets from his eagle owl, and it then hopped to Lydia with a letter. Draco had been suprised, Lydia was incapable of suprise, and merely took the letter, giving Draco's owl a piece of toast.

She skimmed the letter, then said,

"It's from your father."

Comprehension worked its way across Draco's face. He had written a while ago to his father telling him about her, but had never expected him to reply this quickly. He looked once more at the box of chocolates. It seemed to be a 'Well done' gift.

Lydia began to silently read the letter, but was interrupted by her own Great Horned owl, bearing a second letter.

She pet it on the head, and began ripping open the envelope.

Meet me at the third story by the black tapestry at three thirty.

There was no name, and she tucked it in her robe, glancing at the staff table. Snape was looking at her once more, but so was Quirrel.

Ah, this would be an interesting meeting. She bowed to her owl.

"Thank you, Voltaire."

It studied her for a moment, then grabbed a biscuit and flew off back to the owlery.

She picked up the letter from Lucius Malfoy, and began to unfold it.

Draco was over by the Gryffindor table, trying to stir up trouble.

She bent her head down and started to read.

My Dear Lydia,

Hope you are well, your mother is not out yet, but will be soon, I can promise you.

A friend is at the school, he will undoubtedly want to talk to you.

Be a good girl just this once and talk to him.

Your Aunt sends her fond wishes,and says she will go shopping

for some of those odd foods you like, they will arrive as soon as she finds them.

Keep out of trouble and keep quiet, please.

A request- train my son Draco, teach him to be a real Slytherin like you.

B. says to watch out for H. and she loves you.

Best regards,

Lucius Malfoy

Lydia tucked this note into her robe as well.

She stood up and walked out of the entrance hall. No one ever bothered her about where she was going, so it was easy to arrive a half hour early. She went through various curses in her head, more for entertainment than that she was worried.

A short while later the Slytherins and Gryffindors began filing out for their broomstick lesson. She watched disinterested until a small cough coming from behind her caught her attention. She turned around, arms crossed and wand held slightly upwards for show.

Quirrel stood nervously. "H-Hello, L-Lydia. A-Are you f-f-free t-t-to t-talk f-f-for a b-bit?"

She studied him for a moment, then nodded. They walked into an empty classroom.

He turned around, less nervous but still eyeing her wand.

"I hear you've quite a skill for the cruciatus curse, among others."
She was not in the least suprised to hear him no longer stammering.

"Yes." She replied shortly, really wanting to get on with the conversation.

"That would be the first thing she would teach you, wouldn't it? I must tell you, a great privelege is going to be bestowed upon you."

He began unwrapping his turban, and turned around. Lydia had heard many places in secrecy what the dark lord had looked like.

She bowed. "My Lord."

The voice came as a fraction, just as the body, but still powerful.

"So, You are Bellatrix's daughter. You are already quite skilled in the dark arts, are you not?"

"I am."

"I have a job for you, Lydia. One I believe you can do quite well. You are a valuable asset to me at this time. You must watch Harry Potter. Make sure you do not interfere much, it is essential you stay in the school. Discover what his weaknesses are, his strengths, and anything else you feel may be beneficial to me. Understood?"

"Yes, MyLord."

"See to it."

Lydia walked out of the room, Quirrel following behind, reapplying his turban.

He gave her a small smile. "S-See you l-later, L-Lydia."

Before leaving, Lydia glanced out of the window. Harry Potter caught a glass object after a fifty five foot dive. Professor McGonagall came out of the building and spoke to him. She left, Harry following. Lydia glared after him, and swept off.