Jez: It ties in with all my other stories as well.

1) They do have a similar style, but different execution. She's not as over-bearingly arrogant as he is, and doesn't have anywhere near the power control he does. Or the control on her temper. She's also more focused than he is. He tends to stop, and shop for dates in mid-mission, she doesn't subscribe to love much. She's also a backseat driver, preferring to let someone else take the wheel, then whisper in their ear.

2) It was pretty flashy, but it wasn't her idea. If she'd come in with the rest, she'd have distracted attention from the sorting, and I'm trying not to throw too much attention at her.

3) I'm not sure I see the difference. She just didn't happen to be wearing them when she came in, she was later.

4) Good idea, but this one builds very fast to it's climax, and if I don't lay things down early, they'll get lost in the rush.

---

"She said: Ask Potter, he knows." Hermione spoke quietly. "What do you know?"

"About those eyes." He answered slowly. "She told me while we were in Care of Magical Creatures. She said they test a person, that only someone strong and capable can pull away from them, anyone else, it drives mad." He shuddered. "I'm glad you were able to." Ron swallowed.

"I hope she doesn't use them on me." Ron shook his head. "I don't think I want to go mad."

"Why would you?" Ginny asked.

"No reason, just conversation." He said, and changed the subject. "So Harry, think we can win the Quidditch cup again? Or the House cup?"

"Quidditch cup shouldn't be difficult." He shrugged. "As for the house cup, it's possible, if we can keep Neville away from Professor Snape." He grinned. Neville, passing by, sniffled at him, and walked away with an exaggerated, offended expression, then burst into laughter. "Sorry." Harry laughed.

"No, I know what you mean." Neville grinned, returning to the table. "He just..." He trailed off.

"Perhaps I might make a suggestion?" The voice was the defense against the dark arts teacher. He was still in sand colored robes, and he was now carrying a crystal ball.

"Such as?" Neville asked.

"Such as this." The ball lifted from the man's hand, rising into the air before them. A scene played out. Snape, a younger version, walked through the halls eyes flickering around terrified, watching the walls. A shadow moved, a bat flittering through the air, and he dove to the floor, shivering in terror. Another student, a girl, a bit shorter, with a dark complexion, and short brown hair came up on him.

'Severus, what's the matter?' She asked, squatting.

'I saw something... I don't know what it was.' He shivered. She stood and lifted her wand.

'Lumos!' The tip lit, illuminating the hallway, and she shone it around, showing him there was nothing there. 'See? Whatever it was is gone.'

'Thank you, Maureen.' He took her hand, and she helped him up. The scene ended.

"What does that show?" Neville asked.

"That Snape was, for all his bluster and blow, not much better than you at some point. He was scared of the dark." The crystal ball vanished into his robes.

"Guess he got over that, as much time as he spends in the dungeons." Harry snorted.

"I think not." Sechell replied, shaking his head. "Maybe he does so, because he still must conquer his fear? Conquer yours Neville, and you will no longer need to fear him." The professor turned, and walked away. They watched him vanish into the crowd.

"Is it just me, or is he at least as scary as Snape?" Ron asked. Harry nodded, as did Hermione and Neville.

"So, what is your fear?" Ginny asked Neville.

"Everything." He replied with a grim smile. "I guess he meant the one, over riding fear that causes all the rest? I'll have to think about that."

---

The next morning, classes resumed, if with a bit of apprehension among the student body. Since the student attacked was a seventh year, the teachers advised that all students adhere to the three person rule reserved for Hogsmeade. Most of them did, excepting the slytherin's, who went with groups of five, and Hufflepuff's, who went about in twos. Monica ignored it all together, apparently not afraid of anything. She did wear robes over her clothing, what there was of it. Hermione spent most of the day sniffing at her clothing, a red and white version of the tank top, and black jeans. Nothing unusual happened, until McGonagall asked her to show them a bit of the magic she had learned. She demonstrated.

"What would you like to see Ma'am? A summoning spell? A transmogrification spell? Perhaps, ah yes... Perfect." She raised her arms, palms pressed together fingers vertical, and touching, thumbs pointing back at her chest. "Deus Omna Evos Flora." As she pulled her hands apart, a globe of pink light grew between them, and from it, formed a single, perfect rose. Air caressed it, as it floated across the open space from her desk, and came to light in McGonagall's hand. It was thornless, but otherwise a perfect example of the flower. Monica dropped into her seat, sweating, and panting heavily.

"Are you, quite alright?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes, I'll be fine.... in a moment. It's just the spell. Takes a lot of... effort." She slowed her breathing, seeming to relax in place. Her eyes closed, she leaned back, fingers intertwined across her chest. "Please go on, I don't want to interrupt."

"Hmm, oh, yes... now, we've learned how to change the form of objects, and how to bring them to us. Now, to change the properties of on object, such as this stone." She tapped a stone in the wall with her wand. "Transperus." The block blinked clear, showing them into the other room. Professor Snape was sitting in the teachers lounge on the other side, picking his nose. The class cut loose, laughing hysterically. McGonagall even giggled a bit, before turning opaque the block again. "Alright now class, settle down, settle down." She smiled ever so slightly as she did so. "Now practice on your desktop if you please." Taps, and the spell began, as she moved to the back of the class, to speak with Monica.

"Yes ma'am?" She asked, not opening her eyes.

"Are you sure you're alright?" She asked. Monica nodded, opening her eyes slowly. "Give the spell a try?"

"Of course. Transperus." She laid a hand on the desk, and saw... house elves in the basement. "Oops." McGonagall smiled slightly. There was a thud as Neville crashed into the floor, having made his desk intangible.

"Oh, dear." She moved off to deal with that. Harry glanced back, and saw Monica perform the trick flawlessly, then change it back. He wondered why she was pretending, but shook it off, and turned back to his own. So far he'd only managed a small circle. Ron managed to turn his pants transparent, and Hermione? She was writing her name in the desk, turning just a strip transparent, then reversing it. She turned the entire desk clear, and solidified her name. By the end of the class, only Neville was still having trouble, and even he'd improved to the point he was only turning the entire desk clear, instead of intangible. Leaving the class Harry, Hermione and Ron stopped at the door, to wait for Monica. She stopped, looking at them suspiciously.

"Yes?" She asked. "Can I help you with something?"

"No, just thought you might want to walk with us to our next class." Harry offered. All four had Defense against the Dark Arts as the next class, the first one of the year.

"I don't suppose saying no would discourage you from escorting me, would it?" She asked. Hermione shook her head.

"We were warned it wasn't safe to go in groups of less than three." Hermione reminded her. Monica sighed.

"Alright, then." She hefted her briefcase, which she carried everywhere, and followed them as they walked the corridors. No one said anything for a bit, before Monica spoke again. "Tell me, are you the Harry Potter?"

"Yes, I am. Why?" He asked.

"I was told you were... taller." She answered, smiling. "I just asked."

"Want to see my scar?" He asked, glancing back at her.

"Not really." She replied. "I've enough scars of my own, that I don't need to see yours." She replied a bit un-nervingly.

"In a top that tight, how can you hide them?" Hermione asked.

"Simple. They're on my legs. That's why the jeans." She replied, coughing delicately. "Otherwise I could wear skirts like that." She noted the dark blue, mid-calf skirt Hermione was wearing. The other girl blushed. "Do not be quite so quick to judge. You might find yourself in need of the help of someone you judged an opponent." She cautioned, and stepped past them, robes flowing out as she walked along. Ron watched her go.

"I wonder how she does that?" He asked, as they followed along, though more slowly.

"Magic wind?" Harry suggested. Hermione rolled her eyes, and muttered something that sounded distinctly like 'Men'.

---

"Greetings class." Professor Sechell smiled from the head of the class. "This year, both Gryffindor, and Slytherin will be taking Defense against the Dark Arts together. Why? I cannot say, since Dumbledore did not did tell me. And I can tell you, it isn't for lack of trying to get an answer on my part." He smiled, at them, and even Malfoy laughed, the sharp derisive laughter, he usually used, but that wasn't a surprise. "Now, by all means, open your books to page 665. We'll be dealing with lesser curses today."

"Curses? Aren't those a touch advanced?" Malfoy asked. Sechell sighed.

"Five points from Slytherin for speaking out of turn." He commented, without breaking stride. He lifted a sheet of paper from the table. "I'm dividing you into two groups, half from Slytherin and half from Gryffindor in one, and the remainder in the other. The following names are in group A." Harry, Ron, and Monica ended up in group A, as did Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Hermione in group B, rather handily decimated the Slytherin's in group B. Sechell decided that it was better to partner up those in group A. Monica drew Crabbe, Ron drew Malfoy, and Harry drew Goyle.

"At least I didn't get the ugly one." Monica shrugged. Crabbe flushed, Goyle glared, and Malfoy laughed. "I was talking about you Blondie." Malfoy's expression fell, and he snarled, while Goyle laughed.

"Settle down." Sechell ordered. "This is for points. Last side with a member standing gains their house fifty points. Begin." He dropped his hand.

"Vinao." Monica struck first palm flat at the ground. A single vine reached up, and wrapped around Crabbe's leg. Monica yelped, as he unleashed a curse back at her. Her right arm flickered into a snake.

"Expelliarmus." Malfoy snarled. Ron's wand flew, but he dropped to his knees, and leapt back, catching it short of the floor, and he returned fire. Malfoy's legs snapped together. He lashed out with one causing Ron to lose his vision, as black goo spread across his face.

"Accio book!" Harry snapped. A book crashed into the back of Goyle's head. "Vengius!" Red and green cord snapped out of the end of Harry's wand, wrapping Goyle's legs, and bringing him down. The green cords shimmered into vines. He froze where he was.

"Help, if you would?" Monica snapped, hand wrapped around the snake-arm's neck. Crabbe was trying to aim for her, but she wasn't holding still. Harry spun, and spoke in Parsel Tongue automatically. The snake stopped, and lashed out at Crabbe.

"VINAO!" She snarled again, much louder this time. The floor seemed to explode in vines reaching up, and constricting his movement until all he could do was breathe. The snake stopped confused.

"Enchantous, Finale." Sechell announced, a sword, a long curve bladed scimitar appearing from his robes, and he slashed downwards. The air shimmered, the snake-arm reverting to normal, the vines and ropes vanishing, and Ron, and Malfoy's afflictions ended. "I'm amazed. You preformed well, but Gryffindor was the last team standing. Fifty points are awarded to Gryffindor. 10 points to Mr. Potter, for ingenuity in using the summoning charm, and 10 for not being afraid to use Parsel tongue. 30 points to Slytherin, for being such good sports." The bell on the huge clock tower rang. "Class dismissed."