Chapter Nine

Little Black Lies

If Severus was at all worried that Zoë was going to do anything questionable, he didn't show it. Zacchius, however, had seen over the last few days the pure defiance in Zoë's silence and knew to expect trouble. To make matters worse, Professor Scribe thought it might be worth the two of them writing a report about their visit. But as the four of them arrived via a port key near the edge of a marsh at the base of a large extinct volcano, Zacchius couldn't help but be intrigued. A rocky road partially hidden by the swamp wound its way up and proved to be quite a hike that Zoë quickly became winded. Jennifer slowed to walk beside her, but from her curious expression, Zack wondered if it was all just for Zoë's benefit that she had fallen behind.

"Come on, let's not take all day about this," Severus said impatiently, and reluctantly Zack caught up to him. But as they reached the top, Zack's jaw dropped in amazement to find himself staring at a large caldera lake, and in the very center sat Durmstrang Castle. Anchored nearby was a ship that looked much too large for the lake, and a very long bridge crossed to the castle as if it were a moat.

Rolanda and Alvin Archibald along with several other members of the staff were waiting on their side of the bridge, but before they approached, Severus offered Zacchius a bottle.

"Translation potion. Just a swallow," Severus said, and Zack took a drink, handing it back to him as they continued to walk over. Headmaster Archibald greeted his friend warmly. Tight lines had formed upon his face now, and his once dark hair was now a peppered grey, but there could be little doubt that life had been treating him fairly well.

"It is good to see you, Severus, and for a pleasant occasion this time," he added solemnly, shaking his hand.

"It was Jennifer's idea, really, you know how hard it is to talk her out of anything," Severus said, and Archibald chuckled.

"I'm glad you didn't let her talk you out of it again. You remember my Deputy Headmaster, perhaps?"

"Oh yes, Hans Hexendaas, your Dark Arts expert, I believe. And Professor Barents, Charms and Enchantments, as I recall?" Severus said.

"You have a good memory, Professor," the large woman said with a smile, while the elderly gentleman in the deep purple robes shook his hand with a look of deep respect.

"I have been following your work on Magical Flux, Professor, most intriguing," Hans said with a nod. "We've been waiting to see if you were planning to publish a follow up."

"Thank you, although I admit I have only had time to work on it casually lately," Severus said, and then glanced at Zack who looked as if he was already getting bored. "This is my nephew, Zacchius Black, from our Gryffindor House," he added with such reluctance that Rolanda grinned wickedly at Severus.

"Hi Zack! Welcome to Durmstrang!"

"Thanks," Zacchius said, and then got pinched in the arm. "Thanks for allowing us to come visit."

"Our pleasure," Alvin said with a polite smile, but then looked up as Jennifer and Zoë made it over to them, Jennifer immediately giving both Rolanda and even Alvin himself such a warm hug that the staff raised their brows and shared a private smile between them.

"It's so good to see you again!" Jennifer said cheerfully.

"Jennifer, you haven't changed," Alvin said, sounding mildly surprised, quickly reintroducing her to his staff.

"Oh yes, Professor Hexendaas, you just wrote an article on Consequential Curses for the Dark Quarter Quarterly!" Jennifer said enthusiastically shaking his hand.

"Oh, is that where it went," Severus squinted at her, realizing now that he had missed a subtle cue from the Dark Arts wizard. "One of the problems of my wife and I having similar interests and the same delivery owl is that I always get my periodicals second hand."

"Actually, it was quite interesting. Perhaps if there's time I might be able to discuss it with you later?" Jennifer suggested with a smile.

"I would be honored to, Professor," Hans bowed; apparently quite placated by the fact that at least she had taken the time to research before the visit. Severus frowned in annoyance at his wife, but then noticed Zoë, wearing an expression as if looking for an excuse to take off.

"My niece, Zoë Black," Severus said.

"Hi there, Zoë! Welcome to Durmstrang!" Rolanda said. "So, are you two any good on a broom?"

"Of course! We're Blacks!" Zack said indignantly and Rolanda chuckled.

"Zack, if parentage was a judge of Quidditch skill, the Snapes would have never gotten off the ground," she joked. "Shall we go in? I have some students I want you to meet."

"Yes, and then after that, a tour of the castle before the game?" Alvin offered. "You'll be staying for dinner, of course?"

"Perhaps, if it's not too late," Severus said as they stepped inside. A moment later there was a pair of startled screams and Severus frowned. Everyone else, including Jennifer was chuckling.

"Don't you remember, Severus? The dragon," Jennifer grinned at him, stepping into the circular entryway where on the ceiling was suspended an adult sized stuffed Norwegian Ridgeback, positioned so that its maul was snarling at anyone walking into the castle. Zoë and Zack were still staring at it in awe in spite of themselves.

"I've actually worked to tone down some of the artwork and architecture in the castle over the years," Alvin admitted with a grin. "But nothing could persuade me to take Hakan down. Even if I did, the alumni would burn me at the stake for trying."

"Is it true you actually have one of these in the area? I mean alive?" Zacchius asked. Alvin looked at him thoughtfully.

"There's a tale circulating around Hogwarts that one of these got onto your Quidditch Pitch," Severus explained.

"Oh so that's it," Alvin chuckled. "Just a drake, not a full grown one. There's a Ridgeback Reserve not too far north of here and one of them has been problematic about getting out of bounds, so it's made for some rather unusual encounters over the last few years. He's too big to get through the natural vents now, though, so no need to worry about the game getting interrupted."

Just then, Zack looked back down to see two older students had come in, both with very light brown hair, long but not unpleasant faces and deep blue eyes that matched so closely that Zack knew they were related, despite the boy's more square jaw and the girl's slightly rounder features.

"Zoë and Zack, meet a pair of our best students and our own set of twins, Kerra and Oscar Lang," Rolanda said with a smile. "Your uncle thought you might feel a bit stuffy sitting with us and these two volunteered to play escorts for the day." Zoë, who had been busy sizing up the boy, turned and gave Severus a dirty look.

"Carr to go to dat Quidditch vim I?" Oscar attempted bravely putting out his arm.

"Oscar, relax, you don't have to speak English," Rolanda smirked.

"Oh good, because my English really blows," Oscar said, and Alvin coughed loudly.

Zoë snickered but took his arm, deciding this might not be a bad idea after all. Timidly aware that she was at least two years older than him, Zack somehow managed to get his arm up, and after a short word with Rolanda the two of them walked off, leaving the adults to take the tour.

"Not so worried now?" Jennifer whispered to Severus as Alvin showed them to one of the classrooms.

"I haven't decided," Severus admitted as they stepped in behind him.

The castle was definitely smaller than Hogwarts, but also much bigger than it looked, for although all the student dorms, the Chamber of Gathering, and a few of the classrooms were above the lake, most of the smaller classrooms, teacher's rooms, storerooms, kitchen and more were actually under it. In fact, several of them had windows with fish swimming by, and Jennifer wasn't quite so sure she liked it so much after that. The idea of working somewhere with fish clinging to the window was nothing short of disturbing for her.

Finally they came to a long corridor that split off into a pair of very wide but winding staircases heading downward, and when Jennifer got to the top she had to pause a moment and gape, for the stairs had been placed upon the ledge of a large deep cavern, nearly as big as the one under Glastonbury Tor and definitely of greater height. A good two hundred steps led down to where lie the base of the Quidditch Pitch, and the thought of going down all of them horrified her even more than the cavern itself.

"Come along, Jennifer," Severus coaxed her, stepping in front of her and taking a few steps down. "It's nice and drafty here. Look, that must be where the drake got in," he said, nodding up to the ceiling of the cavern where a large natural vent nearly ten yards wide led up to a patch of blue sky.

"All right, Jennifer?" Rolanda asked behind her.

"Yeah, fine," Jennifer said at last, feeling a bit embarrassed to have worried her friends as she gently walked down the stairs praying that the padding she had put behind the ankle would stay in place.

"Most of the students broom down to avoid the climb," Rolanda admitted, and then chuckled. "Actually, I usually broom down too."

"Everyone needs to do the climb the first time, though, it's a school tradition," Alvin scolded her. "And if I have to for our guests' sake, you have to."

"Is that statement from the Headmaster or the husband?" Rolanda inquired. Severus and Jennifer shared an enigmatic smile.

"Both," Alvin said, picking up the pace a bit. Jennifer hesitated only momentarily before following, a bit afraid she might actually tumble into him. But after what seemed like an eternity they were finally at the base with students now gathering above them on brooms as they went to take their places. "We actually have six teams here representing each dorm, three boys three girls; Dragon, Kraken and Wolf for the boys, Raven, Crane, and Bear for the girls. Everyone's sorted by social standing; Dragons and Ravens of noble or pure blood, Kraken and Crane middle class and mixed, the last two Muggleborn and some poor wizard families. But despite that separation, which has been going on since the school was founded six hundred years ago… each dorm are treated the same in class and have the same rules and obtainable privileges now." Jennifer didn't have to see his face to realize that that was a fairly recent change in the school's history.

"It may be even as far as the staff is concerned, Alvin, but how do the students treat each other?" Jennifer asked. Severus looked back and frowned at her disapprovingly.

"Every school has its difficulties," Alvin said calmly, "no matter what system they use separating students, random or otherwise. Today should be a fairly good game, though, I think…Krakens versus the Cranes. Good teams on both sides."

Jennifer glanced at Alvin thoughtfully with a smile, getting the feeling that the match-up between the two equal houses today was anything but coincidental. Not that she had anything against Alvin…he had always been a very good teacher…but Jennifer couldn't help but compare it to Hogwarts, and found, in many ways, it truly offered little comparison. As they settled in to watch the game, Jennifer was a bit intrigued by the physics of playing in such a cavern and the astounding echo of the crowd as the teams came out, but while following their flight pattern she happened to catch sight of the stairs they had just came down and found herself hoping that the game was a long one.

Despite breaking tradition, Zoë was more than willing to hop on the back of Oscar's broom to get down onto the Pitch, especially after learning his position as captain of the Dragon's team secured him a place in one of the boxes. Bright red streamers flowed down from the tower as they alighted on the rail and he helped her down where the rest of his teammates sat, many of them sitting with girls as well wearing their heavy wool dragon coats.

"Here is the girl from Hogwarts," he announced, then prattled off names too quickly and some too odd to Zoë's ears for her to get them straight.

"Do you play Quidditch?" One of the girls wearing a Raven barrette asked, looking at her skeptically.

"Of course I play," Zoë said. "I've been taught by the best there is."

"Oh, really? Who would that be?" the girl asked with a yawn.

"By my godfather, Harry Potter," Zoë said, the name hitting like a bomb as the team suddenly became interested.

"How is he your godfather?" she squinted.

"Because my father was his godfather, of course, I'm Sirius Black's daughter."

"The murderer?" One of the boys asked.

"Oh, he got off," Zoë said, but then her face grew dark. "Of course, that's only because they couldn't really ever prove anything."

"Oh really? Like what maybe?" One of the girls asked.

"Oh, I don't think you'd be interested," Zoë improvised, turning to look at the pitch.

"No, really, if nothing else I'm enjoying hearing you speak. I was under the impression that the English had terrible language skills," Oscar said.

"Oh, that's just because I'm an Omnivox," Zoë said. A round of aaaah's went up through the box. "It's really nice to be sitting in a real school for a change!"

"You do not like Hogwarts?" the girl asked curiously.

"No, because my uncle…that man sitting with your Headmaster, has secretly taken over the school. Dumbledore's getting on in years, you see, and I think my Uncle Severus Snape is putting a charm on him and actually running things himself. What's worse, he knows I suspect something," she grumbled. "That's why he won't let me out of his sight."

"Oh, Oscar, she's putting us on. No one could hex Dumbledore," one of the boys said.

"Then how do you explain the fact that he brought us instead of his own kids?" Zoë said. "Especially knowing that my father might want to kill him for taking us out of the school without his permission. As for the Snapes, I wouldn't be surprised if they're not in this whole conspiracy too! I'm still trying to find out exactly what happened to Aunt Jennifer…Professor Craw, that is," she added darkly.

"What do you mean by that?" Oscar said.

"Well, you know how she's a Dark Witch and all," she said, and several of them nodded. "She's still a supporter of Dumbledore, and a couple years ago, she disappeared mysteriously. They blame it on a memory charm, but I know better. I think she was killed."

"Then who is that?"

"A homunculus," Zoë said solemnly. "A complex but total creation Snape made up to make us think she was still alive. I can even prove it to you," she said, fumbling in her pocket. The skeptical students couldn't help but be curious over where this was going, when Zoë pulled out what looked like to be a Chocolate Frog card, and, as it turned out, was one. "This was my real aunt," Zoë said forlornly, showing them the first Hogwarts series card. "Here, take it, look at the date if you don't believe me, go ahead," she coaxed them, Oscar squinting at the warm bright woman smiling up at him. "Notice anything funny?"

"Well, she looks the same to me, and I've seen her up close," Oscar shrugged.

"Exactly," Zoë said. "That picture was taken over a decade ago. And she looks the same," she said slowly. "I think he used an old picture of her to model his automaton and recreate her personality. Come on, you don't really think a forty-two year old would look like that?"

"She could be taking aging potions," the girl said. "Or perhaps she's part Veela or something."

"I've met a part Veela, our Professor Delacour is one, and trust me, she wasn't part Veela," Zoë said, enunciating on the word 'wasn't.' "But don't worry. One of these days, my uncle is going to go too far, and perhaps then I can prove to the world what he really is. Did you know he was a Death Eater?"


Over in the Headmaster's booth, Jennifer was intent on the game as was Rolanda who was busy giving a play-by-play just in case she missed anything, feeling a bit anxious that she wasn't refereeing this one.

Jennifer found herself not only intrigued by the movements of the Bludgers and the Snitch in the rounded cavern, but the students themselves, for several of them, two on each team were quite unusual in size…in fact, they were built a great deal like Halbert. It was strange and interesting at the same time, even though she had known from mythology that several types of giants had claimed the area as their birthplace, and now it became evident from the students' appearance that giant blood definitely played a part in the genetics of wizards in the area. She had assumed when Alvin mentioned 'mixed bloods' that he meant those of half Muggle descent, but now she realized that wasn't what he meant at all. Those, she mused, glancing at the stands where a shoddy wolves banner flapped, had been condemned to the Muggleborn house. Unlike many parts of Europe, giant heritage, it seemed, had earned a step above that here.

Despite the size of their teammates, all Chasers, the two teams zoomed past at a neck-breaking rate, their movements impressively precise as they headed towards the rings. Of course they would have to be; one wrong move would send them into a cavern wall or into a ricocheting Bludger, and Jennifer now understood why Durmstrang had produced such fine pro players over the years. The tension of the game itself was heightened greatly by the extra danger, and the students below cheered and booed at every little play, causing the stadium to tremble with the echo.

"Uh oh, he forgot about that Bludger he smacked above the rings… oooh here it comes!" Rolanda said then cringed visibly as the Bludger smacked into the shoulder of one of the Kraken Beaters. "It's his first year," Rolanda said sheepishly. "That's going to hurt."

"The girls seem to be doing really well, though, aren't they?" Jennifer said.

"Yeah, they're all seventh years this year though, the Krakens are breaking a few fifth years in," Rolanda said, clapping. "We don't let students younger than that play on the major teams, too dangerous. We have a sort of mini league for them…oooh, there goes another Chaser, girls are down one this time," Rolanda cringed. "It's too bad Dragons aren't playing until later in the season, they're our best team, but we're holding out 'til the scouts start coming to the games in another month."

"We haven't had a scout at Hogwarts in years, thank goodness," Jennifer said, and Rolanda grinned at her.

"Worried about Alicia, are you? They're going to get wind of her sooner or later, you know. Can't keep something like her quiet. In fact, I might have accidentally mentioned her once before at the International Quidditch meeting."

"Oh, no, you didn't!" Jennifer said horrified.

"It doesn't matter," Severus said firmly. "She's not playing."

"Now, Severus, you can't hold talent like that back forever," Rolanda said in a teasing voice, but then became distracted when she caught sight of the Snitch and noticed that the Seekers had seen it too.


Zoë folded her arms, becoming increasingly bored as the game went on. Suddenly she got up, Oscar frowning at her.

"Where are you going?"

"To find a bathroom and maybe have a look around. I'll be back," Zoë said with a wave, but he got up.

"No, I'd better go with you. You don't know your way around and I don't want you getting lost," Oscar said, reluctantly taking his eyes off the game.

"That and Madame Archibald would have a fit if you lost track of me, is that it?" Zoë said, heading down the stairs. "I don't need a babysitter."

"No, of course not," Oscar said quickly, "But there are things about the castle that could be dangerous if you do not know where you are going."

"Really?" Zoë asked thoughtfully. "Well, I could always go for a walk in the Marsh…"

"No, students aren't allowed to go there," Oscar said, following her closely. "We are not allowed to go outside at all without a Professor."

"Not outside at all?"

"Well, usually it's too cold, and when it's not, well, there's a dragon that sometimes comes to swim in the lake…"

"Now that I've got to see," Zoë said enthusiastically. "Can you show me where the dragon is?"

"Well, we can't go outside," Oscar reminded her nervously as the two of them paused behind the stands. "Do you want to see the Owlery? There's a good view of the lake from there."

"Sure, but wouldn't it be a lot faster if we went that way?" Zoë said, pointing up at the vent.

"Well, yes, but…"

"It's not like anyone would be watching," Zoë said, flirtatiously picking at the patches on his coat. "They're all watching the game. And we'd only be outside for a moment. What's wrong, don't like taking a chance every now and then?"

Oscar hesitated, stepping to peer around the stands to see the Headmaster and his guests intently watching the game.

"Very well, but straight to the Owlery," he said, getting out his broom. Grinning, she hopped on the back as he waited for another roar of the crowd to jet straight upward, their stomachs left behind from the speed as he attempted to get out of sight as fast as possible and climb the edge of the caldera, dipping down into it the moment he was able. Clouds reflected within the deep lake, but there was no sign of the dragon as Oscar spiraled around it, getting in position to land in the large bay window that many of the Owls roosted in. "Time to duck!" he warned her, and in they went, pulling up hard to keep from landing in a row of straw-lines shelves inside.

"Well! This is…nice," Zoë mused, glancing around.

"It was your idea to leave," he reminded her as she went over and stood next to the window. "No sign of him today. He doesn't always come here, you know, only every now and again. Headmaster Archibald once said that one of the students stole him when we were on a field trip there, and he hatched in the castle. Since we are so close, he keeps coming back. It has been hard to keep quiet with the Muggles, too. Every time they spot him, there are a whole slew of reporters in the Marsh. Another reason we're not allowed to go there," he chuckled.

"It's too bad there aren't any around Hogwarts," she said, and then looked coyly in his direction. "I'd love to try and ride one."

"Oh, well, that one is a Ridgeback, they are very dangerous…"

"I'm sure I could handle it," Zoë said, playing with his jacket again, "Any dragon can be tamed, especially if you're an expert rider." Oscar stared at her then, caught by surprise.

"You are a little young…"

"Looks can be deceiving. I'm older than I look, and I know more than you might think," Zoë said playfully. "Of course, if you think it's too dangerous, I might humor you and let you teach me."

"Tell me, are all girls at Hogwarts like you?" he said, stepping back a bit.

"No one there is like me," Zoë assured him softly. "See, I'm an Aethermage." But this time, Oscar gazed at her dubiously.

"There is no such thing as an Aethermage. They're just myths…"

"I can prove it to you if you like," Zoë said in a whisper, walking over to him again. "Then perhaps you could show me something in return. Well? Would you care to see a little more of what I can do?" Oscar gazed at her for a long moment then suddenly took out his wand, sweeping it at the door closed and locked and shooing all the owls, hawks and ravens out, several of them hooting and cawing in annoyance from being disturbed from their beds.

"All right," he said then, putting his wand in his belt. "Show me."

Jennifer noticed a flash out of the corner of her eye and turned to see her husband stand up in surprise, glancing over at the Dragon team box before cursing colorfully and diving down the stairs.

"What was that?" Alvin asked sharply, standing himself.

"That was my niece making her move," Jennifer said. "I wonder if Oscar is still with her?"

"He was instructed not to leave her side," Rolanda assured her, using a pair of omniculars to check the box. "They're definitely not in there."

"Do you have any other methods of tracking students in the school?" Jennifer asked.

"If I did, would I tell you?" Alvin said.

"You just did," Jennifer said after reading his expression. "Let's go."

The three of them raced up the stairs, Jennifer firmly ignoring the pain she was in as they ran into the main castle. Immediately Alvin turned and tapped on one of the windows, and several of the strangely colored herring gathered near then swam in a complex pattern.

"Above ground, check birds," Alvin murmured. "The Owlery?"

"What on Earth would she want to go there for?" Jennifer wondered, but the Headmaster was already on his way up. Reluctantly Jennifer took a few easy breaths before heading up herself. But at the very top, the Headmaster paused as he stepped on a door blown off its hinges to see none other than Oscar Lang. He was standing as if completely suspended in time and there was a look of surprise on his face that might have been comical in other circumstances, especially considering the fact that even though he was still wearing his long coat, his pants were at his ankles. Several owls and hawks were at the window complaining loudly, and Rolanda went over to them to try and calm them.

"What do you mean she just left? You can't Apparate out of this school!" Rolanda said.

"Great," Jennifer said, glancing at the door and noticing the locks had been detached as well. At least Severus was hot on the trail.

"This is a very strange paralyzation spell," Alvin murmured. "I don't recognize the signature," he said after attempting to break it.

"Let's try together," Jennifer suggested, offering her hand, Rolanda getting her wand out as well as the Synchronism spell took hold and the three of them at once cast a dispel on it.

"…are you doing, it's too dangerous!" Oscar finished, then blinked in bewilderment to see not Zoë but the Headmaster squinting at him sternly.

"What's too dangerous?" Rolanda asked. "And pull your pants up, son." Growing wide-eyed, Oscar pulled them up as Jennifer sighed and looked the other way, the other two still gazing at him critically.

"Headmaster, I didn't…we didn't…"

"Answer the Madame's question, Oscar," Alvin ordered, his eyes flashing angrily, and Oscar pointed out the window.

"The dragon flew by," he said, and then grew quiet when the three of them stared at him. Jennifer groaned.


Zoë couldn't help but feel elated as the young dragon she was on swooped around the caldera, cheering with excitement as it encircled the lake and then rose above it. It had tried vehemently to get her off his back at first, but as Zoë hung on for dear life she concentrated on soothing thoughts until it finally gave in, bending to her will to glide over the Marsh.

"I think we ought to do a fly by of the village next," Zoë said out loud, stroking its scales from where she sat at the base of its neck where its head ridge tapered off and the back ridge started. It provided a very snug place to sit, and now that Zoë was in control, she felt very daring indeed, knowing exactly how much trouble such a stunt would cause.

A shadow loomed over them and startled the dragon, which turned around and cried out in surprise, hovering in mid-air. A much larger dragon came into sight, her face snarled dangerously and steam coming out of her nose.

The larger dragon cried out then, a loud demanding cry that sounded almost scolding in tone, the younger dragon answering more meekly in return. It was then that she noticed that someone was on the other dragon's back on a specially made saddle, and with dread she realized it was her uncle as the mother dragon lurched back and flapped her wings warningly at her son.

The younger dragon lurched and dove under his mother's reach, moving so fast that Zoë had to cling for dear life to hand on. Then as it reached the lake again, it slowed and turned on its back, dumping Zoë into the freezing water before taking off for home. The shock of the temperature befuddled Zoë's head, and she couldn't think of anything to turn into, or couldn't even tell which was the closest way out. But just then, something was thrown around her and she found herself being pulled out of the water and onto the deck of the ship.

"What an absolutely foolish thing to do! Zoë Black, I swear, what were you thinking?" Jennifer scolded her as Rolanda through a warm towel over the girl.

"Actually I was thinking it was quite fun until Uncle showed up," Zoë said irritably, and Jennifer frowned disapprovingly.

"The girl lacks common sense, she gets it from her father."

Zoë looked up to see Snape stepping off the dragon's back and onto the deck, writing a quick note and putting it in the horn of the saddle to take back to the Reserve he had borrowed her from. The mother dragon cried out again and then took to the sky, disappearing to the north.

"Sorry you had to miss the game for this," Severus added.

"Quite all right, I found it rather entertaining," Rolanda said amusedly.

"You would," Severus said dryly. "Zoë, do you realize that you just caused the Headmaster of Durmstrang a major headache by taking that dragon out of the bounds of this school?"

"It isn't like it hasn't happened before," Archibald said, but the quick glance he got from Severus was so stern even he decided to be quiet.

"Well, I want to know why Oscar Lang is of the opinion that I'm a homunculus and that Severus keeps Dumbledore drugged in a closet while he runs the school himself," Jennifer added in annoyance.

"Excuse me, I think I'll go check on our other guest," Rolanda said quickly, completely unconvinced that she would be able to keep a straight face.

"Oh, I do, do I?" Severus said, his eyes sparkling dangerously. "Just exactly what other rumors about the school have you started?"

"Does it matter?" Zoë challenged him.

"Considering that you were here to represent the school instead of try to degrade it, yes," Severus said.

"Well, maybe Hogwarts could do with a bit of bad publicity with all that rubbish going on about it's being the best stupid wizard school and all that. I hate Hogwarts, it's nothing but a disguised prison where the teachers feel like they can abuse the students any way they want and teach whatever they like, even if it's not the truth. Like that history, it's all rubbish, as anyone who has studied real world history knows," Zoë said.

"Care to make use of my woodshed, Severus?" Alvin growled. Wizard history had always been a sensitive subject with him.

"So…you hate Hogwarts, do you?" Severus said, walking slowly towards her.

"Yes I do!" Zoë declared.

"All the students as well?"

"Especially the students, they're all a bunch of sell-outs, including my brother!"

"And the staff?"

"Yes, the staff too."

"Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Zoë paused then; he was directly over her now.

"Well, no, I wouldn't go that far, but I do hate Hogwarts!" she reaffirmed. "And most especially I hate you!"

"And I suppose anywhere is better than there, hm?"

"Absolutely!" Zoë said.

"Fine," Severus said, and then turned around again. "I'll go make arrangements for you to stay here then." Zoë's jaw dropped as well did Jennifer's, but when Zoë looked over at her, Jennifer's quickly closed it and took a more serious expression.

"Should I get her things, Severus?" she said quickly.

"No rush, it can wait until morning," Severus said unconcernedly. "I'm sure they can wrap her in a paper bag or something until then. Professor, Miss Black does have a serious discipline problem but you'll find her a fairly bright student, as I'm sure she'll need to be when that translation potion wears off. I'll personally recommend her if you're willing to take her off my hands."

"You're lying! You wouldn't really leave me here," Zoë said, shaking her head at him.

"Oh yes, she does like to Apparate at will using a fae power she inherited from her mother, but don't worry. If she does, send me a message by fire and I'll have her brought back," Severus said. Alvin was frowning at Severus as if attempting to determine if he were serious himself. "Shall we go somewhere and fill out the paperwork? I am her legal guardian; I assure you I have the authority. And then afterwards, I think Zacchius, Jennifer and I will leave so that she can adjust."

"Oh, come off it, Uncle Snape! You wouldn't leave me here!" Zoë said again, but was now a bit unsure.

"Oh, really?" he said simply, and then walked off with the Headmaster.

"Come on, Zoë, we'd better get you in and dried off," Jennifer suggested. "Perhaps I can transfigure your robes into more appropriate colors. I suppose you'll be in Bear House, given your Muggle blood and all."

"I don't want to be a Bear anything! I'm a Gryffindor!"

"Not anymore you're not," Jennifer reminded her as they went inside and into the entry room, sitting her by the fire. A few minutes later, Rolanda came back with Zacchius, looking at the two of them curiously.

"Strange place to hang out," she mused.

"We're waiting for Severus and the Headmaster. They're getting Zoë enrolled," Jennifer explained.

"What do you mean enrolled?" Zack said, wide-eyed, looking at his sister. "You're not staying!"

"Of course not! Snape's just trying to get even with me for causing trouble!" Zoë said. "I'm not buying it."

Just then, Snape, Archibald, Hexendaas and Barents arrived from down the corridor, Snape looking unusually grave and Hexendaas with a face to match, while the other two smiled warmly at Zoë.

"Well! It's all settled. Professor Barents will show you where you'll be sleeping, Zoë, and help you work out your class schedule," the Headmaster smiled.

"Yeah right," Zoë said, folding her arms.

"You had better do as your told, Zoë, you're not really my problem now," Snape said. "In fact, feel free to Owl your parents to tell them where you are and why, I'm sure they would like to know, and it'll save me the trouble."

"Come, Miss Black, it's imperative we get you acclimatized to the castle before that potion wears off because you're not going to get another," Professor Barents said. "Right this way."

But Zoë didn't move. She was staring very hard at her uncle who stared back at her with the same fixed look.

"You wanted to be away from Hogwarts, you got it," Severus said. "Go, then!"

"Take care, Zoë," Jennifer said gently. "Don't worry, I'll pack your things myself and have them sent first thing in the morning." Zoë's face grew angry then as she looked between them and at her brother, who looked worried and confused.

"Fine, then!" Zoë said at last, turning to follow Professor Barents up the winding stair.

"No! This can't be happening!" Zack shouted.

"Jennifer, take care of him?"

"I am sorry, Professor Hexendaas, I really had hoped we would have had a chance to talk," Jennifer said as she firmly grabbed Zack who was threatening to run after his sister. "Perhaps you could all could come visit Hogwarts sometime soon."

"I would like that," Hans said politely.

"Just… leave her behind," Severus suggested acidly, gesturing to Zoë who glared at him one last time at the top of the stairs.

"She can't really stay here! Dad would have a cow! Let me go!" Zack said, struggling.

"Have a cow do what?" Jennifer asked curiously.

"Yes, we should be going, and thank you, Headmaster. I believe I owe you one for taking that off my hands." Severus said evenly.

"Oh, any time, Severus," Alvin smiled enigmatically as Severus went to help Jennifer with Zack, both grabbing an arm as they walked him out.


Barents pulled back a red curtain and showed Zoë through to a room filled with desks and three archways with animals carved in each one. Barents frowned when she heard sobbing and peered in the crane room.

"Ursa! You know you are not allowed up here!" She scowled angrily at the ghost.

"Nobody else was in here," Ursa said. "They were all at the game."

"It does not matter, no ghosts in the dorms! Out!" she snapped, and the sullen girl left, taking one look back at Zoë before leaving.

"The dead are such a bother," Barents said grumpily. "This room here is the study room, there are your reference books chained to the desk. Any other books you need will be given to your by your teachers. If you are assigned a report, they will provide those books for you to and tell you when to return them."

"No library?" Zoë asked.

"Students under fifth year aren't permitted in the library area," Barents said, "since it is there mainly for the teacher's benefit for research. At that time, you will be allowed access to books only within your field of study. Here is your room, and your bunk, it is numbered with your student number," she said, walking into the bleak room passed the Bear archway where four rows of beds were lined up, each one with matching blankets and matching wooden trunks that seemed rather small to her. On the walls were simple tapestries of bears, while the floors were dotted with very simple looking vents used to warm the room. "All of your things will go in the trunk. You are not allowed to leave anything out of them when you're not in your room. Quiet will be observed in the study room, but you may talk as you like in here. Do you have a familiar?"

"A chinchilla," Zoë said.

"No exotic pets," Barents frowned. "He will have to stay home. Excuse me a moment while I find you some temporary clothing and get your homework."

Zoë watched her go, walking the full length of the room to stare out the window at the lake. At least the view was nice; she mused, and then smiled privately. With Snape gone, there was hardly anything to keep her from sneaking a midnight ride on the dragon. Actually, there was quite a bit of things she could do without him around. As she pondered the possibilities, Barents returned, holding out a second hand robe with bears embroidered on either side.

"Here are your things. I suggest you change before your dorm mates arrive so you can go to dinner with them, and here is your homework, an alphabet primer and language primer. I do not recall if any of the Bear students know English, but regardless, your homework is due on Monday, so you may want to get started. See you at dinner," she said, putting the things on the bunk and then leaving her there by herself.

Sighing, Zoë looked around for a changing room, and seeing nothing of the sort contented herself to standing on a vent to change into the drab robes, and having no better place to put them, stuck the others in her chest. She saw no clock and wondered how everyone knew when to get up or go to meals, but then remembered Barents said to wait for her classmates. Having absolutely nothing else to do she turned to her homework, frowning at it when she saw how much there was. It was all written in a language and letters she didn't understand, and then remembered with a sigh that the potions didn't work that well on written stuff. She groaned then, wondering what the penalties were like here for not getting homework done as she opened the two primers Barents gave her, wondering how hard it would be to find the Potion Lab and steal a bottle of Translation potion so she could get someone else to read it for her. But before she could put the plan in action, she heard the sound of footsteps as several girls came in the room in Bear robes of their own, looking at her in surprise.

"Why, she's in here! The girl from Hogwarts!" they said to each other.

"We never dreamed you'd be in here!" a dark haired girl said with a grin.

"Did you really ride a Ridgeback?" An older girl asked.

"Yeah," Zoë grinned, and the others looked fairly impressed.

"That must have taken courage. That thing has set the boat on fire three times this year already," the older girl said.

"Well they can't spew fire at you when you're on their back," Zoë pointed out.

"Is that why you got kicked out of Hogwarts?" a younger girl asked.

"I didn't get kicked out," Zoë said indignantly, "I wanted out."

"Are you crazy?" the older girl said incredulously. "Any of us would do anything to have gone there!" All the other girls nodded enthusiastically.

"You don't like it here?" Zoë frowned.

"Oh, well, Headmaster Archibald is great, and the teachers are all right most of the time," she said reluctantly. "But going to Hogwarts is like a free ticket compared to here."

"It's not all that, I assure you," Zoë said.

"I heard they have paintings all over the place, nearly every square inch," said the younger girl.

"Is it true there's a fireplace in each room? And ghosts are allowed to go anywhere they like?"

"Well, within reason," Zoë answered with a grin.

"And you're allowed to eat in your rooms too?"

"I heard there was an all magic town nearby that they were actually allowed to visit."

"And Dumbledore gives everyone a fair shake, no matter who your parents are or how much money you have," another girl said, and they all grew quiet.

"Zoë, Dumbledore's not really in trouble, is he?" the older girl said. "Because if he is, we really want to find a way to help." Zoë became uncomfortable at their worried faces. Dumbledore had done a lot for her and her brother as well, standing by them more than once when they had been in trouble, and the idea of him being in any trouble, she realized, frightened her as well.

"No," Zoë said at last, feeling the wave of relief sweep through the room. "I was only saying that to try to get folks to see what a rotten guy my uncle is."

"Well, if someone's actually rotten, you hardly need to make stuff up about them, it comes out on its own," said the older girl. "I'm Gretchen, by the way. And this is Oda."

"Zoë," she said, and another wave of relief went through the room.

"Thank goodness!" Oda said, the younger girl. "We were afraid you had one of those British names that's hard to pronounce!" Another ring of laughter went up.

"So, does anyone happen to know any English? I don't think my translation potion's going to last much longer," Zoë admitted, and all the sudden their faces fell. "Not anybody?"

"I went to a public school," Oda admitted, and many of the others agreed.

"I'm wizard born, but parents didn't have any money, so I went to a Muggle school too, and this was the best they could afford. They don't really teach many language skills here," Gretchen said. "Many of the Ravens know English I think, but of course they wouldn't help you."

"Why not?" Zoë asked, and the girls looked at each other unsurely.

"Zoë, there's something you really need to understand if you're going to stay here," Gretchen began carefully, sitting on the bed next to her. But before she was able to continue, the other Bear girls stood quickly and moved further into the room as four Ravens walked in with Dragon jackets on, the one in front, Zoë immediately recognized, was Kerra Lang. The girl walked straight over to Zoë and gave her such a hard slap that the other girls gasped.

"How dare you make a pass at my brother? If I had been told that you had dirt in your bloodline, I never would have agreed to even seeing either of you! She may have a pureblood uncle, but her own line is filthy! My brother and I are of noble blood!"

"Hit me again like that and you will be seeing blood," Zoë threatened, causing the Bears to whisper. "And I'll have you know that my father had noble blood as well!"

"Liar! Just another lie to your collection!"

"No, that one was the truth," Zoë said.

"Then why were you put in Bear then, hm? We're not stupid, Brit!"

"I'm also American!" Zoë said proudly, and all the Raven girls looked completely disgusted, a couple of the Bears not looking all that impressed either.

"Then get this straight, American trash," Kerra said. "You get around any boy that isn't one of those filthy wolves, I'll make sure your life is a living hell! To think I once wanted to go to that school! If they let that sort of scum in, I'm so glad I came here instead!"

Gretchen waited until the Ravens all headed to dinner before turning back around.

"And they think I have problems," Zoë murmured.

"She would be sore. She and her brother both got turned down for Hogwarts, and their parents had the money to send them," Gretchen said. "I'm afraid you just made a bad enemy, Zoë. All she has to do is accuse you of something to the staff, and you'll be in for it."

"Please. Archibald taught at Hogwarts too, he can't be all that rotten."

"Yes, he's all right, and Madame Archibald, and all the new teachers they brought in," Gretchen admitted. "But watch out for Hexendaas and some of the other older Professors here. They won't blink at the chance to put any of us in the isolation tank."

"What's that?"

"It's like an aquarium that sits in the lake, only it's the students that go inside, one hour for each offense. It's extremely boring… and very embarrassing too. You can see the tank from some of the classrooms and all of the teacher's offices. I think they did that on purpose as a sort of threat to keep folks from getting into trouble," Gretchen said. "Don't you have anything like that at Hogwarts?"

"No, we get detention, and believe me, it's no more fun than what you have," Zoë said. "We have to do the Professor's dirty work." Zoë paused, because their faces had suddenly gone strange, looking at her puzzledly. "What? Did I say something wrong?" Gretchen said something, and Oda answered, but Zoë couldn't understand a word of it, groaning. "Oh, I see," she sighed. "Forget it then."

Gretchen smiled apologetically at her and said something, taking her by the arm, the rest of the girls following behind them, quietly slipping through the study room, the group instantly getting chatty when they passed the curtain, and although Zoë couldn't understand it, it definitely sounded like warm chatter. But as they entered the Chamber of Gathering, they grew quiet again. The room was a giant circle done in seven sections, one for each group and the main table. Quietly they slipped in one of the back ones, pointedly ignoring the jeers and soft whispers from the boys sitting at the table on the other side of the door. Apparently, the wolves tried to earn their name, Zoë smirked, sitting where Gretchen indicated, everyone silently waiting for the teachers to take their places.

Drinks appeared first, and Zoë stared curiously at the red stuff in the glass, smelling it experimentally and discovering it really was wine. Gretchen nudged her though and shook her head, drawing her attention to the Headmaster, who was giving some sort of speech. At the very end he raised his glass, said something short and then repeated in English, "To friendships abroad," and smiled at Zoë, then took a drink.

Zoë took a cautious sip, and then the glass disappeared. All of the other wine glasses around her followed suit until only some of the oldest students had one. She couldn't help but feel a bit robbed when she looked down to see a glass of goat's milk had taken its place. The food didn't look all that appetizing, and the fish dish in the center that Gretchen called 'lutefisk' was the first thing to be pushed away, although she did pull a meat cake apart and nibble at that. Well, Zoë thought to herself, she did need to lose a little weight, and it wouldn't take long at this rate, she thought, deciding she wasn't too fond of the gritty cookies they had with it either. Gretchen offered her some strawberries then, and Zoë felt a little better after that, but she did wish she could understand Gretchen. She had so many things to ask!

When dinner was over, Gretchen and Oda let her know when they could go, walking her to the restrooms just down the stairs. Then they all went to head up to their rooms, when suddenly they stopped, freezing in their tracks when they saw Professor Hexendaas and Kerra Lang in front of them, Kerra talking in an almost distressed fashion. Zoë understood her name, but when it was obvious she didn't understand anything else, Gretchen began to talk anxiously, followed by Kerra, arguing back loudly. They paused then, and Hexendaas shook his head and said something, taking out his wand and tapping the nearest window.

That's when Zoë felt extremely strange, as if she were floating in very dark water. Then she realized after blinking a moment that that was because she was looking through dark water, and was even now staring out at the row of windows of the underwater part of the castle. She had been put in the tank, and she didn't even have the foggiest clue what she said! Pressing against the glass, she saw the faces of Gretchen and Oda in one of the windows, staring back at her, making confusing motions with their hands while two windows down, Professor Hexendaas turned on a light and sat down at the desk of what appeared to be his office.

A moment later, Gretchen and Oda turned and ran. Zoë had very little clue of where they went. An hour? In here? Not likely she thought, wondering if she should just pop out, wondering how much trouble that would get her in. If her father knew about this, he would be absolutely furious, she knew. Of course, he'd be even more furious if she did stay in there for the full hour, she thought, experimentally breathing on the glass to see if she could scroll a message. But the tank stayed clear, and strange looking fish sidled up to the tank as if curious, some of them irritatingly tapping on the glass.

But just as she was coming to the conclusion that the wait probably wasn't worth the boredom she'd have to endure, she noticed another light come on and saw the face of the Headmaster blinking at her in surprise. Out came the wand and against the glass, and Zoë felt herself pulled back through and wobbly-legged found herself standing in front of him.

"Are you all right? I'm so sorry about that," Archibald said apologetically. "These two have explained what happened. I think my deputy got a bit carried away."

"What was I accused of?" Zoë demanded.

"Um, well, causing harm to a fellow student, but don't worry. I have full intentions of making it clear to Professor Hexendaas that breaking a nail after coming into contact with someone's face is hardly causing harm to anyone."

"Well, I'd think it'd be easily grounds to have her put in there don't you?"

"Yes, yes it would," Archibald sighed, then shook his head slightly. "Believe me, if I could, Zoë I would do it in a heartbeat, for this and so much more. Look, Zoë," he said, glancing apologetically to Oda and Gretchen who were frowning not having an idea a word he was saying. "I take in a lot of wizard hopefuls here… a lot more than any of my predecessors did, students who have a lot of talent but for one reason or another can't afford school. They are on a sort of honor system, where their families contribute as they can, when they can. And because of that, sometimes I have to be a bit lenient on some of the families that donate more than their fair share. Yes, because of that these students get wrongly accused sometimes. Yes, the friction is unbearable from time to time, but at least they're in school. I will take the full weight of the blame for pulling you out of there, Zoë, but this school can't afford either of the Langs getting… well, their just reward. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Zoë said quietly.

"Good," Alvin said. "And I'd appreciate it if we kept it our little secret. Dumbledore has enough to worry about with Hogwarts, I'd rather he not worry about us, okay?"

"Yeah," Zoë said quietly, "Not that I'm going to see him any time soon."

"Well, we'll see," Alvin said with a slight smile, then looked back to the two girls. "I see you've made some friends, at least," he said, repeating it in Norwegian, the two of them smiling slightly and nodding. "You'd better go study. I'll take care of Hexendaas."

"Anyway I can get a translator for my homework?" Zoë asked daringly.

"Do what you can with it first. You may learn something," Alvin suggested. Zoë sighed, and Alvin said something to the other two.

Gretchen grabbed Zoë's arm and led them out again, hurrying upstairs at a very fast pace, probably to avoid the irate Dark Arts Professor. As they stepped into the room, Zoë noticed several of the Raven girls look up at her wide eyed, but didn't get up as the three of them headed into their rooms. Oda and Gretchen immediately broke out talking, sounding relieved, then Gretchen tapped at Zoë's book. Reluctantly, Zoë picked up her books as the other two girls went to get theirs, and then Oda said something and patted her bed, apparently not wanting to go into the quiet room to study. Not that it made any difference to Zoë, she thought with annoyance. She couldn't understand them anyhow.

But as she walked over to sit with them she suddenly spotted something in Gretchen's trunk that caused her to stop and go over, holding the top of the box up so she could see the two letters taped there; one was an acceptance letter from Hogwarts, the other an invitation for a foreign exchange program, also marked with a Hogwarts seal. Gretchen put a finger to her lips to indicate it was a secret, and Zoë nodded, standing as she closed it and slowly walked over to the bed, feeling worse than she had all day as she opened her language primer and took a shot at a few words.

Giggling at her pronunciation, the other two put down their own work to teach her some basics instead until Professor Barents showed up and they were all made to get up and stand by their beds. She gazed critically at them then said something that made them all jump in bed at the same time, and a moment later the lights all snuffed out at once as she headed to the next room. Zoë lay awake in bed for a long time before the tears finally came, and Zoë turned over and pulled up the covers feeling cold and hungry and not so much in favor of this new arrangement at all.