Part Three: Riddles and Games

It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold - You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear.

Elliana sat in her dorm, reading Hamlet. The leather-bound book received numerous protective enchantments as soon as Elliana reached Hogwarts- Anti-tearing Spells, Anti-theft Charms, Waterproofing Spells, and insurance against any kind of damage one could imagine. Elliana valued that book, and she didn't want any harm to come to it.

Brooke had been sorted into Slytherin, much to Elliana's surprise. But then, it seemed to make sense. Brooke's incessant babbling would not have been compatible with the quiet of the library- Ravenclaw had not been an option. Brooke was smart, and she would not have done well surrounded by people who were set on pleasing others rather than gaining knowledge and power. Hufflepuff was out. Elliana would have placed Brooke in Gryffindor left with the choice. Somehow, the Sorting Hat didn't. Elliana figured that the Sorting Hat could put some metaphysical meaning out of its placement.

So, Elliana had surprised everyone, it seemed. She didn't tell Brooke to shut it- she actually defended the girl once or twice. She never ignored her to study instead. Elliana had made a conscious decision to keep Brooke as a friend. Brooke didn't annoy her, strangely enough. Elliana finally had someone to sit with at meals and classes. It was a new experience.

"Elliana!" Brooke said as she opened the door to the dorm. "There you are! Alison told me that you went to the library. The only people in the library were a mass of Ravenclaws. I think they're starting a cult or something." Brooke laughed and flopped on her bed. It had been placed across from Elliana's; next to Natalie's.

"Someone lost them quite a few house points. I think they're trying to figure out how to recover." Elliana said, putting down the book and stretching. She tied her hair back and leaned back on her pillows.

"Oh yes…that party last weekend or something. That was crazy. After curfew, in Hogsmeade, and with Fire whiskey. Can you believe that? I bet they're planning extra studying and tutoring of all the first-years so that everyone can gain points in classes." Brooke hugged her tattered, much-loved stuffed Kneazle.

"Most likely. Do you have the Astronomy charts from last week, Brooke?" Elliana asked, digging out her own charts. She hadn't been feeling well, and her vision had been a bit clouded. This morning, she had discovered that the Big Dipper was at least 50,000 miles away from where it should have been.

"Yeah, here." Brooke said, throwing Elliana a roll of parchment. "That was a dreary lesson Sinistra gave us. You'd think she'd want to keep our attention at midnight. Wouldn't want us dozing off or some such thing. Instead, she didn't teach us anything new at all. Just reviewed angles and asteroid equations. I hope it's more interesting tonight." Brooke sighed.

"I know. Just think…Halloween is Friday. We don't have classes." Elliana looked up from her charts and smirked. "Too bad we miss Transfiguration…you are the most amusing person when David's in the room."

"Oh, be quiet!" Brooke exclaimed, throwing the Kneazle at Elliana. "He's not involved in the cult thing at all. I didn't see him there. Besides, I am not amusing."

"You looked, did you? I thought you were checking on me. And yes, you are amusing." Elliana threw the Kneazle (its name was Bradford) back and finished up her star chart.

"You weren't there…and I was. And when I established that David wasn't, I ceased to be as well." Brooke stuck out her tongue.

"You're such a parrot."

"What?"

"Nevermind."

"See? I swear…you have the worst train of thought. You don't talk much at all, and so it's very difficult to follow what you're thinking. You just come up with these things, and it's weird. You scare me sometimes, Stormborne." Brooke turned over on her back and sighed. "He likes Alison."

"Who?"

"David!"

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"So what does it matter?" Elliana asked, blinking. "He's entitled to like whomever he wishes."

"But I like him!" Brooke whined, rolling over on her stomach and propping her chin up on her hands. "He can't like Alison. Alison's too ruffly."

"Only you could make 'ruffle' into an adjective."

"Elliana! Focus on the problem." Brooke said.

"There is no problem. He likes Alison. So what? You like him, I get that. I don't know why, but I know that you do. There are more important things, Brooke." Elliana had had this discussion before, but it kept returning.

"Like school?"

"Yes, like school. Besides, there's too many hormones running rampant already. You don't have to add to the idealistic adoration of random people." Elliana picked at her comforter.

"David is not a random person."

"Whatever you say, Brooke. Whatever you say."

The fire in the eyes of the Jack-O-Lantern flared up and taunted the girl. There was fire all around her, and no way out. A man in front of her laughed, and raised a hand. A dozen cloaked figures circled in front of the flames, ever round the girl. Their shadows danced on the hard stone floor. The girl stood tall, but not for long. The man raised his wand and had her on her knees, rolling over in pain. Her screams shattered the Jack-O-Lantern and the fire spread rapidly. The girl looked up and saw a demon in front of her. Surely a demon, thirsting for her soul. Surely a demon…

Elliana awoke with a short scream. She shook the vision from her head. She hated the nightmares. Hated them…they never made any sense. Elliana had been pouring over the volumes in the library since she had arrived back, but nothing was to be found. She needed to learn to fight this soon, or she would drive herself mad. As of now, she was concocting potions to keep dreams away. The nightmares faded, but they would never be gone.

Elliana slipped on a bathrobe and went downstairs, hoping to find solace in the dying embers of the fire. Instead, she saw a figure huddled in front of them. As Elliana turned around, the girl heard her. Elliana turned back to see that it was Brooke. In the light of the fire, her cheeks were stained with tears.

"Brooke?" Elliana said, hurrying over to her friend. "What happened?"

"It's Halloween…" Brooke said softly. "It's Halloween…."

"Yes, it's Halloween." Elliana agreed.

"I had a nightmare…my sister was in it." Brooke fell silent. Elliana cautiously sat down next to her friend and put a hand on the girl's shoulder. Elliana couldn't find the words, so she remained silent as well. "She was hurt."

"I didn't know you had a sister."

"I did. She died…three years ago. Someone put her under a curse." Brooke's tears flowed freely. "She died in the hospital. On Halloween…it all happened on Halloween…It's all so horrid." Elliana nodded.

"Nightmares are."

"But it wasn't like a nightmare…it was what had happened…what did happen before she died. They wanted information that she couldn't give them. My family tried to keep her safe, but she wanted to be independent. Oh god…we were protected by a Fidelius Charm…she wouldn't come with us. And it's all my fault…it's all my fault. My family was suddenly targeted and it was all my fault…It was always my fault…I talk too much…all because I talk too much." Brooke cried and bit her lip. "I was bragging to a friend…at least, I thought they were a friend. I told them my mother could do some things that she really couldn't do. The friend was bad…I found that out. The friend had bad parents, and she told them what I had said. My family was targeted…and oh god…my sister wouldn't come with us…you can't force a person to hide or the Charm doesn't work…and oh god…they just…I hate Halloween." Brooke sobbed quietly for a while and Elliana stayed silent-staring at the flames. She could relate, more than ever, to Brooke. Brooke had been responsible for a death. Elliana had been responsible for three.

A ball had been planned for the night of Halloween. Elliana was going, but only to make sure that Brooke didn't have too much butterbeer or drool over David too much. The girls of Hogwarts were in a frenzy, and Elliana happily was not part of this. Instead, she waited until the last few minutes before the feast to change into her dress robes. They were sea green to match her eyes, and swept across the front in a fluid motion. The sleeves were long and floaty, much like the dress she had worn to the ballet. Elliana braided her hair and walked to the common room.

Brooke had not cried or shown any signs of being upset since early that morning. Elliana supposed that Brooke was a very controlled person, and this outburst had been a one-time thing. Elliana avoided the ever-so-jumpy crowd of teenage girls that clumped by the stairs. She made her way to Brooke.

"And so, Halloween really has nothing to do with pumpkins at all. Pumpkins just make it look better, I suppose. It'd have the very same meaning if I danced around with an ear of corn in my hand." Brooke was chatting happily with a second-year girl. She spotted Elliana and motioned her over. "Elliana, what do you think of bananas?"

"Excuse me?" Elliana asked.

"Well, here's my thought. The house elves always send up fruit to the tables in the morning for breakfast. They never ever send up bananas, though. It makes me sad. I think we need to protest or something." Brooke raised her fist. "It's only fair that we have bananas."

"Brooke, how many chocolate frogs have you had today?"

"Sixteen and a half." Brooke answered, unfazed. She turned back to the second year and began making plans for a Banana Revolution. Elliana shook her head and began her walk to the Great Hall.

Usually, there was a Christmas Ball and a Halloween Feast. There had not been a Halloween Ball for many many years. However, dark times were ahead, and most parents wanted their children home for Christmas. Elliana personally had no preference; seeing as how she didn't like balls anyway.

The Feast passed quickly, as it always did. Elliana spotted bananas at the Gryffindor table, but she didn't tell Brooke. Maybe the house elves figured that Slytherins weren't cheerful enough to eat bananas. Elliana had just finished a piece of chocolate cake when the tables cleared and moved to the side.

The candles dimmed and music rose softly from nowhere. The Head Boy and Girl would open the ball. Elliana noted that the Slytherin table was dark against the wall. Good. She walked over to it and sat, keeping an eye on David and another on Brooke. She winced when others joined the dance and David asked Alison first. Alas, Brooke had been right. Although Elliana didn't see why it mattered so much, she still felt badly for her friend.

After the slow song, two upbeat tunes played. One was from a popular wizarding band, The Purple Doxies, and the other song was by a muggle band. Elliana laughed silently at the amusement on the dance floor. Most of the older students had gotten to the point of purely showing off, and they danced with total disregard for the beat of the music. Elliana smiled slightly as one particularly rowdy seventh year boy was told to tune it down a bit by the Potions Master. Another slow song started, and people paired off quickly.

"Stormborne." Elliana turned at the sound of her name and groaned as she saw Wynton Ashwinder. She frowned and raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you weren't going to talk to me again. Ever." Elliana turned her eyes back to the dance floor.

"I believe in second chances. Dance with me." Wynton stepped in front of her and blocked her view of the dancing. "Come on. I'm trying to be nice to you."

"I don't need pity."

"It isn't pity."

"It is."

"Just dance with me, damn it!" Wynton said, losing his temper. Elliana jumped back; startled. She looked past him at the dance floor and then looked at him. "And don't tell me you can't dance. I know it's a lie."

"Fine." Elliana said with surprising calm, hopping down from the table. Wynton nodded and took her hand, leading her to the dance floor.

"I would have thought you'd be in the library." Wynton said once they'd started dancing. Elliana decided to ignore the comment and made a mental note to keep her temper at bay. "You don't seem the type for these social events."

"I'm here."

"Yes, you are." Wynton laughed quietly. "I will never understand you, it seems. But I wish you'd let me try. I'm glad, though, that you found a friend." Wynton said this with a small amount of malice and he glanced towards Brooke.

"How very chivalrous of you." Elliana said sarcastically. Wynton looked wounded.

"I wouldn't think of it." He whispered. "Chivalry is for Gryffindors."

"Maybe you were misplaced. You're so in touch with your emotions and so nosy about mine. Go away. Or maybe I have the find the key. What is your key, Ashwinder?" Elliana growled at him as the song ended and began to walk back to her place in the shadows. Wynton followed her, though.

"Let's get something straight right now, Stormborne. I wouldn't care less if you were all moody and depressed if you were, say, a Hufflepuff. I wouldn't care if you secluded yourself then. But basically, your attitude looks bad to everyone. It already kept you from getting Prefect this year. I was there when they were selecting them, Stormborne. 'Oh dear, Ms. Stormborne-'" Wynton put on a high, mocking voice. "'She's such a good example in the classroom, but she's so withdrawn.' Teacher talk for a bad attitude, Stormborne. That's all it is. You have a friend- that's great- but you still keep away from everyone else. It looks bad. Slytherin hasn't had a Head Boy or Head Girl in eighteen years. You're the prospect. If you don't get your act together, you'll pass without a second glance. Get off your shadowed pedestal and see what's out there." Wynton crossed his arms, waiting for her to say something. Elliana sat, shocked. She didn't show the surprise- but it was there. Elliana had had no idea that everyone had looked to her for this sort of thing. Of course, she knew that her attitude had affected her Prefectness, but she never had dreamed that she had a chance at Head Girl.

It had never seemed important. But, now that Ashwinder had brought it to her attention, she had no choice but to reach for it. It was power- and she wanted it. She wanted it badly- just because it was there. Elliana didn't dare voice this, but she knew that Wynton would see the ambition rise from its dormancy.

"Stormborne, say something." Wynton said, sitting next to her. She ignored him for a moment, turning things over in her head. How could she change this? Elliana didn't want a slew of friends…that wasn't her type. She was perfectly happy with Brooke to talk to. Elliana didn't think she was up to this challenge.

"What would you have me say?" Elliana turned to Wynton and looked at him quizzically. She would have to accept the hand of friendship, it seemed. She winced at the thought. He irked her. "I will not stand to care about what people think."

"You will."

"What, then?"

"Tell me I'm a jackass and send me away. I don't know."

"You are a jackass."

"And?"

"You can stay. I want to know more." Elliana listened as he explained that Professor Grimer needed a tutor for two third year Potion students. Wynton had been asked, he explained, but he had to spend his extra hours studying Charms- his worst class. Wynton said that that might be a good start for her. Grimer would see that she was anxious to help her fellow school-mates. Elliana would not have called herself anxious, but she'd be stupid to let Head Girl pass her by.

Elliana began tutoring the third years the next week. It was as horrid as she had imagined, and maybe worse. It was as though Wynton Ashwinder had bestowed this punishment upon her, and it sickened her that she had been unprepared. The third year Ravenclaw girl was snotty and obnoxious. She was smart, and she knew it. But she didn't care to work. The Hufflepuff boy was kind to Elliana, but completely daft. He never seemed to hear anything that she told him. Directions went unfollowed- steps skipped. Elliana hated the tutoring.

Also, Elliana made a life-altering decision. Well, maybe it wasn't anything life-altering, but it definitely was a decision. She would never ever become a professor. She couldn't stand all of the questions. For her own sake, though, she kept her vexation to herself. Elliana only had to tutor until Christmas.

After one particularly long night in the library, Elliana collapsed on her bed. She sighed and opened the window without moving from her flopped position. The cold air was a nice wash to her exhaustion. Her roommates were out doing various activities that didn't involve her. Natalie was at a Quidditch practice. Alison dated at least three new guys a week- and it was Friday. Number two. Elliana knew where Brooke was as well- helping David with his Herbology. Herbology was Brooke's best subject, and David had discovered this. David was horrible in Herbology, and took full advantage of Brooke's swooning over him. Brooke had promised to tutor him on Thursday and Friday nights. Elliana laughed to herself. The Fridays had been Brooke's idea. Fridays made it seem like a date, Elliana supposed. She sat up and looked around for her Transfiguration book…she had an essay to finish.

A knock at her door broke her concentration during a particularly grueling Switching Spell. Elliana slammed her book shut and pointed her wand at the door. In walked Wynton Ashwinder. Elliana covered her head with a pillow.

"Don't you ever learn?" Elliana asked from under the pillow.

"Learn what?" Wynton asked.

"You're like an evil Ministry spy or something…I don't know. You remind me of a sidekick in a romance novel- foolishly naïve and always showing up where he isn't wanted. It's sickening. You're like a Jobberknoll…following people around. Why are you so clingy? I danced with you once!" Elliana threw a pillow at him. Wynton stood, looking amused.

"You think very highly of yourself, don't you?" Wynton asked, smirking. Elliana blinked.

"Sometimes."

"I came to return your Charms notes." Wynton said pointedly, handing her a roll of parchment. Elliana took it and looked the notes over.

"I don't remember letting you borrowing these." Elliana said distantly.

"You didn't. I took them a while back while you were tutoring the third years." Wynton picked up Brooke's kneazle and frowned. It was spouting stuffing, and looking extremely forlorn.

"Oh. Well, I guess me yelling at you wasn't totally offbeat, then. It had the potential to be an embarrassing situation, but yes…you stole my notes while I was going through Hell helping younger students at your suggestion. You're a jerk." Elliana rolled her eyes. "Get out of my room. You returned the notes, and I see no reason for us to continue this rambling bit of small talk. Leave. Now."

"You're impossible."

"OUT!"

December neared and Elliana was overloaded with study schedules and inquiries for tutoring. The word of her good deed had spread, and it was quite annoying. Elliana lost her control and hexed a fourth year that followed her for a whole day. Elliana had become snappish with everyone. She was not afraid to hex those who vexed her. Ignoring them completely, she would dive into her search for information about her visions. The nightmares had hit with surprising force lately, and Elliana wanted to know how to stop it.

One night, Elliana found a charm mentioned in a book from the Restricted Section. She had stumbled upon it when looking for information for an Advanced Charms essay. It was a charm that made one have full control over what they dreamed. There was only one problem. It involved some Dark Magic. Elliana had never done Dark Magic, but this was worth it. She couldn't do it in the school, though. There were censors for that sort of thing. She'd have to do it in Hogsmeade.

The spell, called the Sominarius Charm, required a Sleeping Drought to be taken under a full moon with an incantation to follow. Elliana copied down the incantation and closed the book, putting it back on the shelf. She hurried to the Common Room to find out when the next Hogsmeade day was.

Isn't it ironic? Time has this way of making a mockery of you. Elliana found that the next Hogsmeade day was in January- and not on a full moon. She'd have to wait until March for the two events to coincide, but the dreams would be under her control forever. Elliana walked up to her dorm and opened the door to find Brooke looking through her books.

"Brooke?" Elliana asked, shutting the door behind her. She looked questioningly at the girl as she turned, red-handed. A look of guilt passed over Brooke's face and she averted her eyes. "Brooke, why were you going through my things?"

"I wasn't going through your things…not really." Brooke sighed, seemingly wishing to be anywhere but the room. Elliana strode over to Brooke and searched her face for an answer. Elliana's privacy hadn't truly been invaded since long ago. But now…this was unbelievable. Yet here it was, happening.

"You were. I want an explanation before I curse you to Doomsday!" Elliana said angrily. Brooke looked taken aback. She backed up, but Elliana followed threateningly. Elliana had never gone so far as to yell at Brooke. What had set her over the edge, Brooke wondered.

"Elliana…I…you've been screaming in your sleep…We're all worried about you…" Brooke stuttered, which only happened in supreme cases of nervousness. "I was looking to see if you kept a journal or…"

"You would have read my journal?" Elliana asked icily.

"Only to see what it was…we want to help you." Brooke seemed confused as to why this was a big deal. She hadn't done anything, really. "We're your friends, Elliana."

"I see. And you would have read my journal to gain information that you didn't have courage enough to ask me for. I see now why you weren't put in Gryffindor." Elliana countered, glaring at Brooke.

"Elliana! Stop! This isn't about houses or character traits or stupid things like that. This is about your well-being. You're being ignorant by keeping this from us. From me. I'm your friend, Elliana. I only want to help you!" Brooke shook Elliana hard. Elliana pushed Brooke away and watched as the girl stumbled backwards, falling to the ground. Brooke looked more hurt than Elliana had ever seen her.

"Do you want my secrets, Brooke? Is that it?" Elliana asked maliciously. She reached under her pillow and retrieved a blue, leather-bound book. Elliana threw it at Brooke, hitting her squarely in the cheek, and stalked from the room.

Brooke yawned and turned another page. She had been reading the journal for at least three hours now, having skipped dinner. The words seemed to keep on coming, the pages enchanted to be endless. Brooke had found very little- Elliana wrote in a cryptic sort of style. All of her writing was full of riddles and endless metaphors. Elliana spoke of "nightmares," but the information bore little substance. Until:

This thing that has haunted me since I was young…this shadow in the night. It's calling to me to try and vanquish it. Truly, I know that I cannot. But I have to try. I am sick of seeing things that are not real, but will be or have been. It is eerie that I am 'blessed' with this Sight. I want to know nothing…and yet, it teases me still. I can tell no one…no one can help. This Sight will tear me apart, I feel. It will bring all that I have ever wrought to ruin.

Brooke closed the journal and looked up. In the candlelight, Elliana stood. Brooke winced. Elliana's long, black hair shone blue in the light and she seemed nothing less than a demon from the depths of Hell. Brooke shoved the image away and saw what was there- An Elliana that was mad, yet possibly willing to hear an explanation.

"Elliana…"

"What, Brooke? Can't find the words? That problem has never occurred before." Elliana didn't move. The words seem to float across the room in Brooke's direction, but she didn't let them affect her. Elliana was pissed, and her words were her weapons. But Brooke felt shielded.

"Shut up! Just for one minute." Brooke screamed. "I have no pity for you, Elliana. None. You have the chance to ask for my help, or let me listen to whatever you must. People tell me that you've never had friends, Elliana. Maybe that's because you close them out. I don't know. Maybe you treat them like you've treated my today. If you're having a bad day, I understand. I have them too." Brooke stood up and reached out to Elliana, but she pulled away.

"How very nice of you." Elliana spat. "I don't need your help. I have it under control. I have never taken pity, and I'm glad you won't give it. Save it for someone else."

"Fine! I sincerely hope that you're over this soon. I don't think I'd like sitting through History of Magic without you to talk to." Brooke tried to smile, but Elliana frowned.

"I think you'd live."

Elliana had always been alone for Christmas, and this was no exception. Brooke had gone home, very bitter still. She had been eerily quiet lately, and all of Slytherin was gossiping about it. Elliana cared very little, however. She sat on her bed, writing in her journal. She was sick of acting like someone she wasn't, and had once again become withdrawn. Elliana didn't need to be Head Girl, she decided. That was a passing, fleeting thing.

Dinner would be served shortly, and only a few people had stayed this holiday. Elliana would be missed, and someone would most likely come to look for her. She walked down to the common room and found Wynton. Even though they didn't speak, they walked to the Great Hall together. He seemed to know what had happened with Brooke, for he brought it up partway through dessert.

"Poor Stormborne. Friendless again." He hissed, taking a bite of pie. Elliana kicked him hard under the table and glared in his direction. She would not say anything in the presence of the teachers, but her eyes flashed gold with anger and remained that way for quite awhile.

"Walk with me." Wynton said after dinner. Elliana nodded and followed him silently. She wanted to get to a place where she could hex him without immediate consequence. He seemed to know this, but laughed it off. Wynton led her outside and turned to her. "You were doing so well."

"Bite me, Ashwinder. You were toying with me. I am not your experiment. You cannot change what I am. I chose to be withdrawn and closed-off. I could not care less about the glory of Slytherin." Elliana sat on the bench and pulled her cloak around her.

"Stormborne, you're friend owled me. She seemed to think we had talked or something. She cares about you, for some unseen reason. Why do you push her away?" Wynton picked a leaf off the tree and started picking it apart.

"Stop lecturing me. I have no friends- you said so yourself." Elliana got up and started walking across the lawns. Wynton caught up with her as she neared the Greenhouses. It started to rain softly, and she stopped in her tracks. In a smooth motion, she pivoted and began back towards the castle.

Wynton caught her wrist.

"Let go of me!" Elliana screamed. Wynton didn't let go, however.

"Stormborne, she was helping you. You hurt her. Do you know that? Why do you always run from your problems?" Wynton asked as the rain came harder. Elliana squirmed.

"I don't care what she feels. I'm through caring. Don't feed me this glory schpeil…I've heard it all before, trust me. Now let me go…I'll hex you, I swear it!" Elliana was in tears at this point. Wynton had never seen her in tears.

"What is your problem?" Wynton asked softly.

"The rain…It's raining…" Elliana muttered. A look of realization passed over Wynton's face as he dropped her wrist. She began running toward the castle. After a moment of shock, Wynton followed her. Once inside the Entry Hall, Wynton stopped her.

"Stormborne…I didn't mean to do th-"

"I know. Leave me alone, Ashwinder. You've made your point." Elliana ran towards the common room and left a trail of soggy footprints behind her.

The woman of forty-seven years wept. She was standing in the house of her most hated enemy, begging for mercy. Her twenty-nine year old daughter was getting weaker, and would die if she remained around this place much longer. The woman sacrificed pride and honor, and broke down.

"Please! She did nothing! Leave her be!" She pleaded with him.

"She is part of you. You took part of me, I took part of you." The man said. He was not laughing or sneering, only speaking the truth.

"She's my daughter!" the woman screamed.

"She's not suffering." The man assured her.

"I loved you." The woman whispered.

"That love is gone. Only ice remains." The man burned her with her own words.

"Take me instead! My life! Please…"

"I cannot kill you. The ancient magic remains!" The man pushed her away from him. He walked over to a drawer and withdrew a box.

"Here. Take it. It's for your granddaughter. A lasting gift from her mother." The man said. The woman looked confused.

"You think a necklace will replace a daughter?" She screamed. The man shook his head.

"No, but it will ensure you an heir by magical means."

"I want my daughter!" The woman sobbed. A young woman with silver hair entered the room.

"Father," she said. "I've come." The young girl of about thirty looked in his eyes and between them passed an unspoken message. The man turned to the older woman and frowned.

"Get thee gone. It's over. She suffered no pain, no hardships, no taunting, and no loss of pride. There's your mercy." The man practically spat the last word as the older woman broke down completely and sobbed. "I loved you once, as well. Take the gift home to your granddaughter. Time will test her mother's will."

Elliana shook her head of the dream as she woke up. This one hadn't been violent, but there had been a certain aching realness to it. So much realness in one vision. The truth called to her from faraway, like she knew the answer to some question. It didn't seem right to her that her visions would have this power over her. She sighed and got out of bed. Everyone was coming back today, meaning Elliana would have to see Brooke. She was quite set on ignoring her once-friend, but she wasn't sure if she could do that. Elliana didn't really hate Brooke, but she had meant some of things that she had said.

After breakfast, Elliana was digging through her trunk for a bottle of ink. She saw a bunch of parchment and pulled it out, expecting some disregarded notes. Instead, she found what appeared to be letters. Elliana didn't recognize the handwriting, but she until the ribbon and let the letters fall to the floor. She looked at the carefully. They weren't letters, after all. They seemed to be journal entries…written on spare bits of parchment.

Life at sea is harder, still. The waters are rough. A baby is on the way. My baby. Elliana Evenua. She has eased so much pain already. I know that I would not have been able to live on without her. She came at the right moment to save my heart and mind. The healer warned me of such things, but I see that only good can come from this.

Her mother. The journal entries had been written by her mother. And that was her last name, then- Evenua. Elliana read another.

Elliana, my sweet child. Born today in London. How did I ever live without her? I held her for the first time tonight. She seemed to absorb my pain and make it stay far away. It doesn't affect her. The healer was wrong. It doesn't affect her. Elliana, my angel. My perfect angel.

Elliana bit her lip. Her mother had some sort of pain. Maybe it was related to the pain that Elliana felt now. She put that bit aside and picked up another.

The seas are rough, but Elliana dances better everyday. I had another vision today…it burned the bottom of my soul. Elliana was sleeping, and I had nothing to protect myself with. I have grown too used to the silence. I felt sick, and I didn't eat. Elliana was beautiful when she awoke, and I gathered her in my arms and felt relieved.

It all became clear…Elliana threw the letters back in her trunk and let the lid slam. The bit about the healer…the pain affecting Elliana…it was all very clear. Elliana's mother had had visions, it seemed. Elliana's mother had given her the power. Although she had little memory of her mother, Elliana cursed the bits she knew. It was all her mother's fault that she had this to deal with. It was illogical, but it made Elliana feel slightly better.

The door to the dorm opened, and Elliana jumped back. She had lost track of time. Brooke didn't even look at her as she took her trunk to her bed and set her things down. Natalie smiled slightly, and Alison nodded in acknowledgement. Elliana sat on the floor, suddenly feeling very small as she had long ago. Brooke walked over to her and extended a hand. Elliana took it and pulled herself up.

"Happy Christmas, Elliana." Brooke said, smiling. "I brought you chocolate from France. It's the best kind, I promise. My mother ate most of what I had before I ever got on the train, but I made sure to save you some." Brooke handed Elliana a box. Elliana looked at Brooke with silent query. "It was stupid of me to look for your journal. I didn't realize it was so important to you, and I suppose I was too stubborn to ask. I assumed you wouldn't have told me." Brooke shrugged and pulled her stuffed Kneazle out of her trunk, hugging it.

"Thank you, Brooke." Elliana said quietly, taking a bite of chocolate.

"Isn't it divine? I knew you'd love it!" Brooke said, excited. Elliana didn't bother to correct her. "It's by the French branch of Honeydukes. They make it especially for Christmas, and the recipe is different every year. Truly a once in a lifetime treat."

"Yes." Elliana agreed. She handed Brooke a piece of chocolate, and then offered some to Alison and Natalie. Both girls declined and patted their stomachs, muttering of eating too much on the train. Elliana found this absolutely silly as there was never anything much to eat on the train besides Chocolate Frogs and things. She didn't voice this opinion, however.

Classes were brutal after the holidays. Elliana was swamped with homework, and suddenly felt sorry for those on the Quidditch team. The house team was subjected to practices in the rain, games in the gusty wind, and celebratory parties late into the night. Elliana rarely went to the games, but occasionally Brooke dragged her along.

Elliana's least favorite games were the Gryffindor versus Slytherin matches. Gryffindors always played with a brutality and impudence that Elliana never found in other games. All of Gryffindor's plays were easily seen ahead of time, and never carried through properly. Elliana made it a point not to watch the Gryffindor games.

Hufflepuff had a strong Quidditch team, even though they rarely played aggressively. They always used every member of their team, and the Hufflepuff stands were always very supportive. Hufflepuff played extremely hard for every point they earned. Their Seeker was one of the best.

Ravenclaw matches were the most exciting for Elliana. The Ravenclaw plays were always very calculated and sharp. The turns were made with precision, and the players had an advanced system of signals and patterns. Elliana always had to be on top of things to predict what was going to happen.

Natalie was most certainly the star of the Slytherin team. She made excellent use of her top-of-the-line broom, and she executed every maneuver with a certain cleanliness. Natalie also seemed to capture the hearts of all observing males, regardless of whether or not they were in Slytherin. Wynton was also on the Quidditch team- a chaser like Natalie. Elliana noticed that he was rather arrogant on the field. While his skills were no match for Natalie's, he was the next best chaser at Hogwarts. His ambition on the field would have doubled had he not been in Slytherin and had to face Natalie.

Elliana went to the first game after the holidays with Brooke. Slytherin won, but they had to work very hard for the victory. Slytherin was the only team in the school that could match the wit of the Ravenclaw plays. Slytherin overcame that challenge, and walked away one step closer to the House Cup. Elliana followed the cheering crowd back to the Common Room and actually enjoyed the party that followed.

Slytherin parties always amused Elliana, even though she wasn't the party sort. Slytherin parties always had undertones of politics and stature. The Quidditch team held the power and the attention at the after-game celebrations. Everyone else fell in to congratulate. Eventually, as the night wore on, most people would retire to bed and only those with the required power would stay. Elliana had never stayed at this point, and this time was no exception. Natalie would be held in conversation until long past midnight.

"Stormborne? Since when do you like Quidditch?" A sixth-year girl asked. Elliana turned from her conversation with Alison to face the voice. The girl had her arm in Wynton's, and was looking far too dressed up for a Quidditch game. Her name was Martine, and Elliana hadn't known that the girl was even aware of her existence.

"I like Slytherin matches." Elliana answered cautiously as Martine and Wynton neared. She glanced briefly at Wynton, but decided to keep her true opinions of the Slytherin team to herself. Elliana did not seek to cause tension with the Ashwinder boy.

"I had you pegged for a recluse, Stormborne." Martine said with a hint of malice. Elliana had been called worse, and wasn't really bothered. This girl had no reason to pick a fight. Unless…she was jealous of a non-existent relationship between Wynton and Elliana.

"Mostly."

"But not today."

"Not today."

Martine broke away from Wynton and stepped up to face Elliana. Martine was at least three inches taller, but Elliana wasn't intimidated. Elliana was not a threat, and Martine needed to understand that it seemed.

"You watch it, Stormborne. I don't know what your problem is, but there is a line you must not cross." Martine glared.

"I have no idea what you're-"

"He talks about you all the time." Martine said this with a sadness, and Elliana suddenly realized something. As much as it had seemed Wynton used Martine for show, Martine had actual feelings for him. It was disgusting. "He doesn't see that you're just using him. He's helpless in that way. Falling prisoner to others. It's pathetic."

"Yes." Elliana said, laughing silently at the irony.

"Don't tease him like that, Stormborne. It's horribly mean. He doesn't see it, but I do." Martine glanced back at Wynton.

"Life isn't always complex and emotional."

"Is that some sort of joke?"

"Yes. I was mocking you." Elliana had her wand out before Martine brought up her hand. Elliana Stupefied the girl before Martine had a chance to slap her, and it seemed to be a good thing. Wynton walked over and laughed.

"Stormborne, you can't hold it against her." Wynton pointed to Martine.

"She's blinded. It's pathetic." Elliana muttered, crossing her arms.

"She really is a sweet girl," Wynton said nonchalantly. "And she knows what it is." Wynton looked at Elliana carefully, trying to figure out if he was setting her off. He wasn't. Elliana seemed subdued.

"Does she?" Elliana asked. "Slytherin is all about using other people to your advantage, it seems. Maybe she hasn't figured that out yet. Have you some sort of charm I don't see?" Elliana waved her wand and Martine was moving again, this time swinging her hand into nothing. Elliana didn't laugh, but Martine seemed wounded somehow.

"Come, Martine. Let's go for a walk." Elliana watched as Wynton led Martine out of the Common Room. She silently wondered if Wynton would feed the girl more lies, or tell her the truth. There was no idealistic hope in Elliana. She knew that Wynton would try to make amends to anything Elliana might have told her. One's power was only as strong as one's words.