Part Four: The Dance of Night

The world is not enough
But it is such a perfect place to start...my love
And if you're strong enough
Together we can take the world apart...my love

Elliana stepped out of the castle and pulled her cloak around her tightly. The night was cold, and her dancing tunic provided little warmth. Elliana had been neglecting her dancing, and it seemed her mind knew it. Her muscles had tensed as of late, and her visions had come stronger. Elliana put her cloak on a rock as she stretched out slowly. She stretched her arms above her head and pulled them down in a soft beginning of a dance.

The dance was slow, reflecting her stress from the past month or so. School was overwhelming, and it truly seemed as if a rather bad muggle drama was unfolding around her. Elliana had never played part in the social world of Slytherin, but she had now been sucked in by association. Elliana stopped her dance as she spotted a pair of vivid blue eyes locked with hers. He raised a hand when their eyes met, showing that he meant no harm.

"What are you doing?" Elliana asked softly, not moving toward him. She saw the Slytherin crest on his robes, and realized that she had seen him before. He stepped out of the shadows, but came no closer.

"I was just passing by."

Elliana's sea-green eyes flashed. Dancing was private to her. That's why she'd come out here. Dancing was not for anyone else to watch. She felt her anger rising, as it had when she had found Brooke going through her things. Elliana did not like people in her space.

"Liar." She said lowly, in an emotionless voice. "You cannot take what is mine. You cannot." Elliana kept her eyes locked with his, and a vision swam over her. The vision hit her with force, but it seemed subdued. The vision seemed to radiate from the boy.

A woman, not quite old but not young either, stood over a cauldron. A table behind her was dusty with books, but her face looked determined. Her hair was a beautiful black color, and seemed to shine with magic.

'Gregory. Come here.' the woman demanded. A handsome older man in a sweeping cloak came, and peered into the cauldron. He held himself with an importance. He seemed to be powerful.

'It's ready.' he told her. 'All these years have paid off.' The man took her in his arms and leaned in close, almost kissing her. 'He will pay for what he did to you. And all of those after him shall pay.'

'Gregory, what will happen to us? The books say these things have side-effects.' The woman said, with very little doubt in her voice. She was used to being worried, but this thing didn't seem to faze her.

'Nothing can happen. Nothing. Faryn's safe. Everything is fine.'

Elliana blinked and turned away. She had no clue what sort of Fate this boy brought with him, but she wanted no part of it. Somehow, she had a feeling that she would soon be involved. She stared at the boy.

He seemed shaken by her reaction to the vision, and he shuddered under the intensity of her gaze. The boy stood and did not back down, though. Elliana wondered what he was getting at- watching her.

"Calling me a liar Girl? What have you got for me to take? I need nothing, and want nothing," He smirked slightly. "I am a Baggert." He said it as though she should have known as soon as she had seen him. Elliana looked at him in masked confusion. She was not frightened, though

"Liar then and liar still. You were watching me. Therefore, you took what is mine. Half the school stares at me- you cannot fool me." Elliana had heard the whispers in the hall. Brooke said people thought she was beautiful. Elliana had felt the jealousy rise from people, but she thought it was stemmed in a different way.

Elliana had heard the name before, she was sure. Someone rich, someone classy, someone evil. Elliana kept from laughing. The boy was so sure of himself. He had an arrogance about him that only Slytherins seemed to possess. It was the confident arrogance.

"Dark times are ahead for you, Baggert. And they could begin with me." She threatened him. She knew that the vision directly had to do with him. It had that feeling. Elliana felt power over the visions, and it made her feel slightly better.

He closed the gap between them and glared at her. Elliana did not flinch, but she began to fear an underlying temper. The Baggert boy was a sixth year, she realized. She had seen him with Wynton a few times. He wore a Prefect's badge, she noted.

"If you wish to have a happy school life, you will not threaten me again." He whispered. Elliana watched as his eyes grew sinister, and it sent shivers down her spine. A hateful whisper was more horrible than yelling, she found. She realized he was growing angry. Good.

"If you wish to have a happy school life, you'll leave me alone." Elliana said quietly, not looking at him. She stared at the mountains in the distance. The moon shone down from above and Elliana thought that the whole thing was rather bothersome. She wanted to dance.

"If you want your privacy," He started. "You should not wander around in the dead of night. It draws attention." He was surprised as she laughed. She looked at him with unspoken amusement.

"Fighting with me will get you everywhere, if you win." She said icily. He watched her, and seemed to pick apart her life in the few words they had exchanged. His eyes told her that he knew everything. It was an odd sensation, realizing that someone could read her like that. She hated the feeling that someone could know something and she would have no control over it.

"You are powerful. I see it in your eyes. You have some secret that even I cannot know. I see the power, and I see your will to conceal it. I am powerful too, witch. Just imagine the things we could accomplish together. Just imagine." Baggert put a hand on her shoulder. Elliana thought his hand was like ice, and she longed for her cloak. She looked at him, meeting his eyes.

"You know nothing about me."

"I do. I can see it. I've suddenly realized where I've seen you before. I was silly to forget. You're the girl Ashwinder was so taken with last year." Baggert laughed. Elliana felt a pang of anger.

"He was never taken with me. That's stupid. He wanted power just the same as you." She said, pulling out her wand and Summoning her cloak. Elliana slipped it over her shoulders and felt better. Safer.

"He convinced you so? He was always talking of the Stormborne girl…of course, he was quite angry after you hit him. His pride had taken a bruising. All of Slytherin was talking of it, and it made him angry even to see you. But, believe me. Up until then, he fancied you." Baggert laughed. Elliana glared at him, but stopped. Somehow, he seemed fueled by her anger.

"Stop."

"Stop what? Telling you the truth? Have it your way. We can speak of other things. I can tell, you know. I can tell that you know. I know it too. We could accomplish great things." Baggert took her hand for a moment. Elliana knew that he was asking for her to dive into the political thirst for power.

"We won't. That power will be the death of us." Elliana said sadly. She could see it. The visions rose in the back of her mind, whispering softly. In that moment, she could see the things that she wanted to see. "Quest for power on your own."

"You cannot run from the fate you know lies here. You cannot. I would quest for the power, but I would fail. Stormborne, you do not need to decide now. I bring you no falsehoods, though. I do not lie to you." Baggert looked toward the castle. "Would you like me to walk you back to the Common Room?"

"No. I want to dance."

Elliana chose not to tell Brooke of the encounter, but she soon regretted that choice. Kaden- as Martine had called him once- seemed to know that she was trapped. There was no choice, it seemed. He had the resources for her to get the things she wanted. Elliana wanted wealth, as superficial as it seemed. She had never had it, and she wanted it. Elliana wanted security, which Kaden offered daily. He seemed to know where he was going, and that was good. Elliana found herself sitting in the Common Room and listening to conversations late into the nights as she did her homework.

As the Hogsmeade weekend approached, Elliana finished her preparations for the spell she was about to perform. She was memorizing the words late one night, as the fire died down in the grate. The next thing she knew, Kaden was shaking her awake. Elliana looked up and felt a sudden fear. He had her incantation, and was reading it.

"Give it back." She said with urgency, standing up. Kaden looked at her with amusement. Never give someone something that they can use against you, Elliana reminded herself.

"Stormborne, are you planning to do Dark Magic?" Kaden asked tauntingly. Elliana glared, remaining silent. She sat on the table and looked up at him. "I could report you for this."

"But you won't." Elliana said pointedly.

"I won't." He looked at her for a moment and ran a hand through his dark brown hair. "Hogsmeade has wards, though." He nodded as Elliana looked doubtful. "You'll have to walk at least a mile farther."

"You don't know what you're talking about." She said quietly. Somehow, he did. Elliana took her paper from his hand and tucked it in her robes.

"I do. You'll have to go a mile out of Hogsmeade before you're past the wards. Trust me." Kaden smirked. He knew that she had no choice but to trust him, and it was a step towards getting her on his side.

"You're going to follow me." Elliana said, running over possibilities in her mind. What if he did tell after all? He didn't seem like the type to snitch, but one could never be certain.

"I have better things to do." Kaden put a hand in his pocket and set the other one next to her on the table. He leaned in closely and whispered. "You'd better be careful. Do the magic quickly and get back into town."

"Why do you care?"

"You're my key to power."

"I'll be fine."

"Meet me at the Three Broomsticks afterwards." Kaden said, walking towards the fire. He sat on the couch, forcing Elliana to speak louder so that he could hear her.

"I'll be fine." She said, getting up and walking over to the couch. She didn't feel fearful about her spell tomorrow night. He was instilling worry, though. She hesitated. "I will be."

"And you'll be at the Three Broomsticks afterwards so that I can be sure." Kaden said with a finality. Elliana nodded and gathered her things, leaving to go to bed. She smiled at Brooke as she walked in. Brooke smiled back, but seemed to lack energy. Elliana felt bad for not having talked to her friend much, but the feeling was fleeting. Her mind was elsewhere. Her future, and how she was going to get there.

Saturday morning, Elliana went with Brooke to shop for robes. Elliana didn't need any robes, but Brooke had herself convinced she had outgrown her old ones. Elliana had laughed and had gone along for something to do. Brooke was looking through hats (she had gotten distracted) and Elliana shuffled through the dress robes, mentally making notes of how long she'd have to save up her Christmas money to afford them.

Elliana and Brooke ate lunch in the Three Broomsticks and then spent the afternoon looking through books at the bookstore. Elliana curled up with a copy of Hogwarts: The Founding and read the afternoon away. Brooke suggested they go to the café in the bookstore for dinner, and that was enjoyable. Elliana supposed that if Hogwarts ever had music floating through the hallways, it would sound somewhat like what the café had playing.

"Elliana, it's getting dark. We should be getting back." Brooke said after they finished their tea. "I have a lot of studying to do for the quiz in Herbology next week. It's going to be awful. Imagine, a written Herbology quiz." Brooke groaned.

"It's your best subject. You'll be fine." Elliana said distantly. "And I want to stay. I'm meeting someone."

"A boy? Is it a date? Oh my gosh, Elliana. I'm so happy for you. Honestly, I thought you hated boys. The way you pushed Wynton away even though he obviously fancied you." Brooke squealed and hopped up. "I'll leave you to it, then. Have fun, and don't stay out too late." Brooke grinned and hurried out of the café.

Elliana gathered up her things and started to walk down the road. After about twenty minutes, she found a spot off the road that she figured would be perfect. She set her bag down and pulled out a small, round crystal. It was to represent the moon. Elliana pulled out a vial of Sleeping Draught and drank it, feeling its effect. Summoning up all of her power, Elliana began the incantation before the Draught took over. A blue light rose from the orb and swirled around Elliana. She continued, careful not to stutter. When she was finished, the light blasted gold and died away. Elliana felt very much awake, and knew her nights would no longer be haunted. It comforted her.

Elliana turned to gather her things and gasped softly. The Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, was standing on the road looking at her. She bent down to pick up her things, trying to be casual. She put the orb in her bag and then the vial, standing up. Elliana knew he was still watching her.

"Miss Stormborne. You are in very serious trouble."

Elliana sat in Dumbledore's office, not speaking. Dumbledore stood behind his desk and looked at her with pity. She hated that. His auburn hair was slowly turning gray, she could see. She pitied him. Elliana had not spoken since she had seen him. Silence was her weapon now.

"Miss Stormborne, you were using a very dangerous spell. A spell that is thoroughly against the law. You have not chosen to explain yourself thus far, and I fail to see your reasoning. I-" Dumbledore was cut off as the door to his office opened and Kaden walked in. Elliana didn't have to turn to know that it was he. Kaden walked up beside her chair and looked at Dumbledore with determination. Elliana was feeling weary, but her conscientious told her to panic. Kaden could still tell on her.

"Headmaster, I'm sorry to interrupt. I heard that you witnessed Stormborne's spell and I felt I had to come and explain. As you know, my father is on the board of governors. My father felt that, in these dark times, Hogsmeade needed to be sure that it is protected. It is the easiest way to Hogwarts, after all." Kaden put a hand on Elliana's shoulder and she remained silent. Better to let someone else do her talking.

"Yes, Mr. Baggert. Hogsmeade is crucial to our well-being." Dumbledore said, a glint of amusement in his eye. Kaden went on.

"My father knows that Elliana is a clever student, and figured that she would be able to check the wards. My father would have come himself, but it is a long journey from where we live. Also, as Elliana's been having nightmares lately, it seemed that this could benefit her as well. My father should have told you, but he is sometimes blinded by the power he thinks he has." Kaden finished with a small smile and Dumbledore nodded.

"Very well. I will write to your father to verify this, and to the Ministry alerting them that the wards need to be tightened. As it is, Miss Stormborne was using illegal magic. She will serve detention every night for six weeks." Dumbledore looked at Elliana, and she smiled for his sake. Kaden motioned for her to follow and she left Dumbledore's office.

Once outside, Kaden looked at her and laughed. She pulled her cloak around her tightly and said nothing. Kaden smiled and put his hand on her back, leading her down the corridor.

"You can talk now, Stormborne."

"Thank you." Elliana said, stopping. He had saved her from interrogation by the Ministry…possible suspension of rights to use magic for a few months. She owed him now, she realized. Elliana hated debt, but she wasn't angry. She didn't want to be kicked out of Kristin's home, and she didn't want anything to cause tension.

"I owled my father before I came." Kaden said, nodding. "I saw you walking back with Dumbledore, and I knew something had gone wrong. My father will go along with it. He got into worse in his school days. He went to Durmstrang, you know." Kaden smirked and started walking down the corridor. Elliana walked beside him.

"Am I to assume I know why?" Elliana asked quietly. Kaden glanced at her and said nothing. When they reached the wall, he muttered the password and they entered the Slytherin Common Room. It was full of people, and Elliana felt people staring as she entered. Of course, they didn't really know. No one really knew. Not even Kaden. Elliana sat on the couch next to him and sighed.

"Don't look at it as bribery and it won't be so bad." Kaden said. Elliana nodded distantly and turned things over in her mind. She looked at him and shook her head.

"How did you know? About the nightmares, I mean." Elliana hadn't told him her plans. She hadn't told him anything. "Unless you looked it up. Or…"

"Don't worry about it."

"I don't."

"It bothers you."

"A bit."

"Why?"

"I don't know…I feel like you've invaded my thoughts and pulled out all the stuff you want to know. It's like the dancing all over again." Elliana fidgeted with her bracelet. Kaden laughed, as he did so often, and shrugged.

"I didn't. I promise." Kaden looked to the entrance as Wynton and Martine walked in. Martine was crying silently while Wynton was looking smug. Elliana knew that if she were Brooke, she'd comfort Martine. As it was, she was not Brooke. She sat on the couch as Kaden got up and pulled Wynton aside. They spoke in whispers for at least ten minutes before Kaden came back. "Stormborne, let's go." Elliana looked at him and then to Wynton and nodded, leading the way out of the Common Room and towards the library. She knew that it would be practically empty at this time of night, but not yet closed.

"Martine doesn't understand." Elliana said softly as they walked in the library. She found a table in the corner and sat down. Kaden stood and leaned against the table, facing her. He shook his head, but there was no pity in his eyes.

"Ashwinder needs her for impression's sake. She asked him flat out tonight, and the ass actually told her. Martine's sensitive. She's proven more than once that she can't handle stuff like that." Kaden cursed under his breath. Elliana thought to herself, I'm not for impression's sake. I'm for power's sake. Are the two so different?

"He didn't lie to her." Elliana pointed out. Kaden looked at her curiously for a moment and nodded. He turned a Sickle over in his fingers idly. "Baggert, does it bother you that Martine's hurt?"

"It bothers me that Ashwinder hurt her. I don't care for the guy. He's very fickle. One moment, he'll be the nicest guy Martine's ever met. The next, he'll throw it in her face. I've never been friends with Martine, but even I wouldn't do that to her. Not to anyone. You have to respect people. Everyone views Slytherins as mean and snobbish, but there's a code here like there is in the outside world. Ashwinder broke the code." Kaden glared at the thought. "Forgive me for sounding righteous and such, but these things have to be dealt with. That's why I talked to Ashwinder instead of leaving it be."

"I understand."

"I respect you, Stormborne, if that's what you're wondering. I would never let you believe things that are not true. I do not lie." Kaden sat down in the chair next to Elliana and put the Sickle in his pocket. "There's always a way that things are done. I want something that you have, and you want something that you know I can give you. That's the way things are." Kaden said, trying to explain it in a logical progression. But it wasn't something that could be explained. It was just something that Elliana understood.

"I know. I know the destination and I know the motivation. The only thing left for me to figure out is the path of travel. And I'm sure you haven't figured that out either." Elliana looked at him and watched him ponder these things. It was apparent that he did know, and that he chose not to tell her. She understood, though. It was the way things were.

"Stormborne!" Elliana turned around at the sound of her name to see Kaden walking up the corridor towards her. She had just finished her last class of the day, Transfiguration, and was ready to relax before dinner. She stopped and waited for him to catch up. Brooke looked back, but continued on with a knowing smile on her face. "Come with me." Elliana looked at him oddly as he turned the other direction and pulled her by the hand.

"Baggert, our Common Room is that way." Elliana said, objecting. The stupor she had received from the spell was finally wearing off, and she felt clear-headed again. Elliana repeated the question after he didn't answer.

"We're going to have dinner." Kaden said, smirking. She matched her pace to his so that he wasn't pulling her anymore. Elliana adjusted the weight of her books and wondered where he was taking her. They walked out of the castle and down the grounds. He stopped under a tree and set his bag down.

"I'm not sure I follow your logic." Elliana said, glancing nervously at the lake. Kaden seemed to pick up on this, but said nothing. He bent down and opened his bag, pulling out two sandwiches, crackers, and a jug of pumpkin juice.

"We're going to eat. Think of it as a date, if you want. I promise to have you back before detention. I have things to do in Hogsmeade anyway." Kaden smirked. Elliana sat down next to him, but shook her head.

"Nix the date, and we'll call it good. I have to polish lenses in the Astronomy tower." Elliana transfigured two rocks into silver goblets and poured their pumpkin juice. Kaden unwrapped the sandwiches. Elliana sat down and looked at the lake, trying to push away the beckonings of the water.

"Think what you will." Kaden said. "Astronomy tower? How exciting. You can accidentally bump into all of the snogging couples." Elliana laughed.

"It's a Thursday."

"And no one has Astronomy tonight- it would be completely abandoned if you didn't have to serve your detention." Kaden took a cracker and nibbled on it. Elliana hadn't pictured him as the type to nibble on his food, but he did. He looked at the cracker in disdain when its crumbs got all over his robes. It amused Elliana slightly.

"Only another month."

"Yes. Why do you keep looking at the lake like it'll come up and bite you, Stormborne? It's just water." Kaden asked.

"I…nothing." Elliana ate her sandwich and didn't look at the lake. Kaden shrugged, eating another cracker.

"Don't tell me, then. I'll find out sooner or later." Kaden smirked as Elliana rolled her eyes. She didn't respond, though. She had no doubt that he would find out. "So, Stormborne. Rumor has it that you live with Conner Darley."

"You don't seem the type to heed rumors." Elliana observed.

"I'll take that as a yes." Kaden leaned back on the grass and looked up at the leaves in the tree above them. Elliana glanced back at him.

"His daughter."

"Excuse me?"

"Kristin Darley."

"I see." Kaden watched a look of confusion spread across her face. It annoyed her that he never felt the need to explain his questions. He just asked them, got the answers, and shut up.

"Baggert-"

"It's nothing, Stormborne. I was just curious." Kaden propped himself up on his elbows and raised an eyebrow at her. "Conner Darley has a high seat on the Irish Ministry of Magic. You didn't know that, though."

"No. I did not."

"You never asked, then."

"I did not think it was important what he did for a living." Elliana picked at the grass and pondered how this would come to be important. Why was it important for her to know that, she wondered. What was Kaden getting at?

"Knowledge is power, Stormborne." Kaden sat up and watched her pick at the grass. Elliana could tell he was waiting for her to ask questions about the matter, but she wouldn't give him that satisfaction. Kaden teased people with the knowledge that he possessed. "Forget I said it, then. Everyone in Slytherin knows that you live with him- his daughter rather- but you still hardly ever get letters. It would be rather much like you had no family at all." Elliana glared at him angrily and he laughed. "So sensitive, Stormborne. You do have a family, so it shouldn't bother you what people say. People are stupid, remember?" Kaden covered her hand with his and squeezed it.

"Are you stupid, then?" Elliana asked icily.

"On occasion." Elliana laughed softly and felt her anger dissipate. Unlike her encounter with Wynton, Kaden did not mean to hurt her- or so she thought. She could never be quite sure. Kaden was very blunt, but he seemed gentle at the same time. It was like he had said- he knew what people could handle. Wynton, on the other hand, had been sickeningly nice. And then, when he hadn't gotten what he wanted, he struck out with hatred. Kaden chuckled to himself. "Here we are, on a date, and we've barely spoken of anything besides your family, detention, and stupidity."

"This isn't a date." Elliana said pointedly. She looked at their entwined hands and the picnic in front of them. Quite true, to anyone else it would most definitely appear to be so. Kaden shrugged.

"If you say so. Well, Stormborne, before this non-date ends, we should have a semi-important conversation. What is your favorite Zonko's product?" Kaden looked at her with a serious curiosity and she had to laugh again.

"I've never been in the store." Elliana shook her head silently as a look of mock amazement came over Kaden's face. "What? It's a prank store."

"And I suppose you've never pulled a prank either." Kaden smirked. Elliana shrugged and shook her head. "What do you do for fun, then? And don't say studying." Elliana closed her mouth and thought about this for a moment.

"I dance. That's fun. And reading…" She had never felt like she had to justify these things to someone, and therefore they had been taken for granted. Kaden shook his head sadly.

"You won't let anyone see you dance, though. I think it's an excuse to get away from people. But, no matter." Kaden blinked thoughtfully. Elliana was sure he was planning something, but didn't ask. Again, she didn't want to fall to her curiosity.

"They're more logical things to do than pull pranks. Pranks are pointless." Elliana said as the sun began to set. Kaden laughed.

"The Gryffindors do it to us. We have to get them back somehow. And besides, I do more than just pulling pranks. At least I go to the parties." Kaden smiled as Elliana rolled her eyes.

"Slytherin parties are such a façade." Elliana said, sighing.

"So are you." Kaden quipped. Elliana stared at him in disbelief. That wasn't where she was expecting the conversation to go. "Don't look so shocked, Stormborne. It's true, isn't it? You pretend to be withdrawn, but you claim society has made you that way. You hide, but you truly want attention."

"Stop. Why do all of you think that you can tell me what to do?" Elliana asked, pulling her hands under her cloak and looking away from him. Kaden laughed.

"The parties aren't always politics and society, Stormborne. Everything has more than one side. All you have to do is try and look for those other sides." Elliana glared at him. "You're only mad because you know that it's true. It's okay, Stormborne. I'm not going to sit here and lecture you about becoming a better person. I was merely pointing out that you aren't an exception." Kaden shrugged and started to gather the remnants of the picnic into his bag. Elliana sighed.

"I don't pretend to be anything. If people ask, I tell them the truth." Elliana said in her own defense. Kaden looked at her for a moment and nodded.

"Do you really?" He glanced at the lake and raised an eyebrow. Elliana pulled some grass and began tearing it apart slowly. "All I'm saying is that people won't always ask. If you don't want them to assume things, then don't give them anything to assume."

"What about you? People assume you're controlling and a powerful sort of leader in this house." Elliana stood up as he did and picked up her bag.

"That's different. I am controlling."

Elliana found that the Astronomy tower was the easiest detention she had served thus far. She finished early and walked back to the Common Room by ten. And, contrary to Kaden's belief, she hadn't barged in on anyone kissing. That was a good thing, because Elliana would had to have finished her detention around them.

"Lethifold." Elliana said when she reached the entrance to the Common Room. It was still fairly busy as people finished their homework and talked about their weekend plans. She quickly found Brooke talking animatedly close to the fire.

"Elliana! Hello!" Brooke said happily as Elliana approached. "There's going to be a party Saturday night. Did you know that? It's going to be only for fifth years and up. You know, the last weekend before spring holidays. It's an all-house party, so it should be fairly interesting. Do you want to go?" Brooke bounced excitedly. Elliana had studying to do, but she knew that Brooke would end up dragging her along anyway.

"For a while." Elliana said. She walked up the girls' staircase and set her things down in her dorm. Elliana changed into her nightgown and got out her Arithmancy book, ready to study. Brooke opened the door and ran in, jumping on her bed.

"It'll be fun, Elliana. Just imagine- all the houses. We never have all-house parties. It's a new thing, this year. The teachers are trying to encourage unity between the houses during the dark times and such. They say a new evil is rising, and it's going to be bad. There were killings last weekend. Two or three…did you know that? The teachers are cautioning everyone now because they think it's going to get worse. They are Aurors on the job, but no one can come up with anything solid. Everyone in the Common Room is keeping it quiet…they all know what's going on." Brooke looked worried, but then she focused on the party again. "And it'll be fun."

"I said I'd go." Elliana said distractedly.

"Good."

"After detention."

"Do you think Dumbledore will schedule it earlier so you can go to the party? That'd be so very nice of him. Why do you have all of these detentions anyway? You never told me what you did." Brooke changed into her pajamas and climbed into her bed.

"It's nothing. And he might."

Elliana had Transfiguration Friday, and that was good. Transfiguration was easy for her, and she didn't have to think too hard about what she was doing. Today, the fifth year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs were changing wine bottles into swans. The room buzzed with excitement every time a swan came out successfully.

Elliana said her charm and watched as her bottle transformed into a swan. The swan was black; the first one in the class. Of course, the glass to her bottle had been black. She wondered if she'd get marked down. The new Transfiguration teacher, Professor McGonagall, hurried over and examined the swan.

"It seems perfect, Miss Stormborne. There's no odor to it, and no red coloring. It seems that you just had the wrong sort of bottle to start with. Full points." McGonagall walked away and scolded someone for drinking their wine before they began.

Elliana sat back and watched the swan curl up and sleep. Elliana felt her stomach turn as a vision swam over her. She focused on remembering the details.

Burning…so much burning. Green light filled the sky and screams echoed in the air. A small house came into view and several people ran out of the doors. Cloaked figures followed steadily, wands out. They muttered a curse and green light hit those that had fled. The people fell to the ground, motionless. The cloaked figures stepped over the dead bodies and cast a glowing skull into the sky. A warning.

Elliana's eyes snapped open and she gasped, receiving an odd look from Brooke. Elliana shook her head and said the charm to change her swan back into a wine bottle. The Killing Curse…she had seen people use the Killing Curse. She hadn't seen the faces, and she didn't recognize the town.

Luckily, the lunch bell rang at that moment and she didn't have to listen to McGonagall lecture on the properties of the practiced charm. Elliana hurried out of the classroom and to the Great Hall. She wasn't particularly hungry after her vision, but she wanted people around her. Not that she'd converse with them or anything. She just wanted them there.

"Stormborne, may I sit here?" Martine asked. Elliana nodded and moved her bag, allowing the older girl to sit. Wynton was no where in sight, so she supposed he was avoiding Martine. In fact, she hadn't seen them together since that night in the Common Room. "I just wanted to thank you. You didn't make fun of me for being stupid."

"Everyone's stupid sometimes." Elliana said flatly.

"I know, but I got rubbish from everyone else. I'm glad I didn't have to take it from you as well. And after Kaden spoke to Wynton, things seemed better." Martine smiled. Elliana peeled a banana, silently noting that Brooke had, indeed, gotten her fruit after all.

"I have nothing to do with what Baggert does." Elliana told Martine. Martine smiled sweetly and took a sip of water.

"I know, but I figured you could thank him for me. After all, you two are together and-" Martine stopped when she saw the laughter in Elliana's eyes.

"We aren't together."

"Everyone thinks you are, though."

"We aren't. Not anymore than you and-" Elliana stopped and continued to eat her banana. She didn't want to set Martine off, and she didn't know what she could say to do that.

"So he's using you? Is that what you're saying?" Martine asked hotly. Elliana shrugged and looked up as the owl post entered. An official-looking owl dropped a newspaper in front of Elliana. Her first issue of the Daily Prophet! She had taken out a subscription to the paper last month, and this was her first copy.

"That's what I'm saying." Elliana said distantly as she opened the newspaper. The front page shocked her. She saw a picture of the glowing skull over a small village. She read the article and gasped. The village was right down the road from Hogsmeade. Eight people murdered…she had seen them die! Elliana closed the paper and grabbed her bag, walking from the Hall.

As Elliana started down the stairs, she saw Kaden with his friends. He glanced up and saw her, but she continued by without saying anything. Murders! Near Hogsmeade! Elliana clutched the paper in her hand and stopped when she came to a deserted classroom. She ducked inside and closed the door.

Okay, Elliana thought. I don't know anything about what happened. No reason to panic. It's over and done with, and it won't help if I kill myself worrying. Just let it be, Stormborne. Just let it be. Elliana composed herself and stepped out of the classroom. Kaden was leaning up against the wall, waiting for her.

"Baggert." Elliana said calmly, handing him the paper. He opened it and scanned the front page; his eyes dwelling on the picture for a moment. Elliana stepped up beside him and read the article again. "I have a question."

"Don't ask it." Kaden said simply, closing the paper. "It does you no good to know." Elliana frowned and headed for Herbology. Kaden didn't call after her, but she didn't need clarification of the meaning behind his words. Elliana reached the greenhouses long before anyone else, but she was happy for the solitude. She was happy for the quiet. Elliana sighed and pulled her mind away from the newspaper and shoved it towards schoolwork. She focused on her work.

That evening, Elliana was thankful she had detention. She could avoid talking to people for three hours while she helped Professor Sprout feed the plants in Greenhouse Three. She didn't say a word except to ask questions, but that seemed to be fine with the professor. After Elliana finished, she walked slowly back to the castle. The walk, even though deliberately prolonged, seemed to end too quickly.

"Elliana!" Brooke said, running over to greet her at the entrance to the Common Room. "It's so horrible…did you hear? Eight people murdered. EIGHT! Right outside of Hogsmeade. It's so horrible. They're going to cancel the rest of our Hogsmeade trips, I think. Either that or we'll be closely guarded. This is so awful. No one can go outside after nine o'clock unless escorted by a teacher. Everyone has to be in the Common Rooms by eleven except Prefects. This is really bad." Brooke began to breathe heavily and Elliana patted her friend on the back.

"Calm down, Brooke. Nothing is going to happen." Elliana said, seriously doubting the words herself. "Just think of the party tomorrow night." This cheered Brooke up, but Elliana still remained dubious.

"Right. Oh, and Elliana? Kaden Baggert is looking for you." Brooke winked and hurried back to her seat by the window. She peered outside thoughtfully, seeming to be waiting for an attack. Elliana spotted Kaden across the room, talking to some of his friends. Elliana approached and tried very hard not to listen to their conversation.

"Ah, Stormborne." Kaden said, noticing her. "I want you to meet Lucius Malfoy. He's going to get me a job this summer." Kaden glanced at Lucius and nodded at Elliana. She looked at the Malfoy boy. He was a seventh year. She had seen him around before. He was rather thin and had silvery blond hair. Elliana nodded politely.

"Malfoy."

"Miss Stormborne." Lucius drawled. He laughed softly at nothing in particular and Elliana hated him in that instant. "Baggert has told us about you. He seems to think you're worth meeting." Lucius gauged her reaction carefully, and Elliana tried very hard to keep her face emotionless.

"How nice." Elliana said flatly.

"He seems to think you have an ability with high-level charms." Lucius glanced at Kaden and then back to Elliana. He had gray eyes, she noted. Stormy gray eyes. Lucius watched her for a moment and then laughed again. "She doesn't say much, does she Baggert?" Lucius asked Kaden. Kaden slipped his hand in hers and smirked at Lucius.

"She doesn't have much to say, Malfoy." Kaden said, laughing. Lucius seemed to laugh too, having no reason to do otherwise. He handed a piece of parchment to another seventh year standing behind him.

"I want to see her do magic. Have her learn the Tempestas Hex. Or, if she prefers, we can duel." Lucius looked at Elliana with a silent challenge in his eyes. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her answer. Elliana knew that Lucius wanted her to duel- learning the hex would be the easy way out. She wasn't worried about getting hurt.

"We can duel." Elliana said, looking in Lucius' eyes. There was a surprise in them. He hadn't expected that, she realized. His friends laughed softly and Lucius nodded curtly.

"We duel, then. Tomorrow night, during the party." Lucius smirked at Elliana and swept past her, leading his friends with him. Kaden, however, did not leave. Elliana looked for his reaction to the challenge.

"I learn hexes for fun, Baggert. Don't worry about me." Elliana said, smiling. Kaden nodded and looked over her shoulder at Lucius' retreating figure.

"I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about him."

Saturday sent the school into a flourish. There was no Quidditch game, so most people were restless. It was too early in the weekend to begin homework, so the students had to find other things to do. April was fast approaching, so all of the snow had melted long ago. It was too warm for butterbeer but too cold for lemonade. This seemed to disrupt the flow of life at Hogwarts, and most students mulled around bored out of their minds.

However, by four o'clock all of the fifth, sixth, and seventh year girls had started to think about the approaching party. All preparations would be made after dinner, but the thought process began the minute after the afternoon tea. Elliana sat on her bed reading a book of hexes while Brooke ran around frantically.

"Oh my gosh! David will be there! I hadn't even thought about that. Oh my gosh! What will I do! My shirt is wrinkled! My favorite shirt is wrinkled! I was planning on wearing that shirt!" Brooke threw her clothes around trying to find an acceptable substitute.

"Brooke, use a Wrinkle-Removing Spell." Elliana said absentmindedly. Brooke stood up straight, pondered the idea, and quickly removed the wrinkles from her favorite shirt. One problem solved. Only about fifty more yet to come. "I have to go now. My detention is before dinner. I have to scrub the third-floor bathrooms." Elliana set down her book and left Brooke to her own devices. She hurried through the scrubbing, completely wand-free, and then washed up for dinner. Elliana ate quickly and returned to her dorm.

Elliana put on a pair of muggle jeans and a dark blue sweater for the party. She wasn't so much worried about her appearance as she was the duel. It was against the rules to enchant clothing to act as armor, but Elliana did put on her bracelet. It was nothing special, but it made her feel better about facing a seventh-year in a duel. She couldn't explain it really.

Brooke came in shortly after Elliana finished getting ready and squealed loudly. Elliana looked at her friend in alarm and Brooke ran over, hugging her.

"Elliana! You look so pretty! I can't believe you're actually coming to this…you could be studying or something. Wow." Brooke bounced up and down, as she was apt to do, and then realized she had to get ready herself.

"I have an engagement at the party anyway." Elliana answered, putting in earrings. The earrings were each a set of swirling silver stars. They could be enchanted to move around, but that always made Elliana feel as if her ear was atomically rearranging itself. That was not a good feeling. She never used the enchantment.

"Oooooh!" Brooke said excitedly, changing into a black skirt and pulling on her favorite, wrinkle-free shirt. The shirt was a Parisian design, according to Brooke, and was bright pink with a blue pixie on the front. Elliana had to admit it was a lovely shirt. Brooke could never wear it during the week because of the uniforms, so she often wore it for special occasions like Hogsmeade or parties.

"Let's go." Natalie said excitedly a half an hour later. Elliana grabbed her wand and shut the door after her roommates. She followed them down through the Common Room and to the Great Hall. The tables had been pushed aside, much like at the ball, and a dance floor had been set up in the middle. However, near the fireplaces (one on each side of the hall), couches and armchairs had been placed. Elliana talked with Brooke and a seventh year Hufflepuff girl for quite a while before she saw Kaden motioning her over.

"Brooke, I'll be back in a few minutes." Elliana said, smiling a last time at the Hufflepuff. She walked over to Kaden and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Ready?"

"Anxious, are we?" Kaden laughed. "I was going to ask you to dance first." Elliana thought about it for a moment and looked at his eyes. They were twinkling with a happiness one did not usually outrightly find in Slytherins. She smiled.

"I don't want to dance. I want to duel." Elliana smirked and crossed her arms.

"I know, but Lucius said we didn't have to meet him until nine o'clock. That's not for a while, so we have time for a dance." Kaden reasoned this through, which highly amused Elliana. She shook her head.

"We'll walk slowly. Come on!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the Great Hall. She wanted to duel, and she wasn't going to waste her time dancing. Not tonight. At least not until the duel was over.

"Stormborne, I thought you said we were going to walk slowly!"

"Oh, right."

"You don't have to get yourself worked up over this-"

"I'm not worked up."

"He's impressed that you're even dueling him." Kaden slowed her down and laughed as she frowned. "You don't have anything to prove to him."

"Yes I do. You told him I was good with spells." Elliana said calmly.

"You are good with spells. You pulled off a spell well enough to set off the wards. Come on, in here." Kaden opened the door for her and she stepped into a long, empty room. The windows were dusty, and the floor creaked under her steps. She pulled out her wand and lit the torches, jumping back slightly as Lucius Malfoy was illuminated. Three of the boys from the Common Room were with him. Also, Wynton Ashwinder. Elliana forced back her annoyance with him and focused on the upcoming duel.

"Miss Stormborne. How very nice to see you." Lucius strode over to her and lifted her hand, kissing the back of it. She nodded her greeting. "We'll set the rules, then. Three spells each. Nothing permanent or irreversible- we want to enjoy the rest of the night, don't we?" Lucius laughed. Elliana nodded. "Ashwinder's my second."

"And Baggert mine." Elliana said softly. She was focusing herself. She knew which three spells she was going to use. They bowed and took their paces, turning to face each other.

"Frezium!" Elliana said loudly, causing small balls of ice to pelt Lucius. He laughed. She was working up to larger spells. She didn't want to drain herself, and her last spell would test that. Lucius was thrown slightly backwards by the force of the ice and yelled, "Flipendo!"

Elliana was hurled backwards into the wall, but quickly recovered.

"Producto Produxi!" Elliana shielded her eyes as the room lit up, blinding Lucius for a moment. She gathered her strength for the final spell, but as she raised her wand Lucius cast his last spell.

"Madesco!" Elliana cried out as a large stream of water shot toward her. She was completely soaked, but the water didn't stop. Elliana was vaguely aware of her tears falling. She lost her stream of consciousness in panic, and struggled to remember the words to her final spell. They slipped from her mind as the water continued to come.

"Finite Incantatem." She gasped for air as the water dissipated and looked up from the floor. She was doubled over, and Lucius was standing over her. He looked so sublime in that moment before he lifted his wand for his final curse.

"That's three, Stormborne. Crucio." Elliana writhed in pain as the spell hit her. She screamed once, and then lost herself in a dream-like state. A moment later, it seemed, she was lying in the dark room with Lucius standing over her still. He laughed and put his wand away. Elliana watched as he and his friends left the room, and was slightly aware of Kaden helping her to her feet. She ached all over, and she had lost the duel.

"Stormborne, do you want to go to the Hospital Wing?" Kaden asked gently. Elliana shook her head. "You did well. Lucius was caught off-guard by the Mass Lumos."

"I was going to use the Tempestas Hex." Elliana said as they walked down the corridor. She was no longer wet- except for her hair- and supposed that Kaden had used a Drying Spell on her.

"He used the Cruciatus Curse. You had no chance." Kaden stopped her before they reached the Great Hall. "Do you really want to go back to the party?"

"Yes. I'm feeling better. And I think I want to dance."

One evening at the beginning of June, Elliana was studying for her exams in the Common Room. She was sitting at a table in the corner, occasionally looking up at the people in the room. The antics amused her. The girls all flirted madly, and the guys all thought they were the most handsome of the bunch. Elliana was glad to be away from this exchange of hormones. Of course, if she were to ask Brooke's opinion, her friend would tell her just what she thought. It was common consensus that Elliana and Kaden were, in fact, boyfriend and girlfriend. Nothing seemed to shake this impression.

Elliana's eyes caught sight of the newspaper she'd been too busy to read at lunch. A sick feeling rose in her stomach as she opened it. The front page proclaimed more murders in the village. Only three this time. That was last night. Elliana tried hard to remember last night…it had been right after ten, the newspaper said. Elliana had been in the Common Room. She had been studying and waiting to talk to Lucius, but he hadn't shown up by the time she had gone to bed. And that was at eleven. But, Lucius was a prefect. And so was Kaden…they were both allowed to stay out later.

Elliana wanted to throw up as she looked up. Kaden had caught her eyes from across the room. He stood up and walked over, sitting in the chair across from her. He took the newspaper and scanned it quickly. Elliana looked at him quizzically.

"Baggert, tell me." She said in a whisper. "The paper says that Darius Malfoy is facing an inquiry for his connections with this new Dark Wizard. Who's to say his son isn't the same?" Kaden shook his head.

"Stormborne, you don't know what you're talking about." Kaden leaned in closely. "You don't know…"

"Baggert, I do know. I've been dreaming about it. I saw the murderers…and the dream finally followed them back- the castle, Baggert. I know the murderers are students here." Elliana said this with a deadly seriousness. It was still a whisper, but a very strong one.

"You can't dream, Stormborne." Kaden pointed out. Elliana had caught herself in a trap, it seemed. She paled. Kaden laughed softly. "Don't ask me, Elliana. I won't lie to you. I won't. So don't ask me. You don't understand."

"It's murder." Elliana protested, now sitting up very straight. Kaden shook his head. His blue eyes were full of sadness.

"It's power."