Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Harry Potter. Mikey Corvin is owned by a friend off of Fanfic, as is the elven girl. And the poem/riddle thingy is the one in the first book. Not mine either

Author's Note: Yay! Almost back at the school! Next chapter they will be, I promise.

Chapter Nineteen

The Kiss, the Kid, and the Elf

About a week later, after Shadow and Fang were returned to normal size, Thorn had received a message, not by the normal post, but by an annoyed Sparkie. "Thorn!" the reptile whimpered, "Maken's in my head again!" She smirked as he perched himself onto her knee, as she sat on her black bed. Behind his eyes she saw the familiar glint of Sparkify. "Hello, Maken."

"Hey," he replied through the disgruntled lizard, "I'm not even going to ask what he just said… Anyways, I got word from Celestial! She's back and wanted to see us. I invited her over tomorrow, do you think that you could come, too? Cade and Melissa will be there. Those two are really starting to scare me. He couldn't come over a while back because he was busy… He wouldn't tell me with what but I wasn't gonna ask…" Thorn chuckled. She could just see Maken shudder when he said those words. "Anyway, can you make it?"

"Yes, I'll come," she concluded. "Severus won't mind. Tomorrow is the last day of summer, too, so we can go pick up our things in Diagon Alley as well."

"Alright! I'll see you then!" Then she heard the faint muttering of "I have seen—" and the glow left Sparkie's black orbs.

He muttered and flew to her dresser. "Why do I have to be used for that spell? Why not Midnight?" The black owl sent him a deadly glare.

"Because," Thorn stated as she picked up her pillow and tossed it at him, "You're constantly with me." Sparkie squeaked as he was struck by the fluffy black cloth. "And you would be jealous if I gave anyone else that power." He glared at her from beneath the dark mass.

"Okay… fine," he admitted, still angry at the mention of his new least favorite word, "But why'd you have to give it to Maken!?"

Thorn rolled her eyes, "Why shouldn't I?" Sparkie seemed at a loss of how to answer her and she gave a weak laugh, "I thought so. You have no logical reason for your hatred of Maken." The lizard crossed his little arms over his chest and gilded under her bed.

The next day, Thorn awoke at her normal, dawn time, and went through her morning ritual. At around nine o'clock she got ready to head to Maken's. This time she was taking a different means of transportation. She was to go by way of dragon. Fang was large enough, and could easily carry her weight, so she decided that it was high time that he bore the body of another.

After receiving the usual be careful talk, she, Sparkie, and Fang were on their way, flying over the trees below. Fang was now too large to keep up with Sparkie when the lizard went his fastest, yet the plus side to that was that Sparkie had to leap ten feet to keep up with one of his steps. That made the whole thing a little more bearable. Thorn was seated quaintly upon Fang's neck, on top of a thick hide as to protect herself from the sharp ridges that ran along his spine.

It was truly more fantastic than riding on the back of one of the others. His large, black, webbed wings forced the air down so fluently it was almost as if one stroke could take them for miles, which it could. Sparkie darted around them like a bee and its hive, in and out of view quicker than the eye could see. Thorn would quietly scold him for showing off to the dragon.

It didn't take them as long when they went by dragon, a mere two hours from the usual three, so Thorn was there an hour ahead of schedule, at eleven. Fang landed in the Quidditch Pitch and promised his 'mother' that he would remain there. The Slytherin walked up to the house, the small blue and red lizard perched upon her shoulder. As the young girl got to the door she almost walked into the house without knocking. She was so unaccustomed to having to knock on this door…

After she did the oak was swung open to reveal a tired looking, half clothed Maken standing in the doorway. He was in his boxers only, rubbing an eye with one fist. "Hello—Oh my god! Thorn!?" He dove behind the doorframe to hide himself. "What are you doing here so early!?"

She rolled her eyes as Sparkie growled under his wing. "I rode Fang, he's faster, and stop being so fidgety. I've seen you without pants on before, remember? I practically lived here for nine years."

Then a woman's voice could be heard in the background. "Maken? Who is it?"

Maken sighed, "Its Thorn, Mum!"

Then Jamie came from the living room and sped to embrace Thorn like her daughter. "Oh! It's so great to see you again, darling!" Then she turned to Maken and smiled, "What did I tell you, honey? You should have got dressed the twelfth time I told you." Maken rolled his eyes, still trying to keep himself behind the door as Thorn walked into the entry. Then he ran up the stares, slammed the door, and the sound of drawers sliding open could be heard.

Thorn smirked and followed Jamie to the kitchen, where she sat across from Oliver. He looked up to her nervously and turned his attention back onto the sports section that he was reading. "Mornin' Thorn," he said blandly.

She nodded, "Good day." He looked up to her again, and quickly back down. She watched him for a while, his nervous actions continuing. What's up with the older Wood son? Sparkie asked calmly. He's acting like he's just seen Voldemort.

Thorn shrugged, He's practically looking at him right now, but he doesn't know that… She looked to the lizard on her shoulder, Does he?

Sparkie shrugged. I dunno… he could, I mean, if his parents told him, but they promised Severus they wouldn't, and I trust them. Thorn nodded. Perhaps it was only her attitude.

The door opened and Gary came into the room happily. "Thorn! I haven't seen you for, what? A month?" He laughed and Thorn chuckled. "Well, good to have you back!"

The Slytherin smiled. "Good to be back," she turned back to the door as fully clothed Maken came in. He was wearing baggy blue jeans and a loose fitting white tank top.

"Celestial should be here soon," he said as he ran a hand through his bowl cut. "She said around eleven thirty.

Thorn nodded. "It'll be good to see her again." He nodded in agreement and they went to wait outside. As they stepped out the door, Sparkie caught Oliver giving them a suspicious look…

The wind whipped by them as they sat on the grass. Sparkie was chasing dandelion seeds around, desperately trying to gather enough to shove down Maken's shirt. He was failing. Maken laid back on the soft blades and sighed. "It's such a good day… to bad we gotta go back to school tomorrow."

Thorn smirked down to her friend. "Yes…" she muttered, "Another year, another nine months of living with Antonette, Dreara, and Phillis. Not to mention all the boys in my year." She looked down at Maken, his eyes full of concern for his best friend. "It's alright, though, because I have Severus, you, Celestial," Sparkie made a hurt noise from the dandelion field, "And Sparkie. I'll be alright."

His eyes glowed dangerously, "If they even try to hurt you they'll be seein' the light of day through their—" But his sentence was cut short, for a voice from a ways away caught their ears.

"Maken!" the burnet called, waving her arm in the air. "Thorn!" Both the Slytherin and the Gryffindor smirked and stood as Celestial ran the rest of the way to them. She gripped both of them in a death hug at the same time, her arms around their necks. "Dear lord, how I've missed you two! And Cade! Where is our pointy-headed friend?"

Maken laughed, "Pointy-headed? That's new, but not untrue. He'll be here soon. He and his… friend." Maken chuckled, and Sparkie, as he climbed to Thorn's shoulder, snickered.

Celestial looked to the winged lizard and said, "Oh, does Sparkie like Maken now?" It was only obvious to everyone who knew Thorn and her Sparkie that there was tension between the lizard and wizard.

Maken snorted, "Yeah right. He's only my friend when it involves making fun of Mel and Cade." Sparkie nodded vigorously, "See?"

Celestial laughed, "Well, better than hating you all the time, then isn't it?" Maken shrugged an agreement. "Anyways, I've been so bored without you guys! Oh, but don't get me wrong, traveling the world was fun, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't!"

Thorn nodded, "Indeed. Well, it seems that you'll get to see Cade soon." She pointed to a green pickup making its way down the dirt road. As Cade and Melissa made their way towards them Sparkie and Maken snickered. Fingers laced again… lovebirds. Thorn rolled her eyes.

"Oh!" Celestial said softly, "Someone's gotten a tad close, eh?" Maken and Sparkie nodded. "Well! I'll go over and introduce myself!" Then she ran forwards and embraced both of them as she had done Maken and Thorn.

Maken sighed, "She must have missed us… Trying to kill us with love." Thorn nodded.

When the group of three got to the two of them, Thorn and Maken led the way inside, Sparkie clicking his claws together menacingly. Cade and Melissa walked slightly behind the three of them, muttering quietly together. Sparkie and Maken snickered.

The Gryffindor led them to his room, which was a jumbled mess from how quickly he'd dressed that morning. Thorn sat against the wall, where she had the previous visit. Maken sat in his desk chair, and Celestial took a seat next to Melissa, who was besides Cade on the bed. "So," Celestial said, "How have all of you been doing?"

Maken shrugged, "Fine, nothing interesting ever happens around here…"

Celestial smiled, "That's fine, what about you two?" she asked the two next to her. They both went beat red. Sparkie and Maken snickered.

"Er…" Cade started uneasily, then he continued, "Fine, just fine. Normal stuff…" Melissa nodded. "What about you, Thorn?"

She looked up to him and then to the others. "Just Severus and me, and Sparkie. Yesterday we had a visit from the ministry, no big deal."

Maken sighed. "Dad had heard something about that… He said that they had caught a rumor about you owning an illegal animal." Thorn nodded and he continued. "Did they find either of them?"

She shook her head. "No. We kept them hidden. They had tried though. They were determined to find an excuse to…" she paused. "Expel me." Sparkie rolled his eyes at her bold faced lie. They didn't want her out of the school… They wanted her into the prison.

Maken sighed. "It's always seemed to me that they hate you… Well, at least the minister does. Dad's not too fond of his boss… I've asked them why he does, but he wouldn't tell me…" He gave Thorn a questioning look, practically saying, 'If you know I want you to tell me.'

But yet again Thorn lied skillfully through her teeth. "No, I do not. Probably my bloodline." Maken gave her a knowing look, his eyes narrowed, as if to tell her he didn't believe a word she said. She sighed. He was one of the people who seemed to be able to tell if she was telling a falsehood. He, Severus, and Sparkie.

Then Celestial chimed in. "Oh yes! Your dragon! Let's go see him!" Thorn smirked pushed away from the wall. Maken stood as well. Melissa and Cade stayed seated.

"Uh… Melissa, well, she, um, she doesn't want to see him," his cheeks were gaining a red tint to them, "He's full grown and all, and she's er… nervous! Yeah, that's it, she's nervous."

Maken and Sparkie snorted in laughter and Celestial raised an accusatory eyebrow. "Okay then, your loss." She turned to the Maken and Thorn and said, "Come on! I want to see the thing that almost got you kicked out of school!"

Thorn nodded and led the way from the house. They heard the door close with a snap when they were halfway down the stairs. Sparkie took a quill and bit of parchment and wrote, They need their privacy. Then he handed the paper to Maken who laughed aloud. "He can write!" he asked Thorn in awe.

She nodded. "I taught him long ago. He rarely ever actually uses it, however."

Maken rolled his eyes. "Oh no. He does. I was wondering what was up with a few offensive statements at the bases of a few of your letters." Sparkie's eyes widened as he gave Thorn a guilty look. Celestial laughed and Thorn shook her head.

"Sparkie does that? Well, his writing is terrible. You can tell it's not mine." The young lizard glared at her and flew behind her hair again.

It took them a few minutes to reach the arena where Fang was, but they could see him far before then. He was huge according to the mini field. "Wow, Thorn…" Celestial muttered. "How in the world did you keep him hidden while the ministry was searching for him?"

Thorn chuckled, "Thanks to a special shrinking potion. It was more effective than a spell would have been. He was horse-sized for twelve hours."

Celestial nodded, yet still didn't seem convinced. "Somehow, that is hard to believe…"

When they reached the colossal dragon, Thorn explained everything to Celestial as Maken stroked the large reptile's head. She told her of the egg, and the hatching, and how he had acted at his young age. Celestial nodded every so often, and casting glances at Fang once in a while. "And somehow the minister found out about him, or thinks he has. He searched most of the forest, but found nothing." Celestial gave a knowing 'ah' and they heard Maken call to them from where he was.

"Aye! Thorn, can I ride him?"

The Slytherin watched as Maken pleaded with his eyes. She sighed and said, "Only if I'm there, as well. I've been the only one to ride him, so far. I do not want to scare him…"

Maken nodded and said, "Cool! Let's go!" Thorn strode over to him, got on the leather 'saddle' and held a hand down to Maken, as to help him onto Fang behind her. He took it, and they pulled him up. He placed himself behind her, legs on either side of hers. He wrapped his arms tightly around her middle, making sure that he didn't fall off once they were airborne. Thorn felt an irrational anger come from Sparkie, as he sat on Fang's head, giving the Gryffindor a deadly glare. She rolled her eyes, scolded him, and turned to her friend behind her.

"Are you ready?" she asked Maken. He nodded silently, either quiet from thrill or fear. She smirked, and roared over to Fang. "Let's go." He nodded in agreement and with a mighty flap of his gigantic wings they were in the sky. She felt Maken gab onto her stomach tighter at the sudden change in velocity. She also felt Sparkie begin to have his anger issues return in full throttle. Yet once he was used to the sudden changes his grip relaxed again until he was practically just resting.

"This is great!" He screamed in both exhilaration and to be heard over the winds. Sparkie made a swooping motion towards him, but was caught off by a sudden gust and twirled away into a cloud. Maken hadn't even noticed his failed attempts to harm him, however.

After a few more minutes, they flew back towards the earth, Sparkie gliding down after them, a furious look scarring his face. When they landed, Maken and Thorn stepped off of the colossal neck that they had been perched upon and Celestial clapped. "Nicely done, Thorn! And they said that it was an impossibility to tame a dragon!"

Thorn smirked. "Would you like a ride? I'm sure that Fang wouldn't mind." Sparkie landed on her shoulder. Had Maken seen the glare that had been turned upon him, he would have been really happy that looks couldn't kill.

Celestial shook her head. "No thanks. It might just be me, but dragon riding isn't really my thing…" She smiled and said, "Well, let's get back to Melissa and Cade. We don't want them to think we've died, or anything."

I would prove that Cade and Melissa were not worried about the others at all. In fact, they were too absorbed in what they were doing to even notice them come in. Celestial had led the way into the house, followed by Maken, and then Thorn. The brunette opened the door, and then swiftly closed it again. "I… uh, I don't think they've been too concerned…" she muttered, a light blush rising into her cheeks.

Thorn nodded, figuring what was going on, both by Celestial's statement and rising redness. Maken and Sparkie, however, failed to comprehend. "What?" the Gryffindor asked, "What's goin' on?"

Yeah! Sparkie asked mind wise, What the heck's wrong?

Thorn rolled her eyes and Celestial cleared her throat. But neither of them had stopped Maken as he reopened the door fully. Sparkie and Maken first just stared, then cracked up laughing. Cade and Melissa were lying on Maken's bed and, as Sparkie kept exclaiming, it was as if they were trying to swallow each other's tongues. Thorn shook her head as Maken and Sparkie rolled on the floor with laughter. Celestial crossed her arms over her chest and said, "How immature!"

As soon as the commotion was heard, the two 'love-birds' leapt apart. Cade's face was red in embarrassment and contorted in fury. Melissa merely hid her face in her hands and flopped back onto the bed. "MAKEN TY WOOD!" He screamed, and Maken instantly shut up and got to his feet. Sparkie was still shaking with laughter, under the bed. "I SWEAR TO GOD, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Maken had taken that as his cue to run the heck away, and he darted down the stairs. Sparkie somehow managed to crawl back to Thorn and climb onto her shoulder. Celestial went next to Melissa and began to comfort her, telling her that Maken was just a silly little kid and didn't understand love. "I'm going to go save that 'silly little kid' now," Thorn said as she began to leave the room. Something told her that if Cade actually got a hold of Maken, the poor Gryffindor would NOT be happy…

She had been correct. Cade was once again chasing Maken around the yard, but this time the friendliness of it was gone. Cade wouldn't actually hurt Maken if he ever caught him, Thorn was positively sure of that, but he would defiantly be close to it. "THORN!" Maken howled as he ran towards her in his wolf form, husky Cade on his heels.

She rolled her eyes and somehow managed to catch both of them by the tails, holding them an entire arm's span apart to keep Maken safe and Cade out of Azkaban. "Now, why don't we start acting like people and not animals?" she asked dangerously, her silky voice showing the very smallest hint of annoyance.

Cade then changed back to a human, Thorn gripping the bottom of his shirt. "Fine, I'll strangle him with my bear hands!" Yet now that joking hint was beginning to return. He had been having too good a time to be to desperately angry. He leapt out of Thorn's grasp and onto the white wolf, who transformed back to Maken as the other's weight came down on him.

"I'm sorry!" Maken exclaimed as Cade began to shake his shoulders, a sly smirk across his face. His hair was flailing about his face with every jerk that Cade caused to his head. Thorn took Cade's shirt, pulled him off of her other friend, who was laughing on the grass.

Aw, Sparkie pouted in her head, You shoulda let him kill him!

Thorn ignored him as Cade said, "Next time, you'll be lucky to live!" Then he laughed and held his hand down to help his friend to his feet.

Thorn watched them with a smirk, then said, "Are we done out here now? Because Celestial's trying to cheer up poor Melissa. I think that Sparkie and Maken traumatized her." At this a guilty look placed itself into Maken's features and a worried one in Cade's. The two of them sprinted up the stairs, and Thorn followed.

When they entered the room Celestial and Melissa were laughing about something. The two boys exchanged confused looks as Thorn smiled. What girl talk could do. Sparkie, too, looked lost. Melissa then came over to Cade and embraced him. His look was just as blank as Maken's and Sparkie's, but none the less he hugged her back. Celestial smiled. Somehow, Thorn figured that Maken, Sparkie, and Cade, would NEVER get what had happened.

"What did you tell her?" Thorn asked Celestial quietly. Sparkie was staring at Cade and Melissa in complete confusion, missing their entire conversation.

The Gryffindor laughed, "Just that Maken is Maken and he'll always laugh, but she'll get her revenge if he ever gets a girlfriend, and that just because Maken ticked him off, Cade was mad not because they were laughing, but because they'd interrupted. It cheered her up a lot. And I told her not to be afraid to show her feelings in front of others. If Maken laughed, just ignore him."

Thorn nodded. Girl talk. Something she never did, but fully understood. Sad, really. Sparkie, who had still missed this conversation, let his voice echo through Thorn's mind. I really don't get it…

Thorn chuckled, That's alright, perhaps its better that it remains that way. Then she looked to the others and said, "We might want to be heading to Diagon Alley. I'm sure that Melissa would like to join us, muggles have been there before, as long as they know about, and believe in the wizarding world, which I am sure she does."

They got to Diagon Alley by way of floo powder. Melissa was scared out of her wits and it took her a moment to get the words out. When they had all gathered in Diagon Alley, they began to search the shops for their supplies. Naturally, they got their books first, and, as usual, Thorn got five more than they needed. Then they got their other things, and after that, went to get ice cream. As they sat outside the shop, Celestial suddenly gasped and dove behind Thorn, spilling her now suddenly unwanted ice cream onto the ground. "Oh no…"

Thorn cocked an eyebrow at the suddenly hiding Gryffindor, and Sparkie popped his frozen-desert covered head out of the bowl that Thorn's had been in. "What?" she asked, and Celestial pointed ahead. There was a young boy, seemingly a first year, walking around with a dog on his heels and an oddly colored blue phoenix on his shoulder. His blonde-highlighted hair fell down over his eyes, and his clothes seemed too big for him.

"That," Celestial exclaimed, "Is Mikey Corvin. His real parents were killed by Bellatrix Lestrang, and he was adopted by the Chang family." Maken said something about the 'poor kid,' and Celestial continued. "He was with Albus for a portion of the beginning of the summer, for some reason or another. Let me tell you, he is one hyper kid!"

Thorn nodded and looked to the first year, who looked back up to her, and caught sight of the auburn-haired girl behind her. "Celestial!" he shouted as he began to run towards them, his bright blue bird taking flight and landing on the lamp post above their heads, and his dog trotting in his wake. "It's been soooooo long!" He said as he grabbed her arm and pulled at her.

She groaned and said, "Hey, Mikey, how're you? Oh, these are my friends, Melissa, Cade, Maken, and Thorn." Then the youngster's attention was turned to them.

"Hi! I'm Mikey Corvin! It's nice to meet you all! Do you go to Hogwarts? Is it nice there? Cho always bragged about how she would get to go to Hogwarts before I did, but then I twisted her robes around her feet and she didn't say anything, she yelled a lot, though."

Sparkie stared at Mikey in disbelief. "He's like… an older, young Maken!" he muttered. Thorn had to agree. Maken looked slightly disbelieving himself; Cade looked as if he wanted to stuff a sock down the first year's throat. Melissa was laughing and Celestial was muttering, "Why me?"

Thorn was the first to speak, "Yes, we go to Hogwarts. It is nice there. But you might want to watch out for Peeves, he—" Yet her sentence was cut short by a shrill shriek from the other side of the street.

"Celestial!" the pink blur that was Taffy Trelawney darted forwards, grabbed Celestial by the arm and began to mutter. "Run! It's not too late! You can save yourself if you run!"

Thorn rolled her dark eyes and Sparkie sighed in annoyance. Maken shook his head sadly and Cade turned to Melissa to explain the pink and yellow puffball. Celestial turned to Taffy and said, "Taffy, I have said this before, I do not need saving."

Taffy gasped and brought her hands to her face. "She's brainwashed you! I knew it! Don't worry, I'll help you!" She reached into her robes and took out a strange pink powder. She poured a handful into her hand and threw it into Celestial's face. "Evil, be gone!"

Celestial coughed and sneezed as the pink dust flew into her mouth and nose. "Taffy!" She scolded. "Listen to me, I do not need saving!" Yet the Hufflepuff's ideas didn't change.

"Fine, you be that way. But when she ends up betraying you, then you'll know. They all will. I won't be the only one anymore. I'll be famous for being the only one that knew, you'll see! You'll all see!" Then she stormed off, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she went.

Maken rolled his eyes, "Thank God that's over…"

Mikey looked after her, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Heh heh heh, my new pawn is found!" The others decided not to ask. Not long later, Mikey left them, and they wandered the streets again. Thorn bought herself more potions supplies and they went to Gringots. Melissa got sick on the ride in the carts so she and Cade got a ride back up on one of the stops. When Thorn got all the money that she would need she and Maken made their way outside once again, Sparkie rather enjoying himself on the ride.

They were walking down the alley, making their way towards the ice cream shop that they had been at earlier to meet up with Cade and Melissa and go back to Maken's house. They saw the shop in the distance when suddenly Thorn's eyes were caught by a gleam of silvery blonde. She turned her head to look at the tall, slender figure. Her hair was short and spiked, but long locks were hanging from her head none the less, falling below her shoulders. Thorn's eyes slightly widened as she looked upon the girl. Is she… No, she couldn't be… but she must. I thought they had all died…

Huh? Sparkie asked as he tried to catch a glimpse of what Thorn had been looking at, but the tall girl had disappeared. What? What're you talking about?

Thorn shook her head, Nothing.

"Okay," Melissa said as she brushed the soot from herself in the Wood's living room. "Those are the two strangest people that I have ever met."

"Mikey and Taffy?" Celestial confirmed, "Yeah, Taffy's a Thorn-hating feminist, and Mikey is, well, just Mikey. You don't have to go to school with them, so feel lucky."

"I wonder what house the little guy will be in," Cade wondered aloud, "Let's hope that it's not Gryffindor." Maken and Celestial agreed. Thorn nodded, but was hardly really listening. Who was that girl… she was muttering in her head. She had now come to the conclusion what she was, but she wasn't sure if that was possible. Maybe she had been a ghost? No, that wasn't it... Hmm…

Okay, Thorn, if you don't shut up… Sparkie threatened. He still didn't know what Thorn was talking about. She nodded and thought no more about this strange newcomer, for then, at least.

Not long later it was time for her to leave. She bade her friends farewell and leapt upon the leather saddle that rested on Fang's neck and they flew off into the sky. She arrived home two hours later, the sun making it's decent behind the far off mountains as she stepped into her stone house. Sparkie muttered a goodnight and went into her room to flop down onto her bed and sleep. Severus was sitting in his desk in his room, writing something down as he looked at seven differently shaped potions bottles. She wandered next to him and read over his shoulder.

Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,

Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,

One among us seven will let you move ahead,

Another will transport the drinker back instead,

Two among our number hold only nettle wine,

Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.

Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,

To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:

First, however slyly the poison tries to hide

You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;

Second, different are those who stand at either end,

But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;

Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,

Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;

Fourth, the second left and the second on the right

Are twins once taste them, though different at first sight.

She nodded. Very clever. Not many witches and wizards new how to solve puzzles such as that one. "You're protection means, I presume?" Thorn said in a low, silky voice. Severus looked up to her, noticing for the first time that she was there, and nodded.

"Yes, can you figure out which one is the correct one?" he gestured towards the bottles ahead of him. She nodded and then picked up the smallest bottle. Severus smirked and nodded once again. Well, she was raised, in part, by you… he reminded himself, And you wrote the riddle.

"Don't worry," she muttered after a while as she set the bottle back down. "Few others would be able to guess it. I'm just… me, I suppose. Raised by a brilliant man, and born with a brilliant mind. She sighed and walked to her room, embracing Severus lightly before she went. The potions master sighed.

"Why does she have to practice occlumency?" he asked himself, though he well knew the answer. "It may give her a brilliant mind, as she put it, but she knows nothing of the affairs of the heart… I presume that she and I never will…" He shook his head sadly and got back to work on his challenge

Thorn walked through the night to her bedroom, her boot heels making soft clicking sounds against the cold stone floor. She made her way into the dark comfort of her room and shut the door. Taking out her wand she muttered an illuminating spell that set the candles along the walls aflame. Sparkie grunted in annoyance and crawled under her black covers, hiding himself from the light.

She clicked her way over to her desk, where she removed her boots, set them next to her desk, and began to search through the books on her desk. No… not here… she thought as she set the novels aside.

Go… to… bed… Sparkie muttered in her mind. She ignored him and walked to her bookcase. She ran her fingers along the spines of the volumes there, trying to find what she was looking for. She sighed and sat on her bed.

I know that I have something about them somewhere around here… she thought. Then she stood once again and kneeled on the floor to look under the bed. It was remarkably clean down there, for Sparkie, having chosen that as his own room, kept it rather tidy. In the back, against the wall, was a book bag. She'd put it there months ago to protect it from Fang.

They were the more important tales about the past. The way past, things that many had forgotten. Also some of her favorite, and most useful other books concerning magic, and, particularly, potions. She'd first read them when she had been merely eight, and had then put them on top of her bookshelf, to keep them safe. Then Fang had come along, and she'd taken the most important ones there to keep them away from his curious claws.

She muttered "Accio book bag!" and the cloth sped towards her from under the bed frame. She then stood, sat on her bed and dumped the contents out onto her covers. Sparkie, who was on the other side of the bed and under the blankets, jolted up at the sudden vibration. She ignored him and began looking through the books. Most Potent Potions, The Worlds Most Dangerous Potions, Finest Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of the Middle Ages… She smiled. There it was… History of History. The story of the real ancient times, when there was another race, aside from wizards, witches, and muggles around.

She flipped open the book and went instantly to the table of contents. First chapter… 'Elves.' She flipped through the pages until she reached said chapter. She read through it quickly.

Elves

Elves are easily some of the most curious creatures that have ever roamed the lands. They were skilled with magic without wands, but more often they carried them anyway. They were easily recognized as having a slender figure, and beautiful features. Also they're pointed ears made them easy to distinguish from muggles and magic folk. Their hair is usually a deep brown, almost raven color, or a silvery blonde. Rarely, they can be born with red or light brown hair, but mostly only if they have crossbred with muggles or magic folk. Also, elves have eyes that are either dark or light according to their hair color. Light hair, light eyes, or dark hair and dark eyes. They also never tan, nor burn. They have naturally pale complexions.

Elves are also known to have extremely long life spans. They could live for hundreds of thousands of years. Elves generally have an odd way of growing. They would grow years at a time. After a hundreds of years a young elf might seem only two or three. Every year after that seems like a normal year to a wizard. They would look four the year after that, and five after that, and continue to grow in such a way until they seemed twenty-one. When that time came they would go into another period of slow growth, it taking hundreds of years at a time to reach the appearance of twenty-two. It goes on like that their whole lives

Thorn only read the first few paragraphs, but that had been enough. Yes, she had defiantly been an elf. But now Thorn was wondering how she escaped the slaughter… All the elves had been slain by an unknown force. Not even the book could tell. Whoever knew how they were killed sure wasn't telling. Well, this new girl, who, for all Thorn knew, was probably over three-hundred years old, did know what happened, Thorn was sure of that, and Thorn's curios mind compelled her to find out.

Thorn Samarra Rose… Sparkie muttered, half awake. Go… to freaking… bed.

She smirked and agreed, moved the books from her bed, changed into her night clothes, checked to make sure that the cover was still securely set, and climbed under the covers. Sparkie instantly made a cooing sound and cuddled up to her side. She ran a hand over the slender reptile's form as she cast herself into sleep. This is going to be one interesting year… With Harry Potter, Mikey Corvin, and that elven girl…