That night Margaret did not sleep well. Visions of finding her family dead kept invading her dreams and the soreness of her shoulder kept her awake. Madame Pomfrey had done an excellent job of healing the welts on her shoulder. The bandage served as a reminder that the open wounds were still in the process of mending. Margaret decided to dress and take a walk around the castle. She saw her red cloak hanging in her closet and put it on in case she ventured out doors. Since she did not have her wand she lit an old hurricane lamp that sat on her night stand and took it with her to light her way.

She stepped out of her quarters and felt a cool breeze rush past her. A ghost no doubt she thought to her self. She started down the hall pulling her cloak tight. The paintings were all sleeping; Margaret did her best to keep the light out of their eyes. She stopped at an edge where a stair case once stood and looked down.

"Students are not allowed to wonder the halls at night," a familiar voice spoke softly.

"I'm not exactly a typical student," Margaret said.

"None the less you should be in your quarters," Snape said. He took hold of her arm and turned her toward her quarters. "If Mr. Filch had caught you your punishment would have been severe."

"Would it have been as bad as the lashing I received from Mr. Malfoy?" She put her hand to her sore shoulder as she started to walk to her quarters. Snape released her arm and followed her.

"No," Snape remarked. "No punishment in this school is quit that severe. However; I have had students cleaning bed pans for Madame Pomfrey without using magic."

"My parents were very disappointed when they found out I was a witch." Margaret stated. "That's when I found out my father wasn't my biological father."

"Did they tell you who your biological father was?" Snape questioned.

"Some wizard named Tom Riddle." She said coolly. "Mother met him when she spent some time in London."

"I see," Snape remarked as he listened intently.

"They did everything they could to keep me out of school, including telling the headmaster I needed an operation and I died during surgery."

"Did they lie?" He walked over to the table and sat down.

"No, I actually had surgery and to them I died on the operating table. They left me at the hospital and never came back." She put some tea leaves into the cups.

"What kind of operation did you have?" Snape inquired.

"A hysterectomy," Margaret stated matter-of-factly. "And I got stuck paying the bill. I had to wash bed pans, and clean dirty linens and bathrooms for two years to pay off that debt."

"A what?" Snape asked.

"Are you hungry?" Margaret said trying to change to subject.

"Tell me what a histormy is?" Snape demanded

"My reproductive system was completely removed." Margaret said. She picked up the jug to pour some water into a cup. Her hands began shaking.

Snape stood, took the jug from her and turned her toward him. She laid her head on his chest and began crying. The first tears she had shed since she found her family dead.

"I did that for a living for two years." Margaret stated. "It's how I paid off the hospital for my operation."

They had stopped in front of Margaret's door. She looked up at him. "I already told you about that, didn't I?"

Snape simply raised a sardonic eyebrow at her.

"So, what kind of punishment will I receive from you for being out of my quarters this late at night?" Margaret inquired.

"Come down to the potions class room after dinner," Snape stated. "I will determine your punishment at that time." He opened her door and ushered her in.

"Do you have something that might help me sleep?" Margaret asked.

"What is preventing you from sleeping?" Snape inquired.

"Nightmares," Margaret said.

"Maybe you should talk to some one about your dreams," Snape suggested.

"Are you volunteering?" Margaret asked coyly.

Snape raised a single brow at her. "I'll have a sleeping draught prepared for you when you come down to the potion room for your detention." Snape said.

"Professor, who is Tom Riddle?" Margaret questioned.

"Why do you ask?"

"It's a name that just suddenly came to me," Margaret said. "A memory perhaps."

"I'll tell you about him when you serve detention." Snape replied. "Good night." He closed the door.

Margaret walked over to her bed and laid on it till the dawn approached. Every time she closed her eyes she saw a dead body at her feet. Once a single ray of sunshine flowed into her room she hopped out of bed and out the door. She followed the children that had just emerged from behind a fat lady down the stairs and into the Great Hall.

Not knowing where she should sit she simply sat with the students she had followed. The Gryffindors made room for the new student. Introductions were swiftly made.

"Aren't you a bit old to be a student?" Ron asked as he moved closer to Hermione to make room for Margaret.

"Ronald, that's not a very polite thing to say," Hermione said.

"Yes, I am much too old to be a student," Margaret replied with a smile. "I lost my memory many years ago and am starting to get pieces back a little at a time. Professor Dumbledore was kind enough to allow me to come here to learn, or should I say relearn magic."

"Will you be taking lessons with us?" Hermione questioned.

"I believe I will be given mostly private tutoring," Margaret stated. "Except for potion's, Professor Snape refuses to give me private lessons. So, who is the best teacher?" Margaret asked.

"Professor McGonagall," the three some replied in unison.

"What does he teach?"

"She teaches Transfiguration," Hermione stated. "We have her first thing this morning. Would you like to join us?"

"My lessons don't start for a few hours," Margaret stated. "I think I'd like that. I have to retrieve my wand first. It was placed in a safe place while I was incapacitated yesterday."

Margaret stood and headed toward the staff table. At first it looked like she was heading for Professor Dumbledore until she turned swiftly and headed for Snape.

"Good Morning," Margaret said with a smile to the frowning Professor.

"Is it?" Snape grimaced. His eyes darted around the hall looking for students who were doing no good.

"I'd like my wand please," Margaret said.

"Your classes don't start for several hours," He remarked.

"I know, I'd like to practice a little," she stated.

"Where do you intend to practice?" Snape inquired. "Use of magic in the halls is prohibited."

"I'll be in a class room." she looked at him quizzically. "Are you intentionally keeping my wand from me?"

"Of course not," Dumbledore stated, "However, Professor Snape no longer has possession of your wand." Dumbledore stood behind Snape, "Professor McGonagall is prepared to give you your wand whenever you are ready for it." He pointed toward Professor McGonagall.

"I'm ready for it," Margaret replied. "I would like to practice the spells I do remember and perhaps learn a few hexes in the mean time."

She turned and walked over to McGonagall to obtain her wand.

"Have you changed your mind about giving her private lessons?" Dumbledore inquired.

"No," Snape replied, "She may join my first year class as they take their finals and start from there. If she proves she is capable of learning quickly…"

"Very well, you know what's best for your students."

Later that day, Margaret entered the class room that was in the dungeon. There were dozens of little eleven year olds scurrying about the room. She felt extremely old. The children quickly took their seats. The only empty seat was at the front of the class room. Margaret walked over and sat down. She stowed her wand in her robe knowing she would not need it for this class.

"What are you doing here?" asked the chubby fellow in Slytherine robes sitting next to her.

"I'm going to learn potions," Margaret stated.

"You must be really bad at potions," the lad stated. "Cause you're as old as me mum."

The class room suddenly went silent as the door opened and Professor Snape swooshed into the room. Margaret could feel the tension as all of the students prepared for the worst.

Snape walked straight over to Margaret and slapped a piece of parchment on the table in front of her.

"You will prepare this potion," Snape stated. "You will find all the ingredients on the shelves behind my desk. The headmaster informed me you do not have a cauldron of your own at this time, so you will be using one of the school's cauldrons. They are located over there." He pointed to a stack of cauldrons sitting in a pile near the shelves. He leaned closer and looked menacingly into her eyes. "You have one hour to prepare this potion, starting now."

He straightened and began handing out the test the rest of the students were to take.

Margaret carefully read the instruction before stepping away from her desk to obtain the ingredients she would need for the potion. She took the parchment with her as she stepped away from her desk.

"I want everyone to keep their eyes on their own papers," Snape said as he walked around the room.

Margaret took a moment to examine the cauldrons that lay near the ingredients. Many of them were rusted through. She would have to sort through to find one that would be suitable.

"Your time is running short," Snape whispered in her ear.

"I know," Margaret replied. "But, you can't make a proper potion if you don't have the proper equipment." She pulled out her wand and picked up a cauldron.

"Scurgify!" she said with a flick of her wrist. The cauldron was clean and rust free. Margaret stowed her wand and gathered her ingredients.

She sat down and began chopping ginger roots into small pieces. She became so engrossed in preparing her potion that she didn't hear any of the oohs and aahs the children made as she slowly added her ingredients. The flame under her cauldron stayed at just the right height and before long a silver steam was emitting from the liquid.

"Wow," said the lad next to her. "It took me a month to get my potion to do that."

"One last ingredient," Margaret said. She took a dropper and slowly added one drop of toad sweat. Her arm was jolted as the children converged around to witness the finale and two more drops splashed into the cauldron. The silver steam turned purple and then exploded in her face.

"Opps," Margaret said. Her face was blackened and her hair charred and pointy. She looked up at Snape, who was standing at his desk with his arms crossed shaking his head disappointedly.

"Perhaps Remedial Potions would be the safest place for you," Snape remarked.

"Remedial Potions?" the class whispered as if that were the worst possible punishment around.

"Professor," said a small voice next Margaret. "It was my fault." The little girl with blonde pigtails stated. "I accidentally bumped her arm."

Snape cast his eye upon the young girl.

"Five points from Hufflepuff for speaking out of turn," Snape said, "And you will serve detention with me after dinner for your clumsiness."

The girl nodded her head.

"Since you are all so interested in Ms. Morris' potion I can only assume you have finished your test," Snape stated. With a flick of his wand the papers all rushed up to his desk. "Class is dismissed, except for Ms. Morris who will clean up her mess before she leaves."

The class quickly disbursed. Margaret quickly cleaned up her mess and left the room with out a word to Snape.

The young girl who had bumped Margaret's arm was waiting for her out side the class room

"I'm terribly sorry," the girl said she twisted her pigtail forcefully. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

"Everything is fine," Margaret said. "My name is Margaret." She moved her books into one arm and extended her hand.

"My name is Sarah McGill." the girl stopped twisting her hair and accepted the friendly hand.

"Nice to meet you Sarah," Margaret said. "Why did everyone whisper remedial potions after the professor?"

"Don't you know?" Sarah questioned.

Margaret shook her head.

Sarah looked toward the classroom to make sure Snape was not within hearing distance. "People who take remedial potions have to spend an entire hour alone with Professor Snape while he teaches you the basics."

"Maybe that's what I need," Margaret said. "Obviously I'm not very good."

"Naw, you were brilliant," Sarah said. "If I hadn't bumped your arm you would have gotten high marks for that potion. Everyone says if you have to take remedial potions Professor Snape makes you start from the very beginning as if you don't know a thing about potions."

"Only the dumb kids get remedial potions," said a tall blonde slytherine. "My name's Draco Malfoy." He seemed to have come out of no where.

Margaret cringed at the name.

"There must be another reason why Professor Snape wants you in remedial potions." Draco remarked he eyed her appreciatively. He leaned against the nearest wall with his arms folded in front of him. "You don't look like a dummy to me."

"I have to hurry to my next class," Sarah said as she looked up at Draco. She left as quickly as she could.

"No running now," Draco stated to Sarah as he straightened himself. He stood directly in front of Margaret so she couldn't go any where.

She wrapped her arms around her books holding them in front of her like a shield.

"You can call me Draco," Draco stated. He winked at her. "I'd like to escort you to your next class." He offered her his elbow.

"That won't be necessary Mr. Malfoy," Snape said as he closed the door to his classroom. "I'll see that Ms. Morris gets to her next lesson."

"Of course, Professor," Draco said. "I'll be seeing you." He turned swiftly and walked away.

A shiver ran down Margaret's back. "I think I'd like to go to my room."

"My name is Lucius Malfoy."

Her right shoulder stung as the whip sliced into it.

"My name's Draco Malfoy."

Margaret reached for her bandaged shoulder as she blacked out.

Margaret entered her mothers house for the second time that day, she heard a buzzing noise. She pulled out her witch's pager and saw a message telling her to rush to the bowling alley and use her muggle transportation.

Margaret hopped into her muggle vehicle and raced to the bowling alley. As she entered the parking area she noticed a rescue squad sitting near the entrance to the bowling alley. She parked her car and walked over to the commotion.

There on the sidewalk near the entrance lay her three younger brothers.

"You have to stand clear," an officer stated to Margaret.

"Those are my brothers," Margaret stated.

"I'm sorry," the officer said. "They are all dead. We have two suspects in custody and one got away."

A female police officer walked over to where Margaret stood.

"Are you Margaret Morris?" she asked.

Margaret nodded her head.

"There's a young man over there," she pointed to where the rescue squad sat. "Everyone says he tried to save your brothers. One of the perpetrators got away with most of his clothes and his money. He keeps calling your name."

Margaret walked over to the rescue squad. She spied a long meticulously carved piece of wood not far from the body. She casually walked over, picked it up and placed it carefully in a special pocket in her coat. She turned and saw a pale man with greasy black hair and a hooked nose lying on the ground. She walked over and squatted next to him.

"What happened?" Margaret asked.

"He received a pretty good beating," the medic said.

Margaret looked at him and shook her head. "A very poor choice of words, Ron. How can a beating be good?"

Ronald Cursac smiled, he was a friend of the family and was used to Margaret's sense of humor. "He has a few cracked ribs. We've bandaged him up but he's refusing medical treatment. They kicked him in the face pretty hard. His nose isn't broken but he's going to have a couple of black eyes.

"He keeps coming in and out of consciousness. He's called your name a couple of times. Do you know who he is?"

"No, but he tried to save my brothers," Margaret stated. "I'll take responsibility for him."

Margaret opened her eyes and once again found herself in the hospital wing. She put her fingers to her temples and began rubbing them. If she didn't have this blasted headache maybe she could remember what she thought she had just dreamed.

Kerichi: Margaret apparating in front of Malfoy was an accident on her part, she's still learning. Thanks for noticing the cat-o-nine reference, had to put that in. LOL You made my day hope you enjoy this chap