A/N- I decided to update with a short in between chapter because otherwise it would have made it too long. Those that had time to review, replies are at the bottom. It's not meant to be funny, but I think the image that you get in your head is.

On a gold, red and pink platter

Siobhan cringed as she missed the third easy goal that Quidditch practise. Her mind was still on what she had blurted out half an hour ago to Remus. No matter what she did she couldn't help thinking that Remus was telling her father right this minute. Doing five laps around the Quidditch pitch at top speed she flew down to where Harry stood, unimpressed by most people's standard today. He had fought with the Ravenclaw captain for the pitch today and it seemed he had wasted his time and effort.

"Concentrate Siobhan. I don't know what's wrong with you today, the lot of you, but you'd better sort it out or get off the pitch," Harry moaned, his arms folded over his chest, his tone of voice showing his discontent with the team's effort. Siobhan simply nodded and flew back up to go threw the formation again. Ginny and Lavender would pass the ball to each other with Siobhan there to make sure they regained control of the ball if they were to lose it and then at the last moment pass it to Siobhan who would score. At the moment, that wasn't happening.

After Siobhan's seventh miss, Harry told her to go get changed and she didn't argue. There wasn't any point in her being there if her heart wasn't in it. He put it down to hormones and knew she'd do better next practise. Siobhan took her time in the shower hoping she could ease the knot in her stomach by standing under the hot water long enough. As she dried herself and changed into her clothes, Siobhan couldn't help looking in the mirror and taking an inventory of the scars that adorned her body.

The three small scars on the small of her back where she had had nails mercilessly inserted; the scar that ran on the right side of her stomach, slightly wider than the knife that had caused it; the scar on her upper left thigh gained from fighting Aurors and a small scar behind her right ear which was usually hidden by her hair which only Siobhan knew was there. Sighing, she quickly got dressed in trousers, t-shirt and sweater. She would deal with herwet hair when she got up to her dormitory and its hair drying facilities but right now she would let it hang loosely, dripping cold drops of water onto her shoulders and back. Making her way back to the castle she prayed that she wouldn't have to deal with the whole Peter issue today and for once, her wish came true.

Sunday went past with no mention of Peter McKenna and didn't bump into Remus at all. She was too busy, however, to hide in her dormitory and refuse to come out. The fact that she was Slytherin prefect ensured that she was kept on her feet and she spent most of Sunday evening playing Wizard Chess with Edward to make up for the week of not having a proper conversation with him.

"So is everything alright? With school and stuff?" Siobhan asked as one of her pawns was wiped out. She had used to think the game was barbaric but at this present moment, she didn't care as long as it took her mind off her own problems.

"Professor Snape is set on failing me this year and Professor McGonagall says I have the potential but I just don't use it. I think they just don't like me," Edward said destroying another one of Siobhan's pawns who retaliated by wiping out one of his.

"Nonsense. Professor Snape just likes to terrorise first years. I'll have a word with him if you like and McGonagall says that to everyone. She's told me I'm going to fail each lesson actually," Siobhan replied. She looked away from the game and looked at the boy sitting in front of her. His messy black hair hung over his dark blue and hazel eyes much like her own. His brow was lowered in thought and concentration. Siobhan just wished he would smile more often.

"Doubt it'd do any good. Like you tried to help to stop people picking on me. I hate to tell you this, but you made it worse. Sure the sixth years keep most of the other years in check but that didn't stop the boys in my dormitory from tying me to a tree when it was raining." With one more move Edward had eliminated most of Siobhan's pieces. Another move and he would win. "Check and mate."

"I'll try harder. I won't stop until you smile without me having to tickle you. What's the one thing you'd like to do to those bullies?"

"Embarrass them like they do me. I don't know. Something like dying their robes pink," Edward shrugged clearing up the chess pieces. Siobhan lent forward so that if she spoke only Edward would her. She had no intentions of being blamed from any misfortune that would come upon theSlytherin boys tomorrow.

"Now there's an idea. If I did that, would you at least grant me a smile?"

"Maybe." A small smile formed and Siobhan ruffled his hair lovingly. He was so cute all she wanted to do was hug him. With a pang Siobhan remembered that there was somebody else in this world she would love to have with her right now. A tear fell down her cheek and Edward looked at her, his face etched with concern. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just getting soppy on you. Come on, I've got something I need to send and then we can get on with my master plan. Plus, I don't think you've met Sapphire before," Siobhan answered, hastily wiping away the tear and standing up. Edward wasn't too sure but could hardly protest as Siobhan dragged him along with her. At least it took her mind off things.

The Great Hall was filled with the usual Monday morning chatter and the smell of food as students and teachers fed their morning hunger with breakfast. Siobhan nibbled at her toast whilst she looked at the door as if expecting somebody to come through at any moment. The Slytherin table was totally empty and it seemed as if the whole House had slept in today. Professor Snape had noticed that this was unusual even for his House. There would be at least a few people there.

"Severus, you wouldn't have any idea where House are?" Dumbledore asked as he lent over to take pitcher of milk to add to his tea. There was a twinkle of amusement in his eye and Snape instantly knew that Dumbledore was teasing him.

"No, but I'm pretty sure you do," he answered. Dumbledore laughed and carried on making his tea. "You seem to know everything that happens in this damn school."

"It does come in useful. Severus, just don't kill your daughter when you see what she's done." As if on cue the doors to the Great Hall swung open. After the initial shock had worn of, the Great Hall burst into laughter.

"I'm going to kill Siobhan." That was every Slytherins thought as they entered the Great Hall.

Siobhan had done an excellent job at doing what Fred had planned to do whilst he was at Hogwarts but never got round to doing it. Red skin, gold hair and pink robes; that's what every Slytherin looked like. Siobhan couldn't help laughing along with everyone else as they sat down to eat. They looked so odd. And the beauty of it all was that the colour would take a week to wear off unless they sent of the special remover that was only available at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. At this particular moment in time nothing could wipe the smile off her face. She turned to the table the teachers all sat on, some of them trying to hide a smile, the others laughing openly. She caught Snape's gaze and winked. That's what he got for making her Prefect.

"Nice one Siobhan," Harry said before returning to his breakfast. That was one prank he would never forget. Colin Creevey got out his camera and took as many pictures as possible before a beefy seventh year told him to scram. Those pictures would sell for a lot in a few months.

"Why are you assuming it was me? Can't I be innocent of anything?" she joked, putting on a hurt face. She laughed as Harry shook his head and flicked a sweet corn at her. It was obvious it was Siobhan because even with the Weasley twins, no prank this large had ever been attempted and nobody else in this school had the bottle. Everyone quietened down as Dumbledore stood up.

"Well, it seems as if a rather unfair joke has been played on the Slytherin House. As funny as it may be, dyeing the Slytherins Gryffindor colours and their robes pink is going a bit too far," Dumbledore said his gaze falling on Siobhan who smiled at him. "If you are the culprit, or know the culprit for sure, please stand up now so we can get this over with."

As rehearsed, Edward stood up, all red, gold and pink of him, and pointed an accusing finger at Siobhan. "It was her. I saw her do it but she said she'd hex me if I told anyone before it happened. It was Siobhan." Everyone in the Great Hall turned to look at Siobhan.

"Miss McKay, would you please stand up and come to the front," Dumbledore asked. Siobhan tried to look as guilty and as sorry as possible as she walked towards Dumbledore. "I shall be taking your badge and I do believe you owe them an apology." Siobhan took of her Prefect badge and handed it to Siobhan before saying her practised speech.

"Dear Slytherins, it was great being your Prefect for a whole week. I enjoyed pouring freezing cold buckets on your heads every morning and kicking you into bed every evening. I enjoyed the power that came with it, especially putting several of you in detention. I am sad that it has come to such an abrupt end. I must admit, and you have to agree, the colours did come out quite well. I was going to die your robes puke green and bright yellow but settled on a more subtle pink. I hope that you will someday find it in your cold stone hearts to forgive me because I am not sorry at all. Actually, sorry Draco, I got mixed up when I was doing you. It was supposed to be red skin and gold hair, not the other way round."

"Miss McKay, I meant an apology, not a speech," Dumbledore said before Siobhan could go back to her seat. She sighed loudly and once again faced the Great Hall.

"I sincerely apologise for having dyed you all Gryffindor colours and turned your robes pink. I should have had more consideration and dyed you all green and silver and left your robes well alone. I'm also sorry because I don't have the antidote for it. No soap will wash it out, so it'll probably take a week to rub off," Siobhan shrugged, not really caring that several Slytherins were being held back. It was fun to torment them. "Of course, you can send off for a postal order to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for the small price of 10 Galleons, 15 Galleons for same day delivery."

"Thank you Miss McKay, Professor Lupin will escort you to my office. Professor Snape will assign your punishment and will be joining you once he had dealt with his House." Siobhan nodded and followed Remus past the Slytherin house. They all booed and Siobhan stuck her tongue out before leaving the Great Hall. It was fun being childish.

"The last time that happened, your mother and Sirius had organised it. How did you come up with the idea? And pink robes- classic," Remus said as he and Siobhan made their way to Dumbledore's office.

"Fred and I came up with it this summer and I couldn't uphold to the rules I had made and decided to scrap them and lose my Prefect badge at the same time. Kill two bird with one stone," Siobhan explained the mental image of all those Slytherins still in her mind. They came to an ugly stone gargoyle and Remus stepped forward.

"Snapping liquorice," Remus said and the gargoyle jumped aside leading the way to a staircase, which moved upwards as Siobhan and Remus stepped on. Remus opened the door to Dumbledore's office and Siobhan took the time to take in her surroundings. The room was beautifully furnished with portraits of past headmasters and various objects that she had no idea what they were. In one corner sat Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix.

"Am I in trouble?" Siobhan asked curiously as she sat down in one of the many chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. She wondered why there needed to be so many chairs.

"I shouldn't think so. The whole school knows it was you and you've had your Prefect badge taken away from you. I'm sure that serves more than enough as punishment." Remus settled in a chair next to hers and for a moment thought about asking her about what had happened on Saturday but thought against it. That was the whole purpose of this meeting.

As said, Dumbledore arrived a few minutes later followed by Snape. After his usual lemon drop and tea offering, Dumbledore lent forward in his chair and fixed Siobhan with a serious gaze. Suddenly, it hit her why it had been necessary that her father and Remus were up here. She was going to have to tell them the truth.

"I'm leaving," Siobhan muttered getting up only to be pulled down by Remus. Snape sat there confused, but knew that it wasn't long before he found out what was happening.

"I should think it was about time you shed some light on your past. To all of us," Dumbledore said leaning back in his chair and looking at Siobhan over his half moon glasses. "Now I may be aware of certain things that happened in your past that your father and Remus may not know but there are also several blanks I have not been able to fill."

"Don't they have lessons to teach?"

"Today I have given everybody the day off to allow the Slytherins to get that dye off and for us to talk. It is better if you get it off your chest for the last time. Your father has a right to know."

Siobhan sighed and realised why they hadn't said anything until now. They were waiting for the perfect time and she had handed it to them on a gold, red and pink platter. She was going to have to talk; the look in Dumbledore's eyes showed that he wouldn't let her go until she spoke. And they had all day for that. The last thing she wanted to do was spend all day finding reasons why she couldn't tell them.

"Where do I start?" she asked, not knowing if they wanted to hear bits of it or everything. If it was everything, she knew they'd be here a pretty long time. So much had happened to her in three years.

"From when I left. What happened after that?" Remus prompted. Although he had already heard this, it was for the others benefit. Siobhan nodded and breathed in deeply. Her chest felt tight but that wasn't an excuse. She was going to do this and she was going to do this now. She needed closure on this; what she had been looking for the past couple of months.

"When Remus left, my life went downhill from there."

Review Replies-

Anarane Anwamane- Oh man indeed. This chapter didn't really explain the cliffy but the next one will. Promise. And a lot more about Siobhan.

Hopeforthefuture- I am hoping to update tomorrow with the next chapter. At least you took my subtle clues and worked it out.

For those who didn't get the chance to review, review now! And even if you don't, thank you for reading this far. Dark Lady of R.