Decisions Lenore looked at Dumbledore perplexed. She was definitely intrigued by the offer. But she had too many questions to jump and agree. After all she didn't know why it went *Boom* last time. What were they odds that she could make the same mistake again? Well, about 34:1, actually she knew that (number of steps involved), even accounting for timing and temperature, about 50:1.

It wasn't in Lenore's nature to back down from a challenge. Especially one like this. Sooo, after Dumbledore had finished his prep-talk she asked him the questions she need to decide. "Does it have to break all the windows, or just go boom?"

"It has to be at least as loud as last time." He told her casually.

"Do I have to do it this class? Or would I be able to practise first?"

"This class. I'd have thought that you would have found out what went wrong, before now." He told her sternly. She looked kind of sheepish at that. "So which is it to be?"

Lenore took a deep breath. Then looked to Maia, and her classmates. "Although seeming unfair to the poor abused ears of my fellow students, I'd like to try to . . . finish the year off with a bang!" She noticed that it looked as if Prof. Dumbledore was going to laugh. She heard the Slytherins groan and complain that this was unfair.

"Now, if you manage to complete your review correctly before Miss Nightshade finishes hers you shouldn't have anything to worry about." Dumbledore smiled. "In fact I think I'll give each person who manages to do just that, a bonus 5 points to there house." He turned and smiled at Nightshade. "Alright then, everyone to work."

Lenore didn't do anything for the first few minutes, she closed her eyes. She visualised what happened last time. Alright, she thought. She took out all the ingredients that she needed. She headed over to the student supply cupboard as she was low on a few. Snape was gathering things for his own potion.

"Good luck." He whispered to her. She reached for fish ears. Snape bumped her arm. Then made sure that no one else could hear. "You don't need those." He told her, then headed back to his cauldron. Len tried to hide her smile.

Len had never intentionally caused a potion to explode before. It was a novel and frightening concept. Len, for safety reasons had her desk set, at the far back of the room, well away from the doors (to allow the others to escape), and the supply cupboard (it would otherwise cost the school a fortune to keep replacing the ingredients). She was also ostracized from the other students, for their safety. This however meant that no one was close enough to whisper instructions to her.

Snape watched her closely. He knew very well how to make this potion, he was also clearly aware that many of his fellow Slitherin were watching him for tips on their own potions, including Malfoy except being a Malfoy, he expected personal aid.

Of course Snape finished, correctly, well before the others, even though, he was giving Malfoy pointers when Dumbledore wasn't looking. Severus, felt that somehow, the older wizard knew. Snape watched Nightshade closely. So far, she was doing well. He knew what she'd done last time, he tried to subtly give her hints, without letting anyone else seeing, but that was rather hard. Unfortunately, Lenore was Ravenclaw, and did not know how to cheat. She missed his subtle hint, so Snape decided to take more drastic action.

She was about to add foxglove, which she hadn't last time. He caused it to float in the air above the potion. Len grabbed the ingredient and looked up at him. Snape just gave her a cross look. Len set it down on her desk, feeling very confused. A moment later, the jar of frog-teeth bumped her finger. He would make eye contact with her then grab her next ingredient; fortunately she was bright enough that she understood what he was trying to do. The next time she reached for the wrong ingredient it move away from her, and the correct one moved closer.

Snape went back to his own work, meaning that he had to attend to the Slitherins in dire need of aid. However being ever watchful of what Nightshade was doing. She went to pick up the wrong thing again, he made it too heavy for her to pick up. However she covered her surprise much better that time.

"Why are you watching that . . . disgrace?" Malfoy whispered to Snape. Severus scowled at him, a sudden desire to punch him went through Snape. However he did not act on it.

"I want to know when to take my potion." Snape replied in an evil hiss. "Malfoy, don't add that." He advised seeing that Malfoy was about to cause his own little bit of chaos. *At least Lenore is honest about her need for help.*

He knew when to take a mouthful of his potion. Unfortunately, few others were expecting the *Boom!* that rang out. That included Lenore. She was knocked backward, by the sudden noise. Snape wanted to smile, but couldn't. Malfoy had just managed to finish his potion and taken a swallow. However one of the other Slytherins had jumped in surprise at the sound, and knocked the potion all over Lucius. Severus had to bit his lip so not to laugh, thinking that he could think of few who deserved that more than Malfoy.

Dumbledore, was one of the few, not surprised (of course b/c he's Dumbledore). Lenore, again temporarily deaf, had no idea of what he said to her. Maia smiled, and hugged her. This gave Len the idea that whatever it was had been a good thing.

By lunch Len had regained her hearing and was in a fantastic mood. She practically jumped up to greet the Marauders when they came out into the courtyard. She hugged Sirius. Then the others. Then sat back down, all smiles.

"You're certainly in a good mood." Sirius replied. "After the Boom and the windows breaking, we thought that you might be upset."

"Actually that's why I'm happy." Len beamed. "Dumbledore told me if I could do it again, this time on purpose that he'd pass me, and I wouldn't have to take the final."

"Congratulations!!!" they all said. Hugging her again. Sirius, who was of course sitting closest, didn't want to let her go. "See knew you could do it."

"Does any one else find it humorous that I passed, by messing up a relatively simple potion?" Lenore asked amused. The group thought for a moment, then laughed. After class that day Len, headed up to the owlry to send a letter to her brother, telling him what had happened knowing that he would also find the situation very amusing.

Entering the Owlry she saw Snape. "Oh, hi. I was going to try and find you." Len beamed at him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She said bowing to him. He wanted to laugh.

"I really didn't--" Snape started, but he stopped seeing Lenore's disgruntled look.

"Yes, you did. Heck we both know, if it wasn't for you, I'd have likely blown myself up or something." She smiled. She was now right in front of him. "So thank you."

Snape blushed and looked away. "You're welcome." He said shyly. He didn't want to look up at her. He knew that he would lose himself if he did. He noticed that she hadn't moved away from him. "Len?"

"Yes." She replied innocently. Still not making eye contact, he looked past her out the window. He took a deep breath, wishing at that moment for a bit of Gryffindor courage.

"Lenore you once said that you should have gone out with me. I was wondering if you would like to go out with me for a walk tomorrow night. Since you don't need another tutoring season." Severus looked as her. He had to see for himself her reaction.

She looked stunned at him at first. Then smiled brightly. "Yes, I think that would be lovely. Thank you, Eri." It was his turn to look stunned.

"Really!?!" He felt himself brighten substantially.

"Yes, really." Lenore giggled. "Do I mumble or something? I know, your ears are still ringing right?" He started to laugh, really laugh.

"Must, be." He teased back.

Lenore was all smiles and sunshine that night. Her only problem class was no longer a problem. She was overjoyed to help anyone else who asked her. She was all hugs and giggles, positively giddy. Now, as most of us realize the universe (fate) doesn't like people to be ecstatic for any length of time. Generally it likes to bring them back down and hard.

Len being so unusually energetic went to breakfast the following morning. She didn't really want to eat, but she couldn't seem to sit still. During breakfast, she felt a sudden pain shoot over her. She looked around to see if someone was cursing her, but no signs of that. The pain faded, but an uneasy feeling was left.

Len pondered on this. Unable to phases what had happened she simple didn't mention it. She regained some of her earlier energy. She was a great help in Charms. Her fellow students really were glad to have her. However during Care of Magical Creature, Professor Dumbledore arrived.

"Excuse me Professor Gail. Could I please see Miss Nightshade a moment?" He asked. To which of course Len was dismissed. She followed him into the hall. "Please follow me." He asked quietly. Lenore was puzzled by this. Dumbledore, was usually warm, not so serious. Len then thought to the worst possible thing.

She was an orphan! Voldimort had killed her family! Lenore thought panicked, she took deep breaths. Hoping that wasn't it. They head to the infirmary. M. Pomfrey rushed over to look at Lenore when she was escorted in. Then looked to Dumbledore confused.

"I need to tell you both some thing." He replied very seriously. "Perhaps your office would be better." M Pomfrey nodded. Once inside, and both ladies sat.

"It's Bas, something happened to him." Lenore said she felt her insides tighten.

"Yes, I'm afraid that Sebastian Nightshade went missing during a field trail." Dumbledore told them. Lenore started to sob, and shake her head *no*. Madame Pomfrey looked shocked but recovered quickly and hugged Lenore. "Now, keep in mind I said missing. It only happened this morning. He could just not be able to make contact yet, but . . ."

"D -does dad know yet?" Lenore asked. She was trying to sound brave, but it wasn't working.

"Yes, he's been apprised of the situation." Dumbledore told her sympathetically.

Lenore had never mentioned to anyone, that she and Bas had a link. Len secretly believed that it was because of Sebastian, but it made them especially close. That must have been what she felt earlier. She tried to curl into a ball.

"Lenore, if you like you're welcome to stay here for the rest of the day." Dumbledore replied compassionately to the little girl. "I understand that you are close to him." Len looked at him, did he somehow know?

"Sir . . . I" Len couldn't find her words. She was all knotted up inside. For as good as she felt before she felt equally bad now. M. Pomfrey hugged her again.

"Poppy, how are you?" He asked her.

"Not well." She admitted. "But I knew that this was a risk. Do you know what happened? How he went missing?"

"The details have not been released yet." Dumbledore replied kindly.

"That means that he knows he's just not supposed to say." Lenore replied sound very much like a child. She now had her head in Poppy's lap.

"Perceptive aren't you." He smiled weakly at her. "I can tell you he went missing because he went back for someone."

"Damn his Gryffindor tendencies." Lenore complained. She knew full well that both Dumbledore and Pomfrey had been Gryffindors. Bas' Gryffindor loyalty and bravery came from his mother's side. Tears started to fall from her eyes, she couldn't hold them back.

"He'll be alright." Poppy tried to comfort her. "He's smart and stubborn. He'll find a way to get back to us." Len stood up suddenly.

"You don't know that. You shouldn't say things you don't know." Lenore huffed. She then ran from the room. Lenore headed for the one place she knew she could expect to be left alone. It was a secret room Bas had shown her. She doubted that anyone else knew about it. She curled up and cried. She would take Drake back, do her potions final, tell her father that she'd failed anything for her brother's safe return.

After Lenore left. Poppy's brave face fell. She started to shake. She adored Sebastian, her nephew, she'd loved him like a son. With out Lenore to consol she felt the tide of dread wash over her. "I take it his mother has been told." Dumbledore nodded *yes*. "Tell me the truth Albus. What are the chances that he's still alive?"

"Slim." He replied. "I'm sorry Poppy. I'd hoped that you and Lenore would help each other."

"Albus, this isn't right." Poppy brook down. "Damn his father for talking him into the Aurors. He could have been on the Cuddle Cannons you know. Safe, famous but no. That wasn't good enough for his father."

!*!*!*!*!*!*! Now this room wasn't as secret as Lenore thought it to be. This happened to be the same room that the Marauders practiced to become Animagi. So imagine there surprise to find Lenore curled up, sobbing in her sleep in their secret spot.

They whispered as to leave, wake her, or what to do. "We can't tell her." James argued.

"Let's just leave." Peter suggested. "She probably wasn't expecting anyone."

"She looks pretty upset. Maybe we should talk to her." Remus suggested.

"Let her sleep. We don't know, this could be normal." Sirius said. The truth was he hated to see her cry and was slightly worried that he'd caused it.

"Padfoot, that's not normal." Moony insisted.

"Well, How is waking her going to help?" Padfoot demanded.

"Guy's I hate crying girls." Prongs said. "Either we wake her or go. I'm not staying to listen to that."

"Prongs, don't be such a jerk. Maybe there's a good reason she's crying." Wormtail insisted.

"Maybe, let's wake her and find out." He said.

"Let's just go." Sirius said again looking over at Lenore. "Obviously, she came in here to be alone. So let's just leave her. Besides, we know where to find her if she misses dinner."

"She could simple be lost?" Peter said.

"Not likely, there's only one door into this room and it's easy to find from the inside. Besides, she should know this hallway. Let's go." James replied.

Lenore awoke in time for dinner. She hadn't really understood her dream. She saw Bas, he was hurt, she was sure of that she felt it. He'd been trying to get out, of. . . water. . . mist. . . mud. Lenore didn't know. Maybe she should admit to Dumbledore about this.

Len wasn't hungry. She didn't want to eat. She did however want to walk. She actually thought that Snape's company would be nice. She felt that she could talk to him. Even when she couldn't talk to anyone else. She thought that she should tell Maia that she was alright, even though she sure didn't feel alright.

She entered the great hall for dinner and waited for Maia. "Oh thank goodness you're alright. When Dumbledore took you out of class and you didn't come back, I was worried. Len, you are alright, aren't you?"

"Fine, but . . . I'm not hungry." Lenore replied. "I think I'm going to take a shower. The maybe a walk or something."

"Honey, wait and I'll go with you." Maia replied. Len shook her head.

"This is one of those alone times. 'Kay?" Len spoke quietly. Maia hugged her.

"'Kay! But if you take more than a 2 hours. I'm going to call in the troupes. To help find you." Maia said seriously.

"Duly noted." Len said as she left the Great Hall. She literal bumped into the Marauders on her way out. "Hey, guys we got to stop meeting like this."

"Just admit it Len." Sirius replied helping her stand. "You can't help but fall for me."

Now if Len had been in a better mood this would have made her laugh. As it was, she wanted to be sad. All her happy thoughts were being saved for her brother right now. She half smiled. "If you say so Black."

"Len you're going the wrong way. Food's this way." Sirius pointed to the Great Hall.

"Yeah, I know. And my dorm's this way." Len pointed in the other direction.

"Not eating?" Lily replied. "You alright?"

"Fine, I'm just not hungry." Len said. "Later." She waved as she headed to her dorm. Len was thankful that everyone seemed to be down at dinner or away. She headed up solemnly, to her room. She decided to take a shower.

The hot water fell over her causing a mist around her. She closed her eyes and thought of her brother. "Bas where are you?" Len focused all her thoughts on him. Maybe, she could reach him.

*Help* Len looked around the shower suddenly for the voice. No one in sight. She quickly dressed and pondered. She saw the new boots that her brother had bought her for Christmas. They were black dragon-hid knee high boots.

Len loved them, although she'd only worn them around the dorm. Maia had insisted that they made Len's leg look great. Len liked how they had a tiny pocket for her wand. Bas has told her that most Aurors carried a second wand in their boot, or in some hidden pocket. She just thought that it was convenient, so that she actually had a place for it.

Len decided to wear the boots. She designed her outfit around the boots. (Hey, it's a girl thing!)

"I must be losing my mind." She said quietly to herself. She left a note for Maia, telling her that she'd headed out for a walk outside. Then went to meet Severus. He waited for her in the shadow of the west-side entrance. He'd thought to take her toward the Quidditch Pitch. Along the edge of the Dark Forest. It was much less travelled and he guessed that she wouldn't want to be seen with him.

Lenore arrived, her hair was loose, so waves of auburn, right now on the dark-side being damp still. She wore peasant skirt that swung loosely around her legs and a Sapphire blue top. She had black dragon-hid boots that hugged her calf. She looked stunning.

"I was worried that you weren't coming. I haven't seen you all day." Severus smiled at her emerging from the shadows. "Then when you ran away from dinner so fast. Well, is something wrong?"

Severus had pulled his hair back from his face. He'd dressed in black (duh!), not owning any articles that really had colour, other than his school wear. However, without his sour expression, he looked exceptionally good. She smiled but he noticed that the smile was forced and that her eyes were sad, it took a moment for her to set a mask to hide it.

"I. . . it's nothing to worry about." Len replied. "Shall we go?"

Len took his arm. She started to walk with him. He was speaking quietly and fell silent. "Len, you alright? You seem distracted, would you like to go back?"

"Pardon? No . . . it's just I'm terribly worried. I've been distracted all day." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Truth is that this is the best I've felt all day. Sorry."

"It's fine. If it helps, that's the important thing." He smiled at her. "If it would make you feel better, we could walk in silence."

Len leaned in on her tiptoes and kissed him, softly on the lips. Severus so stunned by her action, he hesitates before returning her kiss. When the kiss broke Len looked at him. She blushed a little and looked away. "Sorry. Thanks for listening." They continued on. Severus continued to talk, however Lenore was not really listening to what he was saying. She was too upset. Her mind kept thinking about Bas. *Lenore*.

Lenore went rigid. She looked around. "Lenore, what's wrong?"

"Did you hear something?" She asked looking at him.

"No, what's the matter?" He asked her. Lenore felt dizzy, and blinked suddenly.

"Sorry, I'm no fun." Len whispered not able to look at him. "My brother went missing during a field exercise today."

"No need to apologies." He assured her. He hugged her, it seemed like the right thing to do. Len looked up to the moon to get the tears from her eyes.

*Look* Len saw a tree trunk around her, then up at the darkened sky. The stars were not in the right positions to be at Hogwatrs. She looked to the horizon and noted the lack of hills.

*Listen* She heard the sound of waves crashing, feet sloshing over muddy ground and then voices. *Squirt, Help!*

"Lenore? Nightshade?? Len???!!!" Snape called to her. She blinked at him confused. "What happened are you alright?"

Len nodded slowly, though she didn't know why. "I need to talk to Dumbledore. Now!"

"What?" Snape asked confused.

"It's my brother, he needs help." Len insisted. He helped her up. Len, grabbed her skirt and took off running. He followed her, at least until the stone gargoyle. "Thanks. Sorry." Len called as she ran up the stairs.

She ran right into Dumbledore's office. "Sir, He's alive. He needs help." Len hadn't realized how close she came to being incinerated by Moody, who was in Dumbledore's office.

"Now, slow down." Dumbledore said calmly. "What makes you so certain?"

"He . . ."Seeing Moody standing there Len bit her lip. Her brother's survival was more important than this little secret. "We, have a link, sort of. Sometimes I can hear him . . . in my head." Len admitted. "He showed me where he was. He's hurt and needs help."

"Where?!" Moody snapped out. Len looked at him, the thought for a moment.

"I . . . I . . ." Len look frustrated. She knew, by the stars, that goodness for astronomy class. But do you think that she could find the words. She closed her eyes and visualized it in her mind. Then pointed her wand at herself.

Dumbledore's office faded into the background. Lenore showed them what she had seen. Now, this magic, was well beyond what a fifth year/sixth year student should be able to do. However Dumbledore said nothing, now was not the time. Lenore's eyes stayed close. "You got it? Can you see?" She asked in a strained voice.

"Yes, dear." Dumbledore assured her. "Moody?"

"Yah, got it." He said gruffly. This little girl continued to impress him, although he'd never admit that.

"Good. I'm going with you." Len insisted. Both adults looked at her sternly.

"No, you're not." Dumbledore replied firmly.

"We don't have time to argue. Please!!!" Lenore begged. "It's my brother's life. Let me help." She pleaded, Moody had already headed down the stairs. She followed, as Dumbledore began to move. "You can't really expect me to stay here and do nothing. He's my brother. I can help!"

"You've already helped enough." Moody told her in a rare moment of compassion. "It's too dangerous, girlie."

"I have a feeling that she would find away, even if you don't." Dumbledore replied, sounding slightly amused. "I will keep her safe. You worry about your people." He smiled at Lenore. They reached the gates and Apperaed to the spot under the stars Len had shown them. "Where is he?" Dumbledore whispered.

Len looked around. She listened with great interest to the sound of the waves, the wind, the mud. She point to a tree ten meters away from them. Moody watched the stillness around them. He shook his head, "Trap. Too quiet." He spotted at least three people in black scanning and looking.

A night hawk flew silently into the tree above them. Len smiled. Dumbledore watched as Sebastian Nightshade transfigured back to himself. He was badly wounded, his arm was burned and his side bleeding. "I wasn't aware that you were on the animagus registry." Dumbledore scolded, but the twinkle in his eye gave away his relief.

"Thought I'd forgotten to do something." He joked weakly. "I can't apperea out." He looked to Len and smiled. "I knew you'd hear me." She hugged him gently. "Careful, you'll get covered in blood and ruin that pretty outfit."

Len sat back, as Moody insisted on checking Bas' wounds. Not a minute later a "Stupify!". They looked to see a body fall limp on the ground. Len had her wand in her hand and shrugged. "Told you I'd be useful." She slipped the wand back into the pocket in her boot. Only Dumbledore saw her shake from fear.

"As for getting us out of here." Dumbledore replied. He noticed several figures moving toward them. "We'd best go quickly." Moody nodded. "We should take him to Poppy." Moody hesitated only a moment before nodding. Dumbledore placed a hand on Len's shoulder and disparated.

Moments later they appeared at Hogworts gates. Moody and a semi-conscious Sebastian Nightshade appeared a minute later. Bas was placed on a floating stretcher to the medical wing, Len never leaving his side. Not even Poppy could get Lenore to leave. Truth was that Bas, wanted her there, and wasn't about to let anyone send her away.