CHAPTER 2

SURPRISES

Harry's POV

I muttered the password, "Candied yams," and the gargoyle moved. The staircase to the headmaster's office had never seemed so dark before. When I trudged into his office I was surprised by how dim it was. I've never seen Dumbledore's office looking so glum, destroyed by my fury, but not depressing. He was already seated at his desk, devoid of any of his silvery do-dads, only the bowl of candy was there. He looked at me through his half moon spectacles and I noticed the twinkle was back in his eyes.

"Hello professor, you wished to see me?"

"Yes, Harry, please come in and sit down." He indicated a comfy chair. "Would you like a lemon drop?" He asked, holding out the bowl as I approached the chair.

I shook my head. If all he wanted was small talk he should have left me alone. My angry thoughts froze as a familiar voice said, "I would love one Albus." My heart started beating a mile a minute. I turned my head toward the far corner of the office.

He stepped from the shadows. He didn't look quite as horrible as he had after Azkaban, but he still looked like hell. "Sirius?" I croaked as tears sprang to my eyes. His smile in response undid me. I broke down in sobs as I launched myself into his arms. He just held me as I cried and apologized. I scarcely registered his words of reassurance.

Ron's POV

Harry hadn't returned by the time Hermione decided to go to bed. She and Harry have double potions first thing in the morning. I tried waiting up for Harry, but finally fell asleep. Harry was in bed when morning came.

He woke up late and barely said a word through breakfast. Then he rushed off with Hermione to his torture with Snape. Even though everything was rushed I could feel the improvement in Harry's attitude. Whatever happened in Dumbledore's office last night lifted the shadows from his eyes.

Draco's POV

I noticed Cassandra was wearing pale green gloves at breakfast. She was even more radiant in the morning sun. I couldn't bring myself to ask my questions as I was once again ensnared by her presence. As I tried to not act like a love sick puppy, I noticed Pansy glaring at her. I could feel the hatred.

I walked with Cassandra down to the dungeons. It was then that I noticed Potter for the first time this year. He was nearly out of breath as he stood beside the mudblood, without the weasel, outside of Snape's door. Our Head of House swept past us and opened the door a moment later. We filed to our seats. Mudblood and Potter were the only griffindorks in the class. Including Cassandra and myself, there were six Slytherins, no Crabbe or Goyle. There were three Hufflepuffs and seven Ravenclaws, almost their entire year.

Professor Snape glared at the other students and then gave a lesser sneer to us Slytherins. "This class consists of those who need potions for there NEWTS next years and somehow managed to scrape and Exceeds Expectations or better on their OWL last spring. You will soon find that every class and especially this one become much more involved and difficult. Your potions will be more complex, the theory sometimes abstract and the practice far more dangerous and rewarding. In the class, unlike the in the past, if you fall below an acceptable level of work you will be out, no second chances."

Professor Snape's voice created chills in the air currents of the room. No one doubted the validity of his speech. He continued, "Your first potion of the year is the polyjuice potion. I will pair you up and at the end of this month you will spend an hour as your partner. There will be more than a few potions between now and then, but the first twenty percent of your grade will be based on this potion. Instructions start on page forty three." He paused and looked around the room, "Now to pair you up. Potter and Malfoy; Granger and De-Winter..." He paired everyone with someone from another house.

I watched Cassandra stand up and walk over to the mudblood. Potter came to her vacated seat. I smirked at him as he sat down. We worked in silence. Today was only the first set of prepatory work for the potion. We carefully measured and cut, powdered and weighted the ingredients into various preparation containers. I found myself admiring Potter's competence. He had managed to surprise me.

Class ended and we labeled out various ingredients and placed some down in the cabinet at the back of the room. The others went into our trays and were placed on a shelf in the second storage room. I walked over to Cassandra after everything was cleaned up and said, "So how was working with Miss mudblood know-it-all?"

She turned toward me, her eyes darker than onyx, "That insult was uncalled for Draco Malfoy." Her voice was whip-like and all I could do was watch her stalk away from me.

Hermione's POV

I was amazed by how nice Cassandra was. I had let her know my muggle parentage and she had told me she was from one of the three oldest pureblood lines of France. She also told me about Beauxbatons and how she transferred to be closer to her father. He works at the ministry as the head of the Department of Mysteries. By the end of potions I was convinced she would make a good friend.

I was telling Harry about it when we met up with Ron outside of Binns' classroom. The Ravenclaws were already there. Our conversation halted as Binns droned. Even I had trouble focusing on his words; Binns has always been such a boring teacher.

We headed to lunch after History of Magic. The tension when we entered was strong. Pansy Parkinson had her wand pointed at Cassandra De-Winter.

"I don't know who you think you are. You waltz in, steal my boyfriend, and then have the nerve to ignore me?!" Pansy screeched at her.

"Miss Parkinson, I did not steal Draco. He asked me out at the feast last night. Obviously he doesn't view your "relationship" the way you do. Now please leave me alone," I was surprised by how even Cassandra's voice was and by the fact that her wand was not in her hand.

"Liar! You flirted with him through out the feast. You manipulated my Draco and corrupted him with your French filth!" Pansy was red in the face and I was internally laughing at her use of the term corrupt, Malfoy is already rather corrupted by his father.

I could tell Cassandra was forcing herself to relax. "Miss Parkinson, be quiet and go away before you do something very stupid."

Pansy screamed out a hex for splotchy boils. I watched with the entire hall as dark purple light erupted out of her wand. It swirled around Cassandra, funneling around the very calm looking Slytherin. She seemed to sigh. Her voice was remorseful as she said, "I really wish you hadn't done that." She then closed her eyes. The dark purple funnel of light formed into a bolt and struck Pansy. Huge ugly boils began to appear on her face and arms. Another Slytherin girl grabbed her and took her away, probably to the infirmary.

Everyone was looking at Cassandra. I couldn't believe the incredible counter curse I had just seen. I've never read about anything like that in all the books I've read. I noticed that Cassandra's eyes were still closed. Malfoy reached out for her, "Don't touch me!" she screamed as her eyes snapped open.

I actually felt sorry for Malfoy at that moment. He looked like she'd struck him. No one had moved yet and I could see Cassandra clenching and unclenching her fists. Suddenly Harry dashed up to her. Malfoy glared at Harry as Harry reached for Cassandra's hand.

I released the breath I didn't know I was holding as she let Harry take one of her gloved hands. She nodded to him and then let go of his hand. I felt anger well in me as she turned from Harry; then said something quietly to Malfoy before taking his hand and walking to the Slytherin table. Harry turned around and walked to the Gryffindor table.

Ron and I hurried over to our normal seats. Ron said, "what a bitch," as we sat down.

"Don't call her that!" snapped Harry. Then more quietly, "You don't know what happened."

"What happened?" I asked.

"Not what you think... look I don't think I can discuss it. Let's just eat." Harry said and then started eating. I couldn't help but wonder about what had just happened. I was determined to find out.

FLASHBACK-10 years ago

Firelight played across the pale face and salted black hair of Jared De-Winter. His fine aristocratic features were creased in concentration. A youthful hand reached up to push his hair out of his eyes. Why he brought his work home still confused his co-workers. The reason was simple and completely logical to him; he was insatiably curious.

A sound at the door of his study caused the prematurely graying man to look up. A girl of five or six years stood in the doorway. Her left hand held the oak door open and her right hand clutched a muggle toy, a black stuffed dog. Her raven hair fell messily about her cherub face and her bright green eyes seemed black in the dark room. She was staring at the man at his desk with an intensity only a child could have.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" asked the man as he pushed his chair away from his desk and held out his hands to her.

The little girl scurried across the thick Persian rug, her thin blue nightgown ruffling in a nonexistent breeze, "It's cold, dark and lonely," she complained as she hugged him tightly.

Jared pulled her into his lap and said with quiet gentleness, "Of course it's dark and cold, it's a winter night sweetheart. If you want I'll relight the fire in your room and place another warming charm on your bed. Then I'll keep you company till you fall asleep."

She shook her head, "My room is warm and the fire hasn't gone out. He is cold and lonely, trapped in a dark place."

Jared forced himself to relax as he asked, "Who is?" This was not the first time Sandy had complained on behalf of this "he".

"He is. He's all alone and unloved. There is no warmth for him. I want to help him, but I can't touch him. I can see and hear him. I watch him shiver in the dark, covered in fever sweat. I can hear his quiet sobs of loneliness and smell the ocean in his tears. Help him daddy." Her voice was that of a pleading child, choked with tears of her own.

"I would if I knew who he was honey, but I don't know so I can't." His voice was strained with worry. His hold tightened as her tears soaked his shirt. He began to hum a lullaby and she finally fell asleep. He carefully picked her up and took her to her room. After tucking Sandy in, he went to his own bed. He had an uneasy night that night and many others as he wonder if he should have tried harder to find the 'he' Sandy spoke of.