Lil' Sphinx: 'Ello everyone. So sorry I haven't updated in forever and that this update isn't really as long as I would have liked. But I've been suffering from writer's block and nothing I've written recently has pleased me. In fact most of what I've written has found it's way into the trash. Hopefully, I'll get my muse back soon. Until then, enjoy.

Saturday arrived in a dazzling display of yellows and oranges and Harry woke-up in time to see it. He sat on one of the window ledges with Amethyst curled up in his lap and watched the sun rise. Only when the sunlight streamed into the dorm room did he move from the window and began to get ready for the day. He moved quietly about the dorm, careful not to wake anyone up. Dressed in a simple pair of blue jeans and a dark crimson Independent t-shirt, he placed a few things in his bag and left the room with Amethyst following playfully behind him. Since it was too early to get breakfast in the Great Hall he headed for the kitchens. Upon entering the kitchens, via the fruit portrait, all the house elves quickly set about getting Harry whatever he wanted. A half an hour later Harry left the kitchens, with its eager to please house elves, pleasantly full and with a basket full of snacks for later. Those house elves definitely knew how to treat a person.

In good spirits Harry left the kitchens behind and headed for the nearest exit. Once he was outside he stopped and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. His whole body relaxed in that short space of time. It was simply because Harry associated being outdoors with freedom and his whole being reacting accordingly. His entire life he had been a prisoner, the Dursley's house, the cupboard under the stairs, Dudley's second bedroom, they were his cells, his prison. It was only when he was tossed outside to do yard work or to fix something, or simply kicked out of the house for a few hours, that Harry had tasted freedom. So now it was ingrained into his psyche that outdoors equaled independence.

With a playful grin Harry turned to look down at Amethyst. The tiny black kitten sat watching him with her head tilted to the side, waiting. "Well, Amethyst, where should we try meditating today? We've tried the Quidditch field, the courtyard with the water fountain, a tree by the lake, the dock, and even the large stones that sit on the hill above Hagrid's house," he said ticking off the places they'd been. "And someone had to interrupt us every time."

Amethyst meowed and leaped down the steps dancing in circles. Then she turned to Harry, her tails dancing in excitement.

"You're right," Harry said. "We need to explore." With that they took off to explore the grounds, hunting for a meditation spot where no one would find them. And if they couldn't be found, they couldn't be bothered.

Harry and little Amethyst strolled around the school grounds for hours, not even realizing the amount of time that had flown by. And Harry wouldn't notice either, for right then walking passed an unused greenhouse, he spotted something that called to him. A garden. A long forgotten garden that had taken to run wild; it stretched beyond the greenhouse all the way to the Forbidden Forest.

Walking into the garden, Harry was rendered speechless. For even wild and overgrown the garden was beautiful. It was like stepping into another world. There were benches, in various designs and sizes though all were made from stone, or wood, or iron. Sometimes being a mix of two of the three, iron and stone, or wood and iron. There were statues of people, of magical creatures, of dark creatures. Some sat on stone pedestals; some were carved from a variety of different stones and some were made from glass, bright vibrant colors that sparkled in the sunlight. But all, benches and statues alike, were covered with vines and some were almost completely hidden from view due to the foliage that grew thick around them.

The pathway through the garden was cobblestone and nearly buried by the grass and vines that had crept across it. On both sides of the pathway were seven feet tall lilac bushes. Their rich floral scent filled the air, mixing with the scents of roses and jasmines, of grass and dirt.

It was only when Harry came to the first fork in the walkway that he realized the garden wasn't just a garden, it was a maze. With a soft laugh of pleasure at his discovery, he took the right fork and headed deeper into the maze. As he weaved his way through the maze he subconsciously picked the correct path every time, but he didn't notice that he had no trouble navigating the maze for his thoughts were on what could possibly be at the end. What would be at the heart of the labyrinth?

Then turning a corner there it was the heart of the maze. Harry froze in wonder and simply stood in the archway that led into the center of the maze. The center was more overgrown than the rest of the garden had been. Harry had the vague feeling that it was supposed to be that way. The rest of the garden had been landscaped, cared for at some point in time, but the center wasn't. There weren't any flowerbeds or walkways, just wild undisturbed earth that made a person feel as though they had stepped out of time and place to get to it.

Harry let his eyes take in everything about the circular area before stepping into it. The grass was high, reaching passed Harry's thighs. There was a stone fountain on the left with three female figures at its center. The figures were so covered with vines and dirt that he couldn't make out anything else except that they were female. Straight in front of him was a stone structure that reminded Harry of a gazebo only it had no roof. The structure was made of light gray stones and set in a hexagon shape with tall intricate arches. And like everything else in the garden vines and other plants had taken it over. There was a stone bench on the right that was curved to follow the circular shape of the area. It looked like an old Victorian chaise lounge. There was one tree in the center that stood next to the gazebo-like structure. It was an old knotted, twisted Rowan tree that appeared dead for it had no leaves, no berries, and no flowers. It was the only thing in the maze that wasn't over grown and covered in vines.

"This is perfect," Harry murmured as he stepped through the archway and into the core of the maze.

Harry walked to the fountain and placed the basket of snacks the house elves had given him on to the ledge. His book bag was then placed on the ground next to the fountain. Standing in front of the fountain his eyes were drawn to the three figures and he had the craziest urge to rip off all the vines that clung to those figures. Shaking his head he turned away from the fountain and moved to the middle of the circular area, between the fountain, the stone structure, and the bench. Sitting down cross-legged in the high grass he called out to Amethyst, who was leaping happily through the tall grass after a grasshopper, not to get lost. Closing his eyes he concentrated on breathing, slowly, deeply, in and out in an even rhythm. Thoughts drifted in along with emotions and also the sounds of the world surrounding him and he acknowledged them, without judgment, before letting them slip away.

After twenty minutes he stretched and worked the kinks out from having sat still for so long. Opening his eyes he spotted Amethyst sleeping on the ledge of the fountain, the warm sunlight making her look like a black hole on the sun bleached stone of the fountain. Yawning, Harry figured Amethyst had the right idea. A little nap couldn't hurt. He fell back into the grass and stretched out. With the scent of the earth drifting over him and the bright warm rays of the sun beating down on him it wasn't long before he fell asleep.


Draco left the school behind with Volucris perched across his shoulders. He needed to get away from everyone before he killed someone. The students of Hogwarts had always annoyed Draco but lately it seemed as though everyone had gotten dumber. The only group of people he actually enjoyed being around was the M.A. group and Millicent.

He sighed, whatever happened to that Malfoy cool that he always prided himself on? That cold cruel arrogance he had always had wrapped around him like a cloak was gone. Now, he was quickly angered over stupid trivial things. It was getting to the point that he was now avoiding everyone, spending more and more time alone. The only time he was around others was when he was forced to for classes.

As Draco rounded a corner by the greenhouses, Volucris lifted his head as though scenting something. The tiny dragon-like creature leaped off Draco's shoulders and into the air. With a flutter of leathery wings Volucris flew off past the greenhouses.

"Volucris?" called Draco, but the little dragon didn't return.

Draco walked in the direction Volucris had gone and came across a forgotten garden. His pace slowed as he looked around the overgrown garden. The rage and annoyance that had been simmering just below the surface for the last couple of days finally seemed to calm. With a content sigh he continued walking through the garden, his footsteps barely making a sound as he walked over the vine covered path in search of Volucris.

It didn't take him long to come to the center of the maze garden. The tall grass rustled softly as he walked through the archway and into the heart of the maze. He spotted Volucris perched on one of the pillars of the stone structure and moved towards it. His foot caught on something in the grass and he tumbled forward. He didn't land on the hard ground, but rather on something softer and breathing. He pushed himself up enough to see what he was lying across and nearly had a heart attack. He was lying on a person and not just any person, but Harry Potter.

For a moment Draco could have sworn that his heart had stopped, until he realized that Harry was sound asleep and had slept through being fallen on. Draco moved back a little more so that he could study the sleeping boy. Harry was lying on his back with his head tilted to the right. His right arm was bent so that his hand rested palm up by his face. His left arm was flung to the side resting on the grass. Those green eyes that Draco loved so much were hidden from his view. Thick black lashes curled delicately upon his cheeks, giving him a feminine appearance. His full lips were a deep red and parted slightly, just begging to be kissed. His spiky black hair was ruffled and Draco yearned to run his fingers through it.

Looking down at Harry, Draco had the strong desire to devour the sleeping boy. To caress every inch of sun bronzed skin, to taste every aspect of Harry, to hear his name moaned from those full lips, to utterly consume everything Harry was and everything Harry had to give. Draco wanted all of him. He wanted there to be no Harry without Draco. Before he knew it he was within a breath of capturing Harry's lips, he could feel Harry's hot breath ghost over his own lips. All he had to do was lean forward an inch, one little inch, and those lips he constantly fantasized about would be his, just one inch. He closed his eyes breathing in deeply and caught the scent of rain and earth, Harry's scent. Smelling that fragrance made Draco want Harry even more, to crave him almost wildly so that his body trembled with it.

Draco jerked back. What was he doing? He quickly moved away from Harry, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the dark-haired boy entirely, although he knew he should. He sat on the bench and stared at the spot where Harry lay in the tall grass. He had almost taken advantage of a sleeping Harry and he knew deep down that he wouldn't have stopped with just a kiss. No, the feelings inside him were too strong, too primal, and that frightened him. Ever since these new emotions, no not emotions, cravings started he always thought Harry was safe from them. Because Harry always seemed to calm the wild impulses letting Draco feel in control. But that feeling was gone now and Draco felt uncontrollable, undisciplined, and disruptive, like some wild animal. One that Harry was no longer safe from.

He ran an elegant hand through his hair disheveling the white-blonde locks. Something was inside of him, something violent; there was no denying it now, not when his body shuddered and ached with the need to take Harry. Or maybe there wasn't anything inside of him; maybe these feelings were a part of him, a part of his psyche that went unseen out of fear. Whatever it was it was violent, obsessive, and possessive and it was fixated on Harry. The one person Draco couldn't stay away from.


"'Ello green-eyes," whispered Miss Guardian Angel.

"Hello Aislinn," Harry greeted.

"Aislinn? So that's what you've decided to call me?" questioned Miss Angel.

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, it means dream or vision. Since I only talk to you after I fall asleep it seemed to fit the best."

"I like it," whispered the protector.

"Anyway, what's going on? You've never talked to me in the daytime before," Harry asked changing the topic.

Soft laughter drifted through the darkness. "You've never taken a nap before."

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Point taken."

"Actually, I'm glad that you decided to take a nap 'cause I have some news that you'll love," stated Aislinn.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Your Siri woke up."

Silence stretched after Aislinn's softly stated words. After a few stunned minutes Harry finally found his voice. "Sirius woke-up?"

"Yes, not long mind you, but he woke-up. I was quite surprised actually. I didn't expect him to wake-up until the end of the month. He must be more stubborn then I thought."

Harry laughed. He was so happy that Sirius had woken up he was nearly jumping up and down. "When is he coming back?"

There was silence while Aislinn thought. "Well, I would have said that he wouldn't be back until Christmas, but that was before. Now, I think he'll be back sometime in November. It all depends on him. Who knows maybe he'll surprise me again."

"Maybe," Harry murmured his mind already thinking about Sirius' return.

Aislinn laughed knowing fully well that Harry was no longer listening. "Wake-up green-eyes."

Harry awoke to the sun's warm rays on his face and smiled. Still smiling he sat up and stretched his arms towards the sky completely relaxed after his little nap and the good news he had gotten. At that moment life couldn't have gotten better.

"You sleep like the dead."

He jumped at the sound of Draco's voice and twisted around, his green eyes wide with surprise. Draco sat half cross-legged with one leg bent to his chest on the curved bench. His left arm rested on his upraised knee with his head resting on the palm of his hand. His long hair was loose hanging around his face and in the bright sunlight looked like spun white gold. Okay, so Harry was wrong, life had just gotten a little better.

"You look happy," stated Draco in his usual drawl.

"That's because I am."

Draco cocked an eyebrow at that statement but said nothing.

Harry smiled and stood up. He gave another stretch and because his back was to Draco, completely missed the heated stare as Draco devoured his lean figure. He looked over his shoulder at Draco with one of his soft smiles. It was an innocent gesture, but for Draco it was the most erotically suggestive thing he had ever seen.

"Are you hungry?" Harry asked.

Draco nearly groaned, but was able to restrain himself and shake his head 'no' at Harry's question. Oh, he was hungry, but not in the way Harry meant. He had no desire for food, unless of course it was Harry on the menu.

Harry nodded and murmured 'okay', before walking over to the fountain where he had left the basket of food. Draco may not have been hungry but he was. It seemed like forever since he had breakfast and after a quick glance at his watch, which read 3:30, he wasn't surprised that he was starving. Reaching the fountain he sat down on the ledge next to Amethyst. He gave the sleepy-eyed kitten a quick pat before turning to the basket of food and digging in.

As he ate he looked across the grassy area to where Draco sat. Since he was so absorbed in the blonde's beauty it took him awhile to realize that the blonde wasn't sitting alone. There was a tiny dragon-like creature curled up on the bench next to Draco. The dragon was dark blue in color almost black and curled up no bigger than a bludger. The dragon-like creature looked very much like a miniature dragon with snake-like features; a forked tongue, fangs, and soft leathery scales. The only thing that wasn't dragon-like or snake-like about the creature was its front arms; they were long a bony with a human-like quality, very much like a Grindylow's. The dragon's eyes were much like a snake's and were a silvery-plum color, a lot like Amethyst's. Looking at the creature, Harry had to guess that it was a Night Creature.

"That doesn't look like a toad, a cat, or an owl," Harry stated, bringing up the school's pet policy.

"Well, I do own an eagle owl," drawled Draco. "But this is Volucris, and I sneak him into the school. It's really quite remarkable how easy that is." Draco gave a shrug, "Sev knows of course, but he turns a blind eye to it. I am a Slytherin after all."

Harry shook his head and dusted the crumbs off his hands. "That man lets Slytherins get away with too much," grumbled Harry.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "This coming from the Golden Boy of Gryffindor, who gets away with just about anything, and who makes no secret that he has two pets at school, where the rule states a student may only have one."

Harry gave a sheepish smile and a shrug. "I guess, sometimes it's good to be me." He stood up from the fountain and moved to the stone bench. He sat down next to the tiny dragon-like creature facing Draco. He held out a hand and waited to see if the dragon would allow him to pet it. Harry didn't have to wait long before Volucris nudged his hand wanting to be petted.

"He's soft," Harry murmured with a smile as he ran his fingers down the tiny dragon's back.

Harry didn't get to pet the little dragon-like creature for long before a black streak that was Amethyst hurled herself at the dragon. Volucris leapt away from the threat and landed on Draco's leg with an angry hiss. Amethyst was crouched in front of Harry as though she was protecting him from Volucris. The two pets sat there growling and hissing at each other, before Amethyst slowly relaxed and sat with her head tilted to the side observing Volucris. The tiny dragon under observation also began to relax and hopped off Draco's leg to land on the stone bench in front of Amethyst. The two animals sat facing each other for at least a minute before Amethyst gave a soft meow as though in an apology. Volucris gave a purring growl, accepting the apology, and the two laid down on the bench curled around each other, a sign that all was forgiven.

Harry gave a sad smile and a soft laugh. "Our pets are smarter than we are. Look, they already like each other. It took us years just to be on civilized terms." Harry looked up at the stunning blonde before him. "Draco," he started before looking away in the direction of the fountain. "What are we?"

Draco raised a finely arched eyebrow at Harry's question. "That's very broad, you might want to narrow it down a little, Potter," Draco said with a smirk.

"I mean," Harry started raking a hand through his dark unruly hair, a clear sign that he was nervous. "We're not rivals anymore; well not like we used to be anyway. I mean we still make snide comments about each other; they're just not as hurtful as they used to be. But would you consider us friends?"

Draco looked into Harry's innocently honest green eyes and sighed. He couldn't bring himself to be anything but truthful when looking into those eyes. "We could be friends, but right now I'd say that we're friendly rivals."

Harry smiled brightly and leaned closed to the blonde. "So, you're saying that one day we'll be friends, meaning you want to be my friend." He moved back to his original position, his smile taking on a child-like quality making him look adorable. The smile slowly faded and his gaze went back to the fountain. "Draco?"

"What is it now?"

"Do you ever think about what it would have been like if I had taken your hand that day on the train?"

Draco looked sharply at Harry not expecting that question. But Harry continued talking not giving Draco time to answer.

"I never really thought about it before, but ever since we started being nice to each other I've been thinking about it a lot, what could have been. Would we be as close as me and 'Mione are? Would you have been with me on all my adventures, or would I never have gone on them to begin with? Would me and 'Mione still be friends? Would I have let the Hat put me in Slytherin or would I have still asked it to put my somewhere else? Or…" Harry let his voice die with a one-shoulder shrug.

Draco sighed. "You can't change the past, Harry. Well, at least not without a lot of consequences and a good probability of going insane."

"I know and I don't really think that I'd want to change it, but I still find myself wondering, 'what if?'"

"That's just human nature. I couldn't say what it would have been like anymore than you could. But, I will say that we needed those years, exactly the way they were in order to be where we are now."

Harry blinked bright green eyes in confusion. "You're saying that we needed to be enemies in order to become friends?"

"Yes. If you look at who we are now versus who we were back then, you'll see why too."

Harry sat for a moment, his face set in a delicate frown as he thought. Then his eyes widened and a soft 'oh' escaped his lips. "Our personalities," he whispered.

Draco nodded. "Our personalities now are more compatible, but back then they were on opposite ends of the scale. You were painfully shy, uncertain, and completely clueless. You didn't know what end of the wand was up," Draco stated.

"And you were a spoiled little rich boy who always got his way and thought he knew everything," Harry stated, "Not that much has changed," he added.

Draco let the last comment slide with just a look. "I'm honest enough with myself to know that I would have dominated you. I would have encouraged your shyness so that I would have been the only one you felt comfortable around, your only friend, insuring that you would always be with me." Draco smirked. "Now aren't you glad you didn't take my hand?"

"Well, if you put it like that," Harry laughed. But secretly he didn't find the scenario at all distasteful. A part of him actually wanted to go back to the past to tell his past-self to take the blonde boy's hand on the train. He shook the thought out of his head, for that way led to disaster. Standing up he went to grab his things. "Come on, dinner's going to start soon and after that M.A. What do you think we'll be doing for M.A.?"

With an elegant shrug Draco stood up and followed. "You mentioned almost being a Slytherin before; what did you mean?" Volucris lifted his head and Amethyst followed suit. The two creatures leaped off the bench, one taking to the air and the other the ground, and followed after their favorite humans.

"Oh, that," Harry said with a laugh as they walked from the maze. As they headed back to the school Harry explained how the Sorting Hat had wanted to put him in Slytherin and how he asked to be placed anywhere else.


"Good evening. I see everyone found their way here," Shadow said as she entered the room. The room was down an unused corridor on the sixth floor. It was much like Professor Firenze's room in that it had been magically changed to look and feel like the outside. Where Professor Firenze's room was the Forbidden Forest this room was a meadow high in the mountains. There was purple heather everywhere and mountain peaks that seemed just out of reach.

"Tonight we will be doing auras. I'll be teaching each one of you individually. While you wait for your turn you're allowed to do as you wish and once I'm done talking to you, you are free to leave. Your homework for tomorrow will be to find out what the color of your aura means. You can work in pairs to do the research if you wish to, but don't discuss it as a group because that is what we will be doing tomorrow. Also, do not be looking at anyone else's aura for that is something we will also be doing tomorrow. Any questions?" Alyssum asked as she sat down on one of the two flat boulders that marred the meadow.

Everyone shook his or her heads and Alyssum started the lesson calling Nisha over to sit on the other rock. The rest of the group moved off to give Nisha privacy. While Nisha learned to see her aura the rest of the group talked quietly amongst themselves about the prank they were going to pull on Ron within the next week, depending on how things went and at the moment things weren't going according to plan. They were having a small problem with one of the illusion spells they were using since it was created to fool the masses not an individual.

"We're going to have to find another spell," Hermione was saying as Nisha made her way over to the group.

"Leave that to us," Blaise said with a cocky grin.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and gave a soft snort. "Oh, and what do you have in mind?"

Blaise's grin grew and he winked at Hermione. "That's a surprise, sweetheart."

Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered something about cocky Slytherins. Harry and Ginny both turned their heads so Hermione couldn't see their amused smiles. Harry also gave Draco a smug look, clearly stating that at the rate things were going he was going to be the one to win the bet. Luna smiled openly in that dreamy way of hers that no could take offense to. Draco returned Harry's smug look with his famous Malfoy smirk. Nisha did nothing more then sit down next to Blaise with a soft, "Luna, you're next."

Luna stood up and left the group moving to sit with Shadow. The dreamy girl sat cross-legged on the high flat rock, and her hazy cobalt blue eyes cleared, becoming piercing as she locked eyes with Shadow.

"I know what you are," Luna stated. Her usually dreamy voice was gone and in its place was a calm cool tone that no one would expect to come from her.

"As I know what you are, Daughter of the Ancient Ones," Alyssum said.

Luna blinked dark blue eyes; the only indication that what Alyssum called her struck a cord. The two sat for a moment in silence while Luna decided on what she should or shouldn't say to the other woman. For you see, Luna saw things, things that went beyond the past, the present and the future. She was a Seer and not your average seer but what was known as a Cosmic Seer, which was believed to be a myth. A Cosmic Seer saw outside their realm of existence into others, no frame of time or other world was beyond a Comic Seer's inner eye.

"The future is bathed in blood," Luna started turning dark blue eyes to the group, "Their blood." Her eyes turned back to Shadow. "You're fighting a nearly impossible battle."

"All my battles are nearly impossible, but that slight probability makes them possible," said Shadow.

"I hope you're as good as you think you are, because when it happens it's going to happen fast and soon," Luna whispered.

"Daughter of the Ancient Ones, what have you seen?" Alyssum asked.

"I have seen nothing that will help you."

Shadow's gold eyes narrowed and her voice hinted at frost. "They are your friends…"

"I know who they are," Luna interrupted. "And nothing that I have seen will help you. All I can tell you is that when the time comes to stand back and let them make their decision."

"And come what may?" hissed Alyssum.

"Yes. For neither one of us was put here to play god," Luna stated calmly. "Whatever happens is their choice, all we can hope to do is make sure others do not bleed for it."

Alyssum sighed and briefly closed apple green eyes. "I know," she whispered, "But just because I know doesn't mean I have to like it."

Luna nodded in agreement. "My visions are never wrong. They change when circumstances change, but they have never been wrong. I know this and yet, everything within me is telling me that this one is wrong. Those two are strong of character and of the mind, full of conviction and they're resilient. They will conquer this, not without a price of course, but they will overcome this. And all we have to do is show our support and be there when they need us," Luna said as she stood up.

"I have a feeling that you may be right. That we will be needed afterwards to help pick up the pieces and make the image clear," Alyssum mused. "Send Draco next."

Luna nodded and turned away, moving back towards the group with her dreamy expression settled back upon her face. Draco stood up and moved towards Shadow when he was told that he was next. The group continued to talk but the conversation had moved away from pranks on Ron to more normal teenager discussions, like who was dating who, who was cheating on so and so, what teacher seriously needed to get laid, and other such gossip that was floating around the school.

Draco sat stiffly in front of Shadow. He still didn't like her. Oh, he respected her, she was smart, a great teacher, always pushing them to do their best, but there was still something about her that struck him as wrong. If asked he wouldn't be able to explain what it was, just that there was something wrong with her. He shoved the feeling aside and listened to her instructions. It took him a few tries to relax enough to follow her directions, but he was eventually able to see what he was supposed to see.

He was dismissed but he was still unable to calm down, for Harry was next. Seeing Harry talk to that woman still had the power to make him see red. It always took all his self-control not to leap at Shadow and tear her limb from limb. And, he still didn't even know why. Draco calmly told Harry he was next and sat down. But, Draco made sure that he could see everything that went on, including everyone around him and the interaction between Harry and Shadow, from his position. He knew seeing Harry talking to Shadow would piss him off, but he couldn't bring himself to not look. He had to see.

Harry sat down on the flat rock before Shadow. He was a little nervous and slightly afraid that he wouldn't be able to see an aura. Gods, would he be kicked out if he couldn't do it? That thought terrified him. He didn't want to get kicked out; this was one of his favorite classes and it was filled with his friends. Let him be able to do this.

"You need to relax, Harry," Shadow commanded softly. "I'm not going to expel you if you don't get it the first time."

Harry gave a sheepish smile. "That obvious?" he asked.

Alyssum nodded. "Now, close your eyes. Concentrate on your breathing, in and out, listen to the sound of my voice. Seeing an aura isn't something that one concentrates on, you can't will yourself to see one. You have to open up all your senses and sort of let your eyesight become unfocused. It might take a few tries, but I believe that with your abilities you should have no problem with this. You're an Empath and a Truth Sayer, your mind is already opened to things that are hidden from view, now it's just the matter of your eyes seeing it. That's all an aura is, something that is hidden from view, but can be seen if one cares to look. Now, give it a try and remember there's no pressure; you have all the time you need."

Harry nodded and breathed evenly. An aura was just something that was hidden and one just had to look at it differently to see it. Thinking about it that way helped him relax. After all he loved puzzles and an aura was like a puzzle, you had to look at it differently to put it together. Slowly Harry opened his eyes and let them become unfocused. Almost instantly the world around him was encased in metallic hues, gold, silvers, and bronzes. He gasped and blinked not believing his eyes and the world returned to normal. The trees were no longer covered with gold, the heather no longer traced with silver and the mountains no longer danced with bronze highlights.

"Very good," Shadow said. "Now, try again. Try to hold it longer and tell me what you see."

Harry nodded and did as she asked. The vibrant metallic hues returned and he told her everything he saw from the gold trees to the silver heather to the bronze mountains.

"Excellent. Now, look at me."

Harry shifted bright green eyes to Shadow's dark form, only she was no longer dark. She was surrounded by a metallic purple tint. It was a dark purple but not as dark as her black robes and with the metallic tone to it the purple stood out quite vividly. "A dark metallic purple," Harry whispered.

Shadow nodded. "Correct. Now you."

Harry raised a hand to eye level and a soft 'oh' escaped his lips. "Is…is this really my aura?"

"That depends on what you see," Shadow said.

"It's…its green…like a deep forest green only a little brighter slightly metallic," Harry muttered not really paying attention to what he was saying. He was too busy watching his aura; it was drifting off his hand like steam. It was because of his captivation that he realized there was another color beneath the green, closer to the skin. "White," he mumbled.

"Very good." Shadow's words grabbed his attention causing him to blink and the world return to normal.

"Pardon?" Harry said.

Shadow gave a soft smile. "Most auras are one color, but there are those special people that have two. But regardless of its infrequency most people just can't see it."

Harry nodded in understanding. "Can I ask something?"

Alyssum nodded.

"Why are all auras metallic?"

"Not all auras are metallic. Metallic hues indicate magic, so everyone in this school, including the school itself and the surrounding area will have metallic coloring. Depending on the color, you can even tell if the person is just a wizard or if they have a magical creature in their blood."

"Really?"

Shadow nodded. "Really. You did wonderful. Send Ginny next."

Smiling Harry jumped off the rock and went back to the group.

Ginny went next, then Blaise and finally Hermione. Hermione did take longer than everyone else. Harry wasn't really surprised though, Hermione did tend to be too logical about things. But, she obviously got it for she came back to the group rambling excitedly about the history and relevance of auras, a clear sign that she had passed with flying colors and thought that auras were something that everyone should understand.

"So, what are we gonna do now?" Ginny asked as they all left the classroom.

"I suggest we all hit the library before curfew," Hermione said.

Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed. "Why am I not surprised," she muttered dryly.

Hermione turned and gave Ginny a stern look. "It's due tomorrow, it would be smart to get it out of the way now, so you won't have to worry about it in the morning."

"I know, I know," Ginny said. "And we're all gonna go to the library. I was just kind of hoping some of Harry would have rubbed off on you and we'd do something other than go to the library. Besides, we're not allowed to work in a group."

"Yes, but we can work in pairs," Hermione replied. "And regardless of whether or not we work in pairs or by ourselves it's going to get done tonight."

"Yes, mum," Ginny said quickly even going so far as to take a step away from the bookworm.

"I've got dibs on beautiful," Blaise said, casually throwing an arm over Hermione's shoulders.

Harry gave a soft laugh. "No one's going to call you on it, Zabini; after all you need all the help you can get."

Hermione gave a soft snort. "Please, not even I could help him," she said shrugging Blaise's arm off her shoulder and moving down the hall.

"Ah, come on Sweetheart don't be like that," Blaise called after Hermione, "You know you like me." He picked up his pace and chased after Hermione.

Shaking his head and laughing softly Harry and the others followed after the two at a more leisurely pace.


Lil' Sphinx: Again, I'm sorry that this chapter took so long and that it's kinda short. Also, thanks to everyone for continuing to read it and commenting on it. Also, I give props to Shinigami Clara who correctly guessed who the two girls are that are helping Ron. I didn't think I gave that much away, but I must have given more away then I thought.

Slice - Just a quick note to let you know that technically Shadow isn't a parseltongue. It'll come up later in the story, but for now know that she really isn't a parseltongue.