Finding the Students
The feast was delicious, but now with all of that rich food in her belly, Sarah sat in her book room, ready to work. Around her both on the table and on the floor sat books, quills, parchment, and ink. She was busy adding the final touches to her magic test for tomorrow, when a house elf rushed in, "Excuse me Professor, but the headmaster is wondering if any of the teachers were in need of more supplies."
Sarah thought for a moment. Then, just as she was about to say no, remembered her test, "About ten bottles of ink and twenty rolls of parchment." she replied.
The house elf looked at her stunned, but rushed out of the room to do as she was told.
A half an hour later there was a knock on she office door. When she opened it she found Dumbledore, with a large wooden crate levitating behind him. "Hello professor," he said cheerily. "I have the supplies you wanted -and I am really anxious to no what in Merlin's name you are planing to do with all of this...Build a paper house?"
Sarah laughed, "No, not quiet." she said, leading him into her library.
Once Dumbledore got a look at her work table he said, "Well I see that it is not only your eyes that you inherited from me, but also the habit of leaving things just a 'little' messy. So tell me what is all this 'mess' for?"
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Severus Snape was pacing his study, furious. Dumbledore had canceled all classes for tomorrow. So that miserable mage could see if the students had any weird magic. Severus new what would happen, students would be to busy studying this 'magic' to pay any attention to his.
Now the students he should of had tomorrow will be a week behind the rest. Also the way that she cozies up right next to Dumbledor. It's no wonder she got him to cancel classes. She could get him to do anything she wants, that miserable little witch!-
Just then the potion he'd been brewing in the corner of the room started to boil...but it was not supposed to boil. There was no fire under it. As a matter of fact the closest sores of heat was the fireplace ten feet away. 'What had happened?' wondered Snape. For this was not the first time something like this had taken place. Less than a week ago one of the potions he had been brewing turned to solid ice right before his eyes. Stuff like this had never happened before last week though, and Severus surly did not want it to happen again.
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Despite the fact that she went to bed at one o'clock that very morning, Sarah still awoke a five. Not as well rested as she new she should be for the task that lie head, but there were ways to fix that. Sarah went to the leather bag that lay by her bed. As she rummaged through it, she found what she was looking for. A hidden pocket lay inside. From it, she withdrew a tiny glass bottle in the shape of those used for whisky. It was about two inches wide and four inches tall. She opened the bottle and took a small sip. Instantly she felt better. The potion was one she had made herself, with the help of a plant mage named Rosethorn. It contained essence of her own magic, enhanced with herbs. When she drank a sip I could renew part of her magical strength. Although she had to be careful, drinking to much at a time could make it work as a poison.-
At first she would only need a little sip to satisfy her caving for it. But after a while it would have the same effects as Dragon Salt. She would need more and more at a time until one day she took so much that is killed her. She shuttered at the thought. The women Rosethorn who had taught her the potion, had pounded the story of what might happen into her head.
-She then slipped the bottle into her bag and then picked it up and carried it with her to breakfast.
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When she arrived at the great hall she found that there was less that a handful of other people there. A lone student was sitting a the Huffelpuff table. Poring cream after cream into what Sarah, assumed and hoped was a cup or coffee. Dumbledore was at the high table sipping a steaming mug. Also Severus, who was poking at a plate of eggs as if they were suppose to jump right off the plate into his mouth, 'He is definitely not a morning person.' Sarah thought. Taking note, as to be shore 'never' to ask him for anything this early in the morning. Plainly for the fear of getting her head bitten of.
Sarah took a set next to her grandfather, "Good morning." she said.
"Oh, good morning Sarahantifany. How did you sleep?"
"Well, the little I got was restful."
"That's good...lemon drop?" he asked. Pulling out a tiny metal box from his robe pocket. Sarah nodded and took one, Dumbledore took two.
"And how did you sleep?" she asked, noticing the tiny bags under his eyes.
"I didn't." He said tartly, "Instead I had a long talk with the minister about pointless matters...Although to him the number of house elves and chamber pots we have at this school could not wait till morning." Sarah frowned, no matter how healthy he was for his age, he needed sleep. Dumbledore saw her frown, "I'm fine...You know you look just like your mother when you do that."
This caught Sarah off guard. It had been thirteen years since her parents death, but the memory still hurt. Dumbledore pretending not to notice her grimace. In stead he slid her a stack of Belgium waffles, and a bottle of syrup. They were her favorite breakfast and Dumbledore new it. Without saying a word she ate them.
When she was finished she left. The hall was slowly starting to fill up but, their was still two hours till her first group came for testing. Within fifteen minutes she was in her class room her test was set up and she found herself with nothing to do. She decided to read, and she continued till she heard a knock on her open classroom door.
"Excuse me, Professor...but we are hear for testing." The speaker was a boy who sounded as if he was unsure if he should even be there. He looked to be about fifteen, with black hair and green eyes. He also had a lighting shaped scare on his forehead- stange.
"Yes of course, cumin." Sarah replied hurriedly. She had not realized how late it was. "Now what house are you from?"
"We are the Griffendor 5th year." replied the boy. He paused as if unsure of what to do.
When Sarahantifany realized that he and the rest of his class mates were still in the door way, she said, "Please, come in." The boy did so, and slowly the rest of his class mates followed. "All of you need to find the desk with the paper on it that says, 'Griffidor 5th years'. Then one at a time use the quill to write your name, gender, age, and favorite hobby. Once you've finished you may go."
"That's it?" asked a girl with frizzy brown hair, "That's the test."
"Yes," replied Sarah. "And incase you forget the directions-" Immediately apiece of chalk sprung up from the ledge under the chalkboard and began to right the directions. A few of the students gasped.
"Will we be able to do that?" asked a chubby boy with black hair.
"No," replied the frizzy headed girl. "Even if you do have magery magic you probably won't have that type. Plus to make objects work on the own takes a lot of studying."
Sarah was shocked, "How do you no so much of my magic?" she asked.
The girl blushed, but before she could answer, a tall boy with fiery red hair said, "It's because she was up till twelve-thirty reading books about mage's."
This made the girl give him a scowl. Then she turned to Sarah and said, "The school library only had a few." She sounded resentful. Then she notice that everyone else was in line, waiting to take the test.
As the girl scurried over to the back of the line, the boy with the scar said, "Professor, There's no ink.? He looked around the room in search of ink.
This made Sarah smile, "You won't need any." The boy looked at her questioningly, so she said, "I magiced the quill there's ink inside." The boy gave her a surprised look but began to write, as ink flowed out onto the paper.
She had magiced the parchment so that, as they were writing, the parchment would look in side of them and record any magic. Later Sarah would use a great deal of her strength to unscramble is all and find any traces of magery.
Just as that group was finishing up, the 3rd year Huffelpuffs came in. The only break in the flow of students was for lunch. Which Sarah took in her class room. Wanting to avoid a thousand questions from both students, and teachers about the test.
It was four-thirty when the last group of students was finished. Sarah went down to the kitchens to grab an early dinner. She knew that when she was finished, she would be to tired to make any sort of appearance in the great hall.
When she was full she went back to her class room and shut the door. She did not want to be disturbed. She used her wand to push all the desks out of the way, into a corner of the room. Then she took all of the test papers and laid them out on the floor. When she went to her leather bag she took out a light blue box. Inside was a bunch of plain torn up parchment scraps. With these she made a giant circle around her and the test papers. The circle cover about one-forth of her class room. She set the box outside the circle. Then using her power and the circle as a base she trapped herself in a globe of her power. This would make shore that knowone didserbed her, and also to make sure that none of her power leaked out to diserber others.
Finally she was ready to begin. She took out her belt knife and made two cuts one in each of her palms. Then she let a few drops of her blood fall onto each paper as she began to chant spells. Using the blood as ink she drew ainchent ruens of magic on each paper. The whole process took about an hour. When she was done she noticed that some of the names began to glow. Those names would be those of the people who had mage magic, but she could record those later. Right now, she was tired. Just after using her foot to rub out part of her magical circle her clasped next to her work, and fell into a deep sleep.
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Sarah awoke to someone shaking her, "Sarahantifany...Sarahantifany... It's late, and we need to talk."
Sarah opened her eyes reluctantly, and found her grandfather standing over her. The light from his wand almost blinding her, "What time is it?" she asked.
Her grandfather looked at her weriedly. Her close were socked threw with sweet, and the sleeves of her robes covered in blood. Her hair was all ascue.
If Sarah had not given him several books to read on mage's and their workings, he would have been petrified at the site of his granddaughter. "About twelve-fifteen...are you going to be able to teach tommarow?"
Sarah posed for a minute looking herself over. "No."
"Then lets get you down to the hospital wing, and take care of those hands."
"I have healing supplies in my room, I don't need the hospital wing." This came out in more of a wine then a statement, but Dumbledore gave her a stern look.
"Now, you know very well that if I don't take you to the hospital wing, Poppy will have my head when she finds out." He rubbed his neck then said, "And I happened to like it just where it is."
Sarah laugh slightly. Poppy Pomfree, was the school nurse. She also had quiet a reputation for scolding people who ignored ingeruse. Exprecaly her grandfather. She held up a hand, and Albus hauled her to her feet. She winced at the pain in her hand. Then at a very slow pace the set out for the hospital wing.
As they walked the talked about many things. What had not accrued to Sarah was that none of these subjects were the one that Dumbledore had been meaning to tell her about.
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The next morning, Sarah, awoke in her room. She had insisted that after her hands were healed, she be taken back to her own room The previous night on the way to the inferery. Her and her grandfather had decided that the students with mage power, would see her every morning from five to six. Also every Saturday morning for lessons from, five to twelve. The earlier time would help, both with teaching the students discipline, and also, not to make them fell like they had wasted their hole Saturday in class.
Sarah found it hard to get out of bed. She was incredible stiff from using so much magic, the previous night. Once she did, she managed to scoot a few feet away from her bed and use her mind to imagine a small protective circle around herself. Then she began to meditate.
When she was finished she felt slightly better but still very tired and stiff. Somehow she managed to get to her book room. Reading, being a corner stone of her magic always helped her to regain magical strength. Once she had been reading for a half an hour, she heard a knock on her office door. Rather than getting up to open it, she yelled, "Come in."
The door open and a squeaky voice said, "Professor?"
She immediately recognized the voice, as that of a house elves, "In here!" she called.
A tiny house elf came rushing through, carrying a tray, "Lunch, Professor." The house elf set the tray on the table. Then instead of leaving, she just starred at Sarah with her huge green eyes.
Sarah looked at her suspiciously , "Yes?"
The house elf blushed and handed her a plain white envelope. Sarah recognized the handwriting as her grandfathers immediately. She opened the letter and read:
'This house elf has sticked orders from me to stay and watch you eat everything on that plate. She will be reporting back to me when you are done so I edvise you to eat everything without complaint. Signed, Your loving grandfather.'
To Sarah this sounded all to much like her grandfather. Somehow she would pay him back for this. To the bottom of the letter, Sarah found a quill and added, 'Thank you ever so much, loving grandfather.'
Smiling at herself she put the letter down and looked at the house elf still standing beside her. "After I'm finished eating, take this to Dumbledore." she said. The house elf nodded and tried to cover a grin with her hand.
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Later that day after Sarah had taken a nap and meditated once again she when down to her class room to record the names of the students with mage power. She found that the names of those inpowered were now written in red- her blood.
Finished, she went down to the headmaster, office list in hand. As Dumbledore went over the list he said, "Interesting, but all together not to suprizing. More than half the students on your list have showed signs of more than just ordinary magic. Or at lest an interests in the subjects you have them listed under." He then handed the list back to her and called a house elf to bring up dinner for Sarah. For the next few hours they talk about the few chosen students and what Sarah would teach them.
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The next morning at breakfast, Dumbledore rose and motioned for silences, Sarah's list grasped firmly in one hand. Once he had everyone's attention he proclaimed, "The following ten names, are those of whom will be studying with professor Merloom. Also included is the tape of magic you have. If your name is called please stand up and join her at the great hall doors immediately." He posed as everyone looked at Sarah standing beside one of the doors. Then he continued, "You will be missing some of your classes today for, Professor Merloom, fells it necessary to show you the basics, and your new schedules as soon as possible. So in alphabetical order I begin:
Abercrombie, Euan.....Harrier Mage Barrian, Cormic..........Thuth Sayer Mage Bernow, Karen...........WaterMage Dictailen, Jeralden.......Vocal Mage Longbottom, Nevil......Plant Mage Malfoy, Draco.............Healing Mage Marnet, Numairy, Marow.........Gem Mage Potter, Harry...............Wild Mage Uvin, Jacob.................Weapond Mage
Once Dumbledore had finished, he sat back down, and in turn the selected ten stood up. The boy Draco, who her grandfather had pointed out at breakfast, seemed to be praising himself for he was making arm motions toward himself. He seemed to be quite happy for he was beaming rather brightly as a few of his house mates congratulated him. Although Harry Potter who Sarah had only figured out this morning which student he was, seemed to be getting encouraging pats on the back from a few friends. Wants Sarah had counted ten heads head in front of her she set off to her class room on the ground floor.
Once inside she told all of the students to take one of the ten seats in the classroom. After being seated they all looked at her expectantly, 'Time to begin the lesson.' She thought, as she walked to the front of the class.
"Hello, I'm Professor Merloom, and I will be your teacher in the art and control of Magery Magic. First off very rarely will we be using desks in here. So, if you would all be so kind as to please stand up." As all the students stood Sarah used her wand to push all the desks into a corner of the room. "Now if you would, please come and sit in a circle in the center of the floor, we can begin." Once everyone was seated, she too took a seat in the circle. "As I pass this paper around I would like you all to sign your name to it. Also I shall pass around a sheet of rules and expectations for this class. This is yours to keep and unless you want me as your enemy, I suggest you abide by it."
As the papers floated around the circle Sarah could tell that many of them were nervous. She wanted to make them relax before she taught them to meditate, but she wasn't sure how, 'Well first,' she thought. 'let me get all of the bad stuff out of the way'
"There will be no now quizzes in this class." As a few students smiled she countiued, "However their will be an end of the year exam, and I can even garenty that you will get more homework in this class than any other." She smiled, the students frowned. You will come here every morning from six to seven." Some students groaned. "Also you will spend every Saturday day from six to twelve here as well." No groans this time just looks of sheer disbelief.
A hand was raised, "Excuses me Professor, but I was wondering...what is a water mage exactly?"
Well a water mage, has power over all water in any of it's gas, liquid, or soiled forms. You when trained properly will be able to cast spells that will evaporate water. Or tell you exactly what is in someone's drink. Weather it be lemon, or a deadly poison." When she looked up the girl was smiling. 'Well at lest she's happy.'
"Um, professor, what is an animalia mage?"
The speaker was Harry Potter, "You Harry will be able to talk to animals, and someday you 'may' be able to shape shift into an animal."
He looked stunned, "Well, I guess that makes sense I mean I am a parcel mouth."
"Actually Harry you were never a parcel mouth. You were miss read and believe to have had the power of parcel tough when really, you actions with Voldinmort, made the snake part of your power break out more quickly." When she looked around she noticed that a few people were stuttering or a lest looked shocked. It took her a minute to realize what it was, "One of the first thing mages learn is to control their power. To do that you must first learn to control your imosions. You will all soon learn that being scared of such a simple thing as a name, is down right stupid. Compared to the other things you will face, in your lives. Especially if you chose to fallow the path of magery magic rather than standard wisarding magic.
She spent the next half-hour answering questions about harrier/detective mages and many other magic's as well. Once that was finished she said, "The next thing you must learn is how to meditate, but before we begin we must ward the room. Can anyone guess what that means?" She looked around the room, for a second she thought no one was going to answer then Euan held up her hand, "Yes?"
Dose it have anything with locking down our magic?" She didn't seem at all sure of her answer.
"Yes actually it dose, sort of. When ever you meditate you must first put a wourd around you, so your magic doesn't spill out of you and disturb other people. This also works in reverie. The barrier makes sure no magic spills in to disrupt your concentration either." She saw that the students didn't think it was that big of a deal. She decided to reinforce it, "Once when I had just begun training, I tried to meditate without a magical barrier. The next thing I new every knife and sorwed that was in my house was floating in air, sharp ends right as me, and ready to strike...Lets just say that if my teacher hadn't been near by, I might not be here right now." The students now seemed more alert, so she disided to start the lesson.
She got up and pulled a hilt knife from her sock. With It she made ten small cuts. One on every finger. Next using she fingers her drew signs of protection on the door, and on every one of he four walls. "There," she said, "this shall hold us all nicely."
Once she had reclaimed her seat in the circle she thought them how to meditate, "Sit tailor stile with you hands on your knees. Then breath in for seven counts, hold for seven counts, release to the count of seven then hold for seven. When you meditate all of your magic is relised so make shore you don't meditate outside this room until I say other wise.
As the student did the meditation breathing, Sarah, spoke the counts out loud. Letting her voice get lower and softer till it was no more than a faint whisper. She was thinking about trying to meditate herself when someone said, "How long do we have to do this for?" At this some of the students groaned as if coming out of a trance. Some complain that they were stiff. Other complained that they too, were board. After Sarah explained that this was the center of magic, and that they had to aculy meditate for an hour a day, the students all groaned. Although after a few more goes at meditating, and failing Sarah, decided to stop. All the students were antsy and board. They would not accomplish anything worth while like that.
Instead she told the students to do some homework. While she when around to each student indivguly to talk with them. By noon she had given all of then a copy of the book, 'Magery Magic Guild' With instructions to read the first two chapters for class that Saturday.
At this she heard the sounds of all the students on the upper levels coming down for lunch. "Class dismissed," said Sarah, "I will see you all tomorrow morning for meditation. Get some rest."
As the class filed out the door, a tall redheaded boy and a mosey-hared girl, stopped outside the door. "Harry, finally you missed all of your morning classes." Said the girl.
"Not to mention trying to brew a potion, that even Hermione couldn't get." Added the boy.
The girl scowled at him and then she said, "Harry com-on, I want you to tell me everything."
"Everything?" Replied Harry tiredly, "I'm not even sure I remember it all." The three of them headed to lunch. While the girl, Sarah, took to be Hermione badgered the young, Mr. Potter, with questions.
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Sarah took lunch in the great hall like everyone else, but spent the afternoon in her class room. Making up lesson plans for Saturday. She soon found out how hard this actuly was. She had ten students and they all needed her attention. Plus some of the students had magic's, she new hardly anything about.
The water mage student, she new would be the tuffest. Weather magic of any kind were hard to control. Also Sarah was utterly shocked that she had found a water mage at Hogwarts. Usually by age ten or twelve, weather magic would start to leak out every where. If the person had not found out that they had magic by then, it would usually end up killing them. This girl had uvueusly learned some form of control over her powers somehow, but yet Sarah was sure the girl up until today had no idea she possessed any kind of special gift.
"Ugh," She rubbed her head. 'She needed her friend Merra, she was a weather mage. She could help teach this child more than Sarah ever could. Or even better she could have use Tris. The most brilliant weather mage that had ever- Just Stop!' she told herself, 'Just stop it right there.' The last thing she wanted to do now was bring up those memories.
Then again there were also students she couldn't wait to teach. Abercrombie Euan was a harrier mage. Sarah had learned a lot of the detective art from her teacher, and she had always found it quiet interesting. Also Mike Uvin, was a weaponry mage, just like her. She would look forward to teaching him the magic that had saved her life again and again. Although she would probably leave out the fact that her magic was sometimes what got her into such trouble in the first place.
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After dinner Dumbledore had invite her to his office, to talk about her first day. Sarah had accepted, but first had went back to her rooms to get the lesson plans she had made earlier.
Now as she walked into her grandfathers office she was pleasantly surprised. The office was warm, curtsey of the large welcoming fire in the fireplace behind the headmasters desk. Also steaming cups of tea, lay on the desk, but there was something missing, "Grandfather," she called, "Where are you?"
"Up here love." Called Dumbledores drawing voice.
Sarah looked up, he was standing by a telescope, that was ten times his size. It stood by a very large window on the second floor of the office. The telescope was made of steel that had been painted gold, all held together with brass fittings. Her friend Cami, a blacksmith mage, would have loved to see this. "I was just enjoying the veiw. The stars are beautiful tonight. Come have a look."
Sarah didn't need to be told twice, as she looked at the stars threw the telescope, she was amazed, "They seem so close, so real." she exclaimed. "Yes they do don't they." replied Dumbledore. "Do any of our old school friends have power with stars?"
"No," she replied sadly, "Although, Merra is a weather mage. She can name every constellation in the sky. If the stars were in her magical range, her magical soul could survive on the surface of a star."
"That is quiet a pity then...imagine all the things she could discover if she could only reach them." They both pused for a minute. Dreaming up ideas on what it would be like to be able to touch the firey gasses of the sun or stars. Then Dumbledore held out an arm to her, which she took. As he lead her downstairs to their steaming mugs, he said, "So how was your first day as Professor Merloom. I hear you already gave them homework."
Sarah laughed, "And how, might I ask, would you know that?"
"Ah, this is Hogswarts my dear. As I've told you before what ever you don't think or want other people to know, is exactly what they find out."
"Well then if you are so well informed, perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me want else you have heard about my class."
"That is really all I know. Except, some of the students, don't really care for the mediation."
"That doesn't suprize me. I never really cared for meditating either."
For the next hour or so, they talked about each student indivguly, as well as future plans for the class. Then Sarah returned to her rooms for the night. Her head swimming with new ideas for her pupil's.
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'Harry Potter, Harry Potter! How could a boy who was that special, now become even more so.' Severus Snape thought furiously in his office that night, 'Out of all the students that she could have had. She had to have him! The famous Harry Potter.
Then again Draco Malfoy was also in this mage class. Although to Severus, this was a mixed blessing. On the one hand Draco was a Slithern students. One he tended to favor as far as the rest of the school was concerned. One the other, Draco Malfoys father, Luicus Malfoy was a death eater. Draco was destine to fallow in his fathers footsteps. This would mean one more weapon for the dark side now that Draco is know to have special powers.
This would mean more work for him as well. Dumbledore would need him to find all he could about the dark side now, even more than before. That is if he didn't get himself killed first. As far as Lord Voldemort- leader of the dark side -was concerned, Snape was a double againt. Thought to be on the good side- Dumbledors side. When he was acualy a follower of Voldemort. But, what was really going on was that he was playing the part of a triple agent. For the side of the light and nothing but.
As Snape went over all of this in his head he became slightly confused. Sometimes he wondered what side he was really on. He had originally joined the death eaters because his parents had been, before Voldemort had killed them. Snape had wanted revenge, no matter how bad of people his parents had been. That had given Voldemort no right to take away the only family he had ever had.
He had planed on joining, learning the dark ones strategies, killing him, and then leaving. Soon after joining he had realized how foolish he had been. The Dark Lord was an easy match for all of his death eater combined. Snape would pose no threat to him in any way. That was why he had come to Dumbledore. When Snape had told the headmaster his story, he had not ever questioned him for a second. He had agreed to help the poor lad Snape as much as he could. He had told him that there only way out was to become the triple and double agent rolls he to this day played.
When the young Harry Potter had defeated the Dark Lord, many had thought him to be gone forever, but not Snape. None of the death eaters could have even if they were to scared to admit it. If Voldimort had truly died the mark of the death eaters that was burned into his arm would have disappeared. However, it had not. The only difference was that the mark had turned cold. The dull stinging sencession of the mark gone.
Until last year, when the dark lord had awaken. Once again the stinging of the mark returned. Dumbledore had later pulled him aside. "You know what you must do know." He had said. It was a order not a question.
Snape had replied "yes".
He was to once again play the triple agent. And after Voldemot died he would be free. That is assuming the Dark Lord would ever die. Or if he Severus Snape did not die in the process. All the odds were against him, all good reason said that he should be dead by now, but that would not happen. He would not let it happen. He shall not let himself die, until Voldemort is dead.
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For those of you who might care the third shall be up soon.
Please read and review, I need all the comments I can get, both good or bad.
Also special thanks to:
BlackFire- Thanks for the review and I love the mage name.
Also thanks to the others who reviewed.
If you read the whole story I promise everything shall be reviled. By the way on a note or more like cry for help I need an editor and some names you thing would fit nicely as friends of Sarah's, 'hint hint'.