Generations: Finding Home

by Charlotte1

Alecia Malfoy, Rachel Weasley and Katie Potter are starting their 1st year at Hogwarts. Leshia stumbles onto a trail that might lead to the whereabouts of her missing mother Hermione. Can she convince Draco before it's too late? Will they save her on time

4. Part Four

Thank you so much for the reviews :) you're all too kind! Your feedback is very valuable to me, and I'm happy to hear you're receiving this the way I intended it to be read. Thank you so much! Enjoy…

Part IV

Leshia had never moved so fast as she did when Dumbledore finally gave her leave to go. With her heart in her mouth she careened down the corridors until finally she slid to a halt outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts study. Without knocking she burst in, and skidded to a halt on the now rugless floor.

" No," she gasped, her eyes taking in the lifeless chambers, with their empty dusty shelves, and pictureless walls.

'Too late…'

" I'm warning you! Shut up!" she hissed feeling tears stinging her eyes. For a moment despair washed over her, was she too late? Had she pushed away the only family she had left? And for what? Some ridiculous preteen crusade that she was no longer so sure of herself.

'Oh stop feeling sorry for yourself and go after him!' For a moment her fears ebbed a little, and without stopping to think she darted back into the corridor, sprinting with all her might to the main entrance. She found it unlocked – a fact she didn't wonder about at the time, as it ought to have been – and hurtled out into the grounds. The main gates up ahead stood slightly ajar and once more, the girl didn't wonder why this should be so. The road beyond was deserted and dark, and had this been any other night Leshia would have cowed to her fear and not gone anywhere near it, but this night was different. This night she had to rescue what was left of the family she'd set on self-destruct.

Having taken the boats from the station at Hogsmeade, Leshia wasn't entirely sure she was going the right way, but after hearing that the small village was down the road from Hogwarts, she had no choice but to carry on the way she was going. It helped that the road didn't branch or fork, and soon the lights of a village were looming in the distance. Inside, the many facets of Leshia's personality, those responsible for her inner voices, were performing veritable victory dances. She was going to make it!

The cold licked at her cheeks, and her ears ached with the cold winds, her chest felt as though it were on fire with the exertion of sprinting in the cold dark night, but she didn't care, about any of it. Finally she rounded the corner and there, right in front of her, lay the station. A train sat wheezing and groaning on its single platform, steam billowing into the clear cold night's sky.

The girl tried to speed up to catch it before it pulled away, but she hadn't the strength after her ordeal earlier that afternoon. Her lungs were too constricted, she couldn't fight for the oxygen her aching muscles needed, and much to her distress, she started to slow down. Ahead of her across the bank of soil, the train was groaning louder and suddenly the wheels started to move on their pistons, it was slipping from her grasp.

" No!" she yelled at it, falling against the fence that separated she and the train she had fought so hard to catch. She had no more energy, she had nothing, and as she clung to the railings for support, her head swimming with tears, the train slipped away howling into the night.

For several minutes the station remained shrouded in the steam the complaining train had left in its wake. As it cleared the platform came into view, revealing a lone figure, sat hunched over on a trunk, his head in his hands. An intense feeling of shame washed over Leshia as she recognised the broken form of her father. There was no room for the joy she ought to be feeling for finding him still within her reach. For the longest time she clung to the fence, watching as he shook his head in his hands. For a terrifying moment she thought he was crying, she had never seen him cry, even when her mother was declared missing, he remained firm. A pillar of emotional resilience, she couldn't bare to see him cry. And yet there he sat, shaking slightly, mourning his lost family.

" Dad," she tried to call, but her voice was lost on the cruel winds. Unmoving Draco still sat in his despair, so with an aching body Leshia dragged herself to her feet and looked to where the railway bridge stood only meters away. Her father didn't notice her until she edged into the corner of his vision. In a start he looked up, weary of people creeping up on him, but when he saw who it was his face dropped forward slightly in shock and emotion.

" Leshia?" he asked slowly, clearly believing himself to be going mad and not quite understanding that she was in fact standing before him. Leshia felt ashamed that tears were trickling down her face.

" Dad…" she managed sounding tormented. The sight of his daughter in such clear agony was too much and with a shaking arm he reached out to her. She was at his side within seconds and they remained in silence as the father held his daughter tightly in the crook of his arm, taking strength from her presence.

" You can't leave me," she whispered eventually.

" You hate me," he countered sounding amazed. " My presence here has been ruining your life…"

" But it hasn't dad, please!" Leshia cried and she shook slightly. Draco held her tighter. What on earth had triggered this about-turn? What the hell was going on? " Please don't go to China, please." Her pain was unbearable to hear, and even though she'd caused him immeasurable heartbreak these last few months, he hugged her tighter and kissed the top of her head.

" Are you telling me that you don't hate me?" he asked pulling back, his expression so hopeful that the spirit came back into his eyes. Leshia shook her head quickly, her expression pathetic.

" No, I don't hate you at all," she cried softly. " I don't want you to go. I don't want to lose you too." Draco gulped away a lump in his throat and slowly reached out a hand to wipe away the tears from her cheeks. Before he knew what was going on Leshia had lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his chest, crying quietly into his shirt.

" I won't go," he said softly.

" You won't?" Leshia's muffled hopeful reply came.

" No." Had his intention been to cheer her up then he would have been alarmed to hear her start crying even more, but knowing his daughter more than any other in the world, Draco knew she was finally letting go of the grief that have evidently been building up in her since she was six years old. Instead he wrapped his arms powerfully around her and hugged her so tightly she almost squeaked in protest, but didn't move away.

" You've been such an idiot," he finally uttered softly into her hair.

" I know, I'm so sorry," his daughter managed, her tears subsiding. They didn't let each other go for a full ten minutes. Finally Leshia gave one almighty sniff – though her tears had long subsided – and she pulled away looking up at her father through doleful eyes.

" I'm so sorry dad," she whispered. " For everything!" Draco thought of all the pain she'd caused him and found himself saying,

" It's okay." How on earth it was okay, he didn't know, but all he was sure of was that he had his daughter back. After three months of anguish everything was going to be alright again.

" You were really going to go to China?" Leshia asked with wide eyes, still scared that he might change his mind. Draco nodded.

" I thought you hated me," he said with a shrug. " There's no point in me sticking around if the only reason I'm here wants me to go away." Leshia frowned and inhaled shakily.

" But you didn't get on the train," she said sounding confused. Draco smiled wryly and shook his head.

" Wrong train," he chuckled.

" I'll never say anything horrible again dad, I promise," she said vehemently. Draco grinned and nodded.

" I'm sure you will, but I'm also sure you won't mean it," he said and as though remembering the torment of the last few months: seeing her suffering, nearly losing her on three occasions, he pulled her into another embrace.

" I can't believe you nearly got yourself killed three times," he said sternly, but he was smiling. " What on earth were you doing on the lake with two pieces of metal strapped to your feet?" Leshia grinned and they remained sat on he trunk for many hours, while Leshia told him all about her adventures.

XXX

By the time Draco was walking Leshia back to her common room it was as though their awful feud had never happened. Draco was still reeling from having his daughter back, that he hadn't challenged her on any of the serious topics: the identity of her assailants, Hermione, and her behaviour over Christmas for starters. They'd simply caught up and now were right back on track.

" Thanks dad," Leshia said softly as they came to a halt outside the fat lady.

" Anytime," Draco said with a grin and he leaned down and kissed the top of her head before heading up the corridor again.

" Oh yeah dad?" Leshia called after him.

" Yeah?"

" Can we sack Tally, she was on awful form over Christmas." Draco's laughter warmed Leshia's heart and he looked over his shoulder and grinned at her.

" I'll think about it," he chuckled before she turned on the fat lady with a truly happy smile and disappeared into her dormitory. The moment she walked in everyone sensed that things were back to normal and several small smiles were passed all across the common room. Katie and Rachel were sitting in the window box with Fifi, Marmite and Pooperscooper (Katie, Leshia and Rachel's Hillipups respectively) trying to stop them from fighting with one and other – although it was very humorous, as the podgy tiny pear-like creatures would charge into one and other knocking each other off their wobbly little legs, it wasn't very good for their self-esteem apparently. Hillipups suffered severely from low self-esteem.

When their eyes fell on their friend, they could tell she'd worked everything out of her system and they were so happy they leapt from the sill and threw their arms around their friend squealing joyously.

" I'm just so happy," they were still exclaiming ten minutes later when all three of them had settled into the window box. Leshia grinned at them and shook her head.

" You guys are sad," she chuckled lovingly and bent down to the Hillipup tray. " Aren't they marmite? They're sad, can you say sad?" The Hillipup, for one amazingly scary moment, looked like it was gearing itself up to say something, but in the end it only burped loudly before keeling over into a deep sleep. The girls hadn't laughed so hard in a long time.

XXX

By February everything had thankfully settled back into normalcy. Leshia gave up on her crusade to find her mother, and instead mourned her secretly every night. To all pretences and purposes she was back to her old self, but a part of her had withered, the part, which believed that everyone was intrinsically good, and only ever lost their way.

Needless to say, the girls all passed their Hillipup project, but only just. Rachel lost marks for her Hillipup being socially incompetent, at the best of times it was trying to but into its peers and siblings, and at the worst it would sit alone in a corner, its back on the others, making odd muttering noises that sounded like whistles. Professor Sprout's verdict was that Pooperscooper was suffering from an irreversibly low self-esteem, and that Rachel should have lavished more praise and affection on her. However, Pooperscooper was healthy and a good size (all thanks to Rachel constantly shoving the pipette down the poor things' throat), so she didn't fail the project.

Katie lost marks for her Hillipup being too clingy. Fifi couldn't manage on his own. Constantly sidling up to the others and snuggling up against them, the other Hillipup's ignored him and always tried to avoid coming across his path whenever possible. According to Professor Sprout Katie had stroked him one too many times, and should have been less of a clingy 'parent' herself. The girls had tried telling Katie that having Fifi's small tray in bed next to her was a mistake, but she wouldn't listen. Katie only passed on the same grounds as Rachel. Fifi was healthy and fat.

Leshia's Hillipup mark was a nuisance to her. Marmite had been perfectly socially adept, neither violent nor clingy. He had a great self-esteem and was very popular among the other Hillipups, but she lost severe marks for her Hillipup being scrawny and underdeveloped. Leshia tried desperately to explain she'd fed it enough, equally as much as Katie, and that it must be Marmite's own fault that he wasn't putting on weight, but Professor Sprout hadn't listened and Leshia had received the worst mark out of all apparently for failing to offer the most basic of care.

At the end of the lesson when the children had potted their Hillipups for the last time in their grown-up pots, Leshia stalked out ahead of the others feeling hard-done-by. Her friends rushed to catch up with her and as a close-knit group the Gryffindor first years headed off to their next lesson, Defence Against the Dark Arts.

" I don't get it, why should I get bad marks just because my Hillipup is naturally skinny?" Leshia grumbled. " I fed it just as much as you did!"

" Maybe it's because you weren't a very good role model," Rachel suggested cheerfully, happy at last to be free from Hillipup duty. Leshia cast her a fond glare. " I mean look at you, you're a scrawny titch!"

" Exactly!" Leshia explained. " I'm living proof that you can eat and eat and eat, and still not grow. I should ask her if she's going to give my dad poor marks for raising me because I'm small!"

" I'm going to miss Fifi," Katie sighed, causing the others to laugh raucously, assuming she was joking, but when they saw she was deadly serious the laughter died away.

" Katie, you can't be serious," Parys complained. She however, nodded, her features arranged into a doleful expression.

" I'm so happy to be rid of mine, it smelled, I kept waking up in the middle of the night and my bedside table would be covered in pink goo," Ashley explained.

" Hey yours too?" Rodeo laughed. " I think towards the end they were practising projectile vomiting." The others laughed once more.

" Yeah one day I woke up and it was all splattered on my pillow," Charlie Daiton complained through his mirth. The Gryffindors were still laughing when they rounded the corner onto the Defence Against the Dark Arts corridor, where a pack of surly looking Slytherins stood waiting. Not caring that the ferocious looking children glared harder as they approached, the Gryffindors got in line, still reliving the worst bits of their Hillipup experiences.

" You guys are so sad," Allseyer finally muttered petulantly.

" What are you going on about now?" Rachel asked tiredly. Allseyer glared at her.

" You are all so sad for actually looking after those stupid things," he said with a shake of his head, as though in disbelief. " We fed ours to Robin Pancer's snake, then order new ones from London just a few days ago. Sprout never noticed the difference." Katie let out a gasp and held her hands up to her mouth at the horror of all those little Hillipup lives, but Leshia and several of her friends shook their heads, with big grins on their faces.

" Oh really, Robin Pancer's snake?" Leshia asked. Allseyer nodded fiercely, getting worried by the knowing smiles on the Gryffindors' faces.

" Are you calling me a liar?" he finally demanded taking a step closer to Leshia in a threatening manner. Leshia held her ground.

" Yes actually," she said simply. " Other than the fact that I highly doubt Robin Pancer has a snake, you obviously don't remember that snake's are deadly afraid of Hillipups as they're poisonous to them. That pink goo they vomit up, the same pink goo that's been splattered all over your clothes for two weeks, it burns a snake's skin and they won't go near." The Gryffindors doubled over in laughter at the outraged look on Allseyer's face, while he spluttered for another excuse.

" I meant to say cat, it was a cat!" he hissed, but it was drowned out by the laughter of the others. " Right that's it Malfoy, you're dead!" he finally snapped ferociously and he took a step forward, reaching for his wand.

" That's enough," a dangerous voice sounded from down the corridor and everyone spun around, hands darting towards their tucked in shirts to make sure they were presentable. " Allseyer, my office at five-o clock." Leshia grinned at her friends as Draco made his way down to the door. That unreadable unpredictable wild spirit was back in his eyes and everyone was weary of what he would do. Seeing the tucked in shirts though, Draco pushed the door open and the class swarmed in. They all took went to take their seats, but stopped a little short when they saw the parchments lying on their desks. Essays. Last week they had submitted essays all about the history of dementors with the ministry of magic. It had been hard to dig up information on the dementors used in Azkaban back in the olden days, and their revolt during the war. The ministry was keeping this information under wraps and the girls had had to rely on word of mouth. Luckily there was no one as experiences as Katie's dad, so they'd spend the week frantically sending owls with questions.

Leshia glanced at her mark and felt a little pang of annoyance when she saw E. Her father had scribbled at the end:

Little more thought, little less regurgitation

" I know this was a hard essay," Draco was saying and twenty petulant faces turned on him – they'd all done worse than they thought. " That's why I set it. All of you8, without fail, suffered from a common problem. I didn't see any original thought in any of your essays. You gave accounts your parents no doubt gave you, when I asked for your views on the matter. I want all of you to do it again." The twenty incredulous faces quickly morphed into outraged expressions and Draco had to suppress his grin. " You have until Monday."

The rest of the lesson, Draco had to grapple to get the children to engage themselves in the lesson. They were furious with him, and even though it was cruel, he took pleasure from it. He loved being back to himself again. Those weeks where he had let them get away with anything had severely damaged his reputation, and yet now he was getting it back. By the end of the lesson the children literally scowled at him as they sauntered out. Leshia and her friends glared too, arguably slightly fonder than the others, yet still glares. Draco grinned at them and listened at the door as the children erupted in complaints the moment they stepped outside.

It was break time and the children were heading off to the main entrance so they could get outside, but when they reached the entrance hall they found the way was blocked by a gaggle of excitable girls, and a few embarrassed looking boyfriends who had been dragged along to look too.

" Valentine's day…"

" They say they kiss you…"

" They're so cute…"

The girls exchanged curious glances and pushed through the throng to see a fluttering small pink envelope, vaguely in the shape of a heart. It was darting around in front of a display labelled:

Send your love one a love heart to show how much you care

Only 3 sickles get yours now, and it will be delivered on Valentine's Day

" Who organised this?" Leshia grumbled. " It's so stupid."

" Professor Larkin arranged it with Sickly Sweet, you know, the dating agency that runs out of Diagon Alley," Amy explained, appearing from a gap in the excitable crowd of girls. " It's some sort of promotion."

" It's ghastly," Rachel muttered with a disgusted expression. " I mean who'd want one of those things to buzz up to you and kiss you, ugh!" The girls turned to see what Katie had to say and were surprised and discomfited to see her eyeing the little envelope adoringly.

" Come on, let's go!" Leshia said quickly, and she and Rachel took their sentimental friend by an elbow each, and hurried her out into the cool February morning.

XXX

The Love Hearts promotion, though dismissed as terrible by the lower years, was a hit with most of the school and every day the bursting list and moneybox had to be emptied and refreshed. It seemed that hundreds were being sold to the romantic population of Hogwarts. Every time the girls passed the sign there was a gaggle of girls standing around it whispering and giggling about whom they were sending them to and what they were going to write. Occasionally, when it was late and Leshia was returning from a gruelling quidditch practice, she would find a lone boy hurriedly writing something down, furtively glancing around lest he be caught. By the time Valentine's Day crawled by Leshia and Rachel were thoroughly fed up with the whole thing.

" It's the day of reckoning Leesh, get up, I'm not going out there with lovesick Katie on my own," Rachel's voice came from beyond Leshia's four-poster curtains.

" I'm sick, go away," she grumbled. Rachel rolled her eyes and was about to persist on her 'get Leshia out of bed' campaign, when suddenly she heard a pop, and Leshia's startled cry.

" Tally!" the girl bellowed. " What the hell are you doing in here?" Rachel suppressed her laugher and rushed off to change while Leshia grappled with the houself.

" Miss Malfoy is sick, it is Tally's duty to look…"

" I was lying!" Leshia cried out and angrily threw the curtains open finding everyone in the dormitory grinning at her. " God, even ten million love hearts are better than being cooped up in a bed with her," she said jerking her thumb over her shoulder. Tally made an extremely disgruntled sound before disappearing again leaving a nasty smelling grey smoke hanging in the air. The girls changed double-time and rushed out, while Leshia explained that this was Tally's only way of getting her own back on Leshia when she was out of line. The number of times she'd been left in a small-enclosed space surrounded by the toxic smelling smoke was innumerable.

The horrors of the day began even before the girls had reached the great hall. As they stepped down they suddenly got lost in a flurry of pink fluttering things. The first batch of love hearts must have been released. They were dive-bombing poor pupils (mainly boys) and attacking them with kisses, singing messages their unrequited loves had sent them, and generally being a nuisance. Luckily none of them singled out the girls, yet they weren't taking any chances. Armed with their Herbology books they batted their way through the storm of pink letters and finally found their seats at their table.

" This is completely ridiculous," Rachel fumed, taking a swing at a passing love heart. " I mean how are we supposed to concentrate with all these things flying around our heads! We should get a holiday."

" Oh my God, Leesh look at your dad," Katie suddenly yelped with a big grin. Leshia spun around and a big smile temporarily flashed across her mischievous face. Poor Draco was being bombarded with the dratted love hearts, fighting for space to kiss him. His fellow teachers weren't hiding their mirth. Well that's what he got for being the most attractive member of staff. The girls managed to escape off to their first lesson of the day without being singled out and as they sat down in the greenhouse, they were happy that as of yet, no pesky hearts had made their way in. Halfway through the lesson though, after another batch had been set loose on the unsuspecting students, everyone spun around at the sound of clattering, only to see that half a dozen or so letters were trying to force their way into the greenhouse.

" Oh no you don't," Professor Sprout bellowed, and she rushed to close all the windows. " I won't have any of Lucinda's nonsense in my classroom."

" Lucinda?" Rachel mouthed with a frown.

" Larkin," Leshia whispered back, her skin creeping slightly at the woman's name. Luckily, they didn't have her yet, and she was hoping that by the time she reached third year, the infuriating woman would be gone. The lesson was accompanied by the continuous clattering of the hearts outside, but Professor Sprout didn't heed them and continued to explain about Tutankans, plants with miraculous heeling powers, but vicious temperaments. As the bell went signifying the end of the class, the girls were weary to step out into the fluttering hearts, now eagerly awaiting their targets.

" Well look at it this way, who would send any of us anything?" Leshia said trying to put on a brave face. Before the others could answer though she was knocked to the side by Rodeo rushing out with Parys. He didn't even look back to apologise. Leshia frowned feeling hurt. " That was rude…"

" He's probably worried they're out to get him, you know half the girls in our year fancy him," Rachel said meekly. Leshia frowned and nodded in agreement, it didn't seem like Rodeo to be so insensitive to her. She didn't have long to contemplate his turn-around in personality though, as suddenly a flurry of letters swooped into the greenhouse the moment Harriet Coldcauldron, a Ravenclaw girl, opened the door to escape into the pink sky. The girls thought they'd got away with it, when suddenly two letters swooped towards them. They singled out Rachel and Leshia, who darted backwards looking terrified.

" Oh no," Rachel mumbled as the love hearts attacked them with soft kisses. Finally, they fluttered back into the air (leaving Leshia and Rachel literally choking on the perfumed scent they'd filled the air with), snuggled up against one and other and sung in perfect harmony.

'For being the best friends in the whole wide world!' With that there was a small puff of pink smoke and all that remained in the air was a dusting of golden sparkles, which fell down on the girls who were looking at Katie with big smiles.

" Katie, you big softie," Rachel said sounding touched. Leshia grinned and wrapped her arm around the taller girl.

" You're alright Potter," she said cheerfully and they headed off to their Muggle Studies lesson, passing a surprisingly large amount of people covered in gold dust. They thought they saw Draco stalking along the corridor in the distance, although it was hard to tell, because whoever it was, was bedecked in so much gold dust, you couldn't make out what they were wearing, let alone any features.

XXX

By break time, the girls had thankfully evaded any more love hearts, though twice in Muggle Studies small batches had flown in and delivered a large amount to Rodeo and Parys, who were glowing bright red by the end of the lesson…well, gold really, but under the gold, their cheeks burned. Believing herself to be safe (not for one minute thinking anyone could like her, tiny, tomboyish and mouthy, what was there to fancy?), Leshia watched in an amused fashion as Katie and Rachel received a love heart each from 'secret admirers' – though they suspected they were sent by their cousins. She was just laughing at them trying to dust off the gold sparkles, when suddenly three love hearts appeared as though from nowhere and swooped down onto Leshia, she squealed, and coughing away the perfume jumped to her feet, darting to a safe distance from the hearts. The little envelopes fought for who got to say their message first and then, one at a time, came forward.

'For being the coolest girl in the year'

'For being like a best friend, even though you're a girl'

'For making watching quittich a bearable'

In time, Leshia threw her arms over her head as gold rained down on her, and by the time she resurfaced she found her friends sniggering at her.

" You'd better watch out Leesh, I have a feeling there's going to be more of those," Katie said fondly. Leshia shot her an exasperated look.

" There'd better not be," she grumbled and cast the cloud of pink by the main entrance a furtive look. At least the messages hadn't been about her 'dazzling beauty' as Katie's had been, so that was okay. Leshia could recognise that Katie was a very pretty young lady, Rachel too was attractive in a fierce way, but as far as her opinion of herself went, it didn't stretch very highly. Rather more quirky than typically attractive, she still had childish adorableness, with too-large eyes, a small nose and childlike wonder in her face. It was hard to say that Leshia was attractive, but one day she certainly would be.

For now, Leshia thought, as long as nothing fluffy and romantic cropped up, she could just about manage a few more – if they were to come her way of course, which she highly doubted they would.

Defence Against the Dark Arts came after break and for once, nobody waiting in line to go into the classroom felt the least bit intimidated by Draco. Even though he wore and expression like thunder, it was hard to feel afraid when he was twinkling like a Christmas tree.

" In," he barked, not even inspecting their shirts. They took their seats and sat grinning at him as he doled out school copies of an additional text they would be using. He took his seat behind his desk – a rarity, his usual choice was to stand in front, so as to make himself look large and intimidating, but apparently being covered in gold had ruined his chances and didn't even bother.

" Please read chapter four, you've got half an hour, afterwards we will have a discussion," he said sounding fed-up as he reached over and started going over some seventh year final-project drafts. Everything was going well for the first fifteen minutes, until the door swung open and several pink fluttering envelopes zoomed in. Draco looked up in horror, expecting more onslaughts. He'd lost count at fifty, and had a horrible suspicious that more were on their way. This time though, he was lucky, but with a dark look he realised five of them had made a beeline for his daughter and with an even darker look, he watched as they dive-bombed her.

'For making Hogwarts a better place'

'For that awesome Halloween do'

'For being the most beautiful person in school'

'For sticking up to Allseyer for the rest of us'

'For being absolutely lovely'

Leshia glowed bright red as she dropped her head in folded arms, the gold dust sprinkling down on the back of her head. She didn't want to look up. She didn't want to see the look of outrage on Allseyer's face, not the dark and murderous look on Draco's. The class started twittering once the door had shut again and all that remained from the pesky hearts was the horrible perfumed scent in the air.

" All right that's enough, get back to work," Draco told the class firmly, but he didn't take his eyes off Leshia, who lifted her head, her cheeks glowing and tried to concentrate on her reading. By the end of the lesson Draco was so put-out, by more hearts' attacks on himself and his daughter, that he didn't even give the class the homework he'd planned for them. As Leshia hurried out, she turned at the door and rolled her eyes. He couldn't help but smile back and nod, indicating he entirely agreed with her: this whole day had been utter nonsense and a terrible idea.

When classes drew to a close, thankfully, the letters had stopped being released. Here and there a tired looking love heart fluttered aimlessly through the corridors, their targets having successfully avoided them and found good hiding places. For the most part, the entire student body was dusted with gold. A few outcasts scurried around with no dust at all, trying not to draw attention to themselves. You could tell the popular pupils from down the corridor, because they were like walking statues of gold. Leshia was surprised to be amongst them.

Her total tally had been in the region of forty. Thirty horribly embarrassing affairs that had left her stomach curdling and her cheeks glowing. She didn't like the attention; she didn't like it that she had some sort of secret following. By the time they reached their common room (darting past a gold-dusted Peeves, " Who the hell would send Peeves a love heart?" Rachel had griped) they were in need of a shower before dinner, but found that the queue was terribly long. Deciding to wait for it to die down, they dropped down in their usual window box and jumped back as a love heart fluttered by the window. It took a moment to decide its target wasn't in Gryffindor tower, before hovering off again.

" I say Larkin gets fired for this," Rachel complained. Leshia and Katie grinned at one and other in secret agreement, but their mirth was for Rachel's attitude. They knew their red-haired friend had enjoyed the attention of her ten love hearts. So why on earth was she complaining?

A gold statue walked past and Leshia just about made out Ryan Lofting's features behind the gold mask. He was grinning at his friends Luka and Oskar (veritable gold statues themselves – the heart throbs of sixth year evidently) as though saying 'check me out'. Before he reached them though he noticed Leshia.

" Oh hey shorty, practice after dinner, we're going to be putting in double time until the Ravenclaw game," he said, grinning almost proudly at his little protégé. " They're good, and we have to train hard if we're going to beat them."

XXX

" They've won the quidditch cup the last four years running," Leshia repeated for the umpteenth time that evening, her skin paling. Now clean and dressed in gold-free clothes, the girls were sitting over dinner, grimly watching the rain falling down in the enchanted ceiling. Here and there someone still glowed with the gold dust (evidently too proud to wash it off), but for the most part the highly embarrassed student body – and teachers – had washed off any evidence that the day's events had ever taken place.

After Ryan's warning, Leshia and her friends had hurried to her book to see what it said about the Ravenclaw team. What they'd found was so disconcerting Leshia had had to excuse herself to the bathroom, most likely feeling slightly queasy. The team was spectacularly good. The last time they'd lost a match was three years ago, and even then it was because their seeker had fallen from his broom poisoned by one of the rivalling teams.

The team hadn't changed in the last four years. They were on to a winning combination and every single member was a seventh year. The chasers were tall and wiry, the beaters tall and hulking, the keeper short and swift and the seeker slight and lightning fast on a broom. Leshia didn't see how it was possible for them to beat this legendary Ravenclaw team.

" Don't think about it Leesh," Katie said soothingly. " Just go out there thinking it's any other team."

" Yeah, but it's not though is it?" Leshia countered.

" I've been reading up on Evan Lahara's stats," Rachel said with a mouth full of Yorkshire pudding. " He's not as good as you." Leshia gave her and incredulous look. " Well he's fast and all that, but he's never pulled off anything spectacular. He doesn't have the moves you have." Leshia shook her head.

" Face it, we're toast."

Ryan seemed to be on the same wavelength, because he grilled the team during practice, making them work extra hard. There were some definite improvements by the end of the training, but the rain and the pessimism had dampened everyone's spirits, and they returned to the castle a sullen soggy group. By the main stairs in the entrance hall they stumbled across Draco, who was evidently waiting for Leshia. The girl bade her team goodnight before looking up at Draco with a solemn look.

" We're going to lose dad, I just know it," she said grimly.

" Don't be stupid," he said brusquely. " Who knows what's going to happen. You might surprise yourself…like today." Leshia wrinkled her brow.

" What're you angry about?" she asked with a grin. Draco sighed heavily and shook his head.

" It's been one of those days," he said softly, secretly adding, 'And you're growing up, and there's nothing I can do about it.'

" Did they do this sort of thing when you were in school?" Leshia asked as they headed towards Gryffindor tower at a slow amble. Draco smiled, fondly reliving the lighter side of his school days.

" Never love hearts, but I do remember one year, we had dwarves dressed as cupids skulking around the school. I'll tell you what, you haven't heard 'awful', until you've heard burly dwarves singing out of tune."

" Did you send one to mum?" Leshia asked with a big grin. Draco smiled sadly.

" Are you kidding?" he asked in an upbeat tone. " She couldn't stand the sight of me. So of course I did," he lied and Leshia laughed happily, bringing some comfort to Draco's hurt soul.

" How many did you get?" she asked with a big grin, staring up at her father with idolising eyes. Draco smiled.

" Only a few, it was Potter that got them all," he said with a wry grin.

" Why did he get so many?"

" Well because…"

" Was he better looking?"

" No, it's just…"

" Did he just have a better way with the ladies?" Leshia teased, hanging off Draco's hand and grinning up at him. He laughed and shook her off, while he explained – in vague detail – the conquests he'd had while in school. Leshia laughed and made all the right disgusted expressions, and finally they reached the Fat Lady.

" Password?"

" Swamp scum," Leshia said and then turned back on Draco.

" Don't worry dad, tomorrow everyone will go back to silently fancying you," she said and stepped half way through the portrait hole. Draco kissed the palm of his hand before dropping it down on her head and ruffling her hair.

" Night Trouble," he said with a small smile. She grinned and then retreated into the common room where most people had gone up to bed and only the hard core people stayed up finishing homework that should have been done long before, and as usual Tom and Luke (still dressed in their soaking training gear) and their gaggle of friends were dominating one corner of the common room with some tense game of wizarding chess. Leshia grinned to them before heading up to her dormitory where the others were having a giggly conversation on Ashley's bed.

" Leshia!" Rachel squealed and the others burst out into giggles again, rolling around on the bed in some state of euphoria. Obviously there was hot gossip afoot in need of spreading, what Leshia hadn't expected was the nature of the gossip.

" Leesh you'll never guess!" Nicola added in that similar high-pitched screechy tone. Leshia shrugged her shoulders and dropped her broomstick and wet jumper down on top of her trunk.

" Uh…" she mumbled, searching for her pyjamas under her pillow. She was well accustomed to this game. " One of Snape's potions has backfired and right now he's trying to propose to the Womping Willow?" The girls cackled and shook their heads. " Okay…the Hillipups have started a revolt against Rachel for her mistreatment of Pooperscooper, who they've renamed Emperor of the Hillipups?" Rachel looked affronted.

" Hey, that Hillipup was worth its weight in gold," she said.

" Yeah, its weight was never the problem Rach," Katie smirked. " You get one more try Leshia."

" Oh I don't know," Leshia countered closing the curtains on her four-poster so she could change in privacy. " Hagrid's taken a career change and later this year we'll be seeing him perform Swan Lake in a tutu?"

" What's Swan Lake?" Rachel said with a wrinkled brow.

" No, do you give up?" Katie said gleefully. Leshia shook her head with a smile as she pulled up her trousers.

" Yes," she chuckled, thinking 'I gave up before we started this game'.

" Okay." Behind the curtain she could guess they were gearing up as a team to announce this shocking declaration. " Rodeo and Parys both fancy you and they've fallen out over it." She had been expecting something entertaining, but this was downright shocking.

" What?" T-shirt half on and trousers unrolled up, she tripped out of her curtains causing her friends to roll about in laughter once more.

" You heard," Nicola said almost pointedly. She'd been horrified when Parys had the brief stint with the Ravenclaw girl, but now he was wallowing in love-sickness for Leshia, it was a bit too much. Leshia shook her head quickly.

" No you're wrong," she said looking horrified.

" Aren't you happy?" Ashley asked sounding surprised, she'd love it if those two were fighting over her. Leshia lowered her head and cast the girl an amused dark look – it could have easily been at home on Draco's face.

" Of course she's not," Rachel roared with laughter.

" Leshia hates boys," Katie added with a big smile.

" No I don't hate boys I just don't…you know…I mean yeah they're nice but…look I'm only twelve I don't want to start walking down the corridors hand in hand with any boy, let alone two of my best friends," she grumbled and dropped down on the bed with the others.

" Oh cheer up Leesh, they'll get over themselves," Rachel chuckled. Leshia gave a huge sigh and then turned around with a mischievous grin. For a moment Rachel wondered what she was planning, but then she felt the pillow smack into her head from behind. " Katie!" A sporadic pillow fight followed, easing the tension and ensuring that the five girls lay about in giggles once more. Thoughts of the looming quidditch match, and the two hormonal boys were left behind.

XXX

The weeks passed, and as the match loomed, Leshia had taken to biting her nails again. Rodeo and Parys skirted round her in the corridors, and couldn't quite meet her eye, something that had the young girl fuming. How dare they fancy her and ruin their friendship, who did they think they were?

Life had returned pretty much back to normal in the wake of the love hearts incident, an added benefit maybe was that more people knew Leshia's name and were less inclined to barge into her as they strode down the corridor; a privilege most of the littler first years did not enjoy. In lessons Leshia was performing excellently as usual. The only thing Leshia was not adept in was Care of Magical Creatures. She couldn't take to it. Even though she loved Philly and had an excellent relationship with him, other animals seemed to take a disliking to her.

" Ouw, it bit me!" Leshia cried, ripping her hand out of the Weezbit cage. Weezbits, though exceedingly cute and fuzzy animals (a cross between a rabbit and a weasel might be the best way of describing them), could be quite temperamental. They required expert care with their long flowing coats and fast growing nails, and besides being excellent pets, they were used in magical families as a living lie detector.

" Well are you thinking dishonest thoughts?" Katie asked sounding slightly condescending, as the Weezbit scuttled over to her and nestled up against her. Leshia inspected her red finger petulantly and cast the pair a glare.

" No, animals just hate me," she grumbled. " Especially fussy ugly ones," she snapped glaring at the white Weezbit, who turned to hiss at her.

" Don't be mean, it's just an animal," Rachel said and Leshia turned to see her redheaded fiend buried under a pile of the things.

" I just don't get it," she said sounding bewildered. " I mean, you're the most dishonest of the lot of us and still, they love you!" Rachel gave her a winning smile.

" Must be able to see some greater good in me that you can't," she tried, but couldn't because the need to laugh so much at her absurd exclamation overcame her and soon she was in stitches of laughter. The other two shook their heads as though thinking the same thing.

" Enjoying yourselves?" a deep booming voice came and the girls' work place soon fell into shadow as the hulking form of Hagrid stepped up behind them. He had mistaken their mirth for enjoyment, something they rarely experienced in his cold and often wet lessons. They'd more often than not come out of the miserable lessons clutching injuries that oughtn't to have been there and it irked them, but they didn't have the heart to tell the giant who was still very dear to their parents, so they gritted their teeth and just dealt with it.

" Yeah," they lied in unison, big fake smiles plastered on their wind-bitten faces. The giant managed a big smile, before he moved on to the next group – Damian Allseyer and his group of surly friends. The girls just about had time to turn to one and other and exchange a grim look when all of a sudden Hagrid's booming voice caused them to spin around in surprise.

" What are you doing to that animal?" They instantly looked to where a struggling Weezbit was bound by a shoelace, hissing and spitting at its captors: the group of surly Slytherins. Hagrid was quick to free the poor creature, which scurried off to its temporary burrow in Hagrid's vegetable patch. " Explain yourselves!" The girls turned to each other with big grins, this ought to be good.

" It kept biting us," Allseyer muttered in such a passive tone that Hagrid's face seemed to swell like a balloon.

" Well a right lot of dishonest folk you must be, they only bite if you're hiding something," he explained, his tone darkening, his expression thunderous. Rachel turned to grin mockingly at Leshia, but she was too caught up in the scene in front of her to heed her friend. Allseyer was staring furiously up at the half-giant.

" I don't see how learning how to give some rat-beast a pedicure is going to benefit my education," the slight boy exclaimed, conceit dripping from his features.

" Well perhaps if you learnt how to care for creatures, then you might start treating people with the respect they deserve Allseyer," Hagrid boomed and several of the girls twittered to themselves at the colour rising in Allseyer's cheeks.

" You can't talk to me like that," he whispered, his expression murderous. Leshia looked up to the half-giant, her own expression darkening, she did not like Allseyer's attitude, it worried her.

" And you, are not allowed to mishandle school property," Hagrid countered superiorly. " Detention tomorrow, my hut at seven in the morning, don't be late."

" Well what about them? You don't think I tied it up on my own do you?" Allseyer spat, throwing his hand in the direction of his surprised friends. Everyone stared in surprise, this was a new low. Evidently his friends felt the same, as they glowered at the boy.

" Can't go anywhere without your stooges 'eh Allseyer? Fine, you three can come along too," Hagrid said to Dregon, Pazz and Stump, with a shake of his head and he stalked off to check whether the abused Weezbit was feeling better.

" Damian?" Violet finally managed looking furious.

" What?" Allseyer grumbled. " I need you, I've got a plan!" The others looked enlightened and although they cast the other people in the class furtive glances, they didn't happen to talk about what this plan may be, something that had Leshia extremely worried.

" Did you see the look on Archie Dregon's face?" Rachel sniggered. " He's never looked less like a boy and more like a constipated pig in his life!" Katie howled with laughter, as did Nicola and Ashley, who were sitting nearby, one holding down the Weezbits, the other carefully filing their nails. " Leesh?" Rachel said sounding unsure. " I don't think you heard me, I said did you see…"

" I heard you," Leshia said and turned on her friend with a grin. " Very funny, but look. They're planning something, and I would do anything to find out what it is!"

" Why?" Katie asked with a frown.

" Yeah, they're all hot air that lot anyway," Rachel added. Leshia shook her head urgently.

" Not this time, did you see Allseyer, he's out to get Hagrid," she explained. " We have to find out what they're up to and fast, I don't want anything to happen to him, our parents love him too much!"

XXX

In order to find out what Allseyer's plan was, Leshia had to call in a significant number of favours. Lucky for her, her newfound fame and the fact that her popularity among the out-housers had skyrocketed ever since Valentine's Day, ensured that by the following morning she had her answer.

" Midnight tonight, they're burning down Hagrid's hut," a whisper came in her ear. " But you didn't find this out from me." Leshia nodded, staring ahead with a steely expression. Behind her, the figure sidled away, hoping no one saw the exchange.

" That was the Slytherin who was at our party," Rachel exclaimed seemingly annoyed that a Slytherin should approach their table. " What was…"

" Shhh," Katie hissed seeing the look on Leshia's face. " What is it Leesh, what're they planning?" The small girl sighed, her shoulders drooping, before she leant across the table, drawing her friend's faces in like a flame to a moth.

" They're going to burn down Hagrid's hut," she said softly, a sad seriousness to her tone.

" Well we've got to stop them!" Katie cried out.

" Duh," Rachel sniggered. " But how're we going to do that? There might be lots of them, we can't just wait around with a couple of buckets of water, we couldn't even hide all that under your dad's cloak."

" Well we're going to have to manage without the cloak for part of the way," Katie said firmly. " Maybe we can sneak out with it and then abandon it to get some pales of water…"

" Or we could set a trap!"

" Yeah or tell the teachers."

" What do you think Leesh?" Two expectant faces turned on their leader, but she merely sat, with a distant stony expression.

" Leshia? Something wrong?" Katie asked sounding unsure, when Leshia faltered, they all did.

" Nothing," a soft reply came and Leshia dragged her eyes upwards to look into their faces, creased in concern. " I just…" She swallowed at an empty throat and looked up expectantly to where the mail flock were filling the hall with the sound of fluttering wings. " Have a bad feeling that's all…"

It was a Saturday, so the girls had all day to ponder what they were going to do to thwart Allseyer and his friends. None of them could concentrate on their Transfiguration essays and they could forget about studying for their Potions test on Monday. Unsuspecting Hagrid and his small home were all they could think about.

" Maybe we should just warn him," Rachel complained over dinner. Leshia shook her head.

" This is between him and us, he has to know that he can't get away with what he wants, not unless he wants to deal with us," she explained.

" Stop being so proud Leesh, this is Hagrid's home we're talking about here! He might get hurt!"

" I'm not being proud, so what, we tell Hagrid or one of the other teacher's. What do they do? They either punish Allseyer now, or they wait for him to try, then they punish him. Either way we save Hagrid's house for now, but what about the next time Rach? He's going to try! We have to let him know he's not going to get away with it, that we'll always be one step ahead of him, he has to know who's in charge around here," she complained sounding angry about something.

" Leshia!" Rachel exclaimed rolling her eyes. " You're not in charge…"

" No!" Leshia complained furiously. " I'm not! But we…" She threw an arm across the hall. " Are! No one is ever going to let him get away with his crap. Everyone is going to get in his way." Rachel looked into her friend's impassioned eyes and nodded.

" You're right," she sighed.

" I know I'm right. Now what are we going to do?"

By half past eleven the girls had a feasible plan. It wasn't brilliant, but they hadn't felt inspired. Armed with the invisibility cloak they sneaked past the fat lady and hurried in the direction of the entrance hall armed with an array of empty buckets. Had they been a little further along in their magical education they may have been able to conjure jets of water from their wands, but after a few hours of practising, the best they had managed was when Katie squirted Rachel in the eye with a thin stream of water, a thin stream that would needless to say fail to put out a fire at Hagrid's hut. It was their plan however, to stop the Slytherin's before it got that far.

Armed with a collection of hexes and curses that would aid them in stopping the ghastly bunch of surly preteens, they aimed for Hagrid's hut with steely determination on their faces. The water slopping out of their now full buckets was hindering to say the least and by the time they reached the grounds near Hagrid's hut they were far behind schedule. They'd had to abandon the cloak in the girls' toilets they'd used to fill up their buckets, and as such felt incredibly vulnerable.

" Why do I smell smoke?" Katie suddenly gasped coming to a halt. " It's only quarter to. Why do I smell smoke?" She sounded frantic.

" Look!" Rachel yelped, dropping one bucket and pointing feverishly across the trees. Yellow flames were licking at the night's sky greedily.

" Oh no, we're too late!" Leshia cried and they started towards the flames. Before they could reach them however, several figures stepped out onto the path in front of them.

" Hold it right there," one of them sneered, and surprisingly the voice was not Allseyer's snivelling drawl, it was in fact Snape's. Closer inspection of the figures in fact revealed that they were not an assortment of temperamental Slytherins, but a gathering of furious looking teachers.

" But professor, it's Hagrid's hut, look!" Leshia complained.

" Yes we know," Snape growled at them and Leshia could already see Flitwick and Sprout dealing with the flames. Hagrid too was throwing water over the furious flames, trying their best to devour his house. " We were informed of your trick moments ago, it's a good thing we were able to stop it."

" Our trick?" Rachel asked sounding confused.

" Yes," Snape hissed. " Caught in the act girls, perhaps you shouldn't have bragged to your peers, then you might have got away with it."

" What?" Leshia demanded sounding outraged, already knowing Allseyer had won this one, already knowing they were in so much trouble it wasn't funny. " We're trying to stop them!"

" We were told you might say that," Snape said with a satisfied grin. Leshia lowered her head and glowered furiously at him.

" You have been tricked," she said angrily. " Why would we try and hurt Hagrid, he's our friend. And if we were trying to burn down his hut then why the hell are we standing here with buckets of water trying to put it out?" She was yelling now, furious with Allseyer for this trick, furious with the Slytherin who had fed her wrong information, and furious with the teachers for believing any of this to be happening. Beside her Rachel was shaking her head angrily, and Katie had gone into some form of shock, contemplating the trouble they were in. Snape smiled a sickly smile at them.

" Getting angry is not going to help your case Miss Malfoy, you can't imagine the trouble you're in." He seemed triumphant.

" Ah," Leshia exclaimed furiously and she threw down her water, the flames behind the teachers dying away. " Let me guess, Allseyer, he's the one that told you! What? Just happened to be out and about at this time, happened to come across you and tell you of our plans?" Snape smiled even more.

" He told us you would blame him," he said with a satisfied smile.

" Truth potion," Leshia uttered softly, her eyes narrowed in such hatred that she could barely see.

" I'm sorry?"

" Truth potion Professor, come on, you're always threatening us with it, well bring it on!" she cried out angrily.

" I will not stand for this Miss Malfoy, the three of you are to report to Hagrid's hut at six-o clock in the morning for punishment, be pleased that he has been lenient with you. Were it not for his insistence, then the three of you would be packing your bags right now," he said sharply. Katie and Rachel sighed their relief and turned to go, but Leshia remained routed to the spot, staring furiously at the greasy-haired teacher.

" Leesh, let's go," Katie said softly, trying to drag her friend away.

" Coward," Leshia uttered, staring directly into Snape's eyes. He smiled darkly.

" When you are done at Hagrid's Miss Malfoy, you may join me in my office," he said with a sneer and turned on heel to help the others repair the damage done to Hagrid's hut. Leshia shook with anger, but followed her friends all the way back to their dormitory. Without a word they changed and then faced off in the gloom of the room.

" What are we going to do?" Katie whispered.

" Hagrid will believe us," Leshia said soothingly. To her surprised Katie grinned.

" I know, I meant about Allseyer."

XXX

Needless to say, they felt less confidant of Hagrid's feelings when they found themselves standing before him in the dark of the early morning, wrapped up warmly against the rainy morning. He looked more menacing than they had imagined possible, so much so, that they huddled against each other on his doorstep.

" Hagrid," Leshia tried, but her voice failed her. For all her usual bravado, she was unsure now.

" I know it weren't you lot," Hagrid finally said gruffly. " I heard you, I know it weren't you." The girls crumpled in relief.

" Well can you let us in then?" Rachel shivered. Hagrid dutifully stepped aside and pushed three large mugs full of hot tea in their direction, as they fell around his table.

" What I don't understand," Hagrid said gruffly, taking the seat opposite the girls. " Is why you couldn't have warned me." The girls quickly looked to Leshia pointedly. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, her head cocked to the side slightly.

" Uh…well, we thought we'd be able to stop him ourselves," she finally said sounding slightly sheepish. Hagrid stared at her sternly.

" You've been had girls," he said shaking his head. " And I'm disappointed in you." The girls hung their heads slightly, and shuffled their feet under the table. No more was said on the subject, but by the end of their 'detention' they had gathered that Hagrid valued heir loyalty more than he resented their not telling him and as such, they went away from their meeting with him feeling giddy with relief. Leshia's relief and happiness at least was short lived, as she crossed over the threshold at the main entrance she remembered she was to continue the day with Snape. Reluctantly she bade the other two goodbye and made her way down to the dungeons. She didn't encounter any Slytherins on the way, it was nine-o clock, they were no doubt still in bed, 'the lazy buggers' Leshia grumbled to herself. It didn't take her long to reach Snape's and with a great deal of reluctance, she reached out and knocked on his door.

" Enter," the tired voice of the Potions Master wafted out. Leshia gritted her teeth together and pushed the door open to reveal the greasy-haired dragon sat behind his desk, partially obscured by a veritable mountain of bottles and jars containing ghastly contents. " Sit down Miss Malfoy." It wasn't a request, but a steely order. Leshia obeyed, looking at her father's friend angrily. The master however didn't move from the jar he was examining, something that allowed her eyes to wander. Eventually they rested on a line of small vials standing in front of her and an assortment of brown labels that had evidently fallen off.

" Sir?" she sounded congested, as though her voice was coming out of a restricted throat. She had almost certainly guessed what she was going to be doing. After a few moments of further study, Snape put down the jar and peered over his glass mountain at the girl in front of him. He saw her giving the colourful vials standing before her a cautious look.

" Yes Miss Malfoy, you are going to be concerning yourself with those potions this morning," Snape said simply. " Over the years of standing in my stock cupboard the labels have worn off, I need you to ascertain which potion is which."

" How?" Leshia asked looking alarmed.

" I need you to taste them, and we shall observe the effects," Snape said with a cruel smile. Leshia's eyes went doubly wide and she stared at him nonplussed.

" Surely you can just do some chemical tests to see what they are?"

" Yes, but this is more effective," he said with a nasty smile, secretly adding, 'And more amusing to boot.'

" But if they've been in your stock cupboard for years then, well…haven't they gone off?" The girl was looking completely incredulous.

" Perhaps, we shall have to see, the nature of the potions will still be evident, just perhaps more pronounced. Not to worry, none of them are particularly detrimental…"

" Particularly?" Leshia demanded. " Look Professor, I don't think that you're allowed to go shoving potion down pupil's throats, it's not right!"

" Nor is burning down a professor's lodgings, but you saw fit to that last night."

" We didn't do it, it was Allseyer. Hagrid believes us, you should to," she countered sounding deadly.

" Let the silly fool believe what he wants, I am not so foolish," Snape said with a small smile.

" Could have fooled me!" Leshia spat.

" Let us begin," Snape said cheerfully and he pushed forward the vial containing a green silky goo. Leshia closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, before reaching forward to the vial. One by one she helped Snape identify the solutions. Some had desired outcomes, in fact one made her feel like she was on top of the world, but this was not the case for most. The last potion they landed on, was undoubtedly not unidentifiable, because Snape's face morphed into a large smile once she'd sampled it. Almost instantly Leshia felt weightless, without a care in the world.

" So Leshia," Snape said, getting up and walking round his desk. Leshia's eyes followed him, a silly almost euphoric expression on her face. " Did you and your hoodlum friends set fire to Hagrid's hut last night?" Leshia grinned and shook her head.

" No, we were trying to stop Allseyer from doing it," she said with a satisfied grin. Snape almost looked surprised, but instead he pulled back and tilted his head to one side.

" Indeed?"

" He was after Hagrid for making a fool out of him," Leshia explained. " We wanted to make sure he didn't get away with it."

" Hogwarts underground police are you?" Snape muttered. Leshia grinned at him.

" We do a better job than you lot."

" Leshia who attacked you on Halloween last term?" Snape cut in sharply. Leshia leaned back and felt a small wave of panic take over her senses. By now she was aware of the truth potion's hold over her, but try as she might, she couldn't stop it from taking hold of her senses.

" Well…" she began.

'Don't you imbecile! You'll give away our advantage!'

" It was…" Snape was sat on the edge of his chair, wand almost at the ready to go storming out of his study in search of the vile students he had wished to expel months ago. The very thought of reckless students roaming the castle sickened him and he hated it that because of some self-righteous crusade, the girl in front of him wouldn't give him the information he needed, but not now. Now she was going to tell him, she had to, but then…

" Severus," Draco's voice came, muffled by the door, but then he pushed the door open, his expression slightly dangerous, a dark glint in his eye. He crossed the office, took one look into Leshia's eyes and then lifted her to her feet from under her arm. " Hagrid has cleared the girls. Leshia is coming with me." He pushed her gently towards the door and out into the corridor before he turned round at the door and shook his head at his friend. " Don't ever try that again Severus." Draco fumed almost the whole way back to Gryffindor tower, while Leshia veritably floated alongside him.

" I hear you told Snape to 'bring it on'?" he finally asked with a smile, looking down at his daughter's vacant expression. She grinned.

" And so he did," she replied happily. Draco grinned even more.

" It would seem so, I won't forgive him for this Leshia, not even I would ever stoop so low," he said.

" Yeah well Snape is a loser dad, and you're much better than him," Leshia said sounding intoxicated.

" Leshia please, for your own good, don't say any more," he said with a small smile.

" But dad, you're better than all of them, especially…"

" No," Draco laughed and he hurried her over to the painting of the fat lady. Once she had uttered the password and he had delivered her into the hole behind the painting, Leshia turned and smiled before she disappeared into the loud common room. Once the portrait door had swung closed Draco closed his eyes and hung his head back angrily. Snape had crossed the line this time, he was going to have to have a word with him.

As Leshia entered the bustling common room, the brightness and the noise nearly made her recoil. She was still very much under the spell of the drug running through her veins and she was also very much aware of it.

" Leshia?" It was Rachel, she and Katie were sat in their usual window box only this time they were joined by the boys. Leshia spun around and with a pang of fear realised she was going to have to get away. Staying would probably be very detrimental to her respective relationships with her friends.

" Uh…I have to…um…go," she said brightly, her legs carrying her towards the dormitories, her upper body turned to her friends, a ridiculous smile on her face.

" Leesh are you okay?" Katie asked worriedly, as all four of them got to their feet, approaching their friend with utmost care. Snape had obviously done something to her, that much was clear. Leshia shook her head and made a slight exasperated sound.

" No I'm not," she said.

" Well what's wrong? What did Snape do to you?"

" He gave me truth potion," the words tumbled out. Leshia's eyes went wide as every single face in the common room turned to stare at her in amazement. Rachel and Katie were looking aghast and suddenly realised with urgency that it was important they got Leshia away from everyone. Rodeo and Parys however, looked to one and other triumphantly, finally the opportunity they had been waiting for had arrived.

" Leshia, which one of us do you fancy more?" Parys demanded. The occupants of the room who had momentarily looked away in boredom all spun around again. Leshia made an exasperated sigh and though Rachel and Katie tried to push her towards the dormitories, she had to answer the question.

" Neither of you," she said angrily. " This is ridiculous, what is wrong with you?" The boys furrowed their brows and took a few steps back. " We were really good friends and then you had to go and ruin everything. Just be normal!"

" Come on Leesh, let's go," Katie urged and she led Leshia away from the crushed-looking boys. She allowed herself to be dragged away. Once she'd left the room the common room burst into hushed whispers and giggles.

" Damn Snape," Leshia growled as she dropped down on her bed, the makings of a headache causing her temples to throb. " I nearly gave away Ashton's little secret, he's so low, I hate him so much!"

XXX

Something that irked Leshia more than her newly refreshed hatred for Snape was the fact that now she had merely a week until the Ravenclaw game was due to take place. The terrified team were being put through their paces nightly by a possessed Ryan Lofting, more often than not in the middle of some wild and wet March storm or other, ensuring that all seven Gryffindor players were slightly sniffely by the end of the week. Madam Pomfry swore by her own special brand of chocolate, and soon had the Gryffindors on a rigorous diet of the stuff. It was very sickly, and as Leshia sat down to breakfast on that Saturday morning she pushed aside her large bar of chocolate and nibbled instead on a piece of toast.

Around her the atmosphere at the table was a subdued one. Everyone knew the gravity of the situation, it was so tangible you could almost see the weight of it in the air. Certainly, in the faces of the Gryffindor team, it was most evident. Over at the Ravenclaw table the merry crowd were singing triumphantly the songs they had formed over the past four years to herald their victorious lot. Many of the Slytherins joined in, eager for the Gryffindors to lose face over this.

" Ignore them," Ryan told his team softly. " They're going in over-confident, we can still win this, we just have to remember what we practised."

" They'll feel like idiots when they realise how they underestimated us," Luka said fiercely at his side. Taking strength from their enthusiasm Leshia wolfed down the rest of her toast and got to her feet.

" Brace yourself Malfoy," Ryan chuckled and for a moment Leshia pondered at this strange announcement, before she was buried under her friends' exuberant embraces.

" You're going to kick butt Leshia, don't even worry your pretty head about it!" Rodeo crowed cheerfully in her ear – the two boys had thankfully regained their senses Leshia was happy to see.

" Rodeo," she warned fondly.

" Okay I'm sorry, I meant your ugly head," the boy said pulling back and grinning charmingly at her. " Just didn't want to draw attention to it is all…ow!" He playfully hit his friend back on her arm before making room for Katie and Rachel, who were clamouring for Leshia's attention.

" Evan Lahara wears glasses Leesh, in this weather, he won't be able to see a thing," Rachel informed Leshia, while slinging her arm around her shoulders and leading her out. Katie gave the redhead a fierce look.

" My dad wears glasses and he manages fine," she said slightly snootily. Both Leshia and Rachel grinned fondly at her. " But maybe you can get Tom or Luke to aim to knock them off, then you might stand a chance."

Their jokes were still ringing in her ears as Leshia, accompanied with the rest of the motley crew stepped out onto the waterlogged field. The rain hadn't dampened anyone's spirits and as usual the entire school had turned out to watch this sure-to-be exciting match. The Ravenclaws were marching on at the same time and Leshia stole a glance at this legendary Evan Lahara. Rachel was right, a pair of square glasses adorned his squashed looking face. He was tall and lanky and looked more like a walking joke, rather than a auspiciously good seeker, but then again, who in their right mind would look at her and truly believe her capable of great flying? Small and scrawny, she looked as though she might break at the slightest touch. Lahara almost felt sorry for the little Gryffindor girl, she was after all quite enchanting, he didn't want to have hurt the little thing, but if she got in the way teacher's-daughter-or-no, she would get it.

" They're going for their fifth in a row team, it's never been done before, they want this bad," Ryan's words were floating around Leshia's memory, and she tried very hard to ignore them. Harder still was to ignore the mean glints in the eyes of their opposition. Had they not been wearing blue uniforms, she could have sworn they could have doubled for Slytherins. Personally Leshia was thinking, or rather hoping, that they cared more for staying out of Azkaban than they cared about this win, because that seeker boy was looking at her as though her wished to break her in two, and despite his lankiness, at this moment in time she didn't doubt that he would have no trouble doing this.

Ryan and Dominic Offol were shaking hands rather more roughly than was required and then finally Madam Hooch blew her whistle. Leshia was up in the air before any of the others and she quickly climbed to her usual drifting heights. Almost instantly she nearly felt her heart explode when Lahara darted across the pitch apparently in pursuit of the snitch. Without thinking Leshia darted after him, while down below Martin Lahara – Evan's younger brother – crowed down the speakerphone that Ravenclaw were already set to win. It took Leshia five minutes to realise she was being had. Lahara was trying to wear her out, he hadn't seen anything, and angry with this deception Leshia turned from him and started scouring the field for the small golden ball. There! Leshia dropped from her height instantly, and after the crowds had uttered their 'oohs' and 'aahs' in unison she pulled out of the steep nose-dive heading for the golden flash she had not taken her eyes off.

" What the…" she whispered in panic when suddenly her vision swam with golden balls. Smaller than the Snitch, they appeared to be the size of peanuts doused in golden dust, not dissimilar to the ghastly gold dust the love hearts had deposited all over the school. Someone was throwing them, and Leshia didn't doubt for a moment that it was the Slytherins who were to blame. Angry once more Leshia pulled away from their tricks and once more her heart threatened to do somersaults in the confined space of her ribcage: Evan was diving for something, his arm outstretched, he was grabbing something gold.

" No!" Leshia gasped and she took off from her position, rising through the halted players like a bullet. Beneath her the crowds roared.

" Ravenclaw win!" Martin Lahara was screaming at the top of his lungs. " My brother's got the snitch!" The pandemonium was everywhere; Ravenclaws were wildly celebrating, Gryffindors were angrily complaining about the deception that had distracted Leshia, and it would seem only Leshia was paying attention to Evan Lahara, who's face was gradually falling as he opened his gloved hand to reveal…

" He hasn't got the snitch!" Leshia yelled out to Madam Hooch. The broomed teacher approached and she too saw what had caused Leshia's heart to skyrocket: a handful of golden peanuts. The teacher promptly blew her whistle.

" The game isn't over yet!" she shouted triumphantly and instantly the chaos died down. The Ravenclaws were bitterly complaining, even Evan had something to say and much later on when the excitement of the day had worn off, Leshia silently thanked those Slytherins and their gold peanuts, for if the Ravenclaws had not been distracted she might not have seen it, and had the advantage.

The snitch was hovering very near the ground almost directly under Evan Lahara's position, without thinking Leshia dropped into a hair-raising dive. Evan Lahara saw, but it was almost too late. He followed Leshia's tail twigs helplessly and watched as the young Malfoy outmanoeuvred him past the players and down to the ground. They were getting close now and the snitch had frozen, obviously staying close to the ground as an escape tactic. The dive was too steep for Lahara, he knew he would never pull out in time, so he abandoned it to a roar of disapproval from the stands. Leshia however, carried on, her heart in her mouth, her eyes watering from the speed she was flying towards the ground at. As she reached out her hand, in a moment of foresight, she realised she wouldn't be able to pull out in time either, but it didn't matter. Winning was all that mattered, and as she clasped her fingers round the golden metal she felt a wave of euphoria spread through her.

It was extremely short lived however, as soon afterwards her failed attempt to swoop out of the descent failed and she found herself immersed under a layer of mud, her wrist aching to high heaven.

" Ouw!" she managed sounding mangled and tortured, and freeing herself from her muddy predicament she looked down to see the hand she held the golden ball in stood at a very odd angle. " That's not right," she uttered.

" Malfoy you did it!" Ryan cheered and he nearly swooped down on the girl, but Leshia jumped back.

" Not right now," she said sounding pained and distant, as though all her concentration and effort was going into staving the tears of pain that were threatening to fall. Ryan's eyes followed hers to her deformed wrist and he winced.

" Madam Pomfry! Over here!" he bellowed to the teachers who were already rushing across the pitch to the triumphant Gryffindors. Within moments Madam Pomfry had her wand out and after pointing it to Leshia's wrist and uttering a silent incantation Leshia's wrist painfully arranged itself back into place. As soon as her hand was pointing the right way again Leshia was swept up into the arms of her ecstatic team mates who carried her round on their shoulders to a chorus of 'Gryffindor number one', and for the life of her Leshia couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy.

XXX

" You're going down in the history books Malfoy," Ryan crowed happily from his position – buried under five girls on the cosiest sofa in the Gryffindor common room. Leshia, in a predicament not so different – wedged into a cosy armchair with Rachel and Katie – grinned broadly at her captain.

" As what, the kid who had the most hospital wing visits in a season?" she asked gleefully, slopping half of her butterbeer down her front. Rachel, who was currently holding Leshia's Hogwarts quidditch history book pulled it away from the triumphant seeker. They had already been scouring the pages for the book's verdict on the game. The words 'Ravenclaw Knocked off Number One!' had jumped out at them as soon as they reached the last page and they happily read the praise it doled out on Leshia and the Gryffindors.

" Are you kidding?" Ryan laughed. " Of course for that too, but also for being pretty damn alright." Leshia grinned and glowed red, hiding her face in the book.

" All this is going to your head," Katie observed happily. Leshia glowed even brighter.

" It is not," she tried, but it was pointless. How could she ignored such lavish praise, it hadn't stopped coming all afternoon and now, well into the evening, she couldn't help but take some of it to heart. She'd done an okay job this season she realised and maybe that was something to be proud of.

" Hey look," a voice remarked in the background, but Leshia didn't turn where many did, to see what was going on by the window.

" Let it in, it's got a letter," another voice was calling.

" It's injured, look!" Only now did Katie and Rachel peer over the back of their armchair to see a ragged bleeding bird stood behind the glass of one of the window boxes. Leshia though stared fixedly ahead, her expression suddenly deadly solemn, her eyes, no longer dancing. Once more the feeling of dread swooped over her, she had experienced it the day of their Allseyer intervention, but now, it was ten times more powerful. Something awful was going to happen…she knew it. The cold wet winds that buffered round her ears revealed that the window had been thrown open and after a few moments of startled noise – both from the children and the bird – Leshia felt something land on the top of the armchair. The bird squawked at Leshia.

" Leesh, I think it's for you," Katie exclaimed shakily, and seeing her friend had no intention of reaching for the blooded letter, she did so herself with shaking hands. Everyone watched in amazement, as the dark haired girl handed down the letter to her friend, and after a few moments of silent prayer, Leshia reached out and took it from her.

Help me

" Oh my God," Rachel whispered. " It's written in blood!"

" That's your mum's handwriting," Katie added and both girls looked to Leshia, who was still holding out the letter, her eyes closed, her skin suddenly very white. It was almost as though she had been expecting this news, as she calmly got to her feet and deposited her butterbeer and her book on the table.

" Where are you going?" Rachel asked wearily.

" My dad," Leshia replied calmly. No one blocked her path and soon she was heading down the deserted corridors. Curfew had long since passed, and for the most part Leshia didn't encounter anyone in the dark halls, that is, until she stumbled across Peeves, no doubt in the act of causing more mischief.

" Student out of bed!" Peeves bellowed in his grinding cackling voice. Leshia didn't have the patience for his noise and in an instant she had reached for her wand and held it pointed firmly at the awful little poltergeist.

" If I were you, I would shut up and get out of my way," she said hoarsely, her eyes blazing, her mannerism not dissimilar to her father's. Peeves was slightly put out by this fact, he had had several nasty run-ins with Draco and each time had come away defeated and humiliated, but this girl was only a tiny thing, what could she do? " Oh, what's the ickle first year going to do to nasty old Peeves eh?" the poltergeist cackled.

" You don't want to find out, I can guarantee that," Leshia uttered softly, her eyes blazing.

" No," a drawling voice came from behind her. " But I do." Leshia slowly turned around and found that Snape was staring at her with mild interest, it looked out of place on his cruel face. " I see that the brief fame you earned yourself today has gone to your head Malfoy, school rules not good enough for you?"

" This is none of your business Professor," Leshia growled, still furious that he had interfered in her business. Snape looked affronted by her cheek.

" What goes on in these corridors after curfew is very much my business Miss Malfoy, now what are you doing?" Leshia smiled wildly, only her eyes remaining cold and furious.

" What's the matter Professor, all out of truth potion? Because that's the only way I am ever going to tell you anything again," she said angrily. Snape's face seemed to swell slightly in anger at this child's impertinence. It had been a long time since any had spoken to him as such, but then again, this was a Malfoy he was dealing with. No matter how alike her mother she was, that fact still remained.

" Why I never…" he began, but Leshia had had enough and she turned on heel, side-stepping past a gleeful Peeves in the direction of her father's study, just a few meters away round the corner.

" Hold it right there Malfoy!" Snape bellowed and he charged after her. The girl hadn't expected him to actually run after her, and in a moment of panic she took off at high speed, careening round the corner, skidding to a halt outside her father's study where Snape finally caught up with her and grabbed the hood of her quidditch uniform, which she was yet to change out of. " Unbelievable!" he panted, bending over to catch his breath back.

" You don't understand!" Leshia complained angrily.

" No you don't understand, you can't bend every rule you like just because you're under some delusional impression that you are the most important pupil in this school…"

" That's not what I think!" Leshia growled angrily.

" Well that is how you behave, so like you're mother in that respect…" At this point three things happened: Snape jumped back in surprise clutching at his stinging cheek, Leshia recoiled the hand she had just used to smack the ghastly potions master about the face with and clutched it to her mouth in horror and the door to Draco's study flew open revealing a very serious looking Draco, his eyes taking in the scenario in front of him.

" Leshia," he finally groaned sounding pained.

" I will not stand for this Malfoy," Snape hissed looking to Draco with white-hot fury in his eyes. Draco closed his eyes for strength and nodded, clearly exasperated with the whole thing. " I hope you will see to it that she is properly punished. If you won't then I will!" With this the greasy man spun on heel and stormed off, his cloak billowing behind him like a dark thundercloud. Father and daughter watched him go until finally, after he'd rounded the corridor, they looked back on one and other. Draco was looking bemused to say the slightest.

" I have a very good reason," Leshia said, pushing past him into his office, before taking a seat on the sofa. She pulled her knees up to her chest and looked so vulnerable that Draco faltered, something must have happened.

" I was going to come and congratulate you when the commotion died down," he said sitting down by her side, looking slightly concerned that he had offended her for waiting. Leshia shook her head.

" It's not that dad," she said and she looked up at him through eyes creased with sorrow and anger. " It's this…" She pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her sleeve and reached out to Draco with it. He took it from her, his brow a series of worry lines, and opened the parchment. Seeing what lay there he dropped his hand to his lap, a strange surprised sound escaping his throat. After wincing and sighing in a pained manner, he looked at it again, before reacting similarly once more. " It's real isn't it?" Leshia asked softly. Draco closed his eyes and his breathing quickened, but he nodded all the same.

" I think it is sweetheart," he finally replied.

" So I was right all along," she whispered. Her father finally opened his eyes and turned to look at her in dismay.

" So it would seem." He reached out and wrapped a large hand round the back of her neck, trying to ease away the horrible fear that was snaking across her face. " I'm sorry…"

" Cole Ashton," Leshia said firmly, the fear that had been evident on her face moments before, fading away. " He knows dad, he knows where they're keeping her!" Whereas once, such an accusation may have caused Draco to fly off the handle, now he merely nodded his agreement. " Dad please let me talk to him? Please! I know you, you're very good at scaring lots of scary people into telling you what you want, but this guy…well he thinks more like me than you. I know I can get it out of him, I just know it!" Draco was looking at her with something near to pity and Leshia knew he would never agree to it. The chance that they were going to find his wife, the mother to his child, was a slim one, and he didn't want to risk losing it by entrusting this important task to his twelve-year-old daughter.

" I'm sorry," he said softly and he shook his head. Leshia sighed painfully and her shoulders drooped. The despair on her face was so intense that it physically hurt him. " Look, allow me to try first," he began and Leshia looked up at him with hope in her eyes. " If I can't get through to him, then you can try, but you have to wait for my signal, understood?"

" Yes dad," Leshia said with a bright smile, sure that Ashton would not cave to Draco's Auror-style techniques of interrogation. The only thing that had her worried was whether the boy would be in any fit state to talk by the time she got her turn on him.

For three days Leshia watched Ashton from afar at every chance she got. He certainly was beginning to look very jumpy and withdrawn, but Draco had evidently not succeeded as he was stalking the corridors as though he were a walking bad mood. In their last lesson with him, even Leshia had felt slightly rattled by his cruelness. He was evidently not getting through, and taking it as a personal failure, the anger it caused him was almost overwhelming. He had been the best Auror in his time, and now a snivelling snot nosed brat was getting the better of him.

Come Tuesday morning Leshia sat down to breakfast and was surprised to find a parchment appear on her plate the moment she sat down.

I give up, give it your best shot

It read. Leshia couldn't help but grin and she quickly caught her father's eye and nodded letting him know she had got his message. After ascertaining that Ashton was in fact whole and looking somewhat relieved and pleased with himself Leshia turned on her friends and grinned. They knew what this meant loud and clear: Plan 'scare the crap out of Ashton' was going ahead, and they were very glad for it.

XXX

It took Leshia and her friends a further two days to organise and set their plan into action, but within no time Friday - the day of reckoning (as it had become fondly known as) - was upon them. Time dragged by, and none of the first year Gryffindors found themselves able to concentrate in their lessons. For once Draco allowed their minds to wander, aware of what Leshia had planned. His lesson was the last before lunch – their chosen time of punishment – and as they filed out he caught his daughter's eye and nodded to her brusquely. She took his concern to heart and smiled wearily in return, hoping to convey how nervous she felt.

With the miserable weather on the horizon, everyone hurried outside to make the most of the bright weather before the thunderclouds rolled in, and Ashton was of course among them. Thankful for this small chance of good fortune Leshia and her friends advanced on the motley crew of Slytherins, eager to get their plan underway.

" Well well well, if it…" Ashton began, his bravado masking shattered confidence and ragged emotions – all caused by Draco's treatment of him and the months of torment over whether Leshia was going to crack.

" Blood traitor right?" Leshia sighed in a blasé tone. " That's right, we've heard it before. We have a proposition for you Ashton." Getting straight to business, Leshia took strength from the great display of cool strength her friends were fronting.

" Go on," Ashton muttered.

" I know that what frightens you most in the world is what I could say," Leshia said with a small smile, her eyes roving over the Slytherins she had last seen hooded and bearing over her. They all averted her eyes. " And what my words could do to your pathetic little lives."

" Well what do you want?" Ashton demanded, furiously suppressing his anger at being addressed this way. He'd known all along that Leshia was after something, or she would have blown the whistle on him long ago. Also, thanks to his foolish boasting at the time, had an inkling what it was she was after, but she would never get it. It wasn't his secret to divulge, he'd accidentally overheard something from someone who ought not to have known in the first place. If he told, that would be it for him.

" To have a little talk," Leshia whispered, her eyes glinting darkly.

" I won't tell you anything," Ashton hissed.

" You don't know what I'm asking yet." For a moment the pair stood locked in a vicious gaze, until finally Ashton hung his head.

" Fine, we can talk," he said bitterly.

" Great," Leshia retorted brightly. " Not here, and you have to come alone." It took them a long time to convince Ashton that he was to go with Leshia on his own. His cronies, more burly and sulky than any of the Slytherins Leshia had yet encountered, were very much against the idea, but after Leshia threatened them with a sentence in Azkaban they relented and she was able to lead Ashton away towards the dark forest.

" We're not going in there are we?" Ashton asked, slowing down. Leshia turned to him and nodded brightly.

" Only place we can be alone Ashton."

" But we're not allowed…"

" Since when have you cared about rules?" Leshia laughed. " I hadn't realised you were such a coward."

" I am not a coward," the boy hissed furiously.

" Oh really, is that why you needed all your cronies to take on one little first year…"

" Okay fine, lead the way," Ashton exclaimed quickly, looking around furtively in case anyone had heard her. Following the route she had by now memorised, Leshia led the petulant boy through the forest. With every step they took he seemed to grow more timid and with a pleased smile Leshia took pleasure from his suffering. It was also going to aid in their plan somewhat. Finally they reached the small clearing just as a thunderous crack filled the heavens. Both of them jumped; granted, Ashton a full three feet higher than the girl.

" Are you happy now Malfoy? You're going to get us both struck by lightning!" Ashton yelled angrily. Leshia rolled her eyes.

" They strike at the highest point you imbecile, they can't hit us," she said drolly.

" But the falling trees can!"

" Look," Leshia said forcefully, his fear now beginning to anger her. " The quicker you tell me what I want to know, the sooner you can get out of here."

" I will never tell you what you want to know Malfoy," the boy called out angrily. Leshia furrowed her brow and sat down on a large rock.

" You don't even know what I'm asking yet…"

" Let me guess, precious mummy is it? You want to know what the big bad nasty men have done to her." For a moment or two the tables were turned; Cole Ashton stood gleefully watching as Leshia's face contorted into an expression of fear. " I'm never going to tell you Malfoy, she's going to spend a long time suffering because you're never going to find her…"

Aaaaooooooouuuuuuwwwwww

The boy froze. His skin turned a deathly white within seconds and Leshia thought he looked rather like a homing beacon in the dim stormy light. She herself had not moved from her spot, the anger and pain coursing through her were too overwhelming. So he did know!

Aaaaooooooo aaaaooooouuuuuuwwwwww

" What was that?" Ashton hissed sounding out of his mind. Leshia looked up to him slowly and smiled. " Oh brilliant! You've brought us out here to be mauled by werewolves, I knew all those hexes had messed with your head!" Around them the bushes started to move with the grunts of some unknown beast and Ashton literally started to shake.

" So what if they have?" Leshia asked with a broad smile.

" Look I'm getting out of here," Ashton hissed and he tried to run, but Leshia was ready and she quickly took out her wand and paralysed him.

" You're not going anywhere until you tell me where my mother is!" she hissed angrily and she took from his pocket his wand before releasing him from her spell. Now with both wands aimed at him he climbed to his feet and shook his head.

" You're not going to get away with this Malfoy…"

Aaaaooooooo aaaaooooouuuuuuwwwwww

Even Leshia jumped this time as the ghastly sounds swirled around them on the stormy winds. Those things were close, and yet it didn't fill Leshia with the gut wrenching terror that Ashton was afflicted with.

" Tell me now and we can get out of here!" she yelled furiously at him.

" No! I can't!" Ashton yelled back, evidently very shaken by what was going on all around him.

" Look, would you rather break some stupid promise, or die? It's really very simple!" The rustling in the bushes surrounding the clearing grew more frantic and for a moment it looked as though Ashton was going to crack, but then in a second his frightened eyes narrowed in anger, and his pallid cheeks glowed red with embarrassment and fury. For what Ashton had glimpsed sight of in the bushes, instead of a werewolf coming to get them, was a head of red hair and a Hogwarts uniform.

" You're dead Malfoy!" he screamed, his voice terrifying.

'Uh oh,' Leshia managed before the boy dived at her. He knocked the wands from her hands and was on her like some maniac possessed. The punches were painful, and all Leshia could wonder was why her friends weren't coming to her aid.

" Leshia run!" she barely caught on the winds.

" Get off me!" Leshia screamed and she kicked hard at Ashton's lower region. She missed the target, but inflicted enough pain to cause the boy to roll off her in agony.

" Leshia get out of there…" It was barely audible, but there nonetheless. Leshia made to run, but something had hold of her ankle.

" Ashton you idiot, can't you hear that! We have to get out of here, I'm not joking!" Leshia cried out and tried to struggle free from the boy.

" No," he hissed. " You're not going anywhere until I've taught you a lesson!" He was rising to his feet now, his expression so angry, Leshia was sure she was in for it.

" Oh my God," she suddenly whispered.

" That's right…" Ashton began, rubbing his fist with the fingers of his other hand.

" No…" Frozen with fear, Leshia tried very hard to get her legs to co-operate, but they wouldn't move. For moving very slowly into the clearing behind the boy was something her friends could never have arranged. With eight painfully thin legs and too many eyes to count a giant Acromantula was snaking into the clearing, evidently angry that its sleep had been interrupted. " Look behind you…" Leshia tried, her voice escaping her.

" I'm not falling for that one," Ashton hissed.

" No really," Leshia whimpered finally managing to stumbled backwards a few steps, her eyes wandering the clearing for either of their wands. There they were, behind the giant beast. It was getting closer and Ashton looked no closer to believing her, except he was going to have to, as with a screech the beast advanced quicker on them. Ashton barely had time to turn around and scream before he was clasped in the giant pincers of the beast. After lunging for Leshia with the other one, it just about caught her side causing it to bleed furiously, but grab her it did not, and Leshia dived under its many squirming legs for safety.

" Help me!" Ashton was screaming frantically, but the girl was more concerned with trying to avoid the many pincers and legs the Acromantula was flailing in her direction. After a mad chase that lasted for what seemed like hours, but could only have been a few moments, her hands fell on her wand and she grabbed it, frantically skittering away from the beast.

" Incendio," Leshia yelled out hoarsely, and a jet of fire escaped her wand in the direction of the Acromantula. Apparently displeased with this the giant beast settled down to sit where it was, Ashton – his leg mangled from the pincers – hanging limply from its claws. Leshia felt almost sorry for the boy.

" Help me," Ashton tried weakly. Leshia, not as cruel as the Slytherins, raised her wand to obey him, but then she dropped it again, the benefits of this situation not escaping her. " What are you doing?" Ashton demanded sounding afraid.

" I will help you," Leshia said softly. " But you have to help me first. Where is my mother?" Ashton's eyes went wide and he looked up at the beast who held him as though sizing up which was worse: to tell or to be eaten, simple choice really.

" Look," he said trying to buy some time. " I don't really know…" But Leshia started to walk away, her heart in her mouth, praying with all her might that her bluff would work. " Okay fine! I'll tell you! I know these people, they found out where your mum was after I told them you'd found her again. They moved to capture her, I know where they're holding her…Argh!" The Acromantula, apparently bored now with the situation was now chomping down on Ashton's leg.

" Oh no you don't!" Leshia hissed and she raised her wand in the direction of the beast's many eyes and repeated her fire incantation. The fire burnt the horrid creature, which let out a screech and dropped a bleeding Ashton to the ground. Driving it back Leshia repeated her incantation again and again, until the black creature escaped into the bushes where the sounds of many of its brothers could be heard approaching.

" We have to get out of here," Ashton whimpered, looking at his mangled leg.

" Don't worry, I've got an escape plan," Leshia assured him and she moved towards the bushes at the side of the clearing, but once more Ashton had her ankle.

" Don't leave me," he cried, his eyes wide with terror. Leshia felt incredibly bad for what she had done to him.

" I'm not going anywhere, just trust me," she told him soothingly and released his bloody fingers from her ankle before rushing off. Moments later she was back with her broom and with great difficulty she settled them both on top of it. Her timing couldn't have been better had it been choreographed, as at this moment dozens of angry Acromantulas filled the clearing.

" Take off!" Ashton cried and Leshia kicked off from the ground furiously. They rose quicker than she had intended and both nearly lost their grip. " I thought you were supposed to be good at flying."

" Will you shut up," Leshia grumbled and she flew them both to safety. As they rose above the foliage the rain, which had been falling for a while now, battered them both and it took her rather longer than normal to bring them to the safety of the main entrance where her friends were waiting for them, their eyes wide with fear. Leshia ignored their relieved utterances as she helped Ashton from the broom and inside the castle. Amazingly, they encountered no resistance on their way to the hospital wing, but once they reached it all manner of chaos ensued. Professor McGonagall happened to visiting at the time of their rather dramatic entrance, and seeing his chance for payback the highly ungrateful Ashton started screaming,

" She attacked me! Malfoy attacked me!" Madam Pomfry was quick to see to his leg, while Professor McGonagall tried desperately to reprimand an extremely furious Leshia. Eventually she managed to escape McGonagall when she strode off to fetch Draco and taking her chance – Madam Pomfry had rushed off to get the right ointments – Leshia fell upon Ashton, grabbing his injured leg fiercely. He wailed in pain.

" Now you tell me Ashton! You tell me right now or so help me I'll kill you where you stand!" she hissed, her eyes furious. Ashton managed to laugh through his pain and he shook his head. Leshia smiled wickedly and squeezed his leg tighter, relishing in the screams of pain the boy was emitting.

" Stop that this instant!" Madam Pomfry cried out and she tried to pull Leshia free from the boy, but she wasn't budging. Eventually she had had enough and she stood back from Ashton and looked up at the nurse with the angriest face she could muster.

" He is responsible for my mother's disappearance, now you will get out of my way until he tells me where they are keeping her!" she bellowed with such anger and conviction that Madam Pomfry stepped backwards. Wheeling around on the boy again Leshia had no need to grab his leg once more as he had decided to speak after realising he'd said too much anyway.

" No don't!" he cried when he saw her reaching for his leg. " I don't know where she's being held, but I can give you two names. Danik and Allaiya Seer." Leshia glared him in the eye. " I'm telling the truth, I swear!"

" You'd better be," the girl whispered and she pulled back, her strength failing her. The gash in her side had been more serious than she'd thought and she collapsed to the ground, just about managing to reach out and grab the railing of the neighbouring bed. Her eyes started to swim with clouds and she just about remained aware of Draco and Professor McGonagall rushing in. They couldn't see her at first.

" Where is she?" Draco asked through narrowed eyes. He was taking in the boy's injuries, aware that Leshia could never have inflicted such damage, he was angry with the deception and Minerva's naivety. Madam Pomfry turned around and was surprised to see that Leshia had collapsed – she had been too concerned with Ashton's leg.

" Oh dear," she uttered and she quickly lifted Leshia from the ground onto the bed she clung to.

" Leshia," Draco managed and he rushed forward taking in her injuries. " She's bleeding to death, help her Poppy!" he cried out. Madam Pomfry ushered him out the way and within moments had expertly sealed the wound that was causing all the trouble, she then fed some obnoxious looking mixture down the girl's throat before turning back on her wailing charge once more.

" Dad," Leshia managed, trying to sit up, the clouds not clearing from her vision. " Danik and Allaiya Seer, you have to question them! They know where mum is!" Draco looked her in the eye for a few moments, before finally he smiled and kissed her forehead firmly.

" You're just a chip off the old block aren't you?" he asked fondly, releasing her bloody hand from his shirt and stepping back. " I have to go inform Crayik, will you be all right?" Leshia smiled and shrugged.

" Never better," she managed and with that Draco rushed out, aware that time was of the essence and they had to move fast before these two culprits found out they were being hunted. Had Leshia thought her ordeal was over, then she was very much mistaken as now McGonagall stepped into her eye line.

" I want an explanation this instant Miss Malfoy," the furious teacher demanded. Leshia sighed and looked over to the snivelling boy she had endangered and then rescued.

" I didn't do that to him," she said softly. " We were attacked by an Acromantula, I rescued him the ungrateful lunatic!" McGonagall fumed a little.

" And what were you doing in the Forbidden Forest, or are you trying to tell me that an Acromantula was just wandering across the grounds?" Leshia smiled and shook her head.

" I was interrogating him," she said, and before McGonagall could fume any longer she added quickly. " Professor, we now have two very good leads to find my mum, if you care for her even a little bit then please, you'll understand."

XXX

Leshia and Ashton healed quickly, and by the following morning they were released. The sooner the better, as someone had constantly had to be on guard lest the pair try to finish each other off. They were the most troublesome charges Madam Pomfry had ever had to deal with and when she discharged them she was happy to see the back of them. Leshia managed to ascertain from Draco that the two names she had procured belonged to a dark wizard and witch, who were now being interrogated. Draco had no doubt that they would 'crack' and he was so proud with his daughter that every time they passed one and other in the corridor he looked as though he wanted to lift her from her feet and hug her. As such Leshia and her friends started avoiding him in the corridors lest he fail to restrain himself and make her the laughing stock of the school.

A week somehow passed from the traumatic events of that day and Leshia began to lose hope that all that effort had been in vein. Even Draco was looking less inclined to smother her every time they passed, but one incredibly boring History of Magic lesson, this all changed.

" And so the goblin men of the west went on strike, demanding to be allowed to wear the pink frilly pinafores their…" Professor Binns was droning on to a semi-conscious audience of tired first-years, when the door flung open and a triumphant looking Draco stepped in.

" Sorry to interrupt, but I need to borrow Miss Malfoy," he said to the ghost, who had barely looked up from his text. He barely nodded, but no matter, Leshia had already been wrenched to her feet and was being frog marched out of the classroom.

" Dad have you gone mad?" she whispered hoarsely as he shut the door blocking out the nineteen curious faces that had followed them.

" We know where they're holding her, she's still alive," her father practically exploded. Leshia's jaw dropped and a torrent of emotion flooded through her bringing tears to her eyes.

" Really?"

" I'm going along with the rescue mission to find her," Draco explained.

" When?"

" Tomorrow morning."

" Dad?" Leshia asked softly, her eyes trained on the floor in front of her, not for one moment thinking she would be allowed. " Can I come?" Her father paced round her and dropped to his knees his deliriously happy face filling her eye line.

" Why do you think I've come to get you? Of course you're coming!"

XXXXXXX

End of Part IV