Note to all: I am in Salamanca, Spain! w00t, isn't that exiting. now since I do not own a laptop I have been forced to use internet cafes, I found a cheap one here but it wasn't loading the site so I couldn't update, I would have sooner, believe you me. but so, I'm here from school (studying spanish and the like) so my updating might be a little more sporadic, but I'll do the best I can. love y'all, MB.

Vi: hey thats a cool name you got there for your other stuff. when I was reading the review i didn't even notice that it wasn't you until I checked my email and got your message. plot what plot...hehheh...yeah as you can see I am slowly giving info about Ms. Carlisle, there is more in this chapter. I try to update as much as I can. actually this fic started out as a excerise to get rid of the fat buffalo that is sitting on my hand, aka writer's block. and now it's the one that I find myself writing to most for. though The Magi and The Rainmaker are coming along smoothly, I should have them updated in the next day or so. theories...bring em on. well tata for now.

Prongs: thankies for the review. yeah the first few chapters I had go a bit slow, but it will pick up fairly fast, fairly shortly. I just had so much information on characters, and thus sacrified some of the plot movement. I'm estatic that you like it! YAY!

well on to the next chapter...

cheers all, MB

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Now kids, think about it. If I did own HP would I still be here messing with your heads, hmmm...actually that would be kinda cool, writing fanfiction of your own work.

the song featured in the beginning of this chapter is Somebody to Love by Dean Martin...incredibly great song...if you haven't noticed I listen to about every genre of music ou there. but the classics like Deano, Frank, and Rosemary Clooney are some of my favs. check em out!

Light

by

mingingbent

There are two kinds of light—

the glow that illuminates,

and the glare that obscures.

– James Thurber

Chapter Four: Bad Dreams and Pick up Sticks

"With the sleep of dreams comes nightmares."
- William Shakespeare

You're nobody til somebody loves you
You're nobody til somebody cares

The sultry sounds of Dean Martin flittered in like a warm summer breeze. Two dancers alone in the candlelight of a rose tinted ballroom swayed lazily to the beat.

The man his dark red robes of such burgundy brilliance flashed in his lover's dark eyes, and he cradled her to his chest, whispering in her ear. "I love you, mia bella. You are my starshine."

Her silky dress that matched his robes fitted her slender form and she rested against his strong embrace, slowly pulsing with the song.

You may be king, you may possess the world and it's gold
but gold won't bring you happiness when you're growing old

The vision changed and gone was the fancy, candlelit ballroom, gone was the opulent state of dress, gone was the sense of fortune. In a meager, dingy dwelling: one sported old jeans and the other was wrapped in an old shirt. The danced alone, between the shadows and the light - courting each with the grace borne of two souls as one.

The world still is the same, you never change it
As sure as the stars shine above

The broken light fixture promptly fizzled out but Deano still flowed like honey from the turntable in the corner, the two dancers oblivious to anyone but themselves.

You're nobody til somebody loves you
So find yourself somebody to love

Two voices though faint and fairylike floated out of the darkness, "Amo, ami, ama, amiamo, amate, amino."

Then Beauty surrendered into Darkness.
She knew this place. She knew this place like the back of her hand. But that didn´t mean she wasn't afraid, her heart fluttering so hard a little bird in a cage. The darkness completely swamped her sense of sight but she could smell the damp dirt and make out the faint traces of smoke. It made her stomach churl wildly with remembrance. In the back of her mind she knew it was all a dream and she kept telling herself that – "it's all a dream, it's all a dream."

"Aimee!" the loud booming voice shattered her calm and she started to shake.

"Aimee...oh there you are." The voice was closer, probably right over her.

Pain lanced through her scalp as a large hand grabbed a fist of hair and yanked. He tilted her face upward,snagging the end of her chin.

Even though her eyes were clamped tight she knew he was smiling, more a slight, dignified smirk.

Bending down to kiss her forehead lightly, the voice ghosted against her ear, "You´re such a good little girl."

Aimee woke panting covered in a sheen of sweat. Her dream-nightmare still fresh in her mind. She reminded herself that she wasn´t there and it was all in the past, but that didn't keep the fear from creeping up her spine (or keep it from being that more real). Faintly, Aimee heard voices in the kitchen. Slipping out of bed she padded out of her room to she what all the comotion was about.

Harry was in the kitchen cooking breakfast, her two boys leaned against the counter eagerly awaiting what looked light eggs and toast.

"Good morning." She managed beforepicking up the kettle and pouring herself a cup of tea.

Letting it steep she turned to observe.

Gavan had left his spot at the counter and had come around in effort to help Harrry who turned to Aimee, pan in hand and said, "Would you like something?"

"Uh, some toast would be nice..."

The kitchen now relatively quiet, Aimee took her toast and went to sit at the table. Gavan and Donovan were not far behind their plates balancing on there small fingers.

Harry finally took a seat, tea and toast in hand.

Aimee wrestled with the paper and finally got it open when Harry mummbled around his toast, "Anything interesting?"

"No."

Gavan and Donovan rapidly scarfed down their breakfast and then turned to their mother.

"Yes." Aimee quirked an eyebrow.

"Cartoons, please?"

"Sure."

Two identical smiles shined back.

"Thanks mom."

Gavan hesitated, "Harry you coming, it's Duckdogers?"

Harry smiled slightly, "Yeah...in a bit."

"Thanks for putting up with the boys." Aimee said after Gavan was out of earshot.

"No problem," Harry looked up, "Where is their father?"

"Who...Aiden?" Aimee took a breath, "He´s dead. Died in an accident about four years ago – right before Gavan was born."

"Oh I´m sorry." Harry wasn´t sure if he was sorry for bringing it up or for what happened.

"No...don´t be."

"I actually have some more questions..." Harry looked hesitant although he was very curious about this woman who took him in.

Aimee smirked slightly, "Fire away..."

"So you went to Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"What house were you in?" He'd been iching to ask that.

"Slytherin...oh don't give me that look, just because you're in Slytherin doesn´t make you an evil snake," she smirked, "-well atleast not immediately. And besides that my whole family bore the green and silver – my mother, my brothers, my ancestors, -me." Aimee heaved a sigh, she didn´t particularly like talking about family, "-though because I was the youngest I bore the brunt of all that is dark in human nature about that side of things."

She turned to Harry, her face quiet and guarded. "I suppose from your attitude Mr. Potter you sport the crimson and gold."

Harry cracked a smile,who knew he -asaman of Gryffindor- would be calmly having a discussion with a Slytherin, albeit an ex-Slytherin, but still a Slytherin. "Yes." He liked to think on the old days.

"Should have known," she countered, "Gryffindor through and through, you are."

Privately Harry shared a laugh with himself over that.

"Did your husband go to Hogwarts?"

Aimee's face brightened, "Yes he did – he was a year ahead of me. Hugglepuff's Quidditch Captain," at the way Harry´s eyes brightened she asked, "Quidditch...you too."

Harry vigorously nodded his head.

Aimee exhaled, "I would have loved to play, but my mother said it was unbecoming and no girls were allowed on the team."

Harry snorted in agreement – somethings never changed.

"So, Harry since you're staying here for awhile I thought you like something to read."

At first Harry thought she´d pull out a spell book of some kind, but in her hands lay a small weatherworn paperback. In crisp brown letters on the cover was - 'The Wizard of Earthsea.'

"It was one of my favorite books when I was a kid," she continued. "It still is...and there´s four more after that."

Harry picked it up, "What is it about?"

"Oh, warlords, witchcraft and wizardry, you know the like," she smiled, "plus a few fair ladies and an fiery dragon."

That peeked his interest, "I´ll take a look."

whoa...there it is chapter four, all done and polished. god I hate trying to spellcheck when every word is red, cause your using a comp with a word processor designed for a different language. hope you like. now the wizard of earthsea, reference, well it will come up quite a bit in the next chapters, well I am reading it right now for the second time, man oh man is Ursula LeGuin a genius...if you haven't read them, do...its a command. well I hope you enjoy. The hamsters of doom command you to review, even if it's to say hi. oh and by the way the ama... in the beginning is the conjugation chart thingie of the verb to love in Italian.

anywho, figured out who Aimee really is...aren't I good. oh come on say it. I am the Cheese! (well now that was a little off topic.)

cheers from Espana, MB.